Categories
Swords and Spaceships

Swords and Spaceships Oct 2

Happy Tuesday, goblins and Gorgons! Today I’m recommending P. Djèlí Clark’s The Black God’s Drums, and there are a slew of screen-to-book adaptations in the works, an exciting new novel announcement, new releases galore, and more.


This newsletter is sponsored by Vampires Like it Hot by Lynsay Sands.

Vampires are real. Jess would’ve never believed it until she saw them with her own eyes. She knows she has to get off the island, and her gallant rescuer has offered to help. There’s something about Raffaele that’s unlike any man she has ever met, and his touch sends pleasure through her that is beyond all imagining. But when Jess discovers who he really is, will she risk life as she knows it for a chance of forever by his side?


Adaptation news:

Guillermo del Toro and … wait for it … Cornelia Funke are writing a novelization of Pan’s Labyrinth together. I do not know how to feel about this? (Novelizations make me nervous, but Funke is awesome, and so was the movie, so … ???)

And speaking of screen-to-book, you can read the first chapter of the Stranger Things novel, Suspicious Minds, on EW.

And we’re getting an Alien novel! I’m a die-hard fan of the franchise, and Mira Grant (a.k.a. Seanan Maguire) is writing it, it’s YA, and the synopsis sounds great.

Dark Phoenix is back in a new trailer. I rewatched all of the X-Men movies last year in the build-up to Logan (ALL OF THEM), and I still feel like my favorite comics team gets my least favorite movies. Here’s hoping this one will turn the tide a bit?

Sarah Gailey (author of personal favorite American Hippo) has a novel coming out called Magic for Liars and you can consider me interested, magical PIs are my jam.

Not books, but: MST3K‘s new season will start on Thursday, November 22! I somehow did not realize that MST3K had been chugging along all these years (I think the last episode I saw was a Mike one); perhaps I will use this opportunity to grab some popcorn and pull up a seat.

New releases I have my eye on:

A Blade So Black by LL McKinney

The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

Rock Manning Goes for Broke by Charlie Jane Anders

An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris

Exit Strategy (Murderbot #4) by Martha Wells

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

Need some cheap reads to bolster your TBR?

The Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz, $2.99, because witching season is upon us!

The Door in the Hedge: And Other Stories by Robin McKinley, $1.99, because Robin McKinley, always.

Dragon Keeper (Rain Wilds Chronicles, #1) by Robin Hobb, $1.99, because environmentalism plus dragons.

The Merry Spinster: Tales of Every Day Horror by Daniel Mallory Ortberg (as Mallory Ortberg), $2.99, because these tales will creep you right out.

Giveaway alert! Enter our giveaway for a custom book stamp for your personal library right here.

Here’s an alternate-history steampunk novella to put on your shelf next to Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation and Nisi Shawl’s Everfair.

The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark

illlustration: a young dark-skinned black woman with braided hair in a black shirt stands against a stormy skyI’ve been a fan of Clark’s since I read his novelette “A Dead Djinn in Cairo,” and am delighted to tell you that this new novella is fantastic.

Set in an alternate 1880s United States, in which the Civil War ended in a truce and Louisiana is a neutral free-state, The Black God’s Drums follows whip-smart adolescent street urchin Creeper, who also happens to be carrying the goddess Oya around in her head. Creeper overhears a secret plot to sell Haiti’s greatest weapon to an unknown bidder and knows quality intel when she finds it; now she just has to find the right buyer. Creeper takes us on a whirling tour of a vivid and vibrant alternate New Orleans, complete with political wheelings and dealings, houses of ill-repute, some very surprising nuns, airships, and a battle for the soul of a city.

The ever-present struggle with good novellas is that, even when the plot is done right and is perfectly self-contained, the world-building leaves you wanting more story. The Black God’s Drums does both, but also leaves me torn. As much as I want to see what else might happen in this setting, when I consider the breadth of Clark’s work to date, I can only hope he continues to create strange and exciting new worlds like it’s easy as pie. I’ll be here eagerly awaiting whatever comes next.

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.

Never give up, never surrender,
Jenn

Categories
Giveaways

Win a Copy of I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU: THE ONE ABOUT FRIENDS by Kelsey Miller!

 

We have six copies of I’ll Be There For You: The One About Friends by Kelsey Miller to give away!

