What I'm Reading: 2 New Booklist Reviews Including the New Grady Hendrix!

The latest issue of Booklist has 2 horror reviews by me, including one hotly anticipated titles and one, brand new voice. As always, my reviews here on the blog use the longer draft version of the review and I add more information to help you help more readers.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires.

Hendrix, Grady (author).

Apr. 2020. 400p. Quirk, $21.99 (9781683691433). 
First published February 15, 2020 (Booklist).

Hendrix latest is another crowd pleasing mix of humor and horror, yet this may be his darkest and most personal yet. Set in the same suburban, Charleston world as My Best Friend’s Exorcism, but this from the point of view of the mothers, the story follows Patricia and her friends, the housewives who work tirelessly for their families. To spice up their lives, they start a true crime book club, the titles and ensuing discussions of which then frame the entire novel, adding a satisfying layer of dark humor and satire. However, when James, a stranger with few family ties, a weird condition which makes going outside in daylight difficult, and a bag full of cash moves into the neighborhood, odd things begin happening and children start to go missing. Hendrix has masterfully blended the disaffected, southern housewife story with a terrifying vampire tale, giving agency to women who society dismisses without losing sight of the fact that this still a horror novel, one that takes a very dark turn. The anxiety and tension are palpable as these women not only have to battle societal stereotypes and demeaning husbands, but also an intensely evil, centuries old vampire, all to save their children from very real harm. Who would you take in a match up between your mom’s book club and a vampire? Whether they are horror fans or not, a wide swath of readers will enjoy how Hendrix settles this debate. The perfect mix of American Housewife by Ellis, The Stranger Beside Me by Rule and Dracul by Barker and Stoker, Hendrix’s latest is destined to be a book club staple for years to come.

Further Appeal: This book is going to be a HUGE hit with non horror fans, especially books clubs. It is a love letter to book clubs and to mothers [especially Hendrix's mother and her friends], yes, but it is also an excellent, well constructed, original, and scary as heck vampire novel. 

There are no "sparkly" vampires here; in fact, Hendrix plays with the trope of the sparkly vampire brilliantly, showcasing how vampires can be charming and seducing, but reminding all involved that they are killers and nothing more.

This book is filled with thought provoking issues about the place of women in society and family dynamics, the power of female friendship, and the importance of book clubs even when they seem silly and trivial. It also takes a hard look at racism and poverty [as well as the larger problems that come as a consequence], patriarchal dominance, and the limitations of polite, upper-crust, southern society.

The time and place are very key to the story. And while it is fiction, it reads very much like the true crime books the characters are reading.

I also want to note that the titles of the book club books are also the titles of each section and the  discussion meeting of each are then a pivotal moment of that section. 

This is a well constructed novel that is both scary and sweet, about many important issues across society. It is a book about books. And it is the best original vampire novel to come out in many years. You will laugh and cry, and possibly want to hide the book in the freezer for a bit too. What a great combination of emotions.

Three Words That Describe This Book: thought provoking, terrifying, dark humor

Readalikes: If you combine the three in the review above you get an overall sense of what to expect. Some readers might be drawn to more stories about the time and place, others more true crime, and still others scary vampire tales. My list of three readalikes captures each of those appeals.

Another more serious vampire novel that also focuses on a mother but is set in Texas and begins about a decade before Hendrix's novel is In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson. Davidson's novel is just as dark but without the satire, tongue in cheek moments that bring some levity to Hendrix's tale.

The Return.

Harrison, Rachel (author).
Mar. 2020. 304p. Berkley, $26 (9780593098660). 
First published February 15, 2020 (Booklist).

