The Check-in!
MHHS Library Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue 1
NEW BOOKS!
The Last LaughBook 2 of 2: The Initial Insult In the dark and stunning sequel to The Initial Insult, award-winning author Mindy McGinnis concludes this suspenseful YA duology as long-held family secrets finally come to light . . . changing Amontillado forevermore. Tress Montor murdered Felicity Turnado—but she might not have to live with the guilt for long. With an infected arm held together by duct tape, the panther who clawed her open on the loose, and the whole town on the hunt for the lost homecoming queen, the odds are stacked against Tress. As her mind slides deeper into delirium, Tress is haunted by the growing sound of Felicity’s heartbeat pulsing from the “best friend” charm around her fevered neck. Call number: FIC McG Genre: YA Suspense, Thriller Reading level: 9-12 Length: 384 pages Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL) Audiobook: Sora (SDCL) Sora achievement: Fiction | Hometown VictoryA Coach's Story of Football, Fate, and Coming Home The Blindside meets Friday Night Lights in Keanon Lowe's Hometown Victory when an NFL coach returns home after losing a friend to coach a team of struggling high school kids on a 23-game losing streak. Keanon Lowe was working as an offensive analyst for the San Francisco 49ers when his childhood friend and former high school teammate suddenly died from an opioid overdose. Keanon dropped everything––including the plum NFL job he had been working towards since childhood––leading him to a position as football coach at a struggling high school back in his hometown. At the time, Parkrose High School was in the middle of a 23-game losing streak--they were the ultimate underdogs. Call number: 796.332 LOW Genre: Biography, Sports, Nonfiction Reading level: 11-12 Length: 240 pages Availability: MHHS Audiobook: Sora (SDCL) Sora achievement: Nonfiction, Biography | Kiss & TellA smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram. Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter is the only gay member of the band, and he just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend--leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all--and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens. Call number: FIC KHO Genre: YA LGBTQIA+ Fiction Reading level: 9-12 Length: 384 pages Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL) Audiobook: Sora (SDCL) Sora achievement: Fiction |
The Last Laugh
Book 2 of 2: The Initial Insult
In the dark and stunning sequel to The Initial Insult, award-winning author Mindy McGinnis concludes this suspenseful YA duology as long-held family secrets finally come to light . . . changing Amontillado forevermore.
Tress Montor murdered Felicity Turnado—but she might not have to live with the guilt for long. With an infected arm held together by duct tape, the panther who clawed her open on the loose, and the whole town on the hunt for the lost homecoming queen, the odds are stacked against Tress. As her mind slides deeper into delirium, Tress is haunted by the growing sound of Felicity’s heartbeat pulsing from the “best friend” charm around her fevered neck.
Call number: FIC McG
Genre: YA Suspense, Thriller
Reading level: 9-12
Length: 384 pages
Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL)
Audiobook: Sora (SDCL)
Sora achievement: Fiction
Hometown Victory
A Coach's Story of Football, Fate, and Coming Home
The Blindside meets Friday Night Lights in Keanon Lowe's Hometown Victory when an NFL coach returns home after losing a friend to coach a team of struggling high school kids on a 23-game losing streak.
Keanon Lowe was working as an offensive analyst for the San Francisco 49ers when his childhood friend and former high school teammate suddenly died from an opioid overdose. Keanon dropped everything––including the plum NFL job he had been working towards since childhood––leading him to a position as football coach at a struggling high school back in his hometown. At the time, Parkrose High School was in the middle of a 23-game losing streak--they were the ultimate underdogs.
Call number: 796.332 LOW
Genre: Biography, Sports, Nonfiction
Reading level: 11-12
Length: 240 pages
Availability: MHHS
Audiobook: Sora (SDCL)
Sora achievement: Nonfiction, Biography
Kiss & Tell
A smart, sexy YA novel about a boy band star, his first breakup, his first rebound, and what it means to be queer in the public eye, from award-winning author Adib Khorram.
Hunter never expected to be a boy band star, but, well, here he is. He and his band Kiss & Tell are on their first major tour of North America, playing arenas all over the United States and Canada (and getting covered by the gossipy press all over North America as well). Hunter is the only gay member of the band, and he just had a very painful breakup with his first boyfriend--leaked sexts, public heartbreak, and all--and now everyone expects him to play the perfect queer role model for teens.
