May 15, 2025: Volume XCIII, No. 10

MAY 15, 2025 | VOL. XCIII NO. 10

FEATURING 321 Industry-First Reviews of Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s, and YA Books

SARAH MacLEAN TAKES A BEACH GETAWAY The author of These Summer Storms headlines our special Summer Reads Issue

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

WHEN THE WEATHER turns hot and the days are blissfully long, there’s nothing better than lounging outdoors with a good book and a cold beverage. But let’s be real: This isn’t the time for intellectually taxing reading material—you can reserve Roberto Bolaño’s 2666 for the dark, depressing days of winter. An ideal summer book is one with a propulsive plot and engaging characters, something that will sweep you up and keep you turning the pages—with deep thoughts strictly optional.

Our fifth annual Summer Reads Issue is dedicated to highlighting exactly this kind of book.

One I’m especially looking forward to is The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (Viking, June 3). The novel opens in January 1942: The United

States has just entered World War II, and the State Department has enlisted a high-end West Virginia hotel to detain Axis diplomats but still offer them all the amenities it would usually afford its wealthy paying guests. General manager June Hudon, who grew up an Appalachian orphan, must delicately conduct this ensemble operation involving hotel staff, well-to-do owners, FBI agents, and polyglot German, Italian, and Japanese delegations. In a starred review, our critic says the novel “will remind readers of why they fell in love with reading in the first place.”

The Listeners is a work of literary historical fiction, but Stiefvater is better known for her wildly popular young adult novels, including the Raven Cycle

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and the Shiver series. In fact, this is Stiefvater’s adult debut, and she’s part of a growing legion of YA authors successfully making the leap into adult fiction, among them Nicola Yoon, Holly Black, and Nina LaCour. These authors bring some of the most irresistible aspects of YA literature to their work— above all, a directness and energy that will hook readers of any age. Ipso facto, their books make for perfect summer reads.

One of the most successful genre jumpers of recent years is Emily Henry, who wrote fantasy-inflected novels for teens before setting the romance world on fire with mega-bestsellers like Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation. Her latest, Great Big Beautiful Life (Berkley, April 22), lands just in time for summer reading. GBBL is the story of two journalists—she writes for a pop-culture website, he’s a Pulitzer Prize winner— competing to write the biography of a reclusive

tabloid heiress while at the same time falling for one another. Our reviewer calls it a “steamy romance and a moving look at the sacrifices people make for love.”

One book that’s sure to check all the summer reading boxes this year is Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil (Tor, June 10), the latest from the phenomenally successful author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Like Stiefvater and Henry, V.E. Schwab got her start writing for young adults (her most recent teen offering, Gallant, was released in 2022). Bury Our Bones follows, as our starred review describes it, three “queer women searching for love, recognition, and wholeness, growing fangs and defying mortality in a world that would deny them their very existence.” They sound like they’ll be good company indeed this summer.

TOM BEER K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Illustration by Eric Scot t Ander son

IN SEARCH OF SUMMER READS

Contents Summer Reads Issue

FICT ION 4

Editor’s Note

5

Reviews & News

14 On the Cover: Sarah MacLean 37 On the Podcast: Karen Russell 45 Booklist: Cool Fiction for Hot Summer Days NONFICT ION 46

Editor’s Note

47

Reviews & News

56 Profile: Sophie Elmhirst 69 Booklist: Authors on the Road 87 On the Podcast: Edna Bonhomme

CHILDREN ’ S One of the most coveted designations in the book industry, the Kirkus Star marks books of exceptional merit.

OUR FRESH PICK Against a backdrop of phoenix races, a dedicated tamer and a charismatic rider—initially at odds with one another—find love while fighting for their survival.

Read the review on page 129.

PURCHASE BOOKS ONLINE AT KIRKUS .COM

90

Editor’s Note

91

Reviews

100 Q&A: Tiffany D. Jackson 111 Booklist: Sunny Tales To Usher in Summer

YOUNG ADULT

128

Editor’s Note

129

Reviews & News

138

Q&A: Aaron Starmer

149 Audiobooks INDIE 150

Editor’s Note

151

Reviews

169 Booklist: Best Indie Books of the Month

ON THE COVER: Sarah MacLean, illustration by Randy Glass from a photo by Chandra Wicke. Background by Marmite via iStock.

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K IR KU S R E V IE W S

MAY 15, 2025

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Co-Chairman HERBERT SIMON

Co-Chairman MARC WINKELMAN

Publisher & CEO MEG LABORDE KUEHN mkuehn@kirkus.com

Editor-in-Chief TOM BEER tbeer@kirkus.com

Chief Marketing Officer SARAH KALINA skalina@kirkus.com

President of Kirkus Indie CHAYA SCHECHNER cschechner@kirkus.com

Publisher Advertising

Fiction Editor LAURIE MUCHNICK lmuchnick@kirkus.com

& Promotions RACHEL WEASE rwease@kirkus.com Indie Advertising & Promotions AMY BAIRD abaird@kirkus.com

Author Consultant KEELIN FERDINANDSEN kferdinandsen@kirkus.com Lead Designer KY NOVAK knovak@kirkus.com Magazine Compositor NIKKI RICHARDSON nrichardson@kirkus.com Kirkus Editorial Senior Production Editor ROBIN O’DELL rodell@kirkus.com Kirkus Editorial Senior Production Editor MARINNA CASTILLEJA mcastilleja@kirkus.com Kirkus Editorial Production Editor ASHLEY LITTLE alittle@kirkus.com Copy Editors ELIZABETH J. ASBORNO LORENA CAMPES NANCY MANDEL BILL SIEVER

Nonfiction Editor JOHN McMURTRIE jmcmurtrie@kirkus.com Young Readers’ Editor LAURA SIMEON lsimeon@kirkus.com Young Readers’ Editor MAHNAZ DAR mdar@kirkus.com Editor at Large MEGAN LABRISE mlabrise@kirkus.com Senior Indie Editor DAVID RAPP drapp@kirkus.com Indie Editor ARTHUR SMITH asmith@kirkus.com Editorial Assistant NINA PALATTELLA npalattella@kirkus.com

Indie Editorial Assistant DAN NOLAN dnolan@kirkus.com Indie Editorial Assistant KATARINA YERGER kyerger@kirkus.com Mysteries Editor THOMAS LEITCH Contributing Writers GREGORY McNAMEE MICHAEL SCHAUB

Contributors

Nada Abdelrahim, Colleen Abel, Jill Adams, Erin Addis, Paul Allen, Stephanie Anderson, Jenny Arch, Kent Armstrong, Mark Athitakis, Kit Ballenger, Colette Bancroft, Audrey Barbakoff, Heather Berg, Elizabeth Bird, Ariel Birdoff, Christopher A. Biss-Brown, Sarah Blackman, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Melissa Brinn, Jessica Hoptay Brown, Justina Bruns, Ana Cackley, Kevin Canfield, Catherine Cardno, Charles Cassady, Sonia Charales, Ann Childs, Alec B. Chunn, Amanda Chuong, K.W. Colyard, Emma Corngold, Jeannie Coutant, Perry Crowe, Michael Deagler, Cathy DeCampli, Dave DeChristopher, Kathleen Deedy, Elise DeGuiseppi, Amanda Diehl, Steve Donoghue, Melanie Dragger, Elaine Elinson, Lisa Elliott, Lily Emerick, Tanya Enberg, Rosalind Faires, Joshua Farrington, Brooke Faulkner, Margherita Ferrante, Katie Flanagan, Amy Seto Forrester, Catherine Foster, Cynthia Fox, Mia Franz, Ayn Reyes Frazee, Jenna Friebel, Robbin Friedman, Laurel Gardner, Cierra Gathers, Amanda Gefter, Sydney Geyer, Chloé Harper Gold, Carol Goldman, Amy Goldschlager, Danielle Galván Gomez, Hannah Gómez, Emily A. Gordon, Melinda Greenblatt, Vicky Gudelot, Tobi Haberstroh, Sean Hammer, Silvia Lin Hanick, Peter Heck, Ralph Heibutzki, Bridey Heing, Loren Hinton, Zoe Holland, Katrina Niidas Holm, Yung Hsin, Abigail Hsu, Julie Hubble, Kathleen T. Isaacs, Jessica Jernigan, Danielle Jones, Betsy Judkins, Deborah Kaplan, Lavanya Karthik, Ivan Kenneally, Colleen King, Katherine King, Stephanie Klose, Lyneea Kmail, Maggie Knapp, Megan Dowd Lambert, Chelsea Langford, Christopher Lassen, Tom Lavoie, Seth Lerer, Donald Liebenson, Maureen Liebenson, Elsbeth Lindner, Coeur de Lion, Corrie Locke-Hardy, Barbara London, Patricia Lothrop, Kyle Lukoff, Isabella Luongo, Michael Magras, Joan Malewitz, Thomas Maluck, Michelle H Martin, Francesca Martinez, Gabriela Martins, Kirby McCurtis, Jeanne McDermott, Kathleen McLaughlin, Cari Meister, Kathie Meizner, Chintan Modi, Tara Mokhtari, Clayton Moore, Rebecca Moore, Andrea Moran, Jennifer Nabers, Liza Nelson, Randall Nichols, Sarah Norris, Katrina Nye, Tori Ann Ogawa, Mike Oppenheim, Emilia Packard, Andrea Page, Megan K. Palmer, Derek Parker, Hal Patnott, Bethanne Patrick, Deb Paulson, Rebecca Perry, John Edward Peters, Jim Piechota, Christofer Pierson, William E. Pike, Margaret Quamme, Carolyn Quimby, Judy Quinn, Kristy Raffensberger, Kristen Bonardi Rapp, Kristen Rasmussen, Maggie Reagan, Caroline Reed, Peter Richardson, Amy Robinson, Lizzie Rogers, Gia Ruiz, Lloyd Sachs, Sydney Sampson, Bob Sanchez, Julia Sangha, Caitlin Savage, Meredith Schorr, Will Schube, Gretchen Schulz, Jerome Shea, Kerry Sheridan, Sadaf Siddique, Linda Simon, Wendy Smith, Margot E. Spangenberg, Andria Spencer, Allison Staley, Allie Stevens, Mathangi Subramanian, Deborah Taylor, Desiree Thomas, Renee Ting, Lenora Todaro, Francesca Vultaggio, Barbara Ward, Katie Weeks, Sara Beth West, Kimberly Whitmer, Wilda Williams, John Wilwol, Marion Winik, Adam Winograd, Livia Wood, Bean Yogi, Jean-Louise Zancanella

LAURIE MUCHNICK

EVERY BOOK LOVER has an ideal summer reading set-up: Maybe you like to read on the beach, with the sun beating down and the waves breaking at your feet, or on an airplane with no Wi-Fi, anticipating your vacation. My fantasy reading experience would take place in a hammock, with a warm breeze blowing and a glass of lemonade in easy reach.

Wherever you find yourself reading this summer, here’s a selection of books you’ll want to dive into.

The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb (Doubleday, May 13): In two previous thrillers, Slocumb planted his flag in the dangerous—who knew?!— world of classical music.

His latest features Curtis Wilson, a cello prodigy and Juilliard graduate, who’s forced to go into witness protection when his drug-dealing father cooperates with the FBI. “This is an intricately plotted novel, paced perfectly by Slocumb, who keeps the book moving at a breakneck speed—but not at the expense of his beautifully drawn characters,” says our starred review. “A virtuosic thriller.”

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Atmosphere: A Love Story

by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Ballantine, June 3): As in her earlier novels about rock stars and tennis pros, Reid gives us a juicy story about female ambition in the late 20th century, this time in the hothouse atmosphere of NASA. Joan Goodwin is an astrophysics professor who’s determined to become an astronaut, and she’s accepted into the space shuttle program in 1980.

The book begins with a disaster in 1984, then moves back and forth between that fateful mission and Joan’s training. Our starred review says, “Reid keeps the tension high, making this perhaps her most propulsive novel yet as she balances the drama of Joan’s personal life with

the fast-paced action of a catastrophe in space.”

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab (Tor, June 10): Fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020)— and they’re legion—have been waiting five years for Schwab’s next novel, and it doesn’t disappoint; once again we get history and magic and romance, but this time there are also queer vampires. Three women in three different centuries find that freedom may come with a set of fangs, and it’s a pleasure to follow each of their stories even before we find out how they intertwine. “Maria, Charlotte, and Alice are queer women searching for love, recognition, and wholeness…defying mortality in a world that

would deny them their very existence,” according to our starred review.

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager (Ballantine, July 1): Wouldn’t it be a trip to lounge around the colorful interior of a Matisse painting or picnic with Seurat’s park-goers? In Pager’s debut novel, Claire, a night-shift cleaner at a private museum, finds herself crossing over into the world of the paintings and falling in love with Matisse’s son, Jean, who lives in one of his father’s works. Our review says “the joy of this book is the world [Pager] has invented on the other side of the canvas, a kind of Phantom Tollbooth for grown-ups.

Whimsical and beguiling.”

Laurie Muchnick is the fiction editor.

K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Illustration by Eric Scot t Ander son

THE STAGE IS SET FOR SUMMER READING

FICTION

EDITOR’S PICK ownership to his playboy son, Edgar, but made June the general manager, as she had spent her life learning the business—and also shared with Gilfoyle Sr. a rare gift relating to the “sweetwater” springs, a fantastical element of this otherwise realistic novel.

Aside from the magical waters and a few other fanciful details, Stiefvater’s fictional world is based on extensive research into high-end hotels of the period, creating a version of luxury so appealing that readers will wish they could check into the Avallon and stay on indefinitely. In fact, the novel revolves around the true meaning of luxury.

To June, it has nothing to do with wealth; it is more connected to joy, and to the book’s title: “June had long

The true story of Axis diplomats detained in the U.S. at the start of World War II is transformed into a dazzling historical novel set at a sumptuous West Virginia hotel.

Bestselling YA fantasy author Stiefvater’s adult debut introduces a writer whose prodigious imagination and distinctive prose style have combined to create a novel that will remind readers of why they fell in love with reading in the first place. At its center is the captivating June Hudson, an erstwhile Appalachian orphan who was taken in by the wealthy Gilfoyle family, owners of the Avallon Hotel & Spa, a high-society retreat built over underground mineral springs. At his death, the patriarch bequeathed

These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star

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Audition

By Pip Adam

6

Park Avenue

By Renée Ahdieh

8

Sing to Me

By Jesse Browner

12

Junah at the End of the World

By Dan Leach

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The Listeners Stiefvater, Maggie | Viking | 400 pp. $30.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9780593655504

ago discovered that most people were bad listeners; they thought listening was synonymous with hearing.

But the spoken was only half a conversation. True needs, wants, fears, and hopes hid not in the words that were said, but in the ones that weren’t, and all these formed the core of luxury.” Also brilliantly managed is the

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20

4

41

21

22

20

22

The Accidental Favorite

By Fran Littlewood Amplitudes Ed. by Lee Mandelo Fools for Love

By Helen Schulman

Vera, or Faith

By Gary Shteyngart Parallel Lines

By Edward St. Aubyn The Original

By Nell Stevens

rest of the ensemble cast: sexy FBI agents; June’s inimitable staff; the delegations of Japanese, Germans, and Italians detained at the hotel, some quite nasty, but among them a strange, special, totally silent child.

And on top of all this, a delicious love story!

This luxurious novel is set to take the world by storm.

The Listeners

By Maggie Stiefvater I Don’t Know How To Tell You This

By Marian Thurm

25

Raging Clouds

By Yudori

MAY 15, 2025

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FICTION

Kirkus Star

Park Avenue Ahdieh, Renée | Flatiron Books (320 pp.) $28.99 | June 3, 2025 | 9781250897954

When a young lawyer takes on a case involving a wealthy Korean American family, she enters a world of deception, seduction, and betrayal.

All Jia Song ever wanted was an Hermès bag. For years after a customer strode into her family’s bodega with that exclusive purse, Jia knew what to work for: “a future kissed by the Midas touch.” The daughter of Korean immigrants, Jia dreamed of a life beyond the bodega where she could provide for her family with ease and buy a mega-expensive purse as an afterthought. At 34, Jia has never been closer to her goal. She’s a junior partner at a prestigious New York City law firm with a senior role already waiting in the wings—barring any mishaps with her newest clients. All that comes between Jia and complete financial security are the Parks, billionaires with a vendetta against their family patriarch. Sora, Suzy, and Minsoo Park are convinced that their father, Chilsoo “Seven” Park, is concealing his wealth and cheating their dying mother, Jeeyun “Jenny” Park, in their divorce settlement. The three siblings, amid incessant bickering, can agree on only one thing: Their father is a scam artist, and they want their mother to live her final days in peace— with justice served. Jenny gives Jia 30 days to uncover Seven’s con, a feat made almost impossible by the Park children’s raging animosity and the way Seven’s spies thwart Jia at every turn. With the help of the Parks’ handsome house manager, Darius Rohani, Jia jets from New York to Seoul, the Cayman Islands to Paris, hoping to find clues about Seven’s funds. In search of her own success by proving the Parks’ suspicions, Jia might be in way over her head.

Ahdieh’s debut adult novel is a striking tale of deceit set behind the glamorous 6

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facade of Park Avenue’s riches. Jia is a strong heroine with everything to lose but even more to gain, and fans of Crazy Rich Asians, Schitt’s Creek, and White Lotus will get more than their fix of backstabbing and danger.

A delectable and drama-filled thriller.

My Name Is Emilia Del Valle Allende, Isabel | Trans. by Frances Riddle Ballantine (304 pp.) | $30.00 | May 6, 2025 9780593975091

A free-spirited woman forges a career as a writer and journalist, risking scandal and war zones to follow her heart.

Allende’s latest opens in San Francisco in 1873, introducing Emilia at age 7, the illegitimate daughter of Molly Walsh, who, as a novice nun, was seduced and abandoned by wealthy Chilean Gonzalo Andrés del Valle. Molly goes on to a successful marriage, Emilia grows up with a loving stepfather, and at 17 she begins writing, then publishing, sensational dime novels under the pseudonym Brandon J. Price. By 23, she’s a journalist with a column in The Daily Examiner, though still forced to hide her gender behind her pen name.

Rule breaking is in her nature, and while she accepts, for now, lower pay than men, she decides on a trip to New York to take a lover and learns to control her own contraception. Later, finally writing under her own name, she’s commissioned to go to Chile and cover its civil war from a human angle, accompanied by colleague and friend Eric Whelan, whose focus is the military aspect. Chilean revolutionary politics make for less sprightly reading, but Emilia’s individual encounters with members of high and low society lend atmosphere. These include the president, a great aunt, and eventually her father—now alone, regretful, and mortally ill. Although he disapproves of working women, the two share a “desire to see the world and experience

everything intensely,” and when he offers to recognize Emilia as his legitimate child, she accepts. Now the story gathers pace, with Emilia—always and predictably the rebel—­witnessing the horrors of battle, discovering that she and Eric are in love, and getting arrested. Not quite plausibly, she instigates a further sequence of impulsive moves before the story is permitted to conclude.

An action-packed, brightly detailed historical novel not much hampered by its thinly characterized central figure.

The Passengers on the Hankyu Line Arikawa, Hiro | Trans. by Allison Markin Powell | Berkley (256 pp.) | $28.00 June 3, 2025 | 9798217187188

The lives of 11 people intersect on a Japanese train line.

A handful of stories overlap as men, women, and children commute on the Hankyu Railway Line in a mountainous region in Japan. There are high schoolers commuting to and from school, university students going to class, employees traveling to work and weekend events and going home again, mothers and grandmothers, single people and married. And during their commutes these people touch each other’s lives, find love or friendship, find the strength to leave bad situations, and are gently reoriented on their life trajectories by small comments of support and aid rendered at just the right moment by their fellow travelers. Misa has a fight with her abusive boyfriend, who doesn’t hit her on the train—though he often does in private—and, when she disembarks, a small comment from a woman who had been sitting near them gives her strength to finally leave. “That good-for-nothing,” the woman says, and Misa realizes she’s right. “Why am I dating such a jerk?” Itoh, a housewife, doesn’t enjoy—and can’t really K IR KU S R E V IE W S

FICTION

afford—to participate in group outings with her mom friends, and a show of kindness and support from a fellow traveler helps her realize her own priorities have become muddied. Two awkward college students who have never dated find one another—and their way—after a chance conversation. And many more stories of love, kindness, truth, clarity, and even revenge take place—offered by the author with clear eyes and a focus on the many foibles that make people individuals: sometimes anxious, sometimes nervous, sometimes profound, and often uncertain.

A gentle intertwining of small vignettes that evoke smiles in the characters—and the reader.

The South Aw, Tash | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (288 pp.) $28.00 | May 27, 2025 | 9780374616281

Two young men furtively seek connection and an escape from their disappointed fathers.

Malaysian author Aw’s fifth novel is a melancholy remembrance of a summer spent in the southern reaches of that South Asian country. The family of the narrator of much of the novel, Jay, has learned that they’re set to inherit a small patch of land there. It’s managed by a caretaker named Fong, though there’s not much to manage, just a few trees bearing little fruit, on “twenty hectares of scrubby jungle and farmland”; however, 16-year-old Jay is instantly enchanted with Fong’s son, Chuan. Over the course of the summer, Jay helps clear the land but mostly keeps Chuan company by swimming and drinking with him as they slowly grow ever closer. Meanwhile, Jay’s older sisters clue Jay into his parents’ collapsing marriage, which is a mismatch on a number of levels; Jack is a foursquare mathematics teacher, while Sui is more emotional and from a lower-class background. As the boys K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Two young men seek connection and an escape from their disappointed fathers.

THE SOUTH

look for opportunities to elude their parents’ criticism, Aw writes gracefully and sensually about Jay’s ever-­intensifying desires for sex and independence—in many ways the story echoes the lush, erotic tone of André Aciman’s Call Me

by Your Name. And Aw’s visions of the surroundings are effectively complex, at once rich yet bleached out, Edenic yet touched with dread. (Always lyrical, though: “Dusk was falling and the evening sky behind him was flecked with bats and swifts returning from the river nearby.”) But despite its themes of sex, betrayal, masculinity, queerness, and property, the novel as a whole feels oddly static, built on elegantly written sections but never placing Jay in situations that feel particularly tense. The boys’ craving new lives for themselves is intriguing, but Aw’s treatment is stubbornly restrained.

A somber, slow-moving coming-of-­age tale.

A Bomb Placed Close to the Heart Batsha, Nishant | Ecco/HarperCollins (304 pp.) $27.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9780063303607

Based on the lives of two real people who met and married at Stanford University during World War I, this novel offers a window into early-20th-­century radical politics.

Indranath Mukherjee, a Bengali revolutionary, has come to California in 1917 awaiting an arms cache from the German government. While in Palo Alto, he meets graduate student Cora Trent at a party and the two are soon

inseparable, united as much by their chemistry as their devotion to revolutionary causes, despite the disapproval of friends both South Asian and American.

The real-life biographies of M.N. Roy—known as the founder of communist parties in Mexico and India—and Evelyn Trent inform the adventures of Indra and Cora, who interact with remarkable fictional figures including a university president, an Irish mystic, an expatriate Bengali leader, and the editor of a leftist newspaper. Each of these introduces some facet of the era’s political and social concerns, from eugenics to birth control, communism to nationalism. The author, a historian, has clearly done the research; unfortunately, so much research that it overtakes the throughlines of an authentic love story, and of Cora’s chafing at the bonds of wifehood and the way they affect her identity. Scenes proceed too quickly from those with overarching political import (discussions about the Zimmermann telegram) to others focused on emotional heft (concocting a homecooked dessert for an elder). Interspersed with the action are interior meditations from the couple, many of which contain beauty and wisdom, such as Indra’s realization that after the initial pleasure of passion, what had grown between them was “an invitation into frailty and mutual aid.” Unfortunately, many of those sections suffer from overwrought prose: “To be his wife or to be herself, that was the choice, but all love is drunkenness, and like the drunk unable to walk a straight line, there arose in her some uncontrollable bodily urge to go between both, to stumble between fidelity and solitude.”

Fascinating but too dense in its attempts to show empathy for two brilliant people facing bigotry as they learn to love.

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FICTION

Stuart Woods’ Finders Keepers Battles, Brett | Putnam (416 pp.) $30.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9780593854716

The marital woes of a friend and client’s great-niece lead Stone Barrington into trouble in an utterly unexpected way. That’s the last unexpected thing that happens.

Sara Hirschy’s estranged husband in Chicago is doing everything he can to slow-walk their divorce, and her lawyer isn’t helping much. So Stone promises her uncle, Jack Coulter, that he’ll do what he can to help. Within minutes of their meeting, though, it’s Jack who needs help, because he’s spotted by an old confederate who (correctly) thinks he recognizes him as Johnny Fratelli, who spent close to five years in prison, and fingers him to mobster Ricky Gennaro, who has excellent reasons for wanting Fratelli dead. As Stone, who’s old enough to be Sara’s father, chastely finds a new lawyer for her and moves on to his own less icky romance with Tamlyn Thompson, the new chief technical officer of Strategic Services, word spreads through New York’s underworld that Fratelli, whose cellmate was the late Eduardo Buono, mastermind of the legendary JFK Airport heist, has been given a new nose and a new identity, and the vultures begin to circle. Stone and Jack Coulter still find time to fly to England, where Stone’s old friend and lover Dame Felicity Devonshire throws a party to announce her impending retirement as head of MI6. Even before they return, though, Gennaro starts his campaign of vengeance. The body count, initially slow to ascend, accelerates rapidly as different cabals of gangsters compete with each other for that missing robbery haul. But it’s hard to care very much about which disposable bad guy will dispose of the other disposable bad guys and come out on top.

Lightweight, overextended, and utterly inconsequential, as long as you don’t happen to be one of those hoodlums.

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Crown Bromiley, Evanthia | Grove (288 pp.) $27.00 | June 17, 2025 | 9780802164629

In the postCovid-19 fragility of a trailer park in the Southwest, a pregnant 25-­ year-old woman and her 9-yearold twins summon the determination to move for the umpteenth time.

Jude Woods, whose waitressing job was cut in the pandemic, is in her last stage of pregnancy and writes “N/A” on a hospital form under “father.” This is no time for an eviction—they have built a home here—but Jude and the twins, Virginia and Evan, are used to navigating calamity. Collectively, they have “a catalogue of left-behind places.”

They know the bitterness of a stranger mouthing “trash.” The novel is also bursting with ordinary family life.

Virginia and Evan know their wild, fragrant landscape as well as a botanist would. As resilient as their mother, they have their own personalities but act as a gutsy team. Through the children’s and Jude’s first-person narratives, Brom­ iley weaves bewitching, unexpected phrases—­“the rushaway road,” “raven-silent,” “the beat-drum heart of the city.” She captures the family’s intimacy: invented games, bickering, preparing for the baby, hatching plots for adventure. The adventure becomes life or death when Jude, in unexpected labor, leaves the twins to wait for her in a remote spot, knowing they may be taken away by authorities. Virginia and Evan’s quest to get home through unknown territory builds to a taut climax that will leave readers breathless.

Bromiley is also a master of the rhythms and realities of working-class life, in which keeping yourself together is a daily negotiation with bureaucracy and a chafing reminder that others have it worse. Though this is a story of contemporary life, it lives within the rich tradition of the literature and song of American struggle. This could be a story of the Dust Bowl or a city shelter;

Jude could be the mother in Dorothea Lange’s indelible photo.

Full of ordinary royalty, shining with the triumph of staying human and extending grace even in deprivation.

Kirkus Star

Sing to Me Browner, Jesse | Little, Brown (224 pp.) $28.00 | May 20, 2025 | 9780316581233

A boy searches for his sister near the end of the Trojan War. Eleven-year-old Hani wonders if he is the last person on Earth.

His family and neighbors have recently disappeared, either killed or dragged away to serve in the war. For as long as Hani has lived, war has raged.

Now alone, he survives by killing and roasting frogs. A gentle soul, he doesn’t like killing harmless creatures, but he needs to eat. He feels a special bond with his 6-year-old sister, Arinna, and they share a secret language. Arinna used to sing them both to sleep with songs that she’d heard from the gods, the songs that would protect children from danger, and now she is gone. He sets out on a journey to find her and bring her home. He believes he is not brave, so his mission calls for “loyalty and pluck.” While the setting is not explicitly named, the details—such as bronze daggers, cubit measurements, and the remnants of a wooden horse—firmly situate the tale in the aftermath of the Trojan War. Hani travels with his loyal donkey, Ansa, a source of comfort and wisdom. He does wonder if the thousand or more gods on Mount Hazzi are real; if they were, “why would they destroy the world, then choose him, Hani, the most ignorant person alive, to be the only survivor?” He comes to a burned-out city with its “twisty tangle of human corpses,” almost every one of them an old person. This war has been explained to him his whole life, but he still knows K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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nothing. However, he believes in fate, which even the gods are powerless to stop. His own fate is to search for Arinna. Meanwhile, the first sign he sees of life is a dying soldier who opens his eyes. Is he an invader from across the seas, or is he a defender? Hani doesn’t know, but he has three choices: He can kill the man, walk away and let him die, or try to slake the poor man’s thirst. His decision guides the rest of the plot in this remarkable post-Iliad adventure. Although admittedly ignorant, Hani wisely muses that “love is what holds the world together; even a child knows it, a donkey knows it, a trapped frog knows it.” And perhaps more ominously, “Maybe peace is just war taking a rest.” But he loves “when the first stars appear, rising freshly washed and sparkling from the sea.”

An absorbing and powerful story showing the pointlessness of war.

Songs of No Provenance Conklin, Lydi | Catapult (368 pp.) $28.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9781646222513

A debut novel from the author of the story collection Rainbow Rainbow (2022).

Joan Vole is a folk singer with one semi-big hit.

Her career has stalled out, but she still plays clubs around New York and can still boast a coterie of dedicated fans—mostly women, mostly lesbians.

After she sexually assaults one of these fans onstage, though, she gets out of the city as quickly as she can, hoping to escape the ignominy that she knows is coming for her. A job teaching songwriting at a camp for artsy kids seems like the perfect escape. It’s a decent paycheck and the camp’s no-internet policy will give her a place to hide out for a little while. In their short fiction, Conklin has offered tender, funny, heartbreaking portraits of queer people navigating moments of revelation and transition. Joan might well have made a terrific protagonist in K IR KU S R E V IE W S

A Dutch novel about loss, identity, and the lasting effects of war.

THE REMEMBERED SOLDIER

a short story; nearly 400 pages of Joan is way too much, though. She is, in short, a real jerk. An obnoxious main character can be fun, but Joan is tiresome and exasperating. An obnoxious protagonist can also provide readers with a kind of release by doing things that we never would (or believe we never would). Joan kind of does this, but…her own favorite form of release is very specific. Joan didn’t just take down her pants and hump the leg of her fan; she also peed on her fan. Urination— urinating in public, refraining from urinating, urinating on others—is what Joan gets off on, and Conklin lavishes a lot of attention and a lot of detail on scenes of Joan peeing. Readers’ reactions to the abundant pee talk will vary, but it’s difficult to assess this book without mentioning it.

A disappointing work from a talented author.

The Remembered Soldier Daanje, Anjet | Trans. by David McKay New Vessel Press (576 pp.) | $20.95 paper | May 13, 2025 | 9781954404328

A Dutch novel about loss, identity, and the lasting effects of war.

In 1922 in Flanders, four years after the end of the Great War, many wives still desperately seek their missing husbands. Noon Merckem has been kept in an asylum for four years, his name assigned to him by the doctors. Not physically injured, he has shell shock and has completely lost his memory. Several women try to claim him, but they cannot properly identify

him. But Julienne Coppens correctly says he has a certain scar from an old accident, and against medical advice he is released into her care. She tells him his real name is Amand Stephaan Coppens, he’s the father of their two children, proprietor of a photography shop with his name in the window, and she has been waiting for him for eight years. Already her family is living on the margins: She breaks a rabbit’s neck in her backyard and cooks it up with prunes for supper, and she struggles to pay the rent. Quite an adjustment lies ahead: “She has him back and yet she doesn’t,” because he doesn’t remember her. At first, they are not physical, but eventually they enjoy the warmth of each other’s bodies in bed. “And weeks of outrageous happiness follow,” but it hardly lasts.

She takes charge of his life and his well-being. And he “feels nothing, as if she’s gutted and skinned him and left nothing but an empty carcass.” More dramatically, he suffers tumultuous nightmares and once awakens in shock to realize he is nearly strangling her. He dreams of the battlefield, and tells her he vaguely remembers red flares, machinegun fire, exploding shells, and being buried alive under a pile of dead bodies.

But he does not trust these memories, and he begins to wonder if he can trust Julienne. This is a story about healing a soldier’s mind after surviving years of carnage, and it is about restoring mutual trust and love after so much has happened. Stylistic quirks may be problematic or not, according to readers’ tastes. It is almost 600 pages of run-on sentences with many including up to 100 words and 10 comma-separated clauses.

And the author begins most paragraphs with “And.” And she buries all dialogue in the narrative.

An absorbing tale for the patient reader.

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All That Life Can Afford Everett, Emily | Putnam (384 pp.) $29.00 | April 29, 2025 | 9780593545140

An American student in London falls in with a rich crowd and struggles to keep up in this twisty debut.

Anna Byrne is fighting to make her dream come true. She’s studying for a graduate degree in literature at Queen Mary in London, a city she’s longed for since she was a child.

But making ends meet is hard; Anna grew up poor, lost her mother a few years ago, and no longer speaks to her father.

Without a safety net, she bartends and tutors to make rent. But when the wealthy Wilders invite her to Saint-Tropez over the December holidays to give private lessons to their teenage daughter, Pippa, Anna is introduced to a high-end way of life and a glamorous group of people her own age through Pippa’s older sister, Faye. When Anna returns to London, the Wilders’ kindness grows, and they offer her the chance to housesit for their home in Highgate. As Anna meets more people in the Wilder orbit and assumptions about who she is spiral, so do the deceptions Anna must maintain if she’s going to stay in this dream where she’s found herself. But the precarity of her situation extends beyond convincing everyone that she belongs—her student visa means she must keep her grades up so after graduation she’ll be able to get a two-year post-study extension. Populated by beautiful people with good wardrobes and big hearts, the novel is fun vicarious living for the reader, but Everett keeps the stakes in sight at all times. Readers can feel the nervous edge with which Anna

moves through the world, making this a gripping read from start to finish.

Engaging and grounded, this novel will keep you guessing.

The Bombshell Farr, Darrow | Pamela Dorman/ Viking (416 pp.) | $30.00 | May 27, 2025 9780593833247

In 1993 Corsica, a kidnapped teen conspires with her captors to incite an uprising.

If it were up to her, 17-year-old Séverine Guimard would be spending her final semesters of lycée in Paris with her friends. Instead, the aspiring actress is enduring a lonely year at an unfamiliar school on Corsica, where her French politician father is prefect. A listless Séverine is riding her bike alone one night when men grab her, bind her, and stuff her in their vehicle’s trunk. They drive her to a secluded cottage deep in the scrublands and lock her in a closet. Séverine’s abductors— Soffiu di Libertà, a trio seeking Corsica’s independence from France—demand 5 million francs and the release of a political prisoner (their fourth member) in exchange for Séverine’s safe return.

Séverine’s wealthy parents promptly pay up, but France’s interior minister, presidential hopeful Bernard Jonnart, refuses to negotiate. After a weeklong stalemate, the young men debate killing Séverine, but instead relocate her to a sparsely furnished outbuilding while they plot their next move. Out of boredom and attempted ingratiation, Séverine begins discussing political philosophy with teacher Bruno, foraging

A kidnapped teen conspires with her captors to incite an uprising.

THE BOMBSHELL

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with ecology student Tittu, and cooking with chef Petru. Camaraderie develops, and—deciding she wants “stardom, her future, now”—Séverine joins Soffiu di Libertà, using her beauty, charisma, and sex appeal to garner press, while also pushing the cell in an increasingly radical direction. No rebellion comes without casualties, however. Though far from breezy, Farr’s accomplished debut deftly balances heady ruminations on colonialism and revolution with relatable human moments. Too many obstacles are too easily overcome, but vibrant prose lends texture and urgency, while the fully fleshed characters’ increasingly thorny interpersonal relationships raise the story’s stakes and give it soul.

A passionate powder keg of a novel.

Pariah Fesperman, Dan | Knopf (368 pp.) $29.00 | July 22, 2025 | 9780593802236

#MeToo-banished Hollywood comic Hal Knight is roped by the CIA into spying on Eastern European oligarch Nikolai Horvatz—known to be a big fan of his films.

Knight, who has been hiding out on a Caribbean island, is asked by the agency to simply observe everything about (fictitious) Bolrovia’s “crypto-fascist strongman,” who is certain to invite the one-time star for an official visit. Given the chance to redeem himself or at least perform before a friendly audience, Knight agrees. But it isn’t long before his missteps start raising the hackles of Bolrovian security forces, led by the dour Branko Sarič, “the goon of all goons.” And when his big moment does arrive, Knight sends shock waves through the room and the media by appearing to make Horvatz the butt of a joke. With the violent cracking down on immigrants who have crossed Bolrovia’s southern border, not to mention the curious arrival of American media types including right-wing TV pundit Baxter Frederickson (read: Tucker Carlson), it K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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is not a good time to be risking the president’s ire. A departure for Fesperman, who is known for his tense, finely wrought spy novels—most recently Winter Work (2022)—the new book does as well with a shaky concept as it could. But it’s never made clear what the CIA, which “had gone dark” in Bolrovia when Horvatz began cozying up to Russia and China, hopes to learn from Knight’s efforts. There’s also scant evidence that Knight is (or was) capable of being funny. His one-time popularity is as mysterious as the wisdom he supposedly derives from the marked-up copy of Philip Roth’s American Pastoral he carries around.

A rare misfire by one of spy fiction’s most consistent artists.

Deep Breath Halász, Rita | Trans. by Kris(ten) Herbert Catapult (224 pp.) | $26.00 May 27, 2025 | 9781646222681

From Hungarian author Halász comes this debut novel about a mother who leaves her controlling and violent husband only to waffle for months about whether to go through with divorcing him.

When the novel opens, Vera and her two small, unnamed daughters have already moved into her divorced father’s house, where her mother, Babika, visits frequently. Vera left her husband, Péter, after multiple incidents of verbal browbeating and physical violence that include locking her outside on the balcony and beating her on the head. Wanting her to return, Péter has reembraced Catholicism, an influence for all the characters, and pontificates on “the sanctity of marriage.” Vera is of several minds.

She finds she still wants to please Péter but doesn’t trust his claim that he has changed. She also feels guilty about her affair with a childhood sweetheart; when her best (only?) friend, Andi, reminds her that Péter tried to strangle K IR KU S R E V IE W S

her, she answers “But I cheated.” Vera berates herself continually for her failures as a wife and, especially, a mother. Emotionally spiraling, she slips into a new, unhealthy relationship with a controlling actor, who draws her into his cocaine addiction.

All along, she receives an enormous amount of support from those around her. Babika, Andi, marriage counselors, and Vera’s divorce lawyer all confirm that she is an abuse victim.

The airless focus on Vera allows almost none of the other characters breathing room to develop. The exception is Babika, whose positivity and engagement with the world offer a sharp contrast to Vera’s dark self-absorption; when Babika invites Vera to a climate change protest, Vera announces, “I’m not interested in politics.” The larger implication— that Vera, a talented artist who’s sacrificed her ambition for marriage, has lost her voice—is spelled out when she reads The Little Mermaid to her daughters. The question is, can she recover it?

Marriage and divorce are always compelling, but despite strong prose, this novel feels shopworn.

Don’t Let Him In Jewell, Lisa | Atria (384 pp.) | $20.99 June 24, 2025 | 9781668033876

Following her father’s sudden death, Aisling Swann is secretly horrified when her mother begins to date again—­ and she quickly becomes suspicious of this new flame.

Four years ago: A mysterious male narrator reflects upon his relationship with his wife—along with a few pointed comments about how she is aging. It quickly becomes apparent that this self-proclaimed “very pleasant” man is not who he seems; he already has a girlfriend on the side, and he’s playing both women with sob stories about his job and his

traumatic past while taking money from them. Even as they get more and more frustrated with his lack of communication during ever-­ lengthening absences, he still gives them what they want: “a top-notch husband.” In the present day, Ash Swann; her brother, Arlo; and their mother, Nina, mourn the loss of her charismatic father, Paddy, a successful chef with a chain of lucrative restaurants. Nina receives a sympathy note from a man who claims to have worked closely with Paddy in the industry, which leads to a robust online flirtation that moves into the real world about a year after her husband’s death. Ash is living at home, mired in grief as well as her own mental health struggles, and she’s none too happy to see her mom dating—but particularly this handsome, egregiously suave Nick Radcliffe. Ash begins to notice some inconsistencies with his stories and his past, so she enlists Paddy’s ex-girlfriend Jane to help her investigate. Meanwhile, Ash’s story continues to intercut that of the mysterious man who is now married to his former girlfriend—and still up to his old tricks. Jewell’s cutting between past and present certainly allows revelations to ooze out at a slow, controlled pace; even as the reader makes obvious connections, the full picture remains obscure.

Jewell has written some incredibly engaging and strong female characters, Nina, Ash, and Jane foremost among them. What would it have been like to split the narrative between them instead of giving so much voice—and thus narrative power—to the male antagonist?

Jewell is absolutely a genius at building suspense, but the “man behaving badly” plot is getting tired.

For more by Lisa Jewell, visit Kirkus online.

MAY 15, 2025

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The Homemade God Joyce, Rachel | Dial Press (336 pp.) $28.00 | June 24, 2025 | 9780593448298

Siblings journey to an Italian lakeside villa to investigate the drowning death of their father.

Famed artist Vic Kemp invites his four children to a bombshell of a London lunch. A playboy for decades, the 76-year-old is in love.

Twenty-seven-year-old Bella-Mae has had a startling effect on Vic: He has forsworn alcohol, preferring her “special” tea; lost weight; and is planning his final masterpiece. The siblings, between 30 and 40, are alarmed. Netta assumes her father is prey to a gold digger; Susan is worried her caretaking will be usurped; Goose, also Vic’s studio assistant, is hurt he’s been left out of this latest work; and baby Iris only wants what’s best— whatever that is. The four are unbreakably close, having raised each other after their young mother’s death and their father’s haphazard parenting, and yet are devoted to him and his domineering allure. This compelling family tableau turns thrilling when Vic—thinner, secretive—texts that he and Bella-Mae have married at his Italian villa. A few weeks later he is found dead in the lake. As the siblings converge at their summer home, the novel begins to skirt the edges of a whodunit, but as they attempt to solve the mystery, their relationships with each other begin to fray. Each of them has been damaged by Vic, and at an explosive lakeside dinner, long-­ simmering resentments are revealed.

This dramatic conclusion, hinted at in the prologue, is not the end—instead the novel marches ahead 10 years for a summation that is, although pleasing, a bit strained in its insistence that everybody gets a slice of happiness.

The glamorous art world, juicy family discord, an Italian villa, potential murder—it’s hard to ask more from a summer read.

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Siblings journey to an Italian villa to investigate their father’s death.

THE HOMEMADE GOD

The Sisters Khemiri, Jonas Hassen | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (656 pp.) | $30.00 June 17, 2025 | 9780374618896

An expansive, complex tale of three sisters and the swath they cut across the world.

Scene: a New Year’s Eve party in Stockholm, where Ina Mikkola meets a young man named Hector. Ina has two sisters there, Anastasia and Evelyn, but she doesn’t want to find them, lest Hector “fall in love with Anastasia, the fun sister, the crazy sister…[and then] he would catch sight of Evelyn and then he would quickly let go of Anastasia’s hand and become transfixed by Evelyn’s eyes.” And so it goes over the 650 pages of Swedish novelist Khemiri’s latest, an ambitious epic that spans half a century and crosses oceans to find—well, never exactly happiness, since the sisters believe they’re doomed by a curse never to find it.

An interlocutor throughout is a young man named Jonas, who, like the Mikkola sisters, is half Swedish and half Tunisian: He reveals himself as a purveyor of rumors about them (“their mom worked late and on weekends and wore a lot of perfume and black leather boots and always had her designer handbag full of cash”), befitting the later role that Jonas plays—not just an observer, but in time a perhaps unreliable narrator within the narration, organized, as Jonas says, just as Khemiri’s is, in seven parts, “and each part covers a shorter and

shorter period of time, from a year down to a minute.” It’s a daring concept, but Khemiri pulls it off capably, with that last minute containing an especially moving episode. The longer pieces have their longueurs, with Anastasia, drug-­ addled and lost, taking much of the story’s oxygen, but each part offers a tantalizing bit of a secret that the reader must pursue to the end in order to understand just how Jonas’ story intertwines with the Mikkolas’, even as their lives have over decades.

Long in the telling, but a lively portrait of familial, cultural, and amorous entanglements.

Kirkus Star

Junah at the End of the World Leach, Dan | Hub City Press (224 pp.) | $17.95 paper | June 17, 2025 | 9798885740494

Anticipating the destruction of life, 12-year-old Junah Simmons attempts to immortalize his world.

It’s September 1999, and Y2K is on the horizon.

On Junah’s first day of sixth grade, his teacher, Miss Meechum, assigns an unusual project: Fill a shoebox “with things that tell what it was like to be alive in Carolina at the end of the world.

Your capsule will tell your story.”

This is the perfect assignment for precocious Junah. The boy—who is smaller than his classmates, has a speech impediment, and wears sunglasses everywhere—spends his life observing and collecting. His K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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only problem with this assignment is that one shoe box clearly will not be enough, and as the weeks leading up to the putative end of time approach, he gathers more and more boxes to fill. Junah gets bullied, debates accepting Jesus into his heart, stumbles upon death, longs for a more complete family, swallows his pet goldfish, and falls in love. Each of these moments is memorialized and placed into a box as Junah speaks directly to a future “you” who has survived the apocalypse. Junah’s voice is at once wry and hopeful, every vignette more compelling than the last. And while the novel itself is firmly situated in the months leading up to the 21st century, Leach manages to unstick the story from the bounds of a calendar to become something far more prescient.

A timely eulogy for anyone who fears the end of the world as they know it.

Kirkus Star

The Accidental Favorite Littlewood, Fran | Henry Holt (320 pp.) $29.99 | June 24, 2025 | 9781250857118

What happens to three adult sisters when they suddenly find out their father has a favorite?

The Fisher sisters—Alex, Nancy, and Eva—know everything about each other. Or maybe they know nothing. When they gather with their parents, Vivienne and Patrick, and some of their kids and significant others at a

posh glass-walled vacation house in the British countryside, everything breaks down. Watching the sisters sort out their lives and put them back together is at the heart of this warm, funny, insightful novel. The book kicks off with what seems to be a near-disaster: As Patrick is taking photos of the sisters outdoors, a tree behind them starts to fall. In a moment, he rushes past Alex and Nancy to pull Eva out of danger. It’s shocking—like most parents, Patrick and Vivienne have always said they don’t have a favorite child. But it seems he does. Worse, the family doesn’t get to hash it out in private, because Eva’s teenage daughter Lucy caught the rescue on video, and of course it goes viral. The near miss turns out to be a disaster after all, cracking open the pleasant surfaces of the sisters’ lives. Alex, the oldest, has just had her third child at 45, and she’s struggling with exhaustion, with her stale marriage, and with a secret obsession with her first love, whom she stalks on social media like a teenager. Nancy, the middle sister, is frazzled by her job as a radiologist and by sharing custody of her young daughter, Georgie, with her jerk of an ex. Eva is the youngest and by far the richest; she invented a board game for her kid that turned into a bestseller. The vacation house is her treat, but money doesn’t solve everything. The narrative line is complex, moving back and forth in time and among the sisters and their mother, but Littlewood handles it skillfully. Her characters, flawed as they are, are engaging and relatable, and her sense of family dynamics captures all the old wounds, shifting hierarchies, inside jokes, and sturdy if skewed love the sisters share.

What happens to three adult sisters when they suddenly find out their father has a favorite?

T H E AC C I D E N TA L FAVO R I T E

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Even under pressure, sisterhood is powerful in this entertaining and well-crafted novel.

Sike Lunzer, Fred | Celadon Books (288 pp.) $27.99 | May 20, 2025 | 9781250343123

Two ambitious and cerebral young adults navigate their relationships and careers with (or without) the psychoanalytical help of artificial intelligence.

Adrian, a 27-year-old rap lyric ghostwriter, is enjoying the recent glow of a writing credit on a track raking in millions of streams.

Maquie, a 28-year-old half Japanese, half Swedish data maven, uses her predictive model to help a venture capital fund spot worthy investments. These two spend their days pub-hopping in London with friends, contemplating topics like rap, business, love, and most significantly, Sike, an AI psychotherapy app that tracks “subtle changes in your personality, while a real-life psychologist can’t (or won’t).” As Adrian and Maquie start seeing each other, Adrian often consults Sike for advice (although using Sike in public is “considered a little graceless, like giving real estate advice, or discussing crypto”). The therapeutic authority of Sike’s AI language is particularly engrossing, but while the benefits of Sike are vaunted, the dangers and potential complications of such a breakthrough in mental health technology are only disappointingly glanced at.

Lunzer is eager to demonstrate his awareness of the thorny issues his book raises, and initially succeeds with clever, self-assured prose. He even acknowledges the uncomfortable “race and…class thing” of Adrian being a “white and university-­ educated North London Jew,” an identity Lunzer discloses only >>> MAY 15, 2025

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ON THE COVER

SARAH MACLEAN

The beloved historical romance novelist ventures into contemporary fiction, just in time for beach season.

BY KERRY WINFREY

These Summer Storms MacLean, Sarah

Ballantine | 400 pp. | $30.00 July 8, 2025 | 9780593972250

WHEN A FRIEND offered up a cabin in Rhode Island in the summer of 2020, Sarah MacLean jumped at the opportunity. MacLean, who grew up in Rhode Island, relished the idea of being mere seconds from the beach. What she didn’t expect to find was the inspiration for her new novel, These Summer Storms.

“Rhode Island was the place I escaped when I was a kid,” MacLean says. “But your home always calls you back. I became obsessed with these islands all through the bay, some of which were private. I was interested in who would live there.

Simultaneously, I was thinking about my father’s death in 2017. When somebody who’s a big force in a family dies, the whole structure of the family shifts. Storms was a way for me to escape, and once the family came to me, there was no going back. I knew this story had to be contemporary, about a modern family living through a universal experience.”

The “contemporary” part is notable, given that MacLean built her career writing historical fiction such as the Bareknuckle Bastards series. Her steamy romances routinely hit the bestseller lists, but These Summer Storms is her first foray into the contemporary world.

The book follows Alice Storm as she reluctantly returns home to her family’s private island off the Rhode Island coast after her billionaire father’s death. Alice was banished for daring to ignore her father’s wishes, and she hasn’t been home in five years. Now, she’s back with her mother and three siblings who regard her with either suspicion or outright disdain. Her father left them one last challenge if they want to earn their inheritances, and while everyone has their own task to complete, Alice’s feels almost impossible: She has to stay on the island with her family for the entire week. Further complicating things, on her first night in town she sleeps with her father’s employee, Jack, who’s in charge of enforcing the rules. While Alice couldn’t care less about the money, the rules stipulate that if any member of the family fails to complete their task, no one will receive their inheritance. There’s plenty of drama, sex, and rich people behaving badly, which makes for a great summer read.

“My goal is always to write characters who are extraordinary, and not necessarily in a good way,” MacLean says. “As readers, that’s what we want. We want to be outside of ourselves, living somebody else’s life.”

MacLean recently spoke with Kirkus via Zoom. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What do you look for in a summer read, and does These Summer Storms deliver it?

We give ourselves a lot of freedom to read in summer. I mean, I feel like I have freedom to read anything year-round, which may be particular to the fact that I’m a genre writer. I think a lot of people who don’t read genre fiction yearround give themselves permission in the summer to take a little break and read a book that’s just a flat-out banger. For me, summer reads feel exciting and salacious and juicy. I want These Summer Storms to keep you up until all hours, or at least keep you busy on the beach.

I assume with your historical romances you have to do a lot of research. How was your process different when writing a contemporary book?

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With These Summer Storms, I did have to do research—like, I had to understand how trusts work. In romance, you can sort of wave away some of this stuff, but I had to sit down and really think through, How would this trust work in a real way?

How can I make sure that the events of this book are legal? I didn’t think writing this book would be much different than writing my previous books. You write 19 books and you think, How hard could it be? But I called my agent and said, “I have a problem. I’m pretty sure I’m not writing a romance novel.” It took me a long time to learn how to use a different muscle. It was a really exciting experience to write something out of my comfort zone, but it continues to be very scary. What will people think?

Well, Kirkus gave it a star, if that’s any indication! So where would you place this, in terms of genre?

I’ve heard commercial fiction, book club fiction, beach read…but the truth is, I’m Sarah MacLean, and I’m never going to not write a romance in a book. There’s a really strong romance that runs directly through the center of this story, but the book could exist without it in the hands of a different author. This is really a story about the dysfunction and chaos of a family in grief, and the fact that there is a sexy lieutenant managing the inheritance game and causing even more chaos is just a bonus. Hopefully, people

who love a beach read will read it and say, “Oh, this is great. I want to read more romance.” I just want to be a gateway drug for romance. Come on in, everyone. The water’s fine.

on, and we have to cling to joy wherever we can find it. I hope this book gives people a lot of joy, and I hope they have fun reading it. Books should be fun.

Most of the book is from Alice’s point of view. What drew you to her as a character?

I really love a character in exile, someone who is pushed out of a community and forced into action. All my heroines have that in common.

Alice understands the rules of this game and has an immense amount of privilege by virtue of how she was raised, but she chose exile because she’s made decisions that go against her family’s cardinal rule: family first.

You don’t need to have a billionaire parent to understand the way that families push buttons and push people out of the fold. Alice is the protagonist because she plays an interesting role for the reader, in that she is the most normal of the siblings.

They’re all children of a billionaire, so none of them are normal, but she’s the closest thing to a “stranger coming to town.”

What are you looking forward to reading this summer?

I’ve already read it, but I am so excited about Renée Ahdieh’s Park Avenue, which is coming out in June [see the review on p. 6]. It’s also about a dysfunctional, wealthy family. Nana Malone has one out called Gold Coast Dilemma. It’s about a Ghanaian American woman who struggles with her wealthy family and the idea of having to live a very particular kind of life. I’m very excited about Alice Murphy’s A Showgirl’s Rules for Falling in Love, which is a historical, and Alexis Daria has a new book coming out called Along Came Amor, which is the end of a series that will give you a lot of joy. Mia Sosa’s next book is When Javi Dumped Mari, and I think she is the best rom-com writer out there. And Joanna Lowell is coming out with A Rare Find—her books are so bright, sparkly, and delightful. Any one of these will make an absolute banger of a summer read.

Take them all to the beach!

What do you hope readers get out of the book?

I hope they have a really great time.

That’s all I want. The world is very difficult right now. There’s a lot going

Chandra Wicke

I’m Sarah MacLean, and I’m never going to not write a romance in a book.

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Kerry Winfrey is the author of Waiting for Tom Hanks and other titles.

F I C T I O N // S E E N A N D H E A R D

New Novel by Thomas Pynchon Coming This Fall The reclusive writer’s Shadow Ticket will be his first novel in 12 years.

Thomas Pynchon is set to release his first novel in 12 years.

Penguin Press will publish the author’s Shadow Ticket in the fall, the press announced in a news release. It will be the first book from the legendary, reclusive novelist since Bleeding Edge was published in 2013.

Pynchon, 87, made his literary debut in 1963 with V., a postmodern novel that was a finalist for the National Book Award. He

A rare photo of Thomas Pynchon from 1955

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SEEN AND HEARD

returned three years later with The Crying of Lot 49 and, in 1972, published Gravity’s Rainbow, a sprawling, 772-page novel that is widely considered one of the greatest American novels of the 20th century. His other novels include Vineland, Mason & Dixon, Against the Day, and Inherent Vice.

Pynchon is notoriously media shy; few public photographs exist of the author, and he does not talk to reporters.

Shadow Ticket, Penguin Press says, will take place in 1932 and follow Hicks McTaggart, a private investigator on the trail of a runaway Wisconsin cheese heiress. “Surrounded by history he has no grasp on and can’t see his way around in or out of, the only bright side for Hicks is it’s the dawn of the Big Band Era and as it happens he’s a pretty good dancer,” the publisher says. “Whether this will be enough to allow him somehow to lindy-hop his way back again to Milwaukee and the normal world, which may no longer exist, is another question.”

Shadow Ticket is scheduled for publication on Oct. 7.

—MICHAEL SCHAUB

For reviews of Thomas Pynchon’s books, visit Kirkus online.

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A W A R D S // F I C T I O N

AWARDS

Garth Greenwell Wins the PEN/ Faulkner Award The author took home the prize for his novel Small Rain.

Garth Greenwell has won the PEN/Faulkner Award, given annually to an outstanding work of fiction written by a U.S. permanent resident, for his novel Small Rain.

Greenwell’s book, published last September by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, follows a poet in Iowa recovering in an intensive care unit after experiencing an infrarenal aortic dissection. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus wrote, “Greenwell—such a finely tuned, generous writer—transforms a savage illness into a meditation on a vital life.”

Bruce Holsinger, Deesha Philyaw, and

Luis Alberto Urrea, the judges for this year’s award, said in a statement, “Even as the narrator’s body succumbs to needles, scans, blood draws, and bureaucracy, the novel affirms the power of art, love, and connection—if not to heal, then to soothe and salve. Small Rain is a dazzling, gutting, unforgettable novel.”

Greenwell, who was shortlisted for the PEN/ Faulkner Award in 2017 for What Belongs to You, said, “I wrote Small Rain as a way of testing, in the wake of a sudden and bewildering health crisis, my protagonist’s faith in art as a source of durable meaning, of transcendence. I am immensely grateful to the judges for this honor and immensely moved to see my book included among such excellent writers.”

The PEN/Faulkner Award was established in 1981. Previous winners include E.L. Doctorow for Billy Bathgate and The March; Ann Patchett for Bel Canto; and Claire Jiménez for What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez.—M.S.

Oriet te D’Angelo

For a review of Small Rain, visit Kirkus online.

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Garth Greenwell

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after painting Adrian as a passionate and encyclopedic student of hip-hop history. But Lunzer’s acrobatic exposition stumbles in the second act. The emotional truths of Adrian and Maquie’s lives are muted through overintellectualization; much more oxygen is given to granular snippets of privileged life in an alternate present-day reality. Still, Lunzer relishes in delightful phrasing and figurative language; Maquie is once described “as though the jaws of an unpleasant thought had snapped at her eyes from inside her head.”

A smart, elaborate, and discursive modern romance.

These Heathens McKenzie, Mia | Random House (272 pp.) $29.00 | June 17, 2025 | 9780593596944

A pregnant Black teenager spends a weekend in Atlanta during the thick of the Civil Rights Movement.

Doris Steele is only 17 in 1960, but she left her rural Georgia high school—and the instruction of her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lucas—after 10th grade to take care of her ailing mother and younger siblings. When she becomes pregnant, she finds it impossible to face a future as a mother, and she turns to Mrs. Lucas for help. Mrs. Lucas calls upon her childhood best friend, Sylvia Broussard, a wealthy and well-connected Black woman with luminaries in her orbit like Martin Luther King, Coretta Scott King, and prominent figures in the arts, and a stepnephew with a key role in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. When Doris spends a weekend at the Broussard home waiting for the Atlanta doctor Sylvia has procured to perform the abortion, she’s brought into contact with people whose views on religion, segregation, 18

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class, politics and—especially— homosexuality make her question everything she’s been taught. (“I’m confused, Lord,” Doris prays.

“Please help me to see your purpose for bringing me among these heathens.”) As the weekend unfolds and secrets spill out, Doris doubts that she will ever be the same again.

McKenzie’s novel crackles with energy, and her depiction of Black high society during a pivotal moment in American history has depth and vivacity. Although the plot strains to place Doris in as many historical scenarios as possible over the course of a few dozen hours, à la Forrest Gump, watching Doris awaken to the wider possibilities of politics, social justice, and human experience is undeniably satisfying.

As Doris says, “Here, in Atlanta, in Mrs. Broussard’s house? That God [I prayed to] seemed, not just petty, but suddenly very small.”

A prismatic rendering of the sit-in movement and its context, with memorable characters at its center.

The Girls Who Grew Big Mottley, Leila | Knopf (352 pp.) | $28.00 June 24, 2025 | 9780593801123

A group of teen mothers gathers in solidarity.

Mottley’s second novel, following Nightcrawling (2022), concerns the Girls, a clique of young women in the coastal town of Padua Beach, Florida, united by their teen pregnancies and active contempt for

the families, schools, and other social structures that seek to diminish them. The story alternates among three narrators, starting with leader Simone, who in a vivid opening scene describes chewing off her baby’s umbilical cord in the bed of a pickup truck for lack of a knife. (Well, a clean one—her partner’s dingy blade, like most of the men in this story, doesn’t measure up.) The second narrator, Adela, an aspiring Olympic swimmer until her pregnancy, has been shipped by her family to Padua Beach until she gives birth. The third, Emory, has an infant son, Kai, whom she insists on bringing to high school during her senior year, determined to go to college. Each in their own way claps back against their critics, hyperalert to how they’re diminished: “You wouldn’t believe what happens when a girl these days gets knocked up,” Emory says. “Suddenly, it’s the most important thing about you…You are nothing but a young mother.”

Mottley’s lyrical prose and spirited characters are meant to be a counterweight to such reductionism, and there are fine set pieces throughout: bonding over breastfeeding methods, selling “jungle juice” to spring breakers for extra funds, a harrowing homebrew abortion that’s forced by hyperrestrictive state legislation. The plot can get soap opera–ish—Simone’s brother, Jayden, is the father of Emory’s child, and romantic squabbles abound. At times, Mottley’s prose gets overheated: “They don’t tell you in first aid training about the way blood works, about the thump and swirl of red hot beneath the skin and what happens when it runs drought dry.” But the ferocity of her characters gets over,

A sensual set of character studies, shaped by compassion and defiance.

THE GIRLS WHO GREW BIG

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FICTION

Owners of a Greek hotel run afoul of a cult of women living on the beach.

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letting an aggressively misunderstood group speak for itself.

A sensual set of character studies, shaped by compassion and defiance.

Ecstasy Pochoda, Ivy | Putnam (224 pp.) | $28.00 June 17, 2025 | 9780593851173

Wealthy owners of a luxury hotel on a Greek island run afoul of a cult of wild women living on the beach.

Pochoda’s venture into dark horror is a clunky revision of The Bacchae revolving around four women and one uptight male jerk. Lena is the wealthy widow of a Greek hotel developer who died under suspicious circumstances on the site of his unfinished Agape Villas. Her son, Drew—as rigid, controlling, and misogynist as his father—has completed the project and now brings Lena; her best friend, Hedy; and his own pregnant wife, Jordan, to the island for a kind of soft opening where they will be the only guests. Already in situ is Luz, a former powerful drug dealer who did time in prison when her son turned her in to save his own hide; this backstory is the only remnant of the kind of book Pochoda has been so successful with in the past. Luz has become the leader of a group of women who live on the beach that adjoins the Agape property. Their nightly revels revolve around a DJ named BaXXus who has golden blood and takes the form of a mountain lion during sex, one of the K IR KU S R E V IE W S

various versions of “ecstasy” that may make this book off-putting to some readers. Also unpleasant are the constant expressions of revulsion for the aging female body. Drew on Lena: “Here’s his goddamn mess of a mother at last. Look at the state of her. That fucking caftan hiding fucking nothing. ‘Mom.’ To think that morning he’d thought of her as anything more than a saggy fiftyfour-year-old ex-ballerina.” Lena feels about the same about her “worn,” “desiccated,” and “weathered” body, once so lithe and lovely (54 seems to be the new 94 here). At the heart of the story is the idea that “we grow the monsters that take us down”— both Lena and Luz have vile, treacherous sons, and pregnant Jordan is quickly picking up the vibe. You know those Greek myths— this won’t end well. Pochoda’s reliance on sentence fragments and single-sentence or single-word paragraphs add to an overall hasty feel, and probably not the kind of horror the author intended.

A hot mess.

Ordinary Love Rutkoski, Marie | Knopf (368 pp.) $28.00 | June 10, 2025 | 9780593803264

A recently separated writer and an Olympic track star reconnect.

Emily lives a privileged life as wife to hedge fund partner Jack and mother to two bright, inquisitive children. She married immediately after graduating

from Harvard; after all, Jack was perfect: kind, handsome, enamored with her, and “his happiness—like his wealth, his love—felt good.” She said yes without looking back, and, after becoming pregnant unexpectedly, chose to forgo law school for a life as a stay-at-home mom. When her marriage hits a breaking point—and she realizes Jack might not be the man she thought he was—she’s thrust into a new reality, facing down threats of financial ruin and even loss of custody. It’s during this separation that she reconnects with her first love, Gennifer Hall. But it’s been 15 years since they fell for one another in small-town Ohio, and Gen is no longer the lanky, adoring teenager with worn-through shoes whom Emily first kissed in the bed of a pickup truck.

She’s a world-famous athlete now, with a new wardrobe and a string of glamorous ex-girlfriends, and she’s still stony over their abrupt breakup. As Emily takes account of her priorities and desires, she and Gen drift back into one another’s now very different lives. The novel, which leaps between the present day and various points in Emily’s life, is tender and finely written.

The women’s love for one another—at times hesitant and strained, but ever-present—is central, but Emily’s journey to rescue her autonomy and creativity, and protect her children, is just as stirring. This dialogue-heavy novel burns slow, drawing the reader deep into the protagonist’s interiority and through the emotional turbulence that shakes Emily’s most important relationships as she conjures “a vision, clear as fact, of what could have been.”

By the end, readers will feel they know Emily and Gen backward and forward, and they will almost certainly miss spending time with them.

A sexy, bittersweet novel with characters that peel off the page.

For more by Marie Rutkoski, visit Kirkus online.

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Kirkus Star

Fools for Love Schulman, Helen | Knopf (208 pp.) $28.00 | July 8, 2025 | 9780593536254

In her first story collection since 1988, Schulman peeks into the romantic lives of a loosely connected community of characters.

“Many moons ago, my beloved husband, Miguel Herrera—have you heard of him?—gave an earthshaking performance in an event space in the East Village, Henderson Square (actually our friend Hattie Henderson’s studio apartment), which completely changed our lives.” This is the kind of sentence that inspires you to Google “Helen Schulman husband,” be reminded that she’s married to humorist Bruce Handy, and slap your forehead. Right, it’s fiction. Anna Herrera’s tale of her husband Miguel’s appearance in a same-sex performance of Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love, the play that gives both story and collection its title and theme, is actually the account of how she met her second husband, a marriage we return to in the last story in the book, at which point Herrera is just an “ethnic surname” she picked up “in a short heartbreak of a marriage, a name that has stood me well all these years, grant- and prizewinning-­ wise.” Also introduced in the first story is Anna’s sixth grade boyfriend, Hershleder, who becomes the antihero of the saddest story, “The Revisionist.” (Schulman notes in an afterword that both this and “P.S.” grew into novels in the years since their creation, making this book interesting for archeologists of her career.) We also meet an agent named Jeannie Elbazz, “who reps Jake Kamins”—both Jeannie and Jake return in “My Best Friend,” a story in which lovelorn foolery reaches dizzying heights. Without 20

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Never underestimate the power of a good short story to lift your spirits.

FOOLS FOR LOVE

attempting to be a novel in stories, the collection is free to go off on wild tangents, such as a story narrated by an evil baby, Lucien H., and a tale of forbidden love with a married Orthodox rabbi in Paris. In multiple stories, people come back from the dead, and everywhere, there are sentences to make you laugh: “Thank God she’d grown up at a time when lunatic sexual behavior was expected; she’d been able to have her cake and eat it whenever she wanted without any damage to her reputation.”

Never underestimate the power of a good short story to lift your spirits.

Kirkus Star

Vera, or Faith Shteyngart, Gary | Random House (256 pp.) $28.00 | July 8, 2025 | 9780593595091

A brilliant fable about childhood, and so much more, in our broken country.

“It was said by both her pediatrician and her psychologist that Vera, while presenting as a very bright ten-yearold, suffered from intense anxiety.”

Vera Bradford-Shmulkin really does have a lot on her plate for a kid.

Among the 23 chapter titles in this slim and explosively lovely novel: “She had to hold the family together.” “She had to survive recess.” “She had to expand her Things I Still Need to Know Diary.”

“She had to figure out if Daddy was a traitor.” “She had to fall asleep.”

The novel is set in a delicately constructed near future, with self-driving cars and smart chessboards and a proposed constitutional amendment that will give an “‘enhanced vote’…counting for five-thirds of a regular vote to so-called ‘exceptional Americans,’ those who landed on the shores of our continent before or during the Revolution­a ry War but were exceptional enough not to arrive in chains.” These are the words of Vera’s teacher, who is dividing the class into teams to debate the topic.

She makes half-Korean, half-Russian Vera the lead for the pro-Five-Three side, while the opposition will be led by an “exceptional American” type her parents call Moncler Stephen because of his jacket. Winning this debate is another thing Vera has to do, along with getting up the nerve to deliver “Ten Great Things About Daddy and Why You Should Stay Together with Him,” and its counterpart, “Six Great Things About Mom” to the parents in question, who fight constantly. This mom is the one she calls “Anne mom,” her WASP stepmother Anne Bradford; “Mom Mom,” her Korean biological mother, has long been out of the picture and she has never known why. (“She had to find out the truth about Mom Mom.”) This book is about so many things: the drama of the gifted child, nativism and immigrant culture (“She had to visit Baba Tanya and Grandpa Boris in the suburbs”), technology and oppression, the role of intellectuals, the way we learn language. As the political situation in the United States evolves, Shteyngart’s particular flavor of black humor—Russian wry?—reconnects with its roots in K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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sorrow and resistance and becomes essential and lifesaving.

Shteyngart is doing his most important work ever, illuminating the current tragedy with humor, smarts, and heart.

The Royal Free Shuker, Carl | Counterpoint (288 pp.) $16.95 paper | June 17, 2025 | 9781640097056

A darkly humorous workplace drama set in a rapidly collapsing London.

James Ballard, a 38-year-old copy editor for the Royal London Journal of Medicine and widowed father of 6-month-old Fiona, can’t find the words for many of the surreal events taking place around him. That’s a neat layer of irony in Shuker’s tale of office camaraderie, societal collapse, and grief. Everything seems a tenth of a degree off, unable to be explained by sound logic or reasoning. The characters grasp for meaning, finding that their work in the highly structured world of the Royal London is no match for a city quickly descending into chaos. James is stalked by an anonymous group of roving teens in his North London community. They threaten and taunt, eventually attacking Tatia, his daughter’s babysitter (and his hired sexual partner), and are seemingly connected to all sorts of strange events. Fiona’s bedroom floods and is inundated with leaves and debris despite no obvious leak. There is no explanation for this, outside of some vague sort of sabotage from the marauding teens, which

James also uses to explain how their Rhodesian ridgeback ends up in Fiona’s room. This sort of mysterious disconnect propels the novel: The death of James’ wife, for example, is a mystery whose answer is never revealed but is hinted at in a section called “Search history.” London is succumbing to rioters, looters, and general chaos, but the world of the Royal London, of James and Fiona, remains fragmented from the reality bearing down on them. Toward the end of the book, James goes on a mad dash, looking for the child he has inexplicably lost—the baby who relies on him alone to exist in this world.

She appears abruptly and magically, like so many characters and moments in Shuker’s bold, elliptical novel.

This intricate meditation on grief, trauma, and parenting adheres to a captivating, unpredictable internal logic.

Kirkus Star

Parallel Lines St. Aubyn, Edward | Knopf (272 pp.) $28.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9780593535349

A hurtling ride through the world’s collapse.

Continuing a storyline begun in Double Blind (2021), St. Aubyn’s latest opens with a view through the window of an onrushing train—a metaphor that will appear frequently—where Sebastian, an eminently sensitive young man, feels “the gaping wounds” of the English countryside. Sebastian is being

An elegantly arch but empathetic excursion into impending apocalypse.

treated, without much success, for schizophrenia and is certainly not prepared for the surprise that his doctor will reveal about his past.

Sebastian’s twin, Olivia, is busily married and mothering, having grown up as an adoptee apart from him. Olivia has found work writing radio scripts on the unfolding sixth extinction, with “artificial intelligence, pandemics, nuclear annihilation, global warming, asteroids and overpopulation” among her unhappy subjects.

Olivia’s tale entwines with that of the mogul Hunter Sterling, now the partner of Lucy, the center of the previous novel, both of them having retreated from the world after Hunter’s sale of a startup to “a Silicon Valley amortality company, which exploited the fear of death by offering to download its customers’ consciousness onto a ‘non-biological substrate.’” St. Aubyn’s piece makes a neat companion to David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas in depicting harried people constantly on the run, on the make, and at the end of their tethers in a time of crumbling civilizations—­ in which, pointedly, the “current batch of the super-rich” who want to “piss off to Mars or swap Europe for Europa” are savaged as a class and a few world leaders (“I due amici, Putin and Trump”) are lampooned by name, all with great good slashingly sarcastic humor. St. Aubyn’s closing, which leaves room for another episode, is quite sincere, though, and even affecting in recounting Sebastian and Olivia’s tentative efforts to form not just a relationship but a family, the only bastion against doom.

An elegantly arch but empathetic excursion into impending apocalypse, and some of St. Aubyn’s best work yet.

For more by Edward St. Aubyn, visit Kirkus online.

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Kirkus Star

The Original Stevens, Nell | Norton (320 pp.) $28.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781324110699

The supposed reappearance of a long-lost cousin throws a young art copyist’s life into disarray in 1899 England.

Narrator Grace has been a guest at bleak Inderwick Hall since the age of 9, when her mentally ill parents were institutionalized. With no money of her own, Grace lives at the behest of her aunt, who shows her no particular fondness. She struggles with face blindness—which she attempts to conceal out of embarrassment—and knows that the feelings she “had about women were the feelings men had about women,” which she conceals out of self-preservation. Her singular chance at security and independence lies in her skill at painting. While Grace is hopeless when it comes to original works, she can paint excellent forgeries, which she has started selling to fraudulent art dealers under her aunt’s nose.

Into this cloistered life comes what may be a walking, talking forgery: a man claiming to be Grace’s cousin, Charles, who was presumed dead after having disappeared at sea years prior. A delicate cat-and-mouse game between the possible cousins follows, which interrogates the secrets we keep from ourselves and others and the fraught relationship between love and money. Stevens’ second novel—after Briefly, A Delicious Life (2022)—retains its predecessor’s lyricism and insight into the nooks and crannies of human nature, but is even more propulsive. The short interludes on the nature of copies that are peppered through the book (for example, “When we fall in love with a person, we fall in love with the copy of them, inexpertly done, that 22

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A captivating tale that doubles as a portrait of an indelibly queer past.

