It’s June! School is letting out, the temperatures are climbing, and summer has unofficially started. Whether you’re looking for a beach read, a pool read, or a hiding-out-in-the-air-conditioning read, here are some hot new picks for June:
Tales From a Not-So-Happy Birthday, by Rachel Renee Russell
Everybody’s favorite not-so-dorky diarist, Nikki Maxwell, is back! Of course, so is her arch-nemesis, mean girl Mackenzie Hollister. This time, Nikki is preparing for her birthday, a day that will be absolutely EPIC. Or not. Because as loyal Dork Diaries readers know, nothing in Nikki’s life is ever drama-free. Why should this birthday be the exception?
The Lost Continent, by Tui T. Sutherland
Last year, when the reported final installment of the Wings of Fire series released, there was an outcry. This can’t be how it ends! And for those devoted fans, there’s now hope. The eleventh book in the series releases on June 26th. For generations, it has been rumored that there are other dragons living on other continents, dragons far different than the ones we know. And yet, it’s always been only stories, stories that nobody has believed, or given much attention. Now, it appears that not only are those stories true, but that the dragons are coming. Get ready, Wings of Fire fans. The game is not over yet.
Wild Rescuers: Guardians of the Taiga, by StacyPlays
Young readers and Minecraft fans may recognize StacyPlays from her wildly popular Dogcraft series. Now Stacy’s making the jump from the screen to the page with a new illustrated novel inspired by the series. Raised by wolves, 12-year-old Stacy remembers nothing of her life with humans, and sees no need to ever return to society to sort through the mystery of her origins. Her wolves—Addison, Basil, Everest, Noah, Tucker and Wink—are all she needs. Together, they patrol the forest, keeping the other creatures safe from dangers of both the human and non-human kind.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: The Deluxe Junior Novelization, by David Lewman
The next installment of the iconic movie series is set to release on June 22, with this deluxe junior novelization hitting the shelves just days after. It’s been three years since the Jurassic World Theme Park has been destroyed, and Owen and Claire return to the island to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano threatening to erupt. But upon arrival, they discover the island has changed in their absence, and the newest threat puts not only the remaining dinosaurs at risk, but the entire planet.
Popular MMOs Presents A Hole New World, by Popular MMOs and Dani Jones
Another new series for the MineCraft and YouTube enthusiast, this novelization brings to the page the adventures of Pat and Jen. This time, the duo fall into a hole while playing hide-and-seek and find themselves in a zombie-fied underworld. Even worse (because things can always get worse), their friend Bomby has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner. Now the duo must find Bomby and return home before being turned into zombies themselves.
Junior Ninja Champion: The Competition Begins, by Catherine Hapka
Fans of American Ninja Warrior will appreciate this story about five kids who have little in common except for their desire to try out for the kids’ version of the popular TV show National Ninja Champion. Ty, Kevin, Izzy, Mack, and J.J. come together at Fit Kidz, a kids-only gym own by Ty’s parents. Despite their many differences, challenges, and backgrounds, they find themselves growing together as a team, cheering each other on, and helping each other through obstacles both on and off the course. Like the ninja competition itself, this book is less about the physical challenge, and more about the people behind the stories.
Marauder’s Map Guide to Hogwarts, by Erinn Pascal and Helen Cann
Potterheads, get ready! Now you, too, can utter the phrase, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,” and release the magic of the Marauder’s Map. Better yet, you don’t even need magic, just this muggle’s guide, which contains foldouts of parts of the map and hidden secrets of Hogwarts. The map also includes a lighted wand (invisible ink marker), which will reveal further secrets, and allow the reader to create secrets of their own on the blank pages at the back of the book. A must-have for all Hogwarts fans.
Lions and Liars, by Kate Beasley and Dan Santat
Fifth grader Frederick Frederickson ranks himself low on his self-described food-chain of life. According to Frederick, there are lions, gazelles, meerkats, and fleas. Frederick is a flea. It’s kind of bound to be your station in life with a name like Frederick Frederickson. When a friend’s prank goes (way) too far, Frederick finds himself washed up on the shores of a camp for troubled boys. Immediately, Frederick assumes the role of a notorious camper, seeing this as an opportunity to reinvent himself. In keeping up his own false pretenses, Frederick discovers the other boys have pretenses of their own. As the friendship among the campers build, they come to realize that they are really all in search of the same thing: themselves.
Soldier Dogs: Air Raid Search and Rescue, by Marcus Sutter and Pat Kinsella
This new series, which will highlight a range of events and time periods, kicks off with a story set in WWII. Matt’s older brother has enlisted in the army and left his German Shepherd, Chief, in Matt’s care. While Chief can’t replace his brother, Matt is thrilled to claim Chief as his own. When Chief starts favoring Matt’s foster sister, Rachel, jealousy arises. But when Nazi planes target Matt’s own town, that jealousy gets pushed to the side as Matt finds himself having to focus on what’s really important: saving himself and Rachel.
The Legend of Greg, by Chris Rylander
Greg Belmont is a pretty normal, boring kid. He’s got a best friend, a pretty cool (if a little bit quirky) dad, and a regular, nothing-too-exciting life. Until the day his dad is kidnapped from the family store, and Greg discovers that he is, in fact, a Dwarf. Suddenly, Greg finds himself in a very unordinary situation, whisked under the streets of Chicago to train for the inevitable war between the trolls and the elves. Then there’s the surprising news about his one-and-only best friend that could entirely change the course of their friendship. Whatever happened to normal and boring?
Happy June! What are you reading this month?
The post June’s Best New Books for Young Readers appeared first on The B&N Kids Blog.