Sign in with Facebook
Goodreads Blog
FOLLOW US
The 21 Most-Popular Graphic Novels for Middle Grade Readers
Posted by Marie on July 27, 2018
Posted by Marie on July 27, 2018
If you're still looking for books to inspire your young reader, middle grade graphic novels just might do the trick. Perfect for children between the ages of 9 and 12, these novels are fast-paced, visually hypnotic, and tell heartwarming stories that explore everything from feeling out of place to forging friendships in different solar systems. So we took a look at the most popular titles in this rapidly growing (and award-winning) genre and brought you the best of the best.
For this round-up, we measured popularity by looking at how many times a book has been added to Goodreads members' Want-to-Read shelves. From there, we narrowed down our list to only include titles with at least a 3.9 star rating. Which titles will your middle grade readers be picking up this summer?
For this round-up, we measured popularity by looking at how many times a book has been added to Goodreads members' Want-to-Read shelves. From there, we narrowed down our list to only include titles with at least a 3.9 star rating. Which titles will your middle grade readers be picking up this summer?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What graphic novels would you recommend for middle-grade readers? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
12 New Graphic Novels to Keep Kids Reading All Summer
The Top 100 YA Books of All Time
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
Check out more recent blogs:
12 New Graphic Novels to Keep Kids Reading All Summer
The Top 100 YA Books of All Time
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
The Top 100 YA Books on Goodreads
Posted by Hayley on July 25, 2018
Posted by Hayley on July 25, 2018
A battlefield where wild magic fills the air. A high school where a fierce rivalry transforms an entire town. A near-future wasteland where a group of misfits seeks something greater than survival…
This is the world of YA. Whether you're a lifelong fan or a curious reader looking to try something new, come along with us as we reveal the very best of the genre.
There are thousands of YA books, so how did we go about finding the most beloved ones on Goodreads? We started by focusing on what's been added the most to Goodreads members' shelves. But this isn't simply a popularity contest; we wanted the best. So we narrowed down our list to include only books with at least a four-star average rating. We also decided to select just the first book in a series—otherwise prolific authors like Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, and Sarah J. Maas would claim many more spots on this list.
And now, without further ado, we present the Top 100 YA Books, ranked by popularity on Goodreads. How many have you read? Tell us in the comments!
This is the world of YA. Whether you're a lifelong fan or a curious reader looking to try something new, come along with us as we reveal the very best of the genre.
There are thousands of YA books, so how did we go about finding the most beloved ones on Goodreads? We started by focusing on what's been added the most to Goodreads members' shelves. But this isn't simply a popularity contest; we wanted the best. So we narrowed down our list to include only books with at least a four-star average rating. We also decided to select just the first book in a series—otherwise prolific authors like Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, and Sarah J. Maas would claim many more spots on this list.
And now, without further ado, we present the Top 100 YA Books, ranked by popularity on Goodreads. How many have you read? Tell us in the comments!
How many have you read? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Catch Up Now: These Big Series All Have Books Coming Out in August
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
Check out more recent blogs:
Catch Up Now: These Big Series All Have Books Coming Out in August
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
Catch Up Now: These Big Series All Have Books Coming Out in August
Posted by Hayley on July 25, 2018
Posted by Hayley on July 25, 2018
There's nothing like the pain of finishing a book with a cliffhanger…and needing to wait months (if not years) for the next book. Save yourself some misery and jump into a beloved series that has a new installment coming out in August!
To find these series, we rounded up the top August sequels your fellow Goodreads can't wait to read, which we measure by how many times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves. Below, we've featured the first book in each of these series—as well as the first line to give you a taste. Which ones pique your curiosity?
To find these series, we rounded up the top August sequels your fellow Goodreads can't wait to read, which we measure by how many times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves. Below, we've featured the first book in each of these series—as well as the first line to give you a taste. Which ones pique your curiosity?
Genre: Fantasy
First book: Kings of the Wyld
First line: "You'd have guessed from the size of his shadow that Clay Cooper was a bigger man than he was."
Bloody Rose, book #2 in the series, hits bookshelves on August 28.
First book: Kings of the Wyld
First line: "You'd have guessed from the size of his shadow that Clay Cooper was a bigger man than he was."
Bloody Rose, book #2 in the series, hits bookshelves on August 28.
Genre: YA science fiction
First book: The Thousandth Floor
First line: "The sounds of laughter and music were dying down on the thousandth floor, the party breaking up by bits and pieces as even the rowdiest guests finally stumbled into the elevators and down to their homes."
The Towering Sky, book #3 in the series, hits bookshelves on August 28.
