It’s cover reveal time! Today, we are revealing not one, not two, but THREE stunning covers. Get ready to stack that TBR!!

First up, we’re talking about Tochi Onyebuchi’s highly anticipated follow-up to WAR GIRLS. Are you ready for this?

Prepare your eyes for the jaw-dropping cover that is REBEL SISTERS!

REBEL SISTERS by Tochi Onyebuchi 

In the epic, action-packed sequel to the War Girls, the battles are over, but the fight for justice has just begun.

It’s been five years since the Biafran War ended. Ify is now nineteen and living where she’s always dreamed–the Space Colonies. She is a respected, high-ranking medical officer and has dedicated her life to helping refugees like herself rebuild in the Colonies.

Back in the still devastated Nigeria, Uzo, a young synth, is helping an aid worker, Xifeng, recover images and details of the war held in the technology of destroyed androids. Uzo, Xifeng, and the rest of their team are working to preserve memories of the many lives lost, despite the government’s best efforts to eradicate any signs that the war ever happened.

Though they are working toward common goals of helping those who suffered, Ify and Uzo are worlds apart. But when a mysterious virus breaks out among the children in the Space Colonies, their paths collide. Ify makes it her mission to figure out what’s causing the deadly disease. And doing so means going back to the corrupt homeland she thought she’d left behind forever.

We had some questions for Tochi about what to expect next. Read his Q&A below!

Q: Okay, firstly Tochi – give us a quick highlights package recap of everything that went down in War Girls?

A: Previously on War Girls, Onyii, a fifteen-year-old former child soldier, lives with her younger sister, Ify, in a camp of war orphans in 2172 Nigeria. Civil war rages around them, but they’ve managed to, with other girls like them, carve out some measure of peace. That peace is shattered when their camp is attacked, the two sisters separated and placed on opposite sides of the war. As the conflict rages, they hurtle back toward each other in a devastating and harrowing climax.

Q: What should readers know about where Onyii and Ify are heading into Rebel Sisters?

A: What should readers know about where Onyii and Ify are heading into Rebel Sisters? Well, Onyii’s memory lives on in surprising places. Ify, meanwhile, has convinced herself that she has successfully outrun her past. (Narrator’s voice: She hasn’t.)

Q: This book is clearly a story inspired by the events of the Nigerian civil war – your beautiful author’s note in War Girls speaks to that – have you heard from any Nigerian readers about this story means to them?

A: The younger Nigerian-American readers who have reached out have spoken about seeing their names or the names of their loved ones in a book like this and how it has prompted them to learn more about the conflict that our parents’ and grandparents’ generation lived through. I hope more Nigerian readers, particularly those on the African Continent, will have access to the book.

REBEL SISTERS hits shelves on October 20, 2020! Pre-order your copy here!

Next up is…

This Is How We Fly by Anna Meriano

This Is How We Fly is a loose retelling of Cinderella, about a high-school graduate who–after getting grounded for the whole summer–joins a local Quidditch league and finds her footing, perfect for fans of Dumplin’, Fangirl, and everyone who’s read and adored Harry Potter. Read an excerpt below!

I put my phone down, because whenever Xiumiao stops using Melissa’s name it means we’re entering the secret romance zone, where Melissa is not our best friend that we speak to and about normally, but instead the object of Xiumiao’s long and painful crush on a straight girl.

“Yeah?”

Xiumiao loses some of her nonchalance, stabbing her straw up and down in her cup. “I’ve been thinking that I need to get a little space.”

“Oh? That might be good.” Especially since Melissa’s been dating her current boyfriend for a while now. “You’ve got that vacation coming up, right?”

“That’s, like, a week. I’m talking about actual physical, mental, emotional space. A total disconnect. High school is over, and it’s time to move on.”

“But,” I stammer, surprised by the sharp edge in Xiumiao’s voice. “You’re not going to stop hanging out with us?”

Xiumiao’s face falls, but I can’t figure out why. She hides it quickly with an eye roll.. “That’s kind of exactly what I’m trying to say.”

“But . . . she’ll notice.” Xiumiao’s biggest fear in life, after her parents learning anything about her, is Melissa learning about her crush. And it’s probably not cool of me to use that against her, but I feel a tiny bit panicked. We’re about to be forced to get space. Why does she want to speed it along?

Xiumiao shrugs. “I’ll be really busy this summer,” she says. “Shadowing at the hospital, church stuff, camp. And we’re all going to be getting ready for college anyway.”

If by “getting ready for college” she means “desperately clinging to friends who are basically family before circumstances beyond our control separate us,” then yes, totally, we’re on the same page here.

But we’re not. Is she really ready to just move on?

“So am I supposed to lie about hanging out with you, or what?”

Xiumiao frowns and opens her mouth like she’s going to respond, but instead she just sips her tea. The silence stretches a little too long. “Like I said, I’m going to be busy.”

Wow. So maybe it’s not just Melissa who Xiumiao wants to move on from. We both turn back to our phones. Usually comfortable silence is our jam, but right now it feels ominous.

