Riot New Media – Page 42

5 mystery and thriller movies on Prime Video with 95% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date May 7, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi mystery fans! I finished reading, and loved, the novel Interesting Facts About Space, which is not a mystery book, but the main character is obsessed with true crime and thinks someone is breaking into her apartment, plus the book has twists, so I think mystery fans looking to read contemporary novels would especially love it. I also started watching the fun show Dead Boy Detectives, because I am always here for ghosts solving mysteries. Bonus: there is an awesome psychic played by Kassius Nelson, and Jenn Lyons, from Claws, plays a deliciously evil witch!

Looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift? Go beyond the tried and true flowers and chocolate and give the gift of reading with Tailored Book Recommendations! Our bibliologists are standing by to help your mom find her next favorite read, delivered right to her inbox or doorstep. And with gifts starting at just $18, there’s something for any budget! Head to mytbr.co/gift to send the gift of reading to the book nerd in your life!

Bookish Goods

person sitting on sofa looking at a table that is in a table stand in front of them

Tablet Floor Stand by BluuSuuk

I recently purchased this and would marry it if I could. I found reading in bed uncomfortable lately with either having to hold my ereader up in the air or having to look down at it in my lap, so I finally decided to try a tablet stand and it was the best decision ever. This was super easy to assemble (you twist the three parts together), the arm moves in all directions so you can always put it how you want, and the base is heavy, so it doesn’t tip over (at least not with my paperwhite reader). I bought a remote control page turner to go with it and I am in reading heaven! ($48)

New Releases

cover image for The Return of Ellie Black

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

For fans of dual POV mysteries (one a detective), and a missing person now found mystery!

Ellie Black disappeared when she was 17. Now she’s 19 and has been found. Her family is thrilled to have her back, even knowing that whatever may have happened to Ellie could have changed her. What no one is prepared for is that Ellie doesn’t want to participate in her own investigation. This doesn’t stop Detective Chelsey Calhoun from investigating. Not only is she doing it for Ellie, but Detective Calhoun’s sister was murdered when she was a kid, and she’s always felt guilty, like somehow she could have done something to stop it. So she’s going to help Ellie regardless of what Ellie wants, and she’s going to need to figure out what Ellie isn’t sharing…

This does a great job of going into both women’s lives, slowly revealing the past, along with everything that is unfolding in the present.

(TW past father death of cancer/ sexual assault exam/ mentions past overdose/ mentions past suicidal thoughts, attempt/ kidnapping/ past murder suicide/ sexual assault/ hunting)

I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclayay

For fans of twisty thrillers with multiple POV including a detective and the bad guys!

Richard Boyle is a high school English teacher thrust into the spotlight as a hero when he saves the school from a suicide bomber. Except his life quickly spirals into a nightmare: the bomber’s parents are suing; former student Billy Finster sees Richard on the news and decides to blackmail him. Billy owes drug dealers money when his stash was mysteriously lighter than it was supposed to be and he sees Richard as his way out by blackmailing him that he’ll tell everyone that Richard sexually abused him once unless he pays him the money he needs. Richard, who is married to a school principal in the district and has a detective sister-in-law, assumes Billy is confusing him with another teacher and quickly makes a series of ill-advised decisions thinking he can handle these problems quietly on his own. Both Billy and Richard find themselves further down the hole, playing a cat-and-mouse game, as Richard’s sister-in-law is dangerously following a pair of drug dealers…

Linwood remains one of my go-to thriller authors!

(TW addiction, overdose death/ past teen sexual assault accusation/ panic attacks/ groping/ past suicide/ brief suicide on page/ teen predator, no graphic scenes)

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

Riot Recommendations

Here are two backlist titles with “spy” in the title, one nonfiction and one fiction!

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

This is a character driven spy novel set in the ’80s where Marie Mitchell, a Black FBI agent, is writing a letter to her two sons hoping to explain recent events. You learn about Mitchell’s childhood, recruitment into the FBI, and how the U.S. meddled in Burkina Faso’s politics…

cover image for Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott

This is a biography of four women who went undercover during the Civil War: Elizabeth Van Lew was a wealthy widow who organized an espionage ring; Belle Boyd was a spy and courier for the Confederate army who shot a Union soldier in her home; Emma Edmonds enlisted in the army by disguising as a man; Rose O’Neale Greenhow was a spy for the Confederacy by getting intel from Northern politicians.

