Author Clock tells the time through literary quotes, revealing a different story with each passing minute.
10:00 a.m.
12:59 p.m.
It was at ten o’clock to-day that the first of all Time Machines began its career.
H.G. Wells The Time Machine
That is to say, I arrive at 12:59 and spend fifteen minutes in most animated reflection. There is plenty to think about.
Christopher Morley Shandygaff
THERE’S A CERTAIN kind of person—it might even be you—who carefully inspects all their wrapped holiday presents ahead of time to determine if they might be books. Is this one the hot new novel from your wishlist? Is that one a delightful surprise from someone who knows your reading tastes perfectly? Let’s face it: For these recipients, there’s just no gift that can compare with a book. For this special breed, we offer our annual holiday recommendations. There’s something here for every kind of reader, from home cooks and art aficionados to amateur historians and book club mavens, along with young readers of all ages. You can be sure that when the wrapping has been torn away, you’ll get the ecstatic reaction you were hoping for. Happy holidays!
Giants: Art From the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys
Keys, Alicia Phaidon, $69.95
A thrilling glimpse into the world-class art collection of a musical power couple.
Manhattan Skyline: The City Unfolds
Dequick, Laurent; foreword by Adam Gopnik Abrams, $60.00
This interactive gift book provides a spectacular panoramic portrait of Manhattan.
The Art of DreamWorks Animation: Celebrating 30 Years
DreamWorks Animation, Ramin Zahed & Jerry Beck; foreword by Cameron Diaz Cameron Books, $200.00
A must-have for DreamWorks fans.
Copacabana Palace: Where Rio Starts
Mattéoli, Francisca; photos by Tuca Reinés Vendome Press, $85.00
A pretty pictoral history of Brazil’s most glamorous beachfront hotel.
Yayoi Kusama: I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers
Kusama, Yayoi, Lynn Zelevansky & Robert Slifkin
David Zwirner Books, $60.00
Art lovers will embrace this vibrant volume from an influential artist.
Camo
Muriu, Thandiwe Chronicle Chroma, $40.00
These eye-catching portraits are a testament to Muriu’s immense talent.
Landscape
Johnson, Tim; photos by Carmel Brantley Vendome Press, $75.00
Gardeners will gape at Wong’s exquisite landscape designs.
Todd, Laura May
Phaidon, $69.95
Sumptuous is the word for this paean to Italian interior design.
The Book of Printed Fabrics: From the 16th Century Until Today
Gril-Mariotte, Aziza Taschen, $200.00
Fiber artists will swoon over this gorgeous two-volume set.
Phaidon editors; introd. by Lisa Le Feuvre Phaidon, $69.95
An inspiring survey of signature projects by great women sculptors.
Robbie, Margot & Andrew Mukamal Rizzoli, $55.00
A dazzling tour of all the Barbie-inspired looks Margot Robbie wore to promote the film.
To learn more and purchase these books, visit Kirkus online.
Grossman, Lev Viking, $35.00
Astoundingly, a fresh take on an extremely well-trodden legend.
Mills, Samantha Tachyon, $18.95 paper
An absolute must-read—to paraphrase a line from the novel, fantasy fans will find themselves in literary heaven.
King, Stephen Scribner, $30.00
The disturbing stories in King’s latest collection will seep into your psyche and haunt you.
Murakami, Haruki; trans. by Alfred Birnbaum; illus. by Daniel Liévano
The Folio Society, $130.00
Murakami’s postmodern mystery gets the deluxe Folio Society treatment, with gorgeously weird full-color illustrations.
Kwan, Kevin Doubleday, $29.00
Still more brilliant escapism among Kwan’s 1 percenters. Too much is never enough.
Oliver, Diane Grove, $27.00
With a crystalline clarity and finely attuned ear, Oliver depicts her subjects with elegance and profound understanding.
Everett, Percival Doubleday, $28.00
One of the noblest characters in American literature gets a novel worthy of him.
Patchett, Ann Harper, $40.00
Patchett sprinkles handwritten notes throughout her beloved novel, providing background and commentary.
Table for Two Towles, Amor Viking, $32.00
A sneakily entertaining assortment of tales.
Senna, Danzy Riverhead, $29.00
That’s entertainment.
To learn more and purchase these books, visit
In France Profound: The Long History of a House, a Mountain Town, and a People
Allman, T.D. Atlantic Monthly, $30.00
An engaging, richly detailed tale.
Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York’s Greatest Borough
Frazier, Ian Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $35.00
A dense appreciation of a unique area that will appeal to those who have had enough tales of Manhattan.
A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages: The World Through Medieval Eyes
Bale, Anthony Norton, $29.99
A wise, well-informed historical study.
Atlas Obscura: Wild Life: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Living Wonders
Giaimo, Cara & Joshua Foer Workman, $40.00
Remarkable creatures, colorfully assembled in a delightful compendium.
Everest, Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World
Cockrell, Will Gallery Books, $29.99
An astute history and powerful cautionary tale.
Accidentally Wes Anderson: Adventures
Koval, Wally & Amanda Voracious, $45.00
Wondrous places that evoke the beguiling beauty of a Wes Anderson movie.
The Tennis Court: A Journey to Discover the World’s Greatest Tennis Courts
Pachelli, Nick Artisan, $40.00
Armchair travel for tennis lovers—200 gorgeous courts in all.
I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman’s Pursuit of Pleasure in
Paris
MacNicol, Glynnis Penguin Life, $30.00
A fun memoir filled to the brim with humor and vulnerability.
The Slow Road North: How I Found Peace in an Improbable Country
Schaap, Rosie Mariner Books, $29.99
A poignant and moving memoir featuring a well-rendered story of pain and redemption.
To learn more and purchase these books, visit
Greekish: Everyday Recipes With Greek Roots
Hayden, Georgina Bloomsbury, $35.00
A celebration of Greek Cypriot cuisine you’ll want to reach for again and again.
Dolci!: American Baking With an Italian Accent
Poliafito, Renato Knopf, $38.00
Aperol Spritz cake, malted tiramisu, and more from a James Beard Award nominee.
Saucy: 50 Recipes for Drizzly, Dunk-able, Go-To Sauces To Elevate Everyday Meals
Boyd, Ashley Chronicle, $19.95
A heaven-sent handbook for big dippers.
The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking With All Kinds of Beans, From the Rancho Gordo Kitchen
Sando, Steve Ten Speed Press, $35.00
Rancho Gordo fans will simmer with excitement.
Big Night: Dinner, Parties, and Dinner Parties
Lewin, Katherine Union Square & Co., $35.00
Lewin’s hospitable guide will have everyone clamoring to be your guest.
Sobremesa: Easy Mexican Recipes for Every Day
Villasuso, Susana Interlink, $35.00
A winning collection of approachable, enjoyable recipes from a trusted name in Mexican cuisine.
Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store
Velez, Paola Union Square & Co., $35.00
Dominican flavors star in this standout baking book from patissiere and social justice activist Velez.
The Cake Bible (35th Anniversary Edition)
Beranbaum, Rose Levy William Morrow Cookbooks, $45.00
When it comes to cake, Beranbaum deserves the last word.
Martha: The Cookbook: 100 Favorite Recipes, With Lessons and Stories From My Kitchen Stewart, Martha Clarkson Potter, $40.00
The O.G. spills tea and names favorites in her 100th book.
To learn more and purchase these books, visit
Babe in the Woods Heffernan, Julie Algonquin, $28.99
A sumptuous feast for the eyes and the mind.
Kommix Burns, Charles Fantagraphics, $24.99
For lovers of vintage pop culture, the covers of imaginary comic books by a contemporary master.
The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
McCarthy, Cormac; illus. by Maru Larcenet Abrams ComicArts, $26.99
Read McCarthy’s novel first to appreciate the subtlety of Larcenet’s superb graphic adaptation.
I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together: A Memoir
Vellekoop, Maurice Pantheon, $35.00
A raw, revealing chronicle.
Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture
Ed. by Nakamura, Eric Drawn & Quarterly, $49.95
Pays tribute to the supercool ’90s punk zine that conquered the world.
Carroll, Lewis; illus. by Tove Jansson NYRB Comics, $19.95 paper
A surreal literary classic as seen through the eyes of a beloved Nordic illustrator.
Zodiac: A Graphic Memoir
Ai Weiwei with Elletra Stamboulis; illus. by Gianluca Costantini Ten Speed Press, $28.99
A welcome introduction to the life and work of an exemplary artist.
the Uncut Grass
Noah, Trevor; illus. by Sabina Hahn One World/Random House, $26.00
A sweet bedtime story.
The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain: Lyrics for Stacey Kent
Ishiguro, Kazuo Knopf, $22.00
For fans of literate pop as much as of Ishiguro’s body of work.
Your Caption Has Been Selected: More Than Anyone Could Possibly Want To Know About the New Yorker Cartoon Contest
Wood, Lawrence St. Martin’s, $33.00
Wood has a great time here, mixing the bizarre, the jocular, and the wise into a clever package.
The Drowned
Banville, John Hanover Square, $28.99
Excellent writing and a clever plot make this one stand out.
Guide Me Home
Locke, Attica Mulholland Books/Little, Brown, $29.00
We’ve missed Attica Locke’s deft and wise way with the crime novel. We want more.
Anna O Blake, Matthew Harper, $30.00
Layered and grandly operatic in scope and tension.
Farewell, Amethystine Mosley, Walter Mulholland Books/Little, Brown, $29.00
Things are never simple for Easy Rawlins. But his creator remains a master of the genre.
Fire Brings
Hall, Rachel Howzell Thomas & Mercer, $28.99
Nothing is what it seems in this tour de force.
Murali, Ram Harper/HarperCollins, $30.00
A fascinating genre mashup for the discerning—and reflective—mystery reader.
The Whitewashed Tombs Quartey, Kwei Soho, $27.95
Murder is only the tip of a ferociously toxic iceberg.
Paretsky, Sara Morrow/HarperCollins, $30.00
Readers who care about race, climate change, or corporate and civic responsibility will care deeply about this monster case.
Nightwatching Sierra, Tracy Pamela Dorman/Viking, $29.00
Fiercely feminist and viscerally terrifying.
Pulley, Natasha Bloomsbury, $29.99
Full of charming details and gender-bending gallantry, this imaginative thriller is a pleasure to read.
To
Iris Apfel: Colorful
Apfel, Iris Abrams, $50.00
A delightful posthumous treasury of a flamboyant life embraced in full color.
Liberty, Equality, Fashion: The Women Who Styled the French Revolution
Higonnet, Anne Norton, $35.00
A passionately rendered history of three “style mavericks” who ushered in a defining fashion revolution.
How To Wear Everything: A No-Nonsense Guide to Dressing
Barron, Kay Chronicle Prism, $35.00
Elements of style—and which clothes are best for you.
The Flowers of Yves Saint Laurent Ed. by Janssen, Elsa Alexis Sornin, et al. Flammarion, $45.00
The ephemeral beauty of flowers lives on in YSL’s dazzling creations.
Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
Bolton, Andrew
Metropolitan Museum of Art, $75.00
Nature is the muse for the gorgeous garments in this splendid collection.
How To Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence From the World’s Only Image Architect
Roach, Law Abrams Image, $28.00
The celebrity stylist pulls back the curtain on his secrets.
Icons of Style: In 100 Garments
Sims, Josh Laurence King Publishing, $35.00
Everyday items and how, fascinatingly, they came into vogue.
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion
Satow, Julie Doubleday, $32.50
The illuminating stories of these unexpected tastemakers are both complementary and well contextualized.
Naomi in Fashion: Naomi Campbell
Stanfill, Sonnet & Elisabeth Murray Rizzoli Electa, $65.00
The model selects her favorite looks, captured by the world’s top fashion photographs.
The Basketball 100
Aldridge, David & John Hollinger and the Athletic NBA Staff
Morrow/HarperCollins, $26.99
An engaging and fun must-read for any basketball fan.
Drive: The Lasting Legacy of Tiger Woods
Harig, Bob St. Martin’s, $30.00
A solid portrait of an athlete’s lonely progress in battling pain, the yips, aging, and other obstacles.
The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City
Baker, Kevin Knopf, $35.00
An exemplary sports book.
Kingdom on Fire: Kareem, Wooden, Walton, and the Turbulent Days of the UCLA Basketball Dynasty
Howard-Cooper, Scott Atria, $28.99
A fluent, fast-moving narrative to delight Bruins fans—and hoops buffs in general.
The Greatest U.S. Opens: High Drama at Golf’s Most Challenging Championship
Barrett, David Tatra Press, $32
Fans of golf’s history will savor this captivating book.
Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up the World of Sports
Jacob, Mark & Matthew Jacob Rowman & Littlefield, $35
The Jacob brothers provide a fast-paced narrative of an underappreciated game changer.
The Yankee Way: The Untold Inside Story of the Brian Cashman Era
Martino, Andy Doubleday, $30.00
A must-read for Yankees fans, and even those who hate the Yankees will learn a thing or two about the game.
Why We Love Football: A History in 100 Moments
Posnanski, Joe Dutton, $30.00
A learned but lightly delivered pleasure for fans of the gridiron and its history.
The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness
McCullough, Andy Hachette, $32.00
Dodgers fans and aspiring pro pitchers alike will enjoy this report of how a master of the diamond works his magic.
The Formula: How Rogues, Geniuses, and Speed Freaks Reengineered F1 Into the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport
Robinson, Joshua & Jonathan Clegg Mariner Books, $29.99
A thrill for fans of F1, and a fine example of fluid sportswriting.
Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball
O’Brien, Keith Pantheon, $35.00
A masterpiece of a sports biography and a must-read for baseball fans.
The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports
Waters, Michael Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $30.00
A deep dive into the queer historical evolution and significance of transgender athletes in organized sports.
Roman Year: A Memoir
Aciman, André Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $30.00
An absorbing exploration of the challenges and slivers of beauty that formed life as a refugee in Rome.
Notes From an Island Jansson, Tove; trans. by Thomas Teal Timber, $28.00
A pleasure for Jansson’s many fans, and a lovely memoir of hardscrabble island life.
My Beloved Monster: Masha, the Half-Wild Rescue Cat Who Rescued Me
Carr, Caleb Little, Brown, $32.00
One of the most powerful and beautiful grief narratives ever written, including all the memoirs about people.
The Garden Against Time: In Search of a Common Paradise
Laing, Olivia Norton, $27.99
An intellectually verdant and emotionally rich narrative journey.
Seeing Through: A Chronicle of Sex, Drugs, and Opera
Gordon, Ricky Ian Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $32.00
A superb memoir that reveals the pleasures—but far more, the pains—of the creative life.
How To Live Free in a Dangerous World: A Decolonial Memoir
Lawson, Shayla Tiny Reparations, $29.00
A stunning essay collection about travel, mortality, and liberation.
Sante, Lucy Penguin Press, $27.00
An absorbing analysis of a long-standing search for identity in writing and life.
Thomas, Abigail Scribner, $15.99
Thomas is still smokin’—in both senses of the word!—and her candor is a gift to us all.
Sedivy, Julie Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $29.00
Sedivy blends a tender memoir with a fascinating study of how language defines the human condition.
House of
Trethewey, Natasha Yale Univ., $18.00
A thoughtful meditation on a celebrated poet’s reasons for writing.
Slate, Jenny Little, Brown, $26.00
Delightfully offbeat and unexpectedly moving.
Wallace, Carvell MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $28.00
An exquisite, soulful must-read.
Bitter Crop: The Heartache and Triumph of Billie Holiday’s Last Year
Alexander, Paul Knopf, $32.00
An extraordinarily fascinating book.
I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine
Levitin, Daniel J. Norton, $32.50
Levitin’s story is a fascinating piece of work, written with authority, empathy, and occasional humor.
Talkin’ Greenwich Village: The Heady Rise and Slow Fall of America’s Bohemian Music Capital
Browne, David Hachette, $32.50
Animated social history.
Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell
Powers, Ann Dey Street/HarperCollins, $35.00
A top-notch music critic set loose on a worthy subject.
Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel’s Messiah
King, Charles Doubleday, $32.00
A swiftly moving, constantly engaging portrait of a beloved masterpiece.
My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future
Randall, Alice Black Privilege Publishing/Atria, $28.99
Essential for country fans—a delightful, inspirational story of persistence, resistance, and sheer love of music.
Rollins, Sonny; ed. by Sam V.H. Reese New York Review Books, $17.95 paper
Heady musical and philosophical stuff.
Schoch, Richard Atria, $28.99
A lively, thoughtful self-help book—sui generis, like the artist who inspired it.
Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music
Sheffield, Rob
Dey Street/HarperCollins, $27.99
An affectionate homage from an ardent fan.
The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America
Tye, Larry Mariner Books, $32.50
A delightful read.
The Story of the Bee Gees: Children of the World
Stanley, Bob Pegasus, $29.95
A bright, informative, essential retrospective for Bee Gees fans.
To learn more and purchase these books, visit Kirkus online.
This Earthly Globe: A Venetian Geographer and the Quest to Map the World
Di Robilant, Andrea Knopf, $30.00
An erudite work that shows how one devoted scholar opened up an entire realm of knowledge.
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore
Friss, Evan Viking, $30.00
A thoroughly engaging, delightful excursion into the wondrous world of books.
The Missing Thread: A Women’s History of the Ancient World
Dunn, Daisy Viking, $35.00
A sweeping history thrumming with energy.
Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks From the Stone Age to AI
Harari, Yuval Noah Random House, $35.00
Confronting the avalanche of books on the prospects of AI, readers would do well to begin with this one.
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
Higginbotham, Adam Avid Reader Press, $35.00
A deeply researched, fluently written study in miscommunication, hubris, and technological overreach.
Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities That Shaped a Borough
Kanakamedala, Prithi
Washington Mews/New York Univ., $30.00
A solid contribution to the history of Black New York.
Nat Turner, Black Prophet: A
Kaye, Anthony E. & Gregory P. Downs
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $30.00
A profoundly insightful analysis of a controversial figure and the rebellion he led.
Mr. Churchill in the White House: The Untold Story of a Prime Minister and Two Presidents
Schmuhl, Robert Liveright/Norton, $32.00
An educational recollection of an era when geopolitics was based on respect, mutual understanding, and friendship.
Muse of Fire: World War I as Seen Through the Lives of the Soldier Poets
Korda, Michael Liveright/Norton, $29.99
Poets and war are a winning combination in the hands of a seasoned historian.
The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook
Sides, Hampton Doubleday, $35.00
Lusciously detailed and insightful history, masterfully told.
Precious: The History and Mystery of Gems Across Time
Molesworth, Helen Ballantine, $30.00
An overstuffed, endlessly interesting treat for anyone interested in any aspect of jewels.
Paris in Ruins: Love, War, and the Birth of Impressionism
Smee, Sebastian Norton, $35.00
Deft, vibrant cultural history.
Blabey, Aaron Cartwheel/Scholastic, $7.99
Series: Pig the Pug
An effective stand-alone concept book and a series add-on; followers of the titular pug will be delighted.
Byatt, Jo Child’s Play, $6.99
Series: Raccoon Rambles
Spend a day at the seashore with an utterly charming young raccoon.
Boynton, Sandra Boynton Bookworks, $14.99
Goofy and giggle-worthy lullabies, with an audio component for easy listening.
Chen, Kat; illus. by Lorraine Nam Rise x Penguin Workshop, $8.99
Series: A Playdate Book
The sheer joys of everyday life, narrated by a most winsome toddler.
Brunellière, Lucie Gecko Press, $11.99
A delightfully interactive tale that (gasp!) makes bedtime fun.
Florian, Douglas; illus. by Christiane Engel Little Bee Books, $7.99
Series: A Baby Steps Bedtime Board Book for Toddlers
An enchanting sleepytime sendoff.
Idle, Molly Chronicle Books, $12.99
The stars of Idle’s Caldecott Honor–winning book return for a vibrant intro to all things color.
Sorell, Traci; illus. by Madelyn Goodnight Charlesbridge, $8.99
Rooted in Indigenous traditions, an exuberant and wildly fun counting book.
Light, Steve Candlewick, $7.99
Series: Gus and Sully
A hilarious romp through rain and shine, starring two stalwart pals.
Wenzel, Brendan Chronicle Books, $9.99
Series: Brendan Wenzel
Animals strike hilarious poses in Wenzel’s wild and wacky intro to shapes.
Salazar, Aida; illus. by Caribay M. Benavides Rise x Penguin Workshop, $8.99
A sumptuously illustrated ode to the moon and to family bonds.
To learn more and purchase these books, visit Kirkus online.
This Baby. That Baby. Best, Cari; illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Anne Schwartz/Random, $18.99
Utterly irresistible.
We Are Definitely Human Fang, X. Tundra Books, $18.99
DEFINITELY a good book.
Ahoy!
Blackall, Sophie Anne Schwartz/Random, $19.99
Avast, me mateys! This be good clean fun on the salty seas.
Round and Round the Year We Go Higgins, Carter Neal Porter/Holiday House, $18.99
A winner in this and every month going forward.
Daywalt, Drew; illus. by Alex Willmore Philomel, $18.99
Chaotic fun, perfect for read-alouds.
Klein, Cheryl B.; illus. by Juana Medina Abrams, $18.99
New big siblings will get a kick out of this—as will first-time parents.
Dot! Scribble! Go! Tullet, Hervé Chronicle Books, $16.99
A call to action that’s sure to make an artist out of anyone.
You Are Fierce: A Book for the Littlest Beyoncé Fans
Odd Dot; illus. by Nneka Myers
Odd Dot, $14.99
Soaring, sparkling words of encouragement for the youngest members of the Beyhive.
Swift:
Wainer, Erica; illus. by Joanie Stone Clarion/HarperCollins, $14.99
Haters gonna hate, but for the rest, here’s a real-life fairy tale in which our wildest dreams come true.
Soo, Phillipa & Maris Pasquale Doran; illus. by Qin Leng
Random House Studio, $19.99
This book sings.
To learn more and purchase these books, visit
The Fairy Tale Fan Club: Legendary Letters Collected by C.C. Cecily
Ayoade, Richard; illus. by David Roberts Candlewick, $17.99
Happily ever after, mortal reader!
Terror in Jenny’s Armpit
Carman, Patrick Blackstone, $16.99 Series: Bonkers
Charmingly absurd and hilariously icky.
Who Got Game? Basketball: Amazing but True Stories!
Barnes, Derrick; illus. by Jez Tuya Workman, $16.99 paper
Fast-break fun for both students and non-students of the game.
All The Ways To Go
Janowitz, Jessie Sourcebooks Young Readers, $16.99
A sweet story about friendship between an unlikely pair and the intrigue of an ancient strategy game.
Burgos, Hilda Eunice; illus. by Siara Faison Henry Holt, $16.99
Paw-sitively charming.
Jenkins, Emily; illus. by Manuel Preitano Delacorte, $17.99
A real good, feel-good, doggy delight.
Let It Glow
Meyer, Marissa & Joanne Levy
Feiwel & Friends, $19.99
A warm bundle of holiday cheer.
An Animal a Day: 365 Amazing Animals To Take You Through the Year
Smith, Miranda; illus. by Kaja Kajfež, et al. Bright Matter Books, $24.99
A treat for young animal lovers.
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All Miller, Chanel Philomel, $17.99
Wildly funny, charming, and deeply heartfelt.
Project Mercury
Smith, Ronald L. Clarion/HarperCollins, $18.99
A certified page-turner.
Sepetys, Ruta & Steve Sheinkin Viking, $18.99
A rich, enthralling historical mystery that engages and educates.
A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall
Warga, Jasmine; illus. by Matt Rockefeller Harper/HarperCollins, $19.99
A slowly unfurling delight.
Only for the Holidays
Bello, Abiola Soho Teen, $19.99
A sweet Christmas love story.
The Love Interest
Comerford, Helen Bloomsbury, $19.99
A sharp romantic comedy that takes aim at the patriarchy.
Influencer
Cesare, Adam Union Square & Co., $13.99 paper
A killer read.
Faeries Never Lie: Tales To Revel In Ed. by Córdova, Zoraida & Natalie C. Parker Feiwel & Friends, $19.99
A tantalizing taste of trickery and enchantment.
The Hunger Games: Illustrated Edition
Collins, Suzanne; illus. by Nico Delort Scholastic, $34.99
Vivid and well worth a look from new and returning fans alike.
All the Jingle Ladies
Garrod, Beth Sourcebooks Fire, $11.99 paper
A heartfelt, festive, and affirming romance.
The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends: Extraordinary and Mesmerizing Stories That Will Boggle Your Mind
Kaplan, Arie
Wellfleet/Quarto, $19.99 paper
An engaging overview that offers a broad perspective and unusually rich and stimulating parallels.
Putting Balloons on A Wall Is Not a Book: Inspirational Advice (and Non-Advice) for Life From @blcksmth
Schneider, Michael James Penguin Workshop, $12.99
Not just for fans and followers; an art advice book for those seeking solace and encouragement.
The Kill Factor
Oliver, Ben Chicken House/Scholastic, $19.99
Compulsively readable; stands out among other works with similar premises.
Cadow, Kenneth M. Candlewick, $17.99
A heartfelt novel about the challenges of youth and the value of community.
Reekles, Beth Delacorte Romance, $12.99 paper
A holiday in the sun filled with heart and soul.
Helga
Yu, Catherine Page Street, $18.99
A delightful update on a familiar classic, pulsing with youthful optimism and punk rock attitude.
Shock City
Alexovich, Aaron Viking, $23.99
A heartwarming and nail-biting adventure.
Chung, Christine D.U. & Salwa Majoka Tundra Books, $18.99
Beautiful and precisely depicted, a gentle, generous reflection on civilization and community life.
Cat on the Run in Cucumber Madness!
Blabey, Aaron Scholastic Paperbacks, $7.99 Series: Cat on the Run
Classic comic timing and kooky characters continue to captivate.
Pablo and Splash Dempsey, Sheena Bloomsbury, $12.99
A “krilly” entertaining odyssey.
Booth, Molly Horton & Stephanie Kate Strohm, illus. by Jamie Green Disney-Hyperion, $24.99
High-spirited drama.
Called Them Giants
Gillen, Kieron; illus. by Stephanie Hans Image Comics, $19.99
Lush visuals bring this thoughtfully constructed tale to life.
Humphrey, Anna; illus. by Irma Kniivila Tundra Books, $13.99
Series: Fluffle Bunnies
Absurd animal antics in a familiarly funny setting.
Pierre, Elle
Clarion/HarperCollins, $14.99
A cute yet complex tale about solving conflicts with creative solutions.
Khan, Hena; illus. by Safiya Zerrougui Knopf, $21.99
An inspiring sports story that focuses on more than the score.
Roman, Dave First Second, $14.99
At once a silly, sweet escapade and a dramatic tale of self-discovery in one’s own powers.
Magoon, Kekla & Cynthia Leitich Smith; illus. by Molly Murakami Candlewick, $22.99
Series: Blue Stars
A fresh new graphic series sure to engender a devoted following.
Sattin, Samuel; illus. by Steenz Versify/HarperCollins, $26.99
Engaging, informative, and comprehensive.
Marie’s Nutcracker
By Margaret Marie Klenzing; illus. by Rori Alexander
A mostly low-key but compelling melodrama that spotlights a precise, graceful art form.
Sailing To Noon
By Hoyt Rogers
A shaggy, oddly engrossing Caribbean epic powered by a vivacious cast of frenetic islanders.
Star Loop
By Tara Lynn Osburn
An affecting, sweet tale about understanding and perseverance.
The Jemdar
By Gregorio Baca
A disabled youngster overcomes obstacles in this diverting fantasy with series potential.
Star
The Iberian Table
By Robin Keuneke
A thoroughly sumptuous guide to some of the world’s most nutritious cuisines.
By Ron Arias
By Susan Hanafee
By Helen Vettori
By Helen DePrima
By Freya Smallwood
By Chester Fong
A historically edifying monograph and a fascinating personal memoir.
By William E. “Bill” Cole
A rich panorama of deeply faithful and daring English colonists.
Dr. Beare’s Daughter
By Janice Jones
A powerful coming-of-age story about life as an adoptee.
Kirkus Star
The Year of Five Emperors
By Robert Eckert
An entertaining sword-and-politics saga full of engrossing period detail and sharp drama.
By Arthur Dogson Todd & Louise DeVito
A bright, entertaining tale with a lovable protagonist.
By Marjorie Burns
An enjoyable and imaginative series opener, with teaser threads left dangling.
Your Future Is Now
By Jeffrey Panik
A brisk and authoritative financial blueprint for beginners.
By Rick Sheffield
A quick read with an excellent balance between humor and pulse-quickening action.
To learn more and purchase these books, visit Kirkus online.
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SALLY ROONEY’S NEW NOVEL , Intermezzo (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Sept.24), landed in bookstores this fall with maximum fanfare. Over the summer, critics received advanced reading copies that had been numbered, as if they were limited edition art prints, and the publisher threw a “premiere” party in New York the week of its U.S. release, with Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss of the Belletrist Book Club as its celebrity hosts. (Would Rooney herself make the trip from Ireland, invitees wondered? As it turned out, she would not.)
Intermezzo was certainly one of the most buzzed about books of the season, if not the year, garnering reviews in the New York
Times, the Washington Post , Vulture, the Boston Globe, and countless other outlets. The attention was merited: Our editors selected it as one of the best fiction books of 2024.
This kind of publicity is the envy of authors both veteran and novice. With thousands of books published every year, there are countless worthy contenders that don’t receive the attention they deserve. Although Kirkus reviews nearly 10,000 titles annually, and a rave from us—often the first review, anywhere—can help to launch a book on the path to success, our plaudits, as influential as they are, can’t do the job alone. That’s why, for the past several years, I’ve used this space to call attention to books that
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deserved more buzz. “Buzz,” of course, can’t be measured scientifically, but I’m always happy to make a plug for the books I’ve treasured reading. If everyone isn’t talking about them, well, they should be.
3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool by James Kaplan (Penguin Press, March 5): I love a group biography. This one, by the author of a terrific two-volume life of Frank Sinatra, tells the braided stories of the three jazz greats who came together in the spring of 1959 to record a jazz masterpiece, Kind of Blue Our starred review called it a “marvelous must-read for jazz fans and anyone interested in this dynamic period of American music.”
American Mother by Colum McCann with Diane Foley (Etruscan Press, March 5): This one really flew beneath the radar, despite its highprofile author (Let the Great World Spin) and a backstory ripped from the
headlines: The 2014 murder of journalist James Foley by ISIS in Syria. This powerful book focuses on his mother as she reckons with her loss, holds the U.S. government accountable, and meets with one of her son’s killers as he awaits trial. In a starred review, our critic called it a “harrowing memoir of grief and love.”
Henry, Henry by Allen Bratton (Unnamed Press, April 2): This sharp debut novel about a posh—and debauched—young man in England on the eve of the Brexit vote puts a queer modern spin on Shakespeare’s Henry IV. (There’s even a dissolute aging queen named Jack Falstaff.) But its other antecedents are Alan Hollinghurst and Edward St. Aubyn, and it’s a darkly glittering treasure from beginning to end. “This novel revisits classic literature but never feels beholden to it,” said our starred review.
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Our annual ceremony, now in its 11th year, returned to New York for an evening of cocktails, conversation, and celebration.
EVERY DECEMBER, I like to look back at some of the year’s notable debut novels and story collections, celebrating new voices on the literary scene. Here are six standouts:
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Avid Reader, May 7): A timetraveling Victorian polar explorer who winds up in 21st-century London. A British civil servant who’s mysteriously given a top-secret mission to babysit the explorer. There’s mystery, drama, romance, and a perceptive look at the challenges of today’s world. Our starred review says, “This rip-roaring romp pivots between past and present and posits the future-altering power of love, hope, and forgiveness.”
Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham
(Hogarth, March 12): For his first novel, Cunningham, a cultural critic at the New Yorker, draws on his experience working for candidate Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election. “The campaign’s conclusion is no surprise, of course” according to our starred review, “but the book is alive in its intellectual detours, with Cunningham considering religion, race, sex, film, politics, fatherhood, and more.…A top-shelf intellectual bildungsroman.”
Jellyfish Have No Ears by Adèle Rosenfeld; trans. by Jeffrey Zuckerman (Graywolf, Aug. 6): Louise is deaf in one ear and losing hearing in the other; this striking novel follows her as she decides whether to get a cochlear implant. “At times absurd, but mostly
poignant and inventive, the book is really about making sense of the world, exploring the gaps between perception and cognition,” says our starred review.
Yr Dead by Sam Sax (McSweeney’s, Aug. 6): Sax’s first work of fiction is a “poet’s novel through and through,” according to our starred review. The narrator, Ezra—a nonbinary Jew, like the author—lights themself on fire, and their life and the lives of their ancestors flash before their eyes, appearing in vivid fragments. Our review calls the book “meditative, deeply humane, and profoundly original.”
Hombrecito by Santiago Jose Sanchez (Riverhead, June 25): Colombian American author Sanchez introduces a young boy named Santiago and follows him through childhood and young adulthood from Ibagué to Miami and New York and back again. “Part family saga, part coming-of-age
story, the novel reckons with issues of abandonment, migration, and gay identity, as Santiago confronts the ripple effects of trauma and separation on his family,” according to our starred review. “Heart-wrenching in its realism, this novel captures the recklessness of young lust and the enduring pain of familial love.”
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Avid Reader, May 28): Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, van der Wouden’s novel opens in 1961 in the Dutch countryside, where Isabel has devoted herself to keeping up the house where her family lived through the war, though she’s the only one still there. When her brother drops off his new girlfriend to spend a few weeks there without him, tensions mount in all sorts of ways. Our starred review says, “This is a beautifully realized book, nearly perfect, as van der Wouden quietly explores…the discovery of desire (and the simultaneous discovery of self), queer relationships at a time when they went unspoken, and the legacy of war and what it might mean to have been complicit in its horrors.”
Laurie Muchnick is the fiction editor.
The lyrical latest novel from the new Nobel laureate.
“When someone who hasn’t slept soundly in a while, who is stumbling through a period of nightmares blurring with reality, chances across a scene that defies belief, they may well initially doubt themselves,” we are told early on by Kyungha, the narrator. Even at the beginning, Kyungha doesn’t seem to have a firm grip on what is and what isn’t real. She’s moved by herself into an apartment near Seoul, where she hasn’t unpacked, barely sleeps, eats less, and spends her time writing and rewriting a will that she tears up and writes again every day. Still, when Inseon, an old friend
and colleague, texts to say she’s in the hospital and then asks Kyungha to hurry from Seoul to Jeju Island, where Inseon’s pet bird is caged without food and water, Kyungha complies— in the midst of a snowstorm. Even through the veil of translation, the quiet intricacy of the author’s prose glitters throughout, but nowhere is this so evident as in her descriptions of the snow: “As the snow lands on the wet asphalt, each flake seems to falter for a moment. Then, like a trailing sentence at the close of a conversation, like the dying fall of a final cadence, like fingertips cautiously retreating before ever landing on a shoulder,
the flakes sink into the slick blackness and are soon gone.” This is a mysterious book that resists easy interpretation, but it’s clearly addressing the violent legacies of the past. As Kyungha trudges through the snow toward Inseon’s house, trying to
reach the bird before it runs out of water, the reader also knows that, decades earlier, the neighboring village had been incinerated in its entirety. How to hold all this together?
A mysterious novel about history and friendship offers no easy answers.
Armfield, Julia | Flatiron Books (304 pp.)
$27.99 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781250344311
Three queer sisters, one dead father, and a fraught inheritance in a flooded city at the end of the world.
“People think it’s just hellfire and brimstone, four horseman and out, but actually the end times go on and on and on,” remarks Irene Carmichael with regard to the Book of Revelation, and Armfield’s third novel seems to have taken a leaf from it, though she and her quarrelsome sisters also have a foot in King Lear. Isla, Irene, and their half sister, Agnes, are the daughters of famous, and famously nasty, architect Stephen Carmichael, known for daring structures custombuilt for the partially underwater environment. As the novel opens, he has died, and the estranged sisters have reluctantly gathered to figure out how they can get to the hospital to view his body. With most modes of transport washed out, unreliable ferries that depart from randomly placed jetties are the main way to get around. While the three women have difficult personalities on their own, their father exacerbated their troubles both during his life and after his death with disbursements and bequeathals structured to pit them against each other. Meanwhile, Isla, a therapist, continues to see patients, though her wife has left her to explore communities outside the city. Irene has lost heart for her advanced studies in Christian theology, but her partner, Jude, keeps an even keel, cooking pasta dinners and “focusing solely on what’s going on right in front of them, as if everything else is irrelevant and incapable of causing them harm.” Agnes, a cranky barista, makes cappuccinos and writes the wrong names on them on purpose. Armfield garnered lots of love from literary horror fans with her debut novel, Our Wives Under the Sea (2022): These readers will surely relish her impressive
post-climate-catastrophe vision (horror tropes included). For some readers, however, the unhappy sisters and their ruined planet will be oppressive. When at one point a peripheral character develops a penchant for “miserabilist literature,” one thinks of recommending the very book he appears in. Character-driven speculative fiction with strong worldbuilding and fine writing.
Carmen, Christa | Thomas & Mercer (336 pp.) $16.99 paper | Dec. 10, 2024 | 9781662513275
The spirits of Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Helen Whitman, the transcendentalist poet who almost became his wife, haunt this modern-day tale of a new widow seeking only to forget her past.
Even after she moves from New Jersey to Rhode Island, cozy mystery novelist Saoirse White is still tormented by the voice of her husband, attorney Jonathan White, who suffered a fatal heart attack nine months ago. She doesn’t want to talk about his last days; she doesn’t want his best friend, Aidan Vesper, to show her his final text; she doesn’t want to spend a minute longer than she has to in the company of his family. Instead, she moves back to Providence, where she and Jonathan first met as students at Brown, resolved to put the past behind her. No such luck. As local spiritualists Lucretia, Mia, and Roberto excitedly inform her, the house at 88 Benefit Street that she’s rented is the old Whitman House, where Sarah Helen Whitman lived and wrote 175 years ago. Overcoming a terror of new experiences nearly equal to her revulsion at the past, she allows her new acquaintances to draw her into a séance in what she considers her new home, and they consider holy ground. But the person who draws her out most dramatically is Emmit Powell, a Pulitzer Prize –winning novelist who teaches at Brown. For whatever reason, he’s magnetically
drawn to Saoirse and won’t take no for an answer. After the briefest of intervals, the fragile Saoirse’s no longer inclined to say no, and their relationship rapidly spirals from neo-gothic into high (or low) gothic territory.
A trembling translation of 19thcentury female horror tropes to a new era that may not be all that new.
Chronister, Kay | Counterpoint (336 pp.)
$28.00 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781640096622
Change comes for five eccentric siblings whose lives have been dictated by their patriarch’s devotion to an ancient compact. In West Virginia, on the edge of a cranberry bog, five siblings are reminded of the family history by their father, Charles. One of their ancestors was thrown into the bog, survived, and “from that day onward, the bog was in him. When he rose from those depths, a woman rose with him to be his wife. You are bound now, she told him in her language, to the care of this land. Your sons’ marriages will reseal the compact between us.” Charlie, Eda, Wenna, Nora, and Percy Haddesley are now preparing for the ritual. They will drop their father’s body into the bog, then wait for Charlie’s new wife to appear. Their mother is missing from the scene, and her disappearance is a mystery that adds suspense to the story. The setting is unique, the language evocative, and the characters well-drawn—the arrogant (and maybe malevolent, or simply ignorant) patriarch, the daughter who fled, the one who leads, the youngest two who share their own world, and the purported heir who doesn’t pass muster. Charlie, the next patriarch, may be infertile, and the tree trunk that injured him is still lodged in the roof of the house, leaving it exposed to the elements. The family seems to be hanging by a thread. Wenna, the
A doctor’s
at Bellevue mires him in murder, mystery, and mayhem.
BELLEVUE
Haddesley daughter who returns from married life in Illinois, provides a potent dose of reality and effective contrast between the family bubble and the “real world,” though not every fantastical element of the story proves false. The family’s connection to the earth is undeniable, and for some of them, necessary. As resources dwindle and everything falls apart, the need for change—for both the world and the humans who live in it—drives them to find their own ways to honor the compact.
Chronister effectively straddles fantasy and reality while exploring themes of stewardship and ties to the earth.
Cook, Robin | Putnam (352 pp.) $30.00 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9780593718834
A young doctor’s surgical residency at New York’s iconic Bellevue Hospital mires him in murder, mystery, and mayhem. Cook, the acclaimed founder of the medicalthriller genre, begins this standalone novel with a horrifying scene, set in 1949, in which a Bellevue doctor performs a lobotomy on an 8-year-old girl who is being treated for behavioral issues. The scene and the setting should be the perfect start to what could be a cringe-inducing horror story, but a weak, cliche-riddled narrative drags the novel down. Michael “Mitt” Fuller, a descendant of the doctor who performed the girl’s lobotomy, is excited to follow in the professional footsteps of four generations of Fullers who practiced medicine at
Bellevue, but on day one of his residency, strange things begin to happen. Lights flicker, horrible odors come and go, surgical tools seem to have a mind of their own, patients die. Soon, he also learns that his ancestors were on the wrong side of evolving medical standards, including the now rejected lobotomy procedure, the use of anesthesia, and surgical theater antiseptics. He also sees dead people. This should be a page turner, but stilted dialogue and one-dimensional characters who can’t stop using worn out expressions such as “Good Grief,” “My Gosh,” and “Whoa!” are way too distracting, as are the descriptions of medical equipment, procedures, and illnesses that require a textbook to understand. What is interesting is the history of the centuries-old Bellevue, its architecture, and its famous patients, including Sylvia Plath and Norman Mailer. The ending, which rolls out in another perfect setting—the basement of an abandoned building—is spot on, but getting to it means slogging through page after page of dull writing. Intriguing premise and spooky setting don’t make up for lackluster storytelling.
Felicelli, Anita | WTAW Press (209 pp.) $19.99 paper | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9798987719770
area, characters are generally lovelorn, directionless, and occupying marginalized roles in society, uniformly seeking to pin down identities and experiences that keep evading definition. In the title story, an aging artist who has fallen out of love with her own work is approached in her studio by a fan who reminds her so viscerally of a younger version of her husband that he just might be a figure of the past come forward in time. In “The Encroachment of Waking Life,” potentially metaphorical time travel becomes literal as the narrator, Vaidehi, hops on a plane to San Francisco hoping to reconnect with her lover, Rama, and finds that she’s accidentally gotten on a flight to the future. For Vaidehi, only six months have passed since they’ve seen each other, but Rama’s extra “twenty years of memories” have transformed him into either a stranger or, more disconcertingly, the man he always was beneath the gloss of love’s first bloom. The theme of love distorted and identities gone awry due to the impact of speculative technologies is explored in many of these tales. In the Bluebeard-influenced “Assembly Line,” Ashlin, a Tamil American jewelry maker, is plagued by a troubling sense of “darkness and clouds” that obscures her ability to remember herself any further back than “yesterday, and perhaps the day before that,” even as she becomes more deeply involved with a student in her enameling class who works in artificial intelligence and seems eerily familiar with the self she cannot recall. In “The Glitch,” the code controlling the holograms that represent the narrator’s family is compromised, introducing the illusion of free will to the illusionary reality which “the coder” has created to escape her very real grief.
Fourteen loosely connected stories in which characters navigate their many possible futures.
In these darkly glimmering short fictions, largely set in the San Francisco Bay
Filled with engaging characters navigating their increasingly strange worlds, the stories are by turns winsome and unsettling. As a group, though, they have a tendency to keep hitting the same thematic notes, blurring some of the reader’s appreciation of their individual forms. Compelling individual stories that falter slightly as a collection.
Finder, Joseph | Harper/HarperCollins (448 pp.)
$30.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780063396012
Marrying a Russian billionaire’s daughter proves to be a very bad move for New York hedge fund manager Paul Brightman. The beautiful daughter, Tatyana, impresses Paul with her independence, rejecting the excesses of her Upper East Side father to live in a modest East Village apartment and pursue a career as a photographer. Paul loves her street portraits; Artforum not so much. It doesn’t take long for the oligarch, Arkady Galkin, to break down the couple’s resistance to living large, bestowing lavish gifts on them and hiring Paul for his own investment firm. Paul’s doubts about taking the job come to a head when fellow employees start dying mysteriously. That’s enough to prompt him to accept a solicitation from the FBI to spy on his father-in-law. When those amateur efforts are exposed, he fears he will be the next victim and flees—without Tatyana, who won’t leave her family, but with a desperately sought thumb drive. For five years, he lives under an assumed name in a small New Hampshire town, building boats and dating a nice school teacher whom he keeps ignorant of his past—until the day he manages to kill a Russian assassin with a speargun in a scuffle on a boat and dumps him in the ocean, and then Alec Wood, Paul’s friend and the deputy police chief, is found murdered at his house. Disappearing into the gloomy woods, pursued by both the Russians and the FBI, he practices the survivalist
skills he learned from his estranged father, who abandoned his family when his son was young to live in a hut. The plot convolutions don’t stop there. If Paul, who narrates the book, were a strong character, he would be able to ride over the forced twists and turns. But, he is such a bland protagonist and so insistent on making dumb moves, it’s impossible to root for him.
A thriller with a decent setup but ridiculous outcomes.
Kirkus Star
Ghenim, Amira | Trans. by Miled Faiza & Karen McNeill | Europa Editions (384 pp.) $28.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9798889660507
The story of a fateful night.
On December 7, 1935, two wealthy Tunisian families were torn apart when a young wife and mother was accused of adultery. In Tunisian novelist Ghenim’s captivating narrative, translated by Faiza and McNeill, 11 of the characters involved recall an event that has continued to haunt them for decades, revealing in their confessions and testimonies a tangled web of lies, suspicions, and betrayals, as well as a society pervaded by homophobia, classism, antisemitism, and racism. French colonialism sparked social unrest and political upheaval. Medicine was undermined by superstition; jinns, demons, and ghouls abounded; and the evil eye, it was believed, could be diverted by a Black child’s face. In a rabidly patriarchal society, the accused woman, Zbaida Rassaa, grew up in a relatively
progressive family. Rare among Tunisian women, she and her sisters attended a French school, and to supplement their education, their father hired a young man to tutor them in Arabic and the Quran. That tutor, Tahar Haddad, a social reformer, wrote a book criticizing women’s oppression under Islamic law and advocating for women’s rights—a book that proved dangerously incendiary. For years, Zbaida and Tahar had been in love, but when he dared to ask for her hand, her father summarily married her off to Mohsen Ennaifer, the son of a staunchly conservative patriarch. “There’s nothing in this life more harmful to women than trying to imitate men,” Mohsen’s father declared about the folly of educating women. Although the urbane, cosmopolitan Mohsen shared Zbaida’s pleasure in theater and music, her feelings for Tahar were not quashed by marriage and motherhood. But were they ever lovers? Ghenim keeps the reader guessing, as she does her characters, with passion and anguish, disclosing devastating secrets of lives maliciously destroyed.
A stirring, engrossing tale.
Girma, Baalu | Trans. by David DeGusta & Mesfin Felleke Yirgu | Soho (408 pp.) $29.00 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781641296663
Searing novel of war by dissident Ethiopian writer Girma. Part spy thriller, part melodrama, roman à clef through and through, Girma’s story centers on a moment of Ethiopian history that, in that demographically young country, is all but forgotten. It is the early 1980s, and Ethiopia, under a Marxist military dictatorship, has set out to conquer neighboring Eritrea. “Every day another campaign of some sort,” complains his fiancee, Roman, to a propaganda officer named Tsegaye Hailemaryam. “Now the Red Star
Campaign to fix the Eritrean problem. We are addicted to campaigns, but I can’t wait until we can be done with them.” Caught up in the excitement of certain victory, Tsegaye jumps at the chance to go to the front, exalting the invading forces and excoriating the Eritrean resistance, which he depicts as terrorists. The soldiers in Girma’s narrative are pawns, but the officers are well-rounded: One general is so militarily perfect that “even his Afro, though thinning, has sharp edges,” while a schoolmate of Tsegaye’s, Colonel Wolday Tariku, can’t wait to fight: “Give Wolday a drink and a rifle and he is a happy man.” As Roman foresees, Tsegaye forgets his vows to her and falls in love with an Eritrean beauty and Mata Hari named Fiammetta Gilay. Girma’s writing is most immediate in the slaughterhouse of battle, which is not for the squeamish: “A decapitated torso with blood pumping from where a neck once was....A bulletridden corpse with an open mouth and unblinking eyes staring up at the red sky.” As the tautly written story resolves, failure, death, and disillusionment are its constants. It’s worth noting that, although the Marxist regime tried to suppress it, Girma’s novel was an underground bestseller in Ethiopia in the early 1980s—and for his criticisms of that regime, Girma paid with his life. An exemplary anti-war novel from a little-known theater of conflict.
Grippando, James | Harper/ HarperCollins (320 pp.) | $30.00 Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780063358034
No sooner has he promised to cut back dramatically on the criminal defense cases that have made his reputation and poisoned his marriage to FBI undercover agent Andie Henning than Jack Swyteck accepts a custody case whose stakes are even higher.
Farid Bazzi, a partner in six hotels in Iran, contends that his wife, Ava Bazzi, broke out of a Tehran prison after her arrest by the morality police, grabbed their 6-year-old daughter, Yasmin, and fled to Miami. The revelation that the client determined to keep Yasmin is actually Farid’s second wife, Ava’s sister Zahra, uncovers the first of many lies by every party, which Jack will have to wade through in representing her. The custody hearing, which ought to be routine, is introduced by a violent threat against Jack—“If you make this case about what happened to Ava, someone is going to get hurt”—and highlighted by Tehran banker Nouri Asmoun’s virtual testimony that he was Ava’s lover, Zahra and Farid’s dueling claims over whether Ava is dead or alive, and mounting pressure from shadowy U.S. government representatives on both Jack and Andie to avoid pursuing any inquiries about Ava in order to protect their government’s negotiations over the release of antiquities broker Brian Guthrie. Hours after a surprising development delivers a victory for Jack and his client, another equally unexpected development plunges them into a new round of woes. As he tightens the screws on Jack and Andie, Grippando uses every possible legal device and convention to turn questions about the Iranian government’s treatment of women into agonizingly personal tragedies.
A dizzying series of textbook lessons in how aggrieved litigants weaponize legal procedures, and vice versa.
Kirkus Star
Hendrix, Grady | Berkley (496 pp.)
$30.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780593548981
Hung out to dry by the elders who betrayed them, a squad of pregnant teens fights back with old magic.
Hendrix has a flair for applying inventive hooks to horror, and
this book has a good one, chock-full with shades of V.C. Andrews, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Foxfire, to name a few. Our narrator, Neva Craven, is 15 and pregnant, a fate worse than death in the American South circa 1970. She’s taken by force to Wellwood House in Florida, a secretive home for unwed mothers where she’s given the name Fern. She’ll have the baby secretly and give it up for adoption, whether she likes it or not. Under the thumb of the house’s cruel mistress, Miss Wellwood, and complicit Dr. Vincent, Neva forges cautious alliance with her fellow captives—a new friend, Zinnia; budding revolutionary Rose; and young Holly, raped and impregnated by the very family minister slated to adopt her child. All seems lost until the arrival of a mysterious bookmobile and its librarian, Miss Parcae, who gives the girls an actual book of spells titled How To Be a Groovy Witch. There’s glee in seeing the powerless granted some welldeserved payback, but Hendrix never forgets his sweet spot, lacing the story with body horror and unspeakable cruelties that threaten to overwhelm every little victory. In truth, it’s not the paranormal elements that make this blast from the past so terrifying—although one character evolves into a suitably scary antagonist near the end—but the unspeakable, everyday atrocities leveled at children like these. As the girls lose their babies one by one, they soon devote themselves to secreting away Holly and her child. They get some help late in the game but for the most part they’re on their own, trapped between forces of darkness and society’s merciless judgement. A pulpy throwback that shines a light on abuses even magic can’t erase.
Ichaso, Chelsea | Thomas & Mercer (300 pp.)
$16.99 paper | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781662521690
T hree young California women go on a bachelorette trip only to find themselves forced to confront the lies and secrets at the core of their friendship.
Cadence and Rowan are outwardly delighted to accept their friend Jocelyn’s invitation to join her on an all-expenses paid trip to the northwest coast of Wales. But in a story where the point-of-view shifts from woman to woman, the reader quickly learns that nothing is quite what it seems. Though she’s about to be married to the love of her life, beautiful, wealthy Jocelyn has been struggling for almost a decade to get her event-planning business off the ground. What Jocelyn doesn’t know is that her brilliant but plain friend Cadence, a middle school teacher, has been quietly having an on-again, off-again affair with her husband to be. Rowan, meanwhile, has felt like the perpetual third wheel ever since they all met in college. An aspiring artist forced to drop out and begin working due to an unplanned pregnancy, she regards her friends’ freedom with longing and envy, yet can’t break with them because of the long history they share, and the fact that Jocelyn’s dead twin, Jake, was the father of her child. When the women encounter a handsome but manipulative traveler and his attractive female companion at their bed and breakfast, the tension among them escalates and their friendship begins to unravel. One by one, secrets emerge about jealousies so intense they drove each woman to cruel and selfish acts of destruction, including murder.
Tightly plotted, suspenseful, and ruthless in its exploration of the dark side of love and friendship, Ichaso’s novel is a richly satisfying thriller. A twisty, unrelenting gem.
Kander, Beth | Harlequin MIRA (352 pp.)
$30.00 | Dec. 10, 2024 | 9780778368120
When a lonely woman creates a golem from clay, the mythical figurine magically comes to life in the form of a hot guy who may or may not be the perfect boyfriend. Eve is about to turn 40, and she’s just so sad. Her father died a year ago, and since then, her life has been a lonesome slog. Her job is uninspiring, her best friend’s been unavailable, the dating market’s a nightmare, and she can’t stop stress eating. Her mother is selling their family home, and her younger sister is getting married—on Eve’s birthday weekend. There’s a glimmer of hope when the cute guy who recently moved into her building reveals that, like Eve, he’s Jewish. But when “Hot Josh” seems uninterested in her, Eve’s only solace is an overly sweet bottle of kosher wine. Remembering an old Jewish legend, Eve drunkenly constructs a golem, a clay figure that’s said to come to life to protect people in need. When Eve wakes up the next morning, the golem has transformed into a full-sized, shockingly handsome, and very much living man who wants nothing more than to protect and serve Eve. The golem, whom she names Paul Mudd, seems like the answer to all her problems—a perfect companion and a plus-one for her sister’s wedding. As
A superior cat-and-mouser, with both parties armed to the teeth.
HEAD CASES
time passes, Eve realizes that Paul is causing more harm than good, but she’s not sure she’ll ever find happiness without him. Told from Eve’s perspective throughout, the book is captivating and witty from the get-go. The author leans into Eve’s identity as a secular American Jew, showing her family’s deep connection to their Jewish roots despite their lack of religious observance. The story also examines issues of antisemitism and generational trauma with heft and grace. Of course, the story does require a significant suspension of disbelief—Eve accepts, with barely a moment’s doubt, that the inanimate figure she molded has come to life, quickly deciding that the next logical step would be to bring him to work with her. Even so, with welldeveloped characters, poignant romantic humor, and brilliantly described family connections, this is still a thoroughly engaging read. A romantic comedy so charming that its ridiculousness hardly matters.
McMahon, John | Minotaur (352 pp.)
$28.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781250348296
McMahon kicks off a new series about an FBI unit’s hunt for a serial killer who’s targeting other serial killers.
And not just any unit: It’s the Patterns and Recognitions Unit, where Special Agent Gardner Camden—whose memory is a lot more finely honed than his people skills—works with mathematically oriented Cassie Pardo and newcomer Richie Brancato under the leadership of Frank Roberts. Their goal is to identify and take down whoever gutted Ross Tignon, who murdered three women and whom Camden thought had died seven years ago. The discovery that Tignon has returned from the dead only after he’s been killed again would be jarring enough, but McMahon turns up the heat with
news that Barry Fisher, who served 31 years for his own string of homicides, met his end the day after he was paroled. The predator is obviously playing games with the law, carving a “50” into Tignon’s chest, stashing each of Fisher’s organs in a separate plastic bag in the house his brother let him stay in, planting cryptic clues on both corpses, and phoning Camden to brag about his accomplishments and threaten his loved ones in case the FBI hasn’t picked up the pattern on its own. Invited to call his quarry “God,” Camden reverses the moniker and dubs him “Mad Dog,” and the hunt is on. Camden has the advantage of uncanny analytical skills and razor-sharp focus; Mad Dog benefits from his lack of scruples—since, after all, he’s doing God’s work by eliminating those monsters—and the fact that he’s found his way into the FBI’s computers. Could that possibly be because he works for the Bureau himself?
A superior cat-and-mouser, with both parties armed to the teeth.
Mirvis, Tova | Avid Reader Press (368 pp.)
$28.99 | Feb. 11, 2025 | 9781668061626
W hen an author is murdered, his soon-to-be-exwife is the number one suspect.
“‘Here’s what we know so far,’ says a reporter standing in the front yard of a blue Victorian house, yellow police tape visible behind her. ‘Noted writer and popular professor Jonah Gelman was inside his Binghamton home a block from the SUNY campus when he was shot once in the chest.’” As Mirvis’ dark family drama opens, Hailey Gelman is rewatching television coverage of her husband’s murder, rereading accusatory comments on social media, and reviewing the events that have brought her and her 6-year-old daughter to a remote cabin outside Bangor, Maine. First, her
When an author is murdered, his soon-to-be-ex-wife is the prime suspect.
WE WOULD NEVER
marriage soured; while she was miserable living far from her family in Florida, Jonah had gotten bored with the sunny—but far less intellectual— woman he had married. “She had no idea that the qualities in her that he was so drawn to would eventually be the ones he came to despise.” Then, the divorce moved forward with acrimony and angry emails about custody; when Hailey tried to retreat to her supportive family in Florida, Jonah demanded she return in a week, as promised. The strength of the novel rests on Mirvis’ portrait of the Floridian enclave: Hailey’s adoring but controlling mother and her stern father and mercurial older brother, doctors whose shared dermatology practice yields some metaphorical pizzazz via disgusting skin conditions. The emphasis here is less on solving the crime than on the characters’ moral struggles as they live with the uncertain outcomes of their own decisions and those of the people they love. Propulsive, disturbing, and practically begging for a screen adaptation.
O’Donnell, Roisín | Algonquin (400 pp.) $29.00 | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9781643755700
In Dublin, a pregnant woman with two little girls flees a controlling, critical husband.
O’Donnell’s striking debut opens with what looks from a distance like a happy family at the
seashore. Close up, the water is too cold, the wind is too strong, and as tiny as they are, the girls have outgrown their wetsuits and their father is screaming at their mother, demanding to know what she’d done with the money he gave her to buy new ones. By the end of the first chapter, we want to get away from Ryan as badly as Ciara does, even if he’s handsome, loyal, a good provider, and hasn’t actually hit her...yet. That wetsuit money has been tucked away in a diaper bag in preparation for something Ciara hasn’t quite admitted to herself she’s going to do. And then, at last, it’s time. O’Donnell’s novel follows Ciara, Ella, and Sophie as they negotiate the harsh realities of sudden homelessness, father’s rights, and the Irish housing crisis. Ciara’s mother and sister live in England, she’s lost her pre-marriage friends, and she can pay for no more than one night’s accommodation with that roll of bills. With Ryan constantly hounding her by text, she eventually finds her way into emergency accommodations in a hotel with a dedicated floor for unhoused women and families. Here, she will make a friend and begin to figure out next steps—which are that much more complicated when a pregnancy test reveals the reason for her recent nausea and exhaustion. The mounting tension and suspense as Ciara struggles to stay free and safe make the pages fly. O’Donnell gives us a great character to root for and a portrait of her situation that is both terrifying and ultimately inspiring. An afterword confirms the impression that it’s based on research into real women’s experiences.
A propulsive, nuanced, achingly real novel that will appeal to both Colleen Hoover fans and devotees of Irish fiction.
The author’s work frequently drew on her experiences as a Jewish refugee.
Lore Segal, the author who drew from her experiences as a Jewish refugee living in the U.K. and, later, the U.S., has died at 96, the New York Times reports.
Segal, a native of Vienna, was a child when she moved to England as part of the Kindertransport mission, in which children in Nazi-occupied countries were taken to the U.K. to live. She was housed with several foster families in the country before moving with her mother to the Dominican Republic and later Manhattan.
She made her literary debut in 1964 with Other People’s Houses, an autobiographical novel based on her childhood experiences living in foster homes. Twelve years later, she published her second novel, Lucinella, about a poet navigating the New York literary scene. Her other novels include Her First American; Shake-
speare’s Kitchen, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; and Half the Kingdom. She was also a prolific author of children’s books, including Morris the Artist, illustrated by Boris Kulikov, and Why Mole Shouted, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier. Melville House published her final book, the short story collection Ladies’ Lunch, last year.
Segal’s admirers remembered her on social media. On the platform X, journalist Matthew Shaer wrote, “Lore Segal died this morning, a day after the @NYTmag published my profile of her. I only knew Lore at the end of her life, and our time together was short, but she taught me so much—about writing and death and bravery. Thank you, Lore.
I’ll miss you.”
—MICHAEL SCHAUB
For reviews of Lore Segal’s books, visit Kirkus online.
The Vegetarian author is the first South Korean writer to take home the award.
Han Kang has won the Nobel Prize in Literature, the first South Korean author to be honored with the prestigious award.
The Swedish Academy said it gave the award to Han “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.”
Han published her first book, the story collection Love of Yeosu, in 1995. She gained prominence in the English-speaking literary world in 2015, when Deborah Smith’s translation of her novel The Vegetarian was published in the U.K.; it came out in the U.S. the following year. The novel won the International Booker Prize.
Her other books to be translated into English include The White Book, which was
shortlisted for the International Booker; Human Acts ; and Greek Lessons. A translation of her novel We Do Not Part by e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris will be published in January. (See a review on p. 7.)
Mats Malm, the Swedish Academy’s permanent secretary, talked on the phone with Han, the Guardian reports.
“She was having an ordinary day, it seemed—had just finished supper with her son. She wasn’t really prepared for this, but we have begun to discuss preparations for December.”
Han will be presented with the prize on Dec. 10, at a ceremony in Stockholm.—M.S.
Han Kang
Rafiq’s quiet, empathetic debut story collection focuses on the everyday challenges of living in Kashmir.
THE WORLD WITH ITS MOUTH OPEN
Porter, Henry | Atlantic Monthly (448 pp.)
$27.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780802164438
Sidelined by MI5 for her violent tendencies—never mind that she was being sexually assaulted when she crowned her assailant with a champagne bottle—Agent Slim Parsons is summoned back to investigate a shadowy news site. For months, Slim has been in hiding from her vengeance-seeking would-be rapist, billionaire money launderer Ivan Guest, whom she was secretly investigating. Her new job is to pose as a reporter at Middle Kingdom, an upstart news organization located north of London near historic Bletchley Park, that’s suspected of hacking top-security government systems for its big stories. With her brother missing, possibly killed by Guest, and her mother recovering from a home invasion attack, Slim is as loathe to play by the rules of journalism as of MI5. She defies her hard-nosed but New Agey boss Abigail Exton-White in pursuing unassigned stories, including a slave labor conspiracy with possible connections to Guest (the book has no lack of subplots for her to bounce among). Surprisingly adept at handling bad guys, she arouses suspicions among the journalists. Who is she really? The novel turns on connections between Middle Kingdom and AI-equipped descendants of Bletchley Park’s wartime
codebreakers. There will be blood as Guest remakes Slim’s acquaintance and corrupt government forces seek to shut down Middle Kingdom. As the great-granddaughter of a Jewishborn Polish intelligence officer who heroically destroyed evidence that Poland had broken the Enigma machine when Germany invaded his country, Slim has a vested interest in the drama. Journalist Porter has been compared to Mick Herron, among other top spy novelists, and Slim could have leaped from one of his Slough House novels with her freewheeling rejection of authority. But Porter never loses sight of her humanity and basic vulnerability; the reader feels her personal losses while rooting for her to overcome them. Journalism and spycraft make for compelling bedfellows in Porter’s latest thriller.
Rafiq, Zahid | Tin House (192 pp.) | $17.95 paper | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781959030850
Rafiq’s quiet, empathetic debut story collection focuses on the everyday challenges of living in Kashmir. These 11 stories center on ordinary lives, ordinary people, and in one case, ordinary dogs—but the lives, and the stories, are haunted by violence at their edges. In “The Man With the Suitcase,” a young man whose
brother was killed in a protest and who supports his grieving parents financially has lost his job in a luggage shop. He hasn’t told them; instead, looking for refuge, relief, or hope, he spends his days chasing a job, and an oft-glimpsed man hauling a familiar suitcase, through the streets. In “The House,” a wealthy couple is having a fancy new house built, and when a workman unearths part of a skeleton, they have to figure out how they’re going to make the inconvenient bones go away without attracting unwanted attention or spooking the crew, their children, or themselves. In “The Mannequin,” the struggling owner of a clothing shop receives a mannequin that wears, at least to his eyes, an expression of unspeakable sadness and misery. On the way to return it to the creditor who gave it to him, he has a disturbing encounter with two boys, and in the end the mannequin is partially dismembered, one boy’s cheek is stinging from a slap, and the shopkeeper feels even more desolate than before. We encounter another shopkeeper living a life of quiet desperation in “In Small Boxes.” This man falls apart at the seams after a local newspaper is tricked into running his obituary, prematurely. Rafiq writes crisply and tenderly, with occasional flashes of humor and exquisite attention to the trials of day-to-day life.
Tender, subtle, sad—many of these stories read like elegies for the living.
Sayles, John | Melville House (336 pp.) $29.99 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781685891411
A portrait of anti–Native American racism in education and on the battlefield. The latest historical novel by author-director Sayles takes its title from a statement by Richard Henry Pratt, an
Army captain who in 1879 founded the Carlisle School to force Native Americans to assimilate: “To save the man, we must kill the Indian!” Set across four months in 1890, the novel closely follows Pratt, Carlisle teachers, and about a half-dozen students forced to attend. Among them are Antoine, a half-Ojibwe boy who’s compelled to memorize Longfellow’s “Song of Hiawatha”; Trouble, a Sioux whose desperation moves him to attempt an escape; and Asa, a Papago assigned to sweatshop labor making shoes. Such degradations, from Pratt’s perspective, were progressive compared to the forces calling for the extermination of Native Americans. But his sanctimony blinds him to the Natives’ despair. The crisis at Carlisle is timed around the December massacre at Wounded Knee, which occurred after a U.S. soldier killed the Lakota chief Sitting Bull; one of Pratt’s lieutenants arrives to witness the fighting. Sayles, who has no Native background, is careful not to reduce his characters to types or be melodramatically damning of the Carlisle. But it’s clear that the idea of compelling various tribes—each with their own languages and folkways—to convert to white folkways was cruel, both emotionally and physically. (Students are detained, attempt suicide, and die for lack of immunity from diseases.) The Wounded Knee sections are imperfectly woven around the Carlisle sections, as if the book were separate novels. But in both plotlines, a racist urge to harm obtains. Pratt proclaims: “Our mission at the Carlisle School is to baptize the Indian youth in the waters of civilization—and to hold him under until he is thoroughly soaked!” (Or drowned.)
A well-researched study of state-sanctioned bigotry.
Short, Sharon | Minotaur (336 pp.) $29.00 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781250292841
A young woman with a difficult past stands up to the Mafia, her best friend, and a host of bad memories when trouble comes to Trouble Island.
It’s 1931. For reasons we don’t know, Aurelia Escalante has been exiled to a remote island surrounded by the icy waters of Lake Erie, an island owned by the McGee crime family. She and Rosita, the estranged wife of crime boss Eddie McGee, used to be friends, but a string of murder and tragedy has put strain on their relationship—as well as the fact that Aurelia is treated like domestic help on the island. When Eddie and a small entourage arrive one frigid November day, intending to convince Rosita to sell the island to a rival family, Aurelia has just put in motion a plan to escape, aided by the lockbox full of gold and jewels she’d found washed up on the shore. But there will be no easy opportunity to slip away. Instead, Aurelia finds herself embroiled in what is essentially a game of Clue: As people on the island start dying, she must uncover past truths and false identities while doing her best to preserve her own secrets. The plot is full of more twists and turns than a Chutes and Ladders board, and Short throws in some flashbacks for good measure. Though we don’t fully understand what drives Aurelia, first to align herself with the McGees and then to have the
strength and chutzpah to break that bond, until the very end of the novel, her cunning sense of self-preservation— plus a little help from a handsome bodyguard and a kindly domestic couple—keeps her alive, and keeps the pages turning. The isolated setting is well-rendered, and while not all the murders are necessarily weighty, nor all the solutions logical, the book has enough style and flash to make it worth reading. A spunky heroine plus a beautiful, unusual setting make this a must-read.
Strapp, Ren | Oni Press (224 pp.) | $17.99 paper | Dec. 17, 2024 | 9781637155264
Romantic and interpersonal tensions come to a head for a group of friends during a spring semester at college. This graphic novel opens on a snowy evening at Hillock College, where the semester is off to a bumpy start for Molly Song and her friend Lou Kingston. Molly is reeling from a recent breakup with her girlfriend, Olene Reed, who dumped Molly via email from the plane to Europe, where she’s spending the semester studying in France. Also in France? Lou’s ex, Yona Escobar. Though Yona is conflicted about her breakup with Lou, Olene is determined that they let go of past baggage and make the most of their time abroad. Through shopping trips, selfies, and a spontaneous kiss on the dance floor at a local lesbian bar, Yona soon realizes she has romantic feelings for Olene. But Olene is keeping a big
A spunky heroine plus a beautiful, unusual setting make this a must-read.
TROUBLE ISLAND
happy ending feels true and utterly deserved.
THREE DAYS IN JUNE
secret that may change their relationship forever. Back on campus, Molly is still wallowing when her roommate, Jackie Holman, invites her to a party at her ex Anjali’s house. Molly agrees to go, with Lou in tow, in the hopes that they can find some rebound girlfriends. But when Lou becomes instantly infatuated with Anjali, Molly can’t help but feel jealous. And as her affection for Lou grows, Molly makes a decision that upends her life at Hillock once again. A charming, loose art style adds some levity to the novel’s heavier themes, and the color palette—shades of blue, purple, pink, and orange— beautifully mirrors the ever-shifting and deeply felt emotional states of the characters. But while the author is deft at exploring the nuances of complicated relationships, with a particular focus on queer identity, the characters don’t have much substance beyond their romantic motivations. Unresolved conflicts and lack of character growth let down a promising premise.
Su, Maggie | Harper/HarperCollins (256 pp.) $26.99 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780063358645
Vi Liu, the daughter of a Taiwanese father and white mother, navigates relationships, identity, and her early 20s in this touching, absurd debut novel.
Reeling from the breakup of a two-year relationship with Luke Meyer, who gave her a “taste of what it felt like to be normal,” Vi is spiraling. She’s dropped out of college, missed the Peace Corps application deadline, and
works at the front desk of a Holiday Inn–esque hotel. Her oft-flooding basement apartment, where she spends most of her time off, is grimy, strewn with dirty laundry and rotting leftovers. On a night out with her co-worker and her co-worker’s estranged high school friend, Vi discovers a blob next to the trash cans in the alley behind the bar. Drunk and panicking, both terrified and curious, Vi takes the blob home. Soon, to her confusion, she discovers that the blob is sentient; it breathes and eats. Increasingly, Vi realizes she can mold and shape the blob: She tells it to grow a hand, then a neck, and it does, growing into a body that looks like a handsome, generic-looking movie star. At first, Blob follows Vi’s commands, but as he becomes increasingly human, his desires shift accordingly; he feels trapped, and Vi’s plan to create her perfect boyfriend inevitably backfires. Interspersed with this comic story are vignettes of Vi’s troubled childhood— she was awkward, perpetually friendless, unlikable. These characteristics are supposed to explain why she is the way she is today: friendless, temperamental, quick to anger, a heavy drinker, sadistically self-deprecating. At times, these traits are humanizing and relatable, though they often feel too heavy-handed: “All the mistakes I made because I wanted to prove to myself what I never fully believed: that I belonged, that I was worthy.”
