Daphne and Velma- The Vanishing Girl

By: Josephine Ruby

Location: FIC RUB

Genre: Detective, Scooby Doo, Mystery

It's the classic girl detectives like you've never seen them before!

Daphne Blake and Velma Dinkley have a terrifying new mystery to solve - and this time, the culprit is far more frightening than any man in a mask....

Popular Daphne Blake and über-nerd Velma Dinkley are not friends. They aren’t enemies either, but they don't have any reason to speak to each other, and that’s how they prefer it. The two girls grew up together—they’d been best friends since pre-K—but when they hit middle school, Daphne dropped Velma and never looked back.

These days, Daphne’s deep in the popular crowd, daughter of the richest family in town, while Velma’s an outsider, hiding from the world behind her thick glasses. When they run into each other in the halls of Crystal Cove High, they look the other way.

But then Daphne's best friend, Marcy—who happens to be Velma’s cousin—goes missing. A century ago, there was a wave of disappearances in Crystal Cove, and many local people believe that supernatural forces were behind it. Now the whole town believes those same forces are back . . . and up to no good.

Daphne and Velma may be the only ones who can solve the mystery and save Marcy—if they can trust each other enough to try. Especially since the truth might be stranger—and scarier—than either girl can imagine . . .

"What a joy! Having the 2 female members of the Mystery Inc gang be the focus of this book and having their characters get fully fleshed out was such a treat to read. This story alternates between both Velma and Daphne's POV as they navigate a destroyed friendship while also trying to solve the mystery of a missing girl. If ghosts aren't real then what has everyone been seeing and where is Daphne's (new) best friend? And can these two repair a friendship when they both have so much unresolved anger?

I really appreciate that Velma and Daphne are no longer one dimensional characters but realistic teen girls with flaws and feelings. Their complicated relationship felt genuine and made me remember all the drama of friendship at that age (and even now sometimes). I can't wait for the sequel!

Bonus: Very few appearances of Fred Jones and a hot Shaggy which is as it should be in my opinion" Alicea
 

The Year We Fell From Space

 By: Amy Sarig King

Location: FIC KIN

Genre: Mental health, Early Teen

The deeply affecting next book from acclaimed author Amy Sarig King.
Liberty Johansen is going to change the way we look at the night sky. Most people see the old constellations, the things they've been told to see. But Liberty sees new patterns, pictures, and possibilities. She's an exception.

Some other exceptions:

Her dad, who gave her the stars. Who moved out months ago and hasn't talked to her since.

Her mom, who's happier since he left, even though everyone thinks she should be sad and lonely.

And her sister, who won't go outside their house.

Liberty feels like her whole world is falling from space. Can she map a new life for herself and her family before they spin too far out of reach? 

"This book should be read by everyone. Teachers and students, to raise mental health awareness. Kids and grown ups, to make conversations easiest.
Above all this book is a beautiful, touching, deeply moving story, with a little girl that you want to hold and hug.
This is a book about a little girl who used to be me. I should hug her sometimes.

So if you want a thought provoking, original and heart warming story to get back to your inner child, to understand mental illness, to understand divorce, to understand the importance of talking and expressing yourself, and if you like stars, then I definitely recommend this book. It is a true wonder." Garance

Into the Pit (Five Nights at Freddy’s: Fazbear Frights #1)

By: Scott Cawthorn and Elley Cooper

Location:  FIC Caw

Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Video Games

Five Nights at Freddy's fans won't want to miss this pulse-pounding collection of three novella-length tales that will keep even the bravest player up at night . . .

What do you wish for most? It's a question that Oswald, Sarah, and Millie think they know the answer to. Oswald wishes his summer wasn't so boring, Sarah wishes to be beautiful, and Millie wishes she could just disappear from the face of the earth. But in the twisted world of Five Nights at Freddy's, their hearts' deepest desires have an unexpected cost.In this volume, Five Nights at Freddy's creator Scott Cawthon spins three sinister novella-length stories from different corners of his series' canon, featuring cover art from fan-favorite artist LadyFiszi. Readers beware: This collection of terrifying tales is enough to unsettle even the most hardened Five Nights at Freddy's fans.

