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The Free Library of Philadelphia hosted the annual Book Buzz on Friday, November 4th and The Librarian and I attended. I arrived a bit late due to a scheduling conflict but I was still able to get the buzz on some new titles and we carted home some physical books to share with The Bee and read ourselves.
The following are some of the advanced reader books that I was able to bring home and is by means a complete list of everything that’s being published. These are some of the teen books that I wanted to share.
From Quirk Publishing I got a copy of the coveted Geekerella
About the Geekerella by Ashley Posten:
Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives, breathes, and has major feels for Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her dad. So when she sees a cosplay contest sponsored by the producers of a new Starfield movie, she knows she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, a trip to the LA premiere, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. Elle’s been scraping together tips from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck behind her stepmother’s back, and winning this contest could be her ticket out for once and for all—not to mention a fangirl’s dream come true.
Teen actor Darien Freeman is less than thrilled about this year’s ExcelsiCon. Before he was famous, he lived for conventions, but now they’re nothing but jaw-achingly long photo sessions, endless requests for autographs, and those super awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Federation Prince Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the diehard Starfield fandom has already written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, closet nerd Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.
The fangirl and the federation prince might be a galaxy apart IRL, but anything can happen once upon a con. Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, GEEKERELLA is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.
I say “coveted” because it seemed that over lunch everyone was looking for a copy of this book! I haven’t started this yet but love the take on the classic fairy tale, Cinderella.
Reserve your copy of Geekerella using my affiliate link from Amazon.
From Disney Book Group I got a copy of The Takedown and A List of Cages.
About The Takedown by Corrie Wang
Kyla Cheng doesn’t expect you to like her. For the record, she doesn’t need you to. On track to be valedictorian, she’s president of her community club, a debate team champ, plus the yummy Mackenzie Rodriguez has firmly attached himself to her hip. She and her three high-powered best friends don’t just own their senior year at their exclusive Park Slope, Brooklyn high school, they practically define the hated species Popular. Kyla’s even managed to make it through high school completely unscathed.
Until someone takes issue with this arrangement.
A week before college applications are due, a video of Kyla “doing it” with her crush-worthy English teacher is uploaded to her school’s website. It instantly goes viral, but here’s the thing: it’s not Kyla in the video. With time running out, Kyla delves into a world of hackers, haters and creepy stalkers in an attempt to do the impossible-take something off the internet-all while dealing with the fallout from her own karmic footprint. Set in near-future Brooklyn, where privacy is a bygone luxury and every perfect profile masks damning secrets, The Takedown is a stylish, propulsive, and provocative whodunit, asking who would you rely on if your tech turned against you?
The Librarian thought the premise of this book sounded a lot like the USA show, Mr. Robot and I agree. I started this one and have to admit that the character of Kyla is a little off putting but I dig her. She’s confident, owns her gifts and does not need you to validate her feelings. I am very interested in what happens when she gets caught up in scandal and how she clears her name.
About A List of Cages I by Robin Roe
When Adam Blake lands the best elective ever in his senior year, serving as an aide to the school psychologist, he thinks he’s got it made. Sure, it means a lot of sitting around, which isn’t easy for a guy with ADHD, but he can’t complain, since he gets to spend the period texting all his friends. Then the doctor asks him to track down the troubled freshman who keeps dodging her, and Adam discovers that the boy is Julian–the foster brother he hasn’t seen in five years.Adam is ecstatic to be reunited. At first, Julian seems like the boy he once knew. He’s still kind hearted. He still writes stories and loves picture books meant for little kids. But as they spend more time together, Adam realizes that Julian is keeping secrets, like where he hides during the middle of the day, and what’s really going on inside his house. Adam is determined to help him, but his involvement could cost both boys their lives.First-time novelist Robin Roe relied on life experience when writing this exquisite, gripping story featuring two lionhearted characters.
Get your copy of The Takedown and A List of Cages use my affiliate link.
From Workman Publisher’s The Librarian got a copy of Just Fly Away
It’s written by Andrew McCarthy.
Yes.
THAT Andrew McCarthy.
About Just Fly Away
When fifteen-year-old Lucy Willows discovers that her father has a child from a brief affair, a eight-year-old boy named Thomas who lives in her own suburban New Jersey town, she begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her family and her life. Lucy can’t believe her father betrayed the whole family, or that her mother forgave him, or that her sister isn’t rocked by the news the way Lucy is. Worse, Lucy’s father’s secret is now her own, one that isolates her from her friends, family, and even her boyfriend, Simon, the one person she expected would truly understand. When Lucy escapes to Maine, the home of her mysteriously estranged grandfather, she finally begins to get to the bottom of her family’s secrets and lies.
Fans of the rebels and antiheroes in the novels of Rainbow Rowell, A. S. King, and Meg Wolitzer will welcome this sharp, observant new voice in young adult fiction.
The Librarian thought the premise of the book sounded good and we had a little discussion about family secrets, Pretty in Pink and proms.
Get you copy of Just Fly Away using my Amazon affiliate link.
And finally from Soho Teen, My Sister Rosa
About My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier:
Seventeen-year-old Aussie Che Taylor loves his younger sister, Rosa. But he’s also certain that she’s a psychopath—clinically, threateningly, dangerously. Recently Rosa has been making trouble, hurting things. Che is the only one who knows; he’s the only one his sister trusts. Rosa is smart, talented, pretty, and very good at hiding what she is and the manipulation she’s capable of.
Their parents, whose business takes the family from place to place, brush off the warning signs as Rosa’s “acting out.” Now that they have moved again—from Bangkok to New York City—their new hometown provides far too many opportunities for Rosa to play her increasingly complex and disturbing games. Che’s always been Rosa’s rock, protecting her from the world. Now, the world might need protection from her.
I tore through this book over the weekend but found that My Sister Rosa left me feeling flat. This book is a modern take on the film, The Bad Seed but the Rosa character from the book seems like a caricature of bad. The cover sets up an amazing premise of a ten year old sociopath but after a running start, the book is ridiculous with the teen characters calling their parents “the olds” and “the parentals” and some superfluous talk about money, class, race and gender identification. The book meanders along until what feels like a rushed ending.
The Bee read bits over my shoulder and she thought Rosa was scary. My friend is reading and she too is horrified by Rosa. While Rosa gave me the creeps, I think I was expecting a bit more thriller and more mind twists but forgot about the characters shortly after reading the book.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Get your copy of My Sister Rosa using my affiliate link.
r’s note: Affiliate links are used in this post. If you click on the link and make a purchase I receive a small commission.
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I always love a good book recommendation! I tend to read online and sitting down with a real book is a great way to get away from the computer too.
I JUST found some books to feed my reader. I prefer a paper book too but there are so many galleys waiting for me in digital form! I have to read them all!
These all seem like great stories! My daughter is only 8 but reading at a middle school level. I am always on the look out for the next stage of books for her, thee would be good to have her try in a year or so. I can read them until she is ready for them 🙂 Thanks!
Oh this sounds like it was a great event. I’m always looking for new reads! I had no idea that Andrew McCarthy was writing now! Awesome!
Right?! I’m looking forward to this one too!
You have shared some very interesting books. I think there are a couple I think advanced readers would really love. Heck, I would love to read some of them.
I really have to hide them from my teen if I want to read them first!
I am always looking for new books and YA are great for quick, fun reads. Thanks for sharing your picks!
Ooh, these all sound good! I think I would start with Just Fly Away! But A List of Cages would be a close second! -Erin at http://www.stayathomeyogi.com