May’s verse tends to be more musical than sensical, and includes some forced rhymes: “incomplex” to rhyme with “Sussex,” “aspire” used to mean “aspiration” for a slant rhyme with “bow tie.” (*At a few points, it’s difficult to understand the intended meaning: a swimming race is described with the sentence, “In three lanes, amphibs defile.”) But despite the occasional linguistic idiosyncrasy, the story is charming, and so is the amphibian society depicted: toads in tailcoats and frogs in ascots eating ice cream on park benches, being measured for bespoke ensembles, and skiing. The pen-and-ink illustrations are a highlight, as whimsical and elegant as the characters they portray. Frederic gazing at his reflection in a pond hearkens back to the myth of Narcissus, and the amphibians’ automobiles and swimming costumes evoke the early 20th century. A graceful frog waiter serving wine in arabesque position, Frederic dancing with a handsome toad, and tadpoles in earmuffs warming up after sledding are particular highlights.
The ending is more an implication than a fully realized denouement. Frederic ditches a ski outing and lies down in the snow to die. A pretty girl frog finds and revives him; he confesses misery, she counsels him that being beautiful isn’t enough to make one happy, and he realizes he needs to change his life. The reader doesn’t get to see how that happens, but the last image is of Frederic crossing a bridge with a little smile on his face, suggesting he’s headed for better things. This idiosyncratic will charm and intrigue readers.
Takeaway: This whimsical verse story for adults about a depressed amphibian playboy will charm and intrigue readers.
Great for fans of: Kenneth’s Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
Production grades
Cover: A+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A+
Editing: B--
Marketing copy: C
See captures the common struggles of single parenthood in pithy, poignant lines that convey how quickly the little mishaps of day-to-day living can spark a downward spiral of anger and guilt when mental illness is a factor. Benjamin is devoted to his daughter and single-mindedly committed to ensuring she grows up happy, healthy, and sane. Propelled by a determination to be different from his unstable mother or absentee father, Benjamin’s resolve to protect Sophia ultimately drives a painful wedge between them as she matures.
See captures Benjamin’s mental health struggles with unflinching clarity, detailing the creeping in of destructive thoughts and highlighting Benjamin’s use of music and compulsive routines to handle them. Benjamin’s enduring love for Anna and immovable belief that they’re meant to be together smacks of obsession; therapy sessions and advice from a colleague illuminate the underlying toxicity in the relationship when Anna and Keith rekindle their friendship with Benjamin. Readers who stick with Benjamin through these ups and downs will find their way to a satisfying ending. See’s tenderly frank portrayal of single parenthood within the miasma of anxiety and depression will have readers engrossed.
Takeaway: Single parents and anyone who’s had to cope with mental illness will find much they can relate to in See’s poignant and honest tale of parenthood on the rocks.
Great for fans of: Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive, Mira T. Lee’s Everything Here Is Beautiful, Adam Haslett’s Imagine Me Gone.
Production grades
Cover: C+
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: A
The Seagull: Translated and Adapted by Anton Korenev
The long months of shuttered playhouses that ensued could only satisfy a soul like The Seagull’s Treplev, the dutifully radical young writer who insists, in Korenev’s sensitive and musical new translation, that theater is but “a routine, a superstition” staged for crowds hungry for “some minuscule, easily digestible moral that could be useful in a conversation at home.” Korenev notes in a preface that the shutdown offered him the opportunity to dig deeply into the role of the character he’s slated to play in the revival: Trigorin, The Seagull’s other frustrated writer. Korenev took up this translation partially to understand the work that fills Trigorin up and utterly depletes him: writing.
The result is a nuanced, aching Seagull, attentive to the rhythms and melody of Chekhov’s own language, but unfussily direct in its English. “Life is rough!” declares Nina, the young actress, where earlier versions have opted for “It is a rough life” or “Life is crude.” Korenev’s version emphasizes its Russian-ness, right down to Chekhov’s insistence that this study of disappointment and suicide qualifies as comedy. Korenev’s sensitivities prove attuned to the desperate surges of feeling that grip Chekhov’s artists and lovers. In this rendering, the play’s monologues pulse with an aching vulnerability.
