Riot New Media – Page 31

Father’s Day, Whales, And More Great Kids’ Books!

Post author By Margaret Kingsbury
Post date May 31, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! Can you believe it’s already June!? June is a big month: LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Father’s Day, Juneteenth, the first day of summer, and most kids are out of school unless you’re mean like me and put your kids in summer school! Though, as a working parent, there’s not much else I can do. On Tuesday, I gave you recommendations for Pride Month, and today, I’m bringing you some Father’s Day picture books, plus two fabulous new releases. I hope you have a wonderful June!

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Bookish Goods

Breakfast in Bed Print by Bagardcardsandcrafts

I myself do not enjoy breakfast in bed, and this print does a pretty good job of illustrating why, ha! I particularly like the toddler on Dad’s head. You know that diaper isn’t empty. I do think this is a sweet picture of the realities of parenting and trying to take some joy amid chaos. $4

New Releases

Loaf the Cat Goes To The Powwow by Nicholas DeShaw, illustrated by Tara Audibert

This is an adorable picture book about a Native American boy’s cat who follows the boy to a powwow to watch him perform the grass dance. Loaf the cat loves her boy. When he begins preparing his outfit for the grass dance, she helps by batting the ribbons and making her boy smile. One day the boy puts on the outfit and then disappears. Loaf the cat decides to follow his smell and sneaks out of the house through a window screen she rips. She finds him at the powwow. At first, Loaf is scared of all the people, but when she sees her boy dancing, she knows just what to do — join him! This picture book is a delight.

A Galaxy of Whales by Heather Fawcett

I admit that I first became aware of Heather Fawcett when I read her adult fantasy Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (which I LOVED), and only then did I realize she actually has quite a few middle grade novels! I have been slowly working my way through them. Her newest is a lovely novel about a young girl, Fern, whose mother runs a whale-watching tourism business. Fern loves photography, and after a falling out with her best friend Ivy, she enters a photography competition with her kind of friend Jasper. Jasper and Fern have a contentious relationship because their parents own rival whale-watching tour boats. But they both love photography. This is a lovely novel about the environment, whales, and friendships.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Father’s Day is June 16, so I thought I would go ahead and review some excellent picture books with wonderful dads for you to order or put on hold at the library.

My Daddy Is a Cowboy by Stephanie Seales, illustrated by C.G. Esperanza

This lyrical picture book releases June 11, and it’s going to be one of my favorite books of the year. It’s a lovely story about a young girl going horseback riding with her father through a city one early morning. The child wakes up early, kisses her abuela goodbye, then takes off for the stables with her daddy. They saddle their horses and ride through the city, Daddy telling her stories about cowboys and the old days. The illustrations are gorgeous. It’s a wonderful celebration of Black joy, fatherhood, community, and horseback riding.

Back Home: Story Time with My Father by Arlène Elizabeth Casimir, illustrated by Ken Daley

This is another lovely picture book celebrating Black joy and fatherhood. Lune loves to hear her father’s stories of “lakay” — back home in Haiti. He tells her childhood stories about falling from mango trees, Hurricane Flora, childhood illnesses, and more. But now Lune’s father doesn’t get home from work until late at night, and she doesn’t hear as many stories anymore. One night, she decides to stay up late to listen to one of his stories, and when he arrives home, he tells her stories of his dreams and of Haiti’s beauty. Back matter includes a glossary and an author’s note about her personal connections to the story.

Like Father, Like Son by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by AG Ford

This is a lyrical, super sweet celebration of all kinds of dads that gently pushes against stereotypes of dads and toxic masculinity. Some dads enjoy knitting — “My daddy knits, my daddy sews, / He makes us both fantastic clothes” — some cook, and others love camping and gardening. The dads in this picture book reassure children when they make mistakes or cry, telling them it’s okay to show their feelings. They snuggle with their children, teach them how to meditate, and take them fishing. The illustrations are as gentle and warm as the story. It’s a beautiful Father’s Day read.

Always Your Stepdad by Stephanie Stansbie, illustrated by Tatiana Kamshilina

There aren’t a whole lot of picture books centering step-parent experiences, which makes this one all the more special. It’s a rhyming picture book from the stepdad’s perspective about his special bond with his stepdaughter. He describes meeting her for the first time, learning how to play together, and the joyful relationship they formed together. The author and illustrator also paired up on Always Your Stepmom.

Marian and Ryan at the park, the kids are all right

We are very lucky to have this great guy and father in our lives.

