Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Can’t Wait Wednesday: February 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.










February 2020 Book Releases







A Galaxy Of Sea Stars by Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo


Middlegrade Contemporary
February 4, 2020


At a time when everything in her small town of Seaside, Rhode Island, seems like it’s changing, eleven-year-old Izzy Vitale wants things to stay the same. She wants her dad to start acting like he did before he was deployed to Afghanistan, she wants her mom to move back to the marina where they live, but most of all, she wants best friends Piper and Zelda (dubbed the Sea Star Posse by their kindergarten teacher) to stay best friends as they begin sixth grade at the regional middle school.

Then, Izzy’s father invites his former Army interpreter from Afghanistan and his whole family—including eleven-year-old Sitara—to move into the upstairs apartment at the marina. Izzy doesn’t know what to make of Sitara with her hijab and refusal to eat cafeteria food. She does know that her constant presence has become like a rogue wave disrupting the normally easy flow of the Sea Star Posse. But as Izzy gets to know Sitara, she can’t help but admire her self-confidence and pride in her Muslim faith. Little by little, Izzy begins to realize there exists a world much larger than her safe but insulated harbor in Seaside.

When hate messages start showing up at the girls’ school and at the marina, Izzy and Sitara team up to discover the source of the vandalism. But what Izzy ultimately learns will force her to make a choice: remain silent and betray Sitara or speak up for what she knows is right—even if it means losing the Sea Star Posse forever.



What interests me: The cover is so pretty! Actually, I’m most intrigued by the last sentence of the synopsis. I like when characters are forced to make tough choices. It also sounds like this might be a friendship breakup book? I broke up with a few friends when I was in middle school, so it’s a relevant topic for the target audience.















Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed


Young Adult Contemporary
February 4, 2020


YES

Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes . . . until he meets Maya.

NO

Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.

MAYBE SO

Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.


What interests me: Becky Albertalli! Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda is one of the few romance books I actually like. I don’t think the author’s other books are as strong as Simon, but I’m willing to give this novel a shot.















Wranglestone by Darren Charlton (Wranglestone #1)


Young Adult Horror/Dystopia
February 6, 2020


In a post-apocalyptic America, a community survives in a national park, surrounded by water that keeps the Dead at bay. But when winter comes, there's nothing to stop them from crossing the ice.

Then homebody Peter puts the camp in danger by naively allowing a stranger to come ashore and he's forced to leave the community of Wranglestone. Now he must help rancher Cooper, the boy he's always watched from afar, herd the Dead from their shores before the lake freezes over.

But as love blossoms, a dark discovery reveals the sanctuary's secret past. One that forces the pair to question everything they've ever known.


What interests me: Zombies in a national park? A winter setting? A sanctuary with a secret past? Comparisons to Marcus Sedgwick and Patrick Ness? I’m game. Bring it on. This sounds brilliant.















Escape Routes by Naomi Ishiguro


Adult Fantasy Short Story Collection
February 6, 2020


A space-obsessed child conjures up a vortex in his mother's airing cupboard. A musician finds her friendship with a flock of birds opens up unexpected possibilities. A rat catcher, summoned to a decaying royal palace, is plunged into a battle for the throne of a ruined kingdom. Two newlyweds find themselves inhibited by the arrival in their lives of an outsized and watchful stuffed bear.

Whether snared in traps artfully laid for them, or those of their own making, the characters in Naomi Ishiguro's delightfully speculative debut collection yearn for freedom and flight, and find their worlds transformed beyond their wildest imaginings.


What interests me: Goodreads describes this collection as “pleasingly unsettling.” That’s what I look for in a short story collection. I’m secretly always hoping to find another Karen Russell.







Are you looking forward to any February book releases?







29 comments:

  1. I haven't heard of A Galaxy of Sea Stars. Thanks for introducing me!
    My Can't-Wait Wednesday post.

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  2. I haven't heard of any of these! But wow Wranglestone and Escape Routes both look so great!

    Ash @ JennReneeRead

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  3. Yes, No, Maybe So is one that I am looking forward to. Thanks for sharing some new ones to me too and for stopping by earlier.

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  4. Yes to zombies in a national park!

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  5. A GALAXY OF SEA STARS is one I want to read. Is it odd, that I like the way middle grades authors tackle tough topics more than authors from any other age group?

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  6. Great set of books here! I'm really looking forward to Becky Albertalli's newest book!

    Here’s my WoW!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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  7. Yes No, Maybe So is one I'm excited for as well. I've had really good luck with Albertalli's books so far.

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  8. Umm???? Wranglestone sounds incredible! I'm going to add that to my TBR now!

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  9. At the moment I'm waiting on one book in February and that is the latest paperback release in Alison Weir's Tudor Queen series.

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  10. I've only heard of one of these books, so yay! I love finding new titles to look into.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  11. I have to say I am super intrigued by Wranglestone, zombies are always good but add in a woodsy setting and secrets? I am in!

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  12. Zombies in a national park? I'm in. Wranglestone sounds awesome! :)

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  13. All good choices, but the short story collection interests me most of all. It's been a while since I've read one and "pleasantly unsettling" is interesting. Hope you enjoy them all!

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  14. Yes No Maybe So is one that I am highly anticipating. I love anything Becky Albertalli writes. I hope that you love all of these. :)

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  15. Yes No Maybe So looks good. Hope you enjoy your reading.

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  16. YEP need so many! Yes No Maybe So looks good, as does Wranglestone. I feel like you are the reason that is on my list to begin with, yes? I super need it now.

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  17. Wranglestone is already on my list, I can't wait!

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  18. I think Escape Routes sounds like it could be interesting!

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  19. ESCAPE ROUTES sounds like an interesting read. I'd be interested in your thoughts on it! (Hopefully I also get the chance to check it out. I just need to get through my ARC TBR first!)

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  20. Pleasantly unsettling has got to be the most interesting way to describe a book! This is overall such a diverse range of books -- they all have elements that make me want to read them!

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  21. All of these are new to me but I love the title & cover for A Galaxy of Sea Stars.
    Hope you enjoy them!

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  22. Ahh this is a good list! I didn't know about A Galaxy of Sea Stars, but I'm in love with that cover and a book about friendship break ups? NEED. Thank you for sharing!! :)

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  23. What a cracking list! I particularly love the sound of Wranglestone:).

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  24. Yes No Maybe No is one that gets all positive reviews right now! Tempting!

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  25. Yes No Maybe So seems to be on everyone's list so far. I hope you enjoy all the new releases.

    Sharrice @Reese's Reviews

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  26. Wranglestone still looks mighty interesting to me. 📚✨

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  27. I am very excited for Yes No Maybe So as well! And I have been hearing such amazing things about Wranglestone so I am going to have to check it out on Goodreads...

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