Articles tagged "Kirkus Reviews"
Kirkus Best Books of 2018 – Nonfiction
Kirkus Reviews includes 8 Macmillan titles on their Best Books for 2018 list!
Biography
MR. LEAR: A Life of Art and Nonsense by Jenny Uglow
Popular Science
DARWIN COMES TO TOWN: How the Urban Jungle Drives Evolution by Menno Schilthuizen
THE CONSCIOUSNESS INSTINCT: Unraveling the Mystery of How the Brain Makes the Mind by Michael S. Gazzaniga
Crime and (In)Justice
CITY OF DEVILS: The Two Men Who Ruled the Underworld of Old Shanghai by Paul French
THE POISONED CITY: Flint’s Water and the American Urban Tragedy by Anna Clark
Nature, Travel, and Sports
THE WONDERFUL MR WILLUGHBY: The First True Ornithologist by Tim Birkhead
Arts and Entertainment
THANKS A LOT MR. KIBBLEWHITE: My Story by Roger Daltrey
FRYDERYK CHOPIN: A Life and Times by Alan Walker
Kirkus’ Best YA of 2018
Kirkus Reviews just released their Best YA of 2018 lists and three Macmillan titles made the cut!
THE HAZEL WOOD by Melissa Albert
Welcome to The Hazel Wood, Melissa Albert’s fierce, captivating contemporary fantasy about a seventeen-year-old girl who must venture into the world behind a pitch-dark, cult-classic collection of fairy tales to save her mother.
“Not everybody lives, and certainly not ‘happily ever after’—but within all the grisly darkness, Alice’s fierce integrity and hard-won self-knowledge shine unquenched.” —Kirkus Reviews
Best YA Mystery and Thriller of 2018:
HOME AND AWAY by Candice Montgomery
Friday Night Lights meets DEAR MARTIN in this thought-provoking coming-of-age story about family, identity, and forgiveness.
“A love letter to the intricacies of family and multitudinous black girlhood.”
—Kirkus Reviews
SADIE by Courtney Summers
A gripping novel about the depth of a sister’s love; poised to be the next book you won’t be able to stop talking about.
“A riveting tour de force.” —Kirkus Reviews
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THE GILDED WOLVES makes the Winter 2019 Kids’ Indie Next List!
The Winter 2019 Kid’s Indie Next List was announced yesterday and includes THE GILDED WOLVES by Roshani Chokshi in the Top Ten!
THE GILDED WOLVES by Roshani Chokshi
Available January 15, 2019 from Wednesday Books
FOUR STARRED REVIEWS!!
Paris, 1889: In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance. To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a band of experts. Together, they’ll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. readmoreremove
Ling Ma’s SEVERANCE Wins 2018 Kirkus Prize for Fiction
Congratulations to Ling Ma’s debut SEVERANCE for winning the 2018 Kirkus Prize for fiction!
“Smart, funny, humane, and superbly well-written.” —Kirkus, starred review
“Embracing the [apocalyptic fiction] genre but somehow transcending it, Ma creates a truly engrossing and believable anti-Utopian world… [An] extraordinary debut.”—Booklist, starred review
“A clever and dextrous debut.”—Publishers Weekly
“A smart, searing exposé on the perils of consumerism, Google overload, and millennial malaise.”—Library Journal
Two Stars for ECHO NORTH!
We’re thrilled that Joanna Ruth Meyer’s YA fairy tale, ECHO NORTH, has received two starred reviews!
“In this reimagining of ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon,’ a young woman ostracized for the facial scars she received from a wolf attack finds new purpose when she bargains with that same wolf to save her father . . . A compelling, satisfying romantic adventure with metafictional undertones.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Echo’s story is epic and engrossing. Magic pulsates through every page; every landscape in this alternate Siberia lives and breathes. Echo is fierce, and her love for the wolf is hard-earned and true. Readers will ache when it’s over and want to start all over again . . . A lush, captivating new twist on beloved fairy tales.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review readmoreremove
Book Club Picks from Our Pals Reese and Kirkus! (10/10/18)
We’re thrilled that Reese Witherspoon selected Laurie Frankel’s THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS IS as her October Hello Sunshine Book Club pick, and Kirkus Reviews named Ling Ma’s SEVERANCE and James Miller’s CAN DEMOCRACY WORK “Excellent Fall Reads for Your Book Club!
YA Nonfiction Round-Up
Strong girls. Social media. Special ops. Syrian refugees. Our Fall 2018 YA nonfiction is spectacular!
