Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I’m counting down the days until Memorial Day weekend, a) because it means an extra day off, but b) also because that means we won’t have to worry about staffing the library on Sundays until Labor Day. We’re one of the few libraries left without Sunday summer hours, and while I imagine some of our patrons would appreciate us being open another day, it also means we have fewer staffing holes to fill for a few months, which is always appreciated.
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
HarperVoyager launches publishing’s first TikTok creator house.
Lerner Publishing and Thomson Reuters partner on children’s nonfiction books written by authors of color.
New & Upcoming Titles
Henry Winkler is working on a memoir for 2024.
Nicola Yoon will be publishing her first adult novel in 2024.
Jane Harper announces the final Aaron Falk book, to be published in the US in early 2023!! (Why final, though??)
Sarah Ferguson has announces a 22-book deal inspired by her own life. Yes, that number is correct.
A first look at Veronica Roth’s newest upcoming novel, Poster Girl.
Former America’s Next Top Model contestant Nyle DiMarco talks about his new memoir, Deaf Utopia.
Cale Dietrich reveals the cover for a new LGBTQ YA horror/slasher novel: The Pledge. WANT. I WANT THIS RIGHT NOW.
The 12 most addictive books of 2022 (so far).
9 new inspiring (and tea-spilling) celebrity memoirs.
Recent 4-star historical fiction novels to read right now.
15 must-read new books by AAPI authors.
50 great books by Canadian authors to read this spring.
Summer reading picks from Entertainment Weekly.
Weekly book picks from Crime Reads, The Millions, New York Times, and USA Today.
May picks from AV Club, Crime Reads (psychological thrillers), Good Morning America, Tor.com (horror/genre benders), and Vanity Fair.
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
The Lioness – Chris Bohjalian (LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post)
You Have a Friend in 10A: Stories – Maggie Shipstead (Electric Lit, Guardian, New York Times)
2 AM in Little America – Ken Kalfus (New York Times, Washington Post)
It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him – Justin Tinsley (LA Times, Washington Post)
On the Riot
8 recent diverse YA mysteries to add to your TBR.
10 speculative short story collections to read in 2022.
Book Riot’s most-anticipated summer reads!
Why the secret to a good review is kindness.
How book descriptions can ruin a good book.
Why K-Dramas are perfect for romance readers (and vice versa).
Elderly women are up to no good: loving old lady sleuths.
What is point of view in literature?
All Things Comics
Beloved superhero comic book artist George Pérez has died at 67.
Comic retailers rebuild and restock.
The best comics to read right now.
On the Riot
15 unmissable upcoming manga adaptations.
Middle grade graphic novels to lose yourself in.
Why graphic novels are great for learning history.
Why this reader won’t be reading any “manga-inspired” comics.
Audiophilia
On the Riot
11 of the best headphones for audiobooks.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
The best kids books for summer reading.
18 YA books about life-changing summers.
5 LGBTQ YA novels about plagues.
91 YA books that will take you on an adventure.
Adults
15 of the best mental health books.
A Paris reading list for your TBR.
8 books about women’s rage.
25 books to celebrate Asian Heritage Month in Canada.
30 books to read this AAPI Heritage Month.
More of the best books to read during AAPI Heritage Month.
The best books to read for Jewish American Heritage Month.
6 creepy books involving child care.
8 psychological thrillers set in New England.
8 thrilling books about mountaineering.
7 short story collections that feel psychedelic.
5 SFF books about warring families.
5 small books packed with big ideas.
8 nature books to change your life.
7 books inspired by the dictionary.
On the Riot
Blast off with these space books for babies.
8 swoon-worthy queer YA romcoms you’ll love.
20 must-read YA historical fiction novels.
8 books that expose the failings of the true crime genre.
All that glitters: books about fame, stardom, and Hollywood.
12 Latine SFF books you definitely need to read.
10 sign language books for beginners.
Fall in love with these 12 books like The Love Hypothesis.
11 books based in AAPI folklore.
14 must-read Chinese books in English translation.
10 works of queer and Two-Spirit Indigenous fiction.
20 must-read genre-blending historical fiction novels.
10 Pacific Islander and Pasifika authors you should know about.
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 has a guide to discovering upcoming diverse books, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word has created a database of upcoming diverse titles to nominate, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Penny makes another guest appearance in the newsletter! I drove up to my parents’ house this afternoon and actually got to see Penny out and about, which is unusual since she usually hides when new people come over. But this time, I got to pick her up and snuggle her (she loves perching on your shoulder while you walk her around like a baby), and after I left, my mom texted me this photo and said “Penny sits here when she’s waiting for us to come back from somewhere – I think she misses you!” Brb, on my way back to my parents’ house to kidnap their cat!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.