Presenting our Third Quarter Graduates
We have quite a range of books for our readers this quarter, from penguins to prom queens, via pumpkin growers and mermaids. The novels cover multiple genres: fairy tales, humor, drama, historical fantasy, mystery, contemporary action, and verse, and they deal with many diverse subjects such as abuse, recovery, love, friendship, sports, paralysis, and traveling the world. The Class of 2k7 is excited to announce its latest batch of new releases:
July 1: This Is What I Did, by Ann Dee Ellis
July 3: Me and the Pumpkin Queen, by Marlane Kennedy
July 3: Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, by Stephanie Hale
July 7: The Penguins of Doom, by Greg R. Fishbone
July 10: Blood Brothers, by S.A. Harazin
July 24: Bad Girls Club, by Judy Gregerson
Aug. 7: The Swan Maiden, by Heather Tomlinson
Aug. 14: Toby Wheeler: Eighth Grade Benchwarmer, by Thatcher Heldring
Aug. 28: In the Serpent’s Coils, by Tiffany Trent
Sept. 1: To Catch a Mermaid, by Suzanne Selfors
Sept. 4: Head Case, by Sarah Aronson
Early Sept.: Carpe Diem, by Autumn Cornwell
This Is What I Did, by Ann Dee Ellis
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers — July 1 — YA
Imagine if you witnessed something horrific happen to your friend but you did nothing to help. That’s Logan’s dilemma. An awkward but lovable outcast, he becomes enmeshed in a mysterious psychological drama that changes his life and his perspective on what it means to be a good friend and a good person. Part novel in verse and part screenplay, with palindrome notes strewn throughout, This is What I Did will make readers think about what they’ve done.
Ann Dee Ellis was born and raised in Provo, Utah. After stints in London, Hong Kong, and San Jose, she now lives in American Fork, Utah with her husband and son. She teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University.
Visit Ann Dee Ellis’ Class of 2k7 page.
Me and the Pumpkin Queen, by Marlane Kennedy
Greenwillow/HarperCollins -– July 3 — Middle Grade
Mildred (11) is very focused on giant pumpkins. She’s growing them for her mother who never had a chance to enter the Circleville, Ohio Pumpkin Show weigh-off herself. But in order to grow a flawless pumpkin, Mildred must keep the dogs from trampling the seedlings, contend with the weather, keep busy-body Aunt Arlene from interfering, and find time to help Daddy at his veterinary practice. Readers will be rooting for Mildred and her Atlantic Giant pumpkin.
Marlane Kennedy has much in common with her novel’s hero. At age 11, she lived in Circleville, Ohio, where she attended the annual Pumpkin Show—-her inspiration. She now lives in Wooster, Ohio with her husband, two sons, and daughter.
Visit Marlane Kennedy’s Class of 2k7 page.
Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, by Stephanie Hale
Berkley Jam/Penguin -– July 3 -– YA
Beautiful Aspen Brooks, who is dating the most popular guy in school, expects nothing less than being crowned Homecoming Queen. But something goes terribly wrong. The tiara is placed on the head of Angel Ives. As if that’s not bad enough, Aspen receives threatening messages and her car tires are slashed. She suspects Angel. If it’s a war she wants, it’s a war she’ll get.
Stephanie Hale has always lived in the middle of a cornfield but is currently sharing the place with her husband and two sons. She firmly believes that high school is much better the second time around, especially when you can make your characters do and say whatever you want.
Visit Stephanie Hale’s Class of 2k7 page.
The Penguins of Doom, by Greg R. Fishbone
Blooming Tree Press -– July 7 — Middle Grade
Septina Nash (7th grade) has purple hair and a knack for popping up in music videos. After her triplet-sister disappears, Septina finds herself stalked by penguins, pursued by a mad scientist, and on the fast track to an Olympic medal in freestyle skateboarding. Is it any wonder why she can’t complete her math homework on time?
Greg R. Fishbone lives in the Boston area with his wife and two cats. A lawyer by day and writer by night, Greg fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and fun.
Visit Greg R. Fishbone’s Class of 2k7 page.
Blood Brothers, by S.A. Harazin
Delacorte/Random House -– July 10 — YA
Clay (17) dreams of becoming a doctor but since he can’t afford college, he works at the local hospital. When his best friend, Joey, overdoses and ends up at Clay’s hospital, clinging to life, Clay fears he may be blamed for Joey’s condition. Clay will do whatever it takes to find out what happened at the party and to help Joey recover.
S.A. Harazin attended nursing school in Alabama and has worked in the ICU and ER of many hospitals. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and three children.
Visit S.H. Harazin’s Class of 2k7 page.
Bad Girls Club, by Judy Gregerson
Blooming Tree Press -– July 24 -– YA
Destiny has a secret. She’s been told not to tell anyone what happened to her, her little sister, and her mother at Crater Lake. But the secret is killing her and every day she remembers. Destiny must choose between exposing the lies or telling the truth, which could ruin her family. It could be the end of her life. Can the truth really set her free?