Takeaway: A new translation of Chekhov’s The Seagull pulses with an artist’s sensitivity.
Great for fans of: Sofia Khvoshchinskaya's City Folk and Country Folk, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky’s translation of Chekhov's Fifty-Two Stories.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The Rage Colony
The book strikes a perfect balance between science fiction and scientific realism. As a former pharmaceutical executive, the author’s knowledge of gene editing and the medical field comes in handy. Hunt has written a chilling dystopia, one where gene alteration is used not only to build a strong future, but to destroy those who are considered weak.
Although this is the second book in the series, it works well as a standalone novel. The plot never lags, moving quickly from one shocking discovery to the next, and the two storylines are equally engaging. There are also some bloodcurdling depictions of death and elements of horror throughout, and Hunt does not shy away from the brutality of medical testing. This is a realistic book of ethical quandaries; even the most villainous characters have a streak of morality in them. As with most great science fiction, the questions the novel poses—Should people who make mistakes be given the chance to clean them up? Is justice more important than progress?—will leave readers thinking for days.
Takeaway: This well-written medical mystery, combining the best elements of thriller and sci-fi, is perfect for fans of twist endings and moral quandaries.
Great for fans of: Blake Crouch’s Recursion, Danielle Singleton’s Do No Harm.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B-
Despite some less-polished writing and clunky language, the author has a knack for action-packed adventures that employ heroic achievers. In an inventive take on the cause of the Big Bang, “A Universe of Our Own” follows a pair of renegades in mecha suits escaping an oppressive society who steal an energy orb and throw it into a dimension breach. In the emotional “I.R.I.S.,” engineer David Friend must convince the artificial intelligence It Runs ItSelf (IRIS) to help Earth defeat an alien invasion.
Sympathetic characters in harrowing situations draw readers into game-changing decisions with the fate of Earth and humanity in the balance. In “Hansel,” after a young woman finds a human fossil on a terraformed planet far from Earth, she has visions of her ancestors letting their planet die due to carelessness about the climate. Readers will enjoy Keys’s range of stories. The steampunk thriller “The Fuse” sports cybernetic hearts and floating war platforms. In the story, the disgruntled daughter of a military commander challenges his desire to start a war with the subjugated outer colonies and refutes her arranged marriage to an abusive man. In the fantasy “This Is Not a Bedtime Story,” the king’s mage enchants a stuffed cloth bear to defeat Ommin, trapper of souls, and save the young prince. Readers will find themselves engrossed in this variety pack of sci-fi adventures.
Takeaway: Science fiction readers will be immersed in Keys’s space adventures filled with valiant characters on missions to save the Earth and all humanity.
Great for fans of: Rich Larson’s Tomorrow Factory, Samuel Best’s Another World.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: A
Beltran’s novel boasts strong pacing, with short chapters that often end on a cliffhanger or ominous note, enticing readers to keep turning the pages. Surprises and plot twists abound. But in this battle for Caleb’s soul, the otherworldly war between heaven and hell and the more grounded depiction of Caleb’s downfall do not fully mesh. The first half of the narrative reads like a horror story, focused more on Caleb’s moral descent; the fantastical elements aren’t really introduced until the epic concluding battles. For his part, Caleb doesn’t seem interested in determining his own place in the mystery that presents itself during the second half of his journey. He focuses entirely on regaining his family. Consequently, it can feel as though two separate stories are being told.
Far from keeping things prim and proper, Beltran’s book includes strip clubs, gang members, and murder, and his protagonist is apt to exclaim profanities, party, and take drugs. Another distinctive element is the use of Portuguese; many of the characters are from Portugal, and much of the religious terminology is in Portuguese (including “embaixador,” which means “ambassador”). Caleb’s narration is conversational, allowing readers to envision someone relatable sitting across from them, spinning this yarn. Readers of Christian fantasy who are looking for something action-packed and outside the box will find it here.