A funny, tender, unexpected—though somewhat flimsy—bildungsroman.
Tyler, Anne | Knopf (176 pp.) | $27.00 Feb. 11, 2025 | 9780593803486
For more by Anne Tyler, visit Kirkus online.
Their daughter’s wedding stirs up uncomfortable memories for a divorced couple. The day before the ceremony, the bride’s mother, Gail Baines, second in command at the Ashton School in Baltimore, learns that not only has she been passed over to replace the retiring headmistress, but the new recruit is bringing her deputy with her. The lack of people skills that have cost Gail this promotion are evident even in that initial scene; she’s a classic cranky Tyler protagonist, given to blurting out her opinions with little consideration for others’ feelings. Her first-person narration also reveals her to be touchingly vulnerable, convinced that daughter Debbie, prettier and more polished than she, will inevitably prefer husband-to-be Kenneth’s overbearing, better-off parents. Although her divorce from Max was amicable, Gail considers him a bit of a slacker, and isn’t best pleased when he turns up with a rescue cat in tow and says he has to stay with her because Kenneth is horribly allergic. A startling revelation from Debbie, fresh from her pre-wedding “Day of Beauty,” immediately divides the exes, who have very different opinions about how their daughter should handle this crisis. It also leads to Gail’s revelation of the infidelity that led to their divorce, though not in the way readers might imagine. Laid-back Max is the only fully fleshed character here other than Gail, and the novel is very short, but Tyler’s touch is as delicate, her empathy for human beings and all their quirks as evident in her 25th work of fiction as it was in her first, published an astonishing 60 years ago. Gail’s acerbic observations about the wedding and all its participants, her wistful memories of
her odd-couple romance with Max, and her account of their enforced intimacy over the three days surrounding the wedding alternate to poignant effect. The closing pages offer a happy ending that feels true to the characters and utterly deserved. Sweet, sharp, and satisfying.
Wolfgang-Smith, Olivia | Bloomsbury (336 pp.) $28.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781639733323
In turn-of-the-century Manhattan, a businessman enters into a lavender marriage with an ambitious woman and falls in love with his eccentric business rival. On Fifth Avenue, a gambling party brings together three characters. Vivian Lesperance knows she’s in the last throes of romance with her lover, Sofia, a wealthy singer; she’s left behind her spiteful parents in Utica, New York, and worked her way into the fringes of Manhattan high society through her clever tenacity, but she’s running out of time to hitch herself to a new wagon. Forty-three-year-old Oscar Schmidt is a transplant from Ohio who manages the New York office of a soap company. Both his career and his personal reputation are on the verge of disaster—the former due to an upstart candle manufacturer competing for resources; the latter due to the gossip columnists’ assessment of him as a “horticultural gent” (to wit: a pansy). Finally, there is the rival in question, old-money Squire Clancey, a gentle “crackpot” (modern readers will clock him as likely on the autism spectrum), whose hyperfixation on candles and excessive wealth lead to his inadvertent competition with Oscar. Vivian sees at once that merging the two businesses could create a lucrative partnership; she also realizes that marrying Oscar could protect them both from the weight of their secrets.
What follows is Squire, Vivian, and Oscar’s attempt to create a business—and a life—outside of traditional expectations. Wolfgang-Smith approaches historical fiction as a costume ball, affecting a fizzy, omniscient narration: At the book’s most fun, it’s Edith Wharton or Henry James, with more camp and a winking tone. But strict verisimilitude to this period in fiction also means a reliance on exposition, and combined with lots of business talk, this can slow things down. All’s queer in love and industry: a memorable tale uniquely told.
Ed. by Wood, R.B. & Anna Koons Ruadán Books (414 pp.) | $24.99 paper Dec. 10, 2024 | 9798991258708
Stories to remind us that sometimes the things that haunt us most aren’t people, but places, frozen in time. Prolific horror author Wood teams up with writer and artist Koon for a haphazardly curated but infinitely curious collection of postmodern myths set in darkest winter. The stories feature everything from casual incursions of the fantastic into everyday life to surrealist fever dreams that defy description, all named after their settings. The opener, “Dhaka,” by Anjum Noor Choudhury, finds a fleet
political operative outmaneuvering a restless spirit, while Sarah Read’s “Paris” depicts a young street artist facing an O. Henry–esque quandary regarding his cursed pencils. Here, we start to get more hints of menace, too: “You can get into the catacombs from almost any part of the city. Out can be harder.” As one might expect, there are lots of ghosts lurking about, from the shadows of the city’s old sins in “Dublin,” by Christian Fiachra Stevens, to the blindfolded wisp that haunts a soldier in Matt Hollingsworth’s “Zagreb.” The most effective stories are practically haunted houses, but there’s plenty of cinema-scale spectacle, too, from the Victorian underworld of Lily Childs’ “London” to the gladiatorial combat in Mars Abian’s dystopian “Manila.” Of course, a book wouldn’t properly be considered urban fantasy without a healthy dose of old-fashioned magic, and this frosty collection delivers it in abundance. A trio of siblings employs Jewish mysticism to raise the dead in Jonathan Papernick’s “Jerusalem,” while ancient Finnish spirits, the Martaat, haunt the wintry streets of Xan van Rooyen’s “Helsinki.” The results aren’t always pretty—Richard Kadrey takes a break from Sandman Slim to render a writer, grappling with madness, who carves his words into bones in “Brooklyn,” while the mutilated ghosts of war return in Mike Allen’s “Lewisburg”—an unwelcome reminder that cities are formed as much by stories and memory as steel and concrete. An eclectic travelogue with words of warning: “People love to visit here, but none of it’s real, y’know?”
Stories to remind us that sometimes the things that haunt us most aren’t people, but places, frozen in time.
WINTER IN THE CITY
Universal is developing an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2022 novel.
Colleen Hoover’s Reminders of Him is headed to the big screen, Variety reports. Hoover’s novel, published in 2022 by Montlake Ro-
mance, follows Kenna Rowan, a woman who has been released from prison after serving time for killing her boyfriend, Scotty. She gives birth to his child while in prison, and the baby is given to Scotty’s parents; when she returns to the outside world, she falls for Scotty’s best friend. Kirkus’ verdict on the book: “Hoover has done it again.”
Universal Pictures is developing the film adaptation, which will be written by Hoover and Lauren Levine. The pair will produce via Heartbones Entertainment, their new production company.
“I am thrilled to be working with Universal to bring Kenna Rowan’s world to life,” Hoover told Variety. “I hear from many readers who tell me they found something of themselves in her story of living with and through tragedy and
Hoover
doing the often messy and imperfect work of healing and turning the page to a fresh chapter in life. I am excited as Reminders of Him holds a special place in my heart too.” Hoover’s 2016 novel, It Ends With Us, was adapted into a film directed by Justin Baldoni, starring Baldoni and Blake Lively, that was released in August to mixed reviews but good box office. Her 2019 novel, Regretting You, is currently in the works as a movie, with Allison Williams set to star. —M.S.
For a review of Reminders of Him, visit Kirkus online.
Adams, Jane A. | Severn House (224 pp.)
$29.99 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781448314379
Another return to the early 1930s for a retired police detective who just won’t let go. There’s no keeping Henry Johnstone down. Still suffering the ill effects of the wounds that ended his career as a detective inspector with Scotland Yard, he’s allowed his masterful sister, Cynthia Garrett Smyth, to hang out his shingle as a private inquiry agent, even though he’s running no inquiries and employing no agents. His latest diversion comes in a letter from Dr. Walter Fielding, who remembers him from the time he spent in Lincolnshire three years ago on a case, informing him that local stockman Frank Church used the interval between falling into a threshing machine and expiring to confess to the murder of Robert Hanson at that time. Henry still has a keen personal interest in the case because he’d been convinced that the victim had been killed by Ethan Samuels, the former lover of Frank’s wife, Helen, and the father of the son Frank was raising as his own. Henry is determined to track down Ethan and bring him home even though his family—fully aware that he’d still serve time for grievous bodily harm against Hanson, since he did beat him even if he didn’t kill him—is in no hurry to help. Meanwhile, Dan Trotter, a failed merchant who’s paid to have his warehouse burned down for the insurance, has killed the unknown man who found him on the scene, trying to make a proper job of the halfhearted blaze his hirelings started. Since Adams reveals both killers from the beginning, the biggest mystery is the identity of that dead man, and that doesn’t generate many sparks either.
Come for the period detail and stay for the emotional journeys of the sleuth and his prey.
Come for the period detail and stay for the detective’s emotional journey.
COLD BONES
Cahoon, Lynn | Lyrical Press (208 pp.)
$18.95 paper | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781516111756
A bookstore owner’s lastminute wedding plans are complicated by dueling investigations into a local religious organization that may be a cult. Most brides don’t dream of January weddings, but Jill Gardner, who’s already had to put off her vows with police chief Greg King twice, hopes the third time will be the charm. Of course, every day in South Cove, California, has all the charm to be expected from a cozy getaway town mixed with a little light magic of aura-reading and such. Since Greg’s mom has been too sick to travel until now, Jill is glad that Amanda can make the journey out for the wedding—at least, she’s glad until Amanda shows up a full week early. What’s Jill going to do with a motherin-law she suspects may still hold a candle for Greg’s last relationship? But Jill, a can-do gal, gamely invites Amanda on all her pre-wedding errands. Jill even gets Amanda in to visit the New Hope community, a local group otherwise shrouded in secrecy and tight security. It’s not clear to South Cove residents whether the community, formally known as the Central California Society for the Advancement of the Mind and Body (“CCSAMB, or C-scam, as most locals called it”), is harmless or a cult. A distraught mother who’s lost her daughter to CCSAMB begs Jill for help and hopes to convince her to get involved. Though Greg doesn’t like
Jill getting herself into trouble yet again, he’s diverted when newcomer Kane Matthews is killed. Do all trails lead back to New Hope?
Details may delight or distract in a series entry that pushes the main plot down the aisle.
Clark, Tracy | Thomas & Mercer (364 pp.) $16.99 paper | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781662517327
A death outside upscale student lodgings adjoining Belverton College throws new light on an eerily similar fatality 30 years ago. Apart from his immediate family, whose limited means left them powerless against the might of the lordly Colliers, few people mourned Belverton freshman Michael James Paget when he was found drunk and choked in his own vomit outside Hardwicke House, one of the few buildings near the campus not to bear the Collier name. But the discovery of Belverton senior Brice Collier outside Hardwicke House, his half-naked body bearing signs of forcible and fatal intoxication, suggests that someone hasn’t forgotten the Paget case. Although Belverton students Shelby Ritter and Hailie Kenton, who found the body, tell a story that doesn’t quite add up for Det. Harriet Foster of Chicago Homicide, they’re obviously much too young to have been involved in Michael Paget’s death. And although Brice’s father, Sebastian Collier, can’t be bothered to return from Geneva to answer questions or identify the body,
his suspected involvement in Mike’s decease—which he blandly maintains was an accident—makes him the last person who’d want to kill his wastrel son in revenge. While Harri and her squad scrounge for clues, Clark reveals that Brice was murdered by a cadre of four, headed and bankrolled by Ethan Paget, Mike’s kid brother. More interestingly, she hints more and more broadly that Ethan’s cohort aren’t the only people in the vicinity looking for revenge. By the time Harri claps the cuffs on the very last perp, in fact, you have to wonder if anyone in the Windy City has ever really forgotten about Michael Paget.
Not the best entry in this franchise, but fans caught up in all those felonies won’t complain.
Evanovich, Janet | Atria (320 pp.) | $29.99 Nov. 5, 2024 | 9781668003138
Stephanie Plum’s 31st adventure shows that Trenton’s preeminent fugitive-apprehension agent still has plenty of tricks up her sleeve, and needs every one of them.
The current caseload for Stephanie and Lula—the ex-prostitute file clerk at her cousin Vincent Plum’s bail bonds company, who serves as her unflappable sidekick—begins with two “failures to appear.” Eugene Fleck is suspected of being Robin Hoodie, who robs from the rich and, yes, distributes the proceeds to the poor. Racketeer Bruno Jug, who’s missed his court date on charges of tax evasion, is also suspected of drugging and raping a 14-year-old. But neither of these fugitives can hold a candle to Zoran Djordjevic, aka Fang, a self-proclaimed vampire wanted in connection with the gruesome fate of his late wife and three other missing women. As usual, Stephanie’s personal life is just as helter-skelter as her professional life as a bounty hunter. She’s managed to get herself engaged
both to Det. Joe Morelli, of the Trenton PD, and Ranger, a former Special Forces agent who runs a private security firm; she thinks she may be pregnant; and she’s willing to marry the father, whichever of her fiances that turns out to be. On top of it all, her nothingburger schoolmate Herbert Slovinski suddenly pops up at one of the funerals she ferries her Grandma Mazur to, hitting on her relentlessly and gilding his importunities by cleaning and painting her shabby apartment and laying new carpet. Luckily, Lula’s on hand to offer cupcakes that stave off the worst disasters, and whenever this hodgepodge threatens to slow down, another FTA appears, or fails to appear. As usual, Evanovich handles the funny stuff better (much better) than the mystery stuff.
George, Nicholas | Kensington (304 pp.) $27.00 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781496745293
Another baffling murder interrupts a retired American sleuth’s British vacation. Former San Diego detective Rick Chasen is back in Britain for another hiking adventure following the one he had in A Deadly Walk in Devon (2024), with murder again on the itinerary. Chase is excited to be joined by his pal Billie Mondreau, from Vermont, but disappointed that his new British friend, coroner Mike Tibbets, must forego the getaway because of a murder not far off. This development feels like a
foreshadowing of both the plot to come and perhaps a third Chase mystery; Chase’s longtime partner, Doug, has recently passed away, and he hopes his special connection to Mike may lead to romance. When the reliably bubbly Billie shares a story of financial devastation, Chase offers his support. All these plot threads involving franchise characters provide a quietly effective foundation as a number of fellow tourists—that is, suspects-to-be—are introduced. There’s exuberant walk leader Charlie Cross and his faithful dog; financial advisor Joe Scarbun; and the large and tangled Upton clan from Texas, Parker, Pratt, Brock, and Fiona, along with Fiona’s childhood friend Carole. Chapter titles identify the specific locations of the hike, but although George introduces several British characters in cameos, he provides no strong sense of place, just generalized descriptions. Once the promised murder finally occurs past the midway point of the novel, it’s cleverly untangled by Chase with assistance from an 11th-hour arrival.
An amiable whodunit that’s long on character and short on atmosphere.
Gilbert, Victoria | Crooked Lane (272 pp.) $29.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781639109234
A mystery writer must solve a real-life murder or face unpleasant consequences. In addition to writing mysteries, Jennifer Dalton is the director of the
A mystery writer must solve a real-life murder or face unpleasant consequences.
SCHOOLED IN MURDER
campus writing center at Clarion University. Heading to the library to do some research, she discovers a body fallen from the mezzanine with a C-minus paper nearby. Was it an accident, suicide, or was he pushed?
Jenn decides to poke around after Mia Jackson, one of her favorite students, can’t be found, and becomes the leading suspect in the death of the man, Professor Doug Barth, who’d just humiliated her in class over that C-minus assignment. The provost sends psychologist Zachary Flynn to see if Jenn needs counseling, but Jenn, who’d had a bad prior interaction with him, refuses his ministrations. Zach doesn’t give up, though, and eventually Jenn, accepting his help with her trauma and her sleuthing, finds him more simpatico as they work together. Together with a few helpful friends, Jenn digs into Barth’s past and present life and discovers more than one person who dislikes him, including his wife and several of his colleagues in the English department. When someone on campus pushes her to the ground and whispers a threat against her, Jenn realizes that her detective work is upsetting someone, very likely the killer. Despite more warnings, she refuses to waver and becomes even more determined when another Clarion faculty member is murdered. An appealing sleuth with an engaging love interest lights up this series debut.
Higashino, Keigo | Trans. by Giles Murray Minotaur (288 pp.) | $28.00 Dec. 17, 2024 | 9781250875563
Shortly after reporting her live-in boyfriend missing, an employee of a Tokyo flower shop goes missing herself in what turns into an unusually personal case for Teito University
Sonoka Shimauchi’s family life has always been troubled and enigmatic.
INVISIBLE HELIX
physics professor Manabu Yukawa, aka Detective Galileo.
Sonoka Shimauchi’s family life has always been troubled and enigmatic. Her mother, Chizuko Shimauchi, was raised in the Morning Shadows orphanage without any knowledge of her parents. After Sonoka’s biological father refused to leave his wife for Chizuko, she brought up their daughter herself, giving her a totemic stuffed animal that had helped her survive her own childhood. When Chizuko died of a hemorrhage 18 months ago, she was still less than 50 years old. Sonoka’s pinned her hopes for a brighter future on Ryota Uetsuji, the independent video producer who’s moved in with her, but Ryota brings burdens of his own. The reason he’s freelancing is so he won’t have to take orders from anyone else, and a series of flashbacks shows him developing an abusive side. By that time, however, Chief Inspector Kusanagi, acting on Sonoka’s report that Ryota has disappeared, decides that the corpse found floating near the small coastal town of Minamiboso is probably Ryota’s. Probably, because Sonoka can’t identify the body; she’s vanished herself, along with Chizuko’s old friend Nae Matsunaga, an author of children’s books who turns out to have an unexpected connection to Prof. Yukawa. Working very much at odds with each other, Kusanagi and Yukawa, both of whom take a lively interest in brothel hostess Hidemi Negishi, seek to unearth the truth about the case. Ultimately, though, that truth is hard to discover, and ambiguous even after it’s found. A Chinese box of Japanese mystification. That invisible helix is everywhere.
Jecks, Michael | Severn House (240 pp.)
$29.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781448313808
A well-regarded assassin is anything but. Summer 1558 finds London rife with tension as Queen Mary awaits the birth of a child, and different factions either support her or hope to overthrow her reign and replace her with Elizabeth. In the midst of all this turmoil, Jack Blackjack still hasn’t figured out exactly how he became known to a select few as a talented killer. But he’s happy to take the money from Lady Elizabeth’s man, John Blount, pay a real killer to do the work, and spend the rest of his commission on wine, women, and fine clothing. Jack is leasing one of his homes to Geoffrey Vanderstilt, a Dutch merchant who’s behind on rent, and his efforts to collect soon embroil him in a dangerous situation. When Vanderstilt vanishes and a pretty maid Jack has dallied with is murdered, he finds himself under arrest. He manages to escape, but his legal perils are the least of his troubles, for several dangerous people want answers, and he has no idea what they’re talking about. Jack gets help from Humfrie, the assassin he’s commissioned, as he attempts to figure out what Sir Edmund de Vere—who’s been buying guns from Vanderstilt—and the equally dangerous Perkin Bagnall want from him. In the end, Jack manages to help both Queen Mary and Lady Elizabeth when he thwarts an armed
rebellion. Despite his cowardly ways, his run of good fortune keeps him alive for more adventures.
A hysterical historical. It’s hard not to laugh as the hapless, lucky Blackjack bumbles his way to a satisfactory ending.
Laurie, Victoria | Kensington (304 pp.)
$27.00 | Nov. 26, 2024 | 9781496742490
A band of mystics sows mayhem in and around the nation’s capital.
Dovey Van Dalen hoped to spend her 200th birthday sipping cocktails with her bestie, Ursula Göransdotter, in Georgetown. But when Elric Ostergaard summons Dovey to his headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, she literally can’t say no. She’s been bound to Elric by a magic spell ever since her father lost her to him in a card game in Copenhagen when she was 18. Her binding does have its upsides. She ages slowly enough so that, even at 200, she looks like a model. And she has access to magical items known to mystics as “trinkets” that provide all sorts of benefits, like rendering their holder invisible or curing mortal wounds. The downside is that she must always do Elric’s bidding, even though he has no corresponding duty to honor her or even to refrain from wooing other women. When Elric says he needs to recover the Promise—one of seven uniquely powerful trinkets known as the Pandoras—she hurries back to D.C., where victims of the mystical Promise are dropping like flies. Dovey teams up with Special Agent Grant Barlow of the FBI, who thinks he’s investigating a string of suicides, though Dovey knows better. Since the Promise has the power to force those who see it to kill themselves in the most fearsome way imaginable, she knows those suicides are actually
the work of whoever stole the mystical trinket. Laurie’s series debut packs quite a punch. In addition to murders, there’s a juicy romance between Dovey and the handsome special agent, a bunch of gory fight scenes, and heaps of mystic-onmystic malevolence—enough to satisfy readers who like their puzzles with more than a hint of the supernatural. A magical mystery tour coming to take you away.
Lorac, E.C.R. | Poisoned Pen (304 pp.)
$15.99 paper | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781464216503
Chief Inspector Robert Macdonald, seeking a wartime coupon fraudster, finds him unexpectedly in the northwest English fishing village of Lunesdale.
Since Macdonald, of Scotland Yard, was in Lunesdale recently on another case, Giles Hoggett writes to ask the inspector’s advice about the theft of miscellaneous articles—a sack, some clothesline, a spool of salmon line, an old raincoat, and the pair of iron dogs that hold logs off the fireplace hearth—from his cottage. When Macdonald—who’d much rather be fishing up north than tracking down the questionable Gordon Ginner, whose fiancee reported him missing from London—turns up on Hoggett’s doorstep, the two of them, along with Hoggett’s wife, Katherine, set to work. Hoggett has an eye for detail, Kate a remarkably logical mind, and Macdonald a great deal of experience with criminals. Acting on their shared intelligence, they recover a body from the River Lune that turns out to be that of Gordon Ginner. If the pace of the investigation that follows seems slow even for a Golden Age tale first published in 1946, readers are advised to
approach it as if they were on vacation too, enjoying a regional atmosphere as thick as the Cholostrom in Kate’s apple pie, as Lorac (1894–1958) proceeds to a denouement that backs up its identification of a forgettable character with an impressive battery of evidence. One riddle that’s never answered: Why do so many of the characters’ names include the initial G—Giles, farmer Gilbert Clafton, potters Reuben and Sarah Gold, and “the Georges,” Dr. George Castleby and Ginner, whose real name is George Garstang—and among those who don’t, why do so many share Macdonald’s first name, including harness maker Bob Pritchard, shepherd Bob Moffat, and potter Bob Traske?
Even fans who don’t share the hero’s sense that “he had never laughed more over a case” will enjoy a leisurely read.
Lunstrum, Kirsten Sundberg | TriQuarterly/ Northwestern Univ. (272 pp.) | $28.00 paper Jan. 15, 2025 | 9780810147867
Set in 1951 around Puget Sound, this debut novel centers on a woman and a girl who, independently of each other and in vastly different circumstances, are abandoned. While enjoying their lunch break outdoors on Elita Island, home to a federal penitentiary, two prison guards encounter a feral child who appears to be around 12, but is actually 17. Because the girl, who’s being called Atalanta Doe, doesn’t speak, the social worker assigned to the case is elated when she hears about Professor Bernadette Baston: “A woman child development specialist! How interesting, I thought,” she tells Bernadette when they meet. Bernadette, a curiosity as a woman in the psychology department at Seattle’s state
university, specializes in language acquisition, but explains that she’s a scholar and can’t be expected to teach Atalanta to talk. Nevertheless, over the course of her visits with the girl, Bernadette becomes determined to learn how Atalanta got to the island, which will mean asking the area’s residents unwelcome questions. As it happens, Bernadette, too, knows something about surviving on one’s own: Her husband left four years earlier, when their daughter was an infant. Lunstrum builds her fathomlessly rich plot with sentences that suggest she has, as Bernadette describes a novelist’s job, “taken a polishing cloth to the surface of every word.” (Readers should be patient with early chapters that minutely recount what Bernadette acknowledges is “the teeming wildness” of her thoughts.) The novel succeeds as both a mystery and a pitiless look at the burdens that have historically been particular to female parents and professionals. As Bernadette observes a Tacoma detective’s lack of affect, she accepts that his “flat, stone-faced approach is a privilege she’ll never have.” Immensely satisfying as both a mystery and an unblinkered look at working motherhood.
Guilt and Ginataan
Manansala, Mia P. | Berkley (304 pp.) | $18.99 paper | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9780593549186
The 35th annual Shady Palms Corn Festival, co-hosted with neighboring Shelbyville, Illinois, kicks off with a murder that rocks both towns. Shelbyville is bigger than Shady Palms, with more storefronts and activities, but fewer homicides—at least until Yvonne Maldonado, the wife of Shelbyville mayor Judy Reyes, is found stabbed to death in, naturally, a corn maze. Which town has proprietary rights to the crime? For Lila Macapagal,
the co-owner of the Brew-ha Cafe, that’s less important than whether the cops will release Adeena Awan, Lila’s best friend and business partner, who was found on the scene with a bloody knife in her hand. Fans of this ebullient series, along with anyone else who knows Adeena, will instantly assume that the knife was planted by the actual killer. But there seem to be precious few suspects: Her Honor herself, whose joint bank account Yvonne had been emptying; Zack, the loyal assistant who’d do anything for her; Quinn Taylor, Yvonne’s best friend and partner in the Blue Violet Boutique; and Shelbyville Councilman Carl Foster, whose resolute opposition to Mayor Reyes has mysteriously abated. So, it’s no wonder that when the mayor hires private eye Jonathan Park, the brother of Lila’s boyfriend, physician Jae Park, to investigate the murder, his progress is so halting that there’s plenty of time for the cast to consume the franchise’s signature cuisine and wait for another body to drop, as indeed it does. The mystery is so-so and the denouement abrupt, but those corny recipes are to die for. Well, maybe not literally.
Moke, Jenny Elder | Minotaur (336 pp.) $17.00 paper | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781250354969
When Kate Valentine, author of the bestselling Loretta Starling mystery series, decides to attend the wedding of her editor (and ex-fiance), her sleuthing skills are put to the test.
Kate knows that attending her ex-fiance Spencer’s wedding is probably a bad idea, but when she finds out that he’ll be marrying Kennedy Hempstead, of the wealthy Hempstead family, she can’t resist the temptation, especially since the invitation came from the infamous Rebecca Hempstead, Kennedy’s aunt, known as the “Bitch Bull of Wall Street.” Things become infinitely more complicated—and sexy, due to some convenient forced proximity—when Kate discovers that her longtime crush, Jake Hawkins, a former professional surfer, has been mistakenly invited as her plus-one, and that Spencer might be harboring feelings for her even after their disastrous break-up. When Rebecca suddenly changes the Hempstead family’s inheritance plans, throwing the celebration into utter chaos, and the bride-to-be is poisoned in a way strangely reminiscent of one of Kate’s novels, Kate finds herself turning to her fictional detective to help solve the mystery and clear her name. Kate’s vivid imagination and reliance on Loretta Starling means that the plot bounces between the events surrounding the wedding and excerpts from Kate’s novels. While this is a clever device, it has a tendency to muddy the tale rather than clear things up, especially since the author juggles a large and unruly cast of characters. But while this sometimes falls short as a detective novel, it works as a second-chance romance, and the combination of the two in this adult debut make it a charming and highly entertaining addition to both genres. A delightful, light-hearted whodunit with a touch of romance.
Kate knows that attending her ex-fiance’s wedding is probably a bad idea.
SHE DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE
There are many culinary mysteries, but this series opener is a cut above the rest.
KNIFE SKILLS FOR BEGINNERS
Murrin, Orlando | John Scognamiglio Books/ Kensington (320 pp.) | $28.00 Dec. 24, 2024 | 9781496751942
No good deed goes unpunished in this cuttingedge food-infused mystery. London-based chef Paul Delamare is depressed by the death of his lover, Marcus, who left him a charming cottage in Belgravia, and unhappy that one of Marcus’ relatives is harassing him. But Paul’s friend Julie, a food editor, gets him work at her magazine and keeps his spirits up. Paul has long been friends with Christian Wagner, a self-obsessed celebrity chef fallen on hard times. Because Christian has broken his arm, Paul—who’s too nice for his own good—agrees to fill in for him with the intensive beginners’ course he’s supposed to lead at the posh Chester Square Cookery School, located in a mansion where Christian lives as well as teaches. The students are naturally disappointed that Christian isn’t teaching, but the oddly mixed group members all seem to appreciate Paul’s first lesson on knife techniques. On his way to work the next morning, Paul sees that the glass door to Christian’s flat is smashed—and when he goes in to investigate, he finds Christian with his head nearly hacked off by the cleaver Paul had used in class the day before, and promptly faints. A Chester Square employee finds Paul passed out and calls the
police. Since the students want the classes to continue, a shaky Paul carries on even though he senses that the police suspect him for his knife skills. Paul slowly learns more about the students and things he never knew about Christian. When one of his students dies, Paul realizes that he’d better uncover the killer before the police pin the murders on him—and his determined search to unravel the serpentine puzzle may be just what he needs to restart his life.
There are many culinary mysteries, but this character-driven series opener is a cut above the rest.
Reyes, Raquel V. | Crooked Lane (320 pp.) $29.99 | Nov. 19, 2024 | 9781639109043
A trio of threats disrupts a food anthropologist’s “beautifully chaotic” life.
Miriam Quiñones has developed several ways of meeting the challenges of living in a multicultural, multigenerational household. The “Spanish to Mami—English to Papi” rule helps ensure her children will grow up bilingual. Treats like cream cheese and guava pancakes give Manny and Sirena access to Caribbean foodways, and playing dominoes with Abuelo helps them learn Caribbean games. But juggling her job at UnMundo television network with the demands of her family can be a stretch, particularly when friends depend on her skills to
solve a variety of puzzles. Within weeks, her husband, Robert, needs her help uncovering the source of a cache of bones unearthed at his country club construction site, her sister-in-law wants to know why a skeleton in board shorts washed up near a friend’s house, and her mother-in-law needs help identifying the anonymous party who’s sending her threatening letters. Worse, Delvis Ferrer, the director of Miriam’s television show, is accused of killing a tour guide who tries to interfere with their taping. To cope with these multiple demands, Miriam adopts a strategy highly unusual among amateur sleuths: She turfs the murder investigation to the police, makes perfunctory jabs at the skeleton puzzle, and dodges her mother-inlaw repeatedly. Her most concerted effort is unraveling the enigma of the bones, but even there, she devotes as much energy to fending off microaggressions as she does to solving the crime.
A hodgepodge of history and mystery that leaves crime-solving in clear second place.
Rinehart, Mary Roberts American Mystery Classics (400 pp.) $25.95 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781613165935
Murder stalks an upper-class household in this reprint of the 1930 novel Rinehart wrote to help launch her sons’ new publishing imprint, Farrar & Rinehart. Nothing much happens in the life of Elizabeth Jane Bell, a spinster whose house is isolated from everyone but servants and relatives, such as her cousin Judy Somers, who pass through. Judy’s tenure, however, turns out to be different, marked by the discovery of a cane with a knife inside, the sighting of a
suspicious man on the staircase, and the disappearance of nurse Sarah Gittings, who’s found beaten and stabbed to death several days later. Sarah’s murder is the first of so many casualties—to use the flashforward terms patented by Rinehart’s “Had I But Known” whodunits, three more fatalities and three non-fatal attacks will follow— that Elizabeth Jane’s starchy exchanges with Mary Martin, her live-in secretary, and Jim Blake, another cousin, perfectly foreshadow the interrogations to come when Inspector Harrison begins to suspect Jim of murder and the damning testimony of witnesses against him. The heart of the matter is clearly a new will prepared by Judy’s father, Howard Somers, the husband of Jim’s sister, Katherine, days before he died of causes that looked natural only for a very limited time. Despite the inevitably dated social structure—not only does Elizabeth Jane retain all those servants, but some of them play crucial roles in the plot—and some racist language, the tale maintains decorous but mounting levels of suspense all the way through to its final line, one of the best kickers in the genre. First-time readers are advised to leave Otto Penzler’s introduction, which contains a casual whopper of a spoiler, for last.
Robb, Candace | Severn House (256 pp.)
$29.99 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781448313167
Frantic over the disappearance of her husband, Tom, taverner Bess Merchet relies on their old friend Owen Archer, captain of York, to find him.
Born in Wales, Owen walks a fine line in 1377 York, where competing forces may tear Britain apart. He knows little of Tom’s life before he bought the York Tavern, married Bess 10 years later, and together, turned the inn into a thriving business. Owen’s wife, Lucie, an apothecary, tells him that Tom had come to see her a few days before he disappeared, asking for salves to soothe his wrist and lip after a minor fight with a friend, and asking her not to tell Bess, fearing that she would worry. Which she probably would have, especially considering the rumors already circulating about Tom’s involvement with the widow Cobb, which provide Owen’s first clue. A young man is murdered, the widow and her cohort are revealed to be thieves or worse, and Lucie discovers their connection to a brothel. Two of the Duke of Lancaster’s men arrive in York looking for men involved in London rioting, theft, and murder. Owen finally learns that a badly beaten Tom sought sanctuary in Beverley after having been accused of attacking the steward of Holcomb Manor. Accompanied by his and Lancaster’s men, Owen goes to Beverly to retrieve Tom, a trip not
without danger, and brings him to Bess, who with the help of healer Magda works to restore him to health. Tom is ashamed of a particular incident in his past, but when he finally brings himself to reveal it to Bess, it provides the information that’s needed to bind all the loose threads together.
A story of love, danger, and political intrigue sure to please history buffs.
Spotswood, Stephen | Doubleday (384 pp.) $28.00 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9780385550468
All the detective work that would normally fall to Lillian Pentecost has to be done by her sidekick, Willowjean Parker, for the worst of all possible reasons.
Returning in October 1947 from three weeks in the Catskills with her lover, pulp fiction writer Holly Quick, Will learns that Lillian’s been arrested for the murder of Jessup Quincannon, a philanthropist/ collector known as “a connoisseur of crime and murder,” whose latest Black Museum Club soiree was muted by the discovery of his corpse moments after Lillian arrived, then fled the scene. If the cops needed any further encouragement to pull her in, it would’ve been supplied by the news that her gun fired the bullet that killed her host. While Lillian, who has multiple sclerosis, gets repeatedly pranked by some unknown party at the Women’s House of Detention, Will goes on offense, doing whatever she can to sow doubt by implicating the other guests that night, who include, among others, “the embezzling lawyer; the money-hungry preacher’s wife; the spurned lover; and the gunman on the run.” Her hopes rise when she’s visited by someone who admits he planted the evidence that incriminates Lillian and will straighten it all out if she’ll
only solve the murder of his wife, which the police maintain was suicide. But they’re dashed again when the blackmailing client is killed himself before either he or Will can deliver. As usual, Spotswood is more interested in piling on the complications than in resolving them, and the denouement is just one darned thing after another. But (spoiler alert) the jury takes only 11 minutes to acquit Lillian; they don’t even hem and haw long enough for the free lunch. A lively period frolic whose hardboiled femmes tackle a Golden Age puzzle.
Westerson, Jeri | Severn House (224 pp.)
$29.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781448314751
Another demonstration that it takes a clever person to survive as Henry VIII’s jester.
Fond as he is of King Henry, Will Somers is well aware of the king’s character flaws, especially noticeable now that he’s taken Jane Seymour as his third wife. Will, who’s adept at coaxing Henry out of foul moods, has also shown considerable aptitude in solving murders, but he must walk a fine line. He loves his wife, Marion, the illegitimate daughter of Lord Heyward, but is also the lover of Nicholas Pachett, Lord Hammond, a secret that could destroy them if it got out. The country is divided along religious lines. Henry’s let his daughter Mary, beloved of the Catholics, return to court, and
Elizabeth, the Protestants’ favorite, is soon to arrive. Will gets involved in another murder when Jane Foole, the queen’s fool, tearfully tells him that she saw the murdered Geoffrey Payne, a member of the queen’s household, dug up and disemboweled. Will can hardly refuse Henry’s request to find the killer. Tasked with the unpleasant job of viewing the body, he notices that Payne’s throat was slit in an unusual manner. Deducing that the killer was covered in blood, he searches for a stained shirt and finds one with part of an initial embroidered on the cuff. Marion, whose embroidery skills are unparalleled, thinks this work was done by the queen. Jane Foole, who loves to play with the queen’s jewels—especially a favorite brooch that’s gone missing—knows more than she’s telling. The jewel provides a clue for Will, who must be exceedingly careful in a court where he’s not universally beloved.
A compelling series of puzzles set against the glories and dangers of the Tudor court.
Winters, Mary | Severn House (240 pp.) $29.99 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781448314041
An advice columnist has yet another mysterious murder to solve in 1860.
Lady Amelia Amesbury’s late husband, Edgar, told her he was a wealthy earl only after she agreed to marry him, but
Fond as he is of King Henry VIII, jester Will Somers is well aware of the monarch’s character flaws.
REBELLIOUS GRACE
his money and position couldn’t cure the illness that took his life after only two months of marriage. Bored with her widowhood, she’s been writing an advice column under the name Lady Agony while living in London with Edgar’s starchy aunt, Lady Tabitha, and niece, Winifred, whom she loves dearly. Her quiet life is upset by the arrival of her boisterous younger sister, Madge, who’s eager to get away from the inn their family owns in Mells, where she’s been embroiled in a scandal after breaking a forward young man’s arm. Agreeing to take Madge for the season will certainly make life more interesting, but Amelia never imagines that her sister will be suspected of murder at her first ball. When Arthur Radcliffe dies after an unpleasant encounter with Madge, one of his friends accuses her of poisoning him. Madge’s flare-up with Radcliffe makes her the first and perhaps only suspect for Scotland Yard’s Detective Collings, so Amelia realizes she’ll need to learn a great deal more about Radcliffe’s background if she’s to find someone else who wished him dead. Edgar’s best friend Simon, Lord Bainbridge— Amelia’s partner in solving murders—is still trying to convince himself that he and Amelia aren’t attracted to each other. With the help of friends and relatives and the hindrance of much danger and confusion, Amelia and Simon work to prove Madge’s innocence. Dashing characters and thwarted romance combine in a charming mystery.
Salman Rushdie has announced his next book, the Guardian reports.
The author is working on a collection of three novellas, he told the audience at the Lviv BookForum in Ukraine via a video appearance. The novellas will draw from his experiences living in India, the U.K., and the U.S., and “all in some way consider the idea of an ending.”
Rushdie, known for novels including Midnight’s Children and The Satanic Verses , is most recently the author of Knife:
Meditations After an Attempted Murder. The memoir, which tells the story of the stabbing attack that nearly killed him, is a finalist for the National Book Award,
and is in the works as a documentary.
His last novel, Victory City, was published in February 2023 and written before the attack. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called it a “grand entertainment, in a tale with many strands, by an ascended master of modern legends.”
Rushdie discussed Knife at the festival, telling the audience, “I thought, Well, I’m a storyteller. I want to take back control of the story so that I tell it in my way, and [my attacker] becomes a part of my story, rather than me becoming a part of his story.’”
Rushdie also discussed his own mortality as a 77-yearold author.
“When you get to this age you obviously think about how long is left,” he said. “There obviously aren’t 22 more [books] that are going to be written. If I’m lucky, there will be one or two.”—M.S.
The postmodernist novelist was known for books including The Public Burning and Gerald’s Party.
Robert Coover, who became a guiding light of American postmodernist fiction with novels including The Public Burning and Gerald’s Party, has died at 92, the New York Times reports.
Coover, an Iowa native, was educated at Indiana University and the University of Chicago, and he taught for more than 30 years at Brown University.
He made his literary debut in 1966 with The Origin of the Brunists, a novel about a cult that considers the sole survivor of a mine disaster as its prophet. He followed that up two years later with The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop In 1977, he published The Public Burning, a satire of McCarthyism that featured Richard Nixon as the primary narrator. More than a dozen novels followed,
Robert Coover
including Gerald’s Party, John’s Wife, Briar Rose, Ghost Town, and Huck Out West. His most recent book, Open House, was published last year.
Coover’s admirers paid tribute to him on social media. On the platform X, author Amber Sparks wrote, “Oh man, RIP Robert Coover—I’ll love his stories forever, they helped me realize what was even possible in fiction.”
And writer Matt Bell posted, “I’m sorry to hear of Robert Coover’s passing. A great writer whose influence is everywhere in many of my favorites. When I worked in publishing, I once had to read a 1000-page manuscript of his in less than 48 hours, and afterward my brain felt permanently altered. Maybe it was.”
—M.S.
For reviews of Robert Coover’s books, visit Kirkus online.
OCTOBER BOOKS 2024
Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst (Random House)
The Driving Machine: A Design History of the Car by Witold Rybczynski (Norton)
The Table by Winsome Bingham and Wiley Blevins, illus. by Jason Griffin (Neal Porter/Holiday House)
Tangleroot by Kalela Williams (Feiwel & Friends)
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
The Good Night Garage by Tori Kosara, illus. by Meg Hunt
You Can Do Hard Things by Dana Sutton, illus. by Nicholas Donovan Mueller
Caregiving by Dr. Eboni Ivory Green
Tough Girl by John Zaiss
Fully Booked is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.
For her dynamite debut, novelist Betsy Lerner offers a tale of two sisters. BY MEGAN LABRISE
On this episode of Fully Booked, we highlighted the hottest titles of the month of October. First, fiction editor Laurie Muchnick, nonfiction editor John McMurtrie, and young readers’ editors Mahnaz Dar and Laura Simeon joined us to discuss some of their top picks in books for the month. Then, Betsy Lerner joined me to discuss Shred Sisters (Grove, Oct. 1), a debut novel Kirkus calls “a seamlessly constructed and absorbing fictional world, full of insight about how families work.”
To listen to the episode, visit Kirkus online.
Novelist is the latest in Lerner’s long list of literary appellations. She was a book editor for 15 years. She’s now an agent—a partner in Dunow, Carlson, and Lerner Literary Agency—and the author of several books of nonfiction, including The Bridge Ladies, The Forest for the Trees, and Food and Loathing With Temple Grandin, she is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns and Abstractions. Here’s a bit more of our starred review of Shred Sisters: “‘Here are the ways I could start this story,’ Amy Shred says, offering three choices in a brief prologue to memoirist and literary agent Lerner’s debut novel. ‘Olivia was breathtaking.’ ‘For a long time, I was convinced that she was responsible for everything that went wrong.’ ‘No one will love you more or hurt you more than a sister.’ The engaging, thoughtful voice established here goes on to unfold the story of Amy’s childhood, coming of age, and early adulthood, all profoundly shaped by the wild trajectory of her older sister: a rebel, a runaway, a mental patient, a dropout, a thief, a missing person. Amy herself—called Bunny or Bun in the family—is the classic supersmart miserable outsider, bullied at school, friendless, always bewildered at the utter unfairness of life.…
The story unfolds with the verisimilitude of a memoir: Amy’s nuanced relationships with her mother, her father, and her partners are all utterly convincing and
Sisters Lerner, Betsy Grove | 304 pp. | $28.00 Oct. 1, 2024 | 9780802163707
relatable. Her mother, Lorraine, is a particularly fine creation, both a very specific East Coast Jewish type and an archetypal maternal presence. ‘In the months and years after she died, I often saw the world through her eyes, as if I had inherited her mantle of judgment, her scoreboard in the sky.’ Many of us know that feeling exactly.”
Lerner kicks us off by reading aloud from the first page of Shred Sisters, in which younger sister Amy Shred takes a few runs at describing her beguiling older sister, Olivia, and their complicated relationship. The story begins with Olivia crashing through a window; and we discuss how this exposes the Shred family’s dynamics—particularly the impact of Olivia’s behavior on everyone else. We consider whether the book has a happy or hopeful ending, the relationship between Amy and her mother, and the possibility of imbuing fiction with the verisimilitude of memoir. We talk about Shred Sisters’ nomination for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize, what it’s like to play a new role (debut novelist) in a known world (publishing), how to go viral on TikTok, how to pick the perfect author photo, and much more.
Editor-at-large Megan Labrise hosts the Fully Booked podcast.
Aguilar Solace, Rosalia | Blackstone (473 pp.)
$27.99 | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9798212911245
A group of chosen adventurers set out to rescue a dragon and save the world.
Perennia is missing. The dragon who lives in the Rose Garden with the Cerulean Rose—an essential ingredient in the Elixir of Life—has disappeared. Thanks to a head injury, Helia, the Sage of Hope, can’t remember what happened; all she knows is that the villainous Ash Man, Suttaru, has returned to destroy all of Paperworld. At home in the Great Library of Tomorrow, she enlists help from her fellow library workers, Mwamba and Nu, to stop him. But the Book of Wisdom that powers the Great Library has been compromised along with the destroyed Rose Garden. Together with Dzin, a young Runner who recently crafted the formula for his very own Elixir of Life, the three Library workers set out to recover Helia’s stolen memories and piece together what happened to Perennia. Solace has built a richly populated universe here, but the worldbuilding is more often than not spewed out in chunks of awkward dialogue, as solutions to the characters’ problems appear seemingly out of thin air. This leaves the reader to learn about key plot points, background items, and MacGuffins just a hair too late, with no opportunity to figure out the book’s many mysteries for themselves. The characters flounder their way through clunky explanations and paper-thin excuses for not knowing even the most basic information, which the audience must wade through to get from point A to point B. On the positive side, Helia is an active protagonist. Readers who can look past the maladroit way the novel dispenses information may be in for a treat, but many fans of epic fantasies— particularly about fantastical libraries —will be left disappointed.
A sweeping fantasy that cracks under the weight of its own worldbuilding.
All the Water in the World
Caffall, Eiren | St. Martin’s (304 pp.)
$29.00 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781250353528
A young girl documents her escape from a flooded and now uninhabitable New York City. After the progressive decline of the World As It Was—“Storms always came. They took things”—13-yearold Nonie is adjusting to life in what remains of New York, most of the city and its people now gone. Nonie is part of a group of survivors living in a community called Amen in the remnants of the American Museum of Natural History; she handles the routine and confines of life in The World As It Is better than most, as she remembers little of the world’s past freedoms and safety. She also feels a deep connection with the water, so much so that she can sense incoming storms—all except one, the hypercane, a storm that “moved faster than thought and faster than sense.” This finally forces the group to abandon the relative safety of Amen and the purpose they’ve found in documenting the artifacts of the museum as “a duty to the future.” The narrative keeps pace with the sense of urgency created by the hypercane, and Caffall brings the terrifying realities of this near-future to vivid life through expert use of sensory language: “We moved blind and clattering through dark halls, along the balcony of African animals, past the elephants. Only the tip of a single trunk visible above the flood. The stairs were wet…rain pouring in to meet the sea, the slippery marble hard to manage, the sound of breaking glass.” Nonie’s unique account of the survivors’ journey north along the Hudson River—she has both a scientific mind and a sense of wonder—is a celebration of human perseverance at the hands of nature’s awe-inspiring power.
Gripping, beautifully descriptive, and likely to stay with you.
Republic of Salt
Kaplan, Ariel | Erewhon (560 pp.)
$29.00 | Oct. 22, 2024 | 9781645660958
Series: Mirror Realm Cycle, 2
Two worlds—a mortal one experiencing the equivalent of the Inquisition and another inhabited by magical, long-lived Maziks—are threatened by conquest and a tear in reality itself in this sequel to The Pomegranate Gate (2023).
Tarses b’Shemhazai, a Mazik, is using marriage, demonic possession, and a vast army to consolidate his hold on both worlds. Meanwhile, the years-ago destruction of Luz, the seat of the original Mazik Empire, has created a cosmic imbalance that will eventually destroy both worlds if not set right. But a motley group is fleeing Tarses and hoping to redress this imbalance: Barsilay b’Droer, the secret heir to Luz; his mostly human, partially Mazik lover, Naftaly Cresques, whose true visions are useful to their cause but are shortening his lifespan; Toba Bet Peres, the magical twin of Tarses’ dead half-human daughter; Asmel b’Asmoda, Barsilay’s uncle, whose current lack of magic is destroying his memory; Toba’s clever grandmother, Elena Peres; and a nameless old woman who complains a lot but has a sharp instinct for human behavior. Together and apart, these individuals travel on both sides of the gate, eventually converging on Mazik Zayit, a city under siege. Along the way, they forge dangerous alliances with demons and Tarses’ own lieutenants— including the Courser, the original Toba’s half sister and her murderer. The plotting of this Jewish-inflected trilogy’s middle volume is complex and almost defies summary, given the intricate backstory. And, as is the curse of most middle volumes, this is clearly the setup for the series conclusion, and so very little gets resolved. But the chase is thrilling, the
worldbuilding is unique, and characters are an intriguingly gray-shaded bunch who must constantly weigh principle against expedience.
The midpoint of a journey worth pursuing to the end.
Moore, Alan | Bloomsbury (336 pp.) $29.99 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781635578843
In 1949 London, a bookseller’s clerk stumbles into a secret, exceptionally dangerous aspect of his city. Physically and emotionally awkward Dennis Knuckleyard is negotiating for a job lot of books written by occult author Arthur Machen when he falls into a weird sort of trap. One of those books is a dangerous metafiction: It’s an imaginary book that Machen refers to in one of his stories, but which shouldn’t exist independently. The unreal volume represents a breach into Long London, aka the “Great When” of the title, a theoretical landscape populated by archetypes and other strange, dangerous beings, and the philosophical foundation of material London. Finding both peril and assistance in unexpected places, Dennis must get the book back to Long London, and also facilitate a meeting between a crime kingpin and one of Long London’s denizens, the embodiment of crime itself. As always, Moore’s prose harks back to the New Wave movement of speculative fiction so prevalent in the 1960s and ‘70s; it’s strongly reminiscent of Michael Moorcock’s more experimental
work. The style is well suited to the more hallucinatory passages depicting Long London; and yet, this novel is actually plotted more straightforwardly than one might expect of Moore, who usually delights in elaborate tangents. Though still grounded in cynicism, it also displays more faith in people than is typical for the author; while the setting is a grim post-war London featuring both human and inhuman monsters, the protagonist, Dennis, discovers multiple instances of kindness from complete strangers who have no obvious motivation to help him as much as they do. Moore is certainly far from the first to write about a magical London or a parallel London, but his evocation is well drawn and unique. This first installment of a projected series is clearly a prelude to something interesting—whatever it turns out to be—and solid indication that Moore, who is still mostly known for his iconic graphic novels (Watchmen, 1987, etc.), does not require an artist to paint a picture. Dark, sordid, gritty, thrilling, and gorgeous in its own peculiar way.
Kirkus Star
Okorafor, Nnedi | Morrow/ HarperCollins (448 pp.) | $30.00 Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780063445789
A paraplegic Nigerian American writer finds her life turning into a rollercoaster ride. Zelu has always been a storyteller, but she finds herself plummeting while she’s in Trinidad and Tobago
for her sister’s destination wedding— she’s fired from an already-deflating job as an adjunct writing professor in Chicago, and gets another rejection for the novel she’s been writing for 10 years. She’s hit rock bottom, her dreams and livelihood pulled out from under her in one fell swoop. In the thick of this lavish family affair, with nothing to lose, she steals away and begins writing a strange tale about the war-torn lives of rusted robots on a far future Earth after human civilization has died out. It’s a story that resonates more than any of her previous work, and she goes on to finish it, sell it, and watch it become a bestseller.
Okorafor’s deeply felt meta-narrative weaves back and forth between Zelu’s life and her epic novel about a Hume robot, with a metal body resembling the human form, and a Ghost—an AI with no body—as they begin to challenge the staunch tribalism in robot society. In her life, Zelu struggles with family dynamics across generations and continents, a career that suddenly propels her to global fame, and decisions that will shape her journey as a disabled woman. Zelu’s story and the book-within-a-book echo each other, as characters in both narratives learn to overcome shame, reach forgiveness and self-acceptance, and commit to life-giving purpose; fundamentally, in both parts of the book, Okorafor explores what it means to be human. While Zelu’s novel imagines a future without human beings on Earth, the near-future world she lives in feels distinctly and promisingly within reach: It’s a place where self-driving electric cars make cities more accessible, people with movement disabilities are supported by robotic engineering, and families with deeply held patriarchal customs are brought closer together rather than torn apart when confronting these dynamics.
All-out Okorafor—her best yet.
Abrams, Stacey, writing as Selena Montgomery | Berkley (304 pp.)
$29.00 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9780593439456
A tech executive finds herself involved in high-stakes geopolitical espionage—and involved with a newly crowned king—in this rereleased novel by Abrams writing as Montgomery.
Sparks fly when A.J. Grayson meets Damon Toca at her cousin Adam’s wedding; she wonders if she’ll ever see the cryptic art gallerist again, and holds onto the suit jacket he left behind at the reception. When Damon ascends to the throne of Jafir, a fictional island nation that’s proving pivotal in negotiations for a peace deal between the African-Arab Alliance and Israel, A.J. wonders how much of the intense flirtation they shared was real. When she finds out that Adam and his bride, Raleigh, are spies working with an extra-governmental group called the International Security Agency, her sense of betrayal skyrockets. Now, the ISA needs help from A.J., who’s the creator of an artificial intelligence algorithm that only she knows how to use. The upcoming peace talks would make the perfect target for terrorists wanting to maintain instability in the Middle East, and A.J.’s technology could be the key to preparing for a variety of disastrous scenarios. All they need is for A.J. to travel to Jafir and act as a consultant for six weeks, which would reunite her with Damon and put her in several types of danger. This novel was originally published in 2002 and it feels outdated in several ways, AI aside. “Fiery heroine meets domineering hero” was very much the trend in early 2000s romances, but watching Damon dole out barbed insults toward A.J., invade her personal space, and apologize with physical affection doesn’t play well anymore. Needless to say, the situation in the Middle East has also changed dramatically since the novel was
written. Formerly out of print, this romantic thriller might have the ability to reach a new audience for Montgomery, but there’s a reason many romance fans look fondly at their books from this era but opt not to revisit them. A major overhaul would be needed for this rerelease to appeal to modern romance readers.
Bailey, Tessa | Avon/HarperCollins (320 pp.)
$18.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9780063380783
A professional hockey player has feelings for the one woman he can’t have: his soon-to-be stepsister.
Sig Gauthier loves his job playing defense for the Boston Bearcats, and he’s proved himself a real asset to the team. When this season ends, he will renegotiate his mediocre, low-paying contract, one he accepted while injured and desperate for any team to sign him. When his father asks him to come to dinner to meet his new girlfriend, Sig decides to go, since it’s only a few hours’ drive to Darien, Connecticut, and he’s curious. On the way, his ancient truck breaks down, and he pulls into a country club parking lot where he meets Chloe Clifford, the most beautiful, alluring woman he’s ever seen. Chloe dreams of accepting a seat as a harpist at a conservatory in Boston; however, her wealthy, controlling mother wants her to stay in Darien. That night at dinner, Sig is surprised to find Chloe there— and when they discover their parents are planning to marry each other, they realize they can only be friends themselves. Sig encourages Chloe to come with him to Boston, where he rents her an apartment despite it being a massive financial burden. Several months pass. They long for each other, but studiously ignore their incendiary sexual chemistry and remain friends. When the press realizes that Sig’s
biggest fan is his soon-to-be-stepsister, his new general manager tells him he must choose between Chloe or re-signing with the team. Everything rests on the premise that two people who meet as adults would be entering into a taboo, forbidden relationship because their parents are about to marry. Although Bailey does her best to sell it, the pretext keeping her characters apart is thin and underdeveloped. Chloe and Sig are wild for each other from the second they meet, which negates any attempt to create tension or conflict.
The forbidden romance trope fails because the conflict is so pedestrian.
Buchanan, Amy | St. Martin’s Griffin (336 pp.) $18.00 paper | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781250341563
A young widow falls in lust—and love—with her work nemesis. It’s been nine months since Juliana Ryan lost her husband, Jason, to a car accident, and she’s barely starting to regain her footing as a widowed mother of two. Seven years as a stay-at-home mom haven’t prepared her mentally or financially for life without Jason, but thankfully her old boss was happy to hire her again. On Juliana’s first day as a human resources representative for KMG, a Floridabased architecture and design firm, all she wants is to make it through unscathed. Unfortunately, no more than a few hours in, Juliana has already had a panic attack in the bathroom and run right into a man who looks like Henry Cavill, leaving a smudge of lipstick on his white shirt. This is Ben Thomas, a hiring manager, and he’s kind of a dick—as proven when Juliana later overhears him going on a tirade about her unprofessionalism as a working mother. Despite his good looks, Juliana hopes to have as little interaction with him as possible. But two years and two promotions for
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
Juliana later, she and Ben aren’t just coworkers—they’re sworn enemies. It’s no secret that they hate one another, the office teeming with their verbal sparring. Still, Juliana can’t help being attracted to Ben, the feeling battling fiercely against her dislike, and it’s pretty clear Ben feels the same way. When a new promotion arises for both Juliana and Ben, one that requires them to work together, they must declare a truce—if their intense feelings will let them. Buchanan’s workplace enemies-to-lovers romance will appeal to fans of The Hating Game and The Proposal , with just the right level of spice and sincerity. Juliana and Ben’s relationship isn’t complex, but it simmers with enough tension and desire to burn through their much-needed HR write-up. A sexy debut about second chances and desk romances.
Under Loch and Key Ferguson, Lana | Berkley (416 pp.) | $19.00 paper | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9780593816851
A woman travels to Scotland to unravel her late father’s past and meets a grumpy Scotsman with his own secrets. Keyanna MacKay was brought up by a single father who was always tightlipped about his upbringing, so when he dies, she’s left with no family. Key decides that learning about his life before he left Scotland would be a good way of keeping his memory close and perhaps connecting with long-lost relatives. She discovers a grandmother
and other extended family in Scotland, but they’re hardly welcoming. “I know who you are....And you shouldn’t have come,” are the first words her grandmother says to her. Lachlan Greer has little patience for the American he’s already written off as clueless. When he witnesses Key’s snubbing by her family members, his grumpy demeanor gives way to begrudging pity, and he starts helping her navigate the local community and try to build a bridge to her grandmother. At first, this book seems to be a contemporary romance with light magical undertones involving a family’s mysterious curse, but it quickly devolves into a monster romance heavy on shock value. While monster romance can be fun, it doesn’t work here. Key and Lachlan’s chemistry is bumpy, and the pace of their relationship as they go from disastrous first impressions to a happily ever after is all over the place. Ferguson tries to combine too many elements—including a grumpy-meets-sunshine pairing, a mystery with sensitive family dynamics, and the complicated logistics of falling in love with a cryptid—leaving several threads not fully resolved. The setting is the most positive element, with Scotland’s lush greenery providing the perfect whimsical background for hunting down long-buried family secrets. This slightly smutty monster romance feels more like a spectacle than a deliberately paced story.
James, Jessica | Berkley (368 pp.) | $19.00 paper | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9780593817711
Former bandmates reunite for one performance, but their fakedating plan brings up old feelings. Once upon a time, Valerie Quinn and Caleb Sloane headed the pop punk band Glitter Bats. Along with bandmates Jane, Keeley, and Riker, they performed to crowds of obsessed fans. While listeners suspected they had a romantic relationship, no one knew for sure— and when the band suddenly broke up, the band members all moved on to various jobs. Now, Valerie stars in a superhero-themed musical TV show, and Caleb is a teacher. Their lives couldn’t be more different—but when Valerie’s bad press and dramatic romantic entanglements threaten her show’s chances of renewal, she knows she needs an image rehabilitation, fast. So, she proposes a Glitter Bats reunion: one epic concert to make the fans happy and garner herself some good press—not such a big deal, right? The band members all have hard feelings from the way things fell out, no one more than Caleb. But his feelings for Valerie never went away, and when she suggests playing up their will-theywon’t-they relationship for the press, he goes along with it. Pretty soon, though, all this fake dating is feeling very real, and they have to decide if what they have is worth keeping, or if it’s really just, as the title suggests, for one night only. In her debut, James creates a sense of realism around the Glitter Bats reunion by including interview transcripts, gossip site articles, and fan social media posts, as well as Glitter Bats song lyrics. Valerie and Caleb’s inability to communicate can occasionally be frustrating, but their bond feels real, and their happily ever after is well earned.
A steamy, second-chance romance full of behind-the-scenes music drama.
IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON, and more than a few of us are celebrating with turkeys laid out on dining room tables. To be precise, 46 million of the birds are consumed every Thanksgiving, to say nothing of Christmas. That’s the figure that the moral philosopher Peter Singer cites in his latest book, Consider the Turkey (Princeton Univ., Oct. 22). A short work that can be read in less time than it takes to roast a bird, Singer’s book—as the title suggests—is intended to have us think more about the prodigious creature whose cultural roots in this country date back to the Pilgrims. (As Singer notes, the turkeys we eat are descendants of Mexican birds that were brought home by Spaniards via Constantinople—thus the bird’s name—then reintroduced to this continent by English colonists.)
As you might imagine, the raising of turkeys in the United States has little to do with what farming was like for those early generations. The industrial production of the birds, as described by Singer, is shocking—both in how they are confined in factories and ultimately killed. The details are grisly and disturbing, and Singer hopes that, at a minimum, they
encourage people to buy turkeys from farms, not slaughterhouses, if not abstain from eating them altogether.
Consider the Turkey is but one of many notable new books about animals and our relationships to them. Another is What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World’s Most Familiar Bird (Atria, Nov. 5) by Sy Montgomery, who wrote the bestseller The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness. As with that book, Montgomery opens readers’ eyes to a largely overlooked yet familiar animal. In What the Chicken Knows, our reviewer writes, Montgomery “reframes the assumptions that many laypeople carry about chickens, debunking
stereotypes about their lack of intelligence with support from specific scientific studies and stories from her own experiences with her ‘Ladies,’ as she affectionately refers to her flock of hens.” Montgomery, though, steers clear of anthropomorphism, “insisting,” our critic adds, “that chickens do not deserve our respect because of the ways in which they are similar to humans, but instead for the simple fact that they are living things, with their own lives.”
Another person with a new and deeper understanding of animals is Liese Greensfelder, author of the forthcoming Accidental Shepherd: How a California Girl Rescued an Ancient Mountain Farm in Norway (Univ. of Minnesota, Feb. 4). Our reviewer calls the book “a reliable guide to the kind of rural life that no longer exists.”
JOHN McMURTRIE
In even more remote climes, on Canada’s northernmost island, researchers L. David Mech, Morgan Anderson, and H. Dean Cluff found wolves that are not afraid of humans. Fittingly, their book, The Ellesmere Wolves: Behavior and Ecology in the High Arctic (Univ. of Chicago), comes out in the dead of winter (Feb. 10). Thankfully, there are easier ways of learning about—and from—canines without straying too far from home. Here to guide the way is philosopher Mark Rowlands, whose forthcoming book is The Word of Dog: What Our Canine Companions Can Teach Us About Living a Good Life (Liveright, Jan. 28). Dog lovers, prepare to slobber over this one.
John McMurtrie is the nonfiction editor.
The noted traveler, journalist, and author turns to an unexpected subject: the monastic life of contemplation and meditation.
Iyer takes his title from the great fires that have lately ravaged California, where he has long retreated to a monastery run by Camaldolese monks, “the most contemplative congregation of Benedictines.” Contemplative the inhabitants may be, but they are very much people of the world. As he learns from another contemplative, this one a Zen monk in Japan, “Anyone can sit in a Zendo. The trick is to sit in the world.” The monks seemingly delight in defying stereotypes and misconceptions. (For one thing, they enjoy watching
Monty Python on Sunday nights.) Iyer travels to other monasteries and other religious traditions, but Catholicism and Buddhism, which seem well suited to each other, occupy most of his attention. Some of his time is spent in the company of the gravel-voiced Leonard Cohen, the singer-songwriter who, though dying of cancer, kept busy doing his longtime work as a Buddhist monk in a mountain retreat above Los Angeles. One secret to Zen? “You can’t dwell on things.” Yet the world of things is always present, even in the transcendental mountains of Big Sur, perched over the roiling Pacific: great fires are burning, and though a Camaldolese brother reports
Iyer, Pico | Riverhead | 240 pp. | $30.00 Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780593420287
of one that has consumed 130,000 acres, “other than that, all is quiet, and the bell calls us to morning prayers.”
A lovely complement to the monastic writings of both Thomas Merton and Patrick Leigh Fermor, Iyer’s book speaks well to the qualities of those who live both outside and firmly within
the daily world and the wisdom, rough and refined, that monks have to offer, as when one advises him, “If you do spot a mountain lion, make sure you don’t look like a deer!”
Essential reading for anyone interested in the monastic tradition and those who follow it.
The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North
Adams, Michelle | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (528 pp.) | $35.00 Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780374250423
L egal examination of the retrenchment that followed the Brown v. Board desegregation ruling. Can there be desegregation in schooling without desegregation in housing, employment, and other aspects of society? Legal scholar Adams examines the Supreme Court’s 1974 rulings in the Milliken v. Bradley case, an outgrowth of lawsuits concerning Detroit public schools. A commentary on and reversal of Brown v. Board of Education, those rulings forged a distinction between de facto and de jure segregation: If Black people lived together in one community and white people lived together in another, wasn’t that just the way they chose to be, in that “the racial cast of Detroit’s neighborhoods was entirely voluntary?” Disingenuously, the Supreme Court, already beginning to drift rightward, answered yes, overlooking an observation from a decade earlier on the part of Lyndon Johnson: “Employment is often dependent on education, education on neighborhood schools and housing, housing on income, and income on employment.” Notes Adams, Justice Stephen Breyer opined years after the fact that Brown was exemplary of a better society in which we all lived together, but in Milliken , its preceding legal contests, played out in Detroit over years in the 1960s and early 1970s, presupposed that white people and Black people lived in separate neighborhoods by choice. The district court saw it differently: Whereas, as Adams notes, layer on layer of covenants kept Black people in the city but encouraged white flight to the suburbs, busing and other efforts to desegregate the schools were in force until the Supreme Court stepped in. In
Adams’ view, closing this well-written and well-argued study, the court’s decision effectively upheld segregation and undid Brown , and the racial inequalities in public schooling continue unabated today.
Nuanced critique of a judicial ruling that, by design or not, upholds separation and supremacism.
Alford, Henry | Gallery Books/ Simon & Schuster (352 pp.) | $29.99 Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781668019504
An assessment-infragments of Mitchell’s complicated musical and personal journey. This stylish consideration of the folk-rock-jazz legend by magazine veteran Alford ( And Then We Danced , etc.) is “loosely inspired” by Craig Brown’s dishy 2017 book, 99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret. Each of its 53 sections begins in a particular time and place and explores a particular theme in Mitchell’s life: Her relationship to the ’60s Laurel Canyon folk scene, her childhood in icy Manitoba, her cringeworthy late-’70s affinity for blackface, her relationship with her daughter, Kilauren Gibb, whom she gave up for adoption and reunited with in the late ’90s. Alford’s riffs are typically thoughtful and informed, based on books and previously published articles but also bolstered by his own interviews with Mitchell’s childhood acquaintances and collaborators (though not Mitchell herself). Still, the life-in-pieces approach reflects Alford’s belief that his subject defies easy summary, or even sense. Why was she so snappish in interviews? Perhaps, he speculates, “we fans didn’t realize the repercussions of our neglect. Maybe we didn’t realize that we’d abandoned our girl.” Her blackface era, he supposes, “is another example of how someone who feels things too intensely is, ironically,
someone who can’t always read a room.” A clear lack of answers prompts some creative approaches: Gathering up all the punctuation marks in her lyric sheets, he finds her early records a series of gentle commas and quotation marks, while her busier, more synthheavy ’80s albums are crazed pileups of question marks and exclamation points. Not every such salvo works: a list of contents of Gibb’s Facebook posts illuminates neither her nor her mother. Even if the book doesn’t function as a conventional biography, it succeeds as a series of prompts for fans to think about Mitchell’s sometimes-baffling artistic choices. A deliberately disorganized but heartfelt reconsideration of an iconic artist.
Alter, Jonathan | BenBella Books (256 pp.) $29.95 | Oct. 22, 2024 | 9781637746660
Justice comes for an ex-president. Alter, a longtime political reporter who has interviewed nine presidents, isn’t known for his courthouse journalism, but the bulk of his latest book is about a felony trial in Manhattan. The case is momentous yet surreal, pitting the world’s “most famous man” against the prosecution’s key witness, a former lawyer for the accused who once helped Madame Tussauds secure a likeness of Melania Trump. Alter attended the entirety of Donald Trump’s 2024 trial for hiding hushmoney payments to a porn star. His goal: capture the “tactile sense” of this strange historical moment and give the prosecution of a corrupt former president “the constitutional grandeur it deserves.” This is galvanizing stuff, but Alter undermines the book’s seriousness with swipes at Trump’s self-evidently ludicrous hair and penchant for sleeping in court. Alter is far more readable when focused on the
HELLO STRANGER
prosecution’s strong case. The proceeding pivots on the testimony of erstwhile Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, a somewhat pathetic figure— in his only memorable work for the president in 2017, we learn, he reviewed the first lady’s contract for a wax statue—who nevertheless secures a place in history, testifying about being Trump’s hush-money deliveryman. Alter uses other parts of the book to look inward, admitting that he’s unashamed yet “not proud of” his coverage of the sexual dalliances of Bill Clinton and other officeholders. He confesses that Trump’s political success has shaken his faith “in the common sense and good judgment of roughly half of the American people.” The book’s opening pages, which recall his mother’s political convictions and Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1966 visit to Alter’s Chicago home, are particularly strong, contextualizing his belief in the importance of holding even the most powerful to account.
A clear-eyed paean to equality under the law.
Betancourt, Manuel | Catapult (240 pp.)
$27.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781646222292
A film and queer culture critic ponders intimate encounters. Across 10 essays, Betancourt effectively examines the dynamic intercourse between strangers and the titillating potential that “transient intimacies” can harbor.
The author celebrates the “winking knowingness” and the “lightning bolt moment of lucidity” exhibited during the act of flirtation and instant attraction and how first encounters across a crowded room elicit both an excited anticipation and an innate desire “to start a story that may have nothing but a beginning.” In queer culture, for example, Betancourt relates to the desirous, intoxicating “pull” of online cruising and sexting with strangers, while elaborating on his own marriage evaporating due to spirited infidelity. He draws inspiration from plenty of referential material, which collectively and creatively supports his theme. Films like Closer and Sex, Lies, and Videotape ; literary works by John Rechy, Georg Simmel, Garth Greenwell, and Alan Hollinghurst; and varied articles, essays, and even Sondheim musicals all scrutinize and romanticize the allure and the taboo of the ubiquitous stranger encounter. Betancourt self-reflectively brings his life and experience as a “shameless flirt” into view as well, equating his time spent in bars and airport lounges with the allure of flirtations and the pulse-pounding spark of meeting someone new. As evidenced in his earlier book, The Male Gazed (2023), Betancourt is a fluid stylist, demonstrating his intelligence in investigating subject matter that most readers—queer or otherwise— can relate to. As a witty, intuitive observer of human behavior, he validates rather than demonizes the delicious recklessness of meeting strangers and the intimate thrill of the anonymous encounter and perceptively elaborates on the “possibilities such figures can inspire in us.”
A rewarding and insightful exploration of risk, desire, and anonymity.
Kirkus Star
Bleasdale, John | Univ. Press of Kentucky (292 pp.) | $70.00 Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781985901186
A myth-shattering look into the life and career of the legendarily publicity-shy cinematic visionary.