"I was pleasantly surprised at how creepy the short stories actually we're. I've already pre ordered the other three books in the series!"

"My daughter and I read this collection of three novella aloud together right before bed. She's a big FNAF fan- has read the main trilogy of books and played the games- and she wanted to share these stories with me.

They remind me a bit of Goosebumps books, but all three have some connection to the FNAF world. I was pleasnetly surprised how much I enjoyed reading these stories! A time traveling ball pit in a pizza parlor? I've never seen that before? And the classic themes of wanting to belong and fit in work well with the horror elements in these stories.

Overall, I'd recommend reading this collection if you are familiar with the FNAF world. "- Christine

GO !

By: Steve Worland

Location: FIC WOR

Genre: Go Carts, Family Life, Coming of Age

A cross between Cars (movie) and The Karate Kid (movie)..

GO BIG

GO FAST

GO TOGETHER!

Fifteen-year-old Jack has just discovered the one thing he loves, and is really good at: go kart racing. With the support of his mentor, Patrick, an old race-car driver with a dark past, and his best mates Colin and Mandy, Jack must learn to control his reckless streak. Only then will he be in with a chance to defeat the best drivers in Australia, including his ruthless rival Dean, and win the National title.

A Review from Whatbooknext.com

Jack and his mum are new to town and he nearly doesn't go to a party he's suddenly invited to. After all, he doesn't even know whose party it is! But it turns out to be the best thing he's done in ages. Especially after the dumb stuff he's done lately. He just can't stop himself. It's just a feeling that comes over him, ever since his dad died. He can't explain it to his mum and feels bad after letting it take over. What he needs is something else to think about.

The party venue is Busselton Dirt Karts and Jack soon finds himself speeding around the track - the best thing ever! He's hooked and wants to learn more, drive a kart again and maybe even enter competition races.

What he needs is a coach, (who he finds in the Kart Track owner Patrick), a mechanic/engineer, (who he finds in Mandy, the girl who is hosting the party), and a supportive mate, (Colin, an introvert and likeable quirky geek.)

Things don't go smoothly along the way, as Mandy is the sister of the local kart champion, and shouldn't be helping Jack. Jack's mum is flat-out busy with her new business and worrying about him, and the local constable has caught Jack driving her car illegally.

Jack knows he must sort out his recklessness, trust in his friend's advice, and listen more to his coach. The loss of his father weighs heavily on him, and the desire to win is all encompassing. Can he learn to control his inner demons?

This novel reads just like a fleshed-out screenplay which is essentially what it is, but I can see why it made a popular movie. It has everything for a good story. New kid in town. A past champion dealing with loss and not wanting to race anymore. The rich kid who is king-pin and not wanting Jack to take any of his glory. A girl just wanting to prove herself to her father, and a worried mum, just wanting the best for her son. I'd call it a cross between Cars (movie) and The Karate Kid (movie). Really enjoyed it! 
 

Dash and Lily

 By: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Location: FIC COH

Genre: Netflix Series, Young Adult, Romance

A whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, soon to be a Netflix original series starring Austin Abrams and Midori Francis!

Lily left a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges. What follows is a whirlwind romance as Dash and Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City. But can their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions, or will their scavenger hunt end in a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

For Dash and Lily, it's beginning to look a lot like...distance! Just in time for the series release of Dash & Lily on Netflix comes a new helping of love--this time across the pond as best-selling authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan send Dash and Lily to England.

