IN THIS ISSUE:

Highly anticipated titles publishing in the Spring and Summer of 2016, curated by the SLJ review editors

t is one of the great benefits of living and working in New York City that the other editors and I, along with a small group of local librarians, get invited to publisher previews each season. Here at our editorial offices, the change of seasons also sees many publishers stopping by to present upcoming titles. As a result, we often know what new books are com-ing out months before the general public, from the latest offerings by favorite picture book authors to daring YA debuts and everything in between. This brand-new Sneak Peek guide is

our gift to you—a way to share some of the titles we are most excited about seeing next season. While we have already read and reviewed a handful of titles included in this guide, the vast majority were select-

ed by the editors based upon the reputation of the author/illustrator, the intriguing subject matter, or a certain je ne sais quoi about a particular title that struck our fancy. We limited ourselves to 100 books—a number that represents only a fraction of the new titles coming out in spring 2016—and tried to offer a balanced mix of popular works that most librarians will want to buy as well as more under-the-radar offerings that will help diversify collections.

Mixed in with our curated lists of titles to watch for are several author interviews and a handy key to which new books will be given away as free galleys at major upcoming conferences. (Whenever possible, we also noted if the author/illustrator will be making appearances at those events.)

We hope that you’ll find this guide useful. We encourage you to share your feedback—as well as your own hotly anticipated titles for spring 2016—by tweeting @sljournal using #SLJSneakPeek.

Staying Ahead of the CurveF R O M T H E E D I T O R

I

Kiera Parrott, Reviews EditorSchool Library Journal

C O N T E N T S

Picture Books & Beginning Readers .............2

Chapter Books ......................5

Middle Grade Fiction ............6

YA Fiction ..............................9

Elementary Nonfiction ........13

Middle-to-High School Nonfiction ........................14

Graphic Novels ...................16

Galleys or ARCs will be given away at the American Library Association Conference in June 2016 in Orlando

Key Galleys or ARCs will be given away at Book Expo America in May 2016 in Chicago Author signing event

[2]

seeking. This gorgeously illustrated picture book has already received an SLJ star. PDF galley available on Edelweiss: http://ow.ly/WtH5P.

Horrible Bear! By Ame Dyckman, illus. by Zachariah OHora. Little,

Brown. (Apr.) A new offering by the team that brought us the adorable and hilarious Wolfie the Bunny, an SLJ Best Book of 2015. Digital galley available at: http://littlebrownlibrary.com/egalleys.

Rain Fish By Lois Ehlert, illus. by author. S. & S./Beach Lane. (Apr.) The Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator puts her considerable collage-art talents to work in a new story that encourages young readers to get to know the “rain fish” that come to life during rainstorms.

Buddy and Earl Go ExploringBy Maureen Fergus, illus. by Carey Sookocheff.

Groundwood. (Mar.) Buddy and Earl are safely tucked in for the night; Buddy on his blanket and Earl in his cage. But just as Buddy settles in for a nice, long sleep,

Surf’s Up! By Kwame Alexander, illus. by Daniel Miyares. North-

South. (Feb.)Bro and Dude, two frog friends, have differing ideas about what makes for a fun day at the beach. A joyful and humor-filled ode to the magic of imagination and reading, with text by the incomparable Kwame Alexander and vibrant art by talented up-and-comer Daniel Miyares.

Thunder Boy Jr. By Sherman Alexie, illus. by Yuyi Morales. Little,

Brown. (May)Dad is called Big Thunder, so Thunder Boy Jr. decides he needs a cool name that’s all his own—Not Afraid of Ten Thousand Teeth, or Full of Wonder. Text by Sherman Alexie and eye-pop-ping art by Yuyi Morales. Digital galley available at: http://littlebrownlibrary.com/egalleys.

Have You Seen Elephant? By David Barrow, illus. by author. Gecko Pr. (Mar.)Elephant wants to play hide and seek. Though readers will deduce that his hiding skills aren’t all that good, his human friend plays along.

Chuck and Woodchuck By Cece Bell, illus. by author. Candlewick. (Mar.)A sweet and offbeat story about two shy first graders and the woodchuck who helps them become friends, from the award-winning creator of El Deafo.

The White Cat and The Monk By Jo Ellen Bogart, illus. by Sydney Smith. Ground-

wood. (Mar.)A monk studies his books late into the evening and searches for truth in their pages. His cat, Pangur, leads a simple life, too, chasing prey in the darkness. As night turns to dawn, Pangur leads his companion to the truth he has been

Picture Books & Beginning Readers

[3]

Earl says it’s time to say “Bon voyage.” This is the second installment in the charming “Buddy and Earl” picture book series. PDF galley avail-able on Edelweiss: http://ow.ly/W1XlY.

The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank’s WindowBy Jeff Gottesfeld, illus. by Peter Reynolds. Knopf. (Mar.)Told from the viewpoint of the tree that grew outside Anne Frank’s window, this is a gentle introduction to Frank’s story for young readers, with illustrations by the talented Peter Reynolds.

When Spring ComesBy Kevin Henkes, illus. by Laura Dronzek. HarperCol-

lins/Greenwillow. (Mar.)The award-winning husband-and-wife team of Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek collaborates for the first time since their acclaimed Birds (Harper-Collins, 2009) in this celebration of the season.

Flora and the PeacocksBy Molly Idle, illus. by author. Chronicle. (May)Everyone’s favorite little dancer is back—this time with a pair of peacocks. Flora soons real-izes that the dynamics of three friends can be a

delicate dance. Will this trio find a way to get back in step? Digital galley available at: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/egalleys.

