#balzer and bray

[winningthesweepstakes]

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas. Balzer + Bray, HarperCollins Children’s, 2023. 9780063225138  Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5+ Format: Hardcover Genre: Fantasy/Adventure What did you like about the book? Nic Blake doesn’t mind moving between cities with her dad. That’s because she is a Remarkable, a person blessed with the Gift…

[roesolo]

The Digger and the Dark is ready for bed... maybe

The Digger and the Dark, by Joseph Kuefler, (June 2024, Balzer + Bray), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063237933 Ages 3-7 A group of trucks are all ready for bed after a busy day, but a playful group of raccoons have other plans. Surely they can play for a minute, right? The latest book in Kuefler’s Digger series is a cheerful wink to kids who want to play “for one more minute” at bedtime. Digger and friends…

[thegirlwiththelantern]

2024 Children's and Middle Grade

There are quite a few Nosy Crow books on the list. I went through the publishers who have catalogues first and that’s how it panned out. The next children’s and middle grade releases will hopefully be more balanced. The Unbeatable Lily Hong by Diana Ma | 02 / 01 / 24 – Clarion Books If there’s one thing Lily Hong can’t stand, it’s being second best. That’s why she and Max Zhang have been bitter…

[flaviathebibliophile]

The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert (ARC Review)

Title: The Blackwoods Author: Brandy Colbert Type: Fiction Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Historical Publisher:Balzer + Bray Date published: October 3, 2023 A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Harper Collins Canada in exchange for an honest review. Paid ad. Ad. Sponsored. The Blackwoods. Everyone knows their name. Blossom Blackwood burst onto the silver screen in…

[stephaniejoanneus]

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha. Balzer + Bray, 2024. 9780062685124 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5 Format: Paperback graphic novel Genre:  Fantasy What did you like about the book? This thrilling story takes place 400 years ago in Korea, and melds historical fiction with folklore to explore the legend of Gumiho, the magical nine-tailed fox. Twelve year old Kai is the only…

[18arte]

pontassieve toscany

Pontassieve (fi) in toscana, e parco fluviale de andre'

Fiume arno

[librarycomic]

The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha. Balzer + Bray, 2024. 9780062685124. 314pp. https://www.powells.com/book/-9780062685124?partnerid=34778&p_bt

Ha's first fictional graphic novel, a historical fantasy set in Joseon-era Korea, follows her Cook Korean! graphic cookbook and Almost American Girl, her graphic memoir. The memoir shows Ha's love of Korean fantasy manhwa, so the subject of this book isn't a huge surprise, but this one makes the variety of her comics work truly impressive.

At the center of this tale is the gumiho, a nine-tailed fox with magical powers associated with seductive and evil women. General Song is famed for having killed gumiho. He has three children by two wives, and he teaches martial arts not only to his sons but also to his daughter, Kai. Because she's a better fighter than both her brothers everyone says she's gumiho's daughter. She's also clearly someone we can root for, as evidenced when she stands up for a poor young girl being beaten as a suspected thief early in the book.

Unfortunately for Kai, the rumors are kind of true, as she finds out when she gets her first period and starts to turn into a fox. Her mother takes her away to the mountains where Kai meets gumiho, who survived her conflict with Kai's father. Gumiho teaches Kai what she must do to hide her fox-nature and continue to live in the world of men.

The whole story is super bloody (though not as much on the page as in the reader's mind), and it turns into a murder mystery toward the end with Kai helping her father investigate a series of murders while trying to make sure he doesn't discover the culprit. A romantic ending ties up the story; it's a bit melodramatic, but Ha makes it work. And I can't wait to read whatever comics Ha creates next.

[richincolor]

There are four books coming out tomorrow, plus one we missed earlier this month. Which of these have caught your eye?