Dash and Lily were feeling closer than ever...it's just too bad they're now an ocean apart. After Dash gets accepted to Oxford University and Lily stays in New York to take care of her dogwalking business, the devoted couple are struggling to make a long distance relationship work. And when Dash breaks the news that he won't be coming home for Christmas, Lily makes a decision: if Dash can't come to her, she'll join him in London. It's a perfect romantic gesture...that spins out of Lily's control. Soon Dash and Lily are feeling more of a gap between them, even though they're in the same city. Will London bring them together again--or will it be their undoing?

A Sky Beyond the Storm

By: Sabaar Tahir

Location : FIC TAH

Genre: Fantasy

Series:  An Ember in the Ashes #4

COVER LOVE!!!!!

“You are broken. But it is broken things that are the sharpest. The deadliest. It is broken things that are the most unexpected, and the most underestimated”

Prepare for the jaw-dropping finale of Sabaa Tahir's beloved New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes fantasy series, and discover: Who will survive the storm?

Picking up just a few months after A Reaper at the Gates left off...

The long-imprisoned jinn are on the attack, wreaking bloody havoc in villages and cities alike. But for the Nightbringer, vengeance on his human foes is just the beginning.

At his side, Commandant Keris Veturia declares herself Empress, and calls for the heads of any and all who defy her rule. At the top of the list? The Blood Shrike and her remaining family.

Laia of Serra, now allied with the Blood Shrike, struggles to recover from the loss of the two people most important to her. Determined to stop the approaching apocalypse, she throws herself into the destruction of the Nightbringer. In the process, she awakens an ancient power that could lead her to victory--or to an unimaginable doom.

And deep in the Waiting Place, the Soul Catcher seeks only to forget the life--and love--he left behind. Yet doing so means ignoring the trail of murder left by the Nightbringer and his jinn. To uphold his oath and protect the human world from the supernatural, the Soul Catcher must look beyond the borders of his own land. He must take on a mission that could save--or destroy--all that he knows.

The Year We Fell From Space

By: Amy Sarig King

Location: Fic KIN

Genre: Mental Health, Middle Grade

A beautifully produced and published book about a deeply affecting topic.

The deeply affecting next book from acclaimed author Amy Sarig King.
Liberty Johansen is going to change the way we look at the night sky. Most people see the old constellations, the things they've been told to see. But Liberty sees new patterns, pictures, and possibilities. She's an exception.

Some other exceptions:

Her dad, who gave her the stars. Who moved out months ago and hasn't talked to her since.

Her mom, who's happier since he left, even though everyone thinks she should be sad and lonely.

And her sister, who won't go outside their house.

Liberty feels like her whole world is falling from space. Can she map a new life for herself and her family before they spin too far out of reach? 

"Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone or any age. In particular, those around the 10-13 age who are experiencing a divorce within their family or are struggling with their own mental health. If you like slower, more emotional contemporaries with a twist- this is perfect." Sarah

"So if you want a thought provoking, original and heart warming story to get back to your inner child, to understand mental illness, to understand divorce, to understand the importance of talking and expressing yourself, and if you like stars, then I definitely recommend this book. It is a true wonder." Garance

Assassins Creed: Valhalla- Geirmund Saga

 

By: Matthew J Kirby

Location: FIC ASS

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Discover the epic adventure of legendary viking Geirmund Hel-hide in this new novel set in the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Mid-9th century.

The Viking attacks and invasions are shattering England’s kingdoms.

Born into a royal lineage of Norwegian kings, Geirmund Hel-hide sets out for adventure to prove his worth as a Viking and a warrior.

A perilous journey across the sea brings him into contact with a being out of myth and grants him a mysterious ring that promises both great power and bitter betrayal.

As Geirmund rises in the ranks of King Guthrum’s legendary army, he will have to use all his cunning to face the many dangers of a land ravaged by war . . .

Fighting alongside his band of loyal warriors, his path will soon lead him into a conflict as old as the gods themselves.

The Bone Shard Daughter

 By: Andrea Stewart

Location: FIC STE

Genre:  Fantasy, LGBT

In an empire controlled by bone shard magic, Lin, the former heir to the emperor will fight to reclaim her magic and her place on the throne.

The emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands.

Lin is the emperor's daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people.

"Revolution, justice, identity, love, and family are some of the main themes in this book, and Stewart executed these themes magnificently through her wonderful cast of diverse characters." Petik

"This was truly such a solid adult fantasy debut, brimming with magic and secrets. If you can handle the slower pacing, I would definitely recommend this, for well-written complex character arcs, a plot that unravels deliciously, and of course, a magical animal companion that will steal your heart instantly. I can’t wait to see what brilliant story Stewart manages to construct (no pun intended) with these characters next." May

By: SarahDessen

Location: Fic Des

Genre: Young Adult, Romance

The Moon and More and Just Listen, together in one volume from New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen!

Sometimes you think you have it all. Great friends, a loving boyfriend, and a strong sense of personal identity. But unexpected things can happen. People come and go. The appearance of a new boy in your life can turn your world upside down. It might make you throw all caution to the wind - or bring you back closer to earth. What if he is hiding secrets of his own? Is it better to be safe than sorry? From acclaimed bestselling author Sarah Dessen, here are two books about exploring your heart, giving free reign to your emotions, and rising above the expectations of others.
 

 By: David Yoon

Location: FIC YOO

Genre: Romance, Teen Fiction

From the bestselling author of Frankly in Love comes a contemporary YA rom-com where a case of mistaken identity kicks off a string of (fake) events that just may lead to (real) love.

Praise for Frankly in Love:
A New York Times Bestseller and #1 Indie Bestseller
An Amazon.com Best Book of the Year - 2019
Five Starred Reviews

"Extraordinary . . a beautifully layered novel about first love, tribalism and that brief, magical period when kids have one foot in high school, one foot out the door. . . Yoon explores themes of racism, forgiveness and acceptance without getting earnest or preachy or letting anyone off the hook. And there's a universality to the story that cuts across cultures." -New York Times

"With echoes of John Green and To All the Boys I've Loved Before, it's poised to be the biggest YA debut of the year." -Entertainment Weekly

"Yoon's fresh and nuanced approach to Frank's struggle to navigate cultural tensions amplifies both the vulnerabilities and the strengths that can come with being a child of immigrants. . . Yoon underscores the value of honoring both who you are and where you come from." -TIME Magazine

"Yoon's stellar debut expertly and authentically tackles racism, privilege, and characters who are trying to navigate their Korean-American identity." 

The Lost City

 By: Amanda Hocking

Loction: FIC HOC

Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Paranormal

“It doesn’t matter what you meant. It matters what you do. Intentions are the lies we tell ourselves. Actions are the truth.” 

Nestled against the coast lies a forested kingdom filled with wonder and secrets

Ulla Tulin was abandoned as a baby and raised amongst the Kanin, like many half-blood trolls. And though she was hidden because of her heritage, she never forgot her origins. So when Ulla is hired by an institution that helps those like her, she's delighted.
She teams up with handsome Pan Soriano, a half-human researcher. However, their efforts to find her family are blocked when it seems Ulla has royal connections. They think helping amnesiac Eliana, with her own unique gift, may be more successful. But as Ulla nd Pan dig deeper, they find someone will do anything to keep these mysteries hidden.

"The book sensitively explores issues around abandonment, identity and finding oneself, all set within a fantastical world with an interesting magic system...and Trolls. " Becca

When The World Was Ours

 By: Liz Kessler

Location: FIC KES

Genre: Holocaust, Journeys, Inspired by a true story

"A vividly poignant story sure to leave an impact. The harrowing journeys of Leo, Elsa, and Max left me near tears and ripping through every page. Beautifully, beautifully written." Asia

A novel about three childhood friends living during the Second World War whose fates are closely intertwined, even when their lives take very different courses.

Three friends. Two sides. One memory.

Vienna. 1936.

