Looking to read more books written by women of color to your bookshelves? Looking to consume more stories with Black characters and narratives? Here are two powerful debut novels to add to your to-read pile this summer! 

Two powerhouse debut novelists, two phenomenal novels, one summer  ripe for reading them both. Take the time to read These Ghosts are Family and Saving Ruby King, then join us for a conversation between the two authors! 

Named a Most Anticipated Book for 2020 and praised as an ambitious, keenly observant novel by Publishers Weekly, Saving Ruby King is an epic, enthralling story set in the South Side of Chicago of a young woman determined to protect her best friend and a deadly secret that threatens to undermine both of their families.

 

When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it means she’ll be living alone with her violent father. The only person who understands the gravity of her situation is Ruby’s best friend Layla. Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what is the price for turning a blind eye? A crucial pilgrimage through the racially divided landscape of Chicago, Saving Ruby King  explores the ways in which history doesn't determine the present and how the bonds of friendship can forever shape the future.

Praised as rich, layered, and compelling by reviewers and  named a Top New Book of the New Decade by Buzz Magazine, These Ghosts Are Family reveals the ways in which a Jamaican family forms and fractures over generations, in the tradition of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Stanford Solomon’s shocking, thirty-year-old secret is about to change the lives of everyone around him. Stanford has done something no one could ever imagine. He is a man who faked his own death and stole the identity of his best friend. Stanford Solomon is actually Abel Paisley.

And now, nearing the end of his life, Stanford is about to meet his firstborn daughter, Irene Paisley, a home health aide who has unwittingly shown up for her first day of work to tend to the father she thought was dead.

These Ghosts Are Family revolves around the consequences of Abel’s decision and tells the story of the Paisley family from colonial Jamaica to present-day Harlem.

The store is not open to in-person events, so we are hosting this as a Zoom webinar event. Please click this link to join us. 

 

The bookstore will not be holding in-person events for the rest of 2020. However, we're committed to connecting you with excellent authors! We're thrilled to host Stacy McAnulty and our own Rebecca Caprara for a special Wednesday afternoon Author Event! 

 
How would you spend five million dollars in 30 days? Field-trip partners Felix and Benji are challenged to figure it out in Stacy McAnulty's band new book, Millionaires for the Month, due out September 1st. When they find the wallet of a tech billionaire and "borrow" $20 to buy hot dogs, they start a wild journey that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Reviewed by Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, the book has been called "absorbing" and "cinematic." Pick it up September 1st and read it before the event! 


Isa and her family have moved more times than they can count. They're finally putting down roots in their new town. People are afraid of the abandoned orchard behind their new home, but Isa and her sister Junie are happy to have acres of land to explore. When Junie gets sick, Isa's mom falls into a depression, and medical bills force Isa's dad to work more. No one notices that Isa's clothes are falling apart and her stomach is empty. Out of frustration, Isa buries her out-grown sneakers in the orchard. The next day, a sapling sprouts buds that reveal new shoes. Can Isa use this magical tree to save her family? Called "warmhearted and compelling" by Kirkus Reviews, The Magic of Melwick Orchard is a tale of fear, hope, and the good things that quietly blossom. Rebecca is the host of our Middle-Grade Book Club! We're excited to have her with us for this event! 

This is a Zoom webinar. The authors will not be able to see participants, and fellow participants won't be able to see, hear, or chat with each other. That makes this a safe event for your kids to do during their "off" Wednesday afternoon as we open a new school year! Don't worry--you'll be able to ask Stacy and Rebecca questions about their books during the event! 

We can't wait to host you for this upcoming online event. Mark your calendar and add this Zoom link so you don't forget. And make sure to order both Millionaires for the Month and The Magic of Melwick Orchard today! You have plenty of time to read them both before the event!