We’re giving away a stack of our 20 favorite books of the year. Click here to enter, or just click the image below.
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Happy New Year, Kid Lit friends!
I hope everyone had a restful holiday and a exuberant new year! I am writing this newsletter from the Catskill mountains, where it’s 9 degrees and snowing. In the past I’ve not been such a huge fan of freezing weather (I was raised in sunny southern California), but it is absolutely beautiful here! After taking my kids sledding and snow shoeing, I might finally be a cold weather convert.
Sponsored by Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
Rose Howard is obsessed with homonyms. Her own name is a homonym, and she even gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein). Not everyone understands Rose’s obsessions, her rules, and the other things that make her different.
When a storm hits their town, Rain goes missing. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search.
Hearts will break and spirits will soar for this powerful story from the New York Times bestselling author of The Baby-Sitter’s Club series, Ann M. Martin.
The day this newsletter publishes – January 7th – is my birthday! I usually love making a big deal out of other people’s birthdays but don’t usually make a huge deal of my birthday – honestly, I sometimes forget about it! – but since I’ve had kids they love having any excuse to celebrate. And because celebrations are fun even when everyone is tired from the holidays and it’s bitter cold, I thought I’d acknowledge my birthday for once and round up some of my favorite birthday books.
When’s My Birthday by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Christian Robinson
I adore this birthday book! Filled with energy and celebration, this book does a perfect job at capturing the excitement and joy that comes with a birthday. The size is great as well; tall and narrow, it’s like a big greeting card.
when’s my birthday?
where’s my birthday?
how many days until my birthday?
i’d like a pony for my birthday
and a necklace for my birthday.
i’d like a chicken for my birthday.
i’d like a ball to bounce and bounce.
This picture book is absolutely adorable. Nia gets a turtle she names Alfie on her sixth birthday, and she excitedly introduces him to all of her pets and shows him her best dance moves. But Alfie is not so demonstrative, and by her seventh birthday Nia pretty much leaves Alfie alone. Meanwhile, Alfie is hard at work brainstorming the perfect birthday present for Nia…
The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin
I cry whenever I read this book! Here is one of the verses:
When you were too small
To tell me hello,
I knew you were someone
I wanted to know.
Paired with Emily’s signature illustrations, this book is an absolutely birthday book treasure.
Jenny’s Birthday Book by Esther Averil
I love all of the Jenny books by Esther Averil! While most of them are chapter books, this one is a sweet picture book that is perfect for cat loving kids and adults. In this one, shy Jenny is taken out for a birthday outing with her brothers Checkers and Edward. Along they way, they pick up various friends like Pickles the Fire Cat and the rambunctious cat twins.
Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
A picture book about an immigrant family of three sisters experiencing birthday parties for the first time. Cultural differences and miscommunication lead to the mother requesting that the older sisters bring their youngest sister along to their friend’s birthday party. (It does not go well.) This story reminds me of when I was growing up and going to a new school where the tradition was that the birthday kid brought in doughnuts for the class. When my birthday rolled around, my mom made me bring Chinese soy sauce sesame crackers to share with the class even though I insisted donuts were the norm. Needless to say, my classmates were very puzzled by the strange birthday snack!
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Doberman, illustrated by Marla Frazee
I adore this picture book about the seven incredibly picky eaters. Peter wants only milk, Lucy won’t settle for anything but homemade lemonade, and Jack is stuck on applesauce. The surprise ending is sweet in so many ways.
Ling and Ting Share a Birthday by Grace Lin
I love all of the Ling and Ting early readers, but this one might be my favorite. Ling and Ting are twins getting ready for their sixth birthday. They bake a cake, they wrap presents, and they share their presents with each other. A lovely story of sisters, friendship, and birthday wishes coming true.
The Secret of the Red Shoes by Joan Donaldson, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger
My sister-in-law gave this book to me at my baby shower, along with an adorable pair of tiny red shoes for the baby. The book is about a girl and her mother planning a one-hundredth birthday party for Great Grandmother, while keeping a big surprise for the party.
Life by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
Life begins small, then grows.
It seems appropriate to read a book about life when you have a birthday, and I do love this one. The story captures the beauty of life in the animal kingdom, meditating on the beauty of the world around us.
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers created this user’s guide to earth when his son was born, and it is a beautiful exhortation to treat this world and the people and life in it with kindness and love. A good reminder no matter how old you are.
New Releases!