In this creepy debut, four college friends, now entrenched in their adult lives, come back together when one of the friends, Julie, disappears while on a hike. The remaining friends try to come to terms with what has happened, but Elise, the closest to Julie, and our increasingly unreliable narrator, never truly believes Julie is dead. When Julie reappears on her front porch, two years later, with no memory of what happened, the unnerved friends plan a weekend girls’ retreat, at a remote mountain inn to celebrate. Except the Julie they knew so intimately is not the same. She looks gaunt, feels cold to the touch, reacts differently, and has a ravenous appetite for raw meat. As the weekend progresses, things go from bad to worse both among the friends and throughout the hotel. People fall ill, blood is dripping from the vents, the rooms seem to shift and move, Elise sees a shadowy, menacing figure in dark corners and on balconies, and Julie’s behavior goes from odd, to troubling, to absolutely terrifying. Combining a satisfying and extremely unsettling psychological suspense with just the right touch of supernatural horror and a compelling and thoughtful new adult story centered around the power, emotion, and limitations of female friendship, The Return is an intense read that will appeal to fans of Nic Joseph and Amy Lukavics.

YA Statement: This is a great option for older teens who have moved on from high school set psychological suspense but aren’t interested in the adult version yet since it often focuses on wives and mothers. Add in the creepy atmosphere and just scary enough supernatural threat, and this will be a crowd pleaser.

Further Appeal: Here are some of the appeal notes I took while reading this book:

• Better than average for a debut, good control of the narrative voice, characters, and pacing
• First person unreliable narrator.
• Creepy and disorienting, but also bloody and disturbing [if real]
• Psychological suspense with supernatural explanation, or is it real?
• Fills a much needed gap in the popular "girl" domestic suspense subgenre. These friends are much younger than their compatriots in the genre. Their status a new adults finding their way in the world, on their own is key and it is also what makes this books stand out. A different vibe than domestic suspense with wives and mothers. But not YA. They are clearly adults, with new adult concerns. 
• The focus is on the plot, the escalating tension, dread, and violence, not on the characters. They are rounded out fine, but the focus is on the action, not on them and their growth.. 

This is an intriguing supernatural suspense story, a page turner that would be a great vacation read-- especially if you are going to a secluded place in the mountains with friends [well, maybe not, depending on how "real" you want the book to feel].

Three Words That Describe This Book: disorienting, fast paced, new adults

Readalikes: I picked two authors who straddle the line between teen and new adult characters, who focus on female friendships, and terrifying situations. One is realistic and one has supernatural.

I think fans of any psychological suspense who don't mind supernatural possibilities will enjoy this book, but the frame of these young women just entering adulthood is what makes this novel different from the slightly older women in the popular "Girl" books.

Checking more intense teen titles may work better than domestic suspense, but it will depend of the reader.

Announcing Summer Scares 2020

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Library Journal/School Library Journal, is delighted to announce the second annual Summer Scares Reading List, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and librarians and is designed to promote horror as a great reading option for all ages, during any time of the year.

Each year, three titles will be chosen in the Adult, Young Adult, and Middle Grade categories, and for 2020 they are:

ADULT [links to my reviews]

In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson (Skyhorse, 2017)

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle (Tor.Com, 2016)

She Said Destroy: Stories by Nadia Bulkin (Word Horde, 2017)

YOUNG ADULT [links to Goodreads]

The Agony House by Cherie Priest, Illustrated by Tara O’Connor (Scholastic 2018)

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova (Sourcebooks Fire, 2017)

Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics (Harlequin Teen, 2015)

MIDDLE GRADE [links to Goodreads]

Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh (HaperCollins, 2017)

Case Files 13: Zombie Kid by J. Scott Savage (HarperCollins, 2012)

Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith (Clarion Books, 2015)

The goal of the Summer Scares program is to introduce horror titles to school and public library workers in order to help them start conversations with readers that will extend beyond the books from each list and promote reading for years to come. Along with the annual list of recommended titles for readers of all ages, the Summer Scares committee will also release themed lists of even more “read-alike” titles for libraries to use when suggesting books to readers this summer and all year long. And, in order to help libraries forge stronger connections between books and readers, the Summer Scares committee will be working with both the recommended list authors and horror authors from all over the country, to provide free programming to libraries. From author visits (both in person and virtual) to book discussions to horror themed events, Summer Scares is focused on connecting horror creators with libraries and readers all year long.

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) will also be hosting a Library Day special stand alone program May 7, 2020 at the Naperville, IL Public Library. Authors from the Summer Scares reading list, as well as the committee members, will be in attendance. Authors and committee members will also be available throughout the year for on-site and/or remote appearances to libraries and schools to promote the Summer Scares program and discuss the use of horror fiction as a tool to increase readership and nurture a love of reading.

