We've never read a graphic novel together for book club so, for the month of December, we chose The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. There were a lot of great candidates but, ultimately, the cleverness and comedy of  Squirrel Girl won us over! We hope you'll go as nuts for her as we did. Here's the publisher summary of the first volume in this tree-rific series:
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Supervillains and criminals meet their match with Tony Stark's friend Squirrel Girl, aka Doreen Green, a college freshman with the appearance, speed, and agility of a squirrel. Fitting in proves to be challenging, as normal girls do not talk to or have a squirrel sidekick, nor do they have super strength. Then there is Squirrel Girl's roommate, who has a tough exterior and is obsessed with knitting and her cat. Luckily, Squirrel Girl has a knack for winning people over.

When Galactus threatens Earth, the heroine must rely on more than strength to defeat the Devourer of Worlds. She may have extraordinary strength, an army of squirrels at her disposal, a collection of Deadpool villain trading cards, and nut-inspired catchphrases, but it is her ability to form connections with people that proves to be her most powerful asset. North and Henderson have created a fun, fast-paced graphic novel that will appeal to Marvel fans as well as readers who are unfamiliar with—or do not enjoy—traditional superhero comics.

We're bright-eyed and bushy tailed just like this GIFy little guy to read and discuss this graphic novel. We can always get behind a main character who kicks evil guys' butts and makes us laugh while doing it.

The YA book club meets at the bookstore on the last Sunday of the month, December 30th at 6:30pm. We will have drinks and snacks to share with everyone. Even if you didn't finish the book or didn't like it, we'd love to see you at book club and hear your opinions. You can get your copy from the bookstore today with the 15% discount on book club titles. You can also RSVP to the Facebook event here. ​

You can also get the book from us online:
Paperback​ 

Comics Alliance Interview -- "She Has A New Hat: North, Henderson, & Moss Talk The New 'Unbeatable Squirrel Girl' #1"
The Mary Sue Review -- "Marvel's The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1 as Unbeatable as the Name Suggests"
IGN Review -- "The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1"

We like to include the Common Sense Media report for those of you that may not be familiar with the book and would like to know a little more about if before your kid comes to book club. You can view the report here but we've included the most important information for you below. You can also click any of the following images to get to the original webpage. 

We are incredibly excited for this month's YA book club meeting. We're reading Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi--a book that our entire staff has already read and loved. A brilliant and lushly descriptive fantasy, Adeyemi brings the #BlackGirlMagic to the page with her powerful narrative about a people seeking to break free from the tyranny of a king who hates their very existence. 

Here's the summary that the publisher provided: 

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

But, wait! There's also a book trailer! Watch this and then try to tell us you're not excited--

A Kid's Indie Next Pick with five starred reviews from major review outlets, this book is an absolute hit. Plus, it's already been optioned for a film so we can expect to see Zélie and crew on the big screen sometime soon!

Readers who love Black Panther and the Rick Riordan books will love this African mythology inspired adventure fantasy with strong characters. We recommend this book for readers age 15+. 

The YA book club meets at the bookstore on the last Sunday of the month, June 24th, at 6:30pm. We will have drinks and snacks to share with everyone. Even if you didn't finish the book or didn't like it, we'd love to see you at book club and hear your opinions. You can get your copy from the bookstore today for $18.99 but you'll always get a 15% discount on book club titles. We also have one book that we can give to someone in the community who would like to join in this month's reading but is unable to make the purchase themselves for financial reasons. This is first come, first serve but if you or someone you know would like to join us but wouldn't be able to otherwise, please email Mary at: owner@foggypinebooks.com. A huge thank you to the very generous Foggy Pine customer who made this possible.

You can also get the book in other formats from us online:
Digital Audiobook
Hardcover
eBook
Audiobook CD

NPR Review--'Children Of Blood And Bone' Is A Feast For Hungry Readers

The Atlantic Review--Where Fantasy Meets Black Lives Matter

The Guardian Interview--Tomi Adeyemi: ‘We need a black girl fantasy book every month’

Good Morning America Interview--Tomi Adeyemi opens up about her blockbuster book series​

We like to include the Common Sense Media report for those of you that may not be familiar with the book and would like to know a little more about if before your kid comes to book club. You can view the report here but we've included the most important information for you below. 

Recommended Age Range

What's In The Book?

See y'all soon!

This month's YA book club choice is The Alchemyst by Michael Scott. 

No, not that Michael Scott ?

Anyway, we're very excited to dive into this series. It comes highly recommended from other YA book club members and we all love a little bit of magic, mythology, and adventure in our lives. Here's what it's about:

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. 
 
The legend: Nicholas Flamel discovered the secret of eternal life.
 
The records show that he died in 1418.
  
But his tomb is empty.
  
Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries.
   
The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it.    Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late.

While working at summer jobs in San Francisco, twins Sophie & Josh Newman find themselves caught up in a deadly, centuries-old struggle between rival alchemists, Nicholas Flamel and John Dee.
   
Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.
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This book is recommended for readers who love of any of the Rick Riordan books (Percy Jackson series, Kane Chronicles, etc), Harry Potter, or Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow. It's a rollicking fantasy adventure with enough action to keep you interested and enough mythological references to keep the brain engaged. We recommend this book to readers age 12 and up. 

We will meet at Foggy Pine Books on Sunday, May 27th at 6:30pm. Drinks & snacks will be provided. You can get your copy from the bookstore today for $10.99 but you'll always get a 15% discount on book club titles. You can also get the book in other formats from us online.

Digital Audiobook
Hardcover
Paperback
eBook
Audio CD

We like to include the Common Sense Media report for those of you that may not be familiar with the book and would like to know a little more about if before your kid comes to book club. You can view the report here but we've included the most important information for you below. 

​Recommended Age Range

What's In The Book?

See y'all next week!