Categories
The Kids Are All Right

New Children’s Book Releases for November 3

Hi readers!

Happy Election Day! As we’ve said before at Book Riot, all books are political, and this week’s newsletter (this intro at least) is, too. We’ve endorsed Joe Biden for President. When writing up this newsletter each week it’s always my intention to draw your eye to a wide range of books that are not only great reads but also encourage inclusion, respect, and care, and we deserve those same intentions from our elected officials, including our president. Once you’ve cast your vote in today’s election (or even if you have already), treat yourself to some nice reading while you wait for results and consider adding some of this week’s children’s new releases to your shelves.

The Little Mermaid by Jerry Pinkney

From a classic author comes this retelling of a classic tale that replaces the love story with a friendship one instead. When mermaid Melody spots a girl on shore and wants to befriend her, the Sea Witch offers to exchange Melody a pair of legs for her voice. But when the Sea Witch attacks the kingdom Melody left behind, she must go back and help save the day.

A Stranger Comes to Town by Maria Kristjandottir

It still feels a little early for wintry books to me (what is time? what are seasons?) but there will be snow soon enough (and some of us already got some). This fun, wintry read is set in an Icelandic town where Henry discovers a lost polar bear and must find a way to get it home.

A Sweet Meeting on Mimouna Night by Allison Ofanansky and Rotem Teplow

This is a sweet read set in Morocco, where Miriam and her family celebrate Mimouna, a holiday that takes place as Passover ends. This is a nice introduction for kids who might be unfamiliar and a sweet celebratory read for Jewish kids who celebrate.

Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper and Kenard Pak

More snow! More winter! Plus grandmas! In this tranquil and loving book, Lina counts the ways to hear snow, the way her grandma (who is losing her sight) now experiences the remnants of a snow storm.

A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer! by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Leo Espinosa

I love a good picture book biography, and this one about iconic performer Rita Moreno is fun, colorful, and inspiring. It tracks Moreno’s childhood to an acting career where she was asked to portray numerous stereotypes to her Oscar win for West Side Story.

Stick With Me by Jennifer Blecher

This middle grade read is a great friendship story about girls navigating their complicated social sphere. Though Phoebe and Izzy have been friends for years, they aren’t anymore. Phoebe’s hanging around with Daphne, who’s popular but mean and who always makes a point to exclude Izzy. When Izzy’s parents announce they’re renting out their house for a week, Izzy meets Wren and has the potential for a new friend, though their first meeting hits a snag.

Serena Says by Tanita S. Davis

This middle school novel is about friendship and coming into oneself. When Serena’s best friend starts spending more time with another girl in their class, Serena begins to feel left out. In an effort to focus on something else, Serena starts a vlog where she pours out her feelings and begins to rebuild her confidence and self-worth.

Until next week!

Chelsea (@ChelseaBigBang)

Categories
Giveaways

110220-BlackRiverLantern-Giveaway

We’re giving away five copies of Black River Lantern by Alex Grass to five lucky Riot readers!

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

Here’s what it’s all about:

Eddie Marivicos develops psychokinetic powers after suffering a terrible trauma. His father, Papa Marivicos, uses him to make money for his Carnivalé. As the oppressive Papa continues to push the limits of Eddie’s newfound powers, the mafia and a nefarious businesswoman are drawn into Eddie and Papa’s orbit.

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Check Your Shelf

Halloween Reading Lists to Take the Scares Into November

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. It’s Election Day, and all I have to say is do whatever you need to do to get through today.

Collection Development Corner

Publishing News

The Strand Bookstore received 25,000 orders in one weekend after appealing to the public for help.

French bookstores ask to be treated as essential services during this new lockdown.

Hachette launches a new BIPOC imprint called Legacy Lit, which will focus primarily on nonfiction, along with a few select fiction titles.

The National Book Critics Circle has asked its members to sign a Criticism Equity Pledge, which promises to provide more coverage of books by BIPOC authors.

Sarah MacLean tweeted a list of romance-friendly indie bookstores, for all your holiday shopping needs!

New & Upcoming Titles

Publishers Weekly’s Top Children’s Books of 2020.

First looks at For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing, Whisper Down the Lane by Clay McLeod Chapman, and Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney.

Chrissy Teigen is working on her third Cravings cookbook.

16 new books to buy from your local indie bookstore.

20 small press books from 2020 you might have missed.

42 best LGBTQ books of 2020.

24 YA mystery books in 2020 that will keep you guessing until the end.

Book picks for the week from Booklist Reader, BuzzFeed, Crime Reads, New York Times, and USA Today.

October picks from Crime Reads (debut novels) and Shondaland.