First book: The Thousandth Floor
First line: "The sounds of laughter and music were dying down on the thousandth floor, the party breaking up by bits and pieces as even the rowdiest guests finally stumbled into the elevators and down to their homes."
The Towering Sky, book #3 in the series, hits bookshelves on August 28.
Genre: Urban fantasy
First book: Magic Bites
First line: "I sat at a table in my shadowy kitchen, staring down a bottle of Boone's Farm Hard Lemonade, when a magic fluctuation hit."
Magic Triumphs, book #10 in the series, hits bookshelves on August 28.
First book: Magic Bites
First line: "I sat at a table in my shadowy kitchen, staring down a bottle of Boone's Farm Hard Lemonade, when a magic fluctuation hit."
Magic Triumphs, book #10 in the series, hits bookshelves on August 28.
Genre: YA fantasy
First book: Frostblood
First line: "I offered my hand to the fire."
Nightblood, book #3 in the series, hits bookshelves on August 21.
First book: Frostblood
First line: "I offered my hand to the fire."
Nightblood, book #3 in the series, hits bookshelves on August 21.
What big sequels are you looking forward to? Come talk books with us in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
The Best Romance Novels of the Year (So Far)
Check out more recent blogs:
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
The Best Romance Novels of the Year (So Far)
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Posted by Hayley on July 24, 2018
Posted by Hayley on July 24, 2018
Need another excuse to go to the bookstore this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day.
To create our list, we focused on the top books Goodreads members can't wait to read, which we measure by how many times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves. All these highly anticipated titles are now available! Which ones catch your eye?
To create our list, we focused on the top books Goodreads members can't wait to read, which we measure by how many times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves. All these highly anticipated titles are now available! Which ones catch your eye?
You should read this book if you like: Contemporary fiction, love stories with secrets, mysterious disappearances, modern dating terms, friends who tell you when you're acting crazy
You should read this book if you like: YA fiction, classic horror movies, dark humor, creepy film sets, confronting your literal and figurative demons, being haunted by your past
You should read this book if you like: Memoirs, trailblazing Olympic athletes, moving coming-of-age stories about growing up as the only African American Muslim at school, fencing
You should read this book if you like: Psychological thrillers, hearing noises no one can else can, potentially possessed typewriters, wondering if you're losing your mind
You should read this book if you like: Historical fiction, Scotland, The House Between Tides, stories that span centuries, myth and family legend, 9th century Norsewomen
I Can't Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I've Put My Faith in Beyoncé
by Michael Arceneaux
by Michael Arceneaux
You should read this book if you like: Essay collections, hilarious wit combined with poignant soul-searching, revealing journeys of what it's like to be a creative, sensitive black man
You should read this book if you like: Science fiction, the Wayfarers series, humans hanging with aliens, thrilling space adventures, wrestling with profound universal questions
What are you looking forward to reading? Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
The Best Romance Novels of the Year (So Far)
32 Fantastical Books for the Savvy Pop Culture Fan
Check out more recent blogs:
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
The Best Romance Novels of the Year (So Far)
32 Fantastical Books for the Savvy Pop Culture Fan
12 Top Nonfiction Audiobook Picks from Audible Editors
Posted by Marie on July 23, 2018
This post is sponsored by Audible.
What are the top nonfiction audiobooks for the first half of the year? The editors at Audible have the answer. Below is a list of some of their favorite picks. Whether you're a true crime fan, a history buff, or a personal development enthusiast, there's plenty of new subjects to immerse yourself in.
If you're in the mood for an inspirational memoir, try Tara Westover's Educated or Chrissy Metz' This is Me. For grit and mystery, try dissecting the the real-life case of The Golden State Killer. Want to laugh out loud? Try the latest collection of essays from David Sedaris and Samantha Irby.
Which nonfiction picks will you be listening to? Don't forget to add your favorites to your Want to Read shelf!
Posted by Marie on July 23, 2018
What are the top nonfiction audiobooks for the first half of the year? The editors at Audible have the answer. Below is a list of some of their favorite picks. Whether you're a true crime fan, a history buff, or a personal development enthusiast, there's plenty of new subjects to immerse yourself in.
If you're in the mood for an inspirational memoir, try Tara Westover's Educated or Chrissy Metz' This is Me. For grit and mystery, try dissecting the the real-life case of The Golden State Killer. Want to laugh out loud? Try the latest collection of essays from David Sedaris and Samantha Irby.
Which nonfiction picks will you be listening to? Don't forget to add your favorites to your Want to Read shelf!
