News in February 2020
News in February 2020
TIME Magazine correspondent Charlotte Alter’s THE ONES WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR published this past Tuesday to fantastic reception. The New York Times writes: “Thanks to Alter’s timely book, we can have a better understanding of why an entire generation was set back and what’s driving it now.” Thus far, the author has been featured on MSNBC Live, Morning Joe, and The 11th Hour with Brian Williams to discuss the ways in which a new generation of political leadership is transforming American Democracy. Alter also made an appearance on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss the phenomenon of young voters’ support of socialism. Viking published the book on February 18, 2020.
MINOR FEELINGS received a glowing review from the New York Times. They write: “The poet Cathy Park Hong begins her new book of essays with a bang . . . MINOR FEELINGS is studded with moments [full of] candor and dark humor shot through with glittering self-awareness.” Several publications have called MINOR FEELINGS a best or most anticipated book of February (TIME, Bustle, The Millions, All Arts, Read It Forward), spring (Newsweek), or the year (Esquire, Hypebae, BookPage, Reading Women). One World will publish the book on February 25, 2020.
In a stellar review of THE PRETTIEST STAR, Booklist writes: “Sickels’ heart-wrenching novel shows how the 1980s AIDS crisis affects one young man and his family . . . This immersive, tragic book will stay with readers.” Hub City Press will publish the book on April 14, 2020.
Publishers Weekly gave Harry Dodge’s MY METEORITE a strong review, describing it as an “astute debut memoir” that “entertains and enlightens.” Penguin Books will publish the book on March 17, 2020.
Namwali Serpell’s THE OLD DRIFT has been nominated for two Los Angeles Times Book Prizes: the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and the Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction. Hogarth published the book on March 26, 2019.
De’Shawn Charles Winslow’s IN WEST MILLS has been nominated for the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction, one of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. Bloomsbury published the book on June 4, 2019.
Ted Chiang’s EXHALATION has been nominated for the Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy & Speculative Fiction, one of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. Knopf published the book on May 7, 2019.
The New York Times published an excerpt from Conor Dougherty’s GOLDEN GATES, an investigation into America’s affordable housing crisis. Former President Barack Obama tweeted the link to the excerpt, noting that it is “worth reading – from housing to health, these stories use data to explore challenges we face and demonstrate how policy solutions along with civic engagement can make a real difference in people’s lives.” Penguin Press published the book on February 18, 2020.
YES NO MAYBE SO, co-written by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed, has debuted at #8 on the New York Times bestseller list for Young Adult hardcovers and at #6 on the Indie Next Young Adult list. It has also been named a Top Ten Pick for Indie Next’s Spring 2020 Kids’ list, which calls it a “canvassing rom-com for our time!” ABA journalist Sydney Jarrard writes: “When Jamie meets Maya at a local political event and they get roped into going door-to-door together, a friendship blooms into romance. But navigating cross-cultural relationships amid the turbulent politics of 2019 is no easy feat. This book is funny, romantic, and sweet, and it will inspire both empathy and activism in readers of all ages.” Balzer + Bray published the book on February 4, 2020.
Amina Cain’s debut novel INDELICACY was selected by the New York Times for “Group Text,” their monthly book group column. In the column, Elizabeth Egan raves that INDELICACY is “a small but mighty tale of aspiration and marriage gone wrong” and writes that it “reminded [her] of ‘A Room of One’s Own’ with a few wicked twists.” The column also featured an excerpt from the book. In addition, the book was named as one of the most anticipated books for February 2020 by Lit Hub, Ms. Magazine, and the AV Club. Farrar, Straus & Giroux published the book on February 11, 2020.
The In the Margins Book Awards committee has named Angie Thomas's ON THE COME UP one of their 2020 Recommended Fiction titles: "Set in the same neighborhood as Thomas’s THE HATE U GIVE, readers will connect with Bri’s coming of age story that addresses poverty, systemic racism, and the way society labels black youth." Balzer + Bray published the book on February 5, 2019.
Kirkus hails Katie Heaney’s GIRL CRUSHED as “fresh and charming,” noting that its “pacing is spot-on” and that its “exploration of lesbian relationships—particularly post-breakup—is handled deftly.” Knopf Books for Young Readers will publish Heaney’s YA debut on April 7, 2020.