There are a billion new releases this week, and we’re freaking out!!!

SUP FREAK

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Okay, now that we got that out of our systems. Here’s a somewhat calmer look at this week’s new titles …

Our February Teen Buzz Book is out and it’s incredible!

The Belles

By Dhonielle Clayton

Why we’re loving it:

“If Leigh Bardugo and Suzanne Collins were in a battle for my heart, it is Dhonielle Clayton who picked up the pieces and poured them into this beautiful book. The Belles could slide by on vivid language and stunning character development alone, but instead it punches back with a courageous plot that belongs in a genre of its own. It does remain a fantasy novel overall, as it is well laced with magic and made-up words, but at the same time recites a powerful message about beauty, servitude, and what it means to be unique. It also sneaks in sprinkles of romance, and really, who doesn’t love sprinkles?”
— Ivy, Teen Press Corps

A book to die for!

The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza

By Shaun David Hutchinson

Why we’re loving it:

“With a diverse array of characters and a philosophical theme that mixes dashes of romance, comedy and a great deal of science-fiction, Shaun David Hutchinson writes a book everyone should read. It asks questions that challenges the reader to step back and contemplate the true meaning of good and bad. I fell in love with how the book occupied my mind and recommend it to any teenager willing to probe themselves for the same answers Elena does. With a critical look into the mind, I give this book five stars!”
— Olubunmi, Teen Press Corps

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK:

American Panda by Gloria Chao: An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate. At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth — that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese. But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels? From debut author Gloria Chao comes a hilarious, heartfelt tale of how unlike the panda, life isn’t always so black and white.

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce: Arram Draper is on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness — and for attracting trouble. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram realizes that one day–soon–he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie. In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalin came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom’s future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.

Beautiful Broken Hearts by Kami Garcia: When star soccer player Peyton Rios receives an offer from her first-choice college, senior year starts off exactly as planned. But when Peyton uncovers her boyfriend’s dark secret, she confronts him — and finds herself falling down a flight of stairs. Peyton’s knee — and maybe her dream of going pro — is shattered. Everyone is talking: Was she pushed, or did she fall? Peyton knows the truth, even if no one believes her. With her future on the line, Peyton goes to stay with her uncle in a small Tennessee town to focus on her recovery. Dating is the last thing on her mind — until she meets sweet, sexy Owen Law. But Peyton doesn’t trust her heart, especially when she senses that Owen is hiding something. When their secrets are finally exposed, Peyton has to decide if love is worth fighting for.