Judy Gregerson has worked as a newspaper copy editor, a marketing assistant at Viking/Penguin, and in the advertising department of The New York Times. Doubleday published her memoir in 1980. She now lives in Seattle with her husband, two daughters, and a variety of creatures.
Visit Judy Gregerson’s Class of 2k7 page.
The Swan Maiden, by Heather Tomlinson
Henry Holt/Holtzbrinck Group –- Aug. 7 — YA
A third daughter can dream of being a creature of flight and magic, or wearing a swan-skin like her sisters. But Doucette is only a chastelaine in training, learning to run the castle household while her older sisters are taught to weave spells. For Doucette, the dream of flying is exactly that—-until the day she discovers her own hidden birthright.
Heather Tomlinson has taught English in Paris, and French in the U.S. Her novel was inspired by French fairy tales and the magical countryside of Provence. She lives in Southern California with her husband and three cats.
Visit Heather Tomlinson’s Class of 2k7 page.
Toby Wheeler: Eighth Grade Benchwarmer, by Thatcher Heldring
Delacorte/Random House -– Aug. 14 — Middle Grade
Toby Wheeler wants to help his basketball team win, but how is he supposed to do that if he’s stuck sitting on the bench? A friendship with the coach’s daughter and a rash promise made to an archrival only complicate matters. For Toby, overcoming the odds will require practice, determination, and belief in one important truth-—it takes an entire team to win one game.
Thatcher Heldring has been a benchwarmer, a shortstop, a goalie, and a coach. He currently lives in Seattle with his wife and new baby boy, Jack.
Visit Thatcher Heldring’s Class of 2k7 page.
In the Serpent’s Coils, by Tiffany Trent
Mirrorstone/Wizards of the Coast -– Aug. 28 — YA
Book One in the Hallowmere series begins as the Civil War ends. Ever since her parents died, Corrine’s dreams have been filled with faeries warning of impending peril. When she’s sent to live at Falston Manor, the dreams grow stronger, just as girls begin disappearing from school. Then Corrine discovers letters of forbidden love by a medieval monk who writes of his entanglement with a race of vampiric Fey-—the same Fey who haunt her dreams. Who are these creatures and will Corrine be the next girl to disappear?
Tiffany Trent grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and has lived and worked in Hong Kong, China, Oregon, Montana, and N. Carolina. She currently lives in Virginia with her husband, four cats, and dog.
Visit Tiffany Trent’s Class of 2k7 page.
To Catch a Mermaid, by Suzanne Selfors
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers -– Sept. 1 — Middle Grade
When Boom Broom (12) brings home a seaweed-covered fish from the reject seafood bucket by the docks, he thinks it’s going to be just another fish dinner. When the dinner turns out to be a foul-tempered, mud-scented merbaby, Boom and his sister, Mertyle, are thrust into an adventure that comes with a curse.
Suzanne Selfors spent many childhood days on the beach, hoping to catch sight of a mermaid. She lives on an island in the Pacific NW with her husband, son, and daughter.
Visit Suzanne Selfors’ Class of 2k7 page.
Head Case, by Sarah Aronson
Roaring Brook Press/Holtzbrinck Group Contemporary -– Sept. 4 -– YA
Frank Marder is a head, paralyzed from the neck down and it’s his fault. He was drinking and driving. Now he needs someone to feed him, to wash him, to move his body. When you’re a head, do you ever feel like a whole person? Will Frank ever forgive himself? Head Case willmake the reader consider how we judge each other and how we can move beyond our mistakes.
Sarah Aronson has been an aerobics instructor, physical therapist, and religious school principal. She currently works for Jewish Lights Press and lives in Vermont.
Visit Sarah Aronson’s Class of 2k7 page.
Carpe Diem, by Autumn Cornwell
Feiwel & Friends/Holtzbrinck -– Early September — YA
Overachiever, Vassar Spore (16) has her entire life planned out, including the PhD and Pulitzer Prize. Enter long lost Bohemian Grandma Gerd, who blackmails Vassar’s parents, forcing Vassar on a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, upsetting the life plan. From Malaysia to Cambodia, to the remote jungles of Laos, the only thing Vassar can count on is that she’ll never be the same again.
Autumn Cornwell knows a thing or two about traveling, having explored twenty-two countries. She worked with refugees and orphans in Burma and Laos, and recently worked in the TV and film industry. She lives outside of Los Angeles with her husband and son.
Visit Autumn Cornwell’s Class of 2k7 page.
Released in June:
Before, After, and Somebody in Between, by Jeannine Garsee
Into the Wild, by Sarah Beth Durst
First Light, by Rebecca Stead
Wicked Lovely, by Melissa Marr