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra Wednesday Books

One girl. One boy. A promise broken. A magic stolen. Irinya has wanted to be a flower hunter ever since her mother disappeared into the mysterious mist of the Rann salt flats one night. Now seventeen, Irinya uses her knowledge of magical flowers to help her caravan survive in the harsh desert. When her handsome hunting partner and childhood friend finds a priceless silver spider lily--said to be able to tear down kingdoms and defeat an entire army--Irinya knows this is their chance for a better life. Until Irinya is tricked by an attractive imposter. Irinya's fight to recover the priceless flower and to fix what she's done takes her on a dangerous journey, one she's not sure she'll survive. She has no choice but to endure it if she hopes to return home and mend the broken heart of the boy she's left behind.

If You'll Have Me by Eunnie Viking

Momo Gardner is the kind of friend who’s always ready to lend a helping hand. She’s introverted, sensitive, and maybe a little too trusting, but she likes to believe the best in people. PG, on the other hand, is a bit of a lone wolf, despite her reputation for being a flirt and a player. Underneath all that cool mystery, she’s actually quick to smile, and when she falls for someone, she falls hard. An unexpected meet-cute brings the two together, kicking off the beginning of an awkward yet endearing courtship—but with their drastically different personalities, Momo’s overprotective friend, and PG’s past coming back to haunt her, Momo and PG’s romance is put to the test.

A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli Union Square & Co.

What if you could avenge your own murder? A brilliant young woman gets a second chance at life in this debut YA tale of vengeance, court intrigue, and romance, inspired by classic Chinese tropes. Mingshin outsmarted three princes to help the man she loved become king. But she doesn’t see Ren’s betrayal coming, not until she’s lying in a pool of her own blood on the palace steps. As she’s dying, Mingshin makes a desperate plea to the gods to turn back time and give her a chance to make things right. Mingshin wakes up two years earlier, her prayer granted, and swears two things: Ren will never become king, and she will never fall in love again. But the timeline in this life has changed: a dignitary gifted with dark magic is threatening her kingdom’s peace, and Ren’s thirst for power runs deeper than Mingshin could have imagined. She finds herself allying with Jieh, another contender for the throne. Mingshin knows better than anyone not to give her heart to a prince. But in the viper’s nest of the royal court, she and Jieh prove a phenomenal team. Can Mingshin avert the catastrophe of her past by once again learning to trust…and maybe even love?

All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology edited by Circe Moskowitz Amberjack Publishing

Welcome to the Dark. We are all familiar with tropes of the horror genre: slasher and victims, demon and the possessed. Bloody screams, haunted visions, and the peddler of wares we aren’t sure we can trust. In this young adult horror anthology, fans of Jordan Peele, Lovecraft Country, and Horror Noire will get a little bit of everything they love—and a lot of what they fear—through a twisted blend of horror lenses, from the thoughtful to the terrifying. From haunted, hungry Victorian mansions, temporal monster–infested asylums, and ravaging zombie apocalypses, to southern gothic hoodoo practitioners and cursed patriarchs in search of Black Excellence, All These Sunken Souls features the chilling creations of acclaimed bestsellers and hot new talents, with stories from Kalynn Bayron, Donyae Coles, Ryan Douglass, Sami Ellis, Brent Lambert, Ashia Monet, Circe Moskowitz, Joel Rochester, Liselle Sambury, and Joelle Wellington.

The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert Balzer + Bray

The Blackwoods. Everyone knows their name. Blossom Blackwood burst onto the silver screen in 1962, and in the decades that followed, she would become one of the most celebrated actors of our time—and the matriarch of the most famous Black family in Hollywood. To her great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith, she has always just been Bebe. And when she passes away, it changes everything. Hollis Blackwood was never interested in fame. Still, she’s surrounded by it, whether at home with her family or at the prestigious Dupree Academy among Los Angeles’ elite. When private photos of Hollis are leaked in the wake of Blossom’s death, she is thrust into the spotlight she’s long avoided—and finds that trust may be a luxury even she can’t afford. Ardith Blackwood has always lived in the public eye. A television star since childhood, she was perhaps closer with Blossom than anyone—especially after Ardith’s mother died in a drug overdose. Ever since, she has worked to be everything her family, her church, and the public want her to be. But as a family secret comes to light and the pressures from all sides begin to mount, she wonders what is left beneath the face she shows the world. Weaving together the narratives of Hollis, Ardith, and Blossom, award-winning author Brandy Colbert tells an unforgettable story set in an America where everything is personal, and nothing is private.