Which of these top nonfiction picks will you be listening to? Let us know in the comments!
For more inspiration, check out the Goodreads' audiobooks page, brought to you by Audible.
Check out more recent blogs:
The Best Romance Novels of the Year (So Far)
32 Fantastical Books for the Savvy Pop Culture Fan
Sarah Henning Shares Her Top YA Picks for the High Seas
For more inspiration, check out the Goodreads' audiobooks page, brought to you by Audible.
Check out more recent blogs:
The Best Romance Novels of the Year (So Far)
32 Fantastical Books for the Savvy Pop Culture Fan
Sarah Henning Shares Her Top YA Picks for the High Seas
The Best Romance Novels of the Year (So Far)
Posted by Hayley on July 19, 2018
Posted by Hayley on July 19, 2018
We'll always have Paris, the beach, the classroom, the vampire lair…
Now that the year is more than halfway over, we decided to look back at the most beloved romances of 2018, the unforgettable tales that stayed with readers long after the last page was read.
To find the most swoon-worthy books published from January to June of this year, we focused on the books that have been added the most to Goodreads members' shelves. Then we narrowed down our list to contain only books with at least a four-star average rating.
Now let's get to the good stuff. And don't forget to add the top-rated titles that catch your eye to your Want to Read shelf.
Now that the year is more than halfway over, we decided to look back at the most beloved romances of 2018, the unforgettable tales that stayed with readers long after the last page was read.
To find the most swoon-worthy books published from January to June of this year, we focused on the books that have been added the most to Goodreads members' shelves. Then we narrowed down our list to contain only books with at least a four-star average rating.
Now let's get to the good stuff. And don't forget to add the top-rated titles that catch your eye to your Want to Read shelf.
Who's falling for each other? An aspiring professional figure skater and the "arrogant idiot" she must partner with.
Who will likely love this? Fans of sports romances and electric chemistry on the ice rink.
Who will likely love this? Fans of sports romances and electric chemistry on the ice rink.
Who's falling for each other? A maid of honor and a best man who live on opposite sides of the country.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and no-strings-attached flings.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and no-strings-attached flings.
Who's falling for each other? A relatively normal human woman and one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Who will likely love this? Fans of paranormal romances and finding love at the end of the world.
Who will likely love this? Fans of paranormal romances and finding love at the end of the world.
Who's falling for each other? A pediatrics resident who reads a lot of books and her former best friend.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and readers getting it on with other readers.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and readers getting it on with other readers.
Who's falling for each other? A down-on-her-luck college student and her boyfriend's father.
Who will likely love this? Fans of new adult romances and forbidden love stories.
Who will likely love this? Fans of new adult romances and forbidden love stories.
Who's falling for each other? A feisty lady in need of a marriage and the bastard son of a duke.
Who will likely love this? Fans of historical romances and juicy Regency scandals.
Read MacLean's essay on how she creates her irresistible book titles.
Who will likely love this? Fans of historical romances and juicy Regency scandals.
Read MacLean's essay on how she creates her irresistible book titles.
Who's falling for each other? A celebrity blogger and the gorgeous movie star she interviews.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and Hollywood fairy tales.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and Hollywood fairy tales.
Who's falling for each other? A mail-order bride with her own agenda and a town doctor living in the wilds of Wyoming.
Who will likely love this? Fans of historical romances and adventure in the Old West.
Who will likely love this? Fans of historical romances and adventure in the Old West.
Who's falling for each other? A hot delivery guy and a hair salon manager with an adorable dog.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and very good boys.
Find our interview with Anderson here.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and very good boys.
Find our interview with Anderson here.
Who's falling for each other? An uptight soldier and the lawless, remorseless assassin he teams up with.
Who will likely love this? Fans of M/M romances and wild thrill rides.
Who will likely love this? Fans of M/M romances and wild thrill rides.
Who's falling for each other? An autistic math genius and the escort she hires to teach her about dating.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and seductive lesson plans.
Check out our interview with Hoang here.
Who will likely love this? Fans of contemporary romances and seductive lesson plans.
Check out our interview with Hoang here.
Who's falling for each other? A supernatural killing machine and the world's leading experts on artificial intelligence.
Who will likely love this? Fans of paranormal romances and literally risking your life.
Check out Feehan's essay on why romance novels are the perfect escape.
Who will likely love this? Fans of paranormal romances and literally risking your life.
Check out Feehan's essay on why romance novels are the perfect escape.
Who's falling for each other? The only female physician in England and a former Scotland Yard detective.
Who will likely love this? Fans of historical romances and Regency one-night stands.