Moon’s Messenger By Virginia Kroll, illus. by Zuzanna Celej. Cuento de

luz. (Mar.) The story of an endangered sea turtle that reminds readers of the importance of protecting biodiversity. Will be available in both English and Spanish. PDF galley available via Edelweiss: http://ow.ly/W1XHE.

Ursa’s Light By Deborah Marcero, illus. by author. Peter Pauper.

(Feb.)The story of a bear who dreams big. This is one of the first acquisitions by Peter Pauper Press, a publisher known for gift and novelty books that is now stretching into the picture book market. This first frontlist title looks promising—a small press to keep an eye on.

Waiting for High Tide By Nikki McClure, illus. by author. Abrams. (Apr.)McClure’s signature two-color art offers a beau-tiful ode to life lived in harmony with nature and by the labor of one’s own hands.

The WhaleBy Vita Murrow, illus. by Ethan Murrow. Candlewick. (Apr.)Realistic and detailed graphite drawings cap-ture an ocean-faring, imaginative drama in this wordless picture book.

Parachute By Danny Parker, illus. Matt Ottley. Eerdmans. (Mar.)Toby has a fear of heights, so he takes his parachute everywhere—on the top bunk of his bed and at the playground swings. But when his cat gets stuck up a tree, Toby must summon the courage to overcome his fear. Illustrator Matt Ottley is one of Australia’s most prolific and beloved children’s book artists.

The Artist and MeBy Shane Peacock, illus. by Sophie Casson. Owlkids. (Apr.)A powerful bullying story rooted in the life of painter Vincent van Gogh. PDF galley available via Edelweiss: http://ow.ly/W22JX.

Are We There Yet?By Dan Santat, illus. by author. Little, Brown. (Apr.)A bored kid asks the titular question while on an epically long car ride in this inventive new picture book from the Caldecott-winning

[4]

creator of Beekle. Digital galley available at: http://littlebrownlibrary.com/egalleys. A Q&A with the Incomparable Hervé Tullet

by Mahnaz DarInnovative Parisian author and illustrator Hervé Tullet has a hotly anticipated new picture book out this March, Let’s Play. At the publication of his last book, Mix It Up (both Chronicle, 2014), SLJ’s Mahnaz Dar spoke with Tullet about his thought-provoking works of art. The full interview is available at http://ow.ly/W51f2.

You initially worked as an art director for several years. How did you first get into writing children’s books?It was a combination of things. But most important was that I was going to be a father for the first time. I wanted my child to see me [in a new way], so I jumped into illustration. When I was [working on] children’s books [initially], it was during my free time—it wasn’t my work. Children’s books were always an experiment.

Can you talk about your creative process? What is your studio like?My studio is my airplane when I’m traveling. My studio is my shower. My studio is my brain. Of course, I’ve got an [actual] studio in Paris…. It’s not so big. But I need it when I have to draw. I’m not obsessed with drawing everyday. [But] my studio is definitely my brain.

How do you approach your presentations with kids?It’s the same in [a presentation] as it is with my books—everybody can come and play. Usually I’ve got a megaphone, and I give very simple prompts. I feel the audience, and I try to [set] a kind of rhythm with my voice. It turns into a kind of dance, because if I say, “Just do a dot,” you can see the gestures of the people, and it turns into something quite fun and interesting at the end.

Is it hard to work with kids from different countries?It’s never hard. In each country, [there’s a different] kind of population—it could be wealthy or underprivileged—but what doesn’t change is that there are [people coming to me], be-cause they want to do something. I’ve got very simple and basic material. I’m coming with my squiggles, I’m coming with my dots, I’m coming with my splotches and stains. I’m coming with basic materials that everyone can [use]. One of my favorite sentences is, “So now what do I do.” Because we are going to do something together. We find the way together. [At first, going into schools,] I didn’t want them to draw, because I thought it was filler. But I began to play when I was talking, [such as asking] a child to come and draw with me. [Now my workshop are] some-thing very collective, and we share something, and it turns into an experience.

Your books seem so simple yet you’ve managed to really interact with readers. How do you do it?It started with my first book, Comment Papa a recontré Maman (Seuil Jeunesse, 2002). I can explain all of my books through this one. When I created this book, I understood that [there were three elements]: the book, someone who can read it (an adult), and the child. The book will talk to [both] of them. I used to say that I create empty books or books with blanks. I knew that everybody would be able to add something. What is interesting is what they will add, the child or the adult.

Were books a big part of your own childhood?I discovered books quite late. I think I was saved by very good teachers. When I was a teenager, I didn’t understand the world around me. A teacher [turned me on to] surrealism, and I discovered art, cinema, and museums.

Ballet Cat: Dance! Dance!Underpants!By Bob Shea, illus. by author. Disney-Hyperion. (Feb.)The second installment in the chuckle-in-ducing and in-house favorite new easy reader series by the author of Dinosaur vs. Bedtime. Digital galley available for request via Netgal-ley: http://ow.ly/W1ZAH.

There Is a Tribe of KidsBy Lane Smith, illus. by author. Macmillan/Roaring

Brook. (May)When a young boy embarks on a journey alone, he trails a colony of penguins, undulates in a smack of jellyfish, clasps hands with a constel-lation of stars, naps for a night in a bed of clams, and follows a trail of shells, home to his tribe of friends. Smith’s signature artwork and sensitivity shine in this latest work.

[5]

Chapter Books

icle) uses a playful little dot to explore feel-ings and emotions. Digital galley available at: http://www.chroniclebooks.com/egalleys.