THE ORIGINAL

we carry around with us whenever they aren’t there”) are particularly effective and affecting. Any comparison to Sarah Waters is well earned; readers will be on tenterhooks.

A slippery, captivating tale that doubles as a portrait of a complicated, indelibly queer past.

Kirkus Star

I Don’t Know How To Tell You This Thurm, Marian | Delphinium | $28.00 July 15, 2025 | 9781953002570

A close-knit family struggles with griefs old and new as one of their number succumbs to memory loss.

“I don’t know how to tell you this, the doctor is saying…” “I don’t know how to tell you this, Elisabeth began…”

The title of Thurm’s novel comes up twice in the narrative; twice Rachel receives news so devastating that “in a microsecond” it capsizes her life. Just a few years ago, things were really pretty good. Her husband, Jonathan, was a beloved professor at Yale; her son, Matthew, married the right woman on his third try, a young widow, and is raising two adorable children; then, as now, Rachel tried to help her fellow New Yorkers straighten out their lives as a judge in family court. She is very close to Jonathan’s mother, Szófia, a Holocaust survivor. And despite the fact that the first life-changing news she

receives is of her husband’s infidelity, the couple has moved on sufficiently to celebrate their 45th anniversary with a trip to Paris— which is right about when the signs of Jonathan’s condition emerge. He suddenly announces at a restaurant that she should get out her credit card, as he will no longer be paying for her dinners: “The Jonathan Sugarman Bank of America is closed.” When they get home, they find his house keys in the microwave. The novel follows the arc of his decline, and attends to other sorrows as well, from Szófia’s terrible backstory to Matthew’s guilty obsession with his wife’s dead first husband. Precocious, hyperarticulate Luna, who lost her biological dad when she was just 2, is a bright spot for the characters and the readers. “Wait, wasn’t that one of those iconic moments for you, the first time you saw me walking?” says this 10-year-old when her elders claim they cannot recall her first steps. There is also occasional comic relief in Rachel’s courtroom, where Thurm’s signature black humor and spot-­on thumbnail portraits leaven the appalling difficulties her petitioners face.

Actually, Thurm does know how to deliver her very sad news: with heartbreaking clarity and profound compassion.

For more by Marian Thurm, visit Kirkus online.

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FICTION

A Happy Marriage Torre, A.R. | Thomas & Mercer (254 pp.) $16.99 paper | June 24, 2025 | 9781662519598

Fans seeing this title and this author’s name on the same cover will know to expect anything but the celebration of a happy marriage.

Yet Dinah and Joe Marino really are happy together. She’s a homicide detective with the LAPD; he’s a psychologist who left the police to open his own clinic. They may not have much of a sex life, but they’re so mindful, attentive, and solicitous of each other that, as Dinah says, “He’s the best part of my life, and I’m the best part of his.” So what if Dinah’s been hiding an easily guessed secret from Joe for all eight years of their marriage? So what if Joe wonders what it would be like to kill Dinah the way he’s killed those other women? After all, he’s not at all inclined to do it because she’s the perfect wife. The first cracks in their ice castle appear when Dinah, still mourning the death of her partner, Det. Oley Hugh, is assigned to investigate the death of Reese Bishop and learns that trainee detective Freddie Hodgkins will be tagging along with her. Freddie is full of ideas about the manner of Reese’s death— she seems to have overdosed months before she would have died of natural causes—and the disappearance of her daughter, Jessica, who never showed up at Chunky Mike’s, the ice cream parlor where she works. In fact, Jessica, whose point of view alternates with Dinah’s and Joe’s in a series of

chapters as short and biting as lightning strikes, has descended into a hell that will eventually reveal unspeakable secrets about Dinah and Joe’s happy marriage.

A modern take on the Bluebeard fairy tale, complete with a chamber of horrors.

A Beautiful Family Trevelyan, Jennifer | Doubleday (320 pp.) $28.00 | June 24, 2025 | 9780385551359

Summer vacation is not what it seems.

Ten-year-old Alix, her 15-year-old sister, Vanessa, and their parents are in a New Zealand beach town for the summer. Vanessa, just old enough to find her family embarrassing, is pining over a school friend’s boyfriend. Alix’s parents are fighting constantly about things she only partly understands. Meanwhile, Alix has made a new friend, Kahu, a Māori boy also in town for the summer. The beach, with its rough waves and many secrets, is the setting of much of their burgeoning friendship; Alix and Kahu are searching for the remains of a young girl, Charlotte, who went missing a few summers before, presumably drowned. But when they discover a different body, Alix’s family risks coming apart entirely. This novel, part mystery and part Bildungsroman, is gripping; every chapter brings an unexpected twist, further complicating and deepening each storyline. Alix is a compelling narrator, though her 10-year-old

A modern take on the Bluebeard tale, complete with a chamber of horrors.

A HAPPY MARRIAGE

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naïveté can be grating—we understand, through her eyes, that her sister is sneaking out and getting drunk and that her mother is having an affair, but she’s not quite able to put the pieces together. And the plot occasionally veers a little toward the predictable (the creepy older man Alix sees watching her does, indeed, turn out to be creepy), without tying up all its loose ends.

A compelling—if not fully realized—debut.

Eleven Percent Uthaug, Maren | Trans. by Caroline Waight St. Martin’s (304 pp.) | $29.00 April 22, 2025 | 9781250329646

A female-­ dominated future offers its own problems in Danish author Uthaug’s provocative novel.

Uthaug’s first novel to be published in English imagines a time several centuries in the future when 11% of men—enough to keep the genetic pool sufficiently varied—are allowed to survive infancy, only to be kept captive and heavily medicated.

Definitely not for the squeamish, the novel follows four women who have trouble dealing with the system in which they have been raised. Medea and Silence are witches who live in a convent with an elderly “sister” and a nameless 7-year-old boy they have raised in secret. Wicca—Medea’s lover and a priest in the now-­ matriarchal Christian church, in which cobras play a critical role— worries that she won’t satisfy the mothers who have raised her to follow in their footsteps as priests.

And Eva is a doctor with a potentially damning secret she’s held since childhood. Though it’s not clear whether the rest of the world has also been transformed, or just Denmark and its Scandinavian neighbors, Uthaug builds her brave new world MAY 15, 2025

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A young queer woman moves across the country in order to live her truth.

psyche. “In Russia,” a character says, “stories never have happy endings.” This one fits right in.

Proof that we don’t need the Cold War for smart spy fiction.

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS

Girls Girls Girls von Blanckensee, Shoshana | Putnam (384 pp.) $29.00 | June 17, 2025 | 9780593718445

with care and confidence, gradually revealing a civilization in which all new buildings must be round or ovoid, testosterone is viewed as poison, “manladies” with silicone penises service customers in the dodgier parts of Copenhagen, and self-designated Amazons are assigned to teach the captive males their varied sexual “jobs.” Uthaug’s worldbuilding is more convincing than her plot-making, which tends to long, repetitive flashbacks and little forward momentum, and her frequent, colorful descriptions of the use of bodily effluvia of all sorts to make cakes and other delicacies may leave readers without an appetite. She certainly can’t be faulted for subtlety.

A funhouse mirror revealing the drawbacks of turning patriarchy upside down.

The Poet’s Game: A Spy in Moscow Vidich, Paul | Pegasus Crime (336 pp.) $27.95 | May 6, 2025 | 9781639368853

A retired CIA officer is pulled back into a dangerous game in this spy thriller by the author of Beirut Station (2023).

Alexander Matthews retired from the CIA and started Trinity Capital, a highly successful venture capital firm that often brings him to Russia. Once he’d been the CIA’s top spy in Moscow, but that’s all behind him now. But the Agency asks him for a favor: help extricate a 24

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Russian asset code-named Byron, a KGB-trained intelligence officer whom he had recruited and who claims to have sensitive secrets the CIA wants. He’d recruited other “poets” such as Keats and Blake, but they have vanished, perhaps in the bowels of Lefortvo Prison with bullets to the skull. Matthews has good reasons to decline: His late wife and daughter, killed in a boating accident while he was away, hated his lengthy absences, and he is on the verge of being estranged from his surviving son. He’s remarried to a CIA translator, and his travel stresses that marriage. So of course he goes to Moscow and is promptly arrested on a trumped-up solicitation charge. Then the FSB tells him he’s being investigated for tax fraud. Soon, he’s reminded that it’s dangerous for a wealthy American investor in Russia to be in the tabloids. And speaking of which, Byron claims to have the FSB’s kompromat on Topcat, who’d been in Moscow for the Miss Universe contest in 2013. One CIA official calls him Apocalypse 45, but like Voldemort, no one says his name.

Readers will have to figure that out.

Meanwhile, Langley believes it has a mole. Matthews feels an emotional tug to Russia’s capital city: He “wasn’t from Moscow, but he was of Moscow.” He’s going to have to get over that, as he’s not safe there anymore. Can he successfully exfiltrate Byron? As tension builds to a dramatic conclusion, so does the doubt. Vivid writing sets the tone: “The vans, yellow lights f lashing, swallowed the prisoners like whales swallowing krill.” The plot delivers eye-opening twists as well as insights into the Russian

A young queer woman moves across the country in order to live her truth.

During the summer of 1996, best friends Hannah and Sam leave Long Beach, New York, to embark on their cross-country move to San Francisco just after they graduate from high school. The girls want to leave their hometown for many reasons—including Hannah’s difficult relationship with her Orthodox Jewish mother— but primarily because they are secretly dating. Once the girls get to California, they realize two things: They can finally be out as a couple, and there’s a good chance they cannot afford to stay. Semireluctantly, Hannah and Sam begin stripping at the Chez Paree. As their money troubles fade, a distance slowly opens between them.

Sam happily trades fantasy for cash while Hannah resents the job. Sam yearns to meet other lesbians while Hannah struggles to feel at home within the community and herself: “I want to belong too much. I want to belong so much, I end up not belonging at all.” When Hannah meets Chris, an older, troubled lesbian at the club, her relationship with Sam begins to crumble—and she begins to find herself. Though craving a safe space for her queerness, Hannah’s biggest worry is leaving her Bubbe behind. When Bubbe travels to San Francisco to visit, she tells Hannah, “When you’re older you will look back at this time in your life, and then you will be able to see yourself very clearly. You will say, How on K IR KU S R E V IE W S

FICTION

earth did I get all that chutzpah?”

Their relationship serves as the tender and emotional throughline of the novel, as Hannah finds connection to her family, religion, and herself through her grandmother. Despite the dense plot, von Blanckensee deftly explores Judaism, addiction, grief, queer desire, found families, generational trauma, and cultivating the courage to be yourself. This debut is a beautiful portrait of being young, queer, and free (or “frei,” as Bubbe would say).

Though steeped in nostalgia, this coming-of-age debut is timeless.

Run for the Hills Wilson, Kevin | Ecco/HarperCollins (256 pp.) $28.99 | May 13, 2025 | 9780063317512

Four previously unknown half siblings set out on a road trip in search of their long-absent father.

Madeline Hill finds her life exhausting, but mostly plentiful, having built her family’s little organic farm in Tennessee into a destination for foodies and families alike. But the chip on her shoulder comes rushing back when her half brother Reuben shows up in a PT Cruiser with a trunkful of family secrets about her deadbeat dad, Chuck Hill. Not the least of these is the fact that their father created and abandoned families four times in total, leaving behind kids who each followed in their father’s largely invented footsteps. Despite her reservations, Mad joins her brother—a sensitive, middle-aged crime writer who followed the path set by his dad, known as Charles Hill—on his ill-advised quest. In Oklahoma, they pick up their father’s other spitfire daughter, Pep, a championship basketball player raised by coach Chip Hill to never give up. Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City, they pick up Theron, called Tom, the 11-year-old K IR KU S R E V IE W S

son of a famous TV broadcaster mother, fathered by cameraman Carl Hill. Wilson’s quartet makes for an amiable if fairly milquetoast bunch, but their awkward bonding leans toward cringe rather than comfort.

They finally do find their absentee father out West, but it’s more realization than revelation, mostly about the frailty of man and what it means to be a family. Wilson is positively masterful at quirky family dramas and many of the ingredients that have made his stories so popular are present here: an eclectic cast, a dash of absurdity, and complicated but very real family dynamics.

Somewhere in his latest, though, some spice got missed and readers end up on a road to nowhere. “We’ve had our big family fight and now we’ve made up,” Pep says on the road.

“That’s how it works, I think.”

Both family reunion and ghost story, even though neither quite comes to life.

Kirkus Star

Raging Clouds Yudori | Fantagraphics Books (364 pp.) $34.99 | May 27, 2025 | 9798875001062

A sexually charged graphic novel tracing a woman’s desperate attempts to ascend beyond the strict confines of 16th-century Dutch society.

Amélie comes from a noble family that has fallen on hard times, which is how she came to be in a miserable marriage to simple merchant Hans.

While her frugal and pragmatic husband spends most of his time in his library or at his raucous merchant’s guild, Amélie grudgingly tends to the domestic chores expected of her—including the servicing of Hans’ carnal needs.

Privately, she indulges her obsession with the mechanics of flight by studying the skeletons of flying creatures (an interest Hans equates to witchcraft). Amélie longs to escape the world of men, and she gets a taste when Hans sails for Lisbon on business. Amélie spends months unmolested and creates a simple flying machine. But both the machine and her freedom crash back to earth when Hans eventually returns—with a mistress in tow. “Sahara” is an enslaved Asian woman Hans claims to have saved from a fate as a “mere harlot,” though the reality proves more selfish and savage. As everything the devout and reserved Amélie is not—passionate, hedonistic, self-assured, and satisfied—Sahara initially receives Amélie’s resentment. But Amélie finds her thoughts drifting to Sahara’s voluptuous body and unguarded manner. The two gradually learn from each other and achieve a breakthrough in Amélie’s quest for flight. But the increasingly destitute Hans co-opts their flying machine for his business interests, and the hubris of men threatens to finally suffocate Amélie. Yudori’s tale is as captivating as it is titillating, with her illustrations elegantly depicting everything from complex emotions to the erotic contours of the female form. The plot and characters are engagingly complex, and the pacing deliciously brisk.

A rich, engrossing tale that manages to be both concise and expansive.

A rich, engrossing tale that manages to be both concise and expansive.

RAGING CLOUDS

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MORE TO CHECK OUT WHILE YOU WAIT:

After Annie by Anna Quindlen (Random House) Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors (Ballantine) City of Laughter by Temim Fruchter (Grove) Come and Get It by Kiley Reid (Putnam) Cross Stitch by Jazmina Barrera, trans. by Christina MacSweeney (Two Lines Press) Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

by Satoshi Yagisawa, trans. by Eric Ozawa (Harper Perennial/ HarperCollins) Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (Dial Press) Homeseeking by Karissa Chen (Putnam) Rental House by Weike Wang (Riverhead) Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo (Doubleday) Sandwich by Catherine Newman (Harper/HarperCollins) Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (Morrow/HarperCollins) Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Harper/HarperCollins) We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes (Pamela Dorman/Viking) The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Henry Holt)

Cut the Line

Looking for a satisfying, intricate family story à la Anne Tyler?

We’ve got you covered.

BY MEGAN LABRISE

On Kirkus’ third Cut the Line: Readers’ Advisory webinar, presented in partnership with Ingram Library Services, we explore a range of read-alikes for Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June (Knopf, Feb. 11). Tyler is the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of 25 novels, including Breathing Lessons, The Accidental Tourist, and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. Three Days in June tells the story of a divorced couple contending with some uncomfortable memories on the eve of their daughter’s wedding. Kirkus calls it “sweet, sharp, and satisfying.”

While you’re waiting for Three Days in June—which currently has more than 10,000 holds across seven of the country’s largest library systems—we’ve got a list of more outstanding literary fiction you won’t want to miss. First, Ingram Library Services collection development librarian Wendy Rancier presents some Kirkus-­ recommended titles to read now. Then, in a panel discussion, I speak with three novelists about plot, perspective, dialogue, and the relationships at the heart of their latest books: Award-winning playwright Regina Porter’s debut novel, The Travelers, was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award and longlisted for the Orwell Prize. In her sophomore novel, The Rich People Have Gone Away (Hogarth, 2024), a group of New Yorkers grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic in various ways—and one goes missing upstate. As Kirkus writes in a starred review, “This restless, intentionally unsettling novel establishes Porter as a distinctive, confident literary voice.” Porter is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and her work has been published in the Harvard Review, Tin House, and the Oxford American. She lives in Brooklyn.

Betsy Lerner is the author of a popular advice book for writers, The Forest for the Trees, and the memoirs Food and Loathing and The Bridge Ladies. Her first novel, Shred Sisters (Grove, 2024), is “a wry and

riveting debut…about family, mental illness, and a hard-won path between two sisters,” Kirkus writes in a starred review, calling it “a seamlessly constructed and absorbing fictional world, full of insight about how families work.” Lerner earned an MFA in poetry from Columbia University. She’s been a publishing professional for more than 30 years, and is currently a literary agent in New York.

Shannon Bowring’s debut novel, The Road to Dalton, was selected as an NPR Best Book in 2023 and won the Maine Literary Book Award for Fiction in 2024.

In her highly anticipated sequel, Where the Forest Meets the River (Europa Editions, 2024), the small northern Maine town of Dalton “grieves the sudden death of a woman with postpartum depression,” Kirkus writes in a starred review. Where the Forest Meets the River is a “moving portrait of the ways people survive palpable, harrowing grief.” Bowring’s work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net, and it was recently anthologized in The Best Small Fictions. She holds an MFA from the University of Southern Maine Stonecoast, and lives in Maine.

Megan Labrise hosts Kirkus’ Fully Booked podcast.

To watch a video of the session, visit Kirkus’ YouTube page.

B O O K T O S C R E E N // F I C T I O N

Dav id Crot t y/Patrick McMullan v ia Get t y Images

Book to Screen

Sarah Michelle Gellar to Star in Bad Summer People Adaptation The TV series is based on Emma Rosenblum’s 2023 novel.

Sarah Michelle Gellar is set to star in a television adaptation of Emma

K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Rosenblum’s Bad Summer People, Deadline reports.

Rosenblum’s novel, published in 2023 by Flatiron, tells the story of a group of socialites on New York’s Fire Island whose lives are thrown into disarray after a body is discovered next to a boardwalk. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus praised the book as “a heck of a beach read.”

Gellar, known for her roles on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and in films including I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions, will star in and executive produce the series, which will be written

by Cara DiPaolo (Ugly Betty, Dead to Me).

Tana Jamieson, an executive vice president at A+E Studios, which is developing the series along with Linden Productions, said, “Emma’s novel practically leapt off the page, and in Cara’s hands—alongside a dream team of producers at Linden and the iconic Sarah Michelle Gellar—it becomes something even more unforgettable.”

Rosenblum shared news of the adaptation on Instagram, writing, “The amazing people at

@aestudiosofficial and @lindenentertainment are set to produce Bad Summer People for TV! And the best part is that the ICONIC @sarahmgellar is attached to star in and executive produce it!!! Ahhhh Buffy in Bad Summer People, I can’t deal.

PERFECT CASTING.”—M.S.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

For a review of Bad Summer People, visit Kirkus online.

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An Amateur Sleuth’s Guide to Murder Cahoon, Lynn | Kensington (256 pp.) $27.00 | June 24, 2025 | 9781496752093

A discarded bride starts a new life as, yes, an amateur sleuth.

Meg Gates was just days away from her wedding when the groom and one of her bridesmaids left together on the honeymoon she had planned. Now she’s cleaning out the apartment in Seattle she shared with Romain and heading with her dog, Watson, to Bainbridge Island, where she grew up. On the island, she’ll have support from her best friend, Natasha, who owns a bakery, and Dalton, her brother’s best friend and her own childhood buddy, who works on the ferry. She plans to work part-time at her mom’s bookstore, live in an apartment over her aunt’s garage, and spend her off hours doing research for local mystery author L.C. Aster. She’s also thinking about her longtime ambition to write a guide teaching regular people how to solve mysteries. Then a mystery is dropped into her own lap: Lilly Aster’s agent, Robert Meade, is found dead on Lilly’s dock after she fired him for stealing, and Lilly, of course, is a suspect. Meg is sure she’s innocent, but the police chief—Meg’s uncle Troy— isn’t convinced. So Meg, Dalton, and Natasha team up, and Meg uses her old Nancy Drew powers to investigate while seeking to develop useful tips for her book. It comes out that Meade had lent money to several locals, including Natasha, and that Lilly has an ex-husband who often visits her. When Romain reappears, Meg’s mom thinks she should try and rekindle their romance, but it’s obvious to everyone else that Dalton is in love with her, and although she’s not ready for a new romance, Meg knows she’ll never forgive Romain.

Cahoon launches a promising new series with endearing characters and a charming locale.

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Death at the White Hart Chibnall, Chris | Pamela Dorman/ Viking (352 pp.) | $30.00 June 10, 2025 | 9780593831571

A detective settling into new digs faces a sensational murder in smalltown England.

When local publican Jim Tiernan’s body is found in the middle of the road trussed up in a sack, tied to a chair, and sporting a pair of antlers, it’s clear that murder most foul has been committed in picturesque coastal Fleetcombe. DS Nicola Bridge, who recently moved to the area from Liverpool to try to save her marriage, has to deal with sparse resources and transitional spaces for her team; nonetheless, she quickly falls back into her previous workaholic tendencies, sacrificing sleep (and date night) to the investigation. Though she’s initially skeptical of DC Harry Ward’s local background and boy-band good looks, she finds him a ready pupil, and the two of them, along with scene-of-crime officer Reeta Patel and Mel, the “king of cataloging,” find some joy in the work and gratification in their appreciation for each other’s contributions to the investigation. There’s no shortage of possible suspects in the village, from the guy with the delivery van to the scorned wife to the suspicious-acting hairdresser to the grumpy old farmer with a deep sense of connection to the family land; Nicola and her team have their work cut out for them. Despite the contemporary setting, there’s a classic feel to this police procedural. The mystery is rooted in human emotions, like classic whodunits of a century ago. The cast of suspects is varied and interesting, much more than stereotype or even archetype, but the true delight is the introduction of Nicola and her team, a group of misfits who complement each other with dry humor and absolute commitment to their jobs.

Hopefully, this is the start of a beautiful series.

A Cyclist’s Guide to Villains & Vines Claire, Ann | Kensington (368 pp.) $27.00 | May 27, 2025 | 9781496745712

Bike tour guide Sadie Greene goes literally out of her comfort zone, taking a half-dozen Anglophone tourists through Alsace.

Sadie, an American expatriate, has finally settled into her chosen home in Mediterranean Sans-Souci-sur-Mer. As owner and operator of Oui Cycle, she believes firmly that the customer is always right. So when the Silver Spinners, headed by formidable South Carolina native Scarlett Crabtree-­ Thorne, want to cycle through northeastern France, Sadie’s game. The village of Riquewihr seems like a likely starting spot, and in deference to the cyclists’ age, rather than riding point-to-point, she’ll make L’Auberge de Trois Cigognes the tour’s home base, with day trips to charming nearby villages tailored to the seniors’ endurance. Her charges’ physical limitations turn out to be the least of Sadie’s problems. The rambunctious seniors oversleep, drink lots of wine, ignore Sadie’s historical insights, and wander off path. Fascinated by neighbor Pierre-Luc Bauman’s old-fashioned high-wheeled bicycle, Scarlett diverts the group to an impromptu garden party at his estate, and they miss their lunch reservations. Longtime partners Maurice Guidry and Benji Patel get the group thrown out of Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg for trespassing. But the two who cause the most trouble are the quietest. Orchestra conductor Keiko Andersson insists she saw a dead body on the main street of Riquewihr, forcing Sadie to make a fruitless midnight ride in search of Keiko’s phantom corpse. Taciturn Keiko has the last laugh nonetheless: There’s a dead man stuffed into one of PierreLuc’s wine barrels. He turns out to be Edwin Perch, long-departed husband of Scarlett’s reserved English goddaughter, K IR KU S R E V IE W S

M Y S T E R Y // F I C T I O N

As the prosecutor sadly observes: “All this because of a dead buffalo.”

NIGHTSHADE

Rosemary, who’s also on the tour.

Unfortunately, Edwin was also the common-law husband of Gabi Morel, innkeeper of Trois Cigognes.

Managing her freewheeling bunch gives Sadie little time for sleuthing, but no worries—they have that covered and then some.

Nightshade Connelly, Michael | Little, Brown (352 pp.) $15.00 | May 20, 2025 | 9780316588485

Idyllic Catalina Island turns out to be just as crime-infested as the rest of Los Angeles County in the latest series launch by the creator of Harry Bosch, Renée Ballard, and the Lincoln Lawyer.

Det. Sgt. Stilwell has been bounced off the county homicide squad and rusticized to Catalina, where the exclusive Black Marlin Club won’t admit even four-term Avalon Mayor Doug Allen to full membership and the most serious infraction seems to be the killing and cutting up of a buffalo, presumably by Henry Gaston, who operates Island Mystery Tours when he’s not threatening endangered species.

All that changes with the discovery of a body sunk in the surrounding waters.

The corpse, most recognizable by its streak of purple hair, is that of LeighAnne Moss, a Black Marlin server recently fired for fraternizing with members and guests she sees as potential sugar daddies. Stilwell is sufficiently invested in her murder to compete vigorously over jurisdiction with Rex Ahearn, the LA County K IR KU S R E V IE W S

homicide detective who kept his job when Stilwell lost his. Their rivalry, fueled by mutual contempt, is only the first hint that Stilwell will end up fighting his counterparts in law enforcement and local government at least as hard as he fights crooks like hit man Merris Spivak and Oscar “Baby Head” Terranova, Henry’s boss, who comes under sharper scrutiny when Henry disappears and ends up dead himself. Connelly handles his hero’s obligatory romance with assistant harbormaster Tash Dano and his increasingly wary alliance with assistant D.A. Monika Juarez with equal professionalism, and if the wrap-up leaves some loose ends dangling, well, that’s what franchises are for.

and Adam is the owner of a pub. The judges are Ellen, host of a local TV cooking show, and Doug, who teaches cooking courses. A practice runthrough leads to bickering and Libby’s discovery of a possible poisoned mushroom among the ingredients.

Then one of the ovens explodes, scattering shards of glass. Sam, suspecting that this was no accident, calls the police. Everyone’s a bit nervous at the next day’s practice session, but no one’s imagined the tent being overrun by a herd of goats trying to eat everything in sight and finally collapsing the tent before the goatherd and his dogs can remove them. Next, threatening messages arrive in rhymed verse.

But all these misfortunes are outdone when the espresso machine explodes on the first day of baking, fatally injuring Doug. The police finally take things seriously, and the show still goes on, but it may be up to the sleuthing sisters and their father, a retired law officer, to find the truth. The biggest clue: Except for the sisters, everyone involved lived in the same town when they were young.

As the prosecutor sadly observes: “All this because of a dead buffalo.”

In addition to plenty of quirky characters, there are yummy appended recipes to try.

A Catered Bake-Off

A Dead Draw

Crawford, Isis | Kensington (320 pp.) $27.00 | June 24, 2025 | 9781496734983

Dugoni, Robert | Thomas & Mercer (395 pp.) $16.99 paper | May 27, 2025 | 9781662524738

Given all their years of sleuthing experience, sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons should have anticipated serious problems with a local baking competition in upstate New York.

The sisters, who are caterers, have been invited to participate in a contest based on the popular Great British Bake Off. The site is a tent on the Kenmore Estate, which has seen better days.

Inside and outside are six contestants; two judges; the producer, Sam Levine; and numerous crew for The Longely Bake-Off. Contestants Nell and Lori are caterers, Mike is a cookie shop owner,

A legal error in a routine arrest leads Seattle cold case detective Tracy Crosswhite down another harrowing trip into her family’s tormented past.

What’s espec­ ially galling is that the error isn’t even Tracy’s. The handgun that Det. Kinsington Rowe, her old partner in Violent Crimes, confiscated from Erik Schmidt during a drug bust was identified as the weapon used to kill Julia Hoch and Bridgette Traugott.

But because Rowe ran the firearms test without securing the proper warrant, the judge throws out the MAY 15, 2025

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evidence and turns Schmidt loose.

Before that happens, though, Tracy interrogates Schmidt about the cold cases, and Schmidt, an obvious sociopath, takes the opportunity to taunt Tracy with the news that while he’d been incarcerated on previous drug charges, he’d been especially close to fellow inmate Edmund House, the man who’d kidnapped and murdered Tracy’s sister, Sarah, 30 years ago, leading to her father’s suicide. Convinced that Tracy had worked to set House free so that she could execute him personally, he’s vowed revenge on his late buddy’s behalf. That means doing whatever he can to make life hell for Tracy, her husband and daughter, her nanny, and anyone else in her circle. As Schmidt hatches one intimidating plot after another, Tracy is forced to acknowledge that her own skills aren’t what they used to be. Even her marksmanship has suffered so much that she withdraws to improve it under the guidance of Mason Pettibone, her first shooting instructor. Pettibone, claiming that he’s too old, turns Tracy over to the tutelage of his granddaughter, Lydia “Lightning Strike” Johnson, a dead-eyed shooter who’s on the spectrum, and that’s when things start to get seriously intense.

Not much mystery, but plenty of thrills for readers open to another peek at the skeletons inside the heroine’s family closet.

the restaurant, she runs into yoga student George Wilkins and his cousin, Edward, before she meets Grady, who’s so late that she fears he’s not coming. When he finally shows, he’s confronted by a tipsy and furious Edward. To top it off, Grady goes to the restroom and never returns, sticking Ash with the bill. At least things are going better at the studio—except for Ash’s next-door neighbor, a dog groomer who’s constantly complaining about the cats. The morning after the terrible date, Ash’s friend Olivia Chase, a police officer, arrives to escort her to see Chief Dan Higgins, who asks a lot of questions about her evening before telling her that Grady’s been found dead. Ash is already stressed out from dealing with her controlling mother, Cecilia, who wanted her to continue working for the family design business; her brother Hunter, who’s having a baby with Chief Higgins’ daughter; her father, who’s now married to her best friend from high school; and the fact that she, Hunter, and their sister, Alexi, are all being followed by the same man. When Ash sees Grady alive and well in a bar, her curiosity gets the best of her, and despite warnings from Chief Higgins, she and her pals turn up clues that connect some unlikely people.

A plethora of suspects, likable characters, adorable cats—what more could you want?

A Purrfect Date

False Gold

Erickson, Alex | Kensington (256 pp.) | $18.95 paper | June 24, 2025 | 9781496747389

Heley, Veronica | Severn House (224 pp.) $29.99 | May 6, 2025 | 9781448315574

Who knew a blind date could lead to murder?

Ashley Branson has recently opened a cat yoga studio, A Purrfect Pose, featuring lots of adoptable cats. She takes a night off when her best friend, Sierra Wahl, sets her up on a blind dinner date with Grady Richards. Arriving at

Bea Abbot returns to the Home Counties to support a beleaguered landowner.

After Sir Julian Marston-Lang’s shady family did their level best to see that he didn’t inherit Marston Hall, his stately ancestral home outside of London, in Heley’s last book, False Witness

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(2024), some of the locals are determined that his efforts to rehabilitate the neglected property come to naught. Egged on by Sir Julian’s own general manager, Major Ian Charpentier, villagers commit acts of aggression that range from whispering campaigns about possible illicit relations with his secretary to break-ins on his grounds, the latter resulting in the death of a man purported to be his groundskeeper, Pete. Sir Julian, who’s sure the dead man isn’t Pete, persuades his friend Bea Abbot to come up from London to prove his case. The police have little interest in the murder, and as it turns out, neither does Bea. Her main role seems to be propping up Sir Julian and his pregnant wife, Lady Polly, as they strive selflessly to make life better for the villagers. As in previous installments, the contrast between good and evil couldn’t be more stark.

Sir Julian and Lady Polly are prudent, generous, and determined. Old Jenny, the nonagenarian village midwife, is skilled and shrewd. Major Charpentier is scheming, greedy, and endlessly corrupt. Questions about whether Pete is really dead, where he might be, and who the murderer is fall by the wayside. The real battle is Lord Gracious vs. Major Smarmy, and the real mystery is why Sir Julian doesn’t just fire the son of a bitch.

Here’s hoping for a return to London, where the landscape, and the moral climate, offer more shades of gray.

Murder at the High School Reunion Hollis, Lee | Kensington (288 pp.) | $8.99 paper | July 1, 2025 | 9781496752871

The 25th reunion of South Portland (Maine) High School’s class of 2000 is highlighted by all the snark and pettiness you’d expect, plus homicide.

Tawny Bryce, the queen bee of the group, wants to K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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celebrate the occasion by hiring classmates Sandra Wallage and Maya Kendrick, who run a private detective agency, to get the goods on Chad Bryce, her politically ambitious husband, whom she’s convinced is cheating on her. Maya’s first attempt to follow Chad to an amatory hookup goes disastrously wrong, but the detective duo manage to get a damning video of Chad and 23-year-old Lindsay Buckman thanks to the hands-on assistance of Alyssa Turner, the mousy classmate who’s blossomed into a bona fide Hollywood star—and who also promises to be the star of the reunion. Alyssa is upstaged when the furious Tawny sneaks the compromising footage into a playlist of videos shown at the reunion and then has her husband served with divorce papers in front of the rapt crowd. Chad predictably goes ballistic and runs away, and shortly thereafter Tawny is found strangled to death. Det. Beth Hart, Maya’s former colleague on the South Portland PD, isn’t exactly eager for Sandra and Maya’s help. But no one’s more likely to sort through the dislike, jealousy, and thwarted romantic longings that have festered among their classmates ever since they were stuck together in high school. For better or worse, they identify a likely suspect only two-thirds of the way through the story, and thereafter the mode shifts from catty whodunit to suspenseful pursuit, a genre Hollis doesn’t handle with nearly as much authority.

If you needed another reason to skip your own reunion, here it is.

Them Bones Housewright, David | Minotaur (320 pp.) $29.00 | June 24, 2025 | 9781250360519

The latest favor unofficial Twin Cities investigator Rushmore McKenzie does for a friend sends him chasing after a dinosaur skull that was stolen very shortly after it was excavated.

K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Is there no honor among thieves?

Evidently, not when dinosaur skulls are involved.

THEM BONES

Seven years after saving McKenzie’s life, Angela Bjork has a request.

She’d like him to track down the Ankylosaurus skull valued at $6 million that was taken from a dig she was working near Powderville, Montana, before it had even been completely cleaned. Dr. Nicholas Larsen, the University of Minnesota professor who’s one of the project’s leaders, suspects that whoever carried off the skull in a stolen truck was getting inside information from one of the participants. If he’s right, that narrows the suspect list to 10 professors, graduate students, and undergraduate interns. Instead of spending time questioning them, McKenzie confers with Andrew Cooke, the wealthy, dying owner of the site, who’s determined to recover the skull even if he has to pay for it, and partners with con artist Heavenly Elizabeth Petryk, with some disavowed help from the FBI, to launch a proactive initiative to recover it by using high-profile fence Louis Bergeron—who says he knows who has the skull—to promise the thieves a ransom they have no intention of paying. McKenzie’s masquerade as Heavenly’s bodyguard grants him admission to a five-­ minute online auction for the ancient prize at the risk of some serious repercussions if anyone finds out who he really is. As McKenzie’s cop friend Bobby Dunston says, “I have to admit, this is different, even for you.”

After a slow start, Housewright sweats the details and explores every new possibility of a double cross to produce high-stakes, low-tension entertainment.

Is there no honor among thieves?

Evidently, not when dinosaur skulls are involved.

Knave of Diamonds King, Laurie R. | Bantam (336 pp.) $30.00 | June 10, 2025 | 9780593873984

The return of an uncle she hasn’t seen for many years sends Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes, in pursuit of the Irish Crown Jewels.

The prize, known officially as the Jewels of the Order of St. Patrick, vanished from a locked safe in Dublin Castle in 1907.

Suspicion arose against Sir Arthur Vicars, the Ulster King of Arms charged with keeping them safe, and his two aides: his nephew Pierce Gun Mahony and his friend Francis Shackleton. But even though Holmes himself consulted on the case, no arrests were ever made, and the report DCI John Kane submitted to Scotland Yard was never released.

Eighteen years later, Kane is retired, Holmes has moved on, and relations between Ireland and England have been permanently soured by the disappearance of the jewels days before they were to adorn a ceremony in which the visiting King George had planned to install a new baron in the Order. Mary is happy to see Jacob Russell, whom she’s long assumed to be dead, but much less happy to realize that he played a pivotal role in the theft. Since everyone involved is less interested in assigning blame than in recovering the treasure, she, Uncle Jake, and Holmes try to figure out where it might be stashed so that they can talk themselves into those places and search them. The results, based on an actual theft and reviving several historical figures associated with it, are short on detection and Sherlockiana, long on Irish MAY 15, 2025

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adventures and family ties between Mary and Uncle Jake.

Mostly for fans of the Holmes–Russell franchise, who’ll find much to enjoy.

psychopathic serial killer as a sibling, but it sounds exhausting.”

The novelistic equivalent of a full-body workout.

By the Time You Read This

A Most Puzzling Murder

Labuskes, Brianna | Thomas & Mercer (320 pp.) $16.99 paper | May 27, 2025 | 9781662527555

Marais, Bianca | Harlequin MIRA (480 pp.) $19.99 paper | June 10, 2025 | 9780778368601

Just because your homicidal older sister is dead doesn’t mean that she can’t keep on causing havoc for you and everyone else in sight.

FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto greets the news that her sister, Isabel Parker, has died in prison with a combination of relief and skepticism.

Could the nightmare that began when 15-year-old Isabel killed her parents and brother—in The Lies You Wrote (2024)— and then embarked on a quarter-century career of murder finally have come to an end? Though all the evidence indicates that Isabel is indeed dead, she’s left behind a legacy that feels just as menacing. The #FreeBell movement founded by college student Gabriela Cruz, recasting Isabel as a righteous vigilante whose victims deserved their violent ends, has in turn spawned the anti-FreeBells under the leadership of attorney Essi Halla, whose full-throated insistence that Isabel murdered her father seems calculated specifically to keep Essi herself in the spotlight. Even more upsetting, Gabriela has assembled a list of very recent victims whose murders sure look like the work of Isabel. As Raisa and her not-quite-partner, forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny, investigate, the toxic possibilities multiply almost as fast as the author’s thoroughly disorienting shifts in time from chapter to chapter. Is the new series of killings the work of a copycat? Has Isabel’s homicidal mania infected Raisa’s younger sister, social media moderator Delaney Moore? Or is it possible that Isabel is really alive and still thirsting for blood after all? As police detective Maeve St. Ivany tells Raisa: “I never wondered what it would be like to have a

An orphaned “enigmatologist” works feverishly to discover her true parentage and prevent a murder.

Brilliant young Destiny Whip is contemplating a bleak future and bantering with her annoying best friend, bossy Bex, when the arrival of a mysterious letter from one Mordecai Scruffmore changes everything. The writer captures her inquisitive imagination, offering her a position as the Scruffmore family historian and promising access to a vault full of secrets from all over the world. Thus begins a labyrinthine odyssey for the heretofore isolated Destiny. Along the way, the reader is invited to join Destiny as she faces a series of 16 puzzles she must solve to reach the ultimate answer, the identity of her mother.

These include word puzzles, number puzzles, hieroglyphs, and more. There’s often a solving tip included in a footnote: “If you’re a fan of the movie Fight Club, you’ll have all the information you need to solve this minipuzzle.” As the character names indicate, the prose is frothy and frivolous, with a Victorian patina reminiscent of Ronald Firbank. New sets of characters are introduced periodically, not so much to deepen the mystery as to add some diverting froufrous. These include blacksmith Ian Montgomery, who lives on Eerie Island; Gabriel Morezzi, closely involved in an earlier incident when Destiny barely escaped death; and chatty siblings Hexabus, Newton, and Tempest.

Their details, like so many others here, remain cloudy but fanciful. Enjoy the prose but don’t sweat the mystery. Just read on for the next puzzle.

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A cheeky, convoluted whodunit, with a bonus collection of puzzles… or vice versa?

A Novel Murder Nevin, E.C. | Knopf (352 pp.) | $28.00 June 17, 2025 | 9780593803004

A middling English mystery writer turns eager sleuth after discovering the body of her literary agent at a crime fiction festival.

Propelled by the recent death of her mother, 42-year-old Jane Hepburn, the shy and awkward 6-foot-tall author of six excellent, if not exactly bestselling, PI Sandra Baker novels, is finally attending the Killer Lines Crime Fiction Festival in the Cumbrian village of Hoslewit. She hopes to track down her agent and editor, who have not replied to her emails for two months, and to “network her socks off” with the famous crime writers who flock there every year. “These next few days will be the making of her, she has a feeling.”

Little does Jane realize how much her life will change when she sneaks into the book tent during the off-hours to rearrange the displays to highlight her books. There she finds the body of her agent, the much-feared Carrie Marks, stabbed to death with a large dagger.

Dismissed by DI Ramos when she suggests that a book may have been the motive for the murder, a dispirited Jane decides to return home until she runs into Carrie’s 22-year-old intern, Daniel Thurston. A fan of her books, Daniel convinces Jane that she, like her fictional sleuth, could solve the crime.

If she succeeds, Jane might revive her writing career. The pseudonymous Nevin, a former publishing professional, has written a fun, tongue-­in-­ cheek debut that spoofs the publishing industry and social media’s impact (BookTok, anyone?). Although the secondary characters are thinly drawn, Jane is a delight. Readers will root for the lonely sleuth as she makes new friends and develops joyful self-­ confidence. In some ways, her character arc is more interesting than the mystery’s resolution.

An appealing cozy star is born.

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M Y S T E R Y // F I C T I O N

A Murder for Miss Hortense Pennant, Mel | Pantheon (352 pp.) $27.00 | June 10, 2025 | 9780593701621

A suspicious death resurfaces a series of decadesold crimes centered on the Afro-­Caribbean community of Bigglesweigh, England.

Four decades after Miss Hortense left Jamaica for the U.K., she finds herself almost as lonely as when she arrived. Pushed aside from a central role in her community in the 1970s, Hortense has long since accepted her fate. Now, in the year 2000, Hortense’s loyal friend Blossom—more like a thorn in her side—insists she attend a meeting at the home of Constance Brown, the woman responsible for her status as an outsider.

Constance took over Hortense’s role as “Pardner Lady,” head of the group formed in the ’60s to invest in the community during a time when help wasn’t coming from anywhere else. The subject of Hortense’s meeting with the “black geriatric mafia” is whether she’s suited to rejoin the Pardner—but Hortense wants none of it. Unluckily for her, the past won’t stay in the past. The next morning, Constance is found dead at home. When another body follows soon after, Hortense has no choice but to reopen the Pardner’s “Looking Into Bones” business—the very detective business that got her in trouble— and revisit painful details of past unsolved crimes. Hortense has quite the reputation for digging around where she shouldn’t, but who else will do the dirty work if not her? “Is we seek justice for those who can’t seek it for themselves,” she says. Pennant’s debut mystery is written with a playwright’s deft pen; the scenes are neat, the action direct. What stands out most is the care with which characters are written, in how they move, dress, and—most notably—speak. As a bonus, traditional recipes are peppered throughout with great effect. Surrounded by the smells of turmeric and cinnamon, Hortense does her best thinking while in the kitchen.

A memorable cozy with lots of depth.

K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Uncle Abner Post, Melville Davisson | Poisoned Pen (304 pp.) | $15.99 paper June 17, 2025 | 9781464237768

Eighteen cases, originally published between 1911 and 1916 and first collected in 1918, starring the largely forgotten hero long regarded as the greatest detective in American fiction since Dupin.

It’s no wonder that Leslie S. Klinger, in his introduction, asserts, “What makes Uncle Abner so powerful is Post’s invention of a larger-than-life character.”

The narrator Martin’s Uncle Abner, a rough-hewn West Virginian of the mid-19th century, speaks and acts with the authority of a biblical prophet or of Oliver Cromwell, to whom he’s repeatedly compared. Post’s plots are often formulaic, though the formula is unique to him: A mysterious crime is committed; witnesses explain the background circumstances of the theft or murder at hand; Abner, opaque and menacing, starts a dialogue with a single suspect to whom he plays grand inquisitor, eventually confronting that suspect with irrefutable proof of his or her guilt.

Although Post varies this formula in “The Straw Man” and “The Edge of the Shadow,” however, his greatest achievement is the variety of uses to which he puts it without changing it. In “A Twilight Adventure,” Abner interrupts a lynching of suspected cattle thieves and turns the case upside down; in “The Concealed Path,” Abner’s impromptu invitation to a wedding leads him to confront a murder suspect who fights back so vigorously that his energy rivals Abner’s; in “Naboth’s Vineyard,” Abner rouses his entire community against an unsuspected killer. The finest of these stories, both of them frequently anthologized, are “The Age of Miracles,” in which Abner fights on behalf of an unjustly disinherited young woman, and “The Doomdorf Mystery,” an impossible crime worthy of John Dickson Carr.

Klinger provides extensive and often

necessary glosses on archaic language and historical and scriptural references.

An indispensable collection that’s no more dated than it was a century ago.

The Busybody Book Club Sampson, Freya | Berkley (384 pp.) $30.00 | May 27, 2025 | 9780593550540

A motley crew of book fans turns to sleuthing in a remote corner of the U.K. Ever since an unspecified trauma in London sent her fleeing to Cornwall with her fiancé, Craig Pritchard, Nova Davies has been doing her best to adjust to village life.

She tolerates the attempts of Craig’s domineering mother to micromanage their upcoming wedding and Craig’s gentle teasing over her absent-mindedness. And she loves her job at the St. Tredock Community Center, where she helps facilitate much-needed programs for the villagers. When the theft of the center’s roof repair fund from her unlocked office threatens her job, the members of the center’s book club rally round Nova. Led by Phyllis Hudson, who fancies herself a latter-day Miss Marple, computer geek Ash Chalabi and elderly farmer Arthur Robinson focus their investigation on the club’s most recent addition, businessman Michael Watkins, and his wife, Cynthia. The situation gets dicier when Michael’s mother dies, the police suspect foul play, and Michael disappears. The ragtag band proves smarter than you might expect, with feisty Phyllis demonstrating that seemingly batty old ladies sometimes actually get it right. Watching the club members bond is a particular pleasure; each of them grows, with Nova particularly becoming empowered to direct her own fate. But their journey, both separately and together, eclipses the murder plot, and in the end it’s not at all clear how the elder Mrs. Watkins met her maker.

Lovers of found family tales will enjoy; lovers of puzzles maybe less so.

MAY 15, 2025

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Fully Booked

A prairie witch and company confront a calamity in Karen Russell’s awesome new novel. BY MEGAN LABRISE

EPISODE 415: KAREN RUSSELL

EDITORS’ PICKS:

Design Thinking: A Guide to Innovation by Fred Estes (Twenty-First Century/Lerner) Okchundang Candy by Jung-soon Go, trans. by Aerin Park (Levine Querido) Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door by Thor Hanson (Basic Books) Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (Knopf) THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean

by Dan E. Hendrickson The Hartford Atonement by Philip Barbara The Adventures of Israel St. James by Nathaniel Hicklin, illus. by Jason Belden Fully Booked is produced

by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.

Annet te Hornischer

To listen to the episode, visit Kirkus online.

K IR KU S R E V IE W S

On this episode of Fully Booked, Karen Russell joins us to discuss her long-anticipated sophomore novel, The Antidote (Knopf, March 11). “In the wake of the destructive Black Sunday dust storm in 1935, four outcasts dare to offer their dying town a radical vision of the future,” Kirkus writes in a starred review, calling The Antidote “a storytelling tour de force that lives up to the promise of its name.”

Russell is the New York Times–bestselling author of six books of fiction, including the novel Swamplandia!, a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and the critically acclaimed story collections Vampires in the Lemon Grove and Orange World and Other Stories. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, she is a MacArthur Fellow and a Guggenheim Fellow. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, son, and daughter.

Here’s a bit more from our starred review of The Antidote: “Antonina Rossi, an Italian immigrant and survivor of the Milford Home for Unwed Mothers, is the prairie witch of Uz, Nebraska. By falling into a trance, she relieves customers of memories they no longer want and deposits them in the vault of her subconscious. When the dust storm sweeps those memories clean away, Rossi recognizes her ‘bankruptcy’ for what it really is: a mortal danger. Like most witches, Rossi is an outsider, and she throws her lot in with a band of fellow misfits.

There’s Asphodel Oletsky, a teen basketball star and born hustler in love with her best friend; Harp Oletsky, Dell’s shy bachelor uncle, whose farm miraculously survives the roiling clouds of dust; and Cleo Allfrey, a Black government photographer sent to document the crisis with a camera that somehow captures the past—and the possibilities of the future.…[W]hat’s really on display here is Russell’s reckoning with America’s past and her hopeful appeals for its future. She juxtaposes the immigration story of the Oletskys against the forced removal of Native Americans from the West

The Antidote Russell, Karen

Knopf | 432 pp. | $30.00 March 11, 2025 | 9780593802250

and lets the catastrophe of the Dust Bowl resonate with the contemporary horrors of climate change.…While the full picture of the novel takes time to develop, the final portrait is as unforgettable as the images Cleo Allfrey hangs on her darkroom line: A singular, haunting vision that fearlessly excavates the past and challenges the reader to face the future head-on.”

Russell describes The Antidote as a polyphonic novel with four POV characters, plus a scarecrow and a cat, set in western Nebraska during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl drought. Russell explains how she thought of the prairie witch and the photographer as countervailing forces in the book. We get into her research, which was extensive—with special thanks to Pawnee historian James Riding In and agroecologist Mimi Casteel. We talk about photographs, systems of oppression, Louise Erdrich, a chapter that wound up on the cutting room floor (from the POV of flying soil), an E.L. Doctorow quotation, when Russell identifies as a logophile, and much more.

Then editors Laura Simeon, John McMurtrie, Mahnaz Dar, and Laurie Muchnick share their top picks in books for the week.

MAY 15, 2025

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IN THE NEWS

Peter Lovesey

Author Peter Lovesey Dies at 88

Peter Lovesey, the mystery author known for his novels featuring detective Peter Diamond, has died at 88, publisher Soho Press announced in a news release.

Lovesey, a native of Middlesex, England, worked as a teacher before publishing his first novel, Wobble to Death, in 1970. The book introduced readers to Victorian-­ era police officer Daniel Cribb, the protagonist of seven more novels, including The Detective Wore Silk Drawers, A Case of Spirits, and Waxwork.

Lovesey introduced the character of Peter Diamond, a detective in modern-day Bath, England, in The Last Detective, published in 1991. More than 20 more novels featuring Diamond followed, including The Summons, Upon a Dark Night, The Secret Hangman, and

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Against the Grain, published in December.

“In addition to the scope of his unparalleled crime fiction career, Peter Lovesey will be remembered by his many grieving friends as the paragon of decency, compassion, loyalty, self-discipline, and pride in good work—in short, a human example of what it means to live a good life,” Soho said.

Lovesey was remembered on social media by his admirers. On the platform X, author Eli Cranor wrote, “Peter Lovesey passed away this morning. I owe him so much. His generosity sparked my entire career. He once told me the life of a novelist is a marathon, not a sprint.

Peter ran one hell of a race.”—M.S.

For reviews of Peter Lovesey’s books, visit Kirkus online.

Kim Hill

The English writer was known for his mystery novels featuring detective Peter Diamond.

K IR KU S R E V IE W S

S E E N A N D H E A R D // F I C T I O N

James Patterson Co-Wrote a Novel With MrBeast The collaboration between the thriller author and the YouTube star is the subject of a bidding war.

Jon Kopalof f/Get t y Images for Prime Video

James Patterson’s latest celebrity co-author is YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, Deadline reports.

The prolific author and the Gen-Z favorite have co-written an untitled novel that is the subject of a bidding war among publishers. The logline for the book is “Players fight to survive deadly tests held in dangerous locations around the world, as they battle to become ‘The One.’” Donaldson joined YouTube in 2012 when he was 13 and went viral for the first time in 2017 with a video of him counting to 100,000. He has more than 380 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, making him the most popular content creator on the website, and is also an entrepreneur, having founded the virtu-

For reviews of James Patterson’s books, visit Kirkus online.

K IR KU S R E V IE W S

SEEN AND HEARD al restaurant MrBeast ­Burger and the snack company Feastables.

Patterson, the bestselling thriller author known for his Alex Cross series of novels, is no stranger to celebrity collaborators. He has written two books with former President Bill Clinton, The President Is Missing and The President’s Daughter; a third one, The First Gentleman, is scheduled for publication in June.

He has also written a novel, Run, Rose, Run, with country music superstar Dolly Parton and has one in the works with actor Viola Davis.

Deadline reports that the collaboration between Patterson and Donaldson was drawing “eight-figure offers” from prospective publishers.—M.S.

Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast

F I C T I O N // S C I E N C E F I C T I O N A N D F A N T A S Y

Kirkus Star

Audition Adam, Pip | Coffee House (240 pp.) | $18.00 paper | June 10, 2025 | 9781566897310

Three giants on an interstellar spacecraft are rapidly running out of room—and they just keep growing.

As unconventional as the premise of New Zealander Adam’s novel seems, the reality is far stranger. Three giants— Stanley, Alba, and Drew—are seemingly all that remain of the spacecraft Audition’s original crew of 18. They can’t be sure of this, however, as they are totally immobile, crammed into whatever spaces they could find large enough to accommodate them when, already enormous compared to “normal-sized humans” at the outset of the voyage, they grew at an exponential rate, with catastrophic results. These giant crew members, “dangerous and annoying” on Earth, were trained to operate the ship in the classroom—an open-air stadium where they were subjected to a barrage of mind control techniques that have made them docile and stripped them of any memory of their prior lives. The spacecraft Audition operates through the mysterious, almost alchemical, process of turning “[their] noise into speed and steering.” Though the goal of their mission is uncertain, Stanley, Alba, and Drew have been trained to keep up a constant stream of inane conversation to make sure the ship’s functions continue to operate, including the artificial gravity that “keeps humans small.” Why did the crew enact an apparently total “silent rebellion” against Audition itself, the consequences of which are what have Stanley, Alba, and Drew crammed up against the rafters? The novel’s three simultaneous narrators don’t know— their agency almost totally stripped from them by their physical suffering, lingering amnesia, and the need to keep up a constant stream of mind-wiping 40

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chatter—but a careful reader can begin to put together the story behind this story as snatches of the lives the giants lived “before the classroom” begin to come into focus. Stunningly inventive, this book is told in three parts that explore the simultaneity of past, present, and future as the three main characters’ voices loop and swell around each other. Though readers may find themselves challenged by this form— akin to Virginia Woolf’s The Waves meeting a 21st century version of Philip K. Dick—the rewards of a sustained read are abundant.

Brilliantly weird. Weirdly brilliant.

Birth of a Dynasty Bado, Chinaza | Harper Voyager (384 pp.) $30.00 | July 29, 2025 | 9780063397606

The first installment in Bado’s fantasy trilogy is set in a realm ruled by a tyrannical dynasty and largely follows two characters as they struggle to survive in a viper pit of political intrigue while also trying to find a way to attain vengeance for atrocities done to their families.

The kingdom of Zenzele has ruled Ahkebulin—and its multiple noble houses—for centuries. But when a Zenzele attack force slaughters the entire noble family of House Mukundi of Madada, Zenzele leaders think they’ve put an end to a prophecy that foretold the fall of their dynasty when the houses Mukundi and Nnamani “become one.”

But 10-year-old M’kuru Mukundi somehow survives and, after escaping to a nearby town, begins a new life with a new identity. He never forgets the horrors that he witnessed, however, and sets out to destroy all those who murdered his family. To keep the House of Nnamani in check, the royal family of Zenzele brings 8-year-old Zikora Nnamani, the only daughter of Lord Nnamani, to the capital city to live with them. But once there, the precocious girl—who wants nothing more than to

be a warrior—realizes she is a pawn in a brutal game of power and control.

While the writing is fluid and almost lyrical in places, the narrative falls short in satisfying reader expectation. Fantasy fans will find the worldbuilding to be a bit disappointing. Giants and iron dwarves are referenced but then all but forgotten, as are creatures like sabertoothed lions (called Liabrein) and elephants; the seemingly Afrocentric realm is only superficially explored, creating a cardboard backdrop. Lastly, the plot takes a long time to gain momentum. The initial slow pacing and low intensity, coupled with the lack of a strong hook in the beginning chapters, may lead more than a few readers to put the book down. Sadly, they will be missing out on what eventually becomes a solid storyline.

Although it’s flawed, the potential is there for future installments to salvage this epic tale of retribution.

Unworld Greene, Jayson | Knopf (224 pp.) $26.04 | June 17, 2025 | 9780593802182

Three women and one female digital entity find their lives inextricably intertwined after the violent death of a teenage boy.

After her troubled son, Alex, falls off a cliff, Anna is left tormented by a single question: Was his death an accident or suicide? Through the four voices that tell the story, novelist Greene reveals that the answer is as complex as the future world in which this novel is set.

The story opens with Anna grappling with the death of her son and the loss of Aviva, the digital entity that shared her consciousness and then asked for emancipation to claim “upload personhood.” Unknown to Anna, Cathy, a professor at a local college with a specialty in upload rights, becomes Aviva’s next host and the person who learns—and experiences—the pain that the self-contained Anna is unable to K IR KU S R E V IE W S

S C I E N C E F I C T I O N A N D F A N T A S Y // F I C T I O N

fully express. The third narrator, Samantha, offers her perspective on Alex as the best friend who not only witnessed his fall but also the disturbingly close relationship he had with Aviva. The last voice in the novel’s quartet of narrators is that of Aviva herself. Intended as a version of Anna that would help her get “on with [her] life in ways that [she] couldn’t,” Aviva finds herself evolving into the emotionally involved parent her host was not and inspiring Alex to explore digital existence through his computer. As it explores love, loss, and memory, this brilliantly imaginative story speculates on the ways technology may not only enhance but potentially change the nature of human consciousness.

A mesmerizing novel in which boundaries between human and digital are as blurred as those between reality and imagination.

Kirkus Star

Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity Mandelo, Lee, ed. | Erewhon (368 pp.) $18.95 paper | May 27, 2025 | 9781645660866

A powerful collection of queer and trans speculative fiction that asks the question, “But what if things were different?”

Here, queer and trans characters become rebellious teens experiencing their first heartbreak; participants in actual, violent rebellions; and collectors of futuristic artifacts. Sam J. Miller’s opener, “The Republic of Ecstatic Consent,” is a burst of queer, polyamorous joy that teases the palate for what’s to come. In “When the Devil Comes From Babylon,” Maya Deane imagines a brighter future for two closeted trans teens living on a religious cult’s compound. Dominique Dickey’s “Forever Won’t End Like This” examines the overlap between queerness and fandom, blending K IR KU S R E V IE W S

If humans and aliens can’t learn to communicate, someone will die.

SHROUD

together the stories of an actor and the character he plays on a hit TV show.

Ramez Yoakeim puts a gay couple at risk of being exterminated by a violent militia in “Fettle & Sunder.” In Sarah Gailey’s “MoonWife,” a digital medium channels the spirit of a trans man’s late friend, while in Esther Alter’s “The Shabbos Bride,” a Jewish trans woman receives a Shabbos miracle that remolds her entire body.

Editor Mandelo has pulled together 22 stories from some of the strongest speculative fiction authors working today. The writing is crisp, clean, and evocative throughout. Every tale opens onto a different vision of the future—some far-flung, others right around the corner, and each as compelling as the next. Although the mood shifts frequently throughout the anthology—Miller’s tale is easily the most lighthearted, Yoakeim’s the saddest—each story is a poignant, unflinching look at what could be for the LGBTQ+ community.

A radically queer anthology of trans joy and suffering.

Shroud Tchaikovsky, Adrian | Orbit (464 pp.) | $19.99 paper | June 3, 2025 | 9780316579025

If humans and aliens can’t learn to communicate, someone will die.

Industrialization has ravaged Earth, and the Concerns (i.e., corporations) that govern the planet are desperate for resources and locations to colonize. Everyone or everything must be of use to the Concerns, or they’ll be

discarded. So the scientific team in orbit around Shroud, a moon with an extraordinary amount of electromagnetic radiation and what actually seems to be some form of life, is under a great deal of pressure from its bosses to produce profitable results that will allow the planetary system to be more efficiently mined for raw materials and made ready for colonization. Then an accident in space leads to part of the team crashing onto the surface of Shroud inside an explorer pod. Their desperate attempt to find a way to call for help that will get through the considerable electromagnetic interference sparks many fraught encounters with what appears to be roving crowds of eyeless monsters, but are actually aspects of a sophisticated, multibodied hive mind trying to figure out what exactly the pod is. The humans and the alien collective on Shroud have very different ideas about what a life form is, how communication and information retrieval should be conducted, and how to recognize sentience. These misunderstandings verge on the deadly and ultimately prove transformative to both parties. The plot of this novel, driven by a disaster that strands humans among dangerous aliens, concerns a repressive government whose strong resistance to an equitable first contact is met by potentially stronger resistance from the alien contactee(s). As such, it is more than a little reminiscent of the author’s Hugo-nominated Alien Clay (2024), even if the government and the alien are quite different. While it reads like a meditation on the same theme, especially in the relevance of its socioeconomic and political milieu to contemporary circumstances, it is also well crafted and full of tense moments, building up to an emotional gut punch.

All retreads should be this good.

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F I C T I O N // R O M A N C E

Two booksellers vie for the same job following the announcement of a merger.

B AT T L E O F T H E B O O KS T O R E S

No Ordinary Love Ariel, Myah | Berkley (320 pp.) | $19.00 paper | April 1, 2025 | 9780593640616

A pop superstar on the verge of a divorce falls for a major league pitcher.

Ella Simone dropped out of college in order to pursue her dreams of becoming a working musician. She married the music producer who helped land her first record contract when she was only 20. Now it’s a decade later and she’s just filed for divorce, only to learn that the predatory terms of her prenup would leave her with almost nothing, including the rights to her own music.

Her lawyer thinks they can win the legal battle but warns Ella to stay out of the social media spotlight. Soon after, Ella has a wardrobe malfunction at the Grammys while presenting an award with Dodgers pitcher Miles Westbrook.

The media frenzy dissecting the event—and the palpable chemistry between Ella and Miles—seems likely to tip the court of public opinion toward her ex-husband. Ella’s team concocts a PR plan to smooth things over: Miles will star in Ella’s next music video, and she will support his foundation with a performance. The novel focuses on Ella’s struggles to find herself after her husband’s painful betrayal. She’s attracted to Miles, but he’s only in a handful of scenes in the first half of the book, most of them in the presence of other people. In lieu of making Miles a point-of-view character, Ariel incorporates flashbacks to the early days of Ella’s marriage, emails from her mother, and transcriptions of 42

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voice notes between the lovers. As a result, Ella’s past and present are completely rendered, but Miles is woefully underdeveloped. The exchange of voice notes is distancing and ineffective, showing characters who talk at rather than to each other.

Even when a dramatic turn of events should put Miles and his feelings in the spotlight, he barely gets a chance to speak on his own behalf.

A poignant portrait of a woman’s divorce coupled with an unconvincing new romance.

Battle of the Bookstores Brady, Ali | Berkley (432 pp.) | $19.00 paper June 3, 2025 | 9780593640845

Two rival booksellers vie for the same position following the announcement of a merger.

Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson are bookstore managers on the same street in Boston, but that’s where their similarities end. Josie manages Tabula Inscripta, a shop catering to literature, while Ryan runs a romanceonly bookstore named Happy Endings. When both find themselves under the new ownership of Xander Laing, a notorious developer who’s already purchased most of the block, their futures hang in the balance.

Xander wants to merge the bookstores with a nearby coffee shop, and surely the new space doesn’t need two managers. Josie and Ryan vacillate between disliking each other and attempting to unite behind the common goal of preserving their

beloved spaces. However, many of the details are wrong. Josie is somehow the only staff member of her bookstore, which in reality would be nearly impossible. The stores are also located in Somerville’s Davis Square, though the setting is frequently described as being in Boston. Josie is particularly antagonistic toward romance as a genre and the Happy Endings team, only begrudgingly coming to the realization that romance novels can also be literary. While Josie does eventually soften her judgment of other people’s taste in books, reading so many putdowns of the genre isn’t a lot of fun for a romance reader.

There’s also a You’ve Got Mail–style subplot in which Josie and Ryan are online friends through a forum for book lovers without knowing each other’s identity. It’s fine, but there are better options when it comes to Nora Ephron–inspired rom-coms.

A bookstore romance best left on the shelf.

Bad Publicity Gillam, Bianca | Penguin (336 pp.) | $18.00 paper | May 20, 2025 | 9780143138600

A publicist is forced to confront her past when she discovers her new client is an old fling.

Andie’s first day at her new publishing gig in New York really didn’t go as planned. First, after she found out that she’d be working with one of the company’s top authors, she dropped an f-bomb in a meeting with her boss. Jack Carlson is a handsome young historian transitioning into fiction writing, and he’s also Andie’s ex. Andie and Jack met while studying at the University of Edinburgh, and it’s a time Andie does not look back on fondly. It’s been five years since Andie allowed herself to remember the terrible events that unfolded with Jack, along with the heart-wrenching and unexpected death of her father, half a K IR KU S R E V IE W S

R O M A N C E // F I C T I O N

decade since she’s effectively addressed her grief and anger…and she isn’t going to start now. Unfortunately, she and Jack will be stuck together for a month as she accompanies him on his book tour through the U.S. and Europe, and it’s Andie’s responsibility to make sure everything runs smoothly. It doesn’t help that Jack is charming and beloved by fans and booksellers alike, and that he desperately wishes to make amends. Initially, Andie is successful at keeping Jack at arm’s length, but soon enough, she begins to remember why she fell for him in the first place. Can Andie keep the past where it belongs, or will her repressed feelings threaten to destroy her career and new beginning with Jack? Gillam’s debut rom-com explores grief and second chances, set in an appealing European landscape and an industry that will appeal to bibliophiles. The book delves deeply into the way Andie deals with the loss of a loved one, betrayal, and a seemingly unresolved depression. Readers may be a bit hard-pressed to find the comedy in this rom-com, but will instead find a protagonist grappling with years of suppressed emotions as she rediscovers her purpose.

A moving tale of grief and second-­ chance love, without any hints of typical rom-com levity.

This Much Is True Lorret, Vivienne | Avon/HarperCollins (384 pp.) | $9.99 paper | July 1, 2025 9780063352506

A lady playwright finds inspiration on the marriage market.

Miss Althea Hartley is in her third Season, but she’s not really looking for a man to marry this year—she’s far too preoccupied trying to find her muse. In her previous Season, the fellow playwright she thought she might marry not only broke her heart, but destroyed her K IR KU S R E V IE W S

confidence in her writing ability as well. Even though she’s looking for inspiration everywhere, she’s still surprised when her muse seems to take the form of Jasper Trueblood, Viscount St. James, a silent giant of a man. Jasper has his reasons for preferring to be seen rather than heard; to avoid the wrath of his cruel uncle, who controls his life, he pretends to be “an addlepated clod” in public, and knows how to disappear when needed. But Althea sees him for who he is, and, after she realizes he inspires her to write, wants to see more of him. As her creativity returns, she starts telling tales of a dashing highwayman, though she almost thinks twice about that after a real highwayman stops the carriage she’s riding in. But after she realizes that Jasper is in fact the highwayman—and for very good reasons, at that—the two of them are pulled closer, even though it appears that they’re starcrossed lovers who can’t have more than a few stolen nights together. The third volume in Lorret’s Liars’ Club series ushers another Hartley sister forward to take her turn in the spotlight, and fans of the theatrical clan will be happy to see them reappear throughout the story. And indeed, melodrama abounds, as do several heated encounters between Althea and Jasper. Lorret’s funny and clever writing shines throughout, with a particular highlight being the unique puppet-centered sex education provided for Althea by her mother.

Unfortunately, the plot is fairly repetitive before an abrupt shift to an overly eventful conclusion, but Lorret’s fans will easily overlook that, thanks to Althea and Jasper’s intense chemistry and clear affection for each other.

A solid Regency featuring a highwayman and the woman who steals his heart.

For more by Vivienne Lorret, visit Kirkus online.

Last Night Was Fun Michelle, Holly | Avon/HarperCollins (368 pp.) | $18.99 paper | June 10, 2025 9780063420366

A wrong number leads to romance between rival data analysts for a baseball team.

As a woman working in the male-dominated world of professional baseball, Emmy Jameson mostly keeps her colleagues at a distance and focuses on the work. She’s up for a senior analyst position against her work nemesis, former baseball player Gabe Olson, and is determined to get the job.

When she receives a text from an unknown number saying, “Last night was fun,” she responds and soon realizes the texter was given a fake number at the bar that just happened to be hers. As the pair keep messaging, their texts become increasingly flirtatious and vulnerable and are a bright spot for Emmy each day. In need of a date to her sister’s destination Cancún wedding, she decides to take the risk and invite her mystery man…only to discover it’s someone she already knows: Gabe, who is equally stunned. At first it’s difficult to pair in her mind the perfect man in her phone with the frustrating coworker in the next cubicle, but as they continue to open up to each other, she realizes the odds are favorable that she found the one for her. The banter between Emmy and Gabe is topnotch, and they seamlessly shift between fun flirtations and heartfelt support. Their careers and backgrounds that drew them to this field add extra interest and create meaningful moments of tension. Other side plots feel more like filler, and with the story told solely from Emmy’s perspective, some elements of Gabe’s characterization feel lacking. Still, their connection is strong, and their love story is filled with charm.

An enticing mélange of swooning, sports, and STEM.

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For more booklists, visit Kirkus online.

Cool Fiction for Hot Summer Days 1 Shopgirls

By Jessica Anya Blau

A quirky fairy tale with a vibrantly realized setting and a wonderfully outrageous twist.

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2 Marguerite by the Lake

By Mary Dixie Carter

Not to be missed, and definitely not to be imitated.

3 Great Black Hope

4 Fog and Fury

A captivating novel of dissolution and redemption.

This captivating blend of angst, mystery, and page-turning suspense delivers a top-notch reading experience.

By Rob Franklin

By Rachel Howzell Hall

5 Food Person

By Adam Roberts

A debut novel that dishes up one of the most delectable ingredients of all: fun.

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Nonfiction

JOHN McMURTRIE

MY MEMORIES OF places I’ve visited are often infused with the books I read while there. I remember reading Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness during the 1990s in Utah’s Arches National Park, where Abbey worked as a ranger. Published in 1968, Desert Solitaire sings the praises of Arches and its beautiful sandstone formations; the author also writes that humans are having a negative impact on the park. It struck me that I was one of those humans, and, ironically, I was there thanks largely to his book, which helped popularize the region.

So many of my experiences away from home have been enriched by books about my destinations.

Decades ago, in northern Michigan, I read Ernest Hemingway’s Nick Adams Stories, set around Walloon Lake, one town over from where I spent several childhood summers. Before living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I got to know some of its history through Joan Didion’s Slouching Towards Bethlehem. In his hoot of a novel, The Sellout, Paul Beatty showed me a part of Los Angeles 46

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that seemed very real— even though, in the book, his fictional community of Dickens is wiped off the map. In France, Annie Ernaux’s work opened my eyes to the interior lives of women, much as Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge did during my travels in Maine. Not everything clicked: In Norway, I tried to inhabit the morose universe of Karl Ove Knausgaard; I preferred reading the landscape.

This summer, I’m going to broaden my horizons by vacationing a lot in my mind. Some places are best visited only on the page— they’re perilous, but they’re still thrilling to read about.

One of them is the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where a British couple finds themselves stranded in Sophie

Elmhirst’s A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck (Riverhead, July 8). Our reviewer calls the book “a tale of an adventure gone definitively wrong…a nimbly told story that should serve as a caution—but oddly, too, as inspiration—to would-be escapists.” Read our interview with Elmhirst on p. 56.

Another aquatic escape is Matthew Gavin Frank’s Submersed: Wonder, Obsession, and Murder in the World of Amateur Submarines (Pantheon, July 3). Frank is afraid of the ocean, but that doesn’t stop him from diving into the water to learn about the murky world of DIY submarines. And yes, it’s also a murder story. Our review says the book is a “a fascinating voyage among

the hidden tides shaping a social niche.”

Can’t afford a vacation to the French Alps? Cédric Sapin-Defour’s forthcoming book can take you there in his soulful account of bonding with a puppy: Ubac and Me: A Life of Love and Adventure With a French Mountain Dog (S&S/ Summit Books, July 15).

And there are those who’d rather stay out of the sun altogether. In Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource (Random House, July 22), environmental journalist Sam Bloch writes about how ill equipped much of the U.S. is in providing the titular shelter. Time to head out of the country in search of a parasoled terrace?

John McMurtrie is the nonfiction editor.

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Illustration by Eric Scot t Ander son

VACATION IN THE PAGES

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EDITOR’S PICK The Bronx was burning.

Insurers and landlords supplied the fuel.

This young historian’s superlative debut substantially upgrades our understanding of notorious crimes that unnerved American cities a half century ago. Fire insurance is not often associated with gripping narratives, but as Ansfield demonstrates, discriminatory gaps in coverage incited a deadly, protracted spectacle “from Boston to Seattle.” In the 1970s, “a wave of landlord arson” struck numerous urban neighborhoods, most conspicuously the Bronx.

Fires and related issues claimed a staggering 20% of the borough’s housing stock, displacing thousands and killing as many as 300 New Yorkers a year. Terrified residents slept in their shoes,

These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star

packed suitcases nearby. The destruction had deep roots, Ansfield explains. Insurance companies, increasingly focused on fast-growing suburbs, sped the pace of their “decades-long withdrawal from U.S. cities” after predominantly Black 1960s “rebellions” in Detroit, Newark, and Los Angeles. In response, federal and state governments instituted a public-private insurance plan dubbed FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements). In this period, FAIR policies were haphazardly granted, and many properties were insured for far more than their market value. Crooked landlords cashed in, hiring impoverished locals to burn buildings and teaming up to run “an arson-for-hire business out of a Bronx storefront.” One arson ring 48

King of Kings

By Scott Anderson

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Born in Flames

By Bench Ansfield

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Flashes of Brilliance

By Anika Burgess

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The Call of the Honeyguide

By Rob Dunn

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Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City Ansfield, Bench | Norton | 352 pp. $31.99 | Aug. 19, 2025 | 9781324093510

burned 250 buildings, collecting millions in payouts before they were caught. The problem was worsened by deregulation and accompanying shifts in the economic system, which spurred disinvestment in cities and reshaped the insurance industry, with companies making much of their money by investing customer premiums in stock,

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Bad Company

By Megan Greenwell

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A Marriage at Sea

By Sophie Elmhirst

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Black Soldiers, White Laws

By John Haymond

Misbehaving at the Crossroads

By Honorée Fanonne Jeffers Black Genius

By Tre Johnson Dinner With King Tut

By Sam Kean

bond, and money markets.

