Industry-First Reviews of Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s, and YA Books
JILL LEPORE EXPLORES WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO US
The historian and author of We the People reflects on this foundational document
ISBN: XXX-X-XX-XXXXXX-X
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
“HOW DO YOU decide what a very old legal document means?” That’s the question animating the latest book by Harvard professor and New Yorker contributor Jill Lepore, who appears on the cover of this issue. We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution (Liveright/ Norton, September 23) offers a chronicle of how the Constitution came to be and how it has been interpreted and amended. For a book about a “very old legal document”—the U.S. Constitution was written in 1787—it’s unexpectedly lively and impassioned, not to mention a powerful rejoinder to the so-called “originalists” who argue that the Constitution must be understood exactly as its 18th-century framers intended.
As We the People amply demonstrates, the original framers themselves had very
little consensus about what the Constitution meant, only agreeing that it would have to be amended as time passed and the young nation evolved. The mechanism for doing that was Article 5—but, as Lepore observes, the bar for amendment is high, and that recourse has not been significantly utilized since way back in 1971, when the voting age was lowered to 18. As Lepore tells contributor Mary Ann Gwinn, “Evil Knievel was jumping over cars on his motorcycle in 1971!” You can read their full conversation on p. 56.
We the People is the kind of nuanced corrective that we in the United States need so desperately now, when knowledge of our history and understanding of civics feel as if they’re at an all-time low. Here are three more new titles that go beyond patriotic platitudes:
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Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840-1920 by Akhil Reed Amar (Basic Books, September 16): A Yale law professor looks closely at one of the monumental flaws in the Constitution as originally drafted: the continued existence of slavery in the United States. The situation was complex; some states, such as Vermont, included a prohibition on slavery in their own constitutions. The institution wouldn’t be banned nationally until the 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865 and even then, as Amar details here, inequality continued. Our starred review calls the book a “pointed, closely argued study.”
The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America by Jeffrey Rosen (Simon & Schuster, October 21): In a follow-up to The Pursuit of Happiness (2024), the president and CEO of the nonprofit National Constitution Center dissects the political philosophies of Alexander Hamilton and
Thomas Jefferson, whose conflict over the power of the executive branch—not as simple as it is sometimes portrayed—continues to spark debate during the presidency of Donald Trump. Our reviewer calls the volume “a lucid work of political history.”
The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of the American Founding by Joseph J. Ellis (Knopf, October 28): The acclaimed author of American Creation (2007) and Founding Brothers (2000) continues his decadeslong study of early U.S. history with this “provocative, revisionist view of the first years of the Republic,” according to our starred review. For all their lofty ideals about freedom and democracy, the Founding Fathers nevertheless oversaw “two unquestionably horrific tragedies,” the author writes: the maintenance of slavery and the dispossession of Native Americans.
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THERE’S SO MUCH great fiction coming out this month that there’s no room for an introduction. Let’s get right to it!
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan (Knopf, September 23): McEwan returns to the literary games he played in Atonement (2002) with this brilliant novel in two parts. In 2119, a humanities professor named Thomas Metcalfe is traveling the postnuclear British archipelago, trying to track down a poem called “A Corona for Vivien.” Written in 2014, it was famously read aloud by poet Francis Blundy at his wife’s birthday dinner and then never seen again. McEwan vividly conjures a world in which cities from New York to Lagos have vanished into the ocean but everything people from the early 21st century
put into the cloud—email, texts, photos—is available to scholars “by way of the Nigerian internet”; somehow Metcalfe can piece together the day of Vivien Blundy’s birthday party from the perspectives of all the guests, practically minute-by-minute, but he still can’t find the poem. Then McEwan flips things around, and in the second section Vivien tells us what really happened. Our starred review calls it “a philosophically charged tour de force by one of the best living novelists in English.”
To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage (Avid Reader Press, September 2): When we meet Steph Harper, she’s 6 years old, in the back seat of her mother’s car as they run toward a new life in Oklahoma’s Cherokee Nation. Steph is already dreaming of becoming an
astronaut, and we follow her through many years and settings as she propels herself upward. “This author is as ambitious as her protagonist,” according to our starred review. “There are three novels worth of material here, all good. The moon or bust!”
Mercy by Joan Silber (Counterpoint, September 2): A man leaves his friend, who’s overdosing, at the emergency room of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village in the 1970s. From there, the tale spins in many directions in Silber’s latest novel-ininterconnected- stories. “What a sophisticated trick, to create this particular form of suspense and intellectual pleasure,” says our starred review.
A Different Kind of Tension: New and Selected
Stories by Jonathan Lethem (Ecco/HarperCollins, September 23): Lethem hasn’t published a story collection in 10 years, so here’s a chance to catch up with his consistently pleasurable short fiction. “As always, Lethem is broadly curious, genre-promiscuous, and genuinely unpredictable,” according to our starred review. “He ranges, so his stories do, too.”
What a Time To Be Alive by Jade Chang (Ecco/ HarperCollins, September 30): Lola Treasure Gold is just hanging out in LA, not sure what to do with her life, when her best friend dies doing a skateboard stunt and a video Lola makes about his death goes viral. What does it mean to gain fans from your friend’s death— especially when that friend might have become more? “Chang draws characters with quick mastery,” according to our starred review, “and writes Lola as a mille-feuille of sophistication, delighted lust, and self-doubt. The dialogue snaps and sparks, and Chang dispenses observations about race, class, feminism, sex, and influencer and tech-founder culture with panache.”
Laurie Muchnick is the fiction editor.
Erotic romance, moviemaking audacity, and looming dread co-exist in this arresting fact-based novel set in Italy’s hazardous 1970s.
In the autumn of 1974, Nicholas Wade, a 22-yearold art student, needs to bolt his London digs hurriedly enough to ensure that he can be safely removed from “possible questions, speculation.” (About what isn’t said.) Nicholas crosses the English Channel and ends up in Venice, where he arouses the erotic interest of Danilo Donati, the celebrated costumer and production designer best known for his work with superstar directors Federico Fellini and Pier Paolo Pasolini. As it happens, Danilo is now working with both these eccentric and willful filmmakers on
separate but equally incendiary projects: Fellini’s opulent biopic of Casanova and Pasolini’s graphic account of fascist sadism during World War II, Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom . Almost immediately after taking Nicholas as a lover, Danilo designates him as “my apprentice” and together they head for Rome and the fabled Cinecittà studios, where Nicholas meets the volatile, luminous Fellini and wins over the maestro and veteran craft workers with his drawings and designs. When the Casanova project stalls, Nicholas and Danilo travel to Mantua where Pasolini is working on Salò. In contrast with the boisterous, effusive Fellini, the way Pasolini speaks “is hypnotic: both his soft, whispery voice
and the apocalyptic things he says.” One could say similar things about the spectral mood and tone pervading Laing’s novel, rife with sensuality, illuminating archival details about the Italian film industry, and disquieting intimations about the growing social and political unrest that in only a few years would grow in terror and bloodshed, forever
marking the decade as the country’s Years of Lead. Pasolini’s brutal murder, the climactic tragedy that closes this saga, may well have been the first manifestation of such “lead,” though Laing’s command of suggestion and subtlety allows readers to make their own inferences. A mesmerizing, contemplative, and haunting work of historical fiction.
Anzaldúa, Gloria E. | Ed. by Kelli D. Zaytoun, AnaLouise Keating & Suzanne Bost State Univ. of New York Press (272 pp.) | $24.95 paper | November 1, 2025 | 9798855804553
A queer Chicana comes of age and into her power in Texas. The legacy of feminist author Anzaldúa (1942-2004) looms large. Her groundbreaking book Borderlands/La Frontera (1987) remains a touchstone for generations of scholars and activists. An editorial note explains that Anzaldúa had been developing her “Prieta stories” alongside nonfiction for her whole career. While a few came out during her lifetime, this book represents their first complete publication. Like her other work, it resists genre and other literary conventions. Anzaldúa mixes English and Spanish throughout (translations are provided at the end of each story) to tell the tale of a young girl’s awakening into a queer identity. Some stories are sexually explicit while others veer into the supernatural. In each, Prieta confronts family and community members who both love her and expect her to conform to traditional notions of gender and sexuality. But Prieta cannot betray herself so easily. Over time and facing many obstacles, including homophobic lovers and crooked bosses, she cultivates a sense of embodied power. Others may go along to get along, but she’s one with both the land she lives on and with the celestial—so much that she finds it nearly impossible to be anything but her authentic self. The stories document Prieta’s sensory experience in granular detail to the exclusion of character development and traditional elements of plot, though they do follow Prieta’s arc from childhood to adulthood. Over decades, Anzaldúa labored to offer this painstaking, relentless exploration of the queer experience in all its richness
as part of quotidian life. Prieta’s story is a foundational piece of the dam against erasure and marginalization Anzaldúa spent her life building. A book that asks to be studied rather than read.
Awad, Mona | Marysue Rucci Books (496 pp.) $30 | September 23, 2025 | 9781668059869
Awad returns to the world of Bunny (2019), armed with her signature satirical and surrealist flair. Samantha Heather Mackey has written a novel, and when she arrives on the dreamy and violent campus of Warren University, where she got her MFA, for her book tour, her fellow former students known as the Bunnies kidnap her and confront her about her thinly veiled autobiographical debut. Now the Bunnies are finally getting their say—and, boy, are they talkative. Offering a kaleidoscopic view of what went down before, during, and after the events chronicled in Bunny, the girls can’t contain their rage, disgust, jealousy, boredom, and hurt over Samantha and her novel. Eventually, Aerius, the Bunnies’ “First Boy. First Draft. First Darling.…First humiliation,” cuts in to offer his side of the story: How he came to be; his understanding (and misunderstanding) of the world; and how he causes, circumvents, and fits into the events of and beyond the first novel. Though he avoids the Bunnies (his “Keepers”) at all costs, they yearn and search for him, their finest work—even if you account for his bloody, violent streak. Considering whether Aerius was the town’s deranged murderer, they slyly say, “But ultimately, we simply did not think so, no. Because he’d come from us and we were lovely. As has already been stated.” This novel is at its best when musing about creativity, writing, and “the work”; skewering academia and elitism;
and straddling the slippery border between reality and fantasy. Billed as a standalone, it is most successful as a companion to its predecessor, though at times it reveals too much about the mysterious lore and elusive dynamics of the first novel. Awad’s pacing is uneven, but she sticks the landing with a delightfully unexpected and unhinged ending. Her wit, humor, and metafictional prowess are on full display in this prequel, sequel, expanded upside-down revision, or whatever you want to call it. Hilarious, grotesque, and standing slightly in the shadow of its sibling.
Balle, Solvej | Trans. by Sophia Hersi Smith & Jennifer Russell | New Directions (144 pp.) | $15.95 paper | November 18, 2025 9780811238397
A woman stuck in the same day discovers she’s not alone. Tara Selter, the narrator of Balle’s planned sevenvolume epic, is in her third year of living in a world that has stalled on November 18 for her, but now at least she has some company. A man named Henry Dale, whom she met at a lecture about the Roman Empire, is in the same predicament. This gives her a sense of normalcy and alleviates some of the loneliness that she feels—in the second volume she hopscotched around Europe to recall what changing seasons felt like. But this connection—plus a couple more who enter the story later—also stokes a sustained discussion about how they can put their November 18 loop to good use. Do they use that time to deepen connections with family? Should they try to track all the deaths, accidents, and mishaps that happen that day and look for ways to intervene and prevent them? Does it make more sense to develop more systemic solutions? This entry in the series is more steeped in matters of
Movie star becomes obsessed with a one-night stand in this comic debut.
I MAKE MY OWN FUN
sociology and philosophy than its predecessors, but it’s also surprisingly light on its feet. Tara and Henry’s relationship, now headquartered in Germany, isn’t a romance (Tara is devoted to her husband back home in France), but it’s also not quite a friendship either, based less on shared experiences than it is a shared challenge. Not only does she have the immediate challenge of figuring out how to live in a world that reboots every morning, but she needs to find a reasoning for being within it. Is it now her job to “somehow optimize reality, either through a gut renovation or by fault-finding and adjusting the details?” Can we, living in normal time, do the same? The cliffhanger ending suggests her job will get more complicated, but for the reader the series’ seductive qualities are only deepening. A brainy and beguiling meditation on time and purpose.
Beer, Hannah | House of Anansi Press (288 pp.) | $19.99 paper | October 14, 2025 9781487014155
Movie star becomes obsessed with a one-night stand in this darkly comic debut.
Marina is the world’s darling: Discovered at 15, she’s the it girl, humble, beautiful, and in a picture-perfect relationship with another popular actor. Behind the scenes, however, Marina is a sociopath, her
public persona a facade that hides a woman interested only in keeping herself entertained and the world adoring. After the London premiere of her latest movie, one of her twisted games brings her to a pub where she runs into cool-girl bartender Anna. Anna is almost as confident as Marina, unimpressed by her star power but intrigued enough to follow her back to her hotel for a one-night stand. As time passes, Marina finds she can’t stop thinking about Anna. When she returns to London determined to resume their courtship, the line between wooing and obsession becomes blurred until something has to break. Beer’s prose is crisp and witty, catapulting the reader into a mind that’s constantly making up its own logic and interpreting things as it wants. Breaking up the first-person narration with interview snippets and posts from internet message boards bridges the gap between the novel’s unreliable narrator and real-world perceptions of Marina in a fresh and entertaining way. Wasting no time, the novel moves forward in short chapters that leave no room to breathe or take a moment to think things through. Marina’s point of view is myopic but compelling. Her overweening self-confidence guarantees the tale will end in tragedy, but since there’s no telling what the sure-to-come disaster will be or how it will reflect on her, it’s impossible to look away.
A wickedly smart novel from an engaging new voice.
Belli, Kate | Emily Bestler/Atria (288 pp.) $28 | October 14, 2025 | 9781668093658
November 2001: A young gallery employee unwittingly exposes several art-related crimes while trying to avoid facing her own 9/11 trauma. As New York reels in the face of mass tragedy, Chloe Harlow tries to court a sense of normalcy through her job as a gallery assistant, only to end up drinking herself into oblivion most nights with her friends at the bar. But one morning, she wakes naked in bed, unable to remember how she got home from the party in artist Inga Beck’s Williamsburg loft. When she drags herself to work, she learns that Inga was murdered just hours ago. Trying to hide her compromised memory from the cops while quietly investigating what might have happened, Chloe keeps up appearances by attending a top-end Sotheby’s auction at which her gallery purchases a Monet for $20 million for a secret buyer. When her immediate boss goes missing just after Thanksgiving, Chloe is promoted, to the envy of some of her more experienced co-workers. But things are undeniably weird: Her roommate seems to be avoiding her, she catches his boyfriend searching her room, and someone breaks into the apartment. She has flashes of memory from the night of Inga’s death, but they contradict the story others have told her about what happened. Behind it all are her own repressed memories of escaping the North Tower as it collapsed. The setting in post-9/11 New York adds a fascinating layer to the novel’s poignancy and urgency. Chloe’s quest to solve the mysteries around her reflect a young generation’s desire to find some stability in a world literally fallen around them. Discovering the truth about the intrigue at the gallery becomes Chloe’s path to healing that is not the same as forgetting but holds space for all this is lost as well as for the messy joy of living.
Engagingly clever and elevated by its unique setting.
Blake, Olivie | Tor (368 pp.) | $29.99 October 21, 2025 | 9781250883452
What do superhot sorority girls and an assistant professor who’s a new mom have in common? Being a woman is hard.
Told from the perspectives of Sloane, a new mother experiencing an identity crisis, and Nina, a pledge sister at The House, the sorority that will be her ticket to lifelong success, Blake’s novel uses sarcasm, wit, and unwavering honesty to view the realities of womanhood—“femininity as a social construct and the ways in which it was an unsolvable curse”— through a satirical microscope. While Sloane and Nina, on paper, could not be more different, their lives are connected via The House when Sloane becomes the faculty adviser—“The House [w]as the ultimate safe place…something of near-magical significance. Sisterhood, Sloane learned, was a proper noun, as in: The House was a hearth for Sisterhood, where The Women grew into themselves.” The master puppeteer of this magical Sisterhood is Alex, a high-powered lawyer, single mom, and sorority alumni mentor who befriends Sloane as a fellow mom during a moment in need and draws her further and further into her influential circle. Alex represents women who have a seat at the table, women who are in control, who rise above the patriarchy. Sloane, jaded by the impossible ideal of the “Good Woman,” and Nina, enthusiastic to the point of desperation, are both drawn to Alex’s bewitching we-can-have-it-all aura, the unspoken mantra that hums through The House. However, the more they become entwined in the rituals of Sisterhood, the more they understand that beauty is just a facade and what lies beneath is much more sinister and downright
surprising—you’ll see! The growing absurdism of the women’s desire to break the system, to achieve more, to rise against their common enemy— men—threatens to engulf itself during one final House dinner. Endlessly quotable, highly entertaining, bordering on overly absurd, but perfect for book club consumption.
Buckley, Jonathan | Norton (168 pp.)
$16.99 paper | November 4, 2025
9781324131076
A woman’s two visits to a Greek town, to mourn the deaths of her parents, open up questions of memory, immediacy, and selfhood. British writer Buckley’s latest, long-listed for the Booker Prize, is a short, teasing, shape-shifter of a novel focused on Teresa, an Englishwoman with a special affection for this unnamed Greek coastal settlement. Nine years earlier she had come here to put her thoughts in order—“This place was conducive to introspection”—following her mother’s death. While fending off calls from her ex-husband, exploring and admiring the landscape, befriending a waitress and a poetically inclined car mechanic, and having an affair with a diving instructor, she kept notes that both recorded and refracted the experience. On the second visit, after her father’s death, she reconnects with these locals and others, their lives having moved on, as has her own. Buckley seems in no hurry to reveal character, place, or explanation, meanwhile offering minutely observed shifts in tone or perception: “A faint grain in the air of the bay, I wrote in the notebook. Quivering water, mild light.” Slowly Teresa’s identity emerges— she’s closer to her mother (a brilliant mathematician) than her father, “handsome,” “blunt,” “a perfectionist,” “suboptimally passionate.” A legal
professional, she was “born to be a champion of the law,” someone who never avoided an argument. Her experiences, recollections, decisions, encounters, and philosophical musings are both narrated and lent scrutiny in her notebooks, the style lending a layering, echoing effect. Buckley’s brief, deft narrative, while not especially strong on plot development, is both rooted in place and vastly searching, touching on history, literature, and philosophy, as well as crime and violence. It offers moments of lingering intensity. And then the story takes another turn, giving rise to meta questions about all that has gone before. Explorations of connection and presence drive this enigmatic, precise little web of a book.
Cheon Seon-Ran | Trans. by Gene Png Bloomsbury (304 pp.) | $27.99 August 12, 2025 | 9781639735761
Foul play of a supernatural sort may be responsible for a string of deaths ascribed to suicide at a long-termcare hospital. In this horror-mystery hybrid, a bestseller in South Korea, a detective named Suyeon arrives on the scene after a 74-year-old man has apparently jumped to his death from the sixth floor of Cheolma Rehabilitation Hospital—the fourth death by suicide at the facility within one month. Suyeon’s superior is inclined to believe that the notes the jumpers left behind are authentic, that the suicides were copycats and reflect the bleak environment of a long-term-care facility. But Suyeon has her doubts. For one reason, there’s been a curious absence of blood at the death scenes. And why has every jump been from the sixth floor? Also having her doubts is a woman Suyeon meets when she returns to the scene: “They were thrown,” the stranger says.
“Picked up after they were already dead, or as good as dead, and hurled. Hard.” The woman is cagey but tells Suyeon her name—Violette—and that “I put away bad guys too.” And she’s going to need Suyeon’s help. Chapters from the point of view of the colorless Suyeon, “a believer of cold, hard facts,” switch off with other perspectives, including that of an adolescent Violette as she is introduced to the vampire world; these overheated passages, set in the 1980s, can read like juvenilia. The rigorous logic characterizing the mystery novel is pointedly and playfully at odds with the irrationality of supernatural fiction, and the payoff potential heavily favors horror fans. Although there’s a deftly pulled-through thread about loneliness and some interesting philosophical riffing about a vampire’s justifications for murder, everything is harbored in a story in which events proceed pretty much as expected. Miss of the vampire.
Colley, Heather | Three Rooms Press (276 pp.) $18 paper | October 21, 2025 | 9781953103628
Assault and substance abuse prevail under the cover of good times in this campus novel.
College sophomores Stella and Penny begin an unlikely friendship after Penny joins her high school friend Leah in her “new life” at the University of Michigan, “where football is King.” Penny takes up residence in the living room of the Kappa Alpha sorority, in which both Leah and Stella are sisters. Life there revolves around drug-fueled and alcohol-drenched parties where the sisters strive to maintain their place at the top of the hierarchy of Greek life by being the girls desired by the boys at the most prestigious fraternities: The Church and its up-and-coming rival, Sigma Rho. Both girls are
Comitta’s found-text novella tells the story of one man’s peculiar quest.
troubled: Stella is haunted by a sexual assault the previous spring by a Church brother, Penny by depression she describes as an elephant on her heart telling her “that I’m no good, and that I’ve always been no good, and that I’ll indefinitely be this way.” In the closed system of Greek life, the use of pharmaceuticals for treatment rather than partying is scorned, and even parents participate when they show up for Parents Weekend. The lively text alternates first-person chapters from Stella’s and Penny’s points of view with an omniscient third-person narration who reveals the perspectives of fraternity brothers, parents, and others. Award-winning short story author Colley’s long-form debut sticks uncomfortably close to the mindset of characters who see the world with bleary eyes. Her downbeat ending offers neither Stella nor Penny a good way out.
Much like a frat party: bleak and claustrophobic but with manic, fizzy energy.
Comitta, Tom | Coffee House (151 pp.) | $14.95 paper | August 19, 2025 | 9781566897297
Comitta’s found-text novella tells the story of one man’s peculiar quest. There’s an art to repurposing the prose of other writers and transforming it into a distinct work all its own. As the author explains in an afterword, “Through a process of collage and constraint, I have gathered fragments from hundreds of
novels and arranged them into a story of love and loss, suspense and snuff boxes.” At certain points here, the literary device is more obvious than in others: The opening and closing chapters both declare their status as collages. The protagonist’s search for a lost snuff box and a duel at the climax each mark this book as being set in an archaic time. Comitta’s source material is wide-ranging, with repurposed prose from authors ranging from Bram Stoker to Ishmael Reed to David Eddings. At times, prose itself slips away, with certain chapters making use of diagrams and illustrations to keep the narrative moving forward. Early on, Comitta splits the action into two columns, offering the reader two different outcomes, one of which ends the book relatively early. The chapter titles make for entertaining reading, including “Being the Events of the Following Morning Told in the Form of a Run-On Sentence” and “Being the Discreet Dreams of the Bourgeoisie.” Comitta displays a sense of puckish humor throughout: One chapter highlights sentences in which the word “ejaculated” is used to describe speech; another is told in the manner of a medieval ballad. This heady literary experiment demonstrates that high-concept literature can also be very entertaining. An intellectual exercise crackling with madcap energy.
Tom’s Crossing
Danielewski, Mark Z. | Pantheon (1232 pp.)
$40 | October 28, 2025 | 9781524747718
Danielewski turns from postmodern confections to a decidedly untraditional take on the Western.
Kalin March is the new kid in the tidy Utah town of Orvop (read Provo). There, because he’s wearing odd shoes—“like a moccasin, only too worn for even the poorest Indian, and blue, though a blue faded to near gray, with leather laces and rubber soles”—he’s bullied by football star Lindsey Holt, whose best friend is the smart, mischievous Tom Gatestone, who “weren’t ever a brutal boy.” Kalin wins their respect for two reasons: He can’t fight, but he doesn’t run; and, though small for his age, he’s a master on horseback. Therein lies the nub of Danielewski’s long, long story, which commences with the promise of “so much awful horror” occasioned by two horses, Navidad and Mouse, slated for slaughter by local patriarch Orwin Porch, “or Old Porch as he was called, though he weren’t but fifty-nine.” Kalin steals the two death-bound horses and heads into the mountains above Orvop, having promised Tom, who has died of a terrible cancer, that he would free them. Apologies for that spoiler, which takes place in the opening section, but Tom will become an important presence later in the narrative, a ghostly guide through the impassible mountains, even as Tom’s living sister, Landry, catches up to Kalin and partakes in a slowly
unfolding adventure that involves a whole lot of bloodshed. With echoes of The Iliad and a body count to rival Blood Meridian , morphing from Western to horror to police procedural and back again, Danielewski’s yarn is carefully plotted and imaginatively written. Its only flaw is its excessive length, as if the author were in a race with William T. Vollmann; at only a couple of dozen pages shorter than War and Peace, it serves as a pointed lesson in the fact that life—as so many of Danielewski’s characters discover—is short indeed. Overstuffed, but a daring foray into a genre that’s seen little recent experimentation.
Del Giudice, Daniele | Trans. by Anne Milano Appel | New Vessel Press (146 pp.) | $17.95 paper | October 28, 2025 | 9781954404366
The narrator of this obliquely told novel searches through literary history.
Upon its initial publication in Italian, Del Giudice’s 1983 novel found an avid readership, including Italo Calvino and actor/ director Mathieu Amalric, who adapted it for the screen in 2002. Appel’s translation is its first appearance in English, and it isn’t hard to see why this has become a cult classic for some. The novel abounds with false starts and misdirection; the narrator begins on a train that’s broken down and is immediately reluctant to talk about why he’s traveling in the first
Delsohn captures transmasculine life in this entrancing debut collection.
place. Gradually, we learn more: He’s going to Trieste, where he visits a few of the city’s bookstores. He also has, in his own words, an “evidently foreign appearance.” The combination of a driven protagonist and withheld information gives this book the feeling of a spy novel, but it turns out that the narrator is in search of traces of Roberto Bazlen, a real author who died in 1965. At one point, a woman tells the narrator, “I think that only through stories will you be able to understand,” and it’s that layering of stories upon stories that gives this novel a compelling sense of mystery. (The translator’s use of the word “Negro” adds an occasionally dissonant anachronism to the mix.) One person’s cult book is another’s source of frustration; in a note at the end, Appel observes that “the elliptical quality creates an air of ambiguity that leaves you wondering if you missed something.” But it’s that contrast between the narrator’s mysterious journey and the precise details of Bazlen’s life—including evocative passages about clothing and class— that make this slim book so memorably disconcerting. A haunting novel with traces of thrillers and metafiction in its text.
Delsohn, Max | Graywolf (224 pp.) | $18 paper | October 21, 2025 | 9781644453612
Delsohn captures the pathos and humor of transmasculine life in this entrancing debut collection. They share a city (Seattle), an era (2010s), and a demographic (trans men, overwhelmingly in their 20s). Many name-drop the same clubs (Pony, Object), some share a doctor (Dr. Rolfe), and a handful frequent the same amusingly named triad of drug dealers known collectively
as the Furniture Guy. But there is a greater kinship among the protagonists in these 10 stories: a true grappling with their understandings of themselves and what it means to be a member of a specific queer community. Each narrative drops us in a moment of tension or discovery. The opening story, “Crawl,” follows Jack’s one-night odyssey to explore the attraction to men that has blossomed in the wake of his transition. The technician who maintains the titular manufacturing device in “The Machine” must contend with his boss’ invasive personal questions. The narrator of “Don’t Be Boring” begins the difficult work of disentangling himself from a caustic but charismatic college friend. Delsohn displays enviable craft throughout the collection, evident in the skillfully composed arc of every story and the deftness and wit of individual lines. (Of a gregarious acquaintance, the narrator of “The Bubble” says, “We’d walk into a bar and he’d always know somebody; we’d walk into a gay bar and he’d always know everybody.”) This is a no-skips collection, but perhaps Delsohn’s most ambitious and moving work is the closer, “Same Old,” which follows 30-year-old Simon’s attempt to help the vulnerable, younger trans man who sold him acid—all while tripping. Attempts and embarrassments, workaday triumphs and acts of kindness—Delsohn brings all this and more to shimmering life.
Faust, Carson | Viking (400 pp.) | $30 October 7, 2025 | 9780593830895
Multigenerational novel about the gifted women of a Native American family near the shores of a blackwater river in South Carolina.
One night in March 1996, 14-year-old Nadine discovers that her 6-year-old sister, Laurel, is missing from the Wisconsin home they share with their mother, Ayita, and
great-aunt Rosebud. The search for Laurel stirs up trouble from the past, including her often violent father, who left before Ayita knew about her second pregnancy and who is initially accused of kidnapping Laurel. It also begins Nadine’s discovery of the powerful inheritance she had dismissed as superstition: the traditional healing ways and visionary gifts of her people that go back centuries. Nadine’s disconnection from her legacy began long before her birth, when her grandmother obeyed her own father’s command to “stay godly” and avoid “the medicine, the witchery.” The novel is intricately structured, following two timelines through its first half, one beginning with the loss of Laurel and the other beginning in 1899, with an encounter between Nadine’s great-greatgrandmother Sophronia and the ucv’kse, or Little People, who have the “real medicine” and exist in the “in-between,” between life and death. The two timelines converge when Nadine goes with Rosebud back to South Carolina to connect with her other great-aunt and great-grandmother and learn the healing arts they hope will restore Laurel to them. The resolution of this turbulent, slowly paced, and lyrical debut novel is unsettling, suggesting that though restoration is possible, it may not be in this world.
A harrowing and lyrical debut about the costs of healing multigenerational trauma.
Flynn, Vince & Don Bentley
Emily Bestler/Atria (432 pp.) | $30 September 30, 2025 | 9781668045879
A decades-old grudge and a potential new war in Europe spell trouble for the CIA in this fastmoving thriller.
In current-day Barcelona, Spain, Mitch Rapp just wants to spend time with his girlfriend, Greta Ohlmeyer, who knows he’s a killer for the CIA.
Greta’s grandfather is a prominent banker who has connections with interim CIA Director Thomas Stansfield. But someone is threatening all the Ohlmeyers, and Mitch will do anything to protect Greta. His fans already know what impressive talents he has: He’s fluent in French, Arabic, and Italian, and he speaks passable Persian. More germane to the story, he’s abundantly capable of speed and violence. His most fearsome weapon is his mind, according to the narrator, but the former traits are what draw the blood. Rapp says he’s not a killer for hire, but he surely can dispatch the bad guys. Indeed, “once Rapp decided to kill someone, very few people could change his mind.” His CIA handler sends him to Moscow to help prevent a war between Russia and Latvia, because the job requires his—ahem— nondiplomatic skills. Unsettled scores drive the story from the beginning, when in 1945 Stansfield kills a patrol of Soviets who are trying to claim 100 tons of German uranium oxide. But one Soviet survives, and decades later Stansfield, now in the CIA, may yet suffer retribution. And Rapp, the CIA’s most talented off-the-books assassin, also dishes out some personal payback. Of course it can’t be easy. Only a fool would willingly enter Lubyanka in Moscow, the intelligence service’s headquarters, because it’s like sneaking into hell. The local joke is that Lubyanka is Russia’s tallest building because you can see Siberia from the prison cells in its basement. Not knowing if he will come out alive, Rapp goes after a target there and is treated to a rambunctious elevator ride. Imagine being in a confined space with a mortal enemy just as tough as you are—what fun! High octane entertainment.
THE MARTINS
Foenkinos, David | Trans. by Sam Taylor
Pushkin Press (256 pp.) | $17.95 paper
October 28, 2025 | 9781805333654
A novelist searches for the subject of his next book on the streets of Paris and discovers an unlikely heroine in an elderly stranger. Writer’s block isn’t a challenge the unnamed narrator of this wry novel ever expected to face. But when the characters he creates make his “head spin with boredom,” the narrator seeks literary inspiration in Madeleine Tricot, an old woman he meets on a walk. His interest grows when he learns that this octogenarian grandmother and former dressmaker for Karl Lagerfeld suffered a traumatic first love. Before he can learn more, Madeleine’s daughter, Valérie Martin, draws him away from her mother, whom she claims is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and into her own family, the members of whom remind the narrator of “passengers on the same ship who [brush] past each other without ever really meeting.” At first, they strike him as “hackneyed” figures playing tired roles: Valérie, the woman “slightly sad[dened]” by the trials of middle age; her husband, Patrick, the man “stressed out by his job”; Jérémie, the awkward teenage boy with nothing much to say; and Lola, the daughter with no plan for her life. Yet as his involvement in their lives deepens and his writerly objectivity falls away, the narrator realizes that his chance presence in the narrative of their lives is the catalyst that sets them on individual paths toward personal
transformation that no one could have foreseen. As it explores the relationship between reality and art, this understated novel about identity, family, and redemption reveals how the most banal incidents can sometimes trigger the most meaningful experiences.
A playful yet profound reflection on the extraordinary nature of ordinary life.
Fosse, Jon |
Transit Books (144 pp.) | $25.95 October 7, 2025 | 9798893380217
Three residents of a coastal Norwegian town ponder life, love, and what might’ve been. This slim novel by the Norwegian neomodernist and Nobel Prize winner is a single sentence in three sections, each from a resident in a small fishing community. The first, narrated by a man named Jatgeir, follows him on an errand to acquire a needle and thread, during which he’s interrupted by his longtime secret love, Eline, who asks him to literally ferry her away from her failing marriage. The second section is narrated by Elias, a neighbor of Jatgeir’s and bemused observer, and the third by Frank, the troublesome husband mentioned in the first section. Curiously, Eline doesn’t get an opportunity to narrate her side of things, which intensifies her place as a muse or possession. (Jatgeir has named his boat the Eline while Frank’s boat is named the Elinor. Names are fluid, underscoring the theme of shaky identities.) The story
is infused with themes of regret and uncertainty, and the run-on sentence intensifies the feeling, as if each character is trying, only semisuccessfully, to determine what their feelings are. (“No, that’s embarrassing, I think, it’s almost enough to make me turn red, I think, no, how could I ever have come up with the idea of doing that,” Jatgeir muses, in a typically elliptical passage.) Fosse doesn’t put a period at the end of this novel’s long sentence, but the story does reach a resolution. Still, Fosse’s main goal is to generate an atmosphere of closed-off men struggling. (The novel opens with Jatgeir getting gouged while purchasing a needle and thread; Frank recalls needing to be falling-down drunk to introduce himself to Eline.) Typical of Fosse’s fiction, the novel uses a recursive style to convey confusion and listlessness, with occasional meditations on love and faith. No clear answers arrive, but it’s a fine portrait of uncertainty. Glum subject matter enlivened by Fosse’s graceful, fluid style.
Freitas, Donna | Soho Crime (384 pp.) $28.95 | November 4, 2025 | 9781641296380
Freitas—whose previous novel focused on one woman’s decision whether to have a child—offers the intertwining stories of several young Rhode Island mothers
who experience various combinations of satisfaction and regret over their choices. What sets this entry into the genre of motherhood fiction apart is that Freitas has created an engrossing mystery: Was successful real estate agent Lucy Mendoza kidnapped in the parking lot of a Narragansett Beach supermarket or did she abandon her baby, Emma, there? Freitas plants hints pointing in a lot of directions, most of them red herrings, leading toward twisty solutions to not one but several disappearances. At the same time, the novel lays out Freitas’ thesis about unfair attitudes toward women as
mothers almost too neatly through other mothers’ reactions. Diana Gonzalez, a retired detective consulting on the case, notices parallels between Lucy’s case and those of two other women, Maeve O’Neil and Joanna D’Angelo. Years ago, Maeve returned eight days after having vanished, only to drown with her child a year later. Joanna has been missing for the last three years but has received little attention thanks to her unsympathetic profile—she was having an affair, among other things. Meanwhile, Lucy’s best friend, Michelle Carvalho, faces a moral and emotional crisis. A devoted mother, Michelle doesn’t want to believe Lucy would forsake Emma. She puts off telling the police that Lucy confided her wish that she’d never had a baby. When Michelle’s husband goes behind her back and tells the press, the public assumes Lucy is a bad mother who ran off. But not graphic artist Julia Gallo, who empathizes with Lucy. Julia loves her baby but hates being a mother. Joining the support group to which Lucy belonged, Julia finds guidance and a solution Freitas seems to like, although it would probably be deemed unacceptable for a male character. (Even decent husbands get short shrift here.) Freitas, who has been public about choosing not to have children, works hard to capture ambivalences in motherhood and marriage. While maternal regret may not be the taboo subject Freitas claims, book clubs should love her satisfying page turner.
Gabel, Aja | Riverhead (352 pp.) | $30 November 4, 2025 | 9780593329702
A secret scientific breakthrough threatens to split up a married couple.
Gabel’s affecting sophomore novel follows Noah, a grief-stricken physicist, as he navigates the world after a devastating loss. Noah was once married to Eileen, a biologist and his first love, but their
relationship and lives fell apart after the sudden death of their almost 4-year-old daughter, Serena. More than half a decade later, Noah is now remarried to Maya, a lapsed artist, who entered his world “like a warm steady light after years of darkness, pain, and grief.” As the novel weaves together the perspectives of Noah, Maya, and Eileen, the three characters’ lives begin to intersect after Noah accepts a job from Klein Michaels, a disgraced billionaire, to work on a top-secret, shadowy venture. The Janus Project allows people to travel back to their own memories, not as an outside observer but as their current self. As Noah becomes increasingly lost in his work and the possibility of seeing Serena again, Maya feels a distance swelling between them. With a precarious present and an uncertain future, they each look toward their past for comfort and answers: Noah decides to bring Eileen into the Janus Project, and Maya starts communicating with her artist ex-boyfriend. As Noah teeters on the brink of no return, Eileen contacts Maya with a plea: “how strange it was that they’d both decided the same thing…at the same time, like entangled particles, like knowledge traveling faster than the speed of light, like people of the same family, context, past, future, now.” The two women work to escape their situation, which threatens their physical, emotional, and temporal well-being. Combining elements of science fiction, mystery, and domestic realism, the novel grapples with the complexities of time, memory, grief, family, art, and science. Gabel beautifully explores the ways the past echoes endlessly in the present and into the future—and the unimaginable lure of being with the ones we love no matter the cost.
A poignant and sharp novel about love, loss, and finding light in the darkness.
Kirkus Star
Hall, Sarah | Mariner Books (400 pp.) | $30 November 4, 2025 | 9780063439948
A chorus of voices, ranged across centuries, expresses the history of living with Helm, a weather phenomenon that blows in a remote valley in northwest England. In Cumbria, in a valley called Eden, a fierce, tempestuous, monstrous wind blows that has impacted the world since time began. British novelist Hall, long invested in this region, gives life in her latest work to a mosaic of characters whose understanding of or connection with Helm illustrates their engagement with history, science, faith, “yarns, rituals, old beliefs…strange rustic traditions” and more. NaNay, “from the herding tribe,” sees Helm as a creature pulled from a dream; medieval astrologer Michael Lang considers it a demon; Victorian meteorologist Thomas Bodger is challenged by it as a scientific mystery to be measured; and Dr. Selima Sutar, in the modern era, has arrived to work at the Centre for Atmospheric Science observatory to study air pollution, at a moment when the weather itself, including Helm, may be at a tipping point. Hall dodges among these figures while adding more—a wayward, inventive child; an herbalist; a glider pilot—and intersperses other information about Helm: illustrations, wind speeds, alternative names, comparative phenomena. The result is an immense literary panorama, expressed at times in period language, traversing a mass of preoccupations with and perceptions of the entity that is Helm. Variously playful, irreverent, and lyrical, the assembly delivers a reading experience as diverse as its historical breadth and topical depth, sometimes following a character thread, at others evoking place or moment or comprehension in fine, descriptive, occasionally transfixing language, salted with local dialect.
Impressive, absorbing, challenging, the novel sometimes overwhelms with its range and immersion, but the ambition and accomplishment are undeniable, and carry the force of a major weather event. A monumental literary tribute to the interconnection, as old as time, of weather and humanity.
Higgins, Marissa | Catapult (272 pp.) $27 | August 19, 2025 | 9781646222575
Estranged wives, both named Rebecca, become involved with the same woman in this sophomore novel.
The Rebeccas— one a doctoral student, the other a cashier at an organic grocery store— have been separated for six months. Theirs was a volatile marriage, marred by student Rebecca’s alcoholism, but now she is sober, on her medication, and eager to become a foster parent. But in order to get approved, student Rebecca needs cashier Rebecca, who herself grew up in foster care, to pretend they are still happily married. Cashier Rebecca isn’t entirely opposed— she desperately wants her wife back if she is stable—but she has her own entanglements to manage. Despite her precarious personal financials, she has presented herself as a “provider” on an app that pairs sugar babies with sugar mamas and connected with the pregnant Charlotte. But little does she know that Charlotte isn’t expecting and isn’t in need of a romantic benefactor—Charlotte likes wearing a prosthetic pregnancy belly and is using
her inheritance money to serve as student Rebecca’s (“her Rebecca”) sugar mama. The novel’s premise smacks of screwball, but the bleak interior lives of her cast keep comedy on the sidelines. Chapters alternate focus between Charlotte and cashier Rebecca, and in both, we hear how much they hate themselves and watch as myopia blinds them to the needs and experiences of others. Higgins’ prose has moments of evocative wit, such as, “Her voice sounds strained and controlled, like she is giving boarding announcements for a rocket designated to explode for the pleasure of the rich and perverse.” But she allows her characters so many flights of fancy that the line between imagination and reality is blurred, and in some scenes it’s difficult to tell what is actually happening.
A queasy look at money, sex, and motherhood with protagonists that will fascinate some readers and exhaust others.
Kirkus Star
Hunt Kivel, Emily | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (320 pp.) | $28 | August 5, 2025 9780374616069
Displaced by mass evictions in New York City, a young woman searches for a new home in the fairy-tale town of Gulluck, Texas. Evie Cavallo is out on the streets. After having lived much of her life in New York, Evie—along with most other renters,
This accomplished debut is a fairy-tale mirror held up to our real lives.
restaurants, and small businesses—has been evicted in the final stage of the mayor’s revitalization program, which repealed eviction restrictions, ended rental regulations, and will turn over the newly vacant real estate to Aha!, “the world’s leading vacation rental company,” to add to its fleet of properties. Caught largely unawares, the city is in chaos and Evie, whose parents are dead and whose only sister is institutionalized in a facility for the criminally insane in Colorado, is left clutching at straws. Her desperation leads her to Gulluck, Texas, where her second cousin, Terry Lang, lives in a sprawling suburban compound with her husband and four children. Terry, a diminutive but ferocious real estate agent, helps Evie get back on her feet and even finds her a place to rent, no mean feat in Gulluck’s depressed market. The only caveat: The house is literally a giant cement boot, consistently invaded by potential customers seeking the cobbler who used to work there. Meanwhile, something is wrong at the institution where Evie’s sister lives, and in the center of Gulluck a giant, sleepy secret slowly blinks. Spritely and yet saturated with longing, Hunt Kivel’s prose draws the reader into a world that is somehow just like and also much more than the world we recognize around us, effecting a subtle destabilization on the reader that becomes more discom fiting as Gulluck’s weirdness increases. The book’s mild dissonance when incorporating some of its more literal fairy-tale fare is outweighed by its lovingly depicted characters and its astute critique of the surreal condition late-stage capitalism bequeaths to us all.
This accomplished debut is a fairytale mirror held up to our too real lives.
For more Texas fiction, visit Kirkus online.
Jha, Sonora | HarperVia (304 pp.) | $30 October 14, 2025 | 9780063440845
A middle-aged woman starts a commotion when she decides to hold a competition to find a new husband.
An unnamed, twice-divorced professor in Seattle decides that for her 55th birthday she would like to hold a swayamvar, a traditional Indian ceremony in which a woman chooses her husband from a group of suitors by having them perform feats to win her hand. Her online post introducing the idea goes viral, and suddenly everyone has an opinion about her decision. As she prepares for the ceremony, she reflects on the life that has brought her to this point: the men she’s married and the grown son she’s raised, as well as her place in society as a disabled Indian feminist sociology professor. She meets a cavalcade of interesting characters who are there either to help her or to discourage her, as well as a few strangers who might just be gods and s pirits in disguise trying to influence her choices. This novel is very much about the heroine’s journey rather than the ultimate outcome; the actual swayamvar occurs in the final chapter. It is mostly a series of vignettes; its forward momentum comes in the gradual unraveling of her backstory, especially her relationship with her long-distance best friend, Cat, and the slowly unfolded history of a distant relative whose love “cursed” her family. Jha uses her heroine to discuss specific issues that become universal. Despite the absurdity around her, the heroine remains certain of herself and true to herself, to her benefit and detriment. Her sense of inner peace grounds the narrative. Slightly mystical and very internal reflections.
Jones, Dan | Viking (384 pp.) | $30 September 23, 2025 | 9780593653807
Series: Essex Dogs, 3
In a trilogy finale, swashbuckling mercenaries the Essex Dogs, having gone their separate ways following the bloody siege of Calais, find their way back to each other to fight a new enemy. With the imminent marriage of King Edward III’s daughter Princess Joan and Castilian regent Alfonso XI’s son Prince Pedro, an easing of tensions between England and its pirating rival is in reach. But all bets are off after Joan dies of the plague. Weary, battle-scarred ex-Dog Loveday FitzTalbot has hopes of settling down with his companion, Gilda, in the English town of Winchelsea, where he buys a tavern. But his life is thrown into turmoil after he turns for help in fixing the tavern’s leaky roof to the king’s sergeant-at-arms Richard Large, who wants to recruit him for the fight against Castilian pirates. Reluctant at first, Loveday is drawn in after the Castilians rampage through town, burning down his tavern and beating him to a pulp. Then the old warrior encounters his young archer, Romford, who also needs Large’s aid. Romford’s lavish earnings from the fighting in France have petered out through loans to his strapped mentor, Sir Thomas, who is still waiting for the ransom Edward promised him for kidnapping a French aristocrat, the Count of Eu. Romford plans to sneak the count out of Windsor and sell him back to the French. Compared to the widescreen action and ribald turns of Essex Dogs (2022) and Wolves of Winter (2023), this final volume takes a while to really get going. But it’s worth the wait to see the reunited Dogs, including their long-presumed dead comrade Scotsman, rediscover
their passion for battle: “Once a man has been to war, it will always come and find him again.”
Jones scores again with this highly entertaining, impeccably researched adventure.
Justine, H. Lee | Blackstone (354 pp.) | $28.99 November 18, 2025 | 9798874899158
When a superfan becomes a nanny for her favorite internet star, she uncovers some devastating truths—though she’s concealing secrets of her own. Surfacing from a deep grief following the loss of a friend, Caitlyn Davis finds a lifeline when she’s hired to work as a nanny for influencer Bella Greene, one of her absolute idols. When she and her friend were younger, they had followed Bella’s every move, meeting her several times during meet-andgreet events and participating in group chats. Though her memories of Bella are wrapped up in her complicated loss, Caitlyn heads off to a tiny island off the coast of Washington, determined to make a new start. And at first the omens are good; she connects quickly with 7-year-old twins Olive and Max, whom she has seen featured in Bella’s online content since they were born, and Bella seems grateful for everything she does. Plus there are instant sparks with superhot chef Hannah, who makes all the family’s meals and also runs a charming local business. Bella’s husband, Tim, seems distant most of the time; the whole family, plus Bella’s assistant, Adam, are still adjusting to life on the island, having moved there from LA following a scandal that has temporarily stopped Bella in her influencer tracks. But she has a plan to get her brand back online. In the meantime, Caitlyn is experiencing visions of her lost friend and feeling like she’s
Apprehensively, the writer returns with a new novel 20 years after winning two of the literary world's top prizes.
BY MARION WINIK
“IT’S A BIT scary to put my face out in public after all these years,” says Kiran Desai, who has emerged from 20 years of writerly solitude with the publication of her third novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, already longlisted for this year’s Booker Prize. The Indian-born author shot to literary stardom when she won both the Booker and the National Book Critics Circle Award for her previous novel, The Inheritance of Loss (2006). “It’s almost as if I didn’t notice all those years passing, but my hair went gray in between.”
Will she join Hilary Mantel and Margaret Atwood among the two-time Booker winners when the prize is announced this November? “I don’t think so,” she demurred, looking slightly terrified by the prospect. Our reviewer, who called the book “a masterpiece,” might beg to differ. We caught up with Desai over Zoom to learn more about this leviathan project; she spoke to us from her home in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens, New York. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
What was the original idea when you first set out to write this novel, two decades ago?
I wanted to write a love story, a globalized love story. I also wanted to write about loneliness, which of course is the other side of love. As I set the story out in the big world—the United States, India, Europe—I realized that the idea of loneliness could include not just romantic loneliness, but all the rifts in our modern world: race, class, distrust between nations,
the division between rich and poor….It was an exciting moment for me when I understood that I could see loneliness in all these different ways.
There are a lot of water images in this book, and I began to think of loneliness as ever-present as water, moving from one form to another. Not just the difficult side of it, but also solitude as sustenance, as a time of recovery and reinvention.
How does one start a project that ambitious?
I began just by keeping diaries, by sitting down at my desk every morning and writing diaries every day, slowly extending the arguments and building up the material. I had developed a very strong discipline while writing The Inheritance of Loss, and it stood me in good stead. I had to trust that clarity would emerge—and plot, of course.
That sounds something like your character Sonia’s process—she, too, is a fiction writer. But after she’s been working for many years, she begins to doubt. “Would these stories intersect and make a book? How would they hold together? How to be trusting like an ant, do your part to sustain what existed beyond your vision? What if she stepped back and surveyed what she had
wrought and saw that it lay in incoherent pieces?”
Were there times when you felt like that?
In about 2013 or 2014, I was at a residency and finally printed out what I had so far. It was a shocking number of pages— about 5,000. A monster. I had to throw out an enormous amount—a whole section set in rural Kentucky, for example, is gone altogether, and several chapters from the German past of Sonia’s grandmother are down to one quick reference.
What kept you going?
It turned out I needed a visual symbol, which I didn’t quite realize until I found one, or it found me. I received a message from the painter Francesco Clemente, asking me to write an introduction to his exhibition. As a gift, he sent
Michael Sharkey
me a painting which was part of the exhibition—a little painting of a figure that has no eyes, no face, just this cracked open void. That became Badal Baba. He is the deity of the book, a deity for characters who have lost their sense of self and cannot see themselves in the mirror.
Badal Baba is the amulet that Sonia’s mother gives her, which gets lost and drives a lot of the plot. Yes, that image was on my desk the whole time, and it helped me tie the different strands of the book together. It was quite interesting to see how a painting becomes a novel, how it infiltrated the book and became part of its secret structure: Who is captured by whose gaze?
Is the character of Ilan,
the famous painter in the book, based on Francesco Clemente? [Laughing.] No, no, Francesco Clemente is the sweetest man in the world. Very gentle. Maybe he would be pleased to be presented in this notorious way, I don’t know. But no, it’s not based on him.
For a large part of the story, Sonia’s amulet ends up in Ilan’s hands.
And he uses it to steal her story. I was thinking about provenance, who owns the art, who gains in power.
Sonia and Sunny are both writers—what was behind that choice?
I think Garcia Márquez said something like, Fiction and nonfiction are two wings of the same bird. On the nonfiction side, Sunny is a writer for the Associated
Press, obsessed with and disconcerted by the news, how it morphs from country to country, depending on who tells the story. Sonia is worrying about similar things in fiction, grappling with ideas of the novel and of storytelling.
In fact, Sunny has a theory that to be a good novel reader you have to be a good toilet cleaner. Toilet cleaning comes up quite a bit in the book. Well, you know, Indian society is still based on class and caste. Cleaning toilets was the work of those who were called “untouchable,” and there are a great many people in India who have never, ever cleaned their own toilets. Sunny is meditating on the poor sales of fiction on the Indian subcontinent— really strikingly low.
Perhaps this is because at the heart of any novel is an individual, one person whom you get to know— their shames, their fears, their lives, their thoughts. Once you begin reading novels, you are able to identify with another person, to see them as fully human. As Sunny thinks of it, Gandhi may have successfully ejected the British from India but he failed in his exhortations to get Indians to scour their own toilets—and thereby fathom the basic meaning of human rights.
For Gandhi, cleaning toilets was part of a spiritual practice. I find that in writing a book, cleaning my house, washing my dishes, taking out my garbage, cleaning my toilet—all of that is part of the writing process, part of the same discipline.
I began to think of loneliness as ever-present as water, moving from one form to another.
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
Desai, Kiran
Hogarth | 704 pp. | $32 September 23, 2025 9780307700155
You’re the daughter of the celebrated novelist Anita Desai. Do you two share work?
My mother and I are very close, but she is totally private about her work; she shows no one what she’s working on before she submits a completed draft to her editor. I read it in galley form. With my work, on the other hand, she’s the first reader. She read a draft of Sonia and Sunny when it was still a thousand pages long. I was still struggling to end the book, to bring all of the themes together. I tried several endings. At one point she said, “I think you have it.”
Marion Winik is the author of The Big Book of the Dead and hosts the Weekly Reader podcast on NPR.
The author received the prize for her debut novel, Swift River.
Essie Chambers has won the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, given annually to an emerging African American fiction writer, for her debut novel, Swift River Chambers’ novel, published last year by Simon & Schuster, follows Diamond Newberry, a 16-year-old biracial girl who is the only person of color in her economically depressed New England mill town. After receiving a letter from a relative, she connects with the family of her father, who disappeared seven years prior. A critic for Kirkus praised the book’s “assured plotting and emotional resonance” and called it a “symphonic debut.” The novel was
previously longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize.
The judges for the award selected Chambers as the winner for “her exceptional storytelling and powerful voice.” They also named a finalist for the prize: Karen Outen, for her debut novel, Dixon, Descending
The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, first presented in 2007, is named after the late author of novels including The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, A Lesson Before Dying, and The Tragedy of Brady Sims. It is presented by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Previous winners include Victor LaValle for Big Machine, Attica Locke for The Cutting Season, Bryan Washington for Lot, and Aaliyah Bilal for Temple Folk —MICHAEL SCHAUB
For a review of
, visit
The Guardian reports that judge Sarah Jessica Parker published the previous novel by a nominee.
An author on the Booker Prize longlist has previous ties to Sarah Jessica Parker, one of this year’s judges, the Guardian reports. Claire Adam made the longlist for her novel Love Forms, published in the U.S. this summer by Hogarth. Adam’s previous novel, Golden Child, was published in 2019 by Parker’s SJP imprint at the press. (Parker’s new imprint, SJP Lit, is at Zando.) The Guardian notes that Golden Child is also being adapted as a film by Pretty Matches Productions, the company that Parker founded with Alison Benson in 2005.
For more about this year’s Booker Prize, visit Kirkus online.
Gaby Wood, the chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, told the Guardian, “It is not uncommon for judges to have a connection to authors whose work has been submitted, so all judges have to declare any conflicts of interest at the outset.…[Parker] declared the potential conflict to ensure transparency and only gave her view on the book after the other judges had shared theirs. No book can go through if it is supported by one judge alone, and Love Forms has earned its place on the Booker prize 2025 longlist through the active support of other judges on the panel.”
The other judges on the panel this year are Roddy Doyle, Ayọ̀ bámi Adébáyọ̀ , Kiley Reid, and Chris Power. The shortlist for this year’s award will be revealed on September 23.—M.S.
being watched, and someone is leaving pentagrams and dead animals around Bella’s property. Will all these events and memories, betrayals, fears, and ambitions overlap? You bet! But it’s a twisty, interesting path to get there, and Caitlyn’s strength and vulnerability are very relatable, even if her ghostly visions may not be. Spirits are one thing, but the most pervasive evil lies in the shadowy toxicity of the internet—and those who will sacrifice anything for fame.
A romance sweetens up the dark commentary on influencer culture.
Kawakami, Hiromi | Trans. by Ted Goossen Soft Skull Press (288 pp.) | $27 October 21, 2025 | 9781593768058
A woman in contemporary Tokyo dreams of other lives— as a courtesan in Edo, then a lady’s maid in the ninth century— all to help her confront the stages of love in her own marriage. An intertextual story of longing, fidelity, and the role of women in Japanese culture, the novel begins with 2-year-old Riko falling in love with Naruya. Though they eventually marry, it is an unhappy arrangement—she worships Naruya, but he is an unrepentant womanizer. With the help of former monk Mr. Takaoka (who shares the name of a ninth-century Buddhist prince), she learns a kind of magic: to enter nightly into a single, continuous dream, one that lasts for years and that she remembers when she’s awake. These dreamworlds span years of her waking life. First she is Shungetsu, from the Edo period, a child sold to work in the Yoshiwara pleasure district, where she learns to become a courtesan. Mr. Takaoka enters her dreamworld in the form of samurai Takada, and the two fall in love. When this story comes to its
As warming as hot cocoa but not so sweet that it will make your teeth ache.
CHRISTMAS AT THE WOMEN'S HOTEL
tragic conclusion, an even earlier narrative springs up: She is a lady-inwaiting during the Heian period. Her princess is married to Narihira, who, like Naruya, conducts countless affairs. The prose, conversational and effervescent, belies the depth of the novel’s complexity; both dream narratives take their frameworks from other texts: The Tales of Ise, partially written by the ninth-century poet Narihira, who is the hero of Riko’s dream, and the 1987 fantasy novel Takaoka’s Travels by Tatsuhiko Shibusawa. Riko can dream these stories because she’s read the sources, but her own life is also a reflection of these framing texts, and so we get them in triplicate, variations on a tale of female submission, negotiation, and freedom. Weaves historical fiction, Japanese literary icons, and meditations on love into a novel that’s remarkable on many levels.
Lavery, Daniel M. | HarperVia (144 pp.) $22 | October 14, 2025 | 9780063455016
The residents of the Biedermeier gear up for the holidays in this winsome followup to Women’s Hotel (2024). It’s December 1964 and the protagonists of Lavery’s previous novel are much as we last left them: scrimping and saving and carving out small but meaningful lives in New York City. Third-floor resident Lucianne Caruso is attempting to rectify a recent reduction in income through
entrepreneurial spirit—while modern women no longer need chaperones to go out and about, she figures they might pay a small fee to be introduced to a decent and reliable date. Residential manager Katherine Heap, who’s a recovering alcoholic, has been steeling herself for another winter estranged from her family but is surprised by a letter from Ohio. Retired caricaturist Josephine Marbury and out-of-work typesetter Pauline Carter—both of the second floor—have been out of sorts ever since the latter caught the former in the midst of some light pickpocketing. The 11th floor’s Carol Lipscomb and Patricia De Boer are harboring stone eagles in their room and Mrs. Mossler, the building manager, might be catching wise. Mild scrapes ensue, without the slightest doubt that they will be resolved by Christmas. This is exactly what it appears to be: an unnecessary but nonetheless pleasurable seasonal return to a beloved cast and setting. Lavery maintains the wry tone and eye for period and character detail that made Women’s Hotel so appealing—for instance, regarding Lucianne and her various club memberships: “That is not to say that she took the Register at all seriously; it was merely sacred to her.” There is plenty of holiday spirit to be found in the Biedermeier, but marvelously little treacle. As warming as hot cocoa but not so sweet that it will make your teeth ache.
Lawrence, Sue | Saraband (304 pp.)
$17.95 paper | September 16, 2025
9781916812437
Two sisters navigate love and loss in Scotland during both world wars, filling roles for absent men and healing from traumas those same men left behind.
The book opens in 1942, as Helen Anderson prepares breakfast for herself and her sister, Effie, before leaving for her day as a mail carrier in Glen Clova, Scotland. The post office job is one of many given to women while the area’s able-bodied men are away at war. Neither Helen nor Effie ever married, and they live in the family home, which also functions as the town’s schoolhouse. After Helen—or Nell, as she’s called—delivers mail, news of a plane crash nearby spreads through town. As Nell hurries to help the lone survivor, he hands her a photo of a woman before he’s taken away. It’s not long before Nell discovers the woman in the picture, Mathilde, has arrived in Glen Clova to mourn the passing of her sweetheart, one of the crew members who died in the crash. As Nell begins to learn Mathilde’s story, the book flashes periodically back to the years between 1908 and 1917, showing how events during the first World War, including Nell’s work as an ambulance driver and Effie’s secret teen pregnancy, led inevitably to the complex family dynamics through which they are both trying to muddle in the 1940s. Gradually, the sisters discover many secrets and coincidences that help them understand who they are and what sort of lives they want to lead. Told in close third person throughout, the book alternates perspectives between Nell and Effie, also shifting briefly to their mother, Manon, and Mathilde. Full of interesting details about female ambulance drivers at Royaumont Abbey and life in rural Scotland during both world wars, the book offers an unhurried examination of the way secrets can burden their carriers over time. While this emotionally
evocative novel would have benefitted from additional setting details to bring the village of Glen Clova more to life, the characters are drawn with depth and nuance. Similarly, although there are too many coincidences to feel entirely credible, the outcome is both satisfying and uplifting.
A fresh take on how war disrupted small town life in the first half of the 20th century.
Levy, Anika Jade | Catapult (224 pp.)
$26 | November 4, 2025 | 9781646222810
A young white woman flails her way toward a literary life.
“Nothing in the history of civilization has ever been believable. Not even for a second,” announces the narrator of this slim, sardonic novel. “None of this happened.” Levy’s brilliant debut does, technically, have a plot: The narrator, Avery, is a grad student trying to carve out a life for herself as a writer. Meanwhile, her close friend, Frances, is seeing her own career as a filmmaker skyrocket—not that Avery’s jealous. But the storyline, such as it is, is one of the least interesting aspects of a work that performs a piercing sendup of life as a 20-something woman straddling New York’s arts and literary circles while dating, working, yearning, and—again and again—making mistakes. “Why was I always seeking permanence in places where women are disposable?” Avery wonders at one point. “Like galleries.”
In Avery’s narrative voice, Levy has achieved a fantastic yet paradoxical triumph: It’s a voice that manages to carry intimations as acerbic as they are full of longing, as strident as they are vulnerable, and as tart as they are unguarded. Avery soon finds a writing job with a right-wing dating app called Patriarchy targeted at rich men and
beautiful women—“but,” Avery adds, because of a tanking economy, is “prepared to settle for hyper-online incel-adjacent misogynists and young white women with low self-esteem.” With her own hyperarticulate, stimulant-driven style, Avery (and Levy behind her) runs into her own life, helter-skelter, as if it were a door she’d forgotten to open. You’ll want to keep reading just to see what she says next. Levy’s utterly original sendup of contemporary life seems destined to become a cult classic.
Mackesy, Charlie | Penguin Life (128 pp.) $27 | October 14, 2025 | 9780593994825
A sequel to a beloved fable reiterates basic truths about kindness, courage, and self-esteem. It looks like a children’s picture book, it reads like a children’s picture book, but as the author tells us in his handwritten introduction—all the text is in slightly hard-to-read pen-and-ink cursive, which is the most grown-up thing about it—“This book is for everyone, whatever age you are, and I hope it helps you remember that you are loved, and you matter. You are brave and magnificent.” Well, to some of its brave and magnificent readers it will nonetheless seem like the kind of thing you would read to a child between Love You Forever and Go the F**k To Sleep. Yet the facts say otherwise: Its quite similar predecessor, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (2019), was a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. It has been translated into more than 50 different languages and dialects and spawned myriad offshoots in art and commerce. Perhaps this is because it hits the exact intersection of the sort of positive messages delivered by children’s literature and the greatest hits of self-help and spiritual affirmation. To wit: “One of the
kindest things you can do is be gentle with yourself.” “I know my mind can play tricks on me, and tell me that it’s all hopeless. But I need to remember who I am; that I am loved, I matter and I bring to this world things no one else can.” Perhaps every age needs its Jonathan Livingston Seagull. There’s a good running joke about a mole who can’t stop eating cake, but then the recipe for the cake (a handful of humility, a jug of joy, etc.) kind of ruins it. There is surely someone you know who would love this book.
McCloskey, David | Norton (400 pp.) | $29.99 September 30, 2025 | 9781324123194
In the latest novel by former CIA analyst McCloskey, a Swedish Jewish dentist of Iranian origins who becomes a Mossad operative in Tehran faces death after his capture by the enemy. How Kamran Esfahani became part of a covert unit responsible for kidnappings, arms smuggling, and assassinations in Iran is laid out in the confession he is forced to write over and over by his chief torturer, known only as the General. Protective of crucial secrets, the confession takes the form of a novel within the novel, covering Kam’s recruitment by Israeli intelligence officer Arik Glitzman and his training in Albania. “Steady dental or surgical hands, it turns out, are quite useful for picking locks and capturing crystal-clear photographs on a wide range of subminiature cameras,” Kam writes. But other skills are required to recruit an Iranian woman whose husband was killed by Mossad and to elude the Jew-targeting Qods Force. With its snarky tone and its conflicted protagonist’s California dreams, McCloskey’s novel is reminiscent of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer (2015). Musing on Glitzman’s comments about assassination-assigned Israeli forces “killing to save lives,” Kam writes, “Why
not fuck for chastity while you’re at it?” But the humor is swept aside by a horrific drone attack on a Mossad couple’s Jerusalem apartment and the severed head of a suicide-bombing Palestinian boy “rocket[ing]” through a salon window. Responding to Glitzman’s claim that the Israelis never put a target’s family in danger, his opposite number, Col. Ghorbani, says, “How about the thousands of Palestinian women and children you’ve bombed or shot or starved?” In probing the deep moral and practical complexities of this shadow war, McCloskey’s novel could not be more timely or unsettling, all humor aside. A sometimes shocking, sometimes mocking look at the Israeli Iranian conflict.
Moody, Christian | Dzanc (200 pp.) | $17.95 paper | October 14, 2025 | 9781938603358
Atmospheric short fiction that harnesses the power of the weird.
Moody needs only four short stories and a novella as to win over his audience; these strange, wonderful tales will enchant readers of all stripes, from the literary-minded to the speculative-loving. In “The Go Seekers,” a young hide-andseek champion vanishes mysteriously from her college campus, leaving her father and two would-be lovers to wonder how and why she disappeared. “Horusville” finds a high school student in the throes of an odd affair with his art teacher, who also happens to be his future sister-in-law. Their rendezvous take place in the midst of a copse of trees with eyes that record everything they see in their bark. The title story follows an impoverished family whose bird-watching husband and father is creating a flock of mechanical birds out of old auto and appliance parts. The eponymous
character in “The Babycatcher” takes a childless couple into the woods to capture a wild creature who looks very much like a baby, but whose aberrant behavior quickly becomes more than its adoptive “parents” can handle. Finally, in “Ray of Golden Yolk,” an egg inspector who detects a frightening anomaly in one of his company’s products comes home the same day to find that his wife and teenage daughter are both inexplicably pregnant. With the exception of the opener, each story presents a world very much like our own but for one key detail. (The only thing strange about “The Go Seekers” is the way hide-and-seek takes over one community as an obsessive sport.) The prose is crisp and clean, even spare in places. The sex, while not titillating, is utterly human. And the stories, while few, are uniformly excellent. A brilliant collection of delightfully surreal tales that linger long after reading.
Murguía, Alejandro | Arte Público (156 pp.) | $18.95 paper September 30, 2025 | 9798893750249
Bad relationships and broken souls in Latine communities populate this gritty collection. Encompassing works published from 1975 to 2013, this collection by Murguía reflects a flinty but compassionate sensibility, focused on people struggling on society’s lower rungs, especially in the Bay Area. The title story exemplifies the approach, narrated by a San Francisco building inspector investigating a fatal Mission District fire; the story encompasses the narrator’s personal heartache, a gentrifying community, and civic corruption in sharp, noirish language. (“The other barrio” is a euphemism for death.) The settings may vary—the Mexican film industry in “Boy on a Wooden Horse,” a
Day of the Dead festival in “Ofrendas,” a Half Moon Bay dive bar in “El Último Round”—but the mood is typically dark, focused on the narrators’ past losses, usually romantic ones. A number of the pieces are short, little more than sketches, but when Murguía uses a wider canvas, he reveals some winning hard-luck characters: The narrator of “A Toda Máquina” has been working to stay sober, but a chance encounter with a woman at a Sacramento, California, convenience store sets him unraveling. These characters are at once shaped and undone by old-fashioned masculinity, from the hard-edged young men in “Winnemucca Barbershop” to the veteran dance instructor in “A Lesson in Merengue.” The sad-sack men can get repetitively gloomy (“If women are a puzzle, this one had a thousand mismatched pieces,” the “Máquina” narrator laments), but there are some welcome outliers: “Bye-Bye Vallarta,” about a woman changing her life’s direction while on a trip to Mexico; “A Subtle Plague,” a kind of ghost story about gentrification; and the sinuous closing prose-poem, “A Sentence,” interweaving details of Latin American folklore and history with references to the lust and heartbreak that drive the author’s work. A melancholy compendium of lives hitting the skids.
