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Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
It is a truth universally acknowledged that those of us who love books, are especially enamored with books ABOUT books and this novel is a very special one of those. Action-packed and romantic, Sorcery of Thorns is a tale of ink-tears, girls with swords, boys summoning storms and volume upon volume of living leather bound books, some of whom behave rather badly. It's a book about majestic, revered libraries equipped with their own small armies of librarians and sword-wielding wardens. It's a book about demonic energy and sorcery. It's a book about brave people with vastly varied strengths and skills, all worthy in their own right, fighting the good fight. Darker, larger in scope but just as brilliantly crafted as her first novel, Margaret Rogerson has captured me once again. I love this book!
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson ($17.99*, Margaret K. McElderry Books), recommended by Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL.
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway
16-year-old Grace has just had a baby. After going through the pregnancy and choosing adoptive parents for her daughter, she now feels unmoored from her life before and wants to find her own biological family. That's how her biological siblings, Maya and Joaquin, come into the picture. Maya, set apart from her adoptive family in looks and temperament, struggles with the fallout of her adoptive mom's secrets coming to light. And Joaquin, in foster care his whole life, struggles with the idea of being worthy of someone's love. All of them grapple with their sense of belonging, but now that they have each other, maybe that will be easier. Benway has written a touching, sometimes humorous, compulsively readable book that will resonate with anyone searching for their place in the world, showing that sometimes where you are is exactly where you belong.
Far from the Tree by Robin Benway ($9.99*, HarperTeen), recommended by Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson
Steph, Jarrell, and Quadir are best friends, going to high school in Brooklyn, when Steph is murdered in the street. Jarrell and Quadir, along with Jasmine, Steph's sister, are left wondering who killed Steph and why. When they discover boxes upon boxes of CDs and tapes of Steph's rap songs, they decide that they are too good to remain unheard. They also figure they can raise money and hire a detective to find out what happened to Steph since the police don't seem to care to find out.
This story takes place in the late 90s and is told through the point of view of Jasmine, Quadir, and Jarrell with a few flashbacks from Steph. Fans of urban fiction, 90s rap, and mystery alike will all enjoy this one.
Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson ($17.99*, Katherine Tegen Books), recommended by Bookmiser, Roswell, GA.
Kingsbane by Claire Legrand
Furyborn was incredible. Kingsbane is even better! The second novel has even more magic, cliffhangers, and romance. So much packed into this book I want to sit with the author and understand how she can possibly make all this come together so eloquently. Already excited for the next one in this trilogy. This is a wild ride.
Kingsbane by Claire Legrand ($18.99*, Sourcebooks Fire), recommended by Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC.
The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters
Like Poe's stories, The Raven's Tale is dripping in mood and the macabre. We first meet a 17-year-old Poe as he sits in the Allan pew at Monumental Church, a church that sits on remains of 72 Richmonders who perished in a theater fire in 1811. It's there that Poe spies his muse beginning to form out of the shadows of his imagination, and she's no longer satisfied with mere crumbs of his attention. But the young poet is a week away from leaving for college and his guardian, John Allan is threatening to withdraw financial support if Poe doesn't silence his morbid muse. Absolutely delightful, morbid, and creepy!
The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters ($17.99*, Amulet Books), recommended by Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
In Normal People, Sally Rooney has created an exquisite character study in Connell and Marianne's relationship. Like a slow-burning fuse that is destined to detonate, the dynamic between the two manages to be irresistible, infuriating, and all too relatable. Young people will find themselves in these pages, and, believe it or not, feel normal. Great for those who loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Modern Lovers.
Normal People by Sally Rooney ($26.00*, Hogarth), recommended by Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN.
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
Emily Duncan's Wicked Saints is dark, disquieting, and utterly unputdownable. Her ferocious girls and her doubtful princes and her devious gods are compelling and entirely believable, and her world of magic and blood and holy war will frighten and enchant readers, as any good fairy tale should.
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan ($18.99*, Wednesday Books), recommended by One More Page Books, Arlington, VA.
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody, Joanne Rendell
The top reviews kept saying "Les Mis in space!" and "if you liked The Lunar Chronicles, this is for you." Sometimes the reviews are right. If you like retellings and liked the Lunar Chronicles, you're going to love Sky without Stars!
I certainly did. The characters are fleshed out in a way you don't get from the original. I found myself falling in love and rooting for Marcellus, Aloutte, and Chatine. They're all wonderfully flawed in their own way and I stayed up way too late reading this. I can't wait for the next part of the story. The book wrapped up some loose ends while opening new ones--the best way to keep you excited for more.
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody, Joanne Rendell ($19.99*, Simon Pulse), recommended by Story on the Square, McDonough, GA.
Fake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon
Justine is surrounded by celebrity and wealth, her shoulders brushing, bumping against it, but never quite attaining any of it for herself. When she meets her new neighbor, Eva Kate Kelly, a former child actress and shiny social media star, Justine's no longer just gazing at all the beautiful people on her phone, now she's among them.
A modern take on The Great Gatsby, but with lots more Taylor Swift references (for what it's worth, I am totally in agreement with Justine on what she thinks happened between Swift and Kanye West on that infamous phone call). Fun, neurotic, and twisty!
Fake Plastic Girl by Zara Lisbon ($17.99*, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)), recommended by Fountain Books, Richmond, VA.
Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young
A fantastic feminist YA novel with shades of Stepford Wives and Joss Whedon's Dollhouse TV series. I have been a longtime fan of Young's Program series, and this new book blew me away! A sinister school for exceptional young ladies, a group of young women whose bond is stronger than any classroom programming, and a grasping patriarchy not prepared for the revolution. This book will have you flipping pages and sharpening sticks of your own.
Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young ($18.99*, Simon Pulse), recommended by Fountain Books, Richmond, VA.
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis
Mickey is a teen athlete and a star on her softball team when she and her best friend get in a car accident that changes their lives. Mickey is able to justify her use of painkillers to mask the pain of her recovering injuries but that use quickly turns to abuse as she uses the drugs for the painful shyness she also deal with. As the prescribed pills get harder to get, she turns to the fast, easy, and dangerous high of the needle. Her old friends drift away and she's surrounded with a new circle who enable her descent into addiction. This story is a powerful illustration of how easy it is to go from proper prescribed use of meds to the dangerous abuse of street drugs. This heartbreaking tale will stick with you long after the book is done.
Heroine by Mindy McGinnis ($17.99*, Katherine Tegen Books), recommended by Fountain Books, Richmond, VA.
What We Buried by Kate A. Boorman
I cannot wait until this book is published because I need to discuss it! Loved the complex relationship of siblings Liv and Jory, and their tangled, twisted memories of growing up with less than ideal parents. Child beauty queens, Mask movie references (the Cher and Eric Stoltz movie), disappearances, family feuds, blackout rages, road trips and nightmarish landscapes help to make this one of the most unique Young Adult books I've read in a long time!
What We Buried by Kate A. Boorman ($17.99*, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)), recommended by Fountain Books, Richmond, VA.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A tale as old as time with a modern, fresh spin! I loved everything from the smart, empowered characters to the spin on the beast and the curse to the supporting cast of characters--the only problem is a cliffhanger that leaves you on the edge of your seat!
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer ($18.99*, Bloomsbury YA), recommended by Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Roshana Chokshi's The Gilded Wolves is a delightful adventure through history as six young people, each with their own demons, chase their dreams, only to find the fate of society in the balance. Besides delving into each character's unique post and how their struggles inform their tenuous hopes for the future, the story also explores the bitterness of letting one's dream, both acknowledged and unacknowledged, go unrealized. Above all, Chokshi's cleverly built scavenger hunt encompassing history, math, science and magic makes it easy to fall in love with each word, as if were again our first time breathing.
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi ($18.99*, Wednesday Books), recommended by Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC.
A Winter 2019 Okra Pick
Parkland Speaks by Sarah Lerner (editor)
Parkland Speaks is a powerful compilation of essays, poems, photographs and artwork from the survivors of the Parkland High School shooting. I read this book over the course of a week, wanting to spend time with each piece trying to absorb the emotion and experience behind each piece. As a reader, I experience such a wide range of feelings - sadness for the victims, anger that our country hasn't enacted the change to prevent shootings like this, but also a lasting sense of hope at these amazing teenagers who are dedicated to sharing their stories and creating true change for the future. Parkland Speaks is difficult but powerful read that should be required reading for everyone.
Parkland Speaks by Sarah Lerner (editor) ($17.99*, Crown Books for Young Readers), recommended by Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC.
Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
Two Can Keep a Secret proves that there are still twisty, devious mystery stories to be told. No matter how many times I thought 'they're the killer!', the ending still shocked and wowed me. It'll appeal to the My Favorite Murder fan in us all- I couldn't put it down. Just don't read it at home, alone, at night. Speaking from personal experience, that would be a mistake. The final line still has me shivering.
Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus ($19.99*, Delacorte Press), recommended by One More Page Books, Arlington, VA.
The Wicked King by Holly Black
If like me, you devoured The Cruel Prince, it's impossible to begin this new installment without a fair amount of trepidation--and Holly Black does not disappoint. In this novel, the faerie world expands significantly and Jude's brilliant scheming must face the test of time and several new players. Jude remains an impressively fierce heroine, but she may have met her match...I really don't know how I'll survive the wait for book three!
The Wicked King by Holly Black ($19.99*, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), recommended by Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL.
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
I read this madly in 24 hours and couldn't put it down. The Winter of the Witch sees Vasya Petrovna come fully into her power in every dimension. Each volume in the Winternight Trilogy has been even more enthralling than the first, and this is a richly satisfying conclusion on so many levels, narratively, historically, romantically, and emotionally! It makes me want to start The Bear and the Nightingale all over again!
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden ($28.00*, Del Rey), recommended by Underground Books, Carrollton, GA.
The Disasters by M.K. England
Immensely original and unbelievably fun! The Disasters is a heart stopping space opera, where teen galactic outcasts are the stars. Full of diversity, humor, and amazing worldbuilding, the action starts in the first chapter and only increases as Nax and his fellow space misfits run, hide and fight to uncover a vast conspiracy. One of the best debuts I've read of 2018!
The Disasters by M.K. England ($17.99*, HarperTeen), recommended by Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA.
This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher
Five teens are invited to a locked-room, murder mystery night and the one who solves the mystery will will a $50,000 scholarship. But when they arrive and find out who their competition is for this scholarship, they realize that they have an actual death (murder?) in common. They quickly realize that the scholarship was a ruse and they're really there to figure out/confess to what happened a year about when another boy died.
This is a fast paced thriller, very much in the vein of I Know What You Did Last Summer,very much Clue meets Pretty Little Liars.
This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher ($17.99*, Margaret K. McElderry Books), recommended by Bookmiser, Inc., Roswell, GA.
What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera
When Arthur goes to New York for the summer, he expects it to be a lot like the Broadway plays he adores. But it's not. Ben, on the other hand, is much more pragmatic, in that native New Yorker way. When they meet, Arthur falls head over heels almost immediately, and his enthusiasm may rub off a bit on Ben...but things don't exactly work out in real life the way they do on stage. With alternating chapters from Arthur's and Ben's points of view, this is another wonderful read from Albertalli and Silvera, and fans of both authors won't be disappointed (and fans of musical theater will love it even more).
What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera ($18.99*, HarperTeen), recommended by Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak
A sweeping epic family story that will continue to echo long past the final page, Bridge of Clay will most certainly be the MOST talked about book of the Fall on both the kids and adult lists. No one, once introduced to the achingly sweet, tragic, rough and tumble Dunbar Boys could ever forget them even for a moment. Bridge of Clay is an absolute must-read for those long rainy or snowy autumn weekends.
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak ($26.00*, Knopf Books for Young Readers), recommended by The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC.
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa
A phenomenal beginning to what should be a fantastic series! I loved all the details of this world. Kagawa sucks you in with her characters. Can't wait for the second installment!!
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa ($19.99*, Harlequin Teen), recommended by The Story Shop, Monroe, GA.
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee
Felicity wants to be a doctor. Unfortunately it's the 1700s and that kind of thing is JUST not done. Living in Scotland, working at a bakery, she can't get anyone to hear her petition to study. She travels to London to see if she can make any headway there and is met with similar disappointment. However, the opportunity to present herself to a doctor that she idolizes presents itself and she travels to Germany to do just that. What happens next is an adventure that Felicity didn't know she was looking for.
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee ($18.99*, Katherine Tegen Books / Harpercollins Children's Books), recommended by Bookmiser, Inc., Roswell, GA.
Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd
Megan Shepherd has done it again with Grim Lovelies: a book so perfectly formed one can't imagine that it hasn't been around forever. It's simply a classic. Anouk was enchanted from animal to human by a Witch who holds her captive as a household slave. She and the other "Beasties" will do anything to preserve their humanity. She wishes to be like the "Pretties" (humans) with their fast cars and high fashion she can see from the small window in her Parisian townhouse/prison. But there is SO much more!! Anouk and her other Beastie friends discover that they have more power than they have been led to believe if they can only beat the clock and keep the spell safe forever. This is not a sufficient description for this book. Great diversity of characters! There are also Goblins!!!! Really cool Goblins!!!
Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd (PRICE*, PUBLISHER), recommended by Fountain Books, Richmond, VA.
A Room Away From the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma
Catherine House is a place for girls who need to escape, but the house holds its own dark secrets. When a bruised and brokenhearted Bina arrives at the house, she is seeking both refuge and reconciliation. Years ago her own mother harbored behind these same walls, and Bina desperately wants her mother to chase after her and choose her. Haunted, dark, lovely magical realism!
A Room Away From the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma ($18.95*, Algonquin Young Readers), recommended by Fountain Books, Richmond, VA.
Surviving Adam Meade Shannon Klare
Perfect for fans of Friday Night Lights and romance! Claire is the coach's daughter, and after rough break up with her football playing first love and a move to a new town, Claire has sworn off dating, especially athletes. Enter Adam Meade, who has a lot more going on than the popular jock image he portrays. Sparks fly between Claire and Adam, and despite her best intentions, Claire can't seem to resist the boy she most wanted to avoid. Cute and sweet, but the MVP award goes to Adam's adorable grandma!
Surviving Adam Meade Shannon Klare ($16.99*, Swoon Reads), recommended by Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA.
A Summer 2018 Okra Pick
The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby
A Wild for a younger audience. A wonderful look at grief, social media, and honesty. And a bonus that it could be an introduction or John Muir and Yosemite, as well.
The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby ($17.99*, Harper Teen), recommended by The Story Shop, Monroe, GA.
Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton
From the publisher: Inventive and heart-racing, this fierce feminist teen fantasy from debut author Bree Barton explores a dark kingdom in which only women can possess magic—and every woman is suspected of having it.
From The Country Bookshop: Heart of Thorns is by far one of the best books I have read in a long time. The writing was perfect, flowing beautifully and ending with a cliffhanger that was impossible to ignore. There was never a dull moment—each page packed with mystery, love, and action. I am eagerly awaiting Book Two.
Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton ($17.99*, Katherine Tegen Books), recommended by The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC.
The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls by Jessica Spotswood
One part Little Women, one part Sarah Dessen, with the small-town charm of Gilmore Girls, The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls is everything you want in a contemporary YA novel.
Sweet, funny, honest, and heartfelt, the story follows four sisters as they navigate a summer that will change all of them in different ways. One sister tries to move on after a breakup, while another works up the nerve to do the breaking. One sister finds the potential for romance with a longtime crush, and another makes a friend who helps her discover what she wants. At the end of it all, the only thing that doesn't change is that the Garrett Girls will do anything to support and protect each other.
The Last Summer of the Garrett Girls by Jessica Spotswood ($10.99*, Sourcebooks Fire), recommended by One More Page Books, Arlington, VA.
The Unfortunates by Kim Liggett
Privilege can be deadly...
Because of his parents wealth and power, teenager Grant has gotten away with murder. Call it afluenza, but Grant's guilt and disgust with himself pushes him to make a drastic plan for self-punishment. His quest for justice for the people he killed leads him to the Appalachian trail and a devastating cave in. Now Grant has to help a small group of city kids survive, because it appears that something or someone is down in the caves with them. The Unfortunates also gets a million bonus cool points because it's set here in Richmond, Virginia!
The Unfortunates by Kim Liggett ($18.99*, Tom Doherty Associates), recommended by Fountain Books, Richmond, VA.
She Loves You (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah) by Ann Hood
A great story about the beginnings of pop culture obsession pre-social media. Full of nostalgia and innocence. Every character is faced with the same dilemma of being at the point in their lives where they are trying to figure out where they fit in the society around them. I also loved that the end was a happy one. Great read.
She Loves You (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah) by Ann Hood ($16.99*, Penguin Workshop), recommended by Books on Broad, Camden, SC.
Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl
"The first thing you must do is stay calm."
This was the advice offered by The Keeper to Bee, Martha, Cannon, Whitney and Kip when they find themselves in the Neverworld Wake the first time. The Neverworld Wake is 11.2 hours the friends relive over and over a hundred, a thousand, possibly a million times as they search for answers about Jim's death, about the accident that threw them into the Wake, about the people they all thought they knew best in the world.
