Ann Patchett's Blog, page 15

School’s Out: 19 New Reads for the Young & Young at Heart

It’s officially summertime for students here in Nashville, so the time has come for what every kid has been eagerly anticipating since this time last year… Summer reading! Just kidding. We know that y’all are ready to go swimming, hang out with friends at camp, and cool off with lots of ice cream cones. And we get it! This break from school to have fun and enjoy the outdoors truly is the best. But we think we have some books for you that you’ll like. They may even enhance your summer experience. Give it a try, and let us know how it goes. We’ll be here when you want some more recommendations!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann Music Is a Rainbow

By Bryan Collier

A beautiful picture of music’s power to inspire.

Recommended by Madeline Let’s Do Everything and Nothing

By Julia Kuo

A mother and her daughter venture outside and idle at home all in the same day, and it’s the time together–no matter what’s done or isn’t done–that counts the most.

Recommended by Sarah Sylvie

By Jean Reidy, Lucy Ruth Cummins (Illustrator)

From the creators of Truman comes another delightful book about taking risks and stepping into the spotlight to bring joy to those around you.

Recommended by Aly Mushroom Rain

By Laura K. Zimmermann, Jamie Green (Illustrator)

Everything you ever did or didn’t need to know about mushrooms in a gorgeously aesthetic picture book.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Madeline The Summer of June

By Jamie Sumner

June Delancey kicks off summer by shaving her head as an act of defiance against her crippling anxiety. However, she quickly loses all self-confidence as summer really starts. With the help of the staff at her mother’s library and a little garden therapy, she strives to learn how to thrive with her anxiety.

Recommended by RJ Answers in the Pages

By David Levithan

A tender and timely look at what happens when a group of parents try to get a book banned from a 5th grade classroom over its queer content. Featuring interwoven plotlines, including excerpts from the fictional book itself, this is a realistic picture of the power stories have and the courage it takes to defend them.

Recommended by Chelsea Yonder

By Ali Standish

With Danny’s father away fighting WW2 and his mom expecting a new baby at any time, Danny cherishes his friendship with Jack, an older boy, more than ever. When Jack goes missing from their small Appalachian town, Danny is determined to find out what happened, even if Danny is forced to answer big questions about prejudice, injustice, and how one person can make a difference

Recommended by Ashby This Is Not a Drill

By K. A. Holt

Things keep piling up – Ava’s parents are divorcing, she fights with her best friends, she forgot to charge her phone. What does she do? Hide in the bathroom. Then what? A lockdown drill. Only it isn’t a drill. This book explores how much can get piled on and how to face it. It is told through text messages so it moves quickly, includes funny parts, and has twists and turns.

Recommended by Aly Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes

By Kristi Wientge

When you’re 12 years old, summer is supposed to be all about fun, but everything starts falling apart for Alex when her best friend, Will, gets a crush. How dare he! AND on the most popular girl in school?!

Recommended by Madeline A Wish in the Dark

By Christina Soontornvat

A Newberry Honor, this is an important tale that preaches empathy in a Thai-inspired fantasy. Two opposing worlds collide between Pong, a boy born in prison who escapes, and Nok, the prison warden’s daughter. Laws are questioned and morals are tested. What will you do for the right thing?

Recommended by Ashby Out of Range

By Heidi Lang

If you are addicted to devices, what camp would be the worst? Camp Unplugged. No phones. No internet. No connection to the outside world. Send three sisters who are at war with each other. No training. No supplies. No food. Now what?

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Chelsea Melt With You

By Jennifer Dugan

Fallon would rather forget about her hookup with her BFF Chloe right before Chloe left for college, but her mom’s ice cream truck business has other plans. Fallon is a protagonist who is easy to cheer for, and I was so invested in the rivals-to-lovers, will-they-won’t-they romance. This is a delightful, perfect novel for summer, made even better by the ice cream puns.

Recommended by Sissy Kings of B’more

By R. Eric Thomas

R. Eric captures the essence of teen friendship in Kings of B’More. His characters all have really interesting relationships with both peers and parents – no one is having the same experience, yet they are all listening to and supporting one another. R. Eric is the funniest man on earth, and I absolutely loved this book.

Kings of B’more is our June ParnassusNext pick! Scroll down to read more about it.

Recommended by RJ A Little Bit Country

By Brian D. Kennedy

A Little Bit Country is a charming love story set against the backdrop of a Dollywood-esque amusement park in Tennessee. An aspiring gay country singer and the closeted descendant of one of country music’s lost superstars must navigate a secret summer romance, familial expectations, and new jobs at the park. A fun story about dreaming big, working hard, and finding love along the way.

Watch our virtual event with Brian in conversation with Erica Waters from earlier this month!

Recommended by Aly Flip the Script

By Lyla Lee

Up-and-coming KDrama star, Hana, finds more than she bargains for when she agrees to a staged romance with her co-lead. However, it’s not the incredibly famous boy band member who catches her eye…

Recommended by RJ Man o’ War

By Cory McCarthy

Man O’War is a heart-wrenching story following River, a trans competitive swimmer, through their years-long journey of self-discovery. Hope, anger, and pain are all drawn in a devastating clarity as River draws parallels between their story and the lives of the captive sea creatures kept in their hometown’s run-down marine park.

Recommended by Chelsea The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

By Jen Ferguson

Lou’s last summer is supposed to be predictable, but it’s turning out to be anything but, especially with the appearance of her biological father. An emotionally honest first-person narrative that deals with topics such as generational trauma, colonialism, and sexual identity, this debut stayed with me long after the last page.

Sprout Book Club: June Selection To Make

By Danielle Davis, Mags DeRoma (Illustrator)

The June 2022 Sprout Book Club selection is To Make by Danielle Davis and Mags DeRoma.

This delightful picture book is a celebration of making things, art, a cake, or a garden. The rhythmic text and the mixed-media illustrations pair beautifully together to remind us that all things worth making take time.

Early praise for the book:

“Sure to inspire all sorts of creativity.” – Booklist

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: June Selection Wretched Waterpark (The Sinister Summer Series #1)

By Kiersten White

The June 2022 Spark Book Club selection is Wretched Waterpark by Kiersten White.

The Sinister-Winterbottom siblings are dropped off at their Aunt Soffronia’s for the summer. This aunt they’ve never met seems to glide across the floor without feet, have no food in her refrigerator, and doesn’t know what a smart phone is. She buys them a week’s pass to Fathoms of Fun Waterpark. At this water park, people are disappearing and a strange goo is seeping into the pool. A fun, creepy mystery!

Early Sparks for the novel:

“The creepy gothic setting, the relationships between the siblings, the cast of unusual characters, and the teasers that this episode is just one part of a much larger puzzle will keep readers hooked. Young goths will be all-in for the trippy mysteries.”–Kirkus

“Gleefully macabre.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: June Selection Kings of B’more

By R. Eric Thomas

The June 2022 ParnassusNext selection is Kings of B’More by R. Eric Thomas.

When Harrison finds out his best friend, Linus, is moving away, he plans an epic day for the two of them a la Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. This day of adventure is a tribute to platonic friendship, LGBTQ teens, and hometowns.

Early praise for the novel:

“Thoughtful, poignant, fun.” – Kirkus

“Employing a charismatic cast, expert comedic timing, and moving prose, Thomas artfully composes a raucous and tenderhearted story.” – Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

Here’s to the Booksellers: 28 New Reads for June

We’re almost halfway through 2022, and as we reflected back on the first half of this year, we realized that our staff has already recommended over two hundred books for adults through these monthly staff picks posts! That’s pretty impressive, if we do say so ourselves. So here’s to our incredible booksellers, who read voraciously, write fantastic recommendations, and stay on the cutting edge of all things literary. Take a look at their latest roundup of amazing picks!

FICTIONRecommended by Lindsay Nuclear Family: A Novel

By Joseph Han

This stunning debut from Joseph Han follows a young man who, upon being possessed by the ghost of his grandfather, attempts to cross the Demilitarized Zone in North Korea. What follows is a remarkable—and at turns surprisingly hilarious—story of family, grief, and intergenerational trauma. Nuclear Family is inventive, moving, and wholly original.

Recommended by Karen This Time Tomorrow: A Novel

By Emma Straub

A time travel book from Emma Straub. You probably don’t need to know anything else if you are a fan, but if you haven’t read any of Emma’s books, start here. Alice is turning 40 while dealing with a dying father and an unsatisfying romantic relationship. After a long night she passes out and wakes up in her childhood bedroom on her 16th birthday. This is a fresh take in the time travel genre. You won’t want it to end.

Recommended by Sarah Yerba Buena: A Novel

By Nina LaCour

A new Nina LaCour book? Say no more! I devoured this one in two sittings. Vivid and sensory, devastating and poignant, Yerba Buena is a gift to the world of queer literary fiction.

Check out Sarah’s interview with Nina for Musing!

Recommended by Lindsay Woman of Light: A Novel

By Kali Fajardo-Anstine

A book so nice, I had to staff rec it twice! Woman of Light is our June First Editions pick and I can’t wait for y’all to read this gorgeous novel from Kali Fajarado-Anstine. I loved her story collection, Sabrina and Corina, and it’s such a pleasure to see her expand her talents to historical fiction!

Recommended by Rae Ann The Lost Summers of Newport: A Novel

By Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White

Three women are connected by one mansion, from a music teacher in the Gilded Age to a present-day home renovation TV host. Their stories of love, money, and coverups intertwine in this fascinating book.

Recommended by RJ Siren Queen

By Nghi Vo

Siren Queen is a fantasy set against the glamorous and dangerous world of old Hollywood. The predatory contracts of the studio system take on fae and infernal aspects, actors become literal and metaphorical stars, and one actress is determined to succeed, even if she must become a monster to do so.

Recommended by Ben Salka Valka

By Halldor Laxness, Philip Roughton

Set in the tiny frigid town of Oseyri, Laxness charts the harrowing, hardscrabble coming of age of headstrong Salvör. Oscillating between the Salvation Army and fisherman’s union, socialism and capitalism, loss and longing, and populated with a sprawling net of characters and dialogue, this 600+ page novel chronicles the tale of a resilient, self-determined woman with the force of philosophy and poetry.

