Sponsored by The Grey Sisters by Jo Treggiari
The Grey Sisters is a YA thriller that really drives home the old adage, “don’t go into the woods.” D, Spider and Min set off on a road trip to the mountainside site of a terrible plane crash, seeking closure. What they don’t expect to find is Ariel, a girl who has lived on the mountain her whole life in an isolated, survivalist community. This encounter has devastating—and shocking—consequences for all. Featuring multiple points of view and dizzying plot twists, The Grey Sisters is perfect for fans of YA thrillers like One of Us is Lying and Sadie.
Welcome to Check Your Shelf! This is your guide to help librarians like you up your game when it comes to doing your job (& rocking it).
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
- Connecting Banned Books Week with the Macmillan eBook embargo.
- A window was shot out at the San Jose State University Library. The suspect has been charged with attempted murder.
Cool Library Updates
- The Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh is testing out bookmarks that provide information and resources on sensitive topics from abusive relationships to bankruptcy to puberty so that patrons can privately find the information they need.
- Bringing the library to the gym.
- Or you could be like this Maine library and lend out sports equipment.
- Check out the Henrietta (NY) Public Library’s fresh Lizzo display with the bomb lighting!
- This tiny library was created from a recycled shipping container.
- There’s a Little Free Library in Mississippi that looks like a Tardis.
- Is that a dinosaur at the Denver Central Library? Nope, just a giant chicken skeleton.
Worth Reading
- Censorship goes beyond banned books.
- A new PEN America report condemns the proliferation of prison book bans.
- The invisibility of library labor.
- The librarian listened: helping children and caregivers handle mental health conditions. Plus a relevant book list.
- A look at self-directed programming.
- Take a look at this Sicilian library devoted to African immigrants.
- How to save a wet book.
Book Adaptations in the News
- Some people are talking about the possibility of a Princess Bride remake. Look, I’m not a super diehard Princess Bride fan, but seriously, do we really need to remake everything?
- John Mulaney is playing Henry David Thoreau on Apple TV+’s Dickinson. (*insert John Mulaney English major joke here*)
- A look at the adaptation of Caitlin Moran’s How to Build a Girl.
- V.E. Schwab’s The Archived series is set for the CW.
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid will be adapted as a series on the streaming platform Freeform.
- James Patterson’s novel Toys is getting the series treatment as well.
Books & Authors in the News
- The New York Times is facing some criticism over their coverage of the new nonfiction book, The Education of Brett Kavanaugh by reporters Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly. Here is the Time’s response, along with a report by the authors that was published in The Atlantic.
- The US Department of Justice is suing Edward Snowden for the profits from his recent memoir, Permanent Record.
- Thieves were reportedly after the manuscript for The Testaments.
- Oprah starts a new book club with Apple and selected The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates as its first title! Plus, if you purchase her book club selections via Apple Books, a contribution will be made to the American Library Association!
- Alex Gino talks about what it’s like to author the #1 most banned book in the country. (Side note, if you haven’t read George yet, you really should because it’s an absolute delight!)
Numbers & Trends
- Physical books still outsell eBooks – this article breaks down why.
Award News
- 2019 National Book Award longlists for Fiction and Nonfiction. You can view all of the longlists here.
- The National Book Foundation named its 5 Under 35 Authors.
- The Nelly Sachs prize was awarded to, and then withdrawn from, Kamila Shamsie over her support of an Israel boycott. Hundreds of authors have come to her defense.
- A video recording of Joy Harjo’s inaugural reading as US Poet Laureate at the Library of Congress.
Pop Cultured
- Aron Eisenberg, who played Nog on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, passed away at age 50.
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
- The owner of the Strand Bookstore in New York City is suing the city over the building’s landmark status.
- Merriam-Webster updated its definition of the word “they” to include it as a gender nonbinary pronoun.
- Book fairies are leaving banned books around Pittsburgh for strangers to find and read.
- This penguin intern at Penguin Random House had the busy on its first day at work!
- The London house that inspired Peter Pan is up for sale.
- Why some people become lifelong readers.
- Why this reader’s Goodreads challenge made them sad.
Thanks for hanging! See everyone on Tuesday! And don’t forget to enter our giveaway of the year’s 10 best mysteries & thrillers (so far)!
–Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently reading Mayhem by Sarah Pinborough.