November picks from Barnes & Noble, Kirkus, New York Times, and Popsugar (general, mystery/thriller, and romance).

Best books of 2020 from BBC and Elle.

What Your Patrons Are Hearing About

Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath – Heather Clark (LA Times, New York Times, Washington Post)

The Cold Millions – Jess Walter (New York Times, NPR, Washington Post)

Group: How One Therapist and a Group of Strangers Saved My Life – Christie Tate (New York Times, NPR)

Memorial – Bryan Washington (New York Times, Washington Post)

RA/Genre Resources

How the new diversity is transforming science fiction’s future.

Rachel Howzell Hall, Attica Locke, and other authors talk about “writing about cops in a moment of reckoning.”

Can a Black novelist write autofiction?

On the Riot

3 great YA books about witches to read in 2021.

16 of the best horror novels of the year.

Reading pathway for Maureen Johnson.


All Things Comics

On the Riot

6 places where you can read manhwa.

4 creepy creatures in comics.


Audiophilia

Libro.fm is running a special where if you pre-order Obama’s memoir, A Promised Land in print, they’ll send you a free audiobook!

Spine-chilling audiobooks that inspired horror movies.

5 chilling romance audiobooks. (Yes, those two words can co-exist in the same sentence!)

On the Riot

8 audiobooks to escape into.


Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists

Children/Teens

11 legitimately funny books to read aloud with your kids.

11 diverting teen reads for stressful times.

8 trans-inclusive fantasy books for fans of Harry Potter. (Most of these are YA titles, but there are one or two crossover adult titles in here as well.)

Adults

10 books that offer a peek inside the White House.

7 books about the making and unmaking of women politicians.

50 of the greatest apocalypse novels.

10 Halloween reads that do more than shock and scare.

13 witchy books to read with your coven this fall.

Books to read if you love The Craft.

20 disturbing nonfiction books you won’t be able to put down…even if you want to.

5 SFF books driven by terrible choices and appalling judgment.

On the Riot

14 children’s books about race and racial diversity.

17 fun monster children’s books.

52 incredible picture book biographies of Black people creating and leading.

8 great picture books for Halloween.

10 historical mystery series to whisk you away.

Conquer your demons with 5 mathematical sci-fi books.

10 recent books by Asian American poets.

8 of the best new self-care books to prioritize yourself.

15 of the best philosophy books for beginners.

8 excellent books about democracy in its many forms.

18 books to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

9 books to help you understand your anxiety.

20 must-read horror novels you’ve never heard of.

9 gothic novels for every mood.

6 scary nonfiction books.

8 great books featuring cursed objects.

10 books featuring cemeteries.

6 awesome queer Halloween books.

9 creepy books about sinister institutions.

Horror cookbooks are a thing! (And not surprisingly, my husband and I already own the Feeding Hannibal book.)

Some book suggestions for a low-key Halloween.


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.

Let’s check in again on Friday. Stay sane.

—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

Swords and Spaceships for November 3

My beloved shipmates: please breathe. Just breathe, and stop doomscrolling. I’m telling myself this, too. It’s Alex, and I feel kind of silly trying to enthuse about new releases on this day—this f*****g day—but at this point if you’ve voted and volunteered and contributed as applicable, it’s out of your hands, and it’s out of my hands. It might be hard to focus on books today, but maybe imagined worlds are the place to remind ourselves that sometimes fighting the good fight means we can win—and if it doesn’t, we can find the strength to keep fighting.

(Hoo boy, and do spare a moment of sympathy for anyone who’s trying to get your attention on a new release today. Yikes.)

So until I see you again on Friday, keep breathing. Stay safe. Wherever we end up, we’re on this ship together.

Looking for non-book things you can do to help in the quest for justice? blacklivesmatter.card.co and The Okra Project.


New Releases

Note: The new release lists I have access to weren’t as diverse as we normally like to see this week, which is just another reminder that publishing has a ways to go.

This Virtual Night by C.S. Friedman

Earth abandoned its interstellar colonists when deep-space travel altered their genes and made them into “Variants” who live in the space stations of the Outworlds. When a major waystation is destroyed in a puzzling suicide attack by a young man who was recieving messages from supposedly uninhabited space and playing a virtual reality game, an explorer and a game designer team up to unravel the mystery.

The Alpha Enigma by W. Michael Gear

Prisoner Alpha is an enigma that Dr. Ryan, a military psychiatrist, cannot solve. She speaks a language no one understands, doodles strange pictures, and it’s impossible to tell if she’s a cunning spy who is very committed to her act or… something else. While he tries to unravel that mystery, an archaelogist in Egypt discovers an 18th Dynasty tomb filled with relics that couldn’t possibly have existed at its time. The archaeologist is kidnapped away to a hidden lab. And Alpha… disappears from Dr. Ryan’s ward, and he becomes the prime suspect in her escape.

