The galley godmothers at Little Brown sent me these and a happy dance ensued:
Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin. 289 p. Little, Brown & Company, October, 2012. 978-0-316-21800-9.
Publisher synopsis: The moon is missing from the remote Village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to notice! Rendi has run away from home and is now working as a chore boy at the village inn. He can't help but notice the village's peculiar inhabitants and their problems-where has the innkeeper's son gone? Why are Master Chao and Widow Yan always arguing? What is the crying sound Rendi keeps hearing? And how can crazy, old Mr. Shan not know if his pet is a toad or a rabbit?But one day, a mysterious lady arrives at the Inn with the gift of storytelling, and slowly transforms the villagers and Rendi himself. As she tells more stories and the days pass in the Village of Clear Sky, Rendi begins to realize that perhaps it is his own story that holds the answers to all those questions.
I adored Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and am so looking forward to this. PS: I swiped the image from Grace Lin's blog.
Catherine by April LIndner. 305 p. Poppy/ Little, Brown & Company, January, 2013. 978-0-316-21817-7.
Publisher synopsis:
A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights
as you've never seen it before.
Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad's famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?
Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a brief illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years -- a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn't die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her -- starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.
April Linder, author of Jane -- a modern-day reinterpretation of Jane Eyre - is back! Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery.
An embarrassing confession: Jane is languishing on TOM. Hopefully I will get to both soon. (and maybe reread Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.)
Drum roll please:
The Diviners by Libba Bray. 578 p. Little, Brown & Company, September, 2012. 978-0-316-22375-1.
Publisher synopsis: Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult—also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies." The inimitable Stephen Colbert conquers new territory with his first children's book...for adults.
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer—if he doesn't catch her first.
I received a "teaser" of this at the Little Brown Fall preview I attended last month. I gobbled it up and wanted more. Immediately. I will forever treasure my teaser even though I very much dislike being teased. Libba Bray signed it! Anywho. I showed great restraint upon opening my package. Skipping was involved.
And finally, a gift from Little Brown:
I am a Pole (and so can you!) by Stephen Colbert. 32 p. Grand Central Publishing/ Hachette Book Group, May 8, 2012. 978-1-4555-2342-9.
Publisher synopsis: The inimitable Stephen Colbert conquers new territory with his first children's book...for adults.
In January 2012, Stephen Colbert interviewed Maurice Sendak and it was one of the most highly-rated and hilarious segments on The Colbert Report to date. During the interview, Colbert unveiled a children's book called I AM A POLE (AND SO CAN YOU!). There was an outpouring of enthusiasm for the book, which led to a demand for the real thing. Hence, here it is, published just in time for Graduation!
CAN'T GET ENOUGH POLE?
LOOK FOR THESE SEQUELS:
Pole Learns the ABCs Pole Eats His Vegetables Pole in Outer Space Pole Has a Bar Mitzvah Pole Goes to Bangkok Pole Meets Another Pole Pole Meets the Other Pole's New Boyfriend Pole Does Something Else How the Pole Stole Christmas Pole Learns About Copyright Infringement
. . . and many, many more!
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT POLES,
Please purchase another copy of I AM A POLE (AND SO CAN YOU!)
MOTION PICTURE RIGHTS STILL AVAILABLE!
(Ball's in your court, Pixar!)
Many, many thanks Victoria and everyone at Little Brown.
Pre-orders arrived!
The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi. 437 p. Little, Brown & Company, May 1, 2012. 978-0-316-05624-3.
In a dark future America where violence, terror, and grief touch everyone, young refugees Mahlia and Mouse have managed to leave behind the war-torn lands of the Drowned Cities by escaping into the jungle outskirts. But when they discover a wounded half-man—a bioengineered war beast named Tool—who is being hunted by a vengeful band of soldiers, their fragile existence quickly collapses. One is taken prisoner by merciless soldier boys, and the other is faced with an impossible decision: Risk everything to save a friend, or flee to a place where freedom might finally be possible.
This thrilling companion to Paolo Bacigalupi's highly acclaimed Ship Breaker is a haunting and powerful story of loyalty, survival, and heart-pounding adventure.
I have already read this amazingness. Sadly, I have yet to compose my thoughts coherently enough to blog about it. It is definitely one I will reread. Soon.
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore. 563 p. Dial Books/ Penguin Group (USA), May 1, 2012. 978-0-8037-3473-9.
Publisher synopsis: The long-awaited companion to New York Times bestsellers Graceling and Fire
Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck's reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.
Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn't yet identified, holds a key to her heart.
That's what has been added to TOM, my to be read pile this week. What did you get?
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