The Thank You BookBy Mo Willems, illus. by author. Disney-Hyperion. (May)

The very last book in the award-winning and beloved “Elephant and Piggie” series! Piggie wants to thank EVERYONE. But Gerald is worried Piggie will forget someone …someone important.

Ideas Are All AroundBy Philip C. Stead, illus. by author. Macmillan /Roar-

ing Brook. (Mar.) (ALA Signing)As the author and his dog, Wednesday, walk through their neighborhood, they look at sun-flowers, say hi to a turtle, and watch a train rum-ble by as they walk to their friend’s big purple house. Ideas are born and carried forward, often transforming into other thoughts and inspira-tions. A gorgeous answer to the age-old question, where do ideas come from? This newest offering from the talented Stead has already received an SLJ star. PDF galley available via Edelweiss: http://ow.ly/W1XRV.

Harry and WalterBy Kathy Stinson, illus. by Qin Leng. Annick. (Mar.) (ALA) A little boy and an elderly neighbor become best friends. They do everything together in this multigenerational tale until one day, a For Sale sign appears on the boy’s front lawn.

Let’s Play By Hervé Tullet, illus. by author. Chronicle. (Mar.)The ingenious artist who brought readers Press Here (2011) and Mix It Up (2014, both Chron-

or illustrations by “Ivy and Bean” illustrator, Sophie Blackall.

The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny HoardBy Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illus. by LeUyen

Pham. Candlewick. (Feb.)It’s a case of monstrous cuteness as the Princess in Black encounters her biggest challenge yet: a field overrun by adorable bunnies.

Waylon! One Awesome Thing By Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Marla Frazee. Dis-

ney-Hyperion. (Apr.) (ALA)The creative team behind the “Clementine” books (Disney-Hyperion) launches a new series starring Waylon, Clementine’s science-obsessed classmate. This first entry in the series has already received an SLJ star. Digital galley avail-

Noodlehead Nightmaresby Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, and Mitch Weiss,

illus.by Tedd Arnold. Holiday House. (Mar.) (ALA)Brothers Mac and Mac star in this collection of bedtime stories inspired by folktales about fools from around the world, with chuckle-worthy cartoon art by the author/illustrator of the wildly popular “Fly Guy” books.

The Witches of Benevento: Mischief SeasonBy John Bemelmans Marciano, illus. by Sophie Black-

all. Viking. (Apr.) Five children conspire to outwit the legendary witches of Benevento, supernatural beings who cause mischief in a small Italian town in this brand new chapter book series with full-col-

Middle Gradeable for request via Netgalley: https://s2.netgal-ley.com/catalog/book/77528.

The Otter by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Preston McDaniels. S. &

S./Beach Lane. (Mar.)The sixth installment in the charming “Light-house Family” illustrated chapter book series. In this entry, an otter is trapped in an old fishing net and the family must devise a plan to free her.

The Firefly CodeBy Megan Frazer Blakemore. Bloomsbury. (May)The author of the 2013 sleeper hit, The Water Castle (Bloomsbury), returns to speculative fiction in this new middle grade work that has been compared to The Giver.

The Wild Robot By Peter Brown, illus. by author. Little, Brown, (Apr.) Roz the robot survives a hurricane at sea when her shipping crate crashes onto a deserted island. With only her computer programming to rely on, Roz must adapt and survive in the wilderness. When she takes an orphaned gosling under her care, Roz truly builds connections to her animals neighbors and the land they all call home. Brown’s first foray into middle grade fiction, complemented

by his own illustrations throughout, has already received an SLJ star. A digital galley is available at: http://littlebrownlibrary.com/egalleys.

Simon Thorn and the Wolf’s Den By Aimée Carter. Bloomsbury. (Feb.)The first book in a new series about a boy who learns he’s part of a secret race of animal

They’re Baker Bound and Taylor Tough!

Contact us at pawprints@baker-taylor.com with questions, special requests, or to obtain ordering information. Also remember to visit our website, www.baker-taylor.com/pawprints, to see our seasonal Paw Prints promotions, with links to order forms, selection lists, and more.

Lifetime Guaranteed Binding Identifiable Paw Prints Logo Popular, High-Circulating Titles

Collection Development Support Cataloging Provided More than 50,000 Titles Now Available

Paw Prints®

prebinds provide:

back lining for strengthThe spines of text-blocks are lined with cotton cloth having no less than 38 filling threads per inch, exceeding the Library Binding Institute specifications.

all acid-free paperAll paper used in end sheet construction is acid-free and meets ANSI standards for permanence of paper for printed library materials.

durable spine inlaysSpine inlays made of acid-free paperboard with the grain running parallel to the spine of the case.

paw prints logoEasily identifiable Paw Prints logo and unique ISBN.

reinforced binding Materials All adhesive bound materials are reinforced with a cotton/polyester back lining material providing extra strength and durability, particularly in the cover joint area where stresses are great.

durable adhesive andside-sewn bindingsBindings are typically side-sewn when volumes are under 3/8 inch thickness. Volumes that are over 3/8 inch thickness are either double-fan adhesive or PUR solvent-based adhesive bound. All of these bindings meet the Library Binding Institute specifications.

[7]

finds himself alone in New York City. He meets the boys of the infamous Bandits’ Roost, who teach him the art of pickpocketing. From the author of The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death, and a Boy Called Eel (Knopf), a 2013 SLJ Best Book.

The Secrets of SolaceBy Jaleigh Johnson. Delacorte. (Mar.) The anxiously awaited follow-up to The Mark of the Dragonfly (Delacorte, 2014). Lina Winterbock lives in the mountain strongholds of Solace and works as an apprentice to the archivists. While exploring one of the forgotten chambers, Lina discovers a secret—a half-buried airship.

