Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Teens/Children's Book Picks US Published August 2016 - Post One

Kelly Barnhill - The Girl Who Drank the Moon - Published by Algonquin Young Readers (August 9, 2016)

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the Forest, Xan, is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. As Luna’s thirteenth birthday approaches, her magic begins to emerge--with dangerous consequences. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Deadly birds with uncertain intentions flock nearby. A volcano, quiet for centuries, rumbles just beneath the earth’s surface. And the woman with the Tiger’s heart is on the prowl . . .

The author of the highly acclaimed, award-winning novel The Witch’s Boy has written an epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to be a modern classic.

Wendy Mass - The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase -  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (August 2, 2016)

The highly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel The Candymakers by beloved author Wendy Mass

It has been a few months since the nationwide New Candy Contest, and Logan, Miles, Philip, and Daisy have returned to their regular lives. But when the winning candy bar comes down the conveyor belt at the Life is Sweet candy factory, Logan realizes something's very wrong....

When the Candymaker announces that they will be going on tour to introduce the new candy bar, the four friends see this as an opportunity to make things right. But with a fifty-year-old secret revealed and stakes higher for each of them than they ever imagined, they will have to trust one another--and themselves--in order to face what lies ahead. 

In this action-packed sequel to the bestselling novel The Candymakers, prepare to embark on a journey full of hidden treasures, secret worlds, and candy.

LOTS and LOTS of candy.

Christina Diaz Gonzalez - Moving Target - Published by Scholastic Press August 30, 2016)

Cassie Arroyo, an American studying in Rome, has her world ripped apart when someone tries to kill her father, an art history professor at an Italian university. Is she their next target?

Cassie sets out to uncover what is happening, only to learn that she is a member of an ancient bloodline that enables her to use the Spear of Destiny--a legendary object that can shape the future. Now running from a secret organization intent on killing those from her bloodline, Cassie must--with the help of some friends--decipher the clues that will lead her to the Spear. Her life--and the fate of the world--depends on it.

Christina Diaz Gonzalez has created a fast-paced thrill-ride of a book, rich with riddles and myth, that young readers will not be able to put down.

Kate Milford (Author), Eliza Wheeler (Illustrator) - The Left-Handed Fate - Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (August 23, 2016)

Return to Nagspeake for a new fantasy adventure from the bestselling author of National Book Award nominee Greenglass House.

Lucy Bluecrowne and Maxwell Ault are on a mission: find the three pieces of a strange and arcane engine they believe can stop the endless war raging between their home country of England and Napoleon Bonaparte’s France. During the search, however, their ship, the famous privateer the Left-Handed Fate, is taken by the Americans, who have just declared war on England, too. The Fate (and with it, Lucy and Max) is put under the command of new midshipman Oliver Dexter . . . who’s only just turned twelve.

But Lucy and Max aren’t the only ones trying to assemble the engine; the French are after it, as well as the crew of a mysterious vessel that seems able to appear out of thin air. When Oliver discovers what his prisoners are really up to―and how dangerous the device could be if it falls into the wrong hands―he is faced with a choice: Help Lucy and Max even if it makes him a traitor to his own country? Or follow orders and risk endangering countless lives, including those of the enemies who have somehow become his friends?

SaveSave

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's/Teen Book Picks UK Published - August 2016 - Post Two

Lari Don - The Beginner's Guide to Curses: Spellchasers 1 - Published by Kelpies (18 Aug. 2016)  - Book Review Here
Molly Drummond is cursed: whenever a dog barks, she turns into a hare -- which can make life quite dangerous...So she does the sensible thing and attends a curse-lifting workshop, run by a local witch. She tumbles into a world of magical beings, all desperate to reverse their curses. But will the power that feeds on the curses prevent them from returning to their normal lives? By the author of the bestselling Fabled Beasts Chronicles series, this is the dramatic first installment in the brand new, long-awaited Spellchasers trilogy. Lari Don has once again created a world of brilliant magic, dark danger and extraordinary friendship which will enchant children of upper primary age. 

Matt Ralphs - Fire Witch (Fire Girl 2) - Published by Macmillan Children's Books (25 Aug. 2016)

Hazel Hooper is no ordinary girl. She is a Fire Witch, and she is furious. Ever since her mother, Hecate, sacrificed herself to the demon world in order to stop a demonic invasion, Hazel has been determined to get her back, regardless of the cost.

Hazel's only chance to find Hecate is to seek advice from Nicolas Murrell, the Order of Witch Hunters most-prized prisoner, and the very same man responsible for Hecate's loss. With only Bramley, her grumpy dormouse familiar for company, Hazel must disguise herself as a boy and infiltrate the black heart of the Order of Witch Hunters to gain an audience with Murrell. But can he be trusted? 

Or will Murrell reveal to his captors that their newest apprentice is actually . . . a witch?