Who will likely love this? Fans of historical romances and Regency one-night stands.
Who's falling for each other? An introverted college student and her accidental roommate, a star athlete.
Who will likely love this? Fans of friends-to-lovers romances and sexy living arrangements.
Who will likely love this? Fans of friends-to-lovers romances and sexy living arrangements.
What are you looking forward to reading? Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Jennie Shaw Really Nails Her Book Reviews
Sugar, Spice, and Ruthlessness: What Unconventional YA Heroines Are Made Of
Inside Gillian Flynn's Dark and Rage-Filled Empire
Check out more recent blogs:
Jennie Shaw Really Nails Her Book Reviews
Sugar, Spice, and Ruthlessness: What Unconventional YA Heroines Are Made Of
Inside Gillian Flynn's Dark and Rage-Filled Empire
32 Fantastical Books for the Savvy Pop Culture Fan
Posted by Hayley on July 18, 2018
That's Not How It Happened in the Book…
Impress (or irritate) your friends and family with details about what Hollywood changed from each of these beloved stories.
Between a Castle Rock and a Hard Place
Unleash the horrors of Castle Rock, a fictional town where Stephen King set many of his most chilling tales, before the adaptation premieres on Hulu.
Over My Walking Dead Body
Too far gone? Return to better days of the apocalypse with the original comics and the prequel novels about notorious villain The Governor.
Just What the Doctor Who Ordered
Before the 13th Doctor steps into her T.A.R.D.I.S., travel all of space and time with these Time Lord novels, including one from iconic sci-fi legend Douglas Adams.
The Nature of the Fantastic Beasts
Ready to meet young Dumbledore? Prepare yourself for The Crimes of Grindelwald by replacing your Muggle books with a magical tale or two.
It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No, It's…
Have no fear—all the superheroes are here. Save the world again and again with these genetically enhanced (or just really athletic) humans and aliens.
Posted by Hayley on July 18, 2018
You know winter is coming. You don't blink around statues. You're a true believer.
When it comes to escapism, you're an expert. To help you discover your next out-of-this-world read, we rounded up books based off the biggest movie and television adaptations featured at San Diego Comic-Con, the annual comics-turned-everything convention where fans collide with artists, actors, authors, and more.
From the stories to read before they hit the screen to the backstories of your favorite heroes and villains, these are the books to keep you entertained and in the know.
When it comes to escapism, you're an expert. To help you discover your next out-of-this-world read, we rounded up books based off the biggest movie and television adaptations featured at San Diego Comic-Con, the annual comics-turned-everything convention where fans collide with artists, actors, authors, and more.
From the stories to read before they hit the screen to the backstories of your favorite heroes and villains, these are the books to keep you entertained and in the know.
Impress (or irritate) your friends and family with details about what Hollywood changed from each of these beloved stories.
Unleash the horrors of Castle Rock, a fictional town where Stephen King set many of his most chilling tales, before the adaptation premieres on Hulu.
Too far gone? Return to better days of the apocalypse with the original comics and the prequel novels about notorious villain The Governor.
Before the 13th Doctor steps into her T.A.R.D.I.S., travel all of space and time with these Time Lord novels, including one from iconic sci-fi legend Douglas Adams.
Ready to meet young Dumbledore? Prepare yourself for The Crimes of Grindelwald by replacing your Muggle books with a magical tale or two.
Have no fear—all the superheroes are here. Save the world again and again with these genetically enhanced (or just really athletic) humans and aliens.
What catches your eye? Let's talk book in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Exclusive: Megan Whalen Turner Reveals the Cover for 'Return of the Thief'
Killing the 'Dead Girl' Theme in Crime Fiction
Check out more recent blogs:
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Exclusive: Megan Whalen Turner Reveals the Cover for 'Return of the Thief'
Killing the 'Dead Girl' Theme in Crime Fiction
Exclusive: Megan Whalen Turner Reveals the Cover for 'Return of the Thief'
Posted by Marie on July 17, 2018
Posted by Marie on July 17, 2018
After 20 enchanting years, author Megan Whalen Turner is set to conclude her beloved Queen's Thief young adult fantasy series. In addition to unveiling the cover of the series' final installment, Return of the Thief, Turner shares a behind-the-scenes look at selecting the art as well as her thoughts on her writing journey with the powerful and cunning Eugenides the thief.
Goodreads: It's finally here! What are your thoughts on the cover for Return of the Thief?
Megan Whalen Turner: I love that fiery red—it’s one of my favorite colors—and I love the little crackle pattern, as if the heat from the volcano has crinkled the background. Also, I love the elephant. It was a long wait for that elephant.