News and Roundups

Here Are The 2024 Edgar Award Winners for Best Mysteries

May 20th, 7pm EST: Tune in for a lively conversation with MEG GARDINER, KELLYE GARRETT, OMAR TYREE & NOLAN CHASE and our own Rogue, TRACY CLARK, as MC. All are live, all talking about their new books and taking your questions.

5 mystery and thriller movies on Prime Video with 95% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes

Are Librarians Criminals? These Bills Would Make Them So

Will Trent Only Needed One Scene To Remind Me Why It’s One Of TV’s Most Fun Dramas, And I’m So Glad It’s Streaming

‘Only Murders’ Songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Go for EGOT With ‘Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?’ at Emmys

‘Presumed Innocent’ Trailer: Jake Gyllenhaal Is On Trial For Murder In Apple TV+’s Legal Thriller

Liberty and Vanessa discuss new releases including Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett on All The Books!

Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2024 releases and mysteries from 2023. 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 Bluesky, 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.

Past Tense

Sick Fiction for Sick Readers

Post author By Rachel Brittain
Post date May 7, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi historical fiction fans,

I am, somehow, struggling through my third illness of the year. I’m fortunate that none of them have left me seriously ill, but I’m also very tired of not feeling well. So you can see where the theme from this week’s newsletter came from. I wish I had the energy to tell you some funny anecdote about the litter of seven kittens I’m fostering right now or my dog and her cousin, who I’m currently watching, and all the fun they’re having in what we’re calling “doggie summer camp,” but I just don’t. You’ll just have to trust me that all the animals are very cute and providing some much needed snuggles and laughs–and only a little bit of extra work for their sick caretaker.

Bookish Goods

a white siker of black text that reads "a well read woman is a dangerous creature." The sticker rests against a stack of books.

A Well Read Woman Sticker from Sauce box Stickers

This sticker is perfect for e-readers, laptops, and water bottles alike. $3.50

New Releases

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung (May 7, 2024)

As civil war rages in China, the wealthy Ang family is more concerned by their lack of a male heir than the coming violence. Four daughters and their mother are left behind as the men flee the Communist party, and now, the women of the Ang family are left to feel the party’s wrath. But they’re also resourceful and determined, and soon they set off on a harrowing journey to escape to Taiwan and confront the family who left them behind.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club book cover

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson (May 7, 2024)

In the years after the end of WWI, Constance Haverhill is just one of many women forced to give up the position she had during the war to the men returning from the front. She finds a surprising promise of something better after rescuing a baronet’s daughter from a social faux pas when she’s invited to join a motorcycle club for women. The country is celebrating its victory and on the brink of change, but for these young women, it’s also a time of loss as the privileges and freedom they were granted during the war are snatched away.

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

Riot Recommendations

I’m sick and exhausted, so this week’s newsletter we’re talking historical fiction about illness.

The Pull of Stars by Emma Donoghue

I’m always fascinated by the 1918 influenza pandemic and its parallels to Covid-19. Emma Donoghue brings her character-driven narrative to this topic in a story about a nurse working in an understaffed hospital ward for expectant mothers with the flu. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful and oh so human in its exploration of how we face death and disease and each other.

King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner

When Victor Chin is diagnosed with leprosy as a teenager, his life is turned completely upside down. Forced to quarantine at a facility with other patients, Victor fears his life is over. But soon he finds a certain sense of freedom away from family expectations and surrounded by a diverse cast of characters. With a groundbreaking cure on the horizon, Victor will have to face a question he’s not sure he ready for: will he be able to keep this new version of himself if he leaves?

That’s it for now, folks! Stay subscribed for more stories of yesteryear.

If you want to talk books, historical or otherwise, you can find me @rachelsbrittain on most social media, including Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy.

Right now I’m reading Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons. What about you?

