Sponsored by Under the Magnolias by T. I. Lowe
Magnolia, South Carolina, 1980
Austin Foster is barely a teenager when her mama dies, leaving her to care for her six siblings and try to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness.
As Austin finds herself relying upon some of Magnolia’s most colorful citizens to ease the Fosters’ hardships, her father makes a choice that will crack the family’s secrets wide-open. T. I. Lowe’s gritty yet tender tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart . . . then heal it in the best possible way.
Welcome to Check Your Shelf! I got my second vaccine dose on Friday, and you all are allowed to hate me a little bit because aside from a sore arm and a fairly deep sleep Friday night, I had no side effects. I was totally prepared to feel like death warmed over, and then…nothing happened. Not that I’m complaining, but this felt like a very anti-climactic weekend, AND I didn’t even get the chance to use my “Ugh, can’t take out the garbage — I feel like crap from the vaccine” excuse! Oh well…at least I get to hug people now!!
Collection Development Corner
Publishing News
(TW: sexual misconduct) W.W. Norton has halted shipping of the upcoming Philip Roth biography by Blake Bailey, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by former students. The New Republic also looks at how the Blake Bailey fiasco implicates everyone.
Simon & Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp has written a letter to employees defending the publisher’s decision to move ahead with Mike Pence’s memoir, after Simon & Schuster workers protested the decision.
The book by the officer who shot Breonna Taylor is a new test for publishers.
Sourcebooks announces a new children’s imprint.
How bookishness affects the book biz.
New & Upcoming Titles
Delacorte Press and We Need Diverse Books are collaborating to publish The Grimoire of Grave Fates, a YA fantasy novel told in interconnected points of view by 18 YA authors.
Elizabeth Acevedo will release her first novel for adults in 2023.
William Barr and Amy Coney Barrett both land book deals, although Jezebel raises concerns, calling it “a banner day for bad books.”
50 of the best new nonfiction books about the natural world.
Weekly book picks from Booklist Reader, Bustle, Buzzfeed, Crime Reads, New York Times, and USA Today.
April’s best international crime fiction.
Barnes & Noble’s most anticipated books for May.
30 LGBTQ YA books to read this spring.
Best books of the year so far.
What Your Patrons Are Hearing About
Terminal Boredom: Stories — Izumi Suzuki (Electric Lit, New York Times, Tor.com)
Whereabouts — Jhumpa Lahiri (New York Times, Washington Post)
The Free World: Art and Thought in the Cold War — Louis Menard (LA Times, Washington Post)
Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power — Susan Page (LA Times, USA Today)
The Man Who Lived Underground — Richard Wright (LA Times, New York Times)
RA/Genre Resources
An oral history of the romance genre.
Finding a book when you’ve forgotten the title.
A new book reminds us why the greatest fictional detective is Poirot.
On the Riot
New releases out this week that you need to read.
4 upcoming LGBTQ YA romance books to pick up.
The best children’s books by age: a guide to great reading.
The dangers of the mental illness boogeyman twist in mysteries.
The future of the Ripped Bodice Diversity Report.
5 authors like Carmen Maria Machado.
All Things Comics
DC is launching a new horror imprint with The Conjuring: The Lover.
Emilia Clarke wrote a comic book!
Spider-Man and related titles are coming to Disney+.
HBO Max finds great success with film adaptations of comics and associated titles.
On the Riot
Beyond schoolgirls: Yuri manga and lesbian manga with adult main characters.
12 manhwa and manga like My Hero Academia.
Audiophilia
Mystery and suspense audiobooks to make you laugh.
A beginner’s guide to getting started with audiobooks.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
Children/Teens
5 of the best short poems to read to your kids.
Historical fiction YA romances to read ASAP.
Adults
Books about the AAPI experience.
6 books about defunding the police that will inspire you to take action.
NPR’s reading suggestions for Earth Day.
5 books to read for Earth Day.
10 eco-fiction novels worth celebrating.
10 books that make the Earth come alive.
10 novels with charming characters.
15 books every music fan should read.
7 suspenseful novels that examine immigrant identities.
Chinese-inspired fantasy books that reframe familiar fairy tales.
Female science fiction authors to read right now.
8 great books to get you through vaccine FOMO in April.
9 self-improvement books that will help with your goals.
14 amazing Black poets to know about.
9 books about the reality of life on the Internet.
12 reading recommendations from historical fiction authors.
8 literary books that are technically fanfiction.
15 books about genetics for National DNA Day.
15 underrated beach reads for every summer mood.
10 books to read after you’ve marathoned the shows.
On the Riot
Picture books to help kids learn science.
10 children’s books about empathy.
The best books about puberty for your growing kiddo.
9 of the most controversial books published in English.
9 books to read after watching Meghan and Harry on Oprah.
5 books about being Black in America for fans of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
The best of the best Cinderella retellings.
5 SFF books about the positive power of anger.
4 of the best nonfiction self-care books.
8 excellent heartfelt essay collections.
4 of the best women’s history books.
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.
Have a pleasant, bookish week, folks. I’ll catch you all on Friday.
—Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.
