Today’s Riot Rundown is sponsored by The Girlfriend by Michelle Frances.
She’s conniving.
She’s a liar.
She’s coming to dinner.
Meet THE GIRLFRIEND.
A taut, and wickedly twisted psychological thriller. The Girlfriend is a novel of subtle sabotage, retaliation, jealousy and fear, which pivots on an unforgivable lie, and examines the mother–son–daughter-in-law relationship in a chilling new light.
Happy Monday to all you glorious readers. You are going to be so excited when you see how many amazing new books are releasing tomorrow. SO MANY. There is also a bunch of exciting book news to share this week. A BIG BUNCH. I hope everything in your world is marvelous and you have something wonderful to read. Enjoy your upcoming week, and be excellent to each other. – xoxo, Liberty
Sponsored by TarcherPerigee, publisher of F You Very Much by Danny Wallace.
A hilarious look at the rudeness that’s all around us—where it comes from, how it affects us and what we can do about it—from the brilliant comedic mind behind the hit movie Yes Man.
You’re not just imagining it: People are getting more rude – from cutting in line, gabbing on their phones and clipping their nails on public transportation, to hurling epithets on Twitter and in real life (including a certain President who does both). And the worst part is that it’s contagious…
Danny Wallace’s engaging and illuminating new book examines the scourge that’s turning normal people into bullies, tantruming toddlers, trolls, and other types of everyday monsters—and shares what we can do to stop the madness.
Deals, Reals, and Squeals!
Trevor Noah has sold a follow-up memoir to Born a Crime.
Stephen King’s sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep, will be a movie.
Kosoko Jackson’s first YA novel will be out in 2019.
Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans will be an animated feature.
Happy, the SyFy series based on the graphic novel by Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson, has been renewed for a second season.
Twilight author Stephenie Meyer’s The Chemist to be adapted as a TV series.
Sam Raimi to direct the film adaptation of Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind.
Game Of Thrones S8 will premiere in April 2019.
Willem Dafoe joins Edward Norton in Motherless Brooklyn.
HBO’s Watchmen TV series hires Leftovers director for pilot.
Tor Teen acquires The Bright Sessions trilogy by Lauren Shippen.
A Gone Baby Gone pilot reboot is in the works.
Leonardo DiCaprio will star in the adaptation of Walter Isaacson’s Leonardo Da Vinci biography.
Hocus Pocus is getting a book sequel!
Superman prequel series Metropolis lands 13 episode order at DC digital service.
Cover Reveals
Here’s the first look at Sister of Mine by Laurie Petrou. (Crooked Lane Books, August 7)
Woohoo! Here’s the first peek at the cover for A Court of Frost and Starlight from Sarah J. Maas! (Bloomsbury YA, May 1)
Here’s the first look at When She Fell by Kaitlin Ward. (Point, October 30)
Sneak Peeks!
TA-DA: First-look photos of Amandla Stenberg and Russell Hornsby in The Hate U Give!
Here’s the brand-new trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Here’s a new teaser for Hulu’s Castle Rock series.
Here’s the first trailer for Disobedience starring Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz.
Book Riot Recommends
At Book Riot, I work on the New Books! email, the All the Books! podcast about new releases, and the Book Riot Insiders New Release Index. I am very fortunate to get to read a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week!
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, March 20)
A daughter deaths with her grief and guilt over her mother’s death in this heart-squeezing novel. Leigh is sure that when her mother died, she turned into a bird. And she is certain she will find her mother-bird in Taiwan, when she visits her mother’s parents. But what she finds instead are family secrets and ghosts, and she must learn to forgive herself and her mother for what happened. You’re going to need tissues.
Betwixt-and-Between: Essays on the Writing Life by Jenny Boully (Coffee House Press, April 3)
Fans of Maggie Nelson and Jenny Offill will love this collection of memoir-essays (messays?) about Boully’s life and relationships, mixed in with her passion for her art and where her creativity comes from. I was really blown away by the writing.
And this is funny.
Daniel José Older on lit fic reviews.
This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the World: Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom edited by Deborah Santana.