Read This Book

Read This Book…

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date May 7, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read this Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that needs to jump onto your TBR pile! Sometimes these books are brand new releases that I don’t want you to miss, while others are some of my backlist favorites. This week, let’s talk about one of my most anticipated nonfiction books of the season.

Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s World of Wonders is one of my most recommended books of all time. Ever since it came out in 2020, I’ve been sharing it with anyone who will listen. With its beautiful illustrations of plants and animals — combined with Nezhukumatathil’s personal essays — it’s the perfect book for any lover of the natural world.

Bite by Bite continues this tradition, but this time, Nezhukumatathil is writing about her favorite foods. In one essay, she describes some of her favorite memories shared with friends and family eating shave ice. In another, she shares her experience feasting upon different varieties of watermelon at a watermelon festival. I especially loved how Nezhukumatathil describes her love of fruits of all kinds — jackfruit, Saba banana, pineapple, mango, lychee, miracle fruit — she treasures them all.

As she shares her memories around her favorite foods, each essay celebrates Nezhukumatathil’s life. She has such a unique way of giving readers glimpses of her life, giving us details about her family’s love of mangos or parties of all kinds featuring lumpia. Every dish or ingredient holds a special place in her heart.

With its illustrations, Bite by Bite is the perfect gift book for any food lover. Fumi Nakamura illustrates the foods featured in every chapter, making each essay feel unique. And if you’re an audiobook lover, you will fall head-over-heels in love with Nezhukumatathil’s performance. Her warm and inviting voice is so calm and restorative. It’s like you’re at the farmer’s market and she’s sharing about her favorite finds with you as you peruse the different stalls. She possesses such a personable tone as she shares her memories with listeners.

That’s it from me 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

Kissing Books

12 Immersive Romantic Adventure Stories To Take You Away

Post author By Samm Saxby
Post date May 7, 2024

Sponsored by

This post is written by Jessica Pryde.

What is an immersive romantic adventure story? The first word is easy: immersive simply means the reader will immediately be pulled into the story, whether it’s through the hook, the plot, or the storytelling itself. The stories in this list vary in terms of how the story is told, but they all have that one thing that will keep you going.

As for romantic — I’m a Romance Novel reader, so a lot of these stories have a love story at their center and an emotionally satisfying ending. But they don’t all have a Happily Ever After because a story can be romantic without that. Since I’m me, though, I’m giving you quite a few love stories steeped in adventure and topped with a HEA or Happy For Now.

Adventure is the hardest aspect to define. Very often, we think of an adventure as something that requires a journey, like Romancing the Stone or Outlander. One or both of the characters are out of their element, and there’s a quest or destination involved. Maybe there’s some element of suspense or danger from an external source — someone is on the run, or there’s a quest to save the world (or maybe just a person). Some adventures might take us to exotic or unfamiliar locations, while others happen right in our backyard. As long as there’s excitement and danger involved, either from the environment or from people — or, in the best cases, from both! — we can call something an adventure. (Why then, you’re asking, don’t romantic suspense novels count as adventure? I have no good answer; they just don’t, sorry.)

The books I’ve pulled together are adventures of all kinds. Some are set in the here and now, while others are set in the past or in fantasy lands. Some are a little more serious, while others are light and fun. There are spies, and pirates, and worlds upon worlds. There are some of our favorite romance novel tropes. There are road trips, and kidnappings, and other kinds of over-the-top action. Many of these stand alone, but others are the start of a series.

Now, let’s set off on our own adventure through romantic adventure stories!

Shaken to the Core by Jae

A good way to send folks on an adventure is to offer them a natural disaster to survive through, and Jae doesn’t pull any punches with sending her main characters through the wringer in 1906 San Francisco. Kate and Giuliana, two women from very different backgrounds, are brought together when Giuliana comes to work as a maid in Kate’s household. They have a connection, but it’s 1906, and their attraction is unfamiliar and very much Not Acceptable. When tragedy strikes, they have to rely on each other to make it through to the other side of the devastation that ravages the city in the form of earthquakes and fire.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura

If you want something a little more light, Raiders of the Lost Heart is a jungle-based adventure that will draw the eye of folks who enjoyed Romancing the Stone and The Lost City. Academic rivals Corrie and Ford wind up working together on an archaeological dig when Corrie gets kinda tricked into coming to help Ford on the project that he literally stole from under her. She would turn it down, except for the fact that it’s her biggest passion and life’s work to find the burial site of her warrior ancestor. But their search turns into a bit of misadventure when thieves, authorities, and the landscape itself get in their way.

Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway

A historical Charlie’s Angels, you say? (Seriously, the series is literally called Lady Charlotte’s Society of Angels.) Yes, please.

Livy loves two things: solving mysteries and the Duke of Hadleigh. One of those things is surprisingly more attainable than the other, especially when she is recruited into a ladies’ society of spies. Of course, little does she know that Ben, the duke himself, is also set on helping those in need, all while getting his Victorian Batman on as a masked avenger. As the two are brought together by danger, their relationship evolves in the most unexpected ways. (I will add that there is a notable age gap if that’s not your thing, and she has been in love with him since she was 13.)

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert

If you’re searching for an adventure story that is surprisingly low-key, this might be the series starter for you. Witch Evelyn steals something from her vampire ex-girlfriend and somehow ends up escaping through a portal to another world. She’s picked up by pirates in the land between realms and must not only traverse this new experience, but also deal with the telekinetic captain of said pirates. And whatever might be going on between them.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

This magical successor to the Amelia Peabody Mysteries, this book has everything: mystery, intrigue, displacement, an “infuriatingly handsome assistant,” and all the other great things that contribute to a historical adventure story.

Inez is living The Life in 19th Century Buenos Aires — or she would be if her parents were ever at home. When she inherits their fortune after their sudden death abroad, Inez travels to Cairo to find answers from her new guardian and sets on a journey to find the truth about her parents, the ring her father left her, and the old world magic that seems to be drawing her in.

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

Back in the twenty-first century, we’ve got the modern-day successor to Romancing the Stone in romance novel form, in which two people who really can’t stand each other are stuck together in the wilderness for far longer than either of them would like. Lily leads fake treasure hunts through the wilderness, and Leo is the last man she ever wants to see again (okay, maybe her dead dad has that honor, but Leo is pretty close). But when their planned fake treasure hunt turns into a very real Dangerous Adventure, they have to work together to figure out how to get back to civilization.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Flying houses, swashbuckling, and the perfect will-they-or-won’t-they of Actual Enemies To Lovers: what more could you want in an adventure romance? Did I mention the flying houses? Cecilia is a novice member of the Wisteria Society who wants nothing more than to prove herself. When she comes across assassin Ned breaking into her house, we’re put on the path of an adventure like no other.

Deal With the Devil by Kit Rocha

This is a completed series by Kit Rocha (the new one is all about dragons and court intrigue), but that just means you can slam through it without having to wait for another book to release! The logline for this one is “Orphan Black meets post-apocalyptic Avengers,” and you’re going to get everything that works in those two universes here!

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Come for the adventure, stay for the Words. Erin Morgenstern has only published two books, but they were both worth the wait for the storytelling alone. Here, we have story upon story upon story, with one reluctant hero at the center. We go from present-day New York to worlds beyond and continue to guess with every chapter.

(I could wax poetic about this book for several pages, but it’s better to go in knowing very little!)

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

Do you want to laugh your way through an adventure? Kimberly Lemming is your girl. In this series opener, Cinnamon’s family are spice farmers (of course), and you can take it exactly as it says on the tin. Cin gets drunk with her BFF Brie (who, yes, is a cheesemonger), and on the way home from town finds herself on the wrong end of a demon attack. When she surprisingly breaks him out of the haze he’s been cursed into, he…asks…her to help him on a quest to save all demonkind from the witch who cursed them. Road trip, here we go!

A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane

Speaking of road trips, two people on either side of a war find themselves unlikely traveling partners in this incredibly violent and gory fantasy romance. (This one is also quite the doorstopper, which few of the rest are.) Maddek and Yvenne each have their own reasons for entering an alliance, and both of them involve bloodshed in some way. But as they travel together, getting into and out of all kinds of trouble, they learn more about each other and themselves.

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai

Let’s wrap things up with a caper!

