Author: Emily Martin

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Today In Books

Toni Morrison Short Story to be Published Next Month: Today in Books

Tobias Menzies Starring in Apple Series Manhunt, Based on the Book by James Swanson

Crown Emmy winner Tobia Menzies will be starring in the Apple series adaptation of Manhunt, which explores the assassination of former President Abraham Lincoln. Swanson’s book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer follows Lincoln’s war secretary and friend Edwin Stanton (played by Menzies in the series). Stanton was nearly driven to madness in his quest to catch assassin John Wilkes Booth. The series adaption, from creator Monica Beletsky (Parenthood, The Leftovers, Fargo), is being described as part historical fiction and part conspiracy thriller.

Toni Morrison Short Story to be Published Next Month

Nobel laureate Toni Morrison’s short story “Recitatif” will be publushed as a book on February 1st. “Recitatif” was written by Morrison in the early 1980s and follows the story of two women—Twyla and Roberta—from childhood to their very different lives in adulthood. The new version of this short story will include and introduction by Zadie Smith, and the audio edition is read by Bahni Turpin.

A Jack Kerouac Museum is in the Works

A Jack Kerouac museum in Lowell, Massachusetts is currently in the works. The church in Lowell where beat writer Jack Kerouac’s funeral was—and where he was briefly an altar boy—is on its way to becoming a Kerouac museum and performance center. The author’s estate has now formed the Jack Kerouac Foundation to secure funding for the project. Jim Sampas, literary executor of the estate, said, “While there have been monuments built to Kerouac, there is no museum or performance center to celebrate this singular author’s artistry. The brilliant team assembled here is looking to change that in creating a space that touches on Kerouac’s many talents.”

Nearly 1 in 3 American are Reading Ebooks

A new study by the Pew Research Center shows that 30% of Americans now read ebooks, up from 25% in 2019. Here’s that and more insights from PEW’s recent research on reading habits.

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Today In Books

Courtney Summers Announces New Book I’M THE GIRL: Today in Books

Adrian Martinez to Star in Chris McKay’s Renfield

Adrian Martinez has signed on to star alongside Nicholas Hoult, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina, and Ben Schwartz in Renfield, a film directed by Christ McKay. The movie is based on the character of Renfield from Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula. This original story sees Renfield (Hoult) growing tired of living for centuries as Dracula’s (Cage) lackey. But when Renfield falls for a feisty traffic cop named Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina), Dracula’s henchman finds a new lease on life. Adrian Martinez will play Rebecca’s traffic cop partner Chris.

Courtney Summers Announces New Book I’m The Girl

Courtney Summers, author of Sadie and The Project, has announced her next book on Instagram. Summer’s next book Meet the Girl will be out from Wednesday Books in Fall 2022. In her Instagram post, Summers reveals an intriguing graphic to advertise the novel and promises to reveal more information soon. You can preorder the book here.

William Shatner Publishing A Book of Essays Called Boldy Go

William Shatner, best known for playing James T. Kirk in Star Trek, is publishing a new book of essays entitled Boldly Go. The book is is co-written by Joshua Brandon, story editor, and writer on Houdini And Doyle, and writer on Miles And Ben, Friend Me, and Haven. Atria has bought the book rights from William Shatner and will publish Boldly Go in the fall of this year.

More Questions Than Answers Arise As Manuscript Thief Caught

Has a five-year mystery at last been solved? The thief who has been seeking—and successfully acquiring—pre-published manuscripts of big books and debuts has been arrested. But his arrest has lead to more questions than answers.

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Read Harder

Read Harder Task #4: Read a Book in Any Genre by a POC That’s About Joy and Not Trauma

BIPOC stories and identities aren’t defined by trauma. Yet a lot of the books by authors of color that made the bestsellers list and got all the attention in end-of-the-year lists in 2020 and 2021? They’re stories that focus on pain, trauma, and racism. While these stories deserve to be told, there are so many wonderful books out there that focus on the triumphs, accomplishments, and everyday joy that are also an important part of everyone’s experience.

