This really did feel like a futuristic “The Thin Man” in space, complete with the smoldering wife/husband chemistry, the swanky cocktails, the glamorous fashion, the charming dog, and the determined sleuths. I loved it! Bonus elements that added layers of satisfaction were a culture that normalizes pronouns at introduction (plus lots of nonbinary pronouns and …
Book lovers everywhere will adore this sweet picture book in the rhyming style of Goodnight Moon. We travel around a cozy bookstore saying goodnight to the bookstore cat, customers’ forgotten items, and other familiar bookshop sights. Eagle-eyed readers will enjoy scanning the shelves for clever covers based on real books. Charming illustrations and text would …
A “Gatsby Remix” for Young Adult readers. You might think you know this story already, but I can assure you that this retelling is an enticing, intersectional crown jewel that just might, for me, surpass the original. McLemore has long been a master of writing atmosphere and longing, and this quality really shines in Self-Made …
This is a gorgeous, rich, romantic Ethiopian retelling of Jane Eyre. Andromeda is hired as a debtera, licensed exorcists hired to cleanse households and individuals of the Evil Eye. Andromeda is the latest in a long line of debtera. The previous 10 fled, or disappeared trying. The Evil Eye has a particularly strong hold on …
[In] Lillie Lainoff’s One for All, the story of 16-year-old Tania de Batz … suffers from constant dizziness and a murdered father. One of these things has an evident solution, and young Tania whisks herself off to Paris where she discovers that the finishing school her father wished her to attend is actually a secret …
Dispatches from Anarres: Tales in Tribute to Ursula K. Le Guin is a marvelous collection of short fiction imbued with the fiery independence and far-reaching vision of Le Guin. It’s lovely to see such passion persisting in Pacific Northwest storytelling. –A Good Book, Sumner, WA Explore literary legacies with books from A Good Book and …
From OregonLive/ The Oregonian September 4, 2021: The start of the new school year makes it a fitting time to pick up Portlander Margot Wood’s debut young adult novel, Fresh, a queer retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma that spans its protagonist’s freshman year of college. Quick recap for those who haven’t encountered Emma in a while: …
Karen from Annie Bloom’s Books in Portland, OR recommends three recent YA titles on the theme of #MeToo (recommended for more mature readers). Red Hood by Alana K. Arnold is definitely about wolves and about frightened girls, but Bisou Martel isn’t willing to play the victim. The second person narration threw me in the first few …
Three books new on the table this month all have to do with history: history of the past, history now in the making, and history yet to come. The Cold War may not seem like ancient history (to some of us, at least), and as Lara Prescott’s compelling new novel shows, its echoes can still …
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on acid– I think that pretty well sums up this young adult novel. While this book is a debut for Ms. Albert, it is far from her first writing. Her occupation calls upon her to write extensively and she has written for magazines and more, including McSweeney’s. This book will be …