Mira and Naveen are very boring people, and they like it that way. Mira has determined that the best way to find the quiet future she desires is to go through a matchmaker, and Naveen would be just the type she’s looking for. If only they hadn’t already met. And dated. And broken up. Now, however, they find themselves spending one wild night in Vegas, dealing with all kinds of Bad Actors. Maybe this will help bring the two of them together?

Kid Lit Giveaways

050724-BJK_KidlitGiveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date May 7, 2024

We’re giving away ten copies of It’s Her Story: Billie Jean King A Graphic Novel by Donna Tapellini, illustrated by Maria Lia Malandrino to ten lucky Riot readers!

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

Billie Jean King is an iconic tennis champion and activist who changed the world of women’s sports. She was named the world’s top-ranked female tennis player six times and won thirty-nine Grand Slam titles. As powerful off the court as on it, Billie Jean helped pass historic laws against gender discrimination. She continues to fight for equality for women and the LGBTQ+ community to this day. This is her story.

Giveaways

050724-EACInternalPushes-May2024-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date May 7, 2024

We’re teaming up with Dreamscape to give away a 12-credit bundle to Libro.fm to one lucky winner!

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

Here’s a bit more about the Dreamscape Audiobook Newsletter: Sign up to learn about Dreamscape’s newest audiobook releases, hear about audiobooks deals, and be the first to know about our giveaways!

The Stack

The Happiest Newsletter on Earth

Post author By Eileen Gonzalez
Post date May 6, 2024

Sponsored by

Hey, folks!

It looks like this is my 200th edition of the Stack! Yay! I didn’t realize that fact early enough to plan a celebration, but as luck would have it, the theme I planned for today is kind of appropriate anyway.

Bookish Goods

The Flash Embroidered Hat – “Dad Hat” Style – Over 30 Colors – Barry Allen – Comic Book Hat – Superhero – Free U.S. Shipping – Red by OnTheMapHats

Okay, so it won’t give you superspeed, but you can pick whichever color you want, and that’s pretty groovy too. $27+

New Releases

Karen’s Sleepover by Ann M. Martin, Adapted by Katy Farina

In this adaptation of a classic “Baby-Sitters Little Sister” novel (hi, ’90s kids!), Karen is really looking forward to her first sleepover. When a fight with her friend Nancy threatens to upend all of the fun, Karen will have to find a way to make up with Nancy so that everyone has a good time!

Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, Adapted by Koji Kondo

Musashi, a 17th century samurai famous for psyching out his opponents in order to defeat them (check out the Puppet History episode for more!), recorded his experiences and wisdom in his Book of Five Rings. This manga adaptation follows the young apprentices who devote themselves to learning at the feet of this unconventional fighting master.

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

Riot Recommendations

Today’s Riot Rec theme is: theme parks II! I did this theme last year, but after all, what good is an amusement park if you can’t revisit it once in a while?

Huda F Cares? by Huda Fahmy

Huda thought the most exciting part of her summer vacation would be getting contacts. Then her parents surprise her with a trip to Disney World! As much fun as the parks are, can Huda survive her annoying sisters and her own anxiety about being Muslim outside the confines of her hometown?

Hide by Kiersten White and Veronica and Andy Fish, Adapted by Scott Peterson

If you were offered $50,000 to spend a week avoiding capture at the abandoned Amazement Park, would you? What about if the penalty for failure was death? Mack didn’t quite realize what she was signing up for at the time, but now that she knows the stakes, she will do whatever she can to survive — and help the other contestants survive, too.

A white Havanese stands up on a chair, her front paws together on the arm, staring intently out of a plant-lined window.

Here is my dog Poppy at one of her favorite amusements: standing on a chair so she can look out the window and bark at the passersby!

~Eileen

Swords and Spaceships

A Double Dose of New Sci-Fi & Fantasy Releases

Post author By Alex Acks
Post date May 6, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and what I’ve got for you are a LOT of new releases. Like, so many. I complain all the time about December being the land of no books, and apparently that’s because all of the books are just clumped up at this end of the year.

So what I’ve got is a double dose of new releases today and lined up for Friday as well, and I’m still chewing on the edge of my desk because there are even more I want to tell you about. It’s going to be a wild month. Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!

