September 1, 2025: Volume XCIII, No. 17

FEATURING 312 Industry-First Reviews of Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s, and YA Books

A

PLACE AT THE TABLE WITH ALEXANDER SMALLS

The musician, restaurateur, and author headlines a special Food Issue

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

COOK, EAT, AND READ

FOOD TOUCHES ON every aspect of our lives as humans on this planet. Whether at family gettogethers, restaurants both exalted and humble, or just solo at the kitchen counter, we eat to live—and live to eat. At global policy summits, experts convene to solve the problems of world hunger and climate change, both affected by the food we grow or manufacture and by the ways we supply that food to people. We at Kirkus know this because we see the wide range of books that touch on food in some way—from romance novels to philosophical manifestos to children’s picture books. Hence this, our secondannual Food Issue.

Alexander Smalls, who appears on the cover in a portrait drawn by Frank

Morrison, is to our mind a culinary citizen par excellence. He’s been an opera singer, a chef, a restaurateur (Café Beulah, Minton’s, the Cecil), a cookbook author (Grace the Table, Between Harlem and Heaven), and now, with Morrison providing the artwork, a children’s picture book author (When Alexander Graced the Table). Above all, as he shows contributor Lisa Kennedy in the lively interview that appears on p. 86, he’s the consummate host, setting the table for a bevy of fascinating friends to gather for conversation and fellowship over good food. (I’m waiting for an invitation so that I, too, can sample the buttermilk mac and cheese he extols.)

Throughout the issue’s many profiles and columns,

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you’ll find the diversity of food writing well represented. And not to worry—nonfiction editor John McMurtrie spotlights some of our favorite new cookbooks on p. 40. Meanwhile, here are a few titles that I’ve been excited to discover while putting the issue together:

All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now by Ruby Tandoh (Knopf, September 9): We seem to be trapped in an age of food extremes, writes the British baker and cookbook author, caught between faddish food trends disseminated by social media and unthinking devotion to a handful of recipes we cook on autopilot. “An entertaining, endlessly instructive look at why we like what we do in our ‘anarchic web of desire,’” writes our critic in a starred review.

The Last Supper: How To Overcome the Future Food Crisis by Sam Kass (Crown, October 7): The author, a restaurant chef who cooked for then-senator Barack Obama and Michelle Obama and joined them in the White House as a

senior food policy adviser, is looking at the big picture. He intends the book not to be “just another in a long line of familiar diatribes” but a pragmatic road map to changing the way we eat and produce food.

What To Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How To Find It, and Why It Matters by Marion Nestle (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, November 11): This volume is an update of the 2006 book by the acclaimed 89-year-old nutritionist. But, the author assures us, this is an “almost entirely new book—new information, new examples, whole new chapters.” It’s a reassuring handbook for consumers that walks us through the aisles of the supermarket and offers expert advice. Our starred review calls it “essential reading for anyone who cares about how we fuel ourselves.” And isn’t that everyone?

Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson

TOM BEER

The Food Issue

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Contributing Writers

GREGORY McNAMEE

MICHAEL SCHAUB

Contributors

Colleen Abel, Stephanie Anderson, Kent Armstrong, Mark Athitakis, Kit Ballenger, Colette Bancroft, Audrey Barbakoff, Nell Beram, Elizabeth Bird, Christopher A. Biss-Brown, Sarah Blackman, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Jessica Hoptay Brown, Cliff Burke, Ana Cackley, Kevin Canfield, Timothy Capehart, Tobias Carroll, Charles Cassady, Ann Childs, Alec B. Chunn, K.W. Colyard, Jeannie Coutant, Michael Deagler, Dave DeChristopher, Elise DeGuiseppi, Lisa Dennis, Steve Donoghue, Anna Drake, Jacob Edwards, Gina Elbert, Lisa Elliott, Chelsea Ennen, Ilana Bensussen Epstein, Kristen Evans, Rosalind Faires, Joshua Farrington, Eiyana Favers, Katie Flanagan, Amy Seto Forrester, Catherine Foster, Ayn Reyes Frazee, Jenna Friebel, Laurel Gardner, Jean Gazis, Amanda Gefter, Sydney Geyer, Chloé Harper Gold, Carol Goldman, Amy Goldschlager, Christine Gross-Loh, Silvia Lin Hanick, Peter Heck, Lynne Heffley, Ralph Heibutzki, Mara Henderson, Zoe Holland, Ashley Holloway, Katrina Niidas Holm, Terry Hong, Kathleen T. Isaacs, Darlene Ivy, Kristen Jacobson, Matt Jakubowski, Kerri Jarema, Danielle Jones, Betsy Judkins, Deborah Kaplan, Lavanya Karthik, Ivan Kenneally, Tasmiha Khan, Colleen King, Stephanie Klose, Lyneea Kmail, Maggie Knapp, Jennie Knuppel, Andrea Kreidler, Priti Krishtel, Susan Kusel, Megan Dowd Lambert, Christopher Lassen, Tom Lavoie, Seth Lerer, Coeur de Lion, Barbara London, Patricia Lothrop, Wendy Lukehart, Kyle Lukoff, Michael Magras, Joan Malewitz, Thomas Maluck, Collin Marchiando, Gabriela Martins, J. Alejandro Mazariegos, Breanna McDaniel, Kathleen McLaughlin, Cari Meister, Kathie Meizner, Clayton Moore, Andrea Moran, Jennifer Nabers, Christopher Navratil, Randall Nichols, Dan Nolan, Ari Nussbaum, Tori Ann Ogawa, Hannah Onstad, Mike Oppenheim, Emilia Packard, Nina Palattella, Megan K. Palmer, Hal Patnott, Bethanne Patrick, Tara Peace, Rebecca Perry, John Edward Peters, Jim Piechota, Christofer Pierson, Shira Pilarski, Carolyn Quimby, Kristy Raffensberger, Kristen Bonardi Rapp, Kristen Rasmussen, Darryn Reams, Stephanie Reents, Peter Richardson, Jasmine Riel, Erica Rivera, Amy Robinson, Gia Ruiz, Lloyd Sachs, Bob Sanchez, Julia Sangha, Caitlin Savage, Meredith Schorr, Will Schube, Sadaf Siddique, Linda Simon, Laurie Skinner, Wendy Smith, Leena Soman, Margot E. Spangenberg, Andria Spencer, Allison Staley, Daneet Steffens, Mathangi Subramanian, Deborah Taylor, Dick Thompson, Renee Ting, Lenora Todaro, Amanda Toth, Francesca Vultaggio, Angela Wiley, Paul Wilner, Kerry Winfrey, Marion Winik, Carrie Wolfson, Jean-Louise Zancanella

NOW SERVING: FOOD IN FICTION

KIRAN DESAI’S The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny (Hogarth, September 23) is 704 pages long, and what better way to draw the reader in than to start with the day’s menu?

“The sun was still submerged in the wintry murk of dawn when Ba, Dadaji, and their daughter, Mina Foi, wrapping shawls closely about themselves, emerged upon the veranda to sip their tea and decide, through vigorous process of elimination, their meals for the rest of the day.”

There will be kebabs for dinner, and the mutton is already marinating. Should they have cauliflower or spinach?

Ba and Dadaji are worried about their granddaughter, Sonia, who’s lonely in America, so they call her and learn that she’s eating Tomato Tigers, “which are tomatoes and cheese on a toasted English muffin with curry powder on top.” She’s having “brownies with ice cream, pecan pie, and blueberry pie” for dessert. “Just to contemplate such lavish mysteries made Mina Foi faint with heartbreak.”

Though Desai’s delightfully juicy novel isn’t

about food, per se, it’s a perfect example of the way food can help create vivid characters and make the reader want to sit down at the table with them. Other recent books, though, put food right at the center of the action.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle (Simon & Schuster, May 20): Kostya Duhovny is 10 when his father dies. A year later, he gets an odd taste in his mouth: pechonka, his dad’s favorite food. Even odder, he tastes the foods of other dead people. When his landlord tells him that his rent is going up but that he’s sorry, Kostya is furious until he starts to taste “ delicate flakes of frozen limoncello, scraped with a fork, spooned into a hollowed-out rind and [feels], without really knowing how, that the landlord was being sincere.

That he really was sorry. That he’d lost someone once and remembered how it ached.” When he grows up, Kostya  opens a restaurant that summons ghosts for grieving survivors— at a price. Our review says “Lavelle spins a twisty plot filled with mouthwatering descriptions of food and some very hungry ghosts.… a tasty variation on the supernatural thriller.”

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz (Tordot.com, August 5): After a war has led California to secede from the U.S., four robots find that the San Francisco takeout spot where they’d been working has been abandoned by its owners, so they decide to reopen as the best noodle shop around— hoping no one will notice that what they’re doing is illegal. How do they figure out what tastes good to humans? “Preferences could

be affected by seemingly irrelevant details like where the human had lived, who had fed them as a child, how much money they had, and even their psychological health.” Our starred review calls the book “both heartwarming and pointed.”

Cheesecake by Mark Kurlansky (Bloomsbury, July 15): Revolving around the Katz Brothers Greek Diner on Manhattan’s Upper West Side from the 1970s through the ’90s, Kurlansky’s first novel (following many foodcentric nonfiction books) is a colorful evocation of a food- and family-obsessed milieu. You’ll want to run out and try a piece of New York cheesecake when you’re finished; I recommend Junior’s.

Laurie Muchnick is the fiction editor.

LAURIE MUCHNICK

Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson

EDITOR’S PICK

A brilliant epic follows four Georgian friends through the tragedies of their country and the challenges of their lives.

Haratischwili’s masterful novel unfolds over two alternating timelines— one, a single night at a photography retrospective in Brussels in 2019, brings three long-separated friends together; the other ranges through the decades that define their friendship, beginning in the late 1980s in a shared apartment courtyard in Tbilisi, Georgia, a few years before the fall of the Soviet Union, continuing as the former Soviet Republic tumbles into criminality, mob rule, and the threat of civil war. The exhibition celebrates the work of their fourth friend, Dina, who died by suicide 20 years earlier—a fact we learn in

the first chapter but come to fully understand only 700 eagerly turned pages later. The narrator is Keto, who grows up in a delightfully quirky household with two battling grandmothers, a widowed physicist father, and a beloved older brother; the story follows her friendships with brilliant Ira, daring Dina, and beautiful Nene, the darling daughter of a mobster family, from their schoolyard beginnings, through young loves, emerging talents, and life-changing decisions, everything thrown into high relief by the unfolding disaster around them. Ferrante lovers will find many echoes of the Neapolitan novels here, the plot similarly featuring almost mythic levels of intensity in love and grief, centering the importance

The Lack of Light: A Novel of Georgia

of women’s friendship. An unexpectedly moving translators’ note says that the novel, while not autobiographical, is probably Haratischwili’s “most personal work to date,” a history strongly felt in myriad gorgeously written summary passages like this one: “We, the children of the nineties, who swapped our childhood and youth for

Kalashnikovs and heroin—we, of all people, listened to Barry White and longed for nothing more than eternal love and the ecstatic fruits of that love, for fun and excitement. We, of all people, let the music play And how! We played it right to the bitter end.”

A thrilling, heartbreaking, unforgettable story. Not a page too long.

A languorously unfurling novel that rewards the reader’s attention and time.

BIG KISS, BYE-BYE

Big Kiss, Bye-Bye

Bennett, Claire-Louise | Riverhead (224 pp.)

$29 | October 21, 2025 | 9798217046645

A writer recounts the dissolution of a relationship through the lens of her experience, not her art. When the novel opens, the narrator and her erstwhile lover, Xavier, are already estranged. Xavier is much older, and the last time she’d seen him, three months earlier, she’d said she didn’t want to kiss him, citing his age. Xavier cut off the relationship. He will have to find someone “more suitable,” he’d said in an email, and furthermore, her most recent book, which she’d given him at lunch, was “some kind of HELL.” They haven’t communicated since then, and the speaker, though so hurt by Xavier’s reaction to her book that she describes herself as “winded,” reacts to his rejection with equanimity. “He might be old, and he really is very old now,” she says, “but that doesn’t stop him from hurting and wanting.” The rest of this languid, sensuous book—the term novel is too prescriptive for a project that dismisses all impetus toward narrative progression—is very much focused on this sense of wanting. The speaker’s identity as a successful writer is a central point throughout (she receives communications from her publisher; her former A-level English teacher contacts her to say he’s read her first two novels), yet she doesn’t view her world through an artist’s lens, but rather with the immediacy of a body’s experience. Former lovers, including Xavier, are detailed with the same kind

of transcendent sensitivity that is employed in a nonerotic context to describe bouquets of flowers, the logistics of ocean swimming, conversations with friends in the backs of cars, the beauty of a well-made fire. The speaker’s exquisite sensibility, and her assured sense of her own perceptions, provides a throughline for the pastiche of scenes, dreams, and conversations that make up this book. Where their lack of continuity might discourage some readers, the treatment of Xavier as he loops through the book’s past, present, and—perhaps—future reminds us that the goal of art is sometimes to see clearly and specifically what is there to be seen, with no duty to dictate its progress or its outcome. A languorously unfurling novel that rewards the reader’s attention and time.

We Bring You an Hour of Darkness

Bourne, Michael | DoppelHouse Press (288 pp.) | $19.95 paper | October 14, 2025 9781954600263

A feisty Western newspaper sheds light on eco-terrorists.

In Elkhorn Canyon, Oregon, a man explodes a small bomb that temporarily disrupts power in the area. The ominous note he leaves behind reads, “We bring you an hour of darkness.” This is the work of the Jack Frost Collective, a small group dedicated to stopping development of a new ski resort in a forested area where a lynx is rumored to live. Damage and

disruption are minimal, as intended. Although local citizens call the group members eco-terrorists, they have no intention of harming anyone, ever. That’s a dramatic lowering of the stakes, which is fine for the locals but deflating for readers. Almost no one is ever in physical danger, not even Tish Threadgill, editor of the Flyer, the underdog daily newspaper scrambling to scoop the more powerful Bulletin, nicknamed the Bully, to get to the bottom of the story. Meanwhile, the Collective’s tactics are curious. For example, they burn a man’s house only after ensuring that no one is inside. In fact, they remove all furniture and personal belongings and set them on the lawn out of harm’s way. Inspired by the 1971 novel A Screwdriver in the Gears, these people want to hurt no one, so “terror” overstates the case. The stakes are high for the Franklin Skiing Co., of course, but also for Tish, the protagonist, and her hard-working staff. Not only must they fight to get the story, but she must also fight to make payroll in the light of pressure from the bank. The Flyer ’s very existence could be on the line, which for the story outweighs the ski resort controversy. The dedicated employees and the constant pressure they face offer a glimpse into the realities of a smalltown newspaper. Tish is an admirable person, but the solution to her financial woes is no surprise and recalls the deus ex machina of ancient Greek plays. Imperfect but enjoyable and nonviolent.

In a Distant Valley

Bowring, Shannon | Europa Editions (336 pp.) | $19 paper | October 7, 2025 9798889661405

A rural town in northern Maine finds its way forward after a young woman’s sudden death. For her third and final novel about the “picturesque, neighborly, silent town” of Dalton,

Bowring picks up her story in 1995, shortly after the conclusion of Where the Forest Meets the River (2024). Single dad Nate Theroux, back to work as a police officer, still feels “every part of him vibrant with grief” since his wife, Bridget, took her own life more than five years ago. Yet he’s finally feeling open to “the potential of what his life could open up to become.” He’s slowly falling for Rose Douglas, a single mother of two, but her alcoholic ex, Tommy Merchant, is ever-present, insisting he can be a good dad to their sons. This budding romance, threatened by violence from Tommy, yields some of the novel’s most gorgeous moments, as Rose and Nate navigate each other’s emotional defenses. College kid Greg Fortin, who is bisexual, finds himself suddenly drawn to a high school friend, Angela Muse. Bowring gives Angela, previously a minor character, a full backstory, including trauma she’s hidden from her family. To her ever-lively, assured prose, Bowring adds small moments of the otherworldly, to show Bridget’s lingering presence, and some jarring crassness at times, but there’s still plenty of humor, wisdom, and ethical complexity. At one point, Nate recalls Bridget saying, “the damage doesn’t end once the last bruise has faded.” Which could be a coda for all we’ve learned about Dalton. These linked, layered relationships have yielded deep pain and grief, along with many forms of complex love. It’s greatly fulfilling to see in these characters’ lives that if you keep going, you might actually find not just one, but many loves in a lifetime.

A fine, satisfying end to the Dalton cycle of novels.

Kirkus Star

Listen

Bronwasser, Sacha | Trans. by David Colmer | Penguin (240 pp.) | $18 paper November 11, 2025 | 9780143138464

Bronwasser’s second novel takes a studied look at how “the banal and the exceptional” interact in the lives of three relative strangers.

Although the author insists that “every story rests on three points,” two of her three linchpins never meet. Florence da Silva teaches photography at an unnamed university in the Netherlands, traveling to Paris only briefly when her rising fame demands it. Damaged middle manager Philippe Lambert, on the other hand, rarely leaves the city, even though his wife, Laurence, who works for Air France, travels the Continent extensively. Marie, their point of intersection, comes to Paris from the Netherlands after a shocking betrayal leads her to bury herself in the daily drudgery of work as an au pair. If Flo has taught Marie anything, it’s the difference between looking and seeing, and through her eyes, the reader discovers a Paris seldom visible. Scuttling back and forth between Philippe’s cramped apartment in the banlieue and her dreary servant’s room on the eighth floor of the building housing his parents’ spacious flat, she rides the Metro underneath the ChampsÉlysées, attends language class near the Sorbonne, and walks Philippe and Laurence’s two children in the park, always adjacent to but never quite able to access the City of Light. Beneath Bronwasser’s tight narrative beats the drum of a sinister force that surfaces in the attacks that rock the city periodically between 1986 and 2015. More terrifying than anything the terrorists can concoct is the pain people can inflict on each other, whether from deliberate malice, toxic indifference, or horribly bungled efforts to forge a

misguided connection. Between the banal and the extraordinary, the banal wins by a mile.

Bronwasser makes the banal exceptional with an eye that not only looks but sees.

Simone in Pieces

Burroway, Janet | Univ. of Wisconsin (256 pp.) | $18.95 paper | November 4, 2025 9780299353841

“Do you think it is possible to write a life of anyone? I doubt it, because people are all over the place.”

Burroway opens her latest with this epigraph from Virginia Woolf, then rises to the challenge, telling the life of a woman who is very much all over the place, employing an approach equally wide-ranging. In chapters spanning the years from 1940 to 2000, visiting locations in Belgium, England, and the U.S., using a whole orchestra of first- and third-person narrators as well as epistolary chapters, Burroway follows the trajectory of Simone Lerrante from orphaned World War II refugee through established American academic to Florida coastal retiree. We first see her through the eyes of one of the crew on the trawler that picks her up offshore in Ostend, Belgium:

“Skinny as a rail she was, and her coat too small, though it was posh—velvet collar and that. I wrapped her up, and she says, po-faced, ‘My father arrives not. I arrive alone.’ She says, ‘My fah-zer.’ I knew better than to ask.”

Subsequent chapters track her peregrinations from one short-term lodging to the next, gingerly homing in on the tall, slender, intelligent, and traumatized character. Finally we sneak into close third-person narrative, and at long last, first-person, hearing her impressions directly. But as her destiny unfolds and the threads of the story loop in and out, other characters and perspectives never stop grabbing the mic. Incredibly prolific, multigenre

For more by Shannon Bowring, visit Kirkus online.

author Burroway is possibly best known for her textbook, Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, first published in 1982 and still widely in use. The current novel might also be thought of as a guide to writing fiction, putting on display a wide array of techniques for portraying a character and unfolding a story. As Simone creates collages from fragments of photographs, this novel delivers similar aesthetic surprise and satisfaction.

Herculine

Byron, Grace | Saga/Simon & Schuster (272 pp.) | $28 | October 7, 2025

9781668087862

A 20-something woman discovers that that an all-trans, allfemale commune is too good to be true in this debut novel. Trans and bisexual in New York, stymied in her desire to be a journalist “like all the other Hot Freelance Girls,” and unsuccessfully saving money for bottom surgery, the unnamed protagonist of Byron’s novel has plenty to deal with before you take into account that she faces sleep paralysis demons almost every night. She might be able to write off these nightly visitors as the unfortunate consequences of a religious upbringing in Indiana that included three brutal years of conversion therapy and a personal interest in demonology—if only they weren’t starting to show up when she’s still awake. Into this mix comes an umpteenth invitation from Ash, her ex-girlfriend and fellow Indiana native, to join a self-sufficient rural community named for 19th-century intersex memoirist Herculine Barbin that Ash insists is “not a cult.”

Disillusioned by the city’s hyper-competitive social scene and hoping a new setting might help chase the nightmares away, the narrator journeys back to the Midwest. But once there, she

A worker at a center for haunted objects tells a series of ghost stories.

MIDNIGHT TIMETABLE

begins to discover that some utopias come with high price tags. Byron has rich veins to mine—religious shame, the commodification of trauma, the lengths people will go in the name of bodily autonomy, and the limits of solidarity—but she misses opportunities to fully delve into these ideas and all their complications. The supporting characters are thinly drawn, the pacing is uneven, and the narrator’s disaffection and reluctance to take concrete action in the face of escalating violence may emotionally distance some readers from even the novel’s most disquieting sequences.

Creepy and crawly but not quite hair-raising, the book struggles to find its footing as either literary fiction or horror.

Midnight Timetable: A Novel in Ghost Stories

Chung, Bora | Trans. by Anton Hur Algonquin (208 pp.) | $18.99 paper September 30, 2025 | 9781643756639

A worker at a research center for haunted objects tells a series of ghost stories to her underling.

In Korean, the word to denote a senior colleague is “sunbae.” In Chung’s “novel in ghost stories,” the first-person narrator—an employee at “the Institute,” a place where researchers study supernatural items—relies on her sunbae not just for instructions on how to be a proper employee (turn off your phone at work; never look behind you) but for storytelling. The stories feature the employees and objects of

the Institute, and images and dialogue loop and recur across the book. Often, an object appears in one story only to have its haunted origin revealed in a subsequent narrative. In “Cursed Sheep,” for example, a paranormal content creator thinks getting a job at the Institute will skyrocket him to a massive following; instead, he suffers a hallucinatory trip through the building, dodging sheep in the stairwells and bugs underfoot that are not quite what they seem. In “Silence of the Sheep,” the sunbae tells the story of the Institute’s deputy director, who once worked as a fortune teller with the help of a prognosticating sheep who also serves as an experimental research subject at a local veterinary college. The recurrences and doublings contribute to the atmosphere of genuine dread, as do the narratives’ structures, which are often stories within stories within stories. The labyrinthine construction mirrors the Institute itself, the shifting mystery at the center of the book. One of Chung’s great strengths has always been social critique, and these tales cleverly examine the ways that vulnerable people—queer people, divorced women, the disabled, people saddled with debt—are society’s “ghosts,” who, rather than haunt others after death, must fight for justice and survival in the here and now.

Inventive, layered, and deliciously weird.

For more by Bora Chung, visit Kirkus online.

People’s Choice Literature:

The Most Wanted and Unwanted Novels

Comitta, Tom | Columbia Univ. (584 pp.) $100 | June 3, 2025 | 9780231219273

Comitta’s latest gives readers two very different novels to consider. What are fiction readers actually looking for? It’s a question many authors and pundits have sought to answer, but few have consulted a wide-ranging survey and then set out to write two books. As the author explains, of the two novels here, there is “one containing everything that received the most votes in each question and another with everything that received the fewest or no votes.”

The result is something akin to Raymond Queneau’s Exercises in Style, but with more grieving FBI agents, cybernetic eyes, and occasional authorial asides. The Most Wanted Novel is about a young woman working for D.J., a tech CEO whose ambitious products mask a sinister agenda. Here, readers will encounter a utopian community on the site of Alcatraz, a murder committed by driverless car and “a black-light poster of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon signed ‘to D. J.’” If that all seems generic, well, that’s the point—and the self-consciously cliched narrative still has plenty of momentum. The Most Unwanted Novel is much longer, features a character named Lord Tickletext, werewolf firefighters, and a six-page passage listing all the books on a series of shelves. The author periodically explains the reasoning behind certain decisions: “Christmas? Tennis? Aristocrats? That’s right. No one wants to read about them. Or, more precisely, very few people want them when faced with other options.” It’s an occasionally bizarre reading experience, but it also feels like a funhouse mirror of both airport fiction and experimental literature. And if the whole thing feels at times like an

ornate prank, at least Comitta embraces its absurdity wholeheartedly. One of the strangest literary double features in recent memory.

Near Flesh

Dunn, Katherine | MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux (272 pp.) | $27 October 7, 2025 | 9780374602352

An outsider author’s posthumous career continues with her first story collection. As Dunn’s 1989 novel, Geek Love, continues to charm fans old and new, her star has continued to ascend since her death in 2016; this collection follows a well-received posthumous novel, Toad (2022). It contains stories that were published during her lifetime in the New Yorker, Redbook, and elsewhere, as well as many not seen until now. For those familiar with her work, one of the main pleasures of the book is noticing her preoccupations and following the connections; plots revolving around amputated limbs and people falling from buildings will come as no surprise. This horror-adjacent work and the somewhat-deranged everywoman character at the center of stories like “The Education of Mrs. R,” “The Novitiate,” and “A Revelation of Mrs. Andes” connect Dunn to her contemporary Rachel Ingalls (Mrs. Caliban). “The Resident Poet” seems an outtake from or a warm-up for Toad , with the same protagonist, Sally, and a setting inspired by Dunn’s two years at Reed College. A self-conscious character like Sally is also central to “Near Flesh,” a dark satire about a corporate manager who has four sex robots: Wimp, Lips, Bluto, and the Brain, the last of whom she’s afraid of because it knows her too well. Fat and unhappy is also the plight of the teen character in “The Allies”: miserable on Earth, she may be moving on to life with extraterrestrials. “Rhonda

Discovers Art” originally ran in the Paris Review as an excerpt from the novel that was to follow, Geek Love, but never came out, though Dunn worked on it for many years. Rhonda, who committed a murder in her youth, becomes obsessed with a performance artist who enacts near-death experiences on stage. She’s also the protagonist of “Screaming Angel,” which is set at a boxing match, another of Dunn’s major preoccupations. These sharp-edged, disturbing, often black-humored and unabashedly nasty stories will fascinate Dunn fans.

The Museum of Future Mistakes

Gapinski, James R. | BOA Editions (162 pp.) | $19 paper | October 7, 2025 9781960145864

Miracles big and small (though always unexplainable) animate the satirical, whimsical tales in this collection. Beginning with the title story, Gapinski delights in puzzling phenomena that alter the lives of their characters in ways both monumental and mundane. The narrator in that story has “a gold membership for the Museum of Future Mistakes,” which offers insight into any wrong decisions he’ll make, allowing him to live his life in a frictionless manner. When he spots a statue of his girlfriend, Devin, he begins to panic. The foreboding monument leaves him doubting the validity of both his relationship and the museum itself, creating a chicken-egg paradox in which he’s left to decipher whether the mistake is the relationship itself or what will happen when it ends. “Saw Act” features a magician, Magesto, and their assistant, Malvina, who perform a trick with a saw so unbelievable it launches them to great levels of fame. When Magesto—who receives almost all the credit for the trick despite it being Malvina’s routine— attempts to learn how it’s done, their career begins to fall apart. Greed leads

many of these characters down impossible-to-navigate paths, like the couple in “Fruit Rot.” An unnamed narrator and their partner, Lacey, discover that a tree in their house cures all diseases. They exploit the inexplicable phenomenon and receive great wealth as a result, moving from near-poverty to building an entire compound in their neighborhood. Unexpected side effects of the cure are utilized for nefarious purposes, leaving Lacey and the narrator to reckon with the weapon they’ve unleashed. Each of these stories begins with an entirely outsidethe-box premise. The characters are faced with moral quandaries meant to prod their ethics. More often than not, they fail to live up to the moment.

Gapinski’s gift is in treating strange situations matter-of-factly, testing characters with temptation.

Kirkus Star

Open Wide

Gross, Jessica | Abrams (272 pp.) $28 | August 5, 2025 | 9781419778988

An insecure New York radio host finds a way to always be with her boyfriend: by jumping inside his body. Olive interviews writers for a living, getting them to open up about their artistic processes. An audiophile since childhood, 33-yearold Olive has the unsettling habit of surreptitiously recording all her conversations. She stockpiles these snippets of life, a form of intimacy and control. When she meets Theo, a hunky surgeon, the recorder is on, giving her a perpetual loop of their meet-cute. When Theo finds out about the weeks of recordings of

runs, dinners, sex, and more, he’s initially outraged. But he’s a little quirky, too—he has a collection of hair ties and notes found on the subway, some tissue from a patient—and soon recording becomes a kind of foreplay. But this is not enough for Olive, who watches Theo’s building on nights they’re not together, and is resentful of anything that occupies his attention. One night while hunching over his sleeping body, she pulls his teeth apart and splits his body down the middle, steps inside (shrinking to appropriate size), and snuggles between his beating, slushing organs, becoming covered in fatty ooze. Finally satisfied with this level of closeness, she becomes addicted to “climbing” into sleeping Theo and eventually brings her recording equipment. Things get weirder from there. Raising interesting questions about boundaries within relationships (Olive suspects her own clingy mother used to climb into her), the novel literalizes the romantic trope of becoming one with your partner, while ingeniously satirizing female neediness. There is a predatory nature to Olive’s possessiveness—or is that love?

A rom-com inside a body horror story, or a philosophical examination of love as obsession.

Porthole

Howard, Joanna | McSweeney’s (323 pp.) $28 | June 17, 2025 | 9781963270280

At an unusual sanatorium, a troubled film director reflects on the derailment of her career. An accident on the set of a movie called Sanguine Season, filming in South America, has taken the life of

A film director reflects on the derailment of her career.

auteur Helena Désir’s leading man, Corey, and the studio has sent her to Jaquith House to pull herself together— that much is clear. Much is not in this dreamlike novel so drenched in the spirit of French New Wave film that it’s a bit of shock to realize that it’s apparently set in the present day, for example when it’s mentioned that phones are not allowed at the asylum, or when Corey’s manner of speaking is characterized as a “pastiche of Euro-Zen sport-drink affirmations.”

Jaquith House is a “very special collective,” according to its director, Dr. Duvaux, who explains, “Helena, I think you will find that even our sufferers are apt in their sensitivities, and that our aides-de-camp are investigating their own psychic crenellations via their practice.”

In other words, the inmates are running the asylum. Chapters alternate between Helena’s bizarre encounters with the other residents (one of them seemingly enters her room through a tapestry on the wall) and her recollections of her career and her three leading men. As she tells Duvaux, “I don’t have lovers, Doctor. I have actors with benefits. I am not in a nineteenth-century novel.” No, she definitely is not. She is in a surreal, archly philosophical, often cryptic, definitely sardonic novel about…the costs of making art? the abuses of power in that process? If you love Jean-Luc Godard and Agnès Varda, if you can’t get enough of Last Year at Marienbad (which gets a shoutout early on)—this book may be for you. An unsympathetic main character and static plot make this heady confection a challenging read.

Queen Esther

Irving, John | Simon & Schuster (432 pp.) $30 | November 4, 2025 | 9781501189449

After 40 years, Irving returns to the setting of The Cider House Rules (1985) with another sprawling epic, this one keyed to the adoption of a 4-year-old Jewish girl amid rampant antisemitism.

Born in Vienna in 1905, Esther Nacht became parentless after her father died from pneumonia during their trans-Atlantic voyage to Portland, Maine, and her mother was mysteriously bludgeoned to death after their arrival. Smart and strong-willed but painfully naive, Esther lives at the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine, before she’s taken in by the Winslows, a philanthropic, non-Jewish, eccentrically nonbelieving New Hampshire couple—the only people open to adopting a Jewish child. They do their best to help her learn “how to be a Jew.” In return, she will do anything for them, including having a baby for their childbirth-fearing youngest daughter, Honor, after becoming her nanny. Obsessed with Jewish history, Esther moves back to Europe and eventually to Israel. The eras-spanning novel becomes mostly about her birth child, Jimmy Winslow, a film buff and future novelist who goes to Germany, where he falls in with a female tutor who conducts sessions in his bedroom; a lesbian who “wants to try it with a guy”; and various candidates Honor urges him to “knock up” to avoid the Vietnam draft. But Esther continues influencing family matters from afar through various world conflicts. This long churn of a novel is stuffed with the usual cutesy Irvingisms, including digressions about penises and circumcision and an uncomfortable consideration of young Esther’s bare chest, on which she wants to tattoo a long quote from Jane Eyre. The book can be amusing and its underlying themes of identity and belonging, survival and personal freedom sometimes resonate. But Irving’s treatment of antisemitism comes awfully close to being another stunt. A sequel for committed Irving fans only.

The Little Lights of Town

Johnson, Jonathan | Carnegie Mellon Univ. Press (152 pp.) | $24 paper October 7, 2025 | 9780887487194

Men and women wrestle with ethical challenges. There’s a brief moment in the story “Driving Plow, 1992” that feels representative of this collection as a whole:

“There’s no risk driving hard. I know the road.” The author and his characters are very familiar with the landscape, which is frequently somewhere in Michigan. And the prose on display is lyrical with a sense of place firmly embedded, as in this line from “Presque Isle”: “If the dusk air is clear over the water, we can glimpse the first flashes of the Granite Island lighthouse on the horizon.” That story opens the collection, and gives a sense of the ethical and personal dilemmas at stake here: The narrator works as the caregiver for Jake, a quadriplegic composer. She’s also reckoning with whether she has romantic feelings for him, and the complex emotions that line of thought summons up drives the story toward its conclusion. Jake reappears in a supporting role in “The Call,” about a priest undergoing a crisis of faith. Some of the ethical dilemmas here are more fraught than others; the narrator of “Smartweed, Foxglove” struggles with his emotions after a friend kills a girl with his car. Other stories follow men and women in more self-imposed conundrums. The narrator of “Notes From the End of My Occupational Life” meticulously explains his decision to opt out of traditional employment: “I sometimes think that my not-working is the pinnacle of pragmatism, the culmination of thirty years of my personal mental evolution towards practicality.” The combination of memorable characters, thoughtful conflicts, and evocative prose makes for a compelling and immersive book. A thoughtful exploration of troubled lives across the state of Michigan.

Other People’s Fun

Lane, Harriet | Little, Brown (208 pp.) | $29 November 4, 2025 | 9780316369947

A portrait of toxic friendship between a woman who has everything and one who has lost what little she ever had.

“Old school friends” would be the easy label for what Sookie Utley and Ruth Saving are to one another, though they’ve had no contact in the decades since they left their fancy British boarding school, and they weren’t friends back then, either. Sookie remembers Ruth only because she let her crib from her essays; Ruth remembers the beautiful and popular Sookie primarily for fainting during a school concert, at which point the music teacher Ruth herself was infatuated with—Ian Waxham—lifted Sookie up and carried her out “like that scene in An Officer and a Gentleman.” Ruth is a familiar creepy character in the emotional thriller genre: socially awkward, miserably lonely, insecure, jealous, judgmental, mildly kleptomaniac. And, though the exact nature of her husband’s disappearance is withheld for so long that you start to suspect funny business, he has simply left her for another woman. What won’t Ruth do to make herself feel better? Filching Sookie’s Stella McCartney sunglasses is clearly just step one. Despite the fact that she can’t stand her, Ruth acquiesces to Sookie’s need for a doormat friend she can burden with her endless self-involved chatter, which revolves around her irritating first-world problems and her extramarital affair with…none other than ol’ Waxham! In fact, she and Waxham need a spot to rendezvous. How about Ruth’s place? This short novel tracks Ruth’s growing need and evolving schemes for revenge, its predictable lineaments invigorated by Lane’s sharp writing and observational skills. If Lane is ready to try her talents on another type of story, readers will follow. Connoisseurs of queasy female self-hatred will find their favorite dish here.

For more by John Irving, visit Kirkus online.

With Friends Like These

Lee, Alissa | Emily Bestler/Atria (240 pp.)

$27 | November 4, 2025 | 9781668094006

Five 40-something Harvard alumnae are forced to confront the consequences of the dangerous tradition they started as students.

The Circus is a yearly tag-and-kill game narrator Sara and her former roommates Allie, Bee, Dina, and Wesley began while undergraduates. The game has kept them “tether[ed]” to each other for 20 years, but it’s also kept them connected to the memory of Claudine, the artist roommate who died during their traumatic senior-year playing of the game. When the story begins, Sara sees a woman resembling Claudine on the streets of New York. Haunted by the sighting, she decides to opt out of the 20th anniversary playing of the Circus until the women get together and Wesley tells them about the money—a few thousand dollars they had chipped in decades earlier to be given to the winner of the final contest has grown to nearly $1 million. With consummate skill and acuity, Lee explores the complicated relationships among the five main characters, and all their dreams. Sara, a former banker and struggling photographer, longs for a place in the art world Claudine once dreamed of inhabiting. Her closest friend, Dina, is on the verge of tenure at Harvard after years of unspoken struggle. Bee, a lawyer, seeks political office but is dogged by a smear campaign launched by Claudine’s mother. Wesley, though born to wealth, secretly hates both her controlling father and her profession and leans “on drink and drugs to make her feel sated.” And Allie, a busy working mother of three and the group’s unofficial “peacemaker,” bears a quiet exhaustion she refuses to acknowledge. Each equates Circus prize money with freedom, but when one of them is attacked and nearly killed, secrets begin to emerge that

change everything they believed about themselves and the ones they love. Fast paced and tightly plotted, Lee’s novel explores the complexities of female friendships against a quietly unsettling backdrop of privilege and ambition. An immersive novel that delivers suspense with style and intelligence.

Kirkus

Star

The Hunger We Pass Down

Lee, Jen Sookfong | Erewhon (304 pp.) | $28 September 30, 2025 | 9781645662808

The legacy of one house in Hong Kong haunts a woman in Vancouver, British Columbia, and her teenage daughter. In 1938, when kidnappers steal 13-year-old Gigi off the street in Hong Kong and lock her inside Nam Koo Terrace, she finds that the ghosts of several young women—a daughter, a mistress, and a maid—already haunt the halls. The palatial estate turned brothel is a prison for the living and the dead. Decades later, in Vancouver, Gigi’s great-granddaughter Alice begins losing time. A single mother of two who owns and operates her own cloth-diaper business, Alice has a lot of irons in the fire. She turns to alcohol to self-medicate, a symptom even her bartender situationship, Jas, notices. Maybe, she thinks, the booze is why she can’t remember packing orders for shipping, or completing her neglected housework, or telling Jas she’s ready to take things to the next level the way he wants. Unbeknownst to Alice, her

14-year-old daughter, Luna, who has always suffered from night terrors, is having dreams of Nam Koo Terrace. Meanwhile, Luna’s former nanny, Pinky, who still lives downstairs, notices a change in Alice—a change that could mean a monster from Pinky’s past has finally caught up to her. Lee’s novel is a claustrophobic tale told on an epic scale. Sections detailing the realities of Gigi’s life as a comfort woman are handled gracefully, without being either lurid or vague. Alice’s mother and grandmother step in as point-of-view characters late in the novel, completing the chain of women whose lives the ghosts of Nam Koo Terrace forever altered. Each woman’s story is as captivating—and each character as rounded—as the next. Lee has written a genuinely frightening story of rape, abuse, and neglect. A bold story of intergenerational trauma that creates spooky scares out of real-life atrocities.

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake

Linden, Rachel | Berkley (384 pp.) | $19 paper September 30, 2025 | 9780593816639

A desperate cookbook writer unearths a magical secret when she visits her family’s Italian olive farm. Juliana Costa loves nothing more than hosting her retro online cooking show, The Bygone Kitchen , with her roommate, Drew. She makes vintage recipes, like pandowdy and Jell-O salad, and her loyal viewers eat it up. Jules hopes to

An immersive novel that delivers suspense with style and intelligence.

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE

expand their show, but when Drew gets a big opportunity and moves on without her, she’s heartbroken. Worse, she has a cookbook under contract and her publisher doesn’t like the direction she’s taking. Her agent says they want her to have more of a personal connection to her recipes, and Jules is afraid she can’t provide that—after her father’s traumatic death years ago, she’s tried her best to not even think about her family’s past in Italy or the recipes that connect to her history. But now, with the threat of having to pay back her advance, she books a trip to visit her Nonna Bruna. Jules knows that if she can get her hands on Nonna’s book of family recipes, she’ll have more than enough material for her cookbook. With her teenage half sister, Alex, in tow, Jules shows up to discover that the cookbook is no mere collection of treasured recipes—it’s magic. It reveals only one recipe at a time, and that recipe will help the chef with some conundrum in their life. Jules must also deal with the reappearance of her first love, Nicolo, who has only grown more attractive since their teenage romance. As she and Nicolo work together to bring their families’ farms into the future, Jules starts to question what she really wants out of life. Linden blends romance and family drama as Jules uncovers secrets about her family, comes to terms with her father’s death, and gets to know Alex and Nonna. With so many plotlines, the pace can drag a bit at times, but the story is still filled to the brim with comfort and coziness. The detailed descriptions of Italian food don’t hurt, either—it’s hard to finish reading without wanting a taste of the titular orange blossom cake (recipe helpfully included!).

A super sweet, food-filled family story with a side of romance.

No Prisoners

Lynch, Thomas | Godine (272 pp.) | $30 September 2, 2025 | 9781567927054

prose is occasionally lyrical, but it’s more often florid, overstuffed with elaborate, frequently repetitive description. That’s magnified by the looping structure, which returns to the same events with an effect that’s dulling rather than dramatic. By the time Doyle succumbs, it’s old news. An insistently unlikable main character and redundant storytelling add up to an unsatisfying novel.

Ashes to Ashes

Maltman, Thomas | Soho (336 pp.) $29 | July 15, 2025 | 9781641296700

In small-town Minnesota, three teenagers face challenges to body and spirit. As Maltman’s fourth novel opens, the Lutheran residents of Andwhen, Minnesota, are discovering that the ashen crosses Pastor Breen marked on their foreheads at the start of Lent don’t wash off. Some believe this signifies a time of miracles, while 10th grader Basil Thorson takes it as inspiration to begin a fast in hopes that God will heal the physical and emotional wounds of his family. (His father was disabled in the process of saving Basil when he fell into the grain auger; his mother has been in a mental institution for years after having driven a car containing Basil and his little brother into the river.) Both Christian mysticism and Norse myth play a significant role in the unfolding plot; a purported 14th-century saga in verse is parceled out in eight “poetta fragments” between the prose chapters, one of which is narrated by a cow. If this sounds like a lot…it is. And that’s before the remains of a female Viking explorer turn up in a meadow. Six-foot-four, 200-plus pound, special-ed student Basil suffers from severe dyslexia and is taunted as “The Brute,” but fortunately finds respite in the friendship of Lukas Halvorsen

A 90-year-old man’s life story is told, and told again. This novel opens with musings about the memoir its protagonist meant to write, then abruptly switches to his funeral. Doyle Shields of Michigan—retired embalmer, Marine veteran, widower, and recovering alcoholic—has died at age 90, in the shower, while receiving oral sex. In its first chapter, the third-person narration describes him as someone who came to the enjoyment of reading only late in life, and notes that “reading had made Doyle all the more boorish, with mindless and unsolicited opinions and an inextinguishable flow of banter and blather.” The rest of the book sets out to prove it. It tells the story of Doyle’s life in spirals rather than a straight line, turning around his several obsessions. One is his horrific experiences as a teenage Marine in the South Pacific during World War II. Another is his long, mostly happy but ultimately unfulfilled marriage to Sally, whom he fell for in fifth grade and married right after the war. He sees it as unfulfilled because of another of his obsessions: oral sex, which Sally’s devout Catholicism ruled out as nonreproductive. (That leaves it forever conflated with religion in his mind, although he considers himself a nonbeliever.) After Sally’s death at 65, Doyle meets Johanna, an almost comically idealized younger lover who isn’t interested in marriage but puts up with his prattling and bossiness and seems as enthusiastic about giving and getting head as he is. He also hires an assistant and platonic companion, an even younger woman named Hypatia, whose main job seems to be to listen to him complain. There is emotional heft to some sections of the novel, especially the gruesome passages about the war. There are a few flashes of humor. The >>>

THE KIRKUS Q&A: ADAM ROBERTS

BY CORIN HIRSCH

How does one ghostwrite a cookbook for a celebrity who subsists on kale salads, tequila, and chaos?

With superhuman patience and a tolerance for 3 a.m. texts about Olive Garden, perhaps—at least in the fictional world of Adam Roberts’ debut novel, Food Person Published this spring, the book follows a freshly unemployed food writer who reluctantly agrees to “ghost” for a starlet weathering a career slump. In a starred review, a Kirkus critic calls Food Person “a confection—satisfyingly over the top—but with complex notes.”

Unlike his struggling protagonist, Isabella Pasternak, Roberts has an established profile in food media: He founded his food blog, The Amateur Gourmet, in 2004 (it’s now a Substack newsletter), has three nonfiction books under his belt, and counts nearly 90,000 Instagram followers. The idea for Food Person came to him after—well, ghostwriting a cookbook for a celebrity, one he won’t name (“I signed an NDA”) but has only kind words for.

Roberts, 46, who holds an MFA in dramatic writing from New York University, says the road to getting the book published was a long one. “Before I wrote this novel, I wrote a whole other novel that I didn’t show anybody,” he says. To see Food Person come to life is “a dream,” but just as Roberts began promoting the book, he received some jarring news that lent gravity to the moment.

Roberts spoke from his Brooklyn home via Zoom. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

quickly—it took a lot of work to get to that point.

What was your writing process like?

The best advice I got was from Stephen King’s book [On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft], which is to write 1,000 words a day. I do all my other stuff, such as the newsletter and emails, in the morning. Then I go to a coffee shop. I’ll drink an iced cortado in the summer, and a cappuccino or hot cortado in the winter, with oat milk. I won’t leave until I write 1,000 words. That’s the rule.

inspired your writing?

I read Calvin Trillin’s Feeding a Yen, and I loved it. He writes about food in an unpretentious, personal, funny way. That was the gateway drug. From there, I loved Ruth Reichl’s books, specifically Comfort Me With Apples and Garlic and Sapphires . Nora Ephron’s Heartburn was maybe the first work of fiction I read about food that was so up my alley. It’s character driven, it’s emotional, but it integrates food in a way that feels central to the story.

How long did it take to write Food Person?

To write this book took a year but to write the novel took 46 years. [Laughs.] I had a lot of false starts and a lot of bad writing along the way that I shoved aside.

For this novel, I bought a marker board and mapped

out the story in three acts, sort of like a screenplay. I wrote it in a couple of months, then I rewrote it. Then I had my husband read it, had some friends read it. Then I rewrote it again and sent it to my agent [Jenni Ferrari-Adler] and she said, “Let’s send it out.” It’s not like it happened

The great thing is that you wind up with clay, the raw ingredients. Once you have your first draft, then you can tear things out, move things around, rip it apart. The part I find difficult is reading [the first draft] back and not thinking it’s a piece of crap.

Which authors or books have

In terms of fiction, my favorite writers are nothing like the kind of writing I do. They’re aspirational, like Nabokov, Philip Roth. I really like Tolstoy, which sounds pretentious, but I read War and Peace over the pandemic.

The book is peppered with

Art mirrors life in this food writer’s debut novel.

Michael Sherman

Heartburn was maybe the first work of fiction I read about food that was so up my alley.

references to the current food scene in New York City. How has food media evolved in New York from when you started your blog 21 years ago?

There was a hot moment where Eater New York, Grub Street, and all these websites were almost like gossip columns, like Page Six for chefs. There was this sense you were in a secret cabal of food people who cared about other food people.

I think the change that’s happened is that social media, TikTok and Instagram, have globalized this phenomenon so that it’s not centralized in New York anymore. Now, people are making videos all around the world and becoming personalities. I used to be so “in it” in terms of knowing who the people were, who the editors and writers were. Now, I literally have no idea who the most popular food people are

Food Person

Roberts, Adam Knopf | 320 pp.| $28 | May 20, 2025 9780593803837

because they’re all on platforms I don’t understand, like Twitch or Snapchat. I’m just saying, I feel old now.

I lived in LA for 11 years and the food culture there was so small in terms of the people who populated it. When I moved back to New York two years ago, I felt like I was jumping into a crowded pool of people splashing around in all different areas. There are still so many people here working in food.

Recently, you posted on Instagram that while promoting your book, you received a surprising diagnosis. I titled that post “Every Silver Lining Has a Cloud,” as that’s how it felt. I was having such an incredible experience: To write a novel and to have Knopf publish it and to go on a book tour was beyond any dream I ever could have had.

In the midst of it, literally the week that I launched the book and had two events in New York, I popped into the neurologist’s office because I had this tremor the doctor wanted me to get checked out. I was fully expecting them to just say, “Oh, that’s an essential tremor,” which is what my primary doctor thought it was. And they were like, “No, you’re showing all the signs of Parkinson’s.” It was a record-scratch moment.

I don’t feel mentally different. My cognitive stuff is great. The physical stuff will be a challenge. Right now, I have a tremor in my hand, but it doesn’t affect my typing or my ability to get around. As I go along, I may have to adapt the way I approach writing.

The funny thing is that I’ve never been into exercise, and this diagnosis has led me to exercise

much more because it’s been proven to slow the progression of the disease. And so, in a funny twist, I feel great right now because I’m exercising.

What have you been eating this summer?

I’ve been eating a lot of yogurt bowls recently. It’s not that fancy, but I buy a lot of really good summer fruit, like greengage plums, beautiful yellow peaches, cherries. I’ve been swirling really good jam into yogurt, then I’ll slice up all this beautiful fruit as if I’m at a resort or something. I sprinkle it with granola, and I also have this thing called Yogurt Topping, from SOS Chefs [in New York City]. It’s the best postexercise summer meal I could imagine.

Corin Hirsch is a writer in Vermont.

AWARDS

Winner of the 2025 Inside Literary Prize Revealed

Chain-Gang All-Stars took home the award judged by readers who are incarcerated.

Nana Kwame AdjeiBrenyah has won the 2025 Inside Literary Prize, an award judged by incarcerated readers, for his novel Chain-Gang All-Stars

Adjei-Brenyah’s dystopian novel, published in 2023 by Pantheon, tells the story of two incarcerated women who are forced to compete for their freedom as gladiators in a series of fights to the death. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus wrote of the book, “Imagine The Hunger Games refashioned into a rowdy, profane, and indignant blues shout at full blast.”

The Inside Literary Prize was voted on by 300 incarcerated people in six states and territories across the U.S. One judge, identified only by his first name, Rolando, said of the winning

book, “I love it because it literally transports you into another world.”

Adjei-Brenyah said, “There is no question that this is the highest possible honor a book like this could ever receive. I take it to mean those who judged believed I was not careless or callous, that I use language in a way that felt like truth.”

The other finalists for the prize were This Other Eden by Paul Harding; On a Woman’s Madness, written by Astrid Roemer and translated by Lucy Scott; and Blackouts by Justin Torres.

The Inside Literary Prize was established last year by the nonprofit organization Freedom Reads with the National Book Foundation, the Center for Justice Innovation, and bookseller Lori Feathers.

—MICHAEL SCHAUB

For a review of Chain-Gang All-Stars, visit Kirkus online.

Beowulf Sheehan

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

IN THE NEWS

Martin Cruz Smith Dies at 82

The author introduced readers to detective Arkady Renko in his 1981 novel, Gorky Park.

Martin Cruz Smith, the author known for his series of suspense novels featuring Russian detective Arkady Renko, died on July 11, Simon & Schuster announced in a news release. The publisher did not give his age, but the Associated Press reports that he was 82. Smith, a Pennsylvania native, was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a journalist before making his literary debut in 1970 with the novel The Indians Won. He wrote several Western and spy novels before publishing Gorky Park in 1981. Adapted into a 1983 film starring William Hurt and Joanna Pacula, the novel introduced readers to Renko, who would feature in 10 more novels, including Polar Star, Havana Bay, Stalin’s Ghost, and, most recently, Hotel Ukraine, published in July. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called the novel “a rewarding read and a fine finale for the Smith-Renko team.”

Simon & Schuster says that Smith was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1995 but did not publicly disclose it until 2013. He wrote about Renko’s struggle with the same disease in Independence Square and Hotel Ukraine. In a statement, Smith’s wife, Emily Smith, called the author “a beloved husband, father and grandfather; an adventurer, traveler and researcher; and a man of deep humanity, humor and insight. He felt that he was the luckiest man alive.”

—M.S.

For reviews of Martin Cruz Smith’s books, visit

Kirkus online.

Martin Cruz Smith

A grim yet gleefully gratifying tale of lost innocence and found family.

THE INTRUDER

and Morgan Breen, son of the sheriff and daughter of the pastor, respectively. “We are the weirdest people in this school,” says Lukas. “A gay, a goth, and a giant,” adds Morgan, who introduces Basil to audiobooks and recorded poetry, inspiring him to memorize and frequently quote from Gerard Manley Hopkins. Meanwhile, it’s March 2020, so another big problem will soon be added to the burden of grief, homophobia, divorcing parents, a high-pressure wrestling coach and more faced by the trio. Where does hope lie? As the cow puts it: “In each dark eye, a galaxy. In our dreaming, a flight to the moon. In our lowing, a memory of a world yet wild with summer. Our kingdom come. Come.” Some readers gladly will, thrilling to the heights and depths of all these impassioned goings-on; let the cynics roll their eyes in the peanut gallery.

People who say that “Andwhen is a place where nothing ever happens” will certainly have to rethink their position.

The Intruder

McFadden, Freida | Poisoned Pen (288 pp.)

$27.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781464260919

A woman fears she made a fatal mistake by taking in a blood-soaked tween during a storm.

High winds and torrential rain are forecast for “The Middle of Nowhere, New Hampshire,” making Casey question the structural integrity of her ramshackle rental

cabin. Still, she’s loath to seek shelter with her lecherous landlord or her paternalistic neighbor, so instead she just crosses her fingers, gathers some candles, and hopes for the best. Casey is cooking dinner when she notices a light in her shed. She grabs her gun and investigates, only to find a rail-thin girl hiding in the corner under a blanket. She’s clutching a knife with “Eleanor” written on the handle in black marker, and though her clothes are bloody, she appears uninjured. The weather is rapidly worsening, so before she can secondguess herself, former Boston-area teacher Casey invites the girl—whom she judges to be 12 or 13—inside to eat and get warm. A wary but starving Eleanor accepts in exchange for Casey promising not to call the police—a deal Casey comes to regret after the phones go down, the power goes out, and her hostile, sullen guest drops something that’s a big surprise. Meanwhile, in interspersed chapters labeled “Before,” middle-schooler Ella befriends fellow outcast Anton, who helps her endure life in Medford, Massachusetts, with her abusive, neglectful hoarder of a mother. As per her usual, McFadden lulls readers using a seemingly straightforward thriller setup before launching headlong into a series of progressively seismic (and increasingly bonkers) plot twists. The visceral first-person, present-tense narrative alternates perspectives, fostering tension and immediacy while establishing character and engendering empathy. Ella and Anton’s relationship particularly shines, its heartrending authenticity counterbalancing some of the story’s soapier turns. A grim yet gleefully gratifying tale of lost innocence and found family.

Kirkus Star

Evensong

O’Nan, Stewart | Atlantic Monthly (304 pp.)

$28 | November 11, 2025 | 9780802166432

Older women grapple with changes in their lives and in Pittsburgh’s East End. Quarrelsome but inseparable sisters-in-law

Emily and Arlene will be familiar to readers of three previous novels about the Maxwell family (Henry, Himself, 2019, etc.); they are joined here by two other core members of the Humpty Dumpty Club, a social and mutual aid organization for senior citizens. At 63, Susie is “the baby of the group,” still active in their church choir (the rest have aged out) and building a new life after a divorce. Harassed Kitzi, whose husband has severe heart disease and needs considerable care, finds herself de facto leader of the club after their president, Joan, takes a bad fall and is hospitalized. There’s lots to deal with: The HDs have a long list of neighbors who need to be taken to doctors’ appointments, have prescriptions picked up or meals delivered. O’Nan, whose 18 previous novels range from gritty accounts of working-class life to international political thrillers, skillfully shifts among four points of view as he chronicles the HDs’ activities from September 2022 to January 2023. Kitzi frets about neglecting her husband as she gets enmeshed in the affairs of an elderly couple who live in squalor amid an army of cats and are threatened with eviction. Susie, tending to Joan’s apartment and cat, wages a covert power struggle with Joan’s daughter, whose visits from Austin, Texas, aren’t frequent or long enough for the disapproving HDs. Arlene struggles with increasingly serious memory lapses while Emily, though clearly worried about

her, serves mostly as a crochety voice at HD meetings. This frank depiction of people nearing the ends of their lives might sound bleak, but O’Nan’s brilliantly rendered characters refuse to be pitied, matter-of-factly accepting loss and physical decline as they go about their days quietly sustained by their faith and commitment to service. Unsentimental yet deeply moving: more wonderful work from the versatile, masterful O’Nan.

The Irish Goodbye

O’Neill, Heather Aimee | Henry Holt (288 pp.) | $28.99 | September 30, 2025

9781250408150

A family saga that marries time-tested tropes with distinctly modern dilemmas.

The Ryans have gathered for Thanksgiving on Long Island’s North Fork, and in spite of the three generations at the table, there’s a hole: Everyone misses Topher, whose death by suicide as a young adult they all blame on a 25-years-past boating tragedy involving a neighbor’s son. Topher’s parents, Nora and Robert; his siblings, Alice, Cait, and Maggie; his niece and nephews; his best friend, Luke Larkin—all remain devastated by the loss, and all have their own immediate problems, too. Nora, who grew up in a harsh Irish orphanage, clings to her Catholic faith; Robert tries and fails to keep up their large coastal home, known as the Folly. Scenes past and present exude authenticity, from teenagers pounding beers on a dock to the family vegan scarfing down a huge slice of apple pie with ice cream, on to Robert’s shooting of a rabid raccoon, his grandchildren looking on in horror. The family daughters are dutiful (Alice), distracted (Cait), and discombobulated (Maggie), each hiding something important from

the rest of the family for good reasons, but with terrible timing about what they tell to whom, when. They constantly speculate on what the others think and know and suspect as their perspectives hold sway over different chapters. Occasionally these different views wind up confusing: Is Cait’s son Finn older than his brother James? What happened to the Larkins? Who was Maggie’s old flame Sarah again? and so on. However, if the windup is a bit chaotic, the revelations are worth it, and show that even the most rigid members of a family can learn to bend when deep love and affection exist. An “Irish goodbye” refers to slipping out of a party early without thanks or leave-taking. O’Neill allows her entire cast of characters to exit on a beautiful, yet unresolved, note.

Fans of writers from Maeve Binchy to Alice McDermott to J. Courtney Sullivan will relish this big-hearted novel.

The

Emergency Packer, George | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (416 pp.) | $29 November 11, 2025 | 9780374614720

A doctor strives to preserve his family in the face of civic collapse. National Book Award winner Packer—for The Unwinding (2013)— wrote a pair of novels in the 1990s before establishing himself as a prolific reporter on the American scene. For his first work of fiction in the 21st century, he funnels his collected observations of a broken America into a dystopian allegory. Hugo Rustin, the novel’s protagonist, is a doctor and selfproclaimed champion of “humanism” who’s committed to finding common ground among factions. But since an unspecified “Emergency” has disrupted the country, everyone is too divided for such sentiment. The

nation is split between largely urban and educated Burghers, rural and rough-hewn Yeomen, and roving Strangers caught in the middle. And the Burghers are internally split among the spitefully unemployed (Excess Burghers), oversharing woke mobs, and those who think hightech bionics offer a way out (Better Humans). Plotwise, the novel follows Hugo and his 14-year-old daughter, Selva, as they head to Yeoman country to conduct a wellness check on a Stranger his wife had befriended, but it’s a journey into ideological bantering as much as a trip into a forest. As the editor of two collections of George Orwell’s writing, Packer is alert to the clarifying power of a clear allegory as well as potent storytelling. But while the novel is a crystal-clear commentary on a broken America in the Trump era, Packer can’t quite shake off years of operating in pundit mode, which makes for some clunky, declamatory passages: “Some mechanism beyond the timepiece itself seemed to have broken, as if the spirit in the civic machine that attuned everyone to its rhythms and kept the regular hours of their lives no longer moved.” Propulsive closing chapters return him to thriller mode, but he tests readers’ patience on the way there.

A thoughtfully imagined, if not always subtle, critique of our fractured moment.

Kirkus Star

The Hounding

Purvis, Xenobe | Henry Holt (240 pp.)

$26.99 | August 5, 2025 | 9781250366382

Five sisters set off a wave of paranoia in their English village after a rumor spreads that they can turn into dogs. “They were not normal, those girls”: This is the sentiment held by a majority of

Many of the “sinners” deserve a second chance in these jewel-like tales.

SMALL SCALE SINNERS

townsfolk in the riverside Oxfordshire village of Little Nettlebed not too long after the English Civil War. Sisters Anne, Elizabeth, Hester, Grace, and Mary Mansfield are “the fierce one, the pretty one, the tomboy, the nervous one, the youngest.” They range in age from 19 down to 6, have lost both their parents and, newly, their grandmother, leaving them to care for their farmer grandfather, who is losing his sight. No one can quite pinpoint what it is about them— their insular nature, their closeness, their standoffishness toward other villagers— but most of the townspeople keep their distance. When the town ferryman, the misogynistic alcoholic Pete Darling, claims to have seen the girls changing into dogs under cover of night, the rumor spreads through Little Nettlebed with lightning speed. Soon, the girls are being blamed for misfortunes: dead hens, falling levels of water in the river. As word spreads about the girls’ strange affliction and authority figures from the vicar to the doctor get involved, the town’s hysteria escalates until a catastrophic act of violence changes everything. Purvis shifts narration across multiple villagers, including Darling and the girls’ grandfather, to show the corrosive power of group mentality and social conformity—and to illuminate the simple bravery of being true to who you are. The novel is a master class in paranoia and strategic ambiguity. Like Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” it shows that the horrors lurking beneath small-town life are timelessly unsettling. Purvis’ suspenseful and sure-footed debut breathes vivid life into its arresting concept.

The Salvage

Salam, Anbara | Tin House (384 pp.) | $17.99 paper | October 7, 2025 | 9781963108477

In 1962, a diver hired to retrieve artifacts from a shipwreck gets trapped in an insular Scottish community due to a historically cold winter.

Cairnroch, once a scenic resort town off the coast of Scotland, hasn’t recovered from the devastation of World War II. Its wealthy overlords, Lord and Lady Purdie, are bankrolling an expensive endeavor to rebuild the island’s tourism economy. In the 1800s, one of their ancestors was shipwrecked on an expedition to the Arctic, and now the couple has had the ship moved to the island’s coast and plans to display the items collected from the wreck in a museum. Much to the whole community’s shock, the diver who arrives from the mainland is a woman named Marta Khoury. The story is told from her point of view, and her expedition is a challenge right from the start. The artifacts she’s meant to secure are stolen. The Cuban Missile Crisis presents an even greater existential threat. And when an unprecedentedly brutal winter bears down, a job that was supposed to last weeks turns into a monthslong struggle for survival. Oh, and a ghost is haunting her. Luckily for Marta—whose marriage has fallen apart on the mainland and who’s treated as an outsider on the island—she forges a deep romantic connection with Elsie, a woman who works at the hotel that’s her temporary home. With her love interest by her side, and her Edinburgh nemesis and colleague, Sophie, at her throat, she’s

able to solve the mysteries of the stolen items, the ghost, and herself. The novel has an intricate plot threaded with complex themes related to morality, religion, history, and belonging. While some aspects are resolved in smart and satisfying ways, the narrative proves as punishing as the weather. It’s at its best in the final act when Elsie and Sophie join Marta on center stage, and would have been better with their perspectives in the mix, but it struggles under the burden of Marta’s myopia.

An intriguing set of ideas that don’t quite live up to their promise.

Small Scale Sinners

Sohail, Mahreen | A Public Space Books (136 pp.) | $20 paper | September 16, 2025 9798985976915

Twelve lyrically taut stories about Pakistani women. The sins in Sohail’s debut collection are both small and large. A woman marries for love and then realizes she’s made a mistake. A teenage girl has an affair with a boy. Perhaps to a Western sensibility these are so slight, they aren’t sins at all. Perhaps by traditional Pakistani standards they are significant. In “Basic Training,” two world-weary sisters steal a young girl from the hospital where their mother is being treated and take her to a hellish place where homeless children are being trained for “the cause” by being randomly shot and learning to kill animals with little except their own bodies. “Children are shaped by the shape of their country,” the sisters muse, trying to excuse their behavior until a first-person voice abruptly breaks through the “we” of the sisters’ communal voice: “I should not have to string these scenes up in front of you like this to help you understand that the word loss has a weight that cannot be borne.” Sohail takes measure of loss in story after story: about women deferring to men, about children living

in the shadow of their parents’ mortality, about the burden of family and social expectations: “Everyone says women in this country are repressed,” says the daughter in “The Man Who Flew,” a woman in her 30s so frustrated by her obligations to her mother that she rebels in childish ways. “What came first, the mother or the repression?” But in other stories, like “The Park,” one of the collection’s standouts, mothers teach their daughters to be powerful, or at least not to hand over all their power to men. Sohail writes like a pointillist paints, and her stories, while emotionally heavy, lift from the page with humor and piquant details. Many of the “sinners” surely deserve a second chance in these jewel-like tales.

The Ten Year Affair

Somers, Erin | Simon & Schuster (272 pp.)

$28 | October 21, 2025 | 9781668081440

Across two timelines, one imaginary and one real, a young mother carries out an affair with a dad from her parenting group. Cora has a boring email job “writing about marketing,” and she lives upstate on “the mountain side” of town in gentle chaos with her husband, Eliot, and two children. When she meets Sam, the two immediately align themselves against the other members of the parenting group and set their sights on one another. “Two vectors ran parallel through Cora’s existence. One was what you might call reality, with bills…and the endless depositing and retrieving of children. The other was her affair with Sam, technically fictional, its lies and illicit meetings, the racing pulse of infatuation.” Somers describes both the failings and the familiarities of marriage with a voice that ranges from affectionate to ironic to downright acerbic. “Now that he was around all the time, she saw he was untenable,” Cora thinks of

Eliot mid-pandemic. “His crime was being too near and too himself.…The issues that had previously seemed small and forgivable now seemed large and egregious. How he ate all the time. How he got stoned every night, rendering himself useless.” Desire for Sam courses under Cora’s everyday indignities with Eliot, occasionally erupting into the real world in a fleeting, illicit glance or a moment of confession. Somers’ approach to the affair is twice-refreshing—her masterful weaving of the imaginary with the real manages to juggle the banality of fantasy with scenes that are sexy or subversive. When the affair jumps timelines and threatens to upend Cora’s real-life marriage, she must come to terms with what the experience says about the life she thought she wanted, now that her secret life “had been brought to heel.” Somers’ cool, intricate ode to millennial malaise satirizes the roles her generation tried—and failed—to outgrow.

Kirkus Star

The Hitchhikers

Stevens, Chevy | St. Martin’s (384 pp.) $29 | October 7, 2025 | 9781250133656

A 1976 road trip goes deeply awry when a vacationing husband and wife cross paths with a young couple on the lam.

Having recently had a stillborn baby following three miscarriages, Seattleites Tom and Alice Bell pack up their Winnebago and head through Canada as part of their healing process. But their plans go horribly askew when, at a campsite, they meet a young Canadian couple who say their names are the hippyish Ocean and Blue, and offer to give them a ride. In reality, they’re Jenny Perron and Simon Gray, and they’re on the run from law enforcement, having left a bloody scene behind in Jenny’s home north of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Alice discovers the ruse early on through a radio newscast and then a newspaper article. Unfortunately, it’s not early enough to avoid Simon’s enraged response when their true story is exposed. What follows is a road trip across the Canadian highways and backroads riven by violence, frustration, and terror. The narrative is studded with mid-’70s cultural references including humor writer Erma Bombeck, TV series Happy Days, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor “heading for another divorce,” eighttrack tapes, Hamburger Helper, Jell-O, SpaghettiOs, and Pop Rocks. But the tale is even more palpably marked by the messes that Simon and Jenny leave wherever they go, with Alice and Tom perpetually in tow. In a nod to the historical timeframe, the more Alice tries to manage the erratic situation— Tom having been waylaid by a beating from Simon—the more she and Tom both realize her stay-at-home role may no longer be viable. As always, true to her modus operandi, Stevens keeps the ultimate twists firmly up her sleeve until the final pages.

Stevens maintains the speed and frights in this on-the-road psychological thriller.

Kirkus Star

Little F

Tea, Michelle | Feminist Press (232 pp.) | $17.95 paper | October 14, 2025 | 9781558613560

A gay 13-yearold embarks on a multistate misadventure after running away from home. Spencer could have it a lot worse, but he also could have it a lot better. He’s white and upper-middle-class, growing up in Phoenix. But he’s also transparently queer at a suburban junior high in 2010, which means he’s a major target for bullies. After a schoolyard gay-bashing sends Spencer to the hospital and his mother assumes he was an antagonist

rather than a victim in the fight, he decides he must escape the Southwest. With the help of his sole friend, a purple-haired teen witch named Joy, Spencer plots a course for Provincetown, Massachusetts, the location of a long-held fantasy in which he’s being raised by a sophisticated gay uncle. Spencer’s hitchhiking almost immediately goes awry, and a Dickensian odyssey ensues that winds through Texas and Louisiana and brings Spencer into the orbit of Velvet, a handsome, rough-and-tumble teenager headed to New Orleans to see his estranged sister. Spencer’s narrative voice is a delight, striking a skillful balance between anxiety, longing, awe, and wit as he gradually acquires survival skills and discovers the world beyond his conventional upbringing. (Upon first encountering drag queens: “Blush cut up the sides of their faces like spray paint; their faces looked like murals of faces. Their mouths were luscious and muscular, working around the songs like they were eating them, and their hair looked like bird’s nests or war helmets, like Marie Antoinette or Dolly Parton.”) There’s a tidiness in the novel’s denouement that might strain some readers’ credulity, but for others, Tea’s sincerity and generosity toward her characters will be a balm. It’s a pleasure to see the world through Spencer’s eyes. A comical, tender, queer coming-of-age, where the journey is the destination.

