Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Wishful Endings, in which we have the opportunity to let others know about books that we are eagerly waiting for
Bee

The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away
by Ronald L. Smith
Published on February 19th 2019
by Clarion Books
Genres: Middle Grade, Horror
Goodreads
Also by this author: Hoodoo, The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away
In this delightfully creepy novel from Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award winner Ronald L. Smith, twelve-year-old Simon thinks he was abducted by aliens. But is it real, or just his over-active imagination? Perfect for fans of Mary Downing Hahn and Louis Sachar.
Twelve-year-old Simon is obsessed with aliens. The ones who take people and do experiments. When he's too worried about them to sleep, he listens to the owls hoot outside. Owls that have the same eyes as aliens—dark and foreboding.
Then something strange happens on a camping trip, and Simon begins to suspect he’s been abducted. But is it real, or just the overactive imagination of a kid who loves fantasy and role-playing games and is the target of bullies and his father’s scorn?
Even readers who don’t believe in UFOs will relate to the universal kid feeling of not being taken seriously by adults that deepens this deliciously scary tale.
Why I’m Waiting: I love Middle Grade books and occasionally I do love creepy, scary books and this one just sounds fantastic! Also that cover is gorgeous and I want to hang it on my wall like a poster.
Liza

Our Stories, Our Voices
by Amy Reed
Published on August 14th 2018
by Simon Pulse
Genres: Anthologies, Nonfiction
Goodreads
From Amy Reed, Ellen Hopkins, Amber Smith, Sandhya Menon, and more of your favorite YA authors comes an anthology of essays that explore the diverse experiences of injustice, empowerment, and growing up female in America.
This collection of twenty-one essays from major YA authors—including award-winning and bestselling writers—touches on a powerful range of topics related to growing up female in today’s America, and the intersection with race, religion, and ethnicity. Sure to inspire hope and solidarity to anyone who reads it, Our Stories, Our Voices belongs on every young woman’s shelf.
This anthology features essays from Martha Brockenbrough, Jaye Robin Brown, Sona Charaipotra, Brandy Colbert, Somaiya Daud, Christine Day, Alexandra Duncan, Ilene Wong (I.W.) Gregorio, Maurene Goo. Ellen Hopkins, Stephanie Kuehnert, Nina LaCour, Anna-Marie McLemore, Sandhya Menon, Hannah Moskowitz, Julie Murphy, Aisha Saeed, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Amber Smith, and Tracy Walker.
Why I’m Waiting: Because it’s a current topic and it creates awareness and tolerance among young adults of diversity.
Leah

For a Muse of Fire
by Heidi Heilig
Series: For a Muse of Fire #1
Published on September 25th 2018
by Greenwillow Books
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Goodreads
Also by this author: The Girl From Everywhere
A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader.
The first book in a new trilogy from the acclaimed Heidi Heilig blends traditional storytelling with ephemera for a lush, page-turning tale of escape and rebellion. For a Muse of Fire will captivate fans of Sabaa Tahir, Leigh Bardugo, and Renée Ahdieh.
Jetta’s family is famed as the most talented troupe of shadow players in the land. With Jetta behind the scrim, their puppets seem to move without string or stick—a trade secret, they say. In truth, Jetta can see the souls of the recently departed and bind them to the puppets with her blood. But the old ways are forbidden ever since the colonial army conquered their country, so Jetta must never show, never tell. Her skill and fame are her family’s way to earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan, where shadow plays are the latest rage, and where rumor has it the Mad King has a spring that cures his ills. Because seeing spirits is not the only thing that plagues Jetta. But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined—and safety will never seem so far away.
Heidi Heilig creates a vivid, rich world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism. Her characters are equally complex and nuanced, including the bipolar heroine. Told from Jetta’s first-person point-of-view, as well as chapters written as play scripts and ephemera such as telegrams and letters, For a Muse of Fire is an engrossing journey that weaves magic, simmering romance, and the deep bonds of family with the high stakes of epic adventure.
Why I’m Waiting: The premise sounds so epic, and that cover is a wonder!
What are you waiting for this week?

- {Bee Mini-Reviews} THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES by C.G. Drews - April 8, 2019
- FairyLoot February UnBoxing – All The BATB Things - March 22, 2019
- The Return of Bee (part 2) ~ What I’ve Been Reading - March 15, 2019
Great picks, this is actually the first time I heard about all these books and they all looks and sounds absolutely fantastic and amazing. I hope you enjoy them when you get the chance to read them. Thank you so much for stopping by my CWW last week.
Twitter: Alyssa Susanna
All of these are new to me! I feel so out of touch with 2018 YA releases, especially non-sequels. LE SIGH. Happy reading, everyone!
Have a wonderful weekend. =)
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Twitter: tracyrussell
Okay, these all sound fantastic! The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away is GORGEOUS! I seriously might pick it up for that cover alone!
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
I know, right? It’s so gorgeous I want it on my wall.
The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away looks so freaking good! I’ve been meaning to read his debut novel (Hoodoo). Hopefully I can get to both this year.
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
DOESN’T IT THOUGH? That cover is so delicious.
I don’t usually read MG, but I love the cover and the title for the Owls one! A Muse of Fire also has a beautiful cover and sounds interesting!
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
I hope you give it a try when it’s out Kristen! And I hope you’ll enjoy it when you do.
All your picks are great. I am obsessed with owls though so that one definitely caught my attention 🙂
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
Haha, yay!
All three of your picks sound amazing and that owl cover is fabulous!
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
Right? I can’t stop staring at it.
Twitter: Joann Downie
I am looking forward to Lost For Words by Stephanie Butland, I hope you like your book!!
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
I haven’t heard of that one, but I’ll look it up!
Great picks!! Is it bad I just want The Owls Have Come To Take Us Away for the cover? I mean, the story sounds amazing as well but that cover… ♥
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
I know, right? The cover is so gorgeous, I can’t stop staring.
So many amazing titles here! I enjoy a good middle grade every once in awhile myself. I had no idea that Heidi Heilig has a new series in the works. It sounds really interesting. Thanks for sharing these. 🙂
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
Aww yay! I can always give you recs if you need some!
Twitter: Glenn Reiss
A middle grade horror.. That has my interest! I will have to get that I think! Good pick!
Mary my Can’t Wait Wednesday
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
I know, right? I love me some good horror every now and then and a middle grade horror just makes it that much better.
Twitter: Sara M Slattery
These are all great picks! I don’t read much MG but I love the sounds of that one. I do have For a Muse of Fire on my list too and am so happy about the anthology. Thanks for sharing!
For a muse of fire looks really good.
Twitter: Jenea whittington
These are some great finds. I especially like the sounds of The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away.
Looks like it will be a long wait for you to get these books! I have no patience waiting for books!
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
Me neither so it will be torture for sure.
These all sound so wonderful! I totally understand why you would want to hang the owl’s cover up on your wall! It’s so creepy and atmospheric!
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
I know! It took me a while before I saw the alien face in it and that made it that much more awesome!
Twitter: Faith Young
All of these sound really good! I didn’t even realize that Heidi Heilig was releasing a new book this year *happy dance* 🙂