The Summer Scares program committee consists of award-winning author Stephen Graham Jones (Mongrels, The Only Good Indians, Night of the Mannequins), Becky Spratford (library consultant, author of The Readers Advisory Guide to Horror, 2nd Ed.), Carolyn Ciesla (library director, academic dean, book reviewer), Kiera Parrott (reviews director for Library Journal and School Library Journal), Kelly Jensen (editor, Book Riot, author of [Don’t] Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health), and JG Faherty (HWA Library Program director, author of Sins of the Father, The Cure, and Ghosts of Coronado Bay).

The HWA is a non-profit organization of writers and publishing professionals, and the oldest organization dedicated to the horror/dark fiction genre. One of the HWA’s missions is to foster an appreciation of reading through extensive programming and partnerships with libraries, schools, and literacy-based organizations.

For more information about the Summer Scares reading program, including how to obtain promotional materials and schedule events with the authors/committee members, visit the HWA’s Libraries web page (www.horror.org/libraries), Becky Spratford’s Reader’s Advisory Horror Blog RA for All: Horror (http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html), or the Book Riot, School Library Journal, Library Journal, or United for Libraries websites and social media sites.

You can also contact JG Faherty, HWA Library Program Director (libraries [at] horror [dot] org) or Becky Spratford, HWA Secretary (bspratford [at] hotmail [dot] com).

Stephen Graham Jones Primes Us for the Second Wave of Summer Scares

Tomorrow at 10am eastern, we will be announcing the 9 titles selected for Summer Scares 2020. If you want to learn more about Summer Scares, including access to last year's information and resources click here for the Summer Scares Resources and FAQ page.

While you wait, impatiently, to learn exactly which horror titles we are recommending for the coming year, our 2020 Author Spokesperson, Stephen Graham Jones, is here to prime us all for another wave of Summer Scares.

However, before I hand over the reigns to Jones, I wanted to remind you all that he has a new book coming out in May, The Only Good Indians. I gave this book a star in the January issue of Library Journal.  I am not exaggerating when I tell you that this book will not only be on every single best list of 2020, but it will also go down as a modern classic. It is that good. Those of you who follow my reviews know that I do not take saying this lightly, and you also know I have a VERY good track record on calling these things.

So while you wait for Summer Scares to begin in earnest tomorrow, go preorder The Only Good Indians and read this short essay by Jones himself below.

************************************

Someone’s always ringing the death knell for horror. It’s not a chainsaw like you might think, either, and it’s not the Wilhelm Scream like would make sense, and it’s not even John Carpenter’s 5/4 theme for Halloween. What I want this death knell to be is that Peterbilt from Duel, of course, shifting up into maximum overdrive, or Jack Torrance calling Wendy’s name in that vast lonely space, but this sound I’m looking for, that I keep hearing, it’s a lot more insidious, a lot more sinister, and, finally, it’s got bigger jaws. 

What I’m talking about is what I heard real distant-like about . . . was it four years ago already? But then it really came on strong with the success of Get Out, followed shortly by Stephen King having a heyday that’s been more like a tidal wave we’re all riding: everybody’s talking about how horror’s booming again, everybody’s trying to be first to convince everybody else that horror rises in times of unrest, that it reflects our anxieties back to us, that horror is the perfect mirror for now, just like it was in the last golden age, long about the eighties.

That’s not wrong, either. Horror can and does serve society just in that way—not on purpose, necessarily, but just because it’s a genre built on dread and terror, and it’s natural for writers to write the dread and terror they’re caught in onto the page, either as exorcism (you vomit up what’s ailing you) or because the way you kill the flies is to smush them onto the table you’re already sitting at.

Horror is the perfect vehicle for our current set of concerns, horror is most definitely booming. 

But built into every boom is a bust, right?

That’s the death knell I keep hearing. That’s the evil snicker that follows all those claims that horror is right for right now: horror’s current domination will end like it did last time, staggering under the weight of its own excess. Without a hard reset, an escalation this persistent will just become a steady shriek, won’t it? The kind you learn to tune out? Or, to say it cleaner: all love affairs cool down. 