There are a lot of great new releases this month. Here are the ones I’m particularly excited about that released on January 2nd and that will release on January 9th.
Picture Books
Be A King by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James E. Ramsome
I read this book out loud to my kids, and they were really touched by the illustrations and the tangible ways they can emulate the example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A lovely book not just about the iconic civil rights figure, but about the roles we all play in creating a world of justice and peace.
The United States v Jackie Robinson by Sudipta Barhan-Quallen, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
I’m a huge fan of R. Gregory Christie’s illustrations (he illustrated the incredibly powerful Caldecott Honor picture book Freedom on Congo Square), and this new book about Jackie Robinson’s court martial trial is another winner. Although the army outlawed segregation when Jackie served as a soldier during World War II, Jackie was ordered by a white bus driver to move to the back of a military bus. When he refused, the military police took him to trial. But Jackie would stand up for what was right, even when it was difficult to do.
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson, illustrations by Frank Morrison
I couldn’t play on the same playground as the white kids.
I couldn’t go to their schools.
I couldn’t drink from their water fountains.
There were so many things I couldn’t do.
In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak.
Champion: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Jim Haskins, illustrated by Eric Velasquez
Muhammad Ali faced the obstacles in his life the way he faced his opponents in the ring, brashly and with all the force at his command. In his private life, he was also deeply spiritual, committed to standing up against social injustice, and steadfast in his beliefs.
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were good at math…really good.They participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America’s first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black and a woman limited what they could do. But they worked hard. They persisted. And they used their genius minds to change the world.
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington (HarperCollins, 1/9)
When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.
She wanted to be an astronaut.
Her mom told her, “If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”
Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.
Love by Matt de la Pena, illustrated by Loren Long (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 1/9)
“In the beginning there is light
and two wide-eyed figures standing
near the foot of your bed,
and the sound of their voices is love.”
I cry every time I read this book. Listen to the author and illustrator discuss the book and their collaboration here.
Edie is Ever So Helpful! by Sophy Henn (Philomel Books, 1/9)
A really fun book sure to enchant young readers who love to be helpful. Edie is so “helpful”, but readers will see how Edie can be not so helpful when they take a closer look at the illustrations.
Early Readers/Chapter Books
Humphrey’s Pet Show Panic by Betty Birney, illustrated by Priscilla Burris
I love the Humphrey the hamster series, and this one is geared for the younger audience, formatted as an early reader. When A.J. brings Humphrey to the town pet show, he’s sure Humphrey will win a prize. But Humphrey isn’t convinced. There are all kinds of animals in the show–from dogs and cats to parrots and even something called a bearded dragon!
Magnificent Mya Tibbs: The Wall of Fame Game by Crystal Allen
Texan cowgirl Mya Tibbs is back, this time preparing for a new baby sister to arrive. Mya plans to spend time with her mother before their family gets bigger, but a competition with her classmate for the Wall of Fame Game keeps Mya so busy studying that she can’t find time for her mom at all.
Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Peaceful Leader by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Chin Ko
Another biography of Martin Luther King, Jr, just in time for Black History Month and perfect for kids just starting to read independently. Beginning readers will learn about the milestones in Martin Luther King Jr.’s life in this Level Two I Can Read biography, which combines a traditional, illustrated narrative with historical photographs at the back of book—complete with a timeline, illustrations, and interesting facts.
The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: Uncanny Express by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Jen Hill (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 1/9)
This book follows the Bland sisters following the The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Jolly Regina). I love author Kara LaReau’s humor and her unlikely “bland” heroines who always seem to make every experience new, amusing, and inviting.
Middle Grade Books
Survivor Diaries: Avalanche by Terry Lynn Johnson
Terry Lynn is a wonderful writer of wilderness adventure stories, and Survivor Diaries is a great book for kids venturing into chapter books. Fast paced, interesting, and packed with really survival tips, I can see lots of young readers loving this series. A great segue into Lauren Tarshis’s I Survived series.
A Sky Full of Stars by Linda Williams Jackson
This is the sequel to Midnight Without a Moon, Linda Williams Jackson’s debut novel. Set in Mississippi in the 1950’s, Rose Lee Carter lives with her sharecropper grandparents. In the first book she grapples with the murder of Emmett Till, a young man who is convicted and then killed for whistling at a white woman. In the sequel, Rose continues to struggle with staying in the south when opportunities arise for her to go north, while also feeling caught between the mounting racial tension and differing ways her friends want to address the injustice. This book is gorgeously written and the author is a much needed voice in children’s literature.