GR: What can you tell us about the cover's creative process?
MWT: The process for the new covers on the first four books in the Queen’s Thief series and for Thick as Thieves and Return of the Thief was the same. My editor, Virginia Duncan, and I talked about different elements that might work for the story. Then I sent a lot of reference images, and Virginia showed me the basic design first.
Little by little, the details were added and shuffled around. Every time she sent another version of the cover, it was better than before. I am continually astonished by cover artist Joel Tippie and art director Paul Zakris. I look at the trees especially and think they are the most amazing works of art.
GR: The first book in the Queen's Thief series was originally published in 1996. How has the creative process for selecting covers changed since then? Were there any visual themes that remained the same throughout the series?
MWT: Let me just say that I love the original cover of The Thief. It has a stylized image of the goddess Hephestia sitting on her throne, and I think it looks mysterious and fascinating (do you see that shadowy hand?). But I also have to say, it’s a darn good thing it’s got that silver sticker on it because I may be the only person who likes it. People thought it was a very bad picture of the main character. Some librarians told me their students thought it was Jesus. There have been many other editions since. Most of them foreign translations I have no influence over at all, and that’s probably a good thing. They arrive in the mail like birthday presents, and I’m excited every time a new artist creates a cover.
Some years later (but who’s counting), when I delivered The King of Attolia, Greenwillow repackaged the paperbacks with Vince Natale paintings on the covers. They sent the new cover for The Thief, which was beautiful. I’m not a stickler for accuracy. I didn’t mind that Hamiathes’ Gift was the size of a yo-yo. And then they sent the cover for The Queen of Attolia—which I thought was absolutely horrifying. A hook with a gleaming point about to pierce the queen of Attolia’s finger? I said, No, that was creepy. I called Virginia, who had passed me to the paperback publisher, I think, before I remembered—the Jesus cover.
I am responsible for what goes inside the book, not what goes on the outside, and there’s a really good reason for that. Greenwillow was willing to make changes, but I said, No, never mind, and as far as I know, no one has ever shied away from The Queen of Attolia because of that image. It is, after all, both beautiful and on point.
When Greenwillow repackaged the series again last year, they asked for any images that I thought might be relevant, and I bombed Virginia with thousands via email. Leigh Bardugo looked at me over the dinner table after a day at San Diego Comic-Con and asked why I didn’t just make Pinterest boards. Thank you, Leigh. Now I do that. I gather pictures; Greenwillow transforms them into beautiful covers.
Oh, I almost forgot. I also send them my terrible hand-drawn sketches. Virginia loves those.
GR: The finale to the Queen's Thief series was 20 years in the making. What lessons have you learned along the way? What moments stood out for you?
MWT: It’s been a long writing journey, and one of the most important things I’ve learned is to watch out for self-indulgence. It is the author’s most insidious enemy. It tells you it’s OK not to work when you’re feeling tired or distracted. It whispers in your ear that you don’t need more character development and it is totally, absolutely, positively OK to use three adverbs in a row. That’s really what they mean when people tell you to kill your darlings—beware of self-indulgence, but it’s more than just the adverbs you have to watch out for.
On the other hand, I think you have to believe your writing is more important than the laundry, or you’ll never write anything. People who enjoy writing the most are the ones who have the hardest time justifying the time they spend on it. But there will always be other things that really need doing, and yes, we should do them, but writing also deserves its moment at the top of the priority list.
As for memorable moments, wow, those phone calls out of the blue are great. Susan Hirschman, my first editor, called to say that Greenwillow wanted to publish my first book, and all I could think was, Who could be prank-calling me like this? When the Newbery committee called, I said, "Newbery? Like, with one r, Newbery?"
Maybe the best moments are when the universe brings me a message from a reader who loves my books within a few days of a message sent by someone who loves that reader.
"My son loves your books"—and I know, I know he does. He wrote the day before from the other side of the world to tell me about how much it meant to share the books with his mom. “I love your books”—and I think, yeah, your dad told me that when he got you a signed set for graduation. Congratulations!
GR: If you could speak to your characters directly, what would you say to them now that your series is drawing to a close?
MWT: I’m sorry it took 20 years. I know, I know, you all arrived so quickly in a haze of glory, and I have been slow to get everything written down. I was busy, OK? And listen, in those 20 years?—I learned a lot of things, and I think I understand all of you much better now than I did then.
GR: What message would you like to share with your longtime fans who have been with you since the beginning?