By definition, and going along with what history would teach us, yeah, this might be the case. But there’s another way, too. There’s all of us writing the horror so well and so permanent that, once this bubble of ‘now’ has passed, the audience’s taste for horror will linger. The love affair doesn’t have to end, does it? Sometimes a love affair becomes a marriage, and goes until death do us part, and, since this is horror, death isn’t really even that much of a barrier, is it?  

Michael Myers is back, I mean. Danny Torrance just bellied up to that bar to shoot the important bull with Lloyd. And the shelves, man, they are on fire. No, no—this is horror. Those shelves are running red, and they’re not scabbing over anytime soon. And now, with Summer Scares we’ve managed to pull a few necessary books from that gorefest, and respectfully submit them for your reading, um, pleasure. 

Enjoy. 

---Stephen Graham Jones
February 13, 2020

Book That Most Surprised You?

As you have seen on the blog all week, I have been out of town working with NoveList and library workers in the Raleigh-Durham area. It was a great trip and I will be sharing things I learned, stories from people I met, and new projects in the future, but today I wanted to highlight a question I received in my "Ask Becky anything" session we had to end my day at NoveList HQ: "What is a book that most surprised you?"

I was thrilled to get this question because it allowed me to talk about how and why I have completely changed the way I compile my year-end, person best reading list. In 2017 I switched from just listing 10 books, with a list of categories. From that December 2017 post:

It's my annual list of the best books I read this year, regardless of what year they were published. But, I am changing it up this year and putting my“best” books into categories. Why? Because as I was going through everything I read this year, I kept identifying favorites with caveats like, “that was the best historical fiction I read” or “that was my favorite audio.” Also I realized that grouping them in this way didn’t only make it easier for me to make choices, but it also made the list more useful to you as you help readers. 

For example, knowing that I have River of Teeth on my list because it is the “Most fun I had reading a book this year,” means much more than simply listing it as a favorite.

It was really the categories of "The Most Fun" and "The Biggest Surprise" that drove me to create this list. I realized that sometimes the books that I enjoyed reading the most and those that surprised me [in a good way] the most were getting lost when I was capturing the books that were "the best" for me in a given year. I would inevitably leave them off the list because I could not articulate why I liked them so much except for those reasons.

With the artificial limitation of 10 "best" titles, I was ignoring my reading experience as part of the criteria. And when I really thought about why I was trying to capture my "best" reads, it seemed like my personal reading experience should be considered as equally [if not more] than the "quality" of the book as a piece of literature.

So answering that question over the last three years was easy for me to do, but I bet it is not for many of you. I want to use this post as a chance not only answer the question I received, but also, remind all of you that when you are considering your "favorites" or "best" books, you need to consider all of the reasons why something rose to the top of the heap for you.

Your enjoyment of a particular book matters so much more than its "literary merit," its genre, or its overall standing in the wider literary world. Capture and record your "best" moments, all of them because let me tell you, it is those titles that I list as the "most fun" and "best surprise" that I end up suggesting to readers more than others.

When you are writing reviews or noting the appeal of a book you have read, don't forget to capture the reading experience too. Below are my last three year's "best surprise" titles with links to the entire year end list and a full review on why this book surprised me. I hope they inspire you to keep track of this information too.

Becky's "Best Surprise" reads:

• 2017: Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill [Note: this year I did not have "surprise" as a category. I listed this as a "wildcard," but it was there because of who much it surprised me. It is the book that made me create the category the next year]
• 2018: Mr and Mrs American Pie by Juliet McDaniel
• 2019: Sabbath by Nick Mamatas

RA for All Roadshow Visits Raleigh Durham [NC] Area Libraries

As I mentioned here yesterday, I am in Durham, NC spending time working on some projects with NoveList. As part of my visit, they invited area libraries to a full day RA training session featuring me. I am excited to meet some new people and reconnect with a few I haven't seen in awhile.

Here is today's schedule with links for all.