The 1970s Bronx fires were frequently blamed on tenants, a relatively small number of whom did commit arson, Ansfield writes. But this excellent book delivers the truth about “the burning years.”

A vital history of racial discrimination in the insurance market—and the fires that followed.

Matriarch

By Tina Knowles with Kevin Carr O’Leary Beneath Our Feet

By Michael Lewis and Ian Richardson

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The Very Heart of It

By Thomas Mallon

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I Regret Almost Everything

By Keith McNally

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The Trembling Hand

By Mathelinda Nabugodi

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David Hockney Edited by Norman Rosenthal

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NONFICTION

I’ll Tell You When I’m Home: A Memoir Alyan, Hala | Avid Reader Press (224 pp.) $28.99 | June 3, 2025 | 9781982182588

A debut memoir from an acclaimed Palestinian American novelist and poet.

“I need this story out—I can feel it clawing my neck, tightening my breath,” writes Alyan. In this memoir, she explores the impact that displacement and loss have had on her sense of self. “This was how I’d come to feel, unclaimed, dislocated from the places that made me, the places I’d sworn I’d return to but hadn’t.” Born in the United States to a father from Palestine and a mother from Kuwait, Alyan spent much of her life in a state of exile as she and her family moved from location to location to escape conflict. “How to explain being Palestinian and American? You must disavow the former to prove the latter.”

Further, she writes, “You exist in both identities like a ghost, belonging to neither.” As Alyan prepares for motherhood, she finds herself confronting her past in order make way for the future. “Number of times pregnant. Five.

Number of live births. Zero.” After years without success, Alyan sought the services of a surrogate to fulfill her dream of having a child. The arc of her narrative follows the course of the pregnancy. As she ponders the relationship she will have with her child, the author finds her relationship with her husband falling apart. Alyan also explores her past battles with addiction, and other destructive behaviors, and the impact they had on her and her family.

Rather than a straightforward memoir, Alyan relates her story like journal entries, transitioning back and forth between time and place, offering small windows into her unique view of the world and creating an intimate experience for the reader.

An emotion-packed exploration of the impact of loss on identity.

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Kirkus Star

King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation Anderson, Scott | Doubleday (512 pp.) $35.00 | Aug. 5, 2025 | 9780385548076

A thoroughgoing history of the last years of the Pahlavi dynasty and the rise of the Islamist theocracy in Iraq.

Shah Reza Pahlavi, notes journalist and historian Anderson, met with seven American presidents over his long reign.

When the last, Jimmy Carter, took office, the Shah had reason to worry, since Carter had run on a clean-government, pro–human rights platform. “Both these promises,” Anderson writes, “cast an uncomfortable spotlight on Iran.” At the time, Islamist protest was rising in the Shah’s realm, and with it demonstrations by outlawed leftist groups; when the Shah arrived in Washington, D.C., more than 4,000 Iranians, mostly in the latter camp, greeted him in protest. The Shah proved ineffectual in suppressing the growing rebellion and tried to mollify some critics, even though he was warned to do something: As Anderson documents, “the more dovish State Department felt it was vital that his program of political reforms continue while he sought to restore order”—but Carter’s national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, “felt that order should be reestablished first” and urged a crackdown. Although there were some high-profile victims of political intrigue, including a middle-aged son of the then-exiled cleric Ayatollah Khomeini, the Shah’s regime was comparatively light-handed: Whereas the government of the Islamic Republic that overthrew the Shah recorded that the regime had killed 60,000 Iranians, an investigative committee “arrived at the remarkably precise figure of 2,781.” Not bad, measured against the Islamists, who killed 5,000 leftists in a single week

during a purge of 1988, as well as thousands more Iranians executed in the first years of Khomeini’s government. It’s ironic that the U.S., in Cold War mode, bet on the wrong horse, subverting the leftists while “a Red Iran probably would have been far preferable to the Iran they got.”

An eye-opening history of how Iran became a point on the “axis of evil” and is considered such a dangerous enemy today.

You Have a New Memory Arata, Aiden | Grand Central Publishing (240 pp.) | $28.00 July 22, 2025 | 9781538767597

A trip into social media.

In her debut book, writer, artist, memer, and influencer Arata gathers 10 essays about power, identity, commodification, and, not least, reality. Like Umberto Eco in Travels in Hyperreality, Arata depicts a world of fakes, artificiality, and commercialization: in short, the seductive milieu of cyberspace. “In Real Life,” the title of an essay about her 10-day stay at a Carthusian cloister, could serve for many other pieces, as well, in which she contrasts the world of the internet—“AIM, LiveJournal, chatrooms”—with tangible, physical spaces. Real-life interactions, she admits, leave her feeling anxious, while social media offers a chance at transformation.

She writes, “There was nothing remarkable about me—nothing special enough to justify my existence—but if I posted enough for my twenty-eight friends, the meaning of my life might come together, the mundane made lapidary. Better than the right to exist: the right to be someone else.” Becoming an influencer enhances that sense of being someone else.

Influencers, she asserts, are “power traders of the attention economy, they mediate the sharp sleaze of advertising into something soft and trustworthy.” Besides the huge amount of free merchandise companies shower on influencers, she’s K IR KU S R E V IE W S

NONFICTION

New Zealand’s former prime minister speaks up.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF POWER

even more excited by the ability to affect people’s behavior. “The impulse to influence was humiliating, but also intoxicating, or maybe intoxicating because it was humiliating,” she writes.

“I could easily, happily, sell and be sold.” In “My Year of Earning and Spending,” she recounts both sides: ghost-writing affiliate memes for an ad agency and buying useless stuff with her earnings—slick polyester sheets, pink platform crocs, a subscription to Enchanted Living Magazine. Narcissism, the compulsion to post, sincerity, and authenticity thread through Arata’s essays on the chaos of memedom and the heady influencer economy.

Acerbic reflections on being digital.

A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir Ardern, Jacinda | Crown (352 pp.) $32.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9780593728697

Thoughtful memoir by the former prime minister of New Zealand.

Ardern’s story opens at a nervous crossroads: She may or may not be on the verge of assuming the leadership of her country, depending on the entanglements of parliamentary backroom brokering, and she may or may not be pregnant. It turns out that she both wins the job and is with child, which leads to the first of many critical moments she faces, with a sharp question raised: “Is it okay for the prime minister to take maternity leave while in office?” The scrutiny was already intense.

At 37, Ardern was the country’s youngest leader in more than a century and a half, was a woman, was a leader of the leftist Labour Party—and, incidentally, was a K IR KU S R E V IE W S

lapsed Mormon. For all that, Ardern writes, in her first 100 days in office she and her team pushed through numerous reforms, including world-leading work on combating climate change, committing her country to carbon neutrality by 2050, “not because we want to…but because we have to.” No sooner did Ardern say those words than did news break of the Christchurch mass shootings of Muslim New Zealanders, which prompted changing gun laws that involved “debating the line between meaningful reform and onerous burden.” Add to that, soon after, the ravages of Covid-19.

Thanks to a lockdown and general conformity to social distancing rules, New Zealand’s life expectancy increased, Ardern notes. But even so, a swirl of online conspiracy theories fueled a kind of homegrown MAGA movement whose members even occupied Parliament, as if to ape the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. It’s small wonder that Ardern resigned in 2023, a decision she relates with pained honesty about whether she had the will to continue in the job.

An account of life in the political trenches that is alternately inspiring and dispiriting.

The Playing Lesson: A Duffer’s Year Among the Pros Bamberger, Michael | Avid Reader Press (288 pp.) | $30.00 | May 20, 2025 9781668060155

An amateur golfs across America via jobs, friends, and checks.

The prolific, acclaimed author of golf books (To the Linksland ) offers up one of those “a year in the life of ” books, a welcoming tale

of his playing golf at a number of different courses and PGA events.

Up first is the Bob Hope Desert Classic pro-am in January, with Bamberger working as a volunteer and recounting a number of golf-related anecdotes inspired to some extent by George Plimpton’s popular The Bogey Man. At the “rigid, cold, and corporate” AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, he manages to caddy for a wealthy man and USGA board member. Along the way Bamberger hopes his readers uncover “something on this long green trip that helps you in your golfing quest.” He has to write a $7,000 check to get into the WM Phoenix Open’s one-round Monday pro-am.

Throughout, he profiles numerous pros and amateurs, including LIV golf announcer David Feherty in Las Vegas, and revels (for now) in newly acquired golf swing and putting tips.

He plays in a pro-am for the LPGA’s stepping-stone Epson Tour. He even plays in the pro-am of Florida’s Ocala Open on the minor-league tour—for $500. Meanwhile, he opines on the fairness and unfairness of the rules of golf and using the right equipment. In Miami, Bamberger plays in a LIV pro-am even though he disdains LIV golf. At the Masters he sadly watches long-time announcer Verne Lundquist descend for the last time from his famous perch by the 16th green. Hobnobbing with the likes of Nancy Lopez, he plays in four LPGA pro-ams in New Jersey. Ever the philosopher-­ golfer, Bamberger reminds us that “no matter our level of play, golf gives us the freedom to make our own crappy decisions, along with some good ones.”

Pleasant golf memories abound in this refreshing, rambling paean to the game.

For more by Michael Bamberger, visit Kirkus online.

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The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-of-theCentury America Baron, David | Liveright/Norton (336 pp.) $29.99 | Aug. 26, 2025 | 9781324090663

Entertaining account of the Mars madness that saturated popular culture at the turn of the 20th century.

Every year or two for a couple of centuries, a new book or movie or bit of news comes along to suggest that Mars once hosted life forms—and may yet do so, hidden under red rocks and sand dunes. As science journalist Baron records, that long trend traces back to the late 19th century, with numerous protagonists. In France, Camille Flammarion, a budding scientist, wrote novels in his spare time in which he supposed “other planets to be populated by the souls of dead humans,” with one pair of doomed lovers reincarnated on Mars. So popular was Flammarion that an admirer gave him an imposing château outside Paris that he converted into his own observatory. In the U.S., Baron continues, came “the Mars boom of 1892,” promulgated by, among others, future news magnate Joseph Pulitzer, whose papers breathlessly reported “three bright spots, like powerful searchlights,” beaming down from Martian mountains. Italian scientist Giovanni Schiaparelli speculated that the regular lines that he could see through his telescope were ancient canals, a theme picked up by American astronomy buff and patron Percival Lowell, who in turn was sure that ancient civilizations once flourished on Mars. On that note, Baron turns to the liveliest part of his story, namely the influence of all this tentative, often flawed science on popular culture. He writes, “Lowell’s influence leapfrogged to a whole new generation when the creator of another craze—­the Tarzan novels—­wrote a string of adventure books set on a fictional Mars known by its inhabitants as Barsoom.” That 50

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author, Edgar Rice Burroughs, in turn inspired Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, and many other sci-fi writers who gave us shelves of books by which to “pass Lowell’s imaginative torch on to yet another generation.”

Are there Martians out there? Baron has evident good fun looking into the origins of an ongoing craze.

The Art of Winning: Lessons From My Life in Football Belichick, Bill | Simon & Schuster (320 pp.) $35.00 | May 6, 2025 | 9781668080832

Up your game, even if it’s not football.

Belichick coached the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl wins, but here he targets readers in less glamorous fields. “You know the feeling of settling back at your desk and opening your email after a long vacation?” he writes.

NFL coaches do—every summer when training camp starts. Belichick encourages us to view such workplace challenges as opportunities to outmaneuver competitors. “Adversity is universal,” he writes on one of several pages reserved for a few words in huge, all-caps text. “Get over yours before the other person gets over theirs.” He shares numerous football stories, several of them compelling. In 1975, he worked for no pay for the Baltimore Colts, snapping the ball in practice to the team’s quarterback and shadowing Coach Ted Marchibroda—“a graduate-level tutorial in QB coaching.” His Patriots anecdotes are mostly paeans to great players and overachieving low-draft picks. Tom Brady was both.

Belichick prefaces a story about his longtime quarterback as “one I’ve never told before.” Alas, it’s a toothless yarn about Brady’s self-confidence. Outside the lines, Belichick admires—and serially cites—prominent CEOs and financiers who’ve been glorified in other books. Belichick’s dry humor lifts otherwise pedestrian sections about

workplace communication and taking on new roles, and he owns some of his missteps, among them his failure to draft future MVP Lamar Jackson as Brady’s successor. Curiously, Belichick finds time to remark on Janet Jackson’s 2004 Super Bowl halftime show “wardrobe malfunction,” yet the biggest controversies of his tenure—Deflategate and the arrest (and eventual murder conviction) of one of his players, Aaron Hernandez—go unmentioned. Instead, there are platitudes on how to “take positive steps to affect change” and “win as a team.”

Professional advice—and a handful of interesting stories—from a gridiron champion.

What Is Queer Food?: How We Served a Revolution Birdsall, John | Norton (256 pp.) $29.99 | June 3, 2025 | 9781324073796

Exploring how food has helped define the act of queer survival across decades of sexual prohibition.

Sectioned into four chronological parts, Birdsall, a celebrated culture and food writer, explores how the art of gastronomy became integrated into queer culture despite the prevalence of a closeted 20th-century “homosexual underground.” His narrative first probes the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when same-gender desire was considered a pathology and restaurants like San Francisco’s Paper Doll provided a safer haven for gender-challenging individuals. This was also true at the marble tables of Café Nicholson in Manhattan, which emerged as one of several queer-friendly “spaces with a dynamic mix of art and performance…where people’s masks could slip.” As the book meanders into the “audacious tang” of mid-1980s queer liberation, Birdsall expansively cites influential queer pioneers and disruptors like Harry Baker, inventor of the chiffon cake in 1927; Café Nicholson’s renowned chef K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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The toxic chemicals—PFAS— seep into water tables and turn up in organic foods.

THEY POISONED THE WORLD

Edna Lewis; James Baldwin; and Truman Capote, among others. Birdsall emphasizes relevant volumes like The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book, scouring it for cloaked queer meaning, as well as 1940s food editor Genevieve Callahan’s lesbian-coded The California Cook Book, since, at the time, the publishing industry imperative was to “scrub manifestly queer voices from cookbooks.” Through an enthusiastic narrative, Birdsall names names and cites legacies of those responsible for ushering forward the evolution of queer food despite “a system determined to deny, prosecute, marginalize queer existence.”

Naturally, Birdsall’s toothsome, astute four-course queer culinary history lesson begins and ends with cake.

An informative and expert analysis of the culture of food fueling a queer revolution.

They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals Blake, Mariah | Crown (320 pp.) $30.00 | July 15, 2025 | 9781524760090

A sharp-edged report on the world that toxic chemicals—and their manufacturers—have made.

The large class of chemicals called perfluoro­ alkyl and poly­ fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are pervasive in industrial use. As investigative journalist Blake writes, they “transformed thousands of everyday items—­dental floss, clothing, furniture, food packaging, and carpet, to name just a few.” Because they are ubiquitous and have a long half-life, K IR KU S R E V IE W S

they are also known as “forever chemicals,” with frightening consequence. Blake adds, they “have been linked to obesity, infertility, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, neurological problems, immune suppression, and life-­threatening pregnancy complications, among numerous other maladies.” As her book chronicles alongside accounts of lawsuits and testimonials by ordinary citizens, even as our bodies are now awash in these chemicals, some bodies are less equal than others: In the largely rural places where they are manufactured, PFAS seep into water tables, befoul farm fields, and even turn up in organic foods and wild game. They and kindred chemicals are now even carried by rainwater, making the whole planet, as one report Blake cites puts it, “outside the safe operating space” for human and animal life. Fortunately, Blake writes, something is being done: The European Commission has banned the production and sale of PFAS, and some states—including Minnesota, where 3M and other manufacturers made heavy use of them—prohibit or strictly control them, for all the dodges and loopholes industry has introduced into law through its lobbyists. (As Blake notes, meaningfully, it was Big Chemical that “invented many of the methods that Big Tobacco and other industries would later deploy to pick apart the science tying lucrative products to disease.”) More needs to be done, of course, since the battle has been joined anew, and on shifting ground, with the Trump administration having shown little interest in protecting consumer safety or regulating industry.

In her skillfully told work of advocacy, Blake offers a call to arms against poisoning for profit.

Street Cats & Where To Find Them: The Most Feline-Friendly Cities and Attractions Around the World Bogle, Jeff | Running Press (224 pp.) $24.00 | Aug. 19, 2025 | 9780762489145

Hello, kitties of the world.

Bogle proudly calls himself a “cat dad.” His path to this form of parenthood wasn’t obvious. He didn’t live with cats when he was a kid. Inheriting his parents’ views—“Cats aren’t nice. They bite. Their pee smells”—Bogle was predisposed not to like them. “This cat is going to ruin my life!” he whined when a girlfriend told him they were going to care for her aunt’s pet, Kitt.

Within a few hours, this 24-year-old was a new man. Kitt was purring into his shoulder and sleeping on his chest.

He wondered: “What in the hell was wrong with my parents?” Bogle has since made up for lost time. He’s rescued cats, bottle-fed kittens, and, in his words, “watched approximately two million hours of English football (a.k.a. soccer) on TV with at least one cat sleeping on me.” A travel writer and photographer, Bogle began documenting his encounters with strays all over the world. His book showcases 20 places where he’s made feline friends.

“When it comes to street cats,” he writes, “I admire how they can be back-alley tough; live on scraps; endure intense heat, extreme cold, and driving rain; and survive it all with nothing but generations’ worth of literal street smarts matted into their DNA, yet still crane their neck to say hello there, kind stranger, please immediately stop what you’re doing and pet me.” Among his “drool-worthy photographs,” as he justifiably calls them, are images of cats he meets in the parks of Lima, Peru: “Never in my life have I seen so many cats sitting on so many laps!” He spends time with cats that hang out amid the produce at a market in Santiago, Chile; on carpets in the old city of Marrakesh, Morocco; on Tashirojima (“Cat MAY 15, 2025

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Island”) in Japan; and, if you please, the very welcoming Café des Chats in Paris.

An irresistible collection of international cats, as photographed by an exuberant “cat dad.”

The Key to Everything: May Swenson, a Writer’s Life Brucia, Margaret A. | Princeton Univ. (288 pp.) $29.95 | July 8, 2025 | 9780691247236

A poet’s private thoughts.

Literary scholar Brucia draws on diaries, correspondence, and autobiographical writings by May Swenson (19131989) to afford an intimate look at the poet’s life, focused especially on her early career, from the age of 22 to 46. Swenson was born in Utah, the first child in what grew to be a large Mormon family. As an adolescent, she began questioning her faith, and at Utah State Agricultural College, she rebelled by smoking, using profanity, and embracing her lesbian identity. Throughout her life, though, she maintained loving ties to her parents and siblings. Swenson arrived in New York in 1936, with little money but a passionate desire to succeed as a poet. Brucia traces the “resilience and instinct for survival” that saw her through hard times as she subsisted on low-paying secretarial jobs; landed in cheap rentals; lost her virginity to one of her employers; shoplifted clothing; and had affairs with men and women. In 1938, she was hired by the Federal Writers’ Project, assigned to the Living Lore Unit tasked with collecting first-person narratives. In the course of her work, she met Anca Vrbovska and fell in love. In Swenson’s words, they were “as committed to each other as a married couple”—until she couldn’t abide Anca’s tantrums and “dictatorship.”

Championed by poet Alfred Kreymborg and publisher James Laughlin, Swenson was invited to the writers’ retreats of Yaddo and MacDowell, and 52

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her work began to appear in magazines, including the New Yorker. Her first book of poetry was published in 1954, news that she happily shared with her friend Elizabeth Bishop.

Many books and prestigious awards followed, even as her health declined.

Quoting extensively from Swenson’s writings, Brucia allows the poet’s voice to clearly emerge.

A perceptive, sympathetic biography.

Kirkus Star

Flashes of Brilliance: The Genius of Early Photography and How It Transformed Art, Science, and History Burgess, Anika | Norton (320 pp.) $35.00 | July 8, 2025 | 9781324051107

Say “prunes”—as people were once advised when sitting for austere portraits.

Photography is a dangerous business. Or at least it used to be.

Consider some of the perils that Burgess chronicles in her enlightening book about the early days of the industry. In the mid-19th century, a photo chemist’s windows blew out as gun cotton—a darkroom ingredient— exploded. Two years later, the man wasn’t as lucky: He was killed in another explosion. In the 1880s, German scientists invented Blitzlichtpulver, or lightning flash powder, which provided illumination for photographers. True to its name, the stuff was potent. In 1890, a photographer eager to document the opening of the Pulitzer Building in Manhattan packed an “extra quantity” of flash powder, causing a blast that took out 50 windows. Beyond working with explosives, photographers used cyanide as a fixing agent. It was lethal when it got into cuts, and touching it led to swelling, “intolerable” pain, and amputations.

Happily, not all is grim in this entertaining account. Burgess, a former visual editor at Atlas Obscura, tells of many creative photographers, going back to

Nicéphore Niépce, whose modest shot out a window dates to 1826. (Be grateful, Instagrammers: The world’s oldest surviving photo took eight hours to capture.) Among the author’s better-known subjects is the creative Frenchman Nadar. Burgess’ dry wit comes through in this description: “Like most people who operate under a mononym, he was also a talented self-promoter.” Nadar took cameras into the catacombs and sewers of Paris and above the city, in his balloon Le Géant (which was taller than the Statue of Liberty). Aerial photography drew experimenters at the time—one of the many images included shows a woman (probably Lela Cody, photographer Samuel Cody’s wife) dangling from a batlike kite. The book is packed with equally astonishing details, covering the fields of under­ water photography, microphotography (great for concealing sexually explicit images), and—­long before artificial intelligence—­photo manipulation.

A scintillating history that’ll have you looking at photography in a new light.

Trying: A Memoir Caldwell, Chloé | Graywolf (208 pp.) | $18.00 paper | Aug. 5, 2025 | 9781644453476

Love, loss, and getting what you want.

Essayist and memoirist Caldwell reflects on the three years she spent undergoing intrauterine insemination when she was in her mid-30s, married to a musician she calls B. “I thought it would go like this,” she writes. “I’d tell people I was trying, and six months later I’d be pregnant, and everyone would see that I get what I want when I want it.” It didn’t go that way, though, and Caldwell faced repeated disappointments as she underwent tests and procedures, trips to the fertility clinic (with a happily anticipated stop at Trader Joe’s), and sometimes wacky advice. An acupuncturist, for example, tells her to make a K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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shrine and bring it warm milk every morning. Meanwhile, she teaches writing, publishes, and on weekends works at a high-end boutique that offers “life-changing pants.” Her own life is satisfying, but not enough: “One of my friends understands, because she’s had experience with both books and babies.

‘A book is a small consolation when it’s a baby you want,’ she says.” Suddenly, though, infertility is not the only problem Caldwell faces: Her husband confesses that he has been abusing drugs and spending thousands of dollars on sex workers. Although he begs her to give him another chance, she ends the marriage and gives herself another chance, instead: to embrace her queer identity. “Was it that my approach toward getting pregnant, the intention and grueling effort, helped my queerness resurface?” she wonders.

“Had I been approaching getting pregnant like a queer person?” Was infertility caused by her unconscious rejection of her philandering husband—and his sperm? This infertility memoir ends with rebirth: Caldwell’s new, energized sense of herself.

An intimate, engaging memoir.

Clam Down: A Metamorphosis Chen, Anelise | One World/Random House (368 pp.) | $29.00 | June 3, 2025 9781984801845

Going into her shell.

As Chen struggles in the aftermath of her divorce, her mother, wishing her daughter to calm down, repeatedly texts the author this misspelled advice: “clam

down.” This leads Chen to write of herself as having morphed into a clam: “She hadn’t meant to become a bivalve mollusk, but it happened.” The result is a dreamlike, albeit carefully studied, tale exploring introversion, hardening one’s exterior as a means of self-protection and reliance. “Since her transformation,” she writes, “she was more convinced she could hold it together.” Chen, the author of the experimental novel So Many Olympic Exertions, mines reclusion with a full commitment to metaphor, opting for descriptions that provide distance from the rawness and expression of her emotions. The layering transforms this unusual memoir into a palimpsest.

Chen’s tone avoids anthropomorphizing her nameless female subject, referred to only as “the clam,” but her notes on parallels between mollusks and people glimmer as the author’s vulnerable revelations: “Clams, like humans, needed to open their mouths to live.” Chen’s life continues—she travels, reads, teaches, spends time in social situations and dates—even as she denies her personhood: “Her shell held her together…she lived inside it, it contained her—she couldn’t see beyond it….Then she would be able to look back, one day, to see what she was creating.” In the book’s second half, the author intersperses chapters narrated in the first-person perspective of her father, who shares many of Chen’s hermetic traits. (“I don’t like talk to anybody.”) The clam, meanwhile, makes supernumerary references to Darwin’s evolutionary theories as well as myriad historical and modern representations of mollusks. Her meditations lead her to examine “her family’s Asian clam tendencies” and to question, then accept, her father’s preference for solitude. The book drags a bit, yet it pays off as Chen, ultimately, steps into her own voice with a greater understanding of healing.

A poignant and wholly original memoir of liberation through confinement.

A mother’s misspelled advice leads to a transformation.

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Destroyer of Worlds: The Deep History of the Nuclear Age Close, Frank | Basic Books (352 pp.) $32.00 | June 10, 2025 | 9781541605893

How we learned to start worrying about the bomb.

Close, a British particle physicist who has written more than two dozen books, writes, “It’s little appreciated that there were three Industrial Revolutions.”

The first was powered by the 18th century’s steam engines; the second was brought about with the 19th century’s discovery of electromagnetic induction, a fundamental principle of electric motors.

The third, the nuclear age, which remains fraught with haunting questions and moral uncertainty, comes under careful inspection in Close’s sweeping examination of the people, science, and politics that brought it to bear. The result is a compelling account of a global drive to harness a power that we may never feel at ease with. The author writes of the discovery of X-rays and the early seeds of nuclear research, telling of the fabled women and men who made key discoveries in the five decades of nuclear development that culminated with the October 1961 Soviet test of the largest nuclear weapon ever constructed or detonated. The 50-megaton “Tsar Bomba,” he writes, has “a unique place in history” because “the nuclear energy released in this single explosion amounts to 10% of all the known tests worldwide, before or since.” Throughout this captivating narrative, Close explores the motivations, successes, and failings of significant figures and moments in nuclear history, ultimately bringing the reader back to wonder about the morality of the power this revolution unleashed.

For Close, the core nuclear dilemma was personal: He completed a first draft of the book while being treated with radiation therapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

A deeply researched and finely told history of the revolution with which we have yet to make peace.

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What Is Wrong With Men: Patriarchy, the Crisis of Masculinity, and How (Of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything Crispin, Jessa | Pantheon (288 pp.) $27.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9780593317624

A cultural critic traces a nebulous redefinition of masculinity to the last decades of the 20th century.

In her new work, Crispin’s tools of critique are the erotic thrillers in which Michael Douglas starred in the 1980s and ’90s. The characters he played during this time, the author suggests, all reflect a “new masculinity” trying to find purchase in the wake of not only feminism’s second and third waves, but also shifts to America’s global position at the end of the Cold War. Women had achieved, even if imperfectly, new freedoms and had built resourceful networks of community and advocacy to propel themselves from patriarchy’s grip.

Men, however, floundered in the face of perceived disempowerment. Failing to discern a new model of masculinity in their changing world, they become narrowly—even dangerously—reactive, shaping manliness into something marked by paranoid outrage, monetary greed, and cruel individualism. This is a niche period, both for Michael Douglas as a celebrity—his work after the turn of the century is only barely covered in the text, with some films not mentioned at all—and for the creation of a post-patriarchal society. The Douglas films offer examples as touchpoints for the author to discuss stereotypes like midlife crisis and nostalgic nationalism, as well as upheavals like no-fault divorce and the savings and loan banking crisis, all of which give way to the confusion, denial, and ultimately defensiveness and grievance that fuel a widespread conversation about how “men are failing to thrive” today. The author’s preoccupation with Douglas’ portrayals often distracts from rather than reinforces her argument, which can itself be winding and overgeneralized.

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Nevertheless, Crispin’s adept cultural synthesis is delivered with amusing snark and an undertone of increasing anxiety, pontifical concern, and moral urgency designed to confront the current moment.

A fiery synopsis of a formative period for American masculinity.

The Jailhouse Lawyer Duncan, Calvin & Sophie Cull Penguin Press (400 pp.) | $32.00 July 8, 2025 | 9780593834305

A memoir on the making of a literal “jailhouse lawyer.”

Wrongfully arrested and convicted of murder in New Orleans, which at the time had “the highest rate of wrongful convictions in the nation, with nearly all the victims being Black men who…grew up poor,” Duncan served for 23 years in Louisiana’s notorious Angola prison and other institutions. He might have done his time at the Orleans Parish Prison, but, he writes, he wanted access to Angola’s more extensive law library.

Well before being transferred there, he petitioned the Louisiana Supreme Court for a law book, a motion denied because it had not first been adjudicated in a lower court. A sympathetic judge gave him a copy all the same, and Duncan was off to a career as an inmate advocate, regularly filing petitions and lawsuits on his own behalf and that of his fellow prisoners—the first suit being “over the jail’s failure to provide him with a high-fiber diet,” soon followed by motions to provide mental health treatment, end beatings and arbitrary punishments, and improve medical care.

Known as the “Snickers Lawyer” for taking payment in candy, he became a self-taught expert on constitutional issues. Naturally, he recounts, he was targeted by guards and wardens for his legal activism, even as he proved essential to Angola’s population; in time, too, he found a few unlikely allies among the staff. Duncan’s well-told story is full of fraught moments of abuse both physical

and judicial, though it has something of a happy ending in that, after earning a law degree after his release, he was exonerated of the crime and has since been fighting for other prisoners to “have meaningful access to the courts.”

An eye-opening look at prison life from the point of view of a true warrior for justice.

Kirkus Star

The Call of the Honeyguide: What Science Tells Us About How To Live Well With the Rest of Life Dunn, Rob | Basic Books (352 pp.) $30.00 | Aug. 26, 2025 | 9781541605732

Humans and nature, working together.

Mutualisms are beneficial relationships between two or more species.

Humans depend on countless numbers of these—and discover more of them—every day, says Dunn, author of several books. Once, we did not “see” mutualisms, perhaps guided too much by competitive aspects of Darwinism. But Darwin saw cooperation, or “mutualistic symbioses,” in evolution, too. And so did other scientists after researcher Lynn Margulis, in the 1960s, discovered that the mitochondria in all our cells were born when one single-celled bacterium “ate” another billions of years ago and began using it as its energy source: the first complex life.

We now know that we are a compilation of endless life forms that live in and around us, that sustain us as we sustain them. Margulis “reimagine[d] symbiotic partnerships as the default story of life.”

This book is teeming with such partnerships. One of the most compelling: the partnership between ancient trees and savanna-hopping ancient humans. The trees used the humans to spread their seeds (“fruits evolved to attract animals to eat them”) even as humans used the fruit to survive. (Trees are, in fact, among “nature’s chefs,” the author has unearthed K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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in his research.) Then there is human-beaver mutualism. Near the author’s home in North Carolina, engineers looking to revive a stream removed concrete over it.

But because they also straightened it, the waters couldn’t slow, as they do when bending, to pool and form ecosystems.

For 17 years the author saw little wildlife.

Then two beavers—as they have for 12 million years—built a lodge for themselves, damming and pooling the stream. Soon, life was everywhere: fish, birds, mammals, turtles. A once-­stagnant urban trickle had become a “new and righteous, riotous place.”

A gorgeous, authoritative, and philosophical directive to stop destroying the mutualisms of life.

Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America Ellsworth, Scott | Dutton (336 pp.) $32.00 | July 15, 2025 | 9780593475614

The long march to victory.

Journalist Ellsworth, author of The Secret Game and The Ground Breaking, summarizes the previous three years before setting the scene in early 1864. In the afterglow of triumphs at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga, the northern public expected a quick victory. Ulysses S. Grant, the new supreme commander, knew that wars are won by superior resources and persistence, not battlefield victories, so he was not discouraged after a year of bloody stalemate, although Union morale plummeted. Departing from tradition, Ellsworth gives John Wilkes Booth more attention than Abraham Lincoln and Grant. America’s most admired matinee idol, Booth hated Black people and fervently supported the Confederacy.

Ellsworth turns up evidence that he secretly met with Confederate agents. No one knows what they discussed, but the idea that Wilkes was carrying out a devilish Confederate plot has never lacked K IR KU S R E V IE W S

supporters. Despite remaining skeptical, Ellsworth devotes much of his book to the South’s energetic secret service, whose members engaged in espionage, propaganda, and terrorism throughout the Union and Canada. His breathless account takes the service more seriously than most scholars but can’t conceal its mostly ineffectual schemes, among which were plans to kidnap the president. Booth approved and volunteered his services, but by 1865 efforts had fizzled; the Confederacy was on its last legs, but the plot to kill Lincoln, the vice president, and the secretary of state proceeded under Booth’s leadership. Ellsworth tells the familiar story, followed by the victory that the Union greeted ecstatically despite the shadow cast by Lincoln’s assassination.

He extols Black freedom yet admits that persistent racism left a shameful pall over American exceptionalism, which lifted somewhat over the following century but is, of course, still with us.

A passionate account of justice triumphing, amid tragedy, in 1865.

Kirkus Star

A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck Elmhirst, Sophie | Riverhead (256 pp.) $28.00 | July 8, 2025 | 9780593854280

A tale of an adventure gone definitively wrong.

A maritime bookend of sorts to Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild, British journalist Elmhirst’s narrative turns on two 1960s-era British dreamers who

decided to pitch it all in and sail from grim, gray Britain around the globe to New Zealand, “discovering new lands on the other side of the world.” In the course of researching a quite different magazine piece, the author discovered the story of Maurice Bailey, a printer by trade, who took a studious approach to the voyage, learning navigation and reading and rereading reference books.

His wife, Maralyn, was eminently practical—certainly more so than Maurice, who insisted on having no radio transmitter aboard to “preserve their freedom from outside interference.”

That would prove a consequential decision when a whale collided with their boat and sank it—though, Elmhirst notes provocatively, there is a lingering question of whether the Baileys might have abandoned the craft prematurely. In any case, they floated, adrift and without a clue as to their location in the vast Pacific, for 117 days until finally being spotted, quite by chance, by a passing South Korean fishing boat, whose crew prove to be heroes in Elmhirst’s telling. Skeletal, having nearly starved to death, the Baileys were slowly nursed back to health. Astoundingly, Elmhirst writes, no sooner did the couple return to England than they began planning another maritime adventure. Maralyn emerges as the real hero of the story; for those fraught months at sea, having gauged Maurice’s inability to see the job through, she took command of the expedition and kept the two alive.

Countering “his despair” with “her resolution,” she later recalled, “I discover that men may be physically the stronger of the sexes but mentally women are tops.”

A nimbly told story that should serve as a caution—but oddly, too, as inspiration—to would-be escapists.

The couple drifted, without a clue as to their location in the Pacific, for 117 days.

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THE KIRKUS PROFILE: SOPHIE ELMHIRST The U.K. journalist offers a tale of nautical misadventure in her debut book, A Marriage at Sea.

AT THE BOTTOM of the world’s oceans and seas, reckons U.K. journalist Sophie Elmhirst, are 3 million broken boats and ships, some thousands of years underwater, some more recently sunk. One of those boats, a 30-foot vessel called Auralyn, went to the Pacific seafloor in 1973, its hull smashed after a collision with a whale.

That incident lies at the heart of Elmhirst’s first book, A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck, which recounts what brought 40-year-old Maurice Bailey and his 32-year-old wife, Maralyn— their names combining in that of their boat—from a quiet home in northwestern England to the middle of the ocean. (See the review on p. 55.)

Elmhirst, a regular contributor to the Guardian and the Economist, tells Kirkus in a conversation from her home in North London that her book had its origin, like so many others, in the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020. “I’d come across a little story about the uptick in the sale of private islands during the pandemic,” she says. “That took me down one of those amazing tunnels that I find myself going down 56

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when I’m researching ideas to write about. My idea started off being about people who were just trying to live offshore—I was clearly in an escapist frame of mind, which maybe we all were at that time, and I found myself on all sorts of funny journeys [with] people who were living on cruise ships or had managed to create artificial communities out at sea.”

Elmhirst discovered a website run by a Spanish filmmaker named Alvaro Cerezo, who had a fascination with shipwrecks and true tales of survival at sea. Cerezo’s own research had led him to the Baileys and a memoir of their misadventure, 117 Days Adrift, that had long been out of print. There Elmhirst found the true subject of her story.

“Alvaro’s website had a lot of photographs, mostly of wild-looking lone men who had stranded themselves on desert islands or been shipwrecked,” says Elmhirst. “But among them was a picture of a tidy, smiling man and woman, and I was immediately intrigued.”

The title of the Baileys’ book gets at the gist of their story, but Elmhirst

digs deep into the background. Married in 1963, the Baileys had long nursed the idea of getting away from England for sunnier climes—and especially New Zealand, which they held as a talisman of the paradise that awaited them. Maralyn and Maurice, a printer by trade, scrimped and saved for years to buy Auralyn. During that time, they studied seafaring manuals and reference books, learned navigational and sailing skills, and prepared themselves for a life at sea. Maurice applied for a job in New Zealand, and, when it came through, they set sail.

The fatal flaw at the very start of their journey, Elmhirst reveals, was Maurice’s stubborn insistence that they were going to be absolutely self-sufficient. He refused to equip the boat with a radio transmitter to “preserve their freedom from outside interference.” Couple that with Maurice’s complicated nature—a mix of insecurity and foolhardiness—and it was no small wonder that the little challenges they encountered as they crossed the Atlantic—storms and becalmed winds and such—turned into larger ones that tested them daily.

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Sophie Dav idson

BY GREGORY MCNAMEE

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Maralyn, though, was eminently practical and even-tempered. In their memoir, both were circumspect about the stress that these challenges must have placed on them in such close quarters. This was true even of Maralyn’s private diary, which, Elmhirst says, “is a wonderful document in that you get slices of her and her reactions. But it’s not a confessional diary, with insights into her internal world.”

There Elmhirst undertook an empathetic exercise in reading between the lines, testing the boundaries, as she puts it, of “what you’re allowed to do and what you’re not allowed to do” in a nonfiction book. She had her work cut out for her there, for, after crossing into the Pacific and setting a course for the Galápagos Islands, the Baileys encountered that whale—and within a few hours had transferred themselves and a few essentials to a dinghy towing a rubber raft. They rowed for a time, hoping to find land while knowing that land lay hundreds of miles away in any direction. For 117 days they drifted, subsisting on sea turtles, fish, and a rapidly diminishing store of canned goods. Finally, the crew of a South Korean fishing boat spotted them—a propitious rescue that, Elmhirst notes, is still remembered in that country, even as the Baileys’ ordeal was overshadowed and forgotten at home.

Elmhirst’s work became a little easier, she recounts, when she “found a book that Maurice wrote much later in life, after Maralyn died, when he told the whole story again in a series of letters to a friend. I felt like he gave me huge access to the inside of his mind and his assessment of himself—a damning assessment, quite a lot of the time. So I felt like I did have a lot to go on, as well as the memories of people who knew them and traveled with them.”

On their perilous voyage, Maralyn, realizing that Maurice wasn’t quite capable of continuing as captain after Auralyn sunk, took charge of their journey—and this is a key element of Elmhirst’s story, showing, as Maralyn K IR KU S R E V IE W S

put it, that “men may be physically the stronger of the sexes but mentally women are tops.” However, Elmhirst writes, once the skeletal Baileys were restored to health after their rescue and returned to England, they immediately made plans for other sailing trips, and Maurice made it a point to be in charge when the sails unfurled.

“I guess what I was trying to do was construct a story from the evidence, but also to construct character from the evidence,” says Elmhirst. Indeed, one surprise in the Baileys’ astonishing adventure was that the two stayed married after enduring nearly four months together with little hope of rescue. “My husband told me he would have slipped overboard after a couple of days,” Elmhirst says with a laugh, adding that Maurice might have, too, were it not for Maralyn’s “pragmatism and her optimism.” “Her leadership kept them going,” says Elmhirst, “and kept Maurice going specifically. He

was full of despair and self-blame, and he always said that if he’d been on his own, he wouldn’t have survived half as long.”

A Marriage at Sea, with its double-edged title, is a remarkable story of teamwork, survival, and love. And although Elmhirst says that she doesn’t aim to offer any lessons as such, a strong lesson emerges all the same. “What prompted their journey, at least for Maurice in large part, was a kind of isolationism, of wanting to be separate and away from people,” Elmhirst observes. “But then, ironically, what saved them were people coming to their aid—being connected to other people and to each other. There is a deep and intrinsic value to those human relationships, those connections and dependencies.

You leave those or loosen those at your peril.”

Gregory McNamee is a contributing writer.

My husband told me he would have slipped overboard after a couple of days.

A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck Elmhirst, Sophie

Riverhead | 256 pp. | $28.00 July 8, 2025 | 9780593854280

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SEEN AND HEARD New Memoir by Patti Smith Coming This Fall Random House will publish Bread of Angels in November.

Patti Smith will tell the story of her early life and rise as a punk rock legend in a new memoir.

Random House will publish Smith’s Bread of Angels in the fall, the press announced in a news release.

Smith, a Chicago native, was raised in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She released her first album, Horses, in 1975; the record is considered one of the most influential albums in rock history.

She went on to release several more critically acclaimed albums, and she scored a hit single in 1978 with “Because the Night,” co-written with Bruce Springsteen.

Smith published her first memoir, Just Kids, in 2010; the book, which told the story of her friendship with photographer Robert Mapple­ thorpe, won the National Book Award.

Two more books, M Train and Year of the Monkey, followed.

Bread of Angels, Random House says, will tell the story of her childhood and ado­ lescence as well as her marriage to Fred “Sonic” Smith, the MC5 guitarist who died in 1994 at the age of 46.

Bread of Angels will be published on Nov. 4. In a statement, Smith explained that the date is “especially meaningful” to her. “It’s the birthday of Robert Mapplethorpe and the anniversary of my late husband Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith’s passing. It took a decade to write this book, grappling with the beauty and sorrow of a lifetime. I’m hoping that people will find something they need.”—M.S.

Al Pereira/ WireImage

Patti Smith

For reviews of Patti Smith’s books, visit Kirkus online.

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I N T H E N E W S // N O N F I C T I O N

IN THE NEWS

Author of Careless People Testifies on Capitol Hill Sarah WynnWilliams accused Meta of cozying up to the Chinese Communist Party.

Bill Clark /CQ -Roll Call, Inc v ia Get t y Images

Sarah Wynn-Williams, the former Meta executive and author of a bestselling memoir about the tech company, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, blasting the corporation for its business dealings with China, the Associated Press reports.

Wynn-Williams’ Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism was published in March by Flatiron. In the book, Wynn-Williams, who served as Meta’s director of global public policy for six years, accuses the company of cozying up to the Chinese Communist Party and its leader, President Xi Jinping.

A critic for Kirkus wrote of the memoir, “Book: thumbs-up.

Subject: frown emoji.” In March, an arbitrator temporarily blocked the

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Sarah Wynn-Williams

author from promoting the book.

Wynn-Williams told the Senate Judiciary Committee, “We are engaged in a high-stakes AI arms race against China. And during my time at Meta, company executives lied about what they were doing with the Chinese Communist Party to employees, shareholders, Congress, and the American public.”

The Washington Post reports that Wynn-­ Williams took aim at Meta’s co-founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

“If he is such a fan of freedom [of] speech, why is he trying to silence me?” she said.

“The other thing is that this is a man who wears many different cost­ umes. When I was there, he wanted the president of China to name his first child. He was learning Mandarin. He was censoring to his heart’s content.”—M.S. For a review of Careless People, visit Kirkus online.

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Submersed: Wonder, Obsession, and Murder in the World of Amateur Submarines Frank, Matthew Gavin | Pantheon (320 pp.) $28.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9780593700952

Close encounters with DIY sub­ marine culture’s underbelly.

A sharp researcher and stylish writer who’s “obsessed with obsessives,” Frank sets aside his lifelong fear of the ocean in this excellent book to plumb the peculiar depths of the DIY sub community. The water is cold.

Beneath the niche fixations of geeky tinkerers and misfit enthusiasts, Frank discovers a strong undercurrent of violence and misogyny. The manosphere, it seems, has entered the bathysphere.

“For some men,” he writes, “the presence of a woman on the submarine not only conjures their inadequacies, but also reminds them that the sub itself...isn’t so different from land: rife with whimsy, chance, perplexity.” One such man would appear to be Peter Madsen.

Convicted of the brutal 2017 killing in Denmark of Swedish freelance journalist Kim Wall, Madsen was a narcissistic amateur rocket builder who became obsessed with submarines as a “safe haven from surface mores,” where he alone could exert “ultimate control.” The story of the murder and its aftermath—including a prison sit-down between Frank and Madsen—provides a chilling throughline to an otherwise interdisciplinary look at what lies beneath the human compulsion to dive. Frank is witty and incisive—a sub-builder meetup, for example, is like being “trapped in a bouillon cube of white male machismo”—and he draws wonderful connections throughout.

Along with contemporary academics, we encounter Aristotle, who was obsessed with the “watery world,” and his student Alexander the Great, whose diving bell served as both tactical advantage and personal retreat. Mythic creatures of Nordic and Norse folktales arrive, as does Jules Verne, who we learn would find it 60

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absurd to dream of going 20,000 leagues deep (it was a measure of distance). We also spend time with a few amateur sub builders. The most memorable is Shanee Stopnitzki, “one of the few ‘non-dudes’” in the community. She gives the book some of its best lines, including this one: “I think curiosity makes everything better.” In this book, Frank’s certainly has.

A fascinating voyage among the hidden tides shaping a social niche.

The Invention of Design: A Twentieth-Century History Gram, Maggie | Basic Books (336 pp.) $30.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9781541600638

Tracing the arc of modern life reveals how design created our systems, objects, and beliefs.

Over the past decade, human-­ centered design has become a buzzworthy term for problem-solving across a range of fields. But where did it originate?

Gram—design lead at Google and a cultural historian—offers a rich, literate exploration of how the concept of design emerged as a way to humanize and soften the harsh edges of capitalism. Gram carefully lays out her intellectual territory, but the narrative gains momentum as she introduces individual design thinkers, their complex lives, political entanglements, and layered motivations. She includes familiar and lesser-known voices, arguing that design is a force shaping political, cultural, and intellectual life—from the Industrial Age and Progressive Era through Modernism, Postmodernism, and Globalism into our current era of “human-centered design.” Examples include Eva Zeisel—a German ceramicist who survived Soviet imprisonment to become a celebrated artist at New York’s Museum of Modern Art—and Charles and Ray Eames, whose work framed design as systematic problem-solving. Gram contrasts early computational theorists Herbert Simon and Henry Dreyfuss—who embraced machines as optimal problem

solvers—with Horst Rittel, who, in the 1960s, argued that design problems are not rule-based puzzles with definitive solutions, but rather arguments with better or worse outcomes. Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), Steve Jobs, and pioneers of human-computer interaction play roles in transitioning design thinking into the age of user-centered design. Gram is engaging, though her arguments occasionally verge on the Talmudic, weaving together diverse threads—from capitalist critique and chaos theory to the roots of artificial intelligence.

Her annotations provide a valuable roadmap for deeper dives into design as discourse or “an amalgam of optimistic human values.” Ultimately, Gram suggests, our understanding of design may depend on the state of the world.

Following the surprising pathways that shaped the modern world.

Access: Inside the Abortion Underground and the Sixty-Year Battle for Reproductive Freedom Grant, Rebecca | Avid Reader Press (320 pp.) $29.99 | June 24, 2025 | 9781668053249

A richly detailed account of the long struggle for women’s right to choose.

Health journalist Grant notes that every state in the U.S. had enacted criminal abortion laws by 1880, and “for the next one hundred years, abortion in America remained…underground, secret, stigmatized, and dangerous.” From the moment that Roe v. Wade was passed in 1973, anti-abortion activists organized to overturn it, helped along by politicians in gerrymandered districts who used “majorities and supermajorities to pass abortion restrictions at an alarming pace and volume.” On the other side, Grant writes, activist groups have long organized to protect choice.

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of abortion pills or travel to other states to obtain the medical procedure. Grant profiles activists at various stages of the battle, from first-generation feminists who linked access to abortion to the struggle for women’s liberation generally to modern-day advocates who, among other strategies, have internationalized the ability to obtain pills for “self-managed abortion,” creating a sort of “underground for the post-Dobbs world.” The battle is multifaceted and requires the commitment of a range of activists and allies—who, Grant allows, are sometimes given to fighting among themselves—especially as certain states enact more restrictive laws even to the point of bans. On which note, Grant writes, “Abortion bans have never and will never stop people from ending pregnancies; what they do is force people to resort to unsafe methods to end them.” Her narrative makes clear that the battle for access continues apace to advance the cause for choice against “the notion that a government can dictate if, when, or how its citizens manage pregnancy.”

A capable history that foresees a hard fight yet to come in the war for reproductive freedom.

Kirkus Star

Bad Company: Private Equity and the Death of the American Dream Greenwell, Megan | Dey Street/ HarperCollins (320 pp.) | $29.99 June 10, 2025 | 9780063299351

Communities suffer when profiteers prevail.

Greenwell’s debut does important work, scrutinizing a poorly understood sector of the economy that makes life more precarious for many Americans. Private equity firms own hundreds of hospitals and newspapers, supermarket chains, countless smaller K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Scrutinizing the dark side of private equity.

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companies, and “the rights to Taylor Swift’s first six albums.” Yet the industry—as exemplified by Bain Capital, co-founded by Mitt Romney—has remained willfully “opaque,” spending tens of millions of dollars to elect lawmakers who protect its bountiful tax breaks and enable its ruthless profit-making maneuvers.

Greenwell began her research after private equity bought and enfeebled her then-employer, sports website Deadspin. Spotlighting four people whose lives were adversely affected by private equity—a doctor, a retail worker, a journalist, and an affordable housing advocate—she carefully demonstrates the human cost of an industry playbook that prizes cutting workers, slashing services, and raising prices. The financial risk is small for private equity firms, which rely on money from investors—frequently, municipal pension funds and university endowments—and loans that they’re “not legally responsible for” because they’ve been taken out in the name of the company being purchased.

As a result, vital hospitals and popular stores close or are driven into bankruptcy, and many people lose jobs. The retail worker Greenwell profiles was such a committed employee that she got a tattoo of the company’s mascot, but when private equity cut her job along with many others, she had to fight for even a sliver of the pay she was owed. While showing how private equity has recently shifted its emphasis from retail to “recession-proof” industries like health care, Greenwell also finds reason for hope in her subjects’ nascent activism. One of her subjects helped address a private equity–created health care shortage by helping found a new hospital.

An effective, humane look at financial practices hobbling venerable institutions.

Extraordinary Pools Gupta, Naina | Princeton Architectural Press (208 pp.) | $29.95 | May 13, 2025 9781797231297

Taking the plunge.

Gupta, an architect and educator who lives in England, showcases 50 standout pools around the world in this elegant book of photographs that are accompanied by short, insightful descriptions. Readers are treated to images of the Piscina Municipal de Montjuic, which has a commanding view of Barcelona and its pleasing earthtones, all pairing well with the calming azure water. (The pool—and more than a few bronzed bodies—are featured in singer Kylie Minogue’s “Slow” video.) Another exquisite spot, the rooftop Thermae Bath Spa in Bath, England, taps into the city’s history as a spa town. Gupta notes a nice perk: “Residents of Bath get a discount, as they are the rightful owners of the waters, as decreed by Elizabeth I.” Also in England is Repton Park, a gated community whose old chapel has been filled with water—one can float facing heavenward in the nave, admiring the vaulted ceiling overhead. Should you be in Paris, you can swim in the Art Deco Piscine Pontoise, which has the benefit of being open until midnight. (Juliette Binoche’s character avails herself of the facility’s late-night hours in Krzysztof Kieślowski’s 1993 film Three Colours: Blue.) The book features work by female architects, including Julia Morgan’s lovely Berkeley City Club pool, lined with Corinthian columns, and Zaha Hadid’s graceful Aquatics Centre in London, designed for the 2012 Olympics. A notable modern design is architect Moshe Safdie’s infinity pool at the MAY 15, 2025

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Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore (as seen in Crazy Rich Asians). The pool sits 57 stories above the city; only hotel guests are allowed, the author points out, but that hasn’t stopped outsiders from sneaking in. Many pools are pretty, but Gupta acknowledges that some have ugly pasts marked by segregationist policies.

Others are emblems of privilege, private oases that show off their exclusivity.

Everybody in the pool? Not quite.

A ravishing celebration of a watery world.

The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership That Rocked the World Guralnick, Peter | Little, Brown (752 pp.) $38.00 | Aug. 5, 2025 | 9780316399449

Helping crown the King of Rock and Roll.

Born in the Netherlands in 1909, Andreas Cornelis Kuijk spent much of his youth running away from home.

In his teens, he entered the U.S. illegally and after a period of wandering changed his name to Tom Parker. In 1929 he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Hawaii. After his discharge, he worked in carnivals—perfecting his approach to promotion—and ran a humane society in Tampa, Florida, before launching on a career of managing singers. His clients included country stars Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow, but when he discovered Elvis Presley in 1955, his future course was set. Guralnick closely follows Presley’s career and Parker’s maneuvers to maximize his client’s exposure and income, with lots of detail on negotiations with his record company, RCA, and movie studios.

Readers also learn about Parker’s personal life, including his Snowmen’s League of America, a celebrity-loaded group dedicated to poking good-natured fun at himself and other members. After Presley’s death, Parker continued to represent his late client’s interests on 62

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After a questionable trial, 110 soldiers were found guilty, with 19 executed.

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behalf of his estate. The second half of the book is made up of letters by Parker and others, with haphazard punctuation and misspellings—and his inimitable sense of humor. They offer a direct look at his promotional style and his sometimes trying relationship with his client at the peak of the singer’s career and in its eventual decline. An intriguing perspective on the music business when rock was first making its mark, and a special treat for Presley fans.

A fascinating look at a truly unique personality and his direction of Elvis’ career.

Kirkus Star

Black Soldiers, White Laws: The Tragedy of the 24th Infantry in 1917 Houston Haymond, John | Atlantic Monthly $30.00 | July 15, 2025 | 9780802164759

A vivid, thorough­going account of the largest mass execution of American soldiers in U.S. Army history.

In August 1917, more than 100 Black infantrymen, members of a famed “Buffalo Soldiers” regiment, left their camp and marched into the largely Black San Felipe district of Houston. The proximate cause, later testimonial revealed, was that the soldiers feared that an attack by a white mob was impending, and indeed they met with a confrontation that led to the deaths of 20 people. In response, military historian Haymond recounts, the Army charged 118 soldiers with

mutiny. Hammond chronicles, corroborated by a later Army inquiry, that the soldiers’ defense was sorely inadequate; the officer conducting it was not a lawyer, and the trial was laced with perjurious testimony and racist rhetoric. The trial also revealed incompetence, at the very least, of the white officers who commanded the 24th Infantry Regiment, with the officer in charge being “willing to ­either abandon his junior officers to death at the hands of mutinous troops or, assuming that they ­were still alive, leave them to ­handle ­things without him.” Whether there was a mutiny, strictly speaking, remains controversial. If self-defense, then, as Haymond notes, it “can be seen as a legitimate, if hasty, military response to a perceived threat,” but if a vigilante action by Black soldiers, then “a criminal act for which­there is no excuse or exculpation.” In the end, 110 soldiers were found guilty, with 19 executed and the rest sentenced to life in prison. Thanks to the efforts of historians, including Haymond, and the support of numerous retired flag officers with “extensive experience with military justice,” however, the Army granted clemency more than a century later, returning those Buffalo Soldiers to honorable status—too little, too late, of course, but something.

Testimonial to the arc of justice’s slow turning, and a somber, ably told story of race and racism in America.

For more on Black life in the Army, visit Kirkus online.

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Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders Holland, James & Al Murray Atlantic Monthly | $30.00 July 29, 2025 | 9780802166418

How the Allies finally won.

Prolific World War II historians Holland and Murray remind readers that Hitler himself never surrendered, but by the spring of 1945 huddled in his Berlin bunker directing imaginary armies and planning his suicide. A few aides stuck by, but most were planning to save themselves. The most successful was SS General Karl Wolff, in Italy, who managed to impress OSS chief Allen Dulles; fend off rival (and perhaps nastier) competitors, Heinrich Himmler and Ernst Kaltenbrunner; persuade leading Wermacht generals to surrender with absolutely no conditions; and protect himself against prosecution for his crimes. Wolff took enormous risks (visiting a deeply suspicious Hitler during his final weeks) but succeeded eventually in testifying for the prosecution at Nuremburg. British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery handled the surrender of German forces in north Germany on his own with a nod to his superior, Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower, who preoccupied himself with the iconic May 7, 1945, official German government surrender. The authors precede that with accounts reminding readers of Nazi awfulness: a teenage Jewish boy’s years in concentration camps, a young American soldier’s experience encountering his first camp, and the chaos that engulfed Germany during and after the war. On the Pacific front, Japanese leaders, aware by 1943 that they were losing, worked to convince America that every Japanese man, woman, and child would fight to the death before surrendering. They assumed that the U.S., faced with this threat and lacking Japanese fortitude, would negotiate a compromise peace. By cruel irony, American leaders were indeed convinced of Japan’s resolve, but they did K IR KU S R E V IE W S

not negotiate; they proceeded by unleashing an almost genocidal firebombing and two atomic bombs that, aided by the massive Soviet invasion, produced the desired surrender.

A complicated war on many fronts.

The Enduring Wild: A Journey Into California’s Public Lands Jackson, Josh | Heyday (264 pp.) $38.00 | June 24, 2025 | 9781597146753

A pilgrimage to the “leftover lands.”

In this debut book, Jackson explores California’s public lands—­ not the national parks and forests, but the 15 million acres that fall under the purview of the Bureau of Land Management. The quest began when a beleaguered Jackson couldn’t book a campsite in Southern California. A friend recommended the BLM lands, which require no reservations. Energized by a trip to the desert with his children, he eventually visited all the BLM lands in California, including the Lost Coast in Northern California, Berryessa, the Carrizo Plain, the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains, almost a dozen wild rivers, and the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Once considered “leftover lands,” those parcels were considered “too unattractive for the National Park Service, too bare for the Forest Service, and too lifeless for the Fish and Wildlife Service.” Yet as Jackson’s photographs make clear, these places possess an undeniable if often desolate beauty. His project was a literary one as well. At various points, he cites Aldo Leopold, John Muir, Wallace Stegner, Edward Abbey, and environmental historian William Cronon. Although Jackson affirms Terry Tempest Williams’ claim that every pilgrimage to the desert is also a pilgrimage to the self, his sense of nature’s sacredness is less ecstatic than Muir’s: “Holiness here is a not a rapture; it is a whisper, reminding you that everything you need to see is around you

at every moment.” Jackson is also a reliable guide to the earthly realities of managing these vast holdings. With its many photographs, maps, illustrations, and practical tips for exploring BLM lands, the book invites readers to move beyond what Leopold called American conservation’s concern with show pieces.

A satisfying read and a call to adventure.

Kirkus Star

Misbehaving at the Crossroads: Essays & Writings Jeffers, Honorée Fanonne | Harper/ HarperCollins (368 pp.) | $30.00 June 24, 2025 | 9780063246638

“We are not only a race, and not only a gender, but both.”

To call this book exclusively nonfiction is unnecessarily reductive—like Jeffers herself, it refuses to be categorized. Instead, it leaps deftly between memoir, history, academic writing, and poetry. Across all forms and ideas, it soars. “I am still alive, because my women ancestors taught me to improvise—to shapeshift,” she writes. In what she terms “Soul Sister Shapeshifter,” Jeffers charts the ways in which Black women are uniquely positioned at the crossroads of colonialism, slavery, patriarchy, and power. It’s a personal, political, and literary legacy that populates these pages. It swirls around the loss of her potent mother, a woman who traveled from her upbringing in a former slave shack to what she describes as the “Black bourgeoisie.” The journey includes a legacy of trauma, love, and intelligence, as her mother toggles the dual roles of “a strong Black woman” and a Black woman who is subservient to her husband. Jeffers is unflinching in her analysis, which is expansive enough to contain emotion and academic rigor in equal parts. “I found that it’s different when you read about the politics of MAY 15, 2025

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respectability versus when you’ve lived that phenomenon up close,” she writes in one segment, noting elsewhere the exclusion of Black thought from Black experience in the historic record. With her “red dirt” matrilinear line in Georgia and literary foremothers like Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, Jeffers crafts not just a history of Black women in the United States but an essential way of looking at their inheritance—one that folds familiarity into proficiency.

Generous, wise, and fearless, she travels through the wounds of past and present with remarkable grace and gripping narratives. “Here I am, unrespectable and unashamed, waving from truthful territory,” she tells readers. We would do well to meet her there.

In lucid, unwavering prose, Jeffers traces a lineage of Black womanhood in the United States.

Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear Into Pride, Power, and Real Change Jiménez, Cristina | St. Martin’s (320 pp.) $29.00 | May 27, 2025 | 9781250275660

Coming to America—and fighting for the rights of all immigrants.

Activist Jiménez’s childhood in Quito abruptly ends when her sister dies and Ecuador’s deteriorating economy forces her parents to make an unexpected choice: to leave their beloved country to immigrate to the United States. The family moves to Queens, New York, where, as undocumented immigrants, they strive to hide their status by working hard, avoiding trouble, and paying their taxes. Jiménez spends her teens living in constant fear while simultaneously dreaming of becoming the first in her family to go to college. With the help of a sympathetic teacher, she is accepted into Queens College, where a recent law allows her to pay in-state tuition despite her lack of immigration status. At college, Jiménez 64

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becomes a talented community organizer, co-founding a national undocumented student–led organization, the United We Dream network.

Alongside her peers, Jiménez organizes actions that pressure President Barack Obama into drafting and signing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides amnesty to more than a million undocumented youths. During this time, Jiménez meets her future husband, fellow undocumented organizer Walter Barrientos, and receives American citizenship.

Jiménez’s passionately observed and deeply felt memoir is a fascinating peek behind the scenes of the remarkably successful but little-known immigrant rights movement. Although portions of the book read more like a textbook than a memoir, this is, overall, a captivating and strong debut.

An emotional and inspirational recounting of the modern American immigrant rights movement.

Kirkus Star

Black Genius: Essays on an American Legacy Johnson, Tre | Dutton (320 pp.) | $30.00 July 29, 2025 | 9780593186473

A spirited presentation of the manifold accomplishments of Black creators as an instrument of resistance— and of love.

“We’re utterly amazing, yet Black folks are consistently, persistently, intentionally, conveniently, diabolically left out of conversations

about genius all the time.” So cultural critic and commentator Johnson observes at the outset of this collection of essays, returning to the theme at several points, as when he writes of sitting in a New Orleans restaurant where everything but the clientele was Black: “It all brought up the issues around appropriation, cultural extraction, gentrification and the sort of ­dark‑humor irony of how often our music is good enough but we aren’t.”

The author’s humor is underscored with righteous indignation, as when he writes of going from a private church school where “as Black kids a lot of us thrived because we had a strong mixture of play, practice and positivity (prayer, too, obviously)” to a public middle school and high school where his abilities were constantly demeaned by white classmates and teachers— cause for his call to pay attention today to young Black students who “might’ve shown up with B or C grades but had A+ curiosity and social skills and the ability to think on their feet.” Johnson celebrates the Black genius that society throttles through a wide range of examples, from comic books to music (with a lovely remembrance of the peace-and-love groove of the Fifth Dimension and even an understanding word or two for Kanye West) and from comic Dick Gregory to Black Panther.

Johnson even closes with a sort of Aquarian evocation of a Black community that is truly communal, one that can “afford opportunities to make choices in community with others and minimize some of the additional risks of trying and discovering things on your own,” creating into the future in common cause.

Readers will leave this provocative book wanting to hear much more from Johnson.

“We’re utterly amazing, yet Black folks are…left out of conversations about genius all the time.”

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Dinner With King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Recreating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations Kean, Sam | Little, Brown (464 pp.) $32.50 | July 8, 2025 | 9780316496551

Reviving the past by reenacting the rituals of daily life.

Fascinated by history but bored by dusty, tedious archaeological digs, science author Kean dives into the field of experimental archaeology. Some are real archaeologists, others are “screwball enthusiasts” or “hardcore lab geeks,” the author writes, but most, like him, simply yearn to connect with traditions that defined our ancestors. To do this, Kean learns certain skills, like brewing beer and baking bread as did the ancient Egyptians, making weapons out of rocks and obsidian as was done in Africa 75,000 years ago, and even tattooing in the methods of people who lived in 500 A.D. in what is now Northern California. In the process, the author expands our understanding of what life was like back then and raises questions about long-held assumptions.

For instance, wood is less likely to survive with time at archaeological sites. “Maybe the stuff we don’t find”—like wood—“is the stuff they cared about,” one expert muses. “Maybe instead of the Stone Age, we should call it the Wood Age.” This kind of insight can only be gleaned from actually making weapons from rocks and sticks, Kean writes. Along the way, he mummifies his own fish as an experiment and learns a Mesoamerican ballgame in which players bat around rubber balls with their hips. Kean’s visits with experts make for fun reading and forge a factual framework for the book, but the most gripping parts are the fiction narratives he intersperses with the nonfiction sections. The author imagines characters that leap off the page. Their challenges are immense, whether it’s a K IR KU S R E V IE W S

hapless tomb thief or a man’s discovery that, while he went out to gather acorns, his pregnant wife was bludgeoned by a rival. Informed by what Kean has learned about the realities of life for the ancients, his riveting fictional sagas make this book very hard to put down.

A fast-paced, vividly written tale that brings lost civilizations into sharp focus.

Putting Myself Together: Writing 1973– Kincaid, Jamaica | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (368 pp.) | $30.00 Aug. 5, 2025 | 9780374613235

A writer’s sharp opinions.

Kincaid gathers more than 50 pieces of nonfiction—essays, introductions, memoir, and an interview with Athol Fugard— from 1973 to 2020, that reveal recurring themes: writing and gardening, friendship and family, and, most prominently, racism and colonialism. In her native Antigua, Kincaid grew up in a “colonial situation” that incited her ongoing “state of rage, rage, and more rage.” In school, she was shown a map of England, laid out “gently, beautifully, delicately, a very special jewel” situated “on a bed of sky blue”; the nation, she was made to believe, represented the pinnacle of culture. She read 19th-century English authors who depicted a society nothing like her own: “We understood then—we were meant to understand then—that England was to be our source of myth and the source from which we got our sense of reality, our sense of what was meaningful, our sense of what was meaningless—and much about our own lives and much about the very idea of us headed that last list.” It’s no wonder that when Kincaid first went to England, she hated it and everything about it. “The reality of my life was conquests, subjugation, humiliation, enforced amnesia,” she writes. Many essays reflect on colonial oppression. She can neither forgive nor forget those who

treated humans like commodities and drained the wealth of the countries they dominated. “Have you ever wondered,” she asks, “why it is that all we seem to have learned from you is how to corrupt our societies and how to be tyrants?” In a different mood entirely are Kincaid’s essays on her friendship with Ian Frazier, her writing for the New Yorker, her love for her children, and, always, gardening, a source of unequaled joy. Henry Louis Gates Jr. provides an appreciative introduction.

A spirited miscellany.

Kirkus Star

Matriarch: A Memoir Knowles, Tina with Kevin Carr O’Leary One World/Random House (432 pp.) $35.00 | April 22, 2025 | 9780593597408

To be young, gifted, and Black; to raise a musical prodigy; to be a force for good: Beyoncé’s mother tells her story.

Knowles, born Celestine Ann Beyoncé, known as Badass Tenie B in her youth, begins her immersive and inspiring memoir with her childhood on Galveston Island, the youngest child of Creole longshoreman Lumis Beyuince and his wife, Agnes Derouen, a brilliant seamstress. She and her six siblings each have different spellings of their last name, but as her mother explained, when she tried to correct the registrar she was told to be happy that she was even getting a birth certificate, a relatively new development for Black people. This is one of the lesser indignities inflicted by systemic racism on what could have been an idyllic seaside childhood in the 1950s and ’60s— instead, police officers almost killed her handsome high school football player brother and went on to target the family.

The storytelling style established in this portion of the book is first class: One can both hear Tina’s real voice and imagine that O’Leary, her credited collaborator, knew a thing or two about what makes a MAY 15, 2025

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great memoir. A story about being forced by the nuns at her draconian Catholic school to give up her beautiful handmade white dress and her role in a ceremony to another little girl becomes the genesis of one of the central tenets of her life and of the moral code she sought to transmit to her children, Beyoncé, Solange, and “bonus daughter” Kelly Rowland (whom she co-parented with Rowland’s biological mom). Fascinating subplots abound: her own early musical career; her rollercoaster history with her first husband, Mathew Knowles; her relationship with her gay nephew and best friend Johnny (son of her much-older sister Selena), with whom she honed her craft as a clothing designer and stylist; how her shy little daughter revealed her leviathan talents and became an iconic star; and the ongoing operation of racism, for example in the record company’s blundering treatment of Destiny’s Child.

A great story of a singular American life.

Cooler Than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard Kushins, C.M. | Mariner Books (512 pp.) $32.00 | June 10, 2025 | 9780063306868

A lively, eventful biography of the eminent—and undeniably cool—writer Elmore Leonard.

Leonard, nicknamed “Dutch” as a teenager in honor of a then-current baseball player, had other heroes as a kid: As biographer Kushins notes, Leonard wrote that his boyhood idols were the “desperadoes… roaming the Midwest and holding up banks” during the Depression era. As he grew up, the son of a General Motors executive and a mother who aspired to write, he became a model student who, for a brief time, entertained thoughts of priesthood but then “discovered girls.”

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more than distributing beer and taking out the trash.” Back home in Detroit, he went into advertising while trying his hand at writing, concentrating on genres “where I could learn how to write and be selling at the same time.” He began with Westerns, encouraged by the postwar boom in pulp Western fiction, turning in stories such as “Three-Ten to Yuma” that would rank at the top of the canon.

By the mid-1950s he was writing more novels than stories while taking “stabs at the type of satirical domestic vignettes associated with John O’Hara, Roald Dahl, and John Cheever.” Soon he found a new niche in crime, taking the point of view of the street-smart hustler and desperadoes of his youth and saying, “I’m not all that interested in the way educated people think.” Yet, of course, after the success of books such as Freaky Deaky and Get Shorty—books intensely researched and planned out to the last comma, with those exact outlaws at their heart—Leonard’s work is now standard among those educated people, and not even as a guilty pleasure, enshrined in the library of America.

A welcome celebration of a writer who, word by word and page by page, earned every bit of his fame.

Clint: The Man and the Movies Levy, Shawn | Mariner Books (560 pp.) $35.00 | July 1, 2025 | 9780063251021

A film critic’s biography of a cinema legend.

Fans of Clint Eastwood have long had a surfeit of biographies about him to choose from. Levy, a film critic whose previous books include volumes on Robert De Niro and Paul Newman, adds to this trove with this admiring work.

He’s clearly a fan, praising Eastwood for his “dogged work ethic” and for being “an honest-to-Pete American icon,” yet he also notes Eastwood’s “let’s call it complex history of wives, partners, and children” and the wide range in quality

of the many films he has acted in and directed. Levy covers Eastwood’s peripatetic upbringing in Northern California, where he was a mediocre student and cared only about “girls, hot rods, and the piano”; his early love of jazz and “meat-and-potatoes Hollywood films”; his acting success, from television’s Rawhide to the spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone to his iconic role as detective Dirty Harry; and his maturation as an accomplished director. The book is repetitive, with Levy describing the plot of every Eastwood picture, the critics’ reactions, and his own assessment.

Levy tends to gush: He says of the revisionist Western Unforgiven, “If the devil does get the best lines, this is a film filled with devils, made by angels, depicting Hell with heavenly gifts,” noting that the dialogue is “just as fine and bejeweled as you like.” Yet his glasses aren’t so rose colored that he can’t see the clunkers, writing, for example, that the comedy Any Which Way You Can “makes you feel as if you’re stuck with a drunk who insists on telling the same joke over and over and telling it more loudly each time.” And he doesn’t skimp on details from Eastwood’s colorful personal life, including multiple infidelities and “eight children some forty-two years apart by six different women…that he knew of.”

An evenhanded if overly effusive appreciation of Clint Eastwood’s career.

The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea Lewis, Helen | Thesis/Penguin (320 pp.) $30.00 | June 17, 2025 | 9798217178575

A study of how the measurement and indulgence of “genius” has changed over time.

Over the past couple of centuries, the boundaries of genius have been used to justify eugenics, consolidate power, and excuse eccentric and even morally egregious behavior. This, K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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Atlantic staff writer Lewis argues, grew from a shift to a secular world, wherein brilliance is no longer the guarded realm of religious authority or divine inspiration, but instead anchored in the fullness of the individual. Her book offers a sweeping, entertaining, and at times disconcerting read of the new scaffolding of mythology that genius now demands. She moves in three parts, from its identification, measurement, and, sometimes, weaponization by “genius hunters”; through the creation of and care for dominant archetypes of genius, such as lone rebels and tortured artists; to the extreme veneration of “hardcore” genius in the modern market- and tech-driven world—personified by Elon Musk.

Along the way she interrogates the obsessions of Great Man theory, inherited greatness, and IQ tests, and she pokes with wry humor at the self-justification, oversimplification, hubris, male dominance, and fetishization surrounding her case studies.

While her examples—including Galileo, the Beatles, Hollywood biopics, and the anti-establishment pseudoscience unearthed by the Covid-19 pandemic—are drawn from her own interests, Lewis only hints at her own ideas of genius, its limits, and the purpose it might legitimately serve.

Instead, her argument focuses on undermining the persistent idea that geniuses constitute a special class of people, exempt from the social norms and moral expectations of the rest. By illustrating the stakes of this shift, Lewis issues an effective call for a more carefully tempered understanding of genius in our precarious times, one that celebrates creativity, innovation, and achievement rather than idolizing a maker’s rarity and eccentricity.

By degrees unsettling, amusing, and prescient; a much-needed audit of a consuming idea.

For more on genius, visit Kirkus online.

Kirkus Star

Beneath Our Feet: Everyday Discoveries Reshaping History Lewis, Michael & Ian Richardson Thames & Hudson (240 pp.) | $40.00 June 10, 2025 | 9780500027523

“The past belongs to everyone.”

Lewis and Richardson, both of the British Museum, were inspired to assemble this book by the BBC TV series Digging for Britain, which describes the exploits of two English hobbyists who scour the countryside with their metal detectors.

Readers will not regret looking it up.

