From aliens and ghosts to magic girls
I Hope You Get This Message
Author: Farah Naz Rishi Publisher: Harper Teen, science fiction
HUMANKIND finally learns we truly aren’t alone in the universe – on the same day we’re given a seven-day countdown to destruction by the aliens of a planet called Alma. Ho hum, says high school student Jesse; nothing good in his life has ever been permanent anyway, so what does it matter? But Cate is more determined than ever to track down the father she has never met in the little time left. And Adeem? He hates his sister and can’t forgive her for leaving, and seven days is not enough to right wrongs. Can any of these young people make big enough ripples to change the future?
The Girl The Sea Gave Back
Author: Adrienne Young Publisher: Wednesday Books, fantasy
TOVA can cast the rune stones and see into the future, but she can’t look into the past. She’s not quite sure where she is from, the memories have long faded with time. Home, to her, has always been among the Svell. These were the people who found her washed ashore as a child and they have greatly benefited from her gift as a Truthtongue – even as they set her apart in loneliness, not quite comfortable with her gift. When she is asked by the leader to cast the stones once again, to decide if the clan should go to war or maintain peace with another clan, she sets in motion a series of events that changes not only the course of her life but that of those around her – forever.
We Speak In Storms
Author: Natalie Lund Publisher: Philomel Books, contemporary fiction
MORE than 50 years ago, a tornado tore through a drive-in movie theatre in this small American town, leaving almost its entire population of teenagers dead. So when another tornado touches down again in the same spot, people are freaked out. Brenna, Callie and Joshua are, too, but more so than other people because, for some reason, the ghosts of some of the teens killed in the previous disaster are reaching out to them. The spirits connect the three outsiders and they learn about life from each other, slowly realising that to overcome their unresolved issues, both living and dead need to work together.
The Beast Of Buckingham Palace
Author: David Walliams Illustrator: Tony Ross Publisher: Harper collins children’ s books, children’ s fantasy
IN a future London, a young Prince Alfred lives a sheltered live within the walls of Buckingham Palace. In fact, he has never known a life outside the palace – but then a strange creature breaches its walls and Alfred is thrust into the world, a world in which London lies in ruins. When the creature drags his mother away, the young prince has to dig deed for his courage and battle to save her and the entire city.
Children Of Virtue And Vengeance (Legacy Of Orïsha #2)
Author: Tomi Adeyemi Publisher: Henry Holt and Co, fantasy
In the sequel to Children Of Blood
And Bone (2018), Zélie and Amari have to deal with the mighty consequences of bringing magic back to the land of Orïsha. Because not only have the maji regained their powers as intended but nobles with magic ancestry are also finding their way to the old magic. Now the two young people must find a way to unite the maji against a monarchy that has gained the military’s cooperation and wants to regain control. The price of their failure? A civil war that tears their land apart.
The Conference Of The Birds (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #5)
Author: Ransom Riggs Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers, contemporary fantasy
A MAP Of Days (2018) began a new story arc in the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series, with the main character, Jacob Portman, returning to his own time and home in the United States – with the English and European “peculiars” in tow. In this second book in the new arc, Jacob must ask his peculiar friends to trust him and new allies as he pushes to learn more about the secret legacy left to him by his late grandfather, who was also a peculiar operative.