Here’s what it’s all about:

This definitive retrospective of “Friends” incorporates interviews, history, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes to explore how the sitcom changed television forever. When “Friends” debuted in 1994, nobody expected a show about six twenty-somethings living and falling in love in NYC to become a mainstay of “Must See TV,” let alone a global phenomenon. In the years since, “Friends” has gone through many phases of cultural relevancy, from primetime hit to 90s novelty item to certified classic. Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe have entered the pantheon of great television characters, and millions of people continue to view their stories today.

Go here to enter for a chance to win, or just click the cover image below!

Categories
Book Radar

Zoë Kravitz To Star in HIGH FIDELITY Reboot and More Book Radar!

Happy Monday, book lovers! I attended the fall conference for the New England Booksellers Association last week and, WOW, are there amazing books on their way next year! I can’t wait to talk about them over the coming months. (You can see my haul on Instagram.) Today, I have lots of fabulous book-related bits. Enjoy your upcoming week, be kind to yourself as well as others, and remember that I love you and I like you. – xoxo, Liberty


Sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

In fifteenth-century France, the convent of St. Mortain provides sanctuary to girls seeking refuge from the cruelty of the outside world. But sanctuary comes at a price—and each of Death’s Handmaids pay it in blood. Grave Mercy, Dark Triumph, and Mortal Heart make up the New York Times bestselling His Fair Assassins trilogy: where romance, magic, and political intrigue collide. Fans of Marie Lu’s The Young Elites and Kiersten White’s And I Darken will love this seductive dark fantasy collection.


Here’s this week’s trivia question: Who coined the phrase ‘Wars of the Roses’?

Deals, Reals, and Squeals!

high fidelityZoe Kravitz will star in the High Fidelity reboot. (Her mom was in the original!) (Also, how is this book 23 years old already??!?)

From the “I Didn’t See That Coming” files: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be on the writing staff of the Veronica Mars revival. (This totally counts as book news, since he’s also an author. Plus, it’s mind-blowing.)

The Editor by Steve Rowley will be made into a film.

Guillermo Del Toro and Cornelia Funke are writing a Pan’s Labyrinth book.

Lindy West announced a new book: The Witches Are Coming!

Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay may become an opera.

The Female Persuasion will be made into a film and Nicole Kidman will be a producer.

Eva Green & Eve Hewson to star in BBC Two’s adaptation of The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton.

The CW is developing a series based on The Lifeboat Clique by Kathy Parks.

Paul McCartney announced his children’s book, Hey Grandude.

And What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli is going to be a film.

Sneak Peeks

stranger thingsHere’s the first chapter of Gwenda Bond’s upcoming Stranger Things book about Eleven’s mother.

Here’s the first trailer for Dark Phoenix, the new X-Men movie.

Cover Reveals

We Need Diverse Books shared the first look at Just South of Home by Karen Musing. (Simon Kids, May 7, 2019)

Holy xenomorphs! Here’s the first look at Alien: Echo, a young adult novel set in the Alien-verse. (Imprint, April 9, 2019)

Tor.com revealed a million (okay, nine) amazing upcoming covers, including Sylvain Neuvel and Seanan McGuire.

Here’s the gorgeous cover of With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo. (HarperTeen, May 7, 2019)

Here’s the first look at Sarah Gailey’s upcoming novel Magic for Liars. (Tor Books, June 4, 2019)

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 learn about a lot of upcoming titles, and I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week so you can add them to your TBR!

Loved, loved, loved:

daisy jones and the sixDaisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Ballentine Books, March 5, 2019)

I loved this rocking novel of a 1970s rock band in California and the story of their meteoric rise and the truth behind why they split up. And the cover gives me Almost Famous/Exile in Guyville vibes.

Excited to read:

boy swallows universeBoy Swallows Universe: A Novel by Trent Dalton (HarperCollins, April 2, 2019)

Each time you attend a book convention, the reps always have a book they are putting in people’s hands immediately. This year, the amazing HarperCollins rep pushed this debut Australian novel at me before I had even finished stepping to the table, and it sounds a bit like A Fraction of the Whole, another Australian novel I love, so I am 100% on board to read this one.

What I’m reading this week.

the city in the middle of the nightThe City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders

Body Leaping Backward: Memoir of a Delinquent Girlhood by Maureen Stanton

Insurrecto by Gina Apostol

The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy) by S. A Chakraborty

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi

And this is funny.

Helen Ellis, with the obvious answer.