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

True Story

Two Must-Read Memoirs for Your TBR

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date May 30, 2024

Sponsored by

If you were to ask me what my favorite activity is (besides reading) it would have to be hiking with the Corgis. I love taking them on grand adventures through the woods and seeing all of the wildlife that call the upstate home. Corgis were developed to herd cattle up and down the Welsh countryside, so while they are small, they are quite hardy. Dylan and Gwen never seem to run out of energy (I definitely do). But as soon as we get home, they konk out and sleep for hours. We’re still recovering from our grand adventure this past weekend. And I’m sure they can’t wait to do it again. This week, we’re talking about two memoirs where the rural countryside plays an important part in the authors’ experiences. But first, bookish goods!

Make this your most bookish summer yet with personalized reading recommendations from Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists (aka professional book nerds) are standing by to help you find your next favorite read. Get your recommendations via email, or opt to receive hardcovers or paperbacks delivered right to your door. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Get started today from just $18!

Bookish Goods

a photo of a picture Fram of the original cover of A Room of One's Own. a little circle features words that say, "printable download."

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf, 1st Edition wall art for study decor printable by DigitalArtsLiving

As a Virginia Woolf fan, I LOVE the original cover art of her books. So when I saw this digital printable, I knew it had to be mine. $4

New Releases

a graphic of the cover of Accordion Eulogies

Accordion Eulogies: A Memoir of Music, Migration, and Mexico by Noé Álvarez

In his new memoir, Noé Álvarez describes how he started his quest to find the grandfather he never knew. He takes up the accordion, his grandfather’s favorite instrument, and travels across the U.S. to learn more about his family’s origins.

a graphic of the cover of A Place of Our Own

A Place of Our Own: Six Spaces That Shaped Queer Women’s Culture by June Thomas

Queer women have been creating safe spaces for them to gather for hundreds of years. June Thomas writes about six spaces—like a softball field, a bookstore, and a commune—that have had an important role in queer women’s culture.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley

When Sloane Crosley’s best friend dies by suicide, she finds herself adrift, lost, and confused. Like many of Russell’s friends and family, Crosley had no idea that Russell was experiencing a mental health crisis. Over the course of Grief Is for People, Crosley goes over her relationship with Russell again and again, combing through old memories and looking for any signs of suicidal ideation or instability. But time and time again, all of Crosley’s memories of her friend seem normal, mundane even. She organizes the book by the stages of grief, slowly revealing her friendship with Russell piece by piece. Crosley met Russell when he hired her to work at Vintage, Knopf’s paperback imprint. I loved all of the gossipy, insider info that Crosley teases us with, giving us a respite from the much heavier, larger topic.

a graphic of the cover of Two Trees Make a Forest

Two Trees Make a Forest: Travels Among Taiwan’s Mountains and Coasts In Search of My Family’s Past by Jessica J. Lee

And for a backlist nature writing title, we’re exploring the landscape of Taiwan. Jessica J. Lee’s mother immigrated from Taiwan to Canada, but Jessica J. Lee grew up knowing little about her mother’s family or their past. In her memoir, Lee travels back to Taiwan to learn more about how her mother’s family fled mainland China for Taiwan. Lee blends nature writing about the island along with her investigation into Taiwan’s history. She described the unique animals and plant species that call the island their home. By researching her grandparents’ and great-grandparents’ lives, she learns more about her own origin story, better understanding herself along the way.

a photo of Dylan, a red and white Pembroke Welsh Corgi, covered in mud. He's lying down on a pile of stick and leaves while chewing a stick. You can see the river in the background. — Dylan chewing a stick on our weekend trip to the river.

That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, on TikTok @kendrawinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.

Happy reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

Check Your Shelf

You Don’t Deserve Books

Post author By Katie McLain
Post date May 30, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I’m delighted to announce that my ensemble for my friends’ Pride party tomorrow has come together! I found a Bianca del Rio T-shirt, and I managed to do a very passable rainbow eyeshadow look! (I know I’m coming across as an overly excitable cis-hetero woman for this Pride party, but I’m super pumped to see my friends and celebrate our wonderful selves!)

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

The Washington Post tells staff it’s pivoting to AI. Although this isn’t specifically about libraries, it’s definitely relevant.

Cool Library Updates

A Wisconsin public library is waiving damage fees in exchange for photos of the pets behind the damage.

Worth Reading

What is library work?

Book Adaptations in the News

Here’s a first look at Tobias Santelmann as Harry Hole in the upcoming Netflix adaptation.