This is why I’m so glad that “Read a Book in Any Genre About BIPOC Joy,” is one of the “tasks” for 2022’s Read Harder Challenge. Really, I put “tasks” in quotes because this one shouldn’t be challenging at all. There are so many wonderful books out there across many genres that fit this prompt. It was difficult to choose which ones to share with you. Here are eight books that are excellent examples of the types of stories you could read for this challenge, but of course there are plenty more!

cover image of Love in Color by Bolu Babalola

Love in Color by Bolu Babalola

Bolu Babalola’s short story collection is a powerful reimagining of West African folktales and Greek and Middle Eastern mythology that centers Black women in the stories. This book retells the stories of Nefertiti, Thisbe, Psyche, and others, focusing on romance, love, and, yes, joy. This is a must-read collection for anyone who loves love and magic… and who doesn’t love those things?

wow no thank you

Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby

I first came across Samantha Irby’s humorous writing on her blog Bitches Gotta Eat, which now has a substack. My point? Samantha Irby is funny. This essay collection focuses on the changes in Irby’s life as she turns forty, leaves her job as a receptionist at a veterinary clinic, moves into a house with her wife, and settles into a life of gardening, mason jarring, and book clubs. If you’ve never read Irby’s essays before, I’m so excited for you. You’re going to love this.

Arsenic and Adobo cover image

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

This book is the first in a new cozy mystery series, featuring a humorous storyline and plenty of delicious recipes. And what’s more joyful than food and murderrrrr? This book is about Lila Macapagal who moves back home after a particularly nasty breakup. She’s working towards healing and helping out at her Tita Rosie’s restaurant. Everything’s going fine until a nasty food critic (who happens to be Lila’s ex-boyfriend) drops dead in the restaurant.

The Wedding Date Book Cover

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

One thing I’ve learned about myself the more and more I read romance novels? I love a good fake dating story. I don’t know why, because never in my life have I actually encountered a situation where two people were pretending to date (that I know of). And yet it happens all the time in romance novels, and I love it. The Wedding Date is one of those really great fake-wedding-date-turned-to-real-romance love stories. If you’re like me and you also love this trope, bump this to the top of your list for this challenge.

cover of instructions for dancing by nicola yoon

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Nicola Yoon’s books always make me feel all the feels. And her latest, Instructions for Dancing, is no different. This one has an especially interesting premise. Evie Thomas has this strange ability to see a couple’s full love story from beginning to end whenever she witnesses a kiss. She sees the highs, the lows, and soooo many breakups. Now that she knows how each and every love story ends, it’s difficult for her to believe in love at all anymore. But then she starts taking these dance classes, where she meets a boy named X.

amari and the night brothers

Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston

It probably sounds obvious to say a fantasy middle grade is magical, but that’s the best word to describe this book. It’s just magical. Amari’s brother Quinton is missing, but she’s convinced he’s still alive, no matter what anyone else says. Then she finds a strange briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, and she’s certain this will be the key to finding her brother.

cover of When Dimple Met Rishi

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

I am forever a total fangirl for this book, so I had to include it on this list. When Dimple Met Rishi is just pure joy from beginning to end. Dimple is not interested in romance at all. She’s just recently graduated and is focused on attending a summer program for aspiring web developers. Meanwhile, her parents only seem interested in finding a nice Indian boy for her. So when they arrange for Rishi to meet Dimple at summer camp without Dimple’s knowledge, what could possibly go wrong?

the last black unicorn cover

The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish

The Last Black Unicorn is actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish’s memoir in essays, and unsurprisingly, it’s super funny. From growing up in one of the poorest parts of South Central Los Angeles to her career as a stand up comedian to her experiences as an actress, Haddish takes readers through her struggles and successes. This is a journey in which Haddish has had to contend with racism, classism, sexism, but that doesn’t take away from Haddish’s determination, her joy, and her unicorn-ness.

Is your favorite book on this list? What are you planning to read for this challenge? For more ideas, check out last year’s challenge: An Own Voices YA Book With A Black Protagonist That Isn’t About Black Pain. Or these 8 Great Books Celebrating Black Joy.