[darthnaderer]

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Category: Novel in Verse

Summary: Jude and her Mama leave their seaside hometown in Syria, leaving behind Jude's Baba and brother Issa, because of the growing conflict in the area. Mama tells Jude they're going to be visiting Jude's uncle in Cincinnati, OH. However, Jude's mother is pregnant and the unrest in Syria is mounting, so their trip becomes a far longer stay than Jude originally thought. During her time in the United States, Jude meets and befriends many different people including her American cousin Sarah, a first-generation American hijabi girl Layla, a wonderful group of ESL classmates, and a boy she gets her first crush on named Miles. Along with navigating social situations and learning a new language, Jude must decide whether to wear a hijab, whether to try out for a speaking role in the school play, and whether home can exist in many different places for one person.

Justification: Other Words for Home became a Newbery Honor Book in 2020. Warga won this award because her writing wonderfully contributes to American literature for children. It showcases a perspective that has often been overlooked, demonstrating the way refugees, particularly young Muslim refugees, might experience America. It provides insight into a conflict that many students may have heard of in passing on the news but may not know too much about, encourages empathy with the main character and her family and friends, and gives representation to young Muslim women who are deciding whether or not to wear a hijab in America. Like so many other books on my list, this one is a “mirror, window, and sliding door" for students.

Reader's Response: Other Words for Home is a very approachable story. Warga's choice to tell the story in free verse is powerful, as it allows readers to connect with Jude's emotions. Even though I could not relate directly to her experiences, I recognized the feelings of loneliness, uncertainty, love, anticipation, nervousness, frustration, etc. that Jude experiences throughout the novel. Warga writes insightfully--it's clear she spoke to many other Muslim women as well as Syrian refugees to create the character of Jude. It's also clear she's writing about a heavy topic for a younger demographic, however, as much of the violence and Islamophobia is presented in a gentler, more palatable way. Older readers will know what is going on, but younger readers may not grasp the depth of the issues she's addressing. In many parts, it seems as though Warga is holding back to shield an audience of younger readers from some of the darker aspects of these topics. This is not necessarily a bad thing because it does make the book more accessible to younger readers. It was an easy read because of the writing style and the story was fast-paced, making it perfect for reluctant readers. I thoroughly enjoyed Jude's journey and cheered for her during her ups and downs. She is a young girl who dreams of being a movie star, misses her best friend and her father and brother, and is adapting to a new environment. I think many children will be able to relate to her and that her story will pave the way for important discussions.

Warga, J. (2019). Other words for home. Balzer + Bray.

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 3/5

Book Blurb: A rich and romantic new standalone fantasy loosely inspired by the classic Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, from the New York Times bestselling author of Cruel Beauty!

Perfect for fans of These Violent Delights and The Shadow Queen.

Centuries ago, the heretic sorcerer Ruven raised a deadly briar around Runakhia's palace, casting the royal family into an enchanted sleep—and silencing the kingdom's gods.

Born with a miraculous gift, Lia's destiny is to kill Ruven and wake the royals. But when she succeeds, she finds her duty is not yet complete, for now she must marry into the royal family and forge a pact with a god—or die.

To make matters even worse, Ruven's spirit is haunting her.

As discord grows between the old and new guards, the queen sends Lia and Prince Araunn, her betrothed, on a pilgrimage to awaken the gods. But the old gods are more dangerous than Lia ever knew—and Ruven may offer her only hope of survival.

As the two work together, Lia learns that they're more alike than she expected. And with tensions rising, Lia must choose between what she was raised to believe and what she knows is right—and between the prince she is bound to by duty...and the boy she killed.