Recommended by Kathy The Lioness: A Novel

By Chris Bohjalian

The unusual setting makes this thriller pop – Hollywood stars in the ’60’s on African safari, where the sinister and unexpected happens in each chapter.

Recommended by Jennifer For the Throne (The Wilderwood #2)

By Hannah Whitten

Hannah Whitten returns in this dark fantasy sequel to For the Wolf. The world is bigger, and the stakes are even higher. With fallen heroes and villains you will fall in love with, For the Throne has become an immediate favorite on my bookshelf.

Recommended by Sydney Eat the Rich

By Sarah Gailey, Pius Bak

Very on the nose for our current political climate, Eat the Rich is exactly what it sounds like. Capitalistic cannibalism!

Recommended by Ashby A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons (A Saffron Everleigh Mystery)

By Kate Khavari

Just the title makes you pick this one up! My favorite start to a mystery is when someone is murdered at a dinner party. So British. And that’s what this is…London in 1823. Saffron (SPLENDID character name) has to solve a murder to save her boss, a University College professor so they can leave on an expedition to the Amazon. A debut novel that made me want to read the next one.

Recommended by Sydney Cult Classic: A Novel

By Sloane Crosley

Blending the line between suspenseful thriller and romantic comedy, Cult Classic follows Lola—37, recently engaged, and definitely does not have cold feet. And yet the universe keeps throwing ex-boyfriend encounters her way. Pick this up if you’re looking for an entertaining, genre-bending read.

Recommended by Rae Ann Bloomsbury Girls: A Novel

By Natalie Jenner

This story takes place in Bloomsbury Books, a 100-year-old bookshop in post-WWII London with 51 rules each bookseller must follow. The women of the shop have new ideas and plans for the changing literary landscape around them. Simply delightful.

Recommended by Ben 2 A.M. in Little America

By Ken Kalfus

In a near-future when civil catastrophe has rendered millions of Americans refugees, one such migrant, repairman Ron Patterson, tries to make a meaningful life in foreign enclaves. By reversing the nationalities in the headlines, Kalfus crafts a compact story that examines desire, identity, extremism, American culture and dreams. Stylish and razor-sharp insightful, this is an oh-so-timely novel for our generation.

Recommended by Cheryl The Good Left Undone: A Novel

By Adriana Trigiani

“Tuscans might live in the moment, but the past lives in them ” forecasts the quest Dominica has for her heritage through three generations. The story takes the reader to Italy, Marseille and Scotland. There is tension in wondering what she will find. Setting, character development and a touch of mystery makes this one of Trigiani’s best.

Recommended by Chelsea Last Call at the Nightingale: A Mystery

By Katharine Schellman

In 1924 New York, Vivian escapes her dreadful day-to-day by going dancing at the Nightingale, a dance hall that caters to all. But when Vivian discovers a body in the alley behind the Nightingale, the very place she loves so much is threatened. An atmospheric mystery with a cast of delightful characters led by Vivian, this is a promising start to an exciting new series.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle: A Novel

By Jennifer Ryan

A famous fashion designer who lost her home and business in the London Blitz is forced home to village life. She finds unexpected purpose and friendship as she turns her talents to repurposing wedding dresses for the women of England during WWII. This heartwarming story is inspired by true events.

Recommended by Elyse Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? (Vintage Contemporaries)

By Lorrie Moore

Written as recollections of a now middle-aged married woman vacationing in Paris, our central character looks back to her adolescence in small town, upstate New York. Memories of the significant relationships that formed her life – her best girlfriend, her parents, and her adopted sister, are the foundation of this beautifully written novel. It’s short, engaging, and a must read!

Recommended by Ashby The Woman in the Library: A Novel

By Sulari Gentill

Booksellers who love mysteries are excited when worlds converge. The murder takes place in the Boston Public Library. Four people are seated at the same table when they hear the scream. The catch? One of the four IS THE MURDERER!

Recommended by Jenness Metropolis: A Novel

By B. A. Shapiro

Metropolis starts with a central mystery – an unnamed victim falls down a self-storage facility elevator shaft – and then bounces deftly through past and present, connecting the stories and lives of six characters somehow linked to the suspicious event. Shapiro expertly weaves together the who, what, why, and how while fully humanizing each player and keeping us engrossed.

Recommended by Hannah Set on You (The Influencer Series #1)

By Amy Lea

A witty enemies-to-lovers rom-com with the perfect amount of slow burn? A curvy fitness influencer and a Chris Evans inspired firefighter? Sign me up! Lea crafts a top-notch romance while saving space for important conversations about unconditional body acceptance and the toll social media takes.

Recommended by Jenness The Cherry Robbers

By Sarai Walker

The haunted saga of the Chapel daughters as recounted by the sister who fought to break the cycle and change her fate. This book bursts with the love and frustration binding sisters and mothers and the challenges of being female in the 1950s (and beyond) – always torn between responsibility, tradition, and the desire for independence. Moody and lovely – for fans of The Virgin Suicides and Margaret Atwood.

Recommended by Rae Ann Out of the Clear Blue Sky

By Kristan Higgins

A funny novel about a woman who reignites her life when everything comes crashing down around her.

NONFICTIONRecommended by Patsy Happy-Go-Lucky

By David Sedaris

The new collection of essays by one of the world’s funniest authors includes reflections on his final visit to his father, how people respond to death, the fortune of being born American, and the nature of family. More mature, Sedaris again delivers pithy insights on the human condition with a great dose of humor.

You can still get a signing line ticket for our event with David Sedaris on June 13!

Recommended by Sarah Her Country: How the Women of Country Music Became the Success They Were Never Supposed to Be

By Marissa R. Moss

This is an insightful and sorely needed examination of the women of country music. Situating three current artists in the larger context of their genre, Moss highlights the women who came before them, the discriminatory obstacles the industry put in their way, and the progress that still needs to be made at the intersection of gender, race, and sexuality. Her Country should be required reading for every music lover.

Recommended by Ben The Life and Death of a Minke Whale in the Amazon: Dispatches from the Brazilian Rainforest

By Fábio Zuker, Ezra Fitz (Translator)

Close-up and empathetic, these essays jump from Venezuelan migrants living under a bridge, to the tension between Indigenous healing and Western medicine, to the fight to save an enormous whale washed up deep in the Amazon rainforest. Zuker’s storytelling and reporting ranges through colonization, deforestation, politics, and ultimately the relationships of people to the land and communities around them.

Watch our virtual event with Fábio Zuker and Ezra Fitz from last month!

Recommended by Mother Noise: A Memoir

By Cindy House

How to recount her past life of addiction to her child prompts Cindy House’s graphic narrative memoir. This collection of essays and drawings is a poignant study on reconciling with her past self and coming to terms with the anxiety of motherhood. I love this fresh voice and the way she tells her story honestly, yet not wallowing in her past hard life.

Recommended by Madeline The Lay of the Land: A Self-Taught Photographer’s Journey to Find Faith, Love, and Happiness

By Joe Greer

A deeply moving work about the author’s life and rise to online stardom, coupled with gorgeous photography. My favorite part is his trust in Christ throughout the hardest, darkest moments, along with his confession of genuine faith. Perfect for non-fiction readers and coffee table book lovers!

First Editions Club: June Selection Woman of Light: A Novel

By Kali Fajardo-Anstine

Dear friends,

Look, I know I’m not supposed to play favorites with our First Edition picks, but this time I really can’t help it: Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s Woman of Light is my favorite pick of 2022. I’ve been a fan of Kali’s writing since her story collection Sabrina & Corina came out in 2019. Turns out I wasn’t the only one—that year, Kali was a finalist for the National Book Award, the PEN/Bingham Prize, The Story Prize, and was the winner of an American Book Award. Can you see why I’ve been waiting with bated breath for her debut novel since then?

Woman of Light is worth the wait. I get that the term “transportive” is overused in blurbs, but I don’t know how else to describe this gorgeous work of historical fiction. Woman of Light follows five generations of the Lopez family from the nineteenth century into the 1930s, spanning across the Western territories of America. In beautiful, decadent prose, Kali shows us everything from traveling circus acts and fortune tellers, to turn of the century Denver nightlife, house parties and wedding festivities.

This novel is a love letter to the American West that was left out of the classic cowboy films, to the Indigenous and Chicano communities who have lived there for centuries. I adored every word.

Yours in reading,

Lindsay Lynch

More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.

 

Queerness, Creativity, & Cocktails: An Interview with Nina LaCour

Nina LaCour is back with another sweeping story full of heart, self-discovery, renewal, and humanity. Known for her young adult books, Yerba Buena is LaCour’s adult debut novel, and it has already won over the staff here at Parnassus. Vivid and sensory, devastating and poignant, Yerba Buena is a gift to the world of queer literary fiction. Musing editor Sarah Arnold got the chance to chat with Nina about her new book, mixology, queer literary representation, and more!

Sarah Arnold: Congratulations on your adult debut! You’ve written six incredible young adult novels, and you also recently released your first picture book! What inspired you to write an adult novel? Did having a different audience change your writing process at all?

Nina LaCour: Thank you so much! Yerba Buena is actually the first novel I ever started writing. Over the years I accumulated so many pages and fragments of scenes. I’d take the massive folder out of my drawer and look at it between deadlines for my other novels and feel part-lost, part-inspired—and then I’d put it back into the drawer. When I finally decided that I was going to attempt a full draft (which was also a full rewrite), the process wasn’t all that different from writing my other novels, but the feeling was. My YA novels are usually quite spare and focused, but when I was writing Yerba Buena I gave myself more freedom to follow the story to all the places it wanted to go. I wanted to capture a feeling of expansiveness within the confines of my characters’ lives.

Nina LaCour | Credit: Kristyn Stroble

SA: You’ve taught English and writing to folks of all ages. How did your experiences in the classroom impact your writing? Did your students influence what you choose to write about?

