Category: Check Your Shelf

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. My work schedule has changed so that I’m no longer scheduled to work Wednesday evenings. Except I’ve worked Wednesday evenings for years (since I worked at my last job!), and now I don’t know how I’m supposed to know what day it is! Truly a struggle…

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

Denver’s Center on Colfax reopens its free LGBTQ+ library.

Cool Library Updates

Libraries are planning mocktail programs in response to a growing number of adult patrons pursuing alcohol-free lifestyles.

Meet Mychal Threets, the 33-year-old California librarian who’s become very popular on TikTok and Instagram with his upbeat library videos.

Censorship News

A partial victory in the Iowa book ban lawsuit — more information here.

The Massachusetts police chief that raided a middle school classroom looking for Gender Queer has issued an apology.

After initially returning A Court of Mist and Fury to school library shelves, the Lexington-Richland School District 5 school board (SC) voted 5-2 to remove the entire series against the recommendation of the review committee.

From Alabama: a few key people are responsible for the majority of book bans.

Etowah County (AL) GOP member Amy Minton is challenging library funding for the Gadsden Public Library and has already challenged 30 books, with an additional 40 challenges thought to be on the way. Because this is clearly the biggest problem her community is facing…

“The leader of a far-right organization in St. Tammany [LA] has withdrawn the more than 150 book challenges her organization has submitted [to] the parish’s library review board.” But before you automatically think this is good news, this person is pursuing legislative action and believes that the new governor, legislature, and parish council will be “more sympathetic to her cause.”

Public libraries vs. quorum courts: an ongoing local conflict throughout Arkansas.

New laws on book challenges and “indoctrination” have created a culture of fear for Arkansas school librarians, and some have become very wary of selecting books, lest their choices attract accusations or legal trouble.

The Murfreesboro City Council (TN) quietly and unanimously voted to repeal the city’s decency ordinance, which the same city council put into effect six months ago. The ordinance had a lasting impact on the county library system, which is set to implement a new library card policy that will make it more difficult for kids to check out books not meant for their age group.

The Big Walnut school board (OH) voted in their December meeting to restrict Pride flags and any displays of materials not directly related to the current unit of study in classrooms.

(Paywalled) Eight challenged books will remain in Northview Public Schools (MI).

The Las Cruces school district (NM) has denied an appeal on the decision to retain Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts), so it will stay in the school library.

I’m just leaving this headline as-is: “Washoe [NV] library board meeting results in hours-long public comment. Again.”

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

The New York Times says this about Goodreads: “Let’s rescue book lovers from this online hellscape.”

On the Riot

19 of the coolest bookstores in the world.

Hope everyone had a good first week of 2024! I’ll see you on Tuesday!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. This newsletter is the first of 2024, but I’m writing it in 2023, so is anyone else ready to ring in a new year? Not going to lie, I’m moderately terrified to be entering another presidential election year, but 2023 threw me some challenges, and I won’t be sad to see it in the rearview mirror.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Collection Development Corner

New & Upcoming Titles

Did you know that Al Roker has a series of mystery novels? (I didn’t.) But the fourth book in the Morning Show Murders series comes out in April.

Cover reveal for Ava Reid’s feminist retelling of Macbeth.

Most anticipated books of 2024 from Brightly (picture books), Entertainment Weekly, Epic Reads (BIPOC authors, LGBTQ+), Kirkus, Oprah Daily, USA Today.

January picks from Barnes & Noble (adults, teens, children).

All Things Comics

On the Riot

The most underrated comics, according to Goodreads.

Audiophilia

Kirkus’ best audiobooks of 2023.

Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists

Children/Teens

Children’s books that celebrate diverse holidays and traditions.

Adults

15 of the best BookTok recommendations from 2023, and no, Colleen Hoover is not on this list.

On the Riot

8 books that the authors regretted writing.

Adult versions of your favorite childhood fantasy novels.

20 must-read cozy fantasy novels.

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 that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.

All right, friends. I’ll see you on Friday!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I hope everyone had a healthier holiday than my husband’s side of the family this year…we had six or seven people sick or injured leading up to Christmas, including a couple hospital visits. Thankfully, everyone seems to be okay, but I’m just hoping no one else comes down with anything!

It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement.

OverDrive releases their most-borrowed books of 2023.

Library Journal has rounded up a bunch of “Top 2023 Checkout” lists from public libraries.

Book Adaptations in the News

Read Erasure before you watch American Fiction.

Censorship News

The highlights and lowlights from 2023 in censorship news.

“Keller ISD [TX] trustee Ruthie Keyes stepped down from the school board during a discussion on whether to allow chaplains to volunteer in classrooms.” It’s all part of the same agenda, folks.

(Paywalled): Orange County School District (FL) pulls 673 books from library shelves.

Escambia County Public Schools (FL) have made over 1000 books off-limits to students. Meanwhile, a federal judge will begin hearing arguments pertaining to the book banning lawsuit filed against ECPS in January.

Hernando County Public Schools (FL) have banned six books as of their December board meeting, including The Hate U Give, which board member Mark Johnson described as “‘nasty, nasty, vulgar, filthy.’” Yes, that is an actual quote from an adult person.

SAD 51 (ME) board votes to keep Gender Queer at Greely High School library. “‘I feel like I’m a better person for having read this book,’ board member Kim Vine said. ‘I took this process very, very seriously.’”

