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Rednecks by Taylor Brown

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Rednecks by Taylor Brown
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With each book he writes, I always think Taylor Brown just keeps getting better and better at his craft. Rednecks is no exception, beautifully written (I reread the prologue twice it was that good) and exquisitely researched. Taylor treats the plight of the miners of West Virginia with an expert hand, educating us about a little-known piece of our country’s history. Taylor is truly one of the best modern American writers, imbuing his work with humanity and heart.

Rednecks by Taylor Brown, (List Price: $29, St. Martin’s Press, 9781250329332, May 2024)

Reviewed by Melissa Taylor, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

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A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
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I’ve had an itch for a really riveting heist story ever since I finished Six of Crows, and I’ve always been weak for found family stories, so when I saw this come in I immediately snatched it up and I’m so glad I did. The world-building is intricate and vivid; the White Roaring is a perfectly dark, glittering gothic city with so much personality, and the characters are wonderful. Arthie and Jin are some of my new favorites; Arthie is chaotic and clever and selfish at times but in the best way, and Jin is so charming and a complete flirt and so fun to follow. I could say great things about all the characters, no one feels shorted in terms of development and personality, they all mesh together so well, and the conflict is so tangible and easy to get invested in. The plot is a little slow at times, but those slow moments aren’t wasted, the found family dynamic is always showcased and developed in these moments, so they never feel wasted, and it definitely picks up when it needs to. I’m already ready for the sequel, I adore this.

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal, (List Price: $20.99, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 9780374389406, February 2024)

Reviewed by Winter Goldsmith, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Sharks Don’t Sink by Jasmin Graham

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Sharks Don't Sink by Jasmin Graham
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Such an entertaining and important memoir. Not only does Jasmin pack the book with super interesting shark facts, she also talks about important issues – racism, sexism, workplace and educational abuse, marine conservation, and mental health. The ways in which she describes her experiences (good and bad) and how they sometimes relate to sharks, is so poetic.

Sharks Don’t Sink by Jasmin Graham, (List Price: $28, Pantheon, 9780593685259, July 2024)

Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

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Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
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“Angels can look like many things… and so can monsters.” This book has a simple premise that is used to discuss more complex meanings and was done very successfully. It has a pretty straightforward plot, and older audiences will probably guess where it’s going, but I enjoyed it for letting how the characters reckon with this society and the choices they make be the focus. True monsters can hide in plain sight and we must be vigilant to the warning signs we might not want to see.

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi, (List Price: $11.99, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 9780593175446, January 2021)

Reviewed by Olivia Stacey, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking by Chloé Crane-Leroux

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The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking by Chloé Crane-Leroux
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A beautiful addition to any kitchen or coffee table. This book not only looks great but also is packed with whole food-oriented plant-based recipes. Short ingredient lists make these recipes easy, breezy, and still flavorful. Rather than being sectioned by type of meal, this book is broken up by who will be eating it! Solo lunches, dinner dates, and friend-filled brunches, it has it all.

The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking by Chloé Crane-Leroux, (List Price: $35, S&S/Simon Element, 9781668026946, September 2024)

Reviewed by Lana Repic, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez

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The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez
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Fútbol is the most important thing in twelve-year-old Valeria Salomón’s life, especially when life feels like it’s turning against her. But when Val gets her first period in the middle of the most important soccer game of her life (so far), the fallout slide tackles her into a summer harder than she’d ever imagined. In this delightful middle-grade read full of attitude, Val is forced to dig deep, figure out who she is as a teammate, friend, and daughter, and- most importantly- learn to play like a girl.

The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez, (List Price: $16.99, Algonquin Young Readers, 9781643753980, September 2024)

Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Goth Parenting by Casey Gilly

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Goth Parenting by Casey Gilly
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This book was HILARIOUS. Loved the concept, the drawings, and overall the humor. This should be the only parenting book used from now on. Also, a bonus point for making me shed an actual tear at the end with how sweet it was. I’m not a parent, but this was still very enjoyable.

Goth Parenting by Casey Gilly, (List Price: $14.95, Chronicle Books, 9781797229850, September 2024)

Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver, bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Fowl Play by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

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Fowl Play by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
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After the death of her BFF Uncle Will, Chloe inherits his African Gray Parrot (Charlie). But not is all it seems as Charlie starts repeating words like “Call 911” and “Murder.” Chloe convinces herself that Uncle Will has been murdered and begins an investigation. As Chloe and her family uncover clues, the investigation leads them to meeting a cast of unusual suspects, including Boring Boris, George Jones (not the country music singer), and Jaws. Fowl Play will have you quickly turning the pages as the case slowly unravels to reveal the uncomfortable truth about accepting the death of someone you love. A powerful, quirky story of grief, healing, and the magic of laughter. Carpe Diem!

