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Blue Opening by Chet’la Sebree

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Blue Opening by Chet'la Sebree
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This stunning poetry collection centers around the author’s fascination with beginnings. She fearlessly delves into the mystery of bodies, particularly women’s bodies. My favorite section is the heroic sonnet crown, where each sonnet’s subject is one of the author’s female ancestors. I also love the use of footnotes here; they make these passages feel even more like verses in scripture.

Blue Opening by Chet’la Sebree, (List Price: $18, Tin House, 9781963108460, September 2025)

Reviewed by Becca, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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The Intentions of Thunder by Patricia Smith

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The Intentions of Thunder by Patricia Smith
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This collection is so incredibly expansive, not only in the range of the time period Smith is writing but also in her topics, ranging from her experience being a black woman, police brutality, the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, and growing up with Motown as an ever-present current in her life. These poems are fire, are urgent, are playful, and will stick with you long after reading.

The Intentions of Thunder by Patricia Smith, (List Price: $30, Scribner, 9781668055724, September 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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Moonbound by Robin Sloan

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Moonbound by Robin Sloan
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Readers, brace yourself for a journey 13,000 years into the future, where the destiny of the world rests upon the shoulders of a young boy called to fulfill his destiny, but ultimately takes matters into his own hands. Moonbound feels both timeless and completely new in a way that only Robin Sloan could deliver.

Moonbound by Robin Sloan, (List Price: $19, Picador, 9781250390509, June 2025)

Reviewed by Beth, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, NC

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A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

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A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James
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Honey, the land!” No spoilers, but Simone St. James has really outdone herself with this twisty supernatural mystery/thriller. Every overturned stone along the plot’s path is captivating, and I never wanted to put it down. I love the sibling dynamics as they return to their haunted childhood home in search of answers regarding their little brother, who went missing at just 6 years old. The Broken Girls may still be my favorite, but this is a very close second.

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James, (List Price: $30, Berkley, 9780593200414, January 2026)

Reviewed by Jenny Ford, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin

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The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin
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Dusapin’s novel depicts the heavy silence that has fallen between two sisters who love and understand each other but who can no longer connect. The characters struggle to find peace with their life choices and roles in one another’s lives. The Old Fire questions how an individual is defined by place, family, loss, and abandonment and how those definitions can impede growth and happiness. A quiet novel whose impact on the reader is anything but quiet.

The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin, (List Price: $27, S&S/Summit Books, 9781668212219, January 2026)

Reviewed by Lera Shawver, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Rumpelstiltskin by Mac Barnett

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Rumpelstiltskin by Mac Barnett
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I so enjoyed this retelling by Mac Barnett of a story I often forget is rather complex. But here he adds his particular wit which pairs so well with Ellis’ illustrations that transport you into another world.

Rumpelstiltskin by Mac Barnett, (List Price: $19.99, Orchard Books, 9781338673852, February 2026)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Paper Girl by Beth Macy

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Paper Girl by Beth Macy
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In Paper Girl, Beth Macy peels back the layers of her hometown to explore the forces shaping communities across the country–issues like the mental health crisis, access to education, and the rise of misinformation and conspiracy thinking. With her signature compassion, she asks how we got here and how we can begin to reconnect with the people and places that that feel so far away? This feels like her most personal book yet, full of care for both subject and reader.

Paper Girl by Beth Macy, (List Price: $3200, Penguin Press, 9780593656730, October 2025)

Reviewed by Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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All These Ghosts by Silas House

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All These Ghosts by Silas House
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House’s collection of poetry is full of beauty, of perfect lines that punch one in the gut and evoke profound feelings. His imagery immerses readers in the South, capturing every day life experiences, yet his poems are also memories of family love and sacrifice, of loss and grief. This collection inspires reflection on how we relate to the past, on how we grieve the loss of people and place, on how nature soothes us in troubled times, on how deeply we love. All These Ghosts is a remarkable gift to the world.

