With grace and insight, Clay Carmichael tells the story of twin brothers who only recently discovered the existence of the other. On a secluded North Carolina island, they each struggle to find their own identity, which is hidden behind years of family secrets and resentment. Part coming-of-age and part love story, this southern YA literary novel is reminiscent of John Corey Whaley’s award-winning Where Things Come Back (S & S, 2011), and certainly won’t disappoint.

SLJ says, “This prince-and-pauper tale will have readers poised to learn the truth with Brother, rooting for him. This uplifting underdog story will draw thoughtful readers with its well-wrought characters and themes of family secrets, romance, and virtue.”

Five lucky winners will receive a free copy of Brother, Brother by Clay Carmichael. To enter, send an email with your name, shipping address, and email address. Entries must be received by 12pm on October 4, 2013. Winners will be selected in a random drawing and notified via email on or before October 11, 2013. One entry per person, please; prizes will only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

In case you aren’t one of the lucky winners, you can read an excerpt here!

After snacks and socializing and a peek at original picture book art from upcoming titles, small groups were formed and sent off to various conference rooms. Editors from each imprint rotated through the rooms, presenting to each group, now only 12–15 large. As you might imagine, it is a treat to hear about new books from the editors who worked on them, and in such an intimate setting.

From picture books to chapter books, early readers, graphic novels, middle grade and teen novels and nonfiction, the afternoon held delights in all areas. There were too many books to mention here, so I will share some of the highlights.

Picture books from veterans include This is Our House (Farrar, July) by Keats winner Hyewon Yum, a lovely reflection on immigration and the passage of the seasons. The book that generated the most enthusiasm in my group was Hello, My Name is Ruby (Roaring Brook, September) by Philip C. Stead, which shows echoes of P.D. Eastman’s Are You My Mother?

In recognition of the upcoming season, there was Fall Ball by Peter McCarty, full of lovely drawings. Snow was a feature of more than one title, including Big Snow (Farrar, September) by Jonathan Bean, which offered some welcome racial diversity.  When It Snows (Feiwel & Friends, August) by Richard Collingridge boasts illustrations reminiscent of The Polar Express.

Given that the event took place in a New York City landmark, it seemed only fitting to preview Herman and Rosie (Roaring Brook, October) by Gus Gordon, which celebrates the city and its music lovers. And there was much oohing and aahing over Princess Tales (Feiwel & Friends, October) by Grace Maccarone, which is illustrated by Gail de Marcken.

Middle-grade readers can look forward to a new novel from Jack Gantos, From Norvelt to Nowhere (FSG, September), and a novel from Cathrynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two (Feiwel & Friends, October). The Desperate Adventures of Zeno and Alya (Feiwel & Friends, October) by Jane Kelley offers a tearjerker about friendship.

And, most unusually, Uncrashable Dakota (Holt, November), by Andy Marino, presents a sort of alternate reality—it follows the 1912 liftoff of the airship Titanic. This would make a fascinating read-along with Deborah Hopkinson’s Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, as many facts about the actual Titanic are presented with just a slight difference in this fantasy.

Common Core was mentioned in conjunction with several books, including two nonfiction picture books: Eat Like a Bear (Holt, October) by April Pulley Sayre, wonderfully illustrated by Steve Jenkins, and A Single Pebble: A Story of the Silk Road (Roaring Brook, October) by Bonnie Christensen. For middle-grade students, The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius by the fabulous Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan intrigued all listeners. Bill O’Reilly’s Kennedy’s Last Days gets a YA version from Holt in June, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the assassination. This was touted as an exemplary adaptation from an adult title, with excellent back matter and a plethora of photographs.

ReaLITy—“Real Books for Real Teens”—is a program designed to shine a light on Macmillan’s realistic literary fiction. Upcoming titles in that program include Freakboy (Farrar, October) by Kristin Elizabeth Clark, a protégé of Ellen Hopkins, whose debut is a verse novel about a boy who, from the outside, seems to have it all. But on the inside he sometimes wishes he was a girl. Editor Joy Peskin spoke passionately about Freakboy’s potential to save the lives of transgender teens.

