Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles including a YA romance with a supernatural twist, a YA mystery about the impact of social media, a paradoxical picture book, and more.
Always Isn’t Forever by J.C. Cervantes. Razorbill, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-40448-5. After Ruby’s best friend Hart dies suddenly and has his soul restored in another body, Hart tries to rekindle their friendship without revealing the truth.
At the Speed of Lies by Cindy L. Otis. Scholastic Press, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-3388-0676-2. High schooler Quinn goes viral for her community events page when she covers the disappearance of two students, and she begins investigating their whereabouts. The book received a starred review from PW.
Before, Now by Daniel Salmieri. Rocky Pond, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-5934-6197-6. Salmieri highlights how life is made up of paradoxes and opposites. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Bitsy Bat, School Star by Kaz Windness (S&S/Wiseman, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-90505-3). Bitsy struggles with moving to a new school where she’s very different than the rest of her classmates.
Camp Sylvania by Julie Murphy. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-0631-1402-9. When Maggie heads off to Camp Sylvania at the urging of her mother to help her lose weight, she discovers a sinister plot as campers begin disappearing.
The Chaperone by M Hendrix. Sourcebooks Fire, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-728-28485-9; $11.99 paper ISBN 978-1-7282-6000-6. In a world where women must live by a conservative moral code and always be chaperoned until marriage, 17-year-old Stella Graham chafes against these rules. When she receives a new chaperone under dire circumstances, their new connection helps Stella learn the truth behind her nation’s history and practices.
Darkhearts by James L. Sutter. Wednesday, $20; ISBN 978-1-250-86974-6. After the death of a mutual friend, current pop sensation Chance and his former bandmate David reconcile and form a new connection.
A Delicious Story by Barney Saltzberg. Hippo Park, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-6626-4016-2. A small mouse awaits a new story after another mouse ate the one she was hoping to hear.
Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel by Nikki Grimes, illus. by Theodore Taylor III. Wordsong, $22.99; ISBN 978-1-662-66002-3. Grimes’s novel in verse, in which Garvey’s dreams for himself differ greatly from that of his father, is adapted into the graphic novel format.
Good as Gold by Candace Buford. Disney Hyperion, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-3680-9025-4. When Casey’s family loses all their money, she devises a plan to find a mysterious treasure that no one has been able to find.
Greenwild by Pari Thomson, illus. by Elisa Paganelli and Alan Baker. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39137-9. Daisy Thistledown flees to her mother’s safe haven when she is pronounced dead and discovers a botanical realm called Greenwild, cared for by magical Botanists.
The Grimoire of Grave Fates Edited by Margaret Owen and Hanna Alkaf. Delacorte, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-42745-3. Eighteen authors come together to spin tales about students at an elite magical school trying to solve the murder of a bigoted teacher.
Half Moon Summer by Elaine Vickers. Peachtree, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-68263-539-1. When Mia returns to her hometown to help a sick relative, she rekindles her friendship with childhood friend Drew by running together. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
How to Count to One: (And Don't Even Think about Bigger Numbers!) by Caspar Salmon, illus. by Matt Hunt. Nosy Crow, $17.99; ISBN 979-8-88777-024-6. An omniscient narrator encourages readers to only count the singular items they’ve pointed out, despite spotting a cast of unique treasures throughout the story.
Just One Little Light by Kat Yeh, illus. by Isabelle Arsenault. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-309496-3. When a cloud takes over the sun, a flower sprouts as a new source of light.
Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea. Penguin Workshop, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-5935-2203-5. After Anna picks a sacred flower, triggering natural disasters and upsetting the island’s goddess, Anna must find a way to earn back the goddess’s favor.
The Many Masks of Andy Zhou by Jack Cheng. Dial, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-525-55382-3. Artistic sixth grader Andy seeks to understand more about his identity as he faces changes at home with the arrival of his grandparents and deals with racist microaggressions at school.
Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion: A True Story by Dave Eggers, illus. by Júlia Sardà. Candlewick, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1588-5. In this picture book inspired by a true story, Idaho workers relocate a Victorian-style mansion, rolling it four miles on logs while its inhabitants live their lives uninterrupted.
Northranger by Rey Terciero, illus. by Bre Indigo. HarperAlley, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-300739-0; $18.99 paper ISBN 978-0-06-300738-3. Cade’s friendship with general store worker Henry comes into question when Henry’s past seems related to supernatural occurrences on his ranch.
The Order of Things by Kaija Langley. Penguin/Paulsen, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-59353-090-0. Sixth grader April navigates the growing distance in her relationship with her best friend Zee as she takes music lessons with Zee’s father.
Papá’s Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo, illus. by Eliza Kinkz. Minerva, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-6626-5104-5. Young Jesús is in charge of the water jug during a hot day of work with Papá and learns to have fun when his job goes awry. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia, illus. by Julie Kwon. Levine Querido, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-64614-304-7. In this semi-autographical debut, brothers Pedro and Daniel face challenges of adolescence from 1968 to young adulthood in 1992, including a verbally abusive mother, colorism, and homophobia.
The Queens of New York by E.L. Shen. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06323-795-7. Lifelong friends Everett, Ariel, and Jia spend their summer apart and navigate new challenges in their friendship.
Ride or Die by Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu. Soho Teen, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-64129-420-1. Thrill seeker Loli accepts challenges from an anonymous pen pal that lead her into more perilous situations, threatening to break up her relationships and friendships.
The Ruby Code by Jessica Khoury. Scholastic Press, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-338-85928-7. When 13-year-old Ash begins to play a single player game with an NPC voice named Ruby, he discovers Ruby is in need of rescuing from the game and works to help get her out.
Saint Juniper’s Folly by Alex Crespo. Peachtree Teen, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-68263-577-3. Jamie becomes trapped by a ghost in the forest residing in an isolated house and must rely on a new friend to rescue him.
Salat in Secret by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illus. by Hatem Aly. Random House Studio, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-984848-09-3. After receiving his first prayer rug, Muhammed grows worried about where to pray when in public. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall. Bloomsbury, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-54-760989-5. A sacred shell tied to the moon goddess connects two teens living in different eras, who fall in love while sharing the historical context surrounding them.
Some Shall Break by Ellie Marney. Little, Brown, 18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-48771-9. In the sequel to None Shall Sleep, junior FBI consultants Emma and Travis reunite when a serial killer from their last investigation sets his sights on Emma as his next victim.
Spellbinders: The Not-So-Chosen One by Andrew Auseon, illus. by Lisa Weber. Labyrinth Road, $14.99; ISBN 978-0-593-48271-1. Drew bonds with new friend Niara through a live-action role-playing game, discovers he has magical capabilities, and becomes the real-life hero of their adventure.
The Talk by Darrin Bell. Holt, $29.99; ISBN 978-1-250-80514-0. Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist Bell depicts a difficult conversation between a son and mother about racial dynamics. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
We Are Going to Be Pals! by Mark Teague. S&S/Beach Lane, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-1186-3. A bird learns about the necessity of personal boundaries while trying to befriend a rhinoceros.
Will on the Inside by Andrew Eliopulos. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-322870-2. Seventh grader Will manages changes in his life when he is diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and questions his sexual identity.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of June, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