The Factory Witches of Lowell by C.S. Malerich

The mill girls of Lowell have had enough with terrible working conditions dictated by the uncaring bosses and penny-pinching owners. But Lowell has seen strikes before—and seen strikes fold. This time, they have something to reinforce the picket line and make sure no one crosses and no one leaves: a little witchcraft.

Debt of War by Chrisopher Nutall

In a civil war that has ground to a stalemate, both sides are willing to do anything and give everything to win. On one side is a King at the edge of madness; on the other, a set of allies searching for truths that will tear his forces apart. Two friends caught on opposite sides have their own chance to end the war before the most bitter end possible can be reached… but there are many who would like to stop them.

Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer

An overachiever named Prudence Daniels feels like she’s won the jackpot when she wakes up one morning with the magical ability to place instant karma on the lazy and rude residents of her town. It works like a charm on everyone… except her slacker lab partner, Quint, who despite his failure in the lab shows a lot more life working at a rescue center for sea animals. Prudence is in for unraveling the secrets of baby sea otters… and mixed romantic signals.

News and Views

Congratulations to the World Fantasy Award winners!

Nisi Shawl, Aisha Matthews, and Christie Taylor talk about Pushing Boundaries in Fantastical Fiction with the SciFri Book Club

Cover reveal for Tasha Suri’s next book, The Jasmine Throne

L.D. Lewis writes her restrospective of FIYAHCon

I think this is very important content: horror mangaka Junji Ito reacts to your cats

A very, very deep dive into It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

File 770’s rememberance of Sean Connery, who gave us a lot of great science fiction films as just one small part of his creative oeuvre.

Political Fundraising Emails from Middle-Earth

You can take a virtual tour of Castell Coch and Raglan Castle in Wales

Ever wonder why pumpkins can get huge, but are also really flat?

NASA’s Juno probe has captured Jupiter’s electrical phenomena, called “sprites” and “elves.”

On Book Riot

You can enter to win a bundle made of The Absinthe Earl and The Raven Lady by Sharon Lynn Fisher or a copy of The Ravens by Kass Morgan and Daniell Paige


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.

Categories
Kissing Books

Friends Who…Catch Feelings

Another month in the books, and speaking of books: this is a serious self-care week, no matter what. Use the Forest app (or your own willpower, if you happen to have any of that) to keep yourself off your phone. Grab a nice book or the ereader of your choice and hang out with some fictional characters. 

So let’s talk about those folks.

News and Useful Links

We got news that authors Adrienne Byrd and Rachel Caine have both passed away. 

A little birdie indicated there’s some new Bridgerton appearance happening today. So keep an eye out (and don’t do anything else on social media).

More Boyfriend Material pencils!

Reese Ryan and Beverly Jenkins are chatting on November 4. Might be a good palate cleanser. 

And there’s another Date Night coming up. 

And speaking of events, do you have this calendar bookmarked?

Rioter Carole had a (print) chat with Olivia Dade and Rebekah Weatherspoon for Bookpage.  

Deals

It’s a new month, and that means a bunch of new books are on sale! 

the worst best man cover image

The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa

Are you ready to laugh your butt off? Mia Sosa can help you with that. Carolina got the word that her fiancé didn’t want to get married on the day of the wedding…from his brother. Fast forward to now, and Carolina and Max (the brother) find themselves working together on a project, and Carolina still holds…a bit of a grudge. The relationships in this book are great, almost as much as the immediate relationship. Sometimes the pranks feel a little too much, so take that with whatever you like. 

Recs!

Over the past several weeks, I’ve happened across books with a similar enough premise to be noticeable, and I was…intrigued. I will eventually read them all, but you know I have to spread out my friends-to-lovers stories. 

I give you…friends-who-make-porn-and-catch-feelings:

Press Play by Ash Dylan

I did read this one, though. When Riley asks her roommate Paul to come to the movie she’s reviewing for the paper, her buddy learns something about her: once upon a time, she won an amateur sex video competition. It comes up in conversation later that evening, and for their own individual reasons, they decide to make one together. Both have had crushes on each other since they met, but neither has been courageous about making a move. They have some seriously hot times together as Riley’s directorial vision comes to life, and they realize it might be now or never. 