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

Robot Table Lamp by HLDNShop

Andrea Hairston’s new book mentions “Circus Bots” which sound adorable. When I looked around on etsy, I found a lot of clown robots, which were definitely not my cup of tea, and then I found this cute guy who just wants to help you read. $45

New Releases

Archangels of Funk by Andrea Hairston

Society has nearly been destroyed by ecological disaster–there were the Water Wars, the refugees running from floods, the nostalgia militias roaming the roads. In a world where Darknet Lords establish their territory by “trolling” on the internet, Cinnamon (with her Circus-Bots and dogs) does her best to providing housing, healthcare, food, and education in a community of farmers that’s taking in refugees. With the Darknet Lords and the militias eyeing her home, Cinnamon must find a way to build a future, protect her community, and honor her past.

The Traitor’s Son by Dave Duncan

Doig Gray lives in a world where everything has gone wrong and the planet is dying around him–though those in power say nothing because they’re hoping it won’t end until they’re dead and gone. Doig’s father is killed in a mining “accident” for his dissident attitudes and Doig is under close scrutiny, watched to unsure he will not become the next folk-hero “traitor” as he becomes increasingly aware that something is horribly wrong with the world around him.

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

Riot Recommendations

Extra helping of new releases, part one!

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

It’s been a decade since Malik’s mother disappeared on the same night he discovered he possesses uncontrollable magic. At 17, he unexpectedly finds himself taken in to Caiman University–a hidden, magical university that his mother once attended. But as he begins to search for information about his heritage and what truly happened to his mother, he finds the fractures in his newly-found community–and a recently reawakened evil that dates back to the Haitian Revolution.

The Deer and the Dragon by Piper CJ

Marlow has long questioned her own sanity because the alternative would be far worse–that angels and demons exist, she can see them, and one of those terrifying entities has been hanging over her shoulder as long as she can remember. Until one of the fae shows up to inform her that no, it’s all real, and that entity? A Prince of Hell. Who immediately goes missing…

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.

The Kids Are All Right

AAPI Picture Books And More Great Kids’ Books!

Post author By Margaret Kingsbury
Post date May 6, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Tuesday, kidlit friends! After months of being sick, I took my first hike today, and it was so nice to get out and see all the green.

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, every book I’m reviewing today is by an AAPI author.

Bookish Goods

Girl with a Book Print by Momisdrawing

Did you know picture book illustrator Joy Hwang Ruiz has an Etsy store? I adore her luminous illustrations. This one of a girl reading is gorgeous. $29

New Releases

Tala Learns to Siva by Kealani Netane, illustrated by Dung Ho

Tala loves watching her Aunty Sina perform the taualuga, a Samoan dance performed at the end of events. After watching her dance, Tala asks if Aunty Sina can teach her, and she agrees. However, learning to siva like Aunty Sina is hard and takes a lot of practice. Aunty Sina tells Tala that the siva is about honoring their ancestors and their stories and that it’s important to remember that while dancing. At her grandmother’s birthday party, Tala dances the taualuga and remembers her ancestors as she does so. This is such a sweet picture book about Samoan culture.

Growing Up under a Red Flag by Ying Chang Compestine & Xinmei Liu

I’m not sure I’ve ever read a picture book about the Chinese Cultural Revolution until now. This is a phenomenal picture book memoir of the author’s childhood during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Compestine’s parents were doctors and enjoyed learning different languages and had many books. When she turned five, Mao Zedong banned books in English as well as speaking foreign languages. Restrictions continued and then, a leader of the Red Guard took up residence in their home. Eventually, Compestine’s father was arrested. She wouldn’t see him again until Mao’s death when she was 13. Back matter includes an author’s note and photographs. This picture book is a great conversation starter about this major period in contemporary history. The realistic illustrations are unforgettable. This is one I expect to see on some award lists.

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

Riot Recommendations

In a previous newsletter, I reviewed AAPI middle grade books, so this time I’m reviewing picture books. A ton have released this year! This is just a small sampling.