Nearly 200 people attended the December board meeting for the Cuba Circulating Library (NY), many in favor of retaining This Book is Gay in the teen section. One speaker said that it wasn’t censorship to move the book from the teen collection to the adult collection because teens still had access to the adult collection…so why move it, then? On the other end of the spectrum, this person gave a very powerful statement: “Suzanne Flierl, a member of the leadership team for the Cattaraugus-Allegany Liberation Collective and a mother to members of the LGBTQ+ community, spoke about how she had raised her children in a household that was ‘religiously and politically conservative’ and added that she later realized that ‘putting that much restriction on her children traumatized’ them. ‘I wish that this and other books were available to my children at the time,’ Flierl said. ‘It was much needed but unattainable at home.’”

Three new board members have joined the Rockwell Falls Public Library board (NY). The library has been closed for three months after two of its three staff members resigned due to public harassment over a drag queen story hour, and three previous trustees left as well.

The Quarryville Public Library (PA) continues to lose funding from conservative townships because they have LGBTQ books in their collections.

Many of the books targeted by members of the Pine-Richland School Board (PA) have very low circulation numbers.

(Paywalled): The Carroll County School Board (MD) has asked for public input on defining “sexually explicit content.” Yeah, this is going to go well.

Some of the new Fairfax County (VA) school board members were sworn in on a stack of banned books.

This Arlington County (VA) librarian is pushing back against book bans.

“The Alabama Public Library Service has launched its new online portal that allows for parents, concerned citizens and organizations to flag specific books they deem inappropriate for children.” We’ve seen this type of behavior from other ultra-conservative states/government agencies, but to see a state’s library association set up a snitch hotline like this really hits hard.

“Local pastor Paul Thompson asked the board to reconsider its decision on Gender Queer, although library policy states the results of reconsideration decisions stand for five years.” This is in Dothan, Alabama.

(Paywalled): The Lafayette Parish Public Library (LA) has canceled its ALA membership.

After withdrawing from the Central Arkansas Library System’s “tech card program” at the beginning of the 2023 school year, the Pulaski County Special School District is reinstating access, albeit with a new parental approval form.

Two years of efforts to ban books are taking a toll on school librarians. The article focuses on librarians in the Wentzville School District (MO), but this story could apply to school librarians anywhere in the country.

The St. Charles County Library (MO) will remove books that contain sexually explicit photos.

The Pickaway County Library Board (OH) will keep the book Making a Baby in the children’s section.

(Possibly paywalled): The Brainerd School Board (MN) upheld the decision to retain Empire of Storms, and days later, they voted to keep Queen of Shadows as well.

(Paywalled): The Grand Forks Public Library (ND) has fielded its first book challenges in years thanks to a recent library obscenity law passed in April.

“Leavenworth School District Board of Education [KS] voted 4-3 this week to pass revisions to an education policy that bans ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexual orientation’ references in the district’s elementary library books.” So, if a book specifies that a character is male or female, that will automatically be banned, right? Or any mention of heterosexual marriage? Do we want our school children indoctrinated with discussion of sexual orientation like this?? (I’m being facetious, but really, I’m not. If they’re going to make ridiculous policies like this, they need to be upfront with their bigotry and say the quiet parts out loud.)

The Davis School District (UT) is reviewing the Quran under the school’s “sensitive materials” policy.

West Ada School District (ID) quietly pulled 10 titles from library shelves and is considering 44 other titles for removal, thanks to the ratings posted on BookLooks.

Books & Authors in the News

Here’s what’s entering the public domain in 2024.

Numbers & Trends

These are the highest-rated books from every country.

Pop Cultured

32 detective shows you may have forgotten about.

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

When the world is dark, how do you rekindle your light?

On the Riot

The most popular books in US public libraries in 2023.

Why this Rioter is pledging to read less in 2024.

Dini has made it his personal mission to annoy the living daylights out of Gilbert this week, but I did manage to get a snuggly photo of them the other day.

All right, friends. I’ll see you in 2024! Stay healthy!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. The next few newsletters are going to be shorter than usual thanks to the holiday season!

Before we get to it, if you find yourself in need of a belated, last-minute, or “just for fun” gift for the book nerd in your life, TBR can help! We pair our customers with a professional book nerd (aka bibliologist) who just gets them. They fill out a survey and then sit back and relax as we pick books just for them. We’ve got three levels — recs-only, paperback, and hardcover — and you can gift a full year or one time, so there are options for every budget! Get all the details at mybtro.com/gift.

Let’s jump in!

Collection Development Corner

Publishing News

The most scathing book reviews of 2023.

New & Upcoming Titles

Alexander Chee has a new novel coming in 2025.

Alice Feeney announces her seventh novel, publication date TBD.

Cover reveal for Nicola Yoon’s first adult novel, One of Our Kind.

Obama’s favorite books of 2023.

Gillian Anderson’s favorite books of 2023.

Kirkus’s best indie books of 2023.

RA/Genre Resources

How Christmas murder mysteries became a UK holiday tradition.

On the Riot

Goodreads needs to do better by marginalized authors.

Book Riot’s 2024 reading log is here!

The best backlist books that Rioters read in 2023. (My favorite backlist title this year was Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka, and if you haven’t read it yet, OMG you must read it now.)