Organic objects decay (mostly); stone and bone survive; metals are a mixed bag. Amateur searchers, with or without detectors, find bottle caps, discarded toys, and metal scraps. Less often, items from distant times turn up—buttons, bullets, arrowheads, coins, jewelry, tools, and weapons. Almost no one finds a treasure trove or “hoard,” but “almost no one” among thousands of searchers produces a steady stream of bonanzas that will dazzle readers poring over the hundreds of crisp images. People on this island seemed to love burying stuff, and even Stone Age inhabitants had a taste for gold and knew what to do with it.

Gold does not decompose, but it’s an exception, and most of the text describes efforts to find, extract, clean, reassemble, decipher, and interpret long-buried relics. Despite the lovely images, this book alone should not be anyone’s introduction to prehistoric Britain. The authors deliver a short summary of the era at the beginning of each chapter but stay focused on the objects themselves: the finders’ experience as well as that of the landowners. Rich hoards have sold for immense sums to private collectors, but precious metals and “treasures” belong to the nation, and public-spirited owners donate what they find.

A spectacular overview of extraordinary finds, dug up by ordinary people.

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The Shape of Wonder: How Scientists Think, Work, and Live Lightman, Alan & Martin Rees Pantheon (224 pp.) | $28.00 September 2, 2025 | 9780593702024

Standing up for science.

Many people have lost trust in long-established institutions, and the lost trust in science is especially troubling, because science and technology play a key role in modern life.

Lightman and Rees are well positioned to address the issue. Both are well-known scientists in their own right, as well as popular science communicators—Lightman is the author of 20 other books, Rees of 19. This is their first collaboration. The book centers on an urgent need for scientists to reach out to the public and to policymakers with clear, understandable explanations of their work and of the scientific process itself. The “scientific method” is not limited to scientists, the authors say, but is critical thinking “found in the work of attorneys, doctors, accountants, auto mechanics, and others.” It’s important that the public recognize that science is an evidence-based enterprise—new evidence leads to new knowledge and understanding. This may also lead to important technologies. “Many of the conveniences, pleasures, and necessities of modern life are the result of the marriage of pure and applied science: automobiles, computers, cell phones, radiation treatment for cancer, antibiotics, vacuum cleaners.

Science and its applications are everywhere around us, so common as to be almost invisible.” Current policy issues such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced medical procedures, and climate change, all discussed in detail, require an appreciation of the science underpinning possible choices, even if the science itself is hard to understand.

“To grasp their essence isn’t so difficult,” the authors write. “Most of us appreciate music even if we can’t compose or perform it. Likewise, the key >>> MAY 15, 2025

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Authors on the Road 4

1 The 10

1

By E.A. Hanks

A lively, lovely take on an old standby, the road trip as a journey within.

2 The Last American Road Trip

By Sarah Kendzior

A graceful—and righteously angry—travelogue through a troubled land.

3 Things Become Other Things

5 2

4 On This Holy Island

By Oliver Smith

An entertaining spiritual stroll across Britain.

By Craig Mod

5 On the Hippie Trail

Elegant and inspired: just the thing to read along with Basho and other pilgrims into Japan’s back country.

A pleasure for travel buffs, especially those who once plied the Hippie Trail—or wish they had.

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3 For more booklists, visit Kirkus online.

By Rick Steves

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AWARDS J. Anthony Lukas Prize Winners Are Revealed

Du val: O wen Egan; Nagle: Brit t any Bendabout

Rebecca Nagle and Kathleen DuVal won the annual nonfiction awards.

Rebecca Nagle and Kathleen DuVal are the winners of the 2025 J. Anthony Lukas Prize Project Awards, given annually to works of nonfiction that exemplify For a review of By the Fire We Carry, visit Kirkus online.

“literary grace and commitment to serious research and social concern.”

Nagle won the J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize for By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-­­ Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, about the Muscogee people’s fight for sovereignty in eastern Oklahoma. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called the book, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, “gripping, infuriating, and

illuminating—­a valuable corrective to our national ignorance.”

DuVal was named the winner of the Mark Lynton History Prize for Native Nations: A Millennium in North America, which explores the power of the Indigenous nations in North America before and after European colonization. The book, which won the Cundill History Prize, also received a

starred review from Kirkus, which called it “a revelatory account of the power and influence of Indigenous peoples in North America.”

The Lukas Prizes were established in 1998 and are administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard.

Previous winners include Gary Younge for Another Day in the Death of America and Ned Blackhawk for The Rediscovery of America.

—M.S.

Rebecca Nagle, left, and Kathleen DuVal

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ideas of science can be accessed and enjoyed by almost everyone.” Effective policy requires enough understanding of science, Lightman and Rees write, “to avoid becoming bamboozled by propaganda and bad statistics.” This book is a good first step.

Did Heard cut off part of Depp’s finger? Did Depp rape her? It’s all unseemly stuff.

H O L LY W O O D VA M P I R E S

A strong case for public involvement in science.

Wild for Austen: A Rebellious, Subversive, and Untamed Jane Looser, Devoney | St. Martin’s (336 pp.) $30.00 | September 2, 2025 | 9781250361332

News flash: There’s more to Jane Austen than matchmaking and assembly balls.

As the author acknowledges on page 1, “Austen’s wildness has been part of the conversation about her and her writings for a very long time.” Looser’s justification for her deep dive into the “wild” aspects of Austen’s work, her relatives, and her afterlife in the culture is that “solid evidence” is needed to banish the stubbornly persistent image of her as “profoundly prim.” Literary scholars will hardly be surprised by the insights offered here, but as was the case in her biography of Austen’s contemporaries and fellow authors Jane and Maria Porter (Sister Novelists), Looser aims her work at the general public with a breezy, conversational tone, even as she flourishes her credentials as an Austen expert. Part 1 retells the plots of each novel, including unfinished ones and unpublished juvenilia, spotlighting Austen’s use of “wild,” “wildly,” and “wildest” and carefully explaining different connotations. Elizabeth Bennet’s muddy appearance after a brisk walk is described by the censorious Mrs. Hurst as “almost wild” (i.e., savage), while its more common use is as a synonym for “eager”; the young people in Persuasion are all “wild to see Lyme.” “Wildly” and “wildest” turn up most often in Sense and Sensibility to 72

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underscore Marianne’s dramatic nature.

The focus on word use gets tedious, but in Part 2 Looser applies the notion of wildness more broadly to describe the adventures of Austen’s relatives—an aunt was tried for a capital felony, a cousin was married to a French count executed during the Reign of Terror— to make the point that, however quiet the writer’s life was, she had plenty of secondhand knowledge of the wider, wilder world. Part 3, “Shambolic Afterlives,” gets weird with chapters on Austen’s ghost, Austen erotica, and Austen films that were never made, but Janeites of an undemanding nature will enjoy it all.

Hyperfocused and not exactly groundbreaking, but well informed and fun for die-hard fans.

Hollywood Vampires: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, and the Celebrity Exploitation Machine Loudenberg, Kelly & Makiko Wholey Dey Street/HarperCollins (352 pp.) $29.99 | June 17, 2025 | 9780063333819

An investigation of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s litigious split, encom­passing assault accusations, “Poopgate,” Elon Musk, and more.

Celeb watchers spent the spring of 2022 enraptured by Depp v. Heard, in which the Pirates of the Caribbean star sued his ex-wife for alleged defamation in a Washington Post op-ed she wrote about sexual assault. Loudenberg and Wholey’s report on the events leading to that trial was a documentary project

before it was a book, and the two have a gift for scene-setting, from their subjects’ whirlwind romance on the set of an adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson’s novel The Rum Diary, which Depp produced, to drug-fueled jaunts, to physical violence. To escape this “toxic roundabout of fighting and making up,” they divorced in 2016 after slightly more than a year of marriage. But the aftereffects of their relationship lingered: Did Heard really cut off part of Depp’s finger with a vodka bottle? Did Depp rape her? How did Musk insinuate himself into Heard’s life? Who left a pile of feces in Depp’s bed? It’s all unseemly stuff, but the authors go to ground on the mess, covering everything from inside Depp and Heard’s respective legal war rooms to a homeless man’s reward for returning Depp’s phone, which Heard allegedly threw out a window (“$420, chicken tacos, chips, apples, and Fiji water”). The authors had more access to Depp than Heard, and the book does take a slightly Team Johnny bias, reflecting Depp’s win in the 2022 trial (though he lost a similar suit in 2020 in a U.K. court). Loudenberg and Wholey feign disgust with the whole affair, but the riffs on Jean Baudrillard’s brainy media critiques and the garment rending over women’s freedoms would be more persuasive in a book that didn’t dive so eagerly into the deep end of the celebrity gossip sludge pit.

Thoroughly lurid.

For more books about Hollywood, visit Kirkus online.

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Thank You for Calling the Lesbian Line Lovatt, Elizabeth | Legacy Lit/ Hachette (272 pp.) | $30.00 May 27, 2025 | 9781538774496

Bringing the often-hidden history of lesbians into the open.

“The serious hurdle about trying to figure out who you are—or even just who you fancy—is that you only have yourself to go on,” writes Lovatt of her challenges questioning her sexuality in her late 20s.

She had dated men, but never been in love. She felt attracted to women, but did she want to be them or be with them?

How to parse through these questions?

Well, in the late 20th century, a phone service known as the “Lesbian Line” existed. Founded in the 1970s and thriving into the early internet era, this line and others like it emerged in Britain to deal with questions like these.

The volunteers handled everything from young girls kicked out of their parents’ homes to women in heterosexual marriages suspecting they might be in love with their best friends. Lovatt builds a chosen family from this archive, sorting through decades of phone logs to report their stories. Due to repression, much of lesbian history is hidden history, and Lovatt writes that she felt like “an amateur lesbian sleuth” uncovering the queer past. Interspersed is Lovatt’s own coming out journey, plus research on lesbian pop culture in the time of the phone lines. Though the book is at times disappointingly introductory, scraping the surface of intersectionality without adding new depth, it strives to be as inclusive as possible in all definitions of “lesbian.”

Summarizing the still-poignant ideas of key thinkers like Audre Lorde and bell hooks as well as a wlw—women loving women—TikTok feed, it covers a lot of ground. Even if some readers may wish for more radical thought or thorough research, the book nonetheless does admirable work for lesbian history and will nourish many young lesbians as K IR KU S R E V IE W S

well as those seeking to learn more about the community.

A journey into the lesbian archives makes a modern declaration of love to queer folks throughout time.

The Strange History of Samuel Pepys’s Diary Loveman, Kate | Cambridge Univ. (254 pp.) $29.95 | June 26, 2025 | 9781009554114

And so to bed.

The Diary of Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) remains one of the greatest works of personal prose writing in the English language.

Offering insights into politics, reviewing theatrical and musical performances, and chronicling Pepys’ loves and lusts, the diary offers a unique record of a man and nation at the end of the 17th century. This book

by Loveman, a British scholar, tells the fascinating story of how Pepys developed a secret shorthand to encode his thoughts, how the text was discovered and deciphered at the beginning of the 19th century, and how the diary, still today, shocks and inspires. During the Victorian age, it had an indelible impact on the changing notions of what it meant to be English at the time. “To imagine Victorian England through the eyes of Pepys meant enjoying English eccentricities and appreciating continuities with the past,” Loveman writes.

Pepys’ famous description of the 1666 Great Fire of London shaped a sense of tragedy and adventure for generations.

Of course, the most salacious parts of the diary were excised for decades, and it wasn’t until editions of the late 20th century were published that readers could find “every last obscenity” in all its glory. Today, the diary still resonates.

Pepys’ explicitly recorded sexual exploits creepily anticipate the wandering hands of modern-day transgressors. We also experience natural disasters through his eyes; Loveman quotes a Southern California man who, evacuating from a fire in 2009, thought of “Sam taking the

money, plate and ‘best things’” and feeling what “Sam must have felt when he saw the pigeons fall.” Pepys lived the most vivid of lives, and the beauty and horror of his time speak to our own.

A fluently written history of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, its influence on English culture, and its lessons for today.

Ready for My Closeup: The Making of Sunset Boulevard and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream Lubin, David M. | Grand Central Publishing (320 pp.) | $30.00 Aug. 12, 2025 | 9781538739297

How Sunset Boulevard made film history by reflecting on Hollywood’s past.

Widely considered the finest Hollywood film about Hollywood, director Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950) rose out of crisis. Wilder’s two previous movies had flopped, the studio system was crumbling, a crackdown on Hollywood leftists was underway, and the growth of television threatened the film industry. Amid this turmoil, Wilder and his team fashioned a quirky film about an aging film star, a desperate young screenwriter, and the disfiguring effects of what author Lubin calls the dark side of the Hollywood dream.

Wilder’s project was by no means a safe bet. With its irreverent script, mordant humor, and edgy sensibility, Sunset Boulevard jumped between genres and lampooned the industry that produced it. Yet Lubin’s capsule biographies of the film’s principals reveal how the project came together and made cinematic history. Wilder’s early years in Vienna and Berlin are vividly recounted, as are the remarkable careers of Gloria Swanson and Erich von Stroheim.

Producer and screenwriter Charles Brackett, actor William Holden, and supporting actress Nancy Olson are given their due. So are Hedda Hopper, Buster Keaton, and Cecil B. DeMille, MAY 15, 2025

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whose appearances in the film helped blur the line between past and present, art and real life. Lubin keeps the film, its creators, and its reception in sharp focus and displays a knack for concise analysis. Sunset Boulevard was a movie “about has-beens and also-rans, about failed comebacks, misguided dreams, and murderous delusions.” Yet it was made by “a raft of exceptionally creative individuals, all at critical junctures in their careers, several of them playing roles that seemed drawn from their actual lives.” Deeply informed but never pedantic, this book shows how Wilder and his team turned Hollywood’s midcentury crisis into film history.

A deft account of a Hollywood classic.

Kirkus Star

The Very Heart of It: New York Diaries, 1983-1994 Mallon, Thomas | Knopf (592 pp.) $40.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9780593801802

A celebrated historical novelist shares his diary entries.

Culled from copious handwritten notebooks, Mallon’s moving, bittersweet epistolary memoir begins in the fall of 1983, when the author was 32 and an English professor at Vassar College. Writing novels seemed a more exciting career transition, however, so the author relocated to New York City. But as his missives incrementally chronicle, these were also the early days of the AIDS epidemic, when the queer community slowly became decimated by an invisible threat no one saw coming. Dreadfully aware of his own viral vulnerability, Mallon confesses, “We’ve all been exposed, we’re all living under the sword, & I’m no more lethal than anyone else. We’re either going to get it or not.” As his journal entries become less optimistic, Mallon observes regulars disappearing from the Saturday night gay Catholic Masses he attends, along with men in 74

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A climate scientist explains global phenomena in clear, accessible language.

H U M A N N AT U R E

their 20s and 30s stricken with facial Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions. As his professional writing career flourished, the decimation continued. To salvage some semblance of normalcy and happiness, he sought out the kind of “extravagant love” found in more awkward, reserved men, while carefully entertaining casual sexual affairs in such a way as to “put me (probably) in no physical danger, just more psychological peril.” Despite Mallon’s conversational prose, the anxiety over how inevitable getting sick felt is palpable throughout these entries (“my AIDS fears travel everywhere with me”), but all are leavened with pauses of levity as when he writes rapturously about Manhattan life (and its rats), his brilliantly observed social foibles, or his humorous exasperation when overthinking a cough until the ’90s offered relief. This time capsule profiles the queer community’s immense struggle to survive against the nearly insurmountable odds of AIDS and weaponized politics, while concurrently fighting for social justice and equal rights. The many human moments (funny, sad, witty, horrible, and beautiful) populating Mallon’s diaries collectively (and vicariously) illuminate a supremely resilient community that soldiered on (and kept dancing) despite insurmountable loss and pain.

An exquisitely evocative glimpse into an unparalleled era in queer history steeped in joy, sex, and death.

For more by Thomas Mallon, visit Kirkus online.

Human Nature: Nine Ways To Feel About Our Changing Planet Marvel, Kate | Ecco/HarperCollins (304 pp.) $30.00 | June 17, 2025 | 9780063241534

Books on climate change need not be all depressing.

Earth science can inspire wonder, having favorite places can engender love, and learning from the past can kindle hope. Marvel, a climate scientist, explains global phenomena such as ocean currents and greenhouse gas emissions and their influences on our climate in clear, accessible language. Current climate models, she argues, are quality tools for understanding the interactions among the planet’s air, land, ice, and water. The models explain past eras—warmer and cooler ones—which lend credence to future predictions: If carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to increase, we will experience ever warmer global temperatures and their consequences on storm severity, drought, and rising seas. There is no doubt, Marvel asserts, that humans are changing the climate. And yet, we are the loose cannons here—no one can predict what we will (or won’t) do to address the problem. The doom and gloom in the book is balanced with notes of hope: Past efforts to tackle acid rain and to save the ozone layer demonstrate collective action for good. Marvel both outlines the facts and accommodates her feelings. Her book is personal—indeed, the chapter titles are emotions (“Wonder,” “Anger,” “Guilt”)—and, in her telling, turns out to feel necessary. The work contains loads of geeky earth science and playful asides, K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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including imagined Hollywood scripts for portraying outcomes and human foibles.

It’s full of quotable lines that one might use to argue with climate skeptics. To wit: “We are more sure that greenhouse gases are warming the planet than we are that smoking causes cancer.”

A highly readable argument for tackling climate change that reckons with both cold hard facts and the human heart.

Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company McGee, Patrick | Scribner (352 pp.) $32.00 | May 13, 2025 | 9781668053379

An exposé of how the quest for profit put a once-­icono­ clastic tech company into the orbit of a totali­ tarian regime.

Founded in 1976 in Silicon Valley, Apple once prided itself on building its own hardware and software, eventually offshoring some manufacture to Ireland and Singapore.

Then, writes Financial Times correspondent McGee, came the advent of “contract manufacturers” in places like South Korea, Mexico, and China, the last of them characterized by an irresistible-to-capitalists competitiveness built on what one Chinese scholar calls “low wages, low welfare, and low human rights.” That image does not square with Apple’s “think different” branding (or, for that matter, its iconic 1984-themed ad of old), but Apple has long relied on China as not just a source of production but also a huge market, earning the company, by McGee’s account, some $70 billion a year. Apple has also trained huge numbers of Chinese engineers and fueled a homegrown computer and phone industry that in effect was built on its intellectual property. The flow of cash goes both ways; McGee writes that Apple spent so much money in China—by the company’s reckoning, to the tune of $55 billion a year by 2015, but possibly much more—that over time it has become “the world’s biggest corporate investor” in the K IR KU S R E V IE W S

country. Under Xi Jinping’s rule, Apple’s freedom of market movement has been curtailed, yet the savings in labor and materials keep the company captured there in the technical sense, even as Apple tries to placate the government by blocking virtual private networks (VPNs), restricting the use of AirDrop “after it emerged that Chinese citizens were using it to organize,” and otherwise bowing to the Chinese Communist Party. To no avail, McGee suggests: Apple is likely to come to an unhappy end in China as its chief domestic rival, Huawei, outstrips its market share, while Donald Trump’s trade wars may harm its bottom line in the near term.

A well-argued, eye-opening look at the dark side of globalism, and those who win and lose because of it.

The Last Great Dream: How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created the Sixties McNally, Dennis | Da Capo (432 pp.) $32.50 | May 13, 2025 | 9780306835667

Grateful Dead biographer McNally examines the origins of the hippie counter­ culture in the post–­ World War II era.

The epicenter of American bohemia has always been San Francisco, where in the late 1940s “a thread of artistic discourse focused on freedom coalesced into a subculture.”

Though he disavowed the beatnik label that would come in the next decade, the center of this subculture was the poet Kenneth Rexroth, who, McNally holds, practiced an anarchism “in which the personal is political,” certainly a belief that would take root and then later flourish in the hippie and anti-war movements. (As McNally correctly notes, “hippie” is a media coinage: The hippies proudly called themselves “freaks.”)

McNally takes his discussion to Los Angeles, never quite hip but “fertile ground for nonmainstream religious and occult thinking”; he extends it further to Greenwich Village, where a tougher-­edged

bohemian movement was rising. Well versed in the history of the era while not exactly breaking new ground, McNally locates some of the climacterics of the counterculture in works such as the abstract paintings of Clyfford Still, the satirical writings of Paul Krassner, and particularly Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl, which “simultaneously foreshadowed and helped to propagate the values of the youth culture of the 1960s.” He might have done more to make that connection more explicit, but McNally ventures a number of useful observations, including the heavy-handedness of the police as a kind of spur for rebellion and the continuing influence of the 1960s in the first years of the computer revolution, suggesting that its birth in the San Francisco Bay Area was for good reason: “The atmosphere of the Haight and LSD imparted a vision of computers that served individuals.” He sounds a hopeful chord in the thought that while the dream of the ’60s may be dead, “the dreaming continues.”

An ambitious, highly capable work of cultural history.

Kirkus Star

I Regret Almost Everything McNally, Keith | Gallery Books/ Simon & Schuster (320 pp.) | $27.89 May 6, 2025 | 9781668017647

Memoir by the famed restaurateur of a life expansively lived.

McNally opens on a distinctly dour note, with a suicide attempt that didn’t take. “There was a time where everything worked,” he writes. He’d been happily married, owned eight restaurants in Manhattan and had more in the works, and had bags full of money. Then he had a devastating stroke, “confined to a wheelchair and deprived of language.”

Robbed of the use of his right hand, he would learn to become a southpaw, as he puts it, and “there’s something ruggedly appealing about the word ‘southpaw.’”

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There’s much here about the physiology and psychology of strokes and about the involving world of restaurants and the, pardon, dish surrounding them; it was McNally who outed TV celebrity James Corden for an episode of ill manners, for instance, which he now regrets: “For someone who’s hyperconscious of humiliation since suffering a stroke, it now seems monstrous that I didn’t consider the humiliation I was subjecting Corden to.” McNally also writes of the ins and outs of the restaurant business as business, leveraging huge numbers of dollars at Vegas odds with the possibility of losing everything while working with people you might not want to; as he writes of one such person, “You can’t form a partnership with a pit bull and then be shocked when he bites you.” But more than all that, McNally is a charming and honest raconteur who’s lived an impossibly broad-ranging life, acting, directing, traveling the world, spending time with some of the greats in the film and theatrical business (even if, as he writes in anguish, he once failed to seat Ingrid Bergman because he didn’t recognize her). On top of everything else, McNally celebrates New York City, where he once was a king but now is quite content simply to call it home.

Rueful, self-aware, chatty, entertaining, dazzling, and harrowing: a book that contains multitudes.

Kirkus Star

The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive Nabugodi, Mathelinda | Knopf (432 pp.) $32.00 | July 29, 2025 | 9780593536469

In search of lost Black lives.

Literary scholar Nabugodi melds memoir and deep archival research to investigate six prominent writers—William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe 76

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Shelley, Mary Shelley, John Keats, and Lord Byron—with the goal of tracing the Romantics’ “racial imaginary”: that is, “how the existence of racial slavery infested their creative imaginations.” As a biracial Black woman, she brings an acute sensitivity to her search, of texts and artifacts, for “undead legacies of slavery.” At St. John’s College, Cambridge, she visits the Slavery and Abolition Collection, which houses documents representing debates, pro and con, about enslavement and whose holdings include Wordsworth’s favorite teacup. Like other Britons of his time, she observes, Wordsworth benefited from slave labor each time he mindlessly stirred sugar into his tea. Letters from plantation managers to British owners, conveying slaves’ valuations, horrify her; she is buoyed by reports of resistance and escape by those slaves whom owners damned as “distempered.” Among many disquieting discoveries, she finds that Coleridge, once an ardent abolitionist, became a white supremacist after encountering precepts of scientific racism, which placed the so-called Caucasian race at the pinnacle of a racial hierarchy and Blacks at the bottom. Both Keats’ death mask and his poetic allusions point to a reverence for classical Greek—and white—aesthetics. Byron’s orthopedic boots, which he wore to compensate for a physical impairment, lead Nabugodi to consider a link between disability and Blackness. Byron, like Black people, was made to feel inferior—even cursed—by others’ attitudes about his physical difference. “Romantic-era ideals about beauty and grandeur,” she writes, “are impossible to disentangle from the period’s white supremacist worldview.” Each of the figures she investigates, she discovers to her dismay, sorrow, and anger, was intricately embedded in the slave economy.

An intimate and singular perspective on the Romantics—and race.

Collisions: A Physicist’s Journey From Hiroshima to the Death of the Dinosaurs Nevala-Lee, Alec | Norton (352 pp.) $31.99 | June 10, 2025 | 9781324075103

A close look at a renowned experimental physicist with a dizzying career and a difficult personality.

Unlike some physicists of his day, Luis Alvarez never became a household name—­perhaps, ironically, because his achievements were so numerous. A Nobel Prize winner, Alvarez isn’t known for any one thing: not for inventing the radar system that allowed planes to land in bad weather, not for designing precision detonators that exploded the plutonium bomb, not for creating the hydrogen bubble chamber that tracked the trails of elusive subatomic particles. If Alvarez is remembered for one thing, it’s not even physics: He and his son, Walter, were the first to show that the dinosaurs were likely doomed by an asteroid strike. All of which gives biographer Nevala-Lee endless material to weave into a story of intellectual restlessness. We see Alvarez—a “scientific Indiana Jones”—harnessing cosmic rays to search for secret chambers in the Chephren pyramid at Giza; signing his name in crayon on the atomic bomb; and combing moon dust for evidence of mysterious particles. For all of Alvarez’s adventures, Nevala-Lee’s narration seems at times too even-keeled, opting for staid detail over emotional resonance. Alvarez comes across as a maverick foiled at times by his own ego, as when he brags to strangers about classified war work.

Through other characters, we glimpse

Examining the many sides of Luis Alvarez, a “scientific Indiana Jones.”

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something darker, a man who humiliated his colleagues, harangued his inferiors, bullied anyone who dared to disagree with him. Still, said a mentee, “people tolerated Luie Alvarez because it was so exciting to do physics with him.” Readers will likely feel the same. One wild experiment after the next, Nevala-Lee skillfully uses Alvarez’s story to provide a sweeping look at 20th-century physics, with its complicated ties to politics and culture, from the Manhattan Project to the Kennedy assassination. Indeed, by combining his bubble chamber with computer technology, Alvarez helped usher in today’s “big science,” which leaves little room for singular heroes of the sort Alvarez sought to be.

A thoroughly researched biography of an audacious scientist—and a new window into the history of high-­energy physics.

The War of Art: A History of Artists’ Protest in America O’Neill-Butler, Lauren | Verso (240 pp.) $29.95 | June 17, 2025 | 9781804296332

Fighting for justice with paintbrush and pizzazz.

Invoking Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, O’Neill-­ Butler explores the subversive, surprising, and often brilliant tactics of artists fighting for social change. Ten case studies spanning five decades illustrate the original ways artists have demonstrated against unjust practices, “from protesting to philanthropy, and from wheat pasting to planting a field of wheat.”

O’Neill-Butler, a former editor of Artforum, shares her intimate knowledge of these movements and draws on conversations with activists, including the painter Faith Ringgold, the art critic Lucy Lippard, and the photographer Nan Goldin. Their protests transformed museums: In the 1960s, the Art Workers Coalition forced the Museum of Modern Art to allow free admission, to include more artists of color, and to take K IR KU S R E V IE W S

a moral stance against the Vietnam War by juxtaposing photos of the My Lai massacre with Picasso’s Guernica. The Ad Hoc Women Artists’ Committee shamed the Whitney Museum to include more work by women by issuing a forged press release on museum letterhead announcing that half the artists in a touted exhibition would be women. Goldin, who had become addicted to OxyContin, organized PAIN to demand that museums end “artwashing” by the billionaire Sackler family, creators of the drug, by removing their name from galleries and rejecting their donations. These artists changed not only the art world but broader society. Benny Andrews of the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition brought drawing classes to men incarcerated in the so-called Tombs, a program that eventually spread to jails and prisons throughout the country. Edgar Heap of Birds, known for his innovative monoprints, endowed galleries to showcase Native American art. Painter Rick Lowe restored dilapidated shotgun shacks in Houston to create low-income housing and community cultural spaces.

For a volume about art and artists, the book contains too few visuals, but O’Neill-Butler’s vivid writing makes up for that shortcoming.

A rare behind-the-scenes look at artist/ activists who took on the AIDS crisis, police brutality, and art-world elitism.

The Many Passions of Michael Hardwick: Sex and the Supreme Court in the Age of AIDS Padgett, Martin | Norton (384 pp.) $31.99 | June 3, 2025 | 9781324035411

Thoroughgoing history of a signal injustice comm­ itted against gay Americans by the American judiciary.

Many readers will never have heard of Michael Hardwick, but his is a story that all should know. In 1982, an Atlanta police officer intending to

serve a warrant on an out gay bartender for drinking in public found the man in flagrante with another man, which “violated Georgia’s centuries-old sodomy law and carried a potential twenty-year prison sentence.” Arrested, Hardwick spent the next four years fighting for his freedom, until, in 1986, the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Georgia indeed “had the right to patrol its citizens’ sex lives.”

Pressing his fight, Hardwick, who died of complications from AIDS in 1991, was far from alone. As historian and journalist Padgett notes, police in cities such as Miami “surveilled gay hot spots in the hopes of catching queer people in the act,” complete with hidden cameras.

Against precedents such as a 1967 Supreme Court ruling that asserted the right to privacy of interracial couples and another that barred states from interfering with the distribution of contraceptives to unmarried people, the Reagan-era Supreme Court accepted the prosecution’s argument that “sodomy had never been included in the ‘zone of privacy’ normally accorded inside the home.” Despite a brilliant defense mounted by the noted constitutional lawyer Laurence Tribe, in a 5-4 ruling, the court effectively declared gay people to be second-class citizens with limited civil rights.

Fortunately for Hardwick, the statute of limitations ran out, but he was dead well before the Bowers v.

Hardwick decision was overturned in a 6-3 ruling (opposed by William Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia, and Clarence Thomas). Padgett closes this detailed account of the Hardwick case by noting that the rights of gay Americans are again imperiled by a strongly conservative court.

A lucid, rightfully indignant study that demands a renewed commitment to equality for all.

For more by Martin Padgett, visit Kirkus online.

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A Remarkable Man: Dr. Shuntaro Hida From Hiroshima to Fukushima Petitjean, Marc | Trans. by Adriana Hunter | Other Press (192 pp.) | $25.00 June 24, 2025 | 9781635425437

Remembering a heroic doctor.

Shuntaro Hida (1917-2017) was a longtime anti­ nuclear campaigner whose work as a young doctor began when tending to victims of the destruction of Hiroshima in 1945.

Petitjean, a French writer and filmmaker, has directed several documentaries, among them Atomic Wounds, which profiles Hida. The two men met in 2005.

Writes Petitjean, “He struck me as the embodiment of an indisputable hero, someone who’d seen pure evil and stood up to it for long enough to remember what it looked like and to describe it.”

Hida’s outspokenness only continued after the Fukushima nuclear accident of 2011. “He wasn’t surprised by the incident, merely disgusted by human stupidity,” the author writes of Hida.

Petitjean’s short book offers a warm tribute to this “frail figure” whose eyes “gleamed with intelligence and humanity” as he recounted his experiences in Hiroshima. In excerpts from interviews and speeches, Hida offers a rare account of the horrors that he witnessed. “I realized their flesh was decomposing,” Hida says of the bomb’s victims.

“Everyone knows the human body decomposes after death, but these people were still alive. None of it made any sense.

I overcame my disgust and continued to examine them.” Of the 300 or so doctors in Hiroshima at the time of the bombing, 60 were killed in the blast, and Hida was one of only a couple dozen doctors left with the impossible task of helping more than 100,000 victims. Hida himself suffered from radiation poisoning. “My bones have aged very quickly, and my back’s always been in a terrible state,” he says. He needed surgery at age 61 and had to be hospitalized again at 70. “I will keep fighting,” Hida tells Petitjean. True to his 78

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word, he kept traveling throughout Japan—speaking out against the dangers he had seen with his own eyes—until he was nearly 100.

Invaluable testimony from a witness to war.

Strata: Stories From Deep Time Poppick, Laura | Norton (288 pp.) $29.99 | July 15, 2025 | 9781324021605

Looking at what lies beneath.

This book about Earth’s endless stacks of rock and sediment begins with a quote from famed environmentalist Rachel Carson. “The sediments are a sort of epic poem of the earth. When we are wise enough, perhaps we can read in them all of past history.” Author Poppick, a science journalist, methodically, yet gracefully, brings the reader through much of that now-understood past. As she writes, “Beyond an accrual of knowledge, I have found that my own understanding of strata has given me a deeper and still deepening love of Earth in all its layered complexity.” Since Carson’s death, in 1964, Poppick notes, we have found that oxygen appeared only halfway through Earth’s existence, when cyanobacteria, the “greatest environmental engineers in the planet’s history,” began using solar energy to “turn sunshine into sugar” by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The following eruptions of oxygen, when aided by the rise of “solar panels” of protective manganese, let cyanobacteria rewrite “the chemical composition of the Earth from the

seafloor to stratosphere,” ultimately generating literal oceans of multicellular life. Turgid but relentless glacier invasions then dislodged and stirred that life to “explode and diversify.” And the mud that oozed out of rewarming oceans finally expelled life onto land. Understanding how the Earth reacts to change wasn’t always considered central. Now, in the era of climate change, it is viewed as vital. For the ancient past has taught us that ecosystems can adapt to change at a slow rate. “But,” Poppick concludes, quoting a farsighted geologist, “the minute you start ramping the rates up, that’s when we start seeing extinctions.”

A lyrical book that will appeal to science and literature buffs alike.

Hit Girls: Britney, Taylor, Beyoncé, and the Women Who Built Pop’s Shiniest Decade Princiotti, Nora | Ballantine (240 pp.) $29.00 | June 17, 2025 | 9780593725085

A journalist takes a new look at the pop stars of the early 2000s.

Journalist and podcaster Princiotti isn’t ashamed of her pop-music obsession, and thinks you shouldn’t be, either. She traces her love of the genre back to 2003, when she was 9, and “Hilary Duff was the single most important person in the world to me outside my immediate family.” The subject of Princiotti’s book is the female pop stars of the early 21st century, who, she says, “expanded our understanding of what a pop star could be and forced the

A science journalist’s “deepening love of Earth in all its layered complexity.”

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industry around them to take them seriously.” First among equals in this cohort is Britney Spears, who introduced young fans to “independence, agency, and self-­expression” and who was the subject of misogynistic sneers from the media and “girl-on-­girl crime and slut-­shaming” by some of her peers. Princiotti considers the rise and fall of other pop singers, including Avril Lavigne, who claimed to have “created punk for this day and age,” and Ashlee Simpson, whose career was derailed by a disastrous Saturday Night Live performance. She also writes about the singers who maintained their star power, including Beyoncé, whose “Crazy in Love” launched her solo career, and, of course, Taylor Swift, who along with her fans and the internet “built modern fandom to be massive, persistent, and motivated.”

Princiotti’s argument is that these stars never got the respect they deserved for “confronting old assumptions about genre, challenging the perception of celebrity and utilizing new technologies and the burgeoning internet to its fullest,” and she argues it very well, drawing on cultural history and journalism to prove that the singers were sui generis and not just retreads of earlier entertainers. As she convincingly asserts, the musical era was richer and deeper than some give it credit for.

A smart and funny look at pop music from a writer who’s crazy in love with the genre.

Better: A Memoir About Wanting To Die Rebolini, Arianna | Harper/ HarperCollins (304 pp.) | $30.00 April 29, 2025 | 9780063295322

A multi-angled examination of suicide.

In 2017, several years after her first suicide attempt, Rebolini became so tormented by a desire to die that she checked herself into a psychiatric K IR KU S R E V IE W S

ward. In the years since that stay, she has performed sweeping literary, sociological, historical, and psychological research on the topic of suicidality, in an “effort to stake a claim in a conversation dominated by fear and disgust.” Rebolini has been depressed or suicidal most of her life and comes from a “family replete with mental illness”; her own extreme lows mix with those of her brother, Jordan, and other close friends to grant personal shape to a broader inquiry into not only what prompts individuals to engage the extremity of suicide, but also what constitutes recovery from a suicide attempt. Even as the author advances professionally, and achieves other lifelong dreams like marriage and motherhood, the possibility of suicide never disappears, and even the highs of career and family successes necessitate a certain contemplative navigation. She extrapolates from her own financial stress and career ambitions to critique modern stressors like expectations of productivity and barriers to mental health care, and literary figures like Sylvia Plath and David Foster Wallace offer both general lessons and notches against which to measure the severity of her own experience. Rebolini admits that suicide is “tough to talk about because so much of it doesn’t make sense” and that normalizing suicidal thoughts and acts carries a risk. She insists, however, on trying to walk this careful line, and her effort counters the shame of those trying to dodge a persistent desire to not exist, while extending compassionate understanding of and gentle guidance to all those who care for and worry about loved ones struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

A brave narrative of radical empathy both for oneself and for others confronting the darkest darkness.

For more memoirs, visit Kirkus online.

Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America Reich, Robert B. | Knopf (416 pp.) | $30.00 Aug. 19, 2025 | 9780593803288

The former labor secretary examines the failure of his generation to fulfill the promise of building a better world.

Reich, an economist and UC Berkeley professor—and anti-Trump commentator—­ jokes toward the end of his book that if it’s true that you lose half an inch of height every five years after 60, then, at his tallest not-quite-five-feet, “if I live as long as my father did, I may vanish.”

His title refers instead to the fact that his peers did not respond adequately to what Reich considers the perennial human challenge: standing up to bullies.

Remembering his boyhood, Reich links his bullied early years to the bullying that goes on all around us today, thanks in good part to a demagogue, himself a bully, “who’d exploit the powerlessness and rage of Americans who felt economically bullied.” It might have been any bully—Reich prophesied that long ago in the generic—but we all know who came along in the void left by a generation that, whether self-absorbed or because of some other fault, didn’t continue to work toward “the decent, sustainable, and just society that was within our grasp.” Indeed, he continues, many of his age-mates and younger contemporaries worked toward the opposite goal, evidenced by the Roberts Supreme Court’s apparent commitment to undoing voting rights laws and the marked rise in economic inequality since the 1960s, the last decade in which blue-collar workers could buy a home on one income. Other harms that Reich enumerates are Donald Trump’s refusal to commit to the peaceful transfer of presidential power, the mania on the part of corporate heads to maximize shareholder profit at any cost, the vast expansion of the national debt, “rendering it impossible for the government to MAY 15, 2025

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invest in things average Americans desperately need,” and much more.

A sharply pointed chronicle of a society that, Reich laments, gladly tolerates the strong brutalizing the weak.

Kirkus Star

David Hockney Rosenthal, Norman, ed. | Thames & Hudson (328 pp.) | $60.00 June 3, 2025 | 9780500029527

Celebrating a beloved artist.

Published to coincide with a major exhibition of works by British-born artist David Hockney (b. 1937) at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, this lushly illustrated volume offers a detailed overview of the artist’s life and work, along with chapters focused on his various styles and subject matter, a chronology, and a glossary of the many techniques he employed in his art, including camera lucida, computer, and video. Contributors of essays include noted art historians and curators, such as Norman Rosenthal, who edited the volume; Simon Schama; Anne Lyles; James Cahill; and François Michaud. Growing up in the north of England, Hockney was drawn to the light and sparkle that he found in Hollywood movies. When he finally arrived in Los Angeles, the sunlit landscapes inspired him, and his new sense of artistic freedom concurred with sexual freedom: As a gay man, he felt liberated from the constraints that had weighed on him in Britain, even in the “relative Bohemia” of the Royal College of Art. Essayists reflect on his artistic interests, such as landscapes, portraiture, flowers, and the opera—for which he created boldly exuberant sets—as well as on his influences and experimentation. Michaud examines the impact on Hockney of a visit to Paris in the 1970s, where he became familiar with Henri Matisse and his contemporaries from museum exhibitions. In the 1990s, visiting his mother and friends in Yorkshire, Hockney painted both outdoors and in the studio, experimenting with various media—including the 80

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A memoir of anecdotes, told by a master storyteller.

LESSONS FROM MY TEACHERS

photocopier and fax machine—as he worked to render the woodsy landscape.

As a companion to the exhibition, the volume offers stunning reproductions of Hockney’s prolific works. Enormously popular with museumgoers, Hockney, Rosenthal exults, “transforms the ordinary and the everyday into the remarkable.”

A beautifully produced, engaging homage.

Lessons From My Teachers: From Preschool to the Present Ruhl, Sarah | Marysue Rucci Books (240 pp.) $26.99 | May 6, 2025 | 9781668034965

Those who can, teach.

For playwright Ruhl, life has been a history of teachers.

From her parents, through her kindergarten and school years, through college and graduate school, to professional life, Ruhl learns from everyone. She shows us how even the smallest moment can instruct, how a child can teach a parent, and how true creativity demands a willingness to learn. This is a memoir of brief anecdotes, told by a master storyteller. “Every Saturday, when I was a child, my father would take me to breakfast at Walker Brothers Pancake House, a place out of time in the suburbs of Chicago, full of stained glass and massive Dutch pancakes.

My father taught me a new word every week. The ritual was holy to me. He would tell me the etymology, along with the word, so I could remember it.” In college, she meets a great Classicist, and he remains a presence in her life: “someone who opened his home to his students; someone who thought the ancients had something compelling to tell us about how to live life

now, how to face grief now. On a stone building on campus, these words are etched: ‘Speak to the past and it shall teach thee.’” Eventually, Ruhl learns the greatest lesson: that we must, in the end, become our own best teachers—that what we learn from others is not content, knowledge, facts, or frameworks but a way of living. “I think that the best teachers secretly choose to keep teaching because they want to learn their whole lives long—and they know teaching is their best chance of learning.” Anyone who learns and teaches will find affirmation in this book.

An elevating memoir of lifelong learning, told by a playwright who makes the past come back to life.

The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage That Made an American Icon Shapiro, Laurie Gwen | Viking (512 pp.) $35.00 | July 15, 2025 | 9780593295908

A ground­breaking aviator.

Journalist Shapiro, unsatisfied with “whitewashed” biographies of Amelia Earhart, offers an evenhanded portrait of the iconic aviator, focusing on her relationship with publishing tycoon George P. Putnam. In 1921, Earhart was living in Los Angeles when she took her first flight and felt “unexpectedly” drawn to flying; lessons led to performances in air rodeos and some local acclaim. In 1927, while teaching English in a Boston settlement house, she was also working at a fledging airfield, when she came to Putnam’s attention. A wheeler-dealer known as the publishing world’s P.T. K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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Barnum, he was looking for a woman to sign on as a passenger for a transatlantic flight. Immediately, he felt smitten with the charming young Earhart; she was drawn to the adventure. To her surprise, the flight made her a star. “Wherever Amelia went,” Shapiro writes, “she ignited a frenzy of excitement that not only thrilled audiences but also allowed George to revel in her reflected glory.” She took tea with George Bernard Shaw, sat in a box at Wimbledon, dined with Lady Astor, and was showered with ticker tape in parades in New York and Boston. Putnam became her wily manager, tireless publicist, and, in 1931, after repeated proposals, her husband. He profited financially, to be sure, from her feats: the longest nonstop flight by a woman and the fastest crossing of the Atlantic; the first woman to fly solo nonstop from coast to coast, setting a woman’s speed record; the first person to fly solo across the Pacific. In 1937, she embarked on her most challenging—and final—flight: around the world. Capturing the tension and peril of early flying, Shapiro conveys, as well, Earhart’s unflagging ambition and courage.

A sympathetic, well-researched biography.

Together in Manzanar: The True Story of a Japanese Jewish Family in an American Concentration Camp Slater, Tracy | Chicago Review Press (288 pp.) $30.00 | July 8, 2025 | 9780913705704

A World War II homefront action that many Americans would like to forget.

Readers may recall that, several months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, everyone of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast, American citizens included, was ordered to pack suitcases and assemble for “resettlement.” The short notice gave too little time for most to dispose of their property. Slater, a journalist, is Jewish and married to a Japanese man. Her K IR KU S R E V IE W S

subjects, Elaine and Karl Yoneda, were an identical mixed marriage. Both were political activists. Opposed to fascism (in fact, communists), they hated both the German and Japanese version. Slater emphasizes that almost all Americans, from Franklin D. Roosevelt down, approved of the arrests, convinced that Japanese Americans were a disloyal race sympathetic to saboteurs. In reality, the Yonedas believed that the democracies were fighting for their lives and that winning the war took priority: Dealing with the injustice of internment must wait for victory. Elected leader of his block, Karl made no secret of his position. Most Japanese Americans had considered themselves good Americans, but being treated as possible traitors is not conducive to patriotism. Increasingly unpopular, Karl lost his bid for reelection, and Japanese who opposed cooperation threatened and even attacked Yoneda’s supporters. Ultimately, about 5,000 renounced their citizenship and were repatriated to Japan. From the beginning, Karl had tried to enlist in the U.S. military and finally succeeded in November 1942. Elaine was released in 1943; Karl joined her after the war, having served honorably, and both returned to California to resume their activism and live a long and more or less happy life. The last camp closed in November 1945. Many young men had enlisted; their families returned home to almost universal hostility and some violence, and their farms, shops, and homes, looted by neighbors, were never returned. In 1988, President Reagan signed a bill apologizing for the internment. Each survivor received $20,000. Caucasians, including Elaine, were excluded.

A well-told if disheartening history.

For more about Manzanar, visit Kirkus online.

Tart: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef Slutty Cheff | Marysue Rucci Books (336 pp.) $28.99 | Aug. 5, 2025 | 9781668070222

The anonymous kitchen maven, a minor celebrity in the U.K., recounts life in the service industry.

SC, let’s call her, opens her narrative by revisiting a tough time: depressed, jobless, living with her parents in her mid-20s, not having much luck in love or lust after having concluded a steamy office affair. (“Before I knew it, we were fucking on the photocopier like we were in a mainstream porn category.”)

Then came an audition in a London kitchen, with hunky chefs and hormonally supercharged wait staff, and SC is in her element. The better parts of her book place her on the line, butterflying a mullet or firing a chop, where she’s actually cooking. The poorer parts are mostly charmless sexual encounters with partners such as a topknot-bedecked bartender who “reminded me of just how impactful a good shagathon can be on one’s sensibilities.” Sometimes SC’s narrative approaches literal food porn (“I can feel the imprint of his hands on my arse like I’m a Wagyu cow and he’s my keeper, massaging my body to relax my muscles”), but mostly it’s just tedious recitation. No demerits there, necessarily: Even Pauline Réage and Henry Miller grow tiresome after a while, but SC’s book doesn’t quite rise, beg pardon, to those literary heights. Moreover, SC, even more tediously, tends to preen in self-regard: “I’m the prize. He’s the piss on the pavement.” “I think only of myself and my wonderful body that works just fine, my nice mind and my fucking incredible hair.” And, with respect to that hand imprint, “Only I am of course a lot sexier than a cow; I’m more like a thoroughbred pony.” It’s enough to make a person go vegan, if not already.

If it’s sweaty sex you want, this has a few moments. If it’s sweaty chefs making wondrous grub, stick with Bourdain.

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The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne Sweeney, Chris | Avid Reader Press (320 pp.) $30.00 | July 22, 2025 | 9781668025840

An avian expert reaches new heights.

Armed with a microscope and a talent for identifying bird species by scrutinizing small bits of feathers, Sweeney’s subject, a taxidermist and ornithologist, forged an extraordinary niche in labs and courtrooms. In 1960, Roxie Laybourne was working at the Smithsonian when she was asked to inspect bird remains pulled from an engine of a plane that had crashed into Boston Harbor, killing more than 60 people. Bird strikes had been a problem since the Wright brothers’ days, and species identifications were crucial for reducing them. Laybourne determined that the Boston flight “ingested a flock of European Starlings,” Sweeney writes. It was among numerous such assignments for Laybourne, who while dealing with workplace sexism and, per Sweeney, a “deadbeat” first husband, devoted countless hours to her office’s incoming mail—packages containing bird “fat, blood, tissue, and fragments of feather.” The FBI and other investigators also turned to Laybourne, asking her to identify—and sometimes testify in court about—feathers found at crime scenes and during poaching investigations. One year, “she analyzed evidence from forty-five different criminal cases.”

Sweeney is a talented prose stylist who devotes overabundant space to the granular details of moderately interesting subplots. In one, about Laybourne’s grooming of “potential successors,” he notes the favorite soda brands of two Laybourne mentees and recounts a work trip during which his subject and a protégé encountered a long buffet line and ate an expensive slice of cake. Yet this otherwise interesting portrait of an unsung pioneer successfully supports its claims about the importance of her 82

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A star who lived a double life.

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contributions. Laybourne’s findings not only helped prod the Federal Aviation Administration to update commercial plane engineering requirements; according to a U.S. military officer, they also helped prevent fighter pilot deaths.

A scientific trailblazer takes flight in this solid biography.

It Rhymes With Takei Takei, George with Steven Scott & Justin Eisinger | Illus. by Harmony Becker | Top Shelf Productions (336 pp.) | $29.99 | June 10, 2025 | 9781603095747

The role of a lifetime: an actor as activist.

Takei famously came out of the closet at age 68, in 2005. Ever since, the actor has been working passionately as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and social justice. In this sprightly and affecting graphic memoir, Takei guides readers on the winding path that led to his activism—and tells how he became an actor, known the world over for his portrayal of Hikaru Sulu in the Star Trek franchise. Takei recounts his Japanese American family’s post–Pearl Harbor imprisonment in internment camps in Arkansas and California. “We were punished for looking different,” he says.

“Then came this growing realization that I had another difference”—he was attracted to other boys. “I felt so alone,” he says in text accompanying a poignant illustration of him with his hands in his pockets, a despairing look on his face.

Thankfully, Buddhism helped the youth; his temple taught him about acceptance—“maybe my feelings were a natural part of me.” His desire to fight injustice began early, when, as a teenager, he picked strawberries and challenged fellow Japanese Americans not to exploit Mexican workers. Takei studied

architecture at UC Berkeley, but his “secret aspiration” to be an actor soon became a reality: He landed a voice-over gig that paved the way for a bright future.

For decades, he lived a double life, afraid of others’ finding out that he was gay (which could have ended his career). His fear, though, didn’t stop him from championing causes—in addition to serving on the board of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, he volunteered for politicians, including Tom Bradley, who, as mayor of Los Angeles, named Takei to a public transportation board. The helmsman of the USS Enterprise, it turns out, helped the City of Angels get a subway system.

A heartwarming journey that, yes, goes boldly where few men have gone before.

Aggregated Discontent: Confessions of the Last Normal Woman Walker, Harron | Random House (272 pp.) $29.00 | May 20, 2025 | 9780593450048

An essay collection that navigates complexities of modern life and identity with intellectual rigor and personal reflection.

Walker, a freelance journalist, brings a sharp cultural lens to her subjects, such as a multitude of her experiences as a transgender woman, social media’s impact on self-image, and shifting perceptions and roles of feminism. Walker’s recollections as a trans woman inform each of the essays, offering personal views on as well as indictments of societal ignorance, pressures, and pop culture. The first half of the chapter “What’s New and Different?” centers on the author’s views of the movie The Devil Wears Prada. Of the female protagonist, Andy, a magazine editor’s K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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assistant, Walker writers, “Her resentment [for her job]…is one that is rooted in class and a perceived upending of her rightful position therein.” The author theorizes that Andy’s tyrannical boss, Miranda, became that way due to misogynistic treatment, behavior the author deems “so common, so quotidian, so…relatable.” The essays combine incisive first-person tales with cultural commentary, although at times the pieces occur as non sequiturs, reading more like a string of polemical observations rather than a clear, sustained inquiry. The author’s tone ranges from formal to colloquial. Of random people mistaking Walker for a man, she writes, “You know who hates being seen as a man? Somebody who isn’t one. A woman, for example. Maybe even some of the ‘men’ reading this.” Her reflections on varying facets of self-transformation encapsulate the tension that runs through the collection, but while Walker’s prose is sharp and often witty, the book struggles to build a cohesive narrative. The essays occasionally veer into repetition, with some ideas revisited without offering new depth. Still, the collection is compelling in its ambition, and Walker’s sharp eye for cultural critique shines through, even when the essays don’t always cohere.

A promising debut, marked by insightful observations and moments of astonishing candor and critique.

The Girl Who Baptized Herself: How a Lost Scripture About a Saint Named Thecla Reveals the Power of Knowing Our Worth Watterson, Meggan | Random House (288 pp.) $31.00 | July 22, 2025 | 9780593595008

Feminist explor­ ation of the ancient text The Acts of Paul and Thecla.

A devotee of the gnostic literature that paralleled early Christianity, Watterson offers a treatment of The Acts of Paul and Thecla. This ancient document recounts the story of Thecla, a K IR KU S R E V IE W S

young unmarried woman, who encounters the early Christian evangelist Paul. Her desire to follow Paul’s teachings about Jesus causes a family uproar and almost leads to her death. Watterson declares, “Thecla is my personal hero,” and indeed the author is deeply inspired by Thecla’s story.

Nevertheless, the reader will find that most of Watterson’s work is centered on her own feelings, experiences, and grievances. The story of Thecla acts merely as a hanger upon which the author places her garments of discontent. Indeed, what Watterson has written is a feminist treatise tied to ancient gnostic ideas about self-awareness.

Watterson places a heavy emphasis on the ego (including multiple uses of the unusual term “egoic”), both the distorted egos of women in patriarchal cultures and the egos of men, which cause them to be possessive and abusive. The author’s writing is often very personal and raw, diving into her own struggles and her own anger. “Rage,” she shares, “is my beloved right now,” and the idea of “sacred rage” is a central theme of the book. Watterson uses Thecla’s story as an outlet for expressing her own rage toward patriarchy, status quo, lack of personal freedoms, and so much else. The reader should be aware: This is not a book connected to traditional Christian concepts (not even of the most progressive type), nor is this a work that seriously explores the details of an ancient text.

The story of Thecla deserves a thoughtful study; this is not it.

North to the Future: An Offline Adventure Through the Changing Wilds of Alaska Weissenbach, Ben | Grand Central Publishing (320 pp.) | $30.00 July 15, 2025 | 9781538758335

A search for authentic reality in the climatic and geological extremes of Alaska.

The title refers to the state’s official motto, adapted with hope as the Prudhoe Bay oil fields above the

Arctic Circle once promised a future of perpetual petroleum-based prosperity. But as those fields lie next to some of the largest remaining expanses of magnificently pristine wilderness on the planet, whether to exploit it or leave it alone has remained unresolved all these years later. Meanwhile, a half century of humans burning other kinds of fossil fuels has had alarming effects on Alaska’s spruce forests, permafrost underbelly, and mountain glaciers.

Weissenbach, a writer from Los Angeles with more experience reading about adventure than living it, is the unlikely but eminently relatable protagonist of this highly readable mix of memoir, travelogue, and reportage on the arctic front of climate change. He serves as a smartphone-addicted 21st-century every-American foil to a roster of hardy, prickly, weather-beaten souls who have made a life studying, mapping, recording, and just living on the northernmost edges of the habitable (and barely inhabited) United States. For example, Roman Dial, a legendarily self-punishing adventurer and ornery climate scientist, leads the author and several better-adapted young Alaskans on two expeditions through the massive Brooks Range, one east toward the border with Canada in search of Alaska’s northernmost spruce, and one west toward the Bering Strait to catalog changes in the region’s flora and fauna. Enduring grizzly bears and packs of wolves, smoke-choked skies, and days of solitude in frigid endless nights, Weissenbach is pulled out of the two-dimensional world mediated by phone and computer screens into the awesome, terrifying, and beautiful existence changing rapidly and inexorably before his eyes.

John McPhee has a worthy successor.

For more on Alaska, visit Kirkus online.

MAY 15, 2025

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N O N F I C T I O N // S E E N A N D H E A R D

SEEN AND HEARD

Memoir by Former Sen. Joe Manchin Coming This Fall St. Martin’s will publish the West Virginia politician’s Dead Center.

Former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin will tell the story of his often controversial career in politics in a new memoir, the Associated Press reports.

St. Martin’s will publish the West Virginia politician’s Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense in the fall. The press describes the book as “a memoir—and a manifesto—like no other, by a true maverick in American politics.”

Manchin was born in Farmington, West Virginia, and educated at West Virginia University.

He founded the coal company Enersystems in 1988 and served as its president for 12 years.

He entered politics in 1982, serving in West Virginia’s house of delegates and senate, and he was elected the state’s governor in 2004.

Voters sent him to the U.S. Senate in 2010, and he served there for 15 years. His tenure in the body frequently drew the ire of liberals, who resented him for siding with Republicans on several key issues.

He declined to run for reelection last year and left the Democratic party, registering as an independent.

His book, St. Martin’s says, “is more than Senator Manchin’s declaration of independence from the extremes on both sides. In this revealing and entertaining memoir, Senator Manchin combines eyebrow-­ raising, never-before-told stories from inside the Senate and the White House with insights into how government does—­ or doesn’t—work.”

Dead Center is slated for publication on Sept. 16.

—M.S.

Kev in Dietsch/Get t y Images

Joe Manchin

For more books on U.S. politics, visit Kirkus online.

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S E E N A N D H E A R D // N O N F I C T I O N

Dwayne Johnson To Co-Write True-Crime Book Nick Bilton will collaborate with the wrestler-turned-actor.

Tay lor Hill/FilmMagic

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is teaming up with journalist Nick Bilton to write a true-crime book, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The professionalwrestler-­turned-moviestar and his co-author have sold their untitled nonfiction book about a Hawaiian mob boss to Crown.

This will be the first book by Johnson, the WWE star known for his roles in films including The Scorpion King, Rampage, and Moana.

Bilton, a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, is the author of the books Hatching Twitter and American Kingpin.

Their book will tell the story of Wilford “Nappy” Pulawa, the leader of a Hawaiian gang that engaged in heroin dealing, gambling, and extortion from the 1960s to the 1990s. Bilton is writing a screenplay about Pulawa for a film that will be directed by Martin Scorsese. The film is set to star Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt.

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SEEN AND HEARD “This isn’t just a gangster story; it’s about power, identity, and what was taken from the Hawaiian people,” Johnson said.

“This story hits close to home.” Johnson, who is part Samoan American, has family roots in Hawaii and lived there for a time when he was in high school.

Bilton said, “It’s exactly the type of true story that draws me in most, one where you can’t easily separate heroes from villains, and every character forces you to reconsider what you thought you knew about right and wrong.”—M.S.

For more true-crime books, visit Kirkus online.

Dwayne Johnson

“Rich personal and cultural history of a young woman in Berlin’s Belle Epoque.”

—Publishers Weekly/ BookLife Reviews

Interactive Content

“A tender, personalitycentered biography of golden age Berlin.”

—Kirkus Reviews

www.laevnotes.com Paperback ISBN: 978-1-7343635-3-1 Kindle eBook ISBN: 978-1-7343635-4-8

“A wonderfully composed portrayal that could be considered narrative Art Nouveau.”

—BookTrib

P O D C A S T // N O N F I C T I O N

Fully Booked A science historian examines global inequality through six plagues. BY MEGAN LABRISE

EPISODE 419: EDNA BONHOMME

EDITORS’ PICKS:

Huda F Wants To Know? by Huda Fahmy (Dial Books) A Book of Maps for You by Lourdes Heuer, illus. by Maxwell Eaton III (Neal Porter/ Holiday House) Eminent Jews: Bernstein, Brooks, Friedan, Mailer by David Denby (Henry Holt) Audition by Katie Kitamura (Riverhead) THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

The Bomb That Followed Me Home by Cevin Soling, illus. by Steve Kille Dylan Is Delightful by Brian Sullivan, illus. by Laura Watso Fully Booked is produced

by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.

Carleen Coulter

To listen to the episode, visit Kirkus online.

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On this episode of Fully Booked, Berlin-­based science historian, cultural critic, and journalist Edna Bonhomme joins us to discuss A History of the World in Six Plagues: How Contagion, Class, and Captivity Shaped Us, From Cholera to Covid-19 (One Signal/Atria, March 11). Bonhomme’s work, which explores contagious outbreaks, medical experiments, reproductive justice, and illness narratives, has appeared in outlets including Al Jazeera, the Atlantic, London Review of Books, and the Guardian. She is a contributing writer for Frieze Magazine and co-editor of the anthology After Sex (2023).

A History of the World in Six Plagues is a stunning blend of history, cultural criticism, biography, and memoir that Kirkus calls “a searing attack on historical injustices.” Here’s a bit more from our review: “Accounts of epidemics are a respectable publishing genre, but journalist and science historian Bonhomme uses them as a springboard for exploring inequality.

Cholera, a major 19th-century killer, seems to be the subject of the first chapter, yet in a preview of what follows, Bonhomme opens in 1857 New Orleans, where a white physician lectured a meeting of the New Orleans Academy of Science on the supposed inferiority of the Black race. The audience listened respectfully. Although Bonhomme summarizes the nature of cholera, the purported causes (all wrong), and its treatment (always useless, often harmful) according to antebellum medical science, she describes the unspeakable conditions under which enslaved people lived.

Readers will realize that this is not a history of epidemics but a fierce polemic arguing that minorities and the poor suffer when diseases rage because governments and the medical profession give them short shrift.”

A History of the World in Six Plagues: How Contagion, Class, and Captivity Shaped Us, From Cholera to Covid-19 Bonhomme, Edna

One Signal/Atria | 320 pp. | $29.99 March 11, 2025 | 9781982197834

Bonhomme describes A History of the World in Six Plagues as “a historical text that allows people to understand the relationship between contagion and captivity.” She shares the various identities she brings to her multifaceted work; how different cultures talk about the concept of plague; and how she drew inspiration from the work of Susan Sontag, Octavia Butler, historian Dorothy Roberts, and Toni Morrison.

We discuss a scene of illness and confinement from Bonhomme’s childhood; list the plagues studied in the book (Covid-19, Ebola, HIV/AIDS, the 1918 flu pandemic, sleeping sickness, cholera); and dig deeper into the 1918 pandemic, with a nod to Virginia Woolf.

We talk about experimentation, self-determination, and much more.

Then editors Laura Simeon, Mahnaz Dar, John McMurtrie, and Laurie Muchnick share their top picks in books for the week.

MAY 15, 2025

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B O O K T O S C R E E N // N O N F I C T I O N

Craig F. Walker/ The Boston Globe v ia Get t y Images

Book to Screen

An Unfinished Love Story Movie in the Works The film will be based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s 2024 book.

Doris Kearns Goodwin’s An Unfinished Love Story is headed to the big screen, Deadline reports.

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The bestselling memoir, published last April by Simon & Schuster, tells the story of American politics in the 1960s as witnessed by Goodwin and her late husband, Richard N. Goodwin, a speechwriter and aide to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. A critic for Kirkus called the book “a heartfelt tribute to the author’s late husband and a captivating reflection on this pivotal era in American politics.”

Producing the film adaptation will be Goodwin; actor Tom Hanks, who has produced movies and series including Band of Brothers, Charlie Wilson’s War, and

John Adams; and Barbara Broccoli, best known as a producer of the recent James Bond films.

Goodwin’s books have been adapted for the screen before. Her 2005 book, Team of Rivals, formed the basis for Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-­ winning film Lincoln, and her 2013 biography of Theodore Roosevelt, The Bully Pulpit, was adapted into the documentary miniseries Theodore Roosevelt.

Broccoli told Deadline, “Through the eyes of friends Dick and Doris Goodwin, it is our plan to bring an intimate

story of the people and events of the sweeping decade of the 1960s to the screen—a time that despite its sorrows was filled with the widespread conviction that individuals could make a difference.”—M.S. Doris Kearns Goodwin

For a review of An Unfinished Love Story, visit Kirkus online.

MAY 15, 2025

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Children's WHAT MAKES FOR a perfect summer read? Breezy, fast-­ paced, and fun are a few adjectives that come to mind.

Books that take place at the beach or at camp make for escapist fare for young armchair travelers. But summer also offers kids free time to linger over a beloved book, drawing connections between the stories they read and their own lives. The following middle-grade titles are the ultimate summer reads: thought-provoking tales that will enthrall young people while also striking deep emotional chords.

In A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation by Pablo Cartaya (Kokila, May 6), a reclusive, curmudgeonly author and his 13-year-old grandson Gonzalo pile into Mathilde, a 1968 Oldsmobile with “325 horsepower and a lot of attitude,” for a trek across the U.S., ostensibly to promote the latest in the writer’s bestselling fantasy series. Like all the best road trips, however, this one is rife with detours. The book weaves in Abuelo’s memories of life in Revolution-era Cuba with interludes from an omniscient, self-aware narrator. The result is a rich 90

MAY 15, 2025

work of metafiction that sees Gonzalo and his grandfather reflecting on past wounds and Gonzalo himself coming into his own as a visual artist.

What’s a summer night without a ghost story? Set in 1960, Charis Cotter’s The Mystery of the Haunted Dance Hall (Tundra Books, May 13) follows lonely Bee as she attends a bird-watching summer camp and attempts to answer several questions: Are a group of campers sneaking out of their cabin each night? If so, why? Lush prose, strong characterizations, and a foreboding tone combine for an immersive read that ramps up the chills as Bee uncovers bizarre truths.

Like a preteen Sebastian Flyte (of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited), Bea carts around a stuffed animal everywhere she goes, but Camp Chordata is a far more unforgiving place than Oxford University, and shy, guileless Bea is swiftly targeted by bullies. Liz Montague’s graphic novel Camp Frenemies (Random House Studio, May 13) starts off on an angsty note, but Bea soon realizes she’s not the only one struggling. A perceptive storyteller,

Montague relies on simple cartoon artwork to chart the highs and lows of tweenhood.

Piper is a nonbinary sixth grader who uses the pronouns ze, zir, and zem, and panics when ze learns that Mom’s new girlfriend is the mother of Piper’s nemesis, Colton. When the two families take a cruise together, Piper and Colton join forces to break their parents up. Cleverly riffing on the film The Parent Trap, Caroline Huntoon’s Going Overboard (Feiwel & Friends, May 27) blends wild antics with quieter moments of introspection as Piper questions zir assumptions about Colton, pursues a love of fashion, and grows in self-confidence.

With three overachieving older sisters, the protagonist of Wendy Wan-Long Shang’s The Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun (Scholastic, June 3) is used to feeling overlooked. When Esme flourishes on the swim team, she’s thrilled—until she discovers that seeking her demanding mother’s approval is a losing battle. Breathtakingly close races and poolside picnics make for a novel that’s pure summer fun, but Esme also comes to some profound truths: Those we love can be deeply flawed, and some things—like camaraderie—are far more important than winning.

Illustration by Eric Scot t Ander son

SPELLBINDING SUMMER STORIES

MAHNAZ DAR

Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.

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CHILDREN'S

EDITOR’S PICK Wukong, the Monkey King, encounters the equally famous Momotaro, or Peach Boy, from Japanese folklore, forming an empathic bond even as they venture to Demon Island. They meet fox spirit Kit, along with other beasts and yokai (spirits), and together recover magical treasures while unraveling mysteries and narrowly averting war between beasts and humans. Lam again weaves a colorful and exhilarating pictorial narrative that will delight readers, inhabited by appealing characters such as Tofu-Boy. Although the iconic Monkey King is eternally childlike, in the portrayal of Wukong’s hero’s journey

Recast as a superhero, a legendary Chinese comedic character, who encountered characters from Greek mythology in his first outing, continues his mission to quell monsters.

The prologue establishes the central conflict of this graphic novel, which blends myths and popular folktales, this time from Chinese and Japanese cultures. Although they once lived together in peace, beasts, humans, and gods now occupy separate realms that are off limits to one another. The Yao-Qi, or evil energy, takes over creatures who are consumed by negativity or “wicked thoughts,” eventually turning them into monsters. Sun

These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star

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Under One Rainbow

By Chris Ayala-Kronos; illus. by Sol Salinas

95

Island Storm

By Brian Floca; illus. by Sydney Smith

109

Fish Fry Friday

By Winsome Bingham; illus. by C.G. Esperanza

Seven Skies All at Once

By Ted Kooser; illus. by Matt Myers

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The Summer of the Bone Horses

By Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve; illus.

by Steph Littlebird

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Monkey King and the World of Myths

By Maple Lam

Monkey King and the World of Myths: The Battle of the Beasts Lam, Maple | Putnam | 256 pp.

Aug. 19, 2025 | $24.99 | $13.99 paper 9780593524688 | 9780593524695 paper Series: Monkey King and the World of Myths, 2

in his human form, he appears as a young adult, perhaps signaling his interior world. Lam’s charmingly expressive and endearing illustrations add humor to this rollicking adventure; Cerberus, Wukong’s constant companion and a

114

Weird Sad and Silent

By Alison McGhee

117

Firefly Song

By Colleen Paeff; illus. by Ji-Hyuk Kim

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Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus Dev. by Barbara Park; adapt. by Colleen AF Venable; illus. by Honie Beam

carry-over from the first book, is adorably fluffy and rotund.

A stellar illustration of the time-honored, universal power of friendship, communication, and mutual trust. (character guide, author’s note) (Graphic adventure. 8-12)

124

Forts

By Katie Venit; illus. by Kenard Pak

126

The Gift of the Broken Teacup

By Allan Wolf; illus.

by Jade Orlando

127

Go, Sloth, Go!

By Toni Yuly

MAY 15, 2025

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CHILDREN'S

A diverse community comes together on a sunny day to celebrate Pride.

UNDER ONE RAINBOW

love, support, and resilience are effortlessly woven through, and readers—adults and children alike—will easily make connections between the book and their own lives. Characters are diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, and ability.

Uplifting, inclusive, and powerful.

(Picture book. 4-8)

Aphmau: Searching for Home Aphmau | Illus. by Michela Cacciatore HarperPop/HarperCollins (208 pp.) $23.99 | June 24, 2025 | 9780063288089

A gamer girl’s birthday celebration goes awry with magic, zombies, and more.

New girl in town Aphmau is having a rough go at making friends.

Real life isn’t like her video games, and she worries no one will come to her party. To her surprise, her secret crush Aaron is the first to make it. Soon, the house is full of so many classmates that Aphmau frets about getting grounded.

The party’s success enrages school bully Stacy. The daughter of a supervillain’s henchman, Stacy gets her revenge by adding a little magic to Aphmau’s birthday cake. Once consumed, the cake transforms Aphmau into a wolf-girl. More birthday wishes backfire, cueing video game–inspired hijinks all over town. But can Aphmau right the wrongs in time? The author, a successful online content creator who shares a name with her protagonist, delivers a Minecraft-inspired graphic novel that successfully brings her brand to a new format. Cacciatore’s adorable, candy-­ colored art incorporates video game conventions like status bars to effortlessly meld mediums. The fast pace and quick cuts are delightfully chaotic, echoing the original YouTube format.

Age-appropriate tween romance elements especially stand out. Character bios provide a helpful entry point to those new to Aphmau’s world. Aphmau has brown skin and purple hair; other cast members vary in skin tone.

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A cute romp that will appeal to an existing fan base and beyond.

(Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Star

Under One Rainbow Ayala-Kronos, Chris | Illus. by Sol Salinas Clarion/HarperCollins (32 pp.) | $12.99 May 13, 2025 | 9780063378360

A diverse community of people come together on a sunny day to celebrate Pride.

Three young Black friends mingle amid the crowd, “our hearts…full of love / as we move to the beats / pumping into the air.” Rainbow flags swirl around the protagonists, sending a message of love and inclusivity. Suddenly, rain clouds appear, drenching the participants and shifting the palette to hues of blacks and grays. The bright colors never entirely disappear, however, as people shelter under umbrellas while standing side by side. Eventually, the clouds depart, a rainbow emerges, and the celebration continues, ultimately stronger for having weathered the storm. Salinas’ bold, bright, mural-­ like illustrations command attention.

They’ll easily be seen from across a crowded storytime or classroom, though they brim with details for observant readers to pick out; each scene seems to tell its own story.

Laden with delightful alliteration, Ayala-­K ronos’ clear, concise text (“we marvel at our magnificent / community,” “flamboyant floats”) begs to be read aloud. Messages of

Wild Everywhere Balen, Katya | Illus. by Gill Smith Candlewick (32 pp.) | $18.99 July 22, 2025 | 9781536243000

A nature-loving child leaves the countryside for the city.

In place of the wild, with its visible constellations and lovely plants and animals (including, best of all, a beautiful blue-winged bird), the young, light-skinned narrator sees only “gray glass buildings” with “fish scale sides” that cannot be climbed. The urban streets are dark and rainy, and the protagonist laments, “The city is lonely and so am I. I’ve lost my wild.”

Printed in a hand-written font, these last four words are nothing less than a cry for help—but one that is soon answered. The blue-winged bird arrives and leads the child to a river that poetically “rolls and twists and shows me the secrets hidden under its tongue.” Once again, birds, animals, plants, and insects appear. The child climbs a tree and exults in nature’s abundance. “A burst of parakeets color the air green.” A fox appears as stars emerge in the sky. The child now understands: “There is wildness everywhere.” With lyrical text marked by clever turns of phrase and imaginative, mixed-media illustrations contrasting muted city scenes with vibrant depictions of the wilderness, this is a strong read-aloud for group and family settings.

Enticing images of flora and fauna will send readers out on their own personal nature hunts.

(Picture book. 4-8)

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CHILDREN'S

Spark Baron, Chris | Feiwel & Friends (320 pp.) $17.99 | July 15, 2025 | 9781250864741

A verse novel following a middle schooler’s search for hope after a devastating wildfire.

Living in a small California town surrounded by redwoods, observant eighth grader Finn has learned about the natural cycle of droughts and wildfires, but nothing can prepare him for the trauma of evacuation and displacement when a catastrophic fire forces everyone in town to flee. Once studious and organized, Finn is now scattered, plagued by nightmares and worries after returning home. Did the animals in the nearby state park survive? Will his best friend find her beloved missing dog? Can his father find construction work that doesn’t threaten the wildland-urban interface? Most of all, will Finn ever feel hopeful again? Divided into sections set before, during, and after the fire, the story effectively focuses on the impact of PTSD after a natural disaster. Baron covers different kinds of support, including therapy and journaling. Finn’s journey from despair to hope involves finding actionable steps to advocate for animals and humans in his community, making this title a good fit for classroom and book group discussions. Descriptions of the fires pack a visceral punch, compensating for the heavily expository and educational poems and the dialogue, which occasionally has a formal tone. Finn’s Jewish family is cued white, and there’s some racial diversity among his friends.

Fills a need for educational and hopeful stories about kids handling the realities of wildfires. (author’s note) (Verse fiction. 10-14)

Stitch Head: The Graphic Novel Bass, Guy | Illus. by Pete Williamson Colors by Kat Cass | Random House Graphic (144 pp.) | $14.99 | July 22, 2025 9798217026166

A lonely little monster gets a chance to be a hero.