Palmer, Caroline | Flatiron Books (560 pp.)
$31.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9781250360083
A young woman climbs up the editorial ladder at a top-tier fashion magazine. Clodagh Harmon knows her position as a new editorial assistant to the arts and culture editor at an unnamed magazine is precarious. For this middle-class suburban Philadelphian to succeed, she’ll need to be “the right kind of girl,” anticipating her boss’ every whim, showing up early, staying late, and enduring humiliations like
A young woman climbs up the editorial ladder at a top-tier fashion magazine.
having her sophisticated colleague Davis Lawrence take her shopping for the right kind of coat and boots. After Davis, daughter of fading actor Barbara Lawrence, has a strange accident and convalesces at her mother’s Upper East Side apartment, Clo becomes her liaison with the office, gaining a bit of luster with higher-ups and currying favor with Barbara Lawrence. Author Palmer (who was once editor of Vogue.com) employs the phrase “at this moment in time” to locate her tale in the early aughts, when paper publishing still ruled; in one sense, her novel covers the demise of print even as it documents Clo’s rise through its ranks. “Around these halls, we employ only two types of people: the privileged (Workhorses) and the super-privileged (Show Horses),” Clo explains, alerting us to her deep hunger to belong. Between Davis, their journalist friend Harry, and encounters with power players like publisher Mark Angelbeck, Clo finds her place, but at a cost. Betting on the wrong horse can be expensive, she finds, even more than the various jewels, handbags, and gowns she gets from the publication’s closets. Her first-person perspective, claustrophobic as a set of blinders, is as effective—as long as those blinders don’t cause her to miss a competitor coming up from the rear. Darker than some famous predecessors, Palmer’s novel teases out class issues behind the doors of elite Manhattan media. Tense, propulsive, and authentic.
Kirkus Star
Parrish, Tommi | Fantagraphics Books (220 pp.) $29.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9798875001321
Parrish’s scrapbook collection of stories, still life photos, and diaristic drawings depict an artistic mind in motion.
Nineteen chapters bounce among theme, art styles, color, specificity, and mood. From the beginning, Parrish invites readers inside their process with an image that looks as though it’s mounted on the page with masking tape. This zine-like approach continues throughout the book with sketches pulled from journals, images of Parrish and friends, and overlaid collages. In an imagined story about characters on the Maury Povich show and in short pieces about presenting work at art galleries, Parrish prompts readers to study their own positions as spectators. The majority of the comics in this collection are light on plot but heavy on emotion. In the graphic medium, Parrish chooses to literalize metaphors in their drawings. One of the longer stories is about carrying someone you love in a box around your neck. The character (who is also an artist) then offers everyone at an art gallery opening the chance to be cared for and remembered by climbing into in a box that the artist will then carry around their neck. Parrish shows a facility with different line thicknesses, shadings, and color palettes across their work. The panels and typesetting are constantly in motion around the pages, which makes this
collection a physically interactive experience requiring readers to turn the book to engage with the imagery. Imaginative aesthetic juxtapositions and an evocative voice make this an absorbing collage of the comics craft.
Pearl, Matthew | Harper/HarperCollins (256 pp.) | $30 | December 2, 2025 9780063445277
“Getting published is murder” is the literal theme of this twisted novel about a young Boston fiction writer whose hunger for success leads him to do bad things.
David Trent is beside himself when he discovers the apartment into which he is moving with his fiancée is upstairs from that of celebrated novelist Silas Hale, a hero of his. David envisions bonding over drinks with the New Yorker contributor, whose support will surely guarantee his rise in literary circles. But Hale proves to be an insufferable control freak who reveals his colors by refusing to turn up the heat in the weirdly designed building (which plays a major role), leaving the couple freezing. He seems to soften a bit when David, following in his large footsteps, is named winner of the Boston Literary Society’s prize for Best First Novel. But a punch-in-the-gut development quickly frays their relationship, leaving David to lie, cheat, and worm his way through serial setbacks. People die. Rats appear. For Pearl, known for historical thrillers including The Dante Club (2003), this satirical departure depicts the writer’s life in the worst possible light. It’s a clever and cutting novel about “someone who writes to become a writer” amid conniving competitors. But it can’t overcome the absence of information about David’s book save a one-line plot description more than two-thirds of the way through. Pearl may well be getting at how publishing
has less to do with content than optics in having what we’re led to believe is a mediocre effort draw strong reviews. But as rewarding as this novel is in other ways, it’s a bit of a cheat to leave the reader hanging in this way. Deviously entertaining.
Reza, Yasmina | Trans. by Jeffrey Zuckerman Restless Books (160 pp.) | $18 paper August 26, 2025 | 9781632064011
A feisty French Jewish family takes a road trip to Auschwitz.
After the success of Jesse Eisenberg’s film A Real Pain , American readers seem ready to embrace a comic novel featuring a visit to a concentration camp. Reza, a French writer best known here for the plays God of Carnage and Art, brings her skill at high-energy dialogue to this story of three aging siblings, Jean, Serge, and Nana Popper, narrated by Jean. We meet him at the community pool where he’s taken his ex-girlfriend Marion’s 9-year-old son, Luc, to teach him to swim. “I’ve never been entirely sure who I am to him,” he comments, and the reader will need to pay close attention or find themselves in a similar boat with the throng of named characters who arrive in the pages that follow. For example, in describing the Sunday lunches held at their mother’s house before her recent death, Jean introduces a slew of family members: “Joséphine, Serge’s daughter, came to the doorstep every other week already exasperated. Victor, Nana and Ramos’s
son, was training at the École Émile Poillot, the ‘Harvard of gastronomy,’ according to Ramos, who pronounces it ‘Harward.’” All these people are important, as are the culinary credentials of the mostly off-stage Victor, whose career options become a bone of contention among the extremely argumentative older generation. It is Joséphine who spearheads the family trip to Auschwitz; her father’s first reaction is indicative of the tone of the entire adventure: “You know, I paid through the nose for a course in eyebrows, and look where that’s gotten her, now she wants to go to Auschwitz, what’s wrong with this girl?” Like her cousin Victor’s, Joséphine’s employment goals are a hot topic in the family, but this family can argue about anything, and will, from the Judenrampe to the gas chamber to the Kraków Radisson and back. Final scenes in a hospital waiting room add poignancy to the mix. A lot of fun, and very smart about family, aging, and being Jewish.
Rosson, Keith | Random House (320 pp.) $28 | September 9, 2025 | 9780593733400
The unlikeliest of monster hunters teams up with her uncle, a burnedout Vietnam vet, seeking revenge. Feeling his oats after the knockout twofer of Fever House (2023) and its sequel, The Devil by Name (2024), Rosson returns with an even grungier throwback, dressed up as a vampire-infested road novel. In
A feisty French Jewish family takes a road trip to Auschwitz.
SERGE
December 1975, just outside Portland, Oregon, roughneck bartender Duane Minor knows he’s on thin ice. His wife, Heidi, a college student who dreams of becoming a writer, is none too pleased with his PTSD and burgeoning drinking problem. Duane is managing to just hold down his in-laws’ bar, the Last Call Tavern, but he knows something funny is going on with the business. Meanwhile, Heidi and Duane are both trying to connect with Heidi’s 13-year-old niece, Julia, who was reluctantly sent to them after her mother murdered her stepfather. It’s a rough scene made worse when Duane has a bad run-in at the bar one night with a bunch of bikers led by one John Varley. After the century-old Varley viciously dismembers both Heidi and her parents, Duane and Julia hit the road seeking vengeance. For horror fans, this is closer to crime fiction than loftier vampire fare— think Richard Lange’s terrific outlier Rovers (2021) or From Dusk Till Dawn in lieu of tortured immortals in velvet capes. Julia’s character takes a dramatic turn after they encounter a sanctuary dubbed the Children’s Museum, led by an ancient, lonely creature called Adeline. Even as he and Julia navigate this bizarre subculture, Duane’s defining characteristic remains the conflict between his inner demons and his outer ones. “You want that man to come forward, that killer I was, but I’ll drown if I do it. I’ll die,” he swears. Meanwhile, John Varley and his psychotic “thrall” leave a bloody trail across the country, chased by one broken man and a little girl with nothing but half a dozen silver bullets to their names.
A pulpy, entertaining throwback about bad men and real monsters.
Stories that celebrate life, language, and love in the face of death.
THE ELEVENTH HOUR
Kirkus Star
Rushdie, Salman | Random House (256 pp.) $28 | November 4, 2025 | 9798217154197
The famed writer delivers a brilliant series of intimations of mortality. Several of the stories here are set in Rushdie’s native India. The opener, “In the South,” recounts two octogenarians, Junior and Senior, who pass their days arguing about this and that: The younger, by 17 days, exults in being a native of southern India, “warm, slow, and sensual,” while the older retorts, “Suppose men had imagined the earth the other way up! We would be the northerners then. The universe does not understand up and down; neither does a dog.” Senior awaits death, eager to be free of his teeming family. Alas, his wish doesn’t come true, death claiming the other, which doesn’t stop their arguments from continuing. “Death and life were just adjacent verandas,” Rushdie writes, having had plenty of cause to ponder the matter. The following story, “The Musician of Kahani,” winds its way through some 80 eventful pages, tracing the fortunes of an academic family grown suddenly superrich and investing heavily in the musical education of their brilliant daughter, a master of both sitar and classical piano and many other instruments, who, oddly, turns her tremendous skills to eldritch purposes. The closing line is delightfully chilling: “And Chandni, who doesn’t laugh a lot, whose default
expression is sort of grave, is smiling her strange little smile.” Eldritch indeed is the next long tale, “Late,” a bona fide ghost story, its protagonist a newly deceased one-book writer whose secrets are ferreted out by an enterprising exchange student from India (“Her hometown was far away. Books were her homeland now”) who just happens to be able to see and speak with the shade—and, in the bargain, help him take just revenge. The last entry, “The Old Man in the Piazza,” enigmatic and arch, closes with something of an epitaph: “Our words fail us.”
A provocative set of tales that, though with grim moments, celebrate life, language, and love in the face of death.
Ryle’s 12 intertwining narratives, linked sequentially over a period of months, take a mostly upbeat look at how lives have changed in one post-Covid-19 Indiana town.
Representing the many small towns that saw an economically revitalizing influx of newcomers during the Covid pandemic, fictional Lanier struggles to balance its long-term traditional values and the more liberal outlook of the newcomers it has welcomed. The book opens with a mysterious email sent to all Lanier residents with the subject line
At times heart-wrenching, but often delightful: a testament to the human spirit.
PRINCESS NAI
“Invitation To Participate: Sexual Practices in a Small Midwestern Town.” Weaving through the following stories, the survey acts as a touchstone to which characters react. In a relatively short book, Ryle richly delineates a lot of personalities, listing more than 65 in her cast of characters. Like many of them, the central five appear predictable at first until they evolve in ways unexpected to readers and themselves. Having refused to get vaccinated, grouchy former basketball coach Don Blankman was hospitalized with Covid and now needs a new lung. While publicly fulminating about sexual morality, he’s privately tortured about the long-term adulterous affair he’s carrying on and by his fear of death. When Don returns temporarily to the hospital, his wife, Joyce, enjoys her newfound independence, taking up painting and finding a new creative social circle. A member of that circle, 81-year-old Nancy, begins a romance with a retired doctor involved in downtown gentrification. Loretta Sawyer, an embittered government bureaucrat who doesn’t admit her loneliness, finds herself drawn to a hot dog vendor whose business she’s supposed to shut down because he doesn’t fit the town’s new “brand.” Loretta’s friend Rachel Barr, a selfeffacing bartender, discovers a gift she can’t avoid: writing stories about her observations. Rachel’s and the author’s trenchant insights and affection for the characters, especially Lanier itself, abound. Comparisons to Olive Kitteridge are inevitable, but the tone and expansiveness of this novel-in-stories hark back to Spoon River Anthology (if not Chaucer).
Thoroughly refreshing: an astute portrait of contemporary small town America that’s genuinely fun to read.
Saeed, Jamal | Trans. by Catherine Cobham
ECW Press (180 pp.) | $21.95 paper
October 7, 2025 | 9781770418042
Fifteen stories artfully weave beauty and joy with the tragedies of war and political persecution. Saeed wrote many of these stories during the 12 years he spent as a prisoner of conscience in Syria, others after the Syrian uprising in 2011. This history makes its way into many of the stories, which sometimes fly with the beauty of impressionistic poetry and sometimes groan under the weight of horrors and atrocities inflicted on oppressed people. Even in the several stories that depict young, desperate love, there’s a palpable sense that Saeed is writing about a freedom that was taken from him. He sketches a world both beautiful and fragile, indeed beautiful because it’s fragile: The lack of freedom makes the overlooked aspects of freedom all the sweeter. In the book’s final story, “My Grandmother Fatima’s Cough,” a gut-wrenching exchange occurs between the narrator and his 7-year-old brother. The little boy asks: “How many times does a person have to be displaced in their life?” The narrator wonders why he’s asking the question, and he explains: “So I know how many more times I have left.” Loss of innocence is a theme in many stories. So is the daily toll of war, oppression, and genocide painted in broad strokes across news broadcasts; here, its sufferers—people who want to live without the constant fear of death—have names and faces. Saeed’s
ability to tell their stories with breathtaking beauty and clarity is a marvel. Among the exchanges that will linger in readers’ memories: A passerby in “An Olive Tree” asks Mr. As’ad: “Who does this tree belong to?” He replies, “The tree is free.” “Then it belongs to everyone,” the stranger says. “No,” answers As’ad, “it owns everyone.” At times heart wrenching, but often delightful: a testament to the human spirit and the capacity to love.
Searls, Damion | Coffee House (120 pp.) | $14.95 paper | October 21, 2025 | 9781566897396
Friends talk their way through the 24-hour news cycle during what turns out to be an inflection point in history. It’s June 2016. A group of friends gather in the courtyard of a New York City bar to discuss their days, their dates, their philosophies of art and life. In November there will be an election whose consequences can’t quite be imagined yet. The Brexit vote goes through in England. In Minnesota, Philando Castile is shot to death at a traffic stop by police. As a cohesive book, this novella resists definition—both in terms of its construction and its central energy. The friends break into the day-by-day, diaristic format of the narrative—which includes shopping lists, the plots of movies, and the news of the day with equal import— to tell their own stories of chance encounters, overheard conversations, or personal epiphanies. In San Francisco, John, the curator of these many narrations, goes on a quest to locate the studio where Neil Young recorded the soundtrack for Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man for no reason other than to see if he can. In a philosophical throughline, multiple characters bemoan the loss of the analog experience. Speaking again of Young— specifically his habit of working out early drafts of songs live onstage in the preYouTube era—one of the friends says, “A
form of life, of artistic practice, that required the presence of other people is no longer possible; the audience is no longer able to be there as people, only devices, recording and comparing.”
Whether or not this may be true for Neil Young fans, it does not feel true for readers of this book, who wash in and out of the flood of images conjured by John and his friends only to come up hard against the immutable fact of a headline that both binds us to the experience through shared history and underscores the privilege of hindsight. While some readers may search for a point among all this overlaid ephemera, Searls’ insistent return to the moments when analog experiences interrupt the forward momentum of events—a girl taking a surreptitious photo on the train, lizards on a hiking path startled by lightning—show that the book’s real interest lies in the ordinary power of sensation, rather than the flashbulb sensationalism of event.
A quixotic exploration of the recent past that reveals something far deeper about how we will remember the future.
Smitherd, Luke | Mulholland Books/ Little, Brown (384 pp.) | $29 October 14, 2025 | 9780316579568
A washed-up rock star and a directionless young woman face nightmarish supernatural and psychological horrors. After a very public meltdown during one of his shows and a debilitating fall that leaves him addicted to pain killers, Johnny Blake decides it’s time to step away from the spotlight. He takes up
residence in a secluded cottage to spend some time detoxing. Upon his arrival, the elderly and undeniably strange couple renting the cottage to him warn him of a supernatural creature called a boggart that is rumored to reside in the area. As the days pass and Johnny spends more time on his own, it becomes increasingly clear that something is watching him from the shadows. Simultaneously, Madison, a young woman who is struggling to find purpose after a nasty breakup, finds hope when she runs into an old gym friend who is now amazingly fit and got a promotion at work. That friend introduces Madison to Ellie, who runs a militaristic fitness boot camp for women called No Days Off. Madison goes for it, and at first results are great, but over time she finds Ellie’s methods increasingly dangerous and sees her fellow students acting strangely. Told in alternating chapters, the stories eventually converge, revealing a link between Johnny and Madison intended to be an innovative twist in the horror genre. Ultimately it seems flimsy and works only to deliver backstory. While at times a gripping thriller as well as a solid piece of horror fiction, this needs a much stronger throughline to connect the twin plots. Intriguingly layered, but lacking substance.
Woodward, M.P. | Putnam (448 pp.) | $32 September 2, 2025 | 9780593718032
Evildoers plan attacks from America to India, and Jack Ryan Jr. is a prime target.
In Washington state, a man and his family are murdered, and President
TOM CLANCY TERMINAL
Jack Ryan learns it is another Poseidon Spear incident. Three retired members of that counterterrorism group have been killed now, and the U.S. government suspects a mole in its midst. Meanwhile, the Umayyad Revolutionary Council believes it has a holy and wholly anti-American mission. Against this backdrop, Jack Ryan Jr., and his fiancée, Lisanne Robertson, visit Delhi, India, to attend the wedding of Srini Rai, the brilliant surgeon who attached Lisanne’s prosthetic left arm. Lisanne had lost her arm in Tom Clancy Shadow of the Dragon (2020). Jack and Lisanne are both operators working for the Campus, a covert group that executes secret presidential directives. A wedding is a happy occasion, and the engaged American couple intend the trip as a vacation. Jack and Lisanne will attend a sangeet, an elaborate pre-wedding party. But it isn’t long before they survive a suicide bomb attack. There’s plenty of action. In simultaneous strikes, terrorists plan to contaminate America’s Western water supply with radioactive waste from Washington’s Hanford nuclear power plant, blow up a spectacular new bridge in Kashmir, and kill the evil Ryan— or Junior, at least. It will be At-Takwir, the end of days. There is an appealing mix of Indian culture, high- speed action, and the rich lode of details that characterizes the whole series. And in the background lingers the question on several characters’ minds: Have Jack and Lisanne set their own wedding date?
A fun read. Terrorists make great Clancy fodder.
Whether they’re dark comedy or just plain dark, these audiobooks capture our existential dread.
BY CONNIE OGLE
THE CHILLING PARALLELS
to modern capitalism in Laila Lalami’s The Dream Hotel (Random House Audio, 11 hours and 42 minutes) are impossible to miss, which makes this novel feel less like the dystopian horror story it is and more like an outline of real dangers to come.
Moroccan American museum archivist Sara Hussein, while flying home to Los Angeles after a conference, is detained by authorities when an algorithm determines that she’s at risk of committing a crime. That algorithm comes courtesy of the Dreamsaver, an implanted device that
allows exhausted overachievers (like new mother Sara) to get high-quality sleep. But its creators have turned over the biometric data collected from its users to the government, landing Sara in a detainment camp where she’s at the mercy of petty guards and a prison-industrial complex that relies on cheap labor.
Narrator Frankie Corso reflects every nuance of Sara’s shifting moods, as she moves from fear and frustration to a steely resolve. She misses her children but decides that she won’t capitulate to a corrupt system, no matter the cost to her freedom. As the voice of
the bureaucracy, which relays camp rules and regulations, Barton Caplan offers the perfectly maddening tone of bland corporate indifference to the human condition.
Liann Zhang’s black comedy Julie Chan Is Dead (Simon & Schuster Audio, 9 hours and 39 minutes) also takes aim at contemporary life, this time through the sharp satire Zhang uses to question privilege and the American obsession with fame and power.
Separated from her twin, Chloe, as a young child after their parents were killed in an accident, Julie is barely scraping by. She was adopted by a greedy, indifferent aunt, while Chloe, adopted by a wealthy white couple, has become a popular TikTok influencer. But then Julie finds Chloe dead and can’t resist stepping into her twin’s perfect life. Soon, however, she discovers it’s not as perfect as she had imagined.
Narrator Yu-Li Alice Shen is a natural for this darkly comic material, especially as the story takes an even more menacing turn at a secret island gathering for influencers. Shen also conquers the difficult task of creating distinct voices for the privileged group of young women Julie finds herself a
part of, tapping into humor when needed and never minimizing the horror.
Small-town politics take on big implications in Jon Hickey’s Big Chief (Simon & Schuster Audio, 10 hours and 1 minute), about a thorny Wisconsin tribal election that not only splits the reservation but also exposes fault lines in friendships and family relationships. Law school grad and would-be political fixer Mitch Caddo is working toward the re-election of his childhood friend Mack Beck as tribal president. The battle seems futile—Mack’s challenger is formidable, a well-known activist—and Mitch registers with too many tribal members as a “J. Crew Indian,” thanks to his white father and his status as an outsider who mostly grew up off the rez.
As the campaign leans into chaos and violence, Mitch is forced to consider his own loyalties and alliances. As Mitch, Shaun Taylor-Corbett has a natural resonance, at first reflecting a sense of bravado. But when tragedy rocks the reservation, Taylor-Corbett allows a tentative note to slip into his narration, mirroring Mitch’s questioning of all he believes.
Connie Ogle is a writer in South Florida.
The author’s 2021 novel, The Trees, is being developed as a limited series by UCP.
Percival Everett’s The Trees is headed to the small screen, Deadline reports.
Everett’s novel, published in 2021 by Graywolf Press,
follows two Black detectives in Mississippi who investigate the murders of several white men while encountering resistance from local law enforcement and various racists. The book won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the PEN/ Jean Stein Book Award.
The limited-series adaptation is being developed by Universal Studio Group’s UCP. Sterling K. Brown, who was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in American Fiction, based on Everett’s novel Erasure, is in talks to star, as are Da’Vine Joy Randolph
(The Holdovers) and Winston Duke (Black Panther ).
Marcus Gardley (The Chi, The Color Purple) is writing the screenplay for the series. He, Brown, and Everett are among its executive producers.
Everett’s 1985 novel, Walk Me to the Distance, was adapted into a 1990 televi sion movie, Follow Your Heart, which the author disowned, saying, “The changes that they made were so grotesque, there was no way to embrace that at all.”
His most recent novel, James, which won the Kirkus Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award, is being developed as a film with Steven Spielberg executive producing and Taika Waititi directing.—M.S.
The Tattered Cover
Adams, Ellery | Kensington (320 pp.) $27 | October 28, 2025 | 9781496743824
A bookstore owner and her pals have more than one mystery to solve.
Nora Pennington is the owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, where she’s surrounded by a group of good friends who call themselves the Secret, Book, and Scone Society: Hester Winthrop, a baker; Estella Sadler, a salon owner; and June Dixon, a hotel guest manager. And ever since a fire at her home, Nora’s been living with her partner, Sheriff Grant McCabe. Now she’s thrilled to be hosting her first-ever author evening at Miracle Books. Cozy mystery author Allie Kennedy is promoting her new book, The Dry Bar Murders, and Nora and her staff and friends have their hands full getting ready for that event as well as an upcoming Halloween Fun and Fright Night, which will include activities for kids as well as a demonstration by psychic medium Lara Luz. McCabe, for his part, is trying to catch someone dumping hazardous waste all over town. Nora’s biggest disagreement with McCabe is over his deputy, K9 handler Paula Hollowell, who goes out of her way to be nasty to Nora and her friends. The day of the Halloween event, Lara arrives with her boyfriend, Enzo Russo, and a bad cold. Nora is surprised when Hollowell arrives and even more so when Allie Kennedy shows up, glaring at Hollowell. The psychic readings start well enough, but suddenly Lara turns pale, gasps for air, and dies despite Hollowell’s CPR attempts. A frantic Enzo shoves Nora, giving her a concussion. Lara evidently died from a bad reaction to Narcan— it turns out she had a heart condition that didn’t interact well with the drug—and the investigation shows that she’d angered many people by accepting valuable pieces of jewelry
that had belonged to the dead, which Enzo sold in his pawn shop. A meager mystery, but it’s always worthwhile catching up on the interactions between Nora and her friends.
Anderson, Jack | Crooked Lane (352 pp.)
$29.99 | September 9, 2025 | 9798892421010
When the world’s most famous consulting detective and his criminal nemesis meet at the edge of Switzerland’s Reichenbach Falls, only one of them walks away. And not the one you might expect.
Returning in 1891 to her childhood home in Bavaria six years after she departed in disgrace to enroll in the medical school of Copenhagen University, Clara Mendel faces a chilly reception. Her beloved mother is dead. So is her stepfather, Alexander Alber. The family who remain—Alexander’s sisters, Dorothea and Margarethe; his brother, Klaus; and their father, Baron Alber—have their differences, but one belief unites them: Clara’s not really part of the family. Her stepaunts and stepuncle are especially suspicious of her financial legacy from their late brother and her motives for returning for Alexander’s exhumation. Aggrieved cousin Friedrich Alber demanded the exhumation because he claims that the bejeweled golden sword Ahnensäbel, a family treasure buried with Alexander by the grieving baron, is rightly his. But when the tomb is opened, the sword is missing. So the Albers mend fences among themselves long enough to freeze out Clara, as she apparently deserves for some long-unexplained scandal. What does all this have to do with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. James Moriarty? For quite a stretch, Anderson acts as if this question were pivotal, blocking out the names of the two archenemies when they appear in a letter and refusing even to allow Moriarty’s name to be uttered till long after most readers have worked out
his role in the case themselves. What remains is the intricately layered saga of a deeply dysfunctional Bavarian family where both murder and Moriarty feel right at home.
Come for the title, stay for the domestic hijinks that’ll give the archcriminal a run for his money.
Brown, Rita Mae | Bantam (304 pp.) $30 | October 28, 2025 | 9780593874110
Murder returns to hunt country. Jane Arnold, better known as “Sister,” has been Master of Foxhounds in Northern Virginia for more than 30 years. In her 70s, she’s tough, resilient, and blessed with a wide circle of friends. Among them is wealthy Olivia Bradford, whose will splits everything between her two sons, Winston and Andrew. Andrew, who recently divorced his first wife, Georgia, to marry the stunning and much younger Solange, doesn’t get on with Winston. When Olivia dies suddenly, Andrew tells Winston that he must remove his beagle kennels, which are now on Andrew’s part of the estate, within a week. Most of the locals take Winston’s side, angering Andrew even more, since he’s now banned from hunting with the Bradford Beagles, and leading to a nasty physical altercation. Undeterred, Andrew still has the nerve to show up at fox hunts. When he’s found dead at one of them, Winston and Georgia are naturally prime suspects. A hysterical Solange takes a moment out from being generally hateful to accuse Winston. Only the influence of two old friends who work for her, the married couple Scott and Ann, keeps Solange semicoherent. Winston is eventually arrested, and Sister and her friends, who have long sheets of prior crime-solving experience, continue to hunt, adding this season’s killer to their list. Confusing the issue even
of suspects and a sly sense of
further are several guns-drawn battles between rival deer hunters and dangerous moonshiners who have worked in the secluded Blue Ridge Mountains for hundreds of years. A startling denouement caps this catalog of everything you need to know about the ancient sport of fox hunting.
Charles, KJ | Poisoned Pen (352 pp.) | $17.99 paper | October 7, 2025 | 9781464227523
In this Edwardian gothic, a kind man succumbs to a family visit and barely escapes with his life.
Zebedee Wyckham is not close to his family, but his cousin Wynn Wyckham has been pressing him to visit remote Lackaday House. Disaster strikes when he’s greeted by Wynn’s confidential secretary: He’s shocked to realized that it’s Gideon Grey, who was once his boss and lover before they both got fired for having a sexual encounter in a supply closet. Also shocking is the fact that the rest of his family is there: Jessamine, a cousin he never knew existed; his brother Bram, and sister-in-law, Elise; another cousin, Hawley; plus a more distant cousin, Wyckham Dash. Wynn, who believes in the family curse that none of them will live longer than 50, wants one of them to marry Jessamine, who comes from an illegitimate branch, and will leave his fortune to whoever wins her hand. Zeb could certainly use it: Because he has trouble focusing and tends to forget things, his father
considered him incapable of managing money and left his to Bram, with the proviso that he take care of Zeb, which he never did. Nonetheless, although no one believes him, Zeb has no interest in Jessamine or the money. The others are willing to fight for the inheritance in whatever mean-spirited underhanded way is necessary. Zeb is smart enough not to fall for the nasty tricks being played, although having his room filled with spiders nearly pushes him over the edge. Gideon becomes the only one he can trust as they rekindle their romance and work together to uncover a shocking truth. Enjoyable gothic mystery with plenty of suspects and a sly sense of humor.
Copperman, E.J. | Severn House (256 pp.) $29.99 | November 4, 2025 | 9781448315208
Copperman launches yet another series, drawing on his childhood experiences in his father’s paint and wallpaper store. When Laura Meehan decided to honor her father’s memory by reopening Breezeway Paint and Wallpaper in Sea Breeze, New Jersey, she never expected him to be able to weigh in on her decision. But a shadowy apparition appearing in the back office claims to be the late Amos Meehan. Though Laura is skeptical of the idea that it really is her father’s ghost, come back to offer his support in her venture, Amos’ help becomes especially valuable when Laura discovers the body of housepainter Ernie Colasco with his head wedged in her
paint shaker. Before founding Breezeway Paint, Amos had been a respected detective on the Atlantic City Police Department. Ernie, on the other hand, had been a universally detested pain in the ass who’d ignored his daughter, cheated on his wife, and owed money to everyone he did business with. While no one much mourns Ernie’s passing, Laura feels that leaving his killer on the loose would tarnish Breezeway Paint’s reputation. The relationship between fathers and daughters looms large in Copperman’s narrative, although it’s not clear what value is added by siting Laura’s relationship with Amos across not only generations but planes of existence. Even Laura isn’t quite sure whether the apparition of Amos is a ghost or a figment of her imagination. It may be hard for readers to invest much in the Laura/Amos dyad if even Laura isn’t convinced it’s a thing. Not quite like watching paint dry. But Copperman’s latest could use more of the manic energy of his earlier franchises.
Cordani, Andreina | Pegasus Crime (352 pp.) $27.95 | November 4, 2025 | 9781639369935
A VIP shopping trip goes hellishly awry. Seven lucky shoppers have been hand-chosen by owner Montagu Verity to attend an exclusive Christmas Eve event at Verity’s Emporium, a storied London shop known throughout the U.K. for its extravagant holiday displays. At first blush, the store seems a fairyland fulfilling all their childhood Christmas fantasies: crisp gingerbread, decadent hot chocolate, exquisite handmade toys, even indoor sledding. But a strange sleepiness falls over the group, and they awaken to a nightmare. They’re locked in the store, they’ve surrendered their phones at the door, and it becomes obvious that someone intends to kill them one by one.
Cordani toggles back and forth between glimpses of the prospective victims’ earlier lives—as children, at university, and early in their careers—and their current plight. The problem is that at no time do any of her retrospective thumbnail sketches give readers much reason to wish for the grown-up characters’ survival. Even Merry, stuck in a dead-end job and hopelessly in love with co-worker Ross, is foolishly controlling, and TV celebrity Fran, tortured by a secret Cordani teases for more 100 pages before revealing as the most obvious thing possible, is shallow and self-serving. When bad things happen to good people, justice cries out for an explanation. But when bad things happen to bad people, well… why the hell not?
A joyless Yuletide tale offers little to celebrate.
de Castrique, Mark | Severn House (240 pp.) $29.99 | November 4, 2025 | 9781448316700
A spry septuagenarian agent springs back into action to nail some Russian villains. Eighteen years ago, a Russian gangster posing as a FedEx driver shot and killed young Kathy Bagatelos, the daughter of mob lawyer Tony Bagatelos, wounding veteran FBI agent Ethel Fiona Crestwater in the process. Ethel retired shortly afterward but unofficially remained in the spy game. The old case comes up during a meeting at Pentagon City Mall among Ethel; her double-first-cousin-twice-removed and protégé, American University computer science student Jesse Cooper; and her friend Cassandra “CiCi” Crawford, an FBI agent. Ethel had instructed Jesse to tail CiCi without revealing who she was, as part of his spycraft training. Once the exercise ends and the three sit down for tea, CiCi confides that Tony, who regularly keeps Ethel in the loop with intel, is her confidential informant.
Meanwhile, the recent release from prison of vengeful Russian mobster Mikhail Golubev has put a target on Ethel’s back. That’s more than personally dangerous, for much of CiCi’s success comes from Ethel’s maneuvers. When Tony is murdered, Ethel immediately begins investigating. De Castrique’s third Secret Lives mystery is fearsomely complicated, with additional characters tossed into the mix every few chapters. There’s FBI Director Rudy Hauser, sketchy Sen. Herman Wilkes, Arlington Police Chief Frank Mancini, and a whole clutch of Russian bad guys. They feel authentic and give the peppy yarn the illusion of forward motion, but mostly provide palate cleansing between the delightful chapters showing the indomitable Ethel at work. The blossoming relationship between Jesse and Ethel, introduced in the series’ first installment, Secret Lives (2022), augurs well for Jesse’s prospects with the FBI.
A lively mystery with a droll dynamic duo at its core.
Finch, Charles | Minotaur (304 pp.) | $29 November 4, 2025 | 9781250767165
A private detective balances family obligations with a challenging new case.
Well-bred and well-connected Englishman
Charles Lenox, still recovering from having been stabbed on a trip to the U.S., is waiting in Portsmouth in the winter of 1879 for the arrival of the daughter of his beloved cousin Jasper, who lived and died in India. It takes him a while to find Angela when her ship arrives—it turns out that she’d exchanged her first-class ticket for two third-class tickets so that her lifelong friend Sari could accompany her. Lenox has received a letter from Elizabeth Huggins, who cared for his bachelor rooms when he was in his 20s, asking for
his help—the previous resident of her rooms died in a suspicious manner, and she believes she may be in danger. Soon after he and the girls return to London, Lenox and his friend Graham meet at Mrs. Huggins’ apartment along with her nephew, Ernest, who owns a nearby pub. They learn that her building was the scene of the unsolved murder of a chemist whose rooftop garden Mrs. Huggins still enjoys using. Someone’s taken up sleeping in the building’s entryway, and she and Ernest, who think the squatter is linked to the murder, suspect it’s Jacob Phipps, whose late wife was a patient of the chemist’s, though he’s supposedly left for Australia. They find scratches around the keyhole of the front door and what appears to be a backward letter K entwined with a straightforward F carved in an inconspicuous spot. Leaving the girls’ entry into London society to his wife, Lady Jane, Lenox and his agency pursue several leads, including the mysterious carvings he finds on other nearby buildings. Despite continuing pain and weakness from his wound, Lenox uncovers a strange plot that leads inexorably to London’s high society. A fascinating, dangerous mystery.
Flower, Amanda | Poisoned Pen (312 pp.) $8.99 paper | September 30, 2025 9781728273082
A mystery from the past threatens a farmer’s future.
Shiloh Bellamy left a lucrative job in California to rescue her family farm in Cherry Glen, Michigan, which had fallen into disrepair due to her father’s lack of interest. An unexpected inheritance helped get things back in shape and pays the salary of her farm manager, Chesney, who lives in the farmhouse with her younger sister, Whit, while Shiloh happily lives in a cabin in the woods. Thanksgiving dinner at the farmhouse brings some surprises. Whit doesn’t show
up, and Chesney reveals she’s worried about her. Shiloh’s boyfriend, Sheriff Milan Penbrook, brings his acerbic mother, who suggests she should be thinking about marriage and babies. Milan isn’t happy about Shiloh’s former boyfriend Quinn Killian attending. Her father, Sully, arrives with unpleasant Connie Baskins and stuns Shiloh by announcing they’re engaged. The veiled hostilities at the table seem minor when Shiloh’s pug, Huckleberry, chases her chickens into a corner of the orchard and seizes a bone they unearthed, which is clearly human. The body it comes from is that of James Ripley, who vanished before Shiloh was born. Unfortunately, the farm is in the district of Chief Randy, who is Quinn’s father and dislikes both Shiloh and Milan. Chief Randy is also pretty lazy and closes the case, declaring the killer to be Shiloh’s grandmother, who believed Ripley murdered her daughter. Sure her adored grandmother is innocent, Shiloh investigates on her own, putting herself in danger from the real killer. A surprising number of suspects for a 40 year old killing keep the bickering cast of characters hiding secrets.
Goldin, A.E. | Pushkin Vertigo (352 pp.) | $18.95 paper | October 7, 2025 | 9781782279198
Not just murder but seduction, betrayal, political intrigue, assassination attempts and the mysterious White Death—all jostling for attention at the crossroads of East and West in the dawning of the Crimean War. By day, Ben Canaan is a 21-year-old Jewish East End tailor’s son and apprentice; by night, he’s one of three Good-for-Nothings who prank the London aristocrats. But he can’t forget his first love, Elizabeth de Varney, who died two years ago of smallpox. Or did she? Shortly after one of Ben’s London schemes gets him into more trouble than usual, his father’s commission for a
new suit for Viscount Palmerston, the Home secretary, reveals to Ben a recently dated daguerreotype of Elizabeth, unmistakably alive, together with a cryptic note from one Lynton Arabin Heathcote: “The White Death— more to come—trust no one.” Heathcote’s return address in Constantinople is enough to send Ben across the Continent in search of Elizabeth. His lost love turns out to be a woman of many identities, all of them, it seems, connected to the intrigue surrounding the war in Crimea, into which Ben plunges with two left feet and an improbable helping of good fortune. Veteran screenwriter Goldin’s first novel draws more direct inspiration from movies than novels, its breathtakingly episodic structure especially indebted to old-time 12-part serials. After Ben (spoiler alert) survives all his misadventures, the British ambassador first dresses him down severely for his bullheaded independence and disregard of rules and decorum and then offers him a job that promises, according to the author, four further sequels. Wherever those sequels take the hero, they’ll be hard pressed to compete with this debut for cheeky ebullience.
Hannah, Sophie | Morrow/ HarperCollins (288 pp.) | $30 October 28, 2025 | 9780063424517
New Year’s Eve 1932 finds Hercule Poirot and his latter-day amanuensis, Scotland Yard Inspector Edward Catchpool, on the idyllic Greek island of Lamperos for what only one of them
believes will be a holiday.
Everyone who takes up residence at Nash Athanasiou’s House of Perpetual Welcome on Liakada Bay has agreed to forgive everyone else for all the past misdeeds they admit. But someone seems to be piling up current misdeeds as well, as Poirot acknowledges when Catchpool presses him on the reason they’ve come. Someone, it seems, has tried to push relentlessly flirtatious Pearl St Germain off her terrace, leading Nash to call on Poirot. Pearl, whose recent conquests include Nash’s assistant and Very Good Friend Matthew Fair, whom she attracted away from his fiancée, Rhoda Haslop, and discarded in record time, plays an even more disturbing role. When American-born Austin Lanyon, Nash’s other assistant and Very Good Friend, proposes a game involving identifying everyone’s anonymous New Year’s resolutions, Pearl, or someone imitating her handwriting, resolves to murder Matthew, making his both the last death and the first death of the year. Despite Poirot and Catchpool’s attempts to protect Matthew, he’s stabbed to death, and the game is afoot. Unlike such Agatha Christie classics as Peril at End House and Murder on the Orient Express , Hannah’s pastiche isn’t a highconcept mystery whose secret can be explained in a sentence, but rather an archaeological dig for motives, deceptions, echoes, connections, and guilty secrets that make the obligatory postmortem interrogations just as fraught and fascinating as the circumstances of what will turn out to be the first murder.
Fans hoping to beat Poirot to the mind bogglingly ingenious solution are well advised to concede the competition in advance.
BONE CHILLING
Johnson, Sara E. | Poisoned Pen (362 pp.) | $17.99 paper October 14, 2025 | 9781728257402
Diverse crimes on New Zealand’s South Island challenge an engaging, methodical criminalist. Traveling forensic investigator Alexa Glock dutifully cancels a weekend getaway with boyfriend DI Bruce Home and his two daughters, Denise and Sammie, when her boss Dan Goddard calls her in distress about his Aunt Phyllis’s bobbled cremains. Scarcely is this comic snafu resolved when duty calls in another direction both less and more urgent. Alexa responds by traveling from the fire of a crematorium to the ice of remote Mount Aspiring National Park, on New Zealand’s South Island near the resort city of Queenstown, to examine some body parts found on a glacier. Despite her dedication, Alexa finds herself out of her element and struggles. Her sixth case floats to a great extent on Alexa’s combination of charm and curiosity. So Johnson supplements detailed descriptions of forensic examinations with the complexities of her personal life, as well as background on the geography and culture of the locations to which she’s sent. Periodic snowfalls frustratingly complicate Alexa’s work. Barely has she begun to untangle the glacier mystery when other urgent cases demand her attention. These include a suspicious, fatal fire at Papa Penguin’s Pizza and an avalanche that triggers a report of multiple missing persons. An additional italicized narrative thread, documenting a Mount Aspiring expedition in 1984, runs through the novel and focuses the glacier mystery as the main event.
A breezy forensic mystery chockablock with procedural detail and local color.
Little, Gigi | Forest Avenue Press (288 pp.) $18 paper | October 7, 2025 | 9781942436676
The teasing title of Little’s first novel only hints at the layers of playful selfreferentiality bubbling beneath its hardboiled surface.
An insurance company has hired “third-rate gumshoe” One the Gun to investigate the death of Five the No Longer Alive, who in life was Five the Dive, a man who’d wrestled the struggling seafood restaurant once owned by Eight the First Mate into profitability by redubbing it the Dive Inn, emphasizing drinks over food, and hiring hulking Four the Door as doorman. One the Gun’s had some modest success in divorces and embezzlements, but he’s never solved a murder before. And he’s laboring under an unusual handicap this time: He’s just been shot to death himself, and his afterlife has sent him spinning back over the same last day over and over again. His faithful assistant, Two the True Blue, informs him that Five died after a fatal dose of rat poison. But it’s unclear whether that dose was administered by Eight, who’s now working as a bartender for a man he deeply resents; by Six the Kicks, Five’s flirtatious widow; by Seven the Heaven, a Catholic priest whose congregants at Our Lady of Immaculate Numbers are mostly ignorant of his gambling addiction; or by any number of other suspects. Spouting a steady stream of Chandleresque similes (“that dish is as stunning as a billy club to the back of the head”), One the Gun battles to make each reiteration of the day
different enough to get him closer to the truth. Readers should be warned that the denouement will make them realize that even the few verities they thought they could trust here are anything but reliable. A highly original metafictional pastiche.
McCall Smith, Alexander Pantheon (224 pp.) | $28 September 30, 2025 | 9780593701782
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency gets backed into accepting competing clients in the same case. It’s a trying day for Mma Grace Makutsi, the agency’s selfanointed executive president for development, when not one but two visitors refer to her as a secretary. The first, Special Pest Services owner Mr. Excellence Modise, who wants the agency to confirm his fears that his wife is cheating on him, is “an extremely annoying man.” And it feels as though there’s something sketchy about the second, Mr. Freddie Mogorosi, the owner of a big franchise garage who wants to persuade Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors owner Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni, the husband of agency founder Mma Precious Ramotswe, to join a trade association to establish and enforce professional standards. The conflict arises when Mma Ramotswe and Charlie, the assistant who’s not quite a mechanic and not quite an investigator, shadow Aleseng Modise and find her in a compromising situation that’s not so compromising after all; she claims her husband’s the one who’s cheating on her and asks Mma Ramotswe to accept her as a client as well. The ethical conflicts are obvious, but since she owns the only detective agency in Gaborone, Mma Ramotswe feels honor-bound to represent both parties. Meanwhile, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni’s adventures with Mr. Freddie Mogorosi expand to include a crocodile and a deadly snake, leaving him not so much frightened as bewildered. As usual in this celebrated franchise, the pace is
leisurely, the felonies are minimal, the tone is reflective and the results are enchanting. Although Mma Ramotswe concludes, “We are a detective agency—we are not menders of souls,” readers may well disagree.
Myers, Tamar | Severn House (256 pp.) | $29.99 | November 4, 2025 9781448313204
The octogenarian Mennonite murder maven gets to work in a new milieu.
Born Amish and raised Mennonite, Magdalena Portulaca Yoder Rosen has sold the PennDutch Inn in Hernia, Pennsylvania, and moved to a fancy retirement home in Pittsburgh. Her lifelong best friend, Agnes Miller Shafor, is sharing her expensive cottage at Heaven’s Gate, but as usual with Mags, things don’t always go as planned. For one thing, and much to Agnes’ dismay, Mags has brought along the ancient rocking chair that houses the ghost of Granny Yoder. For another, Mags is nothing if not plainspoken, a trait that doesn’t endear her to her new neighbors, who aren’t entirely pleasant people. She gets off to a bad start with the Heaven’s Gate director, Rev. Pole, who teaches classes on speaking in tongues. Agnes makes a bet with Marion Simpson and Virginia MacTavish, a couple who are the residence’s Scrabble champions, that she and Mags can beat them. The competition rules are strict, and the crowd watching the game insults their intelligence, but Mags wipes the floor with her opponent, Marion, who accuses her of cheating and sets up an even more difficult game, which Mags again wins. Now that everyone’s angry with them, Mags decides to throw a fancy dinner party. Unfortunately, Marion drops dead after eating a chicken samosa. Enter Det. Dimitri Balanitis, who flirts with Mags despite the vast difference in their ages. Aware of her record as a detective, Dimitri teams up with Mags to uncover a killer.
Another hilarious adventure in this long running series.
Quigley, Mindy | Minotaur (320 pp.) | $9.99 paper | October 28, 2025 | 9781250326300
What do ice fishing, catnapping, and historical research have in common? Murder, of course.
Delilah O’Leary’s Wisconsin restaurant is in the winter doldrums, and she’s counting on Valentine’s Day to boost her bottom line. She and her boyfriend, Det. Calvin Capone of the Geneva Bay Police, have both been too busy for much quality time together lately. Calvin’s mother, Lola Capone, has dinner at the restaurant, though, introducing Delilah to her nephew, Dominic Capone, who’s visiting town on business. Meanwhile, Delilah’s Auntie Biz, a dedicated ice fisher, thinks February is the perfect time to head out to her favorite secluded spot for a bit of fishing. Accompanied by Delilah and her nervous best friend, Sonya, she hauls her equipment on snowmobiles to start cutting holes in the ice. Leaving Biz to fish, Delilah and Sonya take a walk to an old mansion nearby, where they encounter real estate agent Jacqueline Hansen, who’s cagey about who’s buying the place once owned by a famous gangster. Back at the fishing tent, Delilah starts to drill new holes. The drill stutters, Sonya faints, and Delilah finds a human finger.
Ignoring the opinions of Calvin and a furiously inquisitive Delilah, the police chief writes it off as a diving accident. The body turns out to belong to Dominic Capone, who’d been doing research at the historical society into a long-ago heist, some of whose valuable loot was never found. With Calvin out of town, Delilah and her crew at the restaurant start investigating and turn up the probable location of the cache. When her precious cat, Butterball, is stolen by a kidnapper who demands the information, she kicks into high gear and faces her fears to save him.
A fine combination of food lore, historical tidbits, and chilly adventures.
Rosen, Lev AC | Minotaur (272 pp.) $28 | October 7, 2025 | 9781250322470
Queer San Francisco PI
Evander “Andy” Mills returns to his hometown of Los Angeles in 1953 to solve a mystery that cuts uncomfortably close to the bone.
Myrtle Bolton is concerned that three fellow members of her local chapter of the real-life Mattachine Society have vanished. The Society, dedicated to normalizing homosexuality by persuading its members to act as straight as possible apart from their sex lives, is so fanatical about preserving its members’ privacy that Myrtle knows the missing only as boyfriends Edward and Hank and singleton Daphne, who disappeared a few weeks later. Nor does she have any photographs of them or background information about them. It seems an impossible job, but it’s right up Andy’s alley. Maybe even a little bit too much up his alley, for the few leads he unearths take him past the Fifth Order, an altogether more radical group Edward violently opposed, to the Bacchanal, the gay LA motorcycle club Hank’s rumored to have joined, and the North Private Clinic, where one of the nurses is Mary Mills, the mother Andy hasn’t seen in seven years. Mary’s delighted to see her son again, however unexpectedly, but Andy’s awkward squirming becomes ever more frantic, first because he’s never come out to his mother, and then when he finds out exactly what kind of work the North Private Clinic is doing with its all-male clientele. Although the mystery isn’t as strong as the one in Rough Pages (2024), the unsparing descriptions of aversive conversion therapy and Andy’s agonized attempts to come to terms with the many warring sexual communities around him more than compensate. Required reading for anyone who wonders what it was like to be queer before Stonewall.
By Emily Adrian
Charlie Jane Anders
By Megan Giddings
R.F. Kuang
Kirkus Star
Black, Holly | Tor (288 pp.) | $29.99 September 23, 2025 | 9781250812223
After the events of Book of Night (2022), Charlie Hall is forced to hunt down the perpetrator of a terrible massacre.
Charlie Hall is the Hierophant: It’s her job to be tethered to a powerful, independent shadow—a “Blight”— and hunt down other Blights for the Cabals, the heads of their respective shadow-magic specialties. The Cabals use the difficult job of Hierophant as a punishment, but Charlie agreed to take it on so she could be the person tethered to Vince, aka Red, the Blight who posed as a human and ended up dating and falling in love with Charlie. The Cabal leaders used magic to steal the part of Red’s memory that contained his relationship with Charlie, and so Charlie is determined to steal Red’s memories back. And she needs to move fast, because if Red doesn’t remember loving her, he just might be OK with Charlie being killed if it means his own freedom. Meanwhile, Mr. Punch, a terrifying Cabal leader who specializes in using shadow magic to possess other people’s bodies, has a job for Charlie: He wants her to find the culprit behind a terrible massacre that was attributed to a cult. He suspects that the people were actually killed by a Blight, and he doesn’t want the Cabals to face the blowback if the truth becomes public. Mr. Punch could do terrible things to Charlie if she fails, but if she succeeds, he’ll help Charlie and Red be free of the Cabals for good. The sophomore novel
in a series is always tough, but this sequel proves that the second book can be even better than the first. Black turns the screws on the magical world she set up in Book 1, creating complicated political motives between Charlie and the Cabal leaders and making the question of what it means for a shadow, like Red, to have their own consciousness more interesting. Veteran con artist Charlie makes some truly brilliant moves, especially toward the end, where the last few chapters have one terrific surprise after the other.
A smart and highly original work of modern fantasy.
Gray, Ayana | Random House (336 pp.) $30 | November 18, 2025 | 9780593733769
The Medusa myth, reimagined as an Afrocentric, feminist tale with the Gorgon recast as avenging hero. In mythological Greece, where gods still have a hand in the lives of humans, 17-year-old Medusa lives on an island with her parents, old sea gods who were overthrown at the rise of the Olympians, and her sisters, Euryale and Stheno. The elder sisters dote on Medusa and bond over the care of her “locs...my dearest physical possession.” Their idyll is broken when Euryale is engaged to be married to a cruel demi-god. Medusa intervenes, and a chain of events leads her to a meeting with the goddess Athena, who sees in her intelligence, curiosity, and a useful bit of rage. Athena chooses Medusa for training in Athens to become a priestess at the Parthenon. She joins the other acolytes, a group of teenage girls who bond, bicker, and compete in
A smart and highly original work of modern fantasy.
THIEF OF NIGHT
various challenges for their place at the temple. As an outsider, Medusa is bullied (even in ancient Athens white girls rudely grab a Black girl’s hair) and finds a best friend in Apollonia. She also meets a nameless boy who always seems to be there whenever she is in need; this turns out to be Poseidon, who is grooming the inexplicably naïve Medusa. When he rapes her, Athena finds out and punishes Medusa and her sisters by transforming their locs into snakes. The sisters become Gorgons, and when colonizing men try to claim their island, the killing begins. Telling a story of Black female power through the lens of ancient myth is conceptually appealing, but this novel published as adult fiction reads as though intended for a younger audience. An engaging, imaginative narrative hampered by its lack of subtlety.
Kitasei, Yume | Flatiron Books (384 pp.) $30.99 | September 30, 2025 | 9781250380968
Two sisters set sail in a world beset by rising oceans and blight. Carmen and Skipper Shimizu’s older sister, Nora, has gone missing. Since she moved to the city, she kept in touch and visited occasionally, but now they can’t get ahold of her and someone from her lab has contacted them asking to dispose of her things. Skipper, who has never left their small hometown, decides to take a radical step: She will sail to the city and find Nora. Carmen invites herself along and the two begin a journey that will take them through a world wracked by flooding and pollinator collapse. As they travel, they will see the state of the Earth, in both decay and rebirth, and witness the highs and lows that humanity can reach. On their trail is a multinational corporation, with its hands in worldwide agriculture, in more ways than the sisters know. A quiet but riveting story about life on a changing planet, this novel offers a
The best kind of science fiction: mind-blowing and wildly thought-provoking.
SLOW GODS
realistic picture of the future we may experience, while never straying from the characters’ inner journeys and love for sailing at the heart of the novel. Kitasei focuses on the relationships among the three sisters and the conflict inherent in being true to themselves, while also laying out a plot that moves steadily forward through explorations and traps and a good deal of conspiracy. As the sisters learn how science can remake or take apart the world, they also meet complicated individuals striving to do the right thing, even when they sometimes fail. Wonderfully constructed and told, the sisters’ world is one full of both darkness and hope, as humans continue to find their way in a crumbling, changed environment. Luminous, credible, and engrossing from beginning to end.
North, Claire | Orbit (480 pp.) | $19.99 paper September 16, 2025 | 9780316586306
One person’s quest to find meaning in life—and the universe.
The pseudonymous North’s latest is a deeply philosophical standalone SF epic that brilliantly and subtly utilizes elements of cosmic horror to complement its metaphysical speculations. Mawukana na-Vdnaze is a laborer on a world ruled by a star-spanning regime that purports to reward hard work with increased socioeconomic status, called Shine. In fact, those who cheat and lie get ahead—so long as they don’t get caught. When a godlike machine known as the Slow sends messengers to multiple
star systems warning that they have approximately 100 years to prepare for a supernova event that will obliterate everything in its path, the corrupt leaders of Maw’s planet attempt to cover up the Slow’s warning, essentially sentencing their subjects to death. Amid the ensuing chaos, Maw is wrongfully arrested and sent off-world to a labor camp. He volunteers to pilot a space-jumping arcship, generally a short-lived job as most die shortly after interfacing with the ship’s navcomm systems. A jump goes wrong, and everyone on the ship is killed except Maw. Though completely unharmed, something is irrevocably changed deep within him; he’s a copy of himself, “a monster made in the dark.” As the end of the world looms for billions of people, Maw sets out on a jaw-dropping journey of enlightenment by charging into the darkness of space and his altered mind. The character development isn’t particularly noteworthy, but adept worldbuilding, grand-scale storytelling, and philosophical speculation more than make up for it. Maw’s conversations with various characters and his thoughtful introspection about the seeming meaninglessness of it all will leave readers—somewhat surprisingly— invigorated: “We are the seeds of the forest, are we not? Where we fall, others may grow. So live…Before all is dust: live, and blaze bright.”
The best kind of science fiction: mind blowing and wildly thought provoking.
Royce, Eden | Tordotcom (176 pp.) | $24.99 October 21, 2025 | 9781250330963
When her estranged aunt dies, one young woman volunteers to settle the estate. Twenty-oneyear-old Phaedra St. Margaret, better known as Phee, is all too aware that she’s supposed to be pursuing marriage—her mother reminds her constantly of the fact. But Phee is interested in more than just cotillions with eligible men. Times in New Charleston are changing, and it’s possible for a woman to make a living for herself without a marriage; Phee just has to prove she’s capable. When news arrives that her aunt has unexpectedly died, Phee impulsively agrees to pomp for her—to arrange the funeral and all related affairs. Phee’s mother hasn’t spoken to her sister in years and isn’t happy that Phee volunteered, but Phee goes anyway. After all, someone from the family has to do it, and Phee hopes to honor the aunt she never saw enough. In her aunt’s house, Phee uncovers bits of her aunt’s life as well as mysterious hints of magic slipping through the halls. As Phee tries to understand how to manage things for her aunt, she also deals quietly with loss and with chances not taken as she decides what to do next with her life. Phee inhabits a magical version of post–Civil War America, where freedmen are discovering new paths for themselves while still, at times, facing racism and hostility. Phee also grapples with this reality, but for her story this is a backdrop for her internal coming-ofage journey and her reckoning with loss. All told, this is a refined, pensive tale, where the magical trimmings fade away to focus on the larger, fable-like narrative at play. A tale of loss and hope and how the present can give way to new futures.
Amador, Lia | Avon/HarperCollins (368 pp.) | $18.99 paper
September 2, 2025 | 9780063377547
A perfectionist witch and a social media jokester team up during a magical reality competition in Miami. Penelope Delmar’s selection for the reality TV show Cast Judgment has come at the perfect time. Not only will the prize money help her dwindling bank account, but the winner gets a residency at a prominent magical arts studio. Spending a year in the program could be the key to finally making sense of her late abuela’s spellbook. Unfortunately, her partner for the contest is Leandro Presto, an influencer who gained a following doing wacky magical hijinks. What people don’t know, including Penelope, is that Leandro’s real name is Gilberto Contreras, and he’s a magical theory professor and blogger who happens to be Penelope’s anonymous online pen pal. Gil wasn’t expecting the character of Leandro to be such a hit on social media, and the role has gotten away from him. Having to pretend to be Leandro for the entire filming schedule feels daunting. Penelope and Gil’s persona as Leandro couldn’t be more different, especially with Penelope’s need to make sure every spellcasting detail is perfect. The magical elements blend seamlessly into the contemporary setting here, making them natural to the characters’ daily lives. There are magical social media platforms, television programs, college majors, and retail shops for the characters’ spellcasting
supply needs. The romance between Penelope and Gil is relatively low stakes—perhaps a little too low—and a majority of the conflict comes from the different ways they approach spellcasting while dealing with the pressure cooker of a reality TV show. Because the storyline of Cast Judgment takes up so much of the action, there’s little to keep the romance moving outside of that environment, and the book suffers from an abrupt ending. A debut romance that’s enchantingly cute but forgettable.
Blumberg, Chandra | Canary Street Press (352 pp.) | $18.99 paper | August 12, 2025 | 9781335016577
A romance author reenacts popular tropes with her best friend to help cure her writer’s block, not knowing he’s been head over heels for her since Day 1.
Mia Brady is at a professional standstill. The TV adaptation of her bestselling romance series has become a huge success, and now she has to write another book—the long-awaited friends-to-lovers romance that will give two favorite characters their happily-everafter. The only problem? Based on her own dating history, Mia doesn’t believe friendship can lead to something more. Losing a solid friendship is a blow she’s not willing to experience again, which is why she’s never gone there with her best friend, Gavin Lane. But now she’s got some serious writer’s block, and if she doesn’t finish her book by the deadline, the show’s writers will craft their own ending. Knowing she owes it to her fans
as well as herself to finish the story her way, Mia asks Gavin to help her with an experiment to get her creative juices flowing—reenacting iconic romance tropes to see if one of them sparks a plot. It would be a great idea if it weren’t for the fact that Gavin has been nursing a crush on Mia since the day they met nine years ago. As the two BFFs role play through the classics, tropes like workplace romance and forced proximity suddenly begin to feel a lot more weighted. Blumberg’s latest is irresistibly fun, and the sweetness of the story is exemplified by Mia and Gavin’s slow-burn romance, which never moves into territory that’s too emotionally heavy despite the characters’ struggles with vulnerability and commitment. While the pacing is a little uneven, the dual-point-of-view structure is imperative to the book’s success; the reader needs Gavin’s tender, unyielding belief that he and Mia can weather anything as a counterweight to her constant wavering. It’s also hard not to be won over by a story that so cleverly wields its meta-awareness of the genre, which results in some of the book’s best and most swoonworthy moments. A heartfelt, charmingly self aware ode to romance.
Britton, Christina | Forever (352 pp.) $9.99 paper | September 30, 2025 9781538769119 | Series: Wimpole Street Widows Society, 1
A widow seduces the owner of a gaming hell to save her sister-in-law. After Heloise Marlow’s husband died, she joined the Wimpole Street Widows Society, a group of women who appear to live together just for mutual support—but who secretly hone eccentric skills like lock-picking, fencing, and using disguises in order to help clients who have been wronged. When Heloise learns that her sister-in-law is in danger, having been cheated into gambling away her employer’s prized
jewels, the Widows take on her case. To gain access to hidden areas of the gaming hell to search for the jewels, Heloise decides to seduce the owner, the imposing Ethan Sinclaire. Ethan prides himself on his establishment’s flawless reputation, so when rumors of shady business practices begin swirling, he’s determined to get to the bottom of it. He doesn’t fully trust anyone, not even his business partners, since his brother blindsided him a few years ago. When he meets Heloise, he senses something suspicious about her but can’t help but be intrigued, anyway. Secrets become harder for both of them to maintain as they begin to truly fall for each other, but revealing them requires trust and vulnerability. This series kickoff introduces an enticing cast of characters that readers will be eager to follow to their own love stories. The non-ballroom setting and leads with rough upbringings are a refreshing alternative to most Regency London–set stories. The secrets and planned heist lead to some entertaining action, but the story is mostly driven by the internal growth of the main couple. Though their initial attraction feels too instant and out of character, once their love deepens, it’s touching and captivating as they open their hearts, heal past wounds, and learn to trust and accept companionship. An affecting series opener with an intriguing setting.
Faster
Christopher, Andie J. | Montlake (363 pp.) | $16.99 paper September 9, 2025 | 9781662533211
As if Challengers was set in the world of Formula 1 racing. You’ll need to strap yourself in for this spicy romance set in the glamorous world of high-velocity racing. The full-throttle novel goes around the world as drivers vie for a spot on the podium and a chance to win a trophy at one of the Grand Prix races.
There are two driving teams at the heart of the novel, the upstart Panther Motors, who have a new rookie on the squad, Micaela Cartwright, the first female driver with a real shot at the championship. Fueling her drive is the fact that her ex-boyfriend is the other driver on the team—and his father, the team principal, just might be rooting for her to take it all (and him along with it). Brent Sullivan, the ex, isn’t enjoying his new status as the team underdog and is being such a brat about it that press officer Paola Rodriguez has no choice but to make remaking his image her full-time job. Turns out she has everything she needs to keep him in line. The rival team, Scuderia Lupo, has even more complicated issues. Lead driver Ethan Harrow was caught drugged up and cheating on his influencer wife, Cece, so she finds solace the only place she knows—in the arms of his ex-best friend and recently fired racing partner, Luca Bendetto. Ethan isn’t willing to let her go, though, and when he realizes where she was and who she was with, he makes an indecent proposal to keep both of them close. Soon, the two drivers are vying for pole position on and off the track. All three couples have sparks flying everywhere with repercussions far beyond the grid for everyone involved, especially when someone starts leaking stories to the @WAGsandSLAGs gossip account. While the spice level is extremely high octane, when the checkered flag waves, the end result is surprisingly romantic.
Dahlia, Nora | Gallery Books/ Simon & Schuster (368 pp.) | $19 paper October 21, 2025 | 9781668084137
Two former high school sweethearts who haven’t spoken in years reunite at their friends’ wine country vow renewal. Nellie Hurwitz may be a fullgrown adult now, but she hasn’t forgiven or forgotten her high school boyfriend,
Noah. They were inseparable, until a series of setbacks led to a major betrayal. Nellie escaped to college and left Noah behind. She’s managed to avoid him in the intervening years even though their respective best friends are married, but when those best friends plan a lavish vow renewal ceremony in Sonoma—making up for their city hall elopement several years earlier—both Nellie and Noah are expected to attend. Nellie has every intention of avoiding the man who broke her heart, but that quickly proves impossible when they’re forced to share a suite. Dahlia alternates between Nellie’s perspective, Noah’s perspective, and flashbacks to their high school years in New York City as the reader gradually learns what went down between them all those years ago. As Nellie and Noah learn to get along and maybe even rekindle their romance, they keep any burgeoning feelings a secret from their friends. But when grown-up life gets in the way, will they be able to move on together, or will they be stuck in the past forever? The California setting feels perfectly lush and romantic, and Dahlia leans into fun romance tropes while ratcheting up the angst and heartbreaks. Nellie and Noah’s obstacles feel real, and the slowly revealed reasons behind their initial breakup are believably teenage while still packing a punch.
A second chance romance full of real world angst.
Frampton, Megan | Avon/HarperCollins (352 pp.) | $9.99 paper | September 30, 2025 9780063389250 | Series: Heirs & Spares, 2
A Scottish laird falls for the least suitable woman in the ton. Murdoch, the Earl of Cragmore, doesn’t want to be in London. He’s only there because he promised his sister to give his orphaned niece, Emily, a proper debut, but she doesn’t want him involved and causes a row in the street. That leads to an
SAVAGE BLOOMS
interruption from the house they’re arguing in front of, in the form of Lady Drusilla Courtenay. Drusilla, a happy spinster whom society perceives as “charmingly eccentric rather than merely odd,” has a penchant for interfering. She yanks them into her house and coaxes their story out of them, eventually deciding to take them under her roof to begin the transformation that young Emily and the taciturn “Scottish oaf” Murdoch both need to fit in with London society for the Season. Drusilla and Murdoch are physically drawn to each other immediately, and as Drusilla is a woman who always likes to have a paramour nearby, there are no impediments as they slowly intensify their connection. Drusilla has sworn never to fall in love again after a bad experience long ago, and Murdoch prefers a quiet, rural life with his sheep, so both expect their affair to last no longer than the Season—until Murdoch realizes he’s hopelessly in love with her. The second volume in Frampton’s Heirs & Spares series introduces Drusilla as the sister of Diantha from The Devil’s Charm , but this story is at a far enough remove that it reads as a standalone. Much like the first book, however, the story is graced with a signature strongminded Frampton heroine and packed with charming banter and steamy scenes, in this case mostly driven by Drusilla’s discovery that she prefers to be told what to do in the bedroom. The strongest element of the book is the depth of emotional connection that develops between the leads, leading to a satisfying ending in more ways than one.
A fun, fast paced Victorian romance between equals.
Gibson, S.T. | Redhook/Orbit (368 pp.)
$29 | October 7, 2025 | 9780316575898
Ancient fae magic bewitches two friends as they become stranded in a mysterious manor with its seductive inhabitants.
Best friends Adam Lancaster and Nicola Fairweather have been yearning for each other for years, but neither one has made the first move. Following the death of his beloved grandfather in Michigan, Adam decides he wants to find Craigmar, a house that was the location of his grandfather’s magical bedtime stories. The clues his grandfather left behind lead to a small village in Scotland, and Nicola agrees to accompany him there. Both believe that this trip will be just the setting they need to confess their feelings for one another. Their quest takes them to a manor run by Eileen Kirkfoyle and her groundskeeper, Finley Buchanan; a letter left behind by Adam’s grandfather reveals a connection to Eileen’s late grandmother Arabella. When a storm impedes them from driving back to town, and with the promise of searching through the Kirkfoyle family records, Adam and Nicola agree to stay the night. The mood in the manor immediately begins to shift when Adam catches Finley striking Eileen’s bare back with a riding crop in the library, and Nicola’s morning walk with Finley ends in both a “ravenous” kiss and the appearance of a pale figure lurking in the woods. With a mix of kinky sexual
exploration and Gothic fae mystery, Gibson knows how to tease in more ways than one. Tension oozes out of every page as the quartet’s attraction becomes more tangled and twisted. A large list of content warnings signals that this is a romance on the darker side, with Eileen assuming the role of puppet master, determined to keep the American tourists close. The book feels like a delicious melodrama, in the most complimentary sense of the term; it’s a magical bacchanalian soap opera where love and hate flip like a switch, with deviance and lust underscoring every interaction. A toxic polyamorous romance that revels in dark eroticism.
