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The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan , 472 pages. Little Brown and Company, 2018. $19  Language: PG-13 (6 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: G. BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL  AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Leigh is a sophomore in high school when her mother commits suicide on an afternoon she is away with her best friend Axel. Leigh soon starts seeing a large red bird and is convinced it is her mom trying to get a message to her. The bird leads her to make a trip to Taiwan to visit her estranged grandparents. There, through mystical experiences, she learns about her mother’s past and her experiences with depression. Leigh emerges from these experiences with a better handle on her grief, her sense of guilt, and her relationship with her dad and her friends.  This is a brilliantly crafted book. Leigh describes the world around her and inside of her through colors; this adds a beautiful layer to the text. While the nature of suicide makes the content of this bo...

Ship of Smoke and Steel by Djano Wexler , 368 pages.  Tor Teen, January 2019.  $18. Language: PG-13 (43 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex); Violence: R (much blood and fighting) BUYING ADVISORY:  HS - OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Isoka only exists to protect her younger sister Tori – even if it means using her magic to beat and kill. Then she is captured by the Empire’s Immortals and thrown onto the Soliton – a ghost ship that requires magic wielders as tribute.  She has a year to take control of the ship of the Empire , then her sister will be ruined. But life on the ship is a dog eat dog existence – death is common, life is cheap.  Isoka’s clade is at the bottom of the pile and the Captain is unavailable. Isoka will do whatever it takes to claw her way to the top and save Tori. If your students love Lex Thomas’s Quarantine series, they will also love this.  The plot is a frame for bloody bat...

Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage by Amy Klobuchar , 275 pages. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House Children’s Books), 2018. $18.99 Language: R (12 swears, 4 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13 BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH The 48 contributors who have shared their stories have done so to help readers know that they are not alone, that they can overcome the obstacles in their paths, and that they can accomplish anything they want. These men and women have faced biases and bigotry, war and injury, divorce and disability, discouragement and more—and they have chosen to come out of all those hardships on top. They rally around their readers to help each of us know of our worth and fight to become the best we can be, in whatever form that looks like. In reading all the hardships that others have fought through and how a lot of these persisters have only arrived at where they are because of the hardships they faced, I feel ...

Hull Metal Girls by Emily Skrutskie , 311 pages.  Delacorte (Random), 2018.  $18. 9781524770198 Language: R (44 swears, 24 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (implied sex); Violence: PG (some fighting) BUYING ADVISORY:  MS, HS - OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Aisha is desperate to help her little brother – so desperate that she allows the government to transform her into a Scela – a humanoid mechanical charged with upholding order with the vast space-faring fleet that is all that’s left of the human race. Key on the other hand doesn’t remember her life before being transformed, which can be a huge problem when forming a bonding with a group.  Each group member, but especially Key and Aisha have secrets they are eager to keep from the others.  Then they stumble on a secret that the highest level of the Fleet will do anything to stop from being revealed. If you have a science fiction reading clientele, then you definitely need this. ...

Neverworld Wake by Marissa Pessl , 336 pages. Delacorte Press, 2018.  $14. Language: PG (2 swears); Mature Content: PG-13;  Violence: PG-13 BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ADVISABLE.  AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH A year after her boyfriend's untimely death, in an attempt to understand what happened, Beatrice reconnects with her former best friends. After a raucous night out, and a harrowing car crash they are trapped in a never-ending loop of the same 24 hours. The only way out is for the five of them to agree on one person who will live to see the next day. Magical realism at its finest. This book is trippy in the truest sense of the word. I really enjoyed the pacing as well as the way the characters developed, it had all the existential crises of a New Adult book without the superfluous cursing or sex. Really interesting ideas about existence and growth as well as the secrets we keep from those we are closest to. Catherine, Library Teacher

Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All by Various Authors , 386 pages.  Schwartz and Wade (Random House), 2018.   Content: Language: PG (5 swears); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG-13.   BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL   AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH    The six wives of Henry VIII are all given a voice in this fantastic historical fiction.  Katharine of Aragon was from Spain and out of seven childbirths, had only one living heir-Princess Mary.  Henry, in his desperation for a male heir and his lust for women other than his wife, moved onto Anne Boleyn whom he tired of quickly, but she did give him Princess Elizabeth.  After Anne Boleyn was beheaded, Henry fell in love with his proclaimed one true love, Jane Seymour.  After giving Henry a son, Jane died of a blood disease.  In an act to make alliances with Germany, Henry married Anne of Cleves, but was repulsed by her, so he divorced her.  His lecherous heart lead him t...