The Land of Forgotten GirlsBy Erin Entrada Kelly. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. (Mar.)From the author of 2015’s Blackbird Fly, an SLJ Best Book selection, comes the story of Soledad and Ming, two sisters from the Phil-ippines who live in Louisiana with their evil stepmother, Vea. All Sol and Ming have is each other and their stories. An early starred review from SLJ described its appeal to “a broad array of readers, as it has a little bit of everything—fantasy, realism, sisterhood, friendship, suspense, and humor.”

Dreambender By Ronald Kidd. Albert Whitman. (Mar.)Jeremy Finn is a dreambender, whose job is to adjust people’s dreams—deleting thoughts of art or music. But when he pop’s into Callie’s dream and finds her singing, he begins to ques-tion everything.

shape shifters. An early review from SLJ called it “unique...unpredictable, and entertaining.”

Grayling’s Song By Karen Cushman. HMH/Clarion. (Jun.)A new novel by Newbery award-winning author Karen Cushman is always cause for celebration. This latest work, featuring a girl named Grayling with a “wise woman” for a mother, has ample doses of magic and humor.

Raymie NightingaleBy Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick. (Apr.)Reigning national ambassador of children’s literature and beloved, award-winning author Kate DiCamillo brings to life Raymie Clarke, a girl who decides that if she can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie’s picture in the paper and (maybe) come home.

Hour of the Bees By Lindsay Eager. Candlewick. (Mar.)Twelve-year-old Carol is spending her summer in the middle of the New Mexico desert, helping

her parents move the grandfather she’s never met into a home for people with dementia. She soon finds herself drawn to Grandpa Serge’s crazy sto-ries he tells her about a healing tree, a green-glass lake, and the bees that will bring back the rain and end a hundred years of drought.

The Lie Tree By Frances Hardinge. Abrams/Amulet. (Apr.)Award-winning author of SLJ Best Book of 2015 Cuckoo Song (Abrams) and Fly By Night (HarperCollins, 2006), Hardinge offers another atmospheric tale. Faith’s father has been found dead under mysterious circumstances, and as she searches for clues, she discovers a strange tree that only bears fruit when one whispers lies to it. The fruit of the tree, when eaten, delivers a hidden truth to the person who consumes it—and Faith is determined to uncover the hidden truth behind her father’s untimely passing.

A Bandit’s Tale: The Muddled Misadventures of a Pickpocket By Deborah Hopkinson. Random. (Apr.)Eleven-year-old Rocco, an Italian immigrant,

[8]

The Girl in the Well is MeBy Karen Rivers. Algonquin. (Mar.)A new girl to a small Texas town trying to impress a clique of popular girls gets stuck in a well. As she waits for rescue, she thinks about her recent past—as hallucinations begin to mix into her memories.

Paper WishesBy Lois Sepahban. Farrar. (Jan.)After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Manami and her family are relocated to an internment camp in the desert—and her dog Yujiin must be left behind. She writes letters to her friend, hoping that he somehow survived and will be reunited with her one day. A heartrending tale that has already garnered an SLJ star.

The Storyteller By Aaron Starmer. Farrar. (Mar.)The final installment in Starmer’s captivating and psychedelic “The Riverman” trilogy. The second book in the series, The Whisper, was selected as a 2015 SLJ Best Book. An early review of this last entry calls it “a great recommendation for fans of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, or Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.”

The Key to Extraordinary By Natalie Lloyd. Scholastic. (Feb.)Everyone in Emma’s family discovers their extraordinary destiny through a dream. For Emma, her own dream can’t come soon enough—she promised her dying mother that she’d fulfill her destiny at all costs. But when Emma’s dream finally arrives, it points her toward an impossible task. This is the highly anticipated second novel from the author of A Snicker of Magic (Scholastic, 2014).

The Remarkable Journey of Charlie PriceBy Jennifer Maschari. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. (Feb.)Charlie’s mother died and his best friend disap-peared the same year. Just as he’s starting to put his life back together, the impossible happens. His sister Imogen finds a mysterious door under her bed and discovers a parallel world where their mother is alive. Reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, “fans of both fantasy and realistic fiction will enjoy this painful but ultimately triumphant multi-layered novel.” [SLJ starred review].

The Seventh WishBy Kate Messner. Bloomsbury. (Jun.)In Messner’s latest, a girl named Charlie discov-ers a wish-granting fish. But the old adage, “be careful what you wish for,” seems to ring true. A careful dash of magical fantasy is grounded in a realistic setting.

The Wishing DayBy Lauren Myracle. HarperCollins. (May)Best-selling author Lauren Myracle’s first book in a new trilogy about three sisters and a magi-cal wish-granting willow tree.

PaxBy Sara Pennypacker, illus. by Jon Klassen. HarperCol-

lins. (Feb.)The author of the exuberant “Clementine” series presents a viscerally affecting story of war, loss, and the power of friendship between a boy and his beloved pet fox, Pax. This deeply affect-ing title has already received an SLJ star—and is generating award-level buzz.

[9]

The Great American WhateverBy Tim Federle. S.&S. (Mar.)Federlites rejoice! In his first book for a YA au-dience, Federle introduces Quinn, a teen in the grip of grief after the accidental death of his older sister. Through good friends and writing, the teen finds his way through the darkness. At turns sad, awkward, and funny, this has already garnered an SLJ star.

Where You’ll Find MeBy Natasha Friend. Farrar. (Mar.)In the space of one year, Anna’s parents divorced, her dad and stepmother had a baby, her BFF de-clared their friendship over, and her mother tried to commit suicide. An honest and poignant look at growing up and having a parent with mental illness. This work perfect for the middle school set has already received an SLJ star.