12 of the best poetry collections from 2023.

The best new weekly book releases to TBR.

What are the mental health benefits and drawbacks of reading goals and challenges?

Audiophilia

Barnes & Noble names their best audiobooks of 2023.

AudioFile’s best mystery audiobooks of 2023.

On the Riot

10 of Libro.fm’s most pre-ordered books of Winter 2024.

Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists

Children/Teens

13 YA romance novels with major You’ve Got Mail vibes.

YA books to catch up on before their 2024 sequel releases.

Adults

10 romantic stories set over the course of a single day.

10 heartstring-tugging novels for fans of Christina Lauren.

8 literary novels with phenomenal worldbuilding.

On the Riot

7 short books you can squeeze in before the end of the year.

8 thought provoking fantasy books you won’t be able to put down.

Books to ease you into the new year.

Historical fiction books for people who don’t like historical fiction.

9 of the best pirate romance novels.

8 queer wintry books.

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 that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.

All right, friends. I’ll see you on Friday for the last newsletter of 2023!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. Y’all, the week leading up to the holidays this year has been LONG and tiring. I am ready for a few days off and some holiday food.

Are you looking for the perfect gift for that bookish special someone in your life this holiday season? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! Here at TBR, we pair our customers with a professional book nerd (aka bibliologist) who just gets them. They fill out a survey and then sit back and relax as we pick books just for them. We’ve got three levels — recs-only, paperback, and hardcover — and you can gift a full year or one time, so there are options for every budget! Get all the details at mybtro.com/gift. 

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

The Internet Archive seeks a reversal in its book scanning lawsuit.

The Top 10 library stories of 2023.

“Due to a contract dispute between SirsiDynix, a provider Montana libraries have used for over 20 years, and a third party vendor — libraries nationwide are left without an app that provides access to online catalogues.”

Cool Library Updates

These are the top checkouts from the New York Public Library, Timberland Regional Library, Charleston County Public Library, Free Library of Philadelphia, Boston Public Library, San Francisco Public Library, L.A. Public Library.

Worth Reading

When libraries like Gaza’s are destroyed, what’s lost is far more than books.

New Yorkers love their libraries. So why are they always on the chopping block?

Book Adaptations in the News

Author Wiliam Collier has accused director Adam McKay of plagiarizing Collier’s novel Stanley’s Comet in the script for Don’t Look Up.

Amy Adams is starring in and executive producing the series adaptation of Graham Moore’s The Holdout.

Alexander Skarsgård is starring in the Murderbot miniseries on Apple+.

Children of Blood and Bone has a director.

Good Omens has been renewed for a third and final season.

The first trailer for Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben has dropped.

Censorship News

PEN America released a new study showing that book bans lead to more book bans.

When do parents trust their children with materials at the library? Also, most parents want school libraries for their children — but with restrictions.

Banned booktables are a frequent sight at many bookstores. But are they helping the authors who need it most?

Computer book bans and other insights from a year investigating prison censorship.

Publishers Weekly’s People of the Year are Texas booksellers Valerie Koehler and Charley Rejsek, who joined in a federal lawsuit against HB 900.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley has introduced a federal book banning bill.

The State Board of Education in Texas approved guidelines for school library rules, particularly that school libraries “must have policies to prohibit the possession or purchase of books determined to be ‘sexually explicit.’”

A new parent group pushes back on Texas book bans.

The new library board in Corpus Christi (TX) fielded comments from the public about restricting kids’ access to certain books.

The Lake Travis ISD (TX) is considering a new policy that would make it easier to ban books.

A Florida sex scandal shakes Moms for Liberty’s influence.

Lauren Groff is opening a new bookstore in Florida that will focus on Florida literary history and books currently banned in the state.

A new group in Massachusetts is shipping banned books to Florida.

Someone complained about Gender Queer being in a Great Barrington classroom (MA). Then the police showed up.

Almond Public Library (NY) will vote later this month on whether to keep Grandpa’s Pride on the shelf.

Clyde-Savannah Board of Education (NY) may have to wait months for the five challenged books they elected to retain to actually be put back on shelves.

The director of the Northern Cambria Public Library (PA) resigned after several members of the board took it upon themselves to remove issues of Out magazine without following any sort of library policy.

Frederick County Public Schools (MD) reviewed 31 challenged books — Triangles will be banned, two more books will be restricted to high school libraries, and the other titles will remain in the district libraries as-is.

Franklin County Public Schools (VA) have implemented a new policy that informs parents/guardians by email every time their child checks out a book from the library. It’s an opt-out policy as well, not opt-in.

The New Hanover (NC) school board ends its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.

“The board, and others across the region, have been hearing complaints about books from speakers during public comments for several months. Since those complaints have come in, Burke County Public Schools [NC] has placed all books already categorized as 14+ content on a checkout suspension until the books can be reviewed for age appropriateness.” Yeah. This is a great policy. /s

Marietta City Schools (GA) have voted to remove 23 books with “sexual, inappropriate content.”

“The Autauga County Commission [AL] has appointed four members to the Prattville library board in the last two weeks, leaving some residents critical that the commission has ‘stacked the board.’ “Stacked the board” in this case means that three of the new board members are affiliated with Moms for Liberty and/or Clean Up Alabama.

