New Releases by Julie Anne Peters

In the wake of her death, Alix discovers her girlfriend led a double life in this twisty novel from the author of National Book Award finalist Luna . "Peters has written another insightful, absorbing novel of relationships that is both emotionally and intellectually satisfying. . . . This will have widespread appeal to both gay and straight readers and is another strong offering from a well-established, popular author." — Booklist When Alix''s charismatic girlfriend, Swanee, dies from sudden cardiac arrest, Alix is overcome with despair. As she searches Swanee''s room for mementos of their relationship, she finds Swanee''s cell phone, pinging with dozens of texts sent from a mysterious contact, L.T. The most recent text reads: "Please tell me what I did. Please, Swan. Te amo. I love you." Shocked and betrayed, Alix learns that Swanee has been leading a double life—secretly dating a girl named Liana the entire time she''s been with Alix. Alix texts Liana from Swanee''s phone, pretending to be Swanee in order to gather information before finally meeting face-to-face to break the news. Brought together by Swanee''s lies, Alix and Liana become closer than they thought possible. But Alix is still hiding the truth from Liana. Alix knows what it feels like to be lied to—but will coming clean to Liana mean losing her, too? In this compelling novel about relationships, trust, romance, and loss, Julie Anne Peters once again explores the complexities of modern teen relationships. "This book tenderly explores themes of loss and forgiveness... . . . Peters capably addresses teen LGBT relationships without making them the story''s sole preoccupation."― Publishers Weekly "In Peters''s newest offering, questions of love and honesty abound... . . . This book does not focus on sexuality, and it''s a pleasure to read a typical teen romance that just happens to be between two girls." — School Library Journal

The bond between best friends is put to the test as they compete for spelling bee glory in this novel from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. Best friends Kimberly and Ann both have a dream to make it to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Eighth grade is the last year they can qualify, so they are practicing day and night. But when Ann is assigned to sponsor new student Lurlene Brueggemeyer, who turns out to be an amazing speller, suddenly her relationship with Kimberly and her chances of winning the competition are put to the test. If the three girls end up competing against each other for the prize, that can spell only one thing: t-r-o-u-b-l-e.

In this funny and heartfelt novel from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters, planning an alternative prom might not be as simple as it seems—especially when secret crushes are involved. When Azure''s principal gives her the chance to turn the school''s traditional (and boring) senior prom into an event that will appeal to everyone, not just the jocks and cheerleaders, she jumps at the opportunity. Soon Azure manages to convince her best friends, Luke and Radhika, to join the prom committee as well. Facing heavy opposition and admittedly clueless about prom logistics, the three friends are nonetheless determined to succeed—if Luke''s and Azure''s secret crushes on Radhika don''t push the committee members, and their friendships, to the breaking point first. Told in two voices and filled with comical missed connections, It''s Our Prom (So Deal With It) explores the ups and downs of planning an alternative prom—while dealing with an unrequited crush on your best friend—and shines with Peters''s unmistakable wit and insight.

A poignant novel about queer identity from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. Mike (real name: Mary Elizabeth) is gay and likes to pump iron, play softball, and fix plumbing. In addition to her identity, Mike is struggling to come to terms with her father''s suicide and her mother''s detachment from the family. When a glamorous new girl, Xanadu, arrives in Mike''s small Kansas town, Mike falls in love at first sight. Xanadu is everything Mike is not: cool, confident, feminine, sexy...and straight. Originally published under the title Far From Xanadu, this heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful novel will speak to anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone who can''t love them back.

A novel about coming out, finding love, and discovering your place in the world from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa thought she knew who she was. She had her family and her best friends and, most important, she had Sarah. Sarah, her girlfriend, with whom she dreamed with about the day they could move far away and live out and proud and accepted for themselves, instead of having to hide their relationship. Alyssa never thought she would have to make that move by herself, but disowned by her father and cut off from everyone she loves, she is forced to move hundreds of miles away to live with Carly, the biological mother she barely knows, in a town where everyone immediately dismisses her as "Carly''s girl." As Alyssa struggles to forget her past and come to terms with her future, will she be able to build a new life for herself and believe in love again? Or will she be forced to relive the mistakes that have cost her everything and everyone she cared about? Told in Peters''s thoughtful, compelling prose, Alyssa''s story will speak to anyone who has known the joy and pain of first love and the struggle to start over again.