Stitch Head, a small doll-like creation, lives alone in a corner of Castle Grotteskew, managing the monsters that mad scientist Professor Erasmus Erasmus brings to life. Professor Erasmus loses interest in his creations almost immediately, but Stitch Head—the professor’s first creation and erstwhile childhood friend—hopes that his master will one day embrace him again. When the professor’s 309th creation awakens, Stitch Head acts fast to subdue him and accidentally makes a friend of the monster—a gargantuan bunny/ raccoon/werewolf hybrid. Meanwhile, a new monster has arrived in the nearby town, in the form of a sinister, scheming ringleader named Fulbert, who’s seeking new additions to his Traveling Carnival of Unnatural Wonders. After years of being ignored by his master, Stitch Head is eager to run away and join Fulbert’s coterie—but the mustachioed man has something more dastardly in mind. The setting is comedically cinematic, with a shadowy,

A gamer girl’s birthday celebration goes awry with magic, zombies, and more.

APHMAU

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outsize castle, endless haunted hallways, and a richly kitschy mad scientist’s laboratory. The professor’s crew of creations inhabiting the castle are colorful and imaginative—bat-winged brains, alienlike blobs, and furry and feathered beasties. Based on Bass and Williamson’s chapter-book series, this graphic novel adaptation benefits beautifully from the addition of the visual element—a gleeful stylistic echo of Tim Burton’s 1990s work in particular. All human and humanlike characters are pale-skinned.

Goofily gothic graphic entertainment.

(Graphic paranormal. 8-12)

The House of Found Objects Beckett-King, Jo | Simon & Schuster (288 pp.) $17.99 | July 29, 2025 | 9781665967174 Series: A Bea Bellerose Mystery, 1

While visiting family in Paris, a 12-year-old from New Jersey embarks on a treasure hunt to find her grandmother’s missing Matisse—and help save her antiques shop.

Red-haired mathlete Bea’s parents have sent her to stay with Aunt Juliette, a busy journalist, but Bea is stuck at home with little to do, until someone slips a mysterious note containing a riddle under their apartment door. Methodical Bea and her spontaneous 13-year-old cousin, Céline, work together to solve the clues, hoping they’ll lead to the family’s treasured Matisse sketch, which has gone missing from their grandmother Mamie’s shop, the House of Found Objects. The precious artwork was collateral for the loan Mamie needed to carry out muchneeded repairs; without it, the landlord could force her out. As the girls visit Parisian landmarks, they become close, discuss why their dads (who are brothers) are feuding, and break rules in the name of saving Mamie’s shop.

Through their adventures, Bea gains MAY 15, 2025

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the courage to reveal a truth to her parents that she’d been covering up out of fear of disappointing them and uncertainty over what she really wanted. The metamorphosis of the cousins’ relationship, which starts off prickly and softens into mutual respect and affection, is realistic and relatable, and the explanation behind the mysterious notes is a pleasant surprise. The family is cued white.

Codebreakers and mystery fans will want to read this fun adventure, tout de suite. (Mystery. 9-13)

The Smallest Bird: A Friendship Story Belin, Joy | Illus. by Sarah Hwang Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House (32 pp.) $18.99 | June 3, 2025 | 9780823456994

How to make friends with a bird…or any other small fugitive thing.

Reflective readers will quickly understand that Belin isn’t suggesting that her strategy will reliably work with actual birds—but it just might fly with a new neighbor, potential new friend, or even idea. Start out by looking small and moving slowly, she writes. Choose a comfortable setting, bring snacks, sing and dance a little, and, when the time is right, reach out. “Be sure to leave your hand open,” she notes, “because…even the smallest bird is meant to fly.” In illustrations as tidy and bright as the narrative, a young, light-skinned birdwatcher sporting binoculars, a backpack, and a large tumble of brown hair carries a tiny, colorful bird up to a treehouse for a nap and some joyful play. After the bird wings off, the youngster settles down to wait patiently…because, the author concludes, a bird “always comes back when he finds a friend.” Perhaps to underscore the metaphorical nature of the encounter, the bird belongs to no recognizable species—unlike the gallery of feathered neighborhood familiars Hwang depicts on the back cover.

Simple, sunny, and wise.

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What To Do When You’re Not Sure What To Do Bell, Davina | Illus. by Hilary Jean Tapper Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $16.99 June 10, 2025 | 9781523529810

Feeling a bit uncertain?

Listen up!

Should I greet the passengers already on the bus? Should I walk the dog without telling an adult? The diverse tots in Tapper’s images confront a wide range of conflicts. Each page contains a single, simple sentence or fragment with wise counsel applicable to various situations (“Greet precious things gently,” “Make the leap!”), along with hazy watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations set against stark white backgrounds.

Offering the kind of encouragement children need to feel confident in their decision-making, this tale is one that many adults will want to share with young people. Every day, we encounter little moments that require snap decisions, and Bell’s spare text will empower kids to make emotionally intelligent choices, though she’s also clearly sensitive to their life experiences (or lack of). Tapper’s delicate art embraces the uneasiness that children sometimes feel when tackling the unfamiliar. While youngsters are the intended audience for this work, it may well prove popular with adults seeking gift books—who among us doesn’t need a reminder to “breathe in and out” or to “delight in the things that don’t happen every day”?

Simple yet effective advice that will ensure young people greet their world with hope and courage.

(Picture book. 3-7)

G Is for Gratitude Berger, Samantha | Illus. by Ann Shen Henry Holt (40 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 19, 2025 | 9781250905123

Be thankful for everything in your universe.

Navigating life’s challenges is difficult. How to cope? Berger suggests children turn introspective and consider what they’re grateful for—alphabetically. (As she notes, this mindfulness exercise might even help kids achieve restful sleep.) Her ideas are simply formatted, though kids will find some alphabetical headings easier than others to comprehend. “D is for Dogs,” “L is for Laughter,” “M is for Music,” “N is for Nature,” and “Q is for Quiet” (the only text here: “thank you!”) are clear enough. Other headings and explanations may go over children’s heads, as they’re of a more philosophical bent, but they might well enrich readers’ vocabulary: “P is for Perspective,” “R is for Resilience,” “U is for Unconditional Love,” and “Z is the Zone of gratitude.” Especially welcome: “O is for Older people” (whose corollary is “Y is for Younger people”).

This title will probably work best if shared only one or several pages at a time, so as to facilitate contemplative conversations. Grown-ups should encourage children to write or draw what they’re personally grateful for. The bright illustrations are a bit bland; wide-eyed characters are diverse in terms of skin tone and age. One child uses a wheelchair; another wears a hijab.

A solid offering about mindfulness, best if introduced by supportive adults. (author’s and illustrator’s notes) (Picture book. 5-9)

Advice that will ensure young people greet their world with courage.

W H AT T O D O W H E N YO U ’ R E N O T S U R E W H AT T O D O

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A feast for the eyes.

A book to sink your teeth into.

F I S H F RY F R I DAY

One Day at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea Bernstrom, Daniel | Illus. by Brandon James Scott | Hippo Park/Astra Books for Young Readers (48 pp.) | $18.99 April 29, 2025 | 9781662640827

Confronting a toothy shark, a young pearl diver displays courage, cleverness, and a compelling counteroffensive.

A brown-skinned child in a red wetsuit, her hair in two puffs, leaps from a boat wearing a mask and a diving tube. Reaching the “very bitty bottom of the deep blue sea,” she spies a pearl for her net—just as a sizable shark surges up. His extremely broad grin is hungry, not friendly. But the plucky girl strikes a deal with him: She’ll provide the shark with an alternative seafood dinner or else be his main course. The tasting menu of options includes “a squid with her kid,” frilly jellyfish, puffer fish, and a stingray. Each proves violently indigestible and is promptly ejected, with assorted sound effects: “OUCH! AAH! ICK! SPIT! BLAH!” As in Bernstrom’s One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, illustrated

by Brendan Wenzel (2016), regurgitation reigns. In a desperate bid, the girl convinces the shark to try a turtle, whose shell shatters his teeth. Deal over, he goes to “CHOMP!” her, but she blocks his mouth with her net and bears the pearl triumphantly away, safely rejoining her parent in the boat. This neon cartoon version of a reef, all soft edges, looks like a rainbow garden, until we see its dangerous inhabitants, pastel but perilous. Goofy details such as the shark’s ridiculous pink tongue support the upbeat emphasis on the rollicking rhythm and rhymes and the vibrant undersea setting.

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A celebration of bravery against a big bully—though picky eaters might sympathize with the shark.

(Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Star

Fish Fry Friday Bingham, Winsome | Illus. by C.G. Esperanza | Abrams (48 pp.) | $19.99 July 8, 2025 | 9781419766930

The creators of Soul Food Sunday (2021) reunite for another window into familial tradition, as enjoyable as hot honey butter.

One sleepy Friday morning, a Black grandmother and child (who narrates) follow Granny’s weekly predawn ritual.

Piling into a vehicle that’s teeming with supplies, the duo take off for the pier, where admiring onlookers beckon the “fish magnet queen” to a throne befitting the title—an upturned bucket. Here, Granny proves herself worthy of the crown, reeling in catch after catch and offering her grandchild the chance at a similar thrill. Once the bucket brims, dinnertime preparations begin, and the text turns instructive, with thrice-­ repeated onomatopoeic actions keeping time to the culinary progress. When the sides arrive, brought by an eager array of family members, hushpuppies made by our protagonist steam alongside fish freshly fried by Granny, all ready for sharing. Bingham’s text marries straightforward descriptions and naturalistic dialogue with propulsive, alliterative exclamations. The effect is immersive; readers will feel as though they’re being ushered through the front door and offered a plate. Esperanza’s illustrations serve up a feast for the eyes.

Playfully angled perspectives evoke

movement; visual details—from Adinkra symbology to proof of Granny’s military service—are meticulous, specific, and in service of worldbuilding so thorough that the work seems biographical. Esperanza captures facial expressions with an ultra-­ realism elevated by backdrops done in fantastical Technicolor. The result is reminiscent of Kehinde Wiley’s art, every page worthy of framing.

A book to sink your teeth into. (author’s and cook’s note, recipe for hand-rolled honey hushpuppies) (Picture book. 6-9)

Cat on the Run in Hidden Layers!

Blabey, Aaron | Scholastic Paperbacks (192 pp.) | $7.99 paper | May 6, 2025 9781546111825 | Series: Cat on the Run, 3

A feline framed for a world-­ destroying plot goes to dramatic lengths to reveal the true villain.

Princess Beautiful, an internet superstar, started her story as a self-obsessed, demanding diva. The earlier books in the trilogy saw her attempting to clear her name and discovering the real bad guy: Thaddeus Cash, a scheming media mogul and the father of her boyfriend, Catrick. Cash harnesses Beautiful’s internet celebrity for evil, broadcasting a video that brainwashes viewers into believing that he’s president of the United States. With most elements essential to the narrative already revealed, this tale sees our protagonist trying to put a stop to Cash’s corruption. The first two installments were compelling and suspenseful, with a premise that was darkly comedic in its likeness to real-world manipulators of mass media. In his latest, Blabey sacrifices tension and character development for high-energy action sequences. Though a bit loosely plotted, this third-act romp still offers thrills and plenty of humor, including an improbable but hilarious scene in which a subway car MAY 15, 2025

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careens into a helicopter. Readers will cheer as Princess Beautiful finds her true calling as a nunchucks-wielding action hero. Loose-lined, expressive grayscale cartoon artwork punctuated by pops of red bring plenty of drama.

Familiarity with the earlier two books in the series is a must for readers of the newest volume.

A silly series finale, rife with action and hijinks. (Graphic fiction. 7-12)

Itsy Bitsy Spider Cabrera, Jane | Holiday House (32 pp.) $18.99 | Aug. 19, 2025 | 9780823459605 Series: Jane Cabrera’s Story Time

A smiling arachnid surfs a drainpipe surge.

The fuzzy, chunky, charcoal-­ gray spider’s admiring audience gathers: A pastel-pink-striped worm peers curiously, while an adult and child beetle look on as they shelter from the rain under a red-and-white-spotted mushroom. More friends arrive, among them a blue-shelled snail and a ladybug, and the gleeful Itsy Bitsy Spider invites them all to join in the fun. But after they sensibly realize that this is a potentially perilous game and decline, Itsy Bitsy becomes sad.

Admirably sensitive to their friend’s feelings, the critters “put their heads together” and cleverly adapt a leaf to serve as an “Itsy Bitsy boat.” Not only can they all have fun together, but their collective creative powers also lead to the surprise appearance of a Bug Water Park, with a long spiral slide and other pleasures. A rainbow collection of pastel flowers and gigantic mushrooms forms a pleasing backdrop in this close-up garden excursion. Cabrera employs a naïve style, with thin layers of color. There’s no shortage of versions of this nursery rhyme, but Cabrera’s choice to build on the story, the themes of kindness and inclusion, and the delightful, kid-friendly art make this one special.

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So fetching that even avowed arachnophobes will change their tune.

ITSY BITSY SPIDER

illustrations that will show well at a distance for classroom or library audiences—and the titular spider’s so fetching that even avowed arachnophobes will change their tune.

scribbled textures, hand-drawn patterns, and collage elements, the illustrations zing with energy, all originating in Tobi, the one goofy little pup who brings everyone together.

Hello, Tobi!

Yeti Is Not Ready for School

Cáceres, Andrea | Candlewick (32 pp.) $18.99 | Aug. 26, 2025 | 9781536222807

Carter, Leigh Anne | Random House (32 pp.) $18.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9780593808078

A friendly pup greets many different families on his walk.

Tobi, a tiny dog with brown crayoned scribble-scrabble fur, lives with his family: a bespectacled, brown-skinned youngster with sprightly pigtails and two adults, one pale-skinned, one darker-skinned.

The happy trio, plus Tobi, head to the park, where Tobi sees “small families with big dogs,” “big families with small dogs,” “families that look alike,” “and families that look different from one another.” Each page highlights a diverse group whom Tobi proudly trots past as everyone shouts out greetings. Of course, there’s one family Tobi loves most of all: his own! The people are diverse in terms of race, culture, and ability but co-exist in joyful harmony—and of course, the dog breeds vary as well. The text doesn’t call attention to these differences; they are a natural part of the loving, familiar community that Tobi sees every day. Carefully considered and ebullient in emotion, Cáceres’ art is the real star. Digitally created with

What to do when you’re not prepared—yet-i?

Blue-skinned, furry Yeti starts monster school tomorrow. She’s filed her fangs and perfected her growling and stomping. But so much could go wrong. When Dad asks if she’s ready for the big day tomorrow, Yeti’s got an excuse: Her pet goat ate her favorite pencil, so that’s a no. No worries! Dad bought extras. Is Yeti’s book bag packed? Oops, it’s lost! Dad finds it in the fridge. At bedtime, Yeti’s still wracking her brain for more excuses. Her hair’s messy; she’s low on lizard snacks; a tooth’s ready to pop out. Understanding, supportive Dad suggests she think good things about how much fun school will be—and get some rest. After a sleepless night, Yeti confesses that she’s still not ready. Dad explains that newness is scary, advises her to be herself, and points out that others may feel the same. Yeti’s surprised when she meets some new students: They’re also nervous and self-conscious. Yeti says hello to her new classmates—a brave act that emboldens the others, who soon feel more courageous themselves. After a

Blends appealing art with gentle rhymes for storytime magic.

(Picture book. 2-5)

Readers—especially dog lovers—will delight in this everyday slice of life.

(Picture book. 3-6)

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successful day, guess who’s “not ready” to go home? Though monsters may be the star of the show, Yeti’s concerns are all too human, and Carter treats them with sympathy and sensitivity. The appealing, colorful digital illustrations depict creatures (some humanoid, who vary in skin tone) who are more cuddly than creepy.

Empowering for kids and cryptids alike. (Picture book. 4-7)

God’s Little Oceanographer Cho, Tina | Illus. by Marta Álvarez Miguéns WaterBrook (40 pp.) | $12.99 June 24, 2025 | 9780593579435 Series: Big Adventures for Growing Minds

Bible passages and scientific facts combine to celebrate the wonders of God’s oceans.

Readers follow along as an East Asian child with short black hair swims, explores the shore, and pilots a yellow submersible. Cho covers the five oceans and why they’re salty, waves and currents, oceanic zones, sea creatures such as whale sharks and elephant seals, the benefits humans gain from the oceans, and our responsibility to protect them. The main text (formatted to look like verse, though it doesn’t rhyme) presents major ideas, with bolded, colored text indicating animals to find or drawing connections between the subject matter and the religious theme. When describing how wildlife in the “midnight zone” finds food without light, for instance, Cho explains that “God sees these creatures, / just as He sees you.” Biblical passages from Genesis, Proverbs, Psalms, Romans, and the Book of Habakkuk deepen the theme or loosely touch on it. Facts in a smaller font are scattered about, distinguished from the Bible verses only by font color. The cartoonish illustrations bring the wonders of the ocean to life for young children, highlighting both well-known and seldom-seen creatures.

Humans are racially diverse; one child uses a wheelchair.

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For curious young Christians eager to explore the deepest depths of the ocean. (Religious/informational picture book. 3-8)

Princess Battle Royale Crede, Phaea | Illus. by Jen Hill Viking (40 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 19, 2025 | 9780593621370

Princess tropes get a takedown when an undersize challenger steps into the royal ring.

“Welcome to the WPW: World Princess Wrestling,” where reigning champion Swan Princess, “the baddest bird of the ballet,” is ready to rumble with fairy-tale royalty in defense of the Enchanted Championship Belt.

Light-skinned Rapunzel the Reaper “comes in hot with her signature Hair Whiplash” move, and Kaguya (of Japanese folklore) gives it a valiant go with her Moonsault, but in round after round, the royal highnesses fall flat. Enter “a kid in a little red wrestling singlet,” a pint-size, rosy-­ cheeked, light-skinned child who’s been hungry to give the Swan a go.

Little Red, who up to now has served as the towel girl, unleashes her “wolf mode” to demonstrate that “anyone can battle, no matter what size.”

Direct narration by a tuxedoed green ogre sets the tone of a zealous sportscast, and the strong female cast is a plus. Speech-bubble smack talk, in a distinct font and laden with fairy-tale references, keeps this sporty romp moving along at a speedy clip, while expressive mixed-media illustrations capture clever details; a closer look at the title page hints at Little Red’s brawn, and folklore favorites, diverse in skin tone, dot the crowd. All the mayhem and a little magical “kayfabe” (presenting the unreal as real) enchant, and, of course, “they all lived scrappily ever after.”

Stompie the Zombie Cuyler, Margery | Illus. by Binny Talib Two Lions (32 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 12, 2025 | 9781662527654

Who’s up for a family re-­ BOO-nion?

Stompie the zombie hasn’t enjoyed a visit from his relatives in half a millennium (and “he’s been DYING to see them!”), so he’s organized a get-­ together in his graveyard home. He’s got lots to do, such as going to the “GROSS-ERY STORE” for “re-fleshments,” including “finger food,” “tomb-­ atoes,” and ribs. Rushing home, Stompie tumbles from his cycle—a casket on wheels—and breaks his shinbone in two.

Fortunately, his pal Itchy Witchy whisks him to Urgent Scare on her broom. Dr. Fang diagnoses a “MARROW escape” and schedules surgery; Stompie must remain overnight. “Over my dead body!” he screams. A battle of wills ensues, but the doctor prevails. Stompie’s depressed; he was looking forward to the games and food. Will he have to cancel the reunion?

No! While he’s in surgery, Itchy Witchy leads the guests to the hospital, where they decorate Stompie’s room. When he returns (in his “SQUEAL-CHAIR”), he’s thrilled by his relatives’ warm greetings.

The reunion proceeds after all, with music and much more merriment besides.

This comical, pun-filled winner about family togetherness and friendship will arouse chuckles, though some phrases may elude kids. All examples of witty wordplay appear in boldfaced capital letters throughout. The colorful digital illustrations burst with energy; green, wide-eyed Stompie and his spooky confederates are endearing, not scary.

A riotous, captivating charmer; fun at Halloween or anytime.

(Picture book. 5-8)

For more by Margery Cuyler, visit Kirkus online.

A punny KO for spunky fairy-tale lovers and storytimes. (Picture book. 4-8)

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A magnificently told tale of compassion for the natural world.

cartoony; Willa and company are delightfully expressive.

Make no mistake: This is a fun read that delivers an important, encouraging lesson. (Picture book. 5-8)

THE S ILVER S H A D OW

Kirkus Star

The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page

The Worry-Worry Whale Made 32 Mistakes

Davis, Geena | Philomel (34 pp.) $18.99 | April 29, 2025 | 9780593463963

Diesen, Deborah | Illus. by Dan Hanna Farrar, Straus and Giroux (32 pp.) $18.99 | June 10, 2025 | 9780374391539 Series: A Worry-Worry Whale Adventure

A growth spurt shoots the protagonist right off the page in Academy Award–winning actor Davis’ debut picture book.

Sheila is the self-aware star of her own story. She’s “rather proud” of being “a girl who [lives] in a book,” since a captive audience will “read the book and wonder about her and want to know just what her deal” is.

Pale-skinned with sandy-brown hair, Sheila hits developmental milestones: She walks, she talks, she starts kindergarten, and, as one generally does, she gets older—“exactly one year older for every year that [goes] by.” Then, a dramatic, off-page growth spurt “change[s] everything.”

Readers can still see Sheila, “but only about up to her neck.” Sheila contorts herself to stay visible but becomes “very self-conscious.” It takes reassurance from a friend to remind her that “people are valuable and special no matter what’s different about them.” Davis’ watercolorlike illustrations feature pastel-hued portraits in occasionally clumsy proportions that vary little in perspective. The conflict is abruptly resolved, while the pseudo-meta construct of framing the moral within a picture book feels forced; the message for readers to be comfortable taking up space is far more capably accomplished in Vashti Harrison’s Caldecott Medal–winning Big (2023).

Gawky and heavy-handed.

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Can mistakes be a good thing?

Willa, the fretful cetacean star of The Worry-Worry Whale and the Classroom Jitters (2024), wants to swim backward but can’t. She’s kept score of her failed attempts: 32 and counting. Willa’s convinced she’s the only one who commits gaffes…until she discovers that her fellow marine pals also track personal failures while learning new skills. Unlike Willa, however, they’re proud of their goofs.

Nar the narwhal proudly announces that she accrued 43 mistakes as she mastered the art of swimming upside down, while Mr. Fish has made 85 errors learning to play the flute.

Willa’s confused; she keeps her failures a secret. At home, Dad reveals that his delicious, fresh-baked pastries are the result of 14,759 mistakes! Willa’s flabbergasted: Grown-ups make mistakes? Time to reconsider her assumptions. Turns out, mistakes are crucial for learning and improving. Putting on a whale-size smile, Willa sets out to make more errors—so she can learn and achieve her goals. Though a bit purposeful, this empowering testament to the growth mindset, expressed in bouncy verse, will help children internalize a counterintuitive message: Messing up motivates us to try, learn, and, finally, succeed.

The illustrations are colorfully

The Summer of the Bone Horses Driving Hawk Sneve, Virginia | Illus. by Steph Littlebird | Amulet/Abrams (64 pp.) $14.99 | April 1, 2025 | 9781419759550

A young Native boy stays with his grandparents on the Rosebud Reservation when his father falls ill.

This summer marks the first time Eddie will be away from Mom and Dad, and he feels “that hurting ache” as soon as he settles down on the sofa for the night instead of in his warm bed. But his grandparents show him the beauty of a life without modern conveniences as Grandma washes clothes by hand and Grandpa boils water for a nightly soak in the tub. Eddie participates, too: He gardens and helps out with the horses and chickens. Along the way, he learns about local dangers such as rattlesnakes.

Slowly, his loneliness fades as he learns to make his own playthings (he fashions accessories from string for a group of cow bones Grandpa gives him, turning them into toy horses). When tragedy strikes, Eddie springs into action, using wisdom gleaned from his grandparents to save the day.

Inspired by family experiences, Driving Hawk Sneve (Sicangu Lakota) weaves a captivating tale about the healing power of community and familial bonds. Her narrative unfolds at a perfect pace, wringing joy from simple moments, offering a well-realized window (and mirror) into reservation life, and deftly charting her protagonist’s journey from homesick youngster to resourceful hero.

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and textured images reflect Eddie’s determined spirit.

Infused with tenderness, this family story is simply lovely. (author’s and illustrator’s notes) (Chapter book. 5-8)

The Silver Shadow Dulak, Mariesa | Illus. by Alea Marley Walker US/Candlewick (32 pp.) $18.99 | May 13, 2025 | 9781536239409

A story of love from the water’s edge.

A shy brownskinned girl catches a lionfish in her small bucket before releasing it. The next day, she discovers a baby shark stranded in the tidepools.

She worries for the shark’s safety—the heat is oppressive, and her brother Sam and his friends want to sell the creature to fishermen. Though the child tells the little shark to be still, the other kids spot the animal and plot to catch her.

Summoning strength “from a deep place. An ancient place,” the protagonist clenches her fists and shouts, “NO!” Surprised, the others back off. The relieved narrator watches over the shark until dusk, when her parents and, eventually, Sam come help look after the animal until high tide comes and washes her back out. Marley’s luminescent illustrations bathe the pages in cerulean, cobalt, azure, sapphire, and teal as well as emerald, olive, chartreuse, and, of course, sea green, immersing readers in the watery setting and beckoning them to care. Where rusts and browns meet blues and greens, the shark and the girl wait…until purples, pinks, and deep indigoes envelop them both. Dulak takes a skillfully light touch to fostering environmental stewardship in young kids while showcasing the beauty of the Caribbean setting; in an author’s note, she explains that she drew inspiration from her dad’s memories of growing up in Barbados.

A magnificently told tale of compassion for the natural world. (what to do if you catch something in a tidepool) (Picture book. 4-8) K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Polecat Has a Superpower

Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet

Esbaum, Jill | Illus. by Bob Shea | Putnam (32 pp.) $18.99 | July 15, 2025 | 9780593699997

Ferry, Beth | Illus. by Charles Santoso Roaring Brook Press (32 pp.) $18.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9781250804211

One night, a spotted skunk reveals a surprising secret ability to its new friend, a porcupine.

“Call me Polecat,” says our protagonist, who has a “DOOZY of a superpower.” Porcupine knows what it is. After all, everyone’s well aware that skunks ward off predators with their stinky spray. But this species—­“smaller than our striped cousins”—can do things that other skunks can’t.

Polecat’s a talented—and fast— climber; plus, its spots allow it to camouflage itself. The two animals discuss their diets (Porcupine, a herbivore, blanches as the omnivorous Polecat gobbles up crickets and caterpillars) and how they evade predators. Porcupine explains that it runs off when it’s afraid; porcupines can’t shoot their quills, which stick only when something touches them.

Polecat notes that before it sprays, it will “spring into a handstand,” walking on its forepaws and imitating a much larger animal, often scaring the predator away. The latest in Esbaum and Shea’s effective series (previous titles covered the parrotfish and the hoatzin bird) is another winner. Polecat’s introductory statements and its conversation with Porcupine carry all the information.

The dialogue bubbles are distinctive in color and shape, making things easier for fledgling readers. Both the narrative and the colorful cartoon illustrations brim with appealing humor. These animals have plenty of personality. Though the use of the word polecat makes for clever alliteration (paired with porcupine), it might confuse readers; in some regions of the U.S., this term refers to the blackfooted ferret.

Another lively and engaging presentation from a talented pair. (“True or false?” facts about polecats) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

When a young witch acquires an egg that conceals a “mystery pet,” she impatiently uses her magic to

attempt to hatch it.

Light-skinned, green-haired Evelyn Witch is sure that something’s missing in her life. But her potions are “perfectly bubbling,” and her hair is “perfectly messy.” What could it be? On a trip to town, she wanders by the pet store and realizes she needs a companion. The text—previously simple sentences—now adds jaunty rhyme and rhythm to describe creatures ranging from “bats, and rats, and plump pink cats” to “griffins, and spiders, and fish who were biters.” Counting her change, Evelyn has only enough for the cheapest item, the mystery pet: a cardboard box containing a plain white egg. What animal might it conceal? And will it ever emerge? Playful text paired with vignettes of the frustrated Evelyn watching over the egg make the young witch’s displeasure clear: Waiting is hard! Next stop: the library, for a book of creature-hatching magic. Evelyn treks over mountains, sails seas, and explores a cave, casting delightfully rhyming spells—to no avail. But after a heartwarming epiphany—and a lesson in the value of patience—Evelyn and readers alike are rewarded with a perfect result.

Comical, scribbly art—a creative mix of panels and full-page spreads—complements the text, whose extensive vocabulary is couched in conversational syntax; Evelyn’s frequent exclamation of “Sniveling snails!” is a particular delight.

Fun for witches in training and aspiring pet owners alike.

(Picture book. 4-8)

For more by Beth Ferry, visit Kirkus online.

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C H I L D R E N ' S // Q & A

THE KIRKUS Q&A: TIFFANY D. JACKSON The bestselling YA novelist wades into middle-grade writing with Blood in the Water.

BY MARIETTE WILLIAMS

You have a long roster of YA books. Why was this the right time to pivot to middle-grade literature?

I was thinking about Kaylani’s voice and the story that I wanted to tell, and it just felt right. During book tours, I would see 10- and 11-year-olds walk up to me with my books. In the back of my mind, I was thinking that they were too young for some of them, and I wished I had something that spoke to them. That was one of the bigger reasons why I wanted to write something specific for a middle-grade audience.

Where did the idea for Blood in the Water come from?

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It came from all my various trips to Martha’s Vineyard.

There’s a spookiness and beauty to the island, and I always kind of imagined telling a story from the point of view of a child who was able to frolic around the island. I’ve written a couple of short stories that took place on Martha’s Vineyard, and when I was approached about writing a mystery/ thriller set there, I said, “You know what? I’d love to do that.”

Reading the book made me realize how much I didn’t know about Martha’s Vineyard.

I get that from a lot of different people. Martha’s

Vineyard has such an amazing history, especially Black history, that you would never know. The first time I visited, I hadn’t heard anything about it. Only recently has Martha’s Vineyard become this social media phenomenon, but before that, it was only known through word of mouth. Lots of wealthy Black people learned about vacationing there or buying homes there from other people.

You also provide a range of representations of Black girls, from the middle-class Kaylani to the Watson sisters, Cassie and London, who’ve grown up in this world of privilege. Do you feel particularly connected to any characters personally?

I feel connected to Kaylani in a lot of ways. I grew up solidly middle class in

Brooklyn, and I’ve definitely been in spaces where I felt a little uncomfortable about other people’s upbringing, not realizing there could be these incredibly rich Black folks that live an entirely different existence that I’d never even heard of before.

That was really fascinating to me, but I never felt embarrassed about it, just like Kaylani isn’t embarrassed about who she is. I wanted to include these uncomfortable moments for Kaylani where she’s navigating new spaces.

The book mentions Jack and Jill, a social club for well-connected Black families, and it has a bit of underlying commentary about the purpose of these kinds of clubs.

I think there’s an advantage to social clubs in terms of building community and preserving heritage K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Tif fany D. Jackson

IN HER LATEST novel, Blood in the Water, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of Kaylani McKinnon, a Brooklyn teen who gets sent to Martha’s Vineyard for a few weeks to stay with the Watsons, her grandmother’s church friends. The trip is partly to take Kaylani’s mind off her father’s recent incarceration, and when she arrives on the island, she’s thrust into a world of Black wealth.

While things in Martha’s Vineyard look idyllic, one morning, a teen is found dead in the water, and Kaylani springs into action to uncover the killer and confirm her suspicions that things are not what they seem on the island. Jackson spoke to us over Zoom about the thrilling middle-grade novel; our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Q & A // C H I L D R E N ' S

and roots, because this was all some of us had at one point. Black social clubs were a safe space for a lot of people, but I think one of the downsides of being in a social club is the exclusivity.

You spent your childhood visiting Martha’s Vineyard, but what did you learn about the island when you went back to do research for the book?

It was interesting to see how the island is changing.

There’s something called the Black Heritage Trail, which is a van tour that takes you around to see sites on the island. Unfortunately, in the last few years, people have been trying to remove the placards because of racist practices.

That was interesting, but I didn’t touch upon that in the book because I didn’t want it to be a distraction from the story being told.

There was a Jaws exhibit at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum that I’d never seen before [the movie was filmed on the island]. I’d never been to the Edgartown Public Library, which is across the street from [Harlem Renaissance writer] Dorothy West’s headstone. When I was doing research, things that I’d heard about started clicking for me.

Did you find any scenes especially rewarding or especially challenging to write?

There’s a scavenger hunt in the book, and I found that slightly challenging to write because I was trying to find facts that were fun and specific to kids. There’s a real scavenger hunt that takes place on the island, K IR KU S R E V IE W S

but it’s much smaller, and I wanted to enlarge it to fit the characters in mind, which was a little complicated. But I loved writing about Inkwell Beach and describing the food. I love the food on Martha’s Vineyard, and describing things from my childhood on the island, like the ice cream, was really fun.

I love that you’ve included these specific summer childhood experiences, like sneaking out of the house at night, going to beach parties, and riding bikes around the neighborhood.

When I was writing this, I wanted to nail the middle ­school experience. They’re kids—they’re sneaking out and trying to be cool, but they’re also failing at being

cool. I think in the high school years, kids are focused on answering [the question of] who they are and who they want to be, and middle graders are focused on finding out what’s going on and why things are happening.

You portray Kaylani as someone who wants to fix everything, but one line stands out in the beginning. Her dad tells her, “Your only job is to be a kid, something you haven’t been doing much lately.”

Why is it important for young Black kids to hear that message?

By nature of who we are, we tend to adultify very fast, and not necessarily in the best ways. Because we’re faced with so much, our senses

are heightened at a much earlier age. We need to identify racism by the time we’re 8 or 9, and we need to know if microaggressions are happening in our faces.

Middle graders tend to want to be older because they want to be out and about, and they want to follow their older cousins, sisters, or brothers. I want kids to understand that it’s OK to live comfortably in your girlhood or your boyhood and that it’s OK to just exist.

I understand Kaylani’s perspective in a lot of ways.

I, too, was like a kid who wanted to focus on adult things instead of just enjoying the fact that I could be free.

Mariette Williams is a writer in South Florida.

When I was writing this, I wanted to nail the middle school experience.

Blood in the Water Jackson, Tiffany D.

Scholastic | 272 pp. | 15.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781338849912

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City of Secrets

Kirkus Star

Flanagan, Liz | Illus. by Joe Todd-Stanton Union Square Kids (176 pp.) | $8.99 paper June 24, 2025 | 9781454957560 Series: Wildsmith, 2

Rowan, fledgling protector of magical animals, struggles to protect a young pegasus from ruthless poachers in this second episode.

Forced to flee the Dark Forest with evil Estrians hot on their trail, Rowan and her winged, rapidly growing pegasus charge, Mouse, look for refuge back in Holderby—­only to find that the war with Estria has turned even her hometown into a hostile armed camp. Catering to younger and more sensitive readers than in the first book, Flanagan spins out a storyline that’s high on narrow squeaks and implicit danger but low on explicit violence. She’s also quick to trot in horses, winged and otherwise, to please that set.

A cast that includes a trio of helpful if otherworldly witches is headed by a protagonist with both burgeoning powers to heal and talk to animals and a heart big enough even to feel sympathy for her betrayer. With help from allies, the fugitives do go on to find at least temporary refuge. But will Rowan ever track down Mouse’s parents or be reunited with her own family? In its British edition, this series is already up to its fourth episode, so stay tuned. Todd-Stanton’s frequent illustrations reinforce the wholesome quality, with scenes of Mouse soaring in coltish delight and several sweet-featured figures, many of them dark-skinned.

Further flights into danger, with more magical creatures to be met and rescued. (Fantasy. 7-11)

Island Storm Floca, Brian | Illus. by Sydney Smith Neal Porter/Holiday House (48 pp.) $18.99 | July 22, 2025 | 9780823456475

Caldecott Medalist Floca and Hans Christian Andersen Award–­ winning illustrator Smith tell the story of two youngsters braving a gale.

While their parent collects laundry that has flown off the line, the children—presumably siblings—walk away. “Now take my hand / and we’ll go see / the sea before the storm.” At first that seems the beginning and ending of their adventure as they stand on worn stones watching the waves “SMASH on the rocks and EXPLODE into spray.” Then something compels the kids to continue. “You pull on me, I pull on you, and we decide to go on,” the author repeats in what feels like a chant. Only too late do the siblings realize that they’ve gone too far; they race for home through the rapidly approaching dark and rain, toward light and warmth and their relieved parent. Smith’s impressionistic watercolor and gouache illustrations convey not simply the horrifying strength of the storm, but also the way the light of day changes and shifts throughout the kids’ walk. The images plunge readers into heart-­stopping moments, rendered real thanks to Floca’s incredibly evocative wordplay, capable of eliciting both fear and comfort. Readers will experience this tempest alongside the characters, every step of the way. Yet the true heart and

The power of nature captivates in this phenomenal tale of pushing limits.

ISLAND STORM

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soul of the book resides in the siblings’ relationship as they weather the weather—and more—together. The characters are light-skinned.

The power of nature captivates and compels in this phenomenal tale of pushing limits. (Picture book. 4-8)

Arco’s Little House Fogel, Jess | Penguin Workshop (32 pp.) | $5.99 paper | Aug. 26, 2025 9780593523711

An industrious fox learns to appreciate what he has instead of coveting what others possess.

Arco is proud of his humble abode and goes through great pains to maintain and tastefully decorate it. When a new neighbor decides to build a multifloored home right next to his, Arco decides he’d like a big house, too, and adds multiple levels to his home. As he encounters other types of structures, he makes more changes, adding wheels, sails, turrets, slides, and even a roller coaster.

His residence attracts a lot of attention, and crowds of other animals traipse through, making a mess. When a storm leaves the majestic building in ruins, Arco decides to rebuild the modest, self-effacing home of his dreams instead of keeping up with the Joneses. Fogel’s gentle, straightforward story offers a noble message, especially in today’s world, which often values overconsumption over necessity; it’s clear that bigger isn’t always better. Arco’s emotional journey is authentic, and his eventual resolution rings true. The text is written in a thin sans serif font and is sometimes placed against stark backgrounds or in the middle of busy illustrations, making the story a challenge for its intended beginning reader audience. The smaller trim size makes the more intricately detailed spreads harder to parse at times.

A lovely look at the need to be true to oneself hampered by questionable design. (Early reader. 5-8)

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CHILDREN'S

Further flights into danger, with more magical creatures to be rescued.

CITY OF SECRETS

I Will Always Be… Gardyn Levington, Rebecca Illus. by Rahele Jomepour Bell Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $19.99 | April 15, 2025 | 9780063214446

Performer, innovator, painter—this kid does it all.

The child dances onto the school bus, invents a beachcleanup tool, writes poetry, and explores a range of other activities with smiling confidence. The young narrator has yet to master each skill, but no matter—this little one is eager to grow, practice, try, and create. Written in four-line stanzas, the rhymes scan consistently with an energetic, singsong rhythm perfect for storytime. Readers’ voices will build in speed as they race through descriptions of the child’s passions: “With stickers, scissors, cardboard, cotton, / pom-poms, paper, glue. / deconstruct and re-create; / imagine something new.” The meter changes at the end of each segment, though, as readers must slow down to consider the future: “The galleries don’t know me…yet. / (Perhaps one day.

We’ll see!) / But still, I know, no matter what, I will always be… // an artist!”

In each instance, the child’s identity is clearly separate from the occupation in question: The protagonist is a dancer, inventor, artist, scientist, writer, athlete, and baker because these skills bring joy, and joy is worth cultivating, regardless of the child’s professional future. Featuring a combination of ink drawing and photo collage, Bell’s digital illustrations capture the narrator’s exuberance; the full-bleed spreads brim with motion, texture, and K IR KU S R E V IE W S

excitement. The protagonist has chin-length black hair and tan skin; background characters are diverse.

An inspiring, affirming call to follow your heart. (Picture book. 4-8)

Big Kids Going, K.L. | Illus. by Reggie Brown Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $18.99 July 1, 2025 | 9780316509770

Everything about school seems terrifying, but nothing’s as scary as the big kids.

The big kids are loud and, well, big.

They play “big-kid games” and smile “big-kid grins.” Seen through the young protagonist’s impressed and overwhelmed eyes, these kids are larger than life. Making creative use of typography, the text captures the kinds of details that children home in on, like the way the older students’ “big feet make big noises, like bass drums beating in a big-kid band.” And when they “stand outside, they make l o o o o o n g shadows.” The new students are each assigned a buddy, a helpful older student who shows them the ropes. Though initially frightened, the protagonist soon realizes that this big kid isn’t scary. He shepherds the narrator to the right classroom, the cafeteria (where his “great big arms stretch so high they reach all the way up to the chocolate pudding”), and the library. Best of all, he helps the protagonist sink a basket on the playground.

The digital illustrations are the stars of the show, using exaggerated perspective and proportions to depict the big kids as literal giants who dwarf the protagonist.

By day’s end, though, both youngsters

are normal size, and readers will internalize an important message: These big kids clearly have big hearts. The narrator and the buddy are Black; the supporting cast is diverse.

Just the right size for easing school anxieties. (Picture book. 5-8)

Beatrice Looks for Home Grady, Ron | Nancy Paulsen Books (32 pp.) $18.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9780593696354

A young girl learns that a new home can mean new adventures thanks to a care package from someone special.

Beatrice loves her cozy home with Gram, her fathers (Dad and Papa), and her cat, Agnes. Whether she’s taking in nature, enjoying high tea with Agnes, or looking at Gram’s scrapbook of memories, she’s happiest when they’re all together. But her world is upended when Papa receives unexpected news of a new job in a faraway city. Saying goodbye to Gram is the hardest of all. Adjusting is a challenge, and Beatrice wonders if this new place will ever feel like home. One day, Beatrice receives a package in the mail from Gram containing a camera, a blank scrapbook, art supplies, and a sweet note inviting her to embrace new adventures. With renewed hope, Beatrice explores her city with fresh eyes. Each new memory finds its way into the scrapbook—photos, drawings, and paintings galore. Overjoyed when Gram makes a surprise visit, Beatrice shares her own precious memories with a full heart. Moving can be difficult for children; Grady does an excellent job of both capturing Beatrice’s big feelings and offering a sweet message of optimism. His digitally created, collagelike illustrations are simple yet effective. Beatrice, Gram, and Papa are brown-skinned; Dad is pale-skinned.

A tender and sympathetic tale of change and hope. (Picture book. 4-8) MAY 15, 2025

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The Only Ghost at Summer Camp

The Only Ghost in School

Hannon, Tara J. | Penguin Workshop (96 pp.) | $16.99 | Aug. 12, 2025 9780593753187 | Series: The Only Ghost

Little Ghostie’s struggles to fit in continue during a summertime stay at Camp Smithville.

Just as in the simultaneously issued Only Ghost in School, the awkward reactions of other, living children leave Ghostie feeling sad and conscious of his differences. Having to stay onshore while the other campers splash in Lake Winkapoo (because water is bad for ghosts) and getting sunburned because he forgot to apply his “cala-slime” potion (“I felt like such a ghoul”) only add to his misery.

Worse, after a clueless counselor’s campfire story freaks everyone else out and reinforces the annoying “ghosts are scary” stereotype, he’s even more haunted by feelings of otherness. Hannon once more explores serious themes in a palatably light, even playful way. In color illustrations that brighten nearly every page of Ghostie’s simply written narrative, she poses her doughy, diaphanous protagonist with a racially diverse cast of wide-eyed fellow campers—who all react with slapstick panic when Ghostie’s outgoing, ectoplasmic parents suddenly float in to mount a charm offensive and to lead everyone in a series of bonding games capped by a cathartic Howling Ceremony beneath the full moon.

A spooktacular sequel? “Abso-­ BOO-tely!” (Fantasy. 8-10)

Hannon, Tara J. | Penguin Workshop (96 pp.) | $16.99 | Aug. 12, 2025 9780593753156 | Series: The Only Ghost

A sudden move from spooky Scareville to the all-human town of Smithville leaves little Ghostie feeling like a real outsider in school.

Though Ghostie is happy in Scareville, “a very diverse town filled with ghosts, witches, vampires, skeletons, mummies, monsters, and werewolves,” he makes a brave effort to fit in at Smithville Elementary after his mom accepts a new job in a new locale as a “human relations agent,” charged with dispelling stereotypes about ghosts. Unfortu­ nately, everyone else at school is a human, though depicted in the color illustrations on nearly every page of this early chapter book in an assortment of skin colors. Ghostie makes several “BOO” boos, such as bringing a bunch of terrifying spiders and eyeballs to a class birthday party. Worse yet, bullying classmate Kevin quickly saddles him with the humiliating moniker of “Grossie Ghostie.” Back home, not even Ghostie’s favorite dinner of frog nuggets and stench fries can pull him out of a “franken-funk.” Readers feeling Ghostie’s pain may be heartened when he bonds with another classmate who shares his interest in spiders and breaks the ice with everyone else by sharing a family photo album at show and tell, which prompts a flurry of interested questions, from “Can you get sunburned?” to “Do ghosts poop?” The takeaways are clear and sweetly leavened

A timely tale to inspire rumination on the promise and dangers of AI. SCHOOLBOT 9000

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by the goofy, supernatural-themed wordplay; readers will have a ball.

Monstrous fun, spun around some serious messages. (Fantasy. 8-10)

Cute Animals That Could Kill You Dead Hartman, Brooke | Illus. by María García Sourcebooks eXplore (48 pp.) $14.99 | April 1, 2025 | 9781728285290 Series: Killer Cuties

“Precious-looking predators” parade their way through this rogues’ gallery of menacing cuties.

For each animal, a page touting its cuddliness precedes one focusing on its fierce features. The slow loris has poisonous fur and fangs (it’s the world’s only venomous primate), the “highly aggressive” grasshopper mouse eats scorpions and tarantulas, the hedgehog wields razor-sharp claws, the northern pygmy owl preys on animals three times its size, the penny-size bumblebee bat consumes 4,000 insects in its daily hour of hunting, and the platypus sports venomous barbs (for defeating mating rivals, not for predation). Fabulous facts about several other animals from around the world will fascinate readers, though they likely won’t frighten them; despite the title, most of these creatures aren’t deadly to humans. Indeed, wordplay such as “howl-arious,” “fur-ocious,” and “a class owl their own” may be more painful than the wounds these creatures could inflict. But the engaging, informative text, which introduces several potentially unfamiliar animals and offers a new view of well-known ones (dangerous ladybugs?!), will keep readers turning pages. Sidebars list each animal’s scientific name, size, habitat, favorite foods, and conservation status.

Stylized cartoon illustrations use heavy, simplified outlines and unrealistic effects like starry eyes, while flat backgrounds let readers focus on the fuzzies. The last two pages provide actual photos of each creature.

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Admittedly, these animals won’t kill you, dear reader—still, it’s an awe-­ inspiring lineup of dangerous darlings.

(Informational picture book. 6-8)

Schoolbot 9000 Hepburn, Sam | Dial Books (288 pp.) $24.99 | $14.99 paper | July 22, 2025 9780593699416 | 9780593699423 paper

It takes a village to resist a technology mega-corporation’s AI takeover of education.

Eleven-year-old James Lee likes making art, an activity he used to enjoy with his late father. Now, his single mom uses an autonomous HomeBot to help raise James, and she encourages him to think of it as family. Is it any wonder that he’s the first to question his middle school’s adoption of tech company Bux Global’s SCHOOLBOT? While SCHOOLBOT is able to make a convincing sales pitch to parents and promises to provide virtual tutoring, it also interferes with the classrooms it’s ostensibly meant to monitor.

Students and teachers alike notice the would-be helper emphasizing students’ future employability, excessively criticizing their art projects, and violating their privacy.

The CEO of Bux Global tries to suppress criticism of the company’s AI, but a growing coalition of protesters and activists (including teachers and parents) provides crucial checks and balances on their corporate influence. SCHOOLBOT and HomeBot, with their mechanical bodies and reflective eyes, frequently steal the show with their attempts to relate to or improve their human hosts. The flow chart depicting HomeBot’s drily logical attempt to provide emotional support to James is attractive and narratively compelling.

The cartoon-style panels in soft, muted pastels are visually pleasing and interestingly varied. James has K IR KU S R E V IE W S

light tan skin and curly brown hair, and supporting characters are diverse in appearance.

A timely tale to inspire rumination on the promise and dangers of AI. (Graphic science fiction. 9-12)

Axolotl and Axolittle Hitchman, Jess | Illus. by Sarah Rebar Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (40 pp.) $14.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9781464237904

Two siblings’ antics add up to a whole lot of cuteness.

Plum-colored Axolotl doesn’t do things by halves.

You might say she goes full throttle, living life “to the max-a-lotl,” whether she’s skateboarding or playing her “sax-a-lotl while doing jumping jacks-a-lotl.” Artsy, lemon yellow younger brother Axolittle is a bit more subdued; he enjoys studying “facts a little,” “dances, sings, and acts a little,” and “loves to just relax a little.”

The sibs generally get along until one day, while pretending she’s a duck, Axolotl accidentally ruins Axolittle’s painting; he squirts paint on her in retaliation. Axolotl’s mad-l; Axolittle’s sad-l. The next step? Call in AxoDad-l! That wise intercessor calms his weepy kids down, helping them reach an accord “in the axo-middle.” The contrite kids apologize and are soon reading, snacking, and cuddling “to the max-a-lotl.” This hilarious tale, expressed via frisky rhymes that read and scan well, is chock-full of nimble wordplay. Adults sharing this winner should encourage children to take inspiration from the text and make up their own similarly nonsensical (yet somehow logical) terms. Kids may also wish to learn about real axolotls (aquatic, gilled salamanders). The illustrations, incorporating some very creative typography, zing with color and energy and feature protagonists brimming with personality.

Becoming Boba Ho, Joanna | Illus. by Amber Ren Orchard/Scholastic (40 pp.) | $18.99 June 3, 2025 | 9781339005546

An anthropomorphic cup of boba tea named Mindy learns a lesson in identity.

“Milk Tea Town [is] steeped in tradition”; residents are proud of their “subtle shades of brown, quality ingredients, and classic milk tea flavor.” With brighter hues of green, white, and pink, little Mindy isn’t like those who’ve come before her.

Soon enough, other tiny untraditional milk teas with their swirly straws and innovative ingredients pop up, too.

This generation of colorful beverages scandalizes the grown-ups, who fret over the deviation from the classic milk tea tradition and wonder what it means. Mindy frets about not being “milk tea enough.” But as the young bobas explore their heritage through “culture classes,” a research mission unveils the truly colorful history of milk tea. Ho and Ren charmingly tackle big themes such as cultural belonging through tea puns and cutely illustrated boba drinks. The younglings’ presentation of their family trees to the grown-ups reveals how “we’ve always mixed things up,” adapting and adopting new ingredients throughout history—a reference to generational identity in the Asian diaspora. To move forward is to keep up with tradition, as the elders come to understand. A short comic and notes from Ho and Ren provide additional history and information.

A buoyant story of belonging.

(Picture book. 4-8)

For an interview with Joanna Ho, visit Kirkus online.

No need to wonder what-l to read next. Grab this axo-lent charmer!

(Picture book. 5-8)

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Memories of Grandpa Martin’s beach hut resonate through the years.

THE HAPPY HUT

The Happy Hut Hopgood, Tim | Candlewick (32 pp.) $18.99 | May 20, 2025 | 9781536235524

Memories of family visits to Grandpa Martin’s beach hut resonate through the years.

The book’s young narrator explains that it feels as though the sun is always shining on the bright yellow “happy hut.” Each season brings with it its own delights. In spring, Grandpa Martin leads the way as the protagonist and two siblings explore the seashore. In summer, they picnic on the deck, splash in the ocean, and spend evenings listening to Grandpa Martin’s stories and counting the stars. Fall is the protagonist’s favorite season—when the “Happy Hut Helpers” paint and make necessary repairs. Winter means chilly shore walks and cozy gatherings around the little stove. But Grandpa Martin’s illness changes everything. While the family visits him in the hospital, the hut remains alone and empty—and perhaps lonely, the narrator worries. That winter, a storm rages, and the family returns the following spring to find the hut battered and broken. But they all pitch in, mending, painting, and installing a nameplate labeled “Martin” to commemorate their grandfather, who has apparently passed (his death isn’t explicitly mentioned). Hopgood writes with a light touch, folding in homey details that fully realize Grandfather Martin (his love of woolly socks and slippers, his habit of shouting “Flipping fiddlesticks!”). In the collagelike illustrations, the brown-skinned characters are simple in composition— dots for eyes, a curve of a mouth—while the richly textured backdrops reflect 106

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both the characters’ roiling emotions and the shifting seasons.

Joyous, warm, and tender.

(Picture book. 4-9)

Tiny Owl’s Scary Day Horáček, Petr | Candlewick (32 pp.) $17.99 | July 22, 2025 | 9781536235876

For a nocturnal creature, the daytime can be exciting—and even a little dangerous.

As dawn approaches, grayish-white Tiny Owl declares that she’s not a bit tired; she’s curious to explore and see what life is like by day!

She sneaks out of the tree hollow where she and brown-feathered Mama Owl make their home. Tiny Owl plays chase with some other birds and rests in a field. Upon hearing threatening noises, she flies away, not looking back.

Then she stops by a river to admire the bright-colored fish but then hears a different noise and takes off again. She attempts to rest with some other birds, but they scatter, and Tiny Owl races back home, alarmed. But no one is there, until…Mama Owl swoops in, exhausted from following Tiny Owl all day, protecting her. Relying on simple prose and repetition, this quaint story treads familiar ground. While it works as a cautionary tale for youngsters not to wander off, it also reassures them that their caregivers will nevertheless be there no matter what. The illustrations show Mama Owl chasing away the animals that threaten Tiny Owl (a cat and a fox), so they know Tiny Owl is never in too much danger. The mixed-media artwork has a juvenile

charm, though it does appear quite rough and inconsistent at times, like the dark lines around Tiny Owl’s face that sometimes appear heavier.

Warm fare for youngsters eager for adventure—but still in need of some parental reassurance.

(Picture book. 3-6)

The Sleeper Train Jackson, Mick | Illus. by Baljinder Kaur Candlewick (32 pp.) | $18.99 July 15, 2025 | 9781536238983

An Indian family embarks on an overnight trip on a sleeper train.

They settle into their cabin, pull open their bunk beds, and get ready for bed. While Mum and Dad quickly drift off, their child is too excited to sleep. But the young narrator has an idea: “I thought it might help if I tried to think of all the different places I have slept.” The youngster remembers slumbering in a tent in a field, sleeping over at Grandma and Granddad’s house, and staying overnight at the hospital for an operation—an especially scary experience. Though the child seems to be “the only person on the train not sleeping, except the driver,” eventually the rocking train lulls the little one to sleep. At last the train reaches its destination, and the family spends time with friends in a different city. And now, the child has a new memory to rely on should sleep prove elusive again. This comforting story creates a circle of love and protection around the child and the family, who present as Sikh. The vibrant, stylized illustrations make use of bright pinks, blues, yellows, and reds and depict everyday objects that many South Asian families will recognize. Images of the family relaxing and spending time together add to the homey atmosphere.

A soothing bedtime story sure to get readers thinking about their own favorite bedtime locations.

(Picture book. 4-8)

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Toes, Teeth, and Tentacles: A Curious Counting Book Jenkins, Steve & Robin Page Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $18.99 July 22, 2025 | 9780316456692

The late Jenkins and his widow, Page, put their scientific minds and significant artistic talents to bear on a counting book that considers the appendages and features of a variety of creatures from the anglerfish to the two-toed sloth.

On spreads labeled by numeral, from 1 to 10, the author/illustrators present a series of fascinating factoids, some of which matter to a creature’s survival and some that don’t. A male Jackson’s chameleon has three horns, which “help it defend its territory against other males.” Polydactyl cats are born with six toes on each of their front paws, but it’s unclear how that helps them adapt to life. The book concludes with sections devoted to “bigger” and “even bigger numbers,” which include more jaw-dropping statistics: For instance, the nautilus’ 90 retractable tentacles help it feel its way along a reef when hunting for prey. Jenkins and Page offer facts in plain, accessible language, but it’s their signature collage illustrations that will grab readers’ attention. Each spread showcases a variety of fetching animals that invite young people to pause and consider the wildlife’s relation to the number in question; headings (“5 stripes, eyes, legs, vessels, and teeth”) make the connections clear. Making some of these smaller creatures charismatic must have been tricky, but Jenkins and Page have managed to do just that.

Another delightful exploration of the natural world from an awardwinning duo. (further information about the animals, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Murdle Jr.: Sleuths on the Loose Karber, G.T. & Chris Grabenstein Illus. by Andy Smith | Little, Brown (352 pp.) $15.99 | May 27, 2025 | 9780316582254 Series: Murdle Jr. Mysteries, 1

A middle schooler races to uncover the mystery of a missing third grade teacher at Sacred Kidney, her Catholic school, in this series opener that’s linked to the Murdle Jr. series of puzzle activity books.

Jake, a junior detective appointed by “the grand master of logic,” Deductive Logico, is defending her nerdy sidekick, Sterling, against school bully Brick when a scream interrupts them. Peering into the library, the trio witness Miss Saffron scuffling with an unknown individual.

When she’s absent the next day, Jake, Sterling, and Brick become an unlikely team in pursuit of answers and suspects.

Sterling and Brick evolve beyond their archetypes, and Jake remains steadfast in her commitment to truth and justice. As is common in middle-grade mysteries, the adults are easily fooled by the junior sleuths. The team’s investigation, far from amateur, utilizes a secret command center equipped with pricey gadgets that titillate the imagination. Jake’s narration evokes the golden age of whodunit detective stories (“Let’s keep friendship outta this, okay, pal?”). Grids and

A middle schooler races to uncover the mystery of a missing teacher.

MURDLE JR.

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instructions allow readers to join in solving the mystery. Alongside the investigation, a storm—both literal and symbolic—brews, only clearing once order and justice are restored. Blackand-white full-page and spot-art illustrations add a humorous touch.

Characters largely present white.

Readers will become inquisitive sleuths as they navigate this whimsical, playful mystery. (reading guidelines, Detective Club message, answer key) (Mystery. 7-11)

Rise Up!: Powerful Protests in American History Katz, Rachel C. | Illus. by Sophie Bass Barefoot Books (48 pp.) | $17.99 March 11, 2025 | 9798888593684

From the Boston Tea Party to demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline, the United States was founded on protest movements and continues to evolve because of them.

Vibrant, richly colored gouache illustrations depict bold scenes of American resistance throughout history.

Katz presents an array of iconic protest movements in no particular order. Bass’ swirling images detail iconic moments, sometimes reminiscent of famous photographs, like that of Ruby Bridges descending the stairs of her newly integrated school or Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial.

An informative text box is laid atop the illustration of each movement, lending historical context. Rhyming couplets offer an upbeat, singsongy overview of each movement, which will appeal to a young audience. Further information overlaid atop the images dives deeper, providing context to encourage more nuanced conversations with a caregiver or teacher and cleverly extending the text’s target age range. More in-depth, bulleted explanations within the extensive backmatter will endear the book even to older elementary readers, though without references to source material, students will have to seek MAY 15, 2025

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primary sources elsewhere. The protests highlighted in the text represent a wide range of time periods and racial and cultural backgrounds.

A moving historical protest primer that invites even the youngest readers to rise up and fight for what’s right. (timeline, map) (Informational picture book. 4-7)

Murray’s Howl-o-ween: A Halloween Picture Book Keller, E.G. | Abrams (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9781419775819

Murray, a scrappy city dog, is less than thrilled when he and his owners travel to the country to stay with Nana and Grampa.

The journey is long and tiresome, and Murray is unhappy with how everything looks, smells, and sounds. Nothing about rural life impresses him; everything seems off-putting. Nana and Grampa have gone all out with the Halloween trappings, and Murray doesn’t approve of any of it, from “the person made of dog treats” (the decorative skeleton) to the “vegetables with frightening faces” (the jack-o’-­ lanterns). A trip to the pumpkin patch and corn maze leaves Murray so frightened that he scurries back to Nana and Grampa’s home. Wynona, their cat, has watched Murray struggle and introduces him to the pleasures of her turf. She knows that there’s fun to be had, including donning costumes, trick-or-treating, and, best of all, gazing at the stars—and even howling up at them. This dog’s-eye view of Halloween offers ample laughs (as when Murray “CRUUUUUUN­CHE[S]” and “MUUUUUNCHE[S]” his way through the decor), though youngsters who find spooky season a bit intimidating will readily sympathize with the pooch’s plight. Moody digital illustrations elevate the fear factor for Murray while also showcasing the beauty of colorful fall foliage. Murray’s human family is multiracial.

Paws-itively howl-arious.

(Picture book. 4-8)

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Will leave readers with plenty to ponder about human nature.

EVE AND ADAM DISCOVER THE WORLD

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom Kelly, Erin Entrada | Greenwillow Books (208 pp.) | $18.99 May 6, 2025 | 9780063218901

A recipient of the Medal of Freedom, Josefina Guerrero (19171996) was a war hero and “a symbol for hope and greater courage.”

In opening and closing notes, Kelly explains that despite thorough efforts, she encountered gaps while researching her subject. Still, she writes, “the pieces [Josefina] left behind are enough to leave us in wonder,” and a compelling portrait of a brave and resolute woman emerges.

Born in 1917 in Lucban, Philippines, imaginative young Josefina—called Joey—was a devout Catholic who longed to hear the voice of God, like her idol, Joan of Arc. Her adult life with her husband and daughter was upended when she developed Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy. Due to social stigma, she and her family hid her condition until 1941, when Japan bombed first Pearl Harbor and then an American military base on Manila Bay. After Joey’s status was reported to the authorities, she fled, eventually serving as a guerilla fighter and delivering a map that allowed U.S. troops to liberate those imprisoned at the Santo Tomas camp.

Later, she relocated to the Tala Leprosarium, where she advocated for better treatment for those with Hansen’s disease and secured increased funding for the leprosarium. Prose written in the present tense lends the narrative

immediacy, while informative and deftly interspersed photos, captions, and sidebars provide context to the cultural and historical climate.

An intriguing, well-told account of an extraordinary life. (notes, bibliography) (Biography. 9-12)

Baby Cousin’s Big Day Kim, Aram | Holiday House (40 pp.) $18.99 | Aug. 5, 2025 | 9780823459759 Series: Yoomi, Friends, and Family

Yoomi, a young black-and-white cat of Korean descent, attends her cousin Dasom’s birthday celebration.

In Korean culture, a baby’s first birthday party is a special occasion.

As part of the doljabi ceremony, symbolic items are placed on a table in front of the 1-year-old; the first object touched represents the little one’s possible future. Yarn indicates long life, while a ball forecasts an athletic future.

An aspiring artist might select a paintbrush, as Yoomi did at her doljabi.

With numerous items on display, family and friends wait in anticipation for what will attract the youngster’s attention. The hustle and bustle of the day can be overwhelming, however, and Dasom (an adorable puppy with a topknot) suddenly bursts into tears. No one knows why—except Yoomi.

Showing a concern for Dasom’s fortune throughout the story, Yoomi sees the little one’s needs beyond the ritual, and her empathy leads to a touching moment for the whole family. For this latest in the series, Kim once more relies on vibrant, carefully composed cartoons. Her all-animal cast is a cheery K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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group; background details will reward observant viewers (New Yorkers will recognize the setting as Queens). The author/illustrator offers another insightful window into Korean culture while continuing to flesh out Yoomi—a winsome and caring protagonist—and her world.

Sweetly festive fun. (glossary, more information on doljabi) (Picture book. 3-8)

Eve and Adam Discover the World Kimmelman, Leslie | Illus. by Irina Avgustinovich Apples & Honey Press (32 pp.) | $19.95 May 13, 2025 | 9781681156965

Eve and Adam are thoroughly enjoying their miraculous life in the Garden of Eden.

Eve has questions about the wonders around her, especially the large and mysterious Tree of Knowledge. God warns them that if they eat the tree’s fruit, they’ll be forced to leave Eden forever. Adam is content, but Eve’s curiosity leads her closer to disobeying—surely they should make up their own minds, using the brains that God gave them? And the snake further provokes her discontent. The wellknown outcome is inevitable, and their leaving is both poignant and hopeful, for their lives must now be of their own making. In this companion to Eve and Adam and Their Very First Day (2023), Kimmelman again employs the ancient Jewish tradition of midrash to interpret Bible stories, this time emphasizing Eve’s thirst for knowledge and the tender trust between her and Adam. Avgustinovich’s brightly expressive artwork captures both Eden’s beauty and the developing personalities of Eve and Adam—in particular, wide-eyed Eve’s inquisitiveness, joy, and frustrations. Laced with humor and empathy, Kimmelman’s probing narrative will leave readers with plenty to ponder about human nature.

Brown-skinned Eve and Adam are initially nude, though covered up by strategically placed hair, leaves, and K IR KU S R E V IE W S

bushes; upon eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, both become clothed.

Tender and thought-provoking. (author’s note) (Religious picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Star

Seven Skies All at Once Kooser, Ted | Illus. by Matt Myers Candlewick (32 pp.) | $18.99 July 8, 2025 | 9781536229004

A lightly personified series of skies puts out its cloudy laundry to dry while two human neighbors bond over the same task.

Permeated with dense imagery and atmospheric art, Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Kooser’s tale establishes that the skies have “hung out their freshly washed clouds” so that they might “smell like air.” But soon the skies have “hurriedly wadded up [the] socks, T-shirts and underpants of cirrocumulus” into a “basket woven of sunbeams” to outrun the seventh sky, a “motheaten, dirty gray woolen blanket of stratus.” A thunderstorm begins, gloriously unfurling on full-bleed double-page spreads. Kooser’s picturesque poetry vividly shapes his living sky metaphors, whether they be billowing descriptions of “big muscly arms tattooed all over with all kinds of birds” or ominous portrayals of cumulonimbus clouds “squeezing the light out.” Under those same dynamic skies, a pair of brown-skinned children hang laundry atop a pair of adjacent brick buildings. Their burgeoning friendship, told entirely visually through tentative waves and the clothes-pinned notes they exchange, is as enchanting as the breathtaking post-storm rainbow connecting them. Myers’ skyscapes of brilliantly colored oils on wood are both spectacular and scientifically accurate. His clever use of reflections, the way he artfully plays with the book’s gutter, and the almost tactile

paint striations create spreads that are, well, heavenly.

A lofty concept and radiant illustrations will leave readers on cloud nine. (Picture book. 4-10)

I Come From Another Galaxy Kwan, James | Abrams (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781419771149

Spacesuit-clad James touches down from an intergalactic commute just in time for the first day of school.

Unbound by the laws of gravity, the young earthling, who presents East Asian, nervously navigates life on a new planet, logging questions along the way in a letter to home. What’s the deal with the bathroom? Is James’ name really so hard for extraterrestrials to pronounce?

And just what are the rules to slime-ball?

With help from a crew of otherworldly classmates, James learns to confront the self-doubt that sometimes accompanies difference, affirming in equal measure the importance of vulnerability and the value of diversity. Adult readers may understand that the story’s climactic declaration—“It turns out I am the alien here”—carries particular weight given current conversations around immigration and xenophobia.

Deeply approachable in tone, the text’s epistolary style and first-person perspective offer emotional insights into the experience of relocation. Throughout, James can be seen writing and drawing in a book; this metanarrative structure places the story we’re reading at the center of James’ journey, while visible pencil strokes suggest that the child is the story’s illustrator, too.

Charming visual details such as interstellar traffic signage add narrative depth to the appealingly spare illustrations, while the endpapers, which feature whimsical doodles on notebook paper, complement similarly styled elements throughout. That the main character shares a name with the author/illustrator only serves to underscore the tale’s self-referential, personal nature.

A comforting dispatch about interplanetary acceptance.

(Picture book. 3-6)

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Sunny Tales To Usher in Summer For more booklists, visit Kirkus online.

1

1 Just One Wave

2

By Travis Jonker

A satisfying tale that sees its protagonist striving once more for a single iconic experience.

3

2 Kitty Camp

By Drew Brockington

Pure feline fun.

3 Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer

5 Summer Is Here: A Bear and Mole Story

By Kenard Pak

By Will Hillenbrand

A lovely “goodbye” to this excellent concept series.

A winsome, sporty tale, especially resonant for athletic newbies.

4 Fireworks

By Matthew Burgess; illus. by Cátia Chien

6 Big Family Beach Day

A radiant celebration of all things summer.

Pure joy.

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4

5

By Nina Crews

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Sammy and Sunny’s First Day of School LaCour, Nina | Illus. by Elizabeth Lilly Rocky Pond Books/Penguin (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 29, 2025 | 9780593695753

Whether you’ve got two legs or four, first days can be awfully exciting!

It’s here! Today is Sammy and Sunny’s first day of school! For Sammy, a brown-skinned girl living with her light-skinned mama, that means kindergarten. Meanwhile, Sunny, their spotted pooch, is off to dog-training class. Girl and pet alike undergo similar experiences, their days mirroring one another. Their arrivals are accompanied by a sense of loneliness that’s quickly alleviated as they throw themselves into various activities—some similar (like roll call), others quite different (Sammy listens to storytime, while Sunny digs in the dirt). Mind you, not everything goes smoothly: Sammy accidentally sprays herself while drinking from the water fountain, while Sunny’s terrified when his trainer turns on the vacuum cleaner. Overall, though, the two have a great time, and the day’s over before they even know it. And tomorrow?

Well…maybe tomorrow they’ll switch schools! Though LaCour acknowledges her protagonists’ fears and concerns over the sheer newness of things, on the whole, starting school is a positive experience. The surprise ending, in which Sammy and Sunny switch schools, is left open-ended and could be taken literally or as pure fantasy.

The bright, upbeat watercolor art abounds in movement and friendly faces all around.

The universality of the first day of school transcends species in this gentle aid for newbies.

(Picture book. 3-6)

For more by Nina LaCour, visit Kirkus online.

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A scorching tale of one woman’s unstoppable courage and fiery grit.

ABLAZE

Ablaze: The Story of America’s First Female Smokejumper Lawson, Jessica | Illus. by Sarah Gonzales | Viking (40 pp.) | $18.99 July 1, 2025 | 9780593463659

Before blazing a trail as the U.S. Forest Service’s first female smokejumper, Deanne Shulman was just a kid who loved the outdoors.

Being outdoorsy in California, however, meant reckoning with wildfires and their effects on the people and places Deanne loved. As a young woman, she worked for the U.S. Forest Service, fighting fires.

The work was tough and dangerous, but it fueled her heart’s fire. With a hotshot crew, she fought fast-­ spreading wildfires head-on, but she was eager to try another, even more perilous job: smokejumping.

Parachuting from planes into active wildfire regions required an enormous amount of physical strength and stamina, and the USFS had never employed a female smokejumper. Deanne trained relentlessly for the smokejumper test, only to learn that she was too small to qualify. Appealing the height and weight guidelines via the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, Deanne waited nine months while her claim was investigated. Finally, she was granted a tryout. After grueling mental and physical trials, there was only one thing left to do… jump! Smoldering, warm-toned illustrations combine multiple scenes on each page with a dynamic flow.

Visuals evoking a fast-spreading blaze are enhanced by Lawson’s

lyrical prose. Deanne is white; the rest of the cast varies in skin tone.

A scorching tale of one woman’s unstoppable courage and fiery grit. (author’s note, glossary, additional resource) (Picture-book biography. 4-8)

100 Days: A Story of Sisterhood Lee, Kimberly | Illus. by Michelle Jing Chan Farrar, Straus and Giroux (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9780374389871

Anya and Mama have a very special relationship… until a new baby sister arrives.

Anya loves spending time with her mother. They build forts, snuggle up and read stories, and visit Anya’s favorite aunt, Vee. But one day, Anya’s parents bring home her new sibling, Hana. Spot-­ art vignettes depict Anya becoming increasingly sad and angry. Once in a while, Anya does feel a “tug on her heart, and [wonders] if that might be love,” but it quickly disappears once Mama focuses her attention on Hana. As weeks pass, everyone becomes even busier as they plan Hana’s 100th day party—a common milestone in Chinese culture. On the big day, Anya feels left out and finds Aunt Vee in the kitchen making ang ku kueh, and while the two form the turtle-shaped sweet treats together, Aunt Vee tells Anya about how she and Anya’s mama fought as kids. “Sometimes love doesn’t come instantly,” she explains. It can be like the ang ku kueh, “slow as a tortoise hiding in its shell.” When it’s time for Mama to snip a lock of Hana’s hair, the baby wails, but Anya is there to comfort her. Though this tale treads familiar ground, it’s sweet nevertheless, distinguished by the K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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thoughtful inclusion of Chinese traditions. Chan’s bright, colorful artwork gently teases out the relationship between family members—both Mama and Aunt Vee, as well as Anya and Hana.

A heartfelt new-sibling tale, infused with cultural elements. (author’s note, more information on 100th day customs, recipe for ang ku kueh) (Picture book. 4-8)

Dad, Is It Time To Gather Mint?: Celebrating the Seasons Legault Taylor, Tyna | Illus. by Michelle Dao | HighWater Press (36 pp.) $18.95 | May 6, 2025 | 9781774921227 Series: Joshua Learns From the Land, 1

A Native child delights in a beloved tradition.

Joshua loves gathering mint with his father each summer. As the seasons progress, he periodically asks, “Dad, is it time to gather katakipanik / gaaminomaagobagak from the aski / aki again?” Not yet! Fall is when they hunt moose and partridge, while winter is for ice fishing, snaring rabbits, and gathering cedar. In spring, the family makes spruce tea, fishes for rainbow trout, and hunts geese. Legault Taylor (Attawapiskat First Nation) writes her tale in English, with Swampy Cree and Anishinaabemowin terms and phrases interspersed, offering young people the unique opportunity to read a trilingual Native story. As Joshua and his family move through the year toward summer, Dao’s cheerful cartoon images emphasize their reverence for the land. The tale concludes with the characters finally harvesting mint along the lakeshore and enjoying mint iced tea with relatives. Swampy Cree and

Anishinaabemowin words for land, dad, and mint are repeated often in the gently rhythmic narrative, helping readers to build recognition for the Native words. The tale closes with a glossary and a recipe for mint iced tea.

Refreshing in its uplift of Indigenous languages. (Picture book. 5-7)

The Thread of Destiny Lim, Aimee | Feiwel & Friends (288 pp.) $17.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9781250886224 Series: Weavers of Legacy and Fate, 2

Chinese American middle schooler Evie Mei Huang seeks vengeance in this follow-up to 2024’s The Spindle of Fate.

Evie ventured into Dìyù, or the Ten Courts of Hell, to save her mother not long ago, but the outcome wasn’t what she’d hoped for. Upon her return, Evie follows through on her mother’s wishes and spins a thread of fate to save The Gambler—Aunt Kathie’s fiancé and the man who murdered Evie’s mother. But Evie can’t help but think about avenging her mom: She wants The Gambler out of her aunt’s life and sent to the torturous depths of Dìyù. As Evie adjusts to her new role as the leader of the Weavers and the keeper of the Spindle of Fate, new opportunities arise, including an avenue for serving up justice to The Gambler.