Slayer by Kiersten White , 416 pages.  Simon and Schuster, JAN 2019.  $19. Language: R (82 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G (some LGBT characters); Violence: PG-13 (lots of fighting) BUYING ADVISORY:  MS, HS - OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Buffy may have broken the world and the rules of magic, but Nina (Athena) and her sister Artemis, the twin daughters of Buffy’s first watcher, and the rest of the members of the Council of Watchers are still watching.  Nina has never been allowed to train as a Watcher and Artemis failed the test. But then Nina is confronted by a demon and she and all of the rest around her realize that Nina was the last Chosen Slayer – given her powers before everything was broken.  So, Nina may be a Slayer, but she has no skills, no training, and her own mother is vehemently against her doing anything Slayer-y. Worse in Nina’s eyes – her secret Watcher is Leo, her childhood crush who has just reappeared a...

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes , 448 pages.  Thomas Nelson, 2018.  $17. Language: G (1 swear, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: g; Violence: PG (some deaths, battles) BUYING ADVISORY:  MS – ADVISABLE; HS - ESSENTIAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Thomas Fawkes may have the Stone Plague, but he is sure that when he gets his Color Mask he will bond with Grey and be able to conquer his disease.  His father, the legendary protector Guy Fawkes, refuses to send his mask, however, and Thomas must trudge to London to find his parent, whom he has never met, and force the gift from him.  In London Thomas finds  a whole different world – one of rebellion and intrigue.  Keepers like Thomas and his father, believe that a person should only bond with only one color.  Igniters, on the other hand, believe that every color should be available to every person with talent.  And the King is an Igniter who is allowing Keepers to be hunted dow...

Survivors Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz by Michael Bornstein and Debbie Bornstein Holinstat, 344 pages.  Farrar Straus Giroux, 2017.  $17.   Content: Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13.   BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ESSENTIAL   AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH    Michael Bornstein was the youngest child to survive Auschwitz.  In this harrowing story, Michael tells of his family’s experience in Poland during World War II.  Michael was born shortly after the war started, but through research among his family members he paints a vivid picture of the losses suffered by Polish Jews.  He explains his father’s role as a mediator between the German soldiers and the Jewish community and his mother’s strength in the work camp as well as Aushwitz.  After Aushwitz is liberated, Michael tells of some of the hardships of coming home and moving on.   I devoured this book in two days.  I listen...

Trouble Never Sleeps (Trouble is a Friend of Mine, #3) by Stephanie Tromly, 300 pages.  Kathy Dawson Books (Penguin), 2018.  $18.   Content: Language: PG-13 (30 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE   AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  Zoe and Digby are still trying to find Digby’s sister who was kidnapped.  They have made a deal with a man who claims to know where Digby’s sister is, but first Zoe and Digby will have to break federal laws to trade information to get the location of Digby’s sister.  Also, there is a carryover problem with the football steroid situation and Digby and Zoe manage to find themselves in trouble again.   I enjoy this series because of the funny dialogue and kooky behavior of the characters.  I like that this final book had resolve but wish there were going to be more books in the series because they are so entertaining.  The mature content is make-...

Trouble Makes a Comeback (Trouble is a Friend of Mine, #2) by Stephanie Tromly, 298 pages.  Kathy Dawson Books (Penguin), 2016.  $18.   Content: Language: PG-13 (38 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE   AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH    Zoe misses Digby ever since he disappeared after their kiss a few months ago, but she has decided to move on and has a jock boyfriend, two new besties, and a “normal” high school experience.  Except, Digby comes back and Zoe can’t help herself, she gets drawn into Digby’s mystery again.  Zoe and Digby along with their friends also come across a steroid drug problem within the high school football team and find themselves in the middle of that mess as well.   In typical Digby and Zoe fashion, this book is full of laughs, suspense and a bit of romance.  I love this series because it makes me laugh and the story line is quick and unexpected....

Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre , 335 pages.  Tor Teen (Macmillian), 2018.  $18.   Content: Language: R (125+ swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   BUYING ADVISORY: HS- OPTIONAL   AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH    Liv and her best friend Morgan are in a serious car accident and when Liv wakes up she is inside Morgan’s body.  Liv’s own physical body is dead and Morgan is gone as well, so Liv has to figure out how to be Morgan.  Soon, Liv realizes that Morgan was keeping a lot of dark secrets as she was trying to solve the mystery of her mother’s death, so if Liv can’t keep ahead of the clues she doesn’t know what will become of her new life.   I couldn’t put this book down.  At first it’s a little weird that they traded bodies, but the author does a great job building this story.  I enjoyed Liv, the mystery, and the romance.  The content is a high swear count, heavy make-out sessions that borde...

