Just because summer is ending doesn’t mean your favorite stories have to. August brings a number of sequels for popular children’s and YA series. An intrepid moose detective tries to discover who is troubling the introverted animals; a Pizza and Taco best friend duo create a comic together; a group of girls plant the seeds of a plan for freedom; and more.
Picture Books and Graphic Novels
Cat Problems by Jory John, illus. by Lane Smith (Random House Studio, Aug. 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-30213-2)
In the third entry in the collaborators’ Animal Problems series, a pampered house cat has problems, too. The sun spot he’s trying to bathe in won’t stop moving. He keeps getting served dry food instead of wet. And the vacuum is a menace. Is there a silver lining? See our In Conversation with John and Smith.
Friends Forever by Shannon Hale, illus. by LeUyen Pham (First Second, Aug 31. $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-31756-8; hardcover $21.99; ISBN 978-1-250-31755-1)
Following Hale’s Real Friends and Best Friends graphic memoirs, Shannon is in eighth grade, and life is more complicated than ever. Everyone is changing and Shannon is worried about disappointing the people who care about her. See our In Conversation with the co-creators.
Larry Gets Lost in the Library by John Skewes and Eric Ode, illus. by John Skewes (Little Bigfoot, Aug. 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-63217-324-9)
In the latest addition to the Larry Gets Lost series, playful pup Larry and Pete are visiting Pete’s grandparents on a farm. When a bookmobile arrive, Larry wanders in without Pete noticing. Larry soon finds himself lost inside a library, and must find his way back to Pete.
Moose on a Mission by Mo O’Hara, illus. by Jess Bradley (Feiwel and Friends, Aug. 3 $10.99; ISBN 978-1-250-22222-0).
In the second book in the Agent Moose series, the circus is in town and Granny Moose is coming to visit, but a mysterious robber is on the loose. When Agent Moose learns that someone is preying on introverted animals, he and Owlfred rush to investigate, with Granny along for the ride.
The Raven Brooks Disaster by Zac Gorman, Chris Fenoglio, and Dave Bardin (Scholastic, Aug. 3 $12.99 trade paper; ISBN 978-1-338-72676-3)
Tying into the Hello Neighbor Universe, in the second graphic novel in this series, Regina is relaxing at home while her parents are out on a date and her older stepsister babysits. But when a flash flood warning comes they have to head out of town. And to make things worse, a freak car accident leaves them stranded on the side of the road.
Super-Awesome Comic by Stephen Shaskan (Random House, Aug. 10 $9.99; ISBN 978-0-593-37603-4)
Pizza and Taco are back in book three of the Pizza and Taco series. When you love comics, the next step after reading is collaborating on one. But what happens when the friends run into “artistic differences”?
Third Time’s a Charm by Kristen Gudsnuk (Graphix, Aug. 3 $12.99 trade paper; ISBN 978-1-338-63079-4)
Dany’s sketchbook is at it again in the third installment of the Making Friends series. Dany and Madison are living a new reality: instead of being best friends, they are now twins. Their mother is a novelist, their father is a rock star, and Danny is a diligent student. Can Danny and Madison put things back to the way they were?
Yum Fest Is the Best! by Jason Tharp (Simon Spotlight, Aug. 31 $6.99 trade paper; ISBN 978-1-534-48465-8)
The second book in the Nugget and Dog series finds everyone in Gastropolis excited about Yum Fest. But this year, a unicorn puppy tries to spoil all the fun. Nugget and Dog must use K.E.T.C.H.U.P.—their club that spreads kindness, empathy, and more—to save the day.
Novels
All Pets Allowed by Adele Griffin, illus. by LeUyen Pham (Algonquin, Aug. 31 $16.95; ISBN 978-1-64375-073-6)
In this sequel to The Becket List, Becket Branch wants a dog for her birthday but her twin brother, Nicholas, wants a peaceful indoor cat. But when their parents take them to the shelter to choose a cat and dog, things don’t go as planned. Becket’s dream dog, Dibs, turns out to be super shy. Meanwhile, Nicholas’s kitty, Given, loves being the center of attention.
Being Clem by Lesa Cline-Ransome (Holiday House, Aug. 3 $17.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-4604-9).