Palit, Aurora | Berkley (368 pp.) | $19 paper September 16, 2025 | 9780593640203
Cynthia Kumar is a driven, type-A ice princess. Rohit Patel is a charming people-pleaser. After having an uncharacteristic and extremely hot one-night stand, they’re both shaken to realize they’ll be co-workers at Kumar Construction. Cynthia has been working hard to have her efforts seen by her father, Rich, for years. Instead, Rich hires Rohit because he reminds the older man of himself—a hard-working Indian Canadian immigrant financially supporting his family in India—and hopes Rohit will assume the role of CEO when Rich eventually retires. But when a local newspaper prints an article about the hostile work environment of Kumar Construction, Rich tasks them both with improving employee morale and creating lasting change within the company. After an initial power struggle, Cynthia realizes that Rohit is on her side and allows herself to trust him—in the boardroom and the bedroom. But when Rich fails to see Cynthia’s contributions and announces that he’ll be retiring and
leaving the company to his new protégé, all their teamwork can’t erase the hurt it creates in Cynthia. There’s plenty of heat and tension in this rivals-to-lovers workplace romance. Cynthia’s black cat energy is an excellent foil to Rohit’s golden retriever adoration, and both characters are given the space to grow and show up for one another. While the secondary characters are a little onedimensional, the complicated family dynamics, snappy banter, and spicy sex scenes more than make up for it. Readers will appreciate the empowering Desi representation, a feminist heroine, and a love interest more interested in uplifting and supporting her than challenging her. A satisfying and passionate happily ever after.
Perkins, Stephanie | Saturday Books (416 pp.)
$31 | October 7, 2025 | 9781250313461
A 29-year-old librarian in a small North Carolina town creates a new life for herself.
Ingrid Dahl has been dating her boyfriend, Cory, for 11 years, ever since their first week of college. When Ingrid’s younger sister announces her engagement after only two years of dating, Ingrid and Cory realize that their relationship has become stale, and on January 1, they agree to take a break and try dating other people. Ingrid immediately assumes she’ll have the opportunity to date her longtime co-worker and friend Macon Nowakowski. When Ingrid clumsily makes her move, Macon’s horrified refusal puts their friendship on ice and an embarrassed Ingrid can’t figure out how to fix it. Her
one-month break with Cory stretches into three and Ingrid throws herself into the joys and humiliations of modern romance: creating app profiles, dating and sleeping with other men, and accidentally breaking a nice man’s heart. Eventually, the breakup with Cory becomes permanent. For the first time, Ingrid is on her own and able to make her own choices about where she wants to live and work. Ingrid’s relationship with Macon remains chilly and distant until she helps him during a personal emergency. Over the next several months, they rebuild their friendship and eventually find love, all while Ingrid opens her own bookstore, coyly named Bildungsroman. Perkins’ first adult novel is billed as a slow-burn romance while reading like a coming-of-age story, but for a character three decades into her life. Readers might not buy that Ingrid’s lackluster life skills can be blamed on her relationship with Cory, nor will they believe that underdeveloped, milquetoast Macon is the love of her life.
The plot waffles between coming ofage and romance, and as a result does neither particularly well.
Quincy, Diana | Avon/HarperCollins (352 pp.)
$9.99 paper | September 30, 2025 9780063247567 | Series: Sirens in Silk, 2
The love of her life is back—and now he’s an earl. American Naila Darwish is 27, and she’s accepted that she’s an old maid. She had her chance at marriage eight years ago, but she turned down the
A Victorian romance that celebrates second chances.
love of her life because her family didn’t approve of him. Now she’s only a little wistful as she watches her sister prepare to marry a duke at an English castle—until she’s introduced to the Earl of Hawksworth, and is shocked to discover she already knows him: Before he was an earl, he was Basil Trevelyn, the man she loved madly for a summer back in Philadelphia. Now known as Hawk, he still—he admits to himself—has strong feelings for her. After Naila turned down his proposal for fear she’d lose her traditional family, both have spent years trying to forget each other and failing terribly. But though their chemistry reignites immediately, Hawk resents feeling that she may be interested just because he’s an earl, and the lingering hurt between them may be too much to overcome. Though the primary storyline is a long, slow burn, it’s interwoven with the quick, heated story of how Naila and Hawk first fell in love, providing a sweet (and then bittersweet) counterpoint to the story of their second chance. Both storylines build beautifully on the first book in Quincy’s Sirens in Silk series, The Duke Gets Desperate (2023), with many cameos from Naila’s family. The Persuasioninspired story, rich in historical detail, is especially strong in its depiction of Palestinian life in the Victorian-era U.S. and England, respectful of the traditions of the Darwish family as well as Naila’s desire to push against them. Quincy doesn’t skimp on scorching intimate scenes between Hawk and Naila, underscoring how strong their connection is even as they agonize about the possibility of a future together. Though the story works well on its own, the books are best read in order.
A multicultural Victorian romance that celebrates second chances and family ties.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN IS as prominent a rock star as any musician can be. He has attracted stadiums full of adoring fans, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama (with whom he later hosted a podcast), and has drawn the ire of President Trump for speaking out against a “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous” administration that opposes the working-class values that the roots rocker has long espoused.
It wasn’t always this way for the Boss. As difficult as it is to imagine, he struggled to have a career as an artist. As Peter Ames Carlin shows in his terrific book, Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born To Run (Doubleday, August 5), Springsteen’s success was in doubt after his first two albums. In the mid-1970s, he was getting around in a rented station wagon and performing at tiny clubs. An influential review in Boston’s alternative Real Paper —by Jon Landau, who became Springsteen’s producer— helped turn the tide. Within a year, Born to Run sold more than 1 million copies. Tonight in Jungleland is one of several new books that
tell of people who, despite obstacles, pursued their passions and forged creative lives. One is Michael Thomas, author of The Broken King (Grove, August 5). In his memoir, the novelist (Man Gone Down, 2007) describes the torment he lived with after being raped as a child—to say nothing of the racism he’s had to confront. In a starred review, our critic writes, “Thomas believes that one way to keep ‘from falling into darkness’ is to try ‘to make something beautiful.’ This book hits the mark.”
Generations ago, Claude McKay (1890-1948) left Jamaica to attend college in the United States. Afterward, he lived in poverty, not eating for days at a time. He embarked on a writer’s life, venturing to the Soviet Union, Europe, and North Africa, spending “most of his life searching for what ‘home’ meant to him,” says our starred review of Letters in Exile: Transnational Journeys of a Harlem Renaissance Writer (Yale Univ., September 2).
McKay lived in Paris in the 1920s, a city that’s at the heart of Jennifer Dasal’s The Club: Where American Women Artists Found Refuge
in Belle Époque Paris (Bloomsbury, July 15). “A fresh look at female artists,” says our review, the book “pays homage to the singular space that nurtured them.”
Opened in 1893, the Club housed and assisted hundreds of women who faced pressures trying to be artists in the United States.
The science fiction author Octavia E. Butler (19472006) also had challenges in a field dominated by white men. “Nevertheless, she persisted, working at low-wage temp jobs so she would have time for writing,” says our review of Susana M. Morris’ Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler (Amistad/HarperCollins, August 19). As Morris writes, “she was fueled by her positive obsession to write probing, harrowing tales of humanity’s hubris and hope.” Butler’s determination paid off. She was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, her middle school now bears her name, and her tributes extend beyond this world: In 2021 NASA named a landing site on Mars in her honor.
John McMurtrie is the nonfiction editor.
JOHN McMURTRIE
A literary life infused by humor, grace, and devotion to craft.
“How often have I heard, at book signings,” Atwood writes, “‘But your writing is so dark! I wasn’t expecting you to be funny!’ A good question to ponder. Which one of these personae is real? And why can’t it be both?” In this penetrating memoir exploring multiple dimensions of her complex personae, it’s Atwood’s irrepressible wit—not darkness—that enlivens both mundane domestic moments and life’s pivotal events, creating a fully engaging chronicle. Indeed, Atwood’s humor permeates the recounting of her early years, from exploring northern Quebec’s backwoods with science-minded parents—her father an entomologist, her mother a dietician—through family moves between Ottawa,
Sault Ste. Marie, and Toronto, and her journey through college, graduate school, and her evolving writing career, including formative travels to Cambridge and Britain. Beyond a mere chronology of events leading to writing success, Atwood’s narrative is particularly notable in its focus on the genesis of her observations, revealing how writing itself perpetually unfolds alongside life; writing becomes life’s reflection: “I move through time, and, when I write, time moves through me. It’s the same for everyone. You can’t stop time, nor can you seize it; it slips away.” She explores craft in vivid, instructive terms: “This has been an experience I’ve often had: poetry breaks a subject open, fiction grows from the break.” Such insightful analysis extends to more personal observations, as Atwood
Atwood, Margaret | Doubleday | 608 pp. $35 | November 4, 2025 | 9780385547512
examines her relationships within the writing and publishing communities, including fellow Canadians Margaret Laurence and Alice Munro, her early marriage to writer Jim Polk, and most significantly, her enduring partnership with novelist Graeme Gibson and their daughter, Jess. Woven throughout the later chapters are considerations of the
acclaimed novels that would define her legacy—The Handmaid’s Tale and Alias Grace among them—alongside prestigious honors, awards, and celebrated adaptations that cemented her position as one of literature’s most influential voices. Engaging, wise, and marvelously witty— illuminating both the craft of writing and the art of living.
Devil’s Castle: Nazi Eugenics, Euthanasia,
Antonetta, Susanne Paola Counterpoint (256 pp.) | $27 September 23, 2025 | 9781640094024
The dark history of eugenics— and its legacy. Antonetta, author of The Terrible Unlikelihood of Our Being Here, has suffered diagnoses of schizophrenia and manic depression, but these included periods of remission that made this book possible. Originally researching eugenics, Antonetta was caught up by the experience of two Germans. Paul Schreber (1842-1911), a judge hospitalized repeatedly for schizophrenia, wrote a vivid memoir that captivated Sigmund Freud. Dorothea Buck (1917-2019), an artist and writer sterilized by the Nazis, spent her postwar life as an advocate for psychiatric reform. As Antonetta writes, Adolf Hitler praised Americans who embraced eugenics—by the early 20th century 30 states followed Indiana’s first-in-the-nation sterilization law, which mandated sterilization for “criminals, imbeciles, idiots, and rapists.” The first section of the book is a detailed, gruesome history of eugenics, peaking in the 1930s with the Nazis’ industrial-scale sterilization and execution of the mentally ill, along with other “useless eaters.” This was plain common sense, according to Hitler, who proclaimed that nations that support the genetically “inferior” are committing national suicide by encouraging them to multiply when natural selection would normally eliminate them. Antonetta then turns her attention to postwar psychiatry, which began discarding Freudianism in favor of approaching mental illness as a brain disorder with treatments similar to those that worked with diseases of other organs. She maintains that certain afflictions (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism) are not brain diseases but neurodivergence: different ways the
psyche deals with the world. They require less “treatment” and more understanding and acceptance. As she writes, “The more kinds of minds we have, the richer our conscious ecosystem.”
A solid history of eugenics that calls for compassion.
Baker, Arthur | Faber & Faber (480 pp.)
$34.95 | October 7, 2025 | 9780571387427
The iconic dance and hip-hop producer recalls his greatest hits and worst habits. Few artists did more to define the sound of club music in the ’80s than Baker, who produced canonical rap tracks like Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock,” dance classics like Freeez’s “I.O.U.,” and remixes for Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, and Hall & Oates that brought house and electro to the suburbs. It was an odd feat for a self-described quiet Jewish boy from the Boston suburbs. But a gift for blending a variety of sounds, as well as for managing multiple personalities, made him a go-to producer and remixer through that decade and beyond. Indeed, one shortcoming of this book is that Baker was often juggling so many projects simultaneously that he gives only so much space on the page to each one. But he’s candid about how dependent he was on cocaine to get all that work done, and about which artists enabled his habit more than others. (New Order helped push him off the wagon not once but twice.) Baker’s clubland success opened doors for him in the rock and R&B worlds, and he’s especially proud of his production work with Bob Dylan and his ringleading “(Ain’t Gonna Play) Sun City,” a 1985 anti-apartheid anthem featuring dozens of rock, pop, hip-hop, and R&B stars. Though he’ll occasionally call out a difficult artist, Baker is usually praiseful of his musical
collaborators. (Businesspeople are a different matter, especially when he tried launching a London soul-food restaurant, which opened on 9/11.) The speed-run approach of the memoir can be frustrating because it reveals little about him personally (one divorce is literally relegated to a parenthetical); now sober, he’s kept busy long after many of his contemporaries flamed out. How he did it remains relatively obscure. A whirlwind, at times overly manic, journey through a producer’s very full discography.
Boethius | Trans. by Philip Freeman Princeton Univ. (288 pp.) | $17.95 September 30, 2025 | 9780691259161
Wisdom for the ages.
The philosopher Boethius (c. 480-524) was the intellectual of his generation. He wrote works on logic, music, and theology, but his enduring fame lies with The Consolation of Philosophy —a document of personal reflection, written while under house arrest, and juxtaposing prose and poetry to argue for the higher good in life: Do not trust in worldly wealth and fame. Embrace adversity as a source of strength. Recognize that your true home lies with your spirit in the heavens, not with your body in a building. These lessons form the heart of the selections translated in this volume. Avoiding the complexities of the poetry (and its sublimity), this book offers a guide to the ill treated. It has as much import today as it did 1,500 years ago, when its author was unjustly imprisoned (and later executed) on trumped-up treason charges. Evil people, Boethius argues, only seem powerful. They draw not from their strength but from their weakness. “For all they can do is evil, which they would have been unable to
do at all if they had been able to continue doing good things. And this so-called power they have only shows that they have no power.” While not an explicitly Christian work, the Consolation was absorbed into later medieval and modern views of a God whose omniscience did not prevent humans from exercising free will (often badly). Readers wishing for greater consolation will miss the powerful poems of the original—where the changing of the seasons, the workings of the heavens, and the stories of mythic heroes all give voice to the harmony of creation itself. A clear introduction to a way of finding faith in cosmic concord during times of strife.
Campolucci-Bordi, Roberto Thames & Hudson (140 pp.) | $50 November 4, 2025 | 9780500028582
Works on paper from a celebrated graffiti artist. British artist and political activist Banksy, famous for his street art, has been making, publishing, and selling screen prints for several decades. As artist Paul Coldwell notes in his introduction, these prints, widely circulated, extended the reach of Banksy’s political and social critiques to private, domestic surroundings. Art collector Campolucci-Bordi has gathered 174 of these striking images into a handsomely produced volume, organized chronologically by their release date, from 2002 to 2022. The author provides a description of each image, along with information about where and when it was released, how many were published, and how many were signed. Banksy repeated some motifs, such as yellow smiley faces, which appear in Flying Copper and Have a Nice Day as the faces of police officers and in Wrong War as the face of a solider. Rats recur, too, as symbols of rebellion and resistance. Most images were printed in black, white,
Nearly 600 compositions, scoured from diaries, notepads, and scrap-paper scribblings.
THE COMPLETE JOHNNY CASH
and red, but Banksy often used colors ironically: A pink bow stands out on a military helicopter (Happy Choppers) and a pink background underscores the innocence of children in Jack and Jill/Police Kids. Banksy’s titles highlight his ridicule of capitalism and consumerism: Christ With Shopping Bags depicts the crucified Jesus holding bags of purchases in each hand; Sale Ends Today shows worshippers bowing before a store’s sign; and Very Little Helps shows children pledging allegiance to a Tesco bag hoisted on a flagpole. Similarly, the artist skewers British royalty, in Monkey Queen and Queen Vic, and alludes to the royal family’s treatment of Princess Diana in Di-Faced Tenners. His irreverence extends to Winston Churchill, depicted with a punk hairdo in Turf War. A glossary defines some artistic terms and projects.
A stark, graphic commentary on contemporary life.
Cash, Johnny with Mark Stielper Voracious/Little, Brown (720 pp.) | $60 October 14, 2025 | 9780316503549
Paying tribute to an expansive musical career.
Stielper, a Cash historian, artfully assembles the prolific singer’s decorated career through the songwriting that established him as an iconic force in country music. Fronting the book is an introduction from Cash’s son, John Carter Cash, who
fondly reflects on his father’s legacy as an artist best known for his distinctive singing voice, but, noting that poetry and song were his lifeblood, “it was what that voice said ” that had a lasting impact. John Carter shares obscure details about his father, including how, despite being functionally blind during the final few months of his life, he was still recording music 10 days before his death in 2003. Curating nearly 600 compositions, Stielper scoured Cash’s various homes to source material from diaries, notepads, and scrap-paper scribblings found in coat pockets, on tree bark, and even inside the singer’s tall black boots. Alongside Cash’s career evolution, the author fortifies the singer’s oeuvre with insightful essays noting how the unique eras and events occurring throughout Cash’s life defined his creative process and his music. The book begins in the 1940s with his first recordings and notes how his hardscrabble south-central Arkansas roots had an immense impact on his future songwriting and his worldview. Cash, who sang as a “way to get what was in my head out,” would emerge as an instant standout with music labels for his composing virtuosity. Early hits included “Cry Cry Cry,” “Hey, Porter!,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and the iconic “I Walk the Line,” followed by peak success years from the 1960s through the 1980s. In this trove of song lyrics, Cash lore, images, and poetry, Stielper returns the Man in Black to center stage and crafts a posthumous legacy befitting a legend. For both newcomers and diehard fans, this anthology is an opportunity to experience, in the words of Cash’s son, “the very essence of his soul.”
A comprehensive, must-have collector’s item for Cash completists.
Clyburn, James E. | Little, Brown (320 pp.) $30 | November 11, 2025 | 9780316572743
A group biography of the eight Black men to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives after the Civil War.
The author is the first Black congressman from South Carolina to serve in the House since the late 1800s, arriving a century after the eight men portrayed here. There is a reason for this: Those eight served valiantly but were unable to contain the revanchism that replaced slavery with Jim Crow; Republicans all, they “could not stop the violence and fraud deployed by the group that often referred to themselves as Conservative Democrats, or Southern Democrats.” The best known of Clyburn’s forerunners was Robert Smalls, who sailed a small ship out of Charleston Harbor under the nose of thousands of Confederates and brought it to the Union blockade fleet, saying, “I thought this ship might be of some use to Uncle Abe.” Smalls went on to become a recruiting officer for the federal army, personally enlisting 5,000 Black men. Robert De Large, the son of free Black parents who themselves owned slaves, battled in Congress for the right of Black South Carolinians to vote, which came about only after the federal government required the creation of a state constitution that granted all men the franchise. Richard Harvey Cain helped bring an African Methodist Episcopal church to life after the Civil War, despite substantial opposition from white Charlestonians. Cain worked diligently to secure civil rights for Blacks in the former Confederacy, while back in Charleston a woman named Mary Bowers “took a seat on a streetcar and refused to budge, prompting her unceremonious removal”—nearly 90 years before Rosa Parks. As Clyburn notes, the arrival of
five Black representatives in the 42nd Congress, and three others thereafter, inspired some reforms. But more, “it stoked serious fear and trepidation among white supremacists,” who, Clyburn provocatively notes, have been reborn as “MAGA Republicans and their supporters.”
A thoughtful consideration of historical figures too little known to readers today.
Coenen, Catharina | Restless Books (272 pp.) $17 paper | October 28, 2025 | 9781632064059
Wartime wounds. Coenen, a German-born American botanist, has written an arresting collection of essays on what it means to live with political guilt, social trauma, and the unspoken memories not just of what Germany did in World War II, but of what was done to Germany during the conflict. The firebombing of German cities has remained the open wound in Allied history. Coenen develops the insights of the author W.G. Sebald, who understood that postwar German life and literature had to find ways of processing the pain of air war against it—the sense that thousands were erased and displaced by a force that no one saw, that came from skies no one could see. This memory shaped Coenen’s family life, and it shapes her relationship to German heritage and language. Moving to America for graduate work, teaching at a college in rural Pennsylvania, the author finds herself living in English but “processing emotions…in German through these years.” To write in English, she states, “felt like a betrayal.” And yet, she must tell her tale in her adopted tongue. That tale concerns the lives of her family during the 1940s—displacement, fear, and a
childhood among ruins. Hunger was everywhere. Written with the scientist’s eye for detail, these essays ask questions that few may wish to answer: What was ordinary life like for Germans of the 1940s? How does an individual recover from the loss of a society? Can the pain of a family be inherited? How does the author cope with knowing that her grandfather, as a young man, voted for Adolf Hitler? “The scientist in me pores over…data,” she says. But the writer in her recognizes that sometimes you must come to terms with stories that cannot be pegged into a graph or spreadsheet. A memoir of unbearable honesty about a German woman reckoning with war, family, and forgiveness.
Cooley, Martha | Catapult (256 pp.) | $27 November 18, 2025 | 9781646223022
Beasts of beauty. Cooley, an American author, leaves the hustle of teaching and moves to Italy with her Italian-born husband. She finds a bestiary before her—local animals whose looks and behaviors prompt reflection on human longing, social life, and inner growth. A donkey lives on the borderlands between lagoon and landscape, a “little creature…neither horse nor human….Two different cultures were tugging on my sense of self, making me wobble.” Interspersed among these essays are brief critical reflections on words and things. “Vitriol” comes from a word meaning “glassy” in appearance, and this etymology leads to a meditation on the shiny, sulfurous crystals that are mined for detergents and detonators. Cooley’s grandfather was a professional musician. His memory prompts discussion of whether art can redeem us, or whether pettiness and anger fully coexist with the making of
beauty. She quotes John Cage: “My favorite piece of music is the one we hear all the time if we are quiet.”
These essays have a musical feel to them, at times improvisations, at times variations on a theme. But in her Eden, Cooley realizes that there is little quiet in the world, as war rages in the Middle East and Ukraine. The echoes reach her as she observes her cat sleeping, “the black pads of her paws less like the sheaths of swords than like licorice drops.” Beauty and violence, the trivial and the profound, come together here to make us see the world anew.
Essays that celebrate the sublime in the ordinary and the redemptions found in literature and family life.
Kirkus Star
Corbett, Rachel | Norton (256 pp.) | $28.99 October 14, 2025 | 9780393867695
A charged look at murderers and the artful thinking that brings them to justice.
Raised in rural Iowa, Corbett could have been a statistic at an early age—either as a victim or an orphan—given that a young man her mother dated killed another girlfriend and her dog; he “then crawled into the closet to turn the gun on himself.” In adulthood, Corbett, a gifted storyteller, returned to the case, spending two years investigating both that crime and the
behavioral analysts, aka criminal profilers, who study crime scenes and, from the clues they identify, attempt to assemble profiles of the perpetrator. With the girlfriend’s killer, they had plenty to work with, since murdersuicide is common in white, rural, working-class communities, with 90% of the crimes committed by men, two-thirds of the victims “current or former female partners,” and many of the crimes spurred by an alienating event such breaking up or being fired. Though shows such as NCIS and Law & Order present profiling as a science, Corbett, along with many of its practitioners, holds that it’s an art, with one profiler telling her, “Our antecedents actually do go back to crime fiction more than crime fact.” Thus Conan Doyle—whose fictional Sherlock Holmes owes much to a medical school professor with an almost supernatural gift for divining a person’s life history from a glance at his or her appearance—was enlisted to help track down Jack the Ripper. Corbett’s long discussion of that infamous case—with its surprising identification of the real killer—is a tour de force, though less so than her provocative charge that Ted Kaczynski, humiliated in a college psychology exercise, may have been driven to his infamous mail-bomb campaign to avenge the slight. A highly readable, endlessly revealing primer on the homicidal mind.
Da Empoli, Giuliano | Trans. by Sam Taylor Pushkin Press (160 pp.) | $16.95 paper October 7, 2025 | 9781805680161
On authoritarian politicians, megacorporations, and tycoons unfettered.
“All the guardrails of the old world—the respect for the independence of certain institutions, human and minority rights, a concern for international repercussions—have no value now that the hour of the predator is upon us.” So writes Italian Swiss writer and political scientist da Empoli, chronicling the post–Cold War implosion of democracy around the world. The predatory age, largely but not totally dominated by capitalism and capitalists, harks back to the “age of the Borgias or the conquistadors,” effected by brute force. Da Empoli, in a modern rejoinder to Machiavelli’s Prince, examines state violence as a constant process. So it is that Vladimir Putin has been adamant about continuing his war in Ukraine, legitimated, in a perverse way, by his effort to regain territory lost with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Likewise, da Empoli writes, actors everywhere are mounting offensive wars—which, after all, are cheaper than defensive ones, since it takes a multimillion-dollar missile to bring down a multihundred-dollar drone. The author writes with flair and a certain ironic snark, as when he appends to the Saudi dictator-in-waiting Mohammed bin Salman some iteration of the word “sweet”: “MBS, as he is known, is all sweetness and light”—until you cross him in some way, that is, at which point he becomes “Borgia 2.0.”
Da Empoli offers keen remarks on the current American scene, noting, for instance, that every Democratic presidential candidate from Bill Clinton on has been a lawyer, every Republican a
businessperson—and people hate lawyers. Thus, the author notes, “Donald Trump is a life form perfectly adapted to the present moment,” endorsing war on the old elites and rewriting history to erase the very thought of democracy. A sharply observed work of political philosophy, with the warning that, in this world, the big ones eat the little ones.
Delaney, Anthony | Atlantic Monthly (352 pp.) $30 | October 7, 2025 | 9780802165961
Honoring queer people who lived during the Enlightenment era. In his dynamic, informative debut, Irish historian Delaney unearths queer life from three centuries ago in wide-ranging profiles in gender, race, and notoriety. Spanning 1726 to 1836, the book spotlights a diverse host of tenacious, enterprising revolutionaries, beginning with the much-scrutinized, domesticated “queer family romance” between British noblemen Lord Hervey and Henry Fox. This theme is shared by English architect John Chute, whose relationships with a “coterie of unmarried men helped shape the nature of his domestic comfort” and became part of a “wider proto-queer community.” Delaney profiles the Chevalier d’Éon, a French spy and diplomat who often favored his uniquely dressed “female self” and a rebellious Black gender-variant sex worker named Peter Sewally, who worked under the name Mary Jones. Milkman Gabriel Lawrence, who frequented London’s risky “molly houses,” was executed at age 43 for the crime of sodomy with another man after a raid on a coffeehouse known for homosexual rendezvous. Delaney weaves these fascinating histories into a tapestry of resistance and resilience. He doesn’t sugarcoat the more unsavory archival details, and he corrects misconceptions,
which include writing that Anne Lister’s celebrated formal union in 1834 with her partner, Ann Walker, was actually “a far more complex affair” than previous accounts say, depicting Lister as manipulatively “tactical.” A comprehensive, fair, and well-rounded study, the book paints the era as one of burgeoning liberation for queer people and illuminates a selection of distinguished trailblazers tenacious enough to sidestep conservative laws in order to freely enjoy same-sex desires and live authentically. These rather obscure pioneers helped usher in forthcoming eras of queer visibility, social justice, legal and political emancipation, and ultimately, advancements toward equality. A vibrant and inspirational queer history.
Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About
Doctorow, Cory | MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux (352 pp.) | $30 October 7, 2025 | 9780374619329
Upgrading the online experience. Doctorow coined the title word in 2022, comically capturing the zeitgeist-y view that today’s internet “sucks.” In this erudite yet breezy takedown of Big Tech, the novelist and activist targets deceptive search engine results, new “secret surveillance” tactics, and platforms that are increasingly hard to quit. The 2020s internet is frustrating and exploitative, he writes, because decades of corporate consolidation, enabled by permissive regulatory oversight, has resulted in “the cartelization and monopolization of our economy.” Thus occurs “enshittification,” under which companies without rivals “deliberately worsen” their services to enrich shareholders, mistreating customers without fear of consequences. The abuse varies by platform. “Once the fear of competition had been eliminated, making Google Search worse was a small
price to pay for rising stock prices.” Subpar search results compel us to search again, enabling the company to show us more revenue-generating ads. Facebook uses a similar tactic, feeding us “ads and boosted content,” along with just enough useful stuff “to keep users glued to one another.” Sure, you can quit a platform, but you might lose contact lists or music you’ve bought. Doctorow devotes enlightening chapters to the push-pull between stockholder-pleasing tech executives and employees who don’t “put profit over mission.” Empowering the latter, perhaps through tech worker unionization, is key to better user experiences, he writes. The book’s final third offers ideas for encouraging competition and “high-quality regulations.” He’s for “muscular privacy” statutes and new standards that would make it easier to transfer data from one platform to another or use an iPhone without relying on Apple’s App Store. Doctorow has a gift for distilling complicated ideas. If we want a “new, good internet,” we’ve got to make Big Tech “weaker.” It’s a potentially galvanizing argument.
A persuasive polemic aims to defang Big Tech—and improve life for everyone else.
Evans, Kate | Verso (208 pp.) | $26.95 October 28, 2025 | 9781804296226
Inspired by a quilt Austen made, a British cartoonist pieces together the story of her life.
“We are making diamonds [the shape of quilt patches],” writes Evans, “formed from the hard facts we know of Jane Austen’s life.” Unlike Janine Barchas and Isabel Greenberg’s graphic biography published earlier this year (The Novel Life of Jane Austen), Evans’ tougher-minded portrait emphasizes the trials and disappointments she endured. She was born in 1775 to parents who had “a superfluity of
children, and a want of almost everything else,” writes Evans, making apt use of Jane’s own words here and throughout. Austen’s brothers got what few advantages there were, and Edward, the fortunate heir of wealthy relatives, did little to help until his wife died and he invited his mother and sisters to care for his 11 children in exchange for a home in…his bailiff’s cottage. Shrewd, engaging accounts of Jane’s creation of her famous novels—consistently rejected until Sense and Sensibility appeared in 1811, just six years before her death—underscore how much wit and pleasure she gave the world from such unpromising circumstances. Jane and sister Cassandra are frequently glimpsed doing needlework and making clothes, reminding us of women’s historic connection with fabrics and paving the way for an “Interlude” that connects the trade in muslin, chintz, linen, and cotton to the colonial exploitation of workers in India and Ireland and enslaved people in the American South, as well as factory workers in England. Jane’s brothers, Frank and Henry, as members of the armed forces, protected these practices, but Evans notes that Jane deplored slavery: “Did Mr Darcy build Pemberley without income from West Indian investments?” The author’s point is to situate Austen more firmly in lived reality; Evans’ lively drawings similarly capture the past without prettifying it. A bracing corrective to the more simpering extremes of the Janeite universe.
Fagbamiye, Jibola & Conor McCreery
Amistad/HarperCollins (384 pp.) | $34.99 October 7, 2025 | 9780063058798
A Nigerian legend is brought to life in a graphic biography. One of the first things that Fela Kuti—or Fagbamiye and McCreery’s version of him—says in this book is “They didn’t want a motherfucker like me.” The Nigerian musician is
referring to his parents, who were perhaps hoping for a “normal” and “meek” child, which they definitely didn’t get. Kuti, the late founder of Afrobeat music, made a career out of being a challenger. As Fagbamiye writes in an introduction, “Fela’s story is your story—just if you were a punk as fuck musician who made over sixty records, had twenty-eight wives, got arrested two hundred times, and started your own country.”
The authors begin by examining young Kuti’s life; the son of a suffragist and an activist teacher, he played trumpet in a band in London, then Lagos. In Los Angeles, he met singer and activist Sandra Izsadore, an American singer who introduced him to the Black Power movement. After returning to Nigeria, Kuti established the Kalakuta Republic in a Lagos compound; it was raided by police, and his mother was killed in the process. He would go on to marry 27 of his backup singers and dancers— his “Queens”—in one day. In 1979 he created a political party and tried to run for president of Nigeria. As Fagbamiye and McCreery show, Kuti was a complicated figure: “His ability to envision a better, more just society overlooked women’s oppression, the mere existence of the LGBTQ+ community, and the threat of AIDS in Africa.” The authors’ depiction of the musician’s final years is heartbreaking; the singer and band leader died of complications from AIDS at age 58 in 1997. Fagbamiye and McCreery do a superb job of outlining Kuti’s contradictions, and the book’s text is brought to life with vivid art that makes use of bright color palettes. An excellent look at a larger-than-life musician whose sounds reverberate to this day.
The Traitors Circle: The True Story of a Secret Resistance Network in Nazi Germany—And the Spy Who Betrayed Them Freedland, Jonathan | Harper/ HarperCollins (400 pp.) | $29.99 October 28, 2025 | 9780063373204
Elite Germans oppose the Nazis and suffer the consequences. Journalist and commentator Freedland, author of The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz To Warn the World , writes that Adolf Hitler enjoyed overwhelming support from everyday Germans soon after he took office—and nearly to the end. He drew their backing with his declaration that supposedly depraved foreigners working with perfidious fellow citizens were sucking the nation’s blood. But Nazi violence and suppression of liberty offended plenty of educated, upper-class, often religious Germans, many of whom lost jobs as teachers or civil servants. They expressed their unhappiness and took risks by hiding Jews or helping them flee the country. After the war began, they discussed ways to end it, perhaps by removing Hitler, and provided what aid they could to the few resisters still in the government. Their existence was no secret to Nazi security services that opened mail, tapped telephones, and employed an army of informers, including Jews. Even as Allied armies poured into the country, the Nazis were harrying fellow Germans for insufficient loyalty. Taking advantage of archives in a nation that has kept
The musician who married 27 of his backup singers and dancers in one day.
FELA
many records, the author paints vivid portraits of a group of admirable anti-Nazis who met in Berlin in 1943. Freedland writes, “They came together for what, to the outsider’s eye, would have looked like a wholly innocent gathering: an afternoon tea party to celebrate the birthday of a friend. But that single event would eventually expose them to the hangman’s rope and the guillotine’s blade.” Defeatism was a capital crime, and the author details how the Gestapo carefully assembled evidence, then arrested, interrogated, and tortured the dissenters, extracting a few confessions. A trial followed, presided over by a legendary brutal Nazi judge, ending in gruesome consequences. Several escaped, but executions continued even during the final days of the war. Excellent niche history of a group of heroes who defied Hitler.
Ghosh, Amitav | Univ. of Chicago (480 pp.) $29 | November 19, 2025 | 9780226845326
Postcards from the post-colonial. Ghosh is one of the leading chroniclers of the post-colonial South Asian experience. He explores what it is like to be both privileged and displaced: educated in the canons of the West, but always seeing power from the viewpoint of the historically excluded. This collection of essays on environmental trauma and historical alienation, drawn from newspapers and journals from the past 20 years, brings together the author’s major interests: how climate change has disproportionately affected South Asia and has led to mass migrations across the globe; how traditionally oppressed peoples have sought a place at the tables of the great; and how Western history is changed when retold by the non-Western teller. Most revealing in these essays is the story of the lascars, groups of North
Indian sailors who played a major role in the expansion of British sea power. Their otherwise unwritten lives animate the middle of this work. Readers new to Ghosh will find much to lead them to his major work, especially his subtle blend of personal reflection and political polemic. His central question remains: How to write “of the past when the predicament of…characters is shaped precisely by a willed wordlessness, an intentional silence, a refusal, or inability, to acknowledge the legitimacy of an overarching narrative? This is a question that is forced upon us by the history of colonial India—indeed, by all colonial histories, replete as they are with examples of events that occur as symptoms of unknown motives and unspoken intentions.” Some of these essays are major interventions into these ideas. Others are chips from the writer’s workbench. Not everything holds up in this essay collection, but what does is choice.
Givens, Jarvis R. | Harper/ HarperCollins (464 pp.) | $32 October 14, 2025 | 9780063259157
A scholarly account of education in 19th-century America. Most historical accounts of the ideas, goals, and practices that gave rise to public education in America focus on the schooling of white children—the settler class, which was primarily European and Christian. A professor of education
and of African and African American studies at Harvard, Givens braids that familiar story with contemporaneous ideas and approaches to educating Black and Indigenous children, which reveals not only the racist attitudes of the day, but also ulterior motives such as securing tribal lands and forestalling violent uprisings—key aspects of nation building. Givens describes government efforts to dictate whom would be taught what. A striking contrast existed before the Civil War: Education was widely outlawed for Black people, while the first boarding schools were launched for Indigenous children with federal funds. The rationales for these opposing programs expose associated goals. For instance, the building of schools for Indian children was overseen by the War Department to help avert future Indian wars. Additionally, “domesticating” Native Americans—so that they would settle down and farm—would facilitate Western expansion. Being regarded as intellectually inferior, Black people were prevented from learning to read and write, which also minimized the chances that enslaved people would liaise and foment resistance. The author grounds his chronicle with individual stories, including those of Margaret Douglass, who was convicted of teaching free Black children in Virginia, and James McDonald, a Choctaw boy who was taught by Quaker missionaries and became a poster boy for Native schooling. The chapters progress in a looping way through the 19th century, with Givens reminding the reader how prevailing attitudes toward Black and Indigenous people justified unequal treatment and how affiliate goals further influenced educational practices. These reminders make some of the reading repetitive, but on the whole the book is a worthy study of
When the building of schools was overseen by the War Department to avert Indian wars.
AMERICAN GRAMMAR
how the nation set about schooling Black and Native children. A fascinating, if unwieldy, treatise on how racism and nation building influenced educational practices in America.
Goodyear, Sarah, Doug Gordon & Aaron Naparstek | Thesis/Penguin (304 pp.)
$28 | October 21, 2025 | 9780593850725
The crisis of cars. The great American love affair with cars and driving, a notion deeply held in contemporary culture and history, has been intertwined with death and devastation from its earliest days. Automobiles killed 2,200 Americans in the nine years before Ford’s popular Model T hit the streets in 1908. From there, things only grew worse, and the destructive path continues to this day. “Cars are, without exaggeration, one of the most significant and negative environmental, political, social, and cultural forces in the history of humanity,” write Goodyear and Gordon, hosts of the popular podcast The War on Cars. In the common narrative of the country’s societal history, the authors note, the car and its mass production built the middle class. But history is written by the victors, and perhaps the cars are the winners here, not Americans. Goodyear and Gordon seek the true story of how car culture has shaped us in ways that have been dangerous and wasteful—from providing unreliable public transportation to harming the climate and our natural environment. “Instead of unbounded freedom and rugged self-reliance,” they write, “the never-ending proliferation of automobiles has delivered a host of costs and burdens. Among them are the demolition of our neighborhoods, towns, and cities to make way for expensive car
infrastructure like freeways.” The authors’ call for “real transformative change” is reasonable enough. Cities and towns, they suggest, need to “decenter” cars. Parking reforms should be implemented, and people should push for more dedicated bike lanes and bus lanes. “We shape our streets,” they write. “Then they shape us. We can choose a human shape.”
Sensible solutions for taking back our streets from automobiles.
Gooley, Tristan | The Experiment (384 pp.) $25.95 | October 14, 2025 | 9798893030105
How nature keeps time. British mountain climber, aviator, and founder of a natural navigation school, Gooley takes readers month by month through the year to closely observe how plants and animals respond to seasonal changes in temperature, rainfall, sunlight, and darkness. “We now know,” he reveals, “that changes in proteins called phytochromes are responsible for time measurement in plants, and that melatonin is secreted from the pineal gland in animals at night, which gives their brains a calendar.” Flora and fauna respond, as well, to lunar light, distance from the sea, latitude and altitude, and the particulars of their habitat: the canopy of trees, for example, or the tramping of paths by hikers. In the woods in spring, he observes that some flowers, requiring a mixture of sunlight and shade each day, bloom early, before the trees leaf out and occlude the sun. Gooley focuses on specific wildlife to investigate blossoming, mating, breeding, molting, and migration. He notes the habits of bees as they respond to temperature changes that affect their ability to fly. If the temperature drops too low, they disconnect their wings from their muscles and work their flying muscles until they get warm enough. “It’s a bit
like when we jog on the spot to keep warm,” Gooley notes, “but it looks less ridiculous.” Gooley calls up research from fields such as ecology, phenology (the study of seasons), botany, and horticulture to examine phenomena such as birds’ dawn singing (“more complex and varied” than daytime singing), the height of plant growth, and the colors of insects—darker in cooler months to absorb more solar energy; brighter in hot summer, reflecting more of the sun’s radiation. A useful appendix details the moon’s phases.
An inviting journey with a generous guide.
Healey, Jonathan | Knopf (432 pp.) | $32 September 16, 2025 | 9780593803080
Parliamentary machinations leading to the English Civil War.
In historian Healey’s thoroughly researched and compelling account, England in 1641 was jammed between choices for parliament or king; two Houses (the Lords and the Commons); and wars with Scotland and Ireland. This is the prelude to the country’s civil war, now regarded as either the last of the wars of religion or the first modern revolution— albeit fewer peasants and pitchforks and more revolt within a political elite dominated by nobles. The crux of the dispute was over “Remonstrances,” a series of objections to Charles the First’s desire for absolute rule. Paramount among these were Parliament’s right to assemble and whether bishops should be allowed to sit in the House of Lords. No issue arose without provoking opposition. “Ship money,” a levy on coastal communities to fund the Royal Navy, was a classic example. The king tried to extend the levy to inland counties without parliamentary consent. This galvanized such opposition that
What the Constitution means to us: The acclaimed historian considers the complicated history of our foundational document.
BY MARY ANN GWINN
We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution
Lepore, Jill
Liveright/Norton | 768 pp. | $39.99 September 16, 2025 | 9781631496080
THE U.S. CONSTITUTION is one of the oldest and most influential documents in the world. It has stood the test of time, but its strength is also its fundamental flaw: Today it’s almost impossible to change.
The older the constitution, “the more people hold [it] with a kind of veneration, especially if [it’s] infrequently amended,” says Jill Lepore, Harvard professor, New Yorker contributor, and author of We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution , out this month from Liveright. “They become entrenched. Which is great—you want the stability. But it can become a problem.”
Here’s the conundrum: The U.S. Constitution can only be changed by amendment, but the bar for amending it is so high that it has one of the lowest amendment rates in the world. Key parts of it desperately need reforming: Think, for example, of the Electoral College, our antiquated and unrepresentative method of electing a president. But the requirements of Article 5, the Constitution’s roadmap for amending itself, are difficult to achieve in our polarized political climate, so there’s been no successful amendment in decades.
It’s like a tool that no longer works, says Lepore: “I was using a spade as a pry bar the other day, and my wooden handle popped off, and now I have a spade and a stick of wood. It may look like a tool if I put them together alongside of each other, but it doesn’t work.” Moreover, the inability to fundamentally change the government stokes frustration with the entire system: “It is a rule of American history that when amendment becomes impossible, the risk of insurrection rises,” Lepore writes.
Though her subject is dead serious, Lepore’s account is enlivened by wry humor, vivid storytelling, and unforgettable characters who embody the struggles of sustaining democracy. People from all sides of the political spectrum get their stories told, from Liliuokalani, the Hawaiian queen whose kingdom was stolen by the U.S. sugar trust, to Antonin Scalia, the charismatic Supreme Court justice who advanced the doctrine favored by the current court, originalism, which posits that judges can only consider the intent of the framers when they interpret current law. Lepore talked with Kirkus by phone about her new book; our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
The Constitution begins with the phrase “We the people,” but it was written and adopted by property- owning white men: No women, no Black people, no Native Americans had a say in it. It failed to abolish slavery, extend rights to women, or fully recognize the sovereignty of Native nations. Reformers have been trying to rectify that ever since by amending the Constitution, but that hasn’t happened in decades. What’s taken the place of amendment? There are two ways to change the Constitution. One way is to formally amend it using Article 5, and that’s supposed to be done by the people. The other method, which is not really written into the Constitution but is a widely accepted practice, is that the Supreme Court can interpret the constitution
differently—so differently as to give it a different meaning.
And then there’s the current administration’s third way. What we are witnessing now is a different and unanticipated way of changing the Constitution. With the Trump administration, [their method is] just to declare as a matter of executive fiat that the Constitution means something other than what the courts have understood it to mean on principles such as birthright citizenship or the impoundment issue. You could say there are currently three ways to change the Constitution—the last of which I do not think will last.
You write that the Constitution most frequently gets amended during times of war—the groundbreaking 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, which abolished slavery and conferred citizenship and equal voting rights, passed during and after the Civil War. In our time, why has it become more difficult to amend?
Over the course of American history, amending the Constitution has endured long periods of drought. We are in one of the longer droughts right now, beginning in 1971, with the 26th amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18. There was a Constitutional amendment ratified in 1992, but that was [to rectify] a kind of bookkeeping error. Nineteen seventy-one was a really long time ago! I mean, Evil Knievel was jumping over cars on his motorcycle in 1971. More concerning to me is that we
have stopped holding state constitutional conventions. The last full state constitutional convention was in 1986, and that was Rhode Island.
Why the drought?
I think it’s because people are unwilling to sit in a room together and revise them. There’s not enough trust in process through democratic deliberation. And I don’t trust it at the moment either, because it’s a muscle that Americans don’t have any more. I actually think it would be great to have a constitutional convention, but before that, we need to be able to democratically sit down and deliberate with one another about important matters and agree to abide by the decision of the group.
We now have a Supreme Court that largely embraces originalism. Many Americans support it, but many don’t, fearing that the court’s disregard of decades’ worth of legal precedent will throw the country back to the 1700s when it comes to equal rights and due process.
One thing I try to do in the book is offer up a history of different ways that Americans have thought about how to interpret the Constitution. That includes originalism, which prevails in the federal judiciary now. To many Americans, it seems sensible because it appears simple. How do you decide what a very old legal document means? You try to figure out what the words meant at the time, what the people who wrote those words meant by [them], and then what the people who read those words
understood by them. That makes sense, in the argument that the originalists use: You find your grandfather’s will, he’s dead, you should read the will the way he meant for it to be understood.
But there are other ways that jurists and scholars and the public have thought about how to read the Constitution, and those are also worth paying attention to. Why those do not prevail in the court or why they do not prevail in the public mind are questions I try to answer for readers in the book.
You write that amendment is necessary to prevent insurrection, and we actually did have an insurrection on January 6, 2021. How does the inability to pass amendments stoke insurrection?
The political theory behind amendment revision did not come from the framers; it came from the people, who insisted that it be included. This happened first in Massachusetts, where the people rejected a constitution that had no amendment provision. That’s how it ended up in the federal Constitution. The idea was to write down our fundamental law, but they didn’t want it frozen in time, they wanted to be able to make adjustments and improvements. Without that provision, the only way to fundamentally change the government would be through an insurrection, a coup, to replace the government, to defy the government through violence.
Mary Ann Gwinn is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist in Seattle.
James Patterson and Vicky Ward are teaming up on the true-crime book.
Novelist James Patterson and journalist Vicky Ward are writing a nonfiction book about the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the Associated Press reports.
Little, Brown announced it will publish the book, which has no release date or title yet.
The shooting death of Thompson on December 4 last year made headlines around the world. The CEO was walking in midtown Manhattan, on his way to a meeting at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, when he was shot multiple times in the back and leg. Police recovered spent shell casings at the scene with the words “deny,” “depose,” and “delay” written on them.
Five days later, police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, arrested Luigi Mangione in connection with the slaying. He has been charged with murder by both state and federal authorities.
Patterson and Ward’s book on the killing will be their second collaboration on a timely true-crime case.
Last month, Little, Brown published The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy, their book about the murders of four University of Idaho students by Bryan Christopher Kohberger in 2022.
In a statement on the new book, Patterson said, “This is a story about the American Dream Gone Wrong. It’s also a story of one young man’s descent from Ivy League graduate to notorious accused killer to so-called political martyr.”—M.S.
From left, James Patterson and Vicky Ward
when Charles and his army turned up at Parliament searching for five members whom Charles regarded as traitors, they had already fled downriver. They’d been tipped off by Lucy Hay, close companion to the queen and one of history’s great eavesdroppers. It is to Healey’s credit that, while giving a detailed discussion of the complex arguments, he also evokes the many colorful characters involved. Alongside a king who teeters between pomposity and timidity, a queen who sells her jewelry in exile, and the humble-born Sir John Bankes, stuck “between a sow’s ear and the silken purse,” readers are treated to a portrait of a smoke-, smog-, and mud-filled London, together with its inhabitants. Water poets and priggish Puritans may dominate, but who can forget a particular candidate for Constable of the Tower: Thomas Lunsford, who was “heavily in debt, rarely seen at church. Some said he was a cannibal.” Lively and engaging political intrigue, with surprisingly contemporary parallels.
Kirkus Star
World Enemy No. 1: Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, and the Fate of the Jews
Hellbeck, Jochen | Penguin Press (560 pp.) $35 | October 21, 2025 | 9780593657386
A history of World War II closely focused on its true epicenter: the Russian front.
“Everything I undertake is directed against Russia.” So said Hitler. By German historian Hellbeck’s account, Hitler’s primary bête noire was the Soviet Union, which, in his mind, was a land fit only for enslavement; the Nazi invasion was premised on a program that would reduce the Soviet population by 20–30 million, to be replaced by German settlers. Perhaps controversially, Hellbeck holds that the Jews who would soon fall victim to the Nazi extermination regime
Surveying a half-century’s efforts to prosecute political criminals.
WHEN YOU COME AT THE KING
were initially secondary: The first targets were the Communists, though Hitler immediately linked them, railing against “the Jews of the Kremlin” but drawing a distinction between “Jews as ‘racial aliens’” and “those Jews whose purported Communist ideology made them additionally a formidable threat to national security.” Hitler was correct, Hellbeck ventures, in considering Soviet Communism as “the most radical political experiment of the modern Enlightenment.” He was incorrect in believing that a Marxist “enterprise” underlay it and that it would soon crumble: Instead, Communist universalists stood in fairly united opposition to the Nazi regime and its “entrenched racism.” In 1923, Hitler proclaimed, “Either Jewish-international Marxism will survive, or Germany will.” That the Third Reich was defeated, Hellbeck asserts, was because of the Soviets, who essentially fought World War II in Europe alone until 1944, when the second Allied front opened with the Normandy landings. One highlight of Hellbeck’s narrative is his extended portrait of Soviet journalist Ilya Ehrenburg, who rightly wrote that the “Germans had incomparably more blood on their hands in the East than in the West.” Hellbeck also notes, tellingly, that in the postwar Nuremberg war crimes trials, “the Soviet Union was the only power to bring Jews to the stand.”
An essential contribution to the modern literature of what Russians still call the Great Patriotic War.
Honig, Elie | Harper/HarperCollins (336 pp.)
$29.99 | September 16, 2025 | 9780063447363
A survey of a half-century’s efforts to bring political criminals before the bench. It’s a different world at the beginning of CNN legal analyst Honig’s history: A special counsel appointed to dissect the Watergate affair is fired by Nixon, to be succeeded by another counsel; with support from the Supreme Court, which rejects Nixon’s assertion of executive privilege, the counsel turns up enough smoking-gun evidence that Nixon is forced to resign. Even so, because that Nixon-era special counsel enjoyed no protections, one staffer said, “We were fighting an enormously powerful president, and we were getting signals that something bad was going to happen,” leading her to squirrel away evidence in case the investigation was shut down and redacted into oblivion. Since that time, various laws to protect special counsels have been enacted, but just as many have been allowed to expire, with politicians—especially Republicans like Robert Bork—worried that they occupied “an office whose sole function is to attack the executive branch.” Later successful investigations included the Valerie Plame affair, in which a member or members of George W. Bush’s team disclosed that she was a deep-cover CIA agent. Honig examines numerous cases through six criteria, including the necessity of an investigation, its duration
and scope, and its results. One Trump 1–era investigation, in that regard, took three years to dismiss Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, then was contradicted by the contemporaneous Mueller report. An unexpected villain of the piece is President Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, who, by Honig’s account, dawdled for two years before allowing Jack Smith to investigate the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, so that “Smith had only a handful of months to get from indictment to trial—a difficult task in any federal case, let alone in two sweeping, unprecedented indictments of a former president.”
A warning of sorts, but also encouragement for those who would hold political leaders to account, immunity or no.
Hu Anyan | Trans. by Jack Hargreaves Astra House (336 pp.) | $27 October 28, 2025 | 9781662603044
Between long nights and hard days, a new writer hustles to find his voice.
Hu’s forthright and introspective account of odd jobs and the Chinese gig economy’s daily grind feels strikingly familiar. “Same stuff, different place,” the work-weary may utter, and with good reason. This book testifies that the exhausting modern workplace experience of the West, an often pressurized and seemingly high-stakes cocktail laced with byzantine performance metrics and pay scales, knows no borders. “I was like the walking dead—a thousand-yard stare and a foggy mind,” the author writes of nightshift work, “and no idea what I had been doing only a second earlier.” It’s all made bearable by payday—and by commiserating with colleagues in the trenches. “Not that we were especially unhappy or anything, it was just reliable common ground. It won us each other’s trust and warmed us to each other.” This book also describes Hu’s path to writing. Its star is
his voice. Deeper questions about freedom and purpose amid the mundanity of work land more memorably than idle water cooler chat, thanks to this sensitive translation of the author’s distinctive deadpan soul. “But, supposing work is something we are compelled to do, a concession of our personal will,” he observes, “then the other parts of life—those that remain true to our desires, that we choose to pursue, in whatever form they take—might be called freedom.” Life “would be all the more colorful,” he says, if more people pursued that freedom. Hu is frank about his shortcomings, including anger intense enough to inspire a customer “revenge list” (he never acted on it). He’s also funny. In all, Hu worked 19 jobs in about as many years across the service industry and small businesses. About his time delivering packages, which gives the book its title, he writes: “I was once the best courier that some customers had ever seen.”
Delivering goods and developing insight in China’s gig economy.
Iverson, Allen | 13A/Simon & Schuster (352 pp.) $30 | October 7, 2025 | 9781476784397
B eating a wrongful conviction and becoming a hardwood great.
Iverson isn’t the first athlete to complain that the public doesn’t get him, but few have stated their case so compellingly. This is a frank, powerful memoir of injustice, loss, and resilience. The sub-6-footer led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals, showcasing highlight-reel skills and becoming the “smallest MVP in league history.” But first came tremendous adversity. As a teen in Virginia, he was convicted of felonies after a brawl and served several months in prison. An appeals court overturned his conviction, but paternalistic columnists and opposing teams’ fans—some of
whom chanted “Jailbird!” when he played for Georgetown University—wouldn’t move on. Later, the cornrows and baggy shorts that made him a 1990s “fashion icon” fueled judgmental press coverage of the NBA’s “younger generation: thugs, gangsters, with me as the headliner.” Some of his tattoos and earrings were “airbrushed out” when he made the cover of a league magazine. Along with interesting anecdotes about celebrated coaches and memorable games, Iverson poignantly revisits his most trying moments. When he was a grade-schooler, his mother had to choose between keeping the electricity on and buying him sneakers—“she got me my kicks.” An accidental shooting in his boyhood home left a man seriously injured. When reporters impugned Iverson’s professionalism for missing a 76ers practice, few people realized he was grieving his best friend’s recent murder. He’s charmingly humble about acquiring new skills, describing how he learned his formidable crossover dribble from a Georgetown second-stringer. And there’s relatable vulnerability in the biggest “whiplash of my life”: Elated about winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award, the next day he was “nervous as a motherfucker” while testifying as “the man who raised me” faced criminal charges.
A basketball superstar nicknamed “the Answer” ducks no tough questions in this revealing self-portrait.
Jensen, Morten Høi | Yale Univ. (248 pp.) $28 | October 21, 2025 | 9780300233742
A writer in tumultuous times. Danish American writer and critic Jensen examines the context—biographical, political, philosophical— of The Magic Mountain, published in 1924 and translated into English in 1927: the book
all kinds of board games and put them up on his walls.
that catapulted Thomas Mann (18751955) to international fame. Mann began the novel in 1913, inspired by a visit to Davos, Switzerland, where his wife, Katia, was being treated at a sanatorium. The narrative opens with Hans Castorp’s arrival at a mountain sanatorium to visit a friend, intending to stay a few weeks; he remains for seven years, during which his world, like Mann’s over the decade he wrote, changed profoundly. War was the first shattering event: A defender of German patriotism in 1914, Mann, Jensen writes, “had bought into the myth of European decadence and decline” and shared the disgust of many writers and artists about “the banal and soulless materialism of Western Europe.” Moreover, unlike his liberal-minded brother, Heinrich, Mann believed that democracy was “poisonous” to the German soul. In 1914, his Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man, more than 600 pages, extolled German romanticism and pessimism. The outpouring “of a tortured, obsessive, and intellectually unsettled mind,” the document proved so embarrassing to Mann that he attempted to stop its publication as Germany lurched into war. The “terrible weight of reality”— war and its violent aftermath—changed Mann decisively: A democratic republic, he came to believe, might save Germany’s future. By the early 1920s, he emerged as a “literary spokesman for democracy and humanism.” After the war, as he resumed writing The Magic Mountain, science, religion, philosophy, and politics made their way into the narrative. Drawing on published letters, diaries, and notebooks, Jensen creates a nuanced portrait of a writer whose “solitary, withdrawn, brooding, peculiar, and sad existence” gave rise to a literary masterpiece. A thoughtful, perceptive rereading.
Joseph, Barry | Bloomsbury Academic (352 pp.)
$36.95 | September 18, 2025 | 9781493085835
A little night music—and a lot of games. Joseph, cofounder of the Games for Change festival, is perfectly suited to explore Stephen Sondheim’s little-known lifelong interest in all sorts of games, mostly word driven. The composer believed that his parents’ divorce pushed him toward games and music to seek order out of chaos. He collected all kinds of board games and put them up on his apartment’s walls. Sadly, many were lost in a fire. Parlor games were also a Sondheim favorite, attended by many of his friends. His Murder Game inspired the song “Finishing the Hat.” In the 1960s he’d occasionally appear on TV game shows like The Match Game and Password, always anxious to win. He was also New York magazine’s puzzle editor. Joseph goes into great detail outlining the musician’s treasure hunts. “Tackling one of Sondheim’s puzzles can feel like being lost in the face of an unknown language,” the author writes, but the 2013 City Center Treasure Hunt offers insights, as it was “thoroughly documented” by Maria Seremetis, whom Sondheim hired as an assistant. Joseph even gathers together a group of friends over Zoom to reenact the hunt so that they could all experience the fun of matching minds with Sondheim. Joseph discusses the composer’s movie board game, Stardom, designed when he was
in his early 20s. The Great Conductor Hunt was designed for his friend Leonard Bernstein. Sondheim was also a word puzzle designer, especially crosswords and challenging cryptics. Stephen Sondheim’s Crossword Puzzles was published in 1980. He was even passionate about elaborate jigsaw puzzles, giving them as gifts to performers in his musicals. Late in life, he got into escape rooms. Joseph estimates that nearly 2,000 of the composer’s possessions, which were auctioned off, were related to puzzles and games.
A smart, eye-opening look into a lighter side of Sondheim.
Kundera, Milan | Trans. by Matt Reeck Harper/HarperCollins (112 pp.) | $25.99 October 7, 2025 | 9780063436435
The late Czech writer offers considered thoughts on politics, literature, translation, and other topics. The two texts included here, “89 Words” and “Prague, a Disappearing Poem,” appeared in 1985 and 1980, respectively, in the now-defunct French leftist journal Le Débat. Leftist, to be sure, but Kundera is rightly soured on “Soviet civilization,” which had oppressed the intellectual and cultural traditions of his homeland; he is equally disenchanted with a West that turned its back on a nation that was once at the center of European life: “After one thousand years of being a Western country, Czechoslovakia became part of the Eastern bloc.” Kundera opens these elegant if often embittered essays with this complaint: When The Joke appeared in a French version, “the translator practically rewrote my novel and changed my style completely,” while his English translator “didn’t know a single word of Czech.” A sympathetic French publisher suggested that Kundera write a personal dictionary of keywords in his work, and
that dictionary constitutes “89 Words,” from “Absolute” to “Youth,” and with plenty of stops along the way. At midpoint is Kundera’s metaphysical context of “Lightness”: “As for the idea of the unbearable lightness of being, I find it already in The Joke: ‘I was walking across the dusty cobblestones, and I felt the heavy lightness that weighed down my life.’” Kundera’s sometimes curmudgeonly takes have a certain arch humor to them, as when he insists, in one of several entries concerning the novel, “The novelist owes nothing to anyone, except Cervantes.” A bonus: Kundera’s coinage of “Orgasmocentric.” “Prague” has less lightness: Kundera rightly bemoans the historical fact that Soviet colonization “took place in a country that had never colonized anyone,” imprisoning Czech culture and literature and the Czech people themselves, “suffocating inside their lives.”
Essential for Kundera devotees, and worthy of a place on the shelf next to Milosz and Solzhenitsyn.
Kirkus Star
Don’t Stop: Why We (Still) Love Fleetwood Mac’s
Light, Alan | Atria (288 pp.) | $29 November 4, 2025 | 9781668054376
A look at the classic rock album that has captured the imaginations of both boomers and Zoomers.
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours hit record store shelves in 1977, and we’re all still talking about it nearly 50 years later. There are a lot of reasons for that, Light argues in his latest musical biography, in which he seeks to explain its enduring appeal: “This album has made it into every corner of our consciousness, and its influence extends to rockers, singer-songwriters, pop stars, and rappers, but beyond that to young people of all backgrounds figuring out how to navigate their own lives and relationships.” Light is
particularly interested in why Rumours continues to resonate with young people, and he interviews twentysomething-yearold listeners who have discovered “this old-ass album” thanks to friends, TV shows, and TikTok—namely the now-famous clip of Nathan Apodaca, on his skateboard, lip-syncing “Dreams” while drinking from a bottle of Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice. The author considers the drama surrounding the album, recorded during a period of the band members’ cheating and breakups and liberal drug use, but that does not impress all younger people; one of them says, “I don’t care—just play the fucking song.” Light goes track by track in the book, dedicating a chapter to each of its songs, including “Silver Springs,” which was not on the original record but is on some reissues (“the song that creates Schrödinger’s Rumours,” as the author puts it). It’s hard to argue with Light’s conclusions that “it was something that kids found and liked because other kids found and liked it,” and that “whatever you go to Rumours looking for, it is there to be found. It is open to all.” Light’s tone is light and breezy, but it’s clear that he’s put much thought into this informative book. It’s a lot of fun.
Enjoyable writing and real insight power this fascinating look at a band that went their own way.
Loebl, Suzanne with Abigail Wilentz Bloomsbury Academic (224 pp.) | $29 October 16, 2025 | 9781538194225
A rich portrait of the fate of art—and artists—in the shadow of Hitler.
Loebl opens her book with a jolt: Over the course of their rule, the Nazis looted some 650,000 pieces of art. In her ranging and mostly engrossing investigation, she focuses on the principal figures, events,
and works that were at play in this knotted and tragic story of art in the Third Reich. The author of 14 books, including America’s Medicis: The Rockefellers and Their Astonishing Cultural Legacy, Loebl herself escaped Nazi Germany with her art-collecting family. As she rightly conveys, art was something that senior Nazis both hungered for and despised, depending on the subject, genre, and artist’s nationality. In swift and unencumbered prose, the author tells of how they attempted—and often succeeded—in cleansing it, first in Germany and then in the territories they occupied, looting museums and private collections at will. One target was the German Expressionists whose work Hitler regarded as “degenerate.” In short profiles of the artists and their patrons or dealers, Loebl gives a thoughtful account of this crucial interwar movement and the attacks it endured as the Nazis rose to power. The author, who spent much of the war in hiding in Belgium, weaves in her personal story to great effect, including descriptions of her own forbears’ collections of Bauhaus furniture and important prints and paintings. Her writing sags at times when she attempts to demonstrate the vastness of Nazi plunder by favoring breadth over depth in stories of dozens of dealers and collectors. This choice makes some of the characters seem unidimensional. This blemish aside, she succeeds in presenting the immensity of artistic loss caused by the Germans, both the spoliated works and sometimes the artists themselves, some of whom perished in concentration camps. Powerfully, she gives readers a blunt reminder of how much art with dubious provenance remains in the galleries of our great museums. A work that stands out from the immense and ever-growing shelf of World War II literature.
McConaughey, Matthew | Crown (208 pp.)
$14.99 | September 16, 2025 | 9781984862105
A noted actor turns to verse: “Poems are a Saturday in the middle of the week.”
McConaughey, author of the gracefully written memoir Greenlights, has been writing poems since his teens, closing with one “written in an Australian bathtub” that reads just as a poem by an 18-year-old (Rimbaud excepted) should read: “Ignorant minds of the fortunate man / Blind of the fate shaping every land.” McConaughey is fearless in his commitment to the rhyme, no matter how slight the result (“Oops, took a quick peek at the sky before I got my glasses, / now I can’t see shit, sure hope this passes”). And, sad to say, the slight is what is most on display throughout, punctuated by some odd koanlike aperçus: “Eating all we can / at the all-we-can-eat buffet, / gives us a 3.8 education / and a 4.2 GPA.” “Never give up your right to do the next right thing. This is how we find our way home.”
“Memory never forgets. Even though we do.” The prayer portion of the program is deeply felt, but it’s just as sentimental; only when he writes of life-changing events—a court appearance to file a restraining order against a stalker, his decision to quit smoking weed—do we catch a glimpse of the effortlessly fluent, effortlessly charming McConaughey as exemplified by the David Wooderson (“alright, alright, alright”) of Dazed and Confused. The rest is mostly a soufflé in verse. McConaughey’s heart is very clearly in the right place, but on the
whole the book suggests an old saw: Don’t give up your day job. It’s not Shakespeare, not by a long shot. But at least it’s not James Franco.
Meltzer, Marisa | Atria (224 pp.) | $28 October 7, 2025 | 9781668060285
Jane Birkin, the actress, singer, and style setter. Born in London, Birkin (1946-2023) was the daughter of a respected actress and a successful businessman. She received a typical education for the time, including a short stay at a Parisian finishing school, but the 1960s “Youthquake,” with England setting trends in music and fashion, was a bigger influence. As journalist Meltzer notes in this nuanced biography, Birkin eagerly adopted new styles, adding her own touches, most famously a Portuguese basket used as a handbag. She followed her mother’s footsteps and became an actress, finding roles in trendy movies like Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 thriller, Blow-Up. At 17 she met and married film composer John Barry, 13 years her senior. But the marriage fell apart in 1967—four months after she gave birth to a daughter, Kate. Going to Paris for an audition, she met Serge Gainsbourg, the notoriously louche actor, director, and musician. They worked together in film and music, most famously recording the song “Je t’aime… moi non plus,” which generated shock waves with its aural simulation of sex. Their relationship, which included the
McConaughey is fearless in his commitment to the rhyme, no matter how slight the result.
birth of Birkin’s second daughter, Charlotte—the future actor and singer—lasted until 1980, when she left Gainsbourg for director Jacques Doillon. Beyond appearing in more than 70 films, captivating audiences with an “unforgettable face,” Birkin was “the real version of an often-overused term: a fashion icon,” Meltzer writes. “She maintained a fierce dedication to her own aesthetic that has charmed and inspired for decades. She is the reason why high-waisted denims with flared hems, fluttery white peasant blouses, Repetto ballet flats, crocheted dresses, and woven baskets as handbags are still worn today; why the French girl style proliferates. She is carefree elegance personified.”
An affectionate and appealing account of the young Englishwoman who became a French icon.
Ed. by Meyer, Marc | Beacon Press (240 pp.) $29.95 | November 18, 2025 | 9780807020647
The lives of immigrants, in their own words. Editor Meyer runs the Bowery Group, a collection of New York City restaurants that includes Cookshop and Rosie’s. After dropping out of college, Meyer found his way to the restaurant industry by trying out a series of recipes in an Italian cookbook and deciding, based on this experience, to move to New York to work in kitchens. In a preface, Meyer says that his is just one of a vast array of reasons why people flock to New York City’s restaurants. “There is no single explanation as to what has moved countless people to seek jobs in the restaurants of New York,” he writes. “Some of us were social misfits, ill-suited for the conformities of the corporate world. Others sought to escape dangerous social conditions. All of us had something that we needed to leave behind—a need to hide, to escape,
to break the patterns of the past.” In the pages that follow, Meyer includes interviews with people from around the world, including Elena, a Colombian mother who journeyed to the United States to escape domestic abuse; Phillipe, who was raised in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast; and Isabell, a gay Honduran who moved to the United States for love. These stories provide a compassionate, intimate, and at times humorous glimpse into New York’s diverse immigrant communities. Each narrative is thoughtfully edited to convey a specific emotional trajectory and to reflect the resilience of each interviewee. One of the voices is that of Santiago, who fled Venezuela, where he had been kidnapped for his activism. Trained as a lawyer, he has been working in New York restaurants for several years. “I love New York City,” he says. “Longterm, I want to have a small restaurant where I can show people all the good things I remember from my grandmother—a good, small family business, nothing too big….I guess the restaurant business got under my skin.”