The Etowah County (AL) Republican Party passed a resolution urging the Alabama Public Library Service to withdraw from ALA.

“A former Arkansas lawmaker who has proposed suspending funding to libraries suing the state over restrictions on materials was confirmed by the Senate Monday to a spot on the state library board.”

Tennessee has launched a new banned books hotline, but this time, it’s a hotline that students can call and request copies of banned books.

​​The Wilson County Board of Education (TN) is looking at who can and cannot challenge books in the school system.

Fighting book bans in Kentucky schools and beyond.

The De Pere School Board (WI) updated their book policy so that books can be challenged/reviewed on an annual basis. The policy was previously at three years, and the recommendation was to increase it to five years.

One parent got 444 books (!!!) removed from Elkhorn Area School District (WI).

“A letter sent on behalf of Muslim families in St. Louis Park [MN] threatens legal action unless parents are notified and allow their children to opt out of classroom discussions about sexuality and LGBTQ+ topics.”

The largest teacher’s union in Iowa is teaming up with Penguin Random House to challenge the new state censorship law.

Ottumwa Community School District (IA) has removed 30 books that it believes are in violation of state legislation, but it won’t disclose the book titles.

Saydel Community School District (IA) has removed 21 books for review under the new state censorship law.

The Williston High School library (ND) will not be banning any of the 25 challenged books, although some of them will come with parental alerts if a student checks them out.

A letter to the editor about supposedly “inappropriate” children’s books at the Tillamook County Library district (OR).

The Seaside Public Library (OR) has received its first book challenges in over a decade. The two challenged books are And Tango Makes Three and When Aiden Became A Brother. And the kicker is that the person who submitted the challenges is a city councilor.

Books & Authors in the News

Notable literary deaths in 2023.

A Lord of the Rings fanfiction or fanfic writer has been sued by the Tolkien estate for publishing their own sequel.

Numbers & Trends

The best-selling books of the week.

Book trends to watch for in 2024.

The best-selling romance books of all time.

The highest-rated celebrity memoirs, according to readers.

Award News

The Golden Globe nominees have been announced.

The award-winning books of 2023.

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year is…

How does the reality of bookselling match up to how bookselling is depicted in fiction?

Is the book world turning against Goodreads?

Reading print improves comprehension more than reading digital text according to a recent study.

On the Riot

2024 YA book adaptations to get excited for.

Have a great holiday if you celebrate, or a great December weekend if you don’t celebrate! Peace out!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I did an early Christmas with my immediate family, and I ended up dropping an accidental book recommendation (The Hunger by Alma Katsu) to my mom and my sister, neither of whom read horror. But when I casually mentioned a book “about something supernatural stalking the Donner Party,” both of them went, “Wait, what??” So that was a fun little gift I got to give! And maybe a gift I can give to some of you too…read the book, it’s awesome!

Are you looking for the perfect gift for that bookish special someone in your life this holiday season? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help! Here at TBR, we pair our customers with a professional book nerd (aka bibliologist) who just gets them. They fill out a survey and then sit back and relax as we pick books just for them. We’ve got three levels — recs-only, paperback, and hardcover — and you can gift a full year or one time, so there are options for every budget! Get all the details at mybtro.com/gift. 

Collection Development Corner

Publishing News

A roundup of the biggest book and publishing news stories from 2023.

A new group of authors allege that Meta used copyrighted books for AI training, despite its own lawyers’ warnings.

James Patterson has awarded $500 holiday bonuses to 600 indie bookstore employees across the country.

New & Upcoming Titles

Tiffany Haddish has a new “tell-all” book coming in 2024.

Jeffrey Deaver is coming out with a new series in 2024.

Olivia Dade has a new paranormal rom-com coming out in 2024, ZomRomCom, which is described as The Last of Us meets My Roommate is a Vampire.

Sophie Hannah has been tapped to write the next Hercule Poirot novel. ​​

Best books of 2023 from Autostraddle, CBC (fiction, nonfiction), Crime Reads (debut novels, espionage), Esquire (horror), Kirkus (YA), New York Times (cookbooks), Time (fiction, nonfiction), Tor.com, Vanity Fair, Washington Post (staff picks).

The best book covers of 2023.

Weekly picks from LitHub, New York Times.

December picks from People.

What Your Patrons Are Hearing About

Alice Sadie Celine – Sarah Blakely-Cartwright (Star Tribune)

How to Be a Renaissance Woman: The Untold History of Beauty and Female Creativity – Jill Burke (Washington Post)

Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning – Liz Cheney (Washington Post)

Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel – Shahnaz Habib (New York Times)

Prophet Song – Paul Lynch (NPR)

Let Us Descend – Jesmyn Ward (Guardian)

RA/Genre Resources

Amazon is rolling out a new feature that puts every book you’ve ever purchased on the site — whether it’s digital, physical, or audiobook — into a single searchable hub, which will also provide you with personalized recommendations.

Where to start with David Drake.

What makes a novel unique: on retellings and plagiarism.

A renaissance of gay literature marks a turning point for publishing.

On the Riot

It’s Book Riot’s Read Harder 2024 challenge!

36 exciting new book releases for 2024.

The best self-help books of 2024.

The best microhistories of 2023.

The best cute romances of 2023.

The best new weekly releases to TBR.