Click here for the full Read Harder 2022 task list, and for previous recommendations, click here.

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Book Radar

William Shatner to Publish Essay Collection and More Book Radar!

Hello Book Friends!

How has 2022 been for you so far? I have to say I’m trying to remain optimistic, but there have already been some stressful moments. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. So I’ve been trying to take time every day to breathe, to center myself, and to relax. If this is something you need to hear, try to remember that the moments you take to yourself to relax are just as important as the moments when you’re productive. And we always have books, right? Let’s talk about books.

❤️ Emily

Book Deals and Reveals

built to last book cover

Here’s the cover reveal of Built to Last, Erin Hahn’s new romance featuring two former childhood costars. This one’s out from Griffin/SMP/Macmillan in October.

William Shatner has sold his essay collection Boldly Go to Atria. The book is expected to release in fall 2022.

A new librarian-moderated author series is launching to celebrate AAPI voices.

Spider-Man: No Way Home has now passed Titanic’s original domestic gross to become one of the 10 highest-grossing films of all time.

Keanu Reeves is in negotiations to star in Hulu’s series adaptation of Erik Larson’s 2003 book The Devil In The White City. This project work mark the actor’s first television role.

Olesya Salnikova Gilmore’s debut novel The Witch and the Tsar sold in a two-book deal at auction to Berkley’s Jessica Wade. Wade says the upcoming novel “cleverly and compassionately reinvents a maligned mythological woman,” and compares it to Madeline Miller’s Circe and The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec.

Chernin Entertainment has won the rights to Erik Larson‘s audiobook original No One Goes Alone. The studio plans to adapt the audiobook as a feature film.

Employees of Politics and Prose have successfully unionized, making them the first bookstore in Washington, D.C. to do so.

Fight against censorship in our schools! The #FReadom campaign is asking you to write your school board with provided templates to support school libraries and access to information.

Book Riot Recommends

I’m a Contributing Editor at Book Riot, I write the Today in Books newsletter, and I’m a Bibliologist for Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations subscription service. I also have a PhD in English, so I’m basically a doctor of books. Books are my life, in other words, so in this section of the newsletter, let me share with you some upcoming books I’m super excited about. And I think you will be too!

Can’t Wait For This One

the storytellers death book cover

The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal (Sourcebooks, October 4)

If you’ve been here for the past couple of months, you might have noticed a bit of a trend. I love a good mystery story mixed with a dramatic family saga (see: Black Cake, which I hyped just a few weeks ago). Here’s another must-read mystery/family saga coming out later this year. And I mean, much later. Like, we have to wait ’til October. Nearly the end of the year! But this one will be worth the wait, I think.

From International Latino Book Award-winning author Ann Dávila Cardinal, The Storyteller’s Daughter is the story of a young Puerto Rican teen with a special ability. After the death of Isla Larsen Sanchez’s grandmother, Isla discovers she has a gift passed down through her family’s cuentistas. Isla can see the tales of dead family storytellers brought back to life, replaying in front of her. When one of Isla’s visions reveals an old murder mystery, she realizes she must solve it, or these visions could become dangerous.

While you wait for this one to come out, now’s a great time to familiarize yourself with some of this author’s previous works. My suggestion? Read Five Midnights, a novel set in Puerto Rico that mixes mystery with horror.

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

Words of Literary Wisdom

“When you work in a convenience store, people often look down on you for working there. I find this fascinating, and I like to look them in the face when they do this to me. And as I do so I always think: that’s what a human is.”

— Convenience Store Woman, Sayaka Murata

What’s Up in the Book Community?

My iPhone is constantly telling me I spend too much time staring at my screen, which is honestly so rude. But this means I spend a lot of time scrolling around the online book community: BookTube, Bookstagram, BookTok, BookLinkedIn (JK. That’s not a thing… I don’t think). You get the idea. Don’t have the time, energy, or the will to do all of that yourself? No problem. I got you. In this weekly section of Book Radar, we’ll take a look at something cool, interesting, and/or newsy that’s going on in the book community.

