Because of Independence Day, we are skipping tomorrow's and Friday's issues and will see you again on Monday, July 8. Enjoy the holiday!

In a customer "update on Tattered Cover's sale process," the Denver, Colo., bookstore wrote, "All of us here at Tattered Cover are excited about this next chapter and the significant resources that our new owners will provide toward continuing our mission as Colorado's beloved iconic bookstore. We will continue to operate as Tattered Cover with the same staff in the same store locations."

Barnes & Noble has offered $1.83 million to buy the store, including $50,000 in back rent and $1.6 million in secured debt. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Denver must approve the deal, and closing should take place by the end of the month.

The store noted that Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt, "who himself still owns and operates several bookstores in the United Kingdom," visited the store last week and was interviewed by the Denver Post. Tattered Cover urged customers to read the interview, in which Daunt emphasized that B&N's plan is to support the store staff. "Barnes & Noble isn't coming in, as such," he said. "It's providing all of the structure. We're there to provide all that is necessary for the teams to run a good bookstore. Tattered Cover is going to figure out how it becomes Tattered Cover again."

Daunt also pointed to his statements when taking over as managing director and CEO of Waterstones and B&N, respectively, that he wanted staff to run the stores as independent booksellers would. "It's the store team that runs a good bookstore, whether it's the Barnes & Noble in Fort Collins or Tattered Cover here," he said. "Some of it will do it brilliantly, some of them will do it shockingly awfully and some of them in between."

Daunt also expressed a particular admiration for Tattered Cover, saying, "I'm a student of other bookstores. I visited Tattered Cover in the past. It's obviously one of the great names in bookselling."

Booktopia, Australia's struggling online bookseller, has filed for "voluntary reorganisation," under which three administrators will conduct an "urgent assessment of Booktopia's business while options for its sale and/or recapitalisation are explored," according to a statement.

In May, the company lowered its sales forecasts, its CEO resigned, 50 staff members were let go, and it took on a revolving debt facility at an 18% interest rate. Since then, Booktopia's nearly worthless shares have been suspended from trading on the Australian Securities Exchange.

The company's sales grew dramatically during the pandemic, and it invested in an A$12 million (US$8 million) robotic warehouse that opened last year and has had operating problems. Booktopia cited "economic headwinds and the continued soft performance of the Australian book market" for diminished sales.

Robbie Egan, CEO of Bookpeople, the Australian booksellers association, told ABC that Booktopia's problems are "not an industry problem," but particular to Booktopia whose structure and scale he described as a "value-destruction exercise." Still, "this is a hole that needs to be filled and I feel for the writers, publishers, etc., that will feel this," adding that "some of the bleed from online will go to Amazon."

In an interview with 9News, Egan noted that in his six years as CEO, bookstore membership has risen and during the current difficult economic climate for consumers, industry sales are down only 2%, "a really good performance." He also spoke about bookselling trends and the importance of bookstores.

At ALA's Annual Conference in San Diego, Calif., earlier this week, hundreds of librarians, authors, illustrators, and publishing professionals gathered at a banquet to celebrate the winners of the Association for Library Service to Children's three longest-running awards: the Randolph Caldecott Medal, the John Newbery Medal, and the Children's Literature Legacy Award.

Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison became the first Black woman to receive the Caldecott Medal, for her picture book Big (Little). This is how Harrison started her speech: "Did you know you're the first Black woman to win the Caldecott Medal? My agent called to ask me this. She was telling me that my life was about to change, so get ready. I was not ready." Harrison asked the crowd how she could possibly carry this title, possibly represent the Platonic ideal of "Black Woman Illustrator" when "there are so many visionaries who came before me?" So Harrison returned to her roots as an author and illustrator and used her time to highlight the seven Black Caldecott Honor-winning women who came before her: Faith Ringgold, Carole Byard, Ekua Holmes, Oge Mora, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Noa Denmon, and Janelle Washington. "I want to thank all of these women for their determination and creativity that paved a way for me."

