Newsletters Dev – Page 7 – getting it done!

Film Director Pedro Almodóvar Publishing Short Story Collection and More Book Radar!

Post author By Emily Martin
Post date February 2, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Monday, Book Friends!

Who among you celebrates Mardi Gras? Well, king cake season is upon us, and I’ve given up on finding a decent king cake in Seattle. They’re fine, but they’re overpriced and not quite the same as getting the real deal shipped from New Orleans. So I’m now trying to decide once and for all what my favorite New Orleans king cake is. Do you have favorites? Let me know. And if you’re curious, I can come back after Mardi Gras to let you know who won out this year. In the meantime, we’re here to talk about books. So, let’s hop to it.

Book Deals and Reveals

Check out the US cover of Adiba Jaigirdar’s Rani Choudhury Must Die. The cover features an illustration by Jani Balakumar and is designed by Samira Iravani. It’s out on November 12.

Here’s the cover of the Jewish YA novel Night Owls by A.R. Vishny. It’s out from HarperTeen on September 17.

Cosmopolitan shared the cover of Elle Kennedy’s The Dixon Rule. This book, the second in Kennedy’s Campus Diaries series, will be out on May 14.

And here’s the cover of the sapphic rom-com A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen. It’s out on August 27.

Spanish film director Pedro Almodóvar is publishing a debut collection of short stories. The Last Dream, translated from the Spanish by Frank Wynne, will be out from HarperVia on September 24.

Author Stephanie Wrobel pays tribute to the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, in her new thriller novel The Hitchcock Hotel. Entertainment Weekly has all the details, including a cover reveal. It’s out on September 24.

FX has ordered a limited series adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s book Say Nothing. Michael Lennox will direct.

Amy Adams is in talks to star alongside Jenna Ortega in the upcoming adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun. Taika Waititi is set to direct the project, which should begin filming soon.

Here are the 100 most popular romances, according to Goodreads. How many of these have you read?

Book Riot Recommends

Hi, welcome to everyone’s favorite segment of Book Radar called Book Riot Recommends. This is where I’ll talk to you about all the books I’m reading, the books I’m loving, and the books I can’t wait to read and love in the near future. I think you’re going to love them too!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Prepare Your Shelves!

The Book of Love by Kelly Link

Friends, I am SO EXCITED to share this one with you because I am such a huge fan of Kelly Link’s weird, magical, and often unnerving short stories. And now, for the first time, we’re getting a full novel. And yeah, she is a chonky one. But this is so worth the journey. If you’ve never experienced Kelly Link before, you are in for a treat.

Laura, Daniel, and Mo are already dead, but a year after their disappearance, they mysteriously reappear at their high school in the seaside community of Lovesend, Massachusetts. But they are not alone. Their music teacher, Mr. Anabin, is there as well. He seems to know the secrets behind their disappearance and why they’ve been brought back. And he will reveal all if they complete three magical tests.

What I’m Reading This Week

Notes on a Silencing by Lacy Crawford

The Last Word by Taylor Adams

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

Rouge by Mona Awad

The Book of X by Sarah Rose Etter

Bookish Memes

Sopranos fans, here are 12 books that would be on Carmela Soprano’s TBR. She was always one of my fave characters.

And Here’s A Cat Picture!

How lucky are we to have the toe beans on full display in this photo? There’s really nothing cuter than cat beans. Murray’s are so beautiful and pink too! But we love beans of all colors here.

Anyway, I could talk about beans all day. And I have. And I will again. But for now, I’ll let you run. I hope you have an amazing week, and I’ll see you on Thursday!

Emily

The Kids Are All Right

Black History Month, Librarians, And More!

Post author By Margaret Kingsbury
Post date February 2, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Sunday, kidlit friends! February is the start of Black History Month, so I’m reviewing six recent and forthcoming Black history children’s books today. I’m really happy that a lot more have been published lately and that I’m seeing more stories of Black success, Black joy, and biographies about lesser-known Black figures. I’d love to see more middle grade nonfiction about Black history.