Neil Gaiman’s Coraline is being turned into a “dark spangly” stage musical.

Jessica Lange is starring in the film adaptation of The Year of Magical Thinking.

Casting update for The Sandman Season 2.

Trailer for Part 2 of Bridgerton Season 3.

Censorship News

Here’s where library workers are prohibited from their own professional organization.

Anti-LGBTQ censorship is endangering trans people behind bars.

Conservative commentator Stew Peters is calling for his supporters to burn books. “If we demand that the classroom bookcases and school library shelves be cleansed of filth and perversion and pedophilic materials, then we’re called a bunch of ‘book burners,'” Peters said. “Well guess what? That’s exactly what we are and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

The Digital Public Library of America announced a new “Banned Book of the Week” feature.

The authors of And Tango Makes Three have filed a lawsuit against Nassau County Public Schools (FL) for removing the book from library shelves. This is similar to the pending lawsuit they’ve filed against Escambia County schools.

Three Mount Joy Township (PA) residents (including an Elizabethtown school board member “spoke against the Elizabethtown Public Library ever hosting or promoting a Drag Queen Story Hour like the March event canceled at the Lancaster Public Library because of a bomb threat.”

Harford County School District (MD) is looking for residents who are interested in serving on the new Library Materials Reconsideration Committee.

Franklin County (VA) resident Keith Johnson is upset with the school’s recent policy change, which prohibits residents from submitting book challenges if they don’t have a student in the district. Johnson alone has submitted over a dozen book challenges.

“Lawmakers, school board members and advocacy groups called for changes to state laws governing obscenity and book selection criteria in public schools at a May 15 press conference held by the conservative nonprofit NC Values Coalition.”

“PFLAG of Southern Pines, a newly formed LGBTQ+ group, and Public School Advocates (PSA) recently filed an official Title IX complaint against Moore County Schools [NC] with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.”

“The Cobb County School District [GA] has pulled another book from the shelves of its school libraries as Superintendent Chris Ragsdale continues to defend the book removal process against a civil rights complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education.”

Despite the Alabama Public Library Service passing a set of draconian new rules catering to right-wing book banning demands, the state legislature still cut the APLS budget by 9%.

Two Limestone County residents petitioned the Alabama Public Library Service Board of Trustees to withhold state funding from the Athens-Limestone Public Library because they think the library is distributing pornographic materials to children.

The Autuga-Prattville Public Library made it onto MSNBC due to the pending lawsuit against the library’s anti-LGBTQ policy. “They’re trying to say gay without saying gay.”

A St. Charles City-County Library (MO) employee is suing a group of library harassers who “have put her in danger, damaged her reputation by falsely accusing her of sexually targeting children and interfered with her employment by making her the focus of ‘Homolak’s anti-transgender community engagement activities.’”

The Williamson County (TN) school board grapples with the fact that they’re in a no-win situation when it comes to banning books as dictated by state law.

“Daviess County [KY] Commissioner Janie Marksberry riled many of those in attendance at the Daviess County Public Library board meeting Wednesday when she spoke about the book Let’s Talk About It during open comments.” Apparently this book, which is written for teenage readers, is not appropriate for teenage readers, according to someone who is not a librarian or a trained youth media specialist.

A bomb squad was called to the Holland Library (OH) after a staff member found a suspicious item next to a book about explosives.

The Troy school board (OH) voted to remove two books from the district. Worth mentioning: “Board members indicated they had read the books or excerpts from them.” (Emphasis mine.)

“A Republican-led bill just introduced in the Ohio House would charge teachers and librarians with a felony offense for distributing material deemed ‘obscene.’”

The Illinois House has passed a bill designed to protect the safety of library workers after the string of bomb threats from last year.

The Orion School Board (IL) heard from students and teachers protesting the superintendent’s decision to remove Fun Home from a dual-credit course with the local community college. As one of the students said, the book may be meant for mature audiences, but so is the course.

(Paywalled): Library books once again take center stage at a recent Kearney Public School board meeting (NE).

“A new rubric Oklahoma is using to review K-12 school textbooks asks whether learning materials “degrade traditional roles of men and women,” promote “illegal lifestyles” or neglect the importance of religion in preserving American liberties.”

“Billings Public Schools [MT] librarians said this week it was ironic they were being recognized for the Pat Williams Intellectual Freedom Award from the Montana Library Association at the same time the school board was considering undercutting their work.”

