Disney's STARGIRL Gets a Movie-Tie Edition + Giveaway

STARGIRL

Author: Jerry Spinelli
Release Date: March 3rd 2020
Publisher: Ember

Fans of Jerry Spinelli’s beloved New York Times bestselling novel STARGIRL will soon see the story come to life with the Disney+ film adaptation, releasing on March 13 and starring America’s Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal. To celebrate this exciting movie debut, Ember is publishing a movie tie-in edition of the book, which will feature cover art from the film and will be on sale March 3, retailing at $9.99. The story, still as timely as it was 20 years ago, focuses on friendship, first love, and being true to who you are, and was hailed by the New York Times as “a poetic allegorical tale about the magnificence and rarity of true nonconformity.” It’s time for a new generation of readers to meet Stargirl. . . .

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

With 2.5 million copies in print, and universal themes of bullying, fitting in, and peer pressure, STARGIRL continues to be widely embraced by readers, educators, and fans of all ages. And with the movie release, this poignant and unforgettable story is sure to resonate with a whole new generation of readers.

STARGIRL was a New York Times bestseller, a Publishers Weekly bestseller, and a Book Sense national bestseller, and was named a Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, an ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults, a Book Sense Book of the Year finalist, a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year, an ABC Best Books for Children Selection, a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, and a winner of the NAIBA Book Award for Children’s Literature.

---

Stargirl Move-tie Edition Giveaway:
• Must be 13 yrs or older to enter
• Must be a US resident
• Fill out Rafflecopter
* Giveaway is provided by Random House Children's Books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book News: E. Lockhart's Genuine Fraud To Be Published on September 5, 2017

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      

DELACORTE PRESS TO PUBLISH NEW YOUNG ADULT NOVEL FROM

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR E. LOCKHART

Genuine Fraud to be published on September 5, 2017

Deluxe Edition of We Were Liars to be published on May 23, 2017

New York, NY, January 12, 2017 – Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, has acquired and will publish a new YA novel from theNew York Times bestselling author of We Were Liars (2014), E. Lockhart. The deal for world rights was announced today by Beverly Horowitz, Senior Vice President, Publisher, Delacorte Press, and longtime Lockhart editor, negotiated with Lockhart’s agent, Elizabeth Kaplan of The Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency. Random House Children’s Books has already licensed rights in the United Kingdom to Hot Key Books and in Australia and New Zealand to Allen & Unwin; both will publish Genuine Fraud immediately following the U.S. publication. Genuine Fraud will carry a first printing of 250,000 copies and release on September 5, 2017.

Edgy and inventive, Genuine Fraud is an instantly memorable story of love, betrayal, and entangled relationships that are not what they seem. Lockhart introduces readers to the story of Imogen and Jule—Imogen, a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat; Jule, a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete. This is a novel about intense friendship, a disappearance, murder, bad romance, a girl who refuses to give people what they want from her, and a girl who refuses to be the person she once was. Who is genuine? And who is a fraud? You be the judge. Follow #GenuineFraud for conversation about the book.

“It is always cause for celebration when a new E. Lockhart book arrives,” says Horowitz. “With Genuine Fraud Lockhart brilliantly combines a unique structure with the raw emotions of fascinating characters into a subversive psychological suspense novel readers will be hard-pressed to put down—and will want to read again as soon as they finish.”

In May 2017, Delacorte Press will publish a special deluxe edition of Lockhart’s bestseller We Were Liars, originally published in 2014 and hailed as “haunting” (Wall Street Journal), “mindblowing” (MTV News), and “shocking” (Entertainment Weekly), now with more than half a million copies sold in all formats in North America and legions of fans around the world. The new keepsake edition will include 32 pages of exclusive content that shares never-before-seen letters written to the main character, Cady, by Gat; the original book proposal; the author’s drawings of Beechwood Island and the Sinclair family tree; an excerpt of Genuine Fraud; and more. The book will retail for $18.99 and will be available wherever books are sold on May 23. We Were Liars spent 50 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list (for both hardcover and ebook editions). Follow the latest discussions about the book using #WeWereLiars.

Both Genuine Fraud and We Were Liars: The Deluxe Edition are available to preorder now.