9-10:50: RA for All: Readers Advisory belongs in every library, no matter its budget. The implementation of this vital service is the responsibility of every staff member-- from pages to directors, from those behind the scenes to the ones on the front lines. This program will remove the mystery behind providing great RA service. Using her “Ten Rules of Basic RA Service” as a guide, Becky Spratford will use your own love of your favorite books to show you how to help any patron find their next great read. It's not as hard as you think. But more importantly, you will learn why a staff that can harness the power of sharing a great read will become a stronger team and improve service to all patrons, especially the hardest to reach ones.

• Follows my 10 Rules of Basic RA Service

10 Minute Break

11am-12 pm: Booktalking Your Way to the Friendliest Library in Town: Booktalking is at the heart of what we do with patrons each and every day at the public library. Whether we are sharing books informally at the services desk, presenting a prepared list of books, or posting information online, talking about books is something we do each and every day. It is a core service, but it is also hard to teach. Booktalking is more of an art than a skill, but with the right guidance and some practice, it can go a long way toward engaging your patrons and re-energizing your staff. Join experienced Readers’ Advisory Becky Spratford as she shares the secret behind delivering great book talks, giving you tips and tricks you can begin using right away to hone your own skills. Rediscover the power and joy that comes from sharing books with patrons.

• Slide access here

LUNCH 12-1- Working Lunch: Becky will facilitate booktalking practice and will perform a prepared book talk for the group during this time.

15 minute break

1:15-2:15: #OwnVoices for All Readers: Incorporating EDI Values into Readers’ Advisory Service: Providing robust readers’ advisory service that values equity, diversity and inclusion principles is essential to all library service. Join Readers’ Advisory specialist Becky Spratford as she provides the information you need to diversify your suggestions, identify resources, and include more staff input in order to confidently promote and place more #OwnVoices titles into adult patrons’ hands. You’ll come away with an understanding for how easy it to incorporate EDI values into your normal RA practices. All you need is a little nudge in the right direction.

• Slide access here

RA for All Roadshow Visits EBSCO's NoveList HQ

Over the next two days I am in Durham, NC working with NoveList. Today, I will be spending the day at NoveList HQ, while tomorrow I will be providing regional training.

I realize that NoveList is a pay database and not all of my readers have access to it, but one thing everyone with an internet connection does have access to is NoveList's Story Elements.

Download a copy here

Appeal is at the heart of how we match books with readers. Appeal, not plot, captures the feel of the book, the "why" someone enjoys a story, or not. It is how we articulate the way the story is told, how we explain why a story spoke to us. And NoveList makes appeal the centerpiece of their product. 

However, while it is the centerpiece, you do not have to pay to access the information. I link to the "NoveList Has Appeal" page in my 10 Rules of Basic RA Service here [Rule 4, click on the word "adjectives"], but I have also reposted the information from that page below.

It's easy to get caught up in the trends, new ideas, and controversies in our field, especially those of us who have been doing this awhile, but without appeal our jobs would be much harder, dare I say nearly impossible. 

If you want to learn more or just give yourself a refresher course on appeal, click here, see below, or click here to download the handbook with all of the appeal terms.

What is Appeal? 

Appeal factors help readers decide whether or not a book fits their style or mood. What is “heartwarming” to one reader may be saccharine to another; what is “mildly sensuous” to you may be quite shocking to others. 

Why Appeals Make a Difference 

Appeals are a signature feature of NoveList -- alongside other story elements, they help us match readers with their perfect books. We believe that appeal is crucial to successful matchmaking -- it’s the “chemistry” of readers’ advisory. 

How Appeals Are Created 

Librarians like Joyce Saricks, Nancy Pearl, and Neal Wyatt pioneered the idea of appeals, and NoveList continues the work by defining a set of standard appeal terms which we then apply to titles in our database and use in our read-alike recommendations.  

Our appeal terms are listed in The Secret Language of Books that you can download on the right. 