NL: Something that I love about teaching literature is how closely it makes me read. In my everyday life as a reader I rarely spend an hour analyzing a passage, but when I’m teaching or preparing a lecture I absolutely will, and each time it offers me so much. My years as a high school teacher gave me a tremendous respect for teenagers—for their intellect, their willingness to be challenged, their capacity to grapple with difficult topics, their keen bullshit detectors—and though it’s been almost a decade since I’ve taught high school, I carry it with me in my depictions of teen experiences.

SA: Some folks may think they’re about to read a romance when they pick up this book, but the connection between the main characters, Sara and Emilie, acts as the string that ties the stories of their lives together rather than being the sole focus of the book. How did you decide to prioritize the individual characters over their romance?

NL: I’ve only written one book that I’d categorize as a romance, and that’s my YA novel Everything Leads to You. I’m happy with how the book turned out but it was such a struggle to write! I emerged from the process with so much admiration for romance writers.

An early reader described Yerba Buena as a love story nestled within a dual coming of age story, and I think that’s a perfect way to put it. All along, my driving question when writing was something along the lines of, How do we get to the point where we have dealt with our past traumas honestly enough to truly love another person well, and allow ourselves to be loved in return? In our teen years, so much happens to us, and then come our twenties, when our childhood conditioning butts up against the experience of being on our own in the world, making our own choices, hopefully doing some healing. I wanted to spend some time in that transitional period, and even though the love story does tie the two narratives together, I was equally interested in each of the women on their own.

SA: This book has such a rich sense of place. California clearly has a special place in your heart. Can you talk about the role the setting plays in Yerba Buena?

NL: Absolutely! I have spent my whole life in California and I love writing about it. The Russian River, where Sara grows up, is just an hour and a half north of San Francisco (where I live) but it feels much farther away that that. It’s a place of such majestic nature—redwood forests and valleys and a long river—and it’s also a place with significant poverty and drug addiction, and Sara deals intimately with all of those elements of where she’s from. Emilie, on the other hand, is from Los Angeles, very comfortably upper-middle class, and very aware of her Creole family’s history of upward mobility following the Great Migration. Emilie’s family arrived in LA in search of better opportunities, and eventually Sara does, too.

SA: Both Sara and Emilie are deeply affected by their loved ones’ drug addictions. How did you decide to tell the often overlooked story of those who don’t struggle with addiction themselves but nevertheless bear the heavy weight of drug abuse?

NL: My experience with drug addiction and abuse is one of being on the sidelines, watching something terrible overtake someone I love. It’s such a lonely, frightening, destabilizing place to be. I didn’t go into the novel expecting drug abuse to be so consequential to the narrative, but when I noticed it, it made sense to me. Creatively, it’s endlessly fascinating to me how remnants of my past creep back into my consciousnesses and ask me to pay attention to them again.

A selection of Nina LaCour’s previous books

SA: Queer representation in literature is getting better, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, particularly in f/f representation. I, and many others, certainly consider you to be a trailblazer in that regard. What has your experience publishing queer stories been like? Has it become easier over time? Do you still face any pushback or hate?

NL: It’s a complicated time for queerness in literature. On one hand, representation really is getting so much better, but at the same time we’re seeing so many bannings in schools and libraries across the country which worries me a lot. Overall, though, it’s been amazing to watch queer stories go from niche to mainstream, and I’m very grateful that I’ve gotten to play a part in it. I remember thinking, early in my career, that if I wrote f/f centered books my audience would stay fairly small. I did it anyway, and then We Are Okay was an indie bestseller for many weeks and I won the Printz Award for it. Yerba Buena sold in a big, exciting auction, as did my picture book about a family with two moms. We absolutely have a ways to go—there are so many stories to be told and voices to hear from—but I love where we’re headed.

SA: Speaking of queer representation, your recently-released debut picture book, Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle, features a family with two moms, but it’s absolutely for anyone who has missed a parent. How did the idea for the book come to you?

NL: In pre-pandemic times, my wife and I both used to travel a lot for work. The idea for Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle came from one of those trips, when I went to teach at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. I teach for a low-residency graduate program there that focuses on creative writing for children and teens, and I was sitting in on my brilliant colleagues’ picture book lectures and thinking about the emotional life of the child—and then the emotional life of my own child—and missing my family so much. I’d always wanted to write a children’s book but didn’t know what the story should be, and I finally realized that I was living it! There are painfully few representations of queer families in young children’s literature and media in general, and there’s a hunger for it. Sharing this book with children has been such an incredible joy. Plus, my daughter is very proud of it.

SA: Can you recommend us some books that center queer joy?

NL: You know, it’s funny because I appreciate joy in my books but I love it most when it’s intermixed with hard things. I love books about hard-won fulfillment. So I’ll recommend a few with the caveat that they aren’t really queer joy books, but they are absolutely books that reflect the spectrum of humanity and don’t cheat their queer characters out of that fullness of experience! That said, here are a few of my favorites: Memorial by Bryan Washington, Cantoras by Carolina de Robertis, and a brand new one: We Do What We Do in the Dark by Michelle Hart. If you’re looking for something lighter but no less smart or full of heart, Casey McQuiston’s YA debut I Kissed Shara Wheeler is fantastic and so much fun.

SA: Back to Yerba Buena: Mixology plays a fun role in the book, and you even created a signature drink to go with it! What was that process like? Do you have a background in bartending?

NL: I absolutely love a beautifully made cocktail, and I am lucky to be married to someone who makes them! When I was writing Yerba Buena everything was on lockdown because of the pandemic, so I’d be stuck in my office at home, dreaming up these gorgeous restaurants and bars and meals, and then my wife, Kristyn, would come in with a cocktail for my evening writing sessions and it would feel magical, like a little bit of my novel seeping into my life, and give me an extra boost to keep writing. Kristyn made the cocktail (and a mocktail, too!) for the book, and I got to be her recipe tester.

Try out the cocktail and mocktail recipes, courtesy of Nina LaCour and Flatiron Books!

SA: We always like to finish up with this question: What is your favorite thing about independent bookstores?

NL: Oh, there are so many ways to answer this question! My very first job, when I was fourteen, was in my tiny then-local indie bookstore, and I continued working at indie stores over the course of the next decade. I remember how much care I put into my selections for my staff recommends shelf, and the satisfaction of pairing a customer with a perfect book, and the thrill of opening a shipment of new books and discovering what was inside. Now that I’m no longer a bookseller, I just love the rush of promise that I feel each time I step inside a store.

Yerba Buena will be released on May 31st.

Beach Reads and Beyond: 50 Reads for Summer

All weather is reading weather, but there’s something special about a summertime read. There’s the usual beach read type of book, and we sure are fans of those, but our booksellers are here to say that any book can be a summer read! They put their heads together to come up with a list of fifty books, new and old, that will suit anyone’s summer reading tastes. (Please refer to the picture above to see that fifty books equates to approximately a Barney and a half. Which would surely be two and a half Barnabuses. Barnabi?) We broke it down into seven different categories: contemporary fiction, historical fiction, romance, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, nonfiction & poetry, and young adult. Wherever your summer takes you, we hope a book (or two, or three) will follow you there.

CONTEMPORARY FICTIONRecommended by Ann The Pursuit of Love; Love in a Cold Climate

By Nancy Mitford

Hooray! Two of my favorite novels are together in one snappy volume. The only bad thing about these books is that you’ll always be trying to find something this great again, and you won’t.

Recommended by Karen The Final Revival of Opal & Nev: A Novel

By Dawnie Walton

For fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, this book may at first seem similar: A dynamic female singer joins forces with a talented musician-songwriter. Keep reading. Opal is a Black rock singer in a time when that was relatively rare and the relationship between her and Nev is complicated. This is a smart, entertaining read.

Recommended by Lindsay The Summer Book

By Tove Jansson, Kathryn Davis (Introduction by), Thomas Teal (Translated by)

If you’re not won over by the charming illustrations from Tove Jansson (creator of the wonderful Moomin comics), then the gorgeous vignettes of a nostalgic summer on an island off the coast of Finland should do the trick. I re-read The Summer Book every year and it captures my heart each time.

Recommended by Rae Ann Blush

By Jamie Brenner

Family drama at a winery where a book club saves the day! A fun summer read.

Recommended by Lindsay French Exit: A Novel

By Patrick deWitt

I don’t know about you, but I prefer my beach reads with a healthy dosage of dark humor. No one does that better than Patrick DeWitt–French Exit is my personal favorite of his!

Recommended by Aly The Girls: A Novel

By Emma Cline

A former member of a Manson-style cult reflects to discover exactly how she was lured in that summer all those years ago, and just how easy it was to fall in deep.

Recommended by Ashby The Keeper of Lost Things: A Novel

By Ruth Hogan

Things. Their stories. People. Their stories. This book reminds us of the joy we find in reuniting people with what they have lost. Tangible or intangible.

Recommended by Lindsay Cassandra at the Wedding

By Dorothy Baker

Originally published in 1962, Cassandra at the Wedding has everything: a deranged family reunion, twin sisters dealing with the trauma of having been child prodigies, a batty grandmother with the best one-liners, and one of the absolute greatest unlikable female narrators I’ve ever come across.

Recommended by Marcia Reunion Beach: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank

By Elin Hilderbrand, Adriana Trigiani, Patti Callahan Henry, Cassandra King, Nathalie Dupree, Marjory Wentworth, Mary Alice Monroe

A beautiful tribute to Dorothea Benton Frank, this is a treasure trove of compilations of many of my favorite summer authors. You’ll be reading this one until sunset.

Recommended by Ashby Miss Benson’s Beetle: A Novel

By Rachel Joyce

Two VERY different women head off on an expedition in search of a beetle. It reminded me that friendship and adventures take different forms. Take risks and embrace adventures!

Recommended by Heath The Imperfectionists: A Novel

By Tom Rachman

A glimpse inside the lives of the quirky characters that run an international English-language newspaper in Rome.

Recommended by Ashby The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets

By Eva Rice

This novel brings 1950s London to life. Following the war, the characters must find purchase. Penelope and Charlotte make their way to London’s parties in a changed world. What they might have wanted or been able to achieve before the war isn’t the same.

Recommended by Heath The Rocks: A Novel

By Peter Nichols

A sixty-year saga set at a hotel on the Mediterranean. Think Mamma Mia! without the singing and a lot more drama.