Harrison spoke of beginning her career by drawing bodies that looked nothing like her--"long lean slender bodies." In time, she became conscious of her tendency to draw white or light-skinned women. As she was becoming aware of her implicit bias, "the world was changing. Eric Garner pleaded 'I can't breathe' while he was choked to death." Harrison watched Black women start the Black Lives Matter movement and she thought, "Black lives do matter. Black joy matters. Black stories matter. And Black art matters." And so she began to draw "beautiful Black women." But these beautiful Black women were "impossibly thin." Drawing became impossible for Harrison, who began to agonize over every sketch: "Every choice is political. Hair is political. Skin choice is political. Bodies are political." So Harrison resolved to draw only children: "Children who are allowed to be chunky. Children for whom big is good." But, she wondered, at what age does big start being bad?

Harrison admitted she was ashamed to tell the next part of her story: "I was visiting a school for a book event." She saw a Black girl, happy, laughing, and wearing a pink and purple tutu that rode up over her round belly. The artist thought, "she should know better than to wear a skirt like that." Harrison had fallen into the adultification bias, a form of prejudice in which adults view children as being "more adult, more mature, and more responsible than their age would suggest." "How dare I?" Harrison admonished herself. "That girl in her tutu could have been me. I saw in her my hair, my skin, my round belly, my joy, my silliness, and I saw how this bias left a scar in my body. I thought maybe I could create a world where girls never had to hurt like this." Big is the product of that desire. Harrison created the book in solitude during the pandemic: "I struggled with isolation, loneliness, and depression long before the lockdown, and fell even deeper during it." But with the help and insight of other authors and illustrators, she created a book designed "to bring readers inside the girl's perspective." Harrison implored the crowd to do the work to address and dismantle their implicit bias. "While this award feels overwhelming and a little terrifying," she finished, "I cherish it with all my heart."

Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers spoke after Harrison, placing his Newbery Medal for The Eyes and the Impossible (Knopf) on the podium next to an old, handmade book. Eggers told the audience that his career had begun with writing and illustrating books in elementary school. While his first book had featured various monsters using his head as a ball for different sports, his second book was "about a boy who was terrified of the dark and what might be lurking in the closet. The boy opened the closet one day and found a furry, horned creature who was a monster--yes, but a nice monster." The teacher entered his book into an Illinois statewide competition, which allowed young Eggers to attend a celebration for those who had received honors in the contest. When he and his mother arrived at the ceremony, Gwendolyn Brooks was officiating. "Does that make any sense at all?" Eggers asked. "How was she there? Like every child in school, I assumed every author we read was dead." Eggers remembers "nothing about her speech" but the words "welcome" and "fellow authors." Eggers held up the handmade book that had brought him face to face with Gwendolyn Brooks: "I was never the same."

Eggers recalled that his mother had loved the library; she would guide him toward Newbery winners, and he would inevitably choose books about monsters. "My mother passed away at age 51 and my dad at age 54," Eggers said, beginning to choke up. "I've never told anyone this, but I vowed if I made it past 50, I would write whatever the hell I wanted to write from then on. So, when I hit 50, I decided I wanted to do something not so logical for a person of five decades, and that was write a story about a dog who ate garbage." The Eyes and the Impossible, Eggers said, "was my love letter to being alive past 50. This is the most personal book I have written and also the weirdest." Johannes, the dog protagonist of the book, "gave me a way to write the way I've always wanted to write, sing the way I've always wanted to sing." This book also gave Eggers "maybe the most respect my writing has ever gotten from my kid": when he told his son he had won the Newbery Medal, his son responded, "Whoa, like New Kid?"

Pam Muñoz Ryan (r.) with Caroline Ward, chair of the Children's Literature Legacy Award committee.

The final speaker was Pam Muñoz Ryan, winner of the Children's Literature Legacy Award. Esperanza Rising (Scholastic), Ryan's 2000 novel that won her the Pura Belpré Medal, paralleled her grandmother's emigration. "My mother was born in the camp depicted in the book," Ryan said. Next year, Esperanza Rising will celebrate 25 years in print. "When I look back, I think about how unlikely it is that I'm standing before you. I didn't grow up in a print-rich environment and I didn't discover books beyond classroom textbooks until the fifth grade." It was her grandmothers--who shared folktales and delighted in gossip--who ignited Ryan's love of story. The library, she said, was more an escape than a place to read: "I didn't go there intending to check out books." But once the books made themselves known to her, "I was captured. I carried books to the kitchen table, the car, and I secretly hid them inside textbooks." As she grew into "an awkward sullen, acne-ridden adolescent," she "coped through books." It is no surprise, Ryan said, that she now writes "for readers who are the same age as I was when books made the most profound difference in my life."