The Dark Days ClubBy Alison Goodman. Viking. (May)The first of a new series, this is a genre-blending mix of Regency romance with supernatural

YA

action. Lady Helen Wexhall is an 18-year-old girl preparing for her first season of parties and social affairs. But when a housemaid goes missing, Hel-en finds herself investigating a cabal of demons.

The Girl From EverywhereBy Heidi Heilig. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. (Feb.)Nix has spent all of her 16 years as a time-travel-ling pirate aboard a physical ship, navigating into the margins of historical maps to reach her father’s ultimate goal—Honolulu in 1868, the time and place of Nix’s birth, to save her mother who died when she was born. But if her father saves her mother, will Nix no longer exist?

Girl in the Blue CoatBy Monica Hesse. Little, Brown. (Apr.) A World War II thriller described as “Code Name Verity meets Gone Girl.” Downloadable e-galley available at: http://littlebrownlibrary.com/egalleys.

The Smell of Other People’s Houses By Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock. Random/Wendy Lamb. (Feb.)In the 1970s, in Fairbanks, AK, four teenagers finds their lives intersecting in unexpected ways. An early SLJ review of this debut novel praises it as “extremely authentic, [written] by an author who is a fourth generation Alaskan.”

We Are the AntsBy Shaun Hutchinson. S. & S./Simon Pulse. (Jan.)Funny, haunting, and surreal, this is a

The Rose and the Dagger By Renée Ahdieh. Putnam. (May)The eagerly awaited sequel to 2015’s lush and thrilling The Wrath and the Dawn (Putnam), an atmospheric retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. In a starred review, SLJ praised the first book for its strong world-building, swoony romance, and beautifully integrated elements of Middle Eastern culture.

The Star-Touched QueenBy Roshani Chokshi. Macmillan/ St. Martin’s Griffin.

(May) A retelling of the Persephone myth with elements of Indian folklore. When 16-year-old Maya is entered into an arranged marriage, she sud-denly becomes the queen on Arkaran, a mysterious land with many secrets. She suspects her life may be in danger and must fight her way through the Underworld in order to protect the people she loves. A digital PDF is available via Edelweiss: http://ow.ly/WgjaT.

Lady MidnightBy Cassandra Clare. S. & S./Margaret K. McElderry

Bks. (Mar.)A brand new series set in the universe of Clare’s wildly popular “Mortal Instruments” series. Emma Carstairs is a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents. Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica.

Aman

Sha

rma

[10]

mind-bending and philosophical exploration for fans of Kurt Vonnegut and Andrew Smith. Henry’s life is complicated. In addition to complex family drama, he is regularly abducted by aliens who drop him off naked in various locations throughout the city. The aliens’ latest ultimatum involves offering Henry the oppor-tunity to save the world from obliteration by simply pressing a red button. The catch? Henry isn’t so sure the world is worth saving. This has already received an SLJ starred review.

Exit, Pursued by a BearE.K. Johnston. Dutton. (Mar.)After a sexual assault takes place at camp, Her-mione Winters is forced to reconcile her goals with her new reality and decide what course her life will take. Competitive cheerleading pro-vides a unique and compelling backdrop to this modern take on Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale.”

Whisper to MeBy Nick Lake. Bloomsbury. (May)The latest from Printz award-winner Nick Lake. Cassie tells the story of the summer she nearly lost herself through letters to the boy whose heart she broke.

You Know Me WellBy David Levithan and Nina LaCour. Macmillan/ St.

Martin’s Griffin. (Jun.)Two powerhouse YA authors team up to tell a friendship story set over the course of pride week in San Francisco. Mark is in love with his best friend—who may or may not feel the same about him. Kate is struggling to reconcile her feelings for the girl she’s loved from afar. A digital PDF is available via Edelweiss: http://ow.ly/WgisS.

A Fierce and Subtle Poison By Samantha Mabry. Algonquin. (Apr.)Lucas, 17, starts receiving letters from Isabel, the “cursed girl,” whom the senoras say can kill with a touch, who feeds on poisonous plants, and who can grant wishes. Lucas soon finds himself drawn into Isabel’s strange and seductive world. Ele-ments of magical realism and mystery combine in this YA novel for fans of Nova Ren Suma’s The Walls Around Us (Algonquin, 2015).

You Were Here By Cori McCarthy. Sourcebooks/ Fire. (Mar.) To help cope with her daredevil brother’s death, Jaycee Strangelove and her oddball group of friends spend the summer before college trying to replicate all of his stunts. Narrated in prose, graphic novel panels, and word art poetry. From the author of 2015’s Breaking Sky (Sourcebooks/Fire), which received an SLJ star.

Burn Baby BurnBy Meg Medina. Candlewick. (Mar.) From the author of Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (Candlewick, 2013), comes a work of YA historical fiction set during New York’s infamous summer of 1977. Nora Lopez just wants is to turn 18 and be on her own, but while there is a cute new guy who started working with her at the deli, is dating even worth the risk when a killer likes picking off couples who stay out too late?

A Tangle of GoldBy Jaclyn Moriarty. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks.

(Mar.)The eagerly awaited conclusion to the “Co-lours of Madeleine” series that began with A Corner of White (Scholastic, 2013), an SLJ Best Book. Worlds apart and with time running out, Madeleine and Elliot find themselves on a col-lision course to save the Kingdom they love.

This Is Where It EndsBy Marieke Nijkamp. Sourcebooks/Fire. (Jan.)This novel takes place over the course of 54 tense

[11]

minutes, as four main characters narrate their har-rowing experiences during a school shooting.

