Check out these exciting easy and fiction titles that were published in July.
ELEMENTARY PICTURE BOOKS
A Different Pond by Bao Phi (ill. by Thi Bui). 9781479597468. 2017. Gr 1-4.
As a young boy fishes with his father in Minneapolis for food to feed their family, his father tells him about fishing in his homeland of Vietnam.
Emma’s Circus by Candace Fleming (ill. by Christine Davenier). 9780374399078. 2017. Gr PK-2.
With her family busy readying their farm for winter, Emma is sad that they can’t take time to see the circus parade. But she is surprised when the circus makes its way to her, one act at a time. This lively read-aloud is a cumulative and counting book all in one.
The Giant of Jum by Elli Woollard (ill. by Benji Davies). 9781627795159. 2017. Gr PK-2.
A hungry giant wants to eat Jack for a snack but is waylaid by other children who need his help.
Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari (ill. by Patrice Barton). 9781626721777. 2017. Gr PK-3.
Zara knows that her dog Moose hates to say goodbye to her as she goes to school in her wheelchair—because he sneaks his way to school every day! This becomes a problem, until Moose goes to dog therapy school and is welcomed at Zara’s school as a reading buddy.
King Louie’s Shoes by D.J. Steinberg (ill. by Robert Neubecker). 9781481426572. 2017. Gr K-2.
France’s King Louis XIV wanted to be seen as a great king, so he was unhappy to be so short. He had his royal shoemaker make him high-heeled shoes so he appeared taller. This was a great solution until the king tried to dance—and fell right on his bottom in front of the whole court. Would he become a laughingstock?
LMNO Pea-Quel by Keith Baker. 9781481458566. 2017. Gr PK-1.
The peas have illustrated upper-case letters, colors, numbers, and the months of the year. Now they are back, highlighting hobbies and careers again but this time with lower-case letters.
Marigold Bakes a Cake by Mike Malbrough. 9781524737382. 2017. Gr PK-2.
Monday is Marigold’s favorite day: baking day. But things don’t go well this day when a bunch of birds take over and make a mess of his kitchen. This counting book made me laugh as I recalled baking with my boys and, later, with my daycare kids—and would make an entertaining read-aloud.
Motor Goose by Rebecca Colby (ill. by Jef Kaminsky). `. 2017. Gr PK-1.
Young readers and listeners will love these Mother Goose rhymes retold with vehicle themes.
Now by Antoinette Portis. 9781626721371. 2017. Gr PK-1.
A little girl she describes all of her favorite things from the hole she is digging right now, to the tree branch she is currently swinging on, to the cloud she is watching right this moment.
Race! by Sue Fliess (ill. by Edwardian Taylor). 9781499802375. 2017. Gr PK-1.
In a race between big cars with strong engines, a tiny car squeezes in, hoping for the prize. The ending of this spirited read-aloud will probably surprise young listeners and readers, though adults should see it coming.
Stay : A Girl, a Dog, a Bucket List by Kate Klise (Ill. by M. Sarah Klise). 9781250107145. 2017. Gr PK-2.
Eli the dog has been with Astrid since she was a baby. Now that Eli is getting older and slowing down, Astrid wants to make fun memories with him, but knows what is most important to Eli is the time he spends with Astrid.
ELEMENTARY CHAPTER BOOKS
Bubbles by Abby Cooper. 9780374302900. 2017. Gr 4-7.
While trying to cheer up her depressed mother, twelve-year-old Sophie gets roped into doing a triathlon, as part of a school project on risk-taking, and discovers she can see people’s thoughts in bubbles above their heads.
A Dash of Dragon by Heidi Lang. 9781481477932. 2017. Gr 3-6.
Laila has learned to cook the best monster dishes, and is thrilled when her mentor decides to open a new restaurant and put her in charge. But her mentor had borrowed money from a loan shark and can’t repay it—and is in serious trouble. Laila is determined to raise the money. But her troubles don’t end there!
Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen (Jasmine Toguchi, Book 1) by Debbi Michiko Florence. 9780374304102. 2017. Gr 1-4.
Japanese-American Jasmine is so sick of her older sister always being able to do things—and Jasmine is told that she is too little, too young. This year her sister gets to help the women make the mochi balls, so Jasmine decides she is going to help the men and boys pound the mochi rice instead.
Monsters Unleashed (Book 1) by John Kloepfer. 9780062290304. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Freddie drew pictures of the biggest bullies in school as monsters, and then used the school 3D printer to make models of them. But the models came to life and are getting bigger and BIGGER. Now he needs to ask those same school bullies for help. This is the beginning of a new series.