Here’s a bit of news that I’m a little late on reporting here, but it’s worth mentioning. Author and YouTuber Lindsay Ellis has quit YouTube. If you want a thoughtful breakdown on what happened, I suggest watching Jessie Gender’s video about it. She also reads Lindsay Ellis’ statement in full.

Your Weekend Reading Soundtrack

If you’re like me and you’re catching up on a bunch of reading this weekend, you need music that’s going to gently but firmly say to you, “Hey, friend, keep going.” For me, that’s the Gone Girl soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Maybe give it a try and see if it works for you too!

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

orange cat cuddling

I don’t think I’ve ever shown you all just how cuddly this cat can be. Sometimes when I’m working in my office, Murray will just hop on up and cuddle in, which is great and all, but as you can see, he likes to take up at least one arm, which makes it much more difficult to write to all of you. So if you see any typos in these newsletters, I blame the cat. It’s not like I can tell this fluffy orange boy no.

And that’s it for Book Radar for the first week of 2022! I hope it was great for you! Talk to you soon.

❤️ Emily

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Today In Books

Betty White’s Life Celebrated in New Biographic Comic Book: Today in Books

Caleb Azumah Nelson Wins Costa First Novel Award for Open Water

Caleb Azumah Nelson’s debut novel Open Water has been named the winner of the Costa first novel award. Judges praised the novel as “deeply moving, searingly intimate and just so now.” British-Ghanian writer and photographer Caleb Azumah Nelson quit his job at the Apple Store to write Open Water. The author said, “I think I am honestly still getting used to the fact that I have not only put a book out, but that it’s been really well received. All writers do this – you kind of commit these acts of bravery by putting words down on the page, and then you close your eyes when you’ve done it and hope someone might read it.”

Betty White’s Life Celebrated in New Biographic Comic Book

Actress Betty White—who would have turned 100 on January 17th—died in her sleep this past Friday. Now, her life is being celebrated in a new biographic comic book. The new comic book is from TidalWave Productions, which has previously released biographies on celebrities like Carrie Fisher, Lucille Ball, David Bowie, and Elizabeth Taylor. The book will be available both digitally and in print.

A New Librarian-Moderated Author Series Celebrates AAPI Voices

On January 4th, the AAPI Communities in Conversation series launched. The series is a joint effort between the University of South Carolina’s Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and Penguin Random House Library Marketing, with additional media support from Publishers Weekly. The free talks will happen monthly throughout 2022, with a full schedule for the year to be posted in the near future. The first talk happened on Tuesday, January 4th with Naomi Hirahara, author of Clark & Division, and Sujata Massey, author of The Bombay Prince, in conversation with librarian Andrienne Cruz of Azusa City Library. Miriam Tuliao, the senior library marketing manager at Penguin Random House, says the series is designed to help librarians and readers connect with a range of AAPI voices: “Librarians are committed to promoting diverse books in readers’ advisory conversations, supporting diverse collection development, and hosting book-centered programs that meet the reading interests of diverse communities.” While the full schedule has yet to be confirmed, future guests include Malinda Lo (Last Night At The Telegraph Club), Sheldon Simeon (Cook Real Hawai’i), Sara Desai (The Singles Table), Jen Frederick (Seoulmates), James Yang (A Boy Named Isamu), and Andrea Wang (The Many Meanings Of Meilan).

Queer Books from 2021 You Might Have Missed — And Why We Need to Talk About Them

These queer books from 2021 might not have been on everyone’s “Best of the Year” lists, and maybe they flew under the radar. But they’re all still worth a read, and we need to talk about them!

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Today In Books

Keanu Reeves to Star In Hulu’s Adaptation of THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY: Today in Books

Politics and Prose Employees Celebrate Becoming D.C.’s First Unionized Bookstore

Employees of Politics and Prose have successfully unionized, making them the first bookstore in Washington, D.C. to do so. After refusing to recognize the union for several weeks, the owners of Politics and Prose Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine voluntarily chose to recognize the union on December 31st. In a statement released on Monday, Graham and Muscatine said, “As stewards of a local, independent business with a 37-year legacy of progressive management and mission, we’ve valued collaborating with employees to solve problems and address needs, and we look forward to working with the union in the same spirit.”