Fire Witch is the fantastic sequel to Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs - perfect for young readers with a taste for the extraordinary!

Sharon Creech - Moo - Published by HarperCollins (30 Aug. 2016) 

Fans of Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech s Love That Dog and Hate That Cat will love her newest tween novel, Moo. This uplifting tale reminds us that if we re open to new experiences, life is full of surprises. Following one family s momentous move from the city to rural Maine, an unexpected bond develops between twelve-year-old Reena and one very ornery cow.

When Reena, her little brother, Luke, and their parents first move to Maine, Reena doesn t know what to expect. She s ready for beaches, blueberries, and all the lobster she can eat. Instead, her parents volunteer Reena and Luke to work for an eccentric neighbor named Mrs. Falala, who has a pig named Paulie, a cat named China, a snake named Edna and that stubborn cow, Zora.

This heartwarming story, told in a blend of poetry and prose, reveals the bonds that emerge when we let others into our lives."

S. E. Grove - Golden Specific, The (Mapmakers Trilogy) - Published by Puffin Books (13 Aug. 2016)

The events of The Glass Sentence transformed the world, as well as the life of fourteen year old Sophia Tims. Since then she's continued searching for clues to her parents' disappearance, combing Boston's archives and libraries. Across the country, her friend Theo is searching, too. When Sophia learns that her mother's diary and the story of her parents" fate is in a distant archive, she makes a split second decision and sets off with an almost complete stranger on a sea voyage to a place where she knows no one. Weeks later, Theo returns to Boston and immediately sets off on a new voyage of his own. This book is written in alternating voices, studded with extracts from Minna Time's diary, and filled with all manner of wonders, including startlingly new kinds of maps.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's/Teen Book Picks UK Published - August 2016 - Post One

Michelle Paver - Warrior Bronze (Gods and Warriors Book 5) - Published by Puffin (4 Aug. 2016) 

Michelle Paver's superb Bronze Age epic reaches its dramatic, spine-tingling conclusion.
Hylas and Pirra return to Akea for their final confrontation with their arch-enemies, the Crows. They must recover the dagger of Koronos if they are to end the warriors' brutal rule. Only if old and new friends join forces can they hope to triumph - but the price of victory may be higher than either Hylas or Pirra has dreamed . . .

Nicole Burstein - Wonderboy - Published by Andersen Press (4 Aug. 2016) 

A funny and frank superhero story set in the world of Othergirl. 
Joseph ‘Wilco’ Wilkes is one of life’s losers – he’s picked on, pushed around, and bullied by the rugby boys at the posh private school he attends on a scholarship. But his life is about to change: Wilco learns he can move things with his mind. Will this be his chance to play the hero, get the girl and finally stand up for himself? Or are things just going to come crashing down around his head? Becoming a proper hero will be quite the leap of faith...

Jo Cotterill (Author) Cathy Brett (Illustrator) - Electrigirl and the Deadly Swarm - Published by OUP Oxford (4 Aug. 2016)

Fully charged and ready for action.
The second title in an explosive new series, with a unique mix of stunning comic book style visuals, and action-packed prose. 
Holly Sparkes was just your average 12-year-old, that was, until a bolt of lightning crashed into her. Now Holly Sparkes is ELECTRIGIRL!  
After honing her superpowers, rescuing her best friend, and defeating the evil Professor Macavity - a holiday is just what Holly needs.  
But there's much more than sun, sea, and sand on offer in the sleepy town of Polcarrow - and when a mysterious and deadly swarm attack there's only one person that can save the day . . . ELECTRIGIRL!  

A new and exciting take on the classic superhero story - told from the original perspective of a 12-year-old girl. Part comic, part text, perfect for fiction and comic book fans alike. This accessible, fast-paced read is truly electrifying!

Louis de Bernières - Blue Dog - Published by Harvill Secker (4 Aug. 2016)
From the author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, the spellbinding story of a young boy and his dog adventuring through the outback.

When a family tragedy means Mick is sent to the outback to live with his Granpa, it looks as if he has a lonely life ahead of him. The cattle station is a tough place for a child, where nature is brutal and the men must work hard in the heat and dust. However, after a cyclone hits, things change for Mick. Exploring the floodwaters, he finds a lost puppy covered in mud and half-drowned. Mick and his dog immediately become inseparable as they take on the adventures offered by their unusual home, and the business of growing up, together. 

In this charming prequel to the much-loved Red Dog, Louis de Bernières tells the moving story of a young boy and his Granpa, and the charismatic and entertaining dog who so many readers hold close to their hearts.

With illustrations by Alan Baker

Michelle Harrison - The Other Alice - Blog Tour (Five Characters I'd Wish Into Real Life . . . and Five Villains I Wouldn't)

It's a great pleasure to be kicking off the blog tour for Michelle Harrison's latest book, The Other Alice. It was recently published by Simon & Schuster on the 28th July. This is a fantastically magical book which is very spooky and absolutely thrilling to read. To find out more please check out my book review HERE.  