All These Ghosts by Silas House, (List Price: $22.95, Blair, 9781958888698, September 2025)

Reviewed by Lera Shawver, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Moon Cat by Casi Cole

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Moon Cat by Casi Cole
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A unique bedtime story for the space explorer and the feline-lover. This is a story about a little girl being told a story about the Moon Cat. She gets to join Moon Cat as it moves through the night and space, sharing so much of the quiet glittering world with her. The illustrations took my breath away. This is not one I’ll be forgetting soon.

Moon Cat by Casi Cole, (List Price: $19.99, Paw Prints Publishing, 9781223189239, November 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton

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Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton
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I absolutely devoured this Snow White reimagining! The story was such a delightful read with a wonderfully developed romantic subplot, and as someone who can’t resist a good fake dating trope, this hit all the right notes. The dark, moody atmosphere throughout kept me hooked from start to finish. I’m already looking forward to diving into more of this author’s work!

Seven Deadly Thorns by Amber Hamilton, (List Price: $20.99, Bloomsbury YA, 9781547619108, November 2025)

Reviewed by Sarah Blackwell, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Devil’s Done Come Back by Ed Southern

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The Devil's Done Come Back by Ed Southern
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A collection of North Carolina folklore, freshly told by some of the state’s best writers. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and while some myths were familiar, many were brand new to me. Readers will appreciate the creativity of form and voice that make each retelling unique.

The Devil’s Done Come Back by Ed Southern, (List Price: $18.95, Blair, 9781958888650, September 2025)

Reviewed by Becca Naylor, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Boom Town by Nic Stone

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Boom Town by Nic Stone
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This book delivers on all the things I want from a mystery thriller. It’s sexy, intriguing, and keeps you guessing until the end. The vibe of this story feels so real and edgy; it pulls you into a web of secrets and shocking twists, and I enjoyed reading every minute of it.

Boom Town by Nic Stone, (List Price: $28, Simon & Schuster, 9781668056271, October 2025)

Reviewed by Jess Bryant, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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The Monsters We Make by Rachel Corbett

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The Monsters We Make by Rachel Corbett
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Drawing a line from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the “Intelligence-Led Policing” scandal in Pasco County, Florida, Corbett lays out a compelling case against the use of criminal profiling. Her argument: In an attempt to understand what makes someone capable of violent crime, we’ve all too often created criminals instead. This book is great for general true crime readers, but goes a step further by prodding readers to consider what the true causes of crime might be, and how that can inform crime prevention initiatives of the future.

The Monsters We Make by Rachel Corbett, (List Price: $28.99, W. W. Norton & Company, 9780393867695, October 2025)

Reviewed by Becca Naylor, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Seven Ways Through the Woods by Jenn Reese

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Seven Ways Through the Woods by Jenn Reese
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This one is all the things I love in a kid’s story — adventure, magic, daring, and wonder. Seven Ways Through the Woods offers the reader just that, seven ways to get through the woods…but perhaps that’s not the point…to get through the woods. Maybe the point is to linger, explore, and marvel.

Seven Ways Through the Woods by Jenn Reese, (List Price: $19.99, Greenwillow Books, 9780063356269, September 2025)

Reviewed by Morgan DePerno, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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Girl Warrior by Joy Harjo

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Girl Warrior by Joy Harjo
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In Girl Warrior, Joy Harjo shares advice, wisdom from her life experiences, and a belief in our spiritual connection to our ancestors, to our world, and to one another. Her words uplift and encourage, offer empathy and understanding, provide perspective and healing. This is a book you keep close. Read these words when you need a friendly reminder that you can move forward, that you can take step after step into the future you desire, that you can always ask for help, that you deserve and can find happiness. Give this book to those you love and treasure.

Girl Warrior by Joy Harjo, (List Price: $21.99, W. W. Norton & Company, 9781324094173, October 2025)

Reviewed by Lera Shawver, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

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