Putting the YA in FRIYAY: Penguin Teen Social Trivia Night

Today we’re hosting our third #PenguinTeenSocial event – trivia night! We’ll be joined by four very special authors: Katie Heaney, Marie Lu, Jo Treggiari, and Rory Power. Scroll down for a list of their most recent releases and RSVP here if you want to join us tonight!

Girl Crushed
By Katie Heaney
352 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN 9781984897343 | Knopf BFYR
Release date: April 7, 2020
 
Before Quinn Ryan was in love with Jamie Rudawski, she loved Jamie Rudawski, who was her best friend. But when Jamie dumps Quinn a month before their senior year, Quinn is suddenly girlfriend-less and best friend-less.
 
Enter a new crush: Ruby Ocampo, the gorgeous and rich lead singer of the popular band Sweets, who’s just broken up with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Quinn’s always only wanted to be with Jamie, but if Jamie no longer wants to be with her, why can’t Quinn go all in on Ruby? But the closer Quinn grows to Ruby, the more she misses Jamie, and the more (she thinks) Jamie misses her. Who says your first love can’t be your second love, too?
 
The Kingdom of Back
By Marie Lu
336 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN 9781524739010 | Putnam BFYR
Release date: March 3, 2020
 
Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish–to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she’ll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age--her tyrannical father has made that much clear.
 
And as Nannerl’s hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true–but his help may cost her everything.
 
The Grey Sisters
By Jo Treggiari
228 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN 9780735262980 | Penguin Teen Canada
Release date: September 24, 2019
 
D and Spider have always been close friends, and they are further united in their shared heartbreak: they both lost siblings in a horrific plane crash two years earlier. A chance sighting of a beloved cuddly toy in a photograph of the only survivor spurs D to finally seek closure. She and Spider and their friend, Min, set off on a road trip to the mountainside site of that terrible crash.
 
Ariel has lived on the mountain all her life. She and her extended family are looked down upon by neighboring townsfolk and she has learned to live by her wits, trusting few people outside of her isolated, survivalist community. A terrifying attack sends her down the mountain for help; on her way, she comes upon the three girls — a chance encounter that will have far-reaching consequences for them all.
 
Burn Our Bodies Down
By Rory Power
352 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN 9780525645627 | Delacorte Press
Release date: July 7, 2020
 
Ever since Margot was born, it’s been just her and her mother. No answers to Margot’s questions about what came before. No history to hold on to. No relative to speak of. Just the two of them, stuck in their run-down apartment, struggling to get along. But that’s not enough for Margot. She wants family. She wants a past. And she just found the key she needs to get it: A photograph, pointing her to a town called Phalene. Pointing her home. Only, when Margot gets there, it’s not what she bargained for.
 
Margot’s mother left for a reason. But was it to hide her past? Or was it to protect Margot from what’s still there? The only thing Margot knows for sure is there’s poison in their family tree, and their roots are dug so deeply into Phalene that now that she’s there, she might never escape.
 

Can’t make it tonight? Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of chances to catch up with the Penguin Teen Canada team and talk YA books – check out our full schedule of #PenguinTeenSocial events coming up this month!

The #7SillyPrompts Revealed

At the end of March, we introduced the #7SillyPrompts from seven of our authors to help spark your creativity. If you missed them when they were revealed live on social media, we’ve compiled them all here for you:

We’d love to see what you can do with these #7SillyPrompts – submit your work to YoungReaders@penguinrandomhouse.com and we’ll collect them in our gallery!

TLA 2020 Virtual Booth

TLA 2020 Booth Banner
We hope everyone is staying safe and doing well. These are difficult times, there’s no doubt about it. Travel and trade shows have been taken off the table this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all stay connected virtually!

The above image is what our booth banner looks like, featuring the artwork from Story Boat by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh. Story Boat is an imaginative, lyrical, unforgettable picture book about the migrant experience through a child’s eyes.