Recommended by Marcia In Polite Company: A Novel

By Gervais Hagerty

This debut novel is full of Charleston high society but offers us way more than debutante balls and silver tea sets. I love it!

Recommended by Ashby Cinnamon and Gunpowder: A Novel

By Eli Brown

The premise tells you all you need to know. A female pirate kidnaps a chef. The chef gets to stay alive as long as he makes an amazing meal for her each week. Cooking. Love. Adventure.

Recommended by Marcia Malibu Rising: A Novel

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu. 1983. Four rich siblings. One epic party that ends in a literal blaze. Order a frozen adult beverage – you won’t be able to tear yourself away from this one.

HISTORICAL FICTIONRecommended by Ann Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell: A Novel

By Susanna Clarke

It’s 1024 pages long and you will wish it were 1024 pages longer. England! Magic! Faeries! I love this book so much.

Recommended by Lindsay City of Girls: A Novel

By Elizabeth Gilbert

Everyone deserves a little treat and City of Girls is so delectable!

Recommended by Elyse Eternal

By Lisa Scottoline

Set against the backdrop of the Nazi invasion of Rome during World War II, Scottoline draws you in with characters you will think about long after you read the last page. A book of loyalty, loss, family, and food. Best read while eating a bowl of pasta.

Recommended by Chelsea A Tip for the Hangman: A Novel

By Allison Epstein

An Elizabethan spy thriller that features Christopher Marlowe at its center. I forced myself to read slowly so it wouldn’t end.

Recommended by Lindsay My Policeman: A Novel

By Bethan Roberts

If you want a great historical novel with a captivating love triangle–this book! The longing! The tension! Do yourself a favor and read it before it becomes a critically acclaimed film starring Harry Styles.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Lost Apothecary

By Sarah Penner

A contemporary woman in London seeks the identity of an 18th century apothecary who served women looking for revenge.

Recommended by Marcia We Came Here to Shine: A Novel

By Susie Orman Schnall

Set at the 1939 World’s Fair in NY, two ambitious young women – one an actress and the other a college student – form a lasting friendship over a summer they will never forget.

Recommended by Ashby The Golden Hour: A Novel

By Beatriz Williams

WWII Bahamas. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Lulu, a New York society magazine writer, and Benedict, a scientist and spy. Intrigue. Espionage. Love. A page-turner from the first pages when Lulu and Benedict cross paths on a plane to the Bahamas.

ROMANCERecommended by Rae Ann Birds of California: A Novel

By Katie Cotugno

Two former Hollywood child stars meet again when their show is up for a potential reboot. Witty banter and complicated characters give this romantic comedy many layers.

Recommended by Sissy Sari, Not Sari

By Sonya Singh

Our heroine is the CEO of a company that helps people break up with a significant other via email. Manny has few connections to her Indian roots, but an Indian wedding brings all kinds of surprises into her life.

Recommended by Hannah Hook, Line, and Sinker: A Novel

By Tessa Bailey

What happens when two platonic best friends catch feelings for each other? This is Tessa Bailey’s hilarious, charming new rom-com set in a summery fishing town. The chemistry between these two is off the charts – a must read for the rom-com lovers!

MYSTERYRecommended by Chelsea Winter Counts: A Novel

By David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Virgil is a vigilante on his reservation, doling out justice when the system fails. When his nephew is drawn into the drug trade, Virgil does anything in his power to help, including having to face his own demons.

Recommended by Sarah The Verifiers

By Jane Pek

No, I will not stop talking about this book, and I will find a reason to include it in every possible Musing post we do. It’s a locked-room mystery and a commentary on our fascination with data and how it impacts our lives. Plus it has great queer representation!

Recommended by Chelsea Blacktop Wasteland: A Novel

By S. A. Cosby

A heist novel with a complex protagonist that will suck you in from the first page.

Recommended by Jenness Stormy Weather

By Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen is a master of the quirky beach read: bumbling bad-guys, crazy crimes, tacky tourists, and a one-eyed vigilante hero set in the Sunshine State – a character in itself. Come for the wit, snark, and humor, stay for the corporate takedowns and ecological realness. And then devour EVERYTHING else he’s written.

SCI-FI/FANTASYRecommended by Sissy Plain Bad Heroines: A Novel

By Emily M. Danforth, Sara Lautman (Illustrator)

Did you love Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl? Were you disappointed in Night Film? This is the book you wanted. Ghosts (real? imagined?) are flitting between 1902 boarding school girls and 2020 writers and film starlets. Haunting, funny and gripping.

Recommended by Chelsea Black Sun

By Rebecca Roanhorse

Inspired by pre-Columbian civilizations, this novel has prophecies, political maneuvering, and secret magic. This is fantasy at its best. The second book is out now!

Recommended by Hannah The House in the Cerulean Sea

By TJ Klune

Is there anything better than a book that feels like a warm hug? Linus Baker finds the family he never knew he needed on a sunny island in the cerulean sea. Filled with humor, whimsy, charm, and a hint of romance, this is a story I’ll always delight in rereading.

Recommended by Ashby Einstein’s Dreams 

By Alan Lightman

What would Einstein’s dreams have looked like? In these possibilities, Lightman comes up with the ways Einstein might have thought about time and how it could be manipulated. Want to live longer? Then move to the highest points. Time moves slower the higher up you are…

Recommended by Sissy The Book of Accidents: A Novel

By Chuck Wendig

This is the best Wendig yet. There are hints from his older novels everywhere, which is fun, but this work is his most heartfelt. Generational abuse and regret scar a family who moves to the country. Escaping the city may not be the answer, but they strive for a better life. Ghosts from the past threaten them immediately. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book, and was very surprised by the ending.

NONFICTION & POETRYRecommended by Sissy The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir

By Ruth Wariner

If you watched Under the Banner of Heaven (or read it years ago) and are wanting more fundamentalist Mormon insanity, you’ll really enjoy this gripping first-hand account.

Recommended by Sydney Calypso

By David Sedaris

Ludicrous, candid, compelling—Calypso is the perfect anti-beach read. Pick this up for your inner cynic.

Recommended by Chelsea Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland

By Patrick Radden Keefe

This starts focused on a mother’s disappearance and then expands to cover the entire history of The Troubles while never losing focus on the humanity affected. I devoured this at the beach last year.

Recommended by Sissy Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith

By Jon Krakauer

If you’re enjoying the mini-series, please read this excellent true story of a double murder committed by two Mormon Fundamentalist brothers who insist God commanded them to kill.

Recommended by Jenny Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver

By Mary Oliver

Gentle, loving, and inspirational, this curated collection of Mary Oliver’s work is timeless and perfect for the summer season.

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Rae Ann The Electric Kingdom

By David Arnold

If you liked Station Eleven, pick up this YA post-apocalyptic novel.

Recommended by Chelsea Last Night at the Telegraph Club

By Malinda Lo

This was a huge award winner for a reason. Pick this up before Malinda Lo’s new book comes out!

Recommended by Rae Ann The Light in Hidden Places

By Sharon Cameron

This WWII novel is based on the true story of the 16 y/o girl who protected 13 Jews in her attic while Nazis lived in her home.

Recommended by Aly The Summer I Turned Pretty

By Jenny Han

This is the perfect summer series. Every moment is heart-achingly nostalgic for all the summers we wish we could have.

Recommended by Rae Ann Tokyo Ever After: A Novel

By Emiko Jean

A girl finds out her father is the Crown Prince of Japan. Princess lessons and a cute royal bodyguard make this a perfect summer read.

Recommended by Ashby A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes Novel #1)

By Brittany Cavallaro

Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson, teen kids of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, are the new generation. The two end up at the same boarding school, and, guess what? There is a murder!. Their partnership isn’t easy; their personalities are developed to get at the difficulties of two such people having to work together!

Recommended by Aly Since You’ve Been Gone

By Morgan Matson

Morgan Matson’s summer stories are always full of adventure, playlists, and friendship. The mystery element of this one kept me hooked until the very end.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Enigma Game

By Elizabeth Wein

In 1940 Scotland, a girl discovers a code-breaking machine that may turn the tide of the war.

Recommended by Aly Along for the Ride

By Sarah Dessen

Do yourself a favor this summer and dive into the beachside town of Colby. Here you’ll find love, laughs, family, and friends to keep you warm on those cool summer nights. But remember, just say no to the Tally-Ho.

Meet Laura Dronzek & Kevin Henkes, Illustrator and Author of Little Houses

The Sprout Book Club, our new First Editions Club for picture books, burst onto the scene last month. It continues to grow with Little Houses, a collaboration by artist Laura Dronzek and her husband, Kevin Henkes, about a young girl visiting her grandmother at the beach. Rae Ann Parker, our Director of Children’s Books and Events, asked Laura and Kevin a few questions about their new book, working together, and the art of creating picture books.

Rae Ann Parker: You have collaborated on many picture books. How does the idea sprout? Do you come up with ideas together? Is it different for every book?

Kevin Henkes | Credit: Laura Dronzek

Kevin Henkes: When I write a picture book text for Laura, I begin by coming up with a subject that I think she’d like to illustrate. Sometimes those ideas have been at the back of my mind for a long time. Writing a beach book for Laura was something I’d attempted many times from different angles for years. The writing of some books — our season books, for example — comes much more easily.

Laura Dronzek: Kevin usually comes up with the idea for a picture book and will run pieces of it by me as he is writing it.

RAP: Do you share your work with each other during the creative process? Do you share a working space?

KH: I’ll often tell Laura that I’m thinking of a book about a particular subject for her. And I might read a few lines when I think they’re good enough to share. After that, I’ll wait until I have a finished draft before she sees it again. A couple have my texts have been gifts for her — so those were surprises.

Laura Dronzek | Credit: Kevin Henkes

LD: While we don’t share a working space, we definitely share our work during the creative process. When I’m illustrating one of Kevin’s picture book texts, he gives me complete control over the illustration process. In some ways it is surprising that someone who is an illustrator himself can do this. I usually work on the dummy for a while and then show it to Kevin for input. We go back and forth to each other’s studios throughout the day to get feedback on different things. It is wonderful to be able to do this.

