February 16, 2013

Good Reasons to Hope | Recent YA Fiction

irises

War, terminal illness, grief, depression—the teen protagonists in these recent young adult titles face dire circumstances and difficult personal dilemmas with honest candor and courage, choosing to live with hope, seeing possibilities in the midst of despair. Never sentimental or maudlin, ever inventive and realistic, their stories reference historic touchstones and human vulnerability in strikingly voiced narratives sure to capture readers’ hearts and minds. They offer myriad themes to explore and writing opportunities in classrooms across the curriculum.

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Lost Souls: Advanced Readers (Grades 6-9)

There’s no reason to wait ’til Halloween to break out the spooky titles! Just scary enough for a shiver, but not enough to keep anyone awake all night, these tales make for perfect read-alouds around the campfire.

On the Radar Teen: NSTA Selects Outstanding Science Trade Books for Teens

Temple Grandin

Every year, the National Science Teachers Association compiles a list of outstanding science books for kids in grades K to 12. Featuring fiction and nonfiction selections, this year’s topics range from the natural world to mathematics to engineering. And the latest selections, which support the Common Core guidelines, also include stories about oil, the hydrogen bomb, plant hunters, and an autistic scientist. Teen readers will be enlightened as they uncover the ever-broadening field of science and the opportunities that it offers them.

Music and Game Reviews from Young Adults

Girl on Fire

It’s all about collaboration for both Alicia Keys and Ke$ha. Joining forces with performers like Bruno Mars and Iggy Pop is a sure-fire way to broaden the buzz for their latest albums—and give some old dogs a chance show off their vocal tricks. Missing the Dark Knight? Brady Games has just released Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition—not only does the game offer new modes and battle techniques, it also includes all of the previously released “Arkham City” adventures. It gives you a lot of bang for your gaming bucks!

Macmillan Introduces Swoon

1213SwoonLogo

Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group has announced the launch of Swoon Reads, a revolutionary crowd-sourced romance imprint dedicated to publishing books that capture the intensity and excitement of teen love. Starting in 2014, Swoon Reads will publish 6 to 12 novels a year as an imprint of Feiwel and Friends.

Against All Odds: A Teen’s Quest—One Came Home Giveaway

One Came Home

In 1871, in the town of Placid, WI, 13-year-old Georgie Burkhardt is known for two things: One Came Homeher uncanny aim with a rifle and her habit of speaking her mind plainly. But when Georgie blurts out something she shouldn’t have said, her older sister Agatha flees, running off with a pack of “pigeoners,” who follow the migration of passenger pigeons. When the sheriff returns to town with an unidentifiable body—wearing Agatha’s blue-green ballroom gown—everyone assumes the worst. Except Georgie. Refusing to believe the facts that are laid down (and coffined) before her, Georgie sets out on a journey to find her sister. She’ll track down every last clue and shred of evidence to bring Agatha home. Yet even with her resolute determination and her trusty Springfield single-shot, Georgie isn’t prepared for what she faces on the Western frontier.