Trivia answer: Sir Walter Scott.

Categories
The Kids Are All Right

New Children’s Book Releases for October 2, 2018!

Hey Kid Lit friends,

Happy Tuesday! Happy new release day!

Quick public service announcement: Due to the large number of books I am receiving each week, I will be limiting the number of new releases I feature to books I really love or books that are highly anticipated.

That being said, enjoy these new books! As usual, the book descriptions are from Goodreads.


Sponsored by Encounter Vol. 1 by Art Baltazar & Franco

A brand-new comic collection from the creators of Tiny Titans and Mini Marvels—Art Baltazar, Franco, and Chris Giarrusso—teamed up for the first time! Encounter is a new kind of hero; an alien escaped to Earth with pods that will eventually hatch to become his siblings. He can take any form he chooses, and decides to become a hero! With help from his talking dog, Barko, Encounter fights crime on our planet. Catch up on the colorful duo’s adventures in Encounter Vol. 1: Out of This World, in stores October 9th from Caracal, an imprint of Lion Forge.


Board Book New Releases

Baby Feminists by Libby Babbott-Klein, illustrated by Jessica Walker

Before Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mae Jemison, Frida Kahlo, and others were change-making feminists, they were . . . babies! In this board book that’s perfect for budding feminists, lift the flap to discover what these iconic figures might have looked like as adorable babies and toddlers. With its inspiring message that any baby can grow up to make the world a better place for all genders, this sturdy 7″ x 7″ board book makes the perfect baby gift for any family that wants to raise children who can recognize Gloria Steinem on sight.

Dump Truck’s Colors by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Ethan Long

Join Dump Truck on his colorfully busy day at the construction site! Little construction fans will love the colors that fill the world of the bestselling Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, from the BLUE sky in the morning to the WHITE moon at night!

Into the Forest by Laura Baker, illustrated by Nadia Taylor

Through a simple narrative about a squirrel looking for her family, Into the Forest introduces different animal families as they go about their daily lives. With a gentle rhyming text and beautiful illustrations, Into the Forest’s die-cut pages and embossing make this the perfect tactile package for little hands.

Cement Mixer’s ABC by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Ethan Long

Sing along with these construction ABCs! Cement Mixer churns out a rollicking alphabet rhyme that makes work light and teaches little readers the words of the construction site, from A to Z.

Picture Book New Releases

Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera, illustrated by Lauren Castillo

Have you ever imagined what you might be when you grow up? When he was very young, Juan Felipe Herrera picked chamomile flowers in windy fields and let tadpoles swim across his hands in a creek. He slept outside and learned to say good-bye to his amiguitos each time his family moved to a new town. He went to school and taught himself to read and write English and filled paper pads with rivers of ink as he walked down the street after school. And when he grew up, he became the United States Poet Laureate and read his poems aloud on the steps of the Library of Congress. If he could do all of that . . . what could you do?

Potato Pants by Laurie Keller

Potato is excited because today―for one day only― Lance Vance’s Fancy Pants Store is selling . . .POTATO PANTS! Potato rushes over early, but just as he’s about to walk in, something makes him stop. What could it be? Find out in this one-of-a-kind story about misunderstandings and forgiveness, and―of course―Potato Pants!

The Hen Who Sailed Around the World by Guirec Soudee

Monique is a highly accomplished chicken: she surfs, she skateboards, and she just crossed the world on a tiny boat with her human companion, Guirec, who helped steer. On their three-year journey, together they were unstoppable. When they became stranded in the ice off Greenland for four months, Monique, unruffled as always, kept Guirec alive with her eggs– and they both made it home.

Balance the Birds by Susie Ghahremani

A follow-up to Stack the Cats, Balance the Birds is about balance and relative size. When birds spot a tree and decide to land on its branches, the readers can help them find the perfect balance. Like Stack the Cats, Balance the Birds introduces key early math skills for toddlers.

I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

From the picture book dream team behind I Am Yoga and I Am Peace comes the third book in their wellness series: I Am Human. A hopeful meditation on all the great (and challenging) parts of being human, I Am Human shows that it’s okay to make mistakes while also emphasizing the power of good choices by offering a kind word or smile or by saying “I’m sorry.” At its heart, this picture book is a celebration of empathy and compassion that lifts up the flawed fullness of humanity and encourages children to see themselves as part of one big imperfect family—millions strong.

