Sequels hitting shelves this month include the conclusion of a mythical quest back to Mount Olympus; a companion to the Newbery Award-winning graphic novel New Kid; a frustrated farmer who just can’t get his duck to fall asleep; and more.
Novels
The Captive Kingdom by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Scholastic Press, Oct. 6 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-338-55108-2)
The fourth instalment in the Ascendance series follows Jaron as he is taken hostage. The mysterious captors accuse him of unthinkable acts and are also in possession of a crown and sword that belonged to Jaron’s older brother—unearthing a past Jaron thought he had left behind.
The Fallen Hero by Katie Zhao (Bloomsbury, $16.99; ISBN 978-1-5476-0197-4)
In book two in the Dragon Warrior series, Faryn Liu thought she was the Heaven Breaker, destined to command dragons and defeat demons. But Faryn discovers she has been manipulated and her brother has betrayed her. Determined to get him back on her side, Faryn sets off on a quest to save her brother, no matter the cost.
Lights, Camera, Danger by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver (Amulet, Oct. 6 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-4099-2)
After escaping his oppressive red dwarf planet and landing a role on a Hollywood sitcom, Buddy Burger is back in the sequel to Alien Superstar and seems destined for high-flying success. That is, until the arrival of Citizen Cruel, a shape-shifting Squadron member is sent from Buddy’s home planet to bring him back by any means necessary.
Poisoned by Jennifer Donnelly (Scholastic Press, Oct. 20 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-338-26849-2)
In this fairytale retelling and the companion to Stepsister, Sophie has serious self-doubts after being dubbed a waste of a princess. With the help of seven mysterious strangers Sophie must find the courage to prove that even the darkest magic can’t extinguish the fire burning inside every girl.
The Princess in Black and the Giant Problem by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham (Candlewick, Oct. 6 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-0222-9)
The Princess in Black is ready for her snowy playdate with the Goat Avenger and the Princess in Blankets. But when a noisy giant starts to smash everything in its path, the Princess in Black must use the Sparkle Signal to summon help, in the eighth book of the series.
Project Class President by Alyssa Milano with Debbie Rigaud, illus. by Eric S. Keyes (Scholastic, Oct. 6 $14.99; ISBN 978-1-338-32942-1).
In the third book of Alyssa Milano’s Hope series, Hope is running for class president but in an effort to win over her classmates, she makes some promises she can’t keep.
Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (Greenwillow, Oct. 6 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-287447-4)
In the conclusion to the Queen’s Thief series, 20 years in the making, Eugenides is the uneasy linchpin of a truce on the Lesser Peninsula, where he has risen to be high king. As the treacherous Baron Erondites schemes and a prophecy foretells the death of the king, the ruthless Mede empire prepares to strike.
Serpentine by Philip Pullman, illus. by Tom Duxbury (Knopf, Oct. 15 $12.99; ISBN 978-0-593-37768-0)
This companion to the His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust trilogies follows Lyra and her daemon Pan as they journey to the far North once more, hoping to ask the Consul of Witches a most urgent question.
Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty, illus. by David Roberts (Amulet, Oct. 6 $12.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-4350-4)
Miss Lila Greer announces it’s time for Grade Two to get a class pet, and she wants the kids to participate in choosing which one. There’s a class-wide election campaign, complete with posters, articles, and speeches. But when the votes are counted, there’s a tie, and one vote is missing. It’s up to Sofia Valdez and the Questioneers to sort things out.
Spy School Revolution by Stuart Gibbs (Simon and Schuster, Oct. 6 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-4378-5)
With SPYDER defeated, Ben Ripley is looking forward to his life getting back to normal, until someone bombs the CIA conference room. To Ben’s astonishment, the attacker is Erica Hale, the spy-in-training he respects more than any other. Determined to prove Erica innocent, Ben finds himself up against his own friends, in this eighth book in the series.
The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan (Disney-Hyperion, Oct. 6 $19.99; ISBN 978-1-4847-4645-5).
In the fifth and final instalment in the Trials of Apollo series, Apollo and Meg must follow a prophecy uncovered by Ella the harpy, while Lester’s final challenge will be at the Tower of Nero, back in New York.
Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia (Disney/Rick Riordan Presents, Oct. 6 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-368-04238-3).
Tristan Strong is back in the sequel to Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. Having returned from Alke, the land of African American folk heroes and African gods, Tristan is suffering from PTSD; but there’s no rest for the weary when his grandmother is abducted by a mysterious villain who’s out for revenge. See our Flying Starts interview with Mbalia here.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Class Act by Jerry Craft (Quill Tree, Oct. 6 $22.99; ISBN 978-0-06-288551-7)
This companion to the Newbery Medal-winning graphic novel New Kid follows Jordan’s friend Drew, who has his own struggles with racism, classism, and shifting friendships at Riverdale Academy Day School. See our interview with author-artist Craft.
Click, Clack, Good Night by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Betsy Lewin (Atheneum, Oct. 6 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-5108-7)
It’s bedtime on the farm. The cows, sheep, and chickens are all tucked in and snoozing away—except for Duck. So Farmer Brown sings him a song, reads him a book, turns on the white noise machine, and even debates the day’s top stories. But Duck just won’t sleep.
The Giving Day by Cori Doerrfeld (Abrams, Oct. 27 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-4419-8).
In the follow-up to The Welcome Wagon, the town of Cubby Hill comes together for the Great Giving Festival, celebrating the spirit of community. This year, Cooper Cub must deliver his grandmother’s special honey to everyone in town.
Julián at the Wedding by Jessica Love (Candlewick, Oct. 6 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1238-9)
The star of Julián Is a Mermaid returns, and is going to be in a wedding; he arrives, dressed in a sharp lavender suit and magenta shoes, with his abuela. “A wedding is a party for love,” Love writes. See our Flying Starts interview with the author-illustrator.
One Mean Ant with Fly and Flea by Arthur Yorinks, illus. by Sergio Ruzzier (Candlewick, Oct. 13 17.99; ISBN 978-0-7636-8395-5
Ant and Fly are back and they’re joined by Flea, who is newly escaped from the flea circus. Ant doesn’t think much of Flea until Flea gets them out of one sticky situation and into another. Ant’s famous temper can’t save them now.
Okapi Tale by Jacob Kramer, illus. by K-Fai Steele (Enchanted Lion, Oct. 13 $18.95; ISBN 978-1-59270-304-3)
In the sequel to Noodlephant, now that all animals have equal rights, Beaston is the perfect place to live. But things take a turn when a wealthy Okapi-talist sees an investment opportunity and suddenly things change for the worse.