Bleasdale didn’t speak with the subject of this book; Malick has permitted next to no interviews or photos since 1978. But his in-depth research uncovered a very different picture from the media-crafted version of the director that developed during the lengthy gap between his second film, Days of Heaven (1978), and its follow-up, The Thin Red Line (1998). In doing so, the author tells of a complex artist and human being whose films, good and bad, are among the most thrillingly original works of art on the planet. Malick had not planned to work in film. He studied philosophy at Harvard and in Europe but failed spectacularly as a professor at MIT. After a brief, spotty career in journalism—he stalled on an article about Che Guevara’s last days for the New Yorker —Malick won a spot in the first class of a program at the American Film Institute in Hollywood. One classmate, Paul Schrader, would go on to write Taxi Driver and become a major director in his own right. (“Malick had a tendency to start at the top,” Bleasdale notes.) The bulk of this book zooms in on the idiosyncratic, instinctual style of filmmaking that Malick has pursued, from his first feature, Badlands (1973), to one currently in post-production. It’s a style that has divided critics and film lovers from the beginning. “The battleground was solidifying into an attritional stalemate,” Bleasdale says of the reaction to a later film, To the Wonder (2012). “The die-hard
I SEEK A KIND PERSON
Malickians on one side whispered, ‘Philistines,’ while the swelling ranks of skeptics yelled, ‘Pretentious fools.’” No matter how you feel about Malick’s oeuvre, this book is a must for cinephiles.
Borger, Julian | Other Press (304 pp.) | $17.99 paper | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781635424287
Austrian youth are saved from the Holocaust in a unique way. British journalist Borger provides an unusual tale of Holocaust survivors, saved from certain death with the help of newspaper advertisements. His book is based on a very personal search for answers after his father, Robert, died by suicide in 1983. Eventually Borger would be reminded of a family story: his grandparents had placed an advertisement in the Manchester Guardian with hopes of finding their son a new home in Great Britain, away from the Nazi menace. Borger managed to locate that original 1938 advertisement and was struck by other, similar notices from other Jewish families in Vienna also desperate to get their children to safety. This book records the stories he was able to piece together about a handful of such children. Their histories are on one hand weighed down by the pain of loss and the scars of terror yet on the other hand lead to the hope symbolized by their own
progeny, who only exist because of their escape from Austria. Borger highlights the risks parents will take to save their children in a time of crisis, literally giving them up to strangers in a strange land. The survivors’ stories embody the lifelong trauma of separation and assimilation following the terror of flight. They are replete with examples of resilience and strength yet maintain the dark side of depression, anxiety, and guilt, which these survivors have tried hard to hide from later generations. Borger’s work demonstrates to the reader the level to which personal histories were lost in the Holocaust, be it in the gas chambers or through the traumatized silence of survivors. The stories he has been able to salvage are remarkable threads connecting the present to a dark past, marked by the will to survive.
Intriguing and humane, a worthwhile addition to Holocaust studies.
Boutwell, Jeffrey | Norton (432 pp.)
$39.99 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781324074267
Spirited biography of “the most consequential public figure Americans have never heard of.”
Born to a Massachusetts farming family, George Sewall Boutwell rose from library board member to the state’s youngest governor. A convert to the new Republican Party, he helped draft its platform in 1860 and championed
Abraham Lincoln as its presidential candidate. As his biographer and distant cousin observes, Boutwell was highly influential but also possessed no apparent desire for self-promotion; he was “pure Yankee: reserved, correct in his relations with others, at times morally smug.” Working against him, too, was a tendency to orate far longer than audiences cared to endure. Still, Boutwell served for years as a staunch supporter first of abolition and then of Reconstruction, a “radical Republican” who considered the Emancipation Proclamation “the most important American event of history.” Confronting a postwar Congress that was soft on civil rights issues, Boutwell and his colleagues pushed the Fourteenth Amendment through, though without the guaranteed right to vote, “given that white northerners were not yet ready for Black civil or political equality, many out of a fear that this would lead to social equality.” Yet Boutwell labored on, leading the charge to impeach Andrew Johnson and, as president of the Anti-Imperialist League alongside such notable members as Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, and Booker T. Washington, contesting William McKinley’s and Theodore Roosevelt’s interventionism. The younger Boutwell ranges widely without taking the focus off his kinsman, writing well and sometimes indignantly of matters such as the “Lost Cause” myth promulgated by the defeated Confederacy and—of timely concern today—of his relative’s belief that “putting too much power into the hands of state governments had been a fundamental flaw of the original Constitution.”
A welcome introduction to a consequential but overlooked figure in 19th-century American history.
For more about the Emancipation Proclamation, visit Kirkus online.
Campbell, David & Jarrod Shanahan
New York Univ. (336 pp.) | $35.00 Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781479828999
Engrossing, intimate account of “city time,” short-term sentences served within New York’s notorious Rikers Island.
Co-authors Campbell and Shanahan term this work a “participant-observer ethnography,” noting they “experienced city time both as scholars studying it and as inmates.” They explain, “We were both arrested for protest activity and were locked up begrudgingly.” Thus, this immersive portrait acknowledges the authors’ relative privilege while exploring how such short sentences entrap many working-poor, addicted, or mentally struggling individuals in a pointless retributive cycle. Though some academic synthesis is present, the book is structured around “its authors’ personal experiences and observations of city time, organized as systematically as possible.” These aspects include not only the physically oppressive environment and endless bureaucracy and rules, but also the “social intake” provided by fellow inmates, a kind of protective institutional memory; both authors learned, and document, that “a complex and often ad hoc inmate code structures social life in countless ways.” Though prisoners’ relationships with the working-class corrections officers are equally complex, they find that “the COs inhabit a malicious, predatory, and dysfunctional social world.” Otherwise, they effectively reveal the daily grind of dormitory life, diversions of work and commissary visits, and the dire mental health care situation. Throughout, their goal is clearly to contrast the resilience of prisoners with “not just the brutality of city time but the banality, stupidity, and waste that characterize every second of it.” Noting that “the onset of COVID-19 caused considerable
disruption in whatever normalcy could be said to define city time,” one author describes participating in an inmate strike for better pandemic responses that demonstrated surprising cohesion. The pair are deft and balanced collaborators, writing with academic rigor, as well as humor and compassion. A literal insider’s view of the troubling social warehousing function of mass incarceration.
Carwardine, Richard | Knopf (624 pp.)
$35.00 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781400044573
A study of the battle of schools of religious nationalism surrounding the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the lingering effect of that battle today.
As Oxford historian Carwardine observes, the terms “religious nationalist” and “Christian nationalist” are “commonly synonymous with the conservative white evangelical Protestants who make up a core strength of the current Republican Party.” There is historical cause for this narrowing of terms. In the antebellum era, as Carwardine chronicles, many nationalisms emerged. The southern strain, associated with the Anglican/ Episcopal Church, took it as read that God was all in for slavery and that demonic forces were assembled against them. In the North, hardcore antislavery nationalists were largely outnumbered by more mainstream ideologies, dominated by Methodism, that advocated a more conservative approach. The abolitionists were, Carwardine writes, “predominantly Protestant in faith…[and] commonly defined their purposes in biblical terms: a specially chosen people, the citizens of the young country had a duty to apply the prophetic wisdom of
the Old Testament and Christ himself by expunging the nation’s greatest sin.” Interestingly, Abraham Lincoln was largely indifferent to religion when he entered office, but the “providentialist” view that found him invoking “the better angels of our nature” became more militant as the fighting ground on. As Carwardine points out, many visions of Christian nationalism—and even some nationalisms that involved those excluded from the Protestant mainstream, namely Jews and Catholics—flourished and contended in the North, even as the South dug in its heels to advocate “white-supremacist, pro-slavery, and anti-authoritarian political positions.” Those positions were articulated in the North as well, though, and after what Carwardine calls the postwar “breakup of antislavery religious nationalists’ wartime coalition,” they survived and, in the form of today’s states’ rights Christian nationalism, are much with us today. A fresh perspective on Civil War history and its resounding reverberations.
Case, Neko | Grand Central Publishing (288 pp.) $30.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781538710500
The alt-rock and country singer recalls childhood abuse, misogyny, and a wayward path to success. Case’s memoir is informed by injustice, betrayal, and the serial mistreatment of women. Growing up in Washington state, her family was a study in dysfunction; when she was in second grade, she was told that cancer had killed her mother, who returned home a year-and-a-half later, apparently cured. (She wouldn’t get the full story till years later.) Date-raped at 14, Case spent her teens and 20s in a drug-addled world, then all but stumbled onto a music career. Though her experiences are
despondent, the tone of this well-turned book is lively and often funny. That’s partly because Case has a songwriter’s gift for potent imagery. Her parents started out “poor as empty acorns” and drove a car that “looked like a nauseous basking shark”; during winters in Chicago, where her career took off, she felt the “wind hammering in like a bouquet of cold fists”; at a soundcheck, her voice “sounds like it’s being piped through a thrift-store whale’s carcass into a pirate’s wet diaper.” That imagination and wit speak to the other prevailing theme in the memoir, the element that gives it a lift: Case’s observations of her hard-won resilience. By turns, that has meant processing the psychic damage of her rape and her family’s betrayals, a disastrous fit of heatstroke at the Grand Ole Opry, an even-worse encounter with country legend (and overt bigot) Charlie Louvin, and more. Case chronicles her various career achievements as a singer-songwriter (including three Grammy nominations), but those feel almost secondary to her study of her emotional growth, which she discusses with a rare candor. “There are moments so lonely they become like personal national parks,” she writes, but the life of a touring musician is irresistible: “It’s both harder than the myth and also contains a more terrible, crunchy joy.”
A sweet-and-sour study of a songwriter’s coming-of-age.
Casilli, Antonio A. | Trans. by Saskia Brown Univ. of Chicago (336 pp.) | $27.50 paper
Jan. 6, 2025 | 9780226820958
A disturbing look at AI and exploitative labor. Artificial intelligence, according to its advocates, holds out the promise of an end to mind-numbing, exploitative work. Casilli, a professor of sociology at the Institut Polytechnique
de Paris and the author of numerous books on the social impact of technology, vehemently disagrees. He argues that it has merely changed the type of labor and the structure of the exploitation, and he has a mountain of research to support his case. AI systems are far from autonomous, he says. To get them to work at all requires the input of huge amounts of data, and there is a constant need for additions, checks, and revisions. The work is usually done not by employees but by contractors. The pay is poor and the benefits are nonexistent. Casilli provides several case studies to illustrate his points, with Amazon’s Mechanical Turk being the most illustrative. The service uses an army of freelance “clickworkers” around the globe for various types of data input, with the unifying factor being the poor rates of remuneration. Casilli acknowledges that AI is evolving at a startling rate but that probably means that it will require more human input at the lower end of the value scale, not less. He proposes a “universal digital income,” a basic level for digital workers that could be partly financed by a tax on platforms. It is a compelling idea, but implementation would be difficult. In any case, Casilli has identified a host of problems in the brave new world of AI, and perhaps this book can be a good place to start thinking about solutions. Revealing the dirty secrets of the AI revolution—and offering ideas for a path forward.
Cook, Kevin | Avid Reader Press (320 pp.)
$30.00 | Dec. 10, 2024 | 9781668043646
Golf history up close and personal. Cook’s third book on golf is a captivating tale of what many thought impossible: winning the game’s four majors in a row. In a breezy, assured style, Cook
begins with a brief biography of Tiger Woods and his family and an insightful short history of golf balls, including Woods’ switch to a new brand. His swing guru, Claude Harmon, thought “that his prize pupil might be about to take golf to a higher level.” The rough at the Pebble Beach Golf Links would be very thick for the 100th U.S. Open, held in 2000. Word was, even par may win. Woods started with a 65. He finished his second with only one ball (he didn’t know that) and a six-shot lead. After the windy third, it jumped to 10. Cook creates suspense even when readers know the outcome, a win, 15 strokes ahead of the next player. The British Open was at hallowed St. Andrews. After the first round, Ernie Els led by one over Woods, who took the lead after round two, then the third, by six shots. He beat his friend, David Duval, to win, using only one tee—the youngest to win all four majors. At Kentucky’s lackluster Valhalla Golf Club, he would also be the PGA’s defending champion. An opening 66 had him tied for the lead. A 67 resulted in a 36-hole scoring record. Woods battled the competitive journeyman Bob May in a playoff to win his third major in a row. The Masters and his fourth major were 10 months away. Amid the fans’ roars he barely beat Phil Mickelson and Duval. Jack Nicklaus called it the “most amazing feat in the history of golf.”
Chock-full of fascinating golf trivia, pithy profiles of players, and fairway dramas.
Corren, Andy | Grand Central Publishing (288 pp.) | $30.00
Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781538742228
A doting son commemorates the life and legacy of his eccentric mother. Playwright and performer Corren’s memory of his beloved mother, who died in late 2021 at 84, was immortalized by a pithy, comedic obituary that became a national social media sensation. His family
memoir flamboyantly elaborates on her eventful life in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as a “plus-sized Jewish lady redneck” named Renay, mother to a kooky Southern brood. The author writes of being the youngest of six, exiled every summer throughout his childhood to his grandparents’ Miami Beach home to entertain them with his celebrity impersonations. Corren establishes himself early on as an uproarious raconteur, having coined pet names for his siblings, according to their personalities, and sharing endless anecdotes about their misadventures getting backyard haircuts, their work in tandem with their mother at the local bowling alley, the family’s time living in Japan, and their house evictions during sweltering Fayetteville summers. Corren retraces his mother’s reckless early years as a nut-loving, “ravenous and ravishing redheaded” Southern woman who, when faced with trouble, “shot first, asked questions later” and was, surprisingly, a voracious reader. Unfortunately, Renay’s divorce in 1975 became the event that unraveled her emotionally and financially. Despite their former devotion, Corren’s siblings (and the author himself, on his 18th birthday) left Fayetteville forever. Though his queerness emerged throughout his youth, Corren divulges that he always knew he was special, “like a hothouse plant that needed a little extra attention,” which his mother always lavished on him in her own unique and boisterous way. Though some will find Corren’s delivery of rapid-fire anecdotes dizzying, he manages to downshift toward the book’s conclusion, recounting a poignant trip back to Fayetteville, five months after his mother’s death and 34 years after he’d permanently left the area, to organize a family memorial for Renay at the bowling alley she always adored. A matriarch’s idiosyncratic life
captured and besainted through a succession of hilarious memories.
Dai, Thomas | Norton (272 pp.)
$28.99 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781324066378
A provocative memoir of personal essays exploring race, identity, and queer love. In his debut essay collection, first-generation Chinese American writer Dai crafts an intricate tapestry of memory and reflection through lush, impressionistic prose. The book ambitiously explores themes of identity, race, language, love, and queerness, framed by Dai’s travels across the U.S.—from Tennessee to Arizona—and back to his ancestral homeland in China. Dai’s exploration of identity begins poignantly with his name— Thomas versus Nuocheng—offering a compelling entry point: “Thomas gets me through the roll call quicker….It is the name on my driver’s license and passport, a word whose primary synonym in my head is me.” What follows is stylistically profound yet often veers into self-conscious territory. The narrative is peppered with references to influential thinkers like Roland Barthes, Alain Badiou, and Vladimir Nabokov, suggesting Dai’s thoughts are filtered through their sensibilities. He reflects, “For so long, I have thought about love as a feeling that lives and dies in the moment. I have thought about love through the words of philosophers like Barthes and Badiou rather than poets
Paying tribute to his late mother—a “plus-sized Jewish lady redneck.”
DIRTBAG QUEEN
like Audre Lorde—Lorde, who writes, breathlessly describing a lover’s touch, ‘I am come home.’” This intellectual approach sometimes results in opaque descriptions, particularly when describing relationships with family and lovers—two of whom are referred to simply as “J” or “you.” Stark black-andwhite photos attempt to enhance his written impressions but add to the book’s somewhat elusive quality. Dai’s prose oscillates between clarity and dense, stylized writing. At its best, it offers insightful reflections on the immigrant experience and queer identity. However, the weight of its intellectual indulgences sometimes threatens to overshadow the personal narrative. The work will likely resonate with readers drawn to lush prose and literary experimentation, but it may leave others yearning for more grounded, accessible storytelling. Despite occasional opacity, this noteworthy debut showcases a unique voice in contemporary memoir.
Dawson, Kate Winkler | Putnam (336 pp.) $29.00 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9780593713617
A unique retelling of one of America’s first true-crime stories. Dawson presents a fascinating approach to the story of Sarah Cornell, the woman whose death is said to have inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to create Hester Prynne in his 1850 novel, The Scarlet Letter. Dawson draws on the work of Catharine Williams, a poet, journalist, and author who chronicled Cornell’s life close to two centuries years ago. Though you won’t see Williams’ name listed as a co-author, Dawson refers to her as such because of the critical role that her book, Fall River, plays in retelling this story. Dawson uses Williams’ work not only as a primary
source but as one of the first true-crime books ever written, making this partnership a rich portrayal of Cornell’s scandalous story. For example, Dawson demonstrates how Williams used “victimology” long before the term was coined by modern psychologists and forensic investigators. The book also serves as a biography of Williams, and Dawson draws a compelling parallel between the two of them, separated by advancements in feminism, forensic science, and religiosity, but united in their dedication to telling the truth about a woman’s mysterious and untimely death. Dawson also highlights how the puritanical environment in which her victim and co-author lived fostered strong biases. The story occasionally drags, lacking the propulsive drive of other true-crime works, but this deliberate pacing lends admirable respect to a story that’s often sensationalized. Dawson also places Cornell’s death in the context of other gruesome New England crimes, notably that of Lizzie Borden, immersing readers in the chilling atmosphere of the time. Required reading for true-crime aficionados and those fascinated by puritanical New England.
Kirkus Star Wiseguys and the White House: Gangsters, Presidents, and the Deals They Made
Dezenhall, Eric | Harper/HarperCollins (368 pp.)
$32.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780063390614
Juicy accounts of mobsters and presidents. Journalist Dezenhall, author of Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War, opens by warning that America’s fascination with mobsters owes much to pop-culture fantasy. It exists, but the reality lacks the “cool and sexually dangerous” efficiency of the movies. With this disclaimer, he
proceeds with an often stunning account of gangsters and presidential politics. After summarizing pre-20thcentury skullduggery (much corruption, little organized crime), he introduces Franklin D. Roosevelt, probably the first to make use of mobsters. As patriotic as most Americans, they were happy during World War II to order dock union workers and Italian fishing fleets to keep their eyes out for U-boats and spies, but few turned up. Harry Truman owed more to organized crime than other presidents. Loyal to Tom Pendergast’s corrupt Kansas City machine, Truman hit the jackpot when the preferred candidates decided not to run for the U.S. Senate in 1934. Dezenhall maintains that Truman probably never accepted a bribe and considered dealing with mobsters a necessary evil in politics. Eisenhower gets off scot-free, but that the Kennedys pestered surprisingly reluctant mafiosi to assassinate Fidel Castro is beyond doubt. Nixon gets off lightly, except for his cultivation of the notorious Jimmy Hoffa, a rare union leader who favored Republicans. Dezenhall’s expansive definition of “organized crime” is on display in his description of President Reagan, beginning with the young actor riding the coattails of cutthroat Hollywood entrepreneurs and shady lawyers, whose influence he never entirely escaped. As for Donald Trump, the author writes of how the 45th president inherited a real estate empire and loved being rich and ruthless and associating with other rich and ruthless people. Alone among presidents, he boasted that he could deal with gangsters because he was as smart as they were. Entertaining history in which mobsters often come off better than presidents.
Dwork, Debórah | Norton (288 pp.)
$29.99 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781324020349
A study of American aid workers and their efforts to “move targeted people beyond German reach” in World War II. Dwork, a prolific historian of the Holocaust, turns her attention here to rescue operations and their principals in the desperate effort to secure safe passage for people endangered by the Third Reich—Jews, to be sure, but also leftists, intellectuals, and other opponents of the regime. As Dwork notes, these operatives had numerous motives driving their work: Some sought adventure; several went beyond their brief to save people for reasons of emotional and personal connection, and not necessarily by the book. The theater of humanitarian operations shifted before and during the war: When the Nazis began their occupation of Sudetenland, Jews fled en masse to the Baltic republics; when the Soviets and Germans began to fight there, Shanghai became an important destination; when the U.S. entered the war against Japan, Lisbon became what was called “Europe’s sole window to the west.” Personalities and ideologies enter the picture in Dwork’s account; it’s surprising to read of the pitched rivalries among Unitarians and Quakers, who had somewhat different missions: “The Unitarians pursued a militantly prodemocratic political program, proved willing to engage in illegal transactions, and did not blink at covert operations. The
Quakers, by contrast, pursued a militantly humanitarian project, embraced pacifist neutrality, and were punctiliously law-abiding.” Whatever the differences, both camps enjoyed successes and failures, as did Jewish relief organizations, and all were central in helping refugees negotiate “the obstacle course of affidavits, entry visas, exit visas, transit visas, train tickets, and ship tickets” and offering psychological as well as material support. It’s difficult to draw practical lessons for modern humanitarian efforts from Dwork’s narrative, save that for the most part the principal players never lost sight of their missions even as they faced increasingly difficult odds in saving even a fraction of the imperiled.
A contribution to the literature of humanitarian aid as well as the Holocaust.
Franklin, Ruth | Yale Univ. (448 pp.)
$30.00 | Jan. 27, 2025 | 9780300248128
The short life and long legacy of the world’s most famous Holocaust victim.
Anne Frank got her first diary as a present for her 13th birthday, just weeks before her family went into hiding in 1942. By the time she died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, not yet 16, she had filled multiple notebooks and was revising them for postwar publication before her arrest. Franklin, who won a National Book Critics Circle Award for her biography Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life, in Part 1 follows Anne from childhood in Germany to Holland and Bergen-Belsen. She spotlights Anne’s increasing maturity over the course of two years in hiding and takes a close look at her revisions as indications of “the coherent testimonial narrative she now wanted to write.” Part 2, described by Franklin as “a cultural history of the idea of Anne as it has developed since 1947,” contains some familiar material: her father Otto’s recovery and editing of
the diary (he removed some of Anne’s more acerbic comments and included material she had cut as too personal); its publication and international success; the stage and movie versions criticized today for downplaying Anne’s Jewishness to make her an all-purpose icon of human endurance—these topics have been covered widely. More unusual, and quite moving, are the “interludes” testifying to the diary’s impact on individual readers across the globe. A final chapter, “Anne in the Political World,” is problematic, especially when Franklin tackles with evident discomfort the fierce debates over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and its military response to the 2023 Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians. Speculating on how Anne might have viewed these issues if she had survived doesn’t seem particularly relevant to the general thrust of Franklin’s thoughtful book, which succeeds best in its aims of “recognizing and respecting Anne’s intentions as an author” and “reclaiming her as a human being rather than a symbol.”
An intriguing effort that tries to do too much.
Garten, Ina | Crown (320 pp.) | $34.00 Oct. 1, 2024 | 9780593799895
The popular cookbook author and Food Network star looks back on a life filled with hard-won opportunities. For those who may have wondered if Garten’s life is truly as fabulous as depicted in her East Hampton–based cooking show, rest assured: it most certainly is. Garten’s memoir chronicles a remarkably productive, well-lived life filled with exciting travel, notable career opportunities, enviable home properties, celebrity friendships, and delicious food—lots of delicious food (an advisory note to have something to nosh on while reading).
There’s also her husband, Jeffrey. Their marriage, spanning half a century, serves as a rock-solid foundation in her life.
Narrated with humor and panache, Garten proves to be a marvelous storyteller. Though her journey is extraordinary and often inspiring, there were certainly bumps along the way. Growing up in suburban Connecticut with intensely cold, unloving parents, Garten recounts her experiences as a smart, ambitious, modern woman aiming to make something of herself within the restrictive confines of the 1960s and ’70s, when the only thing expected of a woman was to marry a successful man. Though she found that in Jeffrey, their relationship took some time to evolve into an equal partnership. After years of floundering in high-level roles, including as a budget analyst at the White House, Garten launched the career of her dreams with Jeffrey’s support. She purchased the Barefoot Contessa specialty food store in West Hampton, diving into the food business. Years of hard work led to expanding and relocating to East Hampton. Her success spawned bestselling cookbooks and eventually her cooking show. Though a good deal of luck often came through for her along the way, Garten’s lively memoir emphasizes how hard work and unrelenting tenacity were what made the magic happen.
An entertaining foray into this wellloved cooking host’s illustrious life.
Gilbert, Julie | Pantheon (352 pp.)
$35.00 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781524748432
Edna Ferber was a household name in her time, if no longer. Ferber was a popular novelist (Show Boat, 1926) who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction (So Big, 1924); a collaborator with George S.
Kaufman on classic plays (Dinner at Eight, Stage Door, and The Royal Family); and an insider at the famous literary Algonquin Round Table. She was also the great-aunt of author Gilbert, who brings personal insights into both a previous Ferber biography and this in-depth account of the writing of Ferber’s greatest novel, Giant (1952), and its transformation into a classic American film. Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1885, Ferber experienced Midwestern antisemitism that fueled her lifelong contempt for all forms of prejudice. Giant, the story of three generations of a cattle-raising, oil-rich Texan family, “blatantly points to racial inequality” and the mistreatment of Mexican Americans in the Lone Star State. Gilbert methodically shows how Ferber’s “rapacious research,” her “digging in for regional authenticity,” helped her depict Texas “as virile as it was vast.” Readers will enjoy the book’s thorough analysis of the filming of director George Stevens’ masterful adaptation. Larger-than-life actors fleshed out this Western epic, among them Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean, who met his tragic end before completion of the movie’s production. Months of shooting on location in Marfa, Texas, provide the book’s highlights: Hudson was initially a “dark horse” for his starring role, Taylor became a precursor of liberal feminism in hers, and Dean “performed like a gifted angel and behaved like a juvenile delinquent” on set. Gilbert describes plaudits and brickbats among reactions to both novel and film, but her focus is squarely on the idiosyncratic creative dynamo behind the Giant phenomenon.
The story behind the making of what became “the national movie of Texas.”
Goffe, Tao Leigh | Doubleday (384 pp.)
$29.00 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9780385549912
A noted academic challenges traditional interpretations of race, the environment, and economic progress.
“Mountains hold the echoes of history,” writes Goffe in the opening of a fascinating narrative that confronts the historic dynamic of climate and race in the Caribbean and examines the region as an experimental center—a “dark laboratory”—that was exploited by the greed of Western capitalists, beginning when Columbus walked ashore on the island of Guanahani in 1492. The best writing in any form leaves the reader with something to ponder, and Goffe’s criticism of, and skepticism about, nearly every aspect of Western academic assumptions concerning the climate crisis, imperialism, and race does just that. Goffe is an associate professor at Hunter College, City University of New York, and her extensively footnoted research lends academic rigor to her chronicle of this interconnectedness, in addition to the intriguing and creative solutions that she offers. This is also a deeply personal book. At times, Goffe’s forays into her own heritage can get overly speculative, but they add necessary perspective and an insightful vantage point to the importance of ancestral knowledge and its relevance to unwinding traditional narratives of Blackness and the forced labor of
James Dean, “a gifted angel” on camera but “a juvenile delinquent” on set.
GIANT LOVE
Chinese workers. Her ear for nature’s notes is just as sharp as those of naturalists Hans Sloane and Theodore Roosevelt, who are but two figures that come under her withering scrutiny. Goffe engages with complex ideas and history, and the book is not the easiest of reads. But she proves to be an engaging scholar, and her work will go far in reshaping academic approaches to her most interesting subject matter. A timely and refreshingly provocative study.
Gotby, Alva | Verso (192 pp.) | $24.95 Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781804296219
A Marxist interpretation of the housing crisis in Britain. In these essays, Gotby, author (They Call It Love) and housing activist, indicts capitalism, the capitalist state, and white bourgeois ideology for their role in perpetuating and profiting from the lack of affordable and quality housing for poor and working-class people. Housing, she claims, is “at the core of…all the things that go into ensuring the relative wellbeing of people.” The wealthy excepted, well-being is degraded by a housing market that treats the home as a financial asset, the privatization of council housing, and a dominant ideology that locates safety, health, and care in bourgeois domesticity and homeownership—i.e., in the private, not the public, sphere. Yet she cautions against pining for a time when the welfare state was more robust. The welfare state was as much a bailout of capitalism’s neglect of the social reproduction of the proletariat as it was a help for people in need, while council housing never addressed the variety of living arrangements that people desire. Ideally, housing should be collective, and the caring functions associated
with the family spread across institutional settings. Regarding the latter, Gotby points out that the family (contrary to bourgeois ideology) can be a “site of intense exploitation, violence, and alienation.” Throughout, she emphasizes people’s emotional attachment to housing and, in the final essay, how feelings contribute to the housing movement. Argumentative and impressionistic, the book combines Marxism and feminism to offer an aspirational perspective on how to think about housing and ways to overcome the current and prevent future crises. Gotby, though, does not call for revolution and an end to capitalism. Rather, her dream is housing that exists beyond capitalism’s reach, a goal even she recognizes as utopian. A much-needed complement to the left’s focus on rentier capitalism.
Gray, Kurt | Pantheon (320 pp.)
$28.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780593317433
A social psychologist offers counterintuitive advice for bridging partisan differences. Gray, whose University of North Carolina lab studies morality and beliefs, wants us to ditch what he calls the “destruction narrative”—the notion that those who don’t agree with our views aren’t just wrong but want to annihilate our way of life. He traces this outlook to early humankind, when our ancestors were more apt to be preyed upon by other animals. “Hardwired” to stave off mortal threats, we “intuitively” worry that those who don’t share our moral values might be harmful. This anxiety, of course, is deepened by social media, where misinformation and opportunism fuel ceaseless moral outrage. It’s a thoughtful argument, though Gray offers little evidence that “feelings of danger” are intensified because people doomscroll when they’re “on the toilet or in bed,”
essentially defenseless. Relying on his own lab studies, he does a solid job of demonstrating that people who want to find areas of potential agreement with political adversaries shouldn’t rely solely on objective truths. Often, he argues, facts should temporarily go on the back burner. In an era when “everyone has their own statistics,” facts alone are unlikely to change the “moral convictions” that underlie a person’s views on climate change or sectarian violence. “Facts are essential to every aspect of life,” he hastens to note, but his research indicates that “harm-based stories” are more effective at lowering the temperature. People who cite “personal experiences of harm” when discussing issues like abortion or gun violence are seen as “more human and more rational” than those who rely exclusively on trustworthy data. Is Gray’s guidance a revealing indictment of American political life’s superficiality? Perhaps, but it’s clear that facts alone aren’t getting the job done. A hopeful, helpful prescription for overcoming polarization.
Haslam, Jonathan | Belknap/ Harvard Univ. (368 pp.) | $29.95 Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780674299078
Vladimir Putin made the decision to make war on Ukraine. But, this study posits, the West helped push him to that brink.
Haslam, a specialist in Soviet studies, analyzes why Putin took it upon himself to invade Ukraine in a war that is approaching three years old. “To focus purely on Vladimir Putin and his psychology is not enough, tempting as it is,” writes Haslam. Instead, he names as one important proximate cause the expansion of NATO following the Cold War—whose end, he suggests, was met with untoward triumphalism on the
part of the U.S., humiliating Russia in the bargain. Russia made approaches to the West to enter into more cooperative agreements, including, perhaps, the possibility of joining the European Union; rebuffed, Putin took on something of a siege mentality. Visibly weakened by the loss of its former constituent territories, the Russian Federation sensed its increasing vulnerability even as it witnessed NATO’s entrance into former Eastern Bloc countries and military intervention in former Yugoslavia. This encroachment grew ever closer to Russia’s “near abroad,” as Russia, by Haslam’s account, was increasingly slighted by being seen by the U.S. “as a defeated power of little or no account.” Countries so positioned can be dangerous, as Putin demonstrated by attacking Ukraine—which, Haslam reminds, was top on the U.S. list of NATO expansion, a country without which “Russia could never re-emerge as an empire, which Russia had invariably been.” These historical and political contingencies all have great explanatory value, though too often Haslam seems to suggest that the war in Ukraine is largely the fault of the U.S., when of course Putin could have decided to take another tack. Whatever the case and the causes, Haslam does conclude that “the Russian war has demonstrably failed in its objectives.” A hard-edged study in geopolitical miscalculation on all sides.
Hayes, Chris | Penguin Press (336 pp.)
$32.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780593653111
A respected cable news host explains why new technologies make it ever harder to concentrate. The public exchange of ideas, dominated by internet platforms that elevate outrage-inducing
Amanda Knox
The author will reflect on her conviction in the sensational 2009 murder case and subsequent exoneration.
Amanda Knox, who was convicted and then exonerated in a murder case that drew the attention of the world, will tell the story of her imprisonment and freedom in a new memoir, People magazine reports.
Grand Central will publish Knox’s Free: My
Search for Meaning next year. It says that the book “reveals her personal growth and hard-fought wisdom, recasting her public reckoning as a private reflection on the search for meaning and purpose that will speak to everyone persevering through hardship.”
Knox was an American exchange student in Italy in 2007 when her roommate Meredith Kercher was found stabbed to death in her room. Knox was arrested in connection with the slaying along with her then boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito.
Knox and Sollecito were convicted in 2009 and exonerated in 2011. She is now a journalist and activist; in 2013 she wrote a book about her story, Waiting To Be Heard
Knox announced her book on the social media platform X, writing in part, “Because my circumstances may be extraordinary, but the challenges I’ve faced are universal. I hope this book will be a light for anyone who feels trapped in their own life.”
Free is slated for publication on March 25, 2025. —M.S.
HarperOne will publish the “Hello” and “You Are” singer’s book next September.
Hello! Is it a memoir you’re looking for?
If so, you’re in luck. HarperOne will publish an as-yet-untitled autobiography by singer Lionel Richie next year, the press announced in a news release.
Richie, an Alabama native, became a member of the band Commodores in 1968 while a student at Tuskegee University. The band scored a number of hit singles throughout the 1970s, including “Easy,” “Brick House,” and “Three Times a Lady.”
Richie left the band in 1982 and embarked on a solo career, quickly becoming a star on the strength of hit singles such as “You Are,” “All Night Long (All Night),” “Hello,” and “Say You, Say Me.” He is currently a judge on the singing competition series American Idol.
In the book, HarperOne says, “Richie seeks to inspire all who doubt themselves or feel their dreams don’t matter by chronicling lessons learned in the course of his most unlikely of success stories—from a painfully shy, ‘tragically’ late bloomer grappling with ADHD to his
dramatic transformation into a world-class entertainer and composer of love songs that have played like the soundtrack of our lives.”
Judith Curr, the president and publisher of HarperOne Group, said in a statement, “We are thrilled to not only be providing his fans and friends with a nuanced, detailed, emotional telling of what his life has held, but his view of the world—what has changed and what has remained the same, the difficulties, and the causes for celebration.”
Richie’s memoir is scheduled for publication on Sept. 30, 2025.—M.S.
Lionel Richie
Recent nonfiction audiobooks that move, entertain, or educate.
BY MARION WINIK
CHRIS STEIN— co-founder, with Debbie Harry, of the band Blondie—has an amazing memory, an engaging, offbeat storytelling style, and a gift for memorable formulations: “Heroin is like getting a loan consolidation: you take a lot of problems and trade them in for one big one,” he tells us. His memoir, Under a Rock (Macmillan Audio, 10 hours and 18 minutes), opens with a foreword written and read by Harry. The actor Dennis Boutsikaris, known for roles in Better Call Saul and The Good Wife, takes over for most of the book; then the author himself reads a moving afterword in which he reveals that during the gestation of the memoir his teenage daughter Akira died from an accidental overdose. Worrying
about his shortcomings as a role model, he writes, “I thought that I presented my own drug experiences in a negative light to our kids, but I’m wracked with guilt that any discussions might have been misconstrued.” From the details of his childhood in 1950s Brooklyn to the punishing, hotel-room-wrecking concert tours of the ’70s and ’80s to cameos by Messrs. Warhol, Bowie, Basquiat, Ramone, Scaggs, and Pop, Under a Rock is a “fascinating yet cautionary account regarding the hazards of rock ’n’ roll and celebrity,” as our critic put it in a starred review. RoseMarie Terenzio, who was John F. Kennedy Jr.’s assistant at George magazine, has a bit of a cottage industry going with memorials to her dead boss, following up a
2012 memoir, Fairy Tale Interrupted, with an oral history, co-authored with longtime People magazine editor Liz McNeil. Read by Terenzio and six additional narrators, who take turns playing everyone from Mike Tyson and Brooke Shields to the People reporter assigned to the “Sexiest Man Alive” story, JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography (Simon & Schuster Audio, 14 hours and 53 minutes) works very well in audio. The opening chapters include testimony from Secret Service agents involved with the family at the time of his father’s assassination; schoolmates and lifelong besties—though no Kennedys whatsoever—recall his years in prep school and at Brown. Though the portrait is a bit soft-focus overall, Kennedy’s rocky road to the New York state bar (“the hunk flunks,” as the New York Post put it, twice) is not spared. The last section of the book details the plane crash that killed Kennedy, his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren. Analysis of the accident by aviation experts makes painfully clear the hubris of the fledgling pilot’s decision to take off that stormy July night.
About two-thirds of the time, listening to pollster
Nate Silver read On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything (Penguin Random House Audio, 15 hours and 4 minutes) made me feel smarter—privy to the esoteric knowledge that allows Silver’s subjects to win tens of thousands or even millions at the poker table. Some of the time, however, I was lost; I’m afraid cryptopunks and blockchains are as obscure to me as ever. But even then, Silver’s writing style, wit, and candor make for an entertaining listen. He admits that he’s most powerfully driven by the desire to be right and, aside from a notorious lapse with the 2016 election, he usually is. (And, he’ll have you know, he was less wrong about Trump than everyone else.) His guiding metaphors, the River and the Village, describe two camps: people who think the way he does (Silicon Valley, Wall Street, Vegas) and the liberal establishment and media (the New York Times, Harvard, D.C.) The audiobook comes with a PDF including all the charts and graphs referenced in the text and a very helpful glossary. As our starred review put it, the book is “a clever look into a unique realm.”
Marion Winik hosts NPR’s The Weekly Reader podcast.
The need for “small, purposeful acts of resistance” during anxious times.
THE SIRENS’ CALL
content and by smartphones that deliver it to us nonstop, is roiled by a “burbling, insistent ruckus” suggestive of “acute mental illness.” So contends the MSNBC prime-time mainstay, a one-time print journalist whose facility for lucid synthesis is put to gratifying use in this smart, constructive book. It’s not breaking news that idiocy and sensationalism are rewarded by the commercial imperatives of what Hayes calls “the attention economy,” but “even the most panicked critics” underestimate the “scale of transformation,” he argues. Seizing small, sequential parcels of our attention for as long as we continue to scroll, social media platforms and extremely popular first-person shooter games operate on an insidious “slot machine model.” He carefully charts how the churning monetization of attention has fundamentally changed news, politics, and leisure time, turning our communications landscape into a kind of “failed state” where common-sense norms have been routed by “attentional warlordism.” Amid the virtual maelstrom, Hayes wants to help readers reclaim a measure of mental tranquility. Some of his ideas are restrained; others, likely controversial. Small, purposeful acts of resistance—reading print newspapers, forgoing smartphones in favor of old-fashioned “dumb phones”—can impede the tech industry’s “endless attention commodification,” he writes. He also points readers to grassroots groups fighting the so-called infinite scroll. More boldly, he suggests that governmental oversight of labor issues could serve as a model for “regulation of attention markets,” which might include “a mandatory, legislated hard cap on” smartphone screen time and apps. An army of Silicon Valley lobbyists will surely beg to differ.
An intelligent, forward-looking analysis of our increasing inability to stay focused.
Hoiland, Sarah L. | Temple Univ. Press (193 pp.) $27.95 paper | Jan. 24, 2025 | 9781439925935
Exploring the little-known subculture of all-female motorcycle clubs. Hoiland, an associate professor of sociology at Hostos Community College, came to motorcycle clubs (MCs) through her long-time biker husband. When their marriage ended, she began interviewing other women with “various affiliations to MCs—including ol’ ladies, adult children of bikers, and a clubhouse stripper—to better understand their roles and my own.” That project led to the discovery of an all-woman motorcycle club that Hoiland studied between 2011 and 2019. Embedding herself in the group, the author gained access to the MC’s “initiation rituals, annual ceremonies, and extensive socialization process.” She watched as prospects ran a gauntlet of knowledge and character tests over periods that could extend anywhere from one to five years before they earned each of the patches that identified their “citizenship” status within an organization. Members were encouraged to strive for “righteousness” or “excellence,” which Hoiland points out is rooted in offering selfless
service to group members. Despite the emphasis on sisterhood, “girl power,” and camaraderie, however, Hoiland discovered that the club was far from a feminist organization. When she first began her research, the MC, which lacked in ethnic diversity, admitted queer females; later, it rescinded that policy. Sisterhood and liberation appeared to be only for some and not all biker women, which indicated that the group had closer ties to the history that haunted male-dominated MC organizations. Hoiland’s commitment to this project is admirable, and the stories she tells of her relationships with the women bikers are intriguing, if dry at times. Nevertheless, the details this book offers about a guarded, difficult-to-access subculture-within-a-subculture will undoubtedly prove useful to other social scientists who study the fascinating world of motorcycle clubs. A thoughtful ethnographic study about women, belonging, and empowerment.
Illies, Florian | Trans. by Tony Crawford | Polity (220 pp.) | $25.00 Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781509567546
An art historian documents the achievement of one of Germany’s most important painters. Historian Illies writes in this admiring biography that Friedrich (1774-1840) was “the most famous German painter of the nineteenth century” yet suffered an inexplicable “descent into oblivion.” Many factors influenced that decline in interest in this painter of allegorical landscapes who “inhaled nature to exhale it again as art.” Illies alternates between stories of Friedrich’s personal life and the creation of his works. He divides the book into sections dedicated to the four classical elements—fire, water, earth, and
air—that inspired Friedrich’s paintings or affected their fate, as when a blaze at the home of Princess Mathilde of Saxony destroyed two inherited Friedrichs, Morning in the Mountains and Mountain Scene in Evening Light. The book shows the influence Friedrich had on other artists, from Samuel Beckett, who had a “prototypical experience” that inspired Waiting for Godot after he viewed Friedrich’s landscapes, to Kurt Vonnegut, who was in prison during the Dresden bombing of World War II and later had his character Billy Pilgrim describe “the sunsets over the destroyed city as if they were skies by Caspar David Friedrich” in Slaughterhouse-Five Sometimes, Illies sledgehammers square pegs into round holes and forces events to fit this arrangement, as when, in the water section, he writes of the Nazis’ efforts to embrace Friedrich as “a stout, seaworthy Teuton who would stand in the bow during their misguided expeditions to come.” Most of the book, however, is more restrained. Sprinkled throughout are amusing if unnerving anecdotes, such as the one about Walt Disney’s 1935 trip to Munich to see a compilation of his work titled In the Realm of Mickey Mouse. “The Nazis allowed the glorification of other rulers,” Illies writes, “as long as they were mice.” A welcome appreciation of the greatest painter of German Romanticism.
Jotischky, Andrew | Yale Univ. (464 pp.)
$38.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780300208566
Not simply solitary figures. Jotischky, professor of medieval history at the University of London, author of A Hermit’s Cookbook: Monks, Food and Fasting in the Middle Ages, writes that at the height of their influence (c. 800-1300), “monasteries provided intellectual
leadership for the institutions of Church and civil government, innovation in religious thought and practice, pastoral care, medical provision, education, visual culture and agricultural development” while providing alms for the poor, hospitality for travelers, and schooling for local people. Almost as soon as Roman Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity in 312, pious individuals began devoting their lives to serving God. Avoiding individuals (“mendicants,” “anchorites”), he focuses on enclosed communities that first appeared in the eastern Mediterranean in the fourth century, most likely in Egypt. They quickly spread, becoming an indispensable feature of Christian society by the sixth century. By the 12th century, monasteries were fixed and immutable points in political culture. They were found in towns and cities as well as remote areas. Abbots and even abbesses were regular attenders at royal and aristocratic courts. Possession of property brought responsibilities and obligations to the running of political society as well as quarrels. As businesses, they were employers and sources of labor and purchasers of goods. Monks themselves were used as representatives of governments at a time when professional diplomacy did not exist. World history, from the fall of Rome to the Enlightenment, makes its appearance, but Jotischky sticks closely to his specialty. The result is perhaps more than the average reader wants to know about the founding and influence of individual monasteries as well as the origin, philosophy, and controversies of the various schools: Cistercians, Cluniacs, Augustinians, Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans.
A thorough account of the “engine rooms of medieval society.”
Kennedy, Pagan | Vintage (320 pp.)
$19.00 paper | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780593314715
The story behind a critical forensic innovation. Award-winning journalist Kennedy, molested twice as a child, grew up in the 1970s and ’80s and was taught to be fearful of predators, who seemed to be everywhere. She learned, too, that victims had little recourse for justice; too often authorities accused them of lying—until the invention of the rape kit. Coming into widespread use in the late 1970s, it allowed for the collection of useful evidence and altered police and hospital protocol. Its very existence seemed unlikely: “How,” she wondered, “does a tool that empowers women ever get built in a man’s world?” That question led Kennedy to discover Martha “Marty” Goddard, a worker at a crisis center for teenagers in Chicago who found that many of the runaways had escaped sexual violence in their homes. Yet their traumas went ignored: Goddard was shocked that sexual assault evidence was sloppily collected at hospitals and handed off to police departments eager to dismiss the cases. With dogged determination, Goddard lobbied politicians for change, becoming a citizen adviser on the city’s Rape Task Force and sharing her idea for a rape kit with Chicago police. To get their attention, though, she had to let a man take credit: the kits came to be attributed to police sergeant Louis Vitullo. In the mid-1970s, Goddard founded the Citizens Committee for Victims Assistance, got funding to put together standardized kits, and delivered them to 25 Chicago hospitals. In addition, she ran training sessions for medical personnel and police, changing the culture around the treatment of victims. In 1984, the Justice Department hired her to travel around the country to promote the use of rape kits. But suddenly, in
1988, Goddard disappeared. Kennedy’s tenacious sleuthing reveals a surprising portrait of a defiant, troubled, and mysterious woman. Absorbing detective work.
Wild West Village: Not a Memoir (Unless I Win an Oscar, Die Tragically, or Score a Country #1)
Kirke, Lola | Simon & Schuster (272 pp.)
$28.99 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781668035573
An actress/ singer-songwriter muses on surviving her fierce, feral, fast-living family. Kirke grew up the youngest daughter of a rock musician father and a clothing designer mother. Rife with bohemian disarray, their New York City home—which recalled “an expensive French brothel”—attracted stars like David Bowie, who once declined an offer to use one of her sister’s hands as an ashtray, and Courtney Love, who set fire to their house during a long stay. Despite her access to privilege, wealth, and deliriously outrageous parties where she danced in “oversize antique underwear,” Kirke secretly yearned for normalcy and for respect from her beautiful elder sisters who avoided or ignored her unless she had something they wanted. She discovered acting as a preteen and threw herself into comically inappropriate roles like child prostitutes and “a slew of other promiscuous women,” all with the goal of gaining the accolades that always seemed to go to her siblings. Later, she landed roles in small indie
films, then the Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle, but those successes always seemed overshadowed by those of other family members. Still searching for her artistic identity, she went to a songwriting retreat where she met a country music producer she called the Cowboy, who embodied “both the freedom and stability I’d long craved.” When every song she wrote after that “came out country,” Kirke realized not only that she loved the Cowboy enough to move to Nashville, but also that country music could help her render everything, including the most complex feelings, “perfectly simple.” This memoir-in-essays will appeal to anyone who enjoys unforgettable characters and fearless storytelling from a writer unafraid to face down her own demons.
A funny, raw, and painful book about a woman’s chaotic, thoroughly individual path to coming into her own.
Lawler, Andrew | Atlantic Monthly (544 pp.)
$30.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780802164131
Accounts of the American Revolution’s outbreak often focus on Massachusetts, but there was plenty of action in Virginia, the largest colony.
Journalist and historian Lawler, author of The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke, introduces John Murray, the Earl of Dunmore (1730-1809), Virginia’s
Growing up in a fierce, feral, fast-living family—and yearning for normalcy.
royal governor from 1771 until he fled in 1775. As governor he represented British authority but could make no laws and possessed no police or military force. This caused no problems at first because he and Virginia’s elite shared the same goal—to enrich themselves by acquiring huge lands beyond the Appalachians by expelling the Indians (already expelled from Virginia itself). After a few years, his popularity plummeted as he tried to discourage opposition to new parliamentary taxes and then suppress an increasingly organized rebellion. To strengthen his minuscule forces, he issued the famous Dunmore’s Proclamation in November 1775, promising freedom to slaves who volunteered to bear arms for the crown. This produced—in addition to outrage among Virginia patriots—a few thousand Black volunteers. Formed into fighting units, they skirmished with rebels and didn’t do badly. But preoccupied elsewhere, Britain gave Dunmore little help. After a year of steady retreating, he abandoned Virginia, sailing off with ships packed with loyalists and escaped slaves. He continued to urge superiors to recruit enslaved people. Many considered it a good idea, but it was never official policy. Lawler joins a new generation of scholars who have determined that the earl’s proclamation makes him a pioneering hero in the campaign against slavery. He also gives Britain high marks for refusing to return the former slaves. This infuriated America’s leaders, Washington and Jefferson included, who maintained that they were stolen property who rightfully belonged to their owners.
A convincing rehabilitation of Dunmore, plus another dollop of clay added to the feet of our Founding Fathers.
For more about the American Revolution, visit Kirkus online.
Leppin, Volker | Trans. by Rhys S. Bezzant | Yale Univ. (296 pp.) | $30.00 Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780300263800
The extended life of the poverello of Assisi.
Professor of historical theology at Yale Divinity School, Leppin is translated by Bezzant in a graceful and incisive account of Francis of Assisi. Far from a relic of the past, Francis is a resonant figure in contemporary discourse. Invoked by the present pope both in his chosen name and in his attention to the global poor and climate degradation, the saint’s image has a profound implication on our lived experience today, especially in his common depiction as a monk living simply in nature, advocating a physical and spiritual poverty. Leppin delves into the life of the historical man both as it has been told over time and through his comparison and analysis of these sources. Born to a wealthy merchant family in Umbria at a time of economic and social upheaval—the noble classes and bourgeoisie falling, the mercantile classes expanding and being liberated from fiefs, and the social divide between the maiores and minores dawning—Francis rejected his inherited status for a life that would lend him the nickname “poverello [poor little man] of Assisi.” Francis founded a brotherhood of mendicants, which attracted young and destitute followers and gained the recognition of the papacy. Leppin relates this cultural and political force to the saint’s role as patron to the hippie movement and the 1967 “Summer of Love” in San Francisco. As evocative as these associations are, Leppin’s book is an academic work with a careful interpretation of historicity. The hagiographies are weighed against papal histories as well as the biases of our modern desires for a sainted image to calm our social ills. “It is a biography,” Leppin acknowledges, “and yet at the same time it is a book about the
difficulties of writing a biography, and specifically a biography of Francis of Assisi.” What remains is an image of the man whose impact over the ages led to many stories, histories, and hagiographies—and now this careful biographical account of the life of Francis as he may have lived it and of the saint whose influence continues in our modern day. An elegant biography of a medieval man and a much-needed saint for these restless times.
Lynskey, Dorian | Pantheon (512 pp.) $32.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780593317099
The end is just around the corner—and has been for thousands of years. It was Churchill who intoned that the future will be just one damn thing after another. That view informs this entertaining journey through the many theories of imminent Armageddon. Lynskey, a journalist and podcaster, has collected a huge amount of material, ranging from biblical prophecies to sci-fi movies. Many, of course, have believed that the end of the world is nigh, with perhaps a chosen few surviving. With dry wit, Lynskey connects these apocalypse fantasies to modern culture and human nature. The past half-century has seen a procession of worrying forecasts about overpopulation: resource depletion, plagues, nuclear war, the Y2K bug, and the Mayan calendar. Often it was the brightest experts who made the predictions—but made no apologies when they turned out to be laughably wrong. Hollywood has long loved disaster movies, throwing in aliens, zombies, and other post-collapse scenarios. The end of the Cold War changed the portentous picture, but chronic worriers soon found other causes, with Covid-19 and climate
change setting off new rounds of dread. But this raises the question: Since the experts have been wrong so many times, should we believe them now? Lynskey is not sure why many feel the need to see only a dismal future, but catastrophic thinking can easily become a fashion. “The doomers,” he writes, “have overdosed on dread.” The point, the author says, is to find a place between empty despair and mindless optimism. Exploring a host of apocalypse fantasies with dry wit.
Maxwell, Lida | Stanford Univ. (176 pp.)
$25.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781503640535
The noted environmentalist was inspired by a love affair. Maxwell, professor of political science and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, offers a celebration of queer love and a critique of heteronormativity through her examination of the intimate friendship between Carson (1907-1964) and Dorothy Freeman (1898-1978). The two met in 1953, when Carson built a house neighboring that of Freeman and her husband in Southport, Maine; their immediate emotional bond deepened through the years. Maxwell describes the friendship as “queer” because it “drew them out of conventional forms of marriage and family”; furthermore, she asserts repeatedly, the relationship changed Carson, whose writing “became more vibrant, passionate, and urgent after she fell in love,” empowering her to write Silent Spring (1962), her exposé of the deleterious effects of the unregulated use of pesticides and insecticides on human and nonhuman life. As Maxwell sees it, failure by biographers to account for the friendship’s significance in Carson’s writing of that book “reinforces the ideology of what I call ‘straight love.’” The affair, Maxwell argues, shifted Carson’s perspective on nonhuman
nature, fueling her desire “to sustain the vibrant multispecies world that helped create their love.” Although Carson had established herself as an acclaimed nature writer before Silent Spring, still Maxwell asks, “Would Carson ever have realized that nature is a source of ‘wonder,’ if she had not met Freeman, and scripted their love, with her, as a source of wonder?”
Setting Carson and Freeman’s love in the context of her own queer relationship, Maxwell encourages everyone to “become more attuned to their queer feelings, what those feelings might teach them about themselves,” and “what politics they might want to engage in.” Reading Carson and Freeman’s letters, Maxwell declares, have taught her that “queer love can change the world.” An impassioned analysis, at times overly insistent.
Meltzer, Brad & Josh Mensch
Flatiron Books (304 pp.) | $29.99
Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781250790576
Novelist Meltzer and historian Mensch tell the story of a failed assassination of JFK.
Having written three other books on attempted assassinations, the co-authors now turn their attention to a little-known episode in the political career of John F. Kennedy. The book begins on the day of the attempt in question, Dec. 11, 1960, in Palm Beach, Florida, where the former senator, now president-elect, was readying himself to take the oath of office and occupy the White House. As JFK exited his family estate with his wife and young daughter, an older man was waiting in a 1950 Buick sedan, “not a fancy or noteworthy vehicle.” The moment passed without incident (the authors go on to theorize as to why), even though the Buick was equipped with seven sticks of dynamite
When JFK escaped an assassination plot—three years before he was killed.
THE JFK CONSPIRACY
connected by wire to a small trigger mechanism, powerful enough to “blow up a mountain.” From this climactic moment, the authors shift backward in time, tracing the rise of the young JFK, starting with his heroic actions on an armed mobile patrol boat in the South Pacific during World War II. In alternating chapters, the book details the life of Richard Pavlick, the man in the Buick: From small-town New England, as a young man he had served briefly in the Army; now he was “full of grievances” and was known to his neighbors as a prolific complainer and writer of angry letters. Pavlick, “extremely anti-Kennedy and anti-Catholic,” became “intensely focused” on the Kennedy-Nixon election and was galvanized to act when Kennedy won. The authors, experienced writers of this blend of popular history and thriller, keep the chapters short and punchy, with cliffhangers at the end of each one. This brisk and vivid history of a 1960 assassination plot has the instincts of a thriller.
Osgood, Josiah | Basic Books (384 pp.) $32.00 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781541604254
The life of the Roman orator, lawyer, and politician Cicero. If you can read the history of the late Roman republic without being confused by all the players and their contending agendas, then you’re a
rarity. In Cicero’s case, considerable confusion lies in constantly shifting alliances and some very well-placed enemies. In one episode that Georgetown University historian Osgood examines at considerable length, a freed slave named Chrysogonus, operating under the aegis of the tyrannical ruler Sulla, engineered the murder of a wealthy provincial landowner and took over his estates, having declared his victim an enemy of the republic. (If this sounds more like organized crime and less like the governance of a growing world power, then you’re on the right track.) In the long trial that followed, Cicero delighted his audience with a snippy putdown of the prosecutor that would never pass in court today: “Even if fortune hasn’t allowed you to know who your father is and so to learn how a father feels toward his children, nature at least has endowed you with some human feeling.” Indeed, as Osgood recounts, the Roman legal system, though with some vestiges in our own, was less concerned with evidence than with good storytelling and smart rhetorical tricks, at which Cicero excelled. But those sorts of skills can also earn a fellow enemies: going up against both Sulla and, later, a powerful, rule-bending politician named Clodius, Cicero marked himself for retribution. Osgood’s account of one particularly complex episode in Roman history, known as the Catiline conspiracy, is as clear as circumstances will allow—which is to say, one still needs a score card. It will be up to the reader to gauge whether Cicero had it coming, whether Julius Caesar was a good guy or a bad guy, and so on.
Richly detailed, if sometimes a slog. Still, the best life of Cicero to have come along in a long while.
Owens, Patricia | Princeton University Press (448 pp.) | $35.00 Jan. 21, 2025 | 9780691266442
Recovering forgotten women. Owens, an Oxford professor of international relations, investigates the role of women in the founding of international relations as a separate academic discipline in early- to mid-20th-century Britain. Misogyny and racism, she argues convincingly, at first marginalized and later erased the contributions of women and people of color: journalists, scholars, activists, and public intellectuals. Among 18 women she discusses, the 12 she examines in most detail include Margery Perham, Merze Tate, Eileen Power, Margaret Cleeve, Coral Bell, and Susan Strange. All “deeply historical thinkers,” they were politically, ethnically, racially, and socioeconomically diverse; their politics encompassed “high Tory appeasement, anticolonial Black Marxism, conservative and liberal imperialism, socialist and feminist internationalism, conservative realism, and antiracist geopolitics.” Their personal lives differed as well: Strange, an economist with a degree from the London School of Economics, was the mother of six children. “Radical journalist” Claudia Jones was a British subject born in Trinidad, with no education beyond high school. Tate was the first African American to earn a graduate degree, in diplomatic history, at Oxford. Cleeve held a lofty position as the administrator of Chatham House, Britain’s leading institution for international relations research. Drawing on oral histories, autobiographies, biographical and historical published sources, visual images, and archival material, Owens creates a detailed group portrait of an impressive cohort, recounting their involvement in international organizations, their stance on anti-colonial efforts,
and their resistance to an “all-white, all-male” canon that preferred to investigate Britain’s past rather than engage with the empire’s collapse. Not until the 1970s, Owens notes, was Strange able to found the British International Studies Association, in the context of Britain’s “slow transition from an imperial to a national concept.”
A valuable contribution to feminist and intellectual history.
Paoletta, Kyle | Pantheon (400 pp.)
$30.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780553387377
Population growth and its discontents in the desert. Few books toggle between natural science and Vegas nightclubs, but that’s what Paoletta does in his sweeping debut. The widely published journalist describes the geologic events that produced New Mexico’s “granulated gypsum” hills and an “andesite peak” in Texas, but he’s mainly concerned with the Southwest’s relatively recent past. He carefully chronicles how Spanish and Anglo newcomers ran roughshod over indigenous peoples and “communities of color.” These sections are nicely written but inevitably derivative. The Santa Fe native is bolder, and more edifying, when focusing on the debate that will define the region’s future. Broadly speaking, one side recognizes the land’s “inherent limitations,” while the other believes that the Southwest’s remarkable economic growth—enabled by huge dams and related infrastructure projects—should proceed apace. The latter outlook, Paoletta explains, was shaped by organizations with vast yet underappreciated influence. In the 1950s, Arizona Highways, a magazine of nature photos and Phoenix fandom, reached 200,000 subscribers, 93% of whom didn’t live in the state. Such boosterism helped triple Arizona’s population in the years after
World War II. Surprisingly—yet not without reason—Paoletta argues that Las Vegas is part of the sustainability vanguard. The city may get “drier and drier,” but its water recycling and conservation initiatives place it “among the most efficient municipal water users in the world.” Though Paoletta smartly synthesizes the concerns of the writers, laborers, and others he interviews, he’s not always charitably minded. He writes of “the studied blindness of the colonizer” when describing fellow white people he encounters on a tour of historic houses. Yet the evidence plainly backs his conclusion that the Southwest needs to increase resource conservation and other “communal” practices.
A solid, occasionally exceptional look at an arid region’s deep footprint.
Parten, Bennett | Simon & Schuster (272 pp.) $29.99 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781668034682
Vigorous history of Sherman’s March to the Sea, viewed less as a military campaign than as a “veritable freedom movement.” When William Tecumseh Sherman’s army arrived at Atlanta in 1864, it found itself a magnet for thousands of enslaved people who left surrounding plantations and found refuge among the blue-clad soldiers. By Georgia historian Parten’s count, something like half a million such enslaved people crossed into U.S. lines. Sherman was not enthusiastic about them, less interested in emancipation than in crushing the secessionist rebellion. As Parten writes, Sherman was even less interested in the prospect of enlisting Black soldiers in the Union army: “With Atlanta within reach and the end of the war coming into view, he held that now wasn’t the time to insert new soldiers into the mix. He also
couldn’t let go of the idea that enslaved people would serve the army best as laborers.” Though Ulysses S. Grant held similar views, urging Sherman to send Black men north to Virginia to build siegeworks around Richmond, the army finally relented and enrolled Black soldiers—an important step in later securing full citizenship rights. Parten examines and dismantles certain myths about the March to the Sea, discarding the “lost cause” view that Sherman had unleashed savage war on the civilian population; instead, he holds, Sherman reserved his wrath for the slaveholders and the Confederate military—which, at one critical battle, turned out to be “little more than a sad assemblage of old men and young boys.” Parten also uncovers some unsavory aspects of racism among the Union forces, including one general’s habit of pulling up bridges so that the train of formerly enslaved people who followed after him would not be able to cross—which, in one horrific instance, led to the murder of many at the hands of rebel fighters. A well-known episode in Civil War history viewed from a fresh, and illuminating, perspective.
Pearl, Matthew | HarperCollins (272 pp.)
$30.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780063338067
A genuine Swiss Family Robinson adventure, but darker. Pearl, author of The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap That Shaped America, introduces readers to the vast Pacific Ocean in the 19th century, dense with seaborne commerce. Mostly small-time operations, the commerce could be legitimate (fishing, trade) or not (kidnapping indigenous islanders for slave labor on plantations). Despite its name, the Pacific is often stormy; there is a large literature on shipwrecks and
castaways. Pearl turns up the Walker family: father, mother, three adolescent boys, and a dog engaged in shark fishing around the Hawaiian islands. In 1887, off Midway Atoll, a storm destroyed their ship, leaving them and 24 crew members stranded. To their surprise, they encountered a scrawny young man. He seemed congenial but was probably a psychopath. He had been abandoned months earlier by a crew who suspected he had murdered two of their members. Later, he and another seaman left in a small boat, promising to bring help. They reached an inhabited island but never mentioned the castaways. On a diet of birds, bird eggs, and fish, the Walkers and crew lost weight, many developing scurvy. Maddeningly, several ships approached but passed by, apparently unwilling to test the island’s dangerous reefs. Pearl relies heavily on contemporary journalism and unreliable records, so there is a good deal of speculation, many digressions to the experience of other castaways, and a detour into Robert Louis Stevenson, who used details of the Walker experience in his 1892 novel The Wrecker A realistic castaway account.
Pelly, Liz | One Signal/Atria (288 pp.) $28.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781668083505
Demystifying Spotify.
In this age of platform capitalism, with streaming service content whizzing through our brains, the story of Spotify’s success is uniquely instructive. Emerging in 2006, after the first forays of Napster and Pirate Bay into the ethical murkiness of peer-to-peer file sharing, Spotify has grown to mammoth proportions. Backed by stringent research, Pelly writes convincingly about how independent musicians, initially convinced of the purported democracy of the
platform, have become subservient to big-business interests, like the majority of their 20th-century forebears. The algorithms behind Spotify’s curated playlists, the passivity of its paying listeners engendered by those playlists’ “we’ll do it for you” ethos, and the decline in intelligent listening before data-driven systems tell a story of essentially translating customers’ postmodern laissez-faire into hard coin. Pelly argues that the company has affected the quality of music itself, turning songs into little more than “streambait”: Producers position the catchy chorus of a song, for example, at the very beginning of a track to hook listeners in the attempt to charm them from clicking Next, or they hire music production companies to write songs that will optimize income across multiple playlist categories. It will then be no surprise when one discovers Spotify has long embraced “ID syncing,” the act of selling a user’s personal data to other companies—and serving up music generated by AI, leaving even less room at the table for individual, all-too-human artists. A strong indictment to rouse consumers into considering just where our commitment to music is headed.
Presley, Lisa Marie & Riley Keough Random House (304 pp.) | $32.00 Oct. 8, 2024 | 9780593733875
Sharing a mother’s life and essence in an openhearted, unmediated way. The title of this book is a lyric from “Where No One Stands Alone,” one of the songs Lisa Marie Presley recorded as a duet with archival tapes of her father, Elvis Presley. Now her daughter, Riley Keough, has done something similar, using material that her mother recorded
in the last years of her life, before her death at 54 in 2023. Transcribing and editing the tapes, Keough adds commentary and fills in the blanks, noting in a preface that her mother “was constitutionally incapable of hiding anything from me.” The two voices are printed in different fonts in the book, which works well. Lisa Marie shares powerful memories of her father, who died when she was nine, from wild times in golf carts at Graceland to the day his lifeless body was carried away. Her teenage years were shaped by the hands-off approach of her mother, Priscilla Presley, who dropped her at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre to be taken care of. She shares interesting details of her relationships with husbands Danny Keough, Michael Jackson, Nicolas Cage, and Michael Lockwood. The story of her and Jackson falling in love, bonding over the wildly abnormal lives they share, reveals a side to the man rarely seen. The toll taken by the suicide of Keough’s younger brother Ben in 2020 is expressed by both authors; from then on, Lisa Marie’s own death was something of a foregone conclusion. If his mother felt that, both by nature and by nurture, “Ben didn’t stand a fucking chance,” then she was equally cursed: “I guess I didn’t really have a shot in hell.”
A moving portrait of a life lived on the further reaches of the bizarre planet of American celebrity.
Ravinthiran, Vidyan | Norton (240 pp.)
$18.99 paper | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781324021322
A South Asian Harvard professor uses poetry to make sense of his life. Born to Sri Lankan Tamil parents who moved to England to escape the Sri Lankan civil war, literature professor Ravinthiran is an autodidact who, despite missing years of schooling,
achieved the grades necessary to get into Oxford and eventually receive a professorship at Harvard. In this book, the author explores how poetry and literature have allowed him to understand the nuances of his life. He writes, “This book is about how literature in general, and poetry in particular, provided me with a way out and a way in: with a place where the powers fomented in me (and I’ll always be grateful for that) could unfold in unworldly, surprising ways.” For example, Ravinthiran uses the poetry of Andrew Marvell to both analyze the racist slurs he encountered in his youth and explicate “the choices my parents made both in and out of Sri Lanka in response to British rule.” In examining his experience of moving to America with his autistic son and increasingly distant wife during the pandemic, he turns to the poetry of John Keats. Throughout the book, the author also turns to South Asian writers and thinkers like Bhanu Kapil, Rhik Samadder, and Rohini Mohan for insight into his family’s culture and history. Beautifully written and impeccably argued, this meandering story focuses more on themes than chronology. While Ravinthiran’s writing is often heartfelt, the book’s academic register and insistence on literary analysis can, at times, create a sense of narrative distance between the author and his own story, as well as between the author and the reader. A gorgeous Sri Lankan British memoir.
Reddy, Nancy | St. Martin’s (256 pp.)
$28.00 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781250336644
was shocked to find herself feeling more like a frazzled “leaking mammal” in the weeks after giving birth to her first child than a fulfilled, “blissedout” new mom. The unconditional love she had been taught she would automatically feel did not materialize, and for a time, Reddy believed that being a good mother was beyond her reach. In a book that draws on her experiences as a new mother and on research into the mid-20th-century social scientists and doctors whose well-intentioned work ultimately created “bad ideas” about good mothering, she begins by looking at Harry Harlow, whose studies of baby monkeys and their cloth surrogate mothers laid the groundwork for the myth that the best mothers were as “constantly available” as they were “endlessly adoring.” Building on Harlow’s work, John Bowlby developed his theory of mother-child attachment, which claimed that mothers were naturally designed to exist in a private, caregiving dyad with their children. Pediatrician Benjamin Spock later echoed the ideas of both in his bestselling child-rearing manual. But as the author suggests, his advice that women follow their instincts and their (male) doctors’ instructions served only to undercut women’s confidence in their own mothering abilities. Reddy’s own experiences— like learning to accept help from others outside her family—taught her two important lessons: that children—and mothers—thrive the most “when cared for by a whole community” and that love is as much felt as it is built over time. Intelligent and well researched, Reddy’s study offers insights that new mothers will undoubtedly find both useful and liberating.
Probing the history of “the good mother.”
As a feminist and daughter of a devoted single mother, Stockton University writing professor Reddy
A refreshingly honest book that challenges the problematic ideals of motherhood.
Sebo, Jeff | Norton (192 pp.) | $24.00 Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781324064800
Rethinking responsibility and compassion.
Philosopher
Sebo argues for an expansion of moral thinking to include animals, insects, plants, microbes, and even artificial intelligence. Rejecting human exceptionalism—the idea that human life has more value than nonhuman life—Sebo grapples with the question of which beings matter and what humans might owe the nonhuman ones. Beings, Sebo asserts, are not only humans who exist currently, but those who may exist in the future, including silicon-based beings who share the human community. “What,” he asks, “does it mean for a being to matter for their own sake?” Sebo begins with two perplexing cases that raise critical issues: Does an elephant, such as one kept in a zoo, have a right to liberty? Does a bot, such as one that claims to feel emotions, have the rights of a person? His responses tease out complex ethical debates. To illustrate his explanation of moral theories such as harm reduction theory, rights theory, virtue ethics, and care ethics, Sebo presents examples of moral conundrums: a businessman considering how to dispose of toxic waste; the morality of the insect-farming industry; and a young woman who unexpectedly discovers that one of her roommates is a Neanderthal and the other, a bot. In the latter case, how might the woman’s relationship with them change because of these revelations? Sebo sees a future in which silicon-based beings evolve “with the capacity for more complex and varied motivations than humans and nonhuman animals.” Will that capacity give them value in humans’ moral circle? The ethics of the Anthropocene, Sebo asserts, requires that we increase the probability that our actions will help others and decrease the probability that our actions will harm
others: We must think cosmically, then globally, and then act locally.
A thoughtful unsettling of moral certainty.
Sklansky, David A. | Harvard Univ. (256 pp.)
$35.00 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780674293663
A searching examination of the criminal justice system in America, each of whose components is found wanting.