Three young friends – Leo, Elsa and Max – spend a perfect day together, unaware that around them Europe is descending into a growing darkness, and that events soon mean that they will be cruelly ripped apart from each other. With their lives taking them across Europe – to Germany, England, Prague and Poland – will they ever find their way back to each other? Will they want to?

Inspired by a true story. 

War Girls

By: Tochi Onyebuchi

Location: FIC ONY

Genre: Sci fi, Dystopia, War

"... It is brutal, action-packed, and heartbreaking, and it is a masterpiece. It takes an author of great skill to instill such hope, love, and humanity into a topic of such intimate emotional pain, as a child of a mother who survived the civil war that inspired the book" Julie from Goodreads

Two sisters are torn apart by war and must fight their way back to each other in a futuristic, Black Panther-inspired Nigeria.

The year is 2172. Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of earth unlivable. Only the lucky ones have escaped to space colonies in the sky.

In a war-torn Nigeria, battles are fought using flying, deadly mechs and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radiation-heavy climate. Across the nation, as the years-long civil war wages on, survival becomes the only way of life.

Two sisters, Onyii and Ify, dream of more. Their lives have been marked by violence and political unrest. Still, they dream of peace, of hope, of a future together.

And they're willing to fight an entire war to get there.

These quotes say it all....

“Peace is not given,” Ngozi says in a voice as hard as the metal of an Igwe. “It is taken. For so long, they have visited violence upon us. It never starts with machetes. It starts with shutting the Igbo out of government. Then it becomes giving all the good jobs to the Hausa andthe Fulani and the Yoruba. Then we are accused of crimes we do not commit. Called animals. They say we infest this country. Then we become the reason the Sahara grows larger and more and more of Nigeria turns to desert. We are blamed for the drought. We are blamed for the radiation. Then we are thrown in jail. Then we are murdered.”

“We have tried peaceful protest,” Ngozi continues. “We have tried marching. We have tried registering even those Igbo in the hinterlands to vote in the elections.” She speaks not like she’s reciting from an article or from some downloaded history but from life experience. She speaks like someone whose parents argued politics over thetable at family dinners, like someone who was carried in her father’s arms during those peaceful marches. She speaks like someone who knew a period before war. Before it all turned to violence. “You do not meet hate with love. Some will say that when a hateful person makes you hate, they win. But those people will never say what exactly it is that that hateful person wins. They will say that if you resist hate and meet it with love, that you win. But they never tell us what we win. We see with our eyes. We see that the only thing we win is death by machete. Isolation. Massacre.” Her frown deepens. “They did this”

Rules For Being a Girl

 

By: Candance Bushnell and Katie Cotugno

Location: FIC BUS

Genre: Young Adult, Feminism, Fiction

"Rules for Being a Girl was a short, sharp feminist novel about a girl navigating the expectations, constraints and rules society puts upon women whilst fighting to make her voice heard."

From Katie Cotugno and author of Sex and the City Candace Bushnell comes this fierce and feisty exploration of feminism: standing up, speaking out and rewriting the rules.

Don’t be easy. Don’t give it up. Don’t be a prude. Don’t be cold. Don’t put him in the friendzone. Don’t act desperate. Don’t let things go too far. Don’t give him the wrong idea. Don’t blame him for trying. Don’t walk alone at night. But calm down! Don’t worry so much. Smile!

Marin is a smart, driven, popular girl – she's headed for Brown when she graduates and has a brilliant career as a journalist ahead of her. Especially in the eyes of English teacher Mr Beckett. He spends a lot of time around Marin, and she thinks it's harmless . . . until he kisses her.

No one believes Marin when she tells them what happened, so she does the only thing she can: she writes an article called 'Rules for Being a Girl' for the school paper to point out the misogyny and sexism that girls face every day. As things heat up at school and in her personal life, Marin must figure out how to take back the power and rewrite her own rules.

“Remember, girl: It's the best time in the history of the world to be you. You can do anything! You can do everything! You can be whatever you want to be!

Just as long as you follow the rules.”