After a long, long wait due to supply chain delays affecting the book industry, we have finally received our first major shipment of new books for the 2021-2022 school year! We’ll be adding lots of great titles to the New Book Section all week long — here are some highlights:

The Block (The Loop, Book 2) by Ben Oliver — In the second book of The Loop trilogy, Luka is trapped in a fate worse than death. But now that he knows the truth about what he and his fellow inmates are being used for, it’s more important than ever that he not only escapes, but that he builds an army. Oliver is great at “building background knowledge for the series, creating more tension, and setting up a riveting cliffhanger for the series conclusion” (Kirkus Reviews).

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury — After failing to come into her powers, sixteen-year-old Voya — a Black witch living in near-future Toronto — is forced to choose between losing her family’s magic forever, a heritage steeped in centuries of blood and survival, or murdering her first love, a boy who is supposedly her genetic match. “This impressive debut will wow readers and leave them eager for more from this writer to watch” (Booklist).

The Box In The Woods (Truly Devious series) by Maureen Johnson — After solving the greatest unsolved mystery of the century, Stevie Bell goes undercover as a camp counselor to investigate the strange going-ons at Camp Wonder Falls — the site of the infamous “Box in the Woods” murders. “Mystery fans will relish this standalone novel in the Truly Devious universe” (School Library Journal). Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook (Sora login required)

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney — Quinn keeps lists of everything — from the days she’s ugly cried, to “Things That I Would Never Admit Out Loud” and all the boys she’d like to kiss. Her lists keep her sane. By writing her fears on paper, she never has to face them in real life. That is, until her journal goes missing. “A perfect mix of humor and romance — and a source of inspiration for being brave” (Kirkus Reviews). Get the eBook (Sora login required)

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta — In an age of 100-foot-tall mechanical deities run by a tyrannical regime, two teenaged girls on opposite sides of a war discover they are fighting for a common purpose — and falling for each other. “The cliffhanger ending of this action-packed series starter suggests that a deeper political conspiracy will unfold in the sequel” (Publishers Weekly).

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee — After smuggling herself onto the RMS Titanic, British-Chinese teenager Valora Luck reunites with her twin brother and tries to convince him that their acrobatic training could be their ticket to a better life. “Lee’s conversational style adds a freshness to the historical frame and achieves a thrilling balance between hope and anguish through budding romances and humor amid the looming tragedy” (Booklist). Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook (Sora login required)

Pumpkin by Julie Murphy — Creating a drag-show audition tape that culminates in an unkind nomination for prom queen, an overweight and openly gay teen partners with a girl who has been nominated for prom king to embrace their true selves. “ackling heavy topics with humor, this novel touches on the importance of staying true to yourself even (and especially) when it’s hard” (School Library Journal). Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook (Sora login required)

Seasons of the Storm (Book 1) by Elle Cosimano — One cold, crisp night, Jack Sommers was faced with a choice — live forever according to the ancient, magical rules of Gaia, or die. Jack chose to live, and in exchange, he became a Winter — an immortal physical embodiment of the season on Earth — and every year, he must hunt the Season who comes before him. “Blending mythology with the modern world, Cosimano uses the rhythm of nature to create a whirlwind of romance and friendship that illustrates both the power of choice and the strength in differences” (Publishers Weekly). Get the eBook (Sora login required)

Star Wars, The High Republic: Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland — Sylvestri Yarrow is drawn into a squabble between two of the Republic’s most powerful families over a patch of space on the frontier. Tangled up in familial politics is the last place Syl wants to be, but the promise of a big payoff is enough to keep her interested. “This complex and suspenseful story and its compelling characters will appeal to fans of the Star Wars franchise and of mysteries” (School Library Journal). Get the eBook | Get the Audiobook (Sora login required)

Strange Creatures by Phoebe North — A riveting, unexpected, and beautiful contemporary novel about a girl whose brother mysteriously disappears, the family and friends he leaves behind, and the stories — real and imagined – -that they tell themselves to fill the empty space. “This bildungsroman is layered, imaginative, and compelling; with its contemplative tone, especially as the characters reach adulthood, it’s also a strong adult crossover” (Booklist). Get the eBook (Sora login required)