Some Examples 

NoveLists's appeal terms fall into a few broad categories including: 

Character (e.g. character duos, flawed, quirky, etc.) Storyline (e.g. action-packed, character-driven, sweeping, etc.)Pace (e.g. fast-paced, leisurely paced, etc.)Tone (e.g. bleak, funny, sarcastic, etc.)Writing Style (e.g. descriptive, gritty, lyrical, etc.)Illustration (e.g. cartoony, impressionistic, realistic, etc.) Learn more about Illustration appealsAudio Characteristics (e.g. folksy, energetic, read by the author, etc.)

Where to Find/Search Appeals 

You'll see our appeal factors in all NoveList databases including: NoveList Plus, and NoveList K-8 Plus. They are also a feature of NoveList Select -- displayed in the What Appeals to Readers section. We also use appeals to inform all of our recommendations, wherever they appear. Do you like funny, fast-paced mysteries? Or, audiobook memoirs that are read by the author in a wry tone? Appeals help you zero in on the books that are exactly right for you. 

Learn More

How to Match Readers with Books Using Appeal

RA for All Roadshow Visits Addison [IL] Public Library

It's a two, in person appearance week. Today I am staying local as I return to Addison [IL] Public Library to provide two break out sessions for their staff meeting.

Here is today's schedule with updated slides for all to use.

10:15-11:15 am: Booktalking Your Way to the Friendliest Library in Town: Booktalking is at the heart of what we do with patrons each and every day at the public library. Whether we are sharing books informally at the service desk, presenting a prepared list of books, or posting information online, talking about books is something we do each and every day. It is a core service, but it is also hard to teach. Booktalking is more of an art than a skill, but with the right guidance and some practice, it can go a long way toward engaging your patrons and re-energizing your staff. Join experienced Readers’ Advisory Becky Spratford as she shares the secret behind delivering great book talks, giving you tips and tricks you can begin using right away to hone your own skills. Rediscover the power and joy that comes from sharing books with patrons.

• Slide access here

11:30-12:30: #OwnVoices for All Readers: Incorporating EDI Values into Readers’ Advisory Service: Providing robust readers’ advisory service that values equity, diversity and inclusion principles is essential to all library service. Join Readers’ Advisory specialist Becky Spratford as she provides the information you need to diversify your suggestions, identify resources, and include more staff input in order to confidently promote and place more #OwnVoices titles into adult patrons’ hands. You’ll come away with an understanding for how easy it to incorporate EDI values into your normal RA practices. All you need is a little nudge in the right direction.

• Slide access here

The ARRT Nonfiction Genre Study Begins

Later today I will attend the first meeting of the 2 year, ARRT Narrative Nonfiction Genre Study. While the notes of every discussion will be made available to all, I wanted to share today's introductory assignment and some of my preparation today.

Before we begin with the newest study, a quick reminder that the main page for all of ARRT's genre studies, current and past, goes back to 2011-12. The most recent Genre Study on Romance just finished up in December of 2019 and is an excellent, up to date resource for that genre. You an use ARRT's current or former Genre Studies as a guide to organize your own.

Now on to Narrative Nonfiction. Click here to access the full schedule with dates and locations. Assignments and notes are added as they become available. 

Here is how the organizer have divide up the huge collection of genres that Narrative Nonfiction encompasses. Note, biographies and memoirs are not a category because they will be specifically considered within each category:

Welcome Meeting  Assignment Social Issues  Assignment Let’s Make Something: Food, Crafts, Arts, Decorating  Pop Culture, Sports, Entertainment  Global Issues: Beyond America  Travel and Adventure  Crime  History, War, Politics  Improvement: Personal or Professional  Nature, Science, Health  Current Events/Trending Topics  Wrap-Up And it all begins today with this assignment: Welcome Meeting February 6, 2020, 2-4 PM Lisle Library District Here is the assignment: For our first meeting we’ll discuss the outline of the genre study and how we will tackle narrative nonfiction. For your assignment: Bring one “Sure Bet” nonfiction book. When you have someone who says they have to read a nonfiction book (against their will), what book do you find they end up enjoying? Be prepared to discuss why you think this book appeals broadly to many readers. Please read a narrative nonfiction book that appeals to your sense of humor. Since humor is so hard to define, you are just looking for a book that makes you laugh. If you can’t find one, bring an example of a book that failed and why it failed to make you laugh. I have my notes ready to answer both questions, but I am more excited to see what everyone else in attendance has to say because that is the best part of any Genre Study. It is through the group discussion of the topic, the sharing of different opinions, the crowd sourced lists and notes we create [and share here, for free, after every meeting for all to use to improve their service] where the real learning happens. So bookmark the Narrative Nonfiction Genre Study homepage, use it to train yourself, or to organize your own genre study. Follow along. I will be alerting my readers when new notes are available. Finally, here is a quick teaser of the authors and titles [with links] that I will be mentioning for each bullet point above: Candice Millard, David Grann, In the Kingdom of Ice by Sides [Wildcard: The Big Year by Obmascik] Assassination Vacation by Vowell and A.J. Jacobs