A touching collection of immigrant life stories.
Mount, Ferdinand | Bloomsbury Continuum (320 pp.) | $30 | November 18, 2025 9781399421881
Cry me a river. Usually applied to the saccharine strains of Barbra Streisand or the weepy end of Charles Dickens’ Little Nell, the term “sentimental” carries with it the worst excesses of emotion. Mount disagrees. Sentimentality, in the writer and novelist’s view, is the cultural expression of unbridled emotion, pressed into the service of love and belonging. This book offers a compendious review of Western European desire, from the medieval troubadours through the 18th-century “man of feeling,” to the Beatles and beyond. Mount’s view is that
sentimentality binds us together as human beings. The arts of emotion “give one a sense of purposeful peace as well as of undimmed beauty.” Mount charts “sentimental revolutions,” none so revealing as the story of Samuel Richardson’s novel Pamela (1740)—a book that “delves into character to a depth never previously attempted in fiction.” Similarly revolutionary are the songs of John Lennon and Paul McCartney: “Their work has left the most lasting impact on the emotional life of the nation.” Mount’s aristocratic inheritance is there on every page, passing blithe judgments on critics and artists alike. Michelangelo is “as decisive and dynamic a thinker as he was an artist.” The Edwardians were “unforgivably popular.” One modern critic has “all the post-colonial detachment that comes naturally to an American academic.” Mount filters English and European culture through the lens of his sublime assurance, and while some younger readers may find his tone more Downton Abbey than downtown cool, his judgments always have the ring of common sense about them. “Sentimentality is indispensable to human flourishing.” And then he ends by quoting P.G. Wodehouse and Shakespeare, reminding us that the sun has never really set on English men of feeling. A magisterial, personal reflection on the freedom to express our feelings in all their gushy beauty.
Murphy, Angela F. | Yale Univ. (320 pp.) $30 | October 28, 2025 | 9780300279573
Helping those who ran from slavery—just as he had. In 1860, more than two decades after Jermain Wesley Loguen (1813–1872) fled Tennessee, he received a letter from his enslaver, Sarah Logue. In exchange for $1,000 and the cost of the horse Loguen had taken north, Logue would “give up all claim I
have to you.” Loguen, who had established himself as an abolitionist, minister, and central figure on the Underground Railroad in Syracuse, New York, did not equivocate: “Did you think to terrify me by presenting the alternative to give my money to you or give my body to Slavery? Then let me say to you, that I meet the position with unutterable scorn and contempt.” Despite the looming threat of a return to slavery, sanctioned by the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, Loguen remained a “defiant fugitive,” believing that “purchasing” his freedom “denied that freedom was his God-given right.” A Texas State University historian, Murphy argues that Loguen saw himself as a regional leader rather than a “national figure” and that “these lesser-known reformers” can help “flesh out our understanding of Black activism” beyond “singular, exceptional figures who brought the needs of this community to the forefront of the American consciousness.” Murphy’s point is well taken, but the community organizer/great man dichotomy does not provide the most productive framing for a biography of Loguen, whose life spans this dichotomy rather than falling on one side or the other. Murphy effectively places Loguen within the context of a community of activists working together—notably in carrying out the “Jerry Rescue” (the subject of Murphy’s previous work The Jerry Rescue, 2014), in which Black and white residents of Syracuse liberated a fugitive who had been arrested by federal marshals. And yet, Loguen worked directly with Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, published a popular narrative of his own life, was lauded as “King of the Underground Railroad,” and was “an important voice for a generation of Black Americans.”
A welcome and necessary account of a fugitive from slavery.
Nadell, Pamela S. | Norton (352 pp.)
$31.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9781324050643
A searching history of religious intolerance in putatively pluralist America. Nadell, who directs the Jewish Studies Program at American University, writes that hatred of Jews in the United States “sits atop a long history of antisemitism that made its way to this land centuries ago and that flourishes today.” That hatred was manifest in numerous ways, from ghettoization to political restrictions, such as New Hampshire’s erstwhile requirement, until 1877, that the governor and legislators be Protestant. In the 17th century, Increase Mather, the Puritan clergyman and president of Harvard, fulminated against Jews from his Boston pulpit for “the most prodigious Murther that ever the Sun beheld,” meaning, of course, the killing of Christ. That charge was layered with other now-familiar tropes: drinking Christian babies’ blood, spreading the plague, poisoning wells. Economic hostility, Nadell writes, mounted in the 1830s, when thousands of young Jewish men arrived from Europe and found that little work was open to them, save as peddlers. Some Jews became prominent in business, finance, and politics, as with Judah P. Benjamin, secretary of state of the Confederacy. But other Jews were broadly persecuted, as when Ulysses S. Grant expelled those peddlers from his military jurisdiction. One of Grant’s postwar friends, and one of the wealthiest men in the country, was barred from a resort hotel in New York on the grounds that it was not open to “Israelites,” while, over the decades, Jews suffered indignities such as being banned from professional schools and, in the case of Saul Bellow, discouraged from studying English by a professor who said, “You weren’t born to it.” Bellow, of course, went on to earn the Nobel Prize in literature, and countless other Jewish
Americans have excelled in every field of endeavor—yet antisemitism persists, encouraged now, in Nadell’s view, by a president who holds a “racist vision of how to make American great again.” An urgent and provocative work on the history of hostility to American Jews.
Kirkus Star
Newman, Amy | Princeton Univ. (672 pp.) $39.95 | October 28, 2025 | 9780691249186
Portrait of an iconic artist. Art historian and journalist Newman (unrelated to the artist) draws on interviews, oral histories, and archival sources for a comprehensive biography of abstract expressionist Barnett Newman (1905-1970): educator, poet, political activist, New York mayoral candidate (who ran against Fiorello La Guardia), and, for the last 25 years of his life, a groundbreaking artist. “A vivid human being with a ravenous appetite for experience and agency,” Barney—as he was known—dived into all of his projects with characteristic “hyperbole, bravo, and brio.” Art occupied him throughout his life: A desultory high school student, he was encouraged by his mother to take classes at the Art Students League; he taught art as a substitute teacher in the New York City public schools, trying and failing to get certification as an art teacher. He wrote about and ruminated on art, whose “ultimate” subject matter, he
proclaimed, was “the defense of human dignity.” Beginning in 1945, with his wife’s enthusiastic support, he devoted himself exclusively to creating artworks of “restrained passion” meant to reveal “the nature of self.” His own self story was continually under construction, a mythology in progress. With an insatiable need for recognition and praise, from his first exhibition at the Betty Parsons Gallery in 1950, he sought to establish himself “as not simply a presence among his peers, but as sui generis, a pioneer, a general in the avant garde.” He could be “prickly, verbose and combative,” and also warm and charming. Newman reveals the genesis, details, and reception of Barney’s paintings and sculptures, including Anna’s Light, his largest painting, exhibited in 1968, and the “remarkable, gravity-defying, over-25foot sculpture” Broken Obelisk, grounding the work not only in Barney’s life, but in the energetic postwar art world.
An impressive, nuanced study.
Odell, Amy | Gallery Books/ Simon & Schuster (448 pp.) | $30.99 July 29, 2025 | 9781668005774
A gossipy portrait of “one of the most resented celebrities in the world.” Odell followed up her 2022 biography Anna as in fashion arbiter Wintour—looking for “another woman whose life and career had the same combination of public fascination and private
A gossipy portrait of “one of the most resented celebrities in the world.”
GWYNETH
complexity.” That quest led her to Gwyneth Paltrow, whom we find, in the opening pages, hawking the “egg,” a vaginal insert meant to “improve orgasms and muscle tone.” That was just one of the goods offered by Paltrow’s website Goop, which former employees say catered to “‘wealthy white women’ between the ages of twenty-five and forty.” Along the way, Paltrow has promoted antivaxxers and endured a lawsuit from California district attorneys who disputed what they alleged to be bogus health claims. Odell paints Paltrow as a calculating and not particularly nice person, with both qualities in view in Paltrow’s horning in on Martha Stewart’s lifestyle turf—about which Stewart herself said, “If she were confident in her acting, she wouldn’t be trying to be Martha Stewart”—to say nothing of her treatment of former friend Winona Ryder. But Odell also gives Paltrow full credit for her acting skills and work ethic on set, which helped movies such as Shakespeare in Love (which netted her an Academy Award), Emma , and The Talented Mr. Ripley blaze at the box office. Still, to Paltrow’s detriment, Odell adds, the actress has as many duds as hits on her résumé, such as Shallow Hal and View From the Top. Granted, the second film paid her $10 million, peanuts next to her work in the Iron Man franchise, but Paltrow now seems to have worn out her welcome in Tinseltown, a victim of bridge-burning ambition and the changing whims of pop culture. Or, as Odell writes, “after a certain point, the public tires of hearing how amazing the world’s most beautiful, privileged women are.” Catnip for those who can’t get enough Hollywood buzz.
Offerman, Nick with Lee Buchanan Dutton (224 pp.) | $35 | October 14, 2025 9780593475263
For more by Amy Odell, visit Kirkus online.
A woodworking ambassador shares the love of his craft. Offerman’s talents extend beyond Hollywood to woodworking—a subject the actor explored in Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop (2016). In his latest book, he imparts his wisdom to younger readers. Yes, the book is for little woodchucks, as he endearingly calls them, but more grizzled neophytes will also benefit. Neither young nor old will be able to resist his folksy, dry wit. “Historically, everybody knows the easiest way to make a bench,” he writes. “First off, you need to locate your personal sittin’ parts, also known as the caboose, booty, or butt.…I usually find mine by determining the area halfway between my kneecaps and my armpits and then heading around back. If that doesn’t work, just put on some funky music and watch out for the part that first begins to shake.” More useful, perhaps, are the instructions for making a bench. As with all the projects—among them carved creatures, whistles, and box kites—this one comes with a handy list of materials and tools. A helpful photo shows all the tools laid out; a note reads, “power tools eventually die, but this hand drill has been in Lee’s family for 3 generations. Suck on that, capitalism.” “Lee” is Offerman’s co-author, Buchanan; they appear in photos alongside adorable kids hard at work, including one in which a mock-terrified Offerman is being transported on a forklift…operated by a tot. In an introduction that’s funny and earnest, Offerman rhapsodizes about the joys of making things with one’s hands. He observes, rightly, that “when we learn to make things for ourselves, we can then make things for other people, and that’s a great way to tell those folks that you love them.…Beyond the fondness that your
new powers will engender, those tool skills will carry over into your everyday practice, and you’ll become a better thinker in every aspect of your life.”
A thoroughly enjoyable book that’ll leave you with a craving to get creative.
O’Reilly, Bill & Josh Hammer
St. Martin’s (304 pp.) | $32 September 9, 2025 | 9781250374042
A talking head assembles some talking points about history’s merciless killers.
“This is a history book that explains the struggle between good and evil, a choice every person in the Judeo-Christian tradition is compelled to make.” So writes former Fox News host and bestselling author O’Reilly, working with staffer/researcher Hammer. The Judeo-Christian distinction is telling, one supposes, since the book opens with Abed al Rahman, who, on October 7, 2023, “ordered his 150 gunmen to slaughter as many Jews as they can.” O’Reilly’s keyword is tossed off, to wit, “Here’s my definition of evil: harming a human being without remorse.” One wonders, then, whether Israel’s response in Gaza qualifies, to say nothing of the Trump administration’s treatment of unwanted undocumented immigrants. No matter: O’Reilly’s cast of villains is standard issue, opening with the Roman emperor Caligula, who “operates on emotional whim; his reign is truly one of terror and constant violence” and who left behind him “what was once a proud population [that] now seeks barbaric entertainment and free government handouts.” That Caligula’s most comprehensive contemporary biographer may have propagandized a bit doesn’t come into question, and the charge that Genghis Khan’s army killed 700,000 victims at a single sitting needs testing. Granted, by Judeo-Christian standards, Genghis was the devil incarnate, but the Mongols apparently liked him just
Darren Walker, who led the Ford Foundation for 12 years, reflects on The Idea of America
MEGAN LABRISE
WHAT DARREN WALKER will miss most about the Ford Foundation is a feeling.
“Every morning, when I walk into the Ford Foundation’s historic, landmark headquarters, I feel a sense of exhilaration and possibility,” the legendary philanthropic organization’s 10th president tells Kirkus via email. “Every single day, we are helping to make our world a better place—to advance fairness and justice, human dignity and human rights. It gives a sense of purpose, but also a profound sense of hope: Radical, righteous, energizing hope. The work will continue, but I will miss that feeling very much.”
At the end of 2025, Walker will depart the foundation to pursue new challenges in humanitarianism and arts administration. His latest book, The Idea of America: Reflections on Inequality, Democracy, and the Values We Share, is a capstone collection of reflections, essays, and speeches, commemorating 12 inspiring years spent traveling the globe, listening, learning, and acting in defense of democracy and American ideals.
Walker recently answered some questions about the book and his ongoing mission.
In an admiring foreword to The Idea of America, President Bill Clinton identifies your 2015 Annual Message to the Ford Foundation, “Toward a New Gospel of Wealth,” as a landmark essay. What is its aim?
There remains today, as in the era of modern philanthropy’s founding, a central contradiction built into the very existence of founda-
tions: We are the product of our market system’s unequal benefits—and yet we also are charged with addressing its unequal outcomes.
In other words, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught, the thing that makes philanthropy possible is also the thing that makes philanthropy necessary: inequality.
A decade ago, I began to argue that philanthropy
needed a new “Gospel of Wealth” befitting our new Gilded Age—a reimagination of our founding charter, if you will. My objective was to expand Andrew Carnegie’s original thesis—and to challenge all of us, especially those of us who gain advantage from inequality, to recognize that it’s necessary but not sufficient to “give something back”; to serve our missions and values fully, we, the most privileged, also might “give something up.” This is how we pursue philanthropy beyond charity—and justice beyond generosity.
Why was The Idea of America the right title?
“The idea of America”—these four words have been the most powerful but also the most tested and contested in our history. I selected this title both to acknowledge this fundamental tension and in recognition that my own life’s
journey is the promise of America at work—the idea of America at work.
I moved to New York from Texas in the summer of 1986—and I remember that July 4 weekend, when the New York Times published a posthumous essay from the celebrated journalist Theodore White. He wrote then, capturing the zeitgeist, “Englishmen are English. Frenchmen are French….But Americans are a nation born of an idea.” We always have been and always will be.
As I argued in my 2024 address at Cooper Union (included in the book), “Our American identity emerges not from ‘blood and soil’ but from fidelity to these truths we hold self-evident even still.” Everything about my life’s journey—everything about my work—reflects this fidelity.
I was personally inspired by “There Is No Leadership
Without Risk,” a piece of yours that appeared in the New York Times on October 20, 2024. At this crucial juncture in history, what does courageous moral leadership demand?
I think courageous moral leadership demands, from all of us, some reflection and introspection about how we arrived at this critical juncture—and about how we can move forward together. In that essay and others, I explored the many ways that inequality has created the conditions in which the American people are both desperate for leadership and programmed for cynicism about anyone who offers it. This is one of numerous reasons, I believe, that leaders ought to focus on reducing inequality as a means of securing and sustaining our democratic values, traditions, and institutions.
What’s your proudest achievement as president of the Ford Foundation?
My heart is full of pride and gratitude for so many of our accomplishments, but one on which I’ve been reflecting recently—and about which I include a selection in The Idea of America—is the Ford Foundation’s rapprochement with the Ford family.
For some four decades, the estrangement between the philanthropy and the family was a subject of fascination— fodder for tabloids and even a kind of cautionary tale for donors. The truth, of course, was more nuanced and complex—and the departure of Henry Ford II from our board in 1976 was both regrettable and unfortunate.
Nevertheless, by the time the city of Detroit faced its historic bankruptcy in 2013, we knew that the moment for
reengagement had long since arrived. So the foundation and family joined forces—as part of a broader coalition—to help resolve the crisis while protecting the community, its institutions, and its workers.
In the decade since, the foundation has invested nearly $380 million in our hometown of Detroit, in our sister Ford-family institutions, and across southeast Michigan. And in 2019, our board appointed Henry Ford III as a trustee—the first Ford to serve in that capacity since Henry II’s resignation— officially beginning a new chapter in the century-old story we share.
The lesson for all of us, I believe, is that we can resolve even long-standing differences when we reaffirm that the enduring values that bring us together matter more than the old narratives and grievances that too often keep us apart.
The Obama Foundation announced you’ll join its board of directors on November 1—congratulations
on the exciting new role. I am humbled by the trust that President and Mrs. Obama have placed in me. It’s an enormous honor to work with them, with Valerie Jarrett, with the foundation’s board, and with its leadership team on their many signature programs. And I’m especially excited to join them as we eagerly anticipate the 2026 opening of President Obama’s library.
You identify as a tremendous fan of Alexander Hamilton. This year, the musical Hamilton celebrates its 10th anniversary. How are you marking the occasion? I’m going to see it again! I think one of the reasons that Hamilton was so powerful— one of the reasons that it will endure for the ages—is that it argues implicitly but unambiguously that the story of America, the idea of America, belongs to us all. Audiences may have heard that message a little differently in 2015, or when Lin-Manuel Miranda began writing in 2008 and
The
Idea of America: Reflections on Inequality, Democracy, and the Values We Share
Walker, Darren
2009, but it’s more urgent now than ever before. I’ll always remember seeing Hamilton on opening night at the Public Theater—the transcendent feeling of pride and hope. We could all use a little more of that today.
In the Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton et al. present a collection of essays advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. What would you say the pieces in The Idea of America are advocating for? Like the poet says, America has never been America—but it can be, and it will be, if we renew our faith in and fidelity to the values that we share.
What do you hope readers will take away from the book? A sense of hope—a sense that now is not the time to throw up our hands but to roll up our sleeves. After all, hope is the oxygen of democracy.
Editor at large Megan Labrise hosts the Fully Booked podcast.
Courageous moral leadership demands, from all of us, some reflection and introspection.
Interactive Content
Kindle eBook ISBN: 978-1-7343635-4-8 www.laevnotes.com
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-7343635-3-1
“Rich personal and cultural history of a young woman in Berlin’s Belle Epoque.”
—Publishers Weekly/ BookLife Reviews
“A tender, personalitycentered biography of golden age Berlin.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A wonderfully composed portrayal that could be considered narrative Art Nouveau.”
—BookTrib
The show will be based on Gene Pressman’s new memoir.
Gene Pressman’s They All Came to Barneys: A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Store is headed to the small screen, Deadline reports.
Pressman’s book, published earlier this month by Viking, tells the story of Barneys New York, the legendary department store that he led as co-CEO and creative director for almost 30 years. The store was founded by Pressman’s grandfather in 1923 and shuttered in 2020. A critic for Kirkus wrote of the book, “This glittering, dishy time capsule of a paradise lost is as charming and blustery as its author.”
Writing the adaptation will be Beth Schacter, known for her work on series including Quantico and Billions; she is also writing for the forthcoming series adaptation of Elin
Hilderbrand’s The Five-Star Weekend. Joe Wright ( Atonement, Cyrano) will direct. Pressman, Schacter, and Wright will be among the series’ executive producers.
Pressman said in a statement, “They All Came to Barneys is the true story of how we built Barneys into—if I do say so myself—the greatest store in the greatest city in the world. Now I’m so excited to partner with Beth, Joe, and these incredible creatives to imagine the fictional version of this story— in which nothing will be off-limits.”
—M.S.
fine. O’Reilly holds that Mao Zedong was history’s worst mass murderer, “although his evil role model, Genghis Khan, might have surpassed him.” Naturally, while ticking down a rogue’s gallery that includes a few Judeo-Christian figures, O’Reilly tries to own liberals: The Obama administration “does little to halt the Crimea aggression,” encouraging Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, while Ayatollah Khomeini makes Jimmy Carter his plaything, and so on. If you need to be told that Hitler, slavery, and drug cartels are bad things, this is your book.
Parreñas, Rhacel Salazar | Norton (176 pp.) $24 | September 2, 2025 | 9781324020301
A study of peonage, debt bondage, indenture, and other forms of forced labor. University of Southern California sociologist Parreñas draws on two decades of research on domestic workers from the Philippines to examine de facto—and sometimes actual—enslavement. She opens with the case of British track star and Olympian Mohamed Farah, who, born in Somalia, “was trafficked to the United Kingdom from Djibouti and subjected to domestic servitude.” As is often the case, the woman who brought him into her household “likely saw herself as Farah’s savior, freeing him from a life of destitution in Africa.” So it is with an American expatriate in Dubai who, although wealthy, pays her domestic worker $400 a month but demands that she work 12 hours a day, six days of the week, netting her a “measly hourly rate of less than $1.40.” That worker wants to find a higher-paying job but cannot do so without her present employer’s permission—just one of many ways in which a substantial number of the world’s 67 million
domestic workers are maltreated. Some of the stories Parreñas delivers are shocking, including the case of a Filipina who was enslaved without pay in New Jersey for 56 years. Such anecdotes lend some flair to what is otherwise a rather dry recitation of facts and a tendency to make the same point several times in different words, as when that savior complex is restated so: “Most domestic employers who engage in forced labor or trafficking truly believe that their horrible treatment of domestic workers represents a better option than whatever these workers had experienced prior to their employment.” Still, Parreñas’s conclusion merits consideration, calling less for legal reform than for employers to simply do the right thing: “Being an anti-exploiter ultimately means having the moral wherewithal to bring dignity to the home as a workplace.”
Repetitive and often arid, but a strong indictment of modern enslavement.
Percy, Jen | Doubleday (272 pp.) | $29 November 11, 2025 | 9780385550048
Trying to understand trauma.
With an immense capacity for empathy and nuance, journalist and author Percy (Demon Camp, 2014) examines the challenging subjects of rape and sexual assault. It’s only now, as accounts of women’s experiences of sexual harm are beginning to be told—if still not always believed—that the field of analysis can begin to be explored with any great depth. Stories of rapes and assaults have long been out there, as Percy shows, from Ovid to The Exorcist. Today, though, sexual violence is analyzed collectively and understood as a pattern. Percy deserves kudos for not shying away from even the most complex and controversial subjects, including the ways in which cut-and-dried prosecution
and policing are in disharmony with the often confusing reactions that a person might have during an assault. “A lawyer had once told me that a majority of sexual assaults are not initiated by an attacker forcing somebody to acquiesce,” she writes. “And she wondered, how are they able to do it? Why aren’t we getting up and walking out? This was another question that troubled me. A question that contained my own passivity or, at least, accusations of passivity.” In compelling, strong writing, Percy demands that we look at assault as a complex, multifaceted issue, one that stems from women’s patriarchal conditioning—“we sometimes learn that pleasing is the best way to react.” If the book falters, it might be in trying to be so comprehensive. A survey approach at times denies a degree of depth to subjects or creates disjointed elements. Nonetheless, Percy has done an excellent job of discussing an essential topic with understanding and sensitivity. The openness and willingness to consider the most difficult aspects of an already difficult subject are remarkable, as are the research and the understanding needed to tell these critical stories. A compassionate exploration of the history of assault against women.
Pocock, Joanna | Soft Skull Press (400 pp.) | $17.95 paper | August 12, 2025 9781593768010
An Irish Canadian who lives in London travels America’s highways by bus and finds the experience wanting.
“Travelling on a Greyhound bus,” writes Pocock, “you can disappear.” Her first journey across the United States by Greyhound took place in 2006, when, recovering from a miscarriage, she disappeared into herself and the continent’s vastness. Her second voyage, in 2023, is a study in contrasts. Foremost is a decline, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of personal technology, in people
interacting freely with one another in “the camaraderie of people who know that if they could, they would be elsewhere, living another kind of life, but who are making the most of this one, and perhaps even enjoying this brief moment of communion.” The clientele is still much the same, she notes: released prisoners on their way to lives outside, people who cannot drive because of DUIs, those too poor to own cars or fly, all strangers “connected by the simple need to get somewhere.” But where there were once bus stations with maps and schedules, there are now pick-up stops divined only by an app (one that placed her 14 miles away from her true destination in the death-dealing heat of Phoenix); where there are stations, they are crumbling, fetid, and often locked so that the homeless cannot find shelter inside. “A sentence kept surfacing in my mind, ‘Something in the US has broken,’” Pocock writes. “Everyone around me felt more desperate, more angry, more prone to violence.” Her notes on the sad condition of American society are invaluable and well taken; those on technology and the degradation of nature don’t always fit easily into the narrative and sometimes seem pro forma. Still, this rare account of a woman traveling alone, and in some of the most desperate corners of the American landscape, is well worth reading.
A pensive, clear-eyed vision of a collapsing world as seen through grimy, rain-streaked windows.
Restall, Matthew | Norton (416 pp.) $35 | October 7, 2025 | 9781324086932
A fluent investigation into the “manufactured mysteries” surrounding the famous— and infamous— navigator.
As historian Restall notes, Christopher Columbus’ name is all over the map, with “some six
“Columbus was an instrument of empire, not its creator but a tool at its early modern dawn.”
THE NINE LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
thousand instances across every continental state” in the U.S. and dozens of other places claiming him as their native son. He is supposed to be a man of mystery, of shrouded origins, who divined that the earth was not flat and that sailing west across the Atlantic would not result in dropping off the edge of the planet. That gift of insight is all nonsense, Restall writes, since the flat Earth theory (never mind its current believers) had long before been disproven and the ocean currents were fairly well known. Further, Restall makes an airtight case for Columbus’ Genoese origin, disproving the claims of later scholars that he was Spanish to begin with, born to become one of the “merchant mariners [who] tied together the economies of northern Europe and the Mediterranean” and driven to explore not for its own sake but in the interest of securing new markets. “Columbus’s thinking was that of an uneducated but self-taught late-medieval man,” illiterate into his 20s, the author writes. Columbus was also a self-inventor, as Restall demonstrates while examining the several guises Columbus wore, from likely participant in the African slave trade to busy self-promoter, selling his scheme to travel across the ocean first to Portugal, unsuccessfully, before landing the patronage of the Castilian court. Restall doesn’t exactly defend Columbus from the current view that he was an agent of genocide, though his own take is tempered: “Columbus was an instrument of empire, not its creator but a tool at its early modern dawn; he was thus easily misappropriated in service of modern ideologies.”
An intriguing portrait of a man who, while surely no innocent, has been mythologized for centuries since his death.
Robertson, Fiona | Pegasus (384 pp.)
$29.95 | December 2, 2025 | 9798897100118
A lover of Britain’s prehistoric standing stones justifies her enthusiasm. A writer, editor, and “committed megalith enthusiast,” Robertson writes that Britain is home to thousands of these monuments, often accompanied by causeways, ditches, burial mounds, and chambers. Prehistoric people took thousands, if not millions, of labor hours away from practical business to raise stones and build huge earthworks, and although scholars speculate endlessly about why they did so, we can never know for sure. Along with pottery, agriculture, and stone tools, the practice arrived from continental Europe thousands of years ago, spread across Britain and Ireland, and continued until roughly 1,000 B.C.E. An interest in the works began in Elizabethan times, when the stones were also pushed over, vandalized, and broken down for building material. By the 19th century, when scholarly attention and protection took hold, many had been destroyed. But according to a dedicated website—megalithic.co.uk—thousands of prehistoric sites remain. It’s no secret that archeologists share their fascination with enthusiasts who believe that these sites radiate mystical energy and healing forces. Robertson admits that she cannot ignore this feature, because her husband, who shares her interest and accompanies her, is undergoing cancer chemotherapy. The book recounts her travels
move in with him.
INSOMNIA
throughout the British Isles, usually with her husband and two children. A dozen chapters deliver vivid histories and archeological findings of a score or more, but she pays special attention to their situation today.
A thoughtful memoir and vivid account of a national treasure.
Robertson, Robbie | Crown (288 pp.) $32 | November 11, 2025 | 9781524763107
A pensive, cleareyed vision of a collapsing world as seen through grimy, rainstreaked windows. Early in this memoir, Robertson, leader of the iconic rock group the Band, recalls a backstage conversation with Roebuck “Pops” Staples, who’d performed “The Weight” at the group’s so-called Last Waltz. “‘That song “The Weight,”’ he asked under his breath, ‘what’s it really about?’” Pops asks. Robertson replies that when he figures it out, “you’ll be the first one I’m gonna call.” The setting is largely Los Angeles, the occasion Robertson’s two-year-long version of John Lennon’s “lost weekend,” ordered out of his home by his wife: “She said her needs were being overshadowed by my work and my fame.” Shelter comes from director Martin Scorsese, who invites Robertson to move in with him and a gun-nut Man Friday. It’s a kind gesture, but it comes at a toll: vampire hours even for a rock-androller, for both Scorsese and Robertson suffer from the title condition, which a steady diet of cocaine doesn’t do much
to alleviate, snorted pile after pile while screening movies such as The Searchers and Touch of Evil until the sun is well up. Improba bly, perhaps, Scorsese turns Robertson on to the Sex Pistols, even as Robertson tries to improve Scorsese’s sex life. It doesn’t work, apart from a dalliance or two, even as Robertson embarks on a string of affairs with numerous A-list actresses. Along the way Robertson turns in sage notes on musical partners such as Bob Dylan (“He always seemed to be there but not there. He seemed to be telling you only a little piece of anything”) and Keith Moon (“Rick Danko and I had saved Keith’s life by pulling him out of the ocean and on to the shore in Malibu. We’d found him there, out cold, dressed in a Nazi uniform, with the tide rolling in”).
A pleasure for golden-age rock fans, who’ll be amazed that the author lived as long as he did.
Sansivero, Bryan | Artisan (224 pp.) | $50 October 14, 2025 | 9781648294389
No one lives here anymore. Christmas decorations. Framed family photos. Vintage clothing. These are some of the items that are gathering dust in this affecting collection of photographs of abandoned houses. A documentarian, Sansivero photographed these places during his travels in the American Northeast, Midwest, and South. He
notes that there are, shockingly, more than 15 million vacant houses in the country. Unlike much so-called ruin porn—soulless images that glamorize the blight they showcase—Sansivero’s photos bring out the humanity of the people who once occupied these buildings. As he writes in his introduction, “With each new discovery and each door that opens, I get a glimpse into the history of not only a building but also a person’s life.” There are signs of life everywhere. In a bedroom of a Maryland house are a pram and crib; a porcelain basin and pitchers sit on a nearby dresser. It’d be a scene of midcentury domestic tranquility were it not for the peeling paint, a moth-eaten lampshade, and ivy snaking its way through a window. On a dresser in Delaware County, New York, is an assortment of trinkets from long-ago journeys. Here, too, the walls are coming apart and the dust is thick. Most heartrending are children’s rooms—filled with dolls, stuffed animals, and books—and homes of the elderly, their canes and crutches and stacks of paper the last vestiges of compromised existences. Several of the houses have pianos—one can imagine the out-of-tune notes of a red, white, and blue upright made in 1976, a portrait of a military officer hanging above it, askew. Many of the structures are hidden in woods and dangerous to enter; in one of the photo captions, Sansivero says his leg went through a floor. His photographs recall the eerie images of abandoned buildings in Chernobyl after the 1986 nuclear accident. But no cataclysmic disaster befell the houses in this book. Instead, what we see is the creeping decay of much of American life.
Ghostly images of vacant homes, sensitively captured.
For more on photography, visit Kirkus online.
Kirkus Star
Sharabi, Eli | Harper Influence/ HarperCollins (208 pp.) | $30 October 7, 2025 | 9780063489790
Enduring the unthinkable.
This memoir— the first by an Israeli taken captive by Hamas on October 7, 2023—chronicles the 491 days the author was held in Gaza. Confined to tunnels beneath war-ravaged streets, Sharabi was beaten, humiliated, and underfed. When he was finally released in February, he learned that Hamas had murdered his wife and two daughters. In the face of scarcely imaginable loss, Sharabi has crafted a potent record of his will to survive. The author’s ordeal began when Hamas fighters dragged him from his home, in a kibbutz near Gaza. Alongside others, he was held for months at a time in filthy subterranean spaces. He catalogs sensory assaults with novelistic specificity. Iron shackles grip his ankles. Broken toilets produce an “unbearable stink,” and “tiny white worms” swarm his toothbrush. He gets one meal a day, his “belly caving inward.” Desperate for more food, he stages a fainting episode, using a shaving razor to “slice a deep gash into my eyebrow.” Captors share their sweets while celebrating an Iranian missile attack on Israel. He and other hostages sneak fleeting pleasures, finding and downing an orange soda before a guard can seize it. Several times, Sharabi—51 when he was kidnapped—gives bracing pep talks to younger compatriots. The captives learn to control what they can, trading family stories and “lift[ing] water bottles like dumbbells.” Remarkably, there’s some levity. He and fellow hostages nickname one Hamas guard “the Triangle” because he’s shaped like a SpongeBob SquarePants character. The book’s closing scenes, in which Sharabi tries to console other hostages’ families while learning the worst about his own, are heartbreaking. His captors “are still human beings,”
writes Sharabi, bravely modeling the forbearance that our leaders often lack. A dauntless, moving account of a kidnapping and the horrors that followed.
Sheehan, Jonathan | Princeton Univ. (560 pp.) $39.95 | January 27, 2026 | 9780691190884
Sacrifice as an essential element in Christian history. Historian of religion Sheehan provides a weighty treatise on the role of sacrifice in Christianity. The author makes note that whereas sacrifice has been an integral part of virtually every culture and religion through time, Christianity’s approach to the topic has been unique. “From early on,” he explains, “Christianity both abolished and absorbed sacrifice.” In other words, the Christian religion is based on the concept that “God became man in order that He might die, each drop of His innocent blood sufficient to satisfy what we owe to God.” Through that one perfect sacrifice, Christianity teaches, believers are exempt from the need for further sacrifice. Nevertheless, as Sheehan goes on to exhaustively detail, it was never quite that simple. Instead, Christianity built up an “archive” of ideas and practices based on the concept of sacrifice, which in turn molded the faith through time. “Christianity’s archive was (and is) constitutively heteronomous,” the author asserts, in both a distillation of his thesis and a prime example of his ponderous writing style. This “archive” has been ever-growing, is multifaceted, and has gone on to have strong effects on broader cultures, up to the present day. Sheehan’s work can be lauded for its depth of research and rich use of obscure texts. However, it is written exclusively for a specialist, academic audience. The author’s impressive vocabulary and heavy prose will act as a stumbling block to all
but the most erudite and committed of readers. His conclusions also grow more and more abstract as the book goes on, ending with the dawn of the age of science in the 19th century. A feat of research, but overly lofty and inaccessible.
Smith, Johnny & Randy Roberts
Basic Books (352 pp.) | $32
November 4, 2025 | 9781541605060
Revisiting—and revising—the Joe Louis legend. This deeply researched volume by historians Roberts and Smith takes a look at the famed boxer’s World War II service and the little-known battles he fought on behalf of Black servicemen and the nascent Civil Rights Movement. It’s an excellent corrective to those who think militance began with Muhammad Ali, though the approaches of the two champions were different. While never denying the suffering of his people, from the outset Louis made his commitment clear to opposing the Nazi threat—he got off to a start by famously knocking out Germany’s Max Schmeling in 1938. As he told a reporter, “Sure the Negro has a lot of beefs, but Hitler and Hirohito aren’t going to change them any.” Louis followed his own course, endorsing FDR’s Republican opponent, Wendell Willkie, because of his disappointment with Roosevelt’s refusal to push for anti-lynching laws for fear of antagonizing Southern Democrats. Taking Jackie Robinson under his wing when they were stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, Louis supported Robinson’s struggle to be admitted into officer candidate school and Robinson’s defiance of an order to
move to the back of a bus in Camp Hood, Texas. Along with Sugar Ray Robinson, Louis also defied a similar order in Alabama, paving the way for an end to antidiscrimination policies—and ultimately, Harry Truman’s (initially vague) executive order integrating the military. Louis appeared at benefits with Nat “King” Cole, Billie Holiday, and Woody Guthrie and was memorialized in a poem, “King Joe,” by Richard Wright. The authors do not stint on details of Louis’ personal life, including his scorching extramarital affair with Lena Horne, or on the mob’s involvement in the fighting racket and the sweetheart deals that left Louis broke while promoters and Uncle Sam cleaned out his fortune. But he remained a champion. As sportswriter Jimmy Cannon once put it: “He was a credit to his race—the human race.”
A groundbreaking look at a boxing champion’s antidiscrimination efforts.
Strongwater, Andrea | Jewish Publication Society (280 pp.) | $36.95 November 1, 2025 | 9780827615694
A guide to sacred places that have disappeared. Among the many scars left by the Holocaust remain the gaping grounds and bulldozed squares where houses of Jewish worship once stood. More than sites of faith, these buildings were community centers, nodes for family and social life. And in their
shape and size, the European synagogues were structures unique to a time and place. They represent that blend of enlightenment reason with observant devotion that characterized Jewish life in towns and cities from Livorno to Aachen, from Dresden to Kaliningrad, from Tartu to Vienna. As Ismar Schorsch writes in a foreword to this collection of paintings of lost synagogues, “The synagogue emerged as an utterly new and revolutionary religious institution that privileged intimate verbal prayer over the operation of a vast sacrificial cult.” Synagogues were led by rabbis. They held copies of the Torah. They brought together communities of worship. Jewish tradition requires at least 10 men (a minyan) to form a functioning congregation. By traveling to places that no longer exist, the reader goes on a journey of worship, participating in a recreated minyan of the mind. Should readers use this book to travel to these sites—Strongwater’s colorful and folksy paintings recreate 77 lost synagogues—they will find themselves filling in lacunae in the history of Jewish life. There were once roughly 17,000 synagogues in Europe. Only 3,300 stood after World War II, and only 700 of those remain as synagogues. Strongwater writes, “Because the synagogues painted for this book necessarily represent only those important enough to have been documented in their time, they must do double duty, reminding us of the thousands more that were obliterated without leaving any historical record.” These thousands of buildings, magnificent in their time, cannot be rebuilt. But they can be reinhabited by the creative readers of this haunting travelogue through time. A guide to missing pieces of European Jewish history, each building lovingly described and painted to bring readers inside.
There were once 17,000 synagogues in Europe. Only 3,300 stood after World War II.
Svoboda, Terese | OR Books (280 pp.) | $19.99 paper | October 7, 2025 | 9781682196519
Dispatches from the ashes.
Svoboda is a poet, playwright, and translator who has traveled the world to explore relationships of women and power in societies from the Nuer of Africa to postwar Japan. Here, she goes back in time to tell the story of her mother-inlaw, Patricia Lochridge, one of the few women in broadcasting during World War II. As a young journalist, Lochridge reported from Berlin, and Svoboda’s memoir opens with a picture of Lochridge pointing at what are supposedly the ashes of Adolf Hitler’s destroyed bunker. While this is a work of historical re-creation, it is also an interrogation of the memoirist herself. “I am resurrecting Pat, who died in 1998, to learn the truth about her in the context of her times; her haunting of her sons; of course some truth about me, since I suspect [my husband] Steve’s attraction to me has something to do with my similarity to his mother, both of us professional writers and women who made a few foolish decisions in love, and, above all, to sort the peculiarities of what truth means today.” Lochridge moves around, works for UNICEF, and retires to Hawaii, where we join her daughterin-law finding poetry at her bedside: “The palms rustle with geckos fleeing the sudden light of the coming and going of the clouds.” By the book’s end, readers will realize that this is less the story of a woman of the past than of all women who aspire to report from postings in a man’s world—a world in which “the willingness of people to follow leaders appealing to the most degenerate of human impulses is evergreen.” Svoboda is a poet of such reportage, whether it be from a Hitlerian past or our own present. A poetic reimagining of a pathbreaking female reporter in a man’s world of war.
Kirkus Star
Thompson, Nicholas | Random House (272 pp.) $30 | October 28, 2025 | 9780593244128
Writer and editor Thompson recounts a family tradition of lacing up and running out the door— and running, and running.
Now CEO of The Atlantic, Thompson grew up running under the tutelage of his father, an admired professor who, in midlife, realized that he was gay, breaking their patrician family apart. That did nothing to detract father and son from their shared devotion to running, in the son’s case to long-distance runs that recently landed him a world’s record in the 50-mile event in his 50+ age group. Some of Thompson’s narrative is given over to discussing his father’s foibles, from overdrinking and overspending to enduring the indignities of aging. “My father believed in experience, and the more the better,” Thompson writes admiringly, after having expressed some impatience with his undisciplined lifestyle. “My entire life, I never worried about waking him up when I called, because he was always awake,” he adds. Some of the narrative comprises autobiographical notes, from marrying and having children of his own—a family that, he allows, deserves sainthood for putting up with his addiction to running—to achieving steady success as a writer and editor (including eventful stints at The New Yorker and Wired ) and surviving cancer. But the best part of the book is the runner’s equivalent of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, when Thompson applies lessons learned from marathons and other long-distance journeys on foot to daily life, including acquiring discipline of his own and gaining mastery of useful life skills: “You don’t get ahead by putting in more time. You get ahead by training smarter and with more focus.” Peppering his narrative
with visits to other runners, including octogenarian Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, Thompson exudes calm and wisdom, as when he notes, elegantly, “You’re not running to seek shelter; you’re running because you seek the storm.”
An exemplary memoir of a life spent on the run.
Umoren, Imaobong | Scribner (512 pp.) $31 | October 21, 2025 | 9781982175016
The persistence of empire. Umoren, a scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science, is not breaking new ground in writing that, immediately on arriving in the New World, Europeans subjugated and enslaved the Native people. When disease and abuse drove Indigenous people to near extinction, colonists turned to Africans, who were shipped across the ocean in the millions to work under equally unspeakable conditions. Western scholars traditionally cheer abolition (in 1833 by Britain, later by other European nations), but Umoren will have none of that. She maintains that abolition was never intended to eliminate white supremacy, which still remains. Rising in parallel with 19th-century abolitionism was pseudoscientific racism and social Darwinism. Abolitionists themselves often portrayed Black people as docile, innocent, and in need of salvation by European Christians, thereby reinforcing racial hierarchies. Even history buffs will learn something as the author recounts the story of a score of Caribbean island nations. She reminds readers that 18th-century Caribbean agriculture, mostly sugar, generated more wealth than all of North America’s crops. Abolition produced a mass exodus of freed enslaved people from the island plantations. Sugar production is brutally labor-intensive, and planters tried to
replace the Black workforce with indentured labor from India and China, but their vast profits never returned; economies drifted down until the islands are now dependent on tourism and suffer widespread unemployment. Umoren’s later sections tell a story of misgovernment and persistent racism—either from Britain or local leaders anxious to curry favor with Britain or the U.S., whose 20th-century rise to dominance did not improve matters. Hundreds of thousands of Black people have emigrated to Britain, and chapters on their post–World War II experiences—such as with working-class white mobs assailing them—will be disturbingly familiar to American readers. Unsettling, too, are accounts of popular movements and laws to restrict immigration—unnerving forecasts of the present day.
A valuable study of how Britain’s Caribbean slavery empire left a legacy of white supremacy.
Vance, Joyce | Dutton (224 pp.) | $28 October 21, 2025 | 9798217178117
A look at the wreckage wrought thus far by the present administration, and what can be done about it. In a book that seems sometimes relentlessly optimistic, former U.S. attorney Vance—she resigned the day before President Trump’s first inauguration— opens with the realization that, in the first salvos of his second term, she had been focusing on all that was wrong and not with all that was right: “The rule of law was being bent, but it was not broken.” She then exhorts readers, “Don’t be the frog,” the one in the pot that’s being slowly heated and will thus cook to death without complaint. The metaphor is useful to the extent that, as she notes, that’s how dictators come to power, in “a slow slide toward tyranny, easily
dismissed for far too long by far too much of the populace.” Anyone who’d been paying the slightest attention to the news knew about Project 2025, yet many dismissed it, even as Trump professed to know nothing of it, and even as he’s been busily enacting it ever since. Vance, it should be said, is no Pollyanna; she has a clear vision of what’s unfolding around her, paying close attention to the administration’s supposed insistence that it’s just enforcing the law (“Dictators like to cloak their early steps in the appearance of legality”) while undoing the courts. The optimism, whether warranted or not, comes in with Vance’s insistence that “we have a republic to keep, and we are not quitters.” But what of all the boiling frogs? Vance offers useful pointers on how to avoid the pot and exercise one’s constitutional rights, most important of them voting, reminding us—optimistically—that “the way to challenge the bully is at the ballot box.” A hopeful manifesto for a renewed democracy.
Van De Car, Nikki | Running Press (288 pp.) $30 | October 7, 2025 | 9780762489510
They do exist. We all grew up with fairy tales. Some of us still want to believe in magic creatures. This book seeks to instruct and delight with illustrated essays on the inhabitants of our imagination. Arranged as an encyclopedia of beings and beliefs, it presents histories of every creature you could think of, from the Banshees of Celtic myth to the Satyrs of the Greeks. Rumpelstiltskin appears alongside Morgan le Fay. Titania and Oberon preside. It has a capacious definition of fairies: They are “the embodiment of caprice—wild and unpredictable as their actions are determined by what best suits them at the moment….They are both a reflection of our desires and fears and a testament to the capacity of our own magical imagination.” This is, then, really
a book of myths, and its lush illustrations show us how those myths inspired human art. Many of the pictures have a gauzy, Pre-Raphaelite feel to them—as if fairyland were the privileged province of Victorian girlhood or the opium-soaked visions of a voyeur. The wide range of the book leads to an overarching question: Is every creature of the wilderness a fairy? There is much learning here, but also much wishful thinking—this is less a coffee-table book of other worlds than a field guide to the fantastic. It invites us to look for creatures in the woodland, behind “sacred trees and rocks,” and to find “undines, selkies, and jinn [in] our prosaic, ironbound lives.” Prosaic grown-ups may lose patience with its preciousness. Children reared on anime or with their ironies honed on the internet may find the author’s tone a bit too patronizing or paternal—like an awestruck New Ager trying to convince you just how weird the world really is.
A lavishly illustrated guide to mythic creatures, full of longing for other worlds.
Vinci, Anthony | Henry Holt (304 pp.) $29.99 | October 28, 2025 | 9781250370907
Predictions and recommendations from a former intelligence officer.
Co-opting a Leon Trotsky quote, Vinci declares: “You may not be interested in intelligence, but intelligence is deeply interested in you.”
Drawing on decades of experience at the nexus of technology, intelligence, and foreign affairs—decades the United States spent unfurling from the hypersecrecy and compartmentalization of the Cold War into the new challenges of a post-9/11 world—the author examines how war between (and therefore intelligence about and among) adversaries has shifted from the physical and material to the virtual, technology-dependent world of commercial satellites, AI, and autonomous drones. Threats surge across use of the internet, semiconductors, and smartphone apps from totalitarian systems, most ominously, China. Foreign powers, already adept at controlling their own populations, are now surreptitiously pursuing complete surveillance and manipulation of influential corporations and all American citizens. The U.S. needs to be better at mining social media and open-source data, mimicking the efficiency and radical sight of the private sector, revealing and protecting truth from misinformation campaigns, and preventing potentially adversarial uses of breakthrough technology. The nation’s current infrastructure is woefully inadequate for this pressing task, and many aspects of Vinci’s proposed solution is almost as bleak as the problem it proposes to address: individualized AI “bodyguards,” a Wikipedia-inspired information-sharing platform, and a corps of “citizen spies” comprised of us all. Throughout the text, the author’s case is meticulously argued and made compellingly urgent, with each danger piling onto the previous with ominous, dizzying significance. However, with only cursory treatment of the historical distrust of American intelligence and almost no discussion of the increasing proliferation of doubt and disconnection, his call to transformative action, fundamentally dependent
“You may not be interested in intelligence, but intelligence is deeply interested in you.”
THE
FOURTH INTELLIGENCE REVOLUTION
on civil confidence and cohesion, can feel romantic and lofty, leaving the reader with a deepening sense of paranoia and dread.
A head-spinning and disorienting forecast.
Walsh, Toby | The Experiment (256 pp.)
$16.95 paper | November 4, 2025
9798893030891
A revolutionary technology that’s been around longer than you might think. Walsh, a professor of artificial intelligence at the University of New South Wales, has written four previous books on AI. This volume in the Shortest History series distills large topics into essential ideas, showing how AI has quietly worked its way into our daily lives, from freeway lanes to phones. The narrative reaches back—before 1956, when the AI field was named at a Dartmouth College workshop—to historical moments in the invention of computation. Notable figures including Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, and Alan Turing appear as cameos, along with HAL, R2-D2, C-3PO, and other famous real and fictional robots embodying our evolving concept of intelligence. Familiar games, notably tic-tac-toe, chess, and Go, played an important role in early computer research. However, a computer’s impressive mastery of a game with well-defined rules is an imperfect analog to our complex, multifaceted human intelligence. From industrial robots to self-driving cars to ChatGPT, AI has become a thinking tool. Walsh describes current approaches to modeling the brain using neural networks, beginning with government-funded research efforts by Warren McCulloch, Seymour Papert, Marvin Minsky, and other fascinating thinkers. The author notes several long
stretches—“AI Winters”—in which government funding dried up and research slowed, though motives and money are largely out of view here. He also details some of the rivalries, complicated genealogies, and cross-pollination of present-day AI players, with people and ideas leaping between organizations, namely Meta, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Microsoft. This enjoyable, wide-ranging, and compact survey explains where we began and where we now find ourselves. For a deeper look at risks and rewards in the AI gold rush, the notes and index provide a good starting point. An entertaining and concise tour of the rapidly developing domain of artificial intelligence.
Williams, Gareth | Yale Univ. (480 pp.) | $40 September 2, 2025 | 9780300284881
Many people know about the Manhattan Project; fewer have heard of Tube Alloys.
In September 1939, Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard wrote a letter to President Roosevelt asking for “watchfulness and, if necessary, quick action” in response to new research on the fission of uranium that could lead to an atomic weapon. A few months later, without knowledge of that letter, Otto Frisch and Rudi Peierls, two scientists working in England, wrote a memorandum to British government officials detailing scientific advances that could make a uranium-235 “superbomb.” As English scholar Williams writes in this study of British scientists who took part in the making of the atomic bomb, each of those missives began separate secret quests to make an impossible weapon possible. They were, of course, ultimately successful, despite the ups and downs and sticking points, both technical and
political, detailed in this engrossing story. Groundbreaking discoveries in physics ran parallel to the advances of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich, and by the end of the 1930s, Nazi advances in France, Poland, Denmark, and elsewhere had driven scientists to flee to England, many of them physicists highly motived to put their research toward ending the war. The U.S. had not yet entered the war, but their scientists were beginning similar efforts. The two research entities—the Manhattan Project in the U.S. and the Tube Alloys program in England—managed to join forces despite political machinations and ego-driven resistance from Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, each of whom wanted his own country to claim ownership of the bomb. Once the leaders realized that neither side could complete the effort on its own, they signed a secret agreement in August 1943; by December, 60 British scientists joined their American colleagues at Los Alamos and Berkeley, and work on the bomb began in earnest. Williams’ book impeccably documents those events, with an excellent selection of photos, timelines, and maps, along with a handy reference list featuring key players. A significant and captivating contribution to the history of science, politics, and warfare.
Woodard, Colin | Viking (368 pp.) | $32 November 4, 2025 | 9780593833407
A study that explores our polarized politics as a reflection of polarized geographies. The idea that the United States is a congeries of very different countries isn’t new. Woodard’s welcome twist on the thesis is that the country’s “awkward federation of distinct regional cultures” has led to very different ideas of political
organization, an insight he and his research associates back with hard numbers and reams of data. The current turn toward authoritarianism, for instance, is rooted in the Deep South, founded and settled by aristocrats served by enslaved people and underlings, resulting today in “the least democratically minded of the regions, with a history of authoritarian, one-party rule, and the suppression of dissent.” What Woodard calls New France, embracing southern Louisiana, “has become the most conservative and authoritarian of all the continent’s culture regions, transforming Louisiana from a swing state to a bastion of Trumpism and ethnonationalist sentiment.” Against this are the community-minded, liberal states of the Northeast and the Pacific coast, whose egalitarian traditions extend outward to Hawaii and America’s island empire. Those traditions have interesting sequelae: In terms of gun violence, Hawaii and Greater Polynesia are “the safest culture region of the country,” while the homicide rate of the Deep South is quadruple the rate of New York. Indeed, Woodard adds, “New Netherland is far and away the safest of the large regions, and often safer even than Hawaii, despite being the most densely populated part of our continent.” Oddly, while the Far West is thought of as being Trump country, it is “inhospitable turf for right-wing authoritarians,” as is much of the country. Still, Woodard warns, we need a refreshed civic story of American democracy, “vital not only because democracy really is better than fascism, but also because the consolidation of an ethnonationalist authoritarian regime would almost certainly trigger the physical collapse of this federation.”
A lucid exercise in political geography with tremendous—and disturbing—explanatory power.
Woodward, Jamie | Yale Univ. (304 pp.) $28 | November 25, 2025 | 9780300246148
Our rock of ages. Hippos Swimming in the Thames may be a more apt title for this book. Yes, it’s about earth’s history, and it’s written by a British professor of physical geography. But the book is more accurately about the ever-changing nature of earth’s history, making it more teaser than textbook. The discovery that hippos once swam in the Thames, tens of thousands of years ago, is just one of many delightful examples offered of earth’s relentless, and unexpected, mutability. Indeed, the book is not just about how earth has rapidly evolved in ways large and small, from decade to decade, eon to eon. It’s also about how our stories of the earth have evolved, and rapidly. Due to new technologies and explorations, Woodward writes, we have discovered that the latter part of the Hadean Eon—roughly 4 billion years ago—“may have been rather more temperate and habitable than hellish.” He notes that other planets’ movements shape our climate, that “whales, dolphins and porpoises…are descended from four-legged mammals that once lived on land,” and that the emergence of life on the planet not only indelibly changed its geology but continues to do so. Scientists have discovered, too, that the Sahara was once lush. Thousands of
The current turn toward authoritarianism, says the author, is rooted in the Deep South.
rock art works found in North Africa, “the largest art museum in the world,” depict animals and plants from a time “when the greatest desert on Earth was a land of plenty….Between about 11,000 and 5,000 years ago, the largest hot desert on Earth did not exist.”
As for what the future holds? “Homo sapiens means ‘wise human’, reflecting the idea that our species is distinguished by intelligence, reasoning and selfawareness,” Woodward writes. “The Anthropocene is a geological interval of our own making, and we have triedand-tested solutions to tackle the global environmental emergency. Time will tell if we have the wisdom to do so.”
The author’s reverence for his subject—the ever-changing world— turns what could be a workmanlike read into an exciting one.
Wright, Nicholas | St. Martin’s (400 pp.) $30 | October 7, 2025 | 9781250286871
Brains in battle. Wright, a neuroscientist and adviser to the Pentagon, follows the brain’s functions from the most basic to the most complex, linking them to observed effects in war. Drawing on the Chinese Civil War, both world wars, the war in Ukraine, and the U.S. Capitol insurrection, Wright notes that successful leaders motivated soldiers with ideas of unfairness and justice, or perceived social inequalities, linking these to structures in the brain that generate our beliefs and actions. Surprisingly, World War II studies indicate that soldiers would risk death but few had the will to kill, with only 15% to 20% of men firing their weapons even in intense battles. Evolving technologies—covering armies with sensors, and digital monitoring during soldier training—will target training goals and produce a fire hose of data in the “intelligentized era,” with AI enlisted
for analysis. Still, a capacity to manipulate perception will require human interpretation, and Wright argues that a deeper understanding of perception is our best defense. He writes, “Information has gone from the eye, to the telescope, to radar, and now also through AI—but no technology can ever halt the perceptual arms race between militaries.”
Wright draws on the research of AI pioneers and former colleagues Geoffrey Hinton and Demis Hassabis, as well as Karl Marx, Mao Zedong, and Carl von Clausewitz, to argue that an understanding of human mental models has been used by leaders throughout history. A military saying, “Capabilities create intentions,” is especially terrifying in an era of AI weapons development. Blurring the lines between strategy and biology is a fascinating approach, and extensive notes give military and civilian readers much to explore.
A gripping look at military strategy and a brave new world of future conflicts.
Kirkus Star
Ypi, Lea | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (320 pp.) $28 | November 4, 2025 | 9780374614096
A noted philosopher explores her homeland and the family secrets it conceals.
Ypi, a professor of political theory at the London School of Economics, opens in the archives of the former Communist secret service in her Albanian homeland, seeking documentation about her grandmother, Leman, and hoping, as she writes, to rescue her “from the trolls.” One such troll, of the social media variety, has somehow unearthed a gone-viral photo of Leman and her husband, Asllan, vacationing in the Italian Dolomites in 1941, well into World War II and the Italian occupation of Albania, leading to another troll’s accusation that Leman was a Communist spy after first having been a fascist
collaborator. The assault sets Ypi on a search for the truth about her family, outsiders who, though ethnically Albanian and Muslim, had made their home in Salonica, Greece, home to a thriving Jewish community until the Nazi invasion. The family, bookish and aristocratic, enters the tobacco business in Albania with a German partner who, virulently anticommunist, is apoplectic when Leman, a convert to socialism, becomes a chain smoker, doubtless the fault of the Bolsheviks and “the way they inspire the young to disrespect their fathers and mothers.” It’s ironic, then, that Leman should have been suspected by the communist government of Enver Hoxha as a “foreign agent” and an enemy of the state who had “expressed hatred towards the People’s Republic, and the Party in Power.” Ypi’s skillfully written tale includes thoughtful meditations on the notion of dignity as a philosophical construct; in a provocative turn, Ypi compares her condition to the surveillance state of old that had Leman under constant observation: “I am a generic consumer, a cog in a corporate machine, a means to profit. She’s still recognized as human by another human…a subject whose dignity can never be fully destroyed.”
A beguiling, elegant book whose surprise ending, just one of its many real-life twists and turns, befits a mystery.
Zygar, Mikhail | Scribner (544 pp.) | $31 November 11, 2025 | 9781668013908
E xiled Russian journalist Zygar delivers a sobering portrait of Russia’s brief moment in democratic sunlight. Who really won the Cold War? So Zygar wonders at the opening of his book, answering that certainly it
wasn’t Russia. But given America’s slide into Russian-style authoritarianism, marked by the cynical view that nothing is worth believing in, it wasn’t the U.S., either. Still, the Cold War ended with a small window in which it seemed possible for ordinary Soviet citizens, after 70 years of totalitarian rule, “to experience happiness.” This window opened with the glasnost and perestroika programs of Mikhail Gorbachev, but Zygar traces those back farther, from Khrushchev’s post-Stalin reforms to the decision to allow the publication of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Another step forward was the airing in 1965 of Sergei Parajanov’s film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestor, which was in Ukrainian, “an unusual choice in the USSR.” There are surprises throughout Zygar’s long but flowing narrative: Yuri Gagarin, the great cosmonaut, reads and praises Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 just before his perhaps not accidental death; a sit-in in Red Square leads to a trial of eight defendants at the same time that the Chicago Seven were hauled before the bench. One of the greatest surprises is the impetus for Vladimir Putin’s evolution from street thug to KGB agent: He was enthralled by a Soviet spy film released in response to the West’s James Bond franchise and attempted to enlist, only to be told that “first, he must get a higher education, perhaps in law.” Voilà: the dawn of the restitution of Soviet power by a different name—which, Zygar writes, Gorbachev also attempted, even disavowing some of his own reforms.
“The people now in power in Russia are the last Soviet generation,” Zygar concludes, “those who absorbed Soviet culture but not Soviet faith.”
An extraordinarily revealing account of how the Russia we know from today’s headlines came into being.
By Isabelle Boemeke
By Peter Brannen
By Bill McKibben
By Mary Roach
By Alan Lightman
READING HEADLINES about the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, I find myself both disheartened and worried for young people. But I’m grateful to be part of the kid lit community—a group of people willing to speak truth to power. Last spring, author Aida Salazar spoke at Manhattan’s Bank Street College of Education. Growing up as an undocumented immigrant, she felt like she was “living in the shadows,” but literature and writing were her salvation; today, she fondly remembers the fifth grade teacher who gifted her a pen and a copy of Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends. Salazar was devastated to see images of young migrant children separated from their parents during the first Trump presidency, but she drew on her pain to write her mesmerizing 2020
novel in verse, Land of the Cranes , about a girl who perseveres even after her father is deported.
I’m pleased to see other authors following suit with tales that remind young immigrants that they matter. With her picture book Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States (Christy Ottaviano Books, May 27), Rajani LaRocca stresses that no matter what trajectory newcomers take (“Some of us are invited to study or work… Some flee war, oppression, poverty”), all enrich their new homes with their presence. Huy Voun Lee’s painterly images alternate bleak imagery with triumphant scenes for a clear-eyed tribute to those who bravely build new lives.
Eugenia Perrella’s picture book My Home Is in My Backpack (Floris, October 7), translated from Spanish by Sally Polson, tracks a
Latine family’s arduous trek from an unspecified country to a new land. Narrated by the youngest child, who queries fellow travelers about their memories of home, this tender tale softens potentially harsh subject matter while still underscoring the family’s worries. Artist Angela Salerno superimposes images of food, toys, and other prized objects onto her earth-toned illustrations—reminders that immigrants carry with them cherished recollections of home as they begin new chapters in their lives.
Too often, immigration is framed as a dichotomy between “good” immigrants—those who enter the U.S. through the proper legal channels—and those who are undocumented. The reality is far more complex, as two recent middle-grade works demonstrate. A sequel to 2023’s Parachute Kids ,
Betty C. Tang’s new graphic novel Outsider Kids (Graphix/Scholastic, April 15) follows three siblings living on their own in 1980s California, pursuing an education while their parents seek visas back in their homeland, Taiwan. Tang has crafted another portrait of vulnerable youth whose very existence is fraught—they constantly fear that the authorities will learn of their undocumented status—but who find joy in their love for one another.
Ruchira Gupta’s The Freedom Seeker (Scholastic, August 5) centers on 12-year-old Simran, who must flee her home in Chandigarh, India, when her family is targeted by violent bigots who disapprove of her parents’ interfaith marriage. Simran’s father travels to Mexico to cross the border into the U.S., soon followed by her and her mother, but during the course of the perilous journey, Simran finds herself alone in a detention center. This is a profoundly empathetic tale of a young girl whose light remains undimmed even as her family is forced to choose between increasingly treacherous options.
Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.
An industrious raccoon helps wherever she’s needed.
Living in a restaurant, where she cooks creatively and continuously after hours, the pointy-faced Night Chef savors what she can of her life, but hers is a solitary existence. When she unexpectedly becomes caretaker for a baby crow, she decides to find the hatchling’s family. While searching, she lands at a tiny riverside diner run by a mole, staffed by frogs, and patronized by a panoply of animals. Thrilled to discover this small community, she dives right into helping prepare meals. Unfortunately, the restaurant is
being terrorized by a frenzied owl, whose attacks threaten to shut down the whole cozy, companionable operation. Night Chef continues her journey to find the young crow’s family, stopping at an empty diner to whip up a meal for a group of hungry fellow raccoons and leaping aboard a train car filled with barking dogs, but she soon returns to defend her newfound culinary home against their owl attacker by drawing on community connections, culinary skills, and a healthy heap of bravery. Song’s lighthearted, expressive character studies and simple, specific scenery, rendered with textural
Song, Mika | Random House Graphic | 160 pp. October 28, 2025 | $20.99 |
ink-and-watercolor artwork, blend into a true visual treat. Intimately realized scenes of kitchen life envelop readers; Song’s imaginative specificity revels in small moments of plating and serving,
cleaning and closing, as well as the rich rewards of working as a team.
A deeply satisfying adventure for readers young and old. (frittata recipe) (Graphic animal fantasy. 6-10)
story of legacy, creativity, and the ways traditions grow.
THE QUILT OF OUR MEMORIES
Accinelli, Gianumberto | Illus. by Giulia Zaffaroni | Trans. by Nanette McGuinness Orca (96 pp.) | $29.95 | October 14, 2025 9781459843288 | Series: Orca Up and Down, 1
Vertically oriented pictures presented in a long rectangular volume hint at just how high the sky goes. Starting at ground level—or actually below, with ants preparing to fly up into their annual mating dance—the visual ascent proceeds by page turns in succession through each atmospheric level from troposphere to the exosphere, otherwise known as outer space. A metric scale running up one edge (with English equivalents in parentheses) tracks the height in gradually increasing units. Against the slowly darkening backgrounds, Zaffaroni places at plausible levels a host of labeled plants, airborne animals, record-holding aeronauts and flying vehicles, atmospheric phenomena, meteors, spacecraft, and, finally, Voyager I —at over 14 billion miles away and counting, our most distant artifact. A visual index makes all of these images easy to locate. Translated from Italian, Accinelli’s running commentary is printed in white, which can be hard to read on lighter-colored spreads, and his count of artificial satellites is out of date. Still, the extended page count and very tall format convey a sense of distance more effectively than most other works, even those of far broader scope like Kees Boeke’s classic Cosmic View: The Universe in 40 Jumps (1957). Rich in visual surprises and insights. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
Acevedo, Desirée | Illus. by Victor Jaubert | Trans. by Jon Brokenbrow | Cuento de Luz (32 pp.)
$19.95 | October 14, 2025 | 9788410438033
A rich tapestry of family identity is passed down through an heirloom quilt. It all begins with the narrator’s great-great-grandmother, who starts a quilting project with the idea that each woman in the family would add a square featuring a meaningful image that reflects her personality or passions. The blanket travels through time and place as the story unfolds, introducing the women and their contributions: a beloved pet dog for the narrator’s great-grandmother, a pink seashell for a beachcombing grandmother, tomatoes for Aunt Lia, who loves to garden, and a clay pot for the narrator’s mother, a ceramic artist. Readers eventually learn that the narrator is Mateo, his mother’s only child and the next in line to inherit the quilt. Eager to include him in the tradition, his mother encourages him to sew his own square. Mateo chooses to stitch a picture of his baby daughter, leaving a blank spot beside it for her future contribution. A new tradition is born, one that allows the family to embrace change while still paying tribute to the past. Lushly textured artwork echoes the artistry of the quilt itself, adding depth and energy to each page. An illustrated family tree helps readers trace the lineage of the quilters leading up to Mateo and beyond. Acevedo’s tender story, translated from Spanish, celebrates the evolving nature of familial customs and the powerful ways we honor our heritage. Mateo and his family are pale-skinned.
A poignant generational story of legacy, creativity, and the ways traditions grow. (Picture book. 5-9)
Adcock, Maria Wen | Illus. by Yu Ting Cheng | Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.)
$18.99 | July 1, 2025 | 9781534113114
A girl explains her name’s pronunciation and significance to her new classmates. Ai Lin is the only Asian-featured child in a classroom of children with many other shades of skin and hair colors. On the first day of school, the other kids don’t know how to say her name. “Island?” “Eileen?” they ask. “No,” Ai Lin replies, correcting their pronunciation. They persist. “Can we just call you Eileen?” Ai Lin then explains why her name is not to be changed; it is her heritage, carrying the hopes and dreams of her elders. She describes how each part of her name has a meaning. “Ai” means “love,” like warm hugs from Mama, and “Lin” means “gem,” precious and unique the way Baba sees her. Her sister also has a meaningful name, Ai Mei. “Ai” is for “love,” “just like me… It’s what I feel when I say her name.” “Mei” means “rose,” and the two sisters together are a lovely gem and a lovely rose. By the end of her explanation, the other children are listening intently and, of course, get her name exactly right the next day. Cheng’s sweet illustrations in a muted yet colorful palette convey Ai Lin’s childlike perspective of her classmates and her understanding of herself, her family, and her heritage.
An empowering celebration of identity. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)
Alarie, Véronique & Gabrielle Lisa Collard Illus. by Catherine Petit | Pajama Press (32 pp.) $18.95 | October 28, 2025 | 9781772783551
An avian adventurer faces her (many) fears. Nervous Prudence has a dream. An aspiring astronaut most at home among the stars, she seeks to explore the cosmos. Prudence also has a problem; she’s land-bound, her right wing broken by a great fall in chickhood. Rendered flightless and anxious by the accident, the jumpy bird sheds cerulean feathers at the slightest scare. Still, her sister Promise serves as a source of comfort in trying moments and good company in cozier ones. But when Prudence learns that the comet Paulina is slated for near-Earth passage in just one day’s time, the temptation of witnessing this wondrous astronomical event inspires a spot of independence. The energized stargazer sets out solo for a viewpoint at the peak of Great Mountain, absent any aid from her supportive sister, and though the journey may be dangerous, she’s determined to reach the summit on foot, alone. Inspired by a true-life story of sisterhood cut short by cancer, this tale is a bittersweet portrait of familial and self-love. While the narrative parallels between Prudence’s feather loss and chemo-related alopecia aren’t always entirely clear, the sisterly bond that authors Alarie and Collard forge between the birds is a lovely tribute; our protagonist’s courage is especially striking in the context of its creation. Petit’s artwork, meanwhile—all shimmer and pastel, a balm for the otherwise-heavy source
material—is twee as can be, each page its own confection.