A History of Pictures for Children by David Hockney & Martin Gayford

A History of Pictures takes young readers on an adventure through art history. From cave paintings to video games, this book shows how and why pictures have been made, linking art to the human experience. Hockney and Gayford explain each piece of art in the book, helping young minds to grasp difficult concepts. The book tracks the many twists and turns toward artistic invention, allowing readers to fully appreciate how and why art has changed and includes an illustrated timeline of inventions.

Car, Car, Truck, Jeep by Katrina Charman, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

This book is bursting with cars, buses, planes, trains, trucks, diggers–and many more Things That Go. And with a text set to the tune of Baa, Baa, Black Sheep, vehicle-obsessed little ones will never want to put this book down!

The Diamond and the Boy by Hannah Holt, illustrated by Jay Fleck

Before a diamond is a gem, it’s a common gray rock called graphite. Through an intense trial of heat and pressure, it changes into one of the most valuable stones in the world. Before Tracy Hall was an inventor, he was a boy—born into poverty, bullied by peers, forced to work at an early age. However, through education and experimentation, he became one of the brightest innovators of the twentieth century, eventually building a revolutionary machine that makes diamonds.

Door by JiHyeon Lee

JiHyeon Lee’s debut book, Pool, was lauded as a wordless masterpiece. Here she takes readers on another journey into an unexpected world. Delicate drawings transform from grays to vivid color as a curious child goes through a mysterious door and discovers that open-mindedness is the key to adventure and friendship.

Mapping Sam by Joyce Hesselberth

Maps can show us streets and subways and cities and countries. But they can also show us what we can’t see, what we can only imagine, or how to build something. In Joyce Hesselberth’s Mapping Sam, Sam the cat puts her family to bed, and then—when all is quiet—heads out to explore her neighborhood.

Bitter and Sweet by Sandra V. Feder, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

When Hannah’s family has to move, her grandmother tells her how she felt leaving the old country ― it was both bitter and sweet. As Hannah leaves her friends behind and tries to get used to a new house, she only feels bitterness. Was her grandmother wrong about the sweetness? Hannah starts to feel better about the move when she sees her new house in the soft light of the Shabbat candles. When a new friend reaches out with a special gift, Hannah realizes that sweetness can come from unexpected places and that she can even create some herself.

I Hate My Cats (A Love Story) by Davide Cali, illustrated by Anna Pirolli

Ginger is the weird one. She plays with peas, purrs at artichokes, and has a strange fondness for chicken (but only the neighbor’s chicken). Then there’s Fred. His greatest talent? Sleeping. Oh, and hiding. And when he’s not hiding, he’s conspiring with Ginger to destroy the house! Such is life with cats. . . can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em—if you love them, that is.

Chapter Book New Releases

Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters by Andrea Beaty, illustrations by David Roberts

Rosie Revere is no stranger to flops and fails, kerfuffles and catastrophes. After all, engineering is all about perseverance! But this time, Rosie has a really important project to tackle—one that feels much bigger than herself. Rosie’s beloved Aunt Rose and her friends, the Raucous Riveters—a group of fun-loving gals who built airplanes during World War II—need help inventing something new. And Rosie is just the engineer for the job!

 

Middle Grade New Releases

Bluecrowne: A Greenglass House Story by Kate Milford

Lucy Bluecrowne is beginning a new life ashore with her stepmother and half brother, though she’s certain the only place she’ll ever belong is with her father on a ship of war as part of the crew. She doesn’t care that living in a house is safer and the proper place for a twelve-year-old girl; it’s boring. But then two nefarious strangers identify her little brother as the pyrotechnical prodigy they need to enact an evil plan, and it will take all Lucy’s fighting instincts to keep her family together.

Dog Days in the City by Jodi Kendall

Anytime Josie Shilling’s large family gets too chaotic, volunteering at the local animal clinic is the one place she can escape—and she loves working with the animals. But when a box mysteriously appears on the clinic’s front steps, Josie suddenly becomes responsible for seven adorable puppies! Taking care of her pig, Hamlet, last fall was a bit harder than she thought. So how is she ever going to handle a whole litter of mischievous pups and find the right homes for them all? This summer will bring big changes for Josie as she learns about growing up, letting go, and loving your pack no matter what.

Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

When Louisiana Elefante’s granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her that the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to leave home immediately, Louisiana isn’t overly worried. After all, Granny has many middle-of-the-night ideas. But this time, things are different. This time, Granny intends for them never to return. Separated from her best friends, Raymie and Beverly, Louisiana struggles to oppose the winds of fate (and Granny) and find a way home.