This psychological thriller of the most fascinating sort--one in which one's worst nightmare is relived again and again--is an absolute beach bag MUST for fans of Gone Girl, We Were Liars and We Are the Goldens.
Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl ($18.99*, Delacorte Press), recommended by The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC.
A Spring 2018 Okra Pick
Legendary by Stephanie Garber
I wasn't sure it could be done, but Legendary is as good if not better than Caraval. I think the strength of this new novel lies in the expansion of the world and addition of a unique mythology, but there is so much to be said about Tella as the main protagonist as well. This book is full of the same magic, intrigue, gorgeous writing and romance that made Caraval one of my favorite books last year. I can't wait to see what Stephanie will write next.
Legendary by Stephanie Garber ($18.99*, Flatiron Books), recommended by Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL.
I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain by Will Walton
The avid readers of Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA have fallen in a collective swoon for Will Walton's newest work, I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain. Part novel, part poem, the books chronicles a difficult summer of discovery, loss, love, and poetry for its young protagonist, Avery.
"How in the world do I review this book? It's a love poem; it's a eulogy; it's poetry; it's prose; it's uplifting; it's heart-cracking," says Janet.
"Suffused with pop music and funeral rituals, and complex, genuine love, I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain is a nod to the vital importance of music and poetry as life-saving forces," adds Elizabeth.
"On the first day of summer, Avery brings home a stack of poetry. Later that summer, as he tries to navigate crushing loss and disappointment, he turns to that poetry again and again; the reading and writing of it. This book is Avery's bold and thrilling record of his heartbreak, love, grief, and family. It's about creating art through pain, and dealing with pain through art. It blew me away," writes Tyler.
"With a little help from the last century's greatest poets, Walton gives us an empathic and graceful, yet monumental, handling of what it's like to get through that which you think you cannot survive," writes Erica.
"It's not often I read a book in one sitting, but this one grabbed me and wouldn't let go," writes Hannah.
I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain by Will Walton ($17.99*, Push), recommended by Avid Bookshop, Athens, GA.
Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
Mark Oshiro easily captures the defiance and vulnerability quintessential to teen voice. These characters are vibrant and powerful--crafted with a truthfulness specific to our current political climate but also with a timeless understanding of teen life from any era.
Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro ($17.99*, Tom Doherty Associates), recommended by McIntyre's Fine Books, Pittsboro, NC.
From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon
The story of a teen filmmaker and her circle of friends--old and new--From Twinkle, with Love is sure to be a summertime hit. Recommended for fans of romantic comedy, both teen and adults readers!
From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon ($18.99*, Simon Pulse), recommended by Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, NC.
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Furyborn is exactly the kind of ambitious, well-written YA high fantasy that I've been looking for. It's a novel that is female focused and driven, with girls who are strong, powerful, pissed off, damaged, unabashedly sexual and in control. The writing is so beautiful I found myself re-reading sentences simply for the pleasure of it. It's a story that is complex, compelling and carefully crafted. Claire Legrand is a jewel, I can't wait for the next installment.
Furyborn by Claire Legrand ($18.99*, Sourcebooks Fire), recommended by Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL.
Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake
It is my solemn wish that everyone pick up a copy of Girl Made of Stars. It's the sort of story that hurts to read sometimes, but ultimately leaves you full of hope. This novel is the perfect example of literature for young people that can and will give almost anyone a bit of perspective and birth or nurture compassion within them. This book is important. This book is compulsively readable and full of beauty. This book should be your next read.
Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake ($17.99*, Houghton Mifflin), recommended by Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL.
Run, Hide, Fight Back by April Henry
Tense, terrifying and thrilling! Teens find themselves in mortal danger when a shooting at the mall traps them together, and they must depend on one another to have any chance of survival Some of these teens are hiding secrets, but then again, so are the terrorists who are holding them hostage. All too realistic considering the world we live in now, based on the question we all have asked ourselves: What would you do if you were in danger in a place you should have been safe? Sometimes you run, sometimes you hide, and sometimes you fight back!
Run, Hide, Fight Back by April Henry ($17.99*, Henry Holt and Co.), recommended by Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA.
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ghost Boys is a devastating novel. It will grieve you in the way our news cycle seems to be an unceasing parade of grief. But it is also hopeful, full of compassion, and a compelling case for the fact that "we can all do better, be better, live better." Jerome's story is heartbreaking, and the telling of it is necessary. Just as the telling of Emmett Till's story is necessary, though it so often goes untold. Rhodes has crafted a beautiful novel that will facilitate many conversations with young people; Ghost Boys is essential for the middle school classroom as well as for family discussion. This is a novel to be shared with children; read it with them, discuss it with them, together we can gain the tools we need in order to live better.
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes ($16.99*, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), recommended by Cavalier House Books, Denham Springs, LA.
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan
The Astonishing Color of After is the kind of novel that you want to force on everyone you know. There is visceral sorrow and pain here, but the magic woven throughout imbues every bit of the story with just enough wonder and hope to hold you up. The writing is stunning and full of intoxicating descriptions; scenes of a giant red bird descending and the scents and sights of a Night Market in Taiwan completely blew me away. What color am I after reading this book? Technicolor.
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan ($18.99*, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), recommended by Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Zelie is a girl with magic in her blood, in a land where magic has been destroyed and outlawed by the cruel king. When she accidentally rescues the princess and the prince/captain of the guard comes after her, Zelie goes on the run with her brother and the princess, discovering that she has been chosen by the gods to bring magic back to the world. But before she can defeat the king and save her people, Zelie must face her own powers and what this mission might cost her and the people she loves. With rich world building and fantastic mythology, readers of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy will love this book.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi ($18.99*, Henry Hollt & Company), recommended by Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
People Like Us by Dana Mele
From page one, this book draws the reader. Prep schools, a dead body, main characters with secrets, grumpy detectives, unrequited love and emailed blackmail from the aforementioned dead body- and that's all just in the first few chapters. Kay might be a scholarship student, but she's also a queen bee, desperate for a soccer scholarship and even more desperate to keep her secrets. As she uncovers the mysteries of a dead girl, she also unveils secrets of the people she thought she knew best, people just like us. A thrilling page turner!
People Like Us by Dana Mele ($17.99*, G.P. Putnam's Sons for Young Readers), recommended by Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA.
Blood and Sand by C. V. Wyk
Attia is the last of her warrior people after the Romans conquered her land. Now she's a slave, given to Xanthus, a champion gladiator, as a reward for his victories in the arena. Attia has vowed to fight the Romans until she gains her freedom or dies trying, but she doesn't count on Xanthus, a fellow slave, treating her with such care and gentleness. As the two form a relationship that goes beyond their shared bonds, Attia finds herself fighting for Xanthus as much as herself. This book will appeal to fans of strong, fierce female characters, and though there's no magic, fantasy fans will have much to love in the world of the ancient Romans.
Blood and Sand by C. V. Wyk ($17.99*, Tor Teen), recommended by Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
Thunderhead is a rare sequel that is even better than its predecessor. Shusterman has an incredible ability to subvert all expectations, and even when I thought I knew what would happen, a new twist would turn my perception on its head! Rowan and Citra both stayed true to their characters, which is difficult to do in a dystopian world. I loved every minute and will be putting this duology into every hand I can!
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman ($18.99*, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), recommended by Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC.
Alone by Cyn Balog
Despite its title, you should most definitely not read this book while you're alone. Isolated in a rundown, sprawling mansion that was once an elaborate murder mystery retreat, Seda and her family are mostly immune to their temporary home's creepy and eccentric history. But when a group of teenagers come seeking refuge, a scavenger hunt meant to entertain ends up entangling everyone into one horrific night of terror. Is it the house, or something else that is haunting Seda as she tries her best to protect her family and the unwelcome guests from harm? Balog interjects the house's past throughout the novel, and I've never wanted to visit a fictional place more. The perfect book for thrills and chills, with a devious and delightful ending!
Alone by Cyn Balog ($17.99*, Source Fire), recommended by Fountain Bookshop, Richmond, VA.
Everless by Sara Holland
First in a new series! People pay for everything with their time (days, months, years) which is extracted from their blood and transformed to coins. The royalty lives for centuries while the common folk are taxed and punished with their lifeblood.
Everless by Sara Holland ($17.99*, Harper Teen), recommended by Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC.
The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed
I loved this book!! So important. Please read it and share it with girl and boy teens and the people who care about them. I wish we had heard more from Amber. Maybe in a future book? There aren't many books out there about teens trying to change the culture of their schools and their communities through peaceful activism. The Nowhere Girls tells it like it is. Some of it is clumsy. Sometimes it doesn't work or takes a while to get off the ground. But it is always worth trying. I really did love this book.
The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed ($17.99*, Simon Pulse), recommended by Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA.
Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills
Claudia tends to keep to herself at school, only coming out of her shell at home with her best -- pretty much only -- friend. When a series of events conspire to throw Claudia together with the resident mean girl, Iris, they end up having to participate in the school's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's not all bad, though, as Claudia and Iris start to become friends, and a cute boy shows interest in Claudia. But Claudia has to learn to navigate her relationships -- new and old, with siblings, friends, and romantic interests -- which is not as easy as it seems like it should be. Claudia's extreme snark had me laughing out loud, and the poignancy of her friendships had me wiping away a stray tear or two. Emma Mills remains one of my favorite contemporary authors.
Foolish Hearts by Emma Mills ($17.99*, Henry Holt & Company), recommended by Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
From a young reader at Page 158 Books: "It is one of the best books I have read for some time. This book spoke to me in so many different ways: my emotions, my knowledge of history, my passion for books, and my heart."
The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe, Lilit Thwaites (Translator), ($19.99*, Henroy Holt & Company), recommended by Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC.
All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater
Bizarre, original, and entertaining! As per usual with Stiefvater's books, it was magical and full of complex characters.
All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater ($18.99*, Scholastic Press), recommended by Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC.
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
From Page 158 Books: It was fascinating to step into the life of a gender non-binary individual. I really enjoyed that perspective.
From the publisher: If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight.
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater ($17.99*, Farrar Straus Giroux), recommended by Page 158 Books, Wake Forest, NC.
Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
After Pointe (um, hello, go read that if you haven't), I waited and waited and waited for Brandy Colbert's next novel. I was not disappointed. Tackling the always timely topics of sexuality, mental health, and the beautifully, murky path that we walk when we love someone. Perfect for fans of Julie Murphy and Nina LaCour.
Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert ($17.99*, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), recommended by Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN.
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
If you have ever had a meaningful internet friendship or been a part of a huge fandom, this book is for you. Eliza is the anonymous author of one of the biggest webcomics ever and I loved being pulled into her many worlds. This book is pitch-perfect, romantically perfect, and perfect perfect. Did I mention I think it's perfect?
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia ($17.99*, Greenwillow Books), recommended by Parnassus Books, Nashville, TN.
American Girls by Alison Umminger
When fifteen-year-old Anna can't stand her home life, she steals her stepmother's credit card and runs away to Los Angeles to stay with her aspiring actress half-sister and ends up getting hired to research the Manson girls, a real group of murderous young women in the 1960s, for an indie film. What Anna ends up finding isn't quite refuge; instead, it's a clear look at herself and a realization about the dark heart of American girldom (as well as a little romance).
American Girls by Alison Umminger ($9.99*, Flatiron Books), recommended by Hills & Hamlets Bookshop, Chattahoochee Hills, GA.
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
From the publisher: "Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion. Beautifully written, intricately plotted, and meticulously researched, Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinary, gripping novel about bravery, grief, and love in impossible times." The national bestseller and winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse ($9.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), recommended by Writer's Block Bookstore, Winter Park, FL.
Roar by Cora Cormack
I just devoured the young adult fantasy debut Roar by Cora Carmack. Those who loved Truthwitch, The Red Queen, and Graceling will have a favorite new author to obsess over. Even the cliffhanger ending (it is the first book in a YA trilogy after all) could not dim my delight in this discovery.
Roar by Cora Cormack ($17.99, Tor Teen), recommended by Jill at Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
Another one that you won't necessarily find in the YA section. This quick, superbly-written fantasy is perfect for anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite belong.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire ($17.99, Tor), recommended by the Avid Bookshop, Athens, GA.
Grendel's Guide to Love and War by A. E. Kaplan
A.E. Kaplan has distilled a Virginia summer directly into Grendel's Guide to Love and War. Tom's desire to simply be a good son somehow leads him into a dangerous (but hilarious) prank war with his unsupervised neighbors. Amidst the crazy plans concocted by his older sister and best friend Ed, Tom continues working his summer job mowing lawns and his less than typical hobby: interviewing his elderly neighbors. More than the pranks or the quirky but entirely authentic characters, Grendel's Guide to Love and War is about Tom coming to terms with the realities of life and relationships. The humorous dialogue, emotional content, and incredible supporting cast make this is a unique but relatable book for fans of Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda or John Green's early novels.
Grendel's Guide to Love and War by A. E. Kaplan ($17.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers), recommended by Johanna, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Molly is a serial crusher. Even though she's had 26 crushes in her 17 years, she's never been kissed, much less had a boyfriend. And now that her twin sister Cassie has her first real girlfriend, Molly can't help but feel like the experience is making them grow apart. Luckily, Cassie's girlfriend has a single best friend, a cute hipster guy, who just might be perfect crush material. Except Molly kind-of likes her awkward, geeky co-worker Reid, too. Molly's struggles with self-acceptance and relationships, both romantic and familial, will strike a chord with YA readers, who will fall in love with Molly as easily as they fell in love with Simon.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli ($17.99, Balzer & Bray), recommended by Melissa, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Lazlo Strange is a war orphan, raised by monks, who became a librarian. Stories are his life, and dreams are his future -- specifically, his dream of the lost city of Weep, which has been unseen and mostly forgotten for 200 years. When a hero of Weep unexpectedly shows up looking for outsiders to bring back to help with the city's unexplained problem, Lazlo jumps at the chance, willing to do whatever it takes to get there and see the mystery for himself. When he gets there, it's nothing like he expected, and each answer he finds raises more questions. This magical, lyrical book is beautiful and heartbreaking, and you won't want to leave the mythical world of Weep and the characters who power its story. Fans of Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy will not be disappointed. I am eagerly awaiting more from her about Weep and Lazlo.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor ($18.99, Little, Brown and Company), recommended by Melissa, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom
Seventeen year old Gwen's father has disappeared. She refuses to accept that he just abandoned her while on a diplomatic assignment. She uses a "certain set of skills" gained by her father's resources to track him to the underbelly of Europe. Think Taken, except the bad-ass daughter has to save her father. Full of action and excitement.
The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom ($18.99, Feiwel & Friends), recommended by Mary, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
From the publisher: Welcome, welcome to Caraval, Stephanie Garber's sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game. Mary from The Country Bookshop says, "A magnificent mix of mystery, romance, and magic. It had my emotions all over the place."
Caraval by Stephanie Garber ($18.99, Flatiron Books), recommended by Mary, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC.
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
This is one of my favorite books coming out this year and one of the best young adult fantasies I've read in a long time. Chupeco's world building is done carefully and precisely, revealing the pertinent information a little bit at a time. The characters are almost all female and all are strong, brave, courageous, and intelligent in their own right. The plot is complex but well thought out and the writing is cinematic. If this doesn't get optioned for a movie, I'll be surprised. highly recommend this books for those that love The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld or Daughter of Smoke and Bone. This could also easily be an adult crossover for those that enjoy Game of Thrones, Wheel of Time, or Memoirs of a Geisha.
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco ($17.99. Sourcebooks Fire) recommended by Foggy Pine Books, Boone, NC.
Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan & Cliff Chiang
If you're craving more episodes of Stranger Things but can't wait for the season two release, you need Paper Girls. From Saga creator Brian K. Vaughn and Wonder Woman artist Cliff Chiang comes this spooky and amazing story of four newspaper delivery girls out in the wee hours after Halloween night. Paper Girls is thrilling and funny, peppered with excellent late 80's phrases in an incredibly unique voice.
Paper Girls by Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan & Cliff Chiang ($9.99, Image Comics), recommended by Johanna, Flyeaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC.
Natasha knows from experience that dreams will get you nowhere, so she keeps herself well-grounded. Even when she's hours away from being deported with her family back to Jamaica. Daniel is a poet at heart, a romantic who believes in fate and destiny, so when he sees a girl standing out from the crowd, he doesn't think twice about ditching his parent-sanctioned college interview to go after her. A series of coincidences have them meeting several times, but is it enough to convince Natasha to believe in the meant-to-be future that Daniel sees? I loved Yoon's gorgeous writing and couldn't help falling in love with the characters myself.