RAP: What is your favorite part or favorite stage of a picture book coming to life?

KH: When I’m writing and illustrating a book, my favorite part is when the text is done and I’m working on the dummy. I’m figuring out how to break the text, what size the illustrations will be, how to get the pacing just right. At this point the possibilities are endless, perfection seems possible, and I’m very excited.

LD: When I’m illustrating a book, my favorite part is after I’ve figured out how to break up the text and am working on the illustrations for the dummy. I paint the sketches for the dummy and it is exciting to work things out. There is a freedom at this point where I’m still exploring possibilities and am not worried about getting everything exactly right.

A couple of Laura’s “in-progress” illustrations for Little Houses

RAP: What advice do you have for young creators interested in working on picture books?

KH: My advice: Experiment. Don’t worry about creating a masterpiece. Read a lot. Look at art. Know what you like.

LD: I agree with everything Kevin said. Look at picture books and art. Read. Observe the world around you. Take chances with your art and draw a lot!

RAP: And we ask everyone, what is your favorite thing about independent bookstores?

KH: My favorite thing about independent bookstores is that they are usually staffed by people who love books as much as I do.

LD: Two of my favorite things about independent bookstores are that they usually have a wonderful selection of books (including backlist books) and the people working there know the books and love them.

Little Houses will be released on May 24. We’re so excited to send it out to our Sprout Book Club members!

Authors IRL: Get to Know Emma Straub, author of This Time Tomorrow

You haven’t read a time travel book like this before. Emma Straub’s forthcoming novel, This Time Tomorrow, is a charming and witty story about second chances and the everchanging relationship between a parent and child. Emma’s signature humor and playful take on time travel tropes make this book the perfect addition to a staff-favorite backlist catalog, including The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, and First Editions Club selection All Adults Here. (Psst, This Time Tomorrow is our May First Editions Club selection!)

Emma took time out of her busy schedule being both an author and an indie bookstore owner (hey, Books Are Magic!) to answer our Authors IRL questionnaire ahead of the release of This Time Tomorrow and her in-store event here at Parnassus! She’ll be in conversation with Margaret Renkl on Wednesday, May 18 at 6:30pm. Space is limited, so registration is required. And now, enjoy getting to know Emma Straub!

Emma Straub | Credit: Melanie Dunea

I’ve been listening to: Who? Weekly, my favorite podcast. It’s about D-list celebrities, basically, many of whom I have never heard of, but Lindsay Weber and Bobby Finger are so funny that it doesn’t matter. Also, Bobby’s first novel, The Old Place, comes out this fall! It’s not about D-list celebrities but you should pre-order it anyway.

I love to watch: the Great British Pottery Throwdown. Like the bake-off, but with pottery! It’s such gentle entertainment.

Something I saw online that made me laugh, cry, or think: Everything makes me cry, literally everything. But my friend Aminatou Sow posts TikTok videos, and those make me laugh. I don’t know how to do TikTok well enough to find my own funny videos, so I’m very grateful that she curates them for the rest of us.

A book I recently recommended to someone else: Ada Calhoun’s Also A Poet, out in June—it has some of the same DNA as my book—a writer daughter of a writer father facing his death, and art, that sort of thing. It (predictably) made me weep.

Something I started doing during the pandemic: Oh, I wish I had a good answer for this, like knitting or baking bread or playing guitar. I guess I started doing some 80s-style dance aerobics videos. Those bring me joy, and I will never ever let anyone else watch.

If I could teleport anywhere in the world right now, I’d go to: Mexico City for some tacos, maybe? A swimming pool? Any swimming pool.

I wish I knew more about: Everything. I think that being an indie bookseller requires one to be a generalist, which means I can talk to anyone about just about anything for 2 minutes. Let’s start with the history of the world. Not the Mel Brooks movie, I already know that one.

My favorite thing about indie bookstores: that you can always find a new best friend, if you look long enough.

This Time Tomorrow will be released on May 17.

Marvels, Wonders, & Surprises: 18 Reads for the Young and Young at Heart

May has arrived, and with it a brand-new roundup of staff picks for the young and young at heart! From the seasons here on Earth to the moon up above, there’s a lot to explore in this month’s recommendations. (Also, can we talk about the fact that Our Seasons folds into a globe?! So cool.) If that’s not enough, we also have a fun announcement… We’re going to host a middle grade summer reading book club! Our June selection is How to Save a Queendom by Jessica Lawson, and the author will join us for the discussion on June 13! You can register on our website for this fun summer club. In the meantime, dive on into our May staff picks; your next favorite read awaits!

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Rae Ann Lizzy and the Cloud

By Terry Fan, Eric Fan, Terry Fan, Eric Fan

I love this whimsical story about a girl and her cloud. Parallels to four-legged pets abound in this imaginative and beautifully illustrated tale.

Recommended by Chelsea The Great Zapfino

By Mac Barnett, Marla Frazee (Illustrator)

I admit I am obsessed with wordless (or minimally worded) picture books. There’s so much to pore over in the illustrations, and Marla Frazee has hidden details in every single page. I also loved the message of facing your fears. This is a great book for readers of all ages.

Recommended by Rae Ann A Home Named Walter

By Chelsea Lin Wallace, Ginnie Hsu (Illustrator)

This picture book about a house with feelings is perfect for anyone experiencing a move or any big life change. Thoughtful and sweet.

Recommended by RJ Molly on the Moon

By Mary Robinette Kowal, Diana Mayo (Illustrator)

This is a great read-aloud full of creativity, resourcefulness, science, and siblings learning to share!

Recommended by Rae Ann Wondering Around

By Meg Fleming, Richard Jones (Illustrator)

A beautifully illustrated picture book about the paths we take when we let our imagination soar.

Recommended by Madeline Little Wonder

By Claire Keane (Illustrator)

An adventurous picture book that traverses the depths of the ocean to the highest heavens in the skies. Every word is tenderly written as a mother’s love letter to her Little Wonder.

Recommended by Patsy Alice Waters Cooks Up a Food Revolution

By Diane Stanley, Jessie Hartland (Illustrator)

This beautiful picture book illustrated by Jessie Hartland recounts young Alice tasting delicious fresh food from her family’s garden and her subsequent university studies in France, where she discovers these simple pleasures abound. We follow Alice as her passion leads her to open a restaurant in Berkeley and create a food revolution.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Rae Ann The Lucky Ones

By Linda Williams Jackson

Eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown lives in the Mississippi Delta in 1967. School is his refuge with a teacher and books that inspire him to dream. During an encounter with a famous visitor, Ellis Earl finds the courage to speak up for his family and community in this memorable story.

Recommended by Chelsea Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone

By Tae Keller

Mallory tries so hard to teach the new girl Jennifer the cardinal rule of middle school: you have to fit in. When Jennifer goes missing, Mallory uses Jennifer’s alien hunting journals to track her down, but that means Mallory must come to terms about the reason Jennifer ran in the first place. A tender novel about friendships, middle school, and the power of an individual.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Marvellers 

By Dhonielle Clayton, Khadijah Khatib (Illustrator)

This unique story of a magic school in the sky is sure to delight middle grade fantasy readers. The fun details of the world, the characters, and their gifts spring to life on the page.

Recommended by Madeline Our Seasons: The World in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn

By Sue Lowell Gallion, Lisk Feng

An engaging and stunningly illustrated introductory book about the seasons with easy-to-understand descriptions about winter, spring, summer, and autumn!

Recommended by Rae Ann Frank and the Bad Surprise

By Martha Brockenbrough, Jon Lau (Illustrator)

Frank the cat’s life is wrecked when his humans bring home a puppy in this fun chapter book. Or is it?

Recommended by Gavin, 5th grade Packing for Mars for Kids

By Mary Roach

Are you curious about space? You’ve probably studied about astronauts a bit in school. But – did your teacher explain what happens if a person gets sick in their helmet or misses the bag while pooping? This book tells us the things we really want to know!

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by Chelsea I Kissed Shara Wheeler: A Novel

By Casey McQuiston

On the cusp of graduation, being named valedictorian, and escaping her small town, Chloe Green is counting down the days. That is, until her academic rival Shara Wheeler kisses her and then disappears, leaving only pink envelopes in her wake. Full of wit, charm, and heart, I Kissed Shara Wheeler fits perfectly into the pantheon of contemporary YA.

Recommended by RJ Queen of the Tiles

By Hanna Alkaf

A girl drops dead at a competitive Scrabble tournament, and one year later the question still remains: Was it an accident, or murder? Her former best friend must find out the truth before it’s too late. One of the best mysteries I’ve read in ages, a sensitive exploration of grief and friendship, AND a fascinating look into a niche competitive subculture. This book is basically perfect, and you should read it now.

Sprout Book Club: May Selection Little Houses

By Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek

The May 2022 Sprout Book Club selection is Little Houses by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek.

A girl visits her grandparents at their house on the beach where they collect seashells that are also little houses. The lyrical text paired with the stunning paintings in this picture book make it a beautiful read aloud treasure you will want to read year round.

Early praise for the book:

“Henkes and Dronzek create a story about a child . . . whose visit to a grandparents’ small beach house allows time for wondering and questioning. The grandparents’ quiet, affirming presences allow their grandchild space to contemplate. For now, though, the child treasures a collection of shells, little houses. Henkes writes with quiet grace that avoids preciousness, while Dronzek’s acrylic seashore-centered spreads capture one person encountering the natural world with curiosity and reverence.” –Publishers Weekly

“Curiosity and wonder about nature are explored, this time through a family trip. As they walk the beach, the child studies the shells and considers the creatures that once lived in them. Vibrant acrylic illustrations depict these little houses in multiple colors, sizes, and shapes. Her grandparents encourage her to explore her surroundings, inspiring her to want to learn more. Returning to her own house, the girl takes some of the treasures along, understanding that she, too, is part of the wonderful wider world.” –Booklist

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: May Selection Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor

By Xiran Jay Zhao

The May 2022 Spark Book Club selection is Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao.