My Father’s Words by Patricia MacLachlan

Declan O’Brien always had a gentle word to share, odd phrases he liked to repeat, and songs to sing while he played basketball. His favorite song was “Dona Nobis Pacem, “Grant Us Peace.” His family loved him deeply and always knew they were loved in return. But a terrible accident one day changes their lives forever, and Fiona and Finn O’Brien are left without a father. Their mother is at a loss. What words are there to guide them through such overwhelming grief?

9 From the Nine Worlds by Rick Riordan

The Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard trilogy may have concluded, but we haven’t heard the last of our favorite peeps from the Nine Worlds. Join Hearthstone, Blitzen, Samirah, Alex, Jack, T.J., Mallory, Halfborn, and more on a hilarious and unforgettable journey through Rick Riordan’s unique take on Norse mythology. While Magnus is off visiting his cousin, Annabeth, his friends find themselves in some sticky, hairy, and smelly situations as they try to outwit moronic giants, murderous creatures, and meddlesome gods. Can they stave off Ragnarok at least until Magnus gets back?

Apple Pie Promises by Hillary Homzie

Lily has lived with her mom since her parents got divorced several years ago, and her dad has recently remarried to a woman with a daughter her age named Hannah. But now, Lily’s mom has gotten a once-in-a-lifetime work opportunity in Africa and she’ll be gone for a year, so Lily is moving in with her dad―and new stepmom and new stepsister. It’ll be as easy as apple pie, right? Wrong.

Skylark and Wallcreeper by Anne O’Brien Carelli

Queens, 2012. Hurricane Sandy is flooding New York City, and Lily is at a nursing home with her grandmother, Collette. Lily visits Collette often, as she is beginning to lose her memories. When the National Guard shows up to evacuate the building and take them to safety at the Park Slope armory in Brooklyn, Lily’s granny suddenly produces a red box she’s hidden in a closet for years. Once they get to safety, Lily opens the box, where she finds an old, beautiful Montblanc pen. Granny tells Lily that the pen is very important and that she has to take care of it, as well as some letters written in French.

The Truth About Martians by Melissa Savage

Mylo never really believed in Martians, unless they had a starring role in one of his comic books. But then a flying saucer crash-lands next to his Roswell, New Mexico, ranch, and he starts to hear voices–like someone is asking for his help. With his best friend Dibs and crush Gracie by his side, and his Cracker Jack superhero membership card, a slingshot, and a small American flag–for peace–in tow, Mylo sets out on an epic adventure to investigate the crash and find the Martians. But he and his friends end up discovering more about the universe than they ever could have imagined.

The Flash: The Tornado Twins by Barry Lyga

Catch up with the super adventures of Barry Allen, also known as the Flash, in the third book of this middle-grade series. Featuring adventures not seen on TV, Barry continues his mission to protect Central City from sinister plots. The book builds upon the world of the popular TV show in a new medium by author Barry Lyga. Fans won’t want to miss the exciting conclusion to the series!

 

Backlist Book Recommendations

 Poetry Recommendation: Poems to Learn by Heart by Caroline Kennedy, illustrated by Jon J. Muth

There’s a poem to celebrate every moment in life-whether it’s hitting a home run, watching a sunset, or laughing with your best friend. A poem is a gift of the heart that can inspire, reassure, or challenge us. Memorize it-share it-it’s yours forever.

Picture Book Recommendation: Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers

In her debut picture book, Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl–an every girl–whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl’s faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird.

Middle Grade Recommendation: Shadows of Sherwood by Kekla Magoon

The night her parents disappear, twelve-year-old Robyn Loxley must learn to fend for herself. Her home, Nott City, has been taken over by a harsh governor, Ignomus Crown. After fleeing for her life, Robyn has no choice but to join a band of strangers–misfit kids, each with their own special talent for mischief. Setting out to right the wrongs of Crown’s merciless government, they take their outlaw status in stride. But Robyn can’t rest until she finds her parents. As she pieces together clues from the night they disappeared, Robyn learns that her destiny is tied to the future of Nott City in ways she never expected.

 

Giveaway!

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a custom book stamp for your personal library! Click here to enter.

 

I would 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

This is Mary Todd Lincoln, one of the shop dogs at Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee!