Overboard! (Survivor Diaries, Book 1) by Terry Lynn Johnson. 9780544970106. 2017. Gr 2-5.
Travis and his family are watching whales from a boat off the coast of Washington when the boat capsizes. Can Travis and his sister survive the freezing cold water and the powerful waves?
Pennybaker School Is Headed for Disaster by Jennifer Brown. 9781681191744. 2017. Gr 4-6.
After Thomas accidentally makes a bit a magic from his grandfather’s potions, he is whisked away to Pennybaker School for the Uniquely Gifted. When the head of the statue of the school’s most beloved teacher goes missing, Thomas must find someone to help him prove his innocence.
The Song from Somewhere Else by A.F. Harrold. 9781681194011. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Frank’s summer couldn’t get any worse, but it does get weird when big, smelly, strange Nick Underbridge rescues her from a bully, and she winds up at his home. There, she realizes there is more to Nick than she thought. Nick and his family have an incredible secret, and they are accompanied by terrible danger. Now Frank has to figure out how to save Nick like he saved her.
A True Home (Heartwood Hotel, Book 1) by Kallie George. 9781484731611. 2017. Gr 2-5.
Mona the Mouse has taken a job working as a maid at the Heartwood Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Frenwood Forest. When danger arrives, Mona is determined to protect the hotel that has become more than just a place to work and sleep—It’s become her home.
The Unicorn in the Barn by Jacqueline K. Ogburn. 9780544761124. 2017. Gr 4-7.
One night Eric thinks he has seen the legendary white deer that is supposed to live in the woods. Following it to the neighbor’s barn, he discovers that the creature is a unicorn, and the neighbor is a vet who takes care of animals both real and supernatural. The vet hires him to work with her daughter and help out at the clinic, where he learns more than just animal care.
You May Already Be a Winner by Ann Dee Ellis. 9781101993859. 2017. Gr 4-6.
Twelve-year-old Olivia tries to care for her younger sister, possibly make a new friend in the quirky and secretive Bart, and keep hope alive for her, her family, and her community of quirky neighbors at Sunny Pines Trailer Park.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION
Almost Paradise by Corabel Shofner. 9780374303785. 2017. Gr 4-7.
After her mother is wrongly jailed for helping her boyfriend rob a convenience store, Ruby and her pet pig sneak off to find her mom’s estranged twin, Eleanor. Eleanor is a cantankerous nun living on a peach orchard, and she and Ruby don’t hit it off at first, but Ruby is convinced that with a little bit of patience, she can solve everyone’s problems and reunite her family.
The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol. 9781338118582. 2017. Gr 4-8.
Because she flunked her test to become a full-fledged witch, Arianwyn is sent away in disgrace to a small town, worried that she will always be an apprentice. But her new home is not as boring as it first seemed, as magical creatures both large and small are sighted…as well as a sinister darkness that comes over her when she tries to cast spells. Will she ever get the hang of this?
It All Comes Down to This by Karen English. 9780544839571. 2017. Gr 5-8.
In 1965, twelve-year-old Sophie is the only black child in an all-white neighborhood. Her sister Lily encourages Sophie to make friends, even by doing things she might be uncomfortable with, like playing tennis. But when trouble erupts in a nearby town, Sophie finds out how complicated her life really is.
Lights, Camera, Middle School! (Babymouse Tales from the Locker, Book 1) by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. 9780399554384. 2017. Gr 4-7.
Middle-schooler Babymouse is tired of materialistic mean-girls who think all girls should be like them, so she decides to join the film club in order to stand out. But making a cinematic masterpiece is harder than Babymouse thought, and her dream may turn into a nightmare.
Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls by Beth McMullen. 9781481490207. 2017. Gr 5-8.
Twelve-year-old Abigail is shocked to discover her elite boarding school is really a cover for a huge spy ring, and must undergo Spy Training 101 in order to save her mother, who happens to be the spy ring’s top agent.
One for Sorrow : A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn. 9780544818095. 2017. Gr 5-7.
Elsie has a reputation for being a tattletale and liar. So when Annie moves to town in September of 1918, Elsie is determined to make Annie her best friend. But Annie soon joins in teasing and avoiding her. When Elsie dies from the Spanish flu, her spirit lingers on, determined to be Annie’s best friend and get revenge against those who made her life miserable.
Refugee by Alan Gratz. 9780545880831. 2017. Gr 5-8.