Another MacMillan YA literature initiative is Fierce Reads. New books joining the program in the fall include This Song Will Save Your Life (Farrar, September) by Leila Sales, about a girl who finds friendship and self-acceptance when she discovers DJing. Two much-anticipated sequels in this line were also announced, Monument 14: Sky on Fire (just released by Feiwel & Friends) by Emmy Laybourne, and Siege and Storm (Holt, June) by Leigh Bardugo, the follow-up to Shadow and Bone.

Editor Liz Szabla believes that she has found Julie Halpern’s breakout novel, and it’s called The F-It List (Feiwel & Friends, November) about a girl whose best friend is dying of cancer. Consider it a variation on a bucket list. And Tumble & Fall  (Farrar, September) by Alexandra Coutts is about how three teens choose to spend their last days in the face of an approaching apocalypse.

Last but certainly not least, First Second presented its fall 2013 graphic novels, an embarrassment of riches that begins with Boxers & Saints, a two-volume novel of China’s Boxer Rebellion by Gene Luen Yang, which can be read independently or purchased as a box set.

Coming in October, Battling Boy by Paul Pope (called “the Mick Jagger of comics”), which is perfect for Rick Riordan fans. And in August, Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliff debuts; it’s described as Indiana Jones with a woman as the protagonist.

(l. to r.) Leonard S. Marcus, Rocco Staino, Robin Adelson, Lena Roy, Charlotte Jones Voiklis (Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter), Simon Boughton, and Hope Larsen

From her desk in the cathedral library, L’Engle greeted visitors, worked on her books, and participated in church activities.

On November 29, L’Engle’s birthday, the author’s spirit filled the cathedral once more during a ceremony in which the building was named a “Literary Landmark” in her honor.

More than 100 friends, family and fans gather at the main altar of the cathedral, the world’s largest Anglican church, while those supporting the dedication, and the new literary landmark plaque mounted on the cathedral wall, spoke about its significance.

“St. John the Divine is one of New York’s architectural wonders and spiritual crossroads,” said Leonard S. Marcus, author of the newly published Listening for Madeleine: A Portrait of Madeleine L’Engle in Many Voices (FSG, 2012). “Now, everyone who visits there will know what a special role it played in the writing life of one of America’s greatest authors for children and adults.”

The church played a vital role in the author’s life, according to L’Engle’s granddaughter, Charlotte Jones Voiklis. “The cathedral nurtured her by giving her a writing home,” she said.  At the same time, “the cathedral also expanded her horizons by bringing her into a larger conversation about spirituality.”

The very reverend Dr. James A. Kowalski, dean of the cathedral, recalled that L’Engle once said, “if she could not write she would die.” He added, “We need that voice today—a voice of truth that had an abiding reverence for life’s mysteries.”

Simon Boughton, senior vice president and publishing director of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, recalled how, as a naive young editor at Simon & Schuster, he approached L’Engle about writing a book. That led to a relationship that included the author picking up a lunch check when Boughton’s credit card was declined, and Boughton using her choice seats at the opera.

Visitors felt L’Engle’s presence during the evensong, when a recording of her reading a passage from the Ephesians was played.

Robin Adelson, executive director of the Children’s Book Council, an event sponsor, noted that the  program “connects the real world with the book world.”

Beth Nawalinski, director of marketing and communications at United for Libraries, the division of the American Library Association that administers the Literary Landmark program, explained the process that recognizes locations throughout the country for their connection to significant literary events.

The Empire State Center for the Book, which inducted L’Engle into the New York State Writers Hall of Fame in 2011,  put forward the nomination for the literary landmark.

The cathedral joins 122 literary landmarks across the country, including the Algonquin Roundtable, the Plaza Hotel, and the Little Red Lighthouse in New York City.

On November 27, the Madeleine L’Engle website launched a Facebook page called Tesser Well where, it states, fans can “learn, share and connect.”