Ryan told a story about her grandmother embarrassing her at the market. The author was at an age where she didn't want to be looked at, let alone have her grandmother focus attention on her. But her grandmother demanded the butcher comment on how very beautiful her granddaughter was. The butcher remained silent. "In the way of her sometimes-strange translation from Spanish to English," Ryan recalled, "my grandmother took me outside and said, 'He only see the outside of you, he doesn't see the bones of you.' " At the time, this meant nothing to Ryan. "Now I know she meant that he couldn't see my core. The essence of me. The potential of me. And isn't that something we all hope? That someone will see the beauty inside of us? Isn't that something we hope for young readers, too? That someone will recognize their worth and value them for their spirit?" Writers and illustrators, she said, are creating for an audience they cannot see, writing in hopes of touching the bones. "We write and draw shackled to the beautiful tyranny of now. We work with hearts full of hope for the future.... It's an honor to share this stage and do this important work. I can't wait to find out what comes next." --Siân Gaetano, children's and YA editor, Shelf Awareness

Workers from four Twin Cities Half Price Books locations ratified their first union contracts on May 31 with the United Food and Commercial Workers Locals (UFCW) 663 and 1189 "to secure better wages, working conditions, and a seat at the table," the union reported. 

Workers at Minnesota Half Price Books' locations were the first in the nation to form a union with UFCW. In 2022, they won their union elections at Coon Rapids (Northtown), Roseville, St. Louis Park, and St. Paul, Minn., and unionized with UFCW Local 663 and 1189. The locals have 2.5 and 3.5 year contracts, respectively.

"Through the hard work of the entire bargaining committee, we have shown all of our coworkers the priceless value of having a union contract. This is going to help everyone at Half Price Books and it will continue for decades to come," said Aaron Kerr, a bookseller at the Roseville bookstore.

Wyatt Feten, a bookseller at the Northtown HPB location in Coon Rapids, commented: "This victory comes from the work of everyone at all of our stores. We are looking forward to this new era at Half Price Books with an official union contract and representation."

Jim Gleb, UFCW 1189 president, added: "Without the commitment and incredible solidarity of these workers, this fight would have been almost impossible. They have shown workers all around the country what can be achieved by standing up for your rights, and I am proud to have them as members of the UFCW. The labor community is lucky to count them among us."

Facing dire financial straits, Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena, Calif., has turned to crowdfunding to help stay open, Pasadena Now reported.

Nikki High

Store owner Nikki High launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $75,000; in just a few days it has raised $76,000 from more than 1,200 donors.

"To be completely transparent, we need an urgent influx of cash to keep us afloat right now," High wrote on the GoFundMe page. "The coffers are dry and the reserves are nonexistent. We are being faced with tremendous financial mountains to climb to get [where] we need to be to be sustainable and I need your help once again."

High opened Octavia's Bookshelf in February 2023 after leaving a job in communications, and to help get the shop up and running, she ran a GoFundMe campaign that raised about $22,000. The bookstore initially met with success, and it wasn't long before it moved from its original home at 1361 North Hill Ave. to a larger location.

However, business has been much slower than expected since the start of 2024, leaving Octavia's Bookshelf in a precarious situation. Pasadena Now noted that High considered other options before returning to GoFundMe, such as "launching a Patreon, applying for grants, and negotiating a move back to a smaller location. These efforts have not yielded sufficient results."

"Even with what I've shared," High wrote on social media, "I still know that this is a viable business and this space is crucial to our community."

"Hey Friends, here's a peek at how my Monday morning started," Melanie Moore, owner of the Cincy Book Bus Depot posted on Facebook last week. "There was a water main break on the street behind the building and the building got flooded. Moonflower definitely took the brunt of it and my heart goes out to Stephanie. We hope to get things cleaned up enough so we can still open on Wednesday. Your prayers and support would be much appreciated! There's no doubt that this setback will be a financial hit for both of us. Please remember to shop local and support the businesses that support your community. Ok, time to pull on my wellies and get cleaning!"

Last Tuesday, Moore expressed gratitude to the community "for all the love you poured out yesterday. Thanks for the encouragement! Yesterday was spent getting all the water out and we rented industrial dehumidifiers to suck out the moisture. There was minimal damage to the actual books so I consider myself lucky. Today we head back to clean the floors and get all that dirty soot out."

