Latest NEWS:
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Springing into April here at EMLA with a wealth of brand-new books! Check out the many releases (so many stars!) and grab a few to read outside in that sunshine. Enjoy!
The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen is a thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger, deceit, and hidden identities that will keep readers clinging to the edge of their seats, published by Scholastic. The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook by Joanne Rocklin follows two brave kids, Oona and Fred, as they seek to save their beloved and sick cat, Zook (short for Zucchini) from the vet's office, published by Amulet/Abrams. Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Team by Audrey Vernick tells the incredible story of twelve brothers who played semi-pro baseball together in 1938, published by Clarion/HMH. Grave Mercy, His Fair Assassin, Book 1 by Robin LaFevers is a fantastic first book in a brand-new trilogy about teenaged assassin nuns who must help Death deliver vengeance, published by HMH. If All of the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder (with Marc Brown, illus.) showcases what can happen if animals somehow were able to get inside, published by Little Brown. The Wicked and the Just by J. Anderson Coats sends us back in history to a time when powerful forces decided who ruled and who did not, publishd by Harcourt. Leopard and Silkie: One Boy's Quest to Save the Seal Pups by Brenda Peterson and Robin Lindsey follows a young boy who endeavors to keep Seattle's endangered seal pups safe, published by Ottaviano/Holt. We wish these books into readers' hearts! —Erin |
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We are thrilled to announce that our own Trent Reedy’s WORDS IN THE DUST has been awarded a prestigious Christopher Award in the Books for Young People category. The Christopher Awards have been held since 1949, honoring media (including TV, film, and books) which “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.” Previous winners include Andrew Clements, Walter Dean Myers, Clint Eastwood, and more. |
One thing about starred reviews: they never get old! To our great delight, the Hornbook’s March/April issue has given J. Anderson Coats’s The Wicked and the Just its second starred review. Here is the write-up in full:
Hooray, Jillian! |
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We are so happy to see Robin LaFevers's GRAVE MERCY get star #4! School Library Journal's review is too full of spoilers to post in full, but we are happy to share the following: Ismae Rienne, born with an ugly red scar, is believed to have been sired by Death himself, and, when she escapes from her abusive husband on her wedding night, she finds refuge in the convent of St. Mortain where handmaidens are prepared to carry out Death’s wishes. Trained in poisons, weaponry, and the wiles of seduction, she is sent off to prove herself by posing as the mistress of Gavriel Duval, a Breton working against the French so that his sister Anne can rightfully be crowned Duchess of Brittany....This is a rich portrayal of the complexities of courtly life in 15th-century Brittany, featuring explicit details of costume and custom and showing how the lives of royalty and those who served them intertwined. The short, well-paced chapters will leave readers breathlessly waiting for more. Ismae and Duval are particularly well drawn, and the many twists and turns that influence their relationship are both fascinating and believable....[T[he story is sure to resonate with adolescents who are intrigued by vampires, werewolves, and their cultures of death...The book is well written and filled with fascinating, complex characters who function realistically in this invented medieval world. Congratulations, Robin! —Erin |
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Booklist bestowed a star on Joanne Rocklin's upcoming THE FIVE LIVES OF OUR CAT ZOOK:
Congratulations, Joanne! —Erin |
We have great news for fans of ELLIE MCDOODLE. Since reading ELLIE means loving ELLIE, that means we have great news for anybody who has ever picked up the books (including the latest, ELLIE MCDOODLE: MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, recently released). |
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This announcement is coming a few days late, but we're thrilled to share the news that Trent Reedy's WORDS IN THE DUST has been awarded a 2012 Golden Kite Honor by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. We're so proud of you, Trent, and thrilled to see this recognition for such a powerful and important book! |
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Is it spring yet? Well, it's time for soccer in Ruth McNally Barshaw's beloved Ellie McDoodle's world! Ellie McDoodle: Most Valuable Player by Ruth McNally Barshaw follows Ellie McDoodle onto the soccer field where she has to choose between her beloved brain-bending quizzes or being coached by her dad (he's the new soccer coach!), published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens. We wish this book into readers' hearts! —Erin |
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If there is one thing that scores of enthusiastic readers all say repeatedly in their reviews of Mary Lindsey’s dark romantic ghost story, SHATTERED SOULS, it is this: Will there be a sequel? —Joan |