Keanu Reeves to Star in Hulu’s Adaptation of The Devil in the White City

Keanu Reeves is in negotiations to star in Hulu’s series adaptation of Erik Larson’s 2003 book The Devil In The White City. This project work mark the actor’s first television role. Hulu first announced the big-budget adaptation in 2019, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese executive producing alongside Rick Yorn, Sam Shaw, Jennifer Davisson and Stacey Sher. Todd Field will direct the first two episodes, and Paramount TV Studios is producing the limited series alongside ABC Signature and Appian Way.

Rare First Edition of The Incredible Hulk Sells for $490K

A rare 60-year-old first edition of a comic featuring the Incredible Hulk has been sold for almost half a million dollars. The copy of Incredible Hulk #1, which was published in 1962 and features the beloved superhero as gray rather than his signature green, was purchased by a private collector for $490,000. Comic Connect, the auction site that handled the sale, said it was the most expensive copy of Incredible Hulk #1 ever sold.

Join the #FReadom Letter Writing Campaign to Fight Against Censorship

Fight against censorship in our schools! The #FReadom campaign is asking you to write your school board with provided templates to support school libraries and access to information.

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Today In Books

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME One of the 10 Highest Grossing Films of All Time: Today in Books

Crowdfunding Campaign Saves UK’S First Black Bookshop

New Beacon Books, the UK’s first Black bookshop, is considering a move after a crowdfunding campaign to save it from closure raised £50,000 in just a few days. Founded in 1966, New Beacon Books has been based in Stroud Green Road in London for all but one year of its existence. But the COVID-19 pandemic alongside online retailers has left the bookshop struggling, and in December, the shop announced that it would likely have to shut its doors. Immediately, a crowdfunding campaign was launched with a goal of raising £35,000 to keep the store open. That goal was reached within 48 hours, and now the campaign has raised over £50,000. Now New Beacon Books’ director, Michael La Rose, said the shop is looking at potentially relocating to avoid going online only. La Rose said that alternative locations could “accommodate publishing, bookselling, writers in residence [and] public programmes.” Francesca Gilbert, who helped launch the campaign, said, “The New Beacon bookshop exists as far more than just a bookshop. It is an invaluable institution of black history that is needed now more than ever. It is a crucial cultural space rich with the affirmation, validation and celebration of black literature, culture and art that must be preserved.”

Spider-Man: No Way Home is Now One of the 10 Highest Grossing Films of All Time

The numbers from the final 2021 box office weekend are in, and Spider-Man: No Way Home has now passed Titanic’s original domestic gross to become one of the 10 highest-grossing films of all time. The film has now cracked the $600 million mark domestically, making another $52.7 million this weekend. Will the latest Marvel comic book film surpass 9 and 8—Star Wars: The Last Jedi ($620 million) and The Avengers ($623 million)—domestically? It’s currently on track to do just that.

Author Patricia Cornwell Wants the World to Know She’s Not “Delta Karen”

Former actress Patricia Cornwall was recently arrested after hitting and spitting on an old man on a Delta airplane. She has since been dubbed the “Delta Karen.” Now, bestselling author Patricia Cornwell is taking to Twitter to let people know that, despite the fact that they have similar names, she is not “Delta Karen.” In one tweet, Cornwell shared a story about the incident and wrote, “Those asking. No this isn’t me.” Patricia Cornwall—not to be confused with Patricia Cornwell—has been charged with assault and banned from flying.

January 2022 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations

New Year, new books! Here are your January 2022 horoscopes and the books you should be reading this month, based on your sign.

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Book Radar

BRIDGERTON Season 2 Gets a Premiere Date and More Book Radar!

Happy 2022, Book People!

It feels like it’s been forever, but it really hasn’t. Time at the end of the year is always so weird. But I feel like this is what I say all the time, isn’t it? Maybe time is just weird. Anyway, somehow we’ve landed in 2022. The future is now. And we’ve got a lot of great books to look forward to this year, so let’s chat about them!