TEEN TRAILBLAZERS: 30 Fearless Girls Who Changed the World Before They Were 20 by Jennifer Calvert, illustrated by Vesna Asanovic
Available now from Castle Point Books
Ages 12 to 18
“In this superb, concise collection of 30 mini-biographies of little- to well-known historical teenagers, a quote introduces each girl. Quick, interesting facts and an eye-catching design will engage readers and make them eager to read more about these women, who impacted the world at a young age . . . Ultimately, readers will enjoy rediscovering the subjects in this diverse collection of girls who had major positive impacts on their worlds.” —Booklist
SELFIE MADE: Your Ultimate Guide to Social Media Stardom by Meridith Valiando Rojas
Available October 16, 2018 from Wednesday Books
Ages 12 to 18
“Debut author Rojas draws on her experience as the co-founder and CEO of DigiTour to put together a book of practical advice for teens aspiring to become social media stars . . . The book’s voice is clear and easy to read, balancing her serious, no-nonsense wisdom with wit and enthusiasm; the stern but nurturing tone makes it clear why social media stars sometimes call her ‘mom.’”—Kirkus Reviews
NEVER QUIT: How I Became a Special Ops Pararescue Jumper by Jimmy Settle and Don Rearden
Available October 30, 2018 from St. Martin’s Griffin
Ages 12 to 16
“A remarkable, inspiring story of steadfast courage and irrepressible determination.” —Kirkus Reviews
“An intriguing and fascinating story . . . Those seeking a thrilling real-life adventure story similar to Brandon Webb’s THE MAKING OF A NAVY SEAL will not be disappointed with this exciting read.” —School Library Journal
A HOPE MORE POWERFUL THAN THE SEA (Young Readers’ Edition): One Teen Refugee’s Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival by Melissa Fleming
Available December 21, 2018 from Flatiron Books
Ages 10 to 17
“This poignant tale of survival and loss gives immediacy to the plight of Syrian refugees. In a spare, unobtrusive style, Fleming, head of communications for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, profiles Doaa Al Zamel, who as a teenager fled her homeland of Syria . . . Fleming should be congratulated for bringing Al Zamel’s inspiring and illuminating story to the page.” —Publishers Weekly
Stars for THE GILDED WOLVES!
We’re thrilled that Roshani Chokshi’s newest YA fantasy, THE GILDED WOLVES, has received four starred reviews!
“A thrilling, gritty new fantasy set in an alternate nineteenth-century Paris, where old secrets and even older magic reside . . . Chokshi shines as a master storyteller in her newest novel; the setting, world building, plot, and conflict are all staggering.”
—Booklist, starred review
“Chokshi has created an inclusive and authentic cast with obvious chemistry and affection for one another and infuses the tale with witty banter and twists . . . A delectably intriguing adventure for all teen shelves.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Leigh Bardugo’s SIX OF CROWS and Dan Brown’s THE DA VINCI CODE converge in this dazzling new fantasy . . . Chokshi creatively reimagines history, weaving fantastical elements with symbology and broadening the scope of her narrative by integrating multiethnic worldviews. An opulent heist adventure that will leave readers voracious for more.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Evocative writing, sumptuous set pieces, and vividly sketched, authentically flawed characters distinguish this immersive tale of found family and star-crossed romance. Kaleidoscopic narration complements the intricate, high-stakes plot and allows Chokshi to showcase numerous aspects of her richly imagined universe all the way to the closing cliff-hanger.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
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Adult Books for Teens
Whether young or young at heart, these adult books are great for readers of all ages!
HOUSEGIRL by Michael Donkor
One of Library Journal’s Best Summer 2018 Debuts! Three adolescents—two Ghanaian “housegirls” and the daughter of wealthy immigrants—must come to terms with themselves and the secrets they have kept from each other in this powerful debut novel.
“Donkor’s dense descriptions of life in Ghana and London capture the dazzling disorientation of a young village girl on her own. Compelling female characters abound; it’s surprising to discover a young male writer who so successfully inhabits a female point of view.” — Library Journal, starred review
“The 17-year-old protagonist and coming-of-age plot will likely appeal to teens who appreciate character-driven stories.” —Booklist, YA interest
SMOTHERED by Autumn Chiklis
Also available in trade paperback
Told via journal entries, text messages, emails, bills, receipts, tweets, doctor’s prescriptions, job applications and rejections, parking tickets, and pug pictures, SMOTHERED is a humorous debut novel about what happens when entering the “real world” means moving back in with your mother, inspired by actress and celebrity Autumn Chiklis’ real life.
“Perfect for recent grads, mother–daughter duos, and those looking for a fun read . . . All the heart eye emojis!” —Booklist, starred review readmoreremove
SADIE and MIRAGE make the Fall 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List!
The Fall 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List was announced last week and includes SADIE by Courtney Summers (in the Top Ten!) and MIRAGE by Somaiya Daud!
SADIE by Courtney Summers
Available September 4, 2018 from Wednesday Books
FOUR STARRED REVIEWS!!
SADIE is the story of a missing girl on a journey of revenge and a Serial-like podcast following the clues she’s left behind. When Sadie’s little sister, Mattie, is found dead, Sadie hits the road on a mission to find her sister’s killer. But when West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie’s story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie’s journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it’s too late.
MIRAGE by Somaiya Daud
Available August 28, 2018 from Flatiron Books
Also available in audio
TWO STARRED REVIEWS!!
MIRAGE is an epic fantasy inspired by the author’s Moroccan heritage about Amani, a poor girl who must become the body double of a princess of a ruthless empire. As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection . . . because one wrong move could lead to her death. readmoreremove