Publishers Call On Man Booker To Drop Americans
A letter, still in draft form, from 30 members of the publishing industry is urging the Booker Foundation to reverse its 2014 decision to include U.S. authors. Prior to the decision, the prize only allowed entry to citizens from Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland. The petitioners argue that the inclusion of the U.S. has allowed the domination of Anglo-American writers, and could result in “a homogenised literary future.” The letter, which was intended to be private while in draft stage, has not been sent to the Booker Foundation, but the Booker responded, saying there’s no evidence that diversity has been affected.
The New York Times Gets A Romance Novel Review Column
New York Times Book Review Preview Editor and columnist Tina Jordan announced The New York Times‘ first romance novel review column. The Times‘ Book Review has been criticized for ignoring the genre as a whole. Late last year, the section inspired anger and disappointment in many romance readers who found a rare romance novel roundup, written for the Times by former Simon & Schuster editor-in-chief Robert Gottlieb, dismissive. Jordan, who covers romance as well as other genre fiction and literary fiction, did not mention the Book Review’s history with romance or the approach it would take with the new column in her original Twitter post, but you can judge it for yourself.
Disney’s Hocus Pocus Gets A Book Sequel
Take this fun news into the weekend with you. We’re getting a sequel to Disney’s Hocus Pocus, but instead of a movie, the story will be published as a book. Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel will be out in time for the 25th anniversary of the film, on July 10, 2018. Part one of the book will be a retelling of the original film, and part two will be a sequel that continues the story of familiar and new characters.
Only a few more days to enter to win a library cart in your favorite color! Enter here.
Hi Kid Lit fans,
It’s February and we all know what holiday is coming up because those glittery red displays went up right after New Year’s! Ah, Valentine’s Day, the most angst-filled holiday of the year. In an informal survey of my friends and neighbors, half said it was a fun day to celebrate love and the other half said it was a day dedicated to the commercialization of love. Whatever side you’re on, I hope you’ll enjoy these children’s books. I, for one, plan to celebrate the day by buying books!
Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein by Jennifer Roy
At the start of 1991, eleven-year-old Ali Fadhil was consumed by his love for soccer, video games, and American television shows. Then, on January 17, Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein went to war with thirty-four nations lead by the United States. Over the next forty-three days, Ali and his family survived bombings, food shortages, and constant fear. Ali and his brothers played soccer on the abandoned streets of their Basra neighborhood, wondering if their medic father would return home. Readers experience the Gulf War through the eyes of an ordinary eleven-year-old Iraqi boy in this accessible and timely novel.
For the youngest readers, a familiar caterpillar makes an appearance in Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
You are the cherry on my cake; you make the sun shine brighter; you make my heart flutter.
The lovely prose, paired with Eric Carle’s signature illustrations, are sure to delight all hungry caterpillar fans.
My favorite Valentine’s Day/non-Valentine’s Day picture book is This Is Not a Valentine by Carter Higgins, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. It is a homage to homemade gifts and lucky rocks and sharing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. A perfect book for kids who find the whole Valentine’s Day holiday icky and overrated. I, for one, am giving this book to my kids and my husband.
Valensteins by Ethan Long is another picture book I really loved. While the Fright Club gets ready for another night of scaring the begeebers out of the neighborhood, Fran K. Stein has something else in mind. He is making something, which the others think looks like a pink paper butt. But love doesn’t always mean kissing on the lips or being all mushy mushy, as the Fright Club discovers as they watch Fran K. Stein.
I have mentioned this book before, but I had to plug it again! Love by Matt de la Pena and illustrated by Loren Long is a gorgeous picture book about the universal bond of love experienced by kids everywhere.
In the beginning there is light
and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed
and the sound of their voices is love.
…
A cab driver plays love softly on his radio
while you bounce in back with the bumps of the city
and everything smells new, and it smells like life.
