Happy Sunday! All this week we’ve been looking at upcoming new releases that I can’t wait to read (my poor TBR list lol) and now we’re down to the last two posts. We’ll finish up with nonfiction later today (including the book I’m MOST excited about!) but right now let’s look at Late 2022 Speculative & Youth Fiction New Releases (September-December). I usually group these together because they are smaller categories as far as the number of books I want to read.
Here is the schedule of posts we’ve done so far, in case you missed one!
Tuesday: Contemporary Fiction (non-Amish & non-mystery/suspense)
Wednesday: Historical Fiction (non-Amish & non-mystery/suspense)
Friday: Mystery/Suspense (non-Amish)
Saturday: Amish Fiction
TODAY: Speculative/Youth
TODAY: Non-Fiction – including the book I’m MOST EXCITED ABOUT this season!!!
In my continued quest to streamline these posts I’m only selecting the few that most caught my eye to spotlight here. I’ll also include links to ALL the September-December 2022 releases, each in their own list by month, not just the ones I’m featuring here on the blog. You can also keep up with 2022’s new books as I learn about them by bookmarking the ‘2022 Releases‘ page on my blog menu & checking it periodically!
I’m breaking down this list into three categories: Children’s, Young Adult, and Speculative just to more clearly define the genres represented here.
spotlight on titles i’m most giddy about
(click on book title to go to its goodreads page if available)
children’s books
EVERY HIDDEN THING
(High Water #2)
Tim Shoemaker
Focus on the Family / September 6, 2022
Parker Buckman loves his new home in Rockport, Massachusetts. But strange things have been happening ever since Devin Catsakis’ funeral. A series of break-ins have left everyone on edge, especially Parker’s new friend, Ella Houston. She lives with her grandma, and they depend on rental income from a cottage on their property. Bad online reviews about the “ghost” terrorizing rental homes in Rockport aren’t helping bookings. With the bottom dropping out on the rental market, Ella’s home is at risk. All Parker wants is to help Ella—which means finding some answers. What Parker really needs? To trust that God, the great revealer of secrets, is just and will take care of this in His perfect timing—even when it seems He’s taking way too long.
SOUNDING JOY
Ellie Holcomb
B&H Kids / September 20, 2022
What does joy sound like? Does it sound like falling snow, or a kiss on your cheek? Award-winning recording artist Ellie Holcomb explores this question through a delightful collection of Christmastime scenes, leading up to the discovery that joy sounds like the angels singing that Jesus had been born.
IF YOU LAUGH I’M STARTING THIS BOOK OVER
Chris Harris
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers / September 27, 2022
In this riotous read-aloud from the bestselling author of I’m Just No Good at Rhyming and The Alphabet’s Alphabet, the reader insists that listeners MUST. NOT. LAUGH—but the demand NOT to laugh leads to the absolutely irresistible temptation to do just that! Chock full of silly narrative twists, giggle-worthy character names, and ridiculously goofy illustrations by Serge Bloch, this interactive romp is sure to become a new storytime essential, whether you make it to the end or not!
GOING PLACES
Tonya Bolden
Quill Tree Books / October 4, 2022
As a mail carrier, Victor Hugo Green traveled across New Jersey every day. But with Jim Crow laws enforcing segregation since the late 1800s, traveling as a Black person in the US could be stressful, even dangerous. So in the 1930s, Victor created a guide–The Negro Motorist Green-Book–compiling information on where to go and what places to avoid so that Black travelers could have a safe and pleasant time. While the Green Book started out small, over the years it became an expansive, invaluable resource for Black people throughout the country–all in the hopes that one day such a guide would no longer be needed.
DREAM BIG FOR KIDS
Bob Goff & Lindsey Goff Viducich
Thomas Nelson / October 4, 2022
Bob Goff wants kids to know that their dreams matter! Dream Big for Kids invites readers on a journey of discovering what it means to dream big. From writing songs to climbing mountains to fighting sickness as a doctor or scientist, dreams don’t look the same for everyone. And they don’t become “big dreams” because they’re loud or popular. Dreams grow from the creative spirit and individual spark God put in each of us to make a difference, to build something new, and to help the world.
A BOOK, TOO, CAN BE A STAR
Charlotte Jones Voiklis & Jennifer Adams
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / October 4, 2022
When Madeleine L’Engle was very small, she often found herself awake at night, marveling at the stars. They guided her throughout her life, making her feel part of a big and exciting world, even when she felt alone. They made her want to ask big questions–Why are we here? What is my place in the universe?–and let her imagination take flight. Books, too, were like stars–asking questions and proposing answers. Books kept Madeleine company, and soon, she began to write and share her own. But would other people see the wonder she found in the world? Written by Madeleine’s granddaughter Charlotte Jones Voiklis and bestselling picture-book author Jennifer Adams, A Book, Too, Can Be a Star follows the life of one of the world’s greatest creators–and gives children encouragement to lead a creative, inquisitive life.