In his timely novel, Gratz tells the stories of three refugees—a boy and his family fleeing Nazi Germany in the 1930s, a Cuban girl and her family trying to escape the 1994 riots in by taking a raft to America, and a Syrian boy whose family tries to leave the violence behind as they travel to Europe.
Spirit Hunters (Book 1) by Ellen Oh. 9780062430083. 2017. Gr 4-7.
Dangerous ghosts are haunting Harper’s younger brother, and she is determined to do whatever it takes to save him. They have just moved to a new house, and though she has never lived here before, there it something familiar about it—if only she could just remember.
The Trail by Meika Hashimoto. 9781338035865. 2017. Gr 4-7.
Best friends Toby and Lucas had make a list of awesome things they planned to do together, but now Lucas is gone. The only item left on the list is to walk the Appalachian Trail. Lucas is determined to do it by himself, until he comes upon two boys that desperately need his help. Give this book to fans of adventure and survival stories.
What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy. 9781619639126. 2017. Gr 6-9.
Hundreds of teens hope to be chosen for NASA’s top-secret mission, but only two students will be selected. As they go through the trials and competitions to decide the winners, something unexpected is happening that has all the scientists and astronauts worried. Though there is action and adventure galore in this near-future science fiction tale, readers will find plenty of humor, too.
Witchtown by Cory Putnam Oakes. 9780544765573. 2017. Gr 7-10.
Two witches, Macie nd her mother Aubra, travel from town to town stealing everything they can, then erasing the minds of those they’ve met. Arriving in a community of witches called Witchtown, Aubra promises Macie that Witchtown is the last one. But as she learns more about the town, Macie begins to realize that secrets may have more power than money.
The Wrong Train by Jeremy de Quidt. 9781338121254. 2017. Gr 6-9.
A boy jumps on the train as it pulls away, only to realize that it’s the wrong train. He gets off at the next station to wait for a return train…and waits and waits. A stranger and his dog walk up and the man sits down and starts to tell him stories, eerie tales that make the boy feel more and more worried. Is he doomed to sit here forever? Though these stories are quite creepy and spooky, they are not Stephen King-gory or violent, and middle-schoolers who read scary stories will like them.
HIGH SCHOOL FICTION
All the Ways the World Can End by Abby Sher. 9780374304256. 2017. Gr 7-12.
Lenny, sixteen, struggles to cope with her father’s cancer, her best friend moving across the country, and more, but in a sea of uncertainty, dreams of romance may become her anchor.
Because You Love to Hate Me : 13 Tales of Villainy edited by Ameriie. 9781681193649. 2017. Gr 8-12.
Thirteen BookTubers from YouTube challenge 13 YA authors to retell a particular story from the point of view of the oft-misunderstood villains. Baddies include Moriarty (from Sherlock Holmes), Medusa, a psychopath, and more.
Everything All at Once by Katrina Leno. 9780062493095. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Lottie has always been a quiet, cautious girl until her wild and beloved Aunt Helen dies. Aunt Helen was the author of the successful children’s books about Alvin Hatter. She leaves a stack of 24 letters to Lottie, letters that each contain a secret and a task for Lottie. The tasks draw Lottie out of her shell, and the secrets reveal Aunt Helen’s mysterious past and the inspiration for her books. Give this novel to fans of romance, mystery, and books about books.
Flight Risk by Jennifer Fenn. 9781626727601. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Everyone knows that Robert has failed at almost everything he has tried. He has been labeled a juvenile delinquent and a loser. So he decides to steal and land a plane, resulting in the crash of not one, but THREE, planes—crashes from which he walked away unhurt. This book is inspired by true events.
Fragile Like Us by Sara Barnard. 9781481486101. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Caddy, the quintessential good girl, and Rosie, a free-spirited extrovert, are best friends whose differences complement one another. When Suzanne joins their small circle of friendship, Caddy decides to embrace the impulsive behavior Suzanne lives by, but her decision leads to an accident that could change Caddy’s life more than she ever imagined.
Gork, the Teenage Dragon by Gabe Hudson. 9780375413964. 2017. Gr 10-12.
As dragons go, Gork is awkward and inept. He tends to faint, he has a huge heart, and his nickname is Weak Sauce. Before he graduates from high school tomorrow, he has to ask a female dragon to be his queen—her answer determines whether they will go to conquer a planet together or he will become a slave. The competition includes all the males in his high school class. Readers just might see their own adolescent behavior in this funny coming-of-age fantasy.
Hello, Sunshine by Leila Howland. 9781484725450. 2017. Gr 9-12.