The Book Bus Depot reopened Wednesday. "It's been a tough two days but both The Depot and Moonflower are sparkly clean and ready for you," Moore noted. "A BIG THANK YOU to the folks who showed up, rolled up their sleeves and pitched in. We are so grateful for your help! Come grab a coffee and a book this week. We'd love to see you!" 

Over the weekend, Moore added: One good thing about flooding is that it forces you to do a thorough spring cleaning. It’s time we hand off the loads of ARCs that we’ve had hanging out in the back room. When you make a purchase, you can have a dig around the bins and take home a book of your own. We’ll keep this going until they're all gone!"

David A. Morton

David A. Morton, a former associate publisher at Rizzoli International Publications in New York known for acquiring and editing books on architecture, died June 27 after being ill with lymphoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 89.

He started his career as an editor for Charles Scribner's Sons. In 1970, he joined Progressive Architecture magazine, where eventually became executive editor. While at Progressive Architecture, Morton also acted as the executive editor for the first two issues of Oppositions, published in 1973 and 1974 by the Institute for Architecture and Urban Design.

He joined Rizzoli in 1987 and created an extensive program of publications about leading architects, from the avant-garde to the traditional, and generated a number of works of a theoretical and historic nature. Charles Miers, publisher of Rizzoli, said, "David helped make Rizzoli the preeminent publisher of architecture books. His intellectual curiosity, far-reaching vision, high standards, and the seeming ease with which he produced so many books are unmatched."

Morton's range of illustrated architecture books included works by well-known modern figures such as Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, I.M. Pei, Peter Eisenman, and Thom Mayne, among others. Morton also had an interest in classically-oriented work by such contemporary architects as Allen Greenberg, Duany Plater-Zyberk, Demetri Porphyrios, John Simpson, Quinlan Terry, and Robert A.M. Stern.

Under his guidance, Rizzoli also published substantive books on significant historic figures such as Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Le Corbusier, Louis Sullivan, Gunnar Asplund, and Carlo Scarpa. Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses, first published in 2005, is still a top-selling title.

In 2006, Morton received the Henry Hope Reed award from the Richard H. Driehaus Prize for his contributions to highlighting classical architecture. In 2009, Rizzoli's books devoted to both modern as well as classical styles earned Morton and Miers honors from the Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation in New York. Morton retired from Rizzoli in 2015.

Carol Dromgoole, co-owner of Texas Star Trading Co. in Abilene, Tex., shared a photo of the shop's recent sidewalk chalkboard sign, designed by assistant manager David Ingram, highlighting the "special yellow bookmarks that we put inside each book written by a local author. It’s pretty impressive to see all the yellow bookmarks in the store!"

Nest & Nook bookstore cafe, Purcellville, Va., shared a photo on Instagram of the shop's summer-themed sales floor display, noting: "Who needs a good #beachread? Or a #beachbag."

Avery Coffey has been promoted to marketing associate, social media & influencer partnerships, at HarperCollins Children's Books.

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Kayla Kohlmeister has joined Penguin Random House Audio as publicist.

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Justin Krasner, formerly executive editor at Odd Dot, has left Macmillan.

Today:
Fresh Air: David S. Tatel, author of Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice (Little, Brown, $32, 9780316542029).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Carleigh Bodrug, author of PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking: 140+ Plant-Based Zero-Waste Recipes That Are Good for You, Your Wallet, and the Planet (Hachette Go, $32, 9780306832420).

Drew Barrymore Show repeat: Molly Baz, author of More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen (Clarkson Potter, $35, 9780593578841).

The View repeat: Charlamagne Tha God, author of Get Honest or Die Lying: Why Small Talk Sucks (Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, $28.99, 9781982173791).

Friday:
Good Morning America: Karen Becker, co-author of The Forever Dog Life: 120+ Recipes, Longevity Tips, and New Science for Better Bowls and Healthier Homes (Harper, $35, 9780063314009).

CBS Mornings: Damona Hoffman, author of F the Fairy Tale: Rewrite the Dating Myths and Live Your Own Love Story (Seal Press, $29, 9781541602250).

Drew Barrymore Show repeat: Ashley Graham, author of A Kids Book About Beauty (DK Children, $19.99, 9780593847107).

The View repeat: John Grisham, author of Camino Ghosts: A Novel (Doubleday, $29.95, 9780385545990).