One of my favorite parts of Valentine’s Day is celebrating friendship, and what better way to do that than through the hilarious picture book by Julie Falatko and illustrated by Tim Miller. Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever (Probably) is about two unlikely friends. Snappsy likes his quiet, scheduled life, but then he starts getting tailed by a chicken (Bert) who insists they are best friends. But Snappsy doesn’t want to plan a sleepover (who is this chicken, anyways?), and after multiple rejections Snappsy finally gets rid of that pesky chicken. But life seems pretty quiet without his new friend…
For newly independent readers, Mouse and Mole: Secret Valentine by Wong Herbert Yee is all about the mysterious traditions of Valentine’s Day. After making cards for all of their friends with hearts and glitter, Mouse and Mole head off to deliver their cards. But when they receive secret Valentines, they each try to figure out who their admirer might be… And when the day of the Valentine’s Day dance comes, they wonder if their secret admirer will show up.
And finally, a book of poetry to finish off this list of recommendations. I Am Loved by esteemed poet Nikki Giovanni and illustrated by the incredible Ashley Bryan is a must have in every children’s book collection. The poems by Nikki Giovanni were handpicked by Mr. Bryan and paired with paintings he created to go with the poems.
New Releases
So many good books coming out this Tuesday! The book descriptions are from Goodreads, but for some books I am going to add some commentary in italics and maybe a 
if I particularly loved a title. (I’m stealing that idea from fellow Book Rioter, book queen Liberty Hardy, who does this with her New Books newsletter, which you can subscribe to here). Let me know what you think!
Picture Book New Releases
Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Julie Morstad
By the 1930s Elsa Schiaparelli had captivated the fashion world in Paris, but before that, she was a little girl in Rome who didn’t feel pretty at all. Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli is the enchanting story for young readers of how a young girl used her imagination and emerged from plain to extraordinary.
Note from Karina: I loved this book! I know absolutely nothing about fashion, as one can see by the way I dress (bookish t-shirt with jeans, most of the time), so reading this biography about Elsa Schiaparelli really gave me a better understanding of her work and her brilliant use of color and pattern.
Rabbit & Possum by Dana Wulfekotte
Rabbit has been preparing all day for her best friend Possum’s visit, but when the time comes she finds Possum fast asleep. No matter what Rabbit does, she just can’t wake him up. But then a rustle in the bushes frightens Possum and sends him up a tree—where he gets very, very stuck. Rabbit has any number of ideas to get him down. Unfortunately, they all make Possum a little…uneasy. But best friends never give up. With a little creativity—and a big surprise—Rabbit just might be able to save the day.
I Am A Cat by Galia Bernstein
A simple housecat named Simon encounters some bigger cats: Lion, Puma, Panther, Tiger, and Cheetah. Each of the big cats has something to say about Simon not being “cat” enough. According to them, he just doesn’t measure up. He doesn’t have Lion’s mane or Cheetah’s spots. He doesn’t sleep in trees like Panther or climb mountains like Puma. He’s small and fuzzy, not big and strong. But ultimately, Simon shows the big cats that he’s just like them . . . only smaller.
Middle Grade New Releases
Smart Cookie by Elly Swartz (Scholastic)
Frankie knows she’ll be in big trouble if Dad discovers she secretly posted a dating profile for him online. But she’s determined to find him a wife, even if she ends up grounded for life. Frankie wants what she had before Mom died. A family of three. Two is a pair of socks or the wheels on a bicycle or a busy weekend at the B&B where Frankie and Dad live. Three is a family. And Frankie’s is missing a piece.
Note from Karina: I didn’t see an advanced copy of this book, but I did read and love Finding Perfect by the same author. I’m very much looking forward to reading this one. Listen to Elly Swartz on the Books Between podcast with host Corrina Allen here.
Stanley Will Probably Be Fine by Sally J. Pla, illustrated by Steve Wolfhard (HarperCollins)
Nobody knows comics trivia like Stanley knows comics trivia. It’s what he takes comfort in when the world around him gets to be too much. And after he faints during a safety assembly, Stanley takes his love of comics up a level by inventing his own imaginary superhero, named John Lockdown, to help him through. Help is what he needs, because Stanley’s entered Trivia Quest—a giant comics-trivia treasure hunt—to prove he can tackle his worries, score VIP passes to Comic Fest, and win back his ex-best friend. Partnered with his fearless new neighbor Liberty, Stanley faces his most epic, overwhelming, challenging day ever.