Where to start with Tracey Livesay.

A case for all points of view.

Tips and tricks for doing a reading year-in-review.

What murder mysteries get wrong about gardens and poisonous plants.

All Things Comics

Twenty years after its publication, Joe Sacco’s graphic nonfiction book Palestine, has been rushed back into print due to demand.

Audiophilia

The final report for the 2023 Audiobook Survey from Library Journal, School Library Journal, and the Audio Publishers Association.

Remember what Spotify did to the music industry? Books are next.

Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists

Children/Teens

The most anticipated 2024 releases for picture books, middle grade/chapter books, and YA books.

16 YA books with Black male protagonists.

Adults

27 of the best etiquette books to read.

16 cozy fantasy novels.

15 high-flying fantasy novels with dragons.

15 books about pirates.

7 books that will make you rethink your relationship to nature.

10 novels by BIPOC Norwegian writers.

A NYC reading list that captures the city’s many sides.

5 SFF books set in the American South.

6 novels to read if you love Hallmark holiday movies.

Cozy holiday rom-coms to warm your heart.

6 mystery novels where everyone’s a suspect.

What to read next: Japanese literature edition.

On the Riot

8 of the best winter romances.

20 must-read historical fiction books set in Korea.

8 awesome book recs for Totally Killer ’80s slasher film fans.

10 cozy sci-fi books to give you hope for the future.

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 that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.

All right, friends, I’ll see you on Friday.

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I was in quarantine all last weekend, but I did get to come out of the bedroom (masked) to watch Adam Driver’s fourth hosting stint on SNL, and what a highlight it was! The Internet has been losing it over his skit as a baby on an airplane, but my personal favorite was the Midwestern dad in a passive-aggressive standoff at Christmas dinner. You’ll never hear (or say) “Beep beep” the same way again.

The holidays have arrived, and so has our new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

Connecticut officials aim for first-in-the-nation action to address eBook costs.

An audit of the Multnomah County Library system (OR) showed that nearly 75% of frontline library staff feel unsafe at work.

Book Adaptations in the News

Killers of the Flower Moon isn’t for an Indigenous audience. It’s for the wolves.

The new trailer for Dune, Part 2 has just dropped.

Censorship News

Manufacturing problems with school and library books to cash in on solutions.

(Paywalled): The two new members of the Corpus Christi (TX) library board are affiliated with right-wing book banning groups.

The Graham City Council (TX) is considering whether or not to overturn the library board’s decision to retain We Need to Talk About Vaginas: An IMPORTANT Book About Vulvas, Periods, Puberty and Sex!, because a group of pastors complained to the city council.

Alachua County Schools (FL) have 13 active book challenges that were submitted by three parents in the district.

The review committee in Brevard County schools (FL) has recommended that Sold be restricted to high schoolers only.

Broward County Schools (FL) will retain the Bible.

“The New Hampshire Department of Education is heightening its scrutiny of books in libraries and classrooms, as schools continue to face pressure to remove titles that have LGBTQ+ characters or deal with mature or difficult sexual themes.” Yeah, not a good look, New Hampshire.

The newly appointed Central Bucks Board of School Directors, Karen Smith, was sworn into office Monday using a stack of banned books. [PA]

Residents in Worcester County (MD) are up in arms about the book All Boys Aren’t Blue.

A month after Hanover Public Schools (VA) removed 75 books from school libraries, the district is now reviewing two new titles: Valiant Ladies and the Bible.

Moore County Schools and Catawba County Schools (NC) will decide on the fate of their currently challenged books in 2024.

Berkeley County Schools (SC) spent thousands of dollars to purchase copies of several challenged books for a committee to review, and now the committee has been disbanded.

Beaufort County (SC) has finished reviewing all 97 challenged books and has removed five: Beautiful, The Haters, Nineteen Minutes, It Ends With Us, and Forever For a Year.

“Effingham County Commissioners [GA] and Live Oak Public Libraries officials met Monday night to discuss the content of certain books available in the libraries that, said one commissioner, could be ‘damaging to our children.’” Because the county commissioners are more knowledgeable than library employees.

Alabama governor Kay Ivey has proposed new rules that would restrict where libraries can shelve certain books, along with requiring advance approval to recommend, display, or promote material to children. Holy crap.

Last week, I shared a news item that the Foley Public Library (AL) relocated 11 books from the YA section to the adult section. Turns out that all 11 of those books were challenged by just one parent.

1819 News, a right-wing media group in Alabama, has taken it upon themselves to review books in the Orange Beach City school district that they think need to be removed. And the superintendent seems to be just fine with this.

“‘We are not book banners. We just want to have some kind of policy that can either label these books, segregate these books, have parental opt-out options, or in the event that some of them are too graphic—be removed from the schools.’” This is an actual quote from the Chair of the Knox County (TN) chapter of Moms for Liberty.

Wilson County Schools (TN) decided to keep Water for Elephants and The Lovely Bones on high school library shelves.

Sumner County Schools (TN) will retain the graphic novel Hey Kiddo. The parent who challenged the book said that it contained inappropriate language and premarital sex, but the review committee found no depictions of sex in the book.

A group of Iron River (WI) library patrons voiced their support for library employees and urged the board to respect the Constitution. There’s one current board member who has spoken out publicly against LGBTQ+ books available at the library.