Higley Unified School District (AZ) heard from a resident who was upset that the school was using Nineteen Minutes as one of several titles for an independent reading assignment. His primary focus was on the “extremely sexually explicit” content and not on the fact that the book is about a school shooting, which is a far more deadly threat to students than books.

A recall petition has been filed against City Councilor Steve Dillard over his call for age restrictions on books at the Seaside Public Library (OR).

A recent Huntington Beach (CA) city council meeting was heavily attended by residents protesting the potential privatization of the public library system.

“A heated debate erupted at the Encinitas Union School District [CA] over the children’s book My Shadow is Pink, drawing activists from across the county.”

Books & Authors in the News

Caleb Carr, author of The Alienist, has died at 68.

Elin Hilderbrand announces her departure from her usual beach read fiction.

Numbers & Trends

Independent booksellers continued to expand in 2023.

Why are so many celebrities writing children’s books?

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

10 rules for reading.

On the Riot

2024 summer reading clubs for kids and teens.

The most popular shows and movies on Netflix are adapted from books.

Reese’s YA book club is back.

Which book tracking app is best?

If you don’t shelve your books by color, you don’t deserve books.

Every kid had the same school-issued planner. But…why? (Also, anyone who had these planners can undoubtedly smell the sour plastic from that photo. I certainly can.)

a black and white cat standing on a table in the middle of a bunch of groceries

Dini was very excited to help us unpack our Trader Joe’s groceries! Or as I told Blaine, “Dini is living his Trader Joe’s fantasy right now.”

All right, friends. Have a great weekend – I’ll see you on Tuesday!

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Swords and Spaceships

An Evil Amnesiac Wizard With No Eyebrows

Post author By Alex Acks
Post date May 30, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’m ending the month of May (tra-lah!) with one last double dose of new releases to check out. I hope everyone had a good week (I have slept!) and something to look forward to in the upcoming weekend. I’m going to make it my business to sit outside in the shade and read a little in the fresh air. Here’s hoping the weather cooperates. Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Tuesday — in June!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

Ahab Quote Hat by StitchesbecrazyGifts

Look, I’m just saying that one of our books this week has no small amount of Moby Dick energy, and this is an absolutely classic line that I’m sure anyone who has ever fished in real life or in a video game feels in the marrow of their bones. $20

New Releases

From the Belly by Emmett Nahil

Isaiah is an ordinary sailor on an ordinary whaling vessel…until the Merciful makes a most extraordinary catch: a massive whale with a living man in its stomach. The man is given into Isaiah’s care, at which point things begin to go strange, with accidents and deaths befalling the ship and prophetic dreams plaguing Isaiah’s nights. The truth soon becomes clear: the Merciful is trapped in a cycle of punishment for its sins against the sea, and Isaiah must choose the fate of both his heart and his ship.

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis

Gav wakes up in an evil wizard’s workshop with no eyebrows and no idea who he is…until he, unfortunately, realizes that he is the evil wizard, and he has no idea what his evil plan might have been. He buys time by playing along with his own evil plan and tries to keep his skin in one piece, all the while learning who Dread Lord Gavrax was and realizing that…wow, he really might not like that person at all.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

This is my last chance to tell you about books that came out in May, so here are two more I’m sneaking in from this last week of the month!

Flawless Girls by Anna-Marie McLemore

The Soler sisters are rebellious hellions, indulged by their grandmother…until she decides they should meet the standards they’re sure to be held to and sends them to Alarie House, a famous finishing school. Isla, the younger sister, gets herself sent home within a day, refusing to play along with the eerie environment of Alarie. But Renata stays, and months later, she returns for a single night as a perfect society girl — a very murderous one — before she vanishes again. It’s up to Isla to return to the school to find out what happened to Renata, and why.

NecroTek by Jonathan Maberry

An experiment gone horribly wrong leaves the residents of Asphodel Station…they’re not sure where; only that it’s clear they’re not in their Jupiter orbit anymore. The monsters that occupy their new location are ancient, eldritch, and now horribly aware that humans exist. Humanity’s one chance is on the alien world of Shadderal, where a ghost named Lost offers a possible solution: a ship that can be piloted only by the dead.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Unusual Suspects

Andrew Scott Joins ‘Knives Out 3’ Cast

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 30, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, mystery fans! I inhaled the delightful and hilarious first season of We Are Lady Parts (Peacock). It’s a punk band of very different adult Muslim women, and the newest member has massive stage fright, is in love with a bandmate’s brother, and is hiding from her friends that she’s in a band — what could go wrong? I love that the first season felt complete to watch in one run and also that there is a second season dropping on May 30th. The show’s creator, Nida Manzoor, wrote and directed the very awesome and fun film Polite Society — in case you’ve yet to see it.

