 Publisher: Candlewick (October 13, 2020) Language: English ISBN-10: 153621227X ISBN-13: 978-1536212273 Praise for THE SISTERS OF STRAYGARDEN PLACE Lyrical and imaginative, rich and riveting. This is Hayley Chewins at her best, writing about magical girls with secrets and sisters who rise above the odds. An absolute must-read! --Christine Day, author of I Can Make This Promise, an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book Chewins’ prose is exquisite, her eerie concepts heart-wrenching...Superb, spooky, and unforgettable. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Chewins (The Turnaway Girls) weaves a vivid, otherworldly tale of family and secrets, with a gothic setting that serves as a character in its own right. Through themes of identity, forgiveness, and longing, Mayhap’s unpredictable quest becomes intensely personal, especially as the sisters reinvent their familial relationship. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) A strong opening and consistent sense of urgency makes this an ideal choice for reluctant readers interested in slightly spooky fantasy. Give to fans of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline, Kenneth Oppel’s The Nest, or The House in Poplar Wood by K.E. Ormsbee. --School Library Journal 
The grass grew taller than the house itself, surrounding it on all sides. It stuffed the keyholes and scraped against the roof. It shook the walls and made paintings shiver. Seven years ago, the Ballastian sisters' parents left them in the magical Straygarden Place, a house surrounded by tall silver grass and floating trees. They left behind a warning saying never to leave the house or go into the grass. "Wait for us," the note read. "Sleep darkly." Ever since then, the house itself has taken care of Winnow, Mayhap, and Pavonine--feeding them, clothing them, even keeping them company--while the girls have waited and grown up and played a guessing game: Think of an animal, think of a place. Think of a person, think of a face. Until one day, when the eldest, fourteen-year-old Winnow, does the unthinkable and goes outside into the grass, and everything twelve-year-old Mayhap thought she knew about her home, her family, and even herself starts to unravel. With luscious, vivid prose, poet and author Hayley Chewins transports readers to a house where beloved little dogs crawl into their owners' minds to sleep, sick girls turn silver, and anything can be stolen--even laughter and silence. My review: 4.5 stars This was a magical read. To start, I loved the house... a house that responds to your every wish and need... how cool is that? And yet, something feels sinister from the first chapter. Three sisters, trapped in a house, and told by their parents before they left to never leave the house. I loved the relationships between the sisters, and I adored the droomhounds. The writing was gorgeous, and I was captivated from the first page to the last. I definitely got a Coraline vibe from this book, and yet, Sisters of Straygarden Place is also completely unique. I highly recommend!
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Photo Credit: SLDV Portrait
Her debut, The Turnaway Girls, was a Kirkus Best Book of 2018 and made the American Library Association’s Amelia Bloomer List of Best Feminist Books for Young Readers. Her second book, The Sisters of Straygarden Place, is forthcoming from Candlewick Press on October 13th, 2020, and has already been called “superb, spooky, and unforgettable” in a recent starred review. Hayley lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her soulmate/husband/fellow coffee addict, Liale, and their toy poodle, Darfer. She is represented by Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, otherwise known as The Most Amazing Agent Ever.   
WEEK ONE
SEPTEMBER 14th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW
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SEPTEMBER 21st MONDAY J Long Books REVIEW
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 Publisher: She Writes Press (September 8, 2020) Language: English ISBN-10: 163152741X ISBN-13: 978-1631527418 Praise for THE BEST PART OF US “Sally Cole-Misch’s novel is a lush and lovely homage to the natural places where her protagonist grew up. . . . The plot spanning past and present kept me enthralled and engaged throughout my reading of this exceptionally good book. The Best Part of Us is most highly recommended.” --Readers’ Favorite “This is not just storytelling, it’s a lived experience. Sally’s description of the cold, crystal waters and magnificent landscape of the North Country is so vivid I feel as though I paid it a visit. The story’s depth and vivid characterization are unforgettable. At a time when we seem to have lost our way in navigating the human relationship with place, Sally has provided a true compass to help us find home. ” --Dave Dempsey, 2009 Michigan Author of the Year, author of ten books and renowned Great Lakes environmental policy expert “With exquisite descriptions of Canadian lake and forest country and the Ojibway life rooted there, Cole-Misch expertly weaves the elements of those differing cultures, fraught but tightly bound family relationships, young love, old love, and the wonder of coming of age—at every age—into a luminous novel. The Best Part of Us is a beautiful story that will keep you up reading, and then keep you company for a long time afterward.” --Barbara Stark-Nemon, award-winning author of Even in Darkness and Hard Cider “A story so evocative you can smell