Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) appears at #13 on the Mountains and Plains Trade Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers list for the week ending September 15.
“The caring acts of loved ones are the focus of this first-person work that models how affection can be relayed by actions…Conveying close-up images of family pairs caring for each other, Kuo’s sharply drawn digital illustrations use a graphic style with flat planes of color to suggest a depth of love expressed.”
“With joy and tenderness, Chung and Kuo convey an important truth; young people whose families express love in different ways will feel seen, heard, and embraced…Readers will feel the love—in every well-chosen word and each exquisite image.”
Next Big Idea curators Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink have handpicked Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as one of the club’s two favorite nonfiction books of this season. They say: “From the aggressive rethinking of workload management, to introducing seasonal variation, to shifting your performance toward long-term quality, Slow Productivity reveals how to escape overload and arrive at a more timeless approach to pursuing meaningful accomplishment." Club members will receive a complimentary copy by mail.
Jill Santopolo's THE LOVE WE FOUND was included on Zibby Owens' Most Anticipated Books for Fall/Winter 2024–2025.
Jane Tara's TILDA IS VISIBLE was included on Zibby Owens' Most Anticipated Books for Fall/Winter 2024–2025.
Rebecca Boyle’s first book, OUR MOON: How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are (Random House), has been named to the longlist for the National Book Awards 2024 for Nonfiction.
"An excellent book for exploring neurodiversity through an engaging story about one child’s everyday experiences."
"[Rosner's] expansive, fluid meditation on so-called third-ear listening—a deeply attuned, intuitive way of perceiving the world that transcends the physically audible—is rooted in personal experience, but the contemplative vignettes explore our sonic universe. . . . This poignant exploration of the hidden depths of the soundscapes around us reveals the importance of listening with more than just our ears."
"A haunting yet poignant story with a cliffhanger ending that will leave readers hungry for more."
"Giving off vibes of a gothic version of Ponyo crossed with A Wrinkle in Time, this fantasy from a Buffy comics writer and a Lumberjanes artist takes place in a coastal town stuck in eternal eve. Ages 9–12."
"[A] richly satisfying tapestry . . . the scintillating volume of knowledge put forth is well worth the reading journey."
"In this tale that’s packed with nonstop action, the events of the War of 1812 are told through a human lens that eschews the glorification of battle and includes the role of Black people in the British and American armies. While the rollicking narrative is full of humor, it doesn’t shy away from hard questions. As Marissa contemplates the phrase 'we the people' in the opening line of the U.S. Constitution, she asks, 'Did Madison think that meant all the people?'...Timely and wildly entertaining."
“Relatable for kid readers, nicely nostalgic for adults, and all-around wonderful.”
“Young and old readers alike will recognize themselves or someone they know in Max. THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS SOMETIMES is a delightful book guaranteed to bring on both laughs and greater understanding of the many Maxs in the world.”
"A book packed with perceptions and revelations. Science and art meet in this eloquent study of the aural world around us."
Liz Rosner's THIRD EAR: Reflections on the Art and Science of Listening was included on Lit Hub's list of the Most Anticipated Books of 2024: "To masterfully blend memoir with science writing is to create one of the most compelling kinds of book—one whose insights are both cerebral and emotional."
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE appeared on the USA Today's bestsellers list for June 2024.
Amazon Editors have selected Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) as their #1 pick among business and leadership books of 2024 so far. Lindsay Powers writes: “A refreshing read that urges us to focus on quality over quantity, lean out, and find meaning in our every day.”
NPR staffers chose their favorite books of the year so far, and Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) was among them. Copy editor Preeti Aroon said: "If you’re the typical knowledge worker, your life is overwhelmed by a dizzying flurry of emails and Slack messages breaking your focus every few minutes. You breathlessly ricochet from task to task yet never get enough real work done. Stop. Take a deep breath. Then read Slow Productivity.... If enough knowledge workers embrace slow productivity, we can revolutionize the world of work.”
The New York Times asked time-management experts which productivity books they use, and Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) was second on the list. “Several experts recommended books by Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University.”
Melissa Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon (W.W. Norton) has won the 34th Annual Reading the West Book Award in the biography/memoir category. Watch Melissa’s award and acceptance starting at the 2:20 mark.
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE was selected as one of the 6 Steamy Summer Romance Novels by Oprah Daily: "De la Rosa cracks open the stuffiest of Victorian ballrooms, showing that the world is much bigger than England and that history is made by acts of hero- and heroine-ism, both small and large. This book stands on its own, but if you’re a series completist, why not start with the wonderful Ana María and the Fox?"
Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) debuted on the Pacific Northwest independent booksellers trade paperback nonfiction bestseller list at #12.
Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) debuted on the Northern California independent booksellers trade paperback nonfiction bestseller list at #15.
Science Friday’s SciFri Book Club has selected Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) as their July pick.
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE was selected as one of the eight "Great Fiction Books for Summer Days (and Nights)" by Kirkus: "Our starred review says this book will delight fans of historical romance; if you’re not one already, this is a fine place to start."
Liana De la Rosa's ISABEL AND THE ROGUE was included in Kirkus's "24 Hottest Summer Reads of 2024."
Liana De la Rosa's ANA MARÍA AND THE FOX was recommended as a historical romance for fans of Bridgerton: "A perfect mix of slow-burn romance, geopolitical maneuvering and sisterly antics"
"The story of three characters from different social classes learning to work together remains compelling"
The Skimm featured Meera Lee Patel’s HOW IT FEELS TO FIND YOURSELF (TarcherPerigee) in its roundup of Best Products to Support Your Mental Health: "In addition to the stunning watercolor illustrations in this book, Patel beautifully breaks down each section into clear themes related to navigating change…. If you or someone you know is entering a new life chapter and feeling daunted by it, this book is a solid companion."