Where Futures End By Parker Peevyhouse. Penguin/Kathy Dawson Bks. (Feb.)In this series of interconnected novellas, Peevy-house tackles ideas about technology, the envi-ronment, time, other worlds, and how we relate to each other. An early starred review from SLJ recommends this debut to “fans of Marcus Sedgwick’s Winterblood (Roaring Brook, 2013) or M.T. Anderson’s Feed (Candlewick, 2002).”

Every Exquisite Thing By Matthew Quick. Little, Brown. (May)The New York Times best-selling author of The Silver Linings Playbook (Farrar, 2008) and Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock (Little, Brown, 2013) offers a story of rebellion and its cost that will appeal to fans of Stephen Chbosky and John Green. High schooler Nanette acts out against her quiet suburban life only to realize those choices also come with a price. Downloadable e-galley avail-able at: http://littlebrownlibrary.com/egalleys.

Worlds Turned Upside Down in “This Is Where It Ends”by Amanda MacGregor

Marieke Nijkamp’s gripping debut novel spans the 54 minutes that students are held hostage in an auditorium during a school shooting. Narrated by four characters with ties to the shooter—his sister, her girlfriend, an adversary, and the shooter’s ex-girlfriend—Nijkamp uses flashbacks to explore the characters’ backgrounds as well as to piece together what led up to this devastating event full of terror and bravery. “Teen Librarian Toolbox” blogger Amanda MacGregor caught up with Nijkamp and discussed her inspirations and research. The full interview can be found on slj.com.

What research did you have to do for this novel? A lot of research[....] For every hour I spent writing, I spent (at least) another researching. I read firsthand accounts of shootings, I listened to 911 calls, I plowed through hundreds of pages of investigative reports, I talked to people, I kept up with news and social media feeds as active shooter situations emerged, I familiarized myself with the psychology of being held at gunpoint. As much as possible, I immersed myself in what we know about school shootings (which is both a lot and not a lot at all). And I tried to translate that to the book.

Did any of your research help you better understand the psychology behind these events? And how did that play into the creation of Tyler, the shooter?There are a few characteristics that hold true for almost all shooters. First, shootings rarely happen impulsively; they’re almost always planned in advance. Second, in 80 percent [of the cases], one

or more students knew beforehand the shooting was going to occur. Third, almost all of the shooters are male. Beyond that, we don’t have an accurate profile that fits most shooters. Most struggled with feelings of loss or depression, and most were bullied. But at the same time, most students who struggle with loss or who are bullied never become shooters. The point is, there is no consistent profile. It can be anyone from students who were part of the popular crowd to loners, from honor roll students to troublemakers.

Which meant Tyler, at first, was a puzzle to me. I used some of those characteristics to help me recreate certain pieces, but I mostly used the other characters. Because from the start, Tyler was more than the shooter

alone. He was also a brother, a boyfriend, a student. So I wanted to use those other characters to figure out how they related to Tyler and he to them.

You include text messages, tweets, and blog posts in between chapters. What do you feel these social media aspects add to the story? One of the things that stood out to me was that social media allows us a very close look at these shootings, with tweets and blog posts occurring as the shootings were unfolding. At the same time, however, that all too often leads to a dehumanization of the shootings, too. So many of those tweets were met with reporters fishing for information, or scorn instead of empathy. And I wanted to portray that in the story as well, because it is all part of the way we interact with these situations.

• Explores books, programs, and services for the tweenaged

• Helps librarians better serve middle grade patrons

• Includes collection development pieces, booklists, and innovative programming ideas

Subscribe for free at

SLJ’s latest free monthly newsletter

SLJ.com/2016SUBS

Riders By Veronica Rossi. Tor Teen. (Feb.)Waking up after a terrible accident, Gideon Blake finds himself healing instantaneously and branded with a strange cuff on his wrist. Along with his new superpowers, Gideon seems to be feared by many—he has become War—one of the legendary Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The SLJ starred review called this latest from best-selling author Rossi “intense enough for reluctant readers yet sophisticated enough to entice those who enjoy books with a military background and lots of action.”

Salt to the SeaBy Ruta Sepetys. Philomel. (Feb.)From the author of Between Shades of Gray (2011) and Out of the Easy (2013, both Phi-lomel) comes this fictionalized World War II story based on the true tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff. In alternating narratives, four different teens grapple with the bitter cold, the ever-pres-

ent danger of falling bombs, and their own dark secrets. An early SLJ starred review called it “artfully told and sensitively crafted.”

The Way I Used to BeBy Amber Smith. S. & S./ Margaret K. McElderry Bks.

(Mar.) Eden, a quiet band nerd, is raped by her brother’s

best friend, Kevin, and her entire life is changed. Nothing makes sense. She believes Kevin’s threats and doesn’t tell anyone what happened. The next four years of her life are shaped by that night in large and small ways. An early starred review from SLJ described it as “a poignant book that realistically looks at the lasting effects of trauma in love, relationships, and life.”

[13]

Just a Lucky So-and-So: The Story of Louis Armstrong By Lesa Cline-Ransome, illus.by James Ransome.

Holiday House. (Feb.)A dazzlingly illustrated picture book biography about a young Louis Armstrong.

When Green Becomes Toma-toes: Poems for All SeasonsBy Julie Fogliano, illus. by Julie Morstad. Macmillan/

Roaring Brook. (Mar.) Fogliano (If You Want to See a Whale) and Morstad (This Is Sadie), team up to present a gorgeous collection of poems celebrating the sights, sounds, and smells of each season.