Bookish Goods

Black Girl Reading Tote Bag by thetrinigee

I just love this tote! Whimsical, bookish, and practical, a perfect combination. $30+

New Releases

Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller by Breanna J. McDaniel, illustrated by April Harrison

This gorgeously illustrated picture book biography celebrates the life of Augusta Baker, the first Black coordinator of children’s services at the New York Public Library. It opens with a young Baker listening to the lilting stories of her grandmother about Br’er Rabbit, King Arthur, and more. They ignited Baker’s passion for storytelling, which she carried into college and moved her to become a children’s librarian. Wanting books representative of the kids who came to her library, she created the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection that depicted the lives of Black folk. She inspired and helped promote many Black writers. Back matter includes a timeline, citations, and an author’s note about the importance of librarians.

Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers by Zora Neale Hurston, adapted by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson

This is the first middle grade adaptation of a Zora Neale Hurston classic. It tells the real story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic slave trade. At 86, Lewis shared his story with Hurston, who then wrote down and published his account of his life. This includes really moving illustrations and additional historical context.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Here are some more children’s books I love about Black history that have been released in the last few months or are forthcoming.

Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome

This is such a fantastic picture book biography of politician and Civil Rights activist John Lewis. Lewis grew up in a loving and large family in Alabama. When he went to a nearby town with his father, he saw how the town was divided by race. When he heard Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak on the radio, he decided he wanted to become an activist. He left his home and came to Nashville for college, and joined the Nashville chapter of the NAACP. The picture book depicts how he and his fellow members of the NAACP practiced nonviolent protest, marched with the Freedom Fighters, and ends with the march he led in Selma, Alabama. It’s impossible not to tear up at the end.

Miles of Style by Lisa D. Brathwaite, illustrated by Lynn Gaines

This picture book biography releases Tuesday and tells the story of Eunice W. Johnson, the co-founder of EBONY magazine and the founder of the EBONY fashion show. Johnson grew up in Selma, Alabama, and loved to sew clothes for her dolls and her friends’ dolls. She studied social work in college, where she met and fell in love with John H. Johnson. After they married, the two conceived of the idea of an all-Black magazine celebrating Black achievements. EBONY was born, and Eunice’s eye for design and style helped the magazine’s growth. In 1958, she founded and directed the EBONY fair as part of a hospital fundraiser that went on to become a worldwide tour showcasing Black fashion with Black models. I read this with my kindergartner, and she so enjoyed it! It’s a great conversation starter about Civil Rights, fashion, and Black success.

Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by Coretta Scott King, illustrated by Ekua Holmes (PB)

This is a gorgeously illustrated picture book adaptation of Coretta Scott King’s memoir for adults. It opens with her childhood, also in Alabama, and her experiences in high school and college. She describes the racism she experienced and how she became vocal about discrimination in the university system. She was working at the New England Conservatory when she met and began dating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The picture book biography continues with their marriage, birth of children, acts of protest during the Civil Rights Movement, and her speaking after Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. Back matter includes the six principles of nonviolence and a Civil Rights timeline.

We Could Fly by Rhiannon Giddens, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

This is a different kind of Black history picture book, which recently won a Coretta Scott King Award. Originally a folksong written by Rhiannon Giddens for her album Freedom Highway (which is wonderful), this picture book illustrates the song. Giddens was inspired by Virginia Hamilton’s retelling of the folktale “The People Could Fly,” which she cherished as a child. The illustrations show a mother and daughter speaking about Granny Liza and how she could fly. It’s a lyrical and luminously illustrated picture book, great to read along with Hamilton’s classic folktale and to read while listening to the song.

This weekend, I forced my family to go on a very cold and muddy hike at a park we had never been to. While initially everyone complained, we ended up really enjoying ourselves and loved the view. We’re definitely going to return when it’s a little less muddy and a little warmer!

If you’d like to read more of my kidlit reviews, I’m on Instagram @BabyLibrarians, Twitter @AReaderlyMom, Bluesky @AReaderlyMom.bsky.social, and blog irregularly at Baby Librarians. You can also read my Book Riot posts. If you’d like to drop me a line, my email is kingsbury.margaret@gmail.com.