Review:

How far would you go for your god? Reylo meets Sleeping Beauty in this story about gods, sacrifice, and forbidden romance. Lia is a girl who was raised by nuns to follow her goddess, believing that she was raised to kill the evil heretic sorcerer Ruven and bring back the royal family that was cursed to sleep. When Lia does succeed in killing Ruven, to her great disbelief his ghost begins haunting her. She also discovers that she is forced to marry the newly awakened prince and that if she refuses she will be killed. It also doesn't help that the new queen is forcing her to prove that she is blessed by gods... but Lia soon discovers just how monstrous the gods can be and that her love for them does not mean they will love her in turn. Then there's the matter of the fact that she is falling in love with the ghost of the boy who represents everything she doesn't believe in and the fact that she will have to turn to him for help as she fakes her miracles *(least she be killed by the royal family for not being blessed by the proper gods and performing proper miracles). Can she find a way to survive the royal family and bring back the boy who has captured her heart, no matter how blasphemous their relationship is. This was definitely an interesting stand alone fantasy romance. The pacing of the book was slightly odd to me, it felt rushed at some parts but dragged on at others. Lia was a frustrating protagonist and honestly I have to give her some leeway because she is 17 years old and was raised by nuns... but this entire book felt like watching someone's religious discovery of deciding whether or not to believe in god. I did like the romance (despite the emotional whiplash of : I love him, I hate him, I'm gonna make out with this other guy, but I love him again). So I am in between giving this a 2 star vs a 3 star, but I will give it that bit of bonus because I liked the overall romance in the end. It wraps everything up neatly. If you are a fan of Reylo, I'd say give it a go because I think you'll have fun with it.

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[sassafrasmoonshine]

I am Enough • Keturah A. Bobo, illustrator (American) • Grace Byers, author (American) • Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers • 2018

[winningthesweepstakes]

America Redux: Visual Stories From Our Dynamic History by Ariel Aberg-Riger

America Redux: Visual Stories From Our Dynamic History by Ariel Aberg-Riger. Balzer +Bray (Harper Collins), 2023. 9780063057531 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5 Format: Hardcover What did you like about the book? Here it is: what was never in our history books growing up, particularly if you lived in a southern state in the U.S. between 1860-1960+.  Many white women in the…

[roesolo]

Essential reading: Dear Muslim Child

Dear Muslim Child, by Rahma Rodaah/Illustrated by Aya Ghanameh, (Feb. 2024, Balzer + Bray), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063091993 Ages 4-8 Rodaah, the author of Dear Black Child (2022), creates a lyrical ode to inspire Muslim children everywhere. Rodaah reveals the miracle of their birth “Before Allah spoke the universe into existence, He wrote and nestled your name between ours” and shares the beauty of…

[thegirlwiththelantern]

5 2023 YA Releases

I love fantasy and most of my posts reflect that. These books take a more grounded look at poverty, disability, queerness and trauma, from sectarian violence to the Vietnam war. The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander | 05 / 10 / 23 – Andersen Press Dreams are today’s answers for tomorrow’s questions. Eleven-year-old Kofi Offin has dreams of water, of its urgent whisper that beckons with…

[bornitereads]

Simon VS. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Read: Feb 2023

No offense to all the people who worked hard on making the Love, Simon film amazing, but the book is so much better. I tore through this one at lightning speed, I really couldn't put it down. Now I'm not saying the plot appreciably different between the two. The film did some things I like better, but the book did more things I liked better.

The first person narration from the titular Simon is so good. He is a really endearing character. Albertalli really captures something in Simon, that first queer longing for love maybe? Or maybe just queer longing, and later some joy as well. It's just really sweet in any case. There's a lot more depth to the story in the book which just makes the story so much richer. Plus it doesn't end when the film does so there's a little more happiness for all at the end.

Info: Balzer + Bray; 2015

[stephaniejoanneus]

The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert

The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert. Balzer + Bray, 2023. 9780063091597 Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4 Format: Hardcover fiction Genre:  Realistic fiction What did you like about the book? Ardith and Hollis are great-granddaughters of Blossom Blackwood, a beloved Black Hollywood actress. The story starts when Blossom dies and her family comes together to grieve. In the…