Note from Karina: I loved this story so much! The publisher provided me with a review copy prior to publication, and I wholeheartedly give it five stars. Stanley is a very important voice in children’s literature.
The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley by April Stevens (Random House)
Eleven-year-old Frances is an observer of both nature and people, just like her idol, the anthropologist Margaret Mead. She spends most of her time up on the rocks behind her house in her “rock world,” as Alvin, her kindhearted and well-read school bus driver, calls it. It’s the one place where Frances can truly be herself, and where she doesn’t have to think about her older sister, Christinia, who is growing up and changing in ways that Frances can’t understand.
Note from Karina: I just loved this book! As I said in the newsletter last week, this book is a beautiful homage to quiet, nature-loving, world wondering kids all over.
Bringing Me Back by Beth Vrabel (Sky Pony Press)
Noah’s mom is in prison, he’s living with his mom’s boyfriend, and he’s officially hated by everyone at his middle school. One day, Noah notices a young bear at the edge of the woods with her head stuck in a bucket. As days go by, the bear is still stuck–she’s wasting away and clearly getting weaker, even as she runs from anyone who tries to help.
The Problim Children by Natalie Lloyd (HarperCollins)
When the Problim children’s ramshackle bungalow in the Swampy Woods goes kaboom, the seven siblings—each born on a different day of the week—have to move into their grandpa’s bizarre old mansion in Lost Cove. No problem! For the Problim children, every problem is a gift! But rumors about their family run rampant in the small town: tales of a bitter feud, a hidden treasure, and a certain kind of magic lingering in the halls of #7 Main Street. Their neighbors, the O’Pinions, will do anything to find the secrets lurking inside the Problim household—including sending the seven children to seven different houses on seven different continents!
Snapstreak: How My Friends Saved My (Social) Life by Suzanne Weyn (HMH Books for Young Readers)
Eighth-grader Vee is doomed to move to a new town, away from her BFFs Megan and Lulu. To get a jump on her new social life, she starts snapping with local Queen Bee, Gwynneth. Megan and Lulu have mixed feelings about G., but Vee’s snapstreak with her is well under way when they get the biggest news EVER: The local radio station is hosting a Boys Being Dudes concert for the pair of students from different schools who can prove the longest running snapstreak! Vee could win this! The girls’ BBD dreams are in reach when a gym class concussion lands Vee in bed, under a strict phone ban. It’s up to Megan and Lulu to keep the streak going.
Another Quest for Celeste by Henry Cole (HarperCollins)
Celeste is hundreds of miles from home following an unexpected journey aboard a Mississippi steamboat. After mishaps and disasters, she finds herself on the frontier in southern Indiana. It’s 1822, and Celeste meets a tall, lanky boy wielding an ax: a young Abraham Lincoln. The journey reveals the harsh realities of frontier life for the Lincoln family. But with the help of Celeste’s new woodland animal friends and some creativity, she may just prove that even the littlest creatures can make a big difference. And it’s in losing her way that Celeste finds herself in a place she never expected—home, finally.
Marabel and the Book of Fate by Tracy Barrett
In Magikos, life is dictated by the Book of Fate’s ancient predictions, including the birth of a royal Chosen One who will save the realm. Princess Marabel has grown up in the shadow of her twin brother, Marco, who everyone assumes is the true Chosen One. While Marco is adored and given every opportunity, Marabel is overlooked and has to practice her sword fighting in secret. But on the night of their thirteenth birthday, Marco is kidnapped by an evil queen, and Marabel runs to his rescue. Outside the castle walls for the first time, accompanied by her best friend and a very smug unicorn, Marabel embarks on a daring mission that brings her face-to-face with fairies, trolls, giants–and the possibility that all is not as it seems in Magikos.
The Book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert (HarperCollins)
Boy has always been relegated to the outskirts of his small village. With a large hump on his back, a mysterious past, and a tendency to talk to animals, he is often mocked by others in his town—until the arrival of a shadowy pilgrim named Secondus. Impressed with Boy’s climbing and jumping abilities, Secondus engages Boy as his servant, pulling him into an action-packed and suspensful expedition across Europe to gather the seven precious relics of Saint Peter. Boy quickly realizes this journey is not an innocent one. They are stealing the relics and accumulating dangerous enemies in the process. But Boy is determined to see this pilgrimage through until the end—for what if St. Peter can make Boy’s hump go away? A surprising and unforgettable tale for readers of all ages.
