North Carolina Bookstores

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

, , , ,
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

An exciting collection of creepy tales from both young authors and noted horror greats. The stories within Never Whistle at Night play within the rules of established horror genres, but there is so much variety from story to story; as a fan of all kinds of horror, I was very happy to have basically every itch scratched. “The Prepper” by Morgan Talty, “Collections” by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala, “Wingless” by Marcie R. Rendon, and “Snakes are Born in The Dark” by D. H. Trujillo were my four favorites.

Never Whistle at Night : An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology by Shane Hawk (editor), Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. (editor), (List Price: $17.00, Delacorte Press, 9780593468463, September 2023)

Reviewed by Sam Edge, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. Read More »

Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong

, , ,
Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.

Secrets, always secrets. Every night, secrets. And with the nighttime aesthetic, beautiful white on black line work to contrast with the daytime bright whites and classmates from whom he hides his truths. But with trust, surprises come out from unexpected places. A great story for talking about identity, secrets, sharing, trust, and friendships. Could be used for Halloween but certainly should not be limited to that!

Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong, (List Price: 18.99, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 9781665917384, August 2023)

Reviewed by Lisa Yee Swope, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Every Night at Midnight by Peter Cheong Read More »

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt

, ,
Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.

Children (and their adults) will love reading about Scaredy Squirrel’s approach to the holidays! Once again, Melanie Watt gives us a way to treat a child’s nerves with gentleness and humor. We love displaying our Scaredy Squirrel books alongside the plush stuffed animal at Main Street Books!

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt, (List Price: 12.99, Random House Graphic, 9780593307618, October 2023)

Reviewed by Jessica Nock, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive by Melanie Watt Read More »

Hellaween by Moss Lawton

, , ,
Hellaween by Moss Lawton
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.

For a very special few days each October, young witch/skater Gwen gets to hang out with her best friends: a werewolf and vampire from the monster realm who can only cross over right around Halloween. Together, they do spooky things like go to the mall and haunt normies! A super fun series opener (I hope), perfect for whatever the Zoomer/Alpha version of Hot Topic tweens is.

Hellaween by Moss Lawton, (List Price: 22.99, Razorbill, 9780593524299, August 2023)

Reviewed by Talia Smart, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Hellaween by Moss Lawton Read More »

Omega Farm by Martha McPhee

, ,
Omega Farm by Martha McPhee
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

When you return home, everything looks smaller. When you go home after a messed up childhood, you go back to an almost fetal position. You feel like the child you were-not the adult who has been successful. This memoir by Martha McPhee will lead you down her rabbit hole grieving for what she lived through while taking care of her mother during the pandemic. It is not all sad though, there are so many layers of hope, love and forgiveness.

Omega Farm by Martha McPhee, (List Price: 28, Scribner, 9781982197995, September 2023)

Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

Omega Farm by Martha McPhee Read More »

Curlfriends: New in Town (A Graphic Novel) by Sharee Miller

, ,
10 Dogs by Emily Gravett
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.

Charlie is the new girl at school and making friends has not been easy for her. She wants to make new friends and be cool so she tries to be someone she’s not and makes a mess of things. I love the message in this book to always be your true authentic self and you will find your people. The illustrations are adorable and I love the all black cast. Great read!

Curlfriends: New in Town (A Graphic Novel) by Sharee Miller, (List Price: 12.99, Little, Brown Ink, 9780316591454, October 2023)

Reviewed by Keeshia Jacklitch, Bookseller, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Curlfriends: New in Town (A Graphic Novel) by Sharee Miller Read More »

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

, ,
Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Monday’s Not Coming is a heartbreaking story of a missing teenager, a community that seems not to notice, and a best friend who will go to whatever lengths it takes to find her missing friend. Tiffany D. Jackson weaves the reader through multiple timelines with increasing tension and emotion until you reach an ending that will haunt you long after you finished the book. This is a difficult but important and timely story highly recommended for teen and adult readers.

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson, (List Price: $12.99, Katherine Tegen Books, 9780062422682, April 2019)

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

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson Read More »

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

, , ,
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

This book was made for autumn. A community who clings to ghosts, unable to move on, stuck in their grief, comes together in such a lovely way with the introduction of a new resident. Revisiting this brought such a warmth to my heart, and is one I’ll keep in my back pocket for quiet days.

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen, (List Price: $18, St. Martin’s Griffin, 9781250019875, September 2023)

Reviewed by Jamie Kovacs, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen Read More »

The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka

,
The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Gracie Byrne is a has a real way with words, so when she finds a blank journal in the drawer of her new house, of course she writes in it and the result leaves her, well, kind of speechless. The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne perfectly captures the perplexing world of high school, the complex nature of families, and the giddy delight of basorexia. I learned a few new words, grooved on the 1980’s vibe, and absolutely wish I had been in High School with Gracie Byrne.

