Booklist's Shelf Care

It’s time for Summer Scares, and the popular horror-reading program is in fine form again. Shelf Care host Susan Maguire spoke to librarian Becky Spratford, author Kendare Blake, and Booklist’s Julia Smith about this year’s selections for adult, teen, and middle-grade readers; transgressive horror; and Hellmouth Pokémon, as you do. She also spoke to Jocelyn Codner and Carina Stopenski, both of the Horror Writers Association’s Library Advisory Council, about the Summer Scares program guide, why libraries should serve horror readers, and what they’re reading and loving.

Here’s what we talked about:

Summer Scares Resource Page

Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, by Kristen Simmons

iRead Summer 2025: Level Up at Your Library

The Getaway, by Lamar Giles

Devils unto Dust, by Emma Berquist

Reprieve, by James Han Mattson

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes, by Eric LaRocca

The Luminous Dead, by Caitlin Starling

Summer Scares webinars: for Adult, YA, and Middle Grade

All These Bodies, by Kendare Blake

In Every Generation, by Kendare Blake

Summer Scares Program Guide

HWA Young Adults Write Now scholarship

(or email [email protected])

Stoker Con 2025 Librarians’ Day

Stag Dance, by Torrey Peters

Detransition, Baby, by Torrey Peters

It Came from the Trees, by Ally Russell

Hide and Seeker, by Daka Hermon

Ravenous Things, by Derrick Chow

Eerie Tales from the School of Screams, by Graham Annable, art by the author

Skunk and Badger, by Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Jon Klassen

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest, by Aubrey Hartman, illustrated by Macin Minor

Bad Badger: A Love Story, by Maryrose Wood, illustrated by Giulia Ghigini

Reluctant Witch, by Melissa Marr

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to Katie Clausen, a Chicagoland children’s librarian, about what it’s like to be on the front lines of a book banning, who offers some tips and suggested language for dealing with a challenge. Then, on a lighter note, Susan talks to Audio Editor Heather Booth about what she’s been reading (and listening to) and loving lately.

Here's what we talked about:

Interview with Kelly Jensen in Episode 22

Foundations of Intellectual Freedom, by Emily Knox

Kate Messner’s Letter to Parents

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story, by Pagan Kennedy. Read by Claire Danes.

The Use of Photography, by Annie Ernaux and Marc Marie. Translated by Alison L. Strayer. Read by Tavia Gilbert.

The Suite Spot, by Trish Doller. Read by Sarah Naughton.

Birding with Benefits, by Sarah T. Dubb. Read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Evan Sibley.

How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? by Anna Montague. Read by Cynthia Nixon.

Nightbitch, by Rache Yoder.

The Payback, by Kashana Cauley.

The Survivalists, by Kashana Cauley.

Other helpful resources for dealing with contentious book challenges:

The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About, by Mel Robbins (A useful book for work and personal development, especially for helping to take book challenges less personally.)

Quick Tips & Language When Someone Wants to Challenge Materials

Handling Book Challenges

It’s that time of the year again, when the Booklist editors gather ‘round the proverbial fire and share some of their favorite reads of the year. Covering everything from our Top of the List titles to personal faves, this episode has a little something for every reader. Here’s what we talked about:

Donna:

We Loved It All: A Memory of Life. By Lydia Millet. (Adult Nonfiction Top of the List)

The Morningside. By Téa Obreht.

Martyr! By Kaveh Akbar.

My Black Country: A Journey through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future. By Alice Randall.

The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth. By Zoë Schlanger.

Annie:

Wandering Stars. By Tommy Orange. (Adult Fiction Top of the List)

Donna Seaman interviews Tommy Orange for One Book, One Chicago

All Fours. By Miranda July.

Susan:

The Wedding People. By Alison Espach.

One of Us Knows. By Alyssa Cole.

The Cottage around the Corner. By D. L. Soria.

Sarah:

A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond. By Elizabeth Rusch. (Youth Nonfiction Top of the List)

Dispatches from Parts Unknown. By Bryan Bliss.

Ash’s Cabin. By Jen Wang. Art by the author. (Youth Graphic Novel Top of the List)

Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir. By Tessa Hulls. Art by the author. (Adult Graphic Novel Top of the List)

The Puerto Rican War: A Graphic History. By John Vasquez Mejias. Art by the author.

The Jellyfish. By Boum. Art by the author.

Julia:

The House on Yeet Street. By Preston Norton. (Middle Grade Top of the List)

Bye Forever, I Guess. By Jodi Meadows.

Ronny:

That Always Happens Sometimes. By Kiley Frank. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. (Picture Book Top of the List).

The Yellow Bus. Written and illustrated by Loren Long.

Kelly:

Ariel Crashes a Train, by Olivia A. Cole. (YA Top of the List)

The Dark We Know, by Wen-yi Lee.

Compound Fracture, by Andrew Joseph White.

