Welcome to Check Your Shelf. I’m in that frustrating predicament where I want/need to update my wardrobe, but am seemingly unable to find clothes that look good or fit my budget. I love thrift store shopping, but I’ve struck out the last few times I’ve gone, so for now I’m stuck with the same tired shirts.
But I’m supposed to be talking about books, right?
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
Okay, Oscar Isaac is speaking at the US Book Show today (Tuesday), so if anyone reading this newsletter is there and able to smuggle him out, I’ll tell you where to find me. ;). PS, if he ends up doing any kind of speaking engagements at a future ALA conference, I will preorder tickets so fast, it’ll break the Internet.
The Atlantic and Zando have partnered to launch a new imprint, Atlantic Editions, which will feature long-form journalism from Atlantic writers devoted to a single topic.
New & Upcoming Titles
Colin Kaepernick is publishing a graphic memoir aimed at young adults.
23 new books by AAPI authors that are perfect for mystery readers.
12 sizzling romance reads perfect for summer beach reading.
10 books by Black authors to read in June.
The 42 best mystery books to read right now.
Weekly book picks from Bustle, Crime Reads, LitHub, The Millions, New York Times, and USA Today.
The best debut crime novels for May.
Summer picks from Seattle Times.
24 of the best speculative fiction novels of 2022 (so far).
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
This Time Tomorrow – Emma Straub (New York Times, NPR, USA Today, Washington Post)
Mean Baby – Selma Blair (New York Times, Washington Post)
His Name is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice – Robert Samuel and Toluse Olorunnipa (New York Times)
On the Riot
Truth bomb: indie bookstores and indie authors can be friends! For realsies!
13 new LGBTQ books by AAPI authors to read ASAP.
8 recent nonfiction books about the natural world.
The AAPI Reading Challenge for May and beyond.
The best historical fiction in several genres, eras, and styles.
What is prose poetry?
Is it time to retire the term “bodice ripper?”
What are the worst books of all time?
All Things Comics
Heartstopper has been renewed for TWO more seasons on Netflix!
She-Hulk will air on Disney+ in August, and you can see the first trailer here.
Marvel confirms that Conan the Barbarian is leaving.
A look at the work of Frank Miller.
10 Marvel characters to read for AAPI Heritage Month.
On the Riot
8 of the best May comics to add to your TBR.
8 upcoming graphic novels you don’t want to miss.
8 mandatory multiverse comics to read, no matter what timeline you live in.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
YA thrillers featuring LGBTQIA+ folks getting into trouble.
17 YA books that will have you sobbing uncontrollably on TikTok.
Adults
11 historical fiction books exploring royalty around the world.
The 50 best horror books of all time.
7 poetry collections by queer women of color.
26 AAPI cookbooks that should be on your shelf.
5 books that get demon summoning right (although I’m not so sure that’s a good thing…)
5 queer contemporary cozy mysteries.
15 books centered around queer joy.
On the Riot
15 delightful summer books for preschoolers.
The 24 best romances of all time.
9 books for fitness professionals.
8 great novels about the perils of war.
Books about people living between cultures.
11 trope-tastic books like The Spanish Love Deception.
8 books like Kiki’s Delivery Service.
8 of the best books with a nonlinear timeline.
8 outstanding nonfiction books about music.
8 great novellas in translation.
10 books about Kenya, by Kenyans.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
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 has a guide to discovering upcoming diverse books, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word has created a database of upcoming diverse titles to nominate, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Here’s today’s cat photo! It’s a picture of Gilbert splooting. And considering this photo was taken during the middle of 2020, I relate very, very strongly to this sentiment. I myself have splooted like that many times…on the couch, on the floor, across my office chair at work…
Well, time to un-sploot myself and face the rest of the week. Catch you on Friday!
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.