Call number: FIC KHO
Genre: YA LGBTQIA+ Fiction
Reading level: 9-12
Length: 384 pages
Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL)
Audiobook: Sora (SDCL)
Sora achievement: Fiction
Murder for the Modern GirlGatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice. A ravishing young mind reader stalks the streets at night in kitten heels, prowling for men to murder. Call number: FIC KUL Genre: YA Mystery Reading level: 9-12 Length: 352 pages Availability: MHHS | Remarkably Bright CreaturesA charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Call number: FIC VAN Genre: Fiction Reading level: 11-12 Length: 368 pages Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL) Audiobook: Sora (SDCL) Sora achievement: Fiction | The Most Dazzling Girl in BerlinA fascinating historical novel about Hilde, an orphan who experiences Berlin on the cusp of World War II as she discovers her own voice and sexuality, ultimately finding a family when she gets a job at a gay cabaret. On her eighteenth birthday, Hilde leaves her orphanage in 1930s Berlin, and heads out into the world to discover her place in it. But finding a job is hard, at least until she stumbles into Café Lila, a vibrant cabaret full of expressive customers. Rosa, one of the club’s waitresses and performers, immediately takes Hilde under her wing. As the café denizens slowly embrace Hilde, and she embraces them in turn, she discovers her voice and her own blossoming feelings for Rosa. Call number: FIC WIL Genre: YA LGBTQIA+ Historical Fiction Reading level: 7-9 Length: 416 pages Availability: MHHS |
Murder for the Modern Girl
Gatsby-era glamour, a swoon-worthy love story, and an indomitable heroine dazzle in this romp that captures the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties and the dangers of vigilante justice.
A ravishing young mind reader stalks the streets at night in kitten heels, prowling for men to murder.
A soft-spoken genius toils away in the city morgue, desperate to unearth the science behind his gift for shapeshifting.
It’s a match made in 1928 Chicago, where gangsters run City Hall, jazz fills the air, and every good girl’s purse conceals a flask.
Call number: FIC KUL
Genre: YA Mystery
Reading level: 9-12
Length: 352 pages
Availability: MHHS
Remarkably Bright Creatures
A charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.
Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.
Call number: FIC VAN
Genre: Fiction
Reading level: 11-12
Length: 368 pages
Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL)
Audiobook: Sora (SDCL)
Sora achievement: Fiction
The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin
A fascinating historical novel about Hilde, an orphan who experiences Berlin on the cusp of World War II as she discovers her own voice and sexuality, ultimately finding a family when she gets a job at a gay cabaret.
On her eighteenth birthday, Hilde leaves her orphanage in 1930s Berlin, and heads out into the world to discover her place in it. But finding a job is hard, at least until she stumbles into Café Lila, a vibrant cabaret full of expressive customers. Rosa, one of the club’s waitresses and performers, immediately takes Hilde under her wing. As the café denizens slowly embrace Hilde, and she embraces them in turn, she discovers her voice and her own blossoming feelings for Rosa.
Call number: FIC WIL
Genre: YA LGBTQIA+ Historical Fiction
Reading level: 7-9
Length: 416 pages
Availability: MHHS
Murder Among FriendsHow Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime How did two teenagers brutally murder an innocent child...and why? And how did their brilliant lawyer save them from the death penalty in 1920s Chicago? In 1924, eighteen-year-old college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb made a decision: they would commit the perfect crime by kidnapping and murdering a child they both knew. But they made one crucial error: as they were disposing of the body of young Bobby Franks, whom they had bludgeoned to death, Nathan's eyeglasses fell from his jacket pocket. Call number: 364.152 FLE Genre: YA Nonfiction, True Crime Reading level: 7-9 Length: 368 pages Availability: MHHS | Ashes of GoldBook 2 of 2: Wings of Ebony In the heart-pounding conclusion to the Wings of Ebony duology, Rue makes her final stand to reclaim her people’s stolen magic. Rue has no memory of how she ended up locked in a basement prison without her magic or her allies. But she’s a girl from the East Row. And girls from the East Row don’t give up. Girls from the East Row pick themselves back up when they fall. Girls from the East Row break themselves out. Call number: FIC ELL Genre: YA Fantasy Reading level: 9-12 Length: 416 pages Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL) Sora achievements: Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy | The New GirlFrom the BookTok viral author of The Obsession comes a new YA thriller for fans of Gossip Girl and Euphoria. She's a liar. A cheater. A murderer. And it's only her first semester. Lia Setiawan has never really fit in. And when she wins a full ride to the prestigious Draycott Academy on a track scholarship, she's determined to make it work even though she's never felt more out of place. But on her first day there she witnesses a girl being forcefully carried away by campus security. Her new schoolmates and teachers seem unphased, but it leaves her unsure of what she's gotten herself into. Call number: FIC SUT Genre: YA Suspense, Thriller Reading level: 8-12 Length: 368 pages Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL) Sora achievement: Fiction |
Murder Among Friends
How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime
How did two teenagers brutally murder an innocent child...and why? And how did their brilliant lawyer save them from the death penalty in 1920s Chicago?