Kirkus Star

Pick a Color

Thammavongsa, Souvankham Little, Brown (208 pp.) | $28

September 30, 2025 | 9780316422147

A day in the life of a weary, and wary, nail-salon manager in an unspecified North American city, whose past struggles inform her insights about her staff and clients. At this shop, each nail tech’s badge reads Susan—

although their real names include Noi, Annie, and Mai. They all wear their straight black hair at shoulder length, and the 41-year-old manager, Ning, wields scissors if necessary to make her employees almost indistinguishable. “Faces give so much away,” she says at the beginning. “Feelings, especially.” Ning, who during the day is also known as Susan, was once a competitive fighter with a hard-driving coach, Murch. Her lessons about shadowboxing helped her parry endless verbal jabs from her first salon boss, Rachel. Rachel and her brother Raymond extract a great deal of labor and wages from their employees. Ning’s current near-monastic existence outside of work—she lives in a tiny one-room apartment over the salon—is indisputably a reaction to that trauma, even as she glosses over her loneliness and trades jokes with her colleagues: “How many does she seat?” Ning deadpans in their shared language about a woman named Vanessa who asks to be called Van, and all the Susans laugh discreetly, accustomed to pretending they’re not gossiping about the customers. Ning tells stories about clients who include a pro baseball player, a youthful bridal party, and a brittle businesswoman, but in the style of Rachel Cusk, this narrator’s observations tell us even more about her own history, longings, and loneliness. Chapters pass with the rhythm of a broom sweeping the floor, punctuated by the twice-repeated instruction to “pick a color” that greets each person who walks through the door. Suddenly Ning’s keen observations make sense, her way of ensuring she doesn’t succumb to the numb hypnosis of her repetitive and undercompensated work.

This exceptional novel, honed sharp as cuticle nippers, contains great wit and quick turns, up to the last sentence.

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon

Tsujimura, Mizuki | Trans. by Yuki Tejima Scribner (272 pp.) | $18 paper August 26, 2025 | 9781668099834

A young man helps the living and dead meet one last time under the full moon.

Japanese bestseller Tsujimura’s quiet novel follows a mysterious teenager known as the go-between, who can set up meetings between the living and the dead. An introverted woman wants to meet the television star with whom she has a parasocial relationship. A cynical eldest son hopes to visit his mother about their family business. A devastated high schooler fears she is responsible for her friend’s tragic death. And, finally, a middle-aged workaholic finally feels ready to find out if his fiancée, who disappeared seven years ago, is dead. Each character has a uniquely personal reason for seeking out the deceased, including closure and forgiveness, as well as selfishness and fear. Imbued with magic and the perfect amount of gravitas, there are many rules around these meetings: Only the living can make requests and they can only have one meeting per lifetime. Additionally, the dead can deny a meeting—and, most importantly, once the dead person has met with a living person, they will be gone forever. With secrets shared, confessions made, and regrets cemented, these meetings lead to joy and sorrow in equal measure. In the final chapter, all of these visits—and their importance in the go-between’s life—begin to gracefully converge. As we learn the go-between’s identity, we watch him

A day in the life of a weary nail-salon manager.

struggle with the magnitude and gravity of his work. At one point, he asks: “When a life was lost, who did it belong to? What were those left behind meant to do with the incomprehensible, inescapable loss?” Though the story can be repetitive, Tsujimura raises poignant and powerful questions about what the living owe not only the dead, but each other; and how we make peace with others and ourselves in the wake of overwhelming grief. A touching novel about loss with a magical and mystical flourish.

The High Heaven

Wheeler, Joshua | Graywolf (304 pp.)

$18 | October 7, 2025 | 9781644453575

A dizzying and yet still earthy take on a woman’s life in two centuries featuring Izzy Gently, whose  travels from New Mexico to Texas to Louisiana reveal as much about America’s flaws as her own.

“It’s like there’s just some places that, after one visit, you gotta carry bits of it with you all the way to your grave” says Izzy Gently, protagonist of Wheeler’s stunning debut novel. She’s speaking about the moon, with which she’s obsessed from her childhood in a cult in New Mexico to her later care for “the moonless”—people who can no longer see that object in the night sky. Izzy herself drifts like a satellite. The book’s first third, “A Tale of the Acid West,” finds pre-teen Izzy caught by the local sheriff during a raid on the cult, then sent to live with rancher Oliver Gently and his doctor wife, Maude, who have love to spare. Between the excitement of the 1969 moon landing and the Hollywood production of a movie called High Heaven that keeps Izzy and her pals in pocket money (they shake precious White Sands gypsum from horse droppings), it seems she might have a home. But in the

Fans of Tom Robbins and Harry Crews should check out this dynamic novel.

THE HIGH HEAVEN

book’s second section, “A Texas Picaresque,” restlessness takes Izzy first to Lubbock and years at a diner, then to Plainview and aimless but mostly benign casual sex and drug use, and on to a stint as caretaker of a hidden marijuana grove by the Neches River. The final section, “A Southern Gothic Silhouette,” finds Izzy in Louisiana, now a weary social worker at New Orleans General Hospital. Her life revolves around her partner, Eli, and her enormous, never-blooming plant, La Reina de la Noche, that she grew from a cutting. She’ll take pieces of it, or at least its otherworldly essence, all the way to her grave. There isn’t even space to mention the monkey astronauts or the menstrual cups. Izzy’s tale is strange and wild, but it’s also one that illuminates our national obsession with new highs, and new heights. Fans of Tom Robbins, Barry Hannah, and Harry Crews should check out this dynamic, fresh life-on-the-road novel.

Kirkus Star

Red Tide: A Novel of the Next Pacific War

Woodward, M.P. | Naval Institute Press (416 pp.) $31.95 | September 16, 2025 | 9781682479919

A bloody conflict erupts in the waters of the western Pacific. China seeks dominion over the South China Sea, and Americans must push back. In a war that will be nasty, brutish, and short, the Chinese

offensive takes out important U.S. resources in the region, including fighter jets, a dozen B-2 bombers, and proud vessels like the aircraft carrier Stennis, which sinks near the Marianas Trench, the deepest part of the ocean. Evading a missile attack, the submarine Missouri is stuck in the undersea mud when its skipper realizes the U.S. is at war. Can they get back in the fight? In China’s quest for global domination, it invades Taiwan and captures an AI chip factory, giving them control of most of the world’s chip supply. Chinese missiles even sink an Australian merchant marine ship near the Solomon Islands. At first, the Americans suffer horrific losses, and Chinese leaders believe they have won an easy victory. So the U.S. Navy must find a way to drive out the enemy without triggering World War III. The Marines have a specific goal to rescue Sam Chang, the 79-year-old chief executive of the world’s largest semiconductor fabrication company. He is indispensable to the U.S. tech industry, and he may be on his deathbed. People around him, including his son, do not have his interests at heart, and they will gladly turn everything over to the People’s Republic of China. Although the story is not part of a Tom Clancy series, it’s very much in that style. Indeed, Woodward has written for the Clancy franchise. There are spectacular battle scenes that will give fans of the genre heart palpitations. Plenty of excitement for fans of military fiction.

For more thriller reviews, visit Kirkus online.

For readers who like their mystery with a solid dose of the otherworldly.

DEATH AT THE DOOR

Sugar and Spite

Beaton, M.C. with R.W. Green

Minotaur (256 pp.) | $27 | October 14, 2025

9781250378569

Agatha Raisin continues her duel with choleric DCI Wilkes when he writes off a murder as an accident.

Agatha’s detective agency is doing well. So is her romance with former DI John Glass, who’s soon to leave on a two-week cruise as a dance instructor. Attending a lecture on bird watching given by three local Cotswolds women whose friendship is long but rocky, Agatha watches as they’re threatened by Gethin “Guy” Fawkes, a local farmer who doesn’t want anyone “trespassing” on his land to look at birds, even though the women say they have a legal “right to roam.” On their way out for dinner the next day, Agatha and John come upon a road closure, and her old friend DS Bill Wong tells them that a woman’s been killed by a falling tree. The woman is Joan Feldrake, one of the birders, and both Agatha and a reporter think that something’s not right with the accident scenario. Joan’s brother is dating Mary, another of the birders, and seems in an awful hurry to wrap up her estate. In the meantime, Agatha’s flamboyant friend Roy Silver, who’s horse riding in the area, tells Agatha that one of the neighbors of the riding stable suspects Fawkes of stealing her sheep, even though they’re not actually disappearing. Since two of the birders have been lured to the woods by a message

about a rare bird, Agatha and Roy go looking for Joan’s missing phone and find another body. The phone opens up new avenues of investigation in a case of multiple murders with many red herrings.

Lots of mystery in a package that makes you laugh and cry.

Death at the Door

Blacke, Olivia | Minotaur (352 pp.) | $28 October 21, 2025 | 9781250336705

A young woman finds adventure with an unlikely companion in the second book in Blacke’s series. Ruby Young feels lucky when her new Boston landlord offers her a deal: Sign a lease on a 4th-floor apartment in an old building with finicky plumbing and a nonworking elevator in a marginal neighborhood, and he’ll throw in the late tenant’s furniture for free. What Ruby— who’s starting her first full-time job in a new city—doesn’t know is that her tiny new digs also include the ghost of said tenant, Cordelia Graves, who allegedly died by suicide. Ruby and Cordelia form an unlikely bond, the older, more worldly Cordelia helping naïve Ruby adjust to the perils young women on their own are likely to face, especially in a male-heavy tech workplace like TrendCelerate. Ruby wonders why such a grounded, caring person as Cordelia, who has no memory of her death, would have taken her own life. Before she can look into Cordelia’s demise, however, another

more urgent death intervenes. Martin Spencer, who delivers food from the local deli, is found dead of an overdose in TrendCelerate’s unisex bathroom, depriving the staff of sandwiches and many other less legal but equally valued treats. In overlapping first-person narratives, Ruby and Cordelia present their very different takes on Marty’s suspicious death and on how a friendship can flourish across the life/death divide.

The solution to the crime, which depends on a clue that arrives late in the narrative, is less compelling than the quirky friendship Ruby and Cordelia somehow forge. For readers who like their mystery with a solid dose of the otherworldly.

Crescent City Christmas Chaos

Byron, Ellen | Severn House (240 pp.) | $29.99 November 11, 2025 | 9781448313181

A parental visit, a catfight among holiday parade royalty, a string of thefts, and of course a murder add spice to Miracle “Ricki” Fleur de Lis James-Diaz’s New Orleans Christmas.

Tending to Miss Vee’s vintage shop inside the historic Bon Vee Culinary House Museum is a congenial gig, especially since Ricki, adopted as a child, learned she’s a cousin to Bon Vee’s blue-blooded owner, Eugenia Charbonnet Felice. She’s happy to have Eugenia’s granddaughter Olivia as a helper, and she’s thrilled when Olivia’s chosen to lead the Krewe of Gaia as its queen in the annual holiday parade. Life gets a little more complicated when Ricki’s adopted parents turn up to help her boyfriend, chef Virgil Morel, film a holiday cooking show. Ricki’s mom reveals a grudge against former co-worker Phyllis Gibbs, who terrorizes her neighbors in fancy Peony Place, and who’s universally hated by her

colleagues at high-priced Crescent City Concierge Care. Phyllis is promptly murdered, leaving a slew of suspects. But Det. Nina Rodriguez is too busy tracking a robber dressed as Mr. Bongle (a knockoff version of NOLA’s legendary mascot, Mr. Bingle) to focus on finding Phyllis’ killer. So Ricki takes on that chore herself. The maids in Olivia’s krewe start bickering. Ricki’s dad gets into it with the director of Virgil’s film. Byron spins so many plot threads that getting them all squared away before Christmas proves to be quite a stretch. Life in the Big Easy shouldn’t be this tough.

Revenge, Served Royal

Connally, Celeste | Minotaur (336 pp.) $28 | November 11, 2025 | 9781250387394

An 1815 contest among the most talented bakers of the ton turns deadly when the chief judge is found strangled. It takes some time for Lady Petra Forsyth to persuade her talented cook to participate in a bake-off to be held at Windsor Castle, sponsored by none other than Queen Charlotte. But once she assures Mrs. Bing that a blind competition would not require her to be stripped of her eyesight, Petra looks forward to the festivities surrounding the bake-off. For one thing, her good friends Caroline and Lottie will also be there, and for another, she expects the celebration will give her opportunities to spend time with her lover, Duncan Shawcross. Once at Windsor, though, Petra’s hopes for a jolly old time with friends are quickly dashed. Sir Rufus Pomeroy, the former royal chef, is found in the small library, a black silken cord knotted around his neck, and his valet, Oliver, tugging on it. Oliver is quickly arrested. Because the valet turns out to be the secret brother

of her maid (Annie), Petra has every incentive to find another perpetrator. But the more she learns about the circumstances of Sir Rufus’ death, the more suspicion falls on her own dear Aunt Ophelia—a solution that would be personally devastating to Petra— and Queen Charlotte’s son, the Prince Regent—a solution that would be politically disastrous for her. Think Bridgerton meets The Great British Baking Show

Lots of plot twists, and lots of fun joining plucky Petra as she navigates them.

A Murder Most Fowl

Dutra, Carmela | Crooked Lane (336 pp.) | $29.99 | September 9, 2025 9798892423175

A battle between food truck owners cooks up a murder. Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd, who inherited their beloved aunt’s food truck, Kluckin Good, along with a chicken costume and a fan base, are challenged when abrasive Benji Mayhew, owner of a hot dog–themed truck, calls the cops on Beth during an argument over where to park their vehicles. By the time Seth, a lawyer with no interest in the food truck, gets his sister sprung from jail, she’s met the hunky police officer she dubs Officer Pretty Boy (to the amusement of his fellow cops). What’s more, an email informs Beth that she’s been selected to compete in The Food Truck Showdown , a popular Cooking Channel show with a $50,000 prize. Bringing along Seth and her assistant, Rylie, who usually wears the chicken costume, she arrives at the rented warehouse where the show’s being filmed and meets the other contestants, who include Benji, and the show’s host, famous chef Bobbi Taylor. The first challenge is marked by disappearing ingredients

and a threatening note that seems aimed at Benji. When Benji’s found dead, the showrunners suggest that he’s had a heart attack, but the police are suspicious—and since everyone knows that Beth despised him, she’s their favored suspect. More threatening notes arrive. And there’s definitely something fishy about the showrunners. You’d think that with all those camera crews, there’d be video, but the ancient system at the rental is glitchy, leaving Beth to team up with Rylie and Seth to prove her innocence. A serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments add up to a fun read.

A Dark and Deadly Journey

Kelly, Julia | Minotaur (304 pp.) | $28 September 23, 2025 | 9781250865540

In the heat of World War II, a wry spy solves multiple mysteries, both personal and criminal. November 20, 1940. British special agent Evelyne Redfern, who tells her own story in an effervescent first person, is surprised to receive a package from her estranged father, Sir Reginald, especially since the postmark identifying its origin seems to be Portuguese. Inside are the key to a safe deposit box and the address where it can be found, written in invisible ink. When she finds the box, a letter from her father tells her where to deliver the chest she’ll find inside. On no account, her father warns, is she to open the chest, advice that she unsurprisingly ignores. Inside are jewels, which may be precious. Fortuitously, Evelyne receives an assignment from her handler, the prim Mrs. White, to find missing informant James Winn in (where else?) Portugal. Evelyne and her partner, David Poole, hop on a plane. As if the plot of Evelyne’s

third adventure were not frontloaded enough, yet another mystery arrives in the form of a corpse on the plane. Naturally, the victim, Senhor Jessup, is connected to Evelyne and David’s mission, though the nature of that connection will long remain shadowy. For all these twists, the dominant note is struck by the duo’s nonstop banter as they ricochet from one Portuguese destination to the next. One might almost forget the wartime backdrop were it not for the occasional reference to Nazis and Hitler. Unraveling the mysteries is far less important than enjoying the duo’s badinage. Meanwhile, an ominous figure whose identity is never discovered looms over all. This, and Kelly’s cliffhanger ending, indicate more adventures to come. A brisk espionage romp with Portuguese paraphernalia.

A Rage of Souls

Nickson, Chris | Severn House (240 pp.)

$29.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781448316298

A thief-taker and his helpers take on a dangerous case in 1826 Leeds. Although Simon Westow thinks the case of stolen jewelry will be a simple one, events prove him wrong. It all began when James Barton’s wife decided to pay her gambling debts by selling a gold bracelet. Barton received a letter from Frederick Fox asking to buy it. Despite his suspicions, he was impressed by Fox until the man vanished with the bracelet without paying. So Simon sets up a sting operation: His helper, Jane, watches Fox and his wife while Simon’s wife, Rosie, poses as a fence. They catch the thieves, but oddly, Fox is pardoned just before he’s set to be hanged. Barton, fearful because Fox is having him watched, asks Simon to find out why. Simon had been stabbed in the thigh a year earlier, and must rely on

Jane and her protégée, Sally, to do most of the legwork. For all Simon’s knowledge of Leeds and all the informants he and the girls have cultivated, Fox proves to be a slippery customer. Sally is protective of a group of street urchins who are being harassed by a group of four men, and enlists Jane to help her stop them. They easily drive the men off, but Jane follows one of them to the Barton house. When the men return, the girls’ knife skills drive them off, but again, one of them is Barton’s son, who denies any wrongdoing. None of what’s happened makes sense, but when dead bodies start turning up and Sally is attacked and left for dead, Jane thirsts for revenge, and Simon wonders if they’ll ever uncover Fox’s secrets and protect Barton from a danger within his own family. A first-rate, complex mystery that delves deeply into the many social injustices of the time.

The Dentist

Sullivan, Tim | Atlantic Crime (384 pp.) | $17 paper | October 21, 2025 | 9780802167095

Shocking secrets and past crimes surround the murder of a homeless man. Called to investigate the murder of a homeless man in a park in Somerset, England, DS George Cross and DS Josie Ottey verbally spar as they examine the crime scene. The meticulous Cross—who’s on the autism spectrum—has a very high success rate but difficulty partnering with other detectives, and his pairing with Ottey is no different. For her part, Ottey, a Black single mother, feels more like the white Cross’ apologist and intermediary than his partner. Sullivan’s series kickoff is deeply character-driven and moves both deliberately and briskly through the steps of the case. The victim is identified as Lenny, and his homeless

pal Badger emerges for a time as the prime suspect. The probe gains traction when Lenny’s full identity and family are located. Before the murder of his wife, Hilary, sent him into a downward spiral, he was Leonard Carpenter, the dentist of the title. Valuable information from Leonard’s daughter, Jessica, and DCI Stuart MacDonald, the incompetent detective assigned to Hilary Carpenter’s case—who had been Cross’ boss as a rookie officer—helps move Cross and Ottey along the long road to the killer. The first of Sullivan’s eight DS Cross novels to be published in the U.S. invites readers into a fully realized world of investigation and resolution. This includes both Ottey’s perspective on the exacting Cross and Cross’ complex relationship with his father, Raymond. A multifaceted murder puzzle anchored by a compelling pair of sleuths.

A Christmas Witness

Todd, Charles | Mysterious Press (288 pp.) $23.99 | October 21, 2025 | 9781613166895

Newly promoted Chief Inspector Ian Rutledge’s latest case echoes A Christmas Carol in ways that only begin with the season.

Rutledge’s plan to spend the 1921 holiday with his sister’s family are briskly dismissed by a summons from Chief Superintendent Markum, who reports that Lord Braxton, aka Col. Edward Braxton, has been struck down by a mounted horseman who left him for dead. Braxton, who’s demanding at the best of times, wants to keep the details of this event as private as possible, and he’s decided from Rutledge’s wartime service that he’s the ideal choice to investigate and keep under Braxton’s thumb. Traveling to Cottams House, in the Kentish village of Hartsham, Rutledge finds Braxton every bit as imperious and short-tempered as he expected. But although Braxton is

such an obvious candidate for murder that he assures Rutledge he’ll never live to see Christmas, his neighbors and household staff seem attached to him; only Henry White, who constantly blames Braxton for military orders that led to the death of White’s only son in France, seems to have a motive to kill him. Readers acquainted with the franchise will appreciate from the beginning that Rutledge’s inquiries here are much more invested in exploring the natural, social, and seasonal qualities of Braxton’s world than in identifying the guilty party; others will have to adjust their expectations in order to accept a climactic revelation that seems more clearly borrowed from Dickens or the Gospels than from any of the evidence Rutledge has uncovered.

A lovingly evoked postwar idyll that could just as well have been titled A Christmas Miracle.

Grave of the Lawgiver

Tremayne, Peter | Severn House (368 pp.)

$29.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781448315109

A trip to revisit a boyhood home turns into a dangerous, soul-searching adventure.

Sister Fidelma and her husband, Brother Eadulf, have left their son behind in Ireland to visit Eadulf’s family in East Anglia. In 673 C.E., there’s plenty of dissension among Christians, and the couple walk into a hornet’s nest of murder and duplicity. Arriving in Seaxmund’s Ham, they find Eadulf’s uncle, the lawgiver Athelnoth, with a knife in his back in the ruins of his home, and Wulfrun, Eadulf’s much younger sister, missing. They’re accused by a mob of having done the deed. No one seems to recognize Eadulf, but several people claim to have seen Hibernian religious mounted on war horses at the scene. Taken to the home of the absent

A thorny trail of deception set against an elaborate historical background.

GRAVE OF THE LAWGIVER

Thane Beornwulf, they’re greeted by Ardith, his house stewardess. Despite the attempts by the lowborn Stuf to condemn them, they’re finally recognized by Werferth, a friend of the returning Beornwulf, and Crída, Beornwulf’s senior retainer and a childhood friend of Eadulf’s. Having heard of the many mysteries Fidelma and Eadulf have unraveled, Beornwulf asks them to solve the murder and the disappearance. As they set off on a quest for information in hope of finding Wulfrun, they’re accompanied by Crída and Brother Ator, whose love for Wulfrun is undimmed by her lack of interest in marriage. The answer to many of their questions may lie with the mysterious men in religious garb riding war horses. The various sects of Britons still fighting over territory, along with members of religious sects claiming that their way is the true way, make for a volatile brew.

A thorny trail of deception set against an elaborate historical background.

Murder at Blackwood Inn

Warner, Penny | Crooked Lane (288 pp.)

$29.99 | September 23, 2025 | 9798892421850

A ghostwriter uses her down time to help her eccentric aunts deal with the spirit that haunts their house.

The Northern California town of Pelican Point is home to the Italianate mansion of Carissa Blackwood’s grandfather, which her aunts have converted into the Blackwood Bed and Breakfast Inn. Aunt Runa is

very tall and an expert on crystals; Aunt Hazel has white hair and cultivates a poison garden. The house is run with the help of the housekeeper, Marnie, and the handyman, Noah. Much to their neighbors’ horror, the house has been painted black with purple and green trim, and each room has a theme. Right from the get-go, Carissa, who’s there to provide expertise on the business side of running the fully booked inn, realizes that the place seems to have a resident ghost. Carissa has the Nancy Drew room, and her childhood love for the sleuth comes in handy when problems arise. Perhaps it’s the seven cats that make Carissa think the house is haunted by the ghost of her grandfather, who dabbled in spiritualism. The preview party brings a number of antagonistic guests: real estate agent Patty Fay Johnstone, who wants to buy the house; competing innkeeper Annabelle Topper; and next-door neighbor Harper Smith. When Patty Fay is found dead the next day with a gemstone under her bed, the sheriff is suspicious. The next to die is a guest, a salesman who’s really a private eye. When belladonna is determined to be the cause, the sheriff arrests Hazel. Channeling Nancy Drew, Carissa searches the attic for clues about her grandfather’s past that she hopes hold the key to the murders. Quirky characters abound in this lighthearted tale of ghosts and murder.

ISBN: XXX-X-XX-XXXXXX-X

Rachel Linden

Book to Screen

Adaptation of The Nightingale Coming in 2027

The long-awaited film is based on Kristin Hannah’s 2015 bestseller.

Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale is finally heading to the big screen, Deadline reports.

The novel, published by St. Martin’s in 2015, follows two sisters living in France during the Nazi occupation; one is forced to live with a German officer, while the other joins the Resistance. A critic for Kirkus called the bestselling book “a respectful and absorbing page-turner.”

A film adaptation of the novel has been in the works since 2015 and gone through several false starts. Dakota and Elle Fanning were announced as stars of the movie in 2019, and the film was scheduled to start filming in 2020 but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The adaptation then languished until this year.

The film will still star the Fanning sisters, and it will be written by Dana Stevens (Fatherhood, The Woman King) and directed by Michael Morris (To Leslie, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy). Producers of the film include the Fanning sisters and Reese Witherspoon.

Hannah announced news of the film on Instagram, writing, “This has been a

long time coming and I know that fans of the book are more than ready to get the news!…We’ve made it through a worldwide pandemic and two strikes and yet here we are, poised to begin!!!”

The Nightingale is scheduled for release on February 12, 2027.—M.S.

From left, Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning

For a review of The Nightingale, visit Kirkus online.

Kirkus Star

Red City

Lu, Marie | Tor (432 pp.) | $29.99

October 14, 2025 | 9781250885678

Two children are scouted as promising prospects for opposing magical syndicates in Lu’s urban fantasy.

Samantha Lang is the daughter of a Chinese immigrant working around the clock to make ends meet in Angel City, California. Her classmate Ari, a boy from Gujarat, India, seems to be the only person who really sees her. They pass each other notes, sharing their feelings but not the specifics of their lives. When Sam’s mother loses her job, Sam is so desperate that she seeks out the fabulously wealthy Diamond Taylor, a local celebrity who has a reputation for making things happen. Sam isn’t sure what to ask for, but it certainly isn’t what she gets: When she’s discovered following Diamond’s entourage out of a fancy theater, she finds herself initiated into the world of alchemy. As it turns out, there’s a secret society of people who are able to tap into the power of their own souls to transmute one substance into another. The popular drug called sand, which is known for making people the best version of themselves, is secretly a product of alchemy. Sand is worth so much money that syndicates—organized groups of alchemists—are in deep competition with each other to produce it. As Sam grows up, so do tensions between Diamond’s syndicate, Grand Central, and its main rival, Lumines. Years after their time passing notes in school, Sam and Ari discover that they have both been trained as alchemists, and they are on opposite sides of the upcoming war between Grand Central and Lumines. Lu’s magical system of alchemy is straightforward and clever— for example, a person can fight by transmuting a piece of a table into a knife, and they can hurt an enemy by

transmuting the water in their body into vapor. But even more than the inventive action sequences, Lu beautifully depicts Sam and Ari’s experiences as outsiders in the world of wealth and privilege. Ari as an immigrant, and Sam as the daughter of an immigrant, both have a lot to lose, and their precarity is weaponized against them as they are weaponized against each other. Both heartbreaking and actionpacked: an immense achievement.

The Last Wish of Bristol Keats

Pearson, Mary E. | Flatiron Books (448 pp.) | $32.99 | November 11, 2025 9781250332004

Bristol, Tyghan, and the rest return in the second installment of Pearson’s duology, following The Courting of Bristol Keats (2024).

Twenty-twoyear-old Bristol Keats has had a hellish time lately. Her parents, as it turns out, are not dead, but that is far from a silver lining. Her father is still on the run, facing a 1,000-year-long sentence, and her mother is working with Bristol’s ex-situationship, Kormick, to help him secure Elphame’s throne. Meanwhile, Tyghan’s older brother, Cael—the rightful king of Danu—languishes in Kormick’s custody. To spring him, Bristol must outwit her own mother, make a promise she does not intend to keep, and get the prickly king— demoted to prince, now that Tyghan is on the throne—home in one piece. But when Maire accidentally shows her hand, betraying her true capabilities, Bristol realizes the hard truth: She has to get rid of the magic-sucking tick on her back if she has any hope of stopping her mother. Doing so will risk her life; the Lumessa must literally stop Bristol’s heart in order to coax the tick from beneath her skin. Removing it will also unlock Bristol’s latent shapeshifting abilities, but can she resist using them,

and potentially losing herself, when desperate times call for desperate measures? This installment doesn’t suffer from the same info-dumping blunders as the last one, but perhaps swings too far in the opposite direction, as the wide cast of characters is insufficiently reintroduced in the book’s early chapters. (This won’t be a problem for readers who pick up both books in quick succession.) Additionally, although the character portraits are just as compelling this time around, and Bristol and Tyghan’s love story just as sweet and spicy, Bristol’s failure to meet any real resistance on her path to saving Elphame from Kormick may underwhelm readers looking for a more adventurous romantasy. A loosely plotted, but nevertheless compelling, portrait of Faerieland in peril.

Kirkus Star

The Shattering Peace

Scalzi, John | Tor (288 pp.) | $29.99 September 16, 2025 | 9780765389190

Just like it says on the tin: Powerful and disgustingly condescending aliens threaten a fragile peace in the seventh installment of the Old Man’s War series.

Ten years have

passed since the publication of Book 6, The End of All Things (2015), and the same amount of time has passed in the storyline, when the humans of Earth, the humans of the Colonial Union, and the aliens of the Conclave signed a treaty that halted colonization of new planets.

So Colonial Union diplomatic analyst Gretchen Trujillo is fairly surprised to learn that the three political entities have jointly founded a secret colony called Unity on a remote asteroid space station in an attempt to determine if citizens from all three governments could manage to get along. What’s more surprising is that the space station and its 50,000 inhabitants have apparently

vanished without a trace. If the story of Unity Colony and its disappearance were to become widely known, it would seriously threaten the treaty. Tasked with discreetly investigating the situation, Gretchen quickly learns that the likely culprit is the Consu, a technologically advanced alien race who consider all non-Consu as barely sentient animals. Why would the Consu make the colony disappear? And if the Unity colonists are still alive, is there any way of persuading the Consu to recover them, given that the Consu refuse to negotiate with beings so far beneath them? Scalzi enjoys constructing intricate puzzle-box crises that somehow the protagonist is just the right person at the right time with the right amount of smarts to defuse, even in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds. This plot device teeters on the edge of seeming contrived, but the visceral pleasure of reading about people using their brains to triumph over superior forces outweighs that potential flaw, as well as the slightly spoiler-y observation that the novel’s conclusion seems to borrow some elements of Scalzi’s Interdependency series. We need more books about smart people winning. Classic Scalzi space opera at its wisecracking, politically pointed, and, somehow, fiercely optimistic finest.

Conform

Sullivan, Ariel | Ballantine (416 pp.) | $30 October 14, 2025 | 9798217090990

In a distant future, after the Last War when the human population became endangered, a new society formed from the ashes, strictly to optimize procreation. But not procreation between just anyone. This society, ruled by the Illum—a mysterious authoritarian group—assigns mates to select for the best traits and to breed out defects, to grow the Elite population living in the clouds. Protagonist Emeline is a stubborn and bored young woman,

working her days away on the ground as a Minor Defect—one of the class of women waiting to be approved for mating with an Elite, and hoping to never be banished further from society. Emeline’s instincts are apparently to reject the rigid decorum of her society, but she spends years trying to follow the rules set out for her, or at least dissociates enough not to challenge her way of life, until one day an elusive and charming man, Hal, walks into her office to talk about art. The same day, she is approved for mating and matched with Collin, the youngest member of the Illum, in the sort of pairing that hasn’t happened in decades. Courtship with Collin is full of luxury—fancy dinners and balls in the clouds—but also lies and days of discovering secrets kept from her, while trying to keep the Elite’s rumors and malicious Press at bay. Caught between these two men, with their own agendas, and so many unanswered questions, Emeline must decide what she wants, if she can want anything at all. With a rebellion rising in secret and the repression of the Illum close at hand, she’ll find what she’s willing to lose for the ability to choose for herself. The dystopian worldbuilding is underdeveloped at best, so get swept up in discovering truth from lies quickly before it starts to fall apart in your hands.

For readers of the once-popular dystopian YA novels who are now all grown up.

Hole in the Sky

Wilson, Daniel H. | Doubleday (288 pp.) $30 | October 7, 2025 | 9780385551113

First contact with an extraterrestrial entity comes to Mother Earth via her First People. Wilsonis no stranger to bigthinking epistolary SF epics. Here, armed with a few novel entry points into an old horror story (à la The Thing ), he turns his attention to an alien invader way more

frightening than a microbe. To get the dubious bits out of the way, the U.S. government accidentally created an AI that can accurately predict the future, every time, but only via hard-to-interpret poetry, comprehensible only by the grad student whose brain provided its template. Known as “the Man Downstairs,” this reluctant guru discovers a large anomaly at the heliopause, the very edge of known space, and it’s heading this way. Meanwhile, NASA engineer Mikayla Johnson has discovered her own anomaly via the custom augmented reality glasses she wears to combat her extreme social anxiety— they’re not only learning on their own, but talking to her, warning that something is coming. Gavin Clark, a military man tasked with neutralizing new weapon technology, ably fills the role of both government spook and shoot-first skeptic with clipped precision. Finally, Wilson adds a lot of heart in Jim Hardgray, a Cherokee electrician with a year of sobriety under his belt and plenty to make up for, not least to his 13-year-old daughter, Tawny. As in Robopocalypse (2011), the story is presented via each character’s first-person narration, which adds some interesting fragmentation later on as characters transform over a few desperate hours. As the unknown entity makes a beeline for the famous Native American burial mounds in Spiro, Oklahoma, Wilson stitches together a prescription bottle’s worth of nightmarish images, invasive biotechnology, and Indigenous cosmology. What remains is a ticking clock scenario that gets more and more unhinged (and occasionally unclear) as it counts down and our strange quintet faces the music of the spheres. Less spectacle than a robot uprising but deeper, weirder, and harder to shake off.

For more by Daniel H. Wilson, visit Kirkus online.

An eventful Regency road trip full of easy intimacy and difficult decisions.

ROAD TRIP WITH A ROGUE

Road Trip With a Rogue

Bateman, Kate | St. Martin’s (336 pp.) | $9.99 paper | July 29, 2025 | 9781250907387

A female private investigator tangles with a rakish duke. Though she’s the daughter of a duke, Daisy Hamilton is excited to commit her first highway robbery. An employee of the women-led private investigation firm King & Co., she’s been given the job of stopping an elopement, leading to this opportunity to play a dreaded highwayman. Just as she’s ready to launch her faux ambush, though, she’s forestalled by three actual thieves, and after they’re defeated, she learns that she’s accosted the carriage in error. It’s actually occupied by known rogue Lucien Vaughan, Duke of Cranford, and he’s determined to ensure that the elopement she’s focused on goes through, though he hasn’t told her that. Though Daisy and Lucien have been avoiding each other since they shared a scorching kiss five years ago, they’re suddenly all too close when they begin racing to Gretna Green to catch up with the runaways. Lucien is powerfully affected by Daisy, but he’s gone to great lengths to conceal this from her, but it doesn’t take long for them to fall into bed together and discover their extraordinary chemistry, repeatedly. When they get to Scotland and Daisy discovers she’s too late to stop the elopement, and then learns of Lucien’s true interest in their journey, her burgeoning trust in him collapses. But just as she’s prepared to sulk back home, they’re spotted by “the worst gossip in the whole of London,” putting her reputation in danger. And though part

of her wants to marry Lucien, now that she might not have a choice, she may resent him too much to accept. The third book in Bateman’s Her Majesty’s Rebels series is enjoyable, thanks in large part to the fiery scenes between Daisy and Lucien. Unfortunately, it loses momentum in the final third, which centers on Daisy’s inability to decide on a path forward; though this provides some additional emotional development, it also means that Lucien’s point –of view largely disappears, weakening the impact of the happily-ever-after, even if the ending is reliably satisfying. An eventful Regency road trip full of easy intimacy and difficult decisions.

Kirkus Star

Female Fantasy

Hariri-Kia, Iman | Cosmo Reads (400 pp.) | $18.99 paper October 14, 2025 | 9781728270647

A romantasy fanatic wants to find her own true love. By day, Joonie works as a copywriter in the small seaside town of Mystic, Connecticut, but online she has a vibrant other life as a viral creator of fanfiction inspired by the popular romantasy A Tale of Salt Water & Secrets. She craves a partner as dedicated and passionate as merman Ryke, but men in the real world aren’t living up to that standard. When the book’s author reveals that Ryke is inspired by a friend of hers, Joonie sets out to meet him. That requires a trip to New York City, and her brother’s best

friend, Nico—whose pessimism grates on Joonie’s optimistic nature—insists on tagging along. Growing up, Joonie had a huge crush on Nico, but she’s resented him since he broke her heart in high school. Now, as their road trip takes them in unexpected directions— physically and emotionally—Joonie has to figure out what her heart truly desires. Interspersed are excerpts from the romantasy book about Ryke and his human love interest, Merriah, who finds herself in the middle of a war between mer and sirens after she blows a special conch and finds her own power. While this 2-in-1 book means a double happily-ever-after, the real love story here is between a book and its reader. Hariri-Kia affectionately satirizes the romance genre and its tropes through use of absurd, over-thetop plotlines while also genuinely extolling how wonderful and empowering romance stories can be. Joonie’s first-person narration is downright hilarious while the romantasy sections purposely employ a vaguely formal, old-timey purple prose. The whole thing is ridiculous in the best ways while also being seriously addictive reading, with engaging, swoonworthy characters and well-developed worldbuilding.

A playful romp and ode to all who believe in true love and happily-ever-afters.

The Wicked

Johnpee, Rebecca | Bramble Books (512 pp.) $19.99 paper | November 25, 2025 9781250385857

The most feared criminal in Italy blackmails a woman into working for him. Elio Marino is known throughout Turin’s criminal underworld as “The Wicked” because if he judges someone to be a sinner, he will kill them and everyone in their bloodline as punishment. Zahra Faizan is the head of a

small, scrappy crew of thieves that call themselves Street. They target and raid one of Elio’s vault houses, escaping with enough money to last for years. A furious Elio tracks them down. He shoots and tortures Zahra until she makes a desperate bargain: In exchange for their lives, Zahra and the four other members of Street will work as permanent indentured servants for Elio. From this beginning, the book spins off a series of scenes that are so loosely interconnected that it reads less like a novel than a series of vignettes with characters who happen to have the same names: Now Zahra and Elio are playing chess; now Elio is drowning Zahra in a pool; now Elio and Zahra are in a shootout and have to save each other; now Elio and Zahra are getting high and making out. Although it’s billed as a romance, Zahra is in a casual relationship with Devil, another member of Street and Elio’s long-lost brother, for most of the book. Dramatic biographical details and storylines are introduced for both Elio and Zahra to justify their feelings or behavior, but this characterization is inconsistent and fractured. Once the scene is over, that information about the character might disappear for hundreds of pages, or never appear again. There is no chemistry or spark between Elio and Zahra, just strange, wooden dialogue and a cliffhanger ending.

An inexplicable, aimless, and troubling reading experience.

Isn’t It Obvious?

Katz, Rachel Runya | St. Martin’s Griffin (320 pp.) | $19 paper | October 21, 2025

9781250369970

A podcast host falls in love with her producer via email, only to discover she knows (and despises) him in real life. When Yael Koenig started The Sophomore English Agenda podcast under the pseudonym Elle Rex, she never imagined that a show discussing high

school reading would get more than a handful of listeners. But practically overnight, her secret podcast amassed a major following, and it’s more than she can handle on top of her day job as a public school librarian in Portland, Oregon. Her roommate, Charlie, and best friend, Sanaa, insist Yael needs help, so she hires a New York–based editor named Kevin Kisson to produce and edit her show. Immediately, the two strike up an email friendship; soon, she can’t get enough of their funny, vulnerable, sometimes flirty banter, which offers her solace amid personal and workplace stress. The latest drama? Yael’s new volunteer for her after-school queer book club is Charlie’s one-night stand, Ravi… whom she caught sneaking out the window post hookup. Little does she know that Ravi the jerk is actually Kevin Ravi Kisson. At book club, Yael and Ravi can barely contain their dislike for one another, but after hours, the tension between them starts to sizzle. Online, Elle and Kevin have decided to keep things professional, even though it’s obvious they like each other, maybe even love. What happens when they find out each other’s real identities? Can the real Yael and Ravi be as open in person, without a screen making hard things easier to say? Katz’s third novel is an expressive, modern take on classic “meet-disasters” like You’ve Got Mail, with characters who are refreshingly communicative and vulnerable. Both leads are queer people of color—Yael is Black and Jewish and Ravi is Trinidadian—and the author artfully explores their complex relationships with family, friends, and partners. Another highlight is Yael’s tongue-in-cheek podcast episode list, which Katz offers a snippet from after the epilogue.

This enemies-to-lovers romance has all the winning ingredients: compassion, spice, comedy, books, and more.

When I Picture You

Laurens, Sasha | Avon/HarperCollins (368 pp.) | $18.99 paper | October 28, 2025

9780063429116

A pop star taps her high school crush, now an aspiring filmmaker, to direct a documentary about the making of her new album.

Renee Feldman is supposed to be in New York City, finishing an MFA in film, the first step toward realizing her dream of becoming a documentary filmmaker. Instead, she’s taken a leave of absence, moved back to her hometown of Fellows, Michigan, and into her mom’s garage. Renee had hoped a break would reignite the creative inspiration she needs to complete her thesis project, but she’s spent most of the last nine months slinging coffee at the local cafe and avoiding her adviser’s emails. So she’s not exactly in the mood to attend her childhood next-door neighbor Claudia Grigorian’s wedding— especially because Claudia’s sister, Lola, will be there. Lola Gray is now a mega-successful singer-songwriter with legions of fans dubbed “Lo-Lites.” But her many accolades can’t fix her broken heart—or the resulting writer’s block. Lola, who’s bisexual but closeted to the public, is still reeling from a secret breakup with her ex-girlfriend and hasn’t written a song in over a year. When Lola reconnects with Renee—on whom she harbored an intense crush in high school—at Claudia’s reception, sparks ignite a steamy hookup. Renee doesn’t expect to hear from Lola again, but when Lola rejects the smarmy filmmaker her team has chosen to direct an upcoming documentary about her new album, she has the perfect replacement in Renee. Interesting discussions about the thin line between fandom and obsession, the complexities of queer identity and queer representation in media, and the dangers of the pop-star industrial complex elevate this sweet Sapphic romance. As heartfelt and sincere as a chart-topping love song, this take on the celebrity rom-com is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

For more by Rachel Runya Katz, visit Kirkus online.

A Star Is Scorned

Lenker, Maureen Lee | Sourcebooks

Casablanca (384 pp.) | $17.99 paper

October 14, 2025 | 9781728267944

A notorious Old Hollywood rogue must fake-date his new co-star to clean up his image—and perhaps change his womanizing ways in the process. Flynn Banks doesn’t make any promises—every woman who dates him knows they’re getting a fun time, but not a long time. But this is 1938 Hollywood, and Flynn’s reputation has led to negative attention. The men at the Legion of Decency and the Hays Code office want Flynn to clean up his act if they’re going to approve his films, and his studio insists that means committing to one woman, his newcomer co-star, Liv De Lesseps—at least for a staged relationship. The only problem is that he’s already met Liv (real name Olivia Blount) and she’s not too fond of him. What Flynn doesn’t know is that Olivia nursed a huge crush on him when she was just a girl watching his swashbuckling pirate movies. She’d feel lucky to be paired up with the man of her Hollywood dreams if it weren’t for the fact that she now knows he’s a scoundrel with “an ego the size of the Empire State Building.” As Flynn and Olivia are photographed together at hot spots around town, though, their love affair starts to feel a lot less fake. Olivia realizes that Flynn is much more sensitive and sincere behind the scenes, and Flynn finds Olivia irresistible. She just might be the one to get him to settle down for good—if they can find their way around the myriad obstacles Hollywood and their own pasts put in their way. Lenker creates a world with all the glamour of the silver screen and the banter of a screwball comedy. Flynn and Olivia have sparkling chemistry that leads to a few steamy scenes that certainly wouldn’t fly with the Legion of

Decency. Their love story features lots of period details and Easter eggs for film lovers—for example, Flynn takes his name from stars Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks. Lenker also examines the darker side of Hollywood with a subplot involving Olivia’s sister and the dangerous situation she finds herself in while trying to become a dancer.

A fun and sexy romance that’s perfect for anyone who loves classic cinema.

Ladies in Waiting: Jane Austen’s Unsung Characters

Lipman, Elinor, Adriana Trigiani, Karen Dukess, Eloisa James, Audrey Bellezza, Emily Harding, Diana Quincy, Nikki Payne & Sarah MacLean Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster (352 pp.) $19 paper | November 4, 2025 | 9781668204177

Eight stories give new life to some of Jane Austen’s overshadowed characters.

In recognition of Austen’s 250th birthday, nine authors have compiled eight stories reimagining some of the secondary and tertiary characters from her beloved tales, placing them against both historical and contemporary backgrounds. Often having only a handful of Austen’s sentences as a jumping-off point, the authors take minor characters like Eliza Brandon, Margaret Dashwood, and Georgiana Darcy, flesh them out, and give them complex, intriguing narratives of their own. Nikki Payne’s reimagining of Pride and Prejudice ’s Caroline Bingley as a free woman of color traveling away from her community in New Orleans to marry a complete stranger out West is especially engrossing, as is Eloisa James’ tale of Margaret Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility, now a bit older, out in society and training herself to be a novelist as she waits to fall in love. Diana Quincy’s attention is thoughtfully trained on Lydia Wickham (née Bennet), also from Pride and Prejudice,

surprised by a second chance at love after she’s widowed by her wicked husband. Though Sarah MacLean and Elinor Lipman choose very different happy endings for Emma’s Hetty Bates, both are highly satisfying. In keeping with the spirit of Austen’s work, there are multiple life-changing kisses in these stories, but anything spicier than that is kept off the page, and even in the contemporary stories there is a sense of old-fashioned courtliness underlying the different voices. The collection’s primary flaw is that the length of the stories varies widely; some are too long while others feel thin by comparison. Despite this, the collection will have tremendous appeal to Austen’s legion of devoted readers, thanks to the unique and generally well-executed concept. A joyful celebration of one of the most important writers in English literature.

Lessons in Faking: Hall Beck University

Mae, Selina | LYX (384 pp.) | $18.99 paper November 11, 2025 | 9798893310696

Desperate for her twin brother’s attention, college student Athalia Pressley decides to fake date her new tutor—who happens to be her brother’s nemesis. Since her parents’ deaths seven years ago, Athalia Pressley and her twin brother, Henry, have grown further apart than ever. Her brother represents everything their billionaire parents stood for: He has amazing grades like their statistician mother and is a soccer prodigy like their father, while Athalia is...not so much. Though both Henry and Athalia attend Hall Beck University, their parents’ alma mater, the only time Henry speaks to his sister is when he’s chiding her for doing something wrong. Athalia’s latest mistake is getting assigned Dylan McCarthy Williams, Henry’s archenemy, as her statistics tutor.

Henry’s hatred for Dylan stems from three major offenses: McCarthy stole Henry’s soccer jersey number, his spot as captain of the soccer team, and, allegedly, his ex-girlfriend Paula. Working with Dylan isn’t Athalia’s idea of a good time, but Prof. Shaw threatened to fail her unless she receives weekly statistics tutoring from Hall Beck’s star athlete and straight-A student. She also can’t help but notice another positive about her proximity to Dylan—Henry’s new and undivided attention. Athalia wants to keep Henry observant, and what better way to do that than by dating his nemesis? Dylan agrees to fake-date Athalia for the semester (to enjoy watching Henry squirm) as long as they set a few ground rules, the main one being that they won’t fall in love. But as the lines between fake-dating and genuine interest start to blur, can Athalia and Dylan deny that there’s something real between them? This college romance follows the traditional fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers tropes, offering an appropriate amount of spice and heart. Readers can easily fall for Dylan’s well-mannered teasing and charm, but Athalia’s character leaves a lot to be desired; outside of inciting her brother’s jealousy, her moments of spark are rare.

A fake-dating romance with a bland female main character.

A Waltz On the Wild Side

Ridley, Erica | Forever (368 pp.) | $17.99 paper | August 26, 2025 | 9781538726136

A fiery playwright and a quiet poet work together to find a missing cousin. Unlike the rest of London, Vivian Henry isn’t impressed by the Wynchester family, though her younger cousin Quentin is obsessed with them. Viv’s more focused on making ends meet

with her daily advice column, keeping the house in working order, and sending her plays to every theater in London, to no avail. But when Quentin disappears, she realizes that the only people who can help are those irritating Wynchesters. Jacob Wynchester is generally more interested in poetry and animals than other people, but he’s instantly captivated by Viv, despite her prickliness, and takes the lead on the search. After some miscommunication and mishaps, the Wynchesters finally make progress on the case, thanks in part to help from the extremely observant Viv, who finds that she fits in much better with the family than she ever would have guessed. And though the search for Quentin is becoming increasingly desperate, everyone but Viv and Jacob can tell that an attraction is building between them. Ridley’s Wynchesters are now a beloved family of historical romance, and they more than live up to their madcap reputation throughout this chaotic ride of a book. Jacob’s quiet warmth provides a much-needed counterpoint to the intensity of the story; in addition to Quentin’s kidnapping, the book centers Viv’s history of having been enslaved on a plantation in Demerara (now known as Guyana) and her escape to England, both key to understanding her character. Thanks to Ridley’s skillful writing, the story deftly balances the serious parts of the plot against the classically zany Wynchester antics and, eventually, steamy intimate scenes. Jacob seems likely to be the last of the six Wynchesters to find his happily-ever-after, and though new readers might be a little overwhelmed, fans will be glad that the series ends on a high note.

Another well-written, complex story about Regency London’s most accomplished (and unusual) fictional family.

Kirkus Star

Cowboy, It’s Cold Outside

Yates, Maisey | Canary Street Press (320 pp.) | $18.99 paper | October 28, 2025 9781335652911

A woman looking to open her own bar seeks help from an unlikely ally.

Sheena Patrick’s father died when she was 18, leaving her to raise three younger sisters. She kept the family afloat for years by working as a waitress and bartender. Now 31, she’s an empty nester and is determined to make a life for herself. She dreams of opening a bar of her own with ax-throwing lanes. Denver King is head of one of the four powerful families keeping their small town of Pyrite Falls, Oregon, alive. Denver’s father was a criminal who swindled and terrorized people in their community and manipulated his own children. After his father’s death, Denver dedicated himself to righting his father’s wrongs by financially supporting his victims, including Sheena and her sisters. Now Sheena approaches Denver with a deal: She’ll give him a share of the profits from her bar in exchange for help with the startup costs. Denver offers her the use of a building on his ranch, arguing that it will lower the overall opening costs as well as being a boon for their town as the four families try to make it a tourist destination. Sheena accepts the offer, and as they work together to rehab the building, they find themselves in close contact. Sheena and Denver had adult fears and responsibilities thrust on them at a young age, and as a result developed similar defensive strategies. Both of them are prickly and emotionally closed off, but neither can deny their growing attraction. Rather than the easy layup of “opposites attract,” the novel shows two very similar people learning to trust each other as lovers and equals—a romance rarity that Yates makes look effortless. Despite their bitter and heartbreaking early adult years, Sheena and Denver’s affair teaches them both that they, too, are deserving of love. A poignant and rewarding romance.

For more by Erica Ridley, visit Kirkus online.

REVIEWS

EDITORS’ PICKS:

Tyger by SF Said, illus. by Dave McKean (Penguin Workshop)

Island Storm by Brian Floca, illus. by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter/Holiday House)

Marseille 1940: The Flight of Literature by Uwe Wittstock, trans. by Daniel Bowles (Polity)

Maggie; Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee (Summit)

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

The Museum of Lies by J. Timothy Hunt

Fully Booked is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.

Fully Booked

From Jersey to Italia, with love: The View From Lake Como  soars. BY MEGAN LABRISE

EPISODE 434: ADRIANA TRIGIANI

On this episode of Fully Booked , Adriana Trigiani joins us to discuss her latest novel, The View From Lake Como (Dutton, July 8), an instant New York Times bestseller. “A good Italian American daughter’s 30-something rebellion forces her entire family to reckon with their choices,” Kirkus writes in a review of The View From Lake Como, “resulting in a happilyever-after for all that’s like the best affogato: rich, bitter, sweet.”

To listen to the episode, visit Kirkus online.

Here’s a bit more from our review: “Giuseppina ‘Jess’ Capodimonte Baratta lives in her parents’ basement, and it’s not the finished kind, but more like an old-fashioned cellar with a bed and a dresser. Her family has long struggled with money problems, so many that Jess had to go to community college instead of the four-year institutions her sister and brother attended. At 33, she’s landed back at her childhood home in Lake Como, New Jersey, because she’s left her husband, Bobby Bilancha.…Then Uncle Louie, the proprietor of Capodimonte Marble and Stone who has mentored Jess as his deputy, dies of a heart attack and leaves the business in her hands.…Jess chooses to ignore her overbearing mother’s advice and fly to Carrara, the home of the world’s most beautiful stones— and stonemasons, like Angelo Strazza, whose specialty is applying fragile gold leaf to carved pieces. From brushing up on her Italian to investigating Uncle Louie’s somewhat mysterious past, Jess soon discovers she needs less of her family’s assistance than she or they ever believed.”

Trigiani is the bestselling author of 20 works of fiction and nonfiction, including The Shoemaker’s Wife, the Big Stone Gap series, the Valentine trilogy and Lucia, Lucia . She is an

pp. | $29.00 July 8, 2025 | 9780593183359

award-winning playwright, television writer and producer, filmmaker, and podcast host (You Are What You Read ). She lives in New York.

In a spirited conversation, Trigiani and I discuss The View From Lake Como’s themes of family, resilience, self-discovery, and personal transformation. We talk about the awesome power of literature, the significance of surnames, the impact of heritage on identity, the best Italian cookies, and much more.

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

Editor at large Megan Labrise hosts the Fully Booked podcast.

The View From Lake Como Trigiani, Adriana Dutton | 416

Nonfiction

FOOD AND DRINK

BY THE BOOK

“THERE’S NOTHING MORE political than food,” said Anthony Bourdain, the late chef, author, and TV personality. “Who eats? Who doesn’t? Why do people cook what they cook? It is always the end or a part of a long story, often a painful one.”

This is why Alice Waters’ new book, A School Lunch Revolution: A Cookbook (Penguin Press, October 14), couldn’t come at a better time. Waters is the celebrated founder of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California—a restaurant that made Americans rethink the way we eat, rediscovering local and seasonal foods. She also runs the Edible Schoolyard Project, a nonprofit that seeks to improve public education by fostering a love of gardening and an appreciation of healthy food that comes from it. Waters doesn’t address present-day politics in her book, but I think that its philosophy—and many delicious recipes—will be especially valuable now, given threats to education spending. “Education and food are two universal rights,” she writes. “All children deserve to go to school. And everyone deserves to eat nourishing food.”

Waters’ roots in helping children date back to her time as a Montessori teacher, and School Lunch Revolution shows that she understands kids. She isn’t out to lecture (Eat your vegetables, children!). Instead, she wants kids to enjoy themselves while learning about good food. A number of recipes make this clear, including fun-to-assemble carrot and cucumber sushi, kimchi, and (messy) barbecued chicken legs.

Across the bay from Berkeley, in San Francisco, is another restaurant that has built a loyal following since its opening in 1988: House of Nanking. Now fans of the no-frills and fast-paced Chinatown eatery—and those discovering it for the first time—can rejoice thanks to House of Nanking: Family Recipes From San Francisco’s Favorite Chinese Restaurant (Abrams, September 30).

Chef and co-founder Peter Fang and his daughter, Kathy, share more than 100 recipes in the book.

Another book that I’m excited about is a debut by Pyet DeSpain: Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking (HarperOne/

HarperCollins, November 18).

A member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation who is also Mexican American, DeSpain taps into her heritage for such recipes as jalapeño bison jerky, deer chili, and watercress salad with pecans and prickly pear vinaigrette. Along the way, you’ll learn some Potawatomi terms, such as the euphonious word for wild rice: manoomin. Phaidon Press, which publishes some of the world’s loveliest cookbooks, has a dazzling title coming out this fall: Vietnam: The Cookbook (October 22) by Anaïs Ca Dao van Manen. Colored the pleasing dark green of a banana leaf, the book showcases a whopping 445 traditional dishes from home kitchens. The eye-popping colors of its many photographs are a plus. Perhaps you’d like a drink after preparing all this fare?

Actor Neil Patrick Harris and husband David Burtka are happy to oblige. The couple has collaborated on Both Sides of the Glass: Paired Cocktails and Mocktails To Toast Any Taste (Plume, September 30).

Harris enjoys his cocktails, and Burtka abstains, so they’ve gathered 70 alcoholic and nonalcoholic recipes for “the sober, the sober curious, and the alcohol imbiber.” After all, everyone should feel welcome at the party.

John McMurtrie is the nonfiction editor.

Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson

JOHN McMURTRIE

I was a teenage journalist. In this deceptively breezy memoir, Crowe recounts his upbringing in San Diego and his teenage adventures as a rock journalist. In a series of short, lively chapters, many of which open with an aphorism from his mother, Crowe lovingly portrays his parents and siblings without shying away from his oldest sister’s depression, institutionalization, and suicide. He also reflects on his first record reviews written for an underground newspaper, his subsequent work for Rolling Stone , and his brushes with everyone from Kris Kristofferson to the Ramones. Always the prodigy, Crowe was painfully aware of his youthful innocence, which

These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star

paradoxically helped him cover the hedonistic rock scene of the 1970s. He also developed a knack for self-deprecating humor, which he deploys throughout the memoir, beginning with its title. (After rock critic Lester Bangs reminded Crowe how uncool he was, his nerdiness became a badge of honor.) Following his journalistic triumphs at Rolling Stone , Crowe wrote  Fast Times at Ridgemont High  (1982), which launched his film career. He eventually wrote, directed, and landed an Oscar for  Almost Famous  (2000), the winsome coming-of-age story that his memoir often evokes and fleshes out.

Crowe has relatively little to say about his Hollywood

The Uncool: A Memoir

Crowe, Cameron | Avid Reader Press | 352 pp. $24.50 | October 28, 2025 | 9781668059432

years, and he is tight-lipped about his own marriage and children. The memoir opens and closes with the stage adaptation of  Almost Famous , whose 2019 opening in San Diego coincided with his mother’s demise. She was obsessed with the play, Crowe tells his readers, but its topic clearly preoccupies him as

well. “All of this will be forgotten,” David Bowie told Crowe while driving through Los Angeles in the 1970s, when the Eagles took flight. Crowe’s love letter to that place, time, and music puts Bowie’s prophecy to the test.

A winning blend of family portrait, rock history, and coming-of-age movies.

Kirkus Star

Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840–1920

Amar, Akhil Reed | Basic Books (736 pp.)

$40 | September 16, 2025 | 9781541605190

Tracing the idea of equality, enshrined in documents that are central to American identity. In this sprawling history (“For what it’s worth, this book is shorter than my last one”), constitutional scholar and Yale law professor Amar begins with a close reading of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and its assertion that the U.S. was a nation “conceived in liberty.” Granted, slavery existed in the breakaway Confederacy, and even in a few border states, but, as Amar points out, well before Lincoln made his speech, more than three-quarters of the states had developed constitutions that closely tracked with the Jeffersonian assertion that “all men are created equal”; others that did not assert equality, such as California’s 1849 constitution, held that “all men are, by nature, free and independent.” Jefferson held slaves and thus worked from a hypocritical position, but, Amar writes, his fellow Virginian George Washington “seemed open to long-term reforms extinguishing slavery,” endorsing a law that simplified the process of manumission. States such as South Carolina “did not concede, as did many Virginia planters, that slavery was wrong and should ideally end, sometime, somehow.” Slavery did end, of course, even if a different inequality came on its heels: “Amendments designed to smash slavocrats were twisted like pretzels into political and judicial doctrines designed to protect plutocrats,” Amar writes, a process of corruption that continues today. Moreover, as the author rightly emphasizes, after the liberation of formerly enslaved Black people, the acquisition of civil and political rights did not extend to any women or Indigenous people, the

former of whom did not attain the right to vote until 1920 because—unlike the male Black vote, which was needed to shore up Republicanism—“woman suffrage would not solve any immediate problem faced by these men.”

A pointed, closely argued study of the long historical arc leading to civil equality for all.

Kirkus Star

The American Revolution and the Fate of the World

Bell, Richard | Riverhead (416 pp.) | $35 November 4, 2025 | 9780593719510

The American Revolution reframed as “a world war in all but name.” The struggle of 13 North American colonies for independence from Great Britain quickly turned into a global conflict, writes Bell, a professor of history at the University of Maryland. Patriot leaders cultivated the support of England’s major rivals, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, which began by covertly supplying the rebels with weapons and by 1779 were engaging in open warfare. French and Spanish fleets turned the Caribbean into a major battlefront, forcing England to send troops from North America to protect its precious “sugar islands,” while American privateers inflicted huge losses on British merchant ships and boosted the rebel colonies’ economy. A separate Spanish-British war in Florida and South America also weakened England’s attempt to suppress the independence, as did French efforts to incite revolts in India against British rule. The repercussions after Americans won their independence also extended beyond the Eastern seaboard. Spain and Britain both tightened their controls over remaining colonies. Native American tribes lost what little protection England had provided against white settlers’ incursions on their lands, which grew increasingly aggressive after independence. Enslaved

African Americans who fought for Britain on the basis of promises of freedom were resettled first in Nova Scotia and then in Sierra Leone; their odyssey is the subject of a particularly fascinating chapter. Bell’s international emphasis occasionally leads him to overreach, as when he claims that the 1780 anti-Catholic Gordon Riots in London were “also an expression of popular opposition to the American war,” but his basic argument is sound (and there was considerable antiwar sentiment in England). Based on solid and deep research, his book is written in clear, accessible prose—with entertaining minutiae such as the fact that the minutemen at Lexington and Concord fired guns made in Spain—that will appeal to general readers with an interest in history.

A fresh perspective on a familiar subject.

Dr. Bot: Why Doctors Can Fail Us―And How AI Could Save Lives

Blease, Charlotte | Yale Univ. (336 pp.) $25 | September 9, 2025 | 9780300247145

Does medicine need an injection of AI?

Blease, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, quotes a physician at an academic conference who says, “I save lives for a living, what do you do?” It’s a boast that few other professions allow. But it’s incomplete, because that same doctor, like others in his profession, undoubtedly lost many lives, too. Medical hubris obscures the fact that while lives are saved by skill, experience, and science, too often others suffer because of doctors’ shortcomings. Many are turning to artificial intelligence to supplement human judgment in medicine, but some in the medical community dismiss AI assistance outright. Replacing the physician with a medical robot would be a mistake equal to banishing AI from the exam room altogether, says Blease. “Today,” the author writes, “substantial research

supports the observation that experts can be unreasonably biased against algorithms, favoring their own (sometimes flawed) human decision-making instead. This kind of apathy is referred to as ‘algorithmic aversion.’” Blease is cognizant that both AI and MDs have weaknesses, yet both have skills that, if brought together, would benefit patients. That’s the hope. Blease warns against naively trusting the technology; AI can make blunders. As tests and trials demonstrate, though, advanced AI can be a valuable medical technology.

(According to a Pew Research survey, four in 10 Americans, Blease writes, “would feel comfortable if their provider ‘relied on AI for their medical care.’”) The mix of AI and medicine won’t replace the human doctor but can produce what Blease notes is “extended cognition: that our thinking isn’t confined to our brains but extends to the tools and environment around us.” The result: better care, and lives saved. A strong case that doctors should be open to using AI to be fully effective.

From Ear to Ear: A Pianist’s Love Affair With Song

Blier, Steven | Norton (320 pp.) | $29.99 November 18, 2025 | 9781324005483

A joyful view from an accompanist’s piano bench. Blier’s delightful, lively, and intimate story about his illustrious career in music is overshadowed throughout by a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Young Steven first learned to play the piano thanks to a xylophone in nursery school and, thanks to being an early “operaholic,” became quite good at it, especially sight-reading. He also came out of the closet in college—“like jumping from an airplane without a parachute.” Blier set his sights on becoming an accompanist, the “equivalent of being a musical janitor.” After college he was fortunate to play for veteran popular singer Martha Schlamme, straddling the worlds of

popular and classical music “like someone who plays Brahms and also deals drugs.” Classes at Julliard, where he later would teach, sharpened his skills in his early 20s and provided him with a passionate love affair. As a successful cabaret pianist, Blier dabbled with art song, opera, concert opportunities, and debut recitals. Playing for the Young Concert Artists competitions and “childhood idol” Roberta Peters and Patricia Brooks provided additional valuable experience. His career took a huge jump when he and a friend created a concert organization in 1988 that would offer a series of performances, the New York Festival of Song, which is still popular and now issuing recordings. His muscular dystrophy finally required getting a wheelchair, but career-wise he was working regularly with superstar singers like Cecilia Bartoli, a “dazzling virtuoso,” Susan Graham, and Renée Fleming. And he met a man, James Russell, who would become his husband. Blier would go on to successfully work with Lorraine Hunt (later Lieberson). The author is excellent at explaining how he puts his performances together, blending song and music, and fits them to the many people with whom he performs. It’s a struggle, but Blier still makes music. A memoir that brings music and singing to life.

Kirkus Star

Shadow Cell: An Insider Account of America’s New Spy War

Bustamante, Andrew & Jihi Bustamante Little, Brown (272 pp.) | $32 September 9, 2025 | 9780316572149

country on which this narrative centers. “But we can tell you,” they write, “that it’s a place with centuries of history, a vibrant culture, a wonderful people… and a government implacably opposed to the United States and its allies.”

Given that the country would appear to be European and mildly prosperous, one might make an educated guess, but that’s not really important. What is important is that the country they call Falcon had an intelligence service so highly developed that traditional methods of spycraft were hobbled, leading to a brilliant solution: Decentralize their spy network so that it resembled a terrorist cell, with each member holding only need-to-know information. On that score, one of the most exciting episodes in a book full of them is Andrew’s skin-of-his-teeth escape from Falcon after almost certainly having been betrayed by an American agent code-named Scimitar, who did so for the oldest reason there is: He needed money. The adventures and misadventures are plentiful here, but of equally great interest to readers are the authors’ lucid explanations of how spycraft proceeds to begin with. In the business of recruiting wellconnected Falconians to spill state secrets, for instance, the first step is to gain the subject’s attention more or less accidentally, and then turn up at the same coffee shop or store and, in time, strike up a conversation. Phrase three? Forge a true friendship, a particularly American approach. “Most of the time, the relationships between our case officers and their Falcon contacts are genuine—not fake or transactional.” It’s just the thing for a budding spy to learn.

A fast-paced account of an effort to root out a mole and recruit double agents in an unnamed enemy nation.

Owing to CIA censorship, the Bustamantes, married former agents, can’t name the

A gripping espionage yarn that happily contradicts the authors’ advice for crafting a cover story: “Make it boring as hell.”

Gathered: On Foraging, Feasting, and the Seasonal Life

Cerberville, Gabrielle | HarperCollins (368 pp.) $32 | October 21, 2025 | 9780063357914

Eating off the land.

Cerberville, known as the “Chaotic Forager” and the “Internet’s Mushroom Auntie,” makes her book debut with an enthusiastic manual for finding, identifying, harvesting, and processing wild edibles. In a memoir laced with recipes, she recounts growing up in the Poconos, living in Indianapolis for college and work, subsisting in a beat-up RV after a devastating divorce, and moving to Michigan in 2021 to start graduate school. Except for hunting blueberries, she wasn’t a forager when she was a child. “I was told never to touch any mushrooms I found in the woods,” she recalls, “since most of them were deadly toxic and it was difficult to tell the good ones from the bad ones.” But once she started plant hunting, she found it “addictive. Once you find your first plant, your first mushroom, you’ll be chasing that high for the rest of your life.” Cerberville creates lively accounts of her quests in fields and forests for assorted mushrooms, berries, flowers, buds, leaves, and nuts. Unearthing mushrooms—often buried under layers of leaves or camouflaged against tree bark—is challenging detective work. “Thinking like a mushroom is no small task,” she writes. “We have to consider what sorts of conditions a specific mushroom prefers, who their likely friends are, collect all sorts of demographic information and use it to determine where they might like to be.” Besides recipes for delectables such as Miso Soup with Enoki, Juniper Ash Polenta Cake, and Giant Puffball Pizza, Cerberville offers a host of exercises designed to foster closeness with, and gratitude for, nature. A glossary defines botanical and mycological terms, and an appendix contains a detailed alphabetical list of plants and

fungi. Illustrated with 20 graceful botanical drawings. A charming guide to nature’s bounty.

Crick: A Mind in Motion

Cobb, Matthew | Basic Books (448 pp.) | $19.99 | November 11, 2025

9781541602878

From the structure of life to the matter of mind. Francis Crick, the British biologist who, along with James Watson, won the Nobel Prize for discovering the structure of DNA, has always been a controversial figure— known for wild sex parties, endorsing eugenics, possibly stealing data. Cobb, a zoologist and science writer, wants to get these less savory aspects of Crick’s character out of the way quickly, suggesting, for instance, that Crick’s wife was “amused” and “sometimes profited” from his many affairs, the details of which, Cobb states, are “simply not our business.” Well, sure—but by that logic, neither is his gastric reflux or the print of his wallpaper, but Cobb is happy to share these in this exhaustively—and exhaustingly—detailed biography. Cobb is at his best when it comes to the science—able to explain in page-turning prose why, for instance, scientists once thought genes were made of proteins, not DNA, or what made it so challenging to deduce a molecule’s three-dimensional shape from two-dimensional images. It was truly a monumental achievement when Crick, as he announced in a 1953 letter to his 12-year-old son, “found the basic copying mechanism by which life, comes from life”—signed, “Daddy.” Cobb explains that Crick was drawn to questions that “seemed incomprehensible, so people tended to view them in a religious or mystical light”: What is life? What is mind? The latter landed him in La Jolla, California, in the 1960s, where he tripped on LSD and joined a group of scientists intent on proving Crick’s “astonishing hypothesis”: that the whole miracle of experience comes down to the

firings of neurons in the brain, just as the miracle of life came down to genes coiled in a double helix. In trying to turn philosophical questions about the mind into experimental science, Crick, Cobb contends, “helped propel the development of modern neuroscience.”

Unfortunately, the “neural correlates of consciousness” he sought until his death in 2004 remain at large. A knowledgeable but bloated biography of one of the biggest names in science.