E. Lockhart is the author of the highly acclaimed New York Times international bestseller We Were Liars and the Ruby Oliver quartet (The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, The Treasure Map of Boys, and Real Live Boyfriends), as well as Fly on the Wall and Dramarama. Her novel The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks was a Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book, a finalist for the National Book Award, and winner of a Cybils Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Follow her on Twitter at @elockhart.

Random House Children’s Books (rhcbooks.com) is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Book News: Author Ann Brashares New Novel Expected April 2017

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       

DELACORTE PRESS TO PUBLISH THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER, NEW YA NOVEL FROM #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ANN BRASHARES OF THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS FAME

Novel has a 100,000-copy first printing and explores the themes of family, first love, loss, and forgiveness

Delacorte Press is pleased to announce the publication of THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER, a new YA novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares, on April 25, 2017, with a first printing of 100,000 copies. Brashares’ new novel centers on two dysfunctional families who alternate weeks in a family summer house on the East End of Long Island, and teenagers Sasha and Ray, who know each other only through their shared possessions and joint bedroom within the house’s well-worn walls. The book will be edited by Brashares’ longtime editor Wendy Loggia and was part of a three-book deal negotiated by Beverly Horowitz, Senior Vice President, Publisher, Delacorte Press and Jennifer Rudolph Walsh of William Morris Endeavor, on behalf of Ann Brashares. The novel has already been licensed in seven countries.

“No one does summer, relationships, and love better than Ann Brashares, and this book is Ann at her very best. Once you start reading, you’ll never want these characters or their stories to end. It’s a novel that feels as comfortable and special as a cherished pair of old jeans,” Loggia said. THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER will be published in conjunction with Alloy Entertainment and will retail for $18.99.

THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER tells the story of teenagers Sasha and Ray, who share three half-sisters and a bedroom in their beloved Wainscott beach house, where their families have alternated spending their summer weeks since the two were born. Sasha’s father and Ray’s mother used to be married and are parents to their sisters Emma, Quinn, and Mattie. But a bitter divorce has caused the pair to not be on speaking terms or able to be in the same room together, and as a result, Sasha and Ray have never met, only getting to know each other through the room they share and the belongings they leave behind. When they meet unexpectedly, they begin an unconventional love story that readers of all ages will be rooting for.

Filled with family, love, loss, and redemption, THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER is truly the perfect read for teenagers and adults who enjoy a layered, complex story set against the backdrop of a beautiful beach town. An unforgettable novel that shows the healing power of forgiveness, and what can happen when an unspeakable tragedy occurs, this book speaks to the importance of family—no matter how dysfunctional they may be.

Ann Brashares is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series (in which the first book, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants has been licensed in 39 countries), The Here and Now, 3 Willows, The Last Summer (of You & Me), and My Name Is Memory. She lives in New York City with her husband and their four children. Visit AnnBrashares.com and follow @AnnBrashares on Twitter.

Blog Tour: Beast by Brie Spangler + Pre-Order Campaign

---

Beast
Author: Brie Spangler
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genres: Humorous | GLBT | Contemporary
Release Date: October 11, 2016
Review Source: Random House Children's Books

BEAST is a witty, wise, and heart-wrenching novel that will appeal to fans of books by Rainbow Rowell and David Levithan.

Tall, meaty, muscle-bound, and hairier than most throw rugs, Dylan doesn't look like your average fifteen-year-old. Naturally, high school has not been kind to him. To make matters worse, on the day his school bans hats (his chosen camouflage), Dylan goes up on his roof, only to fall and wake up in the hospital with a broken leg, sentenced to group therapy for self-harmers.

Dylan vows to say nothing and zones out at group. That is until he meets Jamie. She's funny, smart, and so stunning, even his womanizing best friend JP would be jealous. She's also the first person to ever call Dylan out on his self-pitying and superficiality. As Jamie's humanity and wisdom begin to rub off on Dylan, they become more than just friends. But, there is something Dylan doesn't know about Jamie, something she shared with group the day he wasn't listening, something that shouldn't change a thing. She is who she's always been--an amazing photographer and devoted friend, who also happens to be transgender. But, will Dylan see it that way?

BEAST has been hailed by Kirkus as “a believable and beautiful human story.”