All the best,

Margaret Kingsbury

What's Up in YA

Slam Poetry, Disability Visibility, & More YA Book Talk:

Post author By Kelly Jensen
Post date February 2, 2024

Sponsored by

Hey YA Readers!

I have a packed newsletter for you today. There are so many new releases I want to highlight, and I also want to show off some rad recent and forthcoming YA books that put visible disability front and center.

Let’s dive in.

Bookish Goods

Pink Library Card Memo Pad by FlyPaperProducts

Keep notes on the important things in your life, including the books you peep in the wild that you know you need to add to your library or bookstore lists. This pink library due date memo pad is perfect for just that. $8.

New Releases

It is a big YA new release week, both for hardcovers and for paperbacks. In the interest of showing off how wide a range of titles there are, I’ll highlight three below. I encourage you to dive into the full list over here.

Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo

This verse novel follows Samira, whose reputation proceeds her…and it’s not a reputation she wants, but it is one she’s trying to shake. Samira is determined to have a good summer, but when a rumor gets her grounded, she turns to poetry. In a poetry forum, she grows close with an older poet named Horace.

As Samira begins to find her own voice and footing in the slam poetry community, she’s worried that the biggest secret she’s been keeping could be the end of everything she’s worked for.

Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender

Ash was not admitted into the Lancaster College of Alchemic Science, which would allow him to be among the few legally permitted to study magic; he decides to study in secret by becoming a groundskeeper for the school. So when Ash is discovered by Ramsay Thorne, one of the chosen ones at the school, he’s convinced it is over and he’ll be finding himself in big trouble.

But Ramsay doesn’t turn Ash in. Instead, Ramsay decides to enlist Ash in an entirely different scheme: locating one of the most powerful sacred texts of alchemy.

Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories edited by Sandra Proudman

This anthology retells classic stories across different genres and gives them all a fresh Latinx spin. Some of the stories include taking Pride and Prejudice into space, star-crossed lovers finding love amid the planet’s ruins, and more. It has a blockbuster roster of contributors, including Olivia Abtahi, David Bowles, Zoraida Córdova, Saraciea J. Fennell, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, Torrey Maldonado, Jasminne Mendez, Anna Meriano, Amparo Ortiz, Laura Pohl, Sandra Proudman, NoNieqa Ramos, Monica Sanz, Eric Smith, Ari Tison, and Alexandra Villasante

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Disability Visibility

Over the years, we have finally begun to see more visible disability representation on YA book covers. It is still far from perfect, but even since I wrote about how “inclusive” YA book covers were not including disabled representation well, it has improved a lot. I wanted to draw attention to a handful of YA books in 2023 and 2024 where disability representation is front and center. Of course, many disabilities are invisible and, thus, would not be obvious in some cover renderings for characters. But I think it is important to keep elevating the covers showing it off, too.

Note, though, this list is far more white than it should be. This is partially because this representation is still scarce, partially because this is a look at covers specifically, and partially because there is still a paucity of BIPOC disability representation in YA.

Brooms by Jasmine Walls, illus. by Teo DuVall

This one is pitched as The Fast and the Furious but with broomsticks, and it follows a group of 6 diverse teens who participate in a forbidden broom race, which allows them to embrace their magic as witches. It’s set in 1930s Mississippi, giving the story of magic and witchcraft a historical spin.

Joined at the Joints by Marissa Eller (July 2)

Ivy is chronically ill and has decided to spend the summer away from social activities since that triggers her anxiety. But her mom and her sister urge her to join a support group, and she does—reluctantly at first, then a little more willingly, once she meets an attendee named Grant. He is cute, he is sweet, and he truly understands her. They share the same juvenile rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.

But as Ivy begins to feel sicker and grows tired of the work it takes to manage her illness, can she hope that even someone who understands the experience will stick around?

Out of Our League edited by Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iocopelli

I talked about this one in the January 15 edition of this newsletter, so I won’t say much more because it’s straightforward—this is a rad collection of stories about girls in sports. Also rad? Some of those girls are disabled.

Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton, illus. by Aśka

Maisie is attending her first fan convention, and she is stoked to meet one of the heroes of her favorite superhero show. That hero, like her, has a lower leg amputation.

But what Maisie does not anticipate is meeting a cute volunteer at the event named Ollie. As the day goes on, Maisie is unable to stop thinking about how much she is falling for Ollie and how that meeting might be the surprise she did not know she needed.

Take All of Us by Natalie Leif (June 4)

Poisoned water changed the landscape of Ian’s West Virginia town. Those who drank the water were turned into zombies, and Ian, who has dealt with chronic migraines and seizures, has relied on his best friend (maybe more than best friend) Eric to help kill the infected around them.

So when a mandate from the government requires everyone in town to evacuate, Ian is not only injured in the rush, he’s devastated to discover Eric has left him on his own.

Now Ian will team up with two others left behind to find out what happened to Eric.

That is, if Eric doesn’t kill them first.

Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield (July 23)

Phoebe is stuck in a time loop. It is August 6 every day, down to the same doctor appointments that do not help manage her IBS.

But then a car accident sends Jess into the same time loop. Jess, who happens to be Phoebe’s childhood crush. Jess, who convinces Phoebe to take advantage of their repeating days and take chances without consequences.

As Phoebe falls harder and harder for Jess, she begins to worry that the fun they’re having in the time loop will disappear if they ever get out of it.

Thanks, as always, for hanging out. We’ll see you on Thursday with your paperback releases and YA book news.

Until then, happy reading!

–Kelly Jensen

Giveaways

020224-FlagshipAudDev-Feb2024-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date February 2, 2024

We’re giving away a year subscription to Tailored Book Recommendations – Digital!

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

All you have to do is sign-up for our Check Your Shelf newsletter which sends periodic emails with curated book news and lists for librarians and their boosters.

Unusual Suspects

HBO to Develop Gillian Flynn’s Novel DARK PLACES as a Limited Series

Post author By Jamie Canaves
Post date February 1, 2024

Sponsored by

Hi, mystery fans! I hate that things like this have to exist, but here’s the great show Abbott Elementary (which returns in February with a new season!) being the helpers we need.

Bookish Goods

Reading dinosaur sticker by namicraftlove

Would follow this little pudding pop to its cave of books, no questions asked! ($5)

New Releases

Almost Surely Dead by Amina Akhtar

For fans of psychological thrillers with a genre blend, fictional true crime podcasts, and past and present stories!

A pharmacist in NY, Dunia Ahmed, finds her life suddenly in danger multiple times — the first attempt is when someone tries to push her in front of a subway train. But now Dania is missing and considered dead. What happened? Will the answer lie in the true crime podcast transcripts?

The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes

For fans of funny new cozy series, murder mysteries, rural settings, and amateur sleuths!

Alice and Joe are just weeks away from her due date when they up and move from London to a small village for a quiet life. But you don’t get quiet in cozy mysteries! During a birthing class, where a fellow student goes into labor, a shop owner downstairs dies. What’s Alice to do? Join forces with fellow birthing class ladies to solve the crime! Bonus: if you’re not a fan of waiting a long time for the sequel, you’ll only have to wait until the beginning of summer for Dead Tired.

Looking for more new releases? Check out our New Books newsletter!

Riot Recommendations

I’m going to skip doing the third Read Harder prompt for middle grade horror because I’ve recently covered the books I’d select: The Keeper by Guadalupe García McCall and Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio and Will Staehle (Illustrator). Instead, here are two great options if you want to do the fourth prompt but add in true crime: Read a history book by a BIPOC author. Bonus: both have great audiobooks.

The Golden Thread: The Cold War and the Mysterious Death of Dag Hammarskjöld by Ravi Somaiya

History: The focus is on the history of the United Nations, but you also get a lot of other history, like of the Congo.

True crime: Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, died in a plane crash along with everyone on board in 1961. The case, fueled with plenty of theories (many conspiracies), has remained unsolved, with the UN waiting until 2014 for anyone to be appointed to look into the case.