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Riot Rundown TestRiotRundown

093018-KilltheQueen-Riot-Rundown

Today’s Riot Rundown is sponsored by Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep

Dark forces are at work inside the Bellona royal court. When the crown princess assassinates her mother to take the throne by force, even seventeenth-in-line-for-the-throne Lady Everleigh is in danger.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain, the gladiators are highly trained warriors. Uncertain of her future Evie begins training with the troupe. But as the bloodthirsty queen exerts her power, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a gladiator . . . and kill the queen.

Categories
Giveaways

Win a Library Prize Pack!

 

We’re giving away a cozy, library-themed prize pack of goodies from the Book Riot store, including a hoodie, library card socks, and a librarian cart t-shirt.

Go here to enter for a chance to win, or just click the image below!

 

Categories
Today In Books

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Joins VERONICA MARS Writers’ Room: Today in Books

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Swoon Reads — publishing the latest and greatest in YA fiction recommended by readers like you.


Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Joins Veronica Mars Writers’ Room

Basketball legend turned author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be writing for our favorite smart-mouthed sleuth in the upcoming Veronica Mars Hulu limited series. My excitement continues to grow. And while we wait, there are two great continuation books for the series that start after the movie ended: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line and Mr. Kiss and Tell.

House Of Cards Season 6 Teaser Trailer Is Here

And Claire Underwood did not come to play! The final season of the series, based on Michael Dobbs’s British novel, will premiere November 2nd on Netflix.

Stranger Things 1st Novel Will Be Eleven’s Mother’s Origin Story

YA author Gwenda Bond is writing the first official Stranger Things novel: Suspicious Minds. It’s a prequel to the show following Eleven’s mother when she was the MKUltra program’s test subject. And you can read the first chapter now and see the cover!

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TBR

TBR Glitch Fixed

Hello, TBR subscribers!

Some of you have reported an issue accessing your recommendations in order to leave feedback for your Bibliologist in anticipation of your next round of recs. We are pleased to report that the bug has been squashed! This was simply a display error; none of your information has been lost or compromised.

Log into your TBR account to view your recommendations and leave feedback.

Any further issues? Hit us up at support@mytbr.co.

 

 

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Today In Books

First Look at Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers: Today in Books

This edition of Today in Books is sponsored by Fierce Reads.


It’s A Neighborly Day In This Beauty Wood

Take a first look at Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers in Marielle Heller’s forthcoming (untitled, for now) biographical drama inspired by the life of Fred Rogers. The film will focus on the real-life friendship between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod, played by Matthew Rhys. Side part on point.

Europe’s Oldest Intact Book Found Preserved In Coffin of A Saint

If you’re planning a trip to London next month, you might decide to stop by the British Library for its exhibition, “Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War,” opening October 19th. Why, you ask? Because Europe’s oldest intact book, St. Cuthbert Gospel, will be on display. The book, dated to between 700 and 730, was found intact, preserved in the coffin of St. Cuthbert. Read more about it here.

What If It’s Us Will Be Adapted

Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli’s What If It’s Us isn’t out until October 9, but it has already been scooped up for an adaptation. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Brian Yorkey will adapt the buzzy, queer YA collaboration between the author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Albertalli) and the author of They Both Die at the End (Silvera). I hear the squees of a thousand fans.

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What's Up in YA

🔖 7 Tips For Reading With Mental Health Challenges

Hey YA readers: Time to get personal!

Sponsored by Me and Me by Alice Kuipers from KCP Loft.

Lark’s on a dream date with Alec. Blue skies, clear water, a canoe on the lake. Everything is perfect … until they hear screams. Annabelle, a little girl Lark used to babysit, is struggling in the reeds. When Lark and Alec dive to help her, Alec hits his head on a rock. Now Annabelle and Alec are both in trouble, and Lark can only save one of them. Suddenly, Lark’s world is torn in two, leaving her to cope with the consequences of two choices. She lives two lives, two selves. But which is the right life?


My YA anthology, (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start The Conversation About Mental Health releases tomorrow, October 2, from Algonquin Young Readers. I’ve written extensively about YA books that take on mental illness, and you can read some of the posts linked at the bottom of the newsletter, along with some other great resources.

Today, I wanted to offer up some of the things I do when I struggle with my depression and anxiety when it comes to reading and talking about books. It’s my hope this not only feels useful for anyone who struggles with mental illness, but also that it’s useful both for those who have rough mental health stretches (even without an illness) and those who work with teens who themselves may be dealing with them. The more tools in the pocket, the better equipped we all are.

