That said, it’s not all bad. There are a lot of things that inspire me about them. Their seemingly endless energy for social justice and righting the wrongs in the world. I know a lot of people sneer at the trend of a young adult being the ‘chosen one’ in all dystopian novels but let’s be honest; between them and me, they have the energy for it. Another thing is how accepting they are of their classmates and peers who are neurodiverse....
You absolutely refuse. You didn’t ask for this. No one prepared you to be “the one.” Prophecies aren’t even real, and there are a thousand other people more qualified for the peril and great adventure and brushes with death that no doubt await you. You’d much rather stay at home and live a quiet life, please and thank you. No, no, you will not be persuaded from your decision. Find another chosen one....
Who are the Jokers? Batman doesn’t understand how or why, but the fact is certain: the man he has spent a lifetime chasing isn’t one man at all. There are three Jokers. Now that he knows the unbelievable truth, Bruce needs real answers. Joined by Barbara Gordon and Jason Todd, two former victims of the Joker’s brutality, the Dark Knight is finally on a path to defeat the madman once and for all....
2021 was a brilliant year for queer comics and graphic novels, with so many amazing titles — Stone Fruit by Lee Lai, Red Rock Baby Candy by Shira Spector, The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel, and Shadow Life by Hiromi Goto and Ann Xu (to name a few). If this list is any indication, 2022 is going to be just as good. It’s definitely time to get your preorder on....
Packed with superheroes, supervillains, and epic showdowns between good and evil, The Unforgettable Logan Foster shows that sometimes being a hero is just about being yourself!Logan Foster is a neurodiverse kid who’s pretty much given up on the idea of ever being adopted. It could have something to do with his awkward manner, his photographic memory, or his affection for reciting curious facts. But everything changes when his new “PP’s” (prospective parents) are actually superheroes, and Logan gets caught in a battle against dastardly forces....
Four sisters search for true family in this story of resilience by a Newbery Honoree. When the McCready sisters’ parents are washed away in a tsunami, Great-Aunt Martha volunteers to have them live with her. But as they’re traveling to Martha’s farm in British Columbia, Martha dies unexpectedly, forcing Fiona, the eldest, to come up with a scheme to keep social services away—a scheme that will only work if no one knows they’re living on their own....
Instead, we’re going to talk about some of the amazing modern cosmic horror books that have been published in the last five years and were therefore definitely not written by Lovecraft. Like I said, Lovecraft looms large and it’s hard to escape him in the realm of cosmic horror, so some of these titles do engage directly with Lovecraft’s universe. Others, though, choose to abandon his opus entirely and strike out in new directions, exploring and interrogating the themes and concepts of the sub-genre....
Whether you prefer an in-depth account about the life of a prominent historical figure or an engrossing memoir that is just as compulsively readable as a novel, you’re sure to find something that suits your individual taste. From a compelling biography about a beloved, record-breaking athlete to a stunning compilation of essays written by some of today’s most promising writers to a handful of captivating memoirs that explore themes of identity, family, and love, there is a little something for everyone in this selection of nonfiction reads....
History turns to mystery in this other-worldly take on New York City. It’s 1898 and ghosts exist among humans. Some are friendly, some are oblivious, and some are much more sinister. When a mischievous ghost shows up with a hidden agenda, Cousins Eleanor and Alice Roosevelt (yes, THAT Eleanor Roosevelt) come together to protect their family home and uncover buried family secrets along the way. Can they reconcile past and present to save the day?...
Below I’ve shared some romantic quotes from modern novels and memoirs, with several Rioters chiming in. How about you—what are your favorite romantic passages in current lit? Have you read any for a wedding, engagement, or other amorous occasion? Share it with us and make our flinty hearts melt… Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed (recommended by Jenn Northington) “My mother’s last word to me clanks inside me like an iron bell that someone beats at dinnertime: love, love, love, love, love....
I have compiled eight exciting May science fiction and fantasy releases eager to land on our bookshelves this month. This was so much fun to research and I cannot wait to share these titles below with you, which include all sorts of varieties for all sorts of readers. From young adult to middle grade and adult, these are some titles I am eagerly anticipating this May. May Middle Grade Sci-Fi and Fantasy May Young Adult Sci-Fi and Fantasy May Adult Sci-Fi and Fantasy What other sci-fi and fantasy adventures are you looking forward to this month?...
TikTok challenges, sometimes also called tags, are prompts often based on a song or a series of questions saved as a sound. To make your own post based on that challenge, simply tap the picture at the bottom right of the screen, then, on the next screen, “use this sound.” It’ll start a new TikTok post for you with that sound. Many of these challenges involve text that appears and disappears as the TikToker in the video points at them....
Take, for example, Beauty and the Beast, originally written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740, then popularized by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont a decade later. Beaumont adapted Villeneuve’s version by shortening it and including more virtue signaling. Both pieces have predecessors, of course, in the myth of “Cupid and Psyche” as well as older fairytales featuring animal transformations and marriages. In Beauty and the Beast: Classic Tales About Animal Brides and Grooms from Around the World, Dr....
But every time I ask myself this question—every time I get sick to death of my own voice—I am reminded of how much people still do not know. The things they still assume. In an era of #MeToo, those who are loath to believe victims continue to ask the same old questions. “But why did they wait so long to come forward?” I hear again and again and again. There are so many answers to this question, it’s a miracle anyone is ever brave enough to open their mouth....
The Taliban have always been known for – among other violations of human rights – their oppression of women and girls. This oppression takes many forms, but they all come down to the same result: women are not considered full people with equal rights. Under Taliban rule, women aren’t allowed to go to school, to be in direct contact with any male not her blood relative, her husband, or her in-law (this includes doctors, with the corresponding medical implications), or to hold down jobs....
If the above is something you’re on the hunt for, iyashikei manga is exactly what you want. In Japanese, iyashikei roughly translates to “healing type,” and that pretty much sums it up. Falling under the slice-of-life category, these are manga that are often cozy and quiet, that give you a feeling of warmth and comfort, like curling up in a big blanket with a cup of tea and fuzzy socks....
The true story of Aimee Cabo, whose sexual abuse case against her stepfather, which the media named “The Case from Hell,” pitted she and her sister against her parents who denied all culpability. As she battled the court, poverty, abuse, and addiction, Aimee always turned to love and to God. This is the story of a woman who had all the odds against her and how she persevered to find true love and form a family that could withstand anything....
However, the problem with a genre being popular is that it gets oversaturated. A lot of self-help books are, unfortunately, rather unhelpful. While it’s understandable that books can’t be tailored to an individual in the way that therapy can, there are many self-help books that are overly generic. Some simply repackage the most obvious advice, which many people reading them would have already tried, while others offer shallow platitudes in lieu of anything pragmatic or life-changing....
As always, we’ll keep you along I-95 and all suggested detours will only take you one hour (one way) or less from the main route. This is not an exhaustive list; goodness knows there’s more literary goodness than you can shake a stick at along the eastern coast. Consider this list the highlights reel, and add bookish destinations to your itinerary as you please! This route begins in Maine and runs all the way down to the very tip of Florida....
As a fan of Leigh Bardugo’s fantasy novels since 2016, I admit that I started the Shadow and Bone Netflix series with high, specific expectations. Viewers who haven’t read the books might have been more immersed in the show than I was. Adaptations often need to condense characters or alter plot details. However, the first season eliminates some of my favorite aspects of the books. The pilot episode opens with significant changes: combining Shadow and Bone, Bardugo’s 2012 debut novel, with Six of Crows, published three years later....