Book TV airs on C-Span 2 this weekend from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday and focuses on political and historical books as well as the book industry. The following are highlights for this coming weekend. For more information, go to Book TV's website.

Saturday, July 6
3:20 p.m. Abbott Kahler, author of The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, the Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder That Shocked Jazz-Age America (‎Crown, $18, 9780451498632).

4:20 p.m. Garrett M. Graff, author of When the Sea Came Alive: An Oral History of D-Day (Avid Reader Press, $32.50, 9781668027813).

5:35 p.m. Erik Larson, author of The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War (Crown, $35, 9780385348744).

Sunday, July 7
8 a.m. Adam Higginbotham, author of Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space (‎Avid Reader Press, $35, 9781982176617). (Re-airs Sunday at 8 p.m.)

8:50 a.m. Chris Dixon, author of Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet (Random House, $31, 9780593731383). (Re-airs Sunday at 8:50 p.m.)

2 p.m. Sasha Issenberg, author of The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age (‎Columbia Global Reports, $17.49, 9798987053621), at Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C.

3:25 p.m. Yashica Dutt, author of Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir of Surviving India's Caste System (‎Beacon Press, $29.95, 9780807045282), at Pilsen Community Books in Chicago.

4:45 p.m. Gretchen Sisson, author of Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood (St. Martin's Press, $29, 9781250286772).

5:50 p.m. Sergey Radchenko, author of To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power (Cambridge University Press, $34.95, 9781108477352).

7:30 p.m. Meg Medina, author and current National Ambassador for Young People's Literature at the Library of Congress, discusses efforts to reach and connect with young readers.

Semifinalists have been selected for the $10,000 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, which honors "the best writing related to the Thoroughbred industry." Three finalists will be named this summer, and the winner announced later in the year. The semifinalists:

Dream Derby: The Myth and Legend of Black Gold by Avalyn Hunter
False Riches by John Paul Miller
Isaac Murphy: The Rise and Fall of a Black Jockey by Katherine C. Mooney
The Jockey and Her Horse by Sarah Maslin Nir and Raymond White Jr.
The Turcottes: The Remarkable Story of a Horse Racing Dynasty by Curtis Stock
Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse by Kim Wickens

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A longlist has been released for the 2024 Mo Siewcharran Prize, which "aims to shine a light on unpublished fiction writers from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and minority ethnic backgrounds." This year the prize is being hosted by Hodderscape and has focused on writers in the fantasy genre. Check out the complete longlist here.

The award, which is run as part of Hachette UK’s The Future Bookshelf and named in memory of Nielsen BookData’s former director of marketing and communications, is sponsored by John Seaton, Mo Siewcharran’s husband and co-founder of the prize, and Nielsen BookData. A shortlist will be unveiled September 11, and the winner named on September 25.

The winner receives £2,500 (about $3,165), plus a detailed letter from a Hodderscape editor giving feedback on their entry and a follow-up online mentoring session; introductory meetings with at least two literary agents; an introductory session with the Hodder & Stoughton rights team; meetings with the publisher's marketing and publicity teams; and a ticket to London Book Fair 2025. The winner’s project will also be taken forward to a Hodder & Stoughton acquisitions meeting and considered for publication.

One runner up will receive £1,500 (about $1,900) along with a detailed letter from a Hodderscape editor giving feedback on their entry, and a hamper of Hodderscape books. A second runner up will receive £750 (about $950), as well as a hamper of Hodderscape books.

photo: Sabreen Lakhani

Rachel Lynn Solomon is the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow and its sequel, Past Present Future (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, June 4, 2024), and other romantic comedies for teens and adults. Originally from Seattle, she's currently leading the expat life with her husband in Amsterdam, where she can often be found exploring the city, collecting stationery, and working up the courage to knit her first sweater.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

Past Present Future is the sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow, following former academic rivals as they navigate a long-distance relationship during their first year of college.

On your nightstand now:

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross--I feel like I'm probably the last one to read it, but the writing is so immersive that I just want to savor it!

Favorite book when you were a child:

I was obsessed with anything Meg Cabot and even read her blog religiously. Those books imprinted on my subconscious--everything from The Princess Diaries to the Mediator to the adult books that were probably a little too mature for me at the time. All-American Girl was my absolute favorite. It was the perfect book for anyone who felt a little different, and even if the pop culture references don't hold up, I can still recite certain lines from memory. And the romance between the awkward redheaded protagonist (relatable) and the son of the president (less relatable) gave me very high standards.