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon ($18.99, Delacorte Press), recommended by Melissa, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie
Burning Glass will take you to a world that feels like old Russia. It is full of political tension, especially between two brothers, but it's Sonya's job to navigate these tense situations and find a way to protect herself and her country.
Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie ($17.99, Katherine Tegen Books), recommended by Erica, Lemuria Books, Jackson, MS.
Replica by Lauren Oliver
Replica tells the dual stories of two girls affected by scientific revolutions in an ambiguous tale that can be read in any order.
Replica by Lauren Oliver ($19.99, HarperCollins), recommended by Erica, Lemuria Books, Jackson, MS.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
This book is full of thrilling mysteries and tension while shedding light on a little known tragedy from WWII.
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys ($18.99, Philomel Books), recommended by Erica, Lemuia Books, Jackson, MS.
Not I I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
Parker is blind and has been for years. She copes by not caring what anyone thinks of her -- as long as they follow The Rules, a set of what she considers common sense guidelines for dealing with someone who's blind. Rules she enforces even more since her best friend Scott broke her heart two and a half years ago. But when Scott shows back up, Parker starts to realize that maybe she doesn't know everything she thought she did. Lindstrom has a way of getting you into his character's head, making you see things from her perspective that you wouldn't otherwise be able to. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstom ($9.99, Poppy Books), recommended by Melissa, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
My childhood favorite - read uncountable times. What young girl doesn't identify with Meg? After several years, L'Engle wrote several sequels, but Time is a standalone gem.
A Wrinkle in Time ($6.99, Square Fish), recommended by Rosemary at Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC.
Kids of Appetite by Dave Arnold
David Arnold is special. Kids of Appetite somehow combines extreme quirk, mystery, and heart within a literary sensibility that's often undervalued in young adult novels. I loved Arnold's debut Mosquitoland for Mim's singular and compelling voice as she explored her internal and external world. In Kids of Appetite, Arnold once again offers unique voices that linger long after you turn the last page. Mad and Vic are narrators with their own motivations - propelled by the secrets and stories of Baz, Nzuzi, and Coco. Let yourself fall into these characters-- become a Kid of Appetite.
Kids of Appetite by David Arnold (Viking Books for Young Readers, $18.99), recommended by Johanna at Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC.
Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson
We usually think of 'all men are created equal' when considering the start of our country. Ashes, which completes Anderson's Seeds of America trilogy set during the Revolutionary War, reminds us jarringly that this was not the case. Through the trilogy, we experience the hardships, hypocrisies, and always-cherished bonds of friendship from the perspective of Isabel, an escaped slave. Anderson always writes compelling, complicated characters for whom we care deeply. Ashes brings deep satisfaction to the trilogy. Ages 9+.
Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy $16.99), recommended by Rosemary at Quail Ridge Books. Raleigh, NC.
Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick
Nanette has it all--popular friends, a top spot on her school soccer team and the promise of college scholarships to go with it--but as graduation looms, she's realizing the life ahead is not the life she wants. As for so many of us, it's the discovery of that one cult classic novel that thrusts her out of her mold and into the joys--and pains--of life outside the bubble. For anyone who's ever looked around at life and wondered how the hell they got there, this novel is the perfect fun, reflective read.
Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, $17.99), recommended by Shannon at Scuppernong Books, Greensboro, NC.
Wrecked by Maria Padian
Conundrum: The name of the campus house where Haley's freshman roommate claims to have been raped, and the exact position Haley is put in when she finds herself drawn into the campus investigation. At the same time, Haley is growing closer to Richard, a housemate of the accused and a boy who annoys her, excites her, makes her furious, and makes her laugh. Haley and Richard find themselves on opposite sides of somebody else's war, struggling and scrambling to discern just who is telling the truth about what really happened. Timely, poignant, and thought-provoking, Wrecked should be required reading for every high-school senior.
Wrecked by Maria Padian, (Algonquin Young Readers, $17.95), recommended by Angie at The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC.
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir
A Torch Against the Night immediately picks up with Laia and Elias' escape at the end of An Ember in the Ashes. Determined to break Laia's brother out of prison, Laia and Elias begin a breakneck journey across Serra, closely followed by Elias' former best friend, Helene, who has orders to kill them. Detailing the perspectives of Elias, Laia, and Helene, Tahir does an incredible job weaving all three stories together. A Torch Against the Night is exhilarating, thrilling, and heartbreaking, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns.
A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir (Razorbill, $19.99), recommended by Sami at Square Books, Oxford, MS.
A Song to Take the World Apart by Zan Romanoff
A Song to Take the World Apart is immersive, engaging, and full of teenage emotion. Romanoff explores ancient folklore and the way our pasts impact our futures, all through Lorelai's imperfect teenage mind and body. This novel is about the beauty of magic and uncertainty in one girl's family and the daily struggles and singular experiences everyone faces as they come of age.
A Song to Take the World Apart by Zan Romanoff (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, $17.99), recommended by Johanna at Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC.
Stung by Bethany Wiggins
Fans of The Hunger Games will love this dystopian remake of Sleeping Beauty.
In Stung by Bethany Wiggins, Fiona wakes up from a coma to find a strange tattoo on her wrist. The world has changed while she was unconscious, her house is deserted and her family has disappeared, except for her brother, who immediately tries to kill her.
She flees and discovers that since the honey bees' extinction, the privileged few fight the marked humans who've turned into savage beasts. Hunted by both sides, Fiona fights to make sense of what has happened to her before she turns, too.
This page turning-thriller will keep readers guessing until the very end.Ages 14 and up
Stung by Bethany Wiggins (MacMillan) Recommended by Ellen at Hooray For Books Alexandria VA
Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky
A recent U.S. Department of Education survey found that high school girls take the same number of math and science classes as boys and earn slightly higher grades, but only 15 percent of U.S. collegiate women major in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Encouraging young women and girls to pursue STEM career tracks has never been more important. Women in Science highlights notable women's contributions to various scientific fields. A fascinating collection full of striking, singular art, the book features 50 profiles and illustrated portraits of women in STEM from the ancient to the modern world, and also contains infographics about interesting and relevant topics such as lab equipment and rates of women currently working in STEM fields.
Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky (Ten Speed Press) Recommended by Bookstore1Sarasota Sarasota FL
Taking you through an hour in Opportunity High School, during which a shooter comes in and changes everyone's lives, this book will also take you on an emotional roller coaster.
Told from multiple points of view, you get an idea of what the shooter is like, what has happened in his life that might have brought him to this point, and how he's affected the people close to him.
A heartbreaking novel that draws you into a small-town tragedy and somehow manages to not give up hope.
This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp (Sourcebooks Fire) Recommended by Melissa at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
Bone #1: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith
This hugely-successful comic/graphic novel combines humor, darkness, distinct characters, cartoonish and not-so-cartoonish artwork with a great story to make something that is both appropriate and fun for young adults but engaging and clever enough for adult readers, as well.
Bone #1: Out from Boneville (Tribute Edition) by Jeff Smith (Graphix), recommended by Frank at Fountain Bookstore Richmond VA.
Imagine the violence of The Hunger Games, the backstabbing and betrayal of The Game of Thrones, more superpowers than The X-Men, and a simple girl, Mare Barrow, who becomes betrothed to a prince while falling in love with his brother and at the same trying to protect her childhood friend, Kilorn.
Red Queen is an amazing debut YA novel that will leave you waiting desperately for the next entry in the series.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (HarperTeen) Recommended by Jill and Melissa at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
A School for Unusual Girls
Georgiana is a disgrace to her family.
She does not act properly in social settings. Her physical appearance is unbecoming to those around her. And her aptitude for science and experimentation has caused more than a little ruckus among her family and neighbors.
When one of Georgiana's more bold experiments leads to a near fatal fire, her family decided to be rid of her in the only way available to them. They send her to the Stranje House, a school for unruly girls. When they first arrive to the school, Georgiana is horrified by the sights that she witnesses…young ladies strapped to medieval racks or suffering inside an iron maiden. Yet, her family is more than happy to leave her with the head mistress Miss Stranje.
However, the school might not be all that it seems. Soon Georgiana will find secret passageways, long-forgotten smuggler's coves, unusual curriculum, and unexpected allies. Georgiana will discover her real purpose at this school is to create an invisible ink that will save many lives across Europe.
Yet, if she fails, the cost many be more than she could ever imagine.
Danger lurks in every corner, often from Georgiana herself. Will she be able to find the perfect mixture for the invisible ink, or will her failure create a disaster that will lead to the fall of Europe. Only time will tell. A thrilling tale that will keep you on your toes, and leave you yearning for more!
Fans of The Jane Austen Mysteries, The Agency series, and Wrapped will love A School for Unusual Girls!
A School for Unusual Girls...A Stranje House Novel by Kathleen BaldwinGretchen (Tor Books) Recommended by Melissa at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
Elizabeth has devoted her life to being a witch hunter, and she's one of the best in the land.
Then she's accused of being a witch herself and sentenced to burn at the stake. On the run from the most powerful man in the kingdom, she makes new friends with actual witches and wizards, people she'd always thought were her enemies but who end up becoming more of a family than she's ever had.
Fans of Graceling will love the action and romance in this medieval fantasy.
The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Recommended by Melissa at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
On a Greyhound bus headed from Jackson, MS (aka Mosquitoland) back to Cleveland, Ohio, 16-year-old Mim knows that if she can get to her sick mother by Labor Day, then all the confusion of the divorce, her new stepmom, and the recent move will no longer matter.
Mim's voice in this amazing amalgam of a love story, a road trip novel, and a coming-of-age story, will stay with you long after you finish Mosquitoland.
Mosquitoland by David Arnold (Viking) Recommended by Jill at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
Rebel of the Sands by Arwyn Hamilton
Amani is a desert girl who doesn't feel comfortable unless she has a gun in her hand, and who wants nothing more than to leave her dead-end life in a family and town that have no use for her.
When she meets Jin, a fellow fighter, it seems like she might have met her salvation. If she can convince him to take her with him when he leaves. And if they can manage to escape capture alive. And if Jin's secrets don't tear them apart.
A fantastically imagined story that will keep you turning the pages until the end. I hope there's more coming.
Rebel of the Sands by Arwyn Hamilton (Viking) Recommended by Melissa O. at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan
Luna has lived her life in darkness. When she was born, a perpetual eclipse started.
In the ensuing chaos, Luna's parents, the king and queen of Relhok, were murdered, and Luna was secreted away to a hidden tower, allowing everyone to believe her dead. But now Luna wants more than life in her tower, and her chance comes when Fowler shows up just before an attack on the tower. Now Luna and Fowler are on the run together and must learn to rely on each other in ways neither of them has needed or wanted to before, fighting the monsters born of the darkness and the humans who would tear them apart.
But they both have secrets that could tear their blossoming love apart.
The start of a new YA fantasy series with plenty of romance and surprises to keep you turning the pages.
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan (Harper Teen) Recommended by Melissa at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
Echo lives with the Avicen, a magical people with feathers for hair.
They are more her people than the human family she ran away from as a child. Sent on a quest to find the Firebird, a mythical object said to posses the power to end an ancient war, Echo meets the Dragon Prince, leader of the Drakharin, mortal enemies to the Avicen.
With her ragtag group of Avicen and Drakharin, Echo follows the trail to the Firebird, intent on doing what she can to earn her place. But first she has to figure out where it is she belongs.
Awesome world-building and character development make this a great choice for fans of Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
I can't wait for the sequel!
The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey (Delacorte Press) Recommended by Melissa at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
The Six by Mark Alpert
For the last 6 years, Adam has been confined to a wheelchair.
With the help of virtual reality technology that Adam's father has developed, Adam gets to be the hero. Adam's father has also been working of AI technology and after a very dangerous AI escapes into the internet, Adam has a very difficult decision to make.
Adam only has a little while left to live, but a new technology will allow Adam to have his entire consciousness converted into a computer program. Will Adam go through with the procedure and get to be the hero for real?
The Six by Mark Alpert (Sourcebooks Inc) Recommended by Jordan at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
16-year-old Simon is gay, but he hasn't told anyone yet.
Except for his secret penpal Blue, who's in the same boat, and who Simon has a major crush on. Then someone from school sees Simon's email, and uses it to blackmail Simon. Now Simon has to set up one of his best friends with his blackmailer or risk outing Blue. A romance more than a coming-of-age story, and one that I wanted to read again immediately just to have more of the warm fuzzies it gave me.
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (Balzer & Bray/Harperteen) Recommended by Meliissa at Fiction Addiction Greenville SC
The Walled City by Ryan Graudin
The story is based in China, in a place called Hak Nam.
Hak Nam is run by drug lords and is filled with brothels. Jin is trying to find her sister, while pretending to be a boy to stay safe and fly under the radar. Dai is trying to find a way out of Hak Nam and he needs Jins help. In return, he agrees to help Jin find her sister. Mei Yee is trapped in a brothel, forced into prostitution with no way out. Dai, Jin and Mei Yee narrate the story, each chapter is told through one of them.
The Walled City by Ryan Graudin (Little, Brown) Recommended by Christina at Blue Ridge Books Waynesville NC
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Without a single word, these beautifully detailed and nuanced drawings tell a story of an immigrant trying to establish a better life for his family in a distant country.
The visual tone of the book implies a past we may think we recognize, but with symbols and customs unknown to any specific time or place, Tan constructs a land where any of us may imagine the incredible endeavor of being alone in a completely foreign landscape. Well-crafted and keenly empathetic.
The Arrival By Shaun Tan ($21.99, Arthur A. Levine) Recommended by Rachel at Scuppernong Books, Greensboro NC.
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
How to do justice to a novel that allows you to know each character so intimately that their pain and triumphs are your own?
I fell head-over-heels for twins Noah and Jude. I couldn't resist Noah, who has a penchant for contextualizing his life into paintings, or Jude, who takes to keeping onions in her pockets to avoid serious illness. The two share an almost other-worldly bond, but as life rapidly spins beyond their control and they retreat into their own internalized worlds, they lose touch with the others' heart.
Their journey back to one another is absolutely stunning.
Peppered with beautiful imagery and quirky excerpts from Grandma Sweetwine's folksy bible, I'll Give You the Sun is a book you'll wanna hold close to your heart. Or maybe I should just say, I want to give this book to everyone I have ever or will ever meet.
I'll Give You the Sun By Jandy Nelson ($17.99, Dial Books for Young Readers), recommended by Amanda, Foxtale Bookshoppe, Woodstock GA.
Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld
In Scott Westerfeld's new book Afterworlds the readers are treated to two stories in one!
Afterworlds is set up with alternating chapters where the reader is first introduced to Darcy Patel, a writer, who has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel aptly titled - Afterworlds. Next the reader is immersed in the world of her novel and gets to follow her character Lizzie along on a suspenseful and thrilling ride.
If you are looking for a fantastic new read then this book is a must!
Afterworlds By Scott Westerfeld ($19.99, Simon Pulse), recommended by Erin at Foxtale Bookshoppe, Woodstock GA.
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
A beautifully told coming of age story that takes an amazing turn you won't see coming. Andrew Smith is a genius and you won't believe how much you love this book. Oh...and then there are the six foot tall praying mantises!
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith ($18.99, Dutton Juvenile), recommended by Christine, Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe, Asheville NC.
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
The year is 2073 when a visitor comes to a very remote island.
In seven stories going back, way back, in time we see a painter, vampire, Viking, and others that are connected to this island and bound in some way by an agonizing love. The writing is breathtaking and powerful art. You won't be able to put this book down or stop thinking of it. Ages 14+
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick ($17.99, Roaring Brook Press), recommended by Carol, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC.
All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry
Judith Finch was held captive for two years before being returned to her hometown,maimed and mute for fear of what she mightreveal.To the people of Roswell Station,including her own mother, she's been cursed. Theone bright spot in her life is Lucas, the boyshe's loved since she was a girl but who doesn'tgive her a second glance.After Roswell Stationis attacked, Judith has to make a decision --stay silent and let people make their ownconclusions, or reveal all the truth that's inher.Berry's poetic language makes this mysteryand love story a captivating read that you won'twant to put down until you know everything thatJudith has to say.
All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry($17.99, Viking Juvenile), recommended by Melissa, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC.
The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick
I cannot recall the last time a book captivated me so completely. It felt fresh, smart, clever, and, perhaps best of all, genuine and sweet in the very best sense. The story line is beautifully original and combines so many fascinating concepts and ideas.
The mix of folklore and science is amazing. Who would have thought that the second law of thermodynamics could be presented in such a fun context! And I'll never look at entropy in quite the same way again.
The Time Fetch by Amy Herrick (Algonquin) Recommended by Laura at Malaprops Asheville NC.
Brother, Brother by Clay Carmichael
Set on an island off the coast of NC, this novel explores the unexpected complications in family lives.
Brother Grace is 17 when he learns that he has a twin. In his efforts to locate him, Brother finds disturbing family secrets mixed in with local political power. Carmichael, a Carrboro resident, writes movingly of Brother's struggle to understand his real family and thus more about himself. For ages 12 and up.
Brother, Brother by Clay Carmichael (Roaring Brook Press), recommended by Carol, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh NC.
friend/follow AUTHORS 'ROUND THE SOUTH:
by SOUTHERN INDIES
100% ALGORITHM FREE
This Week's Recs from Southern Indies
All Nonfiction
Fresh Okra Picks
--All Okra Picks
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--The Southern Book Prize: 2019 Finalists
--The Southern Book Prize: 2018 Winners
African American Culture, History, Literature
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Authors 'Round the South is a project of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance in support of independent bookstores in the South.