Zack feels out of place as the only Asian student in his town in Maine. He makes friends through his favorite augmented reality game that spawns mythical creatures from folklore. When a real creature threatens Zack and his mom, he finds a connection to the first emperor of China and gains magical powers. This action-packed story of a gamer who goes on a true quest is for readers of funny books mixed with adventure.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“Levels up legendary Chinese heroes and folklore into a thrilling adventure with video game appeal.” – Kirkus

“Culture and technology clash as Zachary Ying takes adventure to a new level!” – Kwame Mbalia, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is an edge-of-your-seat adventure that has you laughing on one page and cheering on the next. Zach is a gamer turned hero who goes on an epic quest across the globe only to find his greatest strength within. More, please!” – James Ponti, New York Times bestselling author of City Spies

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: May Selection The Agathas

By Kathleen Glasgow, Liz Lawson

The May 2022 ParnassusNext selection is The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson.

Alice Ogilvie and Iris Adams are classmates, but not friends. When Alice’s ex-best friend is found dead, she teams up with her tutor to find the killer using the guidance of the works of Agatha Christie.

Early praise for the novel:

“The mystery thrills and gratifies thanks to escalating stakes and devastating reveals.” —Publishers Weekly

“A generous dollop of homage to the grande dame of mystery plus buckets of clues and conundrums to savor.” —Kirkus

“Part Agatha Christie, part Veronica Mars, and completely entertaining.” —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Of Us Is Lying

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.

It’s Gonna Be May: 28 New Reads for the Start of Summer

Summer hasn’t quite arrived in Nashville yet, but some of the season’s best reads are already here! This roundup of 28 new releases has a little bit of everything: fantasy, poetry, historical fiction, mysteries, and more! So if soaking in the sun with a great new book and telling people not to bother you sounds like your idea of a good time, you’ve come to the right place. This month’s staff picks will carry you from Mother’s Day* to Memorial Day and right on into the beach-read-iest time of the year!

*P.S. Are you still looking for a Mother’s Day gift? Perhaps a First Editions Club subscription would fit the bill? We announced the May, June, and July picks last week (hint hint, wink wink).

FICTIONRecommended by Lindsay End of the World House: A Novel

By Adrienne Celt

As the sort of person who can wander through an art museum for hours on end, I couldn’t help feeling that End of the World House was written for me, specifically. I adored this novel about two friends who find themselves in a Groundhog Day situation on a private tour of the Louvre that suspiciously never seems to end. It’s a book that I’d be happy to get lost in forever.

Recommended by Elyse Sing Her Name

By Rosalyn Story

For music lovers, this story is part history and part mystery. Set in my two favorite cities, New Orleans and New York, Sing Her Name tells of a nineteenth-century African-American concert artist who never got her due, and the influence she now has on a 21st century, displaced, 30-something who is trying to realize a dream while trying to make ends meet.

Recommended by Rae Ann In the Face of the Sun

By Denny S. Bryce

Two women on a road trip in 1968 are on a collision course with the past. By the time they reach LA, the truth of a decades-old mystery in Black Hollywood will be revealed. Intriguing characters make this story shine.

Recommended by Lindsay Trust

By Hernan Diaz

Reading Hernan Diaz’s Trust is like watching that one Olympic sport that appears to be a triathlon but then the athletes start doing archery and fencing–just when you think you know what you’re reading, it becomes something even more impressive and unexpected. With every section, I fell more and more in love with Trust.

Recommended by Jennifer Book of Night

By Holly Black

Author of the YA Cruel Prince series, Holly Black makes her adult debut in this dark, modern fantasy novel. Charlie, the story’s female protagonist, finds herself in the middle of a dark, bloody mystery-turned-romance involving shadows that come alive. With plenty of twists and turns, if you were a fan of Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House, this book is right up your alley.

Recommended by Ashby Portrait of a Thief: A Novel

By Grace D. Li

Heist films – Ocean’s Eleven, Baby Driver, Reservoir Dogs – plus a super smart crew with connections to China and an opportunity to take back their art and culture equals a page-turner. 50 million is a big haul for a heist. The group includes a leader, a con artist, a thief, a getaway driver, and a hacker, all Chinese Americans with complicated connections to China. You’ll be holding your breath until the final page!

Recommended by Hannah Book Lovers

By Emily Henry

This is, without a doubt, Emily Henry’s best book yet. Combining the very best elements from her previous two bestsellers, it’s a delight from cover to cover. An ode to romance novels, Book Lovers is aware of the tropes, stares them in the face, and still manages to bring something new and brilliant to the genre.

Recommended by Sissy Here Goes Nothing

By Steve Toltz

What if David Sedaris wrote Station Eleven mixed with The Time Traveler’s Wife? That’s how entertaining this book was.

Recommended by Patsy Lucky Breaks

By Yevgenia Belorusets, Eugene Ostashevsky

This unsettling collection of short fiction by eastern Ukrainian author and photographer offers vignettes of women displaced by the 2014 incursion of Russian troops into Ukraine. These characters, normally the overlooked and liminal members of society, are recounted in words tinged with folklore and dreams, offering the reader a sense of the fog of war under which Ukrainians are living. Timely and essential reading.

Recommended by Kathy Ocean State

By Stewart O’Nan

Set in 2009, a doomed love story of two girls in love with the same teen-age boy, and the things that love makes them do.

Recommended by Cheryl Memphis: A Novel

By Tara M. Stringfellow

The vibrant cover is reminiscent of the art of Allen Stringfellow, although no found relation to author. Within is the story told by three generations of strong, talented Black women with their personal reflections over seven decades of history and challenges.

Recommended by Ashby Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel

By Shelby Van Pelt

The documentary My Octopus Teacher made me smile & gave me hope, so a novel with an octopus character? YES! Tova, a widow whose son disappeared long ago, befriends Marcellus, a grumpy octopus. The friendship is about hope, helping out a friend, providing answers to questions, opportunities for a brighter future. A debut novel with an unbelievable premise that becomes believable, it left me smiling AND hopeful.

Recommended by Marcia Sister Stardust

By Jane Green

I was not alive in the 60’s, but if I was -and if I knew a lot of famous people, this is exactly how I would have liked to have lived. Maybe without so many drugs though….

Recommended by Sarah Cover Story: A Novel

By Susan Rigetti

Fans of Inventing Anna on Netflix, this is for you! Cover Story is a gripping page-turner and a smart, inventive take on scam culture. Comprised of diary entries, emails, FBI memos, and more, it’s the perfect, quick read for your summer beach trip!

Recommended by Erin The No-Show

By Beth O’Leary

This is the latest from the author of The Flatshare, and it’s unexpectedly moving. The back cover copy had me expecting something completely different in tone, but this isn’t a rom com, this is women’s fiction that’s going to make you laugh and cry. My advice on this one is to read the book, not the description.

Recommended by RJ The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer

By Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe has long demonstrated a gift for science fiction storytelling across a variety of media, and this short story collection fully lives up to the heights of their other creative projects. If you’re a longtime fan of the scifi setting Monáe has built with her music, this is an amazing expansion and companion. If you’re new to their work, these stories also stand perfectly on their own.

NONFICTIONRecommended by Ann What We Wish Were True: Reflections on Nurturing Life and Facing Death

By Tallu Schuyler Quinn

Quinn’s life, her mission, her decency, and her love create a vibrant legacy for us to hold on to and learn from. This book, like its author, is incandescent.

Recommended by Ann Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life: A Memoir

By Delia Ephron

If you’ve ever been wildly in love, or wildly sick, or both at the same time, this remarkable tale of endurance and grace is for you. Ephron’s screenwriting skills make it a story you can’t look away from.

Recommended by Karen Things to Look Forward To

By Sophie Blackall

This is a book is a joyous celebration of the little things in life that make you happy. Blackall is a Caldecott winning illustrator and artist, so no surprise, the illustrations are just exquisite. Put this within easy reach to pick up when you need a smile.

Recommended by Sissy Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives

By Mary Laura Philpott

Mary Laura does what few can – muse about mortality and make you laugh. Reading her essays is like sitting down on the porch with her and having a glass of wine. Her worries are OUR worries, only we rarely discuss them aloud.

Recommended by Chelsea Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases

By Paul Holes

Known primarily for helping catch the Golden State Killer, Paul Holes dedicated his career to solving cold cases. This book not only focuses on those cases but on how Holes’s obsession with justice affected his personal life. A fascinating look into the ways and means of solving cold cases, this book is the perfect read for fans of true crime.

Recommended by Jordan A Thousand Ways to Pay Attention: A Memoir of Coming Home to My Neurodivergent Mind

By Rebecca Schiller

From feeling misplaced in a scattered mind to the serenity of peace and homecoming with nature, this memoir is here to take us all for a walk. A great read for fans of Margaret Renkl’s Late Migrations.

Recommended by Jenness The Puzzler: One Man’s Quest to Solve the Most Baffling Puzzles Ever, from Crosswords to Jigsaws to the Meaning of Life

By A.J. Jacobs, Greg Pliska

A heartwarming example of Jacobs’s immersive fact-finding mixed with soul-searching, The Puzzler is a loving tribute to puzzles across centuries and cultures. Jacobs’s nerdy enthusiasm and philosophical curiosity for the history and joy of puzzles is contagious. Bonus: puzzles included!

Recommended by Madeline Half Baked Harvest Every Day: Recipes for Balanced, Flexible, Feel-Good Meals: A Cookbook

By Tieghan Gerard

Tieghan Gerard returns with another scrumptious cookbook, pairing easy-to-follow recipes with salivating spices. These recipes are always accessible and great for impressing! Perfect for beginning chefs and professional alike.

Recommended by Cheryl Last Call at the Hotel Imperial: The Reporters Who Took On a World at War

By Deborah Cohen

The Hotel Imperial in Vienna is where journalists met in the 30s and 40s before Hitler claimed it as an office. These male and female journalists saw and heard what was going on in Europe and did their best to send reports home to the US with the only mediums available: print and radio. The group supported and even traveled together which is not seen with our instant news today.

POETRYRecommended by Ben The Heart of American Poetry

By Edward Hirsch

By presenting 40 poems from nearly 400 years of poetry, this panoramic and diverse volume delves into the themes, styles, and influences within our vast poetic heritage. A personal and national odyssey, Hirsch follows each poem with an insightful essay analyzing both it and the poet as he eloquently invites us to join the ongoing discussion of what the American canon is and can be.