This blog tour will stop by some of the best book bloggers, so please check the list above and pop along to each of these. I would like to thank Michelle for this brilliant post about Characters and Villains. I wonder . . . . what would yours be? 

Finally, please check my book give away on twitter @Enchantedbooks which is starting today. All you have to do is RT and Follow. I'm afraid that this competition is open to the UK only. 

Five Characters I'd Wish Into Real Life 
. . . and Five Villains I Wouldn't  By Michelle Harrison 

My latest novel, The Other Alice, is about a writer whose characters come to life if she is unable to finish their stories. I've often wished I could bring some of my own characters into the real world, and I've definitely created a few that I'd never want to meet. Here are my top five in each category, from my own books and those by other authors. 

1. The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen 
In the original version this 'poor unfortunate soul' ends up as sea foam after she fails to win the prince's love. If she came to life, I'd use her three days as a human to show her a good time. On day one I'd deck her out with some party feet for her painful tootsies, then take her out for a girly night of cocktails. Day two, we'd recover with a fry up and watch DVDs in our PJs (probably Bridget Jones rather than Splash). Day three we'd go through all my folklore and spell books and find a way to outwit the sea witch. Girl power! 

2. Turpin – One Wish by Michelle Harrison 
Of all the fairies I've created, Turpin is probably my favourite. She's artful, cheeky and a kleptomaniac, but also fiercely loyal and brave. Life would be a lot of fun with her around, provided you don't mind handling stolen goods. 

3. Gobbolino the Witch's Cat – Ursula Moray Williams 
As a child I was enchanted by stories of the little black cat, Gobbolino and his wicked sister, Sootica. Born with one white paw (and so not deemed a 'proper' witch's cat) Gobbolino is cast out by the witch and goes in search of his forever home. As a mad cat lady with a penchant for black cats, there'd always be a place by my fire and a bowl of GoCat for him (and probably Sootica, too) although they'd have to get past my top cat, Pepper, first . . . 

4. Sara Crewe – A little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett 
One of my all time book heroines. Going from riches to rags she manages to stay positive and enrich the lives of all around her with the power of her imagination and love of stories. Not only that but she'd never interrupt you when you're reading, because it's one of her pet hates. Top girl. 

5. Jon Snow – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin 
No, really. I wouldn't choose the bad guys like Jaime Lannister, or Mr Willoughby. Or James Bond. Nope, no dashing literary ratbags for me. Honestly. WHAT? 


And now for the baddies . . . 

1. Kevin Katchadourian – We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver 
One seriously messed up little creep who is the perpetrator of a high school massacre. In addition he steals a dead person's glass eye, and wears nappies until the age of six just to make his mother's life difficult. A horribly compelling character in one of the best but most disturbing books I've read. But being a monster isn't the only reason I'd never want Kevin to be real. He knows he's unwanted by his mother, and he's so joyless I'd just never wish a human like him into existence. 

2. Jennet Humfrye – The Woman in Black by Susan Hill 
One of the most malevolent and threatening characters I've ever encountered, the ghost of Jennet Humfrye with her wasted face haunts the town of Crythin Gifford. Having pined away after the death of her son, sightings of her result in the inevitable death of a child. The book, stage play and film have each played on my mind when the lights are out. *Shudder* 

3. Asinastra – Poison by Chris Wooding 
If you're not a fan of spiders, you really won't like Asinastra, the Lady of Cobwebs. A pregnant half-woman, half-spider, she peers up through her tangle of hair and speaks to your mind telepathically. I've never hoovered up a spider but I'd make an exception for this one if there was a Dyson big enough. 

4. Cruella de Vil – The Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith 
'If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will . . .' Not much else to say about this would-be puppy killer except that I'd love to have thought her up myself. If I was ever unlucky enough to meet her I like to think I'd be brave enough to chuck a box of Nice 'n' Easy her way before scarpering. 

5. Annie Wilkes – Misery by Stephen King 
Every writer's nightmare: 'Your number one fan!' A deranged devotee of Stephen King's author Paul Sheldon, Annie is enraged that he killed off her favourite character, Misery Chastain. Not content with imprisoning and torturing him, she forces him to write a new book bringing Misery back from the dead. I can't help but grimace whenever I get an email from someone claiming to be my 'number one fan' . . .

KELPIES BIG BOOK COVER REVEAL: Lari Don - The Beginner's Guide to Running Away/The Witch's Guide to Magical Combat (Spellchasers)

It has been a very along time since 'Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books' has had the opportunity to show you new children's book cover bling. These have come courtesy of indie publisher Floris Books (Kelpies) which is a great Scottish publisher in my opinion of children's books. 