The Snob Squad turns to detective work to catch a school thief in this continuation of the beloved series from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. There''s a thief at MontroseMiddle School. Teachers are reporting money mysteriously missing from their desks. Who''s responsible? Could it be Ashley Krupps, the principal''s spoiled daughter? She''s been spotted recently at the mall splurging on trendy clothes. Or is it Max, who shows up at school one day sporting expensive basketball shoes? Maybe it''s Kevin, Jenny''s new boyfriend. He''s unexpectedly begun to lavish her with extravagant gifts. The Snob Squad is on the case and their suspicions stop at no one—not even each other.

A significant book about one girl''s struggle with suicide, from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. Daelyn is fifteen years old, and in her mind she is a failure. She tried slitting her wrists, and she was rescued. She tried swallowing chemicals, and after burning through her esophagus enough to lose the ability to speak, she was rescued. But this time will be different. As readers see Daelyn''s touching friendship with a quirky seventeen-year-old boy develop and her newfound willingness to share all of the pain she has held inside of her, they may just see a glimmer of hope. Will Daelyn see it though? Raw and heartfelt, this is an inside look into the mind of a teen who has lost the will to fight and the parents that will do anything they can to help her survive. Still, there are some things that even loving parents can''t protect you from—yourself. Please note that due to the sensitive nature of the material in this book, we will be providing back matter from key experts. We hope that this book will help to open a dialogue about this increasingly prevalent issue.

Another funny and heartfelt story starring the misfits of the Snob Squad, from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. In this touching, wryly humorous sequel to Revenge of the Snob Squad, readers are reunited with sixth-grade misfits Jenny, Max, Prairie, and Lydia as they cook up an outrageous plan to ignite a romance between Prairie and the object of her affection, Hugh Torkerson (otherwise known as "Tork the Dork"). A science lab rat, a set of embarrassing glamour photos, and a mysteriously disappearing notebook all play a part in this scheme, but the results may attract more attention than the Snob Squad planned.

A novel about friendship and finding your place from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. When the relay race teams are chosen in gym class, it''s clear that one team doesn''t have a chance of winning: Jenny is more interested in eating candy than running around a track; Prairie has a bad leg; Lydia is a complete klutz; and Max is, well, Max. But together, they proudly dub themselves the "Snob Squad" and vow revenge on their arch enemies, the Neon Nikes, headed by the principal''s spoiled daughter, Ashley Krupps. As the Snob Squad members band together to thwart the Neon Nikes, they realize that their greatest weapon might not be as out of reach as they think.

An enthralling short story collection that delves into the lives and loves of queer teenage girls, by National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. In this honest, emotionally captivating short story collection, renowned author and National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters offers a stunning portrayal of young women as they navigate the hurdles of relationships and sexual identity. From the young lesbian taking her first steps toward coming out to the two strangers who lock eyes across a crowded train, from the transgender teen longing for a sense of self to the girl whose abusive father has turned her to stone, Peters is the master of creating characters whose own vulnerability resonates with readers and stays with them long after the last page is turned. Grl2grl shows the rawness of teenage emotion as young girls become women and begin to discover the intricacies of love, dating, and sexuality.

A girl thought to be a boy steals her sister''s skirt, while a boy thought to be a girl refuses to wear a cornflower blue dress. One boy''s love of a soldier leads to the death of a stranger. The present takes a bittersweet journey into the past when a man revisits the summer school where he had "an accidental romance." And a forgotten mother writes a poignant letter to the teenage daughter she hasn''t seen for fourteen years. Poised between the past and the future are the stories of now. In nontraditional narratives, short stories, and brief graphics, tales of anticipation and regret, eagerness and confusion present distinctively modern views of love, sexuality, and gender identification. Together, they reflect the vibrant possibilities available for young people learning to love others—and themselves—in today''s multifaceted and quickly changing world.