Resource Alert: The Alex Awards

One of my favorite awards to use to help adults find a compelling and yet still thought provoking reads is the Alex Awards.

Okay, some of you are already confused because you are asking, "Becky, isn't the Alex Award given to adult books that are great options for teens?" And you are correct, but just because the list is meant to be for teen patrons doesn't mean you are forbidden from using the list to assist adult readers, I mean they are adult market titles.

I love using the Alex Awards as a "sure bet" option for adults who are not stuck on a specific genre and simply want compelling, original, and thought provoking reads. In other words quick reads that aren't just typical, adrenaline titles [thrillers, suspense, etc...]. Titles that are for adults, have some complexity and yet will still move briskly. You would be surprised how hard these are to find, and this difficulty is exacerbated when, as often occurs, these adult readers are in a hurry and need something for a trip that is immediately impending.

This is what the Alex Award titles are a sure bet options for adults who want a "good read" and can't really tell you much more. Add in the fact that these titles embrace the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion, encompassing many genres and #ownvoices titles and come with wonderful annotations for each title, written but the committee to make it even easier for you to hand-sell all titles to any reader.

Below is the current annotated list and the link to all previous lists too [because current titles may not be immediately available, but the backlist ones will be, and they work just as well].

2020 Winners    

View the 2020 official nominations!

        

        

A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World, By C. A. Fletcher. Published by Orbit, a division of Hachette Group. In a dystopian future, where the world’s population is believed to be only in the thousands, Griz lives on an isolated island. When a charismatic stranger arrives and absconds with one of the family’s beloved dogs, the 16-year-old embarks on a quest to get her back.

Do You Dream of Terra-Two?, By Temi Oh. Published by Saga Press/Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Inc.  A crew of 10 astronauts, 6 of whom are teens, set off on a 23-year journey to begin settling an uninhabited planet known as Terra-Two. This character-driven sci-fi novel will draw teens into its orbit with interpersonal conflict.

Dominicana, By Angie Cruz. Published by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers. In 1965, 15-year-old Ana Cancion leaves the Dominican Republic married to a man twice her age and eventually discovers her own voice in Washington Heights, New York. Though historical fiction, this powerful immigrant story is increasingly relevant today.

Gender Queer: A Memoir, By Maia Kobabe. Published by Lion Forge, an imprint of Oni Press. Kobabe’s path to understanding eir gender and sexuality comes into beautiful focus in this graphic memoir, expressively illustrated with retro colors and simple lines. Readers will recognize a kindred spirit in Kobabe and/or gain insight into what it’s like to identify outside of the cisgender/heterosexual "norm."

High School, By Sara Quin and Tegan Quin. Published by MCD, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and imprint of Macmillan Publishers. Critically acclaimed indie rock duo Tegan and Sara Quin lay bare their teenage experiences, the oscillating euphoria and scintillation of first love, the jarring process of finding one's identity, and early forays into making music in this gorgeous dual memoir.

In Waves, By AJ Dungo. Published by Nobrow. In this beautiful graphic memoir, perfectly cast in muted beach tones, Dungo interweaves his story of first love with his girlfriend’s passion for surfing, her heroism in the face of cancer, and a primer on the history of surfing. 

Middlegame, By Seanan McGuire. Published by Tor.com Publishing, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, a division of Macmillan. Roger and Dodger are twins, created in a lab in order to bestow their creator with the power to shape reality—but only if they don’t figure out how to manifest that power for themselves first.