Hamstersaurus Rex Gets Crushed by Tom O’Donnell, illustrated by Tim Miller
I adore Tim Miller’s illustrations, and his portrayal of class pet Hammie Rex are so endearing. In this new addition to the series, Sam Gibbs and Hammie Rex find new adventures and creepy abnormal objects.
Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard
I started this book on New Year’s Eve and finished it after I returned home from a party that evening, making it the first official book I finished in 2018. I loved this story of Robinson and her grandfather (the only family she has) as they navigate his increasing memory loss. A beautiful story of family, love, and hope.
Streetcar to Justice: How Elizabeth Jennings Won the Right to Ride in New York by Amy Hill Hearth
A fantastic biography about Elizabeth Jennings and her refusal to leave a segregated streetcar in the Five Points neighborhood of Manhattan set into motion a major court case in New York City. This illuminating and important piece of the history of the fight for equal rights, illustrated with photographs and archival material from the period.
March Forward, Girl by Melba Pattillo Beals
This is a powerful memoir about Beals’ early journey to champion for equal rights. Along the way, she became an acclaimed journalist, a best-selling author, and the recipient of this country’s highest recognition, the Congressional Gold Medal.
Hope in the Holler by Lisa Lewis Tyre (Penguin Random House, 1/9)
I was immediately drawn in by the cover on this one. Right before Wavie’s mom dies, she gives Wavie a list of instructions: Be brave, Wavie B! You got as much right to a good life as anybody, so find it! But little did Wavie’s mom know that events would conspire to bring Wavie back to Conley Hollow, the Appalachian hometown her mother tried to leave behind.
The Last Gargoyle by Paul Durham (Random House, 1/9)
A wonderful new addition to the genre of creepy kid’s literature! This story follows a stone gargoyle named Penhallow who protects his Boston building from the spirits who haunt the night. But even he is outmatched when Hetty, his newest ward, nearly falls victim to the Boneless King, the ruler of the underworld.
Around the web…
The Nerdy Book Club announced their best books of 2017 in eight categories, including long form nonfiction, fiction picture books, nonfiction picture books, fiction middle grade books, graphic novels, early readers and chapter books, poetry and novels in verse, and YA books.
Jacqueline Woodson is Named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, via The New York Times
The Best Children’s and YA Books in January 2018, via Brightly
I have enjoyed having some extra time to read over the holidays. I loved Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina, a delightful chapter book. Class Action by Steven B. Frank is a wonderful, fast paced read perfect for fans of Gordon Korman, Richard Peck, and Gary D. Schmidt. Dolphins: Voices in the Ocean by Susan Casey is a young reader’s adaptation of Casey’s New York Times bestselling nonfiction book about dolphins.
I’d love to know what you are reading in this first month of 2018! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.
See you next week!
Karina
Izzy and Ginger Pye, reporting for duty in 2018!
*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riotnewsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*
Hear A Dramatization Of Anansi Boys Free
We mentioned before that the BBC would be streaming a dramatization of Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys, and now it’s available. You can hear the 30-minute episodes free, but the six-part radio adaptation is only available for a limited time.
French Publisher’s Plan To Produce Antisemitic Texts Creates Controversy
The French publisher Gallimard plans to publish 1930s pamphlets by Louis-Ferdinand Céline, who called for the extermination of Jews. Gallimard says its intention is to frame the texts “and put them back in their context as writings of a great violence, marked by the antisemitic hatred of the author,” but the decision has created a divide in the literary community between those for and against publication. The prime minister’s delegation in charge of fighting racism, anti-semitism, and anti-LGBT hatred even summoned the publisher, urging it to include notes giving the full context drawn up by specialists, including historians. The editor has allegedly rejected this recommendation.
Lily Cole Responds To Emily Brontë Row
Lily Cole responded to the literary expert who quit the Brontë Society after the model and actress was named “creative partner” for upcoming celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the author’s birth. In response to Nick Holland’s argument that the Wuthering Heights author would never have approved of a model receiving the role, Cole said Brontë would not have judged “any piece of work on name alone.” The Brontë Society has also defended their decision to select Cole.
We’re giving away a stack of our 20 favorite books of the year. Click here to enter, or just click the image below.
Hello from under the snowdrifts in Maine! That was quite the storm we had on the East Coast. I hope wherever you were this past week, you had something wonderful to read. Enjoy your upcoming week, and be excellent to each other. – xoxo, Liberty
Sponsored by Alfred A. Knopf, publisher of GNOMON by Nick Harkaway.