The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation On Trail By Susan E. Goodman, illus. by E.B. Lewis. Blooms-

bury. (Jan.)The inspiring true story of Sarah Roberts, a

The Memory of LightBy Francisco Stork. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks. (Jan.)From the author of Marcello in the Real World (Scholastic, 2009), comes the story of Vicky Cruz, a teen who, after attempting to commit suicide, wakes up in the psychiatric wing of a hospital, trying to decide if life is worth fighting for.

The Darkest CornersBy Kara Thomas. Delacorte. (Apr.) A psychological thriller for fans of Gillian Flynn’s Dark Places (Crown, 2009) and Sara Shepard’s “Pretty Little Liars” (HarperCollins). Tessa and Callie don’t talk about what they saw that fateful night, especially not after the trial. But when Tessa moves back to their Pennsylvania town where everything happened, she starts uncovering the truth--danger.

Highly Illogical BehaviorBy John Corey Whaley. Dial. (May)The latest book from the Printz award–winning author of Where Things Come Back (S. & S., 2011). Sixteen-year-old Solomon is agoraphobic and hasn’t left his house in three years. Lisa, an aspir-ing psychologist, decides to “fix” Solomon. Soon, Lisa, Solomon, and Lisa’s boyfriend, Clark, are closer than any of them ever thought possible.

The Steep and Thorny Way By Cat Winters. Abrams/Amulet. (Mar.)There’s something rotten in 1920s Oregon in this Hamlet-inspired tale of a biracial girl seeking the truth about her African American father’s death. When the drunk driver who killed her father is released, Hanalee starts to look more closely at her small town and the folks who live there. An early starred review from SLJ called it “unique and rivet-ing historical fiction that feels anything but dated.”

Elementary Nonfiction

young African American girl who, in 1847, made history by challenging segregation with-in the public school system in the landmark case, Roberts v. City of Boston.

Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying MachineBy Heather Lang, illus. by Raúl Colón. Boyds Mills/

Calkins Creek. (Mar.) With stunning artwork by Raúl Colón, this picture book biography presents the story of Ruth Law, who, on November 19, 1916, broke the cross-country distance record in her biplane.

The Wildest Race Ever: The Story of the 1904 Olympic Marathon By Meghan McCarthy, illus. by author. S.& S./Paula

Wiseman Bks. (Mar.)From the award-winning author of Earmuffs for Everyone (S. & S., 2015) comes the bizarre and funny story about the 1904 St. Louis Olympic Marathon.

Yak’s Yak: Animal World PairsBy Linda Sue Park, illus. by Jennifer Black Reinhardt.

HMH/Clarion Books. (Mar.)A clever take on homographs, focusing on verbs that are spelled and pronounced like animal names. Yaks yak over tea, quails quail at an imposing dragon kite, bats bat baseballs in a

[14]

midnight sky, and pairs of slugs slug slugs with red boxing gloves. An early starred review from SLJ called it “original and fun.”

Anything But Ordinary AddieBy Mara Rockliff, illus. by Iacopo Bruno. Candlewick.

(Apr.)From the creators of Mezmerized, an SLJ Best Book of 2015, comes another true story paired with exuberant illustrations. This follows the life and career of Addie Herrmann, one of the first female conjurers in show business.

Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths By Marilyn Singer, illus. by Josée Masse. Dial. (Feb.)The latest collection of innovative and inge-nious reverso poems by the legendary Marilyn

Singer. One poem relates a familiar Greek myth; the “echo” reveals the story from a dif-ferent point of view.

Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk By Jane Sutcliffe, illus. by John Shelley. Charlesbridge. (Mar.)An illustrated introduction to Elizabethan theater for children that integrates famous

phrases and words still in common use, which Shakespeare invented.

Crossing Niagara By Matt Tavares, illus. by author. Candlewick. (Apr.)An edge-of-your-seat account of the Great Blondin, who tightrope-walked from Ameri-can to Canada across the Niagara River.

Freedom in Congo Square By Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by R. Gregory

Christie. Little Bee. (Jan.) A lyrical and vibrantly illustrated story of a little-known part of African American history: Congo Square in New Orleans where both freed and enslaved African Americans gath-ered on Sundays to sing, dance, and share cul-tural heritage. This work has already received an SLJ star.

Middle to High School Nonfiction

Timeline: A Visual History of Our World By Peter Goes, illus. by author. Gecko Pr. (Mar.)A gloriously oversized and highly detailed visual history of the Earth--from the Big Bang all the way up to the present day.

Bubonic Panic: When Plague Invaded America By Gail Jarrow. Boyds Mills/Calkins Creek. (Apr.) From the author of Red Madness (2014) and Fatal Fever (2015, both Boyds Mills) comes another true story of biological terror, in this

[15]

Sarah Miller Take a Deep Dive into the Infamous Lizzie Borden Caseby Mahnaz Dar

Sarah Miller’s The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century (Random, Jan. 2015) is compelling nonfiction at its best. Tracking down sources, considering the accuracy of the different accounts she read, and separating fact from speculation: Miller’s preparation is exemplary nonfiction research. The author sat down with nonfiction editor Mahnaz Dar to talk about her process and inten-tions. The full interview can be found at http://ow.ly/W4ZIe.

This is a compelling, but gruesome, subject. The crime is indeed gruesome and horrible and eye-catching. But the murder is not the focus. For me, it was only the catalyst. So even though I came to the Borden case the same way anyone else does—wondering whodunit—what ultimately compelled me to learn more was Lizzie Borden herself. The gap between how we perceive her and the verifiable facts about her became, to me, nearly as disturbing as the murder itself.

