Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Can’t Wait Wednesday: More April 2020 Book Releases




Can’t Wait Wednesday is hosted by Wishful Endings. I get to spotlight a few upcoming book releases that sound interesting to me. Here’s what’s coming out in the next few weeks.

*This post contains affiliate links. I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.






April 2020 Book Releases






When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed


Middlegrade Graphic Memoir
April 14, 2020


Omar and his little brother, Hassan, arrived in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya, seven years ago. Their father was killed the day they left home, and they haven't seen their mother since they joined their neighbors who were fleeing to Dadaab. Now Omar is eleven and Hassan is nine, and Omar has quit school to look after his brother, who has an intellectual disability.

When Omar is given the opportunity to return to school and carve out a future for himself and Hassan, he feels torn. He loves school and could have the opportunity to earn a coveted scholarship to a North American university—and with it a visa for himself and Hassan. But is it worth the risk and heartache of leaving his vulnerable brother for hours each day?



What interests me? I always need more illustrated books in my life. Also, the world is currently experiencing a massive refugee crisis, so we should be paying attention to these kinds of stories. One of the authors is a Somali refugee and the other was a finalist for the Newbery. I have confidence that they can get this story right.














Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened by Emily Blejwas


Middlegrade Contemporary
April 14, 2020


Justin doesn't know anything these days. Like how to walk down the halls without getting stared at. Or what to say to Jenni. Or how Phuc is already a physics genius in seventh grade. Or why Benny H. wanders around Wicapi talking to old ghosts. He doesn't know why his mom suddenly loves church or if his older brother, Murphy, will ever play baseball again. Or if the North Stars have a shot at the playoffs. Justin doesn't know how people can act like everything's fine when it's so obviously not. And most of all, he doesn't know what really happened the night his dad died on the train tracks.

And that sucks.

But life goes on. And as it does, Justin discovers that some things are just unknowable. He learns that time and space and memory are grander and weirder than he ever thought, and that small moments can hold big things, if you're paying attention. Just like his math teacher said, even when you think you have all the information, there will be more. There is always more.


What interests me? The cover. And the details in the synopsis. It sounds like a story with unusual, vivid characters. I also like the line about time, space, and memory being grand and weird. I agree with that and want to know how the author pulls all these elements together.















A Game Of Fox & Squirrels by Jenn Reese


Middlegrade Fantasy
April 14, 2020


After an incident shatters their family, eleven-year old Samantha and her older sister Caitlin are sent to live in rural Oregon with an aunt they've never met. Sam wants nothing more than to go back to the way things were before she spoke up about their father's anger.

When Aunt Vicky gives Sam a mysterious card game called "A Game of Fox & Squirrels," Sam falls in love with the animal characters, especially the charming trickster fox, Ashander. Then one day Ashander shows up in Sam’s room and offers her an adventure and a promise: find the Golden Acorn, and Sam can have anything she desires.

But the fox is hiding rules that Sam isn't prepared for, and her new home feels more tempting than she'd ever expected. As Sam is swept up in the dangerous quest, the line between magic and reality grows thin. If she makes the wrong move, she'll lose far more than just a game.


What interests me? Goodreads says this book “explores the often thin line between magic and reality, light and darkness.” It sounds like this novel has the potential to be delightfully weird. I’m game. Let’s play.


















Are you looking forward to any April book releases?







26 comments:

  1. Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened sound really good and it might even be a tear-jerker. I love a book that gives me a good cry! Great picks this week! Here's my pick:

    Crystal Book Snob

    ReplyDelete
  2. A Game of Fox & Squirrels sounds so good!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have LIKE NOTHING AMAZING EVER HAPPENED on my TBR. It sounds like it will make me feel all the feels, it features a physics genius, and they talk about the magic of small moments, which I love

    ReplyDelete
  4. They all sound really good.

    My CWW

    ReplyDelete
  5. A Game Of Fox & Squirrels sounds awesome and I love that cover! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. You've got some great picks here! A few I haven't seen yet!
    Check out my Wednesday post

    ReplyDelete
  7. A Game of Fox and Squirrels sounds so cute! I don't read much MG but I would read that one:-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. These sound nice. and I don't know what the deal is but I'm loving so many of the new covers these days...!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. So many wonderful sounding books on your list! I think some illustrated MG novels sound like the perfect escape right now. Thanks for sharing these. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think I told you that I am looking forward to reading Eric Goodman’s “Cuppy and Stew” that is released this month—I’m waiting for a copy in the mail.

    www.thepulpitandthepen.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. All of these look great! When stars are scattered sounds really good. I hope you'll enojy them all!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I really want to read A Game of Fox and Squirrels. And Cass definitely approves of the squirrel aspect.

    ReplyDelete
  13. When Stars Are Scattered sounds like a great read. It's been ages since I last read a graphic novel. This one sounds right up my alley. I really like the sound of A Game of Fox & Squirrels too. I think my daughter might as well. I hope you love these when you read them. Stay safe and well, AJ.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I haven't read middle grade in a while but now I feel tempted because all of the books in the list look really good!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Like Nothing Ever Happened's Blurb gave me chills. I want to know more about Justin, about what he's going through.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Every single one of these covers SLAY. I need them all just for aesthetic purposes. But seriously all of the synopses are really great too. I am trying to build up Lena's library, I think she'd enjoy these!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. 'When Stars are Scattered' sounds fantastic! I used to live in an apartment building with a lot of Somali refugees and till this day can speak some Somali. The culture is rich and I love everything about it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. A Game of Fox and Squirrels sounds really good. I am going to have to check out that one. I hope you enjoy these when you have a chance to read them!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for spotlighting these middlegrade new releases. I need more books for my son and these all sound great.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I haven't read any middle grade books in a while, and I hadn't heard of these. I hope you enjoy them all!

    ReplyDelete
  21. When Stars are Scattered has such a cute cover :) Thanks for the update on new releases.

    Beena @ Beena Khan

    ReplyDelete
  22. I"ve been finding such great middle grade on your blog lately!! Thanks for sharing!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow, those look awesome! I love a good middle grade book, honestly. A Game of Fox and Squirrels looks so cool.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh wow all of these books have STUNNING covers, I adore them so much! I'm really curious about A Game of Fox and Squirrels, I'll have to check it out :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Like Nothing Amazing Ever Happened sounds like it will be such a heartbreaking read! I'm here for it 😆 Thanks for putting it on my radar. I love all these book covers too!

    ReplyDelete