text:
Telling Her Story Through Music. Meet Singer-Songwriter Cammy Enaharo
November 29, 2018 / Sarah Knight
Photography by Rachel Ludwig of Rachel Liz Photography
Tell us a little about yourself and what you do
I'm a singer songwriter from Rochester, currently working three jobs and playing with a few groups besides my own (like Gold Koa and Ben Morey & the Eyes). My name is Camille Tulani Enaharo but I go by Cammy. The nickname stuck in high school. After class my friends sat in the hall and listened to songs I wrote about our peers on the ukulele. The songs were ridiculous but it's how I got started.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
My mom signed me up for swimming lessons at the YMCA as a kid because I loved getting in the water. After swimming for years it just felt like something I was meant to do. It was one of the first things I really enjoyed doing alone. I worked hard on my strokes and speed, but as soon as I was invited to take it seriously with a team I stopped. Sometimes I wonder what I would be like now if I just went for it and joined the swim team. I think I just wanted to be a fish.
Who encouraged you to follow your passion? Name some influential people in your life who have come along beside you.
I'm fortunate to have different people at different points in my life who have encouraged me. My mom and sister are always there when I'm stuck overthinking things and talk me through. The first time I felt a sense of community in music was at an open mic night. A place to come back to each week to try out new songs and connect with like-minded people who were more than willing to give advice. I really needed those people.
They were the ones who pushed me to put music online. After a very positive response to a few original songs streaming on Soundcloud I felt more confident as a songwriter. Ken Hardley from Rolling Hills Radio in Jamestown was crazy supportive and invited me to play on his show multiple times. I was also opening for bands at local venues. During this time I was lucky enough to have support from Preach Freedom, who made it possible for me to record my first EP in Pittsburgh. Since then I've met a lot of amazing musicians like Katie Preston and Ben Morey who have become my closest friends. We have only known each other a few years but they are two of my biggest inspirations and support.
Close bonds, my Mum, heartbreak, growth, regret and snow.
Talk about your music. What influences it. What's the message behind it?
Important people and events in my life play a huge role when I'm writing. Sometimes it even helps me sort through an insecurity or problem in a relationship. It's a great time to slow down and think about how I actually feel or share something I regret not saying. Expressing it to a room full of attentive people is the most incredible feeling. I listen to a lot of Laura Marling and Little Dragon when I cut cakes at work. I'm influenced by a lot of different music but Regina Spektor is my queen!
What is the most difficult thing about being a musician in Rochester?
Because our scene can feel so close knit I put pressure on myself to try something different. I'm very excited to record a new album with friends Gary Crocker (drums) and Ryder Eaton (bass). We call the project Cammy Enaharo & Dessert!
What do you hope someone walks away from your performance feeling?....
I hope they walk away with whatever they need.
Name some local creatives that you really admire.
Adrian Elim of Brothahood Productions
Rachel McKibbens poet and owner of The Spirit Room
Sarah Rutherford of Her Voice Carries
Musicians/ Songwriters…. Ana Emily Monaco, Gary Lamaar, Moses Rockwell, Ryder Eaton, Charles Emanuel, Katie Preston, Ben Morey, Mikaela Davis and more.
November 29, 2018 / Sarah Knight/ Comment
rocgirlgang, rochesterny, musican, singer, songwriter, localartist
Winter Looks with Salty Boutique
The Gift of Hospitality. Meet ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I am in my second season coaching collegiately at Ottawa University - Arizona. I have coached high school ball at many different high schools and levels. Coach Beach for Fortitude and this will be my 7th indoor season, qualified for Nationals the past 4 years.
Played Boys Volleyball at O'Conner HS once the sport starting growing.
I was born and raised in Arizona, and I have a passion for helping players from here train and prepare to play at the next level.
I love spending time with my wife and our loved ones. We like to do pretty much anything active and we love to travel.
I caught the bug. For those of you that have the bug, you know what I am talking about. There is something different about volleyball. I love the expression "we are better together" to describe that difference. There is something to be said about how we learn to be the best that we can possibly be while still having to fully depend and rely on those that we are working with in order to achieve a common goal. I think that the connection that has to life is too real to miss and I love sharing in that process with the players I am fortunate enough to work with.