In the final novel in the Finding Langston trilogy, Clem’s family receives the news that his father has died in the Port Chicago disaster. Clem’s mother is forced to work long, tough hours as a maid for a wealthy white family and soon Clem can barely recognize his home or himself.
Cazadora by Romina Garber (Wednesday Books, Aug. 17 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-23915-0)
Following the events of Lobizona, Manu and her friends cross the mystical border into Kerana to find allies and a place to hide as they chase leads about the Coven while the Cazadores hunts down Manu. Just as it seems the Cazadores have Manu and her friends cornered, the Coven answers their call for help.
The Champion by Taran Matharu (Feiwel and Friends, Aug. 10 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-13878-1)
In the finale to the Contender trilogy, Cade has managed to survive the duel with the Hydra Alpha but the games are far from over. By order of their cruel overlord, Cade and his friends are sent off to war against the Greys, a humanoid race with elite technology. This attempt to move up the leaderboard brings Cade to a game-changing revelation.
The City by Christian McKay Heidicker, illus. by Junyi Wu (Holt, Aug. 31 $16.99; ISBN 978-1-250-18144-2)
The companion novel to Scary Stories for Young Foxes introduces two fox kits who are desperate to survive the terrors of the frightening world of the City.
Dark Waters by Katherine Arden (Putnam, Aug. 10 $16.99; ISBN 978-0-593-10915-1).
In this follow-up to Small Spaces and Dead Voices, Ollie, Coco and Brian have to survive a group trip to Lake Champlain, where it’s said Vermont’s very own Loch Ness monster lives. When a misstep from Phil causes a tragedy and leaves them shipwrecked on an island haunted by a monster, Brian’s survival instincts kick in and it’s up to him to help everyone work together and find a way to escape.
Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer (Wednesday Books, Aug. 31 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-82295-6)
Enola Holmes is back in the sixth installment of the Enola Holmes series. When a young professional woman shows up on Sherlock’s doorstep desperate to learn more about the fate of her twin sister, it’s Enola who steps up. The first book in the series was recently adapted for Netflix, and a second movie is in the works.
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet, Aug. 17 $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-3984-2)
In the sequel to Raybearer, for the first time, an Empress Redemptor sits on Aritsar’s throne. To appease the sinister spirits of the dead, Tarisai must anoint a council of her own in order to come into her full power as a Raybearer. She must then descend into the Underworld, a sacrifice to end all future atrocities.
Rise Up from the Embers by Sara Raasch (HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, Aug. 10 $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-289159-4)
In the finale to the Set Fire to the Gods duology, after fleeing war-ravaged Deimos, Ash and Madoc sail across the ocean to their only possible allies: the water and plant gods. But when Anathrasa attacks on the way, Ash leaps to the defense—by using a power she didn’t know she had.
The Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis (Tor Teen, Aug. 10 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-250-29974-1)
All the good luck girls have crossed the border to freedom in follow up to The Good Luck Girls, except for Aster who stayed to help more girls to freedom. Then news of a welcome house opening and the surprise return of an old friend inspire Aster to help all good luck girls. Soon, a wildly ambitious plan grows into fruition: to free all dustbloods, who live as prisoners to Arketta’s landmasters and debt slavery.
Spy School at Sea by Stuart Gibbs (Simon & Schuster, Aug. 31 $17.99; ISBN 978-1-534-47943-2)
In the ninth addition to the Spy School series, the CIA has tracked Ben’s nemesis, Murry Hill, to Central America, where they believe he is boarding the world’s biggest cruise ship. Ben’s mission is to pose as part of a family with Alexander and Catherine Hale as his parents along with Erica and Mike as his siblings to find out what Mike is plotting.
World Champions! by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein (Little, Brown/Patterson, Aug. 9 $13.99 paper over board; ISBN 978-0-316-50024-1)
Twelve-year-old genius Max and her adventure-loving friends are back in the fourth installment of the Max Einstein series. Whenever there’s a problem to solve, the kids work better together. But meanwhile, an evil group of the rich and powerful will do whatever it takes to split the kids up—even as the planet is changing before their eyes.