Acclaimed author Nick Harkaway presents a near-future, high-tech novel that is equal parts dark comedy, detective story, and mind-bending philosophical puzzle.
The System has created the safest society in history by monitoring all citizens’ thoughts and memories. So when a woman dies in government custody—the first person killed during an interrogation—Inspector Mielikki Neith is assigned to find out what went wrong. What she uncovers in the woman’s tangled memories will have staggering consequences that will reverberate throughout the world. A dazzling achievement, Gnomon is profound, captivating, and irreverent—a story of matchless wit infused with a deep humanity.
OH! And if you’d like to win several of our favorite books of 2017 (20, to be exact), you can click here to enter our Best of 2017 book giveaway for a chance to receive a big beautiful book bounty.
Deals, Reals, and Squeals!
DeWanda Wise lands role opposite Brie Larson in Captain Marvel.
Octavia Spencer to star in series from Reese Witherspoon about true crime podcasts.
Lindy West has two more books on the way!
George R.R. Martin’s space-drama Nightflyers gets series order.
And speaking of George, Game of Thrones will return in 2019.
Cover Reveals
Check out the cover of the first book in Sarah McClean’s new Bareknuckle Bastards series. (Avon, June 19, 2018)
EW has the first peek at Smoke in the Sun, Renée Ahdieh’s Flame in the Mist sequel. (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, June 5, 2018)
All I know is that this book is called Snazzy Cat Capers and I need it. (September 18, 2018)
And here’s a new one from Jeff Noon: The Body Library. (Angry Robot, April 3, 2018)
Sneak Peeks!
Here’s the first trailer for the second season of A Series of Unfortunate Events!
And here’s a new look at Fifty Shades Freed. (Spoiler: If you haven’t read the books, there’s a big reveal.)
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 I’m delighted to share a couple with you each week!
A Princess in Theory: Reluctant Royals by Alyssa Cole (Avon, February 27, 2018)
WHOOP! WHOOP! WHOOP! A new series from Alyssa Cole is on the way, and it’s the cat’s pajamas. Naledi is a doesn’t have time for nonsense, especially emails claiming she’s bethrothed to an African prince. But when said prince shows up, he decides to win her over without revealing his royalty. This is a delightful Cinderella/Prince and the Pauper tale from one of the most wonderful writers in the biz.
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
(TW for sexual assault.) This is a gorgeous, heartbreaking novel in verse about the real-life painter Artemisia Gentileschi, considered to be one of the most talented painters of her time, and the true story of how her father sued for ‘property damage’ after she was raped by her instructor. Make no mistake, her story is brutal, as is her quest for justice, but it is also filled with hope and an important message that women’s voices cannot be silenced.
And this is funny.
Hari Kunzru has his 2018 priorities straight.
Pre-Orders For Fire and Fury Skyrocket
Donald Trump’s lawyers have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the publisher Henry Holt and to author Michael Wolff demanding they stop publication of Wolff’s forthcoming tell-all “and issue an apology to @realDonaldTrump for defamatory statements made thus far.” This came after the White House issued a statement in response to a released excerpt from Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House where Steve Bannon called a meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a group of Russians, during the 2016 campaign, “unpatriotic” and “treasonous.” Fire and Fury is currently ranked #1 on Amazon.
Jacqueline Woodson Named National Ambassador For Young People’s Literature
Author and four-time Newbery honoree Jacqueline Woodson has been named the sixth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The current Ambassador, author-illustrator Gene Luen Yang, will pass the torch at an inauguration ceremony on January 9 at the Library of Congress. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden will preside over the ceremony. One of Woodson’s goals as Ambassador is to reach young people in traditionally underserved areas of the country.
Lindy West Will Release 2 More Books
Lindy West fans, the Shrill author has announced that she’ll be releasing two books: a book of cultural critique and a book of film criticism (she used to be a film editor at The Stranger), both published by Hachette. The books don’t have titles yet, but they will be released sometime in 2018.
Time’s running out! We’re giving away a stack of our 20 favorite books of the year. Click here to enter.
Today in Books is sponsored by HMH Teen, publisher of Meet Cute.
MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of “how they first met” from some of today’s most popular YA authors. Readers will experience Nina LaCour’s beautiful piece about two Bay Area girls meeting via a cranky customer service Tweet, Sara Shepard’s glossy tale about a magazine intern and a young rock star, and Nicola Yoon’s imaginative take on break-ups and make-ups. This incredibly talented group of authors brings us a collection of stories that are at turns romantic and witty, epic and everyday, heartbreaking and real.
