Category: Read This Book

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Did you know September is the busiest month for births? In fact, September 9th is the most common birthday in the United States, so shout out to the fellow September babies whose parents decided to bring in the new year with a bang. Heyo! Since September seems to be  all about new babies joining the world, I obviously have to recommend a book that lets readers know who really runs things once baby arrives, The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee.

From the moment he arrived, it was obvious the baby was the boss. This boss baby is used to getting his way whether it’s drinks made to order any time of the day or meetings that may last through the night. When his demands do not receive the proper response, the boss baby is not afraid to do whatever it takes to get the attention he wants and deserves.

I didn’t become familiar with The Boss Baby book until it was mentioned in the credits of The Boss Baby animated movie starring the voice talents of Alec Baldwin as The Boss Baby. This film was so silly and ridiculous while being absolutely entertaining I had to read the book that inspired it. While reading The Boss Baby, it quickly became evident the movie took all of the literary license with their story because this book is short and sweet.

Although the story is simple, The Boss Baby was quite an enjoyable read. I constantly found myself chuckling despite the fact I’m not a parent, and there is no boss baby ruling over me. However, the biggest strength of The Boss Baby lies in the illustrations, which should come as no surprise. Marla Frazee has previously won two Caldecott Honors for picture book illustration.

The Boss Baby is the perfect bookish baby shower gift for soon-to-be parents who are preparing for the new boss coming to town or a must-read book for big siblings awaiting their little sibs. The boss baby is small, but mighty demanding. Life will never be the same once they arrive. This is your final warning!

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot.

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, a weekly newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!

This week’s pick is a fascinating nonfiction title, The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum!

I bought this book years ago, and there it sat on my shelf gathering dust until I finally cracked it open earlier this year and WOW, I can’t believe I waited so long! It follows the history of forensic medicine in New York City, first giving readers an overview of how early chemistry, poison, and crime unfolded in society until scientific discovery at the turn of the century finally, finally allowed scientists to identify and prove when poisonous substances were found in humans–and allow them to detect and fight crime. Of course, then the trouble was in developing a system of investigation, examination, and scientific review that would help law enforcement catch and prosecute criminals–no small task in the corrupt city departments. Enter Charles Norris, the man who would become New York City’s groundbreaking medical examiner, and his recruit, toxicologist Alexander Gettler. Together the two men reformed their departments, contributed to science, and changed how we understand poison.

What I loved about this book was how Blum framed everything to tell a story that captures your attention–from the chapters that are named after a different poison plaguing society and the scientific communities to exploring various pivotal cases that Norris and Gettler encountered, there is never a dull moment in this book. It reads as breathlessly as a thriller and is never short on twists, interesting crimes, and surprising developments. Honestly, reading this book might make you keenly aware of your own mortality (how did any of our ancestors survive when beauty products full of radium were once on the market?), but it will also give you a deeper appreciation for the systems that we have in place and the scientific advancements that make our every day life safer and healthier. Blum does this in such a way that goes beyond what most of us know from that one time we had to read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Even if you aren’t a science reader, there is so much here about history, politics, every day life, crime, and justice that you’re sure to find an entry point into this fascinating book! I can’t wait to check out more books that Blum has written!

I’m also eager to check out American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI, which looks at another forensic scientist working at about the same time, but on the opposite coast, in Berkeley, CA!

Happy reading!

Tirzah

Find me on Book Riot, the Insiders Read Harder podcast, All the Books, and Twitter.

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, click here to subscribe.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Fall 2020 New York Fashion Week is almost over, but I have been in a fashion state of mind for months, y’all! During the past few months, I have been streaming America’s Next Top Model. I am currently on Cycle 18, where it’s the Brits versus the Yanks. Unfortunately, it’s the last cycle for noted, sexy fashion photographer Nigel Barker, runway diva coach extraordinaire Miss Jay Alexander, and creative director and model mentor Mr. Jay Manuel. That means, no more Jays Chat for me along with the inevitable downfall of ANTM because what is Top Model with the Jays, Nigel, and especially Tyra Banks? Since I am definitely not yet ready to let go of Mr. Jay, I was excited to read his debut novel, The Wig, The Bitch, and the Meltdown, colloquially referred to as The Meltdown.

Model Muse is a reality model competition show that has quickly become a global phenomenon. Behind the scenes is “The Fixer” Pablo Michaels who is the heart of production and the man everyone turns to in crisis. As Pablo struggles to hold the show together season after season, he must juggle the demands of his BFF, Supermodel Keisha Kash, who also happens to be his boss. As Keisha Kash’s true nature is revealed, will Pablo be able to maintain his moral compass and pursue his dreams?