Beast follows the story of 15 year-old Dylan. He’s over 6 foot 5 inches, extremely hairy, and overall intimidating to look at. He’s had a lifelong struggle with his confidence and finding a girl who thinks he’s remotely attractive. Although, he has been able to avoid the bullying scene for the most part thanks to his popular best friend since early childhood, along with his genius. That, and his worrisome mother who spends her days reassuring him of his wonderfulness.

Pretty early in on his story, Dylan experiences a leg injury. Through discussion, he can’t discern if the injury was really an accident or self-perpetrated. He gets put into a therapy group for self-harmers. Only promises himself one session because he refuses to believe therapy may be something he actually needs. Through this session, he meets Jamie. A girl he can’t seem to wrap his mind around. He is completely enthralled. However, he learns some revolutionary news that may just change his whole outlook on her and his feelings toward her. I’m trying to avoid spoilers!

Overall, their relationship has many ups and downs and I had to remind myself these characters are only sophomores in high school. For the character’s age ranges, they are discussing very relevant, complex, and mature material. It’s is definitely interesting to read and try to understand Dylan’s inner dialogue.

Other conflicts in the book include Dylan’s relationship with his very much dead father, his closeness to his mother, and the realization that his friendship with JP may not be what he always thought it to be. There are different plots and relationships to follow and I feel there can be a situation for everyone to relate to.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly. However, Jamie and Dylan’s storyline had a lot of push-and-pull involved that could come to be a little exhausting at times. And Dylan could be hard character to love. As a reader, you are able to get a grip on each one of the characters and their personality so it does become hard to not love them and be empathetic for their struggle.

---

About the author:

After graduating from RISD, I was fortunate to work as a freelance illustrator for several years and built up a great client list. Grosset & Dunlap, Crayola, Stride Rite, Yearling, Dole and several others were wonderful to work with, but working with Knopf was truly awesome because it led to the publication of my two picture books, Peg Leg Peke and The Grumpy Dump Truck. I'm very proud of those two books.

Since taking time off to begin a family, I'm excited to be back in the field and ready to make new work. Represented by Mackenzie Brady of New Leaf Literary.

BEAST pre-order campaign is still GO! Send proof of purchase screenshot & enter to win cool prizes like a drawing of Dylan & Jamie from me! pic.twitter.com/aGTMJvKUKn

— Brie Spangler (@BrieSpangler) October 5, 2016

Book News: Delacorte Press to Publish New Novel from Jennifer E. Smith

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DELACORTE PRESS TO PUBLISH NEW NOVEL FROM JENNIFER E. SMITH, AUTHOR OF

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Windfall to release on May 2, 2017

New York, New York, September 14, 2016—Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, has acquired and will publish WINDFALL, a romantic and moving new novel about love, chance, and change from Jennifer E. Smith, the author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Random House Children’s Books has announced a first printing of 100,000 and acquired world rights from Jennifer Joel at ICM Partners. The deal was announced today by Beverly Horowitz, Senior Vice President, Publisher, Delacorte Press. The book will be edited by Kate Sullivan, Senior Editor, Delacorte Press, and the publication is scheduled for release on May 2, 2017.

In WINDFALL, Smith introduces readers to a teenage girl named Alice who doesn’t believe in luck—at least not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for the last few years, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday, Alice buys him a lottery ticket, and to their astonishment, he wins 145 million dollars. At first, it seems like a dream come true, especially since the two of them are no strangers to misfortune. Soon, though, the money begins to feel like more of a curse than a windfall, and as they deal with the ripple effects, Alice and Teddy learn that sometimes luck and love can intersect in unexpected ways.

“This is a story about love, but also about luck and fate and what exactly the world owes us,” says Smith. “If we’ve faced tragedy, does that mean we’re due something good? And if something amazing happens, are we destined to spend our lives waiting for the other shoe to drop?”

“We are absolutely overjoyed to welcome the uniquely talented Jennifer Smith to Delacorte Press with Windfall, a novel that instantly captured us, and one that we know will further establish her as one of the premier young adult writers today,” says Horowitz. “We are so eager to share Windfall with teens and adult readers, and for them to experience the magic we did with our first read.”

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of seven novels for young adults, including The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. She earned a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and spent years working as an editor on a number of bestselling books. Her work has been translated into thirty-three languages, and four of her novels are currently in development for film. She lives in New York City. Connect with her on Twitter via @JenESmith.