The Brown County Library (WI) moved Let’s Talk About It from the teen section (where it belongs) to the adult section.

The Brainerd School Board (MN) will hear an appeal to their decision to retain Empire of Storms.

Superintendent Ryan Walters introduces new non-woke guidelines for Oklahoma libraries, and removes information literacy guidelines put out by ALA.

“‘In a state with the highest rate of domestic violence in the nation and a sexual assault rate that’s 45% higher than the national average, there are going to be students that live this experience and could benefit from seeing themselves represented in literature,’ said a parent.” This was at a recent Union school board meeting in Oklahoma in response to the book Lucky.

A conservative LGBTQ+ group in El Paso County (CO) supports the removal of “obscene” books from school libraries.

Laramie County School District 1 (WY) passed a controversial book policy despite public opposition.

“Dismissing words of caution from Community Library Network directors, a fellow trustee and without advice from library network legal counsel, the board majority unanimously approved drafts of its updated Materials Selection Policy and a new Materials Withdrawal and Reconsideration Policy during a special meeting Thursday at the Post Falls Library.” [ID]

After a failed first attempt to take control of the public library earlier in the year, the Liberty Lake City Council passed an ordinance that would give them some control over the library board’s policies.

“A conservative activist who teaches parents how to get books removed from school libraries has won her first major victory at a right-leaning Southern California school board, setting the district up for a fresh legal battle with the state.” And the first part of her advice to parents is to never use the term “book ban.”

A San Diego parent is “frustrated” that his 14-year-old was assigned The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in class, even though the district says that parents can talk to the teacher to work out an alternate assignment for the student if they so choose. It doesn’t seem like this parent so chose.

Books & Authors in the News

Renowned producer, TV writer, and author Norman Lear has died at 101.

Best-selling author Tim Dorsey died earlier this month at 62.

Debut author Cait Corrain lost a book deal after she was accused of review-bombing other authors on Goodreads.

Numbers & Trends

Jane Austen’s annotated copy of Curiosities of Literature is up for auction and is expected to fetch up to $150,000.

The best-selling books of the week.

Award News

The Goodreads Choice Award winners have been announced.

Tyriek White wins the Center for Fiction’s 2023 First Novel Prize for We Are a Haunting.

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

Books as What We Do in the Shadows quotes. This is a thing of beauty.

On the Riot

How to build seasonal rereading rituals.

All right, friends. It’s the weekend. Let’s get some rest and stay healthy!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. Remember that bout of sniffles I mentioned in my last newsletter and how I hoped it wasn’t going to develop into anything too annoying? Welp, I tested positive for COVID the next day, so needless to say, it’s been very annoying. Thankfully, I only had one bad day where I felt like crap, but I still had to quarantine in the bedroom for five days. If you’ve seen The IT Crowd, this has been my husband’s reaction every time I come out to grab a drink. Mask up and get your boosters, people!

Collection Development Corner

Publishing News

6 non-obvious book publishing trends from 2023.

New & Upcoming Titles

Publishers Weekly has shared their Spring 2024 Adult Books Preview.

Cover reveal for Brandon Sanderson’s upcoming standalone novel, The Sunlit Man.

How to navigate this year’s “glut” of celebrity memoirs.

The best book covers of 2023.

Best books of 2023 from The Atlantic, CBC, Crime Reads, Economist, Electric Lit (fiction, nonfiction), Goodreads (staff picks), Guardian (politics), Kirkus (middle grade), LA Times, Library Journal, LitHub, New York Times (romance, SFF, thrillers, poetry, children’s books), Smithsonian, Time (nonfiction), Vogue, Vulture. (general, memoirs, comedy)

Weekly book picks from Crime Reads, LitHub, New York Times.

December/Winter 2023 picks from AARP, Bustle, Datebook, LitHub (SFF), Shondaland.

What Your Patrons Are Hearing About

Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning – Liz Cheney (The Hill, People)

Welcome Home, Stranger – Kate Christensen (Datebook, New York Times)

Rebecca, Not Becky – Catherine Wigginton Greene (Shondaland, Washington Post)

RA/Genre Resources

It’s time to read Claire Keegan.

The enduring appeal of murder and mystery.

Where to start with Stephen King’s books.

On the Riot

The best-reviewed fiction of 2023.

The best new weekly releases to TBR.

11 new December book club picks.

Should historical fiction have modern sensibilities or stick to its time?

Where to start with Octavia Butler.

All Things Comics

Best graphic novels of 2023 from Guardian, Kirkus (middle grade).

On the Riot

The 12 best comic book holiday specials.

Audiophilia

The best audiobooks of 2023.

December audiobook picks from AudioFile, Washington Post.

On the Riot

The most popular audiobooks of 2023, according to Libro.fm.

The holidays have arrived, and so has our new paperback level at TBR! If you (or a reader you know) are just over-carrying around bulky hardcovers or are looking for a more budget-friendly option, we’ve got you. Check out all the offerings at mybtro.com/gift, and give personalized reading recommendations customized for any and every reader.

Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists

Children/Teens

Children’s books that show kids the goodness in the world.

Adults

25 classic winter books to read by the fire.

5 books to read about Sandra Day O’Connor.

14 books to get you in the winter holiday spirit.

A supernatural survival horror reading list.

The 10 best Star Wars books of all time.