If you love America’s Next Top Model, then this book is a must-read for you! I am so glad I found the Jays Chat or else I don’t think this book would have ever popped up on my radar. I bought it on the day it released and couldn’t put it down once I started. I appreciated all the ANTM Easter eggs, which made the story so much more enjoyable for me. Sometimes, it’s juicier to tell your truth through a work of fiction because it leaves the reader wondering how much of the book is truth and which parts of the story are literary license taken to the extreme. Even if you aren’t an ANTM fan, you can still enjoy this story as a hybrid of The Devil Wears Prada and Crazy Rich Asians.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot.

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Tomorrow is Agatha Christie’s birthday! On September 15, 1890, Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born into a wealthy upper middle-class family in Devon, England. She became Agatha Christie in 1914 after marrying her first husband Archibald Christie. However, she didn’t see success as a writer until 1920 when The Mysterious Affair at Styles, featuring Hercule Poirot, was published. Detective Poirot is also featured in today’s book recommendation, Murder on the Orient Express.

Included in the Mystery Writers of America’s Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time, Murder on the Orient Express is the 10th book in the Hercule Poirot series.

It is just after midnight, and a snowdrift has stopped the Orient Express in its tracks. This ride is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but it is now down one passenger. An American tycoon is dead in his compartment, but the door is locked from the inside. There is a killer in their midst who may have just committed the perfect murder. Detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer before they strike again.

Although I don’t read them often, I love a good mystery. Murder on the Orient Express is a good mystery. This was also the first time I read an Agatha Christie novel, and I am glad to say it didn’t disappoint. Something I enjoyed while reading Murder on the Orient Express is the humor sprinkled throughout the story. It would often sneak up on me with a throwaway line from a character that I didn’t see coming. Who can resist murder with a side of humor? I also liked that this story reminded me of one of my favorite TV shows, Monk. Specifically, it was the episode when Mr. Monk takes his first plane ride and basically foils a perfect murder. They would’ve gotten away with it too, if it hadn’t been for you meddling kids detectives.

If you are worried about not having read previous books in the Hercule Poirot series, then leave those worries behind! As previously mentioned, Murder on the Orient Express was my first Agatha Christie book, and I didn’t feel like I need information from other books. There may have been Easter eggs for people who have read other books in the series, but I didn’t feel I was missed anything if those went over my head.

Now, go forth and read Murder on the Orient Express, but avoid the adaptation like the plague because that is an abomination.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot.

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, a weekly newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!

This week’s pick is an incredible middle grade novel–From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks.

I picked up this book on a whim because I’d seen the title and cover a lot, and I really love the audiobook narrator, the incredible Bahni Turpin. This novel follow Zoe, who turns 12 at the start of the book and has a great birthday, except that she’s on the outs with her best friend. And then she receives an odd piece of mail–a birthday card from her biological dad, Marcus. Zoe has never before had contact with him, although she knows that he’s been in prison since before she was born. They strike up a pen pal relationship, which she reveals to her grandma but keeps from her mom. As Zoe gets to know Marcus, she finds that he’s caring and funny and she gets some of her traits from him. She also learns that Marcus has always maintained that he’s innocent of the murder he was accused of. Zoe becomes determined to clear his name by finding his alibi witness, which his lawyer never bothered to do.

This book reminded me a lot of Front Desk by Kelly Yang, which is another middle grade novel I absolutely adored. Both books take very complicated and serious issues, such as immigration, exploitation, and wrongful imprisonment, and explore them with a deft hand, via plots and situations that are age-appropriate for young readers. Marks balances out the seriousness of Zoe’s dad’s situation with her aspirations to become a baker, her experimentations with various recipes, and a junior internship at a local bakery. Zoe also is dealing with her first real conflict with her next door neighbor and best friend, which is certainly relatable to young readers. Marks also gives Zoe an excellent support system to help her navigate her dad’s situations: a grandmother who supervises her correspondence with Marcus, a loving mom who’s trying to do her best, and a fantastic step-dad who has been there for her when Marcus couldn’t.

This is a great novel for kids who might be developing an awareness of racial injustice but aren’t ready for history books or aren’t interested nonfiction titles. The reader can learn alongside Zoe about the Innocence Project and how racism affects our social structures, and while Marks doesn’t offer any easy answers, she gives space for Zoe and the reader to grapple with the injustice. The book is also genuinely funny at times, making it an engaging and enjoyable pick for anyone who wants to indulge in a fantastic middle grade novel, or for anyone looking for their next great family read aloud!

Happy reading!
Tirzah

Find me on Book Riot, the Insiders Read Harder podcast, All the Books, and Twitter.