ABOUT RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, Kids @ Random (randomhousekids.com), offers an array of activities, games, and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Delacorte Press is an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Jumpstart & Random House Children's Books Launching Book Series - #SchoolofDragons

                   

JUMPSTART® PARTNERS WITH RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOKS TO LAUNCH BOOK SERIES BASED ON WILDLY POPULAR SCHOOL OF DRAGONS GAME

Educational Multi-Book Series Will Feature Content from School of Dragons –

Plus Digital Bonus Items to Redeem Within the Game!

TORRANCE, CALIF. (August 15, 2016) — JumpStart®, the leader in learning-based games for kids, today announced that it will release an educational book series tied to its massively multiplayer online game School of Dragons in partnership with Random House Children’s Books, the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. With more than 16 million players worldwide, School of Dragons is JumpStart’s wildly successful game based on DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon movie franchise. The book series will take readers on a journey with their favorite characters from How to Train Your Dragon—including Hiccup, Toothless, Snotlout, Astrid, and more—as they explore real-life scientific and historical concepts including inventions, storms, and volcanoes. Featuring educational STEM content best suited for children ages 7-10, the non-fiction book series will also offer readers free digital codes to redeem within the School of Dragons game. Full-color photos and lots of fun facts make these 80-page books perfect for helping young readers soar into the world of non-fiction. The first two books in the series - School of Dragons: Volcano Escape! and School of Dragons: Greatest Inventions – are set to launch on September 6th.

“As the School of Dragons brand continues to grow, we’re exploring new offline channels to engage our users and to reach new fans alike. We are so honored to be partnering with such an esteemed publisher to bring exciting new learning-based content to kids, while also adding a fun digital element to the book series,” said JumpStart CEO David Lord. “Not only will the books feature content from School of Dragons, each book will include exclusive digital codes that are redeemable for items including a Viking armor set, and a special dragon egg within the game – making each book a unique collectable for fans.”

With each book in the series readers will learn about a specific scientific concept - storms, inventions, and volcanoes. Each chapter will highlight different parts of these concepts in-depth, as readers learn, for example, what a volcano is, different types of eruptions, and take a look inside the earth.

“Random House Children’s Books couldn’t be more excited to partner with DreamWorks and JumpStart on such a unique and innovative non-fiction series for young readers,” said Vice President & Editor-in-Chief, Executive Director, Licensed Publishing, Random House / Golden Books Young Readers Group, Chris Angelilli. “The School of Dragonsbooks feature favorite characters from DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon films introducing fascinating historical and scientific information from JumpStart’s School of Dragons game. They are a perfect blend of entertainment and education.”

The first two books in the series will be available on September 6th for purchase in paperback or as an e-book for $7.99 each wherever books are sold. School of Dragons the game is available to download for free on iTunes®, Google Play™, Amazon®, Windows, Steam and online at http://www.schoolofdragons.com/.

ABOUT JUMPSTART

JumpStart® is the leader in learning-based games for kids. The reality is that kids today seek entertainment through gaming, yet the vast majority of kids’ games do absolutely nothing to inspire their minds through learning. JumpStart changes that paradigm and brings a learning edge through epically fun gameplay. Because of the company’s long history of excellence in providing learning-based products parents and families trust, world-renowned brands like DreamWorks Animation partner with JumpStart to develop various educational mobile and web-based games. To date, the company has released several critically-acclaimed titles, including Madagascar Preschool Surf N’ Slide™and School of Dragons®, the ever-popular educational massively multiplayer online role-playing game. A subsidiary of Knowledge Holdings, Inc., the company is privately held and based in Torrance, CA. For more information, visit www.JumpStart.com, like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JumpStart), or follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/JumpStart3D).

ABOUT RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, eBooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website(www.randomhousekids.com) offers an array of activities, games, and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company. Learn more about our imprints here.

SCHOOL OF DRAGONS #1: VOLCANO ESCAPE! | by KATHLEEN WEIDNER ZOEHFEL | 9781101933374 | 9/6/2016

SCHOOL OF DRAGONS #2: GREATEST INVENTIONS | BY NANCY CASTALDO | 9781101933404 | 9/6/2016

SCHOOL OF DRAGONS #3: STORM APPROACHING! | by KATHLEEN WEIDNER ZOEHFEL | 9781101933435 | 1/3/2017

Random House Books for Young Readers | Ages 7-10 | Paperback & E-book | $7.99

Blog Tour: Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten + Interview

Welcome to our blog stop tour for BEWARE THAT GIRL for Teresa Toten. 

