The gift-giving season is upon us, and we’re all hunting for just the right presents for friends, family, and loved ones. But why stress? There’s a book for everyone on your shopping list, no matter what their interests. That’s why the editors of Kirkus have assembled this handy guide to fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, coffee table tomes, and young readers’ literature for all ages. Just put a bow on top.
Eva-Foreman via iStock
2023 Holiday Gift Guide
Fresh, warm books for giving and sharing.
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Illustration © 2023 by Will Hillenbrand
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H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR POP CULTURISTAS Head Over Heels: Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman Newman, Melissa Voracious/Little, Brown, $50.00
A scrapbook from a Golden Age Hollywood glamour couple who were photographed by Avedon, Halsman, and other greats.
Vanity Fair: Oscar Night Sessions Seliger, Mark Abrams, $80.00
Portraits of Hollywood A-listers shot at the magazine’s legendary afterparty. The next best thing to being there.
Phaidon Editors, with essays by Sam Bilton, Dolph Gotelli, and David Trigg Phaidon, $49.95
A festive survey of the myriad ways Christmas is celebrated around the world. Bound to bring good cheer.
Wannabe: Reckonings With the Pop Culture That Shapes Me Harris, Aisha HarperOne, $29.99
From the Spice Girls to Chance the Rapper, the NPR podcast host sharply surveys the pop culture landscape.
Chronorama: Blade of Dream Photographic Treasures Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) of the 20th Century $29.00 | July 18, 2023
Black Artists Rock!: The Cool Kids’ Guide A-Z
Abrams, $80.00
A dynamic celebration with all-ages appeal.
The Pinault Collection and Condé Nast 9780316421898 Archive; foreword by Anna Wintour
Great character work and interesting plot development In this impressive volume, 409 make this an exceptional middle sumptuous photographs and volume. illustrations from major American glossies tell the story of a nation, 1910-1979.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
The Christmas Book
Reese, Cara Bea and Jo Press, $19.99
DECEMBER 1, 2023 1
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR FOODIES An A-Z of Pasta Roddy, Rachel Knopf, $37.00
For pasta lovers, an irresistible guide to all the sauces and shapes, from alfabeto to ziti.
Alikhani, Nasim Knopf, $40.00
A stunning introduction to Persian cuisine from an acclaimed restaurateur—you’ve never seen such gorgeous photos of rice.
The Secret of Cooking: Recipes for an Easier Life in the Kitchen
On the Curry Trail: Chasing the Flavor That Seduced the World
Wilson, Bee Norton, $40.00
Iyer, Raghavan Workman, $30.00
This British food writer’s first recipe book is an amiable guide to sumptuous living for cooks of all stripes.
The late, great chef dishes on the multifarious origins of curry, from Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe to the Americas.
The Jewish Deli: An Blade of Dream Illustrated Guide to the Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Chosen Food $29.00 | July 18, 2023
Mastering Classic Cocktails
Nadler, Ben 9780316421898 Chronicle Books, $24.95
Great character work and A comics artist and illustrator interesting plot development serves up a delectably cheeky tour make this an exceptional middle of the Jewish delicatessen. volume.
2 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Sofreh: A Contemporary Approach to Classic Persian Cuisine
Brady, C. Townsend; photos by Rod Searcey Palo Alto Publishing, $37.99 | $25.99 paper
A beautifully illustrated guide to making classic mixed drinks.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS Best of the World: 1,000 Destinations of a Lifetime
Lei Aloha: Celebrating the Vibrant Flowers and Lei of Hawai’i
National Geographic, $40.00
Estes, Meleana Ten Speed Press, $32.50
This page-turning compendium offers enough adventure to fuel 100 lifetimes of bucket-list travel destinations.
A loving celebration of the art and philosophy of lei culture, featuring gorgeous photographs depicting many styles.
500 Races, Routes and Adventures: A Runner’s Bucket List
Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel
Brewer, John Rizzoli Universe, $29.95
Habib, Shahnaz Catapult, $27.00
A pleasing mix of armchair excitement and practical guide, this book will satisfy runners of all ages and experience levels.
An Indian-born Muslim woman, now living in Brooklyn, offers a unique perspective on travel and immigration in this shrewd essay collection.
The Half Known Life: In Blade of Dream Search of Paradise Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Iyer, Pico $29.00 | July 18, 2023 Riverhead, $26.00 9780316421898
The acclaimed travel writer Great character work and undertakes a capstone quest to interesting plot development enlightenment. make this an exceptional middle volume.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
DECEMBER 1, 2023 3
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR HISTORY BUFFS Our America: A Photographic History Burns, Ken Knopf, $80.00
The acclaimed filmmaker’s latest book, with photographs spanning the years 1839 to 2019, shows us what has made America truly great throughout history.
American Childhood: A Photographic History Brewster, Todd Scribner, $36.00
Heng, Rachel Riverhead, $27.00
Against the backdrop of World War II, a boy in a Singapore fishing village finds his fate inextricably bound to that of his community.
Good Night, Irene Urrea, Luis Alberto Little, Brown, $29.00
A fascinating, funny, and frequently poignant collection of archival photographs that capture the experiences of U.S. youth.
Two American women witness the horrors of WWII from a Red Cross truck delivering donuts and good company to the soldiers at the front.
Essex Dogs Blade of Dream Jones, Dan
Cigar Box Lithographs: Volume IV
Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Viking, $28.00 $29.00 | July 18, 2023 9780316421898
This raucous historical novel follows a crew of English fighters who Great character work and make life miserable for the French interesting plot development in 1346 Normandy. make this an exceptional middle volume.
4 DECEMBER 1, 2023
The Great Reclamation
Humber, Charles J. FriesenPress, $45.99 | $35.99 paper
Historical tidbits paired with gorgeous full-color reproductions of advertising lithographs, 1880-1920.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR SPORTS NUTS The World Series: A History of the Fall Classic
Western Lane
Sports Illustrated, $40.00
In this subtle and elegant novel,
A must for any baseball fan, this treasury of images and stories from the magazine’s abundant archives is a joyous celebration of the sport’s crowning achievement.
Remarkable Football Grounds Herman, Ryan Pavilion Books, $34.99
Maroo, Chetna Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $25.00
three grieving sisters become obsessed with the game of squash, changing the trajectory of their lives.
The Football 100 The Athletic Morrow/HarperCollins, $40.00
In the U.S., the NFL is the king of all
A gorgeous tribute to the most pic-
leagues, and this fascinating book
turesque places to watch soccer,
collects 100 profiles, including
from historic Premier League stadi-
photos, of the best and most memo-
ums in England to a tiny pitch in the
rable players of all time.
treacherous mountains of western Bolivia.
The Year’s Best Sports Blade Dream Writingof2023 Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Deitsch, Richard $29.00 | July 18, 2023 Triumph Books, $19.95 9780316421898
The gold standard for yearly Great character work and variety to anthologies, with enough interesting plot development appeal to fans of all sports. make this an exceptional middle volume.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
DECEMBER 1, 2023 5
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR MUSIC LOVERS Marr’s Guitars
This Bird Has Flown
Marr, Johnny Dey Street/HarperCollins, $40.00
Hoffs, Susanna Little, Brown, $29.00
This beautiful compendium, drawn
In this snappy novel from a
from the personal experiences of
co-founder of the Bangles, a
the iconic English musician, cap-
semiforgotten singer seeks love
tures the ineffable mystique of the
with an Oxford professor—and a
electric guitar.
new hit song.
1964: Eyes of the Storm
Too Late To Stop Now: More Rock ’n’ Roll War Stories
McCartney, Paul Liveright/Norton, $35.00
Sir Paul features 275 indelible moments drawn from a photo
Jones, Allan Caravel/Bloomsbury, $24.00
archive of thousands. Indispens-
A collection of more stories of the
able for Beatles fans.
“glory days” of rock, straight from the roving pen of a longtime music journalist.
60 Songs That Explain Blade of Dream the ’90s Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Harvilla, Rob18, 2023 $29.00 | July Grand Central Publishing, $30.00 9780316421898
This companion to the Spotify Great character and genres, podcast capablywork traverses interesting plot development from grunge to R&B and beyond, make this an exceptional middle to encapsulate the essence of the volume. 1990s.
6 DECEMBER 1, 2023
All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Velvet Underground Story Shadmi, Koren Life Drawn, $29.99
A sharp graphic-novel portrait of a legendary and influential band: The Velvet Underground.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR ART AFICIONADOS The Drawings of Vincent van Gogh
Marina Abramović: A Visual Biography
Lloyd, Christopher Thames & Hudson, $50.00
Abramovic, Marina Laurence King Pub., $100.00
Bringing together more than 200 color illustrations, an art historian and curator focuses the spotlight on van Gogh’s drawings, which he considered “the root of everything.”
One of the world’s most famous— and provocative—performance artists delivers the definitive account of her life and work, featuring more than 600 images.
Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody
Latin American Artists: From 1785 to Now
Various DelMonaco Books/D.A.P., $60.00
Phaidon Editors; foreword by Raphael Fonseca Phaidon, $69.95
An entertainingly vibrant look at the energetic art of Keith Haring, who
A gorgeous compendium of works
truly believed in the egalitarian
by 308 Latin American–born and
message of the book’s title.
–based artists—historical and contemporary, famous and undersung.
The Story of Art Without Blade of Dream Men Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Hessel, $29.00 |Katy July 18, 2023 Norton, $45.00 9780316421898
Hessel centers women artists in Great character work and of art this sweeping exploration interesting plot development history, initiating a welcome new make this an exceptional middle reassessment of the discipline. volume.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
DECEMBER 1, 2023 7
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR SUSPENSE FANATICS Age of Vice
Crook Manifesto
Kapoor, Deepti Riverhead, $30.00
Whitehead, Colson Doubleday, $30.00
When a poor boy goes to work for
Ray Carney, furniture dealer and
a rich, ruthless New Delhi family,
sometime fence, enters the 1970s
he’s soon taking the fall for a
in Whitehead’s second boisterous,
crime he didn’t commit. A gripping
incisive novel of 20th-century
thriller.
Harlem.
Prom Mom
The Spy Coast
Lippman, Laura Morrow/HarperCollins, $28.99
Gerritsen, Tess Thomas & Mercer, $25.95
A suspense novel in which no
In Gerritsen’s exciting thriller, a
crimes are committed until the
retired CIA agent finds herself
final pages, Lippman’s latest is a
dragged back into the game when
character study of pedestrian evil.
a woman ends up dead in her Maine driveway.
Bright Young Women Blade of Dream Knoll, Jessica
Vicious
A fictionalization of Ted Bundy’s 9780316421898
Unexpected detective novel
attack on a Florida sorority never Great character work and mentions his name, stunningly interesting plot development subverting his myth and placing make this an exceptional middle the women at the center. volume.
starring Lou Reed, set among the
Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Marysue Rucci Books, $27.99 $29.00 | July 18, 2023
8 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Gomez, Jeff Harrow Books, $18.00
Warhol Factory demimonde.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR LIT HEADS
We Have Always Lived in the Castle Jackson, Shirley; introduction by Donna Tartt; illustrated by Angie Hoffmeister Folio Society, $70
The Curator King, Owen Scribner, $28.99
Sprawling, densely populated, intricately plotted—King’s latest is
Jackson’s masterpiece of unease gets the deluxe treatment, with spooky, American Gothic–style illustrations and an introduction by the elusive Tartt.
like a Dickens novel crossed with a
Simple Gimpl
The Iliad
Singer, Isaac Bashevis; trans. by Isaac Bashevis Singer, Saul Bellow, & David Stromberg; illus. by Liana Finck Restless Books, $22.00
Homer; translated by Emily Wilson Norton, $35.95
A gorgeously illustrated edition
modern-day English. A masterful
of Singer’s classic story about the
rendering of the Greek classic.
Hieronymus Bosch painting. Dark, chaotic fun.
A bloody tale of ancient war and grief comes to vibrant life in
gullible Gimpl features the original Yiddish along with two English translations.
Chain-Gang All-Stars Blade of Dream Adjei-Brenyah, Nana Kwame Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Pantheon, $27.00 $29.00 | July 18, 2023
This acerbic, poignant dystopian 9780316421898 novel imagines a prison system that Great work allowscharacter inmates to fightand to the death interesting plot development for their freedom. make this an exceptional middle volume.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind McGhee, Molly Astra House, $27.00
The titular Jonathan gets a job entering people’s dreams to clean up anything that could make them unproductive workers. Wryly funny and razor sharp.
DECEMBER 1, 2023 9
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR NATURE ENTHUSIASTS A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing From Soil to Stars
The Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape
Sharkey, Erin Milkweed, $20.00
Holten, Katie Tin House, $29.95
A masterfully curated response to
Prose, poetry, and art combine
the woeful lack of representation of
to striking effect in this potent
Black voices in the nature writing
examination of trees and the inter-
arena, this is must-read material for
connectedness of nature.
all fans of the genre.
Shark: Portraits Coots, Mike Rizzoli , $60.00
Calling all fans of Shark Week!
The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year Renkl, Margaret Spiegel & Grau, $32.00
Coots’ bold photographic narrative
The New York Times opinion col-
captures the mystery and majesty
umnist reflects on her relationship
of these unparalleled predators of
with the natural world in 52 clear-
the sea.
eyed, colorfully illustrated essays.
Audubon’s Birds of Blade of Dream America: Baby Elephant Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Folio $29.00 | July 18, 2023
Living River: The Promise of the Mighty Colorado
Tory Peterson, Roger 9780316421898 Abbeville Press, $195.00
Showalter, Dave Braided River, $39.95
Great character work and At nearly $200, this sumptuous interesting plot development version of Peterson’s classic is well make this an exceptional middle worth the price for diehard birders, volume. as it offers all 435 of John James
An informative examination and celebration of the beautiful and endangered Colorado River and its importance for people and wildlife.
Audubon’s gorgeous engravings.
10 DECEMBER 1, 2023
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR SFF GEEKS The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
The Book That Wouldn’t Burn
Chakraborty, Shannon Harper Voyager, $24.99
Lawrence, Mark Ace/Berkley, $29.00
A middle-aged mother in medieval Oman returns to her earlier career—piracy. Sheer joy, with swashbuckling that puts Sindbad to shame.
An aspiring librarian and a man trapped in her library have a madcap adventure full of political intrigue, time travel, philosophy, and romance.
The Buried Giant
Ink Blood Sister Scribe
Ishiguro, Kazuo; introduction by Daniel Kehlmann; illustrated by Jana Heidersdorf Folio Society, $110
Törzs, Emma Morrow/HarperCollins, $27.99
A lavish edition of Ishiguro’s voyage
ing to protect their dead father’s
into the mists of British folklore,
collection of magical books.
A fantastical, bewitching debut novel about two half-sisters work-
where he encounters the ancient kings of England—and, of course, dragons.
The Deep Sky Blade of Dream Kitasei, Yume
Jewel Box
A ship that left Earth 10 years ago, 9780316421898
A stellar collection of speculative
a crew trained to complete a single Great character and hidden mission, and onework saboteur interesting plot development among them add up to cerebral SF. make this an exceptional middle volume.
tales ranging from futuristic SF to
Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Flatiron Books, $29.99 $29.00 | July 18, 2023
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Yu, E. Lily Erewhon, $26.95
fairytale remakes. Each story here is a gem.
DECEMBER 1, 2023 11
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR STAR GAZERS Worthy
Smith, Jada Pinkett Dey Street/HarperCollins, $32.00
In a book chockablock with reve-
Making It So: A Memoir Stewart, Patrick Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster, $35.00
lations, Smith courageously lays
A pleasure through and through—
herself bare and divulges all.
and you don’t even have to be a Trekkie.
The Woman in Me Spears, Britney Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster $32.99
Washington, Kerry Little, Brown Spark, $30.00
Spears’ vulnerability shines
Well paced and artfully crafted,
through as she describes her pain-
Washington’s memoir reminds us of
ful journey from vulnerable girl to
the volumes we all carry but seldom
empowered woman.
speak.
If You Would Have Told Blade of Dream Me: A Memoir Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.)
Being Henry
Stamos, John, with Daphne Young $29.00 | July 18, 2023 Henry Holt, $29.99 9780316421898
A heartfelt, sincere memoir filled Great character work and with useful wisdom. interesting plot development make this an exceptional middle volume.
12 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Thicker Than Water: A Memoir
Winkler, Henry Celadon Books, $30.00
This charming autobiography of personal struggles during times of career success and challenge deserves a big thumbs-up.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR AGES 3-8
Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! Boynton, Sandra Little, Brown, $17.99
Delightfully off-the-wall words of encouragement, delivered with panache by a cheerleading chicken.
Evergreen Cordell, Matthew Feiwel & Friends, $18.99
Starring an endearingly fearful but courageous young squirrel, a clever
Big Harrison, Vashti Little, Brown, $19.99
A visually stunning, utterly affirming lesson in self-love.
Hello, My Name Is Bunny! New York City Bloom, Matt; illus. by Pippa Mayell Positivity Publishing, $21.99 | $13.99 paper
take on “Red Riding Hood” that
A fun urban adventure for city kids
will hold readers rapt—and bolster
and animal lovers.
even the most nervous of Nellies.
In Every Blade of Life Dream Frazee, Marla
Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster, $18.99 $29.00 | July 18, 2023
Inspired by a Jewish baby-naming 9780316421898 blessing, this is a joyful, stirring Great character work and reminder to appreciate every interesting plot development moment—an especially apt make this an exceptional middle message for new parents. volume.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
The World Needs My Light Lacqua, Gia; illus. by Zuzana Svobodová Elivate, $18.99
Positive poetry for kids about kindness and seizing the day.
DECEMBER 1, 2023 13
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR AGES 9-13 The Department of Lost Dogs
Cameron, Josephine Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99
A canine celebrity has been dognapped, but the culprits don’t stand a chance with a group of intrepid kids on the case.
What It’s Like To Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing—What Birds Are Doing and Why Sibley, David Allen Delacorte, $19.99
For fledgling ornithologists, a beautifully illustrated bird’s-eye view of the world from an expert in the field.
Barely Floating Rivera, Lilliam Kokila, $17.99
Learning to self-advocate with integrity is at the heart of this triumphant story about members of an inclusive synchronized swimming team.
The Astronaut’s Guide to Leaving the Planet: Everything You Need To Know, From Training to Re-Entry Virts, Terry; illus. by Andrés Lozano Workman, $14.99
For kids intent on reaching for the stars, compelling words of wisdom from a former astronaut.
The A&A Detective Blade of Dream Agency: The Fairfleet Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Affair $29.00 | July 18, 2023 Saxton, K.H. 9780316421898 Union Square Kids, $16.99
Great work Alex and and Asha Eighthcharacter grade sleuths interesting plot development turn their puzzle-solving skills to a make this an exceptional middle complex mystery that reverberates volume. through their New England town’s history.
14 DECEMBER 1, 2023
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR AGES 14-18 Fake Famous
Davis, Dana L. Skyscape, $28.99 | $16.99 paper
In this fun story, an Iowa farm girl goes viral on TikTok and lands a gig as the stand-in for her lookalike Hollywood pop star.
Fighting in a World on Fire: The Next Generation’s Guide to Protecting the Climate and Saving Our Future Malm, Andreas; adapt. by Jimmy Whipps & Llewyn Whipps Verso, $17.95 paper
This provocative work on climate change from Sweden offers teens empowering context and insights from a veteran activist.
Blitzkrieg Falkner, Brian Scholastic, $12.99 paper
A New Zealand boy raised in 1930s
The Space Between Here & Now Suk, Sarah Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins, $19.99
Germany goes undercover as an
A teen girl with a mysterious con-
MI6 agent, risking all to infiltrate
dition that allows her to travel back
the Hitler Youth.
in time goes to Korea to unravel an emotional family mystery.
Rez Ball Blade of Dream Graves, Byron
Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Heartdrum, $19.99 $29.00 | July 18, 2023
NBA ambitions and pride in his 9780316421898 reservation’s varsity team motivate Great character work and life’s chalan Ojibwe boy navigating interesting plot development lenges in this absorbing work. make this an exceptional middle volume.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
DECEMBER 1, 2023 15
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR YOUNG FANTASY FANS The Secret of Splint Hall Cotton, Katie Andersen/Trafalgar, $12.99 paper
Sisters starting new lives in the
Roses & Violets Kappel Jensen, Gry; trans. by Sharon E. Rhodes Arctis Books, $18.00
countryside in post–World War II
This gripping Danish import set
England uncover myths, mystery,
in a boarding school for learning
and magic in this compelling tale.
magic weaves Nordic mythology into a paranormal mystery.
Nimbus
Secrets We Tell the Sea
Eldredge, Jan Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, $19.99
Obón, Martha Riva Palacio; trans. by Lourdes Heuer Bloomsbury, $17.99
A devoted black kitten uses her magical abilities when the boy who
A girl who’s mysteriously drawn
saved her life ends up in danger in a
to the sea experiences wonder
story that’s catnip for animal lovers.
and heartache in this atmospheric work of magical realism from Mexico.
The Spells We Cast Blade of Dream June, Jason
Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Melissa de la Cruz Studio, $17.99 $29.00 | July 18, 2023
In this fast-paced enemies-to-lov9780316421898 ers fantasy romance, two boys Great character work and magical competing in a high-stakes interesting plot development tournament are drawn together. make this an exceptional middle volume.
16 DECEMBER 1, 2023
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR TEEN ROMANCE READERS Love in Winter Wonderland Bello, Abiola Soho Teen, $18.99
A struggling indie bookshop in London at Christmas is the backdrop for this swoony and festive love story.
A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak Namey, Laura Taylor Atheneum, $19.99
A distressed English girl flees to the shelter of friends in Miami, where she finds new love and renewed confidence in this uplifting story.
Artifacts of an Ex
Finding My Elf
Chen, Jennifer Wednesday Books, $20.00
Valdes, David HarperTeen, $19.99
A Los Angeles art show leads a
Winter break jobs as Christmas
smitten girl to a cautious boy—
elves at Santaland bring two boys
and a sweet, slowly blossoming
together for a delightful Yuletide
romance.
romance.
Tilly inof Technicolor Blade Dream Eddings, Mazey
Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Wednesday Books, $24.00 | $14.00 $29.00 | July 18, 2023 paper 9780316421898
A summer internship in Europe Great work and teens bringscharacter two neurodivergent interesting plot development together in an inclusive romance make this an exceptional middle that models loving acceptance. volume.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
DECEMBER 1, 2023 17
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR YOUNG READERS WITH A FUNNY BONE Mr. S
Arnaldo, Monica Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins, $19.99
This tale of a class that buckles
Oh No, the Aunts Are Here Rex, Adam; illus. by Lian Cho Chronicle Books, $16.99
down upon discovering that the
A master humorist offers a
new teacher might be a sandwich
gleefully chaotic take on family
is strikingly original, wonderfully
reunions—the good, the bad, and
weird, and sure to hit the spot.
the just plain weird.
How Not To Be a Vampire Slayer
LOL 101: A Kid’s Guide to Writing Jokes
Birchall, Katy Scholastic, $8.99 paper
Roth, David & Rinee Shah; illus. by Rinee Shah Chronicle Books, $15.99
In this funny paranormal story, a girl transplanted from London to a
A hilarious primer in crafting zany
village befriends a vegetarian pupil
zingers, giggle-worthy visual gags,
from the local vampire school.
and punchlines guaranteed to stick their landing.
Runaway Robot Blade of Dream Cottrell Boyce, Frank; illus. by Steven Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) Lenton $29.00 | July 18, 2023 Macmillan Children’s Books, $8.99 9780316421898 paper
Great work and A boy character missing his prosthetic hand interesting plot development and a robot who’s lost his leg team make this an exceptional middle up in this humorous, heartwarming volume. techno-adventure.
Airi Sano, Prankmaster General: Public Enemy Number One Tokushige, Zoe; illus. by Jennifer Naalchigar Philomel, $14.99
A prank-loving sixth grader from an Army family in Hawaii must solve a mystery and clear her name in this hijinks-filled story.
18 DECEMBER 1, 2023
KIRKUS REVIEWS
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E
FOR GRAPHIC LIT LOVERS Cat on the Run in Cat of Death!
Blabey, Aaron Scholastic Paperbacks, $7.99
From Bad Guys author Blabey, a hilariously madcap adventure following a celebrity cat hell-bent on figuring out who’s been framing her for a series of crimes.
Gotta Go! Viva, Frank TOON Books/Astra Books for Young Readers, $18.99
A superbly illustrated, uproarious ode to the “pee-pee hop,” the “piddle patter,” and other dances designed to distract kids—and caregivers—from that “gotta go NOW” feeling.
Cross My Heart and Never Lie Dåsnes, Nora; trans. by Matt Bagguley Hippo Park/Astra Books for Young Readers, $24.99 | $17.99 paper
Brooms Walls, Jasmine; illus. by Teo Duvall; colors by Bex Glendining Levine Querido, $24.99 | $18.99 paper
In this richly realized graphic
This charmingly illustrated graphic
alternate history, a diverse group
novel from Norway presents the
of young witches in 1930s Missis-
diary of a 12-year-old girl navigating
sippi secretly participate in broom
social changes and a new crush.
racing.
Static: UpDream All Night Blade of Giles, Lamar; illus. by Paris Alleyne
Grace Needs Space!
Abraham, Daniel | Orbit (464 pp.) with N. Steven Harris; colors by Bex $29.00 | July 18, 2023 Glendining 9780316421898 DC, $16.99 paper
Great work and superIn thischaracter page-turner, a teen interesting plot development hero experiences an action-filled make this an exceptional middle night after his girlfriend breaks his volume. heart, and he crosses paths with
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DECEMBER 1, 2023 | VOL. XCI NO. 23
FEATURING 261 Industry-First Reviews of Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s, and YA Books
CHILDREN’S
THE BEST BOOKS OF 2023 YOUNG ADULT
The Best 200 Children’s and Best 100 Young Adult Books of the Year • Our Full Dec. 1 Issue
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
EVERY YEAR , some books seem to take the world by storm—splashed all over social media feeds, piled high on the front tables of bookstores, and spotted routinely in the wild. While I would never begrudge a book its popularity—yes, Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake deserves every effusive TikTok video that it inspired—I do sometimes wish other great reads could elbow their way into the spotlight. As we close out 2023, I’m singling out five of the year’s releases, all well reviewed, that nevertheless deserved more fuss: The New Life by Tom Crewe (Scribner, Jan. 3): This debut novel by an editor at the London Review of Books explores the relationship between two late-19th-century English activists, one gay and
one straight, who collaborate on a manifesto in defense of homosexuality—only to find public opinion turned against them by the Oscar Wilde scandal. It’s a deft melding of the personal and the political, written in prose that shines. Don’t Call Me Home by Alexandra Auder (Viking, May 2): The daughter of Warhol superstar Viva (and older sister of actor Gaby Hoffmann) recounts a chaotic and colorful childhood at the Chelsea Hotel, home to New York’s artistic demimonde in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. Auder writes with total honesty and humor about her mother’s antics—and her own. Neither an accusation nor an absolution, Don’t Call Me Home is a stunner. The Man in the McIntosh Suit by Rina Ayuyang (Drawn +
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Quarterly, May 2): In a year of exemplary graphic novels such as Daniel Clowes’ Monica, this brilliantly executed comic more than held its own. Set in Depression-era California, it follows a Filipino farmworker who journeys to San Francisco in search of the wife who hasn’t answered his letters in months. Drawn in vibrant hues, the book brims with period details and film noir sensibility while addressing the antiimmigrant prejudice too often left out of such tales. North Woods by Daniel Mason (Random House, Sept. 12): Mason has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, but he isn’t the household name he should be. His latest novel continues an excellent run of fiction (The Winter Soldier, A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth) with the chronicle of a house in rural Massachusetts across the centuries. Mason adopts wildly varied styles and voices to depict the house’s many residents: an idealistic apple
orchardist, his rivalrous spinster daughters, a lovesick oil painter, and a schizophrenic man who seems to channel them all. The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl (Spiegel & Grau, Oct. 24): I’m not a regular reader of nature writing, but the books that seduce me into sticking with them—Helen Macdonald’s Vesper Flights and Ellyn Gaydos’ Pig Years are two recent ones—become all-time favorites. I’m adding to the list the latest book by the New York Times columnist and author of Late Migrations. It’s structed as a kind of breviary, with short, beautifully observed reflections on the natural world—featuring illustrations by the author’s brother, Billy Renkl—for each of the 52 weeks of the year, as experienced in the backyard of a Nashville suburb. It’s a book to be savored.
TOM BEER
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Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson
BOOKS THAT DESERVED MORE BUZZ IN 2023
Contents 84 Best Middle-Grade Books of 2023
FICTION
4
Editor’s Note
5 Reviews & News 11
Audiobooks
21 Booklist: Novels You Can’t Put Down NONFICTION
36
Editor’s Note
37 Reviews & News 43 On the Podcast: Amy Schneider
One of the most coveted designations in the book industry, the Kirkus Star marks books of exceptional merit.
OUR FRESH PICK The Pulitzer Prize–winning author returns with a tour de force examination of the events leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Read the review on p. 74 PURCHASE BOOKS ONLINE AT KIRKUS .COM
55 Booklist: Books To Foster Self-Improvement CHILDREN’S
68 Best Picture Books of 2023 80 Best Children’s Books Author Spotlight
96 Editor’s Note 97 Reviews & News 109 Booklist: Picture Books To Share This Holiday Season YOUNG ADULT
134 Best Young Adult Books of 2023 146 Best Young Adult Author Spotlight 150
Editor’s Note
151 Reviews & News 155 Booklist: Books To Curl Up With Over Winter Break INDIE
164
Editor’s Note
165
Reviews
ON THE COVER: Illustrations by Teresa Alberini; background by S_Z via iStock
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Indie Editorial Assistant DAN NOLAN dnolan@kirkus.com Mysteries Editor THOMAS LEITCH Contributing Writers GREGORY MCNAMEE MICHAEL SCHAUB
Contributors
Alana Abbott, Nada Abdelrahim, Colleen Abel, Jenny Arch, Kent Armstrong, Ryan Asmussen, Colette Bancroft, Sally Battle, Robert Beauregard, Elizabeth Bird, Amy Boaz, Elissa Bongiorno, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Melissa Brinn, Jessica Hoptay Brown, Timothy Capehart, Darren Carlaw, Tobias Carroll, Ann Childs, Tamar Cimenian, Anastasia M. Collins, Rachael Conrad, Jeannie Coutant, Sara Davis, Michael Deagler, Cathy DeCampli, Dave DeChristopher, Elise DeGuiseppi, Steve Donoghue, Gina Elbert, Lisa Elliott, Chelsea Ennen, Gillian Esquivia-Cohen, Jennifer Evans, Joshua Farrington, Brooke Faulkner, Katie Flanagan, Amy Seto Forrester, Mia Franz, Jenna Friebel, Nivair H. Gabriel, Glenn Gamboa, Maura Gaven, Carol Goldman, Amy Goldschlager, Carla Michelle Gomez, Melinda Greenblatt, Valerye Griffin, Michael Griffith, Ana Grilo, Christine Gross-Loh, Vicky Gudelot, Tobi Haberstroh, Geoff Hamilton, Alec Harvey, Peter Heck, Natalia Holtzman, Darlene Ivy, Kristen Jacobson, Wesley Jacques, Jessica Jernigan, Danielle Jones, Deborah Kaplan, Marcelle Karp, Maya Kassutto, Ivan Kenneally, Colleen King, Lyneea Kmail, Judith Leitch, Elsbeth Lindner, Coeur de Lion, Barbara London, Patricia Lothrop, Wendy Lukehart, Kyle Lukoff, Joan Malewitz, Thomas Maluck, Collin Marchiando, Michelle H Martin, Dale McGarrigle, Sierra McKenzie, Zoe McLaughlin, Don McLeese, Kathie Meizner, Carol Memmott, J. Elizabeth Mills, Tara Mokhtari, Karen Montgomery Moore, Rebecca Moore, Andrea Moran, Ari Mulgay, Therese Purcell Nielsen, Katrina Nye, Erin O’Brien, Tori Ann Ogawa, Mike Oppenheim, Nick Owchar, Derek Parker, Hal Patnott, Elizabeth Paulson, John Edward Peters, Jim Piechota, William E. Pike, Kathy Price-Robinson, Judy Quinn, Kristy Raffensberger, Jasmine Riel, Amy Robinson, Gia Ruiz, Bob Sanchez, Caitlin Savage, Jeff Schwaner, Polly Shulman, Maia Siegel, Linda Simon, Jennifer Smith, Margot E. Spangenberg, Allie Stevens, Sharon Strock, Mathangi Subramanian, Deborah D. Taylor, Paul Teed, Bill Thompson, Caroline Tien, Renee Ting, Bijal Vachharajani, Gnesis Villar, George Weaver, Audrey Weinbrecht, Angela Wiley, Marion Winik, Bean Yogi, Jean-Louise Zancanella
DECEMBER 1, 2023 3
her 2-year-old son’s LAST BUT ofplaygroup when she isn’t working on an article about NOT LEAST the mysterious death of a IT’S HARD TO publish fic-
tion in December—everyone is so focused on gift books or on looking back at the year’s highlights. But there are some great books coming out this month that don’t deserve to get lost in the shuffle. The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner (Gallery Books, Dec. 5): Faulkner specializes in the terrifying mothers of London. Natasha Carpenter is a freelance journalist who’s been hanging out with the moms
local nanny. Then she starts getting threats. “Faulkner pulls out all the psychological-thriller stops—and then some,” says our starred review. The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac by Louise Kennedy (Riverhead, Dec. 5): Kennedy grew up Catholic in Northern Ireland and later moved south to Sligo. After publishing Trespasses, her first novel, last year, she returns with a collection of short stories “set in a contemporary Ireland divided by wealth and education,”
according to our starred review. Urban vs. rural, working class vs. posh, male vs. female—these stories are rooted in the Irish landscape but universal in their conflicts. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (Doubleday, Dec. 5): This is Lawhon’s fifth historical novel, and, following four books set in the early 20th century, she jumps back to 1789, basing her story on the life of Martha Ballard, a real midwife in Hallowell, Maine. When one of Martha’s patients accuses two men of rape, Martha takes the witness stand on her behalf. Our starred review calls the novel
“a vivid, exciting page-turner from one of our most interesting authors of historical fiction.” On the Isle of Antioch, by Amin Maalouf; translated by Natasha Lehrer (World Editions, Dec. 5): Lebanon-born French author Maalouf creates a world much like our own, but there’s been a nuclear war—and humanity has been saved from the worst possible consequences by a mysterious, otherworldly species of beings who all have Greek names. This is “a beguiling, lyrical work of speculative fiction by a writer of international importance,” according to our starred review. The Gentleman’s Gambit by Evie Dunmore (Berkley, Dec. 5): In Dunmore’s latest Victorian romance, Lady Catriona Campbell, a bookish suffragist, escorts her father’s protégé, Elias Khoury, to Oxford to examine some artifacts from the Middle East, not knowing he’s planning to repatriate them. Our starred review says that “not only does this story revolve around redefining the types of characters who receive a romance… but it also refreshingly tackles the question of who gets to be the custodians of history.” Laurie Muchnick is the fiction editor.
4 DECEMBER 1, 2023
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson
LAURIE MUCHNICK
FICTION
EDITOR’S PICK When children go missing in a small New Zealand town, the file clerk at the police station turns investigator. Set in the provincial town of Masterton, Baragwanath’s debut is both social novel and thriller, spinning the tensions between the white and Māori populations, the chokehold of street gangs, and the toll of drug addiction on young families into a suspenseful crime drama. As the novel opens, a child named Precious Kīngi has been missing for three weeks, and Lorraine Henry, a policeman’s widow who works in the file room at the station, is concerned that almost nothing is being done to find her or to protect the town’s other children. Lorraine’s life revolves around
These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star
her job, drinking gin with her neighbor Patty (people wrongly suspect that they’re lovers), and helping out her adult, part-Māori niece, Sheena, whom she raised after her sister and brother-in-law were killed when returning from a seasonal job shearing sheep. Now Sheena has a 7-year-old son named Bradley, and on a night so rainy there are eels in the gutters, Lorraine heads over to their house. She’s greeted at the door by Bradley’s mostly absentee father, Keith, a drug dealer and gang member, and she immediately smells “the musty waft” and scorched light bulbs of cooking drugs. Sheena shrugs off Lorraine’s worries, but they’re well founded. Sheena is on drugs, Keith is staying
5
Paper Cage By Tom Baragwanath
7
Behind You Is the Sea By Susan Muaddi Darraj
13
Like a Mother By Mina Hardy
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Paper Cage Baragwanath, Tom Knopf | 320 pp. | $28.00 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593685105
with her, and in the next few days, two more children will disappear. And one of them is Bradley. When an out-of-town investigator arrives to ramp up the search, he quickly recognizes Lorraine as the most likely person to offer any help. Resist the urge to race to the climax and keep Google
13
Starling House By Alix E. Harrow
18
Held By Anne Michaels
22
Fifty Beasts To Break Your Heart By GennaRose Nethercott
close at hand to look up Māori words, because fully understanding the relationship between Masterton’s white and Indigenous cultures is central—not just to appreciating the book but to solving the mystery.
Just the kind of dark, disturbing, gritty, and unusual treat thriller lovers are looking for.
22
Ordinary Human Failings By Megan Nolan
23
Hero By Thomas Perry
25
I Love You So Much It’s Killing Us Both By Mariah Stovall
CORRECTION: Due to a production error, a review of a different book appeared in place of the review of The Pushcart Prize XLVIII: Best of the Small Presses, ed. by Bill Henderson, in the Nov. 1 issue. To see the correct review, please visit Kirkus online.
DECEMBER 1, 2023 5
S IECCTTI IOONN F
Almost Surely Dead Akhtar, Amina | Mindy’s Book Studio (304 pp.) $28.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781662507571
A woman is attacked on the New York City subway, and subsequent attacks reveal that she’s being targeted. A pharmacist who’s the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Dunia Ahmed leads a quiet life that’s quickly upended after a man tries to throw her onto the subway tracks. When Dunia calls for help, other riders fight the man off, only for him to throw himself in front of an oncoming train in a haze of black smoke. Two years later, Dunia is missing, and the host of a murder podcast seeks to retrace the terrifying events leading up to her disappearance. Between these two points, first-person narrator Dunia recounts what happened after the initial attack—including being stalked by her ex-fiance and suffering additional attempts on her life—and tries to figure out who in her life might also know her would-be assassins. As a child, Dunia was a sleepwalker and frequently spoke to imaginary friends; her sleepwalking returns after the first attempt on her life, prompting her to worry about her mental health. Interspersed with this narrative are flashbacks to when Dunia was 5 and her father had a heart attack and died in front of her, which she always felt that her mother and sister blamed her for. She was close to her father, who told her stories about the legendary jinn. Some short chapters consist of podcast interviews with people who knew Dunia before her disappearance, including her friends, her ex-fiance, the police officer investigating her case, and Zabir, a cousin by marriage who teaches South Asian studies, including a course on jinn. Akhtar’s novel has one foot set firmly in folklore and the other in fastpaced action as Dunia questions whom she can trust and what she will have to do to survive. Though the suspense is real, Akhtar deftly weaves in levity with 6 DECEMBER 1, 2023
the campiness of the podcast, and the earnestness of Dunia’s voice keeps the reader rooting for her to outrun her demons. A nimble and eerie thriller.
King Nyx Bakis, Kirsten | Liveright/Norton (320 pp.) $28.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781324093534
At the home of an eccentric millionaire, a woman discovers out-of-the-ordinary events. When her husband is invited to finish writing his book at the island home of a reclusive millionaire, Anna is relieved: If he sells it, they’ll be able to keep their Bronx apartment and she won’t have to go back to work at the laundry. It’s 1918, and Charles Fort—based on a real-life figure—is hard at work on a book about unexplained phenomena, such as objects falling from a clear sky: frogs, for example, or even bits of flesh, or blood. If Anna has doubts about the legitimacy of his research, she keeps them to herself. In any case, when the millionaire Claude Arkel offers the couple a place to stay for the winter, they eagerly accept. Almost immediately, though, things seem to be off. Arkel runs a school for wayward girls, and three students are missing. Meanwhile, there’s no sign of Arkel himself, and with the Spanish flu raging in the outside world, the Forts are stuck in quarantine. Bakis’ latest novel has the pacing and suspense of a smart literary thriller: It’s almost impossible to put down once you’ve started it. But Bakis can be heavy-handed in her treatment of the themes that undergird her story—in this case, women who support ambitious men. That’s not to say Bakis’ case doesn’t hold water, but she strikes the same note again and again in a way that is more repetitive than satisfying. So, for example, when the Forts first arrive on Arkel’s island, and Charles observes that the grand house is “modeled on the Château de
Chambord in the Val de Loire” and Anna responds, “I know, I’m the one who showed you the article,” the mansplaining moment isn’t nearly as funny as it was apparently intended to be; it’s just frustrating, in a teeth-grinding way. A smart and engaging literary thriller that bears down too hard on its themes.
Dark Ride Berney, Lou | Morrow/HarperCollins (256 pp.) | $30.00 | Sept. 19, 2023 9780062663863
A young man finds purpose when he becomes obsessed with saving two children from their abusive father. Hardy “Hardly” Reed isn’t really living his best life, though he begins his story by saying, “I have everything I need and want.” Working as the Dead Sheriff at Haunted Frontier amusement park and smoking a lot of weed can kill only so many hours of the day. His life changes when he sees two children with unmistakable cigarette burns on their bodies. His heretofore dormant investigative skills lead him to make a report to Child Protective Services, then to interview the girls’ elementary school teacher. Along the way he finds unexpected help from a glamorous 40-something real estate agent, a “goth chick,” her metal-loving grandmother, and a teenager who “looks like a stick insect with braces.” In true noir fashion, Hardly is horribly beaten up, and from there his quest becomes an obsession—one he may even be willing to trade his whole life for. Hardly is a sad sack for sure, and it takes a while for him to earn all of our sympathy. His motivation is pure—who doesn’t want to save kids?—but he’s someone that things happen to rather than someone who makes things happen. It takes most of the novel for him to finally make some real KIRKUS REVIEWS
FICTION
decisions—and then, he does so with such single-mindedness that it feels like overcompensation. But that, of course, is one of Berney’s points: This novel is about a bland, dead-end white boy in a bland, dead-end (unnamed) Midwestern town who has learned to expect nothing from life but more of the same. Hardly’s trajectory is helped by Berney’s superb writing; sometimes self-consciously noir (“I look at a hand holding a gun. My hand. My gun”), sometimes just colorful (“A woman in front of me worries into her phone about a suspicious lump in her armpit”), it adds both gravity and grace to the protagonist’s stubborn, selfdestructive path. The whole novel is worth it for the poignant beauty of the final paragraph.
Mercury Burns, Amy Jo | Celadon Books (336 pp.) $29.00 | Jan. 30, 2024 | 9781250908568
In the 1990s, a young woman yearns to become part of one big happy family, and thinks she might be. When teenager Marley West arrives in the Pennsylvania town of Mercury in 1990, she falls in love almost immediately. Not with Baylor Joseph, the swaggering athlete who swoops her up, but with Baylor’s family—or at least what Marley thinks his family is. Baylor soon dumps her, and she falls into the arms of his younger brother, sweet, responsible Waylon. Soon Marley is pregnant and she and Waylon are married and living in a tiny apartment in the Josephs’ sprawling Victorian house. The only child of a hard-working single mother, she’s never experienced the clamor and warmth of a big family. She’s charmed by the three sons (the youngest is tender-hearted Shay Baby), and impressed by patriarch Mick Joseph, a damaged Vietnam vet who runs the roofing company that supports the KIRKUS REVIEWS
In the 1990s, a young woman yearns to become part of one big happy family. M E RC U RY
family and employs most of them. But Marley is most enthralled by Elise Joseph, wife and mother, who rules the household with never a hair out of place. Marley doesn’t just want Elise to love her; she wants to be Elise. But Marley will discover deep fractures within the family and the extreme sacrifices Elise makes—not to mention a literal skeleton, not in the closet but in the attic of a local church. Marley forges her own identity, taking over the finances of the roofing company from the profligate Mick and raising her son, Theo, as her marriage wavers. Although by then it’s the mid-1990s and rights for women and gay people are gaining cultural force, they don’t seem to have any impact on smalltown Pennsylvania, where Marley feels the same pressure of tradition Elise does, and another character suffers mightily. Though there’s a large cast, Burns brings depth and insight to each member. Well-drawn, engaging characters and a vivid setting make this is a compelling study of family dynamics.
Kirkus Star
Behind You Is the Sea Darraj, Susan Muaddi | HarperVia (256 pp.) $26.00 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9780063324237
Their homeland casts a heavy shadow in this poignant novel about Baltimore’s Palestinian immigrant community. Taken from a famous saying by legendary commander Tariq ibn
Zayid (“Behind you is the sea. Before you, the enemy”), the title of Darraj’s novel aptly describes the situation facing her ensemble cast, which finds itself trapped between Old World expectations and the challenges of life in America. Like Zayid’s soldiers, they have no choice but to fight to understand their places in the world. Young people are frequently the heroes here—in “A Child of Air,” pregnant teen Reema Baladi braves shame to keep her baby, and in “Gyroscopes,” brilliant science student Layla Marwan challenges her high school’s choice of the stereotype-ridden Aladdin for its big drama production—while Darraj’s older characters struggle under the weight of their disillusionment. In “Mr. Ammar Gets Drunk at the Wedding,” strip mall owner Walid Ammar can’t hide his frustration as his cherished son marries a blue-eyed nonArab woman who has “transformed Raed, his football-playing, lawyer son… from a pathfinder into a mule that lowers itself to the ground for its back to be loaded.” That wedding scene is masterfully choreographed in a book in which each chapter reads like a small masterpiece. In fact, as characters disappear and later reappear, the book reads less like a novel than like an interconnected series of stories reminiscent of Darraj’s A Curious Land (2016). For example, readers meet Marcus Salameh, a 30-something police detective who endures the daily traumas of his job, the impatience of his girlfriend, and the iciness of a father whose bitter disappointment with life has frozen his relationship with Marcus and his sister. The novel culminates in the brilliant “Escorting the Body,” in which Marcus honors his father’s dying wish to be buried in Palestine. Darraj deftly captures the DECEMBER 1, 2023 7
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entire experience, from Marcus’ jarring arrival in Palestine to the homespun humor of village life. When Marcus discovers a secret—that his father was actually capable of showing affection, just not to his children—he makes a startling offer that changes someone’s life and his, too. A moving portrait of Palestinian families caught between the pressures of the Old World and the New.
OKPsyche DeNiro, Anya Johanna | Small Beer Press (160 pp.) | $15.00 paper | Sept. 12, 2023 9781618732088
An unnamed trans woman is at an uneasy stage in her metamorphosis. She has finally cast off the male persona that never fit her, but she has yet to become the woman she dreams of being. Part of her discomfort is physical—she does not have the body she wants—but much of it is social and emotional. She knows that most strangers do not see her for what she is. Her ex-wife is still adjusting to what is, for her, a surprising new reality. Her mother deadnames her. And, most importantly, her young son is shutting her out. DeNiro’s significant achievement here is making palpable the excruciating, inescapable self-consciousness of her main character. Her decision to narrate in the second person is a bold one; this move will help some readers immerse themselves in the story, but it will just as likely alienate others. Some of her other choices are more questionable. The boundary between what is real and what is not real is often hard to discern. This confusion is not inherently problematic, but the fantastic bits don’t really add up to anything. There is a Home Depot employee—the ghost of the protagonist’s father, maybe?—who builds a camera obscura for her so she can watch her son from afar. There 8 DECEMBER 1, 2023
An unnamed trans woman is at an uneasy stage in her metamorphosis. O KP SYC H E
are friends who definitely do not exist and some who might. There’s an occasionally helpful but mostly mysterious cabal. There’s a boyfriend with some assembly required. And there are hints at a Midwest more dystopian than the current, actual Midwest. Each of these weird threads is intriguing, but not one is developed to the point of being meaningful.
DeNiro brings more to her first novel than she can fully realize in 160 pages.
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands Fawcett, Heather | Del Rey (352 pp.) $28.00 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9780593500194
The second in a series chronicling the adventures of an English dryadologist—an academic studying faeries—in an alternate Europe. Emily Wilde has refused the marriage proposal of her former academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, because she would be mad to marry a deposed faerie king disguised as a human. But she has devoted herself to finding a door into his kingdom, which would allow him to take back the realm stolen from him by his stepmother. Emily’s quest takes her to the isolated Alpine village of St. Liesl, accompanied by Wendell and two unexpected companions: Emily’s niece Ariadne, an aspiring dryadologist, and Farris Pole, the prickly head of the Dryadology Department, who blackmailed Emily into including
him. Much of the plot follows the outline of the previous volume, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (2023): Emily and her cohort stay in a guesthouse; everyone but Emily manages to befriend the locals (she’s hopeless at social niceties); Emily encourages hikes into the countryside, where they have perilous encounters with the local faeries; and Emily’s determination leads her to behave rashly, endangering everyone’s lives, until her cleverness and intuitive understanding of faerie behavior allow her to triumph. But Emily’s adventures remain entertaining, thanks to the neurodivergent heroine whose blunt behavior and affinity for peculiar logic present a problem when interacting with humans but prove an asset with faeries. This book also offers new emotional depths for Emily, who struggles with her growing but potentially life-threatening love for Wendell, unexpected affection for her niece, and fraught relationship with Farris Pole. Now that she has people to care about, the previously solitary young woman has to reckon even more closely with the consequences of her behavior and how it affects those around her. Emily feels like a character worth following; hopefully the next installment shakes up the format a little. A strong second outing for a well-built world and an interesting, strangely well-matched pair of lovers.
For more by Heather Fawcett, visit Kirkus online.
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A college dean is frantic when her son suddenly drops off the radar. THE SON’S SECRET
The Son’s Secret Gerber, Daryl Wood | Severn House (224 pp.) | $31.99 | Jan. 2, 2024 9781448312542
A college dean in New Orleans is frantic when her son suddenly drops off the radar. Maggie Lawson’s son is a college senior. Even when Aiden lost his girlfriend in a hit-and-run and then suddenly married Celine Boudreaux, her best friend, he’s been good about keeping in touch—until now. First he seems to be ghosting his mother by barely answering her texts. When Maggie’s ex-husband, an investigative reporter, is shot, Aiden is a no-show. Meanwhile, Maggie is facing pressures at work, including several unreasonable parents and a sexual harassment suit against a coach. Her best friend, Gina, is trying to keep her grounded, but Maggie has a very bad feeling about Aiden’s sudden silence. Growing ever more desperate, she talks to Celine, with whom she has a cool relationship. After making excuses, Celine finally admits that Aiden’s left her, and she has no idea where he is. Although Maggie had to cut the couple off financially because her house flooded and she has to pay to keep her mother in a care home, she doesn’t think that’s the problem. So she sets out to talk to Aiden’s friends, the people at the digital design company where he’s interning, and college contacts who might know his whereabouts. Maggie’s dad was an LAPD veteran, and she attended the police KIRKUS REVIEWS
academy before dropping out, so she has some connections in the New Orleans Police Department. But it’s hard to get people concerned about a missing adult. Have family problems made her into a helicopter mother? So be it: Maggie decides she has to investigate herself if she’s to find her beloved son. New Orleans is a perfect setting for the mixed bag of motives in this page-turner.
I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning Goddard, Keiran | Europa Editions (256 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9798889660088
Working-class Brits in their early 30s find their prospects dimming as they bridge adolescent abandon and adult responsibility. This second novel by a British poet gets inside the heads of five lifelong friends navigating different paths as they attempt to transcend the crumbling conditions of the unnamed town that has profoundly shaped them. Rian has bought his way out, earning a fortune by the standards of those he’s left behind, yet he can’t quite disconnect from them. Conor is a construction worker who wants to build his way out, with some financial assistance from Rian. Oli is a dreamer, addict, and supplier, doing his best to dope his way out, though some work from Conor provides an alternative. That leaves Patrick and Shiv, childhood sweethearts and now parents
of two, whose love and devotion are the envy of the others, but who are trapped by the demands of family and keeping food on the table. The novel opens with a 30th birthday celebration for Oli, a bittersweet (and overdue) rite of passage into responsibility, or at least into acknowledging that their youth is gone. There’s a bleakness in looking back, but looking ahead for most of them is even bleaker, though at least they have each other. The alternating perspectives of the five narrators make the novel’s construction feel like a high-wire act—a delicate balance of memory, narration, confession, and projection that mainly reads like people talking to themselves. Though Goddard does a fine job of distinguishing each voice, they all seem uncommonly reflective and articulate, even when drunk or stoned or suicidal. There’s some qualified redemption here, but the darkness has more pull. Some extraordinary writing about ordinary people.
True North Graff, Andrew J. | Ecco/HarperCollins (304 pp.) | $30.00 | Jan. 16, 2024 9780063161412
Trouble doesn’t stay behind when this family moves up north. With his wife, Swami, and their three kids in tow, Sam Brecht drives a shiny new camper van from Chicago to the river-andlake country of northern Wisconsin, where they’ve just bought a recreational rafting company from Chip, Sam’s uncle. They’ve agreed to go just for the summer, but Swami doesn’t know that Sam’s teaching job has been cut, he’s booked the campground beyond summer, and he’s not planning to go back. Cowardly as it is, we can see why Sam keeps secrets from his wife, who refers to the children as hers and the business >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 9
A U D I O B O O K S // F I C T I O N
Brought to Life
Whether read by a solo narrator or an ensemble, these audiobooks enhance their authors’ visions. BY CONNIE OGLE
Headphones: Jukka Aahlo/Unsplash
THE FLORIDA REFORM
school in Tananarive Due’s chilling horror novel The Reformatory (Simon & Schuster Audio, 20 hours and 51 minutes) is riddled with ghosts. But the uneasy spirits aren’t the most dangerous forces stalking the grounds of the Gracetown School for Boys. “There’s worse things to worry about than haints,” a young inmate warns 12-year-old Robert Stephens Jr. when he arrives. Sent to the reformatory after he kicked an older white boy for tormenting his sister Gloria, Robert quickly learns that a more insidious evil haunts the school, one that often leaves boys—mostly Black boys—dead. Set during the Jim Crow era and inspired by the real-life Florida School for Boys in Marianna, The Reformatory is a terrifying, nerve-wracking novel, steeped in ugly truths about racism and American history. Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt manages to heighten the considerable tension with her heartfelt interpretations of the shifting, powerful emotions of Robert and Gloria: their anguish, fear, longing, sorrow, and, eventually, furious determination. She never lets you forget that they’re children facing the KIRKUS REVIEWS
unthinkable, like so many children before them. Abbott-Pratt’s precise vocal inflections also bring to life the secondary characters, among them Redbone, a boy who befriends Robert at the school; Boone, a corrupt prison guard obsessed with haints; Miss Lottie, the elderly church lady who doesn’t leave home after dark without her pistol; and the warden himself, whose soul is a murderous black hole. It’s a tour de force performance, a worthy enhancement to Due’s vision. Colin Walsh’s beautifully crafted debut novel, Kala (Random House Audio, 12 hours and 25 minutes), is a slow-burn psychological thriller that draws in readers with strong character development and a compelling sense of place. The story follows the mystery of what happened to a missing teenage girl from an Irish town. Fifteen years after her disappearance, Kala’s friends Helen, Mush, and Joe, now adults battling varying stages of disarray and disillusionment, learn that remains have been found nearby. The discovery of a body—Kala’s?— brings back memories they’d rather forget. The deeply personal narratives cry out for three
different readers, and happily, that’s what listeners get. Read by Seána Kerslake, Frank Blake, and Moe Dunford, the story of Kala and her friends stretches across the twin timelines of adolescence and adulthood. The readers inhabit the characters through and through, highlighting Mush’s increasing desperation, Joe’s fear of his hazy recollections, Helen’s determination to find answers, and their collective anxiety as the town’s poisonous secrets are revealed. The multiple-reader approach works equally well in Jessica Knoll’s surprising, subversive novel Bright Young Women (Simon & Schuster Audio, 12 hours and 58 minutes). Led by Tony Award–winning actor Sutton Foster, a group of narrators
(Imani Jade Powers, Corey Brill, and Chris Henry Coffey) share duties narrating the fictionalized story of two women whose lives intersect via their brush with serial killer Ted Bundy. Pamela, a Florida State sorority president, escapes his attack on her house, while Ruth, a troubled young woman in Washington state, may have been one of his victims. Knoll wrests power away from the sensationalized accounts of Bundy and turns her lens on these women (the characters refer to Bundy only as “the Defendant”). Foster is the star here, but the whole production underscores Knoll’s insistence that victims, not perpetrators, should be remembered. Connie Ogle is a writer in Florida.
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as Sam’s—neither as shared. Feeling “relief layered on top of the guilt” of their estrangement, Sam is relying on “a miracle” to solve the problems of his career and his marriage. When they arrive at Woodchuck Rafting, however, what they find is a disorganized (but charming) band of misfits. It’s unclear why they’d expect anything else: Sam and Swami met and fell in love as rafting guides. In flashbacks and chapters told from her perspective, we see that Swami is more than the ball-and-chain wife Sam fails to placate. While Sam falls back into old vices such as smoking pot at work, Swami takes charge of shoring up the business against three existential threats: a new VC-funded competitor, a land-grabbing mining conglomerate, and unceasing rain. The novel picks up steam as it reveals which is the greatest menace. At a town meeting with the mining company, Sam makes a pitch for saving the local environment and economy: “I don’t know how, exactly…But it’s up to us. If we both try.” The crowd is confused, but it’s clear Sam is speaking to Swami. As chaos mounts, can they save both their family and Sam’s vision of life up north? A conventional story of marriage on the rocks with a background of local environmental drama.
The Other Profile Graziosi, Irene | Trans. by Lucy Rand Europa Editions (224 pp.) | $27.00 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9798889660026
In a world where what people are selling is themselves, this novel asks whether there’s any self left. At 26, Maia Gatti is treading water; she’s dropped out of her competitive master’s degree program in Paris and is living in Milan with an older boyfriend while picking up shifts at the local bar. Her biggest pleasure is 12 DECEMBER 1, 2023
buying gummy crocodiles and eating just one handful before dousing the rest in dishwashing detergent. There is a heart underneath all her apathy; she’s drowning out her sister’s recent death with Law & Order reruns. Her life changes when she gets a job as an image consultant to a pretty 18-yearold influencer named Gloria Linares. Maia can’t stand Gloria until she sees the sadness beneath the girl’s photoready exterior. As the two become intertwined, the boundaries between them start to fall away, and Gloria becomes the sun around which Maia turns. That is, until Gloria copies something that Maia can’t bear to give away—her grief. An act of revenge severs the tie between the two and sets Gloria free from her manicured image. A cross between Ingmar Bergman’s Persona and Ottessa Moshfegh’s My Year of Rest and Relaxation, this book shows what happens when an influencer is influenced—by someone with nothing left to lose. Graziosi tackles the question of what, in the digital age, is really ours.
Plastic Guild, Scott | Pantheon (304 pp.) | $28.00 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593316764
In this cautionary tale, the world is made of plastic: easily broken, superficial, and unnatural. Written in a mix of screenplay action lines and first-person narration, Guild’s debut novel concerns a group of plastic women and men, Barbie and Ken dolls in all but name, living and working under the thumb of a glitzy technodystopia. History for these figures is chiefly the epic tragedy of 50 million dead in the “big nuke war” of the last generation. What has it brought figure-kind? Someone like Erin, a sensitive young woman with a wealth of problems, who works at Tablet Town and spends most of her
time moving through virtual worlds in her Smartbody, seeking solace from the pressures of a society that interacts with itself largely through phone apps and other social media. Self-consciousness is the order of the day here. Sad Erin is a voracious consumer of a television program called Nuclear Family, which at times directly parallels the action of her life, specifically the story of her well-meaning but struggling father, and features among other concerns a look at the political divide between the liberal plastic people and the conservative waffle people—who are made of, yes, carbohydrates and rubber appendages. Yet she also is inside not only a self-policing surveillance state but, seemingly, her own TV series, surrounded twice over by the unflinching glare of the camera lens. Insert into this Technicolor nightmare an eco-terrorist organization known as Sea Change, which assails civilians with guns and bombs to fight the apathy of the status quo, and you have a meta-tale of human emotion and agency gone more than awry: It’s in danger of burning off a dying planet from a once-and-forall nuclear holocaust. Guild works the parody and pathos well in this thoughtful entertainment, expertly managing to extract concern and sympathy for the plights of these plastic characters, as human as we are despite their occasionally squeaking leg hinges. An amusing, kindhearted tale of a troubled alt-world.
The Women Hannah, Kristin | St. Martin’s (480 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781250178633
A young woman’s experience as a nurse in Vietnam casts a deep shadow over her life. When we learn that the farewell party in the opening scene is KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A young woman’s experience as a nurse in Vietnam casts a deep shadow over her life. THE WOMEN
for Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s older brother—“a golden boy, a wild child who could make the hardest heart soften”—who is leaving to serve in Vietnam in 1966, we feel pretty certain that poor Finley McGrath is marked for death. Still, it’s a surprise when the fateful doorbell rings less than 20 pages later. His death inspires his sister to enlist as an Army nurse, and this turn of events is just the beginning of a roller coaster of a plot that’s impressive and engrossing if at times a bit formulaic. Hannah renders the experiences of the young women who served in Vietnam in all-encompassing detail. The first half of the book, set in goredrenched hospital wards, mildewed dorm rooms, and boozy officers’ clubs, is an exciting read, tracking the transformation of virginal, uptight Frankie into a crack surgical nurse and woman of the world. Her tensely platonic romance with a married surgeon ends when his broken, unbreathing body is airlifted out by helicopter; she throws her pent-up passion into a wild affair with a soldier who happens to be her dead brother’s best friend. In the second part of the book, after the war, Frankie seems to experience every possible bad break. A drawback of the story is that none of the secondary characters in her life are fully threedimensional: Her dismissive, chauvinistic father and tight-lipped, pill-popping mother, her fellow nurses, and her various love interests are more plot devices than people. You’ll wish you could have gone to Vegas and placed a bet on the ending—while it’s against all the odds, you’ll see it coming from a mile away. A dramatic, vividly detailed reconstruction of a little-known aspect of the Vietnam War. KIRKUS REVIEWS
Kirkus Star
Like a Mother Hardy, Mina | Crooked Lane (240 pp.) $30.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781639106233
Her husband’s premature death is only the beginning of an expectant mother’s nightmare. At a shiva call after Adam Granatt’s funeral, Sarah Granatt, Adam’s widow, is approached by Ava Morgan, the childless wife of Graham, Adam’s old friend and business partner, who confides that they would be happy to adopt Sarah’s unborn baby—adding that, indeed, that’s what Adam himself would have wanted. Appalled, Sarah demands that Ava leave, but Graham steps up the pressure. He won’t give Sarah the payout she’s due for Adam’s share of the firm, and he’s had himself appointed the trustee for Adam’s life insurance policy, which is no longer payable to her. Desperate for cash, Sarah puts her house on the market and accepts a lowball offer from a holding company that turns out to be a front for Graham. Sarah’s only recourse is to accept an offer she never thought she’d accept: an invitation from Candace Granatt—her mother-inlaw, who showed up soon after Adam’s funeral, though Adam had always said she was dead—to leave California with her 3-year-old daughter, Ellie, and live in Candace’s place in rural Ohio. Candace’s hospitality is suffocating and increasingly demanding. Candace can’t understand why Sarah insists
on keeping kosher and won’t accept Jesus into her life. She goes on and on about her late husband, Peter, the pastor of Blood of the Lamb Church who’d pressed Henry (Adam’s birth name) to follow in his footsteps. As her pregnancy approaches 39 weeks, Sarah realizes that Candace is even more dangerous than Graham was. Hardy paces her revelations so sharply that every implausible new twist will make you gasp instead of scoffing, just like the ones in your own nightmares. A poisonous treat best consumed in a single breathless sitting.
Kirkus Star
Starling House Harrow, Alix E. | Tor (320 pp.) | $28.99 Oct. 31, 2023 | 9781250799050
A broke young woman takes a job as a cleaner at the creepiest house in town. Opal’s life in Eden, Kentucky, has never been easy. When their mother died, teenage Opal faked her way into getting custody of her younger brother, Jasper, and years later Opal and Jasper are still struggling to make ends meet. Jasper is an exceptionally bright and creative boy, and Opal desperately wants to scrape together enough money to send him out of Eden to a fancy private school with all the resources he deserves. Opal has always been mysteriously drawn to Starling House, a big old mansion shrouded in rumor and local legend. When she encounters the house’s reclusive owner, Arthur Starling, she talks her way into the opportunity of a lifetime. Arthur is willing to pay Opal enough money to send Jasper to school; in return, she gets to explore— while cleaning—the house she’s been dying to see for as long as she can remember. But when a sleek woman claiming to be working on behalf of the local power plant offers to >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 13
B O O K T O S C R E E N // F I C T I O N
Book to Screen Taron Egerton To Star in She Rides Shotgun Film
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for SXSW
The movie is based on Jordan Harper’s Edgar Award–winning thriller. Taron Egerton will star in a film adaptation of Jordan Harper’s She Rides Shotgun, Variety reports. Harper’s Edgar Award– winning thriller, published by Ecco in 2017, follows Nate, an ex-con trying to prevent his 11-yearold daughter from being murdered by a gang that he encountered while in prison. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus wrote
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of the book, “For all the darkness and even ugliness displayed, the characters’ loyalty, love, and struggle for redemption grip the reader and don’t let go.” Egerton, the Welsh actor known for his roles in films including Robin Hood and Rocketman, will play Nate
in the movie, which is being produced for film companies Black Bear and Fifth Season. Nick Rowland, who helmed the movies Calm With Horses and Floodlights, will direct the film, which will be written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski (Stephanie, The Night House). Egerton is among the executive producers of the movie, which starts production next year. “We are so excited to bring this adaptation of Jordan Harper’s hugely successful and completely gripping novel to the big screen,” producer Brad For a review of She Rides Shotgun, visit Kirkus online.
Weston told Variety. “Taron Egerton is a remarkable performer, and we are so excited to be working with Nick Rowland, who is going to bring a real depth to their relationship.”—MICHAEL SCHAUB
Egerton will play an ex-con with an 11-yearold daughter.
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A powerful young queen learns to control the magic she wields. UNBOUND
pay Opal even more handsomely for information about Arthur and the house, Opal must discover for herself why Starling House seems to have a mind of its own and why powerful people want so desperately to get inside. Harrow has a gift for turning settings into characters, as she does with both the strangely alive Starling House and the working-class town of Eden. Carefully unpacking the institutionalized power dynamics of class and race, Harrow untangles the many mysteries of Starling House, revealing how powerful people and groups will twist the truth until the story suits their purposes. A spooky story about how hidden truths always come back to haunt you.
Unbound Healy, Christy | Blackstone (350 pp.) $25.99 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9798200979196
A powerful young queen learns to control the magic she wields and embraces her true nature in a world full of ancient gods, terrifying monsters, and treacherous men. Rozlyn Ó Conchúir is a monster. Cursed by a vengeful witch on the night she was born, she spends most of her youth locked away from the world, feared by those she loves and despised for reasons she can’t comprehend. With only books to keep her occupied, Rozlyn waits for the Beast of Connacht—the winged monster that terrorizes her father’s kingdom—to be defeated so she can finally leave her tower and live the life she dreams of. 16 DECEMBER 1, 2023
As the years pass, Rozlyn becomes increasingly cold and malicious, fueled by loneliness and heartache. It’s only when she meets Jamie, one of the handsome and charming suitors chosen by her father to try to bring the curse to an end, that things begin to change. But as Jamie’s motivations come to light, and the pull of magic beneath her skin grows stronger, Rozlyn learns that sometimes the only person you can truly trust is yourself. While it’s easy to compare this book to “Beauty and the Beast”—the similarities become increasingly obvious as Rozlyn takes on her monstrous form—other influences are in play, too. The Thousand and One Nights is present in Jamie’s attempts to woo Rozlyn by recounting stories of love and war each time he visits her. The tales that Jamie weaves are peppered with Irish mythology, and a pantheon of ancient gods and unsettling fairy folk make appearances. Healy has also clearly taken inspiration from Grendel’s mother, and even goes so far as to have Rozlyn reading Beowulf. The resulting tale, told in chapters alternating between Rozlyn’s and Jamie’s points of view, is a delightful amalgamation that readers will find familiar but that stands on its own as a delightful, heart-clenching story of love and betrayal. An impressive feat of worldbuilding full of unexpected twists for fans of monstrous women.
For more fantasy, visit Kirkus online.
The Ghost Orchid Kellerman, Jonathan | Ballantine (304 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593497678
Once again, Alex Delaware helps police identify a killer. In a fancy section of Los Angeles, a naked man lies by a swimming pool, an unrolled condom at his side. Nearby lies a woman who wears only a wedding band. Each has a single bullet hole through the heart. Homicide detective Milo Sturgis catches the case and brings in psychologist Alex Delaware, his best friend. They learn that the dead man is a footloose member of a rich Italian family; the woman is 41-year-old Meagin March, whose husband, Douglass, has been away on business (a lot). As per police procedure, they suspect “Dougie-with-two-esses”: Had he hired a hit man? And what is the significance of shooting both victims precisely in the heart? Meagin and Douglass had only been married a couple of years, and the widower claims he’s clueless that his wife was cheating. He has no interest in her paintings, including one of a ghost orchid, which he deems worthless. What he does want is the bling he bought her. He had coughed up “a hundred thou” to pay for her purple diamond necklace, and he wants it back right now, because the market for colored stones has skyrocketed. “I need to get something out of all this,” he demands. “F-minus people skills,” Delaware notes. Readers will be rooting for the jerk to be guilty. But Delaware discovers much more as he delves into Meagin’s troubled past: Who had she been, and how did she wind up marrying Douglass in the first place? Alex and Milo make a great team; Milo has the department’s highest homicide solve rate, and Alex plumbs the psyches and mental injuries that influence both victim and perpetrator. Outside the main plot, a friendly judge assigns Alex the case of an adopted teenager caught between KIRKUS REVIEWS
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These are damaged, resourceful women who make intriguingly f lawed protagonists. HARD GIRLS
two parents who don’t want him. The psychologist hero makes it look easy, tying up the novel in a nice, neat bow. Like all the Alex Delaware novels, this one is fast-moving fun.
Kingpin Lawson, Mike | Atlantic Monthly (304 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780802160881
Congressional bagman Joe DeMarco sets his sights on the man who had his boss’ intern killed. Once you get beyond the official explanation of a lethal overdose, there’s not much mystery left about who arranged the death of Brian Lewis, a University of Virginia law student and summer intern for Rep. John Mahoney. Both Brian’s mother and his girlfriend insist that he never used drugs, so Mahoney puts Joe DeMarco, his personal fixer, on the case. DeMarco satisfies himself that the guilty party is Trump-y crime boss Carson Newman, on whose bribery schemes Brian had been compiling an extensive secret dossier that’s now vanished. But Newman—who has always taken care to insulate himself from any legal consequences for tipping the scales among his friends in Congress— has taken care to arrange Brian’s death through a series of proxies who’ll never betray him. One of Newman’s cutouts, lobbyist Patrick Grady, has hired private eye Dave Morgenthal to tail DeMarco, but Sydney Roma, Morgenthal’s bad-girl protégé, takes over when her boss becomes ill. When KIRKUS REVIEWS
Morgenthal is killed, presumably on Newman’s orders, DeMarco and Sydney join forces, and he begins to loop carefully chosen law-enforcement agents into the hunt. After FBI special agent Myra Ransom hints that she’s willing to let Newman skate in return for his testimony against a powerful Albanian gangster, DeMarco, determined to get revenge on the people who killed Brian, knows just what he has to do. This time around, Lawson gives his coldly professional D.C. criminal intrigue a surprising heart. Don’t get used to it.