Kirkus Star

Planning Miracles: How To Prevent Future Pandemics

Cohen, Jon | Knopf (448 pp.) | $35 October 7, 2025 | 9780593321225

Finding hope in failures of pandemics past. In 1955, the long, costly fight against polio ended in victory when Jonas Salk developed a vaccine that would save untold numbers of children. The head of the March of Dimes called the vaccine a “planned miracle,” something that the world hadn’t believed possible a generation earlier. With the eradication of polio setting the scene, science writer Cohen, a correspondent for Science who specializes in biomedicine and infectious diseases, takes on the sweep of our battles against pandemics—past, present, and future. In clear, precise prose buttressed by meticulous research, he lays out what went wrong with Covid-19—from China’s calamitous lack of transparency at the start, to global unpreparedness, to the United States’ failure to mobilize and contain the virus. The author shows no patience for bad actors, or those who help them with conspiracy theories and junk science, or even those who might mean well but display a deep fixation with the “lab leak” theory, which has never been proven. “All too many of the loudest lab leak proponents confuse possibility with

probability,” he writes. “They embrace what could have happened, what might be. They pile speculations atop speculations. Like the religious, they believe. They know.” Building on a meticulous recounting of our recent traumatic global history and how it happened, along with far-flung battles against Ebola, bird flus, and other deadly scourges, the work presents comprehensive plans for a better way forward. As the world rebuilds from the wreckage of Covid-19, policymakers would be wise to take Cohen’s work to heart. Pandemics, after all, are an ongoing fact of human life, not an anomaly.

A leading science writer scrutinizes our pandemic failures and offers strategies for correcting them.

Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power Are Ruining Our Lives and Planet

Collins, Chuck | The New Press (240 pp.) $27.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781620979099

How the ultrawealthy are ruining our economy, society, and planet, and what we might be able to do about it.

Collins, a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies, specifically calls out billionaires in the title of his latest book, but his focus encompasses “households that are in the top one-tenth of 1 percent,” those with more than $40 million in assets, the approximate point at which “wealth translates into levels of influence and power that distort democracy.” Collins argues that, regardless of how generous or admired individuals within this class may be, the collective actions and existence of billionaires contribute to the worsening of almost every aspect of life. For the past several decades, workers have shared increasingly less in the productivity gains of their ever-wealthier employers, one of several mechanisms allowing fewer people to

“I can let joy and creativity take over. I block out all distractions, even the person guarding me.”

SHOT READY

amass the majority of society’s wealth. Taxation reform, especially President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, have shrunk what the wealthy pay, particularly the once-robust estate tax. These and other public policies “have enriched asset owners at the expense of wage earners,” enabling family dynasties and individuals to amass eye-boggling fortunes far beyond what’s possible by mere salary alone. The enduring myth of meritocracy furthers the misperception that billionaires deserve their riches—and that the poor deserve their misfortune. Ultrawealthy donors funnel huge amounts of money into super PACs for favored candidates and then lean on elected officials to pass policies favorable to billionaires. The world’s richest people, through their polluting companies and super-yachts, also contribute an outsize amount to worsening climate change; Collins writes that “the emissions of the top 1 percent will cause 1.3 million excess deaths due to heat between 2020 and 2030.” Numerous charts and comic illustrations pepper the text. Collins offers many straightforward, if not simple, solutions for reversing the “billionaire burn” at both personal and governmental levels. However, political developments in the United States may be pushing even the most sensible reforms further out of reach.

An informed and measured exploration of the myriad harms billionaires impose.

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Shot Ready

Curry, Stephen | One World/ Random House (432 pp.) | $35 September 9, 2025 | 9780593597293

A future basketball Hall of Famer’s rosy outlook.

Curry is that rare athlete who looks like he gets joy from what he does. There’s no doubt that the Golden State Warriors point guard is a competitor—he’s led his team to four championships—but he plays the game with nonchalance and exuberance. That ease, he says, “only comes from discipline.” He practices hard enough—he’s altered the sport by mastering the three-point shot—so that he achieves a “kind of freedom.” In that “flow state,” he says, “I can let joy and creativity take over. I block out all distractions, even the person guarding me. He can wave his arms and call me every name in the book, but I just smile and wait as the solution to the problem—how to get the ball into the basket—presents itself.”

Curry shares this approach to his craft in a stylish collection that mixes life lessons with sharp photographs and archival images. His dad, Dell, played in the NBA for 16 years, and Curry learned much from his father and mother: “My parents were extremely strict about me and my little brother Seth not going to my pops’s games on school nights.”

Curry’s mother, Sonya, who founded the Montessori elementary school that Curry attended in North Carolina, emphasized the importance not just of learning but of playing. Her influence helped Curry and his wife, Ayesha, create a nonprofit foundation: Eat. Learn. Play. He writes that “making reading fun is the key to

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unlocking a kid’s ability to be successful in their academic journeys.” The book also has valuable pointers for ballers— and those hoping to hit the court. “Plant those arches—knees bent behind those 10 toes pointing at the hoop, hips squared with your shoulders—and draw your power up so you explode off the ground and rise into your shot.” Sounds easy, right?

“Protect your passion,” writes an NBA star in this winning exploration of how we can succeed in life.

Kirkus Star

Vagabond: A Memoir

Curry, Tim | Grand Central Publishing (304 pp.) $32 | October 14, 2025 | 9780306835841

Recollections of an iconic career on stage and screen.

Though his appearance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show is likely the first thing people think of when they think of Tim Curry (“I had the legs for it”), it is only one of many landmark roles on a distinguished résumé. Beginning with his appearance in the 1968 London production of Hair (they were looking for “hippies who could sing”) and continuing at a breakneck pace for over 50 years, Curry offers readers a backstage pass to the stage and screen productions he has been involved with, from Amadeus and Travesties to Muppet Treasure Island (“I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed working with the Muppets”). Though he doesn’t think much of acting method—as he tells John Huston on the set of Annie when asked for his thoughts on his part, “I thought I would show up”—he does pose a psychological question about the roots of his storied performances in villainous roles: “Was I able to play Pennywise— the murderous clown of It —or the malevolent, alluring Cardinal Richelieu of The Three Musketeers because of terrifying childhood memories of my

mother?” Included in myriad fascinating tidbits about Rocky Horror is this typically brusque and funny passage: “People often ask me for my opinion about why audiences keep coming back to this outrageous film. How has it proven to have such endurance, which has allegedly changed people’s lives? What made it such a sensation?” His answer: “Nobody fucking knows”— though the still-ongoing midnight showings, he points out, are a guaranteed weekly party for which you don’t need an invitation or a date. He candidly details the downs as well as the ups, with details of his failed music career in the 1990s and the 2012 stroke that left him paralyzed on the left side. Look for cameos from Carol Burnett, Princess Diana, David Bowie, Grace Jones, Truman Capote, and Charlie Sheen (“not the sharpest pencil in the drawer”). Regarding his love life (and, by extension, his sexuality), he asserts that it is “respectfully—none of your fucking business.”

Entertaining, briskly paced, and well worth reading.

Tenderheaded: A Memoir

Davis, Michaela angela Simon & Schuster (304 pp.) | $29 October 7, 2025 | 9781668036310

Reflecting on family, career, passions, and a complicated racial identity.

A writer, creative director, and producer, Davis co-wrote the memoir The

Meaning of Mariah Carey. She has also appeared on CNN to dissect racial controversies. The author came by her expertise in these subjects from a lifetime of living in a particular body: “A [societal] scaffolding of physical preferences…holds me hostage by virtue of my lighter-than-light skin, my not-short blond hair and hazel eyes. Attributes…that stood as irrefutable evidence that I was part other—Black and,” she writes. “I do not hate my skin,

and certainly I do not hate my hair, but I do hate that my skin and hair confound other Black girls.” For the most part, Davis doesn’t dwell on this sensitive dynamic. Keenly observant and with exceptional taste, she spent most of her career putting her talents to use in the world of Black women’s fashion magazines, a small but influential (if grossly underappreciated) sector of New York’s publishing industry. Through her work as a stylist, she has worked with great artists and creators like Abbey Lincoln, Maya Angelou, Diana Ross, Prince, and Beyoncé. Though Davis’ anecdotes of close encounters with the great and famous are certainly entertaining (and occasionally juicy), it’s the power and energy of her writing that make her book such a pleasurable read. Organized in three sections—“the child,” “the alcoholic,” and “the writer”—the narrative moves mostly chronologically, with frequent tangents, skipping ahead and behind, adding color and context. Jazzy, improvisational, and deeply personal.

Letters for the Ages: Great Musicians

Ed. by Drake, James & Edward Smyth Bloomsbury Continuum (256 pp.) | $26 September 25, 2025 | 9781399419468

Dear music lovers… Eager to cultivate his image, Johannes Brahms destroyed much of his early work before it could get out into the world. The composer felt the same about his correspondence. “A person has to be careful about writing letters,” he told a friend. “One day they get printed!” The man had a point. This enjoyable collection—part of a Letters for the Ages series—assembles missives from musicians that date as far back as the sixth century. Brahms would be happy to learn that none of his writing is in the book. Among the entries, however, is an 1878 letter addressed to

him; it’s by Clara Schumann, the fellow composer who had great affection for her friend (the feeling was reciprocal, although the relationship probably remained platonic). The letter is illuminating because it shows how much Schumann advised Brahms on his scores, with detailed (and gentle) suggestions: “In the C major piece I wish you would use the charming opening phrase again at the repeat, it would not be difficult, would it?” Schumann’s husband, Robert, is also in the anthology. In an 1830 letter to his mother, the future composer expresses his reluctance to pursue a legal career: “My life has been for twenty years one long struggle between poetry and prose, or, let us say, music and law.” Seems he made the right choice. Dozens of other musicians are included; the range is broad, if focused on Western artists. We hear from Giuseppe Verdi, Woody Guthrie, John Coltrane, Leonard Bernstein, Amy Winehouse, and Nick Cave. In a foreword, David Pickard writes that “despite their genius, great artists are real people”—even, apparently, when addressing royalty. “My glorious and dearly beloved King,” Richard Wagner gushes in a letter to Ludwig II of Bavaria. In his short communication, the composer proceeds, like any modern-day fanboy, to use no fewer than 11 exclamation marks.

Notes of a different sort offer insights into musicians’ lives.

Elves and Fairies: A Short History of the Otherworld

Egeler, Matthias | Trans. by Stewart Spencer | Yale Univ. (256 pp.) | $26 October 21, 2025 | 9780300284409

Inventing mythology. Egeler, a professor of Old Norse literature and culture, offers an erudite history of elves and fairies from the time of the Vikings to the early 21st century. Translated from German by Spencer, Egeler’s

examination reveals the cultural interchanges and social transformations that affected the way elves and fairies were imagined in Iceland, Britain, and Germany in medieval, early modern, Victorian, and modern times. Beginning in Iceland, Egeler considers the appearance, habitat, and behavior of elves, whose presence, for isolated farmers, alleviated the “oppressively vast emptiness” of the countryside. In Ireland and Scotland, the rural poor developed fairy stories in response to illness, death, suffering, and misfortune. Their fairies could be beneficent or malevolent, occupying a gray area between the godly and the devil; witch hunts, for example, equated fairies with demonic forces. From the Middle Ages on, the educated aristocracy conceived of fairies living in their own kingdom, as in Spenser’s The Faerie Queene and Shakespearean plays. Egeler credits the Brothers Grimm and other folklorists with publishing fairy tales and folk tales that made spirits and sprites accessible to the urban middle classes. Fairies became a prevalent artistic theme in Victorian Britain, which Egeler ascribes to “a worried sense of nostalgia” amid increasing industrialization. Blake, Lady Gregory, Yeats, and Arthur Conan Doyle are among many writers who shaped their culture’s conception of the spirit world. James Barrie’s Tinker Bell, Egeler asserts, contributed to the infantilization of fairies as tiny creatures with insect wings, diminishing their status “as some of the most powerful figures of the otherworld”—status that has been revitalized by medievalist J.R.R. Tolkien’s bellicose elves. Egeler’s analysis supports his contention that “every age and every stratum in society has its own otherworld that reflects its fears, its longings and its needs.”

A scholarly investigation of magical beings.

Somebody Is Walking on Your Grave: My Cemetery Journeys

Enríquez, Mariana | Trans. by Megan McDowell | Hogarth (336 pp.) | $30 September 30, 2025 | 9780593733516

Travel tales and mini histories collected in cemeteries across the Americas and Europe. Given the gothic flavor that infuses Enriquez’s fiction, it is perhaps no surprise that the author is a “cemetery connoisseur.” In this essay collection, she pulls notes from visits to iconic graveyards across Europe, the United States, and South America, lightly lacing them with personal memoir and niche cultural interests (like the Welsh punk rock band Manic Street Preachers). This is not a simplistic account of morbid tourism. Instead, Enriquez constructs mental maps of notable interments, dedicated children’s zones, and funerary statuary with vivid scenic details that illustrate how surrounding landscapes affect the delicate beauty of gravestones and monuments. She staves off the creep of the macabre with entertaining sketches of the quirkily superstitious and grave robbers, partiers, and defacers and with little-known tidbits of idiosyncratic cemetery norms. (Who knew that most cemeteries of a certain size contain a person buried standing up?) While Enriquez visits each cemetery for the appeal of the site itself, each also has its own strange history, famous inhabitants, and unlikely ghost stories. And, it turns out, cemeteries, their origin stories of creation, exhumation, and relocation, the care of them, and the mysteries that

The rural poor developed fairy stories in response to illness, death, suffering, and misfortune.

ELVES AND FAIRIES

shroud them, lend themselves to discussions of geopolitical history, religious inclinations, social delineations, and how we think about both the dead and death more generally. The author’s visits to cemeteries in Patagonia and on a remote island off the coast of Perth, Australia, create a spectral background for Indigenous-colonizer relationships and serendipitous nation-state boundaries; New Orleans’s famed mausoleums provide an entrée for explaining voodoo and noting class divides. Despite hints of deeper darkness, Enriquez’s almost protective devotion to the subject of her eerie obsession supplants juicy personal details and the rendering of moral judgments to shape an ode to material remembrance that is unusual, sometimes comical, and ultimately oddly comforting. Quietly, hypnotically amusing.

Joan Crawford: A Woman’s Face

Eyman, Scott | Simon & Schuster (480 pp.) $31 | November 18, 2025 | 9781668047309

Knowledgeable biography of the actress whose film career ran from the silents through the ’60s. Golden Age specialist Eyman provides a smart account of Crawford’s life (1905ish-1977) and her long tenure at the top of the Hollywood totem pole. He locates the source of her famously driven personality in a hardscrabble working-class childhood with “father figures who came and went” and a mother and brother she disliked, though she supported them throughout their lives. She started as a dancer, landed an MGM contract while still in her teens, and got her big break with Our Dancing Daughters in 1928, causing a sensation with her uninhibited Charleston and unabashed sexuality. She seamlessly made the transition to sound and was one of MGM’s leading lights for nearly 20 years, famous for her professionalism: never arrived late to the set, knew the name of

every crew member, did endless interviews and PR appearances without complaint, was always glamorously dressed and made up. When she sensed the studio’s interest flagging as she approached her 40s, she asked to be released from her contract and moved over to Warner Bros., garnering one of her biggest hits (and an Oscar) for Mildred Pierce. Eyman gives shrewd appraisals of Crawford’s many films, including Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? in the twilight of her career, and a frank but sympathetic look at her personal life. He clearly likes his subject, appreciating her lifelong loyalty to friends famous and obscure, as well as to ex-husbands Douglas Fairbanks and Franchot Tone. He dismisses the most lurid charges in daughter Christina’s notorious Mommie Dearest (vehemently disputed by two of Crawford’s other adopted children) but doesn’t whitewash her overly strict parenting. Eyman is not likely to win any awards for his prose style, and there’s not a lot new here, but this is a fair and comprehensive biography. Fully fleshed portrait of a complicated woman who considered being a movie star a job and worked at it every day.

More and More and More: An All-Consuming History of Energy

Fressoz, Jean-Baptiste | Harper/ HarperCollins (336 pp.) | $32.50 August 5, 2025 | 9780063444935

A detailed history of energy use and a sharp refutation of the idea of “energy transition.”

A common model of technological history posits eras in which one form of energy dominates and is then replaced by a new one. In this model, wood gives way to coal, which gives way to oil, then electricity, nuclear, and eventually renewable energy become the dominant forms. The book argues that the transition model was originally created by industrialists touting their products as

the wave of the future. The idea especially took off after World War II, with the “atomic age” promoted as a new era of clean, cheap energy. Historians as well as the popular press adopted the idea without looking closely at all the ways it simplified what was really happening. Fressoz, a French historian of science and technology, rejects this model, supplying abundant evidence that instead of earlier forms being replaced as newer ones came online, they remained in use, often supplementing the new forms. For example, the rise of coal was accompanied by an increase in the use of wood, for braces in the coal mines, railroad ties, and construction of railroad cars. A similar dynamic followed each of the later “energy transitions,” with coal usage increasing as oil became the dominant energy source; more coal is being used today than ever before, notably to generate electricity in Asian countries but also to make steel and other metals. Most recently, “transition” has become a mantra for those responding to the climate crisis—all the bad, polluting energy sources will be replaced eventually by something greener. Fressoz does not dispute the severity of the climate crisis. Instead, he points to “the need…for a new understanding of energy and material dynamics” instead of reliance on “bad history.”

A sobering look at how different forms of energy have evolved, and what it means for the future.

Comrades in Art: Artists Against Fascism 1933-1943

Friend, Andy | Thames & Hudson (360 pp.) $50 | September 23, 2025 | 9780500027417

Artists unite against oppression. Biographer Friend examines a robust artistic resistance to fascism by the Artists International Association, which formed in

Kirkus Star

London in 1933 and took as its mission the “Unity of Artists against Fascism and War and the Suppression of Culture.” Its founders included several artists who had been to the Soviet Union and returned to England inspired by the mutual support among artists in that country. Fearful of the growing threat of fascism throughout Europe, they proclaimed that “now was the time for their generation of artists to organize” in order “to serve shared political goals through their art” and support progressive causes. Focusing on the activities of the AIA from 1933 to 1943, Friend investigates similar organizations outside of England: the International Bureau of Revolutionary Artists in Moscow, for example, and in the U.S., the John Reed Clubs, the Unemployed Artists Group, the Public Works of Art Project, and the American Artists’ Congress. The AIA forged connections with these groups as it grew to become an increasingly visible force in British culture, producing publications and mounting exhibitions, many to raise funds for combatants in Spain and Russia. In its first year, membership tripled; the roster included Julian and Quentin Bell, Augustus John, Henry Moore, and art critics Herbert Read and Kenneth Clark, along with scores of other painters, sculptors, writers, and illustrators whose work appears in the book’s more than 200 illustrations. Many contributors to the AIA’s efforts were 20th-century stars, such as Picasso, who sent his Guernica to be exhibited in London; muralist Diego Rivera; surrealists Joan Miró and Paul Klee; Ben Shahn; and Virginia and Leonard Woolf, who supported the organization. A biographical appendix identifies less familiar participants.

A stirring, deeply researched history of artists’ response to crisis.

Cesar Romero: The Joker Is Wild

Garza Bernstein, Samuel | Univ. Press of Kentucky (280 pp.) | $27.95 August 26, 2025 | 9781985902886

The life of a gifted yet guarded actor. Screenwriter, playwright, and author Garza Bernstein celebrates the career of Cesar Romero (1907-94), who—with a handful of other campy actors—formed “nascent LGBTQIA+ representation in the media” and influenced and informed the author as a young queer man. Most memorable and recognizable for his distinctive laugh and theatrical portrayal of the Joker in the 1960s Batman TV series, Romero got his start as a singer and ballroom dancer, making his Broadway debut in 1927. Six years later, the native New Yorker was in Hollywood, on screen with such established stars as Marlene Dietrich, Shirley Temple, William Powell, and Myrna Loy. Playing the Cisco Kid—“the Latino Robin Hood of westerns”—in six movies, Romero then enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, giving dramatic, morale-boosting speeches at war plants. The son of wealthy conservative Cuban immigrants, Romero was often typecast in supporting roles as the “suave seducer,” and his career spanned more than 100 movies and 250 TV appearances. It was his two-year “iconic” stint on Batman, however, that garnered him widespread notoriety as a character actor. “Suddenly,” writes Garza Bernstein, “he is on lunch boxes, school supplies, board games, T-shirts, jigsaw puzzles, and trading cards.” Romero was a closeted

How “the Latino Robin Hood of westerns” became a famous character actor.

CESAR ROMERO

gay actor, but Garza Bernstein astutely notes that he was “secure enough that even though he assiduously keeps his private life out of the public eye, he still refuses to marry a woman to provide cover—unlike many of his peers in Hollywood.” Romero’s privacy extended to his “famous friends,” writes the author. He didn’t want to write a memoir, “telling people that he knows what publishers want him to write about, and he has no interest in betraying friends and loved ones.” In this fond appreciation, Garza Bernstein keeps the singular actor’s legacy alive.

A skillful and vivacious biography of a multitalented and underappreciated celebrity.

Kirkus Star

Black

Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State

Gayle, Caleb | Riverhead (304 pp.) | $33 August 12, 2025 | 9780593543795

Searching history of a Black activist’s quest to establish self-sustaining communities in the newly opened West. Edward Preston McCabe was known as “the One Who Would Be the Moses”—sometimes with a sneer, as journalist Gayle notes at the start of this stirring narrative—for his efforts to recruit Southern Black migrants to settle in Oklahoma, and for “his vision…for a part of the United States to be occupied and colonized by Black people.” Following the Civil War, Gayle writes, supposedly emancipated Blacks had good reason to want to leave the South: Reconstruction was fast proving a failure, having been abandoned by the federal government, and resurgent white supremacy forced a choice: “Ku Klux or Kansas.” Kansas was indeed a destination in what Gayle rightly considers the first Great Migration, preceded by a movement to settle white abolitionists there in order to block the expansion

THE KIRKUS Q&A: JILL DAMATAC

An immigrant writer reflects on her life in the U.S.—and the Filipino dishes that have sustained her.

BY GLENN GAMBOA

JILL DAMATAC ISN’T interested in convincing anyone of anything in her stunning debut memoir, Dirty Kitchen .

Although the book features recipes and lengthy, poignant discussions of Filipino dishes that impacted her life, she doesn’t care if Filipino cuisine finally breaks into the American mainstream the way Thai and Korean restaurants have. (Of course, she definitely thinks it should. As did Anthony Bourdain.)

Dirty Kitchen centers on her life as an undocumented immigrant in the United States for 22 years and her eventual move to the United Kingdom, where she received her master’s degree in creative writing at Cambridge University. But Damatac isn’t trying to make a broader point about the hot-button issue of immigration, either.

“To be an undocumented immigrant is to be made invisible and silent,” she writes in her author’s note. “This book is my proof of existence. One that needs no country’s permission. One that can never be revoked.”

From her home in San Francisco, where she lives with her husband, Steve, and is working on a historical novel, Damatac talked with us over Zoom about food and how it evokes memories. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Where did you get the idea to link food with memoir? Honestly, it was all very spontaneous and organic in terms of how it came about. I was still in the middle of my creative writing master’s degree. We were given a workshop assignment to write about shoes—a memory. So the first thing I remembered was my grandfather, my

neighborhood spitting the seeds into people’s rose bushes. It’s like my first year here, and I’m just thinking, This is so weird. Where am I ? So that was what that essay was. And I ended up thinking, I kind of like this . I wrote another piece about sisig [a fried, minced pork dish], and then it just kind of blossomed from there. When I found out that food memoir is a thing, that it exists as a subgenre, I [decided] I might just play with that and see what happens. Dirty Kitchen became my dissertation for that degree.

I love that all this started from homework. Exactly. We had one night to do it, and we had to read our pieces the next day.

write about? Or did your memories dictate particular dishes?

Lolo Pedring, and his pristine white sneakers that he used to militaryclean every other day. And he wore these sneakers to visit us in Pennsylvania in our first year from the Philippines. He brought sampaloc—the sticky, sweet tamarind—and the memory was of the two of us walking around this suburban Pennsylvania Jill

For the book, did you start with the food you wanted to

It was a mix. Some chapters just instantly made sense to me. Some chapters I really had to think about. And some chapters I had to cut. There’s like five moving parts in any of these chapters. There’s the food itself. There’s my personal narrative that I’m linking with it. There’s the mythology. There’s the history and then the food history, at times. So the very first criterion for me was to use only dishes I actually liked. They had to be dishes that I had actually eaten, that I had actually made and remade and liked. But pairing them up with the memories and the history was the trick—and making sure that the sum was greater than the parts, that there was something more

metaphorical that arose from the combinations.

It’s such a great idea— seeing the shaved-ice dessert halo-halo as hope, that it carries with it the possi bility of joy. Yes, it’s a bit of that. It’s like a numbing device. It’s a bit of joy that I think we deserve rightly as Filipinos. I think what really broke it open for me with halo-halo was going back to the Philippines 10 years ago for the first time after a long time. My aunt took me to this place in the mall called Razon’s. I wrote about this in Dirty Kitchen. It was like the most minimal halo-halo I’d ever seen. I was flabbergasted. It’s ice, milk, and a slice of leche flan on top and maybe some langka, jackfruit. And I just thought, Really? And she’s like, “Oh, this is the best— just have it.” I finished the whole thing in like two minutes and it just kind of blew my mind. It was so different from the street halo-halo I had the day before. I realized there’s not just one right way to do it. I think we’re slowly beginning to understand that as well, especially as the idea of Filipino American cuisine is starting to take shape.

Yes! It’s been wonderful to see Filipino food being taken more seriously now, that it can be great street food as well as high-end. Have you been to Naks in New York’s East Village? I haven’t, but I definitely know the name. We’re probably a good 10 years into this blossoming. There’s a Michelin-starred place in Chicago, Kasama.

And here in San Francisco, there’s Abacá—I love that place. LA has Kuya Lord. And there’s such a great scene in London. It’s lovely to see, and not a single one of these chefs is doing the same thing. But the textures are there, the flavors are there, and that sort of Proustian spark is there when you have their dishes.

As you said, we’re about 10 years into this new interest in Filipino cuisine, but the industry still questions whether it can ever be as popular as Thai

or Korean food. You address that in your book. I always open discussions like these with saying that Filipino Americans are the third-largest Asian American population in the United States. Until 10 years ago, we were the second largest. I think it’s a special feature of living in white supremacy to make us feel like it’s a zero-sum game. I think we all, as different Asian American cultures, should have a kind of prominence. [Asian Americans] are not a monolith. [We are] all very different. Why shouldn’t

Why shouldn’t Filipino food be just as prominent as Korean?

Dirty Kitchen Damatac, Jill

Signal/Atria | 256 pp. | $28.99 May 6, 2025 | 9781668084632

Filipino food be just as prominent as Korean? Although to be fair, it took Korean cuisine and culture a long time as well.

Right. I do feel some things are changing. Like this year, two Filipino American actors [Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger] won Tony Awards. Maybe in another 10 years, things will be different. But I think part of it is that, as a culture, we Filipinos don’t take ourselves seriously enough, so then nobody else does.

Exactly. With this book, primarily what I wanted was to not write it toward the white gaze and to not write it in an elementary primer kind of way. I’m going to throw you in the deep end—deal with it. And it’s been heartening to see it be received in mainstream publications. I was thrilled to have a Kirkus review. It was lovely to have the New York Times review. But I think that the more of us there are that write this way—in a way that isn’t pandering to white ignorance—the better.

Do you feel like you accomplished what you set out to do? Time will tell. I think the book is a slow burner in terms of its presence out there. I hope it’s the kind of book that we read as a diaspora and that will encourage us to feel more pride—to put ourselves out there more and to look at our culture as something special to be valued.

Glenn Gamboa is a freelance writer in Cleveland, Ohio.

Book to Screen

Book on 2024 Election Will Be Adapted as Film

A bestselling nonfiction book that chronicles the drama of the 2024 presidential election is headed to the big screen.

Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes’ book about the 2024 election is headed to the big screen, Deadline reports.

The production company Lean Machine has optioned the rights to Allen and Parnes’ Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House, which chronicles the campaigns of Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris. It was published in April by Morrow/HarperCollins. A critic for Kirkus wrote of the book, “Dishy scoops fuel a comprehensive account of a historic election.”

The book is the fourth collaboration between journalists Allen and Parnes, who previously teamed up on

For a review of Fight, visit

HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of Hillary Clinton, Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign, and Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency.

The film adaptation will be written and directed by Aline Brosh McKenna, known for writing screenplays for movies including The Devil Wears Prada and We Bought a Zoo. She also co-created the television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

McKenna said in a statement, “Allen and Parnes have created a thrilling, page-turning, deeply-sourced account of one of the most important moments in recent history, one with which we were all obsessed. The book is populated with vivid characters, revealing moments and is a propulsive yarn filled with twists, all qualities of the movies I love best.”—M.S.

Kirkus online.

From left, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump

of the slave states. “The negotiated and retreating Reconstruction made McCabe’s argument for a Black state for him,” Gayle writes, but Kansas wasn’t all it was promised to be, and was little friendlier than the South in many ways. Although towns such as Nicodemus were founded, they were so isolated and removed from white market centers that self-sufficiency was all but impossible. Enter Oklahoma, which McCabe promised, as one contemporary newspaper reported, to be “the New Canaan of the Colored Race.”

Hundreds of Blacks settled there during the land rush era, but always in the face of opposition from whites, one leader of whom promised that “if the negroes try to Africanize Oklahoma, they will find that we will enrich our soil with them.” Both promised and very real violence finally drove McCabe away, his project doomed, and, on attaining statehood, Oklahoma quickly established Jim Crow laws to ensure white supremacy and crush the migrants’ dreams.

A welcome contribution to the history of Black liberation and the struggle for civil rights.

The Football: The Amazing Mathematics of the World’s Most Watched Object

Ghys, Étienne | Trans. by Teresa Lavender Fagan | Princeton Univ. (136 pp.) $19.95 | August 19, 2025 | 9780691263120

The ball at the heart of a global game. Soccer is known as “the beautiful game.” The football—as most of the world calls it—can itself be quite elegant. There’s Telstar, the classic ball that’s made of 32 hexagonal and pentagonal panels, alternating black-and-white faces. More recent designs include Teamgeist—“team spirit” in German—the official football of the 2006 World Cup, played in Germany; its 14 swooping panels are eight hexagons and six squares. Jabulani—Zulu for “rejoice”—was created for South Africa’s 2010 World Cup; its eight panels

are equally oval and hexagonal and give the ball its distinct and organic look. Ghys, a French mathematician who writes a column on math for Le Monde, studies all these footballs in his erudite and whimsical overview of the spherical object that commands the attention of billions of fans. In short and lively chapters accentuated by a variety of images, including colorful 3-D graphic models, Ghys breaks down the various football shapes, explaining the differences for the lay reader. He also gets into practical matters: As innovative as the Jabulani design was, for instance, athletes hated the ball: “They found that it followed unpredictable trajectories,” the author writes. Or, as Danish player Daniel Agger observed, “it makes us look like drunken sailors.” The design of the balls is complex enough that many have difficulty accurately depicting them. As an example, Ghys cites an English traffic sign that gets the standard Telstar design wrong (botching the number of sides). More than 22,000 people signed a petition to have the sign fixed. The government refused, writing in a terse (and very English) reply, “The purpose of a traffic sign is not to raise public appreciation and awareness of geometry.” Thankfully, Ghys is here to do just that. A kick for fans and nonfans alike.

Here We Go: Lessons for Living Fearlessly From Two Traveling Nanas

Hamby, Eleanor & Sandra Hazelip with Elisa Petrini | Viking (320 pp.) | $29 September 16, 2025 | 9780593832301

Two selfproclaimed “TikTok Traveling Grannies” circumnavigate the globe in their 80s.

Best friends Ellie Hamby and Sandy Hazelip “met at a medical mission conference in Dallas” just a few months after Sandy was widowed. The two hit it off and realized that they made not only great friends but also ideal traveling companions. They

write, “Traveling together—relying on each other in new thrilling and challenging situations; sharing the intense pleasures of discovery, as well as the humdrum hassles of the journey—has cemented what was already a profound and sustaining friendship.” In this book, they reminisce on their past travels— always on a budget—and their ambitious plan to travel around the world in 80 days at the age of 81. The women not only document their journeys but also make meaning out of their experiences through lessons learned along the way. Braving the “Drake Shake” on board a ship to Antarctica and a three-hour camel ride across the desert to a Bedouin encampment—and dodging the Russian secret police on the Trans-Siberian Railway— the women reinforce the idea that “aging doesn’t have to mean inertia.” The ebullient narratorial voice, inspirational chapter headings, and well-chosen anecdotes make the book feel less like a text and more like a conversation between friends. Occasionally, the women’s naïveté of their white privilege tests the reader’s empathy, as when they find themselves stranded in Syria and straining the resources of their hosts, or when they treat sleeper cars, which are common among many socioeconomic classes in the global south, as potentially dangerous.

A mostly charming memoir of octogenarian travel.

Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age

Harjo, Joy | Norton (176 pp.) | $21.99 October 7, 2025 | 9781324094173

Words to the wise. Poet Laureate Harjo addresses young Native girls in her latest melding of memoir and guidance, prose and poetry. Drawing on the challenges of her own life, she counsels readers who may be facing sadness, anger, grief, or despair. Growing up, she witnessed her father’s betrayal of her

mother, leading her to advise wariness about “placing your romantic dream on the back of someone who has no idea of your intention and no interest in your dream or you.” Becoming pregnant as a teenager, Harjo struggled with the challenges of motherhood, dealing with a volatile partner, and trying to find her own way in the world. When she felt overwhelmed and suicidal, she discovered that there was “tremendous power in asking for help.” Also powerful was listening to her own inner spirit. Harjo’s world is spiritually resonant, swirling with ancestral memories and thoughts emanating from plants, animals, other humans, and even rainbows. “Every place has a signature energy,” she writes, “as does every object, every being.” She urges readers to be open to the “infinite possible versions” of their own stories. Believing that when the mind is hungry, “it searches for art, literature, performance, and knowledge,” Harjo decided “to fall in love with creativity.” She took up the saxophone at the age of 40, after having been discouraged to play the instrument when she was a child. The joy of making music helped her to transcend self-consciousness about playing: “There would be no story without mistakes,” she writes. Harjo pays homage to her ancestors and tribal traditions, pointing to the cultural lessons that can be learned around the kitchen table and the richness of ancestors’ wisdom. Listen to ancestors, she says, but be aware, she slyly adds: “Some ancestors are troublemakers.” Warmhearted advice.

The Future of Truth

Herzog, Werner | Penguin Press (128 pp.) $26 | September 30, 2025 | 9780593833674

A film director addresses the assault on truth.

“All my life, my work has been involved with the central issue of truth,” Herzog writes in this brief collection of essays. Like many others, he is worried

Fake news, says Werner Herzog, is nothing new, citing ancient Egypt.

THE FUTURE OF TRUTH

about the ease with which people can be deceived into accepting falsehoods as reality, such as the seemingly real online chat between him and a Slovenian philosopher “in which our voices are mocked up very accurately, but our conversation is meaningless twaddle.” That some of these threats have their positive side, Herzog writes, makes the problem even more vexing. AI, he notes, can help with “improvements in the design of vaccines,” but it also presents “the possibility of comprehensive, mass supervision, of disinformation, of manipulation on a vast scale.” In these impassioned pieces, he offers his insights into the threats to the concept of truth. Fake news, he points out, is nothing new. One can trace the phenomenon back as far as 1275 B.C.E. and the falsehood that, at the battle of Kadesh, Ramses II was a great conqueror, when in fact “Ramses was not triumphant, [and] the battle was inconclusive at best.” Herzog presents many examples of delusion, including the flat earth theory, the “technical possibilities of producing fictive ‘truths’” with Photoshop and TikTok, deepfake porn on the internet, and more. He is especially animated over “the foolish belief that equates truth with facts,” reserving particular scorn for cinema verité, “an antiquated form of cinema that offers no profound insights.” Little is original here, but Herzog is an engaging ally, and he isn’t above cheekily harmless deceptions of his own. When he was in Panama and dressed in missionary garb for his role in Harmony Korine’s film Mr. Lonely, a local approached him and wanted to confess. Herzog listened to the man’s confession and “granted him absolution in Latin.”

An erudite plea to not give up on truth.

The Undiscovered Country: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Shaping of the American West

Hutton, Paul Andrew | Dutton (576 pp.) $35 | August 5, 2025 | 9781524746131

Biographically based history of westward expansion by a well-published scholar of that movement.

Hutton, a retired University of New Mexico historian, brackets his narrative of the westward growth of the United States with the once-famed, now out-of-fashion scholar Frederick Jackson Turner, who declared the frontier closed at the end of the 19th century. (It would quickly be reopened with an overseas empire in such western extremes as the Philippines.) Less arguably, Turner held that “the true point of view in the history of this nation is not the Atlantic coast, it is the Great West.” From that observation, Hutton proceeds to relate a story that begins even before the founding of the nation, when an unlucky George Washington inadvertently touched off the Seven Years War in North America, “as well as the forty-year conflict between the Americans and the Native tribes for possession of the Ohio Country.” That country was the first west, but it would be followed by many others. One was Texas, whose breakaway from Mexico Hutton relates through the familiar figures of Davy Crockett (“you may all go to Hell and I will go to Texas”), Jim Bowie, and Sam Houston. That “great man” approach is itself old-fashioned, and while Hutton doesn’t uncover much in the way of previously unknown material, he tells a good and

Exploring a time when women expanded their literacy, some collecting their own libraries.

A WOMAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING

vivid story that’s abundantly sympathetic to the Indigenous people who stood in the way of that westward movement, such as the Apache and Comanche Tribes, whose stories are central to Hutton’s. On that score, some of Hutton’s less savory characters include the likes of a former officer who mounted a one-man war against Native peoples, claiming that a pack of wolves followed him “because they’re fond of dead Indians and I feed them well.” It’s not John Wayne’s West, that is to say, but one that lends itself to revisionist accounts. A sturdy, readable survey, aimed more for buffs than for the author’s fellow historians.

Kirkus Star

A Woman Is Responsible for Everything: Jewish Women in Early Modern Europe

Kaplan, Debra & Elisheva Carlebach

Princeton Univ. (488 pp.) | $39.95 October 14, 2025 | 9780691268613

A revisionist history of Jewish women. Historians Kaplan and Carlebach examine the lives of Ashkenazi women in Western and Central Europe from 1500 to 1800 to rectify historians’ marginalization of this “most visible minority” and to argue persuasively for their centrality within their communities. Drawing on myriad sources, including personal letters, recipes, laundry lists, community records, wills, books of Jewish

customs, and descriptions of Jewish practices by Christian observers, the authors show that during this period, women took leadership roles in the kehillah, the formal organization through which Jews interacted with state authorities; figured prominently in synagogues, overseeing the women’s section, for example, and collecting donations; took charge of the mikveh, or ritual bath in which a woman cleansed herself after menstruation; and served to carry out Jewish rituals, such as burials. With an increase of printed material, women expanded their literacy, some collecting their own libraries, others commissioning religious or literary manuscripts, in Hebrew or Yiddish, for their own use or for other women—including for the education of their daughters. “Several broad circles of women had exceptional access to learning,” the authors reveal. Many also took part in the economic life of the community, owning property, taking up professions, and engaging in financial and commercial dealings. At the same time, religious and secular laws and customs had an impact on their bodies (such as menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriages, nursing, and female illnesses) and social status (marriage, divorce, remarriage, and opportunities for those who did not marry). The authors offer vivid details of women’s mundane and sacred possessions, everyday and festive clothing, and even the underwear that comprised Jewish women’s material worlds. Throughout their richly detailed history, the authors compare Jewish women’s lives with those of their Christian contemporaries. A prodigiously researched and beautifully illustrated contribution to Jewish and women’s studies.

Sex Beyond “Yes”: Pleasure and Agency for Everyone

Kukla, Quill R. | Norton (176 pp.) | $24 September 2, 2025 | 9781324064923

Focusing on sex “that goes well for everyone.”

Kukla, a professor of philosophy and disability studies at Georgetown University, draws from discussions with fellow academics, sex workers, friends, and lovers to present an introspective and enlightening study of the dynamics of sexual consent. Frustrated with indifferent, academic explorations of bodily autonomy and sexual liberation, Kukla says their goal is to enhance our understanding of how “being able to have good sex enhances our agency” through beneficial communication and collaboration instead of homogeneously “flattening” sexual conversations. The author introduces interactive methods to have sex genuinely benefit each participant, and not solely as a means to avoid sexual discord or harm. Kukla writes with straightforward language, offering an array of often provocative short scenarios to illustrate their points. The author skillfully incorporates relatable terminology, like personal and social “scaffolding,” which, when established by a sexually active individual, provides a relationship framework with the good strength and stability it needs to make sex (of any style) mutually safe and satisfying. The framework may incorporate the use of safe words to corral personal intimacy limits and minimize risk or, more generally, highlight laws and policies meant to promote and protect individual sexual agency and ease of reporting violations and abusers. But the basis for all of these agency-promotive, sex-positive initiatives, Kukla acknowledges, begins with open, honest, and proactive communication. As a self-admitted participant and proponent of alternative sex communities, Kukla attended conventions and seminars where sexual negotiation was a key theme, and while

they understand the constricting social norms prevalent around issues of sexual empowerment, consent, and lifestyles like sex work, each individual, the author says, is ultimately responsible for their own body and how it is governed and pleasured. Calling religious models of carnal abstention “intensely depressing,” Kukla instead offers constructive feedback and workarounds to reach the goal of sexual agency for each partner. An intelligent and empowering guide toward increased self-determination within sexual relations.

Make Me Commissioner: I Know What’s Wrong With Baseball and How To Fix It

Leavy, Jane | Grand Central Publishing (384 pp.) | $32.50 | September 9, 2025 9780306834660

Overhauling the national pastime. Leavy captures the frustrations of fans everywhere in this charming, resourceful plea to reinvigorate a sport that “forgot how to be fun.” Current Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has said he’ll leave his post in 2029, prompting the accomplished baseball biographer to launch this arch campaign for the job. Her diagnosis of the sport’s plight, sharpened by reporting trips to spring-training complexes, amateur tournaments, data-in-sports confabs, and numerous games, is boldly stated: “Analytics fucked baseball.” The game has been transformed by high-tech data collection systems in ballparks, MLB front offices run by quants, and specialized player-development centers. Today’s pitchers are instructed to put “max effort” into each delivery. Hitters are increasingly aware that teams “don’t pay for singles,” as a player tells Leavy. It’s no coincidence that strikeouts and injuries to young pitchers have spiked. The open-minded, comically profane ex–Baltimore Orioles beat writer is an ideal guide to this exasperating era, one that some of her sources trace to

Rotisserie baseball, a fantasy sports forerunner invented by Daniel Okrent, an accomplished writer and Leavy’s friend. She travels the country, bouncing ideas off historians, managers, players, and executives. Her many common-sense proposals include higher outfield walls, which would reduce homers and increase basepath action, and “designated signer[s]” at MLB games—players who’d fulfill postgame autograph requests. Unlike fusty defenders of the sport’s traditions, she’s willing to reassess all aspects of the sport, from roster sizes to rules discouraging fastballs over 95 mph. Though some of her reporting is fruitless—she accomplishes little with a chapter about an independent pro team known for mediocre baseball and wacky promotions—Leavy’s blend of enthusiasm, knowledge, and iconoclasm prevails. Irreverent analysis and fresh ideas from a baseball writer dismayed by the state of the modern game.

Fighter

Lee, Andy with Niall Kelly | Simon & Schuster (288 pp.) | $19 paper September 23, 2025 | 9781668210772

A titleholder’s hard-knock rise. Add this one to the long list of intelligent books inspired by boxing. Lee, an Irish southpaw, melds revealing set pieces about life as an “outsider” with a rich account of his rough route to the middleweight championship. His itinerant boyhood was shaped by the “special closeness to gypsy life.” His family was among a group that lived in “trailers and caravans,” traveled “in convoy” and prohibited marriages to “non-Gypsies. Gorgeys, we call them.” At school, classmates sang a parody of his peripatetic lifestyle. He learned to fight by taking beatings from his older brothers, already skilled boxers. Relatably, Lee realizes that he chose his profession in part because he didn’t want to disappoint loved ones. Yet being “pushed to the

fringes of society” equipped him with an invaluable trait—“raw toughness.” A stellar amateur career won the attention of Emanuel Steward, a decorated American trainer who began schooling Lee at the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit. As “the white kid in a black city,” he was lonely. He read Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, discovering the Holocaust survivor’s “theory of ‘Sunday neurosis’: that feeling of emptiness that people get when their hectic life slows down at the weekend. That’s me.” Lee is excellent on boxing preparation and technique. As an amateur, he won by counterpunching, but pro fighting rewards “viciousness.” A Steward disciple teaches him the “Suzie Q,” a technique meant to get an opponent leaning before you “dress him up”—flatten him. Prefight weigh-ins prove easy to manipulate. He sits in saunas before getting on the scale, then chows down, his weight fluctuating by 10 pounds within hours. The book’s one clear flaw—a penchant for hackneyed philosophizing about the nature of combat—only shows up a couple of times.

In sharp detail, an elite boxer reflects on marginalization, sacrifice, and success.

Digital Exhaustion: Simple Rules for Reclaiming Your Life

Leonardi, Paul | Riverhead (352 pp.) | $30 October 7, 2025 | 9780593851234

An invitation to think more deeply about the ways in which we interact with our devices. One of the unspoken dangers of the digital age is people allowing our digital lives to go unexamined. We know we’re exhausted, but why? The average office worker receives 120 emails per day and checks email 80 times a day. Unconscious scrolling on the internet further distracts us. If we’re parents today, we use our devices for coordinating child

care and carpools and participating in school communications. In fact, we spend on average 57 minutes a day just switching applications, and we can switch 1,200 times. After each switch, it takes time to get back on track with a new task. Author, academic researcher, and corporate consultant Leonardi investigates how digital productivity tools can have hidden costs that divide our attention and affect our well-being. His book delves into the impacts of fragmented attention and why it exhausts us. For example, switching domains (digital tools and apps), switching modes (using multiple devices such as phones, laptops, smart watches), and switching arenas (work versus home, which is especially hard on remote workers) all contribute to our cognitive load. After identifying the roots of our overwhelm, Leonardi shows what we can do to regain some control. The book provides research-based recommendations for reducing digital fatigue, such as cutting the number of tools you use by half, batching versus streaming, and acting with more intention. While some of the detailed case studies can be tedious reading, especially as they profile digital routines that result in fatigue, the research and data are thorough. “The Artifice of Intelligence” chapter provides one of the more nuanced and thoughtful discussions of AI and the coming onslaught of AI-generated content, with solid advice on how to approach it. Helpful for managers, parents, and those thinking about how to manage their digital lives.

Curious Coffins and Riveting Rituals: Death Practices Around the World

Liak, YY | Chronicle Books (192 pp.) | $26.95 September 9, 2025 | 9781797230047

A lively examination of death. There’s nothing like a bit of ground-up human to cure what ails you. Centuries ago, this is what some Europeans believed, buying

“mummia”—powdered mummies—to stir into medicinal drinks or use as a salve. Egypt eventually banned the export of mummia in the 16th century, which led to a black market of fake mummies—“freshly dead bodies were doctored with pitch, dried in ovens, and wrapped in linen in an attempt to fool customers.” So writes Liak in an insightful exploration of death practices; she also illustrates the book. (A Chinese Singaporean artist, Liak designs book covers for Grand Central Publishing.)

Packed with historical anecdotes accompanied by bright and playful images, this survey will delight readers young and old. For instance, in parts of the South Pacific, Liak writes, “it is believed that little bits of life leave our bodies throughout our lifetimes, such as when we fall asleep or get sick, so it may be said that we ‘die’ multiple times before finally passing on. For communities such as these, death is not an event but a gradual social process.” In 17th-to-19th century Wales, “sin-eaters” often attended funerals. The author writes, “They were often poor and desperate outcasts who were paid to consume bread and beer that had supposedly soaked up the evils of the deceased after being placed near the bodies for extended periods of time.” Liak shares snippets about cemeteries, phantoms, charnel houses, and mourning attire—in Ghana, close relatives of the deceased wear red; “if the deceased died of old age, white is worn to celebrate a life well lived.” Ghana knows how to put the “fun” in funerals, she observes. “Many coffins recall the deceased’s former professions. For example, fishermen are sometimes buried in fish-shaped coffins.” Now that’s a way to go.

An endearing and lighthearted look at the fate that awaits us all.

The Autobiography of H. Lan Thao Lam

Lin, Lana | Dorothy (224 pp.) | $18 paper September 30, 2025 | 9781948980296

Two lives, intertwined. Experimental filmmaker and artist Lin, a genderqueer Taiwanese American, uses Gertrude Stein’s sly Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas as inspiration and template to tell the life of H. Lan Thao Lam, a Vietnamese-born artist. Just as Stein “ventriloquizes her own memoir through the ruse of her lifetime companion’s tale of their quarter-of-a-century partnership,” Lin narrates Lan Thao’s story as a first-person account. Born in 1968, during the Tet offensive, Lan Thao’s life changed when the Communists took over. Suddenly, food was in such short supply that people resorted to eating bats. With crime and violence endemic, her family prepared to flee. “Every year after the war ended our prospects grew more and more grim,” Lan Thao reveals. “Escape became the only option.” One attempt failed, but finally she and her father and sisters managed to land in Malaysia, where they spent months in a refugee camp and a transit camp until they finally arrived at a military base in Montreal. Both Lin and Lan Thao have dealt with considerable challenges, including Lin’s with breast cancer, which involved a “battery of tests and appointments, the agony of decision making, the frustrating holes of research and contradiction,” and the long treatment: “Cancer was a full-time job for both of us.” They also respond to the “trauma and brutality” inflicted on vulnerable individuals by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as by “pre-COVID anti-Black racism,

Packed with historical anecdotes, this survey will delight readers young and old.

CURIOUS COFFINS AND RIVETING RITUALS

overt hostility toward Asians, and mounting anti-Asian violence.” Unlike Stein and Toklas, whose queer identity remained closeted throughout their lives, Lana and Lan Thao are openly gay and became domestic partners in 2021. They travel and work on art projects together, including this innovative life story. A fresh take on a dual biography.

Pre-Code Essentials: Must-See Cinema From Hollywood’s Untamed Era, 1930-1934

Luperi, Kim & Danny Reid | Running Press (256 pp.) | $25.99 paper October 28, 2025 | 9798894140551

The story of Hollywood cinema before censors cleaned up its act. Even before 1934, when Johnny Weissmuller’s Tarzan ripped the gown off Maureen O’Sullivan’s Jane and tossed her, fully naked, into the lagoon in Tarzan and His Mate, many observers were saying that “Hollywood has gone off the rails.” This was the pre-Code era, when nudity, Greta Garbo kissing a woman on the mouth in Queen Christina (1933), and other supposed affronts to decency led to demands for censorship from the federal government. In response, Hollywood adopted the Motion Picture Production Code in 1930 but didn’t enforce it until 1934, when it hired Joseph Breen to head the Production Code Administration. For this immensely entertaining book, Luperi and Reid have gathered 50 films from 1930 to 1934, “strikingly brazen, authentic stories of sexuality, female agency, class, politics, and beyond”—all elements that censors wanted to suppress. Many of the films are famous, among them the original Frankenstein (1931), which censors cited for its “implicit discussion of God and violating the sanctities of life,” and Red Dust (1932), featuring “a love triangle between a married woman, a prostitute, and a conniving, sweaty plantation owner in 1930s French Indochina.” Others are

more obscure, such as I Am Suzanne! (1933), “an oddball musical/body horror film,” and Murder at the Vanities (1934), featuring a song called “Sweet Marijuana.” As the authors write, “Really, you can’t get much more pre-Code than an entire song devoted to drugs.” One great entry after another are examples of unchanging mores. In a classic example of ’twas-ever-thus, censors had less of a problem with the violence in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) than with the nonsexual nudity, with boards condemning not the carnage but soldiers “swimming in the raw for ‘unduly exposing themselves.’”

An excellent cinema book on the permissive early days of sound.

Born

To Be Wired: Lessons From a Lifetime Transforming Television, Wiring America for the Internet, and Growing Formula One, Discovery, Sirius XM, and the Atlanta Braves

Malone, John | Simon & Schuster (432 pp.) $31 | September 2, 2025 | 9781668051535

Tales from the C-suite. In this sometimes surprising self-portrait, Malone, a famously hard-driving corporate leader, recalls his decades atop major media companies, reflecting on some of his “hundreds of deals” and pausing for a relatable personal disclosure. Malone’s narrative focuses on building and running Tele-Communications Inc., or TCI, once America’s biggest cable TV provider, and Liberty Media, which with affiliated companies is heavily involved in broadcasting, satellite radio, pro sports, concert-ticket sales, and high-speed internet service. His opening pages recount education and jobs at elite establishments—Yale, Bell Labs, McKinsey—and, touchingly, learning to repair TVs by shadowing his father, an inveterate tinkerer. Subsequent chapters detail mergers, acquisitions, and other

transactions that have yielded big returns for investors and stockholders. This is catnip for the business-minded—and potentially useful information for opponents of Malone’s beloved libertarianism. Readers interested in corporate taxation will want to eyeball his paean to so-called tracking stocks, complex financial instruments that offer “tax advantages” to moneyed interests. Alongside such financial particulars, Malone writes crisp, if very flattering, portraits of fellow moguls. Ted Turner is seen crawling around a corporate meeting space, pleading for support for his cable “superstation.” Malone, 84, reveals a somewhat recent realization—he is “a high-functioning autistic” and believes his father was too. North America’s second-largest individual landowner, he plans to ensure that “a vast portion” of more than 2 million acres remains “undeveloped forever.” Is this a calculated effort to soften his image? Maybe, but that doesn’t diminish its potential importance. Malone argues that tech’s biggest companies are so powerful that “we need a new regime of government regulations” to watch the industry. He might not be the best spokesman on this issue, having often chafed at government oversight of his own businesses. With surprising vulnerability, a formidable mogul’s boardroom recollections offer something to acolytes and detractors alike.

Chaim Soutine: Genius, Obsession, and a Dramatic Life in Art

Marcus, Celeste | PublicAffairs (304 pp.) $30 | October 28, 2025 | 9781541703223

Searching for an enigmatic painter. Marcus, managing editor of Liberties: A Journal of Culture and Politics, makes her book debut with an incisive biography of Jewish artist Chaim Soutine (1893-1943). Informed by memoirs and biographies of those in Soutine’s

circle, the author focuses on his work to reveal the contours of his life, several important friendships, and, in greatest detail, his times. Born in Belarus, Soutine moved to Paris in 1913, when he was 20, gravitating to the buzzing artists’ community of La Ruche in Montparnasse, where his cohabitants included Amedeo Modigliani, Marc Chagall, and Jacques Lipschitz. A “misanthropic, awkward, semisocialized genius,” Soutine made few friends, but he forged a close relationship with Modigliani, even though, Marcus notes, the hard-drinking dapper Italian seems an unlikely companion for the skinny, sickly, and bedraggled Soutine. “Soutine was grateful for the friendship and for the community that came with it,” the author writes, “but Modigliani’s drunken revelries were also distractions for him. He had come to Paris to paint, and painting was his way of life.” Throughout the First World War, as chaos swirled around him, he focused solely on his art. “Paint was what occupied him, not ideologies or politics or even culture.” He struggled financially, often weak from hunger, and was beset by a debilitating stomach ulcer. His fortunes changed, however, in 1923, when collector Albert Barnes bought 54 of his paintings, single-handedly launching Soutine’s career. Suddenly, Soutine had the reputation of being a great painter— but Marcus asserts that he was not an expressionist. He painted what he saw, not what he felt, “and what he saw, what he noticed and studied, was energy: not anxiety, not alienation, not abjection, not intensity of feeling, but energy, extreme vitality, as he detected it” in the life around him. A perceptive portrait of an artist’s world.

Captives and Companions: A History of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Islamic World

Marozzi, Justin | Pegasus (560 pp.) | $29.95 October 7, 2025 | 9781639369737

The long history of slavery— far from America’s shores.

Journalist

Marozzi, author of Islamic Empires: The Cities That Shaped Civilization, regrets that Islamic scholars have largely ignored the subject of slavery. In his detailed history, he emphasizes that neither the Bible nor the Koran objects to the institution. Both urge the pious to treat slaves kindly and proclaim all souls equal in the sight of God. However, that all living humans deserve equal rights owes far more to Jefferson than Christ or Mohammad. “It has been estimated,” the author writes, “that the Prophet owned a total of seventy slaves in his lifetime, typically of Coptic, Syrian, Persian, [and Ethiopian] origin.” His armies followed tradition by enslaving defeated opponents and conquered nations. Unlike America’s system, in which enslaved people had no more rights than farm animals did, under Islam they were not so degraded, occasionally rising to responsible positions in government or the military and facing fewer barriers to manumission. The Koran itself proclaims that freeing a slave is a virtuous act and that no Muslim must be enslaved, although the latter was often ignored. Arabs conducted a cruel African slave trade long before Europeans arrived and shared their racist conviction that Blacks were subhuman and only fit for

“Paint was what occupied him, not ideologies or politics or even culture.”

CHAIM SOUTINE

servitude. Taking an expansive view of his subject, Marozzi recounts the 7th-century founding of Islam, its spectacular conquests, and the long, stormy history of the Caliphates and Sultanates, with digressions into Islamic law, culture, and literature. Getting down to specifics, the author devotes a long chapter to concubinage and sexual matters, with which the Koran and Islamic law show an intense preoccupation. Eunuchs receive equal time, as do enslaved soldiers. He concludes with an account of abolition in the Ottoman Empire and other Islamic nations, which was forced on them, often clumsily, by the Christian West, but was never entirely successful, even today. Expert, exhaustive history.

Wolfpack: Inside Hitler’s U-Boat War

Moorhouse, Roger | Basic Books (496 pp.) $32 | October 21, 2025 | 9781541604728

The U-boat story, from fresh eyes. Prize-winning historian Moorhouse, author of Berlin at War, begins with facts well known to scholars if not to Hollywood. One is that, despite Churchill’s famous confession that “the U-boat war was the only thing that ever really frightened him during the conflict,” ship sinkings never came close to disrupting Allied supply lines. Another fact, as readers familiar with the classic 1981 German film Das Boot will recall, is that the reality of submarine warfare included no lack of courage and technological marvels but also boredom, filth, stench, unimaginable human endurance, and death. Nearly 75% of U-boat crews died, the highest mortality of any service branch. No less surprising, German rearmament during the 1930s gave no priority to U-boats. Hitler focused on building a surface fleet. When he found Germany unexpectedly at war with Britain, numbers of submarines were far fewer than his fiercely energetic U-boat

chief, Admiral Karl Dönitz, felt were necessary. Production ramped up, but that was a slow process. In the meantime, the existing fleet inflicted painful losses on Allied shipping, which peaked in the fall of 1942. By then the U.S. had entered the war, and its massive shipbuilding capacity, combined with sophisticated technology and tactics, turned the tide; in May 1943 German losses forced Dönitz to withdraw from the North Atlantic. Other historians, led by Clay Blair and John Keegan, deliver the big picture. Moorhouse excels at the details. Drawing on diaries, letters, memoirs, and archives, he delivers gripping accounts of training, operation, living conditions, tactics, accounts of captains, crewmen, victims, and often tragic actions, all overlaid with a heavy dose of Nazi politics.

A vivid approach to a well-worn subject.

Charlatans: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Hucksters Bamboozle the Media, the Markets, and the Masses

Naím, Moisés & Quico Toro Basic Books (336 pp.) | $30 October 7, 2025 | 9781541606517

The digital age makes us all more susceptible to grift from skilled charlatans.

Naím (The Revenge of Power, The End of Power, Illicit) and Toro team up to expose charlatans, which they define as those who convince others “to do things that go against their own self-interest”; it becomes dangerous when marks are separated from their families and their money. It’s important to understand how charlatans enchant us. They are not just good at identifying targets. The authors show how any one of us can easily fall prey, because what charlatans do best is reflect our dreams back to us—it is our attachment to our own dreams that clouds our judgment. Exacerbated by social isolation, victims are open to exploitation and new technologies such as artificial intelligence,

which can feign the intimacy of a friend, enabling modern-day hucksters to play on our emotions, hopes, and dreams in wholly new ways. Identifying practitioners from a variety of fields—from AI and astrology to megachurches, crypto, and QAnon—the authors provide a tour of contemporary figures such as astrologer Walter Mercado, televangelist Kenneth Copeland, New Age spiritual leader Bentinho Massaro, spiritual influencer Teal Swan, alternative health practitioner Joseph Mercola, yoga practitioner Baba Ramdev, crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried, and many more. Naím and Toro write: “If we have done this well, there will be at least one charlatan who might have taken you in.”

Techniques such as offering social proof play into victims’ confirmation bias. In order to avoid becoming victimized, the authors advocate for common sense: critical thinking (such as slow thinking, from Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow) and not relying on gut feelings or intuition. Hardly groundbreaking advice.

Against an arsenal of exploitative technologies, understanding our vulnerabilities is our best shield.

Derrick Adams

Ringle, Hallie, Salamishah Tillet & Dexter Wimberly | The Monacelli Press (248 pp.) $79.95 | October 15, 2025 | 9781580937191

An artist illustrates Black life. The prolific artworks of Derrick Adams (b. 1970) include painting, sculpture, collage, multisensory installations, performance, video, and public projects, all reflecting Black life and culture. Illustrated by 150 striking color plates, the comprehensive volume offers essays by curators and art critics and an interview with curator Sandra Jackson-Dumont, all of which offer insights into Adams’ practice, goals, and aesthetics. Ringle focuses on Adams’ use of color and form; Alyssa Alexander identifies the artist’s

recurring themes of channeling, signaling, and mirroring; Wimberly examines Adams’ connection to Black experience; and Tillet writes about Adams’ “endless fascination with how Black people see each other.” The conversation between Adams and Jackson-Dumont reveals much about the artist’s background, education, and career. Memories of his childhood in a Black, working-class neighborhood, visits to his extended family, and the ambience of Baltimore shape his work. Committed to supporting and democratizing art, he is a teacher and the founder of the nonprofit Charm City Cultural Cultivation and the Last Resort Artist Retreat. Adams, writes Wimberly, is “a theorist, a philosopher, and a social commentator” who “uses accessible language and shared cultural references to illuminate our societal values, our shared histories, and our private aspirations.” One example is Playthings , photographs of wooden Masai sculptures dressed in clothes from Ken, Barbie, and G.I. Joe dolls. The project, Adams says, reflected his aim of exploring the relationship between Black culture and media. Widely exhibited in both solo and group shows, Adams has placed his work in parks, subways, and public places, such as New York City’s Penn Station, inviting people “to live with art, to play with art, and to laugh with art.”

A vibrant celebration.

Extraction: The Frontiers of Green Capitalism

Riofrancos, Thea | Norton (288 pp.) | $29.99 September 23, 2025 | 9781324036760

Who will win the battle for 21st-century green dominance? Mining is a method of extracting something that is valuable from an environment, transforming the landscape in which it occurs, often irrevocably. That’s >>>

The 1929 Kelsey Quilters

The Brave Sisters Who Found a Safe Place to Worship and Raise Families in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Beverly Burnett Hamberlin

This is the story of the 46 brave sisters who found a safe place to worship and raise families in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

$24.99 paperback

979-8-8230-2319-1

also available in hardcover & ebook www.authorhouse.com

The Unseen Guardians

44 Stories from Behind-The-Scenes Professions

Bill Matthews & Jan Pinner Matthews

A powerful collection of true stories, crime scenes, undercover missions, foster mothers, police, and various unseen heroes step in to protect, and uplift those affected by crime or circumstance.

$16.99 paperback

978-1-6657-7119-1 also available in hardcover & ebook www.archwaypublishing.com

Body Language Alive

A Garden of Nonverbal Nuggets

Cody Sweet, Ph.D.

Unlock the secrets to effortless communication.

Explore the fascinating world of nonverbal cues and delve into the humor and insight of unspoken interactions that shape our daily lives.

$30.99 paperback 978-1-5245-4334-1 also available in hardcover & ebook www.xlibris.com

Running Wild

More Than Scars

Katherine Friese, MSN, APRN, CNP

Author Katherine Friese parallels endurance racing with the cancer journey — training, racing, and recovery. Life is an endurance event and this book challenges the conceptualization of struggle.

$11.95 paperback 978-1-9736-9693-3

also available in hardcover, ebook & audio www.westbowpress.com

Chasing Sex: Wanting Love, Finding Myself

a memoir

Patti Britton

Join Patti as she overcomes sexual trauma and personal tragedy to become the “Grande Dame of Sexology.” Her story is a beacon for love, acceptance, and sexual empowerment.

$20.99 paperback

979-8-7652-5274-1

also available in ebook www.balboapress.com

Metamorphosis

Asleep-Aware-Awake-Alive

Ted Hood

Ronald, devoid of emotions, meets Melina, a life coach in this enemies to lover’s romance. Melina’s life of faith and emotional guidance awakens him to discover his authentic self.

$16.99 paperback 979-8-3850-4537-2

also available in hardcover & ebook www.westbowpress.com

The Surfer and the Sea Lion

A Conversation about Being

James N. Weiss

A sea lion named Socrates and a surfer named Moses tackle big questions about what science can tell us about nature, life, and humanity.

$38.99 paperback 978-1-6632-1890-2

also available in hardcover & ebook www.iuniverse.com

Give Yourself Permission To Be Phenomenal! By Discovering Your Purpose

With The Love, Support, And Power of A Partnership

Carolyn McCall

Carolyn takes partners on a seven-week journey to discover their passions and values, which leads them toward their purpose. This is Giving Yourself Permission to be Phenomenal by Discovering Your Purpose!

$30.99 paperback 979-8-8230-0590-6

also available in hardcover & ebook www.authorhouse.com

Public Figures, Private Lives

These new audiobooks bring us closer to their subjects, for better and for worse.

BY MARION WINIK

“THE PLACES, PEOPLE and events in this book are real. I haven’t invented a thing,” explains Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991) early in Family Lexicon (Tantor Media, 8 hours and 49 minutes). Published in 1963 as an autobiographical novel, the current audio, adeptly narrated by Suzanne Toren, is the version translated by novelist Jenny McPhee and issued in 2017. It received a starred review in this publication and raves elsewhere. The book begins with the author’s family life in Turin before World War II: her bombastic scientist father, constantly shouting everyone down with his familiar catchphrases; her gentle mother and four older

siblings, each getting married and leaving home over their father’s objections; her own marriage to the anti-Fascist Leone Ginzburg. As war closes in, family life continues against a darker background: Her mother brings clean clothes to her father in jail; Natalia shepherds her two children to the countryside to be near their father in exile. Ginzburg’s theme is a timely one: a focus on treasured memories and everyday domestic ritual is a comfort in rocky times.

Phil Hanley is a former Armani runway model and popular stand-up comedian who, despite the challenge of severe dyslexia, has written an excellent memoir and reads it aloud himself. The

audiobook of Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith (Macmillan Audio, 7 hours and 37 minutes) preserves some of the bloopers and practice reads, interleaving them between chapters to give an ongoing sense of the uniquely arduous process. Hanley grew up in Oshawa, a small town outside Toronto, where he was often humiliated, even by schoolteachers; his mother emerges as the hero of his life, making it possible for him to emerge from childhood with the selfesteem to pursue his dreams. Ultimately, he discovers several more saving graces: LSD, the Grateful Dead, and Transcendental Meditation, each embraced with obsessive enthusiasm. His childhood friend, future supermodel Shalom Harlow, helps him get started in a modeling career, and the story of his year in Milan, living in a boardinghouse full of aspiring male models, is great fun. Hanley has an important story to tell about learning disabilities, and he tells it with passion and candor.

The question of whether or not Joan Didion’s psychotherapy journal should have been published is now moot, as you can listen to Julianne Moore read it aloud—though I don’t recommend it. The material

in Notes to John (Penguin Random House Audio, 6 hours and 32 minutes) was never intended to be part of her literary oeuvre, and since it mostly focuses on her tortured relationship with daughter Quintana, who struggled with alcoholism, it feels like a double violation. A better choice for Didionphiles is Alissa Wilkinson’s We Tell Ourselves Stories: Joan Didion and the American Dream Machine (Highbridge, 8 hours and 16 minutes), read by the author, an analysis of Didion’s development as a writer in the context of the movies that shaped her, including the ones she and husband John Gregory Dunne worked on themselves. Although Wilkinson includes biographical details, her focus is on the films and on Didion’s work, from the earliest essays through the novels and later nonfiction, adding to our understanding of why Didion is such a pivotal figure rather than demeaning her with prurient revelations. A film critic for the New York Times, Wilkinson writes insightfully about literature, arguing that the 1984 novel Democracy is Didion’s fictional masterpiece.

Marion Winik hosts the Weekly Reader podcast on NPR.

the history of coal, shale, gold, diamonds, and other natural resources. The author, strategic co-director of the Climate and Community Institute, focuses her attention on a current global mining commodity, lithium, a “critical mineral” not because it is scarce but because it is essential for economic development. Lithium serves mainly as the key ingredient in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, and more. The supply is plentiful—lithium deposits have been found on all seven continents. As happens with the mining of many natural resources, the fusion of national security, environmental concerns, and economic policy becomes a political issue. Riofrancos centers her investigation on South America, detailing her visits and interviews with public officials involved in lithium resource policy and environmental activists trying to influence them. She balances this with the history of colonialism’s role in taking natural resources, such as Columbus’ extraction of Hispaniola gold using enslaved workers in the name of the Spanish crown. The tide turned, perhaps, with the rise of OPEC, when oil-exporting countries came together to force multinational corporations to the bargaining table. Countries began to assert their rights to control how, when, and where their national resources would be developed and sold. The U.S. role became prominent during the first Trump administration, which supported the domestic mining and processing of lithium, policies expanded by President Biden’s increased investment in the process. The balance of forces—between public and private, resource nationalism and environmentalism, rich and poor countries—remains fragile. A well-researched look at global needs and wants, in conflict with local rights.

Fifty years later, a look back at a cult film.

ROCKY HORROR

Rocky Horror: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Cult Classic

Rock, Mick with Tim Mohr | HarperPop/ HarperCollins (240 pp.) | $50 September 30, 2025 | 9780063385689

A photographic journey into the making of a cult film.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show debuted in theaters 50 years ago, and it never really left—the movie still draws often-costumed fans to special showings where they dance, sing, and throw toast and toilet paper. (It’s complicated.) Rock had a front-row seat at the filming of the movie as its chief photographer, and in this book, he and co-author Mohr bring readers behind the scenes. They explore the origins of the film, which was based on a stage musical, via interviews—some conducted for the book, some from other publications—with its principals, including actors Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick. (Among the anecdotes is one from actor Patricia Quinn, who reveals that Curry “hated” being made “gorgeous” by makeup artist Pierre La Roche.) Refreshingly, the book doesn’t neglect the crew of the film, including La Roche and costume director Sue Blane, who created the movie’s iconic looks. The film bombed on its release but found new life in midnight screenings among a subculture that included many in the LGBTQ+ community: “This type of safe space proved to be a key to both personal and artistic development and inspired and fostered generation after generation of performers and artists,” the authors write. The book is centered on Rock’s beautiful photographs from the shoot; they capture, as he writes in the foreword, “a time of colorful exploration in sex, music, fashion, and chemistry.”

