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The best YA book deals of the day, sponsored by Let’s Play volume 2, published by Rocketship Entertainment. 

The best YA ebook deals, sponsored by The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He. 

During the Black Friday of 2011, there was violence in stores in at least seven states (including an incident where a woman in Wal-Mart sprayed more than ten people with pepper spray in the mad dash for X-box consoles). For those of us who would rather stay home than be trampled for an inexpensive toaster, here are a few literary antidotes/alternatives to Black Friday: Find Your Siddhartha. Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha, a book about a young man’s journey from ascetism to material indulgence to enlightenment, is the book I think of whenever I start to feel my first-world possession-accumulation giving me a twitch....

Last month, when I wrote about published miniature books, books about three inches tall or less, I became fascinated by the exact opposite — the largest books printed. By which I mean, largest book by surface area of the pages, not longest book written or book with the biggest print run. (There’s totally Guinness records for those as well). So here’s an exploration of gigantic books. How Big is Big?...

— Marisa: Right off the bat, I think we can agree that you are not exactly the target readership for The Smart One, and probably would not have chosen to read it on your own. Casey: Yeah, this isn’t a book I would have picked up if you had not selected it for April. It’s curious for you to say I’m not the target readership. Not that I disagree, but I’d sort of like to hear why you think that....

Bridgerton tells the story of a wealthy, aristocratic family with eight children in the Regency period in London. And this trailer does not disappoint in terms of showing us large scale costume drama details and hinting at large scale romantic drama plot points. Here are a few questions I have after watching the trailer. 1. Will the story revolve solely around Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset? The first book in the Bridgerton series, The Duke and I is Daphne Bridgerton’s story of making a fake courting deal with the Duke Simon Basset for both of their benefit....

I am not Mexican, so while I knew about the holiday, I’d never read any books about it. And then my daughter decided to become obsessed with skeletons. Nothing gives her as much joy as seeing a nice white skeleton. She’ll even settle for a skull. I should add that she’s not yet two. So for October, I picked up lots and lots of children’s books about El Día de los Muertos from the library and the used bookstore I work at, and I’m so glad I did....

“From the people who brought you the Victorian Illustrated Shakespeare Archive comes an Illustrated Shakespeare Coloring Book–a coloring book featuring illustrations of 35 different Shakespeare plays. (All illustrations come from a nineteenth edition of The Plays of William Shakespeare.) The coloring book’s creator, Michael Goodman, tell us: ‘It’s obviously free to use and I hope in these days of home schooling parents might find it a simple way to engage their kids with Shakespeare....

New York Times bestselling authors Barry Lyga and Morgan Baden have teamed up for the first time to create a novel that’s gripping, terrifying and more relevant every day. The Hive follows seventeen-year-old Cassie, who, after being “condemned” on social media, is on the run from a deadly state-sanctioned mob seeking to exact IRL punishment. Aided by a shadowy underground network, Cassie becomes an unlikely heroine, as her search for the truth makes her a threat to the entire unjust system....

In June of this year, the Craighead County Library put together three LGBTQ displays to commemorate Pride month: one for adults, one for teenagers, and one for children. This ensures that information is available for all, and presented in an age-appropriate manner. Not everyone agreed though: the mere existence of this display drew the ire of a local Tea Party group, causing several group members to attend the next library board meeting in protest....

Gabaldon has done a very diligent job of keeping fans up to date with her writing process on her website. She has released bits and pieces via both her blog and on Facebook, as well as making sure that fans are kept up to date about who would release the information (her), and when (“the moment I have it”). And on November 23, our seven-year wait will be over, just in time for American fans to completely ignore their families for the Thanksgiving holiday....

If you’re lucky enough to have an under-the-stairs-style closet like the Dursleys, instead of blocking it off and shoving your magical nephew in it, break down those walls and create this amazing closet library and reading space. The Pin If you’re working with a more typical closet in a hallway or bedroom, don’t let that stop you from tearing doors off! Utilize that space for both shelves AND reading space....

The exterior of the library looks like an open book resting on a holder. Each of the floors of the library features different genres, inviting visitors to spend time exploring and discovering. An entire floor of the library is dedicated to rare and antique items, including items dating as far back as the 13th century. “The library of Mohammed bin Rashid is the newest library in the Arab world. We made sure from the start that it is a modern library and a source for knowledge,” said Mohammed al-Murr, chairman of the library....

But of course, James hasn’t strayed far from the style of contemporary romance she’s known for. Here’s the current blurb: London, 2019. Life has been easy for Maxim Trevelyan. With his good looks, aristocratic connections, and money, he’s never had to work and he’s rarely slept alone. But all that changes when tragedy strikes and Maxim inherits his family’s noble title, wealth, and estates, and all the responsibility that entails....

The Bathroom Reader was indeed founded by a man named John Javna, who in 1987 found himself sitting on the toilet with nothing to read. Thus, he dreamed up a series of books dedicated specifically to reading in the bathroom, composed of short but interesting anecdotes that helped pass the time. To actually write the books, he hired his brother Gordon. The first edition of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader arrived in 1988, published by the Bathroom Readers Institute, and included brief histories of various subjects and random bits of unusual trivia....

But I digress. Though they are hard to find, there are superhero and superhero-like comics that aren’t part of DC or Marvel, and they deserve the same movie adaptation that the Big 2 titles have been getting. Except, you know, with less green screen and less overuse of CGI. Just use unionized labor, like practical effects guys. Your movie will look better in the long run. It’s like Henson’s Law: CGI will look bad in 10 years, but awesome puppets will always look like awesome puppets....

We’re giving away one $50 gift card to one lucky Riot reader! This sweepstakes is open to residents of the United States (excluding Puerto Rico and all other U.S. territories). Entries will be accepted until 11:45pm, November 30, 2019. Selected bookstore must sell electronic gift cards. Winner will be randomly selected. Complete rules and eligibility requirements available here. Oops! We could not locate your form.

via GIPHY You Know It When You See It A folk tale, a fairytale, a fable. These seem interchangeable, and in reality largely are. “But fables are supposed to have a moral to the story!” You say. Yes, but it also became in vogue to tack on miscellaneous morals at the end of fairytales around the 17th century, therefore making that standard largely moot. Anyway, the “genre” of fairytale or folk tale is a very varied genre....

Think about it: the best audiobook narrators bring the classics’ nuance and humor right back to the forefront. Their tonal shifts and shows of emotion can make an older story more accessible, and even relatable, to readers today. If you have trouble getting into the classics, or if you’d like to experience your favorites in a new way, audiobooks are a fantastic choice. Speaking of fantastic choices? The eight audiobooks below knock it out of the park, both in terms of content and performance....

Seventh-grader Jordan Banks loves drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him into a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan just happens to be one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan is torn between two worlds–and not fitting into either one....