“American criminal justice is in crisis. It doesn’t do nearly enough to prevent crime, and it doesn’t deliver nearly enough justice.” So writes Stanford law professor and former U.S. attorney Sklansky. The four major elements of the justice system, from policing to punishment with prosecution and adjudication in between, are all hopelessly broken, the author argues. Policing focuses, oppressively, on poor people of color, most of whom would welcome equitable treatment, since “crime has devastating, disproportionate impacts on poor people and people of color, especially Black Americans.” Sklansky is not an advocate of defunding the police, but he does see numerous ways in which meaningful reforms can be carried out. Reforms in the other three areas of justice are also wanted. As Sklansky writes, prosecutors wield too much power overall, and much legal defense falls either on overworked and underpaid civil servants or on attorneys in private practice who effectively subcontract to governments of various levels. One way of reining in prosecutorial power, Sklansky writes in a provocative turn, is to put more responsibility on juries’ shoulders by explaining to them the possible outcomes of their decisions and having those juries do the sentencing: “Telling them forthrightly about the practical stakes of their verdict, whether or not they can
weigh in on the sentence, will encourage them to take collective responsibility—as adjudicators and later, after the trial, as citizens.” To make this happen effectively, Sklansky adds, juries must be fair—which means they must be representative of the population, which means they must be far more diverse. Finally, reforms in sentencing toward restorative justice and away from creating a permanent underclass of criminals and ex-cons are badly needed.
A valuable platform for advocates of judicial, penal, and police reform.
Stern, Scott W. | Yale Univ. (464 pp.)
$35.00 | Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780300273571
A historical examination of rape trials in the Mississippi Delta during Jim Crow, with Maya Angelou as an important witness.
“The very first reported case heard in the Territory of Arkansas was a rape case,” writes legal historian Stern. That took place in 1820, occasioning a sentence of castration, commutation by the territorial governor, and an inconclusive series of laws that started with the death penalty for any convicted rapist and quickly devolved into two laws: a Black man would be put to death, but a white man would be sentenced for “not less than one year.” Fast-forward a century, and Jim Crow laws saw to it that Black people indeed died if convicted of rape—assuming they weren’t lynched first, lynching having been an important instrument of “keeping the Black population under control.” Stern looks closely at two contemporaneous cases, the one with Black defendants and the other with whites; the outcome was predictable, and even if the whites were imprisoned, it
was in a comparative country club. Within this discussion emerges, both in testimonial and as moral compass, the writer Angelou, born Marguerite Johnson and raised in southwestern Arkansas in a town, as Stern writes, that “was an exceedingly dangerous place for Black people, especially Black men accused of rape.” Marguerite, raped as a young girl, knew sexual violence firsthand, yet she labored under a double shadow, since “Black activists”—men, mostly—“understandably shied from highlighting cases of Black men raping Black women or girls.” Even so, as Stern notes, Black women opened up that discussion, becoming agents for social change that would motivate Marguerite, now Maya, to become a pioneering feminist and to record her experiences in her writings, creating “something new, and newly vulnerable.”
A welcome study of racial justice and injustice.
Kirkus Star
Talese, Gay | Mariner Books (432 pp.)
$29.99 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9780063392182
Revisiting Gotham.
“New York is a city of things unnoticed,’’ Talese writes at the outset of his latest collection, a spirited compendium of pieces that deal with everything from the preferred habitations of the wild cats of Manhattan to the builders of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the social protocols of George Plimpton’s Paris Review set, and the kidnapping of mobster Joe Bonanno. It’s a bit of misdirection. Talese is nothing if not a noticer, focusing on the grainy details that distinguish journalism that aspires to literary art from dutiful wire service reports. The book shines with the love that the author, the son of an Atlantic City tailor, bears for his adopted home,
giving E.B. White’s legendary ode, Here Is New York, a run for its money. Documenting his journalistic doggedness, the entries are preceded with reproductions of Talese’s original typescript, dotted with emendations and reminders of where he wants to take the tale. Much of this deeply reported material is repurposed from earlier pieces, often updated. For example, The Bridge, detailing how the Verrazano-Narrows structure championed by “master builder’’ Robert Moses forced Brooklynites from their Bay Ridge homes, was first published as a standalone volume in 1959. Here, it includes a preface for a new edition, released in tandem with the 50th anniversary of its opening. His understated portrait of Bill Bonanno, the ambivalent but dutiful son of the kidnapped mobster, is notable not only for its narrative, but the skill it took to gain access to this famously private circle. The collection includes Talese’s previously published iconic piece, “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold,’’ which appeared in his 2023 collection, Bartleby and Me. Despite that caveat, one must pay the nonagenarian auteur his due. Even on rereading, Talese’s work gets better, like fine wine.
Trump, Melania | Skyhorse Publishing (256 pp.) $28.00 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781510782693
A carefully curated personal portrait. First ladies’ roles have evolved significantly in recent decades. Their memoirs typically reflect a spectrum of ambition and interests, offering insights
into their values and personal lives. Melania Trump, however, stands out as exceptionally private and elusive. Her ultra-lean account attempts to shed light on her public duties, initiatives, and causes as first lady, and it defends certain actions like her controversial “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” jacket. The statement was directed at the media, not the border situation, she claims. Yet the book provides scant detail about her personal orbit or day-to-day interactions. The memoir opens with her well-known Slovenian origin story, successful modeling career, and whirlwind romance with Donald Trump, culminating in their 2005 marriage, followed by a snapshot of Election Day 2016: “Each time we were together that day, I was impressed by his calm.…This man is remarkably confident under pressure.” Once in the White House, Melania Trump describes her functions and numerous public events at home and abroad, which she asserts were more accomplished than media representations suggested. However, she rarely shares any personal interactions beyond close family ties, notably her affection for her son, Barron, and her sister, Ines. And of course she lavishes praise on her husband. Minimal anecdotes about White House or cabinet staff are included, and she carefully defuses her rumored tensions with Trump’s adult children, blandly stating, “While we may share the same last name, each of us is distinct with our own aspirations and paths to follow.” Although Melania’s desire to support causes related to children’s and women’s welfare feels authentic, the overall tenor of her memoir seems aimed at painting a glimmering portrait of her husband and her role, likely with an eye toward the forthcoming election.
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.
Praising her husband while sharing little about her personal life.
MELANIA
Prepare to be enchanted, immersed, and stunned by the treasures on display among our Best Picture Books of 2024: a profoundly moving exploration of a whale fall, two wildly different unicorn stories, and a truck book that’s nothing short of psychedelic. You’ll find tales from a U.S. poet laureate, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a Nobel Prize winner, as well as newcomers sure to soon become household names. Books that pay tribute to everyday wonders, and books that push youngsters’ imaginations to their very limits—in short, books to create lifelong readers.
Adusei, Denise Rosario | Illus. by Priscila Soares | Roaring Brook Press (40 pp.)
$18.99 | June 4, 2024 | 9781250824967
A vibrant, poetic celebration of Deafness, dance, nature, and self-advocacy. (Picture book. 4-8)
Albee, Sarah | Illus. by Stacy Innerst | Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Aug. 27, 2024 | 9781662680007
A lighthearted, illuminating, and thoughtprovoking look at a brief but meaningful historical moment. (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Alemagna, Beatrice | Hippo Park/ Astra Books for Young Readers (48 pp.)
$18.99 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781662640506
A uniquely moving story about an unlikely subject. (Picture book. 4-8)
Antrobus, Raymond | Illus. by Ken Wilson-Max | Candlewick (32 pp.)
$18.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9781536235487
Both big and little siblings will see a bit of themselves in this exquisite equinesaturated tale. (Picture book. 3-6)
Becker, Aaron | Candlewick (40 pp.)
$18.99 | March 26, 2024 | 9781536227680
Epic storytelling erupts on the page without the use of a single word. Superb. (Picture book. 4-7)
Águila, María Dolores | Illus. by Magdalena Mora | Dial Books (40 pp.)
$18.99 | June 18, 2024 | 9780593462072
A marvelous testament to barrio-based might. (Picture book. 4-8)
Albee, Sarah | Illus. by Eileen Ryan Ewen | Charlesbridge (48 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 22, 2024 | 9781623543792
Albee plainly has a ball, and readers will, too. (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Truth,
Anderson, Beth | Illus. by Jeremy Holmes Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (48 pp.) | $18.99 | May 14, 2024 | 9781635926200
A delightfully enlightening account and a welcome antidote to our own time’s precarious truthiness. (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Archer, Micha | Nancy Paulsen Books (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780593461303
A beautiful invitation to spring for the curious nature lover. (Picture book. 4-8)
Beckmeyer, Drew | Atheneum (48 pp.)
$18.99 | June 25, 2024 | 9781665940429
An inspired and strikingly original riff on the back-to-school experience. (Picture book. 5-9)
Bell, Cece | Walker US/ Candlewick (64 pp.) $19.99
March 26, 2024 | 9781536226249
Hilarious, high-stepping tributes to a musical niche that never was. (Picture book/poetry. 6-9)
Bingham, Winsome & Wiley Blevins Illus. by Jason Griffin | Neal Porter/ Holiday House (56 pp.) | $19.99 Sept. 17, 2024 | 9780823456420
A moving, elegantly constructed celebration of differences sure to foster empathy and stir the imagination. (Picture book. 4-8)
Booth, Leslie Barnard | Illus. by Stephanie Fizer Coleman | McElderry (40 pp.)
$18.99 | March 26, 2024 | 9781534496965
A lyrical evocation of an essential natural cycle. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
Carson, Rachel | Illus. by Nikki McClure Candlewick Studio (48 pp.) | $19.99 March 12, 2024 | 9781536228700
Contemplative and stirring—definitely for wonderers. (Informational picture book. 7-9)
Chung, Jocelyn | Illus. by Julia Kuo
Nancy Paulsen Books (32 pp.) | $18.99
Oct. 15, 2024 | 9780593533574
Readers will feel the love—in every well-chosen word and each exquisite image. (Picture book. 5-8)
Best, Cari | Illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh Anne Schwartz/Random (40 pp.)
$18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Feb. 27, 2024 9780593564639 | 9780593564646 PLB Utterly irresistible. (Picture book. 1-4)
Blackall, Sophie | Anne Schwartz/ Random (48 pp.) | $19.99 April 2, 2024 | 9780593429396
Avast, me mateys! This be good clean fun on the salty seas. (Picture book. 3-6)
Brunelle, Lynn | Illus. by Jason Chin Neal Porter/Holiday House (48 pp.)
$18.99 | June 4, 2024 | 9780823452286
Grand and engrossing. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
Cecil, Randy | Candlewick (40 pp.)
$17.99 | April 2, 2024 | 9781536226164
Humorous, poignant, and oh-sosatisfying. (Picture book. 3-7)
Cline-Ransome, Lesa | Illus. by James E. Ransome | Paula Wiseman/ Simon & Schuster (48 pp.) | $18.99
Jan. 9, 2024 | 9781534496620
An excellent depiction of a life lived with purpose. (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
Cline-Ransome, Lesa | Illus. by James E. Ransome | Candlewick (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 24, 2024 | 9780763681555
A profoundly moving tribute to the resilience and resourcefulness of many who lived in bondage. (Picture book. 5-8)
Compestine, Ying Chang | Illus. by Xinmei Liu Rocky Pond Books/Penguin (40 pp.)
$19.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9780593533987
A vivid glimpse into a childhood under communist rule. (Picture-book memoir. 6-10)
Eady, Antwan | Illus. by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey | Knopf (40 pp.)
$18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Jan. 30, 2024 9780593480571 | 9780593480588 PLB
A sumptuously illustrated, bittersweet story that’s at once an ode to and a eulogy for Black American farms. (Picture book. 4-7)
Flett, Julie | Greystone Kids (44 pp.)
$19.95 | May 7, 2024 | 9781771646109
An exhilarating story of discovering a unique passion and building a caring community. (Picture book. 4-8)
Frank, Kiley | Illus. by K-Fai Steele Knopf (42 pp.) | $18.99 July 2, 2024 | 9781984852434
A deeply satisfying tale of a square peg who finds a way to triumph. (Picture book. 4-8)
Cole Doyon, Samara | Illus. by Kaylani Juanita | Tilbury House (40 pp.)
$18.95 | April 15, 2024 | 9781668936832
A deeply empathetic celebration of familial love and neurodiversity. (Picture book. 5-10)
Desnitskaya, Anna | Eerdmans (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Aug. 20, 2024 | 9780802856319
Beautifully crafted and warmly empathetic. (Picture book. 5-9)
We Are Definitely Human Fang, X. | Tundra Books (48 pp.)
$18.99 | Aug. 6, 2024 | 9781774882023
DEFINITELY a good book. (Picture book. 4-8)
Florian, Douglas | Beach Lane/ Simon & Schuster (48 pp.) | $18.99 May 28, 2024 | 9781665937726
Appealing information in a delightfully sunny package. (Picture book/poetry. 5-9)
Freedman, Deborah | Viking (40 pp.)
$18.99 | March 5, 2024 | 9780593352670
Cirrus-ly great. (Informational picture book. 5-8)
Golio, Gary | Illus. by E.B. Lewis | Calkins Creek/ Astra Books for Young Readers (48 pp.)
$18.99 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781662680557
This memorable offering is one readers will return to for moments of inspiration. (Picture-book biography. 4-9)
Grant, Shauntay | Illus. by Jenin Mohammed Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (32 pp.)
$19.99 | Jan. 2, 2024 | 9780063093911
A mesmerizing ode to a practice steeped in meaning. (Picture book. 4-8)
Harmony, Cynthia | Illus. by Devon
Holzwarth | Viking (32 pp.) | $18.99
Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780593525760
A beautiful story about cycles and traditions that shines a light on migration. (Picture book. 4-8)
Harris, Shawn | Knopf (48 pp.)
$18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Feb. 6, 2024 9780593571880 | 9780593571897 PLB
At last! A unicorn book as charming as the species it highlights. (Picture book. 3-6)
Hernández, Karol | Illus. by Lorena Alvarez Gómez | Dial Books (40 pp.)
$18.99 | July 9, 2024 | 9780593529201
A delightful journey; readers will be eager for repeat trips. (Picture book. 2-5)
The Soldier’s Friend: Walt Whitman’s Extraordinary Service in the American
Golio, Gary | Illus. by E.B. Lewis | Calkins Creek/ Astra Books for Young Readers (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9781635925876
In a time of strife in contemporary America, this emotive story centers empathy and kindness. (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Hannigan, Jess | Katherine Tegen/ HarperCollins (48 pp.) | $19.99 March 19, 2024 | 9780063289475
Terrific fun with a shrewd hero. (Picture book. 3-8)
Harper, Janelle | Illus. by Frank Morrison | Viking (40 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 2, 2024 | 9780593526309
A culturally rich and beautifully illustrated child’s-eye view of home. (Picture book. 4-8)
Henkes, Kevin | Illus. by Laura Dronzek Greenwillow Books (32 pp.) | $19.99 May 14, 2024 | 9780063245662
Found objects sometimes yield the simplest pleasures. Consider this book one such example. (Picture book. 3-6)
Hest, Amy | Illus. by Renata Liwska Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.)
$18.99 | March 5, 2024 | 9780823453412
A snuggly, soothing bedtime read. (Picture book. 4-6)
Hest, Amy | Illus. by Erin E. Stead
Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.)
$18.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9780823449750
A loving look at failing at fishing in the best possible way. (Picture book. 3-6)
Ho, Joanna | Illus. by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya | Orchard/ Scholastic (48 pp.) | $19.99
April 16, 2024 | 9781338846652
Striking and defiant: an unabashed declaration of hope. (Informational picture book. 7-12)
Jeffers, Oliver & Sam Winston Candlewick (56 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 6, 2024 | 9781536235500
With hijinks and hilarity hidden on every page, this is a sweet, strange, wordy tale bound to delight all who pick it up. (Picture book. 4-10)
Kane, Karen & Jonaz McMillan | Illus. by Dion MBD | Nancy Paulsen Books (32 pp.)
$18.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9780593532294
A thrilling tale of bravery, friendship, and the power of signing. (Picture book. 3-7)
Kim Hyo-eun | Trans. by Deborah Smith | Scribble (52 pp.) | $19.95 Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781957363851
Sharing isn’t always caring, but affection and scheming go hand in hand in this sweetly hilarious tale. (Picture book. 4-6)
Hippely, Hilary Horder | Illus. by Matt
James | Neal Porter/Holiday House (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Oct. 29, 2024 | 9780823456666
A visually compelling, compassionate look at an often-misunderstood situation. (Picture book. 4-7)
Hopkinson, Deborah | Illus. by Nik Henderson | Knopf (40 pp.) | $19.99
Aug. 13, 2024 | 9780593426814
A page-turning medical mystery that makes a compelling case for following the facts. (Informational picture book. 4-8)
Kadi, Marion | Trans. by Marion Kadi & Abram Kaplan | Eerdmans (48 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780802856210
A highly original tale of trying on—and ultimately integrating—multiple identities. (Picture book. 4-7)
Kemp, Laekan Zea | Illus. by Beatriz
Gutiérrez Hernández | Neal Porter/ Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99
June 4, 2024 | 9780823453924
Perfectly orchestrated: brava! (Picture book. 4-8)
King, Coretta Scott with Barbara Reynolds Illus. by Ekua Holmes | Godwin Books (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Jan. 2, 2024 | 9781250167101
Eloquent and stately. (Picture-book memoir. 7-9)
Look! Look!
Krishnaswami, Uma | Illus. by Uma
Krishnaswamy | Groundwood (32 pp.)
$19.99 | April 2, 2024 | 9781773069326
A gorgeous and inspiring imagining of a collective response to climate change. (Picture book. 3-8)
Limón, Ada | Illus. by Peter Sís Norton Young Readers (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781324054009
A luminous call to think about what is and to envision what might be. (Picture book. 7-10)
Lord, Janet | Illus. by Julie Paschkis
Margaret Quinlin Books/Peachtree (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Aug. 6, 2024 | 9781682636299
A compelling, joyous, informative romp that captures the craftiness and effervescence of corvids. (Informational picture book. 4-8)
Ludwig, Sidura | Illus. by Sophia Vincent Guy | Candlewick (40 pp.)
$18.99 | May 14, 2024 | 9781536225495
Intertwining the tactile rituals of baking with the religious and cultural heft of Shabbat, a contemplative paean to challah. (Picture book. 4-8)
Lundberg, Sara | Trans. by B.J. Woodstein | Eerdmans (66 pp.)
$18.99 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9780802856333
A lovingly told exploration of compromise that leads to a new outlook on life. (Picture book. 4-7)
Leung, Julie | Illus. by Yifan Wu Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (40 pp.)
$19.99 | May 28, 2024 | 9780063006300
Acute and rich in insight. (Picture-book biography. 7-9)
Long, Loren | Roaring Brook Press (48 pp.)
$19.99 | June 25, 2024 | 9781250903136
A steady paean to time’s passing and the pleasures found along the way. (Picture book. 3-6)
Lucianovic, Stephanie V.W. | Illus. by Chris Park | Carolrhoda (32 pp.)
$18.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9781728460451
It’s swing, hit, and no miss with this rip-roaring charmer. (Picture book. 4-7)
Lukoff, Kyle | Illus. by Julie Kwon Dial Books (32 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 27, 2024 | 9780593462911
A master class in apologies and in storytelling through words and art. (Picture book. 4-8)
Mack, Jeff | Henry Holt (48 pp.)
$19.99 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781250864666
An inspiring and empowering manifesto for young creators. (Informational picture book. 4-9)
Maclear, Kyo | Illus. by Gracey Zhang
Random House Studio (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Aug. 27, 2024 | 9780593706084
A fascinating, loving snapshot of a gravity-defying artform lost to time. (Picture book. 4-8)
McDaniel, Breanna J. | Illus. by April Harrison | Dial Books (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593324202
The Master Storyteller returns to storytime at last. (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
Mello, Roger | Trans. by Daniel Hahn
Elsewhere Editions (38 pp.)
$19.95 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781962770088
An evocative, enchanting tale of the quest for community. (Picture book. 4-8)
Mo, Cherry | Penguin Workshop (40 pp.)
$18.99 | June 11, 2024 | 9780593661345
A touching immigrant story that hits the heart—and stomach. (Picture book. 4-8)
Mo Yan | Adapt. by Guan Xiaoxiao Illus. by Zhu Chengliang | Trans. by Ying-Hwa Hu | Simon & Schuster (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Aug. 6, 2024 | 9781665930628
Gentle yet powerful. (Picture book. 4-8)
Maclear, Kyo | Illus. by Katty Maurey Enchanted Lion Books (56 pp.)
$18.95 | Oct. 22, 2024 | 9781592704057
A subtle but potent look at the ephemeral nature of life—and a reminder to cherish memories. (Picture book. 5-8)
Meadows, Michelle | Illus. by Jamiel Law Harper/HarperCollins (48 pp.)
$19.99 | Jan. 30, 2024 | 9780063273474
A high-quality introduction to an important figure in American literature. (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
Miller, Lulu | Illus. by Hui Skipp Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster (40 pp.)
$18.99 | June 11, 2024 | 9781665919173
A gloriously bright, inventive world on wheels. (Picture book. 2-6)
Moore, Michael Boulware | Illus. by Bryan Collier | Godwin Books (32 pp.)
$19.99 | May 28, 2024 | 9781250818355
A moving tale of triumph that brings the past to life. (Picture-book biography. 8-10)
Muhammad, Ibtihaj & S.K. Ali | Illus. by Hatem Aly | Little, Brown (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 24, 2024 | 9780759555716
Series: The Proudest Blue, 3
A winning tale to be shared over and over. (Picture book. 4-8)
Nayeri, Daniel | Illus. by Matt Rockefeller | HarperAlley (40 pp.)
$19.99 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9780063277168
Entrancing and complex. (Picture book. 4-8)
Nguyen, Viet Thanh | Illus. by Minnie Phan | Minerva/Astra Books for Young Readers (48 pp.) | $18.99
May 7, 2024 | 9781662651199
A powerful, multilayered depiction of an increasingly common situation. (Picture book. 4-8)
Ochoa, Alfonso | Illus. by Andrés López Trans. by Shook | Transit Children’s Editions (32 pp.) | $19.95
April 16, 2024 | 9781945492877
A glorious look at the potential benefits and vulnerabilities of a new possibility. (Picture book. 5-8)
Partridge, Elizabeth | Illus. by Ellen Heck | Chronicle Books (60 pp.)
$19.99 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781452135144
A riveting look at an iconic landmark and architectural feat. (Informational picture book. 5-8)
Retener, Joëlle | Illus. by DeAnn Wiley Barefoot Books (32 pp.) | $17.99
April 2, 2024 | 9798888590744
Joyfully affirming. (Picture book. 4-8)
Newman, Lesléa | Illus. by Susan Gal Levine Querido (40 pp.)
$18.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9781646143702
A soaring ode to community, tradition, and family. (Picture book. 4-6)
Nicholls, Sally | Illus. by Júlia Sardà Viking (48 pp.) | $19.99
Aug. 13, 2024 | 9780593692103
Deft writing and entrancing art prove once more why the old stories are worth retelling. (Picture book/ folktale. 7-10)
Odeh, Maysa | Illus. by Aliaa Betawi Henry Holt (40 pp.) | $19.99
Oct. 22, 2024 | 9781250896704
A haunting, powerful, and crucial tale of culture and identity. (Picture book. 5-10)
Redniss, Lauren | Random House Studio (40 pp.) | $19.99
May 21, 2024 | 9780593645949
Intense summertime heat never looked this good. (Picture book. 4-8)
Robbins, Dean | Illus. by Susanna Chapman | Candlewick (40 pp.)
$17.99 | March 5, 2024 | 9781536224863
Bang the drums—loudly—for this arresting account of a gifted virtuoso. (Informational picture book. 5-8)
Robinson, Lisa | Illus. by Hadley Hooper
Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.)
$18.99 | March 19, 2024 | 9780823452668
A veritable feast for the eyes and the mind. (Informational picture book. 5-9)
Roth, Jonathan | Christy Ottaviano Books (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Aug. 20, 2024 | 9780316525541
A flight of fancy—and facts—sure to set aspiring scientists’ imaginations soaring. (Informational picture book. 5-9)
Seales, Stephanie | Illus. by C.G. Esperanza | Abrams (48 pp.) | $18.99
June 11, 2024 | 9781419760815
A magical celebration of family, freedom, and Black joy. (Picture book. 4-8)
Sorell, Traci | Illus. by Michaela Goade | Kokila (32 pp.) | $18.99 May 7, 2024 | 9781984816030
An evocative, heartwarming testament to the power of home and community. (Picture book. 6-10)
Sweeney, Linda Booth | Illus. by Miki Sato | Owlkids Books (32 pp.) | $18.95
March 12, 2024 | 9781771475310
Nature offers up marvelous surprises at every turn—even via a humble puddle teeming with life. (Informational picture book. 5-8)
Rogers, Andrea L. | Illus. by Rebecca Lee Kunz | Levine Querido (48 pp.)
$18.99 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781646144549
Native life and language are at the center of this beautiful sibling story. (Picture book. 4-10)
Iguanodon’s Horn: How Artists and Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together Again and Again and Again
Rubin, Sean | Clarion/HarperCollins (48 pp.)
$21.99 | March 19, 2024 | 9780063239210
Lively, funny, and mesmerizing. (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Seeger, Laura Vaccaro | Neal Porter/ Holiday House (32 pp.) | $19.99
Oct. 1, 2024 | 9780823448678
Count on Seeger for powerful, accessible art for young readers. (Picture book. 2-6)
Spencer, René & Rodolfo Montalvo Illus. by Rodolfo Montalvo | Roaring Brook Press (40 pp.) | $18.99 April 30, 2024 | 9781250246721
A radiant tale of adventure and friendship. (Picture book. 4-8)
Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah | Illus. by Shahrzad Maydani | Abrams (40 pp.)
$18.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9781419767210
A powerful exploration of what it means to be welcomed, seen, and accepted. (Picture book. 5-9)
Wang, Ann Suk | Illus. by Hanna Cha
Dial Books (40 pp.) | $18.99
March 12, 2024 | 9780593530153
A poignant tale of light in the darkness—and compassion in times of war. (Picture book. 5-8)
Weatherford, Carole Boston | Illus. by Eric Velasquez | Candlewick (48 pp.)
$18.99 | April 16, 2024 | 9781536212976
This inspiring volume leaves nothing out. (Picture-book biography. 8-12)
Weatherford, Carole Boston | Illus. by Ekua Holmes | Candlewick (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 3, 2024 | 9780763697945
A breathtakingly gorgeous book that no reader should be without. (Picture book. 4-8)
Willems, Mo | Union Square Kids (32 pp.)
$17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781454948186
Vast charm in a (relatively) small package yields big laughs. (Informational picture book. 3-6)
Wilson, Rachel Michelle | Feiwel & Friends (32 pp.) | $18.99
Oct. 15, 2024 | 9781250910172
A number-one hit! (Picture book. 4-7)
Watson, Renée | Illus. by Bea Jackson Bloomsbury (40 pp.) | $18.99
May 7, 2024 | 9781547605866
An utterly immersive celebration of the boundless joys of summer—may they never end! (Picture book. 3-7)
Weatherford, Carole Boston Illus. by Khalif Tahir Thompson Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (48 pp.)
$19.99 | April 2, 2024 | 9780062911032
Transcendent and deeply resonant. (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
Wenzel, Brendan | Chronicle Books (48 pp.) | $18.99 | April 23, 2024 9781797202778 | Series: Brendan Wenzel
A masterful consideration of perception, exploration, and, ultimately, love. (Picture book. 3-6)
Willems, Mo | Union Square Kids (32 pp.)
$17.99 | June 4, 2024 | 9781454951452
This exploration of all things teeny-tiny will have kids riveted and learning far more than they’d ever expect. (Informational picture book. 3-6)
Yuly, Toni | Little, Brown (40 pp.)
$18.99 | May 14, 2024 | 9780316497817
Will prompt well-deserved appreciation for this unique bird. (Picture book. 4-7)
The author of The Last Stand answers our questions.
IN ANTWAN EADY’S The Last Stand , which was selected for our list of the best picture books of 2024, a boy and his father grapple with the effects of discrimination on Black farmers and their communities. While this is a heavy theme for young readers, Eady’s prose and the illustrations by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey make this an accessible and heartwarming story about the importance of family. As Eady writes in his author’s note, “Land is complex, as is our relationship with it, but land is love, too. Its soil is rich. And if we are to bring beauty back to our world, we must first reckon with the truth…as complicated as it may be.” Eady recently answered our questions by email.
of South Carolina, and I grew up in a self-sustaining community similar to what readers see in The Last Stand. I wanted to honor that experience and my community.
In our review of The Last Stand, we wrote that it’s “an ode to and a eulogy for Black American farms.” Why did you decide to take on this subject?
Black-owned and operated farms account for less than 2% of farms in the United States. That percentage was much higher decades ago, and it’s a direct result of Black farmers being discriminated against and denied the benefits of federal programs and loans. Taking on this subject was my way of continuing that conversation while also letting young dreamers know that it’s aspirational to say, “I want to be a farmer.”
What was the original idea that started you working on the book? Home. Oftentimes, it begins with home for me. I’m from the dirt roads
Where and when did you write The Last Stand ? Describe the scene, the time of day, the necessary accoutrements or talismans. It was written in 2020, after a year or so [of it] sitting in my notes app. I was working in animal medicine then, so I often wrote at my desk in the evening. On my desk was a copy of Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey’s The Old Truck , among other books that gave me permission to tell this story. Because of the time, at the height of the pandemic, writing at home was new for me—my norm didn’t exist. Everything was changing. But that change allowed me to stretch my writing muscles. Though I do remember having my pens (black, blue, and red) and yellow highlighter with me. That will never change.
In the author’s note, you write, “This book is a love letter.” To whom is this love letter addressed, and what do you hope readers will get out of it? It’s a love letter to all farmers, especially those who continue to serve their communities. I hope readers will continue thanking our farmers by supporting them and pouring into them the way they pour into us.
What was most challenging about writing this book? And most rewarding?
The most challenging part was writing my author letter. To do it justice, I had to revisit my “why,”
The Last Stand Eady, Antwan; illus. by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey Knopf | 40 pp. | $18.99 Jan. 30, 2024 | 9780593480571
which meant I had to discuss the history of what Black farmers have faced. I didn’t want readers to step away from our book feeling burdened by that truth. On the other hand, the most rewarding part was finishing that letter and filling it with joy and truth.
What books published in 2024 were among your favorites?
The Yellow Bus by Loren Long. The Table by Wiley Blevins, Winsome Bingham, and illustrator Jason Griffin. It’s Pride, Baby! by Allen R. Wells and illustrator Dia Valle. Emergency Quarters by Carlos Matias and illustrator Gracey Zhang. Sydney’s Big Speech by Malcolm Newsome and illustrator Jade Orlando. Bao’s Doll by Bo Lu.
Interview by Dan Nolan
The author of Joyful Song: A Naming Story answers our questions.
IT’S BEEN 35 YEARS since Lesléa Newman published the groundbreaking Heather Has Two Mommies , one of the first picture books to center an LGBTQ+ family. In the decades since, her depictions of loving families have offered countless readers much-needed mirrors. Her latest is no exception. Joyful Song: A Naming Story, illustrated by Susan Gal, portrays a queer family making their way to the synagogue for their baby girl’s naming ceremony—a ritual observed by many Jewish people. Newman answered our questions via email.
died three months before I was born. In high school, because of a computer error, I was put in the boys’ gym class and teased mercilessly, so I decided to change my name. I considered going by my Hebrew name, Leah, but since I hoped to become a famous writer, I wanted a unique name. I combined Leslie and Leah into Lesléa, adding the accent of stress over the second e to show it’s pronounced with three syllables. I asked my father, who was a lawyer, to help me change my name legally. He charged me a nickel and told me I had retained him as my attorney for life (best nickel I ever spent!).
Was Heather on your mind as you wrote this story?
Thirty-five years is a long time, and while some things about my process remain the same (I still write with a pen and notebook!), others have changed. When I wrote Heather, I had no idea how to write a picture book, having never written one before. I now have decades of writing experience and muscle memory to draw from as I sit down to hammer out a story. I wouldn’t say Heather was on my mind exactly as I wrote about Zachary, his two moms, and his baby sister, but everything Heather and I have been through in the past three and a half decades— the good, the bad, and the ugly—informs everything I do when I sit down to write an LGBTQ+ story.
Can you tell us the story of your own name?
I was named Leslie, after my maternal grandfather, Louis, who
Where and when did you write the book? Describe the scene, the time of day, the necessary accoutrements or talismans. There are several answers to that question. You could say I started writing Joyful Song a week after I was born, when I was held in my father’s arms up on the bima during my own naming ceremony. You could say I started writing Joyful Song about two decades ago, when I sat in synagogue with tears in my eyes as two brand-new moms stood next to the rabbi as he blessed their brand-new and newly named daughter. Or you could say I started writing Joyful Song one morning about five years ago, sitting on my writing couch, pen in hand, spiral notebook on lap, cat snoring beside me, staring at a blank page until, as my beloved friend Patricia MacLachlan used to say, the story came along and tapped me on the shoulder.
Newman, Lesléa; illus. by Susan Gal Levine Querido | 40 pp. | $18.99 May 7, 2024 | 9781646143702
What was most challenging about writing this book? And most rewarding?
The most challenging part of the book to write was Zachary’s speech, when he’s standing up on the bima announcing his new baby sister’s name to his community. Zachary has been practicing all week to get the words just right, and to honor him, I also needed to get the words just right. Since I am a poet and write out of that sensibility even when I’m not writing in verse, the most rewarding part was pinning down the rhythm of the prose, which was guided by the repetition that appears throughout the story.
Interview by Mahnaz Dar
This year’s best middle-grade titles are a rich and varied lot: Elements of fabulism enrich many stories. An appreciation for the wonders of nature is infused in books across genres from nonfiction to adventure to fantasy. Graphic memoirs highlight the flexibility and emotional power of this format. Fascinating page-turners shed light on lesser-known episodes in history. Translated books from around the world join titles written in English by international authors, opening up a world of literary abundance.
Aguirre, Jorge | Illus. by Andrés Vera
Martínez | First Second (256 pp.)
$22.99 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781250749741
Series: Monster Locker, 1
A simply smashing monster bash. (Graphic adventure. 10-14)
Almond, David | Illus. by Lizzy Stewart Candlewick (240 pp.) | $18.99 Sept. 3, 2024 | 9781536239171
A meditation on art and family, rich in language and feeling. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Ayoade, Richard | Illus. by David Roberts
Walker US/Candlewick (128 pp.)
$17.99 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781536222173
Series: Fairy Tale Fan Club
Happily ever after, mortal reader! (Fiction. 8-14)
Barone, Rebecca E.F. | Henry Holt (192 pp.)
$18.99 | May 14, 2024 | 9781250881656
Rock-solid history and science, highoctane action, and vivid descriptions— the book will inspire as much as it entertains. (Nonfiction. 10-adult)
The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare From Oblivion
Bausum, Ann | Illus. by Marta Sevilla | Peachtree (112 pp.) | $19.99 | April 2, 2024 | 9781682634950
A timely and engaging celebration of a literary landmark. (Nonfiction. 10-13)
Black Star
Alexander, Kwame | Little, Brown (384 pp.)
$17.99 | Sept. 24, 2024 | 9780316442596
Series: The Door of No Return, 2
A powerful and thoroughly satisfying blend of sports, history, family saga, and self-discovery. (Verse historical fiction. 10-18)
Atinuke | Illus. by Emily Hughes Candlewick (128 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781536225181
An absolute charmer. (Chapter book. 5-9)
Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare
Balis, Andrea & Elizabeth Levy | Illus. by Tim Foley | Roaring Brook Press (240 pp.)
$20.99 | April 16, 2024 | 9781250246813
A scorcher that exposes shameful attitudes, personalities, and events that might seem eerily familiar. (Nonfiction. 11-15)
Barrows, Annie | Illus. by Sophie Blackall | Chronicle Books (108 pp.)
$15.99 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781797219707
Series: Stella & Marigold
All the heart. None of the pablum. Sisterhood at its finest and freshest. (Early chapter book. 6-9)
Behar, Ruth | Nancy Paulsen Books (272 pp.)
$17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593323403
Powerful and resonant. (Historical fiction. 10-15)
Benway, Robin | Harper/ HarperCollins (272 pp.) | $19.99
Oct. 1, 2024 | 9780063311596
A heartwarming, richly told comingof-age story that radiates humor and care. (Fiction. 8-12)
Cham, Jorge | Amulet/Abrams (256 pp.)
$15.99 | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9781419764103
Series: Oliver’s Great Big Universe, 2
Parallels—mostly delightfully gross— between human bodies and geology will hook readers on science. (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12)
Cho, Tina | Illus. by Deb JJ Lee HarperAlley (224 pp.) | $24.99 Nov. 12, 2024 | 9780063011083
Triumphant, moving, and unforgettable. (Verse graphic adventure. 9-12)
Clarkson, Giselle | Gecko Press (120 pp.)
$24.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781776575190
A charming work sure to spark a lifelong habit of looking closely at the natural world. (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Dåsnes, Nora | Trans. by Lise Laerdal Bryn Hippo Park/Astra Books for Young Readers (240 pp.) | $24.99 | July 30, 2024
9781662640735 | Series: Cross My Heart, 2
A powerful blueprint for budding activists. (Graphic fiction. 9-13)
Cavallaro, Mike | First Second (224 pp.)
$15.99 paper | Feb. 13, 2024
9781250846433 | Series: Eowulf, 1
A pitch-perfect tale of friendship and fantastical foes. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)
Chan, Ruth | Roaring Brook Press (288 pp.)
$22.99 | $14.99 paper | Sept. 10, 2024 9781250855336 | 9781250855343 paper
Earnest, funny, and evocative. (Graphic memoir. 8-14)
Choldenko, Gennifer | Knopf (320 pp.)
$17.99 | June 11, 2024 | 9781524718923
Moving and perceptive: Hankies are a must. (Fiction. 10-13)
Cline-Ransome, Lesa | Holiday House (304 pp.)
$18.99 | March 5, 2024 | 9780823450169
A deeply moving story that centers a distinctive part of the African American story. (Verse historical fiction. 8-12)
Dassu, A.M. | Tu Books (386 pp.)
$23.95 | April 23, 2024 | 9781643796871
An important and triumphant read. (Fiction. 11-14)
DiCamillo, Kate | Candlewick (240 pp.)
$18.99 | March 5, 2024 | 9781536231052
Tenderly resonant and memorable. (Fiction. 8-12)
Dimopoulos, Elaine | Illus. by Doug Salati | Charlesbridge (208 pp.)
$17.99 | May 21, 2024 | 9781623544270
Whimsical, witty, wise. (Fiction. 7-11)
Fagan, Deva | Atheneum (320 pp.)
$17.99 | April 9, 2024 | 9781665930192
A richly creative magical adventure about challenging an unfair status quo. (Fantasy. 10-13)
Faruqi, Saadia | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (416 pp.) | $19.99
Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780063115811
Powerful and timely. (Fiction. 9-14)
Fong, Debbie | Random House Graphic (272 pp.) | $21.99 | $13.99 paper
March 19, 2024 | 9780593425206 9780593425183 paper
A poignant story that delicately balances youthful delight and naïveté with profound mourning. (Graphic fiction. 9-13)
DiCamillo, Kate | Illus. by Carmen Mok Candlewick (80 pp.) | $16.99
April 30, 2024 | 9781536222791
A simple tale about looking beneath surfaces that’s as sweet as butterscotch candy. (Early chapter book. 7-9)
Duncan, Violet | Nancy Paulsen Books (128 pp.) | $17.99
Aug. 27, 2024 | 9780593624814
Compelling yet heartbreaking—and essential reading for all young people. (Fiction. 10-14)
Farmer, Craig Kofi | Roaring Brook Press (352 pp.) | $17.99
Sept. 10, 2024 | 9781250900265
Heroic feats aplenty amid explorations of rich cultural and personal landscapes. (Fantasy. 9-13)
Fleming, Candace | Scholastic Focus (384 pp.) | $19.99 | March 5, 2024 9781338749571 | Series: Scholastic Focus
A gripping narrative celebrating teen girls’ underrecognized contributions to Allied war efforts. (Nonfiction. 9-14)
Gilligan, Paul | Tundra Books (240 pp.) | $14.99 paper | Oct. 15, 2024 | 9781774880463
An authentic and funny look at masculinity and growing pains that resonates across the decades. (Graphic memoir. 10-13)
Gordon, Gia | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (272 pp.)
$17.99 | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9780374392055
A finely drawn and cleanly written story that will give readers hope. (Fiction. 10-14)
Hargrave, Kiran Millwood | Illus. by Tom de Freston | Union Square Kids (256 pp.)
$19.99 | April 2, 2024 | 9781454954347
A reverent, wondrous feast for the senses and a balm for bruised souls. (Fiction. 9-13)
Hiranandani, Veera | Illus. by Prashant
Miranda | Kokila (272 pp.) | $17.99
Jan. 23, 2024 | 9780525555063
A quietly brilliant, deeply insightful story of living in uncertain times. (Historical fiction. 8-12)
Hosler, Jay | HarperAlley (160 pp.)
$24.99 | $15.99 paper | March 26, 2024 9780063294004 | 9780063293991 paper
A must-read for lovers of ants, ecosystems…and unlikely friendships. (Graphic fantasy/nonfiction. 8-11)
Ed. by Johnson, Leah | Freedom Fire/ Disney (320 pp.) | $18.99
Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781368098960
Electric: bequeaths confidencebuilding stories that sizzle with wisdom and a little bit of magic. (Anthology. 9-14)
Hardinge, Frances | Illus. by Emily Gravett | Amulet/Abrams (120 pp.)
$19.99 | Aug. 27, 2024 | 9781419774331
A deftly told, bittersweet story of loved ones lost and remembered, tinged with hope and courage. (Fantasy. 7-12)
Henkes, Kevin | Greenwillow Books (256 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 8, 2024
9780063389625 | Series: Miller Family Story
A delightful, understated triumph. (Fiction. 6-10)
Hopkinson, Deborah | Scholastic Focus (224 pp.) | $9.99 paper
Oct. 15, 2024 | 9781338882339
This riveting account will hold readers spellbound. (Nonfiction. 8-13)
Hunsinger, Emma | Greenwillow Books (304 pp.) | $25.99 Aug. 6, 2024 | 9780063158153
A slice of life that’s as imaginative as its protagonist. (Graphic fiction. 10-14)
Juckes, Sarah Ann | Illus. by Sharon King-Chai | Kane Miller (272 pp.)
$8.99 paper | Dec. 1, 2024 | 9781684649471
A beautifully written novel, pervaded with bittersweet and complex internal conflict. (Fiction. 8-12)
Khan, Hena | Salaam Reads/ Simon & Schuster (240 pp.)
$17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781534459915
A nuanced and quietly powerful story. (Fiction. 8-13)
Khan, M.T. | Jimmy Patterson/ Little, Brown (304 pp.) | $16.99
July 23, 2024 | 9780759557970
Captivatingly well written and magical. (Fantasy. 8-13)
John the Skeleton
Laan, Triinu | Illus. by Marja-Liisa Plats
Trans. by Adam Cullen | Yonder (64 pp.)
$19.95 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781632063700
A magical book that allows death to become a beloved part of life. (Fiction. 6-12)
Laird, Elizabeth | Macmillan Children’s Books (352 pp.) | $18.99
May 7, 2024 | 9781529075632
An atmospheric tale told in sparkling prose of a close-knit family caught up in a changing world. (Historical fiction. 8-12)
All About U.S.: A Look at the Lives of 50 Real Kids From Across the United States
Lamothe, Matt with Jenny Volvovski Illus. by Matt Lamothe | Chronicle Books (84 pp.) | $19.99 | Aug. 6, 2024 | 9781797213705
Methodical, inspiring, and consistently enlightening. (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Khan, Hiba Noor | Allida/ HarperCollins (336 pp.) | $19.99
May 7, 2024 | 9780063351868
A must-read distinguished by its powerful plot and poignant writing. (Historical fiction. 9-13)
Kurimoto, Kengo | Groundwood (216 pp.)
$22.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781773068626
A gentle, poignant tale of awakening to the subtle, healing wonders of the wild. (Graphic fiction. 9-12)
Read at Your Own Risk
Lai, Remy | Henry Holt (160 pp.)
$13.99 | Aug. 13, 2024 | 9781250323354
An ominous yet irresistible story that will delight and distress in equal measure. (Horror. 8-12)
Lam, Maple | Putnam (240 pp.) | $23.99
April 2, 2024 | 9780593524633 | Series: Monkey King and the World of Myths, 1
A thrilling, wholesome remix of a classic Chinese tale. (Graphic adventure. 8-12)
Radar and the Raft: A True Story About a Scientific Marvel, the Lives It Saved, and the World It Changed
Lantos, Jeff | Illus. by Alan Marks
Charlesbridge (192 pp.) | $18.99
Sept. 24, 2024 | 9781623543457
A rare and exhilarating mix of hard science and seagoing terror. (Nonfiction. 11-14)
Lapinski, L.D. | Yellow Jacket (240 pp.)
$18.99 | May 28, 2024 | 9781499816815
Excels at being educational without sacrificing charm, humor, or excitement. (Fiction. 8-12)
Lee, Erika & Christina Soontornvat
Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (320 pp.)
$19.99 | April 30, 2024 | 9780063242937
An eminently readable, consciousnessraising U.S. history told from a fresh perspective. (Nonfiction. 9-14)
LeZotte, Ann Clare | Scholastic (224 pp.)
$18.99 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781339021904
Quietly extraordinary. (Verse fiction. 10-14)
Madan, Vikram | Wordsong/Astra Books for Young Readers (128 pp.) | $19.99 Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781635928174
Juicy, joyful, and just right for reading aloud, too. (Graphic poetry. 6-10)
McGhee, Alison | Rocky Pond Books/ Penguin (208 pp.) | $17.99
May 7, 2024 | 9780593698457
Raw and sad but lit with occasional glints of humor and ending, as it should, on a rising note. (Fiction. 10-12)
Larsen, Mylisa | Clarion/HarperCollins (240 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9780063324664
An original narrative voice filled with humor and poignant truth telling. (Fiction. 10-14)
Leigh, Lindsey | Penguin Workshop (96 pp.)
$15.99 | July 9, 2024 | 9780593662595
As factually grounded as it is irresistibly fun. (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12)
Lincoln, Beth | Illus. by Claire Powell Dutton (304 pp.) | $17.99
Aug. 20, 2024 | 9780593533260
An amorally charming hero stars in this comically flamboyant heist mystery. (Mystery. 10-13)
Marrin, Albert | Knopf (256 pp.) | $24.99 March 19, 2024 | 9780593121733
Vivid, wide angled, and all too timely. (Nonfiction. 11-16)
Méndez, Yamile Saied | Little, Brown (336 pp.)
$16.99 | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9781643753980
Fast paced and tenderhearted. (Fiction. 9-13)
Miles, Shanna | Union Square Kids (368 pp.)
$16.99 | Oct. 22, 2024 | 9781454949336
Chills and chortle-worthy twists mix in happy abandon. (Paranormal. 8-12)
Miyakoshi, Akiko | Kids Can (72 pp.)
$19.99 | June 4, 2024 | 9781525313035
Charm incarnate. (Fiction. 5-8)
Holocaust
Nadel, Estelle with Sammy Savos & Bethany Strout | Roaring Brook Press (272 pp.) | $17.99 paper | Jan. 23, 2024 | 9781250247773
Sweeping, stark, tragic, and triumphant. (Graphic memoir. 11-16)
Nesbet, Anne | Candlewick (256 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 10, 2024 | 9781536234725
A sparkling tale of survival. (Adventure. 8-12)
Netz, Mo | Clarion/HarperCollins (208 pp.)
$18.99 | March 12, 2024 | 9780063266537
An action-packed, heartwarming tale of friendship, family, monsters, and magic. (Paranormal adventure. 8-12)
Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All
Miller, Chanel | Philomel (160 pp.) | $17.99
April 23, 2024 | 9780593624524
Wildly funny, charming, and deeply heartfelt. (Fiction. 7-11)
on
How Elizebeth Smith Friedman Broke the Nazis’ Secret Codes
Moss, Marissa | Abrams (224 pp.)
$19.99 | March 12, 2024 | 9781419767319
A bracing celebration of one gifted woman’s insufficiently heralded achievements in war and peace. (Biography. 10-13)
Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More
Neri, G. | Illus. by Corban Wilkin Candlewick (96 pp.) | $18.99
March 5, 2024 | 9781536223323
Warm memories of really cold places and the people who brave them for science. (Illustrated nonfiction. 7-11)
Ness, Patrick | Illus. by Tim Miller
Walker US/Candlewick (208 pp.)
$17.99 | Sept. 3, 2024 | 9781536235937
Heart and weirdness in equal measure prove you should never underestimate the power of a lizard! (Fiction. 8-12)
O’Connor, George | Colors by Norm Grock First Second (96 pp.) | $12.99 paper
March 26, 2024 | 9781250760777
Series: Asgardians, 1
A rainbow bridge to a fresh set of mythological places and faces. (Graphic mythology. 11-13)
O’Connor, George | Colors by SJ Miller
First Second | (96 pp.) | $21.99 | $12.99 paper | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781250760784
9781250760791 paper | Series: Asgardians, 2
It’s hammer time!
(Graphic mythology. 10-13)
Ormsbee, Kathryn | Illus. by Molly Brooks Random House Graphic (240 pp.)
$21.99 | Oct. 29, 2024 | 9780593650066
A heartfelt and endearing snapshot of adolescence. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
O’Shaughnessy, Kate | Knopf (336 pp.)
$17.99 | April 2, 2024 | 9780593650738
A strong, emotionally intelligent story. (Fiction. 9-13)
Romo, David Dorado | Crown (352 pp.) | $8.99 paper | Aug. 20, 2024 9780593567753 | Series: Race to the Truth
A powerful must-read for students of North American history. (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Sabic-El-Rayess, Amra with Laura L. Sullivan
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (352 pp.)
$18.99 | April 9, 2024 | 9780374390815
Simultaneously candid and heartbreaking yet warm and engaging. (Memoir. 8-12)
Ed. by Oh, Ellen | Crown (208 pp.) | $17.99 Oct. 22, 2024 | 9780593648445
A superbly rendered love letter to identity and heritage. (Anthology. 8-12)
Orr, Wendy | Pajama Press (224 pp.)
$18.95 | April 23, 2024 | 9781772783117
A beautifully executed, fantastical what-if tale for right now. (Fiction. 8-12)
Quigley, Dawn | Heartdrum (176 pp.)
$18.99 | June 4, 2024 | 9780063223622
A captivating, exquisitely penned story of hope and survival. (Verse novel. 10-16)
Rundell, Katherine | Illus. by Ashley Mackenzie | Knopf (368 pp.) | $19.99
Sept. 10, 2024 | 9780593809860
Series: Impossible Creatures, 1
An epic fantasy with timeless themes and unforgettable characters. (Fantasy. 10-16)
Scanlon, Liz Garton | Illus. by Dung Ho Knopf (128 pp.) | $16.99 | June 11, 2024 9780593644416 | Series: Bibsy Cross, 1
Pitch-perfect writing, a charming protagonist, and relatable conflict— what more could readers ask for? (Chapter book. 6-9)
Semenya, Caster | Norton Young Readers (240 pp.) | $19.99 May 28, 2024 | 9781324030973
Informative and inspiring. (Memoir. 11-16)
Smith, Cynthia Leitich | Heartdrum (240 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9780062870001
A unique and noteworthy tale that weaves together past and present with humor through stellar, multilayered writing. (Modern folklore. 10-14)
Snider, Grant | Chronicle Books (96 pp.)
$18.99 | March 26, 2024 | 9781797219653
Personal but personable, too, with glints of quiet humor. (Graphic poetry. 10-13)
Thomas, Kiah | Illus. by K-Fai Steele
Neal Porter/Holiday House (56 pp.)
$16.99 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9780823457779
A charmer that’s sure to garner its protagonist a devoted following—much to his chagrin. (Early reader. 6-9)
Tsong, Jing Jing | Kokila (208 pp.)
$23.99 | April 30, 2024 | 9780525553427
Earnest, engaging, and relatable. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
Silvey, Craig | Knopf (320 pp.) | $17.99
March 12, 2024 | 9780593703632
A perfect run of a novel with the heart of a champion. (Fiction. 8-12)
Smith, Sherri L. | Illus. by Christine Norrie | Graphix/Scholastic (144 pp.)
$24.99 | Aug. 20, 2024 | 9781338029437
By turns devastating and uplifting, a powerful testament to the human will to survive—and thrive. (Graphic historical fiction. 10-18)
Swinarski, Claire | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (256 pp.) | $18.99 Nov. 19, 2024 | 9780063321731
Brilliantly executed: a gem that’s a love letter to theater and summer camp. (Fiction. 9-13)
Tolcser, Sarah | Illus. by Antonio Caparo | Putnam (320 pp.) | $18.99 July 2, 2024 | 9780593696545
Charming characters abound in this tale that’s thoughtfully grounded in ethics. (Fantasy. 9-13)
Underhill, Scout | Colors by Liana Sposto Feiwel & Friends (272 pp.) | $14.99 paper | Feb. 27, 2024 | 9781250834348
Series: DnDoggos, 1
A smart, endearing tale packed with adorable dogs and useful tips for role-playing game newcomers. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)
Valenti, Karla Arenas | Illus. by Islenia
Mil | Knopf (256 pp.) | $17.99
Sept. 10, 2024 | 9780593177006
A quest undertaken for love and healing, replete alike with astonishing marvels and provocative themes. (Fiction. 9-13)
Watkins, Steve | Scholastic (288 pp.)
$18.99 | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9781546109983
A haunting testament to the strength of the human spirit. (Historical fiction. 10-14)
Is Color?: The Global and Sometimes Gross Story of Pigments, Paint, and the Wondrous World of Art
Weinberg, Steven | Roaring Brook Press (144 pp.) | $19.99
Aug. 20, 2024 | 9781250833419
A droll, effervescent, and wide-ranging work. (Nonfiction. 10-13)
Winston, Sherri | Bloomsbury (304 pp.)
$17.99 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781547608508
A deeply satisfying tale with an irresistible protagonist. (Fiction. 9-12)
Zarr, Sara | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (320 pp.) | $19.99
March 5, 2024 | 9780063045132
Authentic and heartbreaking but hopeful. (Fiction. 9-13)
Wang, Jin with Tony Johnston | Illus. by Anisi Baigude | Anne Schwartz/Random (112 pp.)
$16.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9780593563618
Rich with affection, wit, and joy, a captivating peek into Chinese village life. (Memoir. 7-9)
Weaver Jr., Tony | Illus. by Jes Wibowo & Cin Wibowo | First Second (320 pp.) | $14.99 paper | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9781250772879
A powerful, poignant reminder that you are always worth fighting for. (Graphic memoir. 10-16)
Wibowo, Jes & Cin Wibowo HarperAlley (240 pp.) | $24.99
May 14, 2024 | 9780063057609
Stellar: both heartbreaking and heartwarming. (Graphic fantasy. 9-13)
Wood, Chelsea L. | Illus. by Dave Mottram | Godwin Books (176 pp.)
$19.99 | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781250833983
An eye-opening, as well as stomach- churning, angle on who’s really the boss in the natural world. (Nonfiction. 10-13)
Zei, Alki | Trans. by Karen Emmerich Yonder (240 pp.) | $18.00
May 28, 2024 | 9781632063649
At once evocative of times past and more cogent than ever. (Historical fiction. 8-13)
The author and illustrator of Uprooted answers our questions.
RUTH CHAN’S “earnest, funny, and evocative” graphic memoir Uprooted: A Memoir About What Happens When Your Family Moves Back has the potential to plant a seed, according to young readers’ editor Mahnaz Dar: “It’s the kind of story that will make kids want to draw their own life experiences,” she says. Chan answered questions via email for Kirkus’ coverage of the best middle- grade books of 2024.
I think graphic novels offer so many fantastic possibilities in how a story can be told. There’s the text, there’s the image, and then there’s what you do with the text and image together. Depending on how you arrange them, there’s so much opportunity to imbue the story with emotion. You can slow scenes down or make them quiet or chaotic, and all of it contributes to fully immersing the reader in the story and what the characters are feeling or learning. Something in me told me Uprooted could only be told sufficiently through this medium.
Uprooted tells the story of your family’s move from Canada to Hong Kong in 1993, when you were 13, as well as the story of your father’s birth in China, in 1944, when his family was on the run from the Second Sino-Japanese War. How did you decide to tell these stories in tandem?
I was thinking about family history and what we could pass down to our future child (who is now a real child!). I remembered how my cousins and I would gather at our grandmother’s feet as she told us the story of my father’s birth and the values of courage, patience, and perseverance. I also thought about how my father told me this same story when I was 13 during my own “uprootedness.” It struck me as a very beautiful connection to my family history, and I wanted to honor these values by making something timeless and shareable. A graphic novel that wove two stories and three generations together seemed like the perfect fit.
How did you decide to tell these stories in this medium?
How would you describe your style of illustration in this book?
To be honest, when I first started this book, I was very nervous. Not only did I need to draw real people who would eventually read this book and see themselves in it, but almost all my past books have featured animal characters. I just wasn’t very comfortable drawing people! If I were to describe my style of illustration, it would be “the best that I can do.” And that’s really what any of us can strive for in telling our own story, no matter what age or level of expertise you have.
What inspired you during the writing/ drawing of Uprooted ?
I actually didn’t read other graphic novels or memoirs while I worked on Uprooted because I wanted to be able to trust my own approach to voice and visual storytelling. I read my (cringeworthy) diary as inspiration, looked at old photos, and reminisced about “the ol’ days” with friends and family who are in the book. And while I
Uprooted: A Memoir About What Happens When Your Family Moves Back
Chan, Ruth Roaring Brook Press | 288 pp. $22.99 | Sept. 10, 2024 | 9781250855336
worked, I listened to a lot of fiction audio books.
How did you celebrate publication day? I celebrated the best way possible: at schools with hundreds of children! I was on book tour, and it was so fun to see the students’ reactions to learning that they were some of the first to ever read the book. I also treated myself to a steak dinner and went to bed early.
What’s one of your favorite books of 2024?
We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang.
Interview by Megan Labrise
The author and illustrator of Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot! answers our questions.
WANT TO GET A TWEEN interested in science? Hand them one of the Oliver’s Great Big Universe comics, which smuggle an education in astrophysics, geology, and other weighty subjects into their pages via the shenanigans and wisecracks of the titular 11-year-old. The series is the brainchild of Jorge Cham, who has a Ph.D. in robotics from Stanford but also happens to be a skilled comics artist—and a funny guy. The second volume, Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot! came out this fall and made our list of the best middle-grade books of 2024. Cham replied to some questions by email.
concepts fun and easier to understand? That’s how the series was born.
What kind of science student were you as a kid? What captured you about the field?
Introduce us to Oliver, and tell us what inspired you to create him. Oliver is a fun 11-year-old who tells hilarious stories that have happened to him while also explaining fascinating science topics in kid-relatable ways. For example, that one time the cafeteria was really crowded and then somebody yelled “Fart!”? That’s just like what happened in the Big Bang. Volcanoes? Well, that’s the Earth barfing. (And it barfs a lot—there are 20 volcanoes erupting on Earth at any given time!)
The character is inspired by my son Oliver, who came home one day and announced at dinner that he wanted to be an astrophysicist. When we asked him if he knew what an astrophysicist does, he confidently answered, “No.” I thought that was really funny. All kids find science fascinating, but very few of them are engaged by traditional science books. What if a funny kid like my son explained it to them and used relatable situations and jokes to make the
As a kid, I was a lot like my son (and the Oliver in the books): concerned with playing with toys and video games. I wasn’t a typical “science kid,” which is what makes me good at explaining it to other people, I think. I mostly went to graduate school so I could keep playing with robots. But while I was there, I became fascinated with research and the idea of exploring the unknown— there’s so much of the world and ourselves we have yet to understand. I think if we focus more on that, and not just facts, then science will become more relatable and more inviting for kids.
What inspired you during the writing of the book?
My biggest inspirations were my kids. It’s a privilege when you can make it your job to pay attention to them and spend time with them. I really wanted to capture what it’s like to be a kid right now and what they find interesting and fun. Often, we would turn our dinner table into a writers’ room, where I would pitch story ideas and jokes to them, and they would give me their (usually brutal) feedback and suggestions.
Where and when did you write the book?
If I’m in writing mode, it’s something I carry with me and think about all day. The actual doing of it happens mostly at night, after everyone’s fallen asleep. For the Oliver’s Great Big Universe books, I
Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot!
Cham, Jorge Amulet/Abrams | 256 pp. | $15.99 Sept. 17, 2024 | 9781419764103
write everything in longhand, doodling as I go along. I’m usually sitting comfortably on a couch or standing at the kitchen counter. If I’m close to deadline, there’s a cup of tea involved (I call it “writing juice”), but only if I’m desperate.
What was most challenging about writing this book? And most rewarding?
The most challenging thing about these books is that they have to weave together a story, a full curriculum of science topics, and lots of funny moments and jokes. Most important, they have to be great reads for kids. I use every trick I’ve ever learned from a career writing comic strips, movies, television episodes, and science books. I find it most rewarding that I was able to craft a story that feels relatable and fun and has a positive message for kids at the end.
Interview by Tom Beer
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK me what makes for a truly great children’s book. A few characteristics come to mind: stellar writing, impeccable plotting, and immersive illustrations. But there’s also an element of je ne sais quoi. Sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones we never knew we needed. So many of the best picture books of 2024 took me by surprise with their inspired visions, like Loren Long’s The Yellow Bus (Roaring Brook Press, June 25), a contemplative ode to the passing of time. An anthropomorphized school bus finds meaning in a variety of new roles after she’s abandoned to the elements—sheltering first unhoused people, then a herd of goats. An image of the bus, submerged underwater yet happy to be providing a home for the fish, brings the tale to an eerily beautiful conclusion.
Doing double duty as an introduction to numbers and an ecological call to action, Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s Animal Countdown (Neal Porter/Holiday House, Oct. 1) pushes the concept book to new heights. Starting with 10 sea otters, the author/illustrator presents a dwindling number of melancholy-looking animals; she concludes with a lone snow leopard gazing out at readers—and a cogent warning that without our help, these creatures, all endangered or threatened, may truly vanish.
Andrea L. Rogers’ Chooch Helped , illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz (Levine Querido, Oct. 8), speaks to more quotidian concerns. Fed up with little brother Chooch, Sissy explodes in anger, but her parents explain that children require guidance—and that Sissy is key to helping Chooch learn and grow. Rogers and Kunz imbue text and art alike with
motifs from Cherokee culture; the result will earn nods of recognition from Indigenous readers yet will also reverberate with beleaguered big siblings the world over.
The list of the year’s best middle-grade books is filled with gems, too. G. Neri’s My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More, illustrated by Corban Wilkin (Candlewick, March 5), offers highlights of the author’s 2017 grant-funded trip. Though readers will love the strange and sometimes gross facts, they’ll be most inspired by the author’s trajectory as he overcomes uncertainties (the STEM-averse Neri found living among scientists an exercise in humility) and emerges more confident about his abilities as a “science translator.”
Mo Netz’s The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines
(Clarion/HarperCollins, March 12) centers on Jerry, a young girl who learns that the woods near the motel where she and her mother now live are filled with terrifying secrets. Filled with thrills and chills, this tale breaks boundaries in its depiction of a wheelchair user as a bold hero willing to put herself in danger—and who resists the labels that many adults attempt to place on her.
Debbie Fong’s graphic novel Next Stop (Random House Graphic, March 19) follows Pia on a road trip as she wrestles with feelings of grief and guilt in the aftermath of her younger brother’s death. Intertwined with revelatory flashbacks and by turns whimsical and achingly raw, this is a richly layered meditation on mourning while still attempting to live in the here and now.
Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.
Hilarity ensues when animals give presentations about other animals in this translated Dutch import by two award-winning creators. Upending the assumptions of readers who are used to seeing animals through a human lens, a variety of animals highlight other species in a version of class presentations. A cleaner fish speaks about sharks, in the process providing just as much information on the habits of cleaner fish themselves. A blackbird gives a presentation on the rose-ringed parakeet, before the verbose rose-ringed parakeet runs hilariously overtime in a talk about songbirds. The raucous
speakers, who aren’t always identified, often interrupt one another with questions and comments, creating a Greek chorus effect. Tensions arise; the animals attempt to shut down the Gila monster out of fear of his “breath of death.” Cleverly, in defending himself, he manages to convey an abundance of information. The characters’ personalities sometimes emerge in ways that will disrupt readers’ expectations. The creatures represent a global mix—a southern cassowary from Australia presents on hummingbirds of the Americas. The sections are interconnected through satisfying allusions that help create anticipation.
Dumon Tak, Bibi | Illus. by Annemarie van Haeringen | Trans. by Nancy Forest-Flier | Levine Querido | 224 pp. $19.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781646145102
Humorous, charming, childlike illustrations of the animals match the off-kilter tone of the text. Rounding out this stellar package, the ending integrates the index—put together by an earthworm and a midwife
toad—into the story, while seamlessly and amusingly introducing young readers to how an index functions. A brilliant use of anthropomorphic animals, serving up facts and entertainment. (Nonfiction. 8-12)
is a true gem.
TÍOS AND PRIMOS
Kirkus Star
Tíos and Primos
Alcántara, Jacqueline | Nancy Paulsen
Books (32 pp.) | $18.99
Feb. 18, 2025 | 9780593620137
A young girl connects with her family on a trip to Honduras with her father despite language barriers. Equipped with a simple “Hi, how are you?” in Spanish, the child prepares to meet her tíos and tías, primos and primas. Outside the airport, Papa’s brother asks her if she speaks español. “Más o menos,” she responds. As they zip through the winding city streets in a truck loaned by one of the uncles, the girl spots colorful buildings, bustling neighborhoods, and juicy roadside fruits. At her relatives’ auto shop, more tíos welcome Papa and the girl, and a tía and lots of primos are waiting for them at a cozy house. Through all the banter and stories shared between family, the girl comprehends only a few words, and her attempts to speak Spanish falter when her primos don’t understand her. Papa and the child drive up a mountain until they arrive at a little house where Abuela lives. There, the girl discovers new ways to bond with the familia she initially didn’t know. In her debut as author/illustrator, Alcántara deftly explores the unintended but oh-so-relatable awkwardness that sometimes crops up among families due to language barriers. A palpable sense of hope progressively pervades each encounter as the protagonist slowly breaks through that initial discomfort to forge connections, offering encouragement to readers in similar situations. Meanwhile, the vibrant gouache, marker, and Photoshop artwork features earth
tones in its vivid portrait of Honduras. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish. This thoughtful and meaningful look at extended familia is a true gem. (Picture book. 4-8)
To Save Abraham Lincoln
Anderson, Beth | Illus. by Sally Wern Comport | Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (48 pp.) | $18.99
Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781635928235
A detective foils a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. This expertly paced tale ratchets up the tension as readers learn that Lincoln’s life was in danger as he set out by train to Washington, D.C., for his 1861 presidential inauguration. Anderson adeptly plays with dramatic irony: Readers likely already know that he ultimately made it. But how? Enter Kate Warne, “the first female detective in the United States,” who uncovered a plot to kill Lincoln in Baltimore, his only stop in the South. Lincoln “wasn’t welcome” here because of his opposition to slavery. Kate and Allan Pinkerton, head of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, needed to convince Lincoln the threat was real. After they initially failed, they concocted a ruse that involved disabling telegraph lines, donning costumes, and keeping Southern spies at bay. Kate, traveling incognito, secured a berth for her “sick brother.” Lincoln boarded the train in disguise, and she kept watch until they arrived in Baltimore and his train car was rerouted. Having successfully safeguarded the president-elect, Kate disappeared into a Baltimore crowd, “hiding in plain sight” to await her next
assignment. Organized chronologically, each spread opens like a scrapbook, with pictorial maps of Lincoln’s train route and framed portraits of principal characters and events, all suffused in an ominous, dusky palette. Cleverly, Comport incorporates recurring images of timepieces, matching the sense of suspense layered into Anderson’s text—time is indeed of the essence. A lively, luminous account of a lesser-known woman’s ingenious contribution to presidential history. (afterword, bibliography, illustrator’s note, archival photographs, picture credits) (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Arango, Andrea Beatriz Random House (272 pp.) | $17.99 Feb. 11, 2025 | 9780593810927
A fter an accident, a talented fencer in Virginia struggles to balance recovery and her dreams of becoming a champion. Puerto Rican seventh grader Valentina Marí Camacho can’t wait to fence again. After she and Papi were in a serious motorbike accident, anticipating fencing again was the only way Vale endured doctors, surgeries, and “the complete rearranging / of [her] life.” But her return four months later is far from triumphant. Unpredictable flares of pain make previously effortless moves challenging, and even worse, Cuban American newcomer Myrka Marerro, who’s cued lesbian, has taken her place as top fencer. But, Vale explains, fencing is “what keeps me me.” If Vale’s not the best, who is she? Her parents have always pushed her to win. But now, Mami treats her like she’s fragile—though Papi insists she’s fine, causing arguments between her parents. Her older brother, Luis Manuel, suggests other hobbies, but Vale and fencing are inseparable. But pain—and Vale’s
growing crush on Myrka—risk thwarting her plan to beat her rival. Vale’s vulnerable, angry free verse narration eschews overused disability storylines, intricately exploring issues including chronic pain, perfectionism, and parental expectations. Vale’s ambivalence about identifying as disabled is particularly well expressed. Her relationships with her family are realistically nuanced, and non-Spanish speakers will understand the occasional lines of Spanish dialogue through context. In her acknowledgments, Arango explains that she drew on her and her husband’s experiences with chronic pain when writing the story. Moving and insightful. (author’s note) (Verse fiction. 10-13)
Baehr Fuller, Amanda | Owlkids Books (32 pp.)
$18.95 | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9781771476812
In a sweet, warm tale of few words, Bunny finds that giving away tea returns much more in friendship.
Bunny hankers for tea, so the little creature braves the rain to gather ingredients, then brews them and pours a steaming cup. But before Bunny can take a sip, Opossum stops by and asks for tea. Bunny obliges and, with all the tea gone, remakes it from scratch. This time, before Bunny can take a sip, Opossum comes back; turns out Opossum’s babies want some, too. Finally, Bunny goes to bed without tea. In the morning, Bunny awakens to find a pot of hot tea waiting; Bunny has some loving friends after all. The ending is satisfying, though some adults may feel the book promotes excessive self-sacrifice. With fewer than 50 words total and rarely more than five to a spread, the narrative is brought to life primarily through the illustrations. Bunny’s burrow feels welcoming and snug, rendered in earth tones with pops of bright color and accented by the steam wafting off cups of tea. Bunny’s expressive face drives the emotional arc of the plot and offers opportunities to
discuss the nuanced challenges and joys of sharing with friends.
An elegantly told, cozy sip of a story about the value of caring for others. (Picture book. 3-7)
Baker, Keith | Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (24 pp.) | $9.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 9781665940245 | Series: The Peas
Hap-pea-ness is guaranteed for all every Easter. This brief, beguiling book describes that wonderful time of year in lilting rhyme with bright, cheery digitally rendered illustrations. The anthropomorphic peas, whom readers will recognize from Baker’s previous titles, frolic in the (usually) glorious balmy weather, appreciate the flowers, and go for rides on minuscule bikes. “Gentle showers, blooming flowers, longer sunny daylight hours”—Baker sings the praises of a lovely spring day. In a cute nod to the main characters, the words happy and yippee appear as hap-pea and yip-pea And, of course, brightly decorated Easter eggs are on full and gorgeous display. (Readers get a glimpse of how the tiny peas make these eggs look so appealing; helicopters, construction equipment, and huge vats of dye are involved.) Words such as spring and eggs appear on the pages in softly colored, oversize capital letters, each one displaying a different delicate pattern. Young children will hone their color-identification skills, learn new words to describe patterns (“stripes, swirls, polka dots—hap-pea patterns, lots and lots”), and practice their
search-and-find skills as they’re invited to search for eggs in the artwork. At the end, kids will be as overjoyed as the peas to find someone extra special among the eggs.