I regularly think about a quote from this book and how sadly applicable it continues to be: “Nobody could call them off — only wind them up, set them off, and semi-legitimately deny any involvement in the destruction that followed.”

(TW attempted suicide recounted, detail/ mentions group rape not detailed or graphic)

Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector by Amit Katwala

History: The history of the lie detector, along with criminal justice/forensics, and the history of crime at the turn of the century.

True crime: Katwala takes readers into the courtroom for a dive into cases throughout history where the lie detector was used, including in deciding whether to execute a person or not.

(TW domestic violence/ brief mentions of past child sexual assault, no detail/ suicide, detail, including murder-suicide)

News and Roundups

The 2024 Audie Award Finalists (Lots of favorite authors and great books on this list — S.A. Cosby up for Audiobook of the Year AND best thriller.)

With Mindy Kaling in her corner, author Amina Akhtar sets out to shake rather than strangle stereotypes

Love streaming on Prime? Amazon will now force you to watch ads unless you pay more

Bookish Valentine’s Day Cards for Friends and Lovers

End of Story: Controversial Author A.J. Finally Set to Release His Second Novel

HBO to Develop Gillian Flynn’s Novel Dark Places as a Limited Series

Washington State Introduces, Advances School Anti-Book Ban Bill

No, Argylle won’t be on Netflix after theaters (but it will be on another streamer)

Rhode Island native Kali Reis on starring in True Detective: Night Country – The Boston Globe

Julia Roberts Thriller Leave the World Behind Enters Netflix’s All-Time List of Most-Watched Films

Browse the books recommended in Unusual Suspects’ previous newsletters on this shelf. See upcoming 2024 releases and mysteries from 2023. Check out this Unusual Suspects Pinterest board and get Tailored Book Recommendations!

Until next time, keep investigating! In the meantime, come talk books with me on Bluesky, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Litsy — you can find me under Jamie Canavés.

If a mystery fan forwarded this newsletter to you and you’d like your very own, you can sign up here.

Read This Book

Read This Book…

Post author By Tirzah Price
Post date February 1, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Read This Book, a newsletter where I recommend one book that I think you absolutely must read. The books will vary across genre and age category to include new releases, backlist titles, and classics. If you’re ready to explode your TBR, buckle up!

Hey readers! I can’t believe it’s already February. One of my reading goals this year is to try and get caught up on my backlog of graphic novels, and the first graphic novel I read of the year was a real winner. I can’t recommend it enough!

Brooms by Jasmine Walls and Teo DuVall

Set in an alternate 1930s Mississippi where magic is possible but restricted so only the most privileged may wield it, this book follows six young women determined to change their fates. Magic may technically be off-limits to many, but that doesn’t stop illegal broom racing from occurring beyond the reaches of the law, where the payout can be life-changing. Billie Mae and Loretta head a team, hoping to win enough so that they can move out west, where Black folks don’t have as many restrictions. Cheng-Kwan also wants to save money—for the inevitable moment when her parents find out she’s a girl and disown her. Luella doesn’t have magic, not since an act of rebellion ensured her powers were sealed for good, but she doesn’t want that to happen to her cousins Emma and Mattie, which is why she introduces them to Billie Mae in the hopes that they can train to become racers too. But in the world of racing, staying on your broom isn’t the biggest challenge to overcome.

I loved this premise so much—it’s a little bit A League of Their Own, but with magic, and it is very, very queer. All of the characters are people of color and they’re all facing oppression and having to hide a piece of themselves away from the public eye, which is why racing is so important for them. It’s not just about their skills or the winnings. Racing is a community of people who are accepting and who support them, even if the competition can be fierce and the risk of exposure is constant. The creative team does such a great job balancing a large cast of characters, although the story of Mattie and Emma and the way Luella looks out for them is at the heart of this book. The art is expressive and colorful, and the racing scenes are incredibly vibrant and dynamic, making it easy to flip through the pages at breakneck speed. Even though this book is speculative, the historical setting rings true, and it doesn’t feel like such a stretch from real history. While there are no easy solutions to the serious systemic issues the girls face, this is not a depressing book. Walls and DuVall show that while oppression may be insidious, the collective power of community can prevail, even if there are no perfect endings tied in a neat bow. Ultimately, I was on the edge of my seat to see how this book would wrap up, and an epilogue of newspaper clippings and the illustrated ephemera gives readers a satisfying glimpse at life for the girls beyond the story’s conclusion.

