In THE LAST TRUE POETS OF THE SEA, by Julia Drake, many years ago, Violet Larkin’s great-great-great grandmother Fidelia survived a shipwreck and founded the town of Lyric, Maine. Now, after her brother Sam's attempted suicide and a difficult year of her own, Violet has sworn off partying and sex. She’s sent from NYC to live with her uncle in Lyric for the summer. At her job with the local aquarium, Violet meets budding oceanographer Orion, with his "truly gorgeous” eyebrows and “full chest that stretched the cotton of his teal aquarium T-shirt,” who introduces her to up-and-coming historian Liv Stone, who is not a “pixie princess,” but “certainly a babe.” So much for shaving her head and "turning off the romance channel.” In the course of her stay, Violet decides to make amends to Sam by locating the wreck of their great-great-great grandmother's sunken ship. Strong characters and great prose drive this rewarding novel. (YA)
In REVERIE, by Ryan La Sala, when Kane wakes in the hospital, he can't remember the accident—apparently, he rammed his dad's car into an old mill, exploding the car and scorching everything within fifty feet of it. The police think the act was deliberate, maybe even suicidal, so they have him undergo a psych evaluation, where the dazzling and dangerous Dr. Poesy warns Kane that they’re both part of "a much larger story.” Back at school, Kane learns that he has a small, close-knit group of friends who call themselves "The Others,” and somehow finds himself in a "crazy fantasy" involving "a subterranean civilization that worships a god called the Cymo.” Ryan La Sala's debut fantasy delves into the unlimited potential of getting lost in one's dreams. (YA)
THE DARK LORD CLEMENTINE, by Sarah Jean Horowitz, is the story of Clementine Morcerous, devoted daughter—and heir—to the reigning Dark Lord of the Seven Sisters, Elithor Morcerous. Dark Lord Elithor rules his domain by "inflicting misery" on the local townsfolk, keeping the "pesky amateur hedgewitches" in check, and stands in readiness to perform "occasional maniacal cackling." But when Elithor falls under a spell cast by the dangerous Whittle Witch, and slowly turns into a wooden puppet, Clementine must prepare to take over as Dark Lord in his stead. As Clementine begins to interact with the people who she’s supposed to be ruling, she’s not sure she’s ready to inflict all that required misery. Especially since she’s actually making friends. This one’s cozy and fun. (MG)
Picture Books:
In MY PAPI HAS A MOTORCYCLE, written by Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Peña, Daisy waits for her Papi to come home from work, so they can ride together through their city. As ”the sun, the bright orange sun” begins to set, they “become a spectacular celestial thing soaring on asphalt.” They zigzag through the streets, past churches and markets and murals that showcase the city’s history. Daisy knows that even if her beautiful city changes, the love within her family will not. The strong, colorful art reflects Peña's cartooning background.
FRY BREAD, written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, is so many things. It’s a poem; it’s a recipe; it’s a story of food and family, of culture and community; it’s a complicated history. The volume is enriched by a detailed author's endnote, and the inviting acrylic, colored pencil, and graphite pencil illustrations are completely charming. Fry bread may be food, but this book shows us it is also so much more.
TRUMAN, written by Jean Reidy and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins, stars a tortoise who is “small, the size of a donut—a small donut—and every bit as sweet.” Truman lives in the city with Sarah, who one day eats a big breakfast, straps on a big backpack, and gives Truman an even bigger snack than usual. Before she leaves, she tells Truman to be brave, then she boards a bus and goes roaring away. When Truman has waited as long as he can, he decides to go after “his Sarah," no matter how impossible this seems. By the time the pair is reunited, Truman does indeed feel brave. Truman is adorable. He is rendered in gouache, brush marker, charcoal, colored pencil, and finished digitally.
--Lynn
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