THE STORY OF WATER
Caroline Saunders
B&H Kids / October 4, 2022
In The Story of Water, Caroline Saunders takes the reader on a journey through the Old and New Testaments, highlighting several of water’s biggest moments. From the Creation to the Flood, from Jesus’s baptism to the calming of the stormy sea, the reader traces the theme of water to learn the bigger theme of Scripture: Our only rescue is found in Jesus Christ. He gives us Living Water that never runs out. With whimsical illustrations and lyrical prose, The Story of Water is sure to captivate young readers with its powerful visuals and a compelling, biblical storyline.
THE CONVICT’S CANAL
(Jane Austen Investigates #3)
Julia Golding
Lion Fiction / October 21, 2022
IF I WERE A TIGER
Caroline Coleman
WaterBrook / October 25, 2022
Meet Tim Bone. He has a big imagination, and when it roams wild, he’s afraid of a lot of things. He’s scared of the moon and the wailing typhoon, and he won’t wear his sneakers because he fears hidden creatures. Tim’s nervous at home, at school, and at play! Fed up with being frightened, Tim comes up with a bold solution: He’s going to become a tiger so he can be fiercer than his fears! There’s just one problem: If he’s a tiger, he can’t be Tim. Could there be a better solution? What if Tim puts his trust in God–who made both boys and tigers–instead?If I Were a Tiger invites kids of all ages to live in the comforting truth that no one has to carry their fears alone, and offers the reminder that God is only a prayer away.
THE CHRISTMAS BOOK FLOOD
Emily Kilgore
Farrar, Straus and Giroux / November 1, 2022
This lovely and lyrical picture book, based on a real Icelandic tradition, brings all the sparkle and anticipation of Christmas―and of the joys of reading―to the page. With gorgeous artwork and a diverse cast of characters, Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss’s The Christmas Book Flood is a surefire holiday classic.
THE LOST LIBRARY
Jess McGeachin
Viking Books for Young Readers / November 8, 2022
When Oliver finds a lost library book fluttering behind a secret door in his bedroom, he knows he must return it. But when he does, a mysterious world opens up beneath his feet, taking Oliver, his new friend Rosie, and the book in tow. What–or who–will they find waiting in this strange new place? And how will they escape? A beautiful, lyrical take on the imaginative power of books and the transformative power of friendship.
young adult
ENTRUSTED
(Knights of Brethren #6)
Jody Hedlund
Northern Lights Press / September 13, 2022
Hoping to minimize the death and destruction of the coming war, Princess Birgitta of Swaine leads the Dark Warriors as part of her brother King Canute’s efforts to take the throne of Norvegia. As she engages in a skirmish with a band of elite Knights of Brethren, she’s kidnapped by Kristoffer Prestegard, a cunning warrior. While searching for the holy lamp that can help defeat the Dark Warriors, Kristoffer realizes that Swaine has already seized the ancient relic. Since King Canute is fiercely protective of his sister, Kristoffer offers to return Princess Birgitta in exchange for the coveted holy lamp. While trying to keep his feisty prisoner from escaping, Kristoffer learns that his father and uncle have set in motion a scheme that would give him the kingship of Norvegia. Where will Kristoffer’s loyalties lie, and how will he choose sides without losing everything, including the princess he’s grown to love?
WISHTRESS
Nadine Brandes
Thomas Nelson / September 13, 2022
Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. It’s a big secret to keep. When a granted wish goes wrong, a curse is placed on her: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She needs to journey to the Well and break the curse before it claims her life–and before the king’s militairen track her down. But in order to survive the journey, she must harden her heart to keep herself from crying even a single tear. Bastiaan’s powerful–and rare–Talent came in handy when he kidnapped the old king. Now the new king has a job for him: find and capture the Wishtress and deliver her to the schloss. But Bastiaan needs a wish of his own. When he locates Myrthe, he agrees to take her to the Well in exchange for a wish. Once she’s fulfilled her end of the deal, he’ll turn her in. As long as his growing feelings for the girl with a stone heart don’t compromise his job.
A CROWN OF CHAINS
Erin Phillips
Ethereal Echo Press / October 25, 2022
Becoming queen is not the end of a fairytale; it is the beginning of a nightmare. When the queen is exiled, every beautiful young woman in Florencia is forced to become kingsmaids – royal concubines – but one lucky girl from those gathered will be chosen as queen. Or maybe not so lucky. Roxana Willows, a wingless fairy with the rare ability to read minds, has seen King Frederick’s cruelty in the stories her uncle tells, and fears that the only thing worse than being a kingsmaid is being the king’s wife. While her heart already belongs to another, she feels obligated to obey her uncle when he tells her to hide her heritage as a fairy in hopes of being chosen as queen. But becoming queen is the last thing Roxana wants, and it will cost her everything… A Crown of Chains is a fantasy retelling of the Biblical story of Queen Esther, with fresh twists based on the original context that is sure to thrill in this timeless tale of miracles in the midst of forgotten faith.