Hard Girls Lennon, J. Robert | Mulholland Books/Little, Brown (320 pp.) | $29.00 | Feb. 20, 2024 9780316550581
Versatile literary mockingbird Lennon ventures into the thriller genre, for the most part persuasively. Things are not as they seem. Jane Pool has a pleasant but dead-end job as an academic administrator, a hometown-sweetheart husband, a cranky but loving preteen daughter; she helps tend to her father, an aging and absent-minded professor; she looks like a typical upstate New York mom in her 30s. But, we discover, this ordinariness is deceptive: part aspiration gone awry, part hopeful mask, part dodge, part cover. Jane’s husband’s heart has soured, as have her feelings for him; her mother-in-law is eager to alienate
her daughter’s affections, and has as ammunition the fact that Jane gave birth in prison, a fact her daughter doesn’t know from an era about which she’s never been told. As the book begins, Jane stumbles across an encrypted email in her spam folder. Her estranged twin sister, Lila, has a lead on the whereabouts of the mother who long ago abandoned them, and Lila invites, or summons, her sister to join in the search. Lennon makes nice use of the initially inexplicable cloakand-dagger of this, building suspense as the reader puzzles over why all of it—Jane’s deeply buried secrets, her sister’s elaborate spycraft, their mother’s self-vanishing, and more—came to be necessary. The book jumps back and forth in time to good effect, and what we learn about the shocking act of violence that disrupted the girls’ youth and eventually separated them helps illuminate their present-tense pursuit of their mother across the Mountain West and beyond. The first 40 pages or so are a hint slow to kindle, and the ending feels hurried, but the middle of this book is tautly suspenseful, cleverly plotted, and psychologically compelling; these are damaged, resourceful women who make intriguingly flawed, flinty protagonists. A promising opening to what’s billed as a series of Hard Girls novels.
The Book of Love Link, Kelly | Random House (640 pp.) $31.00 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780812996586
A master of short fantasy offers her long-anticipated first novel. Link has a genius for combining the mundane with the uncanny, diving into the dark currents where dreams grow and bringing up magic-encrusted jetsam, pearlescent ideas that coil and shock. The story takes place in a coastal New England town with the beautifully ambiguous, typically Link DECEMBER 1, 2023 17
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A debut collection of short fiction explores the long shadow of the Spanish Civil War in the Basque Country. ELECTRODOMÉSTICOS
name of Lovesend. (Love’s end? Love send?) There, four teenagers—sisters Susannah and Laura, their bandmate Daniel, and Susannah’s friend Mo—are caught up in a struggle with deities who control access to death. As the book opens, Laura, Daniel, and Mo have been dead for months; in her grief, Susannah smashes her sister’s guitar. Soon, the teens, along with a mysterious companion, return from the dead, reanimated by their high school music teacher, Mr. Anabin. Another supernatural person, Bogomil, appears, taking various human and animal forms (a wolf, a rabbit). He writes a message on the music classroom blackboard with his fingernail: “2 RETURN 2 REMAIN.” Mr. Anabin gives the revenants a series of tasks, which they believe will allow two of them to stay alive while the other two, they presume, will die again. As they perform the tasks, readers get to know their families and personal struggles: Laura and Susannah’s father left the family when they were little, and the two contend with sibling rivalry and family roles (Laura’s the good girl, Susannah’s the rebel); Daniel, who has a compulsion to be liked, is a loving, caretaking big brother to a gaggle of mixed-race siblings; Mo, a gay orphan and one of the few Black kids in town, has lost his beloved grandmother while he was dead. Meanwhile, increasingly dramatic magical events transform their hometown—the weather goes hot and cold, carousel horses turn into wolves, the goddess of the moon erects a temple in the middle of the bay—as the characters rush endlessly back and forth, arriving at last at 18 DECEMBER 1, 2023
an almost mechanically tidy ending. Although all the fabulous Link elements are here, at more than 600 pages, the story is unwieldy and overexplained.
This book has many enchantments and moving moments, but it would have been better, and more magical, if it were shorter.
Electrodomésticos McCavana, Moira | Sarabande (175 pp.) | $18.95 paper | Feb. 20, 2024 9781956046274
A debut collection of short fiction explores the long shadow of the Spanish Civil War in the Basque Country. One of the most enduring works of art about war is Picasso’s giant painting Guernica, with its dynamic hysteria. In McCavana’s town of Guernica, “baskets of red and pink summer flowers erupted from the gray buildings like happy little wounds.” It is not that McCavana’s striking debut ignores the horrors of war, but that these stories are attuned to the quotidian and, even more, to setting—the way it reflects, and is separate from, the human dramas taking place there. Many of the stories in the collection are short vignettes—called “Recuerdos,” or memories—that are image-rich descriptions of, say, a town so tilted that meats slide forward against the butchers’ display
cases, or a tree filled with black felt berets. Longer stories linger dreamily on mundane but symbolic details. In the opener, “No Spanish,” a young girl’s father demands that his family stop speaking Spanish in favor of Basque—a language they don’t know at all, and which has been outlawed— and buys a radio to help them learn it. In “Cecilio,” a former soldier’s memories come flooding back, triggered by a neighbor’s cello playing. As the book unfolds, the stories move from war to its aftermath. In the title story, whose name is Spanish for “household appliances,” a worker installs an oven in the home of an older couple whose past reveals itself after the worker inserts himself into their lives. McCavana— an American writer who has family history in Bilbao—takes a risk in eschewing any spectacle here; these stories can sometimes seem sedate or removed, as if they’re taking place behind a thick pane of glass. But war has many faces, and McCavana reminds us that small gestures bear great weight. Quiet but impeccable.
Kirkus Star
Held Michaels, Anne | Knopf (240 pp.) | $27.00 Jan. 30, 2024 | 9780593536865
A poetic exploration of the liminal spaces and invisible forces in our lives. Canadian poet and novelist Michaels artfully extracts, and reweaves, the often-invisible threads connecting the lives of her characters— some fictional, some historical—from the early 1900s to the near future. The scarifying effects of war are made obvious from the outset through the thoughts and memories of John, a British soldier lying gravely wounded on a World War I battlefield. As the KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A poetic exploration of the liminal spaces and invisible forces in our lives. HELD
interrelated characters move through the years, traumas, and relationships of their lives, those initial musings are among the topics Michaels explores, including the persistence of desire, the effects of observation on the observed, the finite nature of life versus the (purported) unending nature of death, the presence of the past at all points in life. The physics and metaphysics of life come under Michaels’ microscope, but the arts and sciences of photography and radiography are employed as well. (Marie Curie and her acquaintances appear as regular people, not icons of scientific discovery.) Meandering back and forth across generations, Michaels’ narrative captures moments of winsome (apparent) coincidence as well as heartbreaking sorrow; more than one young woman loses a husband to death and the threat of war echoes across generations. What is consistent throughout the interwoven lives of the photographers, hat makers, artists, war correspondents, and international crisis workers presented here is the persistent examination of what forces brought them to their destinations. The possibilities include love, chance, particle theory, hope, and desire; Michaels’ poetic amalgamation of the lot results in a multi-layered and subtle discussion of what keeps animating the web of existence. A gorgeous meditation on whether the ghost in the machine is actually in our hearts.
For more by Anne Michaels, visit Kirkus online.
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Final Appeal Mróz, Remigiusz | Crooked Lane | $29.99 Jan. 9, 2024 | 9781639108046
A pair of Warsaw attorneys take on a murder case in which everything is stacked against them in Mróz’s debut thriller. Businessman Piotr Langer’s wealth has shielded him from any criminal repercussions arising from the accusations that he’s taken advantage of women whose immigrations he’s helped arrange. But there’s a limit to how much he can help his son when the police find Piotr Langer Jr. in his apartment with a pair of 10-day-old corpses. The firm of Żelazny & McVay, hired to defend the accused, assigns senior associate Joanna Chyłka to the case, and she sweeps along Kordian Oryński, a brand-new legal trainee, even though she clearly looks down her nose at him. As Chyłka puts it, the defense must contend with three adversaries: the justice system, which presumes that Langer is guilty; the defendant’s father, who’s footing his legal bills on the condition that he plead not guilty by reason of insanity; and the defendant himself, who opens his mouth only long enough to assure his attorneys that he’s not insane. In fact, the defense has even more enemies than Chyłka knows, for an unnamed Grey-Haired Man and his underling, the Bald Man, are determined to undermine the defense for their own reasons. When an unexpected development after the court sentences Langer to life imprisonment makes it possible
for the attorneys to file an appeal, the Grey-Haired Man and the Bald Man leap into action with a violence that threatens to divide Chyłka and Oryński once and for all. Readers who persist beyond all the further obstacles and quiddities that greet the defenders will be treated to a walloping climactic surprise as impossible to predict as it is to believe. A heavy lift for characters and readers alike.
A Woman of Pleasure Murata, Kiyoko | Trans. by Juliet Winters Carpenter | Counterpoint (320 pp.) $17.95 paper | Feb. 27, 2024 9781640095793
The experiences of a country girl sold into prostitution in 1903 lay bare the established system and financial exploitation of the Japanese pleasure industry. Shinonome is known to be the classiest brothel in Kumamoto, on Kyushu Island, and also, as was customary, became the name of the highest-earning, most desirable courtesan among the 80 under its roof. Fifteen-year-old Aoi Ichi has just arrived from a rocky southern island, and she’s placed into Shinonome’s mentorship and service. In debt to the bordello both for the money paid to her father and for everything she wears and consumes on site (at inflated prices), Ichi must learn her trade—to attract and please customers—as thoroughly as possible in order to earn her freedom. Murata, an award-winning Japanese author whose books have never before been translated into English, traces Ichi’s education and training in clear, simple prose, laying out the big picture— practices, punishments, financial underpinnings—and the more quotidian details: depilation, feminine hygiene, etc. Slowly, Ichi is transformed from an ingénue into a skilled escort, though never entirely >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 19
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For more books you can’t put down, visit Kirkus online.
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5 Novels You Can’t Put Down 1 The Breakaway By Jennifer Weiner
A lovely, compulsively readable story about finding your path and believing in your own worth.
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2 Breaking and Entering By Don Gillmor
A smart, funny, and sneakily terrifying version of the way we live now. (Do not read without working air conditioning.)
3 More Perfect
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An emotional tale exploring light and dark and the gray areas in change and progress.
Bright Young Women By Jessica Knoll
Beyond the Door of No Return
By Temi Oh
A stunning, engaging subversion of the Bundy myth—and the true-crime genre.
By David Diop; trans. by Sam Taylor
A mesmerizing tale.
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shedding her bold instincts. Literacy is another important skill, and Ichi attends the Female Industrial School, where Akae Tetsuko, an impoverished woman of good breeding, offers a wider intellectual perspective. Taking on her own clients, Ichi finds continuing support among her peer group. But the brothel is essentially a harsh prison, and some of the girls, including one who fell pregnant, take flight, threatening its discipline. Then Ichi’s father increases her debt burden, and with strikes taking place in Japanese industry and the police changing their policy on enforcing brothel rules, the girls rebel and go on strike themselves. A mass exodus follows, drawing the line under a tale based, unsurprisingly, on true events. A precise portrait of sexual enslavement that tends more toward primer than immersive plot.
Kirkus Star
Fifty Beasts To Break Your Heart: And Other Stories Nethercott, GennaRose | Vintage (272 pp.) | $17.00 paper | Feb. 6, 2024 9780593314180
Folklorist Nethercott’s collection of original spooky stories is hauntingly familiar. Workers at a sinister tourist trap become trapped in their own patterns in “Sundown at the Eternal Staircase.” In “A Diviner’s Abecedarian,” a tight-knit group of girls has a sinister way of welcoming new friends. A boy tries to protect his older sister from near-constant drowning in “Drowning Lessons.” In the title story, a group of florists include details of their doomed romances alongside descriptions of mythical creatures. Women lose themselves, sometimes by becoming a house (“Homebody”) and sometimes 22 DECEMBER 1, 2023
by becoming a ghost of themselves (“A Lily Is a Lily”), all for men who would happily reduce them to nothing. Nethercott’s writing takes on the tone of timeless folklore, from fairy tales to urban legends to ghost stories. But what makes these stories read as true and familiar isn’t a trick of syntax. Instead, it’s Nethercott’s insightful exploration of the universal themes that classic stories are meant to capture. Teenage (and adult) heartbreak, class anxiety, societal cruelty against those who are different, and the everyday losses of women trying desperately to conform to patriarchal standards are all explored here with great sensitivity and almost always a surprising twist. Nethercott winkingly thanks her exes in the acknowledgments, saying, “If you think it’s about you, it probably is,” but luckily for readers, she has a great talent for taking personal pains and making them universal. A memorable story collection that makes the supernatural personal.
Kirkus Star
Ordinary Human Failings Nolan, Megan | Little, Brown (224 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780316567787
The death of a little girl incites controversy, blame, and exploitation in 1990s England. Ever since she was a baby, Lucy Green never seemed quite right: That’s what her neighbors tell the police officers and journalists swarming their London apartment complex after she’s blamed for the death of 3-year-old Mia Enright. Lucy’s family—her loving grandmother, Rose; reclusive grandfather, John; alcoholic uncle, Richie; and unfit teenage mother, Carmel—arrived in England from Ireland shortly before her birth. In the 10 years since, Lucy’s grandmother, her primary
caretaker, died, the surviving adult family members each spun into their own detached, dysfunctional orbits, and Lucy clobbered a classmate with a rock and acquired a reputation. “That little scumbag” is how Tom Hargreaves, the smarmy journalist insinuating himself into the family’s scandal-scarred life, hears her described. Tom can see the headlines already: One little girl murdering another, the cast of scoundrels, the stained family history—it’s the perfect scoop, if it turns out to be true. His journalistic playbook includes lying, bribing, deceiving, and manipulating; he’s equally eager to sequester the family from the eyes of competing journalists and to hoist the tent for his own media circus. As the police interrogate Lucy, Tom does the same to her family members, hungry for any morsel of disgrace. In the process, Carmel reflects on her miserable, dissociative pregnancy, and Richie and John steep in the betrayals and substance abuse of their past. Nolan’s writing is equally painful and propulsive. As you turn the pages, anxious to learn the truth about Lucy and Mia, the story seems to mock your very interest in it: Aren’t you, too, enthralled by the scandal, entranced by these front-page-worthy girls and their pigtailed barbarity? Suffused with empathy, Nolan’s novel expertly illuminates the parts of ourselves we try to keep in the dark.
The Things We Didn’t Know Pérez, Elba Iris | Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster (320 pp.) | $27.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781668012062
Caught between two worlds, a girl born in Puerto Rico struggles to find her place in 1950s and ’60s America. Though Andrea Rodríguez and her little brother, Pablo, were born in KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A cat-and-mouse tale by a veteran who doesn’t waste a word or a tear. HERO
Puerto Rico, all they know is the company town of Woronoco, Massachusetts, their home since they were babies. In 1954, their father, Luis José, sent for the family after finding work at a paper mill. Over the years, their mother, Raquel, comes to regret the move, resenting Woronoco’s remoteness and mourning her alienation from her sisters, cultural traditions, and mother tongue. On the first day of summer vacation after Andrea finishes third grade, Raquel flees to Puerto Rico with the children, her second escape attempt. (The first was foiled by her inability to drive.) Andrea and Pablo are forced to adapt to a new climate, new status quo, and new prejudices. Once again, they’re considered strangers in a strange land. Meanwhile, their mother seems to lose interest in them, failing to enroll them in school and ditching them with their aunts to pal around with an old flame. Whiplash results when their father shows up out of the blue and whisks them back to Massachusetts. Upon returning to Woronoco, Andrea and Pablo must simultaneously readjust to American culture and the English language and navigate the standard growing pains of tween- and teendom. Their father’s casual racism and conservative opinions cause increasing friction, culminating in a moment that overshadows Andrea’s life for eight years. Author Pérez does an exceptional job of telling a story from a child’s perspective, especially in the first half of the book; Andrea’s gradual loss of trust in her mother strikes a particularly poignant note. As the siblings’ time in Puerto Rico recedes and they hurtle toward adolescence and then adulthood, the KIRKUS REVIEWS
narrative falters somewhat, feeling more rushed and containing less of the rich background that made the initial chapters so compelling. A coming-of-age tale that beautifully evokes the contrasting environments of Puerto Rico and Massachusetts.
Kirkus Star
Hero Perry, Thomas | Mysterious Press (336 pp.) $27.95 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781613164778
A Los Angeles security guard’s act of heroism comes back to bite her. Justine Poole is just doing her job when she follows Jerry and Estelle Pinsky from a fundraiser to their gated home and foils a robbery attempt by five men, two of whom she shoots dead. But that’s not how Mr. Conger, the crime boss who hired the crew for the job, sees it. He needs to maintain the reputation of his operation by making a strong statement about what happens to anybody who thwarts his plans. So even as Justine’s name springs into local headlines and she’s asked to do press interviews she has no intention of giving, methodical assassin Leo Sealy has already accepted a $50,000 down payment to liquidate her. After he kills her boss, Ben Spengler, instead of her, Spengler’s siblings terminate Justine’s contract to insulate Spengler-Nash Security from further fallout and warn her away from any contact with the co-workers who
might have helped protect her. Needing an ally, Justine picks out crime reporter Joe Alston, who proves surprisingly helpful considering how little she tells him. In the meantime, Conger kicks things up a notch by encouraging the three thieves the police caught to claim they were ambushed by a vigilante, entangling Justine with the police and further tarnishing her reputation while Sealy draws a bead on her. When the skill sets of the hunted and the hunter, who reflects that Justine is “more of a problem than most,” are so evenly matched, luck will play a decisive role, and Justine’s luck can’t hold out forever. A cat-and-mouse tale done to a turn by a veteran who doesn’t waste a word or a tear.
The Price You Pay Petrie, Nick | Putnam (432 pp.) | $29.00 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593540558
The eighth danger-dripping crime thriller featuring Peter Ash. One bitterly cold Wisconsin winter, Marine combat vet Peter Ash and his tight friend Lewis pay a visit to Teddy “Upstate” Wilson, a one-eyed ex-con, only to find him shivering in the snow while his cabin burns to the ground. Attackers have shot his dogs and stolen his notebooks, which are key to the story. As part of his therapy after having been shot in the head, Teddy has been writing down everything he can remember, from bowel movements to sex with his speech pathologist to the many crimes he’s committed—including dates, locations, and the names of everyone involved. Those latter details could get a lot of folks, Lewis included, offed or imprisoned. Series fans already know that Lewis occasionally heads an elusive group that robs and often kills upper-level bad DECEMBER 1, 2023 23
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Rice’s strengths pulse through this thriller, which she leavens with observations on Rhode Island’s natural beauty. LAST NIGHT
guys. Said group is an underworld legend often called the Ghost Killers, and even law enforcement is unsure whether the group is more than a myth. Lewis has a strong moral code: “You only go after people the law can’t get,” and you never shoot anybody who has his hands up. Teddy is a bit simple, due in part to his brain injury. Before his attack, Teddy had even stopped slapping mosquitoes, but his character arc takes him far from that gentle self. Peter and Lewis, on the other hand, don’t change dramatically from story to story. Both have strong loyalty to family and to each other and are brave, smart, and deadly in a fight. Here the mortal enemy is an exCIA dude named Jay Streyling, a stereotypical killer lacking in redeeming qualities. Above him is a fearsome boss whose personal grief fuels an enduring over-the-top rage. On the good-guy side of the ledger, Peter and Lewis have June and Dinah, respectively, in their lives. They’re strong, take-no-crap women determined that their men—their families—stay alive. For sheer entertainment value, though, there’s no beating Teddy Wilson. All he wants is his set of notebooks and permission to fire tranquilizer darts. Oh, and maybe to hang someone by his ankles outside a 23rd-floor window. Action junkies will love this one.
For more by Nick Petrie, visit Kirkus online.
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Playing With Wildfire Pritchett, Laura | Torrey House Press (250 pp.) | $18.95 paper | Feb. 13, 2024 9781948814898
Pritchett’s novel details the effects of wildfire on a Colorado community. Early on, a woman named Gretel—the closest thing to a central character you’ll find here—explains her situation: “I live on the evacuation perimeter of what is now Colorado’s largest wildfire, which has been burning for months.” That she does so as part of a grant application—the text of which is one of several found documents included in the book—is an early indication that this novel isn’t a simple narrative of humanity at the mercy of a changing climate. Later, Pritchett includes the text of a short play, and a host of nonhuman voices also show up, including a raven whose mind is also on the effects of the fire: “Hunker, pant, rest, cat darts by, bear gimps by, one paw burned.” The human characters have a fraught relationship with nature; the wildfire originated from a camper neglecting to extinguish a campfire, and an early scene details a deer being struck and killed by a pickup. Gretel is suffering from chronic health issues exacerbated by Covid-19. Pritchett also alludes to political divisions within the community: “Before that, someone stole her BLM sign. Which she had to explain to her neighbor didn’t stand for the Bureau of Land Management.” Pritchett finds unexpected
moments of grace, whether from a smokejumper’s routine (“Float. Hands on steering guides, I tug on the left as the jump spot nears”) or through one middle-aged man’s penchant for the guitar (“Yeah, there is still a jelly jar of whiskey. There will always be a jelly jar. But there will be two jelly jars fewer because of the guitar”). It’s an unorthodox but effective way of illustrating the small-scale effects of environmental devastation. An immersive story of a changing landscape, innovatively told.
Last Night Rice, Luanne | Thomas & Mercer (334 pp.) $28.99 | Feb. 1, 2024 | 9781542030199
A prolific author blends characters old and new in a thriller tied to the destructive powers of greed and jealousy. Rice’s latest novel literally starts with a bang. Acclaimed artist Maddie Morrison—her level of fame is compared to that of Andy Warhol and Banksy—is fighting her way through a raging blizzard on her way to meeting someone outside a historic hotel situated on Rhode Island’s coastline. Within seconds, she’s shot execution-style, and the killer finds her 6-year-old daughter, CeCe, hiding in the snow. The killer kidnaps CeCe, then Maddie’s sister discovers her body, and the race to catch a killer and rescue CeCe explodes on the page. Rice fans will welcome the return of affable detective Conor Reid and Kate Woodward, his art historian girlfriend, who were featured in The Shadow Box (2021) and Last Day (2020), Rice’s two most recent thrillers. The vast number of people who might want Maddie dead becomes shockingly evident as the investigation progresses. A gold-digging soon-to-be ex-husband tops the list, but Rice keeps the suspect pool growing as the tense search for CeCe continues and white- and blue-collar criminals crawl out of the proverbial woodwork. KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A powerful testimony to the profoundly difficult task of recovery. I LOVE YO U S O M U C H IT ’ S KI L L I N G U S B OTH
Rice’s strengths as a storyteller pulse through this thriller, which she leavens with engaging observations on the art world, Rhode Island’s natural beauty, and, most of all, what it means to be a sister, one of her most popular themes. If her characters’ dialogue sometimes feels unnatural and stilted, their intense emotions and Rice’s propulsive plotting easily make up for it. Maddie’s murder is solved, but the motives and the complexity of the surprising conspiracy behind it will stay with readers. Take a deep breath and dive into this foreboding tale set on Rhode Island’s seashore.
The Sister Queens Scott, Justin | Severn House (256 pp.) $31.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781448312740
The intrigue swirling around Queen Elizabeth I and her long-dead cousin Mary Queen of Scots envelops William Shakespeare, who’s pressed to write a play that’s guaranteed to make a bad situation worse. Anthony Bacon, spymaster to the Earl of Essex, snatches Will from a London street to make him an offer he can’t refuse. Either Will writes The Sister Queens, a new play that barely fictionalizes the rivalry between Elizabeth and the kinswoman she had executed, or Bacon will call out Will’s mother, Mary Arden Shakespeare, who’s never renounced her Catholicism. The plot twist Bacon insists on is that Mary never plotted treason against the Queen; she was falsely accused on the basis of KIRKUS REVIEWS
trumped-up evidence. The play, which Will can hardly decline to write, will surely bring the unnerving partisanship of 1600 England to a full boil. So even as he works on The Sister Queens, he makes every effort to identify the power behind Bacon who’s making this foolhardy demand. Is it the spymaster’s brother, Queen’s Counsel Extraordinary Francis Bacon, or Essex himself, or possibly even Will’s patron, the Earl of Southampton? Will is haunted at every turn by the spirit of Father Valente, an unrepentant Jesuit friend who’s been hanged at Tyburn prison. Now if only Father Val could tell him the identity of the prime mover of this dastardly plot, or even what corner of Will’s world was likely to produce the next threat to his life and his peace of mind. Veteran Scott crams in enough historical detail for a miniseries before identifying a mastermind who’s likely to leave readers as shocked as Will is. Highly recommended for readers disgusted with contemporary politics. Yes, things have been worse.
Kirkus Star
I Love You So Much It’s Killing Us Both Stovall, Mariah | Soft Skull Press (336 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781593767600
Moving between New York City and Los Angeles, Stovall’s debut novel follows a Black millennial woman as she reckons with her past. Living alone and working behind a museum’s
welcome desk, Khaki Oliver receives a card from Fiona Davies, her white best friend from high school in a New York suburb. Reading Fiona’s baby shower invitation floods her with unwelcome memories, so instead of responding, she begins to craft a mixtape—obsessively replaying songs and reminiscing about the punk shows she attended as a teen embroiled in a distinctly unhealthy, codependent relationship with Fiona: “I try to remember what Fiona is. A full-body rush. A cursed experiment in collaboration. Someone to share things—a piece of gum; life—with.” Their friendship was all-consuming, an intoxicating blend of devotion, secrets, and lies, at once sustaining and destroying them both. When Khaki immersed herself in punk fandom—typically white, older, male—she experienced a dislocation between her sense of self and the ways she was perceived and treated by those around her. Things came to a head between the young women, and Khaki crossed the country to attend college in L.A., embarking on life without Fiona. Khaki’s mental health dominates the novel, with depression, anxiety, and disordered eating looming large over nearly every page. In one chapter, Stovall represents those disorders formally with huge blocks of numbers (evoking calories consumed and burnt, weight lost and gained, without specific accounting)— literally taking up space on the page the same way disordered thinking takes up mental space. In the aftermath of Fiona’s letter, Khaki’s ability to function wavers, and she reflects that “because of her, I’ve trained myself not to develop attachments to human beings. This seems to have improved my health. The stability is hard won and precarious. I’m better without her.” A powerful testimony to the enduring violence of harmful relationships and the profoundly difficult task of recovery. For more debut fiction, visit Kirkus online.
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SEEN AND HEARD
Some TikTok users are convinced the singer-songwriter is behind the forthcoming Argylle.
Is Taylor Swift entering her spy novelist era? Probably not. But, Polygon reports, some TikTok users are convinced that the singer-songwriter is actually the author of Argylle, a novel being published in January by Bantam. The book, credited to an author named Elly Conway, follows a CIA spymaster who enlists the titular character, a troubled spy, to take on a power-hungry Russian magnate. The novel forms the basis for an upcoming film of the same name, directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring Henry Cavill, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, and Bryce Dallas Howard, Some TikTok users say Swift wrote the novel before embarking on tour this year.
who plays a character also named Elly Conway. TikTok users who are convinced that the world’s most omnipresent pop star wrote the novel focus in part on a cat that shows up in a trailer for the movie. Howard, as Conway, carries her Scottish fold cat in a backpack; Swift has done the same with her own two Scottish folds, Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey. Among other “evidence” that Swift is behind the book, TikTok users say, is that Swift has worn argyle sweaters in the past and that Conway’s first social media post was on Dec. 13, 2022, Swift’s 33rd birthday. Speculation about Conway’s identity seems bound to continue, as the author’s biography on the Penguin Random House website only says that she “lives somewhere in the United States.” Wait…do you know who else lives somewhere in the United States? Hmmm…— M.S. Jason Kempin/Getty Images for MTV
Is Taylor Swift the Real Author of This Spy Novel?
For more theories about Taylor Swift’s literary output, visit Kirkus online.
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B O O K T O S C R E E N // F I C T I O N
Book to Screen MGM Releases Trailer for American Fiction
Claire Folger/Orion Releasing
The upcoming Cord Jefferson film is based on Percival Everett’s novel Erasure. MGM has dropped a trailer for American Fiction, the upcoming film based on Percival Everett’s Erasure. Everett’s 2001 satirical novel follows Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a Black literary novelist who resents the success of a blockbuster novel called We’s Lives in Da Ghetto. He writes a parody of the novel under the pen name Stagg R. Leigh, and it
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also becomes a bestseller. A critic for Kirkus praised the novel as “more genuine and tender than much of Everett’s previous work, but no less impressive intellectually: a high point in an already substantial literary career.” The film stars Jeffrey Wright as Monk, alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae,
and Sterling K. Brown. It’s written and directed by Cord Jefferson; Everett is among the film’s executive producers. The trailer opens with Rae as Sintara Golden, the author of We’s Lives in Da Ghetto, reading from her novel at a book festival. “Yo, Sharonda, girl, you be pregnant again?” she says. “If I is, Ray Ray’s going to be a real father this time around.” The crowd applauds, and Wright, as Monk, looks on in disbelief. Later, Monk begins work on My Pafology, his parody of Golden’s novel, telling his agent, “Deadbeat dads, To read a review of Erasure, visit Kirkus online.
rappers, crack. You said you wanted Black stuff. That’s Black, right?” In another scene, Monk is asked in a phone conversation whether the book is based on his own life. “Yeah, you think some bitch-ass college boy could come up with that shit?” he responds in an affected tough-guy voice. American Fiction is slated to hit theaters in December.—M.S.
Wright plays a novelist who writes a parody of a bestseller.
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The Expectant Detectives Ailes, Kat | Minotaur (384 pp.) | $28.00 Jan. 9, 2024 | 9781250322708
Murder at a prenatal class turns moms-to-be into sleuths. An unexpected but not unwelcome pregnancy sends Londoners Alice and Joe to the Cotswold village of Penton in search of a quieter and less expensive place to welcome their imminent arrival. Penton’s “posh hippy” vibe intrigues but intimidates the couple, who revel in the town’s lush landscape but have to sleep on an air mattress because their bed won’t fit up the narrow staircase in their tiny cottage. Hoping to learn enough to get through the life-changing event that’s now less than a month off, they sign up for a prenatal crash course; the class will meet in three sessions over two weekends in the upstairs room of Nature’s Way, a shop catering to folks who want to replace their wind chimes or buy a few dozen new dream catchers. Dot, the class leader, believes anyone can give birth comfortably using no painkiller stronger than willow bark tea. Her approach is put to the test when Alice’s fellow student Hen goes into labor during the second session and welcomes her new daughter between screams of agony. Hen’s delivery, however, isn’t the evening’s headliner. Paramedics who arrive to offer Hen some modern medical care inform the prenatal students that there’s a “dead guy downstairs” in the shop. The police confirm that while Hen was loudly giving birth upstairs, the store’s owner, Crispin Oliver, quietly expired downstairs, and apparently not of natural causes. Alice and Hen join forces with steady Poppy and volatile Ailsa, their fellow students, to learn who would dispatch a gentle shopkeeper whose besetting sin was to offer slippery elm bark tea to expectant moms who’d really rather have a beer. 28 DECEMBER 1, 2023
A small-town Oregon hardware store owner turns sleuth when a man is found dead in her shop. HAMMERS AND HOMICIDE
Pointed banter between the heroine and pretty much everyone else keeps this debut sharp.
Hammers and Homicide Charles, Paula | Crooked Lane | $29.99 Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781639105991
A small-town hardware store owner turns sleuth when a man is found dead in her shop. Dawna Carpenter is a widow who talks to her husband and feels his presence, which isn’t surprising, since she had a ghost as a childhood friend. She runs the store in Pine Bluff, Oregon, with the help of Steve Harrison, her only employee, who is uncharacteristically late for work one day. The neighboring store with which Carpenter’s Corner shares a bathroom is a boutique owned by snarky Darlene Lovelace, who, when she runs into Dawna in the hallway, brags about a date she had with Warren Highcastle, the new man in town. Highcastle is planning to turn the old opera house into a hotel, among much controversy, but Darlene calls him “one interesting specimen.” A little while later, Dawna finds Highcastle dead in the shared bathroom, beaten to death with a framing hammer. Police chief J.T. Dallas has a liking for Dawna’s youngest daughter, April, who runs a design and restoration business, but unfortunately his first suspect is Bill Wilder,
Dawna’s late husband’s best friend, although Steve—who finally turns up—is a close second. On top of that, Dawna gets a certified letter from a bank she’s never dealt with saying the business owes $25,000. Certain that Bill is not the killer (even though his prints are on the murder weapon), she and April set out to prove it and soon have a list of suspects. A bit of research shows that Highcastle not only had a wife but left a long string of people cheated in crooked real estate deals in his wake. Scads of red herrings and mixed motives make for a puzzling mystery, never mind the mysterious bank loan.
The Stranger in the Asylum Clare, Alys | Severn House (256 pp.) | $31.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780727823076
Lily Raynor and Felix Wilbraham, private investigators who run the World’s End Bureau, engage in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in 1882. While Felix is away in Paris to collect a bequest left to him by a wealthy Frenchwoman, Lily is visited in London by Phyllida Westwood, whose fiance, Wilberforce Chibb, was sent to an asylum in France by his family, who suspected that he’d killed his father. Now Wilberforce stands accused of having killed a mysterious inmate in the same fashion. Miss Westwood pays Lily a large sum to KIRKUS REVIEWS
M Y S T E R Y // F I C T I O N
Day’s protagonist generates more static than your typical cozy heroine. D E E P F R I E D D E AT H
travel to France and find out the truth. Is Wilberforce mad, or is he being framed? Lily hastily sets off to join the French-speaking Felix on a mission that will tax every bit of their considerable skills. Before they arrive, Wilberforce escapes just as another man is murdered. Their only leads are Wilberforce’s friends in an artists’ colony. Upon arriving there, they find a man shot dead, apparently mistaken for Wilberforce. Although he’s being pursued by the police and asylum guards, neither would have shot him in the back of the head, so a more dangerous player must be involved in the hunt. When they finally catch up to the desperate Wilberforce, who’s beside himself with terror, they face the challenge of keeping him alive until they can return him to England and sort out all the charges. Thus commences still another dangerous game as they travel by ship, train, and foot to escape their dogged pursuers. A page-turning mystery with a wellhidden motive and a surprising number of twists.
A Catered Quilting Bee Crawford, Isis | Kensington (336 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781496734976
A group of quilters are the latest pool of unlikely candidates to murder or be murdered. Bernie and Libby Simmons, sisters who own a bake shop and have a formidable reputation as amateur sleuths, meet KIRKUS REVIEWS
Cecelia Larson at the local library to discuss catering a reception for the Longely Sip and Sew Quilting Society, whose members know a lot about modern and ancient quilts, some of them very valuable. The meeting ends when one of the quilters dashes in and announces that member Ellen Fisher has apparently died by suicide. Several weeks later, Cecelia and the quilters hire the sisters to investigate what they’ve come to believe is Ellen’s murder. Although the police chief understandably hates them, the sisters have friends in the department who listen when they explain that Ellen had been in a great mood ever since having one of her quilts featured in a national magazine and was unlikely to have killed herself, despite going through some rough times. Doing a deep dive into Ellen’s history turns up the fact that she didn’t seem to have a history. Was she a criminal on the run or a member of the Witness Protection Program? Her house has been torn apart by someone searching for a small item, she’d been packing for a trip to Mexico, and she’d kept a loaded gun in her nightstand. The realization that they’re being followed lends more credence to the sisters’ murder theory. Maybe they can find Ellen’s killer—if only they can discover who she really was. Scads of suspects, a paucity of motives, and a bombshell reveal make for exciting reading.
For more by Isis Crawford, visit Kirkus online.
Deep Fried Death Day, Maddie | Kensington (288 pp.) | $8.99 paper | Dec. 26, 2023 | 9781496742261
A competition among outdoor privies turns deadly. Robbie Jordan isn’t keen on entering the Outhouse Race at the Abe Martin Festival. As owner of the eatery Pans ’N Pancakes, though, she feels obliged to participate in one of her town’s most popular events. But Robbie’s entry doesn’t even make it to the starting line. As she and employees Danna Beedle and Turner Rao struggle to get the boxy structure down from the parking lot, the door pops open and a body falls out. Robbie recognizes the deceased as Miss South Lick Diner proprietor Evermina Martin, a rival chef who’s offered some scathing criticisms of Pans ’N Pancakes on the internet. The murder of a rival restaurateur turns the unwelcome attention of the police on Robbie. Fortunately, lots of other people in Nashville, Indiana, have reason to dislike Evermina, including her ex-husband, Zeke, and Zeke’s new girlfriend, Wendy Corbett. Unfortunately, the list of people who’ve recently quarreled with Evermina includes Robbie’s brother-in-law, Don O’Neill. As South Lick police chief Buck Bird focuses more and more exclusively on Don, Robbie, who’s solved a murder or two in her time, feels the need to investigate. Her methods are surprisingly brusque, and they ruffle more than a few feathers around town, but her persistence pays off in the end. Day’s protagonist generates more static than your typical cozy heroine, but, ultimately, she gets the job done.
For more by Maddie Day, visit Kirkus online.
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The Sign of Four Spirits Delany, Vicki | Crooked Lane | $29.99 Jan. 9, 2024 | 9781639105397
Just because Sherlock Holmes is no longer among us doesn’t mean his methods can’t be used to solve crimes. Gemma Doyle, a transplant from England who shares a home and business with her globetrotting great-uncle, runs the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium at 222 Baker Street in Cape Cod’s West London. Now that a psychic fair’s in town, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books on spiritualism are flying off the shelves. Gemma has no interest in such things, but many of her friends do, especially Sherlock devotee Donald Morris and former pop star Bunny Leigh, who go to the fair and end up inviting several friends to a séance. Somehow Gemma and her friend Jayne Wilson, halfowner, manager, and baker at Mrs. Hudson’s Tea Room at 220 Baker Street, get talked into attending along with Donald, Bunny’s daughter, another employee, and two couples Gemma met at her store. Before the séance begins in the library at the home of wealthy Rebecca Stanton, Madame Lavalier asks Gemma to leave: “Your skepticism is not wanted here,” she says. Gemma sits outside the door but finds it difficult to hear everything inside because a storm is raging overhead. When Madame is killed, chaos ensues, and Gemma calls the police, who arrive in the form of her boyfriend, Det. Ryan Ashburton. Given Gemma’s reputation for
solving murders and the very limited group of suspects who could have stabbed Madame with a hat pin, it might seem an easy mystery to solve, but nailing down the motive is anything but. Fans of Holmes and the occult will enjoy following the Great Detective along the trail.
The Busy Body Donovan, Kemper | John Scognamiglio Books/Kensington (320 pp.) | $27.00 Jan. 23, 2024 | 9781496744531
A larger-than-life Maine politician drags her ghostwriter into a no-stakes—well, no personal stakes— murder investigation. The narrator, an appropriately unnamed freelancer to the stars, is requested by indomitable politician and personality Dorothy Gibson to collaborate on a memoir now that Dorothy’s Independent Party race for the presidency has officially ended in defeat. The ghostwriter prepares for the spin zone that politicians often put up as a front, but Dorothy’s shtick is that she’s a down-to-earth straight talker keeping a low profile as she licks her wounds in her Sacobago home. From being picked up at the airport by Dorothy’s devoted assistant, Leila Mansour, to having a run-in with an overly zealous fan at Betty’s Liquor Mart, the ghostwriter experiences Dorothy as downright likable and as genuine as she seems— though she must admit she hopes Dorothy’s bodyguard will turn into
Jessica Fletcher’s Cabot Cove is rocked by yet another murder. MURDER, SHE WROTE: FIT FOR MURDER
30 DECEMBER 1, 2023
more than he seems (wink wink). When Dorothy’s closest neighbor at the tricked-out Crystal Palace takes the big sleep in her bath, Dorothy can’t resist doing some amateur investigation into the suicide—or is it murder? Since Leila refuses to serve as Dorothy’s sidekick for the misadventure, the ghostwriter fills the niche, duly compiling material on her nominal subject while learning about the life and death of Vivian Davis. Vivian and her physician husband, Walter Vogel, who seems to be auditioning for the role of mad scientist, are as complicated as Dorothy is straightforward. The ensuing inquiry unearths more questions than answers, creating a satisfying puzzle that only Dorothy can solve. Lively, clever storytelling with outsize energy that just barely misses its mark.
Murder, She Wrote: Fit for Murder Fletcher, Jessica & Terrie Farley Moran Berkley (288 pp.) | $27.00 | Jan. 23, 2024 9780593640692
Cabot Cove, whose population must be decimated by now, is rocked by yet another murder. Though she seems to attract as many murders as she solves, famous author Jessica Fletcher is beloved of her friends and neighbors. As she eats breakfast at the local luncheonette with one of them, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, they’re accosted by Evelyn Phillips, former editor of the local newspaper, who’s upset about the condition of Bertha Mae Cormier, an elderly woman apparently entranced by a much younger man. Concerned, Jessica looks into Bertha Mae’s relationship with her nextdoor neighbor, Martin Terranova, owner of a health-conscious exercise and meditation studio whose classes are popular with both men and women. Well-liked junk collector KIRKUS REVIEWS
M Y S T E R Y // F I C T I O N
Old bones, paparazzi, rappers, sex tapes, the whole nine yards—topped off with a surprisingly Big Reveal. DREAM TOWN
Oscar Cisneros is arrested after he’s found with one of Bertha Mae’s antiques, which Terranova accuses him of stealing, but Jessica and Sheriff Mort Metzger are far from convinced of his guilt. When Terranova is found crushed by a barbell, Jessica takes time from researching her next book to investigate this new murder. Working with the editor of the Gazette, who’s also quietly looking into a hot story of embezzlement that will shock the residents of Cabot Cove, Jessica does a deep dive into Terranova’s background and finds that he had a shady past with other well-off elderly women. But is that the only possible motive for his murder? The redoubtable sleuth once again unravels several complex cases plaguing her beloved hometown.
Dream Town Goldberg, Lee | Thomas & Mercer (300 pp.) $28.99 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781662512346
A pair of reality-based TV programs spell trouble for Det. Eve Ronin, rising star of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Life With the Winslows, a series hatched by retired former Western star Caleb Winslow’s camera-hungry second wife, Brandy, abruptly morphs into Death With the Winslows when one of Caleb’s daughters, singer and model Kitty KIRKUS REVIEWS
Winslow, is shot to death during a home invasion of the family compound in Hidden Hills. Det. Eve Ronin, already taxed with identifying the human remains discovered by a dog walker nearby, has to deal with a houseful of prima donnas and Deputy Amos Tatum, the longtime Hidden Hills marshal who’s determined to keep her as far from the Winslows’ gated community as he can. The only thing that could possibly make things worse is the eruption of Ronin, the TV show based on Eve’s earlier cases, into her life. Director Vince Nyby, the father who abandoned her family long ago, fawns over Eve in the hope of helming more episodes, and Jen Ronin, Eve’s actress mother, does her best to get Eve to make nice to her hated father in the hope of pumping up her own part in the series. Meanwhile, everyone in the Lost Hills office of LASD—except for her partner, Det. Duncan “Donuts” Pavone—takes turns hating Eve for the ways the show is turning her into a plaster saint and disrupting their routines. No wonder she can’t help reflecting that “her own life…was sort of like Life With the Winslows in reverse.” Old bones, paparazzi, rappers, sex tapes, the whole nine yards—topped off with a surprisingly Big Reveal.
For more by Lee Goldberg, visit Kirkus online.
Murder at a Scottish Castle Hall, Traci | Kensington (304 pp.) $9.99 paper | Jan. 23, 2024 9781496744371
A bagpipe contest is the scene of an unusual murder. Paislee Shaw, who lives with her son, Brody, her grandfather, Angus, and their Scottish terrier, Wallace, in Nairn, Scotland, is proud that her handmade cashmere knitwear has been chosen for the new gift shop at nearby Ramsey Castle. The castle will host a prestigious bagpipe competition, followed by a barbecue given by the Grant family. The Dowager Countess is eager to make a go of monetizing the castle with help from her family, even though her oldest son, Robert Grant, Earl of Lyon, is less than pleased. Robert’s already furious that last year, for the first time, his pipers lost to Clan Cunningham and Jory Baxter, their new star. When Jory passes out in the middle of playing, Paislee’s friend Jerry McFadden rushes to help. Jory’s bagpipes vanish in the confusion, and a wrangle breaks out over a possible rematch—and then word comes that Jory has died at the hospital. The police, who treat Jory’s death as suspicious, investigate, bringing Paislee up against her nemesis, the snarky but attractive D.I. Mack Zeffer. Because Paislee’s helped solve murders before, the Dowager Countess presses her to investigate. Paislee’s always on a tight budget, so when a water leak damages her house, she and her family move to the vacant apartment of her friends Lydia and Corbin. Suspecting something hinky about those missing bagpipes, the sleuths go all in to find them and provide the clues that will solve the mysteries. Plenty of suspects and a touch of romance set against a delightful Scottish backdrop.
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The Nubian’s Curse Hambly, Barbara | Severn House (256 pp.) $31.99 | Jan. 2, 2024 | 9781448311361
A series of mysteries spanning two continents and many years comes to a head in Louisiana. Benjamin January may be a Paris-trained doctor and an excellent musician, but in 1840 New Orleans, he’s a Black man who has to remember his place. The evening Ben plays at a Christmas ball, he encounters a haunting puzzle from his past. The star of the ball, the Vicomtesse de St.-Forgeux, turns out to be Persephone Jondrette, whom Ben knew in Paris as a dancer. She’s now serving as a companion to wealthy Miss Daisy Emmett, whose slave-trader father died and left her guardianship to his business partner, Creon Grice. When Persephone comes to Ben’s home the next day to ask for help looking into the well-being of two old friends, he can’t refuse, even though it brings back unpleasant memories of a weird, unsolved murder in Paris more than a decade earlier. The friends are African mathematical genius Arithmus Sudirja and Belle Wishart, a British woman; Arithmus was a companion to Belle’s scientifically inclined uncle, Deverel Wishart. After her uncle’s death, Grice married Belle for her money; he spirited Belle and Arithmus to Louisiana because the French police suspected them of killing Deverel. Now, Persephone reveals, it seems that Arithmus is enslaved on Grice’s Natchez plantation. Traveling to Natchez disguised as the valet of a white musician who’s helped him before, Ben finds that Grice has thrown Belle out of the house, demanding a divorce and obviously planning on marrying Miss Emmett to increase his fortune. Miss Emmett, however, has set her sights higher, on Prince Serafin Corvinus. When Grice vanishes, Ben, certain that he’s dead, finds himself again forced to rescue himself and his friends from a murder charge. 32 DECEMBER 1, 2023
A hauntingly atmospheric mystery with a complex and exciting storyline.
Murder at the Blarney Bash Hannah, Darci | Kensington (352 pp.) $8.99 paper | Jan. 23, 2024 | 9781496741745
Leprechauns invade Beacon Harbor, Michigan. Well, maybe just one, and that one may be a figment of Finnigan O’Connor’s imagination. Finn and his daughter, Colleen, who have moved from Ireland, are opening a gift shop and micropub in Beacon Harbor, a delightful town on the shore of Lake Michigan. Finn’s nephew, former Navy SEAL Rory Campbell, is dating crime-solving baker Lindsey Bakewell, while Lindsey’s best friend, Kennedy Kapoor, who left town after their last murder case (abandoning brokenhearted police officer Tuck McAllister), has returned with a new boyfriend, Englishman Niall Fitzhugh. Lindsey and her crew are busy baking St. Patrick’s Day treats to stock her bakery and celebrate the grand opening of Finn and Colleen’s store and pub. Lindsey scoffs at the reports of leprechauns from people around town until one of them runs into the side of her car, fleeing the scene of his attack on city worker Fred Landry and leaving behind green and gold glitter. Finn, who attempts to lure the leprechaun with green beer and special treats, eventually turns up with a pot of gold. In the meantime, Kennedy, who acts strangely jealous of Colleen’s flirting with Tuck, is extremely annoyed with Niall, who’d promised her exclusive Irish walking capes for her store and then apparently supplied them to Colleen’s shop. When the police arrest Finn for the murder of a leprechaun with a shillelagh and he stubbornly refuses to turn over the gold or even say where he found it, the sleuths spring into action to find the real killer. An often amusing romantic mystery with an Irish accent.
Of Hoaxes and Homicide Hastings, Anastasia | Minotaur (304 pp.) $28.00 | Jan. 30, 2024 | 9781250848581
Half sisters come to a better understanding of each other while solving a murder in 1885 London. Violet Manville, the practical older sister with wide-ranging interests, has been asked by her aunt Adelia to keep up her advice column while she’s away. Younger sister Sephora is more interested in clothes, men, and penny dreadfuls, especially those of Count Orlando, who’s writing a series purporting to expose the outrageous goings-on of a cultlike group he dubs the Children of Ud. Violet, who’s bored and missing the company of Eli Marsh, an American who helped her in a previous adventure, is forced to pay attention to the nonfictional group The Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed because a woman whose daughter ran off to join them has written to her for advice. She reluctantly brings Sephora along to a meeting of the group in a London park. The crowd is disappointed by the mild speech of the charismatic Master, but Violet is shocked to see among his acolytes Margaret Thuringer, Sephora’s best friend, who’s apparently the missing daughter mentioned in the letter. When a man Violet had thought was a pickpocket snatches one of the devotees, she foils his attempt and is thanked by the Master, who invites her to join the cult in the ruins of Alburn Abbey. Eli, whom Violet has recognized as the abductor, meets secretly with her at the abbey. When Margaret is arrested for murdering a man she was unhappily handfasted with, Violet, Eli, and even Sephora realize that nothing is as it seems. Mystery, romance, and an interesting look at the power of cult leaders.
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M Y S T E R Y // F I C T I O N
her boyfriend, police Detective Harry Nowicki, and learns a bit too much about their private life. Since the cafe isn’t in Nowicki’s area, they call the Acorn Bay police, but not before taking photos of the scene. Once again Lydia and her free-spirited Grandma Mary are suspects in a murder case and don’t hesitate to investigate.
and betrayal of women. Samir and the doctor agree that he was killed elsewhere; a bite mark and a bit of thread provide a few clues. At first Tiffany is a suspect, but Bernard’s father, a nasty bigot, accuses Samir of murdering his son. Because of local prejudice, he’s arrested despite the absence of evidence, so Tiffany starts investigating on her own. She’s deeply distressed when Bernard’s sister, Evie, turns up, and it turns out that she’s Samir’s wife, though she left him many years ago. Now she’s heavily pregnant, presumably by the blacksmith she’s recently been living with. Despite her heartbreak, Tiffany continues to make inquiries into all of Bernard’s many enemies. Having friends in high places may help her save Samir, if only she can solve the case.
Once Upon a Murder
A Bean To Die For
Larsen, Samantha | Crooked Lane (304 pp.) $29.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781639106219
Lush, Tara | Crooked Lane (288 pp.) $29.99 | Jan. 9, 2024 | 9781639105458
In 1784, an English librarian finds herself embroiled in another murder case involving those dear to her. Forty-year-old Tiffany Woodall is the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort, who’s given her a cottage and property in gratitude for saving Thomas, her adopted son, from the hangman. Tiffany is in love with Samir Lathrop, a bookseller of Indian background, but he never mentions marriage. On a day when Tiffany is already feeling poorly, an unwelcome surprise awaits her just outside her cottage, where she trips over the body of Bernard Coram, a former footman at the duchess’ home. After sending her gossipy servant to fetch Samir, who also works as a constable, Tiffany continues on to the palace library. Bernard, who was evidently murdered, was much disliked for his dishonesty
An ex-reporter just can’t stop investigating murders. Since getting downsized from her job covering crime for a Miami newspaper, Lana Lewis has devoted herself to three things: her shih tzu, Stanley; her boyfriend, police chief Noah Garcia; and helping her dad run Perkatory, his punningly named cafe in Devil’s Beach, Florida. It’s that third passion that has her headed one morning to Peas on Earth, the local community garden, where she and her best friend, Erica Penmark, are helping Lana’s hipster dad plant coffee beans. They’re willing to put up with the draconian rules laid out by the garden’s president, Darla Ippolito—plant non-GMO seeds only, don’t plant anything past your plot’s boundaries, and never, ever fail to put the hose away—in order to provide some locally grown offerings
An admirable cross between a thorny mystery and a love story. ONCE UPON A MURDER
The Pierogi Peril Krotow, Geri | Severn House (208 pp.) $31.99 | Jan. 2, 2024 | 9781448311422
A Buffalo-area restaurant owner and her feminist grandmother are an impressive sleuthing duo. Lydia Wienewski has an overwhelming amount of work to do, so it’s not surprising that she forgot to enter an international cooking competition with her specialty pierogis. Her father is recovering from a stroke, so she’s still helping in the family butcher shop, which lost customers after a murdered man was found in the backyard smoker. Lydia’s Lakeside Café and Bakery, where she showcases Polish American food, is consuming her every waking hour as it slowly builds clientele, to the extent that she’s been camping out there to save the time she’d spend driving home. Considering that she dropped out of a prestigious Canadian baking school over disagreements with Madame Delphine Chenault and a short fling with her son, Pierre, Lydia is gobsmacked to see Madame at her restaurant, full of compliments and the revelation that she’s one of the judges at the competition. Lydia is back together with Stanley, her longtime boyfriend, a budding lawyer who helped when she and Grandma Mary solved the smokehouse murder. After staying overnight in the cafe, she and Stanley find Madame’s body on the rocky Lake Erie shore below the cafe’s deck—and then Lydia finds her grandmother parked in a station wagon with KIRKUS REVIEWS
Lots of local western New York color mixes with amusing characters in a mystery sure to delight.
An admirable cross between a thorny mystery and a love story, with plenty of historical tidbits adding interest.
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at Perkatory. But when they get there, they discover the body of elderly Jack Daggitt, lately banned from the garden by the stern president for multiple rule infractions. Fearing that their disagreement will cause the authorities to put her at the top of their list of suspects, Darla implores Lana to help her find Daggitt’s real killer. But helping Darla escape suspicion forces Lana to negotiate a careful path with Noah, who cautions her to leave the detecting to the police. As it turns out, he needn’t have bothered. The solution to the case comes straight out of nowhere, producing no real peril and zero suspense. A large chai latte will raise readers’ pulse rates higher than this one.
Fatal First Edition McKinlay, Jenn | Berkley (304 pp.) | $28.00 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593639337
A murder on a train carries echoes of another fateful railroad trip. Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Mike Sullivan, are in Chicago attending a conference. During a book restoration lecture on the last day, someone leaves a bag under Lindsey’s seat containing a first edition of Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train inscribed from the author to Alfred Hitchcock, making it potentially very valuable. Lindsey turns it over to conference head Henry Standish, a man with a checkered past that’s earned him multiple enemies. Lindsey and Sully, along with Henry and many other conference participants, had taken a train from the East Coast to Chicago for the conference; now, as they settle into their roomette for the return trip, prospects for a pleasant ride turn sour when Lydia Armand— who took over Henry’s job after he was accused of fraud—turns up. That night, after some nasty verbal jousts, Lindsey hears thumping noises from 34 DECEMBER 1, 2023
the next compartment and sees a person shrouded in black in the passageway. The next morning, Henry is found murdered in his compartment. Upon the arrival of a dangerous snowstorm, the police remove passengers to a local inn near Briar Creek, Connecticut, Lindsey and Sully’s hometown, while they investigate. When the valuable book turns up in Lindsey’s laptop bag, she takes it to the police, while Sully, a boat captain, heads out in the storm to deliver food to nearby islands. Much to her consternation, Lindsey is unable to contact Sully, and a search discovers his boat drifting offshore. Clues from the boat indicate that Sully may have been spirited away, and Lindsey resolves to search for him while she seeks a motive for Standish’s murder. Plenty of hair-raising adventures combine with more cerebral pursuits in this enjoyable tale.
Death by Irish Whiskey Murphy, Catie | Kensington (320 pp.) $8.99 paper | Jan. 23, 2024 9781496746467
The Dublin Whiskey Festival attracts numerous competitors and at least one killer. The first casualty is Angus McConal, a boxer whose sponsorship of Fighting Chance Whiskey comes to a sudden end when he’s found dead with his head in a punch bowl. The discovery in the dead man’s pocket of the recipe for Harbourmaster Whiskey, a competitor launched by retired Sligo harbormaster Rabbie Lynch and movie star Niamh O’Sullivan, tilts the suspicions of the Garda Síochána in their direction. As chauffeur Megan Malone, whose earlier brushes with homicide make her feel like the heroine of Murder, She Drove, casts worried glances at Rabbie, a second cousin she considers an uncle, the Gardaí arrest Ramon Sanchez, head of security for Megan’s frequent
client, wealthy Carmen de la Fuente, whose Midnight Sunrise Whiskey is also in the hunt. But that does nothing to stop the flow of casualties. After Danny Keane, the creator of Keane Edge Whiskey, keels over dead at a whiskey tasting, Jelena Kowal, Megan’s girlfriend, abruptly moves out because she doesn’t want to be involved with the Murder Driver. Megan’s convinced that one of the surviving contestants is eliminating the others, but the death of Angus’ sports manager, Erin Ryan, who wasn’t even involved in the competition, makes her wonder whether the motive really involves the battle of the spirits. Eventually she cracks the case by approaching a minor character and blurting out, “Did you kill Erin Ryan?” The dramatic instantaneous reaction is a lot more satisfying than the rest of the scattershot mystery, whose plot is mostly driven by the accumulation of corpses. Best enjoyed after two or three quick shots of whiskey.
Murder at an Irish Chipper O’Connor, Carlene | Kensington (304 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781496744449
A much-delayed honeymoon to the seacoast turns into a murder hunt. Garda Siobhán O’Sullivan and her husband, Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery, have escaped the heat in their hometown by traveling to coastal Lahinch, taking along Siobhán’s five siblings. Upon arrival they check out two chip shops, Mr. Chips and Mrs. Chips, which are across the street from each other, and learn that Mr. Chips’ banner and mural have just been vandalized. The dueling owners went through a nasty divorce after Mr. Chips’ affair with Mrs. Chips’ best friend, so it seems likely that his ex-wife was the vandal. The line of people waiting outside Mrs. Chips, which should have been open by now KIRKUS REVIEWS
M Y S T E R Y // F I C T I O N
A timely mystery with an engaging cast and a sublime setting. AT A N Y C O S T
but isn’t, includes a restaurant critic, a fish supplier, a cooking oil supplier, and a man who’s come to install a new vent hood. Because they can’t get into the shop, Macdara calls local handyman John Healy, who owns the inn where the family is staying. Once inside, they find Mrs. Chips dead. Although she appears to have fallen from a ladder, Siobhán has a hunch that she was murdered. The local Gardai arrive, headed by Detective Sergeant Liam Healy, the innkeeper’s grandson, who wants to believe Mrs. Chips’ death is an accident but is willing to consider murder. Macdara just wants to be a man of leisure, but Siobhán, who can never let a puzzle go unsolved, starts asking questions while her family members enjoy themselves and pursue new romantic attachments. Mrs. Chips had plenty of enemies, but when the next to die is John Healy, Siobhán and Macdara realize this case will be more complicated than they thought. Irish charm, plenty of suspects, and some strange twists make for a winning combination.
At Any Cost Siger, Jeffrey | Severn House (256 pp.) $31.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781448312108
While unraveling a sinister environmental crime, an avuncular investigator outmaneuvers his imperious sister. Athens-based chief inspector Andreas Kaldis KIRKUS REVIEWS
receives a hysterical phone call from his sister, Gavriella, with the distressing news that her daughter, Anna, who’s been a college student in horrific New York for only a month, is getting married! Her fiance, nine years Anna’s senior, is software engineer Jacob “Jack” Diamantopoulos, born in Greece but now living in Brooklyn. At the request of Kaldis, who’s Anna’s godfather, Anna and Jack agree to a Greek visit before the wedding that Gavi hopes will give her an opportunity to convince Anna to break off the engagement. On the criminal front, Kaldis’ complex and politically sensitive investigation of a series of fires destroying national forests opens the door for the rich, entrancing local color that has become a trademark of Siger’s series. When Kaldis learns of an AI link to the fires, he enlists Jack as a consultant and, when Anna’s arrival is delayed due to an important interview, he and his wife, Lila, invite Jack to stay with them. But how can they tell Gavi that they actually like the guy? Kaldis’ 13th case is a bit of a departure from his first 12, giving center stage to a seemingly benign marriage plot rather than a murder or three, although there will be a kidnapping. Series fans will likely be pleased with Lila’s larger role; detective sidekicks Yianni and Tassos again add texture and a bit of comic relief. A timely mystery with an engaging cast and a sublime setting.
For more by Jeffrey Siger, visit Kirkus online.
Murder in Masquerade Winters, Mary | Berkley (336 pp.) $17.00 paper | Feb. 20, 2024 9780593548783
When the person who needs help from advice columnist Lady Agony is the sister of a friend, things get complicated. Lady Agony is actually Amelia, Lady Amesbury, a widow who shares a close friendship and maybe more with her late husband’s best friend, Simon, Lord Bainbridge. His sister, Lady Marielle, is thinking of eloping to Gretna Green with a man her family strongly disapproves of. Simon has excellent reasons to dislike their former stable manager, George Davies, but he can’t get Marielle to see sense. So Amelia and Simon go to the opera to keep an eye on Marielle, who’s attending with George. After an evening of ticklish conversation, George vanishes, and the three find him in a nearby alley, stabbed to death. Clearly, Amelia and Simon must solve the murder if Simon is to regain his sister’s respect. Amelia has her own problems with placating her aunt, keeping an eye on her stepdaughter, and trying to prevent her best friend from being dragged off to her husband’s country estate. And, of course, Amelia—who’s teamed up with Simon to solve earlier mysteries—knows that as a wealthy young widow, she needs to guard her own reputation no matter how tedious she finds the task. George Davies was a fortune hunter and a gambler who made many enemies, and the society parties Amelia attends are a fertile field for gossip. Still, plucking the murderer from a bunch of likely prospects will be no easy task. Enjoy the charming characters, a touch of romance, and an unexpected denouement.
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Nonfiction
ERIC LIEBETRAU
THE HISTORY OF culture is littered with artists who died too young, and literature is no exception. From Arthur Rimbaud to Edgar Allan Poe to Sylvia Plath to John Kennedy Toole, writers of all eras and backgrounds have succumbed far too early in their careers, leaving behind a litany of what ifs. In 2020, we added yet another bright young talent to the list: Anthony Veasna So. Born in 1992 to Cambodian immigrants, Veasna So graduated from Stanford and went on to teach at Colgate and Syracuse, and his work was published in the New Yorker, n+1, Granta, and elsewhere. He died of a drug overdose on Dec. 8, 2020. Less than a year later, his debut story collection, Afterparties, the subject of a bidding war between publishers, was released by Ecco/HarperCollins. In a starred review, our critic noted, “Even when these stories are funny and hopeful, an inescapable history is always waiting.” Afterparties was one of my favorite books of 2021. 36 DECEMBER 1, 2023
The second part of the author’s two-book deal with Ecco is Songs on Endless Repeat: Essays and Outtakes (Dec. 5), which our starred review celebrates as a “posthumous publication from a writer who was only just discovering his brilliance.” I think that line ably captures the significance of the collection as a tribute to an artist who showed legitimate signs of becoming canonical. The essays are a mix of fiction and nonfiction, both previously published and unpublished pieces, and they wonderfully demonstrate Veasna So’s range. In an early passage drawn from Straight Thru Cambotown, the novel he was working on at the time of his death, readers get a tantalizing glimpse of his propulsive style: “Early 70s is civil war and coups d’état. Late 70s is communist-style book burning, entire libraries up in flames, and killing fields ornamented with piles of skulls everywhere. Early 80s is refugee camps and immigration and adopting new names such as Steve,
Bill, and Kathy, names we always forget to use, names we didn’t realize were nicknames for longer names such as Steven, William, and Catherine. Late 80s is overdosing on fresh-offthe-skillet perms and Tom Cruise aviator sunglasses and gangs, gang violence, and gang wars with other gangs, mostly Hispanic. Early 90s is, okay, still gangs, but also small business owners and the American Dream of grocery stores that stock and restock fish sauce, while late 90s onward is PTSD symptoms passed down to kids like your mom’s eyes and your dad’s bad karma and your dead Gong’s fat head, or what sure looks like a fat head from the single
surviving photo of him pre-genocide.” As in his previous work, Veasna So highlighted the experiences of second-generation Cambodian Americans, giving us a glimpse of lives many readers may not have encountered. The author was a master of blending a variety of cultural touchstones, from reality TV to literature to film, and our critic was exactly right in writing, “It seems impossible to read these excerpts without wishing for more—from these characters, from this narrative, for this author.” Anyone who encounters his writing will wish for more from Veasna So. Eric Liebetrau is the nonfiction editor. KIRKUS REVIEWS
Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson
CELEBRATING THE SONGS OF A TALENTED WRITER
NONFICTION
EDITOR’S PICK The Pulitzer Prize–winning author returns with a tour de force examination of the events leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. As Coll, author of Ghost Wars and Directorate S, points out, Saddam Hussein left thousands of hours of tapes, many of which the author’s lawyers extracted from the Pentagon. Though Hussein was a vicious tyrant, Ronald Reagan preferred him to Iran’s theocrats, supported his invasion of Iran, and played down his use of poison gas and genocidal atrocities against his own people. Hussein was undoubtedly cruel and paranoid, but his belief that the U.S. favored Israel was correct. American support vanished when he invaded Kuwait in 1990. After his 1991 rout, observers
These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star
KIRKUS REVIEWS
assumed that his days were numbered. When he proceeded to crush all opposition, U.S. leaders initially tried to control him by sanctions and actions short of war, such as no-fly zones. Ironically, he’d destroyed his atomic and chemical infrastructure so well that hundreds of inspections turned up little, but his persistent boasting convinced many that he was hiding something. By the late 1990s, a growing number of U.S. officials were urging more aggressive action. At the same time, terrorism had become a worldwide obsession. Hussein loathed Islamic fundamentalists, but there was no shortage of conspiracy theories about a top-secret connection, including “contacts between Iraq and al-Qaeda.” Upon
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Latinoland By Marie Arana Get the Picture By Bianca Bosker
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The Achilles Trap By Steve Coll
Toxic By Sarah Ditum The Asteroid Hunter By Dante Lauretta
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Glad to the Brink of Fear By James Marcus
The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Origins of America’s Invasion of Iraq Coll, Steve | Penguin Press | 576 pp. $35.00 | Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780525562269
learning that intelligence agencies couldn’t confirm Hussein’s terrorist plots or the existence of weapons of mass destruction, administration leaders were frustrated. Speaking truth to power was never a CIA strong suit, so the agency obligingly confirmed what did not exist. This helped in the short run because
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A Map of Future Ruins By Lauren Markham
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The MAGA Diaries By Tina Nguyen
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The Sentinel State By Minxin Pei
the invasion was widely supported in the U.S. That the invasion ultimately proved disastrous has been well documented by others, but Coll’s unparalleled research into its background turns up a great deal of unfamiliar, illuminating information. Required reading for all conscientious citizens.
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Everywhere the Undrowned By Stephanie Clare Smith
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What Have We Here? By Billy Dee Williams
DECEMBER 1, 2023 37
S EOCNTFI IOCNT I O N N
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism Alberta, Tim | Harper/HarperCollins (496 pp.) $35.00 | Dec. 5, 2023 | 9780063226883
An exploration of the changing face of American evangelicalism through the past several decades. Alberta, a staff writer for the Atlantic and author of American Carnage, describes the evangelical church as the product of changing times, with various factions of American Protestantism “amalgamating under a shared, if loosely defined, label: ‘evangelicals,’” in the early 1970s. At the time, evangelicals were poised to have a major role in shaping American culture. However, Alberta shows that what was meant as a spiritual movement built around shared values and goals for spreading the gospel soon split apart through political involvement, especially due to the influence of a cadre of charismatic church leaders. The author recognizes two particular periods of cultural turmoil, each of which ushered in the leadership of an unlikely American president. First was the Carter administration, which caused many evangelicals to seriously engage in politics for the first time, resulting in the election of Reagan. Second was the Obama era, marked by expansive cultural changes that brought about “a sudden onset of dread” among the evangelical base. The result was the rise of Trump. Alberta builds his study around interviews with a number of people central to—or at least privy to—the changes in evangelicalism over time. The topic is deeply personal to the author, whose father was a conservative (but largely apolitical) Presbyterian pastor. Alberta lionizes his father while criticizing most of his father’s friends for allowing politics to influence their faith life. “The crisis of American evangelicalism,” the author 38 DECEMBER 1, 2023
writes, “comes down to an obsession with…worldly identity.” The author sees this obsession as having weakened Christianity in the United States. Regarding the term evangelical, he believes that today, most non-religious people “are completely and categorically repelled by that word.” Sometimes overly personal yet well researched and comprehensive.
Kirkus Star
Latinoland: A Portrait of America’s Largest and Least Understood Minority Arana, Marie | Simon & Schuster (560 pp.) $28.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781982184896
An impressively wide-ranging overview of the turbulent history of Latine people in America. Arana, the inaugural literary director of the Library of Congress, has always been ambitious in her work, from American Chica to Bolivar to Lima Nights. In her latest book, which ably blends historical research with insightful anecdotes, she sets out to tell the story of the people who have come from the Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America to the U.S., a project that she, as a person of half American, half Peruvian background, is well placed to undertake. The author admits that this vast history is too much for a single book, so she breaks it into a series of illustrative vignettes and interviews. “The U.S. Bureau of the Census predicts that, by 2060, Americans of Hispanic descent will total 111.2 million—almost 30 percent of the people in this country,” writes Arana. “The great majority of us are American born, speak English as well as any native, are employed, obey the law, work hard.” People from Latin America are a melting pot of nationalities, ethnicities, and skin tones, with strains of European, African, and Asian DNA. There is a dark history of racism
against the Latinx population, but it seems to be weakening, with many Latine Americans moving up the economic ladder. In fact, Arana wonders whether it’s still possible to speak of Latine culture in the United States at all. She eventually gives a resounding affirmation, concluding that “the business of identity may be complicated, the political affiliation shifty, but, as contradictory as it sounds, Latino unity is surprisingly hale and strong.” Though the author may not answer all the questions she asks, this book is a significant, engaging read. Arana has a fascinating, complex, and deeply personal story to tell, and she narrates it with abundant verve and intelligence.
The Vanishing of Carolyn Wells Barry, Rebecca Rego | Post Hill Press (256 pp.) | $30.00 | Feb. 13, 2024 9781637588505
The fruit of “a three-year quest to restore the legacy” of a prolific and pioneering mystery writer who’s dropped almost completely from sight. Love her or hate her, Carolyn Wells (1862-1942) in her time was widely acknowledged as a force to be reckoned with. Her children’s book series rivaled those produced by Edward Stratemeyer’s syndicate of anonymous writers. Her 81 mystery novels, including 61 starring Fleming Stone, account for less than half of her output of over 180 books— novels, verse collections, anthologies, scrapbooks, autograph books, crossword puzzle books, and screenplays—an oeuvre that made another writer wonder, “Is Carolyn Wells a syndicate?” Her nonsense verse cemented her friendship with art critic and poet Gelett Burgess; her take-no-prisoners approach to collecting material by and about Walt Whitman earned the lasting enmity of bibliophile Vincent Starrett; KIRKUS REVIEWS
NONFICTION
A delightful book on an inspiring topic by a writer who could make dust sparkle. GET THE PICTURE
her mysteries were panned by Dashiell Hammett, John Dickson Carr, and, yes, Kirkus Reviews. Sandwiched between the older Anna Katharine Green and the younger Mary Robert Rinehart, Wells lacked the staying power of the second and so far hasn’t been revived as successfully as the first. Barry, author of Rare Books Uncovered, aims to change that by sharing every scrap of information she’s discovered about Wells’ remarkable career, her reception, and theories about why she’s fallen into such neglect. The result is an engaging but often frustratingly incomplete biography repeatedly interrupted by detailed accounts of how the author acquired, or failed to acquire, access to her research materials, both of them interrupted in turn by a series of chatty footnotes confiding in the reader directly. The resulting combination succeeds in bringing Wells back to life, largely through extensive quotations from her light verse, but gives little sense of any or all of those Fleming Stone novels. Not a definitive biography, but an indispensable first step toward one.
Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons With Racism in Medicine Blackstock, Uché | Viking (304 pp.) | $28.00 Jan. 23, 2024 | 9780593491287
A Black physician reflects on her career in medicine and the many inequities of American health care. During their childhood in Brooklyn, KIRKUS REVIEWS
Blackstock and her twin sister often played with their mother’s medical bag. The first Dr. Blackstock had grown up on welfare before becoming a respected nephrologist. The author and her sister both followed in their mother’s footsteps, attending Harvard Medical School, the “school’s first Black mother-daughter legacy graduates.” At Harvard, Blackstock first saw how racism manifests in medicine. “A lot of the time,” she writes, “it wasn’t as much a case of what our professors were teaching us as what they were leaving out”—namely, the “exploitation of Black people for the purposes of medical education.” Examples include Henrietta Lacks, a poor Black woman whose cervical tissue was removed without her consent and used for study and profit, or the men of the infamous Tuskegee experiment, where researchers left syphilis untreated among Black sharecroppers to “prove” that Black people had “primitive nervous systems.” But Blackstock’s true education came later, during her fellowship at NYU, when she became a practicing physician at two emergency centers: Tisch, a private hospital, and Bellevue, a public hospital. The two hospitals were next door to each other but worlds apart. Tisch was “well-oiled” and “highly resourced,” and the patients were “wealthy, insured…[and] mostly white.” Bellevue was “chaotic” and understaffed, and the patient population largely consisted of Black and brown people who had “slipped through the cracks of a system that was simply not built to serve them.” Blackstock eloquently describes her journey from idealistic resident, to burned-out fellow, to disillusioned professor at NYU, where she was asked to take a leadership role in the Office of Diversity Affairs, a position that ultimately felt “empty and performative.”
Though occasionally dry, this is an important story. A timely and persuasive memoir.
Kirkus Star
Get the Picture: A MindBending Journey Among the Fanatical Artists and Secretive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How To See Bosker, Bianca | Viking (384 pp.) | $30.00 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780525562207
Everything she ever needed to know about art she learned by throwing herself headfirst into the New York scene. Bosker follows Cork Dork, an investigation of the wine industry, with a similarly delightful inquiry into the art world: immersive reporting along the lines of George Plimpton or Barbara Ehrenreich, with her own blend of relentless curiosity, bottomless energy, and a gift for clever formulations that recalls Oscar Wilde. Bosker began her journey with an internship in a downtown gallery run by a hipster named Jack who “spoke in a low monotone that made him sound as if he were running out of batteries.” Her experiences taught her that “gossip for art people was like echolocation for bats: You sent out signals of what you thought was great or derivative or phony, then oriented yourself based on what came back.” After she and Jack parted ways, Bosker got involved with a pair of gallerists who took her to Miami Art Week, where she continued to refine her ability to see and appreciate the work. Consequently, she discovered that she was an excellent salesperson. She began to appreciate “weird, boundary-pushing art” like that of her next mentor, Mandy AllFIRE, a performance artist and “ass influencer” who sits on people’s faces for “as long as possible.” The author went on to work in the studio of up-and-coming DECEMBER 1, 2023 39
S EOCNTFI IOCNT I O N N
In a well-researched book, Chiusano offers fair warning to anyone who might consider voting for his con man subject. TH E FAB U L I ST
figurative painter Julie Curtiss, who completely transformed her way of seeing. “I’ll just come right out and say it: being around Julie was like being on drugs,” she writes. Bosker also attended a science-of-art conference in Belgium, served as a museum guard at the Guggenheim, and accompanied a pair of collectors known as the Icy Gays on a buying spree. It could not be more fun. A delightful book on an inspiring topic by a writer who could make dust sparkle.
The Thefts of the Mona Lisa: The Complete Story of the World’s Most Famous Artwork Charney, Noah | Rowman & Littlefield (192 pp.) | $32.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781538181362
An art historian’s account of the perilous history of the world’s most recognizable painting. After opening with a gripping narration of the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911, Charney proceeds with an excellent chapter on the painting’s history. This portion includes a synopsis of da Vinci’s career and legacy; the author explains how critical reception to the Mona Lisa changed over time, offering valuable perspective on how the theft contributed to the portrait’s place in popular culture. From here, the book becomes substantially less 40 DECEMBER 1, 2023
compelling. The author devotes an entire section to how Picasso and his friend Guillaume Apollinaire became embroiled in the hunt for the Mona Lisa. This is a wonderful tidbit but— spoiler alert—neither the painter nor the poet had anything to do with the theft. The pages Charney devotes to their actual exploits are merely tangents. The author’s account of the recovery of the Mona Lisa is interesting, but his depiction of the search is flat—largely because readers already know the thief’s identity, and the author’s description of the French detective is unenlightening. The book also has a lot of repetition—at least one whole passage appears twice— and Charney contradicts his own text more than once. He writes, for example, that after the excitement of the painting’s return to France, the “phrase ‘Mona Lisa smile’ became part of the vernacular”—after he has already quoted numerous art critics and journalists commenting on that smile. Charney even reproduces the suicide note of a Mona Lisa–obsessed artist who took his own life in 1852: “For years I have grappled desperately with her smile, I prefer to die.” The portion of the text that deals with the painting’s entanglements with the Nazis suffers from similar flaws. Readers intrigued by the subject should turn to one of Charney’s shorter articles or TED talks on the same subject. For more from Noah Charney, visit Kirkus online.
The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos Chiusano, Mark | One Signal/Atria (320 pp.) $28.99 | Nov. 28, 2023 | 9781668043677
Mr. Ripley goes to Washington. George Santos is consistent only in his pathological lying. To call him a “fabulist” is to denature the criminal enterprise that, this account amply reveals, motivates Santos’ every waking moment. Much of what we know about Santos owes to Newsday writer Chiusano’s dogged reporting, and the story isn’t pretty. Santos, who logged time in Brazil as a drag artist and check forger, to say nothing of a leech given to bilking his own grandmother (“He did it with others, too. He’d find someone else to borrow money from, and then disappear”), eventually wound up on Long Island, where his lies took on ever more bizarre dimensions. From working as a sales rep for a cable TV service who constantly upsold customers, he concocted a role as a high-level financial wheeler-dealer. Based on his constituency, he “seemed to recognize that a Jewish backstory could be a political tool,” regardless of his true ethnicity. In the rise of Donald Trump, he “saw another Queens native with an outsider chip on his shoulder (warranted or not) who had no political experience but was bluffing and hustling his way to the White House anyway.” How did such an obvious grifter get ahead in street-smart New York? As if channeling Herman Melville’s novel The Confidence-Man, Chiusano suggests that America is a nation of wolves and sheep, where the wolves always win: Even though he’s now under criminal indictment, Santos now claims that his cons add up to “an experience, you know, for a book or something like that.” The author also vigorously criticizes the Democrats’ opposition KIRKUS REVIEWS
NONFICTION
research, which should have turned up Santos’ record and labyrinthine lies before he ever got close to winning his congressional seat. In a well-researched book, Chiusano offers fair warning to anyone who might consider voting for his con man subject.
The Fund: Ray Dalio, Bridgewater Associates and the Unraveling of a Wall Street Legend Copeland, Rob | St. Martin’s | $32.00 Nov. 7, 2023 | 9781250276933
An unsettling exposé of a leading investment fund. As Copeland writes, during his time at the company’s helm, Ray Dalio (b. 1949), founder of Bridgewater Associates, “was said to have prodigious skill at spotting, and making money from, big-picture global economic or political changes, such as when a country would raise its interest rate or cut taxes.” The dominant ethos was a near-religious belief in Dalio’s brilliance, a sentiment he reinforced by developing a series of edicts called “The Principles” and assorted mantras, such as “Pain + Reflection = Progress.” He was not at all shy, reportedly, of using abusive language (“You’re a dumb shit!”) with employees not sufficiently steeped in these tenets or who otherwise displeased him. Bridgewater became a revolving door for hundreds of would-be brokers and traders who couldn’t stand the abuse, while its corporate culture spawned a system of accusation and self-criticism that Mao’s Red Guards might have admired: “When employees identified imperfections, they were directed to memorialize the moment in the ‘issue log,’ an internal registry visible to all that tracked all complaints large and small.” Employees, in the words of one manager, “have been speaking to me directly about being insecure in KIRKUS REVIEWS
their jobs and a fear that any day they could be fired.” Interestingly, James Comey, later to become director of the FBI, was one of Dalio’s chief enforcers (for $7 million per year), even as employees were required to keep iPads containing The Principles with them at all times. In the end, the cultic distractions seem to have overcome the fundamentals, for, Copeland charges, Dalio’s chief legacy has been a “long streak of shaky investment performance” and a steady decline in his own prominence—even if he is still worth more than $15 billion. A vivid portrait of soul-killing micromanagement in a ruthless corporate setting.
Romney: A Reckoning Coppins, McKay | Scribner (416 pp.) $32.50 | Oct. 24, 2023 | 9781982196202
A portrait of an old-school conservative politico who found new resolve as an anti-Trump Republican. Atlantic writer Coppins, author of The Wilderness, opens on January 2, 2021, as Romney tried to alert Mitch McConnell to reports that something bad was brewing around the Capitol. Four days later, Romney would be among the besieged politicians. Clearly, it’s not company he relished: Coppins shows how the Utah senator holds most of his Republican colleagues in contempt. Romney considers Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz the smartest people in the Senate, but in their support of overturning the election and abetting the rioters, he notes, “they were making a calculation… that put politics above the interests of liberal democracy and the Constitution.” Coppins allows that he showed Romney a draft of the book with the understanding that his subject had no editorial control over it, and that the senator objected only that the author had “made too much of his
transformation in the Trump years.” Yet that transformation was both complete and multifaceted. When he ran for president in 2012, Romney solicited Trump’s endorsement, which allowed Trump to boast, “I could have said, ‘Mitt, drop to your knees,’ [and] he would have dropped to his knees.” From the moment Trump announced his candidacy, Romney knew that he was a danger to the republic. Though one report Coppins offers as fact has been the subject of vigorous objection—he writes that Oprah Winfrey offered to run an independent campaign with Romney in 2020, while Winfrey says she didn’t offer herself as running mate but did in fact encourage Romney to run—the writing is solid, and the author provides a useful study of a man who, witnessing the disintegration of his party into demagoguery and lies, decided to stand for the truth. A vigorous, highly readable account of politics—and ethics—in action.
Kirkus Star
Toxic: Women, Fame, and the Tabloid 2000s Ditum, Sarah | Abrams (352 pp.) | $28.00 Jan. 23, 2024 | 9781419763113
A social critique in nine essays, each profiling a female star of the early 2000s. London-based journalist Ditum begins with Britney Spears, whose debut album …Baby One More Time was released in 1998. The pop star’s appeal, the author argues, hinged on her combination of sultriness and innocence, as a former Mickey Mouse Club cast member who wore a purity ring. The issue of her virginity dogged Spears, culminating in a bizarre interview with Diane Sawyer in which she was reduced to tears on the subject of the number of people she’d had sex with. As the author writes, >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 41
P O D C A S T // N O N F I C T I O N
EDITORS’ PICKS:
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline (Feiwel & Friends) Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books) How To Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair (Simon & Schuster) Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (Marysue Rucci Books) ALSO MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE:
Venco by Cherie Dimaline After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein by Jamie Bernstein The Things She’s Seen by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
Wit & Witchery by Geraldine Burrows At the Court of Broken Dreams by Laurence Baillie Brown Just City by Olga Tymofiyeva
Sean Black
Tales of Whimsy, Verses of Woe by Tim DeRoche, illus. by Daniel González
To listen to the episode, visit Kirkus online.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Fully Booked
Jeopardy! champ Amy Schneider shares her funny, philosophical memoir, In the Form of a Question. BY MEGAN LABRISE EPISODE 342: AMY SCHNEIDER
On this episode of the podcast, Amy Schneider joins us to discuss In the Form of a Question: The Joys and Rewards of a Curious Life (Avid Reader Press, Oct. 3). If you’re from a Jeopardy! family (as I am), you’re already well acquainted with this debut author’s name, her cool, calm collectedness, and her winning sense of humor. The most successful woman in Jeopardy! history shot to fame with a 40-game streak that lasted from November 2021 to January 2022. She then won the 2022 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions, bringing her earnings to date to $1.6 million. How did she get so smart? Well, that’s one of the first questions she tackles in her wryly funny new memoir, In the Form of a Question. Schneider chronicles her journey from brainy theater kid to trivia maven and trans rights champion in a series of “clear-voiced and often irreverent” essays, Kirkus writes in an admiring review: “Fittingly, the author darts from subject to subject: a complex love life, memories of teachers great and terrible, experimentation with drugs, notes on a political scene that finds her ‘targeted because many of my fellow citizens wish me ill, and base their vote at least in part on whether or not it will hurt me.’ Would-be Jeopardy! contestants should turn to Bob Harris’ Prisoner of Trebekistan for the nuts and bolts of game play, but for a funny, memorable, philosophical take on life, Schneider’s book is far and away the winner. Only incidentally about the show that won her fame, but a pleasure and an education awaits in the reading.” Schneider, who spoke with me on publication day (Oct. 3), shared her plans to celebrate with friends in New York City after a day of back-to-back interviews. We speedily dispatched with the top three questions she fields most
In the Form of a Question: The Joys and Rewards of a Curious Life Schneider, Amy
Avid Reader Press | 288 pp. | $28.00 Oct. 3, 2023 | 978668013304
frequently (“How does it feel to be so successful?” “What are you going to do with the money?” “How does it feel to be so trans?”) and turned to geeking out over our shared love of learning. We discussed how she titled her chapters; the animated propaganda film Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue; how the subtext of a question she’s been asked her whole life (“How did you get so smart?”) changed after her Jeopardy! appearance; Nelson Rockefeller’s favorite cookie; memory training; being a theater kid and her alltime favorite role; her relationship with her editor; working on a book for young readers; challenging Jeopardy! winner stereotypes; and much more. Then editors Laura Simeon, Mahnaz Dar, Eric Liebetrau, and Laurie Muchnick share their top picks in books for the week. Editor-at-large Megan Labrise is host of theFully Booked podcast. DECEMBER 1, 2023 43
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“intercourse was treated as a grave and somber matter for which she owed the nation an apology.” Ditum differentiates among celebrities such as Spears and Lindsay Lohan, who became famous before the digital revolution; Paris Hilton, who became a star during it; and Kim Kardashian, who rose to prominence after smartphones and internet pornography were commonplace. In the second essay, Ditum looks at Hilton, the heiress who burst on the scene in 1999 as a bubbly socialite with a famous last name. The author paints a portrait of an enterprising, flexible young woman who understood that “her role in public life…[was] to stand for privileged nothingness.” As for Kardashian, the author writes, “because she began to seek fame later in the decade, she was able to harness the internet rather than merely be ambushed by it.” Ditum is an engaging writer, and she wrings new insight from these well-known biographies. She is equally eloquent arguing that the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008 created a need for both “idols and scapegoats” as she discusses the Black community’s evolving response to R. Kelly’s abuse of its young women. Top-notch pop-culture commentary—a smart and entertaining look at female celebrity during a decade of immense change.
Big Meg: The Story of the Largest and Most Mysterious Predator That Ever Lived Flannery, Tim & Emma Flannery | Atlantic Monthly (220 pp.) | $27.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 9780802162588
A fascinating account of a super-predator that once ruled the seas. Australian scientist, explorer, and conservationist Tim Flannery teams up with his daughter, Emma, a scientist and 44 DECEMBER 1, 2023
writer, to offer a comprehensive look at the largest predator that ever lived, Otodus megalodon, a gigantic shark that’s been extinct for millions of years. Tim Flannery’s fascination with the beast began in 1973, when he was 16 and discovered a fossilized tooth on a beach. “The fossil,” he recalls, “was large enough to cover my palm. Its silken chestnut-brown enamel shone brilliantly in the sunshine.” It seemed magical. Such fossils, he discovered, were the only evidence that the megalodon ever existed, but they are not rare. The shark had about 272 teeth in its mouth, each replaced every few weeks. From the chemical composition of the fossils, scientists conclude that the megalodon consumed other predators. Much larger than even the largest of its ancestors, the megalodon weighed between 50 and 100 tons; an orca, weighing about six tons, would provide a mere snack. The modern shark, note the authors, came into existence some 200 million years ago, and about 100 million years ago began to act as the ocean’s top predator. But when a huge bolide struck the Earth about 66 million years ago, non-avian dinosaurs, and about a third of all shark species, died out. Some 40 million years later, the megalodon arose and dominated the oceans, and the cause for its extinction between 4.5 and 2.5 million years ago remains a mystery. Besides imparting scientific information, including descriptions of many bizarre shark species, the authors report on humans’ responses to sharks, which arise in rituals, myths, and tales, including Jaws (which incited Emma Flannery’s recurring nightmares) and the 2018 film The Meg, which portrays the great shark “as a one-dimensional, murderous monster.” A lively investigation into a marine mystery.
To read the reviews of other books by Tim Flannery, visit Kirkus online.
The Furies: Women, Vengeance, and Justice Flock, Elizabeth | Harper/HarperCollins (304 pp.) | $32.00 | Jan. 9, 2024 9780063048805
Why three women became vigilantes. Drawing on in-depth interviews over many years, Emmy Award–winning journalist Flock, author of The Heart Is a Shifting Sea, creates vivid profiles of three women who responded to abuse with violence and vengeance. “Like alchemists,” writes the author, they “took their stories of pain and transmuted them into power.” In Alabama, Brittany Smith shot a man who had raped and nearly killed her. Angoori Dahariya, a lower-caste wife and mother, emulated India’s legendary Bandit Queen to become a leader of a gang of women who avenged crimes against the poor. Cicek Mustafa Zibo, at 17, joined an all-female militia, the Women’s Protection Units, that operated in concert with men’s units to fight against the Islamic State group in Syria. Flock portrays these women as tireless fighters against forces trying to silence them. Dahariya amassed a large following: From just a dozen at the start, her Green Gang swelled to more than 1,000 women, who shared stories “of domestic violence, dowry harassment, beating by in-laws, land-grabbing, police abuse, abandonment by husbands, molestation, rape, and more.” While her successes inspired other gangs to spring up across India, Smith faced repeated frustrations in defending herself against a murder charge, first claiming self-defense, then invoking the stand-your-ground law. Her case dragged on for years, during which she sometimes relapsed into drug use. Zibo was shot and seriously wounded, but she rejoined the fighting. Yet after nearly a decade of war, she often felt hopeless and embittered. These women, writes Flock, “sought to change the status quo, yet never fully escaped the KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A thought-provoking, sweeping work of social history. WITCHCRAFT
oppressive systems they grew up in and continue to live under.” Nevertheless, they found, and inspired in others, “agency, a voice, and an identity beyond how the men in their towns saw them,” even though, in their own lives, “they got no perfect, happy endings.” Stirring narratives of defiance.
Cocktails With George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Gefter, Philip | Bloomsbury (368 pp.) $32.00 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781635579628
A cinematic history of an explosive portrayal of marriage. When he was 15, biographer and photography critic Gefter saw Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and was fascinated. The film, he recalls, “put its finger on the rumbling beneath the polite surface” of suburban marriages—like his parents’—and laid bare “tensions that I felt but that were left unacknowledged.” Deeming the movie “my standard against which all movies about marriage are measured,” he takes a deep dive into the genesis, making, and reception of the movie, from its 1962 beginnings on Broadway (the first three-acter for playwright Edward Albee) to its transformation into the acclaimed movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The play, with Uta Hagen as Martha and Arthur Hill as George, was a hit, burnishing Albee’s reputation and garnering several Tony awards. Warner Brothers paid KIRKUS REVIEWS
generously for the film rights, handing the 3.5-hour play to screenwriter Ernest Lehman to be condensed into two hours. Mike Nichols, a well-regarded Broadway director, agreed to take on his first movie. Taylor and Burton, recently married after a notorious affair on the set of Cleopatra, were signed as the stars. Gefter chronicles a spate of conflicts, shifting alliances, and emotional outbursts that erupted on the set. Nichols argued with Warner over whether to film in black and white, as Nichols insisted, or color; actors and staff balked at Nichols’ impatience and arrogance; Burton goaded Taylor. The result, nevertheless, was a critical and financial success, praised by the New York Times as “a magnificent triumph of determined audacity.” Gefter offers a close reading of the movie to support his assessment of it as “era-defining.” Revealing the emotional struggles and challenges at the core of any marriage, the movie was “both a product of the 1960s and a catalytic influence that came to define that decade.” A penetrating examination of a bold film.
Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials Gibson, Marion | Scribner (320 pp.) | $28.00 Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781668002421
A collection of little-known historical examples of witchcraft. A professor of “Renaissance and Magical Literatures” at the University of Exeter and author of multiple academic
books about witchcraft, Gibson concentrates on motivations for bringing “witches” to trial across centuries, often for deeply misogynistic reasons. The author explains how the advent of the study of “demonology” in medieval times changed the nature of the common woman healer, ubiquitous since ancient times, into a consort of Satan. Later, the Reformation helped accelerate the vilification of such free-thinking women. Gibson begins her eye-opening tales of persecution with the 1485 trial of Helena Scheuberin in Austria, on ludicrous reasons brought forth by the newly minted demonologist Heinrich Kramer, who aimed to test his theory and later wrote the primer Malleus Maleficarum, the “hammer of witches.” The book “spread demonological ideas that sparked an explosion in witch trials,” such as the 1590 trial of the North Berwick witches, accused of harming King James VI and his Danish bride, Anna. Among others, Gibson chronicles the story of Samí witches in Norway, accused in 1620; Joan Wright, the first “witch” accused in America, in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1626; instances during the English Civil War; an Indigenous enslaved woman named Tatabe in Salem, Massachusetts; and the modern-day Zambian child Shula, on which the 2017 film I Am Not a Witch was based. Gibson also considers how the idea of the “witch” began to change, such as the case of Montie Summers, denigrated in the 1930s for practicing both witchery and homosexuality. The author ends with an intriguing discussion of Stormy Daniels, noting that “accusations of witchcraft were being made against her because of her sex work and her other employment as a tarot-reader, ghost-hunter, and medium, and also because she holds non-Christian religious beliefs, making her a pagan.”
A thought-provoking, sweeping work of social history. To read about modern witchcraft, visit Kirkus online.
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A suitably admiring biography of an admirable politician. I NEVER DID LIKE POLITICS
I Never Did Like Politics: How Fiorello La Guardia Became America’s Mayor, and Why He Still Matters Golway, Terry | St. Martin’s (304 pp.) $29.00 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781250285782
A biography of one of America’s greatest mayors. Fiorello La Guardia (18821947) governed New York from 1934 to 1945. As Golway, author of Frank and Al, relates, perhaps the most intriguing fact about his career—during which he opposed immigration restriction, denounced racism, and supported measures to create a social safety net for the poor—is that he was a Republican. Son of an immigrant Army musician and warrant officer, La Guardia tried unsuccessfully to enlist during the Spanish-American War, served in two European U.S. consulates from 1901 to 1906, and then worked as an Ellis Island interpreter from 1907 to 1910. He hated corrupt Tammany Hall, and his charisma and appeal to minorities won him elections in formerly Democratic districts. From 1923 to 1933, he became a national figure in the House of Representatives, where he sided with reformers and progressives. During the 1933 mayoral race, Franklin Roosevelt viewed La Guardia as “a potential across-the-aisle ally.” Golway emphasizes that La Guardia had a more difficult job than FDR when he took office. New York was nearly bankrupt, and it lacked the financial flexibility of the federal 46 DECEMBER 1, 2023
government. “He would have to cut jobs, at a time of mass unemployment,” writes the author. “He would have to reduce services at a time when people needed them as never before.” In the final 100 pages, Golway reveals La Guardia’s secrets to success. Contemporaries extolled his energy and sympathy for the poor, but historians often emphasize his relations with FDR, a calculating politician who was especially generous to supporters. New Deal aid paid for much of the housing, parks, infrastructure, and relief that the mayor wanted. When he died, “he left behind eight thousand dollars’ worth of war bonds and a mortgaged home in the Bronx”— and a great legacy. A suitably admiring biography of an admirable politician.
Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls Goodan, Chelsey | Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster (256 pp.) | $27.99 | March 5, 2024 9781668032688
An activist offers a view of modern life through one of the most dismissed of all social groups: teenage girls. Despite a variety of stereotypes about teenage girls, they are “a wildly underestimated force for good in the world,” writes Goodan, mentorship director of DemocraShe and founder of the Activist Cartel. Informed by a decade and a half of experience
working with young women of different races, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds, Goodan probes key issues, both internal and external, that girls struggle with on their journey to adulthood. The stormy adolescent feelings that can make girls appear emotionally “lawless” top the list. They cause well-meaning adults to take an “advise and fix” approach to girls’ problems, but the author proposes a far more effective idea: create a validating, nonjudgmental space in which girls can express their emotions. The need to speak honestly about themselves and their lives can also present problems to young women. In Goodan’s experience, teens such as 16-year-old Lori believe that “adults…cover the truth because they think [girls] can’t handle it.” What truth actually does offer is permission to successfully express selfhood. The pressure to be beautiful according to Eurocentric, heteronormative standards is also a source of profound female angst, causing girls to constantly question their value and social worth and fall victim to dangerous disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. When older women model attitudes of self-acceptance, however, girls like 15-year-old Rosy are able to articulate important truths: “[B]eauty is…transparency within yourself, not hiding, being real.” What makes this book stand out is the way Goodan allows girls to share their truths openly and without judgment. In this way, the author empowers young women by showing readers what they have to teach adults about the power of (inter)personal authenticity. A heartfelt and humane sociological report.
To read more about the psychology of girls, visit Kirkus online.
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This memoir by classicist and educator Harrison offers a graceful portrait of a spirited woman. REMINISCENCES OF A STUDENT’S LIFE
Gut Check: Unleash the Power of Your Microbiome To Reverse Disease and Transform Your Mental, Physical, and Emotional Health Gundry, Steven R. | Harper Wave (352 pp.) $32.00 | Jan. 9, 2024 | 9780062911773
A physician shows us the remarkable world of the human microbiome. Gundry, the director of the International Heart and Lung Institute in California, has written multiple bestsellers, including The Plant Paradox, Unlocking the Keto Code, and The Longevity Paradox. “All disease begins in the gut,” wrote Hippocrates more than 2,000 years ago, and Gundry agrees. With his Gut Check program, “all diseases can be cured in the gut, too.” The author claims that “about 90 percent of the people who followed the program saw their health restored.” Gundry demonstrates the importance of the trillions of microorganisms in your colon (“gut buddies”) that, when healthy, keep your bowel tightly sealed but secrete chemicals that suppress disease and fend off aging. Our gut buddies eat what we eat, and few readers will be surprised to learn that the modern diet is toxic, leading to an unhealthy microbiome, a leaky gut, and disease. Gundry holds a low opinion of many “conventional” conceptions of a healthy diet. The author concludes with an extremely detailed diet that will keep your bowel in top shape. No alternative practitioner, Gundry is a former cardiac surgeon, and he backs his statements with nearly KIRKUS REVIEWS
70 pages of journal references. Many describe diseases cured in laboratory animals, and readers will find few cures for their own disease (and a legal disclaimer at the beginning of the book). Readers will have better luck consulting Gundry or physicians “trained by me” at his clinics or his “subscription-based telemedicine service” and app. Though the idea that all disease results from a faulty microbiome is not universally accepted in the medical community, Gundry’s fierce conviction, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial skill have won him a loyal following that this book is unlikely to diminish. The secret to good health, for readers searching for such a secret.
Reminiscences of a Student’s Life Harrison, Jane Ellen | McNally Editions (128 pp.) | $18.00 paper | March 12, 2024 9781961341999
A chronicle of a Victorian woman’s changing times. This charming memoir by classicist and educator Harrison (1850-1928), published in 1925 by Leonard and Virginia Woolf, and now reissued with an introduction by Daniel Mendelsohn, offers a graceful portrait of a spirited woman. At times curmudgeonly, at times irreverent, always shrewdly perceptive, Harrison, who describes herself as a proud Yorkshire woman, declares her hatred for the British Empire, which, she writes, “stands to me for all that is tedious and pernicious in thought; within it are
always and necessarily the seeds of war.” Educated by governesses, she was raised in a family “singularly old-fashioned and provincial even for those days.” Her father, shy, absent-minded, and taciturn, believed that money-earning women brought disgrace on the men of the family, a discouraging attitude for a girl who wanted to be independent. When she finally attended school, she found Victorian education “ingeniously useless” and its values “the abyss of fatuous prudery.” Cambridge’s Newnham College, where she enrolled in 1874, proved far different. Since women’s colleges were then a novelty, they attracted distinguished visitors, including Turgenev, Ruskin, Gladstone, and—to Harrison’s delight—George Eliot. Moreover, she socialized with “a class of Victorian who, if not exactly distinguished, were at least distinctive”: British lions and lionesses, such as philosopher Henry Sidgwick and his wife, and their friends Frederick Myers and Edmund Gurney. Harrison recalls, as well, her impressions of Roger Fry, Lytton Strachey, Bertrand Russell, and Virginia Woolf. After 15 years of teaching in London, “borne along by the irresistible tide of adventure,” she left to pursue studies in archaeology, which took her to Greece and informed her scholarship. For a few years before she published her memoir, she lived in France, hoping “to see things more freely and more widely, and, above all, to get the new focus of another civilisation.” Captivating recollections.
Alphabetical Diaries Heti, Sheila | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (224 pp.) | $27.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 9780374610784
An acclaimed novelist shares her thoughts from A to Z. Heti, known for her experimental literary works, including Motherhood and Pure Colour, presents a collection of sentences from 10 >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 47
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The cultural center 92NY said it had postponed the event because of the author’s comments on Israel. The cultural center 92NY called off a planned event with Viet Thanh Nguyen after the author signed an open letter condemning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, the New York Times reports. Nguyen had been scheduled to appear at the venue to discuss his latest book, the memoir A Man of Two Faces, with fellow author Min Jin Lee. Nguyen posted on Instagram that 92NY, the Manhattan arts and community center, had canceled his event and that it would instead be held at the bookstore McNally Jackson in Seaport. 92NY said that the event was postponed, although Nguyen said it was canceled. In a statement 92NY said, “Given
the public comments by the invited author on Israel and this moment, we felt the responsible course of action was to postpone the event while we take some time to determine how best to use our platform and support the entire 92NY community.” The open letter that Nguyen signed read in part, “By cutting off vital electricity, food and water supplies; by attempting to displace by force over one million Palestinians from their homes, with no guarantee of return; and by carrying out continual airstrikes against civilians, including those who are attempting to evacuate, the state of Israel is committing grave crimes against humanity.” In an Instagram post, Nguyen wrote, “I have no regrets about anything I have said or done in regards to Palestine, Israel, or the occupation and war.”—M.S.
Nguyen relocated the event to McNally Jackson bookstore.
MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images
Venue Calls Off Event With Viet Thanh Nguyen
For more on the 92NY controversy, visit Kirkus online.
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IN THE NEWS Report: Mark Meadows Now Contradicts Claims in His Book
Trump’s former chief of staff reportedly told federal investigators there was no evidence of 2020 election fraud.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
According to an ABC News report, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has spoken with federal investigators and told them that he doesn’t believe the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump—contradicting claims he made in his 2021 book, The Chief’s Chief. The report claims that Meadows is cooperating with Jack Smith, the special counsel behind the federal prosecution of Trump. The former president was indicted on conspiracy and obstruction charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. ABC says that Smith granted Meadows immunity in exchange for testimony to a grand jury. Meadows allegedly told prosecutors that Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the election lacked evidence to support them. This contradicts passages in The Chief’s Chief, published almost two years ago by All Seasons Press. In the
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ABC News says Meadows is cooperating with special counsel Jack Smith.
book, Meadows wrote that the election was “stolen” and there was “actual evidence of fraud, right there in plain sight for anyone to access and analyze.” But this year he told investigators that he had not seen any evidence of fraud and that, contrary to what he wrote in the book, the Justice Department had investigated all claims in good faith and couldn’t find anything that would support them. Meadows, along with Trump, is one of 19 co-defendants in a criminal case in Georgia related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. He has pleaded not guilty.—M.S.
For a review of The Chief’s Chief, visit Kirkus online.
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years’ worth of diary entries, divided into alphabetized chapters. The result is a curiously disjunctive narrative that nevertheless reveals distinct patterns. By persevering through what must initially seem like an inventory of random statements, readers will become familiar with a set of thematic preoccupations: anxieties about professional success, churning erotic aspirations and frustrations, self-deprecating confessions masking self-regard. Heti provides some genuine fun in her invitation to discover more conventional coherence by reconstructing a chronological version of events. Most amusing is the revelation within the alphabetic jumble of the consistent dynamics of the author’s romantic relationships. A sentence in chapter C—“Cause I really have been thinking about it and realizing that this is what I always do: move in with someone and almost instantly get depressed. Cause I’ll leave. Cause I’m selfish”—encourages us to consider distant sentences from this and other chapters in order to understand a broader context. Other attempts at sense-making are teasingly thwarted, since abstract ideas that require more than a single sentence to become coherent resist our understanding: “I thought that humans, on the whole, were not so great, not as great as they’re made out to be.” Intriguingly, an original form of self-exposure emerges as we see some of the author’s verbal habits laid bare. Seeing a very long series of sentences beginning “Of course,” for instance, produces a memorable sense of character revelation. One may question, perhaps, whether the rewards of this book justify its demands, since what we can glean of Heti’s inner life finally seems rather prosaic, no matter the innovative arrangement of its expression. An unusual and sometimes humorous arrangement of self-reflections.
To read more about Ukraine, visit Kirkus online.
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Ukraine: The Forging of a Nation Hrytsak, Yaroslav | Trans. by Dominique Hoffman | PublicAffairs (448 pp.) | $32.50 Jan. 23, 2024 | 9781541704602
A sweeping new history of Ukraine. Published in 2022 and written earlier, this book required a long introduction to account for Russia’s invasion. Following that, Hrytsak, a professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University, delivers an enlightening history intended for serious readers who will discover that familiarity with Western Europe is little help in comprehending the vast lands and people of Ukraine. More than 1,000 years ago, Vikings from Scandinavia moved east, mixing with Slav tribes to form a huge realm centered on Kyiv, in today’s Ukraine. Although comprising a distinct culture, Ukrainians never coalesced as a state, and the opportunity vanished in 1772-1796, when its neighbors partitioned the territory. Russia absorbed most Ukrainians, and Austria-Hungary the rest. Nonetheless, Ukrainian nationalism flourished throughout the 19th century. Under Lenin, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic enjoyed modest autonomy, but its peasants’ almost universal resistance to Stalin’s collectivization began decades of conflict. “The famine of 1932-33 was the largest national catastrophe in Ukraine in the twentieth century,” killing 4 million people, and the slaughter of the 1941 Nazi invasion led historian Timothy Snyder to name this area “the bloodlands” in his 2010 account. “The history of modernity is largely the history of mass murder,” writes Hrytsak, who devotes just under two chapters to this period’s murders and murderers, pogroms, violence, and assassinations. Ukraine’s experience after World War II provides only modest cause for hope. Lacking a democratic tradition or a reliable civil service, both Ukraine and Russia
suffered economic collapse and massive corruption after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Both have done better in this century, and most readers know that Russia, under a ruthless but popular autocrat, is now into the second year of a war against Ukraine designed to restore his nation’s superpower glories. A grim but expert history.
2020: One City, Seven People, and the Year Everything Changed Klinenberg, Eric | Knopf (464 pp.) | $32.00 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593319482
An intimate look at the advent of Covid-19 in the United States. Sociologist Klinenberg, director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at NYU, examines the impact of the pandemic on America through the experiences of seven New Yorkers of different ages, races, ethnicities, economic statuses, and political ideologies, setting the details of their lives within a larger geographical, political, and social context. He discusses, for example, how other countries dealt with the pandemic, and how trust—in government and science—became a crucial issue in shaping people’s behavior. Just as masks are “made of social fabric,” attitudes about social distancing, shutdowns, and vaccinations reflected the multiple realities of a “polarized, segregated, and unequal” nation. Klinenberg’s subjects include an elementary school principal living in a multigenerational family residence in Chinatown; a Puerto Rican woman in the Bronx working as a political appointee in the Andrew Cuomo administration; a bar owner in Staten Island, frustrated by the impact of long closures on his fledgling business; a feisty retired district attorney, a first-generation Irish American, living with her Ecuadoran husband and children in an ethnically diverse, densely KIRKUS REVIEWS
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Diaries of War: Two Visual Accounts From Ukraine and Russia
A powerful, often unsettling book.
Krug, Nora | Ten Speed Press (128 pp.) $24.99 | Oct. 24, 2023 | 9781984862440
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populated Queens neighborhood; a mixed-race couple with two young daughters in Brooklyn; a photographer active in the Black Lives Matter movement; and a man whose father had worked as a custodian for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which forbade wearing masks as a violation of its dress code (like many other essential workers, he contracted Covid and died). Besides these central characters, Klinenberg brings in many others who speak to their own experiences, ranging from depression to food insecurity. Many who lived alone suffered feelings of isolation, neglect, and marginalization. Although the author found some hopeful evidence of solidarity, the pandemic unfortunately incited fear and resentment, making the U.S., unlike other countries, “exceptionally explosive” as a result. A vivid, multifaceted portrait of a wounded nation.
A Dangerous Country: An American Elegy Kovic, Ron | Akashic (280 pp.) | $27.95 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781636141664
The concluding volume in the author’s Vietnam trilogy. Kovic, the author of Born on the Fourth of July and Hurricane Street, begins his latest book with a diary from his second tour of duty in Vietnam, followed by his experiences upon returning home. He began as a gung-ho Marine who wanted action, and he recounts Marines in training KIRKUS REVIEWS
yelling, “Kill Viet Cong, kill!” But the entries gradually become more sober and less jingoistic, and the diary ends abruptly with Kovic describing how a bullet severed his spinal cord and left him paralyzed in 1968, after which he returned to the U.S., underwent treatment and rehabilitation, and became an antiwar activist. Born on the Fourth of July, published in 1976, gave him a degree of recognition, and for a while, he had a successful career speaking out against the war. But his paralysis and the traumatic memories of the war—especially an incident in which he accidentally shot and killed one of his own men—began to take a toll on him. The author describes how a love affair in New York soured, noting how “my physical and sexual loss in Vietnam had been a devastating blow.” An attempt at a long novel to bring together his experiences never jelled—he meant it to be a tribute to the soldier he’d shot—and this book is meant in part to recapture that purpose. At times, the narrative is uncomfortably graphic, with the author providing a vivid inside view of PTSD at work. We follow Kovic from coast to coast as he tries to find a way to overcome his problems, whether through therapy or with the help of friends and fellow veterans, and his experiences make for illuminating reading. A powerful, often unsettling book by one of the major voices to come out of the Vietnam era.
To read our review of Hurricane Street, visit Kirkus online.
Having explored her German family’s part in World War II, Krug now turns to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. When war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022, Krug turned to two acquaintances, a Ukrainian journalist and an artist from St. Petersburg, and asked about their feelings. From their answers, set in two columns, she developed this 52-week illustrated narrative. Both respondents, “K.” and “D.,” greeted the first moments of war with shock. K. took her children from Kyiv to the relative safety of Lviv, while D. discussed emigrating with his wife and children. “It’s impossible to breathe freely here,” he says. “You live with the fear that they might come for you.” As time passed, D. documented the increasing repression that accompanied the demand that Russian citizens support Putin’s war; meanwhile, K. chronicled the increasing resolve of her compatriots to resist. “I saw the photographs of the massacres in Bucha and Irpin,” she notes. “The only thought I have in my mind is that I don’t know how to live in a world where something like this happens.” Krug’s thought experiment might have been more meaningful had the two respondents not been so like-minded: Both decry the war and oppose Putin while insisting on Ukraine’s sovereignty, and both liken Russia’s invasion to that of Nazi Germany 80 years earlier. D., visiting neighboring Latvia, was surprised to discover that many Russians in that country supported the war, but he notes that they were in the minority overall, even as, back at home, “the place where Russian culture is most actively canceled is Russia itself.” Both of them hope for peace, but, as K. DECEMBER 1, 2023 51
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writes, realistically, “The animosity between Ukrainians and Russians will remain for years, decades even.” A necessarily sorrowful but insightful view of a war whose horrors are ongoing.
Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation Larson, Mark | Agate Midway (496 pp.) $35.00 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781572843332
A colorful mosaic that spotlights our jobs, how we do them, and what they mean. Work takes up a large part of our lives, but the broad subject of making a living can be difficult to examine. In this attempt to make sense of employment, published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Studs Terkel’s seminal book on the subject, Working, Larson collects the experiences of 101 Americans who discuss their work and their opinions about their jobs. “I took a cue from Studs,” writes Larson, “who chose to not include persons with access to significant forums for expressing their views—politicians, corporate heads, and pundits, for example.” He covers an impressively wide range of occupations, including executives, hairstylists, nurses, administrators, entrepreneurs, and even funeral directors. Larson believes that massive upheavals in the idea of work are underway, driven by alienating technology, cultural changes, and economic stress. The author conducted many of the interviews during the pandemic, which gives the book a somewhat dated feel. Many contributors mention that they try to establish a connection with others through their work and that they want to believe they’re somehow making the world a better place. Significantly, several people who had retired from their 52 DECEMBER 1, 2023
lifetime occupations later took up volunteer roles to occupy their time. Other interviewees, such as those who worked for Amazon, struggled to find real purpose in what they did and felt grinding pressure to meet performance targets. In the end, the book has the classic strengths and weaknesses of the oral history genre: breadth rather than depth, diversity rather than thematic consistency. The author presents a host of interesting stories, but the whole is no more than the sum of the parts. Larson’s study of the modern workplace offers touching vignettes, but an overall message is hard to find.
Kirkus Star
The Asteroid Hunter: A Scientist’s Journey to the Dawn of Our Solar System Lauretta, Dante | Grand Central Publishing (336 pp.) | $30.00 | March 19, 2024 9781538722947
An uplifting story of a NASA project to send an unmanned probe to an asteroid with the aim of collecting a soil sample. Lauretta, the mission’s principal investigator, shows that this particular asteroid, named Bennu, had important advantages: It was relatively close to Earth, its composition indicated that it could provide clues to the origin of the solar system, and it was as large as an aircraft carrier. Another issue, however, was that astrophysical calculations suggested that at some point in the future—specifically, September 2182—Bennu might “hit the surface of the Earth at a velocity of Mach 36, or 27,000 miles per hour—a freight train crashing into the planet.” The chance was only about one in 1,750, but NASA thought that Bennu was worth further investigation. The author tracks the years of planning, testing, and simulations. Building a
spacecraft for the two-year journey to Bennu was difficult, but designing for the landing was even harder. Lauretta explains how NASA scientists solved countless problems during the design phase, and the OSIRIS-REx mission took flight in September 2016. when the spacecraft reached the asteroid, however, scientists discovered that Bennu held a few surprises. Far from being a smooth rock, Bennu offered very few possible landing sites, and the pitted surface turned out to be extremely soft. Nevertheless, touchdown was achieved, and a sample was collected. Then it was time for the return journey, and the probe landed in Utah in September 2023. The sample is now being analyzed in every possible way, but Lauretta is certain that the mission itself was entirely successful. The message is that the U.S. government can still complete remarkable projects, a resonant, hopeful conclusion that is much needed in these chaotic times. Lauretta’s account of a historic mission is an impressive combination of fascinating science and human inspiration.
Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History Lee, Margaret Juhae | Melville House (304 pp.) | $32.50 | March 5, 2024 9781685890933
A respected journalist unravels buried secrets and a complex historical context. Lee, former literary editor of the Nation, was born in the U.S. to Korean parents, and for years, she felt a deep sense of cultural dislocation. In an attempt to bring solidity to her unsettled life, she started to investigate the story of her grandfather, a shadowy figure whom nobody wanted to talk about. She found that he’d been a vocal opponent of the long Japanese occupation of Korea KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A reasonable case for attempting to bridge disagreements in a civil manner. THE CANCELING OF THE AMERICAN MIND
that ended in 1945. That revelation only deepened the mystery, as most dissidents were later hailed as heroic martyrs. Lee eventually discovered that her grandfather was also a communist, which carried a great stigma in the postwar era. The author conducted a series of interviews with her grandmother, although her research was hampered by her family’s reluctance to discuss painful issues. Nevertheless, she was able to piece together the fragments of her grandfather’s life, and she located records of his arrest and imprisonment. Lee also began to understand the brutality of the colonization period, which she had not fully grasped. Most importantly, the project allowed her grandmother to move past the resentment toward her late husband that she had carried for decades. In the end, Lee also found what she needed to find. “I didn’t fully understand why I was embarking on this search,” she says. “Now, I realize that confronting my family’s forgotten past was an essential step in paving the way to the future.” The book could have easily become sentimental and self-indulgent, but Lee manages the difficult task of keeping the narrative layers organized, and the result is an engaging, intriguing account of how we discover who we really are and what we might become.
A poignant reclamation of a hidden history, leavened by a sense of personal growth and understanding.
To read reviews of previous books by Michael Lewis, visit Kirkus online.
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Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon Lewis, Michael | Norton (288 pp.) | $30.00 Oct. 3, 2023 | 9781324074335
The murky world of cryptocurrency as seen through the lens of a now-jailed player. Lewis landed on Sam BankmanFried’s story at just about the time his short-lived cryptocurrency empire was crumbling. By the author’s account, Bankman-Fried seems to have had good intentions: He thought of himself as an evangelist for altruistic investing, and his fortune—and on paper he was worth billions—was intended to “address the biggest existential threats to life on earth: nuclear wars, pandemics far more deadly than Covid, artificial intelligence that turned on mankind and wiped us out, and so on.” But Bankman-Fried is socially inept, a poor spokesperson for his own causes; he thinks obliquely, and to a surprising extent, according to the author, he seems to care little about money as such. There’s the rub, for, as federal prosecutors are even now exploring, billions of his investors’ dollars went missing. That seems not to have been uncommon. “Crypto exchanges routinely misplaced or lost their customers’ money,” Lewis writes. Was that a criminal act in this case? Lewis ventures no definitive judgment. Instead, to an annoying extent, he seems to explain it away by infantilizing Bankman-Fried, who, at the time of the collapse, “was only twenty-nine
years old.” That’s plenty old enough to be a crook, but Lewis runs with the misunderstood-child trope all the same: “His general demeanor was that of a kid pretending to be interested when his parents hauled him into the living room to meet their friends”; “He could see he was different from most other kids”; “He did not have any particular hostility toward governments or banks. He just thought grown-ups were pointless.” It’s a curious tack that calls some of the author’s reporting into question. Not Lewis’ best work, but an intriguing portrait with a useful takeaway: Don’t invest in crypto.
The Canceling of the American Mind: Cancel Culture Undermines Trust, Destroys Institutions, and Threatens Us All―But There Is a Solution Lukianoff, Greg & Rikki Schlott | Simon & Schuster (432 pp.) | $28.99 | Oct. 17, 2023 9781668019146
Two journalists recount and lament the rise of “cancel culture.” Working under the aegis of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Lukianoff and Schlott describe a phenomenon that has become commonplace, especially in public schools and on college campuses: Say something with which someone disagrees, and not only won’t you be able to say it, but you’ll be punished for having a divergent opinion. The phenomenon is real, the authors assert, although many ascribe it to being corrected for being wrong and being aggrieved by the correction in the bargain. The canceling comes from both left and right, the authors hasten to add, even though most of their examples center on bad behavior on the part of illiberal liberals: A favorite canceling word on the part of the left is the >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 53
B O O K L I S T // N O N F I C T I O N
5 Books To Foster Self-Improvement 1 2 3
1 Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things By Adam Grant
Writing with authority and clarity, Grant examines how talents can be discovered, developed, and turned into achievement.
2 Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life
By Arnold Schwarzenegger
Schwarzenegger unpacks the tools for success with a wry sense of humor and a broad view of the world.
4 This Exquisite Loneliness: What Loners, Outcasts, and the Misunderstood Can Teach Us About Creativity The author charts a navigable course for embracing one of the most painful and universal human emotions.
By Alex Toussaint
An authentic story that will leave readers wanting to hustle for the greater good.
Uplifting advice for fellow seekers encouraged by self-help guidance.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
5
By Richard Deming
5 Power: A Woman’s Guide to Living and Leading Without Apology
3 Activate Your Greatness
4
For more books on self-improvement, visit Kirkus online.
By Kemi Nekvapil
DECEMBER 1, 2023 55
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very word conservative, to which a rightist might counter with the word woke. Whatever the case, write the authors, “cancel culture has upended lives, ruined careers, undermined companies, hindered the production of knowledge, destroyed trust in institutions, and plunged us into an ever-worsening culture war.” What’s more (and perhaps what’s worse) is the idea that only a bad person can harbor a bad—meaning different from yours—idea. Many, but not all, of the authors’ examples are well known, among them the virtual bludgeoning of a woman who dared write that her college campus was hostile to free thought; the banning of so-called conservative speakers (among them, in a twisted interpretation, the renowned leftist Noam Chomsky) from campus; the rise of required diversity, equity, and inclusion statements in public institutions (“political litmus tests that violate academic freedom”); and the political war on critical race theory and ethnic studies. A reasonable case for attempting to bridge disagreements in a civil manner rather than via civil war.
Kirkus Star
Glad to the Brink of Fear: A Portrait of Ralph Waldo Emerson Marcus, James | Princeton Univ. (336 pp.) $29.95 | March 5, 2024 | 9780691254333
A reconsideration of the life and work of one of America’s greatest essayists. In this new biography of Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882), Marcus, author of Amazonia, emphasizes the enduring freshness and abiding relevance of Emerson’s writing. As the author explains, his subject’s “eloquent riffs on the primacy of self and the suffocating conformity of the tribe penetrated deep 56 DECEMBER 1, 2023
A lively, intimate, absorbing account of the sage of Concord. GLAD TO THE BRINK OF FEAR
into the American psyche,” and we might understand ourselves better by revisiting his writings and the profound philosophical matters they engage. Marcus provides illuminating commentary on a series of landmark works—Nature, “Self-Reliance,” “Experience,” “Circles”—with each linked to contemporary concerns and controversies. For example, the author frames Emerson’s lifelong grappling with the allure and limitations of individualism in relation to our own complex responses to government intervention and social pressures in the Covid-19 era: “Truly, the pandemic could have been dreamed up as a stress test for Emerson’s ideas. How can we survive apart? How can we survive together?” Marcus demonstrates that the possibility anyone possesses for renovating personal vision and becoming an active creator of the world is Emerson’s presiding subject, and one that he revised relentlessly over a lifetime. We gain an acute understanding of how suffering and loss qualified his most ardent endorsements of visionary renewal. The author’s reflections on Emerson’s personal life are remarkably astute, especially regarding his antagonistic relationship with his father, his longstanding romantic confusions, and his complex responses to the loss of his first wife and his son. Also excellent is the analysis of Emerson’s interactions within his intellectual milieu and the significance that his friendships with such figures as Margaret Fuller and Henry David Thoreau had on his thinking. Though many other biographers have covered similar territory, Marcus’ treatment produces a distinct and memorable sense of revelation. A lively, intimate, absorbing account of the sage of Concord.
Kirkus Star
A Map of Future Ruins: On Borders and Belonging Markham, Lauren | Riverhead (272 pp.) $28.00 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593545577
A journalist’s self-aware exploration of borders and the myths used to draw them. Markham, author of The Far Away Brothers, has spent two decades reporting from some of the world’s most chaotic borders, telling the stories of those left at their mercy. In her latest book, she takes a heartbreaking account—of a fire that decimated a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos and the Afghan youth falsely accused of setting it—and winds it together with her family’s history of immigrating from Greece, as well as commentary on the entanglement of human migration and existence itself. The author chronicles her interviews with residents of the camp, the legal team for the accused, the Greek residents who surrounded them with varying degrees of hospitality and sympathy, and members of her own family. She also draws from the insight and wisdom of Soviet refugee Svetlana Boym. Greece’s position in the Western imagination—reflected in its myths and its influences on Western thought and even whiteness—and its often misrepresented history, create a thought-provoking and frustratingly circular backdrop for Markham’s endeavor, one often ignored or obscured in even the most probing media coverage. KIRKUS REVIEWS
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Many of the narrative threads could justify being their own book, and the author’s tight prose, character-driven storytelling, and humility clearly demonstrate the desperation at the heart of forced migration. She effectively calls out the callousness of the creators of, investors in, and patrollers of borders. Markham’s refreshingly self-conscious rumination on the project of a journalist, as well as her understanding of both the potential pitfalls and possible impact of her empathetic text, reinforce her interrogation of the “stories humans have created to make sense of our existence,” the maps we have drawn to depict those stories, and the elusive nature of truth. A remarkable, unnerving, and cautionary portrait of a global immigration crisis.
Kirkus Star
The MAGA Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right-Wing (and How I Got Out) Nguyen, Tina | One Signal/Atria (288 pp.) $28.00 | Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781982189693
Adventures inside the rabbit hole of right-wing extremism. Raised in “borderline poverty” by an “oblivious immigrant tiger mom,” Nguyen fell under the spell of libertarianism early on. In prep school on a scholarship, she became involved with a young man who went on to become “Peter Thiel’s hatchet man, introducing the billionaire to white supremacists.” White supremacists were a dime a dozen in the orbits in which Nguyen would travel following college, moving from think tank to foundation to fellowship before finally landing as a journalist, at first writing from the right and then, following an apotheosis that makes KIRKUS REVIEWS
A sobering, endlessly readable fly-on-the-wall account of creeping fascism. THE MAGA DIARIES
for excellent reading, covering the right for the much-hated mainstream media. Among the players in her book are Tucker Carlson, a former boss when he, too, was a genuine journalist, and David Frum, one of whose articles, he told the author, was “my suicide note to the GOP.” Following her disenchantment with “Conservatism Inc.,” Nguyen writes, “the easiest thing to do was become nihilistic about the ideology.” Instead, she dug in deep after trying to avoid the politics beat—lured back in by the emergence of Trump, for whom she has little affection. (That former boyfriend? He was not only an insider but also a leading Holocaust denier.) Nguyen’s episodic anecdotes—they’re not quite a diary, so the title is a touch misplaced—are fascinating, including the process of Carlson’s becoming ensorcelled by the world of Trumpian power politics while not actually seeming to believe much of it or much of anything, as well as a passing story about a former mentor who had developed a not-so-secret code to “disguise ethnic slurs and pro-Hitler slogans.” The bad news? In their relentless quest to reshape American society brick by brick, the rightists “are winning.” A sobering, endlessly readable fly-onthe-wall account of creeping fascism.
To read more about the dangers of Trumpism, visit Kirkus online.
Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Sluts and Shrews That Shaped America Oneill, Therese | Simon Element (208 pp.) $24.99 | March 5, 2024 | 9781982199708
A fascinating collection of biographies of women who refused to conform to the strictures of their times. Some rules deserve to be broken, but their ends do not come about through the actions of conventional people; progress occurs due to the work of the troublemakers, renegades, and misfits. Oregon-based writer Oneill, the author of Unmentionable and Ungovernable, brings together the stories of 18 women rebels, from the 19th century through the early 20th, who became famous for being infamous. Among the many interesting characters are Black entertainer Aida Overton Walker; Lillian Gilbreth, an engineer and educator who came up with the design of the modern kitchen, removing a huge burden of physical work from the shoulders of women; Mary Edwards Walker, who was “raised to believe she was equal to men” and created a ruckus everywhere she went by wearing trousers; and “Poker” Alice Stubbs, who roamed the Wild West and financed her colorful life from her extensive winnings at the card table. Elizabeth Packard was sent to an insane asylum on the word of her husband after questioning Presbyterian practices, but she gained her freedom through legal actions DECEMBER 1, 2023 57
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and later became an advocate for the marriage rights of women. Mary “Mother” Jones, a radical union organizer, wielded her image as a kindly grandmother to great tactical effect. Oneill has a wonderful time with all this material. Though she’s sometimes happily loose with the historical facts, she ably captures the spirit of these impressive women, and she makes serious points about the importance of courage and how small advances can lead to broader change. She concludes with some emphatic advice: “Be fantastic. Be dreadful. Make awful and brilliant mistakes…. When the world tells you that you don’t fit, agree most cheerfully.” Oneill gathers a cast of remarkable women for an enjoyable, raucous romp through history.
Kirkus Star
The Sentinel State: Surveillance and the Survival of Dictatorship in China Pei, Minxin | Harvard Univ. (336 pp.) $35.00 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780674257832
An authoritative study of China’s surveillance system and its ability to strangle any possible dissent. The era when observers thought that democratic reform in China might be possible is long gone. In fact, writes Pei, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College and author of China’s Crony Capitalism and China’s Trapped Transition, surveillance and repression have become even more prevalent in the past two decades, and they continue to grow. The current trend is toward the use of sophisticated technology, including artificial intelligence, but the system is built on a bureaucratic, labor-intensive infrastructure dating from the Mao years. Much of China’s central government 58 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Pei reveals the vast machinery of surveillance and repression in China. T H E S E N T I N E L S TAT E
data is secret, but Pei managed to piece together the architecture from public documents, leaked reports, and interviews with exiles. A sizable portion of the surveillance occurs at the grassroots level, with battalions of informants reporting to local police. Above that level is a series of agencies that analyze the data and undertake detailed surveillance and coercion when needed, and highlevel Communist Party committees provide oversight and coordination. The system adds up to what Pei calls “preventive repression,” aimed at identifying and dealing with dissent before it can become organized opposition. Most of China’s population seems willing to accept ongoing surveillance in return for social stability and economic growth. The system is extremely expensive, but Xi Jinping and his coterie are willing to pay it. Pei notes, however, that the size and effectiveness of the surveillance system might blind leaders to other threats, such as corruption and socioeconomic inequities. This book is as comprehensive an examination of the subject as possible, and the author presents his findings without hyperbole. He lets the facts speak for themselves, and they tell a scary story. Pei reveals the vast machinery of surveillance and repression in China, fueled by leaders’ fear, distrust, and paranoia.
To read more about China’s surveillance system, visit Kirkus online.
Career Forward: Strategies From Women Who’ve Made It Puma, Grace & Christiana Smith Shi Scribner (256 pp.) | $28.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 9781668018606
Two former executives offer advice for women seeking long-term career satisfaction. Puma, former executive vice president of PepsiCo, believes that a woman’s passion for her career is just one of the many factors that can lead to success. In collaboration with Shi, a former Nike executive, Puma provides a detailed framework for how women can thrive at work and in the lives they build outside that arena. The authors begin by observing that in the post-pandemic world (“nearly 12 million women left their jobs in the early months of the pandemic”), working hard just to maintain a company’s profitability no longer appeals. What does appeal is working toward overall personal fulfillment. According to the authors, this goal can be achieved through adopting a “360-degree life” mindset that neither neglects nor hides all the activities and personal/family situations that also comprise a working woman’s life. They suggest that a commitment to excellence and to bringing value to every job interaction are two of the most important investments women need to make in their careers. Both create “professional equity” that maximizes the chances of receiving employer concessions to the flexibility that women need to pursue outside interests while also tending to themselves and to those KIRKUS REVIEWS
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who may depend on them. The authors also emphasize that while a careerforward attitude is always necessary, so is one that allows women necessary leeway to “lose the guilt” they may feel about advocating for their own needs, especially with bosses and colleagues. Women workers will no doubt appreciate the authors’ advice and take heart in a vision of career success that helps balance out the lean-in mentality that has—quite unintentionally—led to high rates of burnout among high-performing women over the last decade. A thoughtfully upbeat and humane business book.
Why We Remember: Unlocking Memory’s Power To Hold On to What Matters Ranganath, Charan | Doubleday (304 pp.) $30.00 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780385548632
A professor of neuroscience and psychology delivers a wide-ranging study of how memories make us who and what we are. Memory is a quirky thing, writes Ranganath, director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California, Davis. We can remember song lyrics from 20 years ago, but we can also forget what we ate yesterday. The author has been trying to understand memory for decades, and he admits that a huge amount still remains a puzzle. He explains the mechanisms of memory in the brain and the different types and levels of memory, as well as the evolutionary reasons for it. Many theories have been posed about how memories develop, but the current thinking involves “a phenomenon called error-driven learning,” where memory is a constant process of reworking experiences to fit our larger mental picture. Memory failures have been linked to depression, poor sleep, and other ailments. Ranganath explains how fake “memories” can be inserted KIRKUS REVIEWS
A well-informed tour of a mysterious and crucial part of the brain. WHY WE REMEMBER
by repeated suggestion, to the point that people have “remembered” and confessed to crimes they didn’t commit. Some memories, especially those of traumatic events, break into our consciousness unbidden. The author suggests that they can be kept under control by persistent and intentional rejection, although it takes effort. He also offers tips on how to not forget routine things (phone, keys) by connecting their image to something else. It’s useful advice, but much of the book is devoted to Ranganath’s examination of theories of memory and the new generation of testing. Anyone expecting a simple how-to guide on improving their memory may be disappointed. The author’s research is undeniably intriguing, but the book will appeal to specialists more than general readers. A well-informed tour of a mysterious and crucial part of the brain, promising greater self-awareness and mental clarity.
Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out Reed, Shannon | Hanover Square Press (336 pp.) | $27.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781335007964
Confessions of a happy reader. As a hearingimpaired child, Reed found safety in books. She chose her borrowed books carefully after receiving her first library card at around age 5. As
a teenager, she signed up for Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! program, even though she needed no encouragement to read. Now an educator and writer, Reed offers a lighthearted memoir in the form of short essays about her experiences reading, teaching, and thinking about books. Growing up, reading made her feel smart. “And in reading,” she adds, “I was never lonely, the way I sometimes felt in real life.” She read in the bathroom, in the car, in the dentist’s chair, and on family vacations when she might have been looking out for flora and fauna. She writes about the pleasures of reading all the books in a series, her affinity for cookbooks, books that provide comfort, and books with surprising plot twists. As a student, she hated assigned reading, making her sympathetic to her own students who were faced with required summer books. Although her tastes are eclectic, she doesn’t like reading plays. “Plays,” she insists, “should be read aloud.” Popping up amid the essays are brief, funny send-ups of genre stereotypes, such as “Signs you may be a female character in a work of historical fiction.” One sign: Your name is Sarah. “Signs you may be an adult character in YA fiction”? For one, your children’s friends “think you are the best.” A list of books mentioned appends the memoir, with some elaborated on at length: George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo, for one, which Reed taught to her college students; and Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal. Reflecting on a life devoted to books, Reed writes, “My grave marker may someday read: She read every page.” Delightful reminiscences of a book lover.
DECEMBER 1, 2023 59
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Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth Robeyns, Ingrid | Astra House (288 pp.) $28.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781662601842
A withering critique of the ethical, moral, and fiscal harms of unlimited wealth concentration. Robeyns, who holds the chair in ethics of institutions at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, proposes to clamp a lid on extreme wealth. She details where to draw the line on how much any individual might possess ($10 million), how to legislate such a wealth cap, and what to do with the billions in new tax earnings that could be employed to vastly better use; she marshals irrefutable evidence to support many of her conclusions. Despite the accusations of anti-capitalist propaganda that conservatives level against this point of view, the author is largely persuasive in locating the many sources of gross inequity and human rights violations linked to obscene wealth. Robeyns describes numerous measures that should be taken by governments in the name of fairness and fiscal justice. Limiting what is often the useless hoarding of inert wealth and trying to achieve a fair outcome for as many people as possible is an exceedingly desirable concept, but it also flies in the face of human nature and the allure of greed. The idea does not seem attainable outside of a perfect society. One suspects that, even within democratic societies, enforcing the limitation (much less elimination) of such financial inequalities would require draconian measures under current circumstances. This is not to say that matters couldn’t be improved to a considerable extent, as Robeyns demonstrates. Still, it’s one thing to theorize in academe, proposing well-thought-out solutions, but quite another to implement them against titanic opposition, which the author freely admits. No absolutist, 62 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Romano makes a zesty book debut with a polyphonic oral history of the iconic Village Voice. THE FREAKS CAME OUT TO WRITE
she’s not against earned wealth, up to a point, but rather unearned or “dirty” money. Yet strategies that work so well in small nations don’t necessarily translate to massive economies. A caustic but balanced attack offers an equitable economic compromise.
The Freaks Came Out To Write: The Definitive History of the Village Voice, the Radical Paper That Changed American Culture Romano, Tricia | PublicAffairs (608 pp.) $35.00 | Feb. 27, 2024 | 9781541736399
A chronicle of a famed publication. Journalist Romano makes a zesty book debut with a polyphonic oral history of the iconic Village Voice. Drawing from more than 200 interviews with writers, editors, photographers, proofreaders, interns, critics, artists, and activists, the author tells the story of the feisty newspaper, founded in 1955 by journalist Dan Wolf, psychologist Ed Fancher, and novelist Norman Mailer, to offer a forum for independent reporting. “Our philosophy,” said Richard Goldstein, who served as editor, “was you do not hire an expert; you hire someone who is living through the phenomenon worth covering.” Poets were hired as poetry critics, dancers as dance critics; Jules Feiffer became the resident cartoonist. From the outset, the Voice
celebrated and encouraged personal journalism on issues that mattered to Greenwich Village and beyond, including civil rights, off-Broadway theater, jazz clubs, hip-hop, AIDS, gay activism, the women’s movement, and independent films. Former editor Joe Levy notes that it “that took things seriously—small things, developing things, emerging things—that other places didn’t.” As Yippies co-founder Jim Fouratt comments, “At its very peak—the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s—the Village Voice was the go-to place to find out what was happening in music, film, local politics, national politics, books, what was happening in the art world. The Voice had the cultural elite.” Romano’s interviewees reveal internal squabbles and rivalries, as well as changes resulting from a succession of owners: wealthy man-about-town Carter Burden, New York magazine founder Clay Felker, irascible mogul Rupert Murdoch, New Times Media, and billionaire Peter Barbey. “The Village Voice is an apocalyptic publication,” one writer opined; “every four or five years they have another apocalypse.” Now only an online publication, the Voice, Romano asserts, is evidence of a void in journalism created by “greedy, imperious, and/or incompetent and negligent management.” Eyewitness testimony makes for a vibrant media history.
To read our review of Jules Feiffer’s memoir, visit Kirkus online.
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An absorbing analysis of a long-standing search for identity in writing and life. I HEARD HER CALL MY NAME
Naomi Osaka: Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice Rothenberg, Ben | Dutton (496 pp.) | $30.00 Jan. 9, 2024 | 9780593472439
A comprehensive look at the career of a young tennis star. Rothenberg, a senior editor for Racquet magazine, has followed Osaka ever since she joined the Women’s Tennis Association Tour in 2014. In this chronicle of the ups and downs of Osaka’s career, the author describes her parents’ marriage, Osaka’s eerie similarities to the Williams sisters, the growth and refinement of her skills as a tennis player, her early tournament successes and failures, her involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement, and her pregnancy and (possibly temporary) retirement from tournament play. Born in 1997 in Japan to a mixed-race couple (Japanese mother, Haitian father), Naomi and her sister, Mari, received strict instruction from their father, who followed the example of Richard Williams and improbably succeeded in raising a world-class tennis player (Mari also played professionally but was not as accomplished as Naomi). Osaka won the U.S. Open in 2018, defeating her personal idol, Serena Williams, in a match marred by an officiating controversy, and went on to be ranked number one in the world as both a player and an earner of endorsement income. (She has won three other major tournaments KIRKUS REVIEWS
since that first victory.) But as Rothenberg shows, Osaka, like many professional athletes, has struggled with mental health issues, which has caused her to withdraw from tournaments multiple times. The author nicely handles his subject’s bouts of self-doubt and depression, and though Osaka herself was to seek a diagnosis and counseling, the descriptions of her crises are compelling. The prose is workmanlike, and the narrative structure is straightforward. The attention to detail is admirable, though perhaps too much text is devoted to the progress of individual matches. Because Osaka is only 25, a 450-page book seems a bit excessive at this point in her journey. A solid account of the early stages of an as-yet-unfinished career.
I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition Sante, Lucy | Penguin Press (240 pp.) $27.00 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593493762
An award-winning writer chronicles her late-in-life gender transition. This memoir charts Sante’s recent transition from male to female in her late 60s. Her commentary alternates between explaining the challenges of her decision and reflecting on earlier moments in a life marked by gender dysphoria. The author provides detailed and engaging descriptions of the process of transitioning,
from choices about makeup, clothing, and drug therapies, to making connections with community support groups and handling the delicate protocols of coming out to friends and co-workers. Sante delivers sharply rendered sketches of bohemian New York, where the author has spent much of her life. At the beginning of the book, Sante describes how she experimented with FaceApp’s “gender‑swapping feature.” Looking at the digitally altered images—many of them included here—produced “one shock of recognition after another” and the sense that what she saw was “exactly who I would have been” at various stages of her life, from childhood to middle age. In tracking her own long-standing self-evasions, Sante offers perceptive commentary on the psychological dynamics that led her to delay the process of fully assuming a female identity. A poignant irony, sensitively explored over the course of the memoir, is that her writing career sought to expose important truths in the social communities she inhabited, especially among those with nonconformist lifestyles, while privately she denied a fundamental truth about herself. Also insightful is Sante’s broader societal analysis, which locates her struggles within a culture that seems to both covertly acknowledge and severely punish gender fluidity. The memoir concludes with a justifiable expression of hope that the author’s experiences might be instructive to those seeking to understand transition and the personal and social complexities it can pose. An absorbing analysis of a longstanding search for identity in writing and life.
To read our review of a biography of tennis great Althea Gibson, visit Kirkus online.
DECEMBER 1, 2023 63
S EOCNTFI IOCNT I O N N
The Bulldog Detective: William J. Flynn and America’s First War Against the Mafia, Spies, and Terrorists
In a book chockablock with revelations, Smith courageously lays herself bare and divulges all.
Simon, Jeffrey D. | Prometheus Books (288 pp.) | $27.85 | Jan. 16, 2024 9781633888654
An informative biography of an effective, littleknown New York City police detective who ran the early Secret Service before it became the agency to protect
presidents. Simon, the author of The Alphabet Bomber and Lone Wolf Terrorism, unearths the fascinating story of a determined and, by most accounts, incorruptible detective who garnered national fame for his ability to take down counterfeiters, Mafia members, and terrorists. Born to working-class parents, William Flynn (1867-1928) toiled as a jack-of-all-trades before joining the Secret Service in 1897. “After years of persistence,” writes the author, “he was finally on the career path he’d dreamed about as a child.” The service was then focused on tracking counterfeiters, who were rampant at the time. “I think it was the romance of the counterfeiter’s life that made me lean toward this branch of criminology,” Flynn wrote. After Flynn brought down the “Sausage Man,” who was passing counterfeit $5 bills at butcher shops, and cracked the notorious Morello–Lupo counterfeiting ring, Mayor William J. Gaynor tagged him to become second deputy commissioner of the NYPD. He radically reorganized the structure of the department to mirror rigorous Scotland Yard standards. Appointed to run the national Secret Service just as World War I broke out, he remained largely in New York City, where he targeted German saboteurs. Eventually, notes Simon, he became disenchanted by the bureaucracy, and he left the force in 1917. For two 64 DECEMBER 1, 2023
WORTHY
years, he ran the incipient FBI, then called the Bureau of Investigation, but he could not solve the Wall Street bombing of 1919, got caught up in the Palmer raids (led by a young J. Edgar Hoover), and left the BI to start his own detective agency. His detective magazine, Flynn’s, delineating his many exploits, was hugely popular even after his death. A terrific feat of research that unearths a valiant crime fighter.
