 Blown Away
by Rob Biddulph
I LOVE this new picture book! When Penguin Blue decides to fly his new kite, the wind is so strong that the kite pulls him up into the air. When he yells for help, two friends grab his ankles and they too are swept up into the air. And so it goes, gathering friendly animals who try to anchor the flyaways. They fly far from their arctic home and end up in a jungle. The jungle is interesting but too hot, so they need to go home. They fashion themselves an escape vehicle and get a good send off from a new jungle friend (I won’t spoil the scene for you with details). When he’s safely home again, Penguin Blue decides that penguins really aren’t meant to fly. Once Penguin Blue has fallen asleep for the night, we discover a surprise on the last page (which I also won’t divulge) I love the text. It’s spare, which is perfect for preschoolers, and it rhymes, which very young children like. The story is fun, the artwork is great and includes little details that adults will enjoy, such as the signs on the jungle island: “The Sea”, “More Sea”, and “Even More Sea.”
—Jen
 Hollow City
by Ransom Riggs
One of our favorite series for young adults is Miss Peregrines’s Peculiar Children. The books are a great contest between good and evil, with stories which play off of very odd vintage photographs. The second book in the series, Hollow City, has just been released in paperback.
—Sally
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Cascade's Choices
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Seuss-Isms! A Guide to Life for Those Just Starting Out...and Those Already on Their Way!
by Dr. Seuss
This children’s book features short excerpts from different Seuss stories which convey general words of wisdom on how to live a better life and make good decisions (respect your elders, equality, justice, facing adversity, and so on.)
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Between Shades of Gray
by Ruta Sepetys
This Young Adult historical novel begins in Lithuania during World War II. It is about a girl whose family members are sent to separate work camps in Siberia. Prominent themes include tragedy, starvation, friendship, and community. I highly recommend this book to any adolescent or adult who wants to learn more about the involvement of Baltic countries during World War II.
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Ensnared
by A.G. Howard
This book, the third installment in the Splintered series, is spectacular, amazing, and fantastical; if you enjoyed the first two this is an absolute must-read! This is not a stand-alone book—the first two need to be read in sequence. For fans of the classic Alice in Wonderland tales, this dark and twisted reimagining of the original story will captivate you. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I did and was beyond delighted when the first book surpassed the enchantment of the cover. I could go on and on and on...
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Where She Went
by Gayle Forman
This Young Adult novel is a sequel to If I Stay. It takes place three years after the last book ended and is written from the perspective of Adam. (The first book was written from the perspective of Mia.) Mia and Adam’s lives have gone in separate directions, but then collide unexpectedly one night, changing their lives yet again.
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Love & Profanity: A Collection of True, Tortured, Wild, Hilarious, Concise, and Intense Tales of Teenage Life
This book is a collection of true stories by 40 young adult authors about their teenage lives, including a short tale by Will Weaver. Due to some of the content, this book is intended for a high school audience. The book will be released in March.
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