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So, I have curated a list of books that have inspired me to make noise and get myself heard. They will leave you sometimes with glee and sometimes with despair. But above everything, they will help you understand what you hope for and how to live inside that hope. Even Barbara Kingsolver said something along these lines. If you’re looking for encouraging narratives, I have got you covered! If you’re looking for more inspiring bookish listicles, please check out 16 Uplifting Books To Read In These Dark Times....

Rather, it’s a governing fabric to stop the climate crisis, create secure green jobs, and pass a new Bill of Rights that addresses human rights issues like medicare for all, a fair living wage, and housing. According to Sunrise Movement, a progressive youth activist moment advocating for The Green New Deal, “The Green New Deal is a 10-year plan to mobilize every aspect of American society to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2030, a guaranteed living-wage job for anyone who needs one, and a just transition for both workers and frontline communities....

You are cordially invited to the wedding of the decade, when Christian Grey will make Anastasia Steele his wife. But is he really husband material? His dad is unsure, his brother wants to organize one helluva bachelor party, and his fiancée won’t vow to obey… Their passion for each other burns hotter than ever, but Ana’s defiant spirit continues to stir Christian’s darkest fears and tests his need for control....

Hazel Hughes has the remarkable ability to heal the sick and injured, which draws the attention of her employer, Dr. Sam MacInnes. When a mysterious count reveals that Hazel was abducted at birth and her twin sister has fallen dangerously ill, Hazel must travel to Romania to find her. Worried for Hazel’s safety, Sam insists on traveling with her. Hazel and Sam rely on each other to untangle the web of secrets surrounding the count....

From the author of the beloved national bestseller Migrations, a pulse-pounding new novel set in the wild Scottish Highlands. “So damn good. A page-turner that makes you think and has a huge emotional impact.” -Jeff VanderMeer, New York Times bestselling author of Annihilation (via Twitter) Historically, this sort of book has been hard to find. There’s a pervasive myth that queer people only live in cities, and queer books often reflect this....

8 Reasons Book Lovers Need USPS Why should you care about the state of USPS? Well, if you’re a book lover in the United States, you likely rely on it in ways you aren’t aware of. The U.S. has the cheapest shipping costs in the world, and because of Media Mail rates, books are especially cheap to ship. Here are 8 reasons book lovers should be defending USPS: 1) Bookstores Depend on it Raven Book Store succinctly demonstrates how big a difference it would make to bookstores–especially during the pandemic—to have to switch to UPS or FedEx....

There’s no need for me to rehash the disaster that was JK Rowling’s recent attempt to describe the international wizarding world of Harry Potter. (NK Jemisin also has a great take on what’s so disappointing about it.) Even before “History of Magic In North America”, her assertion that there are only 11 wizarding schools in the entire world had a lot of fans side-eyeing. Luckily, before and after Pottermore’s weak worldbuilding, Harry Potter fans have been painting much more detailed and respectful portraits of a global wizarding community....

Stray by Stephanie Danler (May 19) This is…not a happy book. It was hard to get through, honestly. Danler, the author of the novel Sweetbitter, writes about her mother (an alcoholic) and her father (an addict) and the abandonment and neglect she experienced in such a way that the reader viscerally feels the discomfort and ambivalence. Told in fractured segments, we get a sense of how Danler has reconciled her past with the present, eventually becoming a mother herself....

More specifically, I define fandom as a participatory culture that creates transformative work based on the original material. I basically agree with Henry Jenkins’s definition of fandom as participatory culture and how it creates new media subjects. Contemporary fandoms are all over the place, from books to boybands to Minecraft YouTubers. The origins of bookish fandom provide a roadmap for how participatory culture shapes the fandom around the media. The main force of participatory culture is writing....

The link was to a webcomic that sounded irresistible, though: Are You My Mom? I’m a sucker for a webcomic, even when maybe I’m too old for them. And I was, for this one: I definitely needed Lorde’s explanation that such a compliment to someone older than oneself was a thing that existed, and that the “youthz” bestow on women they admire. Cute, right? I’m no longer one of the youthz but will angst about that elsewhere (probably not, probably here, later)....

His characters are as full of heart and courage as they are with snark. It’s a great combination that turns typical everyday characters into epic heroes. Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life This six-part graphic novel series is what O’Malley is best known for. Because, you know, it was a New York Times bestseller. Also there was a movie based on it. The story follows post-college “adult” Scott Pilgrim as he pursues a relationship with rollerblading delivery girl Ramona Flowers—but first he must take down each of Ramona’s seven evil exes in epic video-game-like battles....

Women’s heroes are everyone’s heroes! In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote, we read books that are by, for, and about powerful women of all ages. A pre-teen who helped discover the world’s first dinosaur bone, a young women in the early 20th century who braved the illness and death of the radium factories and fought a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights, or teens—one black, one white—who rely on each other to survive a night of violent race riots in their city—these are the stories of remarkable women of history and resourceful everyday girls....

Starting April 29th, AudioFile is launching its twelfth summer of SYNC, a free summer audiobook program for teens 13+. Each week, two thematically-paired audiobooks will be made available for teens. Last year, SYNC gave away 26 audiobooks over their 13-week program, totaling over 136,000 downloads. And those audiobooks are free to keep. Forever. “We’re excited about the continued interest in SYNC as we launch the 12th season,” says Robin Whitten, founder of AudioFile....

Jane Austen Played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw I would love to see a real biopic of Jane Austen that doesn’t romanticize her life or add in elements stolen from her novels (looking at you, Becoming Jane) and instead focuses on her creative genius. And how she wrote brilliant novels despite pretty constrained circumstances. I think Gugu Mbatha-Raw would be perfect. She starred in Belle, which was set right around Austen’s lifetime, so we know she can pull off period clothing....

I think it’s time to really stretch and take on some personalities from non-Western comics, don’t you? Good, glad you agree. Fellow Rioter Vernieda Vergara has been guiding me through the world of ’90s manga since I’ve come to it later in life, and wow is there a lot. I’d have no idea where in the back catalog to start if not for her patient and enthusiastic instruction. One of the books I’ve gotten completely lost in (as in “I live here now”) is CLAMP’s xxxHolic, a truly epic work that spans seven omnibus editions....

Twelve-year-old Jama likes elephants better than people and while her classmates gossip—especially about the new boy, Leku—she takes refuge at the watering hole outside her village. There she befriends a baby elephant she names Mbegu, Swahili for seed. When Mbegu’s mother, frightened by poachers, stampedes, Jama and Mbegu are blamed for two deaths—one elephant and one human. Now Leku, whose mysterious and imposing father is head ranger at the conservancy, may be their only lifeline....

Here are the 14 books Obama posted to his Instagram with the caption “I’ve read a couple of great books this year and wanted to share some of my favorites so far.”

What if you’re not headed back to the classroom this fall? Not to worry! Everyone could use a cute bag, new set of pencils, or perfect planner, whether you’re taking it to the office or using it at home. These bookish school supplies will help make anywhere you go feel like the perfect reading nook. Embrace that “back to school” state of mind, because lifelong learning is the bee’s knees....

Book Riot is teaming up with Early Bird Books to give away a 1-year subscription to Scribd! Bridgerton Stickers: While you’re waiting for season 2, cover everything you own with these Bridgerton-inspired stickers! Pulp Fiction T-Shirt: We’re fans of commercial lit, and we’re not ashamed. DNF Sticker: Consider this sticker your blanket permission to stop reading books you don’t like. Go forth, and be happy. Trope Pencils: What’s your favorite?...