Sponsored by Little, Brown Book for Young Readers.
George M. Johnson returns with a striking memoir that celebrates Black boyhood and brotherhood in all its glory. This is the story of George, Garrett, Rall, and Rasul — four children raised by Nanny, their fiercely devoted grandmother. The boys hold one another close through early brushes with racism, first loves and losses. With Nanny at their center, they are never broken.
“An intensely emotional, stunning read.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“There’s not a lot of current literature that explores stories of young, Black, gay men. This accessible and reflective memoir helps fill that gap.” —Booklist, starred review
Welcome to Check Your Shelf. The holiday weekend has completely thrown me off, so I’m perpetually in a state of panic about how much time I have to get stuff done this week. Honestly, this newsletter is about the only constant I have to help me figure out what day it is!
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
A Danbury, CT officer has been suspended for his remarks caught on body camera during a First Amendment audit at the local library.
The Indianapolis Public Library interim CEO talks about plans to rebuild relationships and trust.
After facing community backlash about its Pride Month Display, the Prairie du Chien (WI) Library has received dozens of donated LGBTQ+ books with more on the way.
The Library of Congress and NPR announce a National Book Festival podcast series.
Cool Library Updates
Nancy Pearl has received the National Book Foundation’s 2021 Literarian Award for Outstanding Service!
Full-time librarian Kristy Cooper has written and self-published a memoir called I Was a Stripper Librarian: From Cardigans to G-Strings. I would read the HELL out of this book!
Worth Reading
Librarians in Rhode Island are trying to dispel misconceptions about school librarians with the documentary Overdue: The Value of School Librarians.
The surprisingly big business of library ebooks.
Services for people impacted by incarceration.
Racism in the Dewey Decimal System.
Book Adaptations in the News
Yellow Bird: Oil, Murder, and a Woman’s Search for Justice in Indian Country by Sierra Crane Murdoch is being adapted as a TV series.
Taraji P. Henson and Gabrielle Union are adapting the graphic novel Sorcerority for film.
C.L. Polk’s Kingston Cycle is headed to TV.
Netflix is adapting D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
Casting update for the remake of Salem’s Lot.
Books & Authors in the News
Gillette, Wyoming residents continue to call for controversial books to be moved (or removed) from the library.
An Indianapolis woman calls for the banning of LGBTQ books at the West Perry Library in Indianapolis.
Teachers at Central York High School (PA) say that a recent list of banned books, movies, and other teaching materials has made them “afraid to teach.” “Let’s just call it what it is — every author on that list is a Black voice.”
Amanda Gorman is the new face of Estée Lauder.
Lessons to learn from the Kate Clanchy memoir fiasco.
Pop Cultured
I don’t know that this necessarily belongs under “Pop Culture,” but Elizabeth Holmes’s trial is set to begin, so you may get patrons asking for a copy of Bad Blood to refresh their memories about Holmes and Theranos.
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
LeVar Burton’s Reading Rainbow is being celebrated in a new documentary called Butterfly in the Sky.
How social media is reinventing the book club.
On the Riot
What are libraries doing for National Library Card Sign Up Month?
Do romance novels ruin relationships? (No. No they do not.)
Authors and parasocial relationships.
Virtual book clubs during the pandemic.
Is it the weekend yet? Are we in September? Where am I? I think I’ll see you on Tuesday.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.