Library Journal’s Best Summer Debuts

Several Macmillan titles we’ve been talking up made it onto Library Journal’s “Summer Best Debuts” list!

THE FURIES by Natalie Haynes
When she begins teaching drama therapy at a school for troubled teens, Alex Morris finds that her students relate to Greek tragedy in dark and surprising ways. “Accomplished psychological mystery” (Publishers Weekly, starred review); “suspense fiction with depth” (Library Journal).

ISLAND OF A THOUSAND MIRRORS by Nayomi Munaweera
This winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize for Asia features two women representing two sides of the civil war in Sri Lanka. “The paradisiacal landscapes of Sri Lanka are as astonishing as the barbarity of its revolution, and Munaweera evokes the power of both in a lyrical debut novel worthy of shelving alongside her countryman Michael Ondaatje” (Publishers Weekly).

FIVES AND TWENTY FIVES by Michael Pitre
The platoon featured here by former marine Pitre is tasked with filling potholes along the highways and byways of Iraq—a dangerous job, because every pothole could hide a bomb. Buzzing since spring, this novel was picked for the “Summer/Fall Indies Introduce Promotion” at BookExpo America and was subsequently made a Discover Great New Writers pick.

THE LAST KINGS OF SARK by Rosa Rankin-Gee
Fresh out of St. Andrews, Jude agrees to tutor a boy named Pip on the island of Sark in the English Channel, and soon she, Pip, and the family cook enter into a glorious summer relationship. “Rankin-Gee’s keen insights into romantic negotiations belie her youth. The confident narrative will be a shot in the arm for bored book club planners.” (Library Journal, starred review).

SMALL BLESSINGS by Martha Woodroof
NPR producer Woodroof launched a ten-part NPR.org Monkey See story on the experience of publishing a book, and now here it is—the story of a constrained college professor trying to make a home for the young son he’s only just learned he has. “A warm, caring and thoroughly entertaining debut.” (Library Journal, starred review).

Barbara Hoffert also mentioned Anthony Breznican’s BRUTAL YOUTH: “featured everywhere and with a starred Library Journal review.”