Happy New Year, nonfiction readers! I hope your holidays were filled with books, booze, and exactly the amount of family time that you desired. My family has mostly given up on buying books for me, but I did find one great title under the Christmas tree – The Dragon Behind the Glass by Emily Voigt, a “true story of power, obsession, and the world’s most coveted fish,” the dragon fish. I’m pretty psyched about the topic, and being able to count it as a book of true crime for the 2018 Read Harder Challenge.
TarcherPerigee, publisher of My Friend Fear by Meera Lee Patel
From the bestselling author of Start Where You Are comes a vibrantly inspiring look at making peace with fear–to become our truest selves.
On the heels of her bestselling journal Start Where You Are, author and illustrator Meera Lee Patel takes us deeper into her artistic vision and emotional journey in this stunning new four-color book. A mix of personal reflections, inspirational quotes, questions for reflection, and breathtaking watercolor visuals, My Friend Fear asserts that having big fear is an opportunity to make big changes and to discover the remarkable potential inside ourselves.
For this week’s newsletter, I wanted to do another roundup of recent nonfiction favorites now out in paperback, plus share a couple of reading lists to help you with your new year’s resolutions.
Victoria: The Queen by Victoria Baird – This epic biography, one of my favorite books of 2017, looks at Queen Victoria’s life as a young woman, wife, mother, and queen.
Revolution for Dummies by Bassem Youssef – “The Jon Stewart of the Arabic World” writes about his path from heart surgeon to political satirist.
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin – This buzzy biography explores the life and literary influences of one of my favorite dark literary geniuses.
The Girl at the Baggage Claim by Gish Jen (January 16 from Vintage) – A exploration of the cultural differences between the East and West, looking at “independent” and “interdependent” models of selfhood.
Truvine by Beth Macy – The story of two albino slave boys who were kidnapped and forced to join the circus, and their mother’s quest to bring them home.
The Glass Universe by Dava Sobel – “How the ladies of Harvard Observatory took the measure of the stars.” Women and science!
Butter by Elaine Khosrova – The story of the role butter has played historically, politically, economically… and in the kitchen.
Pushout by Monique W. Morris (January 2 from The New Press) – A look at the experiences of black girls in schools and the criminal justice system, and how those institutions are failing them.
Bellevue by David Oshinsky – A history of “medicine and mayhem” at New York’s Bellevue hospital.
I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong (January 6 from Ecco) – An exploration of the world of microbes and bacteria, and the scientists studying them.
Prince Charles by Sally Bedell Smith – A giant biography about a dude who isn’t going to get to be King of England until well past a normal retirement page.
The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson – A detective story and political history revisiting the infamous 1955 lynching and murder of teenager Emmett Till.
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher – A memoir collecting and revisiting the journals Fisher kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie. RIP, Princess Leia.
Dust Bowl Girls by Lydia Reeder – A Depression-era story about a group of Oklahoma farm girls recruited to play college basketball and their improbable run to a national championship.
A Woman Looking at Men Looking at Women by Siri Hustvedt – A collection of essays on “art, feminism, neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy.”
Reading Your Resolutions
I found two recent book lists with recommendations to help you get a start on your resolutions.
Author Judith Newman suggests books to help you get happy, get empowered, get some, learn how to live, and mind your manners. These all look like worthwhile reads at any time of the year.
And over at Inc., Jessica Stillman suggests 11 books that can help you live a happier and more fulfilled life in the new year. I can personally vouch for two books on the list – Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, and The Power of Meaning by Emily Esfahani Smith.
I’m kicking my self-improvement reading off with Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, a look at being brave and living a creative life. It’s not quite as practical as I was expecting, but there’s something nice about reading a book focused entirely on affirming anyone’s ability and interest in taking on a creative project without regard to outcome.
And that’s it for this week. Thanks again for joining me this year! Let me know what books you’re starting your year off with via email at kim@riotnewmedia.com or on Twitter at @kimthedork. Happy reading! – Kim
P.S. Don’t forget, we’re giving away a stack of Book Riot’s 20 favorite books of the year. Click here to enter!
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Swords and Spaceships Jan 5
Happy Friday, vampire hunters and Vogons! This week I’m reviewing Rebel Seoul and Sunshine, and talking hard sci-fi, new books to watch for, historical sf/f, and more.