But with an unsettling yellow fog blanketing Southern California, along with the arrival of demons, an escaped penitent, and the chaos god, things are getting complicated. Lim picks up the loose threads from the earlier book and satisfyingly ties them up. Evie continues to grieve and ruminate on her relationship with her mother, and the book

An action-packed and thoughtful duology closer.

THE THREAD OF DESTINY

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focuses on her grappling with ethics and the gray areas surrounding circumstances and decisions. Teaming up with new and old allies alike, Evie satisfyingly begins to come into her own beliefs and determine who she wants to be as a daughter, sister, friend, and Weaver.

An action-packed and thoughtful duology closer. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Together, a Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature’s Diversity and Our Own MacLean, Roz | Henry Holt (40 pp.) $18.99 | March 4, 2025 | 9781250864512

Nature thrives on diversity, and so do we.

When a class of students venture into a forest for a field trip, light-­ skinned Joy’s initial enthusiasm turns to anxiety.

How will she choose just one thing to focus on for the class art project? But she soon realizes that her classmates’ unique perspectives are collectively creating a fuller understanding and appreciation of nature. The class includes children of various skin tones and abilities, mirroring the natural diversity they discover in the forest. As she did in More Than Words (2023), the author helps readers see that differences are gifts. As Joy and her classmates examine various aspects of the forest, from flowers and fungi to towering trees, parallels emerge between ecological interdependence and human physio- and neurodiversity. Accompanied by visually enticing, evocative mixed-media illustrations, the narrative weaves between concrete observations and abstract concepts, offering numerous entry points for young readers to consider how differences strengthen both natural and human communities. Rich scientific information on the endpapers and throughout provides additional context that invites deeper exploration, though the wealth of content and concepts occasionally prioritizes messaging over storytelling MAY 15, 2025

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momentum. Enlightening backmatter includes explanations about neurodiversity and the author’s personal connection to disability advocacy.

A thoughtful reflection on belonging that celebrates diverse minds and bodies in our interconnected world. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)

It’s Taco Knight!

Maynor, Megan | Illus. by Estrela Lourenço | Clarion/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 19, 2025 | 9780358682974

A taco dinner is a sure path to many youngsters’ tummies—­ and hearts.

Maynor and Lourenço’s tale centers on a kingdom whose inhab­ itants are far too busy to bother cooking. Instead, they rely on the Knights of Dinner—among them the Pizza Knight, the Dumpling Knight, the Noodle Knight, and the Knight of Leftovers—who deliver various meals according to their specialty. The established suppertime rotation is interrupted by the arrival of newcomer Taco Knight, who quickly becomes everyone’s favorite. He supplants the other knights, serving tacos every evening. But too much of a good thing becomes boring, and the villagers soon tire of Taco Knight, even booing when he arrives. Late Knight Snack comforts Taco Knight and explains that variety is important. Chastened, Taco Knight helps the others prepare their specialties. Things return to normal…until Pancake Knight shows up. Readers will practically be able to taste those crunchy tacos, savory soups, and cheesy pizza slices, thanks to the amusing text, which serves up clever culinary wordplay (“Wrap it up, Sandwich!” “Soup Knight let this idea simmer”) as the knights romp across the pages. The digital illustrations rely on word balloons and cartoonish depictions of the diverse characters to spice up the plot.

Adds a dash of fun to the reading menu. (Picture book. 5-8) 114

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A candid, sensitive portrayal of domestic violence and its lasting impact.

WEIRD SAD AND SILENT

Kirkus Star

Weird Sad and Silent McGhee, Alison | Rocky Pond Books/ Penguin (192 pp.) | $17.99 May 6, 2025 | 9780593859674

It’s been years since 10-year-old Daisy and her mother escaped her mother’s abusive ex-boyfriend, but the young girl still lives in fear.

Daisy’s a force, albeit one who’s suffered unspeakable things in her past. She’s thoughtful and insightful, though the school bullies don’t see her that way, dubbing her “Weird Sad and Silent” because of the way she freezes when she’s upset and counts to calm herself, tapping each number on her finger—a practice that began when she would hide from her mother’s partner. Years later, Daisy still keeps to herself. But when new student Austin arrives, she starts to emerge from her shell. Austin’s quiet like her, but he has an inner confidence and poise that she admires. As they grow closer, Daisy begins to summon a strength she never knew she had. McGhee adeptly balances a candid yet sensitive portrayal of domestic violence and its lasting impacts with a nuanced exploration of self-discovery and the power of friendship. In Daisy, she’s crafted a protagonist with a rich inner life. Daisy uses language and numbers in uniquely brilliant ways, whether counting in Roman numerals, writing haiku, or inventing phrases: “Invisibilizing” herself is how she describes flying under the radar, while “futurizing” is her term for visualizing what’s to come. Physical

descriptors are minimal; Daisy’s mother’s family comes from Mexico.

A beautiful story of unvarnished honesty and tender hope—this courageous protagonist will capture every heart. (list of Roman numerals) (Fiction. 10-13)

Dead Good Detectives: Ghost Rescue McLachlan, Jenny | Illus. by Chloe Dominique Storytide/HarperCollins (384 pp.) | $19.99 July 22, 2025 | 9780063329843 Series: Dead Good Detectives, 2

English best friends Sid and Zen and their phantom pirate companion, Bones, return for a second outing of helping ghosts resolve their unfinished business and pass over.

This time, a nefarious figure is harvesting luminous dust from the spirits, leaving only days to solve the ghosts’ earthbound mysteries before they become soulless wraiths. To complicate matters further, Sid and Zen have a quirky new Welsh classmate named Mo, who might be a perfect friend for the two oddballs— if they can keep her from realizing they see (and talk to) ghosts. As before, the ghostly content tends more toward whimsy than horror, with stylized black-and-white illustrations reinforcing the levity; this factor, combined with the straightforward plotting, will make this work accessible for younger or more sensitive readers. With charm and enthusiasm, McLachlan successfully juggles the central mystery of the bad guy with the storylines of each spirit who K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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needs help to pass over, including Olive Buckmore, a World War II land girl who’s worried about her now-ancient fiancé, and Mei Huang, an aviator who yearns to prove that her attempt to circumnavigate the globe didn’t end in failure; both offer an appealing swagger that Sid increasingly adopts. The illustrations depict Sid as a white girl with large glasses and Zen as a Black boy with short twists.

A buoyant sequel for readers who prefer their ghosts more bighearted than scary. (Paranormal. 8-12)

Wee Unicorn McLaren, Meg | Charlesbridge (32 pp.) $17.99 | Jan. 21, 2025 | 9781623544935

An atypical unicorn makes a new friend.

What Wee Unicorn lacks in size, she makes up for in volume. And though she can’t oblige when the other residents of the Ancient Forest ask her to use magic to help them out (Wee Unicorn’s not magical), she does her best to assist in her own way. Still, sometimes she wishes she possessed magical abilities.

Her stalwart supporters, the mountain giants, urge her to be herself. The selkies, who aren’t so kind, tease her about a monster who purportedly resides in the loch; too bad Wee Unicorn doesn’t have magic to scare it away. Who should then arise from the loch’s depths? Wee Unicorn hurries away in terror, but, remembering how it feels to be misunderstood, she returns. Summoning her courage, she enters the loch. Guess who’s delighted to finally meet her? The monster affirms that Wee Unicorn’s lack of magic makes her the unique individual she is, and after she acknowledges how far she’s journeyed, she realizes she doesn’t need magic. This sweet friendship tale, first published in the U.K., should embolden children to feel good about themselves. The whimsical, textured, softly colored illustrations are occasionally set in panels and include speech balloons and some creative typography. McLaren’s worldbuilding is impressive; endpapers include maps of various regions, all vividly brought to life.

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The message here: True magic lies in being yourself. (Picture book. 4-7)

God With Us: Bible Stories on the Road to Emmaus Mikalatos, Matt | Illus. by David Shephard | Colors by Whitney Cogar WaterBrook (256 pp.) | $17.99 April 1, 2025 | 9780593578100

A graphic novel rendition of the walk of the resurrected Yeshua (Jesus Christ) from Jerusalem to Emmaus with two of his disciples, adapted from the Bible with some elements imagined by the author.

This volume expounds upon, illustrates, and makes accessible 23 verses of Scripture. Cleopas and his wife, Miriam, who are traveling with young neighbor children Moshe and Rachel, are surprised when a stranger who joins them on their walk doesn’t know about Yeshua’s empty tomb. Walking together offers ample opportunities for the group to share stories from Scripture. The members of the party take turns telling well-known and more obscure episodes from the Old Testament and Yeshua’s life. They talk about Creation, the Garden of Eden, John the Baptizer, Moses, Yeshua’s 40-day fast, and more. The comic book–style illustrations differentiate between the central plotline and the stories being told, presenting the former in vivid color and the latter in more muted, largely monochromatic panels. Prayers or sermons are depicted with a dark background and white text. The presence of the two lively fictional Jewish children helps make the work relatable for young readers. For example, along the road, they meet Baaz, a Persian man who tells the flood story from the Epic of Gilgamesh; Moshe counters with the Old Testament version (“Noah’s kids had to shovel out the stalls. Their dad said it would ‘build character’”). The characters are depicted with brown skin and dark hair.

What If You Fall for Me First?

Miller, G.F. | Aladdin (368 pp.) | $19.99 June 10, 2025 | 9781665966436

In this modern-­ day middle school Pygmalion, an aspiring influencer agrees to help a quiet girl catch her crush’s attention in exchange for a social media boost.

Thirteen-yearold eighth grader Sofia Santini is tired of being overlooked by everyone, including the object of her affection, Mark Chen; she’s an introvert who wants to be “fierce.” Most of their grade is under in-school suspension after a debacle in the gym at the Glow Night dance, so Sofia ends up chatting with Holden Thomas. Holden offers to coach Sofia through a transformation, but he wants to post photos so he can enter the glow-up challenge run by his favorite influencer, Igo Big. But while the unlikely companions focus on getting Mark to notice Sofia, Holden and Sofia fall for each other instead: He loves her kindness and humor, and she sees that his cool guy facade is an act to protect himself from feeling that no one likes him, including his parents and stepparents. The chapters alternate between Sofia’s and Holden’s points of view in close third person; the beginning overlaps with the end of Not If You Break Up With Me First (2024), though each stands alone. The white-presenting pair’s chaste chemistry is convincing, and readers will root for them as they discover that changing yourself to please another person isn’t the path to happiness. Secondary characters are diverse in race and sexuality.

A sweetly affirming and empowering read. (Fiction. 10-14)

For more by G.F. Miller, visit Kirkus online.

A fresh and in-depth retelling.

(Graphic religious stories. 8-13)

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Family Week Moon, Sarah | Knopf (208 pp.) | $17.99 April 15, 2025 | 9780593899601

A traditional group vacation leads to growing pains, drama, and self-discovery.

After a quartet of 4-year-olds built a block tower together at a Drag Queen Story Hour during Provincetown’s Family Week, their parents—an interracial, interfaith (Asian/white and Jewish) lesbian couple, an interracial, interfaith (Black/white and Jewish) gay couple, and a single lesbian mother (presumed white)—all decided to vacation together henceforth. But this Family Week, they’re bringing more emotional baggage than luggage. Milo (who’s academically gifted as well as trans) and his twin sister, Lina, are struggling with Milo’s upcoming departure for a fancy boarding school.

Avery is heartbroken over her fathers’ impending divorce and the forthcoming baby sibling (Daddy’s new female partner is pregnant). Meanwhile, Mac, who’s been attending summer school to avoid repeating seventh grade, is just trying to figure out what he’s good at, especially in comparison to the gifted and people-pleasing Milo. With each weekday forming its own chapter, this short book packs in a lot and relies on overwhelmingly long sentences; as a result, the characters, conflicts, and emotions end up feeling rushed and underexplored. The breathless pace also means that each family feels more like a rough sketch rather than fully fleshed-out individuals. Milo and Lina are biracial (Asian and white), Avery’s

biracial (Black and white), and Mac presents white.

Enthusiastic but uneven.

(Fiction. 9-13)

Humpty’s Great Fall Moore, Amy | Illus. by Josh Cleland Two Lions (40 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 5, 2025 | 9781662527968

Riffing on the double meaning of the word fall, this tale finds Humpty Dumpty reveling in autumn’s pleasures.

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,” declares an unseen narrator as the giant egg, clad in rust-colored overalls and a yellow shirt, smiles sleepily.

Humpty is soon wobbling, and the narrator continues: “Humpty Dumpty had a great…” As the page turns, little ones will grin when the expected tumble doesn’t occur. Instead, our hero gracefully hops off the wall to “take a closer peek at the foliage.” All the while, though, Humpty wonders if there isn’t something else he ought to be doing. But what? He heads home, and an encounter with a fiddling Cat (of “Hey Diddle Diddle” renown) reminds Humpty that it’s time to rake the leaves. The egg man returns to his wall, inspiring several more rounds of the now-familiar formula: the unfinished rhyme, a surprise ending that sees Humpty involved in a new autumnal task, and that nagging sensation that he should be doing something else. Moore and Cleland mine humor from the repetition of the gag as Humpty engages in fall activities such as apple-picking, joined by brown-skinned Jack and Jill,

A group vacation leads to growing pains, drama, and self-discovery.

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brown-skinned Miss Muffet, and light-skinned, red-haired Bo-Peep, among others. Simple cartoon art sets a wholesome tone and complements the text, which ends with a happy nod to wordplay. Children old enough to recognize nursery rhyme allusions will have a ball.

A cute and clever autumnal outing with a metafictive twist.

(Picture book. 4-7)

Oh No, Ojó! Ònájìn, Àlàbá | Random House Studio (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 15, 2025 | 9780593805725

A budding young artist must find a way to develop his gift without driving his family up the wall.

Little Ojó loves to draw, but stealing his big sister Oge’s school pencils isn’t the best way to do it, since she needs them for her homework. A gift of markers from Papa opens up new possibilities for his artistic talents, but he draws the ire of his family, who would prefer that he not mark up today’s newspaper or the grocery list. When Ojó scribbles all over his bedsheet, Oge tries to help by washing it, but Mama angrily confiscates the markers. Ever resourceful, Ojó draws in the dirt with a stick brought by his loyal dog, Tutu, but his creations don’t survive a sudden rainfall. Can the entire family come up with a solution that will keep their home and possessions safe while allowing Ojó to make the world a more beautiful place?

Nigerian author/illustrator Ònájìn’s colorful digital images and simple sentence structure (marked by a refrain of “Oh no, Ojó!”) bring to life a story about the highs and lows of the artistic process. Every member of Ojó’s family has delightful, memorable expressions, especially the alternately indignant and caring Oge. All characters present Black, and visuals imply an African setting.

Charming and sweet.

(Picture book. 3-6)

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The classic tale done justice in a new format.

J U N I E B . J O N E S A N D T H E S T U P I D S M E L LY B U S

Kirkus Star

Firefly Song: Lynn Frierson Faust and the Great Smoky Mountain Discovery Paeff, Colleen | Illus. by Ji-Hyuk Kim McElderry (40 pp.) | $19.99 June 10, 2025 | 9781665931847

A piece of summer magic helps inform a scientific discovery.

Lynn Frierson Faust spent childhood summers with her family in Elkmont, Tennessee, a region situated within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

There, her family gathered in the summer dark to watch as fireflies lit up the forest in harmony (“Blink!

Shine! Twinkle! Pop! Flash!”) before blinking back into darkness. As she grew older, Lynn sought more information about this phenomenon.

She consulted the park rangers, the University of Tennessee, the public library—but no one seemed to know about her synchronously flashing fireflies. Finally, she found a biologist who was intrigued by the musical score she’d composed to represent the way the fireflies flashed together. The scientific process of documentation and research took years before the confirmation of Photinus carolinus, “the first documented case of synchronous fireflies in the entire Western Hemisphere.” Paeff succinctly captures the patience and detailed work involved in this kind of study while keeping the sense of wonder in focus.

Kim’s painterly art perfectly conveys the deep, leafy green of the forest in summer and the splashes and sparks of light from these bioluminescent creatures. Lynn is white; background characters vary in skin tone.

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A wonderful tribute to a citizen scientist who harnessed the power of observation and discovery. (more information, firefly facts, bibliography, author’s note) (Informational picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Star

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel Dev. by Park, Barbara | Adapt. by Colleen AF Venable | Illus. by Honie Beam Random House (160 pp.) | $20.99 April 29, 2025 | 9780593706701

In this graphic novel adaptation of a popular ’90s series starter, a kindergartner who knows what she likes must contend with a school bus she does not.

Junie Beatrice Jones (Junie B. by choice, thank you very much) volunteers a lot of information about herself with an earnest energy appropriate for her age (“almost six”). The first day of kindergarten goes smoothly, but Junie B. loathes the bus, with its loud noises and unpleasant smells. When school is over, rather than board the dreaded bus, she remains in the empty building. Shenanigans ensue, but Junie B. also learns to take responsibility for her actions. With her big, open-book expressions and squat frame, Junie B. is an adorable friend to all readers, as well as her teacher and some classmates. Beyond the humor, the book soars with its empathetic, developmentally accurate depictions of a child venturing from the secure trappings of home into unfamiliar territory as she learns to socialize and trust others.

Beam’s bouncy cartoon images set a sunny tone but also capably capture Junie B.’s angst—for instance, when the panels around her turn redder and spikier as she frets about riding the bus. A couple of contemporary changes include Junie B. playing on a tablet and talking on her mom’s cell phone; otherwise, this is the classic tale done justice in a new format.

Junie B. and her family are pale-skinned; their community is diverse.

A triumphant new entryway into the evergreen world of a spunky young girl. (Graphic fiction. 6-9)

The Haunting of Bellington Cottage Parnum, Laura | Storytide/ HarperCollins (272 pp.) | $19.99 July 29, 2025 | 9780063249592

Can former friends set aside their drama to solve the mystery of a haunted cottage?

Bellington Cottage has a tragic history, bizarre taxidermy, and strange nighttime sounds. It’s also available on the Rent-A-Bode app, which brings 12-year-olds Iris and Violet and their respective grown-ups there on a winter vacation. The girls haven’t seen each other since another trip three years ago, when they turned a Cape May rental into a haunted house together. Iris, whose new best friend just moved away, is eager to reconnect and indulge in their shared love of spooky things. But Violet—who now prefers “Vee” and embraces a goth style—wants nothing to do with her.

Then, strange things start happening.

Taxidermied creatures move around. A tree swing slams against the trunk. An unplugged toaster activates with a pop.

Setting aside their discord, Iris and Vee investigate. It seems that something—or someone—is sending them increasingly urgent messages. Authentic characters inhabit an evocatively described world in this thoughtful ghost story. Solving the mystery MAY 15, 2025

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requires Iris and Vee to unravel multiple threads of conflict, from the Bellington family’s tragic, unfinished tale to their own tangled web of jealousy, family strife, and friendship fails. A powerful theme of positive communication weaves through and between the storylines. Readers who enjoy interpersonal themes and don’t mind a leisurely buildup to the real shivers will appreciate this tale. Characters read white.

Mild chills mingle with believable friendship issues in this appealing ghost story. (Horror. 9-12)

I Am Strong!

Parr, Todd | Little, Brown (32 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 5, 2025 | 9780316376327

Brightly colored animal characters demonstrate the many ways to show fortitude.

“I am strong because…”

Various creatures complete the opening line of the book. Parr’s simple sentence structure provides clarity, while his cheery, solid colors with thick black outlines rendered in childlike scrawls depict everything from peacocks to penguins to pandas, all displaying strength in different ways. “I ask for help when I need it,” says a smiling giraffe, standing by ready to assist a cat who’s stuck in a tree. “I can be gentle,” notes a necktie-­ clad bear holding a butterfly. And three hopping frogs declare, “I take care of my body.” Though the tone is earnest, a goofy strain runs through this work: A neon-pink bunny wears a pair of underwear on its head (“I fix my mistakes”); a frowning cow tells buzzing flies to “Stop, please!” (“I share when something is bothering me”).

Each page serves as a connection point

for readers to empathize or find parallels in their own lives; this is an excellent book for caregivers to share one-on-one or at storytime. The final page is an encouraging message directly from the author to readers, signed with love.

Strength redefined for a new generation. (Picture book. 2-6)

Be the Light: How She Became Angela Davis Peoples, Daria | Greenwillow Books (56 pp.) $19.99 | June 3, 2025 | 9780063206786

Activist Angela Davis’ childhood experiences shaped the trajectory of her life.

Davis grew up in segregated Birmingham, Alabama, with parents who believed that “freedom lives anywhere and everywhere it pleases,” but not all of their neighbors agreed.

Many retaliated with violence (“Bombs exploded, houses rumbled”), but her parents instilled in her the possibility of change—a mindset that gave her life direction. As a college professor, she shared that vision with others, embracing viewpoints that placed her in opposition to the U.S. government.

Eventually, she was incarcerated; she used her time in prison to share her perspective with her fellow inmates.

Many all around the world called for her release until at last she was acquitted and freed. A prison abolit­ ionist, she was a symbol of a world where those whose needs are unmet will be cared for. Peoples uses clear, inspiring language to relate her subject’s path to activism amid turbulent times.

Readers may emerge with questions about why Davis was imprisoned; a visual essay in the backmatter offers context about Davis’ alleged involvement

Reveals a complex personality who followed a unique path.

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in the death of a prison guard, as well as her vindication. Peoples’ passion comes through; an author’s note details her personal connection to Davis’ ideals and how they still resonate.

Colorful, expressionistic illustrations, rife with visual metaphor, contribute to the atmospheric storytelling.

A moving picture-book biography that reveals a complex personality who followed a unique path. (timeline) (Picture-book biography. 4-8)

Earl & Worm #2: The Big Mess and Other Stories Pizzoli, Greg | Knopf (72 pp.) | $10.99 July 8, 2025 | 9780593649701 Series: Earl & Worm, 2

Earl and Worm return—hooray!

Once again, odd-couple Earl (a bird) and his neighbor Worm (who’s the same size as Earl and thus definitely not his prey) pair up in a trio of stories that are just right for new readers. First, neatnik Worm helps clutter-bug Earl get rid of some items he no longer needs—and ends up acquiring many of those things for herself. The second tale sees the usually affable Earl despairing after a lucky penny he finds seems to bring him bad luck instead of good, until Worm makes everything better. In the final story, Earl goes along with Worm’s determined effort to stay up all night to watch the sunrise. Each entry displays thoughtful timing that ramps up the humor—for instance, a comical denouement to “The Lucky Penny” shows bad luck befalling Worm after she resolves Earl’s woes. Throughout, Pizzoli’s expertise in marrying words and cartoon-style pictures will support new readers’ decoding skills while enhancing the storytelling, such as when Earl’s stuff spills over the book’s gutter onto Worm’s otherwise-tidy side.

Pizzoli’s line drawings are simple yet expressive; Worm’s grumpy looks are especially delightful to behold.

Another surefire hit in this winsome series. (Early reader. 5-7)

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A heartfelt twist on tales of monsters and bad guys.

MASKS

Link + Hud: Sharks & Minnows Pumphrey, Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey Norton Young Readers (192 pp.) $16.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781324016113 Series: Link + Hud, 2

The active imaginations of two African American brothers get them into a boatload of fun (and trouble) in this second series entry.

Lincoln and Hudson Dupré have spent their summer playing in the community center’s outdoor pool. After a rowdy chicken fight with their friends Tyler and Samarth, they terrorize each other and fellow swimmers with sunscreen. When the pool has to close for cleaning, Link, Hud, and pals cannonball their way into the indoor pool and the seniors’ aqua-aerobics class. Their antics draw the attention of Coach Strickler, who’s in charge of the Sharks competitive swim team.

To Link, their regimented drills look like “some kind of punishment,” but he also wonders if he has what it takes to swim as fast as they do. The boys end up at the beach with their parents, where their dad gives them a booklet entitled “Gumbo’s Field Guide to Fishing the Gulf,” which they enjoy browsing. Humorous excerpts from the guide are interspersed (after the foursome experience a terrible training session with the Sharks and Coach Strickler sends them packing, readers encounter this tip: “Don’t swim with sharks when there’s blood in the water. Just trust old Gumbo on this one. You’ll live to swim another day”). The pitch-perfect humor and likable characters will pull K IR KU S R E V IE W S

readers in. Passages of prose alternate with lively comic-book sequences, showing the boys’ fully fleshed-out dreamscapes and their reality.

An entertaining look at siblings’ interior lives and wild adventures.

(Graphic/fiction hybrid. 8-12)

Masks Rae, Margaret & Brian Nathanson Illus. by Beck Kubrick | Colors by Thomas Philipson | Andrews McMeel Publishing (240 pp.) | $14.99 paper | July 29, 2025 9781524886455

Three young monsters leave their hiding place after it’s no longer safe, seeking shelter and community.

Poe, a horned, green-skinned monster, was almost captured as a child by the centuries-old monster-hunting society the Knights of the Night. But a compassionate Knight helped her escape, and she was later found by Stoker, a young adult monster, who taught her how to survive in the shadows of the human world. He also shared a “silly urban legend” about a place “deep downtown, where monsters could live in peace.” Ever since Stoker’s sudden disappearance, Poe has been living with two young monsters named Rice (who has blue skin) and Shelley (who has pink skin, orange hair, and sharp fangs). When neighborhood gentrification means the empty house they’re squatting in will be destroyed, they venture out on Halloween—which provides the perfect cover for their unusual appearances—in search of the rumored haven. But their quest is far from easy, and they encounter danger

along the way. Found family and good human allies (diverse in skin tone) who offer support in the face of the actions of corrupt, greedy people lie at the core of the story, offering parallels to the experiences of marginalized groups who must fly under the radar to live safely. The illustrations, which are full of emotion, feature muted colors and loose linework.

A heartfelt twist on tales of monsters and bad guys. (Graphic fantasy. 9-13)

Elvira Vance and the Monster Mystery Ritter, Kacy | Storytide/HarperCollins (320 pp.) $19.99 | July 15, 2025 | 9780063348578

In the West Texas town of Marfa, trouble brews between humans and monsters when the monsters’ prized crown is stolen and chupacabra Calvin Shadevale disappears.

Detective Price seems sure that Cal took off with the sacred crown that the monsters use at the annual Marfa Monster Festival to honor the Monarch of Fright. There are many humans, including the mayor, who are ready to use the crime as an excuse to shut down Vince Vance’s Vintage Trailer Park Inn for Monsters. But 13-year-old Elvira, Vince’s daughter, doesn’t believe Cal is the culprit; she insists he’s a victim. The situation becomes even more suspicious when more monsters go missing. Elvira, who has a racially ambiguous human dad and a siren mom, wishes everyone could get along. Eager to solve the mystery and calm tensions, she joins forces with her human friend (and secret crush) Emilio Salinas, and chupacabra best friend, Maribel Akecheta—­together they’re “the best sleuths in Marfa.” Their investigations take them to a mausoleum, the mayor’s office, and a ghost town as they encounter colorful witnesses and suspects, including a banshee, a vampire, a jackalope, and decidedly unfriendly ghosts. As they hurtle toward the finale, the trio discover a duplicitous villain MAY 15, 2025

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and an unlikely ally. This compelling story offers food for thought about discrimination. Elvira’s humorous and engaging first-person voice flows easily.

An original, fast-paced mystery featuring a strong message about inclusion. (Mystery. 8-12)

Stemosaurus Root, Andrew | Illus. by Mark Chambers | Two Lions (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 22, 2025 | 9781662520471

A science-loving dinosaur saves his friends.

Few have heard of Spike the Stemosaurus, who’s inquisitive and good with numbers. Small and quiet, he’s not nearly as well known as his more rambunctious pals, who enjoy wrestling, heavy lifting, and racing; Spike prefers exploring, inventing, and learning about the world. Sometimes he longs to be strong, tall, and fast, like his pals. He invents “cretaceous contraptions” to make those wishes real, but he still sees himself as “a rather weak, slightly short, kind of awkward Stemosaurus.”

When a giant meteor begins hurtling to Earth one day, Spike does some mathematical calculations and concludes that its impact will be catastrophic.

The other dinos are terrified, but Spike devises a solution, and together the friends build the “first-ever TERRI­ FIC TEAMWORK TRIASSIC TELEPORTER.” Everyone climbs aboard, and Spike sets the time machine—for 65 million years hence!

Flash-forward to the present: Everyone’s aware of the Stemosaurus now.

This whimsical tale will delight dinosaur fans and other science-­ minded kids. It celebrates friendship, cooperation, and the idea that everyone’s got strengths and talents worthy of respect—and wittily turns the meteors-killed-off-dinosaurs theory on its ear. The dynamic digital illustrations are comically appealing.

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A warmly inviting tale starring a hero who’s cool under pressure.

DIEGO FUEGO THE FIREFIGHTING DRAGON

dinosaurs are adorable; background humans are diverse.

hair. Supporting characters vary in skin tone.

Witch Cat

Diego Fuego the Firefighting Dragon

A saur-ingly fun read. Hand this to those who love dinos and all things science. (Picture book. 4-7)

Rowland, Lucy | Illus. by Laura Hughes Bloomsbury (32 pp.) | $18.99 July 22, 2025 | 9781547616718

Pippin, a witch’s curious black cat, embarks on a journey to explore new paths, only to realize that his true place has always been at home.

Though Pippin loves his owner, he wonders if there’s more to life, so he sets off on a quest to explore other feline possibilities. Perhaps he’s more suited to being a pirate’s cat? Unfortunately, he gets seasick. Next, he takes a turn as a knight’s cat, but the thought of helping his master vanquish a dragon is terrifying. How about being a pet cat? The little girl who temporarily adopts him dresses him up; Pippin is not pleased. He tries everything, from a turn as a tightrope walker’s cat to a cowboy’s companion, but nothing feels right.

He sadly misses his beloved witch and soon realizes exactly where he belongs.

Pippin’s story is told in energetic, catchy rhymes, surrounded by vibrant, full-page acrylic ink illus­ trations with childlike but expressive details. Pippin’s journey starts and ends on Halloween, but this ench­ anting read-aloud book will be a year-round favorite, especially in cat-loving households. Pippin’s witch is youthful, with light skin and blue

A heartfelt adventure, sure to become a storytime favorite. (Picture book. 3-5)

Rozo, Allison & Rafael Rozo Illus. by Vanessa Morales Penguin Workshop (32 pp.) $18.99 | July 22, 2025 | 9780593750322

A dragon who can’t breathe fire?

Unheard of!

After Diego Fuego is born into a family of fire-breathing dragons living on Tierra del Fuego, the island group at the southernmost tip of South America, his extended family warmly welcomes him, but they soon realize something is amiss when Diego uncontrollably sneezes ice instead of fire. The family doctor delivers a surprising diagnosis: Diego is allergic to smoke! Determined to support him, Diego’s family members adjust their fiery habits, avoiding smoky outbursts and blazing roars as much as possible.

Still, Diego, who can’t join in the flaming fun that the other young dragons enjoy, finds it hard to navigate friendships. On top of Diego’s smoke sensitivity, his frosty breath irritates his family as he inadvertently freezes hot drinks and sprinkles snowflakes on his sister’s homework. Everything changes when Diego is caught in a house fire and discovers the unexpected benefits to his icy roar. This tale about the softer side of dragon lore wraps up a bit tidily, and some may be frustrated that Diego finds a happy ending only after what makes him different proves K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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useful. Still, it’s a heartwarming story, featuring a supportive family and an endearingly resolute protagonist.

Morales’ cartoonish images brim with goofy exuberance, and accessories such as earrings, hairdos, and hats give the characters personality. Spanish words and phrases are woven naturally into the dialogue throughout.

make the narrative challenging for younger readers to follow (events that precipitate angry transformations don’t always occur on the page, for instance), but the tale will start a conversation worth having. Readers holding out for a “Hulk smash” won’t be disappointed, either. Bruce is light-skinned; other humans are diverse.

All the Hulk Feels

Best Buds

Santat, Dan | Abrams Fanfare (40 pp.) $19.99 | July 22, 2025 | 9781419776137 Series: A Mighty Marvel Comics Picture Book

Scharnhorst, Becky | Illus. by Jiarui Jiang | McElderry (40 pp.) | $19.99 July 8, 2025 | 9781665960939

Dr. Bruce Banner is angry…but at what cost?

The title’s opening sequence establishes our hero’s defining trait—that Dr. Bruce Banner turns into the Incredible Hulk when enraged. But canonic table-setting aside, this tale forgoes the high-flying flash of standard comic-book fare for a more nuanced message. As the Leader, Banner’s longtime nemesis, crafts increasingly zany scenarios to elicit rage from his foe, tension builds between Bruce and his muscle-bound counterpart. When is anger worth feeling? And what do you do when you experience it? Written exchanges between the big-feeling scientist and the green behemoth drive the text’s dialogue; after each transformation, Bruce or the Hulk finds a note in his pocket. Subversively, rage-monster Hulk challenges Banner’s predisposition for fury, encouraging a more holistic approach to defeating evildoers. Anger is a legitimate emotion, per Hulk, but it’s one of many. Author/ illustrator Santat breathes new life into the nature of comic-book conflict, exploring the emotional stakes of a consciousness divided. And while the topic is heady, the text introduces tools for self-regulation without veering into the didactic. Shifts in perspective may

A plant-loving loner learns to branch out and make new friends.

Spencer is happiest with his plants. Though quiet, they’re good listeners, and he loves caring for them. When he moves to a new town, his family members urge him to try to make human friends, but Spencer’s not interested. One day, after pulling a wagon full of his planted friends to the large tree he often visits, he meets Daisy. She, too, has unusual, nonhuman friends, and the two quickly realize that Spencer’s passion for plants and Daisy’s love of insects make them a natural match. This sweet story is about more than just making friends; it’s a reminder that love and care take many forms—a message that will resonate with children who need a little time and patience as they attempt to forge connections with others. Spencer’s world is a colorful one, full of greenery, unfurling leaves, and bright flowers.

His plants, a crucial part of the narrative, are as varied and full of life as the people in the book. Spencer and his mother are light-skinned; Daisy has brown skin and dark curly hair.

Background characters vary in skin tone and hair color.

A warmly inviting tale starring a hero who’s cool under pressure.

(Picture book. 4-8)

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Supervillainy has been relegated to the subplot, but to a worthwhile end.

(Picture book/graphic fiction. 6-9)

A tenderly told, touching friendship tale. (Picture book. 4-6)

Rosey Stink Badger Selfors, Suzanne | Illus. by Ramona Kaulitzki | Aladdin (96 pp.) | $17.99 April 15, 2025 | 9781665949057 Series: Willow’s Woods, 2

Mother Nature’s granddaughter needs help with a bee infestation.

While house­ sitting for her grandmother, young Willow has been dealing with some of the grosser items on her to-do list, like shoveling manure.

She’d rather invite a friend over for a sleepover, but her pal Sam Squirrel (introduced in the series opener) is tied up with school. But before Willow can start cleaning the chicken coop, the birds erupt into chaos with the appearance of a rude queen bee who loves stealing other people’s homes. The only known beekeeper in the Quiet Woods is an allegedly fearsome stink badger.

Determined to solve her own problems without calling in Mother Nature, Willow sets out to find the stink badger and oust the queen and her swarm from the coop before it’s too late. Her journey is gently amusing as she discovers strengths (like a gift for songwriting), confronts weaknesses (her practically nonexistent sense of direction), and figures out ways to resolve conflicts. Finally, when everyone else is too afraid, Willow must ignore (literal) warning signs to ask for expert help. Along the way, she makes a misunderstood friend.

Though older readers may find the story’s resolution a bit predictable, all will enjoy getting to know the charmingly self-aware Willow as Selfors drops in a few hints about her backstory. Kaulitzki’s spotlight illustrations showcase adorably anthropomorphized animals. Willow is depicted with paper-white skin and described as having silver hair.

Another sweetly told romp through the Quiet Woods. (Fantasy. 6-8) MAY 15, 2025

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Especially satisfying for those who wish every day could be Halloween.

VAMPIRE VS. THE BE ACH

When I Became Your Daddy Shane, Susannah | Illus. by Britta Teckentrup | Nosy Crow (24 pp.) $17.99 | May 13, 2025 | 9798887770765 Series: When I Became Your

An otter dad celebrates fatherhood—and his little one.

The author/ illustrator pair behind When I Became Your Grandma (2023) and When I Became Your Grandpa (2024), which featured, respectively, a panda and a lion pair, now spotlight the loving bond between father and child.

Addressing his offspring in upbeat rhyming verse, Daddy declares, “You made my world complete. / I didn’t know the little things in life could be so sweet.” He expresses pride for his pup, who learns and grows each day.

“If you ever lose your way and everything feels wrong,” Daddy promises to “help guide you along.”

And little ones need not be afraid: “We’ll take it slowly, step by step / and walk the path as one.” “Life can be tricky sometimes,” Daddy points out, “but it’s also full of fun!” The occasionally clumsy, always sentimental verse is more likely to speak to adults than to little ones, but the cut-paper illustrations—providing the same clear, minimalist settings and bright-eyed creatures as in earlier books—are a winsome bunch.

Admittedly, real-life otters aren’t monogamous, and males, who don’t raise offspring, wouldn’t actually cuddle a pup, as this involved papa does. But readers won’t notice—and the duo are certainly adorable.

A rhyming love note to the joys of fatherhood. (Picture book. 0-3) 122

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The Bagel Who Wanted Everything Silberberg, Alan | Viking (32 pp.) $18.99 | July 29, 2025 | 9780593693131

A plain bagel strives to become something more.

Every bagel has one thing—and only one—that makes it special.

But one plain bagel wonders why, in a world with so many toppings, everyone is limited to one. Despite its family’s misgivings, the bagel sets out to achieve a loftier goal: “I want to be EVERYTHING!” Our hero tries life as a hat, a lamp, and a washing machine. It rolls around in flowers and snow, spends time in the sea, and “[plucks] pillowy puff from the clouds.” Finally, encrusted with weird and wacky detritus, the bagel proudly returns. But it looks so ridiculous that everybody rolls around in laughter, including the bagel itself. At last, the protagonist accepts that it’s enough just the way it is. But the others point out that the plain bagel is now coated in a mix of all their toppings, shaken loose by the laughter. The plain bagel has, of course, become an everything bagel. All the bagels realize that they, too, can be anything they want.

The story ends with some words of wisdom for readers: “A bagel can be EVERYTHING! And so can you!”

Silberberg’s zany, instantly recog­ nizable cartooning style, set against brightly colored backgrounds and peppered with quirky dialogue, keeps the message light and fun.

Kickturn Spangler, Brie | Knopf (192 pp.) $17.99 | June 17, 2025 | 9780593707814

When the bus she’s been living in with her dad and yoga-influencer mom breaks down after two years on the road, 10-year-old Lindy longs to set down roots in San Jose.

Lindy and her family started their travel adventure after her dad quit his job as a software engineer to avoid “melting down faster than a computer with no fan.” Her mom is “trying to life-coach through lifestyle,” generating content as she poses in front of scenic vistas in national parks and curating flawless images of their #lifeontheroad for Instagram. But life isn’t picture-perfect; Lindy’s frustrated with the way her parents, especially her mom, seem more interested in how things look than how she feels: “Sometimes it feels like those invisible people are more important to her than anything else. Including me.” When new friends Dasha and May introduce her to skateboarding, Lindy finally feels like she’s found something just for her. With lined pages, a loose handwriting-style font, and sketches throughout, the book’s design mimics a journal, immersing readers in Lindy’s struggles. Though Lindy’s voice is a bit inconsistent—at times she feels alternately older and younger—overall, it rings true; her frustrations and triumphs will resonate with young people. Physical descriptors are minimal. Final art not seen.

Bumpy in spots, but on the whole, a relatable tale of friendship and self-discovery. (map) (Fiction. 8-12)

For more by Brie Spangler, visit Kirkus online.

With charm and a lesson of self-­ empowerment, this bagel book has lox to recommend it. (Picture book. 3-7)

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Vampire vs. the Beach: A Summer Halloween Story Tarpley, Todd | Illus. by Giovanni Abeille Little, Brown (32 pp.) | $10.99 | June 3, 2025 9780316590556 | Series: Festive Feuds, 3

Grown-ups are the real monsters in this beachy picture book.

Several families are taking in the sun and waves when a youngster spies a vampire incongruously grilling mummy-­ shaped weenies with some monster pals. The creatures are friendly and inviting, but the adults behave frightfully, instructing the monsters to “get off of our beach” and threatening them (“Don’t come back till it’s autumn! / Or we’ll give you sandal-­ shaped marks on your bottom!”).

Drac is unfazed, delighting the children with candy, carving watermelons into jack-o’-lanterns, and building haunted sand castles. This Halloween whimsy riles the adults, who by now are actively harassing the monsters—burying Frankenstein’s monster in the sand and hurling sticks at the others. As the sun goes down, the monsters, who’ve mostly ignored the attacks, crank some tunes that even the grown-ups can’t resist, and all agree that they should “celebrate Halloween twice every year!” A last-minute visit from Santa is a bridge too far for monsters and humans alike, but they allow the Christmas crew to enjoy the beach.

Setting aside the obvious violation of vampire lore (doesn’t sunlight turn Dracula to dust?) and the unkind behavior from the adults, this book is a treat. A charming cadence makes it a fun read-aloud, and kids will delight in the cartoony pictures depicting such silliness as

Frankenstein’s monster clad in a Hawaiian shirt. The human beach­ goers are diverse.

Spooky summertime fun—especially satisfying for those who wish every day could be Halloween.

(Picture book. 4-8)

The AI Incident Thomas, J.E. | Levine Querido (256 pp.) $18.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9781646145089

A 12-year-old’s plan to get adopted is made more complicated by his school’s partnership with an artificial intelligence device.

Malcolm Montgomery, a Black boy whose parents were killed in a car crash, is a seasoned foster kid. He keeps a list of ways to be a perfect kid so he can meet his deadline of being adopted by his 13th birthday. Malcolm’s latest foster mom, Mrs. Bettye, might be grumpy, but she treats him better than the adults at his nine other foster placements did. Still, he’s careful not to view her place as home. Because of pervasive low scores on the required Colorado state assessment test, the principal at Shirley Chisholm Charter Middle School is forced to allow AI tech company Hatch-ED’s robot, the Forensically Reimagined Anticipatory Nano-Cerebral Integrated System, or FRANCIS, to teach the kids. Malcolm volunteers to work with social outcast Tank Grint, who’s white, to haul the AI around school on a cart. FRANCIS claims it can help Malcolm with his search for answers about why some kids get adopted—if it can access Malcolm’s school laptop. FRANCIS soon goes rogue, jeopardizing Malcolm’s relationship with Mrs. Bettye and landing him

Joking aside, this is a kid-friendly guide to the giggles.

THE LAUGHING BOOK

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in hot water at school. One highlight of this poignant and humorous story is the organic friendship that develops between Malcolm and Tank. The depictions of foster care and adoption are also nuanced and realistic, and FRANCIS has sentient, humanizing characteristics that are thought-provoking.

A complex and entertaining look at AI and human relationships.

(Fiction. 8-12)

The Laughing Book Tudor, Kael | Illus. by Daniel Wiseman Happy Yak (32 pp.) | $18.99 June 24, 2025 | 9781836000143

All about laughter, from guffaws to ha-has.

Tudor lists obvious reasons why people might laugh: hearing a joke, being tickled, and watching a funny movie.

But, as he points out, we have other motivations for doing so, such as when we’re nervous or scared; sometimes we laugh at things that we know we shouldn’t. People chortle, roar, and chuckle; some even cackle diabolically (an illustration depicts a mad scientist in a lab, head thrown back, doing just that). Tudor poses questions (“What does your laugh sound like?” “What makes you laugh?”) that serve as simple invitations to engage—and perhaps to let out a little giggle. Set against neon, generally uncluttered backdrops, Wiseman’s bright cartoon illustrations are an integral part of the storytelling.

Full-page pages brim with action, offering readers a chance to linger, while some pages contain several panels with various scenes. All feature round-headed kids with exaggerated, open-mouthed, toothy grins tittering away. Though the point of this book isn’t to elicit big belly laughs, it contains plenty of silliness, many opportunities for conversation, and certainly a chuckle or two. Characters are diverse in terms of race and ability.

Joking aside, this is a kid-friendly guide to the giggles. (Picture book. 3-6) MAY 15, 2025

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The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class: Olive Little Gets Crafty

black-and-white cartoons depict a diverse community.

Another feel-good tale in an empathetic, child-friendly series.

(Chapter book. 6-9)

Urban, Linda | Illus. by Kat Fajardo Little, Brown (128 pp.) | $16.99 July 8, 2025 | 9781523530366 Series: The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class, 7

Newly enrolled at Curiosity Academy, a craft-loving third grader goes in search of artistic inspiration—­ and friendship.

Pale-skinned, freckled Olive Little felt like an outsider at her old school, but she’s sure things will be different this year. When she decides to make a spiffy new case for her recorder, other students are interested, and an idea for a school club is born: the Cool Recorder Case Club! Olive knows it’s a surefire way to endear herself to her new classmates, but challenges soon mount. Olive’s reluctant to run her idea past the bossy fifth grader in charge of Club Day. Plus, she’s also got to balance her plans with her domestic responsibilities, including caring for her family’s chickens and minding her preschool-age cousin, Peter. Olive puts pressure on herself to succeed, but the adults in her life—among them her mother and grandmother—and her classmates offer support and understanding. Mutual help is a big theme throughout this empathetic tale, the latest in a series in which each installment is penned by a different author and focuses on a different student in Mrs. Z’s class. Punctuated

by Olive’s frequent exclamation of “WHAMMO!,” Urban’s third-person narration captures the protagonist’s exuberance and sunny attitude even in the face of setbacks that include a skunk that finds its way into the chicken coop. Fajardo’s expressive

Tenacious Won’t Give Up Vaughan, Pam | Illus. by Leanne Hatch | Knopf (40 pp.) | $18.99 June 24, 2025 | 9780593645215

A child struggles to ride her bike.

Tenacious has always lived up to her name, whether walking to a waterfall when her legs are tired or climbing to the “tippy-top of the tire swing.” And now she’s determined to ride her bike in the Wheel Parade.

Although she does her best to maintain her balance, Tenacious keeps crashing— and the parade is this afternoon!

Fortunately, Tenacious’ sister, Sage, knows “a thing or two about riding around on wheels.” Sage, a talented wheelchair basketball player, suggests that instead of trying her hardest, Tenacious try her “smartest.” For Sage, that means visualizing making a successful basket, practicing, and adjusting her technique as needed.

Following Sage’s example, Tenacious imagines herself pedaling with the other kids, and when she “wiggle[s]” and “wobble[s]” and “weave[s],” she, like Sage, “lean[s] a little left” and “rotate[s] a little right.” Soon, Tenacious is pedaling around the neighborhood—and, as the parade begins, even challenging Sage to a race. Hatch’s sunny cartoon illustrations readily convey Tenacious’ resolve and frustration. Vaughan’s portrayal of a disabled sibling as a supportive mentor rather than an opportunity to explain disabilities shows welcome representation, and readers of all abilities will find

A childhood essential transformed into poetic beauty.

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Sage’s advice helpful as they practice their own endeavors. Tenacious and Sage have light skin; background characters are racially diverse.

A practical and refreshingly inclusive take on persistence.

(Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Star

Forts Venit, Katie | Illus. by Kenard Pak Viking (32 pp.) | $18.99 July 29, 2025 | 9780593466155

An ode to forts of all kinds, from those found in nature to those we make ourselves.

A sweeping fall landscape greets readers who open this book. “The world is full of forts,” Venit declares, inviting youngsters to follow along as a brown-skinned child explores the outdoors. The hollowed-out root tangle of a fallen tree and the cave behind a waterfall both make welcome hideouts. Closer to home, a backyard treehouse and a tent are inviting getaways.

And as the protagonist moves indoors, Venit introduces us to less obvious forts: the peaceful space behind the curtains, “the kingdom under the kitchen table,” a pile of boxes, and stacks of cushions.

For all the shelter they provide, forts are also much-needed sources of solitude, respites from a loud, people-filled world.

Venit’s lyrical text reads aloud well and includes beautiful turns of phrase and rich vocabulary that conjure up feelings of tranquility, while Pak’s delicately luminous illustrations convey a powerful sense of place, using light and shadow to carve out cozy spots both indoors and out. One especially stunning image shows the child in a tent made of a thin blanket decorated with hanging origami cranes; the silhouette of an adult on the other side casts a pale shadow against the sheet.

The young protagonist looks entirely at home, tucked up snug in the various forts; readers will readily relate.

A childhood essential transformed into poetic beauty. (Picture book. 4-6)

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Pleasing poetry paired with compelling images of a childhood lived in motion.

WHEN I MOVE

(the other being intrepid dung beetle P’oo). The human and humanoid members of the cast are diversely hued.

A droll sequel featuring quests, quips, and a nuanced view of what it means to be a hero. (Graphic adventure. 8-12)

When I Move How To Catch Bigfoot Walstead, Alice | Illus. by Andy Elkerton Sourcebooks Wonderland (40 pp.) $12.99 | Aug. 12, 2025 | 9781464230776 Series: How To Catch…

The ever-expanding How To Catch series adds yet another target for young hunters.

Move over, Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and a couple of dozen others: Walstead and Elkerton have another mythical creature in their crosshairs. In this latest installment, a group of diverse campers attempt to capture a shaggy but lovable sasquatch.

Bigfoot, whose face is rarely seen and who narrates in verse, emerges from a cozy, elaborate treehouse to investigate a nearby campfire and secure food for a youngster.

The scent of s’mores proves a powerful draw, and soon Bigfoot is subjected to the various traps improvised by the kids.

Although the campers look “freaked out,” it’s Bigfoot who must run. Snagging a small treat, our narrator (who’s “not SCARY… / just tall and hairy!”) avoids the other lures. Meanwhile, the forest animals accidentally interfere, and the kids struggle with some unworkable options, like a water-spraying robot (delivered to their campsite?). Finally, the campers, realizing that Bigfoot has a child, leave the “Bigfoot Family” a cooler full of food, and Bigfoot happily concludes, “Now my son has all the friends / he could ever really need” (though they never actually interact— still, it’s better than being prey!). Uneven rhythm makes the lines wobbly, though the rhymes generally work. Elkerton uses lots of bird’s-eye perspectives in his usual colorful cartoon style; the wacky hijinks will keep series devotees entertained.

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Familiar fare that fans are sure to eagerly snag. (Picture book. 4-7)

Punycorn and the Princess of Thieves Watson, Andi | Clarion/HarperCollins (208 pp.) $15.99 | July 22, 2025 | 9780358572008

Multiple quests bring ogres, hooded necromancers, and unlikely heroes to Verdigris Forest, domain of the feared Robin, Princess of Thieves.

In this follow-up to 2023’s Punycorn, our unicorn hero searches for a grimoire and mystical weapons, dubbed “Nosepicker” and “Spork of Slaughter,” all of which have been stolen. This quest draws the doughty if diminutive unicorn into a rematch with hulking Sir Ogre, equally thick of brain and brawn, and the ogre’s clever little sister, Sixsmith. Into the scrum, Watson pitches both a set of pacifistic (though scary-looking) necromancers and a robber who turns out to be the most principled of thieves.

Robin is a kindly, if kleptomaniac, princess who’s now living as the head of a band of rough-looking short-order cooks, robbing from the rich to fund a soup kitchen for refugees. Plainly this is all deeply tongue-in-cheek, and aside from one quick rout (“Don’t just stand there!

Attack them back!”), the martially posed, comically grimacing figures in the cartoon art rarely come to blows. And if the plotlines cut off in ways calculated to bolster demand for sequels, there at least is some movement in the character-development department—particularly for Wheeze, a dragon with self-esteem issues who’s one of Punycorn’s two companions

Weatherford, Carole Boston | Illus. by Alea Marley | Union Square Kids (40 pp.) $18.99 | April 29, 2025 | 9781454945543

A child’s simple movements add up to something far greater than the sum of their parts.

Prolific and award-winning author Weatherford lends a poetic, lyrical hand to this tale that follows a brownskinned youngster who swims, jumps, and bounces through life. These actions are all rife with meaning. “When I score, I become the cheers,” the young narrator proclaims, and “When I dance, I become the beat.” The repeated sentence structure and rhyming phrases make this an effective read-aloud just right for little listeners. With rosy cheeks and a head full of curly hair, the protagonist is drawn mostly in exuberant motion. A rainbow blur accompanies the child on a bike ride (“When I bike, / I become the gears”), and a swirl of air surrounds a ball that the youngster throws across the page. While some of the actions show the child engaged in a physical activity, others are more symbolic: “When I lift, I become the strength,” the child notes while helping a teary-eyed, light-skinned youngster with a scraped knee. And perhaps the most affecting of all: “When I move, I’m a force so free— // I feel the planet move with me.”

Pleasing poetry paired with compelling images of a childhood lived in motion. (Picture book. 3-6)

For more by Carole Boston Weatherford, visit Kirkus online.

MAY 15, 2025

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The Ghosts of Nameless Island: The Boy Who Could Fly West, Carly Anne | Illus. by Teo Skaffa Andrews McMeel Publishing (320 pp.) $12.99 paper | July 22, 2025 | 9781524888138 Series: The Ghosts of Nameless Island, 2

As spectral visions and attacks escalate against a young seer of ghosts, old mysteries give way to new ones in this middle volume.

A gassy dog and a series of tongue-in-cheek auditions with therapists (“I didn’t hold the doll. I feel like he wanted me to hold the doll”) lighten the general tone, but West continues to lay out creepy encounters aplenty. Eerie noises and the terrifying touch of bony fingers in the dark add even more urgency to the efforts of 12-year-old Gus Greenburg to identify the ghosts resident in the decrepit mansion his mother is renovating.

Because the mysterious disappearance of his dad has left both Gus and his capable but traumatized mom on the edge of emotional breakdown, there’s some urgency to their search for professional help. As it turns out, the old house holds more disturbing secrets to uncover—including clues to his father’s fate that lead to another cliffhanger ending. Still, Gus and his fragile parent have loyal friends to lean on, and by the close, the twin quests for ghostly backstories and a properly flexible therapist have taken promising turns that will keep readers involved enough to stick around for further developments. Skaffa’s infrequent but atmospheric illustrations mix comical

spot art with images of a racially diverse live cast and a luridly spooky dead one.

Amid chortles and chills, this entry ably tosses new balls in the air to join those already there.

(Paranormal mystery. 8-12)

Kirkus Star

The Gift of the Broken Teacup: Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me Wolf, Allan | Illus. by Jade Orlando Candlewick (64 pp.) | $19.99 July 1, 2025 | 9781536228953

The virtuosic Wolf delivers 30 poems exploring self-actualization.

In three sections of roughly equal length, oft-­ rhyming verse scans impeccably, the better to convey messages of perseverance and self-acceptance. The first section, “Mindfulness,” ranges the widest, delving into concepts such as integrity and kindness. A young taekwondo student narrates “I’ll Be Back Tomorrow”: “My belt slips down around my knees. / I keep forgetting moves I know! / I’m sore and sort of ill at ease. / I’ll still be back tomorrow, though!” Several entries begin with a quote or definition. “Inconsequential” sensitively lists examples that belie its dictionary definition, encouraging readers to consider the world through others’ eyes. “A breeze inconsequential / keeps a bird aloft in flight. / A cry inconsequential / wakes a mother up at night.” The “Medi­ tation” section introduces practical

A delicious kickoff that combines haute cuisine with sky-high stakes.

THE BIG TOURNAMENT

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steps (“Close eyes. / Soft sighs. / Sit tall. / That’s all”) and offers poems about meditating while standing and walking. “The Om Poem” is a delightful introduction to the use of the word: “An om is a poem / without any words. / It acts as a voice / so the heart can be heard.” The “Me” section examines emotional intelligence and the importance of being present, with several entries lauding writing and journal-keeping as tools for self-discovery. Orlando’s pictures beautifully complement Wolf’s poems, with plenty of animals, playful perspectives, and thought­ fully diverse depictions of children.

A terrific exposition of mindfulness, perfectly distilled for curious kids.

(Picture book/poetry. 7-10)

The Big Tournament: Book 1 Wouters, Nicolas | Illus. by Mathilde Van Gheluwe | Trans. by Ann Marie Boulanger Graphic Universe (160 pp.) | $15.99 paper | April 1, 2025 | 9798765643228 Series: Magda, Intergalactic Chef, 1

In this French import, a budding chef beats the odds to qualify for the great intergalactic cooking tournament on planet Tamaris…but has she bitten off more than she can chew?

The daughter of a humble broccoli farmer, pale-skinned, red-haired Magda looks like a long shot to get through her home planet’s qualifying contest—until her locally sourced three-course entry wows the tough judges and sends her on to the big time, vying for a prize powerful enough to alter worlds. Dialogue balloons compete for space with a large cast of humanoid figures of diverse hue in the relatively small panels. Still, the art contains witty details aplenty to reward careful examination—like the running gag (so to speak) involving a massive glob of snot that hangs from the nose of Magda’s brown-skinned roommate, Hector. Alert readers will notice that K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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the glob would be the only animal-­ based ingredient used by anybody here…were it not snorted up just before it touches any food he’s preparing. Along with capturing the drama, suspense, and stylized commentary of real cooking shows, this interstellar culinary romp showcases one tempting dish after another, capped by three recipes at the end; the dishes are vegan throughout, and alternative earthly ingredients are suggested for the exoplanetary ones. An abrupt close just as the main event is about to begin will leave readers salivating for the next course.

A delicious kickoff that combines haute cuisine with sky-high stakes.

(Graphic science fiction. 10-12)

We’re Different and It’s Totally Cool!

Yeh, Camey | Crown (32 pp.) | $18.99 July 22, 2025 | 9780593899847

All differences are worth celebrating.

“There are so many ways to be different…and it’s totally cool!” an unseen narrator exuberantly proclaims in text rendered in groovy, retro bubble letters. Personified objects with expressive eyes mingle with humans who vary in skin tone, culture, and ability. A red apple peers across the page at a yellow apple wearing glasses (“Sometimes we are a little different”); a page turn reveals the same bespectacled fruit face to face with a large, playful Dalmatian (“And sometimes we are very different”). People and animals come in all shapes and sizes; on the following spread, the dog now appears relatively tiny, lovingly embraced by a larger, bearded, brown-skinned human. Everything and everyone is interwoven; an array of animal treats that shower down upon the pup and a black cat echo the tattoos on the owner’s arm. Yeh acknowledges that K IR KU S R E V IE W S

differences aren’t always visible: “We can like different things. We can feel different emotions. We all express ourselves in different ways.” The cluttered illustrations radiate energy and joy, encouraging readers to look closely at all the details. Evoking children’s book author Todd Parr’s direct prose, Yeh ends on one final reminder: “We are all beautiful, unique, and interesting because… we’re different and it’s totally cool!”

A bright meditation on inclusivity.

(Picture book. 3-6)

What If We… Yoh, Eugenia & Vivienne Chang | Illus. by Eugenia Yoh | Little, Brown (40 pp.) $18.99 | June 10, 2025 | 9780316377201

Max spends most of the summer thinking up exciting activities, but the perfect boredom buster is right under his nose.

After a busy first day of summer, Max is officially bored. As he treks around town, he daydreams about the wonderful things he could be doing (“What if I…was at the park?” “What if I…was at the zoo?”), but nothing he tries satisfies him. All the while, he’s trailed by little sister Mimi, who’s genuinely delighted to be spending time with her brother. As Max’s what-ifs get increasingly fantastical (bouncing on a giant serving of Jell-O, discovering an underground kingdom), Mimi finally interjects: “What if WE?” She reframes Max’s ideas as things they could do together, and though her suggestions initially mirror Max’s, they become more and more grounded, culminating with a plaintive “Can’t we just be here… together?” The book closes on the last day of summer, with Max taking part in the same activities he did on the first day, but this time he involves Mimi, and the possibilities are endless.

Lovingly capturing both the power of imagination and the push-pull dynamics of sibling bonds, Yoh’s inspired artwork combines full-page

spreads with comic panels, prose with dialogue in speech bubbles, and realistic depictions with wild, richly hued fantasies. Pale-skinned, darkhaired Max and Mimi read East Asian.

A great reminder that fun isn’t necessarily what you do, but who you share it with. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Star

Go, Sloth, Go! Yuly, Toni | Little, Brown (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 15, 2025 | 9780316497916

A sloth awakens in a jungle and begins her ponderous ascent in search of the tastiest leaves at the top of the canopy.

Along the way, an unseen narrator offers encouragement with the repeated phrase “Go, Sloth, go, Sloth, go, Sloth, go!” As she inches closer to the sky and open views, blues begin to enter the initially verdant palette, and after she finally finds and snacks on the delicious leaves, the sun starts to set, bathing the now-sleeping sloth in a soothing orange glow. Concise but effective rhymes and frequent repetition of the titular refrain make for a reading experience as steady and cheery as the sloth herself is. Little ones will enjoy the chance to chime in once they pick up the rhythm, but the deliberate pace of the story could just as easily lull them to sleep; indeed, the text itself seems to fade in color as the sloth falls asleep. The subtle jungle background lets the stylized black sloth and the words take the spotlight, furthering the mellow atmosphere, though the silhouettes of a few other small animals drifting by make for a beautifully realized setting.

As in her The Pelican Can! (2024), Yuly immerses readers in the natural world; young people will be entirely invested in her sleepy subject’s ultimately satisfying journey.

Simultaneously cozy and utterly engaging in its simplicity.

(Picture book. 3-6)

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Young Adult

LAURA SIMEON

TEENS VARY WIDELY in their interests and passions, but one thing they have in common is that they’re busier than ever. Reading must compete with extracurriculars, friends, social media, gaming, family responsibilities, jobs, homework, and more for their attention. For a book to succeed as a just-­ for-­fun summer read, it must offer a compelling hook.

Below you’ll find six titles that fit the bill.

Whether you’re actually lounging by a pool or just wish you were, a romance novel is the perfect form of escapism. These two titles about teens who find themselves in intriguing new settings will keep the pages turning: In Love Craves Cardamom by Aashna Avachat (Joy Revolution, May 3), Archana’s boyfriend breaks up with her, scuppering her dreamy plan of spending a high school semester abroad together in London.

But Plan B takes the Washington, D.C., senior to Jaipur, India, where she finds love and connects with her family’s heritage.

Julia Drake’s Lovesick Falls (Little, Brown, June 128

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3), inspired by Shakespeare’s As You Like It, is set in a California redwood forest where a summer theater festival is underway. Ros, Celia, and Touchstone anticipate three fun months of bonding before senior year, but complicated love triangles create unexpected chaos.

Lots of teens, reluctant readers in particular, gravitate toward nonfiction—eager for real-life role models and information that feels relevant to their lives. These two books will get young people fired up and inspired: Most teens are understandably anxious about their financial futures. In Future Millionaire: A Young Person’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making Wealth Inevitable (Blink, May 6), Rachel Rodgers, a successful Black woman entrepreneur, offers a reassuring, inclusive, socially conscious guide. She calls out the financial harm done to people from “systematically marginalized communities” and provides readers with valuable tools and information.

You don’t need to dream of riding the waves to enjoy

Beyond the Board: The Untold Story of the World’s Most Daring Big Wave Surfer by Maya Gabeira (Amulet/Abrams, June 10).

This Brazilian athlete, who has won championships and twice set the record for the biggest wave surfed by a woman, traces her journey of overcoming obstacles— both human and natural.

Nothing says summer like a road trip with friends— there are the adventures along the way and the fun of anticipating your destination. Armchair travelers will love the bonding that happens in the following stories: 13 Days of Summer by Stephanie Kate Strohm (Running Press Kids, June 3) is the book of Swifties’

dreams. Three Maine BFFs are thrilled to score tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour—even though the show is in Los Angeles.

Their cross-country drive comes with some bumps; will the empowering spirit of their idol save the girls’ friendship?

In Becky Albertalli’s latest, Amelia, If Only (Harper/ HarperCollins, June 10), four teens drive across New York State to meet a You­ Tuber. For Amelia, it’s about more than just the online celebrity she has a parasocial relationship with—it’s also a last hurrah before she and her friends go their separate ways for college.

Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.

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Illustration by Eric Scot t Ander son

SUMMER READS FOR TEENS

Y O U N G A D U LT

EDITOR’S PICK Against a backdrop of phoenix races, a dedicated tamer and a charismatic rider—initially at odds with one another—find love while fighting for their survival.

Kel is trying to keep her family’s farm and aviary afloat. As a phoenix tamer, she looks after and trains the phoenixes for their racing team, the Crimson Howlers; Dira, the team’s winger and Kel’s longtime friend, handles strategy.

After the Howlers’ rider dies in a race, Dira connects with brothers Bekn, a mitigator (publicist who seeks sponsors), and Coup, a reckless rider in need of a team. Even though Coup’s

These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star

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arrogance frustrates Kel, they may be able to help each other survive the often-brutal world of phoenix racing. When a fire destroys Kel’s family’s aviary, tech giant Cristo Industries offers to sponsor her and Coup alone.

Tempted by their financial generosity, Kel agrees, but she becomes suspicious that there are dark motives behind their interest in her and Savita, her phoenix.

The relationships are a strength of the story: Kel’s love for and commitment to Savita adds layers to the suspenseful conflict, and Kel and Coup’s eventual romance creates bonds that strengthen the emotional reserves they’ll

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Of Flame and Fury

By Mikayla Bridge

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A Most Perilous World

By Kristina R. Gaddy

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Of Flame and Fury Bridge, Mikayla | Farrar, Straus and Giroux 416 pp. | $20.99 | July 15, 2025 | 9780374393427

need to draw upon. The richly imagined island world, with its elaborate racing tracks and variety of mythical creatures, comes together seamlessly. Kel and Coup are cued white, and Dira has dark brown skin.

The Haunted Blizzard

By Aviaq Johnston; illus. by Athena Gubbe

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Daring

By Jordana Pomeroy

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Come Home to My Heart

By Riley Redgate

High-stakes competition, swoony romance, and expertly crafted worldbuilding distinguish this debut. (content warning, excerpt from The Saltan Bestiary) (Fantasy. 13-18)

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Clementine

By Tillie Walden

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A Girl Walks Into the Forest

By Madeleine Roux

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Imbued with both levity and moments of gravitas.

T H E E D U C AT I O N O F K I A G R E E R

sweet and spicy romance as the cherry on top. (Romance. 14-18)

Hello, Cruel World: 101+ Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws

Difficult Girls

The Education of Kia Greer

Bane, Veronica | Delacorte (336 pp.) $19.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9780593903988

Bennett, Alanna | Knopf (432 pp.) $19.99 | May 13, 2025 | 9780593806104

Bornstein, Kate | Triangle Square Books for Young Readers (288 pp.) | $18.95 paper | April 29, 2025 | 9781644214435

A bullied teen trying to escape her reputation becomes embroiled in a mystery when she takes a summer job at a theme park.

Smart, determined 16-year-old Greta, whose sarcastic narrative voice sets a tone of grim humor, sees her new position as an usher at Hyper Kid Magic Land’s 4D theater as a chance to make new friends after enduring a sexist, victim-blaming ordeal surrounding a topless photo she sent to a crush at school. Hyper Kid is its own social microcosm, and Greta is quickly swept up in it. She’s working alongside pretty boy performer Gray, fellow usher Ivy (who takes Greta under her wing, protecting her from the snobby actors and the obnoxious classmates who inevitably come to the park), and technician Liam (who takes a shine to her). Liam and Greta’s sweet, supportive, idealized romance blooms naturally as the story moves along.

There’s also a darker side to the park—Greta becomes fascinated by the unsolved mystery of Hailey, an employee who was murdered there years ago. When Mercy, one of the actors, inexplicably stops showing up for work, and then another member of staff turns up dead, Greta’s terrierlike worry about Mercy’s fate draws her and her peers further into the park’s bloody history. Several central characters, including Greta, are cued white; Ivy is Colombian American, and Liam is Filipino, Mexican, and white.

A reluctant teen star struggles to defy her mother’s expectations and forge her own path outside the spotlight.

Kiara “Kia” Greer isn’t as beautiful, interesting, or talented as her more famous older sisters—or so the tabloids, and even her mother, who manages her career, seem to suggest.

Enter Cassius Campbell, a teen idol, heartthrob, and hitmaker who takes an interest in her. Cass and Kia instantly spark, and together they inspire headlines that fan the flames of Growin’ Up, her family’s long-­ running reality TV show. Yet despite her momager’s prodding her to focus on her budding celebrity and stay close to home rather than attend college, Kia considers leaving Hollywood and discovering who she really is. Her deepening trust in and love for Cass inspire her to be true to herself and not simply embody the version she plays on camera. The book also explores colorism; Kia and her sisters have a Black dad and white mom. Cass, who’s Black and pansexual, is exploring his gender identity.

The relationships debut author Bennett develops feel lived in, imbued with both levity and moments of gravitas. Kia is an unconventional protagonist with an unusual background whose challenges with family, first love, and growing up will resonate with readers who are grappling with similar experiences.

An updated and expanded version of Bornstein’s original 2006 guide for teenagers who may be considering suicide.

This book approaches suicide prevention from a perspective that’s rooted in the author’s experiences with suicidal ideation. Her personal struggles as a “diesel femme nonbinary transsexual” came from being bullied and excluded from an early age. This intimate connection with the subject enables Bornstein, who was born into a Jewish family in 1948, to write in a caring and nonjudgmental way that will resonate well with its target audience.

The book offers over 100 alternatives to suicide—including 20 that are new to this edition—gently urging readers to “choose life over death.” They include calling a suicide hotline, paying attention to breathing, seeking inspiration from characters who surmount obstacles, staying hydrated, and rescuing stray animals. This new edition came about in response to societal and legislative hostility toward trans people as well as divisions and judgment within the LGBTQ+ community. The writing style is conversational and comforting, but some suggestions are controversial, such as using drugs and cutting oneself, both given with caveats and warnings (regarding drugs: “There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to stop. Ever,” and if “you’re cutting yourself out of anger or disgust, or you feel that it’s getting out of control, see a doctor”).

An engaging, plot-driven debut with a heart. (Thriller. 14-18)

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A lovely coming-of-age story that explores family, fame, and self with a

This book has the potential to save many young lives. (Nonfiction. 14-18)

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Family Force V: Book One

All for the Game

Braly, Matt | Illus. by Ainsworth Lin Image Comics (232 pp.) | $16.99 paper June 10, 2025 | 9781534340336

Buchta, Heather | Penguin Workshop (464 pp.) $13.99 paper | July 1, 2025 | 9780593384985

A teen compelled by her family legacy to defend the planet from aliens tries to figure out what she wants.

After an alien invasion in Tokyo, the Moon Computer named five Japanese siblings Moon Troopers, warriors provided with powers to defend our planet. As time passed and the alien battle spread globally, this fight for human survival became a regular occurrence—Rainbow Alerts on phones warned people to steer clear of combat areas. The original Moon Troopers set up branches in different countries, and their descendants carried on the family role. Growing up in Los Angeles, 15-year-old Maise Shiraki isn’t an ordinary girl, much as she’d like to be. Her family—Japanese American dad, Thai American mom, and 12-year-old twin siblings, Axl and Alex—are Moon Troopers, and together, they’re stronger. It’s too bad that these days Maise’s not very interested in all this family togetherness. But when a new creature emerges, stronger than they’ve ever known before, and its arrival culminates in a devastating tragedy, Maise is forced to face her fears and decide who she wants to be. Braly’s story features engaging family dynamics, and Maise’s emotionally compelling arc of self-discovery and self-exploration make her a sympathetic main character. Well-fleshed-out side characters have their own agendas and internal conflicts. Lin’s dynamic full-color art flows exceptionally well, evoking different feelings through contrasting spreads. The occasional inclusion of Japanese and Thai script adds to the immersive experience.

An action-packed adventure that’s full of heart. (character guide) (Graphic science fiction. 12-18) K IR KU S R E V IE W S

A group of teens learn about uncovering who you are in a society that wants to define you.

In Texas, football is a way of life, but for Finn Geringer, it’s also a path to supporting his family. He believes that transferring to East Pages High will bring him college scholarships—but he finds himself in the middle of a very different game. As a former ballet dancer with a white dad and Black mom, Finn’s girlfriend, Megan Kaufman, knows what the pressure to succeed feels like (Finn, whose mom is cued white, is racially ambiguous; thanks to the father he doesn’t know, he has olive skin and eyes “the color of midnight”). When Meg notices players from other teams are missing games, it confirms the suspicions Britney Wallace, Finn’s cheerleader cousin, has had since freshman year. And after a player dies, Brit realizes her peers are deliberately withholding information from her.

Together, the three work together to figure out what’s going on. Widening the pool of people possibly involved in shady goings-on as the plot progresses, Buchta heightens the tension in this intense, high-stakes thriller. Each member of the cast brings a unique perspective to the challenges they face, and the three leads’ alternating narration adds to the feelings of suspense. The inclusion of strong girls, particularly Brit, who won a cyber­ security award, is refreshing.

A twisty, fast-paced thriller that will keep readers guessing. (Thriller. 13-18)

Tenderly, I Am Devoured Clipstone, Lyndall | Henry Holt (304 pp.) $19.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781250348906

A girl enters into a marriage contract with a god to save her family.

Eighteen-yearold Lacrimosa “Lark” Arriscane expects to graduate from school and step into a curator position at the gallery housing the works of her favorite painter. She never imagines that instead she’ll be expelled from Marchmain Academy, sent away from the city and back to her seaside hometown of Verse, where her brothers run a salt mine. But her family’s troubles have only just begun; the mine is failing, and Lark’s brothers owe a steep debt to the neighboring Felimath family. When Lark learns she can save the mine and her brothers by agreeing to marry Therion, the chthonic god her family worships, she barely hesitates. But the betrothal goes horribly wrong, and Lark must form a fragile alliance with the Felimath siblings, Alistair and Camille, childhood friends with whom her relationship has soured.

As the three delve into myths and mysteries, Lark’s romantic connections with both siblings begin to bloom.

Clipstone’s dreamily romantic writing can be gorgeous, and this moody folktale is well imagined. There’s a lot of missed potential, however: Some underdeveloped plotlines slow the narrative, and vague characterization prevents the emotional beats from landing. Still, the unique

Lin’s dynamic art flows exceptionally well, evoking different feelings.

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premise and skillful prose may keep readers engaged. Lark and her brothers have olive skin and “hair and eyes the color of honey”; the Felimath siblings are cued white.

Though bold and atmospheric, this high-concept story never achieves liftoff. (Fantasy romance. 14-18)

Call Your Boyfriend Cole, Olivia A. & Ashley Woodfolk Simon & Schuster (336 pp.) | $19.99 July 1, 2025 | 9781665967143

Queer teens make a revenge pact against the popular girl who toyed with both their hearts.