okay here we go again with the studies of the last two days. Although I got crazy sick I had a great weekend but kinda wasn't able to get anything done during the trainrides. So what I did the last two days was obviously more moviestills (geez game of thrones is jus amazing if you want to practice overcast lighting). as you can see I've switched up my method quite a bit as i got along, because I really wasn't happy with the "rubbery" look these studies get as the rendering gets tighter and adding textures would be an extra step which would just cost more time, which is fine for personal work but when it comes to doing studies where time matters I figured that there must be a better sollution which adds a little more texture right in the beginning.So this is how I did the 4th study, which didn't take more time than the others but looks waaay better and more interesting. In the last two studies I wanted to just concentrate on color an basic proportion, so they are basically painted with a brush which almost hasn't got any pressure sensitivity, only a little fuzzieness to break the brushstrokes up a bit. SO the task was to try to pick the right color and put it down as it is without any rendering through blending but only through subtle value changes. This was huge fun and I probably learned the most out of the last three.


text:
Categories: Paintings |
The Virgin and Child, The Rev. Matthew Peters, R. A. (1742-1814), after Titian (1485-1576).
Oil on paper affixed to panel, 31.1 cm by 22.9 cm.
Inscribed on the reverse in the 9th Earl of Exeter's hand: 'copy by the Revnd Mr. Peters from a picture by Tiziano in the Tribune at Florence, 1763'. Titian's painting now hangs in the Metropolitan Museum, New York.
Matthew Peters, who later became a clergyman and chaplain to George IV, was a pupil of the artist Thomas Hudson. He also spent a period training in Rome and on his return to London in 1765, he became well-known for painting 'in the Italian manner'.
REFERENCE: PIC126