The Nickel Boys, By Colson Whitehead. Published by Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Idealistic Elwood and cynical Turner form an unlikely bond at Nickel Academy, a corrupt 1960s reform school, as they endure the abuse meted out by the sadistic warden. Their heart-wrenching story of physical and mental survival is based on the real-life experiences of children at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys.

Red, White & Royal Blue, By Casey McQuiston. Published by St. Martin’s Griffin, a division of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers. In this quirky political rom-com, First Son Alex fakes a friendship with longtime rival Prince Henry of Britain when an incendiary photo of them is leaked to the tabloids. A genuine romance blossoms between the two, but it must be kept secret for the sake of Alex’s mother’s presidential reelection campaign. 

The Swallows, By Lisa Lutz. Published by Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. The arrival of a new teacher with a complicated past ignites a student rebellion against Stonebridge Academy’s misogynistic culture, which has gone unchecked for years.

RA for All Roadshow Visits Tampa Bay Library Consortium

Today I am appearing at the Bruton Memorial Library in Plant City, FL from 9am-4pm, to conduct a regional training for library workers through the Tampa Bay Library Consortium.

Below is the schedule with links to the slides. Every program has been updated for the new year. The genre program especially has had a HUGE facelift.

If you want me to come to your library, I am currently booking Fall 2020. Spring is completely closed to live appearances that are further than 90 minutes from Chicago. Fridays are completely booked, anywhere, anytime until August. Virtual appearances are still available. Details on pricing can be found here. Please feel free to contact me with questions.

9:30-11:30: RA for All: Readers Advisory belongs in every library, no matter its budget. The implementation of this vital service is the responsibility of every staff member-- from pages to directors, from those behind the scenes to the ones on the front lines. This program will remove the mystery behind providing great RA service. Using her “Ten Rules of Basic RA Service” as a guide, Becky Spratford will use your own love of your favorite books to show you how to help any patron find their next great read. It's not as hard as you think. But more importantly, you will learn why a staff that can harness the power of sharing a great read will become a stronger team and improve service to all patrons, especially the hardest to reach ones.

• This program follows Becky's 10 Rules of RA Service
• This 2 hour version of Becky’s signature program will include extended interactive Booktalking exercises

12:45-2: Demystifying Genre: Nothing is scarier than trying to help a fan of a genre you yourself don’t enjoy. You want to help that, for example, Romance reader find the perfect book, but you are having trouble knowing where to begin because...eek!... you don’t read Romance. You are afraid they will find out you are a fraud. How can YOU possibly help THEM?!? Never fear, in this program, Readers’ Advisory expert, Becky Spratford, will teach you the basic appeals of the major genres, give you the inside track on what a fan of that genre is most drawn to, and provide you with talking points to get your genres readers to tell you what they want. This program focuses on providing you with a diverse and inclusive list of up to date authors with at least 40% of the example titles representing own voices. You will leave this session with the confidence and skill to help fans of every genre, regardless of whether or not you have ever read a book in that genre yourself. And that will leave a trail of happy patrons in your wake.

• Slides can be found here

2:15-3:30: #OwnVoices for All Readers: Incorporating EDI Values into Readers’ Advisory Service: Providing robust readers’ advisory service that values equity, diversity and inclusion principles is essential to all library service. Join Readers’ Advisory specialist Becky Spratford as she provides the information you need to diversify your suggestions, identify resources, and include more staff input in order to confidently promote and place more #OwnVoices titles into adult patrons’ hands. You’ll come away with an understanding for how easy it to incorporate EDI values into your normal RA practices. All you need is a little nudge in the right direction.

• Slides can be found here

3:30-4: Q&A: Not only will Becky take questions during this time, but she has a few of her own that she wants to throw out to the group in light of what we have learned today. Example questions Becky uses for this exercise include but are not limited to:

• Why is it important to read diversely?
• What book do you wish you could read again for the first time?
• What is your favorite resource to find a book to read for yourself? 
• What book[s] have you found to be "sure bets" with library patrons?