Takeaway: This unconventional work of Christian fantasy offers a distinctive twist on the genre.
Great for fans of: Frank E. Peretti’s This Present Darkness, William P. Young’s The Shack.
Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: C
The meticulous details carefully interwoven into this fascinating future allow for a fully immersive experience. The existence described is in many ways utopian: technological advancements allow people not to grow old, injury is extremely rare, and people communicate through thoughts and levitate objects with their fingertips. No detail is forgotten; it’s even mentioned that the clothing is engineered to repel dirt. Several beautiful images help build the setting and give readers crisp illustrations of the Dyson swarm concept.
While at times this book’s extensive definitions of technology can read more like a textbook, hyperlinks are provided to allow readers a quick definition of key words. The need to step out of the story to read these definitions will put off some readers, but the desire to continue following Fedrix on his adventures pulls attention back to the plot. Acosta has clearly done his research on space exploration and Dyson swarms, bringing a high level of expertise to a fascinating subject. His authority reigns on the pages and creates a believable futuristic reality. Readers looking for a dense, technology-driven sci-fi will enjoy immersing themselves in this future in which humanity sets its sights on inhabiting the universe.
Takeaway: Science fiction fans will enjoy this technology-rich space exploration book with a meticulously crafted setting.
Great for fans of: Dennis Taylor We Are Legion (We Are Bob), Stephen Baxter.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: A+
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A+
The reader only learns brief biographical details about each character, but gets to spend some time in all their heads (including those of the hunters), experiencing how they think, what about the environment or other people jumps out at them, and how they respond to challenges. Readers won’t get deeply attached to them, but that’s not the point; the point is the puzzle Michael has masterfully crafted. In this deadly game of strategy and luck, which accidental discovery, unexpected misfortune, or moment of canny thinking will make the difference between life and death?
Michael’s narrative is intensely suspenseful from the very first page, with surprises, challenges, and suspicions popping up at a clip. True to his intention to bring the pace and excitement of video games to the page, this book moves fast and breaks things. This gripping novel will keep adventure fans on the edge of their seats.
Takeaway: This survival adventure will keep readers on the edge of their seats with their mental wheels turning.
Great for fans of: Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, Pamela Fagan Hutchins’s Switchback.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Alexander skillfully interlaces gentle warnings on the dangers of assimilation with stark examples of how today’s kids are bombarded with constant pressure surrounding their outward appearances. Sydney’s mom asks valuable questions (“Am I a better person because of this change?” is one of them), and Mehrdad’s detailed, energetic illustrations—in which elements cut from photographs (billboards, magazine ads, shiny straight hair), representing these pressures, are collaged onto line drawings depicting normal life—have a flair that will appeal to tweens.
But the book is useful for guardians and other adults, too. Guided workbook topics integrated at the end will help parents and teachers promote healthy body image, spark awareness of these dynamics, and shut down susceptibility to unhealthy messages. Adults wondering how to support the girls in their lives through the gauntlet of adolescent appearance pressure will find this a helpful place to start together.
Takeaway: This book models resistance to and sparks dialogue about appearance-related pressures for young girls and the adults in their lives.
Great for fans of: Hena Khan’s Amina’s Voice, Svetlana Chmakova’s Brave, R. J. Palacio’s We’re All Wonders.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The authors take into consideration how issues should be discussed for varying ages and include discussion points to use with younger children, in addition to separate conversation notes for older kids and teens. With sound and easy-to-follow advice, along with well-written activities that are not too challenging for kids and adults to do together, families can individualize concepts according to need. Innovative activities—for example, creating “a petition on Change.org to create a crosswalk for a busy street, add a playground to a park... or any other project you feel will create positive change in your local community”—stimulate learners of all ages to put the handbook’s ideas into practice. The authors incorporate citations and additional resources at the end of each section and a detailed glossary to answer any questions that arise after reading the material.