A reminder that, for the brave and well supported, the unknown isn’t always unfriendly. (authors’ note) (Picture book. 5-8)
Alary, Laura | Illus. by Risa Hugo Owlkids Books (40 pp.) | $19.95 September 16, 2025 | 9781771475570
Afraid of the dark? You won’t be after this tale.
“The dark is for growing,” Alary writes, making a lovely comparison between a human baby developing in a dark womb and birds and turtles growing inside eggs. Throughout, the refrain “And you are not the only one” makes clear that both humans and animals enjoy aspects of the darkness. Humans dream and work through ideas in the dark, while a slumbering cat might be dreaming about how to catch a mouse. And sleep is useful for bees, huddled in their dark hive—it “clears [their] minds so they remember where to find food.” A spread about darkness healing the brain and body during sleep is festively illustrated with bright colors that pop against a black backdrop, filled with one- and two-celled creatures, stars, and a child slumbering beside a teddy bear. On another page, Hugo draws a connection between children sharing secrets at night, while trees communicate messages to other plants and fungi in the dark soil. One particularly moving scene shows a
A reminder that, for the brave, the unknown isn’t always unfriendly.
PRUDENCE
young child dealing with sensory overload tucked into a closet “to curl up in the comforting dark.” In a tribute to those humans and creatures that thrive in the dark and “want to stand out and be noticed,” Hugo illustrates children in glowing pajamas dancing, while a bioluminescent plant with “ruffles of bitter oyster mushroom” makes its own light at night. Human characters are diverse. A surprisingly comforting and thoughtful ode to darkness. (more information on light and darkness, two experiments) (Informational picture book. 4-8)
Alladin, Erin | Illus. by Miki Sato Pajama Press (32 pp.) | $18.95 November 4, 2025 | 9781772783513
Questions—but not answers— abound in this celebration of natural curiosity. One can collect lots of things while on a walk, but the pale-skinned, bespectacled young hero of this tale gathers something special: questions, including everything from “How can mushrooms show up so suddenly?” to “How deep do tree roots go?” Seasons change, but the child’s mind continues to race. Why? Because, “The thing about answers is, / They’re a lot like seeds. / If you take them home and plant them, / they will grow.” There’s a poetic cadence to Alladin’s free verse, as when the protagonist discusses bright winter days when “the sun is all light and no heat.” Questions and observations are grouped into small blue boxes, separate from the main text. Though the queries aren’t answered, young readers will have a ball mulling them over. Meanwhile, Sato’s adept and meticulous cut-paper images perfectly replicate a misty day and snowy rambles in the woods. The illustrator also skillfully works mixed-media elements (for instance, replicating the downy fuzz of a chickadee) into the art. And lest adult
readers fret over a child traversing the woods with only a dog for company, a pale-skinned caregiver and younger sibling are often visible, following at a distance. A note at the book’s end advises kids on what to do on “wandery-wondery walks.” A heartfelt paean to proto-scientists and everything left in this world for them to discover. (Picture book. 3-6)
Bates, Janet Costa | Illus. by Gladys Jose Candlewick (128 pp.) | $16.99
November 11, 2025 | 9781536227673
Series: Rica Baptista
When an odd package arrives, Rica Baptista is intrigued. Something mysterious is happening at Rica’s house: Uncle Moose has sent a box addressed to himself! Strangest of all, no one else seems as curious as Rica, not even her teenage cousin Serenity, who’s staying with Rica’s family for the week while Serenity’s father (Rica’s Uncle Will) goes camping with her twin siblings. What could be in the box? Rica and BFF Laini mull the possibilities: a rainbow polkadotted unicorn? An alien? Uncle Moose will be visiting in a few days, and he’ll let the family know what’s inside when he arrives, but Rica can’t wait. Sharing a bedroom with Serenity proves a lot less magical than Rica’s fantasies, especially after a video call with Uncle Will that leaves Serenity sulky. As Rica realizes that her cousin feels left out, she and Laini decide to cheer her up—after all, what if the box’s secret item is the ability to make people feel better? Rica once more proves an enchanting narrator with an authentic voice, by turns wildly imaginative and grounded in her compassion for Serenity. Her Cabo Verdean American family is loving and funny, gently bantering while doing their best to support Serenity; cultural references (for instance, Momma
preparing a stew known as cachupa) are gently woven in. Jose’s black-and-white artwork makes effective use of shading, depicting characters with distinctive facial features. Laini is light-skinned. Heartfelt and engaging. (Fiction. 6-10)
Bemis, John Claude | Illus. by Nicole Miles
Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House (272 pp.)
$22.99 | September 9, 2025 | 9780823445127
Young orphan Sidney Poblocki flees an assassin and goes on adventures with the multiversespanning Daughters of Mayhem. It seems that well-meaning but murderous Paladins are killing every Sidney Poblocki in all the parallel worlds in order to head off a prophecy of universal doom. He’s rescued by Rodeo Hawkins, raffish daughter of the Chaos King, who wields a lasso made of pink bubble gum and heads a motley but capable squad of “femininjas.” Young Sidney—the very last of the name, still alive and, inexplicably, the only one who’s a boy—is pitched headlong into a struggle to survive. This battle escalates climactically into a desperate, last-ditch effort to save the very multiverse he’s supposedly destined to destroy. As Wookieelike Daughter of Mayhem warrior Bugbear eloquently puts it, “Goowee poo poo.” Making effective use of silent reaction shots in her cleanly drawn panels to heighten the effects of punchlines and dramatic turns, Miles highlights the notably diverse cast, including the two leads (who have brown skin and dark hair), multiverse cognates (who are the same person except that one lives on an Earth where humans have green “photosynthetic skin”), and a nameless, bodiless consciousness who calls herself “Go.” The fast pace, lively and creative illustrations, and humorous moments will draw readers in.
An epic ruckus. (Graphic science fiction. 9-13)
Blumenthal, Deborah | Illus. by Anastasia Magloire Williams | Atheneum (40 pp.) $19.99 | October 21, 2025 | 9781665927734
An unlikely adventurer proves it’s never too late to pursue one’s passions. Having worked for 55 years as a nurse, Barbara Hillary (1931-2021) decided to make her dreams of travel and adventure come true. Growing up poor in Harlem, she loved reading about explorers, though as a Black woman, she rarely encountered explorers who looked like her—except for Matthew Henson, the first African American man to reach the North Pole. Inspired, she resolved to become the first Black woman to achieve that feat. Despite her age and health issues (a bout with cancer had left her lungs operating at only 75% capacity), Barbara attained her goal, which only made her hungry for more. She made history again when she traveled to the South Pole. Her experiences traveling both to the poles and elsewhere brought her face to face with evidence of climate change, and she began speaking out about small but doable ways to preserve the places she had visited. Blumenthal laces her upbeat text with personal details—like Barbara getting frostbite after enthusiastically yanking off her gloves for a photo-op—that make for an intimate portrait. Williams’ digital illustrations feature both snowy, wide-open vistas and close-ups of Barbara striking triumphant poses as she succeeds again and again. A remarkably uplifting tale of tenacity and determination. (author’s note) (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
For more by Deborah Blumenthal, visit Kirkus online.
Boynton, Sandra | Little, Brown (40 pp.)
$18.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9780316593694
Boynton brings the brio to another celebratory Christmas chorus. Clad in pastel onesies, seven long-eared rabbit siblings bearing gifts ferry a fir while a lone bunny, who narrates, patiently waits. As the solitary youngster explains to the parental rabbits decorating the tree, “I just want to dance with Santa Claus!” Sure, Santa’s busy, but he’s also “oh so jolly!” so the swing-loving speaker suggests decking the halls “with Buddy Holly.” Radically rejecting commercialism, the small rabbit offers to make a deal: “You can keep all the toys” in exchange for a brief dance with the big guy in red. “It’s not about presents”; it’s about belief—and that faith is joyously rewarded when the sleepless bunny hears a “KUH-THOMPP” from the fireplace. Tan-skinned Santa emerges and issues the all-important invitation. They twirl and jive (a score is provided) for just a moment, but it’s enough. After they bid each other a “Merry Christmas,” the bedded-down bunny cherishes the gift of an enduring memory. The verse comes from a song written for the author’s 2024 Cows and Holly album.
Text that has a hand-printed feel alternates with large, colorful serif fonts, potentially aiding beginning readers, while spare but spot-on details in careful compositions provide Boynton’s perennial pictorial panache. No pigs, hippos, or chickens get a look-in, but the bunny’s bedspread is patterned in prancing parallel reindeer. A gleeful holiday caper. (Picture book. 1-5)
Calonita, Jen | Scholastic (224 pp.) | $8.99 paper | October 7, 2025 | 9781546176770
Four girls with the same first name bond over music, middle school, and friendship. A new school year and the dream of attending a Taylor Swift concert set the stage for a sweet, relationship-driven story. Shy, anxious Taylor Bennett, who goes by “Teffy,” starts fifth grade feeling out of place—until she meets three other girls named Taylor, each a devoted Swiftie like her. There’s loyal, bold athlete Taylor “TS” Shaw, imaginative, fast-talking Taylor “Tay Tay” Johnson, and outspoken, magnetic Taylor Perez. Their shared name and their love of the pop star’s lyrics spark an instant connection that helps Teffy push past her fear of making new friends. Together, the Taylors face cafeteria drama, social setbacks, and the ultimate quest: finding affordable tickets to the Eras Tour. The story captures middle school experiences with authenticity and humor, centering on girls who lead with kindness, creativity, and self-empowerment. The conflicts stay age-appropriate—friendship politics, shifting lunch tables, the development of a sense of identity—but the emotional stakes feel real. Teffy’s internal monologue, her admiration for her namesake, and her slowbuilding confidence are especially resonant. Musical references, an inclusive cast (the Taylors are cued white, Black, and Latine), and a cozy
An unlikely adventurer proves it’s never too late to pursue one’s passions. TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD
Indianapolis school setting enrich the narrative. Concert dreams and friendship bracelets add charm to this upbeat, affirming tale.
A delightful celebration of friendship, fandom, and finding the confidence to be yourself. (Fiction. 8-12)
Ed. by Campbell, Jen, James Catchpole & Lucy Catchpole | Illus. by Sophie Kamlish Faber & Faber (368 pp.) | $18.95 paper August 19, 2025 | 9780571380022
An international group of disabled adult authors write about their childhoods. The contributors live with diverse physical disabilities, including but not limited to limb and facial differences, dwarfism, and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, as well as conditions like deafness and autism. The stories have a valuable focus on people who have been disabled since childhood, an often-overlooked demographic. The reminiscences cover ground such as participating in extracurricular activities like music and sports, which can lead to increased self-confidence, and the impact of being a recipient of charity. The authors reassuringly emphasize, sometimes through letters to their younger selves, that self-love will come in time, but until then, having good people in your corner and cultivating resilience are key. In “Lip-Reading in Odesa,” Ilya Kaminsky writes about being a deaf child during the collapse of the USSR, learning from his father about poetry and life during World War II. “Why Do You Feel Sorry for Me?” is a transcribed interview with Ali Abbas, who was injured as a 12-year-old during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and became an amputee. In “Snakes, Bats, Rats and Rotifers,” American author M. Leona Godin describes the progressive eye
disease that began as a child, and how her love of animals and volunteering at a zoo helped her understand her new reality. The authors’ messages are honest and admirable, and common, unifying threads emerge across their diverse backgrounds. Kamlish’s bold and quirky black-and-white illustrations appear before each story, encapsulating their themes. Encouraging tales of learning to thrive. (contributor bios) (Anthology. 9-12)
Ciccio, Adam | Illus. by Eline van Lindenhuizen | Clavis (32 pp.) | $20.95 October 7, 2025 | 9798890631350
Series: Healthy Minds, 8
A child navigates Yuletide amid Mom and Dad’s impending divorce. The young narrator’s parents will soon be living in two separate homes, which means two different Christmas trees. Mom and Dad are reassuring, reminding the little one that “We love you very much!” and “We’ll always be your family.” But change is hard for the child, who longs for the old tree with its special family photo ornament. Eventually tears ensue as the little one confides, “I hate new traditions,” but the family faces the ups and downs together, and the child ultimately enjoys the day, surrounded by loving family and filled with hope. Ciccio, a children’s mental health practitioner, never glosses over the protagonist’s complicated, uncomfortable feelings, nor does he depict characters returning to traditions of Christmases past. A note addressed to caregivers explains the importance of creating new memories during a divorce. The first-person narration centers the youngster’s perspective, fears, and anxieties; children and parents looking for a reflection of their own experiences will find this tale valuable. Van Lindenhuizen’s illustrations are simple and soft, capturing the action
Honest and reassuring, undoubtedly helpful and meaningful to families.
MY TWO CHRISTMAS TREES
described in the text. The family is pale-skinned.
Honest and reassuring, undoubtedly helpful and meaningful to families. (Picture book. 4-8)
Colfer, Eoin | Illus. by Devin Elle Kurtz
Roaring Brook Press (368 pp.) | $18.99
November 11, 2025 | 9781250372642
Series: The Juniper Lane Adventures, 2
Magic is erupting in Cedar Park, but Juniper is sure she can handle the dangers. She’s mistaken.
Following the events of Juniper’s Christmas (2023), Santa Claus has returned to his hidden workshop. But the London park where he hid out for years is still so loaded with magical Spangles (“units of polar magic”) that the foxlike Durkas of legend may have appeared. Beneath a rare Blood Moon, Durkas will grant a wish, if seldom in a way the wisher might expect. Little suspecting that some of Durkas’ powerful past victims are gathering for a second try, Juniper sails recklessly into pickles ranging from magical compulsions to pursuit by Poppet, a giant sloth that she initially takes to be a five-ton “battle hamster.” Colfer is a gifted storyteller, but 13-year-old Juniper (who’s biracial, with a white English mother and a deceased Black Ghanaian father) not only seems from the start to be thoroughly outclassed by her adversaries, but also spends much of the tale bespelled into helplessness. With timely aid from Santa, she does at last regain enough
initiative to help save the world from a dire future. Readers may find the resolution to be on the anticlimactic side and may view most of the rest of the cast, including the scene-stealing Poppet, to be more active, nuanced characters than the protagonist. Terrifying and tongue-in-cheek in turn, if missing its predecessor’s sparkle. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Currie, Lindsay | Sourcebooks Young Readers (248 pp.) | $16.99 | September 30, 2025 9781464234941 | Series: The Delta Games, 2
In this follow-up to The Mystery of Locked Rooms (2024), young escape artists rashly accept a mysterious game designer’s offer to get a sneak peek at a challenging new set of escape rooms.
Worried by announcements of a new, high-tech fun house that might drive their employer, the Delta Game, out of business, middle schooler Sarah and her friends Hannah and West jump at the chance to give Mystery Mansion a try before it opens to the public. More’s at stake than they suspect, but Currie dispenses with the backstory in a perfunctory way at the end. Her real focus—and the chief appeal here—lies in the set of fiendishly clever escape rooms that she’s devised for the trio and the team dynamics that carry them through: Hannah is the reckless thrill seeker, West is the observant brainiac, and anxietyprone Sarah has a knack for making correct choices. The story cranks up the suspense, and the Deltas call on all the
courage and smarts they can muster, sweeping readers along as they work urgently against the clock to complete the course. Hannah is cued white, West is described as dark-haired, and narrator Sarah isn’t physically described. Breathless action and engaging puzzles make this a page-turner. (Mystery. 8-12)
DasGupta, Piu | Nosy Crow (288 pp.)
$17.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9798887771939
Two young sleuths brave danger and villainy to find a cursed gemstone and a missing father. Sent from Calcutta to work as a gentlewoman’s maid in 1895 Paris, 12-year-old Zélie Dutta worries when her father’s regular letters suddenly stop arriving from India. Her fears deepen when Jules Dubois—a red-haired sewer-sweeper about her own age— appears with the locket that once hung from Baba’s neck. Determined to uncover the truth and find her beloved Baba, Zélie plunges into a mystery that leads to the legendary Snakestone, a jewel said to grant its bearer immunity from harm but that brings “death and misfortune to anybody whom its owner holds dear.” Together, in the shadowy streets and sewers of belle epoque Paris, Zélie and Jules confront the sinister Brotherhood of Blood, rescue a baby sloth, and encounter both menace and comfort from a fortuneteller, a fire-breather, and a contortionist from Le Cirque Fantastique. This period adventure weaves together fact and fiction for a bright glimpse into Parisian history, keeping readers on their toes with a whirlwind plot and larger-than-life characters, although the ending may feel a bit too neat. An entertaining debut with strong international appeal, the story ends on a note that leaves things open for a sequel. Lively and sure to please fans of history, adventure, and mystery. (map, author’s note) (Fantasy. 9-12)
Daywalt, Drew | Illus. by Oliver Jeffers
Philomel (32 pp.) | $9.99 | November 4, 2025 9780593694817 | Series: The Crayons Celebrate
Even crayons have to sleep. Yellow stretches scribbly arms wide and yawns a big yawn. Time for bed! But all of Daywalt’s beloved Crayons have different bedtime routines. Blue sips a glass of water through a long straw, promising, “I’ll go to bed as soon as I drink it all.” Beige drags a stuffed piece of wheat (named Wheaty-Wheat) on the floor as he goes to his room; he can’t sleep without his lovey. And Red? Red needs a story. Quite a few stories, in fact. With covers drawn up (in red), Red snuggles up while Green chooses some of Daywalt and Jeffers’ classics to read. The tale takes a metafictive turn when Green falls asleep and Red starts reading the very book they are in. The jokes aren’t as hilarious as in previous outings—the vibes here are reassuring and gentle—but loyal readers of the series will happily recognize familiar personality traits. Peach is excited to be wearing bear pajamas, exclaiming, “I’m so comfy-cozy I could freeeeeak ooout! But I won’t…” And Yellow and Orange wrap themselves with a “Halloween bankie.” Peppered with insider gags for fans but centered on a familiar childhood experience, this story could easily introduce newcomers to the series. A soothingly sweet smattering of bedtime rituals with old friends. (Picture book. 2-6)
Donaldson, Julia | Illus. by Victoria Sandøy
Scholastic (32 pp.) | $19.99
December 2, 2025 | 9798225014636
trees grow tall / And here is the tallest tree of all”) describe the day when brown-skinned James and pale-skinned Ginger meet. Her paper airplane lands in the open book he’s reading. They hit it off, playing happily together, reading stories, and building a castle with stones. After this one afternoon, they look for each other in vain. It’s hard to even identify the tree again (“So many paths! So many trees!”) until Ginger witnesses its fall at the blade of a saw and sees it being carried “off to the paper factory.” A concise montage—involving a chipper, water, and rollers—neatly outlines the process of paper-making. Sandøy’s fine-lined, full-color illustrations offer a lovely, airy sense of the outdoors and add charm to the catalog of familiar uses for the paper made from the tree. Among the new paper items are a book for Ginger and a pad of paper. James folds a piece of paper into a plane—which he’s flying when the pair meet again as the book concludes. The simple, circular tale is both a generous explanation of how humans consume natural resources and a subtle reminder that these are gifts to be respected. An author’s note emphasizes that “trees are precious” and encourages youngsters to recycle this very book should it eventually fall apart. Perfectly satisfying.
(Picture book. 4-8)
Donnelly, Rebecca | Illus. by Jocelyn Cho Phaidon (48 pp.) | $19.95 | October 1, 2025 9781837290321
Donaldson speaks for the trees in this tale of lighthearted gratitude to Earth’s leafy giants. Rhyming couplets (“Here is a wood where the
Cutaway views teeming with tiny figures invite viewers to peer into 10 specialized types of building, from airport to aquarium. Aiming to get readers thinking like architects and imbued with the fundamental principle that form follows function, Donnelly tallies basic requirements for a collection of buildings that Cho incorporates into a series of
compelling and absorbing cutaway views. A school, for instance, should ideally have both learning and office locations with easy access between floors, spaces for eating and physical activity, and places to store supplies—all of which can be picked out in the spread-filling illustration that follows. Other structures, from shopping mall and museum to bakery, planetarium, and veterinary clinic, require distinctive mixes of similar and unique features. Cho sometimes skips essentials like restrooms and HVAC systems, although the omission is hardly noticeable. Her busy, finely detailed spaces are filled to the brim with bustling, individually drawn users who not only encompass a great range of ages, races, body types, and dress, but also include an “architect” whom viewers are invited to spot in each scene, as well as the occasional disguised animal or space alien.
A treat for Where’s Waldo fans as well as an eye-opener for budding architects. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Donovan, Gail | Illus. by Elysia Case Atheneum (160 pp.) | $16.99
November 4, 2025 | 9781665963299
Series: Sparrow Being Sparrow, 3
A n impulsive fourth grader attempts to reconcile her independent streak with expectations at school and at home. Sparrow’s adjusted to her family’s move to small-town Maine and her new baby brother—events detailed in earlier series installments—but she’s still got plenty on her plate. Miss Eileen, the new tenant in Sparrow’s two-family house, is training a yellow Lab named Toby to be a guide dog, and Sparrow’s helping to walk the pup. Though Sparrow’s an enthusiastic student, her emotions often get the better of her, and her inability to focus frequently lands her in trouble. She’s invited to join a friendship group led by the school social
rich in
THE BUNNY BALLET
worker and given a sticker chart to help monitor her actions; the reward for accumulating five stickers in a week will be a slumber party with Toby. Earnest Sparrow struggles to stay on task, but she desperately wants that sleepover—and she’s a good kid at heart, as Donovan’s quiet, sensitively crafted prose makes clear. Though she clashes with some of her peers, including Orion, a member of the friendship group, the deeply perceptive Sparrow also picks up on his feelings of loneliness. The depiction of everyday school drama rings true, while tidbits of information about guide dogs will appeal to canine fans. Case’s sunny, grayscale illustrations depict whitepresenting Sparrow and her family, her diverse community, and Miss Eileen, who’s cued Korean American.
Animal lovers and youngsters who march to the beat of their own drums will find a kindred spirit here. (author’s note) (Fiction. 7-10)
Duncan, Ian | Illus. by Scot Ritchie Owlkids Books (32 pp.) | $18.95 August 12, 2025 | 9781771475389
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and RJ can’t wait to celebrate a perfect day with his dads. At school, RJ and his classmates make cards for the father figures in their lives. Unfortunately, RJ has just 30 minutes to complete two cards—one for Daddy and one for Dada—whereas his classmates each need to make only one. The time crunch causes him considerable stress, showcased through spreads of a large ticking clock looming behind him. RJ
confides in his teacher, Mr. G., who advises him to work on one card for both his fathers, but RJ continues to fret. Meanwhile, his classmates, who have finished early, work on a special art project. With five minutes to go before the end of the day, his diverse classmates reveal that they’ve been working on RJ’s other card the whole time so he can uniquely celebrate both Daddy and Dada. Duncan’s straightforward text blends with Ritchie’s spare, child-friendly art for an endearing exploration of a youngster under pressure. RJ’s reliance on math and numbers while overwhelmed showcases a healthy way of dealing with these emotions. While the story may be idealized to a point, those with families like RJ’s will enjoy seeing themselves reflected in a compassionate, tender way. RJ and Daddy are pale-skinned; Dada and Mr. G. are brown-skinned. A loving look at anxiety management and the unique dynamics of same-sex families. (Picture book. 5-8)
Durham, David Anthony | Tu Books (400 pp.) | $23.95 | October 28, 2025 9781643797434 | Series: The Shadow Prince, 3
In this third series installment, Ash faces new tests of courage and character in helping to defend his charge, Prince Khufu, and all of Egypt from an invading three-headed lion god from Kush. Following a set piece chariot race in which, against his inclinations, he saves the life of a bully he aptly dubs “Merk the Jerk,” Ash and his mixed bag of
friends, royal and otherwise, fly south aboard the mystical Bennu Bird. They’re hoping to track down Khufu’s traitorous older brother, Prince Rami, and Rami’s (supposed) ally, Set, god of chaos and mischief. Unfortunately, following false starts with Gilgamesh and Anatolian weather god Tarhunz, Set has in the meantime advanced his scheme to conquer solar-powered Egypt by getting Apedemak, the Kushite lion god of war, interested in an invasion of Egypt. The stage is set for a boss battle between Apedemak, who loves a good brawl and commands all lions living or dead, and the gods of Egypt, joined by Shana, the peaceful but powerful queen of Kush, and the nature spirits she can summon. Durham weaves mythological tidbits galore into an engrossing climactic whirl of watery wrangles and awesome exploits on and in the Nile, then neatly wraps up his storyline with just deserts for the trickster Set, mended fences for the royal family, and, for Ash, glimpses of a bright past and future. The cast members are largely cued Black.
Propulsive solarpunk. (Fantasy. 9-13)
Ericson, Nora | Illus. by Elly MacKay Abrams (40 pp.) | $18.99 November 11, 2025 | 9781419776144
Two siblings attend a dreamy dance recital. The tale begins with a fantastical invitation; a magical evening awaits at the bunny ballet, and our protagonists—a pair of tan-skinned children—are eager to take in the show. Having happily followed some bunnies down a rabbit hole, the human duo watch rapt as cotton-tailed prima donnas pirouette and plie, the stage lush with verdant flora and the dancers awash in the stunning glow of a golden sunset. At intermission, the attendees are tempted by rabbit-approved refreshments—Radish Razzle and Carrot Cordial chief among the alliterative
offerings—until it’s time again for the lights to dim and Act 2 to begin. Bewhiskered ballerinas leap and bound, dazzling the cherubic children until curtain call, when they, too, retreat home for bed. Ericson’s text is made up of tightly rhyming couplets, employing just enough ballet terminology to prompt knowing nods from aspiring dancers, while her soothing rhythm keeps tempo like the tide. Though select stylistic elements invoke the pastoral aesthetic of Little Golden Books of yore, MacKay’s art is something special, a marriage of vintage and contemporary in its ethereal dreaminess and Technicolor detail. The result is an enchanting bedtime incantation, one that’s light on narrative tension and rich in immersive loveliness. Encore-worthy. (Picture book. 4-8)
Fagan, Cary | Tundra Books (288 pp.) $17.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9781774887288
Sixth grader Willis Shine eludes the police by hiding in a town where all the inhabitants are robots. Willis is on the run after stealing several rare books from the library of the wealthy Mrs. Shorthouse. Willis’ Uncle Tod, his neglectful guardian, an unscrupulous, unsuccessful used bookshop owner, is the mastermind behind these crimes. He set the boy up with a job reading to the elderly woman and then instructed him to acquire specific books. When Willis turns on the electricity that powers a robot town, a project of the late Mr. Shorthouse that’s hidden on a lake island, the helpful, personable robots resume jobs they last performed in 1955. The island community is a quirky, retro, mid-century suburban wonderland, and robot Nathan618 offers Willis the kind of care parents might have given him—routines, regular meals, notes in his packed lunches. Willis’ friends Harrison Choi (who comes from a loving Korean
American family) and Galaxi Katzenberg (“her parents wanted her to have an anything-is-possible sort of name”) are determined to find their missing friend despite his recent rude behavior. Willis is earnest and perceptive, a boy whom readers will root for who’s drawn a harsh lot in life. Most of the third-person point-of-view chapters follow Willis, but Harrison and Galaxi have their own sections as well. The ending satisfyingly wraps up a story that’s worth a large and willing suspension of disbelief. Most cast members present white. Warmly funny and entertaining. (Science fiction. 8-12)
Federman, Cassandra | Random House (40 pp.) $18.99 | October 21, 2025 | 9780593897485
Is there really a nut pirate loose in the forest?
An unseen narrator welcomes readers on a tour of the forest, then calls their attention to various sights, from a cardinal, whose red color comes from the berries he consumes, to a pair of white-tailed deer (“Did you know their antlers fall off every year?”). But Grayson T. Squirrel keeps interrupting. Grayson has lost track of an acorn, buried for safekeeping. Clearly, a nut pirate has stolen it! Grayson accuses the cardinal, the deer, and even a black bear. That last one proves a grave mistake as the bear roars its disapproval. The narrator interjects, and the squirrel remembers that the nut was last seen “near a rock with an X on it.” Grayson begins digging by a small seedling—a baby oak tree that’s apparently sprouted from the acorn Grayson hid. An argument ensues between Grayson and the cardinal: “My nut!” “My tree!” Still, all eventually ends well for the irascible squirrel. Federman’s tale, told in a mix of narration and speech bubbles from Grayson and the other animals, strikes an agreeably madcap, off-the-wall tone. The digitally created illustrations are dynamic and funny, and the >>>
The award-winning author finally brings to life a character he’s been thinking about for more than a decade.
BY MICHAEL SCHAUB
Derrick Barnes is ready to introduce the world to Henson Blayze.
It’s been a long time coming. The award-winning children’s author first conceived of the character in 2012, while writing a manuscript called “Germantown Hero,” about a young superhero who must rescue his kidnapped parents.
“I liked him a lot,” Barnes recalls. “He was an amalgamation of my four sons—funny, kind of brash. We couldn’t land a deal for that manuscript, but I liked him so much, I put him in a separate file.”
In the years following, Barnes had an extraordinary run of success, becoming the first author ever to win two Kirkus Prizes, for his picture books Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (2017) and I Am Every Good Thing (2020), both illustrated by Gordon C. James. But young Henson was never far from his mind.
“There was a rash of unarmed Black boys and men killed by police officers,” Barnes says. “[Twelve-year-old] Tamir Rice was the one that set it off for me. And I had run across [Jerry Spinelli’s novel] Maniac Magee, and I wanted to mesh the two [stories]. I wondered what this story would be like if it was told in the South with a Black boy protagonist, somebody like Henson Blayze. So I pulled him back out and plugged him into this fictional town of Great Mountain, Mississippi.”
In The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze, the title character is a 13-year-old eighth grader who’s so good at football that he plays safety for his town’s high school team, all while working in the vineyard owned by his father, Deacon Jonathon Blayze, and nursing a crush on dreamy young activist Freida St. Louis.
During the team’s first game, Henson learns that his younger friend Menkah Jupiter has been viciously assaulted by two state troopers. He leaves the game to watch over the boy in the hospital, angering the white townspeople who claimed to love him but now attack him with vile racist slurs.
Barnes talked about The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze, which a critic for Kirkus called “bold, extraordinary storytelling: not to be missed,” via Zoom from his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
What made you decide to set this book in the Mississippi Delta?
My family originated in Clarksdale, Mississippi. We used to take the Greyhound bus from Kansas City, Missouri, down to Mississippi almost every summer. We were like hundreds of Black families that were part of the Great Migration, trying to evade white violence and lynchings and poverty. My family ended up in Kansas City, while other families ended up in Philadelphia and Chicago and Detroit. I just wanted to take it back to my roots.
How did you decide to have Henson be a football player?
I’m a Midwest boy. Jeans, boots, pickup trucks, shoveling snow, barbecue, and football are just interwoven into the culture there. I’m a big Kansas City
Chiefs fan, and all of my boys have played football except for my youngest son. I have a son that’s a Division I football player [at the University of Texas at El Paso]. I’m also a sports fan that listens to sports radio, and I’ve been doing a lot of research on how America views Black male athletes. I’ve heard so many fans call in and refer to Black male athletes as “beasts” and “monsters.” They only see them as athletes and not as real people.
[Former San Francisco 49er] Colin Kaepernick got blackballed from playing a sport that he had been studying pretty much his whole life because he was opposing police brutality and he decided to kneel. It cost him his career because [the NFL] did not see this peaceful protest or this well-educated man making a stand, saying
that America is mistreating people that look like him. That’s something that we all should pay attention to and act on. It doesn’t matter what you look like or what part of town you come from; if any of us are being mistreated, that goes against everything that this country says it stands for. That was another influence for this book, the way America is fascinated with the Black body when it comes to performance, entertainment, and sports. Having four sons that have played sports but are also scholars, I want them to understand that they have much more value than just what this country has assigned them. You don’t have to just play football.
Even before he angers the town, Henson is dehumanized by people who call him the “Pick-Six Savage” and compare him to a monster grown in a lab. What do you think is behind this refusal to see him as a human being even when people are “praising” him?
I think there’s a cultural disconnect. This country has done a great job throughout history of keeping a portion of our population in the dark about the history of slavery and white supremacy and how those things have affected all of us, not just Black people. If you live in a predominantly white rural environment, you’re not learning about [Tulsa’s] Black Wall Street or
Reconstruction or the [1898 massacre in] Wilmington, North Carolina. That’s why some of these books are being banned in this country, because they don’t want white children to develop empathy toward these situations, because then you won’t have a whole population of uninformed voters anymore.
We are one nation, and we have to look out for each other, but because of this big gap of information, the only thing you have to go by when it comes to people of other ethnicities are these stereotypes. I’ve had friends who grew up in predominantly white environments, and once they went to college and had an opportunity to be around people of
No matter how amazing Henson is, he is still somebody’s son.
Incredibly Human Henson Blayze
different ethnicities and had these conversations, they found out that we have a lot more in common than we’ve been taught.
Was it important to you to include “incredibly human” in the title to emphasize Henson’s humanity? When I really started studying African American history and reading books outside of school, I always wondered about the people who have made it their life’s mission to erase us from American history and how frustrating it must be to them that we are still here. Everything that you can think of has been done to minimize the existence of Black people in this country, but we are still here. We were enslaved for over 250 years, we had 150 years of Jim Crow, and we were able to fight for our humanity and equal rights, and we are still here. That is a fascinating story when you talk about the small percentage of enslaved Africans that were brought here in 1619, and we are still here. At the end of the day, no matter how fascinating any of us human beings are, everybody wants to be treated with kindness. Everybody wants their humanity recognized. No matter how amazing Henson is, he is still somebody’s son. He still gets nervous when he’s around Freida St. Louis. He still feels a softness in his heart when Menkah comes around. I just wanted to create the most loving and kind boy, almost to a fault, that I possibly could, no matter how talented or blessed he is.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
More than 200 actors will perform in the new full-cast editions.
The voice actors for Pottermore Publishing and Audible’s upcoming full-cast editions of J.K.
Rowling’s Harry Potter audiobooks have been revealed, Deadline reports.
Cush Jumbo, known for her roles in The Good Fight and Criminal Record, will narrate the seven audiobooks. The role of Harry Potter will be played by Frankie Treadaway in the first three audiobooks and Jaxon Knopf in the final four. Arabella Stanton and Nina BarkerFrancis will play Hermione Granger, while Max Lester and Rhys Mulligan will play Ron Weasley; they will also split the roles between the first three books and the last four.
Hugh Laurie (House, Veep) will play Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Riz Ahmed (Nightcrawler, Sound of Metal ) will lend his voice to Professor Severus Snape, with Michelle
Gomez (Bad Education, Doctor Who) as Professor Minerva McGonagall. Matthew Macfadyen (Pride and Prejudice, Succession) will play the evil Lord Voldemort.
More than 200 actors will perform in the audiobooks. Further casting news is expected later this year.
The casting news for the new audiobooks comes just over two months after HBO announced the young stars of its upcoming series adaptation of Rowling’s novels.
The first of the full-cast audiobook editions, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, will be released on November 4, with the following six books set for release from December 2025 through May 2026.
—M.S.
Wintertide enthusiasts will find inspiration in this snow day itinerary.
THE SNOWBALL FIGHT
book closes with a quick glossary of nature-related terms, information on white-tailed deer and how gray squirrels burying acorns leads to the growth of oak trees, and a bear safety song. Nutty fun. (Picture book. 4-8)
Fergus, Maureen | Illus. by Alexandra Bye | Tundra Books (56 pp.) | $13.99
October 14, 2025 | 9781774884904
Series: Weenie Featuring Frank and Beans, 3
Surprises lead to trouble in this third outing with wiener dog Weenie, cat Frank, and guinea pig Beans. Weenie’s owner, pale-skinned, balding Bob, is dog-sitting his sister’s adorable but snobby new puppy, Sweetie Pie. Weenie and Sweetie Pie don’t hit it off. The exuberant Sweetie Pie is loud, pees on Weenie’s favorite things, and knocks over the garbage— a treat reserved for Weenie. So our hero tricks Sweetie Pie into becoming a doggy cannonball. Bon voyage, Sweetie Pie! When the clueless Bob offers to make Weenie a humongous meatloaf for being a good boy, Frank helps Weenie realize that without Sweetie Pie, Weenie won’t get meatloaf and will find himself in timeout. Weenie decides to find Sweetie Pie, a search that leads the trio to a sausage-eating contest, a tour of a sausage factory that smells like feet, and a hijacked sausage delivery truck. All’s well that ends well as Sweetie Pie returns home and Bob proposes even more meatloaf for Weenie’s good behavior. A variety of fun panels, including a Venn diagram of Weenie
vs. Sausage-Shaped Supervillain, the situational definition of the word menace, and an imaginative list of fates that could have befallen Sweetie Pie, slow the story but also emphasize and expand on important details and add to the overall appealingly goofy tone. Silly chaos guaranteed to be greeted with laughter. (Graphic fiction. 6-9)
Ferry, Beth | Illus. by Tom Lichtenheld Clarion/HarperCollins (48 pp.) | $19.99 November 4, 2025 | 9780063327078
Snow lovers carpe a wintry diem. Snowflakes fall on a sparse landscape, stippling the wide-open space with Arctic white. Though the first flurries are gentle, the pace soon picks up, and it’s not long before a pair of homes sit under a rimy blanket, thickly cloaked in the sparkling drift. When the blizzard subsides, the world is whisper-quiet, the glacial scene all negative space and polar peace…that is, until the titular battle commences. Tearing onto the scene with a celebratory shout, a pair of gleeful young neighbors—one tan-skinned, one brown-skinned—certainly won’t be squandering this snow day. They set to work constructing their frozen forts, stocking their icy armories, and prepping for a skirmish to end all snowball fights, good-natured nemeses in this frigid fray. But after a close call with a minor avalanche, the buddies breach their battle lines to dabble in more collaborative wintertime pursuits. Sledding gives way to snow-angel making before the duo round out the cozy day with a cocoa toast. Ferry’s rhyming text is sharp and simple, perfectly measured for seasonal
storytimes, and the same rings true for Lichtenheld’s unfussy, cartoonish artwork, the effect of which nails nostalgia without schmaltz. Wintertide enthusiasts will find inspiration in this perfect snow day itinerary.
A charming read for frosty days. (Picture book. 4-8)
Foster Brown, Stefanie | Illus. by Keisha Morris | Denene Millner Books/ Simon & Schuster (40 pp.) | $19.99 November 4, 2025 | 9781665927833
A grandfather and grandchild call upon the smells, tastes, and sounds of their culture to reconnect with a faraway home. Saturday walks with Papa are a tradition our young narrator cherishes. Both grandfather and grandchild have lived away from Cape Verde all their lives, but while Papa remains connected to the language, his grandchild struggles: “Kriolu won’t come out.” Still, they both fondly contemplate their homeland and its flavors, its diasporic community, its music, and the seafaring culture Papa is so proud of having been part of. Morris’ textured tissue paper collage illustrations feature bright, earthy reds that create silhouettes against the negative space as Papa and the youngster dance in full color in the foreground, providing depth and whimsy to our protagonist’s imaginings of the island home the youngster has never known. Just as the child ultimately feels a connection with Cape Verde when Papa strums his cavaquinho, playing morna (traditional Cape Verdean music featuring themes of yearning for one’s homeland), readers, too, will be deeply moved by Foster Brown’s delicate words and Morris’ enchanting art; those curious about this unique West African culture will be gratified by the author’s note, in which Foster Brown shares memories of her own grandfather, who, like Papa, had issues with his vision.
A worthy, emotionally charged reflection on home and heritage. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)
Freeman, Martha | Illus. by Eda Kaban
Disney-Hyperion (48 pp.) | $17.99
June 24, 2025 | 9781368097284
Series: Kitty Vs.
In this fish- outof-water story, a housecat attends school for the first time.
Kitty enjoys adhering to a predictable routine: breakfast at seven, supper at four, and nightly dreams of “a so-cozy life exactly the same as his own.” But one day, his family announces that he’ll be accompanying one of the children to kindergarten for show and tell. Some adults may balk at the premise—given concerns over allergies and animal welfare, it’s unlikely that most schools would allow a feline visitor to spend a full day in the classroom. But Freeman and Kaban acknowledge the improbability of the scenario as they playfully emphasize the stress Kitty feels at having his comfortable routine disrupted. After a skittish morning avoiding the children’s activities, Kitty is implausibly left to his own devices— and let out of his carrier—while the kindergartners and their beaniewearing teacher leave the classroom. Kitty discovers the class gerbil and gives chase; chaos ensues, with slapstick humor abounding in the images. Upon the class’s return, the understanding teacher cajoles Kitty into some learning alongside the students before show and tell finally takes place at day’s end. Freeman’s narrative is light on plot, though infused with a message that will resonate with youngsters reluctant to embrace change. Kaban’s energetic illustrations, which would translate well into animation, do the heavy lifting to
engage readers. Kitty’s owner is light-skinned; the class is diverse. Upbeat and fun—and just the thing to coax nervous youngsters into embracing all things school. (Picture book. 4-8)
Fries-Gaither, Jessica | Millbrook/ Lerner (32 pp.) | $31.99 | October 7, 2025 9798765671047
Proof positive that some animals don’t have very good manners. Grown-ups may say, “Be a gracious house guest,” but the aptly named tongue-eating louse and the braconid wasp, whose larvae literally feed on their caterpillar hosts, don’t follow human rules. With a sure eye for examples that will thrill readers weary of hearing adults tell them how to behave, FriesGaither highlights 20 wild miscreants, from chinstrap penguins apt to steal rocks for their nests from those of their neighbors to turkey vultures who poop on their own feet to the female Photuris firefly, who responds to a pass from a male of another species by “sucking his blood and then devouring his body.” Big, bright color photos of each creature in action (even that firefly) support the author’s often lurid claims. She closes by explaining that all of this supposed misbehavior really just helps the animals take care of survival or other needs; the appended bibliography is filled with resources to learn about more of wild nature’s gross and gruesome bad actors. The smiling parents in the opening family scene are a biracial couple. Gleeful fun, with generous doses of both fact and attitude. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 7-9)
A celebratory slant on an aesthetic addition that may elicit insecurity.
Kirkus Star
Garrett, Van G. | Illus. by Reggie Brown Versify/HarperCollins (32 pp.) | $19.99 August 5, 2025 | 9780358141822
Spectacles— “sweet sightgivers”—have never been snazzier.
The big day has arrived; it’s time for a young Black child to select a new pair of glasses. But this is no simple chore. In fact, the weight of the choice is immeasurable. Garrett emphasizes that though the wearer may make the pick, so, too, does the pick make the wearer. The stakes are high, the occasion a heavy endeavor, but the message, delivered in effervescent second-person verse, couldn’t be clearer: You’ve got this. Sure, thoughtful decision-making, deep self-knowledge, and a heaping helping of cool confidence are all qualities you’ll need to make the right choice, but dig deep, and the specs you ultimately select will only forge a you-er you, just a smidge more “SPEC-tacular” than before. A follow-up to 2022’s Kicks, this is an empowering adventure in self-expression, a celebratory slant on an aesthetic addition that, for some readers, may otherwise elicit insecurity. Garrett’s masterfully measured text flows like beat poetry, pulsing with the kind of rhythm that invites rapturous snaps in lieu of applause; ophthalmological puns and 10-cent terms abound, too, to aurally pleasing ends. Brown’s illustrative work proves the perfect complement, each playful spread teeming with delightful thematic detail. From soup to nuts, this piece oozes style. Secondary characters are diverse.
A far-out read for the far- (or near-) sighted. (Picture book. 6-9)
Gaudy, Hélène | Illus. by Simone Rea
Trans. by Julia Grawemeyer
Levine Querido (40 pp.) | $18.99
October 7, 2025 | 9781646145706
A picky young rabbit thinks a nibble of his troublesome little brother might hit the spot.
Oskar, a youthful hare distinctively clad in stylish red glasses, isn’t interested in the delicacies his parents offer. In fact, he “can’t stand them and doesn’t regret it.” As he refuses supper, his parents’ suggestions become more outrageous. While some readers will relish the absurdity of “orangutan steak” or “three fat worms in garlic butter,” others might find them distinctly unpalatable. Then—surprise! This isn’t a picky-eating book after all; it’s a sibling-rivalry tale, because what Oskar really wants to nosh on is his baby brother’s “fat cheeks.” If his “yelly” brother were gone, Oskar would have quiet nights and his parents to himself again…plus, that baby is probably “full of vitamins.” Spoiler: No little ones get munched here. After Oskar sneaks his unwanted food into his brother’s waiting mouth, he realizes that it’s handy to have a sibling around. Translated from French, Gaudy’s rhymes are sometimes tight and boisterous, but they sag in places, making the tale challenging to read aloud cohesively. Rea’s delicate graphite and watercolor pencil illustrations on warm-toned backgrounds are sleekly stylish. Oskar’s face is expressive (who knew bunnies could look so predatory?), and the family’s home is très chic. Scrumptious endpapers featuring the brother bunny
transforming into various foodstuffs are a visual treat.
Sure to entice youngsters with a taste for the unconventional. (Picture book. 4-8)
Gehrlein, Brian | Illus. by Jennifer Harney
Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $18.99
November 11, 2025 | 9780316567596
Every time Bear tries to settle in for some cozy hibernation, he finds his den full of joyful chaos. In a charming woodland, an owl narrator promises a “gentle, quiet story” as Bear heads home for his winter nap. But when Bear opens the door to his den, he discovers a wild concert underway. Backing up to the opening scene, the owl and Bear try again…only to walk into a laser show dance party. The pattern continues, with the den getting louder and more crowded each time. The two finally enter a dark, silent den, but it’s only the moment of calm before a musical, disco-dancing, laser show pre-hibernation surprise party for Bear. The frustrated owl learns to enjoy itself even when its plans don’t pan out, and our narrator parties until Bear tucks the sleepy bird into bed. Harney’s art expertly contrasts the low-key story the owl wants to tell with the reality of the mayhem inside Bear’s den. When Bear and the owl are outside, the descriptive, flowing text is complemented by subtle details and natural colors. Inside, the animals’
A standout read-aloud that definitely will not put readers to sleep.
shenanigans are amplified through percussive language, bold colors on simplified backgrounds, and a sans-serif font. The pacing is pitchperfect, with ratcheting tension and increasing speed punctuated by moments of pause and reversal. The zany humor of the story resolves with almost surprising tenderness and lessons about friendship and flexibility. A standout read-aloud that definitely will not put readers to sleep. (Picture book. 4-8)
Gholz, Sophia | Illus. by MacKenzie Haley Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) | $18.99
August 1, 2025 | 9781534113244
A robot leaves the assembly line for the natural world. This offbeat hero’s journey begins with a description of a typical day at the factory where pink-cheeked, multiarmed ARLO (“Automated Robotic Line Operator”) works. He and 11 slightly smaller robots “power up, juice joints, grease gears, and rattle to the assembly line,” where he “katinkers six tools at the same time.” He’s the only robot who uses break time to tinker; his inventions garner interest from the little robots but stern resistance from the apparently managerial “big bots.” ARLO adores his factory work, but “his bolts buzz for something…more.” When a storm leaves a hole in the factory wall, ARLO catapults into an exciting world of flowers, frogs, and trees—but no charging station. After successfully figuring out how to recharge himself with a little help from the natural world, he surmounts more obstacles before returning to his factory home, where all the little robots have been powered down. He tinkers until the little robots are functional. Together, they rebuild and improve their environment—and re-create some of ARLO’s newest inventions, which now reflect the natural world. Once the large bots have been repowered, will they grant permission for
ARLO’s changes? Gholz’s lively text is peppered with the sounds of imaginative robotic language and onomatopoeia, well matched by Haley’s art, which effectively portrays cute, round-eyed robots, drab factory conditions, and colorful, comical nature scenes. Quirky, thoughtful, and fun. (Picture book. 4-6)
Gino, Alex | Scholastic (240 pp.) | $18.99
November 4, 2025 | 9781546138174
A summer without friends thaws the ice between squabbling sisters. Rising sixth grader Chris Rossi, who lives on Staten Island, is upset that she won’t be able to join her best friend, Vicky Chan, for the reading challenge they’d planned together. Instead, she’s being sent to her maternal grandparents’ home in Leverett, Massachusetts. With neck surgery coming up, her mom, who lives with chronic pain, needs rest—and that won’t happen with Chris and her younger sister, Becca, around. Socially awkward Chris is an introvert who’s passionate about reading, while Becca is an athletic extrovert. This heartwarming story follows the two white-presenting sisters as they miss everyone back home and grow closer to one another. Leverett comes alive through the vivid portrayal of Nana and Papa, who believe that children must play outdoors instead of being glued to screens—an approach that works for outdoors-loving Becca but is hard for Chris. She also worries that Frank, Mom’s nonbinary butch girlfriend, will get sick of being a caregiver and leave. Award-winning author Gino’s sensitive depiction of the challenges children face when growing up with a parent with mobility challenges is noteworthy, although readers learn little about Mom apart from her disability. The girls’ feelings about their father, who lives in Florida, also go unmentioned, although Chris is
aware that Mom “hate[s] his guts.” The novel effectively captures shifting family and friendship dynamics and the joy of reading.
A tender celebration of friendship, bibliophilia, and queer families. (reading log) (Fiction. 8-12)
Gott, Jennifer | Illus. by Ana Nguyen | Little Shepherd/Scholastic (40 pp.) | $18.99 December 30, 2025 | 9798225018412
This tale of Noah’s Ark focuses on animal groupings. While the beginning and end of the story remain the same, with quotes from Genesis—Noah builds the ark for two of every animal; dry land and a rainbow appear—this book focuses on the middle and the various cohabitating animals. Gott divides them into groups: nocturnal animals like koalas, bats, and owls; a variety of cats, big and small; a spread of dogs that also includes red and fennec foxes; sea creatures below the boat; wild animals such as giraffes, hippos, camels, and squirrels; birds singing every type of song; snakes and reptiles; animals from the forest, desert, and plains, including moose, rhinos, and antelope; cold-climate animals such as polar bears and penguins; a variety of insects; and all the apes and monkeys. Nguyen’s illustrations were previously published in another rhyming picture book, Jimmy Lynn’s Birds, Beasts, Critters & Creatures: The Story of Noah’s Ark, though the verses in this book are an improvement despite mentioning only one species (lions) by name. The pictures feature luminous colors, black-line textures in the waves and clouds, and gently smiling creatures. Identifying the many animals will keep children (and likely their caregivers) busy. Once the ark is built, light-skinned, white-haired Noah is the only human who appears. An animal-identification challenge on Noah’s Ark, sure to keep readers entertained. (Picture book. 3-6)
Gottwald, Benjamin | NorthSouth (168 pp.) $21.95 | September 30, 2025 | 9780735846036
Originally published in Germany, this compendium of silent sequences begs young readers to provide those sorely missing sound effects.
There’s no denying the first sentence of this title: “THIS BOOK IS MEANT TO BE READ ALOUD!” Fear not. Further instructions inform readers precisely what they should do: Read each sound that they see. The catch? The book’s creator has left every image wordless; it’s up to readers to think up the sound effects. Some sequences prove to be difficult to encapsulate in sound (what does licking a lemon sound like?). Others are quite obvious, and the tale’s delight lies in the pairings of visuals on each two-page spread. The buzz of race cars around a track mimics the buzz of flies around a small pile of poop. And yes, a bit of bawdiness comes into play, as when the fizzled explosion of a cannon is accompanied by an image of a surprised-looking adult unexpectedly farting. The brightly colored art makes bold interpretations of simple scenes, but it’s this very cartoonishness that offers young readers clarity on what’s being portrayed. The sequences are also quite intentional, deftly leading from one sound to the next, as with one passage that begins with someone screaming and ends with another character lightheartedly jeering at readers. Figures encompass a range of skin tones.
An eclectic, original book in which creativity is key. (Picture book. 4-7)
Groc, Isabelle | Orca (32 pp.) | $21.95
April 15, 2025 | 9781459831667
A small boy has an upclose encounter with wildlife.
On the balcony of a 22nd-floor apartment, an Anna’s hummingbird raises her offspring as tan-skinned, brown-haired youngster Noah watches. Groc’s sumptuous, close-up photographs track the young hummingbirds’ progress as they feed, grow, and eventually fly off; in an author’s note, she explains that she met Noah and his family while studying these birds. Throughout, Noah’s compassion, surprise, and empathy for the birds come through clearly. “Yuk!” he says while watching the mother bird regurgitate bugs and nectar into her babies’ mouths. “I would not like to be fed like that!”
Readers will certainly agree. Accompanying the narrative about Noah and the hummingbirds are paragraphs of information about the birds. The author goes beyond typical facts about anatomy and behavior; she also discusses how the hummingbird got its name (from Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli, whose husband owned one), advises readers on what to do if they discover abandoned or wounded chicks, and explains how hummingbirds contribute to pollination. The narrative is a bit complex for fledgling readers to take in on their own, but they’ll enjoy sharing it with caregivers or educators. Just as the hummingbird returns to Noah’s balcony the following year, little ones will eagerly come back again and again to this charming account. A delightful reminder that nature is all around us. (living with hummingbirds) (Informational picture book. 5-8)
Gwinn, Saskia | Illus. by Daria Danilova Frances Lincoln (64 pp.) | $30 October 7, 2025 | 9781836005742
Ivy Everjingle, head elf at the North Pole, gives young readers a peek at some of Santa’s secrets.
While Ivy is limited in what she can share by the Christmas Elves’ Vow of Everlasting Secrecy Act of 1821, this book has lots of tidbits for readers patient enough for the amount of detail Gwinn presents. From the fabric used in Santa’s suit and the names of the members of the second reindeer squad to famous elves and their deeds and the many jobs for North Pole elves, Ivy lays it all out in this book, which also includes a map of the North Pole and cutaway views of Santa’s house, the North Pole Post Office, and the toy workshop. Muted colors, fancy embellishments, and a scrapbook-like layout to many pages add an old-fashioned feel to Danilova’s illustrations. The elves and families celebrating Christmas are a diverse group, though Santa and Mrs. Claus are depicted with light skin. Various asides throughout promote conservation and protection of the Earth. This would pair nicely with “A Visit From St. Nicholas” and Stephen Krensky’s pair of books about Santa getting and then losing his job.
Detail-oriented kids wild about Christmas will enjoy this peek into North Pole goings-on. (Picture book. 5-10)
Haddow, Swapna | Illus. by DynamoLtd Faber & Faber (192 pp.) | $12.95 paper
November 4, 2025 | 9780571379293
Series: Dave Pigeon
Horrid hints that people actually eat birds propel Skipper the pigeon and featherbrained buddy Dave into a desperate rescue mission.
Dave and Skipper, who narrates, are excited to consume some of the “crispy things and roasty things and buttered things and sugared things” dished up amid twinkly lights by the “Human Lady” at her annual winter Big Dinner Day family feast. Imagine their shock when the canary next door informs them that the main course for the upcoming Christmas feast will be…BIRD. Skipper can’t believe it; after all, the Human Lady rescued them. But a wrinkled label pulled from the garbage confirms the horrible truth! The two friends decide to investigate. They’re large of heart if not brain, as demonstrated in six previous adventures. The pair are derailed by an attack from lurking Mean Cat and a robin flitting in from the Scottish Highlands, who hijacks both the story and the frequent speech bubbles that come into play whenever the narrative breaks into full-out cartoon scenes. Their mission quickly devolves into a wacky free-for-all. Goofy, fast-paced banter between Skipper and Dave keeps this buddy comedy moving at a quick clip, even amid the more earnest moments, as the avian crew mulls the horrifying idea that birds could be food. Physical descriptions of humans are minimal. A chatty romp with a mild message for Christmas Day carnivores. (Fiction. 7-9)
A chatty romp with a mild message for
Day carnivores.
DAVE PIGEON (TURKEY DINNER!)
SOMETHING HAPPENED TO OUR MOM
Carla and the Tin Can Cake Party
Hall, Carla | Illus. by Cherise Harris Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster (40 pp.) | $19.99
October 14, 2025 | 9781665935630
T V personality and Top Chef contestant Hall tells the story of two imaginative youngsters enjoying a stay at their grandparents’ home. As soon as Carla and Kim arrive, an elaborate game of dress-up and make-believe begins. Carla, who shares a first name with the book’s author, narrates as the pigtailed, Black-presenting siblings raid an old chest and dress to the nines in Granny’s most elegant dresses, her most ornate purses, and her big, floppy hats. Granny and Doc encourage their “dearies” as they traipse through the house in oversize clothes, inviting everyone to a tea party that promises to be fancy and fabulous. Carla grabs Granny’s quilt for a tablecloth and uses an empty can of pears to cut smaller, circular pieces out of Granny’s pound cake. When Granny sees the mess Carla’s made, a scolding seems imminent, but Granny smiles and offers a few words of wisdom: “Sometimes, showing off can get in the way of what makes something truly special.” She then helps Carla prepare a delectable dessert—one with love baked in. Hall’s narration is infused with loving tenderness, paired with Harris’ lively artwork. In the acrylic and digital ink illustrations, the intricate patterns of the quilt pop as brightly as precocious Carla’s rouged cheeks. The lesson about taking one’s time and planning carefully will go down as easily as Granny’s lemon ginger tin can cakes (a recipe is appended).
A festive treat of a story. (Picture book. 4-8)
Ed. by
Hanna Alkaf | Illus. by Jes Wibowo & Cin Wibowo | Amulet/Abrams (352 pp.)
$18.99 | October 21, 2025 | 9781419770098
B eyond Bigfoot, there exists a host of intriguing cryptids to frighten and fascinate— and readers will meet them in this anthology of stories centering on Southeast Asia. Could a hairy kapre or an elegant karaweik be lurking close by? Even if readers aren’t living in one of the “Lands Beneath the Winds”—the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia— they’ll enjoy imagining that the Asian cryptids from the 17 stories collected here might be hiding nearby. As editor Hanna Alkaf reminds us, “All it takes for something to be real is for you to believe that it’s real. And as long as nobody can prove otherwise, there’s always hope.” Ranging from fierce to friendly, aggressive to protective, the mythological creatures in this volume come face to face with the young human protagonists in stories written by a diverse range of authors, including Erin Entrada Kelly, Shing Yin Khor, Dow Phumiruk, Jesse Q. Sutanto, June CL Tan, and Gail D. Villanueva. These fast-paced, engaging vignettes stand out for the personal growth they inspire, since the young people who encounter these fantastical beasts also confront and make peace with the inner “monsters” they carry. Each story is prefaced by a two-page, field guide–style spread featuring appealing, frequently humorous illustrations of the cryptid in question by the Wibowos and information about each creature’s temperament, habitat, and other characteristics.
A fresh, appealing collection with evergreen appeal. (contributor bios) (Anthology. 9-12)
Hazzard, Ann, Marietta Collins & Marianne Celano | Illus. by Rita Tan | Magination/ American Psychological Association (32 pp.) $18.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781433847547
A family comes to terms with, and overcomes, a parent’s addiction.
“My life turned upside down after Mom’s car accident,” notes Claire. After a doctor prescribes Mom pain pills, things change; sometimes she’s unusually boisterous, but other times she withdraws to her bedroom. Claire tries pitching in as Mom neglects household chores; younger brother Emmett stops bathing and damages Mom’s favorite scarf. When Mom doesn’t wake up one day, Claire calls 911. Mom soon begins going to an addiction recovery clinic, while Claire and Emmett attend a kids’ group. By story’s end, Claire realizes that nobody is perfect and that many other children are dealing with similar issues. The co-authors sensitively unpack complex feelings and dynamics, underscoring that addiction doesn’t make someone a bad person, that the path to rehabilitation can be bumpy, and that drug issues are far more common than children might realize. Tan’s artwork is emotionally charged, reinforcing the theme of support as Claire looks after Emmett and their mom and tries to be there for a similarly troubled classmate. A dramatic nighttime scene of Claire’s mother releasing pills from a curled fist contrasts effectively against the otherwise mostly bright palette, which also dims to subdued colors during more difficult scenes. Robust backmatter includes information for educators and caregivers, including a sample dialogue for discussing the story. The protagonists are pale-skinned.
A lonely scarecrow finally makes the friends he’s desperately wished for.
An empowering and empathetic jumping-off point for important conversations about addiction and recovery. (further information, endnotes) (Picture book. 6-9)
Heagerty, Mat | Illus. by Lisa DuBoisThompson | Oni Press (176 pp.) | $14.99 paper | October 28, 2025 | 9781637159309
An unathletic kid gets an unexpected taste of victory. Arnie loves sports and games, and he’s always eager to play, though he virtually always loses (unless he’s playing video or board games). Unfortunately, he lives in a community dominated by sporty youngsters; the most successful crew is known as the Brohemians. A group of all-sport athletes who run the best park in town, they challenge anyone who steps out of line to a Muscle Match. The vanquished kid is banned from the park and must wear a “loser hat” to school—Arnie knows the drill. His salvation appears when, through fantastically silly circumstances, he comes into possession of a magical medal that grants its wearer athletic prowess. Attracting admiration for his newfound talents, he drifts toward becoming a competitive bully himself until his real friends redirect his energies to building a more egalitarian competitive atmosphere.
DuBois-Thompson’s energetic and colorful illustrations show the kinetic fun of sports and games— basketball, baseball, football, and field hockey
among them. Heagerty captures the infectious power of competition, with Arnie’s parents showing him more interest as he starts to succeed. Arnie is pale-skinned with red hair and glasses; the supporting cast, including the Brohemians, is diverse. Energetic entertainment that promotes healthy sportsmanship. (Graphic fiction. 8-11)
Higgins, Ryan T. | Disney-Hyperion (48 pp.) | $18.99 | July 1, 2025 9781368090216 | Series: Norman
Norman the porcupine yearns for new experiences, but his best friend Mildred, a tree, has other ideas.
Fun though it is to read on a tree branch or watch birds together, Norman’s proposal to seek out fresh experiences goes over like a lead balloon with Mildred, who’s stuck in place. In the wake of an angry tiff, Norman marches off in search of adventure, following its scent down roads, over rivers, through swamps, and up mountains. Afterward, because Norman is used to carrying on both sides of any conversation with his tart but nonverbal plant buddy (“What?! I am NOT shaped like a gumdrop!”), he has no trouble explaining to a potted cactus he finds by the roadside that it’s perfectly fine to try different things, but it’s time to go home because he misses his friend and, anyway, he’s running out of snacks. The ensuing happy reunion ensures that whenever the “smell of
adventure” tempts Norman into future excursions, he’ll always come back to a warm welcome: “What do you mean I need a bath?!” In the bright, simply drawn cartoon panels, Mildred is surprisingly expressive for a tree, and Norman really does look something like a gumdrop. A funny and sensitive exploration of friendship dynamics. (Picture book. 3-6)
Hillyard, Kim | Penguin Workshop (32 pp.)
$18.99 | September 30, 2025 | 9798217140794
In this British import, a talented moth feels insecure about her musical abilities. Clad in a black frock smattered with silver stars and black pointy boots on four of her six appendages, Frida the moth loves to rock out on her purple guitar. Her Auntie Edna is her biggest fan. “Rock on Frida!” cheers Edna, “You shine exactly as you are!” But, sadly, there’s no one else around who makes music. It is a lonely hobby. Until one night, the “Big Bright Light” is turned on. Moths from all over flock to the bulb and start playing music. Frida is excited, but the moths look and sound different from her. She feels that she doesn’t fit in. She decides to change everything about herself—even her purple guitar. After a winding journey of self-discovery, Frida learns to be true to herself (with a little help from Auntie Edna). Hillyard has infused the art with tiny details—look closely at Frida’s room decor—building the flow with both paneled art and full-page spreads. Wavy ribbons of color waft from Frida’s guitar; then, when her musical style changes, jagged bursts (and snakes!) slice through the pages. The narrative has a mostly all-insect crew, but a few human hands are seen with diverse skin tones. A rockin’ look at self-esteem. (Picture book. 4-7)
Ho, Joanna; Caroline Kusin Pritchard
Illus. by Dan Santat | Disney-Hyperion (40 pp.)
$18.99 | July 15, 2025 | 9781368110655
Wish fulfillment goes awry when a boy who loves books doesn’t love that his classmates have literary tastes that diverge from his.
Reading is tan-skinned Arnold’s “all-time favorite thing to do.” He’s partial to a book called The History of Flight and can’t understand why his chums in Room 6 prefer books about topics like tomatoes (“Yuck”) and ostriches (“Huh?”). When Arnold wishes that he could “can all the tomato books,” make the ostrich books “fly away,” and so on, the titles vanish from the classroom, as does (oopsie) his treasured The History of Flight . As the kids take turns explaining to Arnold why their chosen books appeal to them, he finally sees the light, and the volumes reappear. Ultimately, Arnold comes to realize that his “all-time favorite thing to do” involves both reading and good company. The book’s premise is a bit wobbly—would a child really be so upset about another kid’s preferred reading material that he would want to eliminate it?—unless, of course, one reads this title as a parable about censorship. Either way, the story is funny and diverting, and its “different strokes for different folks” message comes through loud and clear. Santat’s digitally colored ink-drawn illustrations present a mix of ethnically diverse children with cartoonish facial features. Throughout the story, the kids’ mental
pictures of their books’ contents hover enticingly over their heads like borderless thought balloons. A pleaser about the magic of books. (Picture book. 4-8)
Huang Xiaoning | Clavis (32 pp.) | $20.95 September 9, 2025 | 9798890631138
A lonely scarecrow finally makes the friends he’s desperately wished for. Originally written in Chinese, then translated into Dutch and then English and first published in Belgium and the Netherlands, this picture book depicts a scarecrow in an abandoned field, longing for animal friends. As the seasons pass, he remains stationary, so much so that the crows and mice realize that he isn’t threatening; rather, he works hard to scare away potential predators like a sneaky black cat. With the help of his newfound friends, the scarecrow takes on a new look with fabric, twigs, and grass, making his larger-than-life shadow just right for permanently scaring off the cat. The scarecrow is drawn with a sweet, youthful face, the littlest bit of fabriclike texture imprinted on his peachy-pale face. Certainly not drab, he’s a visually intriguing figure, clad in a multi-patterned top and hat and a bright red knitted scarf. This is a quiet story that reads like a fable, gentle and comforting. Huang’s full-page illustrations are compelling, especially the opening scene of the scarecrow against a light blue sky and puffy white animal-shaped clouds. Welldrawn shifting perspectives include a
An unathletic kid gets an unexpected taste of victory.
INDOOR KID
high-angled shot of the sneaky cat on the ground and the gray blue of the scarecrow’s shadow. Huang’s depictions of mutually beneficial friendships demonstrate that even unlikely pairs can result in meaningful bonds.
Sweet and simple. (Picture book. 4-8)
Hundal, Nancy | Illus. by Angela Poon Owlkids Books (40 pp.) | $18.95 September 16, 2025 | 9781771476348
A mother and child hit the road—not for a joyride, but because Mom has a job to do. “I wake in deep dark. So sleepy. My dog, Jesse, slumbers beside me, and my mom drives us farther into the black night.” So begins a child’s account of a typical day with Mom, who drives an 18-wheeler for a living. Their day includes a truck stop (a bathroom break, followed by breakfast to go), a game of I Spy from the cab, a rest-stop lunch, Mom’s safety check of the rig’s tires, some singing as the miles tick by, and another truck stop (an eat-in dinner this time). To readers, this will seem like a party, although Hundal keeps things real by having the narrator acknowledge feelings of boredom at one point. Though apparently about 6 or 7, the protagonist doesn’t have a young child’s voice, and Hundal’s occasional attempts at kidspeak can feel forced (“First stop: the bathroom. Fast, ’cuz this one’s kind of gross”). Regardless, readers should cotton to the novelty of the book’s milieu. Poon’s mellow-vibe art, which captures the day’s shifting light as it dusts the scenic views, delivers cool details, like the rig’s involved-looking dashboard and the cozy-cramped sleeper cab, which accommodates the narrator, Mom, Jesse, and several stuffies just fine. Mom and child are tan-skinned with dark hair and eyes. A rewarding ride. (Picture book. 4-7)
BY LANCE LEE
“Whimsical and delightfully thought-provoking…”
—Midwest Book Review
“…delightful…fantastical whimsy…charming…”
—Foreword Reviews, 4 Stars
“…heartwarming…excellent read for children…”
—Readers’ Favorite, 5 Stars
“A tale of unity told through a Crocodile’s search for whether we’re all persons.”