MWT: Thank you, you wonderful, thoughtful, and most especially patient people! Thank you for taking to heart all of my prickly characters. Thank you for rereading. Thank you for noticing the subtlest of hints. Thank you for putting up with me when I’m "not telling," and thank you, each of you, for taking my words and turning them into the story in your head.
Return of the Thief will be available on March 19, 2019. Don’t forget to add it to your Want to Read shelf!
Megan Whalen Turner: I love that fiery red—it’s one of my favorite colors—and I love the little crackle pattern, as if the heat from the volcano has crinkled the background. Also, I love the elephant. It was a long wait for that elephant.
GR: What can you tell us about the cover's creative process?
MWT: The process for the new covers on the first four books in the Queen’s Thief series and for Thick as Thieves and Return of the Thief was the same. My editor, Virginia Duncan, and I talked about different elements that might work for the story. Then I sent a lot of reference images, and Virginia showed me the basic design first.
Little by little, the details were added and shuffled around. Every time she sent another version of the cover, it was better than before. I am continually astonished by cover artist Joel Tippie and art director Paul Zakris. I look at the trees especially and think they are the most amazing works of art.
GR: The first book in the Queen's Thief series was originally published in 1996. How has the creative process for selecting covers changed since then? Were there any visual themes that remained the same throughout the series?
MWT: Let me just say that I love the original cover of The Thief. It has a stylized image of the goddess Hephestia sitting on her throne, and I think it looks mysterious and fascinating (do you see that shadowy hand?). But I also have to say, it’s a darn good thing it’s got that silver sticker on it because I may be the only person who likes it. People thought it was a very bad picture of the main character. Some librarians told me their students thought it was Jesus. There have been many other editions since. Most of them foreign translations I have no influence over at all, and that’s probably a good thing. They arrive in the mail like birthday presents, and I’m excited every time a new artist creates a cover.
Some years later (but who’s counting), when I delivered The King of Attolia, Greenwillow repackaged the paperbacks with Vince Natale paintings on the covers. They sent the new cover for The Thief, which was beautiful. I’m not a stickler for accuracy. I didn’t mind that Hamiathes’ Gift was the size of a yo-yo. And then they sent the cover for The Queen of Attolia—which I thought was absolutely horrifying. A hook with a gleaming point about to pierce the queen of Attolia’s finger? I said, No, that was creepy. I called Virginia, who had passed me to the paperback publisher, I think, before I remembered—the Jesus cover.
When Greenwillow repackaged the series again last year, they asked for any images that I thought might be relevant, and I bombed Virginia with thousands via email. Leigh Bardugo looked at me over the dinner table after a day at San Diego Comic-Con and asked why I didn’t just make Pinterest boards. Thank you, Leigh. Now I do that. I gather pictures; Greenwillow transforms them into beautiful covers.
Oh, I almost forgot. I also send them my terrible hand-drawn sketches. Virginia loves those.
GR: The finale to the Queen's Thief series was 20 years in the making. What lessons have you learned along the way? What moments stood out for you?
MWT: It’s been a long writing journey, and one of the most important things I’ve learned is to watch out for self-indulgence. It is the author’s most insidious enemy. It tells you it’s OK not to work when you’re feeling tired or distracted. It whispers in your ear that you don’t need more character development and it is totally, absolutely, positively OK to use three adverbs in a row. That’s really what they mean when people tell you to kill your darlings—beware of self-indulgence, but it’s more than just the adverbs you have to watch out for.
On the other hand, I think you have to believe your writing is more important than the laundry, or you’ll never write anything. People who enjoy writing the most are the ones who have the hardest time justifying the time they spend on it. But there will always be other things that really need doing, and yes, we should do them, but writing also deserves its moment at the top of the priority list.
As for memorable moments, wow, those phone calls out of the blue are great. Susan Hirschman, my first editor, called to say that Greenwillow wanted to publish my first book, and all I could think was, Who could be prank-calling me like this? When the Newbery committee called, I said, "Newbery? Like, with one r, Newbery?"
Maybe the best moments are when the universe brings me a message from a reader who loves my books within a few days of a message sent by someone who loves that reader.
"My son loves your books"—and I know, I know he does. He wrote the day before from the other side of the world to tell me about how much it meant to share the books with his mom. “I love your books”—and I think, yeah, your dad told me that when he got you a signed set for graduation. Congratulations!
GR: If you could speak to your characters directly, what would you say to them now that your series is drawing to a close?