Fans Only by B. Love

When Only Fans comes up in conversation at a gathering of friends, Aries announces that she would be willing to have a page. When Merrick, a music teacher with dreams of producing, suggests that they go in together to reach their own dreams, they come to an agreement. They use the site to make the money they need, and then they’ll go about their own ways. (Merrick’s own way involves a woman he’s been hoping to date for years, and their relationship is…vaguely offputting, just as a heads up.) This is definitely one of the ones where there is something always there between them, but those Feelings happen over the course of the arrangement. You know how it goes. 

A Flick Between Friends by Shae Sanders

This particular pair of friends have worked together for ages, and know each other incredibly well. But when both are downsized, Star needs a way to help pay for some family obligations. So she asks Lennox to film a high-quality film with her…and as usual, Feelings. The friends are bound to get confused, especially when lines blur between what’s happening on film and what’s happening behind the scenes. 

These are all indie published, but I wonder if the success of The Roommate will bring in more big-ticket romances around sex work and sex workers…and maybe they’ll be less white. Of course, these are all amateur jobs, but range is good, right?

What are you reading this week?


As usual, catch me on Twitter @jessisreading or Instagram @jess_is_reading, or send me an email at wheninromance@bookriot.com if you’ve got feedback, bookrecs, or just want to say hi!

Categories
What's Up in YA

Why Nonfiction for Young Readers Matters

Hey YA Readers!

Welcome to November, a month for celebrating all things nonfiction. In the Monday newsletters this month, I’m going to highlight some of the best in YA nonfiction and today kicks off with the why of it.

Once again, Goodreads has put forth their annual Goodreads Choice Awards without a category for nonfiction for young readers. It’s something they do annually, and it always feels like such a slight for a giant category of powerful books that deserve their time in the spotlight. The following piece is adapted from a post I wrote about needing to highlight incredible nonfiction for young readers back in 2016, and it still stands true in 2020.

Note that something a little bit tricky about nonfiction for young readers is often the age range doesn’t align neatly with traditional middle grade and YA categorization. It’s not uncommon to see books for ages 10 and up, as opposed to more traditional 8-12 or 12 and up. This isn’t true for all nonfiction for young readers, but worth keeping in mind through the month and in your explorations of nonfiction.

Where’s The Love for Nonfiction for Young Readers?

Perusing the lists for this year’s Goodreads Choice nominees, categories aren’t entirely surprising. There’s YA fiction, YA science fiction and fantasy, poetry, debut novels (which cover both adult and young adult categories), romance, autobiography, and more. But missing from the lists?

Nonfiction for young readers.

Is it that no one is reading these books? Or is it that we’re not talking about them in such a way that makes them stand out as the kinds of books worth reading for pleasure? Is it because these books aren’t marketed toward adult readers in the same way that many YA books are?

As our canon of young readers literature grows and the books become better and better, it’s worth pausing to take a look at what it is we’re really talking about with YA lit. YA encompasses both fiction and nonfiction, genre and non-genre, and all of those aspects of YA help make it the rich, wide collection that it is.

A quick perusal of any bookstore’s YA section showcases at least a stack of nonfiction titles. If you haven’t paid attention lately, perhaps now is the time to pause — maybe you’d be surprised to know that the nonfiction arena of YA contains the most obvious and celebrated diversity so far. There are memoirs by young people of color, gripping adventure stories by people of all abilities and backgrounds, and collective works that introduce readers to a wide array of science, historical, and cultural topics that, though available in adult nonfiction, are written to and for young readers in thoughtful, encouraging, engaging, and exciting ways. These books do not dumb down any topics but instead engage young readers in ways that appeal specifically to them.

Just this year alone, nonfiction in YA has tackled topics like anti-racism, Black voting rights, being an immigrant from Korea, Charles Lindbergh, a visual history of protest, Gloria Steinem, queer consciousness, and so much more. These are highly appealing titles for young readers . . . as well as those of us who enjoy good books, period.

One thing I didn’t anticipate as I began writing more about nonfiction was the response I’d get from parents, teachers, librarians, and others who work with younger readers. They’ve thanked me — these are the kinds of books their kids love, but they’re also the kinds of books that are hard to find and hard to make sense of because they don’t get the same kind of attention in the book world as fiction does.

So let me issue a challenge to readers of middle grade and YA: pick up a nonfiction title or two. Enjoy the way those books are packaged and thoughtfully constructed. Examine how creative the narrative threads are or the ways the author selected their focus on a topic. Challenge yourself to find bias in those titles and whether or not the argument is well defended throughout the story. Pick up an interesting fact or two that you can carry with you always — for me, that would be Nellie Bly’s pet monkey (she picked that up in her round-the-world trip) and how that pet monkey destroyed her dishes upon her return home from her biography Ten Days a Madwoman.