Seminar and congress places Haute-savoie-74: ALEOU.
- Places where organize your seminar in the area: Rhone-Alpes.
- Places where organize your seminar in the departments: Ain, Ardèche, Drome, Isère, Loire, Rhone, Savoy, Haute-Savoie.
- Places where organize your seminar in cities: Annecy, Chamonix, Chamonix Mont Blanc, Evian, Megève.
Ideally located only 48 km from Geneva International Airport and 5 minutes walk from the local congress center, the Hilton Evian-les-Bains hotel is a perfect option for your corporate events.
Combining historic prestige and discreet luxury with an exceptional hotel, the Abbaye de Talloires brings together all the assets to make your seminar, incentive, team building, conference or other professional event a singular success.
An exceptional setting for seminars in Haute-Savoie unforgettable. To host your professional events, the hotel restaurant Fer à Cheval is fully privatized. Located in the heart of Megève, it can host: seminar, conference, incentive or team building.
The "Le Clos Berthet" Seminar Center offers the exceptional setting you are looking for for the organization of your professional events: training, conference, symposium and incentive or team building seminar.
The estate is suitable for all occasions, the decor & the services are suitable for all festive events. Our team is available and at your disposal to advise you and lead you to organize your events.
The medicee is an old farmhouse restored in the tradition of the Albanians, adjoining the castle of Saint-Marcel, in the village of Marigny Saint-Marcel, Haute-Savoie.
Hotel Alpen Roc offers for business seminars several meeting rooms, as well as the equipment necessary for the organization of your event.
The Saint-Michel Castle Avully is located in Lake Geneva, in Chablais, near Geneva, Evian and Annecy in a private domain 15 hectares mountainside.


