The Egmont Fall 2014 preview for librarians took place on April 3 in NYC. Photo taken by Rocco Staino
Egmont USA brewed up a late afternoon of tea and titles for librarians at the legendary Sarabeth’s restaurant in New York City on April 3 for a preview of upcoming fall titles. The event was a competition between the sweet and savory confections served and the titles discussed.
What can be more savory than Micol Ostow’s Amity (August), which was inspired by the true crime story of supernatural murders? The narrative spans the two generations of terror, insanity, and death within a family. (Many know Ostow as a member of Readergirlz literacy and social media project.) If you have an appetite for gruesome, Jessica Verday’s Of Monsters and Madness (September) uses Edgar Allan Poe’s Annabel Lee as the basis of her story set in 1820s Philadelphia. Or, if your thing happens to be a strong female character in a plot that is a cross between The Bourne Identity and Divergent, debut author Kristen Lippert-Martin serves it up in Tabula Rasa (September). Her half-Latina heroine is a victim of an experiment that erases her memory and makes her a target for elimination. Michael Grant fans will look forward to October for the final installment of his “BZRK” trilogy series titled Apocalypse. (Fans may find it of interest to note that Lear’s identity is revealed in this last volume of the sci-fi thriller.)
One of the three “Guinea Dog” series. Guinea Dog 3 comes out in August. Photo taken by Rocco Staino
Bullies, STEM, and zombies are handled in a sweet way in some upcoming Egmont middle grade titles. You have not met a bully until you have met a caveman bully, and that is what author David Zeltser’s main character Lug faces in Lug, Dawn of the Ice Age (September). After being banished from his clan, Lug uses his artistic abilities to save both his clan and humankind from the approaching Ice Age.
Meanwhile, Egyptian secrets take center stage in the fourth installment of “The Code Busters” series. In The Mummy’s Curse (October), Penny Warner creates another interactive mystery. In addition to solving the codes and puzzles in The Mummy’s Curse, readers can join the Code Busters Club for more activities. Also, the brainteasers in the book build upon math skills and critical thinking that can be aligned with Common Core lessons and STEM-related activities.
There is nothing like getting a rodent for a Christmas present, but it is even worse when the rodent is a zombie. That’s what happens in Havelock McCreely’s My Zombie Hamster (July), where characters Matt Hunter and his hamster Snuffles will have middle schoolers laughing their way to the sequel. Those wanting a stronger dose of zombies can get it in Em Garner’s Contaminated that will be out in paperback in July.
Any teen book that features a ukulele and a missing father will surely find an audience. Mary Amato, author of Get Happy (October), features lyrics and chords for the songs featured in the book, and according to Egmont publishing, her website will have the recorded songs, song writing tips, and karaoke related to Get Happy. Teens will also be able to upload their own efforts and have a chance to win a ukulele from Luna Guitars.
Temple Run app lovers in your library will be happy to know that the app is now a book series by Chase Wilder. The first book, Temple Run #1 Run for Your Life: Jungle Trek, provides a multi-ending story—but the question is will the book version give the fastest downloaded mobile game a run for its money?
Librarian-turned-author Patrick Jennings traveled from his home in Port Townsend, Washington, to join the preview and regale the group about his time as a librarian and as the author of the “Guinea Dog” series. Guinea Dog 3 comes out in August.
Watch the video of Patrick Jennings:
