Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers 2014

TopShelf2014The Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers list is published in the February 2015 issue of VOYA Magazine. Thank you to the committee members for their hard work in compiling this list. We’re so happy to share that two of our titles were included, so please congratulate our authors and illustrator: Charis Cotter, Marthe Jocelyn, Richard Scrimger, and Claudia Dávila!!

The SwallowThe Swallow: A Ghost Story
Written by Charis Cotter
Hardcover | 320 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-591-3
eBook: 978-1-77049-593-7
“In 1960s Toronto, only-child Rose lives next door to ignored middle-child Polly, and they become friends by whispering through an adjoining attic wall. Polly is thrilled when Rose reluctantly divulges she can see ghosts, but when they find a cemetery gravestone bearing Rose’s name, both girls start to question reality. This creepy story will thrill and surprise burgeoning horror fans.” – VOYA

Viminy Crowes Comic BookViminy Crowe’s Comic Book
Written by Marthe Jocelyn and Richard Scrimger
Illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Hardcover | 336 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-479-4
eBook: 978-1-77049-480-0
“Addy and Wylder, two kids who meet and don’t exactly become friends at a comic convention, are pulled into ‘Flynn Goster Comic #3,’ a rollicking wild-west steampunk train escapade complete with villains and mayhem. Can Addy and Wylder fix the havoc they have wreaked on the storyline? Can they ever escape the comic and return to their ordinary lives?” – VOYA

You’ll fall for these angels this Valentine’s Day

Yesterday we brought you Valentines based on Ellie Marney’s Every series, today we have Paula Weston’s Rephaim series!

I’m sure we’ve all heard the “did it hurt when you fell from heaven” line at some point, whether in real life or as a joke, but we couldn’t help ourselves.

Rafa knows that Gaby’s the most heavenly body he’ll find on earth!

And when Gaby first meets Rafa, she can’t tell if he’s an angel or a demon from her dreams.

Heaven knows we picked some punny lines, but we’d love to hear yours! Comment below telling us your favourite line or pick one from our e-cards. Our two favorites will win hardcover copies of both Shadows and Haze, the first two books in the Rephaim series. You have a week to enter, the contest will end on Thursday, February 19, 2015. US and Canada mailing addresses only.

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You can even make your own cards using these templates!

Update: Congratulations to Laura S. and mrsmonnandez! Thanks to everyone who participated, you’re all very punny!

Can you feel the Wattscroft love tonight?

As I’m sure you know, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. To celebrate, we’ve created e-cards using one of our favorite (fictional) couples: James Mycroft and Rachel Watts aka Wattscroft from Ellie Marney’s Every series.

First up, we have tall, dark and handsome Mycroft. He must be made of Fluorine, Iodine, and Neon because he’s F-I-Ne!

We can’t forget Mycroft’s better half, Rachel Watts. He’d offer her one of his cigarettes, but she’s already smokin’.

We had a lot of pun detecting pickup lines, and now it’s your turn! Comment below with the best pick up line you can think of; it doesn’t have to start with “hey girl/boy,” but bonus points if it has some sort of science/mystery-related pun. Our four favorites will win ARCs of Every Breath and Every Word, plus a bookmark featuring both covers (so you can carry Wattscroft with you everywhere!). You have until Thursday, February 19, 2015 to enter! That’s one week. Open to Canadian and US mailing addresses only – sorry international fans!

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You can even make your own e-cards using these templates!

Update: Congratulations to Kristen, Jay, Meg and Jenny! It was so hard to choose from all the punny comments, thanks to everyone who participated!

Tuesdays with Tundra 45

Happy New Year! This is our first Tuesdays with Tundra of 2015, we’re so excited to begin because there’s so many great books this year! Tuesdays with Tundra is a monthly post on our new releases. The following books are available today in stores and online!

Best Friends through EternityBest Friends through Eternity
Written by Sylvia McNicoll
Hardcover | 192 Pages | Ages 12 and up
ISBN: 978-1-77049-710-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-712-2
Inspired by the true story of a teen who was killed at a railway crossing, the author weaves the tale of fourteen-year-old Paige, who, taking a shortcut alongside the tracks to avoid the school bullies, is tragically hit by a train and transported to a surreal world where she encounters Kim, who died seven years before. Convinced she is only dreaming, Paige must discover a way to return to her former life. Poignant, gripping, and full of unexpected twists and turns, Best Friends through Eternity will resonate with readers who have struggled with cultural identity, a sense of belonging, and the real meaning of home.

Head LiceHead Lice
Written by Elise Gravel
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6 to 9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-661-3
Part of a series of hilarious nonfiction books about disgusting creatures, this book examines head lice. It covers such topics as head lice habitats (human heads only, dogs are gross) anatomy (his body is slightly see through, so he can always see what he ate for lunch), and parenting practice (the female louse sticks eggs to human hair and uses the leftover glue for her model airplanes). Although silly and off-the-wall, Head Lice contains factual information that will both amuse and teach.

Reality Check in DetroitReality Check in Detroit
Written by Roy and Kerry MacGregor
Trade Paperback | 209 Pages | Ages 9-12
ISBN: 978-1-77049-422-0
eBook: 978-1-77049-427-5
The Screech Owls are invited to compete in a four-day skills competition in Detroit. Along with another team, they will be participating in a reality show called Goals and Dreams. They’re staying at a fancy hotel, being showered with hockey swag, given Hollywood nicknames, and posing for the film crew – Hockeytown doesn’t look bad at all! That’s until they meet the other team and start noticing how differently they’re being treated. Are the producers engineering certain tensions and situations to pump up the show? The Screech Owls don’t like to be manipulated . . .

The SpiderThe Spider
Written by Elise Gravel
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6 to 9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-664-4
Part of a series of hilarious nonfiction about disgusting creatures, this book looks at the spider. It covers such topics as the spider’s habitats (pretty much everywhere but outer space), the silk it spins (it can trap prey and makes a nifty bowtie), and its parenting practice (female spiders carry around their eggs in a silk purse). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Spider contains real information that will both amuse and teach.

Pub Date Giveaway: In the comments below, please tell us which new February 2015 release of Tundra’s you would love to read and one lucky reader will receive their requested book! One request per person and please review our rules. This giveaway ends at midnight on Monday, February 16, 2015!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Erin, winner of The Spider by Elise Gravel!

Tundra Book Group