Worthy Smith, Jada Pinkett | Dey Street/ HarperCollins (304 pp.) | $32.00 Oct. 17, 2023 | 9780063320680
The actor delivers candid truths about her life. Smith (b. 1971) begins by describing her long-term struggle with “complex trauma with PTSD and dissociation,” as well as suicidal ideation. As the spirited daughter of a single mother in a working-class Baltimore neighborhood, she grew up adoring her beloved grandmother, Marion. Acting and dancing soon captured her attention. Fearless and motivated, she sold drugs for a period before leaving that life behind to chase her dreams of stardom after befriending Tupac Shakur. The author chronicles her days as a young Hollywood hopeful, recounting a series of breakthrough roles beginning in the 1990s, including Menace II Society and The Nutty
Professor. Shakur’s tragic murder in 1996, coupled with other personal losses, shook the author’s psyche. At the same time, Will Smith began courting her. “I was a chronic mess with no fix, no possibility to heal,” she writes, but she eventually embraced intensive therapy sessions and the “holy lessons” of proactive spirituality. The joys of childbirth commingled with marital discord, bittersweet episodes the author describes in conversational yet often passionate prose. The author details the 2022 Oscar slap heard around the world, which bonded her and Smith, even though they’d been formally separated for years. She reveals the years of strain between her family and comedian Chris Rock and admits to a post-separation “entanglement” with rapper August Alsina, her son Jaden’s friend. A confident narrator, the author openly admits to not having established a label for her ever-evolving union to Smith, except to say it’s a strong family bond. Ultimately, the memoir is a lively, sincere, unapologetic confessional written to inspire and inform readers casually interested in Smith—and to set the record straight for devotees who think they already know her. In a book chockablock with revelations, Smith courageously lays herself bare and divulges all.
To read our review of Will Smith’s memoir, visit Kirkus online.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
NONFICTION
A masterful literary memoir about caring for those responsible for our trauma. EVE RY WH E R E TH E U N D ROWN E D
Kirkus Star
Everywhere the Undrowned: A Memoir of Survival and Imagination Smith, Stephanie Clare | Univ. of North Carolina (144 pp.) | $20.00 paper Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781469678979
A poet reflects on her traumatic upbringing. When Smith, who also works as a clinical social worker and mediator for at-risk families, was 14, she spent the summer of 1973 retaking algebra while her mother went camping with a boyfriend. For “a month and a half,” Smith lived by herself in New Orleans, assuaging her loneliness by riding the streetcar up and down Saint Charles Avenue while standing beside a 29-year-old driver named Gifford. In a visceral passage, Smith describes how, one night, she was raped at knife point by a stranger while attempting to get a cheeseburger. When her mother was “unreachable” and her summer school teacher was unsympathetic, the author confided in Gifford, who cared for her initially but also initiated a confusing sexual relationship that she was too young to comprehend. In the years following these sexual assaults, Smith finally began to understand the role her mother’s neglect had played in her suffering, realizing “that the neglect was the engine that pulled the other parts forward.” During her childhood, though, Smith writes, “It never occurred to me that it should have occurred to my mother to do more to protect me. KIRKUS REVIEWS
What you get is what you get.” When the author’s mother suffered from vascular dementia and Smith became her primary caretaker, she realized that she was finally getting what she’d always wanted: her mother’s consistent presence. But at what cost? This stunningly lyrical memoir is a profoundly insightful glimpse into the complex and frightening consequences of parental neglect. As Smith’s voice naturally evolves from alienated to intensely present, the impressively concise narrative alternates between ethereal observations about everything from space to spiders and gut punches of pain, shame, revelation, and redemption. A masterful literary memoir about caring for those responsible for our trauma.
The Woman in Me Spears, Britney | Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster (288 pp.) | $32.99 | Oct. 24, 2023 9781668009048
A heartfelt memoir from the pop superstar. Spears grew up with an alcoholic father, an exacting mother, and a fear of disappointing them both. She also displayed a natural talent for singing and dancing and a strong work ethic. Spears is grateful for the adult professionals who helped her get her start, but the same can’t be said of her peers. When she met Justin Timberlake, also a Mouseketeer on the Disney Channel’s updated Mickey Mouse Club, the two formed an instant
bond. Spears describes her teenage feelings for Timberlake as “so in love with him it was pathetic,” and she’s clearly angry about the rumors and breakup that followed. This tumultuous period haunted her for years. Out of many candidates for villains of the book, Timberlake included, perhaps the worst are the careless journalists of the late 1990s and early 2000s, who indulged Timberlake while vilifying Spears. The cycle repeated for years, taking its toll on her mental health. Spears gave birth to sons Sean Preston and Jayden James within two years, and she describes the difficulties they all faced living in the spotlight. The author writes passionately about how custody of her boys and visits with them were held over her head, and she recounts how they were used to coerce her to make decisions that weren’t always in her best interest. As many readers know, conservancy followed, and for 13 years, she toured, held a residency in Las Vegas, and performed—all while supposedly unable to take care of herself, an irony not lost on her. Overall, the book is cathartic, though readers who followed her 2021 trial won’t find many revelations, and many of the other newsworthy items have been widely covered in the run-up to the book’s release. Spears’ vulnerability shines through as she describes her painful journey from vulnerable girl to empowered woman.
Oceans Rise Empires Fall: Why Geopolitics Hastens Climate Catastrophe Toal, Gerard | Oxford Univ. (264 pp.) $29.95 | Feb. 23, 2024 | 9780197693261
An academic assessment of the relationship between geography and the politics of nations. Driven by an impetus to control and/or expand their territory and to influence what happens within and beyond their borders, “world powers use and abuse the earth,” writes geography professor DECEMBER 1, 2023 65
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Toal, author of Near Abroad: Putin, the West, and the Contest for Ukraine and the Caucasus. To protect and enhance their sovereignty and boost their economies, nation-states exploit the land, oceans, air, and now outer space, and they do so in competition with other nationstates. The author argues that this struggle for resources, trade, political status, and territorial dominance— anchored in the modernist “dream of endless growth”—has made, and continues to make, Earth less habitable. Toal’s title, however, is not quite accurate. The author emphasizes climate change, while discussions of geopolitics and the issue of declining empires are effectively absent. Toal devotes most of the book to the intellectual origins of—and counterarguments to—a geopolitical point of view, and he does so insightfully and with authority. Major figures in the text include the 20th-century British geographer Halford Mackinder, the “Father of Geopolitics,” and the political theorist Carl Schmitt. Climate takes center stage only in the chapter on Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine; the author uses the invasion as an example of how war, a major form of international competition, devastates the environment. Central to Toal’s discussion is his assessment of NATO’s efforts to expand its territorial, political, and economic influence, an institutional project that may have triggered Putin’s attempt to remake Russia as a great power. In conclusion, the author reflects broadly on how current geopolitical factors might be changed to halt their destructive climate consequences. As an optimist, he suggests that “when conditions are right and leaders courageous, great powers can and do cooperate.” A convincing indictment of nationstates for crimes against the planet.
To read more about the geopolitics of energy, visit Kirkus online.
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Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism Varoufakis, Yanis | Melville House (303 pp.) | $17.99 paper | Feb. 13, 2024 9781685891244
A study of how the tech giants have fundamentally changed the structure of capitalism—and not for the better. Varoufakis, a “libertarian Marxist,” was finance minister in his native Greece for a period in 2015, a career move that he’s managed to turn into a successful occupation as an author (e.g., And the Weak Suffer What They Must?) and commentator. The author clearly has a talent for synthesizing complex economic issues into fodder for a variety of leftist bumper stickers. He argues that traditional capitalism has been replaced by a handful of American and Chinese digital platforms that have built massive stocks of cash by, in effect, charging people to provide content. This system is not so much profit-making as rent-seeking, creating a system that’s less like modern corporate practice and more like that of the Middle Ages, when barons used serfs to farm their estates. The author’s theory is valid, although not as novel as he seems to think. He makes numerous references to Greek myths and TV shows, although the connections are not always clear, and his tendency to make sweeping generalizations that don’t stand up to scrutiny makes the book difficult to follow in many places. This type of book usually requires an optimistic concluding chapter, so Varoufakis revisits the ideas of employee ownership of companies and stakeholder councils for oversight, which were popular in the 1970s, as remedies. Much of the narrative is entertaining, in a shoot-from-the-lip sort of way, and the author’s arguments are sure to be popular among economic theorists and students. The text’s shortcomings are a pity because the rise of the tech behemoths is an issue that deserves a more thoughtful, sustained analysis.
Varoufakis makes some important points about big tech, but his erratic style makes the book hard to take seriously.
Thicker Than Water: A Memoir Washington, Kerry | Little, Brown Spark (304 pp.) | $30.00 | Sept. 26, 2023 9780316497398
The star of Scandal shares her life story. Most people know Washington (b. 1977) from her role as Washington, D.C., “fixer” Olivia Pope in Scandal, the series that launched thousands of provocative tweets and even a fashion line. But the author wasn’t new to Hollywood or drama by the time she was cast in the role that would make her a household name. Washington begins her memoir with an explosive cliffhanger, letting the central question hover just below the surface until she’s ready to revisit it near the end of the text. Washington was an only child who loved her parents and her apartment complex’s swimming pool. Unlike at the pool, however, where she felt the most freedom, the time she spent with her parents was often strained. She strove for success in all endeavors and usually found it, yet she felt she was never as connected as she wanted to be to her parents. This lack of connection is especially evident in her response to the “sexual trauma that had remained a secret for far too long.” Washington confronted the perpetrator, but she wanted to protect her parents and never told them. Acting proved to be the perfect vocation for her. Throughout high school and college, Washington diligently honed her natural talent for the stage and screen. As an adult swept up in the Obama campaign, she discovered a deeper purpose and identity. “This is when the connection between art and social change became crystal clear to me,” KIRKUS REVIEWS
NONFICTION
A valuable contribution to the literature on the international drug trade. NARCOTOPIA
she writes. “I started to understand the power of representation, the need for people to see themselves in the content they consume, but also the power of content to change how they think and feel and behave.” Well paced and artfully crafted, Washington’s memoir reminds us of the volumes we all carry but seldom speak.
Kirkus Star
What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life Williams, Billy Dee | Knopf (304 pp.) | $32.00 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593318607
The debonair actor crafts a memoir that rivals his greatest characters. The narrative often reads like fiction, especially the chronicle of his early years, when Williams (b. 1937) describes growing up in Harlem with his mother, singer and actor Loretta Bodkin, who counted Lena Horne among her friends and was the sister of Bill Bodkin, a singer who made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1948. The author always retains his cool, laid-back style, whether he’s discussing how he landed breakthrough roles as Gale Sayers in Brian’s Song and Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars franchise, or his friendships with great actors such as Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando or author James Baldwin. “I sensed he was a revolutionary at heart, someone who was driven to give voice to the voiceless and power to those without it,” Williams writes KIRKUS REVIEWS
about Brando. “Like Jimmy [Baldwin], a fire burned inside him.” Despite his own numerous issues with racism and discrimination, Williams has always maintained a cool head and used his experiences as a Black man to inform his art in a way that is relatable to all people. When he was working on Lady Sings the Blues, Williams wanted to create “something that nobody had ever seen before on a 30-foot-tall and 90-footwide movie screen: a romantic leading man with brown skin who women of all colors—Black, White and everything else—were going to talk about as they left the theater and think about as they got ready for bed that night.” That’s a goal he’s accomplished while remaining the same suave personality he’s cultivated in real life. Though he discusses his three marriages and the occasional moments he lost his temper, the author focuses on blessings and gratitude. Normally, the successes of an attractive actor wouldn’t make for great reading, but Williams makes it all sound fascinating.
Narcotopia: In Search of the Asian Drug Cartel That Survived the CIA Winn, Patrick | PublicAffairs (384 pp.) $30.00 | Jan. 30, 2024 | 9781541701953
A penetrating look at the failure of the war on drugs at the drug trade’s ground zero. Because the war’s “primary battlefields are in Latin America and the United States’ own cities, most forget
where it started: Southeast Asia.” So writes journalist Winn, reporting from the Golden Triangle of Myanmar (formerly Burma), where a de facto independent nation called the Wa State has emerged. The region was originally the site of a heroin epidemic that first swept through soldiers in Vietnam, then wound up in those very cities; the trade has evolved to include a veritable pharmacopeia, including being the site for the largest seizure of drugs in the history of Asia: “55 million ya-ba pills and 1.5 metric tons of crystal meth, hidden in beer crates.” Ominously, while meth requires the chemical basis of a scarce substance called pseudoephedrine, Wa chemists have learned to make it from scratch, “new-age alchemy, turning lead into gold.” Winn follows generations of warlords, foot soldiers, and federal agents and informants, and by his account, the Wa State has flourished largely because of the American government’s missteps—and, in some instances, due to calculated assistance played out against a backdrop of geopolitics. One compelling player is an antidrug crusader who later descended into heroin addiction, despairing under a regime whose kingpin was “a consummate capitalist” who had carved out minor satrapies for lesser narco-criminals. What is clear, Winn writes, is that the American government’s approach is ineffectual at least in part because officials seem not to understand that they are dealing with “a state that is wrapped around a meth cartel,” one that must be treated as a government on its own terms and that demands more nuanced diplomatic relations than it has been accorded to date. A valuable contribution to the literature on the international drug trade and its seemingly limitless power.
For more on the international drug trade, visit Kirkus online.
DECEMBER 1, 2023 67
P I C T U R E B O O K S // B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3
We’re proud to unveil the Best Picture Books of 2023. It’s a list brimming with gems: wildly funny tales sure to give little ones the giggles, wordless masterpieces certain to provoke conversation, probing biographies of both legends and unfamiliar subjects, and gorgeous odes to the natural world. Whether you want a raucous read-aloud or a quiet tale to share before bed—or something in between—you’ll find it here.
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KIRKUS REVIEWS
TPopova via iStock
The Best Picture Books of 2023
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // P I C T U R E B O O K S
Breaking to the Beat!
9 Kilometers
Acevedo, Linda J. | Illus. by Frank Morrison | Lee & Low Books (32 pp.) $19.95 | May 30, 2023 9781643796390
Aguilera, Claudio | Illus. by Gabriela Lyon | Trans. by Lawrence Schimel Eerdmans (56 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 28, 2023 | 9780802856005
An irresistible beat to get readers on their feet. (Picture book. 4-8)
A brilliantly illustrated account of an arduous—yet deeply rewarding—journey. (Picture book. 5-8)
An American Story Alexander, Kwame | Illus. by Dare Coulter Little, Brown (56 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 3, 2023 | 9780316473125
With powerful art from a bold new talent, this is a probing and sensitive take on a devastating chapter of U.S. history. (Informational picture book. 6-10)
Ancient Night Álvarez, David with David Bowles Illus. by David Álvarez | Levine Querido (40 pp.) | $18.99 March 14, 2023 | 9781646142514
Like a mighty dream recalled from time gone by. (Picture book. 4-8)
Alexander, Kwame & Deanna Nikaido Illus. by Melissa Sweet | Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (32 pp.) | $18.99 April 4, 2023 | 9780063060906
Marvelously crafted to inspire blooming writers. (Picture book/ poetry. 5-8)
All Aboard the Schooltrain: A Little Story From the Great Migration Armand, Glenda | Illus. by Keisha Morris | Scholastic (48 pp.) | $19.99 Jan. 3, 2023 | 9781338766899
A vivid evocation of place and era rolling solidly on a bed of timeless values. (Historical picture book. 7-9)
Desert Jungle
Like Lava in My Veins
Baker, Jeannie | Candlewick (40 pp.) $18.99 | May 9, 2023 | 9781536225778
Barnes, Derrick | Illus. by Shawn Martinbrough with Adriano Lucas Nancy Paulsen Books (40 pp.) | $18.99 July 4, 2023 | 9780525518747
Rich in sights and insights alike. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? Barnett, Mac | Illus. by Jon Klassen Candlewick (32 pp.) | $18.99 Sept. 12, 2023 | 9781536223767
In the market for an understated Christmas classic? Behold! A Christmas miracle! (Picture book. 4-7) KIRKUS REVIEWS
How To Write a Poem
A thrilling story with a sound takeaway: Compassionate teachers are the real superheroes. (Picture book. 5-8)
Glitter Everywhere!: Where It Came From, Where It’s Found & Where It’s Going Barton, Chris | Illus. by Chaaya Prabhat | Charlesbridge (48 pp.) $19.99 | June 27, 2023 9781623542528
An intriguing, entertaining investigation sure to catch readers’ attention. (Informational picture book. 5-10) DECEMBER 1, 2023 69
P I C T U R E B O O K S // B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3
The Tree and the River
We Go Way Back
Becker, Aaron | Candlewick (32 pp.) $18.99 | March 14, 2023 9781536223293
Ben-Barak, Idan | Illus. by Philip Bunting | Roaring Brook Press (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 14, 2023 9781250850799
Look upon this work, ye mighty picture-book creators, and despair. A stunning accomplishment. (Picture book. 4-9)
Sneakily cerebral for all its apparent simplicity. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
Stranded!: A Mostly True Story From Iceland
The Walk
Benediktsson, Ævar Þór | Illus. by Anne Wilson | Barefoot Books (32 pp.) | $17.99 Aug. 8, 2023 | 9781646869916
Definitely a case of fools rushing in, made all the funnier by its scary bits. (Informational picture book. 6-10)
Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!: Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock & Roll Bolden, Tonya | Illus. by R. Gregory Christie Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 14, 2023 | 9780062994387
A profile as bold and vivacious as the singer herself. (Picture-book biography. 6-9)
The Hospital Book Brown, Lisa | Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 | March 21, 2023 9780823446650
A wonderfully effective, reassuring look at an often scary experience. (Picture book. 4-8)
The Gentle Genius of Trees Bunting, Philip | Crown (32 pp.) | $17.99 $20.99 PLB | Jan. 31, 2023 9780593567814 | 9780593567821 PLB
Sometimes wonderfully silly, always enlightening, this book branches out to become profoundly moving. (Informational picture book. 4-10)
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Bingham, Winsome | Illus. by E.B. Lewis | Abrams (40 pp.) | $18.99 Sept. 12, 2023 | 9781419747724
This lovely introduction to an essential topic will be a new classic. (Picture book. 4-8)
Together We Swim Bolling, Valerie | Illus. by Kaylani Juanita | Chronicle Books (40 pp.) $16.99 | Aug. 15, 2023 9781797212494
Warmly buoyant. (Picture book. 3-5)
Afterward, Everything Was Different: A Tale From the Pleistocene Buitrago, Jairo | Illus. by Rafael Yockteng | Trans. by Elisa Amado Greystone Kids (64 pp.) | $19.95 May 9, 2023 | 9781778400605
A stirring and thought-provoking reflection on the essential part stories play in making us human. (Picture book. 4-9)
Greenlight Carzoo, Breanna | Harper/ HarperCollins (32 pp.) | $19.99 July 18, 2023 | 9780063054066
A stopper for readers ready…and set to…GO! (Picture book. 5-8)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // P I C T U R E B O O K S
What Happened to You? Catchpole, James | Illus. by Karen George Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $18.99 | April 11, 2023 9780316506472
Delightful, necessary, and long overdue. (Picture book. 4-8)
Ten-Word Tiny Tales: To Inspire and Unsettle Coelho, Joseph | Illus. by Various Candlewick (56 pp.) | $18.99 Sept. 12, 2023 | 9781536231359
Twisty, playful fun. (Picture book. 7-10)
Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story About an Amazing Swimmer Cox, Lynne | Illus. by Richard Jones Anne Schwartz/Random (40 pp.) | $18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Jan. 10, 2023 | 9780593425688 | 9780593425695 PLB
A mesmerizing glimpse at the miracles of the natural world. (Informational picture book. 6-8)
Friends Beyond Measure Fisher, Lalena | Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 28, 2023 9780063210523
A loving tale inventively and informatively told. (Informational picture book. 7-9)
Penny & Pip
KIRKUS REVIEWS
We Are Here Charles, Tami | Illus. by Bryan Collier Orchard/Scholastic (40 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 3, 2023 | 9781338752045
A powerful narrative about Black yesterdays that have built the foundation for all our tomorrows. (Picture book. 3-8)
Evergreen Cordell, Matthew | Feiwel & Friends (48 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 7, 2023 9781250317179
A spellbinding tale that will never brown or fade with time. (Early chapter book. 6-8)
Everybody Has a Body Ehlert, Molli Jackson | Illus. by Lorian Tu | Feiwel & Friends (32 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 15, 2023 | 9781250854445
Honest, loving, and powerful. (Picture book. 4-7)
The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music Flack, Roberta with Tonya Bolden Illus. by Hayden Goodman Anne Schwartz/Random (40 pp.) $18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Jan. 10, 2023 9780593479872 | 9780593479889 PLB
A moving testimonial to the effects of instilling a love of live music in childhood. (Picture-book biography. 6-8)
At the Drop of a Cat
Fleming, Candace | Illus. by Eric Rohmann | Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum (40 pp.) | $18.99 | June 13, 2023 9781665913317
Fontenaille, Élise | Illus. by Violeta Lópiz | Trans. by Karin Snelson & Emilie Robert Wong | Enchanted Lion Books (36 pp.) | $18.95 | Jan. 24, 2023 9781592703821
A warm and welcoming ode to creativity and friendship. (Picture book. 3-7)
Warmhearted and affirming—one to pick up. (Picture book. 4-8)
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The Masjid Kamal Loves
Spanish Is the Language of My Family
Franklin, Ashley | Illus. by Aaliya Jaleel Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster (32 pp.) | $18.99 | June 20, 2023 9781534499836
Genhart, Michael | Illus. by John Parra | Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 | July 11, 2023 9780823450046
Friendship, community, worship, and fun—what a desirable combination! (Picture book. 5-8)
Tenderly tremendous. (Picture book. 4-8)
You and the Bowerbird
Remembering
Gianferrari, Maria | Illus. by Maris Wicks Roaring Brook Press (48 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 15, 2023 | 9781250849878
González, Xelena | Illus. by Adriana M. Garcia | Simon & Schuster (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Aug. 29, 2023 9781534499638
Delightful, tongue in cheek, and compellingly romantic. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
A gorgeous, deeply touching exploration of grief and remembrance. (Picture book. 4-8)
Desert Queen
Something, Someday
Gopal, Jyoti Rajan | Illus. by Svabhu Kohli | Levine Querido (56 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 | 9781646142620
Gorman, Amanda | Illus. by Christian Robinson | Viking (40 pp.) | $18.99 Sept. 26, 2023 | 9780593203255
Evocative and electrifying. (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
The Concrete Garden
I’m From
Graham, Bob | Candlewick (32 pp.) $18.99 | Nov. 7, 2023 | 9781536233803
Gray Jr., Gary R. | Illus. by Oge Mora | Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $19.99 | Sept. 19, 2023 9780063089969
Deft, understated loveliness. (Picture book. 4-7)
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An engaging offering whose hopeful message will resonate with readers of all ages. (Picture book. 4-8)
An origin story for the ages— intimate, poetic, singular, and broadly relatable. (Picture book. 4-8)
How This Book Got Red
A Walk in the Woods
Greanias, Margaret Chiu | Illus. by Melissa Iwai | Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (40 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 1, 2023 | 9781728265650
Grimes, Nikki | Illus. by Jerry Pinkney & Brian Pinkney | Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 Sept. 12, 2023 | 9780823449651
Astute and adorable commentary on media representation. (Picture book. 4-8)
Joy and hope walk alongside sadness and grief in this unforgettable work. (Picture book. 4-10) KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // P I C T U R E B O O K S
Remember Harjo, Joy | Illus. by Michaela Goade | Random House Studio (40 pp.) | $18.99 | March 21, 2023 9780593484845
Harrison, Vashti | Little, Brown (60 pp.) | $19.99 | May 2, 2023 9780316353229
A contemplative, visually dazzling masterpiece that will resonate even more deeply each time it is read. (Picture book/poetry. 4-8)
A healing balm with the power to make the world a bit kinder. (Picture book. 4-9)
The Courage of the Little Hummingbird: A Tale Told Around the World
The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouse Pérez
Henderson, Leah | Illus. by Magaly Morales | Abrams (32 pp.) | $18.99 April 11, 2023 | 9781419754555
Herreros, Ana Cristina | Illus. by Violeta Lópiz | Trans. by Sara Lissa Paulson | Enchanted Lion Books (48 pp.) | $18.95 | March 7, 2023 | 9781592703593
Brave the crowds to get this one, wherever you are. (Picture book. 3-8)
A deeply humorous, beautifully imaginative celebration of growing up. (Picture book. 5-7)
Sometimes It’s Nice To Be Alone Hest, Amy | Illus. by Philip Stead Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 14, 2023 9780823449477
A sparkling reminder that nothing is as powerful as a child’s imagination. (Picture book. 4-8)
The Voice in the Hollow Hillenbrand, Will | Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9780823436811
A ghost story you’ll love to share! (Picture book. 5-8)
On the Tip of a Wave: How Ai Weiwei’s Art Is Changing the Tide
Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider
Ho, Joanna | Illus. by Cátia Chien Orchard/Scholastic (48 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 31, 2023 | 9781338715941
Lanan, Jessica | Roaring Brook Press (48 pp.) | $19.99 | April 11, 2023 9781250810366
Inspiring insights into how art can reify vital current issues. (Picture-book biography. 7-9)
Readers will leap for this magnificent glimpse at a most marvelous arachnid. (Informational picture book. 4-8)
Summer Is for Cousins LaRocca, Rajani | Illus. by Abhi Alwar Abrams (40 pp.) | $17.99 | May 16, 2023 9781419757334
A gorgeous ode to change, growth, togetherness, and family. (Picture book. 2-7)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
BIG
The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of Larson, Kirsten W. | Illus. by Katherine Roy | Chronicle Books (48 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 7, 2023 | 9781452172873
A luminous thematic pairing. (Picture-book biography. 7-9) DECEMBER 1, 2023 73
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The Shade Tree
Once Upon a Book
Lee, Suzy | Trans. by Helen Mixter Aldana Libros/Greystone Kids (32 pp.) | $18.95 | Aug. 22, 2023 9781778400186 | Series: Aldana Libros
Lin, Grace & Kate Messner | Illus. by Grace Lin | Little, Brown (40 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 7, 2023 9780316541077
A gorgeous fable celebrating generosity and wit. (Picture book. 4-8)
My Powerful Hair
A spellbinding ode to imagination and the transformative wonder of stories. (Picture book. 4-8)
Awake, Asleep
Lindstrom, Carole | Illus. by Steph Littlebird | Abrams (48 pp.) | $18.99 March 21, 2023 | 9781419759437
Lukoff, Kyle | Illus. by Nadia Alam Orchard/Scholastic (32 pp.) | $18.99 May 16, 2023 | 9781338776218
A deeply moving and inspiring celebration of long hair and its significance in Indigenous cultures. (Picture book. 5-11)
Soothing, familiar, and perfect for reading at bedtime—or any other time. (Picture book. 4-6)
Bridges Majewski, Marc | Abrams (48 pp.) $19.99 | March 28, 2023 9781419756818
Grand and thought-provoking. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
Tomfoolery!: Randolph Caldecott and the Rambunctious Comingof-Age of Children’s Books Markel, Michelle | Illus. by Barbara McClintock | Chronicle Books (44 pp.) $18.99 | Nov. 14, 2023 9780811879231
A cacophony of verve and frolic, this is biographical storytelling at its absolute best. (Picture-book biography. 5-8)
Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! Martin Jr, Bill & Michael Sampson Illus. by Nathalie Beauvois | Brown Books Kids (32 pp.) | $18.99 April 25, 2023 | 9781612545998
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We Are Lions! Mattsson, Jens | Illus. by Jenny Lucander | Trans. by B.J. Woodstein Groundwood (32 pp.) | $19.99 March 7, 2023 | 9781773067018
Playful, high-octane fun. (Picture book. 1-4)
Inspired and sensitive storytelling that will help little ones make sense of a potentially disturbing topic. (Picture book. 4-8)
To the Other Side
The Book of Turtles
Meza, Erika | Katherine Tegen/ HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $18.99 March 14, 2023 | 9780063073166
Montgomery, Sy | Illus. by Matt Patterson | Clarion/HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $18.99 | May 2, 2023 9780358458074
A gorgeously rendered, heartbreaking look at one family’s immigration experience. (Picture book. 5-10)
Splendid. (Nonfiction. 5-9)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // P I C T U R E B O O K S
Boyogi: How a Wounded Family Learned To Heal Moore, David Barclay | Illus. by Noa Denmon | Candlewick (32 pp.) | $17.99 Oct. 10, 2023 | 9781536213706
Necessary and memorable. (Picture book. 3-8)
Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular Owen, Polly | Illus. by Gwen Millward Wide Eyed Editions (32 pp.) | $19.99 Jan. 3, 2023 | 9780711275973
Absorbing and entertaining—sure to have readers gazing at earthworms with a newfound, and deserved, appreciation. (Informational picture book. 4-8)
Oh No, the Aunts Are Here Rex, Adam | Illus. by Lian Cho Chronicle Books (40 pp.) | $16.99 May 23, 2023 | 9781797207940
A gleefully fun take on the loving chaos of family reunions. (Picture book. 4-8)
A Letter for Bob Rogers, Kim | Illus. by Jonathan Nelson | Heartdrum (32 pp.) | $19.99 Sept. 19, 2023 | 9780063044555
Slice-of-life Native stories told with joy and reverence. (Picture book. 4-10)
Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art Salyer, Hannah | Clarion/HarperCollins (48 pp.) | $19.99 | April 11, 2023 9780358469841
How extraordinary that ancient ancestors call out to us from the rocks we see all around. (Informational picture book. 8-11)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Martina Has Too Many Tías Otheguy, Emma | Illus. by Sara Palacios | Atheneum (40 pp.) | $18.99 June 20, 2023 | 9781534445369
An affirming story that feels like a warm hug from a beloved relative. (Picture book. 4-8)
Dream Big, Laugh Often: And More Great Advice From the Bible Piven, Hanoch & Shira Hecht-Koller Illus. by Shira Hecht-Koller | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (48 pp.) $18.99 | March 21, 2023 9780374390105
An amazing, joyous achievement. (Religious picture book. 4-10)
There Was a Party for Langston Reynolds, Jason | Illus. by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum (56 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781534439443
A bar set stratospherically high and cleared with room to spare. (Informational picture book. 3-8)
Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter Salazar, Aida | Illus. by Molly Mendoza | Scholastic (48 pp.) | $19.99 March 7, 2023 | 9781338283419
Bravery and determination prevail in this inspiring tale of unconventional leadership. (Picture-book biography. 6-10)
The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish Savage, Chloe | Candlewick (32 pp.) $18.99 | June 6, 2023 9781536228519
Whimsical and wonderful. (Picture book. 4-8)
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In Between Sayre, April Pulley with Jeff Sayre Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (40 pp.) | $18.99 | March 28, 2023 9781534487819
Wondrous and wonderful, for reading and thinking and sharing. (Picture book. 4-8)
My Baba’s Garden Scott, Jordan | Illus. by Sydney Smith | Neal Porter/Holiday House (32 pp.) | $18.99 | March 7, 2023 9780823450831
A quiet, tender, and profoundly moving celebration of intergenerational love. (Picture book. 4-7)
Stickler Loves the World
Scanlon, Liz Garton & Audrey Vernick Illus. by Lynnor Bontigao | Putnam (40 pp.) | $18.99 | May 30, 2023 9780525516354
This book will genuinely grow on readers. Don’t be surprised when kids clamor for a plant of their own. (Picture book. 5-8)
Yellow Butterfly: A Story From Ukraine Shatokhin, Oleksandr | Red Comet Press (72 pp.) | $21.99 | Jan. 31, 2023 9781636550640
Provocative, powerful, breathtakingly beautiful. (Picture book. 5-12)
The Artivist
Smith, Lane | Random House Studio (40 pp.) | $18.99 | $21.99 PLB Aug. 22, 2023 | 9780593649831 9780593649848 PLB
Smith, Nikkolas | Kokila (40 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 5, 2023 9780593619650
“Friendship! Happiness! World peace! Maple syrup!” A buoyant, bristly ode to joy. (Picture book. 4-7)
A powerful read-aloud to share and discuss. (Picture book. 4-8)
Do You Remember?
Papa’s Home
Smith, Sydney | Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9780823442621
Soman, David | Little, Brown (32 pp.) $18.99 | May 2, 2023 9780316427838
An immensely satisfying glimpse of a family’s ability to navigate challenges through honest conversation and mutual support. (Picture book. 4-7)
A cozy, reassuring tale certain to soothe little ones grappling with separation anxiety. (Picture book. 2-6)
Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series Sorell, Traci | Illus. by Arigon Starr Kokila (48 pp.) | $18.99 | April 11, 2023 | 9780593406472
A lesser-known but significant encounter with all-toocurrent resonances. (Informational picture book. 7-10)
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The World’s Best Class Plant
Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport Stelson, Caren | Illus. by Selina Alko Carolrhoda (40 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 7, 2023 | 9781541598683
A not-to-be-missed, inspirational book about courage, heart, and the necessity of caring for others. (Informational picture book. 7-11) KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // P I C T U R E B O O K S
Jump In! Strickland, Shadra | Bloomsbury (32 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 31, 2023 9781619635807
Sudyka, Diana | Little, Brown (48 pp.) | $18.99 | April 11, 2023 9780316301763
A moving, grooving snapshot of urban life where kids create the fun and beckon everybody in. (Picture book. 3-7)
Enlightening and encouraging. (Picture book. 4-8)
My Strange Shrinking Parents
Simon and the Better Bone
Sworder, Zeno | Thames & Hudson (40 pp.) | $17.95 | Jan. 10, 2023 9781760762957
Tabor, Corey R. | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $19.99 May 9, 2023 | 9780063275553
A clever and poignant tribute to the love of all those who made the journey. (Picture book. 9-14)
Mole Is Not Alone Tatsukawa, Maya | Henry Holt (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781250869647
A sensitive, funny, yet deeply thoughtful exploration of difficult feelings. (Picture book. 3-8)
A Place Called America: A Story of the Land and People Thermes, Jennifer | Abrams (64 pp.) $22.99 | Aug. 15, 2023 | 9781419743894
A charming, clever, and feelgood version of a classic fable. (Picture book. 3-6)
The Indestructible Tom Crean: Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic Thermes, Jennifer | Viking (56 pp.) $19.99 | Jan. 24, 2023 | 9780593117729
A story of bitter cold infused with warmth and with the fighting spirit of its courageous subject. (Picture-book biography. 8-10)
Salat in Secret Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah | Illus. by Hatem Aly | Random House Studio (40 pp.) | $18.99 | $21.99 PLB June 6, 2023 | 9781984848093 9781984848109 PLB
History made relevant. (Informational picture book. 8-13)
An empowering and important tale of bravery. (Picture book. 5-8)
Holding Her Own: The Exceptional Life of Jackie Ormes
Papá’s Magical WaterJug Clock
Todd, Traci N. | Illus. by Shannon Wright Orchard/Scholastic (48 pp.) | $21.99 Jan. 3, 2023 | 9781338305906
Long-overdue but welcome recognition for a pioneering graphic artist. (Picture-book biography. 7-10)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Little Land
Trejo, Jesús | Illus. by Eliza Kinkz Minerva (48 pp.) | $18.99 June 6, 2023 | 9781662651045
Gleefully fun. (Picture book. 4-8)
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The Good Hair Day
The Shape of You
Trimmer, Christian | Illus. by J Yang Abrams (40 pp.) | $18.99 | May 23, 2023 9781419745881
Văn, Mu’o’n Thį | Illus. by Miki Sato Kids Can (32 pp.) | $19.99 May 2, 2023 | 9781525305450
A heartwarming story that’s ultimately about far more than hair. (Picture book. 4-10)
Destined to become a classic. (Picture book. 3-6)
How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee
Every Dreaming Creature
Weatherford, Carole Boston | Illus. by Frank Morrison | Candlewick (40 pp.) $18.99 | April 11, 2023 9781536215540
Spells out reasons to vow N-E-V-E-R A-G-A-I-N. (Informational picture book. 6-9)
Dazzling. (Picture book. 3-7)
Not He or She, I’m Me
Zora, the Story Keeper
Wild, A.M. | Illus. by Kah Yangni Henry Holt (32 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 17, 2023 | 9781250818607
Wilkins, Ebony Joy | Illus. by Dare Coulter | Kokila (40 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 3, 2023 | 9781984816917
How refreshing to see nonbinary joy so lovingly depicted. (Picture book. 3-9)
Powerfully immersive. (Picture book. 4-10)
When You Can Swim
Nell Plants a Tree
Wong, Jack | Orchard/Scholastic (48 pp.) | $18.99 | May 2, 2023 9781338830965
Wynter, Anne | Illus. by Daniel Miyares | Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $17.99 | Jan. 31, 2023 9780062865779
A gorgeously rendered love letter to swimming and the magical experiences that it can unlock. (Picture book. 4-8)
Gorgeous images and text chronicle joyful childhood experiences—a future classic. (Picture book. 4-8)
The Bear and the Wildcat
Corner
Yumoto, Kazumi | Illus. by Komako Sakai | Trans. by Cathy Hirano | Gecko Press (48 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 7, 2023 9781877467707
Quietly contemplative, mingling hope and healing, this is a book that will offer comfort to many. (Picture book. 4-7) 78 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Wenzel, Brendan | Little, Brown (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Sept. 26, 2023 9780316512534
Zo-O | Trans. by Ellen Jang | Owlkids Books (64 pp.) | $19.95 March 14, 2023 | 9781771475327
A quirky, thought-provoking, and stunning reminder that a house is not a home. (Picture book. 4-7)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
! s r a 5 st
A Kirkus Reviews best b ook of 2023
“The writing captures the energy and determination of the sport and the illustrations fire it up.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“This joyous celebration of break dancing is a visual treat.”
“An irresistible beat to get readers on their feet.”
—Booklist, starred review
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Wonderful.”
“Triumphant.”
—The Horn Book, starred review
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Visit leeandlow.com for Teacher’s Guides & more
@leeandlow
SE C HCI LTD IO RN E N ’ S // Q & A
MEET THE AUTHORS Get to know some of the creators behind this year’s best children’s books. BY TOM BEER
across the U.S., we’re happy to report that these repugnant efforts have not dampened or diminished the creative output of authors, illustrators, and translators. If you need further proof, just look at the gloriously diverse and robust lists of Best Picture Books (Page 68) and Best Middle-Grade Books (Page 84) published in 2023. Children’s book creators are telling new stories and centering characters who have not always been represented in literature; they’re also finding fresh ways to retell familiar tales for today’s young people. For a snapshot of the year, we spoke to four creators about their work. How do we teach young people about the history of slavery? That fraught question—at the forefront of the national conversation as states such as Florida legislate how we teach American history—is the subject of An American Story, a picture book written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Dare Coulter (Little, Brown; Jan. 3). We joined the bestselling, award-winning author on Zoom to talk about the origins and the impact of this work. Vashti Harrison’s picture book Big (Little, Brown, May 2) pulls off a difficult feat. Taking on lofty topics such as antifat bias and the ways in which Black girls are often forced to grow up far too soon, this stunning picture book—shortlisted for a National Book Award—nevertheless remains utterly accessible for its young audience. The author/illustrator answered our questions via email. When David Allen Sibley released the first edition of The Sibley Guide to Birds in 2000, he was widely praised for his inclusion of juvenile plumages among his illustrations of adult birds. It’s fitting, then, that Sibley’s first book for juvenile humans made our best middle-grade list. Kirkus corresponded with the author and illustrator of What It’s Like To Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers) (Delacorte, Oct. 3) by email. Christine Day’s latest middle-grade book, We Still Belong (Heartdrum, Aug. 1), underlines the importance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the communities it honors through a day in the life of an Upper Skagit girl navigating seventh grade. In June, We Still Belong was placed “under review” by a school district in Florida, the state with the highest rate of book banning, according to PEN America. Day addressed this obstacle and more by email. 80
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VASHTI HARRISON
Big feels more intimate than your other works—did you approach it differently? Yes, definitely. I always knew I wanted this to be a very internal story, where we focus on the main character and her emotional journey. I wanted to draw readers in by placing us firmly in her point of view
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Photo Credit goes here Alexander: Portia Wiggins Photography; Harrison: Little Brown Young Readers
WHILE BOOKS FOR children are being challenged and banned
KWAME ALEXANDER
What was the inspiration to write An American Story? When my daughter was in the fourth grade, a classmate of hers, a white girl, essentially asked her to be her slave. The teacher didn’t know how to handle it, and she ended up
Q & A // C H ISLEDCRTEIN O’N S asking both kids to apologize to each other. I didn’t feel like my kid had to apologize for anything. I scheduled a meeting with the teacher, and before we could even have a conversation about what had gone wrong, she started crying. We never got to have a productive conversation, and nothing got resolved. While I was pissed off at the teacher, she really was not equipped with the
Photo Credit goes here
for most of the book. I tried to keep the illustrations spare, with limited colors, to really indicate we are in her world. I hoped [this approach] would help readers truly feel what she feels. This story is partially a reflection on adultification bias and Black girlhood, so I wanted to create ways to bring readers in close, in the hopes that they might feel compassion for her and her experience.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
tools to talk about slavery, let alone teach it. There are lots of teachers like this in our school systems, and I thought perhaps I could create a piece of literature to help teachers who are afraid, who are ignorant, who just don’t know how to broach the subject—the very horrific subject—of slavery. I came home after that meeting and wrote the first draft. There’s so much backlash and resistance to teaching about slavery and racism in American classrooms now. Was that another reason for writing the book? This is not anything new. I’ve been out of public school for 34 years, and back when
What was your inspiration? The image that sparked this story was that of a young girl struggling to fit within the frames of a box. She’s trapped. She can barely move. With nowhere else to go, she curls up in a ball and turns her back to the viewer. I wanted to show visually what it feels like to be so overwhelmed with emotions that you feel trapped by them. It’s something I go through [today] and remember going through as a child. I wanted to communicate with others just how tough that feels. Knowing I wanted to get to this dark, emotional point, I worked backward and forward to try to figure
I was in school, teachers didn’t teach it. The little bit of Black history we got in K-12 occurred in February: Slavery happened. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. That was it. There was no intentional, concerted effort to teach Black history. The books my parents had on my shelves when I was a kid—books written by and about Black people—they weren’t in libraries or school classrooms. One of the reasons I write is to ensure that our stories, our humanity, are front and center. Did you do any school visits to promote the book? We probably did about
30 to 40 different events over the course of two or three weeks. Whether we were with 500 Black kids in Wilmington, Delaware, or in Charleston, South Carolina, with a couple hundred white kids, it didn’t matter—the book resonated with every kid. They understood what was happening. They didn’t feel guilty. They had questions. They couldn’t believe this thing [slavery] happened. And ultimately, by the end of the story, everyone felt like we were a part of one community, like the words had united us. That’s what I’ve come to expect. I talk about it a lot: I believe that words can bring us together.—TOM BEER
out how we got here and where we go from here.
about how our words can stick with kids.
This book will empower the young people who read or listen to it. But what do you hope grown-ups will take away from the story? Many adults have reached out to tell me how much the story has resonated with them, so I definitely hope it can be a mirror for so many who have never had a story like this to look to for comfort. But for other adults, I hope it’s a window into the world of children like the girl at the center of this story. I hope the book encourages adults to really consider the words we use with children and truly think
Were you able to do live events for the book this year? Any memorable highlights? My favorite thing is hearing kids react to the story— [such as] responding to the page turns—and [listening to] their thoughtful questions. But at one school the students wrote out advice for the main character on Post-it Notes on their door. The affirmation and love they offered her was so kind and sweet but also so powerful. I love knowing those words are hanging up for them to look at and take in every day.—MAHNAZ DAR
DECEMBER 1, 2023
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What was the original idea or character or scene that started you working on the book? The single-day structure of the story! I wanted to plot an entire novel over the course of 24 hours, because it seemed like a fun creative challenge, and because I love what other authors have
readers was really important to me and mostly involved shortening and simplifying the text to make it less technical, more understandable, and more interactive. What was the original idea that started you working on the book? The original edition of this book took over 15 years from concept to final draft! I started
DAVID ALLEN SIBLEY
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Why did you adapt this book for young readers, and what are some of the differences between the two versions? I always intended this to be a book for kids, so I describe the original 2020 edition as a sort of kids’ book for adults. Adapting it for younger
achieved with their own single-day books. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon and Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly are two great examples. Who is the ideal reader for your book, and where would they be reading it? A student in the Pinellas County School District in Florida, preferably in a very public place, where the person(s) who challenged
out with the idea of making a bird guide for kids, and I wanted to include “science notes” to explain the amazing things birds can do. The more I got into the research and writing and illustrating of those short essays, the more exciting and interesting that part of the book became to me, and eventually I just gave in and made that the entire book. The book includes a section titled “Becoming a Birder.” What are the benefits of birding for young people? I think birding—as a way to get outside—satisfies our fundamental desire to connect with nature. It’s an escape from the day-to-day grind and, at the same time,
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Photo Credit goes here Day: Jessica Wood; Sibley: Erinn Hartman
CHRISTINE DAY
In We Still Belong, Wesley recalls her grandfather telling her, “The things that scare us the most in this world are usually the most worthwhile things in our lives.” To what degree does this piece of guidance reflect your perspective on writing? I think it’s very relevant. Writing for publication can
be so daunting, especially these days, as people aim to remove books from schools and public libraries. But no matter what, I feel I have to keep going. Because if I were to stop, or if I were to avoid certain topics or ideas out of fear of being censored— well, I just can’t. I refuse to cede my creative sovereignty. I refuse to give in to fear.
SPONSORED
We Still Belong might see them reading it! Were you able to do live events for the book this year? Any memorable highlights? I had a belated launch party for We Still Belong at the Everett Public Library in Everett, Washington, which is where the book is set! I also had an event at Brick & Mortar Books [in Redmond, Washington] on Indigenous Peoples’ Day. What book (or books) published in 2023 were among your favorites? Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson, The Stolen Heir by Holly Black, and Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas.
Photo Credit goes here
a connection to something much bigger. Lots of research shows that [spending] time outside is really good for kids; for example, it’s more effective than drugs at controlling ADHD. And birding is really a gigantic, global puzzle-solving game, involving eyes and ears and deductive reasoning. Kids are naturally good at it, and that can be very empowering. Who is the ideal reader for your book, and where would they be reading it? Anyone, really, of any age, who’s curious about nature and science. I designed the book to be read in random order; you can start anywhere and see where that takes you. It’s a big book, so I imagine it
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Are there any books you read during your middle-grade years that especially influenced you? This might sound like an odd pairing, but Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo and The Giver by Lois Lowry are two huge influences for my next middle-grade novel. If you could choose one section or scene in We Still Belong for readers to spend extra time with, which would it be? I would love for readers to slow down and spend time with the last chapter of the book, especially the final few paragraphs of Wesley’s narration.—KATHERINE KING
will be read at home, and I think it’s perfect for kids and adults to read together. What books published in 2023 were among your favorites? I’ll start with my two favorite bird-related nonfiction [books] this year: What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman and Better Living Through Birding: Notes From a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper. And earlier this year, I reread a book from my childhood and am happy to report that it’s just as moving as I remember: Incident at Hawk’s Hill by Allan W. Eckert, first published in 1971.—DAN NOLAN
SECOND LOOK
This review originally ran in the Sept. 15, 2023, issue.
The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms Cook, Fiona; illus. by Jessica Roux Andrews McMeel Publishing | 256 pp. $19.99 | Nov. 28, 2023 | 9781524874803
A thorough, accessible, yearlong walk through the seasons. Speaking to her readers in a wise whisper, Cook proclaims that there’s real magic in this world—it’s all around us, and kids have a special knack for seeing it. She sets out to help readers “find and recognize magic,” starting with Ostara, the spring equinox, and rolling through the wheel of the year to Imbolc, a cross-quarter fire festival halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The book carefully and meaningfully lays out the rhythms of the wheel, describing festivities like the Scandinavian Midsommar or Juhannus celebrations for summer solstice and Latin American Día de los Muertos remembrances. It provides suggestions for individual nature-based spiritual practices and activities, including crafts and scavenger hunts
that involve multiple senses. The book includes recipes using herbs, berries, and fungi (along with safety information for the kitchen and foraging) and guidance for refreshing your altar to welcome the energy of the incoming season. It also references non-Western cultural practices and explains cultural appropriation, giving readers context about the sacred Native American practice of smudging, and it suggests gathering herbs other than sage to bundle and burn. Cook’s obvious wealth of knowledge and care in explaining both the light and dark of the world around us is complemented perfectly by Roux’s charming, delicate illustrations of natural objects, critters both cute and crawly, and racially diverse young people. This book is, in a word, immaculate. A graceful invitation that children will happily accept.
DECEMBER 1, 2023
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Kirkus presents the Best Middle Grade Books of 2023. Our list features works from kid-lit legends as well as stories from up-and-comers that are sure to be future classics, gloriously funny metafiction along with contemplative examinations of sorrow and loss, and nonfiction to pore over for hours and page-turners to zip through. Thrilling fantasies, immersive historical fiction, chilling tales of the paranormal, and graphic novels galore: There’s something for everyone here. 84 DECEMBER 1, 2023
KIRKUS REVIEWS
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The Best Middle Grade Books of 2023
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // M I D D L E G R A D E
The Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía Alessandri, Alexandra | Atheneum (224 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 21, 2023 9781665917056
Modern kids meet traditional tales with thrilling results. (Adventure. 8-12)
Something Like Home Arango, Andrea Beatriz | Random House (256 pp.) | $17.99 | $20.99 PLB Sept. 12, 2023 | 9780593566183 9780593566190 PLB
Beautifully executed. (Verse fiction. 10-14)
The Book That No One Wanted To Read Ayoade, Richard | Illus. by Tor Freeman | Walker/US Candlewick (128 pp.) | $17.99 March 14, 2023 |9781536222166
Lovingly crafted metafictive silliness both experimental and engaging. (Illustrated fiction. 8-12)
Anderson, M.T. | Illus. by Junyi Wu Candlewick (240 pp.) | $18.99 April 11, 2023 | 9781536222814
A hilarious, heartfelt triumph. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Too Small Tola Gets Tough Atinuke | Illus. by Onyinye Iwu Candlewick (96 pp.) | $15.99 March 21, 2023 | 9781536229462 Series: Too Small Tola
Remarkable and timely. (Fiction. 7-9)
Henry, Like Always Bailey, Jenn | Illus. by Mika Song Chronicle Books (48 pp.) | $14.99 March 21, 2023 | 9781797213897
Deeply relatable reassurance for readers unnerved by change. (Early chapter book. 4-8)
Flying Up the Mountain
Grumbones
Baitie, Elizabeth-Irene | Norton Young Readers (208 pp.) | $18.95 Oct. 3, 2023 | 9781324052678
Bennett, Jenn | Simon & Schuster (304 pp.) | $17.99 | Aug. 1, 2023 9781665930314
A highly affecting novel about young people working together to preserve the richness of their environment. (Fiction. 8-12)
Original and absorbing; presents suspenseful underworld chills alongside heartfelt human emotions. (Paranormal. 8-12)
The Magicians Blexbolex | Trans. by Karin Snelson Enchanted Lion Books (210 pp.) $34.95 paper | Nov. 7, 2023 9781592704040
Protecting magic, extending grace, leaping into the future with hope—this tour de force will nourish souls. (Graphic fantasy. 8-adult) KIRKUS REVIEWS
Elf Dog and Owl Head
Simon Sort of Says Bow, Erin | Disney-Hyperion (320 pp.) | $16.99 | Jan. 31, 2023 9781368082853
Adroit, sensitive, horrifying, yet hilarious. (Fiction. 9-13)
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Maggie Lou, Firefox Bowes, Arnolda Dufour | Illus. by Karlene Harvey | Groundwood (220 pp.) $14.99 paper | Oct. 3, 2023 9781773068817
An amusing story showcasing Métis humor at its finest. (Fiction. 9-13)
A First Guide to Cats: Understanding Your Whiskered Friend Bradshaw, John | Illus. by Clare Elsom Penguin Workshop (128 pp.) | $7.99 paper Sept. 26, 2023 | 9780593521854
A winning combination of enlightening facts and practical advice for young pet owners. (Nonfiction. 7-9)
A Pocketful of Stars Bushby, Aisha | Carolrhoda (248 pp.) $19.99 | Sept. 5, 2023 | 9781728450698
A poignantly written novel that is hard to put down and even harder to forget. (Fiction. 10-14)
Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu
Bradshaw, John | Illus. by Clare Elsom Penguin Workshop (128 pp.) | $7.99 paper | June 13, 2023 | 9780593521830
Perceptive and engaging— essential reading for anyone seeking greater understanding of their four-legged best friends. (Nonfiction. 7-9)
Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II Brown, Daniel James | Adapt. by Liz Hudson | Viking (254 pp.) | $18.99 Nov. 14, 2023 | 9780593465660
An unforgettable account of an appalling chapter in American history. (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Oliver’s Great Big Universe Cham, Jorge | Amulet/Abrams (256 pp.) | $15.99 | Sept. 26, 2023 9781419764080 | Series: Oliver’s Great Big Universe, 1
An irresistibly entertaining introduction to astrophysics. (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12)
Juniper’s Christmas
Chan, Maisie | Illus. by Natelle Quek Amulet/Abrams (256 pp.) | $17.99 March 28, 2023 | 9781419759925
Colfer, Eoin | Illus. by Chaaya Prabhat Roaring Brook Press (368 pp.) $22.99 | Oct. 31, 2023 9781250321947
A layered, emotionally resonant story. (Fiction. 8-12)
A soaring flight fueled by joys, sorrows, and deeds both ill and good. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Rain Remembers Comrie, Courtne | Harper/ HarperCollins (272 pp.) | $19.99 Oct. 24, 2023 | 9780063159778
A satisfying, well-written, and authentic sequel highlighting the ways healing and self-love are ongoing processes. (Verse novel. 10-14) 86 DECEMBER 1, 2023
A First Guide to Dogs: Understanding Your Very Best Friend
The Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms Cook, Fiona | Illus. by Jessica Roux Andrews McMeel Publishing (256 pp.) | $19.99 | Oct. 24, 2023 9781524874803
A graceful invitation that children will happily accept. (Nonfiction. 8-14) KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // M I D D L E G R A D E
School Trip
The Dreamatics
Craft, Jerry | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (256 pp.) | $24.99 $14.99 paper | April 4, 2023 9780062885548 | 9780062885531 paper
Cuevas, Michelle | Rocky Pond Books/Penguin (240 pp.) | $17.99 Sept. 12, 2023 | 9780593532225
Another triumph of storytelling filled with heart and wonder. (Graphic fiction. 10-14)
A dreamy, imaginative, and vibrant story full of heart and wordplay. (Fiction. 8-12)
We Still Belong Day, Christine | Heartdrum (256 pp.) $17.99 | Aug. 1, 2023 | 9780063064560
A rich, captivating story that will resonate with readers. (Fiction. 9-12)
The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity Day, Nicholas | Illus. by Brett Helquist Random House Studio (288 pp.) $19.99 | $21.99 PLB | Sept. 5, 2023 9780593643846 | 9780593643853 PLB
A multistranded yarn skillfully laid out in broad, light brush strokes with some cogent themes mixed in. (Nonfiction. 10-13)
Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla Diaz, Alexandra | Paula Wiseman/ Simon & Schuster (336 pp.) | $17.99 Sept. 5, 2023 | 9781534495401
An evocative and transportive read. (Historical fiction. 9-13)
Just a Pinch of Magic Dow, Alechia | Feiwel & Friends (304 pp.) | $17.99 | Oct. 10, 2023 9781250829115
An enchanting tale of love. (Fantasy. 8-12)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow Dimopoulos, Elaine | Illus. by Doug Salati | Charlesbridge (192 pp.) $17.99 | May 16, 2023 9781623543334
Use your milkweed: Read this! (Fiction. 6-10)
The Eyes & the Impossible Eggers, Dave | Illus. by Shawn Harris Knopf (256 pp.) | $18.99 | $21.99 PLB May 9, 2023 | 9781524764203 9781524764210 PLB
One remarkable creature vividly shows readers that “there is so, so much to see.” (Fiction. 9-14)
Saving Sunshine
Not an Easy Win
Faruqi, Saadia | Illus. by Shazleen Khan First Second (224 pp.) | $14.99 paper Sept. 5, 2023 | 9781250793812
Giles, Chrystal D. | Random House (256 pp.) | $16.99 | $19.99 PLB Feb. 28, 2023 | 9780593175217 9780593175224 PLB
A beautiful, realistic, and important story focusing on family and sibling bonds. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
Stellar. (Fiction. 10-13)
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How To Make a Movie in 12 Days Hardy, Fiona | Kane Miller (288 pp.) $8.99 paper | March 1, 2023 9781684646302
Order up plenty of popcorn and settle back for a tense, intense, delightful ride. (Fiction. 9-12)
My Head Has a Bellyache: And More Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups Harris, Chris | Illus. by Andrea Tsurumi Little, Brown (192 pp.) | $19.99 | July 18, 2023 | 9780316592598 | Series: Mischievous Nonsense, 2
Sidesplitting fun throughout for one or a crowd. (Poetry. 6-10)
Hargrave, Kiran Millwood | Illus. by Tom de Freston | Union Square Kids (224 pp.) | $18.99 | March 28, 2023 9781454948681
Outstanding. (Fiction. 9-13)
Ginny Off the Map Hickey, Caroline | Illus. by Kelly Murphy | Christy Ottaviano Books (320 pp.) | $16.99 | June 20, 2023 9780316324625
It’s hard to write with such simple authenticity: The world needs more stories like this. (Fiction. 8-12)
Alebrijes
Pine Island Visitors
Higuera, Donna Barba | Illus. by David Álvarez | Levine Querido (336 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 | 9781646142637
Horvath, Polly | Margaret Ferguson/ Holiday House (288 pp.) | $17.99 Oct. 10, 2023 | 9780823452958
This heartfelt adventure signals hope for humanity, even in the aftermath of darkness. (Dystopian. 10-14)
Terrifically entertaining. (Fiction. 10-14)
The Demon Sword Asperides
The Stars and Other Stories
Horwitz, Sarah Jean | Algonquin (352 pp.) | $16.99 | July 11, 2023 9781643752785
Jarvis | Candlewick (64 pp.) | $15.99 Oct. 10, 2023 | 9781536231380 Series: Bear and Bird
An exciting and well-wrought romp. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Friendship at its best. (Chapter book. 5-7)
The Winterton Deception: Final Word Johnson, Janet Sumner | Pixel+Ink (336 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 31, 2023 9781645951964 | Series: The Winterton Deception, 1
Intelligent, intricately plotted, and ultimately moving. (Mystery. 10-14)
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Julia and the Shark
Ellie Engle Saves Herself Johnson, Leah | Disney-Hyperion (288 pp.) | $18.99 | May 2, 2023 9781368085557 | Series: Ellie Engle, 1
Marvelous. (Fiction. 8-12)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // M I D D L E G R A D E
Shira & Esther’s Double Dream Debut Jordan, Anna E. | Chronicle Books (332 pp.) | $17.99 | Oct. 10, 2023 9781797215655
Adult readers may wish they were young again, so this could instantly become their favorite book. (Fiction. 9-13)
Where’s Joon? Kim, Julie | Little Bigfoot/Sasquatch (120 pp.) | $22.00 | Oct. 10, 2023 9781632174154
Kashiwaba, Sachiko | Illus. by Yukiko Saito | Trans. by Avery Fischer Udagawa | Yonder (224 pp.) | $18.00 Sept. 12, 2023 | 9781632063373
A powerful story of healing. (Fiction. 8-13)
The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale Klassen, Jon | Candlewick (112 pp.) $25.99 | July 11, 2023 | 9781536223378
Rich in folklore, comedy, and color, a riotous and pleasurable treat. (Graphic fiction. 7-10)
Employing his customary pitch-perfect tonal gymnastics, only Klassen could inspire readers to want craniums as pals. (Fiction. 6-9)
See the Ghost: Three Stories About Things You Cannot See
Tethered to Other Stars
LaRochelle, David | Illus. by Mike Wohnoutka | Candlewick (64 pp.) $9.99 | July 25, 2023 | 9781536219821 Series: See the Cat
See the star? Buy the book. (Early reader. 5-7)
The Deep!: Wild Life at the Ocean’s Darkest Depths Leigh, Lindsey | Penguin Workshop (96 pp.) | $15.99 | June 27, 2023 9780593521687
A broad and buoyant undersea venture. (Graphic nonfiction. 10-13)
Tiger Daughter Lim, Rebecca | Delacorte (192 pp.) $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Aug. 15, 2023 9780593648971 | 9780593648988 PLB
Tough but uplifting and, above all, heartfelt. (Fiction. 11-15)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
The House of the Lost on the Cape
Leahy, Elisa Stone | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (320 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 3, 2023 | 9780063255487
A beautifully executed, character-driven tale of family, courage, resilience, and the meaning of what is right. (Fiction. 8-12)
Ruby Lost and Found Li, Christina | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (304 pp.) | $19.99 May 16, 2023 | 9780063008939
Empathetic and emotionally intelligent. (Fiction. 9-13)
Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods Lin, Grace | Little, Brown (288 pp.) $24.99 | Sept. 12, 2023 | 9780316486002
An utterly delectable feast of history and storytelling. (Nonfiction. 8-13) DECEMBER 1, 2023 89
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The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels Lincoln, Beth | Illus. by Claire Powell Dutton (352 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 7, 2023 9780593533239
An absolutely delightful debut with heartwarming character growth and a clever, genre-savvy country-house mystery. (Mystery. 10-13)
Mr. Lincoln Sits for His Portrait: The Story of a Photograph That Became an American Icon Marcus, Leonard S. | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (128 pp.) | $19.99 | Jan. 3, 2023 9780374303488
A fresh angle offering yet another reason to regard Lincoln as our presidential G.O.A.T. (Biography. 11-14)
Lubner, Susan | Illus. by Blythe Russo Pixel+Ink (64 pp.) | $14.99 Nov. 7, 2023 | 9781645951155 Series: Drag and Rex, 1
Welcomes an especially cute new duo to the series scene. (Chapter book. 6-8)
Salsa Magic Marrero, Letisha | Levine Querido (272 pp.) | $18.99 | Sept. 26, 2023 9781646142606
An uplifting, beautifully rendered story of family bonds and embracing the unknown. (Fiction. 8-12)
The Lost Year
Extra Normal
Marsh, Katherine | Roaring Brook Press (368 pp.) | $16.99 | Jan. 17, 2023 9781250313607
Marshall, Kate Alice | Viking (272 pp.) $18.99 | Aug. 29, 2023 9780593526453
A moving presentation of a long-suppressed piece of history. (Historical fiction. 9-14)
Simply a great read. (Supernatural. 10-13)
Mexikid
The Firefly Summer
Martín, Pedro | Dial Books (320 pp.) $24.99 | $14.99 paper | Aug. 1, 2023 9780593462287 | 9780593462294 paper
Matson, Morgan | Simon & Schuster (400 pp.) | $18.99 | May 2, 2023 9781534493353
A retro yet timeless story of family and identity. (Graphic memoir. 9-14)
Like a great summer camp, this tale evokes the best of the past while setting the stage for something new. (Fiction. 8-12)
Forever Twelve
Gone Wolf
McAnulty, Stacy | Random House (368 pp.) | $17.99 | $20.99 PLB Oct. 3, 2023 | 9780593429624 9780593429631 PLB | Series: The Evers, 1
McBride, Amber | Feiwel & Friends (352 pp.) | $17.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781250850492
Fantastic. (Fantasy. 9-13)
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Forever Friends
Raw, incisive, and authentic. (Fiction. 11-16)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // M I D D L E G R A D E
Code Red McCullough, Joy | Atheneum (240 pp.) | $17.99 | June 13, 2023 9781534496262
Character-driven, thought-provoking, often funny, and, above all, timely. (Fiction. 8-14)
The Mossheart’s Promise Mix, Rebecca | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (432 pp.) | $19.99 Sept. 5, 2023 | 9780063254053
A wonderful story for all the scared people doing the right thing because nobody else will. (Fantasy. 9-13)
Don’t Want To Be Your Monster Moulton, Deke | Tundra Books (256 pp.) | $17.99 | July 5, 2023 9781774880494
Members of persecuted minorities unite to fight crime: icky, impish, and thematically rich. (Light horror. 10-14)
Saving H’non: Chang and the Elephant Nguyĕn, Trang & Jeet Zdũng | Illus. by Jeet Zdũng | Dial Books (128 pp.) $23.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9780593406731
Mendez, Jasminne | Dial Books (384 pp.) | $17.99 | March 14, 2023 9780593531815
A painful yet hopeful exploration of family, trauma, faith, and healing. (Fiction. 9-13)
The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry Morris, Chad & Shelly Brown Shadow Mountain (256 pp.) | $18.99 Aug. 15, 2023 | 9781639930999
A fascinating, touching story of an off-the-grid family facing changes and the invisible threads that connect people. (Fiction. 9-12)
The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams Nayeri, Daniel | Illus. by Daniel Miyares | Levine Querido (224 pp.) $21.99 | March 7, 2023 | 9781646143030
An enticing taste of a rich historical world. (Adventure. 9-12)
The Moth Keeper O’Neill, K. | Random House Graphic (272 pp.) | $21.99 | $13.99 paper $24.99 PLB | March 7, 2023 9780593182277 | 9780593182260 paper | 9780593182284 PLB
Stirs the mind and heart the way an elephant quakes the earth. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
A nature-based coming-of-age story aglow with the light of loving bonds and communal living. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)
Hope in the Valley
Just Jerry: How Drawing Shaped My Life
Perkins, Mitali | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (304 pp.) | $17.99 | July 11, 2023 9780374388515
A riveting, courage-filled story. (Fiction. 8-12)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Aniana Del Mar Jumps In
Pinkney, Jerry | Little, Brown (160 pp.) | $17.99 | Jan. 17, 2023 9780316383851
A moving work from a legend of children’s literature and a testament to his legacy of visual storytelling. (Memoir. 8-12) DECEMBER 1, 2023 91
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World Made of Glass Polonsky, Ami | Little, Brown (288 pp.) | $16.99 | Jan. 17, 2023 9780316462044
Simultaneously sad and life affirming; a poetry-filled, inspiring call to activism. (Historical fiction. 10-14)
Treasure Island: Runaway Gold Rhodes, Jewell Parker | Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (336 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 3, 2023 | 9780062998354
Daringly honors old heroes, stunningly integrating past and present with pitch-perfect success. (Adventure. 9-14)
We Need To Talk About Vaginas: An Important Book About Vulvas, Periods, Puberty, and Sex! Rodgers, Allison K. | Illus. by Annika Le Large | Neon Squid/Macmillan (64 pp.) $14.99 paper | Feb. 28, 2023 9781684492848
A refreshingly affirming exploration of an often taboo topic. (Nonfiction. 8-18)
Rex, Adam | Chronicle Books (140 pp.) | $14.99 | Aug. 15, 2023 9781797213231
Rejoice, noodlehead fans! Here’s a tale to treasure. (Fantasy. 8-10)
The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure Riordan, Rick & Mark Oshiro Disney-Hyperion (480 pp.) | $19.99 May 2, 2023 | 9781368081153
A standout. (Fantasy. 10-14)
Making More: How Life Begins Roy, Katherine | Norton Young Readers (72 pp.) | $24.95 March 7, 2023 | 9781324015840
A perennially hot topic explored with a deft mix of specific details and light touches. (Nonfiction. 6-11)
How To Stay Invisible
The Night Raven
Rudd, Maggie C. | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (240 pp.) | $17.99 | June 27, 2023 9780374390334
Rundberg, Johan | Trans. by A.A. Prime | Amazon Crossing Kids (192 pp.) | $17.99 | Nov. 1, 2023 9781662509582 | Series: The Moonwind Mysteries, 1
An exceptional story of courage. (Fiction. 8-12)
Hornbeam All In Rylant, Cynthia | Illus. by Arthur Howard Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (48 pp.) $18.99 | Dec. 5, 2023 | 9781665924818 Series: The Hornbeam Books
All in for this dazzling series starter! (Early reader. 5-8)
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The Story of Gumluck The Wizard: Book One
A thrilling and thoughtful period murder mystery. (Historical thriller. 9-14)
Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories From BIPOC Authors Ed. by Salazar, Aida & Yamile Saied Méndez | Candlewick (368 pp.) $22.99 | March 28, 2023 9781536216349
A powerful, vibrant, and empowering celebration of an important milestone. (Anthology. 9-13) KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // M I D D L E G R A D E
The Carrefour Curse Salerni, Dianne K. | Holiday House (224 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 31, 2023 9780823452675
An enchanting and evocative tale. (Paranormal mystery. 8-12)
The Monkey Trial: John Scopes and the Battle Over Teaching Evolution Sanchez, Anita | Clarion/HarperCollins (192 pp.) | $18.99 | March 21, 2023 9780358457695
Perceptive, well written and reasoned, and (unfortunately) at least as topical as ever. (Nonfiction. 11-14)
A First Time for Everything
The Labors of Hercules Beal
Santat, Dan | First Second (320 pp.) $14.99 paper | Feb. 28, 2023 9781250851048
Schmidt, Gary D. | Clarion/ HarperCollins (352 pp.) | $19.99 May 23, 2023 | 9780358659631
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things. (Graphic memoir. 10-14)
At once an epic journey toward self-discovery and a wonderfully entertaining yarn. (Fiction. 9-13)
What It’s Like To Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing—What Birds Are Doing and Why Sibley, David Allen | Delacorte (208 pp.) $19.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 | 9780593430187
Starboard Skinner, Nicola | Harper/ HarperCollins (416 pp.) | $16.99 June 6, 2023 | 9780063071735
An extraordinarily profound and far-reaching coming-of-age story. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Splendid. (Nonfiction. 8-15)
Sisters of the Lost Marsh Strange, Lucy | Chicken House/ Scholastic (304 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 3, 2023 9781338686463
So engrossing a tale and world that readers won’t want to come up for air. (Fantasy. 8-15)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
The Notorious Scarlett and Browne Stroud, Jonathan | Knopf (432 pp.) $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | April 25, 2023 9780593430408 | 9780593430415 PLB | Series: Scarlett and Browne, 2
More rousing, swashbuckling fun. (Science fiction. 10-13)
Hidden Truths
Parachute Kids
Swartz, Elly | Delacorte (272 pp.) $16.99 | $19.99 PLB | Oct. 31, 2023 9780593483664 | 9780593483671 PLB
Tang, Betty C. | Graphix/Scholastic (288 pp.) | $24.99 | $12.99 paper April 4, 2023 | 9781338832693 9781338832686 paper
A warm testament to the healing power of mutual respect—and doughnuts. (Fiction. 9-12)
Emotionally moving and beautifully executed. (Graphic fiction. 9-13)
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Alone: The Journeys of Three Young Refugees
Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom
Tom, Paul | Illus. by Mélanie Baillairgé Trans. by Arielle Aaronson | Groundwood (144 pp.) | $21.99 | May 2, 2023 9781773069272
Varela, Nina | Little, Brown (320 pp.) $16.99 | Feb. 14, 2023 9780316706780
Quietly awe-inspiring. (Fiction. 8-12)
Vivid and mythical. (Fantasy. 8-12)
The Ojja-Wojja
Coyote Queen
Visaggio, Magdalene | Illus. by Jenn St-Onge | Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (192 pp.) | $22.99 | $13.99 paper March 7, 2023 | 9780062852397 9780062852427 paper
Vitalis, Jessica | Greenwillow Books (272 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 10, 2023 9780063314405
Spooky, queer, and magical—it’s no mystery why this book is a wonder. (Graphic fiction. 11-14)
Mascot
Bea Wolf
Waters, Charles & Traci Sorell Charlesbridge (256 pp.) | $17.99 Sept. 5, 2023 | 9781623543808
Weinersmith, Zach | Illus. by Boulet First Second (208 pp.) | $19.99 March 21, 2023 | 9781250776297
A brilliant story not to be missed; deeply engaging from the first page. (Verse fiction. 10-14)
Wonderfully weird. (Graphic novel. 8-12)
Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends: Ready-ToRead Graphics Level 1 Windness, Kaz | Simon Spotlight (64 pp.) | $17.99 | Jan. 31, 2023 9781665920018 | Series: Ready-ToRead Graphics
Warm and delightful, this tale will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. (Graphic early reader. 4-8)
Jawbreaker Wyman, Christina | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (320 pp.) | $17.99 | Oct. 24, 2023 9780374389697
A hugely relatable must-read: witty, intensely emotional, and full of heart. (Fiction. 8-12)
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Rich, strange, and winningly intense. (Fiction. 9-13)
Remember Us Woodson, Jacqueline | Nancy Paulsen Books (176 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 10, 2023 9780399545467
An exquisitely wrought story of self and community. (Fiction. 10-13)
Heroes of the Water Monster Young, Brian | Heartdrum (384 pp.) $19.99 | May 23, 2023 9780062990433
Thought-provoking and full of heart; a genuinely pleasurable read. (Fiction. 10-14)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Children's
MAHNAZ DAR
ONE OF MY favorite parts of
being a reviews editor is compiling our annual best books lists. It’s a chance not only to surface superb titles, but also to take stock, to reexamine the ideas that matter to us... and to get a sense of where we’re going. Picture books that instill courage in little ones have long been kid-lit staples, but this year I’ve noticed authors taking a slightly different approach. These selections reassure children who feel different that they’re OK just as they are—it’s the rest of the world that needs to change its assumptions. Vashti Harrison’s Big (Little, Brown, May 2) follows a Black girl who learns to reject the fatphobic labels that others thrust upon her. Parents and educators may recognize themselves in the well-meaning but ignorant adults who chastise the child; hopefully they’ll emerge more willing to question their own biases. (Read our interview with Harrison on Page 80.) Maya Tatsukawa’s Mole Is Not Alone (Henry Holt, Oct. 3) centers on a protagonist who frets about an upcoming party; a conclusion where Mole 96 DECEMBER 1, 2023
enjoys quiet one-on-one time with a new friend makes clear that introverts need not transform themselves into social butterflies in order to have fun. Many young people grow up never seeing their families represented in media. Laudably, several of this year’s middle-grade novels demonstrate that happy families are not all alike (sorry, Tolstoy). In Chrystal D. Giles’ Not an Easy Win (Random House, Feb. 28), a Black 12-year-old named Lawrence, his sister, and their mother move in with Grandma. Giles sensitively handles painful topics, such as Lawrence’s father’s incarceration, while setting her protagonist on an uplifting yet wholly believable path to triumph. Set in 1980s New York City, Ami Polonsky’s World Made of Glass (Little, Brown, Jan. 17) features a young girl named Iris whose father is dying of AIDS. Though her parents are divorced, they’re still a tight-knit unit, and Iris also forges a firm bond with her father’s boyfriend. While these protagonists confront strife both at home and in the outside world, their
families, however imperfect, remain loving sources of support. Counternarratives to whitewashed accounts of U.S. history continue to come under fire from censors, but I’m heartened that authors are nevertheless speaking truth to power. Two of my favorite nonfiction picture books, Kwame Alexander’s An American Story (Little, Brown, Jan. 3), illustrated by Dare Coulter, and Jennifer Thermes’ A Place Called America: A Story of the Land and People (Abrams, Aug. 15), offer unflinching yet age-appropriate views of U.S. history. (Read our interview with Alexander on Page 80.) Middle-grade authors are also exploring history in nuanced ways. In Mitali Perkins’ tender, thought-provoking novel Hope in the Valley (Farrar,
Straus and Giroux, July 11), set in 1980s Silicon Valley, readers will find a Bengali American girl balancing insights about history with realizations about the present, while Daniel James Brown’s potent Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II (Viking, Nov. 14), adapted for young readers by Liz Hudson, will leave young people determined to know more about painful chapters in U.S. history. Book banners may claim that they’re protecting kids from difficult realities, but these creators are demonstrating that it’s not only possible to give children an honest depiction of history—it’s vital for a full understanding of our present. Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor. KIRKUS REVIEWS
Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson
A YEAR OF RICHES FOR YOUNG READERS
CHILDREN’S
EDITOR’S PICK Size is relative, even if your relatives are particularly huge. The teeny-weeny unicorn has it tough. Everything in his kingdom, from the food to the rugs to the toys, is ginormous—at least, in his opinion. Maybe that’s why the unicorn’s siblings like to use him as a pawn in their chess games. When his siblings refuse to go swimming with him in the moat (“a gumball would make a bigger splash than you,” his brother sneers), the unicorn runs off in a huff into the tall grasses of the castle’s lawn. There, he meets a particularly teeny gnome who is furious with him. Without realizing it,
These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star
our hero somehow managed to smash the gnome’s sporty roadster with his “giant” hoof. Despite the unicorn’s protestations that he’s far too tiny to have crushed the car, the even smaller gnome insists on full repayment. Payment is forthcoming, and at last our hero’s small stature works to his benefit. As the book nears its conclusion, the lesson appears to be particularly pertinent for those young readers just beginning to discover both their vastness and their insignificance at the same time. “We are all teeny-weeny. We are all giant. And we are all just the right size.” Facial expressions and visual gags
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Across So Many Seas By Ruth Behar
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This Baby. That Baby. By Cari Best; illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh
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The Astrochimps By Dawn Cusick
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You Are Part of the Wonder By Ruth Doyle; illus. by Britta Teckentrup
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The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn Harris, Shawn | Knopf | 48 pp. | $18.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593571880
complement the text perfectly, all thanks to Harris’ particular skill with chalk pastel. The female gnome has a bushy white beard that obscures her features;
The Last Stand By Antwan Eady; illus. by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey
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A Plate of Hope By Erin Frankel; illus. by Paola Escobar
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The TeenyWeeny Unicorn By Shawn Harris
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Harriet’s Reflections By Marion Kadi; trans. by Marion Kadi & Abram Kaplan
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Drawing Deena By Hena Khan
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Guts for Glory By JoAnna Lapati
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Daughters of the Lamp By Nedda Lewers
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You Owe Me One, Universe By Chad Lucas
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Hummingbird Season By Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
only a long pink nose is visible.