In 1924, eighteen-year-old college students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb made a decision: they would commit the perfect crime by kidnapping and murdering a child they both knew. But they made one crucial error: as they were disposing of the body of young Bobby Franks, whom they had bludgeoned to death, Nathan's eyeglasses fell from his jacket pocket.
Call number: 364.152 FLE
Genre: YA Nonfiction, True Crime
Reading level: 7-9
Length: 368 pages
Availability: MHHS
Ashes of Gold
Book 2 of 2: Wings of Ebony
In the heart-pounding conclusion to the Wings of Ebony duology, Rue makes her final stand to reclaim her people’s stolen magic.
Rue has no memory of how she ended up locked in a basement prison without her magic or her allies. But she’s a girl from the East Row. And girls from the East Row don’t give up. Girls from the East Row pick themselves back up when they fall. Girls from the East Row break themselves out.
Call number: FIC ELL
Genre: YA Fantasy
Reading level: 9-12
Length: 416 pages
Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL)
Sora achievements: Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy
The New Girl
From the BookTok viral author of The Obsession comes a new YA thriller for fans of Gossip Girl and Euphoria.
She's a liar. A cheater. A murderer. And it's only her first semester.
Lia Setiawan has never really fit in. And when she wins a full ride to the prestigious Draycott Academy on a track scholarship, she's determined to make it work even though she's never felt more out of place.
But on her first day there she witnesses a girl being forcefully carried away by campus security. Her new schoolmates and teachers seem unphased, but it leaves her unsure of what she's gotten herself into.
Call number: FIC SUT
Genre: YA Suspense, Thriller
Reading level: 8-12
Length: 368 pages
Availability: MHHS, Sora (SDCL)
Sora achievement: Fiction
MamoGRAPHIC NOVEL Cartoonist Sas Milledge makes her astonishing debut in her first original graphic novel that answers the question of how we all reconcile our responsibilities with our dreams for our own future. Orla O’Reilly, the youngest in a long line of hedge witches, is compelled to return home after the death of her grandmother, Mamo. In the wake of her Mamo’s passing, seas are impossible to fish, crops have soured, even Jo Manalo’s attic is taken over by a poltergeist! GRAPHIC NOVEL Call number: 741.5 MIL Genre: YA Graphic Novel Reading level: 4-6 Length: 224 pages Availability: MHHS | The Deep Blue BetweenTwin sisters Hassana and Husseina have always shared their lives. But after a raid on their village in 1892, the twins are torn apart. Taken in different directions, far from their home in rural West Africa, each sister finds freedom and a new start. Hassana settles in in the city of Accra, where she throws herself into working for political and social change. Husseina travels to Salvador, Brazil, where she becomes immersed in faith, worshipping spirits that bridge the motherland and the new world. Separated by an ocean, they forge new families, ward off dangers, and begin to truly know themselves. Call number: FIC ATT Genre: YA Historical Fiction Reading level: 7-12 Length: 256 pages Availability: MHHS | Little MonarchsGRAPHIC NOVEL This graphic novel adventure tells the story of 10-year-old Elvie and her crucial mission to save humanity from extinction after a sun shift has changed life on earth as we know it. It’s been fifty years since a sun shift wiped out nearly all mammal life across the earth. 10-year-old Elvie and her caretaker, Flora, a biologist, are the only two humans who can survive during daylight because Flora made an incredible discovery – a way to make an antidote to sun sickness using the scales from monarch butterfly wings. Unfortunately, it can only be made in small quantities and has a short shelf life. GRAPHIC NOVEL Call number: 741.5 CAS Genre: YA Graphic Novel Reading level: 4-7 Length: 256 pages Availability: MHHS |
Mamo
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Cartoonist Sas Milledge makes her astonishing debut in her first original graphic novel that answers the question of how we all reconcile our responsibilities with our dreams for our own future.