We invite you to take a flip through our January to June 2020 catalog over here (the cover image features art from What’s Up, Maloo? by Geneviève Godbout):
Jan-June 2020

We can’t hand out or send everyone a physical ARC, but please request a review copy from NetGalley here:

PICTURE BOOKS:
If I Couldn't Be Anne It Happened on Sweet Street Maud and Grand-Maud Monsters 101 9780735265417 Ocean Speaks Ray Terry Fox and Me The Barnabus Project The Invisible Bear The Mosquito When Emily Was Small

MIDDLE GRADE:
Clan The Barren Grounds The Gryphons Lair

YOUNG ADULT:
Barry Squires Full Tilt The Enigma Game

We haven’t forgotten about award reading lists! The 2020-2021 Texas Bluebonnet Award list includes:

Sweep

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster
By Jonathan Auxier
368 Pages | Ages 8-12
ISBN 9780735264373 | Puffin Canada
Click here to watch Jonathan Auxier reveal the cover and introduce the story of Sweep.
Click here to watch Colby Sharp talk about Sweep.
“This dazzling, warmhearted novel contemplates selflessness and saving, deep love and what makes a monster.” – Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
“As heartbreaking as bleak midwinter – and as hopeful as early spring.” – Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
“Nan’s fiery personality will attract readers like moths, and Auxier’s unusual blend of mythology and history will keep them transfixed.” – Starred Review, Booklist
“Auxier crafts a beautiful, hopeful story out of some ugly realities of nineteenth-century British life.” – Starred Review, Horn Book Magazine
“Jonathan Auxier weaves a magical spell that draws readers right into the stark, gritty streets of Victorian London . . . Readers will be entranced.” – Starred Review, School Library Connection

While the current Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List includes:

Narwhal's Otter FriendNarwhal’s Otter Friend
By Ben Clanton
64 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN 9780735262492 | Tundra Books
Click here to watch our book trailer!
Click here for a Narwhal educators’ guide.
Click here for coloring and drawing activity sheets.
Click here to make your own Narwhal tusk!
Click here for the Narwhal and Jelly song by Emily Arrow.
Check out this Narwhal and Jelly Pinterest collection!
Learn how to draw Narwhal here.
Ben Clanton is doing Miximal Mondays on his Instagram Live!
“Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly follow in the grand tradition of early reader buddy tails like Frog and Toad or Elephant and Piggie, and this latest tale is sure to find an honored place alongside them on young readers’ bookshelves.” – New York Journal of Books
“The text is short, sweet, and funny; this, combined with the memorable characters, makes dipping one’s toes into independent reading a pleasure.” – Booklist

We hope you found our virtual TLA booth helpful! We look forward to the day we can all safely travel and attend conferences again. If you have any questions about these titles or would like more resources, just reach out to our booth staff at YoungReaders@penguinrandomhouse.com. We also have a list of activity kits and educators’ guides here and our virtual event listing here.

Photos from our booths at ALA Midwinter 2020 and PLA 2020 have been posted to our Facebook page!

Amazon Best Book of the Month: Megabat is a Fraidybat

We are thrilled to share that Megabat is a Fraidybat, the third book in the adorable chapter book series by Anna Humphrey with illustrations by Kass Reich, was one of Amazon’s Best Book of the Month for April in the ages 6-8 category! Congratulations Anna and Kass!

Megabat is a Fraidybat officially flies onto shelves today! If you haven’t already started this charming series about a boy and his talking bat, we highly recommend it!

Megabat Is a FraidybatMegabat Is a Fraidybat
By Anna Humphrey
Illustrated by Kass Reich
192 Pages | Ages 7-10
ISBN 9780735266025 | Tundra Books

Daniel is not so sure about going to camp. There will be bugs. And uncomfortable beds. And leeches! Megabat can’t WAIT to go to camp! There will be so much smooshfruit, and he loves a good sing-along.

Daniel starts to think camp isn’t so bad. He’s made friends, and his bed isn’t THAT uncomfortable. Megabat has made a new friend too. But his new friend wants him to go flying to spooky caves. And her mom is very toothy.

 

Window Wednesday

#WindowWednesday: We are incredibly fortunate to have stores create window features of our books. We want to highlight their amazing work here on our blog for you to see (and perhaps you’ll discover a new local bookstore).

Type Junction
2887 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P 1Y9
Photography: Vikki VanSickle

 

 

Tundra Book Group