Your top five authors:

1. Nina LaCour. Her prose has such beauty in its simplicity--lovely and spare is my favorite kind of writing. Hold Still and We Are Okay are breathtaking, and her adult debut, Yerba Buena, was utterly transportive. I do most of my reading on audio these days, and the Yerba Buena audiobook, narrated by the golden-voiced Julia Whelan, is especially fantastic.

2. Gloria Chao. I adore her sense of humor and the way she writes complicated but lovable families. Very few authors make me laugh as much as she does!  

3. Christina Lauren. As a romance author, I look up to them [Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings] so, so much. To me their books feel like the gold standard in contemporary romance, and they're always finding new ways to subvert tropes.

4. Candice Carty-Williams. Queenie was one of the funniest and yet most intensely heartbreaking books I've read in ages. A modern masterpiece.

5. Amanda Montell. I'm a huge fan of her podcast, Sounds Like a Cult, and her nonfiction books are perfect blends of pop culture, linguistics, and just plain fun. A few years ago, romance and YA made up probably 95% of my reading, and lately I've been trying to branch out. It's always a treat to find something delightful in a genre I may not have gravitated to in the past.

Book you've faked reading:

I'm drawing a blank... I was too much of a nerd in high school not to do any of the assigned reading!

Book you're an evangelist for:

Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler, another one that's phenomenal on audio (narrated by Caitlin Kelly). One of my favorite books in recent memory, beautiful and melancholy and soul-nourishing all at once. I've pushed it on most of my friends at this point.

Book you've bought for the cover:

World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. It was staring up at me from a table at the bookstore and I just love animals and critters of all kinds, so I couldn't resist.

Book you hid from your parents:

Ready or Not, the sequel to Meg Cabot's All-American Girl. The cover does not adequately convey how much that book was about sex! I haven't read it in ages, but I'd be curious how it holds up--it felt groundbreaking to me at the time.

Book that changed your life:

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers helped me realize I wanted to write YA. The girls in that book are so viscerally, unapologetically cruel. Courtney has this way of giving voice to all the ugly thoughts we aren't supposed to have, and this book ensured I'd follow her anywhere.

Favorite line from a book:

While this may not be my all-time favorite, it's one that's stuck with me. I was late to the Sally Rooney hype, but my husband is a huge fan. He read Beautiful World, Where Are You before I did and shared a line that I've never forgotten:

"On a Thursday evening after work, the three of them waited forty-five minutes on an increasingly dark and chilly street to be seated in a new burger restaurant Lola particularly wanted to try. When the burgers arrived, they tasted normal."

While at first that might seem like the plainest, most basic of writing, Rooney has a gift for capturing the banal and the tedious, and with just a couple sentences, she makes a cutting, quietly hilarious critique of our consumerist culture. "When the burgers arrived, they tasted normal"--isn't that true of so many things we imbue with an inflated sense of worth?

Five books you'll never part with:

1. Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Beyond the burgers tasting normal, this one wrapped a fist around my heart and never let go. She may be one of the biggest authors in the world, but her books feel so intimate and personal--which is of course a huge reason for her popularity.

2. Emma by Jane Austen
My favorite Jane Austen, although to be honest, I'm not sure how much of that is attributable to Johnny Flynn's portrayal of Mr. Knightley in Emma (2020).

3. The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart
It's so perfectly Seattle (my hometown), and I have a signed copy that I treasure.

4. Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
I read this for the first time in college, when I was going through a rough time, and for a while I reread it every year. It captures loneliness and awkwardness painfully well.

5. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
A pitch-perfect YA romance and my favorite road trip book, both sweet and heartbreaking and filled with mixed-media that makes you feel like you're right there in the car with the main characters.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. The tension in that book is pulled so taut--a master class in romance.

Selected new titles appearing next Tuesday, July 9:

A Death in Cornwall: A Novel by Daniel Silva (Harper, $32, 9780063384200) is the 24th Gabriel Allon thriller.

Confessions of the Dead by James Patterson and J.D. Barker (Grand Central, $32, 9781538769072) is a thriller set in a small New Hampshire town.

True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between by Gretchen Whitmer (Simon & Schuster, $26.99, 9781668072318) is a memoir by the Governor of Michigan.