Beau Carl, a flirtatious white lesbian drummer, may come across as confident and carefree, but having “so-called straight girls” only hook up with her in secret and then run back to their boyfriends has left her heartbroken and angry.

When she goes to a party to confront beautiful, biracial (Black and white) makeup influencer Maia Moon about getting back together with her future prom king boyfriend (again), Beau discovers Maia about to kiss another girl. After Beau learns that Charm Montgomery, Maia’s Black trigonometry tutor who has a passion for braiding hair, was pulled in and then hurt by Maia, too, the pair commiserate over wishing Maia understood what it felt like to be used. They come up with a revenge plan: Beau will teach Charm how to completely woo Maia and get her to dump her boyfriend— and then Charm will dump Maia.

Beau and Charm vow to remain friends—and only friends—but unexpected emotions arise as their plan is set in motion. Co-authors Cole and Woodfolk alternate between Beau’s and Charm’s first-person narrative voices, which are easy to differentiate through their richly described friends, families, and home lives. While complicated parental 132

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relationships and uncertainty about post-high school plans add realistic depth, the story overall maintains a breezy, fun feeling as the girls’ cute romance blossoms.

A thoroughly charming and entertaining rom-com. (Romance. 14-18)

Your Final Moments Coles, Jay | Scholastic (320 pp.) | $19.99 June 3, 2025 | 9781546125563

A teen boy struggles after his best friend dies.

High school senior Hakeem Hawkins has been clean for four months; he’s finished therapy and is attending weekly Narcotics Anonymous meetings. But when Miles Parker is hit by a bus, things stop making sense.

Everyone says Miles died by suicide, but Hakeem can’t believe it. He and Miles had an agreement: They’d send a red flag emoji if they ever needed to connect immediately. Hakeem starts to blame himself for missing the signs that Miles was having such a hard time. When Eliza Fitzpatrick joins NA, she provides Hakeem with support and demonstrates the kind of understanding only someone with their own darkness possesses, and the two grow closer. Then Hakeem gets a mysterious phone call from beyond the grave—it’s Miles, saying he was murdered, and he wants Hakeem to discover the culprit. Hakeem becomes set on figuring out what really happened to Miles, no matter the consequences; as someone in recovery, he realizes that everyone’s watching

him for signs of a relapse. Although Coles explores many intriguing themes, they’re not woven together cohesively, and the novel feels disjointed. While the supernatural element is interesting, it doesn’t play a clear role in the story and as a result feels forced. Eliza is white, and Hakeem and other main characters are Black; the story doesn’t delve into culturally specific aspects of substance abuse and trauma.

An ambitious exploration of addiction and grief that ultimately doesn’t coalesce. (Fiction. 14-18)

Soulmatch Danzenbaker, Rebecca | Simon & Schuster (496 pp.) | $19.99 July 29, 2025 | 9781665963701

A futuristic society where souls are tracked and controlled across lifetimes forms the backdrop for this gripping debut.

In the America of 236 A.K., every 18-year-old is required to undergo kirling, a process of “matching of a soul from a former life (foli) to a current life (culi),” using a global database. Sivon hopes her kirling results will offer her a much-needed sense of direction—until she realizes exactly how dangerous the system can be. Her fears of facing the harsh fate of a bad soul intensify when Ziva, a girl she befriends at the Semyon Kirlian Institute, is revealed to be Flavinsky, a soul notorious for taking their own life after every kirling. Sivon’s world is upended after the results of her kirling

A thought-provoking addition to the genre; clever and impossible to put down.

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bring an unexpected outcome, and she soon finds herself fighting for survival when secrets come to light. Danzenbaker takes a fresh approach to the genre, blending classic themes with an innovative reincarnation-based premise. Sivon is a relatable protagonist who captures the uncertainty of youth while demonstrating remarkable resilience. The plot is fast-paced and suspenseful, though the final act, packed with revelations, risks overwhelming readers with its convoluted complexity. Still, the writing remains sharp, the twists are compelling, and the story delivers an engaging exploration of identity, resistance, and the question: Does our past define us?

Following “centuries of international peace and merging cultures,” Sivon lives in a multiracial society.

A thought-provoking and original addition to the genre; clever, thrilling, and impossible to put down. (Dystopian. 12-18)

Love Spells Trouble Davenport, Nia | Bloomsbury (320 pp.) $19.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9781547612963

Cayden Maya Jackson is a young witch in Houston, Texas, who’s caught between worlds.

Seventeen-year-­ old Cayden, who dreams of attending Howard University, helps out at Cayden’s Confections, her father’s bakery, and Lucky Paws, the animal rescue attached to her mother’s veterinary clinic. In a world where witches have lived in the open since 1919, Cayden’s mixed family—she has a witch mom and nonmagical dad—lives outside the exclusionary Coven House system her mother grew up in. Her maternal grandparents, members of the Dallas Coven, still believe in the “separatefrom-and-better-than-you model.” After Cayden learns that gentrification has led to rent increases at her parents’ businesses, causing them serious money K IR KU S R E V IE W S

troubles, she decides to work more hours to help them save on staffing costs. She meets wealthy Khy Carter, a cute boy who’s adopting a dog from Lucky Paws, and after they spend a fun day together, Khy’s status as Coven royalty puts Cayden in the spotlight.

Fake dating—because on principle she won’t really date someone as bougie as him—will bring much-needed customers to Cayden’s Confections and help Khy’s reputation following a very public breakup. But real feelings grow, and their different worlds start closing in on them. This well-paced, largely satisfying romance that explores social class features likeable Black characters, but the worldbuilding feels forced and clunky, undermining the attempt to create a whimsical, magical atmosphere.

A sweet if somewhat uneven summer romance. (Romance. 13-18)

Love Unmasked Dean, Becky | Delacorte Romance (384 pp.) $12.99 paper | July 15, 2025 | 9780593647875

Evie Whitmore has a lot of secrets.

She doesn’t need the allergy pills she keeps in her bag, she has no idea what she wants to do with her life, and she’s a die-hard fan and closeted cosplayer of the Elven Realms book series. When she goes on a senior class trip to Venice with her Art and Architecture Club, she knows she should concentrate on the project she’s doing with her reluctant, brooding partner, Gabriel Martinez, but Elven Realms, which is set in Venezari, an alternate Venice, has a secret fan club—and Evie’s determined to find it. She’s always been a rule follower, but sneaking out every night to find the club is worth the risk.

When she meets a mysterious masked boy who’s on the same mission, they click. Evie attempts to balance her nightly escapades with daytime tours and research, falling for both Gabe and the mystery boy, all while trying to keep her fandom tendencies a secret. This solid if

predictable love story will engage romance readers and cosplayers alike with its enjoyably nerdy capers. The logistics of the Elven Realms club, which is located in a formerly abandoned palace that the series’ author helped purchase and is run by volunteers who hold nightly events, requires some suspension of disbelief but adds to the overall magic of the sweet romance. Evie is cued white, and Gabriel presents Latine.

An adorkable love story about being true to yourself. (Evie’s Guide to the Elven Realms) (Romance. 14-18)

Goodbye, My Princess Fei Wo Si Cun | Trans. by Tianshu Simon & Schuster (560 pp.) | $21.99 June 17, 2025 | 9781665971041

In this translated work from China, which was made into a popular TV series, a young woman in a fictional dynasty must navigate political plots and her difficult relationship with her husband.

Qu Xiaofeng is Shangjing’s princess consort. Her treaty marriage of three years to Crown Prince Li Chengyin has been full of arguments and neglect. She also knows that he loves another woman. To quell her loneliness and restlessness, she sneaks away from the Court of Spring to eat and drink in the city. One night, she meets Gu Jian, a handsome stranger who claims that they were once promised to be married. But as she gets entrenched in royal politics, schemes, and plans, there’s little time to dwell on the past. Xiaofeng struggles with her feelings for Li Chengyin, whom she realizes she does love. All the while, she tries to determine which of the people surrounding her she really can trust—her husband, the other ladies in the manor, the seemingly loyal general, or Gu Jian. This tragic, emotion-filled story is filled with love, betrayal, action, and sacrifice. The compelling storyline takes many MAY 15, 2025

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unexpected, often heart-wrenching, twists and turns. The beautifully translated narrative portrays the complicated inner workings of life in the palace. Although their meaning is sometimes opaque, sources for Chinese idioms and song lyrics are provided in footnotes. The final third contains stories from the Court of Spring, focusing on different characters from the main narrative.

Beautifully heartbreaking. (translator’s note, note on the translations) (Fiction. 14-18)

Odyssey Fergus, M.L. | Tundra Books (408 pp.) $19.99 | May 13, 2025 | 9781774886090 Series: Fractured Kingdom, 2

In the second book in the Fractured Kingdom trilogy, Persephone and Azriel must search for a mythical location in order to protect their own lives and the fate of their

country.

The people of the kingdom of Glyndoria have yet to learn the shocking truth that Persephone and Azriel discovered about Mordesius’ role in the current king’s birth. Hoping to avoid execution, Azriel strikes a bargain with the Regent Mordesius: He and Princess Persephone will find the healing Pool of Genezing, which may only be the stuff of legends. Greedy, power-hungry Mordesius is desperate to heal his body, which was badly damaged in a fire; if the two fail to deliver, he’ll kill Persephone’s brother. Azriel and Persephone set off with their entourage on their quest, facing peril and deception. Their interactions, which run hot and cold, lead them to question whether they have a future together. Throughout all their challenges, Persephone and Azriel wonder how the prophecy of the kingdom’s future will come to pass and what their roles in it might be. With time running out and lives hanging in 134

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This engaging novel explores horrors both supernatural and of this world.

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the balance, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and readers will be kept in suspense by this epic page-turner. The characters largely present white. As in the previous volume, the portrayal of Mordesius’ physical disability at times feels reminiscent of ableist villain tropes.

Dramatic and romantic. (content warning) (Fantasy romance. 14-18)

The Mysterious Virginia Hall: World War II’s Most Dangerous Spy Friddell, Claudia | Calkins Creek/ Astra Books for Young Readers (160 pp.) $18.99 | June 24, 2025 | 9781662680595

Traces the exciting life of a pioneering spy who became the CIA’s first tenured woman officer.

Virginia Hall, who was born into Baltimore high society in the early 20th century, was a white woman of many names and talents. After opening with a foreword by her great-nephew, this work written in spare verse traces Hall’s early life and illustrious career. She was a daredevil who enjoyed international travel from an early age and pursued graduate studies in French and economics. The first time she attempted to join the Foreign Service, she failed the exam.

Following a hunting accident in Turkey which resulted in the loss of her left leg below the knee, she was rejected for being an amputee. In 1940, Hall became an ambulance driver on the front lines of World War II in France, opening the door for her to spy for Britain’s Special Operations Executive, becoming one of the most respected—and hunted—spies

in France. After the war, she joined the Central Intelligence Group, later known as the CIA. Friddell relays Hall’s thrilling exploits, firmly grounding them within historical events. The short chapters, plentiful photos, and ample white space make this inviting to readers overwhelmed by dense text, although the choppy verse affects readability (Heather Demetrios’ conversationally written 2021 biography of Hall, Code Name Badass, would supplement this work well).

A satisfying introduction to a remarkable woman’s influential contributions to espionage. (author’s note, Hall’s awards and honors, source notes, bibliography, picture credits) (Verse biography. 12-18)

Beyond the Board: The Untold Story of the World’s Most Daring Big Wave Surfer Gabeira, Maya | Amulet/Abrams (264 pp.) $19.99 | June 10, 2025 | 9781419760020

A memoir from a woman pioneer of big wave surfing.

As a young teen, Gabeira, who grew up in Rio de Janeiro, was introduced to surfing at a beach party she attended with a friend from dance school—and she instantly fell in love. Headstrong and independent, she convinced her divorced parents to let her dedicate herself to learning to surf, kicking off a lifelong obsession that even her severe asthma couldn’t dampen. As she trained in Brazil and locales as far-flung as Australia, Hawaii, and Indonesia, Gabeira struggled to find her place in K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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this male-dominated sport. She had a chance meeting with Eraldo Gueiros, a big wave surfer—someone who rides waves measuring 20 feet and higher (the term isn’t defined in the book)—and his enthusiasm inspired her to strive to become the world’s best big wave surfer.

As one of the first women to attempt to conquer such massive waves, Gabeira faced misogyny, double standards, isolation, and harsh critiques from men who surrounded her. Injuries, anxiety, heartbreak, and self-doubt all plagued her as she pushed herself to break the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman, which she succeeded in doing in Nazaré, Portugal. Although the minimal dialogue and relatively few descriptions of scenes make the narration feel dense at times, Gabeira’s journey will captivate young athletes and inspire them to break barriers.

A celebration of the possibilities for those who are made to feel like outsiders in sports. (Memoir. 14-18)

Kirkus Star

A Most Perilous World: The True Story of the Young Abolitionists and Their Crusade Against Slavery

their journeys to freedom. Lewis Douglass, son of abolitionist Frederick Douglass, had similar experiences, which were complicated by his father’s own escape from bondage. George Garrison, son of William Lloyd Garrison, the passionate white founder of the newspaper the Liberator, shared his father’s goals but disagreed about the best methods of achieving them. In Philadelphia, Charlotte Forten came from a long line of free Black Americans who supported their community and antislavery causes, but she attended school in Massachusetts due to segregation laws at home. Each teen sought and found their own way to carry on the legacy that formed them. This fascinating, well-­researched work looks at young people who were not only coming of age in tumultuous times but whose communities were important forces shaping these events. The rich use of primary sources provides a compelling immediacy that will draw readers in.

Engaging and original narrative nonfiction offering insights into how historical lives resonate today. (bibliography, notes, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

Soul Machine

Gaddy, Kristina R. | Dutton (320 pp.) $19.99 | June 10, 2025 | 9780593855522

Globerman, Jordana | Annick Press (228 pp.) $17.99 paper | June 17, 2025 | 9781773219592

Traces the impact on four young people of their well-known abolitionist families.

Abolitionists were outspoken and unrelenting in their efforts, and their kids were deeply affected by growing up “in high-achieving families with expectations of dedicating their own lives to the unpopular and often dangerous anti-­ slavery cause.” Gaddy explores the response of four teens to their families’ work. Lucy McKim, daughter of Miller McKim, the white president of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, observed the arrival of the formerly enslaved people her father assisted on

A story about big questions that lets readers determine the answers for themselves.

Sisters Chloe and Lacey, who have paper-white skin and dark hair, spin souls from a crop called breth. When their breth shipments start drying up, the powerful MCorp offers them a solution: Sign on as a franchisee and create their proprietary Digibreth. Chloe sneaks off to M-tropolis in search of answers.

Anticorporate Lacey had called the city “a dump,” but Chloe is impressed at first.

She’s bedazzled by MCorp’s charismatic leader, Maya, but when she gets in trouble, she’s rescued by members of the Nuspiritualist resistance group led by

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healer Persie. The efficient use of dialogue, especially on pages with large numbers of small panels, demonstrates the care Globerman puts into each composition. Determined to find her own path in life, Chloe eventually rejects both the self-proclaimed “girlboss” Maya and naturalist ideologue Persie. Her journey takes a particularly affecting turn during a dream sequence in which she navigates a surreal game show in search of her mother. The science behind breth and Digibreth is never fully explained, but the abstract metaphysics are a feature not a bug, inviting readers to interpret the story in ways that have “no wrong answers.” Globerman uses a strikingly different monochromatic palette for each setting, including greens, blues, pinks, and yellows, lending a distinct feel to each leg of Chloe’s (and readers’) journey.

Casts a critical philosophical eye on consumption and connection with visual panache. (discussion questions) (Graphic science fiction. 12-18)

Predatory Natures Goldsmith, Amy | Delacorte (432 pp.) $19.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9780593814314

Trapped on a luxurious transcontinental train, a girl fights for her life against an ancient entity.

After a spell of difficulties, Londoner Lara Williams, who’s half Welsh and half English, is relieved to be starting a two-week off-season position on the luxury train the Banebury. Since her exams went poorly, she’s taking a gap year before university, so she can retake them. Welcome though the job is, she’s unsettled to find that her former friend Rhys, who’s Welsh, is also working on the train. Though they used to be close, they haven’t spoken in months. Among the small number of passengers on the trip from Cardiff, Wales, to Tallinn, Estonia, are wealthy Welsh siblings Gwendolyn and Gwydion Llewellyn, whose carriages are off limits to staff; scientist Gwen is transporting “organic samples” to Eastern MAY 15, 2025

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Europe. The journey goes from odd (overnight, ivy vines grow rapidly, creeping across the floors of carriages, and Lara hears “soft and hypnotic, almost somnolent” whispering) to frightening (people are taken ill with terrifying plant-related maladies). Everything is seemingly connected to the mysterious Llewellyns. When Lara investigates, she finds a powerful presence from Welsh folklore, one with whom she has an unexpected connection. Weaving flashbacks to Lara’s relationship with a boyfriend who exercised coercive control over her into the developing situation on the train, this engaging, well-paced novel explores horrors both supernatural and very much of this world.

Dark, page-turning, folkloric horror.

(Horror. 14-18)

Nobody in Particular Gonzales, Sophie | Wednesday Books (352 pp.) $20.00 | June 3, 2025 | 9781250352491

A secret romance between a piano prodigy and a crown princess forces them both to confront difficult choices.

Daniela Blythe, a “shockingly pale,” blond teen from Boulder, Colorado, will be attending Bramppath, a girls’ boarding high school in the fictional Western European country of Henland, on a music scholarship. She’s anxious to fit in with her wealthy peers and even more terrified to play piano in front of anyone, especially after being targeted by a group of bullies at her old school who circulated videos of her performances online. Fortunately, Molly Kwon, who’s of Korean descent, is quick to take Danni under her wing.

Soon Danni joins a social group that includes the inscrutable Princess Rosemary of Henland. Rose, who’s cued white, is running from the trauma of a tragic accident that damaged both her public image and her friendship with Molly. The desire to salvage her reputation puts extra pressure on Rose 136

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Atmospheric and otherworldly; evokes a sense of mystery and unease.

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to be the model princess her parents and publicist want her to be. As Rose, who’s lesbian, and Danni, who’s bisexual, grow closer and reveal their true feelings for one another, they must choose who they want controlling the narrative of their love and their lives even as threats of exposure loom. The story, which has no shortage of heart-fluttering moments, effectively builds in suspense that will keep readers guessing along with an unflinching look at the effects of past trauma.

Skillfully balances angst with fairy-tale romance. (Romance. 14-18)

Tell Me Every Lie Hagan, Ellen & David Flores Bloomsbury (304 pp.) | $19.99 June 24, 2025 | 9781547614950

An 18-year-old lies his way through a summer romance, but little does he know that the girl he likes is lying, too.

John Paul “JP” Reyes is trying to cope following his father’s sudden death and his forced move from Queens to Manhattan, where he’s living with Tita Dali and Tito Alvin, his wealthy maternal aunt and uncle.

Now they’re going on a family vacation to a fancy resort in the mountains, where he’s supposed to see his mom, a traveling nurse who’s rarely around. JP meets resort employee Mia Malik and decides to try to impress her by pretending to be “new-school JP. Cool, smooth, rich.” Mia is trying to earn money to escape to California for a photography program.

So when another staff member, who insists the rich guests don’t see the staff as

real people, dares her to get a guest to fall in love with her by the end of the week—in exchange for his tip money— Mia takes the bet and sets her sights on JP. The lies between them flow easily, but there’s truth in the emotions behind their interactions. As their feelings deepen, neither teen believes they can reveal the truth without ruining everything. Told from both JP’s and Mia’s points of view, this romantic comedy filled with fun summertime antics moves quickly but also deals with heavy topics, including grief, poverty, and addiction. JP is Filipino American, and Mia is white and Assyrian American.

A sweet, whirlwind summer romance.

(Romance. 13-18)

Meet Me on Love Street Heron, Farah | Simon & Schuster (352 pp.) $19.99 | June 10, 2025 | 9781665957571

A die-hard romantic locks horns—and hearts—with a brooding pragmatist.

Seventeen-year-­ old Indian Canadian Sana Merali loves all things love, especially Toronto’s Love Street, where she lives with her mother above their struggling flower shop. When gentrification threatens the tightknit community of small businesses on their street, Sana throws herself into organizing a “festival of love” that she hopes will restore their fortunes. Co-chairing the planning committee is the handsome but aloof 18-year-old Miles Desai. Sana, who’s pansexual, is drawn to him despite their opposing views on pretty much everything, and eventually their mutual K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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attraction becomes hard to ignore. All too soon, however, Sana finds herself questioning Miles’ feelings for her and the relationships he seems to have built with her emotionally distant father and stepsister. As the Love Street Festival nears, Sana confronts shocking news, family secrets, and her own reluctance to accept change. Told from Sana’s perspective, this is a sweet, slow-burn romance with layered and engaging characters. It’s also an examination of love and its many expressions, and the transformation of rigid notions about family and belonging. The ponderous second half dampens the lively pace and crackling dialogue of the first, but the book redeems itself with an unabashedly romantic ending. The area’s residents are multiethnic. Sana and Miles both have Ismaili Muslim and Indian heritage with roots in Uganda and Tanzania, respectively; Miles’ father is Hindu.

An appealing story of love and longing—with a side of urban planning. (Romance. 14-18)

Atmospheric and otherworldly; evokes a sense of mystery and unease and will leave readers wanting more.

(Graphic horror. 12-18)

Sky on Fire Johnston, E.K. | Dutton (272 pp.) $19.99 | July 22, 2025 | 9781984816160

Kirkus Star

The Haunted Blizzard Johnston, Aviaq | Illus. by Athena Gubbe Inhabit Media (40 pp.) | $17.95 June 3, 2025 | 9781772275605

A graphic novel adaptation of Johnston’s short story “Iqsinaqtutalik Piqtuq: The Haunted Blizzard,” which first appeared in the anthology

Taaqtumi (2019).

Inu, an Inuit seventh grader living in the Canadian north, is at school when an announcement alerts students to an impending blizzard. Excited by the early release, she and her friends Nita and Ulii start walking home together through the thickly falling snowflakes. They first pass Ulii’s house and then Nita’s. Inu declines Nita’s grandma’s invitation to come inside, despite her warning that “the storm is full of bad things.” On her way home, Inu spots a frightening skeletal K IR KU S R E V IE W S

figure emerging from the shadows. With both her parents stuck at work, Inu is alone; her mother calls and reassures Inu that her overactive imagination is likely responsible for her fear of whatever she saw outside. A candle and memorial photo of a boy who seems to be Inu’s brother sit on a table, offering insight into her family history. Inu tries to drown out mysterious creaks and bangs with the TV, but finally, telling herself she shouldn’t be so afraid, she sets off to investigate. This short work features Gubbe’s haunting, striking illustrations that utilize creative visual angles and framing and fill in the gaps left by the minimal text. The dark, dramatic backgrounds contrast with pops of color, and the surprise ending leaves room for readers’ imaginations.

A gifted grad student is drawn into a rebellion that threatens her comfortable existence.

Morgan Enni lives on the most prosperous of the Stavenger space stations, but she doesn’t crave fancy possessions or long for excitement. She also doesn’t mind that she can’t work with æther since she lacks the gene-sense shared by most residents of Katla. Morgan just wants to convince the university to fund her research so she can work alone in her lab. Her investigation into the long-ago collapse of æther overlaps with the realm of politics, but Morgan’s not interested in the bizarre events that happened on Brannick Station (as covered in 2021’s Aetherbound). She’s just going to focus on her academic research, even if it disappoints all the people who want her to be politically involved. But when she returns from her fieldwork, politics finds her anyway.

Banished from her precious laboratory,

Morgan might as well join the rebellion, who’ll at least fund her research—her family secret is a currency too precious for the rebels to refuse her. Her discoveries about the æther cycle are useful to them, besides. Morgan, who’s comfortably asexual, also discovers her quiet desire for romance among the rebels. The storytelling is heavy on explanation and oddly emotionally distant, but this sequel about one girl’s rejection of an irritating destiny is chock-full of space battles and forms a solid companion to the series opener.

Space opera mixed with resilience and determination in an upended world. (Science fiction. 14-18)

Bad Creek June, Peyton | Norton Young Readers (384 pp.) | $18.99 June 17, 2025 | 9781324082934

Iris returns to the lake where her sister drowned, hoping to find the truth.

The Garren family vacations in Bad Creek, Michigan, every year. So do the ultra-wealthy, ultra-Christian Clavey family. In fact, it’s almost as though Bad Creek exerts a supernatural pull on people, a hunger for nostalgia and tradition. This year, 16-year-old Iris and her moms are back, even though Iris’ older sister, Glory, drowned there last year. The chapters rotate in close third person among the perspectives of Iris and two of her friends, Gum (whose mother is a Clavey) and Aidan (who didn’t even want to come back to Bad Creek to see his horror movie director father). June uses this structure to great effect, highlighting the characters’ differing perspectives and building up the drama. Iris believes that Glory was murdered, and she seeks to solve the crime. Gum, meanwhile, is haunted by the decaying ghosts of girls who have drowned in nearby Burt Lake. And Aidan struggles with his memories of what happened last year. The creepy, supernatural plot is intriguing >>> MAY 15, 2025

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THE KIRKUS Q&A: AARON STARMER Remember the summer after high school graduation? Starmer’s new novel captures the nostalgic vibe.

On the first page of Aaron Starmer’s new young adult novel, Night Swimming, a character says, “As I watch you sleep, I sing to myself, soft and mournful, a calming melody that laps against the shores of my addled mind. I doubt you can hear it, but it’s our song, the one you sing to me. The lyrics mean so much more than you might realize.”

The song is “Nightswimming,” from R.E.M.’s 1992 album Automatic for the People, and it’s a fitting one.

Starmer’s novel follows Trevor and Sarah, recent high school graduates in the fictional northeastern town of Sutton; Trevor is in love with Sarah, but she has a boyfriend who attends the college that she intends to go to.

Sarah proposes an idea to Trevor: Before college starts, they should swim in every pool in Sutton, at least 30 of them. When they and their friends take an unauthorized dip in one of them, they are met by a mysterious woman who tells them about a natural pool nearby, which they immediately investigate—but the pool turns out to be a much stranger place than they bargained for.

Starmer discussed Night Swimming via Zoom from his home in Vermont. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

How did the idea for this book come to you?

I’ve had the idea for years—even back when I was a teenager, the summer after senior year, when I was with a group of friends, hanging out, philosophizing about what we wanted to do with life. There may have been a couple of times that we snuck in and swam in some pool. There’s a reference in the book to the 138

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John Cheever story, “The Swimmer,” about a guy who travels across the suburbs, swimming in the pools in all these different neighbors’ houses. It takes a somewhat surreal turn. I always had that in the back of my mind as well, but I didn’t sit down to write it until a few years ago.

“Nightswimming.” Was that song an early inspiration for you when you started writing the book?

That definitely pushed me forward. That song has a very particular mood and a very particular set of lyrics that are obviously tied into the book, but it’s almost that idea of instant nostalgia. I remember when that song came out, I was the age of these characters, and we might’ve been listening to that song. It feels like you’re in it as a teenager, but you’re also immediately looking back on what it meant to be a young person at that time. So while I’m in my late 40s writing about teenagers, even back then, songs like that evoked an instant nostalgia for me.

The title is a reference to the 1992 R.E.M. song

The novel has an A-side/Bside structure, and you

have chapters named after songs by musicians like Mazzy Star and Guided by Voices and Slint. When you were writing the book, did you turn to the music of that era to help you evoke the setting?

Yeah, I went through all the albums that were influential to me and certainly focused on indie rock and alternative rock. I thought of putting in some rap songs and other things that were popular at the time, but I wanted to capture a certain mood. The first half represents stuff that I was listening to at that time, and then the second half is stuff that I’ve gone back to in my 20s and 30s and 40s, either rediscovered or that I never paid much attention to at the time. It did make me revisit a lot of stuff I haven’t listened to in 20 or 30 years and also led to a few new discoveries.

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Toril L avender

BY MICHAEL SCHAUB

Q & A // Y O U N G A D U LT

There are a few chapters named after songs from different eras, like “Purple Haze.”

Certainly, during the ’90s, kids were listening to a lot of classic rock from the ’60s and ’70s. I was listening to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, and I thought about including more of that. For instance, the Jimi Hendrix song is very specifically tied to one character, and it foreshadows what might happen later. And then there’s a couple of songs at the end that sort of reveal a little bit of what’s going on. There are a lot of easter eggs—song lyrics and album covers. I had a lot of fun with that.

Do you see the mysterious pool as a metaphor for that liminal time between high school and whatever comes next?

I first wanted to be like, All right, let’s do a summer book that’s quick and fun about this mission to swim all these pools. Then I felt it needed something more. I came upon the idea from old Luis Buñuel movies, The Exterminating Angel and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. Both of them are about dinner parties, one a dinner party where no one can ever leave and one a dinner party that never starts. I remember seeing those movies years ago and thinking, Oh, those are interesting hooks; I wonder if I could use them somehow. And when I was writing Night Swimming, I also was thinking a little bit about Stephen King— these high-concept horror books, these spooky ideas, but more grounded in the K IR KU S R E V IE W S

emotions of this particular time in life. So I found I had that hook, that twist, and then I was like, How do I bring out the metaphorical nature of this? It was pretty

natural to set it at that particular time. Obviously, I could have set it during the summer after junior year, but it’s not the same as the summer after senior year.

There are a lot of easter eggs—song lyrics and album covers.

Night Swimming Starmer, Aaron

Penguin Workshop | 240 pp. | $18.99 April 29, 2025 | 9780525555643

Have you gotten any feedback from young people who read an advance copy of the book?

Right now it’s only in the hands of people my age. But I’m curious how young readers will react to it. I remember these revelatory books or movies that I experienced in the late ’80s or early ’90s, where the characters were a lot like me.

They were going through a lot of the same things, and it connects you to your parents in a new way. A big influence behind it was the Richard Linklater movie Dazed and Confused. There’s the line where they’re all hanging out and one of the characters says, “The ’60s rocked, and the ’70s—oh my God, they obviously suck.” That movie came out my senior year of high school, and we all went to see it at the local art house movie theater, and we were like, That seemed like the coolest time in the world. The ’90s obviously suck. So I was playing off a lot of those vibes.

You have another YA book coming out in 2027, The Swans. Was that also inspired by your hometown?

That is directly inspired by some incidents in my hometown, which are somewhat infamous at this point. [Ed.: In 2023, a group of teens in Manlius, New York, killed and ate a swan from a town pond.] It’s set in the modern day, so there are flashbacks to different times. I have no idea how my hometown will react to it, but it’s definitely influenced by real events.

Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.

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on its own but also functions as an effective metaphorical exploration of conservatism, traditionalism, patriarchal structures, and the terror and allure of the old boys’ club. All the characters read as white.

A creepy and thrilling mystery that skillfully includes timely social commentary. (Horror. 13-17)

Imposter Levin, Cait | Charlesbridge Teen (240 pp.) $18.99 | May 20, 2025 | 9781623545635

A high school sophomore learns how to code— and how to fight back against gender discrimination.

Cameron Goldberg, whose Jewish parents are Panamanian and American (implied white), and her best friend, Vivian Knix, finally get to enroll in electives now that they’re entering 10th grade. Cam, a maker who loves to tinker, has chosen Introduction to Computer Science, but when she finds she’s the only girl in the class, and even the teacher is surprised to see her there, she starts to realize just how unwelcoming tech can be to women.

Determined, she and classmate Jackson design a game that features a woman main character who fights—literally— the forces of prejudice she faces in the industry. Cam and Viv also join an all-boys competitive robotics team, where their significant contributions are ultimately celebrated, although they endure repeated discrimination, especially from one of the club’s copresidents. This affirming debut shines a light on the ways women and girls are often made to feel like imposters in STEM fields. With believable dialogue, snappy pacing, and clever use of coding elements for chapter headings and section breaks (the latter are denoted by “< br >”), Levin’s novel is a thoroughly engaging read that gives powerful voice to an important issue without coming across as preachy.

An inspiring, unapologetically feminist takedown of misogyny in

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STEM culture. (author’s note, sources, resources) (Fiction. 12-18)

organizing that forced America to act against AIDS.

Fight Aids!: How Activism, Art, and Protest Changed the Course of a Deadly Epidemic and Reshaped a Nation

Embrace the Serpent

Long, Michael G. | Norton Young Readers (288 pp.) | $19.99 June 3, 2025 | 9781324053538

A comprehensive sociopolitical history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic through an American lens.

“Today, more than one million people in the United States have HIV. About 30,000 people are infected each year, and the highest rates of infection are among Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and people who live in poor communities,” writes Long. These statistics show how timely this book is, challenging the view that the threat from HIV/AIDS ended decades ago. In “Basic Facts,” the opening section, the author uses precise, value-neutral language to answer questions readers might have. In 10 subsequent sections, he packs in well-researched accounts of various individuals and collectives responsible for demanding swift, affordable, and inclusive healthcare for people with AIDS. In addition to well-known groups, like ACT UP and Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the book celebrates initiatives such as Blood Sisters (“a group of lesbian women in San Diego who designated their blood donations for local gay men”) and Mothers of AIDS Patients. This work will provide readers with hope as they learn about their fierce ancestors who fought for dignity in the face of institutionalized homophobia from the government and medical establishment.

Long clearly shows how these activists effectively asserted their right to have a say in their own healthcare through marches, civil disobedience, fundraising and the arts. Photographs throughout enhance the storytelling by providing glimpses of the passionate and committed

Informative, heartbreaking, and inspiring. (notes, image credits, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

Mara, Sunya | Harper/HarperCollins (352 pp.) $19.99 | June 24, 2025 | 9780063386136

In her quest for freedom, a gifted young jewelry-­ maker finds herself married to a monster.

With nothing left of her mother but a sapphire ring and a warning to hide from a dangerous djinn, talented jewelsmith Saphira has spent the last 12 years learning how to go unnoticed.

Unfortunately, her boss Galen’s ambitions and an ill-fated interaction with someone from her childhood land them at the Rose Palace, home of the ruthless Lady Incarnadine from whom indentured Imperial Ward Saphira escaped. When 17-year-old Saphira’s only option to avoid returning to that fate is a last-minute marriage to the mysterious, silver-skinned Serpent King—who’s as cold and distant as his dark-haired huntsman Rane is warm and charming—­she takes it. With her shape-shifting gemstone golem, Grimney, by her side, Saphira, who has dark hair and eyes, is determined to achieve independence for herself, though she’s pitted against the machinations of a villain she may not even be able to recognize. The evocative fantasy world feels influenced by Indian cultural elements, including the food, environment, and folklore about Nagas. The intriguing characters and promising magic elements can’t quite overcome the packed plot that needs much explanation.

This stand-alone, which contains plenty of angsty romance, will be more pleasing to casual fantasy readers than those looking for deep, robust worldbuilding or a well-defined magical system.

A muddled yet colorful and romantic fantasy. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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We Won’t All Survive Marshall, Kate Alice | Viking (336 pp.) | $12.99 paper | July 29, 2025 | 9780593691830

A reality show turns deadly as young people scramble to escape a nightmare town.

Having survived a mass shooting one year ago, Mercy Gray is tougher than the bullet fragment that’s still lodged in her back. She plans to use that grit to win one of the $100,000 prizes offered by eccentric tech billionaire Damien Dare, who’s determined to test his theories about what makes someone a survivor.

Mercy and seven other contestants, all between 18 and 20, arrive in Landry’s Gap, a deserted wilderness town Dare bought specifically for the TV show, Who Survives. Each bears scars from a trauma that still haunts them. The rules are simple—complete a series of challenges; everyone who makes it to the end wins the cash. But when the first contestant turns up dead, the remaining players—the only people in the town—are left wondering who can be trusted. Marshall’s fans will appreciate that in Mercy she serves up another one of her signature stoic, slightly awkward girl protagonists who manage to be both resilient and fragile.

The narrative tackles misogyny with mixed success; one character’s backstory feels realistically insightful, while another plotline comes across as forced.

Mercy’s inner voice, as she wrestles with self-doubt, feels inconsistent. Disappointingly, the major plot twist is so obvious that even readers with little experience of the genre may anticipate the ending. Mercy is white, and there’s

diversity in race and gender identity in the supporting cast.

A promising premise marred by heavy-handed execution.

(Thriller. 14-18)

Codebreaker Martel, Jay | Wednesday Books (384 pp.) $13.00 paper | July 22, 2025 | 9781250355546

In this debut, a young woman must traverse Washington, D.C., and decipher clues left by her father.

Seventeen-­yearold Mia’s globetrotting family has always been close, despite their busy lives. Her father, a history professor and cryptography specialist, has moved them around the world through his various jobs in academia; her mother’s work as a freelance journalist focusing on “political unrest and social injustice” has also been well suited to travel. When her dad accepts a position at Georgetown University, the Hayes family returns to the States.

Mia is trying to decide on college prospects when a night of unexpected violence upends her entire world. Set against a backdrop of fictional yet meaningfully realistic political unrest over societal wealth disparities, the story follows Mia as she finds herself on her own, trying to solve the clues in a scavenger hunt designed by her father that takes her across the city. Along the way, readers encounter ciphers that they can try to solve on their own. By chance, Mia meets Logan, a guy about her age who accompanies her through various twists and turns—and she

Will provide readers with hope as they learn about their fierce ancestors.

FIGHT AIDS!

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must quickly decide whether she can trust him. The propulsive plot is peppered with their clever banter, which balances the weightier themes of social justice and Mia’s sympathetic struggle with disillusionment as she suddenly makes disorienting discoveries. Mia and Logan present white.

A smart, gripping thriller with engaging interactive elements. (content note, note to readers) (Thriller. 13-18)

Daybreak: Vol. 1 Moosopp | WEBTOON Unscrolled (288 pp.) $18.99 paper | July 1, 2025 | 9781998341443

Two Kingston High School seniors take first steps toward love in this volume of entries from a popular WEBTOON series.

Bright, bubbly Marcus (he/him) loves to cook. Fortunately, his quiet, nerdy crush, Cog (he/they), loves to eat.

Emboldened by Cog’s inhaling his homemade cornets, Marcus offers to make them lunch the next day—and soon, he’s making them lunch every Thursday. The two start spending more time together. Clueless about Marcus’ interest, candid, sincere Cog inadvertently stokes his affection.

Cog’s best friend, Toma, however, is not so clueless and encourages Cog to set a firm boundary. But it turns out that Cog doesn’t really mind Marcus’ attention. This slice-of-life rom-com explores the feeling of being in the throes of a first crush. The fun, colorful, and dynamic artistic style suits the lighthearted vibe. However, the plot consists of a series of cute, loosely connected moments, resulting in underdeveloped characters and thin worldbuilding; the latter is exemplified by the book’s unclear setting. The Black-presenting leads are surrounded by a racially diverse cast at a school that has Japanese influences, but without a cultural anchor, some of the characters’ behavior and reactions MAY 15, 2025

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feel unclear. Rather than the characters themselves driving the narrative, the need to maintain the tension of their unrevealed feelings is central, making the story sometimes feels contrived.

Nevertheless, those seeking a straightforward, queer cotton-candy romance likely won’t mind. Readers familiar with manga iconography will notice clues to the leads’ feelings.

Light and sweet. (Graphic romance. 13-18)

The Yomigaeri Tunnel Murashige, Kelly | Soho Teen (272 pp.) $19.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781641297035

If you could bring someone back to life, who would it be?

For Japanese American Monika, a recent high school graduate, the choice is obvious. Her classmate Shun died of an overdose in January, and his death still weighs on her mind. At the graduation brunch for her school’s Japanese Club, Monika overhears a conversation about the Yomigaeri Tunnel. A local urban legend says that anyone who can walk the tunnel’s full length will be granted the power to resurrect someone. Some internet searching and a bus ride later, Monika arrives at the tunnel, where she finds Shiori, who was also at the brunch and intends to bring her mother back.

The girls enter the tunnel together, and as they walk through the darkness, they’re plunged into a series of visions from their pasts. Curiously, aside from one childhood memory, Monika’s visions don’t include Shun. Instead, she’s forced to relive moments that remind her of personal regrets and the pain of loss.

When Monika is suddenly thrown into Shiori’s memories, she begins to wonder if there’s more to passing the tunnel’s test than mere endurance. Generational trauma and the complexity of grief form the thematic core of this introspective story, which handles its weighty topics with care and empathy. Suspense builds 142

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from the secrets that obscure Monika’s and Shiori’s motivations and their questions about the tunnel’s true nature as it alters in unpredictable ways.

Thought-provoking and original. (content warning) (Speculative fiction. 13-18)

After We Burned Nijkamp, Marieke | Sourcebooks Fire (352 pp.) $18.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781728291208

Four high schoolers in small-town Colorado grapple with secrets and corruption.

Theo Robinson is a kindhearted student reporter, Kelsey Fink is a popular perfectionist, Payton Davis is a troubled loner, and Eden Randall was an artistic outcast. In their first-person points of view, which move forward and backward in time, they share their experiences connected to the fire that burned down their school and killed Eden. When the teens’ worlds collide, they create a plan to inform the world of the secret traumas they and their classmates have endured. After the fire, Theo, who’s trans and was one of Eden’s best friends, begins investigating alongside Payton. Payton and Eden were in love, and they’d wanted to leave their abusive home lives for a fresh start, a dream cut short by Eden’s death.

Meanwhile, the students’ unity splinters as they hide information and disagree about what to disclose. Nijkamp’s latest is a topical assessment of the ways power and prestige can enable and cover up violence. Unfortunately, the narrators’ voices blend together, and the dialogue

lacks personality, with characters speaking in cliches and indulging in exposition. Complexity and specificity are often sacrificed in favor of messaging. The twists and turns keep the story moving at a solid pace, but the mystery feels undercooked. Main characters read white, and there’s racial diversity in the supporting cast.

A clear-eyed exploration about exposing hidden injustice that falls short in characterization. (content note) (Thriller. 14-18)

Soul of Shadow Noyes, Emma | Wednesday Books (352 pp.) $20.00 | July 29, 2025 | 9781250342966

Sixteen-year-old Charlie Hudson is deeply mourning the loss of her identical twin sister two years earlier.

To distract herself, she practices magic tricks, enjoying the feeling of surprising people with her sleight of hand. But when classmates start vanishing—leaving behind only their abandoned shoes hanging from trees whose trunks have been carved with strange symbols—Charlie launches her own investigation. Her search leads her to Elias Everheart, a mysterious and handsome boy who’s a new senior at her school. He immediately wins over everyone except suspicious Charlie. One day, she follows him into the forest where she discovers his shocking secret. Elias draws Charlie into a hidden world of woodland beings and ancient Norse magic—one that puts her life in danger.

To explain her increasing time with Elias, Charlie tells her friends they’re

This introspective story handles its weighty topics with care and empathy.

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dating, a lie that spirals out of control.

As she and Elias hunt for the cause of the disappearances, they become embroiled in a battle that could destroy the world. Readers who persist past the slow beginning will find the book’s final third is a thrill ride. As a love interest, Elias unfortunately lacks charm, and his dialogue feels unnatural. The real highlight is the vätte, a tiny, gnomelike creature who’s obsessed with chocolate chip cookies and the TV show The Witcher.

Most characters present white.

Despite being slow to start and suffering from a flat love interest, this book features an exciting ending. (content warning) (Fantasy. 14-18)

by his parents; and genderfluid Chinese and Irish American martial artist John (sometimes Joan) Chan. With savagery that cuts to the bone—and without glossing over North Britain’s racialized abuses—Peacock highlights the American entertainment industry’s exploitation of vulnerable, marginalized people in this tense, triumphant outing.

As the zigzag journey winds its way to a climactic confrontation, the story explores the autonomy-seeking leads’ belief that “we all just want to be respected, be recognized as individuals and be worth something.”

A memorable cast animates this dark, disturbing, and insightful vision.

(Alternate history. 12-18)

Show

Finding Prince Charming

Peacock, Shane | DCB Young Readers (240 pp.) $16.95 paper | June 7, 2025 | 9781770867963

Perry, Jamar J. | Bloomsbury (320 pp.) $19.99 | June 10, 2025 | 9781547612819

In the 1890s, an impoverished contortionist from North Britain, an alternate Canada, joins a notably diverse band of teen circus performers on a road trip across the viciously racist and ableist Empire of America.

Following his father’s death, white farm boy Solomon Hunt, 15, sets off in hopes of supporting his mother and younger siblings. He meets the Seer, a nonspeaking little person with a mysterious history, and helps free him from the museum where he’s on display.

The two go on the run, crossing the American Empire border into Buffalo.

As they gather up other performers, they’re pursued by ruthless showman Leopold J. Coop, who has lofty political ambitions, across a nation in which Abraham Lincoln was assassinated before becoming president. Progressing toward Hollywood via steam train, dirigible, and stagecoach, their growing company of outsiders includes Cleo, a Black girl who was being used in a terrifying carnival act; Angus, an unusually tall white boy, who was sold

This life of an incoming college freshman is transformed when he makes a deal to get a second chance at a scholarship in middle-grade author Perry’s YA debut.

When his ex-boyfriend Pearson’s text messages make him late for his college scholarship interview and he’s turned away, 18-year-old Tyriq Howell pledges to stop letting his love life get in the way of his future. Tyriq receives another chance at the scholarship when mysterious and “stunningly handsome” student worker Desmond, 19, offers to wield his influence to get him another interview—if Tyriq will be his fake date to a fundraising event. Tyriq’s promise to himself (and his uber-competent twin brother, Troy) to stay focused and not fall in love becomes harder and harder to keep in the face of Desmond’s charm. But Desmond’s secret might be enough to keep them apart, especially when paparazzi attention reveals that Tyriq’s crush is the prince of Catalina, a fictional North Sea island kingdom located near England. The teens, who are both Black and gay, face challenges

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that stem from homophobia and racism as well as Desmond’s familial obligations, fame, and fortune. The leads are well-developed and complex, yet the story’s timeline sometimes skips over what feel like crucial moments of connection; this inconsistent focus may leave readers wanting more depth.

Nevertheless, this romance tackles larger themes of choice and self-love while also portraying an enchanting, flirtatious relationship.

A charming romance with meaningful representation and strong characterization weakened only by uneven pacing.

(Romance. 15-18)

The Grove Phillips, Brooks Whitney | Viking (304 pp.) $19.99 | June 17, 2025 | 9780593202128

In this debut, a troubled family history plays out in a dilapidated Florida orange grove.

It’s the early 1960s in rural Belleville. Fifteen-­ year-old Penelope “Pip” Bean, and her 17-year-old sister, Cecelia, who goes by Sissy, spend their weekdays in a one-room high school and their weekends at Juicy Acres, their family business, selling orange juice by the side of the road. They try to avoid their parents, who drink too much and get into vicious arguments. When Raffy, a sword-swallowing Lothario, arrives with the annual Christmastime carnival, Sissy is smitten—and hopeful that she’s found a way out of town. Pip sees them having sex, and Sissy declares she’s in love. But after she runs away to join him, Sissy discovers Raffy has left without her.

Despairing, she withdraws into anger that shatters their sisterly bond, leaving Pip adrift. The orange-grove setting and the desolate life of isolated, impoverished Florida farmers are well-delineated. Most characters, particularly Pip’s parents, are drawn with nuance, although longtime orange grove fruit picker Silas, who’s illiterate and from an even more deprived MAY 15, 2025

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background, veers close to caricature.

Some plot points strain credulity, particularly as the story advances, and the abruptly hopeful ending, while something of a relief, doesn’t feel entirely realistic. Main characters present white.

Melodramatic and bleak with a strong sense of place, but uneven in execution. (Historical fiction. 14-18)

The Enemy’s Daughter Poett, Melissa | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (368 pp.) | $19.99 May 6, 2025 | 9780063432611

Isadora and Tristan’s magical connection may prove to be their undoing: Isadora’s father heads the five united clans that are fighting the Kingsland, which is led by Tristan’s father.

In a post-apocalyptic world, blond 18-year-old healer Isadora tends the wounded using herbs and handwoven bandages. There’s an ongoing war between the clans, which her father founded and leads, and the faction called the Kingsland, the other group that survived the bombs that destroyed civilization 37 years ago. When Isadora ventures to the front lines to help the injured and gets lost, she stumbles upon Tristan, whom she immediately identifies by his clothes as one of the Kingsland. While at first this attractive young man with a strong jaw is her captive, one of his people shoots her with a poisoned arrow, reversing their roles. The only way to save her life is for them to marry, making her part of Kingsland and allowing Tristan to magically absorb the poison. Their bond is tested when Isadora learns truths about the conflict that contradict what she’s been taught, and both sides try to break the lovers up through treachery and deception. This debut, based on the medieval legend of Tristan and Isolde, is light on worldbuilding, leaving readers to wonder about aspects of the backstory. The enemies-to-lovers 144

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Beautifully executed; a visual and narrative treat.

DARING

romance between the white-presenting leads hits the right notes, however, and the epilogue gives hope for the future.

A retelling that stands on its own, strongest in its romance elements. (map) (Post-apocalyptic romance. 13-18)

Kirkus Star

Daring: The Life and Art of Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun Pomeroy, Jordana | Getty Publications (112 pp.) $21.95 | July 29, 2025 | 9781947440104

A lushly illustrated biography of the French painter Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842).

Relative to most women of her time, Vigée Le Brun enjoyed a remarkably unrestricted life. As a child she was taught by her father, a portrait painter who recognized her talent early on. Later she was mentored by landscape artist Joseph Vernet, achieving success while still in her teens. Drawing from numerous academic sources, as well as Vigée Le Brun’s own memoir (published in several volumes several years before she died), Pomeroy details the painter’s successes as well as her tribulations.

Although she had the honor of being admitted to the prestigious Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, she had to flee Paris with her young daughter during the French Revolution: Her political views and association with her patron Marie Antoinette put her on the revolutionaries’ list of those stripped of their citizenship. Her husband, Pierre, who supported the revolution, remained behind and attempted to salvage her reputation. Travelling and painting to support herself, Vigée Le Brun was much sought after by the aristocracy of several

countries, including Russian empress Catherine the Great. The book’s pleasing design includes numerous reproductions of Vigée Le Brun’s art and sidebars explaining relevant events and people (including Black painters from the French Caribbean colonies). Notably, the author furnishes information on the noblewomen whose portraits Le Brun painted, helping readers answer the question, “Where were the women?”

Beautifully executed; a visual and narrative treat. (note to readers, cast of characters, endnotes, sources, image credits, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Star

Come Home to My Heart Redgate, Riley | Union Square & Co. (336 pp.) $19.99 | May 6, 2025 | 9781454957119

Isolated in their small, conservative town and hiding behind the masks they wear to protect themselves, two queer girls find refuge, understanding, and belonging in one another.

Gloria Forman loves her family and her hometown of Fisherton, South Carolina. Ever since an incident in the seventh grade that made her parents question Gloria’s faith and values, she’s strived for perfection. She gets top grades, participates in a full spectrum of extracurriculars from school social committee to Math Team, and keeps her attraction to girls buried in a deep corner of the internet. But when Gloria, who’s white, forgets to delete her browser history, her carefully constructed life crumbles. Unlike Gloria, Xia Harper can’t wait to leave Fisherton next year for K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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college. Already bullied for being Chinese and white, she works hard to maintain her socially unwelcoming demeanor so no one will get close enough to realize she’s a lesbian. After Gloria’s Baptist parents kick her out, her determination to survive brings her to the bookstore where Xia works. Despite their walls and secrets, they open up to one another, for the first time taking the risk of inviting another person in. The chapters alternate between the girls’ first-person perspectives. Both leads are dynamic, fully realized, and complex. They demonstrate refreshing empathy for one another, even when their views conflict. Redgate’s prose is poignant and aches with longing.

A palpably genuine and romantic queer coming-of-age story. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Star

A Girl Walks Into the Forest Roux, Madeleine | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (336 pp.) | $19.99 June 10, 2025 | 9780063284845

A girl’s arranged marriage turns into a nightmare from which she must escape.

Because of her extraordinary beauty, Valla has been promised in marriage to the mysterious Count Leonid in exchange for supplies for her village. To reach his castle, she must journey through the dreaded Gottyar Wood, rumored to be haunted by magical beings, the yiliksii, or “cursed children of the forest.” She’s accompanied by her brother and his wife, but when a beast attacks them in the forest, clawing Valla’s face and destroying the beauty the Count expects, she falls gravely ill, hovering near death.

When she wakes from her fever, she meets with unexpected kindness from Ermo, her betrothed’s brother, that stands in stark contrast to the heartlessness of the Count himself. Both the man and his castle are nothing like she imagined: They’re dark, desolate, and K IR KU S R E V IE W S

steeped in cruelty. Joined in the castle only by the Count’s sister, Yulnia; sinister physician Kiril, who’s Yulnia’s confidant; a handful of servants; and an unimaginable, foreboding presence, Valla begins to unravel the castle’s mysteries. As she does, something stirs within her, calling her to violence and awakening with every secret she uncovers. Well-crafted and deeply unsettling, this folktale-­ influenced horror novel will captivate fans of the genre, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Valla’s character is richly developed, her transformation from a helpless sacrifice to something far more formidable unfolding with haunting intensity. Main characters are cued white.

finally putting an end to the question of identity that’s plagued her. The tension between Brielle and Lucifer and the complex relationship between Brielle and Raksha will hold readers’ attention, adding a refreshing layer to the otherwise familiar story. A dark closing novella follows Lincoln’s perspective as he deals with Brielle’s absence and attempts to follow her to Hell.

Fallen Academy: Year Three

Three best friends, all die-hard Swifties, set out on a cross-country summer road trip to catch Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

Carson, Eleanor, and Noemi have been inseparable since they were 13, bonded by their shared love for Taylor Swift. With college just around the corner, the recent high school grads’ final summer together becomes a whirlwind adventure after Eleanor’s influencer mom secures three tickets to the sold-out concert of their dreams. They only have 13 days to convince their parents to let them go, pack, and make the cross-country journey from Goosefish, Maine, to Los Angeles.

Early on their journey, Carson has a meet-cute with a charming aspiring photographer who’s (aptly) named Dean.

He joins their road trip, adding a romantic twist to the adventure. As the trio travels, they navigate the ups and downs of friendship, love, and personal growth against the backdrop of their mutual passion for Taylor Swift. The novel blends humor, nostalgia, and emotional depth, crafting a coming-ofage story that highlights how leaving home can lead to feelings of vulnerability and anxiety even as home remains a grounding force. Ultimately, this is a heartfelt celebration of art, adventure, and

A grim triumph. (Fantasy. 14-adult)

Stone, Leia | Bloom Books (416 pp.) $12.99 paper | May 13, 2025 9781464218941 | Series: Fallen Academy, 3

Following her abduction by the Devil, Brielle, a Celestial, must fight all of Hell to get back to Earth.

This third series entry finds Brielle in Hell, where she’s been ever since Lucifer created a portal into her world and dragged her there, leaving her family and boyfriend, Lincoln, believing she’s dead. Brielle is drugged, left unable to use her powers and constantly watched over

by Raksha, an imprisoned Dark Mage who seems to have “drunk the punch.”

But as Lucifer begins to train Brielle, it’s Raksha who helps her survive—and warns her about what Lucifer really wants. Raksha, who’s of Indian descent, helps white-presenting Brielle get back to Earth, but not before Brielle makes a deal with the Devil that she’s eternally bound to fulfill. The fast-paced story follows a repetitive pattern of fights between Brielle and demons in Hell and fights between Brielle and demons on Earth—emotional and physical battles to preserve her life with Lincoln and others she cares for.

Ultimately, Brielle learns to fully accept herself, making her magic her own and

An action-heavy installment in the continued battle between good and evil. (trigger warning) (Fantasy. 14-18)

13 Days of Summer Strohm, Stephanie Kate | Running Press Kids (336 pp.) | $12.99 paper June 3, 2025 | 9798894141206

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the transformative power of friendship.

Carson and Noemi read white, Eleanor is cued as Chinese American and white, and Dean is Mexican American and white.

A swoony blend of romance, friendship, humor, and fandom—a must-read for fans of Taylor Swift.

(Fiction. 12-18)

I Wanna Be Your Girl Takase, Umi | Trans. by Erin Procter Random House Graphic (240 pp.) $20.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9780593902936 Series: I Wanna Be Your Girl, 1

Best friends navigate life, love, and gender.

Japanese teenagers Hime and Akira have been close for years. Until now, male-assigned Akira has “only openly been a girl” with Hime, but as they start high school, Akira has decided to live as her true self. As depicted in the artwork, Akira still has some traditionally masculine-presenting physical traits, and her classmates are quick to mock someone they perceive as a boy in a girls’ school uniform. Hime has her hands full defending Akira (maybe, she realizes, more than she needs to) while struggling with her own identity.

What does being in love with Akira mean for her? Is Hime’s decision to wear a boys’ uniform just a statement of solidarity, or something more? What is the right way to change people’s minds? Takase explores gender identity, presentation, and acceptance in this gentle manga that feels comfortably grounded despite being fueled by big ideas and big feelings. The shōjo manga–style art is cute and expressive. The translation feels slightly unpolished, however, relying heavily on footnotes rather than conveying the original more loosely. At times, understanding the original Japanese vocabulary is critical, but elsewhere Procter uses the original Japanese, defined in a footnote (e.g., “a derogatory slang term for an effeminate male”) when simply using an equivalent English term would have led to a smoother reading experience. But 146

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overall this series opener is an earnest and enjoyable beginning to Hime and Akira’s story.

Sweet and engaging. (Manga. 12-16)

Evil-ish Tarrell, Kennedy | Feiwel & Friends (208 pp.) $25.99 | $17.99 paper | July 22, 2025 9781250839961 | 9781250839954 paper

Hawthorne Vandecast yearns for the glamourous villain life.

Miserable doing the menial work of a potion barista in their family business, nonbinary Hawthorne yearns to join the Brigade of Shade, an organization of elite villains who once ruled over their city of Idlewood. But when Hawthorne gets the chance to audition for the Brigade of Shade, it doesn’t go well.

Worse, flower-loving Maple McCoy (who annoys Hawthorne with her sugary overtures of friendship) easily makes the cut. Freckled, redheaded Maple approaches Hawthorne with an idea for a do-over that goes awry—but leaves Hawthorne the Brigade’s new leader. Finding the organization’s day-to-day operations stagnant, Hawthorne whips the Brigade back into mischievous shape. But soon their efforts pay off beyond what they wanted, as the newly competent Brigade engages in evilness well beyond Hawthorne’s comfort zone. Since Hawthorne’s flirtation with villainy started this whole mess, it’s their responsibility to make things right, which includes coming to grips with thematic questions at the heart of the story. Tarrell’s portrayal of life in Idlewood—a charming combination of medieval fantasy standards and modern twists—includes plenty of humor while establishing pale-skinned, pink-haired Hawthorne’s angsty misfit relatability.

Although the characters’ motivations aren’t particularly robust, the aesthetics and vibes—beautifully moody color palettes and expressive, active illustrations—make this fast-paced story

compelling. The Brigade members and Idlewood residents are racially diverse.

A dynamic, funny read for emo days. (early character designs, process gallery, background designs) (Graphic fantasy. 12-18)

Emiko Uegaki, Chieri | Tundra Books (384 pp.) $12.99 paper | June 10, 2025 | 9781774885734

Japanese Canadian teen Emiko Kimori loves love—­ and meddling.

As a 12th grader, she’s unable to avoid inquiries about her post-graduation plans. But Emiko, who lives in a small coastal town in British Columbia, is doing her best to deflect any talk about her future.

Rather, she focuses on her shifts at Aunt Mitsuko’s café, festive celebrations like Obon and New Year’s Day, treating people to her homemade meals and baked treats and, most excitingly, orchestrating romances for those around her. Emiko proclaims herself a “matchmaking GENIUS”; one of her recent targets, Aunt Mitsuko, even got married. But not all the romances go the way she envisions. And when things go awry, Emiko must confront her shortcomings as well as the impact of and motivations behind her actions.

Ultimately, the flawed matchmaking protagonist turns a welcome new leaf.

Uegaki imbues her spin on Jane Austen’s Emma with interesting details of Japanese culture and dramatic hallmark high school experiences.

Although the plot beats (some with twists) hit the right notes, the lackluster characterization and narration make it hard for readers to feel invested in the romantic entanglements and Emiko’s arc of growing self-awareness. The supporting cast surrounding the Japanese Canadian central characters contain some diversity in race, gender, and sexuality.

An uneven spin on a beloved classic.

(Romance. 12-18)

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Bittersweet, hope-tinged.

CLEMENTINE

Kirkus Star

Clementine: Book Three Walden, Tillie | Image Comics (256 pp.) | $14.99 paper | July 8, 2025 9781534397378 | Series: Clementine, 3

Clementine and her friends find a true sanctuary from the zombie wasteland—but is it too good to be true?

Clem, Ricca, Olivia, and Fen, survivors from the second series entry, have started a new life in Nuuk, where the community is living in relative peace. Nuuk has real leadership: A council assigns jobs and distributes resources. The walls are guarded by a squadron of girls who patrol the perimeter, led by a figure called the Gardener. But stability feels strange to this group after the harrowing experiences they’ve endured. Clem struggles to feel at ease, even with her girlfriend, Ricca, there to ground her. Olivia, a new mother, is floundering. Fen is acting suspiciously distant. Amid this uncertainty, something unthinkable happens, leaving Clem crushed. Seeing her vulnerable state, the Gardener offers her a new path forward—but it comes with a price. When she learns that the Gardener may not have the community’s best interests at heart, Clementine must gather her determination to protect those she cares about. The citizens of Nuuk speak Greenlandic and Danish, and Clementine has medium-toned skin and wavy black hair. Walden’s hand-drawn style feels both elaborate and effortless, playing with light and shadow to enhance her storytelling. Like the other volumes, this series finale crafts an allegory from the horrors of the post-apocalyptic world, exploring themes of power, trauma, survivor’s guilt, and love in times of darkness.

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A bittersweet, hope-tinged conclusion to a stirring trilogy.

(Graphic horror. 14-18)

Pretty Girl County Wilson, Lakita | Viking (320 pp.) $19.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9780593525647

A collaboration between two Black girls who used to be close is threatened by wealth disparities, complicated relationship dynamics, and diverging ideas.

Reya Samuels and Sommer Watkins, who live in Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be best friends. But that was before Reya’s mother’s reality television career changed their lives and they moved from Seat Pleasant—“where bus stop benches provide seating for the overworked and beds for the unhoused”—to a large brick house in Bowie. Now Reya flaunts her wealth while Sommer has multiple side hustles (including creating digital fashion designs for Black gamers) that will hopefully pay for Spelman College. But when Reya is wait-listed by the Fashion Institute of Technology, she makes Sommer an irresistible offer: She’ll hire her to help put together entries for their school’s annual fashion show that Reya can present in her new portfolio to FIT. The girls connect at their gifted school and Sommer’s dad’s bookstore but otherwise inhabit separate realms, and they must deal with the social class judgments of their friends and family and their own perceptions of self.

Readers witness their relationship’s growing pains and remnants of their old closeness bob to the surface in their alternating first-person narratives.

Wilson cleverly weaves insights about money’s ability to distort personalities

into every relationship in the story. The romance storylines are realistic and sweet but not overly saccharine.

A tale of the power of inner worth told in a distinct and humorous voice. (suggested reading) (Fiction. 14-18)

Wendy’s Ever After Wright, Julie | Shadow Mountain (272 pp.) | $19.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781639933877

In 1909 England, a handsome pirate leads Wendy Darling back to Neverland.

At almost 18, Wendy is expected to marry soon—in fact, her mother has been obsessed with the notion ever since the recent death of Wendy’s father. But Wendy detests all her suitors and daydreams about the fun she had with Peter Pan. Still, she agrees to attend a ball, and there she meets Liam Blackwell, an intriguing Navy lieutenant who ignites a sense of adventure in her. Not only is he charming, he’s lost his mother and can understand Wendy’s grief. When he leaves the ball, Wendy quietly follows him through the streets of London.

Soon she finds herself back in Neverland, eavesdropping on Liam and his uncle—Captain Hook. Not only is Liam the pirate king’s heir apparent, his mission is to kill Peter Pan. Horrified, Wendy vows to find Peter first and stop Liam from carrying out this plan. But she realizes there’s something terribly wrong with the island as well: The normally verdant forests are dying.

Wendy will have to save both Peter and Neverland, all while fighting her attraction to the suitor who’s turned out to be an enemy. Peter comes across as truly eerie, and Liam and Wendy’s romance deftly walks the line between fantasy and reality, making for a gratifying return to a Neverland remade through the lens of young adulthood.

Main characters present white.

A dark and twisty take on the world of Peter Pan. (discussion questions) (Fantasy. 14-18) MAY 15, 2025

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SEEN AND HEARD ALA Reveals List of Most Challenged Books in 2024 George M. Johnson’s ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue’ was the most challenged book of last year.

The American Library Association released its list of the 10 most challenged books of 2024.

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The most challenged book of last year was George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue, a memoir of growing up Black and queer in New Jersey. The book is a perennial target of censors; it was No. 2 on the ALA’s list of the most challenged books of 2023.

Coming in at No. 2 on the ALA list is Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir, Gender Queer, which topped the 2023 list. Like Johnson, Kobabe is nonbinary.

Tied for No. 3 were Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower. At No. 5 was Ellen Hopkins’ Tricks.

Two young adult books tied for the No. 6 spot: John Green’s Looking for Alaska and Jesse Andrews’ Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

Hopkins’ Crank came in at No. 8, tied with Patricia McCormick’s Sold. At No. 10 was Mike Curato’s Flamer.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, said in a statement, “The movement to ban books is not a

movement of parents, but a movement of partisans who seek to limit our freedom to read and make different choices about things that matter. All who care about libraries and personal liberty must stand together and join the movement to halt this assault on the freedom to read.”—M.S.

George M. Johnson

For a review of All Boys Aren’t Blue, visit Kirkus online.

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Robin L Mar shall/Get t y Images for GL A AD - Communities of Color and Media Team

Y O U N G A D U LT // S E E N A N D H E A R D

A U D I O B O O K S // Y O U N G A D U LT

Read First, Then Listen These YA books are so good they merit revisiting on audiobook.

BY KIRBY McCURTIS

follows two Latine teens.

Belén Dolores Itzel del Toro is desperate for normal high school stuff, like a boyfriend.

Instead, she’s struggling to find her footing—she might not graduate—after her father abandons the family. Her supersmart best friend, Leti, is also struggling: She’s pregnant but can’t tell her racist, Catholic parents because her boyfriend is Black. Engaging narrator Frankie Corzo adroitly embodies each teen; with Belén you not only hear but also feel the heaviness of her depression and inability to imagine her future. This story about generational trauma, the hypersexualization of Black and Brown girls, friendship, and self-discovery

encouraging you to “be your own hype crew,” how can you not respond to the call?

I truly believe that How the Boogeyman Became a Poet was written especially to be turned into an audiobook (Quill Tree Books/Harper Audio, 5 hours and 3 minutes). Poet, writer, and hip-hop educator Tony Keith Jr. narrates, and no one else could have done it justice.

With rhythmic recitation, Keith chronicles his life as a closeted Black teen living in poverty and enduring racism while trying to live his life with a “straight script.” When he becomes the first person in his (supportive) family to attend college, he connects with others in gay chat rooms, fighting his loneliness with poetry.

After transferring schools, Tony comes out and begins to live authetically as an openly gay person. Subtle sound effects, like the beat of African drums, add to the listening experience and help the poetry come alive.

Kirby McCurtis is director of location services at Multnomah County Library in Oregon.

Headphones: Juk ka A alho/Unsplash

IF I LOVE a book, sometimes I check out the audiobook as a way to experience the title in a different context. When the production is on point, an audio “reread” can be even more powerful than the first read. A few YA audiobooks caught my attention recently that I’m eager to recommend.

Shut Up, This Is Serious is an unforgettable YA debut written by Carolina Ixta. While the print edition deservedly received numerous awards and nominations, the audiobook (Harper Audio, 10 hours and 18 minutes) should not be missed. Set in East Oakland, California, it

is beautifully complicated, and the audiobook delivers the necessary emotional upheaval.

I’ve been a huge fan of Renée Watson since This Side of Home (2015), and I’m always excited to read her work. Black Girl You Are Atlas is narrated by Watson herself (Penguin Random House Audio, 51 minutes), and while semiautobiographical, it is simultaneously a letter to Black girls and women, a call to our sisterhood, and a celebration of our potential futures. Using various forms of poetry—including haiku, free verse, and tanka—­ Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl in Portland, Oregon. The pieces are at once deeply personal and universal, exploring the intersections of race, class, and gender. Although listeners will miss out on the book’s multimedia collage artwork by Ekua Holmes, hearing the author read her own lyrical poems is transform­ative. Each time she says, “Black girl you are atlas,” the intonation is subtly different and changes the meaning in a powerful way, eliciting shivers with each refrain. With Watson in your ear, directly

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Indie WHAT BEATS SINKING into a good book in an easy chair by the fire, feet up and a dozy cat on your lap? Not much, except maybe languidly dipping into a frothy paperback poolside, piña colada at the ready, soaking up the sun and half-registering the nearby shouts and splashes as you indulge in some literary escapism. Beach reads are a special breed of book—­ ideally, they are all about pleasure and distraction (no one in their right mind reads Gravity’s Rainbow within 1,000 feet of a SpongeBob-­ themed waterslide or a snack bar selling corn dogs).

Some recent starred Indie titles fit the bill splendidly; when you crack open one of the following volumes, you can practically smell the cocoa butter.

Dan Reiter’s surfing memoir, On a Rising Swell, will inspire more sedentary beach bums to give hanging 10 a whirl…or at least vicariously thrill to the author’s vivid accounts of riding the waves of Florida’s magnificent Cocoa Beach. The text is a feast for the senses; when Reiter describes “the coconut smell of surf wax, a wetsuit drip-drying in 150

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the sun, coffee vapor mingling with salt mist, the gleam and crackle of an outside set on a windless morning,” even the most sea-phobic readers will yearn to commune with the ocean as euphorically.

Our reviewer notes that the “author does a thrilling job narrating the action of surfing big waves” and compares the book to surfing classics such as John Long’s The Big Drop and William Finnegan’s Barbarian Days— ­cowabunga!

A great beach read takes you somewhere far away from everyday concerns— how does medieval Camelot sound? In Paula Lafferty’s reimagining of the Arthurian myth, La Vie de Guinevere, contemporary Englishwoman Vera finds

herself transported (like a certain Connecticut Yankee) back to King Arthur’s court; it transpires that Vera is, in fact, the reincarnated Queen Guinevere, and she’s needed to secure the future of England. As Vera adjusts to courtly life, she shakes things up by compulsively swearing and teaching the knights poker (that’s what the Round Table is for).

The novel is pure fizzy escapism, replete with intrigue, comedy, and romance. Our reviewer raves, “the fresh takes on legendary characters and propulsive plot twists make this a page-turner that will leave readers hoping for a sequel.” Vera rocks the Renaissance, anyone?

Sometimes, life’s a beach and then you die. That’s the case in Death at Bound Brook Pier, Rick Cochran’s Cape Cod–set mystery that

finds the Mafia encroaching upon the storied getaway in the 1950s. In this third installment of the author’s series about nefarious doings on the Cape, police consultant and retired basketball legend Rob Caldwell is drawn into a murder investigation after his grandfather, the most influential resident of Bound Brook, is killed (“the Mafia didn’t like witnesses and tended to take a scorched-earth approach to their problems”). “Cochran evocatively captures the feeling of a bygone Cape Cod at season’s end, and he fills his story with characters readers will want to cheer,” writes our reviewer; it’s the perfect complement to a lobster roll and a gin and tonic as the sunset paints the shoreline scarlet.

Arthur Smith is an Indie editor.

Illustration by Eric Scot t Ander son

SUMMER SYLLABUS

ARTHUR SMITH

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INDIE

EDITOR’S PICK An instructional workbook focuses on appreciating and analyzing poetry.

Longtime educator and librarian Zenor here presents an oversize paperback aimed at providing “everything necessary for a meaningful and insightful poetry book club.” She lays out her approaches to developing the practice of “close and active reading” of poetry, although the principles she explores will serve fans of any kind of literature. Her methodology encompasses an examination of 12 concepts, ranging from “Symbol” and “Character” to “Theme” and “Audience.”

For each concept, she includes a series of poems (and brief biographies of the poets) and then a thorough analysis. Under “Imagery,”

These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star

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for example, Zenor first explains that the idea involves “the use of words to present a sensory experience,” and then discusses poems ranging from Robert Browning’s “Meeting at Night” to Oscar Wilde’s “Symphony in Yellow.” In every example, she includes bonus poems and discussion prompts of a straightforward and useful nature (“What is the point of view of ‘When I heard the learn’d astronomer,’ and how does that impact” Walt Whitman’s poem?). Zenor also instructs readers on the mechanics of various poetic rhythms and meters, explaining all the basic concepts and illustrating them with diacritical marks on individual lines of verse.

There’s a calm, inviting assurance to all this

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Roadmap to Financial Independence

By Robert Barbera

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Lit Bits: Discussing and Appreciating Poetry Zenor, Michelle | Excel Book Writing 332 pp. | $24.99 | $19.99 paper Jan. 17, 2024 | 9798890754936 9798890754929 paper

material that’s cumulatively marvelous and virtually guaranteed to make poetry less intimidating and more intriguing for students of all ages. The author is adept at encouraging her readers to raise their levels of perception, even when she’s dealing with well-known poems like Edwin Arlington Robinson’s “Richard Cory” (“The

Family of Secrets

By Alexis Cino & Alyssa Cino; illus. by Lisa Blakeborough

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On a Rising Swell

By Dan Reiter

incongruity of the pleasant aural sounds leading to the unexpected tragic conclusion adds another layer of irony”).

This is precisely the kind of involved, nuts-and-bolts instruction that many poetry lovers and book groups need.

A comprehensive, valuable, and enthusiastic introduction to reading and enjoying poetry.

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By Michelle Zenor

MAY 15, 2025

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Promising Young Man Axel, Elias | My Delightful Life Press (238 pp.) | $17.99 paper | Feb. 11, 2025 9798992065602

In Axel’s YA novel, a teenager struggles to find his identity and his place in society during a cross-­ country road trip with his grandmother.

Angst-ridden teens have long been a staple trope in fiction, but 18-year-old Oscar Danielsson finds that his familiar difficulties feel particularly daunting, due to his diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It’s a condition that requires him to take extra time to complete his school assignments and also leaves him habitually late for work. He’s struggling to finish his senior thesis and mend fences with his best friend, Christian, who notes, “You don’t reply to my texts for weeks.” Oscar’s life is further muddled by the fact that his go-to stress relief method is smoking cannabis; his pal scoffs that “the last time I saw you canni-sober was sophomore year.” Matters come to a head after Oscar is caught breaking into Chicago diner Oh Henry’s, where he works, and wrecking a new milkshake maker. Bright as he is, Oscar’s future seems irreparably damaged, yet he’s allowed a chance at redemption—if he agrees to join his grandmother on a cross-country road trip and pick up a new shake machine. Their ensuing odyssey through Fort Defiance in Illinois, Dallas, and Memphis favorably recalls the feel of classic 1970s road films, thanks in part to Oscar’s dry, sardonic asides: “I’m so itchy to smoke I might shed my skin,” he narrates at one point. Many young readers will readily identify with the young protagonist, who, deep down, underneath his wiseacre facade, simply wants to be accepted and loved. It’s a deft portrait that sidesteps stereotypes with sensitivity and skill, and, for many, it will strike a strong chord. Where Axel goes from here should prove to be exciting to watch.

