Everybody in the Red Brick Building

An apartment building comes to life at night when a baby cries. After a round of adventure, everyone returns to bed in this beautifully illustrated picture book.

Wild Peace

A girl finds peace in the forest when her home is too noisy. This picture book has rhythmic, soothing text and beautiful illustrations that combine to make the perfect read-aloud.

Sweater Weather

Minimal words let the illustrations take center stage in this picture book that is perfect for autumn. Be sure to look at all pictures twice so you don’t miss anything!

Awake

What do you do when you find a spider in your room right before you close your eyes? Read this book and you will learn to be brave enough to remove it or wise enough to make it your friend.

The Last Cuentista

Set after all but a small sliver of humanity is lost to a meteor strike, The Last Cuentista is the bittersweet story of Petra, a girl woken from cryogenic sleep to find she’s the only human left who remembers Earth as it was. A beautifully crafted meditation on the power of stories, history and heritage, this tense, dark sci-fi tale will stick with readers long after it ends.

Little Thieves

Little Thieves is easily one of my top three books of the year. Full to bursting with lovably chaotic characters, top-notch banter, strange gods and thrilling heists, this standalone fantasy is in a class of its own. Infamous thief Vanya has only a few short weeks to return what she’s stolen, or a curse will turn her body to precious stone. Hijinks, murder plots and emotional revelations ensue.

Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

I enjoy all of Brandy Colbert’s books, and this title proves she can write nonfiction, too. She does a fantastic job of providing context for an event that was definitely absent from my history classes. This is historical nonficton at its best, and it should be required reading for all ages.

Terciel & Elinor (Old Kingdom)

This prequel to Sabriel stands alone as another fast-paced, spooky chapter into the Old Kingdom. This time around, our legendary main characters Tericiel and Elinor battle to keep the Dead at bay while also finding love along the way. A carefully crafted story, this book is for those who enjoy the darker side of fantasy.

You’ve Reached Sam: A Novel

What a beautiful, poignant, and heartbreaking debut novel! After the sudden passing of her boyfriend, Julie finds herself grieving and wants to leave a final voicemail to say her goodbyes … only to have him answer the phone. With a dazzling narrative, a unique and heartbreaking concept, and a message of finding peace at its core,You’ve Reached Sam is sure to leave its mark long after turning the final page.

Gilded

In this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, Meyer manages to spin a fairytale, a ghost story and a romance seamlessly together. Your bookshelf needs this glittering adventure.

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World

The first part of Aristotle and Dante’s story changed the lives of an entire generation, and this long-awaited sequel is sure to reach even more readers and reclaim the hearts of those from the beginning. Sáenz has managed to deliver a story that is even more beautiful and heartbreaking, and this is exactly the book I needed at this stage in my life. The wait has been worth it — this is a true shining star.

Spark Book Club: November Selection

Tangled Up in Luck (The Tangled Mysteries #1)

The November 2021 Spark Book Club selection is Tangled Up In Luck by Merrill Wyatt. Mystery fans this one is for you! Amelia and Sloane are middle grade enemies. They are paired up for a school project to research the town’s long-missing treasure. Their project turns them into friends and sends them on a hunt for the real treasure.

Early Sparks for the novel:

“Funny, cheering, and narratively fulfilling.” —Kirkus (starred)

“A sweet, heart-squeezing story with beautifully relatable characters and plenty of action and mystery. Sloane and Amelia are a delight!” —New York Times bestselling author of The Mark of the Dragonfly, Jaleigh Johnson

Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers. Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.

ParnassusNext November Selection

Within These Wicked Walls: A Novel (Hardcover)

The November 2021 ParnassusNext selection is Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood. In this Jane Eyre retelling, Andromeda is an unlicensed exorcist called to a castle in the desert to rid it of the Evil Eye. But the curse in the castle runs deep, and every room holds new secrets and terrors for Andromeda to face. Eerie and romantic in turn, this fantasy debut set in an alternate magical Ethiopia is hard to put down.

Early praise for the novel:

“Within These Wicked Walls is an indulgently Gothic fairy tale, comparable in mastery with Mexican Gothic and Jane Eyre. An intricate magic system, a grimly humorous Black heroin, AND, a heart-thumping romance? This book leaves nothing wanting.” – Jordan Ifueko, New York Times bestselling author of Raybearer

“A promising debut” – Kirkus review