For the first time, I have all three book covers to show you as part of the fantastic new trilogy,  Spellchasers, by Lari Don.  I recently reviewed the first book in the series The Beginner's Guide to Curses (book cover above) which will be published on the 18th August 2016.

All three book cover Illustrations have been produced by the talented artist, Jordi Salano. I personally love these and feel that they work really well across the series. If you also like them then you might want to check out some other great works by the artist HERE.

 

There will be three books, all connected, to make one giant Scottish ride of magical fantasy that you will not want to miss. The sequel will be: The Shapeshifter's Guide to Running Away (Book 2) and is scheduled to be published in spring 2017. Whilst the final book in the series, The Witch's Guide to Magical Combat (Book 3), will be published in the autumn of 2017. I hope that you really enjoy the book covers. Thanks for looking! 

SaveSaveSaveSave

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: The Beginner's Guide to Curses: Spellchasers 1 By Lari Don (Kelpies)

Molly Drummond is cursed: whenever a dog barks, she turns into a hare -- which can make life quite dangerous...So she does the sensible thing and attends a curse-lifting workshop, run by a local witch. She tumbles into a world of magical beings, all desperate to reverse their curses. But will the power that feeds on the curses prevent them from returning to their normal lives? By the author of the bestselling Fabled Beasts Chronicles series, this is the dramatic first instalment in the brand new, long-awaited Spellchasers trilogy.

This is the start of a new spirited adventure series which has been born out of Lari Don's great love of storytelling. There will be three books, all connected to make one giant Scottish ride of magical fantasy, that you will not want to miss. The follow up books will be: The Shapeshifter's Guide to Running Away (Book 2) which will be scheduled to be published in spring 2017 and The Witch's Guide to Magical Combat (Book 3) which will hopefully be published in the autumn of 2017.

In the first book you will learn a valuable lesson not to annoy your neighbours as you are likely to get cursed in the process. Unfortunately this curse is not the easiest of things to lift and so, like Molly, you might need to undertake a CURSE-LIFTING WORKSHOP. There's no need to panic though, as in chapter 2 you take a visit to Skene Main's shop where you can enrol in one. On slight draw back is that you have to be between the ages of 11 and 21 years old. Nevertheless the course has guaranteed results and they also sell great organic vegetables! The potatoes are to die for, but you have to dig them up yourself. 

You will hurtle into a brilliantly created world of Scottish myth folklore and fantastic wild outdoors. This is a captivating adventure for the young at heart which will enchant the socks off any magical beings through its mystery, dark danger, humour and riddles. The book includes some really great character friendships, regardless of their backgrounds, and will make you feel warm at heart. The story is a fast paced, family read which will leave you breathless as you chase headlong into danger through a race against time. You will encounter some deadly pecking crows, sleeping trapped wyrms and nettle knickers, do I need to say more....?!

The further you venture into this book the more you get caught up with the characters as they discover a deadly secret which turns them all against each other. The suspense and the tension hits the reader in the face and brings about a different side to the characters which turns out to be rather unpleasant.....

I really loved the eclectic mix of characters which included: a tree spirit, a kelpie, a shapeshifter and a mysterious frog found just at the start of the story. It really gets your fantasy taste buds going. It's a vivid fairytale-like story set in Speyside, which is the place where the author grew up and famous for its wee tipple of whisky. Just like the drink, it creates a distinctive blend of flavours, a dash of wild imagination, a natural splash of Scottish landscape and some immersive climatic action all distilled in a magical dark folklore twist.  This is a great start to a series with so much more set to come...

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Most Wanted Read 2016 - Tahereh Mafi - Furthermore (Penguin)

I think that this is a cracking book cover, but what do you think? From what I have read about this book, it sounds like a fantastic story and one that I'm very much looking forward to reading. The wife of Ransom Riggs and bestselling author of the Shatter Me series has written this middle-grade-like fairytale, where magic is a must, adventure is inevitable and friendship is found in the most unexpected places. Just like the book cover, it sounds like a very colourful plot; it might radiate like a rainbow once under the cover.

There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it’s been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other.

But bringing Father home is no small matter. In order to find him she’ll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named Oliver whose own magical ability is based in lies and deceit—and with a liar by her side in land where nothing is as it seems, it will take all of Alice's wits (and every limb she's got) to find Father and return home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father Alice must first find herself—and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.

Twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow has only three things in the world that matter: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; triplet brothers, who never knew her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him, so some said he’d gone to measure the sea. Others said the sky. The moon. Maybe he’d learned to fly and had forgotten how to come back down. But it’s been almost six years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other. No matter the cost.

• Hardcover
 
• ISBN 9781101994764
 
• 416 Pages
 
• 30 Aug 2016
 
• Dutton Books for Young Readers
 
• 9-12 years

Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series. She can usually be found over-caffeinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere at @TaherehMafi or on her website, www.taherehbooks.com.