The Longest Con: How Grifters, Swindlers, and Frauds Hijacked American Conservatism by Joe Conason (St. Martin's Press, $30, 9781250621160) chronicles how conservatism culminated in Donald Trump.

Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives by Sami Sage and Emily Amick (Gallery, $28.99, 9781668053485) is a guide to civic engagement.

The Summer Pact: A Novel by Emily Giffin (Ballantine, $30, 9780593600290) follows four college friends reuniting 10 years later.

The Briar Club: A Novel by Kate Quinn (Morrow, $28.99, 9780063244740) takes place in a women's boarding house in 1950s Washington, D.C.

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle (Tor Nightfire, $26.99, 9781250874658) follows a showrunner instructed to kill off his gay characters.

Navola: A Novel by Paolo Bacigalupi (Knopf, $30, 9780593535059) is epic fantasy based on Renaissance Florence.

How to Catch a Fairy Godmother by Alice Walstead, illus. by Andy Elkerton (Sourcebooks Wonderland, $12.99, 9781728293004) is another silly "guide" in the duo's How to Catch picture book series.

A Whisper of Curses by J. Elle (Bloomsbury, $17.99, 9781547606740) features a young wizard's return to Park Row Magic Academy introduced in the first book in the middle-grade series, A Taste of Magic.

Writing on Empty: A Guide to Finding Your Voice by Natalie Goldberg (St. Martin's Essentials, $28, 9781250342546) recounts a prolonged period of writer's block and how it was overcome.

The Color of Everything: A Journey to Quiet the Chaos Within by Cory Richards (Random House, $30, 9780593596791) is the memoir of a mountain climber and National Geographic photographer.

Madoff: The Final Word by Richard Behar (Avid Reader Press, $35, 9781476726892) explores the world's largest Ponzi scheme.

Paperbacks:
How Not to Get Sick: A Cookbook and Guide to Prevent and Reverse Insulin Resistance, Lose Weight, and Fight Chronic Disease by Benjamin Bikman and Diana Keuilian (BenBella Books, $26.95, 9781637744543).

Left Behind by Sharon Sala (Sourcebooks Casablanca, $9.99, 9781728279084).

The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson (Berkley, $19, 9780593816837).

Until Next Summer by Ali Brady (Berkley, $19, 9780593640821).

This Used to Be Us: A Novel by Renée Carlino (Dial Press, $17.99, 9780593729281).

From last week's Indie bestseller lists, available at IndieBound.org, here are the recommended titles, which are also Indie Next Great Reads:

Hardcover
Fire Exit: A Novel by Morgan Talty (Tin House Books, $28.95, 9781959030553). "A gorgeous and all-consuming novel, Fire Exit lays bare the consequences of one man's decisions, and his resolve to reconcile his past by taking care of his aging mother and seeking a connection with his unknown daughter. Unforgettable." --Olivia Marchese, Author's Note, Medina, N.Y.

Tehrangeles: A Novel by Porochista Khakpour (Pantheon, $28, 9781524747909). "Porochista Khakpour's turn to fiction is no less smart and biting. Couched in this larger-than-life novel about an uber-rich Iranian American family on the brink of reality TV fame, Khakpour's satire doubles as deluxe, ridiculous, heartfelt fun." --Melinda Powers, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Calif.

Paperback: An Indies Introduce Title
Out of the Sierra: A Story of Rarámuri Resistance by Victoria Blanco (Coffee House Press, $19.95, 9781566896535). "A delicately told account of the Rarámuri, a Native people of Mexico, that honors their history, traditions, and culture, and one family's story as they adapt to modern Mexican life. Poetic yet journalistic, dramatic yet quiet, devastating but hopeful." --Luis Correa, Avid Bookshop, Athens, Ga.

Ages 4 to 8
Ruby's Tools for Making Friends by Apryl Stott (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, $18.99, 9781665921640). "What might seem like ordinary construction tools are Ruby's tools for keeping calm and seeing things in new ways. Much like projects, friendships can take time to build! A sweet and gentle story accompanied by adorable illustrations." --Andrew King, Secret Garden Bookshop, Seattle, Wash.