MWT: I’m sorry it took 20 years. I know, I know, you all arrived so quickly in a haze of glory, and I have been slow to get everything written down. I was busy, OK? And listen, in those 20 years?—I learned a lot of things, and I think I understand all of you much better now than I did then.
GR: What message would you like to share with your longtime fans who have been with you since the beginning?
MWT: Thank you, you wonderful, thoughtful, and most especially patient people! Thank you for taking to heart all of my prickly characters. Thank you for rereading. Thank you for noticing the subtlest of hints. Thank you for putting up with me when I’m "not telling," and thank you, each of you, for taking my words and turning them into the story in your head.
Return of the Thief will be available on March 19, 2019. Don’t forget to add it to your Want to Read shelf!
Riding the Tide: Sarah Henning Shares Her Top YA Picks for the High Seas
Posted by Marie on July 17, 2018
Mad Max: Fury Road meets badass future-world female pirates fighting a warlord on the seas they call home.
A dark take on The Little Mermaid, with two murderous main characters and a slow-burn romance.
An origin story for DC’s Mera and Aquaman that explores a rift between duty and love.
Pirates, heretics, magic, and an island full of political intrigue.
Islands, lost princes, maps, and the cruel mysteries of a long-ago tragedy.
Sea Witch will be available on July 31. Don’t forget to add it to your Want to Read shelf!
Posted by Marie on July 17, 2018
Sarah Henning is the journalist-turned-debut author of Sea Witch, a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Having lived and worked through five hurricanes in South Florida, she has a profound respect for the ocean. Here, Henning shares a list of her top seafaring YA books as well as her take on what makes the ocean such an alluring muse.
I didn’t see the ocean until I was 14. A native Kansan, I was much more familiar with those amber waves of grain than the watery kind. And when I finally saw it, I was in a massive airplane, gliding over the Pacific, headed for Australia. For hours upon hours, the clouds held us, pressed between the familiar blue of the sky above and a big, glistening expanse below that seemed just as endless.
Ten years after that first glimpse of the glimmering deep, the sea became a part of my everyday life. I’d moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, and I couldn’t leave my house without catching a whiff of brine, couldn’t go on a run without the energy of the waves pulling me across the bridge to jog along Ocean Boulevard, couldn’t go more than a day without making it a point to hear the sound of the Atlantic lapping against Palm Beach.
The power and beauty of the ocean shaped my time in South Florida with its intoxicating magic and ancient rhythms. It’s the type of energy that seeps into your bones. And when she was in a mood, I felt that, too—her fury during the five hurricanes I experienced was unforgettable. I rode them out and then emerged, each time amazed at how calm the water could look—blue, normal, cheerful—in the days after, while building entrails dangled from high-rises, windows blown, roofs peeled wide open to the unforgiving sun.
And though it’s been years since I had the ocean in all her incarnations at my fingertips, it still calls to me. Maybe it always will.
Sea Witch gives the Wicked treatment to Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic eight-legged sorceress. In writing it, I very much treated the water as if it were a character itself, not just a piece of the world. My sea is at once wicked, fickle, generous, beautiful, and unforgiving, not unlike the real thing. She dictates the livelihood of every character in the book, and she can just as soon save a life as end it.
And my debut has some very good company on Young Adult shelves. In the past few years, we’ve seen several beautiful stories set on the waves, including at least four recent debuts and their follow-ups: Heidi Heilig’s The Girl from Everywhere and The Ship Beyond Time; Sarah Tolcser’s Song of the Current and Whisper of the Tide; Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen; and Nicole Castroman’s Blackhearts and Blacksouls.
Maybe this should be no surprise—almost three-quarters of the world is water. It dominates our planet in a way that land cannot. The life under the waves outnumbers those above the shoreline, too. The ocean never rests. It’s always in motion. It’s always there, a living, breathing, powerful thing. But it is also mysterious—though the sea is so big, so known, there is so much we cannot see and depths to which we still have not been.
Something so dynamic is an attractive muse. Even better, the ocean is synonymous with adventure—perfect for those of us who daydream for a living, a new experience for our characters and our stories just a ship and all its perils away.
Below are just a few of new and upcoming reads that also ride the tide in unforgettable ways. I hope you enjoy the many faces of the sea in every one of them.
Ten years after that first glimpse of the glimmering deep, the sea became a part of my everyday life. I’d moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, and I couldn’t leave my house without catching a whiff of brine, couldn’t go on a run without the energy of the waves pulling me across the bridge to jog along Ocean Boulevard, couldn’t go more than a day without making it a point to hear the sound of the Atlantic lapping against Palm Beach.