Then share those books. Share them with other readers, young or not-so-young, and then keep exploring. For those who write about books, create more book lists or discussions that include nonfiction. Spread the word about these books as much as you do fiction; in many cases, they’re as gripping narratively as the latest suspense title. While we have to work harder now to find these books, that work is rewarding because of the treasures that exist in nonfiction.

The selection of nonfiction for young readers is a deep pool that keeps getting better and better.


Keep your eyes here throughout the month for excellent YA nonfiction recommendations and themed lists to help you wade even further into this exciting category of books.

Thanks for hanging out, and we’ll see you Thursday!

— Kelly Jensen, @heykellyjensen on Instagram and editor of Body Talk(Don’t) Call Me Crazy, and Here We Are.

Categories
Read This Book

Read This Book: ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoy

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

Yesterday, Daylight Savings Time ended, which means winter is coming. Boo! My neck of the woods will soon be covered with snow, and I won’t be a happy camper. Although I am not looking forward to losing daylight, I am excited about having an extra hour for more exercising sleeping reading. With more time to spend with a good book, why not pick up a big book? 

Anna Karenina Book Cover

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina, a beautiful woman married to a powerful government minister, falls deeply in love with wealthy army officer Count Vronsky. Defying the conventions of Russian society, Anna leaves her husband and son to live with her lover. Being condemned and ostracized by her peers and experiencing fits of jealousy due to her relationship with Vronsky, Anna becomes unable to escape an increasingly hopeless situation. While Anna looks for happiness through love, wealthy landowner Konstantin Levin searches for spiritual fulfillment through marriage, family, and hard work. 

With these two central plots and dozens of characters, Tolstoy effortlessly creates a breathtaking tapestry of nineteenth-century Russian society and an enduring tale of marriage and adultery.

While it is not one of the longest novels, Anna Karenina is certainly one of the longest books I have read in recent years. It is also one of the best books I have ever read. After reading it, I now tend to agree with those bibliophiles who declare Anna Karenina to be the greatest work of literature. This is a dense story with an array of characters and an intricate storyline, but I had no problem following the various characters and their escapades. Although readers come for the torrid affair between Anna and Count Vronsky, it will most likely be the story between Levin and Kitty that will satisfy your romantic heart. 

Anna Karenina is one of the “classic” books I missed during school. I’m glad I didn’t let the size of the book keep me from reading it because I enjoyed every minute of this novel. The story never dragged or felt dull. Despite being published centuries ago, it also never felt dated and still feels relevant. If you’ve been avoiding Anna Karenina because you don’t like big books and cannot lie, then I implore you to embrace these unusual times and break out of your reading comfort zone. You’ll be singing a different tune in no time!

Until next time bookish friends,

Katisha


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Riot Rundown

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Today In Books

Today Kicks Off NaNoWriMo!: Today in Books

New York’s Strand Bookstores Received 25,000 Orders In One Weekend After Asking For Help

Last week, the Strand Bookstore in New York City shared that their sales were down by 70% and they needed financial help to stay afloat. As a result of their plea (and despite many pointing out that the owner is a millionaire who has recently invested in Amazon), the Strand received 25,000 orders in a single weekend, and lines to get into the store stretched around the block. This is heartening to, see, but remember that your own local indie bookstore could probably use some love this holiday season, too!

First Look: Inside Samantha Downing’s Next Novel, For Your Own Good

Calling all Samantha Downing fans! The author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It has a new book out in July 2021 called For Your Own Good. It’s about a teacher at a prep school who has just been named Teacher of the Year, and is determined to help shape his students into better people–no matter the means. Sound creepy! See the cover and read the first chapter.

November Is National Novel Writing Month!

Today kicks off National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo! This month, people from all over the world will join together in a challenge to write a novel (or 50,000 words) in one month. Head on over to the official NaNoWriMo site to get signed up and receive pep talks from authors such as Elizabeth Acevedo, Charlie Jane Anders, Kacen Callender and Alexis Daria.

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Giveaways

110120-Blackstone-Giveaway

We’re giving away 10 Sharon Lynn Fisher book bundles to 10 lucky Riot readers!

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

Here’s what it’s all about:

Enter for a chance to win paperback copies of both The Absinthe Earl and The Raven Lady, the first two books in the Faery Rehistory series by Sharon Lynn Fisher. A historical fantasy romance that is sure to sweep you off your feet! New York Times bestselling author, Maria V. Snyder, proclaims: “Charming and filled with intriguing characters, dangerous enemies, and hidden desires, The Absinthe Earl hooked me from the start!”