Deadline | February 5, 2021

EXCLUSIVE: Gil Birmingham (Twilight, Hell or High Water), Terry O’Quinn (Perpetual Grace LTD, Patriot) and Calum Worthy (Out of Order, I Was A Rat) are set for recurring roles opposite Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote in Netflix’s dramatic thriller series Pieces of Her.

Based on the 2018 book by bestselling crime author Karin Slaughter, the eight-episode series comes from an all-female creative team led by Charlotte Stoudt, Bruna Papandrea, Lesli Linka Glatter and Minkie Spiro, who will direct the season.

Written by Stoudt, who serves as showrunner, Pieces of Her is set in a sleepy Georgia town where a random act of violence sets off an unexpected chain of events for 30-year-old Andy Oliver (Heathcote) and her mother Laura (Collette). Desperate for answers, Andy embarks on a dangerous journey across America, drawing her towards the dark, hidden heart of her family.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Los Angeles Times | February 4, 2021

When “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” was published some 15 years ago, it accelerated an unofficial crime subgenre with a rebooted style of heroine — the kick-ass female. Of course this wasn’t exactly new: Sue Grafton, Marcia Muller and other writers of previous generations wrote female protagonists who take no tea for the fever. But Stieg Larsson and the myriad 21st century writers who stand on their shoulders have taken those characters to new heights of physical prowess — even as they sometimes sucked plot, character development and even logic into their thrillers’ action-packed vortex.

Into this maelstrom comes Aubrey Sentro, the heroine of Daniel Pyne’s “Water Memory” — a former government agent who now works black ops missions for a private security firm called Solomon Systems. The blistering prologue establishes that Sentro knows her way around an exfiltration, despite a mix-up about the hotel room where the victim is being held. This time it’s a middle-aged Chinese American corporate type who’s been kidnapped at a conference in Cyprus but naively thinks he’s having a marathon lovemaking session with a beautiful woman. Sentro’s momentary hesitation about the room contributed to the mission going sideways, resulting in unintended bloodshed and something more in the aftermath: “She heard but couldn’t understand the voices, as if she were underwater.”

“Water Memory” is elevated from its genre moorings by the parallels it draws to classic seafaring literature, including “Lord Jim” (whose title character’s journey is echoed here) and even Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” excerpted for the novel’s epigraph. But neither that nor the well-placed and succinct flashbacks, illuminating the flash points in Sentro’s past that led her to this fateful moment, can distract a reader from the ripping good yarn Pyne has spun — or the prickly, endearing Aubrey Sentro, ugly scars and all.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Gumshoe Review | February 1, 2021

Daniel Pyne's Water Memory is a violent, action-packed thriller of a desperate woman, Aubrey Sentro, who is on the verge of losing everything she loves. She is forced to become a fierce tigress in order to save the lives of innocent civilians, including her own son. Aubrey is an expert at hand-to-hand combat, having been trained in the army. She has participated in covert operations around the world. She has made many sacrifices in order to rise among the ranks. Unfortunately, she has lost her husband, Dennis Twoon, to cancer; her grown children resent her for being absent when they were growing up, and now she learns that her body is turning against her. Her memory is becoming unreliable.

Its unique setting is one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading Water Memory. Much of the storyline takes place aboard a cargo ship, Jeddah, which is owned by a Singapore shipping company. I didn't know that people vacation aboard these slow-moving ships that meander from port to port. Mostly elderly, retired people who have a great deal of free time and flexible schedules are able to vacation aboard cargo ships. Except for the bustling, hectic crowds, these vessels offer many comforts that the large cruise liners have. I've been on enormous cruise boats where I became extremely stressed from the constant rushing; I felt I needed a vacation after my cruise. Cargo ships transport about a dozen passengers, the food is good, there are libraries and gyms, and interesting ports of call.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Forbes | January 31, 2021

Hip-hop is usually told through the perspective of men and usually emphasizes a celebration of male legends. Music journalist Clover Hope wrote The Motherlode to tell hip-hop’s story through the perspective of women—something rather revolutionary.

With over 100 quick profiles and vibrant illustrations, The Motherlode tells a new story of hip-hop through the women who made it and continue to shape it.

“People have done TikTok videos to ‘Push It’ or, you know, to J.J. Fad’s ‘Supersonic’ but don't know the history of that group or what they went through,” Hope said. “They kind of hear all these songs, and they hear these artists out of context.”

So, she created “a text where you could see hip-hop from the perspective of women.” Profiles include artists from MC Sha-Rock and Da Brat to Nicki Minaj and Cardi B.

