Run and Hide by Don Brown ~ My Thoughts #RunAndHide @GoSparkPoint @ClarionBooks @BookSparks

Congratulations Don

on the recent release of

Run and Hide!

Run and Hide: How Jewish Youth Escaped the Holocaust by Don Brown

Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Middle Grade

Companion to Maus | YALSA Award-winning creator

Published October 10, 2023 by Clarion Books

A gripping nonfiction graphic novel that follows the stories of Jewish children, separated from their parents, who escaped the horrors of the Holocaust. From the Sibert Honor and YALSA Award–winning creator behind The Unwanted, Drowned City, and others.

In the tightening grip of Hitler’s power, towns, cities, and ghettoes were emptied of Jews. Unless they could escape, Jewish children would not be spared their deadly fate in the Holocaust, a tragedy of unfathomable depth. Only 11% of the Jewish children living in Europe before 1939 survived the Second World War. 

Run and Hide tells the stories of these children, forced to leave their homes and families, as they escaped certain horror. Some children flee to England by train. Others are hidden from Nazis, sometimes in plain sight. Some are secreted away in attics and farmhouses. Still others make miraculous escapes, cresting over the snow-covered Pyrenees mountains to safety.

Acclaimed nonfiction storyteller Don Brown brings his expertise for journalistic reporting to the deeply felt personal narratives of Jewish children who survived against overwhelming odds.

My thoughts about Run and Hide ~~

To be totally honest, this type of book is not what I usually read. I typically don't read middle grade graphic novels, maybe I never have. But the publisher sent this one to me so I wanted to give it a try. I like reading historical fiction, especially pertaining to this time period. I was interested to see how this part of history was being presented to young readers. 

I enjoyed this book, as much as one can enjoy something about such a horrible part of history. I thought the subject matter was presented well and was able to convey the harshness and danger of those days while also showing how people helped and supported one another. The illustrations were well done and I savored the art work on each page. 

After reading and enjoying Run and Hide, I'm interested in checking out other books by this author. Who knows, maybe I've just opened a whole new reading world for me to explore.

I received Run and Hide from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Don Brown is the award-winning author and illustrator of many picture book biographies. He has been widely praised for his resonant storytelling and his delicate watercolor paintings that evoke the excitement, humor, pain, and joy of lives lived with passion. 

School Library Journal has called him “a current pacesetter who has put the finishing touches on the standards for storyographies.”

He lives in New York with his family. ~ Author website

Connect with Don

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

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Cage of Dreams by Rebecca Schaeffer ~ Book Spotlight #Giveaway! CageOfDreams @rrschaeffer @GoSparkPoint @ClarionBooks

Cage of Dreams by Rebecca Schaeffer

(City of Nightmares #2)

Fantasy, Young Adult, 368 pages 

Published September 26, 2023 by Clarion Books

In this thrilling sequel and conclusion to the City of Nightmares duology, Ness is forced to make a twisted deal with the Nightmare Phantom—only to find herself embroiled in the explosive fallout of the agreement when a botched assassination attempt unleashes chaos into the City of Newham.

Nineteen-year-old Ness used to have a vehement terror of Nightmares—people who’d been turned into their worst fears while they slept. Through two assassination attempts, an explosion, and a faustian bargain with a dream demon, she’s finally working through those fears.

Unfortunately, Nightmares aren’t the only dangerous thing in Newham. Working at a speakeasy where gunfights are common and death is a regular occurrence, Ness is forced to reckon with all her other fears—including her fear of mortality. It’s easy to die in Newham, but it’s hard to live.

So when the Nightmare Phantom—the monster that turns people into Nightmares—shows up, asking her another favor, she agrees, but only if he turns her into a Nightmare. One of her own choosing, something bullet proof and strong and able to live without fear.

But when Ness’s attempt to fulfill the bargain goes wrong, things start to spiral out of control. Now, Ness is in the crosshairs of enemies old and new, and this time, she can’t run from her problems. If she wants to survive, she’s going to have to conquer the most difficult enemy of all: herself

Editorial reviews for City of Nightmares

“Rebecca Schaeffer delivers another dose of morally ambiguous, delightful chaos--this time with a refreshing examination of how we view vampires.” — #1 New York Times bestselling author Xiran Jay Zhao

“So much fun readers will stay up all night to finish it.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“A wonderfully grisly and darkly imaginative tale that will entertain its readers even as it draws them into its web of self-examination.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

"One of my favorite books of the year! Phenomenally fun, with a vivid, vicious world that's stuffed with monsters (both human and otherwise) and a heroine you'll root for. I absolutely loved it!"   — Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of The Queens of Renthia series

"Schaeffer’s worldbuilding is economical and inventive, and snappy dialogue, breezy first-person-present narration, and a quirky, ethnically diverse cast add levity, counterbalancing ruminations on fear." — Publishers Weekly

"Thrilling, atmospheric and wonderfully original! In a world where people become their worst nightmares, Ness has to contend with explosions, monsters, assassins – and a cute vampire boy! Rebecca Schaeffer’s City of Nightmares is a page-turning read full of twists and mysteries. I loved it!"— Vanessa Len, author of Only A Monster 

"Readers will welcome this is a series opener, as there is still far more to explore in this world that is mostly bleak but with just enough hope to make the bitter sweet." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Fascinating [and] gripping.” — Booklist Online

Find both books on Amazon

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About the author

Rebecca Schaeffer is the critically acclaimed  author of Not Even Bones, Only Ashes Remain, and When Villains Rise. The Webtoon adaptation of the trilogy has garnered over a hundred million reads and nearly 2 million subscribers. Her next book, City of Nightmares, comes out in January 2023. ~ Author website

Connect with Rebecca

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

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New Release! Too Scared to Sleep by Andrew Duplessie ~ My Thoughts #TooScaredToSleep @andrewduplessie @GoSparkPoint @harpercollins @ClarionTeen

Congratulations Andrew

on the recent release of

Too Scared to Sleep!