At last! A unicorn book as charming as the species it highlights. (Picture book. 3-6)
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Go Forth and Tell By Breanna J. McDaniel; illus. by April Harrison
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Sick! By Heather L. Montgomery; illus. by Lindsey Leigh
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Not the Worst Friend in the World By Anne Rellihan
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The Fix-Its By Sarah Lynne Reul
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The Blue Pickup By Natasha Tripplett; illus. by Monica Mikai
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DnDoggos By Scout Underhill; colors by Liana Sposto
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How Benjamin Franklin Became a Revolutionary in Seven (NotSo-Easy) Steps By Gretchen Woelfle; illus. by John O’Brien
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Finding Home: Words From Kids Seeking Sanctuary Agna, Gwen & Shelley Rotner | Photos by Shelley Rotner | Clarion/HarperCollins (32 pp.) | $19.99 | Jan. 9, 2024 9780063304178
Young refugees open up. Combining photographs with informational text and quotes from the children depicted, this book sheds light on the conditions under which kids migrate far from home, including “fleeing fires, floods, drought, or war.” The featured children are racially diverse, with a range of skin tones, hair textures, and styles of dress. In one photograph, an Asian-presenting child sits on a couch, mouth slightly open; a word bubble reads, “My parents told me we had to leave to be safe. I was scared.” Straightforward narration alternates between the tough realities of immigration (“Most people had to travel a long time—months, even years, moving from place to place before finally finding a new home”) and more uplifting messaging (“Let’s hope for a world where everyone is welcome”). The book is clearly aimed at non-refugees—backmatter includes suggestions on “how to help someone new” and asks readers to “imagine what it would feel like to move to a new country.” The photos are bright and eye-catching, though somewhat stiff and staged-looking. While those new to the topic will gain some insight, refugee children will likely feel that this work is about them—but not for them. A window into the refugee experience—though not a mirror. (authors’ notes, additional resources, glossary) (Informational picture book. 4-8)
For more by Shelley Rotner, visit Kirkus online.
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An uplifting tale about recapturing the spirit of Ramadan. A RAMADAN TO REMEMBER
A Ramadan To Remember Ali, Marzieh A. | Illus. by Najwa Awatiff Soaring Kite Books (32 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 2, 2024 | 9781958372142 | Series: Holidays in Our Home
A child longs to find a friend with whom to observe Ramadan. Zain and his family have moved, and the boy is downhearted. With no mosque nearby and no Islamic school to attend, he worries that Ramadan won’t feel the same. Zain explores his neighborhood and searches for signs of other Muslims but returns home disappointed. A few days later, he and his parents build a mosque using the empty cardboard boxes from their move. Soon neighborhood children are attracted to Zain’s creation, and he teaches them about Ramadan—fasting, showing gratitude, and giving to those in need. After Zain and his parents pray outside, much to Zain’s surprise, another Muslim boy, Ahmed, joins in! Jubilant, Zain realizes his Ramadan will be more special than ever. Ali successfully weaves a heartwarming tale of teachable moments around the traditions of Ramadan while sensitively navigating Zain’s loss of his prior community and his resilience as he forges new bonds, all with the support of his loving family. Awatiff’s vivid, jewel-toned illustrations make clear that Ramadan is a special time for Muslims. Cues in the text suggest that Zain and his family are South Asian. Zain’s new community is diverse; Ahmed is brown-skinned. Backmatter includes information on how Ramadan is
observed around the world, a glossary, Zain’s Ramadan essentials, and a “Make Your Own Ramadan Treat Bags” activity, which invites readers to join in the fun. An uplifting tale about recapturing the spirit of Ramadan. (Picture book. 4-8)
Sky High!: A Soaring History of Aviation Ambrożewski, Jacek | Trans. by Zosia Krasodomska-Jones | Thames & Hudson (112 pp.) | $29.95 | Jan. 16, 2024 9780500653418
A history of the past 400 million years of flight, translated from the Polish. Filling every iota of his allotted page space, Ambrożewski crams in a tale that begins with the first prehistoric plant seeds evolving to whirl off in the breeze, ends by placing dazed readers aboard the sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 for its 2015 flight around the world, and in between covers a plethora of topics from the anatomical differences between bird and bat wings to flight instrumentation through the years and modern airline safety features. At the top of each spread, readers will find introductory overviews jammed into narrow spaces. Below, cartoon-style panels, some sequential, mix minutely detailed diagrams explaining various principles and technical challenges with depictions of dozens of aircraft from gliders and hot air balloons to giant bombers and experimental wingless “gyroplanes.” Interspersed throughout KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
A much-needed reminder that kindness will always win out. LILA GREER, TEACHER OF THE YEAR
are portraits of intrepid aviators and inventors (including women and people of color). Endpapers depict military and commercial insignia. Though the unrelenting visual and verbal density of the presentation makes comprehension a challenge, the author’s enthusiasm for his immense topic adds more than enough lift to carry readers with him.
Best taken in bits, but high, wide, and jet propelled. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-11)
Only: The Bird Who Liked Being Alone Anderson, Airlie | Little, Brown (40 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780316409612
Being alone doesn’t necessarily mean being lonely. A bird named Only loves to spend time alone, reading and watching neighbors from afar. The other birds invite Only to dance, sing, and play bird ball with them. But Only flies off to build a cozy nest; the others conclude that Only likes being lonely (“Sounds terrible!” one remarks). Then loud Squawky, who doesn’t want to play bird ball today, shows up at Only’s door and discovers that quiet time is fun as the two read, paint, and listen to music through earphones. Only teaches Squawky to tweet softly, and soon the pair are singing joyfully— and quietly. The other birds overhear and are surprised that Only can sing—“We thought you wanted to be quiet!” “And alone!” “And lonely!” Only confesses that singing is enjoyable—sometimes—while Squawky allows KIRKUS REVIEWS
that being quiet is, too…sometimes. Everyone gives the quiet nest a try. Thereafter, the birds’ lives are a mixture of chatter, quietness, togetherness, and aloneness. But loneliness? Never! This sweet, gentle story reassures children who cherish contemplative moments that they don’t have to abandon lively times with pals. The colorful, adorable gouache illustrations capture the birds’ personalities. The artwork appears in graphic novel– like panels, and characters speak in speech bubbles. Proof that you can have the best of both worlds: quiet solitude and boisterous time with friends. (Picture book. 4-7)
Lila Greer, Teacher of the Year Beaty, Andrea | Illus. by David Roberts Abrams (40 pp.) | $17.99 | Nov. 7, 2023 9781419769047 | Series: The Questioneers
Teachers influence children profoundly. From earliest childhood, Lila Greer, the youngest of five in a single-dad household, has been a worrier. Then the family moves. Entering second grade feels overwhelming: Nothing’s familiar, and she has no friends. But Ms. Kern, Lila’s new teacher, invites Lila to erase the chalkboard at recess and to articulate her fears. It helps that someone listens. Soon, classmates get into the act, and lonely Lila makes friends, emerges from her shell, and learns that “what ifs” have positive sides. Lila grows up, still fretting sometimes, and
then becomes a new teacher who worries upon meeting her own students. But then she remembers the teacher who helped her overcome her fears and doubts years earlier. What was that marvelous, ineffable quality Ms. Kern possessed? Then Lila remembers: It was kindness! Harnessing that memory, Lila now welcomes her own “smiling young faces.” This is a sweet story that emphasizes good cheer, helpfulness, and the importance of feeling welcome and heard, no matter who you are: terrific messages, expressed in bouncy verses that scan well. The illustrations are colorfully lively. Readers will appreciate occasional displays of humorous and quirky typesetting creativity and will admire Lila’s poufy topknot, which resembles a huge ball of yarn. Lila is light-skinned, Ms. Kern is tan-skinned, and other characters are diverse. A much-needed reminder that kindness will always win out. (author’s note) (Picture book. 5-8)
Kirkus Star
Across So Many Seas Behar, Ruth | Nancy Paulsen Books (272 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9780593323403
Four 12-year-old Sephardic Jewish girls in different time periods leave their homelands but carry their religion, culture, language, music, and heritage with them. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella’s expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 sends Benvenida fleeing from Toledo with her family, though she promises to remember where she came from. In 1923, Reina celebrates Turkish independence with her longtime friend and neighbor, a Muslim boy, causing her strict father to disown her and send her to live with an aunt in Cuba as punishment. Reina brings her mother’s oud with her and passes it on to Alegra, her daughter, who serves DECEMBER 1, 2023 99
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as a brigadista in Castro’s literacy campaign before fleeing to the U.S. in 1961. In Miami in 2003, Paloma, Alegra’s daughter, who has an Afro-Cuban dad, is excited to travel to Spain with her family to explore their roots. They find a miraculous connection in Toledo. Woven through all four girls’ stories is the same Ladino song (included with an English translation); as Paloma says, “I’m connected to those who came before me through the power of the words we speak, the words we write, the words we sing, the words in which we tell our dreams.” Behar’s diligent research and her personal connection to this history, as described in a moving author’s note, shine through this story of generations of girls who use music and language to survive, tell their stories, and connect with past and future. Powerful and resonant. (sources) (Historical fiction. 10-15)
Kirkus Star
This Baby. That Baby. Best, Cari | Illus. by Rashin Kheiriyeh | Anne Schwartz/Random (40 pp.) | $18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780593564639 9780593564646 PLB
Two babies, two lives, and a special day of shared greetings and friendships. “Somewhere / in the big, big city / across a beep-beep street / along two bumpy sidewalks” live this baby and that baby, who greet each other from opposite-facing apartment windows. This baby has deep brown skin and “a lot of curly black hair,” similar to his Mama’s. That baby has beige skin and straight dark hair, similar to her Papa’s. Together the babies lead boisterous, bouncy lives in which they eat (definitely!), nap (eventually!), and play (always!). Their loving, watchful single parents take them on a walk through the neighborhood to a playdate at the park, in a spread designed like a map that invites readers to 100 DECEMBER 1, 2023
follow their adventures. Lending itself to multiple readings, Best’s effervescent text captures the peppy rhythms on each detail-packed spread, often split between this baby’s experience (on the left page) and that baby’s (on the right). Using a classic throwback palette of muted reds and blues, set against a cream background, Kheiriyeh’s illustrations are endearingly hilarious (especially a spread on which Papa seems aggrieved at the frequency with which he needs to change his little one’s diaper). The parallel lives of these two families reverberate with a sense of community and camaraderie desperately needed in today’s divided world, accompanied by a soundtrack of giggles, wails, and banging drums. Utterly irresistible. (Picture book. 1-4)
Somebody Needs To Do Something About That Monster! Cenko, Doug | Peachtree (40 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781682636107
A monster goes monster hunting. Merv, a big blue creature with horns, sits by a stream eating trees. (It’s just what he does.) He overhears the nearby villagers’ complaints that something needs to be done about that monster and, blissfully unaware that he is the beast in question, sets off to find help. A trio of purple-skinned witches tell him they can turn the monster into a frog (“it’s just what we do”). A troll offers to eat the monster (“it’s just what I do”), and several unicorns propose decorating the monster (“it’s just what we do”), but none of their suggestions feel right. So Merv returns home. The dam’s leaking; the village is almost completely flooded. Without thinking, Merv sits in his usual spot and plugs up the dam. Days later, the water has receded, and the wet witches, troll, and unicorns show up seeking refuge. Merv, who just wants to help friends—because that’s what
he does—convinces the villagers that monsters do make good neighbors. This sweet story offers sound messages about friendship, community, and appreciating what we have. Merv is kind and endearing, the supernatural figures richly comical. The digital illustrations are appealing, though readers may not pick up on the fact that Merv’s been responsible all along for preventing the stream from flooding. The villagers are racially diverse.
After reading about this cool monster, kids will know just what needs to be done about him—be his friend. (Picture book. 4-7)
Molly Misses Nainai Chen, Emma | Illus. by Sean Huang Red Deer Press (32 pp.) | $23.95 Feb. 10, 2024 | 9780889956889
A young immigrant processes her grandmother’s move back to China. In the painterly art, Molly is shown wearing winter gear as she drags a suitcase in a moonlit snowy landscape. When her mother catches up to her, Molly agrees to return home but tearfully admits she misses her Nainai. “Molly’s grandmother has always been right next to Molly,” the gentle narration explains. We see a toddler-aged Molly and Nainai, portrayed with bright, softly blurred layers of colors in their apartment in China. Chen marks all the milestones the two shared. “She was here” when the family flew from China to Canada, their new home. “She was here” when Molly enjoyed the foods she loves best—jiaozi and baozi (an accompanying image depicts Nainai lovingly looking on). “She was here when Molly drifted into sleep” (we see the two cuddled up in bed reading a bedtime story). “But now she is not here.” Huang employs darker hues as the story reveals that Nainai had to return to China when her sixmonth visa expired. But Molly starts adjusting to Nainai’s absence, sending her a letter adorned with hearts. The KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
Young readers needn’t feel sheepish about appreciating this sweet, entertaining story. SLEEPY SHEEPY AND THE SHEEPOVER
next day the duo talk via video chat for the first time, and Nainai’s voice brings Molly comfort. Precise, repetitive stanzas and tenderly depicted scenes help young readers follow Molly’s emotional journey. A beautifully quiet guide to navigating absence. (Picture book. 5-8)
Sleepy Sheepy and the Sheepover Cummins, Lucy Ruth | Illus. by Pete Oswald Flamingo Books (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780593465943
A slumber party is thrilling—until it isn’t. Sleepy Sheepy is excited: He’s packed his suitcase and can’t wait for his first sheepover at Grammy and Grampy Sheepy’s house. He imagines the fun things he and his “two favorite folks” will do all night long. But anticipation is different from reality. Sleepy bids his parents good night. All of a sudden, this sheepover business doesn’t seem so fun. Everything feels different. The blankets are scratchy, his jammies don’t match, his tummy feels twisty, and his eyes are misty; even Grampy’s potato collection doesn’t distract him. Sleepy Sheepy can’t sleep; he misses home. Sleepy can’t explain his feelings to his beloved grandparents. But this wise pair know what’s what. Grampy whips up a batch of cookies, Grammy reads Goodnight Mooo’n (featuring a cow, natch)—Sleepy’s dad’s favorite—and all three dance to the Woolen Stones’ album Let It Bleat. Guess what? An exhausted Sleepy Sheepy hops into KIRKUS REVIEWS
bed, ignores the blankets’ scratchiness, and falls asleep, feeling “right at home.” Cummins brings her gently humorous story, written in bouncy rhymes, to a predictable ending, but readers will enjoy it nonetheless, especially kids (er, lambs) who have had their own first “sheepovers” at a beloved relative’s home. The cheerful, lively illustrations are endearing; boldfaced typefaces of different sizes are incorporated playfully into the text. Young readers needn’t feel sheepish about appreciating this sweet, entertaining story. (Picture book. 4-7)
The Case of the Poached Painting Curran-Bauer, Christee | Union Square Kids (80 pp.) | $13.99 | Feb. 27, 2024 9781454943624 | Series: Pigeon Private Detectives
Another theft has the Pigeon Private Detectives on the case! During the night, someone steals a painting from the Museum of Food Art. Reviewing the security footage, Detectives Martin P. Sweets, Felix Danish, and Ralph Custard see the painting seemingly moving on its own, but upon zooming in, Sweets spots a “master of disguise” in the background. At “fur-ensics,” a rodent scientist analyzes a piece of shed skin left at the scene and confirms they’re looking for a reptile with camouflage capabilities. The detectives’ next task is to interview local reptiles at the pond and the City Park Zoo. After some
research at the library, the detectives return to the museum to investigate a second theft. They’ve narrowed down the clues to identify the perp, but it’ll take a lead from a boa constrictor, a cupcake bribe, and a midnight stakeout to catch the culprit! Blending graphic novel–style panels and prose, Curran-Bauer once again delivers a riveting mystery; young animal lovers will eagerly decipher the clues along with the detectives. Like the earlier installment, this one features an inspired food theme and puns galore. Cozy colored pencil artwork brings to life a world of anthropomorphic animals. “Comic breaks” occasionally interrupt the story with discussions on modern art concepts. Frequent examples of real-life art with fun twists (including a version of The Persistence of Memory with melting pizzas instead of clocks) add to the book’s educational potential. Downright delicious. (notes identifying the spoofed works of art, glossary, animal facts) (Fiction. 6-9)
Kirkus Star
The Astrochimps: America’s First Astronauts Cusick, Dawn | Chicago Review Press (208 pp.) | $19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781641608954
Meet the chimpanzees who had the right stuff to beat the Mercury Seven astronauts into space. Usually relegated to brief mentions in histories of the space race, the NASA program’s chimps take center stage here as Cusick draws on a mix of interviews and archival sources to present a vividly portrayed, meticulously researched picture of their strenuous training and experiences. Her focus is largely on the two who were actually launched (in 1961, in separate missions)—amiable Ham and surly Enos, who tore his >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 101
A story of diversity and inclusion. –Kirkus Reviews
LONG GOES TO DRAGON SCHOOL 9781953458506
Long the Dragon Plushie
yeehoopress.com Distributed by Ingram
S E E N A N D H E A R D // C H I L D R E N ’ S
SEEN AND HEARD Maxine the Corgi To Star in a Kids’ Picture Book The pup, a social media star, will be featured in Maxine Gets a Job.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
One of TikTok’s furriest influencers is getting her own book. Maxine the Fluffy Corgi, who has delighted social media users with her popular accounts, will be the subject of a children’s picture book, People magazine reports. Random House Books for Young Readers will publish Maxine Gets a Job, a book written by the dog’s owners, Alexandra Garyn and Bryan Reisberg, and illustrated by Susan Batori, next year. The press says that in the book, “Maxine the Fluffy Corgi teaches your littlest reader the
Owner Bryan Reisberg gives Maxine a lift.
importance of figuring out what they love to do and doing it with their whole hearts!” Maxine has delighted users of TikTok and Instagram, where Garyn and Reisberg upload videos of the pup’s antics and adventures. She’s been spotted hanging out with celebrities including Ed Sheeran, who clearly likes the shape of her. The book will tell the story of Maxine’s attempts to secure gainful employment, trying out gigs as a lifeguard and a sled dog. “Maxine tries (and fails at) her friends’ jobs until she realizes the key to finding the perfect job: doing what she loves,” Random House says. In an Instagram post announcing the book, Garyn and Reisberg wrote, “She’s been a source of endless happiness and laughter, so we wanted to bring all of that unbridled joy into a kids book about finding your passion.” Maxine Gets a Job is slated for publication on May 7, 2024.—M.S. For more canine picture books, visit Kirkus online.
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space suit apart and wasn’t above flinging dung at a visiting congressman. But by the time the training program was discontinued in 1970, the so-called “Chimp College” actually had over 100 residents, many of whom bettered human astronauts in feats of endurance. As background to their histories, the author deftly fills in an account of the U.S. space program’s “fast-paced Ping-Pong game” with the Soviet Union, taking particular note of how women were excluded from NASA’s program and of how annoyed the members of the all-male first class of astronauts were at being upstaged by chimps. Also, in tracing the lives of Ham and the rest as they passed from poachers in French Cameroon to final placement in wildlife refuges or (ominously) research labs, Cusick offers readers concerned with animal rights a provocative case study that she supports with specialized resources and activities at the end. “We cannot undo the past,” she writes, “but we can create a new future.” All hail these pioneering primates! (glossary, author’s note, space museums and sites, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 11-14)
Unstuck
through the haunted Quagmire to rescue her big sister. But why won’t the words come? And why do Rania and her new friends seem to be laughing at Lyla’s writing project? At home, constant fighting between Dahlia (Lyla’s “genius” older sister) and their parents hides Dahlia’s desperate desire not to attend college. How can Lyla unstick her writing, recognize her true friends, and find a practical way to help her sister? With wonderfully rich characterization and impeccable pacing, the author interweaves middle school friend and family dramas with struggles familiar to any writer. Of the many constructive suggestions offered by Lyla’s teacher, some do help her, such as not remaining laser focused on winning the contest. The inserted excerpts from Lyla’s novel demonstrate both her writing-process difficulties and how her real-life problems subconsciously inform her writing. Most main characters are cued white; Rania reads Indian American. A heartfelt exploration of a young writer’s struggles and successes, with practical advice included. (writing tips) (Fiction. 9-12)
Art Club
Dee, Barbara | Aladdin (288 pp.) | $17.99 Feb. 27, 2024 | 9781534489868
Doucet, Rashad | Little, Brown Ink (240 pp.) | $12.99 paper | Feb. 6, 2024 9780759556393
If you already know your fantasy story’s plot, characters, and world, then writing it will be easy, right? So why is Lyla so stuck? Attending a different middle school than her best friend, Rania Goswami, seventh grader Lyla hasn’t found other close friends; at lunch she’s stuck with weird, friendless, animal-obsessed Journey Lombardi-Sullivan. At least Lyla’s favorite teacher assigns them creative writing, so Lyla can finally start the story she’s long been plotting, one about a Scribe named Aster’s quest
An African American middle schooler who loves to draw struggles to establish an art club at his school. Dale Donavan loves to read comics and play video games. However, his dad’s been deployed, his mom works night shifts at the hospital, and his grandfather has moved in. Dale misses his late grandmother and their shared love of comics (something his pragmatic grandfather dismisses), and he’s less excited about helping his grandfather with his vegetable garden. At school, Dale clashes with vice principal Mr.
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Ruffins, who, like Grandpa, lectures the kids about financial stability. For his class project on a future career, Dale is inspired by a dream in which Grandma encourages his desire to be a comic book artist. Mr. Ruffins’ dismissive, discouraging response upsets Dale, who replies angrily and is sent to Principal Johnson’s office. The kindly principal listens to him and supports the idea of an art club—but they must find a faculty sponsor and a way to generate revenue. Despite the various obstacles, Dale and his friends persevere, proving the importance of art in their lives. This lively graphic novel incorporates colorful scenes from Dale’s favorite video game and comics into his story and will delight readers. Dale’s plight is handled realistically and will be recognizable to the target audience. An engaging and satisfying depiction of a real-life issue that affects many artistic students. (creator’s notes and sketches) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
Kirkus Star
You Are Part of the Wonder Doyle, Ruth | Illus. by Britta Teckentrup Little Bee Books (40 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781499814903
Children are encouraged to get outside and take it all in. Nature is a wondrous thing, and children are integral components of it. This lyrical, rhyming picture book depicts racially diverse youngsters closely observing, interacting with, and marveling at nature and its various inhabitants. As Doyle directly addresses readers, she uses language delightfully, playfully employing pleasing consonant sounds. She also exhorts kids to experience the natural world for themselves—“Watch ants work and play.” “Taste berries warm and sweet.” “Feel the tickles of tadpoles / as the stream cools your feet.” The author also shares the comforting idea that nature can help children cast off their troubles (“Throw KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A bittersweet story that’s at once an ode to and a eulogy for Black American farms. T H E L A S T S TA N D
your cares to the wind / and whisper a wish”) or can offer inspirational musings: “The sky doesn’t care how you look, what you wear. / The wind whispers, ‘You’re perfect’ / and ruffles your hair.” What a warm, gentle, and vital message this U.K. import radiates as it tells kids to “fly!” and how wonderful for children to feel embraced by nature at all times, day and night, in all seasons, and in all kinds of weather. The verses scan well, and the illustrations are enchanting—soft and delicate and full of captivating natural colors. A lovely invitation to children to see themselves as part of the larger world around them. (Picture book. 4-8)
Traveling Shoes: The Story of Willye White, US Olympian and Long Jump Champion Duncan, Alice Faye | Illus. by Keith Mallett Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (48 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 24, 2023 9781635925807
A glowing portrait of an African American track and field star who competed in five Olympics and was the first American female long
jumper to medal. With the avowed intent of inspiring readers to “dream big, prepare to win, and keep their luggage packed,” Duncan frames her well-traveled subject’s long career as a free verse highlight reel—beginning at the “starting block” in Mississippi, where she was raised by her grandparents, since her birth KIRKUS REVIEWS
parents were unwilling or unable to do so, and ending with reflections on her achievements: “When you succeed and give your all, / people will still forget. / The halls of fame include my name. / Remember my joy and shine.” Along with glancing references to raised fists and terrorist acts, reminiscences of experiences at the Olympics and other games during the 1960s and ’70s are interspersed with direct motivational quotes: “People are always trying to take away my smile, but it’s mine and they can’t have it.” Indeed, that smile shines out both in a photo of White with Wilma Rudolph and other team members at the end and in Mallett’s luminous depictions of a red-haired, brown-skinned “Wild Child” racing right past older contestants at a high school tryout, taking a blurred “jump at the sun” in Mexico City, and landing triumphantly in a shower of sand in the 1963 Pan American Games against a background of Civil Rights–era protest banners.
Shines a light on a worthy role model in need of fresh recognition. (the making of Willye B. White, author’s note, bibliography, timeline, photo credit) (Picture-book biography. 7-9)
Kirkus Star
The Last Stand Eady, Antwan | Illus. by Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey | Knopf (40 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 30, 2024 | 9780593480571
The story of one Black farmer stands in for the plight of many. The young Black protagonist who narrates the story farms
with his grandfather, Earl, whom he calls Papa. Once one of many Black farmers who sold at this market, Earl’s now the only one left, selling homegrown pumpkins, peppers, and plums. In this tight-knit community, folks look out for one another like family. When Earl is too tired to go to the market, his grandson harvests and sells the produce without him. But Earl’s customers send the boy home with goods to help Papa heal: pumpkin pie, stuffed peppers, candied plums, and plum jam. References to color abound in both text and the art: Papa’s black hands, which can make and fix anything; the black night sky in a community with no streetlights; Papa’s blue truck; the purple plums. The Pumphreys’ bold, stunning artwork, created with digitally edited handmade stamps, perfectly captures the pace of hot summer days in the rural South, the joy of growing produce for others, and the sadness of losing these important sources of nutritious food and community. In an author’s note, Eady calls his heartfelt tale both a love letter to a fading way of life and an apology to those facing the racism that has contributed to the decimation of Black-owned farms. A sumptuously illustrated, bittersweet story that’s at once an ode to and a eulogy for Black American farms. (Picture book. 4-7)
Looking for Peppermint: Or Life in the Forest Eaton III, Maxwell | Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9780823452088
While searching for a wandering pup, a capable young narrator leads a tour through the woods, regaling readers with a blend of memories, facts, and nature appreciation. Cleverly framing the story as a metafictive trek, Eaton creates a DECEMBER 1, 2023 105
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narrative as fascinating and dense as the trees in a hemlock forest. The intrepid narrator identifies realistically rendered tree and animal species and shares facts about nearby geology and geography. While the search for Peppermint feels somewhat tangential, information about cool phenomena such as glacial erratics (giant boulders!) will pique and hold kids’ interest. Vivid illustrations with clean black outlines evoke the sunny vibes of a perfect day in the great outdoors, while a crayon-style art-within-art format allows the narrator to share personal stories of her family coming across a coyote protecting her pups or Mom and Dad pulling porcupine quills from Peppermint’s poor nose. These tales have a raw authenticity, which is fitting given that backmatter explains that many stories are drawn from Eaton’s family’s experiences exploring the Adirondack Mountains, where they live. While there’s much to absorb—a plethora of panels, speech bubbles, graphs, and asides from Peppermint—Eaton weaves together the threads into a seamless whole. The family is light-skinned. Ambitious and engrossing, this field guide may inspire young readers to do some wandering of their own. (Picture book. 6-10)
Friendbots: Blink and Block Build a Fort Fang, Vicky | HarperAlley (32 pp.) | $17.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780063289659 | Series: I Can Read! Comics
Two robot pals decide that collaborating beats competing. Block, who’s square and purple, and Blink, who’s round and blue, are ambling along when they notice an assortment of empty boxes. Each claims to have been the first to think of making a fort with them. They quarrel briefly; then, miffed, each sets about building a fort—alone. 106 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Before long, each robot is curious about what the other is doing. It turns out each robot constructed something simply to obstruct the other’s view. Then…surprise! Each friend’s better nature wins out. Blink and Block join forces, combine their separate cache of boxes, share tools and compliments, and decorate their collective project. By story’s end, the friends have proudly done what they set out to do—create “the best fort ever!” Kids will enjoy this cute, early-reader comic and want to befriend these two wideeyed, jovial characters who prove that true pals resolve differences amicably and help each other. Emergent readers will find the text accessible, with a few basic sight words and simple sentences per page; vocabulary includes short and long vowels and vowel blends. The pages preceding the story contain useful tips to help children navigate comic panels and word balloons. Colorful, crisp illustrations are funny and uncluttered, allowing readers to focus on the action and the lively, expressive protagonists. The message here: Real pals build their friendships up. (what is a robot?) (Graphic early reader. 4-7)
Two Rabbits: Even Best Friends Argue Sometimes… Ferenchuk, Larissa | Illus. by Prue Pittock EK Books (32 pp.) | $19.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 9781922539656
Even the best of pals may fight, but these two childlike rabbits remind readers about the value of
friendship. When Little Grey Rabbit and Little Brown Rabbit argue on “a dark rainy night, on a cold wet field,” they exchange sharp words typical of many childish fights, and the wind carries their words along. “Don’t be so mean!” “I’m not your friend anymore!” “I don’t like you!” The rabbits go off in separate directions. As the rain continues, each rabbit deals with the storm
of anger in her heart. Their stories are told in parallel. The left-hand page of one spread shows Little Grey Rabbit trying to calm down but still kicking a fallen apple, while the right-hand page depicts Little Brown Rabbit kicking a dandelion. Both rabbits work through sadness, loss, and loneliness. As morning approaches, the wind, as their conscience, returns to remind them of their friendship, and both race back to the field with apologies, hugs, and gifts. This simple story will be a good discussion starter for readers dealing with the inevitability of childhood fights. Uncluttered, stylistic illustrations first feature leaden skies during the fight and separation but subtly transition to happy dawn colors after the two make up. For fun, readers can trace each rabbit’s path on the endpaper map. Will ease little ones through the heat of a fight to the joys of reconciliation. (Picture book. 3-6)
Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants Finkelstein, Norman H. | Illus. by Vesper Stamper | Holiday House (40 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780823451647
A Yiddish-speaking visionary improved Jewish immigrants’ lives in early-20th-century New York. Born in 1860 Lithuania (then part of the Russian Empire), Abe Cahan was a gifted linguist who learned Russian in addition to his native Yiddish. Abe taught school and ardently supported political and labor causes— dangerous in czarist Russia. Fearing for his life, Abe fled his country and, on the long journey to America, taught himself English. Upon arriving in New York, Abe labored in factories by day and improved his English by night, eventually teaching English to other Jewish newcomers. Soon, he became so proficient that he reported on Jewish immigrants’ lives for KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
A hands-on, practical, wideranging, and information-packed handbook for budding activists. MAKE YO U R MAR K , MAKE A D I F F E R E N C E
English-language newspapers and wrote stories and novels in English. In 1897, Abe helped found and then became editor of the Jewish Daily Forward, a seminal Yiddish-language newspaper that acclimated generations of Jewish immigrants to American life, teaching them, among many things, about the rules of baseball; American history, government, and the importance of voting; and health and hygiene. Abe also added an enormously popular personal-advice column called the “Bintel Brief” (“Bundle of Letters”). This well-written, stimulating picture-book biography brings much-deserved attention to an important person who highlighted and respected the lives not only of Jewish immigrants but of all immigrants, as well as workers and the poor. The colorful, attractive gouache illustrations capture period settings very capably. An influential figure receives the admiring treatment he’s earned. (more about Abe Cahan, author’s note, more about Yiddish, timeline, bibliography) (Picture-book biography. 7-11)
You Make Me Sneeze! Flake, Sharon G. | Illus. by Anna Raff | Astra Young Readers (48 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781662620195
Duck and Cat are back, and this time they’re dealing with an adventure in allergies. Poor Duck can’t stop sneezing on a camping trip. In fact, the closer Duck gets to Cat, the more the sneezes come! Duck’s beak itches, then twitches, and then a great big feather-flying “Achoo!” bursts KIRKUS REVIEWS
forth. The only logical explanation is that Duck must be allergic to Cat. Cat has all kinds of solutions: “Sit. No, lie down. No, walk this way.” “I bet a bath would help.” Nothing works. Duck thinks Cat should be the one to compromise. Duck suggests that Cat put on a coat to help minimize the dander exposure. And maybe a hat (actually, a cooking pot), just in case. All bundled up, Cat is not pleased. But the sneezes do seem to be lessening. Told entirely in dialogue using color-coded speech bubbles, this is the tale of a dynamic duo whose friendship is full of silly bickering, consternation, and smiles. When the real allergy source is discovered (spoiler alert: it’s not Cat), Duck’s elation is clear: Now the two can spend even more time together! Poor Cat. Readers who enjoyed You Are Not a Cat! (2016) will be pleased to see more from this pair.
Comparable to a series about a famous elephant and pig (who also have a sneezing book), this is a close second. (Picture book. 3-6)
Kirkus Star
A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen Frankel, Erin | Illus. by Paola Escobar Random House Studio (48 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593380574
Nobel Peace Prize nominee and chef José Andrés strives to feed the world. For Andrés, cooking has always been about more
than food. Growing up in Asturias, Spain, he learned that cooking is about people, and when he began working as a chef on a navy ship, fresh out of cooking school, he had a far greater goal than feeding sailors: He wanted everyone around the world to have enough to eat. Even when Andrés moved to the U.S. and became renowned for his food, he sought ways to use his talent to help others, a mission that took him from a D.C. soup kitchen to a humanitarian mission to Haiti to the foundation of his own NGO, World Central Kitchen. The refrain “It wasn’t just” (“the rice,” “a restaurant,” “a trip”) helps readers learn to look beyond the surface of things, to discover new possibilities, surprises, and opportunities, even in the face of tragedy. At times Andrés’ biography seems to be pressed into the service of U.S. patriotism, but the message of collectivism beyond borders saves the book from an overemphasis on American individualism. The engaging story is perfectly paired with gorgeous, whimsical illustrations full of color and texture that vividly convey emotion and add nuance to the text. Lush illustrations and a captivating narrative make this biography shine. (author’s note about José Andrés, selected bibliography, photos) (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet Galat, Joan Marie | Beyond Words/ Aladdin (352 pp.) | $22.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 9781582708454
A guide to recognizing and fighting many different kinds of injustice. The first section, “Examine Your World,” gets readers to identify >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 107
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6 Picture Books To Share This Holiday Season 2
1
1 The Mexican Dreidel
By Linda Elovitz Marshall & Ilan Stavans, illus. by Maria Mola
A heartwarming story celebrating friendship across cultural lines.
2 Dino-Hanukkah By Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Barry Gott
A high-spirited holiday charmer.
3 The Twelve Hours of Christmas
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4 How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?
By Mac Barnett, illus. by Jon Klassen
In the market for an understated Christmas classic? Behold! A Christmas miracle!
5 Lullaby for the King
4 5
By Nikki Grimes, illus. by Michelle Carlos
Masterful prose and exquisite images combine for an unforgettable Nativity retelling.
By Jenn Bailey, illus. by Bea Jackson
6 Winter
An enchanting, family-centered take on “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
Warm visuals bring to life a snowy solstice.
For more holiday picture books, visit Kirkus online.
By Kelsey E. Gross, illus. by Renata Liwska
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problems (starting with their homes, schools, and communities) and then to set specific, attainable goals and work toward solutions. Using an encouraging tone, Galat explains the concepts of human rights and activism, summarizing a slew of contemporary issues and offering condensed accounts of individual and group efforts with some brief, positive examples from around the world showing varied types of approaches. The case studies mostly highlight young people tackling problems, including some well-known names such as Malala Yousafzai and Mari Copeny. The middle sections examine in greater depth six broad areas for action: animals, the environment, space exploration, peace, equality, and poverty. The final section, “Change Is Everywhere,” focuses on engaging in activism through the arts and on remaining positive and persistent while being realistic about the pace of progress. Some vocabulary is defined in the text, including terms such as discrimination and molestation. Text boxes introduce topics for conversation and suggest immediate actions readers can take (such as making pamphlets or properly disposing of old medications), thus helping readers clarify their ideas, raise funds, and enlist others. The text, which is punctuated with stock art, embodies the clear communication skills the author endorses and is leavened with subtle humor. The book explains and encourages the many life skills and qualities involved in effective activism, such as research, critical thinking, organization, record-keeping, and empathy. A hands-on, practical, wide-ranging, and information-packed handbook for budding activists. (source notes) (Nonfiction. 10-16)
For more by Joan Marie Galat, visit Kirkus online.
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An Indigenous child’s view of the chaos and joy of being part of a large family. TOO MUCH
Max in the House of Spies Gidwitz, Adam | Dutton (320 pp.) | $19.00 Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780593112083
A determined refugee will do whatever it takes to get back to his parents—even becoming a British spy in Nazi Germany. When 11-year-old Max Bretzfeld, a Jewish boy from Berlin, is sent to England on the Kindertransport in 1939, he’s accompanied by two tiny men on his shoulders whom only he can see. The German kobold and Jewish dybbuk rarely interact with Max, but they comically comment on his circumstances. And such circumstances! After a working-class upbringing, he’s fostered in England by Jewish baron Lord Montagu. Most of the white non-Jewish people Max encounters are shudderingly classist, racist, and antisemitic, but after a childhood in Nazi Germany, this is hardly new. Nonetheless, he’ll do anything to get back to his parents, and thus, Max sets out to become a spy. While it may be hard to convince British intelligence to send him back to Germany, Max will do whatever it takes. Despite the compelling premise and likable characters, readers will have to wait for the sequel for a payoff. After a strong start, the kobold and dybbuk are relegated to the roles of Greek chorus, and the story’s fascination with the real-life people who inspired the secondary characters is such that various questions concerning them are intriguing but remain unresolved in this volume. Nonetheless,
this book—packed with sideways thinking, sociopolitical insights, and a Marmite-eating kangaroo named Kathy—delights.
A duology opener with a truly likable hero and clever puzzling. (historical note, annotated bibliography) (Historical fiction. 8-11)
Too Much: My Great Big Native Family Goodluck, Laurel | Illus. by Bridget George Simon & Schuster (40 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 23, 2024 | 9781665911269
An Indigenous child’s view of the chaos and joy of being part of a large family. Russell is one of nine in an intergenerational family filled with commotion. Even simple activities such as sharing a meal or watching a movie can leave Russell feeling lost in the shuffle. Upon landing a role in the school play, Russell is overjoyed—“but no one hears me” at the bustling dinner table. As the burgeoning actor rehearses, the overwhelming feeling of too much family time prompts Russell to keep opening night a secret. The first act goes off without a hitch, but Russell can’t ignore the “one empty row” and the lack of “waves, whistles, or woo-hoos.” Cheerful cartoony images by George (Anishinaabe) light up the moment when Russell calls the family into the theater for the second act. Afterward, as the family gathers to celebrate Russell’s acting debut, the child finally has the floor and expresses gratitude for having “the best family ever.” Author Goodluck (Mandan/Hidatsa/Tsimshian) concludes KIRKUS REVIEWS
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Not the most original tale but sweet and engaging nonetheless. BIRTLE AND THE PURPLE TURTLE
with backmatter describing her own intertribal family’s experiences as part of units with extended and nonbiological relatives. Though the narrative sometimes feels a little disjointed, the cultural significance of large family structures in Native communities is on loving display in this picture book. A tender, slightly chaotic tribute to extended Native families. (Picture book. 5-10)
Every Wrinkle Has a Story Grossman, David | Illus. by Ninamasina Trans. by Jessica Cohen | Groundwood (36 pp.) | $19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781773068275
In this tale translated from Italian, a grandfather teaches his grandson about the beauty of aging. Every Tuesday, Grandpa Amnon picks up Yotam from kindergarten, and the two go to Aviva’s cafe. Aviva calls them “the grandpa who laughs and the boy who draws,” and on this particular day, Yotan asks Grandpa about his wrinkles. “Wrinkles are something grownups get,” Grandpa responds. He explains that some wrinkles come from sad moments and others from happy ones. Yotan thinks that one of Grandpa’s wrinkles, which formed after the death of a beloved dog, “looks like Papaya’s tail,” while Grandpa claims that another comes from his frequent smiles after the birth of his grandson. The book wraps up with Yotan deciding that he simply must draw what he’s learned. Relying on lingering KIRKUS REVIEWS
moments and lengthy descriptions, this feels more like a meditation on aging, loss, and joy for adults than a tale for children; those without a sentimental attachment to a wrinkled adult likely won’t feel any particular connection. The spare, blue art is intriguing, and the book’s creative use of outlining and white space (with characters who are either seen in blueish silhouettes or have skin the white of the page) adds to the mature feel of the text. A story of body acceptance that will resonate more with grown-ups than young people. (Picture book. 4-8)
Birtle and the Purple Turtle Hannon, Tara J. | Andrews McMeel Publishing (80 pp.) | $11.99 | Jan. 9, 2024 9781524880668 | Series: Birtle, 1
“It was a Tuesday like any other in Turtletown”—until it wasn’t. Tootie wants nothing more than someone to play with, but none of the other turtles are interested in tag! Tootie has never gotten to play her favorite game with anyone. When a strange little creature falls from the sky, Tootie’s day takes a sudden turn for the weird—and wonderful. Tootie and the newly named Teeny have a lot in common and quickly become best friends. But Teeny is different. So different, in fact, she might not be a turtle at all. Will Tootie be able to convince her that different can be good? The central message about accepting difference feels a bit contrived, but it’s admittedly very funny (and occasionally heart-rending) to
watch what’s definitely a bird navigate trying to be a turtle. In one scene, Tootie takes Teeny to the shell store, where Teeny tries on fancy shells, mossy shells, spiky shells, and more; later, Teeny grows even more feathers, and the pair try to cover them up. A limited palette and minimal detail allow the expressions and individuality of the characters to shine. These dynamic illustrations carry the story, whereas the occasionally stilted dialogue and bubbly interjections serve it less well.
Not the most original tale but sweet and engaging nonetheless. (Graphic fiction. 5-8)
Mabel and the Mountain: A Story About Believing in Yourself Hillyard, Kim | Penguin Workshop (32 pp.) $14.99 | Jan. 30, 2024 | 9780593659021
A roly-poly fly accomplishes a very large goal. Mabel, a tiny speck who looks like a pea with wings, has an ambitious list of “BIG PLANS.” On this list are three important aspirations: “1. Climb a MOUNTAIN; 2. Host a dinner party; 3. Make friends with a shark.” Mabel’s skeptical friends scoff and tell her it can’t be done; after all, “flies do not climb. They fly!” But that just makes Mabel even more determined. Rendered in large black letters against a cheery yellow backdrop, the message shines bright: “LISTEN TO THOSE WHO SAY YOU CAN.” Mabel also pipes up with a confident “I can do it!” Then, after scaling less daunting climbs (a large nose, a wobbly plate of Jell-O), Mabel finds a worthy challenge—a tall, looming mountain. It’s a thorny journey; Mabel has doubts. She considers changing her goal to “Climb a TREE,” but she perseveres. In this original take on The Little Engine That Could, Mabel reaches the top! Featuring a protagonist who brims with grit and determination, Hillyard’s tale is affirming. Humor balances out all possible platitudes, and Mabel, the rotund DECEMBER 1, 2023 111
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little hero with a tiny rucksack and hat, is a delight. Readers can’t help but cheer her on. Small but mighty. (Picture book. 3-6)
Determined Dreamer: The Story of Marie Curie Hopkinson, Deborah | Illus. by Jen Hill Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780062373328
How does a young woman shoulder past personal tragedies and gender prejudice to achieve her dream? In Marie Curie’s case, by being “unstoppable” in her desire to become a scientist, in Hopkinson’s view. This outline of her brilliant career follows her from early years as “a child who wanted to learn” (“just like you,” the author notes leadingly) through her first glimpse of radium’s eerie “luminous light”—and the deaths of her mother, sister, and commendably supportive husband, Pierre—to wellearned renown as the winner of not one but two Nobel Prizes and her relatively early death from, probably, exposure to radiation. The author’s note closes with Curie’s affirmation that whatever comes in life, “still one must always work,” and though her daughters do draw mentions, the focus throughout here is less on her private character than her labors and achievements. Hill places her small, quietly resolute figure in various finely detailed period settings from a genteel family home in Warsaw to the cluttered lab in Paris where she conducted most of her laborious early research. Human figures are uniformly light-skinned until a final view of a diverse group of modern children gathered in delight around a spectacularly foamy chemistry experiment. Little sign of the person beneath the icon, but a better role model for kids facing glass ceilings would be hard to find. (timeline, source notes, bibliography, recommended reading) (Picture-book biography. 7-10) 112 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Bumps in the Night Howard, Amalie | Delacorte (304 pp.) $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Feb. 20, 2024 9780593645871 | 9780593645888 PLB
A 12-year-old has a lot to learn about her true powers and her mom’s side of the family before she can save everyone she loves. Since her parents’ divorce and her mother’s disappearance, Skittles-loving Rika Lovelace-Rose from Colorado has had a lot of complicated feelings but not the best channels for expressing them. Sending her to visit Granny in Trinidad and Tobago was supposed to help. Yet, when she meets a talking iguana and a grimoire speaks to her, it becomes obvious to Rika that there’s a lot more to her maternal line than meets the eye. An art project offers a revelation that may answer questions about where Mom’s gone. With Piku (the baby iguana with the heart of a dragon) in tow, Rika teams up with a crew of magical tweens to uncover even more Trini folkloric mysteries that, as a Lovelace, she’s intimately tied to. Eventually, it becomes obvious: Rika is a witch. The father of Nox, Rika’s annoyingly cute crush, is trapped along with Rika’s mom in an evil silk cotton tree; to get them back and save the world, Rika and friends must work together to navigate a maze, overcome puzzling trials, and combat Caribbean monsters, including douens, a soucouyant, and la diablesse. The twists and turns, mythological elements, and compelling narration pack a punch. The novel centers Black and brown characters, reflecting the diversity of the setting. Exciting, culturally rich fun and adventure. (author’s note) (Paranormal. 8-12) For more by Amalie Howard, visit Kirkus online.
The School for Invisible Boys Hutchinson, Shaun David | Labyrinth Road (304 pp.) | $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Feb. 6, 2024 9780593646298 | 9780593646304 PLB Series: The Kairos Files, 1
When bullying triggers Hector’s unsuspected ability to turn invisible, it seems like a superpower—but he’s not invisible to the monster lurking at school. At home, sixth grader Hector faces bullying stepbrothers and a stepfather who values sports over piano. He was reconciled to his Catholic boys’ school thanks to best friend Blake—until Hector asked Blake to be his boyfriend, and Blake (despite having two moms) turned into a homophobic bully. After Hector discovers his power of invisibility while hiding from Blake, he encounters former pupil Orson, who’s been stuck there for years being invisible and pursued by the tentacled gelim, who entraps vulnerable students and feeds on their fears. As a gay boy and a Black boy (respectively) in a predominantly white school, Hector and Orson are easy targets. Wanting to save Orson and defeat the gelim, Hector finds allies in school librarian Mr. Morhill and Samantha, Mr. Morhill’s niece, a fellow student others perceive as a boy; Orson is also an active participant who supports Hector. Throughout his ordeals, Hector still hopes Blake will return to normal. This well-structured story is threaded with themes of misjudgment, misunderstanding, forgetting, and forgiveness. Both the visible and invisible worlds are evocatively described, and the characters are believably flawed. Despite mitigating circumstances, Hector’s swift forgiveness of Blake may sit uneasily with some readers, and while the gelim is suitably terrifying, the convoluted details about how it functions may be confusing. Invisibility offers no protection in this well-paced, multilayered horror story. (Paranormal. 9-12)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
A nuanced and quietly powerful story. DRAWING DEENA
Kirkus Star
Harriet’s Reflections Kadi, Marion | Trans. by Marion Kadi & Abram Kaplan | Eerdmans (48 pp.) $18.99 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780802856210
When an old lion dies, his bored reflection lives on…and finds a perfect match in a discontented girl. The lion’s reflection winds up outside Harriet’s house. Soon he decides he wants to be her reflection. As Harriet unhappily walks to school, nose in a book, the gigantic animal leaps into a puddle in which Harriet’s wavering image raises her hands in shock. When the child gazes down to see the lion reflected there, she comments, “How fierce I look this morning.” At first, she has “a terribly good time” on the playground. A newly confident Harriet thrives in the classroom, too, until later in the week, when her beastly behavior lands her in trouble. Kadi’s paintings channel the vivid colors of Paul Gauguin’s Tahitian art and Maira Kalman’s whimsical faces. Dynamic energy flows in the curving lines of characters and landscapes. Ultimately, Harriet misses her former self. While hiding under the bed, she finds a small mirror and a face she remembers. Confronting the lion, she comes up with a solution that satisfies everyone. Translated from French, Kadi’s dynamic narrative deftly exploits the universal fascination with the mystery of mirrors. Brief, matter-offact sentences and situations lead to wildly humorous visuals. The girl’s KIRKUS REVIEWS
skin is as orange as the lion’s; she is distinguished by wavy, black hair. Her class is diverse.
A highly original tale of trying on—and ultimately integrating—multiple identities. (Picture book. 4-7)
Grumpy Hat Kent, Nicola | Andersen Press USA (32 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9798765625309
A tussle over a toy leads to a case of crankiness. When a sibling squabble gets out of hand, Ravi, a young puppy, breaks his sister Ruby’s treasured toy car, and both kids end the day feeling bad. Often a good night’s sleep is all one needs to feel better, but Ravi wakes up the next morning with yesterday’s grumpy mood still hanging heavy, manifesting as a red hat that won’t come off. Ravi’s dad tries to help him shake off his sorrows, pulling out time-tested parental fail-safes like food and a change of scenery, but nothing works. Ravi is determined to get the hat off himself but discovers that sometimes the harder we try to change a bad mood, the worse it gets. Ravi feels alone and sad until he remembers that there’s one thing he hasn’t tried: an apology. Young children will recognize familiar behavior and emotions. Kent models solid ways to start conversations about problem-solving and big feelings. Subtle touches in the childlike illustrations, such as a sock that pops up on various pages and Ruby imitating Ravi’s actions in the background, make this relatable story even more charming and believable. Details
including Ruby’s vehicle-themed bedspread and omnipresent car, as well as Dad carrying the domestic load, gently subvert gender stereotypes.
An appealing choice to help little ones cope with big emotions. (Picture book. 3-6)
Kirkus Star
Drawing Deena Khan, Hena | Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster (240 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781534459915
Seventh grader Deena has a passion for art, a supportive Pakistani American community—and anxiety. Deena feels nauseated every morning; her clenched jaw has even resulted in a cracked tooth. Her parents already fight over finances, so an expensive nightguard adds to the stress. If Mama could earn more from her small home business designing and selling desi clothing, the family would also have enough money for Deena to take drawing lessons. With the help of cousins and friends, Deena successfully executes an online marketing campaign for her mom’s business, unfurled with careful attention to internet safety and featuring a logo she designed herself. These achievements, plus encouragement from a new artist customer, help grow Deena’s confidence in her creative abilities. But now that she’s getting accolades, she encounters relationship turmoil. That, plus the impact of her parents’ fighting, leads to a scary panic attack in math class. Deena embraces help from a team of adults at school, but will her parents be able to understand and accept her mental health needs? Meanwhile, through her art, Deena goes on a journey of personal and creative discovery and self-expression. Readers will delight >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 113
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SEEN AND HEARD New Kids’ Book From LeBron James Coming in 2024
James: Ethan Miller/Getty Images; Limón: Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
HarperCollins will publish I Am More Than, illustrated by Niña Mata, next April. LeBron James is making his return to the world of children’s literature, CNN reports. HarperCollins will publish the Los Angeles Lakers forward’s I Am More Than, illustrated by Niña Mata, next year. The book will be a follow-up to James and Mata’s I Promise, published in 2020, which a Kirkus critic praised as “sincere and wholehearted.” The new book, HarperCollins says, “motivates readers to remember they can accomplish their goals when they believe in themselves! Written in fun rhyming verse and illustrated by award-winning and bestselling artist Niña Mata, this book will help little dreamers dream BIG.” James is also the author of another book for young readers, We Are Family, co-written with Andrea Williams, and a memoir, Shooting Stars, co-written with Buzz Bissinger. James shared the news on Instagram, writing, “Our next book is about
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Picture Book by Ada Limón Coming in 2024 The book will be an illustrated edition of her space-bound poem, “In Praise of Mystery.” believing in yourself and all the amazing things you’re capable of, which NO ONE else can define for YOU. I hope ya’ll feel inspired to be #MoreThan in this next one.” Mata also weighed in on the social media platform in a post that reads in part, “The inspiration behind the illustrations of ‘I Am More Than’ is a reflection of the response from parents, teachers, and librarians from ‘I Promise.’ The emails, and snail mails I’d get [with] people showing how they have incorporated the affirmations in their lesson plans and the creativity that came out of it…is out of this world!” I Am More Than is scheduled for publication on April 2, 2024.—M.S. For a review of I Promise, visit Kirkus online.
U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón will make her picture book debut with an illustrated edition of her poem “In Praise of Mystery.” Norton Young Readers will publish the special edition of the poem, featuring illustrations by Peter Sís (The Pilot and the Little Prince, Ice Cream Summer), next year, the press announced in a news release. In June, the Library of Congress announced that Limón’s poem would be engraved upon NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, which is headed to Jupiter’s moon Europa next year. The poem reads in part: We are creatures of constant awe, curious at beauty, at leaf and blossom, at grief and pleasure, sun and shadow.
“Writing this poem was one of the greatest honors of my life, but also one of the most difficult tasks I’ve ever been assigned,” Limón said in a statement. “Eventually, what made the poem come together was realizing that in pointing toward other planets, stars and moons, we are also recognizing the enormous gift that is our planet Earth. To point outward is also to point inward.” Norton says of the new edition of the poem, “Uniting two renowned artists who are leading figures in their fields, the book pairs Limón’s profound lyricism with Sís’s intricately detailed artwork.” In Praise of Mystery is slated for publication on Oct. 1, 2024, the same month that the Europa Clipper is scheduled to be launched.—M.S. For more on Ada Limón’s space-bound poem, visit Kirkus online.
This will be the first children’s book by the U.S. poet laureate. The L.A. Lakers forward is teaming up again with illustrator Mata.
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in Deena’s endearing voice: She’s an inventive and relatable protagonist. Khan skillfully weaves in cultural references and Urdu phrases alongside thoughtful questions about the arts, mental health, social media, parent-child relationships, and the pressures adolescent girls face about their appearances. A nuanced and quietly powerful story. (Fiction. 8-13)
Dread Detention Killick, Jennifer | Delacorte (208 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780593652251 Series: Creatures & Teachers, 1
Four kids sentenced to Saturday detention learn that their school grounds are hiding some sinister secrets. For Angelo and fellow students Hallie, Naira, and Gus, their punishment seems like the worst thing ever. At first it appears the kids couldn’t be more different, and there’s no love lost between any of them, but as they spend time together, they start to discover commonalities and begin developing mutual respect, which comes in handy when their teacher suddenly disappears into a crack in the ground. As it turns out, the forest surrounding Dread Wood Academy is home to some terrifying giant creatures. Are the elderly couple employed by the school who constantly sing or whistle “Itsy Bitsy Spider” harmless eccentrics…or are they up to something nefarious? As the foursome shift from being mostly strangers to a tightknit, supportive team, their banter becomes realistic and at times quite humorous. Though the novel is narrated by Angelo, all the kids deal with personal problems and open up about bad decisions they’ve made to protect themselves at the expense of others; their realizations about themselves 116 DECEMBER 1, 2023
provide considerable depth and character development alongside the shudder-inducing horrors and moments of action and suspense. No mention is made of the characters’ races or ethnicities. A creepy tale that boasts both thrills and authentically complex characters. (Horror. 10-14)
Find Momo Everywhere Knapp, Andrew | Quirk Books (32 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781683693864 Series: Find Momo, 7
Readers bid farewell to a beloved canine character. Momo is—or was—an adorable and very photogenic border collie owned by author Knapp. The many readers who loved him in the previous half-dozen books are in for a shock with this one. “Momo had died” is the stark reality—and there are no photographs of him here. Instead, Momo has been replaced by a flat cartoonish pastiche with strange, staring round white eyes, inserted into some of Knapp’s photography (which remains appealing, insofar as it can be discerned under the mixed media). Previous books contained few or no words. Unfortunately, virtuosity behind a lens does not guarantee mastery of verse. The art here is accompanied by words that sometimes rhyme but never find a workable or predictable rhythm (“We’d fetch and we’d catch, / we’d run and we’d jump. Every day we found new / games to play”). It’s a pity, because the subject—a pet’s death—is an important one to address with children. Of course, Momo isn’t gone; he can still be found “everywhere” in memories. But alas, he can be found here only in the crude depictions of the darling dog so well known from the earlier books.
Sounds Good!: Discover 50 Instruments Könnecke, Ole & Hans Könnecke | Trans. by Melody Shaw | Illus. by Ole Könnecke Gecko Press (112 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781776575558
An exploration of musical instruments, translated from German. Brief descriptions of the instruments are accompanied by details on their origins or musical relevance. Readers will recognize some familiar instruments such as the piano, the guitar, and the drums, but potentially lesser-known ones such as the jaw harp, the cor anglais, and the theremin are also covered. Thoughtfully, the authors include the four parts of the human voice—bass, tenor, alto, and soprano—and, perhaps surprisingly, the computer, which demonstrates how ever present and flexible our conceptions of music can be. Each page features a QR code that links to a short music clip impressively composed by Hans Könnecke—just enough to get a taste of the instrument’s range, power, and mood. The theremin’s eerie electronic sound certainly lands differently than the melodic soprano singer. In a fascinating wrap-up to the book’s compilation of sounds, all the instruments can be heard at once by scanning a QR code on the back cover. Ole Könnecke’s loose-lined illustrations depict animals plucking, strumming, and banging away, often with a connection to the history of the instrument, such as the kilt-wearing bagpiper. This book would serve as an incredible resource for teachers and caregivers alike eager to find a child-friendly introduction to sound and music history. A noteworthy, useful, and modern instrument encyclopedia. (Nonfiction. 6-11) For more by Ole Könnecke, visit Kirkus online.
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute. (Picture book. 4-8)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
A gentle, poignant tale of awakening to the subtle, healing wonders of the wild. WILDFUL
Wildful Kurimoto, Kengo | Groundwood (216 pp.) $22.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781773068626
Encounters with the natural world help a girl and her mother grieve. With Mum inert with grief over Gran’s death, Poppy passes the time taking her dog, Pepper, for walks. Unlike Poppy, who stares obliviously at her phone, the lively dog is distracted by the sights of the world around him. When Pepper suddenly chases after a fox, Poppy frantically runs after him, ending up in a forest clearing, where she encounters a boy named Rob, whose affinity with nature intrigues her. She returns again and again to the forest, where, with Rob’s guidance, she learns to be still and observant, recognizing deer tracks and understanding the calls of wrens. She even starts noticing the beauty of pockets of nature in town. As Poppy experiences more of the wild (and less of her phone), she longs to show Mum the world she’s discovering. Soft, sepia-toned images executed in ballpoint pen, ink paint, and Photoshop convey the shadowy feel of the forest, inviting readers to envision its quiet. The clean, regular panels, most of them wordless, often present series of scenes that unfold like the frames of a film, asking readers to closely observe details alongside Poppy and Rob. Emotional complexities are soothingly resolved, and readers will be drawn in by the appealing characters, touching narrative, and satisfying ending. Poppy and her mother are cued British Asian; Rob reads white. A gentle, poignant tale of awakening to the subtle, healing wonders of the wild. (author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 9-12) KIRKUS REVIEWS
Kirkus Star
Guts for Glory: The Story of Civil War Soldier Rosetta Wakeman Lapati, JoAnna | Eerdmans (56 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780802854643
Posing as a man, a brave young woman became a Civil War soldier. In 1862, 19-yearold Rosetta Wakeman lived with her family on a farm in upstate New York. Craving excitement, she bound her chest, cut off her braid, dressed in her father’s old clothes, practiced speaking with a deeper voice, and adopted a new first name: Lyons. Thus disguised, Rosetta successfully signed on to a coal barge without arousing suspicion. Several days later, the boat reached the town of Canajoharie, where a new regiment—the 153rd New York State Volunteers—was forming to fight for the Union; Lyons enlisted, adding two years to her age. Luckily, the medical exam was superficial, and her secret remained safe. She and the regiment departed for Virginia, where they drilled daily; at night, she wrote letters—excerpts are included—and sent her much-needed army pay home. Eventually, the regiment moved on to Washington, D.C., then Louisiana. The soldiers’ lives were filled with peril as they faced the enemy, but Lyons proved handy with a rifle. Backmatter reveals that Rosetta/Lyons Wakeman died of dysentery in New Orleans on June 19, 1864, aged 21. This is a fascinating, well-told, close-up glimpse into women’s, military, and Civil War history; Rosetta’s story will inspire. The exceptional scratchboard illustrations, with
some color digitally added, resemble wood engravings and beautifully capture period details and settings.
An excellent work that brings history home for readers and will make them ponder: What might I have done? (glossary, author’s note, about the art, more about Rosetta Wakeman and the Civil War, timeline, Rosetta Wakeman’s letters, endpaper glossary) (Informational picture book. 8-12)
Sally’s New Look Larsen, Andrew | Illus. by Dawn Lo Orca (32 pp.) | $19.95 | Feb. 13, 2024 9781459836914
More excitement is on the horizon for Sally. When the small pooch, whom readers may recognize from Sally’s Big Day (2023), and two of her humans go out, they walk past the park and even the coffee shop. Where can they be going? At the top of some steps, they meet a man named Omar. “Omar’s place smells like a garden. Sally sees combs and brushes and bows.” Omar puts her in the sink with lots of bubbles (Sally enjoys biting them). After the bath comes the hair dryer. It’s loud, but it blows soothing warm air. Then Omar clips and cuts and trims Sally’s fur, and she gets a biscuit for being such a good dog. Her humans return to the shop, and they have new looks, too! Once home for a nap, Sally dreams of those fun bubbles. Larsen and Lo team up again to bring sweet pup Sally’s simple adventures to life. The tale is told in short, declarative (or interrogative) sentences. Lo’s digitally created artwork is soft and leans toward the pastel. Toddlers who are trepidatious about their first trips to the barber or the salon will identify and be calmed…and probably want to play with bubbles. Sally’s family is light-skinned, and Omar is dark-skinned. Reassurance that new experiences don’t have to be scary. (Picture book. 2-5)
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Earth’s fellow planets suffer from galactic envy. THE TROUBLE WITH EARTH
anteater, is the main selling point of this uneven tale. Strictly for kids who can’t get enough of sloths. (Picture book. 4-7)
Kirkus Star
Daughters of the Lamp The Trouble With Earth Latimer, Alex | Andersen Press USA (32 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9798765625293
Earth’s fellow planets suffer from galactic envy. The planets are going on vacation but won’t allow Earth on the bus. Mars claims she’s not on the list; the others say there’s no room. Earth doesn’t understand what’s happening and drives all night to locate her friends. She finds all eight lounging in a hot tub. (Pluto has horned in.) When Earth confronts them, they reveal the truth: She has fleas. They’ve seen her scratching! Could she be contagious? Earth laughs and invites the other planets to examine her atmosphere. Holy biodiversity! Upon closer inspection, the planets see marvelous animals and plants of every description—including fleas— living everywhere. Earth agrees she’s “infested” but says she loves all her creatures. She assures her fellow planets they could never catch what she’s got because only conditions on Earth allow life to thrive. When the planets express their jealousy, Earth invites them to visit her so she can explain how special her lifeforms are. The following year, guess whose name’s first on the bus list? Children will enjoy this cute U.K. import’s thought-provoking, life-affirming, conservationist premise, expressed with breezy, rhyming verse; they’ll also learn some very basic facts about the planets in the process. The energetic illustrations are appealing: The expressive, spherical planets have tiny eyes and stick-figure limbs, 118 DECEMBER 1, 2023
and Earth’s abundant lifeforms burst from the pages with colorful glee. Let’s hear it for Earth: The third planet from the sun has plenty to cheer about. (Picture book. 4-7)
Slow Down, Stanley Levi, Elena | Illus. by Giulia Pastorino Trans. by Laura Tammaro | Boxer Books (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781914912719
A unique sloth saves his community. Sloths may be famously slow, but young Stanley, a brownish-gray sloth who wears an orange baseball cap, is the exception. Though it’s never explained why, he doesn’t sleep in the daytime, instead preferring to watch the goings-on of the forest and teach himself to leap from branch to branch like a monkey. When he shows his fellow young sloths the fun that can be had from jumping through the trees, the adults in the community get annoyed and make Stanley’s dad give his son a talking-to. Stanley argues that it can be helpful to swing through the trees and confidently tells his dad, “You’ll be proud of my jumping someday.” That day conveniently comes in the form of a forest fire, when Stanley’s skills save everyone. Much might have been lost in translation from the original Italian, with stiff, oddly constructed sentences and clunky descriptions that distract from what could have been a cute story about defying others’ assumptions. The bold, crude art, depicting smiling sloths and a hatted
Lewers, Nedda | Putnam (352 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780593619308 | Series: Daughters of the Lamp, 1
Egyptian American Sahara comes to value her dual cultural heritage when her first trip to her parents’ homeland reveals a magical family history. Going to Cairo to attend her maternal uncle’s wedding was never on 12-year-old Sahara Rashad’s summer agenda. Since the death of her mother when Sahara was a newborn, she’s had no contact with that side of the family and is unsure how she will be received. Despite her worries, she becomes fast friends with her cousin Naima and feels genuine love from all her relatives, except for her uncle’s fiancee, Magda. Sahara and Naima suspect Magda has sinister intentions that the adults don’t take seriously. Meanwhile, the story of 13-year-old Morgana, a servant of Ali Baba in 10th-century Baghdad, unfolds in an alternate storyline. As the novel progresses, the connection between the two girls takes shape, revealing a centuries-old family secret in danger from malicious outside forces. Sahara’s contemplation of her identity and her search for self-acceptance provide an entertaining and relatable backdrop to her encounters with magical elements. Details of Islamic practices and life in Egypt are peppered throughout the novel, flowing naturally as Sahara asks questions about things she doesn’t understand. Lewers cleverly builds on the folktale of Ali Baba and Morgana to construct a magical origin story with a KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
A sweet, contemplative tale of friendship. I LIVED INSIDE A WHALE
rich sense of place and an original twist that can be expanded upon in future volumes.