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I’ve been reading any book that the incredible Kadir Nelson has created the cover art for. That includes the six Logan Family series by Mildred D. Taylor (notable books in that series include Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and The Road to Memphis). I recently read Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry all in one sitting. Originally published in 1955, this book was recently republished with new cover art by Kadir Nelson and a foreword by Jason Reynolds. I loved learning more about her life, especially because she is soon to grace the $20 bill in America. (Yay!)
After listening to the audiobook of Most Dangerous by Steve Sheinkin, I have been interested in learning more about The Vietnam War. Boots on the Ground: America’s War on Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge is told from eight different perspectives, including protestors, Presidents, and soldiers.
The House That Lou Built by Mae Respicio is a wonderful middle grade title coming out on June 12th from Wendy Lamb Books. The main character, Lou Bulosan-Nelson, wants to build her own “tiny house,” 100 square feet all her own, planning to build the house on land she inherited from her dad, who died before she was born. But with money troubles looming, Lou discovers that she might need to move for her mother’s job and that the land she owns might be repossessed. Can Lou convince her mom to stay in the town they love, build her tiny house, and save her land? This title has already been chosen for Middle Grade at Heart’s September book club selection. More information about this awesome book club below!
Around the web…
Middle Grade at Heart, a book club that includes activities, discussions, and author interviews for parents, teachers, and kids, has just announced their 2018 line-up! Sign up here for their weekly newsletter.
Children’s Classics Published Before 1980, via Book Riot
Spring 2018 Children’s Sneak Previews, via Publisher’s Weekly
I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.
Until next week,
Karina
*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riotnewsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*
This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel, new in paperback from Vintage Books.
Rowling Responds To Criticism About Dumbledore’s Sexuality
J.K. Rowling expressed her displeasure about the criticism she received in response to news that Dumbledore’s sexuality will not be explicitly addressed in the Fantastic Beasts sequel. The film’s director David Yates made that clear in an Entertainment Weekly interview. The piece was updated with Rowling’s tweet and a comment that she’s suggesting angered fans are jumping the gun without knowing what will happen in the story long-term. But fans, including some high profile types, remain skeptical.
Octavia Spencer and Little Miss Flint Mobilize For #BlackPantherChallenge
Mari Copeny, crowned Little Miss Flint, and her cousin, Felicia Copeny, are mobilizing for kids in their city of Flint, Michigan to see the comic adaptation Black Panther. Felicia created the Help Flint Kids See Black Panther GoFundMe page as part of the #BlackPantherChallenge. In the same vein, Octavia Spencer is planning a free Black Panther screening to help brown children see themselves as superheroes.
Rose McGowan Confronted About Trans Rights At Book Event
At a promotional event for her new autobiography, Brave, Rose McGowan got into an argument with someone in the audience. The audience member brought up comments McGowan made on RuPaul’s “What’s the Tee?” podcast in July 2017, and said, “Trans women are dying and you said that we, as trans women, are not like regular women.” According to Variety, the conversation turned into a shouting match, and the guest was escorted out by security. Read the full story here.
We’re giving away a library cart! Enter to win here.
Is it just me, or did January feel like the longest month ever? I’m glad we’re into February, although I don’t want to let the first month of the year leave without highlighting a few last excellent new books and sharing a smattering of news about awards, spring nonfiction, and political books that failed.
But before we get going, I want to remind you about the sweet giveaway Book Riot has been going on. Sign up for our new librarian newsletter, Check Your Shelf, and be entered to win your own library cart. Get on that!
New Books on My Radar
It’s an exciting week for new books. Here are four that caught my eye:
Brave by Rose McGowan – A memoir and manifesto from an actress pushing back against the box Hollywood tried to put her in.
This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins – A collection of essays on “living at the intersection of black, female, and feminist in (white) America. This one is getting raves.
The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers – A true story about a Yemeni American who wants to bring Yemeni coffee to his hometown of San Francisco, but is derailed by a civil war.