Too Scared to Sleep by Andrew Duplessie

Horror, Young Adult, Short Stories, 224 pages

Published October 10, 2023 by Clarion Books

From debut author Andrew Duplessie, a terrifying collection of teen short horror stories--and accompanying videos--that will keep you up long into the night! Perfect for fans of Five Nights at Freddy's.

A garbage disposal that feeds on flesh . . .

A beloved stuffed rabbit that cooks up your parents . . .

Roses that require human blood to bloom . . .

From blood-chilling horror to supernatural scares, this collection of short stories from debut author Andrew Duplessie offers something to stoke anyone's fear factor. But that's only the beginning. In a first-ever twist, each story also comes with a pulse-pounding video that deepens the horror. Point your phone at the QR code and be prepared to scream! Maybe even share it with your friends, if you dare.

Ready or not, Too Scared to Sleep will answer the question: How brave are you, really?

My thoughts about Too Scared to Sleep ~~

OMG! I don't remember young adult books being so scary when I was younger—much, much younger—but some of these stories scared the bejeebies out of me. And I loved each and every one of them! Granted, sometimes I had to close the book and take a breather to process what I just read, but then I couldn't wait to dive into more. 

What does that say about me? I don't even want to go down that road. As a huge fan of Stephen King since the beginning, Too Scared to Sleep satisfied that creepy, scary feeling that I didn't know I was missing. 

Right off the bat, the first story is about a diabolical garbage disposal, which, for sure, is one of my worst nightmares! And then they just get better (or would that be worse?) from there. Each little short story will suck you in and make you rethink everything you have going on in your life. 

And then there is the added bonus of creepiness of little short videos you can access at the end of each story via a QR code, which puts each one over the top.

Too Scared to Sleep is the absolute perfect book to devour during this season of spookiness. Enter at your own risk, and enjoy! 

I received a copy of Too Scared to Sleep from the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

About the author

Andrew Duplessie is an acclaimed author and successful entrepreneur. Andrew sold his debut novel to Harper Collins, Too Scared Too Sleep, which is set to be released in fall of 2023. 

He is an entrepreneur and sold his tech company in 2019, to the former CEO of AOL. Andrew has appeared in several films and TV shows including a co starring role on American Horror Story. He is a Stanford University StartX alum. 

Andrew has amassed over 1 million social media followers. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Andrew

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

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The Lightstruck by Sunya Mara ~ Spotlight #Giveaway #TheLightstruck @sunyamara @ClarionBooks @GoSparkPoint

Congratulations Sunya

on the release last month of

The Lightstruck!

The Lightstruck by Sunya Mara

(The Darkening Duology #2)

Fantasy, Young Adult, 400 pages

Published August 29, 2023 by Clarion Books

In this epic sequel and conclusion to the Darkening duology, which has been called “enchanting and wildly clever” (Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Beasts of Prey), Vesper Vale, once savior to a city plagued by cursed storms, finds herself facing an even more sinister threat when an ominous light summoned by the Great King seizes control of the city.

Vesper Vale sacrificed everything to save her city from the cursed storm. After becoming a vessel of The Great Queen, Vesper awakes from a slumber three years after her life altering choice.

What she finds isn’t a home freed from the terror of the storm, but one where its citizens are besieged by the even more sinister force of The Great King and his growing army of the lightstruck—once regular citizens who are now controlled by the ominous light encroaching on the city. And the people are all looking to Vesper, now revered as a goddess after her sacrifice, as their city’s only hope.

To save the rings from the Great King, Vesper must contend with the obligations of being a deity to her people and the growing chasm between her and Dalca, the prince she swore never to love. Haunted by the guilt of their past choices and faced with the pressures of a city near ruin, Vesper and Dalca find themselves torn between the growing factions within the city and the royal court.

But in order to save her city from the light, Vesper must face the power most outside of her control—the goddess within.

The Darkening

Book #1

Vesper Vale is the daughter of revolutionaries. Failed revolutionaries. When her mother was caught by the queen's soldiers, they gave her a choice: death by the hangman's axe, or death by the Storm that surrounds the city and curses anyone it touches. She chose the Storm. And when the queen's soldiers--led by a paranoid prince--catch up to Vesper's father after twelve years on the run, Vesper will do whatever it takes to save him from sharing that fate.

Even arm herself with her father's book of dangerous experimental magic.

Even infiltrate the prince's elite squad of soldier-sorcerers.

Even cheat her way into his cold heart.

But when Vesper learns that there's more to the story of her mother's death, she'll have to make a choice if she wants to save her city: trust the devious prince with her family's secrets, or follow her mother's footsteps into the Storm.

 

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About the author

Sunya Mara grew up in six different cities across five different states and now calls Los Angeles home. She studied film and business at the University of Southern California and went on to write and illustrate at Kobe Bryant’s Granity Studios. When not telling stories, she spends her time haunting old movie theaters and staring at museum walls.

Connect with Sunya

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter

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