We are thrilled to announce that our own Jackson native, Taylor Kitchings, has written his debut middle-grade novel, to be published AUGUST 18 by Wendy Lamb Books/Random House in the U.S. and Canada.

Set in Jackson in 1964, Yard War tells the story of 12-year-old Trip Westbrook and the summer that football and a forbidden friendship changed everything in his town.

Pre-order your signed copy here or call 601.366.7619.

For interest in school visits, contact Clara Martin, Children’s Books Buyer and Manager at clara@lemuriabooks.com

Circus Mirandus wasn’t the kind of place you could navigate quickly. Magic was everywhere. The air smelled of grass and smoke and chocolate cake. Lights twinkled overhead like extra stars, and children crowded around groups of performers in exotic costumes. The music Micah had heard was still playing, the drums throbbing in time to Circus Mirandus’s pulse. He had to struggle not to lose himself in the wonder of it all.

Magic. Friendship. Adventure. A circus. Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley is all of these things, weaving magic into its pages, and the experience of reading this book fills the reader up; the reader must be careful not to lose himself in the wonder of it all.

10-year-old Micah’s Grandpa Ephraim has told him stories about a circus he went to once when he was young, tales that involve an invisible tiger, a flying woman, and most mysterious of all, the Man Who Bends Light. This is Circus Mirandus.

Micah has always thought Grandpa Ephraim’s storytelling about the circus was just that—entertaining and imaginative stories. Now that Grandpa Ephraim is sick, it seems that the Lightbender owes him a miracle from long ago, and Circus Mirandus does exist. All while avoiding his awful Great Aunt Gertrudis, who has a very staunch opinion that magic does not exist, it will take Micah a lot of determination, the help of a talking parrot by the name of Chintzy, and his brainy friend Jenny to find the circus and the man known as the Lightbender. Beasley is an enchanting storyteller and reminds readers what it is like to be a kid who believes in magic, who believes in stories. Circus Mirandus is both joyful and heart-breaking as it explores the true magic in this world—the lengths we’ll go for someone we love.

Micah Tuttle believes in magic. Do you?

For fans of Roald Dahl, Big Fish, or even adults who enjoyed reading Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, embark on one of the most magical reads this summer and pick up a signed copy of Circus Mirandus at Lemuria Books!

Ages 8-12

Circus Mirandus is the OZ First Editions Club selection for June.

With 9.8 million copies of her books in print, Sarah Dessen is the queen of YA fiction, and has been for a long time. Summer vacation has become ubiquitous with reading a Sarah Dessen novel.  Her first book, That Summer, was published in 1996. Nearly 20 years later, her latest YA novel, Saint Anything, is both classic Sarah Dessen and yet, something new and different—another direction that she is turning towards. Yes, like any good YA, there is a little bit of romance, but at its heart, Saint Anything is about a family trying to piece together their lives after the eldest son, Peyton, is incarcerated.

There are multiple layers to this story, and reading it feels like watching a chess game with many players moving forwards and backwards, and where the wrong move might prove fatal.

Saint Anything is told from Sydney’s point of view. She is trying to come to terms with the fact that her mother cannot seem to accept that her golden son did anything wrong. In the meantime, she attends a new school and makes new friends, but she’s not sure who she can trust with the story about her brother.

Darker than her previous novels, Saint Anything will keep you up at night (literally—you won’t want to put it down), but it also might be one of the most honest portrayals of people who don’t see the truth that is right in front of them, and how the people we love are flawed.

Beautifully written, Saint Anything may be Dessen’s most powerful YA novel yet. And truly, it’s not summer without a Sarah Dessen novel, so pick up a signed copy at Lemuria to start your summer reading.

We are so excited for Mississippi’s own children’s book author/illustrator, Sarah Frances Hardy, and her newest picture book, Dress Me! If you loved Paint Me!, this newest book will also captivate young audiences. To celebrate the release of Dress Me!, we will be having a DRESS UP PARTY at Lemuria on Monday, May 18, at 4 P.M. Stop by after school for snacks and a chance to dress up in your favorite costume! Some dress up ideas include: doctor, superhero, veterinarian, fireman, artist with a beret, fairy princesses, and more. All costumes welcome!

You can call Lemuria at 601.366.7619 to pre-order your copy today.