Hope wanted to provide a historical context for trending artists and lesser known artists alike. She wanted to highlight their journeys and acknowledgement their contributions that may not otherwise get the spotlight they deserve.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Deadline | January 28, 2021

Jessica Barden (End of the F***ing World), David Wenham (Lion), Joe Dempsie (Game Of Thrones), Jacob Scipio (Bad Boys for Life) and Omari Hardwick (Power) have been set as leads opposite Toni Collette and Bella Heathcote in Pieces of Her, we can reveal.

Netflix’s dramatic thriller series is based on the 2018 book by bestselling crime author Karin Slaughter.

The eight-episode series comes from an all-female creative team led by Charlotte Stoudt, Bruna Papandrea, Lesli Linka Glatter and Minkie Spiro, who will direct the season.

Written by Stoudt, who serves as showrunner, Pieces of Her is set in a sleepy Georgia town where a random act of violence sets off an unexpected chain of events for 30-year-old Andy Oliver (Heathcote) and her mother Laura (Collette). Desperate for answers, Andy embarks on a dangerous journey across America, drawing her towards the dark, hidden heart of her family.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Booklist | January 27, 2021

Adapting The Great Gatsby into a graphic novel is no easy feat because the metaphor and imagery are so well known. Instead of a strict recreation of every word, Woodman-Maynard uses muted single-color panels and pages to communicate the different moods of the story, from excessive parties to melancholy remembrances. When Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, he quickly gets pulled into the world of his nouveau riche neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Over in East Egg, Nick spends time with his cousin Daisy and her hulking husband, Tom Buchanan. Nick then finds out that Gatsby’s plan is to recreate his past with Daisy, and he gets caught in the middle of their reconciliation. Woodman-Maynard chooses to turn many metaphors into literal drawings, adding to the heightened euphoria of Gatsby’s parties. Although most readers will know the story, Woodman-Maynard’s artwork brings a new perspective to the character’s histories and actions—Daisy especially benefits from this. This adaptation deftly pays homage to Fitzgerald’s iconic phrases through the artwork and pushes readers to question Nick’s status as narrator.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Publishers Weekly | January 25, 2021

There were four Caldecott Honor Books: A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart, illustrated by Noa Denmon, written by Zetta Elliott (FSG); The Cat Man of Aleppo, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha (Putnam); Me & Mama, illustrated and written by Cozbi A. Cabrera (S&S/Denene Millner); and Outside In, illustrated by Cindy Derby, written by Deborah Underwood (HMH).

The Robert F. Sibert Award for the most distinguished informational book for children went to Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera, written by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann (Holiday House/Neal Porter Books). There were three Sibert Honors: How We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity’s Greatest Adventure, written and illustrated by John Rocco (Crown); Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks, written by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera (Abrams); and All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat (Candlewick).

Three King Illustrator Honor Books were chosen: Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, written by Samara Cole Doyon (Tilbury House); Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera, written by Suzanne Slade (Abrams); and Me & Mama, illustrated and written by Cozbi A. Cabrera (S&S/Denene Millner Books).

Follow the link above to learn more.

The Horn Book | January 25, 2021

In the early morning, a young unnamed Black girl tiptoes through the house and past various sleeping family members, to be greeted by the smell of cinnamon and her mother’s good-morning song. Even though the day is rainy, it’s a wonderful time “to be everywhere Mama is.” Throughout her day, the child makes clever observations about the similarities and differences between herself and her mother. While she has less toothpaste on her toothbrush, both she and Mama know to brush “round my teeth with little circles.” As they prepare to go outside to take a nature walk, it’s noted that “Mama’s rain boots are / bigger than mine. / And they’re red”—however, both pairs make an excellent splash in puddles. The girl is also keen to acknowledge how she and her mother care for each other—after her hair is combed, she returns the favor, accentuating her mom’s thick curls with “the purply pink barrette…She calls it fuchsia.” At the end of her day (“Our day is done earlier than / Mama and Papa’s / It’s just that way when you’re growing”), mother and daughter read stories to each other. Drifting off to sleep, the young girl is content to dream, knowing “there’ll be me and mama.” Celebrating the beautiful dark brown skin of the duo, and surrounded by various hues of blue, Cabrera’s color-saturated illustrations, a mix of single pages and double-page spreads, add to the gentle charm of the conversational text. Large and small pairs of everyday objects appear on the endpapers, bolstering the celebration of the mother/daughter relationship.

Follow the link above to learn more.

The Wall Street Journal | January 22, 2021

Picturing the Jazz Age with the classic story of American self-invention.