Fowl Play by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, (List Price: $19.99, Katherine Tegen Books, 9780063274037, July 2024)

Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Into the Goblin Market by Vikki VanSickle

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Into the Goblin Market by Vikki VanSickle
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A cute cautionary tale with beautiful art. I love how the wolf follows Millie around in the illustrations, and how Millie was able to outsmart the traps. The narration was easy to understand and fun. A great read for children.

Into the Goblin Market by Vikki VanSickle, (List Price: $18.99, Tundra Books, 9780735268562, July 2024)

Reviewed by Kamilah Wong, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Snowball Earth, Vol. 2 by Yuhiro Tsujitsugu

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Snowball Earth, Vol. 2 by Yuhiro Tsujitsugu
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The first volume in this series was such a fun spin on the mecha vs. kaiju genre, and this next installment did not disappoint. All of the new worldbuilding adds to the mystery of what happened to the earth while Tetsuo was asleep, I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

Snowball Earth, Vol. 2 by Yuhiro Tsujitsugu, (List Price: $14.99, VIZ Media LLC, 9781974746156, July 2024)

Reviewed by Sam Conners, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

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The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
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The Female of the Species is a brutal and honest look at human nature, revenge, and rape culture. Through the perspectives of three different characters, McGinnis explores how there isn’t always a clear right or wrong in any given situation. Alex is a captivating and interesting character. She is full of depth and is well-balanced by the characters of Jack and Claire. All three characters were flawed, but that’s what made them feel real. The ending was heartbreaking, but it also felt like the only natural conclusion and the catalyst for everything that had been building up over the course of the novel. The Female of the Species is a quick read that will have you considering your own morality and just what you might be capable of.

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis, (List Price: $10.99, Katherine Tegen Books, 9780062320902, April 2022)

Reviewed by Emma Tara, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Cats Just Know by M.H. Clark

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Cats Just Know by M.H. Clark
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Oh my god, this is just simply cute. If you know me in real life, you know that I am THE cat lady. So naturally, I love this book. The animations were SO cute; I loved the color palette, and, of course, the cats. It didn’t take me long after finishing this book to go hug all my cats because they are just so dang cute and I love them so much.

Cats Just Know by M.H. Clark, (List Price: $14.95, Compendium, 9781957891279, July 2024)

Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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The Striker and the Clock by Georgia Cloepfil

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The Striker and the Clock by Georgia Cloepfil
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It is hard to explain the exact mixture of nostalgia, joy, and melancholy this book wrung out of me in its short but powerful pages. It is hard to explain the feeling of being an athlete in memory, in learned movements and redirected passion, in stories and instincts and past-tense, but Georgia Cloepfil put into words what bangs around in my heart when I think of soccer. A lyrical and poignant tribute to the beautiful game and the people it turns into players, into teams, into champions, and eventually back into people. Like the game, the ticking clock of turning pages was leading me to an ending I wasn’t sure I wanted to reach yet. Give me one more minute, one more chapter in the environment of the game, in the feeling. But the clock winds down.

The Striker and the Clock by Georgia Cloepfil, (List Price: $27, Riverhead Books, 9780593714881, July 2024)

Reviewed by Morgan Holub, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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In Time by Marina Ruiz

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In Time by Marina Ruiz
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In Time perfectly describes the different ways the passage of time is experienced: From the young — slow and never moving; From the old — fast and never enough. The illustrations will have you looking over each page again and again before turning to the next. By the end, you’ll be reminded what it felt like to view time as a child, but ultimately, you’ll be left with the understanding of why time takes time.

In Time by Marina Ruiz, (List Price: $18.99, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 9780711285200, July 2024)

Reviewed by Jenny Gilroy, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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Ready or Not by Andi Porretta

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Ready or Not by Andi Porretta
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Absolutely adored this book!I could relate so much to the main character and how friends grow apart but since you don’t know what you want to do with life, they end up growing away from you. Thank god for the happy ending though. I loved the art style and am so excited to see it when it\’s published in full color.I really felt like I was a part of the group while reading the book, and honestly, was quite sad when it ended. To be honest, when I finished it I just had to sit there and adjust to being back in real life, I was glued the entire time. 10/10 must read

Ready or Not by Andi Porretta, (List Price: $14.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665907026, July 2024)

Reviewed by Stephanie St. John, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia

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