Delightful spring and Easter fun. (Picture book. 3-6)
Bearce, Stephanie | Shadow Mountain (256 pp.) | $19.99
Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781639933266
Series: A Raven Gallows Mystery, 1
Aided by her friends, 12-yearold Raven Gallows finds a mummy and attempts to solve a murder, which provides a lead for an investigation into her own mother’s death.
With their dad on an archaeological dig in Chile, Raven and her older sister, Annabel Lee, live and work with Grams and Aunt Lenore at the family’s funeral home. Recently, Raven’s best friend, Cosmina, received an unusual message from a spirit guide concerning Evangeline, Raven’s art historian mom who passed away years ago under mysterious circumstances. When the friends go to the renowned haunted hotel Moonrise Manor to communicate with Cosmina’s guide, Raven crashes into a wall, exposing a mummified body. The duo—plus new friend Miles and tech-savvy Eric—resolve to learn who murdered the man and enclosed him in the wall. The many Edgar Allan Poe references and quotes give this contemporary tale a gothic feel. As the characters
An elegantly told, cozy sip of a story about the value of caring for others.
BUNNY MADE TEA
race to expose the killer, the Ozarks setting of Sassafras Springs, Missouri, with its razor’s edge ridges, plays its own role in building the tension. Meanwhile, everything Raven uncovers during her investigation about art heists and a secret society convinces her that the mummy is somehow linked to her mother. Most main characters read white; Eric is cued Chinese American.
Offers ghoulish thrills and the promise of more adventures ahead. (discussion questions) (Mystery. 8-12)
Beatty, Melinda | Illus. by Stefano Tambellini | Little Bee Books (32 pp.)
$18.99 | March 4, 2025 | 9781499816174
When you think you don’t have a leg to stand on…
A young witch inherits a misbehaving Table from a long line of ancestors who couldn’t curb its antics. The Table’s legs are humanlike, complete with warty knees. The clever witch at first simply outsmarts it, but she’s genuinely empathic and comes to realize that the Table needs compassion and understanding. The author subtly hints that this is no ordinary table. The word table is capitalized, suggesting it has importance and worth. The shift in the witch’s relationship with her new friend is reflected in the refrain “she thought about the Table.” The witch considers things from the Table’s point of view, buying it a rug to keep its feet warm, fashioning a tablecloth for it, and purchasing a lamp to brighten up her home. Unsurprisingly, the witch’s thoughtful acts and patience eventually result in a complete turnabout in the Table’s behavior, and the pair become
boon companions. Despite the cobwebs, bats, and scowling black cat, the witch’s home is downright cozy; the cartoon illustrations reflect the warm message of this comical, thought-provoking tale, while the clever wordplay (“sometimes it is less important to see eye to eye…than it is to see toe to toe”) will have readers chuckling. The dark-haired young witch has light-brown skin; other human characters are racially diverse. A witty charmer. (Picture book. 4-7)
Bell, Kamal E. & Akeem Bell | Illus. by Darnell Johnson | Storey Publishing (48 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781635866094
Young Akeem works with his father to tend the beehives on their farm. Addressing readers directly in sequential panels, Akeem observes the ins and outs of a year in beekeeping. A hive that died over the winter becomes the site of new activity when a replacement package arrives in the mail. Together, Akeem and his dad (both Black, the former with locs and the latter bald and bearded) put on their bee suits and install the box of bees and their queen in the hive. As the seasons turn, readers learn about workers, drones, and queens, pollination and the making of honey, and more. The father-and-son writing team know their bees, and their fictional avatars experience some of the harsher realities of beekeeping, such as “seasonal dearth,” a neighboring colony robbing the bees of their honey, and parasitic varroa mites. Some of the details have clearly been simplified for the sake
Nicely paced, funny, and full of optimism and goodwill.
of concision and narrative clarity, but before Akeem’s year is out, readers will have learned the basic elements of beekeeping. Johnson’s graphic presentation is both accurate and kid-friendly—a particularly apt touch is the inclusion of bee dialogue in white-on-black speech bubbles, though information is occasionally awkwardly sequenced. Backmatter includes four pages of photo-illustrated notes that introduce the real-life Sankofa Farms in North Carolina, a two-page glossary, and an index.
Enthusiasm will carry readers to a buzzing bounty of information. (Graphic nonfiction. 7-11)
Birdsong, Bea | Illus. by Kelly Murphy Nancy Paulsen Books (32 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 18, 2025 | 9780593405420
Goat hopes to be worthy of the titular acronym.
A gray-coated, blue-eyed goat, first seen on the title page munching greenery up in an apple tree, overhears some barnyard residents speaking admiringly. “He’s the G.O.A.T.,” they say, “Greatest of all time!” Goat, listening around the corner, doesn’t realize that the object of their praise is a blue-ribbon-wearing bull on a poster. Goat is delighted to be appreciated, imagining a trophy, a parade, some yummy confetti. “But…what makes me the greatest?” Goat wonders. Could it be that he is the fastest of all time? Actually, the dappled horse is faster. Strongest? The donkey is demonstrably stronger. Greatest leader, loudest, farthest spitter, highest jumper, muddiest, fuzziest? None of these. Goat is not even the bravest! The farm denizens (sheep, border collie, llama, frog, pig, rooster, cat, mouse) in this sequence have lively, friendly, earnest animal faces. But when a trio of cats strand themselves in a tree, Goat has the talent (tree-climbing) and resources (a strong head and sturdy horns) to rescue them. So, maybe not greatest of all time, but certainly greatest for today. Murphy’s lighthearted, sunny, full-color illustrations and humorous details convey a
busy, happy farm. The very youngest listeners might not get the wordplay, but they will be cheering for Goat. Nicely paced, funny, and appealing, and full of optimism and goodwill. (Picture book. 3-7)
Bradbury, Jennifer | Illus. by Pearl AuYeung | Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum (40 pp.) | $19.99 | Feb. 11, 2025 | 9781481417679
Dev, who was adopted, may not resemble his big sibling, but there’s plenty that the two do share. As the older child, who narrates, waits in line for the ice cream truck, Dev joins his big sibling. “No cuts!” says another kid. “He’s my brother,” replies the protagonist, but the other kid looks skeptical. “We don’t share the same skin color, plus my hair is curly and his is not.” But, as the narrator informs readers, the two have many commonalities. Their parents eagerly awaited both children’s arrival; the accompanying illustrations depict them gazing at an ultrasound image of the unborn protagonist and at photos of Dev as a baby just before they traveled overseas to bring him home. Both took swim classes as babies, threw up on the rug after overeating on Valentine’s Day, and adore their trampoline. Without lingering on or dismissing how hurtful it can be to have adoptive relationships questioned, especially when one doesn’t look like one’s adoptive family, the story focuses on the siblings’ loving bond. AuYeung’s expressive illustrations cleverly work with the narrative to show how the children differ while highlighting how much they have in common. The children’s mother is brownskinned, their father presents East Asian, the protagonist is biracial, and hints in the text and art suggest that Dev is of South Asian descent. A sweet exploration of the familial similarities that matter. (Picture book. 3-7)
Brand, Marion | Trans. by Shona Holmes | Helvetiq (48 pp.) | $17.99
Feb. 11, 2025 | 9783039640560
A solitary shepherdess in the Alps tends her herd of goats.
Brand’s flat, modern style has a cartoonish flair akin to that of Byron Barton, with thick, black outlines and bold colors. First-person text translated from French matches the visual narrative’s simplicity and offers straightforward narration detailing how the lightskinned protagonist cares for her animals and turns their milk into cheese to sell in a nearby village. Accompanied by her dog, she goes into the mountains early in the morning to bring the goats to the milking barn, where she collects 38 pints, enough, with the prior day’s milk, to make a wheel of cheese. Slapstick humor aids the storytelling when the wheel rolls away (“Boing!”), but the intrepid shepherdess catches it, then cleans it and brings it to a shop. Subsequent scenes show her engaged in various tasks necessary to keep her farm running—hauling hay, cutting wood, bottle-feeding a kid. She then prepares for bed before waking to start over again the next day. In the robust backmatter, Brand shares more about herding, first with a Q&A with the narrator (now identified as “Flavie”) and then with expository text about alpine herds, milk and milk products, other herding animals, and structures people use for shelter when they’re herding animals. Informative and downright wholesome. (Informational picture book. 2-5)
Brière-Haquet, Alice | Illus. by Michela Eccli | Trans. by Sarah Ardizzone
Eerdmans (32 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 18, 2025 | 9780802856395
A family of mice suddenly find their cozy red knitted home unraveling. No longer safe, the creatures flee, traveling past various dangers in search of refuge. With the help of welcoming neighbors, they build a colorful home from the remnants of their old dwelling and new yarn balls—symbolic representations of the heavy emotional burdens that they can now release. Laced with knitting terminology, this French import explores the turmoil and heartache endured by many refugees. Photographs of yarn and knitting needles combine with muted line drawings of the animals for a visually rich tale that makes effective use of texture, shadow, and color. The author and illustrator use yarn, portrayed here as both a means of escape and a symbol of peril, to heighten the emotional and physical tension. Though the artwork is approachable and kid-friendly, the abstract text at times risks framing refugees as passively or willingly accepting their fate (“We leave without making a fuss,” “We leave without a word of complaint”). While adults will appreciate the poignant message about rebuilding a life (“With these threads of ourselves, / with these spools of worry, / knit one in silk, / purl one in wool”), the complex figurative language may go over children’s heads. Still, with a loving grown-up to put the work in context, it could spark conversations about the effects of being uprooted.
A sweet exploration of the familial similarities that matter.
A visually compelling take on the refugee experience that may be too lofty for its target audience. (Picture book. 4-7)
Brower, Felicia | Illus. by Nicole LaRue Gibbs Smith (96 pp.) | $14.99 paper Feb. 18, 2025 | 9781423668015
A key to identifying 40 tree species found in the contiguous United States. After an introduction that invites readers to a “tree ID adventure,” Brower, a Master Gardener, begins with a popular craft project: leaf rubbings. She then explains how to identify trees in language that the intended audience may find challenging; fundamental words are bold-faced and defined in the glossary. The author instructs readers to look closely at the leaves—their patterns, shapes, edges, and layout—and also at the bark. Then, using the table of contents as a two-part key, readers can find the group the leaves fall into (simple smooth, simple serrated, etc.) and look for the trees in that section. Spread by spread, what follows are entries on 40 tree species, from Eastern redbud to white fir. Each entry features an illustration, as well as the tree’s size and scientific name, a general description, a close-up of some of its parts, a map showing the part of the U.S. where the tree is native, the tree’s habitat and range, a fun fact, and info on its bark, leaves, flowers, and fruits. The trees include a majority of the most common in the lower 48 states, as well as the American chestnut, now sadly “harder to find.” Perhaps because the leaves, which are crucial to identification, aren’t always shown in detail, this offering feels a bit incomplete. Still, overall it will leave youngsters primed to look more carefully at trees, and readers of all ages will find plenty of sound information. An attractive handbook for beginning nature enthusiasts. (Nonfiction. 8-12)
TWIST,
TUMBLE, TRIUMPH
Campbell, Marcy | Little, Brown (40 pp.)
$18.99 | March 4, 2025 | 9780316214247
Don’t wait, don’t hesitate!
The time is now for taking a bow, advises this affirmational book that encourages readers to seize the moment and cheerfully sets the stage for helping kids boost their self-esteem. The story follows a group of aspiring young performers behind the scenes and then onstage at a talent show. Motivated by a sign announcing “The Talent Show Needs You,” gifted would-be stars are “waiting to prove” they’re “ready for action.” At the outset, the narrative makes clear that the “star” is YOU, the reader/ listener, who’s “brimming with skills.” It’s only natural that confidence may flag and worries will set in occasionally, but, Campbell assures readers, everything the children have done before has prepared them to shine, and they’re all “learning and growing…and [getting] much stronger too!” Plus, what if the hotly anticipated moment’s even better than imagined? Some of this rah-rah cheerleading may go over children’s heads, but the essential message about doing/trying one’s best to achieve a goal and subsequently feeling a burst of self-confidence rings true. The cheery illustrations featuring smiling, racially diverse characters, rendered in pencil, pastels, crayons, and markers and enhanced digitally, add to the bright, upbeat tone.
Don’t wait to hand this book to a child: Any story that strengthens kids’ confidence is a winner.
(Picture book. 5-8)
Cannistra, Meg | Harper/HarperCollins (384 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 14, 2025
9781335427083 | Series: Giada the Healer, 3
Risks become personal for a 13-year-old Italian healer in this sequel to How To Save a Unicorn (2023). The world travels continue as Giada and her beloved black cat familiar, Sinistro, embark on a trip to meet other veterinarians who work with magical creatures. Giada and Mrs. Calamoneri, the vet she’s traveling with, plan to attend the Convención de Criaturas Mágicas in Mar del Plata, Argentina, a conference for magical vets. They hope to warn as many people as possible about the sinister C&C Medicinals, a corporation that’s intent on exploiting magical creatures. A local sanctuary promises to showcase a rare, reclusive leviathan during the event. Giada tours the sanctuary, and although Sofia, her teenage guide, is welcoming, something feels off about the facility, like how the building is protected by intense magical wards, and the founder, Dr. Dolores Messi, has an odd familiar, a spider that resembles a bejeweled brooch. When Giada and Sofia investigate, they uncover some unsettling information that threatens the local magical fauna as well as the lives of familiars. Can Giada and Sinistro make it out alive? In this well-paced story, Cannistra expands on her worldbuilding through intriguing cross-cultural elements. Over the course of the book, Giada faces intense emotional threats. Although Mrs. Calamoneri supports her judgment and provides her with
some protection, Giada takes many high-stakes risks, and the narrative validates her feelings and offers space for her to fully experience them. An emotionally raw trilogy closer. (Fantasy. 8-13)
Clanton, Ben, Corey R. Tabor & Andy Chou Musser | Viking (48 pp.)
$19.99 | March 4, 2025 | 9780593693254
Artistic collaboration yields one-of-a-kind storytelling with this deft look at the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. A talented trio of author/illustrator creators and friends explore the three phases of a black swallowtail’s life. Clanton takes on the first stage, introducing us to Papilio polyxenes, a caterpillar full of wide-eyed wonder and boundless hunger. Tabor tackles the challenging chrysalis stage, showing an oblivious Papilio’s adventures as she goes from caterpillar to goo to butterfly. Finally, Musser’s butterfly emerges to find that things aren’t always easy when you’re new, so a little persistence goes a long way. While the art styles shift a bit, generally the illustrations are soft and cartoonish, and the tone of the book is remarkably consistent and chock-full of small delights (such as the caterpillarstage Papilio merrily singing, “Got a full belly, time to turn to jelly”). Papilio’s mouse friend appears throughout all three stories, providing a consistent throughline as the two creatures help one another. For all its simplicity, the book keeps on the scientifically accurate side of the equation, even including backmatter with fascinating facts (for instance, black swallowtails create their own antifreeze in the winter). The result is charming, informative, and absolutely ideal for preschool read-alouds. Move aside, Very Hungry Caterpillar. Meet the new queen of metamorphosis storytime splendor. (Picture book. 3-7)
Cockcroft, Jason | Candlewick (32 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9781536239614
In the dark of night, “it’s time to go on Grandma’s walk!” Grandpa wakes up his grandchild (both are white and unnamed) to go on a walk through the woods to experience Grandma’s favorite spot. As they proceed, they observe wildlife and reminisce about Grandma, whom they both miss. As the night unfolds, the grandchild becomes tired and restless, repeatedly asking whether they’ve reached Grandma’s “favorite spot,” to no avail, though suspense builds along the way through repetition. Eventually, the pair reach the seaside and, in a lovely set of double-page spreads saturated in yellows, oranges, and purples, experience the wonder of the sunrise and the dawn of a new day. Cockcroft’s conversational text showcases the tender bond between loving family members and the wonder of nature experienced through different senses (“Can you hear the hedgehog in the grass?” “Put your fingers in the water. Can you feel the fishes swimming by?”). The grandchild’s text is differentiated from the grandfather’s by italics. Mixed-media illustrations use perspective well to convey the young child’s sense of wonder while capturing and embracing the quiet, fleeting moments of life that can be missed if you don’t pay attention. A sweet look at the bond between generations and the wonder of nature. (Picture book. 4-7)
Cohen, Deborah Bodin & Kerry Olitzky Illus. by Martina Peluso | Kar-Ben (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9798765619773
Achampion athlete soared in more ways than one. When Hungarian gymnast Ágnes Keleti twirled through the air, she forgot about war and the oppression she and other Jewish people faced after the Nazis came to power. But she couldn’t forget forever: Her coach explained that Jews were now barred from the gym. A fellow Jewish athlete told her about his secret training place—a local school gym— and invited Ágnes to join him. Practicing clandestinely worked temporarily, until the Nazis overtook Budapest. A determined Ágnes refused to wear the yellow star required of all Jewish people and urged her family to go into hiding. Her mother and sister left almost immediately; her father refused to abandon his factory. Ágnes, too famous to remain in Budapest, departed for a small village with documents purchased from a Christian woman and became a maid for a pro-Nazi family. After the war, Ágnes reunited with her mother and sister but learned her father had perished at Auschwitz. Focused on the future, Ágnes ultimately won the Hungarian National Championship again and triumphed at the 1952 Olympics. Readers will appreciate this inspiring tale that addresses the anguish Ágnes endured while emphasizing her indomitable spirit; young people will eagerly cheer her on. The energetic, stylized illustrations depicting Ágnes’ gymnastics routines serve as an effective metaphor for her endurance in the face of oppression. Period details are depicted well.
A stirring expression of the triumph of the human spirit. (author’s note with a photo of Ágnes at age 95) (Picture-book biography. 5-8)
Copeland, Cynthia L. | Colors by Ronda Pattison | Little, Brown (272 pp.) | $12.99 paper | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781523527250
Two independent spirits—a tween from 2019 and a young woman from the second half of the 20th century—share a passion for cars and racing that drives their stories toward an exciting intersection.
Twelve-year-old Alex fixes up old cars by watching videos posted online by a beloved Black woman mechanic and influencer. Meanwhile, in 1976, real-life racing legend Janet Guthrie (who appears here in a fictionalized portrait) becomes the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Both protagonists present white, both have fathers who don’t always support their ambitions, and both show resilience as they work toward their goals, finding allies and overcoming obstacles in their sexist, male-dominated environments. Guthrie faces funding issues, broken bones, and incessant harassment—and even decades later, toxic masculinity affects Alex’s journey. This juxtaposition affords readers an opportunity to put each character’s achievements into context and consider historical and present-day movements for gender equity. Pattison effectively uses different color palettes to distinguish the two timelines, but inconsistencies in Copeland’s draftsmanship and a lack of fluidity in the illustrations detract from the visuals: The racing scenes feel more static than speedy, and shifts in Alex’s appearance between panels make her expressions difficult to read. Still, the emotive pull of the story is strong, and when the characters ultimately meet in a scene set in 2019, the book’s galvanizing throughline—“onward!”—comes across clearly and movingly.
An inspirational, information-packed tale inspired by a real feminist trailblazer. (author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
Cortez, Rio | Illus. by Lauren Semmer Workman (64 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 14, 2025 9781523523290 | Series: The ABCs of History
From affirmation to zeal, and from Maya Angelou to Zora Neale Hurston—people and principles that made change.
Similar in format to the creators’ The ABCs of Black History (2020), this book celebrates many of the influential figures and important ideals crucial to women’s history over the past 70 years. Rhymes and rhythm move readers energetically through the selected milestones and figures. If the beats and matching sounds are sometimes uneven, the message comes across loud and clear: Women have made essential contributions in every field, and you, reader, can do so, too. Most of the women cited in the text (and given expanded background information in the backmatter) are North Americans, with a few exceptions (Greta Thunberg, Wangari Maathai, Ada Lovelace, Malala Yousafzai). Among those highlighted are author Joan Didion, poet Naomi Shihab Nye, actor Anna May Wong, activist Angela Davis, scientist Katherine Johnson, activist Rosa Parks, athletes Venus and Serena Williams, and painter Frida Kahlo. These women share the stage with the important abstractions they embody, including courage, freedom, justice, knowledge, pride, persistence, resourcefulness, and solidarity. Jazzy, stylized illustrations depict characters diverse in skin color, ability, and more. A rainbow of hues and variations of composition and perspective keep the art fresh and eye-catching.
An inclusive and inspiring look at significant aspects of women’s history. (Informational picture book. 6-11)
Daywalt, Drew | Illus. by Oliver Jeffers Philomel (32 pp.) | $9.99
Feb. 4, 2025 | 9780593624616
A fter celebrating Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, and other holidays, the Crayons come together to salute their dads.
Does your pop resemble Brown Crayon’s? He lovingly helps her learn new skills, and when he doesn’t know something, he’s game to “figure it out together.” Neon Red’s dad “always knows where he’s going” (though the accompanying image depicts him holding an upside-down map of Mt. Rushmore). Blue-Green has two dads (Blue and Green, naturally). Beige celebrates his tool-wielding, potstirring mom—his only parent. Pale Yellow’s dad is a literal calculator, so when she says she loves him “to the moon and back,” he generates, and appreciates, the exact figure. Orange and Yellow honor their grandpa, who uses a wheelchair, while Navy Blue loves his stepdad, who happens to be a remote control. Mauve’s dad knows that the right answer to every question is, “Better ask your mom.” Green is grateful for his whole blended family, three different but related verdant shades. Notably, this tale acknowledges that families all look different; no Crayon is left out, and everyone has the opportunity to show their
An inspirational, information-packed tale inspired by a real feminist trailblazer.
caregivers “how much they’re loved on Father’s Day.” Jeffers’ clever, childlike art gives every character personality and verve.
Another winner from Daywalt and Jeffers. (Picture book. 4-8)
Daywalt, Drew | Illus. by Oliver Jeffers
Philomel (32 pp.) | $9.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 9780593624586
The Crayons love a holiday, and Mother’s Day is no exception. Every color is different, and so is every mom. Purple’s mother, seated crosslegged in a yoga pose, “doesn’t color inside the lines.” Red’s works tirelessly to support her family, which sometimes means missing holidays. White Crayon adores his mother, “even though he can’t see her” (the accompanying image shows both crayons fading into the white background), while pale lime green Esteban’s mom supports his “dreams of adventure” by helping him pack. All the Crayons celebrate their families on this day, and not all the parents look like their children or are mothers. Laudably, Daywalt and Jeffers depict a variety of different families, allowing many readers to feel seen: Black can’t contain her love for both her mothers, the hair-covered brownishbeige Barfy Crayon embraces his stepmom, Chunky Toddler (a chubby crayon with a bite taken out of him) pays tribute to his dad on Mother’s Day, Yellow and Orange honor their grandmother, and Maroon, presumably adopted, sings the praises of his mom, a pot of glue who literally holds the family together. As in previous Crayon books, Jeffers’ elegantly quirky and humorous illustrations complement Daywalt’s delightful text, which adeptly balances humor and heart.
Another endearing and amusing outing with these winsome characters. (Picture book. 4-8)
Daywalt, Drew | Illus. by Lucy Ruth
Cummins | Philomel (40 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 25, 2025 | 9780593691427
How many pants are too many? And just how should a dog wear a pair of trousers? Freddie, a white-furred canine with brown spots and an independent streak, is admonished by an unseen narrator for wearing one too many pairs of pants. Freddie starts the book with two pairs—one for the hind legs, another for the front. Along the way, Freddie acquires other colorful items of clothing and sports them all in unconventional ways—a hat makes a terrific pair of trousers, while pants make a fabulous chapeau! Freddie’s friend Monkey adds more sartorial chaos to the mix in an attempt to educate Freddie on proper clothing etiquette while also making some bold fashion choices. Eventually, both Freddie and Monkey wear their articles of clothing in the right way (sort of) while being comfortable with their own individual styles. Daywalt’s inquisitive yet exasperated text combines with Cummins’ expressive, child-friendly art for an enjoyable, giggle-worthy storytime offering. Certain phrases and words are presented in a different color, further emphasizing the read-aloud potential, while the art makes use of uncluttered backdrops, simple linework, and exuberant colors. Parents of young children will see themselves reflected in the exhausted narrator—the struggle to get kids dressed is real. An enjoyable romp about pushing boundaries while finding one’s own unique self. (Picture book. 3-7)
de la Cruz, Melissa | Disney-Hyperion (304 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 4, 2025
9781368083751 | Series: Octagon Valley, 2
A band of young geniuses blast off for the Moon on a mission that rapidly morphs into an attempt to prevent the alien YAKs from destroying an entire plane of reality.
De la Cruz continues to braid together two storylines of equal heft in this middle volume. In one strand, her young Octos, brought together at the Octagon Valley Institute by the eccentric Onasander Octagon, struggle with conflicting loyalties and resentments; some explore notentirely-welcome new superpowers, while others jealously await their own powers (if any) to manifest. In another, they battle the malign YAKs over the fate of the multiverse. With her authorial tongue firmly in cheek, de la Cruz often writes chapter headers like “Game of Thorns,” and the book’s title is entirely accurate, thanks to a gooey mishap with a high-tech Object-Shifter. Amid all the squabbling, fretting, and hesitant bonding, the young heroes arrive on our nearest astronomical neighbor just in time to infiltrate a YAK summer camp and compete in the Cosmic Games, which are designed around their individual personality traits. By the end, the destruction of the universe is at least delayed, and if the omniscient narrator leaves a few mysteries unanswered (such as what YAK stands for: “Young Angry Kittens? Yellow Amoeba Karts?”), a closing teaser offers a chance of resolution. A masterful opening recap includes references to the cast’s previously established racial and cultural diversity.
Nonstop lunar lunacy.
(Adventure. 9-12)
Egan, Catherine | Scholastic (320 pp.)
$8.99 paper | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781339034218
An innovative renewable energy facility turns out to have a sinister side.
When Asher Doyle’s mom finds herself in inescapable, “terrifying debt,” his absentee father—a married senator with a vested interest in keeping Asher’s existence under wraps—has a solution. He’ll send Asher, who reads white, to live at the Factory, a top-secret experimental program ostensibly designed to create “Clean Energy for Future Generations!” by harnessing people’s electromagnetic energy. The program promises a fun, camplike experience for kids ages 11 to 15, and the compensation for Asher’s participation will help his mom and grandmother. Upon arrival, however, the participants are greeted by armed guards and steel fences topped with barbed wire, a significant contrast to the enthusiastic promotional materials. It quickly becomes clear that the Factory is dangerous and full of secrets. The staff won’t provide meaningful answers to questions, and not only does the extraction procedure appear unsafe; it’s also excruciatingly painful. As the procedures continue, kids start disappearing, and Asher and his new friends Faith, Vi, and Troy (cued Black, Chinese American, and Latine, respectively) find themselves in a race for survival. The central characters are rich and interesting, with deep motivations, and their friendships are compelling and emotional. Budding
dystopian and science-fiction readers will thrill at this gripping, fast-paced story with a cliffhanger ending. A thrilling and complex beginning to what will surely be a sought-after series. (Dystopian. 10-14)
Elliott, David | Illus. by Gordy Wright Candlewick (40 pp.) | $18.99
March 18, 2025 | 9781536223385
A gallery of distinctive Saharan wildlife, paired with short poems and nature notes.
“The addax / is xeric / and also / the oryx. / It means / they live / in the desert, / of couryx.” Elliott’s latest set of nature verses, as pithy and playful as ever, offer observations on creatures from quick-stepping Saharan silver ants to a soaring Nubian vulture. Closing factual notes expand on them in a similar vein: Anubis baboons communicate “by smacking their lips, sticking out their tongues, grinding their teeth, and even yawning. Why not try some of that at the dinner table tonight? If anyone objects, simply explain that you are speaking baboon.” Said baboons may cluster around a water hole in the illustrations, and the Nile crocodile in an even wetter locale, but for the most part, the landscapes in which Wright poses his animal cast are evocatively sandy, rocky, and decorated with at-best sparse wisps of vegetation. Still, despite the vulture’s message “that everything / must have its end,” readers will come away with a stronger impression that the desert,
Captures the joy of family traditions and the delight of creative pranks.
CRACK GOES THE CASCARÓN
empty as it may look at first glance, is really rich in living things. Refreshing reminders that there is bustling life even in hostile environments. (Picture-book poetry. 6-9)
Fajardo, Sara Andrea | Illus. by Rocío Arreola Mendoza | Knopf (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9780593805671
A mischievous young boy delights in pelting his family with cascarones, hollowed-out eggshells filled with confetti. Toti declares, “I’m the King of Cascarones!” and explains that he’s preparing for a big springtime “shellebration” where he plans to crack cascarones on everyone in his multigenerational family. He practices by flinging the shells at each family member; no one is safe! Toti takes things a step further by designing new types of cascarones, including smoke-filled versions and even ones filled with slime. He can’t wait for the day to arrive, but on the fateful morning, his family members—and his cascarones—are nowhere to be found. The family has swapped out his eggs for plastic ones and now begin pelting him with the cascarones. Instead of sulking, he immediately begins planning for next year’s hijinks. The playful tale captures the joy of family traditions and the delight of creative pranks, inspiring readers to make their own fun. Upbeat illustrations splattered with pastel hues bring the lighthearted tradition to life, and many details on the page will help readers who aren’t familiar with this Spanish tradition to better understand it. The main character and his family are brown-skinned and cued Latine; Spanish phrases are peppered throughout the text.
Sure to make readers smile, this sparkling story affirms cultural traditions. (Picture book. 4-8)
Farook, Nizrana | Illus. by Zelma Firdauzia | Nosy Crow (34 pp.)
$17.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9798887771250
A ginger cat who just wants to play goes from house to house witnessing preparations for Eid.
As night falls, a bright sliver of moon hangs in a starry sky. Nylah the cat watches as young Zahra and the rest of the family tidy their house. Unfortunately, no one has time to play with her. Curious Nylah jumps through the window of a neighbor’s home, where she finds Bilal and his family hanging ribbons, balloons, and lanterns, but he’s too busy decorating to play—a pattern that repeats at each house she visits. Nylah returns home and falls asleep. She awakens early the next morning to find her family decked out in their finest. As they all make their way to the park, Nylah realizes why everyone was so preoccupied…it’s Eid! Telling her story from the perspective of a sweet, friendly cat, Farook creatively highlights the different ways Muslims prepare for this holiday, from painting henna in intricate designs on their hands to cooking lavish feasts. Firdauzia’s bright illustrations of cozy, homey scenes are suffused with dreamy blues and purples—a reminder that the night before Eid is a special time for Muslims. This heartwarming tale concludes with an author’s note in which Farook looks back on her own childhood memories and offers more information about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. Nylah’s family is brown-skinned; her neighbors are diverse in terms of race and ability. A clever exploration of a significant Muslim holiday. (Picture book. 4-8)
A gentle Mother’s Day tale with a message of inclusion. A CARD FOR MY MOM
Fraser, Bashabi | Illus. by Maanvi Kapur | Lantana (32 pp.) | $18.99
March 4, 2025 | 9781836290056
A child of South Asian descent seeks the perfect card for Mom. It’s almost Mother’s Day, and the stores are
full of gifts, from teddy bears to picture frames to orchids. But the young narrator has only enough money for a card. The child finds cards depicting mothers “with red and gold hair and deep blue eyes.” None of these offerings properly represent Mom, with her gold jewelry, flowing kameez, and “happy brown face.” None of them reflect Mom’s love of bhangra or her talent for making pakoras, curry, rotis, and naan. So the protagonist decides to “make my own”; the result is a loving, handmade creation sure to delight Mom. The characterization of the protagonist’s mother is a bit flat; Mom is primarily described through her physical appearance, the clothes she wears, and the dishes she prepares. Though these details offer insights into South Asian culture, they’re also rooted in traditional gender norms. Still, on the whole it’s a well-told, thoughtfully constructed story with an important takeaway. Brimming with warmth, Kapur’s detailed illustrations combine with tender, alliterative text for a vital narrative about the need for representation for all mothers. Bouncy verse (“flicking fingers, tapping feet, swaying to the dholki’s beat”) sets an upbeat tone. Background characters are racially diverse.
A gentle Mother’s Day tale with a message of inclusion. (Picture book. 3-6)
Freeman, Megan E. | Aladdin (480 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 11, 2025 9781665959728 | Series: Alone, 2
Four young people come together in a relocation camp after they’re suddenly evacuated from their Colorado homes. In this companion to Alone (2021), Ashanti Johnson, 12, Grandin Stone, 14, Harmony Addams-Paul, 12, Teddy Brenkert, 11, and their families are whisked off to a fenced-in camp amid urgent announcements of a never-specified threat. There, they’re cut off by armed guards and a cell phone ban from all contact with the outside world. Eventually, after nearly two years of official obfuscation and foot dragging, they come to suspect that all is not as it seems. The plot and the whole scenario require a major suspension of disbelief, but to readers who can roll with it, Freeman delivers an engaging tale in which young crusaders strive to overcome both parental passivity and corrupt authorities to discover and expose a dastardly scheme. Of the leads, only Grandin, who comes from a ranching family and hopes to become an environmentalist, wrestles with sharp feelings of displacement, but the others do have a variety of personal interests (such as Ashanti’s deep knowledge of Greek mythology) and family issues that emerge. The narrative unfolds in introspective free verse, transcripts of radio broadcasts, stories in the camp’s newspaper by student journalist Harmony, and scripted film scenes by aspiring filmmaker Teddy (whose behavior
may signal neurodiversity). Most characters present white; Ashanti is cued Black.
Scary and satisfying, for all its implausibility. (Verse fiction. 11-14)
French, Vivian | Illus. by Nanette Regan Candlewick (32 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 25, 2025 | 9781536239058
Julie and younger brother Bob visit Grandpa’s backyard chicken flock.
This is evidently Bob’s first visit with Grandpa’s chickens, and Julie assumes the role of guide, informing Bob about chickencoop construction, how roosters relate to the flock, and that there are “hundreds of different kinds of chickens.” Grandpa gently narrates the on-and-off excitement of a chick’s hatching. The ever-so-slight plot eases young readers into the book’s informational content. In addition to the facts conveyed by Grandpa and Julie, most pages feature supplemental tidbits presented in a faux hand-lettered type: “The mother doesn’t start sitting on the eggs until she’s laid the last one. Otherwise, they’d all hatch at different times.” The book’s fundamental nonfiction mission is cemented by an index that comes with a thoughtful note as to its use and a reminder to look at both the primary text and accompanying facts. The backmatter also includes an author’s note and a pointer to Barbara Sandri and Francesco Giubbilini’s Chickenology (2021). Regan’s watercolorlike mixed-media illustrations are characterized by quick lines and a bright, gentle palette. Both children have straight, dark hair (Julie’s in pigtails) and brown skin, as does their mother; Grandpa’s thatch of hair and bushy eyebrows are white, and his skin is beige. All are attired in comfy, slouchy clothes that befit the cozy episode. This introduction to backyard chicken keeping couldn’t be sweeter. (Informational picture book. 4-7)
Garcia, Kami | Illus. by Brittney Williams
First Second (208 pp.) | $14.99 paper
Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781250840882
A young dyslexic girl struggles with reading. Stella Martinez can’t wait to start fifth grade. She and her BFFs, Latasha and Emiko, even get to sit together in Miss Marin’s class. But to Stella’s dismay, school soon feels like “one big reading class.” Even math, one of her favorite subjects besides art, has word problems, and the fifth grade project is a Young Authors Competition. Textbooks have longer words and fewer pictures, making comprehension time-consuming, and Stella falls behind. Even the new online universe for Stella and her friends’ favorite show, Witchlins, requires a guidebook, which Stella has trouble following. As her BFFs and classmates discuss the game, Stella feels left out. Will reading ruin her friendships? Garcia, who based Stella’s story on her daughter’s journey of coming to terms with dyslexia and her own experiences with neurodivergence, introduces a multifaceted protagonist with a learning disability and encouragingly highlights various coping strategies. Adults are warmly supportive, barring a dour, gray-haired, light-skinned librarian whose misconception that graphic novels aren’t “real” books is emphatically dispelled. In keeping with Miss Marin’s affirmation that “all brains work differently,” the book’s clear lettering, decodable text, and expressive art invite readers of all abilities to root for Stella. Stella and her dad and sibling are
brown-skinned and cued Latine; Mom is pale-skinned. Latasha presents Black, Emiko is of East Asian descent, and Miss Marin has light-brown skin.
An uplifting, sympathetic portrayal of dyslexia and friendship. (resources, cover design process) (Graphic fiction. 8-11)
Garguláková, Magda | Illus. by Tomáš Kopecký | Trans. by Andrew Oakland Albatros Media (40 pp.) | $17.95
Feb. 11, 2025 | 9788000072906
Neighborhoods are busy, exciting places to explore. This cheery, very colorful Czech import opens with eight racially diverse friends introducing themselves. These kids invite readers to learn more important locations in a typical community. Charles, the first friend, wants to know where to go to send a large package. Beneath, a numbered, labeled diagram-cum-map features four neighborhood locales— the library, the vet’s, the post office, and the hairdresser’s—from which readers must select the right answer. The double-page spread that follows contains detailed information, some of it historical, about the correct response: the post office. The book proceeds in a similar manner, with each friend in turn posing a “where to?” query. Along the way, readers get in-depth looks at the photo studio, the police station, and the museum. Featuring vivid, busy illustrations, this spirited book is a fun exercise in problem-solving, map
This introduction to backyard chicken keeping couldn’t be sweeter.
CHICK, CHICK, CHICK, CHICK, CHICKEN!
reading, and becoming familiar with one’s neighborhood. Children will discover what happens in each location and what they can do when they get there. Background characters, diverse in age and race, converse in speech balloons. The final location—the observatory—also includes instructions for making a simple telescope. Readers will have lots of fun as they tour and learn new things about their communities. (Picture book. 6-9)
Hager, Jenna Bush & Barbara Pierce Bush Illus. by Ramona Kaulitzki | Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $19.99 | March 18, 2025 9780316525299 | Series: Sisters First
A sweet expression of parental devotion authored by the former first daughters. This charming book, written in simple but rich and warm prose, affirms parents’ heartfelt, never-ending love for their children: “I loved you first.” And, they assure their adorable offspring from the age of infancy on, they always will, no matter the time, place, or circumstance. Can a child ever hear anything lovelier? The racially/ethnically diverse mothers and fathers depicted in this beautiful book, its illustrations digitally created with watercolor and pencil brushes and richly enhanced with hand-painted textures, are portrayed in vividly colorful locations filled with lush imagery. Everywhere, parents reiterate their steadfastness and promise always to be there and to do things together. The parents also inform their children of the connections between the parent/child unit and the world of nature. In one flower-bedecked scene, a mom tells her young daughter as they make and wear floral headgear, “From honeysuckle and poppies we’ll make fragrant flower crowns. You will remind me to smell their sweetness.” In a swimming scene, a dad declares, “Jumping into the ocean will take our breath away, like when I held you for the first time. I gasped…
because I loved you fiercely, and first.” Fittingly, the book concludes with a mom tucking her child into bed, telling her, “And know that I loved you first, and I will love you forever.”
An affecting offering that will make a much-appreciated gift for baby showers and new parents. (Picture book. 4-7)
Kirkus Star
Harding, Thomas | Illus. by Britta Teckentrup | Candlewick Studio (56 pp.)
$19.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781536240702
The house at 263 Prinsengracht— where Anne Frank and her family went into hiding during World War II—has witnessed centuries of history. Marshlands gave way as the city of Amsterdam expanded and a canal was built. The titular house was constructed nearly 400 years ago, “with strong brick walls, sturdy pine floors, and a green front door.” Some found a haven there in dangerous times; others found joy and laughter. The building’s fortune waxed and waned through neglect, fire, and restoration. It housed a series of workspaces and even a horse barn. Then, in the worst of times, a man rented the house for his business. When Amsterdam was no longer safe for Jewish people, the man, his family, and four others took refuge there, remaining silent and still and depending on trusted friends for supplies. The man’s younger daughter wrote a diary, chronicling her days and dreaming of a golden future that was not to be. When the man returned alone, a friend gave him the diary; he shared it with the world. Not naming the people and places in the narrative itself (though an opening note and detailed backmatter offer more information), Harding employs highly descriptive sensory language, heightening the emotions. Readers will emerge
Hartman, Aubrey | Illus. by Marcin Minor | Little, Brown (320 pp.)
$17.99 | $8.99 paper | Feb. 25, 2025 9780316575720 | 9780316575737 paper
Change is coming to Deadwood Forest, and Clare is afraid for his livelihood. Lonely Clare, a silver-tailed fox, was run over as a kit six years ago, but he didn’t go on to the Afterlife. Instead, he resides in Deadwood Forest, the splendidly realized world where he serves as Usher to the four realms: Peace, Pleasure, Progress, and Pain. He believes himself to be hideous, with his patchy fur and empty eye socket, reminders of the accident that brought him here, so he wears a cloak and a monocle. Clare gives the woodland creatures who knock on his cottage door tea and his attention as he tells them about their altered circumstances—they are dead—and explains that “each soul is drawn to the world where they will be most comfortable.” Clare fears the realm of Pain for himself: He knows that only the worst of creatures go through that portal, yet he believes that Brickbane, his predecessor and mentor, foretold such a fate for himself. When a lively badger spirit arrives, full of questions, but Clare is strangely unable to guide her to the correct realm, he’s dismayed to realize that his work as an Usher may be over. Hartman gracefully
>>> simultaneously awed by the passage of time and personally affected by the stories told. Teckentrup overlays her bright, exquisitely detailed sepia-toned depictions of the house and its environs with a misty haze; the results are hauntingly beautiful. Deeply moving, powerful, and breathtaking. (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Book by Luvvie Ajayi Jones Coming in 2025
The author is bringing Little Troublemaker back in a new book for kids.
Luvvie Ajayi Jones is bringing Little Troublemaker back, People magazine reports.
Philomel will publish the speaker and author’s Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name, illustrated by Joey Spiotto, next year. The press calls the book, a follow-up to Ajayi Jones’ 2023 book, Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, “remarkably relatable.”
Ajayi Jones was a marketing strategist and popular blogger before making her adult literary debut in 2016 with I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual. She followed that up with two more books, Professional Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual and Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual for Teens
Her new book will reprise the character of Little Luvvie, who in the previous volume was determined to make jollof rice as a surprise for her mother, with decidedly messy results. In the latest installment, Little Luvvie has a bad first day of school, where her name is mocked by a classmate, but she’s determined to stand up for herself and turn things around.
Ajayi Jones shared news of her new book on Instagram, writing, “[I]t’s healing to my spirit because one thing [I’ll] always do in this series and with Little Luvvie is affirm her and let her know that she is always worth defending,” she wrote.
Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name is slated for publication on May 6, 2025.—M.S.
For a review of Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, visit Kirkus online.
Tío and Tío: The Ring Bearers , by the TV host and his husband, will be published in April.
Television host Ross Mathews and his husband have a picture book coming next year, People magazine reports. Penguin Workshop will publish Mathews and Wellinthon GarcíaMathews’ Tío and Tío: The Ring Bearers, illustrated by Tommy Doyle, in the spring of 2025. The press describes the book, which will feature a foreword by Drew Barrymore, as “a heartwarming and humorous tale of love and family as two young boys travel to Mexico to be ring bearers in their uncles’ wedding.”
Mathews is best known for his work as a correspondent on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and
For more kid lit news, visit Kirkus online.
his current gig as co-host of The Drew Barrymore Show. García-Mathews is a New York state public school educator.
The two were married in 2022, and their book was inspired by the wedding, at which two of their nephews served as ring bearers.
“We were so struck after our wedding how seriously our nephews took their role as ring bearers,” Mathews told the magazine. “We talked to them afterwards about how nervous they were, and how they didn’t have an understanding of the role before, but were blown away at how important it was. They really took such pride in the job.”
Tío and Tío: The Ring Bearers is scheduled for publication on April 15, 2025.—M.S.
This review originally ran in the Dec. 15, 2021, issue.
“Fighting Shirley” was no ordinary politician.
The story opens in Barbados, where Shirley Chisholm spent a relatively carefree early childhood with her sister, Muriel, on their grandparents’ farm. Upon being sent to live with her parents in Brooklyn, Shirley had to adjust to much stricter household rules. She excelled academically throughout her school years, and after graduating from Brooklyn College, began her teaching career in early childhood education. As an administrator of child care centers, Chisholm
devoted herself to child welfare and community affairs. Her work put her in touch with the needs of working people and their families, and she labored ceaselessly to get candidates elected who would make meaningful changes. Eventually, she decided to run for office herself and became the second Black woman elected to the New York Assembly and, after that, the country’s first Black congresswoman. Aggs relates how Chisholm dedicated her efforts to improving the lives of her constituents, often finding
herself at loggerheads with colleagues. Chisholm’s boldness and desire for change led her to seek the Democratic Party nomination for president of the United States. Although she was unsuccessful, her groundbreaking campaign was a momentous sociopolitical event. This lively, optimistic biography is an accessible introduction to
Aggs, Patrice; illus. by Markia Jenai Sunbird Books | 48 pp. | $10.99
Feb. 15, 2022 | 9781503762411
Series: It’s Her Story
Chisholm’s life for younger readers, highlighting her determination to stay true to herself and her ideals. The illustrations aren’t particularly original, but the colorful panels effectively propel the narrative. An interesting portrait of an American mover and shaker refreshingly presented in graphic novel format. (Graphic biography. 8-10)
WE’RE GOING ON AN EGG HUNT
balances poignant and comic moments, wry observations, and moments of kindness. The narrator opens by directly addressing readers and provides a lovely and consoling revelation in the epilogue. Final art not seen.
Heartbreaking, marvelously funny, and generously redemptive. (Fantasy. 8-13)
Hawk, Goldie | Illus. by Angie Rozelaar Nosy Crow (32 pp.) | $17.99 Jan. 7, 2025 | 9798887771304
Series: We’re Going on a…Hunt
A hoppy, snappy Easter version of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. Three young tots, with varied skin tones and baskets ready in their hands, eagerly scamper on a spring day to find some eggs. But of course, they meet hindrances along the way. “Ooh, look … // Chickens! / Flapping, pecking chickens.” Thus starts the rolling refrain: “Can’t go over them. / Can’t go under them. / Can’t go around them. // Got to go through them!” The waddling chickens don’t pose much of an obstacle, but they do “Cluck-cluck!” loudly as they scatter in the sun. The three youngsters then must face “fluffy, hungry bunnies” (adorable long-eared puffballs with carrot fronds in their mouths) and “happy, hopping frogs” as they balance on stones to cross a pond. All of this leads to a garden bursting with colorful flowers (“Rustle-swish! / Rustle-swish!”) and finally…10 eggs in pastel patterns. Each egg has a number on it to encourage readers to count along and strengthen their
numeracy skills. Rozelaar’s plump and rounded world, with roly-poly trees, flowers, and hills, wraps the tale in coziness.
The familiar singsong repetitiveness is catchy in all settings, holiday or otherwise. (Picture book. 3-6)
Healy, Kay | Neal Porter/Holiday House (160 pp.) | $16.99 | Feb. 11, 2025 9780823456505 | Series: Casey’s Cases, 1
Fifth grader Casey solves many mini mysteries. Given a magnifying glass and binoculars for her birthday, Casey feels armed and ready to be a superdetective. The pigtailed, paleskinned sleuth sees mysteries everywhere she goes. Some are small and quickly solved, like the case of the wrapped presents and the case of the missing hair band, but others are trickier, such as the case of the mysterious new girl. Casey learns that her tie-wearing, brown-skinned classmate is named Jan and that she wants to be a scientist. The two become friends and support each other as Jan tries out for the kickball team and Casey deals with a crush and a bully and finds a seemingly overfed stray cat. Divided into chapters, this lighthearted, charming comic demonstrates perfect comedic timing through dialogue, situations, and facial expressions. Black-lined art in a limited, muted palette is inviting in its simplicity. Distinct character design featuring triangleshaped heads and oversize round eyes
adds to the quirkiness. Casey is an endearing, relatable lead, but it’s when she’s with the intelligent, helpful Jan that the story becomes comedy gold and incredibly heartwarming at the same time.
The mysteries are fun, but the highlight is the friends we’ll make along the way. (Graphic mystery. 7-11)
Hearne, John | Little Island (160 pp.)
$10.99 paper | Feb. 11, 2025 | 9781915071484
A seemingly ordinary 14-yearold discovers that he has superpowers after his parents disappear and his quiet Irish village is attacked by alien eco-activists. Imbued with a heavy tone of anxiety, Martin’s narrative never does get off the ground—though he does, with a chance video of his dad falling off a roof and drifting down like Mary Poppins leading his friend Tina to a correct conclusion: “You’re an alien, dude.” He’s not the only one: Subsequent events reveal that his parents are interstellar cops who have been kidnapped as part of a secret scheme to kill off Earth’s entire polluting, biosphere-destroying human population with vicious attack insects. What can Martin, the indomitable if impulsive Tina, and their friend Enda, who’s endured brain damage following an accident, do to counter the threat?
Hard as Hearne tries to lighten the load with wild car chases, explosions, and daring rescues, the plot wars for attention with Enda’s slow progress toward recovery and with Martin’s heavy sense of betrayal—at his parents for hiding his true nature from him and at Tina for abandoning him with a bleeding Enda shortly after the accident. Moreover, the ending is disappointingly anticlimactic, with loose ends neatly wrapped up. Physical descriptors are minimal.
Glum and leaden, for all that it’s laced with chills and thrills. (Science fiction. 11-13)
Heder, Thyra | Abrams (48 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9781419757518
A new dog in town has trouble making friends. The pooch introduces himself with a message sprayed in urine on a brick wall: “Hello I am Toby.” Unfortunately, other olfactory messages—translated into signage readable by humans in watercolor, pencil, and ink illustrations reminiscent of Shirley Hughes’ work in their luminosity and brushwork—drown out the greeting. Worse yet, a further friendly smellogram on the sidewalk is so garbled by rain, garbage collectors, and the feet of passersby that Toby’s four-footed neighbors mistake him for a mean dog. What’s a lonely mutt to do? Dog lovers will delight in the canine rushes of various Fidos cavorting energetically across the urban scenes and endpapers (human figures remain hazy and peripheral, though seemingly racially diverse) and yelp with pleasure at Toby’s distinctly doggy solution to his dilemma. Confronted in the park by a tense, hostile pack, he approaches slowly and then suddenly drops his front end in classic “DO YOU WANT TO… CHASE ME?” posture. The canines respond with a howling chorus of “YES!” and the ice is instantly broken in a wild, gleeful rumpus. Heder may take a bit of artistic license in depicting over a dozen dogs unleashed in an apparently unfenced urban park
setting, but young readers who’ve found themselves in a situation like Toby’s will take comfort in the cathartic close. The messages that the dogs convey in urine are hilariously apt: “Suki’s stick,” “Don’t trust the squirrels,” and “Anyone for a howl?” A real tail wagger. (Picture book. 5-8)
Hoskins, Neal | Illus. by Monika Vaicenavičienė | Thames & Hudson (48 pp.)
$18.95 | Oct. 22, 2024 | 9780500652893
A girl spins stories on Christmas Eve in a small snowy town. The child listens as a tiny robot, reminiscent of the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz , asks a timeless question: “What’s inside a human heart?” Her answer is enthralling: “A thousand rooms” of storybooks and “a galaxy of words.” The robot asks her to make him such a heart, and “so the girl did.” She tells him a story that draws on bits of her own quiet life and town: the square’s “green-faced clock,” the two magpies that can often be found in the tall grass, the golden deer that prance after everyone’s gone to sleep, and the Christmas tree in the center of the town. When the girl wakes up, it’s Christmas morning, and she’s charmed by her gift: a tiny robot bearing a note that urges her to “take your heart in your hands and listen to it so.” So she listens as her own story goes on and widens to include “all our hearts.” The poetic text is perfectly matched with delicate, naïve sketches brightened with pops of amber and red. Soft colors alternate between bright and neutral. Like the heart, the images pulse in a
This book’s heart soars far beyond its yuletide setting.
THE GIRL AND THE ROBOT HEART
rhythm that expands to embrace the outside and contracts again to focus on the girl and her loving home. The girl and her family are light-skinned. This book’s heart soars far beyond its yuletide setting. (poem, author’s and illustrator’s notes) (Picture book. 4-8)
Huang, Gloria L. | Holiday House (224 pp.) $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9780823457885
An anxious teen navigates her fear of the ocean. Thirteen-yearold Kaya knows that, living in Hawaii, it’s ridiculous to try to avoid the water, but she’s certain the ocean is trying to drown her. So when she finally agrees to go surfing, she isn’t surprised when things go wrong. Kaya is certain that she’s responsible for her friend Taiyo’s near drowning, but she also believes she might have saved him afterward. Her persistent anxiety ratchets up as her aunt and moody cousin visit from New York City, and she experiences more instances of water acting strangely in her presence. Interwoven snippets—set in China’s Fujian province in 1629, San Francisco in 1876, and China’s Jiangsu province in 1949—tell the stories of other girls in harrowing situations. This sweeping narrative will keep readers eager to learn what happens to Kaya, the child of Mandarin-speaking Chinese and Taiwanese immigrants, and her friends. Unfortunately, the latter part of the novel is plagued by pacing issues, and toward the end, each revelation only raises more unresolved questions. The intergenerational connections are insufficiently explored, and ultimately, the power of the mysterious water goddess feels incidental rather than satisfying. Readers will appreciate the frank discussion of anxiety and welcome a contemporary novel set on Maui, but they may be deterred by the stilted dialogue. Those familiar with Chinese communities in
Hawaii will also notice gaps in the cultural context.
A promising beginning ends in a wipeout. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Hudson, Cheryl Willis | Illus. by London Ladd | Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 7, 2025 | 9780823453801
An exuberant and picturesque celebration of African American spirituals.
A Black child with dark skin and an Afro puff waxes rhapsodic about spirituals in free verse, while choruses from relevant songs accompany the youngster’s words. Sometimes the narrator feels mournful while listening to the music, and “a big lump / Gets stuck / In my throat.” The chorus from “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” appears. But this music can be healing, too; here, Hudson includes an excerpt from “There Is a Balm in Gilead.” And sometimes the music moves the young protagonist to “stomp my feet” and “sway to the beat”; the opposite page presents the chorus from “Bosom of Abraham.” Pairing beautifully with the well-chosen lyrics and Hudson’s rhythmic, affirming text, Ladd’s richly saturated mixed-media illustrations demonstrate the cultural and historical importance of these songs. Churchgoers lift their hands in praise, Harriet Tubman leads her people to freedom, and Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, and John Lewis raise their voices in protest. The use of cut paper gives the artwork a heavily
textured look; emotion feels carved into every spread. Thorough backmatter discusses how spirituals have allowed Black Americans to forge an identity and chronicle their history; Hudson also expands on the people and events depicted in the illustrations. A deeply resonant work that speaks to these songs’ historical—and present— meaning. (author’s note, glossary, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-10)
Jones, Keenan | Illus. by Ken Daley
Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781665940801
Mom’s got to work this Saturday, so she drops the young narrator off at the neighborhood barbershop. The child takes in all that this hallowed institution of Black American identity has to offer. Making strong use of light and color, digitally rendered illustrations reminiscent of vibrant oil paints depict people with a wide array of brown complexions at the ’Shop. Artwork bedecks the walls, a basketball game plays on the elevated TVs, people bob their heads to the music, and laughter fills the air. Each Saturday morning, the ’Shop serves a variety of purposes: It’s a classroom focused on Black leadership, a place to hear “the latest hip-hop gossip,” a store where hungry kids can find tasty snacks, and a playground where they can race around—“until Mr. Charles tells us to settle down.” Young and old, family and friends, gather at the barbershop to
A deeply resonant work that speaks to these songs’ historical—and present—meaning.
“hear the wisdom, / feel the joy, / and share the love.” Eventually our young narrator removes his cap and takes his turn in the chair, allowing a seasoned barber the opportunity to create another “walking [piece] of art.” This week’s visit ends with an image of mother and son reunited as they leave Mr. Charles’ shop, with enthusiastic waves goodbye and smiles on every face. Relying on repetition and alliteration, Jones has crafted a bouncy storytime tale and a tribute to the power of community. A read-aloud as sharp and stylish as a fresh cut. (author’s note and illustrator’s notes) (Picture book. 4–8)
Juckes, Sarah Ann | Illus. by Sharon King-Chai | Kane Miller (304 pp.) | $8.99 paper | Dec. 1, 2024 | 9781684649488
Ghost animals help a 10-yearold navigate difficult situations and emotions. Nora Frost and her mum are “fine.” Mum’s PTSD from her work as a paramedic means sometimes she has bad days where she stays in bed. Nora has distanced herself from her friends rather than have to explain and face their pity—she doesn’t need any help. At least, that’s what she keeps telling herself and anyone who asks. When the rainbow-tinted ghost animals Nora hasn’t encountered in years reappear, they help her to see her situation differently. Nora, who presents white, befriends artistic schoolmate Kwame James, who’s cued Black. The pair set out on an adventure to follow the ghost animals, which leads to Nora discovering that real bravery involves being honest with trusted loved ones and accepting their care and assistance. This comforting, bighearted read presents its lessons directly and without ambiguity. Some conflicts have resolutions that, while reassuring, feel too pat, but Nora is a believable and compelling character. Her prickliness and stubbornness at the beginning of the story leave room for
emotional growth as she learns to be vulnerable around her caring network of support. Kwame feels too perfect at times, but he serves as a great model of a dependable friend. Action-filled scenes support the quick pace and keep the story from becoming bogged down in its weighty themes, while the spot illustrations add charm and whimsy.
A compassionate, message-driven story about mental health. (Fiction. 8-12)
Kantorovitz, Sylvie | Walker US/ Candlewick (80 pp.) | $16.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 9781536238617 | Series: Monti and Leo
A theft rouses unfair suspicions among the residents of Pocketville. Monti the mole and Leo the lizard meet at the library to take in a figurine display on loan from Mrs. Sheep. Monti loves collections—from Leo’s rocks to Carl the librarian’s assortment of objects that patrons have left behind in library books—and hopes to start his own one day. Then Mrs. Sheep’s favorite figurine disappears; in a panic, she faints, then starts leveling accusations against Monti. Others begin to suspect him, too. Leo and their avian pal Harriet come to the defense of a visibly upset Monti and comfort him over tea. Leo sorts out his own doubts about Monti’s innocence and does some detective work. Sharp-eyed readers may deduce the culprit before he does. The story’s emergent lessons about apologizing and making amends lead recent transplant Leo to recall his time outside Pocketville: “Wherever I’ve been, there are people like Mrs. Sheep. Loud and selfish people…But there are also good people!” Relying on simple linework and muted tones, Kantorovitz depicts an adorably anthropomorphized cast. The efficient use of two to five rectangular panels per page results in a smooth, clear reading experience. An epilogue on
a resting rock by the river will be a familiar sight to series readers, one among many cozy comforts this book has to offer.
A winning celebration of collectors and their collections, and of friends to share them with. (illustrated and photographed examples of collections) (Graphic fiction. 7-9)
Katz, Alan | Illus. by Adam Auerbach Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.)
$12.99 | Feb. 11, 2025 | 9780063311183
How can matzoh go missing?
At the Cohen family’s seder on the first night of Passover, Grandpa Murray follows tradition and breaks the middle piece of matzoh into two. He wraps the larger piece—the afikomen—in a napkin and goes to hide it. Grandpa considers, then rejects, several places. When he hears his favorite word— soup —called out, he abandons his efforts, returning to the table. After everyone finishes reading the Haggadah and eats, the four grandkids hunt for the afikomen but have no luck. Grandpa Murray sheepishly admits he forgot the hiding place; Grandma Norma says it must be found so that they can finish the seder. Three grandkids continue searching, but one, David, hugs Grandpa consolingly. But what’s this? A cracking sound! It’s not Grandpa’s ribs; it’s the sound of matzoh, coming from Grandpa’s pocket! Afterward, per tradition, everyone eats some afikomen, and the seder ends. This warm, jocular Passover story is enlivened by crisp, spare cartoon illustrations, drawn with pen and ink; color was added digitally. Humorously, matzoh can be found throughout the book: The word matzoh on the title page is made from broken matzoh pieces, while the endpapers feature matzoh plus bowls of matzoh-ball soup. Even the onomatopoeic “KERR-ACK” issuing from Grandpa’s pocket resembles the titular food. Some
family members are pale-skinned; some have light tan skin.
A cheery Passover story, destined to become a holiday favorite. (hiding the afikomen) (Picture book. 4-8)
Kinney, Jeff | Amulet/Abrams (224 pp.)
$14.99 | Oct. 22, 2024 | 9781419766954
Series: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, 19
A summer vacation turns out to be anything but relaxing for Greg and a teeming horde of Heffleys. Gramma declines the offer of a grand birthday celebration, saying that “what would make her REALLY happy is if everyone else went to Ruttyneck Island”—though she prepares individual packs of her legendary meatballs. (“You knew exactly how much Gramma likes you by how many meatballs you got.”) A gaggle of Heffley relatives and a dog stuff themselves into a small beach house, where overcrowding, personality conflicts, and simmering resentments become just some of the ingredients in a rolling boil of sitcom-style catastrophes, not to mention questionable decisions ranging from leaving the kids to make dinner unsupervised to labeling a cooler “HUMAN ORGANS” to keep random passersby from helping themselves. As usual, Greg supplies the setups in poker-faced journal entries interspersed with black-andwhite drawings of slouched figures bearing frowny expressions of dismay or annoyance to cue the laffs. Gramma, it eventually turns out, not only (unsurprisingly) has plans of her own, but is also keeping a shocking secret about those meatballs. To go with the knee-slapping set pieces, Kinney slips in a tasty bit of family lore about how Greg’s parents met, plus droll takes on such low-hanging comedy fruit as restaurant manners, viciously competitive board games,
and social media influencers (Greg being one, albeit with zero followers, and his Aunt Veronica’s little dog being another, with 3.8 million). An entertaining take on family values, Wimpy Kid style. (Graphic/fiction hybrid. 8-12)
Kraegel, Kenneth | Candlewick (40 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 11, 2025 | 9781536229448
Li ke the hero of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Kraegel’s protagonist is having a tough time. Despite a rough morning, the child is holding out hope for “something good.” Small, humorous slights and annoyances add up for the young narrator (who has light skin and straight, dark hair), leading the child to declare, “Blah. Nothing good ever happens to me.” Quirky incidents (“I woke up with a chicken on my head”; “I realized too late that my boots were full of mud”) give way to the absurd when the child falls into a deep hole, which a “hairy mastodon” sits over. Expressive illustrations rendered in colored pencil, gouache, and ink enhance the humor with a cartoon style reminiscent of Michael Emberley’s work. The narrative doubles down on its fantastic turn when the protagonist finds a wrapped present on the sidewalk: Although the child is initially disappointed to find it contains socks, they turn out to have magical powers that send the narrator flying through the air. This is the “something good” the protagonist has been waiting for! It only gets better when a friend joins in on the fun, and then, after a while, they pass their good fortune along to another child, “someone who needed the socks more than we did.”
Filled with humorous twists and turns, something good, indeed, for storytime. (Picture book. 3-8)
A sly conceit, played more for chortles than chills.
IF FLOWERS WERE LITTLE MONSTERS
Le Men, Claire | Trans. by Jeffrey K. Butt | Helvetiq (96 pp.) | $19.95 Feb. 25, 2025 | 9783039640362
A French comics artist expands a botanical ramble by envisioning 20 flowers as creepy creatures. Accompanied by brief but chatty descriptive and historical notes, a set of freely rendered common tree and garden flowers transform into disarmingly awkward-looking “monsters” with appropriately malaprop characteristics and all-cap monikers. Camellias become MONSTRELLIAS, soothing lavender transforms into cozy feline LAVENDOGRES, and DANDEMONSTERS reflect the diuretic effects of dandelions by peeing in bed. Except for molelike HYAMONSTERS, which look like they’re bleeding, the visuals follow the comical or satirical tone of the narrative. Elderberry stamens resemble “snails’ eyes,” while poisonous buttercups are compared to “the classic teenager” because they have oily skin and peach-fuzz mustaches: “cute but certainly not without toxic traits.” Le Men does slip in occasional national stereotypes (“True to their name, Japanese anemones owe their elegance to their simplicity”), and her explanation of how mimosas—by which she means the Australian version—are really acacias while what Americans call “acacias” actually belong to a different family is likely to leave readers more
confused than enlightened. Still, it’s a fun premise, and youngsters will likely find both her taste for gross details and her closing guidelines for creating yet more floral monsters entertaining.
A sly conceit, played more for chortles than chills. (Nonfiction. 7-9)
Lewis Jones, Huw | Illus. by Corey Egbert | Tiger Tales (32 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781664300651
When Horace Norton finds a mouse in his hat, he lets it stay but quickly begins to accumulate animals. Pale-skinned, mustachioed Mr. Norton—with a gray beard to match—is a kind man. So kind, in fact, that when he discovers that the little rodent has made a house in his hat, he leaves it be and makes his way to work. When he notices birds in his bicycle basket, he’s equally obliging; he also decides not to disturb the squirrel in his shoe, the stoats in his satchel, and the cats in his coat. Mr. Norton’s rising frustration with his growing zoo finally culminates in an explosive response: “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” The animals scurry off, and Mr. Norton realizes just how loud and lonely silence can be. A surprising gift provides a welcome fix for his solitude. Children are sure to pick up on—and enjoy—the repetition and alliteration of this cumulative tale. Mr. Norton’s slim figure and long face give him a distinctive look. The animals who
join his menagerie are adorable, making even their mischief sweet. Readers will enjoy lingering on the energetic, chaos-filled pages where the animals make mayhem. Zany yet utterly sweet—and a winning combination of storytelling and visuals. (Picture book. 4-6)
Lide, Eric | Union Square Kids (304 pp.) | $24.99 | Feb. 25, 2025 9781454947745 | Series: DragonForged, 1
In this series opener, a new champion arrives. Orin is training to become a great warrior so he can help defend his community from evil monsters.
One day, the village is attacked by two dreadfiends, who plan to turn it into a blight zone. The guards engage in battle, but all hope seems lost until Orin manages to destroy the creatures—signaling that he’s the prophesied chosen champion of the goddess Draela. Orin is joined by new arrival Margo, a lorekeeper who wants to help him find the champion’s sword and shield, divine artifacts that he can use to defeat the Fiendlord. Their journey takes them across distant lands, where Orin meets friends and fiends alike as he tries to save the world and find out who he is in the process. Reminiscent of role-playing and adventure games, this tale takes readers on a journey full of knights, spellcasters, and quirky evildoers. The expressive, action-packed panels are lighthearted and humorous, but this is also the story of a boy who’s facing self-doubt and worries about being good enough. Readers see that not every problem has to be immediately solved with violence; whenever possible, Orin tries to find peaceful solutions. The cast includes fantasy races with green and blue skin, as well as humans with a range of skin tones.
Brown-skinned Orin wears his hair in locs, and Margo has voluminous yellow hair and light skin. Funny, adventurous, and emotionally intelligent. (bonus material) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)
Lockwood, Todd | Brown Books Kids (32 pp.) $18.99 | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781612546995
Anthropomorphic animals seize the spotlight in this fun take on the familiar carol. They’re all here: lords and ladies, pipers, drummers, maids, and so many fowls. The “true loves” are fluffy white bears dressed in Edwardian-style clothing, exchanging gifts in a very cozy parlor with a glowing fireplace. They hang golden pears on a pine tree topped with a partridge ornament; on the second day of Christmas, they smile over a live partridge in an ornate cage with the two turtle doves. The third day features a music-box partridge in a golden pear tree, two more doves, and a trio of aproned French hens sweeping and dusting; sharp-eyed readers will observe a different partridge-and-pear-tree item on every subsequent page. The hens and turtle doves multiply and are joined by pelicans, ostriches, green parrots, swans, and more. Mammals arrive for the festivities: One spread features feline milkmaids; another, raccoon milkers. Dogs, then pigs, then turtles, join the fray as drummers. Glowing with jade green and ruby red, Lockwood’s illustrations initially feel like vintage Christmas postcards. As more and more animals are added, the well-ordered setting becomes joyfully frenetic: One of the bears makes ice cream out of the abundant milk and eggs, supplementing the pastries prepared earlier. A final page lists the gifts packed into these sumptuous pages of organized chaos—and many other hidden treasures are not listed.
Delightful discoveries await readers’ attention in this zany Yuletide offering. (Picture book. 4-8)
Madden-Lunsford, Kerry
Charlesbridge Moves (256 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9781623544331
Can a werewolffilled fifth grade Shakespeare production restore a boy’s relationship with his older brother? Nothing seems to be going right for Angus Gettlefinger and his family these days. That’s why he’s determined to do a werewolf version of Hamlet for his class legacy project. With the help of friends and inspiration from bygone movie stars, Angus is sure that when 17-year-old Liam sees this play, his brother will realize that sneaking out to drink and do drugs makes him act like a werewolf. As Angus tries to hang on to his relationship with Liam and make his theatrical dreams come true, he also realizes that his parents’ financial woes threaten their family home in a Los Angeles suburb. Inspired by the author’s struggles with her son’s addiction, this contemporary story relies heavily on Shakespearean references, as well as knowledge of early- to mid-20th-century pop culture. Along with Angus’ first-person narration, scripts in which Angus converse s with his idols, including Lon Chaney and Charlie Chaplin, provide insight into his thoughts and feelings. Middle-grade readers may have difficulty connecting with this content, however. The heart and humor of Angus’ story feels genuine, even when the plot and character development come across as stilted and one-dimensional. Main characters present white.
Discusses an important subject with heart and humor but struggles with uneven presentation. (biographies, citations, author’s note, resources) (Fiction. 10-12)
Mancillas, Mónica | Scholastic (272 pp.) | $7.99 paper | Jan. 7, 2025
9781339037912 | Series: Wish
Tweens cook up traditional recipes and romance in their race to save a beloved restaurant. Ever since seventh grader Dulce Díaz’s great-grandmother, Bisabuela, passed away, the family’s Mexican restaurant has struggled to drum up enough business. Now, with a new Taco World chain restaurant competing for business across the street, Dulce’s family must get creative to stay afloat—but Dulce doesn’t think the gimmicks they’re trying feel authentic to Bisabuela’s memory. Flor, Dulce’s older sister, plans to host a cooking-themed summer camp, but Dulce is mortified to find that the most obnoxious boys in school, along with the cute new kid, have enrolled. Healthy competition ensues; meanwhile, Dulce and Italian American new boy Julian DeMarco grow closer over their love of cooking. Julian, who’s reeling from his food vlogger parents’ separation and moving from New York to California, wants to help Dulce save the restaurant. Together with friends from camp, Dulce and Julian work to bring customers in before it’s too late, and they’ll need Bisabuela’s recipes to do it. Warm dialogue and authentic emotions propel the plot toward a satisfying conclusion. Readers will be left hungry for more as they root for Dulce and her family in this heartwarming tale of resilience, tradition, and community.