Your book is thoroughly researched. Can you discuss your process? I started from the ground up, reading primary sources—first the witness statements, then the inquest, the preliminary hearing, and finally the trial. Reading them in that order allowed me to trace the growth of the story—the additions and alterations people made to their statements. Some of it was simply fine-tuning, but in other instances, you can see a sort of momentum building. Once I was familiar with the offi-cial record (I hesitate to say “the facts” because there’s no guarantee that what people said was accurate), it became possible to assess the newspapers’ coverage. What I gradually learned was that if a newspaper article reads like a story—with a compelling plotline, details that grab at the emotions, and a satisfying resolution—the information probably isn’t reliable.

What surprised you the most in your research process?I was continually surprised by how quick the public and the media were to judge and how little those judgments were based upon.... Lizzie Borden’s personality did not mesh neatly with the standards of her time, and because of that, her character and reputation were brutalized.... There were just as many who condemned her for recoiling from her father’s body (“Unnatural! Unfeel-ing!”) as there were who denounced her for having the nerve to remain inside the house at all while the maid ran for help (“Guilty!”).

Is there anything we can learn or take away from the Borden case when it comes to our perception of crime and the law?The more tantalized we are by the mystery of sensational cases like the Borden murders, the more we risk losing sight of the realization that these things happened to real people. That’s what struck me while standing at the Borden family plot in Fall River’s Oak Grove (MA) cem-etery: this happened to you. To all of you.

The most discouraging consequence of that disconnect is that people are just as likely to be typecast by the media and the public today. We get so caught up in solving the puzzle—and in the case of violent crime, of making sense of something senseless—that we’re terribly prone to warping not only the accused but the victim’s character as well.

Janelle Hamrick Photography

case, America’s first plague epidemic in 1900 San Francisco.

The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the CenturyBy Sarah Miller. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. (Jan.)In this compulsively readable work of narrative nonfiction, Miller untangles a complex story of a misunderstood young woman, difficult family dynamics, sensationalized news stories, bungling detectives, and more. It has already received an SLJ star and is an in-house favorite among the review editors.

Ten Days A Madwoman: The Daring Life and Turbulent Times of the Original “Girl” Reporter Nellie BlyBy Deborah Noyes. Viking. (Feb.)An in-depth and well-researched examination of the 10 days that famed journalist Nellie Bly spent undercover in an asylum for mentally ill women. A highly engaging work of nonfiction that has already garnered an SLJ star.

[16]

Babymouse Goes for the GoldBy Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. illus. by authors.

Random. (Apr.)Believe it or not, it’s been over 10 years since the Holms’s introduced young readers to the cupcake-loving, hugely imaginative Baby-mouse. In her 20th adventure, Babymouse decides to join the swim team.

Comics Squad #2: Lunch!By Various. Random. (Jan.) Babymouse, Lunch Lady, the Peanuts gang, and characters from the imaginations of Cece Bell, Sara Varon, Nathan Hale, and others present the second collection of short comics.

Compass SouthBy Hope Larson, illus. by Rebecca Mock. Farrar. (Jun.)Larson, Eisner award-winner and adapter/illus-trator of A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel (Farrar, 2012), teams with newcomer Mock in

a new middle grade graphic novel series about a pair of twins evading pirates and on the hunt for their missing father in 19th-century New York City.

The Real Poop on Pigeons! By Kevin McCloskey, illus. by author. TOON. (Apr.)From the creator of We Dig Worms (TOON), a 2015 Top 10 Graphic Novel selected by SLJ’s Great Comics for Kids bloggers, comes this informative and funny look at the hum-ble pigeon.

Red’s PlanetBy Eddie Pittman, illus. by author. Abrams/Amulet.

(Apr.)A new sci-fi/adventure graphic novel series from the award-winning cartoonist of the “Phineas and Ferb” TV series. Red is a stub-born 10-year-old who finds herself kidnapped by aliens and taken across the galaxy by an ancient creature on the hunt for treasure.

Oedipus: Trapped by DestinyBy Yvan Pommaux, illus. by author. TOON. (Jun.)How do you present the seriously twisted tale of Oedipus for kids? We can’t wait to find out. Con-tinuing TOON’s “Graphic Mythology” series, which includes Theseus and the Minotaur (2013) and Orpheus in the Underworld (2015), comes the

classic, tragic tale of Oedipus and his terrible fate to kill his father and marry his mother.

Night Air By Ben Sears, illus. by author. Koyama Pr. (May)In the tradition of serialized Sunday comics, with a modern twist, this is a fantasy/sci-fi romp with a boy, his robot, and a haunted castle.

Bunny vs. Monkey By Jamie Smart, illus. by author. David Fickling. (Jan.)What do you get when you cross a peaceful forest bunny, a deranged space money and throw in Chicken Zeppelins and bungee jumping beavers? The resulting mash-up is graphic novel gold.

Hamster Princess: Of Mice and MagicBy Ursula Vernon, illus. by author. Farrar. (Jun.)The second installment in the laugh-out-loud “Hamster Princess” series by “Dragonbreath” creator, Ursula Vernon. In this entry, Princess Harriet decides to rescue 12 mice princesses...but gets in a bit over her furry head. This sequel has already received an SLJ star.

Sea Change By Frank Viva, illus. by author. TOON. (May)Award-winning artist and designer Viva [Along a Long Road (2011), Outstanding in the Rain (2015, both Little, Brown)] presents the con-templative tale of Eliot, a kid sent to a remote part of Nova Scotia for the summer.

Download this guide online at www.slj.com/SneakPeek2016

Graphic Novels