New Titles, Author Notes, Book Giveaways, and More
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Dear Readers,
...smart, strong, courageous and confident Devlin Quick in bestselling author Linda Fairstein's new mystery series for girls and boys, INTO THE LION'S DEN (The Devlin Quick Mysteries).
...Puck, a tough-talking heroine with nothing left to lose, who will con you, charm you, and keep you guessing in Kim Askew and Amy Helmes' PUCK (A Twisted Lit Novel).
Best,
Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp
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Ages 8 - 12 / Middle-Grade Fiction / Dial Books for Young Readers
Win a copy of INTO THE LION'S DEN by Linda Fairstein for your book club. Enter to win by emailing the publisher (write "KidsBookclubbing" in the subject line).
Dear Reader,
I am quite sure that if you are browsing books in a great bookstore or local library, there are volumes that inspired a lifelong love for reading from the time you were a child. For me, the series that made the greatest impact were the books about a young sleuth named Nancy Drew. Her adventures drew me in every time a new one appeared, and when I put each story down, I wanted to follow in her footsteps.
So I created a twelve-year-old New Yorker named Devlin Quick, who has a high spirit, a keen mind, a bunch of close friends, and a love for books and libraries.
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Photo credit: Katherine Marks
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I'm hoping that young readers will want to jump into the story with Dev and follow her as she introduces this new series, testing her mettle against a rare book thief at the iconic New York Public Library.
I had so much fun writing this book -- and am counting on you to help spread the word about Devlin Quick.
Thank you.
Linda Fairstein
Book reviews:
"This likable gumshoe follows the trail from the library lions on 42nd Street to Brooklyn Public Library's Central Building, and readers will be happy to go right along with her."
-Kirkus Reviews
"The action-packed, first-person story is full of informational tidbits on beloved authors (Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Jane Austen), cartographers, New York library history and much more. With a balanced mix of well-defined characters, engaging dialogue, cliffhanging chapters and unexpected scenes, this book is nothing less than one riveting read."
-BookPage
"A well-crafted and satisfying first volume in a new series. Ideal for bibliophiles and mystery fans alike."
Discussion questions:
- INTO THE LION'S DEN takes place in New York City. What role do you think the city plays in the development of the mystery? Do you think Devlin would have the same personality if she had grown up in a different city?
- One of the detectives in the story tells Devlin: "you must have a lot of your Mom's DNA." It's clear that Devlin's mother plays a big role in Devlin's life, as does her grandmother. How have each of these strong women impacted Devlin's life and goals?
- Author Linda Fairstein credits her writing career to her childhood devotion to Nancy Drew adventures. It's clear Devlin shares her admiration as well, when she says, "Do you think Nancy Drew let every little thing scare the daylights out of her?...Learn from the ladies who are masters of caper-solving." What are some of the similarities between Devlin Quick and Nancy Drew and what are some differences?
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Ages 14 - 18 / Young Adult / Doublet Press
Win a copy of PUCK by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes for your book club. Enter to win by emailing the publisher (write "KidsBookclubbing" in the subject line).
 Dear Reader,
What on earth does William Shakespeare have in common with a bunch of juvie misfits forced to attend a wilderness brat camp? More than you could ever know.
We've turned the Bard on his ear with our latest novel, PUCK, an unorthodox re-imagining of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
If you love Shakespeare (or even if you think you hate him) you'll fall for our modern-day YA twists on A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, THE TEMPEST, ROMEO AND JULIET, AND MACBETH.
All the best,
Kim and Amy
"I was captivated by this wholly original version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. From the moment you meet the fierce heroine, Puck, you root for her to vanquish her foes and discover her true identity on her journey across a perilous landscape. Askew and Helmes bring such wit and imagination to Shakespeare, it seems like the wildest of dreams."
-Andrea N. Richesin, editor of Crush and What I Would Tell Her
Discussion questions:
- How is setting important to this novel? Analyze specific settings and explain using specific examples of how they contribute to the overall theme/message of the novel.
- Examine the character of Puck. How does she change throughout the course of the novel?
- How does Puck overcome specific obstacles in the novel?
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A theme in the book is that of escaping your past/changing who you are. Where do we see examples of this? How does this theme develop throughout the book and how does it affect the outcome? Can you think of any other stories, poems, movies, or songs that have this same theme? Describe them.
- Identify another theme or central idea in the book. Where do we see examples of it? How does this theme develop throughout the book and how does it affect the outcome?
Author call-in information: Kim Askew and Amy Helmes are available to call-in, email or Skype with your group -- or visit if you are in the Southern California area. To arrange, please
contact the publisher
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- A maximum of 10 books is available for each book club giveaway.
- Contest entries are sent directly to the authors administering each contest. Our Privacy Policy does not apply to emails sent as contest entries. You must be 18 years or older to enter the contests.
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