I suck up the last of my tea, leaving a lonely pile of gloopy tapioca. My summer plan was to spend all my time at Xiumiao’s and Melissa’s houses, avoiding Connie to avoid fighting. Is Melissa thinking the same thing Xiumiao is? Does everyone expect us to stop being friends now that high school is over?

While I pick at the hem of my borrowed T-shirt my phone buzzes. Melissa is tagging me in photos of empty graduation seats with sad-face emojis. Where are my friends? the caption reads.

I text her, My family is the worst, so Xiumiao and I ditched. Have fun.

Ugh, sorry, tell me about it later? And thanks, it’s actually really boring.

I smile, about to tell Xiumiao that she was right. But maybe she doesn’t want to hear anything about Melissa, or graduation.

Anyway, happy official start of summer! Melissa texts. You’re definitely coming to quidditch practice with me and Chris this week, right?

I text back  . . . which seems nicer than “I thought you were joking about that” or “Seriously?”

Melissa’s boyfriend Chris plays quidditch. Yeah, that quidditch. Melissa really wants to check out the real-life version of the Harry Potter game, but she’s already in marching band, so joining a nerdy outdoor activity isn’t as much of a stretch for her. It’s been a long time since I’ve willingly participated in any team sports.

You have to! Melissa texts. Quickly followed by, It’s our bonding activity for the summer! She sends an assortment of sports-ball emojis, plus a wizard in a pointy hat, making my phone ding with each text. I snort.

“What?” Xiumiao leans to see my screen, probably expecting a meme.

I tilt the screen. “Nothing,” I say, “It’s just from . . . Nothing.”

Xiumiao nods. “Thanks,” she says. “You can tell Nothing to enjoy graduation. But, uh, actually don’t say it from me.” Then she turns back to her phone with a determined nod.

She’s really going through with this. The tapioca rolls like marbles in my stomach.

I’m not one hundred percent sure how I feel about going to the park to pretend to cast spells, but I know that I don’t want to disconnect from everything this summer, and Melissa must not want to, either.

Fine. I’ll try it.

It’s not a solution to my fears about life after summer, but at least it’s something to do with my friend.

But, I mean, how are we supposed to fly?

This Is How We Fly hits shelves October 20, 2020! Pre-order your copy here!

Final covers of the day! Get ready to meet the Flyy Girls!

Meet the Flyy Girls. The group of girls who seem like they can get away with anything. Veteran author Ashley Woodfolk pens a gorgeous and dynamic series of four Harlem highschoolers, each facing a crossroads of friendship, family, and love.

FLYY GIRLS – Lux: The New Girl by Ashley Woodfolk

Lux Lawson is on a spree. Ever since her dad left, she’s been kicked out of every school that would take her, and this is her last chance: Harlem’s Augusta Savage School of the Arts. If this doesn’t work, Lux is off to military school, no questions asked. That means no more acting out, no more fights, and definitelyno boyfriends. Focus on her photography, and make nice friends. That’s the deal.

Enter the Flyy Girls, three students who have it all together. The type of girls Lux needs to be friends with to stay out of trouble. And after charming her way into the group, Lux feels she’s on the right track. But every group has their secrets, including Lux. And when the past starts catching up with her, can she keep her place as a Flyy Girl?

In this searing series opener, Lux takes center stage as she figures out just how hard it can be to start over.

FLYY GIRLS – Micah: The Good Girl by Ashley Woodfolk

Micah Dupree had always liked being the “good girl.” She was happy painting, going to church, and acing her school projects. After all, she had a perfect older brother to live up to. But when he unexpectedly dies, Micah’s world is turned upside-down. With her anxiety growing, a serious boyfriend in the picture, and new feelings emerging, Micah begins to question what being the “good girl” really means…and if it’s worth it, anyway.

Read a Q&A with author Ashley Woodfolk below!

Q: Tell us all about the Flyy Girls and especially Lux and Micah?!

A: The Flyy Girls are a group of friends (Lux, Micah, Noelle, and Tobyn) living in Mew York City who attend an arts high school in Harlem. They each are very different but all are focused on their families, friendships, and their art of choice. Lux is a photographer. She’s the new girl in town and she has a bit of a messy past she’s trying to leave behind. Micah is a visual artist and she’s grieving her brother’s death while considering taking a big next step with her boyfriend. 

Q: Lux and Micah are SO different from each other – which Flyy Girl are you more like?

A: I’m probably the most like Micah in that I always tried to be the “good girl” with…mixed results.

Q: You’re also featured in the anthology A Phoenix First Must Burn – what is easy to write contemporary or sci -fi & fantasy based fiction?

A: Neither are easy, but contemporary comes more naturally to me. I’m not great at world building so I don’t think genre fiction will ever be my thing. I have huge respect for people who do it well though, and I love to read it.

FLYY GIRLS Lux: The New Girl and FLYY GIRLS Micah: The Good Girl hit shelves September 1, 2020! Pre-order your copies here!

Have you heard? We revealed the cover for Sabaa Tahir’s A SKY BEYOND THE STORM! Here are the four things we noticed in the cover…