Sponsored by Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé with Fierce Reads
Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, in this blistering exploration of racism, identity, and privilege by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.
When Devon and Chiamaka are selected to be part of their elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. Shortly after the announcement, someone begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down. What seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Show your hand on 06.01.2021.
Welcome to Check Your Shelf. Is anyone else having a weird weather week? I looked out the window this afternoon to see sunshine and…snow showers. It’s supposed to be in the 70’s next week, so it’s not like we’re destined for a blizzard, but snow does not belong in April!! Do not @ me!
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
Despite protests from mask-wearing opponents, the library board of the East Bonner County Library District holds to their mask-wearing policy.
The Boston Public Library is eliminating late fines for all patrons.
An Idaho library trustee refuses to censor literature in the library, and he believes that this has cost him an endorsement from the county’s Republican Central Committee in the upcoming election.
Washington DC is offering free at-home COVID tests at 16 public libraries, where patrons can pick up and drop off their tests.
A wildfire burns down the Jagger Library at the University of Cape Town, which housed centuries worth of African antiquities.
Cool Library Updates
The San Diego Public Library publishes its first children’s book.
Worth Reading
Addressing the alarming systems of surveillance built by library vendors.
Legislation and book bans target teaching about social justice and racism in schools.
Libraries and pandemics: past and present.
I’m your local pandemic children’s librarian — how can I help?
Why librarians are natural-born detectives.
Book Adaptations in the News
Alice Feeney’s Rock Paper Scissors has been optioned for Netflix.
Natalie Portman is starring in an adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s novel, The Days of Abandonment.
Gabriel Bump’s Everywhere You Don’t Belong is being adapted for TV.
Kwana Jackson’s Real Men Knit has been optioned for TV.
Downton Abbey 2 is set to hit theaters in December, with the original cast starring.
Jane Smiley’s Perestroika in Paris is getting the film treatment.
Dakota Johnson is starring in a Netflix adaptation of Persuasion.
Jennifer E. Smith’s novel Field Notes on Love is being turned into a film for HBO Max.
Hugh Laurie is adapting Why Didn’t They Ask Evans by Agatha Christie.
Elizabeth Brundage’s All Things Cease to Appear is coming to Netflix at the end of the month.
Amazon’s Lord of the Rings series is set to cost $465 million for just the first season. (Think of how many second breakfasts that could buy!)
Renfield is getting his own Dracula spinoff film.
Casting update for Where the Crawdads Sing.
Trailers for The Underground Railroad and the final season of Shrill.
Miss the movies? Read the books.
14 sexy books being turned into movies soon.
Books & Authors in the News
In Nebraska, the book Something Happened In Our Town by Donald Moses and Marianne Celano is drawing criticism from parents in the Papillion La Vista school district.
Meanwhile, the book I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown has drawn criticism from a parent for being an 11th grade required reading title at Ely High School in Missouri.
(TW: sexual misconduct) Blake Bailey, the author of the recent Philip Roth biography, has been dropped by his literary agent over accusations of sexual assault made by some of Bailey’s former students.
Andrew Cuomo faces an inquiry over allegedly using state resources to promote his recent book.
Did George R.R. Martin offer a cryptic update on The Winds of Winter?
Award News
Here are the winners of the 2020 LA Times Book Prizes.
The winners of the 2021 Tolkien Society Awards have been announced.
Meet the winners of the 36th annual Whiting Awards.
The 2021 O. Henry Prize winners have been announced.
The 2021 Vivian finalists (formerly the RITAs) have been announced.
A look at the 2021 International Thriller Writer Awards nominees.
Here are the longlists for the Orwell Prize, Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards, and the Desmond Elliott Prize.
A group of sophisticated hackers scammed the Rathbones Folio committee into paying them the £30,000, which was meant to go to Valeria Luiselli.
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
Agatha Christie’s Wallingford home is on the market for £2.75 million.
“This is not an easy treasure hunt:” A puzzle book offers readers the chance to win a historical €750,000 golden casket.
Check out Fable, a new platform for online book clubs that allows users to join moderated clubs, or start their own.
Amazon adds a shockingly obvious Kindle feature to make book covers your lock screen.
On the Riot
Tales of a library unicorn: The Froot Loop Alliance of Library Alicorns.
Books with harmful depictions and shaping “the historical record.”
That time I probably should not have been reading.
The many origins of Sherlock Holmes.
Coffee table books: their origin, precursors, and rise to popularity.
I get my second vaccine today, so we’ll see how the weekend pans out. Fingers crossed for minimal side effects. Catch you all on Tuesday!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.