This newsletter is sponsored by Through a Dark Glass by Barb Hendee, the first of the Dark Glass series from Rebel Base Books.
In the first of the Dark Glass novels, New York Times bestseller Barb Hendee, author of the Mist-Torn Witch series, the Dead Seekers, and the Noble Dead Saga, spins a brand new high fantasy adventure. When Megan of Chaumont is sold into a political marriage, her only choice is which son to marry – Rolf, ambitious and loyal, Sebastian, sly and sympathetic, or Kai, brooding and proud? An enchanted mirror gives her the opportunity to see the consequences of her choice as she lives through each of the three options…and ultimately has to choose just one fate.
Before we get started! You’ve got about a week left to enter our Top 20 of 2017 book giveaway, right here.
What should you watch for in January? Swapna has some suggestions; I cosign Markswoman by Rati Mehrotra, which I’ll be reviewing later this month!
What is hard sci-fi, anyway? I really love this guide, which goes beyond the classics to include diverse options as well. Doesn’t hurt that my beloved authors Yoon Ha Lee and Ann Leckie are on it…
Did we all miss that the Pentagon has real concerns about aliens? No, really!
Want to get historical with your s/f? Yash has a few on her own stack that she’s excited about. City of Brass is on my list as well, and we’ve talked about my love of Everfair before. Get reading!
Cuban speculative fiction is real and it’s here. While there are still lots of untranslated works, Rachel rounds up a few you can get right now.
For your earholes: the BBC has released their full radio adaptation of Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman, and you can listen for free! Not sure how long this’ll be up, so go sooner rather than later.
Treat yo bookshelf! January’s ebook deals include three books worth having, all for $1.99: Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill, gushed over by Joe Hill on our Recommended podcast; An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King, which has been making the rounds here at Book Riot; and Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach, the first in a rompy military space adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed.
In today’s reviews, we’ve got future teen super-soldiers and magical bakers. My interests, they range widely.
Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh
I picked this one up because it was the only book NK Jemisin liked in one of her recent columns (ouch). She called it “moody, explodey fun” and I completely concur.
Set in a future in which there are no more nations, but rather a coalition of regions, it follows high-school student Lee Jaewon, who is scrapping and scraping his way through a prestigious academy in hopes of moving out of the Old Seoul slums and into the domed, pristine, wealthy Neo Seoul. When a fellow student named Alex drafts him for a team evaluation that goes sideways, Jaewon finds himself part of a government project breeding super-soldiers — who also happen to be teenage girls.
What makes this book so fun is the way it plays with the tropes of dystopia and YA fiction. No love triangles here, and much less brooding than I’ve come to expect — Jaewon isn’t exactly a ray of sunshine, but his pragmatic skepticism comes from a place of experience. The parallel love stories were sweet and made actual emotional sense, the action sequences were well-written and varied, and the ending definitely has me ready for the next installment (although it’s currently unclear whether or not we’re getting one).
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Part of my New Year’s Eve celebration includes allowing myself a reread (something I don’t often have time for), and this year’s was Sunshine. Why is this my favorite vampire novel? Let me count the ways.
The world-building: it takes place in a tweaked version of our own present. Magic is real, humanity lives side by side (albeit not peacefully) with demons and vampires and sprites and whatnot, and all our main character Rae wants to do is make cinnamon rolls for her family’s coffeehouse. Having a main character who not only excels at but loves her mundane, non-magical job is such a delight! Plus the bakery scenes always leave me drooling.
The cast of characters: The story is first-person and therefore sticks close to Rae, but the supporting characters get a (wonderful) load of page-time. From her unlikely vampire ally Constantine to her biker boyfriend Mel to her stepdad Charlie to the coffeehouse regulars, you can see how her social world works and exactly how disruptive getting kidnapped by a bunch of vampires is.
I go back and forth on how original the actual plot is — if you’ve read much Robin McKinley, it fits her personal formula pretty closely. Human woman gets kidnapped by vampires, develops a relationship with a Very Special one, they fight the bad guy, The End. It’s certainly not as subversive as my second favorite, Fledgling by Octavia Butler. But McKinley always balances compassion, humor, and high stakes well, and I find this book hugely satisfying. If you’re looking for a non-sparkly, non-YA, slightly kooky take on vampires that will make you so hungry for baked goods, add this one to your TBR.
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.
Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn
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010418-RNGMTop20-The-Stack
We’re giving away a stack of our 20 favorite books of the year. Click here to enter, or just click the image below.
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New Year, New Audiobooks!
Happy 2018, Audiophiles!
Did you listen to anything good over the holidays? I did. On Christmas day, I drove four hours to-and-from my grandmother’s house and I every minute loved it. Why? Well, first because my grandma is LITERALLY the greatest human being who has ever existed on this planet. And second, because I listened to American Radical on the drive.
Sponsored by The Woman in the Window by A. J. Finn
For listeners of Gillian Flynn and Tana French comes one of the decade’s most anticipated debuts, to be published in 36 languages around the world and already in development as a major film from Fox: a twisty, powerful Hitchcockian thriller about an agoraphobic woman who believes she witnessed a crime in a neighboring house.
Performed by Ann Marie Lee. BONUS: Includes an interview with author A. J. Finn. Special thanks to Libro.fm for supplying the digital audio downloads to the winners!
The author of American Radical is listed as Tamer Elnoury, but that’s not his real name. It’s the name he used as an undercover FBI agent when he infiltrated an Al Qaeda.
Tamer’s story of getting into undercover law enforcement, joining the FBI, and infiltrating the terrorist cell reads like a thriller. Except you know it’s real, and it’s freaking awesome. My four-hour drive whizzed by and the first thing I did when I got home was download the ebook and read the rest. I highly recommend it.
Tons of audiobooks are being released this month and I combed the internet to find the ones I am most excited about. (Well, first I looked at this awesome list of January books my fellow Book Rioters are looking forward to. I picked some of the ones I agree with from that list and *then* I combed the internet for other audiobooks coming out in January.)
But first! Don’t forget to enter to win our favorite 20 books of 2017! Click here to enter.
January New Releases
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black; narrated by Caitlin Kelly; Release Date: 01/02/18
Rioter Margaret Kingsbury says, “I absolutely love everything Holly Black writes. My favorite of hers so far has been The Darkest Part of the Forest, but I had an opportunity to hear Black read a portion of The Cruel Prince at a conference last year (and I got to chat with her a bit!), and it sounded just as good (maybe better?). Anyone who’s already read Black knows she writes a lot with the Fae, and this one is no exception. I’m looking forward to all of Holly Black’s trademarks: lots of dark magic, a strong female protagonist, and a plot that will have me reading well past my bedtime.”
Stalling for Time: My Life as an FBI Hostage Negotiator; written and read by Gary Noesner; Release Date: 01/02/18
OK, I might be on something of an “inside law enforcement” kick, but you have to admit, if you’re going to get a behind the scenes look into law enforcement, undercover FBI agent and hostage negotiator are among the most intriguing. From the publisher, “In Stalling for Time, the FBI’s chief hostage negotiator takes listeners on a harrowing tour through many of the most famous hostage crises in the history of the modern FBI, including the siege at Waco, the Montana Freemen standoff, and the D.C. sniper attacks. Having helped develop the FBI’s nonviolent communication techniques for achieving peaceful outcomes in tense situations, Gary Noesner offers a candid, fascinating look back at his years as an innovator in the ranks of the Bureau and a pioneer on the front lines.”
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin; narrated by Maggie Hoffman; Release Date: 01-09-18
The Great Liberty Hardy picked this as her most anticipated book for January. She says, “A wonderful, affecting book about four siblings who learn the day they will die, and how this supposed prediction shapes their lives. Would you want to know when you’re going to die? It’s New York City in 1969, and the four Gold children have snuck out to meet a traveling psychic who is rumored to know the date of people’s deaths. What they learn will influence each Gold sibling differently for the next five decades, with each of their existences lovingly detailed by Benjamin with humor and sensitivity.”
Winter by Ali Smith; narrated by Melody Grove; Release Date: 01-09-18
Ali Smith’s Seasonal cycle of books is comprised of four standalone books that are “separate yet interconnected and cyclical (as are the seasons).” Each book explores “what time is, how we experience it, and the recurring markers in the shapes our lives take and in our ways with narrative.” Winter is the second novel in the cycle; the first, Autumn, was a Man-Booker finalist and a New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Financial Times, Southern Living, The Guardian, and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, so it’s kinda impossible to not be excited about the second book.