On the Riot

12 of the most prolific children’s authors of all time.

10 of the most polarizing fantasy books ever written.

20 must-read queer historical fantasy books.

The best classic books that are actually worth a read.

If you enjoy the podcast Ologies, read these books.

8 romance novels with no third-act breakup.

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 that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.

I tried to keep the cats out of Spaceship Quarantine, but Dini really wanted to join my RuPaul’s Drag Race marathon.

All right friends. Stay COVID free! I’ll see you on Friday.

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. Well, cold and flu season has arrived, including for yours truly. I only started feeling crummy earlier tonight, but I’ve also been around people who have come down with colds within the last 48 hours…fingers crossed this doesn’t end up being too annoying.

It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

Montana will no longer require directors to have a master’s degree at the eight largest libraries in the state despite a four-to-one ratio of public comments opposing the change.

The Stanley Milner Library has an in-house nurse to support people in crisis in downtown Edmonton.

The Ottawa Public Library is seeking $3 million in security to address an increase in dangerous incidents and assaults against their staff.

Cool Library Updates

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has officially launched in Illinois!

St. Louis Public Library is hosting a free Taylor Swift fan convention. They are braver than I am.

Mapping Colorado: Libraries supporting their communities.

Worth Reading

How American librarians helped defeat the Nazis.

Censorship News

Most parents trust, respect, and feel safe with librarians.

Congress has introduced the Fight Book Bans Act. And here’s a look at every current book ban lawsuit.

Conservatives are boycotting Froot Loops for creating a library of diverse children’s books online. Yes, that is a real sentence I had to type in 2023.

The city of Corpus Christie (TX) appointed 5 new members to the public library board, one of whom appears to be pro-book banning.

A controversial proposed library book policy just cost the League City (TX) city attorney their job.

Florida’s attorney general just issued a legal brief, saying that school districts have a First Amendment right to remove any books they choose and that “public school libraries are ‘a forum for government speech,…not a ‘forum for free expression.’” Wow.

(Paywalled): Brevard County (FL) Schools will review 31 challenged books this month.

The Southern Poverty Law Center just threatened a potential lawsuit against the Charlotte County School District (FL) over their LGBTQ+ book bans.

RSU 56 (ME) is currently the only district in the state to have banned Gender Queer, and they’re now considering a policy that would ban all books with sexually explicit material.

Connecticut librarians are looking for legislative help as they face harassment tied to book bans.

Lancaster County (PA) schools are reportedly considering a switch from Scholastic Book Fairs to the “pro-God, pro-America” SkyTree Book Fairs.

Catawba County (NC) schools have removed A Court of Thorns and Roses, citing three primary reasons: “[T]he book contains objectionable content that was not required to convey the story’s central themes, the book lacks literary merit compared to other high school reading material, and the book is part of the same series that was previously removed.”

School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties (SC) has returned A Court of Mist and Fury to school library shelves after a months-long review process.

The Marietta (GA) school board is planning to hear another appeal against their decision to ban a book. This time, the book is Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, but the last time a book banning decision was appealed (Flamer), the board decided to remove the book anyway.

The Foley Public Library (AL) has moved 11 challenged books out of the YA and children’s sections due to “objectionable content.”

The Central Arkansas Library System hosted a panel discussion on book bans and the future of libraries.

The Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County (OH) has been dealing with LGBTQ+ book controversy for over a year and has recently moved to limit public comment at their board meetings.

The Banned Book Nook bookstore in Wilmington, Ohio, is pushing back against book banning efforts in the state.

The Brandywine Community School Board (MI) may implement their own book rating system.

An op-ed on the recently proposed Wisconsin legislation that would require libraries to inform parents about the items their children check out: “Don’t force librarians into the role of Big Brother.”

After NBC 5 Investigates first reported in October on the rise of book banning in the Chicago area over the last three years, the number has continued to climb.

The St. Cloud Library System (MN) has received challenges to 8 individual titles in the last year, with some books receiving multiple challenges.

Penguin Random House files a lawsuit against the state of Iowa over their recently passed book banning legislation. Note that this is separate from the lawsuit filed against Iowa from last week’s newsletter.

“Republican leaders are calling for a prosecutor to enforce obscenity laws to remove hundreds of books from schools in the Colorado Springs area.”

The New Mexico State Board of Education is appealing the decision made by Las Cruces Public Schools to retain Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) in the school library. Nothing to see here…

Banning Angels in America in Temecula (CA).

“‘How often did you say you visited the library prior to this book?’ asked Action News Reporter Kate Nemarich. ‘Oh, I visited the library years ago. I haven’t been to the library in years, but all of those questions and those answers they’re meaningless,’ said Steve Brandau, Fresno County [CA] Supervisor. This is one of the people who voted for the Parents Matter Act, which creates a panel of parents and guardians who will review all current and future children’s books to be placed in county libraries. In other words, people who have no public library, youth services, or collection development experience will decide what books libraries can add to their collections. I see no problem with this at all.

The Wasilla City Council (AK) heard from the library director about how they select books for the children and teen collections. Among the choice quotes from the article: “Treesh maintained the library would temporarily mark books from the young adult section as those of the adult section until there is more consideration from the city on the matter.”

