The end of May means that the school year is drawing to a close, and it’s time to get excited about summer reading options! Mysterious Galaxy celebrates on Tuesday, May 25, at 7:00 PM, with our Summer Reading Gala. Young Adult Program Coordinator Suzanne Dupree will be the hostess, and local young adult fantasy author Cindy Pon will emcee our great panel of four tween and teen authors. Cindy will not only perform in the role of Barbara Walters for the evening, but will also be available to sign copies of Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia.
Author Richard Harland was born in England, moved to Autrralia, earned a Ph.D. with a thesis on the theory of the origin of language, and wrote a number of novels for adults and young adults that were published in the U.K., and has won the Australian Auralis Award twice. Now his works come to U.S. readers with Worldshaker, his steampunk/Victoriana fantasy, in the tradition of Philip Pullman and Jonathan Stroud. Col Porpetine lives a cozy life on the juggernaut Worldshaker, a mobile city as big as a mountain. Ruled by Queen Victoria the Second and commanded by Sir Mormus Porpentine, it moves on rollers over land and across sea. Then Col meets a young girl who turns his life upside down.
Fortunately for readers, local author Barrie Summy so does do quirky tween mysteries featuring middle-school student Sherry (Sherlock) Holmes Baldwin, and the ghost of her cop mom, in the “I So Don’t Do …” Series. The Phoenix native first was drawn into the world of supernatural sleuthing while visiting San Diego in I So Don’t Do Mysteries. Since then she has assisted her mom, stepmom, and (also deceased) grandmother in I So Don’t Do Spooky, and in I So Don’t Do Makeup, she is working on a real world mystery, trying to discover who tampered with the makeup she and her friends applied at a sleepover.
Acclaimed young adult fantasy author Megan Whalen Turner continues her epic saga with A Conspiracy of Kings, the fourth installment in what Publishers Weekly calls an “absorbing political drama.” Sophos, once known as Useless the Younger in earlier volumes, is now the reluctant heir to the throne of Sounis. While he would rather concentrate on poetry than politics, his agenda is disrupted when he is kidnapped and sold into slavery – now he much choose between living as a ruler in a position he doesn’t want, or remaining in obscurity. Established fans of The Thief, The King of Attolia and The Queen of Attolia, and readers new to the world will welcome the chance to visit with Megan.
San Diego author Greg Van Eekhout has a nice selection of award-nominated short stories to his name, as well as last year’s adult science fantasy novel, Norse Code, which is a Locus Magazine nominee for Best First Novel. What kid wouldn’t love the chance to spend the summer with his great-uncle at a beach town, helping out at Professor Griswald’s Museum of the Strange and Curious? Any kid who appreciates regular food, modern technology, and neighborhood kids who don’t look … well … fishy. But that’s the scenario young Thatcher finds himself in in Kid vs. Squid, Greg’s new middle-reader adventure. We believe MG is far enough from the ocean that Greg will not feed any attending kids to squid at the event, but we make no guarantees.
And Hostess Suzanne will not only be on hand to assist attendees in finding great summer reads, but also have materials on hand to share about how interested kids and parents can connect their local teachers and librarians with visiting authors for appearances at schools and libraries.
