THE VIOLET WEST
Fantasy Novels & Graphic Novels

@iammichaelrosen @ neal_layton @ candlewickpress @storygramtours   #HotFoodNice #storygramkids Michael thinks his dad knows everything. That is, until the fateful day when his family sits down to eat, and the potato is a bit hot. Michael knows to blow on the potato before eating. So why does his dad pop it straight into his mouth? Michael Rosen’s amusing retelling of the tale of his dad and the too-hot potato has become one of his most widely beloved poems. -any talking poin

GIVEAWAY LINK: Author-signed copy of THE ILLUMINATION: IZOL (USA and Canada) (ends Feb 9) https://gleam.io/sInEF/the-illumination-izol-by-mescal-book-tour-giveaway 4 Stars Very interesting one. At first, I thought the author was using anachronistic terms, but soon we realize this is a medieval background-inspired novel after a future that provided all the knowledge and technology. It has a great female lead, and the lore and mythology give us a refreshing take on usual trope

An affirming picture book that celebrates the brilliance and power of brown and Black boys to achieve their dreams, from poet and activist Leslé Honoré and #1  New York Times  bestselling illustrator Keturah A. Bobo. A companion title to  Brown Girl, Brown Girl , this timeless picture book encourages young readers to be expansive, emotional, brilliant—whoever they want to be.  #MyBrownBoyBook #storygramkids @littlebrownyoungreaders, @leslehonore, @keturahariel and @storygramt

Meet Helena' Bookish Gifts ☺️ "Hi, I’m Helena, the founder and creator behind Helena’s Bookish Gifts. I started this business from a genuine love of books and the comfort they bring to everyday life. Reading has always been my safe space, a way to slow down, escape, and feel understood, and I wanted to create something that celebrates that feeling. Helena’s Bookish Gifts was born from the idea that books are not just stories we read, but experiences we carry with us, and th

A poignant middle grade novel in verse about a Hmong girl losing and finding home in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. For fans of Jasmine Warga and Veera Hiranandani.  @PenguinKids @vtbidania  @storygramtours   #AYearWithoutHome #PenguinKidsPartner #storygramkids For eleven-year-old Gao Sheng, home is the lush, humid jungles and highlands of Laos. Home is where she can roll down the grassy hill with her younger siblings after her chores, walk to school, and pick ripe peaches

Genre:  Young Adult, Horror Publishing date:  January 13, 2026 Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  IndieBound Rep:  queer, LGBT+ Synopsis : Liam has been dead for ten months, haunting the house he used to share with his family, and facing intermittent and terrifying encounters with an eldritch entity called The Beast, who seems determined to consume his soul. Besides that complication in Liam’s new existence, he’s actually adjusted well enough to boredom. But all of t

Rather than centering on a single operation, Assassins  by Mike Bond unfolds as a chain of cause and consequence. The novel traces how intelligence work accumulates over time, shaping not only global outcomes but also the private lives of those tasked with carrying it out. Jack’s work as a CIA operative places him at the center of covert missions tied to global conflict and counterterrorism. Early assignments create personal loyalties that complicate later operations driven b

Welcome to an hilarious series of diverse kids trying to become the winning team and not fail PE class when they can't play the game. ❓️ Isn't this a fun cast of characters? I quickly sketched them. Without reading , which one looks like it will be your fav? 💙 Main character Joel 🩵 best friend Bermúdez 💜 nobody dares to ask Sandy 🧡 near-sighted Patrick ❤️ cheerful Laura 💚 Model Cocky Nick 💜 Emo/Goth Malory Review: 5 stars The form their own basketball team trying to not

Genre:  Young Adult Contemporary Publishing date:  January 6, 2026 Goodreads  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  IndieBound American Royals  meets  Gossip Girl  in this scandal-driven sequel where four teenage royals team up to defend their beloved school from an unknown threat, risking their futures and their hearts in the process. It’s been eight months since King Leander named Ashland’s heir apparent and a new year is about to begin at Almus Terra Academy… Sadie  is trapped