Jera Mehrdad’s illustrations are colorful and well-laid-out, breaking up text effectively for easy reading and holding both kids’ and adults’ attention. Creative elements highlight the topics at hand, such as the crowns used as bullet points and decorated, framed quotes that appear in relevant sections. The solid base of educational recommendations, combined with thought-provoking concepts and artistic design features, will keep readers engaged with this enjoyable and informative handbook.
Takeaway: Parents looking for advice on how to discuss tough topics with children and teens will appreciate this engaging, educational guide.
Great for fans of: Elizabeth A. Sautter’s Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick!, Richard Heyman’s We Need to Talk.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
In the preface, Be explains, “For eons, women have had to translate meanings and truths found in books written by men in order to see how they apply to women. Women relate better to life and the personalities involved when those relationships are presented from a woman’s point of view.” Be replaces masculine pronouns with feminine pronouns and substitutes inclusive terms like “humans” for gendered terms like “man” (for humankind). Other than these changes, helpfully italicized, the work is faithful to the original text.
Be Be’s 12 illustrations are the highlight of the book. The black-and-white portrait drawings, reminiscent of the portrait on the cover of the first edition of Gibran’s original, lovingly depict individual women and girls, each wearing a headscarf and looking at the viewer with various expressions. Readers who don’t share Be’s view of relatability and gender may find this version difficult to distinguish from the original, aside from the drawings. But woman readers who agree with Be will find this project does exactly as it promises.
Takeaway: Be’s project gender-swaps the references in Kahlil Gibran’s original and includes new illustrations.
Great for fans of: Paulo Coelho, Marianne Williamson.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
In unembellished prose, Koltuska-Haskin shines a light on the common hurdles accompanying a neuropsychology diagnosis. She avoids recondite jargon and patiently breaks down terms and procedures for the uninitiated. Readers will appreciate the enlightening case studies from Koltuska-Haskin’s experience as a neuropsychologist and the emphasis on how patients, their caregivers, and their medical teams can benefit from an all-encompassing neurological investigation. In the second half, her take on nutrition is ably bolstered by easy-to-prepare recipes, and she offers tips on gardening, mindfulness, and other ways to maintain a sound supply of "emotional vitamins." For readers who have trouble meditating, she suggests a helpful roadmap to achieving a calmer state of mind and alleviating emotional and physical pains.
While the prose can become repetitive at times, it only drives the points across more clearly, and Koltuska-Haskin sustains a confident and calm voice throughout while enthusiastically guiding her audience toward realizing their cerebral potential. Offering a readable interpretation of a complicated topic, this informative guide gives an engaging, digestible account of the human brain’s workings and ways to improve mental and physical health.
Takeaway: This easy-to-follow, informative guide will help readers understand the discipline of neuropsychology and how to improve brain functioning.
Great for fans of: Catherine M. Pittman and Elizabeth M. Karle’s Rewire Your Anxious Brain, V.S. Ramachandran and Sandra Blakeslee’s Phantoms in the Brain, Thomas Armstrong’s The Power of Neurodiversity.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B-
Zoutewelle-Morris devoted much of her life working as an art health practitioner. A Generous Spirit finds her exploring how, over the course of their lives, artists often move away from the work that they love only to return to it later with a different focus— emerging “into a new landscape with a broader, more service-oriented purpose.” She addresses society’s focus on “industrial production and consumption” and also her own desire to find more social context for her creations, which is showcased throughout the collection. Zoutewelle-Morris’s radiant paintings and her watercolor calligraphy illustrate the essays, with many of these vivid pieces featuring botanical, animal, and architectural elements. They stir a vibrant sense of motion and energy.
A Generous Spirit celebrates growth as a person and artist while taking an honest look at the journey of a woman who always believed that art serves a transformative function in society but that achieving that takes a lot of effort. Zoutewelle-Morris thrived at the place where artistic creation and healing come together, a place where making someone smile stands as the most rewarding of goals. A treat for artists and art lovers, this remarkable book will appeal to readers who cherish the importance of making a difference and taking care of others.