An engaging fantasy inspired by a classic tale that’s guaranteed to leave readers eager for more. (Fantasy. 8-12)
I Lived Inside a Whale Li, Xin | Little, Brown (48 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780316492270
A child who finds the world too noisy decides to live inside a whale. During what appears to be a sibling’s birthday party, an Asian-presenting child with two spiky pigtails hides out in another room reading a book on whales, a “Do not disturb” sign hanging nearby. Inspired, the child fashions a small boat, tapes a drawing of a whale head to the wall, and sails into the whale’s gaping mouth. Inside, it’s dark and quiet, “just the way I preferred.” But a shrieking boy, who also appears to be Asian, rolls in from the party on a skateboard, bringing with him “everything I was running away from.” The loud boy and the narrator make a deal: After he’s quiet for half the day, the narrator will then acknowledge him. As promised, the narrator entrances the boy with stories of all kinds as the art shifts from more muted blues to bright colors and whirlwinds of fantastic landscapes. In a poignant moment, the narrator reveals the reason for being in the whale: to “hear my own voice.” This gives the boy an idea, allowing for a return to the real world with his new friend. Cozy artwork visually depicts KIRKUS REVIEWS
both the cacophony of the world and the young narrator’s flights of fancy. This is a gentle, relatable story about a child with sensory sensitivity finding a way to forge connections with others.
A sweet, contemplative tale of friendship and discovering one’s voice. (Picture book. 4-8)
Day of the Living Liv Livingston, Liv | Illus. by Glass House Graphics | Little Simon/Simon & Schuster (144 pp.) | $19.99 | Jan. 30, 2024 9781665942287 | Series: Spirited, 1
Big changes are in store for Liv. “How does the world end?” Liv asks, melodramatically. “It ends with a box.” A moving box, that is. Liv, along with her mother, stepdad, and little sister, Amelia, leaves Pleasant Place for Gloomsdale. But their new home is spooky—a porch chair rocks on its own, sounds unnerve Liv’s cat in the night, and coffee is mysteriously ready all by itself in the morning. Things get weirder at Liv’s school, which is populated by ghostly children who exclaim, “It’s not every day we get a living girl!” Bats serve as hall monitors, and classrooms shift places. Though she gets off to a rocky start, Liv eventually finds herself beginning to enjoy her odd new school as she realizes that her new friends—Howl, a bespectacled, tan-skinned boy whose werewolf form is a small puppy, and Vera van Pire, a brown-skinned creature of the night—accept her just as she is. Clearly defined panels and clean-lined art, with Liv’s thoughtful observations
shown in multiple text boxes throughout, create an easy-to-follow narrative that serves as a good setup for Liv’s future adventures in Gloomsdale. And though the story has supernatural creatures aplenty, things never get too scary. Liv, Amelia, and their mother are tan-skinned; Liv’s stepdad is darker-skinned. A lively, mildly spooky mix of magic, ghostly goings-on, school drama, and friendship. (Graphic fiction. 8-10)
The Princess Protection Program London, Alex | Greenwillow Books (240 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780063303874
Sleeping Beauty wakes up and immediately runs away, then finds herself in a school in the modern day. Cheeky prose narrates 16-yearold (“but she was also, it dawned on her, one hundred and sixteen!”) Rosamund’s hasty escape from the overeager prince through a nearby bathroom and into an unknown world. Her childhood tutor encouraged her to ask questions, so when she gets to the Orphans’ Home Educational Academy, which cares for fellow princesses (after all, HEA “could stand for Happily Ever After”), that’s the first thing she does. Rosamund’s confusion about cell phones, social media, and jeggings provides light amusement, as do on-the-nose references to Perrault and Calvino that might pass younger readers by. Rosamund soon learns that questions are not welcome, but she can’t silence her curiosity. She sneaks off campus with classmates Rana and Sirena to meet greasy teenage boys and discovers the joys of pizza. When Sirena, aka the Little Mermaid, gets eaten by a monster called an Uponatime, Rosamund realizes she has many more questions, and she must face her fears to figure out her new story. Rosamund’s journey offers some trenchant DECEMBER 1, 2023 119
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truisms (“That’s the risk of standing up for yourself…There’s no promise of a happy ending”), and the resolution is appropriately satisfying. While the tone is amusing, the book draws upon the more gruesome traditional versions of the tales. Most characters read white; Rana is olive-skinned. A lighthearted modern take on the adventures of fairy-tale princesses. (Fantasy. 8-12)
Hideaway Longo, Melania | Illus. by Alessandro Sanna | Trans. by Brenda Porster | Red Comet Press (48 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781636550848
In this Italian import, siblings enjoy hidden adventures in a private lair. The narrator, who has long blond curly hair and light skin, has a most enchanting forest hideaway. Into this special shelter, the child invites “my favorite friend in adventure,” whom we might take to be the white cat stalking almost every spread…until the arrival of the narrator’s brother. His “long legs” knock down the branches tied together to form the hideaway, but together they reconstruct it. They stock necessities there: flashlight, magnifying glass, crayons, paper, cookies, water, recorder, pebbles (some dangling from string in a kind of mobile). Day or night, winter or summer, they’re aware of nature as they kneel under the sun, read the stars, and listen “to the swarming silence.” It’s a place where they can imagine running with animals, don masks, and hunt shadows, where “we try not to be ourselves.” But then, ensconced in their leafy glade, they hear a voice and freeze. “It’s our mom!” It’s revealed that the hideaway is in fact a bedspread covering two chairs in their bedroom. “Determined, / but calm and smiling,” their brownskinned mother helps them put the leaf-patterned covers back on their 120 DECEMBER 1, 2023
beds as they pledge that “tomorrow we will continue.” Masterful use of linework and touches of color bring their fantasy world to life, making us believe in its “no limits” reality.
A beautiful tribute to imaginative play. (Picture book. 3-6)
Kirkus Star
You Owe Me One, Universe Lucas, Chad | Amulet/Abrams (304 pp.) $17.99 | Nov. 7, 2023 | 9781419766862 Series: Thanks a Lot, Universe, 2
Nova Scotia middle schoolers Brian and Ezra return with new obstacles to overcome in this sequel to Thanks a Lot, Universe (2021). Eighth grade brings many changes for the best friends. To start with, there’s the crush that Ezra has on Brian, which neither of them knows how to resolve, leading up to a test kiss that fizzles. Brian is also coping with his father’s imprisonment for cannabis distribution and trying to hold it all together for his family. Luckily, he has the basketball team and a solid group of racially diverse friends, who become vital when he’s diagnosed with depression. Ezra is getting more into his music, preparing for a school talent show that unexpectedly leads to feelings of attraction for Victor, the boy who spent last year bullying Brian. Ezra becomes increasingly conflicted as he and Victor spend more time together, especially since Brian seems to be on the decline, and he doesn’t know how to help him. Throughout the turbulence, the boys lean on their community as they navigate their growing pains. Themes of identity, mental health, and responsibility are tenderly and expertly addressed through the authentic dialogue and interactions among the friends. The keenly observed character development extends beyond the protagonists, allowing readers to immerse
themselves in their community. The brisk pace and clear writing make this novel broadly accessible and appealing. Brian is white; Ezra has a Polish Canadian dad and a Black Trinidadian mom. Smart and heartfelt. (author’s note) (Fiction. 10-14)
Kirkus Star
Hummingbird Season Lucianovic, Stephanie V.W. | Bloomsbury (274 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 9781547612741
A California boy chronicles the long, difficult Covid-19 lockdown in verses that explore his confused emotions. On the day “that started everything” and that “was also a day that ended everything,” Archie’s life is turned upside down. School is abruptly closed, his parents must work from home, and big brother Hank is ever more difficult. Archie’s asthma puts him at risk, causing his parents to take ever-greater precautions. All this, plus attending “(not real) school at home,” makes him feel more and more isolated, unseen, and muted. He has outbursts of anger and despair: “…even though we’re together / stuck inside the house / we’re not really together-together.” Archie’s imagination is captured when he hears a brief buzzing sound, senses something whipping past, and witnesses “the smallest bird ever,” and he soon finds a new purpose. With help from his family, he carefully provides nectar for his “hummingbird restaurant” and becomes especially attached to Ruby, a hummingbird with red patches, as he watches for and worries about her, especially when a wildfire rages. Some poems are lists or consist of a few lines; others flow breathlessly, offering detailed accounts of events, beautiful descriptions, or information about KIRKUS REVIEWS
C H IS LE DC RTEINO’N S
A beautiful tribute to imaginative play. H I D E A W AY
hummingbirds. Archie often repeats important words, phrases, or concepts in a rhythmic way that emphasizes his escalating emotions. He’s intensely loving, deeply compassionate, insightful, inventive, and expressive. Readers will gasp in wonder and empathy, cry and sometimes laugh, cheer at the upbeat conclusion, and feel every emotion that’s so powerfully expressed. Brilliant. (author’s note) (Verse fiction. 8-12)
There’s No Such Thing As Vegetables Lukoff, Kyle | Illus. by Andrea Tsurumi Henry Holt (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 27, 2024 9781250867841
A lesson in agriculture has larger implications in this deep dive into what constitutes a vegetable. Sent to the community garden next door to pick some veggies for a meal, young Chester, who presents as Asian, is quick to discover that every supposed “vegetable” he encounters declares itself to be something else entirely. The broccoli claims to be a flower, the potato, a root, and the kale, a leaf. In fact, the supposed veggies all make the startling argument that there’s no such thing as vegetables. Chester attempts to fight back with facts, but every definition falls apart. Veggies are plants? So are trees. They don’t have sugar, suggests Chester. What about sugar beets? They’re good in salads? So’s bacon! Lukoff isn’t attempting to break down taxonomies but is instead making a larger point KIRKUS REVIEWS
about the sometimes arbitrary ways in which humans label our world. Larger points about semantic satiation and social constructs may be lost on the elementary school crowd, but a story about plants arguing their way out of a salad bowl is funny no matter how you slice it. It helps enormously that the art is by Tsurumi, a master of hilarious visual gags and irate tomatoes, who brings to life in a cartoon-based format the gently defiant edibles.
Subversion in the salad! Destabilization with dressing! Social constructs fall by the wayside in this clever review. (Picture book. 4-7)
We Light Up the Sky With Music! Maland, Nick | Peachtree (40 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 16, 2024 | 9781682636077
Music makes a powerful statement. Old Bear sits indoors on a gloomy day. A small bear—a grandchild?—coaxes him into taking a walk. When Little Bear takes his hand, he agrees, reluctantly. It’s windy and chilly, and Old Bear wants to return home, but Little Bear urges him on. Suddenly, they hear a sound. Investigating, they discover among some trash a battered saxophone: “The wind must have brought it to life,” says Little Bear. They take it home and repair and polish it. Little Bear’s attempts to play the instrument fail. When Old Bear tries, with Little Bear’s encouragement, he initially produces hearty squawks, but gradually, “the noises turn into notes…deep and rich and
round.” Thereafter, Old Bear’s music lights up the sky; friends visit to listen. Old Bear is now happier and deeply grateful to Little Bear. The two visit the park daily, where Old Bear performs with his group, and later, Old Bear gives Little Bear a most appropriate birthday gift. This charming, uplifting story, narrated in first-person present tense by Little Bear, isn’t only about music’s transformative power. It’s also about how children can help brighten the outlooks of older adults— relatives or otherwise—and give their lives meaningful purpose. The pen and pencil illustrations, with colors added digitally, are cozy and delightful; onomatopoeic “musical” words are incorporated playfully throughout the text. Inspiring. (Picture book. 5-8)
Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku Manley, Curtis | Illus. by Jennifer K. Mann Neal Porter/Holiday House (48 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 9, 2024 | 9780823451661
A young hiker in Oregon’s Cascade Range climbs up and down a slope, offering poetic observations
along the way. Starting out from a campground on a chilly morning, a child in a red hoodie, accompanied by parents and a younger sibling, walks to the summit of a dormant volcano (identified at the end as South Sister in central Oregon) and back. Along the way, the child takes note in haiku of bright blue skies and a still lake, of thinning trees, bobcat tracks in the snow, tiny toads on the path, and pesky mosquitoes! Glimpses of birds and other wildlife, too, especially butterflies catching updrafts at the very top of the trail, underscore the sublime character of the natural setting. That evening, nestled in a sleeping bag, the child thinks a longer thought: “trying to sleep— / what mountain will I climb / next?” Mann closes with a gallery of mountain flora and fauna DECEMBER 1, 2023 121
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spotted on the hike that joins an afterword in which Manley discusses his chosen poetic form (rightly allowing that it isn’t as syllabically rigid as often assumed) and pointedly adds a notebook to his list of recommended hiking gear. The child and the rest of the family are brown-skinned; from indistinct views, other hikers appear to be racially diverse. Fresh and vivid. (further reading, websites) (Picture book. 6-9)
Kirkus Star
Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller
in the textured layers of Harrison’s mixed-media and visual storytelling. But more than anything, simple care is evident. Care for a Black librarian who sought out every gap a tale could bridge, who shattered barriers to ensure Black children would see themselves on library shelves, and whose legacy continues to this day exactly as it began—in the thrall of good stories.
The Master Storyteller returns to storytime at last. (author’s note, timeline, sources) (Picture-book biography. 4-8)
One of a Kind: The Life of Sydney Taylor
McDaniel, Breanna J. | Illus. by April Harrison | Dial Books (40 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 30, 2024 | 9780593324202
Michelson, Richard | Illus. by Sarah Green Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 9781635925319
A tribute to the storied lioness of the New York Public Library. Raised in Baltimore on her grandmother’s tales, Augusta Braxton Baker (1911-1998) grew up with the deep certainty that stories are powerful. Powerful enough to make Augusta realize her true calling, “guiding children of all ages through the wide and wonderful spaces of her stories.” Powerful enough to bring her to the 135th Street Branch of the NYPL, where she introduced young readers such as James Baldwin and Audre Lorde to the words that would inspire them to write their own. Powerful enough to anchor Augusta’s lifelong advocacy for uplifting representations of Black people, to forge a network of educator activists from Carter G. Woodson to Charlemae Rollins, and to send Augusta around the world to teach and tell her stories. Intricate details will draw novice readers back to the pages, while more experienced readers will find a treasure trove of biographical sources. There’s thoughtfulness here in the craft and pacing of her prose, certainly; reverence, too,
Michelson and Green pay homage to a one-of-a-kind author. Born in 1904, book-loving Sarah Brenner is one of five sisters in a poor, Yiddish-speaking family in lower Manhattan. Both parents emigrated from Germany after facing antisemitism. Sarah loves celebrating the Jewish holidays, but her parents also encourage her and her sisters “to learn American customs, ‘so you [won’t] feel like foreigners in your own country.’” At age 14, Sarah adopts the masculine first name Sydney. Later, when she finds work as a secretary, her co-workers assume she isn’t Jewish and make ugly antisemitic slurs—and she protests. She also speaks up for workers’ rights and meets her future husband, Ralph Taylor. Upon marrying, she changes her name again—to Sydney Taylor. When her daughter asks why children’s books don’t feature Jewish characters, Sydney begins writing stories based on her own family history. But World War II is raging, and publishers aren’t accepting immigrant stories. Sydney puts her stories aside and forgets about them. Ralph doesn’t,
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however. After the war, he submits them to a story contest; All-of-a-Kind Family wins first prize. Published in 1951, it was “the first Jewish children’s book to become popular with non-Jewish readers,” as Michelson notes in the backmatter. Told in present tense, this is a lively, well-written tale about a renowned author who helped underrepresented kids see themselves in literature. The charming digital gouache illustrations capture period details and the cozy familial warmth of Taylor’s own background. An effective, respectful treatment of a renowned author. (afterword, about Ralph Taylor, about Jo Taylor Marshall, author’s note, bibliography, photographs, photo credits) (Picture-book biography. 7-10)
This Book Will Make You an Artist Millington, Ruth | Illus. by Ellen Surrey Nosy Crow (64 pp.) | $24.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9798887770420
From cave handprints and Roman mosaic floors to Yayoi Kusama’s polka-dot pumpkin, works sure to inspire
burgeoning artists. This survey of selected artists across the globe and throughout history introduces young readers to various styles, media, and techniques. Millington starts by discussing what artists do, where they work, and what tools and materials they need. Next, the author briefly profiles more than 20 artists, focusing on their art and offering clear instructions for making similar creations. Racially diverse children, several of whom use wheelchairs, are depicted making vibrant self-portraits like Frida Kahlo’s and pop art–style prints like Andy Warhol’s. Readers get fascinating glimpses into artists such as Judith Scott, who was deaf and had Down syndrome; after being released from an institution by her twin sister, she blossomed KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
This delightful story about a passionate insect collector may attract new converts. THE GIRL WHO LOVES BUGS
into a fiber artist. Ukrainian artist Janet Sobel pioneered drip painting; Hugo Ball, the German founder of Dadaism, gave unusual poetry recitations; Moses Williams, enslaved as a youth, became a renowned silhouette-maker. Famous names such as Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso are here, but so are more recent and potentially unfamiliar artists, including South African muralist Esther Mahlangu and Emily Kame Kngwarreye, an Aboriginal artist known for her batiks. Detailed, collagelike illustrations using flat, cutout shapes and vibrant colors honor these people’s art without attempting to compete with it. Will definitely boost aspirants’ creative output. (glossary) (Illustrated nonfiction. 8-12)
Kirkus Star
Sick!: The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs Montgomery, Heather L. | Illus. by Lindsey Leigh | Bloomsbury (144 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 20, 2024 | 9781547609857
How do germs make animals— and people—sick, and what defenses do bodies have? With this kid-friendly introduction to immune systems and the enemies they battle, Montgomery adds to an impressively entertaining body of work. Organized around different animals, the chapters follow scientists noticing odd happenings in the face of infection—or animals avoiding KIRKUS REVIEWS
expected infection entirely. Montgomery highlights the questions these scientists ask: What’s the connection between frog temperature and infection survival? Why do ants kill infected pupae? How do injured gators survive their bacteria-heavy environment and vultures their contaminated food? The author traces the scientists’ logic as they test various hypotheses; she then demonstrates how we can learn from these findings to devise new strategies to help people. Keeping her tone conversational, occasionally relying on anthropomorphizing, and framing her stories as mysteries, Montgomery makes even the most complex concepts concrete and digestible— young readers won’t just understand the microbiology at play; they’ll enjoy the subject, too. Illustrations throughout also enhance clarity as well as (especially in short comic panels) keeping the book fun. Gross facts (“Chimps pee and poop right off the sides of their daybeds!”) are just the cherry on top of this book that brims with child appeal. Final art not seen. A pathologically good time. (more super symbionts, selected sources, illustration credits, index) (Nonfiction. 10-adult)
The Girl Who Loves Bugs Murray, Lily | Illus. by Jenny Løvlie Peachtree (32 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781682636558
A girl receives validation for her unusual hobby from an unexpected source. Evie likes to observe and collect bugs; her family, not so much.
When she learns that her extended family will be arriving, she hides her critters in her bedroom. “What could possibly go wrong?” Evie wonders. She finds out the next day as the relatives, including tall, formidable Great Gran, descend upon the household—and the bugs choose that moment to join them. They get into the luncheon and inside Evie’s brother’s pants. Great Gran demands an explanation. A chagrined Evie confesses that the critters are her pets. Instead of scolding Evie, Great Gran turns out to be an ardent bug enthusiast herself. She encourages Evie’s “curious mind,” suggests they build the creatures fancy accommodations, and foresees that Evie will make exciting discoveries one day (backmatter notes that this tale was inspired by entomologist Evelyn Chessman). This charming, gently humorous U.K. import is told through jaunty verse that scans well. It will appeal especially to bug-loving children—no fuss here about a female bug connoisseur—but will also resonate with youngsters who simply love the natural world or are devoted to an unusual hobby. Laudably, the adults in Evie’s life—even her previously grossed-out parents—praise her for her passion. The cozy, colorful digital illustrations are filled with lush scenes of nature. Evie and Great Gran are light-skinned; the family is multiracial. This delightful story about a passionate insect collector may attract new converts. (show bugs some love!) (Picture book. 5-8)
When an Elephant Hears No Ng, Dazzle | Illus. by Estrela Lourenço Page Street (32 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 23, 2024 9781645677864
A young elephant learns that no can have a multitude of meanings. That small word can be crushing to a youngster. It might even result in “a steaming, stomping elephant blowing up” into a full-blown tantrum: “RWARRRRR!” But what DECEMBER 1, 2023 123
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does no really mean? Sometimes, it might just be a simple “NOT YET.” Or, when the bespectacled little pachyderm takes a flying leap while performing in a play, it can mean “BE CAREFUL!” While the elephant is barreling toward a precarious house of cards, it becomes an anxious “PLEASE FREEZE.” But it can also be positive: An astonishing magic show results in a wowed audience gasping, “Nooo!” It’s no wonder that tiny (well, actually rather large) elephant ears can get confused. Lourenço fills the page with a reverberating “NO” as our elephant hero crouches down, eyes squeezed shut, ears plugged by hefty feet. It can be a heavy, overpowering word. But learning the reason behind the no lessens the sting. This handy guide to dealing with a small but powerful word will strike chords of familiarity among children and adults alike. Accompanied by a bevy of adorable anthropomorphic animals, our sweetly rotund protagonist is an endearing reader stand-in. A resounding, trumpeting “YES!” (Picture book. 3-6)
Averil Offline Parks, Amy Noelle | Nancy Paulsen Books (208 pp.) | $17.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 9780593618646
Two kids rebel against intrusive surveillance. Averil’s a computer whiz who excels in the Tech class that she and her friends Priya and Max are taking, but even she feels suffocated by Ruby Slippers, the app that her parents use to keep tabs on her. Max learns that the app will soon allow parents to turn on the camera and microphone on their kids’ smartphones, and he wants to meet its creator, Rider Woollyback, who has a lab at the local university, and convince him to stop the increased surveillance. Max needs Averil’s tech smarts to 124 DECEMBER 1, 2023
An absorbing tale of determination, friendship, and tech gone wrong. AVERIL OFFLINE
enter Woollyback’s inner sanctum— to get in, visitors must win games and provide “interesting” answers to questions posed by his assistant. Max and his multimillionaire father have already failed to gain admittance, and he thinks that successfully getting in will raise his dad’s opinion of him. He proposes that he and Averil ditch their upcoming coding camp and instead attempt to meet Woollyback while Priya covers for Averil. While the plot is a bit far-fetched, Averil and Max’s burgeoning friendship is well developed and will pull in readers. Parks also deftly grapples with relevant issues, such as the sexism that women and girls in STEM often face, the overwhelming presence of technology in our lives, and young people’s need for autonomy. Most characters are cued white; Priya is of Indian descent. An absorbing tale of determination, friendship, and tech gone wrong. (Fiction. 10-12)
Lucky Duck Pizzoli, Greg | Knopf (48 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593649770
One duck’s luck is another wolf’s disaster in this tale of tragedy averted. Right from the start, Susan is convinced that she is by far the unluckiest of ducks, since the roller skates she ordered turned out to be two sizes too big. Just at that moment, however, a well-dressed wolf appears at her door, informing her that she’s the winner of a big beautiful soup
pot. And so it goes: Each time Susan feels that her luck’s run out, the wolf reappears with some new (and edible) soup-related prize. Long before poor Susan does, kids will realize the price of the wolf’s gifts. Still, when the finale arrives, it turns out that each “unlucky” thing to happen to Susan helps her to survive another day. Sharp-eyed readers may notice a tiny bug responsible for at least two of Susan’s missing items, also aiding in her deliverance from the wolf’s hungry maw. The pure clean lines and limited palette lend a distinctly ’50s vibe to the proceedings, while the text makes for a charming storytime. Meanwhile, the narrative has shades of Keiko Kasza’s My Lucky Day (2003) and Mo Willems’ That Is NOT a Good Idea (2013). Few may be surprised by the resolution, but the familiarity is much of the story’s charm. It’s a lucky thing indeed that this book is as great a joy to read aloud as it is. (Picture book. 3-6)
Who Will Make the Snow? Prokhasko, Taras & Marjana Prokhasko Trans. by Boris Dralyuk & Jennifer Croft Elsewhere Editions (72 pp.) | $22.00 Dec. 5, 2023 | 9781953861740
In this tale originally published in Ukraine, mole twins born on the first day of spring discover a generally welcoming world outside their burrow as the seasons pass. Beech Forest is, by and large, a friendly place. Animal residents gather at the Under the Oak Café to peruse the gossipy Daily Mole, which Papa Mole compiles and types up, while KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
Mama Mole makes quince jam and leads her large family, including little Purl and Crawly, out in autumn to sketch the changing trees while she plays her double bass. It’s not all ginger tea and nut cookies, though, particularly when an older sib’s illness prompts Crawly to ask, “Mama, what happens to moles when they die?” Her comforting if fanciful answer (they live among the clouds and make snow) leads later to a broader understanding that death happens to everyone, and a final observation to his (slightly) older sister that “the world’s a little tough, but it’s interesting this way….” In the colored pencil, gouache, and ink illustrations, moles and most of the other animals are furry black blobs with indistinct features, sporting random articles of human dress and posing either in comfortably furnished domestic settings or idyllic glades beneath shadowy trees. A stormy autumn flood provides some mild danger, but overall this short chapter book makes for cozy, peaceable reading for all its origins in a country currently at war.
Sweet but not saccharine, with occasional long thoughts buried in the fuzzy warmth. (Animal fantasy. 7-9)
Tomorrow’s Lily Raschka, Chris | Greenwillow Books (32 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780063049376
The fleeting loveliness of the lily is celebrated in this paean to impermanence. “Pretty lily. You bloom for just one day.” An exceedingly simple text introduces young readers to a flower with an all too brief life. Like an herbaceous mayfly, Raschka’s daylilies have only 24 hours to present their blooms. “Monday’s lily blooms for the baby”; the accompanying image depicts a little rabbit huddled beneath the flower. “Tuesday’s lily blooms for the cat”; a feline cuddles up to a splendid pink blossom. Each day reveals a new lily and whom it blooms for, KIRKUS REVIEWS
whether it’s a mother, friends, or no one at all. As Raschka is quick to note, “We’re all like lilies. We bloom for others.” While the sunny watercolor art may be full of adorable duckies and kitties, a serious undercurrent is at work. To underline this idea, Raschka carefully includes images of the wilted blossoms that have already had their day in the sun. The rhymes may take some practice to read aloud properly, but it’s easy to appreciate the rare book where life’s impermanence is presented alongside a lesson on something as basic as the days of the week. Brave to its core, this is a book unafraid to ask for whom will you bloom during your one wild and precious life. (Picture book. 3-6)
Kirkus Star
Not the Worst Friend in the World Rellihan, Anne | Holiday House (272 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780823454792
Louise Bennett gets a second chance to not be a terrible friend in this debut novel. Just over three weeks ago, at the start of sixth grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a Catholic school in Mayfield, Missouri, Lou said “terrible, horrible things” to Francie Fitzpatrick, her best friend since kindergarten. Now she’s trying to figure out how to get Francie to talk to her again. When new classmate Cece Clark-Duncan passes Lou a note, it sparks a friendship and a big mystery. Cece believes she’s been kidnapped by her dad, and she wants Lou—a Harriet the Spy fan who’s always writing in her notebook—to help find her mom, whom she’s sure must be looking for her. Lou is desperate to be a good friend this time and not spill secrets, but as she pieces together the truth, the right thing to do becomes less clear. Flashbacks are interspersed, highlighting Lou and Francie’s history
and leading to the reveal of what tore them apart. This story takes on weighty topics from imperfect parents to faith and belief and presents them with such an empathetic yet light, matterof-fact touch that they feel completely realistic, while still allowing for the friendships to take center stage. Lou’s first-person narration is pitch-perfect and endearing, and the small-town setting shines with authenticity. The leads are cued white. The mystery will reel readers in, while the emotions and relationships make this a book to savor. (Mystery. 8-12)
Peg Gets Crackin’ Renfro, Jo | Beaming Books (32 pp.) | $17.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781506492070
It’s time for Peg and the other chickens to hatch, but she prefers to stay in her shell. When Mama squawks “Time to get CRACKIN’, my little chickadees!” all the other chicks begin to break free, except for Peg. Finding herself alone, she starts to stretch until she pops all the way out of her shell. Getting back inside isn’t an option (she tries), so off she goes into the big wide world to find her mama and experience a joyful life as a “clucking, strutting, splashing, sunbathing, fun-loving…CHICKEN!” Renfro’s delightfully simple, relatable story has an encouraging message: Breaking out on your own can be scary, but there’s so much to discover. Peg is an adorable fluffy chick with awkward, jointed legs and enormous googly eyes. The illustrations bring action words to life as Peg twirls, flips, and cartwheels around, half in and half out of her shell. There’s plenty to make readers smile, such as an image of Peg (still not fully emerged) smacking into a metal bucket or a spread on which she becomes “Peg the egg with legs.” The pacing is just right for a preschool audience, with children getting enough of a sense of Peg to feel connected to the book, but it’s quick enough to hold short attention spans. If ever readers could identify with DECEMBER 1, 2023 125
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a chicken, Peg is surely the one.
An adorable tale with a meaningful life lesson. (Picture book. 3-5)
Kirkus Star
The Fix-Its: Nail Needs Help Reul, Sarah Lynne | HarperAlley (32 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780063295513 Series: I Can Read! Comics
Hammer needs assistance from the toolbox community in this graphic novel for the younger set. “Once upon a time a nail was stuck,” a narrative text box informs readers. While the wood board in which the nail is embedded (“stuck. Like this. Forever”) seems quite put out, the inhabitants of a nearby toolbox hear the calls for help. Hammer’s plan to perform a heroic rescue hits the nail on the head—literally, unfortunately. “You’re only a centimeter tall now,” the tape measure informs Nail, now stuck more than ever. “That’s less than half an inch,” clarifies a ruler. The colorful tools have earnest, animated faces and are recognizable for what they are: a hammer, a tape measure, a set of pliers, a saw, Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, and even the grumpy wood plank. When Nail finally suggests that Hammer use its “bunny ears” to help, Hammer agrees—and clarifies that those “bunny ears” are its claw. But it takes a toolbox of helpers to get Hammer turned over. Well-defined panels, generous gutters, and clear spacing of dialogue balloons make Reul’s lively, easy-to-read, and brief comic adventure a delight. The series’ simple tutorial on how to read comics is empowering both for beginning readers and budding artists. Disarmingly funny and quite compelling—here’s hoping for more from this handy crew. (quick explanation of hammers and nails) (Graphic early reader. 4-8) 126 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough Rocco, Hayley | Illus. by John Rocco Putnam (48 pp.) | $19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9780593618097
A tribute to the life’s work and message of renowned naturalist, author, and filmmaker David Attenborough. Though light on biographical specifics, even in the afterword, this profile does begin with a young David bicycling out of a smoke-choked English city into a green woodland, where the discovery of an ammonite fossil launches a lifelong interest in wild places and their animal residents and in telling people about both. In a memorable opening image, our planet is overlaid with a parade of dozens of animals that spiral out to finally portray one small, familiar, casually dressed gent. Illustrator John Rocco places Attenborough in paired settings; ugly urban sprawl, razed forests, dead reefs, and barren wastes are depicted alongside lush rain forests, vistas of alternative energy sources, and undersea reaches teeming with marine life. These images provide visual expression to Attenborough’s later appeals to live on the Earth more responsibly and to “rewild” overfished oceans and mistreated lands. Attenborough remains a distant figure here but has become undeniably iconic and “our connection to the natural world” and “the voice of nature” over seven decades. In a grand symbolic final scene, he leads a racially diverse line of people from a city of eco-friendly high-rises into an even greener future. For fledgling conservationists and climate activists, the backmatter includes both leads to further resources and a starter table of “Problems” and “Solutions.” An inspiring overview of a life dedicated to essential eco-causes. (author’s note) (Picture-book biography. 6-8)
José and Feliz Play Fútbol Rose, Susan & Silvia López | Illus. by Gloria Félix | Penguin Workshop (48 pp.) $5.99 paper | Nov. 7, 2023 | 9780593521199 Series: José and El Perro
In this bilingual chapter book, a Latine boy realizes his dog has a hidden talent. José has been picked for the soccer team! When his family surprises him with new equipment, he rushes out to practice with his dog, Feliz. Everyone knows Feliz is intelligent—he even recognizes commands in both English and Spanish—but no one knew he was also a natural jugador de fútbol! At practice, Feliz watches the action from the bleachers until the time comes to practice kicking. As José dribbles the ball toward the goal, Feliz rushes the field, embarrassing the boy. Fortunately, everyone on the team is amazed by the dog’s skills, even the coach, who appoints Feliz the team mascot. When José scores the winning goal of their first game, he calls Feliz onto the field to celebrate; the two best friends are brought even closer through their shared love of the game. Early in the book, readers learn that everyone in José’s house speaks both English and Spanish, and the book is likewise bilingual. The text is written mostly in English but weaves in Spanish words and phrases on most pages, imitating the natural code-switching of many bilingual people. Colorful cartoon illustrations provide effective visual support for developing readers. José and his family are dark-haired and have varying shades of brown skin; his community is a diverse one. Sure to have newly independent readers—especially soccer fans—cheering. (glossary) (Early chapter book. 5-8) For more by Susan Rose and Silvia López, visit Kirkus online.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
CHILDREN’S
Children will eat this congenial collection right up. THE MOST DELICIOUS SOUP AND OTHER STORIES
This Is a Tiny Fragile Snake Ruddock, Nicholas | Illus. by Ashley Barron Groundwood (36 pp.) | $19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 9781773067841
A seasonal cycle of poems examines the gentle confrontations that result when humanbuilt environments share space with animal habitats. Ruddock composes most poems as two or three quatrains with an ABCB rhyme scheme. While Barron’s lively cut-paper collages depict racially diverse children as the presumed narrators of the animal interactions, the balladlike stanzas, peppered with old-fashioned phrasing, belie the authorial voice of a ruminating adult. After the titular snake is nearly stepped on, “we trapped her in a coffee cup, / a playing card to seal, / and moved her to the nearby woods, / no longer under heel.” In “Bear,” a child avers, “One morning I set out upon / a quarter-mile jog, / when suddenly a lumbering bear / clambered from the bog.” The child “wisely” turns around and walks away; upon safely looking back, the child sees the creature “snuffling at blueberries”—she “cared not a bit for me.” Several poems visit interactions that will be familiar to many: picnic ants, a skunk on the porch, a squirrel intent on a pet dog’s kibble. Other entries focus on a fleeting twilight encounter between a moose and a family in a car and herons observed from a canoe. Barron supplies a bright abundance of supporting plants and animals for the poems’ spring-to-winter arc. Ruddock sticks a nice landing with “Winter,” citing each foregoing animal’s current KIRKUS REVIEWS
are charming and set in frameless panels, comic book–style, another reason kids will appreciate this title. Names and visual cues imply a Latin American setting. Children will eat this congenial collection right up. (Picture book. 4-8)
status—including, “curled in a nest of moss / …our tiny fragile snake.”
Help the Kind Lion
The Most Delicious Soup and Other Stories
In this STEMcentric series kickoff, young rescue workers shrink down to microscopic size to repair a lion’s leaky heart valve. Aimed at fledgling readers, this first episode sends young Viv and Sanjay into an ailing lion’s circulatory system to discuss the heart’s general functions while taping up a torn cardiac valve. Despite its stilted dialogue—“The lion needs our help.” “We will help the lion!”—the tale has a lively cast. Along with enjoying the interior exploits of these fantastic voyagers, audiences will have effortlessly absorbed a modest but fundamentally sound quantity of anatomical information by the time the two are sneezed out in globs of lion slime to regain their normal sizes. Mahaney follows suit by kitting Viv and Sanjay out in cool techno-suits with octopuslike robotic arms, while tucking several extremely simplified diagrams of a four-chambered heart and its surrounds into the blocky, pastel-hued cartoon illustrations. Viv’s and Sanjay’s faces are drawn with lighter and darker shades of brown. Sound messages are imparted, though they’re a bit heavy-handed: The lion exhibits “kindness” by playing with lion cubs (and, to be sure, by not eating his rescuers); following an appended summary of heart facts, Ruths invites readers to create an “I am kind” badge and to also “make
Quaint poems, charmingly illustrated. (Picture book/poetry. 3-7)
Ruiz Johnson, Mariana | Trans. by Rosalind Harvey | Berbay Publishing (36 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781922610614
A town offers up delicious soup and delightful adventures. This picture book made up of five engaging stories gives readers a peek into Villa Verde and the activities of its lively animal inhabitants. First up is a tale of a child who begs his mom for a pet— an insect who turns out to be a rather pesky nuisance and is ultimately banished to the outdoors. Other stories feature a grandmother and grandson who experience exciting escapades on a rainy day via the pages of library books; kids who are forced to move their camping trip indoors when it begins raining, but they have fun anyway telling scary stories; a young child who throws a tantrum when her dad won’t buy her everything she wants; and, finally, the title story, in which townsfolk not only collaborate to prepare the scrumptious meal but then party and tidy up afterward.This cheery Australian import, originally published in Colombia and translated from Spanish, will entertain children with its brief, sweet, down-to-earth tales and wide-eyed characters whose exploits and dialogue spring from realistic scenarios. The overarching themes of cooperation and friendship shine through. The crisp, quirky illustrations
Ruths, Mitali Banerjee | Illus. by Francesca Mahaney | Orchard/Scholastic (64 pp.) $23.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781338894998 Series: The Inside Scouts, 1
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someone else’s day a little better” by doing a kind act.
Mostly purpose driven but with enough light touches to maintain the flow. (Informational easy reader. 5-7)
Shining Star: Vera Rubin Discovers Dark Matter Slade, Suzanne | Illus. by Susan Reagan Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (40 pp.) | $18.99 | Nov. 7, 2023 9781635926019
A brilliant astronomer set her sights high. Vera Rubin, the child and grandchild of Jewish immigrants, was always fascinated by stars; by age 10, she knew she wanted to become an astronomer. But few colleges permitted women to study astronomy. Vassar did and offered her a scholarship. A brilliant student, she breezed through her courses and subsequently earned master’s and PhD degrees. Vera’s next challenge was to gain access to huge observatory telescopes, since men had priority. She scored a major victory, though: Due to her stellar reputation, the scientists at California’s Palomar Observatory broke their rule about barring women from using their powerful telescope, and she became the first woman to observe there. Vera made a huge breakthrough when she proved that stars on the outer edges of spiral galaxies moved at the same speed as those near the center. Other astronomers dismissed her findings, but Vera realized that an invisible force was causing this phenomenon: dark matter. More women in STEM fields should be brought to young readers’ attention; this is a well-written, absorbing portrait of a brilliant female scientist in a particularly male-dominated field. Quotes from Rubin are sprinkled throughout, like stars. The illustrations, created with hand-painted watercolor washes and ink lines that were enhanced digitally, have a 128 DECEMBER 1, 2023
“cosmic” feel to them, with lots of night-sky purple, swirling planets, and starlike points of color.
An admiring, respectful treatment of a highly accomplished scientist. (author’s note, Dr. Rubin’s dark matter discovery, timeline, bibliography, photos, photo credits) (Picture-book biography. 7-10)
My Thoughts Have Wings Smith, Maggie | Illus. by Leanne Hatch Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (32 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780063214583
A child battles nighttime anxieties. The young narrator is beleaguered at bedtime by bad thoughts and “what ifs”—spiders, potential nightmares, schoolyard struggles. The nameless child’s “mind feels busy and loud!” Luckily, Mom is there to advise: “Thoughts are like birds,” she says. “Some fly away quickly…but others build nests in our heads….We need to make sure there’s room for the happy thoughts to build their nests.” Smith offers a series of joyful thoughts, such as enjoying ice cream at the beach, being greeted after school by a loving pup, munching on banana bread, and flying kites with friends. Hatch provides soft backdrops of multicolored pastel birds fluttering in the narrator’s dark bedroom that brighten into more grounded spreads depicting the good thoughts. The closing spread stands out, with the child carried aloft by cuddly blue birds to sleep, “smiling in the dark.” The cozy ideas will comfort nervous young readers and make a strong conversation starter for less-than-sure caretakers. “Everyone worries,” and barring a late-night banana bread craving, the soothing suggestions will surely bring somnolence on soft feathers. Both Mom and the child are light-skinned; background characters are racially diverse. Fortitude against fluttering fears. (Picture book. 2-7)
Dancing in the Storm Specht, Amie Darnell & Shannon Hitchcock Rocky Pond Books/Penguin (224 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593619469
A Louisiana seventh grader copes with a rare, progressive disease. Gymnast Kate Lovejoy should feel elated after winning a gold medal in a meet, but a persistent shoulder ache dims her happiness. Downplaying her pain, she blames her tears on her dog’s recent death. But soon, the pain becomes too agonizing to ignore, and eventually, Kate is diagnosed with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, a genetic disorder in which muscles and connective tissue turn to bone. Because physical impacts can trigger flare-ups, doing gymnastics is no longer feasible. Her fellow gymnasts and Girl Scouts aren’t sure how to act around her, and Kate’s reluctance to disclose her diagnosis threatens her relationship with best friend Mindy. Kate has many fears: What if she’ll require a wheelchair or need help with toileting? Fortunately, she’s surrounded by supportive family and corresponds with a mentor, Amie—a self-insert of co-author Specht, who also has FOP. Kate and Amie’s conversations simultaneously explore worries and challenges and offer reassurance and resources. As Kate gradually gains confidence, she discovers the perfect topic for her English essay on changing the world. Authors’ notes explain that Kate’s story is drawn from Specht’s life, and it shows. Though the dialogue is occasionally somewhat stilted and the pacing slightly uneven, Kate’s fear, loss, and anger are vividly portrayed, and others’ awkward or ableist reactions ring painfully true. Kate and her family read white; secondary characters are racially and socioeconomically diverse. Educational and encouraging. (Fiction. 8-12)
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Another day, another wild animal rescue! R E S C U E TA I L S
Rescue Tails: The Treacherous Tower StacyPlays | Illus. by Mélody Gringoire Harper/HarperCollins (160 pp.) | $18.99 Jan. 16, 2024 | 9780063224995
Another day, another wild animal rescue! Stacy wakes up and goes to school, where Mathilda Lemming makes fun of her mud-covered outfits. But when you live in a cave with a pack of wolves who use their supernatural abilities to rescue other animals, fashion isn’t a priority! That afternoon, Milo the bat arrives with a message about a baby ocelot in distress. So Stacy sets out with Basil, a wolf who has superspeed, which comes in handy as they travel from their taiga home to the Pantanal of South America. On their trip, they encounter many native animals, including an axolotl, a poison dart frog, a sloth, a harpy eagle, and an anaconda. Finally, they reach a ruinous tower laced with traps—will they be able to save the baby ocelot? Stacy’s journal entries are packed with noteworthy nature facts (some gathered from the library books she grabbed before they left) and vocabulary, supported by the cartoonish but enlightening illustrations. The narrative mostly serves as a vehicle for the educational aspects, making this title ideal for young readers looking for entertaining research. As in YouTuber StacyPlays’ previous series Wild Rescuers, there’s no explanation for why the animals have these abilities or can understand this particular human. Characters’ races and ethnicities aren’t mentioned; in the grayscale art, KIRKUS REVIEWS
Stacy appears to be tan-skinned, and Mathilda is lighter-skinned.
What it lacks in story, it makes up for in information. (Fiction. 8-12)
Shape Search
a nifty vocabulary developer, featuring delightful, potentially unfamiliar words including crescent, pyramid, and sphere.
A colorful, exciting way to open young children’s eyes and minds to the shapes all around them. (Picture book. 3-6)
Remembering Rosalind Franklin: Rosalind Franklin & the Discovery of the Double Helix Structure of DNA
Stewart, Melissa | Reycraft Books (32 pp.) $16.95 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781478887744
Stone, Tanya Lee | Illus. by Gretchen Ellen Powers | Christy Ottaviano Books (40 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780316351249
What amazing sights nature has on offer. Look around! Aren’t shapes great? Where would we be without those literal building blocks of existence? This volume distinguishes itself from ordinary concept books that simply introduce children to fundamental shapes; this one will also foster a sense of wonder in the natural world. Kids will be mesmerized as they pore over the dazzlingly colorful, delicate, and intricate patterns that shapes produce in nature, seen here from a bevy of perspectives. Stewart proposes—and presents clear evidence, courtesy of gorgeous photos—that shapes are everywhere in nature, from a honeycomb to the spots on a ladybug to raindrops, which appear wondrous when viewed up close as groups of differently sized, shimmering blue circles reflecting light. Children can also look closely at plants, gemstones, and rocks, all of which have specific contours, but shapes can also be found in their markings. A quibble—though the backmatter offers information on shapes, it doesn’t identify the objects depicted in the photos; kids (and adults) may be curious to learn more. Simple, gentle rhyming text enhances the concept, adds to the book’s allure, and invites kids to look closely at the shapes presented here. Another highlight: This is
A profile of the underrecognized DNA researcher whose work sparked Crick and Watson’s breakthrough. “This true story doesn’t really have a happy ending,” Stone warns—after dedicating the book to “anyone who did something awesome and didn’t feel the love.” In recent years, Rosalind Franklin’s role in revealing DNA’s helical structure has come to be readily acknowledged… but it wasn’t at the time. Along with noting the fishy way her famous “Photo 51” came into Crick and Watson’s possession, the author offers several condescending quotes from Watson’s 1968 memoir along the lines of “she was not unattractive” and “there was no denying she had a good brain.” Ouch. Counterintuitively, considering the infuriating injustice here, Powers echoes the narrative’s informal, almost detached tone with illustrations more restrained than angry; her subject bears delicate features and a distant, abstracted gaze, and the artist relies on misty, pale hues and softly rounded forms. Whatever their reaction to what the author pegs in her afterword as an archetypal case study in the Matilda effect (men taking credit for women’s work), readers will come away with a clear understanding of Franklin’s contributions, as well DECEMBER 1, 2023 129
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as her distinctive scientific skills and background.
A warmly appreciative tribute to a renowned scientist. (citations for quotes used in book, source list, photos) (Picture-book biography. 7-9)
that explores friendship, belonging, anger, anxiety, self-discovery, and embracing all parts of ourselves.
An appealing adventure filled with both action and heart. (glossary) (Fantasy. 8-12)
Momo Arashima Breaks the Mirror of the Sun
10 Things I Love About Dinosaurs
Sugiura, Misa | Labyrinth Road (368 pp.) $18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Feb. 27, 2024 9780593564103 | 9780593564110 PLB Series: Momo Arashima, 2
Sweeney, Samantha | Illus. by Rob McClurkan | Tiger Tales (24 pp.) | $10.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781680102994
Momo is thrown into a dangerous quest to save the children of the mortal world from an ancient Japanese demon in this second series entry. After fighting monsters and defeating a powerful demon, half-kami and half-human Momo Arashima wishes she could celebrate and just go back to her everyday seventh grade life. But Momo feels like her best friend, Danny Haragan, is drifting away—he’s been hanging out with Ryleigh Guo, the mean girl who bullies her. When Momo crashes Ryleigh’s party in order to confront Danny, she finds herself in the middle of a mass kidnapping of her classmates by the ancient nine-tailed fox demon Tamamo-no-mae. In the aftermath, Momo is left with Danny, Ryleigh, and boy band superstar and surprise party guest Jin Takayama (“Ryleigh’s mom’s cousin’s best friend’s husband’s nephew”). This oddball team, accompanied by Niko, Momo’s magical fox spirit babysitter, set out to ask the Seven Lucky Gods for help. Their only hope is to travel to the Sky Kingdom and steal the Mirror of the Sun from Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun. Although their journey includes attacks by yōkai and encounters with deities and spirit guardians, their biggest challenge is learning to get along and trust one another. Shintō influences and Japanese folklore are blended in this action-packed fantasy 130 DECEMBER 1, 2023
A budding “Expert-osaurus” shares some information on all things dinosaur. The young narrator loves everything about dinos: knowing their names, reading about them, learning facts (some could fly; some were herbivores, some carnivores), attending dino-themed parties, visiting a cool dinosaur museum, digging up fossils with a paleontologist, making a volcano, and practicing dinosaur roars. But the bonus attraction is knowing that dinosaurs are extinct, “so they’ll never catch me!” McClurkan’s appealing cartoon illustrations mix pastels with bright Day-Glo hues, using little or no outlining and full but uncluttered compositions. As in the publisher’s other 10 Things titles, this book has a counting element (the child lists favorite things about dinosaurs, in numerical order), but, apart from the cover, no numerals can be found, only number words. And while three bluebirds happen to be on the page for Number 3, no counting elements are hidden in the pictures—a missed opportunity. Still, it’s an exuberant romp that dino fans will find relatable; they’ll especially love the dino facts. The narrator is light-skinned with short brown hair. Mom, Dad, and a sister are also light-skinned, while the protagonist’s brother is brown-skinned. People throughout are racially diverse, and a character who uses a wheelchair can be seen at the museum.
Cranky Tran, Phuc | Illus. by Pete Oswald | Harper/ HarperCollins (32 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780063256286
Anthropomorphic trucks and construction vehicles work through big feelings. “I’m Cranky,” announces a yellow crane—that’s our protagonist’s name and state of mind. It’s a big day at the construction site; everyone’s completing work on the construction of a new bridge. Friends like Zippy the cement mixer and Wheezy the forklift encourage Cranky to cheer up. But their positivity only makes Cranky feel worse. Cranky eats alone at lunch and feels increasingly isolated as the day goes on. When Zippy and Wheezy express concern, Cranky suddenly becomes even more upset: “Asking me what’s wrong makes me feel like it’s not okay for me to be cranky!” The others back off, and slowly, the grouchy crane’s mood starts to improve. And the friends are right there when Cranky is ready to open up. Bright colors, adorably anthropomorphic vehicles, and layouts that alternate between vignettes and fullpage spreads will hold readers’ attention through what is a mostly introspective narrative. Tran imparts some solid messages, such as the importance of giving pals the space they need and communicating your needs, even if you choose not to share everything. Some of the nuance will be lost on younger readers, but the story will spark conversations with others. Construction puns such as “self-of-steam” should get some chuckles from older kids and adults. Kids will come for the construction vehicles and leave with some social-emotional skills. (Picture book. 4-7) For an interview with Phuc Tran, visit Kirkus online.
Sure to please young dinophiles. pronunciation help) (Picture book. 3-7)
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A love letter to hard work and shared legacy. THE BLUE PICKUP
Kirkus Star
The Blue Pickup Tripplett, Natasha | Illus. by Monica Mikai Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780063159877
A little girl teaches her mechanic grandfather “the importance of taking care of old and forgotten
things.” In the garage, Ju-Girl works hard to help Granddad fix cars for their Jamaican community. The two take a break to sip Ting on the bed of Granddad’s pickup truck. As Granddad tells stories of his younger self, Ju-Girl learns how Blue Pickup connects her to the history of her community—Granddad drove Blue Pickup to deliver everything from newspapers to Jamaican calico cloth. But Ting time and daydreams must come to an end, because there’s work to be done and cars to be fixed. Still, Ju-Girl believes Blue Pickup can be restored to its former glory, perhaps with just an oil swap, new brakes, and a new battery— all of which she’s learned to recognize from dutifully assisting her granddad. Convinced, Granddad does all the fixes short of checking the oil, saving that for the excited little girl, who has the savvy of a veteran mechanic. As the two cruise around town, taking in the history and present of their vibrant neighborhood and picking up a socket set specifically for Ju-Girl, readers are left with the sense that all can be fixed with the right tools…and taking time out for Ting. Lively, richly saturated illustrations bring to life Ju-Girl’s beloved community, while the simple yet vivid text, filled with KIRKUS REVIEWS
sensory descriptions, captures a child’s perspective perfectly. A love letter to hard work and shared legacy. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)
Kirkus Star
DnDoggos: Get the Party Started Underhill, Scout | Colors by Liana Sposto Feiwel & Friends (272 pp.) | $14.99 paper Feb. 27, 2024 | 9781250834348 | Series: DnDoggos, 1
A team of dynamic dogs embark on a quest requiring wit, creativity, and bravery. Readers are invited to follow the DnDoggos, a group of canine friends, as they learn an exciting role-playing game together. Magnus, the Game Master, coaches Tonka, Pickles, and Zoey as they learn the rules. When local pup Squish goes missing from the in-game village of Tail’s Bend, the DnDoggos set out to find the mischievous non-player character. Twists and turns in the in-game campaign will intrigue readers just as Tonka, Pickles, and Zoey are carried along on the adventure. Underhill’s debut makes a seamless transition from webcomic to traditional graphic novel. The vibrant, full-page illustrations combined with thoughtfully placed panels allow for clear sequencing throughout. Readers are able to easily differentiate between the dogs as players versus their game characters thanks to clever distinctions in how their facial features are illustrated (these differences are also
shown side by side in an introductory guide to the cast). When compared to the simpler lines and color palette of the game players’ table scenes, the detailed, vividly colored scenes portraying the in-game adventure draw readers into the campaign in the same way human players use their imaginations to immerse themselves in RPGs. The irresistibly charming dogs guide young readers through the rules of tabletop RPGs while seamlessly demonstrating meaningful lessons about teamwork. A smart, endearing tale packed with adorable dogs and useful tips for role-playing game newcomers. (gaming tips) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)
Frozen in Time: What Ice Cores Can Tell Us About Climate Change Van Vleet, Carmella | Holiday House (112 pp.) | $22.99 | Feb. 27, 2024 9780823453986 | Series: Books for a Better Earth
A chill introduction to how ice cores are excavated and what paleoclimatologists can learn from them. Drilling out ice cores and analyzing them may sound straightforward in principle, but as the author takes readers from remote sites atop glaciers or in forbidding polar locales to repositories such as the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center in Ohio, where the cores are preserved, a very different view of the challenges involved emerges. Van Vleet precisely describes the specialized gear and techniques, not to mention hazards ranging from 200-mile-an-hour Antarctic winds to what she dubs “the dreaded exploding ice core.” She also explains in specific detail how cores are transported to warmer climes, preserved, and then prepared for study. Along with indicating what the ice’s layers (as well as the solids and gases in them) reveal about past climate patterns, she fills in background DECEMBER 1, 2023 131
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information about natural climate cycles and the clear evidence that we are currently in a decidedly unnatural one. Van Vleet inserts both thought experiments and hands-on projects into each chapter and closes with substantial lists of online and video information sources. “It’s all pretty cool,” Van Vleet writes. Agreed. The photos are informative, if small and scanty; the few human figures not muffled in heavy weather gear are light-skinned. Drills deeply into its subject. (photo credits, index) (Nonfiction. 10-13)
Kitten Ninja Venable, Colleen AF & Marcie Colleen Illus. by Ellen Stubbings | Andrews McMeel Publishing (80 pp.) | $11.99 | Feb. 27, 2024 9781524888190
“Before he was the protector of Metro City…he was…absolutely adorable!” This graphic novel is a prequel to the series Cat Ninja, written by Matthew Cody and illustrated by Yehudi Mercado and Chad Thomas, though readers don’t need to be familiar with those books to enjoy this one. What was the intrepid superhero cat like when he was a youngster? As it turns out, not all that different from any other kitten: He spent his days stretching, sleeping, and staring at birds. Each chapter opens with Kitten portrayed as an action hero in the Cat Ninja visual style before he settles into more sedentary habits. Stubbings employs thick black outlines with rounded forms; Kitten Ninja is a rotund loaf with soft edges. His opponents include a beam of light, a ball of yarn, and inclement weather. There are two to four panels per page, and they are used effectively. Some panels show the passage of time, as when a beam of light moves across the floor while a clock’s moving hands indicate the passage of time. The narrator directly addresses Kitten Ninja, 132 DECEMBER 1, 2023
making this story a great option for read-alouds. Each chapter ends with an observation that an obstacle “never stood a chance” against Kitten Ninja; neither will anyone with a soft spot for cats. Ninja has a beige-skinned owner who cuddles with him while reading and knitting. As comforting as a lazy afternoon making biscuits. (Graphic fiction. 6-8)
Hello: How Nüwa Created the World Wang, Viola | Little Bee Books (40 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781499814927
Wang breathes new life into the story of the Chinese goddess of creation. Nüwa, said to have molded humans out of mud, is commonly portrayed as a grown woman with a serpent’s body. Here, Wang portrays her as a pixie-size girl with black pointy hair and brown skin. The simple narrative reveals that “when the world was still young,” Nüwa was the only human. “She was happy, singing and dancing among the plants and animals.” Yet not one of the creatures responds when she says hello. Upset, she cries out to the universe, hoping for someone to talk to. No one replies. Stricken, Nüwa cries for three days, and a huge puddle forms from her tears. Running her hands through the mud, she creates a tiny, pink-skinned person, who finally greets her with a hello. After a funfilled day introducing her new friend to her world, the person asks for more friends. Nüwa happily obliges, creating people of different colors who eventually spread out and build homes, cities, and families. Coming full circle, the narrator tells us that when people are lonely, all they have to do is say hello; on the next spread, we see the word hello in various languages. Busy, appealing illustrations teem with movement, while the completely black or white backdrops to each page create a stark contrast to the engaging
animals, bugs, flora, and patterns rendered in a bright neon palette. Eye-popping illustrations bring the charm in this novel folktale retelling. (Picture book/folktale. 5-8)
Chicken Little and the Very Long Race Wedelich, Sam | Scholastic (40 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781338892420 | Series: The Real Chicken Little
Apparently unaware of his own cautionary history, Hare is destined to repeat it in this wryly funny paean to perseverance. Chicken Little isn’t interested in the upcoming marathon. (“Have you seen how short my legs are?”) But the hens are agog at the competition’s sponsor and most famous participant, Hare, a local celebrity, and begin to train diligently. Then Hare’s running manual arrives. Despite its title, Hop to It, the book is strangely silent on workouts, instead touting Hare-brand smoothies, sneakers, and sweatbands. The hens purchase everything and relax on chaises, reading and slurping. Upon learning that the hens haven’t read any other training handbooks, serious, bespectacled Chicken Little becomes concerned. She warns, “It’s a very long race! You could get hurt if you don’t train!” “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Goaded, she signs up to race and begins a strenuous regimen. It’s a tough ordeal, but “still, she persisted,” sustained by her mantra, “slow and steady.” The raceday results will not be a surprise. Hare struggles to accept coming in second, while Chicken Little, having realized the rewards of determination and hard work, ponders future challenges. With hand-lettering and minimal touches of color, the droll, lighthearted line illustrations and sly nods to adult readers balance the sensible messaging. This is a successful third hit for the “real” Chicken Little. KIRKUS REVIEWS
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An amusing satire on influencer culture and an earnest endorsement of disciplined effort. (Picture book. 3-7)
Kirkus Star
How Benjamin Franklin Became a Revolutionary in Seven (Not-So-Easy) Steps Woelfle, Gretchen | Illus. by John O’Brien Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (96 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 17, 2023 9781635923315
“Benjamin Franklin was a proud citizen of America all his life. And a proud subject of the British Empire. Until he wasn’t.” Deftly threading in quotes from her ever-quotable subject and dividing his life into formative experiences, Woelfle begins on a metaphorical note with 7-year-old Ben naïvely overpaying for a coveted toy: “Step #1 / Benjamin Franklin learned early, ‘Do not give too much for the Whistle.’” From there she goes on to describe his long campaign to keep relations amicable between Britain and its American colonies. She points to the quick evolution of his views on slavery and also to his prescient proposal (in 1754!) that the colonies would greatly benefit from a union based on that of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy until at last he came to realize that “losing his ‘rights and liberties’ was too high a price to pay for any whistle—or any empire.” Along with tracing the general arc of Franklin’s rise in the commercial, scientific, and diplomatic realms, the author offers sidelights on some of his pastimes and inventions before closing with backmatter that includes separate reading lists for adult and younger readers. Woelfle’s dynamic approach results in a personal, probing portrait of the Founding Father. In O’Brien’s tongue-in-cheek ink drawings, small period figures with KIRKUS REVIEWS
paper-white skin gesticulate, scurry about busily, or, in one amusing scene, fall comically victim to one of Franklin’s infamous electrical pranks. A superb tribute to a foresighted patriot in peace and war. (author’s and illustrator’s notes, timeline, websites) (Biography. 8-10)
Eeny and Her Sisters Yolen, Jane | Illus. by Kathryn Brown Crocodile/Interlink (32 pp.) | $17.95 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781623717056 | Series: Jane Yolen’s Eeny Series
Hot chocolate wins over strong opposition. Eeny, the youngest of three mole sisters who live in a hole deep underground, is the only one of her siblings who dares venture “Up Above.” Eeny loves the newness and surprises of the world outside. Her sisters distrust anything different and warn her about dangers, especially humans, but she remains undeterred. Her description of something new and unimaginable—hot chocolate—makes her siblings swoon with horror. When Eeny can’t rouse them, she resorts to drastic measures: She travels Up Above, pours hot chocolate into acorn cups given to her by a human she’s befriended known only as “the Boy,” and returns home. (Only the Boy’s light-skinned hand is seen.) The beverage’s delectable aroma awakens the sisters, who bravely taste it, albeit not from their familiar hole. (They do appreciate that it’s dark like their hole.) When Eeny explains where it’s from, the sisters faint again, though they love it and want more. Eeny performs a sneaky maneuver that proves hot chocolate—or anything new and different—can move anyone out of their comfort zone. This thin but cute story and the colorful, lively illustrations are as sweet and cozy as a chocolate drink. Kids will admire Eeny’s pluck and be glad her sisters learn to broaden their horizons somewhat, demonstrating the importance
of accepting change and becoming more open-minded.
A reminder that happiness derives from adapting to what might once have seemed strange. (Picture book. 4-7)
Ramadan Kareem Yuksel, M.O. | Illus. by Hatem Aly | Harper/ HarperCollins (40 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 20, 2024 | 9780063240124
Young Muslims around the world observe the month of Ramadan. Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon. Children who are diverse in terms of nationality, skin tone, body type, and ability describe their experiences observing and celebrating the “holy month of mercy.” Kids wake up to fill their bellies for suhoor, the pre-fast breakfast, and take care to be kinder and more polite. They pray at home with their families and in the mosque and prepare donations for those in need. Yuksel’s refreshing take centers children’s experiences during Ramadan and the holiday that follows it, Eid al-Fitr. Descriptions of the children’s hunger pangs, their relief at breaking their fast, and their gratitude for their blessings perfectly capture their perspective. The author emphasizes sensory experiences, such as the smell of kofta, the sound of the call to prayers, and the cozy feeling of curling up on Abuela’s lap to read the Quran. Aly’s cheerful, energetic illustrations pair beautifully with the text to convey the joyous spirit of Ramadan, with bright colors and depictions of Islamic art and architecture. Careful readers will notice that a playful cat appears throughout. A thoughtful author’s note digs deeper into the practices and traditions of Ramadan, while a helpful glossary defines potentially unfamiliar words from multiple languages and cultures. Fantastic, festive, and vibrant. (Picture book. 4-8)
DECEMBER 1, 2023 133
Y O U N G A D U LT // B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3
Looking for your next favorite YA book? We’re proud to present our top 100 teen titles of the year, with a list offering something for every kind of reader. Whether you want an intricate fantasy, a page-turning mystery, a cathartic tearjerker, mind-expanding nonfiction, escapist romance, or something else entirely, we’ve got you covered with books that will keep the pages turning well into the night.