Recommended by Patsy Vinegar Hill: Poems

By Colm Tóibín

Tóibín’s first poetry collection, written over several decades, is pure delight. His simple language, often stripped of metaphor, aptly demonstrates the lyricism of a son of Ireland as he touches on themes of love, mortality, politics, religion, and of living through a pandemic. This collection is balm for the soul.

First Editions Club: May Selection This Time Tomorrow: A Novel

By Emma Straub

Dear friends,

Whenever I dip into a new Emma Straub book, it always feels like home: I can walk right into the living room, kick off my shoes, and find a place waiting for me in a comfy chair. There is such a warmth to Emma’s writing—the care she takes in introducing us to her characters, the clear love she has for them in all their messiness that makes us love them, too.

This Time Tomorrow is no exception. Emma’s latest follows Alice, a woman who falls asleep on her fortieth birthday and, to her surprise, wakes up on her sixteenth. Forty-year-old Alice is unmarried, working in admissions at her old high school, and caretaking for her ill father, who happens to be a renowned sci-fi novelist. Sixteen-year-old Alice is stressed about her SATs, figuring out which boy she’s going to kiss at her birthday party, and has not considered that her father’s days could ever be numbered. Between time jumps, Alice tries to reconcile her present and past selves, along with all the futures she could have had.

Even with the added element of time travel, this novel feels so uniquely Emma Straub: This Time Tomorrow is filled with characters who already feel like friends, along with a story that I wish I could time travel and read again for the first time.

Yours in reading,
Lindsay Lynch

More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.

Aren’t We Lucky: An Interview with Linda Williams Jackson & an Excerpt from Her New Book

The Lucky Ones tells the story of eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown in 1967 Mississippi. Ellis Earl dreams of living in a big house in town with his family and having plenty of food to eat. A special teacher introduces him to a world of possibilities through the books in his classroom.

Linda Williams Jackson’s previous novels, the award-winning Midnight Without A Moon and its sequel A Sky Full of Stars, weave historical events into coming-of-age stories. Enjoy this interview with the author and read an excerpt of The Lucky Ones below, courtesy of Candlewick Press.

– Rae Ann Parker, Director of Books and Events for Young Readers

Rae Ann Parker: The Lucky Ones is inspired by events in your childhood. When did you decide to tell this story and how did you create the main character of Ellis Earl?

Linda Williams Jackson, author of The Lucky Ones

Linda Williams Jackson: “Who is RFK?” is the question that inspired me to tell this story. In 2018, my son, who was 10 at the time, asked me this question when he saw the headline “RFK” on a magazine cover while we stood in the checkout line at the grocery store. Realizing I had a personal connection to this bit of history—specifically, Kennedy’s poverty tour of the Mississippi Delta—I decided to share the answer that I gave my son through a historical novel for middle grade readers.

The main character Ellis Earl is inspired by a real-life Ellis, a man whose life inspired me as I was growing up. I imagined what the real-life Ellis might have been like as a young boy then injected this personality into my imaginary Ellis Earl. Most of the narrative, however, is inspired by my own childhood during the early 70s.

RAP: Did you learn anything from your characters as you wrote the story? Did any choices your characters make surprise you?

LWJ: I can’t say that I learned anything from my characters as I wrote the story, but I was surprised by some of the choices that Ellis Earl made. I was surprised how quickly his desire to read longer books like his friend Philip eventually turned into something more competitive to the point of jealousy. Then that jealousy escalated to antagonism. I was also surprised by how caring Ellis Earl could be at any moment then turn right around and get bitten by a mean bug the next. In other words, I guess I was surprised at how realistic this fictional character became.

RAP: Books are important to Ellis Earl and inspire his dreams. As an author of middle grade books, what do you hope readers find in your new book, The Lucky Ones?

LWJ: I want readers to find hope and empathy in The Lucky Ones. Ellis Earl is very hopeful, despite his circumstances, and that can be a tough thing to do, especially for kids. I want kids who might be living in less than desirable conditions to press on and keep hope alive. Through education and mentors, children have the opportunity to create the life they desire when they grow up. And for those who cannot identify with Ellis Earl’s circumstances, don’t look down on those who do. Be a support system instead.

RAP: What is your favorite part of writing books for young readers?

LWJ: My favorite part of writing books for young readers is the joy of telling a story from a child’s perspective (which is also my favorite part of reading books written for young readers). I love storytelling in the first place, and who better to tell them to than children?

RAP: And finally, we ask everyone: What’s your favorite thing about indie bookstores?

LWJ: Indie bookstores are charming! Every one of them is unique (obviously), and they are inviting and full of character (no pun intended). While I love visiting any bookstore, indie bookstores are my favorite because I never know what I’m going to find in terms of setup and layout. Every indie bookstore that I’ve visited has been beautiful and wonderful.

 

Please enjoy Chapter 1 of The Lucky Ones, courtesy of Candlewick Press.

Friday, March 17

A Whole Moon Pie to Myself

“Thank you, Mr. Foster!”

Ellis Earl Brown waved goodbye to his teacher, then trekked with his sister Carrie Ann along the dusty path toward home. Mr. Julius Foster always offered to drive his lime-green station wagon all the way to the end of the winding path to drop Ellis Earl and Carrie Ann off directly in front of their house. But regardless of how much eight-year-old Carrie Ann begged him to accept the ride, eleven-year-old Ellis Earl always adamantly refused, even when the sky threatened rain, as it did today. Ellis Earl was grateful that Mr. Foster was kind enough to include them in his carpool of nine students to whom he gave a ride to and from school each day, but Ellis Earl didn’t want the other students to see the place they called home.

Because it was Friday, Carrie Ann began skip-ping down the road singing a made-up song about how glad she was that she didn’t have to get up for school the next morning. But Ellis Earl dreaded the weekend. The weekend meant two whole days with no school and no grand selection of books  from Mr. Foster’s shelf, except the one book Ellis Earl was allowed to take home to read to his younger siblings and the one book he was allowed to take for himself.

Today he wasn’t at all happy with his selection. Ellis Earl preferred the books with lots of pictures. But his friend Philip loved the Hardy Boys mysteries, and this is what he had challenged Ellis Earl to take home for the weekend. Ellis Earl wasn’t interested in reading The Secret of the Old Mill. But not wanting to be called a chicken, he had accepted the challenge and brought the book home. For certain, he’d do his best to try to read it, as he longed to read chapter books like Philip. But deep down he knew that his mind would soon wander away from the words if there were no pictures to guide him along.

Besides the absence of Mr. Foster’s collection of books, there would also be the absence of food—sometimes not even a piece of bread—unless Ellis Earl’s family went to visit their grandparents on Sunday, which he dreaded.

This weekend, however, Ellis Earl was in luck. Mr. Foster had given him the leftovers from a surprise afternoon snack for his class. Ellis Earl wished the food could hold them over until Monday. But with eleven people in  their house, a half loaf of bread, a half-empty jar of peanut butter, two chocolate Moon Pies, and a package of Stage Planks wouldn’t last until even the next day. The minute Mr. Foster had given him the sack, Ellis Earl had begun figuring out how many sandwiches he could make with the bread and peanut butter. He shared those figures with Carrie Ann.

“We got ten slices of bread,” he said. “We can make five sandwiches and cut ’em in half, or we can each have one slice with peanut butter on top. That’s enough for all the children. We’ll divide up the Moon Pies, too. Mama can have the Stage Planks. It’ll be nice if she has something sweet for a change.”

Carrie Ann stopped skipping and turned to face Ellis Earl. She glared at him. “Mr. Foster said to make sho’ I got a Moon Pie,” she said. “That mean a whole Moon Pie. So I ain’t splittin’ it up with nobody.”

Ellis Earl waved her off. “Don’t be selfish. We can split these Moon Pies six ways. Everybody oughta get to taste something sweet.”

“I’m hungry enough to eat both of them Moon Pies and all that bread and peanut butter right now,” Carrie Ann said, licking her lips.

“Stop acting greedy. We can’t eat up everything by ourselves. It ain’t right.”

Having eaten only one meal that day himself, Ellis  Earl would have gladly eaten all the food right then and there had he been as oblivious to their family’s plight as his younger sister was. But he wasn’t as oblivious as Carrie Ann, so he would never think of devouring a whole sack of food and not sharing it with his siblings, especially ten-year-old Oscar, who had become too ill to attend school.

Ellis Earl knew that all the family who were home during the day had probably eaten little more than a couple of biscuits, at best. He was fortunate that Mr. Foster always brought lunch for his students. Mr. Foster’s food was delicious, so Ellis Earl didn’t mind one bit that he couldn’t bring his own lunch. Sometimes Mr. Foster even had fried chicken, or smothered pork chops. And as if by some trick of magic, he had enough for everyone, even the students who brought their own lunches at times.

“Why we gotta walk all the way home from the road?” Carrie Ann complained as she did nearly every day. She hugged her stack of textbooks to her chest with one hand and with the other tugged her coat  collar  tighter about her neck. “It’s cold out here. And my hand is freezing.”

Ellis Earl clucked his tongue at Carrie Ann. It was a pity how his little sister could so quickly switch from  skipping and singing to slouching and complaining. He peered through the still-bare branches of the trees and gazed at the sky. It was overcast and gray. “It’s about to be spring-time before long,” he said, even though he hardly believed that himself. Regretfully, he didn’t have a free hand with which to secure his coat collar tighter about his neck. Neither could he alternate which hand held his textbooks in order to warm the other in his coat pocket as Carrie Ann did. But cold hands were a small price to pay to avoid the humiliation he would feel if the other children in the carpool ever saw his house.

“When?” Carrie Ann asked.

“When what?”

“When is spring gon’ be here?”

Ellis Earl shrugged. “Couple of weeks, I think.”

“What day?”

“How should I know? Do I look like a calendar?”

“You always lookin’ at it, so I thought you had it re-memorized by now.”