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, click here to subscribe.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

Did you know that today is Teddy Bear Day? Teddy bears date back to President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt? Apparently, the avid hunter refused to shoot an injured bear. In response, a New York candy store owner Morris Michtom displayed a stuffed toy bear created by his wife and called them Teddy’s bears. It is believed Teddy Bear Day began around 2002 to celebrate the 100th anniversary for the creation of the teddy bear.

Not only is Teddy Bear Day the perfect opportunity to spend some time with your special bear, but it’s the perfect day to read a book starring a bear. Now, there are plenty of beloved books with bears like Winnie the Pooh and Paddington, but if you are looking for a bear book off the beaten path, then we have the perfect recommendation: Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson.

Otto lives in a book and is happiest when children are reading his story, but when no one is looking, Otto comes to life. He spends that time outside the book pages exploring the house in which he resides. Then one day his book is taken away. Otto is left behind, but Otto isn’t worried. He is always ready for a big adventure, so Otto packs his bag and sets off to find a new place to live.

One of the simple things I loved about Otto was the size of the book. It’s a big book kids (and parents) can read sprawled out on the floor. It is also easy for young readers to quickly become engulfed in this simple, yet engaging story and illustrations. Otto is an excellent book to encourage kids to fall in love with books and reading. Plus, the story of Otto teaches an important lesson of not being afraid to go out and find one’s place in the world. In the end, Otto is able to find the place where he most belongs. Overall, this story will resonate with readers of all ages.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot.

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, a weekly newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!

This week’s picks is one of my favorite books of 2020–The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson! To say that this book might be the favorite of the year is no exaggeration–I loved every bit of it!

Content warning: domestic abuse

Cara lives in the future, where walled cities are home to the wealthy and privileged, and communities just outside consist mainly of people of color who struggle to make ends meet in a world vastly affected by climate change. Cara is one of the lucky ones–she’s got a job with the corporation that has perfected multiverse travel, and she works as a traverser. She’s one of the most valuable traversers, in fact, because you can’t travel to worlds where your counterpart is alive, and thanks to her rough upbringing, most of Cara’s doppelgängers are dead. She just needs to keep her head down for four more years and she can apply for citizenship in the city. Cara passes time by flirting with her unavailable handler, Dell, and helping out her family outside the city the best she can. But when she’s sent on a routine mission to a new world where her doppelgänger has recently been murdered, Cara discovers that she’s a pawn in a vast conspiracy–and she has to decide what she’ll do about it.

Cara is the kind of character I love to read–tough but emotionally vulnerable, resourceful but grappling with a secret past that could undo everything in the space of a breath. While the beginning does feel like a bit of a big info-dump, if you stick with it for thirty pages, you begin to get a sense for what a creative, complicated, and vivid world Johnson has created. The social and economical stratifications aren’t so far removed from our own world, and if Cara comes across as hardened, it’s because she grew up in a tough world. You also won’t have to wait very long for the twists to start hitting–Cara is much more complicated than she first appears, and readers will want to pay attention as tiny reveals change your entire understanding of Cara and her world(s). And they never stop, either–chapter after chapter, new twists and surprise developments keep you on your toes. Some of them you’ll see coming, some of them will take you by surprise, but they never stop thrilling, even up until the very end of the book.

I also love that Cara is casually queer in a way where her sexuality isn’t really a big deal, but it does play an important role in the book. Her yearning for Dell, a privileged woman she can’t have, is a huge source of angst, and also symbolic of all the things that Cara wants but can’t have. It also provides wonderful tension as the reader is left to wonder just how much Dell understands about Cara and her secrets. While I won’t say how that pans out, I can tell you that this is not a tragic queer story!

I could go on for pages about why I love this book, but suffice to say it’s one that I know I’ll want to re-read at some point in the future, for enjoyment and also to just marvel at how Johnson put such a complicated story together. I’ve not read this level of plotting since Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows and Ninth House, and honestly, it’s thrilling to know that you’re reading a complicated story masterfully executed!

Happy reading!
Tirzah

Find me on Book Riot, the Insiders Read Harder podcast, All the Books, and Twitter.

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, click here to subscribe.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

My heart is still heavy from the recent passing of Chadwick Boseman. Although always sad, I am rarely this affected by a celebrity death, but reading Ryan Coogler’s statement and Danai Gurira’s loving tribute made me feel like I had also lost a close friend.

Since one of Chadwick’s most memorable roles was bringing Black Panther to life, I must recommend reading the recent Black Panther series written by Ta-Nehisi Coates, where T’Challa come to terms with being the ruler of Wakanda only to be torn away from his home and forced into slavery in the depths of outer space. Over the past few days, I took a step away from my current read to delve into Black Panther: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda.