Ages 8 to 12
Jupiter Nettle and the Seven Schools of Magic by Sangu Mandanna, illus. by Pablo Ballesteros (Viking Books for Young Readers, $22.99, 9780593464472). "This graphic novel is a true winner from Mandanna, a must-read for those who love cozy fantasy, great characters, and/or for kids who are having a tough time adjusting to a new school or environment. I can't wait for Jupiter and her story to release to the masses!" --Hannah Kerbs, Parnassus Books, Nashville, Tenn.

Teen Readers: An Indies Introduce Title
Six More Months of June by Daisy Garrison (Flatiron Books, $23.99, 9781250348654). "All too soon school will end and Mina and her best friend Caplan will go in different directions. The last weeks are supposed to be magical. This witty, smart, and heartfelt love story proves that not all love is romantic love. And maybe you can love your best friend." --Sally Sue Lavigne, The Storybook Shoppe, Bluffton, S.C.

[Many thanks to IndieBound and the ABA!]

Sibert Honor winner Gail Jarrow (Spooked!; The Poison Eaters) turns her astute attention to the phenomenon of spiritualism and the investigators who worked to disprove the con. Jarrow's remarkable ability to transform meticulous research into a gripping narrative once again results in a nonfiction work that will transfix readers of all ages.

Jarrow opens Spirit Sleuths in the mid-19th century with the story of the Fox sisters, two girls who claimed they had developed a communication system to talk with the spirit residing in their home. This supposed talent began to grab people's attention, proving especially tempting to vulnerable, grieving people. "During the 1840s--a time before vaccines, antibiotics, and other effective medicines--disease often tragically and prematurely ended lives.... What a comfort to... talk with those who had passed away!" Other spiritualists adopted tools such as spirit cabinets, ghost photos, slate writing, and the Ouija board to profit off the susceptible. Even Harry Houdini started his career with spiritualism. His wife, Bess, played the part of a clairvoyant in the profitable performance, but "Harry came to regret doing them. He realized how deeply his audiences believed in what they heard."  

After Jarrow sets the stage with the background on spiritualism and Houdini's experiences with it, she takes readers into Houdini's fight to educate the masses. "He had seen for himself that people who suffered intense grief or had troubled lives often weren't able to think critically.... As a result, many distressed people had been led to make terrible decisions." Houdini worked with the police, wrote articles, did a national lecture tour, and even exposed local mediums during his stage shows. He eventually started employing full-time investigators to supply the information he needed to unmask the fake conjurors. One of these investigators was Rose Mackenberg, a New York City private detective and master of disguise. She worked alongside Houdini until his death; Mackenberg spent more than 30 years as a "ghost detective" and "despite investigating more than a thousand mediums, the spirit sleuth found only frauds."

Jarrow includes detailed insets throughout the book that explain how mediums performed their trickery and how the investigators uncovered the secrets. The book also includes reproductions of news headlines, photographs, and other ephemera from the corresponding time periods. For those craving more, extensive resources appear in the book's back matter. Jarrow continues to work magic in Spirit Sleuths, making certain that young readers can find history accessible, exciting, and surprising. --Jen Forbus, freelancer

Shelf Talker: A Sibert Honor winner beguiles readers as she deftly unveils the secrets of spiritualism and the people who worked tirelessly to debunk it.

The bestselling Libro.fm audiobooks at independent bookstores during June:

Fiction
1. The Women by Kristin Hannah (Macmillan Audio)
2. Funny Story by Emily Henry (Penguin Random House Audio)
3. James by Percival Everett (Penguin Random House Audio)
4. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (Simon & Schuster Audio)
5. All Fours by Miranda July (Penguin Random House Audio)
6. Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood (Penguin Random House Audio)
7. The Unwedding by Ally Condie (Hachette Audio)
8. Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (Hachette Audio)
9. The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley (HarperAudio)
10. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (Macmillan Audio)

Nonfiction
1. The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson (Penguin Random House Audio)
2. On Call by Anthony Fauci (Penguin Random House Audio)
3. What It Takes to Heal by Prentis Hemphill (Penguin Random House Audio)
4. Democracy or Else by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor, and Josh Halloway (Zando)
5. Sociopath by Patric Gagne (Simon & Schuster Audio)
6. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Tantor Media)
7. I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (Simon & Schuster Audio)
8. I Shouldn't Be Telling You This by Chelsea Devantez (Harlequin Audio)
9. The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne (Penguin Random House Audio)
10. A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko (Simon & Schuster Audio)