This blog tour is hosted by Random House Children's Books.

---

Beware That Girl
Author: Teresa Toten
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Thriller
Release Date: May 31st 2016
Review Source: Delacorte Press

For fans of We Were Liars, The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, this powerful psychological thriller with multiple mysteries is set against the backdrop of the megawealthy elite of New York City. Toten delves into the mesmerizing yet dysfunctional world of those who manipulate but seem ever so charming. With its gripping pace and Hitchcockian twists, Beware That Girl will keep readers guessing until the very last line.

The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brian appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change that. She’s book smart. She’s street-smart. Oh, and she’s also a masterful liar.

As the scholarship student at the Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ladder and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.

When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives—becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. How close can Kate and Olivia get to Mark without having to share their dark pasts?

Interview

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your book?

Beware That Girl is my 11th book and it is very, very different from anything I’ve written before. Apparently I like to take risks and live in a state of high anxiety because no matter how complex the story line is, I don’t plot or outline any of my novels. It’s a blank page with a blinking curser that greets me every morning and I have no idea what I’m going to write until I write it. I’m completely dependent on my characters doing the heavy lifting and pushing their own plot. I usually have an opening scene that’s been rattling in my head for a couple of years (like the hospital scene in Beware That Girl) and then I discover what the story is page by page.

Without spoilers, were there any scenes you had to cut that you wished you could have kept?

Ha! Unlike like all of my writer friends and all the writers I admire—If I could, I’d write a novel in point form! Almost twenty years later, the most consistent editorial comments I get are some variation of: “Teresa, you’re going to have to flesh this out more.” I would LOVE to have enough material to cut, hone and mourn when it had to go.

What’s the most interesting/exciting thing you’ve done in the name of research?

It’s a tie. For my last book The Unlikely Hero of Room 13b I spoke to and sat in quite few different group therapy sessions for anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders. The young people I met in those sessions will stay with me forever. For Beware That Girl in my hunt for the perfect Upper East Side penthouse for my character Olivia to live in, I spoke to about half a dozen pretty fabulous doormen. Now I’m sure that with the tenants and anyone who goes into their buildings they’re the souls of discretion. But for a YA writer –WOW- did they have stories!! Those stories are going to live in me forever too.

What's your ideal environment for writing?

Since I don’t outline etc. my first draft is a messy, slow and torturous thing. It has to be at home in my little study on the second floor. Alone. I wander all around the house trying potential dialogue out loud and reciting narrative bits with the dog at my heels. I spend almost as much time wandering and reciting as I do writing so a laptop on the plane is just not possible for me.

Do you have any exciting upcoming projects you can tell us about?

I’m in that messy, slow tortuous part with my next novel. So far, it too is coming out pretty dark, a little twisted and kind of disturbing.

To which Hogwarts House do you belong?

Hmmmn . . .you know, I always pegged myself as a Ravenclaw kind of girl, but given what I’ve been writing the past few years, I’m wondering if I’m not Slytherin after all . . 

---

My earliest and most fervent ambition was to grow up and take my rightful place among the other mermaids. When cruel and insensitive adults crushed that dream by insisting that mermaids did not exist, I settled on the more mature aspiration of becoming an intergalactic astronaut. Then I realized that math would likely be involved. So, in the end, I went to Trinity College at the University of Toronto where I got a BA and then an MA in Political Economy taking great care not to take a single English or Creative Writing class. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was never ever going to be a writer. That would be silly, fanciful and well, unrealistic. And then I started to write...

What Does Beyonce and Her New Album 'Lemonade' Have to Do with a Book?

---

Many of us watched Beyonce on the television this past Sunday when she unveiled her new album "Lemonade". Now your probably wondering why I mentioned, that both Beyonce and the album were associated to a book. Well sort of, let me explain. If you watched Sunday night, then you saw when Beyonce sang her song 'Freedom' which featured Ballerina Michaela DePrince in the music video.