Bookish Goods

hard enamel pin of a purple book with adorable face wearing headphones

Headphone Book Hard Enamel Pin by BiblioChicShop

I love this adorable pin for audiobook readers! ($13)

New Releases

Return to Blood (A Hana Westerman Thriller #2) by Michael Bennett

For fans of former detectives back on a case and murder mysteries set in New Zealand!

Hana Westerman has quit the force and moved back home with her father, Eru, in Tātā Bay. Decades ago, a Māori man was convicted of the murder of a fellow classmate of Hana’s, and Eru has always believed they convicted the wrong person. Now another skeleton is found in the same dunes where Hana’s classmate was found dead, and even though Hana is no longer officially a detective, she’s drawn back into a murder investigation…

If you want to start at the beginning of the series, pick up Better The Blood!

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

For fans of remote island mysteries and reality TV shows!

Because Lyla’s life is in a not great place, she decides to join her actor boyfriend on a reality TV show. Set to compete against other couples on an island, things quickly take a turn for worse when a storm knocks out power and the contestants don’t have cell phones. Now these competing strangers have to work together to survive…

Ware has consistently been publishing a mystery/thriller a year since her 2015 debut, In a Dark, Dark Wood, so backlist readers have plenty to read.

Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

These are two books that I loved experiencing the way they unfold, taking you down a very different path from where you start — which is all I’ll say because the fun is not knowing and watching it happen!

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones

This is for fans of slasher films and fantastic first-person narrative voice!

Sawyer is about to graduate high school and it seems that something is taking revenge on him and his friend group…

Bonus: You should definitely have on your radar Graham Jones’s July release I Was A Teenage Slasher.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

For fans of revenge and school settings!

Teddy Crutcher is an English teacher at an academy and is constantly in a war with everyone around him — including students and parents — where he secretly punishes them in ways that he thinks will “correct” their behavior. And then a student dies…

New and Roundups

The Knives Out 3 Title Has a Deeper Meaning

Andrew Scott Joins Knives Out 3 Cast

Mix The Jinx and Sesame Street, and you get Benedict Cumberbatch’s Eric

James Patterson has finished a Michael Crichton manuscript

Daisy Jones & the Six Star Camila Morrone Joins Tom Hiddleston in The Night Manager Season 2

A Classic Crime Movie Is Finally Getting A Sequel – As An HBO Series

BBC acquires new crime thriller The Turkish Detective

The Oklahoma State Board of Education is trying to revoke a teacher’s license for giving kids access to the library and books.

Browse all the books recommended in Unusual Suspects previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2023 releases. Check out this Unusual Suspects Pinterest board and get Tailored Book Recommendations!

Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy — you can find me under Jamie Canavés.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own, you can sign up here.

Read This Book

Read This Book…

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date May 30, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read This Book, your go-to newsletter if you’re looking to expand your TBR pile. Each week, I’ll recommend a book I think is an absolute must-read. Some will be new releases, some will be old favorites, and the books will vary in genre and subject matter every time. I hope you’re ready to get reading!

This is such a weird book recommendation for me, because I did love this book so much, but I also know it’s not going to be for everyone.

One time, I recommended this book to a new friend the first day I met her. I immediately regretted going so hard with someone I barely knew. What would she think of me? I was worried our friendship would be over before it even began. But then (I think?) she ended up liking it, and guess what? We’re still hanging out. So if you like this book, use it to see if your friends are really cool and can hang with you.

I’m just kidding. Please don’t test people like that. But do read this book, and then you can let me know if we’re still friends.

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

From childhood, Natsuki has felt like she doesn’t belong. Her family openly ridicules her. No one at school understands her. Her teacher takes advantage of her. The only way she can make sense of the world around her is through imagining that she has access to magic, and that she might secretly be an alien from another planet. Then there’s her cousin Yuu. In Yuu, Natsuki feels like she’s found another soul that is an outsider just like she is. But when Yuu and Natsuki are pulled apart, the two make a promise to each other: to survive. No matter what.

Now, Natsuki is an adult, and her feelings of alienation have only grown stronger. She’s married to a man who has zero interest in even touching her. Everyone around her is pressuring her to start a family. Meanwhile, Natsuki is relentlessly haunted by the nightmares of her past.