the lake and hear the loons. . . . The Best Part of Us draws in lyrical strokes the many shades of grief and the healing magic of place.” --Jenni Ogden, bestselling author of A Drop in the Ocean “Place plays a key role in this novel, with an island in northern Ontario lovingly observed through the eyes of our protagonist, Beth. Troubles come in the form of her family’s attachment to the land and issues around who rightfully owns it—their Welsh ancestors or the Native peoples of earlier times—and the book raises and explores these important, contemporary questions with care and sensitivity. Their resolution is complicated—at once hopeful and messy, like all imperfect decisions. The Best Part of Us is a lovely, engrossing book about place, family, history, and cultural sensitivity.” --Angela Pneuman, award-winning author of Home Remedies and Lay It on My Heart 
But that bond was threatened and then torn apart, first as rights to their island were questioned and then by nature itself, and the family was forced to leave. Fourteen years later, Beth has created a new life in urban Chicago. There, she’s erected a solid barrier between the past and present, no matter how much it costs—until her grandfather asks her to return to the island to determine its fate. Will she choose to preserve who she has become, or risk everything to discover if what was lost still remains? The Best Part of Us will immerse readers in a breathtaking natural world, a fresh perspective on loyalty, and an exquisite ode to the essential roles that family, nature, and place hold in all of our lives. My review: 4 stars The Best Part of Us took me back to my childhood in the best of ways. My family spent 2-3 weeks each year in Northern Wisconsin. While we didn't have our own cabin (we always rented), we did have a boat. To this day, some of my favorite memories are of being on a lake at night, looking up at the brilliant night sky full of bright stars, and listening to the cries of the loons and bullfrogs. This was a story full of heart, and both heartbreak and redemption. Beth was a likeable, exuberant young girl who didn't always seem to grasp the dynamics of her family. Her husband was supportive, and without giving too much away, I'll just say that I was very satisfied with the ending. I also liked the way the story wove from current day to Beth's childhood and back again. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves nature, family dynamics, and a strong female lead with a lot of heart. Thank you to Sally Cole-Misch and She Writes Press for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to review this stunning book.
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Photo Credit: Susan Adams Photography
 
SEPTEMBER 7th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW
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a Rafflecopter giveaway  Hardcover: 384 pages Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company (September 1, 2020) Language: English ISBN-10: 168263194X ISBN-13: 978-1682631942
Praise for SING LIKE NO ONE'S LISTENING a Rafflecopter giveaway
"“Anglophiles, music and theater nerds, and those looking for some classic will-they-won’t-they romance will all find something to enjoy here. Jones writes her subject matter authentically, with obvious passion to balance the professional arts’ not-so-pretty struggles…. A touching portrait of healing after loss.” ―Kirkus Reviews “Jones' novel has the expected Fame vibes that will delight any reader who loves stories of aspiring young stars learning their craft, but its exploration of Nettie's complexities makes the story unique…. Jones offsets the narrative’s weightier moments with light and quirky ones, making it a fast read with staying power.” ―Booklist
OFFICIAL NERD BLAST FOR SING LIKE NO ONE'S LISTENING BY VANESSA JONES A moving story of grief and healing - sure to be a pure joy for any musical theater aficionado.
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Nettie Delaney has just been accepted into a prestigious performing arts school--the very same school her superstar mother attended. With her mother's shadow hanging over her, Nettie has her work cut out for her--and everyone is watching. To make matters worse, Nettie hasn't been able to sing a single note since her mother died. Whenever she tries, she just clams up. But if Nettie's going to survive a demanding first year and keep her place in a highly coveted program, she'll have to work through her grief and deliver a showstopper or face expulsion. All may not be lost, however, when Nettie stumbles upon a mysterious piano player in an empty studio after class. Masked behind a curtain, can Nettie summon the courage to find her voice? Or will the pressure and anxiety of performing come crashing down? All about finding and raising your voice, and not throwing away your shot, Vanessa Jones's well-crafted journey of grief and healing will pull readers along with its strong narrative voice and satisfying sense of mystery.
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Photo Content from Vanessa Jones VANESSA JONES trained at Laine Theatre Arts in Surrey, England and went on to be a musical theater actor on West End, performing in shows including Sister Act, Grease, Guys and Dolls, Annie Get Your Gun, and Mary Poppins. She began her writing career with a stage play for a fringe theater and works as a freelance copywriter and editor. She lives in England with her fellow chimney sweep.
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