134 DECEMBER 1, 2023
KIRKUS REVIEWS
TPopova via iStock
The Best Young Adult Books of 2023
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // Y O U N G A D U LT
America Redux: Visual Stories From Our Dynamic History Aberg-Riger, Ariel | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (304 pp.) | $24.99 May 2, 2023 | 9780063057531
Beautifully illustrated, riveting, enraging, and empowering: a must-read. (Nonfiction. 13-adult)
Imogen, Obviously Albertalli, Becky | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (432 pp.) | $19.99 May 2, 2023 | 9780063045873
Fresh, endearing, and heartfelt. (Romance. 14-18)
All You Have To Do
When It All Syncs Up
Allen, Autumn | Kokila (432 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 29, 2023 9780593619049
Ameyaw, Maya | Annick Press (336 pp.) | $19.99 | June 6, 2023 9781773217819
An electric debut: a must-read for all. (Fiction. 12-18)
A hopeful, realistic exploration of mental health among teens invested in the world of the arts. (Fiction. 14-18)
Money Out Loud: All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us Anat, Berna | Illus. by Monique Sterling Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (272 pp.) $18.99 | $14.99 paper | April 25, 2023 9780063067370 | 9780063067363 paper
An outstanding personal finance book that reads like a fun conversation with a smart friend. (Nonfiction. 13-18)
Fire From the Sky Åstot, Moa Backe | Trans. by Eva Apelqvist | Levine Querido (216 pp.) $19.99 | Oct. 17, 2023 | 9781646142484
A fresh voice and a setting that’s pure fire. (Fiction. 13-18)
The Blood Years Arnold, Elana K. | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (400 pp.) | $19.99 Oct. 10, 2023 | 9780062990853
A moving glimpse into a past that is an all-too-possible vision of our future. (Historical fiction. 13-18)
Writing in Color: Fourteen Writers on the Lessons We’ve Learned Ed. by Azad, Nafiza & Melody Simpson | McElderry (256 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 22, 2023 9781665925648
The honest, useful craft book that all fledgling writers need. (Nonfiction. 14-adult)
And Don’t Look Back Barrow, Rebecca | McElderry (336 pp.) | $19.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781665932271
A gripping thriller that doesn’t reveal its secrets until the very end. (Thriller. 14-18)
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Messenger: The Legend of Muhammad Ali Bernardin, Marc | Illus. by Ron Salas First Second (240 pp.) | $17.99 paper Aug. 15, 2023 | 9781250881632
A moving ode to a mighty icon whose cultural contributions are as powerful as his victories in the ring. (Graphic biography. 14-18) DECEMBER 1, 2023 135
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Champion of Fate
Warrior Girl Unearthed
Blake, Kendare | Quill Tree Books/ HarperCollins (480 pp.) | $19.99 Sept. 19, 2023 | 9780062977205 Series: The Heromaker, 1
Boulley, Angeline | Henry Holt (400 pp.) | $19.99 | May 2, 2023 9781250766588
A fabulous series opener combining true thrills and deep relationships. (Fantasy. 14-18)
A page-turning heist grounded in a nuanced exploration of critical issues of cultural integrity. (Thriller. 14-18)
The Prince & the Coyote
Promise Boys
Bowles, David | Illus. by Amanda Mijangos Levine Querido (336 pp.) | $19.99 Sept. 26, 2023 | 9781646141777
Riveting. (Historical epic. 14-18)
Breathtakingly complex and intriguing. (Mystery. 14-18)
Good as Gold
Sing Me To Sleep
Buford, Candace | Disney-Hyperion (320 pp.) | $18.99 | June 6, 2023 9781368090254
Burton, Gabi | Bloomsbury (400 pp.) $18.99 | June 27, 2023 9781547610372
A riveting examination of power and the importance of history. (Mystery. 13-18)
A winning debut. (Fantasy. 13-18)
Gather
Plan A
Cadow, Kenneth M. | Candlewick (336 pp.) | $17.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781536231113
Caletti, Deb | Labyrinth Road (416 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9780593485545
A heartfelt novel about the challenges of youth and the value of community. (Fiction. 13-18)
Brilliant and multilayered; an absolute must-read. (Fiction. 12-18)
Spin
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces
Caprara, Rebecca | Atheneum (400 pp.) $18.99 | March 28, 2023 9781665906197
Exciting, richly textured, thought-provoking fare. (Verse novel. 12-18)
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Brooks, Nick | Henry Holt (304 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 31, 2023 9781250866974
Cheng, Linda | Roaring Brook Press (320 pp.) | $19.99 | Nov. 7, 2023 9781250864994
Immensely and terrifyingly satisfying from beginning to end. (Thriller. 14-18) KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // Y O U N G A D U LT
The Blackwoods
This Delicious Death
Colbert, Brandy | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (384 pp.) | $19.99 Oct. 3, 2023 | 9780063091597
Cottingham, Kayla | Sourcebooks Fire (304 pp.) | $11.99 paper April 25, 2023 | 9781728236445
A striking testament to the bonds of family and a perceptive study in how events can echo throughout generations. (Fiction. 14-18)
Riveting horror combined with savvy social commentary. (Horror. 14-18)
Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic
When Ghosts Call Us Home
davis, g. haron. | HarperTeen (416 pp.) | $19.99 | May 16, 2023 9780063218796
Meaningful magical resistance. (Fantasy anthology. 14-18)
Haunting, intense, and eerily spooky. (Horror. 14-18)
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix
Dimaline, Cherie | Tundra Books (280 pp.) | $17.99 | April 4, 2023 9780735265639
Dimaline, Cherie | Feiwel & Friends (288 pp.) | $19.99 | Sept. 5, 2023 9781250842657 | Series: Remixed Classics
Atmospheric, intimate, and melodic; the rich storytelling sings. (Fiction. 14-18)
A rich and verdant revival of a classic. (Historical fiction. 13-18)
Mindwalker
Wings in the Wild
Dylan, Kate | Hodder & Stoughton/ Hachette UK (320 pp.) | $26.99 Feb. 7, 2023 | 9781529392685
Engle, Margarita | Atheneum (224 pp.) | $18.99 | April 18, 2023 9781665926362
Thrilling. (Dystopian. 14-18)
Inspiring and hopeful; young love and the call to action resonate. (Verse novel. 12-17)
Pedro & Daniel Erebia, Federico | Illus. by Julie Kwon Levine Querido (336 pp.) | $19.99 June 6, 2023 | 9781646143047
Stunning. (Fiction. 12-18)
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de Becerra, Katya | Page Street (368 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781645679639
Those Pink Mountain Nights Ferguson, Jen | Heartdrum (352 pp.) | $19.99 | Sept. 12, 2023 9780063086210
Intimate and impactful. (Fiction. 13-18)
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The Eternal Return of Clara Hart
Where You See Yourself
Finch, Louise | Little Island (288 pp.) $11.99 paper | June 13, 2023 9781915071026
Forrest, Claire | Scholastic (320 pp.) $19.99 | May 2, 2023 | 9781338813838
A devastating, essential journey. (Fiction. 14-18)
The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption Gibney, Shannon | Dutton (256 pp.) $18.99 | Jan. 10, 2023 | 9780593111994
An innovative and captivating reflection on identity and self. (Speculative nonfiction. 14-adult)
Gay Club! Green, Simon James | Scholastic (432 pp.) | $19.99 | June 6, 2023 9781338897463
Ideal for lovers of both juicy reality TV and inspiring LGBTQ+ documentaries. (Fiction. 14-18)
Unraveller Hardinge, Frances | Amulet/Abrams (432 pp.) | $19.99 | Jan. 10, 2023 9781419759314
Brightening toward the end, frightening throughout, psychologically acute. (Fantasy. 12-18)
Check & Mate Hazelwood, Ali | Putnam (368 pp.) $14.00 paper | Nov. 7, 2023 9780593619919
Readers will devour this swoonworthy romance in one sitting. (Romance. 14-adult)
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Affirming, uplifting, and thoughtful. (Fiction. 13-18)
Throwback Goo, Maurene | Zando Young Readers (368 pp.) | $19.99 | April 11, 2023 9781638930204
A deft, delightful, and emotionally complex examination of intergenerational relationships. (Fiction. 14-18)
The Grimoire of Grave Fates Ed. by Hanna Alkaf & Margaret Owen Delacorte (464 pp.) | $18.99 | $21.99 PLB | June 6, 2023 | 9780593427453 9780593427460 PLB
Eighteen heroes, individual yet not alone, beautifully find self-respect and force their school to change. (Fantasy mystery. 12-18)
The Buried and the Bound Hassan, Rochelle | Roaring Brook Press (384 pp.) | $19.99 | Jan. 24, 2023 9781250822208 | Series: The Bound and the Buried Trilogy, 1
A wonderful start to a new trilogy. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute Hibbert, Talia | Joy Revolution (336 pp.) $18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Jan. 3, 2023 9780593482339 | 9780593482360 PLB
A zippy rom-com with strong characterization, bursting with Gen Z–approved verbal sparring and stolen kisses. (Romance. 12-18) KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // Y O U N G A D U LT
Salt the Water Iloh, Candice | Dutton (288 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 | 9780593529317
Daring, beautiful, and necessary. (Verse fiction. 13-18)
Invisible Son Johnson, Kim | Random House (416 pp.) $18.99 | $21.99 PLB | June 27, 2023 9780593482100 | 9780593482117 PLB
A powerful, emotional, and insightful read. (Fiction. 14-18)
Jaigirdar, Adiba | Feiwel & Friends (336 pp.) | $18.99 | June 6, 2023 9781250842114
Cute, fresh, and endearing. (Romance. 14-18)
An Appetite for Miracles Kemp, Laekan Zea | Little, Brown (448 pp.) | $18.99 | April 4, 2023 9780316461733
Emotionally resonant and deeply moving. (Verse fiction. 14-18)
Unnecessary Drama
Just a Hat
Kenwood, Nina | Flatiron Books (304 pp.) | $23.99 | Aug. 8, 2023 9781250894427
Khubiar, S. | Blackstone (210 pp.) $19.99 | July 18, 2023 | 9798200864973
Sidesplitting comic writing and an appealingly messy protagonist to root for. (Fiction. 13-18)
Star Splitter Kirby, Matthew J. | Dutton (320 pp.) $18.99 | April 25, 2023 | 9780735231665
An intense, read-in-one-sitting kind of ride. (Science fiction. 12-18)
Before the Devil Knows You’re Here Krause, Autumn | Peachtree Teen (352 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781682636473
Highly imaginative and powerfully affecting. (Speculative fiction. 14-18) KIRKUS REVIEWS
The Dos and Donuts of Love
A sizzling page-turner with an unusual and important focus. (Historical fiction. 12-17)
I’ll Take Everything You Have Klise, James | Algonquin (288 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 28, 2023 | 9781616208585
A transportive, thrillingly queer adventure. (Historical fiction. 14-18)
Forever Is Now Lockington, Mariama J. | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (416 pp.) | $19.99 May 23, 2023 | 9780374388881
Intimately and immensely powerful. (Verse fiction. 12-18)
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The Fall of Whit Rivera
Some Shall Break
Maldonado, Crystal | Holiday House (320 pp.) | $19.99 | Oct. 10, 2023 9780823452361
Marney, Ellie | Little, Brown (400 pp.) $18.99 | June 6, 2023 9780316487719
A sentimental story about friendship, family, and love as sweet as a pumpkin spice latte. (Fiction. 14-18)
A razor-sharp sequel exceeding the previous installment’s high expectations. (Thriller. 13-18)
The Davenports
The Narrow
Marquis, Krystal | Dial Books (384 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 31, 2023 9780593463338
Marshall, Kate Alice | Viking (384 pp.) | $18.99 | Aug. 1, 2023 9780593405147
A dazzling debut. (Historical romance. 12-18)
Haunting. (Paranormal. 14-18)
No One Left but You
We Are All So Good at Smiling
McAdam, Tash | Soho Teen (288 pp.) $18.99 | Nov. 28, 2023 | 9781641294898
Poignant and intoxicating. (Fiction. 14-18)
The Sum of Us (Adapted for Young Readers): How Racism Hurts Everyone McGhee, Heather | Delacorte (240 pp.) $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Feb. 21, 2023 9780593562628 | 9780593562635 PLB
Important messages uniquely delivered. (Verse novel. 12-18)
A Long Stretch of Bad Days McGinnis, Mindy | Katherine Tegen/ HarperCollins (368 pp.) | $17.99 March 14, 2023 | 9780063230361
Of great value to anyone who values straight-to-the-point, thorough writing on race in America. (Nonfiction. 13-18)
A clever and often darkly funny mystery. (Mystery. 14-18)
Mage and the Endless Unknown
Sinner’s Isle
Miller, SJ | Iron Circus Comics (152 pp.) | $15.00 | June 20, 2023 9781638991199
Phenomenal. (Graphic fantasy. 14-adult)
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McBride, Amber | Feiwel & Friends (304 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 10, 2023 9781250780386
Montoya, Angela | Joy Revolution (384 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 31, 2023 9780593643334
A swashbuckling, swoonworthy standout. (Fantasy. 13-18)
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B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // Y O U N G A D U LT
All These Sunken Souls: A Black Horror Anthology Ed. by Moskowitz, Circe | Amberjack Publishing (256 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 17, 2023 9781641608374
One to enjoy with the lights on. (Horror. 12-18)
All That It Ever Meant Musariri, Blessing | Norton Young Readers (192 pp.) | $18.95 | Jan. 3, 2023 9781324030959
An inventive, exquisitely written story of family, love, and loss. (Fiction. 14-adult)
Only This Beautiful Moment Nazemian, Abdi | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (400 pp.) | $19.99 May 9, 2023 | 9780063039377
A stunning intergenerational coming-of-age story. (Fiction. 14-18)
Into the Light Oshiro, Mark | Tor Teen (448 pp.) $19.99 | March 28, 2023 | 9781250812254
An important and searing read on the value of family, agency, and belief. (Mystery. 14-adult)
Mufleh, Luma | Nancy Paulsen Books (320 pp.) | $18.99 | May 16, 2023 9780593354452
A poignant glimpse into human imperfections and the struggle to find one’s place in the world. (Memoir. 14-18)
Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story Myer, Sarah | First Second (272 pp.) $17.99 paper | June 27, 2023 9781250268808
Immersive and engrossing: a beautifully depicted emotional journey. (Graphic memoir. 13-18)
Different for Boys Ness, Patrick | Illus. by Tea Bendix Walker US/Candlewick (104 pp.) $18.99 | March 14, 2023 9781536228892
[Blanking] masterful. (Fiction. 14-18)
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim Park, Patricia | Crown (304 pp.) $18.99 | $21.99 PLB | Feb. 21, 2023 9780593563373 | 9780593563380 PLB
A satisfyingly accurate account of zealotry and personal growth. (Fiction. 13-18)
Bittersweet in the Hollow
Iron Wolf
Pearsall, Kate | Putnam (384 pp.) | $18.99 Oct. 10, 2023 | 9780593531020
Pettersen, Siri | Trans. by Tara Chace Arctis Books (400 pp.) | $20.00 Feb. 21, 2023 | 9781646900152 Series: Vardari, 1
Complex, well-realized, and engrossing. (Fantasy. 12-18)
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From Here
An immersive, darkly exhilarating read. (Fantasy. 14-adult)
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Cold Girls Rae, Maxine | Flux (352 pp.) | $14.99 paper Aug. 22, 2023 | 9781635830897
A vibrant and poignant must-read. (Fiction. 14-18)
Rahman, Yasmin | Carolrhoda Lab (440 pp.) | $20.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781728467108
Honestly portrays the dark parts of life—and shows that there is hope. (Fiction. 13-18)
A Door in the Dark
Emmett
Reintgen, Scott | McElderry (368 pp.) $19.99 | March 28, 2023 | 9781665918688
Rosen, L.C. | Little, Brown (384 pp.) $18.99 | Nov. 7, 2023 | 9780316524773
Truly fantastic. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Delightfully queer and downright swoonworthy. (Romance. 14-18)
Delicious Monsters
The Moonlit Vine
Sambury, Liselle | McElderry (512 pp.) | $21.99 | Feb. 28, 2023 9781665903493
Santiago, Elizabeth | Illus. by McKenzie Mayle | Tu Books (368 pp.) $24.95 | May 30, 2023 9781643795805
A story that is careful to make its ghosts and monsters painfully real. (Thriller. 14-18)
Deeply moving, beautifully written, and inspiring. (Fiction. 13-18)
All the Fighting Parts
City of Nightmares
Sawyerr, Hannah V. | Amulet/Abrams (400 pp.) | $18.99 | Sept. 19, 2023 9781419762611
Schaeffer, Rebecca | Clarion/ HarperCollins (384 pp.) | $18.99 | Jan. 10, 2023 | 9780358647300
An unforgettable story of healing told through phenomenal poetry. (Verse fiction. 14-18)
So much fun readers will stay up all night to finish it. (Fantasy/horror. 13-adult)
Charming Young Man
You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory
Schrefer, Eliot | Katherine Tegen/ HarperCollins (288 pp.) | $19.99 Oct. 10, 2023 | 9780062982391
Beautifully realized and a pleasure to read. (Historical fiction. 13-18)
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All the Things We Never Said
Sepetys, Ruta | Viking (224 pp.) $19.99 | May 16, 2023 9780593524381
Instructive and inspiring for storytellers of all ages. (Nonfiction. 12-adult) KIRKUS REVIEWS
B E S T B O O K S O F 2 0 2 3 // Y O U N G A D U LT
Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe Sheinkin, Steve | Roaring Brook Press (256 pp.) | $19.99 | Aug. 29, 2023 9781250265722
Passionate, absorbing, and, unfortunately, more than a little relevant to current events. (Nonfiction. 12-18)
The Next New Syrian Girl Shukairy, Ream | Little, Brown (416 pp.) $18.99 | March 14, 2023 | 9780316432634
A story of friendship and family that finds hope through heartbreak. (Fiction. 13-18)
Shepard, Ray Anthony | Illus. by R. Gregory Christie | Calkins Creek/Astra Books for Young Readers (336 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 8, 2023 | 9781662680663
Electrifying. (Verse nonfiction. 12-16)
Courage To Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust Shusterman, Neal | Illus. by Andrés Vera Martínez | Graphix/Scholastic (256 pp.) | $14.99 paper Oct. 31, 2023 | 9780545313483
Moving examples of the power of culture and folklore to offer help, hope, and inspiration to act. (Graphic fiction. 12-18)
An Echo in the City
I Am Not Alone
Song, K.X. | Little, Brown (352 pp.) $18.99 | June 20, 2023 | 9780316396820
Stork, Francisco X. | Scholastic (320 pp.) | $19.99 | July 18, 2023 9781338736267
A riveting and meaningful comingof-age story. (Fiction. 13-18)
An illuminatingly powerful story about mental illness, young love, faith, and hope. (Fiction. 14-18)
Savage Her Reply
The Love Match
Sullivan, Deirdre | Illus. by Karen Vaughan | Little Island (256 pp.) $15.99 paper | Oct. 3, 2023 9781912417674
Taslim, Priyanka | Salaam Reads/ Simon & Schuster (400 pp.) | $19.99 Jan. 3, 2023 | 9781665901109
Haunting and lyrical. (Fiction. 13-18)
Candid, textured, and amusing: a novel readers will devour in one sitting. (Romance. 12-18)
This Cursed Light
Saints of the Household
Thiede, Emily | Wednesday Books (448 pp.) | $20.00 | Dec. 5, 2023 9781250794079 | Series: The Last Finestra, 2
A rewarding, passionate, and beautifully characterized duology closer. (Fantasy. 14-18)
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A Long Time Coming: A Lyrical Biography of Race in America From Ona Judge to Barack Obama
Tison, Ari | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (320 pp.) | $18.99 | March 28, 2023 9780374389499
Remarkably compelling. (Fiction. 14-18)
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She Is a Haunting
Finding My Elf
Tran, Trang Thanh | Bloomsbury (384 pp.) | $18.99 | Feb. 28, 2023 9781547610815
Valdes, David | HarperTeen (256 pp.) $19.99 | Nov. 7, 2023 | 9780063288881
Both the ghosts and the humans in this richly layered work are alluring and deadly. (Horror. 13-18)
Phoebe’s Diary
The Voice Upstairs
Wahl, Phoebe | Little, Brown (464 pp.) | $19.99 | Sept. 5, 2023 9780316363563
Weymouth, Laura E. | McElderry (320 pp.) | $19.99 | Oct. 3, 2023 9781665926836
An earnest, relatable, and affecting celebration of teenage yearning. (Fiction. 14-adult)
A compelling, secret-filled gothic tale. (Supernatural mystery. 14-18)
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth
Look on the Bright Side
White, Andrew Joseph | Peachtree Teen (384 pp.) | $17.99 | Sept. 5, 2023 9781682636114
Visceral and vindicating. (Horror. 14-18)
More Than a Dream: The Radical March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom Williams, Yohuru & Michael G. Long | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (272 pp.) | $19.99 | Aug. 29, 2023 9780374391744
Coherent, compellingly passionate, rich in sometimes-startling and consistently well-founded insights. (Nonfiction. 12-15)
Under This Forgetful Sky Yero, Lauren | Atheneum (416 pp.) $19.99 | July 18, 2023 | 9781665913799
Heartbreaking and heartfelt. (Dystopian. 14-18)
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An elf-ing good time. (Romance. 13-adult)
Williams, Lily & Karen Schneemann First Second (336 pp.) | $14.99 paper Oct. 10, 2023 | 9781250834102
A warm hug of a tale. (Graphic fiction. 11-16)
My Flawless Life Woon, Yvonne | Katherine Tegen/ HarperCollins (352 pp.) | $17.99 Feb. 14, 2023 | 9780063008694
Thought-provoking high school drama with dark, serious undertones. (Mystery. 13-18)
Hungry Ghost Ying, Victoria | First Second (208 pp.) | $17.99 paper April 25, 2023 | 9781250767004
A gorgeously wrought, therapeutic story filled with tenderness and honesty. (Graphic fiction. 14-18) KIRKUS REVIEWS
SO Y EC U TNIG ON A D U LT // Q & A
MEET THE AUTHORS literature is, our Best YA Books of 2023 list will have blown it to smithereens. There’s almost no subject that authors and illustrators won’t tackle—with intelligence, sensitivity, humor, and, most crucially, respect for teen readers. To offer a different view of that range, we followed up with some of the creators of these titles to learn more about their inspirations, their process, and their experience bringing their books out into the world. In The Prince & the Coyote (Levine Querido, Sept. 26), David Bowles brilliantly retells the remarkable life of 15th-century Aztec king, warrior-poet, and polymath Acolmiztli Nezahualcoyotl in a book that features illustrations by Amanda Mijangos. Our reviewer deemed it “riveting.” Bowles answered our questions about the novel by email. Liselle Sambury’s Delicious Monsters (McElderry, Feb. 28) takes the paranormal thriller genre to new levels, layering potent explorations of intergenerational trauma onto its supernatural chills. In one timeline, teen Daisy Odlin moves with her volatile mother into an inherited home; 10 years later, Black film student Brittney investigates what happened to Daisy, her mother, and the foreboding so-called Miracle Mansion. Sambury answered some questions about the novel by email. Holocaust narratives are as abundant and individual as fingerprints—every experience of the cataclysm was unique. In Courage To Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust (Graphix/ Scholastic, Oct. 31), by Neal Shusterman (illustrated by Andrés Vera Martínez), the author may be one of the first writers to approach the subject in a graphic novel format that incorporates elements of dark fantasy. Shusterman took a few minutes to answer questions about the book by email. In Hungry Ghost (First Second, April 25), Victoria Ying introduces Valerie, a Chinese American teen struggling with disordered eating, unbeknownst to her family and friends. When Valerie is forced to step out of her routine, she must confront her mental health head on. Ying discussed her new graphic novel—a “gorgeously wrought, therapeutic story filled with tenderness and honesty,” according to our reviewer—over email. 146 DECEMBER 1, 2023
DAVID BOWLES
LISELLE SAMBURY
What idea, character, or scene was the original inspiration for the book? Delicious Monsters, more than any of my other novels, began with a lot of bits and pieces. I wanted to do a haunted house story, to feature a single mother and daughter, to have two
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Bowles: David Bowles; Sambury: Stuart W
IF YOU HAD a preconceived notion of what young adult
What were some of the pleasures and challenges of bringing Nezahualcoyotl’s story to the page? One of the biggest challenges was readers’ unfamiliarity with the setting, both in place and time. A similar novel taking place in, say, ancient Rome or Greece could rely
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Get to know some of the creators behind this year’s best young adult books. BY TOM BEER
Q & A // Y O U NSGE C AT DIUOLT N on the fact that most English speakers in North America are steeped in the stories, names, and philosophies of those nations. For a variety of reasons, pre-Invasion Mesoamerica is either unknown or deeply misunderstood, frankly, even in Mexico. Ironically, this challenge brings the biggest pleasure, which is rendering the adolescence of one of the most important Indigenous minds on the continent in a
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POVs, and so on. The first time I felt like I had a clear idea of the novel as a whole was when I visited the place where it would be set. It was a cottage in the Kenogamissi area [of Ontario, Canada], and the landscape was immediately inspiring. I could picture Daisy walking through those patches of forest
KIRKUS REVIEWS
language and form that modern audiences—teens and adults alike—will find compelling and relatable. It’s a joy and a privilege to be one of the first authors to open up this young man’s life and culture. Rhythm is a key concept in The Prince & the Coyote— one that aids Nezahualcoyotl in claiming his own power. What role does it play in your writing process? I started learning to play instruments as a young child, gravitating more toward percussion as the years wore on. Becoming attuned to the tempo of songs led me to find rhythm in everything around me,
where the trees were so dense that they blocked out the sun and made the area darker. It was both beautiful and haunting, the way I wanted the story to be. When I was writing the book, I thought that I was holding on to my original vision for it, but it ended up evolving without me. I’d set out to tell a creepy haunted house story and ended up with something with more psychological dread than intended, certainly a lot more twists and turns, and this very intimate discussion about mothers and daughters— specifically Black mothers and daughters—and intergenerational trauma. It’s still a creepy
from street sounds to human speech. When I began writing poetry as a teen, I was drawn to formal meter, and the ebb and flow of language has influenced my prose writing as well. I often plan chapters by thinking about the time signature and beats per minute I want to emulate as I evoke a particular mood. How did it feel to hold a finished copy in your hands? Almost overwhelming. It’s a beautiful book, one that’s taken me a very long time to prepare for and write. Amanda’s illustrations provide the perfect accent notes within Levine Querido’s timeless design. A real collectible.
What are some of the books you’ve read and loved in 2023? I’ve read so many great ones! Standouts include The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older, Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden, Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares [coming in February 2024], Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia, Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera, Alebrijes by Donna Barba Higuera (illus. by David Álvarez), and Books 4 and 5 of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (the basis for the Chinese fantasy TV series The Untamed). —MEGAN LABRISE
haunted house story, but it’s also much more.
but you also have to watch, and I love that.
What do you enjoy most about writing in the horror/thriller genre? I appreciate the buildup that horror and thriller [authors] utilize in their storytelling. These are two genres that thrive on the tone of the writing, because you’re trying to elicit in the reader dread, anxiety, fear, and an insatiable desire to keep going, and I enjoy getting that from those novels. It reminds me of when you’re watching a scary movie and the main character is doing something they shouldn’t be doing, and you’re peeking through your fingers because you can’t watch,
What books published in 2023 were some of your favorites? I loved Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington, a fast-paced YA thriller about a Black girl who participates in a series of deadly games that’s twisty, fun, and smart. I was also a big fan of Your Lonely Nights Are Over by Adam Sass, a YA horror that follows besties Dearie and Cole, who are accused of murdering the members of their school’s queer club. It’s a must-read slasher for horror movie fans that will keep you guessing. —NINA PALATTELLA
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to show familiar things from new, unfamiliar perspectives. Dark fantasy narratives, in their most traditional forms— like fairy tales and cultural legends—are meant to be lessons and cautionary tales. I wanted to utilize the genre in a poignant, resonant way. I was also hoping to bring in readers who might not normally pick up a book about the Holocaust.
Did you worry about how the book would be received? I always have concerns about how a book will be received. Most of the books I write push against boundaries in one way or another, like dealing with the multitude of sensitive issues in Game Changer or telling a story about drug addiction from the point of view of the personified drugs themselves in Roxy. Courage To Dream actually predates both of those books, because I’ve been working on it for 13 years. When I first thought of telling stories about the Holocaust through fantasy, I got scared because I didn’t know if it could be done with taste, respect, and sensitivity. But the more I thought about it,
only recognized my own disordered eating from reading books by people who had also struggled. I knew that this book would be worthwhile because it would reflect an experience of ED that is outside the mainstream, and I hoped that some teens in this situation would feel seen.
It all started with a difficult conversation I had with a loved one. There was a “script” in my head about how that conversation would go that was informed by popular media about ED, and I was shocked when the conversation went poorly. I knew that I couldn’t be the only person who’d reached out for help, only to be disappointed, and I wanted to show what that experience was like.
Courage To Dream departs from most books about the Holocaust by introducing elements of fantasy and folklore into its narratives. What inspired that decision? The key point there is departure from what we’ve seen before. I’m always trying
Did you have any trepidation about approaching the subject of disordered eating for a YA audience? Difficult topics are always less comfortable to discuss, but kids and teens are tackling these issues, and the worst thing would be to let them do it alone. I, for one,
What was the original idea that started you working on the book?
Who is the ideal reader for your book, and where would they be reading it? My ideal reader is anyone who’s struggling with their body image and wants to know how to heal, even if they may not have traditional
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Photo Credit goes here Shusterman: Gaby Gerster; Ying: Lauren Justice
Y O U N G A D U LT // Q & A
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Can you say something about how you worked with illustrator Andrés Vera Martínez? The first draft of the book was completed before Andrés was brought on board. But once I began to see his spectacular artwork, it really helped the revisions because there was so much that could be shown rather than told. I still get chills when I look at a lot of his artwork for this book. And the funny thing is, we’ve never actually
Photo Credit goes here
support systems. I hope that this book finds its way into libraries and that kids are able to read about these experiences and reflect on their own attitudes about bodies and beauty. Were you able to do live events for the book this year? Any memorable highlights? This was the first book that I was really able to do in-person events for, since my first authored books all came out during the pandemic! I was most excited to be at San Diego Comic-Con. I’d attended the show ever since I was a teen myself, and to be able to attend as an author was thrilling!
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SEEN AND HEARD
met. We’ll be meeting for the first time while I’m on tour! Who is the ideal reader for your book, and where would they be reading it? The book is written with teenagers and preteens in mind, but my hope is that it will be read across the board by all ages. Antisemitism and all forms of hatred hide in dark corners and unexpected places. It’s my hope that Courage To Dream will shine light into those corners and find readers who might otherwise shy away from these kinds of stories—because we all need to be beacons of light in this world.—T.B.
What books published in 2023 were among your favorites? Deb JJ Lee’s In Limbo came out a month before my book, and I was blessed to be able to do some touring with them. The book is breathtakingly beautiful and so raw and honest. I’m in awe of everything they do. Ethan M. Aldridge’s Deephaven is a wonderful middle-grade horror novel. His prose debut is so inspiring and wonderfully spooky! I hope that he gets to do many more in the series. I also loved Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki. I aspire to their level of empathy.—K.K.
The Hunger Games Will Be Adapted for the Stage Tony Award nominee Conor McPherson will base the play on Suzanne Collins’ novel and the 2012 film. The Hunger Games is headed to the stage. A play based on Suzanne Collins’ hit 2008 young adult fantasy novel—and its 2012 film adaptation—is being planned for a stage premiere in London next year, Deadline reports. Tony Award–nominated playwright Conor McPherson (Shining City, Girl From the North Country) is penning the adaptation, which will be based on the novel and the film, both blockbuster hits. Collins’ novel, about a young woman in a dystopian North America who competes in a televised battle royale, was the first in a series of books; the most recent installment is a prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The first three books in the series were adapted into four films starring Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson; a movie based on Songbirds is scheduled to open in theaters next month.
McPherson’s adaptation will be directed by Matthew Dunster (Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Hangmen), and is set to open in the fall of 2024. “To receive Suzanne Collins’ blessing to adapt The Hunger Games for the stage is both humbling and inspiring,” McPherson said. “This is turbo-charged storytelling of the highest order and I’m hugely excited to bring it to a new generation of theatergoers and to Suzanne Collins’ longstanding and devoted fans.”—M.S. For our original review of The Hunger Games, visit Kirkus online.
McPherson received a Tony nomination for the book of The Girl From the North Country.
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John Lamparski/Getty Images
the more I felt called to do it. I must be a little bit of a literary masochist, because when I’m scared by something, that becomes the thing I want to write.
NOTEWORTHY YA READS FROM 2023 THIS WAS A YEAR with much to celebrate in YA literature. Horror lovers were delighted (and terrified) to see that the genre continued to flourish. Romance and fantasy, perennial favorites, also made strong showings. Graphic literature and nonfiction featured real innovation, too. But one trend stood out, transcending genre and format: More books than ever dove into the glorious, messy complexities of real teens’ lives—lives that don’t fit into neat boxes when it comes to any aspect of identity. The arrival of stories that offer genuine
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nuance and repudiate simplistic stereotypes is truly something to applaud. The six books below are just a few of the many titles that are deserving of special attention. One widely held misconception is that teens care nothing about older people; in fact, anyone who works with adolescents knows how much they crave and benefit from authentic, mutually respectful relationships with elders. The following stories celebrate priceless intergenerational bonds. The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert (Balzer + Bray/
HarperCollins, Oct. 3): The death of the matriarch of a Black Hollywood dynasty is deeply felt by her beloved great-granddaughters in this resonant story that explores fame, socioeconomic divisions, and the tough choices ambitious women face. Throwback by Maurene Goo (Zando Young Readers, April 11): A Korean American teen who adores her immigrant grandmother but clashes with her assimilationist mom develops profound insights after traveling back in time to her mother’s teen years in this deeply touching story. Books about pivotal social themes have long been at the heart of YA literature, but recently we’ve seen approaches and subjects that are far more subtle and insightful than before, often addressing topics in ways that adult readers would greatly benefit from understanding. Invisible Son by Kim Johnson (Random House, June 27): In this searing novel, a Black teen attempts to keep a low profile after a juvie sentence for a crime he didn’t commit—but he’s derailed by the suspicious disappearance of his best friend, a transracially adopted Black boy. The Next New Syrian Girl by Ream Shukairy (Little, Brown, March 14): Two Syrian girls who are thrown together—one from a wealthy
LAURA SIMEON
Detroit family and the other a traumatized refugee—slowly find common ground in a tale that treats both their struggles with remarkable compassion. Historical fiction can get a bad rap due to pitfalls such as infodumps, erasures of large segments of the population, and limited subject ranges, but we’re lucky to be in a time of flourishing creativity, with authors writing books with broad relevance and strong reader appeal. Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, May 9): Tracing three generations of boys and men in an Iranian family across continents and decades, this unforgettable novel delves into the ambiguities of cross-cultural lives and the impact of well-intentioned but misguided activism. Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia, illustrated by Julie Kwon (Levine Querido, June 6): This extraordinary, movingly illustrated work, spanning the 1960s through the 1990s, was inspired by the author’s life. The book explores deeply painful, personal topics—among them abuse, homophobia, and grief—with care and sensitivity. Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor. KIRKUS REVIEWS
Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson
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EDITOR’S PICK An intrepid teen encounters the dark secrets of the elite in her climate-ravaged world in this translated work from South Korea. Sixteen-year-old Jeon Chobahm is shocked to learn that Goh Haeri, the beloved reality TV star who happens to be Chobahm’s look-alike, just died by suicide—and also that she’s being asked to become Haeri’s secret replacement. In their frozen, post-apocalyptic world, Chobahm, like everyone around her, leads a bleak life. She bundles up daily against the dangerous cold and toils in a power plant. But now she’ll live Haeri’s cushy life in Snowglobe, an
These Titles Earned the Kirkus Star KIRKUS REVIEWS
exclusive, glass-dome-enclosed community, where the climate is mild, and the resident actors’ lives are broadcast as entertainment for those in the open world. As glamorous as life there may seem, however, Chobahm quickly learns that there’s a sinister underbelly: People are killed off when they’re no longer useful, and there’s something strange about Haeri’s family dynamics. As she meets a host of new companions, including Yi Bonwhe, the heir of Snowglobe’s founding family, Chobahm discovers a devastating secret and embarks on a risky plan to expose the truth. Climate change,
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Call Me Iggy By Jorge Aguirre; illus. by Rafael Rosado; colors by John Novak
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Out of Body By Nia Davenport
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Even if It Breaks Your Heart By Erin Hahn
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A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic By Yi Shun Lai
Snowglobe Park, Soyoung | Trans. by Joungmin Lee Comfort Delacorte | 384 pp. | $20.99 Feb. 27, 2024 | 9780593484975
societal inequity, and the ethics of escaping from our own lives by watching others’ are addressed in this intelligent, absorbing book. Chobahm is a complex character inhabiting a strongly developed world,
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Snowglobe By Soyoung Park; trans. by Joungmin Lee Comfort
and her compassion, ambition, outrage, and sorrow ring true. Transporting and unputdownable; an appealing combination of deep and page-turning. (Dystopian. 12-adult)
For a YA novel set in a community isolated from modern problems, visit Kirkus online.
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Kirkus Star
Call Me Iggy Aguirre, Jorge | Illus. by Rafael Rosado Colors by John Novak | First Second (256 pp.) | $18.99 paper | Feb. 13, 2024 9781250204134
Ignacio “Iggy” Garcia doesn’t often think about his heritage, until a ghost shows him what he’s missing. Iggy, who’s Colombian American and from Ohio, is starting high school. He wants to take French, because he’s a Francophile like his father. When he’s placed in a Spanish class instead, Iggy is forced for the first time to really think about his family background. Things get even more interesting when the ghost of his paternal grandfather, who died in Colombia when Iggy was a baby, appears to him. Abuelito has a lot he wants to teach Iggy about the Spanish language and the Garcias’ history, not to mention helping him impress the girl he likes. Set against the backdrop of the 2016 election, this evocatively illustrated graphic novel delves into the cultural alienation that can happen to the children of immigrants when their parents try to erase humble beginnings and realize the so-called American dream. As Iggy sees the beauty in the language, art, and music of his ancestors, he also recognizes problems with how immigrants are being discussed—especially as he befriends Marisol, an undocumented Mexican American classmate. This powerful, timely story delicately balances an authentic teenage voice with a nuanced message about embracing and straddling multiple identities while thoughtfully portraying racism, microaggressions, and anti-immigrant ideology. The dynamic, expressive artwork draws readers in and emphasizes the characters’ complex emotions. A pitch-perfect example of teenage explorations of cultural identity. (Graphic fiction. 13-18) 152 DECEMBER 1, 2023
This timely story delicately balances an authentic teenage voice with a nuanced message. C A L L M E I G GY
Kirkus Star
Out of Body Davenport, Nia | Balzer + Bray/ HarperCollins (272 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780063255715
An out-of-body story that tackles societal ills with a science fiction bent. Seventeenyear-old Megan Allen is celebrating her “three-month friendiversary” with LC. The two Black girls clicked instantly when they happened to meet in a suburban Atlanta coffee shop, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Megan hasn’t had a friend like LC since she was a kid, so she’s thrilled. That all changes when, the morning after the party they went to, she wakes up alone, lying on the ground in the backyard of a boy she knows—in someone else’s body. As Megan adapts to her new, much taller frame, she races against time to find LC. But first, she has to figure out whose body she’s inhabiting now and assume her identity until she can get her own life (and body) back. Davenport’s genre-bending adventure zips along, with Megan adjusting to and fighting against her new reality. The examination of relevant teen themes of race, selfhood, and relationships plays out against the backdrop of an imaginatively developed landscape; Megan must believe in herself more than ever before if she’s going to save herself. In her YA debut, adult science fiction author Davenport deftly handles the body-switching plotline, keeping readers aware of who’s who
while delivering all too believable scares in a story that’s a great choice for fans of Jordan Peele and Tiffany D. Jackson. Complex, entertaining, and thought provoking. (Science fiction/thriller. 14-18)
Lady of Disguise Dickerson, Melanie | Thomas Nelson (336 pp.) | $19.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 9780840708670 | Series: A Dericott Tale
Eighteen-year-old Louisa embarks on a quest to save both herself and her 12-year-old sister from arranged marriages, finding personal growth and true love
along the way. In 1388 England, Louisa and Margaret live with their uncle, who’s trying to marry them off. Louisa knows that independent wealth is the path to freedom, so she disguises herself as a boy, assumes the name Jack, and runs away in search of a Viking treasure in Yorkshire that’s rumored to be guarded by a giant. She crosses paths with Sir Charles Raynsford of Dericott, a young knight seeking his place and healing from an ill-advised love affair, and the pair begin to work together. The author adds period-appropriate details throughout, including descriptions of a feast, a knight’s vows, an encounter with wolves, the Midsummer festival in a market town, and even a meeting with King Richard in the Tower of London. Louisa and Sir Charles’ pivotal adventure on a mountain in Yorkshire leads to KIRKUS REVIEWS
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happily-ever-after endings for all. This is a mild adventure with good pacing; while the characters Louisa encounters seem to exist to highlight the setting and support her Christian-centered self-actualization, the blossoming romance is sweet and the pair is well matched, with inner lives centered on contemplation and prayer. All characters are cued white; diversity in social rank and physical disabilities illuminates historical attitudes. A gentle historical romance led by chivalry and Christian-based morality. (author’s note, discussion questions) (Historical romance. 12-18)
The Lotus Flower Champion Dunn, Pintip & Love Dunn | Entangled Teen (400 pp.) | $18.99 | Oct. 31, 2023 9781649374332
A Washington, D.C., teen and her mother are stranded on a deserted island along with a group of strangers and a mysterious, possibly magical, force. Seventeen-year-old Alaia’s mother is dying of cancer. Mama decides to return home to Thailand with her husband and daughter to enjoy life while she still can. Determined to make her mom happy, Alaia agrees to go on a yacht trip—although she’s anxious about the deep water—and even spends time with cute boatswain Bodin, who also has a Thai mom and a white dad. When the cruise suddenly goes wrong, a multinational group of 12 passengers of one lifeboat, including Alaia, Mama, and Bodin, wash up on a tropical island. (Alaia last saw Papa, an obstetrician, on deck helping a pregnant woman who went into labor.) With no food and Mama’s medicine running out, their chances of survival look grim, until members of the group begin to display strange abilities. Could Thai folktales really be coming to life? Neither purely a survival story KIRKUS REVIEWS
nor a fairy tale, the narrative, in which personal struggles and growth take center stage, combines the complexities of navigating loss and growing up. Alaia’s OCD is an integral facet of the plot throughout, and her character arc is ultimately positive, focusing on mental health and forming and maintaining strong relationships.
enlivened by frequent quotations. Interesting archival photos plus frequent sidebar excursions (including some amusing trash talk aimed at U.S. troops that German soldiers sent via captured Allied pigeons) join a particularly rich set of further resources to enhance these tales of animals at war.
Pigeons at War: How Avian Heroes Changed History
The Fox Maidens
A wholesome and realistic coming-ofage novel—with magical flourishes. (authors’ note, sources) (Fantasy. 12-17)
Goldsmith, Connie | Twenty-First Century/ Lerner (136 pp.) | $38.65 PLB | Feb. 6, 2024 9781728487083 PLB
Highlights from the more than 5,000-year history of the “pigeon post.” Pigeons were the first birds to be domesticated (about 10,000 years ago) and have been used to carry messages since at least the days of ancient Egypt. Along with being uncanny navigators, they’ve been shown to be intelligent enough to distinguish between the music of Bach and Stravinsky. Wartime episodes, which will horrify readers with an interest in animal welfare, describe how these intelligent birds have been savagely mutilated by enemy gunfire. Asking readers to ponder whether pigeons were “just returning home by instinct” or if they sensed “they had a vital mission to complete,” Goldsmith presents profiles of a series of pigeon heroes. Despite injuries she describes in detail, these birds intrepidly saved lives by delivering crucial field reports or desperate appeals for help. The incidents included mostly occurred during the two World Wars and primarily in Western Europe (though there’s some coverage of Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe), and they often led to the birds’ receiving medals and other honors. The accessible text is
Will incite sympathy, not to say outrage, along with admiration for these often-underestimated birds. (glossary, source notes, bibliography, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
Ha, Robin | Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (320 pp.) | $26.99 | $18.99 PLB Feb. 13, 2024 | 9780062685131 9780062685124 PLB
Noted graphic memoirist Ha makes her fiction debut with this feminist retelling of the legend of the Gumiho, set in Korea during the Joseon dynasty. Kai Song is no ordinary general’s daughter: She was born with a gift for fighting and has been trained in martial arts by her father, General of the Royal Legion and a hero of the dynasty who’s known for slaying Gumiho (a nine-tailed fox demon that can shapeshift into a beautiful woman). Wild, spirited Kai has no patience for Joseon social norms, which dictate that she should become a subservient wife or a courtesan to high-status men. Her unusual upbringing doesn’t help curb the widespread rumors that Kai and her mother are descendants of the very demon her father defeated. Through the years, Kai’s talent becomes more of a liability as she begins to attract unwanted attention around her village and from her father’s enemies. When Kai unexpectedly learns the true nature of her abilities, deeply hidden family secrets come to light, and she’s set on a tumultuous path of self-discovery. Ha employs a limited but >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 153
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6 Books To Curl Up With Over Winter Break 4
1 Murder on a School Night By Kate Weston
4 Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy By Faith Erin Hicks
A nuanced, hilarious page-turning romantic mystery.
Compelling characters presented through captivating, expressive illustrations.
2 The Infinity Particle
5 The Voice Upstairs
By Wendy Xu
By Laura E. Weymouth
A delightful tale that brings optimism back to science fiction.
A compelling, secret-filled gothic tale.
3 Blackward
By Lawrence Lindell
6 I Loved You in Another Life
A paean to the radical joy of being every part of yourself.
Fully captures the intensity of first love.
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6
For more YA books to enjoy this winter, visit Kirkus online.
By David Arnold
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versatile color palette to create a world that feels grounded in real history yet imbued with magic. The inkbrush-like digital illustrations are evocative of traditional Asian art and contrast poignantly with the book’s contemporary treatment of nonconformity, queerness, and intergenerational trauma.
A lushly illustrated fantasy that feels ancient and modern at the same time. (author’s note) (Graphic fantasy. 13-18)
Kirkus Star
Even if It Breaks Your Heart Hahn, Erin | Wednesday Books (320 pp.) $20.00 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781250761279
In finding each other, a bull-riding champion and a barrel racer on the rise also find their true callings as a romance rooted in friendship blooms. Ever since his best friend Walker’s death, Case Michaels has engaged in destructive, risky behavior. Case met Walker at the age of 10, in line for their first bull rides, and Walker’s friendship and passion motivated Case, even though he was less invested in the sport. Winnie Sutton helps support her two younger siblings by working on the Michaels’ ranch in the Texas Panhandle, tending horses and leading trail rides for rich guests. Winnie is a rodeo natural but hasn’t had the time or resources to compete. When Case is sent to work in the stables as punishment for one of his latest escapades, their paths cross—a catalyst for them to examine their lives, let go of the roles that have defined them, and find their true potential. The three-dimensional characters carry the slow-burn romance as Case and Winnie prioritize friendship while developing feelings for each other. Winnie learns to accept help from a community she’s held at bay, and Case, who’s grown up with a great deal of privilege, leans into challenges 156 DECEMBER 1, 2023
outside the rodeo arena. Through details about horses, rodeo life, and the ranch, Hahn creates a world that feels lived in, like a pair of comfy jeans. Main characters are cued white. A deeply satisfying romance in which personal growth and dreams are realized. (Romance. 14-18)
This Is How You Fall in Love Hussain, Anika | Bloomsbury (400 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781547614509
British Bangladeshi teens Zara and Adnan are besties, but can these friends stay just friends? Adnan loves to flirt with girls IRL; Zara is happy in the world of romance novels. Their families are closely intertwined, and the two Bengali Muslim 16-yearolds share a friendship circle, which means everyone is constantly shipping them. Things get complicated when Adnan starts dating new classmate Camilla, who’s white and has an overly protective father who won’t let her have a boyfriend. To cover for them, Zara agrees to pretend to date Adnan, delighting their friends and leaving their families with starry-eyed dreams, but the trio soon discovers that this scheme is going to snowball out of control…especially when a new boy turns up, awakening some latent feelings in Zara. Zara mulls over questions around stereotypical depictions of South Asians that overshadow “the reality of who we are.” She checks out online gossip about her classmates and follows their lives through their posts, raising questions about social media pressures on teens as they relate to cultural norms and representation in popular media. Although the novel starts off slowly, it picks up the pace when the love triangle becomes a solid love square and family expectations take center stage in ways that readers will relate to.
A combination of pop-culture references, classic rom-com elements, and fun banter makes for an engaging read. (Fiction. 13-18)
How the Boogeyman Became a Poet Keith Jr., Tony | Katherine Tegen/ HarperCollins (352 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780063296008
In this memoir in verse, a gay, Black spoken-word artist, poet, and hip-hop educator recollects parts of his becoming. At his high school in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he was known as “the man with the poems,” Keith was already a self-assured young writer: “I was thirteen when the first poem burst in my atmosphere like dat.” Mystified by a feeling of sadness, he responded by writing a poem. After being placed in the gifted and talented track, he’s critiqued by a “miserable” English teacher who doesn’t appreciate his strengths. Though writing poetry keeps Keith afloat emotionally, grappling with his sexuality is a different story altogether. He’s attracted to boys but hasn’t shared this openly and feels angst over feeling “obligated to act out a prescriptive performance every day” and to follow an expected script while attempting to see a way through to the other side of his accumulated fears. The poems flow into one another and are occasionally broken up with photos from his childhood and youth, images of his handwritten poems, and instant message chats, all of which enhance readers’ experiences of the book. Keith offers a vulnerability within these pages that’s reminiscent of George M. Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue (2020) and Candice Iloh’s Every Body Looking (2020) and will especially speak to young people who are dealing with similar educational, familial, and interpersonal pressures. An emotionally honest and self-reflective debut. (Verse memoir. 14-18)
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Polar exploration transforms a young woman in this original, evocative tale. A S U F F R A G I S T ’ S G U I D E T O T H E A N TA R C T I C
The Sixth Extinction (Young Readers Adaptation): An Unnatural History Kolbert, Elizabeth | Godwin Books (224 pp.) $20.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781250793423
This young readers’ adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize– winning original reads like a combination of a dystopian novel and a nature documentary. After a gripping prologue that firmly establishes humans as the cause of the Sixth Extinction, Kolbert navigates the history of the previous Big Five extinctions, introduces scientists who dedicate their lives to understanding them, and describes the efforts of modern researchers who are working to document and advocate for species around the world that are nearing extinction. The book concludes with a conundrum: Now that we know we’re the cause of the Sixth Extinction, what will our evolutionary legacy be? The narrative of this abridged version contains each of the original book’s 13 chapters and is written with specificity and wit. Kolbert’s first-person account conveys technical ideas while also painting pictures of the personalities of the scientists themselves. The descriptions of creatures—some encountered as fossils—are pithy and vivid. Some scientific concepts and terms are explained, but in general a strong grasp of evolution and scientific principles is required to appreciate the text. The book has a few KIRKUS REVIEWS
simple line drawings but no charts, photographs, or other visual means of clarification; more serious omissions are the lack of a bibliography and source notes. However, in addition to clearly synthesizing a large amount of research, this book’s virtue lies in the emotional gut punch it delivers. A wide-ranging, urgent, and emotionally effective call to action. (author’s note, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)
No Time Like Now Kutub, Naz | Bloomsbury (336 pp.) | $18.99 Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781547609284
A Burbank, California, boy goes on an incredible journey to find his will to live again after a tragic event. A year after his father’s passing, 17-yearold brown-skinned Hazeem, who’s gay, remains deeply affected by the loss. His connection with his mother has deteriorated, and he stays home, uninterested in anything and distanced from his closest friends—Holly, Yamany, and Jack—who are like “three ghosts” to him. When Nana, Hazeem’s Muslim paternal grandmother and the one remaining person he feels understands him, suddenly dies, Hazeem utters words that would grant her extra life. This brings him face to face with Time—and the possible destruction of the world as he knows it. Hazeem must come to terms with loss, face those he loves, and make an
emotionally wrenching choice. Can he find happiness amid heartbreak? The novel explores important themes of loss and the struggle for peace of mind, but the confusing narrative requires effort to untangle. The inconsistent characterization of Time along with their nebulous rules only adds to the complexity. Though his journey is marked by satisfying personal growth, readers will wish for more depth from Hazeem’s relationship with Time. Ultimately, the various storylines and themes in the book are ambitious but do not coalesce into a satisfying whole. A lesson on death and attachment that’s based on an interesting premise but fails to find its footing. (Speculative fiction. 13-17)
Kirkus Star
A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic Lai, Yi Shun | Atheneum (336 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 13, 2024 | 9781665937764
A young suffragist writes a real-time log of her adventures in Antarctica. Lai takes Sir Ernest Shackleton’s famous 1914 expedition to Antarctica and adds a twist: How would adding a woman to the crew have affected the story? In her version, 18-year-old white American girl Clara Ketterling-Dunbar claims to be 21 and Canadian, since the Brits aren’t happy that America hasn’t yet joined the Great War. As Clara begins her story, their ship, the Resolute, has sunk after being crushed by pack ice. The 28 stranded crew members need to work together harmoniously in order to have any chance of survival. With her heart still tied to the women’s suffrage movement she fought for, Clara bristles at being asked to make biscuits and mend clothing. But while she abandoned her mother as well as her American and British pro-suffrage colleagues for falling short >>> DECEMBER 1, 2023 157
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SEEN AND HEARD Omar Epps Talks New Book on GMA The actor’s Nubia: The Reckoning was published this fall by Delacorte.
Epps: Sean Zanni/Getty Images for STARZ; Curato: Paul Specht
Actor Omar Epps stopped by Good Morning America to discuss Nubia: The Reckoning, the young adult science fiction novel he co-wrote with Clarence A. Haynes. The book, published this fall by Delacorte, is the second installment in the Nubia series, which kicked off in 2022 with Nubia: The Awakening. The dystopian novels tell the story of three teenagers whose parents moved to a climate change–ravaged New York after the fall of
a breadcrumb trail for the future generations to say, ‘Hey, we tried it this way, maybe we should try it a different way, so the future is brighter.’”—M.S.
their African homeland. A critic for Kirkus called the new book “an ambitious return to a future of promise, danger, and self-discovery that fans of the first volume will enjoy.” GMA co-host Michael Strahan noted that the books depict “Black characters in a positive light,” and said that it was “a lane that is being missed” in the literary world. “It’s really about inclusion in an organic way, and I tried to have characters that represented the world the way that it looks, and people that haven’t been seen and heard,” Epps replied. Strahan said that while the book takes place a century into the future, “it does address century-old problems.” Epps responded, “It seems like we repeat certain cycles.…What I tried to do in the book was leave a little bit of
Epps co-wrote the novel with Clarence A. Haynes.
For a review of Nubia: The Reckoning, visit Kirkus online.
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Author of Banned Book Pens Open Letter to Students Mike Curato’s Flamer was recently banned by a Georgia school district.
Flamer author Mike Curato wants students at Georgia’s Marietta High School to know they’re not alone. The writer and illustrator, whose graphic novel was recently banned by the Cobb County School District, wrote a letter to students at the high school, the Marietta Daily Journal reports. Flamer, published in 2020 by Henry Holt, tells the story of Aiden, a queer biracial teenager in his last days at a Boy Scout camp. In a starred review, a Kirkus critic praised it as “a story that will be read and reread, and for some, it will be the defining book of their adolescence.” It has been a frequent target for challenges in schools and libraries. It ranked No. 4 on the American Library Association’s list of the most banned or challenged books of 2022. In his letter to Marietta High students, Curato wrote, “You deserve to be here. No matter who you are, what you believe, or who you love. I need you to know this because when I was young, it was
implied that there was no room in this world for someone like me. Not unless I followed their rules.” He continued, “Flamer is my truth and my joy. It may make some people uncomfortable, but their comfort is NOTHING compared to your safety and happiness. Remember that. They can ban my book, but no one has the right to ban YOU.”—M.S.
For a review of Flamer, visit Kirkus online.
Curato’s book was one of the most frequently banned titles in 2022.
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of her ideals, she can’t abandon her crewmates. When one she refers to as the Villain attempts to rape her, Clara fights him off, badly injuring him and causing a rift in the party. And yet they must try to survive. As a character, Clara feels modern but not anachronistic; she’s wrestling with social issues that continue to resonate today, and her strong voice propels readers through an adventure as compelling as Shackleton’s own to a heartfelt, realistic conclusion. Polar exploration transforms a young woman in unexpected and interesting ways in this original, evocative tale. (maps, author’s note) (Historical fiction. 12-18)
Freshman Year Mai, Sarah | Christy Ottaviano Books (288 pp.) | $17.99 paper | Feb. 13, 2024 9780316401173
An artistic, thoughtful young woman from southern Wisconsin sets off for college in Minnesota. Sarah graduates from high school and spends her last summer before college with friends Finn and Emma and boyfriend Ben, who proclaims that he loves her and wants them to stay together, even after they leave for different campuses in the fall. Sarah’s earnest insecurities about her plans, including whether she may transfer to an art school at some point, are evident from the get-go and will ring true for readers who’ve been in similar positions during this major life pivot point. The simple color palette (black and white with a bluegray wash), with panels that smoothly shift in size and structure to suit the needs of the story, form a backdrop to playful yet realistic drawings that effectively convey people’s emotions through their facial expressions. Sarah’s persistent anxiety comes through especially clearly. Mai’s author-illustrator debut follows Sarah throughout 160 DECEMBER 1, 2023
A well-written tearjerker featuring a fully fleshed-out magic system with pagan roots. W H E R E T H E D A R K S TA N D S S T I L L
her entire first year of college and into the next summer. Her life is replete with new friends made (including her science-oriented roommate and a fellow artist pal), relationship struggles, spontaneous changes in personal style, visits home that show how things are both changing and staying the same, and more. This detailed, meditative tale is insightful, honest, and darkly funny, and it includes threads that are (realistically) not tidily resolved. Sarah and her family read white; there’s some ethnic diversity among secondary characters. An engaging and relatable slice-of-life story. (author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 14-18)
Skater Boy Nerada, Anthony | Soho Teen (312 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781641295345
Wesley “Big Mac” Mackenzie hides his feelings and identity behind his tough reputation, until he meets Tristan Monroe, an out-and-proud ballet dancer with big dreams for the future. When the faculty and students at Stonebridge High take in Wes’ skateboard, leather jacket, and baggy clothes, they see nothing but a lowlife. The guidance counselor nags Wes about college and warns him that if his grades don’t improve, he won’t graduate on time, but as much as Wes can’t stand the idea of repeating his senior year, he also can’t imagine going to college. His single mom,
whom he’d do anything to support, and his two best friends, Tony and Brad, are the only people who care about him. During a night out at the ballet, the last place Wes wants to be, his heart stops when Tristan dances onto the stage. As these two opposites attract, Wes confronts his fear of rejection, his past traumas, and his future. This coming-out story surrounds the white protagonist with a racially diverse cast of secondary characters, including his love interest, Tristan, who is Black. Nerada portrays characters with caring complexity, particularly Wes’ mother, and presents readers with multifaceted relationships. While Tristan encourages and challenges Wes, Wes’ character growth is, refreshingly, not dependent on their relationship, and healthy friendships are as central to the story as the boys’ romance.
An endearing and nuanced debut. (Fiction. 14-18)
The Diablo’s Curse Novoa, Gabe Cole | Random House (400 pp.) | $19.99 | Feb. 20, 2024 9780593378052
A demonio grasping for humanity and a human boy with a family curse embark on a hunt for a treasure that will set them free. According to the terms of their bargain with el Diablo, Dami should be human, but their revelry comes to an end when food they should be able to taste turns to ashes in their mouth. KIRKUS REVIEWS
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El Diablo didn’t tell Dami that if they failed to close all their open deals with mortals within a year, they’d revert to being a demonio forever. Silas Cain, who’s cued white, carries the burden of a generational curse that would have killed him if he hadn’t made a deal with Dami, but now he’s stuck in a torturous loop of life and death. When Dami offers to set him free from their soul-binding contract, Silas strikes a new bargain that Dami has no choice but to accept—Silas will end their contract, but only if Dami helps him break the curse and save his younger sister from inheriting tragedy. This book, set in the world of The Wicked Bargain (2023), follows Dami to the New England coast through well-paced shifts in point of view and revealing flashbacks. High stakes and an enemies-to-lovers romance combine to create a satisfyingly suspenseful story. Dami and Silas share the narration with Marisol, a clever and endearing transgender girl whose adventure intertwines with theirs. Dami and Marisol are Mexican, and some of their conversations include Spanish. A tumultuous and romantic adventure. (Fantasy. 14-18)
The Absinthe Underground Pacton, Jamie | Peachtree Teen (416 pp.) $18.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781682634929
Best friends with secret feelings for each other are hired to steal jewels from a queen in the Fae realm. Ever since adventurous, half-human Sybil left her wealthy family after her Fae mother’s death, she’s been making money as a thief, selling stolen posters by famous artists to collectors. She has help from her homebody roommate, Esme. The pair unexpectedly meet Maeve, the model from their latest stolen poster—one advertising a nightclub called the Absinthe KIRKUS REVIEWS
Underground—and Maeve reveals that she’s a green fairy who’s stuck in their world. She offers the roommates riches to journey into the land of Fae, a world Esme hadn’t known existed, and return with the crown jewels of Queen Mab, which can set her free. As the friends find themselves in increasingly perilous situations, their desire for each other grows. Admitting their feelings will take just as much courage as the heist itself. Inspired by belle epoque Paris and set in the same world as The Vermilion Emporium (2022), this cozy fantasy has lush imagery and a fun, magic-filled heist plot that’s more charming than stressful. Because most of the conflicts Sybil and Esme encounter are quickly overcome, the story maintains a low-stakes feel, allowing readers to savor the whimsy. The romance between the two white women is cute but doesn’t evolve much. Still, the happiness they find together is gratifying. A delightful, magical tale that’s as comforting as a hot cup of tea. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 13-18)
Where the Dark Stands Still Poranek, A.B. | McElderry (368 pp.) | $19.99 Feb. 27, 2024 | 9781665936477
A village girl and a demon must battle an old god to save a magical wood in this reimagining of “Beauty and the Beast” that’s steeped in Polish folklore. Seventeen-year-old Liska Radost, pale-skinned and periwinkle-eyed, seeks to quell rumors that she’s a witch and flees her village in search of the fern flower that can grant her desire to be rid of her magic. She ventures into the Driada, a supernatural forest that’s home to the antlered, shape-shifting Leszy, its warden. When the Leszy catches Liska attempting to pick the flamelike flower, he offers her a bargain: “serve me for a year, and when
you are done, I will grant your wish.” Liska moves into the House Under the Rowan Tree, a charming, magical manor, and it’s not long before her relationship with the Leszy begins to change from servant to apprentice to something more. As Liska learns about magic and monsters, she uncovers secrets about the Leszy and discovers that there are creatures so terrifying that even a demon fears them. Poranek’s stunning worldbuilding immerses readers in a panoply of nightmares. Polish words are scattered throughout, sometimes without translation but easily comprehensible in context. The book is deliberately paced, focusing on the growth of both Liska and, mostly as a result of Liska’s actions, the Leszy, and patient readers will be rewarded with a well-written tearjerker featuring a fully fleshed-out magic system with pagan roots. Dark, devastating, and gothic. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Dead Girls Don’t Say Sorry Ritany, Alex | Knopf (400 pp.) | $19.99 $22.99 PLB | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593569269 9780593569276 PLB
A high school senior must come to terms with complicated feelings about her best friend’s death. Nora Radford’s long-standing plans for the future include her best friend, Julia Hoskins: They’ll finish high school and attend McGill University as roommates. The problem is, Nora has a chance at early acceptance to another university with a competitive journalism program that would be a dream come true, and she isn’t sure about her sometimes-toxic friendship with Julia. Julia is cool and popular, but she can also be a bigoted bully, constantly putting people down and spreading nasty rumors. After Dillan Fletcher, Nora’s childhood best friend who moved away, transfers to their DECEMBER 1, 2023 161
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school, her increasingly close (and possibly romantic) relationship with him throws her friendship with Julia into stark relief, and Nora finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about her friend. When Julia dies unexpectedly, Nora must confront her grief while reckoning with her complicated feelings about Julia as she uncovers a web of lies. Told in alternating timelines set before and after Julia’s death, Ritany’s novel adeptly captures the stomach-churning feeling of betrayal by a friend and the confusion of being constantly manipulated and lied to. Some plot points feel vague, and the alternating timelines can at times be hard to follow, but the book ultimately propels readers through one gut-wrenching discovery after another. The main characters read white; background characters bring diversity in ethnicity and sexuality. Unsettling and sharply observed. (Fiction. 14-18)
These Deadly Prophecies Tang, Andrea | Razorbill/Penguin (256 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593524251
A sorcerer’s teenage apprentice learns just how deadly the power of fortunetelling can be. Fortunetelling is a rare breed of sorcery, and Chinese American Tabatha Zeng has been learning it from the notorious prophet-sorcerer Julian Solomon, one of the best in the country. An integral part of her training is honing the ability to tell truths from lies. She never believed her mentor whenever he prophesied his own brutal murder—the timeline varied, but it was always going to be “at the hands of the person he loved most in all the world.” But when she sees Julian’s dismembered body with her own eyes, she keeps her promise to find his son Callum, who’s also a fortuneteller, and stay by his side. The unlikely duo team 162 DECEMBER 1, 2023
up to investigate Julian’s death, which leads them to wealthy and powerful members of the family, who may have their own motives for killing the Solomon patriarch. But Tabatha isn’t sure if she can exclude Callum from her list of suspects, and the more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to ascertain his innocence. Fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Inheritance Games (2020) will find Tang’s latest to be an ideal read-alike with a fantastical twist. Although the story feels a bit unfinished, the clever voice and fastpaced storytelling will compel readers to finish this in one sitting and will leave them longing for more.
respective sightseeing groups, they meet and agree to find their bandmates (and chaperones) together. But before they can do that, Abby loses the precious book. Seeing how upset she is, Leo suggests they turn this disaster into a scavenger hunt, finding mementos for Kat from the locations mentioned in the novel. With every frustrating, wrong direction they take on the subway, they connect further, each wanting to extend this chaotic day. The tropes of “ugh, you” and “aw, you” are present throughout Abby and Leo’s endearingly wild ride through city landmarks. The lead characters read white.
This Day Changes Everything
The Cursed Rose
An intriguing and magical mystery. (Fantasy mystery. 14-18)
Underhill, Edward | Wednesday Books (288 pp.) | $20.00 | Feb. 13, 2024 9781250835222
A pair of touristy queer teens turn getting lost in New York City into an entertaining rom-com adventure. Abby Akerman’s playing clarinet in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with her Westvale, Missouri, high school marching band, but she’s about to do something even bigger. Sure, Abby’s nervous about it because she’s not out, but she’s got this plan. She’s giving Kat Wu, her best friend and bandmate, their favorite romance novel—specifically, a “mint-condition, hardcover copy signed by the author”— and also telling Kat that she’s in love with her. Drummer Leo Brewer’s in New York, too; his Springfield, North Carolina, marching band is also performing at the parade, but Leo’s stressed about it. While his parents, sister, and friends know he’s trans, his extended family members don’t. He’ll be outed on national television! When Leo and Abby get separated from their
A lively, queer romance with flourishes of drama. (Romance. 13-18)
Vedder, Leslie | Razorbill/Penguin (400 pp.) $19.99 | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9780593625569 Series: The Bone Spindle, 3
Treasure hunters Filore and Shane must stop an evil witch and save an enchanted kingdom in the third installment of their fairy-tale adventure. Left separated and temporarily defeated at the end of The Severed Thread (2023), tan-skinned, dark-haired Fi and Shane (who’s white) must now gather their friends and allies to fight for their happily-ever-afters. Readers who have been following the series will be excited about all the threads that are finally tied off, such as the history of the spooky, enigmatic Spindle Witch and the fate of Filore and her Butterfly Curse. As in the first two installments, the well-paced prose is emotionally evocative and painterly. The author weaves together magic and romance in an action-filled plot and populates the book with characters who are distinctive, likable, and competent. One unusual characteristic of this trilogy is the fact that the three volumes feel much like one very long book: The first two lacked satisfying KIRKUS REVIEWS
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conclusions, and this third one reads like an ending without a beginning. Now that all the books are out, readers who want to join Fi and Shane on their gender-swapped “Sleeping Beauty”–inspired journey can do so from beginning to end, enjoying the full story arc.
A satisfying close to a magical trilogy. (Fantasy. 12-18)
Ghostlord Womack, Philip | Little Island (264 pp.) $12.99 paper | Feb. 6, 2024 | 9781915071262 Series: Wildlord, 2
A spectral child’s appeal leads a London teen into webs of deceit and desperate choices. In this standalone tale loosely linked to Wildlord (2022), Meg Lewis hears a disembodied voice crying for help in her spooky new village home. She gradually finds herself caught between the glittering promises of a smooth-talking, imprisoned mage named Jacobus and the inscrutable but dazzling Samdhya— otherworldly shape-shifters determined to maintain balance by keeping the magical and mundane worlds separate. Being as her father lies unconscious in a hospital bed, and her mother is generally absent for her new job, Meg has plenty of time to become ensnared in the mage’s scheme to break free and also to exploit her latent talent for traveling through the Crypta, an in-between shortcut to faraway places, while getting acquainted with Skander, a young local who turns out to be a decidedly unreliable ally. Though the author strings out developments and squeezes in tidy reunions and resolutions at the end, he rewards patient readers with properly atmospheric crows, magical keys, spectral ghosts, spooky rituals, an invisible castle, and similarly uncanny elements on the way to a suspenseful climax. Womack leaves his young protagonist with enticing magical abilities that could KIRKUS REVIEWS
well come into play in future adventures. Most characters read white.
A slow-building, darkly eerie tale. (Fantasy. 12-16)
Machines Through the Ages: From Furnaces to Factories Woods, Michael & Mary B. Woods | TwentyFirst Century/Lerner (80 pp.) | $37.32 PLB Jan. 1, 2024 | 9798765610053 PLB | Series: Technology Through the Ages
A history of the six simple machines and some of the structures and tools built with them in ancient and early-modern times. In this revised and refurbished edition of their Ancient Machine Technology, first published in 2011 (and itself an update of 2000’s Ancient Machines), the Woods explain how each of the simple machines work and examine signs of their early uses in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The scope covers Mesopotamian potter’s wheels and Chinese wheelbarrows to Egyptian pyramids, Roman waterwheels, and (in several cultures) iron tools. Readers who believe the authors’ claim that wrought iron is “weaker” than cast iron will come away misinformed, and anyone looking for actual pictures of a lathe, a block and tackle, or the different types of waterwheels rather than just textual descriptions will need to keep looking. Still, there are several wonders on display here, notably the Antikythera mechanism and an ancient tool for brain surgery found in Peru. In closing, the authors explain that many ancient types of machine are still in use today, often in littlealtered forms. Short, simple declarative sentences make the text accessible and easy to comprehend. Buffed up but still inessential. (timeline, glossary, source notes, selected bibliography, further reading, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 11-18)
Medicine Through the Ages: From Acupuncture to Antibiotics Woods, Michael & Mary B. Woods | TwentyFirst Century/Lerner (80 pp.) | $37.32 PLB Jan. 1, 2024 | 9798765610039 PLB | Series: Technology Through the Ages
An overview of medical practices and advances from early days to…somewhat later days. The co-authors define technology as “the use of knowledge and inventions to make human life better” and continue on, in that same blandly optimistic vein, to survey the state of classical and traditional medicine in various cultures from ancient Greece and Rome to India, China, and the Americas (“thousands of different cultures” are acknowledged, although the seven-page overview offers little room for differentiation); except for Egypt, Africa doesn’t make the cut. Readers may be surprised to learn that doctors in ancient India used giant biting ants to suture ruptured intestines, thus preventing infections, and that ancient Greek surgeons could “safely amputate limbs.” But the authors neglect to mention that wholesale bloodletting wasn’t just an ancient practice but common up through the late 19th century. Those hoping for a glimpse of modern medical wonders will be disappointed since, notwithstanding a moderate amount of editing to the text, this refurbished version of the Woods’ 2011 volume Ancient Medical Technology rushes through the 18th and 19th centuries and stops at the discovery of antibiotics in 1928—with not much beyond an annotated list of more recent books tacked on to the end of the original edition’s stale selected bibliography, covering the last century or so of innovation. The illustrations offer an assortment of ancient sites and artifacts. An anemic retread. (timeline, glossary, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 11-18)
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ARTHUR SMITH
Comics as a cultural force have more than come into their own in recent years, as anyone visiting the cineplex can tell you. It’s tough to find a movie that exists outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe—and if you do find one, chances are good it’s a DC property. As always, much of the most distinctive and unusual work in the medium comes from the world of indie publishing. If you like graphic storytelling but find yourself experiencing superhero fatigue, one of these recent titles may fit the bill: Writer and illustrator Mario Acevedo assembled 300 single-panel cartoons for Cats in Quarantine, ranging in tone from whimsical to macabre; the 2022 collection chronicles the Covid era as assorted felines contend with Zoom meetings, drone
deliveries, and the dreaded lockdown weight gain. Our reviewer calls the book “an entertaining and sometimes pointed look at years in quarantine.” When life feels like a litter box, what can you do but laugh? Buster (2022), written by Ryan Barnett and illustrated by Matthew Tavares, celebrates the life and career of legendary silent film comedian Buster Keaton in graphic novel form—a comic subject ideally suited to a visual medium. Our starred review concludes, “Through the illustrator’s artwork and Barnett’s unaffected prose, a bygone Hollywood era beautifully comes to life.” A unique work of biography and an excellent addition to any movie lover’s library. The 2023 graphic novel Whisper of the Woods, written and illustrated by Ennun
Ana Iurov, veers into horror territory as it follows a man through a gorgeously rendered Transylvanian forest as he looks for a lost friend. Our reviewer calls the unsettling, fairy tale–like work, derived from Romanian folklore, a “page turner” and characterizes the reading experience as “immersive and engrossing.” Keep your neck covered! Gonzo Parenting: The Comic Book (2003), written by Jay Rooke, takes a cockeyed view of child-rearing, the frequently impossible, thankless task that requires a strong sense of humor to endure. The book chronicles such familiar domestic activities as assembling something without instructions and hiding from one’s offspring in the bathroom; our reviewer lauds the “real-life parenting tales that will make readers
laugh—and maybe recognize themselves.” Writer and illustrator Eric Glickman’s Camp Pock-aWocknee and the Dynomite Summer of ’77 (2022) is breezier fare: Imagine a classic summer camp comedy like Meatballs translated into comic book form. Full of mischief, raging hormones, and a whiff of the supernatural, Glickman’s romp is “an endearing, gleefully raunchy coming-of-age tale,” per our reviewer. And you don’t even have to take archery! Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War (2023), written by Ram Khatri and illustrated by Sandipan Santra and Ingrid Lilamani, movingly details the experiences of an ordinary farming family caught up in their country’s internal conflict. Set in 2009 and flashing back to the Maoist rebellion against the Nepalese government in 1996, the narrative shows a family forced against their will to participate in the fight. Our reviewer notes, “Khatri’s decision to keep the action to a minimum and the scope of her story local is a wise one; it encourages the reader to focus on the human face of the conflict and the effect of war on civilians.” Arthur Smith is an Indie editor.
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Illustration by Eric Scott Anderson
SEE YOU IN THE FUNNY PAPERS
INDIE
EDITOR’S PICK A former gambler teams up with a former police detective to investigate the fate of a missing mob enforcer in Farrell’s mystery novel. Arlene Adams, the owner of Chicago’s Thornton Racetrack, calls in private investigator and sports gambler Eddie O’Connell and his uncle, Mike, a retired police detective. Arlene thinks the duo might be perfectly placed to help with a peculiar problem: She’s been having bad dreams about the missing love of her life (and, unbeknownst to her, a professional mob hit man), Porter “the Pastor” Pearson, in which he seems to repeatedly ask her (his words are unclear), “Why aren’t you looking for me, Arlene?” Eddie is skeptical at first, but Arlene has been contacted by Pearson’s old fellow hitman, the
These 165 Wager Smart Titles By Tom Earned Farrell 171 the Night Kirkus The the Stars Went Star Missing
By Arthur J. Gonzalez; illus. by Olga Krapivina
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Deacon, and Uncle Mike is enticed by all the cold cases he could help to close. Meeting with the Deacon sets in motion a twisty plot involving said cold cases, an unexpected new murder, and the lurking dangers of the high-rolling world of gambling and its connections to crime. With the help of Eddie’s former girlfriend, Nicole, now a famous professional poker player in Las Vegas, Eddie and Mike soon make connections to the power structure undergirding the world of shady finance, where they meet “hedge fund celebrity” Eliot Scullion. Conducting a tense investigation in which any one of their new acquaintances could be a murderer, Eddie and Uncle Mike must be careful not to become victims themselves. 176
Knowing the Enemy By Lea Moran
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One Thing Better By Jessica Sherry
Wager Smart Farrell, Tom | Railbird Publishing | 346 pp. $14.99 paper | Oct. 31, 2023 | 9781736593240
Much like the previous outings in this series, Farrell’s foray into the interconnected worlds of gambling and organized crime yields a story full of narrative crackle and well-drawn characters, here enhanced by the added element of Wall Street “masters of the universe” (plus a few criminal Russians as a bonus). The author’s skill at pacing is superb, without any lulls or dead-end subplots, and his ear for characterization is so keen that huge swaths of the book are carried by dialogue alone. Eddie and Uncle Mike naturally occupy the spotlight, but secondary characters like Nicole 183 (and even Arlene Adams) Preserving the Etchings are handled with textured of the Mind believability (including the By Jaime Deacon, for whom readers A.B. Wilson; illus. by Grey will feel sympathy but no Kamps & affection). The interplay Ann Wilson between Uncle Mike’s world of law enforcement and the series’ recurring mob family, the Burrascanos, is handled with pleasing
nuance, especially in this latest installment, in which Uncle Mike’s long and ethically spotty history with both the Deacon and one of his victims is gradually laid bare to Eddie. These revelations reopen Eddie’s oldest and most painful family wounds, and Farrell steadfastly resists the temptation to sink into cheap melodrama. The book takes some confident and intensely satisfying swings at maturing Eddie without fundamentally altering the great chemistry between the two heroes, and the element of personal redemption (working in the bright lights of Vegas, Eddie feels anew the pull of the gambling world he’s left behind for respectability) adds some light to the plot’s many dark elements. As with the earlier books in this series, this latest will leave readers eager for another outing. A smart, gripping crime thriller about the corrosive price of vengeance.
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Get Uncomfortable or Change Course: Understanding What It Takes To Be an Entrepreneur Abrams, Kelvin G. | FriesenPress (150 pp.) $16.99 paper | Aug. 8, 2023 9781039182639
Abrams shares his personal story and tips for other entrepreneurs in this hybrid memoir/business guide. The author drafted a business plan for a doggie day care business while in college but put that dream aside in favor of the security of a corporate job after graduation. Eight years later, the death of his beloved dog, Tiki, “inspired [him] to create a better life for other dogs while their owners were away from home.” In this guide, Abrams details how he went about creating Tiki’s Playhouse in 2008 (as well as some subsequent ventures, including a coffee shop), drawing on these experiences to offer advice to budding entrepreneurs. He suggests tapping into small business advisory organizations and using a certified public accountant and a market analysis firm, as he did when getting started. The author also provides a list of questions to ask when applying for a loan and counsels having a year’s worth of personal savings on hand to pay yourself. Most emphatically, Abrams encourages embracing ongoing creativity, not only for personal fulfillment but as a means to respond to changes as necessary to grow a business. He shares his own backstory, including stints of being unhoused, living on welfare, and working several jobs while attending college. The author’s inner strength and resilience are particularly inspiring, with him noting at one point that “I will continue to show anyone who does not think a black man or woman could or should run their own thriving business what my success looks like.” His business savvy 166 DECEMBER 1, 2023
is instructively demonstrated by the actions he details, including creating “Maryland’s first ice cream truck for dogs,” which became a popular attraction as well as a promotional tool for his core services. While this collection of musings at times seems like a form of journaling for the author, it nevertheless contains worthwhile practical advice and motivational rallying for those pursuing entrepreneurship. Heartfelt recollections with insights for anyone starting a business.
Deflected Banerjee, Swapnonil & Nivedita Majumdar SwaNi (277 pp.) | $17.99 paper Sept. 13, 2022 | 9798986658513
Banerjee and Majumdar offer a gripping historical novel of 19th-century India. This carefully researched novel confronts the multiplying cultural resentments and misunderstandings that generated the bloody Indian Rebellion of 1857, in which Indian infantry rose up against the British East India Company. The authors choose Radhanath Sikdar, a real historical figure, as their central character—a brilliant mathematician hired by the British for the Great Trigonometric Survey of India, a project that accurately calculated the height of the Asian peak that was later named after Englishman George Everest. Yet despite his hope that science could unite people across race and culture, Sikdar finds that his central role in this heroic feat of mathematics receives little public acknowledgment from his British superiors, who often dismiss his prodigious skill as a mathematician as an oddity. The novel surrounds Sikdar with a cast of intriguing characters, including his close friend Chandrakanta, an educated Bengali landowner whose abhorrence of British rule leads him to join forces with Nana Sahib, a
central leader of the rebellion. Sara Langley, a young Englishwoman for whom Sikdar develops a deep, though forbidden, affection, is caught up in the escalating violence of the rebellion, and Calcutta chief of police Lawrence Cockerel tries to protect the city from rebels while preventing panicked Englishmen from committing indiscriminate slaughter. A great strength of this novel is that it depicts its major characters as fully developed figures, not simply as representatives or symbols of antagonistic groups. Although some characters end up on opposite sides of the rebellion, the authors explore their motives and feelings with care and sensitivity. As violence reaches Calcutta, concealed loyalties come to the surface, and Sikdar is forced to reconsider not only his working relationship with the British, but also whether love can ever transcend ingrained cultural norms. An engaging story of conflict that’s thoroughly rooted in its setting.