Rock died in 2021, and Mohr in 2025; this book is a fitting last testament to their remarkable careers. It’s a given that any reader who knows all the words to “Touch-a-Touch-a-Touch-a-Touch Me” will be delighted, but anyone with an interest in 1970s film will find something to love here.

A strange journey, sure, but a worthy one.

Demosthenes: Democracy’s Defender

Romm, James | Yale Univ. (208 pp.) | $28 September 30, 2025 | 9780300269383

A close look at the greatest orator of his time. Romm, professor of classics at Bard College and author of Plato and the Tyrant, emphasizes that ancient Athens was a democracy but not a representative democracy. To govern, the entire electorate—hundreds or thousands of men—would gather, listen to speeches, and then vote. In courts, speakers for the prosecution and defense would present their cases and a huge, randomly chosen jury voted. Romm opens 40 years after Athens’ 404 B.C.E. defeat in the Peloponnesian War, when the city was working to restore its role as Greece’s most powerful city. At the same time, Philip, king of Macedon to the north, father of Alexander the Great, was flexing his muscles and snapping up nearby Greek territory. Fascinated by politics, Demosthenes (384-322 B.C.E.) trained obsessively to perfect his public speaking and became a person of influence who persistently warned of Philip’s threats. His audience listened, but wars were expensive and Philip was no slouch at diplomacy, so Athenian aid to

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threatened cities was slow arriving and never adequate. Finally, after 20 years of exhortation, in 338 B.C.E. an Athens-led coalition sent a huge army north; it was crushed in the battle of Chaeronea. Philip treated Athens leniently. When he was assassinated two years later, the city rebelled, but his son was also lenient. The untiring Demosthenes continued his denunciations, and after Alexander’s 323 B.C.E. death, his successor in Macedonia clamped down; Demosthenes fled and later killed himself. Romm knows his subject and writes well, but the reality is that ancient Athens was a clunky democracy whose citizens were no more articulate, learned, or compassionate than those of other cities. Athenians worshipped Demosthenes as a patriot, not a fighter for human rights, and the many speeches that have survived lack Churchillian eloquence; rather, like those of contemporaries, they are full of ad hominem attacks and insults. Good if not uplifting history.

Bob Dylan: Things Have Changed

Rosenbaum, Ron | Melville House (304 pp.) $29.99 | October 21, 2025 | 9781685892258

A counterintuitive look at the underlying, too-littleunderstood themes of a shapeshifter’s work.

Rosenbaum’s “Sort of Biography” proposes that Bob Dylan’s work is influenced, however subconsciously, by “theodicy,” an argument with God over the justification of evil in the world in the aftermath of the Holocaust. Equally inventively, the author proposes that the Nobel Prize winner’s constant reinvention is foreshadowed by the “discontinuity of selves” described by Jorge Luis Borges. Everything old is new again. These are dizzying, certainly arguable theories, but one would expect no less from Rosenbaum, an eclectic New Journalist whose previous work includes Explaining Hitler: The Search for the Origins of His Evil,

which may help explain his theological bent here, and an Esquire piece on “phone phreaks” that reportedly inspired Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak back in the day. Rosenbaum previously interviewed Dylan as the singer was editing his four-hour epic, Renaldo and Clara, in which Dylan identified the “thin, wild mercury sound’’ he was seeking, in a phrase that’s since become the lodestone for innumerable blogs. It’s a jumping-off point for this book, which avoids the temptations of conventional recitations of the singer’s life and career and the nodular exegeses of the “Bobolators” who lose objectivity in the pursuit of obsessed fandom. In a turn of thought that may seem equally obsessive, the author denounces Dylan’s Christian Slow Train Coming era as the byproduct of a “mind-control… brainwashing cult,” though it might be equally valid to acknowledge it as a response to the personal challenges he was facing at the time. Regardless, it’s a pleasure to encounter a mind as brilliant and unpredictable as its subject. An essential, contrarian volume that offers rare insights and rewarding perspectives.

Kirkus Star

Schott’s Significa: A Miscellany of Secret Languages

Schott, Ben | Workman (304 pp.) | $35 October 7, 2025 | 9781523532261

A sprightly assortment of insider lingo and esoterica drawn from a host of subcultures. With his 2002 book Schott’s Original Miscellany, Schott launched a peculiar cottage industry by sharing obscure details and terminology from a variety of sources, from martinis to the military. This hefty and colorful ersatz encyclopedia is filled with deep dives on communities from Swifties to reality-TV producers to crypto bros and more. Though it doesn’t announce itself

as such, the book is largely a kind of passkey into the world of luxe living: Schott reveals the inside chatter of sommeliers (a big spender on wine is “dropping the hammer”), fine art auctioneers (a “white glove sale” means every lot has sold), and Savile Row tailors (“W.F.B.” cloth is fit for weddings, funerals, and bar mitzvahs). But he recognizes every in-group has its own brand of chatter, including graffiti artists, Starbucks baristas, sneaker collectors, and dog walkers. Best of all is when Schott can merge high and low communities: A virtuosic chapter explores the terminology of fox hunters as well as “sabs,” the animal-liberation saboteurs who covertly undermine the hunts. (Hunter language is printed in black, sab language in red.) Throughout, Schott cultivates a wry, bemused tone, with a finely tuned ear for terms that are thick in irony (among stuntpersons, a well-performed fall is a “wreck”) and occupational gallows humor (doctors and nurses call gonorrhea, aka the clap, a “round of applause”). There are also well-done visual entries explaining the gestures of trading-floor workers, restaurateurs, and protesters. The glossaries don’t always engage the casual reader—only a gondolier would care to know so much about the profession—but the book is largely inspiring, suggesting the world is filled to bursting with communities with their own secret codes. An engrossing compendium for word nerds and armchair sociologists alike.

Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away

Scrivner, Coltan | Penguin (272 pp.) | $19 paper | October 7, 2025 | 9780143137344

The dark side of life—and its allure. Scrivner is a behavioral scientist and a horror entertainment producer interested in why we’re drawn to scenes of carnage and disaster. His book defines the term “morbid

“The push we sometimes need to play with fear and explore our anxieties.”

MORBIDLY CURIOUS

curiosity” as interest in things that are threatening or potentially dangerous. This curiosity is a fine thing, he says, because “when the costs of learning about a threat are low, it’s advantageous to pay attention and gather information.” It’s a way of putting us into situations where we can safely learn about the dangers of the world and how we might respond in times of fear and uncertainty. That’s the concept behind training pilots with flight simulators and conducting fire drills in schools and office buildings; you learn how to manage a threat in a nonthreatening environment. Research suggests that prey animals have evolved to do this information gathering, watching predators from a distance to look for clues that indicate that the animal is hungry or hunting, saving their energy to flee only when warranted. “Responding half a second faster to potential danger won’t determine your fate 99 percent of the time. But that 1 percent of the time that it does can be life or death.” Watching horror movies, reading suspense novels and true-crime stories, and participating in creepy events such as Halloween shows can mentally prepare us to recognize a threatening situation early on, Scrivner says. While most of us will never encounter a masked assassin wielding a chainsaw, the fictional experience can mean quicker recognition and response when and if danger occurs. Viewing scary depictions “gives us the push we sometimes need to play with fear and explore our anxieties. In doing this, we develop confidence that we can overcome the challenges that life throws at us, and we prepare our mind for the bad times that we will inevitably face.” A science-based romp through horror, terror, gross-outs, and other things that go bump in the night.

The House of Beauty: Lessons From the Image Industry

Sicardi, Arabelle | Norton (288 pp.) | $29.99 October 14, 2025 | 9780393531626

A feminist’s perspective on beauty.

In eight probing essays, Sicardi, a former beauty editor at BuzzFeed—she says she quit after a critical post she wrote was deleted by an editor—takes a hard look at an industry that “accommodates both the idea of agency regarding our bodies and the politics and expectations that bring us harm.” Drawing on sources that include interviews, NGO reports, court documents, drone footage, government publications, and WhatsApp group messages, Sicardi ranges widely to examine the connection of beauty to queer desire, social power, racism, transphobia, and exploitation. In India, for example, workers—including 20,000 children—toil in caves to excavate mica, a product that is ubiquitous in cosmetics. They earn 5 cents a kilo, starvation wages. Similarly, the cultivation of palm kernel oil, used to produce emulsifiers and surfactants in 70% of beauty products, has caused the decimation of land and communities by rapacious companies. Sicardi portrays the designer and perfumer Coco Chanel as a virulent antisemite with Nazi connections and exposes nail salon owners who exploit the Vietnamese women, mainly immigrants, who work for them. Of biracial (white-Asian) heritage, Sicardi reflects on how beauty standards affected her sense of identity: Growing up, she hoped her long, silky brunette hair would “racialize” her “into safety.” But when she came to school

one day with a bowl cut, she found herself the butt of racial slurs. Because the beauty industry uses the climate crisis as a marketing opportunity, Sicardi cautions about a spate of “hot ticket PR terms” invented to convince consumers that companies are acting responsibly. For readers hoping to make informed decisions, Sicardi appends a list of organizations working to remedy systemic problems, build community, support marginalized groups, and educate consumers.

A biting critique.

Tell Me What You Like: An Honest Discussion of Sex and Intimacy After Sexual Assault

Simon, Katie | Citadel/Kensington (240 pp.) $29 | July 29, 2025 | 9780806542768

A self-help book on how survivors of sexual assault can pursue fulfilling sex lives. Drawing on interviews with other survivors of sexual abuse and assault, as well as her own experiences, the author explores how one can find sexual agency and satisfaction after such trauma. She covers a wealth of underaddressed issues, including the necessity—and difficulty— of breaking away from violent long-term relationships; the role of friends, family, and counselors in offering help; the process of disclosing a history of assault to sexual partners; and the often agonizing hurdle of a first sexual encounter after such trauma. The book also addresses panic attacks and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress that can strike even during consensual sex, working out issues of consent with partners, the complex effects that trauma has on one’s sexual desires, and the unique concerns of men and queer people who have experienced assault. Simon notes that some survivors go through what she describes in herself as “slutty phases” or enjoy safely

Kirkus Star

reenacting aspects of their experience. She mentions a few specific treatments, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, which involves “rhythmic tapping or visuals to draw the eyes to the left and right,” but mainly she recommends clear communication with partners to explain problems, set boundaries, and straightforwardly voice wants and needs. Simon’s treatment of this difficult subject is frank, broadly accepting of diverse reactions, and forthrightly sex-positive, asserting that survivors can and should expect to recover a gratifying sex life. Throughout, her writing is evocative, raw, and psychologically rich, as when she describes a first sexual experience after an assault: “Though I was relieved that sleeping with him felt good emotionally, I felt overwhelmed by the physicality of it. More than once while we slept together that night, I nonverbally indicated I needed a pause because I felt a panic attack.…He just smiled and lay still next to me while I cried and tried to breathe. Meanwhile, I was mentally kicking myself for disrupting what was otherwise pretty great sex.” Survivors and their partners will find reassurance and resonant sympathy here. The author includes suggestions for further reading and a list of resources.

A clear-eyed and deeply humane exploration of how people may heal from sexual violence.

Tigers Between Empires: The Improbable Return of Great Cats to the Forests of Russia and China

Slaght, Jonathan C. | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (512 pp.) | $30 | November 4, 2025 9780374610982

A study of conservation biology in action in the quest to recover an endangered species. Admirers of Akira Kurosawa’s film Dersu Uzala and the memoir by V.K. Arseniev on which it’s based will

know the story of the Amur tiger, extirpated from its forested, mountainous habitat by loggers and miners a century ago. Bordering Russia and China, the Amur region suffered from breakneck development in both countries. Fortunately, efforts by Soviet scientists in the 1930s to set aside habitat helped preserve the rare Amur tiger, while “laws prohibited sport hunting of adult tigers, then later banned the capture of cubs.” The work continues today in an increasingly uncommon joint effort by Russian and American biologists— uncommon in part, conservationist Slaght writes, because after the fall of the Soviet Union, “few people in Russia had pursued wildlife science degrees, as a lack of funding and future prospects made it difficult to earn a living wage.” In China, tigers were long valued—and killed—for their presumed medicinal powers. Some Amur tigers traveled back and forth between the two countries, the “strange space between two empires,” fording the swift-flowing, wide Amur River, and in the process, Slaght notes, raising important questions: “How do these animals navigate hostile landscapes? How many transients live to establish their own territories, find mates, and breed? How do they die?” Such questions are being answered, and even in China the Amur tiger is flourishing, relatively speaking. Whereas by Slaght’s accounting there may have been only 18 to 20 wild tigers in both countries half a century ago, now there may be a hundred or more, with additional hundreds in a nearby Russian wildlife preserve. “We are closer than ever to seeing Amur tigers return to northeast Asia as a contiguous population,” Slaght concludes in this fluent narrative, which is as much about human history as it is about wild cats. A well-crafted story of a successful conservation effort, against all the odds.

Dear New York

Stanton, Brandon | St. Martin’s (480 pp.) $42 | October 7, 2025 | 9781250277589

For more by Jonathan C. Slaght, visit Kirkus online.

Portraits in a postpandemic world. After the Covid-19 lockdowns left New York City’s streets empty, many claimed that the city was “gone forever.” It was those words that inspired Stanton, whose previous collections include Humans of New York (2013), Humans of New York: Stories (2015), and Humans (2020), to return to the well once more for a new love letter to the city’s humanity and diversity. Beautifully laid out in hardcover with crisp, bright images, each portrait of a New Yorker is accompanied by sparse but potent quotes from Stanton’s interviews with his subjects. Early in the book, the author sequences three portraits—a couple laughing, then looking serious, then the woman with tears in her eyes—as they recount the arc of their relationship, transforming each emotional beat of their story into an affecting visual narrative. In another, an unhoused man sits on the street, his husky eating out of his hand. The caption: “I’m a late bloomer.” Though the pandemic isn’t mentioned often, Stanton focuses much of the book on optimistic stories of the post-pandemic era. Among the most notable profiles is Myles Smutney, founder of the Free Store Project, whose story of reclaiming boarded-up buildings during the lockdowns speaks to the city’s resilience. In reusing the same formula from his previous books, the author confirms his thesis: New York isn’t going anywhere. As he writes in his lyrical prologue, “Just as one might dive among coral reefs to marvel at nature, one can come to New York City to marvel at humanity.” The book’s optimism paints New York as a city where diverse lives converge in moments of beauty, joy, and collective hope.

A familiar format, but a timely reminder that cities are made up of individuals, each with their own stories.

American Contradiction: Revolution and Revenge

From the 1950s to Now

Starr, Paul | Yale Univ. (456 pp.) | $35 October 7, 2025 | 9780300282436

Thoughtful study of the push and pull from right to left and back again in the past 75 years.

Ronald Reagan liked the Puritan notion of America being a shining city on a hill. But, writes Princeton sociologist and Pulitzer Prize–winner Starr, more correctly, “the American republic has been like a city built on a geological fault, shaken often by tremors and periodically by earthquakes.” In this lucid account, the author opens in the era when, united by the Cold War, Republicans and Democrats were often indistinguishable, with conservatives, moderates, and liberals in both parties and, in that “midcentury normal,” sharing a commitment to a fair social contract, prosperity, education, science, and other public goods. (It helped, as Starr notes, that “the top marginal rate during the Eisenhower administration in the 1950s was 91 percent, inconceivable today.”) It’s worth considering, in that regard, that Richard Nixon proposed “a national guaranteed income,” a sharp break from conservative orthodoxy. That common front began to wobble under Reagan, cracked with Newt Gingrich, and is shattered today, likely irreparably. Starr points out that while rural white resentment has proved a powerful fuel for Trumpism, it was the loss of manufacturing jobs in cities and the subsequent decline of many urban areas that fed both the destructive impoverishment of minority communities and the sharp rise in incarceration rates. It’s ironic that corporations were the original champions of diversity programs, as the author notes, when in the 1980s “business leaders became convinced that they needed to prepare for a diverse workforce, diverse consumers, and diverse global markets.” It’s also ironic that both right and left hold that

“America broke its promises to working people,” though nothing much is being done about that in a time dominated by “political interests in keeping America’s social divisions at a high boil.”

A useful key to understanding how American politics and the American polity have become so intractably polarized.

McNamara at War: A New History

Taubman, Philip & William Taubman

Norton (512 pp.) | $39.99

September 23, 2025 | 9781324007166

The blind hubris of waging war by the numbers.

Drawing on previously unknown notes, letters, and private diaries, journalist Philip Taubman and his brother, political scientist William Taubman, present a fresh look at the much-scrutinized life of Robert McNamara, architect of the Vietnam War. The secretary of defense under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, McNamara has been viewed by historians as a brilliant, driven man forever stained by his mismanagement of the war. This volume reexamines his motivations, loves, and rivalries. From his modest San Francisco childhood, with a distant father and a hovering mother, to his academic success, the authors explore what made the intensely competitive McNamara tick. At Harvard Business School, as new thinking about data as a management tool was taking shape, McNamara helped develop “managerial accounting.” The 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor changed his trajectory, and he was recruited to the U.S. Air Corps by officers seeking statistical controllers or “balance sheet warriors” to improve military management. McNamara’s success led to a postwar career at Ford Motor Company, constrained by antiquated practices. His brief corporate experience shaped McNamara’s outlook in the most notorious phase of his life, as he was

invited to join the newly elected Kennedy administration on the brink of the Vietnam War. Private documents reveal the whirl of activity at the heart of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations’ social and political networks.

McNamara’s loyalty to Johnson and passionate embrace of the Kennedy family, especially Jacqueline, exacerbated the deep despair he felt for the massive loss of life in Vietnam, the impossibility of winning the war, and his failure to push for withdrawal. Intense contradictions infuse his conversations and correspondence in this absorbing journalistic account. Extensive notes, bibliography, and photographs make for a nuanced, rich portrayal of a difficult man. A deeply humane dissection of McNamara’s tragic failures in Vietnam.

Peacemaker: U Thant and the Forgotten Quest for a Just World

Thant Myint-U | Norton (384 pp.) | $35 September 9, 2025 | 9781324051978

Comprehensive biography of the long-serving United Nations secretary general. As Burmese historian Thant observes, U Thant (the “U” is an honorific, something like “Mr.”) was, among many other things, “a central figure in averting nuclear catastrophe during the Cuban Missile Crisis.” Even so, Thant adds, U Thant seldom figures in standard histories of that episode and is underrepresented in the literature of the Cold War, one of the little-mentioned “non-white peacemakers on the world stage.” When U Thant arrived in New York in 1957, on that same excluding non-white front, he had difficulty finding a place to live, landlords having been reluctant to rent to Asians. Thant adds, “African diplomats were celebrated at society dinners, but many were denied basic rights beyond the UN’s carpeted corridors,” including not being served in restaurants in still-segregated

America. When U Thant finally settled in as the recently independent Burma’s representative to the U.N., he was determined to address world issues: nuclear war, colonialism, international conflicts. He was clear-eyed about the fate of small nations in the contest between the U.S. and the USSR, and, although an anti-communist, he believed that Vietnam was fated to become a communist nation and that the choice should be made by the Vietnamese. That brought him into sharp conflict with the administration of Lyndon Johnson: “Thant’s standing in Washington had deteriorated sharply because of his opposition to the war in Vietnam.” In the bigger picture, Thant writes, U Thant had come to lead the U.N. among a powerful body of postcolonial leaders—Nehru, Nasser, Sukarno, Kwame Nkrumah—most of whom were dead by the time he left office, leaving him somewhat isolated. As Thant writes in this skillfully written biography, U Thant deserves credit for many things apart from his role in averting the Cuban Missile Crisis— including his deliberately “discreet” diplomacy in securing permission for Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. A welcome addition to modern diplomatic and world history.

Kirkus Star

The History of the Peloponnesian War

Thucydides | Trans. by Robin Waterfield Basic Books (784 pp.) | $40 September 30, 2025 | 9781541603387

Inglorious Greeks. We think of the ancient Greek Thucydides as the father of modern history. He wrote a literate, literary History of the Peloponnesian War that relied on sourced evidence, personal experience, and an argument that the study of the past helps us live in the present. He also shaped great orations less as

transcriptions of actual speech than as highly curated, rhetorical performances. Waterfield’s new translation of his history makes voices come alive in idiomatic modern English. Pericles’ famous funeral speech, for example, has a directness that resonates with Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and with the arching cadences of John F. Kennedy: “When it is by their actions that men have proved their valor we are required to show them honor by our actions.”

Pericles comes off as a quotable adviser for our times: “For it isn’t easy to find the right balance in a speech when even people’s grasp of the truth is insecure.”

Or take this description of the plague in words all too familiar to us now: “The grimmest aspect of the disease was the despair that afflicted people when they realized they were sick; once they had made up their minds that there was no hope, they were well on the way to giving up without a fight.” Thucydides has been used and reused to justify a range of political positions, from virtuous diplomacy to transactional realpolitik. For readers new to the history, the excellent introduction by Polly Low offers a clear guide to the worlds of Greek politics and power and to the tensions between democracy and oligarchy, revealing an ancient world as fractured, as fraught, and as full of personalities as our own.

A magnificent achievement, making ancient history live in a vernacular for our time.

Assassins and Templars: A Battle in Myth and Blood

Tibble, Steve | Yale Univ. (352 pp.) | $30 November 4, 2025 | 9780300282122

An Islamic sect and a Christian military order who shared a willingness to die. Tibble, author of The Crusader Strategy: Defending the Holy Land, sets his scene in the Middle East in 1100, a disturbed time for many Islamic regimes when, out of

the blue, the Crusaders appeared. After a bloody decade, four Christian “Crusader states” emerged that carried on but shrank over the next two centuries. Tibble reminds readers that neither of the two religions was monolithic and that Islam remains divided primarily into Shia and Sunni denominations. The assassins arose in Shiite Persia shortly before Crusaders arrived. Persia had recently been conquered by Sunni Turks, so there was no shortage of unhappy believers, and a charismatic leader founded a Shiite sect convinced that they were God’s chosen people. A fringe movement, it lacked numbers but developed an effective tactic. Believing that eternal rewards awaited those who eliminated the enemies of God, members regularly murdered those who stood in their way. This made a spectacular impression, and they enjoyed modest success, surviving until the Mongol invasion two centuries later. Drawing a parallel, the author introduces a concurrent Christian military order, the Knights Templar. Having conquered the Holy Land, most Crusaders returned home. When those who remained had difficulty fending off attacks from surrounding Islamic states, a few pious knights formed a brotherhood dedicated to protecting pilgrims. Attracting followers and money from Europe, the Knights Templar grew from a military order willing to die serving Christ into a wealthy organization whose influence rivaled that of European monarchs. Two centuries later, when the tide had turned against the Crusaders, Philip IV of France, always short of money, confiscated its wealth and executed most of its leaders. With no deep lessons to deliver, Tibble’s final chapter discusses the bestselling sci-fi fantasy video game Assassin’s Creed, which is not historically accurate but ingenious. Bloody medieval geopolitics in the service of God.

The Best American Essays 2025

Ed. by Tolentino, Jia | Mariner Books (432 pp.) | $18.99 paper October 21, 2025 | 9780063351592

Capturing the moment. In her foreword to this 40th volume, series editor Kim Dana Kupperman ominously describes how the collection “preserves the history unfurling in the liminal zone between democracy and tyranny.” Editor Tolentino, a staff writer at The New Yorker, echoes Kupperman in her introduction. When screening essays, she was “looking for vigor rendered from the depths of exhaustion.” Palestinian Sarah Aziza’s painful opening essay, “The Work of the Witness,” confronts visions of death, suffering, and destruction in Gaza. Christina Sharpe’s “The Shapes of Grief” explores the 2022 Buffalo, New York, grocery store mass shooting and the bombings in Gaza, while “meaning is in crisis.” Growing up impoverished in Mandaluyong, Manila, is the subject of Hannah Keziah Agustin’s “Homeland Fictions.” Eula Biss paints a devastating portrait of another homeland in “Love and Murder in South Africa.” “The Pain of Traveling While Palestinian,” by Mosab Abu Toha, is about more than pain; there’s frustration, fear, anger, hopelessness. Khalil AbuSharekh’s light “Zeppole (aka Awama),” about his wanting new shoes as a boy, is a breath of fresh air. The gem in this collection is Summer Hammond’s “A Little Slice of the Moon,” a brilliantly written, complex piece about a young girl and her dysfunctional rural Iowa family. “Nesting,” by Jarek Steele, is a humorous essay about her pregnancy and living in a rat-infested garagehouse. Other offerings include psychoanalyst Nuar Alsadir’s “On Boredom,” Christian Lorenzen’s “Literature Without Literature,” and

Matthew Denton-Edmundson’s “How To Love Animals,” on the dangers of raising goats. A potent collection that speaks to dark times.

The

Wake of HMS Challenger : How a Legendary Victorian Voyage Tells the Story of Our

Oceans’ Decline

Wood, Gillen D’Arcy | Princeton Univ. (328 pp.) | $29.95 | October 21, 2025 9780691233246

The expedition that founded modern oceanography. Wood, author of Tambora: The Eruption That Changed the World, writes that in 1872 the British Royal Society sent the Royal Navy frigate HMS Challenger on a four-year scientific voyage around the world. Thousands of new species turned up along with previously unknown environments, including the largest of all: the oceans below 600 feet, where light cannot reach and which earlier experts agreed were lifeless. Many books describe the expedition, but Wood adds a significant detail. In addition to navigation and housekeeping stories (not terribly relevant but entertaining), temperature, current, and seafloor recordings—as well as the deluge of creatures emerging from the depths whose descriptions filled 50 volumes of scientific reports—he advances the clock from those last days of the preindustrial ocean to the present. Fish stocks, once considered inexhaustible, are no such thing. Ninety percent of those in the upper levels of the food chain are gone. The Atlantic cod fishery collapsed in the 1990s and shows no signs of recovering. Industrial trawling sucks up billions of fish, and dragging equipment is devastating, “transforming millions of acres of teeming, plant-rich seabed into sandy underwater desert.” Most readers are aware of the torrent of plastic

pouring into the ocean, 92% of it microplastic, destined for the seafloor and the stomachs of the creatures who roam it. A bonanza of precious metal and rare earths lies on the bottom, and deep-sea mining, now technically feasible, will soon begin. Fear of massive destruction of the already damaged seafloor is a concern, and few readers will be reassured by entrepreneurs’ assurances that they will be careful. A vivid portrait of the ocean during its age of innocence and what has followed.

The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir

Wood Jr., Roy | Crown (288 pp.) | $32 October 28, 2025 | 9780593800072

The serious side of a comic’s life. Growing up as a latchkey kid in the South, Wood— the former Daily Show correspondent and current host of CNN’s Have I Got News for You —thought he could get by without help from adults. In this alternately tenderhearted and uproarious memoir of his pre-fame years, addressed to his son, he writes, “My father came in and out of my life like the next-door neighbor on a wacky sitcom.” Wood’s mother, however, was young Roy’s guiding light. She was compassionate but also tough, as when she once confronted her husband and his paramour and remodeled one of his beloved cars with a baseball bat. The neighbors came out to watch. Wood writes, “You know the drama is good when you take a break from selling crack cocaine to see what the commotion is next door.” Calling public arguments “the hood equivalent of live Shakespeare in the Park,” the gifted raconteur continues his tale: “Hit that shit again!” the drug dealers cheered. “My mother went to work.” Eventually, Wood’s father did have an influence on his son. The host of a call-in radio show,

One Black Man’s Opinion, Roy Wood Sr. had a “deep voice that could shake paint off the walls.” He was held in such esteem that churches and colleges paid him to deliver his “bombastic message of black righteousness.” Wood adds, “I didn’t realize it at the time, but the seeds of performance in my own life were being sown.” Like the best of comedians, Wood is a keen observer. But his varied experiences—waiting tables, working in radio, getting arrested for stealing credit cards—aren’t simply fodder; it’s clear that he’s learned from them. Often comically exasperated onstage, here he is refreshingly earnest. “May you always see yourself through the same lens of positivity and potential,” he writes to his son. “And may you always see other people through that lens and treat them accordingly.”

A comedian’s remembrance of his formative years is very funny, but it’s not all laughs.

My Name Means Fire: A Memoir

Yaghmaian, Atash | Beacon Press (248 pp.)

$26.95 | October 14, 2025 | 9780807020722

A haunting memoir that excavates the weight of names, family mythology, and inherited trauma.

In this deeply personal narrative, Yaghmaian, writer and psychotherapist, chronicles how a single word—Atash, meaning “fire” in Persian—became both identity and burden from birth. Born during a period when her pregnant mother felt compelled to dance nightly, she inherits not just a name but a family curse that her mother believed destroyed her marriage. The memoir traces the author’s childhood in pre-revolutionary Tehran, living with her grandmother, Maman Bozorg, after her parents’ divorce, bound literally to bedposts for safety and figuratively to stories that shaped her understanding of self. Yaghmaian, who migrated to the

United States at the age of 19, skillfully weaves together scenes of family dysfunction—her mother’s legendary beauty and consuming jealousy, her father’s dramatic suicide attempt that won her hand—with broader themes of cultural displacement and the psychology of blame. The prose moves between tender childhood observation and mature reflection, examining how family mythologies can define and confine identity across generations. Her exploration of superstition, particularly her mother’s belief that naming her “fire” invited destructive spirits into their lives, offers insight into how immigrant families process trauma through cultural frameworks. The narrative’s strength lies in its unflinching examination of how children internalize adult conflicts, carrying guilt for circumstances beyond their control. Yaghmaian writes, “For many years, I felt like a freak, but through the many trauma survivors I’ve worked with, I’ve come to see the blessing in dissociation and am determined to tell my story now in order to give hope to others.”

A powerful exploration of how family stories and cultural identity forge— and sometimes fracture—the self.

Kicking the

Hornet’s

Nest: U.S.

Foreign Policy

in the Middle East From Truman to Trump

Zoughbie, Daniel E. | Simon & Schuster (480 pp.) | $29.99 October 7, 2025 | 9781668085226

Tracing seven decades of U.S. presidential missteps in Middle Eastern diplomacy. Noted Middle Eastern studies scholar and author of Indecision Points: George W. Bush and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2014), Zoughbie presents an engrossing account of how the blunders,

indecisiveness, and exalted hubris of 12 presidents from Truman through Trump’s first term have transformed the Middle East into a destabilizing force. Zoughbie argues that “as the United States replaced the Ottoman Empire, France, and Britain as the region’s hegemon, it failed to act prudently, moving away from soft power toward an overreliance on hard power. Rather than prioritizing development and diplomacy—and diplomacy through development—U.S. foreign policy opted time and again for defensive military spending: coups, wars, and arms deals.” Through detailed case studies of each president, Zoughbie traces steady deterioration, from Truman’s shortsightedness—“By recognizing only Jewish and not Arab self-determination, with neither a bridge nor a partition plan, Truman virtually guaranteed the immediacy of a regional war”—to Kennedy’s inability to curtail Israel’s weapon development, to Reagan’s presidency “characterized by alleged lawlessness, shady deals, and quid pro quos involving hostages,” with this pattern continuing through subsequent administrations. Somewhat surprisingly, only unelected Gerald Ford emerges favorably; Zoughbie praises his Mideast policy as “a magnificent achievement of modern statecraft,” noting that Ford demanded that Israel negotiate in good faith with Egypt and was willing to challenge the American-Israeli alliance to achieve peace. While Zoughbie in his prologue references recent events like the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, his analysis concentrates on the historical decisions that created today’s crisis. Acknowledging that regional problems stem from multiple sources—wealthy Persian Gulf nations prioritized modernization while poor countries descended into conflict, and leaders missed opportunities to improve their people’s lives—he concludes that decades of misguided American interventions significantly worsened conditions by fueling distrust, undermining stability, and perpetuating cycles of violence throughout the region.

A stimulating, well-researched examination of how postwar U.S. presidential decisions destabilized the Middle East.

Kirkus Star

SECOND LOOK

This review originally ran in the March 15, 2021, issue.

A comprehensive manual focuses on pregnancy and childbirth.

This standard, extensive work by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists gets a seventh edition featuring new material on the latest developments in genetic testing and noncompromising pain medication during labor. The updated guide offers the newest thinking about how to incorporate lifestyle choices like exercise regimens into pregnancy. This edition is also the first one written during the pandemic, making frequent references to Covid-19 as it affects various aspects of pregnancy. The book takes readers through the whole experience, from the decision to

have a baby to the possible complications presented by previous pregnancies. The work looks at the various considerations involved in choosing parenthood like mental health and a family history that may signal potential genetic problems. The manual moves through every week of pregnancy, letting readers know what changes are normal and which may be causes for concern. The text is accompanied by many useful charts, graphs, and photographs. But the most illuminating supplement is a series of illustrations showing the exact size, location, and development of the fetus at every stage—not only where it is situated, but also what it can do. The images depict when the

Your Pregnancy and Childbirth: Month to Month

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Illus. by John Yanson & Lightbox Communications, Inc. | Photographed by Cade Martin Photography with Photogroup Inc./DC Studios ACOG | 762 pp. | $19.95 | January 26, 2021 | 9781934984901

fetus’s fingernails first develop, when it can first bend its elbows, when it can first hear sounds from the outside world, and so on (week 26, for instance, is when loud sounds may begin causing the baby to respond physically). All of the specifics in these pages are presented calmly and firmly. The various editors and writers do a superb job of distilling a huge amount of information into easily digestible bits and segments, conveniently

arranged at exactly the moments in a pregnancy when they’ll be needed. In clearly phrased and precisely detailed chapters, readers are given all the medical, nutritional, procedural, and psychological knowledge they’ll require, with no jargon, no omissions, and plenty of confident encouragement. This seminal, all-encompassing pregnancy guide just got a lot more authoritative and informative.

Portraits of Power

By Scott Anderson

By William G. Howell and Terry M. Moe

By Jacinda Ardern

By Karen Elliott House

Philippe Sands

Children's

ADVENTURES IN EATING

MAINTAINING A DIET rich in colorful fruits and vegetables has numerous health benefits, while enjoying brightly hued storybooks is guaranteed to boost any reader’s mood. Appropriately, one of my favorite food-related kids’ titles of 2025 urges youngsters to consume a veritable rainbow of foods. Mabi David’s How Do You Eat Color? (Eerdmans, March 18), illustrated by Yas Doctor and translated from Filipino by Karen Llagas, follows two children and their chameleon pal as they gobble up everything from red beans and blueberries to cantaloupes and dragon fruit. With each page devoted to a different hue, Doctor’s intensely vivid visuals pulse with color and delectably surreal imagery. The protagonists cavort in a forest of leafy greens, ride slices of mango downstream past giant pineapples, and, as night falls, cuddle up with oversize yams and grapes. Move over, Candy Land; healthy eating’s never been so enchanting. This vibrant work joins an assortment of sumptuous culinary-themed picture books that encourage adventurous eating,

speak to the communal power of cooking, and help youngsters grapple with hard truths about the origins of some foods. In Caroline L. Perry’s The Memory Cake (Holiday House, June 3), a youngster visits a beloved grandmother in Malta. Jennifer Bricking’s illustrations of the titular chocolate dessert are scrumptious, but deep meaning is baked into this story, too. Nanna explains that during World War II, cake-making was impossible due to rationing; the first one she prepared after the war was particularly special. Balancing warmly reassuring kitchen scenes with Nanna’s recollections of air raid sirens and hunger, this sensitive tale demonstrates how treasured recipes anchor us through hardship.

Author Winsome Bingham and illustrator C.G. Esperanza have

followed up their awardwinning Soul Food Sunday with Fish Fry Friday (Abrams, July 8). Each Friday night, a loving Black family enjoys a fish fry, and this week, the young protagonist rises early to help Granny catch the croakers, trout, and catfish that they’ll eventually cook for their dinner. While the fried fish and hush puppies are undeniably tasty, what’s most fulfilling is this pair’s satisfaction at having prepared a mouthwatering meal together. Bingham and Esperanza wring joy from unromantic tasks such as casting a line with a “slimy, squiggling, wiggling worm jiggling on the hook” and “cutting and gutting” their catch; rhythmic prose peppered with spot-on dialogue pairs with dazzling, mural-like artwork for an absolutely festive family gathering.

Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic’s latest also involves a

tightknit family bonding over a passion for locally sourced food…and did we mention they’re undead? The characters in her quirky Zombie and Brain Are Friends (Bloomsbury, September 2) farm “grainfed, free-range” brains, which they sell at a local market. But when young Zeb plucks an especially adorable brain, he falls in love—even as his parents point out that “brains are food, NOT pets.” Laan Cham’s images of a cherubic, rosy-cheeked zombie child romping with his fluffy pink cloudlike companion make potentially grisly fare seem downright sweet, while Lucianovic’s archly funny narrative serves up food for thought about the often blurry line between food and friend; youngsters considering vegetarianism will find a true pal in Zeb.

Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.

Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson

EDITOR’S PICK

What do an orphan who delivers milk and a highsociety science whiz have in common? Possibly the destruction of the entire Kingdom of Glaucus, if some are to be believed. When Eva Alexander turns 12, her wealthy father allows her to choose something from the upscale Bronsworth’s Department Store. Although he was thinking of jewelry, Eva chooses what she thinks is an egg-shaped piece of rubibium, a “highly unstable explosive” substance that fascinates her chemistry-minded brain. In a less-savory part of Porttown, 13-year-old Dusty,

who resides at St. Ichabod’s Dairy Production and Home for Delinquent Boys, is tasked by the Thieves’ Union with finding Eva’s gift. The two are on a collision course that involves testing a friendship, traversing a secret dungeon, and nearly blowing up a cryptoecologist (a scientist who believes that many legendary creatures are real).

All that for a mineral? Of course not—it’s all about the egg of an aerimander, a dragonlike creature that’s supposed to be extinct. Dodd’s debut novel is fantasy done right: Fans of  The Princess Bride and Terry Pratchett’s work will

Nightmare Jones By Shannon Bramer; illus. by Cindy Derby

One Can By Lana Button & Eric Walters; illus. by Isabelle Malenfant

The Last Ember

Dodd, Lily Berlin | Farrar, Straus and Giroux | 352 pp. | November 18, 2025

$17.99 | 9780374393120

Series: The Aerimander Chronicles, 1

devour this series opener, thanks to the lush worldbuilding and wry humor permeating every page. And while the story will have readers grinning, it still explores difficult topics like poverty and war

Last Ember By Lily Berlin Dodd

with grace and dignity. Eva is a queer girl with “deep copper-brown skin” and wavy black hair. “Spindly” Dusty is pale and freckled. Egg-cellent storytelling; readers will be eager for the second book. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Gabba Gabba We Accept You By Jay Ruttenberg; illus. by Lucinda Schreiber 107

Bibsy Cross and the CreepyCrawlies By Liz Garton Scanlon; illus. by Dung Ho

108

Bibsy Cross and the Time Capsule By Liz Garton Scanlon; illus. by Dung Ho 114

Nic Blake and the Remarkables By Angie Thomas; illus. by Setor Fiadzigbey 116 Bear in the Air By Allison Wortche; illus. by Cat Min 117

The Prince of Stars By M.O. Yuksel; illus. by Zelma Firdauzia

Well suited for readers who want something lightly creepy but not too scary.

THE BLACK MARKET

Come Back Out, Mole!

Acosta, Alicia | Illus. by Alessandro Montagnana | Trans. by Cecilia Ross NubeOcho (40 pp.) | $17.99 | October 28, 2025 | 9788410406506 | Series: Somos8

What will it take to get a frightened mole to leave his burrow?

Mole wasn’t always afraid, but when he’s out for a stroll one day, a thunderstorm sends him underground for good. His concerned friends attempt to cajole him out. Squirrel asks if he wants to help her gather nuts, but Mole refuses: “A tree is sure to fall on me and break my paw!” Following Bear’s invitation to swim, Mole envisions an aggressive shark approaching. After each entreaty, the protagonist conveys his intentions to remain safe. Young listeners will soon be chanting along with his response: “I said no! There are too many dangerous things out there. I’m better off staying safe and sound in my burrow.” Ultimately, the friends concoct a scheme. They call for help, describing an attack from “STINKY-FOOTED ALIENS” and “UNIDENTIFIED FLYING BUTTS.” When the cautious Mole crawls out to help, he’s greeted with a birthday party in his honor as he realizes that too much worrying leads to missing out on fun. Children will enjoy the characters’ silly postures, the outlandish scenarios, and the potty humor. The bright palette plays out in a variety of layouts, each used effectively: sequential panels to show the time it takes for Mole to reach home, a cross-section to depict the burrow’s elaborate plumbing, a full-bleed double spread to convey the joyful celebration. The dynamic design tempers the repetitive structure of the narrative, translated from Spanish.

A lighthearted look at common fears and the rewards of bravery. (Picture book. 3-6)

The Black Market

Alexander, Jed | Union Square Kids (272 pp.)

$17.99 | September 9, 2025 | 9781454955399

Two kids acquire some dirty tricks, and the instruction manual to boot, in Alexander’s novel debut. Ten-year-old Martin loves classic horror movies, Halloween, and his great-aunt Gabby, who’s a world traveler. Each year, she comes to visit—but they never know exactly when she’ll turn up. This time, she arrives the day before Halloween with an unusual and rare present: curly-toed shoes made from the skin of a nowextinct animal, the foovaloos. She also brings tales of the fabulous Black Market, a floating exhibition of all things strange and supernatural. Luckily for Martin, the Black Market just happens to be landing in his boring town (“If beige was a place, it would be Cranberry”). Martin and his best friend, Jess, manage to track it down, but only Martin is admitted. He barters his foovaloos shoes for a half Bag of Dirty Tricks, which he and Jess proceed to use for all kinds of hijinks: turning Martin’s dad bright red, causing tree branches to sprout from the ears of a grouchy neighbor, and eventually taking down the evil Substitute Librarian. Relying on an information-heavy first chapter and some convenient coincidences, this adventure is well suited for readers who

want something lightly creepy but not too scary. A confusing plot point involving French braids may leave readers scratching their heads. The black-and-white illustrations add to the atmosphere. Martin reads white, and Jess is cued Korean American. A cheerful and not-too- intense Halloween adventure. (Supernatural. 9-12)

Bunns Rabbit

Barillaro, Alan | Candlewick (336 pp.)

$18.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781536214673

A young rabbit navigates the unknown to help her family. Bunns was born into a loving rabbit family. Her ears are unusually short and rounded—and, as her father says, “We rabbits can be superstitious.” The warren’s elders indeed regard her short ears as a bad omen. In her first foray out of the burrow, Bunns follows a riddle-telling monarch butterfly to the edge of the Great Forest, where the Spirit Fox greets her. As a consequence, Bunns’ family is banished from the meadow. Bunns has a dream in which the Spirit Fox promises her a wish if she proves her courage by heading into the Great Forest alone before sunrise, so she sets off into the darkness. When daybreak comes, Bunns is beset by blue jays and befriended by a hummingbird and a loon. What began as a personal quest begins to seem like an allegory and a spiritual journey, complete with deception and redemption. Bunns undergoes several ordeals, including the loss of her gift of understanding other creatures’ heartsongs, before she willingly relinquishes her desire for sameness and belonging. Barillaro’s lovely, full-color, soft-focus illustrations effectively capture natural scenes, such as sunlight in a meadow and a herd of deer traversing a winter lake.

Some segments, including stories told by the rabbits and birds, appear in comics format. Though the setup for the sequel pulls some power away from the conclusion, Bunns is an appealing hero, and her adventure is compelling. Solid and visually engaging. (Animal adventure. 8-12)

I’m Trying To Love Farts

Barton, Bethany | Viking (40 pp.) | $18.99

November 4, 2025 | 9780593693773

Continuing her valiant efforts to embrace the world’s less lovable contents from spiders and math to garbage and germs, Barton offers a new addition to her series.

Though the author/illustrator opens with a claim that farts have existed as long as humans—a howler she herself contradicts when she gets to introducing the far more ancient and “famously flatulent” termite—and even doubles down later with a similarly specious declaration about digestive system microbes, her overall assertion that passing gas is hilarious as well as natural and healthy is inarguable. After all, she notes, the oldest joke on record, going back nearly 4,000 years, is fart-related (she doesn’t repeat it, alas). The illustrations reinforce both themes; between endpapers featuring visual representations of nearly two dozen distinctive poots, each labeled with a synonym for the act, a serious young lecturer provides a simple discourse on the causes and contents of farts as well as about animals that also produce them or, like sloths and birds, don’t. The narrator is frequently derailed by a pesky brother’s wisecracks and billowing clouds of noxiously hued funk. In the end, though, both tan-skinned children wind up “feeling the fart love,” and perhaps readers will, too. Other human figures in the art are racially diverse, and one uses a wheelchair. A hilarious “toot salute” to the gas we pass. (fascinating facts on flatulence, further resources) (Informational picture book. 5-8)

The Elf on the Shelf Santaverse: The Rise of Nicholas the Noble

Bell, Chanda A. | Illus. by Michael Austin HarperPop/HarperCollins (320 pp.) | $19.99 September 16, 2025 | 9780063327467 Series: Elf on the Shelf, 1

In a tale that harks back some 2,000 years, a young Christian refugee, future preserver of the Christmas Spirit, helps save a land of arctic elves and

ice gnomes from a deadly threat. Wedging in commentary from Fisbee, the original Elf on the Shelf, and borrowing from both Christian and Norse mythologies, Bell ships her newly orphaned 12-year-old and his beloved dog, Barry (who, anachronistically, is a Saint Bernard), from Anatolia to the northern Mountains of Enchantment. After the failure of an ice wall that kept out the evil one-eyed Gangleri and his bird companions, Huginn and Munnin (variously referred to as both ravens and crows), Nicholas and his dog play instrumental roles in guarding the Lumistella Stone. This rechargeable sacred object is a fallen fragment of the Christmas Star, which has the ability to heal the Christmas Spirit—and two mighty foes are desperate to use its powers for ill: the greedy Gangleri and the treacherous, enigmatic Mother Earth, former lovers who were torn apart by their “selfish desires.” In this work, even the countering forces on the side of “truth and love” are militarized—“We fight for Christmas! ATTACK!”—leading to plenty of combat scenes. Some readers will spot the parallels between Gangleri and Odin. This rather flat commercial tie-in may hold appeal for ardent fans of the franchise. Extends the brand, though in a patchwork way, without giving the spirit of Christmas much beyond lip service. (map) (Fantasy. 8-12)

You Are Brotherly Love: A Book for the Littlest Kelce Brothers Fans

Berne, Emma Carlson | Illus. by Laura Catrinella | Odd Dot (32 pp.) | $14.99

October 14, 2025 | 9781250390721

The story of the Kelce brothers, told for the very youngest of readers. With simple phrasing and sweeping platitudes, this brief picture book takes a broad look at the brotherly bond of athletes Jason and Travis Kelce, starting when the two are children. The words “when one of you falls, the other picks you right back up” stretch across a scene of a family cookout, with the boys running and tripping as they play. The brothers grow, as does their passion for football: “On the field you are on fire. / Snapping, blocking, catching the ball in the end zone.” In a callback to childhood, Berne emphasizes the Kelces’ supportive bond: “Even when the falls get bigger / you never stop picking each other up.” Catrinella takes inspiration from photos snapped of the famous pair, re-creating them in bright colors, illuminated with warmth and familial love. True fans can chart the passage of time as the jerseys’ colors and numbers change (yes, Travis’ girlfriend, pop star Taylor Swift, does make an appearance). An endnote supplies more details about their intertwined football journeys and lives, though readers seeking in-depth information for school reports will want to supplement this one with additional materials. But followers of the game will appreciate seeing their heroes as young people—and as devoted brothers. A lovely gift for burgeoning football fans. (Picture book. 2-5)

For more by Emma Carlson Berne, visit Kirkus online.

Warm All Over

Bigdelou, Ghazaleh | Clavis (32 pp.) | $21.95 October 21, 2025 | 9798890632418

A polar bear needs help warming up. The hulking bear is soon joined by a white duck and a paleskinned child clad in a dress. When the youngster politely asks how the bear is feeling, the animal—bare, though covered in fur—complains of the cold. A succession of suggestions follows. Exercise? “But…I’m still cold.” A steaming bath? Hot tea? Warm clothes? Blankets? A roaring fire? All prove ineffective, but they’re an essential build-up to the final offer: “How about a BIG hug? A really BIG hug.” Bingo! Bigdelou’s text is delightfully predictable; the charm and humor derive from the art: delicate but assured lines, with carefully calibrated use of color (mostly red), and a visual insistence on incongruity. The child sports exaggeratedly long braids that float along exuberantly, never hanging down. After being offered some tea, the huge bear carefully clutches one of many tiny teacups. The bear’s depiction nicely balances realism with anthropomorphism; it’s especially amusing to see the beast in the bathtub or performing calisthenics. The bear eventually dons a polka-dot jacket, red-striped socks, and a ridiculous yellow hat. For the “BIG hug,” the child’s arms can scarcely embrace more than the bear’s snout. And the duck occasionally surprises, offering assistance here and there. This one’s sure to be on repeat request over a cold winter. A book practically guaranteed to precipitate many a big hug. (Picture book. 3-6)

Wolf Club

Bird, James | Feiwel & Friends (272 pp.)

$17.99 | September 30, 2025 | 9781250362407

Thirteen-yearold Okan Thibault is an Ojibwe boy on a quest to find a mysterious white wolf.

His grandmother’s medicine cards, combined with a vision, urge Okan to protect a white wolf sighted in the Sawtooth Mountains outside their Minnesota town. Okan isn’t sure that he’s the right choice for the quest, since he walks with a limp and the companions his cards choose for him are questionable. There’s Skunk, a girl with a Native mother and white father; she smells bad and is trying to defuse the cruel moniker by embracing it. And then there’s school bully Moose, a rich kid who steals Okan’s lunch money. All three end up in detention together and form the Wolf Club. With nothing more than the medicine cards and their personal hopes of what it would mean to find the wolf, they set out on an adventure that leads them to the very heart of the woods and their greatest desires. Much of Okan’s inner dialogue is thoughtful (if at times heavily expository), providing context for Indigenous creation stories, historical conflicts, and Anishinaabemowin vocabulary, but the contemporary slang feels awkward and forced. Okan makes frequent proclamations about “us Native Americans” that can come across as lacking in nuance and feeding into outdated tropes. The story includes thoughtful social commentary about protest, preservation, and gentrification. The main characters, who are coming to

Delicious poetry speaks with authority to the darkness so many kids crave.

NIGHTMARE JONES

terms with deep trauma, enjoy an emotional and happy conclusion. A sincere, if uneven, exploration of healing and connection. (Fiction. 10-13)

War Is Over!

Booker, Brad, Dave Mullins & Sean Ono Lennon | Illus. by Max Narciso | Viking (40 pp.) | $19.99 | November 4, 2025 9798217040094

T he team behind the 2024 Oscarwinning animated short War Is Over!: Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko translates their work into picture-book format Here’s an image you rarely see on the first page of a kids’ book: armed men on a battlefield. It’s Christmastime, and “the Red Jackets and the Green Coats [are] fighting,” the text explains. “No one [knows] why.” A carrier pigeon named Julia has been enlisted to transport “important orders” from the command center to a red-jacketed soldier named Winston, but the bird has another job. Helping Winston play “a secret game of chess,” Julia delivers notes containing his chess moves to a green-coated soldier, who in turn gives Julia his moves for Winston. The men’s remote chess competition animates the book’s pacifist message: In other circumstances, two enemies could be friends. Narciso’s illustrations, rendered in drab military colors, conjure no particular era, the suggestion being that the book’s message is timeless. The comically rubbery-looking faces of the largely pale-skinned soldiers help offset the grim turn the story takes, although its conclusion is hopeful. John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1971 peace anthem “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” inspired the short film that sparked this book—the couple’s son, Sean Ono Lennon, was involved in both projects— and the song’s lyrics are woven into the text, for the most part smoothly.

A fine introduction to a complex topic for mature-enough kids. (afterword by Sean Ono Lennon, poster reproduction, photograph) (Picture book. 6-12)

Practically guaranteed to

precipitate many a big hug.

WARM ALL OVER

Kirkus Star

Nightmare Jones: Poems

Bramer, Shannon | Illus. by Cindy Derby Groundwood (56 pp.) | $14.99

October 7, 2025 | 9781773069463

Witches, ghosts, arachnids, and more abound in this terrifying compendium of verse.

“No two monsters are alike,” observes Bramer cogently, pairing once more with Derby. This collection introduces readers to the titular Nightmare Jones, a onetime swashbuckler “with a bit of blood on his shoe.” Of the 28 poems, some rhyme, like the oddly triumphant “The Son of a Scorpion,” while most do not. Though many entries are straightforward, others are so rife with odd and evocative imagery that they’re sure to inspire discussion; all are beautifully crafted and appropriately spine-tingling. Particularly outstanding is “Four Seasons in a Witch’s Garden,” which plays off prettified odes to the seasons. Spring is full of “red crocuses / like blood fingers / along the burgeoning path,” while in autumn the witch will “rip things out / incubate their hearts / collect the tubers / smell her own hands.” Derby, who’s always flitted at the edges of creepiness, now fully embraces her own inner Stephen Gammell—known for his illustrations for Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark books— with her grotesquely drippy art; the result feels like a long-lost installment in that series. Though the work is written for children, it has a philosophical bent that could just as easily appeal to younger teens looking for a little goth inspiration. Delicious poetry paired with haunting art speaks with authority to the darkness so many kids crave. (Poetry/horror. 9-14)

Little Ghost

July 1, 2025 | 9781534113138

Lolly on the Ice

Brannen, Sarah S. | Random House (40 pp.) $18.99 | November 11, 2025 | 9780593711811

Must Little Ghost abandon his rambunctious family of 10 to find peace?

Little Ghost feels squeezed. He finds his family’s high-ceilinged attic home too noisy—there’s nowhere he can relax and read his scary stories! Venturing out to haunt alternative quarters on October 31, Little Ghost surprisingly seems to have little notion of what Halloween entails. As he knocks on doors, he’s mistaken for a costumeclad child; he rejects offers of candy and is scared off by rowdy dogs, rude neighbors, and even a black cat. No house seems right until he spots a classic old mansion on a hill. The old woman who lives there doesn’t mind his huffiness, and he makes himself at home. Peace at last. Days later, when he’s become “lonely for his loud family,” they suddenly show up for a happy reunion and move in. They’re noisier than ever, but now Little Ghost has enough space “to practice his BOOOOOOS!” and read the tales he loves. This yarn is wispier than a specter, though the smiling, ectoplasmic figures in pastel settings are pleasant to look at. Should readers sharing close quarters with family conclude that moving to a larger space is the answer? Family can be difficult, but there’s no room for compromise, thoughtfulness, or creative solutions here. Human characters are diverse; the old woman is tan-skinned. An overly tight real estate crunch is too simplistically solved. (Picture book. 5-8)

A timid young athlete takes a chance.

Lolly loves to ice skate. Drifting across a frozen pond, effortless as a falling snowflake, she leaps and loops with confidence as Dad cheers her on. But as comfortable as Lolly is on the ice, happy to perform for an audience of one, her knees begin to knock the moment onlookers tune in. In fact, during her audition for the big winter ice show, her performance jitters prove so powerful that she’s frozen to the spot, a showing that ultimately lands her the role of a (stationary) snowman. Disappointed by the result—and dispirited by the unbecoming costume it requires—Lolly glumly prepares for the performance until one fateful rehearsal, when a member of the snowflake trio sustains a season-ending injury. With the show’s biggest number now in jeopardy, Lolly knows just what to do, if she can only find the courage to act. Brannen’s gently told work is a fairly straightforward tale of a youngster confronting performance anxiety. Readers similarly plagued by self-doubt will certainly find an emotional mirror here. Tan-skinned, red-haired Lolly is depicted as physically larger than her peers in Brannen’s graceful, muted artwork—a fact that the author/illustrator never calls attention to in her text; refreshingly, her protagonist’s insecurities aren’t linked to her size. Lolly’s diverse community is uniformly supportive, self-doubt her only adversary and one much more gratifying to best. Cozy and encouraging. (Picture book. 5-8)

House Hunts

Branam, Lucy | Illus. by Natalie Hoopes Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) | $18.99

For more by Sarah S. Brannen, visit Kirkus online.

Into the Fire

Brashares, Ann & Ben Brashares

Simon & Schuster (288 pp.) | $18.99

September 16, 2025 | 9781665950848

Series: Westfallen, 2

The efforts of six New Jersey kids to prevent the Nazis from winning World War II continue in this sequel to Westfallen (2024).

In 1944, Alice, Lawrence, and Artie struggle to correct their catastrophic error that, as Alice repeatedly has it, “DESTROYED THE FUTURE.” In 2023, Frances and Henry desperately research the changed history that finds the U.S. transformed into the Nazi-controlled tributary state of Westfallen. Jewish Lukas is largely confined, unable to help them or reach the magic shed that houses the radio that allows the kids to communicate across time, putting him at risk of losing his memories. Meanwhile, in 1944, Lawrence collects scrap metal alongside a kid who grows up to be a patient in the Home for Incurables, where Henry works in 2023. Could that kid hold the key to restoring the timeline? In this volume, Lawrence and Frances join Alice and Henry as first-person narrators, depriving Lukas and Artie of narrative agency. This lack is particularly distressing in Lukas’ case, as his isolation is affecting his personality. It falls to Henry and Alice to prod him into action—which is unfortunate for a novel that never names the Holocaust and omits persecution of the Jews from Alice’s father’s explanation of Nazi ideology (although antisemitism is an obvious feature of life in this alternate timeline). The crackling pace can’t obscure these lapses. Alice, Artie, and Frances are white, Lawrence is Black, and biracial Henry is Black and white.

Fast-moving but let down by questionable omissions. (Science fiction/thriller. 10-13)

A perfectly calibrated introduction to the concept of economic differences.

ONE CAN

Complete Greek Myths: An Illustrated Book of Greek Myths

Brook, Henry & Anna Milbourne Illus. by Nathan Collins | Usborne (464 pp.) | $29.99 | September 2, 2025 9781836051848 | Series: Complete Books

A substantial gathering of ancient Greek myths and legends culled from classical sources and retold with presentday sensibilities in mind.

Broad and detailed enough to devote 35 pages to the Trojan War alone, this compendium begins with the shepherd Hesiod’s vision of the creation of Gaia and ends with the reunion of Odysseus and Penelope. Appealing, full-color character galleries at the head of each chapter help readers keep all the gods, demigods, monsters, and mortals straight. Though the authors characterize Zeus’ many rapes as “love affairs” spurred by his “lust for life” and tone down juicier events—for instance, Cronus merely “slashed” his dad Uranus with a sickle rather than cutting off his privates—the retellings feel fully fleshed out. Occasional embroideries (Perseus telling his tale in the first person; a suggestion that Persephone was fully aware of the consequences when she ate those pomegranate seeds), as well as the measured prose and contemporaryfeeling dialogue, help to bring the old stories and characters closer to modern audiences. Collins adds further vim with assemblages of brawny heroes, grotesque monsters, and immortals wrapped in billowing clouds, glaring at one another or expressing large

feelings, along with black-and-white spot art that’s reminiscent of ancient Greek pottery. The clean, vibrant, artwork shows figures with varied skin tones.

Vivid and more expansive than usual for the audience. (cultural notes, deity names, map, glossary, sources, QR code) (Mythology. 9-13)

Kirkus Star

One Can

Button, Lana & Eric Walters | Illus. by Isabelle Malenfant | Groundwood (32 pp.) | $19.99 September 2, 2025 | 9781773067346

Child-friendly lessons in interdependence. The paleskinned, darkhaired young narrator attends a diverse school with a communal ethos. A “mitten tree” makes these accessories available for those in need, though the protagonist sticks with a too-small blue pair (they “make the best snowballs”), and the students are involved with a food drive. The youngster’s class’s goal is to place one can on each of the 100 squares on a numbered carpet. The child contributes a favorite can of noodles, despite Mom’s warning that she might not be able to replace it. That can is number 100; everyone cheers, and the teacher affixes a snowflake sticker. Days later, Mom comes home with a pair of bigger red mittens from the tree and a can of the noodles, bearing that snowflake sticker. “Are we the people in need?” the narrator asks. Mom gently explains that they get help when they need it and give when they have

something extra. Later, the child puts the beloved blue mittens on the donation tree, with a personal note. This simple yet brilliant explanation of mutual aid is illustrated in confident fine lines and soft but bright color against minimalist backgrounds. The text is finely tuned to a child’s understanding, avoiding condescension or the implication that young people should feel shame at requiring assistance (or superiority at having the privilege to give); the focus is on considering what the recipient needs—and what we can give. A perfectly calibrated introduction to the concept of economic differences. (Picture book. 4-7)

Mama Car

Catchpole, Lucy | Illus. by Karen George Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $18.99 November 4, 2025 | 9780316578035

A child describes the many functions of Mama’s wheelchair.

“Daddy has a big car,” the young narrator explains, but “Mama has a Mama Car”: a manual wheelchair. The Mama Car transports Mama (and, when the child is “being little,” the narrator on Mama’s lap) on “expeditions” to the kitchen for breakfast-in-bed supplies and provides opportunities for artistic expression as the narrator decorates its wheels with colorful shapes. When the family makes “BIG expeditions to big places in the big car,” the Mama Car “squashes up in the back and I can wave to it.” And after falling off a “SPIKY ” tricycle, the narrator “curl[s] into” the Mama Car for comfort: “The Mama Car is warm and I just have Mama all around me.” Catchpole, who based the story on her daughter’s nickname for her wheelchair, gently presents disability as a natural part of family life. As the narrator snuggles with Mama in bed or cuddles “cozy as a sheep” in Mama’s lap, George’s simple, soft-toned cartoon illustrations underscore the best thing about the Mama Car: “It has Mama.” Youngsters adjusting to a parent’s

wheelchair use will be particularly reassured by the matter-of-fact text, but all readers will enjoy the cheery tone and warm parent-and-child relationship. The family is light-skinned; Daddy has one leg and uses forearm crutches. An endearing child’s-eye view of a parent’s disability. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)

Sparkles for Sunny: A Lunar New Year Story

Chen, Sylvia | Illus. by Thai My Phuong Flamingo Books (32 pp.) | $18.99

December 2, 2025 | 9780593694626

A young girl of Chinese descent finds a way to stand out at the Lunar New Year parade. The Lao family is getting ready to celebrate the upcoming holiday. Together, they make food, prepare lucky gifts, and create decorations. And they bring out the special clothes they’ll wear at the parade, including three matching qipáo dresses, one for each Lao sister. Sunny, the youngest, loves all her family’s traditions, but she doesn’t love her qipáo. Originally made for her oldest sister, Eva, the garment is decorated with a dragon, Eva’s zodiac sign. Handed down to her middle sister, Aria, it’s red, Aria’s favorite color. Now it belongs to Sunny, but nothing about the dress says “Sunny” at all. Besides, it makes her look exactly like her sisters. Sunny wistfully dreams of golden, sparkly, unconventional qipáos that would be entirely her. Alas, a new dress is out of the question. One of the Lao family’s golden rules is “Never waste anything! ” and the three sisters always match. Any young reader with older siblings will relate to Sunny’s struggle with her hand-me-down dress, and her creative solution demonstrates how individual expression can be compatible with family expectations and traditions. Phuong’s soft, vibrant illustrations capture the festive details of the new year and Sunny’s eager mind and forceful will. Mandarin Chinese

phrases are transliterated and translated throughout.

A charming story about honoring traditions while staying true to oneself. (Picture book. 4-8)

The Notted Island

Child, Katherine | Flying Eye Books (144 pp.) $19.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781838749507

In this U.K. import, a girl must band together with river sprites, a time-telling shadow, and a dog to save her island’s night sky.

“Colour” has finally arrived in a previously black-and-white world, and all are enjoying the fresh new hues… except for the inhabitants of Last Island. Wondering if they’re being punished for bad behavior, the townspeople of Grubb decide to entice Colour by being as virtuous and industrious as possible—which leaves them irritable and vulnerable when a salesman arrives to sell them an automated night sky. In this world, people known as nottes—a term taken from Old Norse—draw the fabric of night over the land each evening. Local girl Tisky longs to be a notte, and when she discovers that the salesman hasn’t delivered an important letter to the current estranged notte, she heads north to do it herself. Along the way, she meets others who’ve had their own encounters with the notte and with the salesman and comes to understand more about the land and the night. With fun wordplay and the personification of natural phenomena as beings and tasks, this parable strikes an endearingly quirky, goodhearted tone as it underscores the importance of downtime and magical thinking in the face of ever-increasing demands for efficiency. Child’s frequent, detailed illustrations enhance the story with their depictions of Tisky’s unique world and compatriots. Tisky has skin the white of the page.

A fun treatise on the necessity of whimsy. (map) (Fantasy. 8-10)

Every Scoop of Light: A Story About Repairing the World

Cooper, Ilene | Illus. by Omer Hoffmann Abrams (40 pp.) | $19.99 September 9, 2025 | 9781419764219

A quirky retelling of Genesis 1, rooted in Kabbalah. This tale dawns alongside the universe as an all-powerful God grows lonely and, out of a colorful, nebulous Everything, creates “land and seas, skies and stars.” Flora and fauna follow and, finally, God’s pièce de résistance—humanity. Ever benevolent, God seeks to empower these people with special gifts (among them peace, health, and kindness), each bathed in light and delivered via clay pot, but God’s knack for hand-building leaves something to be desired. The vessels grow “shaky-er and breaky-ier,” smashing upon impact and scattering the gifts, whose lights dim. God gathers a crowd and delivers a crucial missive: Search for these wayward gifts and act accordingly once they’re found, sharing laughter, love, and wisdom with the communities you create. The “big, beautiful job” of earthly betterment belongs to its inhabitants—a weighty ask, but a challenge worth undertaking. Though God is never depicted on the page (and no gendered pronouns are used), Cooper’s sweetly whimsical prose offers a surprisingly endearing and humane portrayal; this is a deity who

creates humanity to combat feelings of loneliness and whose excitement at sending the gifts down to earth inadvertently causes problems. Evoking the aesthetic of a newspaper comic, Hoffmann’s twee illustrations depict people diverse in terms of race and culture. In an author’s note, Cooper explains that the narrative is rooted in the practice of tikkun olam, Hebrew for “repair the world.”

An inspired and inspiring reimagining of humanity’s origins. (illustrator’s note) (Picture book. 6-8)

The Story and Science of Hope

Curtis, Andrea | Illus. by Ana Suárez Groundwood (40 pp.) | $14.99

October 8, 2025 | 9781773067315

A multifaceted and encouraging exploration of “the thing with feathers.”

Curtis’ opening discussion draws on many disciplines as she distinguishes hope from faith, pure positivity, and optimism. Ultimately, she notes, hope is “leaning in and working toward something meaningful to you—even if you’re not sure it’s going to happen.” Curtis considers beliefs about hope held by those in Japan, India, and ancient Greece, as well as observations by Friedrich Nietzsche, Emily Dickinson, and Barack Obama. She cites scientific studies that show the physical, psychological, and practical benefits of hope and examines the development of tools to measure it, including MRI brain imaging. The author doesn’t downplay the adverse forces—personal, local, or

A multifaceted and encouraging exploration of “the thing with feathers.”

global, modest or extreme—that make it difficult to keep this often delicate emotion alive, but she advocates for nurturing hope through nature, art, relationships, and education. She strikes a motivating note at the end by speaking to the power of hope to effect change, small or great, followed by brief profiles of activists working to improve the world and more suggestions for cultivating hope. Suárez’s illustrations— rainbows of luminous semi-abstract, watercolorlike images—appropriately brighten each page, while Curtis’ writing is simple and clear, with information presented in brief, well-organized blocks. In a world where hope sometimes seems to be at a premium, this book offers inspiration and direction for developing a much-needed skill.

A lucid mini-course in an essential life-enhancing emotion. (glossary, sources, resources) (Nonfiction. 9-12)

I Am a Highly Dangerous Warrior!

D’Apice, Raquel | Illus. by Heather Fox Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $18.99 November 4, 2025 | 9780316453974

A 6-year-old feels confident in his monster-fighting abilities, but his wizard guardian isn’t so sure. When an enormous, fuzzy purple monster starts terrorizing the neighbors, the boy grabs his sword and his blankie, ready to confront the foe. He might not have a plan—something his teacher has mentioned is a regular occurrence—but he’s a “highly dangerous warrior!” The wizard questions this assertion, reminding the boy of his youth and certain qualities that aren’t quite befitting of a warrior, like his habit of wiping boogers on the cat and making a mess when using scissors. The boy sets out anyway and soon realizes that meeting the monster face to face is scarier than expected. Once he regains his confidence, though, he finds an unexpected solution; after

all, his teacher has also praised his ability to “overcome significant challenges when he sets his mind to it.” This humorous story about developing new skills and autonomy while maintaining some childish tendencies is told through appealing and silly cartoon art that alternates between full-page illustrations and soft-edged panels and uses both narrative text and speech bubbles. Kids and their grown-ups will relate to the slightly contentious yet always loving relationship between the exuberant boy and the weary wizard, while the unexpected resolution with the monster could inspire creative problem-solving. The boy and the wizard are light-skinned; other human characters are diverse. An amusingly told tale of growing up. (Picture book. 4-8)

Winter Cub

De Keyzer, Ilse | Illus. by Dana Martens Clavis (40 pp.) | $20.95 | October 21, 2025 9798890632319

A little wolf proves his mettle one Christmas. This Yuletide tale opens with stardust and the birth of a litter of wolves, one of whom is named Winter Cub. Although well loved, Winter Cub is deemed too small to hunt with the pack. Watching his siblings leave again and again, Winter Cub feels sad and left out. The story unfolds like a hero’s journey, with Winter Cub sneaking away, determined to prove himself. Alas, he loses his way in the woods, as any good hero must. Alone in the forest, spectacularly illustrated by Martens with snow-laden trees casting shadows on the icy ground, he comes upon a herd of reindeer. When he inadvertently frightens them, one of the reindeer injures his leg, but a familiar holiday gift-giving figure emerges to give Winter Cub a job on his flying sleigh. A little

red-breasted bird accompanies Winter Cub, and the illustrations (seen from a bird’s-eye view) are where Martens does her most magical work—the loping shadows of Winter Cub’s family searching for him in the snowy forest glimpsed from above echo an earlier scene of Winter Cub alone and lost. In this gentle tale, originally published in the Netherlands and Belgium and translated from Dutch, wolves and reindeer appreciate one another rather than becoming predator and prey. Kindness matters, and Winter Cub’s got it in spades.