FORTRESS OF SNOW
(The Dericott Tales #4)
Melanie Dickerson
Thomas Nelson / December 6, 2022
When her father dies and her brother, Warin, abandons her, Mazy is forced to seek help from her beloved older brother Sir John, who is training knights at the great estate of Strachleigh. While there, she becomes friends with the kind and loyal Sir Berenger. Circumstances then force them apart: Berenger goes to Prague, while Mazy and her brother move to London. There, Mazy puts her knife-throwing skills to excellent use as she defends herself, and she learns to make breads to sell in the market to earn money. Her business is expanding when Berenger returns to London and they are reunited. Romance is just beginning to bloom when the king offers Berenger a new mission that also serves as a chance for a title: Berenger is to marry the recently widowed Lady Bristow and take over her estate. To Mazy’s dismay, Berenger agrees to go to Bristow Castle to visit her and make his decision. But Bristow Castle is hiding secrets, and the only person who might be able to save the knight in distress is the damsel Mazy herself.
speculative fiction (adult)
THE LADY’S TRIUMPH
(The Regent’s Devices #3)
Shelley Adina & R.E. Scott
Moonshell Books, Inc. / September 28, 2022
After their daring adventures behind enemy lines in France, Loveday Penhale and Celeste Blanchard cannot settle into everyday life at home. Has the Tinkering Prince forgotten them entirely? What of the prize he promised? Then, with the flourish of a royal messenger’s hand, their lives are changed. Not only have they won the prize, they are to join the Prince’s Own Engineers in London! They must overcome many a stone in the path, however—leave all they love, find a suitable house, and worst of all, cope with a chaperone—before they can take their rightful places among the most intelligent and forward-thinking minds in the kingdom. Their goal? To develop an airborne fleet that will end Napoleon’s dreams of conquering England forever. But the saboteur who has been plaguing their efforts for months has not yet been caught. And along with battling for acceptance among the engineers, tiptoeing closer to falling in love, and receiving invitations to Almack’s, they must discover the traitor’s identity … before the Prince Regent steps forward to command the fleet and finds himself playing right into Napoleon’s hands.
DREAM OF KINGS
Sharon Hinck
Enclave Publishing / October 11, 2022
In the glacial nation of Norgard, Jolan the dream teller serves every seeker, whether peasant or high lord. Though she loves using her gift, she struggles to navigate the corrupt and dangerous court and the jealousies of the Guildagard. When an old man’s nightmare imparts a dire warning, Jolan realizes her entire nation is in danger. But before she can sound the alarm, she is betrayed by the guilds and sold into slavery in a rival kingdom far to the south. As a slave in a foreign land, at first Jolan can’t see beyond her singular focus: return home to warn Norgard of the coming calamity. After facing new dangers, making new friends, and forgiving old wrongs, she must fulfill the purposes the Provider has set before her. Only then can she face a decision that could cost her the man she loves, her calling, and her freedom—all to save a people who abandoned her.
STAY WITH ME
(Waters of Time #3)
Jody Hedlund
Northern Lights Press / December 6, 2022
As a private investigator, Sybil Huxham has seen her fair share of strange occurrences. But nothing in her career has been more perplexing than the miracles she’s witnessed as a result of people drinking ancient holy water. When she discovers more of the rare holy water, she experiences strange overlaps with a nobleman in the Middle Ages who is languishing in a dungeon, accused of treason and condemned to die. To save his life, she finally crosses to the past completely. Nicholas Worth has never met a woman quite like Sybil, and as the two run for their lives into the Weald, they find refuge among a community of outlaws. With both their reputations on the line, they have little choice but to marry. As they get to know each other, an undeniable attraction develops. But danger and disease chase after them, drawing ever closer. Will they be able to escape the threats? And will Sybil choose to stay with Nicholas in the past, or will she be ripped apart from him forever?
But wait! There’s more!!!
there’s no way I could have included every Speculative & Youth Fiction release for September-December, so I’ve compiled all the new releases by each separate month in these Amazon lists.
add these to your wish list
What about you? Which Late 2022 Speculative & Youth Fiction New Releases are you most anxious to read? What makes you excited about these books?
If you don’t see your book mentioned here OR in my amazon lists, I apologize! It’s impossible to keep up with all the books LOL! Please feel free to leave your release info for Christian / clean Speculative & Youth fiction in the comments.
I am excited about Entrusted by Jody Hedlund and Wishtress by Nadine Brandes. I already have those in my ever-growing, never-ending TBR pile. But I didn’t realize that Jody Hedlund had another Waters of Time book coming out. Now I am super excited about that release coming up! I loved the previous two books and can’t wait for this one!
These all look interesting.