Now your probably wondering, who Michaela DePrince is right? Well let me tell you all about her and her memoir TAKING FLIGHT.

Not only is Michaela an amazing dancer but she wrote an extraordinary memoir TAKING FLIGHT (Ember Paperback/ On sale January 19, 2016 / Ages 12 up)—an inspiring story of a young girl who escaped war-torn Sierra Leone for the rarefied heights of American ballet.  Below is a description and praise for Michaela’s engaging, moving, and unforgettable memoir that she wrote with the help of her adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince.

TAKING FLIGHT 

(Ember Paperback/ On sale January 19, 2016 / Ages 12 up)

By Michaela and Elaine DePrince

Michaela DePrince was known as girl Number 27 at the orphanage, where she was abandoned at a young age and tormented as a “devil child” due to a condition that makes her skin appear spotted. But it was at the orphanage that Michaela would find a picture of a beautiful ballerina en pointe that would irrevocably change the course of her life.

At the age of four, Michaela was adopted by an American family, who encouraged her love of dancing and enrolled her in classes. The 2012 feature documentary First Position recorded Michaela’s journey as she became a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City and was awarded a scholarship to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of the American Ballet Theatre in 2010. Michaela has since appeared on Dancing with the Stars, Good Morning America, Nightline,the BBC, and more. The Huffington Post named her one of their “18 Under 18: HuffPost Teen’s List of the Most Amazing People of the Year” in 2012, and she was one of Newsweek/The Daily Beast’s “125 Women of Impact” the following year.

In this engaging, moving, and unforgettable memoir, Michaela, with the help of her adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince,shares her dramatic story from orphanhood in West Africa to becoming one of ballet’s most exciting rising stars.

MICHAELA DEPRINCE graduated from the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York and is a dancer with the Dutch National Ballet. She travels between Amsterdam and Atlanta, where she lives with her family. Visit her at michaeladeprince.com or follow her on Twitter at @michdeprince

“Readers will be moved by her grit and passion.”

—New York Times Book Review

“For every young dancer TAKING FLIGHT by ballerina Michaela DePrince and Elaine DePrince, is a must read.”

—Misty Copeland

“A story so inspiring you might want to become a ballerina yourself.”

—Teen Vogue

“So inspiring!”

—J-14 magazine

“Her dramatic journey from African orphan to one of ballet’s most exciting new stars will warm the heart of your friends who love inspiring real life success stories like The Blind Side.”

—Justine magazine

“There are moments that will leave you in tears – yet her inspiring story is one you’ll never forget.”

—Dance Spirit magazine, Pick of the Month

“Michaela’s ability to speak out about her tough childhood and the prejudices that she still faces today is fascinating. And what’s even more inspiring is she continues to encourage everyone to go after their dreams.”

—GirlsLife.com

“Powerfully poignant yet incredibly inspiring, TAKING FLIGHT may be earmarked for youth, but adult readers will benefit from and be equally moved by Deprince's eye-opening read.”

—Teenreads.com

« “The book’s strong thread is Michaela’s lifelong passion for ballet and her candid depiction of the physical and emotional struggles of becoming a black classical ballerina.

—Publishers Weekly, Starred

Random House YA Authors Dive Into The DC World!

---

Stop everything you're doing and pay extra attention... Are you ready? Positive?! Let's do this! This Thursday morning turned out to be pretty amazing. Last night I remember being on twitter and seeing Leigh Bardugo teased her fans about some exciting news coming along. Little did we know that this morning Random House would be dropping such an epic bomb on us. If you're a DC fan, do we have some news for you! Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment to publish official young adult novels featuring four iconic DC Comics Super Hero characters beginning in 2017. 

Excuse me while I freak out!!!

'Wonder Woman' will be written by Leigh Bardugo. 

 'Batman' will be written by Marie Lu.

 'Superman' will be written by Matt de la Peña.

'Catwoman' will be written by Sarah J. Maas.

Basically this equals all my fangirl dreams coming true and my worlds colliding in the most epic way. We are too excited for 2017! 