A flavorful story that serves up a satisfying blend of friendship and determination. (Fiction. 9-13)
Star
McClaren, Meredith | Illus. by Andrea Bell Little, Brown (208 pp.) | $12.99 paper Feb. 25, 2025 | 9781643753164
A young girl learns to wield dessert-based magic while coping with loss. Emily’s mom travels the world, giving talks about magic baking, but Emily is happy with their monthly family dinners and her cozy life with her aunt Gina, who runs a bakery where they sell baked goods magically imbued with good feelings. With support from her best friend, Dae, Emily practices her own magical baking skills and shares the results with her classmates (and the recipes with readers). Suddenly, Emily’s life changes forever when her aunt dies in a car accident. Emily soon learns why it’s not a good idea to magically bake bad feelings when she inadvertently makes all her classmates sick. Through Bell’s cute, expressive, contemporary artwork and McClaren’s uncomplicated yet profound writing, the story teaches a lesson about healthy grieving with subtlety and care and without platitudes. The characterization is deeply human, particularly of Emily’s mom, who is trying her best to be a good parent while grieving, even as she unintentionally upends Emily’s life. In the end, Emily begins to accept
A flavorful story that serves up a satisfying blend of friendship and determination.
instead of sublimate her grief and the permanent change in her life. Emily and her family are light-skinned, while best friend Dae is Korean American as well as gender-nonconforming. Deliciously cute, funny, and touching. (Graphic fiction. 7-11)
McDonald, Megan | Illus. by Lenny Wen Candlewick (96 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 9781536201420 | Series: Fairy Door Diaries, 1
A young girl travels to the Land of the Flower Fairies and saves the day. Eliza has a hideout under the stairs where she reads about fairies with her stuffed toy; on one wall, she creates a “teeny-tiny fairy door” out of moss and sticks. One day, the door flies open, and magic allows her to fit through into the Land of the Flower Fairies, where every flower has a fairy, and new flowers appear whenever old ones are picked. Her dragonfly pin becomes a familiar named Haiku, and she befriends a pink-winged fairy named Poppy. She introduces herself as Eliza of the Elves. Trouble begins as she accidentally crosses a hedgerow into Strangleweed Swallow. There, two witches named Wolfsbane and Belladonna cast a spell to summon the Demon Wind, which steals the scents from the flowers, causing them—and their fairies—to wilt and die. Eliza is immune to their curse, so it’s up to her to save the flowers and her new friends. This slim volume packs in plenty of magic and nonstop action and adventure but not a lot of character development. When Eliza returns home, her blank diary has magically filled with an account of her adventures, paving the way for a series of future escapades. Colorful gouache and colored pencil illustrations throughout will help practicing readers by
illuminating the highly visual action. Eliza presents Asian; characters are diverse.
Fairy fans will find an enchanting new world. (Early chapter book. 5-8)
McGee, Joe | Illus. by Ethan Long
Simon Spotlight (32 pp.) | $17.99
Aug. 27, 2024 | 9781665959148
Series: Junior Monster Scouts
Strange music in the library? The Junior Monster Scouts are on the case!
Franky, Wolfy, and Vampyra— offspring of classic monsters such as Frankenstein and the Wolfman—are searching for new reading material when Wolfy hears something behind one of the shelves. Wolfy sniffs the books and finds one that’s slightly different from the others. When he removes it from the shelf, a secret passage opens. The group suddenly hears music. Down a dark staircase, they find a beautifully appointed room…with a melancholy-looking ghostly girl playing the piano. When they ask her name, they find that she can’t speak. She writes her name— Bella—and informs them that she’s a Banshee whose voice abandoned her because she wasn’t “talking, singing, or reading aloud enough.” Can the scouts help her get it back? And could a read-aloud session help? With this easy reader mystery, McGee and Long continue their Junior Monster Scout series for the younger set (they started with a series of beginning chapter books for slightly older readers using the same characters). Long’s cartoon monsters are anything but frightening, and McGee’s text is ideal for novice readers. Youngsters will identify with Bella’s difficulty reading (although maybe not for the same reason). Fans of the series and newbies alike will enjoy this one;
when newcomers finish the early readers, they can transition into the chapter-book series.
A monstrous good time for all. (Early reader. 5-8)
McNamara, Margaret & Daniel Bernstrom Illus. by G. Brian Karas | Random House Studio (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 25, 2025 9780593173305 | Series: Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom
Mr. Tiffin’s students brainstorm an idea to turn into a bill in anticipation of a trip to the state capitol. After a vote, the kids decide that their state needs an official cookie. But what kind of cookie? Though Jeremy initially proposed the maple syrup cookie—an ingredient their state is famous for—the kids have other ideas. Some want triple chocolate fudge; others champion apple cinnamon maple syrup oatmeal. Feeling that the class has strayed too far from his original vision, Jeremy joins the triple chocolate fudge faction. The divided class heads to the capitol building, where Representative Mariam Noor gives them a tour; finally, they hold a vote. In a nail-biting moment, Jeremy is the last to vote—apple cinnamon maple syrup oatmeal is the winner! The idealistic Jeremy explains that he didn’t vote for his favorite, but for which cookie best represented the group. The class’s idea becomes a real law when Rep. Noor introduces the bill at the state capitol. Karas’ distinctive, mellow gouache and pencil illustrations depict energetic, engaged diverse children and detailed background scenes. Mr. Tiffin is light-skinned, Rep. Noor has light brown skin and wears a headscarf, and Jeremy is brown-skinned and curly-haired. Detailed backmatter about several state cookies offers kid-friendly context, with a cookie recipe that’s sure to please. This is a delicious addition to the series that
stands alone as an excellent democratic primer.
Educational, accessible, and fun.
(Picture book. 5-7)
McPherson, JD | Illus. by Anika Orrock Walker US/Candlewick (40 pp.)
$15.99 | Sept. 10, 2024 | 9781536237023
Move over, Miss Manners! In this tale based on McPherson’s popular Christmas song, a youngster bemoans “the worst gift I ever got.”
While the rest of the household is still in bed, the child, who has skin the color of the page, awakens early one Christmas morning and sneaks downstairs. “SOCKS?” says the young narrator in disbelief upon shaking a package. Indignant, the child races around the house in search of the real treasure trove—to no avail. The protagonist curses “ol’ double-dealing Kris / I’m sure he saw the crispy fiver / stapled to my list.” The word socks appears in multiple languages on one spread as kids the world over join the young narrator in voicing their displeasure. But wait—could there be more gifts under the tree? The child’s exasperation is conveyed in satisfying rhymes throughout, while the retro illustrations capture the energy of this small whirling ingrate. The muted pastel background colors are accented with pops of black and bright red, matching the frenzied tone. With just a few lines for the child’s eyebrows, hair, and mouth, Orrock’s simple drawings nevertheless capture intense emotions. Though the youngster’s ungraciousness is expressed loudly and proudly, caregivers may want to use the tale to explore appropriate responses to a disappointing present. A QR code links to the tune upon which the book is based.
Hilarious holiday hijinks that hew closer to naughty than to nice. (Picture book. 5-8)
Michaels, Patty | Illus. by
Ruth Barrows
Simon Spotlight (32 pp.) | $9.99
Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781665973519
What is being a Swiftie all about?
Finding joy in the things you love!
For Taylor Swift and her fans, love comes from baking tasty desserts, snuggling with pets, enjoying fireworks with friends, and attending concerts. Vibrant illustrations that evoke bright pop music are scattered with references to Taylor’s life, such as a red sports jersey (a nod to her high-profile relationship with a certain Kansas City Chiefs tight end) or a stack of friendship bracelets (which devotees know are commonly made by hand and traded at Swift’s concerts). Without this prior knowledge of Swift lore, this peppy picture book may feel like a somewhat superficial, though positive, list of ways to find happiness; some readers may wish the author had included messages about acceptance and self-love, commonly found in Swift’s lyrics. Still, the intended audience will welcome it as a joyful love letter to her fans. Pops of color splash across scenes of Taylor and a racially diverse set of friends doing their favorite things atop a stark white background. The star’s recognizable fashion style and facial features are spot-on, while most other featured characters feel more generic. Colorful, upbeat, and just for Swifties. (Picture book. 4-7)
Mix, Rebecca | Harper/HarperCollins (320 pp.)
$19.99 | Oct. 15, 2024 | 9780063254107
fairies were trapped inside a dying terrarium in The Mossheart’s Promise (2023), she set them free and lost her wings. When the Siltshore fairies take her community members in, Ary can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong—even though the other Terrans just want to fit in. As her anxiety grows and her nightmares increase, Ary, Owl, and Briar hide their misgivings from one another and drift apart, trying to settle into normal lives. But Owl discovers that fairies have been disappearing from Siltshore, and Ary learns that a blight is killing the trees. Ary realizes she isn’t done being a hero, no matter how much the caring adults say she’s done enough and can step aside. Now she must decide whether she’ll take on the danger alone or trust her friends with her fears. This duology closer, a story about telling the truth no matter how afraid you are to face it, is marked by repetition, slow pacing, plenty of introspection, and little action through the first half. Filled with genuine emotion, it can feel like therapy in fairy-tale form for readers who are dealing with the loss of loved ones, communication issues, or mistrust of those who are meant to protect you. Knowledge of the first entry is a must for appreciating this one. A quiet book for patient readers. (map) (Fantasy. 9-13)
Kirkus Star
Bird of a Thousand
Monsef, Kiyash | Simon & Schuster (352 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 9781665928533 | Series: Once There Was, 2
Dastani, now 16, learns that a legendary bird that brings stories to the world is about to be reborn. As a hatchling, it will be vulnerable to foes—notably the Fells, a ruthless organization of magical animal traffickers that is, to Marjan’s deep disgust, her main employer. Interspersing his chapters with fragmentary folk tales featuring orphans, quests, monsters, the titular bird, and hints of profound truths, Monsef sends his rousingly intense and sometimes difficult protagonist all over the map, from Berkeley to Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, and remotest Finland. Hoping to find and protect the Bird, Marjan embarks on a headlong series of tests, betrayals, reversals, revelations, and confrontations. Better yet, along with dishing up a diverse human cast linked by refreshingly nuanced relationships, the author endows the supernatural being with subtle and surprising natures, abilities, and agendas. “The fae are fickle,” says one character. “One day they sing you the sweetest song. The next day they eat your cat.” Even jaded fantasy readers won’t be able to help but be beguiled. Breathless adventures in richly imagined settings—an entrancing sequel. (source notes) (Fantasy. 10-14)
Kirkus Star
Moore, Lindsay | Greenwillow Books (40 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 18, 2025 | 9780063061002
Twelve-year-old Ary Mossheart was done being a hero, but the fairies’ new forest home isn’t as safe as it seemed. After Ary discovered the Terra
A teenager’s mission to help distressed magical creatures takes her into dangerous places and deadly situations in this folk tale–infused sequel to Once There Was (2023).
The stakes rise considerably this time around: Over the course of encounters with eldritch supernatural beings and a reclusive Persian cousin of (as it turns out) uncertain reliability, Marjan
Text and pictures soar in this view of the longest annual migration in the natural world. With contagious wonder and a memorable observation that the Arctic tern sees more sunlight than any other creature, Moore retraces the long yearly journey of small birds “no heavier / than a handful of sand” from Arctic summer waters to Antarctic ones. There, she writes, they molt and feed on
krill along with the local minke whales before seasons change and they begin their flights back north to nest. In luminous watercolors, she begins with a nesting pair who feed small fish to hatchlings and courageously gather with other adults to drive away predators, from ravens to a “fierce and hungry” polar bear. Later they share the sea’s “fall feast” with puffins, fly with migratory flamingos, rest for a time in midocean atop a sea turtle, then continue to follow the sun on their southward flight over the mountains of Patagonia and on to the Weddell Sea. The author adds further facts about these birds and their “epic migration” at the end, plus a world map that shows routes and other useful information.
Just as immersive as her Sea Bear (2019), this outing is sure to leave budding naturalists enthralled and impressed. Natural science at its most visually and verbally lyrical. (resource lists) (Informational picture book. 6-8)
Morancy, Joalda | Illus. by Aaron Cushley | Neon Squid/Macmillan (48 pp.)
$17.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781684494477
Advice and background for early lunar settlers from a certified rocket scientist.
The narrative opens with an illustration of the brown-skinned author reading from a book titled Tip-Top Moon Tips. Morancy then invites all “adventurers and cosmic thrill-seekers” to take a near-future flight powered by NASA’s Space Launch System to our neighbor the moon. “Surviving an environment that is actively trying to kill you is a challenging feat,” the author goes on, but by carefully heeding the book’s warnings about hazards ranging from radiation to deadly, insidious dust, new arrivals may live long enough not only to explore the surface, but also to build flourishing colonies in subsurface lava tubes and to
gear up for an expedition to Mars. In a utopian vein, Morancy also extrapolates (though not in specifics) the eventual growth of a lunar government, economy, and “the kind of society we wish to see on Earth.” Cushley illustrates these visions with detail-crammed scenes of small, racially and culturally diverse figures—starting off with Morancy and a gallery of other contemporary space experts, then going on to depict workers either in vacuum suits or indoor garb engaged in tasks ranging from gardening and governing to shooting Earth-bound cargoes out into orbit using a giant catapult or a futuristic space elevator. A lively mix of facts and informed speculation. (glossary, index) (Informational picture book. 7-9)
Munro, Roxie | Schiffer (32 pp.) | $16.99 Feb. 28, 2025 | 9780764368813
A series of circuitous worlds for would-be adventurers. What fun! Fans of challenging seek-and-find puzzles will love this clever book, comprised of 10 “fantastical connected mazes” set out on double-page spreads. Each maze is packed with tiny, cleverly illustrated details and minuscule human figures (they’re generally too small to discern skin color), set against a variety of scenes, among them the Magic Forest, Steampunk, Land of the Sweets, Fairy-Tale Land, and Super Future. Some mazes include multiple levels; many are quite tricky. Each requires readers to enter from the left side of the spread and exit from the right; captions direct puzzlers to locate several items within each vividly colored maze. This isn’t always easy, considering how many red herrings there are. Oh, and don’t forget the pesky penguin, which kids are tasked with locating on each spread. Happily, the answer key at the back provides solutions. Best of all, this book gives children a wonderful opportunity to
slow down, learn to focus, test their patience, turn away from screens, and hone their visual-discrimination skills. Another plus: While kids may choose to tackle these mazes solo, they’ll enjoy themselves even more when they share them with a friend. Either way, this offering is guaranteed to provide stimulating diversion. Kids will have a blast poring over these delightful pages. (Activity book. 5-8)
Nelson, Adiba | Illus. by Alleanna Harris | Feiwel & Friends (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781250891150
T hemes of heritage, community, and identity intertwine in this love letter to braids that centers on a young disabled Afro-Latine girl.
Sunday is hair day in Yadira’s house. Mami sections and braids Yadira’s hair, making intricate patterns and adding gold bands and cowrie shells, including one that hangs right on top of Yadira’s forehead. Mami tells her the shells invoke the power and magic of Oshún, a Yoruba goddess who was created to provide “what the people and the land needed most: love, kindness, and beauty.” In a time of peril, cowrie shells helped Oshún save her people, and Mami draws on that strength with the shells in Yadira’s braids, taking protective styling to a whole new—or perhaps old—level. The next day, starting at a new school, Yadira lets Oshún’s guidance bolster her as she meets new friends, each with their own styles of beautiful braids. Warm is the best description for Harris’ palette, which captures a wide range of sumptuous brown skin tones, illuminates everything from edge combs to mobility aids (Yadira uses a wheelchair and a walker), and fills each spread with radiant yellows. Complementing the art, Nelson’s text draws from deep cultural roots to enrich the everyday
intimacy of wash day and fuel the sparks of community connection. The visual narrative’s focus on a disabled protagonist seamlessly weaves another welcome dimension of intersectional storytelling into an already intricate identity braid. Pure, unadulterated joy. (visual glossary) (Picture book. 3-8)
Nickum, Nora | Illus. by Robert Meganck | Peachtree (40 pp.) | $18.99 March 11, 2025 | 9781682637319
An airy disquisition on bubbles of all descriptions— including even the metaphorical sort. Addressing readers who are “bubbling over with curiosity,” Nickum tallies substances that make bubbles, from chewing gum, whipping cream, and bubble roll plastic to lava covering a gassy volcanic eruption. The author then explains how bubbles are used to keep surfers warm and overheated echidnas cool, put out fires, help humpback whales trap prey, and (when embedded in ice and rock) explore the past of this planet and others. Countering any thoughts that the topic is as ephemeral as a soap bubble, Nickum also explains how tiny bubbles can have outsize effects on the weather and even the entire planet’s climate, thanks to their ability to trap huge quantities of atmospheric carbon dioxide in our oceans. She invites readers to join the racially diverse cast of Meganck’s cartoon illustrations in blowing, stirring, poking, squeezing, eating, or just observing the ubiquitous phenomena— and to reflect on how bubbles play a figurative role in our language through expressions like “living in a bubble” or having a “bubbly personality.” She moves on to quick discourses on surface tension and other “bubble science,” and in a frothy closing note retraces her research in order to provide anyone eager to know more with leads to her sources. Pop science at its most effervescent. (Informational picture book. 5-7)
Offsay, Charlotte | Illus. by Jason Kirschner | Holiday House (40 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 25, 2025 | 9780823458257
How does your cracker crumble?
“Matzah day! It’s matzah day! Pesach’s here!
Hooray! Hooray!”
Bouncy, rhyming text and ebullient digital illustrations bring this cheery Passover story to life. A jolly, rosycheeked, light-skinned family celebrates the holiday with matzah at its heart. Even the dog and cat get into the act as the jaunty verse describes how the crackly treat is prepared. Offsay also suggests various delectable ways to enjoy it throughout the holiday; it’s a must at every seder, but it can also be eaten with lox and sour cream, chocolate, or toffee. Matzah pizza, anyone? (Just don’t eat it in bed; it’s too crumbly.) Illustrations of the children perching on hilariously oversize ingredients set a whimsical tone. Though marvelous matzah can be enjoyed long past the eight full days of Passover, by book’s end, many family members are ready to hold off until next year. So who’s ready for matzah day? The tale concludes with a simple recipe: By tradition, matzah must be prepared and baked in only 18 minutes from start to finish! And don’t miss the recipes for matzah pizza and matzah candy. Note also the endpapers, which feature the family members (and cat) peering out through half-eaten matzah.
Don’t pass over this winning Pesach story. (information on Passover) (Picture book. 4-7)
Olitzky, Kerry & Ari Moffic | Illus. by Rena Yehuda Newman | Jessica Kingsley Publishers (32 pp.) | $18.95 Jan. 19, 2025 | 9781805013068
she goes—in fact, her name even means crown. One day, her mom reads her a book about Purim, and Atara sees herself in Queen Esther; while Esther hid her Jewish identity, for a long time Atara never told her parents she was really a girl. Just as Esther’s crown made it clear that she was a queen, Atara’s crown gives her a sense of assurance about her identity. In drama class, Atara is even cast as Queen Esther in the Purim play. The show is a hit. But when Atara forgets her crown at home the next day, she must summon her inner confidence. The book’s full-color, pastel illustrations are reminiscent of newspaper comic strips, with rounded, squiggly lines. The dyslexia-friendly text appears separately from the images. Though the writing is purposeful and at times clunky, it’s wonderful to see a Purim story that centers a trans protagonist; many young people will identify with both Atara and Esther. The book has no endnotes about the holiday, so adults may want to pair this offering with an informational text. Atara and her mom have tan complexions and curly brown hair. Queen Esther has brown skin; the Persian King Ahasuerus is light-skinned.
A delightfully inclusive Purim tale. (reading recommendations, coloring activity) (Picture book. 3-7)
Parkin, Michael | Flying Eye Books (32 pp.)
$17.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781838749194
A trans girl finds a much-needed mirror in a biblical queen. Atara wears a crown everywhere
A rooster encounters on-the-job stress. Farmer Tony presents Ronnie, the new rooster, to an assembly of cheerful animals. Though Ronnie’s friendly and eager to join the farm, his timing is off. He crows during dinner but is silent early the next morning, and the other animals sleep in. “WRONG TIME, ROOSTER!” the others cheer when Ronnie cock-a-doodles at inopportune moments. Farmer Tony has a talk with Ronnie, who confides that he’s been fired from every job he’s
ever had and then blurts out: “Nobody ever taught me how to tell the time!” His revelation will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt out of their element. Ronnie’s sure he’ll be let go, but the supportive cast swings into action, teaching him how to tell time and, more importantly, making him feel part of the team. Though Parkin covers familiar ground, the narrative flows well, and vulnerable, angsty Ronnie will soften hearts. An especially endearing image depicts him nervously holding a cup of coffee, surrounded by ticking clocks, as the light-skinned, white-haired Farmer Tony approaches. Chunky illustrations that rely on pleasant primary colors match warm, playful text. Opportunities for call and response abound with the refrains “Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!” and “WRONG TIME, ROOSTER!” Make time for this giggle-worthy barnyard tale. (Picture book. 4-7)
Patterson, Colleen A. & Brenda S. Miles Illus. by John Joseph | American Psychological Association (32 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781433844652
Dinosaurs offer guidance on unpacking big emotions. Little ones grappling with anger, irritation, or restlessness are invited to follow a young orange triceratops through a series of exercises. “Feeling frustrated, frenzied, or full of ROAR? Calm yourself like a dinosaur!” As the initially crabby-looking triceratops meets larger dinos, it receives useful lessons on stretching—and so do readers. A purple creature resembling a T. rex flashes its teeth: “OPEN YOUR JAWS, then open some more…Now relax your jaws and calm the roar.” On another page, another dino—perhaps a brontosaurus or a brachiosaurus—gazes at the triceratops: “STRETCH YOUR NECK, then stretch some more…Now relax your neck to calm the roar.” A pteranodon extends its
wings: “LIFT YOUR WINGS, then lift some more. Now relax your wings to calm the roar.” That comforting refrain recurs throughout before the authors bring the book to a close: “Now you are a… Relaxosaur!” Joseph’s big-eyed, sweetfaced dinos are downright adorable, depicted in vibrant hues, while the text is buoyant and easy to follow. Backmatter on the Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique follows, with a reader’s note that will help adults guide young children in learning how to self-regulate.
Interactive prehistoric fun—and a solid primer on coping with stress. (Picture book. 2-5)
Kirkus Star
Joan Mitchell Paints a Symphony: La Grande Vallée Suite
Rogers, Lisa | Illus. by Stacy Innerst Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (40 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 25, 2025 | 9781662680373
A n exploration of Joan Mitchell’s passionate, color-drenched, large-scale abstract paintings.
Focusing on 21 paintings that Mitchell completed in 1983 and 1984, inspired by France’s Grande Vallée, Rogers notes that the U.S.-born Mitchell never visited the scenic valley, though she lived in France. It was a beloved childhood place for the painter’s dear friend Gisèle Barreau. “Joan envisions the valley….She senses it, smells it, hears, it, feels it.” She “uses oil paint and canvas to create this valley of her mind.” Rogers beautifully conveys the artist’s intentions in ways young readers will understand:
By abstracting nature, Mitchell captures her feelings about it. On the monumental size and multiplicity of Mitchell’s works, Rogers writes: “One canvas is not big enough to contain her mind’s picture.” Innerst’s illustrations are fittingly exuberant, rendering Mitchell in grayscale against expressionistic brush strokes and drips in warm yellows, blues, deep greens, and pinks. Readers see multiple images of the artist on one spread, her black bob, large eyeglasses, and elongated arms embodying her energy and drive. Mitchell’s black ladder is sometimes rickety looking, sometimes paint-covered: a partner in her up-anddown painter’s dance. Innerst’s paintings of paintings sometimes suggest a specific work from the period, such as La Grande Vallée II (Amaryllis). The penultimate spread celebrates the extraordinary series in its gallery opening: “Joan is ready to share her valley with the world.” In the last, two kids contemplate an enormous painting from “La Grande Vallée.” Simply marvelous. (author’s note, childhood poem by Mitchell, timeline, selected museums for viewing Mitchell’s work, selected bibliography, photographs, picture credits) (Picture-book biography. 6-10)
Roop, Connie & Peter Roop Illus. by Noa Denmon | Aladdin (40 pp.) $18.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781481449267
A trans girl finds a much-needed mirror in a biblical queen. JUST LIKE QUEEN ESTHER
A beloved writer overcomes childhood trauma. When Maya Angelou was a little girl, she loved words: their sounds,
The 17th annual awards recognized Uri Shulevitz, We Need Diverse Books, and others.
A who’s who of kid-lit luminaries gathered in New York for the 2024 Carle Honors, hosted by Tony Award–winning actor and picture-book author Leslie Odom Jr. Given annually by the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the award “celebrates individuals and organizations making lasting
contributions to picture book art.”
Uri Shulevitz was this year’s Artist award recipient; the award honors lifelong innovation in the field. Accepting on his behalf, editor Wesley Adams gave a brief statement paying tribute to author/illustrator Eric Carle, for whom the museum and awards are named.
The Angel award, honoring individuals or organizations whose resources help make picture-book art exhibitions, education programs, and other projects possible, was given to the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books, which advocates for inclusivity in children’s
literature. In her acceptance speech, chief executive Ellen Oh noted that the number of books by authors of color has increased dramatically in the decade since WNDB was formed.
The Bridge award, honoring individuals or institutions that have “found inspired ways to bring the art of the picture book to larger audiences through work in other fields,” went to the multimedia company KidLit TV.
The Mentor award, which honors editors, educators, and designers, went to the Horn Book, a reviews journal celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Actor, author, and activist Marlo Thomas was honored with the Inspiration award, accepted on her behalf by composer Christopher Cerf. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Thomas’ groundbreaking book and TV special Free To Be…You and Me —M.D.
Ellen Oh of We Need Diverse Books
“Extreme brattiness meets extreme witchiness in this merrily plotted tale.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Using magical realism and dreams, this lovely picture book shows how the main character Tali gains courage to try the things she has been too
—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
This review originally ran in the Jan. 1, 2023, issue.
Garland, Sally Anne
Sunbird Books | 36 pp.
$18.99 | March 21, 2023
9781503766877
An observant, nurturing child beautifies her cement yard. Eager to attract birds, Emma, a tranquil, light-skinned child, tries drawing images of plants and flowers on the wall using sidewalk chalk—to no avail. But everything
changes when she discovers a wobbling slab of cement. Her dad, who shares her skin tone and features, moves the slab to reveal soil, roots, and wriggling worms. Hope stirs beneath the cement as Emma tends to the soil, plants slowly grow, and her father removes more slabs of cement. The yard slowly blossoms, and Emma creates a feeder, a nest, and other items to attract birds…until her actions pay off. The outcome is less exciting than the journey, and while some readers won’t be drawn in
by this gentle story or its protagonist’s humble goal, curious, quiet children will appreciate it and may enjoy engaging in a discussion about what plants need to grow and what happens when the seasons shift. Illustrations are anchored in the off-white cement, with engaging contrast as plants begin growing and pollinators and helpful creepycrawlies—ants, spiders, and ladybugs—arrive. For the patient, the protagonist’s world will be pleasing. (Picture book. 4-7)
EDITORS’ PICKS:
Not About a Boy by Myah Hollis (HarperTeen)
The Gale by Mo Yan, adapted by Guan Xiaoxiao, trans. by Ying-Hwau Hu, illus. by Zhu Chengliang (Simon & Schuster)
The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter (Hogarth)
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
Manufacture Local: How To Make America the Manufacturing Superpower of the World by John Gardner
Fully Booked is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.
Intergenerational friendship spurs second chances in Gayle Forman’s Not Nothing BY MEGAN LABRISE
On this episode of Fully Booked, Gayle Forman discusses her poignant new middle-grade novel, Not Nothing (Aladdin, Aug. 27). Forman is the award-winning author of several novels for young adults, including the No. 1 New York Times bestseller If I Stay, which was adapted into a major motion picture in 2014, Where She Went, and the Just One series. Her middle-grade debut, Frankie & Bug, was a New York Times best children’s book of 2021.
Readers will find threads of Frankie & Bug woven into the fabric of Not Nothing, a novel narrated by a 107-yearold man who befriends a 12-year-old boy one momentous summer. Joseph “Josey” Kravitz is a resident of Shady Glen Retirement Home; Alex is working there, temporarily, as part of a penance for doing something truly bad.
Here’s a bit from our starred review of Not Nothing : “Alex’s mother has disappeared, and he lives with an aunt and uncle who don’t want him. His resentment, self-loathing, and all-consuming anger cause him to commit a violent act, ‘the Incident,’ for which he’s arrested. His social worker arranges community service at Shady Glen Retirement Home, where he meets the narrator,Joseph ‘Josey’ Kravitz, who keeps to himself and hasn’t spoken in five years. But he’s drawn to Alex and decides to share his story. When Alex’s terrible Incident is finally disclosed, readers will grasp its gravity. Both storylines are filled with misunderstandings, tragedy, horrible acts of hatred, and selfless acts of bravery, which affect the protagonists in profound ways. As they realize that they have much in common, both Alex and Josey learn they can ‘rise to the occasion of [their] lives.’ Bestselling award winner Forman interweaves the tales carefully, with striking language and depth of feeling, allowing readers to understand the characters’ perspectives as they learn more
Forman, Gayle Aladdin | 288 pp. | $17.99 Aug. 27, 2024 | 9781665943277
about themselves and open up to people around them, many of whom become advocates and friends. Powerful, heartbreaking, and hopeful.”
Forman and I discuss the delightful surprise of a middle-grade novel narrated by a 107-year-old man, and how she came up with the idea. She talks about researching hate groups—specifically, how people leave them—which segues into a discussion of Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem. We contemplate the invitation Not Nothing makes to readers, what it means to invite people to rise to the occasion of their lives, and how cancel culture can prevent people from doing that. We talk about apologies and vocabulary, how tone communicates meaning beyond words, and whether Forman sees herself as writing the world as it is or how she’d like it to be.
Then editors Laura Simeon, Mahnaz Dar, and Laurie Muchnick share their top picks in books for the week.
Editor-at-large Megan Labrise hosts the Fully Booked podcast.
their rhythms, the lyrics of songs. She especially adored Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poetry. At age 8, she suffered a devastating assault—referred to here as an attack and “painful trauma”—and believed that her words were later responsible for the death of the person responsible. For years, she read and listened but spoke aloud only to her older brother, Bailey. Finally, a neighbor, Mrs. Beulah Flowers, insisted that Maya carry her groceries home. Mrs. Flowers read to Maya from A Tale of Two Cities when the two reached her home. Maya admired Mrs. Flowers, and her words of encouragement and her “melodic voice” inspired her to begin speaking again. Mrs. Flowers also provided a book of poetry and asked Maya to memorize one to recite on her next visit. Connie and Peter Roop share a powerful episode from the early life of a heralded writer, speaker, and teacher. Their in-depth research— detailed in an authors’ note—results in a telling that emphasizes the loving family and community that nourished Maya despite the harsh reality of segregated Arkansas. Denmon’s elegantly constructed, earth-toned digital art supports this engaging story; the words in the illustrations speak to their importance to Maya. Uplifting narrative and images demonstrate how pain can be healed through love and literary expression. (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
Don’t Invite a Bear Inside for Hanukkah
Rostoker-Gruber, Karen | Illus. by Carles Arbat | Apples & Honey Press (32 pp.)
$19.95 | Nov. 5, 2024 | 9781681156422
been forewarned. Don’t expect your guest to share the applesauce, latkes, or chocolate gelt. After the bear wolfs all the food down, the protagonist tells him to scram. Crying, the bear leaves. The child follows him to his den, only to see him lighting his own tree-branch menorah. How could the youngster have known that bears celebrate Hanukkah, too? The bear gives the child the menorah as a present. What a dilemma! The narrator doesn’t want the bear to celebrate Hanukkah alone, and inviting him back inside is a big no. Then an idea strikes! What about an outdoor Hanukkah celebration-cum-barbecue for everyone—complete with the bear’s menorah, latkes, and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts)? This sweet, good-humored story reminds readers that Hanukkah’s meant to be celebrated with family and friends (if not necessarily ursine ones) and that it’s important to accommodate guests. The rollicking, richly hued illustrations are cheerfully expressive. The human characters are tan-skinned and dark-haired; all appear to enjoy a delightful holiday celebration with their guest, even surrounded by snow. Backmatter notes that, per Jewish tradition, it’s a mitzvah to make guests feel special. A charmer about the special meanings of Hanukkah: joy, friendship, and inclusion. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-7)
Kirkus Star
Lost Ones
Rundberg, Johan | Trans. by Eva Apelqvist
Amazon Crossing Kids (222 pp.)
$17.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781662525940
Series: The Moonwind Mysteries, 3
Be bear-y mindful of whom you invite over for the holidays. The young narrator’s adamant: Don’t invite a bear inside for Hanukkah!
“You might think it’s a great idea because it’s always nice to invite guests inside to celebrate.” If you do, you’ve
A big case helps an orphan unravel the mysteries of her past. Enough time has passed since The Queen of Thieves (2024) that the heat is finally off 12-year-old Mika after her explosive prison break.
Her newly restored anonymity means she’s once again free to help Constable Valdemar Hoff solve crimes. Valdemar’s been assigned the case of a missing wealthy 14-year-old. But Mika’s friend Tekla leads her to an even bigger case—a new construction job has revealed a mass grave of suspiciously small skeletons. This Swedish import skillfully interweaves its mystery storylines with revelations about Valdemar’s past and Mika’s own family history. Mika’s keen eye for observation, her ability to make connections, her strong moral center, and her boldness keep things fast-paced and grounded, especially as the investigation turns into the most dangerous one she and Valdemar have faced. The story neither shies away from nor sensationalizes its violence and provides the same matter-of-fact treatment to other social ills Mika encounters in gritty 1880s Stockholm, including poverty, alcoholism, and teen pregnancies. Robust prose paints vivid pictures, enhancing characterization, plot twists, and an action-packed finale. The ending resolves mysteries seeded in the first book of the series, but a final image disrupts the happily-ever-after with a promise of more stories to come. Characters are cued white. Exceptionally entertaining, always suspenseful, and eminently satisfying. (Historical thriller. 10-14)
Sassi, Laura | Illus. by Emanuela Di Donna | WorthyKids/Ideals (32 pp.)
$18.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781546007630
T he author looks at feet as the vehicle for spreading God’s love. Sure, feet can be stinky or dirty or funny, but God loves all our feet because they help us spread his grace to those around us. After making that point, Sassi considers the feet of many prominent Biblical characters and how they helped their owners to build (Noah), stand strong (Daniel), confront bullies
FAITHFUL FEET
(David), and share joy (Mary, when she visited Elizabeth to announce “she was having God’s own boy”). Jesus’ feet took him all over while he taught people, healed the sick, helped the lost and those astray, and ultimately “paid sin’s debt” on Calvary. Though several of those topics are on the more serious side, the bouncy rhyming couplets, two to a spread, keep things from getting too heavy for the youngest listeners (though their adults may keenly feel the dichotomy). Di Donna’s seemingly digital illustrations are bright and cheerful, with smiles even on the animals’ faces. The biblical characters are olive-toned, while present-day folks are diverse in skin color and ability. One elderly character uses a cane, a child with a cast on a foot relies on a crutch, and another youngster uses a wheelchair. This tale could be a good choice to share with children just starting to do outreach or volunteering. A solidly presented, surefooted message rooted in the Christian faith. (Religious picture book. 2-6)
The St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet Saunders, Liz | Illus. by Lindsay Dale-Scott | duopress/Sourcebooks (40 pp.) | $12.99 | Dec. 2, 2024 9781464217999 | Series: Holiday ABCs
Symbols of Ireland lead a jaunty tour through the ABCs. Simple scenes with a surfeit of green shades populate this everything-but-the-kitchen-sink list about the “Day When Everyone Is Irish.” Saunders starts with the Apostle of Ireland (“another name for the real St. Patrick”) and ends on “zoom, which
is what you’ll have to do if you want to catch a leprechaun.” In straightforward matching illustrations, racially diverse characters celebrate alongside lightskinned, red-headed leprechauns. (A breakout box states, “There are no female leprechauns.”) The exact number of leprechauns is unspecified, which might frustrate readers trying to meet the challenge to “find them all.” Joke enthusiasts will find some minor hits here (“What is a leprechaun’s favorite type of music? Shamrock ’n’ roll” and “What is a leprechaun’s favorite part of the house?” “The paddy-o”). The cheerful introductory text features plenty of exclamation points and even a few words in Gaeilge. Mixing fact and fiction, the text asserts that tiny Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, “is the only place leprechauns can be found outside of Ireland.” Saunders briefly touches on history, with a quick look at the Irish struggle for independence. A fun St. Patrick’s Day read-aloud. (Picture book. 4-8)
Schotter, Roni | Illus. by Khoa Le Astra Young Readers (32 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 28, 2025 | 9781662602061
A child learns a lesson on a celestial adventure. After a day of squabbling with a brownskinned sibling, a lighterskinned youngster—referred to as “you” in the text, narrated in second person—lies awake in bed until a luminous dragon named Nuri beckons. Soon the protagonist is flying through the nighttime sky on Nuri’s back, zooming toward a gathering of diverse children riding dragons of their own. Like
the siblings, the winged creatures fight until a wise Sky Dragon calls out, “PEACE NOW!” The dragons settle, helping the children write messages of tranquility on banners. Nearby, the protagonist’s little sister is writing her own message: “No pinching / no poking.” At the end of the night, Nuri takes the child home, where the two siblings make amends and fall into sweet dreams. The starry, jewel-toned illustrations sparkle, creating a dreamy nighttime environment filled with fantastical dragons. Strong shapes and lines combine with the thoughtful use of negative space. Repetition of the word imagine punctuates the narrative, clearly written to emphasize the importance of harmony. Whimsical touches—message-bearing comets, stars that taste like marshmallows—add a dash of fun to an otherwise didactic bedtime story. While the goal of eliminating sibling conflict is a noble one, fights are inevitable, and a discussion of how to resolve them might have been more helpful for caregivers and their little ones. Backmatter includes tidbits about dragon lore from around the world. Somewhat preachy but enlivened by vibrant illustrations—and plenty of dragons. (Picture book. 4-8)
Slaiby, Rima Fakih & Theresa AlHayek Illus. by Angela Li | Flamingo Books (32 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 25, 2025 | 9780593624463
A honeybee learns that sometimes lending a helping hand matters more than winning a race. Buzzy Bee, who lives in a hive on Nectar Drive with his family, eagerly awaits the annual bee race. But he feels intimidated—previous family members have won the race in the past, and though he’s trained hard, he isn’t sure he can measure up. His parents assure him that he’s improving slowly and urge him to be patient. Their encouragement works, and he performs well during the race. His best friend, Bumble Bee, takes the lead; Buzzy isn’t far behind. But when Bumble takes a tumble as both approach the finish line, Buzzy must
make a hard choice—win or help a pal? The chunky, child-friendly artwork features heavily anthropomorphized bees with yellow bodies and brown stripes; some sport hats, bows, or big googly glasses, effectively capturing their different personalities. Sometimesstrained rhyming lines and delightfully amusing bee-related puns add to this relatable story’s appeal, helping the positive message about friendship and doing the right thing go down smoothly. Mama and Daddy Bee tell Buzzy that each day offers a fresh opportunity to try again, even when things don’t go as expected—a message that will encourage resilience and steer readers away from a focus on winning at all costs.
A sweet reminder that BEE-lieving in oneself doesn’t necessarily mean coming in first place. (Picture book. 5-7)
Kirkus Star
The Hare Who Wouldn’t Share
Small, Steve | Paula Wiseman/ Simon & Schuster (32 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781665972932
Hare is certain that sharing is pointless. Can anything cause a change of heart?
Turnips bring Hare great pleasure, and the cranky, enormous- eared orange creature greedily hoards them: “The more I give away, the less there is for ME.” When newly arrived rabbits inquire if Hare can spare some produce until they get settled, the protagonist doesn’t relent. Other animals pitch in, however, and the newcomers cook stew for all. Their generosity perplexes Hare: Why would anyone with such meager resources offer food to others? Small’s descriptive, third-person narrative contrasts well with the rhyming dialogue. His animation background shines through in clean compositions that are by turn whimsical (a stovetop
espresso maker accompanies Hare during nighttime gardening stints) and dramatic. Set against black backgrounds, these nocturnal views showcase vibrant vegetation patterns and introduce danger in the form of a greedy boar who steals the turnips Hare is carrying. As the boar heads toward the rabbits’ carrot crop, Hare hatches a plan to foil the thief and save the day. The sight of the tip of the boar’s menacing snout pushed into the rabbit warren as the new friends cower together is a cinematic marvel. Hare’s transformation is believable, and although our hero’s selflessness results in an empty turnip patch, what the character gains more than compensates. Giving has never been so gratifying. (Picture book. 4-7)
Smalls, Alexander & Denene Millner Illus. by Frank Morrison | Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster (40 pp.)
$19.99 | Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781534488724
James Beard Award–winning chef Smalls, acclaimed author and editor Millner, and celebrated illustrator Morrison team up for an ode to Sunday dinner.
After church each week, young Alexander’s whole family gathers on the porch for a sumptuous feast. To prepare, this tightknit Black family crowds into the kitchen on Saturday night; Alexander helps his mother peel eggs, shred cheese, and shell
pecans. He also gathers garden-fresh ingredients with his grandfather, who reminds him, “Water and patience—that’s all anything living needs to grow.” But what Alexander wants most of all is to contribute something of his very own—something his often-preoccupied father will love. When Alexander cooks franks and beans one Saturday evening after the meal prep, his creation is so tasty that Mom tells him to whip up a dessert with which to grace the table that Sunday. Highlighting a young boy’s entree into the culinary arts, this delightful tale frames cooking as an important rite of passage—and a way to cement familial bonds. Smalls and Millner’s pitch-perfect dialogue imbues the various characters with life. Relying on his signature oil paintings, Morrison adds energy and verve; he captures Alexander’s nervousness in an especially captivating close-up of Dad gazing at the child’s lemon icebox pie, one eyebrow raised. Dad’s appreciative smile and words (“That’s some good pie”) say it all. The joy of cooking—and family— brought to brilliant life. (recipe for lemon icebox pie) (Picture book. 4-7)
Sophia, Elisabeth | Illus. by Karina Jambrak (32 pp.) | Crocodile/Interlink
$19.95 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781623716370
An owl visits various animals as they each in turn bid readers good night. After the sun sets and the moon rises, the owl emerges from its hole in a tree and begins its journey through the night. A toucan settles down after hours of
The joy of cooking—and family—brought to brilliant life.
WHEN ALEXANDER GRACED THE TABLE
gathering fruit, a cheetah beds down under a tree following a day spent hunting antelope, a bear reclines on a mountaintop after digging for food, and so it goes until dawn, when it’s the owl’s turn to rest. The bird also watches as sea creatures such as a whale and an octopus prepare to slumber. This is an ideal story to help little ones wind down. A palette of blues, greens, and browns sets a calming tone; as the sun rises in the last pages, bright pinks and oranges are introduced. The intricate patterns on the creatures’ feathers, skin, and fur—red stripes along the elephant’s body, jewel-like details on the owl, diamond-esque pinpoints along the whale’s body matching the stars above—will hold readers’ attention as the simple yet eloquent rhymes and gentle endearments lull little ones to sleep. Readers will encounter both familiar and potentially new animals while learning some general facts about each one.
A soothing, visually striking sleepytime sendoff. (Picture book. 3-6)
Sophia, Elisabeth | Illus. by Anita Bagdi | Crocodile/Interlink (32 pp.)
$19.95 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781623716387
A tree happily prevails. Narrated in gentle, lilting verse, this sweet Australian import tells the story of a strong, “proud and tall” green willow whose twisted trunk is deeply rooted within the soil. The tree is portrayed as a graceful, wide-eyed, green-faced creation adorned in long, leafy, green fronds. Following a fearsome storm, she springs magnificently to life again. In the aftermath of the terrifying experience, the willow is stronger and more confident than ever, conveying a hopeful message about nature triumphantly reclaiming and renewing itself—appropriate, since the willow is home to numerous creatures such as birds and
butterflies. This optimistic takeaway will also leave readers eager to look on the positive side after enduring their own setbacks. A page that requires a 90-degree turn depicts the willow standing proud and erect after the event. “And while she’ll never be the same, she steels her roots once more. She’s stronger than before”—a nod, perhaps, to climate change. The final scene depicts a lovely, smiling willow looking toward a rainbow. The handsome illustrations are mostly rendered in a limited palette of greens, browns, pale blues, and grays, but the robust greens happily triumph in the end, for nature has won out.
An ultimately hopeful glimpse at the natural world. (Picture book. 4-7)
Spicer Rice, Eleanor | Illus. by Max Temescu Norton Young Readers (40 pp.) | $17.99 $7.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781324053736 9781324082385 paper | Series: The Deadliest
Six big cats vie for the title of “Most Fatal Feline.”
In jocular tones (“Hey, hey, you know what they say, if called by a panther, don’t anther!”), Spicer Rice profiles a slate of predatory candidates from tigers to jaguars. After describing each one’s general features and distinctive methods of attack, she picks one as the deadliest according to a “Death-OMeter.” Though she carelessly refers to both cheetahs and snow leopards as the smallest of the big cats, her information is otherwise sketchy but sound, and in a strong running theme, she underscores the ecological importance of these apex predators. She notes that, along with big cats’ roles in culling invasive or diseased animals, they often provide significant sources of food for other creatures with their leftovers. Rightly claiming that humans are “waaaay more dangerous to big cats” than vice versa, she closes
with general suggestions for protecting their threatened populations. “We have them! We need them! Let’s love them!” Temescu’s cartoon views of oblivious human victims of diverse hue being stalked and of terrified ones being chased may discomfit some readers, but his scenes of big cats chowing down on (wild animal) prey are free of visible blood or bones.
A chewy treat for young animal lovers. (drawing activity) (Informational picture book. 6-8)
Spillett, Tasha | Illus. by Daniel Ramirez Little, Brown (32 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780316422161
A Cree boy longs for a ribbon skirt. At lively round-dance ceremonies, young Raven and his grandmother sidestep to the “BOOM-BOOM” of the drummers. Raven loves watching the dancers as they swirl by in their ribbon skirts—regalia traditionally worn by Native women of many nations, symbolizing cultural pride and sacred resistance. Grandma sews ribbon skirts, each personally crafted for its wearer. When Raven asks her if a boy could wear one, she responds, “I’ve lived for a long time, Nosesim, and have never seen a boy in a ribbon skirt.” The next day, after long hours at her sewing machine, Raven’s grandmother presents the child with a skirt of his own. Readers will be moved as Grandma tells Raven, “I’ve lived for a long time, Nosesim, and I’m lucky to see beautiful things that I’ve never seen before.” Her matter-of-fact dialogue is spare, yet each word is steeped in affection for her grandson. Ramirez (Ojibwe), a Two-Spirit elder, brings Raven’s loving community to life through acrylic paintings that evoke a dreamlike warmth. In an author’s note, Spillett (Inninewak/Trinidadian) describes her introduction to round
The twilight years of a life well lived inspire new appreciation in this striking graphic novel.
CASSI AND THE HOUSE OF MEMORIES
dances and Indigenous activism and expresses gratitude to her Two-Spirit relatives. Simple and tender, this picture book honors Native traditions as it makes space for all members of Indigenous communities to take part. Weaves Two-Spirit self-expression and collective belonging into a beautiful tribute to Indigenous heritage. (illustrator’s note) (Picture book. 4-9)
Stephens, R.A. | Illus. by Carmen Dougherty | Wombat Books (32 pp.) $19.99 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781761111693
Wordplay adds a droll element to this very basic introduction to a fundamental algebraic concept. In cartoon illustrations, a marmalade cat, a koala, and other cute animals invite viewers to count up small groups of common items and then add them together. Things quickly turn tricky when the items aren’t the same sort. Do three bikes and four scooters add up to…seven “BOOTERS”? “NO!” howls the critter chorus. “BIKES and SCOOTERS don’t mix!” Well then, might one orange and two apples be three “ORPLES”? And would five tomatoes, two carrots, and three carrots be “the same as 10 CARATOES?” “NO!” Plainly, all the carrots stay carrots and the tomatoes remain tomatoes. Likewise, as Stephens explains in smaller type at the end, algebraic expressions can’t be combined if they’re different kinds. The author gets no further than that basic principle but
does close with a suggestion for parents that this lesson will serve as a familiar starting point when readers encounter algebra again in high school (or perhaps even sooner). Younger audiences will enjoy the shouting and silly talk, even if only proto-mathletes actually grasp the lesson. Offers readers something to chew on, if only a mathematical morsel. (Informational picture book. 5-7)
Stuart, Dean | Viking (272 pp.) | $24.99 $13.99 paper | Feb. 18, 2025 9780593351123 | 9780593351130 paper
T he twilight years of a life well lived inspire new appreciation in this visually and emotionally striking graphic novel.
Red-haired, pigtailed Cassi shares everything with Grandpa Charlie, but sometimes his brain is a little foggy. He forgets details, fails to recognize his only grandchild, and wanders away without warning. Grandma explains his condition using an inventive metaphor of cascading dominoes. In his lucid moments, Grandpa shares his love of music, but one day, Cassi follows him through the trees in the backyard into a vast, surreal, mazelike building containing his memories. There she meets a young Charlie and discovers his rich musical history. Stuart portrays memories as an endless gallery of framed, hanging
pictures; Cassi enters these portals into Grandpa’s past. The spacious, labyrinthine chambers of the mind play visual second fiddle to vivid scenes of light-skinned, brown-haired Charlie’s life among artists and performers. Cassi interacts with and affects each memory before it deteriorates, rewriting history or accepting an inevitable defeat. The brilliant, richly colored art and subtle complexities of how Cassi and readers come to know Grandpa elevate the story, such as when advice that an older Grandpa offers Cassi makes sense only when considered within the full context of his life and formative childhood experiences. The wondrous elements of fabulism and the affection between grandfather and granddaughter combine to form something greater than the sum of their parts.
A dazzling, heartfelt journey through fading memories. (sketches and concept art, author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
The JStu Survival Guide: 100 Days To Conquer Your Fears, Shatter Your Limits, and Build Your Faith
Stuart, Justin & Andrew Scites with Joshua Cooley | Illus. by Steve Wacksman | Tommy Nelson (240 pp.) $18.99 | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781400250431
The creators of the JStu YouTube channel challenge readers to go on a 100-day journey with God. Content creators Justin and Andrew divide their 100 days of challenges into 13 themed sections, each focusing on one aspect of a person’s relationship with God (e.g., “Understand Who You Are,” “See a Need, Meet a Need”). Each day’s entry opens with a Bible verse, followed by personal and biblical stories based around a faith lesson written by one of the authors. Many Christian tweens and teens will relate to the lessons, which explore
questions of personal image, belonging, goals, and dealing with life’s troubles. Other topics include learning more about God, living authentically, having faith, maintaining hope, and trusting in God. Each section ends with a Challenge Project related to the overarching theme, such as building a skateboard (“God is a maker!”) or facing your fears by spending a night in the wilderness (with a trusted adult). The budget and materials required for each project vary, making some more accessible than others. The authors’ short, clear messages will speak to believers as well as those who are just beginning their relationships with God. Wacksman’s fun cartoon illustrations in black, white, and blue supplement the entertaining stories.
Fans of the JStu videos will enjoy this funny and thoughtful challenge-filled devotional. (Religion. 10-16)
Swartz, Elly | Delacorte (272 pp.)
$17.99 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9780593705605
Pennsylvania middle schooler
Bess Stein is the new sixth grade class president, and she has a lot of plans. Bess is working with the school librarian, Mr. Jasper, and the class vice president, June Myer, a recent transplant from Texas, to choose titles for the new book vending machine, one of her campaign promises. Bess, who’s Jewish, hopes to include volumes about the Holocaust; her great-grandmother was a survivor. Everything starts off well, until June’s mother becomes aware of the titles on offer and objects to the inclusion of those she considers “inappropriate, indecent, and offensive” and ones that are “divisive”—in other words, books representing diverse perspectives and identities. Bess, who’s supported by her family and the Book Warriors, a group of local librarians and educators,
challenges the conservative Mrs. Myer and those who sympathize with her cause. Many other topics vie for space and aren’t fully developed, including explorations of friendship drama, antisemitism, hints of romance between Bess and June’s brother, Bess’ younger brother’s anxiety, and the Steins’ family dog. Bess is strong-willed, capable, and idealistic, but she isn’t always understanding of others’ weaknesses (for example, June’s struggles with her mother’s attitudes). June, for her part, never fully comes alive as a character. Swartz handles important topics in a convincing manner, but the empathetic storytelling unfortunately contains repetitious elements. Main characters are cued white.
An uneven treatment of a critical and timely subject. (author’s note) (Fiction. 10-12)
Templar Books | Illus. by Sebastien Braun | Templar/Candlewick (32 pp.)
$14.99 | Feb. 18, 2025
9781536238709 | Series: Forest School
Mouse, Squirrel, Fox, and Rabbit gather to explore and expand their skills.
Teacher Owl has the four constructing a fort of downed branches, twigs, leaves, and rope. Of course, while the students are gathering things, their senses are alert to what they might see, hear, and smell. But Forest School isn’t just for learning skills; it’s also about interpersonal relationships and personal growth. Mouse struggles with the day’s activities, too small to help. Without missing a beat, students and teacher shift to helping Mouse with a new project: making a nest on the ground with leaves. Afterward, they all enjoy the fort and a story from Owl. Hot chocolate around a campfire rounds out the day. Along the way, the book offers lessons on identifying tree leaves, ground nests, and two types of knots and about making bug hotels. Though Owl stops Squirrel from breaking leaves
off a tree, why this is taboo is never explained. The final spread offers instructions on making indoor forts and exploring nature. The digital illustrations are cute, and readers will enjoy searching them for tiny forest creatures. Limited warnings focus on fire safety and not exploring the outdoors without an adult; there are no warnings about wildlife, poisonous plants, or mushrooms. The story feels somewhat purposeful, though little ones eager to learn more about nature will enjoy it.
A sweet intro for would-be campers. (Picture book. 3-7)
Timms, Barry | Illus. by Laura Borio Tiger Tales (32 pp.) | $18.99
July 2, 2024 | 9781664300460
A boy learns to love reading—with help from a most unusual bookseller. Henry isn’t a book lover. But when he helpfully returns a dropped key to Griselda Snook in time for her bookstore’s opening, she invites him in. She puts out a plate of doughnuts, but the plate quickly runs off. Henry chases it to the cookbook section, where he bumps into a Frankenstein’s monster in search of a joke book. Griselda makes a suggestion, which Henry tracks down. Together, the two find “exciting,” “noisy,” and “spook-tacularly silly” offerings for a bevy of ghoulish customers, among them a werewolf, a mummy, ghosts, and a skeleton. But Henry still hasn’t found a book for himself. When a volume falls off the shelf and unleashes a dragon, Henry searches for a spell to tame it—to no avail. A witch named Magenta Screech arrives to put things right, tells the bookstore patrons a series of scary stories, and finally hands Henry the perfect tale. The story is slight—and it’s never made clear just what makes Magenta’s suggestion the ideal offering— but the spooky setting is bewitching, and the sentiments are unimpeachable. Wiry
linework and a matte black-and-orange color scheme make the Halloween theme clear, while the assorted monsters are clearly delighted to be here; details will tempt viewers to linger in this bookstore. Henry and Griselda are brown-skinned, while Magenta is pale-skinned; human characters are diverse.
A sweetly spooky tribute to reading and bookshops. (Picture book. 4-8)
Tolin, Lisa | Illus. by Yas Imamura Atheneum (48 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 11, 2025 | 9781534487789
A revealing profile of “the world’s most famous unknown artist,” as her iconic husband put it.
A critic quoted in the afterword echoes that sentiment, claiming that Yoko Ono’s “fame made her almost impossible to see.” Making a brave effort to look past that glare of publicity, Tolin begins with Ono’s childhood imaginings of better relationships with her distant parents and ends with her 2007 “Imagine Peace Tower”; the afterword describes her 2013 “Imagine There’s No Hunger” initiative. A clear theme emerges in this sympathetic overview of her long career. Rather than making her subject’s relationship with John Lennon the center of her story, the author offers enough coverage of those years to assert that the attraction was mutual, reject the notion that the Beatles’ breakup was her fault, and highlight the strength of character it took to weather all the
opprobrium. Instead, Tolin focuses on the development of Ono’s idealistic artistic sensibility and descriptions of some of her less controversial works. Imamura’s swirling gouache and watercolor scenes mingle figurative and fanciful images, leaving Ono wreathed in stars and dovelike bundles of paper slips representing wishes for peace. “Slowly, the world turns in her direction,” the author writes—an assertion that may be arguable but will at least encourage dreamers to imagine that they’re not the only ones. Fresh, perceptive, and worthy of attention. (the art of Yoko Ono, author’s note, photos, select bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 7-9)
Torrible, Tricia | Illus. by Robert Dunn Gnome Road Publishing (40 pp.)
$19.99 | March 18, 2025 | 9781957655468
Three dozen delights for fans of puns and wordplay.
“Once I stayed awake all night / and wondered what I’d see. / I sat and pondered in the dark / until it dawned on me.” Demonstrating firm command of exact rhymes and rollicking metrics, Torrible’s debut features a set of pun gently sharpwitted lyrics. Language lovers who can control their giggles well enough to read on will learn that clocks were not allowed in the library because “they tocked too loud,” meet a circus pony who admits to being “a little hoarse,” discover why leopards are so
bad at hide and seek (“They’re always spotted”), and sympathize with a job seeker who “loathed serving coffee despite all the perks. / He dreaded the slow daily grind.” “Have your morning bowl of coal,” a mother train urges her wheeled offspring, “and don’t forget to choo.” Dunn’s breezy images of animals, emblematic items, and light-skinned young folk add gleeful visual notes to the relentless punnery. For any who still don’t get the jokes even after the poems are read aloud (which they beg to be), the author has appended a stolidly literal breakdown of each one at the very end, capped by an invitation to budding punsters to chime in. “Shredded cheddar / melts with ease. / Get your own. / It’s nacho cheese!” Heaping helpings of clever wordplay, for better or verse. (Picture-book poetry. 6-10)
Unwin, Mike | Illus. by Jenni Desmond Bloomsbury (48 pp.) | $19.99
March 4, 2025 | 9781526638281
A wide-angled survey of homes occupied or created by wild animals. Home, the author writes, “is where an animal feels safe.” Each animal, described in meticulous detail, uses unique materials or strategic designs that offer protection—if not always comfort. Female rhinoceros hornbill birds wall themselves up inside trees with their eggs for four months, leaving just a small gap through which the male passes food. Most of the animals portrayed are diggers or builders, with some exceptions; oxpeckers, clownfish, and remoras are examples of small creatures that associate commensally with larger species. Except for an opening peek into a polar bear’s dug-out snow den, Desmond sticks to external views, an approach that isn’t
always helpful; readers can examine the finely drawn structures of a beaver dam and the giant clay cooling towers built by cathedral termites, but images of the beavers’ actual den and the underground colony are entirely absent. Still, graceful and accurately detailed nature scenes are full of such marvels: the “musical chairs” strawberry hermit crabs of different sizes playing with one another’s discarded shells, masses of Mexican free-tailed bats hanging in a Texas cave, and a pair of astonishingly adept tailor birds stitching together the edges of a leaf to create a cozy, pocketlike nest. Natural engineering at its most astonishing. (Informational picture book. 8-11)
Valentine, Jenny | Illus. by Claire Lefevre
Kane Miller (224 pp.) | $7.99 paper
Dec. 1, 2024 | 9781684649235 | Series: Joy, 2
A 10-year-old girl shows care for the people she loves by being kind and writing letters.
Joy Applebloom’s ability to find the silver linings in life continues as a theme in this second series entry. After living all around the world, the Applebloom family is still adjusting to living with Granddad back in the U.K. Things aren’t going smoothly. Joy’s 13-year-old sister, Claude, sneaked out, was grounded and lost her phone privileges, and isn’t speaking to Mum and Dad. Joy’s parents are spending less time together. Granddad is lonely. And to top it all off, Joy’s new best friend, Benny, is being bullied by a former friend. At first, Joy is unsure
what to do about all these problems, but then she spots a sign at school that reads: “Speak up, be kind and tell the truth. Help somebody today!” Now she’s determined to use kindness to help her friends and family. Joy’s ability to not just see the glass as half full but to be “grateful for the glass” itself demonstrates a resilient way of dealing with everyday struggles. Written in a charming and hilarious first-person voice, the story includes a sprinkling of sweet black-and-white illustrations and reproductions of Joy’s letters. The Appleblooms are cued as white, and the earlier entry, A Girl Called Joy (2024), established that Benny is British Jamaican.
An empowering and heartwarming example of using kindness to face challenges and help others. (LetterWriting Tips From Joy) (Fiction. 8-11)
Valentine, Jenny | Illus. by Claire Lefevre Kane Miller (224 pp.) | $7.99 paper Dec. 1, 2024 | 9781684649242 | Series: Joy, 3
In this third book of the series, Joy Applebloom, who’s now almost 11, remains positive during yet more transitions. Returning to the U.K. to live with Granddad continues to bring new experiences. When Joy’s teacher goes on medical leave for a knee replacement, the new teacher, Mr. Suarez, surprises the class with his exuberance. Joy, who reads white, and best friend Benny, who’s Black, want to befriend new student Phoebe, but Joy worries that her efforts are coming across as annoying. The people in Joy’s inner
A joyful celebration of navigating life’s changes and challenges.
circle have all sorts of new things going on in their lives—a new executive chef job for her dad, a new boyfriend for her sister (“and a new favorite word, which is PRIVACY”), a new love of gardening for Granddad, and new contact lenses for Benny to replace his glasses. To top it all off, Joy notices signs that her family might be moving again. Having put down roots, Joy is “quietly working on remembering the silver linings” of her old life, when she was home-schooled and traveled around to interesting new places. “Planet Joy,” as Claude terms it, is still as optimistic a place as ever; Joy still believes that life is “crammed full of upsides and silver linings and surprises.” This uplifting story explores bumps in the road without being patronizing. Joy’s comical and clever narration is delightful and is enhanced by charming illustrations. A joyful celebration of navigating life’s changes and challenges. (Fiction. 8-11)
Vandorn, Kaeti | Random House Graphic (96 pp.) | $10.99 Sept. 24, 2024 | 9780593703069
Series: Dr. Seuss Graphic Novels
T he latest in this graphic novel series, which sees Dr. Seuss’ characters embarking on new adventures, follows the green grump as he attempts a change of scenery.
The Grinch is confused to see everyone leaving Who-ville, until some Whos explain that they’re going on vacation.
The Grinch decides to see what all the fuss is about. Accompanied by his dog, Max, he visits a beach and a theme park, but, as his negative online reviews demonstrate, he finds the experiences irritating. Finally, at the ski slope, the Grinch notices some Whos rolling with the punches when their plans fall through. “Maybe a vacation isn’t a place
to go or a thing to do,” he concludes. “Maybe it’s the memories you make along the way.” It’s a lovely observation, but one that feels unearned, given how much the Grinch detests his own vacation memories: a crowded beach, disorienting roller coasters, scenic views blocked by clouds. Though the “Grinch out of water” premise is promising, the execution is lacking. While Vandorn offers appealing cartoon depictions of the various settings, from the solitude of the Grinch’s local pond to the more populous tourist attractions, they lack the novelty and invention of Seuss’ own wonderfully zany tales; it isn’t entirely clear why the story needed to be set in the world of Seuss. An unsatisfying Seussian spinoff. (how to draw Max, character sketches) (Graphic fiction. 5-8)
Vankineni, Harshini | Illus. by Neha Rawat | Candlewick (40 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781536228946
A newly minted elder sister welcomes her sibling. Kundana skips along with her father to pick up her mother and baby sister. Noticing how the baby coos like a koel cuckoo, Kundana suggests that she be named Kuku, and their parents agree. Kuku shares their mother’s dark complexion, while Kundana resembles their lightskinned father. At home, the girls’ grandmother welcomes Kuku with a red dot, or tilak, for good luck. She squints as she asks, “What color is the baby?” Visitors and family members calling from India all want to know, too.
Kundana notices how this question makes her mother’s smile droop, and her father seems distracted, too. After hearing this question for the umpteenth time, Kundana responds that Kuku has her father’s eyes, her mother’s skin, Kundana’s hair, her uncle’s ears, her aunt’s smile, and her grandmother’s nose. “She is our color,” the child announces, winning everyone’s hearts. This sweet story tackles a loaded question that crops up in many South Asian families and that hints at a preference for light-skinned children. Though the query is awkwardly presented (after all, the visitors can plainly see the baby), Kundana’s loving, openhearted attitude shines through. The tale gently reminds adult readers that children absorb attitudes and prejudices they see around them. Rawat’s detailed illustrations feature traditional Indian foods, attire, and decor, creating a warm sense of home and belonging. A feel-good story that asks us to look beyond color to see the beauty in everyone. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)
Venkat, Srividhya | Illus. by Danica da Silva Pereira | Little Bee Books (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 23, 2024 | 9781499815696
A glowing tribute to the Indian social activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner. “He wanted to change the world. But he was just one person.” Beginning with the inspirational tale
of a hummingbird who carried water in its beak to fight a huge fire— “Little by little. Drop by drop”—Vankat retraces Kailash Satyarthi’s lifelong campaigns to end child labor and to promote children’s right to an education, from efforts at age 10 to help those who could not afford school books to later, large-scale initiatives, including the Global March Against Child Labor in 1998 and the Global Campaign for Education the following year. In her invitingly informal illustrations, da Silva Pereira depicts Satyarthi’s progress from individual action— publicly defying caste mores by eating food prepared by Dalits (“untouchables”) beneath a statue of Mahatma Gandhi—to rescuing enslaved children from factories and setting up temporary shelters. Finally, raising an arm on which the words “Freedom is non negotiable” are written, he ultimately leads large, racially diverse crowds of supporters. Between a photo and a painted version of him standing on the Nobel stage in 2014 next to co-winner Malala Yousafzai, the author closes with an eloquent quote that lays out his “vision of a world where every child has the right to their childhood.”
Significant reading for anyone who wonders what one person can do. (afterword, bibliography, further reading) (Picture-book biography. 7-9)
Webb, Christina | Illus. by MUTI
Flying Eye Books (80 pp.) | $20.99
Jan. 7, 2025 | 9781838748852
Series: Earth’s Incredible Places
An introduction to the desert that covers North Africa, an area almost as vast as the United States. Like the other books in this series, this title explores the region’s geology, topography, flora and fauna in their habitats (including
prehistoric ones), the ancient peoples who inhabited it, and changes past, present, and future. Webb engages readers with intriguing facts about climate, weather, and natural features, sometimes in lyrical language (the nighttime desert “whispers an icy breath”). Potentially unfamiliar terms, such as ergs , regs , and hamadas , are either defined in the glossary or explained—and illustrated—in the text. Enriching the science are some myths and legends, including the stories of the Ennedi Tiger, Queen Tin Hinan of the Tuareg, and the Lost City of Zerzura. Vignettes on two pages introduce four prehistoric cultures and three later civilizations, but the Sahel’s cultures aren’t discussed. A selective timeline features six explorers, including one woman: Alexine Tinne. Balancing the staggering amount of detail, the book’s innumerable illustrations in soft-edged, lightly sketched color and line are dominated by blue and beige; verdant hues appear for scenes of the “Green Sahara,” which existed thousands of years ago. Occasionally there’s a disconnect between image and text; on one page two birds are named, but the accompanying illustration shows neither species (instead, it’s a swallow); the caracal and the patas monkey are named but not shown. Words and art soften the image of this harsh environment. An informative, attractive, and in-depth tour of a land with much to offer. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
Green: The Not-So-Christmas Tree
Wexler, Freddy | Illus. by Fanny Berthiaume Random House (40 pp.) | $14.99 Oct. 22, 2024 | 9780593567944
current “live show” in his tropical venue doesn’t give him the acclaim he wants. When he’s onstage at the Sandy Straw, he’s largely ignored by the customers, who are busy eating and chatting. Then he learns about the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, inspiring a new goal: He sees his “destiny” as becoming “the most famous Christmas tree in the world.” Although he’s a three-foot plastic palm, Everett drapes himself in tiny lights and heads to the airport. He lacks money, identification, and a ticket, but his friend Bird flies into action. Cavalierly subverting security, Bird steals a passport and paperwork, distracts the agent, and ushers Everett through. The stolen credit card subsidizes snacks, photos, and souvenirs, but then all New York flights are delayed by bad weather. Everett is dejected—until a little girl with dark skin recognizes him as the Christmas tree he feels he is, planting “a tiny seed” in his heart. Springing to action with hard work and irresistible enthusiasm, Everett saves Christmas for the stranded passengers, performing for them, uniting them, and spreading “joy everywhere.” Wexler brings the narrative to a familiar but chipper conclusion, while Berthiaume’s cheery, deep-toned, detailed cartoon illustrations rely on varied layouts, depicting expressive people who are diverse in terms of skin tones; Everett’s an especially winsome protagonist.
A clearly written and predictable but upbeat tale about being true to your vision and finding the spirit of Christmas. (Picture book. 4-8)
Wilder, Anden | Little, Brown (40 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9780316558266
“Scamp’s house has two cats: one black and one pink.” But one of the felines is changing into a different sort of creature. As the book opens, a black cat and a human baby clad in pink striped pajamas sit side by side. “Hector and Scamp. Scamp and Hector.” The two are clearly best friends and do all the same things together: groom themselves, roam on all fours, sharpen their claws (Scamp paws gently at the couch, while Hector scratches away at it), and attack the vacuum. One day, with a look of utter surprise while holding on to her crib rail, Scamp realizes that she can stand up (“Scamp was pretty sure cats didn’t stand on two feet”). Later, it happens again as she props herself up with the table. Then at dinner she tries using a spoon, and at bathtime, Scamp finds herself enjoying the water. “Her whiskers drooped. She was a bad cat.” When Hector gets left outside in the rain, however, Scamp’s human abilities come in handy. Watercolor, colored pencil, and gouache artwork and clever endpapers put the spotlight on Scamp and Hector’s friendship, highlighting how similar the two are in shape and size. The spare text plays against the illustrations with gentle humor, demonstrating that while change can be unnerving, true friendship will find a way to endure.
A small tree dreams big dreams but realizes them in an unexpected way.
Everett can’t resist the lure of fame and bright lights, but his
A clearly written and predictable but upbeat tale about being true to your vision and finding the spirit of Christmas.
EVERETT GREEN
Scamp is light-skinned with tiny dark pigtails.
Perfectly adorable, especially for families with babies and felines of their own. (Picture book. 3-7)
Willis, Jeanne | Illus. by Brian Fitzgerald
Scallywag Press (32 pp.) | $18.99
March 4, 2025 | 9781915252951
A teddy goes bare. Most teddy bears are “happy to dress how you want them to dress.”
Not Albie. And teddies generally let their owners choose their gender, but Albie refuses (the text uses he /him pronouns for the protagonist). Each day, Albie dons a different ensemble, depending on how he feels. On Monday, Albie wears an infant’s bonnet and onesie and reclines in a stroller; he quickly doffs those duds (“Wrong outfit! Wrong age !”) and decides he’s a prince, complete with a gold crown. On Tuesday, a bored Albie opts for a glittery-winged Butterfly Bear getup. Albie then tries out cowboy and pirate outfits as well as “city” and “country” togs. Finally, on Sunday, donating everything previously worn “to poor teddies in rags,” Albie decides to wear only “a beautiful smile.” Expressed in jaunty rhymes, this bouncy U.K. import lets kids practice naming the days of the week; it will be readily embraced by children trying to figure out who they are, those who balk when it comes time to getting dressed for the day, and youngsters who enjoy experimenting with different clothing choices. Frustrated parents who struggle with getting kids to pick out an outfit—or even keep it on altogether—will chuckle knowingly at Albie’s antics. The comical, energetic color illustrations get at the heart of the protagonist’s lively,
A new dino-centered collaboration from Yolen and Teague is definitely a sweet treat.
HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY TRICK OR TREAT?
expressive personality as he figures out who he wants to be.
Lots of relatable fun for youngsters coming into their own. (Picture book. 4-7)
Kirkus Star
Wood, Maryrose | Illus. by Giulia Ghigini
Union Square Kids (192 pp.) | $18.99
Feb. 25, 2025 | 9781454953456
Series: Bad Badger, 1
Friendship can be difficult, particularly when self-doubt plays a role.
Septimus would be the first to tell you that he isn’t like other badgers. He loves opera, owns a charming cottage by the sea, and even has spots instead of stripes! Surely all this combines to make him a “bad” badger. Into this world of uncertainty flies a new friend. This seagull, whom he dubs “Gully,” says only a single word (“Caw!”), yet the two get along swimmingly. Still, Septimus’ own discomfort with his place in the world casts a pall over their relationship. Not long after a mildly disastrous trip to the beach (gulls love beaches, while badgers abhor them), Gully disappears. The book precisely pinpoints the anxieties and fears that many experience when making new friends, especially those grappling with insecurities. Wood narrates with a wry sense of humor that’s particularly evident when Septimus converses with other animals, such as a pair of
snail private eyes. Gentle illustrations complement the tale’s understated tone and perfectly bring to life the cozy settings. Tonally, this offering could be a marvelous companion to titles such as Amy Timberlake’s Skunk and Badger. A tender friendship tale with a luster all its own. (Fiction. 7-10)
Yolen, Jane | Illus. by Mark Teague Scholastic (48 pp.) | $18.99
July 2, 2024 | 9781338891980
A new dinocentered collaboration from Yolen and Teague is definitely a sweet treat. In rhyming text, Yolen amuses by wondering how these trick-or-treating reptiles would carry their candy and speculating on some unwelcome behaviors (“Does he stomp on the pumpkins and throw around bits?” “Does she grab for more treats and then make a big mess?”) before asserting that dinosaurs would never! Encountering the dinos on a suburban street, diverse costumed kids initially look startled, then pleased when the creatures show they know the ropes. Cadence and clear language carry readers smoothly along to a message of loving reassurance. Teague depicts lesser-known genera, including Massospondylus , Jainosaurus , and Labocania . As in the other titles in this extensive and popular series, he combines accuracy with rampant imagination and
artistic flair; the dinosaurs have authentic body shapes, but since we know little about what their skin or feathers looked like, he freely plays with pattern and color. Teague’s precise, hyperrealistic reptiles walk—or strut—upright. They sport swaths of lime green or electric blue and purple, their scales embellished with flamelike streaks, bands, stripes, dots, and studs. The gentle words, absurd humor, and elegant artwork remind readers about social norms. Children can see themselves in these books and will enjoy the unthreatening proximity to some scaly but fascinating prehistoric predators. Another resounding success for this series. (Picture book. 4-8)
Young, Amy | Illus. by Alison Young Viking (32 pp.) | $18.99 March 25, 2025 | 9780593621745
A paean to perseverance, featuring almost every word one can make with the phoneme -ake. Big-eyed Blake the snake holds readers’ attention—and much more. Using the many muscular coils on his exceptionally long body, he’s adept at flicking light switches, cracking eggs, and beating batter— except when he’s not, and everything crashes to the floor. But no matter: “Let’s try that again!” And again and again. The outcome may be frustrating, but Blake isn’t deterred. As he meticulously pipes the word happy on another cake, an “EARTHQUAKE!” knocks everything over. Never mind! The
next illustration sees Blake peering into the oven to see a beautifully rising confection. But as Blake attempts to deliver the cake (“Snakes can skate?!”), an unexpected encounter with a family of ducks (“BRAKE! BRAKE!”) leads to disaster. Blake prepares other cakes that also meet with disaster, thanks to an ill-placed “rake” and a tumble into the “lake.” Yes, these mishaps bring “heartache,” but readers will giggle as Blake, looking a mite peeved but mostly determined, doggedly produces yet another iteration. Finally an unscathed masterpiece survives, and Blake is able to celebrate his friend Drake’s birthday. The tale ends with Blake considering other career options: director (“Let’s try another take!”), cook (“Mastering the best milkshake!”), and stand-up comic (“Laugh with Blake till your belly aches!”). Digital watercolors give Blake attractive, detailed human surroundings (like the baking bowls piling up in the sink) and easily readable emotions thanks to his wildly expressive eyebrows. Fortitude and phonics make failure wildly funny. (Picture book. 3-5)
Yum, Hyewon | Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9780823453894
cousin Charlie says it’s a superpower. Still, the unnamed protagonist wonders how she’d look without the mark, which she’s named Toto. And when strangers ask about Toto, the narrator’s face reddens, and she “cannot say a word.” Pink-hued Toto and the narrator’s crimson cheeks stand out against the sepia-toned backdrops, emphasizing the narrator’s feeling that “sometimes people only see Toto, not me.” So when Mom proposes concealing Toto under the child’s bangs before school starts, she agrees. At school, she quickly befriends a girl named Niko. But when the narrator hangs upside down from the monkey bars, Toto is revealed. To the protagonist’s astonishment, Niko thinks she’s “just extraordinary”—“The birthmark on your face means that you have another life!” Later, the narrator muses that without Toto, “I might not look like ME at all. And I might not feel extraordinary.” Using short sentences and appealing kid logic, Yum, who based the story on a friend’s daughter’s experience and her own childhood memories of fielding questions about a birthmark on her leg, introduces young readers to the idea of facial difference. The narrator’s and Niko’s doll-like faces are endearing, conveying joy, embarrassment, and surprise through simple lines. The protagonist and her family have skin the white of the page and present East Asian; Niko has darker skin. A sweet, uplifting take on facial difference, friendship, and selfacceptance. (Picture book. 4-8)
A child feels self-conscious about the birthmark on her forehead.
Mom says the birthmark is an angel’s kiss, and
Teenagers and those who love their books have much to celebrate in a year marked by exceptional creativity. Atmospheric Indigenous thrillers explore supernatural themes. Translated works by international creators intrigue with their provocative melding of text and art. Inclusive romances offer happily-ever-afters for underrepresented characters. Memorable verse novels dig into emotionally resonant subjects, from watershed moments in history to familial relationships and pressing social concerns. Authors explore mental health, disability, and neurodiversity with grace and insight, and searingly honest memoirs shed light on complex lives.
Aguirre, Jorge | Illus. by Rafael Rosado
Colors by John Novak | First Second (256 pp.)
$18.99 paper | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781250204134
A pitch-perfect example of teenage explorations of cultural identity. (Graphic fiction. 13-18)
Ali, S.K. | Kokila (544 pp.) | $21.99 Oct. 8, 2024 | 9780593531242
A grippingly believable mirror of our own world. (Dystopian. 13-18)
Anderson, Lily | Henry Holt (304 pp.) |
$19.99 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781250909473
A hauntingly beautiful take on a classic horror story that will leave readers’ skin crawling in the best way possible. (Horror. 14-18)
Beiko, S.M. | ECW Press (312 pp.) | $17.95 paper | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781770416963
Series: The Brindlewatch Quintet, 2
A hot ticket, chockablock with memorable performances. (Fantasy. 13-18)
Bright, Anna | HarperTeen (400 pp.)
$19.99 | March 12, 2024 | 9780063083578
Sparkling and lush; a gem. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Akhbari, Parisa | Dial Books (400 pp.)
$19.99 | March 12, 2024 | 9780593530498
Expressive, emotional, and quietly optimistic. (Fiction. 13-18)
Ancrum, K. | HarperTeen (400 pp.)
$19.99 | March 26, 2024 | 9780063285781
A slow-burn mystery fueled by a few broken people and a heavy dose of caring ones. (Thriller. 14-18)
Bao, Karen | Carolrhoda (288 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781728477510
Hard to put down: a strongly written work that pulls no punches while providing much-needed representation. (Science fiction mystery. 13-18)
Blum, Isaac | Philomel (304 pp.)
$19.99 | Oct. 15, 2024 | 9780593525852
A kosher coming-of-age story with a bissel of romance. (Fiction. 14-18)
Buffini, Moira | Harper/HarperCollins (384 pp.) | $19.99 | Sept. 3, 2024 9780063358218 | Series: The Torch Trilogy, 1
A brilliant character study that examines the effects of war, genocide, and misogyny. (Dystopian. 14-18)
Butler, George | Candlewick Studio (168 pp.)
$27.99 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781536240436
A raw and indelible work that presents the experiences, perspectives, and voices of ordinary people. (Nonfiction. 12-adult)
Chee, Traci | Harper/HarperCollins (432 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780063269354
Both a mesmerizing fantasy adventure and a haunting meditation on shared trauma. (Fantasy. 13-adult)
Cronn-Mills, Kirstin | Little, Brown (336 pp.)
$18.99 | June 18, 2024 | 9780316567954
Intense and sometimes scary, but chock-full of heart and heady affirmation. (Fiction. 14-18)
Dwyer, Kristin | HarperTeen (336 pp.)
$19.99 | Jan. 9, 2024 | 9780063088580
Gripping and authentic in the ways it portrays grief and shows how moving forward means having to let go. (Fiction. 14-18)
Egbert, Corey | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (336 pp.) | $25.99 | $17.99 paper | Dec. 17, 2024 9780374308421 | 9780374308391 paper
Nuanced and real; impressive and valuable. (Graphic memoir. 12-18)
Chávez Castañeda, Ricardo | Illus. by Alejandro Magallanes | Trans. by Lawrence Schimel | Unruly (148 pp.)
$24.95 | Jan. 30, 2024 | 9781592703623
Unforgettable. (Illustrated fiction. 14-adult)
Cole, Olivia A. | Labyrinth Road (464 pp.)
$19.99 | March 12, 2024 | 9780593644669
A revelatory, razor-sharp, and powerfully honest depiction of the reality of living with OCD. (Verse fiction. 14-18)
De Goldi, Kate | Candlewick (304 pp.)
$18.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9781536232820
A soulfully layered story told with wit and care. (Fiction. 14-adult)
Dyson, Michael Eric & Marc Favreau Little, Brown (256 pp.) | $19.99 Sept. 10, 2024 | 9780759557062
A concise, readable account of the struggle for equality, freedom, and democracy in the U.S. (Nonfiction. 13-18)
Elhillo, Safia | Make Me a World (384 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593381205
A stunning work that deeply explores poetry, the complexities of identity, and the longing for love. (Verse fiction. 13-18)
Elliott, Victoria Grace | Graphix/ Scholastic (240 pp.) | $15.99 paper
Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781338840407
Manga-style art animates this charming story of self-discovery. (Graphic fiction. 14-18)
Faizal, Hafsah | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (352 pp.) | $20.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 9780374389406 | Series: Blood and Tea, 1
Crowd-pleasing fun laced with political fire: a winner. (Fantasy. 13-18)
Giles, Lamar | Scholastic (368 pp.)
$19.99 | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9781338894134
A riveting thriller that seamlessly incorporates powerful social themes. (Paranormal thriller. 14-18)
Gooch, Chris | Top Shelf Productions (248 pp.) | $24.99 paper Jan. 23, 2024 | 9781603095341
Coming-of-age meets cosmic horror; unforgettably striking, both visually and emotionally. (Graphic horror. 14-adult)
Greenberg, Isabel | Amulet/Abrams (288 pp.)
$24.99 | May 14, 2024 | 9781419765117
Quirky, fresh, and full of humor. (Graphic fiction. 13-18)
Ed. by Evans, Desiree S. & Saraciea J. Fennell | Flatiron Books (368 pp.)
$19.99 | April 2, 2024 | 9781250871657
An engaging volume that breathes necessary life into the horror genre, showcasing the best of what goes bump in the night. (Horror anthology. 13-18)
Fraistat, Ann | Delacorte (464 pp.)
$19.99 | $22.99 PLB | Jan. 16, 2024 9780593382219 | 9780593382233 PLB
A compelling, darkly creative, and intensely haunting examination of the masks we wear. (Horror. 12-18)
Girma, Tigest | Little, Brown (432 pp.)
$19.99 | Sept. 3, 2024 | 9780316581448
A fresh, arresting entry in the vampire genre that revels in violent, bloody delights. (Fantasy. 15-adult)
Green, Shari | Andrews McMeel Publishing (256 pp.) | $16.99 paper March 5, 2024 | 9781524881122
Emotionally resonant and masterfully crafted. (Verse historical fiction. 13-18)
Gregson, Marc J | Peachtree Teen (416 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 2, 2024 9781682635766 | Series: Above the Black, 1
A thrilling and brilliantly realized series opener; readers will clamor for the next installment. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Gritz, Ona | West 44 Books (200 pp.) | $25.80 PLB | Oct. 1, 2024 | Series: West 44 YA Verse
A thoughtful must-read that explores grueling attempts to destroy girls’ spirits. (Verse historical fiction. 13-18)
Hand, Cynthia, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows
HarperTeen (448 pp.) | $19.99 | Aug. 20, 2024
9780062930101 | Series: The Lady Janies
This swashbuckling tale anchored by historical details is a treasure. (Historical fantasy. 13-18)
Hirsch, Rebecca E. | Illus. by Eugenia Nobati
Zest Books (200 pp.) | $18.99 paper Oct. 22, 2024 | 9798765625248
An engaging, visually appealing guide for science buffs, true-crime enthusiasts, and herbalists alike. (Nonfiction. 13-18)
Ifueko, Jordan | Amulet/Abrams (304 pp.) | $19.99 | Aug. 13, 2024 9781419764356 | Series: Raybearer
A beautifully realized evergreen story about finding love and community. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Jahren, Hope | Delacorte (464 pp.)
$19.99 | June 25, 2024 | 9780593484111
This book soars: Huck Finn has met his match in a wildly appealing, smart, and courageous girl. (Historical fiction. 12-16)
Hammonds, Jas | Roaring Brook Press (336 pp.) $19.99 May 14, 2024 | 9781250816597
A gut-wrenching story that honestly explores the normalization of alcoholism. (Fiction. 14-18)
Helander, Amanda M. | Disney-Hyperion (352 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 8, 2024
9781368096171 | Series: Divine Mortals, 1
Sexy, thrilling, and utterly unputdownable. (Fantasy romance. 14-adult)
Horan, Molly | Harper/HarperCollins (240 pp.) | $19.99 | Nov. 19, 2024 9780063318427
Take our advice—this one is a joy from start to finish. (Fiction. 13-18)
Isaacs, Cheryl | Heartdrum (336 pp.)
$19.99 | Sept. 3, 2024 | 9780063287389
A harrowing work that combines suspense with a coming-of-age journey of cultural exploration. (Supernatural. 13-18)
Johnson, Kim | Random House (336 pp.)
$19.99 | June 11, 2024 | 9780593118801
A highly effective story of a young man’s journey in a time simmering with racial change and resistance. (Historical fiction. 12-18)
Khanani, Intisar | Snowy Wings Publishing (336 pp.) | $29.99 | March 26, 2024
9781958051306 | Series: The Sunbolt Chronicles, 2
A thrilling, slow-burn adventure. (Fantasy. 13-16)
Knisley, Lucy | Random House Graphic (208 pp.)
$16.99 | July 2, 2024 | 9780593177631
An amusing, heartfelt, and bittersweet read that will resonate deeply with pet lovers. (Graphic fiction. 12-18)
Lai, Yi Shun | Atheneum (336 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781665937764
Polar exploration transforms a young woman in unexpected and interesting ways in this original, evocative tale. (Historical fiction. 12-18)
Lee, Agnes | Levine Querido (352 pp.)
$18.99 paper | March 5, 2024 | 9781646143757
A moving portrayal of mortality and its aftermath, shown from both sides. (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)
Lockette, Tim | Triangle Square Books for Young Readers (240 pp.)
$18.95 | Sept. 17, 2024 | 9781644213988
Serious at heart, but as droll as it is demanding. (Fiction. 12-14)
Khorram, Adib | Dial Books (336 pp.)
$19.99 | April 2, 2024 | 9780593616390
Love deserves a standing ovation in this multilayered exploration of what it truly means to feel seen. (Fiction. 14-18)
Kölsch, Freddie | Union Square & Co. (384 pp.)
$19.99 | June 4, 2024 | 9781454951599
A rollicking and thoughtful take on the be-careful-what-you-wish-for trope. (Horror. 14-18)
Le, Vanessa | Roaring Brook Press (384 pp.)
$19.99 | March 19, 2024 | 9781250881526
Series: The Last Bloodcarver Duology, 1
An entrancingly well-written debut. (Fantasy. 12-18)
Little Badger, Darcie | Illus. by Rovina Cai | Levine Querido (368 pp.) | $19.99 April 16, 2024 | 9781646143795
A classic fantasy adventure and a balm for any soul weary of oppression. (Speculative fiction. 12-18)
Lucier, Makiia | Clarion/ HarperCollins (368 pp.) | $19.99 April 9, 2024 | 9780358272106
A mesmerizing, captivating Pacific Islands–inspired fantasy. (Fantasy. 13-18)
Maines, Nicole | Illus. by Rye Hickman
Colors by Bex Glendining | DC (208 pp.)
$16.99 paper | April 2, 2024 | 9781779510457
A sweet, engaging, and beautifully executed adventure. (Graphic fantasy. 13-17)
Matson, Morgan | Simon & Schuster (400 pp.)
$19.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9781481499019
A strongly plotted romantic comedy with plenty of well-structured, pitch-perfect drama to dig into. (Romance. 14-18)
Merriman, Lorian | Henry Holt (240 pp.)
$17.99 paper | May 28, 2024 | 9781250822840
Sweet, exciting, and immersive: This exceptional fantasy has it all. (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)
Montoya, Angela | Joy Revolution (432 pp.) | $19.99 | Dec. 17, 2024 | 9780593643372
An irresistibly charming forbidden romance. (Fantasy romance. 13-18)
Nehanda, Walela | Kokila (400 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593529492
Shatters mirrors and windows to reveal the jagged shards of self-determination: “gently volatile” and absolutely crucial. (Memoir/poetry. 14-adult)
Mann, J. Albert | Harper/ HarperCollins (416 pp.) | $19.99 June 4, 2024 | 9780063273481
Riveting, enlightening, infuriating, and timely: compulsory reading. (Nonfiction. 13-18)
McGowan, Anthony | Illus. by Nick Hayes Union Square & Co. (120 pp.) | $9.99 paper April 2, 2024 | 9781454954781
Series: Everyone Can Be a Reader
A strong, funny, wrenching series finish. (Fiction. 13-18)
Milman, Derek | Scholastic (384 pp.)
$19.99 | July 2, 2024 | 9781339009933
Twisted, enthralling dark academia. (Romantic thriller. 14-18)
Moore, C.G. | Little Island (208 pp.) | $12.99 paper | Sept. 10, 2024 | 9781915071538
A survivor’s story portrayed with honest heaviness and caring vulnerability. (Verse fiction. 14-18)
Nelson, Jandy | Dial Books (544 pp.)
$19.99 | Sept. 24, 2024 | 9780525429098
A Technicolor fever dream offering readers a sensory feast. (Fiction. 14-18)
Neri, G. | Illus. by David Brame
Tu Books (224 pp.) | $20.95 paper
March 26, 2024 | 9781643790343
Somber with a sprinkling of optimism and a firm grounding in unconditional familial love. (Graphic fiction. 12-18)
Nye, Naomi Shihab | Greenwillow Books (352 pp.) | $19.99
May 7, 2024 | 9780062691873
Beautifully written poetry about the butterfly effect of human experience. (Poetry. 13-18)
Ondjaki | Illus. by António
Jorge Gonçalves | Trans. by Lyn MillerLachmann | Unruly (126 pp.)
$16.95 | Sept. 3, 2024 | 9781592704101
A brilliantly elemental exploration of the light that darkness can bring. (Illustrated novella. 12-18)
Park, Patricia | Crown (336 pp.) | $19.99
April 30, 2024 | 9780593563410
An engrossing tale full of appealing characters, foodie elements, and heart. (Fiction. 12-18)
Pessl, Marisha | Delacorte (416 pp.)
$19.99 | Nov. 26, 2024 | 9780593706558
Roll the die, flip the card: We have a winner. (Mystery. 14-18)
Nicholls, Sally | Walker US/ Candlewick (256 pp.) | $17.99
Jan. 30, 2024 | 9781536223194
A warm, gentle work with welldrawn characters and brisk pacing celebrating female friendship and independence. (Historical fiction. 14-18)
Ogle, Rex | Norton Young Readers (272 pp.)
$18.99 | May 14, 2024 | 9781324019923
Raw and vulnerable; a necessary look at the realities of homelessness. (Memoir. 14-adult)
Ostertag, Molly Knox | Graphix/ Scholastic (480 pp.) | $27.99
June 4, 2024 | 9781338840001
Well-drawn, deeply realized characters enliven this spellbinding and fantastical queer coming-of-age love story. (Graphic fiction. 13-18)
Park, Soyoung | Trans. by Joungmin Lee Comfort | Delacorte (384 pp.) | $20.99
Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780593484975
Transporting and unputdownable; an appealing combination of deep and page-turning. (Dystopian. 12-adult)
Pink, Randi | Feiwel & Friends (352 pp.)
$20.99 | Oct. 15, 2024 | 9781250820372
A fierce, loving, and exquisite humanity-centered book. (Fantasy. 13-adult)
Plozza, Shivaun | Holiday House (320 pp.)
$19.99 | May 14, 2024 | 9780823456345
A worthy read about a short life brimming with possibility. (Paranormal romance. 14-18)
Poranek, A.B. | McElderry (368 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 27, 2024 | 9781665936477
Dark, devastating, and gothic. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Reynolds, Jason | Caitlyn Dlouhy/ Atheneum (256 pp.) | $19.99
Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781665961271
A warm, heartfelt, and fully engaging portrayal of teen love. (Romance. 14-18)
Saade, Ernesto | Graphic Universe (216 pp.) | $17.99 paper April 2, 2024 | 9798765623367
Memorably elucidates real experiences in graphic detail through empathetic text and visuals. (Graphic nonfiction. 13-18)
Solomon, Rachel Lynn | Simon & Schuster (384 pp.) | $19.99
June 4, 2024 | 9781665901956
Series: Today Tonight Tomorrow, 2
A gorgeous portrait of two people learning to love themselves before they can truly love each other. (Romance. 14-18)
Popescu, Simina | Roaring Brook Press (304 pp.)
$24.99 | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781250838292
An ultimately hopeful portrayal of dance, coming of age, and being true to yourself. (Graphic fiction. 14-18)
Reeve, Philip | Scholastic (336 pp.)
$19.99 | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781546138235
A rousing, swashbuckling, dystopian romp. (Science fiction. 12-18)
Ribay, Randy | Kokila (288 pp.)
$18.99 | Aug. 27, 2024 | 9780593461419
A powerful and moving family saga. (Fiction. 12-18)
Shea, Jamison | Henry Holt (336 pp.)
$19.99 | Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781250909589
Series: Feed Her to the Beast, 2
This bold and bloody coming-of-age story is an enthralling page-turner. (Horror. 14-18)
Sortino, Anna | Putnam (320 pp.)
$19.99 | July 2, 2024 | 9780593697863
A skillfully executed, nuanced, and engaging book. (Fiction. 12-18)
Stafford, Rebecca | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (336 pp.) | $19.99
Sept. 24, 2024 | 9780063351363
A thrilling ride into the heart of a dangerous friendship. (Fiction. 14-18)
Taylor, Johanna | Putnam (272 pp.) | $17.99 paper | July 23, 2024 | 9780593526668
Powerfully, tenderly, and empathetically examines death, grief, and the afterlife. (Graphic paranormal. 12-18)
Tew, Jill | Joy Revolution (352 pp.)
$19.99 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9780593710357
A gutsy debut that will leave readers wanting more. (Dystopian romance. 12-adult)
VanSickle, Vikki | Illus. by Laura K. Watson | Tundra Books (224 pp.)
$17.99 | March 26, 2024 | 9781774882498
An inviting take on feminine wisdom and the power of collective self-transformation. (Verse fiction. 12-18)
Vidal, Juan | Holiday House (336 pp.)
$18.99 | Sept. 3, 2024 | 9780823457113
Heartfelt, moving, and beautifully written. (Verse fiction. 14-18)
We Go to the Park
Stridsberg, Sara | Illus. by Beatrice Alemagna | Trans. by B.J. Woodstein
Unruly (68 pp.) | $24.95
June 25, 2024 | 9781592704071
Wondrously strange and wonderfully evocative. (Picture book. 14-adult)
Teer, Samuel | Illus. by Mar Julia Colors by Ashanti Fortson | Versify/ HarperCollins (320 pp.) | $26.99
June 11, 2024 | 9780358394754
Beautifully profound. (Graphic fiction. 12-16)
Ulrich, Josh | Putnam (272 pp.)
$24.99 | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9780593403655
A fizzy mix of courageous exploits and really creepy creatures. (Graphic fantasy horror. 12-14)
Van Wagenen, Maya | Dutton (320 pp.)
$18.99 | March 26, 2024 | 9780525426820
An insightful, funny, and realistic coming-of-age story. (Fiction. 12-18)
Visaggio, Magdalene | Illus. by Paulina Ganucheau | Colors by Avery Bacon Harper/HarperCollins (224 pp.)
$26.99 | Oct. 15, 2024 | 9780063060661
A positive and insightfully honest exploration of teen girlhood. (Graphic fiction. 13-18)
Ash’s Cabin
Wang, Jen | First Second (320 pp.)
$25.99 | $17.99 paper | Aug. 13, 2024
9781250754059 | 9781250754066 paper
Searing and radiant. (Graphic fiction. 12-18)
White, Andrew Joseph Peachtree Teen (416 pp.) | $19.99 Sept. 3, 2024 | 9781682636121
Unflinching and empowering. (Thriller. 14-18)
Woodfolk, Ashley & Lexi Underwood Scholastic (336 pp.) | $19.99
June 4, 2024 | 9781338875577
A rich, layered story about reconciliation and accountability with oneself and others. (Fiction. 12-18)
Rising From the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae
Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire Yoo, Paula | Norton Young Readers (400 pp.) $19.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9781324030904
A nuanced and necessary narrative. (Nonfiction. 12-18)
Zadoff, Allen | Holiday House (352 pp.)
$18.99 | Nov. 5, 2024 | 9780823456635
A pitch-perfect journey of selfdiscovery. (Fiction. 14-18)
Black Girl You Are Atlas
Watson, Renée | Illus. by Ekua Holmes | Kokila (96 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593461709
A compelling ode to self-resurrection and Black sisterhood that finds much-needed light in the world’s darkness. (Poetry. 12-18)
Williams, Kalela | Feiwel & Friends (336 pp.) $19.99 | Oct. 15, 2024 | 9781250880666
A gripping and heartbreaking debut. (Mystery. 13-18)
Lunar New Year Love Story
Yang, Gene Luen | Illus. by LeUyen Pham First Second (352 pp.) | $17.99 paper
Jan. 9, 2024 | 9781250908261
A sparkling romance anchored by a poignant coming-of-age story. (Graphic romance. 13-18)
Yu, Pei-yun | Illus. by Jian-xin Zhou Trans. by Lin King | Levine Querido (356 pp.) $25.99 | May 7, 2024 | 9781646143726
An accessible, timely account of Taiwan’s struggles for democracy and human rights as experienced through a personal lens. (Graphic biography. 13-18)
Zaldívar, Bessie Flores | Dial Books (432 pp.)
$19.99 | Aug. 27, 2024 | 9780593696125
An emotionally charged must-read. (Fiction. 14-18)
The author of A Tempest of Tea answers our questions.
WITH HER FIRST two young adult novels, Hafsah Faizal found inspiration for her fantasy world of Arawiya in the map and cultures of the Middle East. (Faizal is the child of Sri Lankan Muslim immigrants and grew up in Florida and California.) Her new book, A Tempest of Tea , shifts the setting to a land called Ettenia that gives very proper English vibes, teacups and all, and is “laced with political fire,” as our starred review put it. It made our list of the best young adult books of 2024, and Faizal answered a few questions by email.
Casimir, my protagonist, is brown. And the plot sort of introduced itself when I realized this brown girl was living during a time when England (fantasy or otherwise) was slowly leashing the world.
What inspired you during the writing of the book? What were you reading, listening to, watching?
What was the original idea that started you working on A Tempest of Tea?
Is it strange for an idea to spark from an aesthetic? I’ve long been a glutton for the visual, beginning with my background as a designer, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to write something dapper. I was drawn to the gaslit streets and cobblestone roads, to the outfits with layered, tailored suits and the glint of a pocket watch. When it came time to finally write the book, I realized that, hey, I kind of need a plot, too.
Tell us about the setting of the novel. When I wrote the Sands of Arawiya duology, I shied away from a Eurocentric setting in order to stay true to the stories and who I am. With A Tempest of Tea, I moved to a fantasy England to make good on my desire to write that dapper story—but, at the same time, I needed to stay true to who I am, too. Hence Arthie
I’ve loved the setting and vibes prevalent in A Tempest of Tea since I was a child, but I’d say Peaky Blinders was the final push to get me to write the story. Once I knew I was committed to writing this book, I started consuming all that I could to get into the right headspace and get my creative gears turning. After working with words all day, I didn’t read much. I watched Peaky Blinders again for the vibes, I played Assassin’s Creed Syndicate for research on the setting (yes, research), devoured Castlevania for the vampires, and watched the Ocean’s series for the heists.
Where and when did you write the book? Describe the scene, the time of day, the necessary accoutrements or talismans.
Most of this book was written at night. Not necessarily because my stories are dark, but because that was when my headspace was the most peaceful and free to wander as stories require. During the day, I’d sit at my “official” desktop, but my best writing was at night, jotting down scenes on my phone or surrounded by pillows with my laptop glowing in the dark.
What was most challenging about writing A Tempest of Tea? And most rewarding?
A Tempest of Tea Faizal, Hafsah Farrar, Straus and Giroux | 352 pp. $20.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780374389406
With my previous manuscripts, I declared myself a die-hard pantser— someone who writes by the seat of their pants and doesn’t construct an outline beforehand—but this plot didn’t allow for that. With a heist, I had to plan ahead. I had to balance the pre-heist scheming with the in-the-moment action while also incorporating vampires and colonialism. It was a tall order, but when it all came together in the end, it was more than rewarding!
What book or books published in 2024 were among your favorites? I’ve been a horrible reader since I began writing, and this was an especially lax reading year with the release of A Tempest of Tea and two deadlines That said, I absolutely adored Kelly Andrew’s Your Blood, My Bones. Kelly has a way with creating haunting, atmospheric worlds that suck you right in.
Interview by Tom Beer
The author of Compound Fracture answers our questions.
ANDREW JOSEPH WHITE is a fearless writer—Kirkus’ reviews have described his previous titles as “gloriously ferocious” and “visceral and vindicating.” His latest, Compound Fracture, is no exception. Set in rural West Virginia, the book follows a transgender autistic teen, Miles, as he seeks to reveal deep-seated political corruption—which goes back a century and involves his own great-great-grandfather. Our editors named it one of the best YA books of 2024, and White answered our questions via email.
What was the original idea that started you working on the book?
Compound Fracture came to me when I was a freshman in college, watching Kill Bill on my laptop in my dorm room late one night. I was struck by the image of a queer boy surviving. Surviving what, I wasn’t sure yet. But the theme of survival is what stuck—in the books I’d write before Compound Fracture, and then finally the book itself. It would be years before I knew myself and the story well enough to write it, but those years really gave the concept time to mature into something I’m so proud of.
Miles says, “For all the overdose deaths, environmental disasters, and reactionary politics, West Virginia is mine.” Can you talk about Miles’ complex feelings about his home? Miles’ complex feelings about West Virginia are my own! Does the state have its problems? Absolutely. But the problems it faces are systemwide, and
blaming the (often impoverished, disabled, disenfranchised, etc.) citizens for it all is both useless and cruel. Part of my job with this book was to shake non-Appalachian readers out of the stereotypes they’ve absorbed. Yes, West Virginia is an extremely dark red state, but what we are not going to do is abandon it.
In your author’s note, you compare your book to moonshine: “It’s gonna burn like hell going down.” How would you describe writing it?
Well, it was easier than my previous book, that’s for sure.
My sophomore novel, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, was a nightmare to write. It fought me every step of the way, forcing me to change large plot points all the way into proofreads and copyedits. In contrast, Compound Fracture was breathtakingly easy. I knew what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it. All I had to do was get it down on paper. It didn’t burn at all; this book was endlessly understanding and kind.
Where and when did you write the book? Describe the scene, the time of day, the necessary accoutrements or talismans.
I wrote Compound Fracture just about everywhere. I wrote it on my lunch break at work, trying to avoid getting crumbs in my keyboard. I wrote it behind my publisher’s booth at a conference, music turned up to drown out the crowd. I wrote it before my wife woke up on the weekends, and in the dark after dinner, and in airports, and wherever I could catch a single second.
White, Andrew Joseph Peachtree Teen | 416 pp. | $19.99 Sept. 3, 2024 | 9781682636121
All I ever really need is my headphones. If I have those, I can make it work.
Lilly Wachowski is adapting your book Hell Followed With Us into an animated feature. If Compound Fracture were adapted into a film or TV series, who would you cast?
Oh, what a question! I’m convinced it would be a great Sharp Objects–style miniseries, and I’d want the major roles to go to relatively unknown queer/trans actors. There are so few queer-focused roles available, and setting aside a production to give folks a foothold in the industry is one of the reasons I want my work to be optioned for film in the first place. However, if we managed to get Antony Starr to play Sheriff Davies, I certainly wouldn’t say no…
Interview by Mahnaz Dar
SOMEHOW WE’RE HERE again, at the end of another year of reading, contemplating the books that rise above and invite a second look. Our list of best teen titles of 2024 reflects the sheer variety of intriguing, eye-opening works—ones that experiment with literary devices, blend formats and genres in unusual ways, highlight lesser-known stories and voices, draw inspiration from classic tales, and offer countless hours of engagement. The six titles below represent noteworthy achievements in YA writing and illustration.
The Book of Denial by Ricardo Chávez Castañeda, illustrated by Alejandro Magallanes, translated from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel (Unruly, Jan. 30): This import from Mexico is a startling, innovative tribute to what can be achieved when text, art, and graphic design come together to form something wholly original. Executed in black, white, and gray, this is the emotionally intense story of a boy who’s learning about—and grappling with—terrible, incomprehensibly violent events,
and its surprise ending packs a punch.
49 Days by Agnes Lee (Levine Querido, March 5): Sparse text, a limited color palette, and clean, minimalistic artwork heighten the emotional impact of this graphic novel, which tells the parallel stories of a Korean American girl in the afterlife and of her grieving family. Lee’s debut viscerally expresses the shockwaves that grief sends through our lives and imagines making sense of death’s disorienting new reality.
The Worst Perfect Moment by Shivaun Plozza (Holiday House, May 14): This impossible-to-categorize story creatively blends coming-ofage themes with speculative fiction and romance.
Australian author Plozza digs into meaningful questions about that coveted yet often elusive emotion, happiness. Frequent humorous moments accentuate the story’s bittersweet undertones as
Tegan—recently deceased and deeply dissatisfied with her own personal heaven— experiences a deep ache of yearning for something she can’t quite articulate.
Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon (Simon & Schuster, June 4): Readers met Rowan and Neil, young Jewish rivals-to-lovers, in Today Tonight Tomorrow (2020). Having fallen in love on the last day of high school, the Seattleites now face the challenge of sustaining their relationship as they enter college in different cities. This insightfully characterized, beautifully written, and swooningly romantic read authentically explores the tumultuous path to early adulthood.
Louder Than Words by Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood (Scholastic, June 4): A new school should offer a chance for reinvention, but for Jordyn, a Black girl in Washington, D.C., who was
expelled from her elite private school, a malicious, anonymous gossip podcast threatens the fresh start she hoped for. An intriguing mystery, strong ensemble cast, absorbing prose, and resonant and relatable themes distinguish this contemporary novel.
A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants: Wicked Weeds and Sinister Seeds by Rebecca E. Hirsch, illustrated by Eugenia Nobati (Zest Books, Oct. 22): Scientist-turned-author Hirsch adds to her body of compelling STEM nonfiction with this gripping survey of toxic plants. Her ability to weave factual content into a page-turning narrative format demonstrates the effectiveness of strong storytelling as a teaching tool. Fans of true crime as well as aspiring historians and naturalists will relish the many tales of misadventure and malice.
Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.
During the Irish potato famine, an Irish teen falls for the English heir of the estate where she works as a servant.
It’s 1846, and 16-yearold Ellen “Nell” Quinn is beginning her new job as a scullery maid in her wealthy landlord’s kitchen in the village of Ballinkeel. Lord Wicken has brought John Browning, the nephew from London whom he’s named as his heir, to his estate in County Mayo. Nell, an avid reader, had to leave school and begin working, but through her love of poetry, she and Johnny, though separated by differences in social class, nevertheless start to fall in
love. Although their area escaped damage the previous year, Nell’s dad is worried about the spreading potato blight, a creeping disaster that forms a menacing backdrop to the love story. The exceptionally well-drawn characters include Nell’s adorable 10-year-old brother, Owen, and her best friend, Rose, whose impending marriage to local boy Eamon leaves Nell worried about the impact on their friendship. Acclaimed author Crossan atmospherically renders the rural Irish setting of this emotionally resonant and powerfully written, page-turning verse novel. The
By Kristen Ciccarelli
By Sarah Crossan
Crossan, Sarah | Greenwillow Books | 400 pp. $19.99 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9780063384910
descriptions of trauma from trying to survive unconscionable suffering are intensely sad and moving. Many scenes are suspenseful: The stakes of the couple’s relationship are high, and Johnny is
desperate, given the financial constraints on women at the time, to provide for his five sisters back home.
Hauntingly beautiful. (author’s note) (Verse historical fiction. 13-18)
By Tehlor Kay Mejia
Emily J.
nonstop rising action will keep readers entrenched in the world.
REBEL WITCH
Blake, Elly | Little, Brown (384 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 11, 2025
9780316395724 | Series: Thirstwood, 1
Former friends turned enemies must save their worlds. Cassia, daughter of the Sylvan king, longs for recognition from her stern father, Silvanus, and misses her long-gone, gentle dryad mother. She hates being the Deathringer: The title means she must try to destroy the underground-dwelling Azpians using the ring childhood friend Zeru, a horned Dracu from the Azpian realm, found among his mother’s possessions and gifted her, not realizing its import. After Zeru kidnaps Cassia, hoping to retrieve the ring, which is stuck firmly to her finger, they travel to Welkincaster, the Ancients’ sanctuary, in search of answers. Sparks simmer, and they each discover unexpected new powers. The romance is appealing, even if Zeru feels too perfect, and the lovers’ joint desire to achieve peace and see off a late-emerging enemy provides impetus to kick the story up a notch after a leisurely opening. Cassia, who struggles to be true to herself when everyone (except Zeru) wants her to be someone else, is a sympathetic hero, but for all the magical trappings, unbreakable oaths, and bloodthirsty trees, most of the story’s emotional beats are relatively mundane. Uneven pacing and several convenient information drops detract somewhat from this otherwise enjoyable and wholesome series opener. Sylvans are of “many different builds, heights, skin, and hair colors”; Cassia has “dark golden
hair,” and dark-haired, green-eyed Zeru has “lightly bronzed skin.”
A sweetly romantic magical diversion. (map) (Fantasy romance. 14-18)
Boyagoda, Randy | Tradewind Books (216 pp.)
$12.95 paper | Feb. 1, 2025 | 9781990598203
A 16-year-old girl and her younger siblings seek safety in a world that’s falling apart. With their lives destabilized by war and a devastating sickness spreading, Sabel, who has “wood-coloured” skin, sits down with her family to share a last meal before leaving home. But instead of the family leaving together, Appa and Amma send the kids—Sabel, Reya, Theri, Verlane, and S’Jin—off on their own. After a turbulent and disorienting trek, they find themselves at an abandoned school on an island in another country with children from other unnamed “falling-down” places. These young people are called sugar diamonds; their powerful, “high-life” parents have used their connections— and lots of ghee, the new currency—to get them to some sort of safety. Now they’re to bide their time until a ship arrives in 10 days. But with circumstances becoming increasingly suspicious, it’s hard for them not to question whether their caretakers have other motivations. Boyagoda’s young readers’ debut explores themes of hope, belief, and resiliency. As details about the unraveling state of society are revealed, the story raises questions
about and comparisons to past and present conflicts. Sabel is at the center of the narrative, but readers also hear directly from supporting characters— such as red-haired, green-eyed Chynoweth, a bookseller’s daughter who’s coerced into overseeing the children, and black-skinned Jaka, the eldest grandson of the “war-making man everyone called The General”— who nevertheless feel underdeveloped. A thought-provoking work for readers interested in exploring conflict and its aftereffects. (Dystopian. 14-18)
Burcaw, Shane & Hannah Burcaw Roaring Brook Press (288 pp.) | $19.99 Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781250620712
Married YouTube stars share their love story as well as those of other interabled couples— people whose relationships involve “one or both partners living with a disability.”
Shane Burcaw, who has spinal muscular atrophy and is a wheelchair user, and Hannah Burcaw, who is nondisabled, are on a mission to illuminate less-represented romantic partnerships. They spoke with nearly two dozen couples, whose identities include diversity in sexuality, race, and gender identity, sharing their stories in their own words through Q&As or in third-person retold narratives. Interspersed segments cover events in Shane and Hannah’s relationship— their early courtship milestones, travel misadventures, and IVF experiences. The importance of communication and shared passions is a theme throughout, as the interviewees recount their stories with candor and a lack of cliche. The couples span a range of ages; some have been married for decades while others are in their 20s. The accounts emphasize the ordinary
humanity and deep humor and affection of their relationships. The Burcaws, who present white, largely write for an audience that’s already familiar with aspects of disability activism, but they do include plenty of information to support readers who are just becoming familiar with antiableism. The frank focus on rarely discussed topics, such as “the assumption that physical caregiving must detract from (or altogether prohibit) an enjoyable sex life,” is valuable. Enamored with each other and their shared life, Shane and Hannah are charming guides.
A welcoming and inclusive celebration of love. (Nonfiction. 14-adult)
Ciccarelli, Kristen | Wednesday Books (464 pp.)
$20.00 | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9781250866929
Series: The Crimson Moth, 2
In the wake of a dramatic betrayal in Heartless Hunter (2024), a witch and a witch hunter are again embroiled in a high-stakes struggle to outwit each other, further complicated by their deepening, conflicting feelings.
Since fleeing her home after Gideon exposed her as a witch and left her to face execution, Rune has become engaged to a prince. Her mission: use her fiance’s fleet to reclaim the New Republic and save witches from slaughter. This means working with Cressida Roseblood, the witch who tortured Gideon and killed his family. Rune doesn’t trust her, but she needs Cressida to defeat the Blood Guard. Meanwhile, Gideon’s job is to assassinate Rune before she completes her mission. Despite their mutual distrust, Rune and Gideon, who read white, pair up out of necessity to stop Cressida from raising her sisters from the dead and regaining control. Even while standing
on two opposing sides of the war, neither the witch nor the witch hunter can keep their heart from yearning for the other. The nonstop rising action will keep readers entrenched in the world and the fates of the characters. The strong characterization is evident in the dynamic between Rune and Gideon, whose interactions evoke a powerful blend of heartache and longing, kept alive with an abundance of banter and a healthy dose of sizzle.
A captivating finale to a highly addictive and entertaining duology. (Fantasy. 13-18)
Cole, Kamilah | Little, Brown (416 pp.)
$19.99 | $12.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2025 9780316534956 | 9780316535052 paper
Series: The Divine Traitors, 2
Faron and Elara return in this duology closer following 2024’s So Let Them Burn —and their magic and relationships face even greater tests.
As the Childe Empyrean, a magical vessel and protector of San Irie, Faron Vincent was revered like a deity by her people and trusted by the gods to be a conduit of their power. And then she betrayed them. To save Elara, her sister whose bond with a dragon posed a potentially fatal threat, Faron joined forces with the deity Iya—who waged war on and sought to claim San Irie—to help build his army and enact his plan of destroying more nations. Racked with guilt, Faron has no faith she’ll ever be able to return home. But that doesn’t stop her from trying to take down the very entity she chose over her people, to end his days of chaos and spare other nations. Elara, now in the role of Maiden Empyrean, will do everything in her power to rebuild San Irie and bring her sister back, no matter the cost. Will the sisters survive a war when they’re forced to be on rival sides? Cole maintains her fresh and
engaging prose as the primarily Black characters grapple with inner turmoil, external conflict, human relationships, and supernatural bonds. Readers will be better served by having read the first installment.
Complex connections, higher stakes, and more dire repercussions combine to make this a compelling read. (map) (Fantasy. 12-18)
Desamours, Channelle
Wednesday Books (320 pp.) | $20.00 Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781250334817
A teen springs into action after her friend vanishes at a music festival in Atlanta. Like her grandmother, Sariyah Bryant, a Black high school senior, inherited the ability to sense people’s needs. Unfortunately, her powers exact a toll—if Sariyah doesn’t fulfill these wishes or physically distance herself from the person, she experiences acute migraines. That’s why she never goes anywhere without her Santa Bag: a duffel brimming with everyday items to give out. When a grateful woman she once helped gifts her four tickets to Afro Alt Music Festival, Sariyah’s ecstatic. Alongside best friend Malcolm, new friend Deja, and love interest Jude, she immerses herself in the festival’s atmosphere of positivity and creativity—until it all comes crashing down. Deja disappears from the grounds, igniting a frantic search that unearths multiple suspects and tests Sariyah’s hope. As Sariyah and her community work to bring Deja back home, she realizes her friends are keeping shocking secrets. Desamours’ debut spotlights an emotionally complex hero who’s painfully aware of the social inequities and injustices that affect Black girlhood. Sariyah’s mother has depression, and the depiction of mental health struggles is handled with realism and cultural sensitivity.
The author portrays Sariyah’s relationship with her brother, who has sickle cell disease, with tenderness. Readers will be thoroughly surprised by the unexpected conclusion. An engaging, innovative critique of the systems that protect whiteness and rob Black girls of their innocence. (Mystery. 14-18)
DeWitt, Amanda | Peachtree Teen (320 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781682635995
A grieving teen travels to the small town her late mother was from in this mystery that’s shot through with strands of speculative fiction. Since the accident six months earlier that killed her mom and seriously injured her, 18-year-old Grace Crain has been nursing scars, both literal and figurative. Spending the summer at her uncle Aaron’s in Hermitage, Florida, appeals in part because her mother never went back to her hometown, so it doesn’t hold painful memories of her for Grace. However, she’s unprepared for how many people she’s never met seem to be aware of her. Grace gets to know first cousin Lara and third cousin Griffin, with whom she’s working at the municipal historical society. But when she’s assigned to transcribe cassette tapes recorded in the early 1990s by Jake Underwood, a boy who was around her age, Grace discovers something startling: She can communicate with Jake through the tapes—and in the process, she learns that the sleepy town is harboring many secrets. The teens’ ability to communicate across time simply exists with no real explanation. The engaging mystery surrounding a natural disaster and a tragic death propels the story toward its distinctly understated ending, but the real focus is on the friendship Grace forms with Jake. Grace presents white; there’s some racial diversity among the
secondary characters, including Lara, who has “dark tan” skin from her mom. An intriguing blend of thrilling and more quiet and contemplative elements. (Mystery. 13-18)
Elliott, L.M. | Little, Brown (384 pp.) $18.99 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781643752822
A front-row view of the Watergate scandal, second-wave feminism, and other significant events through the eyes of a teenage congressional page in 1973.
Patricia Appleton didn’t become one of the first female congressional pages because she wanted to change the world—she just hoped to make her conservative parents proud and someday be the best wife to her boyfriend, Scott, who has political ambitions. However, it’s hard for Patty to avoid political strife caused by the fallout of the Vietnam War, Watergate, Roe v. Wade, and the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment. Bolstered by her fashionable (and hotheaded) friend, Simone, her politically radical, loudmouth fellow page, Abe, the brave and soft-spoken House page Will, whose Marine brothers are fighting in Vietnam, and Simone’s musician boyfriend, Julius, Patty is in for a year of learning. Elliott cuts no corners in teaching readers about the myriad political issues threaded throughout the narrative. Interspersed graphic interludes consisting of collages of historical photos and documents outline significant events that feature in the upcoming chapters. Despite the challenges of working so much factual content into the narrative, the likable characters will charm and engage readers. Those interested in contemporary politics will enjoy spotting historical precedents to current events. Most central characters present white; Abe is Black.
A compelling work grounded in historical facts with allusions to
present-day concerns. (content alert with resources, author’s note, selected sources, photo credits) (Historical fiction. 14-18)
Evans, Victoria | HarperAlley (240 pp.) | $18.99 paper | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9780063268890
Daisy and Agnes have been best friends forever, but everything goes sideways in this sharply observed graphic novel about their last summer together before Agnes moves away.
Agnes doesn’t want to leave, and even knowing they have all summer together, she and Daisy, who stand out at school for their goth style, are distraught over their impending separation. But when Daisy remembers their childhood scrapbook, “The History of Everything,” with its giant summer checklist, Agnes latches onto the idea of recreating it. Together they compile the ultimate bucket list of summer activities, a perfect way, as Daisy says, “to make these last months you’re here count.” Perfect, that is, until Daisy meets new kid in town Noah, and the plan—and maybe even the girls’ friendship—threatens to fall apart as Daisy chooses Noah over Agnes one time too many. The artwork and panel design are strong, with bold lines, clean backgrounds, and atmospheric blocks of color. However, the plot suffers from some unresolved elements, and the hasty conclusion might frustrate readers who are looking for more than a pat resolution. Still, with its honest look at the natural anxieties surrounding significant change, this title lands as a solid debut from a thoughtful creator. Main characters present white. Despite some weaknesses, an accurate depiction of both the volatility and the deep strength of high school friendships. (character designs and sketches) (Graphic fiction. 14-18)
Fenton, Peter E. | James Lorimer
(192 pp.) | $27.99 | Jan. 1, 2025
9781459419322 | Series: Lorimer Real Love
A new student helps a grieving bookworm face his fears—and they fall for each other in the process.
Eleventh grader Jordan is struggling in the wake of his mother’s death from cancer. He’s also being bullied at school for being a small, quiet boy. His father sold their old house and moved them into an apartment after their loss, a change Jordan has found upsetting and destabilizing. He copes by reading his mother’s old science-fiction novels and focusing on order and routine, helped by boisterous friend Emma and sympathetic school caretaker Mr. Jenkins, with whom he eats lunch most days to avoid the minefield that is the cafeteria. When brave, bold Nathan moves to Toronto from Montreal after his parents’ divorce, he pushes back against the bullies and joins Jordan’s book club at school. The two become friends, and as they grow closer and even work together on a class presentation, Jordan explores the deeper feelings he’s developing for Nathan. But can he find his inner reserves of courage?
The personable characters and their relatable struggles mean that this romance for reluctant readers should find fans both within and outside its intended audience, making it a good choice for any teens who find it challenging to fit in. Jordan, Nathan, and Emma are cued white; there’s racial diversity among the secondary characters.
An engaging opposites-attract queer romance. (Romance. 12-18)
Forman, Gayle | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (272 pp.) | $19.99 Jan. 7, 2025 | 9780063346147
A high school senior returns to her family home—after she’s been dead for years. Forman’s ability to capture the voices of teens shines in this heart-wrenching story of Amber Crane’s life, death, and (sort of) undeath. Amber, who reads white, died seven years ago, but on this day just before graduation, she’s standing in her family home, seemingly alive. The first people to see Amber are her mother—who, clearly in shock, starts screaming—and her younger sister, Missy, who’s now a blue-haired teenager. Amber doesn’t even realize she’s supposed to be dead until Missy tells her so. And that’s when the work of trying to make sense of what Amber’s doing here kicks into gear. Told from myriad points of view—so many, one could get lost—the novel threads together the lives of people in Amber’s orbit (and even some who didn’t know her directly), incorporating current-day perspectives as well as ones from the past. The story even goes as far back as 29 years, to the day when Amber’s parents met. While some of the backstory feels extraneous, and the chapters written from adults’ perspectives feel less compelling than those of the teen lead, Forman continually returns to Amber’s point of view, grounding her as the heart of this story, a necessary device to keep readers invested in the enduring question: Why is she back?
A spiritual, intriguing, though somewhat uneven take on life, grief, and healing. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)
An intriguing blend of thrilling and more quiet and contemplative elements.
THE UNDERWOOD TAPES
Geron, Eric | Harper/HarperCollins (400 pp.)
$19.99 | Jan. 14, 2025 | 9781335147264
A chronically single teen boy plans to turn himself into the perfect boyfriend—but finding love where he least expects it wasn’t on his list. Six failed crushes have left Leonardo Martino feeling rejected and unlovable. With his senior year just beginning, he needs to work on realizing his First Great Love Story before graduation. So Leo creates the Boyfriend Material Checklist, which includes tasks to accomplish such as developing “a powerhouse presence” and getting “a glam glow-up.” As he starts checking items off the list, people begin to take notice— including middle school best friend and crush Lincoln Chan, the Chinese American boy who ghosted him after eighth grade and who’s now one of the Fierce Five, their school’s social elite. White-presenting Leo’s best friends, Dillon and Varsha, have mixed opinions on the checklist. Varsha thinks it could be a fun experiment while Dillon is eager to assure Leo that he’s great the way he is. Leo’s attempts to change himself put a strain on his relationship with both his besties, making it hard for him to open up about troubles he’s having at home. Unfortunately, the lack of on-page development of some characters’ relationships makes it difficult to believe in their stories. Similarly, Leo’s motivations seem to oscillate throughout the story without clear explanation, which lessens his relatability as a lead.
A relationship-driven story that suffers from underdeveloped characterization. (Romance. 14-18)
LUCHA OF
Goodman, Jessica | Putnam (336 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9780593698716
Two high school seniors with very different motives reluctantly join forces when two of their classmates are murdered. Amy Alterman considers herself lucky to have had Sarah Oliver in her life. Since they were in their first year at Meadowbrook Academy—a prestigious institution for the children of the extremely wealthy— the soccer besties have been inseparable. Liz Charles, who attends Meadowbrook on scholarship, doesn’t have any close friends on campus, but she does have the Meadowbrook Gazette, the school’s online newspaper. Liz is determined to make a name for herself in journalism no matter the cost. So, when Sarah and her boyfriend, Ryan Pelham, are found brutally murdered in Sarah and Amy’s dorm room, Liz excitedly breaks the story without considering the consequences. Amy, who soon becomes her classmates’ prime suspect, desperately tries to clear her name while also protecting her “townie” boyfriend, Joseph Stone. In this plot-driven page-turner, Liz and Amy are thrown together despite their mutual distrust as they try to figure out who really committed the heinous double murder. The unlikely companions discover that the truth isn’t easy to find and that even the people they trust the most are likely hiding something. This compelling novel will keep readers guessing, as the narrative moves steadily toward its satisfying conclusion. Central characters are cued white; Amy’s Jewish
identity is skillfully and naturally woven into the story.
A fast-paced, attention-grabbing boarding school murder mystery. (Mystery. 14-18)
Jendrick, Angel | James Lorimer (184 pp.) $27.99 | Jan. 1, 2025 | 9781459419599
A teen softballer with her sights set on success discovers that a summer romance throws her priorities into question. Rory Taylor knows exactly what she wants: to win back her spot on the provincial softball team after being cut following an injury. She hopes to score a sports scholarship to college that will get her off Prince Edward Island and reassure her dad, who’s slowly dying of ALS, that she’ll be set to lead a good, successful life. But when she meets Shanti, her teammate’s cousin who’s in town for the summer, Rory falls hard and fast for the cute, shy, bookish girl. Despite being positive that she doesn’t have time for dating, Rory wants to make a relationship with Shanti work. Balancing softball, family, and romance, however, proves just as tricky as pitching a perfect game. Awkward teen flirting combined with sweet chemistry between the main characters makes up for a lackluster plot and flat secondary characters. Pop culture references, especially relating to music, are threaded through the story, allowing readers a deeper connection and insight into the leads (Rory enjoys her
parents’ ’60s vinyl collection; Shanti likes contemporary country music). Rory presents white while Shanti has Indian and Mongolian ancestry. A Sapphic sports romance for reluctant readers with appealing leads. (playlists, author’s note) (Romance. 13-18)
Lipsyte, Robert | Harper/ HarperCollins (192 pp.) | $19.99
Jan. 28, 2025 | 9780063343870
A high school athlete struggles to find his footing amid violent events and polarizing local politics. Hot-button issues crowd the pages of Lipsyte’s latest, as an impulsive punch to a classmate’s jaw lands football co-captain Ronald “Rhino” Rhinehart in a mandatory therapy group that he shares with both his victim, an abrasive gun control activist, and unstable teen Keith Korn, who brings a rifle to school one day and tries to kill himself. Meanwhile, tensions in Rhino’s family and town are rising with the approach of the 2016 presidential election, and Rhino’s own hopes for a future in college ball take hits, even as spiteful rival teammate John Cogan spreads unfounded rumors that he’s gay and engineers an on-field ambush that leaves him with a serious concussion. Events escalate: A teacher is scapegoated for the gun incident, Rhino’s belligerent coach ignores Cogan’s bullying, and violence strikes Rhino’s personal circle and wider community. Still, for all his struggles to get his head straight (medically as well as morally), Rhino proves to be a calm eye amid the tumult, and if the results of his actions and choices seem a little too pat, his sharp intelligence, range of interests beyond football, and fundamental drive to do the right thing will leave readers solidly on his
side. Rhino is white; there’s diversity in the supporting cast. A jumbo package of provocative contemporary issues centered on an appealing protagonist. (Fiction. 13-17)
Kirkus Star
Lucha of the Forgotten Spring
Mejia, Tehlor Kay | Make Me a World (416 pp.)
$19.99 | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9780593378403
A girl returns home with destruction as her sole purpose—but finds hope in an unexpected place in this follow-up to 2023’s Lucha of the Night Forest
Sixteen-yearold Lucha has been through a lot but finding her city of Robado nearly empty of life gives her a new and uncomfortable feeling. Throughout her life, she’s seen her community struggle because of the harmful influence of the “forgetting drug” Olvida; her goal now is to eradicate it and destroy the kings, the “cruel men who profited off its existence.” But that will be hard to do in a city filled with hundreds of piled-up bodies. Something terrible has happened in her absence, but it turns out that the survivors are not without leaders. Eventually Lucha finds the Syndicate, a group of rebels intent on taking Robado back from the kings, and in the process, recovering the Olvida they crave. Their goals align well enough for now, so Lucha joins the Syndicate temporarily and helps feed the Robadans. As the time when she’ll betray the Syndicate draws closer, however, she grows conflicted—her goal all along has been to destroy Olvida, but when alliances bend and break, Lucha faces new decisions. Mejia creates a rich, Latin American–coded world bolstered by entrancing prose and a compelling main character. As engrossing as the earlier volume was, this one, with its
explorations of addiction, community, and home, is even more compelling. A satisfyingly resonant and page-turning duology closer. (Fantasy. 12-18)
Montalban, Vanessa | Zando Young
Readers (320 pp.) | $19.99
Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781638930280
A scandal forces a high school senior to move to her mother’s childhood home—a tiny town with a secret.
Aspiring artist Cecilia “Ceci” Navarette enjoyed a privileged life in Miami until her millionaire stepfather was arrested for fraud. Afterward, her newly broke mother (even Ceci’s college fund is gone) relocates them to remote Santa Aguas, Florida, where she owns an old mansion. Ceci’s first impressions are bleak; graffiti on the town’s welcome sign warns of la Cegua, a woman from a Nicaraguan folktale who lures men into the forest and petrifies them. As Ceci settles into the estate once owned by the Sevilla family, the town’s founders, she uncovers their bloodline’s chilling legacy—a supposed curse that led six generations of male heirs to untimely deaths and one to disappear. Inexplicably drawn to the house, Ceci finds inspiration for her art. After she paints a mysterious garden door, she’s exploring the grounds with her kindhearted new friend, Jamie, when she stumbles upon the actual door. Beyond it, in the forest, she and Jamie find a statue of la Cegua guarding a wishing well. But the wishes it grants could come with perils, putting Ceci and her loved ones in grave danger. Nicaraguan American Ceci is a richly developed protagonist, yearning for genuine connections, while Jamie emerges as a dreamy love interest. This gothic tale weaves together a captivating
backstory with entertaining—if occasionally predictable—twists. A delightfully eerie exploration of curses and wishes. (Horror. 14-18)
Saft, Allison | Disney Press (400 pp.)
$18.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781368098458
Shortly before the new queen’s coronation, a monster wreaks havoc, forcing a young fairy princess to intervene at her own risk.
In Pixie Hollow, the Never Fairies of Spring, Summer, and Autumn work to create seasons for the humans on the Mainland, while the fairies of Winter remain apart in the Winter Woods. Clarion, a governing-talent fairy who’s soon to take over as queen of Pixie Hollow, often looks wonderingly at the Winter Woods. But crossing the border is against the rules set forth by her mentor, Queen Elvina. When a monster from Winter breaks free and enters Spring, Clarion bristles at Elvina’s dismissal. Determined to be involved, she secretly travels to Winter, meets with Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and learns that the land is nothing like what she’s heard, making her wonder what else the queen has been untruthful about. Together Milori and Clarion work to discover the secrets of Pixie Hollow, which may save them—or lead to death. Set in a magical place of flowers and pixie dust, this story considers the control we have over the roles we’re assigned. Clarion is a beautifully complex character—strong yet insecure, lovable due to her willingness to prioritize relationships over rules. Themes of fear, forbidden love, and good vs. evil are present in this fast-paced, engaging tale. Main characters are cued white. A magical story with a classic Disney feel exploring love, friendship, and leading amid hardship. (Fantasy. 12-18)
infused with Caribbean folklore.
(S)KIN
Shusterman, Neal | Simon & Schuster (528 pp.)
$21.99 | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781534432758
A virus that kills some but leaves those who recover utterly happy and filled with empathy is at the center of this dystopian sciencefiction thriller. In a postCovid-19 society, the fates of three teens become intertwined when the new Crown Royale virus breaks out. Despite the 4% mortality rate, its positive effects on those who survive quickly make it desirable, and some people purposefully try to catch it. Using third-person narration, Shusterman introduces Mariel Mudroch, who at the story’s opening is living in a car with her mom; Mariel turns out to be immune to the virus. The boy she falls for, Rón Escobedo, is from an extraordinarily wealthy family and has suffered from persistent depression. When he recovers from the virus, he learns that he’s an alpha-spreader, someone who continues shedding the virus even after they’re healthy. Finally, ambitious Morgan Willmon-Wu is approached by the rich and powerful Hungarian-born Dame Havilland, who leaves her money to Morgan, stipulating that she use it to “eradicate Crown Royale from the face of the Earth.” In his trademark darkly witty, wonderfully over-the-top style, the author meanders through interesting ethical questions as the action plays out globally with a cast of diverse background characters, eventually leading to a conclusion
that leaves things wide open for a sequel. Mariel presents white, Rón is cued Latine, and Morgan, who’s interested in both girls and boys, is biracial (Chinese and white).
A thought-provoking and grimly enjoyable tale exploring a strange future. (Dystopian. 13-18)
Kirkus Star
The Otherwhere Post
Taylor, Emily J. | Putnam (416 pp.)
$20.99 | Feb. 25, 2025 | 9780593404546
A teenage girl is inadvertently embroiled in a dangerous mystery.
“Your father was innocent,” the letter reads. Is it the truth? A trap? Either way, 18-year-old Maeve Abenthy is unnerved by this message, signed by an anonymous “old friend” and delivered to her by an otherwhere courier seven years after it was written—and seven years after the Written Doors were destroyed and the citizens of Inverly were lost. These events were all thanks, allegedly, to the evildoing of her father, a once revered scriptomancer. Maeve has since been living under various aliases, terrified that she’ll be found out and punished for being an Abenthy. She knows that otherwhere couriers, the only people able to travel between worlds, use the magic of scriptomancy to deliver the post. A courier she questions about discovering the sender’s identity reveals information that sets in motion her quest for the truth about that fateful day—and her father’s involvement.
Bestselling author Taylor’s transformative talent as a world builder shines in her sophomore novel, an epic dark fantasy tale of love, justice, the delicate magic of finding connection, and the complex art of scribing. The prose moves quickly while at the same time incorporating great detail. The main characters are layered, their pain and humanity on par with their abilities to tackle the puzzle before them. Redhaired Maeve is light-skinned; her father had “wheat-colored” skin, and there’s some diversity in skin tone in the supporting cast.
A magically thrilling, gripping, and thoroughly enjoyable read.
(Fantasy. 14-18)
Taylor, Jordyn | Delacorte (320 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 11, 2025 | 9780593709856
In the year since her sister’s untimely death, Noa has felt relieved. Noa Falk always felt like she played second fiddle to her older sister, Leah. Charming, athletic Leah seemed to naturally excel at everything she tried. At the end of her freshman year of college, she even scored a prestigious internship at the Gotham Sentinel that Noa would have done anything for. When Leah died by apparent suicide after attending several events with Manhattan’s social elite as part of her reporting duties, Noa felt a sense of freedom more than grief; finally, she could exist outside her sister’s shadow. But Noa finds secrets in Leah’s phone that point to a more sinister truth: She was murdered. Despite her complicated feelings about her sister, Noa infiltrates the wealthy family that Leah was investigating, using her student journalist skills to find out what really happened. Will she discover the truth—or meet the same fate? This fast-paced thriller uncovers the dark side of high society and sensational journalism. Tackling themes
such as sexual assault, the class divide, and peer pressure, the strength of this work lies in how it tackles the complexity of grief and the many forms it takes. Plot twists keep readers guessing while the building suspense makes this a work that’s impossible to put down. Noa, who’s Jewish, is cued white, as is most of the supporting cast.
A twisting thriller that tackles grief head-on. (Thriller. 14-18)
Upperman, Katy | Sourcebooks Fire (384 pp.) $12.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2025 | 9781464217784
T he boy she believed was the fated love of her life dies; now a 17-year-old girl must find a new future—and a new version of herself. After the death of her boyfriend, Beck, and her military family’s latest move, Amelia Graham tries for a fresh start. On her first day at her new school, she nearly hits fellow senior Paloma with her car but ultimately finds a new friend in her. After months of being depressed and alone, Lia realizes she’s living again. And then there’s the boy. Although she feels an immediate connection, Lia stays away from him, trying to honor her love for Beck. But Isaiah is there when Lia needs support, and she’s increasingly drawn to him. As the past recedes, Lia realizes that who she was with Beck wasn’t all she’ll ever be. Told through Lia’s first-person point of view and moving between past and present, this story covers heartbreak, healing, and learning to live when the person you lived for is gone. Upperman’s writing is engaging, and although the emotions are heavy, an undercurrent of hope snakes through the narrative, growing brighter as Lia comes back to life and begins to see that the future holds multiple possibilities. Central characters present white; Paloma is cued Latine. A poignant and romantic coming-ofage tale. (A Geographical History of Amelia Graham) (Romance. 14-18)
Williamson, S.F. | Harper/ HarperCollins (432 pp.) | $19.99 Jan. 7, 2025 | 9780063353848
As war looms between dragons and humans in an alternate 1923, one girl is forced to work as a codebreaker to save her family.
Vivien Featherswallow loves languages: She’s studied “three human languages and six dragon tongues” and hopes to become a Draconic Translator. A Second Class resident of London’s Fitzrovia neighborhood, Viv wholeheartedly supports the Peace Agreement made by Prime Minister Wyvernmire and the British Dragon Queen as well as the Class System that stratifies people into three tiers. So, when the rest of her family is suddenly arrested for their resistance group activities, Viv struggles to understand what’s going on. She bargains with Chumana, a rebellious dragon imprisoned in a University of London library: her release in exchange for burnin g down the prime minister’s office (and any evidence of her family’s wrongdoing that it contains). But in the process, she inadvertently sparks a civil war. The Featherswallows’ only hope of redemption lies at Bletchley Park, where Viv is recruited to decipher rebel dragons’ communications alongside the former friend she once betrayed. Everyone at Bletchley is desperate, and if she wants to succeed, Viv must work quickly to support a cause she’s losing faith in. Williamson’s debut layers a fascinating fantastical world over pre-World War II tensions. Viv’s translation skills become the window through which she begins to understand a larger world, and readers will root for her growth. Most characters present white.
Alt-history fans will devour this high-concept reimagining of the interwar period—with dragons. (Historical fantasy. 14-18)
Kirkus Star
Zoboi, Ibi | Versify/HarperCollins (400 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 11, 2025 | 9780062888877
Two teens, one a Black girl from the Caribbean and one a Black biracial girl from Brooklyn, struggle to find their identities. Fifteen-yearold Marisol and her mother, Lourdes, have recently settled in a tiny apartment in Brooklyn. They are soucouyant, witches who shed their skins during the new moon and “sip from / a soul,” nourishing themselves through the life force of their enemies. But the American dream Mummy is seeking doesn’t include freedom for Marisol, who feels “forever alone.” Monthly she shape-shifts, igniting her firesoul and shedding a layer of the skin—“Black, girl, poor, and immigrant”—given to her in America. Seventeen-year-old Genevieve lives with her white anthropologist father, white stepmother, and twin half siblings. She dreams of her mother, a Black woman who’s a mystery, and struggles with her skin, which feels like it will “burn and melt,” itching “like a billion tiny needles.” The girls’ worlds collide when Lourdes is hired as a nanny by Genevieve’s stepmother. Marisol and Genevieve are two sides of the same coin, both reaching for maternal connections, and soon, loyalties in their families and within themselves will be tested. The girls’ intertwined tales, blurring and shifting over the course of the narrative, unfold in lyrical alternating first-person verse and are cleverly used to discuss beauty ideals and colorism. Readers will enjoy the ways the monstrous characters’ human facades shift unexpectedly. A vividly creative, heart-pounding poetic journey infused with Caribbean folklore. (Verse fantasy. 14-18)
Stephenie Meyer’s 2020 novel retells Twilight from the POV of Edward Cullen.
Stephenie Meyer’s Midnight Sun is headed to the small screen, Deadline reports.
Meyer’s novel, published in 2020 by Little, Brown, is a
retelling of her blockbuster novel Twilight from the perspective of the moody vampire Edward Cullen. A critic for Kirkus called the book “a love letter to fans who will forgive (and even revel in) its excesses and indulgences.”
Meyer’s Twilight series of young adult fantasy romance novels was a publishing phenomenon. The series is composed of four novels: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn ; Meyer also published another retelling of the first novel, Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined, in 2015.
The novels formed the basis for a series of hit films starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner.
The Midnight Sun adaptation, developed by Lionsgate Television and set to air on Netflix, will be an animated series. Sinead Daly (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Tell Me Lies) will serve as writer and executive producer. Meyer will also be an executive producer on the series.
Michael Burns, the vice chair of Lionsgate, had previously said that a series
For a review of
based on Meyer’s novel was in the works, Deadline reports.
“We’re going to go out with the Twilight series, an animated series—I think there’ll be a lot of interest in that,” he said at a media conference earlier this year.—M.S.
Robert Pattinson in 2008
By Charlene Allen
Nicola Dahlin
By Cale Dietrich
FROM TIME TO TIME in Indieland, we see standout memoirs that reveal what it’s like to be incarcerated by or working within a broken criminal justice system. In each of these three recommended titles, the author has a unique take on spending years inside a prison. Two of the memoirs, both written by formerly incarcerated people, describe the ingenious coping strategies that helped them during their imprisonment and long after they were released. In the third, a career corrections officer documents her experiences as a Black woman rising through the ranks of the California corrections system.