Giveaway: Author-signed copy of A QUIET KIND OF WRONG by Mary Frances Hill (one winner) (USA and Canada) (ends Feb 9) https://gleam.io/kVhDF/quiet-kind-of-wrong-a-novel-book-tour-giveaway One mistake. One secret. One family about to unravel. Jane Taylor seems to have it all—a loving husband, a successful career as a children’s book author, and a picture-perfect life in Orange County. But one terrible night, she hits her neighbor’s teenage son, panics, and drives away. The pol

Happy release week. Author: Sandra Freels Simon & Schuster (She Writes Press) Get book here From the publisher: Timed perfectly to publish just as New York celebrates its 400th birthday, a riveting story of a spirited young mother who faces the unknowns of seventeenth-century New Amsterdam after fleeing the Old World in search of a better life. It’s 1630, and Anneke Jans has just arrived in the fledgling colony of New Netherland with her husband, Roelof, and their two young d

Take a Look at Me Now  by Robert Crane begins at a point of disruption. The story traces how a family moves through a time when certainty fades and adjustment becomes necessary. Bubby Welter is fifteen when his world begins to unravel. His mother, Carrie, suffers a mental breakdown that reshapes their family life, leaving both of them isolated in ways they don’t know how to bridge. As Carrie retreats into her illness, the structure of their home begins to collapse. Left to na

Between Jan 5 and Jan 14 the ebooks are on sale for a limited time — and there’s also a chance to win a dinosaur model! Head to @‌dolphinbooks1986 for full details. Dolphin Books is running a 3-day Kindle Countdown Deal (January 5-7) and a single-winner Giveaway (January 5-14) for the two middle-grade Dinosaur Tales novels. Full campaign rules, the draw, and the winner announcement will be shared on @dolphinbooks1986 on Instagram . @dolphinbooks1986 @pnso.official ; #dinosau

About the book Basketball has never been so much fun! Meet the Super Hoopers, the most unusual basketball team you can imagine. Although the Super Hoopers are far from being the best team, their friendship and fun-filled adventures fill their novels. The Super Hoopers is a series about basketball with lots of humor, starring a group of nine-year-old boys and girls who go to the same school. You don't need to be a basketball expert to have the time of your life with Joel and h

She is a human lie detector... This is a romantic series, first rec of the year the book just arrived and I was supposed to recommend it in December, bit January is the Eve of February love, so let this one welcome you into a wonderful 2026. The recipe is from the book and you can read it better in my feed , posted next to this video for your convenience or check out my blog entry. ______ Clean, closed-door workplace romance with all the feels without the spice or explicit c

My review: 3.75 My review does not reflect the art of the cover or the interior. My favorite thing is the vibe of the world, and the fact that this MC is highly connected to nature with a magical system based on fungi with these amazing dormant titans. To save her village, she must wake the turtle, or bad things will happen. She goes on a journey to seek help. As a coming-of-age story, it sometimes feels like it's intended for younger readers (which can be a good book to read

My Review 4.5 Stars From the series Pirates of New Earth and my favorite, most recent volume, North Country comes a middle grade perfect to read with your kids while you read the adult series. This is a great short, easy-to-read Middle Grade adventure of two brothers (twins) who are growing up with their own personalities and preferences. When they are 10 years old, turning eleven, they start to notice that they have become quite distant from one another, and bullies at schoo

Happy Holidays , Will send my first 2026 newsletter first week. Will include a list of my fav indie books of 2025 and my top ten of 2025.

From the Publisher: Everyday moments become sacred altars where God meets you. Do you sometimes wish you could hear from God? Do you feel like you are too insignificant for Him to care about your daily battles with loneliness, grief, change and doubts? God talks to each of us - from the young husband and father who accidentally torched his home, to the claustrophobic pastor making her way through a historic tunnel in Israel, to the mystery author having a close call with a st