Shop Dog Opie here. You may know me from my book recommendations on Musing, or maybe you’ve seen me in the shop. My portrait hangs alongside Sparky’s in the hallway. I think that sort of makes us the honorary managers of the young reader departments here at Parnassus.
I’ve joined the new work from home craze a bit this year. Since I have more time on my hands on the days I cut out my commute, I decided to pick up another task at the bookstore. I gave it a lot of thought. Should I make my own “New to You” videos? Help the book buyers order books for the store? Take over ordering office supplies (specifically dog treats)?
Then one day I’m sitting by Sarah, our Marketing Manager, when she’s on TikTok uploading a video of Ann, Sparky’s mom.
“Hold up,” I barked. “What’s that?”
That, my friends, was when Sarah introduced me to #BookTok. A new world opened up to me. I mean, book recommendations that come with actual tears over a book? I could use more crying in my life. It opens up the pores, you know, makes your fur look younger. So I started reading some #BookTok books. I’m now a huge fan of Young Adult novels.
That’s when I knew what my new role at the store would be! I would join the ParnassusNext selection team. Only one hurdle stood in my way. Rae Ann, the Director of Young Readers. But everybody knows Rae Ann is putty in my paw. One ask of anything, and she’s yes, Opie. Thank you, Opie. The question was only half out of my mouth before she said yes.
So now I add to my WFH schedule: reading upcoming YA novels and meeting with Rae Ann, Chelsea, and Aly on Wednesday afternoons to pick our favorite YA book of the month.
There’s one more thing I brought to the group. You may know that every month since it started, ParnassusNext members get a signed first edition YA novel selected by the team (that now includes me) and a beautiful keepsake card, designed by our amazing graphic designer. I came up with the idea to switch out the card for a cool sticker starting next month. Everybody likes stickers, right?
Let me tell you what we’ve selected for the rest of the year! You ready?
In September, we have Those Pink Mountain Nights by Jen Ferguson. It’s about a group of Indigenous teens who work in a pizza place. Pizza! They’re trying to find their missing friend and keep the pizza place from being sold. I love it.
In October, it’s All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters. It’s a gothic tale of murder and secrets set in a college in East Tennessee. Erica’s book will launch at Parnassus on October 18th. When she walks in, I’ll be wondering, did she make all this up? Or is some of it true? I’ll ask her. Gives me chills just thinking about it.
In November, we go to Egypt in Isabel Ibanez’s What The River Knows. Our main character is looking for treasure in a pharaoh’s tomb. I like to dig up buried treasure myself. I got some tips on assessing an excavation site before you start digging from this one. It’s a fun adventure.
In December, we’ll finish the year with Betting On You by Lynn Painter. It’s a rom-com about two teens who do NOT have a meet cute, but end up as co-workers later. LOL. I’m just chuckling thinking about the dialogue.
I do what I can to contribute to the ParnassusNext team on my WFH days. I hope you like the books we picked for the rest of the year. If you’re not a ParnassusNext subscriber now, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a new YA book each month.
Happy reading!
Shop Dog Opie, YA fan and ParnassusNext team member
ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.
Musing 