Happy reading,

Tirzah

Find me on Book Riot, Hey YA, All the Books, and Instagram. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, click here to subscribe.

True Story

Mother Nature In All Her Glory

Post author By Kendra Winchester
Post date February 1, 2024

Sponsored by

Now that we have had some warmer weather, the Corgis have taken to frapping around the yard again. There are few things that they love more than playing fetch endlessly. And with so many stunning audiobooks at my disposal, everybody wins! It’s that time of year when I begin thinking that, sure, it would be nice to see spring again. So this week, I’m sharing a couple of my favorite collections of nature writing. But first, bookish goods!

Bookish Goods

Flowers and Mushroom Forest – Engraved Hardwood Bookmarks by Dark Rim Shop

Since today is all about nature books, I thought that these adorable bookmarks would be perfect. I especially love the mushroom ones. I’m so grateful mushrooms are having a moment. $20

New Releases

Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir by Ai Weiwei with Elettra Stamboulis, Illustrated by Gianluca Costantini

Ai Weiwei grew up in exile during the Cultural Revolution, and the first comics he ever read were government propaganda. But the form, the use of art in storytelling, stayed with him all of these years. Now, he tells his own story through graphic art, using the Chinese zodiac as inspiration.

Errand Into the Maze: The Life and Works of Martha Graham by Deborah Jowitt

Martha Graham was declared the “Dancer of the Century” by Time magazine for her innovative choreography and understanding of the emotional life of the body. With this new detailed biography, readers will see Martha Graham’s life and work in a way they never have before.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Today is all about nature writing, with one old favorite and one new one.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

There’s a reason this book is much beloved. The way Kimmerer writes about the natural world just sweeps you off your feet. You are there in the water with her, trying to save her pond from being reclaimed by the land, or you are right beside her as she leads dozens of students out into nature on a guided hike. Kimmerer, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, also discusses her Native Nation’s culture around plants and the traditional practices she was taught by her elders that help care for the land. She investigates these traditions and discusses how these practices work from a scientist’s perspective.

The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl

Essayist Margaret Renkl is back with a beautiful book all about a year in her backyard. Each week, she writes about her world as she sees it. Maybe she writes about the many birds who come to eat from her bird feeders. Or maybe she tells us about the tadpoles that she kept in a tank, going so far as to order them special plants. The book itself, the physical object in your hands, is stunning. Her husband, Billy Renkl, has created vibrant, full-color illustrations for each chapter. And if you’re an audiobook fan, you’ll love her performance, complete with her beautiful Southern accent describing the plants and animals with which she shares her home.

That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave, over on Instagram @kdwinchester, or on my podcast Read Appalachia. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.

Happy Reading, Friends!

~ Kendra

Swords and Spaceships

Djinn Cats, Dragon Eggs, and More Palestinian Fantasy Novels

Post author By Alex Acks
Post date February 1, 2024

Sponsored by

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and while it’s technically February now (HOW???) I’ve got two more end-of-January new releases for you and part 2 of my little spotlight on Palestinian SFF authors. The weather here has been balmy after a cold mid-January, so I’ve been getting some fresh air, if you can believe it. Walking outside. Touching grass. Sounds fake, I know. I wish for you a little touchable grass (even if it’s perhaps dead grass since it’s still February) and sunny days! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Tuesday.

Let’s make the world a better place, together! Rose and Jasmine Press is a Palestinian-owned small press based out of Canada, and they are fundraising for their first year!