Monstrous Alterations Barzak, Christopher | Lethe Press (218 pp.) | $20.00 paper | Sept. 8, 2023 9781590217610
Barzak’s lyrical short story collection reimagines fairy tales and other classic stories. The adaptations draw on children’s classics such as Brothers Grimm fairy tales, J.M. Barrie’s stories of Peter Pan, and L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) as well as literary staples such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” (1892) and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886). Familiarity with the original tales certainly enhances the reading of these well-written retellings, but the latter can stand on their own. Barzak’s favored approach is to retell a story from the perspective of an overlooked, tertiary character, KIRKUS REVIEWS
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When Things Fall Apart
A knotty detective story from a skilled author.
Brenham, Alan | Self (425 pp.) | $15.25 paper | Sept. 30, 2023 | 9798862890624
W H E N T H I N G S FA L L A PA RT
frequently imagining them as queer but trapped in heteronormativity, just as they’re trapped in narratives that sideline and shortchange them. There are effective themes of classism as well, with the shifted perspective giving voice to those on the stories’ periphery. As a result, the stories in this compilation put forth new heroes for modern readers. The prose is elegant and old-fashioned but accessible, with occasional allusions to the original texts’ language, as in “Eat Me, Drink Me, Love Me,” an adaptation of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” (1862), one of the many highlights in this collection, in which the prose seems to sing in harmony with the original work: “Sometimes, as I came to see if the peach kernel was growing, I would be deluded by visions of ripe berry bushes, the way a thirsty traveler in the desert will see water where no water flows.” “Invisible Men,” inspired by H.G. Wells’ novel The Invisible Man (1897), is less successful, as Barzak’s attempt to relate his protagonist’s rural Sussex dialect is inconsistent. A haunting but quietly hopeful set of tales that’s perfect for a cozy fall read.
Tennyson’s Big Secret Benjamin, A.H. | Illus. by Peter Trimarco Notable Kids Publishing (32 pp.) | $18.95 Sept. 26, 2023 | 9781735853550
In Benjamin’s picture book, a boy reveals a secret talent in a guessing game. Tennyson is a fair-skinned boy with brown eyes, brown hair, KIRKUS REVIEWS
“and a button nose. Cute, isn’t he?” Tennyson has a magical power that the narrator encourages readers to guess. First, the narrator suggests Tennyson can pull an elephant from a magician’s hat. That’s not the right answer—but can Tennyson paint beautifully, ride his hobby horse faster than racehorses, or drum louder than a rock star? The narrator suggests that Tennyson could be a soccer wiz, build a skyscraper from blocks, or bounce on a ball to the moon. But none of these is quite right…until the narrator reveals the big secret on the final page. Benjamin uses accessible vocabulary words to encourage emergent readers to follow along. Trimarco’s humorous mixed-media illustrations, each featuring a cartoon Tennyson and a blue-gray cat against a painted background, explain Briticisms in the text (such as saying football instead of soccer). In each image, the cat reacts to each question, sometimes quite humorously; Tennyson’s activities are also comical, such as when he plays a drum set with bare feet, using his toes to hold a mallet. Although some readers might argue that Tennyson could not do some of the “impossible” things described, they’ll find the ending squeezes them just right. An imagination sparker for the very young.
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Violence and tragedy stalk a rookie homicide detective in this police procedural. “It was a good night to kill a lawyer.” So begins this terse and twisty novel full of dialogue and brisk exposition. Who needs exposition when even someone sitting and stewing at home reads like an action scene? Brenham moves readers quickly through scenes as Fort Worth, Texas, homicide detective Kit Hanover tackles her first murder case, partnered with unflappable and bigoted fellow investigator Wade Shepard. The mystery involves the aforementioned attorney, whose corpse is fished out of Marine Creek Lake. The cops’ relationship doesn’t start well, as Wade doesn’t like having a new partner and has sexist and anti–Native American tendencies; Kit was an adoptee from a Comanche reservation in Oklahoma. Kit sometimes ignores his comments, and other times returns his insults: “I figured you to be a Walmart greeter, not a detective,” she tells Wayne after he says that he “figured [her] for a school teacher on the reservation.” One can be forgiven, at first, for thinking the characters are stuck in a remake of The Enforcer (1976), with Wayne and Kit in the roles played by Clint Eastwood and Tyne Daly. However, after the obligatory rookie’s-first-autopsy scene, Kit is moved to the vice squad, and before the murder victim is identified, she’s walking the streets undercover. Brenham shifts gears so quietly that readers will only notice it in retrospect. The first indication of his storytelling prowess feels almost pedestrian, as he tells of a man in a pickup truck slowing down near the undercover Kit, and then hurriedly speeding away. Did he make her as a cop, or did he recognize her as Kit? After all, she thinks she’s seen him somewhere before. Aside from the first DECEMBER 1, 2023 167
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line, the book features few memorable sentences; fortunately, that line is enough to grab the reader, who may go back through the book after the first frenzied read to see how deftly the story is set in motion—and how the clues fit together before everything falls apart. A knotty detective story from a skilled author.
Trouble’s Defense: The Real Story as Told by the Cat Breuer, Janet | Illus. by Sarah Hoyle Self (30 pp.) | $15.95 | Jan. 1, 2023 9798218134297
A cat named Trouble declares that he’s not that troublesome in this picture-book retelling of Breuer’s Here Comes Trouble (2021). Trouble isn’t about to let dogs Tucker and Ridge have the last word: “Since Tucker wrote such a dreadful story about me coming to live with him and Ridge, I thought I would tell the truth about what really happened.” The cat heads back to the beginning, when his first human owners abandoned him and his cat relatives in the mountains. Later, an elderly family adopted him and let him do whatever he wanted. When they could no longer take care of him, Tucker and Ridge’s family took him in. Living with two dogs and following new rules wasn’t easy, but Trouble soon realizes his new home isn’t so bad—until another pup shows up. Trouble is an unrepentant menace, but that’s part of the fun; his narration shows a lack of politeness that will make children giggle—even if they know cats shouldn’t claw furniture. Although Trouble’s a pest, it becomes clear that the cat belongs with his new family. Breuer effectively captures the cat’s righteous and condescending voice in simple vocabulary, making the text accessible for newly independent readers, and artist Hoyle’s bold, full-color cartoon illustrations ably 168 DECEMBER 1, 2023
Brightwater’s yarn mixes horror with action and a gay-friendly spiritual theme. TO KILL A DEMON
show the feline point of view.
A solid companion piece, especially for cat lovers.
To Kill a Demon Brightwater, Edwin | Niels Jensen (380 pp.) | $14.99 paper | Dec. 7, 2021 9789574395194
A gay man fights to prevent a demon from taking possession of his soul in Brightwater’s fantasy novel. Kino Lim is a Singaporean man living in Taiwan, a devout Christian who is filled with self-loathing over his homosexuality. Into his apartment troops a beefy demon named Samon, who sports a cream-colored three-piece suit and is trailed by seven hollow-eyed women who do his bidding without question. Samon matter-of-factly informs Kino that the pastor of his Singaporean church has sold Kino’s soul to him. To buttress his claim, Samon demonstrates his ability to stop time and cause teacups to hover in midair, and also shows off a magic Polaroid camera that causes anyone it photographs, such as Kino’s flat-mate, Boris, to vanish into thin air; Samon promises to return Boris to the earthly plane if Kino surrenders his soul the following Sunday. Seeking a way out of the situation, Kino and his other flat-mate, Winn, go out hiking and fall in with a feisty rideshare driver, a woman named Tai. The trio survive a scrape with a gang sent by Samon to spy on them, then corner Samon in his den in a Taipei
preschool, where the demon gains the upper hand. Samon and Kino continue haggling over Kino’s soul, and Samon grows so exasperated that he uses his time-stopping power to cause an airliner to crash. Kino visits an allmale nude spa, where he encounters an apparition of a young girl floating in ethereal light and is further fortified by a blissful orgy in a sauna. Kino dutifully reports to Samon’s preschool for a final confrontation, which devolves into a lengthy battle royale pitting Samon against Kino, Tai, three police officers, and a mysterious blind woman from the future who arrives through a tunnel from the Taipei subway. Brightwater’s yarn mixes horror with action and a gay-friendly spiritual theme: Shame and internalized homophobia invite the devil in; self-acceptance sends him packing. His writing is evocative—“He had the rough, lean, worn musculature of someone who, though never exercising (beer, gambling, and dull sex didn’t count), had yet to run to fat”—and many scenes are vivid and cinematic (“One of its wings dipped, swinging down, swiveling toward the ground. In an instant, as if the dipping wing were dragging the rest of the aircraft, the whole thing plummeted toward the earth”). The narrative is haphazardly structured, with speeches and fights that drag on too long, and Brightwater’s prose sometimes feels too histrionic (“Her mud smacked the gangster in both eyes. He abandoned the belt and buried his face in his hands, squealing like a newborn in outrage at the womb’s end”). Samon is a blustery, malevolent, charismatic villain and Tai is a belligerent hoot, but Kino is a passive, limp hero who spends more time sobbing over his problems than solving them; readers KIRKUS REVIEWS
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The guide’s most appealing aspect is the author’s unwavering honesty. T H E I D E A I S T H E E A SY PA RT
may wish that Samon had set his sights on a more interesting soul. An entertaining occult adventure hindered by ungainly pacing and a weak protagonist.
The Time Machine David-Sax, Pauline | Illus. by Melquea Smith Cardinal Rule Press (32 pp.) | $17.95 Oct. 2, 2023 | 9798985805154
A girl decides to build a time machine to make amends in David-Sax’s picture book. Last Thursday, Bailey said “The Thing” to Nia that made her cry. Ever since, Bailey has wished she hadn’t. To that end, she tries building a time machine to go back and unsay The Thing. The trouble is, building it isn’t easy, and she needs help—and the only person who always has time for her is Nia. Thankfully, Nia appears to help her finish the project. Once they’re done, Bailey talks about her plan and sincerely apologizes to Nia, who accepts her apology. Smith’s illustrations are bold and bright, showing Bailey with curly hair, plaid red shorts, and a white T-shirt, and Nia with long black hair, a pink top, a gray skirt, and pink ballerina flats. The various characters are depicted with large eyes, beautifully expressive faces, and a range of brown skin tones. An introductory page offers helpful questions to discuss before, during, and after reading, and at the end, the author offers great tips for how to apologize. The ambiguity about The Thing helps to avoid distracting young readers KIRKUS REVIEWS
with unnecessary details; instead, the work focuses on what it feels like to say something hurtful and to figure out how to make it right. A thoughtful tale about how saying sorry doesn’t need to be complicated.
The Idea Is the Easy Part: Myths and Realities of the Startup World Dovey, Brian | Matt Holt (240 pp.) | $28.00 Oct. 3, 2023 | 9781637744048
Venture capitalist Dovey offers a no-nonsense guide for entrepreneurs who want to honestly confront the challenges they might face before starting a business. Would-be business owners take note: Your million-dollar idea matters much less than the practical application of a solid business plan. So says the author, a longtime venture capitalist who doesn’t shy away from telling it like it is in this posthumously published work. He was a Harvard Business School graduate with decades of experience who served on the boards of more than 35 companies, and in these pages, he plainly lays out various challenges that first-time business owners tend to overlook. He also supplies the “Five Criteria of Great Startup Ideas,” including whether they truly fulfill an unmet need, or whether they have advantages that will prevent others from simply copying the idea. He points out that certain companies succeed through true innovation (such as Google), but most “integrate previously existing
ideas in new ways rather than inventing something utterly original.” Dovey then walks readers through a range of topics, such as the notion that a good business founder shouldn’t be excessively focused on making money, common myths about good startup ideas, and how to write a pitch deck and supporting proposal. He also offers an insider’s view of what a venture capitalist looks for in a pitch, along with advice on how to navigate offers to find the right fit for one’s company. A section on studying the competition investigates what strategies they might use to take a new business down. A “Questions To Ponder” section at the end of each chapter invites critical thinking and a chance for further reflection with queries such as “Which two or three factors will make your startup distinctive and deliver the most value to your customers?” Dovey’s approach to potentially complicated topics is consistently calm, clear, and encouraging. Even as he warns of potential pitfalls, such as discounting the power of existing brand loyalty, he does so in the warm tone of someone who wants his readers to succeed. He emphasizes that there’s not just one path to success; for instance, he provides examples of successful business founders who were high school or college dropouts, such as Walt Disney, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and Nintendo’s Hiroshi Yamauchi. For visual learners, there are occasional diagrams and charts, such as one comparing the perception and reality of entrepreneur characteristics. The guide’s most appealing aspect is the author’s unwavering honesty, and his disclosure that there’s no foolproof strategy for business success—not even his own: “You might ignore every suggestion I’ve made in the preceding chapters and wind up richer and more famous than you ever dreamed. Or else you might follow every guideline and watch your startup die a painful death.” Readers interested in possible worst-case startup scenarios—and the concrete steps to take to help avoid them—will learn a lot from this accessible labor of love. A refreshing and informative startup manual that offers an abundance of professional wisdom.
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An often gripping, colorfully written fantasy quest. TA L E S O F A R C A N E
Never Enough: Three Pillars of Food Addiction Recovery Elia, Sandra | Life to Paper Publishing (216 pp.) | $24.99 paper | March 4, 2023 9781990700187
A Canadian counselor seeks to help people struggling with food addiction in this selfhelp book. In these pages, Elia aims to help suffering food addicts find a way to achieve peace— or a sense of neutrality—with food. The recovery program she developed, which draws on her own experience of significant weight loss and years of study and recovery, is based on three pillars: “Eliminate trigger foods” (“those that we are compulsively drawn to eat, even when we’re not hungry”), “Develop spirituality and mindfulness,” and “Belong to a support network.” The author gleaned these concepts and much of her program from her time as a member of Overeaters Anonymous, a program based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. She notes that although many levels of society have accepted the idea that alcoholics should abstain from drinking alcohol, she’s found that there’s great resistance to the notion of abstaining from certain foods that cause cravings—particularly processed sugar and flour. Throughout, Elia and those she’s helped effectively point out the food industry’s culpability in this epidemic, and “the way this industry has exploited—and continues to exploit—emerging science to create chemically-engineered substances designed to make certain foods more 170 DECEMBER 1, 2023
addictive.” To help readers hoping to overcome food addiction, Elia offers meaningful writing exercises, asking such questions as “Does the scale determine if it is going to be a good day or a bad day?” and “Does it dictate whether you are a good or bad person?” However, the book could have more strongly acknowledged that the 12-step program that boosted the author’s recovery may be a better solution for many readers than a self-help book alone. A powerful work by a recovering food addict that may help those going through similar struggles.
Tales of Arcane: A Journey Into Fate Estee, Michael R. | AuthorHouse (214 pp.) $13.99 paper | Oct. 21, 2022 9781665573726
Estee’s debut fantasy novel takes a young prince on a quest to rescue his friend and mentor from his evil captors. Baelath, a young River Elf prince of Blaonir—one of many lands in the world of Arcane—lives a carefree life exploring and hunting with Evelyn, his closest friend. Unbeknownst to Baelath, his world is under attack by dark forces. When he learns that his friend and mentor, Jord, was captured and the king—Baelath’s father—will not rescue him, Baelath decides to rescue Jord himself. For many years, the world was without major conflict, but Jord’s capture and evil Dark Elves leader Fensalir’s rise now herald a rising
evil. Fortunately, Jord was able to send a message by humming to birds and plants, who spread his message after his capture: “Prisoner of the Dark Elves must be set free before it is too late. Come, my old friend.” Baelath is joined by Evelyn and later by two human brothers, farmers Jax and Max. After facing terrible dangers, they’re joined by a dwarf named Grul the Berserker from Steelhold. Together, they enter the Valley of Darkness, where “evil things dwell…things that feed off fear and prosper in the dark,” according to Grul. More dangers await before they reach their goal. Estee’s story is filled with vivid description and imagery as he draws readers into the lands of Arcane: “The sun’s rays started slicing through the white clouds…shining down upon the obsidian stone that soaked in the sunlight.” The city of Mellom Elvene, where Baelath is from, is shown to be full of life as it “slowly bustled with activity, from doors banging as the shops opened, to the whoosh of the blacksmith’s fires heating up, and the grumbles of the guards coming off the night shift and the ones taking over.” The prologue and epilogue aren’t superfluous, instead providing critical story details, and the cliffhanger ending is sure to entice readers to pick up the next book in the trilogy, which promises more danger and destruction to come. An often gripping, colorfully written fantasy quest.
The Skinny: My Messy, Hopeful Fight for Full Recovery From Anorexia Glick, Sheri Segal | re:books (352 pp.) $17.53 paper | June 20, 2023 9781738670246
In this memoir, a recovering anorexic tackles the topic of her eating disorder with levity and gravity. Glick writes that when she was 11 years KIRKUS REVIEWS
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The bright hues zing and zip across the pages. T H E N I G H T T H E S TA R S W E N T M I S S I N G
old, her mother told her that she “looked fat from the front,” so her mom decided to limit the number of sweets Glick ate to one per day and made disparaging comments about her weight and appearance; the author describes her family as “looks and weight-obsessed.” When she lost weight in the sixth grade, the effusive positive attention she received from her parents influenced her life going forward, leading to a preoccupation with calorie-counting and constant exercising. She was eventually hospitalized for anorexia. Throughout, the author—an attorney and mother of three—shows herself to be a skilled writer who chronicles her struggles with her eating disorder with seriousness, but also humor: “If there’s one thing I care about as much as being thin (or not-fat), it’s being funny,” she writes at one point. “In fact, I think I care more about funny.” For instance, when she notes that she made friends at the hospital and realized she wasn’t alone in her illness, she writes, “If hanging out in the smoking room at age fifteen with three other anorexic teenagers and a cute guy who may or may not be in need of heart surgery isn’t the pinnacle of teenage fun and freedom, I don’t know what is.” At the same time, she doesn’t play down the more difficult aspects of that environment, such as that if she failed to gain a certain amount of weight each day, her possessions were temporarily taken away, and her bed—with her in it, wearing a hospital gown—would be wheeled into the hallway. Glick worked to change her food-restricting and over-exercising behaviors and saw herself as recovered, only to realize years later that it was quasi-recovery—and she effectively shows how she became more KIRKUS REVIEWS
comfortable with the idea that vigilance is needed to prevent slipping into old behaviors. A pithy and often profound look at one woman’s experience with mental illness.
Kirkus Star
The Night the Stars Went Missing Gonzalez , Arthur J. | Illus. by Olga Krapivina Hello, Wonderworld (88 pp.) | $16.99 Nov. 1, 2023 | 9780988891692
A boy brings back the stars by helping to save Earth in Gonzalez’s illustrated fantasy tale. Winston’s grandmother Estrella once told him that stars were made of promises, and when the stars vanish, he gets worried. He uses a telescope in the lighthouse where he lives to peer deep into space, but only sees the moon, which he asks for help. The moon shows him a path into the sky on a ladder made of stardust. The world above the clouds is magical, and when Winston rescues a fallen star, it promises to introduce him to the other, hidden stars, who fear that humans will hurt them the way they’ve harmed their own planet. Indeed, when Winston arrives at the stars’ hidden village, they’re afraid of him. He pledges that he’ll do everything he can to save his planet, and assures the stars that there are others like him who will do the same. He offers to give them a necklace from his grandmother—the one thing he has left to remember her by—because it’s his most important possession: “Consider it my promise
to you all,” he says. The stars accept, and soon Winston makes good on his pledge by planting trees and organizing garbage cleanups. Gonzalez’s straightforward text guides readers through Krapivina’s riotous, full-color cartoon illustrations of Winston’s magical journey. The bright hues zing and zip across the pages with whirls of light and shadow. Gonzalez uses just the right amount of text to allow the illustrations to take over storytelling duties occasionally, resulting in a balanced blend of words and art. The notion that the missing stars are related to the Earth’s pollution— which, of course, makes stars harder to see—feels right on the nose. Although the tale seems to place the burden of caring for the planet on individuals—there’s no talk of making larger structural changes in society—Winston’s actions are likely to empower young readers to do their part to make the world a brighter place. A whimsical but well-grounded environmentalist tale.
Into Misty Ruse: The Harmonycan Chronicles: Book One Growler, H. A. | Self (370 pp.) | $14.93 paper Sept. 1, 2023 | 9798988648604
In this debut middle-grade novel, a tween gets caught in a dangerous situation involving a magical world. Ever since magic returned with the Big Boom nearly 40 years ago, the continent of Harmonycan has never been the same. Magic is illegal, a government agency called FAHLT executes its users, and the world of anthropomorphic, animal-like biests is strictly separate and hidden from human society. It’s in the settlement of Hope Town that Zyk, a 12-year-old boy with a missing father, yearns to study the nature of magic: “It’s not enough to just read about them in FAHLT DECEMBER 1, 2023 171
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dispatches. I want to learn more about magical stuff for real.” During a covert investigation of a feroxcat sighting in the nearby forest, Zyk stumbles across a magical villain called Blight attacking a catlike biest named Pitch. Zyk takes the hit instead and blacks out, only to wake up in Misty Ruse, the biests’ community outside Hope Town. He discovers that he’s been cursed by Blight and can’t leave Misty Ruse. Fortunately, the biests turn out to be a welcoming group of many different kinds of species with varying abilities. Despite his concern for his mother back home, Zyk is excited to learn magic and make new friends while he remains in Misty Ruse. His cousin Eva soon joins him and, together with Pitch, they must not only experience the rites of passage of growing up magical, but also resist Blight’s continued attacks on the community. While much of the novel is simply focused on Zyk struggling to adapt to his new education and lessons about Misty Ruse, it doesn’t feel slow or poorly paced. Instead, readers will discover the wonders of this world alongside him. The occasional illustrations do break the effect, as their highly edited nature and lack of proper lighting make them confusing and off-putting. Still, Growler’s enjoyable fantasy series opener provides the magic school genre with some original twists in its vivid introduction of the biests. An entertaining fantasy for readers interested in magic and science.
As Above, So Below: A Hermann Horst Mystery Hargrave, Ingram | Daegbrecan Publishing (350 pp.) | $15.99 paper | Oct. 5, 2023 9781955810227
A young college professor investigates a murder in Hargrave’s mystery series starter. It’s 1886, and 28-year-old Hermann Horst is 172 DECEMBER 1, 2023
teaching a class on mythology at the University of Vienna when a colleague brings him a letter summoning him to Hungary, where his expertise in parapsychology and the occult may help with a murder investigation. Hermann travels to the small town of Salgótarján, home of Schattenturm, the historical estate of the Von Voitsberg family. Here, he meets Inspector Orczy Géza, who’s in charge of the murder investigation, and they team up right away. There are simple possible explanations for how the victim, estate gardener Andrej Fehér, met his end—he was in a great deal of debt and at least one resident of the household disliked him intensely—but the murder weapon was an antique war hammer, which is unusual, to say the least. There are also rumors in town that something supernatural might be trying to frighten away the house’s current owners, the unscrupulous Baum family. As Hermann investigates, he must determine if Andrej was killed by a human or by something else entirely. As he investigates, he uncovers the shocking secrets of the Von Voitsberg family as well. The novel is atmospheric and a little creepy, which is ideal for a murder mystery: “Beyond the initial three arrow-slit windows, the stair shaft grew dimmer until the men were surrounded by inky pitch darkness.” There are some great gothic elements, too: The house is full of secret passages and hidden rooms, and there’s even a mausoleum on the property. Some investigation scenes could have been a little tighter; Hermann, as a detective, is thorough almost to a fault. But he’s a novice investigator, too, and it’s intriguing whenever he stumbles onto new information. Hermann’s skills ultimately prove instrumental in solving the mystery, bringing the novel to a satisfying ending. An often engaging gothic whodunit.
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City of Demons Harkness, Kevin | Shouting Room Books (438 pp.) | $18.95 paper | July 1, 2023 9781778226250
A sheltered teenager discovers his demon-fighting abilities in this YA fantasy. This series opener finds Garet, a mild-mannered sheepherder who tolerates his father’s and brothers’ abuse for the sake of his beloved mother and younger sister, detecting an astonishing skill. In the face of a demon attack, he seems to be immune to its special power that “makes men and women fear it more than is necessary.” After Garet bravely kills the demon, he and his mother are visited by the mysterious Master Mandarack and a teenage girl, Salick, who have heard of the sheepherder’s immunity. Mandarack promises to train Garet as a “demonbane,” an honored role that would have him protecting the city of Shirath from otherworldly attacks. Convinced this is a better life for her son than the one on the farm, Garet’s mother insists that he accompany Mandarack and Salick. But training in the city doesn’t go as wonderfully as Garet imagined. Besides missing his quiet home life, he finds himself in increasing danger as he’s thrust in the middle of sneaky politics and a brewing war that attempts to pit the “banehall” (the people the banes are supposed to protect) and the demons against one another. Smoothly written with a brisk pace and engaging characters, Harkness’ novel builds a believable world that readers will find easy to slip into. The demons are delightfully unique, with different-sized jewels in the skulls of each species that directly correlate to the amount of fear they give off to nearby humans and animals. Meanwhile, the intense battle scenes deliver plenty of action and bloodshed: “The old bane leaned into the shield with KIRKUS REVIEWS
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all his weight until, with a horrid screech from the demon, the point tore through the leathery skin of its back and dark blood flowed out over the stones of the square.”
This exhilarating adventure will hook readers with its explosive combination of action, danger, and heart.
Yours, Mine & Ours Hood, L. Paul | Bublish | (216 pp.) $24.99 paper | Feb. 8, 2022 9781647044664
Tax and estate-planning attorney Hood presents a book of practical advice for blended family estate planning. Estate planning, in which one decides exactly what to do with one’s assets after death, isn’t a topic that many people enjoy discussing. Indeed, as the author explains, fear often prevents people from engaging in the process at all. The topic gets more complicated, he says, for blended families in which “one of [two] partners has one or more children who are not the birth children of the other partner.” An array of laws, emotions, and intentions come into play throughout the process, and this book aims to help readers navigate them. To that end, Hood offers advice on such topics as working with an estate planning professional, the importance of having complete beneficiary designations, and creating one’s own burial or cremation instructions. The author’s overall aim is to break down an inherently awkward and dreary process into “small, easy steps,” and, in that, he’s successful. Hood also presents advice on such notions as using an inheritance to “reward or punish certain behaviors” of one’s heirs: “I almost always counsel against the use of these clauses because, in my opinion, they are inflexible and there are much better alternatives.” The work KIRKUS REVIEWS
Hunter does not hold readers’ hands. CHARLOTTE AND THE CHICKENMAN
does well not to sugarcoat its thorny subject matter; Hood straightforwardly notes that “everyone knows they will die eventually,” and so they may as well not leave their heirs to “fight each other in court over very little.” At fewer than 200 pages in length, the work is both practical and easy to read. Some tips may seem obvious, such as knowing “the reality of your financial situation” when estate planning, but the directness of the work as a whole makes a complicated process seem doable, and many readers are likely to find it immensely helpful. A concise, step-by-step approach to an uncomfortable topic.
Charlotte and the Chickenman: The Inevitable Nigrescence of Charlotte-Noa Tibbit Hunter, Aina | Whisk(e)y Tit (198 pp.) $15.00 paper | June 2, 2022 9781952600401
An animal rights activist hurdles toward reparative cannibalism in Hunter’s debut speculative novel. How did the Black American vegan Charlotte-Noa Tibbit come to be seated at a dinner table in Haiti, in the year 2060, dining on viandechar blanc, a delicacy composed of citrus-marinated, pepper-roasted white human thigh? “I need you to know that my citrus-seared thigh-steak was more than just five-star delicious, it was medicinal,” Charlotte explains to the squeamish reader. “Because the thing about eating is that it’s more than organs and chemicals and cells;
it’s what’s playing in your head while you chew. All that you’re thinking and suppressing when you swallow and digest.” The conditions of Charlotte’s meal stem from the techno-dystopia (or is it a utopia?) in which Charlotte lives: a world in which the reorganized Caribbean nations of New Caricom have outlawed the farming of meat, though “culled” meat—from any animal—is allowed. But what precisely is Charlotte’s role in this new world? Her path across a reimagined, sustainable Haiti to a luxury hotel featuring “epicurean anthropophagy” on the menu started back in the semi-autonomous states of America, where Charlotte and her Eurindigenous girlfriend, KJ, were registered activists with the Non-Human Animal Rights Collective, battling the forces of capitalism and autocracy. Or does it go back further, to Charlotte’s teenage insecurities related to her Black queer identity? Does it go back to Charlotte’s mother, the lifestyle coach Nicole Thibidaux, host of a wildly popular show on HelloCast? Or even further, to the Haitian nanny who cared for Charlotte when she was a baby and inducted the infant into the mysterious practice known as the flesh tribute? Chapter by chapter, Charlotte sinks deeper into herself, probing the roots of her own radicalization while observing the ways that society shifts in predictably unpredictable ways. In a world where even humans count as animals, it’s impossible to know where one falls on the cradle-to-table pipeline until the final meal is served. Hunter tells Charlotte’s story backward, demonstrating the ways in which history is built from a seemingly endless series of individual decisions and acts, most of them made without thought or care for what destruction might result. The author captures the absurd and DECEMBER 1, 2023 173
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contradictory ways that capitalism, culture, and justice movements intersect, as here where the titular Chickenman, an advocate for a thoroughly inhumane product called Guiltless Real Chicken, explains the beauty of the food: “Chicken, we’ve found, is both culturally specific and shape-shiftingly neutral…Everyone has a proprietary interest, and that’s a plus! You have Chicken Kiev, Chicken and Dumplings, Chicken Marsala, Chicken Yakitori…” For all its humor and occasional horror, the novel is a dense, difficult read due both to its structure and the never fully illuminated elements of the world. Hunter does not hold readers’ hands, forcing them instead to sink or swim with every strange turn or revelation. Those who stick with Charlotte’s journey will come to appreciate the author’s inventive storytelling, as well as the complex and vital ideas she serves up.
A postmodern fable of Afrofuturism and food justice that provides plenty to chew on.
A satisfying addition to the cosmic-horror genre. THE ACHING PLANE
out as expected. Lin’s illustrations capture Finn’s various excitable expressions. He also has Finn speak directly to the reader as his dinner guest, which effectively enlivens the story; one never sees the guest fully, but the person’s reactions—such as a satisfying, loud belch—bring the character to life. Young readers can easily imagine themselves as Finn’s guest and decide which dish they would eat. It’s a safe bet that some might share the same attitude as Finn’s guest; adult caregivers of picky eaters will surely relate to the frog’s situation. An appealing tale of an inspired amphibian chef.
This Book Is on Fire!
The Aching Plane
Keres, Ron | Illus. by Arthur Lin | Buzzbook Press (44 pp.) | $15.25 | Nov. 14, 2023 9798985911282
Lakin, Cody | Katalpa Press (398 pp.) $18.99 paper | Oct. 24, 2023 9798218284619
An amphibian chef serves up fancy pond fusion cuisine in Keres’ picture book. Finn the Frog has his work cut out for him cooking a meal for a special guest. As self-professed “King of the Kitchen,” Finn’s excited to share some favorite recipes, each specific to a different culture. For each, he dresses in attire that corresponds to the dish’s region. He also reveals the sources of some surprising secret ingredients, including swamp mud and pond water—and expresses surprise that his human guest doesn’t like them. Keres paints Finn as an unflappable character who ultimately has a positive attitude, despite his efforts not turning
After her missing friend mysteriously reappears, a young woman finds herself pulled into another realm in Lakin’s novel. Twenty-oneyear-old Charlie Louise still finds herself preoccupied by thoughts of her best friend and first love, Marion Del Rosario, who disappeared without a trace 10 years ago. In the interim, Charlie’s become close to a new friend, Adrian Benedict, and has a good relationship with her father. But, while attending meaningless parties and working a dead-end coffee shop job, she often feels out of place in her own life; it seems like she’s the only one who still remembers Marion. She also
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has strange, unsettling dreams; while awake, she sometimes glimpses weird, inhuman figures whom no one else can see. When Marion suddenly reappears, it’s not the happy reunion of Charlie’s dreams. Marion is different—quiet, fearful, and initially unwilling to answer questions. But she does admit that she, too, can see the man in black whom Charlie’s been seeing around town. This is only the start of the cryptic messages Charlie receives from Marion—she also hears a voice in her head that tells her things such as “I went to the Border to witness the Katalpian Dusk….” Charlie is plagued by insomnia and a determination to get to the bottom of Marion’s time in captivity in a realm called the Borderlands, where Marion read a journal that contained horrors beyond human comprehension. Lakin switches between multiple perspectives throughout the novel, including those of Charlie, Marion, and the journal writer, to intriguing effect. At times, the dialogue is unrealistically long-winded, taking up lengthy paragraphs. Marion’s narration is appropriately ominous and unsettling, however, which sows a great sense of dread regarding the fate of Charlie’s character. The women’s relationship is a believable one that will hook readers; Adrian’s introduction also makes him an easy person to root for. Overall, it’s a satisfying addition to the cosmic-horror genre. A creepy tale of reality-shattering revelations that will grip avid horror fans.
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Lightsey’s novel overf lows with references to classic literature. H E C AT E ’ S L A BY R I N T H
Hecate’s Labyrinth Lightsey, Michael | Lulu.com (234 pp.) $7.83 paper | March 30, 2021 9781794867437
Lightsey’s debut fantasy novel follows a teenager, seemingly lost in time, who may be destined to bring peace to hostile nations. In the modern era, Helena, a 19-year-old witch and the Russian president’s daughter, is held captive by a Georgian army deserter on a boat at sea. She manages to escape her abductor’s clutches, only to wind up overboard and unconscious. When she comes to, she’s safely inside Sarkel Fortress in the year 1361, which is assuredly not the year Helena is from… though her memories are oddly jumbled. The people she encounters there believe that Helena is the new Essenoi, the only one who can defeat Icelos—a nightmare god whose destructive path threatens to incite war between Russia and Georgia. This god’s lair lies within a “phantom” fortress that only appears at a certain time and place. Helena has a shot at finding it with the help of eccentric pickpockets Dogett and Catiana, who have allegedly been there. Surely, she can conjure up a way to destroy the god of nightmares, especially with her book smarts and the new knowledge she unexpectedly picks up in the mid-14th century. Lightsey’s novel overflows with references to classic literature and religious texts, from Shakespeare’s works to the ancient I KIRKUS REVIEWS
Ching. The determinedly convoluted plot repeatedly jolts Helena, who’s surprised when discovering she can, for example, read myriad languages. The narrative includes such reliably entertaining genre trademarks as a well-defined quest and fantastical creatures like hobgoblins and pixies. Helena is an appealing, intuitive hero, while her comrades, Dogett and Catiana, deliver abundant humor courtesy of their perpetual bickering and unforgettable insults (“Caluminous, full-gorged measle!”). The sublime ending, though open to interpretation, provides readers with welcome illumination. A sensational cast fuels this exuberant tale that baffles as often as it charms.
The Spirit of the Glacier Speaks: Ancestral Teachings of the Andean World for the Time of Natural Disorder Lushwala, Arkan | Disruption Books (254 pp.) | $19.00 paper | Oct. 24, 2023 9781633310858
A Peruvian ceremonial healer/ leader details Indigenous Andean-Amazonian culture and the ways it can address modern problems. Lushwala des-cribes the engineers and economists who think they can “repair” today’s world as “well-meaning,” but he wonders if “they think their intelligence can be the door from which the solution will emerge, as if they could be mothers.”
What’s really needed, the author asserts, is to tap into the teachings of the ancient AndeanAmazonian people, who lived in greater union with nature. The bulk of this book focuses on leading readers through various “doors” of these ancient ideas and practices, starting with the emphasis placed on cultivating Munay, or “will of the heart,” and being “conscious of belonging to the Earth and the Universe in such a way that each of us can have a direct relationship with the sources of energy that feed our will.” Lushwala discusses how sacred rituals honor all elements of the Earth, including the “black light” of night. Another door, or key point, is the concept of “complementarity,” or pairings; for example, he uses male-female spiritual figures to reflect the importance of counterbalance when making decisions or taking action. There’s a lot to unpack in Lushwala’s book; he provides a helpful glossary, along with summaries of his topics. The author notes that the titular ice caps are a key element of nature. One wishes, however, that he said more about the global effects of the melting glaciers, described here in marvelous detail (“the ice where no life can exist becomes warmer fluid water that runs down to inhabit lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans”). The book is better at outlining age-old teachings than providing clear-cut solutions, but the cumulative effect of reading Lushwala’s passionate prose is one of consciousness-raising. Of course, there is much to learn from Andean-Amazonian cultural practices, particularly its valuing of complementary perspectives in making decisions. An enlightening overview and argument highlighting the value of ancient wisdoms.
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Pigeonholed Lynn, Josie | FootePrint Press | $15.95 paper Oct. 4, 2023 | 9780990435358
In Lynn’s middle-grade novel, a “common pigeon” living in Los Angeles is depressed over the disrespect displayed by humans toward his kind. A pigeon named Walter, the narrator of this sweetly jocular tale, sits on a wire watching L.A. traffic slowly wind its way through the city, having some thoughts about the status of pigeons and their relationships with humans. Other birds, such as peacocks and parrots, are lovingly tended to. But pigeons? Humans call them “rats with wings.” Plaintively, Walter laments, “no matter where we come from, all of us have the same fears, the same hopes, desires, and dreams. We all get cold and wet and just want a couple of square meals a day and a spot to dodge the rain.” Days later, he is people-watching with his lady love, Layla. Together they observe human eccentricities, commenting on the dismal state of human relationships, prejudices, and selfish obsessions. They happen upon a news program playing in the window of an appliance repair shop and watch a report about starlings in Rome who are executing beautifully synchronized flight patterns around the city—this is when Walter gets his big idea. Pigeons must organize and create a splendid performance, something that will amaze humans and alter their perception of these worthy birds. Walter is an endearing storyteller; he’s philosophical, sarcastic, a tad poignantly emotional, and very amusing. Through him, Lynn gently conveys lessons on the values of freedom, equality, and civility toward all. Young readers coping with issues of self-image and feelings of isolation will find the messaging encouraging. While many of the cultural references to movies and stars of the past are unlikely to resonate with YA readers, they are sure to produce some chuckles from adults. And the wide variety of 176 DECEMBER 1, 2023
An elegantly written memoir that raises awareness and will empower others. B UT YO U LO O K S O N O R MAL
birds joining the pigeons’ project (such as Ethan Hawk, who wishes to no longer be a predator) add delightful diversity and entertainment. Clever and humorously imaginative, with embedded words of wisdom.
But You Look So Normal: Lost and Found in a Hearing World Marseille, Claudia | She Writes Press (256 pp.) | $17.95 paper | May 14, 2024 9781647426262
In this focused memoir, Marseille describes what it means to live with hearing loss. When the author was born, her parents had no idea that she suffered from a severe level of hearing loss. Only after her nursery school teacher suspected that Marseille was deaf was she taken to an audiologist. At 4, she started wearing a hearing aid but still had problems understanding other people, leading to a sense of separation from others. Her tense childhood home also left her feeling alienated. Her parents had fled Nazi Germany and eventually divorced; her psychoanalyst father was sometimes frighteningly unpredictable (when she was 10, he encouraged her to take LSD). The memoir describes how the author tried to bridge the “gulf” hearing loss created in her life. Exploring her Jewish heritage, she traveled to Israel to work on a kibbutz before being accepted into the University of California, Berkeley, to study archeology. Marseille struggled to find a profession that was compatible
with her “invisible disability” but later found fulfillment in the arts, becoming a fine-art portrait photographer and abstract painter. Marseille is a clear, expressive writer, and she effectively captures the effects of her hearing loss: “Tears ran down my cheeks as I realized, once again, how terribly alone I was. Every day I struggled to understand. There was so much I was missing. Meanwhile, almost nobody was listening.” The author also draws on specific situations to illustrate the challenges of building a career: “I was barely able to hear on the phone even with the telecoil on my hearing aids.…I hadn’t told my prospective boss about my disability as I knew I’d be unlikely to get the job.” Marseille’s story is inspiring as it describes her path to accepting her hearing loss, although she remains aware that many people still “don’t understand the myriad ways severe hearing loss impacts a life.” Despite a hurried ending, this is an elegantly written memoir that raises awareness and will empower others. Sharp, informative prose.
Kirkus Star
Knowing the Enemy: The Last Tribes of Britannia Moran, Lea | Self (249 pp.) | $10.99 paper June 29, 2023 | 9798850361914
In Moran’s historical fiction debut, two brothers’ mutual resentment turns them into brutal adversaries in 6th-century Britain. Luca and his KIRKUS REVIEWS
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Payne has crafted an absorbing page-turner. ROSE GIRL
small family belong to the Dobunni tribe. His brother, Kennan, who’s only a year and a season younger, begrudges Luca’s apparent advantages, such as the education he receives at a monastery. But Luca is just as bitter; their perpetually angry father, Lucanus, unmistakably favors Kennan and reserves most disciplinary beatings for Luca. As the boys grow older, they unleash their hostility against each other in increasingly violent clashes. They’re at odds over a variety of things, including whose particular skills most benefit the family and, once they hit their teens, a girl named Bellica. Meanwhile, “foreign wolves” (tribes such as the Jutes and Saxons) have been taking land and ravaging neighboring villages. The Dobunni pin their hopes on a missing relic (allegedly, a martyr’s finger) that some believe will help them defeat the enemy tribes. This volatile climate may ultimately lead to a confrontation that one of the brothers won’t survive. The historical backdrop in Moran’s tale provides a dynamic setting; tension surges as the Jutes’ and Saxons’ continuing attacks inch closer to the Dobunni lands. But the focus is on the brothers, whose belligerence and savage fights foster a bleak narrative (“as my learning improved, I had less need of my brother’s shadow or the warmth of his shoulder against mine”). The novel is emotionally poignant as well, exploring each brother’s rationale (however misguided) and examining the relationships between Luca and his parents. Although many characters side with Kennan, some show Luca some much-needed warmth, including his younger sister, Minura, burdened with the impossible task of keeping peace between the KIRKUS REVIEWS
brothers. The author’s black-and-white artwork brightens the pages with simple but affecting imagery, depicting the brothers facing off and a baby’s tiny hand clutching a thumb. A blood feud in the long-ago past makes for an unforgettably heart-wrenching story.
Kirkus Star
Rose Girl: A Tale of Resilience and Rumi Payne, Holly Lynn | Skywriter Books (350 pp.) | $19.99 paper | Sept. 1, 2023 9780982279762
A mysterious orphan becomes a saintly figure after discovering she has a miraculous gift in Payne’s medieval thriller debut. The novel opens in Konya, Turkey, in 1270, where Rumi, the poet and Sufi mystic, is approaching the end of his life. He has been called on to perform the funeral of a girl whose charred body has arrived in the possession of a partially tongueless monk. On attending to her, the poet is overcome by the scent of roses and discovers the girl to still be alive. The narrative then skips back to 1256 to describe the birth of Damascena in a Bulgarian monastery. The friar who assists in her delivery, Ivan Balev, is alarmed by the smell of roses that surrounds the child and by the arrival of a stork that seems to watch over her. After her mother’s disappearance, Damascena is left to be raised
by the increasingly malevolent Ivan; as a young woman, she escapes the monastery. She discovers that she has the gift of turning roses into rose oil and is recognized as a saint. However, she again falls into the clutches of Ivan, who devises ways of exploiting her gift. The true meaning of her existence becomes clear only when she escapes to Turkey and encounters Rumi. Payne has crafted an absorbing page-turner whose plot unfolds at a satisfyingly unhurried pace. The author takes time to embellish the story with carefully crafted descriptions: “her long, dark hair—as shiny as a raven’s wing in the mid-day light.” The prose is beautifully uplifting, particularly when communicating the spiritual change Damascena’s gift brings to the monastery: “Young and old spoke of seeing God between the trees, within the trees, in the clouds and in the face of the sun.” There are rare occasions when the author’s descriptive approach is too heavyhanded; however, this detracts little from a thought-provoking story that, in many ways, echoes the tenor of Rumi’s work in its desire to understand the human condition and seek courage in vulnerability. Disarmingly powerful—a nuanced story of female resilience that reaches across the ages.
Water Music: A Cape Cod Story Peck, Marcia | Sea Crow Press (244 pp.) $19.95 paper | May 5, 2023 9798986567686
In Peck’s comingof-age novel set in 1956, a New Jersey girl struggles with family relationships while on vacation in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Every year, Weston and Lydia Grainger take their two daughters, Lily and Dodie, to Cape Cod for a long vacation from the blistering New Jersey summer. Weston, a mild-mannered DECEMBER 1, 2023 177
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graduate student, is the opposite of his wife, Lydia, who was born the only child to a wealthy, well-established New England family that valued tradition and etiquette over family ties. This long history of excessive concern about propriety and appearances has turned Lydia into a humorless and often insensitive mother. In contrast, Weston is bright, engaged, and eager to pass on his scholarly enthusiasm to his daughters. Weston’s efforts are successful with Dodie, who’s studious and high-achieving but proud and somewhat cold like her mother. Lily, the story’s 11-year-old narrator, shares her father’s rambunctious spirit, but her musical talents likely come from her mother, a born pianist. Readers first encounter the Graingers as they make their regular summer trip, but there’s one noted difference: Despite their modest means, they’re building a house across the lake from Weston’s overbearing brother George’s sprawling home. George is intent on discrediting and lording his privilege over his brother, and on embarrassing his meek wife, Fanny. The couple’s children, Nicole and Digory, each take turns bullying their cousins, with Lily getting the brunt of the abuse. This sometimes folksy, other times stressful coming-ofage story shows how personalities can clash within a family. Peck creates a lively, compelling narrative by deftly choosing to track the story’s progress as one would track an impending storm. As the summer wears on, so does a sense of impending doom surrounding Hurricane Carolyn, which provides nature’s response to the growing tension between and among the various family members, bringing the story to a fever pitch in the last few chapters: “Everyone hoped the storm would miss the Cape and blow itself out to sea. But just when we began to think we could relax, Carolyn veered.” Readers will enjoy this tense, atmospheric family drama. For more Indie content, visit Kirkus online.
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Penamakuru’s limpid, plainspoken writing can be drolly funny or quietly poignant. LET THERE BE LIGHT
Let There Be Light: A Diwali Story Penamakuru, Siva K.C. | Illus. by Sara Kuba MayalayaS Press (108 pp.) | $14.99 paper Sept. 4, 2023 | 9798988528708
Animal-headed humans learn the true meaning of the Hindu festival of Diwali in this illustrated holiday fable. Penamakuru’s winsome children’s book unfolds on an unnamed planet that’s much like India except that it’s inhabited by animal-headed humans. There, Aadi Puli and his wife, Adhvika, a tiger-headed couple, invite over the elephant-headed Subbu Gaja; his wife, Sumati; and their bear-headed friend Jambu Ballu to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. It features lamps, light strings, prayers, fireworks, and feasting. Unfortunately, the frantic preparations stir tensions. Adhvika is dissatisfied with a bronze diyalamp she ordered and chews out the apologetic, gazelle-headed diyamaker Hima Harin over the phone. The light string falls off the roof, and when a kindly monkey-headed stranger named Bolunath “Bolu” Krishnakant remounts it, Sumati is ungrateful for his efforts. Then Aadi and Subbu go shopping and return home with laddoo sweets and clay diyas, bragging about their success in haggling Shyam Lal, a poor, sheepheaded shopkeeper, down to cheap prices. Appalled by their selfishness, Jambu lectures them on the essence of Diwali, which is to spread light
to other people—something they have failed to do that day, he notes, through their lack of compassion. The remorseful Pulis and Gajas then seek out Hima, Bolu, and Shyam to make amends, hoping to recapture a glow of good cheer. Penamakuru’s yarn features a sprightly narrative and lively, well-drawn characters; especially entertaining is Mrs. Bagh, a tigress who gloats over Adhvika’s lackluster decor. He steeps readers in Diwali rituals—the book’s Hindi vocabulary is explained in a glossary—and delves into the details of everything from henna hand decorations to traditional dishes. (“Dal bati churma, so yummy Rama Rama! Pass me the korma and spare me the drama,” the revelers sing of two delicacies.) Penamakuru’s limpid, plainspoken writing can be drolly funny or quietly poignant. (Visiting Shyam and his granddaughter in their hut, “Aadi…took a diya out of the boxes he bought, looked at Minnu and asked if she wanted to light it. She jumped in excitement and looked at her grandfather. He smiled in return…‘Let there be light,’ said Aadi.” ) Kuba’s black-and-white and color illustrations impart a Disney-esque visual appeal to the story. A charming kids’ tale that illuminates the rites of Diwali along with its spiritual import.
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An entrancing, layered coming-ofage novel. AN NA’ S P R O M I S E
The Gem Heist Pereira, Tanisha | Illus. by Cassie Cavallaro Self (132 pp.) | $5.99 paper | Aug. 29, 2023 9798350918267
In this debut middle-grade fantasy, some offspring of famous fairy-tale characters band together when a precious artifact vanishes. Fourteen-yearold Skylar Carson is a thief whose mother, Frostine—the villainous Snow Queen—abandoned her years ago for no discernible reason. Living in the village near Queen Snow White’s castle, Skylar does what she can to survive, with only her dog, Boxer, and her best friend, Carter Brown, for company. When she is suddenly invited by her estranged mother to attend the castle’s upcoming exhibition showcasing the “Gem of Fairy Tales”—the source of inspiration for all those striking stories—she wonders what the Snow Queen is up to. That’s when she meets other adolescents with renowned parents, including Maya, the daughter of Sleeping Beauty; Axel, Prince Charming’s son; and Naomi, the daughter of Queen Snow White. When the Gem disappears, a theft that may lead to the end of everything they know, the kids embark on a quest to find answers. The journey will lead them to the “River of Memories” and the “Man of Advice.” But time is running out, and all fingers start pointing at Skylar as the culprit. After all, she is the daughter of one of the most dangerous figures in fairy-tale history, and many believe that children like her inherit their parents’ traits: “Evil KIRKUS REVIEWS
runs through their veins. They may be good most of the time, but then they will snap, and then you will see their true dark side.” Pereira’s story deftly follows in the footsteps of reimagined fairy tales for a young audience, such as Soman Chainani’s The School for Good and Evil book series and Disney’s TV film Descendants. With a narrative that alternates between the Gem quest and Cavallaro’s beautiful illustrations that pepper the pages, Pereira’s breezy, fast-paced novel mixes fantasy, mystery, and a heist with minimal character development and worldbuilding but a maximum fun factor. While the writing is sometimes clumsy and the tale superficially delves into key questions about heritage (including whether children necessarily follow in their parents’ footsteps), middle-grade readers will find the work highly entertaining. An enjoyable take on generational fairy tales.
Unsettled Reis, Patricia | Sibylline Press (363 pp.) $19.00 paper | Oct. 10, 2023 9781736795484
In Reis’ novel, a history professor finds new clues that shed light on her family’s distant past. Letty Reinhardt sees a shadow-figure in the Iowa fields outside her house on December 31, 1899. It’s the day before her 44th birthday, for which she’s scheduled a special family portrait, which will take place some distance by buggy from the Reinhardt
farm. Her great-granddaughter Evangeline “Van” Reinhardt sees a similar shadow in June 2000, flickering “just outside her peripheral vision” as she tries to finish some family research that her father apparently started before he died. What was he looking for? He never seemed to show any interest in his extended family, his wife, or even Van while he was alive. A sentence on a sticky note on her father’s folder of documents and maps (“Ask Vangie to do some research”) sends her from Madison, Wisconsin, to Maple Grove, Iowa, to look for the human stories behind the haunting, aforementioned family photograph: “Ghosts inhabit empty places…composed of secrets and silences, sufferings and injustices,” Van thinks, and as she digs deeper, her search centers on her grandfather Jacob and his father’s mysterious sister Katharina (“Tante Kate”), who endured multiple tragedies over decades. Over the course of this novel, Reis weaves Tante Kate’s story (and her secrets) with Van’s self-reckoning in a narrative that’s rich with flawed but empathetic characters. The tightly woven narrative reveals how close to the truth one’s guesses about the past can be, and a recurring theme of shadows effectively binds it all together. If Unsettled is unsettling, it’s because it approaches a truth that less talented storytellers avoid: that the most honest storytelling relies on the shadows we fear. A compelling work that explores the fragility of family history.
Anna’s Promise Schulman, D.G. | Wild Rose Press (326 pp.) $18.99 paper | May 1, 2023 9781509247011
This historical novel set in Michigan follows three generations of a Jewish family. At the heart of the book is all-American teen Ben Friedman, living in smalltown Michigan in 1975. When Ben DECEMBER 1, 2023 179
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falls into a fever dream (anaphylactic shock brought on by seafood at a bar mitzvah), he has a vision of his beloved Grandpa Mo, who tells him, “You’re guided by a light from within. I’ve done all I can. Now this mission is yours, but I’ll be with you.” When Ben wakes up, Mo has died. Ben’s tale shifts to his great-grandfather Dovid Weisman, living in war-torn Poland in 1915, where he attempts to protect his young family from the occupying Russian Cossacks. One of Dovid’s daughters will later play an important role in Ben’s life. The third storyline features Dr. Ira Rosen, Ben’s uncle, who’s been sent to prison for writing illegal prescriptions and whom Ben blames for causing Mo’s fatal heart attack. Missing Mo, Ben asks Rabbi Silverstein to teach him about chassidus (Jewish mysticism). The teen, a star swimmer, longs to keep the Sabbath holy and avoid competing on Saturdays, which brings him into direct conflict with his lawyer father, who wants his son to win. So Ben must find a way to find his path without disrupting his family. He feels a need for something more authentic than a watered-down Judaism, but after he becomes more devout, his friends and family object. When immigrants choose to blend in to their new homeland, which is often hostile to newcomers, what are they giving up in the process? Schulman’s thought-provoking novel ably considers the tension between assimilation and tradition. And the plotline featuring Dovid and his clan provides historical context to Ben and his family. Ira’s prison subplot feels extraneous, adding little but predictability. Still, the extended Weisman/Rosen/Friedman family are enjoyable people to visit, and their struggles are continually involving. An entrancing, layered coming-ofage novel.
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A complex and hugely satisfying contemporary romance. ONE THING BETTER
Kirkus Star
One Thing Better Sherry, Jessica | Self (408 pp.) | $14.99 paper Oct. 24, 2023 | 9798988725411
In Sherry’s novel, an embattled woman finds unlikely second chances in the wake of her mother’s death. Feeling flummoxed and vulnerable, Lena Buckley is dealing with more than her fair share of life’s troubles: She’s 35, without many exciting personal or professional prospects on the horizon, living in her family’s run-down farmhouse (where “everything here is edges toward broken”) and dealing with her usual anxieties, which have only been exacerbated by the recent death of her mother. She and her younger brother, Lucas, have finished sorting through their mother’s things, and he’s flown back to Malibu, leaving her alone in the old house with a million loose ends to tie up (and feeling like her entire life is one big loose end). Her dogged philosophy through all of this has been the simple goal that forms the book’s title, but even that often seems beyond her reach. Into this messy, muddled world comes local policeman Ben Wright, who, on the surface, appears to be Lena’s opposite in every way that matters— he’s orderly, in control, and efficient (and good-looking: When Ben pulls Lena over to give her a speeding ticket, she notices “his chiseled face seems permanently fixed on tough-guy-having-a-bad-day”). But he’s hiding some
internal damage and conflict as deep as Lena’s own, as she slowly discovers when she decides that, after “three years of a stalled life,” she requires a change. When a twist of fate brings her into contact with Ben again, a guarded, awkward friendship slowly begins to grow into something more. The author crafts the tale of this unlikely friendship in ways that are both subtle and surprising. The central factor in the utterly winning quality of the narrative is Lena herself, hapless but not helpless, sarcastic but not mean, loving to everybody but her own harshest critic. Sherry expertly varies Lena’s different registers, from biting humor (when a married couple wants to swoop in and buy the old family house, Lena notices of the wife, “Her serial-killer vibe matches her husband’s”) to merciless self-castigation (“I’m jobless, practically homeless, and destined for my brother’s pool house,” she thinks in one such moment. “I have absolutely nothing to offer, and I suck at relationships”). This produces the natural, unforced effect of making the reader feel protective, and it adds a sharp intensity to her beautifully rendered longing for something more (an “all in, unapologetic, honest love”), which she begins to feel for Ben. “There’s a soft moment in the empty space between us that edges on relief,” she observes, “like he’s jiggling the lock on the door I’m trapped behind.” Readers accustomed—maybe too accustomed— to the typical meet-cute, witty-banter, early-to-bed, early-to-wed template of many contemporary romances will find the emotionally complicated situation the author creates in these pages immensely refreshing; these are two far from perfect, believable characters KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A concise and accessible introduction to a famously arcane discipline. DON’T IDENTIFY WITH IT
slowly chipping away at the barriers they’ve erected against the happiness they want. When Lena observes that “falling in love is all about the little things,” this narrative will make readers believe it.
A complex and hugely satisfying contemporary romance between genuine, flawed people.
Pondering the Mystery of Life Shields, Audrey C. | Self (188 pp.) $14.99 paper | June 14, 2023 9798394343605
Shields offers a quick guide to various theological systems in this debut work. No matter what tradition we were raised in, we all find ourselves asking the big questions at some point in life: Does God exist? Is there a grand design to the universe? Why are we here? What happens after we die? “Over millennia, spiritual leaders and philosophers have devoted their lives to developing worldviews that could help us achieve enlightened and happier lives,” writes the author in her introduction. “While religious worldviews are most frequently inculcated in childhood, other secular or spiritual viewpoints can be developed as we mature and question ‘the meaning of life.’” With this book, Shields offers a brief introduction to a number of divergent belief systems, exploring the ways in which they seek to address those big questions. She KIRKUS REVIEWS
helps readers to familiarize themselves with the differences between literal and non-literal interpretations of the Christian God, the nonanthropomorphic God of pantheism, and the completely non-theological teachings of secular Buddhism. The author also details the peaceful abyss of existential mysticism and the eternal reason of stoicism. Along the way, Shields stops to explore deceptively complex concepts such as hope, love, wonder, and mystery. By the end, readers may discover that their beliefs aren’t quite as tidy and certain as they initially thought. The author’s precise, sometimes academic prose cuts right to the heart of her topics, as here, where she discusses faith: “Three components are fundamental to religious faith: (a) a psychological state, (b) a cognitive comprehension of the ‘truth,’ accepted without evidence, and (c) a practical commitment to one’s religion…Believers find support for their faith by placing emphasis on one of the components, without neglecting the others.” The chapters are short, and the pages fly by despite the heady material. Readers looking for a survey of various theologies— and who don’t mind some dense reading—could do much worse than Shields’ primer. A nimble, thoughtful introduction to various philosophies regarding faith and God.
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Don’t Identify With It: Beginning the Philosophical Journey Toward Self-Empowerment Waters, H.T. | Self (210 pp.) | $10.99 paper June 19, 2023 | 9798988457220
A debut philosophical work challenges the status quo and advocates selfempowerment. “Philosophy is around us, always, and can and should be an anchor for our lost ship—our humanity,” writes Waters in this book’s introduction. Yet despite philosophy’s immense value, both to individuals and society, she notes that it “is often inaccessible”—its esotericism “inevitably collides with practical survival.” In this work, the author eschews the jargon and linguistic gymnastics that often limit philosophy’s appeal and offers lay readers a pragmatic introduction to the discipline. While briefly introducing the audience to some of the major ideas associated with Kant, Descartes, and other Western philosophers of yore, Waters also incorporates the ideas of contemporary thinkers, such as Martha Nussbaum. The volume’s own philosophy features an eclectic mix of Eastern spirituality and feminist theory. While the book’s intellectual arguments are compelling, its strength lies in its emphasis on practical application. When discussing contemporary politics, for example, the work urges readers to “watch the fear in yourself,” noting the ways that 21st-century politicians and conspiracy theorists have successfully tapped into and exploited the anxieties of working-class Americans. Other relevant topics include artificial intelligence, social media, and religious nationalism. At under 90 pages, this volume offers a concise and accessible introduction to a famously arcane discipline that blends a scholarly DECEMBER 1, 2023 181
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understanding with a pragmatic approach. Its engaging narrative is also accompanied by ample pop-culture references, from the sassy quips of drag queens to a chapter that looks at contemporary politics through the lens of the blockbuster film The Matrix. Even if the audience does not fully buy into the author’s personal philosophy, which includes a resistance to political institutions, corporations, and organized religion (“I never found Jesus. I never found God in any of this”), the author makes a convincing case for the importance of questioning everything, including readers’ own deeply held beliefs. In a polarized society that is heavily invested in discrediting the other side, self-reflection is profoundly uncomfortable as well as essential. A persuasive, accessible, and practical case for the enduring value of philosophical thought.
SkyRacers Watters, Matt | Red Giant Publishing (122 pp.) | Aug. 7, 2023
Pilot sisters become rivals while competing in a mid-21st-century international racing series in Watters’ SF novel. In the year 2048, Aleeza Martin has a good shot at retaining her world champion title at the annual SkyRace Grand Prix. As a Division 1 pilot for her racing team, she flies racepods for weekend competitions—16 sky circuits in as many countries throughout the year. Her younger sister and teammate, Olivia, an equally skilled D2 pilot, competes in racepods not quite as powerful as the customized D1 versions. When a rival team loses a pilot due to injury, Olivia jumps ship for a chance at D1. The SkyRace Grand Prix can be ruthless, due to the unpredictable nature of the media and fans, and the 182 DECEMBER 1, 2023
A wide-ranging and expert discussion of a complex issue. WE D O N ’ T WANT YO U, U N C L E SAM
high-risk aerial races demand split-second decisions to avoid catastrophe. But for Aleeza and Olivia, the greatest challenge is their newly precarious relationship, a sibling bond that may not survive after a champion is crowned. Watters excels at detailing much of the chic futuristic technology, be it the pods during races or details of life outside the Grand Prix, including aircars and holo-array 3D movies. The book features a variety of narrative devices, from race commentators’ play-by-plays to media conferences to gossipy news reports. This variety further energizes the short novel’s brisk tempo but, at the same time, scales back the pilots’ perspectives; the story relays racing disasters, including at least one that’s fatal, in a fairly detached manner (“In a split second, Aleeza lost control and crashed into the embankment without sending a mayday call. It all happened so rapidly”). Still, the sibling rivalry is dramatically engaging, with the seemingly more mature Aleeza clashing with the headstrong “party girl” Olivia. Their fierce competition amps up the suspense as the SkyRace GP treks the globe; an evolving chart of “Pilot Standings” consistently reminds readers how close each sister is to winning. Razor-sharp characters at odds boost this entertaining, tech-savvy tale.
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We Don’t Want You, Uncle Sam: Examining the Military Recruiting Crisis With Generation Z Weiss, Matthew | Night Vision Publishing (240 pp.) | $14.99 paper | July 31, 2023 9798218236663
Weiss reflects on the challenges of recruiting Generation Z Americans for military service. According to the author, an officer in the United States Marines, current recruitment shortfalls for the military are “terrifyingly grim,” and all the signs point to trends that “spell doom.” In Weiss’ view, this is especially worrisome given the rising menace of war across the globe and the enthusiastic patriotism of young citizens in China who are “nationalistic and ready to fight.” The principal issue, he asserts, is the failure of the military to connect with members of Generation Z, a generational cohort to which the author belongs. To both understand and rectify the problem, Weiss paints a fascinating portrait of a chronically misunderstood generation, one that is fiercely competitive and driven by a desire to make a unique, impactful difference in the world rather than just collect credentials. From his astute analysis, the author draws a bevy of practical conclusions about what successful recruitment would look like and how the military should refashion itself to be KIRKUS REVIEWS
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A forceful and clear-eyed plan for sales forces to adapt to new realities. THE DILIGENCE FIX
more appealing to a generation of prospective soldiers with its own set of demands and needs. For example, Weiss argues that the military should relax its admission rules regarding drug use, as recreational marijuana use is so common among Zoomers. Beyond specific proposals, the author convincingly argues that a major shift in American culture needs to be made to include a positive positioning of military service that prepares young people to embrace it. “Making it so socially desirable to dedicate time to national service has to be the preferred route forward. Apart from everything discussed already, the truly only way to do this is to make service part of the normal conversation of youth development in the U.S.” This is a wide-ranging and expert discussion of a complex issue, conveyed in unfailingly clear language. An analytically rigorous and thorough discussion of a pivotal political topic.
The Diligence Fix: How Striving for More Revenue Stresses Your Sales Organization and What To Do About It Williams, Dayna | DLITE Media (205 pp.) $18.99 paper | June 28, 2023 9798986484600
Williams sounds a call for maintaining proper priorities in the world of sales. At the heart of this business book is a warning: When KIRKUS REVIEWS
organizations limit their sales teams’ focus solely to revenue generation, the strategy often leads to long-term negative consequences. The problem lies at the heart of most commercial enterprises; the author notes, “A company’s very existence will rise and fall on its sales performance,” but “time is the salesperson’s most limited nonrenewable resource.” As Williams observes, the call for greater and greater profits can eventually set up sales teams to fail at adapting to new circumstances. “The more your team has to adjust to the demands of higher productivity, the more likely new and more complex behavioral issues will emerge,” she writes. “Chances are those basic competencies aren’t nuanced enough to help you diagnose these new problems.” Whether in the world of business-to-business (B2B) or commercial enterprise, Williams identifies the same problems: Executive buyers overwhelmingly report that sellers are unprepared, uninformed, or both. The author advocates for greater diligence, centering two distinct elements: core selling and personal leadership qualities. “When diligence blooms,” she writes, “you see consistent outputs like persuasion, grit, resilience, accountability, and more.” Williams has some tough truths to convey, but her tone throughout radiates can-do empathy that even skeptical business-world readers will find convincing. Her precepts are winningly simple, mostly revolving around sales people paying careful, consistent attention (“listening is a choice to be made over and over again,” she writes). And the underlying message— that concentrating on profits can be taken too far—is certainly welcome. A forceful and clear-eyed plan for sales forces to adapt to new realities.
Kirkus Star
Preserving the Etchings of the Mind: Aging, Dementia, and Hearing Loss Wilson, Jaime A.B. | Illus. by Grey Kamps & Ann Wilson | Savory Words (130 pp.) $24.99 paper | 9781737711773
Wilson’s nonfiction work delves into dementia and its causes, and possible ways to attack it. The author, a prescribing medical psychologist and board-certified neuropsychologist, tackles an important subject in his informative (and ultimately engaging) look at dementia. Wilson sets up his premise in the first couple of pages via an anecdote about a road trip he and his family took to see the ancient petroglyph panels at Legend Rock, Wyoming: “Much like we can take action to protect the ancient petroglyph panels, we can protect another, very personal form of history—our brains,” he writes. “There are certain things we can do as we age to protect our brains to allow ourselves to enjoy life to the fullest and for the longest time possible.” The text begins by defining dementia (which, the author asserts, afflicts a third of people aged 85 and older) before describing four different types of dementia: Alzheimer’s, vascular, Lewy body, and frontotemporal. He discusses each in detail, also answering the question many people have when they forget someone’s name or where their car keys are: Is forgetfulness a normal part of aging? The answer is “yes,” although Wilson goes on to explain when such forgetfulness indicates a cause for concern. The second part of the book delves into the risk factors of dementia, and the third section makes the connection between hearing loss and dementia. The fourth part details strategies to mitigate the effects of dementia, including exercise, DECEMBER 1, 2023 183
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proper nutrition, blood pressure monitoring, neuropsychological services, medication, and socializing. At 130 pages, the text is far from a daunting read, and it’s made easier by the author’s engaging (and, at times, even fun) writing style addressing this most serious of subjects. What could be dense and clinical information is presented in digestible, breezy chunks, with only the section on medications slowing things down. This is an excellent primer for those dealing with dementia or readers simply interested in one of the greatest mysteries surrounding the human brain. A useful, easy-to-read book about a difficult subject.
That’s My Moon Over Court Street: Dispatches From a Life in Flint Worth-Nelson, Jan | SemiColonPress (453 pp.) | $18.00 paper | June 21, 2023 9798218203603
Worth-Nelson, a journalist from Flint, Michigan, shares highlights of her career in local news in this anthology. The author first arrived in Flint in 1981 as “a broke social worker and former journalist.” Decades later, her first column for the local East Village magazine (“I never thought I’d stay this long”) reflected on her first 26 years in Flint, as well as the city’s closed mom-and-pop businesses, crumbling infrastructure, and resilient residents. In this compilation of her columns for the East Village magazine, a staple of Flint journalism since 1976 that the author describes as a “scrappy little blackand-white publication,” Worth-Nelson gathers a selection of her work from 2007 to 2022. Many of the pieces are autobiographical; she discusses her service in the Peace Corps, her “junk drawer philosophy,” and her thoughts on Mother’s Day as a middle-aged woman without children, among other 184 DECEMBER 1, 2023
The author’s effortless prose breathes life into every scene. THE GIRL FROM THE RED ROSE MOTEL
subjects. As charming and poignant as the book’s brief memoir passages may be, its true strength lies in the articles that demonstrate how “local news still matters.” The book offers grassroots investigative coverage of Flint’s water crisis and other examples of “the kind of journalism that matters to every citizen who cares about what is happening in their town,” from zoning issues and local politics to city council and school board meetings. This is not just a memoir of a local journalist, but a history of Flint itself in the 2000s, offering readers “a palette of dramas, small and large, collected one by one,” whose players include local drag queens, bus drivers, and roller derby champions. Worth-Nelson is a gifted storyteller—the author’s columns reflect the best that local journalism has to offer in her coverage of local events, people, and community. A timely homage to local journalism and a fitting tribute to the resiliency of a beleaguered Midwestern city.
The Girl From the Red Rose Motel Zurenda, Susan Beckham | Mercer Univ. Press (291 pp.) | $27.00 | Sept. 5, 2023 9780881469011
South Carolina teens fall in love, but their mismatched backgrounds may force them apart in Zurenda’s romance novel. Hazel Smalls gets in-school suspension for a minor infraction regarding her JROTC uniform. It’s
there that the high school junior surprisingly hits it off with senior Sterling Lovell, the scion of a rich family. Hazel doesn’t want Sterling to know that her home is a room in a “beat-up” local motel shared with her parents and kid sister (the situation is mostly due to her father’s DUI rendering him jobless). But Sterling may also have reason to be embarrassed, as his indifferent slumlord father owns that motel. Widowed English teacher Angela Witmore doesn’t miss what’s happening between these smitten teens, though she tries to stay out of her students’ personal affairs. Hazel and Sterling face many obstacles as they begin a romance, from their parents disrupting their lives (not always intentionally) to Sterling’s girlfriend, Courtney, who isn’t quite an “ex” when Sterling and Hazel start hanging out. The fledgling couple—with an unexpected assist from Angela—must fight to stay united. Zurenda populates this modern-day spin on a Romeo and Juliet pairing with superb characters: Hazel is resilient and selfless, while the privileged Sterling earns sympathy for his status as a former victim of bullying. The supporting cast is indelible, including the warmhearted Angela (who stumbles into romance of her own), Courtney’s spiteful preacher father, and Hazel’s ever-chatty sister, Chloe. The author’s effortless prose breathes life into every scene, even sequences as prosaic as Angela throwing together a spaghetti dinner and internally debating which wine to pair with it (“What did she care? The bottle of Chardonnay was already open”). Though a few of the plot turns are predictable, the ending packs a sensational dramatic punch. An ardent love story that brims with sincerity and believable characters.
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