—LoveReading4Kids UK
Paperback: 979-8-21830-614-4
Hardback: 979-8-21830-612-0
Available at
The Humble Pie
John, Jory | Illus. by Pete Oswald
Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $19.99
November 4, 2025 | 9780063469730
Series: The Food Group
In this latest slice in the Food Group series, Humble Pie learns to stand up to a busy friend who’s taking advantage of his pal’s hard work on the sidelines. Jake the Cake and Humble Pie are good friends. Where Pie is content to toil in the background, Jake happily shines in the spotlight. Alert readers will notice that Pie’s always right there, too, getting A-pluses and skiing expertly just behind—while also doing the support work that keeps every school and social project humming. “Fact: Nobody notices pie when there’s cake nearby!” When the two friends pair up for a science project, things begin well. But when the overcommitted Jake makes excuse after excuse, showing up late or not at all, a panicked Pie realizes that they won’t finish in time. When Jake finally shows up on the night before the project’s due, Pie courageously confronts him. “And for once, I wasn’t going to sugarcoat it.” The friends talk it out and collaborate through the night for the project’s successful presentation in class the next day. John and Oswald’s winning recipe—plentiful puns and delightful visual jokes—has yielded another treat here. The narration does skew didactic as it wraps up: “There’s nothing wrong with having a tough conversation, asking for help, or making sure you’re being treated fairly.” But it’s all good fun, in service of some gentle lessons about social-emotional development. A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts. (Picture book. 4-8)
JOHO | Graphix/Scholastic (128 pp.) | $12.99 paper | November 4, 2025 | 9781546164005
Further shenanigans involving the titular cat and her siblings, Sol, Sahn, and Simba. Unconnected vignettes highlight common feline quirks as Saphie spurns the very food she begged for, tiny Sol attempts to be fierce, Sahn’s jumpiness becomes contagious, and more. The author—who drew inspiration from her own cats and appears as a character named JoHo—cleverly laces her work with advice for would-be feline owners (“be ready to sacrifice your furniture”) and intriguing questions: What would happen if the cats met identical versions of themselves? While Sol and Sahn remain energetic and anxious, respectively, Simba-centered episodes look beneath his stoic facade, which owners of similarly inscrutable cats will find heartening. In the section “Simba’s Feelings,” the cat displays the same deadpan gaze even as he’s labeled “glad,” “mad,” and “sad.” JoHo confesses that “a-actually, I have no idea how he’s feeling.” But when Simba snuggles with siblings or Dad pets him, a starlike thought bubble appears, subtly indicating that “Simba cares.” Though the cats’ heavily nonverbal communication may make some punchlines fuzzy for readers who need more verbal cues, the pets’ distinctive personalities are abundantly clear. Cat owners in particular will enjoy finding parallels to their feline family members, but all will appreciate their adorable antics. In the spare cartoon art, JoHo and her family present East Asian. An a-mew-sing second outing. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
A flavorful call to action sure to spur young introverts.
Kennedy, Katie | Illus. by
Nick Thornborrow
Workman (192 pp.) | $17.99 | September 2, 2025 9781523530045
A history professor tackles the Salem witch trials. With this comprehensive work, Kennedy floods readers with extensive detail about the key players, political machinations, and social dynamics that fueled the crisis. Her research is undeniably impressive, and the cultural context is rich, exploring everything from Puritan beliefs to the Little Ice Age’s impact on witch accusations across Europe. The book reads largely as straightforward nonfiction, with occasional rhetorical questions or statements from the narrator (“Do you suppose people jumped onto the pews to get a better look?” “You remember Giles Corey, who testified against his wife, Martha, on March 21?”) that feel more like a modern voice commenting on historical events. The sheer volume of names, dates, and interconnected relationships results in a dense reading experience that may overwhelm those with little prior knowledge. While the “Who’s Who” guide will help them navigate the cast of characters, this thorough work will be most appreciated by students who already have some context; these readers—especially those eager to learn more—will be satisfied, as will many adults with an interest in the topic. Moody, shadowy black-and-white illustrations break up the text. A meticulously researched account for those with a serious interest in the subject. (author’s note, further reading, recipe) (Nonfiction. 10-18)
For more by Katie Kennedy, visit Kirkus online.
Kerbel, Deborah | Illus. by Dawn Lo Owlkids Books (32 pp.) | $18.95 August 12, 2025 | 9781771476188
A seamless combination of safari story and bite-size bits of science. How often do kids close a book before reading the backmatter? Kerbel cleverly sidesteps that problem in her two most recent books by including relevant facts on each page. The narrator addresses readers as “you”; the reader’s stand-in is a pale, rosy-cheeked child wearing a big explorer-style hat, kerchief, and khaki shorts. What might “you” want to do on a safari? For sure, bring a camera to photograph the scenery—and the elephant that conveniently appears! The smiling, friendly elephant drinks, bathes, poops, snacks on leaves, and plays with the child at a watering hole. While the pachyderm isn’t overtly anthropomorphized, she and the child appear to have a rapport, and at the end, the child is introduced to the elephant’s family. On every page, smaller type conveys a sentence or two of elephant facts closely connected to the activity in that part of the story. A page of additional information at the end is useful for integrating into the repeat readings that are sure to be requested. Lo’s watercolor-style illustrations realistically but freely depict the blue sky, the tan savanna, and, as the day advances, the reds of sunset. It’s an informative trip worth taking. Another clever and appealing integration of data and narrative. (Informational picture book. 3-7)
Azizi and the Little Blue Bird
Koubaa, Laïla | Illus. by Mattias de Leeuw Trans. by David Colmer | Lantana (32 pp.) $18.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781836290094
In this tale translated from Flemish, a diminutive hero takes on largerthan-life villainy.
Tan-skinned Azizi lives in the Land of the Crescent Moon—a kingdom shaded by citrus trees, fragranced by aromatic jasmine, and inspired by Revolution-era Tunisia. Tyrannical leaders Tih and Reni rule with an ever-growing avarice. Intent on stripping the land of its beauty for superfluous self-gain, each day they demand increasingly sumptuous feasts, more luxurious wares, and the capture of “every last blue bird there was.” Selfenriched but never content, the pair grow larger and larger while their subjects shrink—effectively illustrating the effects of corruption-borne oppression—until one day, a newly teensy Azizi receives an avian caller, a wily bird who’s escaped captivity and who arrives with an urgent call to action. Prepared to answer, Azizi wields a needle as a sword and, together, the courageous duo lead the resistance, taking flight toward the palace with a garland of jasmine in tow. While the trope of physical-largeness-as-villainy can be fraught, and Koubaa’s antagonists are characterized by insatiable hunger, the piece deftly avoids conflating fatness with iniquity, instead clearly establishing greed as the obscenity and feting the bravery of responsive action. De Leeuw’s scrabbly artwork, Quentin Blake–esque in its stylish charm, lends a grounded whimsy
to the piece, while jewel- and saffron-toned detailing evokes a distinct sense of place, serving up a visual feast. The result is a triumph.
A lovely and empowering homage to real-life resistance. (Picture book. 5-8)
Kousky, Vern | Roaring Brook Press (32 pp.) $18.99 | December 16, 2025 | 9781250334756
An anxious bird is terrified at the prospect of love. Oscar, a bespectacled, round-bodied, long-legged bird with cartoonishly big eyes, is desperate to keep love away. He feels it coming on, so he makes preparations, putting up “No trespassing” signage and donning protective armor and camouflage. Finally, he gets a ferocious guard dog—a fuzzy little brown pup named Brutus. Brow furrowed, Brutus barks, growls, and chases off interlopers, but slowly, after treats and games of fetch, the two form a bond. Just when Oscar feels certain love won’t find him, Brutus disappears, and there’s no one to protect him from love. When the pair are finally—and lovingly—reunited, Oscar realizes he never had anything to worry about; love was a goal worth attaining. Kousky has populated his forest setting with adorable squirrels trying their best to love Oscar. Sweet scenes depict bird and pup snuggled up in bed clad in matching nightcaps, taking a dip in the duck pond together—in short, loving each other. Kousky’s muted mixed-media illustrations portray a forest full of trees with textured bark, dotted with red berries under a brush of watercolor-esque sky. The author/illustrator authentically captures the slow build of love and friendship between resistant Oscar and gruff-looking but ultimately sweet Brutus. The pacing, tight storytelling, and well-matched illustrations make this a worthy read-aloud. A smile-eliciting story that champions love and friendship. (Picture book. 4-8)
Kukla, Lauren | Jolly Fish Press (32 pp.) | $19.99 | September 16, 2025 9781963802047
Celebrating difference at Halloween. Beautifully designed, stylized images depict all the usual elements of fall: pumpkins, bare branches, changing leaves, tombstones, and a full moon. Large, contrast-colored, seriffont typeface announces autumn’s arrival with a “crackle” and a “cackle.”
A pale-skinned, curly-haired witch in striped stockings laughs as she crosses the moon on her broom, and a big owl calls “Who, who.” But instead of the anticipated rhyme, it’s a shock: “Ghost says Meow!” Small, egg-shaped Ghost sports a succession of varied accessories. Initially, pointed ears and a striped tail whisper “Kitty,” but then glasses and a mustache, cowboy boots and a hat, and other mini-disguises suggest mutable identities. The “meow!” poses a perplexing puzzle: Is that a cat under a sheet? To later prompts, Ghost responds, “Ribbit” and “Mooo.” The skeleton, owl, black cat, bat, pumpkin, and witch cat object: On this night, anything but “boo” is “wrong.” Ghost accepts “boo” but pleads for the unconventional: “Why not try out something new?” That’s persuasive: The holiday crew decides to comply, with unpredictable expressions of other identities: “Beep,” “woof,” “howls” “growls,” and “clanks,” as Ghost concludes “Happy Halloween!” Black and orange are enlivened by unexpected touches of blue in this surprising take on pushing acceptable boundaries. A cheerful, delightfully different Halloween book. (Picture book. 4-8)
Laroche, Giles | Clarion/HarperCollins (40 pp.)
$19.99 | September 30, 2025 | 9780358690184
Could you live on a steep mountain, cut off from the rest of the world? Or in an arid desert?
A brief conversational introduction asks readers to imagine themselves living in these and other challenging sites: a jungle, a mountain, an island. Laroche reminds us that in addition to survival skills, a certain attitude or emotional commitment is necessary, reflected in the comment of one resident of a remote Himalayan valley: “It’s too beautiful to leave.” For each place, a concise, engaging opening paragraph continues to invite readers to imagine themselves living there, mentioning some specific experiences, features, wildlife, or occupations that inhabitants might encounter. Vivid details bring a variety of cultures to life. Four smaller-type boxes then describe the geophysical environment, the residents, a “fascinating fact,” and human adaptation to the site. These places span the globe, including locations in the South Atlantic, North Africa, the Indian Ocean, Siberia, the Himalayas, the Andes, the South Pacific, and the Arabian Sea. Two final world maps pinpoint each of the 13 settlements. Cloth, mud, wood, and stone houses, as well as gers (Mongolian dwellings that can be easily transported), floating reed-mat huts, and human-altered caves come to life in dimensional layered paper. One page reveals six painstaking and detailed stages in creating Laroche’s precise, cut-paper relief collages. The
author/illustrator concludes with a helpful list of selected sources. A brilliant and informative introduction to humans’ architectural and social adaptability. (Informational picture book. 6-10)
Litwin, Megan | Illus. by Alexandra Finkeldey | Candlewick (32 pp.) | $18.99
September 16, 2025 | 9781536233384
Autumnal scenes depict wildlife and humans busy with seasonal preparations and activities. The story opens in a leafy forest, populated with bears, a fox, squirrels, a snail, and other creatures depicted in warm hues of rust and gold with black details. Finkeldey employs a limited palette, rendered in gouache and ink on white pages. Litwin’s soothingly spare rhyming text pairs beautifully with the images, evoking the hustle and bustle of collecting seeds, acorns, and nesting materials. A subtle segue—and the addition of the color blue—shows birds lifting off power lines into formation, joined by a small blue airplane. While some “gather up and fly away,” others, like the skunks in the next scene, “gather close. Prepare to stay.” A clever transition occurs on a double spread: The verso presents four cameos of animal groupings that “gather, huddle, herd, [and] heat,” while the recto portrays extended interracial family members who “gather, cuddle, hug, [and] greet.” Several full-bleed double spreads follow; particularly moving is
A Thanksgiving tale rooted in an appreciation for the natural world.
the loving gathering in the firepit scene, the smoky glow contrasting with the dark, star-studded sky. Ultimately the view pans out to snuggling raccoons and the smiling family gazing at one another through the window. Text and images meld seamlessly for a wholly original Thanksgiving tale rooted in an appreciation for the natural world. A spellbinding, festive tale of community. (Picture book. 3-6)
Graphix/Scholastic (272 pp.) | $14.99 paper October 21, 2025 | 9781338818529
Luna Juniper Wright-Evans is a “certified nature-hater,” unlike her mother, who was so keen on the outdoors that she named her daughter after a moth.
All Luna has of her mother, who died when Luna was a baby, are photos and her special name. When her father’s company transfers him to the Washington, D.C., area, they move in with Luna’s maternal grandmother in Lacey, Virginia. Luna is unhappy about the many changes she faces: making new friends while missing the old ones back home in California, starting seventh grade at a new school, and adjusting to Grandma Wright’s strict house rules. Luna, whose dad presents Black and whose mom had light skin and glossy dark hair, begins pinning her hopes on seeing a luna moth, a goal that helps her connect with her mother. She reads her mother’s old nature journals and starts one of her own—in her own unique style. This gentle, warm story, which unfolds in chapters that follow the months of the year, has friendship and nature at its very core. As nature becomes a binding force for Luna to create new bonds, it also gives her a chance to explore her neighborhood, hone her observation skills, and find a sense of belonging. Snippets about flora and fauna are tucked into
the story, presented with joy and intriguing details, and the text and the illustrations work together seamlessly. A tender story that floats as lightly as a moth. (how to make a nature journal) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
Lombardo, Constance | Illus. by Micah Player | Hippo Park/Astra Books for Young Readers (48 pp.) | $18.99 | August 19, 2025
9781662640926
Betty is back, and this time she struggles with which activity to join as the new school year starts. First introduced in Itty Bitty Betty Blob (2024), the pink monster with an ever-shifting body learned to embrace her cheerful persona, even though it made her different from her cranky classmates. In this companion story, her mother would prefer that she select the “Dreary Drama Club” for her extracurricular activity, since the “Devil Divers” group that piques her daughter’s interest sounds too rough. Unfortunately, the protagonist’s nerves take over at the audition, and after a literally blobby meltdown, Betty puddles to the pool, makes the team, and ultimately wins the championship by executing her “divine dive” instead of the expected bellyflop. Once again, she gleans that being true to herself is the best way to be. The hand lettering and palette recall the first book, with its digital black/brown and white scenes, punctuated with color wherever Betty and her rainbow-hued puff friends make an entrance. Shifting perspectives add drama. Alliteration, occasional rhymes, and playful word substitutions make this a pleasing, humorous read-aloud: “While typical monsters played hide-and-shriek, / Betty frolicked in the forest with her friends.” Children will relate to the range of emotions depicted and the desires that conflict with the adults in their lives. As pink and frothy as cotton candy. (Picture book. 4-8)
Mancillas, Mónica | Illus. by Isadora Zeferino Chronicle Books (132 pp.) | $19.99
August 26, 2025 | 9781797211985
Salutes to a diverse array of modern achievers from Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa, to immigrant activist Sophie Cruz, born in 2010. How many of Mancillas’ selections “changed the world” is moot, but all certainly left their marks on it. Some did so literally, like artists Frida Kahlo and Jean-Michel Basquiat, while others, such as storyteller Pura Belpré, flamboyant celebrity astrologer Walter Mercado, and singer/songwriter Shakira, have left a mark in real but less tangible ways. Monolingual despite the title and arranged roughly by birth year, the entries start with a quick identifier (most commonly a variation on “Activist”) and national “Heritage” for each subject, then move on to profiles highlighted by star-flanked summations in larger type to facilitate quick scanning. Emotion often runs high: Gabriela Mistral “was born with the heart of a poet”; in Congress, Alexandria OcasioCortez “was targeted in ways that stank of sexism and prejudice.” Though the biographical specifics tend to be slight, Mancillas includes multiple leads to further information about everyone at the end. Both Mancillas and Zeferino effectively cast their subjects in heroic molds that will appeal to young readers in need of role models. Better yet, the diversity of achievement they celebrate encompasses strides in gender and disability rights as well as groundbreaking feats by social warriors, scientists, athletes, artisans, and more.
A passionate, opinionated, and wide-ranging work.
(Collective biography. 10-13)
Mantle, Ben | Candlewick (40 pp.) | $18.99
October 7, 2025 | 9781536245073
Even the toughest squabbles can’t (permanently) harm the special bond between siblings.
Nano and Felix are “best friends”— at least younger sibling Nano thinks so. They “do EVERYTHING together,” but sometimes Felix needs a little space. When Nano claims they’re being “artists from the future,” Felix (rightfully) complains that Nano ruined his picture: “MOOOOOOM! Look what Nano has done!” After tracking Felix outside to the tree house, Nano is shocked to find a “NO Nanos allowed” sign. With little choice, Nano goes solo: “FINE! I’m going to build my own tree house!” But when rain and wind prove overwhelming, Nano’s mounting cries of “Help, Felix!” go unanswered. Suddenly, Felix goes from “bestest big brother” to “WORST big brother… ever!” At least until Felix manages to convince Nano that he is the bestest after all. English author/illustrator Mantle captures an all-too-common family situation—siblings (particularly the elder) needing space—with empathic authenticity and inviting humor. His text holds inventive whimsy: “totally grape” (code for “really great”), “LAVA CAVES OF DOO OOOM!,” “fancy-pants umbrella house.” The “pitta-patta,” “plink-plonk,” and “blip-blop-blopping” of the never-ending rain provide a syncopated soundtrack throughout. His riotous, vibrant art fills every page, with his details— Nano’s missing sock, the children’s skinned knees, hanging cans and CDs adorning the trees in the yard—gloriously typifying childhood. Both siblings have peachy skin; Felix sports black curls, while Nano has orange locks. An entertainingly energetic, thoroughly realistic capsule of siblings who “are best friends…most of the time.” (Picture book. 4-8)
Martin, Marc | Chronicle Books (44 pp.)
$18.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9781797224695
Series: Everything & Everywhere
The Antarctic awaits.
Fear not— this beautifully illustrated field guide may be heavy on text, but it’s nonetheless compelling.
Arranged as if preparing readers for an expedition to Antarctica, the work is less narrative and more reference, with two-page spreads arranged by topic and detailed accordingly. Sections such as “Natural Wonders” and “Research Stations” will captivate the scientifically inclined, while topics like “What To Pack” and “Food and Waste” offer slice of life–style insights into the more personal elements of Antarctic living. Animal lovers will adore spreads devoted to marine life and penguins; concluding sections “Climate Change” and “Been and Gone” (about invasive species that have posed threats to Antarctic ecosystems) implicitly speak to the urgency of conservationist action. Roughly a dozen blurbs, all accompanied by related visuals, dominate each fold; delightfully evocative of knollingtype (i.e., overhead) photography, the aesthetic effect proves more inviting and immersive than overwhelming. And though the complexity level naturally varies widely from item to item—the two-sentence description of an instrument known as a saoz is far denser than that of sea ice, for instance—every reader will find something of interest. Martin’s second-person language assures buy-in from adolescent adventurers, and his watercolor maximalism proves a visual feat, a thorough accounting of travel to the polar south.
Perfect for perusal across reading levels, ideal for the seriously intrepid. (Informational picture book. 9-13)
Mass, Wendy & Nora Raleigh Baskin Little, Brown (272 pp.) | $17.99 October 7, 2025 | 9780316580403
Mass and Baskin collaborate for a fastpaced sciencefiction romp. Piper lives in Rockdale with her clockmaker parents and one-of-a-kind robot dog named Roody. Raisa lives in Rockdale with her scientist parents and has a best friend named Lev. But even though both girls’ Rockdales have a pizza parlor named Toozy Patza, in other ways they’re very different. Superficially, Piper’s home will strike readers as a generically charming small town distinguished only by its plethora of rocks. In Raisa’s version, however, her mom works at the Academy for the Study of Kinetics, the kids slurp zylon freeze pops, and commercial transactions are facilitated by biometric authenticators. When Raisa and Lev use Raisa’s mom’s multiverse-travel device, which has never been tested on humans, they find themselves trapped in Piper’s Rockdale. Meanwhile, Piper realizes that her parents are confined by a weird force field surrounding their house, one that doesn’t affect Piper. The perspective switches between Piper and Raisa in one- or two-chapter hops, keeping readers engaged as they join the characters in puzzling out exactly how both universes might be set to rights. While both the premise and story structure bear similarities to Erin Entrada Kelly’s The First State of Being, lovers of the 2025 Newbery Award winner will find that this effort lacks that work’s thoughtfulness in both concept and character development. If they keep their reading on the surface, they will likely find it fun enough. Characters largely present white. Doesn’t shake the multiverse. (Science fiction. 9-12)
Matas, Carol | Illus. by Elisa Vavouri Kar-Ben
(32 pp.) | $19.99 | November 4, 2025
9798765619902
Meltzer, Brad & Josh Mensch
With his grandmother in the hospital, a young Jewish boy finds that nothing feels quite right.
Dad doesn’t have time to make Kai pancakes; in gym class, Kai and his classmates are doing gymnastics rather than playing soccer; and, back at home, Kai wants to read stories with Bubbe, but she isn’t here. Remembering the folktales she often reads him, he fantasizes about a golem to protect him, but the hulking creature he dreams up that night is terrifying. When Kai awakens, the golem—now smaller and more subdued—is still there; it trails behind Kai as he goes about his day. A phone call to Bubbe lifts his spirit. Though things may not be ideal, he realizes that he can still find a way to look on the bright side. Kai’s transition from angry and frustrated to optimistic feels unrealistically abrupt, though the sense of repetition (in particular, Kai’s refrain “That’s not what I want!”) is soothing, and caregivers seeking a way to help little ones navigate the absence of a loved one will find guidance here. The furry, cuddly golem is a departure from traditional folklore, in which the creatures are made from clay or stone, as shown elsewhere in the book and in the backmatter. Hebrew and Yiddish words appear but aren’t defined. Vavouri’s illustrations are inconsistent, with objects sometimes changing size and perspective. Kai and his family are light-skinned. Heartfelt, though uneven. (Picture book. 4-8)
For more by Carol Matas, visit Kirkus online.
Scholastic Focus (384 pp.) | $19.99
October 21, 2025 | 9781546122364
Was there a fiendish scheme to assassinate three Allied leaders when they met in Tehran in 1943 to plot a decisive assault on the Third Reich?
Meltzer and
Mensch, who co-authored previous volumes describing attempts to kill George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and John F. Kennedy, have adapted their 2023 edition for adults, presenting young readers with an entertaining, fast-paced yarn. Though the evidence they rely on that the featured scheme ever actually existed is at best circumstantial, they have assembled a vividly rendered historical cast. In addition to better-known figures, readers will encounter people who may be new to them, such as Mike Reilly, the harried head of the U.S. Secret Service, and Austrian Nazi commando Otto Skorzeny. The historical information presented in their broad overview of the Second World War includes Hitler’s quoted goal to “make Germany great again” and Roosevelt’s funeral, all relayed in the present tense. The account of the 1943 Tehran Conference as a meeting designed to pressure the reluctant Churchill into committing to an Allied offensive from the west in the spring of 1944 paints an engrossing picture of the complex personal and political relationships of the three world leaders. Side stories of contemporaneous events, including Skorzeny’s daring rescue of Mussolini from captivity by King Victor Emmanuel III, the assassination of key Japanese admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, and Nazi atrocities at Poland’s Majdanek concentration camp, artfully add drama and emotional intensity.
A readable blend of action and historical insight. (note to readers, bibliography, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Mikai, Monica | Chronicle Books (44 pp.)
$17.99 | August 19, 2025 | 9781797225319
A youngster finds peace in daily life and shows readers how they can, too. Narrated by a Black child, this gentle, soothing picture book is made up of a continuous internal monologue in which the speaker shares various quiet places sought out and created at home, at school, and among the community at large. These small refuges aren’t always physical places; sometimes they’re the child’s way of blocking out sound or finding a way to stay grounded when the world gets to be too much. Whether the protagonist retreats to “the sunny chair in the school library,” achieves calmness by wearing headphones on a crowded bus, or finds comfort in “a steady hand to hold” (in this case, the hand of a Black adult), this youngster emerges as a resourceful, self-aware child with the inner resources to navigate small, day-to-day stressors. In a nice added touch, the narrator also models awareness of others’ feelings; at one point, the protagonist notices another child at a party who seems overstimulated (the image shows the kid in a handsover-ears position). “I share my quiet when someone else may need a bit, as well,” reads text accompanying the next illustration of the two children coloring together. Digital illustrations feature vibrant colors but set an appropriately reassuring tone.
A lovely tale featuring a protagonist sure to be a true friend to easily overwhelmed children. (Picture book. 3-7)
Mushin, Steve | Graphic Universe (88 pp.) | $16.99 paper | September 9, 2025 9798765647073
An industrial designer brainstorms strategies for sustainably transforming our cities and our world.
Mushin argues that pondering “ridiculous ideas can actually be INCREDIBLY SENSIBLE,” noting that doing so encourages thinking outside the box. Accordingly, he takes a current theory that prehistoric megafauna actually had a direct, major influence on their habitats and runs with it. Among other examples, he proposes an urban “Megafauna Emulator” that creates and poops out “compost cannonballs” (with aerodynamic toffee coatings), rooftop gardens guarded by chickens that recycle food scraps to create nutrient-rich poo collected by robotic dung beetles, and flying bicycles lifted by “biogas booster pants.” “Everything in this book,” Mushin writes, “is THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE” and if implemented would not only save vanishing species, but would “CRUSH CLIMATE CHANGE like a Matchbox car in a vise.” Readers may find some of his proposals hard to absorb, since he insists on cramming every oversize page with Rube Goldberg–style diagrams or cutaway views of zany factories and devices, and the work is rife with dense bursts of hand-lettered narrative. Still, the urgency of his message that we are teetering on the brink of catastrophe comes through loud and clear—as does his fundamental optimism that we can still pull off a save.
Urging readers to work on “ludicrously brilliant new ideas” of their own, he closes with a flurry of “Invention Starter” prompts. The small line-drawn cartoon figures in his illustrations have skin the color of the page.
Silly fun with a serious purpose. (bibliography, glossary, index, afterword) (Graphic nonfiction. 10-13)
Nelson, Colleen | Pajama Press (240 pp.)
$19.95 | November 4, 2025 | 9781772783520
Middle schoolers become community heroes as they unite to save their public library. For seventh grader Casey, life with his widowed dad has meant living in 10 homes over 12 years. When his father gets a job at the Cornish Library, they settle into their new neighborhood. Casey joins a soccer team and befriends Addison, a girl who’s a fellow book nerd. But he feels pressure to be someone he’s not when around his teammates, jeopardizing his relationship with Addison. Through this uncertainty, Casey looks to his community, teammate Emmanual Musa (another new kid in town), and the library, a historical landmark, to anchor him. The library’s stunning architecture and resident mallard, Daisy, who nests in the rooftop garden each spring, make it a beloved town hub. When costly repairs threaten the library’s existence, Casey advocates to save it. Along with his friends and a faculty adviser, he enters the Kids Community Action Network contest in hopes of winning $30,000. The firstperson narration resonates as Casey learns
to recognize true friendship, define his values, and embrace his leadership potential. Casey and his father read white. Unfortunately, Emmanual, who’s cued Black, falls into the trope of the unrealistically perfect, two-dimensional best friend of color. He has little backstory of his own and seems to exist solely to guide and support Casey through his own growth and serve as the peacemaker and moral compass for others.
An ode to public libraries and youth empowerment that falters due to flawed representation. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)
Norup, H.S. | Pushkin Children’s Books (320 pp.) | $13.95 paper | October 7, 2025 9781782695189
Saga and her demi-fae friend, Alfred, are caught in the middle when a proposed new tourist attraction threatens to touch off a dangerous clash between the human and faerie realms.
The enterprising Mayor Underwood, first introduced Into the Faerie Hill (2023), is back with a new project, and the iron story poles he’s heedlessly erected to mark the chosen site have devastated parts of the faerie realm. The key to getting the land’s human owner on their side involves finding a child who was mysteriously taken as a baby 12 years before. Alfred, whose limb difference doesn’t affect his special abilities in the water, returns to Faerie through a magic stream to search for him. Meanwhile, Saga undertakes a perilous climb to protest the scheme and defuse the impending crisis by pulling up the offending markers. While the contrast between the outgoing eco-warrior Saga and her introverted counterpart livens their relationship, it’s the magical cast that infuses the tale with equal portions of danger and charm—from the proud but sometimes murderous high faeries to a particularly malicious pair of pixies to
Mr. Tumbleweed, a twiggy tree sprite who serves as Saga’s fierce if grumpy protector. The conclusion hints at further expeditions to come. Saga is lacking in physical description, Alfred has olive skin and dark hair, and the other fae and demi-fae are fantasy diverse. Fairy magic and family issues come together in this absorbing adventure. (map) (Fantasy. 9-13)
Park, Ginger & Frances Park | Illus. by Violet Kim | Whitman (32 pp.) | $18.99 October 9, 2025 | 9780807505281
A young boy of Korean descent can’t wait for his sister’s 1st birthday. “Like cherry blossom petals, excitement [is] in the air” as Hoon and his family shop at Koreatown in preparation. Back at home, Hoon’s Eomma explains each ritual as she sews little Binna’s first hanbok. Hoon’s Appa notes that a child’s 1st birthday is significant because in the past, many babies died young, including several of Hoon’s great-grandmother’s siblings. That revelation fills Hoon with worry for Binna’s well-being. According to Korean tradition, the first object a baby picks up at the doljabi ceremony will predict the child’s future, and Hoon hopes that Binna will choose the thread, which symbolizes long life. The day finally arrives, and Hoon tries to nudge his sister toward the thread, though she’s more interested in the rainbow rice cake. His parents tell him to let Binna choose for herself—and at last she does as a crowd of smiling family and friends look on. Korean terms and cultural markers
are well explained and skillfully integrated into this gently told narrative. Bright colors fill each page, while Kim’s cartoonish art, textured with simple lines and patterns, sets a cozy tone. A rich and inviting exploration of a Korean celebration. (glossary, authors’ note) (Picture book. 5-8)
Perrin, Clotilde | Trans. by Daniel Hahn Gecko Press (26 pp.) | $21.99 October 7, 2025 | 9798765688656
The fur flies in this clever tale of a friendship’s dissolution and subsequent resolution. Neighbors Kitty and Pup are the best of pals. All that changes on the day Kitty eats Pup’s fish and Pup purloins Kitty’s slipper. Now the best of friends are the worst of enemies. Together the animals build a wall separating their residences, with the book’s flaps allowing readers to glimpse what’s happening on either side. Peace reigns once the wall is done, until the day an adorable bunny appears on top of it. Both cat and dog are determined to befriend the rabbit, a plan that leads first to catastrophe but eventually yields a solution that mends old hurts and makes everyone happy. In this French import, Perrin has filled the pages to overflowing with tiny details. Sharp-eyed readers will notice a mouse feeding and rescuing a caged friend on Kitty’s side of the wall, a pair of birds starting a life together, and more. Meanwhile, the book’s strategically placed flaps adeptly advance the storyline, culminating in a broken wall,
A persuasive primer that also asks readers to get up and dance. I DANCE
its gaps clear and present. With the storytelling and art seamlessly blended, the flaps are a necessity to the plot rather than a gimmick or an artistic trick. Form and function meld with fun and whimsy in a tale of the futility of building walls. (Picture book. 3-6)
Rañola, Diana | Illus. by Christine Almeda Holiday House (32 pp.) | $15.99
October 28, 2025 | 9780823458387
Series: I Like To Read
A pipsqueak dancer shows off some serious moves.
“I dance,” says the brownskinned child, clad in deep red and white with a straw-colored hat in hand. Next, a delightful hen busts a step alongside the tiny dancer, hat now on head. From page to page, a series of Philippine folk dances form the basis for this easy-to-read volume, beckoning new readers to hop into the rhythm. A courteous dance with a friend exemplifies the affectionate undertones of the cariñosa, while a flap of the wings in the company of a duck showcases the joy of the itik-itik. A graceful stance beside a harvest of colorful fish elucidates the rich mimicry behind the tahing baila. Set against natural landscapes, Almeda’s bright, cheery artwork merges flashes of movement with hints of the fantastical, making each dance leap off the page. Other brown-skinned children and adults accompany the miniature dancer, each character with a slight smile and all-black eyes, a community brimming with celebration. Rañola’s firmly crafted text leverages sound patterns and other phonics-based tricks to excellent effect, often to droll results. “Hear me dance! Clack! Clack!” This frolic concludes with a rather sweet invitation to keep the swirling and twirling going. A pleasant and persuasive primer that also asks readers to get up and dance. (Early reader. 4-6)
TAKES A TRIP
Reintgen, Scott | Aladdin (432 pp.) | $18.99 October 7, 2025 | 9781665946544
Series: The Dragonships Series, 2
Lunar Jones and Dread the dragon rally the Dread Knights to defend Mars from attack by Triton, the dragon from Neptune’s largest moon. About a year has passed since 14-year-old Lunar Jones became a dragoon and bonded with Dread, the planetary dragon of Mars. In this second series entry, Mars is now productive and again accepting Earthers as settlers, while Lunar adjusts to being in a leadership role, despite being younger than most of those he commands and “responsible for protecting all of Mars.” Proctor (strategy), Doc (programming), Little Will (lead scout), and Mara (who’s nicknamed “Wildcard”) reprise their crucial roles, while the story is fleshed out with other familiar faces, a batch of new recruits, and dragoons and dragons from throughout the solar system. Upon the approach of unknown vessels into Mars’ atmosphere, Lunar and Dread recall uncomfortable rumors about hostility from Neptune’s dragons, and the battles begin. Lunar narrates most chapters; occasional sections are told from Proctor’s point of view. A whiff of romantic attraction doesn’t impede the nonstop action, and the epilogue points to more entries to come. The dragon backstory holds together, although several innovations that appear at just the right time and support healing or offer battle
advantages feel like overly easy solutions. Most humans present white. Not as strong as the series opener, but the space battles galore will satisfy returning fans. (Fantasy. 10-14)
Rentetzi, Maria | Illus. by Pieter De Decker Clavis (32 pp.) | $19.95 | August 5, 2025 9798890632456
Rentetzi tells a lesser-known but inspiring story of science and politics. In 1958, the U.S. donated two mobile labs to the International Atomic Energy Agency to demonstrate how, in the wake of World War II, nuclear power could be used for good. The vehicles visited four continents, providing global scope to the project. From the book’s first spread, which refers to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (and includes an image of a mushroom cloud), Rentetzi’s clear, concise text, translated from Dutch, explains the hope that the labs would allow scientists to make advances in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Scientists “with or without lab coats, with or without shoes” attended training sessions and applied what they’d learned to local challenges. De Decker’s precise, powerful lineand-color artwork—a mix of vignettes and full-page spreads, some recalling classic Northern European art—depicts people, landscapes, monuments, transport vehicles, local animals, and the inside of a science lab in the late 1950s. Details from the text are artistically integrated, like a
world map and the painted flags that record the countries the mobile labs visited. While the tone is overall positive, Rentetzi acknowledges the complex political undercurrents of the project, noting that the U.S. government sought to make scientists around the world dependent on American technology, thus giving the U.S. an edge over the Soviet Union. An enthralling historical account. (more information on the mobile labs) (Informational picture book. 7-10)
Rex, Michael | Simon Spotlight (32 pp.)
$18.99 | January 13, 2026 | 9781665962131
Series: Ready-To-Read
If life gives you bad bananas, make banana bread. Rather than resisting their fate, the anthropomorphic foods in this quirky story long to be deemed delicious. At first, however, the titular banana misses out on the chance to be eaten. Others in the bunch fulfill their purpose, happily sliced into cereal, packed in a lunchbox, or made into a sundae. The plot thickens when the protagonist laments, “But I was never picked…and then something strange happened…I got spots! ” Cartoon-style illustrations show spots marring the peel, much to the disgust of a blond-haired, pale-skinned child: “Ewww! It’s all rotten and gross.” Our rejected hero is horrified until the child’s mother has a great idea: Mixed with other foods (each also illustrated with googly eyes, smiles, and appendages), the banana becomes a key ingredient for banana bread batter. “HOORAY!!” the foodstuffs exclaim as the batter is poured into a bread pan, their unified voices indicated by a speech balloon. The silly, somewhat odd effect of batter speckled with smiles and sets of happy eyes, like so many walnuts or chocolate chips, may
make some literal-minded readers balk, but in what reads like a voice from the beyond, the banana rejoices, “I’m not disgusting…I’m not a bad banana…I’m a good banana!” A-peel-ing. (Early reader. 4-8)
Riddiough, Lisa Frenkel | Illus. by Andrea Tsurumi | Disney-Hyperion (48 pp.) $17.99 | July 8, 2025 | 9781368099769
Series: Forest School of Big Feelings
After a series of mishaps, Ferret finds her place at school. In rhyming text with a singsong cadence, Riddiough recounts an anthropomorphic ferret’s fraught school day. All starts well as she walks to school “in style, / all silky fur and cheerful smile.” But then Ferret trips and falls when she enters the building, the first of several incidents that embarrass her as the day proceeds in a setting that feels like an updated Busytown Schoolhouse, complete with a Pride flag on the teacher’s desk. Slapstick humor in the Richard Scarry–esque illustrations invites readers’ laughter as one minor calamity follows another, with Tsurumi displaying an impressive command of perspective and characterization, but the story happily doesn’t involve other characters teasing or laughing at poor Ferret, who feels mighty uncomfortable and conspicuous nonetheless. Relief comes with others’ awkward moments, culminating with the line, “Ms. Bunny tried to get class started. Instead she accidentally…farted!” In a feat of perfect pacing, this last word falls after the page turn, the accompanying illustration showing a close-up of Ms. Bunny’s face in profile, wide-eyed with shock. An educator to her gassy, leporine core, Ms. Bunny quickly recovers and makes a teachable moment of her flatulence, saying, “All of us have things go wrong. / It doesn’t mean we don’t belong.” Ferret out this one for storytimes about building community. (Picture book. 4-7)
The Tear Collector
Romero, R.M. | Illus. by Julia Iredale Little, Brown (336 pp.) | $17.99
October 14, 2025 | 9780316578042
Bravery and hope fuel this timely climatefiction fantasy.
Three years ago, Jewish siblings Malka, 12, and Ezra, 10, survived the Great Flood.
Now they’re struggling to survive on the Island under the care of Dr. Jonas Hollman. Many Islanders suffer from the Sorrow, a disease that has monstrous effects on the afflicted and takes hold whenever memories overcome a person’s belief in the future. Uncle Jonas researches the illness with help from Malka, who collects tears for the study. The Island’s diverse community of survivors lives under the watchful guard of Mr. Gray, who maintains tight control over all the Sorrowful ones, who have changed beyond recognition. When Olivia, a Latinepresenting girl from Denver who’s about Malka’s age, crashes her plane on the Island, Malka and Ezra are shocked to hear of communities on the Mainland and of the existence of other islands. Olivia questions the Island’s rules and plots her return, but Mr. Gray has other plans for the confident intruder. As Ezra falls ill and the Sorrowful challenge Mr. Gray’s grip, Malka’s role assumes an added urgency. The siblings help Olivia repair her plane, but secrets strain their bond. In a world where nostalgia holds danger, the trio look ahead, facing fearful moments together. This dystopian adventure delivers a balm for climate anxiety in the form of persistence and cooperation. The chapters open with note cards that add worldbuilding details and Iredale’s delicate spot art.
A vivid, emotionally resonant narrative that showcases an unforgettable world. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Rose, Rae | Illus. by Aly McKnight Dial Books (40 pp.) | $18.99
October 7, 2025 | 9780593696637
A community forms at South Dakota’s Sacred Stone Camp as people of all ages join to safeguard their land and water.
Lil’ Donna, a young Lakota girl, travels to the camp on horseback with her grandparents Unci LaDonna and Lala Miles. Excitement is in the air; the camp is crucial to preventing the Dakota Access Pipeline. But Lil’ Donna worries. Perceptive Unci LaDonna wraps her in a hug and emphasizes that they must all protect Unci Maka, or Mother Earth. Both her grandparents have told her stories of the Lakota prophecies of the Black Snakes that would “ravage the land and poison the waters.” Unci’s words—“We will always be stronger when we come together”— bring her comfort and reassurance. “We can live without the Black Snake’s oil, but we cannot live without Unci Maka’s precious lands and waters,” Lil’ Donna realizes. As she and the others arrive at the campsite, she raises a confident fist. McKnight (Shoshone-Bannock) captures the emotional depth of each page in her rich, realistic watercolor scenes, while Rose’s earnestly penned narrative is touching, capturing a precious day filled with uncertainty and fear as well as familial love and Indigenous pride. Backmatter offers more context about LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, who took a stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline. A beautiful blend of community action and the bond between an elder and grandchild. (photographs, glossary) (Picture book. 5-8)
THROUGH THE TELESCOPE
Rosen, Emily | Illus. by Esther Diana
The Collective Book Studio (32 pp.) $18.95 | October 21, 2025 | 9781685552800
A child concocts schemes to get her new brother home from the hospital. Louise is thrilled to be a big sister! But Max, born six weeks early, must stay in the neonatal intensive care unit until he’s stronger. Kids aren’t allowed to visit, so Mom and Dad share photos and videos. Still, waiting for Max is hard! Then, Louise gets an idea: She’ll draw Max some hospital escape plans, which her parents can deliver. Alas, Max neither uses his feeding tube to swing out of the hospital window nor blasts off in his incubator—which, with its beeping monitors measuring Max’s heart rate and breathing, must be a spaceship that Max just doesn’t know how to fly. But once Max can drink from a bottle, Louise’s next drawing does the trick: Max, strengthened by lots of milk, finally comes home. Louise runs jubilantly to Max’s room, which is decorated with her drawings, including her final depiction of Max as “SUPER MILK BABY,” surrounded by bottles. Telling Max they’ll visit space together, Louise promises, “Don’t worry—I’ll teach you how to fly the spaceship.” Relying on straightforward text laden with humorous kid logic, Rosen, the mother of a premature baby herself, reassures readers in situations like Louise’s that their siblings are also “worth the wait.” Diana’s bright, cozy cartoon illustrations sweetly
emphasize Louise’s love for Max. Louise and her family have tan skin. Heartwarming. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)
Rosen, Michael | Illus. by Benjamin Phillips Candlewick Studio (32 pp.) | $18.99 January 7, 2025 | 9781536238945
Former U.K. Children’s Laureate Rosen returns with a picture-book look at a Holocaust history he’s previously explored in poetry and prose biography.
Eugène Handschuh and his father, both Hungarian Jewish fighters in the communist resistance, are arrested and sent to a Nazi internment camp. Eugène and his friends dig an escape tunnel but are caught and loaded onto a train to Auschwitz; he and his father are eventually separated. Rosen describes Eugène’s escape and miraculous reunification with his father in matter-of-fact language that showcases the young man’s determination. Yoto Carnegie Medal nominee Phillips’ lovely ink, pencil, and charcoal illustrations match the text tonally. Even as Eugène discusses beatings, torture, and starvation, the illustrated prisoners all appear calm and unwounded. Still, a double-page spread of the escapees fleeing the train is gut-wrenching, a pop of color appearing on the darkened tracks as Eugène’s father falls. Unmentioned here is Rosen’s personal connection: Eugène’s deportation train is Convoy
62, the same train that carried Rosen’s murdered uncle and aunt— subjects of On the Move (2022) and The Missing (2020)—to their deaths in Auschwitz. Eugène, who returns to the resistance once he’s free, movingly pays tribute to those who didn’t escape the convoy. “You may ask, where did the train go? / What happened to the twelve hundred people on that train? / There were nineteen of us who jumped / on that one day. / The rest went to Auschwitz. / Only twenty-nine came back.” A valuable tribute to the spirit of resistance. (author’s note) (Picture-book biography. 7-10)
Rundberg, Johan | Trans. by Eva Apelqvist Amazon Crossing Kids (192 pp.) | $18.99 August 1, 2025 | 9781662532030
“How did I get here?”
Those words echo through the mind of 13-yearold Movits Lind (Mo for short) as he stands atop the tallest skateboard ramp in Sweden, with his parents, his crush, and a TV crew below waiting for him to dazzle them with amazing tricks. The problem? Mo has no clue what he’s doing. Following this breathlessly immersive opening, Rundberg rewinds, taking readers on a highly satisfying journey as he reveals the events leading up to this moment. We learn that Mo and BFF Ruben are unathletic kids—video games and chess are where they soar—but while at a local park watching Ruben’s brother skate, they meet a hip skater girl named Bea. Mo falls hard for her, and after he tries out some skating moves to impress her and her friends—and by chance performs well—a video of his performance goes viral. Now Mo has an entirely unearned reputation as a talented skater, and though he’s uneasy—especially when a television company contacts him—he’s reluctant to come clean to Bea. Though the
skating plotline drives this narrative, originally published in Sweden, the humor and attraction lie in the quiet moments of Mo’s daily life, from arguments with family members to cringe-inducing (and sweetly swoonworthy) interactions with Bea. Educators will find this an excellent read-aloud option, although the occasional Swedish word may require a little practice. Most characters present white. Delightfully told and sure to please. (Fiction. 10-12)
Saramago, José | Illus. by Amanda Mijangos
Trans. by Margaret Jull Costa | Triangle Square Books for Young Readers (32 pp.)
$18.95 | October 14, 2025 | 9781644214725
C olorful folk art–style illustrations decorate Nobel winner Saramago’s meditation on what might have inspired the creation of the first boat. The third-person narration, translated from Spanish, begins with a nameless man who sits beside the sea and watches the ocean’s waves and tides. Saramago then refers to the hunger that has brought the man there: “The food that the earth so often denied him…the sea offered him in abundance.” A list of the attributes necessary to successfully harvest that bounty follows, including help from others. More people arrive, but some are frightened by the sea’s force. By the end, however, all have gathered by the ocean’s edge to participate in building the titular boat. Lengthy sentences are graceful and alliterative, but their challenging vocabulary and often complex structure may confound listeners. The relative lack of action is also likely to limit the book’s appeal. Observation and imagination are undoubtedly valuable to both individuals and society, but their depiction here feels too abstract to rouse much interest. Mijangos’ illustrations, by contrast, are warm and lively. Brightly
dressed figures, childlike in their simplicity and diverse in skin tone, swarm across the page, while the ocean swirls with life in shades of blue. Unfortunately, even the recurring appearance of a pigtailed child in a red dress doesn’t seem likely to engage young listeners’ attention. Erudite adults may appreciate this adaptation, but it’s hard to imagine a child audience embracing it. (Picture book. 5-8)
Slack, Michael | Holiday House (40 pp.)
$14.99 | October 28, 2025 | 9780823458479
Series: I Like To Read Comics
A thrill-seeking potato aspires to adventures in space. Tate seizes his opportunity to be an astronaut when the Food Service–bound box he’s in gets dropped off next to the one headed for Space Training at the Space League. Tate is an enthusiastic russet, with a big mouth, expressive eyes, and stick-figure arms and legs. Clear cartoon illustrations and generously sized frames emphasize the story’s lighthearted feel. Tate performs so well in the potato maze, the saltwater tank, and as a potato battery that he gets “picked for a very big job” in space. Unfortunately, it turns out that Tate’s not really an astronaut but part of a test “to see if potatoes can grow in space.” Disappointed by this agricultural assignment, he deploys his questionable astronaut skills before jumping into a “space pod” full of dirt. Weeks later, five Tates emerge—all would-be astronauts. The diverse human crew is irritated as the Tates get wildly out of hand. Nevertheless, when the space lab loses power, the potatoes heroically come to the rescue and are rewarded with their own spaceship. A final page with science facts and suggestions for activities is nicely pitched to the audience. Energetic and zany, with an a-peel-ing hero. (Graphic early reader. 5-8)
Smith Jr., Charles R. | Illus. by Evening Monteiro | Orchard/Scholastic (40 pp.)
$19.99 | December 2, 2025 | 9781338815290
In Chicago there lives a girl named Mae whose sights are set on the stars. Mae Jemison peers through a telescope and wonders about outer space. Her dreams take her floating past passenger jets and through the stratosphere until she’s suspended in space among the universe’s estimated hundreds of billions of galaxies. She perches on a shooting star and rides it as far as a light-year, which she calculates is about six trillion miles. Reflected in the telescope’s lens, Mae sees her future self: a bold astronaut on a daring spacewalk. Backmatter highlights many of Mae’s accomplishments in bite-size blurbs, including her groundbreaking achievement of becoming the first Black female astronaut to travel into space. Smith’s story is fueled by rhyming verse whose rhythm is sometimes unsteady, making for a choppy read-aloud in spite of several very well-paced moments. Monteiro has rendered their eye-catching digital illustrations in a limited palette of the blacks, blues, and gleaming yellows of deep space, balancing futurism and whimsy. Not so much a biography as a snapshot of one curious girl’s astronomical wonder, this book leans more on space facts than on Mae’s life, so readers curious about the trailblazer herself will need to search elsewhere. A dreamy tale of space flight to set aspiring astronauts’ minds whirling. (Informational picture book. 5-8)
Stewart, Alexandra | Illus. by Sarah Wilkins
Thames & Hudson (72 pp.) | $19.95 October 14, 2025 | 9780500653555
One geographic pole, two competing polar narratives. With this account of two early-20th-century teams attempting to be the first to reach the South Pole, Stewart plays up the dramatic contrast between Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s arduous but successful expedition and the heroic but tragic saga of British Royal Navy officer Robert Falcon Scott, whose failure proved fatal to him and his team. Because the book presents the match-up via a back-to-back reverse layout, readers can begin with the British group or with the Norwegians; after following one story to the end, they can then flip the book over for the other group’s story. Stewart evenhandedly covers both inspiring expeditions, emphasizing science and the psychological state of the men on both crews. She praises Amundsen’s use of Inuit knowledge, applied to the South Pole, and notes the important fossils Scott collected. The author reports on the initial criticism and more recent reassessment of Scott’s achievement but omits his crew’s failure to carry out a potentially lifesaving order. Stewart also describes Amundsen’s later adventures, including his flight via airship over the North Pole, without mentioning the continuing controversy about whether any earlier explorer had actually reached that pole. Stewart’s narrative is vivid, fast-paced, and informative, while Wilkins’ artwork is
clear, detailed, realistic, and engrossing, with labeled bird’s-eye and cross-section perspectives and maps that immerse readers in the surroundings. A visually arresting account of contending expeditions. (glossary, information on Antarctica today) (Nonfiction 8-12)
Stewart, Todd | Owlkids Books (48 pp.)
$19.95 | October 14, 2025 | 9781771475907
Fantastically illustrated science fiction with a message of acceptance and mutual aid. In this stunning, Avatar-like adventure, told in simple language by multiple narrators, a robot and a space explorer describe their travels as the universe, a galaxy, and a solar system announce their presence and define themselves. When the spaceship speaks, it tells of a sudden systems failure and the consequent crash on an unknown green planet, where a forest blanketing the surface plans to grow over the wreck. The universe senses the emotions of the explorer, “stranded and afraid.” The planet’s inhabitants, “strange, glowing creatures,” meet the invaders and offer help. After repairs, both invaders and inhabitants share stories, making “even the distant stars seem closer.” Then they party together! After thanking their hosts, the explorer and robot depart. Only now do they share their names with us: Oio the robot, and Yamis the explorer. In a final word, the universe notes that “everything that happens becomes a part of me.” The
Fantastically illustrated science fiction with a message of acceptance. LITTLE
brilliant neon illustrations match this dreamlike tale: Oio looks like an elongated spark plug, while Yamis is an upright, doublet-clad frog-duck creature. The natives resemble brain cells and a spinal cord, or frog-spawn in jelly. For imaginative, space-obsessed readers. (Picture book. 5-8)
Swanson, Jennifer | Charlesbridge (80 pp.) $21.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9781623543167
Can’t travel to study a rainforest? Read the next best thing. This exceptionally vivid account of field science in the Andes-Amazon region is also a sensitive appreciation of the role of local communities in planning conservation of their land. Swanson doesn’t underplay the threats facing this ecosystem, but she also offers hope as she explains the work of Chicago’s Field Museum. For 20 years, the museum has sent groups of scientists who, coordinating with local experts and inhabitants, conduct inventories of the area, collecting information on the wildlife and people living there; the book focuses on the inventory conducted in 2018. A map shows the destination; chapters detail the activities of the six subgroups of scientists surveying biology, fish, plants, reptiles and amphibians, birds, and human communities. Swanson details what’s involved with selecting the four study sites, including getting there, preparing campsites, and hauling supplies, followed by accounts of long and arduous but thrilling days of “catching, counting, and photographing” while avoiding natural and humancaused dangers. She provides specific information about the study and each site; writing in an unpretentious, conversational style, she describes how scientists preserve botanical
samples, catalogue specimens, and more. Spectacular color photos of specimen close-ups, scientists and community members, and the gorgeous setting will spark excitement. Swanson’s conclusions about future preservation of the Amazon are optimistic but not unrealistic. Rich in detail, lively, and enthralling. (author’s note, more information, list of the participants, photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 9-14)
Sweater, Michael | Illus. by Josue Cruz Union Square Kids (208 pp.) | $24.99 October 14, 2025 | 9781454946953
Series: Puppy Knights, 1
A pair of adventurers take on a quest but begin to doubt that the prince they’re helping deserves to be in charge.
Tall, gray adventurer Sparky Muttson and his squire, a tiny yellow puppy called Pugsly, are captured and brought to Pawston City on orders of the new prince, who wants Sparky to recover the Golden Bones—for whoever possesses the bones is the rightful sovereign of the kingdom and gets to make all the rules. Readers will notice that there’s something odd about the power-hungry prince (he’s clearly a frog, while all the other characters are dogs of various breeds), and the wizard Iz convinces Sparky and Pugsly that even if they do find the bones, they shouldn’t turn them over to the prince. Madcap capers and blunders abound, and Sparky sprinkles life lessons for Pugsly throughout their journey (“You can’t fail at something if you never give up”). Although a confession from Sparky sends Pugsly off on a brief experiment with being bad, the two reunite to defeat the frog prince and help clean up the kingdom (“Being good is hard work”). Humorous quips and plenty of action may remind readers of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man or
Scott Chantler’s Squire & Knight, though the art lacks the clean clarity of either. A fun, silly adventure. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)
Telgemeier, Raina | Graphix/ Scholastic (240 pp.) | $26.99 October 21, 2025 | 9781338885484
A deep dive into the life of an award-winning cartoonist.
Drawing inspiration from an exhibit at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, the work opens with a note from the exhibit curator, Anne Drozd, a foreword from the museum’s head curator, Jenny E. Robb, and an introduction by comics veteran Scott McCloud. This volume examines the life of the bestselling fan favorite author of middle-grade graphic novels, including Smile (2010) and Guts (2019). The first section, “A Conversation With Raina,” features a transcript of an in-depth interview between Telgemeier and Drozd. Drozd’s questions are thoughtful and perceptive, and Telgemeier’s answers are upbeat and inspiring, but oddly placed illustrations disrupt the flow. The next section, “Growing Up,” revisits much of the same content. Although the illustrations buoy this segment, readers may be frustrated by the repetition. “Facing Feelings” explores Telgemeier’s keen eye for capturing expressions, breaking down the steps with examples from her beloved books. The final section, “Books Behind the Scenes,” offers analysis of and personal backstory for her oeuvre, bolstered by intriguing and comprehensive details (Telgemeier includes her actual dental records in her recounting of Smile ’s history). Overall, the sections don’t fully coalesce, but they do provide edifying insights. This book may be of interest to older readers who grew up with
Telgemeier’s work and are looking to begin their own artistic careers. A bit uneven, but die-hard fans will find much to enjoy. (bibliography) (Graphic nonfiction. 9-13)
Thurman, Brittany J. | Illus. by Islenia Mil Greenwillow Books (40 pp.) | $19.99 November 11, 2025 | 9780063140806
A skating devotee returns to the rink. The advent of autumn means just one thing for our starry-eyed protagonist: Ice-skating season is approaching. And so, as the leaves begin to turn, park strolls with Momma do double duty, equal parts daily ritual and pilgrimage to the waiting ice. Resplendent in all its ephemeral glory yet empty until opening day, the rink grows ever more inviting with each passing walk—our skater’s anticipation more palpable, too— until a subversive mid-story reveal illuminates the rationale behind our hero’s impatience. The narrator yearns to hit the ice not to confidently show off but, rather, to try again after a calamitous first skate last winter; this year’s return offers a second chance to nail the icy twirl of our athlete’s dreams. When the big day dawns, the youngster takes to the rink, laces snug and knees wobbling. But Momma’s encouraging mantra rings truer than ever— nothing, not even a challenge on ice, is impossible. An ode to the learning process, Thurman’s text applies an easy coolness to the clumsiness that learning entails—practice made perfect by affirming beat poetry— while Mil’s captivating aesthetic renders the skater with a lovable, root-for-able expressiveness. The result is one worth cheering. The protagonist is brown-skinned, lighter-skinned than Momma and darker than Daddy.
A tale that more than sticks its landing. (Picture book. 5-8)
Timberlake, Amy | Illus. by Jon Klassen
Little, Brown (192 pp.) | $18.99
October 14, 2025 | 9781643750071
Series: Skunk and Badger, 3
Old friends return with new wards in this beloved series. What do a skunk and a badger know about raising baby rats? Surprisingly little. In this third installment in the Skunk and Badger series—following Egg Marks the Spot (2021)—events have led the titular roommates to welcome the young rats Zephyr and Zeno into their home this winter. At first all goes swimmingly, with Badger convinced that he has time to write his first article for Rock Hound Weekly. Unfortunately, soon the rats are constructing zip lines, barrel racing, and launching unexpected—and unaskedfor—scavenger hunts while their exhausted guardians clean up. As Badger stresses over his article, Skunk calls in reinforcements in the form of his chicken friends. But when Badger accidentally hibernates at just the wrong moment, is disaster inevitable? Readers enchanted by previous installments will have no difficulty following the duo’s further adventures, though newcomers would be wise to start at the series’ beginning. Badger’s focus on his rock work feels particularly adult at times, yet Timberlake’s descriptions of his obsessions often result in lovely prose (“The land is a book written by a glacier”). Distractions aside, the beating heart of the series remains the friendship between seemingly gruff Badger and sunny Skunk. Capturing snowfall and cozy scenes indoors,
Klassen’s accompanying art imbues the storytelling with both a classic feel and an understated wit.
Like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Vermond, Kira | Illus. by June Steube Owlkids Books (40 pp.) | $19.95 October 14, 2025 | 9781771476171
Honeybees get most of the attention but make up only a small fraction of the number of bee species on our planet; a salute to the rest is in order.
Going all in on reader appeal, Vermond profiles a representative sampling of carpenter bees, sweat bees, diggers, and other “gentle little fuzz-buckets” classed as “wild solitary bees,” which never swarm, rarely sting, and actually constitute 90% of all the bees on Earth. As she writes, they are the main pollinators for many common foodstuffs from blueberries to potatoes and tomatoes. Some collect flower oils rather than pollen, produce a cellophanelike protective coating for their nests, and exhibit other unexpected behaviors; vulture bees even eat carrion and regurgitate it later to feed their offspring. “What’s the only real difference between this stuff and the honey of a honeybee? It’s made of rotten flesh, not plants,” writes Vermond. Steube’s close-up, detailed portraits of a representative dozen or so types of wild bees hovering over a variety of flowers offer a good
A visual treat guaranteed to entrance budding mathematicians.
sense of the industrious clan’s broad range of both common and distinctive features. Bee predators and parasites, like the “adorable” bee flies that bomb nests with their own eggs, also earn nods, and closing projects and practices invite concerned young activists to “BEE part of the solution” to declining insect populations. Bee-guiling and informative. (glossary, bibliography)
(Informational picture book. 6-9)
Völker, Sven | Cicada Books (36 pp.)
$16.99 | October 1, 2025 | 9781800660595
Take a tour and learn about the art of various shapes. Pale-skinned, bluish-grayhaired Alma, curator at the Museum of Shapes, and her dog Max are planning an exhibit—with a little help from readers. They start with the simplest shape, a point, and build out from a line to an angle to a triangle to other shapes, eventually including an octagon. Along the way, readers learn about curved shapes such as circles or semicircles, as well as three-dimensional shapes. Of these, shapes like cones and cylinders both have circles as their base. Different shapes combine to form items readers will recognize from real life, such as a sailboat and a leaf. Wiggly lines can create objects, too, such as an oak leaf or cooked spaghetti. Völker periodically poses thought-provoking questions to readers, asking them to find all the triangles on a page, to pick a favorite shape, or to determine if a sunset is made up of one circle or two semicircles. Once Alma sets up the exhibit, it’s time for opening night. Völker observes that even outside, the city’s skyline is filled with amazing shapes. This geometric primer is an immaculately balanced
combination of geometric information, “I spy” elements, and interaction. The pale backgrounds and consistently clean lines make the different elements pop, whether depicted in bold, light, or variegated shades. Backmatter notes that the idea for the book originated at the real-life Museum of Concrete Art and Design in Ingolstadt, Germany. A visual treat guaranteed to entrance budding mathematicians. (Picture book. 5-8)
Wen, Abigail Hing | Illus. by Yuna Cheong & Brandon Wu | Third State Books (270 pp.)
$19.95 | September 16, 2025 | 9798890130310
A Silicon Valley teen navigates AI-generated troubles.
Thirteen-yearold Bran Joseph Lee’s parents—a descendant of “poor colonial Virginian farmers” and a daughter of Sichuanese immigrants—are brilliant but financially unsuccessful tech inventors. They’re pinning their hopes on winning a cash prize at the local Invention Convention with the Vale, the AI-based virtual reality fantasy world they’ve trained on public domain content and interactions with Bran. Gnomly, an elf created from one of Bran’s drawings, is a key feature of the Vale—but during the judging demonstration, he goes missing. Unable to pay the rent, Bran’s family is evicted. Bran turns for support to warm family friend Uncle Roy and new friend and hacker Piper, a girl he met at the convention (both are coded white). The third-person narration alternates between the real and virtual worlds. Within the Vale, Gnomly discovers an evil wizard who’s capturing elements of the world, hoarding their power and fundamentally changing the dynamics. In a last-ditch effort to help his family, Bran enters the Vale in a coding competition, in the process discovering uncomfortable truths and newfound
A
moving exploration
community and humananimal connection.
ACROSS THE ICE
courage. Some events feel contrived, and the clunky story sometimes buckles under the weight of the worldbuilding, but themes of family, friendship, and personal integrity shine in the last act. Static illustrations reminiscent of computer games bookend chapters and embellish key plot points.
Ambitious, if not entirely successful, with strong family-oriented messaging. (cast of characters, map, discussion questions, QR codes) (Science fiction. 7-11)
White, Jen | Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 October 21, 2025 | 9780823459698
Countering a perceived notion that art and science are wholly separate pursuits, White points out some of the many connections between the two.
Operating on a debatable assumption that this is a case that needs to be made, the author argues that art and science “have a lot in common!” and “make a great team.” Along with characterizing Galileo, George Washington Carver, and 17th-century botanical painter Maria Sibylla Merian as scientist illustrators and adding a few examples of generic modern collaborators, she depicts a dark-skinned child with paintbrushes and sketchbook working on nature studies and a tan-skinned youngster wielding, in counterpart, a telescope and other science gear. The message is delivered with a heavy earnestness unlikely to stir strong reactions in readers, and White does her thesis no favors with simplistic claims that art and
science aren’t taught in class together and that few, if any, books incorporate both topics. With similar lack of background work, she closes with a hands-on project: a version of an “origami” fan (representing the way that part of the James Webb Space Telescope was folded for launch) that has to be glued together. Diverse human figures in the pictures include a musician (using, in unexplained ways, “science and math to understand sound”) who relies on a wheelchair. Ineffectively makes a point that’s moot anyway. (glossary, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-9)
Whitecrow, Darcy & Heather M. O’Connor
Illus. by Natasha Donovan | Candlewick (32 pp.)
$18.99 | September 16, 2025 | 9781536229455
T he heroic tale of how an Ojibwe community protected a horse species on the brink of extinction. One chilly night, two children at Lac La Croix First Nation—located in northwestern Ontario— struggle to sleep. The “buzz of aunties and uncles and cousins” fills the house; everyone is awake with anticipation. To soothe her grandchildren, Nookomis tells a story. Years ago, Ojibwe people and horses shared the land and forged a unique relationship. But the Canadian government considered wild ponies “a nuisance and a health hazard,” and by 1977, their numbers were reduced to a mere four. “We had to save them,” says
Nookomis. “But how?” The community decided to capture the four horses and transport them across the frozen lake to Minnesota. Eventually, the herd’s numbers grew. The narrative comes full circle as we find out why the family is so excited; they’re starting a herd of their own and have been awaiting the arrival of six new horses. Whitecrow (Ojibwe/Dakota) and O’Connor have crafted a quiet yet enthusiastic tale that glides along beautifully. Their prose is simple yet enchanting, each well-chosen word imbued with emotion, building anticipation and drawing readers in. Using vibrant colors and pockets of light, Donovan (Métis) makes the night feel cozy. Illuminating details emphasize the community’s strength in its fight against the harmful government policies, as well as the younger generation’s care for the Ojibwe horse.
A deeply moving exploration of community and human-animal connection. (afterword) (Picture book. 5-8)
Wilson, Kimberly | Illus. by Mark Hoffmann
Page Street (32 pp.) | $18.99
September 2, 2025 | 9798890033079
A headstrong hog demonstrates the do’s and don’ts of saving for a big purchase. The titular piggy bank rushes to help a bevy of anthropomorphic bills and coins save up for a sled during winter. He wants to do right by his ancestors, seen in a series of porcine portraits on the wall. If only he hadn’t skipped
reading The Official Bank Handbook or neglected to plug his belly with a stopper. As a result, Piggy searches for loose change beneath couch cushions and in laundry machines, only for the scant savings to scatter. Sitting still to save money over time is excruciating for Piggy and company, but our hero acquires a work ethic and a sense of thriftiness just in time to make ends meet, purchase a sled, and hit the slopes. In addition to learning temperance and industriousness, Piggy must be dissuaded from taking money from a purse and jollied out of wallowing in tears. His enthusiastic foolhardiness makes him a good Goofus for Gallant readers to cautiously follow through to his eventual redemption. With his shiny round body and frequently smiling face, he’s a natural playmate for the money characters, whom readers may recognize from three previous, loosely connected books by Wilson and Hoffmann. Backmatter traces the centuries-old history of piggy banks and savings funds while sharing savings-related tips and a bibliography.
A worthwhile tale to encourage sound financial habits. (Picture book. 4-8)
Xiong, Liang | Trans. by Chloe Garcia Roberts Elsewhere Editions (54 pp.) | $19.95 September 2, 2025 | 9781962770262
The wind compels a tiny creature from peaceful sleep to embark on blustery adventures.
A tan-skinned, green-hoodied “miniature being,” one of the Mu Ke, or
A deft account of a diminutive being standing up to a mighty force.