The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka, (List Price: 19.99, Candlewick, 9781536228786, October 2023)

Reviewed by Angie Tally, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, North Carolina

The Totally True Story of Gracie Byrne by Shannon Takaoka Read More »

Dust by Dusti Bowling

, , ,
Dust by Dusti Bowling
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

This middle grade novel follows the life of Avalyn, an asthmatic girl who loves to spell words, read X-men comics, and spend time with friends. The bane of her existence is a group of bullies, known to her and her two friends, Nan and Dillon, as the Meanie Butt Band. Bryden, Valerie, Emma, and Carlos love to make fun of her and her friends, call them cruel names, and just be plain evil to her and the rest of the school. One regular day, a dust storm rolls in from the middle of nowhere, bringing with it a quiet boy named Adam, who may just turn out to be even bigger and scarier than he seems. The theme(s) of this book: friendship, self-acceptance, and helping people in need.

Dust by Dusti Bowling, (List Price: 16.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 9780316414234, August 2023)

Reviewed by Eliza Fitzgerald, Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina

Dust by Dusti Bowling Read More »

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold

, , ,
Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

Damsel messed me up beyond all belief, so when I heard about Red Hood, I knew I needed it in my hands immediately. It did not disappoint one bit, and I can’t quite find the words to explain just how it made me feel. It made me cringe, it made me angry, and above all it had me on the tips of my toes the entire time. Arnold has this innate talent to take fairy tales and rip them apart to tell you a new one that you didn’t know you needed, one that actually puts women in a position of power. Men think we want to be queens and princesses when really we just want to be able to protect ourselves and the women that can’t protect themselves. She just gets it.

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold, (List Price: 10.99, Balzer+Bray, 9780062742360, February 2020)

Reviewed by Caitlyn Vanorder, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold Read More »

Family Meal by Bryan Washington

, , , ,
Family Meal by Bryan Washington
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

An October Read This Next! Book

There are two things I expect from a Bryan Washington narrative: food rendered so exquisitely I could lick the page and an emotional excavation so expansive it swallows the book and me with it. Family Meal delivered on these expectations and more. It’s propulsive and harrowing, the brittle edges of its characters encapsulating a world and giving way to its perfectly tender center.

Family Meal by Bryan Washington, (List Price: 28, Riverhead Books, 9780593421093, October 2023)

Reviewed by Miranda Sanchez, Epilogue: Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Family Meal by Bryan Washington Read More »

There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds

, ,
There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

An October Read This Next! Book

This is a stunning picture book — Jason Reynolds has a way with words that maybe no one has had SINCE Langston Hughes. Poetic yet approachable; his style is unique. The illustrations by Pumphrey make Reynolds’ words dance, jump, and soar on the pages as you go through a story that is in part bio, part resistance, part celebration of a man whose contributions to literature are still reverberating all these years later.

There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds, (List Price: 18.99, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 9781534439443, October 2023)

Reviewed by Jamie Southern, Bookmarks in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds Read More »

Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch

, ,
Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

My favorite aspect of this book is the way magic works in this world. It takes inspiration from paganism and I love how this book shows the real aspects of witchcraft through fantasy. It’s always very refreshing to see a book portray magic in a way that showcases real traditions and spiritual beliefs. I also loved how this book also stayed true to the historical aspects of when it was written. Even though this is a fantasy it’s set in a world that reflects our own and it takes place in the Holy Roman Empire which means that a lot of history is strewn across the book. I also love how the book doesn’t back down from discussing some of the harsh realities that people had to face during the period, especially when it focused on the catholic church and how its reign murdered hundreds of innocent people by burning them at the stake. It criticized the way the church was corrupted at that time by mentioning how paying the church got on out of accusations, and how the people burned at the stake did nothing wrong, other than be accused. This is a topic that is not often talked about in books like these so it was nice to have such information acknowledged.I loved reading about how magic in this world was used. I’m excited to read more from this series and its authors.

Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch, (List Price: $18.99, Sourcebooks Fire, 9781728272160, October 2023)

Reviewed by Suzanne Lucey, Page 158 Books in Wake Forest, North Carolina

Night of the Witch by Sara Raasch Read More »

Dogtown by Katherine Applegate

, , ,
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate
buy this book

Buy from your local indie.
Get the audiobook

My eight-year-old daughter and I are savoring this sweet book. What a lovely tale of friendship triumphing in the face of competition for scarce resources. Very short chapters, and adorable characters, make this a great confidence booster for a reluctant reader. Wonderful messages about adopting animals into family for life as well.

Dogtown by Katherine Applegate, (List Price: 17.99, Feiwel & Friends, 9781250811608, September 2023)

Reviewed by Alissa Redmond, South Main Book Company in Salisbury, North Carolina

Dogtown by Katherine Applegate Read More »

Scroll to Top