Children’s and Young Adult Fiction New Book Releases for February 2019
Well, 2019 has well and truly begun. Maybe your new year’s resolution was to read more or maybe you are just looking for a good book recommendation. Here is my list of top new release picks for February 2019. Click on covers for more information and reviews.
Children’s Fiction
Song for a Whale – Lynne Kelly – Delacorte Press – Published 5 February 2019
From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she’s the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she’s not very smart. If you’ve ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be.
When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to “sing” to him! But he’s three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him? Read more.
Children’s Fiction: Animals, Adventure.
Rise of the Dragons – Angie Sage – Scholastic Press – Published 26 February 2019
Once our world was full of dragons who lived in harmony with humans. But after a group of rogue dragons, the Raptors, tried to take over Earth, all dragons were banished to another realm.
Most humans forgot about the dragons, claiming they never existed. Eleven-year-old Sirin knows the truth — she grew up with stories passed down through the generations. However, when her mother falls ill, even Sirin has trouble believing in magic . . . until she sees a mysterious streak of silver in the night sky. Read more.
Children’s Fiction: Fantasy.
Young Adult Fiction
The Deceivers – Kristen Simmons – Tor Teen – Published 5 February 2019
Welcome to Vale Hall, the school for aspiring con artists.
When Brynn Hilder is recruited to Vale, it seems like the elite academy is her chance to start over, away from her mom’s loser boyfriend and her rundown neighborhood. But she soon learns that Vale chooses students not so much for their scholastic talent as for their extracurricular activities, such as her time spent conning rich North Shore kids out of their extravagant allowances. Read more.
Young adult fiction: Mystery-Thriller
On The Come Up – Angie Thomas – Balzer+Bray – Published 5 February 2019
Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it. Read more.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
Fame, Fate and the First Kiss – Kasie West – HarperTeen – Published 5 February 2019
Lacey Barnes has dreamt of being in a movie for as long as she can remember. However, while her dream did include working alongside the hottest actor in Hollywood, it didn’t involve having to finish up her senior year of high school at the same time she was getting her big break. Although that is nothing compared to Donavan, the straight-laced student her father hires to tutor her, who is a full-on nightmare. Read more.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
The Blood Spell – C.J. Redwine – Ravenspire #4 – Balzer+Bray – Published 12 February 2019
Blue de la Cour has her life planned: hide the magic in her blood and continue trying to turn metal into gold so she can help her city’s homeless. But when her father is murdered and a cruel but powerful woman claims custody of Blue and her property, one wrong move could expose her—and doom her once and for all. The only one who can help? The boy she’s loathed since childhood: Prince Kellan. Read more.
Young adult fiction – Fantasy.
Comics Will Break Your Heart – Faith Erin Hicks – Roaring Brook Press – Published 12 February 2019
Miriam’s family should be rich. After all, her grandfather was the co-creator of smash-hit comics series The TomorrowMen. But he sold his rights to the series to his co-creator in the 1960s for practically nothing, and now that’s what Miriam has: practically nothing. And practically nothing to look forward to either-how can she afford college when her family can barely keep a roof above their heads? As if she didn’t have enough to worry about, Miriam’s life gets much more complicated when a cute boy shows up in town . . . and turns out to be the grandson of the man who defrauded Miriam’s grandfather, and heir to the TomorrowMen fortune. Read more.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
Crown of Feathers – Nicki Pau Preto – Simon Pulse – Published 12 February 2019
In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.
Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks. Read more.
Young adult fiction: Fantasy.
The Great Unknowable End – Kathryn Ormsbee – Simon Pulse – Published 19 February 2019
Stella dreams of being a space engineer. After Stella’s mom dies by suicide and her brother runs off to Red Sun, the local hippie commune, Stella is forced to bring her dreams down to Earth to care for her sister Jill.
Galliard has only ever known life inside Red Sun. There, people accept his tics, his Tourette’s. But when he’s denied Red Sun’s resident artist role he believed he was destined for, he starts to imagine a life beyond the gates of the compound… Read more.
Young adult fiction: Historical.
Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee – Jeff Zentner – Crown Books for Young Readers – Published 26 February 2019
Every Friday night, best friends Delia and Josie become Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood, hosts of the campy creature feature show Midnite Matinee on the local cable station TV Six.
As the tug-of-war between growing up and growing apart tests the bonds of their friendship, Josie and Delia start to realize that an uncertain future can be both monstrous…and momentous. read more.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
On Thin Ice – Julie Cross – Juniper Falls #3 – Entangled: Teen – Published 26 February 2019
Jake Hammond is the current Prince of Juniper Falls. He’s also been labeled the next great player to emerge from the Juniper Falls hockey dynasty. When a hundred-year-old hazing tradition at Juniper Falls pond goes all wrong, Jake is left seriously injured, shouldering the blame for the near death of another student and the knowledge that the quiet new girl saved his life.
Jake realizes that Brooke is full of life, ideas, places, and experiences bigger and broader than anything he’s ever known. Plus, she’s the first person to ever see him as Jake Hammond, a guy who’s not sure what to do with his life, rather than the future hockey star. Read more.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary, sport.
Loved Crown of Feathers. I didn’t like The Deceivers much though. I really want to get into the Ravenspire series. I have a copy of The Shadow Queen on it’s way! It’s been at the top of my list since before Christmas!
Awesome. Thanks. I have an arc of Crown of Feathers so I’ll definitely get into that next. Pity about The Deceivers – I find it hard to find really good mystery books. And The Ravenspire series is very well worth reading. I hope you enjoy it.
Me too! I have an ARC of The Shadow Queen that’s coming, someone traded it to me for a new ARC. I just wanted a copy in general lol.
But I hope you enjoy Crown of Feathers. I loved it.