WIND
Treelings, cozily slumbers until “quietly, the wind approaches” with whispered entreaties: “Hurry! Get up! Let’s go out for a walk.” When the Treeling is too slow to respond, the wind hurtles its “little tangerine cap” out into the open, forcing the minuscule being to give chase. “Maybe I didn’t want to go on a walk!” the Treeling mutters, but the wind quickly turns into a huge storm, carrying its companion through the mountain forest. The wind awakens hibernating bears, tosses and tangles birds, blows over magical beings, and tumbles boulders. “Come join us for a walk,” the wind coerces, while the Treeling repeatedly attempts to apologize for the ensuing chaos. “STOP!!!” the Treeling finally demands, impressively calming the tempest into a gentle breeze. Chinese artist/author Xiong effectively highlights the natural environment with swirling shades of verdigris. The contrasting orange cap pops off the pages, suggesting its importance to Treeling identity; an older Treeling sports a similar cap as the tiny protagonist. Xiong’s opening note reveals Memories of Xiang Zhou, an ancient Chinese text, as the Treelings’ provenance; third-century BCE poet Song Yu’s inspirational “Wind Poem” is appended. Polyglot Garcia Roberts provides the translation for Xiong’s vivid, sweeping text.
A deft account of a diminutive being standing up to a mighty force. (Picture book. 4-8)
Yi, Susie | HarperAlley (96 pp.) | $18.99
August 19, 2025 | 9780063381421
Series: Cat & Cat Adventures, 5
Kindness and cooperation help friends get one step closer to saving the planet.
In a previous adventure, cats Squash and Ginny found a magical Orb of the Past, but they were separated from two friends in
the process. The orb reveals that the friends have found the Orb of the Present but have been captured by an unidentified villain. Squash and Ginny are off to the rescue and use their magic wand to track the friends to a mansion. There, the friends, the Orb of the Past, and other items and creatures are scheduled to be auctioned off. Squash and Ginny must breach security barriers, crack a complicated code that readers are encouraged to solve, and convince a group of creatures that Squash and Ginny need the orbs to stop the Spirit World from spilling into the human world. As vines from the Spirit World invade the mansion and human adversaries approach, the heroes grab the orb and escape with the help of a Spirit World visitor. Now they face the daunting task of retrieving the Orb of the Future. Pages with several panels of digitally created cartoons and multiple speech balloons keep the pace brisk. Layers of group problem-solving, environmental concerns, and a magical world make this a book for more experienced readers. A multilayered fantasy adventure full of action, fun, and friendship. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)
Zargarpur, Deeba | Labyrinth Road (320 pp.) | $17.99 | November 4, 2025 9780593564455 | Series: Farrah Noorzad, 2
T his sequel brings readers back to the Realm of the Unseen, where Farrah must unravel the meaning of a prophecy and save both of her worlds.
Twelve-year-old Afghan American Farrah, who’s half jinn, expected that her defeat of the exiled jinn Azar would convince her father, the jinn king Shamhurish, that she
Quick flyovers, with more to entice naturalists than anthropologists.
OUR ISLANDS
belongs in his world as much as she does in the human one. But three months of silence from him—and the fact that her quarter-human friend, Idris, and her jinn half brother, Yaseen, are nowhere to be found—have left Farrah feeling more disconnected than ever. A summons from the jinn kings might offer an opportunity to prove herself. Instead, she finds herself trapped in their realm, where she must use her time at Al-Qalam Academy for the Exceptional, a royal school, to solve a mysterious prophecy, tame her dangerous new powers, keep a promise to Idris, and save both of her worlds from destruction. The action and pacing of Zargarpur’s second series installment, which combines fantasy, Islamic legend, and Persian mythology, is as thrilling as the first. Farrah’s characterization displays new depth and emotional complexity. Her continued search for fellowship conflicts with her anxiety and self-doubt, even as she questions her identity and grapples with the impact of her decisions. One unexpected turn after another will keep readers guessing, culminating in a cliffhanger that sets them up for what’s sure to be a much-anticipated third volume.
Highly satisfying; will leave readers wanting more. (map) (Fantasy. 8-12)
For more in the Farrah Noorzad series, visit Kirkus online.
Our Islands
Zommer, Yuval | Thames & Hudson (48 pp.) | $19.95 | October 14, 2025
9780500653685 | Series: Our Wonders
A select but globe-spanning tour of islands large and small, with particular focus on distinctive wildlife and natural features. In no geographical order, Zommer presents 13 islands or island groups from our planet’s estimated 600,000. For each, the author includes blocks of chatty commentary scattered around a stylized aerial view decorated with outsize flora, fauna, and volcanos or other geophysical highlights. Signs of human presence in these diverse locales are largely confined to glimpses of tiny, generic figures in the pictures, along with general references to native spices or residents, plus a spread of briefly retold island origin legends and a view of Henderson Island beaches in the South Pacific littered with plastic waste. Still, disorienting though it is to be whipped at a page turn from hot, arid Socotra (off the coast of Yemen) with its rare trees and 96 types of tree-climbing snails to Antarctica’s Ross Island, where “your snot would freeze if you sneezed,” and then back to the Big Island of Hawai‘i the author’s lively observations and memorable snippets of fact invite readers to linger at each of the stops long enough to marvel at their distinctive, often unique plants and animals. Quick flyovers, with more to entice naturalists than anthropologists. (map, glossary, index) (Informational picture book. 6-8)
I WAS RECENTLY chatting over email with journalist, educator, and Kirkus critic Chintan Girish Modi, who wrote, “I feel sad for people who dismiss young people’s books as not being worthy enough of their time or intellect. They’re missing out. I think that seeing the world through a younger person’s eyes can help us shed some of the baggage we accumulate as we grow up and become jaded.”
While it’s no secret that a significant percentage of literature for teens is read and enjoyed by adults, the reasons for this are continually debated in think pieces and on social media with a not-so-hidden subtext: These readers should be challenging themselves with serious literature for people their own age. Unfortunately, as anyone who’s spent time perusing online reader reviews can attest, even those grown-ups who openly love YA are prone to complaining that characters are “immature.” Is there any group of people in society who are openly treated with more disdain than teenagers—while also being expected to save the world and fix the problems we adults created?
I understand why older readers would be drawn to the great storytelling that is a hallmark of YA. But it’s critical to remember that we’re guests in the world of young readers’ literature: We’re welcome to enter and enjoy, but their stories are not “for” us. YA exists to serve the developmental needs of teens—and that’s the precious gift it offers us: a window into the challenges that teenagers face, many of which (particularly family- and school-related traumas) are created by adults who owe them better. Much teen behavior that annoys grown-ups stems from the same intense passion and keen awareness of unfairness that drives their idealistic zest—traits that are easy to lose as we slope into sensible, bland maturity. Adults can grow in empathy and understanding, which may help them
heal rifts and forge priceless intergenerational bonds, by reading YA books like the ones below with open hearts and minds.
In Joanne Yi’s gutwrenching debut, All the Tomorrows After (Atheneum, August 19), Winter Moon bears adult financial responsibilities for herself, her doting Korean immigrant halmoni, and her selfish, spendthrift mother. These struggles lead her to accept payment from her long-absent father in exchange for spending time with him.
My Perfect Family by Khadijah VanBrakle (Holiday House, August 26) thoughtfully immerses readers in African American Muslim community and culture alongside 16-year-old Leena, who’s shocked to learn that her single mom hid her history and childhood faith. A
health emergency brings Leena the big family she’s longed for.
Angeline Boulley’s latest novel delivers thrills and astute social commentary. In Sisters in the Wind (Henry Holt, September 2), 18-year-old Lucy entered foster care after her white father died. An explosion at the diner where she works lands her in the hospital— where surprise visitors inform her that she has Ojibwe family.
In his YA debut, King of the Neuro Verse (Atheneum, October 14), Idris Goodwin uses verse to vividly present the story of Pernell, a Black teenager with ADHD and a gift for language, who struggles in a hostile school setting where his quick wits and talent for rap go unappreciated.
Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.
Thrown together by chance, four English teenagers become unlikely friends during World War II. As war erupts on the continent, the British government launches Operation Pied Piper, evacuating children in urban centers to safer rural areas. In the carriage of a train bound for Wales, Gemmy, Olive, Lawrence, and Franklin wonder what life holds for them. But when Gemmy jumps off the train before it leaves the station, the other three follow suit. Bonded through this act of disobedience, they explore their home base of Greenwich and its environs, and brilliant Lawrence regales
them with stories from history. The teens spin a tale to explain their continued presence to their parents. Gemmy lives in a broken-down van to escape her alcoholic father; Franklin is determined to become a fireman; Lawrence, misunderstood by his parents, works on a mechanical project; and Olive tries to be a dutiful daughter. The four navigate the bombs, shock, fear, and utter senselessness of the Blitz as best they can. The detailed, realistic descriptions of the slaughter are brutal, providing a powerful counterpoint to the resourcefulness, empathy, and compassion the teens develop as they
129 Ban This!
By Christina Ellis, Renee Ellis, Edha Gupta, et al.
127 Under a Fire-Red Sky
By Geraldine McCaughrean
McCaughrean, Geraldine Flatiron Books | 240 pp. | $24.99 November 4, 2025 | 9781250225542
navigate moral challenges. McCaughrean writes with a light touch; her words dance as they show the organic growth of the quartet’s relationships and their nonjudgmental mutual acceptance. This story of great complexity
deftly and expertly shows how unconscionable violence can expose the artificiality of many absolutes and boundaries. Compelling, heartbreaking, and vibrantly alive with hope and courage. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 13-18)
140 Mercy
By Patricia Ward
BAN THIS!
For the Rest of Us: 13 Festive Holiday Stories
To Celebrate All Seasons
Ed. by Adler, Dahlia | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (368 pp.) | $19.99 September 2, 2025 | 9780063351783
T his diverse compilation of 13 short stories explores different holidays and celebrations and includes contributions from a broad range of noted authors for young people.
In her editor’s note, Adler invites teens to “enjoy the tastes, sounds, sights, and meanings behind the days most special to us and our loved ones” and describes her desire to broaden the range of holiday-themed literature. Some of the tales are humorous and playful in tone, like Katherine Locke’s “Merry Chrismukkah, Loser,” in which Noa and Jordan, two Jewish girls who are longtime frenemies, hold a competition to see whether Hanukkah or Christmas (Jordan’s mom is Christian) has a better aesthetic, in the process mending their rift. Other entries are more somber in tone, with characters experiencing family tensions, loss, or racism. In Sonora Reyes’ “Honor the Dead To Honor the Living,” Yesenia is living with schizoaffective disorder. She uses an ofrenda for Día de los Muertos to honor the prima and tíos who have passed. They had secret struggles she feels connected to, but her Mami and Abuela aren’t ready to speak about them openly. This carefully curated collection conveys emotional depth and sincerity through its authentic voices. The entries move through the calendar year, covering Lunar New Year,
Valentine’s Day, Holi, Nowruz, Eid, Passover, Juneteenth, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Diwali, Winter Solstice, and Kwanzaa. Equity-minded, heartfelt, and deeply personal. (author bios) (Anthology. 13-18)
Aro, David | West 44 Books (200 pp.) $25.80 | October 16, 2025 | 9781978598072
A high-achieving high school golfer discovers unexpected artistic talents while navigating parental pressure and anger management issues.
Dex excels at everything—sports, academics, and meeting his successful parents’ sky-high expectations. His mother is a COO, his father a former college athlete turned real estate broker who preaches “Play / the long game. // Plan / for the future.”
When Dex’s volatile temper costs him a spot on the varsity golf team, he’s given a monthlong suspension from sports. During this exile, he finds refuge in the art room where his classmate and love interest, Hazel (who’s facing her own family issues), introduces him to painting. Their collaborative artwork becomes both a creative outlet and a path to emotional regulation for Dex, while offering Hazel the hope of winning much-needed prize money to cover the tuition at their private school. Aro’s verse novel employs sparse, straightforward language that efficiently conveys Dex’s internal struggles without unnecessary flourishes. The golf glossary—presented at the beginning of the book—proves helpful for readers
unfamiliar with the sport’s terminology. The story refreshingly portrays a male athlete exploring artistic expression, although the pretty cover design may not appeal to the very readers who would benefit most from Dex’s journey. The story wraps up with conflicts being neatly and easily resolved, but the core message about finding healthy outlets for intense emotions resonates. Dex and Hazel present white.
An accessible story for reluctant readers about balancing stress with self-discovery. (Verse fiction. 13-18)
Brinkman, Kiara | Illus. by Sean Chiki First Second (224 pp.) | $25.99 | $17.99 paper | October 28, 2025 | 9781626727236 9781626727229 paper
Raised by her elderly aunt, 12-year-old Rhiannon is the only kid living in the trailer park at the Golden Canyon Retirement Community. It’s the summer of 1989, and Rhiannon can’t wait for her best friend, Kit, to come for an extended stay with his grandmother. Though they spent the year apart, Kit and Rhiannon easily fall back into their friendship dynamic— and this year, maybe it will become something more. Rhiannon has planned the perfect summer: “sledding” down a dry, grassy hill, transforming an old camper into a makeshift clubhouse, and befriending a wild coyote. The arrival of a newcomer—a purple-haired, 16-yearold former ballet dancer, who’s visiting her grandmother—throws a wrench in Rhiannon’s plans. Elizabeth is also keeping a big secret that Rhiannon and Kit must help her hide, which adds to the tension between the friends. Rhiannon’s trio comes of age over the summer—exploring love, grief, and identity through trials that test them. Popular classic song lyrics accentuate the mood, and clear line illustrations in muted tones convey the trailer park and desert landscape setting. Variations in
panel sizes and detailed, gestural close-ups wordlessly depict Rhiannon’s rich inner life and lend the illustrations a voice of their own. Rhiannon presents white, Elizabeth is cued Latine, and Kit is San Carlos Apache. Quiet, poignant, and full of heart— this graphic novel glows with the soft light of growing up. (maps, concept art) (Graphic fiction. 14-18)
Dennings, Hayley | Sourcebooks Fire (512 pp.) | $18.99 | October 21, 2025 9781728297903
Star-crossed teenaged girlfriends crank up the steam as gangsters, vampires, and drug-spawned monsters leave the streets of Jazz Age Harlem awash in gore in this duology closer. While blood flows, spurts, or sprays on nearly every page amid a rising tide of gruesomely explicit dismemberments, sundered best friends Layla Quinn, a fanged reaper, who’s struggling to control her blood fury, and Elise Saint, the mortal scion of harsh antireaper regulators, slowly circle back toward one another. But as Layla puts it with both literal and metaphorical accuracy, “There is something rotting underneath Harlem.” Indeed, hardly have the two reunited at last in a passionate whirl of shuddering embraces, than an army of ravening evolved reapers arises. They’re made from human corpses and are dedicated to the forceful assertion of equal rights and housing opportunities for vampires of both the dead and undead sort. Can the smoldering duo form an alliance of regular reapers, gangsters, and ordinary humans to counter the threat and take out its sinister instigator? When it comes to Shakespearean references, Hamlet is just the beginning, and an opening chapter sentence declaring “this ends in blood” applies to far more than just
the tragically romantic close. Most cast members are Black. An intense gorefest that will please series fans. (Fantasy. 15-18)
Deo, Jesmeen Kaur | Disney-Hyperion (416 pp.) | $18.99 | November 4, 2025 9781368113748
Simran and Rajan couldn’t be more different—she’s a gifted student, obedient daughter, and pride of the closeknit Kelowna, British Columbia, Punjabi community; he’s a delinquent with a gang affiliation, seemingly destined to “become a statistic.”
They met in grade eight, when Simran tutored Rajan in math, treating him kindly even as he spiraled into crime and addiction. When they meet again at 18, he’s out on probation, and she’s collegebound and struggling with her mother’s cancer diagnosis and the burden of family expectations. Caught between her growing attraction for Rajan and her strained relationship with her mother and sister, Simran impulsively steps in to manage the accounts for the Lions, Rajan’s gang, entering the dangerous world of drug trafficking and territorial wars and testing her ties with family and friends. But her talent for numbers becomes a liability—the Lions refuse to let her go, while rival gang the Aces threaten her. With their lives on the line, and their families turned against them, Simran and Rajan race to save each other’s lives, at the risk of destroying their own. Deo skillfully blends an exploration of gang culture in migrant communities with a swoony, slow-burn romance. She also examines the impact of a conservative, insular culture on second-generation immigrants who experience both the comfort of belonging and hostility if they fail to conform. The characters are well developed and believable, and Rajan’s redemptive arc is especially satisfying.
Engrossing and insightful. (content warnings, author’s note) (Thriller. 14-18)
Kirkus Star
Ellis, Christina, Renee Ellis, Edha Gupta, et al. | Zest Books (168 pp.) | $38.65 PLB September 16, 2025
Young people and teachers issue a powerful clapback to book bans in this inspiring guide. In 2020, amid a national racial reckoning, Pennsylvania’s Central York School District board voted to ban over 300 resources about diversity and multiculturalism. In response, members of the student group the Panther Anti-Racist Union mobilized to challenge the bans—and won. Established by two veteran educators, PARU created a “safe and courageous space” for students to engage in conversations about race. As pro-banning rhetoric escalated in the community, PARU blossomed. Supported by adult allies, students pushed back with compelling personal stories and thoughtful counterpoints that helped sway the tide. Each chapter of this book (all written by former students and teachers who were active in PARU’s efforts) focuses on one of these points. The authors’ personal connections to the topics—including “Will Diverse Books Encourage Racism?” and “Is It Wrong To Show Nontraditional Families and Lifestyles?”—give the writing a sense of depth and urgency. Eye-catching colors, fonts, and photos break up the text and provide visual engagement. Text boxes offer helpful definitions of terms like microaggressions and dog whistle. Each chapter ends with a section labeled “What To Say,” which includes brief suggested responses to common objections to inclusivity. This critically timely and
engaging work effectively demonstrates the toll of book bans on communities. A compelling take on tackling censorship that elevates the authentic voices of youths and their allies. (timeline, appendix, source notes, further resources, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
Forest, Kristina | Kokila (272 pp.) | $12.99 paper | October 7, 2025 | 9780593407288
Two New Jersey high schoolers uncover corporate corruption while navigating the fallout from their past relationship. Eighteen-yearold Margot Whitman’s college plans clash with her parents’ wishes; they want her to pursue a “stable” career, but Margot aspires to become a journalist. This passion is one of the reasons why she’s interning at Healing Hearts, a pharmaceutical company that promises to cure heartbreak through one pill. Interviewing the company’s COO, Christopher Woodson, would boost her portfolio—and provide a distraction from the recent breakup with her boyfriend, Isaac Fisher. Isaac shows up at Healing Hearts to talk to her, but Margot has to step away to take care of a task in a back room. Unaware of Margot’s presence, Woodson makes a phone call in which he reveals that patients are getting sick from the pills and Healing Hearts is silencing anyone who speaks out. When she’s caught listening in, Margot flees the center, with Isaac aiding her getaway. In the blink of an eye, the pair is on the run from Woodson and his lackeys, determined to expose the cover-up. Forest’s novel thoughtfully explores the nuances of heartbreak and how it shapes a person’s identity. The Black teens’ journey is wrapped in the tenderness and palpable sincerity of first love. Although they’re from different socioeconomic backgrounds, their connection is
rooted in respect, friendship, and a willingness to be vulnerable. An emotionally poignant secondchance romance propelled by cinematic intrigue. (Romance. 13-18)
Gratton, Tessa | Disney/Random House (448 pp.) | $18.99 | July 29, 2025 9781368070126
Two Padawans represent the Jedi and the Republic in a fierce coming-of-age tournament during a fraught diplomatic mission in this novel inspired by the TV show Star Wars: The Acolyte.
A cloud of pink and violet vapor engulfs the planet Siline as Jedi Padawans Jecki Lon (who’s half Theelin and has white skin) and Yord Fandar (a dark-skinned human) arrive with their masters for a delicate meeting with the planet’s War Council; Siline is on the cusp of joining the Republic. The negotiation plans shift with the eruption of the red diamond geysers, an event that signals the start of the Crowning Convocation, a planetwide competition for Silinese youth, many of whom train for years to compete. The tradition has a violent history, but the controversial rules now forbid killing. Jecki and Yord receive an unexpected invitation to participate, thrusting them into the spotlight, but during the competition, they can’t use lightsabers or the Force. The two Padawans aren’t the only non-Silinese competing. Lio Graf, a human with dark skin and crystalline body modifications, intends to prove they belong on Siline and secure their future at any cost. The fast-paced chapters alternate among Jecki’s, Yord’s, and Lio’s third-person perspectives as they team up with Sitia and her genderfluid younger sibling, Rhos, two Silinese teens from a powerful family. In the midst of the suspenseful, high-action competition, the characters grapple with
questions of identity, relationships, belonging, and ambition. A tense and absorbing adventure. (Fantasy. 12-17)
Greenfield, Chatham | Bloomsbury (320 pp.) | $19.99 | September 23, 2025 9781547613939
Sadie Katz and Cleo Chapman were born to be rivals. Their mothers both aimed for a New Year’s Day birth, but only Cleo managed it—Sadie was born two minutes before midnight on New Year’s Eve. At school, they’re rivals for valedictorian, and Cleo is known for playing pranks on Sadie. But Cleo has a secret crush on Sadie, and her feelings make her feel too awkward to break their volatile cycle. After some incidents—slashed tires and locker graffiti—the principal decides that things have gone too far, and despite their protestations of innocence, he tells them that if there are further disruptions, he’ll inform the colleges they’ve applied to. The girls begin investigating who might be framing them—and, in the process, start genuinely connecting. This rom-com with an enemies-to-lovers arc quickly pulls readers in and keeps them guessing, although the solution to the mystery feels unsatisfying. Both white girls proudly identify as fat lesbians. Jewish Sadie lives with depression while searching for medication without unwelcome side effects; Christian Cleo has chronic pain as the result of an accident made worse by her hypermobile joints. Despite these distinctions, their voices can be hard to differentiate, and readers might lose track of whose turn it is in the dual narration. The kitschy tourist traps of St. Augustine, Florida, offer an amusing backdrop to the story. An uneven story featuring welcome representation and a lackluster mystery. (note for readers, author’s note, mental health resources) (Mystery/romance. 14-18)
Harlow, Abbie | Groundwood (248 pp.) | $17.99 paper
October 7, 2025 | 9781779460011
A teen girl enters an illegal underground boxing tournament to save herself and her younger siblings from their violent uncle.
After their father’s sudden death in a car accident, Bonnie “Bo” Clark and her brother and sister, Zach and Kate, were abandoned by their grieving mother. They were separated in foster care, which proved dangerous for Zach, so moving in with their uncle Jack seems preferable at first. But Bo quickly becomes the target of her uncle’s abuse. Former competitive boxer Jack trains Bo at his gym, and she competes using the stage name “the Butterfly,” inspired by Muhammad Ali’s famous line “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Unbeknownst to her uncle, Bo plans to use her winnings to gain independence and petition for custody of her siblings. The story is set on the fictional island of La Salida in the San Francisco Bay, which is cloaked in fog that forms a solemn reflection of the hidden pain and isolation Bo endures. The relationship between Bo and Jack is nuanced, and Harlow provides depth and context, though, critically, not absolution, for Jack’s behavior. Bo sets goals, celebrates victories, and suffers setbacks, all while struggling with the burden of trauma. The story ends with justice being realized—but not without significant loss. The main characters are cued white. A raw and absorbing account of abuse and a girl’s relentless fight to claim her freedom. (Fiction. 13-18)
Hartmann, Jennifer | Bloom Books (448 pp.) | $14.99 paper August 12, 2025 | 9781464236396
High school sweethearts’ dreams take them in different directions.
Ever since an accidental meeting when they were teens, Lexington Hall’s and Stevie St. James’ paths have been intertwined. Lex is a former child actor who’s in Stevie’s hometown for a break from the Hollywood spotlight. Stevie, whose father is a plumber, has big dreams of being a star. Cast as the leads in their school’s production of Moulin Rouge, their friendship grows until Lex abruptly leaves after they’ve grown to trust each other with their secrets. Four years later, they’re back in each other’s orbits, navigating their past and present. Hartmann highlights her complex characters and emotionally driven plot by alternating Lex’s and Stevie’s first-person points of view, which allow them to reveal their detailed backstories and share their experiences and truths with readers. The dramatic moments will keep pages turning even as questions of will-they-won’t-they drive the plot through to the end. The writing requires a high tolerance for overwrought, over-written prose that features awkward word choices (“the thought of stepping back in that city is a tumor in my lungs,” “I watch his light-brown eyebrows bend,” “my heart shrinks, like it’s trying to hide from the impending insult that will cleave it into bits”). Hartmann’s dramatic story, which may hold more appeal for adult readers, explores mature topics,
Thoughtfully explores heartbreak and how it shapes a person’s identity.
including physical and sexual abuse and SIDS. The leads are cued white.
A heart-wrenching and passionate romance weighed down by clunky writing. (content warning, playlist) (Romance. 16-adult)
Hazel and Bell | First Second (256 pp.) $17.99 paper | November 11, 2025 9781250870124
Two boys explore a budding romance in this slice-of-life graphic novel set in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2013. Carter wants nothing more than to hook up with Adrian, the only gay guy he’s interested in at his high school in a “painfully boring suburb.” Carter’s unrequited pursuit of Adrian is, at first, solely motivated by physical attraction (“I’m just trying to get laid”). Adrian finds this distasteful, a feeling he expresses in a way that unfortunately references gender stereotypes: “I know I’m being a total girl about this, but I really don’t want to have sex with someone I don’t love.” But Carter begins to show more genuine interest, winning him over. The pair fumbles through challenges, like Carter’s lack of academic motivation and Adrian’s parents’ high expectations, and romantic tension builds as their relationship becomes one of sincere love and care. Carter’s laid-back attitude complements Adrian’s high-strung personality, creating an entertaining relationship dynamic. This work, which originally appeared as a webcomic, features some updated illustrations. The soft color palette, expressive facial expressions, strong visual gags, and dynamic panel compositions will keep readers engaged. Carter and Adrian, who present white, initially feel generic and underdeveloped, but they become more well-rounded as the story progresses. The exploration of life as a queer teenager is overall surface-level but maintains a level of charm and relatability.
A light and largely appealing queer romance. (bonus comics, creators’ note) (Graphic romance. 14-18)
RIGHT WHERE WE BELONG
June, Brandie | CamCat Books (304 pp.)
$19.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9780744311792
Two sisters, one of whom harbors a forbidden magical talent, attempt to protect each other from dangers seen and unseen. Since their parents’ unwilling military conscription, Iris and Violet Ashmore have been their Uncle Leo’s wards, living and working in his magnificent Grand Dragonfly Theatre. Iris has a passion for acting and dreams of Royal Theatre stardom, but her playwright sister’s identity as a Conjuror, with more advanced magical abilities than a mere Illusionist, means Violet must stay hidden or she’ll face their parents’ fate. When a handsome boy, who comes with a glowing recommendation, joins the theater’s employ, his charm quickly grows on Iris, despite her better judgment. But Alec is harboring a dark secret—he’s working for a devious bounty hunter, who’s convinced that one Ashmore sister must be a Conjuror, possessing the True Gift. It doesn’t take long for a conflict to arise between Alec’s desperation to provide for his family and his growing affection for his target, though there may be no way to avoid destiny. June strikes a literary tone, with descriptive worldbuilding, an intriguing magic system, and a gentle, immersive plot. Despite the large cast, the characters are well drawn and engaging, offering opportunities for exploring the deep bonds among both biological and chosen family—and sweet romance for good measure. June’s writing is accessible to intrepid young teens, and
complex enough to satisfy an older crowd. The leads read white, and there’s some diversity among the secondary characters. A dramatic marvel. (Fantasy. 12-18)
McGee, Katharine | Random House (400 pp.) | $20.99 | November 4, 2025 9780593710746 | Series: A Queen’s Duet, 2
T hree noblewomen pursue their desired marriages—and contend with family pressures, fake courting, and blackmail— in this follow-up to A Queen’s Game (2024).
Queen Victoria persists in arranging advantageous marriages for her descendants. May of Teck, seeking an escape from her abusive father, strategically pursues Eddy, Victoria’s grandson and heir, although she’s aware of her growing feelings for George, his younger brother. However, Eddy loves Hélène, a French princess whose family has lived in exile since the revolution. Despite gaining Victoria’s approval to marry Eddy, Hélène calls off the engagement, lying about the true reason: She’s being blackmailed by May, who’s discovered her shocking secret. Meanwhile, Alix of Hesse hopes to marry Nicholas despite his Romanov parents’ disapproval. To remain near Alix without suspicion and try to retrieve the letter May is using as blackmail, Nicholas and Hélène use a pretend courtship as a cover. Their deception leads Eddy, who’s feeling abandoned by Hélène, to agree to marry May. May, whose circumstances often make her sympathetic, struggles with the consequences of her decisions. McGee
vividly portrays the characters’ motivations and milieu, including the heartbreaking impact of real historical events. The storylines, which unfold through multiple points of view, are easy to follow. New fans will find this work offers ample context and clarity, making it an accessible entry point for the series. The characters present white. Rich character development and clear plotlines make for a strong sequel. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 13-18)
Meiser, Britnee | Aladdin (368 pp.) | $18.99 September 30, 2025 | 9781665978866
Jane projects all her daydreams and fantasies into her popular online blog, complicating her longtime friendship with childhood pal Leo. Fifteen-year-old Jane’s blog, AnaStaysDreaming, written under the pseudonym “Anastasia,” has amassed quite a following. Her readers log on to hear about Anastasia’s picture-perfect life and dreamy boyfriend—and revel in snarky comments about “Izzy,” the name Jane uses for her real-life best friend, Camila. The blog offers Jane a place to imagine the type of life (and boyfriend) she’s always wanted. An anonymous person—who seems from contextual clues to be new classmate Brynn—starts writing to Jane’s weekly dating advice column about her crush, whose name is Leo. Jane, who feels threatened by Brynn (about both Leo’s attention and her role on the school paper), uses her blog to sabotage Brynn and Leo’s budding relationship. Interest from her crush, Ethan, complicates Jane’s friendship with Leo, provoking confusing feelings—and revelations about the blog challenge Jane’s relationships, forcing honest conversations and opportunities for self-reflection. Jane is realistically flawed, but the development of her character arc and her late, rather hasty redemption may leave readers struggling to sympathize with her for much of the story:
She’s cavalier with Leo’s feelings, uninterested in Camila’s life, and at times manipulative. Leo is a likable, patient, and gentle foil, and readers will wish for more tension to build between him and Jane. Jane presents white, Leo has Brazilian and Italian ancestry, and Camila is cued Latine. A lukewarm story with an unevenly developed lead. (Fiction. 12-14)
Myers, Makenna J. | Jolly Fish Press (160 pp.) | $9.99 paper | August 1, 2025 9781631639524 | Series: Horizon Set 3
During a summer away from home, a risk-averse teen steps out of her comfort zone and onto the roller derby track.
Stella and her mom are in Arizona, helping Grandpa empty his house so he can move in with them in San Diego. When Grandpa takes them to a local roller derby bout, Stella is transfixed by the players’ control amid all the action. Her own life has been in upheaval over her parents’ divorce, and she believes that the stress of managing her dyslexia destroyed their marriage. When the Southern Arizona Cherrybombers’ jammer, Susan B. Agony, announces that she’ll be coaching a monthlong youth boot camp, Stella’s summer takes on a new purpose. She meets Quinn on her first day of camp and feels an immediate attraction. The more time they spend together, the deeper their connection grows. Quinn also encourages Stella to challenge her self-doubt, fear of failure, and reluctance to pursue her goals. But Stella’s burgeoning confidence is threatened when she blames herself for a teammate’s injury. While the secondary characters aren’t fully developed, the authentic dialogue fleshes out the highs and lows of Stella’s relationships with her family, her teammates, and herself. Myers effectively combines fast action on the track with a sweet Sapphic romance. Short chapters, an accessible reading level, and wide
margins make this well-told story appealing to a wide range of readers. Characters present white. An uplifting story for reluctant readers about skating toward possibilities rather than fearing change. (Fiction. 12-18)
O’Donnell, Tom | Wednesday Books (352 pp.) | $13 paper | September 23, 2025 9781250353092
Teens face the bloody consequences of a pandemic. High school senior Heidi’s privileged life is upended when a burglary leaves her wounded, infected with lupinovirus, and trying to evade the militaristic Viral Containment Task Force, all while hiding the truth from everyone she knows. Her behavior sparks a rivalry between Luca, her popular but controlling boyfriend, and Cam, a former classmate who’s also infected. To contain the virus, people are subjected to saliva testing, lockdowns, and invasive VCTF raids. Heidi and Cam team up to search for a rumored cure—but they only have until the next full moon, that very evening, to find it. When a VCTF officer is killed, his rookie partner, Erik, who suspects Heidi and Cam, starts an investigation to track them down. Accompanied by Cam, Heidi ends up far beyond her gated community, in the heart of underground werewolf headquarters. As the hours pass, Heidi, who’s unsure what it will take to change people’s perceptions of the disease, learns more about herself and the secret movement. O’Donnell’s worldbuilding provides escapist fun, and the main characters fall neatly into classic horror story roles. The chapters shift in focus among the characters, leading to changes in style and pace that occasionally affect the flow but also offer relief from an otherwise propulsive plot. The paranormal take on disease transmission and public health may intrigue
readers who are processing their own Covid-19 experiences. Main characters present white.
A supernatural pandemic thriller with appeal for genre fans. (Horror. 14-18)
Penn, Farrah | Viking (432 pp.) | $20.99 October 28, 2025 | 9780593528334
With the STEM boarding school her father taught at under threat and a time-traveling friend in need, high school senior Delaney will have to find the confidence in herself to save them both. Conflict-avoidant scholarship student Delaney tends to let others tell her what she should want and what she should do, whether that’s studying to become a dentist (to satisfy her parents) or writing for the school paper (to please her friend Analiese). Since her father’s death in the spring, Delaney has felt adrift and unmotivated, although Ivernia School’s yearlong game of Capture the Flag and the presence of her classmate and academic rival Sumner center her and bring out her competitive streak. But one night Delaney not only learns of the school’s potential (and imminent) closure, she also collides with William—or Lord William Alexander Cromwell of Dunbry—a boy pulled from 19th-century Britain to present-day Lake Placid, New York, by a geomagnetic phenomenon. It’s up to her, Sumner, and their friends to send William home, where he’ll play an important role affecting their contemporary lives. While the time travel element verges on distracting from the modern-day explorations of grief, relationships, and selfknowledge, these themes make the narrative glow with their authenticity. Delaney’s and Sumner’s sharp banter lightens the story, highlighting moments of affection and support that contribute to a compelling and genuine romance.
A comics artist and animator turns to a difficult personal project—one that takes a psychic toll on its creator.
BY CHRISTINE GROSS-LOH
PABLO LEON IS a veteran of the animation and comics industry, having worked by day for the likes of Netflix, Nickelodeon, Disney, and Scholastic (where he illustrated two graphic novels in the Miles Morales/Spider-Man series). By night, however, the Eisner Award–nominated author/ illustrator has been laboring over a more intensely personal project: a graphic novel about an immigrant family in the United States affected by the horrors of the civil war in their homeland, Guatemala, that lasted from 1960 to 1996 and left more than 200,000 dead. (Leon himself was raised in Guatemala before coming to the U.S. in 1999 at age 14.) He recently spoke with Kirkus about Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories From the Guatemalan Genocide over Zoom; our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
It seems there’s so much to say—so much happens in the novel.
Could you tell us about the genesis of this book?
My goal was always, first and foremost, to talk about these historical events that aren’t very well known outside our region. I’ve also done a short animated film on El Salvador, Remember Us. The general idea is: Look at this. Remember that this happened so it doesn’t happen again. I want to really hammer away at this topic until it gets talked about.
How did you conduct your research?
Bits here and there are based on my grand -
mother’s life. She and her sister weren’t necessarily a part of the big conflict, but her family experienced a lot of turmoil and she and her sister did separate. They only found each other way later. I also read a lot of documented histories, a lot of official documents, and interviewed firstand second-generation immigrants. Then I just pieced things together.
I got really deep into the research. There was just so much. Even now I keep finding out more and more as I talk about the book or do other projects, stuff I wish I’d known when I was making this.
Maybe there’s someone out there who experienced every single thing that happens in my book, but this is a story, a fictional story. For me it was less about trying to cram in the entire history of the conflict and more about portraying the human experience as realistically as I could to give readers context for what this war was like and about.
The protagonist, José, asks his mother, Clara, about the conflict, only to face her anger at his bringing up this painful period of her life. What was it like to ask other immigrants about their personal experiences?
I was interviewing people not just from Guatemala but around the world. The people I related to most
were those from Vietnam. They had similar experiences, in that their parents left in a rush. The whole trip was so harrowing, but the kids didn’t know about everything until there was a bridge to talk about it.
In the book, Clara yells , “You know, you’re an American, what do you care about this?” That was an experience that I’d had; it was something that happened to me with my mom. I think it’s one of those things where she meant well, because she wanted us to, you know, have that separation. But one of my goals is to foster dialogue. It’s impossible to fully cover 36 years of conflict, but I hope this book can be a bridge for families to have the conversation.
Expressing a collective trauma through an individual story can take a
toll. How did you yourself feel the effects of this trauma, and did anything change for you during the writing of your book?
I think it had felt like a part of me was denied. It’s like there’s this invisible force that is telling you it’s not for you, or that you shouldn’t do it, shouldn’t look into it, just stop. But all that made it feel like something was being taken away from me.
So as I was making this [book], I feel like I finally found a piece of myself, the piece that was missing. I also felt more and more that my generation has a responsibility to talk about the past—the people that we lost, the people that were never found— because I think that restores people’s dignity. We can then have an understanding of ourselves as Central Americans, as Guatemalans. An understanding of our land, our complexities, and the choices that our parents made, whether they were good choices or bad ones.
As a creative, you have the ability to tell a story in many different ways, and you’ve told the story of Central American conflict first with your film and now with this book. How do you decide what might be the best way for you to relate a certain story?
What is it like to work on a graphic novel after working in teams for your other work?
I’ve always loved comics—that’s always been my go-to medium. I picked up a copy of Maus in high school, which just completely changed my
life. I saw that you can talk about serious topics in this format.
Overall, I chose to do this as a graphic novel because I prefer comics, though I do also really enjoy the collaboration of animation. With film animation there’s a broader
group to bounce ideas around with. I have people who can tell me, “Hey, this isn’t working.” And that’s not what comics are like. It’s a little more lonely. But I think there’s also something to knowing that this is all yours. To look at a book and think, I did that.
I hope this book can be a bridge for families to have the conversation.
Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories From the Guatemalan Genocide
Leon, Pablo
HarperAlley | 240 pp. | $18.99 paper September 2, 2025 | 9780063223554
What does it feel like to juggle two such different types of projects—lighter entertainment and then the history of a tragedy? I didn’t know how to approach certain things emotionally and would have moments of depression from taking on so much of what I was seeing and hearing. So being able to work on Spider-Man books and, in my day job, cartoons for 7-year olds was a really good balance. In my 9-to-5, I’d be working on wacky things and slapstick jokes, and then at night it would just be the work that is meaningful to me but very heavy. I love doing the lighter stuff, because it does provide emotional balance. With the heavy topics and heavy research, it’s hard—I joke about getting PTSD from the PTSD. But keep it inside, and it can be a little damaging. You need to give yourself open space to breathe.
What sort of reception has the book gotten so far?
A lot of people who’ve seen the advanced readers’ edition or the galley said they just weren’t aware of this war. They weren’t aware that this was a thing that had even happened. So now they’re using my book as a doorway to look into the history more, which I really like. I think that’s one of my ultimate goals, really. If you don’t know anything about this war, we’re not the historical source, but we’re the door.
Christine Gros-Loh is the author of Parenting Without Borders and The Path.
Simon & Schuster will publish the author’s Change of Plans next spring.
A new young adult novel by Sarah Dessen is coming next year, Cosmopolitan reports.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers will publish the author’s Change of Plans next spring. The press describes the book as “a romantic coming-of-age novel about an unassuming girl who learns to stand on her own while falling in love during a life-changing summer.”
Dessen made her literary debut in 1996 with That Summer and followed it up two years later with Someone Like You; both books were adapted into a 2003 film, How
To Deal, starring Mandy Moore and Allison Janney. Dessen has since written a dozen more books, most recently The Rest of the Story, published in 2019.
Change of Plans will follow Finley, a young woman whose post–high school life is thrown into disarray after the relationship with her boyfriend goes south. On a trip with her mother to a family vacation home, she meets some long-lost family members and falls for a guitarist named Ben. “Change of Plans is about the lives we envision, those
For reviews of Sarah Dessen’s books, visit Kirkus online.
we end up living, and the twists and turns in between,” Dessen told Cosmopolitan. “There’s also love, heartbreak, family and breakfast sandwiches.”
Change of Plans is slated for publication on May 5, 2026.—M.S.
Claire M. Andrews
Elizabeth Lim
The leads are cued white, and Sumner has some Argentinian heritage. Sweet, heartfelt, and punchy. (author’s note) (Romance. 14-18)
Pipps, Kristen | Delacorte (336 pp.) | $19.99
October 28, 2025 | 9780593900475
“Keep to the light. Avoid the shadows.”
The Delphi School for Girls hides its darkest secrets behind towering bookshelves. When Gwen Donovan’s sister, Izzy, returns from the finishing school as a hollowed-out version of herself, Gwen arranges to leave New York City for Delphi, which is located on a remote island off the coast of Nova Scotia, to discover what happened. The headmistress informs her that they have a regimen that works to “pull the evil” out of “troubled girls.” The walls are lined with books, each bearing a girl’s name, there are few windows, and the dimly lit halls teem with shadows that seem to move on their own. Girls who break the rules are sent to the ominous Writing Room, returning weak and unable to remember what transpired. Guided by Izzy’s hidden letters, Gwen bands together with classmates to investigate. Armed with lanterns and candlesticks, they navigate the halls by night, dodging the shadows that whisper and reach for them. What they uncover is a chilling conspiracy, one far more sinister than they ever imagined. Astute readers may unravel the mystery early on, but the gothic atmosphere and slow-building romance between Gwen and another student sustain the tension. This is a tale of girls’ power, exploited by those who seek to control it, and of the resistance that rises in response. Main characters are cued white.
A chilling, feminist debut in which friendship, love, and truth become weapons against the darkness. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Thao’s writing is intimate and vulnerable, balancing humor and heartbreak.
YOU’VE FOUND OLIVER
Schrieve, Hal | Triangle Square Books for Young Readers (352 pp.) | $22.95 September 16, 2025 | 9781644214701
Queer teens get caught up in the fight between vampires and slayers. When whitepresenting trans girl Fawn’s best friend, Silver, fakes his suicide and becomes a vampire, she follows him across the country to Seattle. Even though Silver was dating someone else, Fawn loved him and doesn’t understand why he would just leave without her. In Seattle, Rachel, a queer white vampire slayer, finds her life and purpose completely upended when she’s turned into a vampire without her consent. Her mom is a leader among the vampire slayers, who kill without remorse, regardless of whether their vampire target feasts on willing or unwilling humans or is registered and drinks only their government-provided blood rations. Rachel tries to prove her allegiance to the slayers by acting as an informant and being a guinea pig for Daylight blood, a new synthetic product, but she starts to question everything she’s been taught. When Fawn’s and Rachel’s worlds intersect, they have to decide who they want to fight for. While there’s compelling complexity to the queer and trans characters and themes, which Schrieve explores both head-on as well as allegorically, and the vampire lore is unique and intriguing, the story as a whole is overstuffed and unfocused. Fawn’s and Rachel’s alternating narrative voices sometimes sound too
similar, and the large, diverse cast of secondary characters and many plot threads slow the pace. Thematically appealing and relevant, but the execution is muddled.
(Paranormal. 14-18)
Shepherd, Megan | Disney/Random House (368 pp.) | $19.99 | July 8, 2025
9781368089302 | Series: Pumpkin Queen, 2
In this sequel to the 2022 series opener, Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw, Sally must mend time itself. It’s been a year since Sally married Jack Skellington and discovered her Dream Town origins, and she’s spread thin between performing her duties as Pumpkin Queen and managing relations among all the holiday realms. Arguments and misunderstandings have arisen between visitors and residents of each realm, so Sally proposes hosting cultural exhibitions to help smooth over their interactions, starting with one in Halloween Town. To help with the extra work, Sally takes on an apprentice—fellow rag doll Luna, a teen with dreams of going on adventures instead of following in the family business of writing bedtime stories. Chaos ensues during the festivities when a swapped potion ingredient opens a portal that sucks Sally and Luna into Time Town. Even worse, Halloween Town’s magical clock has been destroyed by a shadowy enemy, setting the realm’s timeline to the distant past. To get back
to the Halloween Town of her present, Sally embarks on an adventure with Luna and their new friend, a dragon called Scorch. Sally, Luna, and Scorch make a fantastic trio, with Sally’s maturity and bravery contrasting with Luna’s wide-eyed youthfulness and Scorch’s desire to become a hero. Despite a slow start and stereotypical elements in some of the towns, the engaging lore and tense, thrilling race to fix time will engage readers. Reminiscent of fairy tales and full of enchantment. (Fantasy. 12-16)
Tew, Jill | Joy Revolution (352 pp.) | $19.99 October 14, 2025 | 9780593903940
A poor girl sneaks onto a dating show in hopes of winning a cash prize. Nine years ago, Hurricane Leopold destroyed Miami and sent the wealthy people who ruined the environment to live aboard luxury ocean liners. Now, Eden Lowell, 18, lives with the family of her best friend and crush, Henry Turner, scalping drones to afford the everincreasing prices for clean Aquadictum drinking water. Theo Desjardins, the Aquadictum heir, is starring in a dating reality show in which wealthy young women compete for his love—and 500,000 credits. A tragic accident forces a desperate Eden to turn to local rebel leader the Ringmaster for help in crashing the show. Her plan? Make Theo fall for her—and then steal the prize for her family and impoverished community. But once she’s on the show, she starts having second thoughts. Theo’s different than she imagined, and breaking his heart just might break her own. Climate fiction meets Kiera Cass’ The Selection in this quick and appealing read. Tew sets up a world that at times feels eerily possible, while still delivering a romance with a healthy dose of drama and longing. The pacing feels off, particularly within scenes, but readers who become
invested in the story likely won’t notice. Fans of light dystopian novels and environmental stories will find much to enjoy. Eden and Theo read Black, Henry and his family present white, and there’s diversity among the supporting cast. Entertaining and romantic. (Dystopian. 12-18)
Thao, Dustin | Dutton (320 pp.) | $19.99 September 30, 2025 | 9780593858479
This companion to 2021’s bestselling You’ve Reached Sam explores first love, grief, and what remains after saying goodbye. Nearly a year after the death of Sam, his best friend and secret crush, Oliver, a gay first-year college student, sends Sam one final text—only to receive a reply from the stranger who now has Sam’s old number. What begins as an accidental exchange evolves into a warm and unexpected connection, told in self-reflective first-person prose interspersed with text conversations. The prose blends dreamy flashbacks with present-day scenes showing Oliver’s loneliness, juxtaposing vivid memories of love unspoken with the tentative beginning of something new. The scenes move fluidly across time, showing prom, Halloween, a spring bonfire, and quiet cafe moments, all of which underscore the intensity of Oliver’s love and longing, while his banter-filled messages and blossoming rapport with the stranger he’s texting with offer glimmers of healing. His grief is messy and nonlinear, and the story doesn’t rush his recovery. Thao’s writing is intimate and vulnerable, balancing humor and heartbreak with emotional honesty. Touchstones like white roses, playlists, and quiet nights on campus recur throughout, grounding Oliver’s journey in sensory detail. This poignant story offers a nuanced depiction of grieving and embracing romantic possibilities. In the earlier
book, Oliver presented white, and Sam was cued Japanese American. An aching story of love, loss, and learning to look forward.
(Fiction. 14-18)
Ed. by Thor, Rosiee | Page Street (320 pp.) $18.99 | September 16, 2025 | 9798890033086
A short story compilation at the intersection of queerness and tabletop roleplaying games. In each of the 12 stories, the author explores one of the ways that TTRPGs can affect the lives of queer young people and teach them to tell their own stories. The entries are heartwarming, and they vary greatly in content, touching on themes of friendship, mental health, identity, coming out, and neurodiversity— naturally, there are also a number of fluttery romances. Some characters’ races and ethnicities are cued or explicitly described, adding additional diversity. The writing quality varies noticeably, with some stories being genuine tearjerkers and others failing to make an impression; a few would have benefited from editing to smooth out bumpy bits. The high points include “Camp I” by Jamie Pacton, set in a Catholic girls’ summer camp; “Oathbreaker” by Andrew Joseph White, in which a transgender paladin loses his god but regains his dad; and the final story, “Always a Merchant, Never a Rogue” by Akemi Dawn Bowman, which ties everything together. The overwhelming majority of the stories focus on games based on Dungeons & Dragons; readers may wish for more intentional exploration of the myriad other TTRPGs in existence. Many of the authors authentically capture the experience of listening to someone describe their D&D campaign—which, unfortunately, is less fun than actually playing. Although readers who need it will surely find this book affirming, they likely will not find it very memorable overall. Fails to roll a critical success.
(Anthology. 14-18)
Valdés, Alisa | Piñata Books/ Arte Público (292 pp.) | $16.95 paper October 31, 2025 | 9798893750263
After lightning strikes the tree she’s hugging and her heart stops, a teen returns to life with the ability to see the dead. Thanks to her best friend and crush, Blake Abrams, who performs CPR, 16-yearold Altagracia “Grace” Martínez is revived. While she’s recovering, Grace, who’s a bisexual filmmaker and musician, finds her world forever altered when she begins seeing the dead everywhere. Most notably, a ghostly teen named Mohammad Ahmadi, who died in 1987, appears in her bedroom wearing a noose. Grace, who’s grieving her mother’s suicide two years earlier, starts investigating Mohammad’s death. She faces skepticism from her friends, self-absorbed father, and judgmental stepmother, all while decoding Mohammad’s messages, which he delivers via retro song lyrics. Her search for the truth uncovers buried family secrets, political corruption, and even La Llorona herself. The author offers an original premise with cultural depth, high emotional stakes, and intriguing themes of grief, family legacy, and identity, which ground the supernatural elements. However, deeper exploration of fewer plot points would have led to a richer reading experience. The key relationships, especially that between Grace and Blake, would also have benefited from more depth. The cast of characters, which is diverse in both ethnic background and sexuality, adds
richness to the narrative. Grace presents Mexican American, Blake is Jewish, and Mohammad is Afghan American. A conceptually intriguing story that struggles to balance its many important themes and characters. (Supernatural mystery. 15-18)
Star
Ward, Patricia | Harper/HarperCollins (368 pp.)
$19.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9780063235168
A teenager and her friends must contend with a family curse. Mercy Farr lives with her maternal grandfather in Arbor Falls, Vermont, doing her best to be a normal teen. But her life is far from normal: She and her relatives, along with several other families in town, are victims of the Sorrowing, a mysterious curse cast after an act of unimaginable violence decades prior. The Sorrowing ensures that anyone affected is doomed to failure: Those who strive to better their lives face devastating consequences, including illness, injury, and even death. When the Bowen family, whose ancestor “brought the Sorrowing down” on the community, returns to Arbor Falls, Mercy is drawn into their lives through their teenage son, Matteo. But unlike Mercy, Matteo and the other Bowens refuse to believe the Sorrowing exists, and their attempts to forge a new path puts all the cursed families in danger. As tragedy strikes, and the curse seems to tighten its grip, Mercy, Matteo, and their friends are pulled into the town’s dark and tangled history, one the
Early exposition sets the stage, building a sense of dread and oppression. MERCY
older generations have tried desperately to bury. Early exposition sets the stage for a plot that unfolds slowly at first, effectively building a sense of dread and oppression. By the time this evocatively written story reaches its haunting climax, readers will be fully invested in Mercy and the bleak world of Arbor Falls. Main characters are largely cued white, and Matteo has some Lebanese ancestry.
A deeply atmospheric portrait of generational trauma.
(Supernatural mystery. 14-18)
Woody, A.M. | Viking (320 pp.) | $12.99 paper | October 21, 2025 | 9780593695425
Everyone wants to date star quarterback Cameron Morelli, and he used to consider himself irresistible. Darius, Cam’s team captain, warns him not to ask out androgynous water boy Mason Gray— who’s frail and has long lashes, and an appealingly symmetrical face—right before going on the field. As Darius puts it, “We need your ego for the game.” But Mason’s flat-out rejection still comes as a shock to Cam, who regards himself as “spectacularly attractive.” After this devastating romantic fumble, his night only gets worse. A traumatic memory provokes Cam into a fight with another player, his team loses, and his coach refuses to lift his suspension until his grades improve. His whole future rides on impressing a scout in an upcoming game, so Cam has no choice but to accept the help of the tutor his coach picks for him—Mason, the boy who clearly despises him. Behind the personas they play at school and their attractive appearances, which are repeatedly emphasized in the text, both Cam and Mason have traumatic pasts they’re desperate to keep secret. As the boys move from clashing to becoming lovers, their relationship veers into a dependent dynamic with Cam positioned as Mason’s protector, an unhealthy imbalance that would have benefited from being unpacked. The primarily white
secondary characters unfortunately lack believable dimensionality. Like Mason, Cam is white, although he describes himself as having “the mysterious and sexy air of an ethnically ambiguous man.” More uncomfortable than romantic. (content note) (Romance. 15-18)
Worley, Olivia | Wednesday Books (352 pp.) $20 | October 28, 2025 | 9781250392985
A scream queen commits to the act in this homage to teen horror.
It’s been 15 years since the Pine Springs Slasher went on a killing spree at the high school in the sleepy Louisiana town where Hazel “Haze” Lejeune lived as a child. The convicted killer? Her father, Cal Dupre, horror movie buff, beloved English teacher, and the victims’ film club mentor. Now 18, Haze is a budding actor and horror fan in her own right. When an indie film producer offers her a lead role playing the final girl in Swamp Creatures —a slasher flick shooting in Pine Springs—she accepts, hoping to finally get some closure. After a chilling opening sequence, Haze’s first-person narrative alternates with excerpts from the movie script, creating a taut story within a story. At first, when the actors and crew assemble, there’s a buzzy, summer camp vibe. But filming gets off to a rough start as freak accidents—or something more sinister—pile up. Some classic slasher movie–style deaths ensue, but much of the novel is suspenseful rather than truly terrifying, making this an appealing choice for casual horror fans. At its heart, the novel is about Haze, who’s cued white, unravelling her father’s legacy and what—if any—role she wants for him in her life. Some readers may wish that the supporting cast—which is diverse in ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity—were characterized more richly; nonetheless, spine-tingling action delivers a satisfying conclusion. Frightful good fun. (Thriller. 13-18)
Young, Alexandra Leigh | Walker US/ Candlewick (320 pp.) | $19.99 October 7, 2025 | 9781536230116
An 18-yearold gets a job supporting a touring pop star and falls for a member of the band.
Luisa “Lou” Samalea has always lived in El Viajero, Texas, where she works in her Cuban American family’s bakery, hangs out with her best friend, and does her best to deal with tension between her divorced parents. When her uncle Arty, who’s part of the road crew for famous singer Zaiya and her entourage of musicians and dancers, suggests she join him, Lou jumps at the chance to travel the world and save money for college. She’ll be in charge of laundry and dry cleaning for nearly 100 people. The life of a crew member turns out to be messy as well as glamorous, but Lou doesn’t mind. Then she falls hard for a band member: guitar prodigy Chris, who presents white. Being with Chris is exhilarating, and Lou feels like she’s finally the “New Lou” she wants to be—until Chris’ wild antics start to get her into trouble, and she must decide what she wants her life to look like and what kind of person she wants to be, in a story arc that touches on important themes. Chock-full of vibrant characters and well-drawn backstage tour details, this story includes a number of subplots that are tied up very quickly at the end, but the portrayals of infatuation and a toxic relationship are exemplary. A deeply resonant story of identity and growing up. (Fiction. 14-18)
Yu, Han-ryeo | Illus. by A Hyeon Trans. by Ciel | Random House Graphic (272 pp.) | $17.99 paper | October 14, 2025 9780593901274 | Series: My Life as an Internet Novel, 1
A girl is suddenly dropped into an internet romance novel in this translated work from South Korea, which was originally published online.
book
Fourteen-year-old Dani Hahm wakes up to a very strange first day of middle school. Her uniform is completely different, and she doesn’t recognize Yeoryeong, the gorgeous girl who shows up to walk with her to school. Her classmates at her new school are exceptionally attractive but have “weird hair and eye colors” that “aren’t typical for a Korean.” When she’s introduced to some popular guys who are known as the Four Heavenly Kings, she realizes that she’s no longer in the real world. Yeoryeong—who says she’s her best friend—is the main character of this story, and Dani is fated to be her sidekick. Time passes, and Dani finally accepts Yeoryeong as her best friend—but she can’t relax. Dani knows that none of this is real, and she keeps waiting for the real drama to begin. The highlight of the story, which contains flashbacks, is the friendship between Dani and Yeoryeong; their chemistry shines, hinting at a romantic relationship. At times laugh-out-loud funny and amusingly self-aware about the internet-novel conventions it explores, this manhwa, which collects episodes 1–16 of the original story, is illustrated in full color and includes occasional footnotes that explain Korean terms and cultural references. An entertaining journey into the world of internet novels.
(Graphic fantasy romance. 12-18)
THE TRUMP administration made it a Day 1 priority to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within corporations across the country and beyond, but many businesses are finding other ways to continue or expand these initiatives. The Harvard Business Review reports that despite the current political environment “companies across industries are still looking for ways to build healthy, inclusive workplace cultures where everyone can do their best work.” And many companies aren’t about to abandon recruitment and retention policies that are especially appealing to Gen Z. Here are several standout Indie business books that provide ways to improve and implement DEI programs for the long haul.
In the starred The J.E.D.I. Leader’s Playbook, author Omar L. Harris offers a primer on the whys and hows of maintaining a robust DEI plan. The author notes that inclusion efforts exploded after George Floyd’s murder, but they often stalled or proved ineffective. A successful DEI policy is really about rectifying injustices, says Harris, but it’s also demonstrably good for
business. “The author’s writing is clear and accessible, both impassioned and pragmatic, and the text as a whole is well organized,” notes our critic, whose review calls the work “a timely guide inspired by justice and rooted in practical action.”
Marilyn Waite’s Sustainability at Work provides an informed take on how to install environmentally sustainable practices across industries and at all levels.
“This new edition features new chapters on climate-related careers (involving supply chain, end users, stakeholder relations, and future sustainability) and another on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and how they intersect with climate change and other issues,” notes our reviewer. Waite’s goal here is to meet “the needs of all generations, present and future, while improving their
well-being through social, economic, environmental, and intergenerational efforts.” Overall, our reviewer considers the book “an impressively detailed and knowledgeable primer.”
Hidden Talent, by David DeLong, looks to solve a looming employment crisis. DeLong quotes the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which forecasts an alarming shortage of workers by 2030. Add Trump’s war on immigrants, and that shortfall could undermine the U.S. economy. Enter several pools of potential employees that have long gone underutilized. Our reviewer says, “DeLong offers anecdotes drawn from his long experience advocating on behalf of marginalized workers and lays out practical advice for recruiting, hiring, and retaining members of three major categories of such employees: the formerly incarcerated, people with disabilities, and refugees.
Tapping into this talent pool, the author stresses, takes
‘courage, patience, finesse, and flexibility.’” In a starred review, our critic calls the work a “forceful and thought-provoking call to diversify the workforce with marginalized groups.”
In Leading Diversity for Competitive Advantage, a comprehensive manual to using DEI initiatives to advance business, Peter Linkow explains how best to execute DEI strategies, a practice that begins with committed, informed management. The author directs his ideas toward “boards of directors; the C-suite; strategic business unit and function leaders; top diversity, human resources, human capital, and talent leaders; and those emerging leaders who wish to leave a diversity legacy engraved in the stories of their lives.” Our reviewer calls the book a “sweeping and urgent guide to corporate DEI advancements.”
Chaya Schechner is the president of Kirkus Indie.
A journalist reflects on his travels around the world and contemplates the idea of belonging within the context of his multicultural identity. Zada opens his memoir with a terrifying scene: Yanked off a bus at a military roadblock on the way to Mardin, Turkey, in 2015, the seasoned journalist wondered if the men with semiautomatic weapons would ever let him go. The author then flashes back to his very first trip to “the East” at age 24, when he and his fellow Canadian travel companion found themselves in a Tangier drug den. As Zada continues to meander his way through stories of his life and career—from absurd anecdotes of his Egyptian landlady, “a diminutive Coptic grandmother with a
Napoleon complex,” to his work as a TV producer in Dubai—he slowly threads together themes of identity and acceptance in the context of a rapidly changing world. The idea of storytelling itself also plays an important role within the memoir, acting as a type of cultural touchstone the world over—especially in the stories told by the author’s mentor and family friend, a “force-of-nature raconteur” Egyptian named Kamal Bey who memorably compares the increasing “tribalism” of the United States’ political parties to “the fanatics of the Middle East.” Zada’s own Egyptian ancestry, combined with his Westernized Arab upbringing and lifelong wanderlust, gives him a unique perspective—one
Zada, John | Terra Incognita Press | 320 pp. $17.99 paper | June 27, 2025 | 9781777357122
that he eloquently expresses with a clear and vivid narrative voice that uses the desert as a metaphor for identity and nationality: “The desert constantly shifts and changes as we move through it… It is one desert, yet it is made up of endless permutations, all slightly different from each other but sharing a common,
underlying reality.” This is a compelling travel memoir that doubles as a thoughtful reflection on the unnecessary (and selfimposed) national and cultural boundaries that exist only to distract us from our shared humanity. A breathtaking travelogue that invites readers to rethink what “home” really means.
Alipio, Gary | Illus. by Melina Alipio
Pelican Publishing (208 pp.) | $15.95 paper
July 15, 2025 | 9781455628469
A middle-child yearns to be a football star in Alipio’s middlegrade novel. Twelve-year-old Hatcher “Hatch” Elvis Hampton is the second of three children in a family led by a single mother in Louisiana. His younger brother, Harper, is “given the nickname tonsils because he’s a four-year old pain in [Hatch’s] neck,” and his older brother, Hunter, is varsity captain of the football team and First Team All-State. They are joined by their cousin Heatha, who comes to stay with them while dealing with some family problems of her own. They live a somewhat old-fashioned lifestyle, with no video games or iPads or Netflix, so Hatch spends his time making up football plays in his head with the goal of becoming a gridiron star like his older brother. It’s his number one ambition in life: “What’s not to like about football? The crisp air. The fresh cut grass. The roar of the crowd. Not to mention maybe one day I’ll create a football play that people will talk about forever.” The problem is, he’s just not very big or confident, and he struggles to find his footing when trying out for the school team. This haplessness extends to his school life in general—he tries to ingratiate himself with the sporty kids at lunch but instead trips and spills his food all over the school library. Hatch does eventually earn a spot on the B-Team, which has a new coach: Heatha’s estranged father. What begins as farce broadens to include more serious considerations of family, belonging, and trying to find hope in difficult circumstances. Alipio keeps the narrative buoyant with jokes and a light tone, but he is able to deftly explore more challenging issues as he digs into Hatch and Heatha’s deeper motivations. The text is divided into short chapters (rarely longer than five pages) and supplemented by occasional black-and-white illustrations by Melina Alipio, helping to make the novel a fun
and engaging read for football fans and realistic fiction fans alike.
Fast-paced and occasionally silly, with just the right amount of heart.
Andersen, E.W. | Self (355 pp.) | $18.99 paper November 3, 2025 | 9798998747700
A bookstore owner discovers her shop has a unique and wonderous secret in Andersen’s novel. Aspiring author Aurelia Lyndham has struggled with writer’s block since the deaths of her mother and Aunt Marigold, which occurred less than a year apart. To cope with these losses, she focuses on running On the Square Books, a bookshop she inherited from Marigold. The business has a specialized inventory—it only sells books written by authors born before 1900. It also holds an incredible surprise. After hearing voices coming from the shop late at night, Aurelia discovers that characters from the books on her Recommended Reads table have emerged from the pages to socialize. She befriends various figures from classic literature, including Count Vronsky from Anna Karenina and Elinor and Marianne Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility Aurelia is soon living a double life, running the bookshop by day and spending time with the literary characters at night. When Count Vronsky laments his tragic and unsettled fate, Aurelia discovers the inspiration she needs to write again. Her project piques the interest of book editor Oliver Pearce; as Aurelia and Oliver work on editing her novel, their friendship and collaboration leads to a deeper attraction, and Aurelia begins to wonder if she will find a happy ending in her own life. Andersen’s debut romance is a charming tale of a writer finding inspiration and a chance at true love via the characters in her favorite classic novels. Aurelia is an amiable protagonist who’s trying to rebuild her life after two devastating losses; her relationship with Oliver Pearce is well developed and cleverly mirrors the story she develops for Count Vronsky. Andersen is a talented
storyteller with a knack for vivid descriptions. In one scene, a literary character reaches for a book, “Only— his hand went right through it, turning into a white mist with what looked like black dots running across it…or were they letters?” The novel is an appealing blend of fantasy and romance, rooted in a love of classic novels. A delightful love letter to great literature.
Balsara, A.T. | Common Deer Press (332 pp.) | $15.99 paper | September 1, 2024 9781988761947
A young girl makes an unexpected animal friend in Balsara’s ambitious YA novel. Ananda Blake is still reeling from the death of her beloved grandmother and her family’s abrupt move near the end of her junior year of high school. She struggles to fit in at her new school, especially after a video circulates of her making a public scene to save a rat at a local market. At home, her emotionally distant parents leave her feeling increasingly isolated. In a parallel narrative, Fin is a rat who’s been raised by his uncle (the rats’ Council chairman, known only as Papa) since his mother’s death when he was very young. He’s been taught to hate humans, known as “Two-Legs,” and he becomes an ardent supporter of Papa’s escalating campaign against humanity after he discovers a “Killing Chamber,”filled with caged rats. After Papa unveils a plan to resurrect the bubonic plague, Fin has a chance encounter with Ananda, who releases him from a trap;this interaction forces him to confront the brutal realities of the war that he and his fellow rats are waging. As the plague spreads rapidly around the world, both Fin and Ananda reckon with feelings of fear and loss but find the healing power of connection. Over the course of this novel, Balsara deftly incorporates the history of the Black Death and quotes from Soviet dictator Josef Stalin to give the novel’s exploration of authoritarianism,
propaganda, and biological warfare a feeling of historical weight. Although the subject matter is heavy—touching on themes of trauma, abuse, and suicidal ideation—it’s all handled with care and nuance, making the story suitable for younger readers without diminishing its emotional resonance. This context also gives depth to the characters, especially Ananda and Fin, as they navigate their own family dynamics and emotions in a plague-ridden world. Secondary characters undergo their own arcs, with Ananda’s dad, Tom, and Fin’s friend Zumi growing significantly by the novel’s end. The author’s occasional grayscale illustrations of characters and events punctuate the text throughout.
A poignant and timely rumination on power, resistance, and compassion.
Beltramini, Micol Arianna | Illus. by Agnese Innocente | Mad Cave Studios/Maverick (105 pp.) | $14.99 paper | September 30, 2025 9781545820421
Teenagers find themselves in a mysterious, magical hotel after experiencing romantic setbacks in Beltramini’s YA graphic novel.
Laura and Maya were childhood friends who have drifted apart in high school. Maya carries a torch for Laura but keeps it to herself, but then she and Laura kiss at Laura’s birthday party. Maya wakes up at the Heartbreak Hotel; this offers her a “timeout” from her life, but she’s stuck in a time loop in which she keeps waking up on the day of Laura’s party. Then, one morning, everything is different—she’s kicked out of her room and told to meet the other guests, who are also teenagers. The perspective shifts, and readers meet some of the other hotel guests: Martin is a lonely gay kid from a small town. He has a crush on someone he follows on Instagram and got his heart broken when he met the guy in person. Then there’s Fiona, a ballerina, whose heartbreak involves her childhood best friend, Eva, and her boyfriend Danny.
A charming reminder to look before you leap.
Finally, there’s Finn, who doesn’t want to leave because he can’t face a world in which he’s responsible for his girlfriend’s death (“I read the checkout instructions and refused”). These characters, who are mostly strangers to each other, must become friends and work together to face their individual heartbreaks, escape the hotel, and return to their regular lives. The story of young love and grief is sad and poignant. Innocente’s expressive art is lovely, using mostly muted colors that fit nicely with the mood of the story. The hotel is literal, insofar as the characters all experience living in it, but it’s also an effective metaphor for the way people sometimes use escapism to cope with trauma. Because the characters are teenagers, they feel things particularly intensely—humiliation, betrayal, and grief are all recurring themes—and this is a deeply emotional work. There’s a dark twist at the climax, but this is ultimately a hopeful story, and one readers may find inspirational. A moving story about coping with heartbreak.
