Sponsored by Scholastic.
New from Gordon Korman, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Restart, comes War Stories, a novel about what it really means to be a hero. The book follows a boy named Trevor as he discovers that there’s more to the story than what he’s heard his whole life about his bona fide war hero great-grandfather’s involvement in World War II. This causes Trevor to wonder about his great-grandfather’s heroism, the truth about the battle he fought, and importance of genuine valor.
Welcome to Check Your Shelf, where Gilbert is currently sitting in my lap and licking my hand while I try to type. I can’t tell if he’s trying to become more involved with CYS or if he’s trying to distract me…
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
- Publishing leaders issue a warning over Amazon’s market power.
- People want to support their local bookstores, but they might be hurting them instead. (Tl;dr: please be patient and nice to your local booksellers! They’re having to keep up with a LOT of demand!)
New & Upcoming Titles
- A look at Leigh Bardugo’s upcoming book, Rule of Wolves, which will be a sequel to King of Scars.
- Here’s a sneak peek at David Heska Wanbli Weiden’s #ownvoices Native American thriller, Winter Counts. (Psst: this book is really good!!)
- Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges has a children’s book coming out.
- Kamala Harris is the subject of a new children’s book coming out on August 25th.
- Jenny Lawson announces a new book for 2021, and the cover is awesome!
- Courtney Milan has a new book coming out in September.
- Mindy Kaling has a new essay collection coming out this fall, but it will only be available through Amazon.
- New York governor Andrew Cuomo is writing a book about his state’s response to COVID. Naturally, there’s been some backlash, along with questions about whether or not his book will sell.
- Last week, I shared a link about a new anthology that is republishing 25 female authors under their real names rather than their pseudonyms, but there’s been some criticism about this publishing decision.
- Notable new releases over the next couple weeks from Bustle, Crime Reads, New York Times, USA Today, and Vulture.
- 19 new books to add to your summer TBR.
- 50 most anticipated books for Fall 2020, plus 4 titles coming this fall that deal with racial issues in America.
- Did we mention that this fall is going to be JAM PACKED with new releases?
- Best SFF coming this fall.
- 21 picture books to read for Fall 2020.
- Best books of 2020.
- Best debut novels of 2020 so far.
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
- The Patron Saint of Pregnant Girls – Ursula Hegi (LA Times, Washington Post)
- Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family – Omid Scobie & Carolyn Durand (LA Times, Washington Post)
- Summer – Ali Smith (New York Times, Washington Post)
RA/Genre Resources
- Indigenous writers are changing sci-fi.
- Lovecraftian horror and the racism at its core.
- Celebrating the humorous sci-fi of Latinx authors.
- Vivian Stephens helped turn romance into a billion-dollar industry. Then she got pushed out.
- The women of Canadian crime fiction.
On the Riot
- 25 must-read new fantasy releases.
- A guide to high fantasy vs. low fantasy.
- How to keep track of cozy mystery new releases.
All Things Comics
- Marvel is putting a spotlight on Indigenous heroes, with stories written by Rebecca Roanhorse, Stephen Graham Jones, and more!
- William Jackson Harper is narrating Marvel’s Black Panther: Sins of the King for Serial Box.
- Trailer for Neil Gaiman’s new Norse Mythology comic from Dark Horse.
On the Riot
- Traveling outside the US though comics.
- 5 flinch-worthy body horror comics.
- DIY comic book crafts (possible virtual library craft idea??).
Audiophilia
- Wil Wheaton is going to narrate the audiobook for Ready Player Two.
- Spotify looks like it wants a bigger piece of the audiobook market.
- 10 great mystery & thriller audiobooks by Black authors.
- Free audiobooks for kids on Audible.
- Podcasts and audiobooks to look for this fall.
On the Riot
- Want to listen to more audiobooks? Pick up a craft!
- Audiobooks are not just a life hack.
- Facts about listening to audiobooks in your sleep.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
- Essential feminist reads for kids and teens.
- LOL with these 16 funny YA novels.
- 18 YA books that would make epic graphic novels.
Adults
- 27 books written by authors of color that you won’t be able to put down.
- 22 books like Lovecraft Country.
- 8 books with American history lessons you didn’t get in school.
- Silvia Moreno-Garcia suggests 10 scary books every horror lover needs to read.
- 17 books, memoirs, and self-help guides for anyone feeling a little lost right now.
- 100 Black novelists and fiction writers you need to read right now.
- 9 translated books by Black women writers to read for Women in Translation Month.
- 10 California crime novels that aren’t set in Los Angeles or San Francisco.
On the Riot
- 9 of the best mermaid picture books.
- 15 outstanding recent read-aloud books for middle school.
- Middle grade favorite books and their adult fiction readalikes.
- 25 must-read contemporary books for 9th graders.
- YA books about teens going viral.
- 3 awesome YA books about drag.
- 9 YA books about disabilities.
- 5 SFF books about rebellion and overthrowing the government.
- 10 self-help books by Black authors.
- 8 books about mushrooms and fungi that will blow your mind.
- 15 classic and contemporary soft science fiction books.
- 10 enchanting lyrical memoirs.
- 5 nonfiction books about humans making natural disasters worse.
- 10 of the best books for plant lovers.
- 6 books in verse that will leave you in awe.
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in Library Reads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen created a database of upcoming diverse books that anyone can edit, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word is doing the same, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Toodles, everyone. Catch you on the flip side.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently reading Home Before Dark by Riley Sager.