After being rejected by every college she applied to, Becca decides to move to Hollywood for a year and try to make it as an actress. Then her boyfriend breaks up with her. She’s broke, she can’t find an agent, and she’s working as a waitress to pay the bills. When she and her friends post some short videos to YouTube, Becca is astonished at the outcome.
The Lake Effect by Erin McCahan. 9780803740525. 2017. Gr 9-12.
In the summer after his senior year. Briggs leaves behind his family and girlfriend to take a summer job on Lake Michigan. But after arriving, je is subjected to a complicated series of events such as preparing for the death of elderly boss and meeting a curious girl named Abigail who resists Briggs’s charm.
The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell. 9781481432078. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Esta, a talented thief with time-traveling capabilities travels back to 1902 to steal a valuable artifact used by an evil magician, This artifact had caused a rift in modern-day Manhattan which traps magic practitioners on the island. But 1902 is a dangerous time. Nothing is as it seems, and Esta faces hard truths about her future which may require a betrayal of those in the past.
Little Monsters by Kara Thomas. 9780553521498. 2017. Gr 9-12.
When Kacey moves with her father to Broken Falls to live with her new stepfamily, she is grateful for how easily she is accepted by everyone, despite her differences. But suddenly her new friends become distant—and then one of them disappears. As the search for the missing girl continues and suspicions fall on the “new girl,” Kacey discovers some disturbing secrets about the other girls.
Lucky in Love by Kasie West. 9781338058017. 2017. Gr 7-12.
On a whim, Maddie buys a lottery ticket, which is very out of character for her. She knows her family has financial problems, so she has worked hard during school to be eligible for college scholarships. Then she finds out that she has won the lottery! 50 million dollars! No more money worries for her or her family! But there are problems associated with her wealth, and Maddie wonders how to balance who she was with her new life.
No Good Deed by Kara Connolly. 9780385743938. 2017. Gr 8-12.
Ellie must qualify at the trials in England to be firmly on the road to Olympic glory in archery. But while touring Nottingham Castle, she takes a wrong turn and ends up in the Middle Ages. Disguising herself as a boy, Ellie is mistaken for Robin Hood. She searches for a way to return home without accidentally changing history!
The Special Ones by E.M. Bailey. 9780544912298. 2017. Gr 9-12.
Esther, a Special One, lives with three other girls in a farmhouse under constant watch from a mysterious cult leader, who broadcasts their lives to eager social media followers. If she ever forgets that she is Special, Esther knows she will be “renewed,” replaced by a new girl named Esther—and no one knows what happens to the renewed ones. Esther knows she is not special at all, but she vows to survive long enough to escape.
Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton. 9780399550881. 2017. Gr 10-12.
Suffering from schizophrenia, Adam lives with a cast of characters who aren’t really there. While on an experimental drug trial, his visions go away, and he begins to hope he might be able to woo Maya, who thinks he is great if only the drug keeps working. When the drug starts failing, Adam will do anything to keep her from discovering his secret.
ADULT CROSSOVER FICTION
After Anatevka : A Novel Inspired by “Fiddler on the Roof” by Alexandra Silber. 9781681774343. 2017. Gr 10-Adult.
This novel focuses on Tevya’s second daughter Hodel, first as she gets to know and becomes engaged to the activist Perchik, and then as she searches for him when he is sent to a labor camp.
At the Table of Wolves (Dark Talents, Book 1) by Kay Kenyon. 9781481487788. 2017. Gr 11-Adult.
Alternative history meets espionage meets fantasy in this first book of the Dark Talents series. Kim, a young journalist in England, has a psychic gift (after the trauma of WWI, psychic talents suddenly appeared, called the bloom) that causes people to tell her their secrets. The Nazis are better at using these powers for their own ends, and Kim is drawn into a plan to prevent their invasion of England.
Grace by Paul Lynch. 9780316316309. 2017. Gr 10-Adult.
Cast out by her mother at the height of the Great Famine in Ireland, Grace dresses as a boy and travels with her younger brother, trying to survive.
Hook’s Tale : Being the Account of an Unjustly Villainized Pirate Written by Himself by John Leonard Pielmeier. 9781501161056. 2017. Gr 10-Adult.
Captain James Cook, more infamously known as Hook, gives an entertaining and, in his opinion, entirely truthful memoir, letting the reader the real story behind this villain.
Hum If You Don’t Know the Words by Bianca Marais. 9780399575068. 2017. Gr 11-Adult.
When her parents are killed during the violent days of the 1970s in South Africa, Robin is sent to live with a Xhosa nanny, whose daughter disappeared during a bloody student protest. Though both suffer from the separate tragedies, they start go grow closer to each other despite their racial differences.