My Throat an Open Grave, by Tori Bovalino.

Heather:

Birding with Benefits. By Sarah T. Dubb. Read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Evan Sibley.

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years. By Shubnum Khan. Read by Soneela Nankani.

Know Your Newlywed. By Heather Taylor, Hillary Nussbaum, and Elena Armas. Read by Tyler Posey, Mary Mouser, and a full cast.

Stars in Your Eyes. By Kacen Callender. Read by André Santana and others.

Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”. By Nicholas Day and Chris Rashka. Read by Fred Berman.

Onyx & Beyond. By Amber McBride. Read by André Santana.

Gender Queer. By Maia Kobabe. Read by Maia Kobabe and a full cast.

Tree. Table. Book. By Lois Lowry. Read by Hope Newhouse.

And

Anita de Monte Laughs Last. By Xochitl Gonzalez. Read by Jessica Pimentel and others. (Adult Audio Top of the List)

Better Must Come. By Desmond Hall. Read by Jaime Lincoln Smith. (Youth Audio Top of the List)

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire talks to two of her Friends, the co-chairs of the annual book sale at her local branch library. They talk about being picky about donations, pricing, layout, and the treasures they found at the sale. Then, Susan chats with new Books for Youth Associate Editor Kelly Ferreira about what they’ve been reading and loving lately.

Here’s what we talked about:

85 Days: The Last Campaign of Robert Kennedy, by Jules Witcover

Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus

Janesville: An American Story, by Amy Goldstein

The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer House, by George Howe Colt

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II, by Sonia Purnell, read by Juliet Stevenson

Central Park West, by James Comey

A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, by James Comey

Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love, by Marianne Cronin

Are You My Mother? by Dr. Seuss

Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke

P. C. Cast

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

Casey McQuiston

Bigfoot’s Big Heart, by Sarah Glenn Marsh, illustrated by Ishaa Lobo

Compound Fracture, by Andrew Joseph White

Ariel Crashes a Train, by Olivia A. Cole

The Deep Dark, by Molly Knox Ostertag, art by the author

The Sweetness between Us, by Sarah Winifred Searle, art by the author

Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors talk to book people. This Shelf Care interview is sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group.

In this episode of Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter talked to Carole Boston Weatherford about her forthcoming picture book, The Doll Test: Choosing Equality, which will be out in November. You can listen to this interview here.

Carole Boston Weatherford is the author of numerous award-winning books. Her picture book BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom, illustrated by Michele Wood, received a Newbery honor. Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, illustrated by the late Floyd Cooper was a National Book Award long-list title, won the Coretta Scott King Award for author and illustrator, and received a Caldecott honor and a Sibert honor. When she's not traveling or visiting museums, Carole is mining the past for family stories, dating traditions, and forgotten struggles.

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire spoke to Allison Escoto of the Center for Fiction about book groups, being a solo librarian, and getting the opportunity to read nonfiction for the Carnegie Awards. Then, Audio Editor Heather Booth chats with librarian and author Van Hoang about the walking audiobook club she runs at her library. Finally, Susan and Adult Books Editor Donna Seaman talk about her forthcoming book, River of Books: A Life in Reading as well as what she’s been reading and loving lately.

Here’s what we talked about:

Stanley Ellin, mystery writer

James, by Percival Everett

Out of the Sierra: A Story of Rarámuri Resistance, by Victoria Blanco

Girl Giant and the Monkey King, by Van Hoang

The Monstrous Misses Mai, by Van Hoang

Sociopath, by Patrick Gagne, read by the author

Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, by Naomi Klein, read by the author

Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution, Cat Bohannon, read by the author

Elyse Dinh, audiobook narrator

The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, by Florence Williams, read by Emily Woo Zeller

In Praise of Walking: A New Scientific Exploration, by Shane O’Mara, read by Liam Gerrard

River of Books: A Life in Reading, by Donna Seaman

The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America, by Sara B. Franklin

The World She Edited: Katarine S. White at the New Yorker, by Amy Reading

Booker Prize Long List

Creation Lake, by Rachel Kushner

This Strange Eventful History, by Claire Messud

Playground, by Richard Powers

The Overstory, by Richard Powers

Wandering Stars, by Tommy Orange

Reading the Room: A Bookseller’s Tale, by Paul Yamazaki

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, we’ve got lots and lots of reading suggestions. First, host Susan Maguire is joined by Rebecca Vnuk, Executive Director, LibraryReads, for a mini-Read ‘n’ Rave, a version of the hit program that Booklist and LibraryReads host at ALA Annual. Then, Audio Editor Heather Booth talks to her daughter Julia about how libraries can help teens find good audiobooks. Finally, Susan and Sarah Hunter, Editor, Books for Youth and Graphic Novels, sat down to share a ton of great new graphic novels that you can use to celebrate the tail end of Graphic Novels in Libraries Month (and beyond).