Corner Pocket Convention Tote. Tote shopper bag includes large main compartment with hook and loop closure, elastic pen loop and mesh water bottle holder. Additional features include diagonal contrast colour pocket with graphite accents and zip closure to keep your accessories secure. Adjustable shoulder strap for comfort and fit. 600d Polyester 80g Polypro accents.


The Dockside Inn, located along the famously picturesque Oak Bluffs Harbor, is a boutique-style hotel which perfectly blends handsome, award-winning contemporary design with whimsical nautical decor and modern convenience.
The Dockside Inn's 21 tastefully decorated rooms are perfect for couples, families, and wedding groups alike, and our in-town, harbor-side location makes us the perfect place from which to explore and enjoy all of the fabled historic sites and beautiful vistas that make a stay on Martha's Vineyard such a memorable experience. Many of our guest rooms and suites feature commanding views of the Oak Bluffs Harbor, and our friendly, knowledgeable staff, along with Loomis, our Virtual Concierge, are always at the ready to assist you with any need. And our complimentary ice cream treats in summer, our fresh baked afternoon cookies, and our Rolls Royce Silver Cloud courtesy car are sure to have you feeling warmly welcomed. See you soon!


text:
#include "main.h"
#include "world.h"
#include "scene.h"
#include "input_callbacks.h"
#include <sys/time.h>
#include <time.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <errno.h>

#include "models/plane.h"
#include "models/terrain.h"
#include "models/tetrahedron.h"
#include "models/sphere.h"
#include "printmath.h"

const double tick_length = 0.05;

const float move_rate = 10.0; // units per second
const float rotate_rate = 25.0; // degrees per second

#define IN_QUEUE_LEN 16

enum input_event_type {
	EVENT_NONE,
	EVENT_MOUSE_BUTTON_PRESS,
	EVENT_MOUSE_BUTTON_RELEASE,
	EVENT_MOUSE_MOVE,
	EVENT_KEY_PRESS,
	EVENT_KEY_RELEASE,
};

struct input_event {
	enum input_event_type type;
	double timestamp;
	float x, y;
	int buttons;
	int keycode;
};

struct input_event in_queue[IN_QUEUE_LEN];
int in_queue_head=0, in_queue_tail=0;
pthread_mutex_t in_queue_mutex = PTHREAD_MUTEX_INITIALIZER;
pthread_cond_t in_queue_event = PTHREAD_COND_INITIALIZER;

#define in_queue_empty() (in_queue_head == in_queue_tail)
#define in_queue_full() (((in_queue_head + 1) % IN_QUEUE_LEN) == in_queue_tail)

struct world {
	struct scene * scene;
	struct model * terrain;

	// character position and direction
	Vec3 ch_position;
	float ch_direction; // angle around Y axis, in degrees

	Vec4 ch_movement;
	float ch_rotation;
	double moving_forward, moving_back, moving_left, moving_right;
	double turning_left, turning_right;

	double last_tick, next_tick;

	pthread_t thread;
	pthread_mutex_t mutex;
	bool stop; /* request to stop the rendering thread */
};

static inline double get_time(void) {

	struct timeval tv;

	gettimeofday(&tv, NULL);
	return (double)tv.tv_sec + (double)tv.tv_usec / 1000000.0;
}

void on_mouse_button_press(float x, float y, int button) {

	pthread_mutex_lock(&in_queue_mutex);
	if (in_queue_full()) {
		fprintf(stderr, "dropping mouse button press event\n");
	}
	else {
		in_queue[in_queue_head].type = EVENT_MOUSE_BUTTON_PRESS;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].timestamp = get_time();
		in_queue[in_queue_head].x = x;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].y = y;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].buttons = button;
		in_queue_head = (in_queue_head + 1) % IN_QUEUE_LEN;
		pthread_cond_signal(&in_queue_event);
	}
	pthread_mutex_unlock(&in_queue_mutex);
}
void on_mouse_button_release(float x, float y, int button) {

	pthread_mutex_lock(&in_queue_mutex);
	if (in_queue_full()) {
		fprintf(stderr, "dropping mouse button release event\n");
	}
	else {
		in_queue[in_queue_head].type = EVENT_MOUSE_BUTTON_RELEASE;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].timestamp = get_time();
		in_queue[in_queue_head].x = x;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].y = y;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].buttons = button;
		in_queue_head = (in_queue_head + 1) % IN_QUEUE_LEN;
		pthread_cond_signal(&in_queue_event);
	}
	pthread_mutex_unlock(&in_queue_mutex);
}
void on_mouse_move(float x, float y, int buttons) {

	pthread_mutex_lock(&in_queue_mutex);
	if (in_queue_full()) {
		fprintf(stderr, "dropping mouse move event\n");
	}
	else {
		in_queue[in_queue_head].type = EVENT_MOUSE_MOVE;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].timestamp = get_time();
		in_queue[in_queue_head].x = x;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].y = y;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].buttons = buttons;
		in_queue_head = (in_queue_head + 1) % IN_QUEUE_LEN;
		pthread_cond_signal(&in_queue_event);
	}
	pthread_mutex_unlock(&in_queue_mutex);
}

void on_key_press(int keycode) {

	if (keycode == KEY_ESCAPE) {
		request_exit();
	}
	else if (keycode == KEY_NONE) {
		return;
	}
	pthread_mutex_lock(&in_queue_mutex);
	if (in_queue_full()) {
		fprintf(stderr, "dropping key press event\n");
	}
	else {
		in_queue[in_queue_head].type = EVENT_KEY_PRESS;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].timestamp = get_time();
		in_queue[in_queue_head].keycode = keycode;
		in_queue_head = (in_queue_head + 1) % IN_QUEUE_LEN;
		pthread_cond_signal(&in_queue_event);
	}
	pthread_mutex_unlock(&in_queue_mutex);

}
void on_key_release(int keycode) {

	if (keycode == KEY_NONE) {
		return;
	}
	pthread_mutex_lock(&in_queue_mutex);
	if (in_queue_full()) {
		fprintf(stderr, "dropping key release event\n");
	}
	else {
		in_queue[in_queue_head].type = EVENT_KEY_RELEASE;
		in_queue[in_queue_head].timestamp = get_time();
		in_queue[in_queue_head].keycode = keycode;
		in_queue_head = (in_queue_head + 1) % IN_QUEUE_LEN;
		pthread_cond_signal(&in_queue_event);
	}
	pthread_mutex_unlock(&in_queue_mutex);
}

static Vec3 make_direction_vector(float x_angle) {

	x_angle = deg_to_rad(x_angle);
	Vec3 result = { sinf(x_angle), 0.0, cosf(x_angle) };

	return result;
}

bool get_in_queue_event(struct input_event *event_p, double deadline) {

	bool got_event = false;
	struct timespec ts = {0};
	int r;

	if (deadline > 0) {
		ts.tv_sec = (time_t) deadline;
		ts.tv_nsec = (long) fmod(deadline, 1) * 1000000000;
	}

	pthread_mutex_lock(&in_queue_mutex);
	if (!in_queue_empty()) {
		got_event = true;
	}
	else {
		r = pthread_cond_timedwait(&in_queue_event, &in_queue_mutex, &ts);
		if (r == 0) {
			got_event = true;
		}
		else if (r && r!= ETIMEDOUT) {
			fprintf(stderr, "unexpected pthread_cond_timedwait() result: %i\n", r);
			request_exit();
		}
	}
	if (got_event) {
		*event_p = in_queue[in_queue_tail];
		in_queue_tail = (in_queue_tail + 1) % IN_QUEUE_LEN;
	}
	pthread_mutex_unlock(&in_queue_mutex);
	return got_event;
}

void world_process_key_event(struct world * world, struct input_event event) {

	double * key;
	float * var;
	float rate;
	switch(event.keycode) {
		case 'w':
		case KEY_UP:
			key = &world->moving_forward;
			rate = move_rate;
			var = &world->ch_movement.z;
			break;
		case 's':
		case KEY_DOWN:
			key = &world->moving_back;
			rate = -move_rate;
			var = &world->ch_movement.z;
			break;
		case 'd':
		case KEY_RIGHT:
			key = &world->moving_right;
			rate = move_rate;
			var = &world->ch_movement.x;
			break;
		case 'a':
		case KEY_LEFT:
			key = &world->moving_left;
			rate = -move_rate;
			var = &world->ch_movement.x;
			break;
		case '.':
			key = &world->turning_right;
			rate = rotate_rate;
			var = &world->ch_rotation;
			break;
		case ',':
			key = &world->turning_left;
			rate = -rotate_rate;
			var = &world->ch_rotation;
			break;
		default:
			return;
	}
	if (event.type == EVENT_KEY_PRESS) {
		if (!*key) *key = event.timestamp;
	}
	else if (*key) {
		if (event.timestamp > *key) *var += rate * (event.timestamp - *key);
		*key = 0.0f;
	}
}
void world_continue_movement(struct world * world, double now) {

	if (world->moving_forward && world->moving_forward < now) {
		world->ch_movement.z += move_rate * (now - world->moving_forward);
		world->moving_forward = now;
	}
	if (world->moving_back && world->moving_back < now) {
		world->ch_movement.z -= move_rate * (now - world->moving_back);
		world->moving_back = now;
	}
	if (world->moving_right && world->moving_right < now) {
		world->ch_movement.x += move_rate * (now - world->moving_right);
		world->moving_right = now;
	}
	if (world->moving_left && world->moving_left < now) {
		world->ch_movement.x -= move_rate * (now - world->moving_left);
		world->moving_left = now;
	}
	if (world->turning_right && world->turning_right < now) {
		world->ch_rotation += rotate_rate * (now - world->turning_right);
		world->turning_right = now;
	}
	if (world->turning_left && world->turning_left < now) {
		world->ch_rotation -= rotate_rate * (now - world->turning_left);
		world->turning_left = now;
	}
}

static const Vec4 zero_movement = {0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f};

void * world_loop(void * arg) {

	struct world * world = (struct world *) arg;

	struct timeval tv;
	gettimeofday(&tv, NULL);

	double now = get_time();
	world->last_tick = now;

	while(!exit_requested()) {
		world->next_tick = world->last_tick + tick_length;
		pthread_mutex_lock(&world->mutex);
		bool stop = world->stop;
		pthread_mutex_unlock(&world->mutex);
		if (stop) break;

		world->ch_movement = zero_movement;
		world->ch_rotation = 0.0f;

		// process queued events
		do {
			struct input_event event;
			if (get_in_queue_event(&event, world->next_tick)) {
				switch(event.type) {
					case EVENT_KEY_PRESS:
					case EVENT_KEY_RELEASE:
						world_process_key_event(world, event);
						break;
					default:
						break;
				}
			}
			now = get_time();
		} while(now <= world->next_tick);

		world_continue_movement(world, now);

		//////////////////
		// transform world

		// apply movement
		Mat4 rot_matrix = mat4_rotate_Y(MAT4_IDENTITY, -deg_to_rad(world->ch_direction));
		Vec34 dir_movement;
		dir_movement.v4 = mat4_mul_vec4(rot_matrix, world->ch_movement);
		world->ch_position = vec3_add(world->ch_position, dir_movement.v3);
		world->ch_position.y = sample_terrain_height(world->terrain, world->ch_position.x, world->ch_position.z) + 2.0f;