The Spinning Magnet by Alanna Mitchell – A history of the science of electromagnetism and the magnetic field around the Earth.
Our General Wins an Award
Carrie Fisher won a 2018 Grammy for Best Spoken Word album for her memoir The Princess Diarist. The memoir is based on the dairies Fisher kept during the filming of Star Wars in 1977, and includes some details about her affair with co-star Harrison Ford. It’s a wonderfully funny book, and it’s so great Fisher was able to narrate it. She was also nominated for the narration of her 2008 book, Wishful Drinking.
Many Trumps Lose Money
According to an analysis by Forbes, Penguin Random House may have lost as much as $220,000 on Ivanka Trump’s 2017 book Women Who Work. The magazine, consulting with “publishing experts” estimated that the imprint, Portfolio, earned about $566,000 from the total sales after paying out an advance of $787,500 to Trump.
More Spring Nonfiction!
Publishers Weekly has put out their most anticipated books of spring 2018 list, and it has a ton of nonfiction to put on your radar. I love that the nonfiction portion of the list is split out into memoir, literary essays/criticism/biographies, history, politics/current events, music, science, and religion – something for everyone.
True Crime is Coming
Michelle McNamara’s chronicle of her search for the Golden State Killer, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (out Feb. 27 from Harper Collins), is one of the more highly-anticipated true crime books coming out this spring. The New Yorker published an excerpt from the book that has my spine tingling already. McNamara is the late wife of comedian Patton Oswalt, who passed away in April 2016.
More White House Books Coming
And speaking of books by White House-adjacent folks, former press secretary Sean Spicer announced he’ll be publishing a book to “set the record straight” about the Trump campaign and life in the White House. The book is tentatively titled The Briefing, and is set to be released in July. So… there’s that.
Cookbooks Galore!
Book Riot has been on a cookbook kick lately. Here are three posts to check out:
That’s the end for this week. Check in with me on Twitter or by email, kim@riotnewmedia.com, and until next week, happy reading! – Kim
Happy Friday, troubadours and Time Lords! Today includes reviews of Markswoman and Eternal Life, 1970s covers, Black Panther costumes, the apocalypse, and more.
This newsletter is sponsored by The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert.
Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get…
’70’s style: Tor.com is doing a series of posts on the female authors of the 1970s, and I both love the concept and feel blinded by the covers. Here’s A-F, don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Are you counting down to Black Panther? Because I am. Please enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the style and costuming of the movie, courtesy of EW!
Less capes, more heroes: If you need a break from caped crusaders but still want some deeds of supernatural derring-do, here’s a round-up of 18 comics you’ll enjoy. Several personal favorites (Saga! Bitch Planet! Pretty Deadly!) are on there.
The Name of the Wind has a director, and it’s Sam Raimi. Who I still haven’t forgiven for the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies, womp womp.
Fight on: I deeply appreciate this SF & F for the Resistance post.
Sometimes you need to wallow: If you’re feeling like it’s the end of the world and want to get really into those feels, here are five apocalypse novels to add to your stack.
Follow up: retail therapy! Because who doesn’t need an “As you wish” throw pillow, or Merlin beard oil?
Supernatural swords and immortality, ahoy!
Markswoman by Rati Mehrotra
Meet Kyra, the newest Markswoman in the Order of Kali. She’s just taken out her first mark — by which I mean, assassinated him with her super-powered knife — and she’s not feeling as great about it as she would like. Then, the chain of command is upset within the Order and her mentor dies unexpectedly. She believes it was murder, and consequently finds herself on the run.
There are several layers to the story. Kyra was orphaned by the murder of her parents and family, and that murder turns out to have wider ramifications than she knew. The Order is struggling even before the death of her mentor, and the resulting political jockeying is complicated and potentially deadly. Then there’s the Order of Khur, composed of men, outcast by some of the other Orders. Family, gender, tribal alliances, conservatism vs. progression, all contribute to the twists and turns of the plot. And then there’s that alien technology I mentioned.