Part of why reading can become so daunting when one’s mental health is challenging is that it requires use of executive functioning, which can shut down. Executive functioning is in charge of mental processes and skills, and it can become utterly exhausting or frustrating even thinking about picking up a book from one’s shelf. YA author Molly Backes goes into the further, in this excellent talk about the impossible task on Twitter.

As always with mental health, your mileage may vary. These are things that have worked for me.

  1. Read something entire out of the norm.

    Changing up formats can be a big game-changer when it comes to reading. The same can be said about changing up genres or age categories. Since I lean toward YA reading, sometimes while dealing with severe anxiety or depression, all I want to do is read a bunch of magazines or peruse graphic novels for the art. I let myself do this. I’ve found that reading romance has been a big winner for me lately on this front; the fact I know going in that the book will end in a Happily Ever After is predictable and satisfying.

  2. Revisit an old favorite book.

    One of the biggest challenges I face with reading when I’m not feeling my best is that I don’t want to be surprised by something that could trigger strong emotional response. Picking up a book I’ve read and loved before solves this: I know going in what’ll happen and I can more passively enjoy the ride. It might sound odd, but my rereading tends toward horror/creepy. I find them to be comforting, since those worlds are so different from the one I’m in.

  3. Schedule reading time like a date (and/or make it a date).

    Dealing with mental health sometimes means wandering through a day without a plan. It’s not that I don’t want to accomplish things or that I don’t need to meet deadlines. I do. But, depression wants me to stay in bed or worry about it later or not at all because it doesn’t really matter and no one really cares (and anxiety then throws in the fun of “you need to get the thing due in a month done today or else you’re a failure”). This can mean that things like reading — which is both pleasure for me, as well as related to the work I do — can fall to the wayside. By scheduling time to read in my day and following through, I’m able to ensure I get some words in my mind that aren’t my own. I’ve made this a routine when I’m functioning well and managing my illnesses, and I’m able to continue those routines when I’m not doing so hot. I make listening to audiobooks a part of my getting ready in the morning routine, and I’ve found that, even when I’m struggling to get anything done, the silence while brushing my hair and teeth encourages me to hit play on my audiobook and get those words in.

  4. Clean the shelves and/or library holds and checkouts.

    Nothing feels better than a clean slate, especially when everything else is hard. I might have been excited about all of those library books I checked out, but there’s also something satisfying in returning them all, clearing my fines, and having a fresh start. Another tool I use is cleaning my personal collection: sometimes it means donating books I know I’ll never read and other times, it’s a matter of reorganizing the shelves that have gotten out of hand. Each of these tasks has a satisfying visual outcome. There’s a completion and a freshness and newness.

  5. Listen.

    Audiobooks are a lifesaver when I’m having bad mental health spells. I mentioned above the power of routine, but even more than that, audiobooks can be consumed while I am doing literally nothing. I can lay in bed and listen. I can listen while going for a walk. I can listen while working (or attempting to work). When I’m unable to concentrate on a story, though, I also find myself turning to podcasts. Book podcasts abound, and sometimes listening to other people talk books is everything I need and didn’t realize.

  6. Focus on helping other people find a good book by writing about recent favorites or talking with others about books that remind you of them.

    Whether or not you’re a librarian, a teacher, or a blogger who regularly writes book lists, this trick can be valuable. There are a couple of benefits: first, it’s satisfying to make something like a book list and be able to share it and second, it’s an opportunity to reach out to people in a way that’s not threatening and allows you to pass along your passion to them when everything feels impossible. If focusing on other people doesn’t sound appealing, there is value in writing personal book lists, too. Top five books from childhood or ten books with great book covers or seven books you read but absolutely loathed can make for valuable (and low-stakes) self-reflection. You may not do anything with these lists, and that’s okay. It might even be part of the point.

  7. Allow myself to simply not read.

    Sometimes, it’s okay to just be. There is no shame in not reading, especially when it ends up impinging upon your mental wellness.

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Some further reading on mental health/illness in the world of YA:

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Thanks for hanging out. If you’re up for it, consider picking up a copy of (Don’t) Call Me Crazy. And in any case, we’ll be back in your inbox on Thursday with a roundup of recent YA book news and more!

— Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Instagram.