Natsuki is desperate for an escape from the pressures of adulthood and the expectations of what it means to be a productive member of society. And so she heads to the only place that ever made her feel at home: her family retreat in the mountains of Nagano, far away from the judgmental eyes of her peers. What’s more, she invites Yuu to meet her there. But Yuu comes to Nagano with his own thoughts about how to escape society. Will he be ready to keep his promise to Natsuki? And what will these two be capable of doing when they’re reunited?

This novel, as you might have already gleaned, is dark and disturbing. Content warnings for nearly everything you can think of: cannibalism, incest, sexual assault, murder, trauma, child abuse. This book is anything but an easy read. Like Natsuki, I found myself really clinging on to the more fantastical moments of this novel, hoping for moments of solace amidst the bleakness of what’s happening to our main character. And yet with all of that being said, I could not put Earthlings down. Not for a second.

Earthlings really spoke to me as a heart-breaking narrative of losing oneself in past trauma and feeling suffocated by the expectations of others. While Natsuki’s circumstances are extreme, I think a lot of us (myself included) can identify with those feelings. I also loved that author Sayaka Murata wasn’t afraid of making this story really, really strange. Here, Murata is taking a lot of the themes and ideas from her novel Convenience Store Woman and exploding them into something horrifying and earth-shatteringly unique. So if you read that and thought to yourself, “I wish this main character would just set the world on fire,” Earthlings might be your book. If you love good books, even if they make you super uncomfy, Earthlings might be for you.

Happy weekend reading, bibliophiles! Feel free to follow me on Instagram @emandhercat, and check out my other newsletters, The Fright Stuff and Book Radar!

Giveaways

053024-EACInternalPushes-May2024-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date May 30, 2024

We’re teaming up with Gungnir to give away a 1-year subscription to Tailored Book Recommendations (TBR) to one lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win, or click the image below!

Here’s a bit more from our sponsor: We believe creators deserve a spotlight, a gateway to the broad, energized audiences hungry for journeys of inspiration, tales of might, and sagas of magnitude… adventures that challenge and delight.‍

We live the attitude of punk rock, manifested by the power of subversive storytelling. GUNGNIR knows that today’s fresh creators are 21st Century philosophers, provocateurs, and mythmakers.. Their voices, ideas, and inspired views of society will ignite the conversations that shape tomorrow.

We’re here to stand watch as new worlds grow. The first and best defense against the mundane dark might seem like a blade. But at GUNGNIR…we know the right story can cut even deeper.

What's Up in YA

Love in an MMORPG, A Sinister Finishing School, and More YA Book Talk and News: May 30, 2024

Post author By Kelly Jensen
Post date May 29, 2024

Sponsored by

Hey, YA Readers!

I hope if you had a long weekend that you were able to relax with a good book and if you had a normal weekend that you carved out a little time to do so, too. It feels fully like summer is here, and my TBR is topped with tons of forthcoming late summer and early fall reads, so I’m all set to enjoy it as much as possible.

Since we missed Monday’s newsletter, today you’ll get some hardcover releases featured, with mentions of a couple of paperbacks as well. Then we’ll dive into the news like usual on Thursdays.

Ready. Set. Let’s book nerd!

Bookish Goods

Melted Popsicle Bookmark by ChameleonPrinting

How sweet (heh) are these 3D-printed bookmarks that look like melted popsicles? I’m especially fond of the green and orange ones, which would be the popsicles I’d be picking out from a pack. $8 each.

New Releases

There are actually more paperback releases this week than hardcover titles, so I’m going to do something a little different this week. You’ll get to check out three hardcover releases, followed by a handful of paperback releases. As always, full lists of hardcover releases and paperback releases are available at the respective links.

Flawless Girls by Anne-Marie McLemore

The Soler sisters are supposed to be polished and poised in polite society, but they aren’t. Their grandmother, who has raised them, has not cared until now. She realizes that life will be especially difficult for two Latina girls if they can’t at least blend in with their manners and attitudes. Grandma is able to get both girls a spot at Alarie House, a prestigious and hard-to-get-into finishing school.

In one day, younger sister Isla has come back home. She cannot do it, and she cannot stand how fake everything is at Alarie. Older sister Renata, though, sticks it out and when she comes home months later, she is a completely different person. Isla sees Renata behaving with eerie politeness and pleasantness…and murderousness. The night Renata returns home, she also vanishes.