💚 Emily 

Book Deals and Reveals

the river of silver book cover

Here’s the cover reveal of S.A. Chakraborty’s The River of Silver, coming in March!

Amanda Gorman has written a new poem to mark the end of 2021.

Jeff VanderMeer revealed the cover for the upcoming paperback release of his novel Hummingbird Salamander. You can preorder this paperback, coming out in April, right now.

Tor Nightfire revealed the cover for the upcoming horror novel Black Tide by KC Jones. This one is out on May 10th.

Season 2 of Bridgerton has gotten a premiere date. We’re all heading back to the ton on March 25th!

Aria Mia Loberti, a student with no formal acting training who is registered blind, has been cast in the lead role in the upcoming adaptation of Anthony Doerr’s All The Light That We Cannot See.

Actor and activist Colton Haynes has sold his memoir Miss Memory Lane to Peter Borland at Atria.

Here’s a cover reveal for Invisible, a new comic by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein, scheduled for release from Scholastic Graphix on August 2nd, 2022.

The New York Times has announced its readers’ picks for the best books of the past 125 years.

Here are the best books of 2021, according to podcasters.

2022 is here, so here are 15 books being made into movies and TV shows to look forward to this year.

Book Riot Recommends

I’m a Contributing Editor at Book Riot, I write the Today in Books newsletter, and I’m a Bibliologist for Book Riot’s Tailored Book Recommendations subscription service. I also have a PhD in English, so I’m basically a doctor of books. Books are my life, in other words, so in this section of the newsletter, let me share with you some upcoming books I’m super excited about. And I think you will be too!

Prepare Your Shelves!

notes on an execution book cover

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (William Morrow, January 25)

One thing I’ve realized about myself ever since I read (and loved) William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury in undergrad? I love stories that explore a character through the eyes of the people closest to that character. I know The Sound and the Fury is a polarizing book for a lot of people, so before you nope out on Notes on an Execution because of that comparison, let me just quickly say I think that’s the only thing these two books have in common. But it’s a really cool thing.

Notes on an Execution looks at the story of a serial killer on death road, told from the perspective of the women in his life who know him best. Ansel Packer’s story is told from the perspective of his mother Lavender, who gave birth to Ansel in a barn when she was only seventeen years old. And it’s told from the perspective of Hazel, the twin sister of Ansel’s wife. And it’s told from the perspective of Saffy, the homicide detective who has dedicated her life to bringing men like Ansel to justice.

This literary suspense novel is a character study, an examination of what it means to be a woman, a critique of the American justice system, and much more. I know I compared it to a Faulkner novel, and the publishers are comparing it to Long Bright River and The Mars Room, but Notes on an Execution is a unique read that has no direct comparison. And you’ll get a chance to pick this one up at the end of the month!

Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!

What I’m Reading This Week

convenience store woman book

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

A History of Wild Places by Shea Earnshaw

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham-Jones

Monday Memes

You must know that any time there’s a meme that combines High School Musical with book-reading, I’m going to share it. So you’re welcome if you’re into that. And if you’re not into that, then I guess just rewatch this, and change your mind.

Other Things That Make Me Happy

It’s 2022, which means I am starting all those new book logs (yes, I log my books in more than one place). But my absolute favorite? Book Riot’s 2022 Reading Log by the wonderful Tirzah Price! I love sharing mine with my friends and seeing theirs.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

black cat in a box

Look! It’s a black kitty in a box. That’s Phantom for you. He’s doing what cats do best: fit in boxes. And if you’ve got a shrewd eye, you probably noticed that next to Phantom, you’ll see a copy of Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid, which is a really great book, and if you haven’t read it yet, Phantom wants to know why not.

Thanks for the book recommendation, Phantom!

So that’s the first Book Radar of 2022. I hope you had fun. See you later this week for more book stuff!