Takeaway: This notable mixture of essays and paintings offers a heartfelt glimpse into an artist’s belief in art’s healing power
Great for fans of: Bernie S. Siegel’s The Art of Healing, Anne Truitt’s Daybook: The Journal of an Artist
Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B
Boyle’s characterization of Sofia as a talented, caring young woman magnifies the tragedy of her death. The use of flashbacks within the novel, beginning with Ellie’s presence in 2014 San Francisco and traveling back to the circumstances surrounding the catalyzing event in 1999, expertly captures the devastating impact on Sofia’s family and those who loved her. The author capably moves between the two time periods, which are clearly delineated in the narrative.
Despite occasionally awkward prose (“He’s worse than criminal, for he only masqueraded as law enforcement, Nicole cogitated” about a shady cop), the portrayal of emotional turmoil experienced by a mother facing her daughter's untimely death is spot-on, highlighting Ellie’s quest to find justice for her daughter while noting the impact it has on her own physical and mental health. The suspense surrounding Ellie’s plans to shoot Sofia’s killers if justice is not forthcoming via legal means propels the novel swiftly forward toward the climactic conclusion. This tragic book brings to painful life the ripple effects of a death.
Takeaway: In this tragic novel, a mother pursues justice for her daughter, killed by GHB poisoning.
Great for fans of: R. Read She Too, Lois Duncan’s Who Killed My Daughter?.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The Bootlegger's Mistress
Little’s painstaking research on the decades covered in this story, from the 1940s to the present, is evident, and the narrative is clear-eyed about the scourge of racism. After Carrie’s father has a confrontation with a group of threatening white men, her mother and siblings depart for safety in another state; “the plan was that Daddy and I were going to meet them…. That never happened.” Carrie is clear-eyed about power relations, too: “Though Daddy knew I was a learned young lady who commanded respect, he still believed that a male human was predisposed to do life’s heavy lifting.” The author pulls no punches in dealing with intense topics, from to Carrie’s rape by Butler to the casual cruelty of Southern whites during this period. It will be hard for readers to remain dry-eyed as they experience the injustice leveled at the book’s Black characters.
Little also has a deft hand with plotting (particularly when Tommy Joe’s actual murderer is unveiled) and a talent for creating memorable characters, especially Dicie’s adopted grandson Baby Boy and her colorful lawyer, Louis Bilal, who scorns Dicie’s anonymous accusers by quipping, “I hope the rattling of their cheap dentures won’t be a distraction in the courtroom.” This outstanding novel will have readers ensnared from the first page to the last.
Takeaway: This outstanding novel, examining American racism through the experiences of an exceptional woman, will ensnare readers.
Great for fans of: Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns, Alex Haley’s Roots.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Darkness Drops Again
Manning’s gripping read is a refreshing spin on the courtroom drama, with a fast-paced plot told from Maeve’s point of view. Flashbacks to Maeve’s dark childhood, with a mother incapacitated by alcoholism and a father raging about it, add depth and motivation to her character. Manning’s legal background lends authenticity to the story as readers are thrust into Maeve’s world of billable hours, heavy caseloads, and the challenge of finding a work-life balance. Pop culture references and witty dialogue show the lighter side of Maeve’s personality—“I sing the line [from Drake’s song “God’s Plan”] about only loving my bed and my mamma to Seamus in the bath to make him laugh. I’m hard like that.”—and soften the story’s more intense subjects, such as opioid addition, alcoholism, self-harm, and suicide.
This suspenseful thriller is part courtroom drama and part cozy mystery, with a dash of women’s fiction and above-average prose. Manning carefully constructs a flawed, yet acutely relatable protagonist in Maeve, and as the drama unfolds in the courtroom, so does her character. Revelations about the murder trial and Shaw’s personal life are expertly written into chapters that end on cliffhangers, coaxing readers to keep turning the pages. This story, with its twisty plot and drama both in and out of the courtroom, will resonate with mystery fans.
Takeaway: This fast-paced legal thriller is perfect for cozy mystery lovers who adore flawed protagonists.
Great for fans of: Marian Keyes’s The Mystery of Mercy Close, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