Mary-Frances O’Connor’s THE GRIEVING BRAIN was selected by James R. Doty on behalf of The Wall Street Journal as one of Five Best: Books on the Brain: "In The Grieving Brain, Mary-Frances O’Connor demonstrates the astonishing resilience of the human spirit. She studies grief with scientific rigor, examining how our brains process and adapt to extreme emotional experiences."
KJ Dell’Antonia's novel THE CHICKEN SISTERS is being developed for television by The Hallmark Channel and stars Lea Thompson, Schuyler Fisk, Genevieve Angelson and Wendie Malick.
Dr. Thema Bryant, author of the forthcoming RECLAIM YOURSELF: The Homecoming Workbook, was featured on Good Morning America (beginning at 2:40 in this clip).
Melissa L. Sevigny’s BRAVE THE WILD RIVER (W.W. Norton) is on the shortlist for the 34th Annual Reading the West Book Awards in the category of memoir & biography. Voting is open to the public until May 31.
Shannon Sander's debut story collection COMPANY has been shortlisted for the 2024 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, awarded by the Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation. The Prize is intended to encourage new or emerging writers and honor the Saroyan literary legacy of originality, vitality and stylistic innovation.
Dr. Thema Bryant, author of the forthcoming RECLAIM YOURSELF: The Homecoming Workbook, was featured on Soul Boom with Rainn Wilson podcast to discuss healing from religious trauma.
Parade named Rachel Lance’s CHAMBER DIVERS (Dutton) one of the best new book releases for the week and said, "In this fascinating work of hidden history, author Rachel Lance reveals the brave men and women who risked life and limb–and sometimes lost them–when testing the boundaries of what the human body could endure underwater, all in preparation for D-Day. It's nerve-wracking, inspiring and quite remarkable. Some 80 years after the war ended, we're still learning so much.”
Cal Newport’s SLOW PRODUCTIVITY (Portfolio) is #4 on the New York Times Business Best Sellers list for April.
Mary-Frances O’Connor, author of THE GRIEVING BRAIN (HarperOne) was featured in Time magazine’s “Taylor Swift Is Embracing the 5 Stages of Grief. Should You?”
Dr. Hasan Merali, author of SLEEP WELL, TAKE RISKS, SQUISH THE PEAS (HCI) appeared on BBC Radio 4’s “Woman’s Hour” to discuss the ways we can channel our inner toddler to live a happier life.
Wired published “They Experimented on Themselves in Secret. What They Discovered Helped Win a War," an excerpt from Rachel Lance's CHAMBER DIVERS (Dutton).
Smithsonian Magazine published "To Help the Allied War Effort, These Scientists Got Drunk on Nitrogen," an excerpt from Rachel Lance's CHAMBER DIVERS (Dutton).
Shannon Sander's debut story collection COMPANY was named the winner of the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction at the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes: “The prose is magnificent, mature and breathtakingly precise, and the collection resounds with a sensitivity and wisdom rarely seen in a debut."
The Children's Book Council included Charles R. Smith Jr.'s MAJOR TAYLOR: WORLD CYCLING CHAMPION on their 2024 3rd–5th Grade Teacher and Librarian Favorites.
Dr. Neal Barnard's THE POWER FOODS DIET appeared on the Publisher's Weekly hardcover nonfiction bestseller list.
Rachel Lance appeared on NPR’s Fresh Air to discuss her second book, CHAMBER DIVERS: The Untold Story of the D-Day Scientists Who Changed Special Operations Forever (Dutton), with Terry Gross.
The Wall Street Journal reviewed Sheryl Kaskowitz’s A CHANCE TO HARMONIZE (Pegasus), saying: “The first full-length study of one of the New Deal’s most ambitious cultural initiatives…. A Chance to Harmonize, as well as giving a picaresque account of a remarkable archival project, offers a corrective to the male-dominated narratives of the folk-song field.”
Sarah Cypher's debut novel THE SKIN AND ITS GIRL is on the longlist for the 2024 PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novels.
Sarah Cypher's debut novel THE SKIN AND ITS GIRL was longlisted for the 2023 Virginia Commonwealth University Cabell First Novelist Award.
Sarah Cypher's debut novel THE SKIN AND ITS GIRL was selected as a 2024 Stonewall Barbara Gittings Literature Honor Award winner.
"[Frank] offers a realistic yet sensitive portrait of a child who’s often a little out of step with the rest of the world but who’s undeniably perceptive and thoughtful—and who’s lucky enough to have a sympathetic adult who sees that. Many neurodivergent readers will recognize themselves in Max... A deeply satisfying tale of a square peg who finds a way to triumph."
Genevieve Plunkett's debut novel IN THE LOBBY OF THE DREAM HOTEL was named a finalist for the Vermont Book Award.
The Wall Street Journal reviewed Wayne Kalayjian's SAVING MICHELANGELO'S DOME: "This is Mr. Kalayjian’s first book, but he is a natural writer, and his authority on matters of engineering lends clarity to a difficult topic."
"De la Rosa’s sequel to Ana María and the Fox (2023) will delight fans of that book... The well-written story has a rich combination of suspense and complex character development, not to mention a red-hot scene when the two are trapped underneath a desk together, but what will stick with readers is the dramatic and moving ending... A satisfying sequel in a great historical romance series."
Christian Science Monitor included Nancy Nichols's memoir WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL on their list of "the 10 best new books of March 2024": "Nichols offers a spirited exploration of the effects of the automobile on American women. She documents the ways driving has both expanded women’s freedoms and, citing midcentury isolation in the suburbs, limited their opportunities."