Something’s always lost when a book gets translated into a film, stage show or graphic novel. But something’s often gained, too, as is manifestly the case with K. Woodman-Maynard’s illustrated adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” (Candlewick, 232 pages, $24.99). The book is rendered in luxe colors of rose, gold, amethyst and aquamarine, making us feel as though we’re watching the events of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel through gems held up to the light.

Having been altered and condensed to suit the graphic-novel form, this “Gatsby” won’t be ideal for newcomers, but as an adjunct or a fresh way of experiencing a canonical story, readers ages 14 and older will find it hugely rewarding.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Booklist | January 7, 2021

Throughout Lauren Francis-Sharma’s saga, she gives readers a cast of characters whose stories are drawn from the tangled beginnings of the Caribbean and the early American West, detailed with subtexts of racism and colonialism. Central to the story is Rosa, a strong-willed Trinidadian woman, who, as the story begins, is the wife of Edward Rose, a Crow Chief in 1830s Wyoming. How did she get here and what secret does she carry with her that affects not only her future but her son’s? Taking a circu-linear path, the players and places combine to unravel this history’s mystery. Narrator Robin Miles takes it to a higher level through her oral presentation, truly crafting a sweeping story experience. She captures the essence of each character, breathing added believability into their bones, demonstrating an amazing range of vocalizations. With a “narrator” voice that works as a plain canvas, she then paints a wide variety of accents and languages (American, Caribbean and British English, French, Spanish, and those of several Native Peoples of North America), including nuanced local dialects appropriate to the time period; she is able to effortlessly sound male and female, youthful and elderly. This is an exceptional audio production that doesn’t need any flashy special effects. Highly recommended.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Kirkus | January 6, 2021

A 2005 classic charting hip-hop’s rise to global prominence—while navigating the entanglements of race, class, politics, and poetics that lie at its heart—gets a long-overdue redux.

Two veteran cultural critics bring the history of hip-hop to younger readers in 2021 as the infinite futures of the genre continue to expand. Readers can feel the seeds of Chang’s cultural organizing within the storytelling of this tour de force while Cook brings his decades of experience as a pioneering hip-hop journalist to give new color to this edition. They write of hip-hop’s birth in the figurative and all-too-literal fires of Kingston, Jamaica, and the South Bronx before becoming the world’s most significant youth cultural influence. Hip-hop founding father DJ Kool Herc reminds readers of the dualities of fun and responsibility at its core in the introduction. Chapters comb through the movement’s antecedents in the 1960s, traveling from coast to coast, through the South and all around the world. The authors show the oft-underrepresented ways that Black women have shaped hip-hop, and new chapters chart its championing in the 21st century as a lifestyle built around being anti-establishment grappled with commercial success, political influence, and social change during the 2020 summer of Covid and mass protest. In addition to satisfying committed fans, this stellar work could function as a supplementary text within any social studies narration of the post–civil rights–era U.S.

Required history for young hip-hop heads—and everyone else.

Follow the link above to learn more.

New York Public Library | January 4, 2021

2020 has been an extraordinary year (as in very much outside of the ordinary) but also a great year for readers. The New York Public Library's Best Books Committees have read widely and rigorously, searching out the most innovative, vibrant, and relevant books for New Yorkers today. Today we are proud to announce our Best Books of 2020—our annual lists of recommendations for kids, teens, and adults.

Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier
Meet the first women in space! Journey with three fearless astronauts, Sally Ride, Mary Cleave, and Valentina Tereshkova, as they change the world by leaving it.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Mystery & Suspense | January 2, 2021

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

That’s my takeaway after reading this. That, and I’m glad I don’t know anyone like the characters in this spicy little thriller.

Sophie O’Neill and her husband and young son, originally from Chicago, are new to a small town in Texas. It was time for the family to get away from the hustle and bustle of suburbia. However, Sophie quickly finds herself bored. When she happens to come across the Facebook profile of socialite Margot Banks, she is preoccupied by the thought of befriending her.

This is a fast-paced tale that ramps up pretty quickly. I hope everyone else who reads this has a fun time trying to keep up with the shenanigans as they guess who could be a murderer, and why. This is the first book I’ve read by author May Cobb, but it surely won’t be my last.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Booklist | January 1, 2021

Throughout the year, Booklist’s Adult Books reviewers have bestowed stars upon books across our wide reviewing spectrum and editors have selected titles for our subject-area and genre Top 10 lists. We now present the 2020 master list, the very best of the best, arranged in eight broad nonfiction categories and two encompassing fiction categories, one for general and historical fiction, the other for crime, fantasy, horror, romance, and science fiction. We are elated to be able to celebrate these exceptional books, given all the struggles of 2020.