My Lost Freedom by George Takei, illustrated by Michelle Lee

Star Trek actor George Takei first described his time in Japanese American incarceration camps in his excellent YA graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy. Now he’s written about his experiences for picture book readers. Takei was 4 years old when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Soon after, he and his family of five were forced to leave their Los Angeles home and live in a series of Japanese incarceration camps. Takei relates how he, his family, and other children found ways to make the camps home, even amid the unconscionable. Back matter includes an author’s note, photographs, and more about the history of Japanese Americans during and after World War II. Lee’s soft illustrations are lovely. This is a great addition to the growing number of picture books about WWII Japanese incarceration camps.

The House Before Falling into the Sea by Ann Suk Wang, illustrated by Hanna Cha

This is another stunning picture book about a moment in history that I have never seen covered in picture books—the Korean War. It’s based on the experiences of the author’s mother and her family, who sheltered refugees in their home by the sea during the War. Kyung is at first understandably shy of the refugees fleeing the war and coming to live in her house. More people come, day after day, and the family does their best to provide space, food, and kindness. Kyung tires of the constant noise and chores, but then she befriends one of the refugees. As the war comes ever closer, Kyung learns the importance of community and sticking together. Back matter includes author’s and illustrator’s notes about their families during the Korean War.

My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages by Uma Menon, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

This lovely picture book celebrates languages and family. Sumi’s mother speaks both Malayalam and English and weaves both languages into her daily interactions, like the warm tapestry illustrations. Sumi tells the story of her mother growing up in Kerala, studying English when she was 12, and then moving to America. Sumi then shares stories of how she’s learned both languages, of her travels to Kerala, and of the languages her family speaks there (like her aunt who knows four languages). It’s a beautiful homage to language based on the author’s childhood.

Kailani’s Gift by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao

This sweet picture book is about a young girl who wants to learn how to dance the tinikling—a traditional Filipino dance—for her Lolo and Lola’s anniversary celebration. As her older siblings practice, Kailani feels left out, but she has trouble recreating the pattern on the bamboo sticks, and her legs get tangled when she practices the steps with her father. But she keeps practicing, and she’s ready to dance the tinikling at her grandparents’s party. This is a really fun picture book.

Over the weekend, my daughter told us she was building a secret lair. She cleaned out her closet and then made this reading nook on one side. She read all three of the Cat and Cat Adventures books by herself in there! And Mama and Daddy were able to finish some chores, ha!

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

New Books

New Books for the First Tuesday of May!

Post author By Liberty Hardy
Post date May 6, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy May, my book friends! How was your weekend? I spent some time reading. Shocking, I know. I read a horror graphic novel coming out in September that I loved called Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath. It’s like Richard Scarry, but if the animals are homicidal. I also spent time watching the activity at the bird feeders in our backyard. I saw a yellow-rumped warbler, which we don’t usually see around here! (Yes, like the bird in the Key Bank commercial.) It was very exciting. And I started a little spring cleaning, despite that fact that spring is wrapping up–it still totally counts. I have grand dreams of reorganizing all my books, but I don’t know that I am quite ready to tackle that yet. I usually start moving them around and then abandon my plans because it cuts in on my reading time. Maybe this time I can get the cats to help me.

And speaking of books (always), it’s new release day! At the top of my list of books to acquire today are Ghostroots: Stories by ‘Pemi Aguda, How It Works Out by Myriam Lacroix, and The Skunks by Fiona Warnick. And on this week’s episode of All the Books!, Danika and I talked about great books we loved that are out this week, including The Ministry of Time, The Library Thief, and Women and Children First.