You all know that I have a weakness for fantastical assassins, and Mehrotra has hit that sweet spot in Markswoman. She’s also built a world that I am dying to hear more about. It’s a post-catastrophe version of our world, far in a future in which aliens have come and gone and left mysterious technology behind. The region Kyra lives in, Asiana, is clearly inspired by India and Asia, which is a refreshing new addition to the genre. So much to love here! Markswoman is action-packed, thoughtful, and a brave new world for readers to explore.
Eternal Life by Dara Horn
What if you were immortal and a child-bearing woman? This question lies at the heart of Dara Horn’s newest novel. Rachel made a bargain with God to save the life of her son, and 2,000 years later she’s still alive with millenia worth of husbands, children, and grandchildren behind her.
Technology is finally catching up to Rachel; one of her current grandchildren works in genetic engineering, and has started asking questions. It’s also not as easy to fake your death and disappear as it used to be. And Rachel can’t help but wonder if she should reveal her secret — maybe technology could help her finally die. Complicating things is Elazar, the father of her first son, who was made immortal in the same bargain. Their relationship is stormy, complicated, and deeply conflicted.
The storyline switches mainly between the beginning of Rachel’s life in Roman-occupied Jerusalem and the present day. The juxtaposition of ancient Jewish scholarship with modern day concerns like bitcoin and genetics is occasionally jarring, deliberately I’m guessing, and highlights the strangeness of Rachel’s experience and longevity. Rachel’s story also alternates from dreamy and mundane moments to dark, violent ones. All that combined meant that the story never quite went where I expected it to go.
As Horn is playing with what immortality looks like, the focus is primarily on what motherhood means to Rachel. She gave up her death for her son; was it worth it? She’s had and lost husbands, more children, grandchildren — does the pain of losing them outweigh the joy and meaning they bring to her life? There are no easy answers given. If you’re interested in taking the journey with her, pick this up post-haste.
And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda.
Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn
Hey YA Readers!
Let’s start a new week in a new month with a round-up of YA news…and a couple of book recommendations.
“What’s Up in YA?” is sponsored by Down and Across by Arvin Ahmadi from Penguin Teen.
Scott Ferdowsi has a track record of quitting. His best friends know exactly what they want to do with the rest of their lives, but Scott can hardly commit to a breakfast cereal, let alone a passion.
He never expects an adventure to unfold. But that’s what Scott gets when he meets Fiora Buchanan, a ballsy college student whose life ambition is to write crossword puzzles. When the bicycle she lends him gets Scott into a high-speed chase, he knows he’s in for the ride of his life.
As has been the trend recently, there’s a lot of adaptation news, a late-night interview with a beloved YA author, and more.
Two YA nonfiction reads worth picking up that I plowed through recently:
#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth LeatherdaleThis book being one of the shortlisted titles for this year’s Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, it’s likely already on many radars. But here’s why you should pick it up to read ASAP: this gorgeous collection, rendered like a scrapbook, offers a multitude of Native women’s voices throughout the USA and Canada. There’s spectacular art and photography, poetry, interviews, and more, all of which center around the variety of stories, experiences, and perspectives Native women have. It’s a short book and — perhaps the downside — looks a little bit more like a picture book than a YA read. Upside? Full color art really stands out.
Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card by Sara Saedi (out tomorrow, February 6)
Saedi’s hilarious memoir is reminiscent of reading Funny in Farsi and Mindy Kaling in terms of voice and perspective. The book focuses on Saedi’s experience as an illegal immigrant, how her family came to the US from Iran and lived without documentation, and the sort of hoops they needed to jump through to become citizens. In a world where immigration continues to be a topic of discourse — and more, an experience so many young people are living — Saedi’s book is a necessary read. Bonus points to this one for sharing great family stories, providing insight into Iranian traditions, and for a really appealing format.
There are so many great YA deals this month. I’m going to have to be careful not to drop too many at once.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, the classic YA read about sexual assault, is $3.
The queer romance which had a ton of really positive buzz, Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown is $2.
Adventure air-ship fantasy Airborn by Kenneth Oppel is $2.
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Thanks for hanging out this week, and we’ll see you again next Monday.
–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars
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Today’s Riot Rundown is sponsored by The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert.
Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get…