💚 Emily 

Categories
Today In Books

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Launch New Book Club with Oprah Winfrey: Today in Books

Check Out This Cover Reveal and Excerpt from YA Thriller The Counselors

Summer 2022 might seem far away for now, but here’s something to look forward to next summer: a new YA thriller from Jessica Goodman, the best-selling author of They’ll Never Catch Us. Goodman’s new thriller The Counselors will be released on May 31, 2022, and it follows Goldie Easton, a camp counselor at at Camp Alpine Lake who is hiding a dark secret. But her story gets much more complicated when a local boy turns up dead at the camp. Check out the cover and an excerpt from the novel here!

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Launch New Book Club with Oprah Winfrey

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Family Foundation (WJSFF) and the WILL Book Club are partnering with Oprah Winfrey’s Charitable Foundation (OWCF) to create a book club centered around discussing Smith’s new memoir Will. Alongside the release of Will Smith’s memoir this past November, the actor established the global campaign WILL Book Club, “to transform the path of youth around the world—deepening their love of reading, culture, self-expression, self-healing, and self-awareness.” The WILL Book Club will also offer digital guides to leaders of the club to tackle important themes in Smith’s book along with conversation starters to encourage discussions. Jana Babatunde-Bey, WJSFF president and CEO, said, “We are so proud to collaborate with the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation on this education and empowerment initiative. Through our collective efforts, we hope to transform the path of youth around the world and empower them to fulfill the potential of their own greatness. We look forward to working with the OWCF team to introduce the transformative themes within Will’s memoir and inspire youth to strive towards discovering their best selves.”

Michael Keaton Joins Batgirl

Actor Michael Keaton has joined the cast of Batgirl, an HBO Max film from Warner Bros. and DC. The film will follow fan-favorite character Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, and Keaton is expected to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Keaton is also reprising his role as Bruce Wayne in The Flash, a film starring Ezra Miller that’s coming to theaters on November 4th, 2022. No release date has been set for Batgirl.

52 Weekly Reading Challenges to Up Your Reading Life in 2022

A new year comes with new resolutions and new book goals. Here are 52 challenges to up your reading life in the new year and inspire new habits, new adventures, and engagement with things that matter.

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Today In Books

School Librarians Fed Up With Book Bans Are Fighting Back: Today in Books

Kindred Stories is a New Black Woman-Owned Bookshop in Houston

Kindred Stories, a new Black woman-owned bookshop, has just opened up in Houston, TX. Terri, the store owner says, “We are a bookstore committed to amplifying Black voices and bringing diverse stories from throughout the African diaspora to our local community in Houston, TX.” Kindred Stories is located at 2304 Stuart St, HTX, 77004. You can sign up for their newsletter and follow them on social media for updates and details on events and store happenings. Find out more about their story and follow them here.

School Librarians Fed Up With Book Bans Are Fighting Back

Texas librarians have been working towards making their collections more reflective of their increasingly diverse communities. With new bans on hundreds of books about race, equality or sexuality in Texas school libraries, their work is now being threatened, and so librarians are fighting back. Retired Austin, Texas librarian Carolyn Foote, along with three other library professionals, are spearheading a grassroots effort known as #FReadom. The goal of the project is to fight back against the wave of book challenges in the state and create a space for school librarians to help each other. Foote said in an interview with CNN, “We wanted to make a statement that we are out here and that we are willing to speak up for our students, for authors and for the books that our students deserve to have access to.” How can you help? Check out their website for a growing list of opportunities to participate and support the movement. And they have merch!

Here’s a First Look at Ingrid Rojas Contreras’ Memoir About Ghosts and Family Secrets

Ingrid Rojas Contreras, author of the critically acclaimed 2019 novel Fruit of the Drunken Tree, is back with a new memoir about ghosts and family secrets entitled The Man Who Could Move Clouds. The novel will hit shelves in summer of 2022, but in the meantime, here’s a first look at the memoir’s cover and an excerpt from the first chapter.

The Most Popular Books in US Libraries in 2021

A Quartz survey reached out to U.S. public libraries for their most checked out titles of the year. 14 responded from across the country, including Seattle, Portland, Denver, San Antonio, Nashville, New York, and Baltimore. Here are the most popular books in US libraries in 2021.