Today, I am doing a round-up of several exciting books from the first Tuesday of May 2024. Below, you’ll find titles (loosely) broken up into several categories to make it easier for your browsing convenience. I hope you have fun with it! And as with each first Tuesday newsletter, I am putting asterisks *** next to the books that I have had the chance to read and loved. YAY, BOOKS!

cover of Coming Home by Brittney Griner; photo of author, a young Black woman with short curly hair

Biography and Memoir

brother. do. you. love. me. by Manni Coe, Reuben Coe

Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me by Whoopi Goldberg

Coming Home by Brittney Griner and Michelle Burford

The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi, and Black TV Nerd Shit by Julian Randall

You Never Know: A Memoir by Tom Selleck

First Love: Essays on Friendship by Lilly Dancyger

Fiction

Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski***

Cinema Love by Jiaming Tang

Ghostroots: Stories by ‘Pemi Aguda

Perfect Little Angels by Vincent Anioke

American Abductions by Mauro Javier Cardenas

Bad Seed: Stories by Gabriel Carle, Heather Houde (translator)

Their Divine Fires by Wendy Chen

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung

The Body Farm: Stories by Abby Geni

Juja by Nino Haratischvili, Ruth Martin (translator)

Troubled Waters by Mary Annaïse Heglar

How It Works Out by Myriam Lacroix

Shanghailanders by Juli Min

América del Norte by Nicolás Medina Mora

Pages of Mourning by Diego Gerard Morrison

Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor

Peacocks of Instagram: Stories by Deepa Rajagopalan

Ella by Diane Richards

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson

See Loss See Also Love by Yukiko Tominaga

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

The Skunks by Fiona Warnick

skin & bones by Renée Watson

The Lady Waiting by Magdalena Zyzak

Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations is here to help with handpicked recommendations. Tell the Bibliologists at Tailored Book Recommendations about what you love and what you don’t. You can get your recommendations via email or receive hardcovers or paperbacks in the mail. And with quarterly or annual plans available, TBR has something for every budget. Plans start at just $18! Subscribe today.

cover of Korgi: The Complete Tale by Christian Slade; illustration of tiny people and large corgi dogs in a forest

Middle Grade and Picture Books

Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol***

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen

Simone by Viet Thanh Nguyen and Minnie Phan

Any Way You Look by Maleeha Siddiqui

Unicorn Crush: Another Phoebe and Her Unicorn Adventure by Dana Simpson***

Korgi: The Complete Tale by Christian Slade***

Mystery and Thriller

The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé

I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

Blood Rubies by Mailan Doquang

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean***

Hunted by Abir Mukherjee

Nonfiction

The Year of Living Constitutionally by A.J. Jacobs

Throne of Grace: A Mountain Man, an Epic Adventure, and the Bloody Conquest of the American West by Tom Clavin and Bob Drury

The Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness by Kenn Kaufman

Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That Is Transforming America by Luis A. Miranda Jr. and Lin-Manuel Miranda

I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv by Illia Ponomarenko

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger

It’s Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told) by Dr. Karen Tang

Romance

cover of Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni; illustration of two women leaning across a dinner table

The Takedown by Lily Chu

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian

Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni

Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Horror

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley***

Supplication by Nour Abi-Nakhoul

Not a River by Selva Almada, Annie McDermott (translator)

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland

Red Side Story (Shades of Grey, #2) by Jasper Fforde

Archangels of Funk by Andrea Hairston

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea Book 1) by Rebecca Thorne***

Young Adult

Death’s Country by R. M. Romero

This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed

Queerceañera by Alex Crespo

Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy R.X. He

Bite Me, Royce Taslim by Lauren Ho

Hot Boy Summer by Joe Jiménez

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

Sweet Nightmare (The Calder Academy, #1) by Tracy Wolff

Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire by Paula Yoo

orange cat sitting on white radiator cover in front of wall covered in stickers; photo by Liberty Hardy

This week: I’m currently reading Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?: A Memoir by Séamas O’Reilly and Over My Dead Body by Maz Evans. I watched the first season of The Jinx this week. I knew all about it, but it still doesn’t prepare you for it. I’ll probably watch the new season once it is finished airing. I’m also on season four of my rewatch of The X-Files. This is my 12th or 13th time and—spoiler—I still love it. (Peter Boyle’s guest spot is the greatest guest spot in television.) The song stuck in my head is “Evergreen” by Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners.

And here’s a cat photo: Zevon is catching the last bit of heat from the radiator before it’s too warm to have it on. (You can tell he’s my cat because he’s using books for a pillow.)

That’s it for me today, friends. I am sending you love and good wishes for whatever is happening in your life right now. Thank you, as always, for joining me each week as I rave about books! See you next week. – XO, Liberty