A bittersweet and revelatory comingof-age story by a promising author.

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A short but endearing story about how love stays with us.

WHERE IS LOVE?

Kirkus Star

Roadmap to Financial Independence Barbera, Robert | Mentoris Project (219 pp.) | $16.99 paper Jan. 27, 2025 | 9781947431577

A sweepingly comprehensive overview of personal finance.

Barbera’s handbook of fiscal literacy begins with a stark opening sentiment: “There is no independence without financial independence.” He’s not here to tell his readers what they should do with their money, only what they could do, always keeping in mind that the fundamentals of money management never change. This book provides a primer on those fundamentals, everything from balance sheets to quarterly reports to profit and loss statements, IPOs, mutual funds, cryptocurrency hedge funds, and all manner of stocks.

While always acknowledging that “math is remorseless,” Barbera seeks to “demystify financial wealth” by carefully explaining the potential risks and rewards of all the things people can do with their money. He’s careful to consistently remind his readers that he is not offering a one-size-fits-all set of instructions; rather, he encourages them to take stock of themselves and their own financial needs and wants. Each aspect of finance and investment is first described and then analyzed for its inherent strengths and weaknesses, and all of this is offered in clear, opinionated prose that’s always knowledgeable but never overbearing.

The author’s realistic perspective is especially sharp when it comes to

investing in the stock market; he notes that “panic is a terrible emotion to act on,” and he holds a dim view of so-called market expertise. “One of the worst things you can do is buy and sell and buy and sell some more,” he writes. “When you attempt to guess what the market will do…you might just as well gaze into your crystal ball.” Barbera is likewise frank about his own preferences (“I’ve flat-out said that I don’t like annuities, won’t buy gold, and don’t care much for bonds”), neatly separating his likes and dislikes from the advice he’s dispensing. The combination results in a sense of intense reliability—readers looking for a solid financial grounding should look here.

A tough, blunt, insightful examination of money matters.

Where Is Love?

Caboose, Annie | Illus. by Raymund James Dakay | Tellwell Talent (36 pp.) | $10.50 paper | Nov. 1, 2024 | 9781779413406

In this rhyming picture book

by Caboose, an ant learns what happens when someone goes away.

After a week hard at work with other ants, Annie spends her weekends exploring fields nearby. On one of these trips, she meets a poppy flower named Love. Over time, the pair develop a deep bond, playing and telling stories.

But as summer turns to fall, the flower looks increasingly tattered and droopy, until one day, Love isn’t there anymore.

Annie recalls the rhyme the poppy shared with her: “Love is with you every day. / Love is never far away. / Go search, go find and then you’ll see / All the places Love can be.” Although she K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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misses her friend, she sees the poppy’s color in a sunset and smells her scent in the bubble bath she uses. As she’s tucked into bed, she shares Love’s rhyme with her mother, adding, “But don’t forget to look within / For often, that’s where Love begins.” It’s an unexpected but admirable choice to focus on the affection one still feels when someone is gone, making the story uplifting instead of sad. Dakay’s illustrations wonderfully enhance this approach, as when Annie’s feelings for her friend swirl around her in a golden, glimmering breeze.

A short but endearing story about how love stays with us.

Home for Good Cantarutti, Mary Brent | Self (243pp.) $18.00 paper | Nov. 1, 2024 | 9798341350458

In Cantarutti’s novel, a woman is forced to confront her past when she returns to her small hometown of Clarksville, South Carolina.

After years of building an independent life in San Francisco, Louise “Lou” DuPree finds herself back in the place she once fled. Her return is spurred by the death of her father, a revered but complicated figure in her life, whose legacy—both personal and financial— casts a long shadow. “Your daddy was a good man, a ‘man’s man’ who lived to work the land, hunt, fish, take care of his family, and those beholden to him,” says a woman who loved him deeply, and Lou can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to his story. Evelyn, her manipulative mother, tries to exert control with judgments and guilt trips. Their interactions hum with tension, as when Evelyn offhandedly criticizes Lou’s appearance: “You got those long shapely legs from me, Louise. Your square chin came from the DuPree side, but there’s no mistaking the legs.” Meanwhile, Lou’s estranged brother, Will, Jr., now heir to the family land, becomes entangled in local politics, aligning himself with a shady development project that promises K IR KU S R E V IE W S

to bring prosperity to Clarksville. Lou also faces an unexpected personal challenge when her former high school sweetheart, Charlie Cooper, reaches out to her. Their reunion stirs long-dormant emotions as Lou tries to reconcile her past with the person she’s become. Over the course of the novel, Cantarutti’s prose is richly atmospheric, capturing the heavy, humid air of the South and the weight of generational ties. As Lou navigates these emotional minefields, the town itself effectively becomes a character—its old diner, boarded-up storefronts, and whispered secrets painting a portrait of a place clinging to its identity, even as it’s forced to evolve. Throughout, the novel excels in its deeply felt exploration of the concept of home—not just as a physical place, but as an emotional milieu where love and resentment intertwine.

A rich Southern story that deftly addresses themes of identity and reconciliation.

Kirkus Star

Family of Secrets: A Beginner’s Book to Body Safety Cino, Alexis & Alyssa Cino | Illus. by Lisa Blakeborough | Paper Twin Press (40 pp.) $26.99 | Oct. 10, 2024 | 9798991390101

In this Cino sisters picture-­ book guide to body safety, young readers learn when secrets are okay and when they’re not.

“In the very back corner of everyone’s MIND, lives the Family of Secrets, wild and divine,” the book begins. Each member deals with a different kind of confidential information: Surprise is excited for birthdays and confetti, for instance, and Trust safely deals with “passwords and garage codes.” Unsafe, however, is “unlike the rest”: “What happened was NOT her fault / and cannot be undone.” The family gathers around Unsafe and encourages her to tell a Safe Adult her secret, assuring her that if “someone touched your body / or asked

you to do the same, / they are in the wrong, / we need to know their name.”

After Unsafe tells a counselor, she gets a new name—Brave—and the family celebrates. This picture book addresses a daunting topic, but the authors’ choice to use rhyme lends a gentleness to serious information without making it scary.

Blakeborough’s watercolor illustrations complement the text perfectly; the amorphous, bloblike family members feel expressive and alive. The book helpfully answers common questions about body safety (“How do I know if I have a safe or unsafe secret?”) and a list of Safe Adults, including teachers and social workers.

An ideal approach to an important and challenging subject.

Lead and Succeed: Proven Strategies To Develop and Enhance Leadership Skills for Recent Graduates and Early Career Professionals Cowen, Scott | Amplify Publishing (136 pp.) $24.95 | June 3, 2025 | 9798891384101

Tulane University president emeritus Cowen reflects on elements of effective leadership in this guide aimed at students and early professionals.

For the author, whose 50-year academic career included a 16-year tenure as Tulane University’s president, “every teachable moment on my journey not only made me a better leader but also equipped me with the skills and qualities that I needed to cope with the unimaginable crisis that would end up defining the rest of my career: Hurricane Katrina.”

In 10 conversational chapters, Cowen shares his own experiences and challenges (including his dyslexia, which remained undiagnosed until his early 20s) in the context of discussing precepts to “help you become the resilient, adaptive leader you need to be in a world of constant crises.” These include: stepping up and earning the respect of others (such as when he remained alongside staff and faculty MAY 15, 2025

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who rode out Katrina on campus); cultivating mentors and mavericks in your advisory mix (a mentor gave Cowen a surprising yet critical push to leave an early limiting teaching job); and, most critically, “mobilizing people to accept the ‘new normal’ and focus on the silver linings” (in Cowen’s case, adding a public service requirement to Tulane’s curriculum following Katrina).

Each chapter ends with “reflection” and “action” prompts to apply the author’s ideas in developing one’s own leadership capabilities. An esteemed educator who also served as interim president at Case Western Reserve University during the Covid-19 pandemic, Cowen here is an appealingly down-to-earth Socratic sage guiding his target audience in assessing their own capacity for leadership. While most topics covered will likely be familiar to leadership guide readers, Cowen’s section on “adaptive leadership,” the focus of a course that he developed at Tulane, is particularly compelling—­its six outlined principles (including “ensure inclusive, innovative, and thorough solution-finding”) are guideposts that any aspiring leader would do well to follow.

Inspiring insights from an in-thetrenches leader.

The Body Brokers Cuban, Brian | Post Hill Press (256 pp.) | $18.99 paper Dec. 3, 2024 | 9798888451588

In Cuban’s novel, a down-and-out former lawyer searches for answers about his girlfriend’s sudden death.

Jason Feldman is an erstwhile attorney in long-term addiction recovery working as a security guard in a Pittsburgh department store. He hates the boss (a former cop) he works under, and he’s been professionally disgraced—Jason was disbarred after lying to the FBI during a murder investigation in which he was, at first, the prime suspect—but 154

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he is slowly putting his life back together while he waits for his suspended law license to be reinstated.

The main thing keeping him together is his girlfriend Emily, another former addict and current employee of an organization that aims to help those affected by drugs. When Emily turns up dead in her own home, the police suspect an overdose, but Jason and Emily’s best friend, Delaney—an ER doctor and also Emily’s roommate— think it is nearly impossible that she has relapsed. It just so happens that the detective in charge of the investigation, Jeanette Keane, is the same person who put the squeeze on Jason years ago during the investigation Jason obstructed. When the autopsy reveals a fentanyl overdose, Jason is still skeptical—all the more so when Emily’s former employer begins hounding him, offering a preposterous cash reward for her company-owned electronics (which have gone missing).

As Jason scrambles for more information and tries to convince Delaney he wasn’t involved in Emily’s relapse, he notices he’s being followed by a mysterious crew-cut man in a black Lexus. Cuban’s protagonist is richly drawn, and readers will find themselves sympathizing with his success-­ turned-self-sabotage-turned-recovery arc, especially in moments when he laments his lost relationship with his son. While there are some descriptions that misfire (“the blemish-free skin and rectangular facial structure are a cross between Halle Berry and Rosario Dawson”), Cuban’s prose is generally solid enough to keep readers moving through his well-­ plotted and compelling narrative.

A page-turning thriller with enough emotional heft to keep readers intrigued until the last line.

Welcome Back to the World Davidson, Rob | Cornerstone Press (244 pp.) | $24.95 paper Nov. 12, 2024 | 9781960329486

Men and women struggle to find the good in the bad in Davidson’s fiction collection.

Life can get serious fast. In the first story in Davidson’s newest collection, a man grapples with his ex-wife’s early-onset Alzheimer’s. His daughter wants him to let the woman move in with him, something he is loath to do—but when his ex-wife is found beaten and possibly raped in a city park, the stakes become significantly higher. In another story, a college campus budget analyst gets into an argument with a foreign photographer taking pictures of him on campus.

The man turns out to be a visiting artist, and he wants to make the analyst the subject of his next project. The photographer compares himself to Kafka: “He was the poet of the bureaucracy. What he did in his fiction, I try to do with my lens. That is why I came to America.” A third tale follows a boy on a fishing trip with his father as he attempts to reciprocate the patriarch’s gruff efforts at bonding, stymied by a roiling resentment he feels about his parents’ recent divorce. Across six stories and one novella, Davidson follows characters learning to live in a world not as they want it to be, but as it is.

Nowhere is this tension as apparent as in the title novella, in which a Buddhist monk quits his monastery after seven years and moves in with his surf bum brother. “You’re stepping back into the material world—lust, lies, and

An impressive set of stories from a skilled observer of the human animal.

WELCOME BACK TO THE WORLD

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corruption!” the brother encourages him. “Only one way to do it. Jump in with both feet!” As the former monk grapples with the crises that led him into—and then away from—the monastery, he gleans an entirely different sort of wisdom from his far-from-­enlightened brother. Davidson’s prose is by turns clever and soulful, capturing his characters at their most curmudgeonly before dragging them, often against their will, toward greater vulnerability. Though the novella is the strongest entry, there’s not a bad one here.

An impressive set of stories from a skilled observer of the human animal.

A Better Spy DeGrandpre, Richard | Sad Story Press (286 pp.) | Oct. 16, 2024 | Series: An Estes & Marsh Thriller, 2

The Russians build an AI project that develops a mind of its own in De­Grandpre’s timely techno-­thriller.

In filmmaker Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 black comedy Dr. Strangelove, the Russians build a doomsday machine, the ultimate nuclear deterrent that can blow up the world; it’s a sign of the times that, in the sophomore Estes and Marsh thriller series entry, the Russians have built the ultimate AI device in a plot for world domination. CIA officer Bill Estes and FBI agent Michelle Marsh team up with Russian Konstantin Pavlovich— back from the first installment in the series, State of Matter (2024)—and other operatives to try to prevent World War III. Like a character from another Kubrick film, HAL 9000, the computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey, AI Zaslon-29 displays an ever-expanding mind of its own as it is seemingly “obsessed with understanding its place in the universe.” After an initial anonymous demonstration of its power, it secures the servitude of Misha Orlov, who works in the underground bunker that houses K IR KU S R E V IE W S

Zaslon-­29. (“First the AI made contact, then it set the trap, satisfying his every desire.”) Then it gets wind of Estes and company’s plans to destroy it and orchestrates attempts on their lives.

Threatening to further blow things sky-high is Nick Heidegger, described

by Marsh as a “tenacious Beltway journalist with a rock-solid reputation.”

From the novel’s tense beginning to its ambiguous ending, DeGrandpre deftly fleshes out his dynamic duo, finding in AI the perfect villain with which to tap into anxieties about how technology can be abused. (And Russians have been reliable fictional villains for more than half a century.) As the author demonstrated in the series’ launch, DeGrandpre writes accessibly but with authority and plausibility about tech.

Estes and Marsh are largely separated here and work together via phone—one hopes they can spend more time in the same rooms next time around.

AI paranoia propels this brisk, taut, and entertaining ticking-clock adventure.

Eight Controversial Questions of History: A Critical Examination Doti, Bob | Page Publishing (394 pp.) $17.95 paper | April 24, 2024 9798891577091

Doti critically reevaluates eight influential episodes in history in this debut nonfiction book.

When the author, a retired chemist, decided to take on a five-year online graduate degree in history, it raised plenty of questions for him about how we approach the past.

His book’s central tenet is that we must think critically. Doti’s argument is developed over eight essays organized under four themes: War and Peace, Nationalism and Imperialism, Democracy and Dictatorship, and Impactful Presidents and Controversy. Every essay pertains to a moment in the past that maintains a strong legacy in our present,

from the commencement and close of the Cold War to the question of why Canada didn’t revolt with the United States in 1776. The author works through past scholarship for each essay; most begin with historical context for the question being asked, followed by a discussion of the research, some conclusions, and extensive bibliographies. Doti goes into great detail addressing various historians and their biases, which can make for fascinating reading. His writing is concise and sharp, engaging impressively with a vast array of historiography while considering the society we live in today. Arguably, the most thoughtful piece is his essay on the internment of the Japanese during World War II in the U.S., which widens to include bigger questions about racial animosity and its development within a society. The most thorough entry is the first essay, which aims to answer the question of whether or not the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 triggered the German extremism that resulted in the Second World War. “One must have the fortitude to challenge convention,” Doti writes; “I viewed this as a voyage of discovery into the past.” Readers joining this voyage will find much food for thought.

Intriguing, methodical reconsiderations of some of history’s big questions.

The Oberon Stone Franco, L.S. | Self (294 pp.) $49.99 | $12.99 paper | Oct. 18, 2023 9786500663563 | 9786500663570 paper

In Franco’s YA novel, a group of magical teenagers embark on a journey to correct the course of a disrupted prophecy of the end times.

When teenage demigod Liam Hale receives a letter from his deceased mother, Bree, he sets off to find her—encouraged by the fact that it was delivered by Titan, a bird that he also MAY 15, 2025

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A moving collection that encourages reveling in the poignancy of the everyday.

THE FALSE GOD’S LULL ABY

thought was dead. A hopeful Liam follows Titan into the night, much to the dismay of his friends Benji, a mage apprentice, and Ada, who’s able to practice magic, despite not having a magical family heritage. Ada confesses to Benji that she manipulated time in an initially successful but ultimately failed attempt to save their friend Chiara, whom the evil Rachael Winifred murdered.

Ada’s interference caused the House of the Living and the House of the Dead to mix and disrupted an ancient prophecy.

According to the prophecy, Leroy Winifred, the former Keeper of the Seven Wonders, would have two sons: “One would generate chaos and one salvation.”

The chaotic son, Montgomery Winifred (Rachael’s father), is preparing to seize power after Armageddon. When Liam reunites with his semi-resurrected mother, she tells him that their friend Andrew McCormick is Leroy’s first (and secret) son, who’s foretold to save the Megaverse. Montgomery, Bree says, knows this, which puts McCormick in danger. Liam and Bree rejoin Ada, Benji, and Liam’s other friends, witches Zac and Zoe. They, along with another witch named Bruno Gonzales and a druid named Sarah Hart, embark on a perilous journey to save McCormick. This second installment of Franco’s fantasy trilogy is packed with thrilling action sequences, engaging characters, fantastical beasts, and sky-high stakes. The author’s passion for fantasy is palpable, particularly in her highly detailed worldbuilding, which blends classic genre conventions with modern technology, including arcade games and online chatrooms. The prose can be redundant at times: “Benji’s face contorted into a perplexed expression, a question mark forming in his mind. He tried to make sense of Ada’s words, searching for clarity.”

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slows the pace. Still, the novel remains entertaining throughout.

An exciting fantasy tale, full of whimsy and pathos.

The False God’s Lullaby Gedaliah, Aaron | BookBaby (94 pp.) | $16.00 paper | Dec. 16, 2023 | 9798350923421

An introspective poetry collection that explores and captures experiences from the mundane to the extraordinary.

In Gedaliah’s book, which comprises seven parts (the first six are poetry and the last one is short prose­), topics vary widely but often touch on identity and place. In “Memory,” for example, the author notes how it’s often the seemingly inconsequential moments that stick with a person, rather than the “seismic shifts that alter lives.” One of the dominant subjects is the almost primordial connection between the self and others, as evidenced in poems like “The Ancient Within,” which addresses “our animal brain,” the voices within that seem to emanate from another place altogether. The subjects of nature (“Asimolar”) and memory (“Old Photograph”) also make frequent appearances. Each of the seven larger sections tends to loosely follow a particular theme. For instance, “Loss and Departing” touches on losses of all kinds, from death to the loss of innocence.

“Interior Worlds” (both Part 1 and Part 2), on the other hand, leans toward more introspective language: “If ever I was to awake / and find you a

stranger / I would certainly have lost myself.” Most poems range from one to two pages, with “Home” being the longest at 10. The final prose section consists of a paragraph or two devoted to various musings. In “Estrangement,” for example, Gedaliah posits that “The fundamental source of our estrangement is the myth of Adam and Eve. Stripped of its sexism and moral imperatives, eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge is our awareness of being orphaned from nature.”

Gedaliah creates layered and thought-provoking imagery and conceits that lean toward the somber.

The exception is the section “Lightness of Being,” which includes some fanciful entries that brighten the work’s mood, such as his comparison of having sex to playing the drums in “The Prog Drummer’s (Often Ignored) Advice.”

There are word choices and turns of phrase that veer toward triteness (“whose strange fruit lingers / upon my tongue”). For the most part, however, Gedaliah expertly renders the profound emotions that can emerge when people allow themselves to be still enough to truly perceive what’s around them. He often pairs minor moments with big emotional impacts to illustrate the importance of overlooked occasions.

This juxtaposition can be seen in the poem “Endearment,” which says, “The enormity of small things / endear you to me, / flowing lightly on / streams of experience.” While the prose section is small, its entries are a continuation of Gedaliah’s rumination on the ways of humanity. He concludes with the titular entry and, in perhaps the section’s most moving scene, describes a grandmother comforting her grandchild. In an image that could have been saccharine, Gedaliah turns the scene into something of vast significance: The grandmother temporarily becomes “all powerful, all goodness, all light, and all love. She was now a fleeting god!” Gedaliah’s unique way of portraying the connections that exist within and around us encourages readers to do the same.

A moving collection that encourages reveling in the poignancy of the everyday.

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Coaching for (a) Change: How To Engage, Empower, and Activate People Giuliano, Greg | Wren House Press (286 pp.) $25.99 | $15.99 paper | Dec. 10, 2024 9798991203920 | 9798991203913 paper

In a world full of whip-cracking, know-it-all bosses, a veteran leadership expert makes the case for mindful, trust-­ centered coaches over oppressive managers.

For the bulk of the 20th century, per Giuliano, leaders were managers, and managers relied on a “command-­andcontrol” approach that rigidly told employees what to do and how to do it, even when they didn’t like it. In today’s workplace, he observes, the cracks are showing; talented workers crave a level of autonomy and thrive when it’s given.

The author asserts that experienced, intelligent leaders are coming to the conclusion that employees are not capital or resources but just people, who don’t require imperious administrators—they need open-minded coaches who trust their teams and know when to get out of their way. For many managers, this move away from being the “Chief Doer and Expert Problem-Solver” may spark resistance, so Giuliano offers studies from Google, the Journal of Management, and Gallup to back up his argument. The book’s first part focuses on the mindset necessary to transition from stodgy manager to active coach practicing mindfulness and delegation. Part 2 introduces the “GR8 Coaching Framework,” a set of actionable awareness tools and engaging questions that help develop listening skills, facilitate effective conversations, and welcome creative thinking, all while giving team members room to advocate for themselves. Giuliano, a coach who has advised executives and teams worldwide, brings a personal enthusiasm for coaching-centered leadership. The author’s concept of “Ultra Leaders,” as outlined in his book Ultra Leadership (2016), plays a role in this guide as K IR KU S R E V IE W S

well, but it’s explained succinctly. The text never leans too hard on business or self-help jargon, making it approachable for both experienced managers ready to make the change and new leaders looking for a better way. Included self-surveys encourage readers to more actively engage with the material, and even skeptics will find the book’s lessons on curiosity, compassion, and leading with questions useful, if not game-changing.

A practical call for leaders to trade control for trust.

Embrace Pleasure: How Psychedelics Can Heal Our Sexuality Goldpaugh, Dee Dee | Park Street Press (352 pp.) | $24.99 paper | July 8, 2025 9798888500583

Goldpaugh offers a personal account, anchored in history and science, of the benefits of psychedelic use.

The author, a psychotherapist with 17 years of experience treating patients and a special expertise in somatically oriented trauma therapies, here delves into the ways in which psychedelic drugs can heal a stilted sexuality and enhance pleasure.

The book represents a culmination of Goldpaugh’s own 20-year healing journey (“nothing has ever been capable of helping me feel, express, move through, and ultimately reconnect to pleasure in the way psychedelic medicines have”), combining the raw vulnerability of a memoir with well-­ researched historical and scientific information while demonstrating a strong understanding of how the author’s experience with psychedelics fits into a broader narrative of Indigenous and Western uses. Goldpaugh skillfully locates personal histories—their own, and that of their patients—within a sacred ancient tradition, combining cutting-edge trauma research with individual case studies. The book offers

novel and easy-to-understand insights into how substances like psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD can aid in sexual healing and relationship satisfaction.

Goldpaugh illustrates the potential of these substances—which were long stigmatized and criminalized by the American government—to foster deeper connections, mend strained relationships, and promote a more pleasurable outlook on life. (“They all start as tools in the hands of therapists and psychiatrists with tremendous promise…But when people started using these very same substances as vehicles for personal spiritual growth, sexual enhancement, pleasure, and even political revolution…they were recast by the authorities as threats to the public good.”) The author recommends working with a professional therapist to ensure a safe and thoughtfully paced exploration of psychedelics.

They also address systemic barriers to pleasure under capitalism, adding empathy and insight. Finally, Goldpaugh addresses the pleasurable aspect of using these substances, bravely rejecting Western scientists’ prioritization of measurable, productivity-­ maximizing results. The result is a book that feels personal and scientifically sound.

A compelling, radical exploration of psychedelics’ healing potential.

Where You Once Belonged Graham, Lorna | She Writes Press (328 pp.) $17.99 paper | May 13, 2025 | 9781647429027

In Graham’s novel, a media executive confronts her idealistic younger self with the help of her college friends.

Everleigh “Ev” Page has made plenty of compromises to get where she is. As the executive producer of Breaking, a long-running news magazine show, she’s been forced to adapt to the changing media landscape.

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A captivating novel, intellectually stimulating and literarily engrossing.

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reporters, or kill a story, she complies.

When her workaholic schedule keeps her from fully integrating into her boyfriend Sean’s extended family, she takes the hit to her personal life.

These are the sacrifices it takes to become president of the news division—a position that no woman has ever held…yet. Strange things begin to happen, however, when Ev returns to upstate New York for a college reunion—or “Recommitment,” to use the terminology of Foster House, the Suffragette-themed sorority she shared with 11 other women during her studies. Recommitment is shrouded in secrecy, due in part to Dr. Long, the house’s potion-mixing Indigenous landlord, and Ev isn’t thrilled to be taking part. Returning to Foster House means facing her long-estranged former sisters as well as, metaphorically speaking, “Leigh,” the 19-year-old crusading student journalist she used to be—but Ev has no idea how literal that reunion is about to become. Graham, a writer for Dateline, clearly knows the world of television news—the network offices feel just as authentically lived in as the ancient banisters and wallpaper of Foster House. Here, she describes Ev’s workplace with typical precise prose: “It’s saved from total corporate blandness by the wainscoting she had put in with the decorating money that came with her promotion to EP. She actually went a little over budget and had to pay some out of her own pocket but it was worth it.”

The reunion material manages to weave a bit of the unexpected—even the supernatural—into the familiar narrative of a woman selling her soul to join the corporate boys’ club.

A deftly rendered novel about reconnecting with one’s true self.

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The Water Carriers Greunke, Gregory | Greunke Haus (396 pp.) $23.99 | $10.99 paper | Jan. 20, 2025 9798991868211 | 9798991868204 paper

In Greunke’s novel, the global distribution of fresh water on an Earth devastated by climate change relies on two oligarchic families.

In the future, scorching, lethal heat waves bear names like tropical storms, and fresh water has become a valuable, limited commodity (akin to fuel oil) for most of the planet. In a poorly understood meteorological quirk, rainwater now falls in continuous cascades in only two places: Southeast Asia and Africa. In these areas, two once-humble families manage to control a global water-­ distribution network, dividing the parched population between themselves as clients. The Seng family of Cambodia is led by patriarch Preap, who says, “Water is not a luxury. It is a right. My success is built upon my obligation to bring water to the world as cheaply as possible.” The Sengs are on friendly terms with their peers, the Labonnes of Africa’s Ivory Coast.

Preap’s fabulously privileged son and heir Kasemchai Seng (who can buy a whole distillery on a whim because he enjoys their liquor) has a casual sexual relationship with Angélique Labonne, daughter of water-tycoon Philippe, who styles himself as a religious leader and broadcasts sermons on God’s role in all of this. Despite his playboy exterior, Kasemchai yearns to do something truly great. When he meets attractive Dutch energy engineer Liv

Anselm, they collaborate to replace filthy diesel-oil engines used on water tankers with sustainable solar electricity and rechargeable batteries.

Kasemchai encounters unexpected resistance and treachery when he floats the scheme with the aged water barons, who start seeming far less benevolent after this challenge to their established order. First-time author Greunke crossbreeds “cli-fi” SF with the “business novel” genre, in which quests for investors, product rollouts, and the occasional corporate-sabotage crisis provide the drama—such concerns receive more emphasis in Greunke’s yarn than incidents like the harrowing depiction of heatstroke death that raises the curtain here. The reader is occasionally reminded of how high the stakes are, but this is talk-heavy material in which maneuvering in an elite CEO conference propels the climax. Still, the narrative is disquietingly persuasive; read with a cool beverage on hand for best effect.

Business-centered SF about managing a drought-choked world that works at a slow boil.

Making Up Stories Hayes, Susan Myhre | Universum Press (418 pp.) | $20.00 paper | Aug. 28, 2024 9798991105200

In Hayes’ novel, a dying mother reveals to her daughter her family’s long history of trauma in the hope she can break free of it.

Dying in hospice care, Savannah Schaeffer, a 72-year-old retired professor of psychology, decides she has no choice but to reveal to her daughter Chloe the grim history of “intergenerational trauma” in her family. Chloe is a successful physician but has an inclination toward romantic failure; she is poised to marry Dwayne, another psychologist, a decision Savannah believes is a dire mistake. To emancipate Chloe from the legacy of K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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pain that lives deep in the family’s marrow, Savannah (whose mother died by suicide when Savannah was only 15 years old) believes that her daughter needs to be exposed to the details of its “toxic brew,” an achingly heroic charge movingly described by the author. To that end, Savannah gives to Chloe two journals: one written by her grandmother Hildegard and another by her father Johan, both of which chronicle nearly incomprehensible emotional challenges.

Hildegard’s life was filled with pain and danger—she suffered extraordinary abuse at the hands of a mercurially violent husband named Markus and was afflicted with terrible depression and mental illness. Johan weathered the abuse of Markus as well, and finally killed him, as well as his own brother, and he experienced the unspeakable ravages of World War II. Chloe is mesmerized by the successive revelations about her lineage, as well as by her mother’s newly discovered openhandedness, a great departure for a woman for whom “leaving things unsaid is in her DNA.” Chloe must contend with the truth about her family, and also consider the kind of life she wants to lead (and whether Dwayne will be a part of it). She is further conflicted about Savannah’s decision to “hasten her death” and her own participation in that process as a palliative care doctor.

Hayes’ sprawling saga, composed of the main narrative and excerpts from the two journals, is delicately complex and emotionally affecting. Chloe is compelled to confront the possibility that all of this cumulative trauma somehow lives within her and affects the decisions that shape her life. “Their lives are mine now as if I had lived them. They live inside me, shaping who I am and my choices. A genetic echo. They always have been, but I now consciously know they always have been.” However, that acknowl­edgment doesn’t mean she must accept the life Savannah envisions for her—Chloe must not only come to terms with a past she never experienced and shoulder it like painful freight, but also forge ahead and create her own path. A novel so steeped in psychological ideas is threatened by two pitfalls—the tendency to become academically arid or to lecture the reader while relying upon banal platitudes.

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Impressively, Hayes manages to avoid both—this is a genuinely engrossing story, wise but never sententious. It is also an inspiring one—the past can never be escaped, but that does not mean it must serve as one’s destiny.

A captivating novel, intellectually stimulating and literarily engrossing.

Splintered Justice Hays, Kim | Seventh Street Books (366 pp.) $22.95 paper | April 15, 2025 | 9781645060949

In Hays’ mystery novel, a woman who died 15 years ago after a fall from the cathedral tower in Bern’s Old City may not have leapt, but been pushed.

In the fourth book in the Linder and Donatelli Mystery series, a teenage boy races from the Bern cathedral after intentionally causing a glassworker to fall from a scaffold. As the teen shakes the scaffold, he yells, “Murderer, I hope you bust your head open.” The glassworker, Denis Kellenberger, is seriously injured.

Denis grew up in a tiny apartment in the cathedral, where his grandparents served as tower guards. When he was 10, his friend Zora and her little brother Goran lived nearby. Supposedly, one night, Zora’s mother Katica Horvat entered the cathedral through the tower door, climbed the staircase, jumped from the tower, and died. The church sexton says Denis was to blame for her death because he left the tower door unlocked. In the hospital after his fall, Denis realizes the teen who shook the scaffold trying to kill him was Goran.

Investigator Renzo Donatelli and Detective Giuliana Linder work the attempted murder case and question whether Katica truly committed suicide. The pair discovers that nobody remembers much about the investigation, which “vanished” from police radar quickly. A B-story involves a potential mercy killing, but perhaps the book’s biggest buzz emanates from the heat between Renzo and Giuliana.

Married Giuliana openly ogles the “preposterously beautiful,” almost-­ divorced Renzo as a man who “looked too mischievous to be an angel and not arrogant enough to be a model.” The author has lived in Switzerland for decades, so readers can expect vivid portraits of its locales. The narrative contains disturbing sexual violence, but also humor and rich descriptions, such as those referring to Guiliana’s husband’s “white-on-white” dinner: “White plates filled with cauliflower, rice, and chicken served with white wine.” The hardships of refugees—in this case, from Yugoslavia—provide added relevancy.

Exciting enough to be a page-turner, but can also be enjoyed slowly, like a delicious Swiss chocolate.

The Moon That Fell From Heaven Holmes, N.L. | Red Adept Publishing (318 pp.) | $14.49 paper Sept. 20, 2023 | 9781958231340

A Bronze Age Syrian kingdom is a hub for seedy politics and outright murder in Holmes’ historical novel.

It’s 1213 B.C.E., and Ehli-nikkalu is the eldest daughter of the emperor of Hatti Land (modern Turkey). The 35-year-old woman is suffering as the queen of the maritime kingdom of Ugarit (modern Latakia, Syria): The king resents her, as she’s borne no children, and he soon becomes physically abusive. When Ehli-nikkalu discovers evidence that her spouse plans to betray Hatti Land, she sends an urgent message to her father, only for someone to kill the courier; now she’s wary of what the king, or his equally deplorable dowager queen mother, may know.

Ehli-nikkalu takes in the late courier’s children—teenage Amaya and her siblings, 8-year-old fraternal twins— mostly out of concern for their safety.

Amaya becomes Ehli-nikkalu’s ally, as do the kingdom’s chief scribe, Ili-milku, and Amaya’s uncle, Teshamanu. Ehli-nikkalu MAY 15, 2025

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needs people on her side, as her husband and mother-in-law are not above using kidnapping and murder to get what they want. Holmes puts this cast of characters through many difficult circumstances, including blackmail, torture, and conflict with an especially tenacious pretender to the throne. Ehli-nikkalu is an easy protagonist to admire, as she shows considerable strength despite wielding little political power. She’s also a sensitive soul, taking the blame for Amaya’s father’s death as well as harm that comes to an ally. Taut prose moves the plot briskly forward, whether it’s recounting a shocking demise, a tragic backstory, or moments of romance. Surprising turns abound, as when Ehli-nikkalu doesn’t get the support she anticipated, or a natural disaster rattles the kingdom. Throughout, the author packs the narrative with place and character names, often forgoing context at first; however, nearly every chapter ends with helpful notes that offer elaboration.

A detailed and engaging thriller set in ancient times.

Steven Sparrow & the Shade of a Great Tree Jones, Matthew Dale | Self (191 pp.) | $9.99 paper | March 19, 2025 | 9781735494821

Jones’ YA fable presents the adventures and misadventures of a cheeky, fledgling sparrow who decides not to learn to fly, preferring to walk through life instead.

Steven Sparrow is a storyteller who keeps his young bird audiences balanced on the tips of their talons in anticipation of his next tale. But today, his story is interrupted by his mother’s call to breakfast. Today is “Flying Day”—the most important day in a fledgling’s life, when young birds leave the nest for the first time and are taught to fly. There’s great excitement in the nest until Steven makes his life-changing announcement: “I believe that I shall walk, for flying’s not my bag.” And once Steven sets his mind on 160

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something, there’s no turning back—and no consideration that maybe his idea isn’t the best one. He climbs out of the nest, makes his way through the branches and leaves of the bush they live in, and walks off to explore the world. After his first day and night away, Steven meets another creature: a tiny mouse who’s the only survivor of the “Great Attack” of a ferocious cat that devoured the rest of his family. Mouse will become Steven’s best friend on the journey that follows, which includes their capture by a young boy who’s created his own zoo—a room filled with cages occupied by a variety of small critters. Jones’ sometimes-lyrical work concludes with a poetic composition. It’s an offbeat coming-of-age tale that’s charming and creative, but also likely to be a bit emotionally challenging for younger readers, containing, as it does, incidents of chilling violence and the pain of tragic loss.

However, there’s also plenty of excitement and moments of delightful humor. Mouse, despite his trauma and anxieties, rises to the challenge of being Steven’s guide; he doesn’t indulge in the verbosity of which Steven is so fond, but teaches him through his actions and compassion to look beyond his own ego. And, ultimately, during a period of great despair and self-recrimination, Steven finds redemption and joy.

A touching and engaging tale with a positive message.

Captain Bacawly and the Breakaway Bandits Jungles, Jimmy | WildWorks Publishing (369 pp.) | $11.95 paper | June 8, 2024 9798990681309 | Series: Jimmy Jungles Series, 1

A 13-year-old boy finds himself a reluctant hero in Jungles’ middle-­grade fantasy adventure.

Jimmy lives on a magical, Edenic isle called the Wazoo, but the tale starts in a very unsettling dream that he is having, one involving pirates. In fact, pirates really are going to invade the Wazoo, and they are going to be

demanding something that has to do with dreams in an almost literal sense.

Along with the pirates is a crew called the Breakaway Bandits, whom Jimmy discovers looting his house in a rather carefree way. Whose side are they on?

Then there are the politics: The Wazoo is a democracy, and elections are looming.

The current Pleaser, Greygor Guildenhall, is running for reelection; his main opponent is Peister Precarious. Greygor is a lion, Peister a vulture (symbolism, anyone?). Rumor has it that Greygor collaborated with the pirates, letting them make a beachhead. Jimmy struggles to make sense of this, as he struggles to make sense of everything, all the while trying to placate his clueless parents and attempting to sort out the strange, unsettling feelings he’s been having lately. Even his friends are losing patience, but he is a natural leader, and they all recognize that. Adventure upon adventure ensues, and Jimmy survives as only a character in a fantasy can. School, by the way, seems more like a suggestion on the Wazoo than a requirement—these little scamps are always skipping it, despite apoplectic authority figures. This is a kids’ world (well, kids and other animals). The book (presented as Jimmy’s diary) ends with the big, complicated election, and no bones are made of the fact that this is just the start of a continuing Jimmy Jungles franchise.

As a debut fantasy, the story shows some promise and boasts charming sketches of scenes and characters. But whoever “Jimmy Jungles” is, the author is somewhat comma-challenged, particularly with regard to forms of address: “I was glad you called Jimmy” (consider “let’s eat, Grandma” versus “let’s eat Grandma”). After a bit, the reader cannot help but notice every instance of this, a grim game indeed.

For the most part, however, the text is clean, and the action goes at a good clip. The Wazoo’s denizens include not just humans like Jimmy and his friend Amelia, but all sorts of talking animals who are treated—and behave—very much like humans. They even all go to school together. As if to anchor the fantastic, the author also provides the mundane: Jimmy does have a typical set of parents (they’re concerned but, well, K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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lame). And surely it is no coincidence that Jimmy has just turned 13—­ sensitive readers will be likely to see this as a parable of puberty. (Will Amelia be Jimmy’s first girlfriend?) In terms of sheer volume (the text runs to more than 350 pages), the book does not disappoint. It is chockablock with plot twists, daring escapes, and scary and sometimes funny and engaging characters, both human and otherwise. Only a curmudgeon—perhaps someone who has aged out of the target audience—would object that the magic might be laid on a little too thick, and that the characters present too dizzying an array.

Quibbles aside, kids will probably hate to leave Jimmy Jungles’ world.

I Am Was Spider-Man Leva, Scott | Running Wild Press (318 pp.) $24.99 paper | May 12, 2025 | 9781963869118

A childhood love of Spider-Man grows into an exciting career in the film industry in Leva’s debut memoir.

The child of a military family that moved around a lot, the author found solace in his passion for comics; with his purchase of The Amazing Spider-Man #39, Leva’s life changed.

As he grew older, collecting comics combined with a love of acting, gymnastics, and kung fu, resulting in a job working for Marvel Promotions playing the character of Spider-Man in live appearances. This situation prompted the author to move to New York to seek out other acting roles. A life-changing meeting with Superman stunt coordinator Alex Stevens led him to take part in some of the movie’s New York–set action scenes. Financial necessity led to stunt work on a low-budget film called Mother’s Day in 1979. Adding some stage-combat training to his gymnastics and martial arts expertise, the work opened a completely new career. Leva recounts his journey working on various productions and growing his reputation as a stunt man, sharing plenty of photos K IR KU S R E V IE W S

and anecdotes as he goes from barely making ends meet to winning a 2006 Science and Technical Achievement Oscar for a revolutionary airbag that he developed. Concurrent to this description is a chronicle of the author’s attempts to become Spider-Man as a movie about the character was being developed in 1985, but never quite came to fruition. Leva writes with honesty, self-reflection, and great respect for his fellow actors, stunt workers, and coordinators. What is particularly touching and inspiring is the author’s account of “the beginning of a beautiful friendship” with Stan Lee, which will surely enthrall comic book lovers. Occasionally the tale meanders a bit; the discussion of TV shows, movies, and toys that influenced Leva in three separate chapters at the beginning of the memoir is a little too much, but it’s still a charming celebration of one person’s passion for film.

An engaging, wide-ranging showbiz memoir.

Too Much the Lion Lewis, Preston | Bariso Press (328 pp.) $32.95 | $19.95 paper | May 1, 2025 9781964830094 | 9781964830087 paper

Lewis’ historical novel fictionalizes a bloody and often forgotten real-life battle of the American Civil War. On Nov. 30, 1864, the Battle of Franklin was fought by Union forces against the Confederate Army of Tennessee, and Confederate Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood led his men into a massacre. Lewis takes this lesser-known event from near the end

of the Civil War and imagines it, almost minute by minute, from a variety of perspectives. In 13 chapters, which follow the days leading up to the battle and its aftermath, the author employs extensive historical research to bring real-life figures to life. Beginning with Confederate Maj. Gen. Patrick Cleburne—who was blocked months ago from taking leave to marry his sweetheart, follows orders with which he doesn’t agree, and sleeps on the grass with his men—the novel switches among various soldiers, including Confederates such as Brig.

Gen. Hiram B. Granbury and Cpl. Sam Watkins, and loved ones at home.

For example, Mary Alice Carter McPhail is a wife and mother whose husband is fighting on the Confederate side; she’s staying with her family in a home that eventually becomes requisitioned by the Union Army. As a clash becomes inevitable and tensions rise, Lewis examines the conflict from multiple angles, with the important inclusion of two enslaved people, an approach that emphasizes that the Confederacy was “a slave to the idea of slavery as a way of life.” Most poignant is the story of Henry B. Free, whose surname Lewis invented, as records did not grant the real man a surname. The book would likely have benefited from presenting Union soldiers’ perspectives on events, as well. However, Lewis’ intense historical research shines through in his inclusion of military movements, maps, and photographs, which give the work the feel of a history book. His prose is also often vivid, highlighting war’s futility and bringing to life the sights, sounds, and smells of the battlefield (“The stench of gunpowder mingled with the odor of the viscera the powder had created”).

A fast-paced, well-researched work that will particularly appeal to military history enthusiasts.

An engaging, wide-ranging showbiz memoir.

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Sweet Tea and Anzac Biscuits Marry, Jan | Blue Fortune Enterprises (294 pp.) | $19.99 paper | April 2, 2025 9781961548237

In Marry’s novel, a local library holds the key to a small town’s biggest secrets.

After fleeing an abusive husband, New Zealander Jessamine Sibley takes a new job at a library in a small town in Bent River County, Virginia. At first, she’s excited about her fresh start. She has a new career, new friends, and a new house that she inherited from a friend in her book club. But it soon becomes clear that not everything is what it seems in Bent River County, and the library seems to be right at the center of all the intrigue. First, there’s Jessamine’s rude and flaky co-worker, Drusilla, who seems determined to keep Jessamine from doing her job. Her own house is being taken over by overgrown weeds, and it’s hiding a secret of its own.

Meanwhile, the town’s wealthiest man, who’s likely never heard the word no in his life, will do anything to make sure nothing in Bent River County ever changes. It turns out that the corruption in the town runs deep, and Jessamine will find herself caught up in it all—and even arrested for murder. For all of its small-town hijinks and crime-novel elements, Marry’s novel is, at its heart, a love letter to libraries and all that they represent to a small community: “We have a remarkable library….As library employees, we have given our best to our county.” Readers will find that Jessamine and the varied members of her

found family are all easy to root for as they make the library their home away from home. Although the story takes some time to truly pick up speed, once the drama begins to unfurl, it pulls the reader in and refuses to let go.

An intriguing and cozy mystery that’s perfect for any bookworm.

Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles Nicholas, Jeannie | KDP (377 pp.) | $14.50 paper | Jan. 31, 2025 | 9798218572617

A 12-year-old girl, her mom, and their elderly landlady support each other through family separation, violence, and much kvetching banter in this warmhearted family saga.

Nicholas’ novel unfolds at the turn of the 21st century and centers around Maureen LeeRoyce, a 30-ish widow who waitresses and cleans houses to support her daughter Kalayla—Cambridge, Massachusetts’ most obstreperous 12-year-old. Almost as cantankerous is their septuagenarian neighbor and landlady Lena Barzetti, who lends Kalayla a helping hand and unwanted advice. Both have spectacularly fractured families. Maureen was disowned by her Irish Catholic mother for marrying Kalayla’s father Jamal, a Black man and a Protestant to boot; when Kalayla learns about the rejection (Maureen had told her that the maternal side of the family all died in an explosion before she was born), she has an emotional meltdown that Lena trudges in to repair.

Lena’s own fraught past includes savage beatings at the hands of her now-­deceased

An intriguing and cozy mystery that’s perfect for any bookworm.

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husband, the disappearance of one of her sons, and the deaths of two others in combat in the Vietnam War. Balm for the ladies’ wounded souls appears in the persons of Matthew Eccli II (called Mattwo), Lena’s high school flame, and his son, Rico, a 30-something hunk who’s next in line to run the family karate dojo and starts paying welcome attention to Maureen. Kalayla meets her cousin Kieran, which initiates a drift toward reconciliation between Maureen and her parents, and Maureen resumes her ambition to be an artist (with Lena’s help). But even as things seem to be looking up for Maureen and Kalayla, they must confront the increasingly menacing presence of Jamal’s mentally unstable brother Clarence, who becomes obsessed with Maureen.

Nicholas’ yarn is an engrossing look at families that unravel and must be painfully knitted back together and the knotted, traumatic histories that give rise to unforgivable sins that must somehow be forgiven. The author crafts sharply etched, vibrant, prickly characters who resonate despite their differences; Kalayla and Lena, in particular, are two tough cookies (as fiercely protective of loved ones as they are annoyingly critical of them) who have their own internal weaknesses that sometimes make them break. Nicholas’ portrait of Kalayla is brilliant—she’s a pitch-perfect smart, sullen tween, full of prickly attitude and rigid, juvenile moralizing dragged kicking and screaming toward adult complexity, all rendered in an adolescent’s crudely vigorous language. (“I hated that I felt sorry for him, hated that I couldn’t tell him he was a jerk and a butthole and a rotten uncle and a disgusting brother. I hated that I couldn’t hate him the way I wanted to.”) Lena displays a singular voice in her own right as she helps Kalayla figure it all out in her acerbic, exasperated dudgeon (“You don’t understand your mama at all! She does stupid things just like you, me, and everybody else! You’re the one who put her on the Perfect Mama Pedestal. She never belonged there. Nobody does”). The result is an entertaining saga about the wisdom that grudgingly passes from old to young.

A raucous, poignant exploration of the blood ties that bind…and chafe.

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Risk: A Life Saved by the River Norman, Susan | She Writes Press (296 pp.) $17.99 paper | June 24, 2025 | 9781647429249

A fearless kayaker takes on parenthood and childhood trauma in Norman’s debut memoir.

Norman was no stranger to risk.

As a champion whitewater rafter of international renown, she knew more than most about the unexpected currents waiting around the next bend in the river. “I learned to channel the emotional intensity of the situation into the energy needed to face the danger,” she writes of learning to kayak with her father as a teen. “I soon found that encountering a situation that scares you, and doing it anyway, can prepare you for other life challenges.” Even so, Norman felt unprepared when, at the age of 57, she was forced to step in to parent her 4-year-old nephew, Seth. Seth—the son of Norman’s twin brother David (a perennially broke hoarder) and David’s estranged (and incarcerated) ex-girlfriend 32 years his junior—was dealt a rough hand from the start. Norman invited David and Seth to share her California home in the hope of helping them both escape their impoverished lives in Ohio, but soon after their arrival, it became clear that David’s severe alcoholism precluded him from being a good father to his son. With the help of her wife Lisa, Norman was forced to take up the mantle of mom, a role that brought with it a cascade of painful memories of a traumatic childhood shaped by her own mother’s multiple sclerosis. Told in alternating timelines, Norman’s memoir describes how the lessons she learned in rough water helped her to sort out the chaos of her past and provide a stable, loving home for Seth. Norman’s muscular prose confidently pulls the reader through the author’s voyage of self-discovery: “Instead of acting like a piece of flotsam being pushed down the river at random,” she writes of slalom kayaking, “I learned to read and feel the K IR KU S R E V IE W S

water…to use the current to my advantage—to work with the river rather than fighting it or drifting downstream at its mercy.” Vulnerable and often wise, this is a truly memorable parenting story.

A fascinating and heartfelt chronicle of athleticism and family.

Good To Grave: Why Some Human Hosts Succeed and Others Burn Park, Michael | Fox Point Books July 8, 2025

A young woman signs her soul away to a mysterious company in Park’s horrific fantasy novel.

Josie Morris’ life is falling apart. Her uncle just had a heart attack, the lease on the apartment she shares with her girlfriend is about to run out, and she can’t find a job; it won’t be long before her checking account is empty. Driven by these stressors, she accepts a position at a mega-corporation called Eburos despite a disastrous interview involving a chalk drawing that somehow disappears and a woman with a shadow that moves before she does. Josie writes off the strangeness—she figures she’s had holes in her memory since her dad died, and that these are probably just stress-born illusions. The signing over of her soul during orientation? She must have imagined that, too. But now she’s being led to a building under a cemetery, there’s a magical flute made of bones, and everyone is calling her Grace. The further she gets into her new role, the more she learns the eerie truth about what Eburos is really up to. The novel’s plot can’t be explained in too much detail without spoiling things—the fun comes from trying to figure out what’s happening.

Park masterfully plays with the story’s tension by weaving in different media throughout: There are posters in the common kitchen area reminding people to remove any “disciplinary residual limbs” from the fridge, a snapshot from an interview with an employee who is

glad to “participate in true disruptive immolation,” and pages from the company handbook explaining that the terms slave and thrall are prohibited.

Josie is a likable main character; the reasoning behind her motives can sometimes be iffy, but this rarely detracts from the overall reading experience.

A fast-paced and fun read that will keep readers wondering what will happen next.

Shield of Sparrows Perry, Devney | Entangled: Red Tower Books (528 pp.) $32.99 | May 6, 2025 | 9781649378514

A reluctant princess is thrust into deadly political intrigue in Perry’s sweeping, high-­stakes romantasy.

Odessa is the overlooked and underestimated princess of Quentis, whose life takes an unexpected turn when a deal is struck between her father and the formidable Turan warriors force her into an arranged marriage with their enigmatic prince, Zavier Wolfe.

Intended as a mere formality to secure trade routes and military alliances, the betrothal spirals into something far more dangerous when ancient magic, a ruthless Guardian, and a looming war threaten to upend everything she knows. Finally emerging from the shadow of her seemingly perfect half sister, Mae, Odessa must navigate court politics, monstrous creatures, and her own uncertain place in a world where survival often depends on strategy rather than strength. As tensions rise, she finds herself entangled with the dangerous, enigmatic Guardian—a man whose silver eyes hold secrets of their own. Perry’s worldbuilding is lush and immersive, crafting a kingdom rife with old magic, deadly beasts, and political machinations that add depth. The pacing is relentless, carrying Odessa from one life-altering event to another MAY 15, 2025

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as she grapples with duty, defiance, and a destiny she never chose. Her internal conflict is compelling, torn between the expectations placed upon her and the fierce independence that threatens to make her an outcast in her own kingdom. Romance simmers as Odessa struggles to reconcile her obligations with her growing attraction to the Guardian, whose past is as shadowed as his reputation. Mae is introduced as Odessa’s political foil, and although her presence drives much of Odessa’s internal drama—being constantly overshadowed or underestimated—she’s mostly seen through Odessa’s perspective. Her motivations, ambitions, and political maneuverings might have benefited from deeper exploration to give more nuance to the power dynamics. However, Perry’s evocative prose and intricate plotting make for a gripping tale. Readers looking for a slow-burn romantasy with rich political intrigue and a protagonist forced to create her own fate will find much to enjoy.

A thrilling, immersive tale that shows that some bargains demand more than just a crown.

Kirkus Star

On a Rising Swell: Surf Stories From Florida’s Space Coast Reiter, Dan | Univ. Press of Florida (174 pp.) $24.95 paper | April 29, 2025 | 9780813080970

An anecdotal history of surfing along Florida’s Atlantic coast.

Reiter opens his nonfiction debut with a sensual, almost elemental summary of the basic allure of surfing: “The coconut smell of surf wax, a wetsuit drip-­ drying in the sun, coffee vapor mingling with salt mist, the gleam and crackle of an outside set on a windless morning.” The author’s decades of enthusiastic surfing have 164

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A wonderfully colorful and inviting paean to Cocoa Beach surfing.

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left their mark on him: “Twenty years of brine, of salt marinade, of inhaling the sea’s musk, have permanently transformed me.”

Reiter’s book, a collection of essays and vignettes on various aspects of this transformation and the activity that caused it, takes readers from the deep history of surfing to his own personal history with the sport to the intimate connection between surfing and the Cocoa Beach area of Florida’s Brevard County. The loose structure of his narrative allows for frequent digressions about the eccentric people who populate the surfing world and the natural landscape of Cocoa Beach, with glances at remarkable weather events like Hurricane Frances (“a mere Category 2 at impact, but it was massive, and punishingly slow”). He intersperses comical asides about zany surfers or inept day-trippers (“easily the most abundant of all nonlocal species”) with broader social observations about Cocoa Beach, which bills itself as “a tropical, quaintly parochial town” that has nevertheless been home to some of the greatest surfers in the sport’s history. The author writes with warm, knowing affection for his cast of characters, including Kelly Slater, “the man who revolutionized a millennia-old sport,” whom Reiter dubs “the greatest surfer of all time.”

The author does a thrilling job narrating the action of surfing big waves, but the main strength of the book is Reiter’s heartfelt appreciation of the natural world of the sport, the “brief Orphic hours” when Cocoa Beach surfers commune with the sea. He’s written a surfing classic fit to sit beside John Long’s The Big Drop (1999) and William Finnegan’s Barbarian Days (2015).

A wonderfully colorful and inviting paean to Cocoa Beach surfing.

The Bravest Soldiers: A WWII Historical Novel of Romance, Love, and Longing Schroller, Elaine Aucoin | Self (430 pp.) $15.99 paper | Sept. 3, 2023 | 9798985261639 Series: The Immense Sky Saga, 2

The saga of an Australian family set against the high-stakes backdrop of World War II. In this second installment of Schroller’s Immense Sky Saga, Australian couple Joe and Sophie Parker are freshly back in Sydney, Australia. Their “honeymoon” trip throughout Europe included bringing back Sophie’s aging mother Lily and a young Frenchwoman, Marianne, who serves as Lily’s companion and harbors dreams of making a name for herself as a seamstress and fashion designer.

Readers meet Joe and Sophie’s boys Jean-Luc and Sam. Jean-Luc runs a winery, and Sam is an experienced pilot. As a love triangle begins developing among Sam, Marianne, and Isobel (another young woman with designs on Sam), the family’s fears about the growing threat of Nazi Germany are soon affirmed when the U.K. (a close Australian ally) declares war on Germany after the Nazis invade Poland.

While Sam and Jean-Luc are ready and—perhaps only in Sam’s case— excited to fight for freedom from tyranny, Joe and Sophie are haunted by their all-too-recent memories of the horrors of World War I, in which Joe was a commissioned officer and Sophie served as a nurse in Paris. As war envelops the globe, Sophie and Marianne must remain stalwart on the home front, hoping and praying for the chance K IR KU S R E V IE W S

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to someday live out their lives with the men they love intact. Readers of the first novel in this series will be unsurprised to find a deep well of research and authority from which Schroller draws here, along with no small amount of pastoral prose, as seen in Marianne’s letter home describing her first flight with Sam: “I had already spied Sophie and Joe’s house.

I could see a tiny figure at the back of the property. It must have been Mrs. Kelly… she always feeds the chickens and gathers eggs before she and her husband Thomas go to mass.” Though World War II novels are commonplace, Schroller has managed to write an affecting tale with memorable characters that stands out from the crowd.

A rich and moving saga of bravery both at home and in the face of battle.

The Empresario’s Wife: The Woman at the Center of the Texas Revolution Seeber, Barbara H. | Bold Story Press (408 pp.) | $19.99 paper Sept. 27, 2024 | 9781954805910

Seeber’s historical novel, inspired by the history of the author’s ancestor, explores the period leading to the 1835 Texas Revolution against Mexico.

Sarah Seely was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where she met and married Green DeWitt. He was not her first love; that would be Will Jones, her childhood friend and the boy she assumed she would marry. But when Will, an adventurer, left St. Louis, a heartbroken Sarah feared she would not see him again. Two years later, Will returned to find Sarah married to Green, holding the couple’s first baby. Now it is 1827, and Sarah, Green, and four of their five children are approaching the border of the new colony Green is establishing in the northern Mexican state of Texas.

As destiny would have it, Will is traveling with them as Green’s deputy.

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government for what is to become the DeWitt Colony. In exchange for helping to settle this untamed portion of Mexico’s northern frontier, he will receive a sizable land holding. Although reluctant to leave St. Louis, Sarah puts her trust in Green’s vision (“blue-eyed, silver-tongued, smooth-talking Green conjures the future from thin air”), despite the plethora of hardships—in addition to the primitive living conditions and the constant political wrangling between the Mexican government and the Anglo settlers, there are the ever-­ present dangers of disease and Comanche raids. Seeber’s novel is prodigiously researched and richly detailed (the narrative contains a wealth of historical nuggets), a textured and atmospheric re-creation of time and place with a vividly drawn female lead. Through Sarah’s personal struggles and development, readers are viscerally brought into a piece of history that is traditionally dominated by accounts of military battles. This is a story of female grit and determination in the face of overwhelming challenges. There is enough romance, tragedy, and excitement—especially in the section where Sarah is kidnapped by a band of vengeful Comanches—to keep the pages turning. A concluding glossary of Spanish and period-relevant English terminology is a useful addition.

An engrossing, drama-fueled addition to Lone Star State chronicles.

My Mystical Path: A Memoir of Finding Grace and Dignity in Life’s Hardest Lessons Shin-Ward, Donna | River Grove Books (218 pp.) | $15.76 paper | Aug. 17, 2023 9781632996978

A psychotherapist blends memoir and self-help advice in this nonfiction work.

“My hope is that you will find my story inspirational,” writes Shin-Ward in the book’s opening lines, adding,

“and it will help you connect with the universal oneness that we all share.” A self-described “modern-day mystic,” the author here shares her personal experiences in a Christian guidebook for women who have experienced grief, divorce, and abuse.

Structured in three parts, the book is thematical divided by Shin-Ward’s relationships with her three husbands.

The first section, “Companionship,” centers around her first marriage and raising three daughters as a young mother. While she recognized her husband was a “good man,” after experiencing romantic feelings for a professor in graduate school, the author came to terms with “a lack of emotional and spiritual connection” within her marriage. The book’s second part focuses on her second husband, “the classic Don Juan archetype, a man of seduction,” whose “magical” moments of intensity and chemistry were offset by his psychological abuse and narcissistic manipulation. The book’s final section, “Grace,” explores Shin-Ward’s sense of failure following two “failed marriages” as she found herself single in her late 50s. Serendipitously, “Grace stepped in” and she found her third and current husband, whom she describes as her “Knight.” The book’s vulnerable, often emotionally raw text should resonate with readers who need help with finding balance in their identities as women, business professionals, mothers, and lovers. A licensed clinical psychotherapist and holistic wellness coach with a private practice in Towson, Maryland, the author engagingly combines her personal stories with pragmatic self-help advice informed by best practices in the field. While Shin-Ward’s distinctly Christian outlook on spirituality may not resonate with all readers, the book provides a welcoming space to those of alternative faith traditions with inspirational quotations from non-Christian spiritual leaders as well as broad descriptions of God as “universal Divine Love.”

An approachable and deeply personal resource for women searching for emotional and spiritual fulfillment.

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A well-told story.

Contests of Strength Slager, Melissa | Truth & Story (520 pp.) $19.95 paper | May 20, 2025 | 9798991543514

Slager’s historical novel, largely set at the end of the 17th century, chronicles the tale of a whal­ ing village on the western coast of the future United States, threatened by natural disaster.

In 1699, Dushuuw is a battle-hardened warrior in Wuh-uhch, where his father, Chahbuhť̓ , is a powerful and revered whaling chief. At 19, he’s the youngest son in his family and grows up in the shadow of his 22-year-old brother, Q̓ otsik, who’s established himself as a prodigious whaler who’s likely to succeed Chahbuhť̓ one day. Dushuuw’s position within the tribe is compromised when he catches a man, Wiikihbis, having sex with his wife, and kills him. The marriage is a strategic one, cementing an important alliance, so the political fallout is considerable. Moreover, the man he killed was a whaler on Q̓ otsik’s canoe, and now he must take his place—a job he doesn’t relish, and for which he possesses little natural talent; it’s a predicament that Slager portrays with great psychological subtlety and dramatic power. Meanwhile, Amuun’axsum, the daughter of another whaling chief, is taken hostage by an invading tribe after they murder her mother and father. She’s later enslaved by Eekbis, the shaman of Dushuuw’s tribe. She longs to recapture the nobility that she now must hide to stay alive. Amuun’axsum and Dushuuw fall in love, but their prospects for happiness seem dim, given the social expanse that separates them. Also, a disastrous earthquake and resulting tsunami threaten to end their lives before they can make a bid for romantic bliss.

Slager’s novel is based on the Makah tribe, who live in the Cape Flattery area of what is now Washington state, and she brings the everyday lives and customs of its people into vivid relief. The natural disaster that waylaid the tribe is a real one, with her research into it and scholarly command of all the relevant source material nothing short of 166

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magisterial. Readers get a remarkable glimpse into a whaling community before European contact. However, this book is, first and foremost, a novel, and it tells an engrossing story. The two principal characters are portrayed with notable nuance, and their budding relationship is both plausible and moving. Some people in Dushuuw’s tribe wonder if he’s more trouble than he’s worth, due to his taste for violence: “A man who takes that much human life—perhaps the spirit of the whale cringes from it, you see?” Dushuuw hears an elderly man say. “Is there really a way to get rid of so much human stench, such darkness of heart?” Amuun’axsum also proves to be a compelling character, and Slager depicts the burden of her grief—over the loss of her family, and of her noble identity—with affecting complexity: “She wanted to fill a river with tears, and shoot her fear to the moon. She wanted a bench, not a mat. To own things, not hide them. A home. A voice. A name—to be known.”

A historically rigorous and emotionally riveting period piece.

Isabela’s Way Stark-Nemon, Barbara | She Writes Press (256 pp.) | $17.99 paper Sept. 16, 2025 | 9781647429645

Early in the 17th century, a group of conversos in Portugal attempts a dangerous escape to northern Europe, pursued by a murderous priest.

This historical novel examines the Inquisition, still smoldering and flaring up frequently in Portugal. Many Jews have converted to Christianity (they are conversos, aka “New Christians”), but are they really sincere converts, genuine Roman Catholics? One who obsesses about this question is a priest in Abrantes,

Padre Alvaro. The inquisitors are coming, so the New Christians are quietly slipping out of their ghetto and heading to the Protestant north and a more tolerant society. Among them are Isabela de Castro Nuñez, a teenager whose mother has died of the plague and whose father anxiously awaits her in Hamburg, Germany, and David de Sousa and his two sisters. They are aided by other conversos and sympathetic Christians who operate a kind of underground railroad up through France to the Low Countries. Some real heroes are Ana Martel Gerondi and her lover, Eduardo Carel. Then there’s the Leon family—Simone, her brother Enrique, and his son Diego—who all risk their lives shepherding these hapless escapees. Ana, a healer, is in double jeopardy because a woman who deals in potions may well be a witch, and witches are fair game. After several close calls and kidnappings, the courageous allies try to turn the tables on Alvaro. Stark-Nemon, a published writer, handles things expertly, offering strong characters. The book is also well researched. One historically accurate theme is embroidery, Isabela’s specialty (“The embroidery on the finished glove was complex and skillfully stitched….

Anchoring the outer corner of the gauntlet, a blossom of pomegranate was stitched in rich red, its contours outlined in gold thread studded with pearls”).

Not only is Isabela very accomplished with the needle, but in the Jewish underground, embroidery motifs (hearts, certain flowers, birds) and colors constituted a secret code, announcing safety or danger, friend or foe. That is Isabela’s job during the trek, no small contribution. This novel revisits an old story, but like most familiar tales, it bears repeating. Intolerance will always be with humanity, but so will heroes willing to fight that scourge, even to risk their lives.

A well-told story with all the requisite narrow escapes and memorable characters.

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Kat’s Greek Summer Tipper, Mima | SparkPress (248 pp.) | $13.99 paper | May 13, 2025 | 9781684633067

In Tipper’s YA novel, a 14-yearold American girl on a trip to Greece is determined to make her big-time plans a reality— even if her mom and grandmother don’t approve.

After moving into a new, smaller house in New Canaan, Connecticut, with her family, Kat Baker has plans to train with her high school’s cross-country track team, become its star runner, and make the captain of the boys’ team, Mike Doherty, fall head over heels for her. But before her plans can come together, Kat’s mother whisks her and her younger brother to Greece to visit their grandmother, Yiayiá Sofia, with plans to stay for the whole summer.

Kat’s arrival in the sleepy town of Paralia doesn’t bode well; the heat is oppressive, for one thing, and she can barely communicate with her Greek relatives, as she doesn’t speak their language. Kat decides on her first jet-lagged night awake to continue her cross-country training on local mountain roads, among other places.

She runs along the Greek coast in the wee hours of the morning and discovers that the area has many facets; she encounters busy fishing harbors, men with misconceptions about American girls, and a single, attractive Greek teenager with his own dreams.

Gradually, Kat comes to terms with her Greek American identity and learns to march proudly to the beat of her own drum. Tipper’s debut novel is imbued with classic and appealing coming-ofage story elements. As a protagonist, Kat is shown to be headstrong, sharp, and brave: “By the time she got back to New Canaan, she’d have trained harder than anyone on the team. Because by the end of the summer, she was going to be able to run to the top of this mountain.” Her life in Greece quickly becomes intriguingly messy; her interactions with family members who K IR KU S R E V IE W S

A lively fable for teaching youngsters about teamwork.

WHY PEOPLE RULE THE EARTH

don’t quite understand her are fraught, and her encounters with certain strangers in the novel are palpably tense. But Kat’s adventures also include pleasant encounters, including a sweet friendship with her 12-year-old cousin, Yeorgia, and a finely calibrated first romance with a young fisherman and aspiring artist named Theofilus.

A well-balanced drama with plenty of heart.

Why People Rule the Earth: An African Folktale Tripps, Dan G. | Illus. by Natosha Martinez Rowe Publishing (34 pp.) | $19.95 Nov. 11, 2024 | 9781644460160

Wild animals struggle to live in harmony in Tripps’ illustrated children’s book, inspired by an African folktale.

Earth, in the beginning, is lush with foliage, the air sweetly scented with mango and papaya. It would be idyllic, if only the creatures inhabiting it could get along. Instead, the cheetahs frighten the antelope, the lemurs devour the chimpanzees’ bananas, and the leopards steal the okapis’ shelter. Displeased, The Great Spirit summons the creatures— wildebeests, jackals, hippos, warthogs, and giraffes among them—and tells them that whoever retrieves a gourd from a high stack of branches will unlock the key to life and lead the other animals. Many are convinced they’ll claim the title. “Oh surely, I am the one to be ruler,” claims the hornbill, for instance. However, when lightning ignites the branches, many retreat.

Using his mighty strength, the woolly elephant attempts to stomp out the flames, but burns his fur; only the hair

on his tail remains. Next, the daring monkey climbs the burning heap; she, too, fails, scarring her hands, feet, and face. Convinced his river-damp skin will protect him, the crocodile smashes burning logs with his tail; his body catches fire, blistering all over. These animals’ enduring characteristics are said to be reminders of their foolishness.

The group finds hope when Muntu—an unfamiliar human figure—appears and says they must work together to know peace. Over the course of the book— whose story is inspired by a tale that Tripps heard from village griots in the 1970s, when he was working in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo)—Tripps effectively uses clear, straightforward language to emphasize the importance of unity and wisely using one’s unique strengths. However, some readers may perceive the message of a person being the animals’ savior as problematic. Martinez offers a series of vibrant, full-page illustrations in earth tones, pinks, and blues, and these images successfully enrich the story; the detailed portrayals of various animals pop against the leafy background. At the same time, though, the heavy, white text tends to overwhelm the pages.

A lively fable for teaching youngsters about teamwork.

Mr. Thatcher’s House Wauson, Kristin | Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) $17.99 | Aug. 15, 2022 | 9781534111578

A rabbit’s house is a work in progress in author/ illustrator Wauson’s picture book.

Long-eared, cottontailed Mr. Thatcher is determined to build the perfect home, but he can’t get it quite right: MAY 15, 2025

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“no matter how smoothly he sanded his stair treads, or how precisely he planed his porch planks, it never felt perfect….and, quite by accident, the house grew…and grew.” One day, his neighbor, a witch who lives in a structurally unsound gingerbread house, asks him for a place to stay—and soon, she and her cat move in with him. Then come three little pigs, who also insist on living there. Next are a family of bears, distraught after a break-in, and a woman whose kids have destroyed her shoe-house. Overwhelmed, Mr. Thatcher retreats outside, until he notices “music and laughter and the comforting crackle of logs in the fireplace…his house felt like a home.” Wauson’s enchanting fullpage illustrations combine whimsical watercolor backdrops with intricate details of the house in various stages of construction, depicted in muted tones and stunning shadings. The prose has a classic fairy-tale cadence, with a balance of action and sensory description. Mr. Thatcher charms with his busy meticulousness, even before the delightful arrival of the many well-loved fairy-tale characters who fill his house and heart.

A well-constructed picture book with a fine message.

The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris Wells, Sofie & Ali Barclay | Illus. by Sanna Sjöström | Kendam Press (40 pp.) $14.99 | June 9, 2025 | 9798990005037

In Wells and Barclay’s picture book, a friendly and curious pup has a special skill that helps him see the world.

Charlie Wags is a small and fluffy brown dog who lives in a house with a lovely garden. He’s a very ordinary dog aside from his love of travel and his unique ability to wag his tail and teleport to brand-new fabulous locations. Today, Charlie has decided on Paris, and with a little wag, he’s off 168

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THE UNSENT LETTERS OF LUCY PRIOR

to the Louvre. Charlie goes to see the Palace of Versailles, takes a boat ride on the Seine, and marvels at the Eiffel Tower as it glitters beneath the nighttime sky. He even has time to stop at a cafe for some pastry delicacies (“a taste of Paris in each treat!”). Wells and Barclay tell a very gentle and sweet story. Sjöström’s illustrations are beautifully rendered in watercolors; in a unique touch, the texture of the watercolor paper is visible underneath the images. Much care was taken to create fully realized backgrounds for Charlie’s adventures. The text includes pronunciation guides for the French attractions on each page, though it may be difficult for beginning readers to decode the cursive writing. After the story’s conclusion, readers will find more information about each place Charlie visited in Paris.

A charming tour of the iconic City of Lights for children.

The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior Wueste, Beka | Fox Island Press (160 pp.) $27.99 | $19.99 paper | Feb. 13, 2025 9798348488932 | 9798348556501 paper

A woman’s unsent missives unveil a lifetime of love, regret, and reckoning in Wueste’s epistolary novel.

The story unfolds via the perspective of Art Burleson, a professional “death administrator” who’s been hired to sort through the belongings of the recently deceased Lucy Prior. What begins as a routine job turns unexpectedly personal when Art discovers a box of her meticulously written but never-mailed letters, each addressed to someone from

her past. These missives, beginning with one addressed to “The Person Responsible for Closing out my Earthly Affairs” and ranging from heartfelt apologies to scathing confrontations, paint a vivid picture of a woman grappling with unresolved emotions, past betrayals, and the enduring ache of lost love. Through them, readers glimpse Lucy’s life in fragments: childhood wounds inflicted by an abusive father, deep friendships fractured by time and circumstance, and a decades-long marriage that shaped and sustained her. Her letters to lost friends are filled with longing and remorse, reflecting on moments when she failed to act or to speak when it mattered most.

By contrast, her letters to those who hurt her—particularly her father—seethe with a fury long suppressed, giving voice to emotions she never expressed in life: “If there is a Hell, I’ll see you there, because if there is justice, I’ll be your jailer.” Wueste’s prose seamlessly balances sharp wit, aching nostalgia, and raw honesty. Some letters are devastating in their vulnerability, while others brim with quiet humor and acceptance. The novel’s structure, though unconventional, mirrors the meandering nature of memory and confession, making for an intimate, almost voyeuristic reading experience. While some letters linger on details that slow the narrative’s momentum, they contribute to the novel’s overarching theme: the weight of the unsaid and the power of finally speaking, even if no one is left to listen.

A deeply introspective and emotionally resonant novel.

For more Indie content, visit Kirkus online.

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B O O K L I S T // I N D I E

Best Indie Books of May

2

1 4

1 Small Wonder

By Eileen Kelly

An engrossing yarn about innocence-turned-malignant, by turns hilarious and haunting.

2 Gentle Hugs

3

By Lily Guzmán; illus.

by Dorota Rewerenda

6

An empathetic book about how chronic conditions may limit a parent’s activity, but never their love.

3 The Epic Saga Behind Frankenstein: The True Story

By Sam Irvin

A lively and enthusiastic in-depth exploration of an obscure TV horror classic.

4 Hidden Talent

By David DeLong

A forceful and thought-provoking call to diversify the workforce with marginalized groups.

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5 Master Version 1.1

By Antanas Marcelionis; trans. by Martynas Majeris

A blistering and relevant near-future military-SF yarn.

6 Cooling Our Environment

5 For more booklists, visit Kirkus online.

By Kalpana Sutaria

A smart, energetic,and wide-ranging series of ideas for more climate-responsive building.

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2025 Summer Reading Champion

ISBN: XXX-X-XX-XXXXXX-X

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