A National Book Award Finalist offers an intense portrait of an abusive relationship. Johanna is steadfast, patient, reliable; the go-to girl, the one everyone can count on. But always being there for others can’t give Johanna everything she needs—it can’t give her Reeve Hartt. Reeve is fierce, beautiful, wounded, elusive; a flame that draws Johanna’s fluttering moth. Johanna is determined to get her, against all advice, and to help her, against all reason. But love isn’t always reasonable, right? In the precarious place where attraction and need collide, a teenager experiences the dark side of a first love, and struggles to find her way into a new light.

What you see isn''t always what you get in this funny and heart-wrenching story about two girls from different crowds who find common ground, by National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. Antonia is a "nerd," and Jazz is a "punk." Antonia belongs to the math club; Jazz hangs out at the tattoo parlor. Antonia''s parents are divorced and her mother suffers from depression. Jazz is from a wealthy, traditional family. But when these two very different girls find themselves facing each other in a peer-counseling program, they discover they have some surprising things in common. With both humor and heart, this absorbing read will keep readers thinking and laughing.

A groundbreaking novel about a transgender teen, selected as a National Book Award Finalist. Regan''s brother Liam can''t stand the person he is during the day. Like the moon from whom Liam has chosen his female name, his true self, Luna, only reveals herself at night. In the secrecy of his basement bedroom, Liam transforms into the beautiful girl he longs to be, with help from his sister''s clothes and makeup. Now, everything is about to change: Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. But are Liam''s family and friends ready to welcome Luna into their lives? Compelling and thought-provoking, this is an unforgettable novel about a transgender teen''s struggle for self-identity and acceptance.

In this fresh, poignant novel, Mike is struggling to come to terms with her father''s suicide and her mother''s detachment from the family. Mike (real name: Mary Elizabeth) is gay and likes to pump iron, play softball, and fix plumbing. When a glamorous new girl, Xanadu, arrives in Mike''s small Kansas town, Mike falls in love at first sight. Xanadu is everything Mike is not -- cool, confident, feminine, sexy.... straight. Julie Anne Peters has written a heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful novel that will speak to anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone who can''t love them back.

A heartfelt family story from National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters. Nick has a three-legged dog named Lucky, some pet fish, and two moms who think he''s the greatest kid ever. And he happens to think he has the greatest moms ever, but everything changes when his birth mom and her wife, Jo, start to have marital problems. Suddenly, Nick is in the middle, and instead of having two moms to turn to for advice, he has no one. Nick''s emotional struggle to redefine his relationships with his parents will remind readers that a family''s love can survive even the most difficult times.

A National Book Award finalist presents a YA love story between two teen girls—and how one of them copes with bullying and rejection when she comes out. An ALA Stonewall Award Honor BookA Lambda Literary Award FinalistA New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age Selection With a steady boyfriend, the position of Student Council President, and a chance to go to an Ivy League college, high school life is just fine for Holland Jaeger. At least, it seems to be. But when Cece Goddard comes to school, everything changes. Cece and Holland have undeniable feelings for each other, but how will others react to their developing relationship? This moving love story is for fans of Nancy Garden''s classic young adult coming out novel, Annie on My Mind. With her characteristic humor and breezy style, Peters has captured the compelling emotions of young love. "These are likable young women; readers will warm to their situation and cheer Holland''s breaking free." — The Bulletin "Holland''s experiences will inform readers who are also discovering their sexual identity. Gay or straight, they''ll identify with the excitement that accompanies that first love affair." — Kirkus Reviews "Captivating. . . . Not just a gay love story, this book transcends barriers, allowing readers of all persuasions to revel in its universal truths. . . . Anyone who has ever fallen in love will recognize themselves." — VOYA

Chloe must choose between her beliefs against animal testing and her new boyfriend who thinks that she is going overboard.