The power and beauty of the ocean shaped my time in South Florida with its intoxicating magic and ancient rhythms. It’s the type of energy that seeps into your bones. And when she was in a mood, I felt that, too—her fury during the five hurricanes I experienced was unforgettable. I rode them out and then emerged, each time amazed at how calm the water could look—blue, normal, cheerful—in the days after, while building entrails dangled from high-rises, windows blown, roofs peeled wide open to the unforgiving sun.
Sea Witch gives the Wicked treatment to Hans Christian Andersen’s iconic eight-legged sorceress. In writing it, I very much treated the water as if it were a character itself, not just a piece of the world. My sea is at once wicked, fickle, generous, beautiful, and unforgiving, not unlike the real thing. She dictates the livelihood of every character in the book, and she can just as soon save a life as end it.
And my debut has some very good company on Young Adult shelves. In the past few years, we’ve seen several beautiful stories set on the waves, including at least four recent debuts and their follow-ups: Heidi Heilig’s The Girl from Everywhere and The Ship Beyond Time; Sarah Tolcser’s Song of the Current and Whisper of the Tide; Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen; and Nicole Castroman’s Blackhearts and Blacksouls.
Maybe this should be no surprise—almost three-quarters of the world is water. It dominates our planet in a way that land cannot. The life under the waves outnumbers those above the shoreline, too. The ocean never rests. It’s always in motion. It’s always there, a living, breathing, powerful thing. But it is also mysterious—though the sea is so big, so known, there is so much we cannot see and depths to which we still have not been.
Something so dynamic is an attractive muse. Even better, the ocean is synonymous with adventure—perfect for those of us who daydream for a living, a new experience for our characters and our stories just a ship and all its perils away.
Below are just a few of new and upcoming reads that also ride the tide in unforgettable ways. I hope you enjoy the many faces of the sea in every one of them.
Mad Max: Fury Road meets badass future-world female pirates fighting a warlord on the seas they call home.
A dark take on The Little Mermaid, with two murderous main characters and a slow-burn romance.
An origin story for DC’s Mera and Aquaman that explores a rift between duty and love.
Pirates, heretics, magic, and an island full of political intrigue.
Islands, lost princes, maps, and the cruel mysteries of a long-ago tragedy.
Sea Witch will be available on July 31. Don’t forget to add it to your Want to Read shelf!
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves Today
Posted by Hayley on July 17, 2018
Posted by Hayley on July 17, 2018
Need another excuse to go to the bookstore this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day.
To create our list, we focused on the top books Goodreads members can't wait to read, which we measure by how many times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves. All these highly anticipated titles are now available! Which ones catch your eye?
To create our list, we focused on the top books Goodreads members can't wait to read, which we measure by how many times a book has been added to Want to Read shelves. All these highly anticipated titles are now available! Which ones catch your eye?
You should read this book if you like: Psychological thrillers, You Will Know Me, female friendships with complicated chemistry, secrets that change everything, dangerous rivalries
Check out Abbott's favorite books about female friendship here.
Check out Abbott's favorite books about female friendship here.
You should read this book if you like: Contemporary romances, Hopeless, couples trying to save their marriage, emotional struggles with infertility, winners of Goodreads Choice Awards
You should read this book if you like: Nonfiction, manifestos on the current state of affairs, influential New York Times book critics, "a path forward for our truth-challenged times"
You should read this book if you like: YA science fiction, cyborgs and janitors-turned-soldiers, The Abyss Surrounds Us, LGBT representation, intergalactic rebellion, uneasy alliances
You should read this book if you like: 19th century American history, the rowdy battle for dominance of the tea and opium trades, eccentric shipbuilders and cutthroat profiteers
The Adventure Zone: Here There Be Gerblins
by Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy,Travis McElroy, and Clint McElroy
by Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy,Travis McElroy, and Clint McElroy
You should read this book if you like: Fantasy, graphic novels, Dungeons & Dragons, The Adventure Zone podcast, hilarious exploits and snarky exposition, family game nights
You should read this book if you like: Creepy thrillers, seemingly sweet children with sinister agendas, dysfunctional families, The Omen, daring debuts, wicked tricks and games
What are you looking forward to reading? Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
Killing the 'Dead Girl' Theme in Crime Fiction
12 New Graphic Novels to Keep Kids Reading All Summer
Careful or You’ll End Up in My Novel: The Romance Novelist at Work
Check out more recent blogs:
Killing the 'Dead Girl' Theme in Crime Fiction
12 New Graphic Novels to Keep Kids Reading All Summer
Careful or You’ll End Up in My Novel: The Romance Novelist at Work
