Sponsored by Algonquin Young Readers.
The Counterclockwise Heart is a layered, gripping story of the power of kindness, the danger of believing without questioning, and what we lose when we fear the Other. Stonewall Honor author Brian Farrey gathers classic fairytale elements like the brave prince, the arrogant mage, the mysterious prophecy, and the growing threat of war, and remixes them into a story that’s fresh and engaging (and lowkey terrifying.)
Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I have an obsessively labeled and organized collection of digital and scanned photos, and as I was adding some new photos taken over the last couple of years, I realized I have an obnoxiously large number of photos of my cats. I know spending the majority of the last two years at home accounts for some of this, but…let’s be real here…I think I have a problem.
Anyway, I don’t want to hoard all of these riches to myself, and a lot of the other editors have already shared photos of their pets, so all of you lovely subscribers who make it to the end of the newsletter will get to know Gilbert and Houdini very well!
Collection Development Corner
New & Upcoming Titles
Publishers Weekly announces its Spring 2022 adult picks. Brb, making sure all of my Baker & Taylor carts are updated.
Scholastic launches a new illustrated biography series.
Ali Hazelwood announces her next “STEMinist” romance novel, Love on the Brain.
Colson Whitehead confirmed on Twitter that Ray Carney, the main character from Harlem Shuffle, will return in 2023.
Here’s a first look at Kendare Blake’s upcoming Buffy novel.
William Shatner sold an essay collection, Boldly Go, which is set for Fall 2022.
The best books of 2021, according to book podcasters.
All of USA Today‘s 4-star reviews of 2021.
Weekly book picks from Bustle, Crime Reads, The Millions, New York Times, and USA Today.
January picks from Barnes & Noble, Crime Reads, Entertainment Weekly, Epic Reads (YA), Good Morning America, New York Times, Shondaland, Town & Country.
Most anticipated 2022 reads from Autostraddle, AV Club, Crime Reads, Epic Reads (YA fantasy), Gizmodo (SFF), LitHub (general, SFF), OprahDaily, PopSugar (mystery/thrillers, romance), Tor Nightfire (horror), USA Today, Vulture.
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
The School for Good Mothers – Jessamine Chan (Entertainment Weekly, OprahDaily, Washington Post)
Anthem – Noah Hawley (Esquire, New York Times, USA Today)
Fiona & Jane – Jean Chen Ho (LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post)
Olga Dies Dreaming – Xochitl Gonzalez (LA Times, Washington Post)
On the Riot
The best weekly releases to TBR.
15 must-read January children’s book releases.
The ultimate guide to new Winter 2022 YA books: January – March.
12 YA fantasy books to anticipate in 2022.
10 of the most exciting 2022 debuts to preorder now.
24 must-read 2022 books in translation.
2022 historical fiction to add to your reading list right now.
25 of the best book club books for 2022 reading.
In defense of recommending books you haven’t read yet.
In defense of the “fast burn romance.”
The coming out narrative: we deserve more.
Why are we obsessed with cult books? (FYI, not books about cults — books that have reached “cult status”)
Contemporary poets are demystifying the poetry genre.
Genres of literature popular in languages other than English.
All Things Comics
Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda will adapt the popular comic Maiko in Kyoto: From the Maiko House for a limited Netflix series.
Betty White’s life is being celebrated in a new biographical comic book.
On the Riot
YA comics and graphic novels coming out January – March 2022.
New Year’s resolutions for comic book readers.
The best completed manga series to read from start to finish.
14 of the best travel comics to help you escape winter.
The most popular manga for high school students.
Audiophilia
The audiobook market is expected to reach $19.39 billion by 2027. That’s…a lot of audiobooks.
The January 2022 Earphone Award winners have been announced.
4 audiobooks about starting over.
On the Riot
The value of listening to poetry on audio.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
Adults
8 genre-bending books by Asian American women.
8 unique picks for a book club ready to branch out.
18 fake-dating romance novels.
8 ghost stories in which the dead don’t go quietly.
21 sad books to read when you need a good cry.
20 books about the past and future of cities.
30 books about (and inspired by) Greek mythology.
8 novels about surviving in the wilderness.
On the Riot
10 indestructible books for babies.
Books to boost young readers’ cultural literacy.
15 YA books like From Blood and Ash.
Queer books from 2021 you might have missed.
Books about missing and murdered people of color that deserve more attention.
The 20 most influential romance novels of the last 100 years.
12 of the best romances with mutual pining.
13 skin-crawling body horror books.
9 books that celebrate librarians.
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.
You made it! And now, meet Houdini! He’s 4 years old, 12.5 pounds of solid cat bulk, and he loves head scritches. Head scritches make him smile and show off his toofs, like he’s doing here. He hopes you have a good rest of the week!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.