Let me fill you in on a couple books you should be on the look out for in the next few weeks, as well as two that you can already find on shelves.
First up is April Henry's latest thriller,
The Girl I Used to Be. Henry is the author of favorites
Girl Stolen, The Girls Who Was Supposed to Die, and
The Body in the Woods - all Truman nominees (and
Girl Stolen won). I expect we will see
The Girl I Used to Be nominated for the 2017-18 awards, but we'll have to wait awhile to find out! In
The Girl I Used to Be, Olivia has to go back and re-live a violent past. Seventeen and emancipated after several years in the foster system, Olivia thinks she has her life on track when her past returns to haunt her. When Olivia was 3, her mother was brutally murdered and her father was suspected of committing the crime, but when her father's bones turn up in the vicinity of where her mother was found, it is clear that he has been falsely accused for all these years. Olivia decides to go back to where she came from, and when she does, memories of the past start to return...but if the murderer finds out, will Olivia become the next victim? This is a fast-paced mystery, and if you already like April Henry, she won't disappoint you with this one. The only thing you may find disappointing is that this book is not out on shelves yet. I got to read an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley. You'll be able to find it on shelves on May 3rd.
Another title you might be interested in is Cindy Anstey's historical romance,
Love, Lies, & Spies. This book takes place in 1800's England when England is at war with France and Napoleon Bonaparte. Juliana Telford is not your typical young lady...she's more interested in her scientific research of bugs than gowns and balls and boys. However, she decides to use the excuse of a "season" in London in order to get her research published. Spencer Northam is not interested in marriage either, but in his secret spy work for the War Office, he is determined to take down the traitors who are passing on information to France illegally. When the suspects turn out to be the family Juliana is spending time with, Juliana and Spencer agree to pretend interest in one another...her so she can avoid other suitors and him (unknowing to Juliana) to spy on his suspects. Of course, romance ensues whether they want it to or not. This was a fun read. This book is also not published quite yet...it will be out on April 19th...only a little over a week away. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.
This next book is one of the Truman nominees for next year that I didn't get a chance to read during the voting process a few months ago.
Just a Drop of Water, by Kerry O'Malley Cerra is a story about Jake, an 8th grader who is caught in the midst of an unexpected struggle after the events of 9-11 in 2001. All Jake cared about was getting to be captain of the cross country team for his 8th grade year with his best friend, Sam. Jake doesn't love cross country, but his coach requires him to participate in it, if he wants to be on the track team in the spring. When Jake loses the captain's spot to a new student, he's already angry. But when 9-11 happens and the whole world goes crazy, Jake doesn't know how to deal with it. His best friend Sam's family has a Muslim heritage, so when Sam's dad is taken in for questioning by the FBI, Sam becomes a target at school. Jake tries to stick up for Sam and his family, but Sam won't hardly talk to him either. This story will take you through what it was like to experience 9-11 through the eyes of a boy who is forced to grow up and learn what's really important. You can find this book at MCPL, on our shelves at CMS, or through Park Hill's Overdrive.
Finally, for all you fans of Kiera Cass and
The Selection series, let me share with you about Cass' first novel
The Siren that was just re-published for a more widespread audience. In
The Siren, we meet Kahlen, who survived a shipwreck caused by sirens and was made a siren in order to serve the ocean. Each siren must serve the ocean for 100 years, then can return to a normal life, but for those 100 years, sirens must call people to their deaths on the ocean in order to feed the ocean and save the rest of humanity. Kahlen has served for 80 years when she meets Akinli. She knows that she can't fall in love, but after a particularly bad night of death and destruction, Kahlen escapes the ocean to spend just one day with Akinli. Little does she know that this day could lead to both of their destructions. If you like Kiera Cass, then you'll likely enjoy her first novel. You can find copies on MCPL's shelves or through their Overdrive.