The Jake Epp Public Library (Manitoba) has decided to forego general best practices and will sticker all children’s books that contain LGBTQ+ content because the Christian books are already stickered.

Books & Authors in the News

Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, has died at 93.

Numbers & Trends

Less than half of American adults reported reading at least one book for pleasure in the last year.

Award News

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell has won the 2023 Waterstones Book of the Year award.

Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, and the Center for Justice have just launched the first major US book prize to be judged exclusively by incarcerated people.

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

Oxford Languages has selected “rizz” as their Word of the Year. If you’re like me and aren’t up on all the Gen Z slang, “rizz” is short (?) for “charisma” and apparently started seeing a lot more use after Tom Holland used it in an interview this summer.

On the Riot

How Dungeons & Dragons can help members of the neurodivergent community.

8 video essays about books that will change your perspective.

Secrets of the mega book series of the ’80s and ’90s.

Authors and bookish accounts to follow on Bluesky.

When eye-reading just isn’t working.

Photo courtesy of my mom, who said Groucho was waving “Hi” to everyone!

Groucho hopes you all have a good weekend. I’ll see you on Tuesday, hopefully, a little less sniffly than I am now.

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. It’s the first week of December, but I already feel like my schedule has been overbooked. In addition to work stuff, I think I have something planned for just about every weekend in December, and January’s starting to look the same way. Sometimes, the introvert inside me wonders why the heck I keep saying “Yes” to plans…

Collection Development Corner

Publishing News

Publishers launch a weeklong #ReadPalestine campaign.

How a book publishing “mistake” reignited the UK’s royal racism furor, plus the author’s response after the Dutch version of Endgame was temporarily pulled from shelves.

These women represent the future of the book publishing industry.

On the rise and fall of Borders Books.

How Norway became a literary powerhouse.

New & Upcoming Titles

Rebecca Yarros says it’s going to be a minute before the third book in the Empyrean series comes out. She has also signed a two-book deal for two standalone contemporary romance novels.

The Umbrella Academy is getting a prequel companion novel in June 2024.

Patricia Cornwell talks about listening to actual 911 calls about Bigfoot for her latest book, Unnatural Death.

Here’s a first look at Liz Cheney’s upcoming book, Oath and Honor.

Here’s the cover reveal for Karen McManus’ Such Charming Liars.

And here’s the cover reveal for Tessa Bailey’s The Au Pair Affair.

5 books that deserved more buzz this year.

The New York Times recommends new thrillers, romances, and mysteries.

Weekly book picks from Crime Reads, LitHub.

November picks from The Guardian (thrillers).

December picks from AARP, Amazon, LA Times, New York Times.

Best books of 2023 from Brightly (middle grade/chapter books, YA), Electric Lit (poetry, short story collections), Esquire, Kirkus (picture books), New Yorker, School Library Journal (nonfiction, YA), Shelf Awareness (adult), Vanity Fair (short books), Wall Street Journal.

Most anticipated books of 2024 from Good Housekeeping, Off the Shelf.

What Your Patrons Are Hearing About

Prophet Song – Paul Lynch (Guardian, New York Times, Washington Post)

The Mystery Guest – Nita Prose (NPR, Shondaland, Washington Post)

Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival – Omid Scobie (New York Times, Washington Post)

RA/Genre Resources

Should we abolish literary genres?

When Britney and Pamela and Paris tell all: “Memoir writing offers women defined by their images a space to speak. But we’re seldom satisfied with what they give us.”

Agatha Christie’s most romantic murder mysteries.

Where to start with the work of the late A.S. Byatt.

The essential Larry McMurtry.

Is the campus novel dead?

The case for never reading the book jacket.

On the Riot

What not to say to bookstore employees.

8 recent dark academia and deadly game books to TBR.

12 must-read new books by Native authors.

The best new weekly releases to TBR.

December picks for mysteries/thrillers, romance, SFF, horror, nonfiction, children’s, YA.

The best SFF of 2022 and 2023, crunched.

All Things Comics

School Library Journal lists their best juvenile graphic novels of the year.

On the Riot

December picks for graphic novels/comics.

Manga and manhwa like Nano Machine.

It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.

Audiophilia

AudioFile’s best audiobooks of 2023.

The best audiobooks to gift.

Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists

Children/Teens

Kids’ books that don’t ignore the dark side of life.

Beautiful children’s books for the aspiring artist.

Adults

10 books about protecting our oceans from the climate crisis.

10 comfort reads to snuggle up with on a cold day.

8 books that explore the power dynamics of love triangles.

25 of the best holiday books.

5 Norse fiction books from indie publishers.

7 great cozy mysteries set in the fall.

10 memoirs and essay collections by Black women.

7 books about authorship hoaxes.

48 cold weather mysteries for thrills and chills.

11 holiday romances to make your spirits bright.

12 bodyguard romances to heat up your TBR.

6 character-driven novels to keep you company.

On the Riot

Children’s books to read for the December holidays (that aren’t Christmas).

9 of the best YA books to read if you loved The Hunger Games.

9 fantastic books set in the 1980s.

8 wickedly funny books like Assistant to the Villain.

8 of the best baby books for new parents.

The 25 best Christmas books of all time.

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 that includes information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.

Are Dini and Gilbert holding paws?? Yes! Did we push their paws together to get this photo opportunity? Also yes.

All right, friends. Back on Friday!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.