“They Just Need to Get a Job”: 15 Myths on Homelessness, by Mary Brosnahan

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Break Every Rule, by Brian Freeman

The Most Wonderful Time, by Jayne Allen

Marigold Mind Laundry, by Jungeun Yun, tr. By Shanna Tan

Swordcrossed, by Freya Marske

Bury Your Gays, by Chuck Tingle

Swan Song, by Elin Hilderbrand

The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn, v. 1, by Tri Vuong, art by the author

The Puerto Rican War: A Graphic History, by John Vasquez Mejias, art by the author

A Pillbug Story, by Alison Conway, art by the author

Ash’s Cabin, by Jen Wang, art by the author

Plain Jane and the Mermaid, by Vera Brosgol, art by the author

The Deep Dark, by Molly Knox Ostertag, art by the author

The Worst Ronin, by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, art by Faith Shaffer

The Jellyfish, by Boum, art by the author

Navigating with You, by Jeremy Whitely, art by Cassio Riberio

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness, by Mai K. Nguyen, art by the author

Gamerville, by Johnnie Christmas, art by the author

A New Car for Pickle, by Sylvie Kantorovitz, art by the author

Hearing Things, by Ben Sears, art by the author

Welcome to another installment of the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional podcast series in which Booklist editors get to talk to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Dreamscape Media.

In this episode of the Shelf Care interview, Heather Booth talks with the creative team behind Rifts and Refrains, the audio-first production from Dreamscape Media's Dreamscape First Initiative. Rifts and Refrains is by Tiye with a shared narration by Benjamin Charles and iiKane.

Tiye is a USA Today Bestselling author and has penned over forty novels. When Tiye's not obsessed with her latest characters, she's addressing the mental health needs of others through her private practice and teaching. She loves laughing and dancing with her family and friends and curled up somewhere, anywhere, forever inspired to write emotional, angsty stories that allow readers to escape. Check out her website and join her newsletter at www.tiyelovebooks.com, and follow her on F.B. @Tiye Love Books, TikTok @tiyelove, and/or on her I.G. @tiye28always.

Benjamin Charles is Bahamian-born meditator, marathoner, and humanist interested in using the human voice to foster connection, combat loneliness, and incite joy! He has worked with many of the leaders in the industry including Podium, Audible, Dreamscape, Penguin Random House, and many many more. Upwards and onwards together.

iiKane has narrated numerous titles currently available on Audible and other major online platforms. Her strong suits are creatively voicing different characters; animation; romance, fiction, and nonfiction narration; urban dramas; and historical/memoir readings. She has fifteen-plus years of voice experience, and her work has been featured on numerous flagship radio stations across the country for clients including MTV, VH1, BET, McDonald's, Access Hollywood, and AT&T. She also actively promotes new titles and authors to her social media audiences and enjoys every opportunity to bring projects to life in audio!

On this episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast, host Susan Maguire sat down with Johanna Boyle and Marie Mulder from the Kent District Library in Michigan about the necessary work of the diversity audit, and what to do once the audit is done (hint: it involves spreadsheets). Then Audio Editor Heather Booth offers some solid suggestions for promoting your audiobook collection. Finally (oh, finally), Susan and Senior Editor, Books for Youth Maggie Reagan sat down for one last conversation about what Maggie is reading and loving, and what the heck romantasy means.

Here's what we talked about:

The Final Strife, by Saara El-Afiri

Made Glorious, by Lindsay Eagar

I Loved You In Another Life, by David Arnold

Compass and Blade, by Rachel Greenlaw

A Court of Thorns and Roses, by Sarah J. Maas

Fourth Wing, by Rebecca Yarros

This episode of Shelf Care: The Podcast is all about Summer Scares! The reading program, a collaboration between Booklist, the Horror Writers Association, United for Libraries, Book Riot, and NoveList, announced their title picks in February. Host Susan Maguire sat down with the folks behind Summer Scares to talk about the books they want you to read this summer, different levels of scariness, and the importance of snacks for patron engagement.

Here’s what we talked about:

This Thing between Us, by Gus Moreno

Such Sharp Teeth, by Rachel Harrison

Jackal, by Erin E. Adams

All these Bodies, by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake

#MurderTrending, by Gretchen McNeil

Chain Gang All-Stars, by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Dead Flip, by Sara Farizan

Meddling Kids, by Edgar Cantero

LibraryReads

What Kind of Mother, by Clay McLeod Chapman

2024 Summer Scares Programming Guide

Horror Writers Association

The Nest, by Kenneth Oppel

Ophie’s Ghost, by Justina Ireland

My Aunt is a Monster, by Reimena Yee

The Labyrinth of Lost and Found, by Jordan Lees (The Whisperwicks #1)

Don’t miss these webinars, featuring the Summer Scares Authors:

Summer Scares Adult

Summer Scares YA

Summer Scares Middel Grade