While Grandma does what she can to find Renata, Isla decides to go back to Alarie House and find out what’s going on there. But it is a demanding finishing school and it certainly isn’t going to simply tell Isla what’s going on.

Hurdles in the Dark by Elvira K. Gonzalez

This is a harrowing work of nonfiction about author Elvira’s life as a teenager in the border town of Laredo, Texas. At 14, she was given 24 hours to find $40,000; the drug cartels had her mother and that was the cost of her mother’s freedom.

Caught up in the Mexican Drug War, Elvira ends up in a dangerous juvenile detention facility. When she’s finally released, she’s bound and determined never to go back, and she works toward realizing her new dream: getting an athletic scholarship to get her out of Laredo. She is working her butt off to become as good as possible at track and field, including breaking into her school before the sun rises to get extra practice time in. Although she catches the attention of a highly decorated high school coach, his attention soon turns to more than her performance on the team. Now, at 17, Elvira is dealing with the pressure of being sexual with an adult man in his 30s—it’s a reality of young athletes in too many situations, especially those teen athletes who are from any marginalized background.

Though tough and tragic, Elvira succeeds in her journey, becoming the first in her family to go to college and a top-ranking hurdler.

Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth

This is an enemies-to-lovers romance set in the world of MMORPG.

Viola is over the fact that her friend thinks she needs to be more likable, that her campaign for a tabletop game was rejected, and that the person in the position of student body president—Jack—is annoying and too laid back, which makes her job as vice president so much harder than necessary. She finds stress relief and joy in the MMORPG called Twelfth Knight, even though that isn’t a particularly safe space for an outspoken, confident girl like her either. To solve this problem, she creates a masculine alter ego in the game and suddenly, she finds herself being respected a heck of a lot more.

So when Jack sustains an injury and has himself become sucked into the world of Twelfth Knight, Viola is surprised at how well-matched their two online egos are. The problem is, of course, they get along too well online and, well, Jack doesn’t know that her fake persona online is her.

As for paperbacks, a few you’ll want to make sure you know have hit shelves this week—and read, obviously—include Enduring Freedom by Trent Reedy and Jawad Arash, Lying in the Deep by Diana Urban, Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi, Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian, and The Quince Project by Jessica Parra, which is one of the rare YA books that will release simultaneously as both a hardcover and paperback (and “rare” seems to be becoming less rare lately, which I love—give folks both at the same time and you reach your teen readers with the lower price point of a paperback and institutions like libraries with more durable hardcovers!).

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

YA Book News

Given the US holiday, it’s a quieter news week here.

I mentioned in this week’s Hey YA podcast episode that we’re seeing a number of older YA books being optioned for adaptation, and here’s one more. Gemma Malley’s 2007 dystopian The Declaration was picked up by a French studio. Since it’s international, it’s hard to say if this will see US screens.
Here’s another casting update for the adaptation of We Were Liars.

As always, thanks for hanging out. We’ll see you on Saturday with your YA book deals, followed by your regular Monday newsletter next week.

Until then, happy reading!

–Kelly Jensen, currently reading Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho

The Stack

Comics That Will Leave You Speechless

Post author By Eileen Gonzalez
Post date May 29, 2024

Sponsored by

I don’t know about you, but this May has seemed like at least three Mays in one, in ways both good and bad. What does June have in store for us? I have no idea, except that these comics could very well be a part of it!

Bookish Goods

An illustration of a woman reacting with surprise below the words "Vintage Horror mystery box"

1980s Horror Comics Mystery Gift Box by RadarsComics

Want to go on a scary mystery date, but in a good way? Surprise yourself with this gift box which includes individually selected horror comics, a shirt, candy, and more! $55

New Releases

The Man from Maybe by Jordan Thomas and Shaky Kane

The apocalypse was going well for the unscrupulous billionaire profiting off everyone else’s suffering — until an alien ship, surely loaded with valuable cargo, crashes. Who will get there first: the billionaire’s lackeys, or the outlaw known only as the Man from Maybe? And what does victory mean on a dying planet like this one?

Star Trek: Celebrations by Various Creators

Let the Pride Month specials commence! This anthology features stories by queer creators about the various queer characters from across Star Trek’s many iterations. Fans of every series from the original to Lower Decks are sure to be pleased with this offering!

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: no words! You can’t have a comic book without pictures, but you can have one without words. These graphic novels show how powerful a wordless story can be!