Book of the Little Axe
Francis-Sharma’s original and intricate novel revolves around Rosa, who never fit in among the free Blacks in 1790s Trinidad and ends up living in the Crow Nation of Montana, married to a chief, until their son spurs her to journey back to her roots.

Follow the link above to learn more

Harper's Bazaar | December 29, 2020

2020 came and went fast, but fortunately, the publishing industry kept pace with the passage of time with a slew of the year’s most anticipated titles. Here, take a look back at the best new books that arrived this year—and add them to your 2021 reading list if you haven't dug into them yet.

My Mother's House
It’s a rare work of fiction that draws comparisons to Toni Morrison at the height of her power, so it’s all the more impressive that Francesca Momplaisir’s debut novel has netted such formidable praise. When Lucien immigrates to New York City with his family, he hopes for a fresh start and a way to provide other Haitian émigrés in the city with support and shelter. But it soon becomes clear that Lucien’s old traumas have followed him into his new life—and everyone around him will soon pay the price.

Follow the link above to learn more.

Kirkus | December 18, 2020

Exhilarating—as well as hilarious, enraging, or both at once depending on the reader.

How women got mad, busy, and finally, reluctantly, accepted into NASA’s corps of astronauts.

Recast by the creators of Primates (2013) from NASA oral-history interviews with ex-astronaut Mary Cleave and other eyewitnesses, this likewise lightly fictionalized memoir takes its narrator from childhood interests in science and piloting aircraft to two space shuttle missions and then on to later educational and administrative roles. The core of the tale is a frank and funny account of how women shouldered their way into NASA’s masculine culture and as astronaut trainees broke it down by demonstrating that they too had both the competencies and the toughness that added up to the right stuff. Highlighted by a vivid series of scenes showing Cleave with a monkey on her chest, then a chimpanzee, an orangutan, a gorilla, and finally a larger gorilla to symbolize the G-forces of liftoff, Wicks offers cleanly drawn depictions of technical gear, actual training exercises, eye-rolling encounters with sexist reporters and clueless NASA engineers, iconic figures (such as a group portrait of the watershed astronaut class of 1978: “Twenty-six white guys and nine…well…people who were not. Pretty diverse for NASA”), and astronauts at work on the ground and in space. They capture both the heady thrill of space travel and the achievements of those who led the way there.

Follow the link above to learn more

Esquire | December 17, 2020

If this year in cookbooks could be summed up in one neat phrase, we'd have to say it was the year of origin stories. We interpret that broadly. The books we devoured in 2020 retread ancient history, revisited homegrown habits, and reexamined roots. These books gently reminded us that looking backwards isn't a foolish endeavor, especially when the rest of the world is stuck in this horrible present. Sometimes, a good memory is the best meal prep. That and a deep breath, especially when you're standing in the kitchen with a slew of ingredients in front of you and a hungry table awaiting your final dish.

Meals, Music, and Muses
Smalls began his adult life by tearing it up onstage as an opera singer (a baritone) and then pivoted to an illustrious career as a chef and restaurateur in New York. Quite the journey, no? His newest cookbook reflects it, leaning on stories and recipes from his early years in the South, as well as his musical heritage. Put more plainly, each chapter's recipes, from okra skewers to roast quail in bourbon cream sauce, is themed around a genre of music and the tales Smalls can tell about it—gospel for greens and serenades for dessert, for example.

Follow the link above to learn more

Booklist | December 15, 2020

This engrossing, engaging account bills itself as a history of hip-hop, but it’s so much more. Divided into four roughly even, chronological sections beginning in 1969 and spanning into 2020, the book reviews social and political history in light of the myriad individuals and influences that created this vibrant culture. East Coast, West Coast, Black lives, gang wars, civil unrest—all are framed within the context of how they influenced, and were influenced by, the evolving hip-hop scene. Companies blacklisted artists and cancelled contracts, album releases were delayed, and songs were censored, all in testimony to the growing power of this gloriously defiant art form that gave voice to marginalized populations. This young adult version is an update to the 2005 adult edition, and terms that are generally considered to be offensive have been removed. There are also exhortations for young people to work together for positive change, beginning with DJ Kool Herc’s introduction and carrying through to the final chapter, “Black Lives Matter.” There’s new material about the current generation of women rappers and their body-positivity messaging, the #MeToo movement, and the impact of COVID-19 on the hip-hop community. The book ends with age-appropriate discussion questions that will help young readers grasp the tremendous influence hip-hop has had on current society.

Follow the link above to learn more.