August 1, 2017

 New Releases, Authors, Book Giveaways, and More

    

 


Dear Readers,    
        
In this issue of KidsBookClubbing, you'll meet:

...Ivy Lovely, and join in her adventures as she learns that the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret in THE CROWNS OF CROSWALD by D. E. Night, and

...S ixteen-year-old Sorina in DAUGHTER OF THE BURNING CITY, a darkly irresistible new fantasy by Amanda Foody set in the infamous Gomorrah Festival, a traveling carnival of debauchery that caters to the strangest of dreams and desires.
 
Enjoy!
 
Best, 
 
Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp

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FirstBlock  
Ages 10 - 18 / Teen Fiction / Stories Untold Press
 
Win a copy of THE CROWNS OF CROSWALD by D. E. Night for your book club. Enter to win by emailing the publisher (write "KidsBookclubbing" in the subject line). 
 
Dear Reader,
 
I write to you from my family's old barn, where the scent of warm sweet hay hits you when you roll back the big green doors. This is my dreaming place. I've always been fascinated by magic in this world, even more so in the worlds that I imagine while I lie here. 
 
Every scrivenist has a story and I can't tell you how thankful I am that you have decided to join Ivy on hers. By you reading this, I know that you must love magic, adventure, and enchanted places as much as I do. The story I share with you was buried in me too long! A story about a spirited girl that sets out on a fantastical adventure despite being unsure of where it will lead. 
 
Ivy Lovely's journey to discover who she is -- despite all the odds and the powerful forces that work against her -- will speak to how stepping into who you really are connects you to your destiny. Hey, it might even save your world. ;)
 
Thank you for coming along!
 
 D.E. Night 

Book reviews:

"This book is recommended for young teen readers who enjoy darker and more challenging books that have rich storytelling and a significant amount of characters and plots. Readers that enjoy intricate tales in a fantasy world will revel in this original story that can surprise and delight until the very end." 
-The Children's Book Review
 
Discussion questions:
 
1. In Croswald, the most magical people (outside of the queenly line) are
scrivenists. How are scrivenists different from classic wizards, such as
Gandalf the Grey or Merlin?

2. If you were in charge of creating a glanagerie scene, what would you
imagine? What would it help you practice? Who would you invite to adventure
with you?

3. The royal's crowns are imbedded with powerful stones. Each stone has one
particular power: the Weatheritall Stone can manipulate the weather; a
crown with a Jessel Stone makes the wearer's hands and feet very fast. If
you could choose one power, what would it be? Try and go beyond the powers
of invisibility and flight! Though, with magic, anything is possible.

4. Do you interpret the Wandering Curse as a true curse or a blessing in
disguise?

5. Imagine there really is a Forgotten Room. Is there something that you'd
like to toss in there? Or, like Ivy, is there something you feel that
everyone else has forgotten about, something you'd like to pull out?
 
To read a sample, read the author's blog or follow her on social media, visit her website.

 SecondBlock 
Ages 14 and up / YA Fantasy / Harlequin TEEN

Win a copy of DAUGHTER OF THE BURNING CITY by Amanda Foody 
for your book club. Enter to win by emailing the author (write "KidsBookclubbing" in the subject line). 

Dear Reader,

Daughter of the Burning City is set in the legendary Gomorrah Festival, where you might stumble across a wicked delight or an 
unspeakable horror on the same path, a carnival where history, magic, and darkness are all eternally intertwined. Here, an illusionist must
unravel a devastating and impossible mystery ...before everyone she loves disappears.

This is a story of empowerment and outsiders, of a girl who is much like other girls, of a family bound together by love rather th an blood. Perhaps you will see yourself in these characters. But be careful...you may set out to unravel their mystery, but not all will survive to the end.

Welcome to Gomorrah, and best of luck.

Amanda Foody

 
Book reviews:
 
 "Foody's stunning debut is full of velvety language, intricate world building, and a story that treads the fine line of horror and fantasy. This is the kind of read that makes your spine shiver, and your heart beat faster."
- Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN

"Utterly original. Amanda Foody has a wicked imagination. If you enjoy your fantasy on the darker side, then you will love Gomorrah!"
- Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

"Wow! A dark and dangerous tale, a world like no other and heroism of the weirdest kind!"
- Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author
 
"Gomorrah makes for a fantastic, magical setting, a seedy mix of titillation and sin that somehow makes a home for Sorina, even as she's occasionally bewildered by its more nefarious revelries. The pace here is impeccable, as the tension rises with the body count and Sorina faces increasingly dangerous obstacles as she gets closer to the truth. The truth is a doozy; even if readers spotted the culprit early on, they'll be shocked by the killer's accompanying revelation and what it means for Sorina's relationships to her illusions. Readers who enjoyed their whirl in Garber's Caraval will want to get in line for entry to Gomorrah."
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
 
"Just try not to dream about slipping on a glittering, feathered mask and exploring the smoldering streets of Gomorrah with Sorina! The way this dark, enchanting fantasy is dramatically woven into a murder mystery makes it a must read for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Laini Taylor and Holly Black."
- Justine Magazine
 
Discussion questions:
 
1. Did you feel that Villiam's love for Sorina and the stories of her past were genuine or fabricated for his own ends?
 
2. Do you feel that Sorina made the right decision in casting her illusion-work over Leonita as a warning? Was it Sorina's responsibility, as Luca said?
 
3. Do you feel that Sorina skirted on her proprietor duties by giving the position to Nicoleta, whose survival, as an illusion, is beyond both Sorina and Nicoleta's control?
 
4. If the difference between reality and illusion is drawn at free will, did you feel over the course of reading the story that the illusions, indeed, possessed it?
 
5. Sorina did create Luca, even if she doesn't remember it and even if Villiam influenced his character. Considering this, how do Luca's personality, abilities, and sexuality reflect on Sorina? 
 
To learn more about the author: follow her on social media, read her blog and visit her website.
 
Author call-in information:  Amanda is happy to call-in to or Skype with your club.  She can also meet with your group if you live in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. Email the author  to submit your request.

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