A sweet Yuletide story with a message sure to resonate all year long. (Picture book. 4-8)

Matisse: Magician of Color

Desierto, Derek | Feiwel & Friends (40 pp.) $18.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9781250864697

Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was determined to be an artist on his own terms. In simple, compelling language, an admiring unseen narrator waxes rhapsodic about the painter’s struggles and successes. As a young child, Henri paints a circus scene on a wall to escape “his dreary world.” His mother encourages his creative endeavors, but his stern father wants him to pursue more practical activities. An unhappy stint in law school, followed by a serious illness, leads Henri to devote himself to art, his true source of happiness. In art school, Henri is instructed to paint what he sees, but he realizes he must paint what he feels. Desierto describes Henri’s failures and accomplishments as he gains in stature, producing exciting and innovative works. Another illness results in a total change. Fatigued and unable to paint, the elderly Henri puts aside the paintbrush and takes up scissors and colorful paper, cutting wonderful and imaginative shapes with which to create a whole new kind of art. Desierto uses high-spirited,

brightly hued cut-paper illustrations to great effect as he captures Matisse’s passion for color and underscores an important truth: Art is about the journey, not the end result. Adult readers will recognize many of his familiar works; all will feel the joy with which they were created. A loving, tender homage to an innovative artist. (author’s note) (Picture-book biography. 5-8)

Kirkus Star

Making Art

Ejaita, Diana | Rise x Penguin Workshop (32 pp.) | $18.99 | November 4, 2025

9780593660157

Distilled text and images rife with examples celebrate the importance of creating.

Ejaita’s narrative is a marvel of pithy economy. “Let’s look around and make some art. / We find ideas for what to make, / and ideas for what to use.” The author/illustrator examines the physicality and multitudinous methods of making art, as well as the interrelationship between the work and the makers’ emotions. She’s adamant on one point: “We cannot make art without / listening to our feelings. // We put our feelings into the art, / and feel the art in our body.” Making art can elicit happiness but also sadness and fear; in one scene, a muralist with spray paint, presumably out of environmental concern, creates images of animals with teardrops on building walls. Laudably, Ejaita acknowledges the difficulties artists face and the need for patience in both finding ideas and bringing one’s concepts to fruition. She examines inspiration and the inherent pleasure of sharing art with others yet celebrates the notion of keeping some work “as a treasure for yourself.” Her illustrations brim with joyous color and activity as diverse children stitch, repurpose found objects, listen to and make music, break-dance, create collages, think, write, and more. Characters vary in skin color, from black

and brown to pink and the gold, blue, and purple of the page background. A lovely message of unity and gratitude concludes the piece, and decorated endpapers complete it. Simply wonderful, and a balm for these troubled times. (Picture book. 3-7)

Me & the Magic Cube

Fehr, Daniel | Illus. by Golden Cosmos

Trans. by Marshall Yarbrough

NorthSouth (48 pp.) | $19.95

September 9, 2025 | 9780735845732

A warm salute to a maddening marvel and its inventor, Ernő Rubik. In Fehr’s tale, translated from German, the light-skinned young narrator pulls one of the ubiquitous Magic Cubes out of the toy box and, after joining Dad and several school friends in fruitlessly trying to “solve” it, bones up on the puzzle’s 1974 invention, its ingenious inner construction, and its Hungarian inventor. Along the way, our protagonist also learns about similar puzzles in different shapes and sizes (including one that uses Braille), international competitions, and other tidbits, including how to follow the explicit directions that successful twisters have developed and published. “Speedcubers” have aligned all the colors in a little over three seconds, computers in a mere 0.3 seconds. Frustrated readers who have already wrestled with one of the 450 million cubes sold to date probably won’t be surprised to learn that a standard cube has over 43 quintillion possible configurations—but they may be heartened by the fact (electronically demonstrated in 2010) that any cube can be solved in 20 moves or fewer. In the illustrations, helpful diagrams and exploded views of cubes alternate with scenes of a multiracial cast of smiling, wideeyed young people happily applying themselves to the challenge: “On your mark, get set, cube!”

For any child contemplating swapping out diapers for big-kid undies.

DIAPER KID

A buoyant, stimulating explainer. (Informational picture book. 7-10)

The Mouse Buffet: A Christmas Treat

Ferreri, Della Ross | Illus. by Tim Bowers

Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) | $18.99

August 1, 2025 | 9781534113381

Plenty of creatures are stirring in this Christmas picture book.

Ferreri’s rhyming text introduces readers to a bevy of mice who, in Bowers’ cartoon illustrations, look like they could be kin to Hanna-Barbera’s Jerry. They find a delectable spread of Yuletide goodies set out on a festive table, with nary a human in sight. The mice declare it a “mouse buffet” and, deciding that this must be their “lucky day,” tuck in with relish. “Pies and pastries! Where to start? / Let’s dig into this apple tart! / Dip the ladle. Slurp the punch. / Candy canes! Crunchity crunch.” While the singsong cadence falters a bit, the slapstick humor in the pictures will support readers’ engagement when the mice’s exuberant enjoyment of a gingerbread house and a bunch of grapes causes food items to fall from the table and disturb a resting cat. In a true Christmas miracle, however, the rodents don’t become a “mouse buffet” for the cat. Though our heroes attempt to make a grand escape by tunneling through a sumptuouslooking cake (and then blocking the hole with a gingerbread man), as it turns out, they have nothing to fear. “Merry Christmas!” cries the

bene volent marmalade tom, to whom the mice reply, “Let’s all share!” Oh, what fun! (Picture book. 2-5)

Diaper Kid

Garbutt, Loretta | Illus. by Hayley Lowe Owlkids Books (24 pp.) | $18.95 September 16, 2025 | 9781771476430

Dash isn’t ready for underwear yet—or is he? Dash is called “Diaper Kid” because he’s in no hurry to graduate to underwear. Why would he be, when in his diapered state, “he can GO anywhere”? The bold-type, capitalized verb in this clever line is best read with double meaning— Diaper Kid is always moving, and while on the go, he’s free to go (pee or poo) in his diaper. Garbutt’s lighthearted text is supported by Lowe’s playful cartoons, which recall Aliki’s style and depict Dash in a cape emblazoned with the letter D. Both words and art leverage potty humor to the story’s advantage as Dash’s parents gently encourage him to give underwear a try, only to be met with resistance. He interrupts his exuberant play with pit stops wherever he chooses, until an errant dip in a kiddie pool leaves his diaper sodden. The resulting discomfort and the realization that his friend Esme from next door wears underwear finally prompt Dash to acquiesce and try underwear out himself. A final, triumphant illustration shows Dash flying like a superhero, his cape now featuring a U patch covering the D that was visible earlier, as he is declared “Underwear Kid.” Dash

and his family have light brown skin; Esme is darker-skinned. A fun, low-pressure read for any child contemplating swapping out diapers for big-kid undies. (Picture book. 1-3)

Busted

Gemeinhart, Dan | Henry Holt (352 pp.) $17.99 | October 7, 2025 | 9781250378361

Against his better judgment, a 12-year-old raised in a retirement community by his grandfather helps a 104-yearold resident sneak off to take care of some unfinished business. Oscar Aberdeen has been strictly warned to steer clear of Jimmy Deluca, a new arrival with a shady past. But Pops can’t afford the new rent hike, and Oscar remembers advice from the late Guadalupe Montoya, one of his many senior surrogate grandparents: “Right and wrong can get confusing sometimes So just do the good thing.” Between doing the right thing and doing the good thing, it’s always better to choose the latter. So when the irascible Jimmy promises big bucks in exchange for helping him run a few unspecified errands, Oscar overcomes his scruples, leading to a dizzying round of outrageous, life-altering predicaments and exploits. It’s a joy to watch Oscar learn to, at Jimmy’s insistent urging, “squeeze the orange” as they go. In quick succession, the bemused lad has a variety of rousing new experiences, from stealing back a stolen car to getting punched in the face. He also gets to deploy skills that are already in his wheelhouse, like playing cutthroat poker and sensitively comforting the dying. Gemeinhart kits out his reluctant but winningly resilient protagonist with a tragic backstory that adds nuance to his buttoned-up character, and the lively supporting cast includes more than a few seedy or hostile characters but no real villains. Characters largely present white. An exuberant joyride. (Fiction. 9-13)

A warm salute to a maddening marvel and its inventor, Ernő Rubik.

ME & THE MAGIC CUBE

The Dog Who Saved the Bees

Gibeault, Stephanie | Illus. by David Hohn Sleeping Bear Press (40 pp.) | $18.99

August 1, 2025 | 9781534113329

Dogs can handle all sorts of jobs, but even so, Mack’s line of work is most unusual. Being chief apiary inspector for the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Cybil Preston is charged with certifying that commercial colonies of honeybees are free of the infectious disease called “foulbrood.” Visual checks are one way to do that, but because the job would go far more quickly with help from a dog trained to sniff out the malady’s distinctive smell, Mack comes into her life. This true story is partly a heartwarming tale of a lonely pooch finding a home, but, a professional animal trainer herself, Gibeault also lays out in loving, precise detail the systematic series of humane challenges and rewards that turned a rowdy, distractable dog who at first wouldn’t even sit on command into a dependable and responsive worker. A yellow Lab whose big personality shines in Hohn’s illustrations, Mack will easily win readers over as he passes each test and gets to work, then goes on with the light-skinned Cybil to earn a public service award and even enjoys a fling with media stardom. Following a final turn proudly trotting past piled-up beehives, Mack poses in backmatter snapshots using his expert sniffer and working alongside his own successor. Would-be animal trainers will find this engaging addition to the working- dog shelf of particular interest. (afterword, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 5-7)

Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest

Grabenstein, Chris | Illus. by Julian Callos

Random House (272 pp.) | $17.99 October 14, 2025 | 9780593707982

Two brothers set off down old Route 66 on a treasure hunt orchestrated by an eccentric puzzle maker. The former closeness between 12-year-old Ben, who’s self-conscious about his weight, and his athletic 18-year-old brother, Ethan, may be long gone, but the prospect of a $1,000,000 reward offered by renowned puzzle queen Penelope Pennypickle is enough to get them heading off together in search of clues deposited at roadside attractions along the historic highway. Ms. Pennypacker’s dictum that “The family that puzzles together stays together” proves to be the main clue to what Grabenstein is up to. While joined by competing pairs in a series of elimination rounds, the siblings work to solve a series of riddles and challenges while stopping at sites from the Pops 66 Soda Ranch to Cadillac Ranch and Petrified Forest National Park—and, in the process, the bond between them regains its old strength. The puzzles offer readers something fun to engage with, and the local color, plus the author’s affirmation of the importance of family ties and the vigorous way he deals with the fat shaming that Ben receives, are worthy. But his bid to recapture some of the Mr. Lemoncello magic falls afoul of an overly contrived plot and minimally developed character interactions. Readers may also feel cheated by the resolution, which falls flat. Most characters present white. Bland and disappointing. (Fiction. 8-12)

ALEXANDER SMALLS

The musician, restaurateur, and author captures the spirit of family and food in a new picture book.

BY LISA KENNEDY

In Alexander Smalls’ autobiographical love letter to his upbringing, When Alexander Graced the Table, the kitchen in the family’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, home is aswirl with folks peeling, cutting, and baking for the next day’s post-church supper.

Sous chef to his mother, Johnnie Mae Smalls, young Alexander wants to make a dessert for his father, Alex. He decides on a lemon pie. It should come as no surprise that Smalls, winner of a James Beard Award for Between Harlem and Heaven: Afro-Asian-American Cooking for Big Nights, Weeknights, and Every Day (written with JJ Johnson and Veronica Chambers), includes the pie recipe in the back of this vividly inviting picture book co-written with Denene Millner and illustrated by Frank Morrison. Morrison also drew the specially commissioned portrait of Smalls that appears on the cover of this issue.

Morrison’s illustrations capture the chords and melodies of a house full of family, motion, and love. It’s “total lyricism,” says the restaurateur-raconteur-singer, sitting in his Harlem home for this video interview. Like his storied restaurants—Café Beulah, Minton’s, the Cecil—Smalls’ Harlem haven is the site of many a heady dinner party. Though he doesn’t drop names, they waft in and out of the conversation naturally because the Grammy and Tony Award winner knows how to set the table for a brilliant collection of friends. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What a lovely book. Morrison’s artwork has such musicality. We waited two years for Frank, and I am one who needs immediate

I set the table in people’s lives, and I nurture them.

Mike Cohen

gratification! I lived the book, so that was easy to pull out of me, but then to have to sit pregnant for two years before I could see the imagery—it was painful. But my God did that man capture the essence, the spirit, the engagement.

It’s clear from your books and restaurants that you’re drawn to collaboration. Well, it really is an extension of what I do for a living. I set the table in people’s lives, and I nurture them. I remember being really impressed as a young kid by those who cooked. When I wrote Grace the Table with Hettie [Jones], I coined the expression “The person who wields the spoon, wields the power.” I wanted to be that person at every gathering. So, the spirit of collaboration, togetherness, engagement was always a part of how I saw the world and myself in it.

Chef and opera singer: How did this dynamic take hold?

I see everything in my life through two lenses—music and food—which make me extraordinarily happy and content. I always feel intentional about the things I love. I know that they will feed me somehow. My mother gave me this extraordinary advice: “If you love what you do, you will never have a job. And we know how lazy you are.”

Now seriously, did she say that?

Oh, she was a wonder. She left no stone unturned or word unsaid. She left the planet thinking I wasn’t really working as an opera singer. The Grammy, the Tony—didn’t matter.

She kept you honest. I remember the first time my parents came to Café Beulah, all my friends would come and surround them—Phylicia Rashad, Lynn Whitfield, Kathleen Battle, Toni Morrison—and they just loved it. My dear, dear friend Cicely Tyson would always be present. I got up to leave the table, and my father whispered in my mother’s ear (it was Cicely who overheard this), “You see, Johnnie, you can stop worrying. He’s doing well. He’s got a job.” And she turned to him and said, “He ain’t doing nothing. Everybody else is working. He’s running his mouth. Look at him over

there.” And then she said to Cicely, “You feel his hands? There’s no calluses.”

Hilarious! Do you have a favorite dish of hers?

Two, actually. I loved her buttermilk mac and cheese. She’s the only one I know that made mac and cheese with buttermilk. And the other was her creamed corn. Oh girl, let me tell you, every Sunday in the summertime, I had to have four things: potato salad, fried okra, mac and cheese, and the creamed corn. I loved to make fried-okra-and-creamedcorn sandwiches with sliced tomato.

Yum.

I’d let the corn get cool or cold, spread it like a paste, and then I piled the fried okra on top of that, and it would hold the okra in place. Then thinly sliced tomato on Wonder bread. I’d also eat potato salad sandwiches. Years later, when I moved to Rome to study opera in the ’70s, I went into cafes where they would slice the sandwiches. They’d always take the ends off, which annoyed me…

The ends are the best.

And then they would put them under a damp towel sitting on the bar. Nobody was concerned about whether you were going to die if the mayonnaise got too hot. That was just the way we lived. What was under that beautiful cloth? Potato salad sandwiches! I had never seen that anywhere except in my kitchen on my plate. Potato salad sandwiches—without the sweet pickle relish, of course.

There are two words you have a beautiful intimacy with: joy and grace As a child, joy was something that just poured out of me and poured into me. I was the only boy. I was the only grandson. I was everybody’s favorite. I was spoiled, and I had no problem being a chameleon and entertaining everybody for the attention that they so wanted to give me. But because my parents were reverent, I was taught humility, and I was taught the importance of being thankful in everything. I decided at a very early age that joy and grace would be the way in which I stepped through life. I would add to that recipe dignity. My grandfather was so proud. He was a proud Black man.

When Alexander Graced the Table

Smalls, Alexander & Denene Millner Illus. by Frank Morrison

Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster | 40 pp. $19.99 | January 7, 2025 | 9781534488724

You seem to be in perpetual motion. Where do you find stillness?

The reason this apartment is put together in the way that it is, it’s really my cradle. I lose myself in my art. Everything in this apartment has a story—and I know the story. I have a music room. Volumes and volumes of books. All of it is all up in here. And I have no problem shutting down, turning everything off. The public thinks I entertain 24/7. As much as I’m in the public eye, I need twice as much time by myself. It’s so calm here.

I asked you your favorite dishes your mother made. Did she have a favorite of yours?

Well, let me put it this way: She would be hard-pressed to tell me. She didn’t gush over things. The most you’d get out of her was, “That was very nice.” It just would be so out of character for her. A Taurus.

Seems like Johnnie Mae gave you the ingredients to be in the company of fierce women: Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Gloria Steinem, Jessye Norman…

A couple of nights ago, Nikole Hannah-Jones [MacArthur Fellow and author of The 1619 Project] came over for dinner. It was just the two of us talking about a new project of hers. And I’m like, What is this that I set the table for? So many incredible people, and all that started with my mom. I think that’s the next book.

Lisa Kennedy is a writer in Denver, Colorado.

“An

Book to Screen

Paul Rudd To Star in Adaptation of Rain Reign

The film is based on Ann M. Martin’s 2014 novel for children.

Paul Rudd will star in a film adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s Rain Reign, Deadline reports.

Martin’s novel for children, published in 2014 by Feiwel & Friends, follows Rose Howard, a neurodivergent girl searching for her dog, Rain, who goes missing after a huge storm hits their town. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus wrote of the book, “There is no fluff here, just sophisticated, emotionally honest storytelling.”

Rudd (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Ant-Man) will play

Rose’s uncle, while Jeremy Sisto (Wrong Turn, Waitress) will play her father. Rose will be played by Felice Kakaletris ( Annie Live!, The Sisters Karras). Other cast members include Mary Stuart Masterson (Fried Green Tomatoes) and Gretchen Mol (Man chester by the Sea).

The film is written and directed by actor Erika Burke Rossa. “What moved me about Ann’s novel—and inspired me to adapt Rain Reign into a film—was the Howard family’s journey toward breaking cycles of trauma and finding hope in hardship,” she told Deadline. “For me, the story’s heart lies in how, even in our darkest moments, the most profound acts of heroism are often the most quiet acts of kindness.”

Kakaletris shared news of the film on Instagram, writing, “A story that will shatter your heart—and spark a light you didn’t expect. Meet Rose in Rain Reign. Open your heart. Grab your tissues.”—M.S.

sibling rivalry.” - Kirkus Reviews

Andy Wenstrand/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images

For a review of Rain Reign, visit Kirkus online. Paul Rudd

THE TALE OF MR. CROCODILE TAKES TEA

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

New Children’s Book by Chanel Miller Coming in 2026

The Moon Without Stars will be published in the winter by Philomel.

Chanel Miller will release her third book, a middlegrade novel, next year. Philomel will publish The Moon Without Stars in the winter, the press announced in a news release. In the book, the publisher says, the author and artist “explores the glorious mess that is middle school—and the way growing up, finding friends, and discovering who you are can be both awkward and empowering.”

Miller made her literary debut in 2019 with the memoir Know My Name, an account of her sexual assault by a Stanford University student. The book won the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography. Miller published a children’s book, Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, last year. In a starred review, a Kirkus critic called the book “wildly funny, charming, and deeply heartfelt.” It received

AND HEARD

a Newbery Honor from the American Library Association.

The Moon Without Stars, Philomel says, follows Luna, a seventh grade girl who becomes popular at school after a zine she published with her best friend takes off. The press calls the book “a contemporary novel that feels like today’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.”

Miller announced her new book on Instagram, writing, “Did my best to honor the turbulent inner lives of middle schoolers. I’m really proud of this one and hope you enjoy it.”

The Moon Without Stars is scheduled for publication on January 13, 2026.—M.S.

Chanel Miller

For a review of Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All, visit Kirkus online.

Burst Your Bubble!: Outsmart the Algorithms and See What You’re Missing

Grant, Joyce | Illus. by Jan Dolby Owlkids Books (48 pp.) | $19.95 November 11, 2025 | 9781771477123

The author of Can You Believe It? (2022), about spotting fake news, sounds an alarm over the hazards of inscrutable algorithms. Introducing to young readers the concept of a personal “information bubble” that “prevents us from seeing things outside our comfort zone,” Grant warns that algorithms are everywhere online, tailoring ads, social media posts, and search results to our online activities. Though she notes that algorithms are not inherently good or bad—they fill cookbooks and organize library shelves, for instance—she does point to how easily they can limit our exposure to diverse points of view and feed our confirmation biases. As significant as her topic is, her substitution of general warnings and hypothetical cases for compelling examples or feasible best practices is unlikely to give youngsters more control over what they see. For instance, Grant advises readers to click “unsubscribe” buttons on messages from unknown senders—a potentially dangerous action—and her suggestion that users use Google to seek out new movies rather than relying on search engines in streaming apps ignores the fact that Google, too, has its own algorithms. Still, she is successful in her more limited aim to “try to be aware of our bubble” as

a first step in thinking about ways to  burst out. In Dolby’s illustrations, racially diverse groups, including one child in a wheelchair, pose amid fanciful representations of bubbles and networks.

Topical but limited, focused more on raising concerns than allaying them. (glossary, index, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 8-10)

War Games

Gratz, Alan | Scholastic (368 pp.) | $18.99 October 7, 2025 | 9781338736106

In his latest, prolific author Gratz takes on Hitler’s Olympic Games. When 13-yearold American gymnast Evie Harris arrives in Berlin to compete in the 1936 Olympic Games, she has one goal: stardom. If she can bring home a gold medal like her friend, the famous equestrian-turned-Hollywood-star Mary Brooks, she might be able to lift her family out of their Dust Bowl poverty. But someone slips a strange note under Evie’s door, and soon she’s dodging Heinz Fischer, the Hitler Youth member assigned to host her, and meeting strangers who want to make use of her gymnastic skills— to rob a bank. As the games progress, Evie begins to see the moral issues behind their sparkling facade—the antisemitism and racism inherent in Nazi ideology and the way Hitler is using the competition to support and promote these beliefs. And she also agrees to rob the bank. Gratz goes big on the Mission Impossible –style heist,

Snaps briskly on the gridiron but fumbles the handoffs between games.

ROCKET ARM

which takes center stage over the actual competitions, other than Jesse Owens’ famous long jump. A lengthy and detailed author’s note provides valuable historical context, including places where Gratz adapted the facts for storytelling purposes (although there’s no mention of the fact that before 1952, Olympic equestrian sports were limited to male military officers). With an emphasis on the plot, many of the characters feel defined primarily by how they’re suffering under the Nazis, such as the fictional diver Ursula Diop, who was involuntarily sterilized for being biracial. Fast-paced and plot-driven. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

The Witch Who Stormed the Palace

Graudin, Ryan | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (288 pp.) | $18.99 September 23, 2025 | 9780063229464

A 12-year-old enlists the collaborative power of love to fend off and contain a wicked enemy. In the island kingdom of Solum, four wizards maintained the Balance, or magical equilibrium, as well as the bonds keeping the evil sorceress known as the Shadow Queen captive for 2,000 years. In this sequel to The Girl Who Kept the Castle (2024), many in the kingdom would like to see Faye Gardner, the groundskeeper’s daughter, confirmed as successor to the recently deceased Wizard West. Faye’s cleverness and courage serve her well when, during the Trials required for her confirmation, the Shadow Queen imprisons Wizard South. It falls to Faye to confront and thwart the evil. Graudin’s lively narrative sticks firmly with likable, clever Faye, a sympathetic hero who’s devoted to her friends and kind to others. Every aspect of Solum is infused with magic. The flora and fauna shift shapes and have other enchanted properties. The king’s palace and the

wizards’ castles have personalities of their own. Pastries from a new bakery, Flour Power, include dragon-puffs that fly about. Faye’s creature companions are, delightfully, Cornelius the “compost dragon” and Puck, a powerful magical being in cat form. Faye herself sports a white tail and a set of cat ears in addition to her regular human ones. This magical largesse is delightful and engaging with just enough spice in the form of the monstrous Shadow Queen and her creepy, bloodthirsty tiara. Main characters read white.

Charming and page-turning fun. (map) (Fantasy. 9-13)

Rocket Arm Green, Tim | Harper/HarperCollins (272 pp.) $18.99 | September 23, 2025 | 9780062796899

A talented young quarterback takes advantage of an unexpected chance to play on a larger stage to pursue his dreams of football glory.

Eleven-year-old Zeno, who has Greek and Jewish ancestry, jumps on the offer of a full ride to an expensive athletic boarding school with nationally ranked teams. But hardly has he arrived before he’s thrown into a maelstrom of distractions ranging from comical (a roomie who farts toxic clouds) to romantic (a dazzling classmate persuades him to sneak out at night to dig for buried treasure) to outright fantastical (his coach makes serious physical injuries magically disappear through “voodoo,” or hypnotic suggestion). Is it all intended to play out as a light fantasy? Perhaps, but some unresolved elements suggest otherwise, such as the way Coach Lamb comes across as uncomfortably handsy with his new star player and Zeno’s father’s emotional bullying: He’s seldom “angry enough to cow [Zeno’s] mom, but when he did have her on the ropes, look out.” Though Green’s writing is sharp when capturing on-field heroics and strategy, it’s less smooth when the action moves elsewhere; readers are likely

to feel jerked about by the sudden changes in tone from one very short chapter to the next. Coach Lamb, who presents white, speaks with an exaggerated Cajun drawl (“An’ nobody got more on da line den me….You know it, an’ I know it, an’ da kidz know it, too”). Snaps briskly on the gridiron but fumbles the handoffs between games. (Fiction. 9-13)

Fooled

Haas, Susan with Lexi Haas Little, Brown (288 pp.) | $17.99 October 21, 2025 | 9780316581264

A sixth grader with cerebral palsy learns that magic takes many forms. Though she’d rather attend a magic school, Lil Evers, who uses a motorized wheelchair and alternates between talking and using a speech device, currently attends the Exceptional Children’s class at Willow Street Middle School. There, Lil and her friends, Scoot and Dora, are segregated from the rest of the student body by the assistant principal, who disguises her ableism as concern for their safety. Undaunted, the friends create their own magic school with their imaginations. When a lucky escape from bullies sparks rumors that the role-playing trio’s magic is real, Willow Street’s students inundate Lil and her friends with good luck charm requests—and the spells seemingly work! But not everyone’s happy. Someone’s following Lil and leaving threatening notes. And in conservative, economically depressed Eden Point, North Carolina, rumors of magic— “the devil’s work”—could lead to the already struggling middle school’s closure. The mother-daughter author duo, one of whom uses a wheelchair and speech device, highlight such topics as education laws while emphasizing the importance of community and hope. Though some secondary characters feel cliched, Lil’s portrayal is refreshingly

nuanced; her frustration with augmentative communication and ambivalence about transitioning to mainstreaming are sympathetic, and the bonds among her friend group are endearing. Lil and Dora read white, and Scoot is cued Black and neurodivergent. Eye-opening and heartwarming. (authors’ note, discussion questions, activities) (Fiction. 8-12)

Life (As We Know It)

Hanaor, Ziggy | Illus. by Cristóbal Schmal Cicada Books (64 pp.) | $21.99

October 1, 2025 | 9781800660564

A quick overview of our universe’s history from the Big Bang on, with some wriggle room left in for future discoveries.

“We know this much is true,” Hanaor begins before amending that statement: “We think this much is true”; “We think this much is a truth.” She then provides a tidy summary of stellar and planetary origins, the beginning of life (and, she wisely notes, death) on Earth, and the evolution of multicellular creatures from blobs to dinosaurs to a certain smart but destructive hominid. “This is a story,” she writes, and it won’t end with us; new life will continue to arise on this planet, and perhaps life as we know it (or don’t) on other planets, too. The theme of change over time likewise carries Schmal’s atmospheric illustrations through stellar blasts to galleries of early life forms that transform through the eons to hairy primates, followed by polluted cityscapes, then abstract representations of future life and deep starry vistas. The author simplifies a bit toward the end while listing examples of things that “don’t make sense” (black holes and quantum superpositions), but she effectively delivers her message that, for all the progress we’ve made, we still have more to learn about where we live and where we’re going.

A thought-provoking tale for young wonderers. (Informational picture book. 7-9)

Just Another Perfect Day

Harris, Jillian & Justin Pasutto with Kara Kootstra | Illus. by Morgan Goble

Tundra Books (40 pp.) | $18.99

October 21, 2025 | 9781774882528

A family hangs tough even on a day when everything that can go wrong does. The morning starts off with chaos. None of Mom’s alarm clocks go off on time, and the kids awaken feeling discombobulated (“Annie’s…still in her bed, / Her feet on the pillow instead of her head,” Leo “had a bad dream and awoke in a muddle, / But it’s too late to go get a comforting cuddle”). And Dad’s attempts to get a head start walking the dogs backfire when the rambunctious pooches take off. As everyone heads out, they encounter more disappointments, from Annie’s ruined painting in art class to Mom’s stressful day at the office. Everything culminates in a misdelivered pizza dinner, but as parents and kids prepare a homemade dinner together, they talk about their day and finally feel its frustrations melt away. Because, after all, “Each day isn’t perfect; no family is, ever. / But what makes it all work / Is being together.” Readers of all ages will relate to the travails of this harried but loving family; the authors infuse the tale with zippy rhymes and positive, meaningful messaging, emphasizing the importance of venting and keeping a sense of perspective. Goble’s tidy-looking images rely on a palette of soft blues, pinks, and greens. Mom is tan-skinned; the other family members are lighter-skinned. A feel-good tale of a frazzled family finding a way to unwind. (Picture book. 4-8)

Calm: A Choose Your Own Attitude Book

Hayes, Gail | Illus. by Helen Flook Flowerpot Press (36 pp.) | $16.99

October 14, 2025 | 9781486731572

Series: Choose Your Own Attitude

A Choose Your Own Adventure–style take on staying grounded amid turmoil. In her foreword, Hayes explains that when life hands us lemons, we have two choices, represented by an anthropomorphic bubble and slug, a friendly-faced Goofus and Gallant–esque pair who each offer guidance as a variety of kids encounter challenging situations. Evelyn, for instance, is jealous of new student Melissa. Flipping the page to Bubble’s advice—Evelyn should try deep-breathing exercises when she’s stressed—leads to a happy outcome: Evelyn planning a sleepover with Melissa. But listening to Slug’s panicked response— “Who is this new girl, and what is she doing in our life? She’s got to go!”—results in Evelyn feeling irritated, lashing out at her friends, and spending the weekend alone. Each of the subsequent stories proceeds similarly, with Slug advocating for self-sabotaging behaviors and Bubble suggesting calming techniques like listening to music and laughing with friends. The book presents positive and negative emotions as a sharp dichotomy; Hayes doesn’t acknowledge the importance of holding space for bad feelings such as embarrassment or disappointment. Still,

A conversation starter for kids attempting to manage difficult emotions.

overall, she offers a creative and thoughtful way to get kids unpacking their mental states. Flook’s sketchy cartoon illustrations helpfully home in on key details in the various stories. The cast is diverse. The book concludes with a quirky emotion chart and an invitation to readers to think critically about the different situations.

A solid conversation starter for kids attempting to manage difficult emotions. (Picture book. 5-8)

Lion Learns a Lesson

Horn, Alice | Tate Publishing (32 pp.) | $17.99 September 2, 2025 | 9781849768870

A braggadocious big cat, accustomed to easy victories, finds himself challenged when he enters a plant-growing contest. Lion has a reputation. “He’s always the best, at everything he does. And he loves to let people know it.” He and his bored-looking friends—all anthropomorphic animals—gather around a cozy dinner table as he regales them with stories of his triumphs. On a walk with Giraffe, Lion revels in previous successes before deciding to enter—and win—an upcoming plant competition. Lion plants seeds in a small pot, but nothing sprouts. Weeks pass, and Lion attempts to implement tips from his pals in creative, giggle-worthy ways; a suggestion to water his seed is followed by a scene of Lion diving into a lake with the pot, and after being advised to give it plant food, he prepares an elaborate picnic. Employing the proper techniques eventually produces a dainty green leaf, and though it’s nowhere near as eye-catching as the flora cultivated by the other competitors, Lion’s thrilled to see the fruits of his labor. Horn’s extravagant illustrations are rich with color and over-the-top details; Lion rocks an enormous mane, while Giraffe’s sinuous neck

snakes across the page. While the book has some entertaining moments, some readers may lose patience as text-heavy scenes compete with crowded compositions, and the narrative often drags. Lion learns that winning isn’t all about prizes, but youngsters may not find it worth the wait.

A sweet sentiment, but this one’s unlikely to grow on readers.

(Picture book. 4-8)

A Cowpoke’s Christmas

Ingalls, Ann | Illus. by Lauren Gallegos

Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) | $18.99

August 1, 2025 | 9781534113565

A family-oriented celebration of hard work, capped with a special meal. Early on Christmas Day, Sam and Grandpa walk to the barn through a snowy yard. Before they can celebrate, they’ve got chores to do: milking the cow, bathing their big fluffy dog, and feeding the mare, chicks, pigs, calves, sheep, and goats. And, of course, they must check on the mare one more time. When Mama asks for help gathering eggs, Sam, petting a kitten and watching the cat lap up milk, readily agrees. Mama, Grandma, and Sam have plenty to do inside: chopping and peeling potatoes, sweeping up, and setting the table. Once all five are gathered around their laden table, Daddy says grace. Later that night, everyone piles into a horse-drawn wagon for a brief ride that ends at the barn, where a nativity scene awaits: The mare has birthed a foal. Brief rhyming couplets carry readers smoothly through a very busy day. Cartoon-style art in subdued colors depicts a soft, evenly lit, and orderly farm. Despite the snow, clothing choices such as wide-brimmed hats suggest a Southwest setting. Notably, Sam’s family has a Christmas tree, but no gifts are seen or mentioned; warm family connection and Sam’s

willing participation are what truly matter on this day. This tale offers a positive, Santa-free take on the holiday that might be different from many readers’ expectations, potentially expanding horizons. Characters are tan-skinned and dark-haired. A refreshingly uncommercial Yuletide tale. (Picture book. 4-8)

Vera the Astronaut

Isern, Susanna | Illus. by Marta Moreno Trans. by Cecilia Ross |

NubeOcho

(40 pp.) | $16.99 | November 4, 2025 9788410406292

Vera won’t let anything stop her as she follows her dreams all the way to space. Located in a jungle, the Great Space Academy is a prestigious school for aspiring child astronauts. Vera’s thrilled to begin her studies there. Her new friend Ana notes that there aren’t many girls at the school, but Vera remains confident. She trains hard, aiming to earn one of only three coveted spots on an expedition to Mars. The tests are grueling, but Vera tackles each challenge with courage and determination. Commander Polaris is surprised as she meets her tasks with aplomb; her classmate Leo resents her success and sabotages the final test. After Vera is passed over for the mission, disaster strikes the Marsbound crew. Vera and Ana must rely on their training to save the day. Vera’s heroism leads to a successful astronaut career, inspiring more girls to follow in her footsteps. Themes of perseverance and female empowerment are front and center, though the story feels heavy-handed in its messaging, and adult readers in particular may balk at the implication that women and girls must go above and beyond their male peers in order to be recognized. Translated from Spanish, the text is straightforward, if at times stiff; Leo’s abrupt transition from disgruntled to

appreciative feels unconvincing. Vera is tan-skinned with curly black hair, Ana is pale-skinned and blondhaired, and Leo is tan-skinned and red-haired.

Spirited and sweet, though a bit preachy. (Picture book. 4-8)

Every Body Move!

Johnson, Jenna Elyse | Illus. by Ananya Rao-Middleton | Barefoot Books (32 pp.) | $16.99 | September 30, 2025

9798888596593 | Series: Barefoot Singalongs

A celebration of the ways we dance, explore, and thrive. Centering both movement and disability, this picture book feels like it’s in constant motion. Each turn of the page reveals a different type of mobility tool, from canes of all sorts (“chunky canes, skinny canes, / swingingback-and-forth canes, / TIPPIN’, TAPPIN’, TWIRLIN’ canes”) to walkers and wheelchairs. Bucking stereotypes, the book depicts disabled youngsters as active, busy, and exuberant. Johnson’s text is packed with related action verbs (cruisin’ , flyin’ , vroomin’ , whizzin’ ), with scenes to match. The refrain “What helps your mobility? / How do you GROOVE? Full of possibility! / Every body move!” is a resounding cheer. Though many children’s books offer tokenizing depictions of disability, Rao-Middleton has taken great care with her portrayals; the images of wheelchairs and canes in particular showcase several distinct versions that are also named in the text. The backgrounds are colorful and simply drawn; characters range in skin tone, though there’s little variability in their facial expressions. The final page provides a glossary of mobility aids with child-friendly explanations of each. This book serves as a much-needed window and mirror for children. A QR code links to an animated video accompanied by a song version of the

text, performed by jazz vocalist Audra Mariel.

Welcoming, joyful, and truly inclusive. (Picture book. 3-7)

I’m a Cloud

Kamphuis, Tjitske | Godwin Books (32 pp.)

$18.99 | October 21, 2025 | 9781250360953

An introduction to cloud formations and their functions.

An anthropomorphic cloud with a simple, cheery face introduces itself with this description: “On some days I look like a mountain.” On the next page, etched into the background, is the cloud’s classification: “cumulus congestus.” This narrative structure continues as the cloud’s formation changes. When it’s a cirrus, it’s “like a feather, thin and wispy”; when it’s a nimbostratus, it resembles “a big, heavy blanket.” These humdrum similes don’t propel the story forward much, and although the cloud’s friendly smile charms, the digital illustrations lack energy. Nevertheless, the jaunty narrator does guide readers through the seasons and a lovely moonlit night, offering solid facts about cloud formations along the way. A useful infographic follows, with images of gulls weaving between the clouds. The conversational tone helps the story come alive when the cloud directs comments and questions to readers (“Did you notice I made you feel cooler today?” “And tomorrow I’ll tell you some secrets about the weather!”). This last section ties together the way cloud shapes and colors can be used to predict the weather. “Will I be tall with a dark bottom? Grab a raincoat. Heavy showers may be coming!” Useful backmatter sheds light on what clouds are made of and how they release water as rain or snow.

Cliched in places but solidly presented all the same. (further information) (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Sets

a

new standard for works celebrating overlooked historical figures.

TIGER SLAYER

One Diwali Day: Festivals of the World

Kothari, Dev | Illus. by Aditi Anand Candlewick (32 pp.) | $18.99

September 23, 2025 | 9781536247473

Series: Festivals of the World

A young boy of South Asian descent is excited to observe Diwali. Ronak’s big sister, Dida, will be visiting for the holiday, and Ronak’s thrilled. But small worries interrupt his happiness: A breeze smudges the floral rangoli pattern he makes; he spills mango juice on his new kurta. And though the day is filled with happy moments, Ronak’s constantly reminded that Dida still hasn’t arrived. Chatting with far-off relatives via video, the boy wishes them a happy Diwali, but they sign off quickly. “Dida didn’t get to say hello to them,” laments the youngster. And when Ronak and his best friend enjoy a delicious spread of sweets, he notices that there are no jalebis, Dida’s favorite. Soon everyone gathers in the garden for fireworks. Despite the beauty of the display, Ronak is upset that Dida has missed it. When the family says a prayer in thankfulness, the lights go out, and Ronak feels free to release the tears he’s been holding back. Just then he hears a familiar voice telling him to open his eyes—Dida! Anand’s mixed-media illustrations, which blend eye-popping colors and textures with visible lines, create a homey, cheery backdrop. Kothari’s sensitively written text— anchored with a refrain of “Arré, arré! No, No! Now what will I do?”—highlights the big and little rituals of Diwali while speaking to Ronak’s joys and uncertainties.

A gentle reminder that the people we love are the main event in every celebration. (recipe for pedas, instructions for making a Diwali lantern) (Picture book. 4-8)

Lisa’s Journey

Lada, Effie | Clavis (40 pp.) | $21.95 November 25, 2025 | 9798890632135

Originally published in Belgium and the Netherlands, a fantasy about reconnecting with our humanity. Opening spreads depict light-skinned, blue-eyed Lisa in a city, her bright-yellow slicker contrasting with the gray setting, whereas others’ moods match their dreary surroundings. “Whether at work, at home, or while walking along the streets, the people only stare at screens— as if they’ve forgotten how to look at one another.” Lada’s style recalls the work of Peter Sís or Giselle Potter, with watercolor washes and a playful, flat aesthetic to the big-eyed characters, who sometimes resemble paper dolls. So Lisa, inexplicably small on the page at this particular moment, embarks on a fantastic journey to find “a way to help people see each other again. A way for them to see the beauty of the world again.” She climbs a rock tower, sleeps in a cave, crosses a labyrinth, and encounters “a ship full of refugees,” whose “dreams are scattered in the wind.” Perhaps lost in translation from the original Dutch, Lada’s text doesn’t quite connect the dots between Lisa’s earlier observation of city dwellers’ screen addiction and the “long ribbon of people leav[ing] their homeland,” but Lisa’s trek brings her to “the edge of the world,”

where she unleashes dreams represented by whimsical flora, fauna, and objects that float from a “deserted fantasy factory,” “igniting dreams. Connecting lives.” Despite the story’s perplexing moments, the visuals will entrance. Lovely, if rather opaque. (Picture book. 3-7)

Tiger Slayer: The Extraordinary Story of Nur Jahan, Empress of India

| August 5, 2025 | 9781324030331

An illustrated biography of the remarkable 17th-century Mughal empress. Historian Lal demonstrates exemplary historical methodology throughout as she traces the life of Nur Jahan, 20th wife of Emperor Jahangir and widely considered to have wielded unprecedented power for a woman at the time. Lal clearly identifies primary sources like the Akbarnama (an official chronicle of Emperor Akbar’s reign) and honestly acknowledges gaps in the historical record. Thoughtfully placed informational asides explain Mughal customs, pronunciations, and titles. Crabapple’s full-color illustrations transform the pages into windows onto Mughal India’s opulent world, depicting elaborate court ceremonies and bustling bazaars. The book comes alive through rich sensory details. Lal’s account of political intrigue rivals any modern thriller as she navigates the complex family rivalries, intricate schemes for power, and strategic marriages that characterized Mughal court life. She skillfully illuminates Nur’s extraordinary accomplishments—leading troops into battle, hunting tigers, commissioning architecture, issuing currency in her own name—while consistently describing her subject using words like wise, intentional, and brilliant. This unrelentingly positive portrayal, while

inspiring, represents the book’s only real weakness; given the extensive research underlying this work, a more balanced view that acknowledged Nur’s human complexities would have added depth. The substantial backmatter reveals that this accessible work is a product of Lal’s extensive research for her adult biography, lending additional credibility to an already well-documented narrative that successfully combines scholarly rigor with engaging storytelling. Sets a new standard for works celebrating overlooked historical figures. (sources, notes) (Biography. 10-14)

Supersquads!: Animal Heroes

Lang, Heather & Jamie Harper | Illus. by Jamie Harper | Candlewick (40 pp.) | $18.99 November 18, 2025 | 9781536217988

Series: Animal Heroes

Give a rousing cheer for animals that help one another out. In the same exuberant vein as their salutes to “super” animal moms and dads, Lang and Harper pay tribute to natural friends, families, and communities that work as “supersquads,” including meerkat and chickadee lookouts, fungi-cultivating ants on “Team Leaf-Cutter,” snow monkeys grooming each other, and even interspecies mutual-protection partnerships like those between keen-eyed ostriches and zebras gifted with acute senses of hearing and smell. Succinct explanations of how each collective task or relationship functions accompany Harper’s lively cartoon views of creatures in animated poses, some uttering jokes and wisecracks aimed over the heads

of younger audiences. “You should be dancing!” warbles a honeybee Travolta, striking a disco pose. “I’ll have what she’s having,” comments an envious snow monkey. But a diminutive cleaner shrimp finishing up a “Turbo Treatment” on a moray eel’s sharp teeth makes the overall theme explicit for all: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” The authors prompt young readers to identify and organize their own supersquads to join the animal “teams” marching past at the finale.

Droll glimpses of nature being cooperative in tooth and claw. (more information on the species mentioned, resources) (Informational picture book. 5-8)

The Abominable Snow Dancer

Lau, Steph | Penguin Workshop (48 pp.)

$19.99 | November 4, 2025 | 9780593754375

Despite his tough-guy exterior, an abominable snowman has a secret passion for dance. Otto deftly ascends mountains, endures fiercely frigid weather, and saves his friends from fearsome beasts. But what he really enjoys doing is dancing. He’s never seen a fellow yeti dance, so he indulges himself only in the privacy of home: “Dancing felt too big and shiny to ever happen to him.” Sometimes, the urge to twirl or pirouette slips out while Otto’s doing yeti things with his pals, but it always ends badly. One day he stumbles and falls down the mountain and right into the middle of a unicorn dance audition. Otto decides to try out, but

Glimpses of nature being cooperative in tooth and claw.

SUPERSQUADS

Lal, Ruby | Illus. by Molly Crabapple Norton Young Readers (192 pp.) $19.99

A gently joyful tale for vehicle-loving tots.

GUS HEARTS THE BUS

the graceful unicorns are put off by his pungent odor and wild dance moves, and the director pronounces his audition “abominable.” As Otto walks away in disgrace, the lighting designer falls from the catwalk. Otto leaps up to save him, showing off his elegant moves in the process. Everyone wants to see him perform again, even Otto’s rough-and-tumble yeti buddies, who were drawn by the commotion. Books about yetis and unicorns are increasingly popular, and Lau’s debut holds its own in a crowded field. Kids with secret hobbies of their own will see themselves in the determined Otto and will cheer as he succeeds. Lau’s digitally created illustrations are cartoony, snowy, and full of pep. A shaggy and silly story of self-discovery. (Picture book. 4-8)

Gus Hearts the Bus

Leslie, Lindsay | Illus. by Geeta Ladi Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) | $18.99 July 1, 2025 | 9781534113282

It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship when a young boy boards a bus for the first time. Sometime between the “phissssh!” of the brakes, the “creak, clunk” of the doors opening, and the “DING” of the cord that the passengers pull to signal a stop, Gus falls in love with the bus. He explores different seats until he finds the perfect one and watches the driver steer hand over hand as she makes a turn. Gus wants to ride the bus everywhere, and he wants others to ride often, too. He even becomes an expert on all the city bus routes and designs an imaginary route of his own. When his family decides to visit New York City and ride a bus there, Gus is totally on board. He checks the routes before they

leave and confidently leads the way after his parents get the family lost. Happily, even buses in New York brake with a “phissssh” and open their doors with a “creak, clunk.” Though low on conflict, Leslie’s simply told story captures the single-minded passion that many youngsters feel for vehicles. Ladi’s cozy, muted illustrations convey Gus’ energy during his first bus ride, his deep dive into the bus world, and the bustling crowds of New York City. Gus’ family is dark-haired and tan-skinned; his community is diverse. A gently joyful tale for vehicle-loving tots. (Picture book. 5-8)

The Just Love Story Bible

Lewis, Jacqui & Shannon Daley-Harris Illus. by Cheryl “Ras” Thuesday Beaming Books (295 pp.) | $24.99 September 9, 2025 | 9781506487182

A collection of 52 Bible stories that focuses on God’s love and portrays people with skin tones typical of the regions in which the stories took place.

This work, with illustrations that correct modern Western misrepresentations of Jesus as someone with “white skin, blue eyes, and blond hair,” is divided into two sections—“Old Testament Stories” and “New Testament Stories.” In the first half, readers will encounter the tales of Joseph, who forgave his jealous brothers for selling him into slavery; Moses, who led the Hebrews out of Egypt; and the daughters of Zelophehad, who fought to inherit their father’s land, among others. The second section, which focuses on Jesus’ message to “love God, neighbor, and self,” covers events including his baptism, crucifixion, and

resurrection, as well as the Pentecost and the Revelation of John. While the book does a great job of emphasizing that God’s love is for everyone, the manner of delivery, which is heavily explanatory, robs the narrative of much interest. The audience is also unclear: Younger children may grow restless with the long passages of text and struggle to read the small font independently, while older readers may find that the overall design and appearance feel aimed at younger kids. Although this volume represents a noble attempt to portray brown and Black people in the Bible, the illustrations are uninspired and simplistic. A sincere but unsuccessful effort. (authors’ notes, publisher’s note) (Nonfiction. 7-11)

Dreki: My Icelandic Dragon

Logue, Mary | Illus. by Katy Betz Christy Ottaviano Books (256 pp.) | $17.99 October 28, 2025 | 9780316345880

A Minneapolis boy must help his grandfather return a dragon to Iceland. When his parents win a vacation for two, 12-year-old Johan gets to visit small-town Wisconsin, where he’ll stay with his immigrant grandfather, a delightfully goodnatured troublemaker. Grandpa Siggy’s always telling him sagas, wild stories about mythological creatures from “the old country.” He has one important rule: Don’t go in the basement. But when Grandpa suffers a fall, he needs Johan’s help with his secret. Grandpa has hidden Dreki, a tiny dragon (whose name means dragon in Icelandic), in the basement ever since he hatched from an egg he’d brought to America. Dreki roams and hunts for food at night, but Grandpa knows it’s time to smuggle the dragon back to Iceland. Dreki’s and Grandpa’s lives and mortality

are intertwined, making it critical that the dragon is quickly returned to safety where he belongs. Practical elements (like the logistics of international travel) keep the fantastical whimsy grounded in the matter- offact narration. While Johan loves getting to connect with Grandpa in exploring Icelandic culture, too soon Grandpa’s health takes a bad turn, leaving Johan to complete the mission on his own. In this fastpaced book with no conventional antagonists or ill- intentioned characters, the narrative tension comes from the need for secrecy and the time-sensitive mission. The firm but gentle prose culminates in satisfying and wistful closure. Final art not seen.

A tender story of connection. (map, author’s note, glossary) (Fantasy. 8-12)

White Winter

Lukešová, Milena | Illus. by Jan Kudláček

Albatros Media (36 pp.) | $18.95

October 7, 2025 | 9788000076201

Series: Poetic Vintage Tales

All the way from the Czech Republic, a snow story for readers.

A mystical white horse that symbolizes snowfall transforms the dark winter landscape at the beginning of this lyrical, enigmatic picture book. The wind blows the snow into drifts and piles on objects and animals outside, so “in the morning, the yard is filled with snowmen,” answering the dreams of a young boy named James. After he comes outside, the animals tell him how the snow has affected them. “I’ve lost the roof you made for me.” “It blew away my nuts and seeds.” The “wise woodpecker” suggests that everyone “pitch in” and help. Abruptly, the scene shifts to focus on James’ peers romping in the snow; James decides he would rather join the girls in decorating the snowmen instead of playing with the boys, who are building forts. After James and a girl

named Elise enjoy a day of wintry fun, that night the white horse appears in Elise’s dream. “But only James knows why,” reads the final, mystifying line. Some elements of this tale are confusing, perhaps quite literally lost in translation, though Kudláček’s whimsical multimedia illustrations may pique readers’ interest, with playful details in the snowmen’s attire, the characters’ depictions, and the saturated landscapes. The children are pale-skinned.

A bit too much left to wonder about in this winter wonderland. (Picture book. 4-7)

Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits

Mbalia, Kwame | Freedom Fire/ Disney (368 pp.) | $17.99

October 7, 2025 | 9781368065108

Ja x Freeman, “summoner extraordinaire,” and his friends are back for seventh grade, and they’re competing, with varying levels of enthusiasm, in the titular competition.

The Tournament of Spirits, to be hosted for the first time in Jax’s new hometown of Chicago, is a yearlong competition that pits teams of young magic workers—summoners—from around the world against one another. Jax’s team’s coach doesn’t think they’re ready, and neither do Jax’s teammates, but the contest’s head judge sees something in Jax that makes her encourage him to enter his ethnically diverse team of five as representatives of Chicago. As the tournament progresses, the challenges the kids face are complicated by the illicit introduction

of endangered cryptids. Poachers are at work, and the head judge and a leader of the local summoning community ask Jax to keep an eye on his fellow competitors, even his teammates, to identify the malefactors. With the tournament, Mbalia expands the universe of summoners to a global one; the Italian, Martinique, and South African teams play significant secondary roles. The cryptids the kids encounter likewise spring from various traditions, but Jax’s African American culture provides the novel’s texture. With the tournament, friendship drama, and cryptid poaching, there’s a lot going on, and the author wrangles some details better than others. Nevertheless, Jax’s endearingly rambling, frequently comedic narration will keep kids engaged. Propulsive fun. (Fantasy. 9-13)

The Song of the Stone Tiger

McCarty, Glenn | Bandersnatch Books (296 pp.) $18.99 paper | September 24, 2025 9781958863299

The Spencer family leaves Philadelphia for a little summer rest and relaxation, not expecting to find magic and adventure. In this heartwarming adventure story, McCarty takes readers on a modern-day romp in the woods of Boone, North Carolina. Ten-year-old Thomas has come with his family, who present white, to stay near Canaan Woods with Aunt Cecilia, a painter, in the home she and his mom grew up in. It’s a chance for Mom, who’s in remission from cancer, to recuperate. Through his mother’s stories and his

Too much left to wonder about in this winter wonderland.

WHITE WINTER

visits to the woods, Thomas finds a world full of fairies, trolls, and, most importantly, a stone tiger. Thomas’ singing brings the tiger to life, and the two develop a bond. The relationship between Thomas and his mother, who suffers a setback in her health, centers on stories and the loss of imagination as we grow older. Mom’s tales of Greenwood, the name she and Aunt Cecilia gave the woods as children, are interspersed throughout. Although long-winded details bog down the text, the work features a lovely blend of reality mixed with the fantastical, keeping readers grounded while embracing whimsy. The writing style and treatment of the painful subject of parental mortality make this work suited for younger readers. McCarty supports childhood independence in his depiction of Thomas, who’s allowed the space to roam and experience his emotions. Despite some verbosity, will appeal to readers seeking a fantastical escape from harsh realities. (Fantasy. 8-10)

God’s Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible: The Story of God’s Big Diverse Family

McCaulley, Esau | Illus. by Rogério Coelho Tyndale Kids (272 pp.) | $24.99

September 9, 2025 | 9781496459886

Series: God’s Colorful Kingdom

An illustrated version of the Bible that uses accessible language to bring Scripture to life. This storybook Bible, which draws upon the New International Version, shares a verse per chapter by telling the stories and applying them to everyday life. In the opening note to parents, caregivers, and teachers, McCaulley explains that he’s selected 31 stories that focus on two themes: First, that God loves everyone, and “his desire is to form a very diverse family,” and second, that “in a world where many people are sick, poor, needy, and hurting,” the Bible offers guidance on “justice for the marginalized.” The first entry tells the story of creation before

going on to highlight familiar figures like Abraham, Joseph, and David, as well as more obscure ones, such as three women from Exodus named Jochebed, Puah, and Shiphrah. The second half of the book covers the New Testament, including stories about Jesus—his birth, significant life events, death, and resurrection. Readers will also find accounts of vulnerable people who were affected by the gospel of Jesus Christ. The vibrant illustrations are delightful and encompass a significant portion of the book. They portray both historical and contemporary scenes, showing people with a range of skin tones and hair textures. The beautiful messages that “God made a diverse world containing every imaginable shape and color” and “…you are a gift. You are a story” resonate in this relatable Bible.

Inviting Bible stories enhanced by vivid artwork; will hold strong appeal for children. (Religious nonfiction. 5-10)

How To Save an Otter

Messner, Kate | Illus. by Jennifer Bricking Bloomsbury (128 pp.) | $8.99 paper September 2, 2025 | 9781547616428 Series: Wildlife Rescue

Ivy knows just what to do when she finds an injured otter cub while on a Florida hike, but she’s less sure about mutual friends now that her twin cousins have moved away. Young readers will empathize with Ivy for her uncertainty about changes in her circle of friends, but Ivy also thinks about the welfare of the young river otter whom she and her family members—all trained volunteer “Critter Couriers”—rescue and transport to a local animal hospital. Messner folds loads of specific information about safe and proper ways to approach, handle, and care for an injured animal into her short, easy-to-read chapters. Nor does she gloss over the realistic possibility that, even with the best efforts and intentions, the creature’s survival isn’t

guaranteed. Things begin to look up for the gregarious otter, however, and for pale-skinned Ivy, who cements her relations with her racially diverse classmates by working with them on several projects for an upcoming Earth Day fair. The playful, impossibly cute otter is the POV character in the first and last chapters and features prominently in Bricking’s fetching if infrequent illustrations; the creature has a constant presence in the tale, even when she’s offstage. The story publishes simultaneously with How To Save an Owl, which features Ivy’s brother, Ezra. A sweet and informative animalrescue tale. (author’s note, suggested activities) (Chapter book. 7-10)

How To Save an Owl

Messner, Kate | Illus. by Jennifer Bricking Bloomsbury (128 pp.) | $8.99 paper

September 2, 2025 | 9781547616466

Series: Wildlife Rescue

Two baby owls left homeless by a storm get just the care they need from a solicitous family.

Joining the simultaneously publishing How To Save an Otter to kick off a chapter book series featuring a family of animal rescuers, this episode introduces 11-year-old Ezra, who briefly leaves off fretting about whether he can keep up with the middle schoolers on his new baseball team when he and his sister, Ivy, find two Eastern screech owl nestlings in the grass near a fallen tree. Being trained volunteer “Critter Couriers,” the sibs and their parents first carefully carry the owlets to a local wildlife hospital to be checked over, then later “re-nest” the pair in a specially designed box and keep watch in the hopes that the parent owls will return. Into a simple but effective storyline that sees Ezra grappling with his baseball worries, Messner seamlessly weaves guidelines for safe, proper handling of wild creatures that are injured or in need of rescue. She also expands on

them with more detailed advice for would-be “wildlife heroes” at the end. Along with particularly enticing owl portraits at the chapter heads and elsewhere, Bricking depicts the light-skinned Ezra joining diverse classmates and welcoming teammates to study owl pellets (compressed, regurgitated bits of undigested food) in school and to construct more nesting boxes. An engaging tale, loaded with both information and child appeal. (author’s note, resources) (Chapter book. 7-10)

Fanny’s Big Idea: How Jewish Book Week Was Born

Michelson, Richard | Illus. by Alyssa Russell Rocky Pond Books/Penguin (40 pp.) | $18.99 November 4, 2025 | 9798217003259

The true story of how librarian Fanny Goldstein’s unwavering commitment to diverse books led to the 1925 creation of Jewish Book Week.

“The more you know about someone’s life, the harder it is not to like them.”

These words from Fanny’s bubbe are perhaps the key theme of this uplifting book. Antisemitic persecution forced young Fanny’s family to flee Russia for a diverse immigrant neighborhood in Boston. Teachers and neighbors tried to push Fanny to assimilate, yet she stayed true to herself, sharing her culture with others and learning about theirs. Despite receiving only a grammar school education, she loved to learn and found refuge at the library. Fanny eventually became a librarian, the first Jewish branch director in Boston. There, she noticed that children rarely checked out books about their own cultures, as families prioritized fitting in as Americans. In response, she planned a weeklong celebration, setting up a display of Jewish books and sharing foods such as latkes and kugel. She spread the word in Boston and to libraries around the country, marking the first ever Jewish Book Week. Russell’s emotive art and

A timeless tribute to the enduring power of literature to build bridges.

FANNY’S BIG IDEA

Michelson’s earnestly expressed text reflect Fanny’s quiet, optimistic perseverance and deep appreciation for the people around her; Michelson’s insights on the importance of books as windows and mirrors feel especially relevant in light of the threats currently facing stories by and about marginalized people.

A timeless and timely tribute to the enduring power of literature and libraries to build bridges. (more information on Fanny Goldstein and Jewish Book Week, bibliography) (Informational picture book. 4-8)

The Tomorrow Tree: How Nature Creates New Life From Old

Michno, Maciej & Danio Miserocchi Illus. by Valentina Gottardi | Phaidon (40 pp.) | $19.95 | September 24, 2025 9781837290574

When one tree falls, the entire forest wakes up. A clearing opens in the forest around a mighty fallen tree. As it begins to decompose, the tree attracts life from far and wide. First, insects such as alpine longhorn beetles and carpenter ants arrive, feeding on and tunneling through the dead wood. Fungi slowly transform parts of the tree into humus, a valuable food source for nearby plants. Birds and small mammals burrow in the tree’s hollows and use the fallen trunk for safe passage across a stream. With the help of these many forest organisms, the decaying tree becomes essential to the forest’s biodiversity and a great example of symbiosis. This Italian import is packed to the roots with in-depth info

about the flora and fauna that interact with a forest’s fallen trees, as well as a segment about the human impact on forest health and tips on how to promote biodiversity in readers’ own backyards. Manageable blocks of text are peppered with scientific words that are bolded and defined, making the information accessible to the upper elementary set for both interest and research, despite its lack of bibliographic sources. Gottardi’s intricate illustrations depict the wonder of the forest in fine lines and eye-catching colors, from majestic foxes dusted with snow to tiny, delicately frilled lichens. A fallen tree becomes a world of wonders in this marvelous celebration of life on the forest floor. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 7-9)

If the Shoe Fits

Mlynowski, Sarah | Adapt. by Meredith Rusu Illus. by Bethany Crandall | Colors by Nahia Mouhica | Graphix/Scholastic (160 pp.) | $12.99 paper | November 4, 2025 | 9781339000848 Series: Whatever After: Graphic Novel, 2 A potential princess gets down to business in this comics adaptation of Mlynowski’s “Cinderella” retelling. Yearning to return to the fairy-tale world after their adventure with Snow White, siblings Abby and Jonah obsessively check on their enchanted basement mirror. When the mirror allows, they find themselves not in Snow’s forest but in the coat closet of a palace. They’re in the kingdom of Floom, at the royal ball where Cinderella meets her prince. Although Abby cautions Jonah that they must

Back to School

Niña Mata

Jonathan Stutzman;

by Jay Fleck

avoid doing anything to alter the story, the interloping siblings follow Cinderella home, hoping to locate a mirror portal to get to their own home, but they accidentally cause Cinderella to break her foot and her remaining glass slipper. These mishaps require a call to Cinderella’s fairy godmother, who lectures her on the importance of self-reliance. Cinderella decides to get a job, and Abby and Jonah help her cook up a brisk “crownie” business (Cinderella’s take on the brownie). The narrative smartly incorporates business basics such as product testing, profit margins, and marketing. And though the original tale may have been altered— despite Abby’s warnings—the results are downright enchanting; fairy-tale fans will be pleased. Crandall’s cheerful cartooning enlivens bustling city market scenes and dramatic family confrontations in Cinderella’s shabby quarters. Abby and Jonah are tanskinned, Cinderella and her family are pale-skinned, and the kingdom of Floom is diverse.

A playful reimagining that celebrates self-sufficiency and sweet treats. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

A City Dream

Moore, B. Sharise | Illus. by Trudi-Ann Hemans | Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $19.99 | October 21, 2025 | 9780063265066

Dreams for urban improvements make a hopeful appeal for civic action.

“Sometimes my neighborhood feels forgotten.” While walking to school, a Black child with bubble braids passes trash piles and concrete-choked trees, but, with a warm teacher’s prompt, “We write about rights and wrongs and all the things we’d change.” Accordingly, the youngster brainstorms ways to enhance the quality of life and aesthetics in the community. “I’ll paint rows of sunflowers, rainbows, and smiles” along brick walls and walk to city hall to “ask for more murals.” Envisioning soaring playgrounds and “gardens on every block,” this creative

exercise offers more tangible problemsolving and self-actualization than many of its affirmation-focused peers. City improvements such as water cleanliness and reclaimed housing go beyond beautification to meet basic human needs, emphasizing empathy and collaboration. Full-page spreads feature wide urban expanses in vibrant colors, and Hemans’ upbeat digital portraiture highlights a dynamic and diverse community. There’s a buoyancy to the main character’s energy that will make readers want to be a part of the action; the book will pair well with changemaking stories including Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell’s Maybe Something Beautiful (2016), Tony Hillery and Jessie Hartland’s Harlem Grown (2020), and Amanda Gorman’s picture books. An author’s note identifies Baltimore City as the story’s inspiration. An optimistic and actionable call to community engagement. (Picture book. 4-8)

Night of the Deer

Morel, Mary | Illus. by Mira

Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) | $18.99 August 1, 2025 | 9781534112865

A child’s connection to the natural world results in an enchanted night. On the drive to school, Arabella’s parents, after spotting a stag and a doe in a cornfield, repeat the stories they were once told by their grandparents. Mama and Papa note that deer can be “tricksters,” taking human shape to mingle with people. Later, Arabella impulsively invites the wild couple to the harvest dance, which the students are excitedly getting ready for. The deer just stare, but at the dance, a “lovely pair” of graceful strangers appear. Parents and children admire and wonder as the couple waltz. As they leave, they offer Arabella (and readers) a clue to their amazing secret. Preparing us for the spell ahead, Morel’s prose animates the setting: Autumn “trotted into the valley on frosty hooves”; “apples

blushed red.” Her language is both poetic and deeply rooted in the real world of farm and forest: The deer’s coats are “the color of ash and earth; their ears, the shade of cow’s cream.” The farmyard setting is traditional, but refreshingly, Papa makes dinner while Arabella and Mama do the barn chores. Slightly stylized illustrations emphasize the tale’s timelessness: Some characters sport more modern clothes, while others look fairly old-fashioned. Miroslavova employs soft-edged lines drawn in muted, earthy colors; everything is autumnal. This unusual fall-themed book will attract both rural and urban romantics. Most characters are pale-skinned. Imagination and the magic of community togetherness join hands. (Picture book. 6-9)

Ten Little Leprechauns

Murphy, Molly | Illus. by Howard McWilliam Bloomsbury (32 pp.) | $14.99

December 2, 2025 | 9781547616961

Beginning with 10 and counting down to one, a group of leprechauns have scampish fun.

St. Patrick’s Day is looming, and the leprechauns are ready for some mischief, whether that means splattering food in an unsuspecting family’s kitchen or hiding pots of gold in secret locations. Bouncing along at a jaunty rhyming clip, Murphy’s text follows these rascals through all kinds of scenarios, beginning in a wooded scene, complete with a rainbow and tufts of clover, where the titular characters are hiding. “Legend says leprechauns love to frolic and play. / How many can you count on this lucky day?” Readers will be eager to point tiny fingers at the green-clad pals (some of whom are actually tricky to spot). Then, on each subsequent spread, one goes missing. “Two little leprechauns picking wild shamrocks. / One fell in and soaked his socks!” In the end, when one is left alone, they all come back to celebrate together. The leprechauns are a diverse bunch, varying in skin tone; several present as

Miroslavova

female. McWilliam infuses these tiny creatures with energy, making them leap, tumble, and splash, all while winking and nodding at readers to draw them in. A sprightly holiday concept book that doubles as a seek-and-find activity. (Picture book. 2-5)

Ballet Besties: Yara’s Chance To Dance

Naghdi, Yasmine with Chitra Soundar Illus. by Paula Franco | Candlewick (224 pp.) | $16.99 | September 9, 2025 9781536243796 | Series: Ballet Besties, 2

Moving is tough, but if it means that ballet-loving Yara gets to take lessons at a real dance studio, she’s ready for the challenge. On Yara’s first day of ballet class with Miss Diamond at the Shimmer and Shine dance school, her nerves are calmed by welcoming new friends—especially a girl named Indu who’s also in her class at school. Yara’s parents insist that she prioritize schoolwork over ballet, but how can she focus when all she can think about is dance? Balancing school and ballet gets even trickier when Shimmer and Shine’s wealthy, uptight owner threatens to close the studio. Miss Diamond’s class resolves to stage a performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty in an attempt to save the studio, and Yara lands the leading role. But when Yara’s schoolwork falls by the wayside, will she get back on track? Gentle grayscale illustrations cheerfully match the easy tone of the story. While Yara’s conflicts are wrapped up with surprising ease, ballet enthusiasts and fans of friendship stories will enjoy its warmth and charm. Biracial Yara has light brown skin (her pale-skinned mother is Belgian, and her father has brown skin), while the rest of the ballet besties are diverse, and Indu is cued South Asian.

A sweet friendship story tied neatly in a ballet bun. (glossary of ballet terms, ballet basics, story of The Sleeping Beauty, recipe) (Fiction. 6-9)

Why Are Dogs: An Illustrated History of the Wonderful World of Dogs

Olsen, Brittany Long | Andrews McMeel Publishing (128 pp.) | $19.99 October 28, 2025 | 9781524885960

Profiles of over 50 breeds, ancient and modern, give young dog lovers plenty to wag their tails about. Olsen starts by going back about 15,000 years to speculate about the first tentative connections between people and wolves and the beginnings of breed diversity. She then examines groups adapted for various specialized purposes such as hunting and herding. A single page at the end about “adoptable” mixed-breed pets seems more an afterthought. The similar-looking breeds are sometimes hard to tell apart in her illustrations, though she does make liberal use of labels and often describes minor differences in shape, color, or coat in the accompanying annotations. Still, all the pooches she portrays in her cartoon-style illustrations glow with doggy appeal, whether posed hard at work hunting or herding, strutting their stuff as show dogs, or lolling comfortably in period or modern family settings. Framed with an eye to prospective owners, her pithy commentary often includes remarks about common dispositions and care requirements, which she puts in a generally positive light while being frank enough to admit that dogs originally bred as herders may need plenty of exercise, and those with guard duties in their ancestry tend to bark a lot. A racially diverse human

cast in period or present-day dress looks on fondly in the pictures. A fetching gallery, wide-ranging but not indigestibly so. (Nonfiction. 8-10)

Alkrem

Palazzesi, Marta | Trans. by Christopher Turner | Red Comet Press (372 pp.)

$18.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9781636551500

In this work translated from Italian, a boy discovers his true identity and learns there’s more to history than what they teach in school. Raised as the adopted son of a high-ranking Archemist, Theo expected his 13th birthday to unite him with his Apto, a talking animal adviser. Instead, a Mutolo, or warrior companion, appears, and Theo learns he’s an Alkrem, hidden as a baby in a magical tree for 80 years. In a society strictly divided by ability, the Archemists rule Paris, and the Alkrem are forced to live in hiding. Theo flees, but his adoptive father is injured and captured. Now a fugitive, Theo is determined to find the Alkrexa, a dangerously powerful magical weapon and healing object. Can Theo find it in time to save his father—or will the vicious Negatos and a mysterious villain named the Shadow ravage everyone, Archemist and Alkrem alike? This stand- alone sword-and-sorcery fantasy is a pageturner propelled by captivating characters and frequent battles. Like many reluctant chosen ones, Theo is a virtuous protagonist. He breaks the rules, but only to protect those he

Dreams for urban improvements make a hopeful appeal for civic action.

loves. Theo’s experience navigating two starkly different cultures adds an intriguing layer to the lush worldbuilding. Especially fascinating is the way elixirs and weapons are used combatively. Most characters are cued white, and there’s diversity in skin tone among the supporting cast. An intriguing, fast-paced fantasy with appeal for fans of Percy Jackson. (map, key terms and places, key characters, note about the location) (Fantasy. 9-14)

My Gender, My Rules

Passchier, Andy | Little Bee Books (32 pp.)

