New YA titles ....

Are you looking for a Young Adult novel to read this summer?  Here are a couple of recently published titles which may interest you:

THE STRANGE FASCINATIONS OF NOAH HYPNOTIK by David Arnold is indeed strange; in fact, quirky, wild, and humorous could be some other adjectives to describe this newly released novel. One reviewer called it “mind-bending.” The story centers on rising Senior Noah Oakman’s reflections on his life. Students will relate to the clever writing and pop culture references, like this description: “Stasis, inertia, the complete physical atrophy of a morning and early afternoon spent on nothing but Netflix: these are the things I will miss most about summer.”

Actually, Noah struggles with being lonely, with lying to his parents about his back injury so he doesn’t have to compete in swimming, and even with reality after being hypnotized one night at a party. That’s when Noah notices that some things seem to be changed (why does his Mom have a scar and why is his friend suddenly into Marvel Comics), while his strange fascinations (local musician, a favorite author, a man with a goiter and a woman on YouTube) remain constant.  One theme is certainly taking risks, overcoming assumptions and exploring new perspectives as Noah tries to have it all make sense: “I often wonder about the subtle connectors of the universe stretching through time and space, some skipping from one star to the next like smooth stones across a pond, some left to float through the wide, aimless infinite.”

David Arnold also wrote popular young adult novels titled Mosquitoland and Kids of Appetite. A pdf with Discussion Questions for all three books is available on the publisher’s website.  THE STRANGE FASCINATIONS OF NOAH HYPNOTIK received starred reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal (grades 9 and up).

Newly released fantasy novel LEGENDARY by Stephanie Garber is the sequel to Caraval.  And you should read those two books in order so as to fully understand the story of Donatella and her sister Scarlett and the imaginative fantasy world in which they live. I am keeping my review brief and relying on the recommendations of several fans (ranging in age from teens to mid-80s!) who are eagerly looking forward to this addition to the series where Tella is on a quest to learn the true name of the Caraval Master Legend. To do so, she must solve puzzles and riddles and win Caraval.  

LEGENDARY received a starred review from the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and was on many “most anticipated book” lists.

From Holmes to Sherlock by Mattias Bostrom

FROM HOLMES TO SHERLOCK by Mattias Bostrom is an impressive work of scholarship on an iconic character and his creators. This book contains 111 chapters, plus footnotes and a bibliography that together span about 70 pages.  While there is an extensive index, there is no separate table of contents although the book is split into eight parts covering 1878 to 2016 and allowing true fans to enjoy the many, many details in relative chronological order or to simply focus on sampling a period of interest. Also included are eight pages of color photographs picturing Arthur Conan Doyle, Joseph Bell, William Gillette, and various celebrities who have portrayed Sherlock Holmes. Bostrom is a member of the Baker Street Irregulars and a recognized expert on his subject. FROM HOLMES TO SHERLOCK won the nonfiction award from the Swedish Crime Writers Academy and received a starred review from Booklist.