by Melissa Hart
As contributing editor at The Writer Magazine, I receive advance review copies of new books regularly. My nightstand is a travesty; despite my respect for Marie Kondo, I can’t bring myself to donate most of the titles spilling over onto the carpet beside my bed because whether they’re kids’ books, adult books, fiction or nonfiction, almost all of them spark joy.
So I read and re-read and revel in my good fortune at getting a preview of stories destined in some way to change the world for the better. Below I’ll share a few that struck me as particularly remarkable, with the hope you’ll love them, too.
Nonfiction
Dancing with the Muse in Old Age by Priscilla Long (Epicenter/Coffeetown Press, November 15, 2022). The author of The Writer’s Portable Mentor: A Guide to Art, Craft, and the Writing Life has a new title designed to debunk the myth that we reach peak creativity between the ages of 39 and 42. Using examples from well-known creatives, Long shows how octogenarians and nonagenarians produce powerful work. Each chapter ends with questions designed to help readers plan for a vibrant and productive old age.
Fiction
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (Knopf, April 2022). Okay, so I didn’t receive an advance review copy of this book. I snapped it up the moment it hit the shelves because of the review in Scientific American. I read it and re-read it and made my husband read it so we could discuss it. This is a dense short novel told from multiple points of view in multiple time periods. The author explores vast topics including climate change, colonization, and simulation theory without ever getting didactic. I’m particularly fond of the author/mother character who’s on a book tour away from her family and dealing with media appearances while worrying about a pandemic. Familiar territory, for sure.
Middle-Grade Fiction
J.R. Silver Writes Her World by Melissa Dassori (Christy Ottaviano Books, July 2022). Debut novelist Melissa Dassori creates a magical world out of everyday settings including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and details such as magazine covers reminiscent of those that grace The New Yorker. J.R., threatened by her best friend’s new friend, finds her self-worth shaken. But a mysterious middle-school writing assignment gives her strength and perspective to deal with hurt feelings, girl-cliques, and her parents’ reluctance to let her grow up. This novel blends contemporary characters and situations with magical elements in a way I found absolutely captivating.
Young Adult Fiction
Nerdcrush by Alisha Emrich. (Running Press Kids, February 7, 2023). This novel is worth the wait. Debut author Alisha Emrich tells the story of a shy, insecure 16-year-old named Ramona who takes on the persona of her cosplay character after her best friend moves away and begins an impassioned email exchange with Caleb—another cosplayer. When a cosplay convention gives Ramona the chance to meet Caleb in person, she must decide whether to embrace her fictitious character or cast aside the façade and let him see her true nature. No cover available.
Guided Journal
Grounded: A Guided Journal to Help You Reconnect with the Power of Nature and Yourself by Patricia H. Hasbach. (Adams, 2022). I’m outside hours a day, hiking and bicycling and kayaking and gardening. Still, I’m grateful for this guided journal that inspires me to slow down and think deeply about topics like the night sky, the scents specific to each season, and even my relationship with my rescue terrier. This book, beautifully illustrated, offers plenty of prompts for thinking and writing, along with lined pages on quality paper so nature lovers can create a keepsake.
Overlooked Audiobook
Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon by Malcom Gladwell. (Pushkin Industries, 2021). Here, I’m breaking my own rules. This audiobook, comprised of journalist/philosopher Malcom Gladwell’s interviews with Paul Simon plus songs written and sung by the musician over decades, came out last year. I didn’t receive an advance copy. I’m including it on this list because it’s unlike any audiobook I’ve ever heard. It’s a musical education and a biography and a social and historical commentary interspersed with gorgeous music. It’s a must-listen for anyone who’s a fan of Paul Simon’s music. Gladwell is a sensitive and thoughtful interviewer who asks thought-provoking questions of the musician and of listeners.
What titles are you celebrating on Read-a-Book Day? Whether you read them silently or aloud to a loved one or listen to them through earbuds, set aside some time on September 6 to appreciate the immense power of storytelling.
Melissa Hart is the author, most recently, of the middle-grade novel Daisy Woodworm Changes the World, about a tween who gets a school assignment to change the world and decides to help her older brother who has Down syndrome to become a YouTube fashion influencer.