$14.99 | November 4, 2025 | 9781499818123

Passchier offers an exploration of gender for the youngest of readers.

Each spread in this colorful picture book explores a different aspect of gender before ending with the titular refrain, sending the message that kids should feel unconstrained by gender norms. On a page discussing common terms, a group of kids and adults paint a mural with words such as nonbinary and trans while sharing their own thoughts: “I feel like a boy.” “I call myself genderqueer.” “None of these words feel right just yet.” The ensemble discuss pronouns at a Drag Queen Story Hour, learn about gender expression while visiting a salon (“I love my hair short”; “My bright lipstick highlights smile”), and emphasize that there’s no set timeline for figuring out one’s gender: “I changed [my pronouns] a few years ago,” says one elder to another. Laudably, Passchier notes that all feelings and emotional expressions, even those stereotypically associated with a particular gender, are natural—something not often seen in similar books on this topic. “I feel sad today,” says a weepy male-presenting child. “I’m mad!” says a female-presenting, ponytailed youngster. Passchier’s

chipper cartoon art depicts a cast diverse in skin tone, hair texture, ability, body type, age, religion, and gender expression. A thoughtful and accessible introduction. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 3-8)

The Forbidden Room

Pau Preto, Nicki | Viking (336 pp.) | $18.99

September 30, 2025 | 9780593528549

Series: The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents, 2

Vin and her friends use their magic to try to save their school from another threat. Last semester, Vin Lucas helped protect her school from the Free Mages—a mage rights organization that took “a dark, more criminal turn.” Things have settled down just in time for winter break, and she’s starting to feel at home at Last Hope, where she’s made close friends and, after months of individual lessons with Headmistress Hope, is developing control over her Chameleon ability. But the quiet doesn’t last long. The school board has sent three inspectors to determine whether Last Hope is following standards and keeping students safe. Everyone’s on edge, since they’re now under the same scrutiny and expected to follow the strict rules that led to their being sent to Last Hope in the first place. After the school’s first infraction, Vin, her friends, and a new student with mind-reading powers suspect that the inspectors could be working with the Free Mages to shut down the school. Vin (who was cued white in the previous book) must learn to accept and use her powers to figure out what’s really going on and save Last Hope from those who’d like to see it close. Readers will enjoy revisiting this world for more shenanigans, schemes, laughs,

magic, and mystery. The true heart of the story—and the school—lies in the affirming values of trust, forgiveness, belonging, community, and second chances.

An entertaining blend of thrilling magic and hijinks. (magecraft categories) (Fantasy. 8-12)

The Old Sleigh

Pumphrey, Jarrett & Jerome Pumphrey Norton Young Readers (48 pp.) | $18.99

November 4, 2025 | 9781324054122

The Pumphrey brothers bring their nowsignature style to this tale of an old sleigh that, like the vehicles in The Old Truck (2020) and The Old Boat (2021) before it, works hard in a changing world. As the story opens, readers see a Black-presenting child and parent chopping firewood and loading it into a horse-drawn sleigh against a snowy landscape. “In a small town,” we learn, “an old sleigh gave all it took.” Parent and child deliver the firewood throughout the town, making it “merry and bright.” But the small town grows bigger, and the old sleigh’s wooden body begins to break down. The industrious child turns some of its planks into a new sled and uses it to deliver smaller loads of firewood. In the final pages, readers see that the child’s parent has repaired the old sleigh, which the child, older now, uses to deliver firewood in the “small city” that has sprung up. Some readers may be left with questions: Is the figure driving the sleigh at book’s close the child, now all grown up? And can a city really spring up that fast? On the whole, though, the narrative beguiles as sleigh and sled haul their loads from verso to recto across each scene. The community’s buildings stand out against the snow in reds, greens, and mustards, and the simple and rhythmic text charms. A thought-provoking tale of growth and change. (Picture book. 4-8)

The Gift of Words (a Holiday Picture Book)

Reynolds, Peter H. | Orchard/ Scholastic (40 pp.) | $18.99

October 7, 2025 | 9781339000343

Reynolds’ Word Collector returns, just in time for the holidays!

Jerome, a young, brown-skinned logophile with close-cropped purple hair, heads out with his rescue dog, Ekko, to find “holiday words. Words of hope. Words of joy. Words to give those he [loves]—family and friends.” He quickly becomes discouraged. Signs on storefronts and billboards trumpet consumerism. Newsstand headlines are “cold” and “loud and sharp.” Words from passersby sound “unhappy, frustrated, and impatient.” But then, Jerome has an idea. “What if he could find a way to give the world the words it need[s]?” He goes home and combs through his collection of words he loves, printed on sunny yellow slips of paper, which readers of Reynolds’ prior title about Jerome, The Word Collector (2018), will recognize. The papers end up festooned on the bare branches of a tree, which is decidedly not a traditional evergreen Christmas tree. Soon, a diverse group of community members gather and add words of their own. Hanging alongside strings of beads, the positive words and messages offer a vision of generosity, love, hope, and peace befitting the ideals of the holiday season, while Reynolds’ spare illustrations brim with cheer and goodwill.

Collect this one for the holiday bookshelf. (Picture book. 3-8)

When the Dark Clouds Come

Ridolfi, Danielle | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (32 pp.) | $19.99

October 28, 2025 | 9780063413344

A child endures a stormy night. Illustrator and picture-book scholar Ridolfi’s debut opens outdoors “on a hot summer day when

the sun goes dim” as a long-haired, tan-skinned child watches as clouds roll in, grasses sway, and leaves rustle. When raindrops fall, the little one, protected under an oversize purple plaid umbrella and wearing polka-dot boots, walks alongside other umbrella holders as “sidewalks disappear into dark wet shadows.” Before lightning flashes and thunder rolls, the adventurer returns home safely and snuggles into bed. The next morning’s “warm new day” reminds readers that “when the dark clouds come, the sun is never far behind.” Ridolfi has digitally composed striking illustrations in mixed-media collages of diverse patterns and various textures. Darkness haunts most of the pages—balanced with brighter patches of flowers, hanging laundry, and a quilted comforter—until the final two spreads are awash in sunlight. With a background as a clinical psychologist, Ridolfi highlights the child’s independent self-reliance, but that solitariness feels more lonely than empowering, abandoning the youngster to a scurrying mouse, a curious cat, and whispering shadows. The choice not to include ready comforts—a glowing night light, a gentle hand—as well as layouts that depict the child and the home as tiny and vulnerable, will leave many young readers feeling more unsettled than soothed.

A visually striking but ultimately discomfiting tale. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Star

Oh Dear, Look What I Got!

Rosen, Michael | Illus. by Helen Oxenbury Candlewick (40 pp.) | $17.99 September 2, 2025 | 9781536235685

To the guaranteed delight of many, the creators of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (1989) reunite a full 36 years later for an all-new read-aloud experience.

A light-skinned, behatted child goes to a shop to purchase a variety of different things and each time comes

home instead with an animal. “I went to the shop to get me a carrot / Oh dear, they gave me… // a parrot!” After each ill-acquired critter, the youngster definitively states, “Oh dear, look what I got. / Do I want that? / No, I do NOT.” Worse (or better?), every accidentally procured creature accompanies the child back to the shop for maximum hilarity. Things come to a head when each animal generally bothers the next, culminating in a very put-out “Oh dear! What shall I do?” Happily, by story’s end, the shopkeepers come to switch out the incorrect purchases for the ones the child truly wanted. Coming to a satisfying conclusion, Rosen’s jaunty rhyming tale contains a perfectly calibrated sense of repetition. Meanwhile, Oxenbury clearly delights in depicting an affectionate array of chaotic wildlife and joyous, racially diverse shopkeepers; each gently illustrated watercolor image feels masterfully crafted.

A guaranteed hit for the storytime set, from a team whose talents haven’t aged a day. (Picture book. 2-5)

The Night of the Hedgehog

Rosie, Tanya | Illus. by Chuck Groenink Candlewick (40 pp.) | $18.99

November 11, 2025 | 9781536245066

Nighttime is the best time to observe a bevy of traveling critters. Rosie’s gentle rhyming text follows a father and child as they slip barefoot into their moonlit yard to await their regular visitors—a hedgehog family. The narrative evokes the hushed anticipation of nighttime wildlife observation, from the initial whispered wake-up call to the magical moment when not just one but four hedgehogs appear at their water dish. Rosie’s verse flows naturally with a soothing rhythm perfect for bedtime reading, employing simple rhymes that never feel forced (“THE HEDGEHOG, it came on a warm, dry night. / My papa, he saw it, with the old flashlight”). Groenink’s

mixed-media illustrations bathe every scene in rich blue twilight tones, punctuated by warm golden pools of light from windows, doorways, and Papa’s flashlight, creating an atmosphere of safe, nocturnal wonder. The detailed artwork captures both the cozy domesticity of the father-child relationship and the wild charm of the hedgehogs, rendered with careful attention to their spiky texture and endearing expressions. The illustrations cleverly incorporate informational elements, showing the “hedgehog highway” tunnel that the family has created and ending with a bird’s-eye view that traces the animals’ journey through neighbors’ yards. While the premise may be modest, the execution elevates this simple wildlife encounter into something genuinely magical, celebrating both the natural world and the special bond between parent and child. A sweet reminder that wonder awaits in our own backyards. (Picture book. 3-7)

Ro-Bo

Ruiz Johnson, Mariana | Trans. by Lawrence Schimel | Orca (40 pp.) | $21.95 October 14, 2025 | 9781459842267

A new friend brings new experiences. One morning, a young boy named Milo wakes up to a surprise: RO-BO, a gray metallic robotic sphere with pincers for arms and helicopter blades atop its head. He instantly takes to his new pal, and they engage in activities both nice (playing video games) and naughty (saying “the bad words”). Concerned that Milo is spending too much time inside, Mama

sends them outside, where they encounter a group of kids struggling to build “a GIANT spaceship with room for everyone.” Working together, RO-BO and company eventually take to the air and land in “a strange and faraway place” filled with fantastical creatures and flora. When RO-BO suddenly shuts down, Milo and his friends come together to bring the bot back to life using kinetic energy, safely bringing everyone back and leaving Milo with an epic story to tell. Argentinian author/illustrator Ruiz Johnson has crafted a relatable ode to the importance of maintaining human connections in a world full of technological distractions. Detailed panels, rendered in acrylic, pastel, and pencil and edited digitally, combine with Schimel’s spot-on translation from Spanish to create a unique world that will inspire readers to go outside and touch grass. Ruiz Johnson employs her signature style; her landscape of brightly saturated colors is entirely inviting. Milo is brown-skinned; his friends are diverse. An appealing look at the power of play. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Star

Gabba Gabba We Accept You: The Wondrous Tale of Joey Ramone

Ruttenberg, Jay | Illus. by Lucinda Schreiber Drag City (51 pp.) | $32.99 | September 26, 2025 9781937112424

A surprisingly supportive take on the punk movement and one of its unforgettable founders.

Ruttenberg takes a poetic sensibility in this dual narrative of both the life of

Deft wordplay and lovely art blend for a tale of a most magical snowy day.

FLURRY,

FLOAT, AND FLY

Joey Ramone (née Jeffrey Ross Hyman) and the birth of punk music itself. Born sick, he grew up to be ungainly, with thick glasses; his Jewish heritage also marked him as an outsider. “Soon enough bullies— UGH! ICK! YUCK! ACHHH!— spotted this thin, clumsy, incredibly tall kid and, with [the] devil’s instinct, smelled difference.” Ramone discovered rock ’n’ roll, yet by the time he was grown, “rock music sounded like it was being made by the parents.” He co-founded the Ramones in 1974, and here the book makes an elegant detour, exploring punk, its origins, and its greater significance. With eloquent wordplay, Ruttenberg gives readers an intimate sense of Joey Ramone’s life and times without ever tipping into fictionalized details or faux dialogue. Even the lack of backmatter (nary a timeline or bibliography in sight) cannot overshadow the frenzied fun on the page. The bold colors and sheer delight of Schreiber’s art make Ramone an appealingly larger-than-life figure, each page vibrating with music and movement. Above all, Ruttenberg underscores the inclusive nature of Ramone’s music; the titular lyrics (from the song “Pinhead”) serve as a rallying cry for outsiders everywhere. Space is left at the end for kids to write their own songs (librarians beware!). A magnificently exuberant dive into music history. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Flurry, Float, and Fly!:

The Story of a Snowstorm

Salas, Laura Purdie | Illus. by Chiara Fedele | Bloomsbury (40 pp.) | $18.99 November 11, 2025 | 9781547603503

Compelling verse brings complicated science to elegant life. Much as she did in her thunderstormcentric Zap! Clap! BOOM! (2023), Salas hones her informational rhymes once more. This time her eyes are on snowstorms, which,

as she notes, are so much more than “rain that freezes.” While down below two kids and their dog wait for a snowy day, “high above the winter land, / the jet stream flows—a narrow band. / Whose roaring, gusting winds divide / and pull in air from either side.” Water vapor adheres to dust, and snowflakes slowly form. With exquisite clarity, Salas’ gentle verse speaks to the poetic beauty of a first snow while gently leading readers through the very real science (“Ten miles up the jet stream flows”). A final, triumphant view of the children and their parent, joined by a group of others, as they all sled and build a snowman conveys the sheer fun of snow. Similarly, Fedele’s artwork, rendered in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil and edited digitally, excels both in its depiction of a joyful wintry romp and in its accurate renderings of the different types of flakes. Backmatter provides more context to the science of snow, making this an ideal companion to titles such as Jacqueline Briggs Martin and Mary Azarian’s Snowflake Bentley (1998). Most characters are pale-skinned. Deft wordplay and lovely art blend for a tale of a most magical snowy day. (bibliography, additional resources) (Informational picture book. 4-9)

Yoli’s Favorite Things

Santana, Patricia | Margaret Ferguson/ Holiday House (272 pp.) | $18.99 September 30, 2025 | 9780823459483

Twelve-year-old Yolanda “Yoli” Sahagún often compares life with her eight siblings to scenes from The Sound of Music Her connection to the movie deepens when her cousin, who was a nun in Mexico (where Yoli’s parents are from), comes to stay with them in San Diego. Yoli and her best friend, Lydia, dream of becoming nuns themselves, a plan they’ve shared since they were 8. Set in the late 1960s against the backdrop of the Vietnam

War, the story follows Yoli as she faces the growing fear that Chuy, her favorite brother, will be drafted. With the love and support of her tightknit family, Yoli navigates parties, a crush on an altar boy, and the start of junior high. But when Chuy is drafted, she’s devastated. The pain is compounded by insensitive classmates’ racist remarks toward the Vietnamese and her own feelings of helplessness. She makes a private bargain with God: If Chuy stays safe, she’ll go to Vietnam and dedicate her life as a nun to helping people. Yoli’s diary entries and vivid daydreams help her process the upheaval around her. She’s a deeply faithful and introspective character, someone whose strong voice and inner world reveal how her belief in God offers both solace and struggle. References to pop culture and current events ground this heartfelt coming-of-age story in its historical moment.

A resonant story that beautifully captures the complexities of faith, family, and growing up during turbulent times. (Historical fiction. 10-14)

People Are Weird

Santos, Victor D.O. | Illus. by Catarina Sobral | Milky Way Picture Books (32 pp.) $19.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9781990252488

With exasperation and, ultimately, appreciation, a child considers various puzzling people in Brazilian American author Santos’ tale, translated from Portuguese.

“Have you ever noticed the world is full of weird people?” asks the paleskinned, redheaded narrator while gazing out the living room window at passersby. For starters: “At school, there is a boy who tells everyone he is a real magician. But if he was, why would he need to go to school? Weird.” Here’s another one: “My neighbor’s dad thinks that people will start talking about him if his garden and lawn don’t look perfect. But if they look perfect, aren’t people going to talk about him exactly because

of that? Weird.” The narrator furnishes several more examples; young readers will be amused by these observations (which play like jokes) and delighted to be able to see beyond the protagonist’s literal-mindedness. Taken together, the story’s yuks make a point that crystalizes when the narrator’s book-length bewilderment (“Weird”) finally leads to a mind-opening epiphany: “Could it be normal to be weird? If so, would it be weird to be normal?” Sobral’s mixedmedia illustrations, which largely depict urban scenes populated with a multigenerational, diverse cast, are dominated by the less-often-used colors in the crayon box (you know: the weird ones). The images have an artfully topsy-turvy quality, reflecting the endearingly discombobulated narrator’s attempts to make sense of the world.

A different kind of dare-to-be-different book. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Star

Bibsy Cross and the Creepy-Crawlies

Scanlon, Liz Garton | Illus. by Dung Ho Knopf (128 pp.) | $13.88 | January 7, 2025 9780593644492 | Series: Bibsy Cross, 3

Bibsy Cross tackles a science-related school assignment with her customary zeal. Eight-year-old Bibsy and her third grade class are studying habitats. As usual, terse Mrs. Stumper “only ever explains the eensiest, teensiest bit of anything,” so Bibsy frequently interjects with comments and questions, much to her teacher’s barely disguised irritation. Still, not even stern Mrs. Stumper can quash Bibsy’s enthusiasm for the “plain ol’ wonder of science,” and she throws herself into things as the students learn about ecosystems at the local park and create self-sustaining terrariums out of recycled pickle jars filled with springtails, roly-polies, and other creepy-crawlies. Mrs. Stumper emphasizes the

importance of being “exacting” in their work, and Bibsy frets as she notices issues such as mold plaguing the terrariums. She secretly devises a way to put things right—but will her plan lead to disaster? Beguiling Bibsy continues to captivate even as she lands herself in trouble. Her caring nature extends even to invertebrates, and she attempts to intervene when she sees a raccoon eating a crayfish at the park—prompting a lesson on food chains from Mrs. Stumper. Scanlon once more employs delicious turns of phrase in her beautifully crafted free verse as she pinpoints the seemingly small but very real worries that loom large for children. Ho’s lively, detailed grayscale line drawings, heightened with splashes of green, complement the exquisitely observed text. Bibsy is light-skinned; her class is diverse.

An imperfect protagonist who’s nevertheless perfectly charming. (Chapter book. 7-10)

Kirkus Star

Bibsy Cross and the Time Capsule

Scanlon, Liz Garton | Illus. by Dung Ho Knopf (128 pp.) | $16.99 | July 8, 2025 9780593644539 | Series: Bibsy Cross, 4

Beloved Bibsy Cross is bound to make new fans in this series’ fourth and final outing. Although 8-year-old Bibsy has plenty of specific, detailed memories—sweets mixed with bits of sour, as she might put it—she’s reluctant to participate in a schoolwide time capsule. “How are we supposed to fit / everything that needs fitting into a little container? / And if it doesn’t all fit, how will we choose?” she asks—a sentiment that BFF Natia shares. But when Bibsy’s lonely, widowed grandmother moves in with the Cross family, she gently helps Bibsy reframe the task. Bibsy remains her lovably irrepressible self even as her social smarts and self-awareness continue to develop.

The book’s best moments are Bibsy’s rather amusing asides as she shares observations of her classmates and refines her understanding of her teacher, the repressive Mrs. Stumper. Scanlon’s masterly metaphors draw on relatably quotidian subject matter, and the pages fly by in brief, lively chapters, written in free verse and presented in large type. Ho’s perfectly suited grayscale drawings, popping with purple highlights, add immeasurably to the fun, depicting Bibsy’s diverse classmates. The engaging line art and fresh, insightful text combine for the tale of a believably childlike hero who nevertheless grapples with heady concerns, among them the thought of one day losing loved ones. Bibsy and her family are pale-skinned; Natia is brown-skinned. Poignant, funny, and perceptive—a lovely conclusion to a gem of a series. (Chapter book. 6-9)

Dude. Be Nice

Scheerger, Sarah Lynn with Brent Camalich & Jamie Camalich | Illus. by Alex MacNaughton | Flamingo Books (32 pp.) $18.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9780593350607

A well-meaning but thoughtless bear tries his hand at helping others—with mixed results.

Dude, a cheerful, wellmannered blue bear, decides to spend the day being “EXTRA nice,” and, despite some trepidation from his pink penguin pal, Fizz (who “knows all about Dude and his plans”), he sets out to help all his friends. But things quickly go wrong. Attempting to pull lint off a panda’s sweater, Dude inadvertently unravels it. When he tries to put out what he thinks is a fire, Dude ends up dumping water on a birthday cake. Finally, Dude gifts Fizz some balloons, sending her floating away. The initially oblivious bear at last hears Fizz’s increasingly panicked cries (“Dude?” “Duuuuuuude?”) and rallies the surprisingly unruffled victims of his helping spree. After they rescue Fizz,

Dude surveys the mess that has ensued and wonders if they should all help. Fizz agrees that helping is nice but adds that it’s important to ask if aid is wanted. While that takeaway is a crucial one—and one many youngsters struggle with—the tale’s execution is a bit lacking. The mild reactions of the aggrieved animals in MacNaughton’s bright, spare illustrations likely won’t register with kids, preventing them from fully grasping the story’s intent. And Bear’s attempt at helping an elephant deal with melty ice cream (by lying down and catching the drips in his mouth) doesn’t actually seem all that bad, further muddying the message. An important lesson delivered with a few hiccups. (Picture book. 3-7)

This Is Our First Christmas

Sedita, Francesco | Illus. by Magenta Fox Viking (32 pp.) | $18.99 | October 14, 2025 9780593691045

A family with a new baby shares Christmas Eve traditions. Snuggled in homemade pajamas from Grandma, with a blanket destined to become an heirloom swaddled tight, an infant experiences Christmas for the first time. Boxes of decorations are pulled from storage, and warm lights set the tree aglow. The infant’s parents move the bassinet closer so the baby can stretch tiny fingers toward the light, watching it bounce on fairy baubles. Each tradition creates a comforting memory: Cookies are baked, presents are wrapped, and stockings are hung. Cards strung on ribbon offer visions of future Christmases, showing the young tot growing up. “We know that we’ll do this for years to come. / And our hearts are full.” The two parents share many smiles and warm embraces. An orange tabby joins the festivities, too, and can be found on each spread (sometimes just the hint of a tail is visible). Fox’s muted palette matches the snuggly coziness of all the shared memory-making. There are no crying fits or sleepless newborn moments, but a

scene of Christmas morning does show some scattered toys and a spilled coffee cup for a small breath of reassuring realism. One parent is brown-skinned, and the other is pale-skinned; the baby is brown-skinned and biracial.

A sweet gift of first holiday memories to be cherished. (Picture book. 1-4)

Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop

Seneviratne, Martin & Krystal Sutherland

Nancy Paulsen Books (272 pp.) | $18.99 October 21, 2025 | 9780593616321

British Sri Lankan twins

Patrick and Pearl Amarasinghe hide in plain sight as ordinary London 12-year-olds while secretly moonlighting as historiographical technologists.

Mild-mannered Patrick is a gifted archaeologist, adept at several dead languages. Pearl is a brilliant scientist and inventor, aching to be recognized for her genius and open to breaking the law when it suits her. They’re both obsessed with ancient Greek and Roman culture, to the dismay of their proudly Sri Lankan father. When one of Pearl’s inventions, the Chrono-Loop, transports the twins back to ancient Egypt, they attract the attention of a secret society called The Interdimensional Misconduct Enquiry (or TIME), who correct timeline deviations made by unauthorized time travelers. The siblings undergo tests for recruitment into TIME, but when they deliberately intervene in a bid to prevent World War I, they lose the opportunity—and all their devices. Crushed, Pearl hands the Chrono-Loop blueprints over to Jack Noon, the head of a mysterious startup called Tempus (The Ethical Management of Past Unjust Stuff), who promises to realize their vision of a utopia. Instead, Noon rules as a dictator, banning all cultures other than Greek and Roman. Realizing they’ve been deceived, Patrick and Pearl resolve to make things right. With its

brisk pace, well-crafted characters, humorous asides, and abundant plot twists, this book offers a fresh take on time-travel adventures. The cliffhanger climax will leave readers eager for the duology closer. A pacy adventure, centering Sri Lankan culture and inventively reimagining time travel.

(Science fiction. 10-13)

My Little Book of Big Jewish Holidays

Shafiroff, Hannah | Bloomsbury (64 pp.) | $19.99 | September 9, 2025 9781547614356

Journey through a year of major Jewish holidays, as well as a few lesserknown ones. Beginning with an explanation of the Jewish calendar, Shafiroff explores Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu Bi’Shvat, the Purim, Pesach (Passover), and Shavuot. She considers various foods such as challah, latkes, hamantaschen, and charoset, as well as individual observances and customs within larger holidays, such as the ritual of Havdalah, which concludes Shabbat, and the ceremony of Tashlich, observed on Rosh Hashanah. Each section includes a detailed description explaining the importance of the holiday, why it’s celebrated, and common customs; Shafiroff combines stories from the Torah along with discussions of modern practices, such as playing dreidel on Hanukkah. The author doesn’t acknowledge that customs differ widely, and no sources are included, though word pronunciations and definitions do appear in the text. Still, the informative, accessible, and conversational text will kindle excitement for the holidays, while the bright, cheery illustrations invite readers in. Shafiroff depicts a diverse cast; characters vary in terms of skin tone, and Jews of color are included, as are a variety of head coverings.

Those new to Jewish holiday practices will find much of interest. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Hogbert

Smith, Briony May | Candlewick (32 pp.)

$18.99 | November 4, 2025 | 9781536245035

Artful illustrations, clever text, and echoes of traditional tales combine to elevate this somewhat familiar story of an intrepid young boar.

Allusions to folktales abound, from the opening (“Once upon a time”) to admonishments to beware of the Big Bad Wolf and to “stick to the path.” Perhaps the most charming and subtle connection is the unremarkedupon appearance of a frog sporting a small crown. Hogbert, our hero, has a rounded body, a sweet smile, and chipmunk-style stripes. Savvy listeners won’t be too surprised when Hogbert follows his snout and becomes separated from his family when the piglets explore the woods for the first time. Luckily, he soon finds some equally engaging companions, from Red, a squirrel on her way to visit her granny (hmm, sounds familiar), to a pair of lost rabbits named Hopsel and Nettle. Together the animals, who can speak but otherwise act in species-appropriate ways, journey through the forest and manage to evade a (not very big and apparently also lost) wolf cub. Smith’s relatively lengthy thirdperson narration flows smoothly and features a variety of evocative words and phrases, along with a bit of unexpected but particularly apt slang. “Smell you later!” is Hogbert’s farewell to his new friend Red. The skilled depiction of the sylvan setting includes lovely flowers, towering trees, and constantly shifting light and shadow. This low-key adventure is a pleasant diversion that effectively capitalizes on the appeal of timeless tales. (Picture book. 4-8)

A Cure for the Hiccups

Smith, Jennifer E. | Illus. by Brandon James Scott | Random House Studio (40 pp.) | $18.99 | November 4, 2025 9780593709009

A girl learns to solve a pesky, persistent problem. Plagued with the hiccups, Max tries several methods to banish them, from holding her breath and drinking water upside down to standing on her head and somersaulting. All fail. Max’s grandmother offers sage advice: Be patient, and “they’ll tiptoe away on their own.” Max recalls that her grandmother’s always encouraging her to slow down (“To pause. To wait. To be”), so she can listen to the rustling trees and feel the sun’s warmth on her face. But impatient Max doesn’t have time for that right now. Suppose she has hiccups forever and sets a world record? Suppose, when she’s president, her hiccups are heard around the world? Max contemplates dire possibilities for a long time. While doing so, she waits—and hears the trees and feels the sun. “For the first time all day, she just is.” Before Max knows it, the hiccups are gone. Children may not realize it, but grown-ups sharing this humorous, thought-provoking tale will surely note that it’s also a gentle guide to mindfulness. Scott’s cheery digital illustrations are enlivened by numerous “hics!” incorporated throughout the artwork. Saucer-eyed Max has curly red hair; she, her grandmother, and her younger brother have light tan skin. Background characters are diverse. No hiccups here: a charmer about helping a child handle a familiar problem realistically. (Picture book. 4-7)

A charmer about helping a child handle a familiar problem realistically.

A CURE FOR THE HICCUPS

Just Keep Going

Smith, Lynn | Illus. by Lauren Gallegos

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (40 pp.) | $18.99

September 30, 2025 | 9781728290300

A mouse regulates his complicated emotions with guidance from a supportive group of animal pals. A small rodent with giant ears has “BIG feelings.” When thunder and lightning scare him, a kindly rabbit suggests that they jump up and down together. The activity helps, though Mouse accidentally destroys a flower, which prompts another emotional reaction. (Guilt? Regret?) A nearby bird offers a hug, and Mouse feels much better. The prospect of traversing a creakylooking bridge elicits fear, but Deer assures Mouse, “It will help if you just put one foot in front of the other.” When a bear cub fails to offer Mouse some berries, Mouse feels hurt. Butterfly’s answer: “Stop what you’re doing, pause, and breathe.” (And then the cub shares.) Later, Mouse ends up in a literally dark place as he struggles with his fear of failure. Owl tells him to close his eyes and picture “what you want.” After each solution comes the refrain “Just keep going.” Smith doesn’t touch on all big emotions— anger, pain, disgust, grief—but when it comes to frustration and, especially, fear, the regularity of this litany will be reassuring. The illustrations are greeting-card friendly, in soft earthy tones, with big-eyed, simplified animals and natural settings. Negative emotions appear as dark spikes, scribbles, bubbles, or clouds behind Mouse

and trail off as they dissipate; many youngsters will find such literal imaging comforting and empowering. A gently presented suite of responses to help kids face fears and “just keep going.” (Picture book. 4-8)

Invisible: The (Sort of) True Story of Me and My Hidden Disease

Soren, David | Penguin Workshop (256 pp.) $17.99 | October 14, 2025 | 9780593886625

In this work that draws upon the author’s life, a young Canadian cartoonist dealing with chronic illness comes into his own.

J.J. Sugar has a strange companion: Norm, the monstrous personification of his Crohn’s disease. A raucous biker who seems determined to make J.J.’s life a nightmare, he’s a lot to handle on top of symptoms, medications, and navigating the transition from elementary to middle school. J.J. has strong family support, including a mom who shares his illness, a quirky best friend, and an intense passion for drawing. But hiding his invisible disability brings a lot of pressure. He realizes that “the whole concept of ‘normal’ is a GIGANTIC PROBLEM and desperately needs to be fixed.” Soren repeatedly emphasizes that disclosing personal challenges can lead to camaraderie and support and that most people have something they’re self-conscious about. While some readers will be inspired by J.J.’s personal arc, others may wish that the book mentioned privacy as a valid choice separate from shame or embarrassment. The story is strongest when its spry

For more by Jennifer E. Smith, visit Kirkus online.

humor and J.J.’s passion for comics and cartoons shine through. He’s confident in his talent and observant of the foibles of those around him as well as his own. The black-and-white spot illustrations throughout are dynamic and humorous. Unfortunately, much of the narrative is taken up with overdone metaphorical disability monsters, and there’s a questionable story about a Punjabi snake charmer. The main cast appears white. Lively and well intentioned. (Fiction. 8-12)

Lucky Dog Comes Home

Spray, John | Illus. by Scot Ritchie Pajama Press (32 pp.) | $18.95 November 4, 2025 | 9781772783414

A farm boy turned mail carrier delivers the best gift of all. Pale-skinned young George lives on a farm with his parents, two brothers, and cherry pie–baking Grannie; he loves the barnyard animals and his dog, Angus, many of whom tag along when he goes fishing. But war breaks out, and George must leave his beloved farm to become a soldier. By the time he returns, the farm has been sold, Angus and Grannie have died, and, puzzlingly, not one family member is mentioned again. George takes a job as a mail carrier. The neighborhood dogs adore him, and he becomes a small-town Pied Piper whose antics cheerily entertain the neighborhood children. On his route, he spots morose Theresa Morano, still hoping for her sailor son’s return from the war. George finds a puppy and gives it to Theresa, who finds herself revitalized. Grateful, she gives George a gift of cherry pie—his very favorite. Ritchie’s idyllic portrayals of the countryside and town are only briefly interrupted by one snowy, bloodless war scene. The art is delightful, and George is a cheery protagonist, but the story will leave many kids with questions. Theresa sighs over a “one-eared Tom cat that ran off”; that same feline is inexplicably seen on

George’s lap at the end. Youngsters may also wonder why the pie box Theresa gives George has the words “Spare that tree” and a canceled George Washington stamp on it.

Sweet but ultimately unsatisfying. (Picture book. 5-8)

Bridget Vanderpuff and the Great Airship Robbery

Stewart, Martin | Illus. by David Habben Penguin Workshop (304 pp.) | $9.99 paper September 16, 2025 | 9780593754122

Series: Bridget Vanderpuff, 3

Indomitable young baker Bridget Vanderpuff teams up with puzzle fan Stacy Yuen to recover a golden whisk that’s key to winning a baking competition in Paris. Red-haired preteen whirlwind Bridget races onto the scene in this third series entry, extending her paraskirt as she and Tom Timpson careen off a cliff in pursuit of cake thief Hungry Horace Harris, who’s soon in the hands of Scotland Yard’s Sugar Squad. Bridget’s self-confidence remains high, yet just as she settles in to solve a riddle at home in Belle-on-Sea, her bake shop owner father announces that he and Bridget will be leaving immediately for France to compete in the Grand Prix de la Profiterole via Le Bonbon du Ciel , “the grandest airship in the world.” Once aboard, Bridget reunites with Stacy, a friend from home. When Mr. V’s golden whisk, which means everything to him, goes missing, Bridget suspects the League of Meanies, whose sole nefarious purpose is to “destroy the happiness of others.” Bridget’s antics are livelier than ever, even as she and Stacy follow mysterious riddles around Paris. Occasional chapters offer glimpses of events unfolding in the bake shop, which Tom and Pascal the bakery elf are defending against Harris, who’s on the run. Habben’s amusing illustrations depict many characters with darker skin,

including Tom, Stacy, and Mr. V. Creative typography allows words like splaff and pfffump to go “boinging” across the pages.

Riotous fun. (map, recipe, activities) (Mystery. 8-12)

The Secret of the Oceans

Stewner, Tanya | Trans. by Matthew O. Anderson | Arctis Books (445 pp.) $12 paper | September 30, 2025 9781646900510 | Series: Alea Aquarius, 3

Hints that some of her nearly extinct mermaid relatives might still survive in Iceland send Alea and friends sailing off aboard the Crucis —straight into the clutches of an archnemesis. This third volume in a translated series from Germany takes the nautical Alpha Cru, who earn money through busking, through a succession of crises, including rescuing a whale caught in a discarded net and navigating the fallout after moody, overprotective Lennox sees Alea being kissed by bandmate Tess. But the young musicians temporarily put personal issues on hold when they’re captured by a bad guy who explains at length his evildoing, which includes both the mass killing of mer-people and, as an unrepentant Sludger (“what the merworld called criminals who dumped in the ocean”), polluting the world’s waters. Fortunately, both the land and the oceans are thickly populated with sprites, nixies, and other magical creatures who always respond to Alea’s calls for help, so she escapes to continue her quest to reunite her people in fulfillment of the requisite prophecy. The translation of the nautical terminology is sketchy in spots, and the young people’s speech sometimes feels oddly formal (as when a 9-year-old asks, “Are they just decoration, or does their flittering and glittering about have a purpose?”). The cast largely reads white. Tess, who’s

cued Black and wears her hair in locs, is cringingly described by a sprite as having “funny, twisted hair.”

Earnest and adventuresome, despite some language issues and a paperthin villain. (Fantasy. 10-14)

How Rude!: Animals

That Burp, Toot, Spit, and Screech To Survive

Stiefel, Chana | Illus. by Anna Louise Oliver

Union Square Kids (96 pp.) | $17.99

November 11, 2025 | 9781454956440

A raucously entertaining exploration of gauche behaviors from the animal kingdom. Stiefel combines humor with scientific insight to showcase creatures whose survival strategies—among them the howler monkey’s screech and the camel’s habit of spitting—happen to align with behaviors human parents generally try to discourage. The book’s smart design breaks down information into easily digestible sections; readers can dive into specific chapters such as “Gas Passers” or “Barfers” without reading cover to cover, making the work perfect for repeat browsing. Each animal profile features helpful text boxes with key details like size, range, habitat, and conservation status, allowing readers to quickly grasp essential facts. Oliver’s colorful, cartoon-style illustrations complement the irreverent tone while accurately depicting each animal’s distinctive features. The engaging, language-rich content reveals genuinely interesting information; for

example, Pacific herring communicate through “Fast Repetitive Tics, or FRTs,” and animals such as mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs “feast on their own feces (or dine on their own dung, or gorge on their own guano…).” The book’s greatest strength lies in its interviews with scientists, including biochemist Antonio Cerullo and shark scientist Yakira Herskowitz. These conversations don’t just explain animal behaviors—they reveal the diverse career paths in animal science while demonstrating how scientists think and work. Connections to human behavior feel natural and help readers understand that many “rude” biological functions serve important purposes across species.

A winning combination of gross-out appeal and scientific information that will have kids giggling and learning. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Galaxy Mapper: The Luminous Discoveries of Astrophysicist

Hélène Courtois

Summers, Allie | Illus. by Sian James | MIT Kids Press/Candlewick (48 pp.) | $18.99 November 18, 2025 | 9781536228977

A young girl’s curiosity spurs her to map galaxies. Summers anchors this biography of astrophysicist

Hélène Courtois (b. 1970) with the following refrain: “Hélène observed. Hélène questioned. Hélène had ideas. And the moon was always waiting for her.” This use of repetition captures the spirit of an inquisitive young girl who hailed from

A winning combination of gross-out appeal and scientific information.

HOW RUDE!

a small French village and whose simple query—“What is beyond the moon?”—has led to a lifetime of study. Summers skillfully demonstrates how map reading inspired Hélène to eventually decode the skies. As a girl, she learned to read trail maps and explore nearby mountains. Later, she read road maps, which led her to observe the northern lights and other astral occurrences. She was often the only woman in the classroom while studying astrophysics at college. Gazing at the night sky through a professional telescope, Hélène fell in love with galaxies, “luminous lighthouses in the vast sea of dark matter.” She’d found her calling as a cosmographer, or one who maps galaxies. She assembled a team and along the way discovered a supercluster, which included the Milky Way. Though Summers gives readers a strong sense of her subject, some of the scientific language isn’t explained until the glossary, which may frustrate youngsters. James has exuberantly illustrated Courtois’ life by juxtaposing traditional classroom scenes and spot art of scientists at work, with vast night skies filled with twinkling stars and radiant blue and purple galaxies brushed with a golden glow. Sure to motivate readers to reach for the stars. (timeline, profiles of other women astronomers, information on building a professional telescope, bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 5-9)

Playtime Express With the Easter Bunny

Sutton, Layla | Illus. by Jennifer Zivoin Sourcebooks Wonderland (40 pp.) $12.99 | December 2, 2025 9781464234750 | Series: Playtime Express

A group of toy animals board the Playtime Express train to Bunnyville. When a toy dinosaur, bear, lion, and unicorn ride the train through a tunnel, they come to life

on the other side. It’s spring in Bunnyville, and the animals are excited to experience it. They meet the Easter Bunny and assist with an egg hunt. They enjoy lots of muddy play in the garden, splash in puddles during a rain shower, and help decorate eggs and hand out Easter baskets. At the end of their busy day, the animals board the train back to a child’s playroom, becoming toys once again. The rhyming text bounces along as easily as the many rabbits in Bunnyville, making this a fitting read-aloud. Zivoin’s illustrations are brightly colored, childfriendly, and brimming with sweetness; an especially endearing one depicts a line of ducklings in rain boots with umbrellas joyfully splashing through spring raindrops. The visuals include plenty of adorable details, like the dinosaur clutching its very own stuffed dino or the Easter Bunny hiding among stuffed animals in the child’s room. The uncomplicated storytelling and appealing pictures make for a worthwhile read.

A simple springtime story that will have toddlers hopping with excitement. (Picture book. 1-3)

We Want Leaves!: A Fall Chant

Swenson, Jamie A. | Illus. by Emilie Boon Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) | $18.99 August 1, 2025 | 9781534113350

A seasonal tale for children who love all things fall. Three mopey friends bemoan the lack of leaves, rake at the ready: “Leaves! Leaves! We want leaves! / Up to our knees / Up to our hips / Up to our bellies / Up to our lips!” As the pages turn, the kids enjoy the delights of the season: apple pie, pumpkin patches, friendly scarecrows, hayrides, and a bonfire with scary stories, hot cider, and caramel apples. Like the catchy refrain—sure to get kids to chime in—the verses are bouncy and

A simple springtime story

that will have toddlers

hopping with excitement.

PLAYTIME EXPRESS WITH THE EASTER BUNNY

convey delight. “We want a corn maze fit to explore— / With twists and turns and surprises galore.” And who could resist this corn maze, with adorable farm animals around every curve depicted in the cartoon illustrations, overflowing with fall colors? But in a tongue-in-cheek final be-careful-what-you-wish-for punch, the kids’ request is granted, and they find that raking isn’t as much fun as they thought it would be. Naturally, they now want snow, and fortunately, Swenson’s already published that book. Boon’s trio is diverse: a brownskinned child with short dark hair, a child with tan skin and black braids, and a light-skinned child with medium-length reddish hair. Autumnal fun, sure to be a hit with storytime audiences and during classroom read-alouds. (Picture book. 3-6)

Sir Callie and the Final Stand

Symes-Smith, Esme | Labyrinth Road (400 pp.) | $17.99 | October 14, 2025 9780593711125 | Series: Sir Callie, 4

Forces collide in this final battle for the heart and freedom of Wyndebrel. Peran, the self-proclaimed king, rules the realm without mercy, executing anyone who dares to defy him or falls short of his expectations. He sends his knights from town to town, hunting for Callie and their friends. Wards surround the village of Farfield, protecting it not only from Peran but also Alis, the Witch

Queen of Dumoor, who, like Peran, sees anyone who disagrees with her as a traitor. Callie, Willow, Elowen, and Edwyn, who read white, refuse to sit by in hiding and watch blood spill across Wyndebrel. Although each of them has their own fears about the future, they’re determined to free the land, for themselves and their people. This fourth and final installment in Callie’s adventures tackles themes of justice, accountability, and making amends as the four friends fight for a kinder kingdom. Before they can confront their enemies, Callie, Willow, Elowen, and Edwyn first must face each other. Challenging friends and allies to do the right thing is as important to their quest as fighting tyranny. With the threat of danger looming in the background, the story remains suspenseful as it ramps up to the climactic battle. The satisfying resolution looks to a brighter and more hopeful future. A heroic conclusion to a heartfelt adventure. (map) (Fantasy. 8-12)

The School For Wicked Witches: Wicked on the Wind

Taylor, Will | Scholastic (256 pp.) | $8.99 paper | September 2, 2025 | 9781546146742

In this third series entry, ambitious witch Ava Heartstraw faces the wickedness of Vivienne Morderay with the help of her peers at the School for Wicked Witches, or Swickwit.

After rescuing Swickwit from Wicked Mode, Ava rejoins her fellow Nettle students. Her frenemy, Tinabella Grouse, finishes her stint in isolation in Punzell Tower, where she was sent after handing over unlimited power to Vivienne, the wickedest witch to ever come out of Swickwit. Vivienne cast the spell Dorothy’s Gale, causing a windstorm that captured teachers and teenage Broom students, leaving the younger kids to fend for themselves. Familiar characters reappear, such as Gern the gargoyle and Crow Backpatch, who becomes a natural class leader. Amid the chaos, Swickwit students must pass the Midwinter tests to progress in their studies. Determined to exact revenge on Vivienne for abandoning her, Tinabella gets Ava—who imagines the acclaim she’d receive if she succeeds— to help her brew poisons, cast curses, and even attempt entanglement magic to attack Dorothy’s Gale. Ava contemplates friendship and wickedness as she navigates life without rules or professors. The clever, inventive writing from the earlier books continues as Taylor describes the school and its students with humor and whimsy, showcasing each witch’s unique magical abilities. The fantasy-diverse characters have a variety of skin tones and hair colors. A celebration of imperfections, this novel focuses on sacrifice, humility, and teamwork when faced with seemingly impossible odds. Satisfyingly witty and original. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Sweet, Tart

Thom, Kara | Candlewick (352 pp.) | $18.99 November 18, 2025 | 9781536239256

An earnest, horse-filled middle-grade debut that tackles difficult emotions. After seeing the racehorse Carver d’Esprit suffer a devastating injury at the track, white-presenting sixth grader

Halle can’t shake the haunting memory. Discovering that the horse came from nearby Oak Creek Stables, she gathers the courage to visit, hoping to understand what happened to Carver. There, she encounters forlorn pony Rocky, who shared a special bond with Carver, and finds purpose in helping him overcome his sadness. As Halle navigates typical middle school challenges—making new friends, growing apart from old ones— and a changing relationship with her older sister, the stables provide solace. When developers make a bid for the property, Halle desperately searches for solutions to save her newfound sanctuary. Halle’s first-person perspective shows her learning about horses— from proper grooming techniques to understanding horse communication—making the equine world engaging to both experienced equestrians and newcomers alike. Halle’s poems—responses to her language arts teacher Mrs. Delgado’s prompts—appear throughout, showing how she processes her feelings about change and renewal. While Halle’s voice occasionally wavers between childlike wonder and surprisingly adult insights, the story ultimately finds its rhythm in her authentic exploration of grief and hope. The small-town Minnesota setting adds a distinctive regional flavor, authentically showcasing contemporary Midwest life from sledding hills and frozen lakes to the landscape of rural farmland bordering suburban neighborhoods. A tender tale showing how loss can create space for new connections. (author’s note) (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Star

Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi

Thomas, Angie | Illus. by Setor Fiadzigbey

Clarion/HarperCollins (480 pp.) | $19.99

September 16, 2025 | 9780063225183

Series: Nic Blake and the Remarkables, 2

Following the 2023 series opener, Nic grapples with keeping her prophecy secret. Uhuru, a sanctuary city for Remarkables (supernatural people like Nic, who’s a Manifestor), combines Afro-futuristic technology with magic to create a seeming utopia. But Tyran Porter, Nic’s nemesis (and formerly her favorite author), has started a conspiracy theorist–tinged podcast to agitate against the government, the League of Remarkable Efforts, which is headed by Nic’s grandmother. Settling in is hard for Nic—she’s navigating complicated family dynamics and the dangerous Badili power that marks her as the Manowari, the prophesized destroyer of the Remarkable world. The discovery of her secret leads to Nic’s being blackmailed into a fetch quest to reassemble the three boxes that form the Book of Anansi, bringing her into contact with disaffected portions of Remarkable society and beings from West African folklore. After a twist that dramatically raises the stakes, she even takes part in a casino heist—all while grappling with questions of freedom and

A tender tale showing how loss can create space for new connections.

SWEET, TART

restraint, the greater good, and cycles of pain. Nic’s moral core and care for others result in her facing complex dilemmas that render her relatable and appealing. The book, which features a Black cast, contains nuanced social commentary that’s informed by the history of American slavery, and Uhuru (and its educational system) put fresh spins on beloved genre staples. Nic ends the story changed in ways that will leave readers excited to see what comes next. Final art not seen. A beautifully executed sequel that surpasses the first book. (Fantasy. 8-12)

The Bread Bus

Wanyue, Qiao | Clavis (32 pp.) | $19.95 September 9, 2025 | 9798890631145

A baking beaver gets help from neighborhood youngsters when his bus made of bread gets stuck on the way to market. Originally published in China and Belgium and translated from Dutch, the story follows Beaver as he prepares to bring his treats to the spring market. He packs them into his bus, a large loaf of sandwich bread on wheels that runs on chocolate sauce. The curious young woodland creatures who join him along the way daydream about having their own croissant cars and baguette station wagons. When the bus gets stuck, the passengers try various ways to fix it until Little Raccoon shows them how to turn the vehicle into a sandwich sled. (Naturally, this involves a lot of nibbling.) Everyone slides downhill into the spring market. A few months later, when the time comes for the summer festival, a batch of new bread-based vehicles are ready to roll, too. The story is cheerful and low-stakes but a bit lackluster, without much in the way of

Nuanced social commentary informed by the history of American slavery.

NIC BLAKE AND THE REMARKABLES

conflict, character development, message, or layers. The unpolished, childlike art style is charming in busy outdoor settings, but indoor and close-up scenes often feel unfinished or oddly proportioned. Pleasant but unremarkable. (Picture book. 3-7)

Danger Eagle

Wente, Jesse | Illus. by Shaikara David Tundra Books (48 pp.) | $18.99 November 4, 2025 | 9780735264830

A young child describes the daring adventures of a stuffed penguin named Danger Eagle. Wente’s narration sets a tonguein-cheek tone from the beginning as a colorful gift box is opened: “A long, long, time ago…In the living room…A hero was unwrapped…Or born. Born is better.” A plump, sweet-looking plush penguin appears over the next few pages as the words continue to build excitement. The young, tan-skinned narrator sends Danger Eagle (described with they /them pronouns) through acts of derring-do such as traversing an obstacle course in a little toy truck and toppling down a steep flight of basement stairs. Through it all, a crowd of other toys look on with pride. Danger Eagle’s bright details contrast with the others’ less distinct, pastel depictions in David’s artwork. When the narrator’s mother announces the arrival of cousin Mark and “his friend,” the dark shadow of a monocled ostrich in a top hat appears at the top of the basement

stairs. Will Danger Eagle be able to accept the scornful newcomer’s challenge to fly from a tree? Increasingly funny text and art ensue, striking a clever balance between fantasy and reality; the images feel like stills from an animated cartoon.

A hero’s journey by turns dramatic and endearing. (Picture book. 4-8)

Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World

West, Hannah | Illus. by Jennifer Bricking Holiday House (288 pp.) | $18.99 October 14, 2025 | 9780823459865

A boy everyone calls “Forest the Failure” seeks someone who can give him a better future. Though just 13, Forest Fogwren has been a target for the townsfolk’s mockery ever since a stubbed toe resulted in misdirected magic, the death of his friend Hargren, and the failure of his quest to save the kingdom of Lumin from the invading Ombrous wizards. Following instructions from his mentor, Wyldemar the Wise, Forest enters a magic portal in search of the Author, a mysterious person who can rewrite Lumin’s history. Once he’s through the portal and in Blisstopia, Forest is dazzled by the friendly animals, everpink trees, and happy residents. He finds the Author lying in a hammock at the palace: She’s Princess Ivy, a girl about his age with lavender hair and periwinkle eyes (though she can change her hair and

eye colors). After some initial confusion, Ivy realizes that Forest is the hero from her story, The Lanterns of Lumin , come to life. By traveling through story portals, Ivy and Forest encounter First Draft Forest, Wyldemar the Wicked, and a still-living Hargren—along with frightful shadow creatures. Footnotes add wry humor to this story-within-a-story, whose layers go deep but adhere to an internal logic. Ivy, who’s savvy about genres and tropes, isn’t as carefree as she at first appears, and Forest grows to embrace a new definition of hero. Bricking’s sweetly magical illustrations enliven the chapter headings. Main characters appear white. A thought-provoking adventure that explores selfhood and reality. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Mama’s Special Wonton Soup

Wong, Wai Mei | Illus. by Xin Yue Zhu Lantana (32 pp.) | $18.99 September 9, 2025 | 9781836290186

A young child eagerly greets family and neighbors while on an errand to the market and returns with additional treasures.

As Mama prepares tonight’s dinner, she asks her little one, “Can you help me buy some meat at the market?” The youngster, who narrates, energetically leaves with empty basket in hand. The villagers are already engaged in daily chores and jobs, giving the child plenty of opportunities to interact. Repeated animated exchanges of “z ǎo ān” (Chinese for “good morning”) and “xiè

xiè” (“thank you”) result in unexpected gifts: radishes from Ms. Chen, freshcaught shrimp from Mr. Li, and persimmons and other treats from Grandma and Aunt Ruby, all to bring home to Mama. The child enjoys moments of play, splashing through puddles and trying “to turn a toad into a prince.” At the market, the protagonist picks up Mama’s special pork from Ms. Zhou, who adds a bone for the family puppy. After presenting Mama with the heavily laden basket, the young narrator announces “I have an idea” before dashing back through the village to invite others to enjoy Mama’s toothsome meal together. Canadian author Wong’s welcoming tale of connected community is lovingly enhanced by Zhu’s pastoral illustrations, their earthy tones highlighting the warmth enjoyed throughout the village. Backgrounds, clothing, and the few Mandarin phrases (untranslated but easily discernible from the context) suggest a Chinese setting. A heartfelt reminder of the power of communal caring and sharing. (Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Star

Bear in the Air

Wortche, Allison | Illus. by Cat Min | Knopf (32 pp.) | $18.99 | September 16, 2025 9780593704820

Look! Up in the air! It’s Bear!

On a bright sunny day, a rosy-cheeked bear decides to go for a solo balloon ride. At first, Bear is thrilled to be so high among the clouds and happily

A heartfelt reminder of the power of communal caring and sharing.

MAMA’S SPECIAL WONTON SOUP

waves to his animal friends below. But as he continues to ascend, Bear gets more nervous—and his pals’ activities start to look more attractive. After a dramatic cry for help and a little assistance from his friends, Bear comes back down to earth both literally and figuratively. Young readers will strongly relate to Bear in both his quest for independence and his realization that no matter how high we fly, sometimes we need support. Wortche’s text is poetic in its simplicity; her use of alliteration and repetition makes for a stellar readaloud: “Then he takes a big, brave breath. His voice echoes over fields and forests, sunflowers and streams.” Min’s lively art, a combination of watercolor, colored pencil, and digital techniques, literally sparkles with bright glints, pops, and glitters and brims with vibrant activity, culminating in a series of action-packed spreads that will bring the storytime crowd to their feet, cheering. Together, words and images create a warm, energetic world infused with comforting shades of blue, purple, and orange—and, just as importantly, filled with friends to enjoy it with.

A captivating tale that encourages readers to soar high—and reassures them that help is always there if they need it. (Picture book. 3-7)

Ruby Maps Her World

Yolen, Jane | Illus. by Dow Phumiruk Christy Ottaviano Books (40 pp.) | $18.99 October 21, 2025 | 9780316478441

After a girl receives a journal for her birthday, she uses it to map her neighborhood and her day. Ruby, an East Asian–presenting youngster, is excited to take a walk outside for her first “solo mapping day.” Her mother is a cartographer, but today it’s Ruby’s turn; Mama will be following behind at a safe distance, in case of emergencies. As she walks, Ruby draws what she sees:

Profoundly wise advice plays out in a dialogue between loving siblings.

FROM MEMEN TO MORI

her own home with its gray garage and red mailbox. She writes, too (after all, a map must be a “good show-and-tell”): “three steps down, past the mailbox.” Phumiruk’s clean illustrations in soft colors are a sedate foil to Ruby’s hand-drawn icons representing each thing she sees on her walk, with dotted lines charting her path and written notes labeling her pictures. Each image of a real-life scene is juxtaposed with Ruby’s interpretation, giving readers the feeling of peeking into her notebook. Ruby draws landmarks, animals, people, and even her own imaginings. As her walk comes to a conclusion, Daddy is waiting, ready to take her to his house for a birthday celebration, where she can map the “other half of her crowded and always interesting world”—a subtle acknowledgment that Ruby is the child of amicably divorced parents. The backmatter, aimed at educators, includes further reading and several activities. Will most certainly inspire young cartographers to chart their own worlds. (Picture book. 4-7)

From Memen to Mori

Yoshitake, Shinsuke | Trans. by Ajani Oloye JY (136 pp.) | $20 | September 23, 2025 9798855417401

Reflective conversations between two kids offer life lessons for philosophical readers. In three vignettes, older sibling Memen, clad in a jumper dress, offers tender

and occasionally humorous advice to the smaller Mori, who sports a distinctive red cap. When Mori laments after breaking Memen’s handmade plate, Memen is quick to console the youngster: “Well, that’s okay. I can just make another one…. It’s really fine! Because in the end, no matter what, every single thing breaks or goes away.” Memen models astute acceptance. “There are things we can control, and things we can’t. And we want to learn to tell the difference between them.” The second story is told from the perspective of a sangfroid, self-aware, and dirty snowman with wanderlust, but the third rings most true to the slightly morbid reference of the book’s name, memento mori, providing a humbling reflection on our smallness and what people live for. Thickly outlined spot illustrations are expressive and poignant, with simply filled in solid hues set against spacious blank expanses. Yoshitake’s minimal text, translated from Japanese and both heavier and heftier than many of the author/illustrator’s recent works, takes the occasional tone of a graduation speech while imparting some truly sage, existential wisdom. This one is likely to spark meaningful conversations among young readers and with adults. Characters have black hair and skin the white of the page. Gentle and profoundly wise advice plays out in a dialogue between two loving siblings. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Star

The Prince of Stars: Ulugh Beg’s Quest To Map the Stars and Seasons

Yuksel, M.O. | Illus. by Zelma Firdauzia Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $19.99 September 30, 2025 | 9780063240155

Driven by scientific curiosity, Ulugh Beg makes astronomical discoveries and builds a center for knowledge and culture in 15thcentury Turkistan.

A young prince of the Timurid Empire, Ulugh Beg questions everything. “How many stars are there?” “How many days are in a year?” Why do seasons change?” Motivated in large part by his faith (“Striving for knowledge is the duty of every Muslim man and woman,” as the Prophet Muhammad said), Ulugh Beg grows up seeking answers to these questions and more, inspiring the work of later modern scientists such as Galileo and Copernicus. He catalogs more than 1,000 stars and uses their locations to determine the length of the year. He calculates the tilt of Earth’s axis to unlock the mystery of the seasons. Ulugh Beg not only constructs an observatory with the first permanently mounted astronomical instruments, but he also builds schools and mosques, turning Turkistan into a center of learning and culture. Enlightening and infused with a great sense of wonder, Yuksel’s picture-book biography is a much-needed addition to an existing repertoire of books featuring Muslim heroes. As dreamy as the night skies so loved by Ulugh Beg, Firdauzia’s digitally created illustrations chronicle the subject’s growth from a young inquisitive boy to an accomplished mathematician and astronomer. This already greatly informative work wraps up with even more content in the backmatter. A luminous tribute to a notable figure that’s sure to satisfy—and inspire—inquisitive minds. (author’s note, Ulugh Beg’s biography, glossary, timeline, bibliography, further reading, resources, map) (Picture book. 4-8)

For more by Shinsuke Yoshitake, visit Kirkus online.

Young Adult

NOURISHING BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT

FOOD IS FAR more than just fuel for the body. The choices we make are shaped—consciously or not—by our upbringing, budget, locale, self-image, personal ethics, social aspirations, health concerns, and more. Which foods we regard as “weird” or “undesirable” is an especially emotional topic: The abundance of picture books reminding kids not to bully others over what they eat demonstrates how painful it can be when people reject your family’s food. Conversely, food can forge profound bonds between people; we show affection and preserve cultural identity by sharing meals. American kids from non-European families know all too well the uncomfortable contradictions of growing up in a society that might love

(and monetize) their communities’ cuisine but not fully embrace them as people. Others keenly feel the loss of food traditions through dietary assimilation. Teens crave honest, complex stories like the ones below that explore the meaningful role food plays in our lives.

Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen (Wednesday Books, March 18) will leave readers salivating with its luscious descriptions of Taiwanese and Korean food. Julie Wu and Randall Hur, whose families have been estranged since their grandmothers’ fusion restaurant went up in flames (literally), must collaborate on a school project. Love blossoms between Julie and Randall (who’s trans) as they work to save the local elementary school’s Garden of Eating.

The protagonist of Eliza, From Scratch (Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins, May 13) by Sophia Lee is distraught when she’s placed in Culinary Arts instead of AP Physics. She meets the cute but annoying Thai American foodie Wesley Ruengsomboon, whose influence gets her to re-examine her values— and reconsider her feelings for him. Learning to follow her late Korean grandmother’s recipes, described in mouthwatering detail, connects Eliza with her mom, who shares the memories they evoke.

Editor and contributor Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) pulls together a dazzling array of Indigenous authors for the anthology Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories (Heartdrum, August 26). Centering around Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In, a mystical community space that appears to those who need it, this is a diverse and deeply emotional collection of interconnected stories, poems, and other

entries. As well as fry bread, the truck serves sweetgrass tea, cornbread, NDN tacos, bison burgers, pashofa, and more.

Lemons and Lies by Alexis Castellanos (Bloomsbury, September 16), a standalone companion to Guava and Grudges (2024), is a sweet romance with nuanced family dynamics, delicious Cuban food, and even a recipe for coquito French toast. Valeria’s family runs Morales Bakery, which goes viral on social media. Valeria is failing Algebra II and struggling with her long-absent mother’s return. A fake-dating bargain with her classmate and tutor, Gage Magnussen, helps them both—and leads to real feelings.

The Nebraska teen protagonist of the heartfelt K-Jane by Lydia Kang (Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins, October 21) is wrestling with identity and authenticity: Her white best friends are continually enthusing over K-drama, K-pop, and K-beauty. Jane, who’s third-generation Korean American, seeks to remedy her woeful lack of cultural knowledge by starting a vlog that’s meant to be private and launching on a crash course in Korean cooking and the heritage she feels disconnected from.

Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.

LAURA SIMEON

Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson

EDITOR’S PICK

Numerous challenges bedevil a pair of time travelers from 1934 Chicago. Genevieve Newhouse is a brilliant physicist, so used to being ignored next to her sparkling sisters that she’s developed the ability to turn invisible. Never one to let a little transparency get her down, 18-year-old Genevieve becomes a thief, stealing library books in order to perfect her invention, the “important, dramatic, ETCH-MY-NAME-INHISTORY accomplishment” that will finally get her noticed. A devastating accident that could bring about the apocalypse certainly would have done the trick—if it weren’t for

intervention from Ash Hargreaves, also 18, who’s run away from his religious extremist community. His desire to prevent a terrible tragedy grew so strong that he gained the ability to time travel. In Genevieve’s moment of crisis, he yanks the two of them back 41 years, from the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair—where Genevieve was exhibiting a cyclotron—to the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Luckily the stranded teens (both cued white) meet the brilliant Matilda Flemming, a Black physics genius, who’s being exploited by an arrogant professor. Ash, Genevieve, and Matilda are up against racist and sexist

A Time Traveler’s History of Tomorrow

Kulper, Kendall | Holiday House | 352 pp.

$19.99 | November 4, 2025 | 9780823458295

physicists, paranoid capitalists—and time itself. They still find spare moments for both romance and heavy-duty personal growth. Ash, who tries to redeem the worst people in his life and never needs to outshine his talented

love interest, is genuinely heartwarming, and the friendship between Genevieve and Miss Flemming is a joy. Delightful timey-wimey adventure that would make smashing television. (Historical paranormal. 13-18)

These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star

Stunningly grotesque, with a lyrical narrative and compelling dialogue.

BEAUTIFUL BRUTAL BODIES

Bright Before Us, Like a Flame: Igniting a New Generation of Writers

Ed. by Aakil, Sasa & Kathy Crutcher Shout Mouse Press (306 pp.) | $21.99 October 8, 2025 | 9781950807826

An anthology celebrating youth-led storytelling that collects entries from a decade of work by Shout Mouse Press in coaching “young people to write and publish diverse and inclusive books.”

This volume is organized into four thematic sections—“Family & Friendship,” “Immigration & Belonging,” “Witness & Activism,” and “Identity & Self-Love”—which pair entries with the prompts that inspired them. Each section opens with a warm and insightful exchange between the co-editors, Shout Mouse founder Crutcher and 21-year-old Shout Mouse author Aakil. Readers will encounter a wide range of genres and formats, including personal reflections, poetry, a board book, and comics, used to talk about different family structures, housing instability, making a perilous journey to the U.S., and other topics relating to often-underrepresented life experiences. In the charming “JoyGrace and the Dress Dilemma,” written by Tseganesh Chala and Joy Ugwu and illustrated by Joy Ingram, a Jamaican-born, U.S.-based child with a Nigerian mom and Ethiopian dad struggles to best represent her heritage for Culture Day at school. This entry is one of several that appear in both English and Spanish. Established writers like Clint Smith, Tony Keith

Jr., and Safia Elhillo reflect on some of the pieces, adding a rich intergenerational layer. Color and black-and-white illustrations enhance the text and keep readers engaged. Ambitious in both structure and purpose, this bold and moving anthology will support educators in guiding teens to reflect, write, and imagine possibilities. Compelling voices share their truths and invite teens to answer back. (Anthology. 13-18)

I’ll Find You Where the Timeline Ends

Baker, Kylie Lee | Feiwel & Friends (304 pp.)

$19.99 | November 18, 2025 | 9781250381989

Desperate to find her missing sister, a girl in Seoul, South Korea, who possesses time magic risks everything to discover the truth.

Yang Mina, in the guise of an 18-year-old American exchange student, just wants the cute boy from her calculus class to kiss her. It wouldn’t simply be a romantic moment: A kiss would earn Mina infiltration points, which would help her get promoted to associate agent. Mina isn’t human—she’s a descendant of the Japanese dragon god Ryūjin, whose daughter Otohime brought time magic to Earth. With a promotion, Mina could finally have some stability instead of constantly having to move around with her floating agent parents (she has a Japanese mom and a white American dad). She also believes her sister, Hana, who was erased from existence, is still alive somewhere in

the timeline. When Mina meets Kim Yejun, a handsome rogue traveler who’s also lost someone, she decides to work with him to fix the timeline that has been affected by corruption within the Korean dragon families’ organization. Working with Yejun means she’ll become a traitor and risk being neutralized herself. Together, they traverse timelines, searching for a solution. This charming love story combines humor, action, magic, and a touch of darkness. The complex explanations of time travel and the butterfly principle can be confusing at first, but everything is ultimately untangled and revealed. Baker effectively integrates facts about Korean history, culture, and landmarks into the fantasy. An entertaining time-travel romance with intricate worldbuilding. (Fantasy. 13-18)

Black History Is Your History

Cassidy, Taylor | Illus. by Adriana Bellet Atheneum (200 pp.) | $19.99

October 14, 2025 | 9781665957700

The young woman behind the popular TikTok series “Fast Black History” offers readers a collection of short biographies of prominent Black Americans.

Each of the 12 profiles includes a segment entitled “TAYSTORY!” (for “History + Taylor”) that shows how the historical figure has personally influenced the author’s life. The eclectic selection, which includes both well-known names and ones that may be new to readers, demonstrates how wide-ranging Black history is and how many life lessons can be found in it. The story of Claudette Colvin focuses on the possibility of making change at a young age. Eighteenth-century scientist Benjamin Banneker offers a reminder “to never shrink yourself.” Some entries, such as the one on journalist Ida B. Wells, open with a

content warning. Zora Neale Hurston’s entry includes a playlist of modern music that highlights her complex personality. The chapter on photographer Gordon Parks celebrates his “reverberant, honest voice.” Ledger Smith roller-skated from Chicago to the 1963 March on Washington; track star Tommie Smith famously took a stand against racism at the 1968 Olympics; and actor Cicely Tyson shows “why good representation changes lives.” The remaining subjects—fashion designer Patrick Kelly, Stonewall Uprising leader Marsha P. Johnson, and astronaut Mae Jemison—offer other valuable examples. The lively, colloquial language makes this work accessible and appealing to those who might shy away from traditional history texts. Bellet’s whimsical illustrations add to the sense of joy. The book has no source list.

Relatable history and personal storytelling that will reach digital natives. (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus

Star

Beautiful Brutal Bodies

Cheng, Linda | Roaring Brook Press (336 pp.) | $19.99 | November 4, 2025 9781250865816

A claustrophobic horror story unfolds on a small island where nothing is as it seems.

All 17-year-old Tian has ever known is the beautiful prison she’s been caged in since her mother’s tragic death—an isolated Pacific Northwest mansion, where she lives with Auntie Chu, her guardian, and Liya, Auntie Chu’s daughter and Tian’s “shadow.” Tian writes and performs songs for her online followers, which provides a modicum of solace. But after some of her fans die horrific deaths during one of her livestreams, she blames herself—and Liya starts

feeling more like a guard than a sympathetic friend. Auntie Chu dispatches Tian to a retreat on Xingmeng, a private island near Hong Kong, “for creatives who need a safe place to rebuild themselves after experiencing difficult circum stances.” She’s accompanied by Liya and Shenyu, a boy she met online and collaborates with in making music. Xingmeng Island is strange and eerie, and the trio try to determine whether there’s something macabre going on. As they seek the truth, they also must come to terms with who and what they truly are. This book, which is suffused with horror, hits all the marks: It’s stunningly grotesque, with a lyrical narrative and compelling dialogue. The banter and chemistry among the characters is delicious, and there’s an absorbing romance. All main characters are East Asian.

Intense and atmospheric; sure to live on in readers’ minds long after they finish. (content warning) (Horror. 14-18)

Mint To Be

Cicatelli-Kuc, Katie | Scholastic (304 pp.) | $10.99 paper October 7, 2025 | 9798225003241

Seventeen-yearold Emma Sherman returns home from her Manhattan boarding school for the holidays and faces her estranged childhood best friend, Aiden Cooper-Gallo.