		// apply rotation
		world->ch_direction += world->ch_rotation;

		// update scene eye
		scene_set_eye(world->scene, world->ch_position, make_direction_vector(world->ch_direction));

		world->last_tick = now;
	}

	return NULL;
}

const Vec3 initial_position = {0.0, 1.0, -10.0};
const double initial_direction = 0.0;

struct world * create_world(void) {

	struct world * world = (struct world *)calloc(1, sizeof(struct world));

	pthread_mutex_init(&world->mutex, NULL);

	world->ch_direction = initial_direction;

	world->scene = create_scene();

	world->terrain = create_terrain(256, 256, "assets/heightmap.data", 32);

	world->ch_position = initial_position;
	world->ch_position.y = sample_terrain_height(world->terrain, world->ch_position.x, world->ch_position.z) + 2.0f;

	scene_add_object(world->scene, world->terrain, MAT4_IDENTITY);

	struct model * water = create_plane(3);

	Mat4 water_matrix = mat4_translate(0,  TERR_WATER_THRESHOLD, 0.0f);

	water_matrix.a.x = 100000;
	water_matrix.b.y = 100000;
	water_matrix.c.z = 100000;

	scene_add_object(world->scene, water, water_matrix);

	struct model * tetrahedron = create_tetrahedron(0);

	Mat4 tth_matrix = mat4_translate(0, sample_terrain_height(world->terrain, 0, 0), 0);

	scene_add_object(world->scene, tetrahedron, tth_matrix);

	struct model * sphere = create_sphere(1, 8, 1);
	Mat4 mat = mat4_translate(0.0f, 0.5f + sample_terrain_height(world->terrain, 0.0f, 2.0f), 2.0f);
	scene_add_object(world->scene, sphere, mat);

	scene_set_eye(world->scene, world->ch_position, make_direction_vector(world->ch_direction));

	return world;
}
void start_world(struct world * world) {

	pthread_create(&world->thread, NULL, world_loop, world);
}
void destroy_world(struct world * world) {

	if (!world) return;

	pthread_mutex_lock(&world->mutex);
	world->stop = true;
	pthread_mutex_unlock(&world->mutex);

	if (world->thread) pthread_join(world->thread, NULL);

	free(world);
}
struct scene * world_get_scene(struct world * world) {
	return world->scene;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


FORIA Relief is a suppository that has been carefully crafted to maximize the muscle relaxing and pain relieving properties of cannabis without a psychoactive effect. This plant medicine has a long, cross cultural history of use as a natural aide in easing symptoms associated with menstruation.
Each serving contains 60mg of THC and 10mg of CBD, cannabinoids which are known to relax muscles and release tension and cramping in the body. Through the use of a suppository these antispasmodic and pain relieving properties go directly to the area in need of relief. FORIA Relief works with your unique body to gently, yet profoundly, shift your experience in a holistic and natural way.
This suppository can be used vaginally or rectally as needed.
How do I use FORIA Relief?


I am so excited to share this recipe with you guys. I've been working on it since shortly after new years, and sharing the progress on my Instagram stories as I've been testing and tweaking. This is a conditioning shampoo; more lather than a cleansing conditioner, but more conditioning goodness and lovely oils than you'd usually find in a shampoo. It's a lovely, lazy hybrid for those of us who like as few things on our shower to-do list as possible. As I've been using this conditioning shampoo I've been amazed by two big things: the amazing volume and incredible detangling powers. Like… wow. I'll wake up in the morning after shampooing the previous evening and my hair is so light and voluminous, and then when I go to comb through it—it's so easy! I'm pretty much completely besotted with this stuff, and I'm so excited to share this formula for Silky Volumizing Conditioning Shampoo so you can be besotted with me.
Prepare to feel like you're sudsing up in a lagoon in Neverland with the mermaids; these seriously beautiful Mermaid Silk Shampoo Bars are just the sort of thing I imagine mermaids would use (do mermaids wash their hair? A question for another day, perhaps.). Super pretty colours, a lovely shimmery top, and a fantastic, fresh scent. I love 'em. I think you will, too.
These pretty, citrussy Coconut Aloe Shampoo Bars are utterly lovely—between the fresh, summery colours and the bright, citrussy scent I'm quite smitten. It occurred to me a few weeks ago that it'd been ages since I'd made a straight-up shampoo bar. I tend to use my assorted all-in-one soap bars for everything (so… basically all my soap recipes…), and it seems I forgot about shampoo bars for a while. They're not that different from soap bars, except they've got more castor oil than usual for loads of super-creamy lather. Anyhow, forgotten no longer, these bars are delightful (and also make great soap—no need to save them for your head!).
My soap is drying out my skin—what am I doing wrong?


Managing technology within an enterprise is no easy task. You have to coordinate among a large number of systems, technologies, organizations, and objectives. With Drupal's clear and present entry into enterprise business, I've been talking a lot lately with organizations looking to move Drupal into their already existing systems landscape. Here are five key things I stress when attempting to make such a move.
Picking a technology, like Drupal or anything else, can have significant impacts - both negative and positive - on your organizational's ability to support your systems. Consider how you'll be able to ramp up resources, either in-house or externally. Understand that Drupal has a significant learning curve, and that just hiring people that "know PHP" isn't going to cut it.
Large, enterprise systems need time to be built, or re-built. Don't try to replace everything at once, and don't expect that a vendor - even a really good one - will be able to replace several systems at once just because you have a lot of money to throw their way. Good planning and expectation-setting is crucial. Prioritize your organization's needs and be realistic about costs and timelines.
Don't be tempted to take shortcuts when it comes to integrating multiple systems. Avoid deep linking into systems, and instead build API interface layers around them. This gives you much more flexibility over time about what systems are part of your enterprise. Web services are a smart way to interconnect system components, giving you room to be technology agnostic within those systems.
No technology platform can save an organization from bad processes. Don't neglect development and project management processes. If you don't know what configuration management is, you are already behind. Invest in expertise in environment and infrastructure, and have good deployment and control processes. This allows application developers, whether in-house or vendors, to plug in to your organization much more smoothly.
Working with a technology partner that knows and understands enterprise development is a must. With the popularity of Drupal sky rocketing over the last couple years, many "site-builders" have hit the streets. For real success in the enterprise, you need a partner that understands your business and all the challenges you face. Experience in systems engineering, infrastructure, and complex technical design is paramount.
While that last one may sound a little self-promotional, it's not meant to be. It's an honest admission that most large businesses and organizations face problems that require way more than just Drupal expertise.


In 1983, Rick McCray Sr. opened the doors to McCray Enterprises a diesel repair shop on Fifth Street in San Bernardino. With only three mechanics and two bays to work out of, Rick began to build the successful multi-million dollar business it is today.
Today, McCray Enterprises not only works on trucks it now has it's very own 2,500 square-foot parts department, a full-service body shop specializing in fleets and municipalities. The body shop is one of the few in California fully equipped with a frame machine specifically for semi-trucks, trucks, trailers, and buses. It also has two 63-foot drive through booths and it's very own mixing room.
The newest edition to the shop is the 12,000 square foot eight bay mechanical shop and the two-story office's built six years ago. These additions have come with the continuing growth of the business and accounts. McCray prides itself on customer service and highly qualified mechanics and body men.
McCray's is a certified Maxon and Leyman Lift gate dealer and service center. We are also a John Deere dealer and warranty station.
Always here to help, each and every one of our team represents the spirit of our company: driven, committed, and acutely aware of how limitless McCray Enterprises potential is to grow. Come and meet us.


text:
Ha rappresentato la Svizzera all'Eurovision Song Contest 2004 con il brano Celebrate! in collaborazione con i MusicStars.

Carriera
Piero Esteriore è salito alla ribalta con la sua partecipazione al talent show svizzero MusicStar tra la fine del 2003 e l'inizio del 2004, dove ha raggiunto la finale, piazzandosi terzo. Ha quindi preso parte alla selezione del rappresentante svizzero per l'Eurovision, dove ha cantato Celebrate! con i MusicStars e venendo incoronato vincitore dal televoto. Nella semifinale dell'Eurovision Song Contest 2004, che si è tenuta il successivo 12 maggio a Istanbul, si è piazzato all'ultimo posto su 22 partecipanti senza ottenere alcun punto, rendendolo l'unico semifinalista nella storia del contest a tornare a casa con zero punti.

Nonostante ciò, il cantante ha intrapreso una longeva carriera musicale in Svizzera: la stessa Celebrate! è arrivata all'11ª posizione della Schweizer Hitparade, e il singolo successivo Mammamia è entrato in top 10. Quest'ultimo è incluso nel suo album di debutto 1 secondo, uscito a gennaio 2005, che ha debuttato 3º in classifica. In totale il cantante ha piazzato quattro album e quattro singoli nella classifica svizzera nel corso dei quindici anni successivi.

Discografia

Album
 2005 - 1 secondo
 2007 - Io vivo
 2010 - From Disco to Disco
 2014 - Mondo
 2016 - Zwei2due

Singoli
 2004 - Celebrate! (con i MusicStars)
 2004 - Mammamia
 2005 - Mare
 2005 - Salta
 2006 - Find Back to You (con Daniela Brun)
 2009 - Quando quando quando (con Roberto Blanco)
 2013 - Musica
 2015 - Mondo
 2018 - Non dirmi no / No me digas que no

Note

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Partecipanti all'Eurovision Song Contest 2004

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Broadcast and broadband based entertainment and information systems that integrates with streamed content. The group focuses on 'lean back' media mostly.
Broadband Bananas Industry networking group for digital interactive television.
BrokenRemote.tv Portal for interactive TV information.
CableLabs Research and development consortium of cable TV companies for North and South America with initiatives for cable modems and digital cable TV.
Digital Television Group UK-based industry group of companies devoted to standards for DVB and digital television.
Interactive Television Dictionary and Business Index Listing of interactive television definitions, businesses, products and services.
Media Visions Interactive TV Trade Reports Articles and essays on interactive TV by Ken Freed.
The Parents, The Kids, and The Interactive TV SURPRISE 96 journal report on interactive TV by Keval Pindoria and Gerald Wong.