Bookish Goods

Arabic Calligraphy Olivewood Bookmarks by NHfashion

These bookmarks are gorgeous, and all I want to do is touch one! The message on them is a quote by Palestinian poet Ghassan Kanafani, “there is something for you on this earth so get up.” $25

New Releases

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang

Tabatha Zeng is the apprentice of one of the most famous sorcerers in the world. Then her boss predicts his own death by murder — and it comes true, forcing her to go from learning fortunetelling to solving crime. The police want to pin the crime on Callum, the sorcerer’s son, but Tabatha knows he must be innocent. Together, they team up to find the real killer.

The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden

American couple Tommy and Kate move to the half-abandoned town of Becchina. It’s close to Tommy’s grandparents, and they can get a house that’s been abandoned for only one euro, so long as they promise to live there for five years. But as soon as they arrive in town, things start getting strange. Tommy’s grandmother is furious when she finds out which house they’ve bought. Then the strange noises and odd happenings begin, and they learn that the Church once owned the house and used it for something terrible…

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Here is part two of the promised spotlight on SFF by Palestinian authors!

Guardian of the Gold Breathers by Elise Stephens

At 12 years old, Liam is forced to leave his home in Dublin in favor of his stepfather’s country house. But only one night into this dreaded move, he finds a dragon egg — and the house’s gardener confirms that Liam has a destiny as the next Guardian of the Gold Breathers. But if he’s to be this guardian and find his fate in an enchanted Otherworld, he must complete three dangerous tasks to prove himself.

Thunderbird: Book One by Sonia Nimr, translated by M. Lynx Qualey

Noor is a young Palestinian orphan who must go back in time to retrieve four magical feathers that will allow her to save the world. Noor isn’t alone, at least; she has a djinn cat to help her and several girls who strangely look identical to her, but each has one of the fabled bird’s powers. With these helpers at her back, Noor travels through history, trying to keep the worlds and the walls between them intact.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Giveaways

020124-FebEACPushes-2024-Giveaway

Post author By Vivek Patel
Post date February 1, 2024

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Check Your Shelf

The Mortal Queen of Faerie Smut

Post author By Katie McLain
Post date February 1, 2024

Sponsored by

Welcome to Check Your Shelf. Is anyone else super into the latest season of True Detective?? I’m loving all of the references to The Thing, and even though we’re still in the middle of winter, I’m making a list of creepy snowbound thrillers to read once the season is over. Also, I love the fact that it added the word “corpsicle” into my vocabulary. (Iykyk, but if you don’t know, I don’t recommend Googling it…)

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

American Libraries has a roundup of last week’s LibLearnX programming.

The Lafayette Parish Library (LA) may not require library director applicants to have a master’s degree from an ALA-accredited school.

The Dallas Public Library has increased service hours and hired 65 additional staff.

Cool Library Updates

Minneapolis schools added more librarians, and now books are flying off of the shelves.

Book Adaptations in the News

David Grann talks about seeing Killers of the Flower Moon on the big screen.

Speaking of KotFM, Lily Gladstone is starring in the adaptation of The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

HBO is developing a limited series adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s Dark Places. After their phenomenal adaptation of Sharp Objects, I’m very much looking forward to this one!

Amanda Seyfried is starring in the Peacock adaptation of Liz Moore’s Long Bright River.

Teaser trailer for Apples Never Fall.

The 10 best Harlan Coben book adaptations ranked.

Censorship News

The library trust matrix.

A brief history of the grand old American tradition of banning books.

A secret shelf of banned books thrives in a Texas high school, thanks to the efforts of several students.

Katy ISD (TX) is requiring parents to sign permission slips for their students to visit the school book fair. As Kelly Jensen points out in her roundup, “apparently ‘not giving kids money’ isn’t enough parental input on the matter,” so I have to assume that parents are afraid their kids might catch a glimpse of an LGBTQ character on a book cover or something.

A high school teacher in the Conroe ISD (TX) shared photos of all the books they had to box up and send to the district for disposal.

A transgender student at Sherman High School (TX) was removed from the school’s upcoming performance of Oklahoma! and then reinstated. “The student was first removed from the production after Sherman ISD school board members voted to require each cast member to play characters whose sexual identities matched the actors’ sex assigned at birth.” You really have to go out of your way to be this bigoted.

