Sponsored by Erewhon/Workman Publishing
In this debut novel from acclaimed author Cassandra Khaw, they bring their incredible imagination to the cold darkness of space. A former crew of exhausted and scarred criminals must come together for one last job: to infiltrate the ice-locked world of Dimmuborgir and rescue a former crewmate, left behind years ago. Except these women are not the only ones looking for her. The vicious, sentient AIs that run the galaxy are hunting her as well. It’s a race to the planet, and only the most brutal will come away with their prize.
Welcome to Check Your Shelf. We’ll get into library stuff, but first I have to say that the world got a lot less funny on Thursday when Jessica Walter passed away. My husband was so distraught by the news that he literally interrupted me mid-sentence while I was in the middle of a Zoom meeting for work, so my coworkers got to see my reaction in real-time as I went from talking about reopening plans to “OH MY GOD LUCILLE BLUTH DIED!!” I’ve watched a lot of Arrested Development and Archer during the pandemic, so Jessica Walter’s deadpan sense of humor has really helped me feel a little more sane over the last year. May we all live our lives according to the Tao of Lucille Bluth.
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
Amazon and the Big 5 are facing another lawsuit.
Literary agent Beth Phelan announces the creation of DiverseVoice, Inc., a nonprofit promoting authors and illustrators from underrepresented communities of books.
How books can address economic inequality.
The controversy surrounding translations of Amanda Gorman’s poetry sparks a discussion about the role of diversity in publishing translations. Also, who should translate Amanda Gorman’s work?
New & Upcoming Titles
Dav Pilkey and Scholastic have decided they will no longer publish The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung Fu Cavemen From the Future due to “harmful racial stereotypes and passively racist imagery.” Pilkey also plans to donate his advance and royalties from the series to multiple charities.
Ijeoma Oluo has a new book coming out.
Here’s a first look at Phoebe Robinson’s upcoming book, Please Don’t Sit on My Bed In Your Outside Clothes.
A children’s book about Dr. Fauci is set for June.
Sarah Moss has a new book in the works.
A new book by Laurence Leamer, Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song For an Era, looks at the later years of Truman Capote’s life and the socialite “swans” he befriended.
For the first time, a new edition of the Lord of the Rings will include Tolkien’s original artwork.
42 great books to read this spring, recommended by indie booksellers.
25 new spring releases for your TBR.
9 LGBTQ+ books to look forward to this spring.
17 of the best cookbooks for spring.
13 must-read books by Latinx authors in 2021.
5 new children’s books written by Latinos.
Weekly book picks from Bustle, Crime Reads, Good Morning America, LitHub, New York Times, and USA Today.
International crime fiction and debut crime novels for March.
April picks from Barnes & Noble (adults and children), Epic Reads, New York Times, and Oprah Daily.
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
Red Island House – Andrea Lea (USA Today, Washington Post)
Fire Keeper’s Daughter – Angeline Boulley (NPR)
Libertie – Kaitlyn Greenidge (New York Times)
RA/Genre Resources
“White people, black authors are not your medicine.”
A discussion of Indian science fiction and fantasy novels.
We need to translate more Armenian literature.
On the Riot
A beginner’s guide to SFF novelettes.
An introduction to the solarpunk genre.
5 books to get you started with Jhumpa Lahiri.
All Things Comics
Penguin Random House will be the new distributor for Marvel Comics.
Director Cary Fukunaga (True Detective Season 1, No Time to Die) is directing the upcoming adaptation of Tokyo Ghost.
On the Riot
10 of the best gay comic books.
9 sapphic graphic memoirs that highlight lesbian and bi women’s lives.
Your guide to BL manga.
A beginner’s guide to seinen manga.
Audiophilia
Mysteries in honor of Women’s History Month.
16 excellent new books that deserve to be listened to.
6 great audiobooks to listen to this month.
On the Riot
8 audiobooks for the Disability Readathon.
5 great audiobooks narrated by Soneela Nankani.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
11 delightful books for kids who love Elephant and Piggie.
36 books for kids about dealing with emotions.
10 of the best rivalries in YA books.
Adults
15 books to learn about the Asian American experience.
A reading list to celebrate Asian authors.
13 books to better understand anti-Asian racism.
7 books to understand the Arab Spring.
Stories of women who refused to give up the struggle.
15 amazing books about friendship.
10 novels about cults to keep you up at night.
5 books by Irish authors.
M/F romances featuring bi+ women whose queer identities and communities are front and center.
40 of runners’ favorite books right now.
15 books inspired by Shakespeare.
10 famous literary characters based on real people.
5 SFF genre-jumping masterpieces.
Read by the seaside with these 8 coastal stories.
Also: 7 of the best mystery novels set by the sea.
On the Riot
YA thrillers starring marginalized teens.
YA books about beauty pageants.
Teen girls of color in YA historical fiction.
A reading list for the 10-year anniversary of the Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster.
9 of the best fantasy maps in books.
The 10 best political thrillers to TBR.
35 authors every thriller reader should know.
1990’s-adjacent books to read after you’ve watched Moxie, My So-Called Life, or Felicity.
8 books for when you’re learning how to adult.
6 works of space horror.
“It was self-defense, but can you help me hide the body?”
The best romance novels featuring older couples.
Romance novels featuring aspiring and brainy women.
Books about lost cities and lost civilizations.
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen created a database of upcoming diverse books that anyone can edit, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word is doing the same, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
See you on Friday! May no more beloved celebrities pass away between now and then.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.