For years, T’Challa protected Wakanda from the outside world. Now, he will discover his kingdom is larger than he ever imagined. Across the vast Multiverse lies an empire founded in T’Challa’s name. In the first of this three-part series, readers will learn the truth behind the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda.

T’Challa is a stranger in a strange land with no memory of his past. Presently, he toils as one of The Nameless in the Vibranium mines. All hope is not lost because a rebellion is growing. They have a plan, but they need a leader. Where is the Black Panther?

I am no comic book nerd, like I never read them. I’m not a hater. I just never got into them, so my only experience with Black Panther was through the films. It took me some time to get into the story because I felt out of my depth, but sprinkled throughout are important back stories. As a comic noob, I was grateful for that invaluable information.

If you are a huge sci-fi fan, then this is the Black Panther for you! The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda gave me serious Star Wars vibes. It’s also a great story for dealing with Chadwick’s death. As Maroons died, their spirits live on within the rebels left behind. Our hero Chadwick Boseman is gone, but the pride and joy he brought to Black Panther lives. Wakanda Forever!

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot.

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!

August is coming to an end, and September is right around the corner … literally! Whenever I think of September, the first thing that comes to mind (besides my upcoming birthday) is the September Issue of Vogue magazine, namely the Beyoncé September Issue. Obviously, the only must-read book for this high time in high fashion is The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, the book supposedly inspired by Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Andrea “Andy” Sachs is a small-town girl fresh out of college who lands the job “a million girls would die for” when she’s hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the editor of Runway magazine. Soon, Andy finds herself thrown into a world full of impossibly thin and incredibly stylish women while dealing with the boss from hell, but she’s determined to stick it out for a year. In the end, a recommendation from Miranda will get Andy her dream job at any top magazine. As the situation escalates from unacceptable to outrageous, Andy must decide whether the job a million girls would die for is worth the price of her soul.

I’ve always loved The Devil Wears Prada film, so I was excited to finally read the source material. While I enjoy both, it was surprising to see how the book and movie differ. In the novel, Miranda Priestly is a demanding taskmaster at Runway, but she enjoys a healthy work-life balance! At work, she is a boss bitch. Then she comes home to a loving and supportive spouse. Miranda Priestly is #winning, and it will make you hate her even more.

What I really enjoyed about The Devil Wears Prada is liking the story while absolutely hating all of the characters, even Andy. Whew chile … that girl is whiny. Her boyfriend Alex is annoying, and her family is neither supportive or understanding of Andy’s difficult and demanding job. The only person who seems slightly reasonable is Andy’s roommate Lily who is dealing with her own demons. Also, in the end, Andy seems to suffer real consequences for her actions, which makes the book more grounded in reality and less like the rom-com movie.

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha

Find more of me on Book Riot.

Find more books by subscribing to Book Riot Newsletters.

Welcome to Read This Book, a weekly newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!

This week’s pick is a powerful novel from Australia–The Things She’s Seen by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina!

Content warning: assault, death, depictions of grief

Published as Catching Teller Crow in Australia, this is a YA novel about Aboriginal teen Beth Teller, who is a ghost. She died before the book begins in a car accident, and now she lingers on Earth, visible only to her grieving dad. Beth can’t stand to witness how he pushes away their beloved extended family, and so she encourages him to go back to work and take on a case. Her father is a police officer, and he reluctantly accepts a job overseeing the investigation of a fire in a small town that claimed the lives of two people–one the police has been able to identify, and one who remains a mystery. Beth is eager to be useful and is happy to see her father take interest in something again, but when they discover a young woman, Isobel Catching, who is able to see Beth, Beth learns that this case might have a profound effect on her own ability to move on.

For a book that’s under 200 pages, this novel packs a surprisingly powerful punch. It has so many intriguing and unsettling elements, and the small Australian town setting really comes alive as Beth and her father attempt to unravel its secrets. I loved that this book really showcases the relationship between Beth and her father, as they come to terms with this new reality and learn that even though Beth is dead, their relationship is still intact, just different. The book actually weaves back and forth from Beth and Isobel’s perspectives, and Isobel’s chapters are haunting and lyrical as they draw the reader–and Beth–closer and closer to the terrible truth about the crime. But it’s only in confronting the causes for the fire and the consequences it has on the community that Beth finds the key to moving to the next plane of existence–a transition as joyous as it is heartrending for those left behind.

This novel has some of the most beautiful and sensitive writing when it comes to describing the despicable things that some people do to one another, and even though it explores a terrible crime, it prioritizes and values the voices of those directly affected, ensuring that justice is served. I’m of the opinion that some of the best YA books come from the Australian market, and this book just further proves my theory!

Happy reading!
Tirzah

Find me on Book Riot, the Insiders Read Harder podcast, All the Books, and Twitter.

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, click here to subscribe.