A Florida subcommittee approved a proposed law that would impose a fine on anyone who submits more than five challenges to school instructional materials in a calendar year if they don’t have a student enrolled in the district. On the one hand, this is surprisingly progressive for Florida. On the other hand, this only applies after the fifth challenge ($100 per additional challenge) and only applies to people who don’t have students registered in the district, so the impact isn’t as large as it may seem.

After deciding to retain Identical, the Hillsborough County School District’s (FL) decision was challenged, so now they’re re-evaluating their decision.

Brevard County Schools (FL) will retain The Kite Runner and Slaughterhouse Five.

A Broward County (FL) school board member challenged two books, even though one of the books wasn’t actually available or in the library.

Indian River County Schools (FL) banned Alan Gratz’s book Ban This Book because it made mention of the ALA. The same district also banned The Banned Book Club.

“The committee ended up tabling the approval for the town library budget, stating it wanted to see a full list of every book the librarian intends to purchase.” This is in Lebanon, Maine.

New Hampshire legislators have proposed a bill that would require a book rating system in schools.

Several new Vermont bills target book bans in schools and public libraries.

“A book removed from a North Attleborough [MA] elementary school library will be returned to the shelves amid dismay from the community, the superintendent said.” The book in question is Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice.

What you can’t read behind bars in New York.

The Freedom to Read Act has been reintroduced in New Jersey.

West Virginia legislators are trying to lift criminal liability protections for schools and libraries that carry controversial books.

Rockingham County (VA) students staged a walkout in protest of their school board’s recent book bans.

Catawba County Schools (NC) will retain Nineteen Minutes.

Georgia GOP senators target the American Library Association with a new bill.

The Alabama Public Library Service has officially cut ties with the American Library Association.

“Orange Beach [AL] school libraries reconsidering books with LGBTQ characters.” I hate these passive headlines.

The Livingston Parish Library (LA) continues to face pushback over funding and LGBTQ books. “I just don’t think we should be giving [the library] that much money to be ruining our children’s lives when that is the parent’s responsibility.” One of the parish council members also said that although the community narrowly voted to continue funding the library, residents don’t want to “over-support” the library. I didn’t even know “over-supporting” a library was a thing.

The Rolla Public Library (MO) will keep The Every Body Book in the children’s department.

The Camden County Library District (MO) has removed two titles (Flamer and It Feels Good to Be Yourself) until they figure out what to do with the two books. Yep, that’s censorship.

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp (IN) will be reviewing People Kill People.

A new Illinois bill looks to address threats made to library workers.

The Iowa teachers union calls on schools to restore banned books since a federal judge issued an injunction against the state’s new legislation. Some districts are already complying.

OpEd: Oklahoma’s association with Libs of TikTok creator is an embarrassment to the state.

Colorado saw a 500% increase in challenges to books and library services between 2021 and 2022.

A new proposed law in Utah would require schools to remove specific books from their shelves if at least three other schools in the state have done so. I’m sorry…wtf kind of nonsense is this?

After the Bible was challenged and retained at the Davis School District (UT), the district also determined that the Book of Mormon and the Quran will stay on school library shelves.

The ImagineIF Library Board (MT) has added obscenity language to their collection development policy, which library staff say is “unnecessary and redundant.”

Billings (MT) will retain Assassination Classroom in school libraries.

“Huntington Beach [CA] is moving ahead with creating a parental committee that would review and possibly stop children’s books it deems offensive from entering the public library.” Yeah, it’s not up to parents to decide that.

The Washington Senate just voted to make it more difficult to shut down libraries. The legislature also just introduced a bill to crack down on school book bans.

The Ketchikan Public Library (AK) will keep Flamer and Red Hood in the teen section.

Books & Authors in the News

Pulitzer Prize-winning Indigenous author N. Scott Momaday has died at 89.

Horror and thriller author J.D. Barker has apologized for a “creepy” marketing request that was sent exclusively to young female BookTok influencers. His agent has since dropped him as a client.

How Sarah J. Maas became “the mortal queen of faerie smut.”