Cobb, Daryl K. | Illus. by Iryna Potapenko 10 to 2 Children’s Books (40 pp.) | $13.99 paper | June 26, 2025 | 9780984948789
Cobb offers a lighthearted, lesson-oriented picture book about an impulsive young bat. Bill the Bat and his friends, Cal the Cat and Mike the Mouse, are enjoying a peaceful evening when a glowing full moon sparks an exciting, out-of-this-world idea: What if Bill could be the first bat to land on it? Encouraged by his friends Bill launches into the sky without a plan—only to
come tumbling down. Fortunately, a wise owl named Al swoops in to save the day. What follows is a gentle, reassuring conversation about ambition, caution, and the importance of thinking things through. Although the theme is a familiar one, it’s delivered with tenderness and humor. Bill’s initial flight isn’t framed as a failure, but as part of a learning process, making the lesson feel accessible. Al’s guidance is wise but never preachy, and the resolution is uplifting. Potapenko’s illustrations are cozy, cartoonish, and full of character. Bill, with his round glasses and patterned scarf, feels endearingly quirky and familiar, and young readers will see themselves in his bold energy. The softly textured nighttime palette adds to the story’s warmth and wonder. Dialogue flows naturally, and the story moves at a gentle, engaging pace. It delivers its message with tender reassurance, never underestimating its audience’s ability to understand complex feelings. A charming reminder to look before you leap.
The Ultimate Guide to Sports Event Presentation
Costante, Don | Sports Business Journal Publishing (264 pp.) | $34.95 September 9, 2025 | 9798891385979
Costante presents a thorough handbook for organizing and executing a sports event of any kind. In his nonfiction debut, the author takes on the subject of overseeing smoothly run sports events, noting at the outset that this is a far more complicated and detailed process than most people initially realize—which
is one reason, he notes, that those undertaking the endeavor so often encounter challenges. “Over the years the importance of event presentation has significantly increased at all levels of athletics, from high school to college to professional sports,” Costante writes. “This is particularly true for professional organizations that struggle with fan engagement.” The author covers dozens and dozens of aspects of such undertakings (whatever the level or size of the event in question), from choosing the right venue to managing a budget of any size to working event staff (including volunteers). Along the way, he looks not only at the practicalities of making sure things proceed properly but also at the principles and the mindset behind it all. Costante writes, “I’ve found that the most successful event directors share three distinct traits: exceptional communication, thorough preparation, and continuous leadership.” His considerations range from these overarching leadership ideas to more granular matters of mascots, the availability of drinking water, and stadium music. This sweeping, comprehensive approach is by far the book’s greatest strength; there seems to be no facet of the subject the author doesn’t examine in detail. Costante asserts that no matter what the event is, the presentation is crucial to the enjoyment of attendees (Chicago Bears fans sitting knee-deep in snow notwithstanding); as any fan will acknowledge, poor bathroom arrangements or clueless staff can spoil a sports outing a lot quicker than a team doing poorly. Every sporting event director should read this book. An engaging and comprehensive guide to the nuts and bolts of sporting event presentation.
Del Campo, Angelica | Illus. by Liniers | Papercutz (192 pp.) | $22.99 September 16, 2025 | 9781545821244
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A summer in a haunted Maine lighthouse brings two young sisters together in Del Campo’s graphic novel for children. When siblings Cristina and Martha arrive with their father at a quiet coastal village for the summer, they’re not expecting much excitement. Cristina especially misses the city; upon discovering a lack of Wi-Fi, she shouts, “How do people even live here? Urrggg….” But their new home, next to an old lighthouse, has a lot to offer. It’s like “living inside a real live mystery,” as Dad puts it; there’s a famous local legend about its vanished keeper, a missing lens, and a violent storm long ago. The girls soon encounter Ida, a strange, soft-spoken girl who appears and disappears without warning and seems to know a lot about the lighthouse’s troubled past. Encouraged by their father’s tales of fictional girl detectives, Cristina and Martha form their own secret sleuthing society and set out to solve the mystery. Their search takes them to the village library, a forgotten museum, and even a crumbling cliffside cave, uncovering clues that tie together ghostly sightings, legendary land pirates called “wreckers,” and a priceless jewel lost at sea. The pair begin to suspect that they may need to help Ida accept the truth of what happened so many years ago—a fitting task for two girls who are also quietly processing the recent loss of their mother. Despite its ghostly apparitions and dark themes, Del Campo’s story is more sweet than spooky, and Liniers’ illustrations employ a muted palette and watercolor texture that matches the quietly emotional story. “I will always believe in fairies and magic,” Martha announces to dismissive Cristina at one point, and this tale of
sisterly bonding does indeed feel like a fairy tale, at times. As such, slightly older readers may wish that there were more swashbuckling, ghostly adventure, Still, its quiet pace and subtle tone will resonate with younger, reflective readers who are drawn to atmosphere over action.
A tender mystery that explores loss, sisterhood, and childhood magic.
DeStefano, Anthony | Sophia Institute Press (256 pp.) | $24.95 | June 26, 2025
9781644134351
DeStefano’s treatise asks why God bestows miracles upon some believers, but not others. The author, who is Catholic, offers a book that’s primarily directed at fellow Christians with its exploration the concept of miracles. For the author, the existence of miracles, which Jesus performed in the Bible, is a given; in the age of miracles, which DeStefano defines as the period when the early Apostles founded the Christian church, such occurrences were “everyday realities. Healings, raising of the dead, exorcisms, divine interventions, and miraculous signs weren’t the exceptions; they were the rule.” Today, he says, the faithful have troubled hearts and minds, and he addresses their doubts with admirable integrity, as when he recounts the anguish of an unspecified church whose congregation spent weeks praying for a 6-year-old child with a diagnosed terminal illness: “They whipped themselves into a kind of spiritual-emotional frenzy. They were convinced with 100 percent certitude that this little girl was going to be cured.” The child died, leaving the congregation devastated and wondering why the Lord let it happen. To answer readers who, like himself, believe in a just God, DeStefano examines the nature of human desires and free will, arguing that most miracles occur in the
course of everyday life, engineered by God’s invisible hand. He also provides accounts of what he characterizes as bona fide modern miracles. Most interestingly, he devotes several chapters to describing what he believes should be a Christian attitude toward miracles, especially in desperate times, as when tragedies occur. The result is a useful primer for religious readers on how to approach miracles and pray for them—believing in God’s omnipotence yet accepting God’s will. A passionately argued work for Christian readers on an enduring topic of discussion.
Donoghue, Michael | MPD Press (409 pp.) $29.99 | $19.99 paper | August 4, 2025 9781069545008 | 9781069545015 paper
Donoghue crafts an SF adventure novel, set in a near future with AI bots deeply integrated into everyday society.
The story features an ensemble cast of compelling characters but centers on three in particular. First, there’s David Erdogan, a tech firm CEO who’s content to go along with the whims of his AI boss, Big Al, even if it means putting up with blackmail and any other number of dehumanizing attacks on his agency. Then there’s Katie, the morally gray hacker who steals bots’ memories and sells them on the black market; her latest victim is connected to an enormous conspiracy surrounding a major terrorist attack on Silicon Valley, some years before the start of the narrative. This victim is Livingstone1813, an AI academic researcher who studies humans and the dynamics of their relationship to artificial-intelligence technology. His missing memory, which was stolen by Katie, will prove vital to unpacking what’s behind a violent movement to push a constitutional amendment for AI personhood—although there’s clear pushback, as well: “Don’t cede to those who can’t bleed. Vote ‘NO’ to
Personhood!” reads some acid-etched graffiti. Donoghue unfolds the narrative via the perspectives of these characters (along with a smattering of others), weaving a complex yet deeply intimate vision of a quickly emerging future in which capitalism and artificial intelligence conspire to rob both humans and bots of any remaining control over their own lives. The SF conceits merge with worldbuilding that’s revealed slowly but inexorably, resulting in what emerges as a memorable entry in the growing genre of AI thrillers. The clearly drawn characters, complex sociopolitical discourse, and, especially, Donoghue’s deep empathetic imagination for both humans and AIs makes the work feel like far more than the sum of its parts. Other novels have played in this high-tech sandbox, to be sure, but few have done so in a way that makes a reader think and care for both people and artificial entities in such strong and equal measure. An exciting and complex thriller that offers a rumination on humanity in an age of technological domination.
Finigan, L.H. | Cobalt House (210 pp.) | $18 paper September 15, 2025 | 9780982904305
T he marriage of an aspiring poet and an academic with mental illness anchors Finigan’s novel about intersecting lives in a New England coastal town. In 1981, Simmons College art major Catharine Conor meets Tom Osborne, who’s pursuing a doctorate in poetry at Harvard University, where his father, Noah, whom he disparages, is an esteemed professor and scholar on the work of Dante Alighieri. Catharine and Tom become romantically involved, yet there are already signs of Tom’s mental health struggles, which are later diagnosed as bipolar disorder. When Tom impulsively sets library stacks containing his father’s works on fire, the professor hushes up the incident
and arranges for Tom to finish his degree in London. Catharine joins him there and marries him; they remain committed to each other after a miscarriage, and they later have a son in the 1980s. She starts writing poetry as an emotional outlet and relocates them to the Massachusetts coastal town of Belle Harbor, mortgaging a house with a small inheritance and attaining a job as a middle school art teacher. Tom’s father uses his connections to get his son, who’s now suffering writer’s block, a job at a community college. The narrative then expands to introduce Emma Nolan, who previously lived in the house and lost her son in an accident; Toby, Catharine and Tom’s son, whose life is upended by tragedy; and various “summer people” renting out the next-door cottage, such as teenager Bree, whose interactions with locals have disastrous consequences. By novel’s end, Catharine follows through on a promise to a special person in her life. This latest novel by Finigan may remind readers of such short story cycles as Sherwood Anderson’s classic Winesburg, Ohio (1919) and Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge (2008), given its sweeping presentation of several characters in a small town. The narrative explores their relationships to one another in ways that are sometimes-glancing but often profound. Catharine, Tom, and Toby receive the most attention, but Finigan’s chapter on Bree, and her return later in the novel, allows for a striking demonstration of how one person’s actions can resonate across several lives. The book’s most effective element, though, is its heartbreaking portrayal of mental illness. Catharine believes that Tom is brilliant, as do his awful parents (portrayed in several memorably chilling scenes), and he experiences periods of “whirlwind of hope and possibility,” then increasingly wonders “how long he could stave off what he knew would follow. Each descent worse than the last.” A scene in which Tom holds Toby aloft as a child, during a Christmas Revels dance, serves as a well-drawn example of how Tom’s exuberance has a dangerous edge; so, too, do some of his worrying musings: “More and more his thoughts seemed to wander to the borderline, the edge of the beyond. What was out there?” His loved ones’
uncertainty about him, and his intentions, becomes a fitting element of this cross-cutting story, which effectively examines the wide-ranging impact of individual actions.
An ambitious and affecting interweaving of troubled characters’ lives.
Gately, Samuel | Self (231 pp.) | $10.99 paper November 17, 2017 | 9781973273493
In Gately’s fantasy novel, the latest case for a specialist who finds lost children unravels in a city with an increasingly volatile political climate. An affluent recluse hires Kay, a professional “fetch,” to track down a missing 12-year-old girl. Kay lives inside the walled city of Celest with the golden-skinned Gol people; the pale Farrow reside outside the barricades. Kay is a mix of both races, but she once lived among the Farrow before being exiled a decade earlier for a serious crime. Kay first checks the refugee camps outside Celest, which is where the girl’s mother most likely is. There’s a general sense of unease in the air, as an upcoming vote will decide whether or not the Gol will allow the Farrow into the city. If the vote goes against them, the Farrow will be left to the Winden, who are crushing them in a war and will most assuredly annihilate them. A sinister plot, which may involve threatening Kay to ensure the missing girl will “stay lost,” is underway to swing the vote in a certain direction. Gately drops an unusual hero into this swiftly paced tale, which kicks off a trilogy—Kay takes solace from the Fire Eye, an annual celestial event that, she believes, helps stop her from returning to her criminal past. She works with the equally compelling Abi, her savvy office manager, and fellow tracker Joah, whose life Kay saved a few years back. The villains stand out as well, from those who are blatantly hostile to an enigmatic antagonist who seemingly wields a supernatural ability. They’re all part of a mystery that thrives on keeping Kay (and readers)
mostly in the dark, but it’s the political tension that truly drives the narrative; worries over which way the vote will go, and attempts to influence it, are constant and generate a wonderfully unpredictable story all the way until the final act.
A dystopian world simmering with unrest gives this series-starter a distinctive edge.
Gentin, Reyna Marder | Ten16 Press (280 pp.)
$16.99 paper | November 18, 2025 9781645386209
A woman’s life collapses after she reconnects with her brilliant but cold mother in Gentin’s knotty novel of broken families.
Jessica Harmon, an unhappy 30-year-old book editor in New York City, breaks out of her rut in the worst possible way by quitting her job and breaking up with her perfect boyfriend when his marriage proposal triggers her fear of commitment. Seeking the roots of her dysfunction, she accompanies her poetry professor mother, Cynthia, on a nationwide tour after she wins a coveted prize for her new collection of verse. Cynthia is a great poet who wows fans with her readings, but her daughter knows her as “the most self-obsessed person ever to walk the halls of academia or the streets of the Upper West Side.” When Jessica was younger, Cynthia told her a dubious story about her father getting killed by falling debris before she was born; brought home a parade of lovers; left her with the housekeeper while gallivanting across Europe; and, worst of all, discouraged Jessica’s literary aspirations: “‘You’re a competent writer.’ She paused. ‘Talent?’ Cynthia answered her own question with a shrug.” Then Cynthia is felled by a debilitating stroke, which prompts a reboot of Jessica’s life as she cares for her mother, rekindles a romance with a college flame, and investigates her parentage and Cynthia’s
traumatic freshman year at Yale. Gentin’s yarn centers on an intriguingly conflicted mother-daughter duo—both prickly, proud, insecure, and secretly wounded. Cynthia’s transformation is gripping as she goes from someone with an intimidating command of language to a person whose brain can barely summon words to express thoughts. Gentin conveys the pair’s story in vivid, evocative, sensual prose, as when Jessica observes Cynthia’s hypnotic effect on both men and women: “it was Cynthia’s body language that mesmerized….with a penetrating glance, a slight tilt of her hips, or the momentary brush of her fingertip on her breast—so fleeting you thought you’d imagined it, except your mouth is dry and you can barely swallow.” Readers will root for Jessica to emerge from Cynthia’s shadow—and forgive her, as well. A rich, engrossing portrait of a mother and daughter fencing their way toward a truce.
House, Jamie Lynn | Palmetto Publishing (344 pp.) | $15.99 paper | May 20, 2025 9798822978430
In House’s debut thriller, a woman’s astonishing new ability gives her the chance to find, and hopefully save, kidnapping victims. Fiona Ferguson, a 32-year-old introvert, has only recently moved out of her parents’ house. She still lives in her hometown of Freeman, New Jersey, where she works at a local thrift shop. It’s there that she inadvertently discovers that she has a gift: After putting on a donated pair of jeans, she sees through the eyes of the last person who wore them. Once Fiona realizes which items of clothing trigger this ability, she uses it to repeatedly steps into others’ lives for a spell. Then she realizes some of the former owners were connected, and her visions provide insight into the case of 22-year-old Hannah Russo, who’s been missing for a few weeks. Fiona is still dealing with the
21 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INDIGENOUS SELF-GOVERNMENT
trauma she experienced her older cousin Sarah Snyder, whom she idolized, disappeared without a trace a decade ago. She’s determined to track down Hannah, whose case involves some dangerous people and likely relates to another young woman who’s vanished. Many readers will relate to House’s dynamic protagonist; she was a loner back in high school and suffers from bouts of depression, what she calls the “Dark Ages.” The narrative stays convincingly grounded in reality by downplaying the psychic implications of Fiona’s gift. For example, not every instance of “travel,” as Fiona calls it, leads to a clue, and her deliberations make sense, as when she debates how a particular clothing item wound up at the shop. The rest of the well-developed characters are warmhearted, underhanded, or misguided; most of the men are at least mildly unsavory, and this extends to Hannah’s seemingly nice brother Kevin, who doubles as Fiona’s romantic interest. The final act kicks the suspense up a notch and has a gratifying ending, even if it stirs up additional questions.
An effectively subdued paranormal mystery with a multifaceted hero.
Jackson, Lukas | Self (270 pp.) | $27 $18.84 paper | February 2, 2025
9798287383978 | 9798308922872 paper
In Jackson’s debut YA novel, a teenage immigrant to Australia seeks his path against a chaotic backdrop of politics and religion. Like most 16year-olds, the kid (who remains unnamed in the text)is in a period of transition. He was born in southern Lebanon, and his Christian family
moved to Sydney in 2006 to escape the war. The loss of the family’s land still haunts his father, but the kid and his older brother, Basim—who recently dropped out of high school to work in a mechanic shop—are more interested in hip-hop, street racing, and, increasingly, Friday night prayers at the local mosque (the last of which they keep secret from their father). While walking home from the mosque one night, the kid encounters Issi, an Australian-born graffiti artist his same age. The two begin meeting up every day of the summer break, and Issi encourages the kid to pursue his own artistic inclinations. “It gives you a good feeling,” she tells him. “To create something. Something meaningful. Even if it’s just for yourself.” Their casual friendship soon blossoms into something more, but their relationship runs up against the expectations of their respective families and is threatened by the complicated manner in which religion, politics, and youthful disillusionment have come to manifest in the kid’s immigrant community. With Issi’s help, the kid may finally find the identity he’s long searched for—but he will lose some things in the process. Jackson’s ornate prose casts whatever it touches in a mythic light. Here, the author describes a gang of nativist Australians’ antagonistic response to the muezzin’s call to prayer: “It was a rallying cry for those whose afternoons had already begun to take the turn towards the particular and particularly pernicious styles of disappointment…to take up the cudgels in pharisaic solidarity with other true blue patriots and strike out at a common enemy, a despised intruder.” As Jackson fills out the surprisingly large cast of characters making up the kid’s world, this initially quiet novel takes on an increasingly wide societal scope. A deftly told and richly detailed novel about coming of age in a place you don’t quite belong.
Joseph, Bob | Page Two (216 pp.) | $18.95 paper | September 2, 2025 | 9781774586273
A Canadian First Nations leader makes a case for Indigenous self-government. As we approach the 150th year since the passage of Canada’s Consolidated Indian Act of 1876, Joseph convincingly contends that the legislative policy “has constrained and controlled the lives of Status Indians for generations.” The author, who inherited a chief’s seat in the Gayaxala clan of the Gwawa’enuxw tribe of the Kwakwaka’wakw nation, begins with a brief history of Canadian-Indigenous relations for those who may be unfamiliar. Although King George III’s Royal Proclamation of 1763 created a framework for self-determination that recognized the area’s Indigenous residents “as nations of people,” the subsequent Indian Act viewed them as “savages, incapable of governing themselves,” while the Canadian government shifted its priorities toward assimilation that amounted to “cultural genocide,” writes Joseph. After providing historical context, the book transitions to its central thesis that the Indian Act “needs to be dismantled.” Pragmatic in his approach, Joseph emphasizes practical steps for undoing the antiquated law and looks to the future for what would ideally replace it. Foremost among his arguments is that self-government can coexist with “Canada’s fiduciary duty to Status Indians”; allocating resources to First Nations communities directly, he says, will align government funding with “community values and ideas” and make healthcare and other programs “more efficient and effective.” Backed by nearly 200 endnotes, this well-researched book effectively balances scholarship with a deep understanding of Indigenous history. The author, a former professor at
Royal Roads University, is the author of multiple books on Indigenous policy and is the co-founder and president of Indigenous Corporate Training, an organization focused on improving Indigenous relations in Canada’s public and private sectors. This brief volume’s accessible approach is complemented by a robust set of appendices that include additional reading suggestions and tips on how readers can get involved in the movement to replace the Indian Act on a grassroots level.
A persuasively argued case for dismantling a destructive policy.
Laws, Charlotte | Stroud House Publishing (261 pp.) | $14.95 paper | July 11, 2025
9780996133500
In Laws’ SF novel, a group of unwitting time travelers must fight to survive— and maybe save the Earth itself.
On a far-distant planet, the Council of the Universe has decided on something called the Earthling Extermination Project, a measure meant to counter what the Council sees as the imminent danger posed to thousands of planets by Earth’s alarmingly unstable human population. On Earth itself, a group of guests are gathered at Baltimore’s Zelles Hotel for a charity event. Eight of these guests—trust fund babies Angus and Keiko, wacky ex-military man Carl, resourceful Kara, Buddhist Ellen, smart young former honor student Bernie, food bank volunteer Bailey, and bland and reliable Roger—find themselves trapped on an elevator that mysteriously takes them not to a floor of the hotel but a century into the future, where they quickly learn a few things. First, their disappearance is well-known to history, which has dubbed them the Charity Eight. Second, lots of people disappeared from elevators in 2025 and are now reappearing in 2125. And third,
people in 2125 aren’t happy about that fact—they dub the time-displaced new arrivals terrorist aliens and subject known “vates” to random mob violence. The elevator that deposited the Charity Eight in the future also promised to return them to their own time in two weeks, meaning they somehow have to survive that long. But if the Council has its way, will Earth be doomed? It’s an energetic setup, and Laws largely fulfills the premise’s promise of intrigue and deadpan comedy. There’s some lazy writing (characters “hightail it” or are “thrust into the hot seat”), but the novel’s sharp dialogue and winning cast of contrasting characters more than compensates. The Charity Eight are a terrifically engaging mixed bag of personality traits, which makes for richly entertaining reading as their trials demand all their adaptability.
A high-spirited time-travel adventure.
Litherland, Barry | Bleaknorth Publishing (391 pp.) | $12 paper | April 5, 2024 9781739953980
Two teenage girls from alternate worlds inexplicably switch places as encroaching danger threatens them both in Litherland’s YA supernatural novel. Life changes for 14-year-old Evie when she opens the door to what appears to be her house and discovers nothing inside is as it should be. Where did the posh furnishings come from? Why does her geeky younger brother now have blond hair and blue eyes, wear designer duds, and call her “Eva”? Her ordinarily liberal mum is now raving about “ridiculous left-wing socialists” and her bearded, vegetarian dad is now outfitted in executive chic, working for the government. Her room is spotless, not her usual trash heap, and her now extensive wardrobe is expensive and trendy. The biggest shock: The girl looking back at Evie in the mirror is “fair-haired, blue-eyed, [and] elegantly groomed,” nothing like her usual skinny,
mousy self. This is the intriguing beginning of a novel touching on issues of self-identity, hatred of “the other,” and the systemic marginalization and dehumanizing of the “have-nots” by the “haves,” whose rampant consumption poisons the planet and contributes to suffering around the globe. In Evie’s new reality, the “have-nots” are the Maa-Ghut people, referred to by the wealthy as “Maggots.” Evie realizes that the real “Eva” is one of the heartless “haves,” and she bucks the cruel system in her place, confusing Eva’s in-group and finding support in unexpected places (Evie’s first-person narration eventually alternates with Eva’s; an enigmatic little boy with a pivotal part to play in the girls’ fates is a periodic, deeply moving third narrator). Litherland’s compelling narrative is fueled by big ideas. The threat of a demonic fog that crawls over rooftops “drawing its putrescence like black slime behind it” and foments a human mob bent on destroying the Maa-Ghut has no clear resolution, and the ambiguous nature of the ending is deliberate, according to the author’s concluding “Discussion Points.” “There are many unanswered questions which linger like a breath in cold air,” Litherland writes, asking readers for their opinions about the book and the real-world issues that inspired it. Not for those who prefer tidy endings, but eerie, thoughtprovoking, and worth the ride.
Marx, Jenna | Illus. by Adam Lauritsen Boring Press (34 pp.) | $22 | June 9, 2025
9798218723040
In Marx’s picture book debut, a diligent father tests the dullness of various activities and discovers new joys of parent-child interaction. “This man, called Dad, who was the son of a man, who was the son of a man, who was the son of a man, was asked by the One to find...the most boringest thing in the world to do.” The man called Dad, depicted
in Lauritsen’s hazy digital illustrations as light-skinned, sparse-haired, and dark-mustached, carries himself with the solid simplicity and two-toned dress sense of someone from a Dr. Seuss book. Accompanied by the One, Dad embarks on such tedious-sounding projects as watching paint dry, rain fall, and grass grow. However, paint can only dry after it has been applied—in riotous, messy colors. To watch rain fall, one should be up close and dancing in it. And when the grass grows, a riot of butterflies emerges. In each instance, the One and the man called Dad decide that their chosen boring activity is “absolutely not the most boringest thing.” Marx writes in straightforward prose, with intriguing phrasings and repetitions well calculated to engage young readers. Lauritsen’s crayon textures capture both adult nostalgia and formative childhood experiences. Combined, they convey a valuable message to young readers: The value of an activity is less about its intrinsic merits and more about what you bring to it—and the people with whom you share it.
A gently exuberant celebration of togetherness.
Matthiessen, Rue | Latah Books (302 pp.) $17.99 paper | June 20, 2025 | 9781957607320
Matthiessen’s literary thriller centers around stolen artworks.
The story opens with a tense fictional recreation of the 2012 break-in at the Kunsthal art museum in Rotterdam, Netherlands, as a group of thieves hurries to steal priceless works of art before the museum’s alarms bring the police (“Shards of glass were everywhere, popping and cracking under their sneakers. He heard a far-off siren”). The thieves get away with some Monets, a Picasso, and a painting called “Woman With Eyes Closed” by a painter named Hochberg. The artist was a friend of 86-year-old George Clayton, so, naturally,
news of the theft is a persistent topic of conversation among the Hamptons elites of Clayton’s artist community in Sagaponack, New York, where Clayton’s daughter, Perrin, lives with her rich husband, high-flying art-world star Jack Triplett. (“His works were in many international airports and the lobbies of major hotels.”) Drawn into this world by the crime is MI-6 agent Kit Hobbs, whose investigation into the possibility that a Russian dealer is involved in fencing the stolen artwork in Sagaponack brings him into contact with Perrin, who may be able to save Hobbs from the trauma that’s been eating away at him since an earlier mission went horribly wrong (when readers meet Hobbs, he feels as though he’s “dripping” with death and despair). By slow and steady degrees, Matthiessen takes all these familiar elements of the standard heist thriller and transforms them into something more. Readers who might initially feel that too much time is being spent focusing on the lives and relationships of the thieves, for instance, will find themselves increasingly fascinated by the author’s ability to bring all the disparate worlds of the narrative to vivid life. Just as Hobbs is drawn to Perrin (“the sound of her voice, her courage and her forlornness”), readers will be totally engrossed. A riveting and richly nuanced art-crime novel.
McIntyre, Charles Bruce | Tall Clover Publishing (286 pp.) | $18.99 paper September 1, 2025 | 9798349336348
A retiree and cancer survivor recalls his postentrepreneurial life in this memoir. Born in St. Louis in 1941, McIntyre spent nearly two decades in the corporate trenches working for Procter & Gamble before branching out on his own for the next 30 years, founding a
foodservice sales and marketing agency. In 2010, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and decided to sell his business while undergoing treatment. The story of four life-altering months in 2010, during which he transitioned into retirement while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment, lie at the center of his first memoir, There Are No Answers Here, Only Questions (2023). In this follow-up, the author covers the next 14 years, from 2010-2024, as he recovered from cancer and forged a new life after retirement. Like many who leave their careers, he grappled with adjusting to a new life. “My company had been my ‘identity,’” he recalls, “But now, with my identity gone, who was I?” As detailed in the book, he ultimately found a new purpose through exercise and community service. Guided by the motto “poco a poco” (little by little), he rebuilt his physical health, first by walking in the backyard, then by traversing a parking lot to get to his car, and eventually by running short distances. Ultimately, he became an avid swimmer and cycler—until he met another setback when he was thrown from his bicycle after being struck by an inattentive driver and sustained a brain injury.
Embracing the Latin maxim Per Adversa Satisfactio Est (“satisfaction through adversity”), McIntyre is relentlessly optimistic, emphasizing how each setback led him to feel greater gratitude for his loved ones. He also found a new post-retirement identity in the act of giving back, working with Habitat for Humanity building houses in Charlotte, North Carolina, and El Salvador. The author’s Christian faith is recurring theme— the work contains multiple biblical references, though McIntyre never proselytizes. Indeed, he embraces a “faith that transcends faith,” emphasizing the “oneness of all things” that “binds us together.” While the text includes the occasional flashback to the author’s years in corporate America or his experiences as a fraternity brother at a small, liberal arts college, the memoir’s unique emphasis on
McIntyre’s post-retirement life—with its humbling array of identity crises, health scares, and the author’s decision to move with his wife to a continuous care retirement community—makes the book stand out in a genre stereotypically defined by self-aggrandizement. McIntyre’s writing style blends poignant reflections with often humorous, self-deprecating anecdotes. While inside an MRI machine stripped down to his underwear with a traumatic brain injury, for instance, the author recalls utilizing one of his meditation practices in which he repeated “Gracias a Dios”(Thank God) while taking deep breaths; it was during this moment of Zen focus and gratitude that the medical technician told him to “stop it and breathe like a normal person.” Another chapter recalls his failed attempts at becoming a novelist: He put chapters of a lighthearted rom-com story on his blog until he realized “no one was reading it anymore.” These moments of humorous self-awareness, blended with the author’s emotional maturity, make for a sincere, engaging memoir. A poignant reflection on life after retirement and cancer.
Merle, Robin | She Writes Press (320 pp.) $17.99 paper | October 28, 2025 9798896360025
A n intense friendship between two women becomes emotionally dangerous in Merle’s 1980sset novel.
Tina, a 29-yearold aspiring writer at the tail end of an unsatisfying marriage, meets a new female friend, known as Spike, at a writer’s retreat. From the start, she’s drawn to Spike’s audacity, energy, confidence, and wild stories—so much so that she views Spike as not merely a pal, but also a guide: “While I’m not a superstitious person, she did seem sent. As if the ripples in the lake finally
calmed and in the limpid pool I saw the reflection of everything I denied I was or could be.” Their relationship deepens after they both return to New York City, become regular drinking buddies, and confide in each other about their relationships. Spike tells tales that often involve abuse and the threat of violence, and they initially thrill, but soon start to worry Tina; a violent work of fiction that Spike is revising also gives Tina pause. Soon, Tina starts to feel less like Spike’s friend, and more like a monitor of Spike’s changing moods—waiting to react to her, rather than acting on her own desires. She tries to extract herself from the friendship, but she fears it may already be too late. Merle charts the path of Tina’s mounting realization with a sensitive and perceptive portrayal of a writer who finds that Spike is a lot more fun as a lively, past-tense story than she is as a present-tense reality. Some of the male characters in the women’s lives are not as well drawn, but as the broad types they are, they work well enough in the context of the story. The dialogue, on the other hand, is uniformly sharp, sometimes funny, and keeps the story moving briskly along.
A smart, absorbing study of a spiraling, unhealthy relationship.
Miller, Natasha | Poignant Press (212 pp.)
$24.99 | $19.99 paper | April 19, 2025
9798985600285 | 9798985600261 paper
Seasoned event producer Miller, the founder and CEO of Entire Productions, distills 25 years of experience into a manual focusing on an often thankless job: organizing high-stakes events.
The book presents corporate event planners with a sophisticated framework for orchestrating corporate happenings
that make an impact—from small internal meetings to global, multiday conferences. Each chapter methodically builds on the last, covering everything from proposal request processes and vendor negotiations to key performance indicators, return on investment, and the integration of artificial intelligence in an event’s planning stages. Miller’s core insight is that event professionals are often overworked, under-resourced, and misunderstood; her book effectively raises the profile of this career, and she backs up her recommendations with firsthand interviews with industry veterans, who speak on and off the record with authentic examples. Detailed case studies—including one that details a “Secret Experience” event, which the author co-produced with hospitality company Convene—bring abstract planning concepts vividly to life. Throughout, Miller emphasizes how to align events with corporate goals and demonstrates how planners can advocate for themselves by thinking strategically and proposing measurable outcomes. Chapters on sustainability, outsourcing, and emerging trends, such as the “transformation economy,” ensure the work remains timely: “Transformative events go beyond memorable experiences to create lasting change in attendees— whether it’s personal growth, professional development, or a sense of purpose.” Miller writes like a peer mentor: approachable and assertive, she balances motivational language with no-nonsense practicality. She’s encouraging but honest about the stress and systemic inefficiencies characteristic of the field. Summaries, toolkits, and downloadable templates make this manual a fine working reference. The subject matter sprawls a bit—topics range from AI to corporate social responsibility to immersive experience design—but Miller’s clear, grounded voice keeps the material cohesive. This guide is ideal for midcareer professionals looking to elevate their status within their organizations. It’s also an overdue validation of the indispensable role that event professionals play in shaping corporate culture. Genuinely useful advice and recognition for members of a sometimes-overlooked profession.
Kirkus Star
The Unofficial Batman: The Animated Interviews, Vol. 3
Miller, W.R. | BearManor Media (632 pp.) $97.99 | $42.97 paper | November 15, 2024 9798887710952 | 9798887710945 paper
Miller offers the third volume of interviews on animated Batman TV series, this time tackling The New Batman Adventures As longtime Warner Bros. casting and voice director Andrea Romano points out in her foreword to this latest oral history of the animated Batman franchise, some shows just seemed to come together by magic, with the perfect collection of talent at the perfect time. Virtually all the writers, directors, storyboarders, artists, and actors interviewed in these pages seem to agree that this was the case for Batman: The Animated Series (the subject of the previous two volumes, which ran from 1992 to ’95 on Fox) and its successor, The New Batman Adventures (which aired on The WB from 1997 to ’99). As in previous volumes, there are dozens of photos and full-color production stills, as well as an annotated episode list, complete with standout quotes, as when Star Wars ’ Mark Hamill, voicing the Joker, says, “May the floss be with you” during a scene in a dentist’s office. The New Batman Adventures only lasted for a single season, but a great many people were involved in making it the masterpiece many acknowledge it to be, from its brilliant voice actors— including the great Kevin Conroy as Batman—to its showrunners, almost
all of whom reflect on their experiences here. The subject matter even extends to ancillary Batman appearances in shows such as World’s Finest and Superman , and, as in previous volumes, every discussion goes into granular and engaging detail about the nuts and bolts of the animation industry. Miller is a skilled interviewer, adept at getting great quotes from his subjects, many of whom display an appealing humility; for example, Diane Pershing, the voice of villain Poison Ivy, mentions that although she interpreted the character her own way, “somebody else could interpret it in a different way, [and] it’d be just as valid.” Hamill, referring to the hit 1989 live-action Batman film, blurts out, “What kind of fool follows Jack Nicholson in anything ?!” There’s also a touching section of tributes to Conroy, who died in 2022.
An engrossing chronicle of a wellregarded Batman show.
Niazi, Shahryar Khan | Markings Publishing (148 pp.) | January 1, 2025 | 9789699748271
A wide-ranging strategy for Pakistan to improve its future as an economic and political power.
Niazi observes that while Pakistan possesses all the “essential ingredients” to become a great economic power— not just on the Indian subcontinent, but also globally—the country “has long suffered from a lack of vision, planning, strategy, and continuity.” To improve the nation’s fortunes, the author outlines a “comprehensive plan”
A panoramic recipe for Pakistan’s geopolitical ascendancy.
designed to capitalize on Pakistan’s wealth of natural resources, geographical advantages, and infrastructure. At the heart of this strategy is the establishment of a Pakistan Economic Gateway that would connect the nation to the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia by overland and maritime corridors. This network of routes would not only capitalize on Pakistan’s “key geostrategic location” and enhance its commercial connectivity but also contribute to its food, energy, and climate security. The key here is to leverage Pakistan’s existing supply chain structure in addition to its considerable reserves of copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium. In this concise but analytically exacting study, Niazi constructs a panoramic recipe for Pakistan’s geopolitical ascendancy, one which includes a somewhat dubious “integrated Eurasian and Indian Ocean strategy” to secure its military and political significance. The brevity of the book is its chief challenge—so much ground is covered so quickly that it’s difficult for any of the positions staked out by the author to register as fully persuasive. It is one thing to observe that Pakistan “must build a credible deterrence against asymmetric and conventional threats,” and quite another to explain exactly how this is to be done, a task the author eschews. However, the notion that the proposed corridors could be the key to financing the nation’s infrastructural development is an enticing stimulus to further thought. At the very least, the reader is left wanting further elaborations upon Niazi’s thoughtful, well-informed proposals, and that makes his creative analysis well worth consideration. A provocative blueprint for increasing Pakistan’s international status and influence.
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The Scott Fenwick Diaries
Nilsen, Kristin | SparkPress (272 pp.) | $13.99 paper | July 22, 2025 | 9781684633265
In Nilsen’s middlegrade novel, a seventh grade girl crushes hard on a fellow classmate.
Millie Jackson may have (mostly) moved on from her deep-seated infatuation with pop star Rory Calhoun, the object of her desire in Nilsen’s previous novel, Worldwide Crush (2023), but that doesn’t mean she’s given up on love entirely. Now, in seventh grade social studies, she has a new target: brown-eyed, floppy-haired Scott Fenwick. “Never have I ever dared to consider that someone—a very cute someone—might actually like me. As in like me like me. Until now.” They pass notes in class and even salvage a sweet moment out of a very embarrassing trip to Target with Millie’s mom and kooky great-grandma Phyllis, but Millie is never quite sure how Scott feels. She takes notes in the titular Scott Fenwick Diary, often consulting her best friend, Shauna, who is simultaneously dealing with her own family drama. Meanwhile, pressure to participate in activities like grandma-sitting and an intensely awkward family talent show performance piles on. But Millie perseveres in keeping her crush active, inserting herself into Scott’s life by befriending his neighbor Tibbs and procuring an invitation to his bar mitzvah. After a missed kiss at the big event, Millie is fully engrossed in her devastation until her beloved dog, Pringles, suffers an accident that makes her re-evaluate her relationships and herself. In this sequel, Nilsen nails the nuances of being a young teenager with feelings so big they overexamine even the smallest moments. Millie’s anxieties and concerns over things like how to kiss may make readers cringe, but only because they are so real and relatable. Her PG-rated swearword substitutes like “Gob!” and “Holy Christmas” are annoying, but they contribute to her overall characterization. Yet despite Millie’s personal devotion to Scott, Nilsen
makes it clear that rather than a “willthey, won’t-they” narrative, this is a story of self-discovery.
A nuanced story of first romance that stays true to its characters.
Okine, Robert | Fifty Options Press (181 pp.) August 26, 2025 | 9781968331030
A humorist comments on contemporary American life as seen through the eyes of canines.
“When I first arrived in the United States,” writes Okine, “I expected culture shocks…What I didn’t expect was the dogs.” From rural to urban America, East Coast to West Coast, dogs are a ubiquitous aspect of life in the U.S.A.; our furry companions often live lives of luxury as they are carted around in strollers, travel on flights, wear customized accessories and clothing, and have access to a myriad of organic food options. Checking in with a range of pooches from fun-loving surfing dogs in California to stern law-enforcement canines in Wyoming, this book takes a humorous look at America’s obsession with man’s best friend. Taking readers on an alphabetically organized tour of all 50 states (plus Washington, D.C.), the author devotes a chapter to each and revels in the absurdity of American dog culture. In Colorado’s outdoorsy society, for instance, Okine came across dozens of dogs on a hiking trail “bounding from boulder to boulder with the confidence of tiny sherpas.” In a genteel boutique in downtown Savannah, Georgia, the author
recalls a spaniel who only drank chilled cucumber water, and in North Carolina, he encountered a beagle who joined a statewide debate on barbeque. At the Kentucky Derby, the author found a myriad of dogs in sunglasses, seersucker suits, rose garlands, and miniature hats, often coordinated to match the outfits of their owners.
While the book’s anecdotes poke fun at America’s devotion to dogs, Okine astutely notes that the power of his stories lies in what they reveal about us as a nation—“about how we live, how we care, and who we let get comfy on the couch.” Each chapter features a vignette about a specific dog in each state and concludes with a section titled “What This Says About America.” In Alabama, for example, the author writes about the proclivity of dogs to ride shotgun in pickup trucks with their heads out the window. This is, to Okine, a “statement of values,” as it evokes the South’s emphasis on kinship and loyalty (“dogs here are as much a part of the family as the Sunday casserole recipe”) as well as an affirmation of personal freedom that eschews seatbelts as the pups “stick their head[s] out the window with no apologies.” The book gently teases Americans, but it is all in good fun, and the author is never mean-spirited (though maintaining this tone leads him to gloss over serious, systemic issues of class and race that divide Americans). Okine, whose previous book took readers on a tour of the food and grocery-store mores of all 50 states, has an admirable grasp on the subtle nuances that define each state’s unique culture. The author alludes to his birth outside of the U.S., but his country of origin is never mentioned in the text—a deeper discussion of the contrasts between American dog culture and those of other countries around the globe (including Okine’s own) might have
A nuanced story of first romance that stays true to its characters.
THE SCOTT FENWICK DIARIES
further underscored (particularly for American readers) the ridiculously elevated status of dogs in the U.S. Still, the engaging narrative more than accomplishes its goal of taking readers on a diverting and amusing canine-themed tour of America, “One state at a time, one bark at a time.”
A funny and engaging look at American dog culture.
Olczak-Ronikier, Joanna | Trans. by Antonia Lloyd-Jones | Rivertowns Books (432 pp.)
$27.95 paper | October 14, 2025 9781953943705
An awardwinning Polish family history gets its first U.S. publication. First printed in Poland in 2001, Olczak-Ronikier’s saga was hailed as an instant classic, winning the nation’s most prestigious literary prize, the Nike Literary Award. This edition has been beautifully rendered into English by the esteemed Antonia Lloyd-Jones, the former co-chair of the United Kingdom’s Translators Association. The multigenerational history tells the story of the Olczak-Ronikier’s family across three generations. While the branches of the family tree extend into a myriad of directions, offering readers a plethora of biographical vignettes, the main figures in the narrative’s first generation are the author’s great-grandparents, Gustav and Julia Horwitz, who were both born in the 1840s. The Horwitz family, as readers learn, was one of the most important in European Jewry. Descendents of the tribe of Levites, Horwitzes produced “long dynasties of priests and scholars” for centuries. Gustav and Julia’s nine children receive the spotlight in the book’s chapters detailing the second generation, which counts among its members communist revolutionaries, targets of Joseph Stalin’s purges, and acclaimed book publishers. The final generation covered—those born in the early 20th century—includes
Holocaust victims, World War II soldiers, and postwar citizens who navigated the Cold War on both sides of the Iron Curtain. While the Holocaust and its lasting impact takes center stage, this is not just a story of victimhood; the work introduces family members such as Ryszard Bychowski, a wartime refugee who declined an opportunity to settle in California and instead joined Britain’s Royal Air Force, dying as a war hero. Also highlighted is Olczak-Ronikier’s mother, Hanna Mortkowicz, a famed Polish poet and novelist in her own right, who rebuilt the family’s publishing house “out of the ashes, like the phoenix” after World War II.
While this is a work of a nonfiction, backed by a scholarly reference section and referencing primary source documents and oral histories throughout every chapter, Olczak-Ronikier’s eloquent history deftly weaves hundreds of stories together into a poignant, cohesive narrative that offers the pleasures of fiction—which is unsurprising, given the author’s background as one of Poland’s most celebrated dramatists and screenwriters. In this chronicle of a prominent Jewish family, Olczak-Ronikier’s extended genealogy is intimately tied to a broader history of Europe from the mid-1800s through World War II, providing a revelatory consideration of the Continent through the lens of Polish Jewry. The book offers the fascinating perspective of assimilated Jews who “dropped religious practices and Yiddish” and were active in Polish independence movements, political debates, urban life, and literary culture yet “were never entirely accepted by the Polish elite and could never be equal.” While the work assumes readers will have a basic knowledge of Polish history, this potential obstacle is mitigated by an introduction by Lloyd-Jones, who provides historical context for a non-Polish audience. The book’s engaging text is accompanied by a treasure trove of family photographs, letters, diary entries, and other historical ephemera peppered throughout each chapter. These visual elements combine with the author’s engrossing storytelling to create an intimate, yet sweeping, saga. A poignant, tour de force story of survival across multiple generations of a Jewish family.
Rogers, Lisa Waller | Barrel Cactus Press (662 pp.) | $36.99 | $19.99 paper
September 1, 2025 | 9798999409621 9798999409614 paper
Rogers offers a scenic walk through a vivid, harrowing, and heartbreaking history of the abolitionist movement. The author delivers exceptional research and fresh perspectives as she dives into the biographies of President Abraham Lincoln and author Harriet Beecher Stowe, as well as the greater history of the abolitionist movement, as they all relate to the creation and execution of the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s divided into eight chronological sections, from “Words (1775-1831)” to “Hope (1862-1863).”
These are, in many ways, thematic phases, involving a list of individuals that’s quite extensive, but the author effectively shows how they all played key roles, including radical abolitionist John Brown, presidential candidate Stephen A. Douglas, activist and writer Frederick Douglass, journalist William Lloyd Garrison, public speakers Sarah and Angelina Grimké, social reformer Lucretia Mott, Secretary of State William Henry Seward, and formerly enslaved activists Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman. Their backgrounds and actions weave through major events that preceded the Civil War, which include the Panic of 1837, the Nat Turner rebellion, the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, and the establishment of the Underground Railroad. Of course, the publication of Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) became an “abolitionist manifesto, exposing slavery for the cruel and unjust institution it was,” and, according to Lincoln, the main event that led to the Proclamation. Throughout all the various, detailed sections, the reader comes to understand
how Lincoln was influenced by many others in his decision to champion the freeing of enslaved people, and they will gain a greater understanding of his declaration, on January 1, 1863, when he signed the Proclamation and stated, “If my name ever goes into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.” A raw and emotional look at the sacrifices made by those who gave all to end slavery.
Scarborough, Kelly | She Writes Press (256 pp.) | $18.99 paper | January 20, 2026 9798896360506
A debut novel set in early19th-century Sweden offers palace intrigue and romance. When readers dive into this work from lawyerturned-author Scarborough, they will find the Swedish throne in a perilous position. Members of a French family, previously commoners, have completed an unlikely rise to power atop the Swedish royal ladder, led by Crown Prince Charles Jean and trailed by his son, Oscar, who is a mere 12 years old at the novel’s opening. Readers are immediately introduced to Jacquette Gyldenstolpe, a would-be maid of honor in the royal court and the daughter of Aurora De Geer Wetterstedt. Aurora is a baroness whose primary role in the court is holding salons for other royals both minor and major. Despite their difference in status—Jacquette is merely a court mistress while Oscar is a prince—a close friendship develops between them. When Oscar is sent to war in Norway, Jacquette is left behind in Sweden missing her friend. When he eventually returns, both are now in their late teens, and the tenor of their friendship begins to shift. Though he appears interested in a romance with Jacquette, he seems to be courting a young Swedish countess named Adelaide. As rumors swirl, he is also battling his father, who is enforcing a wide swath of censorship of local
newspapers in the hopes of stifling opposition, an approach that Oscar vehemently disagrees with. When Jacquette realizes she can use her own connections to help her friend in his aims against his father, she and Oscar become closer than ever. A secret romance soon blossoms, the fallout of which will have massive consequences not only for Oscar and Jacquette, but potentially for the Swedish crown and the larger course of history as well.
By turns historical fiction and a classic romance, Scarborough’s novel manages to be fresh and exciting while remaining squarely part of a larger tradition of palace love stories. Part of this originality stems from the book’s location, as English-language readers are unlikely to have previously encountered many volumes about Swedish royalty. But its real heft is carried by Jacquette, a young woman whose divisions between loyalty, love, and family are crafted with nuance and compassion. Jacquette’s sensibilities are often well suited to modern readers, and her humorous distaste for the “Chatterati”—the young mistresses of the court—is one of the novel’s smaller pleasures: “She had a fervent desire for someone to find these girls husbands. Preferably short, old ones from Dalarna.” While readers looking for shocking twists and turns and a narrative that deviates from genre conventions may not find those elements here, Scarborough’s research and attention to the minute details of history offer an uncommonly smooth runway into the requisite context for readers to understand the gravity of the novel’s action. Although Jacquette is certainly the driver of the story’s action, the book’s pages are populated with unforgettable members of the court, be they Aurora, Oscar’s liaison Frederik Due, or even the blustery Carl Löwenhielm, who has his eye on Jacquette. Scarborough’s work may not be groundbreaking, but it makes for an engrossing and striking journey through a rarely covered period and place in history.
An excellent work of historical fiction that delivers an engaging romance and memorable characters.
Simpson, Valerie | SPARK Publications (156 pp.) | $27 paper | November 11, 2024 9781953555816
A self-taught baker brings an anonymous Depression-era cookbook up to date, with a history lesson for dessert. Simpson, a nurse and home baker from Dixie, Georgia, was scouring eBay for old cookbooks when she found a handwritten book of dessert recipes from 1932. A “nail-biting bidding war” and $75 later, the cookbook was hers, but recreating the Bundt cakes, tortes, and cookies in its pages wouldn’t prove to be as simple as just following instructions. The recipes were essentially “lists of ingredients” without the cooking times, oven settings, or precise directions included in modern recipes. The author resolved to painstakingly restore the original recipes in her Florida kitchen, converting vague measurements and directions into more precise numbers. The result is a cookbook full of creative curiosities, from “Potato Cake” to “Seafoam Candy” to “Eggless-Butterless-Milkless Cake.” Each recipe is introduced with a short preamble describing the dessert, and many offer details about the delicate process of learning how to make them in a modern kitchen. Along the way, Simpson notes her surprise at what she’s uncovered—despite what contemporary readers might expect, the original recipe book is scant on pies and heavy on butter and eggs for a cookbook penned at the height of the Great Depression. She provides the reader with a short popular history of the era, as well as background information on the use of lard, woodburning ovens, and Bundt pans. While the economic context might strike some readers as oversimplified, the author is a thoughtful and entertaining historian. Simpson’s modernized instructions are
clear and well written, despite some unnecessary repetitions (she repeats across several recipes, for instance, that you can thin an icing by adding more liquid, or thicken it by adding more powdered sugar). Her “tips for better baking” make the work approachable to a wide audience of home bakers (several of the more challenging recipes start with instructions on how to “plan ahead”). This is a charming, intriguing book of desserts in which the author invites readers into her process and on her journey through baking history. A thoughtful, unique cookbook with a cherry on top.
Slick, Ariel | Hell or Highwater Books (352 pp.) $20 paper | July 12, 2025 | 9798218712402
In Slick’s fantasy novel, a woman makes a deal with the devil to save her sister’s life.
Azoma, Louisiana, 1924: Corbin’s Mercantile and Fine Goods is not the most lavish enterprise— just four thin walls and a tin roof selling tools, medicine, and dry goods—but it’s all the Corbin girls have. Their deceased half-Ojibwe father built it, and Beatrice Corbin now operates the shop, though the marijuana-smoking, blues-loving loner mostly prefers to keep her distance from her white neighbors. Her younger sister, Agnes, is more eager to participate in the wider society; in fact, she has just married a respectable and ambitious politician. Beatrice has zero interest in marriage (her husband would immediately take legal ownership of the store, for one thing), though Angelo Davis, the talented blues musician she just met at a jazz joint, has recently caught her eye. When Beatrice accidentally breaks her father’s lucky bottle of whiskey, she consults the local fortune teller to learn what the fallout will be. It turns out to be pretty severe: Agnes will be murdered. There’s no one in Beatrice’s life more important to her than her sister, and so, desperate to save her, she
summons the devil to exchange her life for Agnes’. The devil appears in the form of one Frank Charbonneau, an immaculately dressed Cajun stranger recently arrived in town. “I came to do business; that’s my trade in the world,” Frank explains of his earthly existence. “I always love to make a trade. No, I do not always crave souls. I do not hold souls any more than the sun holds time. I just keep track of them for a while. Nor am I the key to evil. I’m simply...chaos.” Frank offers to save Agnes’ life if Beatrice will marry him, but Beatrice makes a counteroffer: She will live with him as his wife, but she will not sleep with him, and if she can figure out who Agnes’ killer will be and prevent the murder before it happens, Frank must release them both from the deal. Marry the devil, solve a murder, save her sister—what could go wrong?
Slick’s gumbo of folklore, music, racial tension, and sultry Southern nights will please fans of the 2025 film Sinners, as this work similarly updates traditional Southern Gothic elements for a tale that feels both timeless and fresh. The plot unfolds are a leisurely pace—perhaps too leisurely at times—but what the story lacks in haste it makes up for in the richness of its setting. “My heart quickened when we entered the raucous place, filled as much with people laughing, as smoke; and people were dancing ragtime to the band’s hip music,” Beatrice reports when describing the jazz joint. “The walls were stained to shoulder height, and the place was about as dusty as Gomorrah.” Frank is a wonderful invention, a trickster with surprisingly complex motivations and a gambler’s impulsivity; perhaps the more impressive creation is Beatrice, who manages to feel both of her time and completely outside of it. This diabolical tale captivates from the start to the finish. A darkly enchanting novel of sinister alliances and inescapable histories.
Sorensen, Mark | Advantage Media Group (134 pp.) | $18.99 paper | August 19, 2025 9798891882812
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Sorensen makes a proposal for a smarter diagnostic tool to ease the daily burden on physicians and other health care workers and strengthen patient care. The author’s case for the patented HIPUS system posits that burnout, uneven care, and rising costs in the American health care system all share a common root: outdated IT that buries doctors in data entry instead of supporting patient attention and care. Drawing on his experience in emergency medicine, Sorensen, a doctor, outlines how HIPUS combines color-coding with Bayesian logic to make complex diagnostic reasoning clearer and faster. His emergency room anecdotes illustrate how bloated records, blurred doctor/nurse roles, and profitdriven oversight push physicians toward “moral injury” and cause avoidable errors. The proposed benefits of HIPUS are numerous, chief among them the ways that simple color-coded cues can turn abstract concepts like diagnostic test sensitivity and specificity into clear, navigable visual signals doctors can grasp at a glance, helping them to weigh test results and symptoms quickly without doing extra math. Per the author, these tools do not aim to replace physicians’ judgment but rather to support it more effectively, improving workflows and strengthening patient care. The author acknowledges his pitch’s biggest obstacle from the start: The same physicians it seeks to help are often the ones most likely to resist new tools, especially when it comes to IT. The book’s greatest strength lies in how it blends Sorensen’s first-hand ER stories with practical, hypothetical examples that show the HIPUS tool in action. The writing can be dry at times, and much of it isn’t really for lay readers, but the text stays tightly focused without drowning the reader in
jargon. While the potential and promise of the tool outpace the proof offered here, the root problems it tackles are real and backed by clear facts and figures. Change is needed, and the text makes a persuasive case for this particular fix. A clear, impassioned plea for better care and a convincing plan to secure it.
Stephens, Mary Alice | Sibylline Press (336 pp.)
$20 paper | August 8, 2025 | 9798897409990
A memoir focuses on the difficulties and triumphs of the early days of the author’s sobriety journey. Stephens always liked to have fun. When the drinks were poured or the shots thrown back, she was always game to go one more round. But at the age of 45, after what should have been a casual afternoon with a friend turned into yet another binge-drinking episode, she finally realized something had to change. Her problematic drinking was taking a toll on her relationships with her husband, her young children, and her health (“I wanted to take care of myself and feel self-respect instead of self-loathing”). Although she was scared, Stephens called her only sober friend, who encouraged her to pursue Alcoholics Anonymous. The memoir chronicles not only the author’s odyssey working on the 12 steps, but also the many difficult conversations she had with friends and family as she shared her sobriety news with them. Many of these interactions were fraught, especially those involving her heavy-drinking friends and relatives. Although her inner monologue in these moments sometimes reads more like therapy language than spontaneous reflections, her honesty remains compelling. Stephens often thinks of her drinking self as “Fun Mary” and her new persona as “Sober Mary,” a framework that helps her navigate her sobriety struggles and engages readers. The engrossing book switches between the
author’s present-day grappling with her drinking and flashbacks to past instances of regrettable behavior brought on by alcohol use. The memoir recounts her eventual acceptance that her drinking problem was related to the chronic pain caused by a serious accident in college. She realized that the mishap could no longer be shrugged off as the result of typical college hijinks. Stephens’ insights into her alcoholism as she worked on the 12 steps are illuminating and feature wisdom that may be helpful to others in a similar situation.
A valuable, enlightening window into one woman’s decision to quit drinking.
Stokes, David R. | Broad Run Books (410 pp.) $22.99 paper | September 23, 2025
9798999204004
Stokes offers a historical thriller about a plot to sabotage Winston Churchill’s funeral. It’s 1965 and Churchill, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, is near death. As the nation, and much of the world, prepares to mourn him, some nefarious elements see an opportunity: The funeral will certainly attract powerful figures from all over the world, and it creates a fine opportunity for chaos—or so goes the thinking of some leading members of the KGB. The Cold War is raging, and it’s spawned a plan in the Soviet Union called KOBA, which involves placing explosives in Churchill’s coffin. They would be set off during the service, killing “many, many others in the church,” and after the initial attack, “long-dormant agents provocateur… would launch an orchestrated wave of precision bombings and assassinations” all over the world. It may sound like a somewhat bizarre way to kick off an operation, but Soviet spies have long been developing assets in other
countries for a situation such as this; they include leftist sympathizers in Northern Ireland, who are “particularly susceptible to recruitment” by the KGB. It’s an ambitiously sinister plan, but it’s not one that goes completely undetected. When suspicions regarding the funeral ceremony are brought to the attention of U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, he takes action: Not only does he decide not to attend the memorial services, but he also consults former CIA Director Allen Dulles, who, along with many other government operatives, recognizes the seriousness of the situation, which could easily spiral out of control.
The story begins with a rather bland speech from 1960s-era Prime Minister Harold Wilson (“We are on the threshold of an extraordinary moment in the history of the realm”); a bit later on, there’s a similarly unexciting flashback to Churchill’s final public appearance in 1964, in which a woman unnecessarily explains to her young daughter, “Sweetheart, that is Sir Winston Churchill and his wife, Lady Churchill.” Nevertheless, as the pages turn, so does readers’ anticipation regarding the wild spy mission, which involves a large cast of diverse characters; they include a couple in the U.K. that “had dedicated themselves to Soviet intelligence for nearly three decades, their commitment unwavering despite upheavals and betrayals,” as well as a frazzled American spy who, before the threat of KOBA came to the CIA’s attention, had been living a very unhappy existence in Rome. The lively mix of real-life historical figures and Stokes’ fictional creations keeps events moving briskly along, and that includes the action scenes; in one, a character makes quick work of his adversaries by firing “three shots with great poise and precision, dropping all three men in less than two seconds.” And, of course, there’s always the chance that world-changing fiascoes will occur if the plan actually succeeds. The potential for such chaos will give readers plenty of good reasons to stick with the novel all the way to its conclusion. An often engaging espionage tale that’s full of high-stakes suspense as the Cold War heats up.
Tobin, Paul | Illus. by PJ
Holden
Mad Cave Studios (120 pp.) | $17.99 paper
September 16, 2025 | 9781545820452
While searching for her lost boyfriend on Mount Denali, a woman finds something more sinister than she ever imagined in this graphic novel.
Hooky Hidalgo is climbing Mount Denali and livestreaming the experience when he loses his handhold and falls onto a ledge. After assuring the streaming audience that he’s fine, he mentions seeing a cave entrance with weird carvings (“They look majorly ancient”) and then the feed goes dead. Only 33 hours later, Hooky’s girlfriend, Becca Burgos, has made it to Mount Denali to find out what happened to him. With no vacancies available in town, the local cops are surprisingly helpful, finding Becca a place to stay in a rental cabin. But it’s a setup—Becca is meant to be a sacrifice to a large, haunting creature and the locals are hoping her death will keep more people from trying to follow Hooky up the mountain. Escaping the monster, with the help of a local, Shailene Simmons, Becca runs farther up the mountain with her new friend. Shailene has been studying the weird creatures in the area and the Dark Pyramid—a structure inside the mountain—that the government has been keeping quiet for years. Since Becca and Shailene survived the first attack, the military is pulling out all the stops to try to prevent them from uncovering the truth about the Dark Pyramid and what happened to Hooky. And if killing the pair is the easiest way to do that, so be it. While they are battling the military and monsters alike, can Becca and Shailene survive what the Dark Pyramid is throwing at them? In this tense and violent graphic novel, Tobin and Holden have created a captivating world of gods, monsters, and strange, human-faced goats. With a mostly dark color scheme, the striking art fits the vibe of the engrossing tale. Cryptids abound, and the mystery of the Dark Pyramid will
appeal to readers who prefer a little mythology and archaeology with their SF. This spooky story, which stars two distinctive female heroes facing terrifying creatures, will also delight horror and cryptozoology fans. While the actionpacked tale offers a satisfying conclusion, the final pages set the stage for a sequel. A gripping tale that features chilling monsters, an eerie mystery, and intriguing characters.
Toyn, Gary W. | American Legacy Media (454 pp.) | September 26, 2025 9781736457696
Toyn offers a historical novel that grapples with the horrors of life in occupied Lithuania in the 1940s.
As the story opens, it’s 1941, and the residents of Soviet-occupied Lithuania are receiving news that the German army is going to invade. University student Leva Koslowski and her younger brother, Al, decide to flee the country, because although Soviet control had been horrible, the Germans are rumored to be much worse. The pair head to Sweden, but Leva’s boyfriend, Olek, stays behind in Lithuania. So do Leva’s parents, Zeneta and Matis, who have a cabin in the woods in Ponary where they allow Olek to stay. Soon, Zeneta and Matis attempt to leave, as well, but are caught and arrested by Soviet border guards. Before long, the Germans begin mass executions in the woods. Olek manages to help an injured Jewish boy in hiding, and it’s not long before Olek himself is in trouble. Al makes it to the United States and joins the war effort as quickly as he can; soon, he’s back in Europe with Allied forces. Meanwhile, Zeneta is struggling for her life, along with other Lithuanians whom the Soviets have shipped to Siberia. Toyn’s narrative is based on true events— most notably, the horrors of the Ponary Massacre—and it’s at its strongest when describing, without embellishment,
unthinkable events. For instance, as German power waned, prisoners were forced to dig up and systematically burn corpses to cover up the fact that there were mass graves in the Ponary forest. This included the placement of thermite grenades to ensure that the fire “burned hot enough to incinerate the bodies”; the resulting blazes would then burn “for three days or until a heap of ashes remained.” The dialogue isn’t always as sharp, as characters sometimes unnecessarily narrate their actions with statements such as “I have a gift for each of you.” Overall, though, the work succeeds in its author’s aim to shed light on “events largely unknown to Western audiences.”
A piercing and detailed look at a lesser-known aspect of the Second World War.
Weissinger, Norbert | AuthorHouse (336 pp.) | $20.99 paper | March 21, 2022 9781665550772
In Weissinger’s SF novel, a crew of Earthling explorers and settlers venture into space in search of new life. By the year 9280, Earth has been overcome by floods and wars, and much of the population is living on Europa, an ice-sheathed moon of Jupiter. Draedon Ekho is a deep-sea diver who’s notorious for having died for 30 minutes during a dive, only to be resurrected by advanced technology. He’s sick of his job and thrilled to learn an old buddy, Gavril Bern, is helming a massive passenger ship that’s leaving Europa in search of a new, habitable planet. Soon, the ship embarks, and the crew, as well as 9,000 civilian passengers, are put into stasis for the journey. However, things quickly go wrong, and crewmember Draedon wakes to find the ship plunged into darkness and its systems going haywire. After re-establishing power, he learns that much of the crew, including Gavril, has been killed, due
to their unwitting proximity to a dying supernova. Draedon is the ship’s commander now, and as he negotiates the perils that his fellow passengers face, they find a planet with a breathable atmosphere. They also discover that it’s inhabited by humanoids with less-advanced technology and no system of government—the latter of which deeply distresses the deeply hierarchical crew. Weissinger’s novel features several conventional tropes: an unlikely hero thrust into extraordinary circumstances; a long, perilous journey gone awry; and the introduction of a strange new approach to life. Yet this novel distinguishes itself, often, with its thoughtful philosophical musings: “Whether it is better to be closely connected to the world around us, or suffer the insult of having no bearing whatsoever. I say we are all irrelevant in a universe that cares not about us.” In addition, the novel rips through its action at a rapid pace, which is sure to keep readers engaged straight through to the end.
An interplanetary tale with thoughtprovoking discussions of humanity’s relationship to the wider universe.
Williams, Dewey | Dexterity (304 pp.) | $9.49 paper | February 20, 2023 | 9781947297555
Williams recounts his time preaching the Gospel on death row and the lessons he learned that transformed his own life. When the author was offered an opportunity to minister to inmates awaiting execution at Central Prison in North Carolina in 1986, he was no stranger to providing religious counsel to the incarcerated. However, he found that death row was a very different experience—partly because, contrary to his expectations, the prisoners were not only troubled by despair and fear, but also a “desire to hold and express freedom of heart
and mind.” He found that they were capable of experiencing real joy—a condition, the author notes, that’s profound and lasting, and not merely a fleeting emotion: “Joy is firmly grounded as a principle of God’s engagement with humanity.” Partly as a result of his prison work, he says, he underwent his own spiritual transformation, as he came to see his desires for notoriety and recognition as obstacles to his own joy. In this book, Williams presents readers with a poignant and moving account of his searching discussions with death row inmates about weighty issues, such as spiritual freedom, debilitating anger, healing prayer, and the possibilities of forgiveness. For example, one prisoner, who was convicted of burglary and murder, was haunted by the possibility that the latter crime put him beyond God’s mercy. Williams also effectively reflects on his own life and the trials that, for a time, erected barriers to joy; he tells a story of his sister, Genevieve, who, during an episode of mental illness, murdered his beloved father and attempted to kill his mother in 1976— a frightening account, conveyed with great power. The author includes prisoners’ handwritten responses to his sermons— thoughtful cogitations by men and women who’ve done terrible things and have also suffered terribly. Overall, it’s a captivating memoir, unflinching but hopeful, and written with resounding lucidity. A stirring meditation on the spiritual promise of joy.
Williams, Natasha | Apprentice House (310 pp.) | $23.99 paper | April 29, 2025 9781627205979
Williams chronicles life with her schizophrenic father. The author’s father, Frank, grew up in Hempstead, Long Island. On the day of his graduation from Fredonia State
Teachers’ College in 1960, he had his first breakdown and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. In 1963, he met Judith Brink at a party on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He was a handsome, creative musician, and Judith fell in love with him in spite of his mental illness. When Natasha was born in February 1965, Frank was hospitalized yet again. By 1968, the marriage was over. Judith leaned heavily into a self-centered hippie lifestyle; per Williams, she was raised in a nearly feral state, living in an apartment building filled with artists in Staten Island. On weekends, the author stayed with her father, who lived in his childhood home when he wasn’t hospitalized. Both parents moved on to ill-fated relationships: Frank with Barbara, a fellow schizophrenic whom he met at Pilgrim State Hospital in 1975, and Judith with Ted, an artist with violent moods whom she knew from college. Judith’s extreme hands-off parenting style, coupled with the responsibility for her father’s care that, the author asserts, her paternal grandmother groomed her to take on from age 11, led to difficulty in Williams’ personal relationships (“I rarely felt close to people. I had few close friends, none of whom I confided in”). As she began a career as a therapeutic masseuse, she embarked on the hard work of therapy to make sense of her life. Williams writes with empathy about her father, whose illness led to tragedy, including the drowning death of one of her half sisters. Including the memories of his siblings provides a variety of perspectives on the effect that mental illness can have on a family. Personal experiences with the shortcomings of the mental health care system—from debilitating and long-term side effects of drugs to the unique problems aging schizophrenics face— are covered with references to clinical literature. The work offers a welcome wealth of insights into the challenges of living with mental illness. An engrossing debut memoir.
B
“King is a
genius
at writing
love stories
. .
. Tenderhearted readers will soak the pages of the last chapter with tears.”
- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
9.30.25