Trade Review Roundup: Week of December 17

We are happy to share trade reviews for titles across all of our imprints this week. Click "Read More" to learn about the reviews, the books, and the authors.

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Publishers Weekly reviewed Pirate Chicken: All Hens on Deck by Brian Yanish, illus. by Jess Pauwels

An amusing spoof with an unstoppable feathered force at its center.

Read the full review online here.

Brian Yanish is a professional illustrator and author. He began his training drawing monsters in kindergarten in Western New York. He has worked for Jim Henson Productions in Los Angeles, trained as a special effects moldmaker, written and performed comedy, designed educational software, and sold his own line of T-shirts.  He currently lives in New York City where he runs the ScrapKins Recycled Arts program, designs for apparel, children's books, apps and continues his training drawing monsters. Visit him online at brianyanish.com.

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Jess Pauwels lives in Brussels, Belgium, so she can have the best french fries, the darkest chocolate, and the crunchiest Speculoos in the entire world. With her artist’s cap on eight months a year, she mostly draws for picture books and magazines. She loves caffeine, colored pencils, traveling, and documentaries about monkeys. Visit jesspauwels.be.

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Booklist reviewed The Last 8 by Laura Pohl

This debut is, at times, both joyful and heartbreaking ... Pohl's characters are tough, funny, and brave as they manage to persevere despite the debilitating weight of grief.

Read the full review ​in the January 1 and 15, 2019 issues of Booklist, and online on January 10, 2019.

Laura Pohl is a Brazilian writer who lives in São Paulo. She likes writing messages in caps lock, quoting Hamilton, and obsessing about Star Wars. When not taking pictures of her dog, she can be found discussing alien conspiracy theories. She has not crashed any cars or spaceships—yet. Visit her online at onlybylaura.com.

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Booklist reviewed The Following by Jeffry W. Johnston

A slow-burn thriller that veers in surprising directions, with a final twist no one will see coming

Read the full review ​in the January 1 and 15, 2019 issues of Booklist, and online on January 10, 2019.

Jeffry W. Johnston has published about thirty-five short stories and more than two hundred articles. His first young adult novel, Fragments, was an Edgar Award nominee for Best Young Adult Mystery and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers selection by YALSA.  He is also the author of The Truth. He lives in the Philadelphia area with his wife and their teenage son.  Visit him at jeffrywjohnston.com.

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