by Ashley Dickson-Ellison (@teachingtheapocalypse)
April is going to be a great month for new releases, and there are so many coming out each week that I'm excited to read! I tried to focus on one per week that I can't wait to read, but I also listed a few more I'm thrilled are coming out this month at the bottom of the post.
April 4
Angie Thomas's Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"Internationally bestselling superstar author Angie Thomas makes her middle grade debut with the launch of an inventive, hilarious, and suspenseful new contemporary fantasy trilogy inspired by African American history and folklore.
"It's not easy being a Remarkable in the Unremarkable world. Some things are cool--like getting a pet hellhound for your twelfth birthday. Others, not so much--like not being trusted to learn magic because you might use it to take revenge on an annoying neighbor.
"All Nic Blake wants is to be a powerful Manifestor like her dad. But before she has a chance to convince him to teach her the gift, a series of shocking revelations and terrifying events launch Nic and two friends on a hunt for a powerful magic tool she's never heard of...to save her father from imprisonment for a crime she refuses to believe he committed."
Why I want to read it: I will always read everything Angie Thomas writes because I absolutely love her work! I'm excited to see her write for middle grade, and this one sounds like it will be amazing to read.
April 11
Maurene Goo's Throwback (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"Being a first-generation Asian American immigrant is hard. You know what’s harder? Being the daughter of one.
"Priscilla is first-generation Korean American, a former high school cheerleader who expects Sam to want the same all-American nightmare. Meanwhile, Sam is a girl of the times who has no energy for clichéd high school aspirations. After a huge blowup, Sam is desperate to get away from Priscilla, but instead, finds herself thrown back. Way back.
"To her shock, Sam lands in the ’90s . . . alongside a 17-year-old Priscilla.
"Now, Sam has to deal with outdated tech, regressive ’90s attitudes, and her growing feelings for sweet, mysterious football player Jamie, who just might be the right guy in the wrong era.
With the clock ticking, Sam must figure out how to fix things with Priscilla or risk being trapped in an analog world forever. Sam’s blast to the past has her questioning everything she thought she knew about her mom . . . and herself. One thing’s for sure: Time is a mother.
"Brimming with heart and humor, Maurene Goo’s Throwback asks big questions about what exactly one inherits and loses in the immigrant experience."
Why I want to read it: This premise sounds so fascinating. There are so many interesting components including looking at how the immigrant experience changes over generations, how today's teens might feel in a time before smart phones and ubiquitous internet, and an exploration of family dynamics. I can't wait to read this1
April 18
Sonya Lalli's Jasmine and Jake Rock the Boat (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"Jasmine Randhawa likes everyone to think she has it all—great job, perfect Seattle apartment, and a handsome boyfriend. But she’s not as confident or successful as she seems, and her relationship is at a breaking point.
"When Jasmine finds herself single and tagging along on her parents’ vacation, she’s not sure her life can get any farther off course. It's a nightmare for someone who's been so fiercely independent to find herself on a cruise full of family friends who’ve judged her since childhood. Things only get worse once the ship leaves the harbor and she realizes that this is a seniors’ cruise, and the only other person under fifty on the entire boat is her childhood acquaintance, cocky and successful Jake Dhillon.
"Jasmine and Jake clash right away, with Jasmine smarting over how their South Asian community puts him on a pedestal as the perfect Indian son, whereas her reputation as a troublemaker precedes her. Except they can’t avoid each other forever during the ten-day cruise, and they soon recognize a surprising number of similarities, especially in how many secrets they’re keeping hidden from their families. Their restlessness seems to disappear whenever they’re together, but is this relationship strong enough to last on land?"
Why I want to read it: So far, I've only read A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli, but I'm excited to read more of her backlist and to read this new one! I love her style, and this premise sounds great!
April 25
Emily Henry's Happy Place (Bookshop.org | Libro.fm)
Description from Publisher:
"Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.
"They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
"Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.
"Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best?"
Why I want to read it: I love Emily Henry's work. I have particularly loved a couple of the books I've read by her (Book Lovers is probably my favorite!), but I haven't been disappointed by anything I've read. This one sounds captivating, and I'm excited to read it!
Additional April Releases We're Excited to Celebrate:
Jerry Craft's School Trip
Suzanne Park's The Do Over
Terry J. Benton-Walker's Blood Debts
Jayne Allen's Black Girls Must Have It All
Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Sunshine
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