Aiden and Emma, inseparable since kindergarten, grew up in the quaint town of Briar Glen, six hours by train from New York City. Emma dreamed of traveling and one day, over their traditional peppermint hot chocolates at local cafe Cup o’ Jo, she excitedly announced her interest in Easton Academy, a prestigious boarding school on the Upper East Side. Aiden didn’t get a chance to tell Emma about his feelings for her before she left in June, without even saying goodbye. In

the intervening six months, their contact has been limited to cursory texts—“One-word replies. Thumbs-up emojis”—but now Emma is returning for Christmas with Sam, her new boyfriend from school, who matches her academic drive. Neither boy knows anything about the other, and tensions rise as the three are inevitably thrown together. Being in Brian Glen brings out Sam’s overbearing and snobbish big-city ways, and forces Emma and Aiden to stop avoiding uncomfortable conversations. The chapters move backward and forward in time, allowing readers to understand the teens’ decadelong friendship. The small-town festivities form an enchanting backdrop for the unfolding of love triangle and boy-next-door romance tropes. The story is peppered with charm, humor, a dog with a big personality, and plenty of sweetness (that never crosses over into being saccharine). The leads present white. A cozy and atmospheric Christmas romance. (Romance. 12-17)

Kirkus Star

Hazelthorn

Drews, CG | Feiwel & Friends (368 pp.) $19.99 | October 28, 2025 | 9781250376299

A family’s secrets rise to the surface as a young man investigates a suspected murder. Evander, who’s 17 and lonely, never leaves his room in the manor on

Hazelthorn Estate. He’s told he’s too fragile and is locked away “for his safety” while an elderly butler feeds him brain-addling “medicine.” But one night changes Evander’s life—and the manor’s future—forever. Byron Lennox-Hall, Evander’s billionaire guardian and the family’s patriarch, dies unexpectedly. Relatives descend upon Hazelthorn like vultures as a shocking twist reveals that Byron left everything to Evander alone. Without

Byron around to keep his only grandchild and presumed heir, Laurence “Laurie” Lennox-Hall, away from his ward, Laurie and Evander become the unlikeliest of allies. When they were boys, Laurie attempted to kill Evander—but, maddeningly, Evander can’t stop thinking about him. He also suspects that someone murdered Byron. Drews’ latest starts off as a straightforward whodunit and turns into something that’s far more sinister—and delicious. From descriptions of moth-eaten decay to vivid floral imagery, Drews luxuriates in atmospheric prose. Their literary green thumb nurtures intertwining themes of monstrosity and abuse alongside yearning, first love, queerness, and mystery. The slow-burn romance at the root of this blend of gothic and body horror is as tender as it is unforgettable. Evander is cued as autistic, and main characters present white. A uniquely arranged bouquet of terrors, as disturbing as it is beautiful. (author’s note) (Horror. 13-18)

In the Company of Wolves

Farías, Antonio | Piñata Books/ Arte Público (188 pp.) | $14.95 paper September 9, 2025 | 9798893750119

A preteen explores what it means to be a man during a summer on the family ranch in New Mexico in Farías’ low-key debut novel. After his Mexican American father dies in the Vietnam War, rising seventh grader Jaime Cieza and his family face eviction. Hoping to rebuild their lives, Jaime’s Puerto Rican mom concocts a last-ditch plan: She’ll stay in New York to find a job and new home, as well as stop Jaime’s spirited older brother, Kiko, from joining the Marines. Jaime will go to Albuquerque to live with his tough-as-nails Abuela and shrewd Tío Julio, a veteran who survived Vietnam. As the summer rolls on, Jaime settles into ranch life,

learning how to shoot a rifle, feed the chickens, and bond with Shadow Walker, the fierce, stubborn mustang who was his dad’s favorite horse. The days become more interesting thanks to Marcy Barnes, a white-presenting girl from a nearby ranch who’s roughly Jaime’s age. When an old wolf people call Graybeard returns to the llano, threatening the local livestock, Jaime joins his Tío Julio on the hunt, in the process finding out just how much his world has changed. Some of Abuela’s social attitudes, for example about skin tone and Indigenous beliefs, may surprise readers, who must unpack and contextualize them without explicit support from the text. Languid in pace and rich in dialogue, this strongly characterized tale of self-discovery gently dissects adolescence through the lenses of war, familial lineage, and gender roles.

A mellow, keenly observed coming-ofage journey. (Historical fiction. 12-14)

Between the Walls

Faye, Caspian | Tiny Ghost Press (268 pp.) $23.99 | September 2, 2025 | 9781915585349

After his parents’ divorce, an 18-year-old British boy moves with his dad to a fixer-upper, but he soon discovers they aren’t the home’s only occupants.

Bitterness and anxiety about leaving his whole life behind weigh on James, but he’s determined to make a longdistance relationship with his boyfriend, Will, work, and he doesn’t blame his supportive dad for all the changes.

During a video call with his witchy best friend, Nova, on James’ first night in the new house, Nova sees a strange shadow in the room behind him. The arrival of new residents always awakens Nathaniel from his slumber within the walls of his old bedroom. Over the centuries, he’s learned that connecting with the living leads to heartbreak, but something about James’ energy intrigues him. His plan to stay detached falls apart when James and his dad accidentally unbind the other ghost that resides in the house, an ancient and malevolent force that puts them all in danger. The chapters alternate between the perspectives of James and Nathaniel, at first successfully ramping up the suspense with the trickle of details that lead to the release of the violent spirit. Unfortunately, the characterization of the evil entity lacks dimension, and the narrative loses its thread of mystery. The romance suffers from rushed pacing in the last half of the book. Characters present white, and Nathaniel is transgender.

A paranormal romance with unrealized chilling potential. (Paranormal romance. 14-18)

Leave It on the Track

Fisher, Margot | Dutton (336 pp.) | $19.99 November 18, 2025 | 9780593858394

In the wake of devastating loss, a queer teen finds a home on a roller derby team.

Sixteen-yearold Morgan “Moose” Shaker has grown up skating alongside her dads at their local roller rink in Finney’s Mesa, Utah. When a fire

An otherworldly journey wrapped in the complexities of the human heart.

THE WICKED LIES OF HABREN FAIRE

breaks out at the rink one night, Moose narrowly survives, but the fire claims the lives of both Papa and Dad. She’s forced to move to Portland, Oregon, to live with Eden, the older half sister who’s a near stranger. Moose always felt too queer for small-town Utah; she now worries that she isn’t queer enough for Portland. She and Eden struggle to adjust to their new lives together, but they tentatively find common ground when Eden introduces Moose to roller derby. Moose finds an unexpected sense of community on her team and explores a romantic connection with Mercury, the team captain, despite dating among teammates being frowned upon. Moose’s path to healing as she copes with the physical and emotional aftermath of the fire feels authentically raw and includes positive depictions of therapy. The developing relationship between Moose and Eden is particularly compelling as the two reconcile their past and forge a new sisterhood. Fast-paced roller derby sequences lighten an otherwise heavy story and are easy to follow even for those unfamiliar with the sport. Moose reads white, Mercury is white and Korean American, and there’s some racial diversity in the supporting cast. A hopeful, tender debut about grief, healing, and finding community. (Fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Star

The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire

Fiteni, Anna | Little, Brown (272 pp.) | $19.99 October 21, 2025 | 9781523529940

In this debut, a 16-year-old girl ventures into a forest inhabited by fairies known as the tylwyth teg seeking her missing sister. In mid-19thcentury Wales, Sabrina Parry and her beautiful and sickly older sister, Ceridwen, are

struggling. Their mother died, and their father’s been sent as a convict to Australia, leaving Sabrina as the sole provider. The night after she encourages Ceridwen to marry to ease their financial burden, Sabrina startles awake and discovers that Ceridwen has entered the mysterious woods bordering their mining town. Following her, Sabrina enters a world of mythical Welsh creatures. She meets Morgen, the mermaid lover Ceridwen has been visiting for years, and learns her sister is going to meet the king of the tylwyth teg. Needing human help to vanquish the forces of the Dark Place, Y Lle Tywyll, the king is offering the reward of immortality. Determined to retrieve Ceridwen—whether she wants to return or not—blond Sabrina strikes a bargain with fairy prince Neirin, who has wavy black hair and “glass-smooth milk-white skin.” He’ll help Sabrina become the king’s champion, and she’ll help his court win the king’s favor. Fiteni skillfully portrays Sabrina’s prickly personality in a way that evokes understanding and sympathy; her multilayered relationship with Ceridwen is particularly well portrayed. In addition to the haunting, immersive plot, Neirin’s frank acceptance of Sabrina, flaws and all, makes their relationship all the more rewarding. An enchanting otherworldly journey wrapped in the complexities of the human heart. (Historical fantasy. 14-18)

A Fate So Cold

Foody, Amanda & C.L. Herman Tor Teen (432 pp.) | $21.99 November 4, 2025 | 9781250873156

Adventure, destiny, and romance intermingle in a stormy fantasy.

Domenic Barrow and Ellery Caldwell (both cued white) are students at Alderland’s prestigious magic academy, where they’re training to defeat a once-in-a-century cataclysm. At first, it

seems the two teens couldn’t be more different: Ellery is a model student, favored to become Alderland’s next Chosen One, the powerful magician bestowed with unique abilities to defend the nation. By contrast, Domenic is a flaky bad boy better known for sleeping around than for serious study. When unprecedented magic anoints them both as Chosen Ones, the two struggle to reconcile private insecurities with performative public personas. Domenic and Ellery are an appealing duo, each striving to live up to the impossible expectations of heroism while grappling with past traumas. Their growing connection gets a boost from sharp dialogue that pivots adroitly between flirty banter and soul-baring. When, after much yearning, a romance blossoms between the two, it’s tender and believable. The novel is strongest in the first half, where a taut balance of worldbuilding, action, and character growth creates irresistible stakes. The second half is less effective due to a series of plot switchbacks and reveals that some readers may find disjointed. Most, however, will remain heartily invested, rooting for the heroes’ romantic and magical triumphs all the way through to the heart-pounding conclusion. The supporting cast includes diversity in race, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Fresh and compelling. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Lullabies for the Insomniacs: A Memoir in Verse

Foutz, Ella Grace | Zest Books (128 pp.) | $15.99 paper November 4, 2025 | 9798765671306

A young woman struggling with bipolar disorder engages in metaphorical battles. Foutz’s debut, a collection of autobiographical poems, presents her raw, firsthand experience with bipolar disorder, organized into the

stages of a deeply personal journey. Part one—“time zones”—sets up initial definitions using metaphorical references to the polarity of natural phenomena. The second section, “survival log,” frames her struggles, including suicidal ideation and insomnia, during inpatient treatment. One shape poem, “Physics,” illustrates what it feels like to experience the pendulum sway of feelings. Allusions to gravity, atoms, chromosomes, and other scientific concepts appear throughout. The writing style reads like a confessional journal and utilizes the imprecise language of an inexpert poetic voice. Many of the stand-alone poems reflect metaphysical musings, and the work lacks overall cohesion. Readers become observers of the writer’s vivid—albeit frequently, exhaustingly repetitive—descriptions of inner turmoil, and they may not feel fully engaged with the writing. Later poems on Foutz’s recovery and coping skills take on a more mature poetic voice and play with sound devices and diction. Several poems discuss unresolved suicidal thoughts in ways that readers with similar struggles may find challenging, as in “To Die, To Sleep”: “Another pill — / Did I already take another pill? / If I take two will I die? / If I don’t take any I surely will. / My limbs are drenched in drugs like clothes in water / How many pills have I taken now?” Raw, relevant, and well-intentioned but unrefined. (content note, resources) (Poetry. 13-18)

NFL Super Bowl:

The Greatest Championships of All Time

Gallagher, Jim | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) | $33.95 | September 1, 2025 9781678211882

Dramatic accounts of five notable games from America’s “most popular single-day sporting event.” Gallagher begins by quickly recapping football history: the

National Football League’s first season in 1920, the growth in popularity of professional football starting in the 1940s, the first televised NFL championship in 1958, the founding of the American Football League in 1960, and the first AFL-NFL World Championship game, dubbed the “Super Bowl,” in 1967. The author rightly notes that more than half of the first 50 Super Bowls were anticlimactic “blowouts.” In the book he highlights games that turned out to be memorable contests, including the New York Jets’ surprise win in Super Bowl III (1969) and the Kansas City Chiefs’ 25-22 squeaker over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII (2024). In accessible prose, he offers accounts of each game’s progress in language that’s pitched to readers who are already at least moderately familiar with football rules and terms. Frequent text boxes add interesting background information: statistics, players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, or the lucrative (Taylor) “Swift Effect,” which has “increased the NFL’s brand value by over $330 million” since the singer started dating Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. The color photos are too sparse to have much visual impact, but they do present glimpses of coaches and players in action.

Offers football fans magnetic moments and some broader context. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Blood Letters

Gordon, Ariel | Illus. by GMB Chomichuk Yellow Dog (210 pp.) | $17.95 paper November 11, 2025 | 9781773371436

A timeline of three intermingled takes on the costs of futuristic warfare. This tale of a prolonged, monumental conflict opens in “YEAR ONE” with a declaration of war. On one side, there’s an advancing

drone swarm that looks like fog and is known, appropriately enough, as FOG, or Foamic Open-cell Geometrophasics. FOG kills people from the inside out, disables radio signals, ignites gasoline, and turns its victims into zombielike monstrosities. Battling this strange and gruesome enemy are people like Augmented Infantry machine operator Kristopher Volsa and his adopted brother, Albany Prost, who serves in the Basic Infantry. Their technologically savvy sister, Millicent Volsa, endures the harsh conditions of refugee life before being coerced into enlisting. The trio’s yearslong record of letters, poems, black-and-white drawings, and computer reports forms an epistolary narrative chronicling their traumatic experiences. The earliest letters have a science-fiction jarhead charm to them before more disturbing machinations come to light. The terror of being disassembled alive by FOG is matched by that of having wounds healed by reassembly, which has lasting side effects and inspires a comparison to becoming “Frankenstein’s Monster.” The multimedia approach to the book is effective at communicating the transformational effects of the war, to which no one is immune.

Psychological and body horror given multiple forms, all of them scarring. (glossary, dramatis personae) (Dystopian. 14-18)

Beneath False Stars

Grimm, S.D. | Enclave Escape (368 pp.) $24.99 | September 9, 2025 | 9798886052183 Series: Project Integration, 1

In this series opener, a Normal teenager joins a postwar struggle to restore freedom and civil rights to a defeated population of genetically engineered people with diverse superpowers.

Ryleigh Stevens’ feelings for hunky Knox Archer, a fellow police academy trainee who’s Powered, undergo a

radical change: She’d wrongly blamed him for causing the death of her beloved brother in a terrorist attack. Her emotional turmoil over recognizing her error is compounded when she discovers that her own government is involved in a secret effort to weaponize the crushed and sequestered Powered using a mind-control drug rather than reintegrate them into the general population. Grimm lays down the details of this inventively skewed dystopian setting and its historical background in such a strung-out way that readers may struggle at first to comprehend what’s going on. Still, the slow-burn transformation in the relationship between moody Knox, who hides more than one fantastically dangerous secret, and the rude, anxiety-prone, but stubbornly principled protagonist offers an easily graspable throughline. The Powered, who are pejoratively dubbed “simuls” (short for “simulacrum”) and must wear armbands that mute their abilities, are subjected to brutal attacks by triggerhappy police and other Normals. The episode reaches a violent, high-stakes climax before an ending that sets up for the sequel. The Powered are varied in appearance; pale-skinned Knox has blue eyes and light-brown hair. Ryleigh is cued white.

A complex, emotionally fraught kickoff driven by moral principles and developing romance. (Science fiction. 13-17)

Seven Deadly Thorns

Hamilton, Amber | Bloomsbury (400 pp.)

$20.99 | November 4, 2025 | 9781547619108

Two young people must find answers before both their lives are forfeited. The poisonous Mists have covered the land of Aragoa for almost two decades, forcing the survivors to remain sequestered in the magical protective dome around the castle. Viola, an 18-year-old commoner in her last year of schooling, is researching an

old book in an ancient language that might reveal how to banish the Mists, finally freeing the kingdom. She must hide her identity as a meiga, or “wielder of magic,” since the Queen has ordered all magic-users be put to death. When her secret is revealed, Viola strikes a deal with “Prince Pompous, His Royal Heinousness” Roze Roquelart, who’s also the Queen’s assassin known as the Huntsman, to (temporarily) spare her life in return for her helping him find the person responsible for the king’s recent murder. A binding curse, a pretend engagement, a secret organization, ghosts, and the undead all complicate their mission. This story relies heavily on the enemies-to-lovers trope, with some minor influences from the traditional folktale “Snow White.” After some highly truncated exposition, the narrative jumps too quickly between momentous events, repeatedly moving on without appropriate resolutions or repercussions, leaving behind a moody miasma. The setting feels unclear, which will disappoint readers seeking a strong sense of place. Viola and Roze present white. Tries to do too much. (Fantasy. 15-18)

What We Did to Each Other

Hernández, Josuee | Flux (320 pp.) | $21.99 September 30, 2025 | 9781635831078

Yesenia has figured out how to make everyone see her—she just has to change everything about herself.

Yesenia Rivera is 17, Mexican American, and

tired of being overlooked. When her mother gets a job opportunity in the Pacific Northwest, Yesenia sees this move as a chance to start over: She bleaches her skin, dyes her hair blond, and gets blue contacts, so that she can pass as white. It works. At her new school, where she introduces herself as Jessie, she’s quickly invited into the ranks of the popular white girls. She starts to love this new life of parties and

“becoming something special,” but one person isn’t fooled. Guillermo “Willie” Rivera, who’s also Mexican American, knows how hard it is to fit in—he deals with abuse at home, and money troubles lead him to dealing drugs. Set in the 2010s, this debut, told in Yesenia’s and Guillermo’s alternating first-person perspectives, tackles some heavy topics, like colorism and internalized racism. The exploration of the journey of a brown Latine person who’s trying to pass for white is intriguing, and the tension around whether Yesenia will be found out is taut. Unfortunately, however, the novel is unevenly paced, drops plot points, and comes to an abrupt, ambiguous ending that feels unearned and may leave readers yearning for closure. An intense, unyielding ride that never quite arrives anywhere. (Fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Star

K-Jane

Kang, Lydia | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (336 pp.) | $19.99 October 21, 2025 | 9780063354623

A Korean American teenager, believing she’s not “Korean enough,” tries reinventing herself.

Jane Choi, a 17-year-old Korean American girl in Omaha, Nebraska, feels embarrassed about her ignorance of Korean culture. Even Matty Ricci and Bridge Johanssen, her best friends, who are cued white, obsessively watch K-dramas and are K-everything experts. Jane’s second-generation parents haven’t transmitted the bits of cultural knowledge they have, and she’s worried that Franklin, her soon-to-be-born baby brother, will be clueless, too. Feeling inadequate, Jane devises Project K-Jane as a solution: She starts teaching herself all about Korean culture, recording her progress on a private channel on the StoryThyme app. She cooks Korean dishes, learns about holidays, studies

Korean language, and watches K-dramas, imagining someday guiding her brother. She also hopes her vlog will entertain her cousins, fellow “white on the inside” bananas, who are her only audience. If she impresses her crush, culturally savvy Taiwanese American Edward Liu, even better. But Jane’s retreat into her obsession alienates her friends and breaks the trust her parents have in her. And when she accidentally goes viral, the ensuing drama shows her what belonging really means. This refreshing portrayal of a young woman navigating culture and identity highlights the diversity of Korean diaspora experiences. Jane’s angst, perceptive voice, and self-awareness add dimension to her transformation. Kang weaves thought-provoking musings on authenticity and the gatekeeping of cultural identity throughout.

A nuanced, skillfully executed, and highly entertaining exploration of cultural belonging. (Fiction. 13-18)

Silencing Voices: Book Bans, Cancel Culture, and Other Forms of Censorship

Lerose, Robert | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) $33.95 | September 1, 2025 | 9781678211981

An overview of the meaning of free speech in the context of the U.S. Constitution. Lerose notes that “reasonable parties” may contest the application of the First Amendment in settings including schools, public libraries, social media platforms, and the press, but balancing the free expression of ideas is crucial for the maintenance of “public safety and social order.” The book concisely covers the history of the First Amendment, the vexing issue of “inflammatory or reckless” speech, and the key connection between the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Readers will find definitions of terms like libel and slander in the text. Although book challenges and bans based on “LGBTQ and racial justice issues” appear to emerge from social conservatism, Lerose avoids

political labels. He identifies groups that resist censorship, like the American Library Association and PEN America. Other chapters focus on censorship of the curriculum, including a 2023 Florida directive that teachers should “frame slavery in a more positive light.” The chapter on online speech examines the impact of misinformation and disinformation on public safety, offering readers case studies such as 2024 lies about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating pets, inaccuracies about Covid-19, and the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol building. Lerose clearly, carefully, and thoroughly addresses many complex issues, making this work a strong starting point for those seeking to understand the nuances of this “precious right.”

An even-handed, informed discussion of divisive subjects. (source notes, organizations and websites, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18)

Joy to the Girls

Lippincott, Rachael & Alyson Derrick Simon & Schuster (176 pp.) | $16.99 September 30, 2025 | 9781665963930 Series: She Gets the Girl, 2

Secrecy, matchmaking, and love in a winter wonderland.

Three years on from the events of 2022’s She Gets the Girl, Molly and Alex are going strong. With college graduation on the horizon, each young woman is making plans for the next chapter of life—Molly’s applied to an MFA program in London, and Alex, who has a good job lined up at “a hipster tech company,” dreams of living with Molly. The only problem? The girlfriends have yet to share these plans with one another. Such is the state of affairs as they head into a winter weekend away in dreamy Barnwich, “the Christmas capital of Pennsylvania.” Their friends May and Cora, who are hiding crushes on one another, join them on the trip, and Alex and Molly are determined to help them get together. Although the

four central characters are each hiding something, the stakes feel relatively low because the conflicts are quickly resolved, and the steady love of the central pair provides a reliable keel. This novella from co-authors Lippincott and Derrick, a married couple, offers fans of Molly and Alex a low-stress, holiday-themed read, but with the two leads perseverating on their respective secrets for chapters on end, readers may wish for a meatier plot. The previous book established Molly as Korean and white, and the other main characters present white.

Sweet and easy wintry fun.

(Romance. 14-18)

Sharks: Threatened Ocean Predators

Marcovitz, Hal | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) $33.95 | September 1, 2025 | 9781678211967

A challenge to see sharks differently. Former journalist Marcovitz opens with two dramatic recent examples of shark attacks—one fatal and one (on a 10-year-old) not; he contrasts these terrifying accounts with facts about the rarity of shark attacks on people, whereas “some 80 million” sharks are killed by people each year. The following two chapters extol sharks’ unique qualities and their contributions to the environment as apex predators or mesopredators, depending on their species. Unfortunately, the prose in these sections is lackluster, more awkward exposition than stirring storytelling or convincing argument. However, the writer reengages his audience in the third chapter, with a recap of the book and film Jaws and a surprising quote from movie director Steven Spielberg, who said “I truly, and to this day, regret the decimation of the shark population because of the book and the film.” Marcovitz describes myriad other threats, including the demands for shark fins for soup, sharkskin shoes and accessories, and squalene (from shark liver oil) for cosmetics. The book concludes with descriptions of global efforts to protect

sharks and hopeful examples of changing attitudes. Subheadings break up the text, making it more accessible, although their connection to the information that follows isn’t always immediately clear. The striking photographs and ample text boxes containing quotations and background information don’t fully redeem this unexceptional survey. A pedestrian overview. (source notes, organizations and websites, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-16)

The House Saphir

Meyer, Marissa | Feiwel & Friends (432 pp.)

$19.99 | November 4, 2025 | 9781250320957

A girl who can see ghosts takes on a deadly challenge. Everyone knows the tale: Wealthy Count Bastien Saphir, aka Monsieur Le Bleu, married and murdered three unsuspecting women before the fourth got away. They say Le Bleu was still laughing as his last wife’s brothers cut off his head. A century later, Mallory Fontaine gives tours of House Saphir and knows more than anyone about the family and their history. Count Armand Saphir, heir to the estate, seeks out Mallory and her elder sister, Anaïs, to assist at the family’s country estate, where Le Bleu’s ghost has returned to threaten the inhabitants. Armand hopes that the Fontaine family’s reputation as gifted witches means they can aid in this exorcism. Unfortunately, the sisters aren’t entirely truthful about their magical talents; their mother was renowned for her elixirs and talismans, but Mallory and Anaïs don’t possess her powers and make a living selling fake charms and spells. Still, Mallory agrees, betting on her legitimate ability to talk to ghosts and her affinity with the macabre. But as the gory sacrifices add up, it seems there may be more than a ghost that’s haunting the estate. Meyer takes the

classic French folktale “Bluebeard” and expertly sprinkles in ghosts and otherworldly creatures to create an eerie tale with a side of steamy romance. The characters are full-bodied, possessing either winsome or terrifying auras, while the setting beautifully conveys a bewitching ambiance. Mallory and Armand present white. Bloody brilliant! (guide to monsters) (Supernatural mystery. 14-18)

To the Stars: The Story of NASA

Miller, Ron | Twenty-First Century/Lerner (152 pp.) | $37.32 PLB | September 9, 2025

An overview of NASA’s growth and accomplishments, from World War I–era antecedents to a planned return to the Moon in 2026. This work is of some value for tallying many of the spectacular successes and failures in both aeronautics and space exploration sponsored by the U.S. government through the 20th century and into the 21st. Unfortunately, Miller’s narrative quickly becomes an eye-glazing barrage of mission profiles and technical descriptions that are only rarely relieved by a photo or graphic image. Readers who would like to know what the cutting-edge Bell X-1 rocket-powered plane from the 1940s looked like—not to mention the Gemini capsule, the International Space Station, or any NASA satellite, space probe, or Mars rover—will have to be content with verbal descriptions alone. Still, the facts seem to be carefully researched, the author tells a coherent story, and the glimpses of upcoming and longer-range space missions send a reassuring message that the agency is resolutely keeping its eye on the future. Text boxes add interest by covering subjects such as experiments with sending animals into space (including the ill-fated dog Laika, who died of hyperthermia on board the Soviet Union’s Sputnik I ) and the experiences and contributions of women and racial minorities.

A methodical reference, if dry and lacking in visual appeal. (glossary, source notes, bibliography, further reading, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-16)

Everything She Does Is Magic

Morrissey, Bridget | Delacorte Romance (288 pp.) | $12.99 paper September 9, 2025 | 9780593898437

In the countdown to Halloween, two girls revel in the magic of the season. The town of Fableview packs its biggest moneymaking holiday with events galore. Darcy Keller, who teaches painting classes in her parents’ art shop, lays the legends of benevolent local witches on thick when she’s speaking to tourists, though she doesn’t really believe they’re true. She’s trying to break away from expectations that she’ll stay in town and take over the shop; her sights are instead set on an out-of-state college. But how to tell her parents? Anya Doyle, who’s queer, moved to Fableview last year. She’s a bona fide witch—a mender, who can revive dead flowers or repair torn fabric. She’s under pressure to find a mortal to act as her protector before her upcoming initiation into the family coven. Maybe it could be Darcy, whom she’s had a crush on since the moment they met—but she’s unsure how to broach either topic when they barely talk. On the cusp of adulthood, the 17-year-olds must learn to claim their respective identities while honoring traditions. This is a feel-good read infused with cozy autumnal atmosphere. The whimsical Halloween elements (Darcy’s parents wear bedsheet ghost costumes, and Mr. Keller owns a necktie adorned with pumpkins) complement the lively characters, lighthearted antics, and immersive descriptions. The leads are cued white.

A charming and witchy Sapphic romance. (Romance. 12-18)

Kirkus Star

THE KIRKUS Q&A: ROSELLE LIM

A deadly cooking competition— Iron Chef meets Hunger Games —is at the center of the author’s new fantasy novel.

BY CHRISTINE GROSS-LOH

GROWING UP, Roselle Lim was a huge fan of the Japanese TV show Iron Chef. In fact, the cutthroat cooking competition served as inspiration for Lim’s new YA fantasy novel, Celestial Banquet. “I wanted something even more intense [than Iron Chef ], Lim says. “What would happen if you took the same concept but added in some deadly elements?” The book, set in a vivid pan-Asian world, follows Cai, a young, ambitious, food-obsessed noodle chef who dreams of becoming a contestant in the Celestial Banquet competition. The prize is priceless—a peach of immortality—but the cost of participation is high, and many contestants don’t survive. Kirkus’ review calls it “delicious and dangerous, with a side helping of romance.” We spoke with Lim over Zoom from her home in Ontario, Canada. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

You’ve established yourself as a writer of adult fiction; what made you decide to turn to YA for this one?  Loving Iron Chef as I did as a teen, I basically wrote a book I would have liked to have read at that age. Just something really fun, something exciting. That was around the same time that The Mummy movie [1999] came out, and I really loved that sort of lighthearted, flying-by-the-seat-ofyour-pants adventure.

Interestingly, I’ve found that YA pacing is a lot more torrid. The pacing of my other novels tends to be more like a nice stroll in the

park; this is more like being on a roller coaster.

How did food come to take on such a prominent role in your life and in your books?

I’ve always been a discerning eater; even as a kid I was obsessed with food, and I was attached to my grandma, who loves to cook. I’d watch her, but she’d also let me help if I could—chicken adobo, kare-kare, leche flan. I find that participating in the ritual of making food shapes you. You have a better appreciation for all the effort that someone goes through to present you with food you love.

When I write about food, I think about the aroma, the texture, the taste. The way I describe it in my books is how I experience it. All my books feature food in some way. But Celestial Banquet and my debut [Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune, 2019] are the most foodcentered. In my debut, the protagonist is also a cook, and the book even includes my father’s recipes.

I see elements from many different Asian cultures in the worldbuilding for Celestial Banquet ; even the names of the characters reflect considerable diversity. How did you come up with this fascinatingly pan-Asian world?  I went to school for humanities and history and specialized in East Asian studies. Nowadays, people will say, “Oh, you have a

liberal arts degree? What are you going to do with that?” This is one of those ways to use it, because thanks to all that study, you get to know the nuances and history behind major events, what causes conflict and so forth. So it was really about using my university degree in a helpful way. I’ve taken all these courses—I might as well make use of that experience!

Readers have said that my books are cinematic. They can picture everything in their heads when they’re reading them, which is how I want it to be, because when I write something, I always picture it with set design in mind. Everything has a place and a purpose.

I read in an interview that you keep a bullet journal when writing a book.

Paul Smith

Could you elaborate on how you find it helpful?

For one, I’ll use my journal to track words. Every 1,000 or 2,000 words, I’ll draw a picture, and I also draw charts. And then I find that it really helps if you have a picture of the characters, so I will have a page dedicated to each of them. That way, you always have a reference shot. It’s sort of like a bio sheet, which writers do create, but this way they’re all together [in one notebook].

I’ll also have another section where I ask myself, What are the themes in the book? Some themes might be: the politics of food, food swamps, food deserts, the ethics of meat, classes,

classism, food insecurity, and poverty.

But the main reason why I like bullet journaling when working on a book is that you have a scrapbook at the end, when your book is done, that you can look through and think, Yeah, I did all this.

So you went to college and majored in East Asian studies. Was it after that that you decided to become a writer? Or was it something you’d wanted to pursue since you were young? I grew up with my grandma reading me comics or telling me Filipino folktales, so there was a love of story from a young age. I

actually used to write fan fiction, too. But my third grade teacher told me that my grammar was so bad that I would never end up being a writer. However, I am my father’s daughter, meaning there’s a pettiness that runs in the family. Whenever my teacher criticized my writing, I’d think, I’ll prove you wrong.

I didn’t, though, really pursue writing until I had a kid. That’s when I thought,  OK, I’ve got to sit down and really be serious about this. I’ve got to dedicate time, find really good critique partners. I just knew it was time to get serious with writing.

You went to art school for a year. You drew the beautiful map inside Celestial Banquet, and I love the glimpse of the bullet journal you’ve shown me. It must be so fulfilling to think of ways to combine your love of art and writing.  I view writing as painting with words, and I view art as articulating ideas on paper, through shapes and forms. They’re very interchangeable for me.

Any favorite responses to your books?

I really like when readers tell me, “You made me feel seen.” That’s so touching because I know that when I was growing up, I could only look towards Amy Tan, basically feeling, OK, this is the one mirror that I can find. Now we live in a day and age where there are more writers of color bringing different types of lenses that you can look through and experience.

Would you say there’s a common theme or signature message that runs through your work?

There’s always family—that sense of family, whether it’s found family or the one that you’re born with. And food has always been present even if it’s not the main element. I want to include as much as I can of my own culture, and I get it in there by way of extension to food. Because to me, food is like language. It tells you so much—about geography, history, economics, government, anything you can think of. You can break all of that down by writing about just one meal.

Christine Gross-Loh is the author of Parenting Without Borders and The Path.

Summer’s Last Hurrah

Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes.

FAKE SKATING

Climate Change: Can Humanity Adapt?

Nakaya, Andrea C. | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) | $33.95 | September 1, 2025 9781678210700

Climate change is here. What can we humans do?

Asserting that we’re already experiencing climate change— and there will be more to come— this short survey offers an accessible overview of human adaptation to this new state of affairs. In clear exposition studded with examples from near and far and references to expert sources, Nakaya begins by presenting the need for action, noting the marginalized populations who are most vulnerable to climate change–related hazards. Eventually, however, all of humanity will be affected. The author describes helpful actions, such as managing water resources, designing green urban infrastructure, preserving or restoring ecosystems, and developing early warning, monitoring, and evaluation systems for disasters. She notes challenges, too, including cost, government inaction, insufficient data, and a widespread lack of feelings of urgency. She offsets this litany of obstacles with encouraging examples of successes: rainwater harvesting at a school in Tanzania, mitigating sea level rise in Tuvalu, restoring wetlands in Colombia, and more. In the final chapters, readers learn about what needs to be done in the future to reduce emissions, educate people, invest in research, and take proactive steps to prepare for natural disasters. Most pages include either a photo or a text box, breaking up the paragraphs of text. The latest sources listed date to the summer

of 2024, which unfortunately makes parts of this work already feel dated given recent U.S. policy changes. Solid information superseded by current events. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-16)

Exploring Celtic Mythology

Nardo, Don | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) $33.95 | September 1, 2025 | 9781678210724

Celtic mythology, while less widely known than Greek or Norse myths, is equ ally compelling. Nardo begins by briefly introducing readers to the history of the early Celtic tribes. Their origins remain a mystery, but they likely emerged in central Europe; the British Isles became their “last major stronghold,” and they later converted to Christianity. Many of their stories were written down by Christian scribes and distorted in the process. The author then concisely covers Celtic “myths of beginnings,” love stories, heroes, and mythical creatures. The final chapter focuses on the legend of King Arthur. The story of the Tuatha De Danann introduces the sky gods who reigned in Ireland before retreating to a spirit realm. Readers will appreciate the vivid stories, such as that of the warrior Culhwch, whose father was the Welsh king Cilydd and whose mother was an evil witch, and the struggles he faced in marrying his beloved Olwen, the daughter of a controlling giant. Nardo recognizes Celtic women in mythology, including heroes like Macha of Ulster and Medb, the queen of Connacht (the historical figure of Boudicca doesn’t appear). The chapter on supernatural creatures includes leprechauns, banshee, kelpies, and serpents.

Abundant illustrations reminiscent of Victorian and Edwardian children’s books strike a romantic note. Readers might wish for a pronunciation guide. The writing is clear, and Nardo wrestles his immense subject into accessible introductory bits. An inviting overview of an enduring treasury of myth and tradition. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18)

Exquisite Things

Nazemian, Abdi | Harper/ HarperCollins (384 pp.) | $19.99 September 23, 2025 | 9780063339682

Two gay teens who are eternally 17 yearn for  a time without bigotry. In 1895, Persian-born Shahriar struggles to find love as a gay boarding school student in London. In 1920 Boston, white pianist Oliver seeks connection with his older cousin’s gay Harvard classmates. In both times and places, they’re plagued by loneliness, betrayal by self-loathing boys within their own communities, and homophobia (the trial of Oscar Wilde, a moral panic and purge of gay students at Harvard). Their lives intersect, and through a wish, they’re made immortal, but it’s not until 1980 that Oliver and Shahriar reunite as lovers, when they discover a found family of queer Londoners. Adopted by Lily, a Jamaican-born Black trans seamstress and fashion queen, the boys finally find their queer elders. Yet 1980 is no more a gay utopia than 1895 or 1920 was, especially not for queer people of color living in Margaret Thatcher’s England. With the specter of HIV looming, dreams of societal acceptance feel far away. The narrative weaves back and forth among times and between Oliver’s and Shahriar’s perspectives. Their desires are poetic while the narrative, filled with a barrage of cruelties, lands with a grim determination. Lily and the London scene are delightful, but the boys’ misery-plagued romance, unfolding amid

centuries of historical details, sometimes becomes a slog.

Dense with facts, speckled with hope; will appeal to patient, philosophical readers. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)

When We Were Monsters

Niven, Jennifer | Knopf (400 pp.) | $20.99 September 2, 2025 | 9781524713027

A group of teens attend a winter writing intensive with a famous and unorthodox author.

At the elite prep school Brighton and Hove, being chosen for Jan Term is an honor. Eight students are selected to spend 16 days living in the Moss—the old mansion that belonged to the school’s founder—and work with a renowned visiting artist. Among this year’s group are Effy Green and Arlo Ellis-Noon, two teens with a messy romantic history, who are each struggling with grief. Their new mentor is the notorious Meredith Graffam, “one of the hottest talents in books, theater, and film,” and an alum of Brighton and Hove. Thirty years ago, when Graffam was at Jan Term, her best friend was murdered in the woods surrounding the Moss. Graffam’s book about her experience that night and her fight to see the killer convicted brought her instant success. Now back where it all started, Graffam uses provocative methods— including a promise that she’ll choose one student to have their work “produced, filmed, or published”—that set the classmates against one another, isolating them in the name of pursuing greatness. But as her approach becomes more dangerous, Effy and Arlo must decide whether to trust Graffam or each other. Fans of dark academia will enjoy this atmospheric story of art, lies, and redemption that features a lurking, slowly building sense of dread that grows throughout the novel. Effy, Arlo, and Graffam present white.

Leisurely and spine-tingling. (Thriller. 14-18)

Fake Skating

Painter, Lynn | Simon & Schuster

(448 pp.) | $17.59 | September 30, 2025

9781665921268

When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings. Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.

A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)

The Fangirl Project

Reekles, Beth | Delacorte Romance (368 pp.) | $12.99 paper

November 4, 2025 | 9798217031498

Hoping to connect with her crush through fandom, a Welsh girl ends up finding herself.

Sixteen-year-old Cerys has been nurturing feelings for her best friend, Jake; she worries that they’ll grow apart as they move on to different secondary schools. As a way to stay close and convince him that she’s “his dream girl,” Cerys decides to engage with the Of Wrath and Rune fandom—OWAR is Jake’s favorite fantasy TV and book series. She’s disappointed that Jake’s new friend, Max, is always around for their watch parties and con outings and hopes that chatting one-on-one with Jake in the OWAR Discord channel will further her romantic agenda. But somehow, the deeper their online conversations become, the less available Jake seems in person—it’s almost as if he’s two different people. Meanwhile, Cerys is trying to fit in with a group of cool girls at St. David’s, her new school in Cardiff, which means hiding her nowsincere appreciation for OWAR. She slowly comes to realize that she has a lot in common with Anissa, a shy girl in her art class, who also loves OWAR. At the same time, her Discord correspondence with @runicrascal is a source of emotional connection and vulnerability. This solid, well-paced book explores relatable subjects like learning to be true to oneself and finding friends who like the real you. The realistic dialogue and strong character development will keep readers turning the pages. Main characters read white. Fandom fans and romance lovers will rejoice! (Romance. 13-18)

For another book about fandoms, visit Kirkus

Great NFL QuarterbackReceiver Duos

Reston, Dominick | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) | $33.95 | September 1, 2025 9781678210847

Tributes to six pairs of passers and receivers who led their teams to NFL glory.

In this highoctane narrative, Reston describes how the “plodding, run-oriented snoozefest” that was American football before the 1960s was transformed into a game dominated by “fast and fascinating air travel.” He highlights spectacular teamwork between superstar duos like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ towering quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, and wide receiver Lynn Swann and the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. What made these pairs so successful? San Francisco 49ers star Jerry Rice comments on “chemistry,” saying that, “If Joe [Montana] was a female, we would have dated.” Mahomes and Kelce are the only active players included—all the rest are long retired (although some work as sports commentators). Readers follow Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin as they lead the Dallas Cowboys “from the outhouse to the penthouse” in the 1990s and learn how Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts scored an astonishing 112 touchdowns, setting a record for a regular season game. Future New England Patriots Hall of Famers Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski were “a match made in football heaven.” The prose is inviting and accessible, but readers will find the skimpy assortment of game photos underwhelming. Text boxes provide additional information on the individual players and aspects of the game.

Engaging tributes plus some background history on football make this an appealing choice for fans. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Teen Guide to Planning for Your Future

Rockler, Naomi | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.)

$33.95 | September 1, 2025 | 9781678212025

A guide delivering clear, balanced, datadriven advice for teens choosing their post–high school path. Rockler lays out multiple options for high school graduates, breaking down the financial and logistical considerations of entering full-time employment or following different educational paths, including traditional college or trade or vocational school. The author weighs the pros and cons of each choice, backing her statements with statistics and personal testimonials, while tackling outdated stigmas surrounding vocational education and covering Historically Black Colleges and Universities as well as faith-based, women’s, tribal, and other colleges. The book includes guidance on job readiness, focusing on professionalism, responsibility, time management and interpersonal skills. The section on financial literacy includes (but goes beyond) banking and credit cards, warning readers about the hidden pitfalls of subscriptions and social media influencer–driven spending traps. The final chapter, “Preparing To Live on Your Own,” provides basic, essential advice on topics including nutrition, stocking a kitchen, and cleaning that will be invaluable to many. The stock photos show racially diverse young people, and

The rich relationships among characters are captivating.

LORD OF BLADE AND BONE

text boxes address sexual harassment in the workplace, roommate contracts, and other important subjects. The writing is clear, concise, and judgment-free, with a good balance of facts, anecdotes, and additional resources. Parents, guardians, and school counselors will find this work as useful as the intended teen audience thanks to its insights, encouragement, and practical tools. This accessible, engaging guide will spark curiosity and provide teens with meaningful and useful information. (source notes, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18)

Lord of Blade and Bone

Rodgers, Erica Ivy | Peachtree Teen (496 pp.) | $19.99 | November 4, 2025 9781682636671 | Series: Waking Hearts, 2

Charlotte Sand and the Order of Guardians are openly rebelling against the tyrant Lorraine the Pure, challenging Luc de Montaigne to trust his feelings and help them.

In this follow-up to Lady of Steel and Straw (2024), Cardinal Lorraine continues drugging rightful heir Artus, exerting her own power. She rules with fear, but eight weeks ago, Captain Luc de Montaigne refused her orders for the first time and was imprisoned. Now, Charlotte and the Order are leading scattered rebellions as they await Artus’ coming of age in six weeks, when he can ascend the throne. Lorraine frees Luc, who pretends he’ll cooperate with her, only to murder his most loyal lieutenant when Luc won’t help her control the wraiths—souls taken from the dead, which she plans to forge into an army. Luc escapes her control and seeks out Charlotte and the Order, whom he betrayed. Still, he knows they offer the only hope of defeating Lorraine and saving Niveaux. This is a complex, nuanced story of politics, power, and how a person’s environment can twist them beyond recognition. The pacing occasionally drags due to the six different viewpoints and the large, racially diverse, and well-developed

cast of characters, each requiring attention both as individuals and for their roles in the larger story. Luc and Charlotte’s dynamic continues to exhibit a push-pull tension that may test readers’ patience. Still, the rich relationships among minor characters are captivating. A heartfelt farewell to a dazzling world. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Optimism: The Power of Positive Thinking

Roland, James | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.)

$33.95 | September 1, 2025 | 9781678211929

This guide explains the benefits of having an optimistic mindset and offers strategies for fostering one. Roland opens by sharing the story of Gabrielle Thomas, the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics 200-meter women’s gold medalist, who repeatedly envisioned herself winning and entered the race already believing she was a champion. He explores some key elements of an optimistic mindset: hope, confidence, realism, gratitude, resilience, acceptance, and empathy. The book references well-known people who overcame tremendous obstacles, such as Helen Keller and Oprah Winfrey, in order to demonstrate the power of resilience, acceptance, and self-belief. Expert insights—from psychologists, therapists, social workers, and business professors—reinforce the advantages of being optimistic, from improved mental and physical health to increased longevity. The book then shifts to the causes and dangers of negativity—catastrophizing, rumination, and negative self-talk. Fortunately, Roland adds nuance, for example by including a short overview of the risks of toxic positivity and emphasizing the protective properties of self-doubt, which can help us avoid “reckless or dangerous” behavior. While this work is packed with valuable information, its sometimes-repetitious content makes it

better suited for piecemeal browsing than reading cover to cover; similarly worded descriptions of the benefits of practicing gratitude and mindfulness appear in two different chapters. The recitation of academic studies and plethora of quotations undercut the readability and compelling message. Persuasively highlights optimism’s power but is weakened by dense, repetitious writing. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Inspirational Women of Today

Sheen, Barbara | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.)

$33.95 | September 1, 2025 | 9781678210861

Profiles of four contemporary women who have achieved across a variety of fields. Sheen’s introduction explains that despite historically having few rights or protections, women “have taken action to make the world a better place.” She tells the story of Yazidi sex trafficking survivor and human rights campaigner Nadia Murad, who won a Nobel Peace Prize. The following chapters each focus on one distinguished woman. Tech industry leader Sylvia Acevedo overcame racism, sexism, and family difficulties. She received a boost from the Girl Scouts (and later became their CEO), worked at NASA, and earned a master’s from Stanford, fulfilling a childhood dream. World and Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles experienced family instability. She was diagnosed with ADHD, faced body shaming and racism, and worked through mental health challenges. Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth was born in Thailand; her father was an American serviceman. The family experienced financial struggles. Duckworth served in Iraq, where she lost her legs in combat, and she’s since dedicated her political career to improving people’s lives. As a child, singer and icon Taylor Swift endured bullying and ridicule for her

musical pursuits but channeled these experiences into her songwriting. Today she’s a role model for her business skills, philanthropy, support of social causes, and kindness toward her fans. Sheen’s concise, engaging writing emphasizes the subjects’ success in overcoming struggles, offering encouragement and inspiration to readers.

A celebration of accomplishments by notable women. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Fade Into You

Smith, Amber & Sam Gellar

McElderry (448 pp.) | $21.99

November 4, 2025 | 9781665966108

It’s 1999, and two young women forced together by circumstance hatch a plan that changes their lives more than they could have anticipated.

When Elizabeth “Bird” Nardino comes home from a summer writing workshop ready to begin her senior year and eager to share newly discovered secrets with her best friend, Kayla, she realizes she isn’t the only one who’s changed. Kayla now has a new boyfriend, Dade, who has inspired her to adopt a new look—and unhealthy dieting habits. Kayla has also isolated herself from their friend group and is unable to focus on anyone or anything but Dade. The Kayla that Bird knew seems gone, at least when Dade is around. When Bird meets Dade’s best friend, Jessa Papadopoulos, and learns that she feels the same way about Kayla’s role in Dade’s life, she doesn’t hesitate to propose a plan: They should work together to break the couple up. Despite their stark personality differences, Bird and Jessa soon find themselves drawn together for reasons beyond their connections to Kayla and Dade, discovering that beneath the surface, they have more in common than expected. This novel blends early millennial references—record stores, Y2K anxiety, Dexatrim, Columbine, and

roller rinks—with a thoughtful, if often uncomfortable, reflection on how society once approached mental health and sexual identity, exposing outdated norms and attitudes that often turned ugly and dangerous. Main characters are cued white. A real, sometimes uneasy, reflection on love and identity. (authors’ note) (Fiction. 14-18)

The Siren and the Star

Smith, Colby Cedar | Simon & Schuster (544 pp.) | $19.99 | October 28, 2025 9781665972178

Two girls living centuries apart are connected by music—and something more mysterious. In 2025, 17-year-old Lula is attending the New England Conservatory of Music after being home-schooled by her mother, who aggressively supports her dream of becoming a famous singer. Lula struggles to find her footing, even as she forms friendships with her roommate and classmates, including a boy she develops romantic feelings for. When she begins a research project for her History of Music class, she’s inexplicably drawn to Barbara Strozzi, a prolific but oftenoverlooked Italian composer of the baroque era. An invitation to join an ensemble that will compete at a music festival in Venice feels like a breakthrough for Lula, but a sudden, traumatic act of violence threatens everything she’s worked for. In 1635 Venice, Barbara is a sharp-witted servant girl with a gift for music. When some powerful men make a condescending wager on whether she can become an accomplished musician, she seizes the opportunity, determined to defy the odds and forge her own path, even as she grapples with sexism and injustice. Moving between the girls’ lives, this dual-timeline novel gradually reveals the bond that connects them. Told in evocative verse, this skillfully crafted and emotionally resonant story explores ambition, resilience, identity, trauma, and the reclamation of women’s

voices across history. The main characters are cued white; there’s some racial diversity among secondary characters. Dreamy and thoughtful. (note about story structure, author’s note) (Verse fiction. 14-18)

Mannaz

Sølvsten, Malene | Trans. by Adrienne Alair | Arctis Books (620 pp.) | $22 September 9, 2025 | 9781646900282 Series: Whisper of the Ravens, 3

Coming at last into her full shamanic powers, 19-year-old Anna Sakarias finds herself playing a pivotal role in events that will either kill the Norse gods or permit them to stage a comeback.

Sølvsten’s trilogy closer, which is translated from Danish, will appeal to readers who don’t mind an unhurried plot so long as they can be immersed in a richly imagined universe. This volume sends the fiery teen on quests for her twin sister, with whom she hopes to head off Ragnarök, and for the golden Gjallarhorn which, if blown, will force the gods to meet their fates. As it turns out, Odin, the wild and mercurial shape-shifter Loki, and others have plans of their own. Set in a modern Midgard (that’s been cut off from the rest of the world) and several adjacent realms along the great tree Yggdrasil, the tale features a mixed cast of ordinary mortals and ghosts of those killed in previous episodes, plus gods, demigods, giants, witches (including a Yoruba family), clairvoyant völvas like Anna, a dinosaur, and a scene-stealing talking head. Happily, considering this crowd, there are lists of people and places at the end. The level of explicit violence is low, and the book contains lighter moments. By the end, there are definite changes at the highest levels and richly deserved rewards for those who brought them about. A long trail that leads to proper deserts and a satisfying resolution. (translator’s note, map, list of concepts) (Fantasy. 14-adult)

Donald Trump: Controversial 47th US President

Steffens, Bradley | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) | $33.95 | September 1, 2025 9781678212124

An overview of the life and career of President Donald Trump. Steffens strives mightily to balance the achievements of his subject with other aspects of Trump’s character, such as his “anti-intellectualism,” his “love of splendor and magnificence,” and the behavior that some label as that of “a schoolyard bully” (and others see as evidence of a “fighting spirit”). Steffens dates to 1987 Trump’s public declaration that tariffs burden foreign producers rather than U.S. consumers. Avoiding the word lie, he notes Trump’s predilection for “exaggeration,” and tactfully describes his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as “unsteady.” He does repeatedly label as “false” Trump’s claims of a stolen 2020 election, however. The book acknowledges the economic successes of the first Trump years and covers his reshaping of the Supreme Court and support from working-class people. Major omissions include accusations of racism and the racial demographics of his supporters as well as his xenophobia, unpaid bills, bankruptcies, failed businesses, self-confessed and adjudicated sexual misconduct, and false claim that Ukraine started the war with Russia. Other overlooked topics—some perhaps due to timing—are Project 2025, DOGE’s failure at cost-cutting, and attacks on free speech, due process, education, and birthright citizenship. Nevertheless, there’s enough material here to spur readers to conduct their own investigations. Steffens won’t please everyone, but he aims for objectivity and sticks mostly to verifiable facts.

A controversial subject treated evenly, if necessarily incompletely. (timeline, source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

FIFA World Cup: The Greatest Matches of All Time

Streissguth, Tom | ReferencePoint Press

(64 pp.) | $33.95 | September 1, 2025

9781678210786

A stirring roundup of notable World Cup upsets, comebacks, and hard-fought matches since the first competition in 1930.

Streissguth introduces readers to this quadrennial event, which is “the most popular athletic competition in the world,” through a highlight reel of spectacular feats and flubs. Between the first chapter (“Best Comeback Victories”) and the final one (“Highest-Scoring Matches”), he gathers short but dramatic recaps of lopsided victories, memorable underdog wins, notable championship games, and strong individual performances. The events he covers include Australia’s 31-0 drubbing of American Samoa in qualifying matches in 2001 (in part due to passport issues on Samoa’s part that led to a serious imbalance in experience levels between the teams) and, when it comes to finals, “the most lopsided of them all”—the 13-0 defeat of Thailand by the U.S. in the 2019 Women’s World Cup (the overall focus of the book is primarily on men’s teams and their players). Unsurprisingly, Pelé and Lionel Messi are among the iconic athletes whose skillful maneuvers appear in the chapters on individual feats. Readers learn about a few controversies, like the goal Diego Maradona scored with his hand in 1986. Mostly, though, Streissguth focuses on giving the Cup’s history a worthy luster that will leave readers eager to learn more and catch upcoming matches. Interspersed photos depict international stars of both present and past in action. Engrossing. (timeline, source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Soccer Greats: The Best of All Time

Streissguth, Tom | ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) | $33.95 | September 1, 2025 9781678212001

Tributes to six soccer superstars, from Pelé (1940-2022) to Kylian Mbappé (who was born in 1998).

Even newer fans of the sport will probably recognize the iconic names on Streissguth’s short roster: Pelé, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Mbappé. Along with pointing to experiences or traits common to his choices—“amazing natural talent, obsessive work habits, and the gift of supportive families and coaches”—he fills in enough details while describing their careers to provide a sense of individuality for each. The author notes the racist, anti-immigrant taunts that the French Mbappé, whose parents are from Cameroon and Algeria, has endured and the abuse of cocaine and alcohol that probably shortened Maradona’s life. Still, in general his tone is positive, and in reeling off one stellar achievement after another, he offers appreciative comments about, for example, Maradona’s stunning footwork (“voodoo football,” as one newspaper report put it) and the aggressive “total football” popularized by Cruyff. The book describes the players’ impact on the sport: In joining the New York Cosmos after retiring from Santos in Brazil, Pelé “changed the attitude of many Americans toward the game,” while Ronaldo’s move from European teams to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr resulted in the team’s “Instagram account exploding from 860,000 to 10 million followers.” Although each player’s chapter features just three stock photos, substantial source notes and resources at the end lead readers to more information and images.

Offers soccer fans glimpses of greatness. (index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Star

Wheel of Wrath

Vora, A.A. | Putnam (560 pp.) | $20.99 November 18, 2025 | 9780593617595 Series: The Fifth Realm, 2

War rages on in this epic sequel to Spin of Fate (2024). Following Malin’s invasion of upper realm Mayana, former allies Aranel, Aina, and Meizan navigate their war-torn world. Upper-born Aranel, who believed in the ruthless Balancer leader Zenyra’s vision of a new future, regrets following her and longs to redeem himself. Despite their volatile relationship, Aina struggles to endure without her mother—the only family she’s ever had—and is hell-bent on avenging her. Meizan faces opposition as chief of the Kanjallen and must decide whether allying with the Preservation, which upholds Toranic Law, or Zenyra, who defies it, will keep his people safe. A fourth protagonist enters the fray: nature-loving Princess Himalia of Kirnos, whose intensive study of chitrons (the minuscule particles that make up human souls) leads her closer to unimaginable discoveries that could alter the universe. Vora stretches her worldbuilding skills here—from the frantic race to soul-bond the right humans with the awakening seitarius (the planetary beasts who created the world) to the poetic scriptures providing believers and non-believers insight into their history, this middle volume is intense, intricately wrought, and fascinating. Even diehard fans of the trilogy opener may need to refer to the author’s website for recaps. Characters are diverse in physical appearance, although their individual stratum, whether upper or lower, is most significant.

A stellar follow-up fraught with political turmoil, violence, pain, and grief. (content warnings, maps, glossary, author’s note) (Fantasy. 13-18)

Indie

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

ABOUT 2 MILLION cookbooks are sold in the United States each year, and they regularly top bestseller lists. However, not all books about food contain recipes; after all, food is the rare topic that touches the lives of everyone on Earth—and one that intertwines with discussions about politics, the environment, the economy, and even technology. Here are three books on food-related topics, all recommended by Kirkus Indie, that will give readers plenty to chew on: In Mobilize Food!: Wartime Inspiration for Environmental Victory Today, Canadian journalist Eleanor Boyle discusses how the United Kingdom’s policies regarding food production and distribution changed drastically during World War II. A newly appointed Minister of Food implemented rationing and other actions to boost farm productivity; he also encouraged home gardening and discouraged food waste; as a result, the health of the country’s citizens improved. Boyle looks at this history to make the case that the modern world is fighting its own war against climate

change, and she surveys various activities that encourage sustainability and, in the case of farmers and ranchers, “produce healthy food that is affordable and kinder to animals, local environments, and climate.” Kirkus’ reviewer notes that “many readers’ eyes will be opened to a large-scale problem and the potential for addressing it through concerted, deliberate action.”

Restaurants, especially in big cities, are key drivers of local economies. In Delivering the Digital Restaurant: Your Roadmap to the Future of Food , Meredith Sandland and Carl Orsbourn draw on their expertise in restaurant development to explore how food delivery has become steadily more popular—in part, because of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which people started spending far more time at home. Members of younger generations patronize restaurants frequently, and they’re already very familiar with online delivery platforms—for them, the authors note, “delivery is the new drive thru. And the rest of the population is not far behind.” Sandland and

Orsbourn give readers a panoramic look at delivery systems worldwide, drawing on more than 100 interviews with restaurant professionals along the way. The book is “an essential road map for operating restaurants successfully in the modern age,” according to Kirkus’ review.

Americans waste tons of food every year, in part by throwing away perfectly edible food scraps. Jean B. MacLeod’s The Waste-Wise Kitchen Companion: Hundreds of Practical Tips for Repairing, Reusing, and Repurposing Food aims to address this by showing readers other options. Instead of tossing apple peels, for instance, she notes

that one can “turn them into a refreshing beverage with water and a little lemon juice (simmer until soft; strain, pressing firmly on the pulp to extract all the liquid; and then sweeten if desired).” She also suggests no less than 12 ways to salvage leftover mashed potatoes. These are just a few of the numerous tips here, all organized alphabetically by food type and sure to encourage reflection: “After browsing through this book, readers will likely feel inspired—and perhaps even a bit guilty over all the food they’ve wasted in the past,” writes Kirkus’ reviewer.

David Rapp is the senior Indie editor.

Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson

DAVID RAPP

EDITOR’S PICK

A reporter and a free spirit join forces on the treasure hunt of a lifetime in Nolan’s enemies-to-lovers same-sex romance.

Harper Hendrix is a journalist on assignment in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the famed, queer, and reclusive treasure hunter Loretta-Mae “Monty” Montana is said to reside. Her one goal is to track Monty down and convince her to give her first interview since a previous media frenzy— surrounding an attempt to find the legendary missing Blackburn Diamonds— upended her life. The problem is that Monty doesn’t want to be found. Armed with a plucky, can-do spirit and the drive to out-achieve her celebrity journalist father, Harper

begins her quest, only to be waylaid by the one person who could possibly help her: Monty’s niece, Eve. She witnessed the toll that previous news coverage took on Monty and her wife, Ruby, and she doesn’t want to put them through that again. Eve and Harper initially compete to uncover the secret of the diamonds and, hopefully, Monty’s current location. A few misadventures later, the pair find themselves drawn into a queer romantic mystery spanning more than a century—and the prospect of a present-day romantic entanglement that could be its own “tiny revolution.” This story is equal parts adventure, intrigue, and engrossing romance, making for a

Thrill of the Chase

fun, engaging read, akin to classic swashbuckling literary adventures. However, it also addresses serious topics in a refreshing manner, such as generational trauma and the lasting effects of antigay bigotry. It also delivers an uplifting love story that’s full of risk, redemption, and bravery.

Both Eve and Harper have long histories of abuse and neglect that make happiness and success seem unattainable; however, they work to overcome their struggles by reaching into the past and retelling stories of queer triumph. A trove of adventure, romance, and queer joy that’s not to be missed.

Mouthwatering romantic fare for foodies and wine connoisseurs.

INFIDELITY RULES

Infidelity Rules

Babula, Joelle | Black Rose Writing (328 pp.)

$23.95 paper | July 24, 2025 | 9781685136307

A beautiful woman who has sworn off marriage thinks she’s found the perfect temporary fling in Babula’s novel. When it comes to getting involved with men, independent Quinn, a gorgeous, green-eyed, 6-foot-tall redhead, has one unshakeable rule: They have to be unhappily married, with no kids. (After all, she’s no homewrecker.) Having sworn off marriage after two failures, only hot sex and romance with no expectations on either side does it for Quinn. (The fact that she’ll eventually have to pay for her cavalier disregard for the wives of her short-term lovers hardly comes as a surprise, but the author’s audacious twist on the inevitable comeuppance does, thankfully leaving her hero’s spiky, bright spirit undimmed.)

Quinn’s eventual realization that her determined, no-strings approach to relationships has consequences begins when Marcus, “the one whose mere presence zaps my appetite, flushes my cheeks and makes me want to giggle like a schoolgirl mooning over her first crush,” walks into the upscale restaurant where Quinn is the wine- and food-savvy sommelier. “I love the magic that happens when a great glass of wine pairs perfectly with a dish,” she says. “It’s lusty and romantic…. It’s akin to the ideal relationship, fleeting but swoon-worthy.” Perfect though he

seems, if Marcus isn’t married, Quinn will have to go with her second choice, a handsome, married, infidelity newbie. The author’s lavish descriptions of clothes, gourmet meals, and wine—some chapters open with a description of enticing menu offerings—and the characters’ nearly exclusive focus on hormonecharged relationships make for an engaging rom-com Sex and the City  vibe. When she can no longer ignore the messy realities of her affairs, it takes time for Quinn to get past her defensive reaction and face a difficult decision: “I don’t feel guilty. I didn’t make any vows,” she says. The author doesn’t let her off the hook, but the off-the-wall result satisfies, and humor and a light touch are ever-present (Quinn’s blind date with a picky vegetarian at her Italian mother’s bountiful, nonvegetarian dinner table is a kick). Mouthwatering romantic fare for foodies and wine connoisseurs featuring an irrepressible hero.

La Fête De La Vie

Bachar, Jacqueline Miller | Rowhouse Press (174 pp.) | $14.99 paper | February 1, 2025

9781886934115

Bachar offers a collection of short stories and poems exploring family, memory, and loss. The author embarked upon writing her first short story when she was 60 years old. This collection, divided into two distinct sections, features her 14 finished stories (some as short as three

pages) and several poems written throughout her life. The titular story, “La Fête de la Vie,” is her inaugural tale and one of the collection’s standouts. Written in a reflective first-person perspective, the piece concerns a woman enjoying a lavish dinner in Paris while learning that her mother is dying back at home. This juxtaposition of sweetness and sorrow runs through much of the book, including the story “Elderberry Wine,” in which a woman’s recollection of her first kiss gradually slips into something more disturbing. In “The Opera Singer,” a lovestruck garbage collector longs to meet a reclusive former diva; when he finally sings for her, he uncovers a long-buried truth about her fiancé’s death. Bachar’s foray into historical fiction, “Mary Rebecca Stanton, 1790,” is brief but compelling as it follows a young woman fleeing through a freezing bog from an unnamed danger. Each story reads quickly and features naturalistic dialogue and introspective characters who feel modeled on real people. The poems, though deeply felt, are less accomplished than the stories and more prone to cliche. (“When a star falls / an angel is lost. / The winds moan and cry.”) Many of the verses are religious in tone and spirit; they provide glimpses into the author’s personal beliefs but lack the layered subtlety of the short stories. Still, there are moving tributes to Bachar’s late husband and several poignant poems that capture aged characters looking back on their lives with some regret for past behavior: “It saddens me to hear them speak / of their mother’s failures— / angry snippets of conversation / not meant for me to hear. // My mind tells me I said the same.” One wishes that Bachar had started writing sooner and left more stories behind.

A moving and rewarding collection.

For more Indie content, visit Kirkus online.

Kirkus Star

Headstrong: Embracing Alopecia and Becoming Pañuelo Girl

Bailey, Christy | Self (318 pp.)

$49 | $18.95 paper | April 28, 2025 9798281683753 | 9798281681520 paper

An insightful, posthumously published memoir about alopecia and personal fulfillment.

Bailey, who died in 2015, wrote in this remembrance that she was in the midst of a stressful and financially devastating divorce in the early 1990s when her hair started to fall out—and it wasn’t the first time. Ever since she was 4, she’d had recurring bouts of patchy hair loss; when she was in high school in the ’80s, she was diagnosed with alopecia areata—an autoimmune condition that causes the body to attack its own hair follicles. Her hair grew back after treatment, but by 1994, half of her hair was gone, and previously successful remedies weren’t working. She bought a $3,500 wig that looked so natural that no one, aside from close family members, knew of her hair loss. After earning an MBA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and moving first to Louisville, Kentucky, then to Denver for a series of corporate jobs, she found good friends while running races and competing in triathlons. Alopecia remained her secret; the first person she told outside her family was a friend in Colorado who was facing hair loss from chemotherapy. Unfulfilled in work, she joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Amapala, Honduras, leaving the wig behind and becoming “Pañuelo [Headscarf] Girl.” She still had negative feelings about what she saw as her “lumpy, hundred-and-sixty-eight-pound, sizetwelve body,” and realized that becoming Pañuelo Girl was “about giving up the fear that surrounds being who I am.” Bailey described the everyday difficulties of living with alopecia, from the daily bombardment of advertisements featuring women with luxuriant hair to the discriminatory

actions of an airline ticket agent, in relatable detail. She also wrote about her relationships with her ex-husband, parents, sister, and friends perceptively and openly. The story of Bailey’s Peace Corps experience, in particular, is an eye-opening read; the dismissive attitude of the mayor and municipal office at her first site is disheartening, but it makes her story of her successful organization of the Isla del Tigre Triatlón even more inspiring.

A triumphant story of a long journey of self-acceptance.

Bright Girl

Basile, Nancy | Media Medusa (223 pp.) | $9.99 paper | February 5, 2025 | 9798992564204

In Basile’s mystery, a West Virginia cop investigates the violent murder of a high school senior with a promising future. In the West Virginia town of Locust Grove, police Detective Shelby Reed gets a new homicide case. The murder victim is Whitney Chandler, a high school senior at Bellmoor Prep School who was active in student life, earned straight A’s, and was in the running to be valedictorian. Her life was cut short following a football game and after-party, when someone strangled her and left her corpse in an empty swimming pool. There’s little forensic evidence and no obvious motive; according to Whitney’s parents, friends, and school principal, she was a friendly, popular girl who didn’t have conflicts with anyone (other than academic competition with “frenemy” Skye Stevens). For this case, police Capt. Maria Guerrero assigns Shelby a new partner from the Brooke County sheriff’s office: the cocky, flirtatious Det. Jasper Erickson, who quickly gets on Shelby’s nerves. Jasper is sure that Whitney’s boyfriend, football player Bobby Garza, is the culprit; among other things, he has a documented history of violent altercations with his peers. Shelby isn’t convinced, and it turns out that Whitney, and others in her circle,

may have had some dark secrets. Basile delivers a satisfying and entertaining murder mystery that uses familiar tropes (a killing in a small town, a teenage victim with a secret life, a driven-yetjaded female lead detective), but it still manages to feel fresh. Shelby is a smart, compelling, and well-developed protagonist who’s grieving her murdered husband, has a strained relationship with her family, and carries baggage from a previous, highly publicized case. Jasper is also intriguing and provides a humorous foil to Shelby’s focused character. The story showcases the author’s detailed prose when establishing settings (“Colonial blue mixed with cheerful gingham and punched tin lanterns”), while also highlighting how certain institutions prioritize reputation over justice. Readers will also appreciate the lack of a superfluous romantic subplot. A compelling small-town detective story that fans of the genre will enjoy.

Kirkus Star

Kazuko: Sixth Grade in World War II Hiroshima

Blake, Kazuko with Sandra Vega Wide Angle (163 pp.) | $17 paper October 1, 2024 | 9798990803213

An intimate account of a childhood in Hiroshima before and after the atomic bomb. As the Second World War rapidly recedes from living memory, memoirs from people who lived through it become fewer and feel more inherently valuable; in her nonfiction debut, Blake has added to that body of work with this slim memoir of her time as an elementary school student in Hiroshima. Her account, filled out with precious family photographs, is largely preoccupied with the normal elements of a little girl’s life: relations with her parents, having a pen pal, going to school and making friends with classmates, and so on. This childhood is gradually shadowed a bit by the

war—students are given preparations for responding to a bomb detonation, for instance (“Thumbs in ears, three fingers over eyes, pinkies hold nose, you can breathe through mouth”). But mostly, in the memoir’s first half (the narrative hinges on the explosion of the atomic bomb over the city on August 6, 1945), Blake recalls her day-to-day life and its unexpected interruptions, as when she has an appendectomy in the fifth grade and fondly remembers the kindness of her classmates. Wartime realities intrude at times—the family was forced to think about moving, for example, and there was a growing focus on wartime rationing. (“Looking back, I think my mother was an amazing woman for gathering so many supplies during that time,” the author recalls at one point.) Blake’s tone throughout is more fondly reminiscent than traumatized; the actual atomic explosion is one of the book’s smallest, quickest details (a big bright ball, lasting for an instant), but the impressions of its aftermath have obviously stuck with the author. “Even the chaos I witnessed while rushing home didn’t prepare me for seeing my house destroyed,” she writes. Such simple, straightforward reflections fill this little book with warmth and immediacy. An involving memoir of ordinary life in WWII-era Hiroshima.

Kirkus Star

Healing Canadian

Healthcare: Ideas to Improve Nursing Enrolment & Retention

Boucher, Kathleen | Self (46 pp.) | $16.99 paper | April 24, 2025 | 9780995191020

A Canadian nurse with nearly 50 years’ experience sends out an alarm call to the general public about the future of her profession. In this slim volume, Boucher gives readers a lot to unpack. She starts by briefly covering nurses’ duties (because, as she notes, “Even most colleagues I’ve talked

to admitted that they didn’t fully understand what nurses do until they began their studies”) before describing various nursing specialties. She then turns to the profession’s benefits—competitive salaries, good benefits, and making a difference in people’s lives—as well as its challenges, including stress, and the fact that nursing shortages make everyone’s job more difficult. After briefly describing the education and training required, Boucher moves on to the most urgent issue for those on the job: avoiding burnout. One of the biggest problems that nurses face, she asserts, is the managerial practice of “floating,” in which they’re “moved from the departments they normally work in to an area that lacks adequate staff.” It can be demanding, and Boucher notes some simple ways to alleviate its difficulties, such as a uniform, hospital-wide color-coding system, so that every nurse knows what shelves contain which items in every department. The book finishes with a short chapter on what laypeople can do to help, and ends by challenging readers to “work together to elevate the nursing profession and cement its future.” All too often, when an expert writes about their work, the result is so dry or mired in jargon and technical detail that outsiders find it nearly impenetrable. However, Boucher’s prose is refreshingly engaging and thoughtful throughout. Her chapter on improving job retention particularly stands out; in it, she offers real-world examples of what has worked in real-world hospitals—the color-coding, for instance, in currently use in Ottawa—and then theorizes how ideas could go further and be more helpful. It quickly becomes evident that Boucher has thought about these issues in depth and that she cares for her fellow nurses deeply. A compelling read that’s aimed at a Canadian audience but will draw in anyone with an interest in practical aspects of healthcare.