Orla O’Reilly, the youngest in a long line of hedge witches, is compelled to return home after the death of her grandmother, Mamo. In the wake of her Mamo’s passing, seas are impossible to fish, crops have soured, even Jo Manalo’s attic is taken over by a poltergeist!
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Call number: 741.5 MIL
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Reading level: 4-6
Length: 224 pages
Availability: MHHS
The Deep Blue Between
Twin sisters Hassana and Husseina have always shared their lives.
But after a raid on their village in 1892, the twins are torn apart. Taken in different directions, far from their home in rural West Africa, each sister finds freedom and a new start. Hassana settles in in the city of Accra, where she throws herself into working for political and social change. Husseina travels to Salvador, Brazil, where she becomes immersed in faith, worshipping spirits that bridge the motherland and the new world. Separated by an ocean, they forge new families, ward off dangers, and begin to truly know themselves.
Call number: FIC ATT
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Reading level: 7-12
Length: 256 pages
Availability: MHHS
Little Monarchs
GRAPHIC NOVEL
This graphic novel adventure tells the story of 10-year-old Elvie and her crucial mission to save humanity from extinction after a sun shift has changed life on earth as we know it.
It’s been fifty years since a sun shift wiped out nearly all mammal life across the earth. 10-year-old Elvie and her caretaker, Flora, a biologist, are the only two humans who can survive during daylight because Flora made an incredible discovery – a way to make an antidote to sun sickness using the scales from monarch butterfly wings. Unfortunately, it can only be made in small quantities and has a short shelf life.
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Call number: 741.5 CAS
Genre: YA Graphic Novel
Reading level: 4-7
Length: 256 pages
Availability: MHHS
What We HarvestA nightmarish debut guaranteed to keep you up through the night, about an idyllic small town poisoned by its past, and one girl who must fight the strange disease that's slowly claiming everyone she loves. Wren owes everything she has to her hometown, Hollow’s End, a centuries-old, picture-perfect slice of America. Tourists travel miles to marvel at its miracle crops, including the shimmering, iridescent wheat of Wren’s family’s farm. At least, they did. Until five months ago. That’s when the Quicksilver blight first surfaced, poisoning the farms of Hollow’s End one by one. Call number: FIC FRA Genre: YA Supernatural Horror Reading level: 7-9 Length: 336 pages Availability: MHHS |
What We Harvest
A nightmarish debut guaranteed to keep you up through the night, about an idyllic small town poisoned by its past, and one girl who must fight the strange disease that's slowly claiming everyone she loves.
Wren owes everything she has to her hometown, Hollow’s End, a centuries-old, picture-perfect slice of America. Tourists travel miles to marvel at its miracle crops, including the shimmering, iridescent wheat of Wren’s family’s farm. At least, they did. Until five months ago. That’s when the Quicksilver blight first surfaced, poisoning the farms of Hollow’s End one by one.
Call number: FIC FRA
Genre: YA Supernatural Horror
Reading level: 7-9
Length: 336 pages
Availability: MHHS
Essential Library Vocabulary
"availability" - where can I find this book? is it print or digital?
"MHHS" - Mission Hills High School, location means the book is available in print on campus
"Sora" - online eBook platform, go to soraapp.com to access
"Sora achievements" - reading books in Sora will earn you achievements; we will include what achievements you could earn by reading this title in Sora
"SMUSD" - San Marcos Unified School District (original library in Sora)
"SDCL" - San Diego County Library system (add this library to your Sora account for access)
"Serra" - Serra Library Cooperative (add this library to your Sora account for access)
"reading level" - reading levels are broken down by grade levels
"Lexile measure" - listed when available, from the Lexile Framework for Reading, lexiles measure of a text's readability - best used in conjunction with a student's Lexile reader measurement, visit www.lexile.com for more information
"genre" - what kind of book is it? fiction or nonfiction? YA or children's? fantasy or science fiction? biography or memoir?
"graphic novel" - a novel in comic-strip format
"sci-fi" - short for "science fiction"