R.G. Shore taught himself to meditate while sitting on his bunk in his cell. He recounts the circumstances of living as a person of color in a nearly all-white penitentiary (he describes himself as a “small little Brown thing, surrounded by large, angry, muscular White men”) in his memoir, The Ocean Inside Me. Shore, who was born in Kolkata, India, adopted by white Christians, and raised in Oregon, began meditating not only
to escape the violence around him, but to heal from the lifelong effects of racism. His style of meditation, which gives the book it’s title (he listened to radio static, which transformed into the sound of the ocean), not only helped him endure incarceration, but also gave him a viable career path. Our reviewer notes, “Now free from prison, Shore is a reiki practitioner and energy healer whose work focuses on helping incarcerated people heal from racial and spiritual trauma.”
In his memoir, Convictions of a Chef, Evan Marcus-Rotman talks about being arrested for selling LSD when he was 23 and spending 12 ½ “hellish” years in prison. Like Shore, Marcus-
Rotman found that meditation helped him cope. He also found another form of salvation: learning how to cook in the prison kitchen. After his release, he studied at the California Culinary Academy and worked as a personal chef for the internationally rich and famous (the Grateful Dead and John Mayer, for example). “In a familiar, unpretentiously anecdotal style, the author takes readers on a fascinating tour of his career and provides a unique glimpse into a world of extraordinary privilege,” says our reviewer. “He also reflects soberly on the contradictions and cruelties embedded within the war on drugs, which sent him to prison for a transaction that had netted him $150.”
T.L. Cromwell writes about her career as a corrections officer in the California prison system in Time Served . As a single
mother, she wanted a stable job to support her daughter. She sheds light on the prison system itself, correctional officers, and incarcerated people. Cromwell is qualified to understand and write about all sides. As a child in South Central Los Angeles, she had visited several incarcerated relatives while they were in prison. Another notable theme, says our reviewer, is Cromwell’s “experience as a Black woman working in the justice system; she tells of being racially profiled when she first worked at Juvenile Hall; later, she became the only Black female captain at California State Prison, Los Angeles County.” All told, the memoir is “a compelling and personal story of the world of corrections.”
Chaya Schechner is the president of Kirkus Indie.
A Harvard-educated lawyer reflects on a childhood spent in foster care in this nonfiction account of a landmark civil rights case. Bridge follows up his first memoir (2008’s Hope’s Boy) about his life with his mentally ill mother and his stint (lasting more than a decade) in Los Angeles County foster care with this wrenching yet ultimately triumphant look at the case that launched him into “a lifetime of defending children’s rights.” The Eufaula Adolescent Center, Alabama’s largest mental institution for children, held 120 patients, nearly all from homes with “hardened backgrounds.” Eufaula, Bridges writes, had a “well-known history of violence, including abuse by staff and other children. It also had a history of covering up that violence.”
With little experience in the courtroom (aside from a dispute involving his 24-year-old mother that resulted in the then 7-year-old Bridges being placed in foster care for more than 11 years), he joined a Washington, D.C., public-interest firm that was acting as lead counsel in a federal class action against Eufaula and every other Alabama psychiatric institution. This landmark case took more than 23 years to litigate, but it guaranteed patients with developmental disabilities who were involuntarily committed to state institutions the constitutional right to treatment that would afford them a realistic opportunity to return to society. Bridge’s well-researched and annotated account includes harrowing stories from
Bridge, Andrew | Regalo Press | 304 pp. $26.26 | Sept. 27, 2024 | 9798888450420
inside Eufaula; particularly wrenching is the case of a young boy named David Dolihite, who for every hour of therapy spent more than 33 hours in some form of isolation; a suicide attempt left him with permanent brain damage. Throughout the narrative, the author powerfully weaves in his years of experience in the system as a resident at MacLaren
Hall, a “walled and caged compound [that] could pack in three hundred boys and girls from newborns to eighteen-year-olds.” The inclusion of this personal history vividly underscores his motivation to leave a higher-paying job to find justice for these children. A fierce, maddening chronicle of advocacy on behalf of our most vulnerable citizens.
Andry, David “DD” & Tim Daniel Illus. by Marco Finnegan | Mad Cave Studios (128 pp.) | $17.99 paper Oct. 29, 2024 | 9781960578761
A family memorializing a dead father experiences weird happenings and bizarre cosmic visions in this graphic novel. The story opens in 1956, with smokejumper Nathan Garrett fighting a wildfire in Montana’s Kootenai National Forest. Before he can say “cough…urk,” he and his squad are frozen in what looks like suspended animation. A year later, with Nathan pronounced dead and his body never recovered, his widow, Jolene, repairs to Kootenai’s Morning Star watchtower to sprinkle fake funerary ashes, taking along her teenage daughter, Marabeth, still angry at the world for depriving her of her dad, and young son, Charlie, who’s obsessed with SF adventures. Sleeping in the tower, Charlie has a vision of a spacefarer, complete with helmet and jet pack, who turns into Nathan. The next morning, Charlie has disappeared, leaving his toy ray gun behind, and the panicky Jolene and Marabeth split up to search for him in the woods, where they see strange visions. Marabeth’s visions include an aggressive squirrel, a purple buck deer that stands motionless on its hind legs, and a sinister forest ranger with reflective glasses who changes into a deer. Jolene has more disturbing visions of Charlie floating in the air, firefighters, Nathan, and her obstreperous sister. The apparitions say mysterious things like “Mooommmm…Help him… Help meeeee” and “Weeeee…R… Resp…onnnnsib…le”; Jolene finds them so upsetting that she starts hacking at them with an axe as they dissolve into thin air. Writers Andry and Daniel don’t put a lot of action into the story: Much of it is Marabeth and Jolene being baffled and
A thoughtful and exacting discussion of the economic future.
LEAD, FOLLOW, OR FAIL
traumatized by hallucinations until, toward the end, they miraculously resolve and impart lessons on fixing things, letting go, and working together. The scenarios and visuals have an effective, shadowy creepiness, while characters’ entertainingly snarky voices leaven the lurid, psychedelic imagery. (“Great,” grouses Marabeth, “creepy moose lifting me up toward a huge floating ball of people.”) The graphics, by artist Finnegan, colorist Jason Wordie, and letterist Justin Birch, balance a throbbing orange-red-purple palette against somber blue-greens and sepia; the compositions feature oddball Mannerist perspectives, eclectic motifs from Lost in Space and the Sistine Chapel, and unstable figures that are constantly disintegrating into confetti. The storytelling lags, but there’s plenty of mood and style here to compensate. An enigmatic family tale with vigorous writing, colorful art, and unsettling atmospherics.
Brews, Peter J. | Ideapress Publishing (420 pp.)
$32.95 | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781646871650
Brews gives a historical account of the engines of economic productivity and delivers a prognosis regarding the future of American and global economies.
Prior to 1800, per the author, humanity suffered through “over 150,000 years of stumbling around,” making painfully slow progress toward overcoming the persistent problems of scarcity. This “millennia of human struggle” was followed by 250 years of breakneck economic gains so impressive that the living standards enjoyed by the American middle class in the mid-20th century were superior to what French nobility experienced at the end of the 18th century, a striking point made by Brews in this intellectually lively study. To anatomize these quantum leaps and better comprehend “the human struggle for productivity in all its dimensions,” the author employs an epochal mode of analysis that divides history into three eras: the Pre-Industrial Era (before 1800), the Industrial Era (1800–1950), and the Post-Industrial Era (beginning in 1950). Each time period is personified by the author as a human type: Respectively, there are “failures,” “followers,” and “leaders.” The failures of the Pre-Industrial Era—in which, Brews asserts, there was virtually no progress—are largely attributed to a dearth of usable capital and freedom. The members of the subsequent Industrial Era solved these problems and made mass production and consumption possible, partly by shouldering the “deferred gratification and sacrifice” necessary for long-term investments. The Post-Industrial Era is characterized by innovation, its chief product the computer, which has allowed for a sweeping transformation not only of economies, but also the very nature of work itself. However, cautions the author, there are still great challenges to progress, including mounting inequality and
the considerable threat posed by global warming. These, though, are manageable menaces, Brews avers— the United States could use higher rates of taxation to redistribute wealth and curb consumption, though these shifts would require a “recalibration” of the nation’s social contract.
Brews’ empirically rigorous study deftly manages to combine a panoramic historical survey with a granular account of the machinations of productivity. While the subject matter is inherently complex and the text often technically formidable, his explanations are consistently accessible to even readers with limited backgrounds in economics. Predictions of any kind are always to be taken with a grain of salt, but the author presents his persuasively, without the grating push of dogmatic certainty. There is an astute political dimension to his analysis; for example, “As other nations join the post-industrial world, democracy’s dominance over other regime types may be where convergence occurs. All industrialized nations today are democracies, and no autocracy is yet fully industrialized. Time will tell if China or other autocracies will industrialize and remain nondemocratic.” Much of the writing on economics today falls into two categories: prohibitively dense academic studies or more popular works that indulge in extravagant simplifications and reductions. Brews’ book belongs to a rare third category: analysis that is serious without being indecipherable and that comments pragmatically on the hurdles that must be cleared for a bright future. This is a valuable contribution to the literature on productivity for experts and novices alike.
A thoughtful and exacting discussion of the economic future.
Brody, A.L. | Entangled: Amara (352 pp.) $17.99 paper | Oct. 8, 2024 | 9781649377616
A formidable female monster meets her match in Brody’s romantic comedy, the first in a new series.
Darla Drake, feared across her family’s territory of Clear Creek as the Duchess of Death, is having an existential crisis: Hunting awful humans with her scourge is no longer giving her any fulfillment, and, in a completely out-of-character moment, Darla finds herself letting a victim go with his life. Utterly confused, Darla retreats to her cave, where she lives with her mother and occasionally seeks the company of her best friend, Gretl. A year passes, and one night Darla stumbles across another monster in the forest—a tentacled creature she has never seen before who is trespassing on her territory. His name is Jarko Murkvale, and he proves to be surprisingly tall and attractive when Darla confronts him (“she hated herself for even thinking it, but the creature was… kind of hot?”). With Darla having abandoned hunting for so long, Clear Creek is now open territory, and she realizes she has to get back to basics to keep control of her home and avoid losing her heart. This is a quirky romance, set in between the realms of monsters and humans. Brody does a great job of worldbuilding and bringing dark comedy, but the narrative begins a bit abruptly, plunging readers into the initially jarring circumstances of Clear Creek and Darla’s existence before they can get their bearings. However, the pace soon evens out as the story is effectively driven by strong female characters in the form of Darla, her mother Dolores, and Gretl. (In a particularly compelling side-plot, Gretl’s pregnancy makes Darla reconsider her own relationships and what she wants out of her life.) This might be a comedic story of monsters, but Darla’s issues will resonate with any adult woman trying to understand her own worth: “Darla
was one of a kind. It may have taken a while for her to understand that, but that realization meant everything.”
An entertaining romance for readers with a taste for comedy and horror.
Brower, Mina | Delphinus Star Publishing (326 pp.) | $14.99 paper Aug. 30, 2024 | 9798991248228
A woman tries to suppress her magical abilities to avoid a malevolent force in Brower’s SF/fantasy series starter. On the planet Andora, the Council has outlawed magic. Doctoral candidate Renna Strongborn has been hiding her own magic talents, which she can only access when she’s angry, for the past seven years. After a childhood in which an abusive man trained her in magic, Renna would rather not use it at all; she hides it even from her best friend, Helena Troyes. A mysterious, dark force attacks the campus and surrounding town while calling out Renna’s name. Afterward, a man named Khellios arrives with an offer to shelter her in Taria, a haven for those possessing magic. Also, Renna’s “soul guardian,” Sethos, comes to her in a dream, telling her that he’d been searching for her for years. In Taria, Renna learns that Khellios is a god of the moons and stars and that his relatives are gods too. She also finds out that the malevolent force is a powerful deity named Am-Re. She forms a close friendship with his cousin Nera (a moon goddess) and gets to know Ukara (Goddess of War) and Cylas (God of the Planets). Because she resolutely avoids using magic, Renna develops an intense attraction to both Khellios and Sethos; however, they’re both hiding a secret. In this series opener, Brower delivers an exciting tale about magic, friendship, passion, and asserting one’s agency. Renna and Khellios narrate the
novel, effectively offering readers intimate insights into their motivations and true natures. Renna is particularly compelling; readers will appreciate that she’s an active player in her own story and doesn’t shy away from her intimate desires. Supporting characters are equally complex and intriguing. The worldbuilding is also comprehensive, complete with histories, rules of magic, and detailed descriptions of outdoor settings: “The landscape had changed from a seaside drive with palatial homes dotting the mountainside to a town with two- and three-story buildings made of glittering limestone and red roofs. Cobblestone lined the roads and sidewalks.”
An expertly crafted fantasy featuring compelling, well-developed characters.
Bühler, Annette | Illus. by Muses Touch swisswolf Consulting (224 pp.) | $19.99 paper | Aug. 2, 2024 | 9783952606506
A guide focusing on dealing ethically with artificial intelligence. In her manual, Bühler points out that many kinds of AI have now infiltrated almost all aspects of business and society (“This is not a distant future scenario,” she writes, “but a present-day reality”). This infiltration obliges people in all walks of leadership to grapple with the intersection of AI and ethics. The author explores the underlying tenets of ethical leadership and then moves her narrative to the clash of ethics and AI, analyzing the peculiar challenges presented by new technology. The author proposes the concept of “the Ethic Pocketknife,” a “conceptual
toolkit” that “tackles the ethical aspects of AI head-on.” She compares the Ethic Pocketknife to a Swiss Army knife and explains the various components— Transparency Tweezers, Accountability Awl, Empathy Scissors, and so on. She starts with building an ethics-based corporate culture in general and then includes an ethical assessment of whichever AI systems the business employs or encounters. Her book’s chapters are short and filled with illustrations and bullet points. She stresses the human element in the creation of AI, noting that “in the realm of AI ethics, bias detection tools play a crucial role in identifying and addressing potential discriminatory patterns within AI algorithms.” Bühler’s central conceit of the Ethic Pocketknife is admittedly ungainly (featuring “Sustainability Saw,” “Responsibility Screwdriver,” and other awkward terms). But her book’s strongest element is its underlying belief that before a company can have an ethical approach to AI, it must first have ethics. Many of the useful precepts she elaborates in these pages serve as a clearly worded call for rigorously maintained corporate culture. The fact that this call effectively applies to both apple sellers and Apple AI is a pleasant bonus. A strong, morally grounded approach to grappling with AI.
Bursey, Trinity | Illus. by John D. Shull LifeRich Publishing (32pp.) | $13.95 paper Oct. 12, 2021 | 9781489738639
In this picture book, instruments in a music shop refuse to get along. In a quaint little town can be found a music shop populated by anthropomorphic
ROBBIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE
instruments who love nothing more than to play music together. But from the flutes and guitars to the percussion and strings, all are highly susceptible to the outlandish ideas swept in on the coattails of the Slimy Musician. He immediately insists that all the instruments play separately: “How can maracas shake when drums are drumming? How can pianos play when guitars are strumming?” The instruments take his criticism to heart; their ensuing strife is so disruptive that it turns the diverse town upside down. Clocks don’t work, popcorn doesn’t pop, and only a piano named Lyric is ready to take on the problem. Lyric calls on her friends, who suggest bringing all of the feuding instruments to the Master at a free concert that night. It’s only when the Master encourages the instruments to put aside their differences that music returns to the town. This is Lyric’s second adventure and Bursey’s newest book since The Little Piano (2018). The enjoyable tale skillfully teaches young readers the importance of diversity and collaboration, though the lesson would be stronger if the conflict were initiated more naturally. Shull’s vibrant illustrations are reminiscent of a rambunctious animated television show for children, with curving bodies, eyebrows, and large eyes conveying huge expressions. An engaging music-themed tale for preschoolers who need a simple lesson about unity.
Campbell, Sam | Self (241 pp.)
Oct. 29, 2024
Campbell’s middle-grade YA adventure follows a 16-year-old boy caught up in an unusual New York City heist. All Nate wanted was a fun winter week in New York with his kooky aunt Celeste, but
when he overhears two other teens discussing a robbery at Rockefeller Center, he gets a lot more than he bargained for. After threatening him, the two strangers tell Nate that their plan is to steal the star at the top of New York’s biggest Christmas tree—they’ve decided that he will play a role in the caper. Intrigued and a little frightened, Nate meets with them as planned and learns more about the intriguing wannabe thieves: Rodney Donoghue is a wealthy Australian boy; Cluenette “Clue” Perez is the loud, street-smart brains of the operation. Clue’s gruff demeanor and her detailed diagrams plotting out the Christmas heist immediately capture Nate’s attention and stir his imagination. (As an aspiring writer, Nate keeps a notebook with him in which he jots down ideas.) Nate is soon spending his nights running around Central Park, scaling massive Christmas trees, and setting off smoke bombs to make daring escapes with his two new friends. He also learns more about the mysterious Clue—the troubles she lives with at home with her mother, the strained relationship she has with her father, and her very personal reason for wanting to get all of New York’s attention this Christmas. Campbell’s fast-paced story calls to mind classic middle-grade adventures filled with intrigue and quirky characters, like E.L. Konigsburg’s From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (1967). Clue is a complex and well-developed antihero who alternates between aggression and vulnerability, and Nate’s Broadway-aspiring aunt (complete with a pet goat) provides plenty of comedy (“Should I smile with or without teeth?”). While the kids plot to steal something unusual, the actual heist antics follow predictable beats that might leave younger readers wishing the story had taken even more unexpected turns, but there are plenty of well-executed action sequences set throughout the city to keep them invested. Endearing characters turn this unconventional robbery into a fun romp for younger readers.
Carlisle, K.T. | Self (340 pp.) | $15.99 paper Jan. 15, 2025 | 9798330344949
Carlisle’s YA thriller revolves around a series of gruesome murders that could be attributed to a mythical creature.
Seventeen-yearold Eliza Loft’s high school experience in Whitehall—a “Podunk” town in the Adirondack Mountain region of New York—isn’t exactly idyllic. After her mother died of cancer when Eliza was 12 years old, the teen rebelled, and on a drunken night with her two best friends up in the woods, she did some regrettable things. In an inebriated haze, she also witnessed the brutal murder of an older girl from her school district. After she’s vowed with her friends to never share the events of that night with anyone, four years pass, and Eliza becomes estranged from the two other girls, who become popular while she ends up a loner. When each of the three girls finds a photo of the dead girl with a message (“I know what you did”) in their lockers, panic ensues—no one else could possibly know. When one of Eliza’s (now former) best friends turns up dead shortly thereafter, Eliza not only becomes a suspect, but also the killer’s next potential target. With her new friend Simon—a hardcore Bigfoot enthusiast—accompanying her, she attempts to discover who, or what, is behind the murders. Carlisle’s story is a real page-turner. While the Bigfoot element is certainly intriguing, it’s the author’s insightful depiction of the teenage experience—battling self-doubt, dealing with bullying and crushes, finding one’s place in the world—that makes Eliza’s story so emotionally resonant and compelling. Her grief over her mother’s death is particularly powerful: “But death doesn’t care about what you need. It comes without warning, takes everything from you until all you’re
left with are a bunch of broken pieces and no picture to guide you on how to fit them back together.”
This thriller delivers on all levels— teen readers may very well devour this novel in one sitting.
Cassidy, Nat | Shortwave Media (160 pp.) $12.99 paper | Oct. 15, 2024 | 9781959565369
A metalhead bassist’s will to live is tested at an eerie rest stop in the middle of the night, in Cassidy’s horror novella.
Abe is a slightly insecure, nebbishy musician who plays bass guitar and sings for an obscure death-metal band. When his grandmother Bobbe has a stroke, he decides to schedule a practice with his band miles away so they can get some rehearsal time in before an upcoming gig and he can be by Bobbe’s side in the hospital. He pulls into a rest stop on the way but discovers that—despite seeing a few cars in the parking lot—the entire place is empty. Alarm bells go off, but he needs to use the bathroom. When he tries to leave the bathroom, he discovers that the door’s been jammed…or locked. When creatures start emerging from the air vent in the ceiling—including a large hairy spider, writhing insects, and more—he soon realizes that something foul is at play; there was a reason the rest stop was empty, and he will have to struggle to make it out of the bathroom alive. Cassidy’s tense, heart-pounding thriller moves easily from the freaky to the gory. (Ominous notes, with letters clipped from candy wrappers, are slipped under the door, making the mundane feel nightmarish.) The author’s prose is brisk, clean, sometimes funny, sometimes earnest, and often memorably horrifying (a surface of “fathomless, black holes, honeycombed in row upon row across what should be [a] stranger’s face” stands out as a particularly unsettling description). There are moments when Cassidy tries to make the
horror cut deeper by evoking the intergenerational violence and antisemitism Bobbe once faced; these elements aren’t as developed or integrated into the rest of the story as they should be. The novella works best when it simply layers fright after fright, trapping the reader in a gnarly bathroom with creepy crawlies coming in and a possible serial killer on the other side of the door.
A blood-soaked freakout that does for gas stations what Jaws did for beaches.
Cricket, Phineas | Cosmic Turtle Books (176 pp.)
$9.99 paper | Aug. 16, 2024 | 9798991155021
Cricket’s lighthearted novel of magic for tweens and teens looks at the humble beginnings of a famous figure of English mythology. Robin Goodfellow doesn’t mean to misbehave; it’s just that pranks and charms come naturally to him. Raised by his mother in a small English village, he spends his days cavorting around the countryside and only occasionally completing his chores. His godmother is furious about his lack of religious observance, but he just can’t seem to keep the prayers straight in his head. When the local lord dies, Robin’s village is shaken by the arrival of a greedy new baron who will rule until the late lord’s young heir comes of age. Robin’s personal life is upended when he faces an unexpected tragedy—just as he discovered a new world of magic after meeting a shepherd named Oberon in a nearby forest. Especially significant is his discovery of a knife with mysterious markings that aids him in unexpected ways. From then on, Robin lives on the outskirts of society, helping his neighbors with secret good deeds, aided by small charms he learned from his mother. Cricket delightfully captures the capricious thoughts of young Robin, and the account of the protagonist’s journey to understanding his faerie nature is
captivating. Especially enchanting are the folksy rhyming charms that Robin calls upon to accomplish his tasks, adding an air of homespun authenticity to the happenings: “Listen to my stone, lazy blade/ And work will never wear you down. / Ever sharp be your golden song, / Music of meadow mowing the dawn.” The other characters, both friends and foes, are well developed, and Robin’s best friend, a girl named Kit, becomes an important catalyst at several key moments. Adding an additional layer of intrigue is a rescue plot toward the end, which also features Robin coming to terms with his position between the human and faerie societies.
A charming origin story for young readers and lovers of folktales.
Damián | Illus. by Àlex Fuentes
Papercutz (128 pp.) | $12.99 paper Nov. 26, 2024 | 9781545812204
A fast-paced SF graphic novel by writer Damián and artist Fuentes about a group of students who find themselves suddenly and unexpectedly thrown into the past.
A class field trip to the ruins of a castle of the Knights Templar is an exciting prospect for friends Arnold, Sara, Mei, and Driss, but Piero, the class bully, uses it as an opportunity to torment. While Piero’s trying to scare the trio, his actions send them all into a pit, where a sudden flood carries them into what appears to be a jungle, where mythic and perhaps prehistoric creatures reside. They escape the predators and soon run into a knight, who offers help but also keeps whispering to other people in his village about “the portal.” He explains that the Knights Templar created an escape path through time to evade persecution and have been living in secrecy for centuries. What starts as an opportunity for the kids to explore an ancient world turns sinister when they
learn about the disturbing secret of the villagers’ survival. The kids’ predicament leads to some impressively realized chase sequences by Fuentes, who has a sharp eye for character detail and engagingly variable color motifs, which move from bubble gum pink to bright blue to candlelit orange. Although the main characters feature clear visual signifiers (Sara, for instance, uses crutches), their personalities don’t consistently come through as distinct, other than Piero and a young guide who’s introduced late in the narrative. This vagueness may bother some readers, but others will be swept along by the story’s brisk pace, rising stakes, moments of humor, and beautiful artwork. The tale ends on a somewhat abrupt cliffhanger, but one hopes that the central characters will receive more development in future installments.
A fun, bright story for young fans of time-hopping hijinks.
Sept. 1, 2023 | 9798988859932
A little girl and her mother wonder at the night sky in Ezepue’s picture book. At bedtime, Belle and her mother peer up at the night sky together to take in the stars. However, all they can see is a bright moon and several streaks in the sky; no stars are out to play tonight. Belle’s mother encourages her to wait for tomorrow to see if they return. Belle rushes to the window on the next night, but she can still only spot the streaks dashing across the darkness above. She asks her mother why the stars have disappeared, but the latter simply counsels her to be patient: “I bet there will be bright and brilliant stars all across the skies tomorrow.” It is on the third night that the stars finally emerge to dazzle her with their brilliance. She writes a letter to them, learning as she
goes that she is a bright star herself. This muted, simple debut picture book will find an appreciative audience in toddlers and preschoolers developing calming bedtime routines. The narrative eschews twists and turns for simple, mild repetition, and the affirmations posed by Belle’s mother at the conclusion are an effective starting place for building self-esteem. Manalang’s painted illustrations have a soft and dreamlike quality appropriate to the story’s tone. She portrays both Belle and her mother as Black.
A sweet read-aloud recommended for curious toddlers and preschoolers who love nature.
Frost, Shana | Loch Fuar Publications (286 pp.)
July 12, 2024 | 9781738499489
Series: Aileen and Callan Murder Mysteries, 7
A peaceful Scottish village is rocked by secrets and danger as a local innkeeper finds herself entangled in Frost’s seventh high-stakes series mystery.
The story follows Aileen Mackinnon, a former forensic accountant now running an inn, and her boyfriend, Callan Cameron, a detective inspector, as they face mounting tensions when a new glamping project threatens local businesses. The arrival of Aileen’s former colleagues, a suspicious car crash, and a dangerous mystery involving the hotelier add further layers of intrigue, making the plot a rich blend of personal and professional challenges for Aileen. The author offers fine descriptions of the cozy, picturesque village of Loch Fuar: “The green grass gleamed, a contrast to the greyish-blue waters of the Loch Fuar. The mountains in the background also shimmered adding that awestruck gasp to the entire scene. Life was good.” These descriptions offer a fine contrast to the escalating danger, heightening the anxiety as Aileen’s once peaceful life gets turned upside down. What truly
An outstanding SF series debut that explores what it means to be human.
THE CALLISTA ALIGNMENT
sets this series installment apart, however, is the deepening of the dynamic between Aileen and Callan. Their slow-burn romance, which has been building over previous books, takes on more weight here as the couple navigate their growing bond. Throughout, their relationship feels authentic and grounded, providing a warm counterbalance to the story’s darker elements. The mystery itself is tightly plotted, offering clever twists and turns, but Frost effectively balances it with strong character development. Aileen’s background as a forensic accountant plays a key role in unraveling the deceit at the heart of the story. Meanwhile, Callan’s steady detective work complements Aileen’s quick thinking, making them an effective and engaging team. A suspenseful tale that offers cozy mystery fans a perfect blend of romance, intrigue, and small-town charm.
Kirkus Star
Gay, Steve | Rook Abbey Press (421 pp.) $13.12 paper | July 24, 2024 | 9781838217723
In Gay’s SF series debut, a woman stolen from Earth to serve as an alien pet discovers a worldchanging destiny. On the eightmooned planet Antaris, headquarters of the interstellar Commonwealth, humans are regarded by its eight-foottall denizens as mere animals, serving as menial workers and pets. An economic downturn means times are hard; clans of feral humans—“the
Unowned”—roam the capital city’s Derelict Zone. Antarian “anthrozoologist” Henik Varkesen, who has observed a feral clan—led not, as would be expected of animals, by its strongest male, but by Alka, its most communicative female—believes humans are a fully cognitive, advanced species, but his view is highly controversial. Yan Feyrsten, a lonely professor, buys the Earth woman as a pet, naming her Kali. When the recommended harsh training methods don’t work with her, he asks his old friend Henrik for help. Kali soon proves she is highly intelligent, quickly learning the basics of their language, including writing, although much of it isn’t audible to humans. Her curious, independent, and determined personality captivates the two, but as the first Earth-born “natural” human on Antaris in several centuries, and a threat to the status quo, she may be in grave danger. The political situation is unstable, with a hotly contested election just days away. When you add in a disgraced police chief turned bounty hunter, manipulative journalists, a rare lunar eclipse coinciding with a major cultural holiday, and Kali’s uncanny resemblance to a figure in a mural whom the ferals view as their goddess, the stakes could hardly be higher. Gay skillfully builds an alien society whose politics may be a bit too similar to ours—but that conceit serves well as a platform for exploring the fundamental question of what makes a person, the ways in which viewing others as lesser beings distorts perceptions, and the forces that spur or oppose sweeping cultural change. The storyline is intricate but never confusing; the prose and dialogue sparkle (“Sela stared back, his eyes blank, as if his imagination was a muscle he rarely flexed”). The characters are well-drawn,
distinct individuals, especially Kali, who, though seen mainly through the aliens’ eyes, emerges as thoughtful, perceptive, resilient, and brave. An outstanding SF series debut that explores what it means to be human.
Gosbee, Ron | FriesenPress (312 pp.)
$36.36 | $25.99 paper | Aug. 7, 2024 9781039198333 | 9781039198326 paper
A survivor of an Indian Residential School in Canada shares his story in this debut memoir. While the story of Canada’s “hellish system of religious schooling” has made international headlines (and even provoked a historic apology from Pope Francis), Gosbee asserts that there is more to the story that still needs to be told. Living in northern Ontario in the 1950s, Gosbee and his sisters were among the few white children who attended the now infamous St. Anne’s Indian Residential School. While the institution operated under a basic assumption of white cultural supremacy that presumed “the right to dominate and eliminate” Indigenous culture, the author was not spared from the psychological damage inflicted by the school. Punishments witnessed by the young Gosbee included striking children on the head with shoes. The author’s recollections are supplemented by memories shared by his sisters as well as dormmate Tony Tourville, who speaks bluntly about sexual abuse and additional experiences of Indigenous children the author was not privy to. While Gosbee acknowledges the presence of “good priests, good nuns, and good teachers,” he emphasizes how the institution’s management systematically worked to push out empathetic figures and promote “mean, controlling teachers” in their stead. The book’s harrowing narrative is conveyed in a conversational, no-nonsense style in prose that pays close attention to vocabulary; influenced by
Tourville’s reflections, Gosbee notes how even the words school or dorm supervisor sanitize a more sordid environment (he suggests prison and prison guard as more accurate descriptors). The text is accompanied by a wealth of black-and-white photographs that contributes to the book’s haunting tone. In addition to chronicling his childhood experiences, Gosbee surveys the school’s lasting impact in the present day and includes a foreword written by Charlie Angus, a member of the Canadian House of Commons who has been an outspoken advocate on behalf of Indian Residential School victims.
A powerful, firsthand indictment of the Canadian government’s mistreatment of Indigenous children.
Hall, Lynn A. | Self (31 pp.) | $10.99 paper Dec. 15, 2022 | 9798367450187
In author-illustrator Hall’s picture book, a young quail forges a friendship with the Moon and discovers the importance of taking care of the Earth. ChokWaka of the desert Quail tribe explores his beautiful natural habitat, only to find trash while searching for seeds, leaves, and berries to eat. As he rests his feet, he’s visited by the Moon, who greets him by name. She tells him stories about the universe, including how she reflects the sun’s light and helps “guide tides and seasons.” The Moon then reveals to ChokWaka that everyone on Earth is one big family and “must care for her as their mutual home.” She pleads for ChokWaka’s help,
noting: “One little voice could begin to grow and become the sound of many voices.” ChokWaka shares the conservation message with his family and friends, and it spreads throughout the world. Hall’s tale is effectively reminiscent of folklore, and it’s peppered with Spanish terms such as “arroyo grande” and “saguaro.” It also drives home the importance of environmental stewardship with an image of a friendly-faced moon in stunning, painterly illustrations with broad, bold lines and streaks of color, often blues and greens. The book’s only distraction is the use of seemingly random capitalization in the text. A sweet tale whose dreamy images support a positive message of conservation and love.
Hill, Nellie | Atmosphere Press (278 pp.)
$26.99 | $17.99 paper | Sept. 10, 2024 9798891324091 | 9798891323452 paper
A divorcee gets swept off her feet by an unethical wig-dye salesman in Hill’s comedic novel. Poet Sara Demcott arrives in San Francisco a refugee from New York and a failed marriage, ready to begin her life anew in the capital of America’s counterculture. She takes a part-time secretarial position at a company that sells wig dye, where the fast-talking boss, Al Jackson, claims to “like artists” and wants to “have all kinds of interesting people around and keep things from getting boring.” Sara thinks there’s something shifty about Al, but she’s nevertheless charmed by his
An enjoyably shaggy novel about a woman who falls for the wrong con man.
SUNDAY JENKS
confident demeanor and hard-to-place drawl. Her friends warn her that Al might not be completely on the level, but Sara sees the job—and Al—as potential material for her poetry. So, she doesn’t balk when Al fires his other employees, takes Sara on an impromptu business trip, and seduces her in a hotel room. As Sara finds herself falling for Al—against all her best instincts—she grows increasingly worried about his mysterious backstory. With the company on the verge of bankruptcy, Al and Sara take their show on the road, traveling to various American cities to peddle everything from wigs to water filters in order to keep their feast-or-famine lifestyle afloat. Sara happily assumes the alias Sunday Jenks, but just how far is she willing to go with a grifter, particularly one wanted by the FBI? Hill brings the mercurial Al to brilliant life, as well as a supporting cast of equally colorful characters. The comedy is tempered by the author’s empathetic treatment of Sara’s internal life, particularly her concerns regarding Al’s dishonesty. (“In bed he was direct and simple, no games, no theatrical grins. Why couldn’t he be like this out of bed, too?”) The plot meanders at times, but readers will delight in this outlandish story of a doomed relationship. An enjoyably shaggy novel about a woman who falls for the wrong con man.
Hyde, Hari | Self (252 pp.) | $12.99 paper Aug. 11, 2024 | 9798986718163
Hyde offers a book of poems about life and nature in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The author, a Minnesotan who notes that “although he has traveled the world, he never really left his hometown,” explores the breathtaking landscape and quirky culture of his native state in this collection. He opens with a poem about the Middle River, which “marches in
spring. / Up north, this watercourse hastens toward June, / murmuring, sprinkling, and tinkling its tune.” In “Moon Over Lake of the Isles (MPLS, MN),” Hyde writes, “The moon crouched low to scatter sparks / upon the lake, the glinting marks / of scintillating acolytes, / the throbbing flock of twilight sprites.” Observing the northern lights, a speaker admires “the lustrous blush of a borderland drizzles / the ghostly green bloom of a foreign frontier.” Major Minnesotan landmarks, such as the Split Rock Lighthouse, Itasca State Park (the birthplace of the Mississippi River), and the Boundary Waters, inspire individual poems; quaint settings, like a school bus stop, the local theater, the village church, a storied bandstand, and a bakery are other regional focal points. With clever imagination, the poet mythologizes “Paulette Bunyan,” who, the speaker claims, preceded the better-known lumberjack Paul, and he juxtaposes the sounds of “Mosquitos and Loons” (the unofficial and official state birds, respectively). Hyde expertly extols the sensory-rich environment of his home state in minute detail, evoking the “composite bouquet” of milk and manure in “Milking Holsteins,” and recalls how the “Canopy branches splashed their leafy spray / like forested fountains” while walking in Big Woods (“In the Woods”). At times, the author leans too heavily on alliteration in lines such as “A gust of geese cleaved the night / as a torrent of hoots hurtled / down from the cacophonous choir” (“Goose Capital”). Other descriptions go off-track, as in “Grand Marais, Minnesota”: “No fiery death more madly howls / than does sunset in Lake Superior’s bowels.” Still, the poet’s enthusiasm for and knowledge of his home is evident and extensive.
A joyous poetic celebration of the North Star State.
Kovach, Isaac | Parallel Grey Press (260 pp.) | $14.99 paper
July 7, 2024 | 9798990286702
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In Kovach’s novel, a lost college student tries to find himself in Vienna but instead discovers the lasting effects of the city’s darker history. After cheating on a history paper and receiving an abrupt breakup letter from his girlfriend, Alex Vogel finds himself alone with no clear direction. Despite his father’s protests, Alex uses his meager savings to board a plane to Vienna—a city his grandfather, who was stationed there after WWII, often spoke about, mentioning some vague connections to their family. Once in Vienna, he begins to practice his German and seek under-the-table employment, aimlessly wandering and striking up a conversation with anyone who’ll listen. Among his first encounters is the confident student Johanna, who quickly invites Alex into her world. Smitten, Alex accepts every invitation and opportunity to grow closer to her, including meeting her impressive, mysterious grandfather Heinrich. Alex begins working with Heinrich by organizing the old man’s notes and writings but is soon offered a more unusual task. Heinrich asks Alex to follow an old associate and record his movements, telling him only that the man “may be planning something unpleasant at a location in Vienna.” Wary of danger but too curious to say no, Alex finds himself exploring the dark remnants of Nazism and warfare hiding in plain sight throughout the city. With the story’s surprising turn to light mystery and suspense, Kovach flips expectations of the standard American-abroad narrative and strives for something much deeper. There are plenty of funny cultural observations and moments of biting humor (Alex’s flirty repartees with Johanna or his mundane phone calls about the VCR with his parents stand out in particular). But Kovach is more concerned with more cerebral questions
of history, place, and lasting trauma. His spare prose suits a dreary, stonegray Vienna, where hostility may lurk under every chance encounter. It’s the perfect setting for big questions, but a morose and rushed ending makes the gloom feel overwhelming. A melancholy coming-of-age tale that grapples with profound themes.
Kurth, Jan Ellen | East Enders (275 pp.) | $14.95 paper Sept. 1, 2024 | 9798991097017
In Kurth’s historical novel, a small-town girl purchases a fruit stand in Pittsburgh’s original Diamond Square Market to support herself and her ailing father.
In 1913, Katharina (Katya) Wessel, a full-time caregiver to her aging father (a minister who has been removed from his pulpit), is approached by a local farmer with an offer: She can buy a fruit stand in Diamond Square from one of his retiring customers. The stall is in the indoor marketplace owned by the city. Much to Katya’s delight, she discovers that the excitement of the city and the hard work of running the stand, which includes traveling back and forth to Pittsburgh from her hometown by train every day, are invigorating and eye-opening. Plus, she is welcomed into a coterie of independent, gutsy, beer-drinking female “hucksters” (“old-fashioned hucksters, salt of the earth they are”), one of whom, Ester Davis, becomes an especially dear friend. But 1913 is a tumultuous political year in Pittsburgh, and the confluence of the upcoming mayoral election, the anti-liquor movement, and the religious zeal of evangelical preacher Reverend Sunday results in a moral panic in which women are forbidden from entering a bar or cafe without a male companion and are harassed for breaking any of the increasingly strict restrictions governing
their behavior. If that is not bad enough, the city threatens to tear down the market buildings. Kurth’s novel is both a rich historical portrait of a time and place and a tender story of forbidden love. Katya’s tale unspools, builds, and surprises via two alternating voices: One is a first-person account delivered by the young, naïve, and feisty Katya during 1913 and 1914; a third-person narrator speaks for the reflective and wiser elderly Katya in 1961. In exacting detail, the author takes readers through the complicated processes of buying and selling produce, including keeping abreast of which fruits are available on a day-to-day basis and determining the specific to-the-penny prices. Kurth’s prose is adroit, tender, and edgy, with touches of gallows humor. Several high-action scenes keep the novel moving at a steady pace.
A thoughtful and engrossing historical drama with a sweet, satisfying conclusion.
Langer, Howard | Cresheim Press (262 pp.) $26.85 | Sept. 3, 2024 | 9798991109703
The last survivor of a small Jewish sect comes to America after World War II to live in a Black community in Mississippi in Langer’s novel.
Long ago, Reb Shmuel Meir Lichtbencher (also called Sam Lightup) was born in Dekrepitz, a small Polish shtetl. Shmuel, the grandson of the Rebbe (Rabbi), knows little of the outside world. At the outset of World War II, a Russian officer witnesses Shmuel’s fiddle playing and sends him to a conservatory in Moscow. Shmuel survives the war, but everyone who remained in Dekreptiz, including his young wife and baby, is gone. Somehow, he ends up in Naples, and some Black American soldiers he’d been playing music with smuggle him aboard their ship. In America, at the home of his new friend, everyone wonders what
this strange man, who doesn’t speak English, is doing in Leesboro, Mississippi. Shmuel knows how to raise and slaughter chickens, so they set him up with a place in the woods to do just that. A local woman, Lula Curtin, comes by to help him learn English and becomes interested in his religion. Shmuel, now known as Sam Lightup, begins talking like a Mississippi bluesman (“Ain’t no Dekrepitzers since the war”). Sam and Lula eventually marry, but, as an interracial couple, they face danger in Mississippi. Langer’s musical protagonist travels between worlds in a tremendously authentic way—the cross-cultural story is at home in Europe as it is in the Mississippi Delta. The connections made, whether personal or musical (such as the relationship of Jewish vocal music to American blues), illustrate the commonalities between survivors in hostile environments. Perhaps the affinity portrayed between dispossessed Jews and American Blacks is a bit optimistic here, but the rural southern setting makes the story work.
A unique, musical novel that highlights the cultural riches people can offer one another in difficult circumstances.
Laurent, Gaby | Illumify Media (200 pp.) | $16.99 paper Aug. 27, 2024 | 9781964251127
In this memoir, a young mother who survived cancer during pregnancy realizes that the opportunity to grow old may be one of the greatest gifts that life can offer. Laurent writes that when she graduated from college in 2014, she was ready to throw herself into adulthood. She had a loving partner, supportive parents, and aspirations of settling down to start a family. When she found out in 2015 that she was pregnant, she rejoiced with her
husband, Joseph, and envisioned a life as a new mother—the baby shower, the crib, the paint color for the nursery. During her second trimester, however, odd results from a routine blood test led to a diagnosis of a rare form of leukemia, upending her plans for an ordinary, uneventful pregnancy. Instead, she was thrown into a terrifying situation; she was the first woman, she says, to be diagnosed with this specific type of cancer during the second trimester, and it baffled her doctors. With no road map to recovery, she had to make a series of painful decisions to protect her life and that of her unborn child: Should she undergo chemotherapy and risk harming her baby, or should she forgo it and possibly preserve her child’s life (if not her own)? Should she try to produce breast milk when it could be poisoned by chemicals? Over the course of this book, Laurent recalls how she grappled with questions such as these with openhearted honesty, a warm sense of optimism, and an irrepressible sense of humor; at one point, for example, she reveals her “favorite challenge”: “We told ourselves that if we could make at least one doctor laugh every day, that meant we were doing okay.” Throughout, the author invites readers into her unique story, sparing no detail of her journey from diagnosis to recovery. A heartwarming account of one woman’s impressive resilience.
Leslie, Matthew | Ausable Books (372 pp.)
$13.66 paper | Aug. 12, 2024 | 9781068864001
Hearts, friendships, and bags of Ritalin go flying in Leslie’s fast-paced YA coming-ofage novel.
Iconic rocker The Blade has banished his 16-year-old son Blair Matthews to live with his mother as a Trudeau High transfer student, hoping that a change of pace to the Canuck way of life will help
the boy kick the cocaine habit he picked up in Los Angeles. Blair, beloved by everyone’s grandma as the star of a “Tim Horton’s Christmas commercial they play every year in French and English that makes everyone cry,” soon establishes himself as the leader of the high school band the Bad Luck Nickel, joining starstruck classmates Marco, Randy, and Tank. Blair’s new girlfriend—Marco’s twin sister, Jules—is even more smitten, even if she has some reservations about Blair’s past. Things begin to fall apart one chaotic, booze-fueled night when Marco, Randy, and Tank find the father of Marco’s ex-girlfriend Bianca passed out from a heart attack in a snowbank. Meanwhile, Jules meets up with her best friend, Vicky, and snorts her first of many bumps of crushed-up Ritalin. The girls run afoul of local “shit disturbers” Yannis and Andre, who chase them to the secret spot they share with the Bad Luck Nickel boys. As Blair’s LA past closes in on him, the consequences of that night have a (literally) explosive impact on the Bad Luck Nickel’s rise to the top of the local scene. Leslie’s prose is fast-paced and strewn with appropriate intrusions of bravado-fueled expletives and Quebecois slang (“Va chier, you fuckin’ psycho”). The novel could use tightening up; the sheer volume of exclamation marks is overwhelming, and some of the more compelling subplots, like Randy’s grief over his older sister Nicole’s relatively recent death, get lost in the noise. But the narrative is effective at capturing the earnest angst and furious posturing of teenage life. The characters’ thoughts read like uncut diary entries: “I bet he knows that I’ll take the less and less because I am pathetic and stupid and blindly in love with him.” Tabarnak, c’est difficile to be a teen.
Adolescents going through similar ups and downs will find plenty here to love.
Mancini, Rosamaria | Cambria Books (186 pp.) | $15.00 paper Aug. 1, 2024 | 9781738423163
Mancini offers a memoir of an American mom living in smalltown Germany. Married to a man in the Italian Air Force, the author reluctantly left her home of New York for Italy. Life in Rome was mostly enjoyable, but then the couple was stationed in Geilenkirchen, Germany, where the cold-averse Mancini shivered at the famous but chilly Christmas markets and shuddered at a restaurant that used Gouda instead of mozzarella on pizza margherita (the author is of Italian heritage as well). Though she had two children, Mancini felt isolated in a place with an alien culture where she couldn’t speak the language. (Furthermore, the town had “more cows and sheep than people.”) Luckily, podcasts saved Mancini’s sanity. Having voices in her ears provided instant connection and supplied comfort, instruction, information, and much-needed humor. From podcasts, the author learned how to cook meatless dishes like zucchini pie and chickpea pancake and how to prepare a whiskery vegetable called celeriac. The upbeat and lighthearted podcast Skimm This, narrated by and targeting millennials, helped Mancini still feel relevant and cool as she aged. Another podcast, Dear Sugars, was “like putting a soothing ointment” on the guilt she felt as a daughter after her father’s death. This chronicle is a handy resource detailing the wide range of podcasts that Mancini sampled, which
An informative and amusing account of an expat finding solace in the world of podcasts.
are compiled at the book’s end. Writing in an informal, diaristic manner, Mancini often tries to persuade the reader (or herself?) that she’s behaving acceptably (“I wasn’t nerdy, really, I wasn’t”); this approach generally comes off as engaging and funny. In her voice, universal subjects (including bad weather, religious faith, childbirth, and not fitting into a group) become compelling and entertaining. However, the writing sometimes can feel selfindulgent, as when the author recounts petty feuds with her mother-in-law and mocks the size of German women’s shoes. Likewise, the end of the book, in which Mancini outlines her future plans (such as reprising her physical therapy), gets a bit too solipsistic. An informative and amusing account of an expat finding solace in the world of podcasts.
Melvin, Jim | Green Bird Publishing (275 pp.) $17.99 | April 22, 2024 | 9798323245727
Series: Dark Circles Trilogy, 1
T hree friends and a magical dog become heroes in a strange land in Melvin’s YA fantasy series opener. After 13-yearold Charlie Magus’ father walks out on him and his mom, they move from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Lowery, South Carolina, to live with his grandparents. Charlie’s grandfather gives him a white dog named Blue who soon becomes his devoted guardian. At school, the teen is often a target for bullies, but he finds kindred spirits in bullied classmates Zola Scyler and Virgil. He brings his new friends to see a magical waterfall that he discovered in the woods; after crawling through a tunnel behind it, they’re transported to a magical place where Blue is the size of a horse, their classmate Garrick is a revered leader, and they face dangers that they never could have imagined. They’re in the land of Pacchann, which is
A nonstop tale of intrigue and mystery that will leave readers eager for future installments.
DISASTER AT BUSHEHR
currently embroiled in a brutal war against a being called the Niddukk and his minions. Charlie and his friends discover that they possess magical abilities that could make them saviors of Pacchann—or the targets of its enemies. Overall, Melvin delivers a novel that’s appealing and well crafted. Charlie is a likable, relatable protagonist, and he quickly establishes an entertaining dynamic with Virgil and Zola. Blue is more than just an animal sidekick, as he seems to have a protective and wise character all his own. The prose is accessible throughout while providing some dazzling descriptions: “Deep among the trees stood a black spire that towered hundreds of feet above the canopy. It was jagged at the top like a spiked crown—only the crown was on fire, and a ring of swirling smoke engulfed its pinnacle.” The magical world is entrancing, although it takes a while for the conflict that’s causing the war to become clear. The Niddukk is also a rather nebulous, indistinct antagonist, but the thrilling battle scenes make up for these minor issues.
A delightful beginning to a promising series that’s sure to appeal to teen readers who feel like outsiders.
Nelson, Reginald | Urlink Print & Media (448 pp.) | $23.49 | $10.99 paper | July 21, 2021 9781647538682 | 9781953537232 paper
In Nelson’s geopolitical thriller series entry, three Americans continue their fight against international terrorism as part of a secret spy organization.
In this sequel to The Saudi Oil Gambit (2021), the I.N.C.I.S.O.R. (INternational CIvilians for a Safe society ORganization) antiterror team is back. Reggie Nelson, a dentist turned secret agent, successfully executed a plan called Project Loudmouth, which involved covertly implanting listening devices into terrorists’ teeth. This captured the attention of the CIA, leading to the formation of the I.N.C.I.S.O.R. organization. Now living in Dubai, Reggie and his partners, Ash Black and Lance Wood, are targeted by various villains and foreign governments. The tension only grows after a nuclear explosion in Bushehr, Iran, staged to look like an Israeli attack with U.S. support, fuels global tensions. Reggie gets to work inventing a new piece of antiterrorism technology: a miniature GPS device that’s virtually undetectable and only activates when a person is kidnapped. Meanwhile, the anti-Israel Iraqi terrorist group responsible for the atomic attack is determined to start a world war. As they create global chaos, I.N.C.I.S.O.R. tries to stay two steps ahead, rescuing the group’s victims across a slew of countries: “It was looking like the world was ready for I.N.C.I.S.O.R.,” Reggie narrates. Nelson delivers a smartly balanced mix of history, current events, political science, and advanced technology. The novel also offers vivid descriptions of Middle Eastern towns and frequently places readers on the front line of the action as I.N.C.I.S.O.R. agents see sights that are usually reserved for those with top clearance. The author’s political and military expertise shines through as well, as the narrative grapples with real-life conflicts in various locales, all while maintaining a quick pace and explaining important details in simple, straightforward prose. Fans of Tom Clancy novels,
in particular, will find it hard to put this book down.
A nonstop tale of intrigue and mystery that will leave readers eager for future installments.
Pendakur, Vijay | Amplify Publishing (160 pp.)
$23.95 paper | Dec. 3, 2024 | 9798891383005
Management consultant Pendakur offers a guide to corporate team building. The author opens his latest leadership book by warning team and organizational leaders against the complacency of a “business as usual” mindset. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and other social disruptions, the employee experience has been radically unsettled, he contends, and “the leadership norms of the previous decades fall short of what employees now need to unlock their peak potential.” In response to such circumstances, managers too often fall back on simply setting timelines and moving around materials without building teamwork connections that can handle broader issues; they focus on tactics, he says, instead of strategy. This picture is complicated by the hybrid nature of many modern workplaces, which can impede what Pendakur refers to as the “productive friction” of a diverse team: “Many organizations have left ‘the office’ behind,” he writes, “without replacing the rituals that were tied to everyone working together in the same physical space.” In a series of fast-paced, illustrated chapters, complete with reflection prompts (such as “Think of a time when you’ve witnessed a competent leader show up with vulnerability. How did you feel at this moment?”), he discusses some of the social psychology that operates in the workplace. Because he’s drawing on his
own experience consulting with various companies, his voice is clear and confident throughout. For example, he elaborates on his core concept that diverse teams perform extremely well if they share “psychological safety” with the economical prose of somebody who’s taught such key ideas as “vulnerability isn’t at war with competence” many times. Team leaders in a range of settings will find challenging ideas in these pages.
A vigorous, accessible look at team leadership in a modern business environment.
Rubin, Aviva | re:books (200 pp.) | $22.99 paper | Oct. 1, 2024 | 9781998206308
Driven to somehow expunge the stain of her racist upbringing, a young woman from a white supremacist family dedicates her entire life to becoming the ultimate double agent.
It’s not surprising that the Nazi-loving male figures in Rubin’s “near historical fiction novel” (set in the years prior to the Oklahoma City bombing) are terrible husbands, fathers, brothers, and uncles. Sarah Cartell, the earnest protagonist in the eye of this storm of would-be stormtroopers, already understands this by the time she’s 8 years old and is sentenced along with her siblings to do penance on the rocky shores of “kneeling beach.” The kids’ crime? “Mixing” with a boy new to Goderich, Ontario, named Curtis Otonga, the son of a Nigerian doctor now working as a janitor at the local grade school. Sarah’s trespasses continue when, at 14, she and Curtis secretly become an item and she lands a job assisting the neighborhood librarian, Mrs. Broder. The librarian takes young Sarah under her wing and reveals the awful truth about the girl’s Holocaust-denying “Grandpa” Thomas Cartell. Determined to not only escape
the Cartell clan, but also to thwart it, Sarah heads off to McGill University in Montreal on a mission to bring the white supremacists down before they and their clandestine network of skinheads and Nazi sympathizers can cause more harm. She does her best to break through the walls she’s erected around herself and manages to form close friendships with the very kind of people the Cartells abhor. But the increasing stress of being both a progressive university student and an undercover faux Nazi ultimately becomes too much for Sarah to manage, and she finds herself committed to the Sunnyside Mental Health Centre under the care of Mona Rubinoff, who helps Sarah deal with the painful familial complexities inherent in being one of the Cartell clan’s unhappy progeny. Rubin excels at keeping the humanity tied up in Sarah’s thorny situation front and center. Although committed to confronting the Cartells’ ignorant brand of evil head on, Sarah cannot simply eliminate the familial bonds that she shares with them—no matter how much she loathes their tainted worldview. Sarah can’t even reconcile the animal attraction she feels for her boyfriend Marc and her absolute revulsion regarding every sickening racist thing he advocates. The increasing angst and turmoil roiling inside Sarah’s slight 104-pound frame is rendered with startling realness, only increasing as the young woman further pursues her life’s mission. The author achieves this level of authenticity through the use of lean prose and stark dialogue, which often crackles with the energy of exchanges in a John Cassavetes movie. Readers are practically airdropped into Goderich, Ontario, to meet young Sarah Cartell in summer of 1982 and continue on with her all the way to the Sunnyside Mental Health Centre in the mid-1990s; the “in the moment” feeling Rubin achieves is even more impressive when considering that the dark backstory of the Cartell men (and two women who managed to escape their hateful existence) runs concurrently throughout Sarah’s intense journey. A provocative exploration of the ties that bind and the mad hatred that kills.
The Legendary Lynx
Segura, Alex | Illus. by Sandy Jarrell
Mad Cave Studios (112 pp.) | $17.99 paper
Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781545814000
Segura brings the “lost” comic book described in his novel Secret Identity (2022) to four-color life with illustrator Jarrell in this 1970s superhero throwback graphic novel.
In this work, the Legendary Lynx (aka Claudia Calla) is allowed to operate free from her metafictional origins as a character from the mid-1970s stolen from newbie writer Carmen Valdez (neither the character nor the creator ever existed in real life), prowling the shadowed streets of Triumph City clad in a domino mask and cheetah-print bell-bottoms, “sleek, dangerous, and eager to take out Triumph City’s trash.” Trained as an acrobatic, claw-wielding vigilante by the ghost of a prolific cat burglar to avenge her murdered sister, Claudia becomes a hero who both protects and supports women. Lynx stands apart from other characters of the time due to an absence of the racial or gender stereotypes common to the era. This approach makes her noteworthy even today as the narrative inverts tropes, provides queer subtext, and positions the supposedly “mild-mannered” Claudia as the only hope for intrepid reporter Simon Upton, who is stalked by the vampiric Mr. Void and his translucent skeletal army of Voidoids. Jarrell’s dynamic pencils bring the action on faux-faded, yellowed pages, drawing loving inspiration from Sal Buscema’s work on Steve Englehart’s Secret Empire and giving the book a “dated” look that cleverly helps to frame the story as ahead of its time.
Comic-book easter eggs abound, including The Apparition’s Dr. Manhattan–esque word balloons, a muscular medieval villain straight out of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World, and locations referencing creators like Duffy Vohland. These references are a blast and not just a gimmick; a tongue-in-cheek framing device that pulls in comics legend J.M. DeMatteis and Comic Book Resources reporter Brian Cronin also offers frank commentary and a short but thorough history of the comics industry. The end result is a companion piece to a celebrated novel (and its sequel, Alter Ego) that doesn’t just dither in meta-commentary—it’s actually a fun superhero period piece that stands on its own. Not just a tie-in, this throwback builds on the weirdness of its era and offers something more.
Starkey, Steve | Sand Point Press (336 pp.) $16.96 | $14.83 paper | Nov. 24, 2022 9780578274713 | 9780578274706 paper
A prolific film producer chronicles his successful career in the industry— and the unlikely path that got him there—in this memoir.
Readers who stick around for the end credits of movies have probably noticed Steve Starkey’s name more than once. The Oscar-winning producer has had a hand in a staggering number of blockbusters, from Back to the Future ’s sequels to Cast Away to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and The Empire Strikes Back, for which he served as an assistant director. Fittingly, Starkey’s first brush with Hollywood is a
A breezy, plainspoken memoir with film trivia galore.
story fit for, well, Hollywood: Picture a young man with no film experience or connections sauntering onto a backlot of Universal Studios looking for work. Instead of getting kicked out for trespassing, he was hired by none other than eminent director Bob Zemeckis, who put him on the payroll of Forrest Gump and other classics. Starkey recounts this and other dinner party–worthy anecdotes (from watching a stage floor flood with fake rain on the set of Death Becomes Her to flying to Baltimore to convince Kathleen Turner to play Jessica Rabbit) in his lighthearted memoir. The author seems to share these idiosyncratic stories in the service of a simple, universal message: To succeed in a craft (in the film industry or elsewhere), one needs to learn that craft—and learning takes time. (“My education in the film industry lasted for fifteen years before I became a producer.”) Starkey’s story is one of hard work and a healthy dose of luck, not necessarily one of struggle or adversity. The apparent ease—one might even say languor—with which the author rises on the film-world ladder can feel monotonous and unrelatable at times. Nevertheless, readers of all stripes—particularly film nerds with a yen for big-name directors like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese—are likely to be inspired (or at least charmed) by this industry vet’s patient journey. A breezy, plainspoken memoir with film trivia galore.
Stewart, Nancy | Monarch Educational Services (186 pp.) | $23.99 | $15.99 paper | June 9, 2024 | 9781957656663 9781957656670 paper
A new friendship flourishes even as a hit-and-run accident threatens to pull it apart in Stewart’s book for young readers. Fifth-grader Scarlet Burnes is in
the car with her father, who has already had a few run-ins with the law, when he hits a bicyclist and drives off, threatening Scarlet and swearing her to secrecy. A couple of days later, as school starts, Scarlet meets Caitlin “Cricket” Cooper, a new student, and they become fast friends. The girls come from different worlds—Cricket is from an upper-class family with a loving mother and father, while lower-class Scarlet has a caring mother but also an out-of-work father who is abusive when he drinks. Soon, Scarlet finds out it’s Cricket’s brother, Malcolm, whom her father hit, and Scarlet continues to keep her father’s secret throughout much of the story. Scarlet and Cricket befriend Henry, the school bully. Everything comes to a head on the night of a school project when Scarlet gives a speech about the poet Maya Angelou: “Whenever Maya asked her Arkansas grandma for guidance or to help her with a problem, she’d always tell Maya to do the right thing. And that turned into advice that Maya lived by her whole life,” Scarlet says. Will Scarlet do the right thing? Stewart has created a memorable and spunky main character in the young, redheaded Scarlet Burnes. A former grade school teacher, the author strikes a great balance between the joyous story of Scarlet and Cricket discovering their friendship and the more serious subjects of bullying, lying, and covering up a crime. (There are many lessons imparted by the narrative, but none of them come off as condescending.) Stewart’s pacing is pitch-perfect as the book switches back and forth between the two girls acting like young kids and the horrendous crime at the center of the story. Young readers will most likely revel in the drama, rooting for Scarlet and Cricket all along the way. This is a charming book—here’s hoping it’s only the beginning of Scarlet’s and Cricket’s adventures together. A tale of friendship that is funny, dramatic, and teaches the best kinds of lessons.
Stratford, N. J. | Illus. by Evelt Yanait Blue Door Education (54 pp.) | $8.14 paper March 1, 2024 | 9781952398858
Stratford presents a story for young readers about a fairy’s first day of school.
The author explores themes of sibling rivalry, self-esteem, and problem-solving in this chapter book featuring illustrations by Yanait. Fern Juniper is a green-haired, freckled fairy overshadowed by her older, sixth grade sister, Shimmer, who’s “very cool” and has wings that “look like liquid turquoise, and they shimmer like the feathers on a hummingbird’s chest.” Shimmer is also “always the best in her class at everything!” Fern is envious, but she’s still excited about entering second grade at Rowan Tree School. There’s just one hitch: On Fern’s first day, she has to ride a tortoise to school, while Shimmer gets to ride on a dragonfly. After Fern arrives, she excels; she successfully identifies various plants and wins a “Fairy Locking” competition, which involves silently tangling human hair. She scores three bull’s-eyes in elf-shot, an activity involving arrows that are invisible to humans, which cause shooting pains or cramps in those who are targeted. After school, Fern decides to ride her sister’s dragonfly home: “I’m pretending I’m a soldier fairy flying my hornet jet into battle,” she shares. Soon, they crash, landing the dragonfly in the web of the “biggest, hairiest spider” Fern has ever seen. Stratford’s language is accessible, creative, and engaging throughout. The story immerses readers in Fern’s way of looking at the world in lines such as “Rowan Tree School is six oak trees east from where I live,” and even includes engaging details, such as Fern’s favorite soda flavor (milk thistle). Stratford also describes Fern’s feelings in a tangible and relatable way (“I am so excited that I feel like my heart is flying around in my chest”). Fern is a fully developed character, but Shimmer and
Daisy feel less fleshed out; it would have been interesting to see Fern and Shimmer interact more. Intricate and lush full-color illustrations by Yanait amplify the mystical forest setting. A whimsical tale of a magical world that will charm young readers and adults.
Swink, A.M. | Historium Press (338 pp.) $26.81 | $18.99 paper | July 16, 2024 9781962465519 | 9781962465502 paper
In Swink’s historical novel set in the year 59, political intrigue and personal passions clash during the Roman conquest of Britain. Decimus
Maximus is a battle-weary professional soldier who can’t wait to finish his tour of service in Britain and return to Rome. Luciana is a tough-minded Celtic princess who’s an accomplished horse rider. When a devious enemy makes it appear that Luciana’s tribe has betrayed their alliance with their Roman conquerors, it leads to the Romans laying waste to their community. After she kills an enslaved person for plundering her father’s body, she’s taken captive and encourages Decimus to purchase her as Cato’s replacement. Decimus knows that it’s a dangerous idea, even as the two enemies feel a spark of instant mutual attraction. Decimus is determined to conquer his emotions, while Luciana hopes to gain leverage—and get revenge. A vast cast of characters populates the Roman settlement of Viroconium, including some with their own schemes in play. Swink juggles the various subplots well, although readers may find it difficult at times to remember all the various players and their backstories. It’s also not easy to judge the novel’s historical authenticity or accuracy, as sources are relatively scant for this period. However, it’s bursting with detail, and overall, it’s a stirring imagining of life in Roman Britain and an insightful portrait of a merciless empire that’s always hungry for more victories
and resources. What the empire’s actions mean for individuals, among the conquerors and among the conquered, is conveyed in a nuanced, dynamic plot. Swink conjures palpable chemistry between the two main characters, whose immediate attraction yields some very explicit sex scenes. Also, although this is very much a character-driven story, the book offers plenty of action and sometimes intense violence. Throughout, its use of colloquial dialogue results in an approachable and accessible historical opus, though a few phrases, such as “piece of skirt” and “what I want in the sack,” feel too modern. A steamy sword-and-sandals story.
Twain, Mark | Ed. by Philip Trauring Quint Books (736 pp.) | $39.95 $19.95 paper | June 8, 2024 9798990999817 | 9798990999800 paper
Editor Trauring presents a newly annotated edition of Mark Twain’s 19thcentury travelogue. Twain’s account of a five-month-long excursion
overseas was originally published in 1869. In 1867, the author set out on a ship, the Quaker City, on a voyage to the Holy Land. The journey took Twain to places as disparate as the Azores and Nazareth. He viewed a morgue in Paris, he and his fellow passengers were “fumigated” in Italy, and in Egypt he toured the inside of a pyramid. Along the way, he offers his humorous and critical observations. On the island of Fayal, he remarks, “Nobody comes here, and nobody goes away”; it is a place where any sort of news “is a thing unknown.” He describes Jerusalem as a city so small that a fast walker could go outside the walls and “walk entirely around the city in an hour.” This edition features some 1,200 new footnotes meant to cover
“people, places and events mentioned by Twain.” There is also additional supplementary material, including articles written by three other passengers from the trip. Illustrations from the original publication are restored in full. Twain’s adventure through foreign lands is an enticing one as Readers get to experience travel in the 1800s through one of America’s most famous voices. (Twain lives up to his cantankerous reputation when he refers to the Mosque of St. Sophia—known now as Hagia Sophia—as “the rustiest old barn in heathendom.”) He doesn’t disdain everything; as Twain later reflects on the sea at night, “in the dirges of the night wind the songs of old forgotten ages find utterance again.” Some of the accompanying new footnotes feel unnecessary: readers probably don’t need to be informed of what the Azores are. But ultimately, Twain’s fascinating journey finds a new level of accessibility in this volume. A thoroughly well-organized rendition of this classic, snarky work.
Van Goethem, Johan | Self (260 pp.) | $26.90 paper | Sept. 1, 2024 | 9798335484466
Van Goethem, a professor of medical imaging and neuroimaging at Antwerp University, offers a generalinterest overview of the phenomenon of human consciousness.
The author takes readers on a “speculative journey” into the nature
of consciousness and the contours of what he calls “neural correlate,” which refers to areas of the human brain where distinct mental processes occur: “While some may contend that consciousness is merely a mirage in a universe composed solely of matter and energy,” the author writes, “the question persists: From where does this sophisticated illusion arise?” The book goes through various correlates, detailing the nature, location, and functions of each, noting that “there is no single region in the brain’s cortex that is the anatomical seat of consciousness.” Each chapter is broken into conveniently smaller sections, complete with bullet points, and Van Goethem doesn’t forget the question of the “sophisticated illusion”; he devotes some time to an attempt at determining whether consciousness is, in fact, a figment of the imagination—a weird ghost in the machine of evolutionary biology. Along the way, the author clearly lays out his dissection of the workings of the brain, and each section reaches toward the central mystery of what consciousness is, how it functions, and how it changes over time and under specific physical conditions. Van Goethem’s book has clear black-and-white figures and diagrams, but, in this instance, they’re secondary to the author’s own fantastic talent for explanation; he provides sharp, accessible instruction on complicated material. “Consciousness must have an evolutionary advantage,” he notes at one point, “and that means that, in the end, it makes the chances for survival of the species, of the DNA, better.” This demystifying tone pervades the book and elevates it above others of its ilk. A superbly comprehensive breakdown of the brain and its functions.
A thoroughly well-organized rendition of this classic, snarky work.
THE INNOCENTS ABROAD
Warren, Charles B. | Self (432 pp.) | $20.99 paper | July 31, 2024 | 9798218364410
Warren depicts the barbarism of slavery and the chaos of war in this historical epic. William, an enslaved man, lives with his wife, Harriet, and children, Hector and Margaret, on the South Carolina plantation of John Higgins in the late 1850s. Higgins is a cruel man who considers it his right to rape an enslaved teenaged girl and brutalize others—especially William, within whom he senses a freedom-loving spirit. William’s mild backtalk provokes Higgins to flog him nearly to death and sell him off, after which Higgins moves his household down to Florida in search of better land. William embarks on a series of adventures before and during the Civil War: He’s rescued from slavery by members of the Underground Railroad and helps free other slaves, he’s captured and re-enslaved, and he joins a regiment of Black soldiers in the Union Army. Alternating chapters follow William’s and Higgins’ families in Florida. The war’s end brings freedom to Blacks but also new forms of racial oppression—and it brings William to Florida, looking for his family and for revenge on Higgins. Warren paints a rich, nuanced portrait of plantation life and the demented psychology of slavery; enslavers fear that any display of humanity or respect will undermine their power, and the enslaved endure constant fear, arbitrary violence, and heartbreaking separation from loved ones, burying their rage beneath masks of passive servility. The author conveys all of this in searing, muscular prose: “‘Don’t you ever defy me! Don’t you ever walk towards me like you are my equal.’
An addictive drama with moments of engaging excitement and an admirable young female hero.
A TINY PIECE OF BLUE
Harriet’s body shuddered each time the whip cut into William’s back. Margaret, her face buried in her mother’s dress, covered her ears in a futile attempt to shut out the mutilation of her father.”) The result is a harrowing depiction of bondage that’s both chilling and hopeful. A gripping saga of slavery’s viciousness and one man’s dogged resistance to it.
Whitney, Charlotte | She Writes Press (256 pp.) $17.99 paper | Feb. 18, 2025 | 9781647428365
A teenage girl is abandoned by her parents in Whitney’s historical drama of struggle and redemption.
Readers meet 13-year-old Silstice “Silly” Trayson in August of 1934. She is terrified, sitting in the sheriff’s office in Calhoun County, Michigan, after being caught stealing school supplies from her former one-room schoolhouse. Silly is a shy, timid girl, the fourth of six siblings born to poverty-stricken, neglectful, and abusive parents. (The family is known in the community as the “Trashy Traysons.”) Fortunately, Silly has two advocates: Her 17-year-old sister, Alberta, makes assurances to the sheriff that Silly has never been in trouble before, brings her home, and arranges for her to join the local 4-H club, where Edna Goetz becomes her mentor in
the girls’ sewing and cooking division. Edna is a gentle and generous elderly woman who develops an immediate fondness for the young girl. Edna’s husband, Vernon, the crotchety, volatile 4-H county Beef Club mentor, is decidedly displeased with Edna’s attention to Silly. When Silly’s house burns to the ground, the fragile girl is left homeless. Her father runs off, never to be seen again; her mother places Silly’s twin 15-year-old sisters with their aunt and takes off with the family’s two young sons to live with her own parents. Alberta moves in with her best friend’s family. Nobody has room for Silly until Edna devises a clever and generous plan to take her in. Whitney’s novel is narrated by three alternating and distinctive voices, those of Silly, Edna, and Vernon, each defining the relationship developing among them. In equal measure, this is an affecting coming-of-age tale about Silly, who begins to find her inner strength and confidence, and the poignant story of Vernon’s gradual transformation (“He hadn’t been an easy man to live with”) after experiencing profound loss. Whitney keeps the action moving with a subplot in which Silly’s brothers become victims of an extortion and child-abduction ring operating in the town. Although the narrative borders on high melodrama, the author viscerally captures the deprivation, hunger, and despair suffered by many during the height of the Depression.
An addictive drama with moments of engaging excitement and an admirable young female hero.
