Eugenia Williamson is the Associate Editor of Digital Products at Booklist. She worked in bookstores for twelve years, reviews books for The Boston Globe, and writes about books, culture, and politics for several other publications. Follow her on Twitter at @Booklist_Genie.
Upon learning of Barbara Bush’s passing last night at the age of 92, my first thought was about what a fascinating lady she was: champion of literacy, doyenne of Kennebunkport, unparalleled rocker of unironic pearl necklaces. My second thought was of her son, but nobody has time to listen to my feelings about him. My […]
Every weekday we feature a different review on Booklist Online. These reviews are notable for different reasons—they may be starred, or high-demand, or especially relevant to the current issue’s spotlight. We’ve collected the reviews from April 9–13 below. Monday, April 9 The Language of Spells, by Garret Weyr Weyr’s lovely and lyrical middle-grade novel interjects modern history into a […]
Every weekday we feature a different review on Booklist Online. These reviews are notable for different reasons—they may be starred, or high-demand, or especially relevant to the current issue’s spotlight. We’ve collected the reviews from April 2–6 below. Monday, April 2 Familiar Things, by Sok-Yong Hwang Award-winning Korean author Hwang (The Ancient Garden, 2010) presents a coming-of-age story about two […]
Sisters in Crime has opened applications for the 2018 Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award. The prize has recognized emerging crime writers of color—both men and women—since 2014 with a $1500 grant. Does this sound like you or someone you know? Read on. From the press release: The Eleanor Taylor Bland Award […]
Every weekday we feature a different review on Booklist Online. These reviews are notable for different reasons—they may be starred, or high-demand, or especially relevant to the current issue’s spotlight. We’ve collected the reviews from March 19–23 below. Monday, March 26 The Mars Room, by Rachel Kushner The Mars Room is a seedy San Francisco strip club, a dark […]
While Stormy Daniels directs the national conversation, let’s take a moment to celebrate novels that put porn stars at the front and center of the (dramatic) action. When compiling this list of recommended novels (linked to their excerpted Booklist reviews when available), I noticed the preponderance of crime fiction that features porn star characters of […]
Every weekday we feature a different review on Booklist Online. These reviews are notable for different reasons—they may be starred, or high-demand, or especially relevant to the current issue’s spotlight. We’ve collected the reviews from March 12–16 below. Monday, March 12 Let Me Lie, by Clare Mackintosh Anna Johnson’s parents committed suicide within months of each other, diving from […]
I begin this announcement with a confession: I have never been a member of the National Book Critics Circle. When I was the books writer at The Boston Phoenix, I petitioned my editor to pay the annual membership fee so I could join. He declined, dashing some long-held dreams: since I was a little girl, I […]
Early this morning, our President tweeted out a cryptic, two-word tweet in ALL CAPS. WITCH HUNT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 27, 2018 What could it mean? I tried yelling “WITCH HUNT!” in the voices of Fred Schneider and Mark E. Smith, yet gained no further insight. Or, should I say, I GAINED NO […]
In November, Booklist and the American Association of School Librarians launched a program, sponsored by Schoolastic, to give 500 school libraries in need year-long subscriptions to Booklist, Book Links, and Booklist Online. Today—February 14—is the last day to enter our giveaway. All school librarians need to do is submit a short (paragraph-length) essay explaining the collection development constraints you face and […]
Encouraging Middle-Schoolers to Choose Books
There’s been a lot of discussion among the librarians I know about what to do with middle-schoolers: they just don’t seem to read as much as they used to. I know that here in Chicago, we have a unique perspective on this situation, since our schools run K–8. In my former school system in Maryland […]
Getting Started with the Global Read Aloud
The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off yesterday, and I’m here to help. Author and educator Pernille Ripp founded the program as a way to connect students and teachers from different locales around the topics of books. (Think One Book One School or One Book One City, but on a global scale.) Each year, Ripp […]
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: Practice Recognizing Fake News
Cindy: There have been a number of YA fiction books with the title “Two Truths and a Lie,” but we’ve found a creative, informational book for middle-grade students that reinforces evaluating information for truth. Fake news, anyone? Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive (2017) by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is the first […]
Encouraging Middle-Schoolers to Choose Books
There’s been a lot of discussion among the librarians I know about what to do with middle-schoolers: they just don’t seem to read as much as they used to. I know that here in Chicago, we have a unique perspective on this situation, since our schools run K–8. In my former school system in Maryland […]
Getting Started with the Global Read Aloud
The 2017 Global Read Aloud kicked off yesterday, and I’m here to help. Author and educator Pernille Ripp founded the program as a way to connect students and teachers from different locales around the topics of books. (Think One Book One School or One Book One City, but on a global scale.) Each year, Ripp […]
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: Practice Recognizing Fake News
Cindy: There have been a number of YA fiction books with the title “Two Truths and a Lie,” but we’ve found a creative, informational book for middle-grade students that reinforces evaluating information for truth. Fake news, anyone? Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive (2017) by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompson is the first […]
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