“Well, I don’t have it memorized. I just know spring’s coming soon. But I don’t know the exact day.” Ellis Earl glanced back up at the sky, doubtful. Spring was nowhere in sight, despite what the calendar said. But oh, how he wished it were. March shouldn’t feel the same as December.

Another cold night in their house.

Another night that his brother Oscar would be coughing up a storm.

Ellis Earl hoped that Oscar would get better soon. He had missed two months of school, but Ellis Earl knew he could catch up if he was able to go back before the term was over. Oscar was a fast learner. But in the meantime, Oscar would have to settle for the bits of the outside world that Ellis Earl could bring, like books and food, when Mr. Foster sent it home with him.

Halfway to the house, Carrie Ann stopped and stamped her foot.

Ellis Earl groaned. “Now what’s the matter?”

“Please let me have something outta that sack ’foe we get to the house,” Carrie Ann begged.

“Nope. This food is for everybody.”

Carrie Ann dropped her books on the road, fell to her knees, and, with her hands clasped beneath her chin, begged. “Please! Just gimme my Moon Pie. I just wanna have a whole Moon Pie to myself for once. Just. This. One. Time. Please!”

Ellis Earl’s shoulders drooped. Carrie Ann was right.  When they were lucky enough to have a sweet treat, it was always “divided up” among the little children: him, Oscar, Carrie Ann, Beatrice, Deidra, and Vera. Regardless of how tiny the snack, whether it was a Moon Pie, a Honey Bun, or even a Poor Boy cake, it was divided up.

While Ellis Earl was deciding what to do, Carrie Ann got to her feet and reminded him again, “Mr. Foster said to make sho’ I got a Moon Pie. That mean a whole Moon  Pie. Not no split-up Moon Pie.”

“Mr. Foster said to make sure you got a Moon Pie, not sho’.”

“Well, if that ain’t the pot callin’ the kettle black,” said Carrie Ann. “Don’t try to tell me how to talk, Ellis Earl Brown. You ain’t always so proper yo’self.”

“Yourself,” said Ellis Earl, unfazed.

Carrie Ann stretched out her hand. “Just gimme my Moon Pie.”

With much exaggeration, Ellis Earl placed his books on the road, reached into the bag, and pulled out a Moon Pie. “Here,” he said, extending it toward Carrie Ann.

“Thank the good Lord!” cried Carrie Ann.

Before they reached the house, she had devoured the whole Moon Pie. With a satisfied grin, she  raced  toward the rickety steps of their home, dashed up, and darted across the porch to the front door.

Ellis Earl, however, hesitated at the edge of the yard. With his stomach rumbling, he peeked into the sack and considered eating that entire second Moon Pie.

But he thought of Oscar.

He thought of Beatrice.

He thought of Deidra.

He thought of Vera.

Split four ways, that Moon Pie would make a satisfying treat for them.

He himself could do without.

***

Excerpted from The Lucky Ones by Linda Williams Jackson. Copyright © 2022 by Linda Williams Jackson. Excerpted by permission of Candlewick Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

The Lucky Ones will be released on April 19th, 2022.

Up, Up, & Away: 17 New Reads for the Young and Young at Heart

This month’s staff picks for the young and young at heart will take you on a journey from a small town in Kentucky, to a fantastical town with an ogress and a dragon slayer, and even to the moon and back! Where else will these wonderful books take you? Read on to find out…

PICTURE BOOKSRecommended by Chelsea Knight Owl

By Christopher Denise

Owl has always wanted to be a knight. When he is assigned to the Knight Night Watch, he encounters more than the bargained for! This richly illustrated story reads like an instant classic with a perfect balance of whimsy and bravery.

Recommended by Madeline I Am Golden

By Eva Chen, Sophie Diao (Illustrator)

An encouraging read meant to help readers embrace their culture, living with one part steeped in Chinese heritage and the other in America (美国). You are beautiful. You are loved. You are Golden. Great for those who love Eyes that Kiss in the Corners.

Recommended by Aly Perfectly Pegasus

By Jessie Sima

Jessie Sima makes the most magical books. This one stars Nimbus, a lonely pegasus searching for a fallen star, who happens to make some familiar friends along the way.

Recommended by Madeline Star Fishing

By Sang-Keun Kim

When you can’t sleep and your mind is whirring with adventure and imagination, what do you do? You go star fishing! This gorgeously illustrated story leads you into the stars and gently back to sleep.

INDEPENDENT READERSRecommended by Ann Cress Watercress

By Gregory Maguire, David Litchfield (Illustrator)

A family of rabbits learn some tough lessons about life when the father doesn’t come home one night. They move into a tree full of other animals and put themselves back together. A beautiful, engaging book with gorgeous illustrations.

Recommended by Rae Ann Air: A Novel

By Monica Roe

Emmie is raising money for a new wheelchair she can use in the wheelchair motocross games. When her principal takes over, she and her friends set out to show her community what they can accomplish in this fun story about sports and friendship.

Recommended by Rae Ann The Ogress and the Orphans

By Kelly Barnhill

A delightful story about a town and its people and what happens when they all look out for each other. This fantastical tale stars the orphans, a kindly ogress, and a famous dragon slayer. It’s the new book by the author of The Girl Who Drank The Moon.

Recommended by Gavin, 5th grade The Dragonet Prophecy (Wings of Fire #1)

By Tui T. Sutherland

I have just finished book eleven, but if you’ve never heard of this series, you’ll start here. Wings of Fire is about a squad of dragonets who are destined for greatness; however, they don’t necessarily want their destiny as it places almost an entire continent of dragons in danger if things go awry.

YOUNG ADULTRecommended by RJ Lakelore

By Anna-Marie McLemore

In a deeply cathartic story, two neurodivergent, Mexican-American, non-binary teens discover a surreal world under their town’s lake. As they explore their connection to the lake, and to one another, they are forced to confront parts of themselves they’ve fought hard to keep hidden. A beautiful breakdown of the ways people think and feel, and a call to treat your own brain with the kindness it deserves.

Recommended by Chelsea A Thousand Steps Into Night

By Traci Chee

Life is quiet and dull for Miuko until she encounters a demon and everything changes. Miuko must go on a journey that will cause her to question everything she knows, including gender norms, society, and the very relationships she holds dear. Chee’s writing brings every character, major or minor, to life and transports readers to a fantastical land.

Recommended by Sarah We Were Kings

By Court Stevens

Frankie Quick is set to be executed for the 20-year-old murder of Cora King. When Nyla Wagner discovers she’s even closer to the case than she ever could have predicted, she sets out to uncover the truth of what really happened to Cora. The twists and turns in this mystery will have you on the edge of your seat! Fans of We Were Liars will love it.

Recommended by Jennifer Being Mary Bennet

By J. C. Peterson

Jane Austen’s Mary Bennet gets her time to shine in this modern YA rom-com. Local bookworm Marnie is content to blend into the background of her sisters. That is until a project involving the library and shelter dogs inspires her to be the protagonist of her own story.

Recommended by RJ Right Where I Left You

By Julian Winters

Right Where I Left You is a gloriously nerdy, brilliantly swoony queer romcom you don’t want to miss. Guaranteed to have you smiling by the end, this is a powerful story about family, friendship, and one last life-changing summer before college. Julian Winters is always a joy to read, and this book does not disappoint.

Recommended by Ashby Sense and Second-Degree Murder (Jane Austen Murder Mysteries #2)

By Tirzah Price

Jane Austen + mystery = a fun read! In the first book, Lizzie solves a murder while falling for Darcy. This is the second in the series. This time, the Dashwood sisters have to solve their father’s murder and avoid the estate being entailed away…

Sprout Book Club: April Selection I’d Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog

By Philip C. Stead

The April 2022 selection for the Sprout Book Club is I’d Like to Be the Window for a Wise Old Dog by Philip Stead. In this beautiful book, a wise old dog contemplates the world through a window from the comfort of home. As an independent bookstore with amazing shop dogs, this seemed like the perfect book to kick off our new picture book club.

Sprout Book Club is the book subscription box for picture book lovers. Every month members will receive a first edition picture book.  Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite picture book lover for 3, 6, or 12 months. 

Spark Book Club: April Selection A Duet For Home

By Karina Yan Glaser

The April 2022 Spark Book Club selection is A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser.

A Duet for Home is a story about home, music, and family. June arrives at Huey House, a family shelter in New York City, with her family and her viola. Tyrell has been at Huey House for three years. This is the story of their cautious friendship and a journey to take a stand at City Hall when the shelter is threatened. The author of The Vanderbeekers series brings readers a magnificent novel of homeless, healing, and found family.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“This is a hopeful and inspiring story about the lives of children who are rarely represented in middle-grade fiction. The young people engage in activism that is both thought-provoking and profound. A powerful, heartwarming, and thoughtful tale of kids cultivating chosen families during challenging circumstances.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Yan Glaser’s bighearted standalone moves quickly through its complex plot without forsaking strong characterizations of Huey House’s many staff and residents, concluding with a potent message about the power of direct action.” –Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers.  Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext: April Selection The Most Dazzling Girl In Berlin

By Kip Wilson

The April 2022 ParnassusNext selection is The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson.

On the eve of WWII, an orphan finds her way off the streets of Berlin with her voice as she becomes a singer in a cabaret, Café Lila. Soon the lives of her found family and LGBTQ community are at risk as turmoil is unleashed in their city. This is an amazing novel in verse by award-winning author Kip Wilson.

Early praise for the novel:

“Book clubs will find a lot to discuss in Hilde’s story, and educators won’t need to work hard to generate conversations about equality, authoritarianism, and the role of minorities in democracy. The free-form verse is inviting and masterfully captures the mood and times in sparse poetry, making this work equally appealing for pleasure reading.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Wilson crafts a beautiful coming-of-age story that captures the joy of young independence against a backdrop of fear and foreboding on the precipice of the Third Reich. The story, as well as the author’s note and extensive resource list, highlights the positive, liberated experience of queer people in Weimar-era Berlin before its abrupt and devastating end…An essential purchase for YA collections; recommend to fans of Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo.” –School Library Journal (starred review)

View our virtual event with Kip Wilson and Nita Tyndall on the Parnassus YouTube channel.

ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.