An Assassin’s Guide to Love and Treason by Virginia Boecker , 373 pages.  Little Brown and Company, 2018.  $18.   Content: Language: R (27 swears; 5 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   BUYING ADVIOSRY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL   AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH    Katherine’s life is turned upside down when her father is caught, and killed for practicing Catholicism in England during Queen Elizabeth’s Protestant reign.  Fleeing for her life, Katherine goes to London and connects with other prominent men who have secretly worshiped and she agrees to be a player in a plan to assassinate the queen.  Toby is a spy for the queen and catches word that there is going to be an attempt on Elizabeth’s life, so he devises a way to lure the assassins out through a carefully written play by William Shakespeare.  Toby and Katherine are both caught off guard when their paths cross and they realize their similarities and differences. ...

Price of Duty by Todd Strasser , 177 pages.  Simon, 2018. $18. Language: PG-13 (21 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (one passing scatological reference); Violence: PG-13 (some blood and shooting) BUYING ADVISORY:  MS – OPTIONAL, HS - ESSENTIAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Jake may have come home for the Middle East a war hero, but he feels like anything but.  His demons haunt him night and day.  His girlfriend has been faithful, but is she ready to live with a man fundamentally changed?  And Jake has big decisions to make – is he willing to go AWOL and not return to that nightmare.  It would devastate his grandfather, who is a very big deal in their military proud town, but it might just save his life. There cannot be enough books that shed light on the honest costs of war.  Not only is this essential to have in your library, but it should also be taught. Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout, 366 pages.  Tor Teen (Macmillan), 2018.  $19.   Content: Language: R (124 swears; 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.   BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL   AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH    Evie knows that she shouldn’t go into the shady club that her mom would disapprove of, but she does it anyway and it changes her life.  Evie meets a handsome boy at the club named Luc, but she can tell that he isn’t completely human.  After the devastation of the Luxen war, the humans did win and the Luxen, or alien race, is under strict rules, but when Evie gets pulled into Luc’s world she begins to understand that the humans don’t have as much control as they think.   The Darkest Star is a spin off from Armentrout’s Lux series and Luc is one of the minor characters from that series.  I loved the Lux series, so it was fun to go back into that world and Armentrout writes characters with...

To Be Honest by Maggie Ann Martin , 289 pages. Swoon Reads (Macmillan), 2018. $17. Language: R (37 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G   BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Savannah is a smart, snarky, school newspaper reporter who just happens to be plus sized. Her sister Ashley has left for college and now she is alone with her weight-obsessed mother. After her parent’s divorced, her mother was on an extreme weight loss TV show and they want to film a follow up at their house. Savvy reluctantly agrees to be filmed with her mother, but the edited and aired TV clip isn’t flattering to Savvy. Meanwhile, a cute, younger guy named George needs help with math and Savvy becomes his tutor. Sparks fly, but will Savvy’s own insecurities keep her from the perfect guy? Or will her mom’s unhealthy obsession with weight continue to spiral out of control? Savannah doesn’t allow herself to be defined by her size. She is both confident AND insecure, which I thought pe...

Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman , 390 pages.  Simon & Schuster, 2018.  $19.   Language: R (77 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (beatings, dead bodies,  murder) BUYING ADVISORY:  HS, MS - OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH What happens to humanity when the taps really do run dry?  Alyysa’s idyllic Southern California life is turned on its head when exactly that happens.  And when her parents don’t come home after going in pursuit of water, she and her little brother, plus their neighbor Kelton must figure out how to survive.  Some people will step up and be heroes, but others will descend into the chaos. A heady mix of good and bad as everyone is trying to survive. The Shusterman father-son duo take a long cynical look at life in the “civilized” world when life goes horribly wrong.  There is a long list of excellent books for middle grade about such topics (Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew ...

Mayfly by Jeff Sweat , 355 pages.  Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2018.  $18. Language: R (53 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (mild sex talk); Violence: PG-13 (fighting, cannibalism mentioned) BUYING RECOMMENDATION: MS, HS - OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Jemma and others in the Holy Wood just barely manage to keep a living going.  But in a world where you are going to die when you turn 17, and sometimes earlier, all life is desperate.  AT 15 Jenna is supposed to become a Mama - doing her part to produce a new generation.  But if Jemma doesn’t escape, then Apple, the best friend, the boy she is just beginning to realize that she likes in a different way than just “rolling” will die.Together Jemma, Apple, Lady, Pico, the refugee from the Malibus, and even the strange Palo they find themselves saddled with, must journey across hostile territories.  Jemma knows there are answers out there -- somewhere.  Maybe m...