---

RANDOM HOUSE TO PUBLISH OFFICIAL

YA NOVELS BASED ON FOUR DC COMICS SUPER HERO ICONS, BY FOUR BESTSELLING AUTHORS

Wonder Woman™, Batman™, Catwoman™, and Superman™ novels to release beginning in 2017

New York, NY, March 31, 2016—Random House Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, has partnered with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Entertainment to publish official young adult novels featuring four iconic DC Comics Super Hero characters beginning in 2017. Wonder Woman will be written by Leigh Bardugo, Batman will be written by Marie Lu, Superman will be written by Matt de la Peña, and Catwoman will be written by Sarah J. Maas. The four-book deal for world rights was announced today by Mallory Loehr, Senior Vice President, Publisher of the Random House Books for Young Readers Group.

The deal was negotiated by Loehr, Michelle H. Nagler, Associate Publishing Director, Random House Children’s Books, and Dennis R. Shealy, Editorial Director of Licensed Publishing, Random House/Golden Books Young Readers Group. The books will be edited by Chelsea Eberly, Editor.

Each of the four YA novels will feature one DC Comics Super Hero icon, and will embrace themes of good vs. evil, coming-of-age romance, and Super Heroes from unexpected places who have the determination to achieve seemingly impossible dreams.

Wonder Woman will release at the end of August 2017, followed by Batman, Superman, and Catwoman.

This news comes on the heels of the recent publication of Wonder Woman at Super Hero High, the first book in the middle-grade book series by Lisa Yee, which introduces readers to female Super Heroes of the DC Comics universe during their high school years—prior to discovering their full super power potential.

“Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and Catwoman have been fan favorites for so long, and it is an incredible honor for us to now have this group of acclaimed young adult authors become part of the legacy—and we know there is a vast audience of teen and adult readers worldwide who will join in our excitement,” says Loehr.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

LEIGH BARDUGO is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling YA author of the Grisha trilogy (SHADOW AND BONE, SIEGE AND STORM, and RUIN AND RISING). Her new YA fantasy, SIX OF CROWS, was a New York Times Notable Book and an ALA-YALSA Top Ten Pick of 2016. The Grisha books have been sold in 30 territories, and the first trilogy is in development with DreamWorks for a book-to-film adaptation to be produced by David Heyman. Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she lives and writes in Hollywood, California. She is represented by Joanna Volpe of New Leaf Literary & Media.

MARIE LU is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling YA author of the Legend trilogy (LEGEND, PRODIGY, and CHAMPION). The Young Elites fantasy trilogy reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and Fox and Temple Hill have bought the film rights. The Legend trilogy has been sold in 24 territories. Born in 1984 in China, Marie’s family left Beijing for the United States in 1989. Marie was an art director in the video game industry but now writes full time. She lives in Los Angeles. She is represented by Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency.

MATT DE LA PEÑA is a New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal–winning author. He has penned six critically acclaimed YA novels, including MEXICAN WHITEBOY and THE LIVING, for which he received the Pura Belpré Author Honor Award. BALL DON’T LIE was named an ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Adults and an ALA-YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers and was developed into a motion picture in 2008 featuring Ludacris, Nick Cannon, and Emilie de Ravin. Matt’s picture book LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET was awarded a Newbery Medal, with illustrator Christian Robinson’s artwork being awarded a Caldecott Honor. Matt received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific, which he attended on a full basketball scholarship. Matt lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his family. He teaches creative writing and visits high schools and colleges throughout the country. He is represented by Steven Malk of Writers House.

SARAH J. MAAS is the New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling YA fantasy author of the Throne of Glass series (THRONE OF GLASS, CROWN OF MIDNIGHT, HEIR OF FIRE, QUEEN OF SHADOWS, and THE ASSASSIN’S BLADE) and the Court of Thorns and Roses series. She wrote the first incarnation of the Throne of Glass series when she was just sixteen. It has since sold in 30 territories, and QUEEN OF SHADOWS won the 2015 Goodreads Choice Award for Best YA Sci-fi/Fantasy. The Throne of Glass series is being developed for television by the Mark Gordon Company, and A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES is being developed for feature film by Tempo Productions and David Garrett’s Mister Smith Entertainment. A New York native, Sarah lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and dog. She graduated magna cum laude from Hamilton College in 2008 with a degree in creative writing and a minor in religious studies. She is represented by Tamar Rydzinski of the Laura Dail Literary Agency.

Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, ebooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

DC Entertainment, home of DC Comics (Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables), and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics in the world.