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Seeking a better life for one’s family all too often means leaving that family behind and venturing to places unknown. That is the case of this graphic novel’s main character, who must experience the good, the bad, the frightening, and the incredible of immigration all on his own.

Viewfinder by Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka

This comic for young readers follows an astronaut who lands on an abandoned Earth and views its many — perhaps former? — wonders through a special device. As she goes in search of these wonders, she begins to realize that Earth may not be as abandoned as she thought.

A white Havanese shot from the back, wearing a pink shirt with a red heart. Black letters across the heart read "I Love Mommy"

This week, I will leave you with a photo of my dog Poppy showing off the T-shirt we bought her. It is very accurate, I assure you!

~Eileen

Kissing Books

Plus-Sized Romance Recs

Post author By P.N. Hinton
Post date May 29, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome, or welcome back, to the Kissing Books newsletter. I’m PN Hinton, your guide to all things romance-related. Thanks for taking time from your day to give this a read! I hope this newsletter helps to brighten up your day just a little bit more.

It’s good to see y’all again! If you had a long weekend I hope that you enjoyed it and that it was restful and recharging. Mine was fairly decent and yesterday was the last day of school, which means the Teenager is out for summer break. So, all in all, it’s going well over here.

Bookish Goods

Sit Down and Read Bookmark by KinsBins

Sometimes all you need is a little bit of a firm directive followed by some sweet encouragement to remind yourself to take time for your TBR. $10

New Releases

cover of A Little Kissing Between Friends

A Little Kissing Between Friends by Chencia C. Higgins

When an altercation occurs between exotic dancer Juleesa and music producer Cyn’s latest fling, the life-long besties begin to wonder if there is more between them than a platonic friendship. However, it’s not just years of friendship at risk here as Juleesa is also Cyn’s muse for her musical tracks, which puts their respective careers in jeopardy. This leaves them wondering if a chance at true love outweighs what could happen if it doesn’t work out and if they’re willing to take that risk.

The Ride of Her Life by Jennifer Dugan

When Molly inherits a struggling horse barn from an estranged aunt, she first views it as just another burden that she has to juggle. After seeing it, she changes her mind, thinking about how the profits from selling it could help her start her wedding event planning business. However, Shani, her aunt’s friend and the resident farrier, is determined to stop that from happening. As the two women butt heads over the future of the farm and land, feelings soon develop between them and have them wondering if there is a way for them to both get what they want as well as each other.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

If you’re following me over on Instagram, you may have seen when I shared this post from author Jenna Louise Skinner on a reporter from The Spectator and their ugly and fatphobic take on Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Featherington.

I’m not linking to the article since you can see from that snippet there it doesn’t deserve any more traffic than it has already gotten. It screams of fatphobia as well as internalized misogyny and is a disgusting take in 2024. As I’ve stated multiple times, the discourse around Penelope and Colin’s story is whether or not the latter was deserving of the former and not the other way around.

In response to that, I’m going to highlight some books that celebrate plus-sized bodies and show that big girls are deserving of love too. Also, note you can pick up any of the aforementioned author’s books as well and should because they’re awesome.

The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert

After Cherry is caught in a compromising position with Prince Ruben, the latter quickly puts together a fake engagement scheme to help save his reputation. While Cherry is none too pleased with being backed into a corner, she agrees to go along with the charade. When she finds out that his alleged fairy tale life is less than rosy, she becomes determined to help him find happiness in any way she can and soon falls in love with the tragic prince.

cover image of Knit, Purl, and a Baby Girl by Hettie Bell

Knit, Purl, a Baby, and a Girl by Hettie Bell

After ending up with a positive pregnancy test, Poppy decides that, even though this was not in her plans, she is going to keep the baby. She joins a knitting group to get a feeling of community she is missing from her own family and to start making baby clothes. At her first meeting, there is an instant spark between her and the group leader Rhiannon. However, Rhiannon doesn’t consider herself a family woman and Poppy has a baby on the way. Soon, the two will have to decide if theirs is a fling or if there is a happily ever after in their future.

The Wake Country Public Library will be hosting a Zoom webinar showcasing and celebrating some popular LGBTQIA+ authors and stories. If interested, you can sign up here.

If you’re looking for a book—or two—to pack in your summer beach bag, check out this list!

And that’s all I have for y’all today. I’ll be back in your inboxes on Monday with a fresh newsletter and in the meantime you can always catch up with my over on Instagram under @pns_bookish_world. Until then, happy reading and stay hydrated!