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey; narrated by Soneela Nankani; Release Date: 01-09-18
Rioter Katie Mclain says, “I’ve been Muppet-arming about this book ever since I read the ARC back in June. It’s a new historical mystery series set in 1920’s Bombai, based in part on the first female attorney to practice in India. Perveen Mistry, the novel’s protagonist, is an intelligent, savvy woman with a legal education from Oxford, a tragic personal history, and a strong devotion to championing women’s rights. And not only does she have to deal with the complications of being a new lawyer, she also has to navigate (and rail against) the difficult cultural restrictions placed on women at the time. This book was a fascinating, thoughtful, compassionate, intelligent mystery with strong feminist themes and I honestly can’t champion it enough.”
Love, Hate, and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed; narrated by Soneela Nankani; Release Date: 01-16-18
Rioter Rachel Brittain is excited about this book and it’s not hard to see why. She says, “everything about this book sounds perfect: it’s an #ownvoices novel about an Indian-American Muslim teen and aspiring filmmaker who faces sudden hatred and Islamophobia in the aftermath of an attack by a terrorist who shares her last name. The cover is to die for and the book sounds equally amazing.”
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Asha Bandele; narrated by Patrisse Khan-Cullors; Release Date: 01-16-18
This “poetic audiobook memoir tells the emotional and powerful story of one of the cofounders of Black Lives Matter and how the movement was born.” Activism isn’t easy, Patrisse Khan-Cullors knows that firsthand. In When They Call You a Terrorist, Khan-Cullors and Bandele talk about the challenges of being an activist and the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan; narrated by Julie Teal, Luke Thompson, Esther Wane, Sarah Feathers; Release Date: 01-23-18
From the publisher, “Sophie’s husband, James, is a loving father, a handsome man, a charismatic and successful public figure. And yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to rip them apart. Kate is the lawyer hired to prosecute the case: an experienced professional who knows that the law is all about winning the argument. And yet Kate seeks the truth at all times. She is certain James is guilty and is determined he will pay for his crimes.” Claire Handscombe, Rioter and resident Brit says “I love a good Westminster gossip, and this book has been all over my social media feed for months. Also, it’s particularly exciting and interesting to me when a book like this makes it over for publication in the US.”
This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America; written and read by Morgan Jerkins; Release Date: 01-30-18
Rioter Rebecca Hussey says, “I’m always, always on the hunt for good essay collections, and this one looks both excellent and timely. It’s about the experience of being black and female in America today, and particularly after all the talk about how black women ‘saved’ white America in the recent Alabama election, this seems like a book white Americans, myself included, would do well to pick up. Topics include Rachel Dolezal, therapy, traveling as a black person in Russia, body image, and more.”
Which audiobooks are you eagerly awaiting? Let me know on twitter at msmacb or at katie@riotnewmedia.com.
Until next week,
~Katie
2018 Tournament of Books Shortlist
The Tournament of Books announced this year’s shortlist, judges, commentators, and Zombie poll for the 14th edition of the literary event. The shortlist is comprised of 18 books TOB “believe to be some of the most interesting works of fiction published last year.” These include The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker, Dear Cyborgs by Eugene Lim, and Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong. The TOB is calling for Zombie votes (before midnight ET, January 10, 2018) to put your favorite book back on the list.
Two Dying Memoirists Write About Their Final Days; Their Spouses Fall In Love With Each Other
Start placing your bets for a book/movie deal around this story. The Washington Post wrote a touching piece about John Duberstein and Lucy Kalanithi–husband of The Bright Hour author and wife of the When Breath Becomes Air author, respectively–and how they fell in love with each after their spouses died. Paul Kalanithi and Nina Riggs both passed away from cancer in their late 30s, and both wrote critically-acclaimed memoirs about their final days. The story of how their spouses met and fell in love is the stuff of pure kismet.
The Strand Owner Dies At 89
Fred Bass, the owner of New York City’s Strand Book Store, died this morning surrounded by loved ones. Bass began working in the store his father founded, and acquiring books for The Strand at age 13. He made it the epic bookstore it is today. Read about his life and legacy here.
Time’s running out! We’re giving away a stack of our 20 favorite books of the year. Click here to enter.
Today in Books is sponsored by Park Row Books, publisher of Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig.
Meet Ginny Moon. She’s mostly your average teenager—she plays flute in the school band, has weekly basketball practice and reads Robert Frost poems for English class. But Ginny is autistic. And so what’s important to her might seem a bit…different.
Full of great big heart and unexpected humor, Ludwig’s debut introduces the lovable, wholly original Ginny Moon who discovers a new meaning of family on her unconventional journey home.