Sincerely, Antonia: A Big Note From a Tiny Guest

Cino, Cortney | Illus. by Tadgh Bentley

Whimspire Books (32 pp.) | $18.99

June 3, 2025 | 9798988925170

In this picture book, a visiting ant leaves a note for the little boy whose untidy eating habits have provided her cohorts with so much food.

Jay, a brown-haired, big-eyed white boy with a chunky build, is a chaotic eater. He is always dropping crumbs, spilling drinks, chewing with his mouth open, and leaving scraps of food lying about. This is vexing for his parents, but very good news for Antonia, a blue-striped ant, and her plain black brothers and sisters, who have taken Jay’s scraps as an invitation to holiday at his house. Unfortunately for the ants, Jay’s parents’ cleaning efforts have escalated into outright anti-ant behavior. That is why Antonia has written a note in discarded chocolate-cake icing bidding Jay thank you and farewell—“We’re retreating to new (and safer) terrain”—and arranging to meet him in his treehouse. Cino presents Antonia’s note in a chocolatecolored, faux printed font across a combination of single- and double-page spreads. Each text block is edged by messy ant footprints, and the busy meanderings of Antonia and the others bring a sense of happy disorder. Bentley’s dawn-hued digital illustrations evince both a distinct style and a delightful deftness of touch—as in an apple core and banana skin, and Jay’s dad powdering a melon rind with ant poison. Jay is a relatable character whose behavior and motivations will be easily recognized by young readers. The ants, though

A gleeful embracing of childhood mess and disorder.

SINCERELY, ANTONIA

expressionless, exhibit an endearing collective personality.

A gleeful embracing of childhood mess and disorder.

Power to the Partners: Organizational Coalitions in Social Justice Advocacy

Dwidar, Maraam A. | The University of Chicago Press (225 pp.) | $30 paper June 6, 2025 | 9780226840383

Dwidar, an assistant professor of government at Georgetown University, presents a detailed examination of intersectional advocacy in society and the workplace. In her nonfiction debut, the author studies the structures and workings of advocacy groups dedicated to intersectional social justice, concentrating on both the importance coalition-building and its challenges. Her studies indicate that building bonds between allied social justice organizations significantly increases their influence. However, she warns that research shows that coalition-building, while effective, isn’t the only key to long-term success, as the coalitions themselves, and not just their constituent groups, must have clearly demarcated structures; they must be crystal-clear on questions such as: “Who decides what? Who contributes what? and Who gets what?” This kind of clarity lends itself to what Dwidar views as one of the main priorities of social justice organizations: securing funding. In a densely packed and extensively researched series of chapters, complete with charts and graphs, she effectively offers three basic rules for such coalitions: Develop a clear architecture of decision-making (“you should have difficult conversations about who is in the coalition and who is in charge of it”); include diverse groups in any coalition, despite the risks of altering the balance of power sharing; and commit to longer-term, “less restrictive” funding. The main strength of Dwidar’s book is its extensive grounding in data and research, rather than anecdotes, but a great secondary strength is

the author’s willingness to acknowledge how advocacy groups can be distracted by counterproductive infighting. As such, members of such coalitions are sure to find her conclusions to be enlightening. A well-researched and insightful guide to building long-lasting coalitions.

On Board: The Modern Playbook for Corporate Governance

Foster, Jonathan F. | Radius Book Group (352 pp.) | $27.99 paper | July 22, 2025

9798895150146

Foster, the founder and managing partner of Current Capital Partners, offers a set of precepts for improving corporate management. With this work, the author aims to provide a corporate handbook for an ever-changing business world by basing it on four tenets: that the board of directors oversees management, but management handles the details of a business; that directors should be held entirely accountable; that mergers and acquisitions or leveraged buyouts should be viewed as “a significant part of the corporate landscape”; and that corporations should be aware that their role in society is in the midst of a period of intense debate. With all these tenets in mind, Foster then turns to his central subject: the idea of corporate governance. He offers a brief overview of the history of this concept and shares many quotes from people who are in positions to insightfully comment. For example, he speaks to former White House chief of staff under the Biden administration and current chief legal officer for Airbnb Ron Klain: “The president is the chair of the board and in some ways the entire board himself,” Klain observes. “What you’re trying to do is muster the organization to achieve his or her goals and objectives.” Throughout, these expert outside voices complement Foster’s when addresses every phase of corporate directorship, in good times and bad. Former bankruptcy

judge Shelley Chapman, for instance, talks with the author about the “very big challenge and responsibility” of being the director of a distressed company, and how that circumstance changes the balance of priorities.

This personalized contextualization gives Foster’s book a steadily accumulating feeling of authority. While discussing each aspect of corporate leadership, the author presents real-world examples, as in the case of Nikola, a maker of alternative-fuel trucks that was led into chaos by its former chief executive: “Inaccurate disclosures by a company, particularly by its chair and/or CEO, can cause a crisis,” Foster writes, adding commentary from current Nikola CEO Steve Girsky to hammer home the lesson: “Having a group of independent directors is valuable,” that executive tells Foster. “You want people who are comfortable with discomfort.” The remit of Foster’s book is deliberately narrow, mainly tailored to his fellow executives and C-suite directors; however, his consistent grounding of precepts in pragmatic examples— often narrated by the people who were there at the time—will certainly increase the book’s value for that readership. Foster repeatedly asserts that corporate governance has grown stronger over the past generation, and he offers his book as a way to lay the groundwork for future improvement. Specifically, he urges companies not only to think about their shareholders, but also to take into account a broader crowd of stakeholders: the people and communities affected by their decisions. These stakeholders will likely be happy to note this book’s consistent tone of moral uprightness and ethical responsibility—although more cynical readers, noting numerous examples of modern-day corporate corruption, may wonder if anybody’s listening.

A richly detailed and contextheavy guidebook for improving corporate directorship.

Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause-and-Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life

Goldberg, Philip | Monkfish (208 pp.) | $22.99 paper | October 14, 2025 | 9781958972991

This straightforward guide explains the concept of karma and its real-world applications to help readers move forward with purpose. While karma is a popular term, many people misunderstand the idea of “cause and effect.” Goldberg touches on the history of karma’s popularization, from the “Hindu Renaissance” in the 18th century to a Taylor Swift title track in 2022. While some “tend to invoke karma only when something bad happens,” it “is not about reward and punishment…We set karmic currents in motion through our thoughts and actions.” Woven into the author’s descriptions of what karma is are the ways in which readers can incorporate its philosophies into everyday life. Serving others, for example, can help move the “karmic scorecard” while a focus on internal actions can ultimately steer one’s decisions in a more spiritually and emotionally fulfilling direction. Goldberg gives the example of someone trying to decide whether or not to do something “ethically or morally wrong” that will help the person in the short run without anyone ever finding out. When considering karma, the individual may realize that this decision would inevitably create negative consequences later on and ultimately decide not to do it. While some points may sound familiar to those even slightly versed in Buddhist philosophy (such as the idea that the individual self and “universal Self” are one), more complicated yogic tenets are included— like a detailed breakdown of the five niyamas (ways to cultivate a positive inner state) and the five yamas (behaviors that people should “refrain from doing”). The book’s smooth, personable narrative clearly explains these complex ideas through plenty of examples and a gradual introduction to a specialized vocabulary.

It is an intriguing deep dive into karma that many readers should find enlightening. Goldberg ultimately breathes new life into an often overused concept by breaking down karma’s core principles and applying them to ordinary life. A valuable and inspiring examination of what karma means and how it can be used.

No Woman Left Behind: A Journey of Hope to Heal Every Woman Injured in Childbirth

Grant, Kate | She Writes Press (256 pp.)

$24.99 | $17.99 paper | June 24, 2025 9781647426705 | 9781647428976 paper

A personal account of the crusade to improve worldwide childbirth practices. In this memoir, Grant, founding CEO of the Fistula Foundation, recounts her experiences traveling the world working under the aegis of U.S. Agency for International Development and other organizations to assess the state of women’s health care and pregnancy aid throughout low-income countries. The Fistula Foundation, founded in 2000 to support the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, is dedicated to combating a terrible but treatable condition that afflicts many postpartum women who have limited access to health care. The author reminds her readers that in places like Rajasthan or Somaliland, there’s no running water, toilets, cars, or much medical technology. The grim reality of these women’s lives is reflected in an African proverb Grant hears—“The sun should not set twice on a laboring woman”—since the baby can die in the uterus after a day from a lack of oxygenated blood, and the mother can develop a fistula as the baby’s head cuts off blood supply to the pelvic floor. Grant’s account addresses problems like lack of basic medical care and the widespread practice of female genital mutilation. She talks with a variety of figures, including “the

Muslim Mother Teresa” Edna Adan, a tireless advocate against FGM. The stories Grant recounts, women facing childbirth with no modern medicine, are always moving and often harrowing; by sharing their voices, she personalizes the issue. This makes some of her editing decisions frustrating, particularly the extent to which her narrative swerves into movie-of-the-week personal details that distract from the main subject. She writes about how she went on a blind date with somebody who “looked a bit like Alec Baldwin about the time he starred in 30 Rock,” for instance. Fortunately, this descriptive habit sometimes works (“A shadow fell across the open desert and soon seemed to devour us in darkness”), and Grant’s passion carries the bulk of the narrative forward.

A knowledgeable, powerful, and personal look at the women’s health issues in the least developed countries.

Unconverted: Memoir of a Marriage

Ingraham, Polly Merritt | Rootstock Publishing (284 pp.) | $18.99 paper June 17, 2025 | 9781578694006

Ingraham reflects on her marriage to an Episcopalian pastor in this memoir. “To find any real streak of religion in my family,” writes the author, “you’d have to turn back the clock…[to] a couple of generations ago.” Indeed, growing up in Quebec, Ingraham’s mother “looked with skepticism” at ornate churches filled with impoverished members, and by the time Ingraham herself had fallen in love with her soon-to-be husband, Rob, she had spent over 30 years without religion. Rob was not just deeply devout—he was entering Yale’s Berkeley Divinity School when the two first met, and he would spend the rest of his life as an Episcopalian pastor. While deeply in love (a sentiment that permeates the book’s pages), the couple would navigate a marriage that was,

in part, defined by their religious dichotomy. Early in their relationship, Rob expressed his concern about the fact that the author was never baptized; he held a sincere belief that “baptism allows you to become one of God’s own, always protected.” In almost any other work environment, Ingraham notes, an employee’s spouse would never be expected to show up at the workplace—however, in the church, a “spouse who participates in the life of the church is a value-added component.” An atypical pastor’s wife, Ingraham forged her own life in the secular world as a Dartmouth graduate, an essayist (whose work was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has been featured in nationally syndicated periodicals), and an educator. Using a profoundly intimate writing style, the author is unafraid to express her skepticism toward the church services that lie at the center of her husband’s career. The “foreign territory” of church—with its ancient liturgies, symbolic vestments, altars, and solemn chants—was unfamiliar to the author early in their marriage, and after participating in the service and receiving a blessing, she bracingly writes, “I flinch[ed], feeling no benefit whatsoever.” Poignantly written, this is a beautiful testament to the power of companionship and an affecting acknowledgement of the messiness of even the most loving marriages.

An honest, nuanced portrait of marriage to a pastor.

Cthulhu FhCon

Ed. by Jones, Frog | Impulsive Walrus Books (352 pp.) | $31.08 | $23 paper | May 27, 2025 9781952971143 | 9781952971075 paper

An anthology of SF/horror short stories, edited by Jones, based around the work of H.P. Lovecraft. In this collection of tales by various authors, the rules are simple: Each entry is in some way related to Lovecraft’s works, and each takes place in some capacity at an SF convention. Nineteen tales are included here, featuring references

Playful and entertaining.

CTHULHU FHCON

to Lovecraftian creatures (such as the titular elder god Cthulhu) and fictional gatherings with names such as Slash on the Rocks. In Jennifer Brozek’s “Observations of a LARP in Three Acts,” a live action roleplaying event gets more serious than anyone anticipated. “Temp-to-Perm” by Kat Richardson begins before a convention rolls into town. A young woman named Evelyn applies for a job as a housekeeper at a hotel; she has a peculiar way of cleaning up blood—and a peculiar reason for taking the job. Frank Martin’s “Artist Alley Awakening” takes place at a very specific area of a convention: the titular “artist’s alley,” where illustrators sit at tables and offer up their talents for a fee. One cash offer winds up taking things in a direction with monstrous consequences. A few other stories present creative protagonists in unusual situations, such as M.J. Stoumbos’ “RetCon,” which features a popular graphic novelist caught in a time loop, and Frances Pauli’s “The Rats of Understory B” sees a published author in a supernatural engagement with some rats. Elizabeth Guizzetti’s “Room Party Fit for an Elder God,” as the title suggests, goes beyond the convention floor and into a room where “200 fancy cupcakes in a variety of flavors” await some very special guests. The final tale, “Shaolin Tentacles” by Peter J. Wacks, features a hotel that was “obviously” built by Lovecraftian “cultists.”

A set of tales that not only incorporates material inspired by a specific author, but also specifically takes place at conventions, may sound like a tough sell for a wide audience. However, each story here offers a unique, distinct take on the premise. The results are often playful and entertaining, and overall, the collection incorporates a great deal of humor. “The Rats of Understory B,” for example, portrays rats building a gate and bonding over their work as a “family of furry siblings desperate to see the job finished.” In “Artist Alley Awakening,” even an artist preciously hesitates to destroy what he’s created, even though artworks seem to be causing a dangerous problem: “But…it’s

my best work.” Russell Nohelty’s “The Horrors of Vending” focuses on an author who’s about to attend the Cthulhu FhCon in hopes of selling some books; his wife complains of the event: “This flier doesn’t even seem like it was written by a human.” Even though a reader who’s completely unfamiliar with Lovecraft may not understand the joke, the story takes things in a curious direction that will appeal to a more general readership. Not every story completely lands, but the book as a whole moves at a lively pace; as one imaginative encounter ends, another quickly follows. A creative, inviting mix of comedy, horror, and intricacies of SF fandom.

On Sawdust and Broken Glass

Kaloudis, George | Self (359 pp.) | $16.99 paper | April 23, 2025 | 9798316066391

Kaloudis presents a novel about a father’s legacy and a son finding his own path in life. The saga of the Koglin family begins in 1996 in Wilkes County, North Carolina, with the death of Patrick Conor Koglin Sr., the owner and founder of Koglin Lumber. His son, recent college graduate and newlywed Callum, feels obliged to set aside his dreams of becoming a writer and suddenly finds himself at the helm of the family business. He goes on to have three children of his own; he must deal with a family tragedy and a recession that wreaks havoc on the economy, forcing him to re-evaluate his priorities and make hard decisions. Meanwhile, his kids are growing up fast—his eldest son, Liam, now set to finish his final year of economics at Harvard University—and Callum learns that Liam dreams of following in his own footsteps. Because Callum was forced to take on a role that

he never really wanted, he’s angry and insistent that Liam shouldn’t use his Ivy League education just to run a sawmill. This creates a rift between the two, dividing the family for many years. Eschewing the world of finance, Liam travels the Western states searching for purpose and eventually finds himself living in Alaska as a first mate on a tourist fishing boat. Years later, in 2030, with encouragement from siblings Alex and Ella, Liam brings his life full circle. In Kaloudis’ presentation of Koglin family saga, he offers an economic lesson wrapped in fiction, along with a bit of insight into the future, as well. Focusing on the burden of family legacy, and themes of reconciling old wounds and learning to become an individual, the novel effectively invites the reader on a journey of disillusionment about the American dream. He also presents a story that will remind readers that, whatever one may predict for one’s life, it doesn’t always go as planned: “Although dreams of a big city and good jobs changed, life’s prescription declared they could wait—maybe some other time.”

An ambitious novel of parenthood and the complexities of family expectations.

Seeing Into the Life of Things: Imagination and the Sacred Encounter

Kamenetz, Rodger | Monkfish Book Publishing (224 pp.) | $24.99 paper November 4, 2025 | 9781958972915

An acclaimed scholar and poet urges readers to expand their relationship with images and dreams in this nonfiction work. As part of a Jewish-Buddhist dialogue in India with the Dalai Lama, a group of Jewish delegates, led by author Kamenetz, was asked by the Buddhist spiritual leader how one should deal with the “afflictive emotions” of rage, resentment, anxiety, guilt, and shame. Over three decades later, Kamenetz offers his

Deftly interweaves themes of mental health and self-care with a love of the outdoors.

A MONSTER ON MY TRAIL

reply to the Dalai Lama: “Pay more attention to the images in our dreams, memories, and perceptions.” Driven by a belief that “images heal,” and that “dream images are a natural medicine,” Kamenetz emphasizes the spiritual and emotional power of contemplating images, which, he says, can restore “the innate imagination that makes us creative beings.” Author of the international bestseller The Jew in the Lotus (1994), Kamenetz has long been fascinated with the intersection of Buddhism and Judaism. More recently, he founded Natural Dreamwork, an international group of spiritual practitioners that teaches patients how to apply dreams to their personal growth. The book’s first half looks at the power of images broadly, including recollection of memories, while the second focuses more directly on dreams themselves. Though the work leans decisively into Jewish and Buddhist teachings and mysticism, it offers a welcoming approach to spirituality to readers from many religious traditions. It highlights, for instance, the importance of visualization to Catholic prayer life, from the stations of the cross to Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual exercises. And while the spirituality described here is esoteric and difficult to pigeonhole, Kamenetz is careful to offer readers practical ways they can apply his tenets. One exercise, a “Blessing Practice With Dreams,” provides a three-step process of using meditation to access memory and dream images to open oneself to “absorbing the energies” of the visualized moment. This is an accessible work that blends a learned understanding of global spiritual traditions (backed by 175 research endnotes) with a jargon-free, often conversational spiritual commentary that includes engaging anecdotes and poignant observations.

A nuanced, pragmatic case for the centrality of images and dreams to personal growth.

A Monster On My Trail

Kona, Silpa | Illus. by Diah Chakraborty Pink Reed Books (41 pp.) | $13.99 paper May 19, 2025 | 9798990878617

A young hiker worries that his family will encounter a monster in the forest in Kona’s picture book.

Young Indian American boy Meru wants nothing more than to stay home, but his family isn’t having it: His sister, Sia, bursts into his room one morning to declare that they’re all going on a hike. “A hike? No way! What if a monster finds us out there?” worries Meru. His dad offers him the coveted position of group navigator. This bolsters Meru’s confidence, but he remains anxious about what lies ahead as they pile into the car. On the trail, every little sound, smell, and uncommon texture worries him, even if its source is as innocuous as a scared skunk or a bed of moss. Meru spots a tiny tail and a set of tracks that convince him that a monster is afoot—thankfully, his family helps him think through the situation logically and identify the funny creature that started it all. This stunning debut picture book deftly interweaves themes of mental health and self-care with a love of the outdoors. Meru’s big imagination is reflected in the illustrations by Chakraborty’s large thought bubbles and humorous background details. Kona’s book memorably celebrates an activity that is underserved in children’s literature by featuring a family of color that challenges the stereotype of the typical American hiker.

A fantastic storybook about facing fears.

Light: A Mother and Daughter Memoir of Anorexia

Levine, Nancy with Rachel Levine Rootstock Publishing (204 pp.) | $18.99 paper | August 26, 2025 | 9781578692064

L evine recollects the painful days of her daughter’s lifethreatening struggle with anorexia. The author met her husband, Mark, when she was 27; she was a charge nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit, and he was a medical student with a winning smile. They married three years later and had two children, first Mike and then Rachel. Their family was close, with minimal acrimony. In retrospect, however, Levine identifies certain family patterns, combined with what is likely a genetic predisposition for addictive and/or compulsive behavior, that created a fertile field for anorexia to gain its terrifying foothold. The symptoms of Rachel’s eating disorder appeared gradually—the author pegs the first observable hints to a 2006 family trip to Australia, where Rachel was taking her semester abroad. But the red flags—she had lost weight, was becoming an obsessive runner like her father, and was rejecting high-caloric food—were easily dismissed. She was healthy and happy. However, by the time she returned to the Levine home in Vermont several months later, she had lost more weight. Levine began to study the symptoms, psychology, and devastating physical consequences of anorexia, which include bone loss and heart and kidney damage. It wouldn’t be until 2008 that Rachel would willingly enter an eating disorder treatment center. Levine’s memoir is a highly personal and vivid account of the period leading up to and including the 10 months Rachel spent in the center. It is written with love and a bold honesty about generational family history and dynamics. The book contains a wealth of information about the illness, and, supplemented by Rachel’s commentary and excerpts from her journals, it presents an intimate look at anorexia’s psychological underpinnings—the

anxieties, the hidden sadness, and the persistent inner “voice” that kept telling her she was never perfect enough (“How could you have let yourself go? …You messed up. You’re a failure”), encouraged her to control every morsel she ate, and pushed her to dangerously unhealthy levels of exercise. Disturbing, frightening, and emotionally charged, but tender and highly informative.

Holy Grail of Marketing: How to Achieve Optimal Marketing Using AI & Beyond

Licciardi, Greg P. | Holy Grail of Marketing Press (216 pp.) | $21.97 paper | May 8, 2025 9798992493009

AI opens new vistas for reaching customers—and sets traps that could turn them off, according to this incisive marketing primer. Licciardi, a Fordham marketing professor, asserts that attaining the Holy Grail of Marketing—which is to “Reach the Right Person With the Right Message In the Right Environment At the Right Time Delivering the Right Outcome” (namely, a sale)—now depends on AI and big data. Data-driven AI, the author argues, lets companies microsegment the market; predict behaviors of individual consumers and recommend products they like; target platforms they frequent; provide customer support through chatbots; hone pitches with A/B tests; and monitor social media to gauge customer sentiment. Licciardi also warns of risks in online marketing, including fraudulent websites that inflate ad views with click bots; the tarnishing of brands that appear on disreputable platforms beside unsavory content; and the eroding line between helpful AI and off-putting surveillance, “where consumers shift from feeling understood to feeling watched.” Later chapters focus on the cultivation of emotional bonds between brands and consumers. The author illustrates his treatise with well-chosen case studies on how to find receptive customers (Harry’s Razors caught on with an

innovative customer-referral game and by touting itself as David vs. Gillette’s Goliath) and how not to (an almond commercial flopped because the glamorous actresses alienated the target audience of exhausted moms craving a pick-me-up snack).

Licciardi conveys a wealth of information and experience in lucid prose, pithy aphorisms (“A top sales performer’s number one attribute is the ability to not waste time and effort on the wrong clients who will never buy”), and vivid evocations of the marketing craft (“Observe how buyers engage with your products: where their eyes land on the shelves, what catches their attention, how they handle the products, and even what they do when they put a product back on the shelf”). Marketing professionals will find much provocative food for thought here.

A stimulating guide to the brave new world of AI-driven marketing.

Alice, or the Wild Girl

Liska, Michael Robert | Heresy Press (408 pp.) $29.95 | September 9, 2025 | 9781949846720

A Navy officer parlays the discovery of an island castaway into a 19th-century roadshow in Liska’s debut historical novel.

The Pacific Ocean, 1856: At this late point in his career, Lt. Henry Aaron Bird would love to discover something not yet known, so when the USS Fredonia stops to gather water at a small island unmarked on the ship’s charts, he goes ashore in the hope that he might be the first man ever to set foot on this virgin land. Instead, he discovers the island is already occupied by a small, naked, girl of European stock. “Her lips were curled in a snarl and she made a frightened, unintelligible hissing noise,” observes Bird. “Blonde hair, bleached nearly white, hung in thick dirty clumps over the burnt edges of her scalp.” The girl does not speak, but graves elsewhere on the island suggest she is the last of a group of shipwrecked travelers. The ship’s surgeon dismisses the girl as an idiot, but Bird, though not formally

educated, can tell she is not. Following the controversial death of another officer, Bird gains control of the girl—who eventually reveals that her name is Alice Kelly—and, following the end of the voyage, turns her into a traveling exhibit, “The Wild Girl of the Pacific.” As Alice confronts her traumatic past and Bird settles into his newfound prominence, both discover that America is a much stranger, harder place than Alice’s desert island. Liska’s prose captures a country that feels equally alien to the reader and to Alice herself: “The stage was just high enough that she could look out and see them all at once, a sea of heads and astonishing hats. When she was not on a stage, most people towered above her; she felt lost in a dark forest of moving figures.” The story largely eschews the sensationalism of Alice’s stage show, unfolding slowly to gradually reveal twin portraits of Americans lost in their second acts. Steeped in loneliness and 19th-century grandeur, the novel is a remarkable meditation on our unlikely migrations through space and time.

A rich and memorable story of exploitation and reinvention.

At Poupon’s Table

Lynch, Kermit | Podium Publishing (280 pp.)

$19.99 paper | September 30, 2025

9798895398326

In the idyllic French countryside, an American wine expert tries to save his view and rescue his best friend. Kendrick Thomas, a 40-something American living in the south of France, seems to have an idyllic life. Like the author, he’s in the wine business, importing French and other European vintages to the United States. He lives in a former farmhouse with stunning views of the countryside, wide blue skies, and glimpses of the Mediterranean. He spends his time traveling to wineries to taste their wares, taking siestas, and hanging out and cooking with his friend Henri Poupon, a local winemaker. Kendrick values beauty above all, but he fears it’s losing out

to greed in the form of modern conveniences, excessive development, and tourism. Worse, a series of annoying difficulties threatens to disrupt his comfortable life. First, when he pays a routine tasting visit to one of his long-standing suppliers in Alsace, they unexpectedly threaten to stop doing business with him unless he accepts impossible terms. Then an obnoxious and unpopular neighbor, who’s already cut down all his trees and built an eyesore of a house, plans to install a hideous cellphone tower on his property, ruining the view. And Poupon, who fancies himself a ladies’ man, is juggling two girlfriends. How will he manage to address these problems without hurting his friend or disrupting his carefully cultivated lifestyle? Lynch honed his craft describing wines, and this is a book where words that might seem pretentious or silly on a label—for example, “It’s ample, but not at all flabby”—come across as perfectly natural dialogue in context. His writing is vivid with a touch of snark; a man’s bristly mustache “could be used to clean his boots or scrub a burnt skillet,” a utilitarian car is “an automotive version of soviet architecture.” The detailed depictions of wine, food, and landscapes evoke deep sensory pleasure, and nonexpert readers will learn something about wine. The action, however, seems almost incidental. A fun, atmospheric novel set in beautiful Provence, where wine aficionados provide more atmosphere than plot.

Kirkus Star

Because I Knew You: How Some Remarkable Sick Kids Healed a Doctor’s Soul

Macauley, Robert | Chehalem Press (370 pp.) $33 paper | June 3, 2025 | 9781594981517

A doctor copes with the anguish of dying children in this searching medical memoir.

Macauley, a pediatrician and Episcopalian priest at the University of Vermont and the Oregon Health and Sciences University, recounts his career in pediatric palliative

care, a specialty that focuses on easing the suffering of children with fatal illnesses. His experiences have yielded many heartbreaking—and sometimes infuriating—case studies. They include accounts of premature triplets for whom the parents demanded resuscitations even though, born after 22 weeks’ gestation, the babies had no chance of surviving; 8-year-old Tony, whose fundamentalist Christian mother refused pain meds for his excruciatingly painful treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome on the grounds that suffering is holy; Collin, an 18-yearold with cystic fibrosis and a punk rock band who almost beat the odds with a successful lung transplant, until immunosuppressive drugs made him prey to viruses that caused terminal cancer; and Kharma, a 12-year-old girl who seemed in perfect health until a rare cancer erupted and killed her in a few weeks. There’s also the occasional miracle, like Cora, born with a genetic disorder called trisomy 18 that was considered “incompatible with life”; rejecting doctors’ recommendations that she let the infant die, her mother Joy insisted that Cora get heart surgery and other treatments, and Cora is still going strong at age 11. Macauley weaves in his own story of surviving childhood molestation, which gave him “soul calluses” that insulated him from others’ suffering; ultimately, he notes, his patients helped renew his capacity to feel pain without letting it crush him. He also probes the contentious hospital politics surrounding pediatric palliative care (the author earned a reputation for siding with desperate parents instead of pressuring them to sign do-not-resuscitate orders).

Macauley infuses these vivid scenes from a doctor’s life with knotty reflections on the moral conundrums they pose. He grapples with the mystery of why God permits suffering and with the agonizing tension between parents’ demands for heroic interventions and the pointless suffering they can cause. The author paints a complex, conflicted, deeply human portrait of his practice, probing the confusion and awkwardness that often lie beneath his professional front of authoritative expertise, which he conveys in subtle, restrained prose: “I returned to Mary’s room, more because I’d promised I would than because I knew what to do or say. The

creases around Tom’s eyes had deepened, almost as if he’d aged in the past few minutes in a desperate attempt to accelerate time so that his children would be old enough to survive.” There are passages here of nearly unbearable sorrow expressed in layers of evocative, haunting details: “Only minutes before, Kharma had been thrashing in her bed from a sudden spike in her pain. The nurse had given her more medication and pulled the drapes to darken the room, but nothing succeeded in calming her until Erin started singing softly: You are my sunshine, my only sunshine....” The result is a luminous meditation on the beauty of life, even in its most wrenching moments.

A mix of plangent emotion and deep insights into end-of-life medicine, delivered in limpid, moving prose.

Reprise

Marrero, Victor | Opiate Books (46 pp.) | $7.99 paper | January 17, 2025 | 9782959327858

Marrero explores authoritarianism, mass delusion, and cultural decay in this collection of political poetry. Across 11 poems, the book’s speaker both observes and mourns the death of democracy, the spread of misinformation, and how ordinary people get swept up in dangerous ideologies. The poet opens with the titular poem, inspired by W. H. Auden’s “September 1, 1939.” Like Auden, the speaker is stationed at a dive bar, “where my glum double drank on / this date,” contemplating the “tragedy” of modern times. “Foreboding” compares fear to “corrosive sparks” that fall over a “frantic and frightened” world. “A Star Is Born” describes the rise to power of Joseph Goebbels, “Minister of Propaganda, / arbiter of taste and truth,” who proclaimed that the repetition of a lie will eventually lead to people believing it. Public affairs and personal lives alike are upended by an unhinged, narcissistic leader in “Psychopathic God.” Followers honor this maniac with “blind loyalty,” going so far as to sacrifice their own lives and liberty, in

“Acolyte Credo.” Soon, a grandiose plan for a “master race” solidifies, demanding “whole new worlds to command and / exploit” in “Diktat.” The author ends the book with “Mass Resignation,” asking, “Is this the model / of unenlightened order / we strive to emulate?” In this timely book, Marrero uses unsettling historical references, including Hitler’s rise to power and the propaganda of Nazi Germany, as cautionary tales for the present. The poet paints a vivid, if grim, picture of the consequences of collective amnesia, writing how it “keeps the fires kindled / for the next generation to pass the legacy.” Sensory descriptions like that of the “dense cigarette fumes” [9] of a watering hole ground the ideas in physical space. The language can be considered overwrought or entirely apt in lines like, “Hordes kin of the incendiaries and bigots / Yeats decried / pack the Platz, hail the madcap cant / prescribed today.”

An urgent interrogation of historical and political horrors.

Citizen One: Our Cities, Ourselves,

and Our Uncertain

Yet Extraordinary Future

McDaniel, Douglas Stuart Fast Company Press (560 pp.) | $33.95 October 21, 2025 | 9781639081417

McDaniel explores urbanization, global citizenship, and the future in this expansive nonfiction book. The author opens the book positing that contemporary urban planners can take lessons from the past, noting that the Spanish city of Barcelona’s “prioritization of pedestrians and its compact yet

vibrant spaces…[serve] as a counter-narrative to the sprawling, car-dominated urbanism” that currently defines modern cities. Also contrasted with Barcelona is another place McDaniel has called home: the NEOM project. An “audacious” planned city in the desert of Saudi Arabia, NEOM “promises to become the world’s first cognitive city,” writes the author (who was part of the core team behind NEOM’s proposed high-speed rail network). While drastically different from one other, Barcelona and NEOM share a common ethos holding that cities are at their best when they serve as “ecosystems where people live, connect, and thrive.” Part travelogue across five continents, part commentary on urbanism —and humanity’s quest for the ideal city, from Thomas More’s pre-modern classic, Utopia (1516), to NEOM —the book tackles the 21st century’s most pressing issues, including violent climate change that threatens urban infrastructure worldwide, the “viral pandemic of the automobile,” and the ethics of artificial intelligence. Perhaps most poignant is the work’s emphasis on citizenship, as McDaniel urges readers to eschew academic debates surrounding urbanism in favor of practical change. The author calls on readers to embrace “a renewed sense of civitas…shared rights and responsibilities” that demands both collective and individual action and accountability from the entities that shape urban governance. Backed by nearly 150 research endnotes, the text reflects the scholarly bona fides of McDaniel (who has authored multiple books and been involved in groundbreaking film, research, and urban reimagination projects for decades), but it is written in jargon-free, almost poetic pose that conveys the author’s passion for the urban ideal. Barcelona’s Mercat de la Boqueria, for example, is described as “a living urban organism, breathed in

An urgent interrogation of historical and political horrors.

REPRISE

the fever of mornings and afternoons and exhaled the languid heat of the evenings.” A tour de force commentary on the past, present, and future of cities and global citizenship.

The Floating Lake of Dressa Moore

Miller, George Allen | GAMS Publishing $19.95 paper | July 7, 2025 | 9798992099638

In this fantasy, a magic researcher embarks on an arduous quest to reach an enchanted land.

The country of Dressa Moore boasts a strange sight: a lake improbably hovering in the sky. An epic battle, resulting in a frozen stalemate between the last dragon and wizard, caused magical powers to erupt throughout the land, altering the terrain and its inhabitants. Jonathan Braxton, a narcissistic magilurgy professor at the Great University of Learning and Knowledge, is eager to study this area uncharted by researchers. He also hopes that bringing along his lover, William Watts Worthwaddle, a linguist, will improve their faltering relationship. But the journey to Lake Connell spawns danger and obstacles at every turn. For one, Jonathan and William sail the Aquirren River on The Knotted Wood, a ship captained by Marta Bartolome, a pirate commanding an undead crew. Further complications abound, threatening to thwart their goal. The pirate ship is desperately pursued by Commodore Thomas Wilkes, who wants to kill Marta, believing she abducted his wife. The True Religionists don’t want Dressa Moore to be explored, fearing they’ll lose their tight control of the area. Fellow magilurgist Samson Sutter, jealous of Jonathan, tries to cut the funding for the expedition. Miller keeps his story hopping rapidly from one viewpoint to another, but his large pool of characters can sometimes be overwhelming. William, Jonathan, and Marta stand out from the crowd—flawed but somehow likable, capable of surprises. Heartlessseeming Marta reveals her code of ethics

about human life: “I never take one without good reason.” Mocked for his useless linguistics studies (there’s only one language), William nevertheless finds a way to earn respect with his skills. A magical land is imaginatively depicted with airborne pigs eating a shower of lettuce and carrots while gliding above “seashell streets.” Roses rapidly bloom, die, and regenerate. Though there are battle scenes, the book’s tone is lighthearted. “It took me three months to find the perfect-sized vest!” Marta shouts after being shot in the shoulder. Miller’s riveting novel is so stuffed with characters and subplots that a sequel is announced at the end. A rollicking tale with magic, pirates, and multiple viewpoints that will keep readers turning pages.

Cut Off From Sky and Earth

Miller, Melissa F. | Brown Street Books (374 pp.) | $15.99 paper | September 2, 2025 9781961427303

In Miller’s psychological thriller, a secretive married couple become the targets of a serial killer. It’s 2024, and Pennsylvanians Emily and Tristan Rose have been married for five years, yet both have hidden important facts about themselves. Emily found her college roommate, Cassie, brutally murdered seven years before; she still suffers from PTSD and believes she was the intended victim. When she meets Tristan shortly after the attack, she’s relieved to have found someone who apparently doesn’t know about the violent incident. However, he not only knows all about the killing, but he also believes that he knows who’s responsible. When another local homicide eerily mirrors Cassie’s, Tristan is convinced that killer has tracked Emily down, so he persuades her to go on a “solo retreat” in a remote cabin in the North Carolina mountains, ostensibly so she can focus on finishing her novel-in-progress. When he drops her off, they run into Lexi Lincoln, who was attacked and left for

dead in Tristan’s hometown 21 years earlier. The past comes back to haunt all three characters as they become drawn into a twisted cat-and-mouse game with a murderer. Miller delivers a thrilling mystery with sharp twists and taut pacing, but it also powerfully touches on deeper themes, such as trauma, resilience, and the meaning of friendship. Threaded throughout the narrative is the fairy tale Maid Maleen, the subject of Emily’s novel about a young princess and her maid; they’re locked in a tower and forgotten, and they must courageously act to save themselves. This aspect is one of the novel’s greatest strengths, as this story reflects the growing bond between Emily and Lexi, who must rely on each other to escape their own metaphorical prison: “Your prince has forgotten you. Your father is most likely dead. If anyone remembers we’re here, they no longer care. Nobody’s coming to save us, Maleen.” Some plot turns are predictable, but the final twist arrives unexpectedly, although readers may be divided by its unconventionality. A suspenseful story of buried trauma, female friendship, and the cost of secrets.

Delivered

Mondesir, James | Self (352 pp.) | $22 paper May 15, 2025 | 9798230176879

In this novel, an academic overachiever ends up in prison and, upon his release, struggles to restart his ravaged life. The child of demanding Haitian immigrants—his father is a lawyer and his mother a nurse— Jean Valuer is ambitiously making progress on the “American Dream Highway.” After he earns a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Cornell University, he pursues a master’s from New York University, with aspirations to write novels and teach. But those dreams are destroyed when he’s arrested for drug possession. He is caught holding a bag filled with drugs, unbeknown to him, that was given to him by his best friend, Marcus Ramirez. Jean is

eventually released from prison as part of a program to deter the spread of Covid-19, and, now 27 years old and free, he finds the world an inhospitable place for a felon. His girlfriend, Julie Matthews, abandons him; his parents shun him in disgust; and he discovers that it is nearly impossible to find a job with a criminal record. In this thoughtfully meditative novel by Mondesir, Jean is pulled between his desire to find meaning in his new circumstances and his burning need to exact revenge on Marcus for his treachery: “Betrayal by someone you love is like disembowelment; it eviscerates your sense of self-worth, and causes a sort of death.” Jean’s character is drawn with remarkable subtlety—a bookish, ruminative young man, he is simply too imaginative to foreclose the possibility of redemption, but also too intelligent to see it as plausible. Moreover, while the author is careful not to reduce the protagonist to mere symbolism—Jean is a fully realized human being—he is microcosmic of the dangers faced by African Americans in the United States, and the lonely dislocation caused by the pandemic. This is a powerful work that dramatically captures the fragility of life as well as the perseverance of the human spirit. A captivating tale about betrayal that presents impressively complex characters.

Buried Bones

Moore, Bonnie | Palmetto Publishing (428 pp.) $15.99 paper | May 6, 2025 | 9798822955905

In Moore’s novel, a retired prosecutor entangled in a murder case becomes increasingly convinced the prime suspect is innocent.

Maggie Anderson retires to Utah following a long career as a prosecutor in Washington, D.C., after an innocent suspect is killed by vengeful vigilantes. However, her “old crusading spirit” is aroused when she sees injustice brewing: While vacationing in Ogden with friends, she learns that the body of local woman Audrey Stillman was found buried in her backyard—she’s been dead for four

years—and everyone in town simply assumes her husband, Ben, is the culprit. They divorced after 15 years of marriage, and it is widely known the reason for their separation was Ben’s poorly concealed sexual orientation. Anxious that Ben won’t get a fair trial, Maggie finds him a defense attorney and helps out as an investigator as well. In this gripping crime drama, Maggie’s efforts only further confirm her intuition that Ben is innocent. Moreover, she is persuaded that the Stevensons, one of the county’s “founding families,” are at the very least hiding something regarding Audrey’s death, and they may be somehow responsible for it (“the reality is the DA isn’t going to take the hit by arresting anyone named Stevenson,” Maggie ruefully notes). The author paints a rich picture of small-town life in all its social incestuousness, deftly conveying the ways in which secrets prolifically beget secrets. Maggie is a captivating character—an activist at heart, she is thrice divorced, and encounters, amid the chaos of her investigation, a late-in-life promise of romance. Moore’s writing is plain and straightforward, lacking in literary style and sometimes leaning toward the earnestly banal. However, the plot is impressively intricate and unfolds in a manner brimming with suspense. This is an exceedingly intelligent murder mystery, dramatically enthralling and thoroughly entertaining. An immersive tale of murder and betrayal.

Emotional Abuse: A Manual for Self-Defense

Mucha, Zak | Pay What It Costs Publishing (216 pp.) | $12.99 paper | August 1, 2025 9798992792508

A breakdown of the types of emotional manipulation and tactics to counter them.

“We have been socialized to believe emotional abuse is not serious,” psychoanalyst Mucha writes at the start of his latest book. “Emotional abuse teaches us to blame ourselves for being hurt.” It’s

this type of inwardly directed blame that leads Mucha to assert that emotional abuse might be even more damaging than physical or sexual abuse. Society has taught people to accept emotional abuse as both inevitable and partially self-inflicted. “We try to be perfect,” Mucha writes, “and when we cannot, we decide we are failures.” In a series of chapters examining such headings as anxiety, manipulation, guilt, and shame, the book touches on both the inner sources of emotional vulnerability and the most common patterns of the people who exploit it. One of the book’s core concepts is the powerful idea of reciprocity, which Mucha views as the reflex of expecting to get out of an emotional relationship what we put into it—and how abusers tend to twist that idea to make their victims expect unequal terms: “Emotional abuse incorporates that lack of reciprocity, creating an expectation for the victim that they deserve less than others.” Our culture “accepts and promotes” such abuses of power, he writes. In a series of discussions and scenarios, he seeks to explain how emotional abuse works and how to address it—for instance, recognizing that even if the abusers are family members, the solution, as difficult as it is, may be to walk away. He recommends recognizing and combatting a lack of empathy by conducting a thorough “self-referencing” check of one’s own feelings. Throughout, Mucha maintains a deeply empathetic, supportive manner informed by extensive experience and research (the book ends with a two-page bibliography). And although his tone is caring, he’s cleareyed when it comes to his subject, always returning to what he refers to as “the ultimatum of emotional abuse”: “If you don’t do as I demand or change yourself to fit my needs, then you are not nice.” Anyone who’s ever dealt with abuse of this kind will find this book invaluable. A careful, uplifting primer on recognizing and countering psychological manipulation.

For more Indie content, visit Kirkus online.

Hamlet

Neill, Ted & William Shakespeare

Tenebray Press (264 pp.) | $12.99 paper

May 6, 2025 | 9798282260809 | Series: Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare, 1

Two alien AIs sneak their way through Shakespeare’s greatest play in Neill’s imaginative staging. In the far distant future—long after humanity has died out and life has moved on to a different galaxy—the intelligences of an advanced machine-based civilization are still attempting to understand the works of William Shakespeare. The newly minted artificial consciousness J-9 (or Janine, as she prefers to be called) has been created to live within simulations of Shakespeare’s plays, observing the characters’ actions and thereby drawing inferences as to what ancient humans might have been like. With the help of her assistant, Otto—a mutating entity that most often takes the form of a robotic owl—Janine enters a production of Hamlet as a bit player, standing in as a guard, a servant girl, an attendant, or whoever else might slip into a scene unnoticed. From these—the best seats in the house—she and Otto watch the play unfolding in its entirety, with only the occasional asides that help explain some of the more opaque aspects of the language or plot. For example, when it’s revealed the new king Claudius has married his brother’s widow only two months after the dead king’s death, Janine “wrinkles her nose and purses her lips as if she has just bitten into a lemon. JANINE: That seems…hasty.” The reading experience is primarily that of reading Hamlet —there are extended sections where Janine and Otto fade into the background, leaving the reader alone with the text. Neill’s most helpful contributions come in the form of his setting and scene directions, including a highly evocative description of Elsinore castle: “It is no traditional four-walled bailey and keep, nor is it a bastion in the shape of a star to give archers or cannonades angles on attackers. Rather, the walls

of Elsinore have followed the contours of the cliffs…giving it the appearance of a building with innumerable facades.” For fans of SF looking for a way into Shakespeare, Janine and Otto make for a fun and not overly intrusive set of guides. An inventive, accessible presentation of Hamlet with an SF twist.

Where Light Does Not Reach

Night, Tom B. | Self (271 pp.)

August 5, 2025 | 9798280052727

A globetrotting whale researcher and an aging astronaut are thrown together by Earth-shaking enigmas in Night’s SF novel. Soledad, an oceanic researcher specializing in whales, is investigating a horrific phenomenon that sees sperm whales fatally stranding themselves around the planet, most recently on a beach in Australia—it’s a marine-mammal mass suicide that’s only one example of whales behaving out of character lately (“For an endangered species with only an estimated several hundred thousand members left, this was equivalent to losing something like thirty million people”). Jack Dash is a veteran U.S. astronaut from the International Space Station who has earned notoriety by living through a suit-breach incident that left him exposed to the vacuum of space for five minutes. From his terrestrial point of view (he’s since pivoted to earthbound astronomy), he is the first observer to detect that stars seem to be vanishing mysteriously. Circumstances throw the pair together, and as they investigate their respective puzzles the two find that their divergent science backgrounds—and perhaps their respective heartaches— nicely complement each other. But much bigger things are afoot: Fearful populaces, panicked over the “dark forest” theory that holds Earth’s radio telescopes and broadcasts are drawing attention from hostile aliens, are attacking sky-watching stations. Soledad’s whale-trackers indicate that the sperm whales are feeding on

some kind of abyssal sponge, leading to altered-consciousness states; what would happen if a human consumed it? Night spins an apocalyptic SF yarn of the high-IQ Gregory Benford variety, with an extremely odd cosmic alliances of alien superintelligences and Earth life coming together to combat an apocalyptic menace. The author notes that Arthur C. Clarke’s SF classic Childhood’s End (1953), with its narrative of humanity making a great leap forward, is a direct inspiration, but in this case the progression takes the form of an almost certainly fatal emergency. Despite all of the inherent gloom, however, readers will cheer as the smart, nervy characters persevere in their fight and prove that survival is a worthy goal; the book also boasts loads of funky physics, cetacean science, some philosophies of existence worth considering, and a heartening shoutout to Carl Sagan. Literate, big-brained SF that tells a whale of a tale.

Pop Kill

Palmiotti, Jimmy & Dave Johnson | Illus. by Juan Santacruz | Mad Cave Studios (144 pp.) $19.99 paper | August 19, 2025 | 9781545817872

In this comic collection set in the cutthroat world of carbonated corporate espionage, a spy and a scientist face off against rival cola kingpins. The high-pressure world of Big Cola can involve bombings, assassinations, and even global diarrhea outbreaks. These are the tactics of Kaito and Goro Koizumi, formerly conjoined twins who are now bitter rivals battling for complete soda supremacy. Goro, the head of Fizz-One Cola in Japan, employs the oversexed, square-jawed hitman Jon Pyle to sabotage his sibling’s company, Popso Cola—even if it means murdering a union boss or toppling a Congolese president. However, Kaito, in the high-rise next door, has a secret weapon, and her name is Dina Deluxe. A brilliant, underappreciated scientist, Dina is on the verge of cracking the formula for self-regenerating

carbonation, which would keep Popso fizzy longer than any competitor. Jon’s orders are clear: seduce and recruit Dina for Fizz-One—or liquidate her, if need be. Neither Jon nor Dina know that Kaito has bugged her apartment and would rather kill her than let Goro claim the formula. As she’s pursued by a menpō-masked hit squad and a half-burned, knife-wielding enforcer, Dina believes her best hope is to explain to her boss she has no intention of jumping ship. However, her newfound superspy bodyguard knows just how vengeful Koizumi can be, and that it’ll take more than words to survive his wrath. Writer/artist Johnson tackles his first full-length, creator-owned series alongside Painkiller Jane co-creator Palmiotti, crafting a tale of espionage that effectively balances the serious and absurd. The multibillion-dollar companies’ antics mirror real-life acts of corporate manipulation, although the cola-can silencers and booby-trapped six-packs are on the wild side. The villains shine bright here, and Goro and Kaito’s antics are hilarious and horrifying. Jon and Dina have good banter, but a perfunctory romance. Santacruz’s pencils fit the genre perfectly, with a modern, cinematic approach to action scenes and a bit of Howard Chaykin influence apparent in the character designs. The soda logos are standouts—as dynamic and believable as real-world brands. A darkly comic spy story that buzzes like a caffeine high.

A moving story of friendship, family, and recovery.

THE DANCER AND THE SWAN

The Dancer and the Swan Peters, James L. | SmallPub (504 pp.) | $16.95 paper | August 1, 2025 | 9798998588402

In Peters’ novel, two very different Illinois women find unexpected strength and grace in each other. Two months after her father dies, 53-year-old white Midwesterner Pauline Swanson becomes a hospice volunteer, thinking she can use the skills she learned while caring for him to help

others. A sober alcoholic with no remaining family, she works as a bartender, lives frugally, and is consumed by regret about her behavior when she was young and troubled. Her first patient is Deborah “DeeDee” Deneaux, a 76-yearold Black businesswoman who has an advanced, incurable autoimmune disease. DeeDee initially rejects help, and she has a difficult relationship with her resentful son, Raymond, who arranged the hospice visits. Pauline persists, and as the two women get to know each other better, a true friendship blooms. Pauline is awed by DeeDee’s story of growing up in a close-knit family in New Orleans in the 1960s, training as a dancer, then going to San Francisco at age 18 with her brother, who joined the Black Panthers. Barely able to make rent as a diner waitress, DeeDee became an exotic dancer and stripper, then put herself through college as a single working mother. She tells her story proudly, which is a revelation to Pauline, who holds back details of her own past, due to feelings of shame. When DeeDee pleads for Pauline to take her out for one last night on the town, she reluctantly agrees, despite her worries about DeeDee’s weakening condition. Not long afterward, Pauline gets an unexpected reminder of a childhood trauma, and she faces a gut-wrenching decision.

The novel interweaves Pauline’s first-person, present-tense story and DeeDee’s, told in third person, past tense. Both women’s voices effectively convey their strong personalities; Pauline’s directness is often disconcerting to others, although her thoughts are much snarkier than her speech. DeeDee centers her New Orleans Creole heritage, sprinkling conversations with dawlin’ and bits of French; she affectionately calls Pauline “mon cygne.” Peters’ writing features apt descriptions—the senior living apartment building where DeeDee resides has “a cozy, almost Victorian vibe with a hint of Howard Johnson’s”—and lovely passages,

as when Pauline imagines her own ashes after death: “I will dust the dreams of lovers, be a mote in the eyes of those who hate, grit the icy walkways to steady slippery steps, and choke the voices that lie and slander.” The characters are well-rounded and distinct; they’re sometimes blind to their own feelings but psychologically astute about others’; for example, DeeDee tells Pauline that Raymond “doesn’t so much try to mean well, as he likes to feel as if he tries to mean well.” The novel handles weighty themes frankly and with nuance, as when Pauline asks DeeDee how she survived racism and prejudice, and she replies, “Getting a kick out of your past-tense there, dawlin’.” Although her body is weakening, DeeDee remains as vibrant as ever, while Pauline’s perseverance, and her journey toward love and self-acceptance, are memorable throughout.

A moving story of friendship, family, and recovery.

Paw & Order Vol. 1: The Grilled Cheese Caper

Platt, Jason | Papercutz (88 pp.)

$14.99 | $9.99 paper | August 5, 2025 9781545819944 | 9781545819937 paper

In Platt’s middlegrade graphic novel, all the sandwiches go missing from the Grilled Cheese Festival, and two detectives—a cat and a dog—are on the case.

In the Paw & Order offices of private detectives Marlowe and Purrlock, the latter is hungry and the fridge is empty. The cat P.I. insists that he went to the grocery store just the day before, so he’s certain that someone must have stolen all the food. Purrlock is positive it must be the dastardly

Kirkus Star

Meowiearty. In search of something to eat, the pair end up at the Grilled Cheese Festival, only to find out from Rabbit that all the grilled cheese sandwiches had been stolen. Purrlock is again sure that it’s Meowiearty’s doing, but Marlowe isn’t so sure. Police Sgt. Bear is on the scene, gathering clues, but he asks the detectives to work the case; from there, the pair interview two suspects: Jinny Giraffe and Allan Alligator. Both had motive and opportunity, but Purrlock continues to believe that Meowiearty is the real culprit. After their investigation concludes, Marlowe and Purrlock gather the suspects together, review the clues, motives, and opportunities, and reveal the identity of the dastardly villain that ruined the festival for everyone. At the end of a busy, productive day, the two detectives wind down with a nice grilled cheese sandwich. In this fast and fun graphic novel for young readers, Platt lays out the various pieces of the puzzle in a logical order, and Marlowe even breaks the fourth wall to advise readers to go back and examine details for themselves to see if they can figure out the solution on their own The full-color cartoon art is bright and colorful, and the animal characters feel distinct with clear personalities. The detective partners play off each other well, with Marlowe the more serious detective and Purrlock making outrageous accusations or jumping to conclusions. Young mystery lovers are sure to get a kick out of this book. A quick, bright tale with a fun, interactive investigation for young readers.

Until the Walls Come Down

Podjarny, Gal | Atmosphere Press (330 pp.)

$15.99 paper | July 22, 2025 | 9798891326958

After an Israeli Jew in Jaffa loses her parents to a terrorist attack in 2022, she tries to save their house, her childhood home, from demolition. Tammar Azar is heartbroken to learn that her parents, Yossi and Khava, were killed in a terrorist attack. The sad news fails to bring her warring

brothers, Barak and Daniel, together, and the nature of their death only amplifies Barak’s contempt for Ali, Tammar’s husband, who is Palestinian and Muslim. Two-months pregnant, Tammar begins to hunt down the paperwork necessary to sell her childhood home and discovers that her parents never officially registered it since it previously belonged to a Palestinian family. Even more remarkable, that family is none other than Ali’s, who emigrated to Israel in 1947, a secret he kept from his wife. In this poignant, emotional drama by author Podjarny, Tammar begins to forge an intimate connection to the house and decides she wants to keep it, but the obstacles are considerable. First, Ali’s father, Muhammad, is loath to give his consent: “What I want is to have my home back. I want to live here, in this house, where I would have been born if it weren’t for the Jews and their colonialism. I want to be treated like I’m a human being, not some burden you have to deal with.” Moreover, the city sends Tammar an eviction notice, informing her that the property will be demolished. Podjarny’s involving, layered tale tackles personal, racial, and political themes. Still, it’s never overcomplicated, nor is there drop of saccharine sentimentality here, only authentic emotion conveyed by a cast of fully developed characters. The result is a deeply affecting tale that will haunt one long after it’s read.

An affecting, thoughtful family drama crackling with energy.

Republic of Forge and Grace: A ParallelUniverse America Novel

Rirdan, Daniel | Self (327 pp.) | $24.95

$15.95 paper | January 6, 2026 9798992609004 | 9798992609011 paper

In Rirdan’s SF thriller, an ex-Special Ops serviceman becomes the unlikely last line of defense of a parallel world built on eco-efficiency and civic engagement.

Ex-U.S. Army soldier Chris Walden doesn’t take his obligations lightly. However,

he finds that his recent tour of duty of Iraq pales in comparison to what’s revealed in his friend Ronny’s basement: a portal that allows them to access a parallel world—specifically, a place called Americana. As Chris quickly finds out, Americana’s lush green pastures are in a class all their own; it’s a world with many differences, in which American troops never went to Iraq, agriculture works without pesticides, and residents celebrate Independence Day on March 4. Workplaces run on a communal model, aviation has long been phased out as ecologically unfriendly, and baseball teams, such as the Boulder Sluggers, don’t play for money. It’s the kind of society that’s “one butter churn away from Amish,” as Ronny scornfully puts it, during a break from his latest visit. “It’s like Pleasantville with self-driving buggies.” However, the availability of polygamous marriages, which Chris begins exploring with sisters Sandra and Kate Allen, may cause Ronny to revise his opinion. As world-weary Chris gets ready to settle into Americana’s naturalist ethos for good, Ronny only sees dollar signs, and he’s willing to get others involved to exploit his basement portal for profit. Everything that Chris loves is suddenly up for grabs, setting up a classic conflict that readers are sure to find compelling: Just how far will a person go to defend what they love? Over the course of this novel, Rirdan keeps the story humming along, keeping readers consistently engaged without getting bogged down in his parallel world’s day-to-day nitty-gritty, which is always a potential trap awaiting those who write fiction involving parallel realities of any kind. The edgier sexual themes, brought in by the polygamous relationships, may trouble more traditional readers; however, the author handles these issues subtly, and they don’t intrude on narrative’s larger concerns, which are bound to stir up lively discussions about the nature of service and sacrifice.

A well-developed and compelling parallel-world tale.

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Employment Ethics: Redefining the EmployerEmployee Relationship

Schachtner, Travis | FTS Leaders (184 pp.)

$19.99 paper | July 7, 2025 | 9798992830910

A worker’s guide to getting fair treatment and holding employers accountable. In this book, Schachtner, a technical and community college instructor, aims to “help workers better understand their rights, responsibilities, and the larger systems at play” that affect the relationship between employee and employer. He emphasizes that the nature of that relationship is purely transactional, “a business arrangement where both parties have something valuable to offer,” rejecting the notion that employment is a form of benevolence where companies “give” jobs to workers. He defines employment ethics as “fundamental principles that establish basic workplace ethics, safety, and sustainability worldwide,” and as “tangible factors that affect your daily life, financial stability, and well-being.” Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of the employment relationship. First comes work ethic, which has four basic components: productivity, reliability, autonomy, and collaboration; each are discussed in detail. Chapter 2, “Employers Are Not Leaders,” explains the difference between management, which focuses on day-to-day processes and efficiency, and leadership, which is people-focused and needed in challenging times. The third chapter applies the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs framework to employment. Next, the author stresses the importance of a balanced relationship, noting differences between long-term and short-term/gig work and the problem of misclassification. The middle of the book tackles workplace safety and security, corporate accountability, and environmental responsibility. Chapter 8 makes the case for “community-supporting” wages. Chapter 9 reviews Maslow’s principles, and what happens when employer ethics fail. Chapter 10 and the conclusion serve

as a call to action and outline how to advocate for change. All chapters end with reflection questions to help readers evaluate their own workplaces, such as, “Are your ideas and input respected in team settings, even if you are not in a leadership role?” There is also a reference list of the author’s research sources.

Throughout the book, Schachtner portrays the employer-employee relationship as heavily one-sided, where a worker’s loyalty is often demanded but rarely reciprocated: “For too long, the burden of the employment relationship has been placed exclusively on employees.” He details the myriad problems that occur when employers are unethical, including infamous historical catastrophes like the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Chernobyl reactor meltdown, Monongah coal mine and Bhopal chemical plant explosions, and violent union busting. The author asserts that the regulations created in response to these and other workplace tragedies are essential for holding employers accountable and without enforcement by government watchdog agencies, companies would be free to exploit and endanger employees, communities, and the environment in the pursuit of ever-higher corporate profits. Other than mentioning freelance work for corporations and the issue of misclassification of gig workers, the only form of employment described is traditional jobs in for-profit industries. The author doesn’t mention government or nonprofit employers, although some of the issues might also apply to them.

Schachtner’s writing is clear and straightforward, but he often repeats key points, for example, variations on the sentence “Recognizing ethical gaps is the first step toward advocating for change” appear in nearly every chapter. The book’s conclusion provides a partial list of resources such as OSHA, ISO, and Safe Work Australia. It makes a persuasive case that government regulations, oversight, and enforcement are necessary and worker advocacy, both individual and collective, is essential for a well-functioning society. A practical, cleareyed, albeit repetitive, resource.

How To Age Gracefully: Essays About the Art of Living

Scoblic, Barbara Hoffbeck

She Writes Press (216 pp.) | $17.99 paper July 8, 2025 | 9798896360223

An author offers a bittersweet look at growing older in her new memoir. The realities of aging are often more complicated than many people admit. Presumably, it’s the reason why Oscar-winning actor Meryl Streep once tartly observed that “aging is not for the faint of heart.” For most people, it’s something they’d rather not think about until reality intrudes, as Scoblic’s smart, sharply written collection of essays suggests. The book opens with her entering a senior independent living facility in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2022,after the death of her husband, and after taking one fall too many. She describes her new situation as an unsettling, disorienting reality of constant adjustments, especially regarding physical matters. When the author sighs, “I miss my old body terribly,” many readers will sigh right along with her—because everyone will eventually make those adjustments themselves. The same rules apply to memory and concentration: “Silent, taunting Wordle and smug Spelling Bee destroyed my confidence, reminding me of what my mind once had been,” she notes at one point. However, she also effectively characterizes her new world as offering her an unexpected freedom to enjoy things for their own sake: “I write only when I want to write, and I make my own deadlines,” she exults. “I don’t have to worry about anyone else, about making dinner, about who’s coming over.” Freed from the pressures of making a living, she can go about her craft and enjoy smaller triumphs; indeed, that’s the main takeaway of this book: Enjoy what you have, even if you’re faint of heart. Over the course of this collection, readers will find plenty of relatable moments, anchored in tightly written, two- and three-page essays and broken up by relevant nuggets of conversation throughout. If half of all late-in-life remembrances were so well crafted and

The

stubby-trunked

elephants’

faces are especially expressive and endearing.

ELEPHANTS DO FORGET

well disciplined, it would be cause for celebration, making this a valuable read for aspiring memoirists.

An engaging snapshot of the challenging but rewarding ups and downs of aging.

The Call of Abaddon

Searle, Colin | Self (414 pp.) | $18.99 paper July 29, 2025 | 9781069265319

In Searle’s SF debut, salvagers in the mid-23rd century seek a dangerous artifact. Brothers David and Jason and their female friend Sam comprise the salvaging squad. They do supply runs for the Village, which lies underneath the domed city of New Toronto; toxic superstorms rage outside the protective barrier. The members of trio are mum about their pasts—eight years ago, they escaped being experimented upon by the United Earth Federation, and now Jason and Sam have psychic abilities. Jason, however, can’t control his, and he suppresses them with regular doses of the drug Osmium. Untreated, he hears the voice of the Abaddon Beacon, an alien obelisk that sat in the labs with the three when they were still test subjects. As Jason’s connection to the Beacon hurts him as well as others, the salvagers vow to retrieve the artifact, which promises Jason answers to his “psychic affliction.” That’s just one reason to brave the surface of New Toronto, where they’re classified as “Undocs”; the other is to salvage parts to repair their damaged 14-foot robot, the true muscle in the Village’s defense. Meanwhile, the ongoing Solar War may be nearing an end, with the very real possibility that the UEF will surrender to

the Solar Empire. Cyborg Anne Oakfield, who has ties to the Village and the government’s experiments, has another idea: She sets out to kill the nefarious Emperor Hadrian Mariko of the Solar Empire. All the while, the Nanophage, a plague of corrupted Nanites that infect humans and bots alike, threatens everyone. Searle’s extensive worldbuilding turns this tale into a richly detailed epic; backstories include Anne’s murky past; particulars on Julian Yamamoto, the Village’s governor and founder; and several nods to the Great War from a century ago. The three protagonists—tortured, sympathetic Jason; fiercely loyal David, whose reason for also being in the lab is eventually revealed; and Sam, who’s refined her psionic skills—are superbly rendered. They lead an indelible cast, highlighted by the unshakable Anne, another few notable Oakfields, and the diabolical Emperor and his “augmented” Imperial legionnaires. While there are some solid action sequences, this story relies more on the buildup of tension as various groups of people come into conflict. Perpetual menaces abound as the war continues, the Abaddon Beacon’s voice proves merciless, and the Nanophage-infected victims amass in zombie-like hordes. Throughout the narrative there are signs of familiar tech, from cybernetic implants and parts (like Anne’s “cyber-eyes”) to a variety of vehicles including an airbus and a Jetbike. While these are fun details, it’s just as entertaining to watch characters get by without fantastical tech at their disposal (Jason, David, and Sam must make a hefty jump sans jetpacks and confront bulky foes in New Toronto with no assistance from their own gigantic robot). It’s hard to imagine where the

salvaging trio might go next—which makes a sequel all the more appealing. A well-developed cast enriches this sublimely constructed futuristic world.

Elephants DO Forget: How Emory Found His Memory

Shadrick, P.E. | Illus. by Amanda Letcher Self (34 pp.) | $13.95 paper | June 30, 2025 9798991234078

In Shadrick’s rhyming picture book, a forgetful elephant loses his way.

Emory is an older pachyderm living in a forest. While out for a walk one day, he finds that he can’t remember how to get home. A parrot asks if Emory needs help, and after the elephant admits that he might be lost, the bird says, “I’m happy to help you find your way. Just tell me, where did you come from? And I’ll have you home by the end of the day.” The parrot doesn’t recognize Emory’s description of his home, but offers to bring him to see a wise frog friend. The pair cross a river to reach the amphibian, who leads them to Emory’s herd. The other elephants thank the parrot and frog and invite them to celebrate Emory’s return: “We welcome you as guests and friends. You have been patient and generous, and this tale has come to a joyful end.” It’s not explicitly clear whether Emory has age-related memory loss or a more serious condition, but he’s never shown to be in real danger. This aspect also doesn’t detract from the cheerful, effective message to readers to “lend a helping hand” whenever they can. Letcher’s watercolor-style cartoon illustrations will be a big draw; the stubby-trunked elephants’ faces are especially expressive and endearing. A sweet animal tale about aiding others.

For more Indie content, visit Kirkus online.

28 Indies Worth

FALL 2025

Kirkus presents Indies Worth Discovering , a sponsored feature spotlighting an array of fiction and nonfiction works recommended by Indie editors. Here readers can find a useful sampler that shows the excellence and breadth of Indie titles. Find pulse-pounding thrillers, revealing memoirs, twisty mysteries, fiery romances, thoughtful business books, problem-solving self-help guides, and incisive poetry collections, among many other works. Searching for something new and exciting? Read on.

Kirkus Star

Painting Wonder by Katie

Wray Schon

An accessible and inspiring minibiography, delightfully illustrated.

The Dream Collector: Book I: Sabrine & Sigmund Freud by R.W.

Meek

A smoothly written tale of 1880s art and medicine with engrossing characters.

Scene

Change by Alan Harrison

Many in the nonprofit arts sector will decry this manifesto as heresy, only validating its necessity.

Moral Injury by Mhairi Haarsager

A taut medical thriller that will keep readers in suspense “to the bitter end.”

Kirkus Star America’s Presidents by Gerald S. Henig

A trove of entertaining stories about the drama, pratfalls, and sheer weirdness of presidents.

The Island King by Gina Giordano

A complex and often compelling tale of domestic and spiritual struggle in the Caribbean.

Blood Will Tell by Anita Coffee Thomas

An entertaining beach read with the potential for a sequel.

Kirkus Star

The Iberian Table by Robin Keuneke

A thoroughly sumptuous guide to some of the world’s most nutritious cuisines.

Insurrect Me

by William Kirk

A compelling amalgam of ludicrous humor and sober cultural analysis.

Becoming Mariella

by Janet Constantino

An engrossing story about a young woman taking chances to find her way after college.

The Afters: Book One

by

Christopher O’Connell

A winning cast of characters breathes life into a worn but still entertaining subgenre.

Countermelodies

by

Ernestine Whitman

A disturbing and compelling tale of resilience, determination, and musical passion.

Addictions

by Laurence

Baillie Brown

Snapshots of gay life from different eras and generations, brought to life by biting, timelessly funny narration.

A Land of Shadows and Moss

by A.S.R. Gelpi

A sublime introduction to exotic lands full of alluring characters and extraordinary magic.

All Shook Up

by

Enid Langbert

An authentic feeling, wide-ranging tale of mid-20th century teenage turmoil.

Wished

by

Sarah Ready

A fun read that perfectly balances swoonworthy romance with a thoughtful examination of first impressions.

Aylen Isle

by Aud Supplee

A gripping adventure enhanced by a creative plot, lively dialogue, and strong female characters.

A Memory of Fictions (or) Just Tiddy-Boom

by Leonce Gaiter

A distinctive, fragmentary story of an artist’s painful coming of age.

Four

Women by Norman

Shabel

An effective David and Goliath courtroom drama that will satisfy fans of legal thrillers.

Mac & Irene by Margot McMahon

An affecting love story combined with an engaging story of survival.

Charity, Change, and Community: Volume I: 1817–1875 by Gail Rodgers McCormick

A well-researched local history of an oft-ignored Philadelphia neighborhood.

Charity, Change, and Community: Volume II: 1875–1971 by Gail Rodgers McCormick

A well-researched, accessible history of a once-thriving religious community in Philadelphia.

Two Presidents With Diametrical Character and Their Role in the Unsettling of America by Jermel W. Shim

A detailed, cautionary take on the precariousness of democracy.

When Fred the Snake and Friends Explore USA West by Peter B. Cotton; illus. by Bonnie Lemaire

This children’s travel book stokes curiosity and a spirit of adventure.

The Apple That Fell Far From the Tree

by Trevor Crafts & Aaron Burakoff; illus. by Mister Hope

A funny and thoughtful picture book for kids who are a little bit different.

Stranger From Across the Sea

by Regina McBride

A nuanced exploration of trauma, personal and historical.

Prejudice, Racism, and Tribalism

by Anthony M. D’Agostino

An accessible introduction to institutional racism in the United States and its ongoing effects.

Star

Dr. King Goes to India! by

Cara Reese

A beautifully designed, poetic historical picture book.

Kirkus

Highly recommended!

“VERDICT A beautifully illustrated, tenderly told story for fall reading or any unit on empathy and inference. Highly recommended.”

— School Library Journal, Starred Review

“...a ‘sweet’ ode to the way kindness inspires kindness.”

— Publishers Weekly

“A quietly spectacular picture book, reimagining the journey of a seed aboard Apollo 14.”

— The Guardian

“A sensitive character study with feelings that run deep.”

—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Based on real historical events, this series cleverly combines robotics with history. The grayscale illustrations complement the narrative, bringing GEORGE and his adventures to life.

“Based on real historical events, this series cleverly combines robotics with history. The grayscale illustrations complement the narrative, bringing GEORGE and his adventures to life.

VERDICT A great addition to any chapter book collection.”

VERDICT A great addition to any chapter book collection.”

— School Library Journal

— School Library Journal

“VERDICT Young readers will love this book. Purchase at least two copies—one for the biography section and one for the graphic novel section. Students will be recommending this to others in no time.”

— School Library Journal, Starred Review

“VERDICT A must for every collection, and a cornerstone for the dance shelves.”

— School Library Journal, Starred Review

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