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The week of April 29, 2025 A month of celebration 
April is a favorite month among independent booksellers. It is National Poetry Month — a great excuse for bookstores to fill their front window displays with poetry books. April also has Earth Day, — a chance to celebrate the literature of green and growing things. It has Independent Bookstore Day (and Week) which is a party in honor of the important place indie bookstores hold in their communities. And, it is National Arab American Heritage month which pays tribute to the achievements and contributions of Arab Americans to our history and culture. Some bookseller favorites by Arab American authors: Too Soon by Betty Shamieh (Literary Fiction) The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (Literary Fiction) The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah (Fantasy) Six Truths and a Lie by Ream Shukairy (YA, Thriller) Bride of the Sea by Eman Quotah (Fiction, Coming of Age) Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj (Fiction, Coming of Age) Evil Eye by Etaf Rum (Literary Fiction) Read This Now | Read This Next | Book Buzz | The Bookseller Directory |
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Read This Now! Recommended by Southern indies… |
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After Image by Jenny George Adult Nonfiction, Death, Grief, Loss, Poetry, Subjects & Themes Naturalistic and atmospheric, these poems absolutely enveloped me. Reviewed by Andrew Preston, Coffee Tree Books in Morehead, Kentucky |
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Polybius by Collin Armstrong Adult Fiction, Fiction, Horror Definitely reminded me of all of those cult classic 80’s horror movies. I figured out some things earlier than the characters did, but I was hooked to the end, wanting to find out what happens. Would recommend to booksellers, co-workers, friends and family. Reviewed by Stacey Schwartz, Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore in Boca Raton, Florida |
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The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig Adult Fiction, Fiction, Supernatural, Thrillers The horrors of this book provide both an obvious fear but also a deeper, sinister psychological kind (which I’d argue is worse than what looks you in the face). I loved the dynamic of the horrors of the characters’ experience and how they work through the estrangement of a once-familial friendship. The exploration of the relationship between fear, guilt, isolation, and grief through the lens of horror was quite captivating! This may all sound a little vague in regards to what actually occurs, but honestly, anything more would spoil the fun. Please check all trigger warnings before reading, not for those who do not enjoy body/gore horror Reviewed by Sol Johnson, Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, North Carolina |
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Bookseller Buzz |
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Dear Bookstore by Emily Arrow 
In every place I’ve lived bookstores have been the first places to feel like home—especially Parnassus Books in Nashville, where I led weekly storytime sing-alongs for years, and Green Bean Books in Portland, Ore., where I spent countless hours soaking in the magic of a truly community-centered shop. Bookstores are havens for readers, writers, and dreamers who crave“discovery, community, and belonging. Dear Bookstore is my love letter to them. ― Emily Arrow, Interview, Publishers Weekly What booksellers are saying about Dear Bookstore by Emily Arrow 
Emily Arrow (she/they) is an award-winning children’s songwriter, author, and educator known for crafting meaningful stories and songs. Her music albums include Sing Along with Emily Arrow and the Storytime Singalong series. Alongside her ukulele companion, Bow, Emily Arrow aims to inspire young minds, encouraging them to embrace and share their own unique voices. She enjoys going on walks with her dog and partner and finding cozy corners in independent bookshops for reading. Emily Arrow resides in Los Angeles. Geneviève Godbout is the illustrator of many picture books, including The Pink Umbrella by Amélie Callot, Wherever You’ll Be by Ariella Prince Guttman, and If I Couldn’t Be Anne by Kallie George. Her work has appeared in the Society of Illustrators Original Art Exhibit in New York and on Christmas and holiday stamps for the Canadian postal service. Geneviève Godbout lives in Montreal. |
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Candle Island by Lauren Wolk Children, Friendship, Juvenile Fiction, Social Themes Candle Island is one of those stories that stays in your heart. A beautiful book about love, family,and grief that shows the healing power of creativity and nurturing wildness in wild spaces. I loved it! Reviewed by Susan Williams, M Judson Booksellers in Greenville, South Carolina |
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Things Become Other Things by Craig Mod Adult Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Memoirs As a fan of Craig Mod’s email newsletters of his long (and I mean long) walks through Japan, I was eager to read Things Become Other Things. Accompanied by beautiful black-and-white photos, Craig’s reflections on place, walking, scarcity, grief, and boyhood are filled with love and care. His musings as he grapples with the American town he grew up in, a rough place with limited opportunities or role models, in contrast to similar remote Japanese towns that have much more support and consideration for their citizens, are incredibly relevant. Reviewed by Julie Jarema, Hub City Bookshop in Spartanburg, South Carolina |
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Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan Historical, Renaissance, Young Adult Fiction For fans of Six of Crows and The Familiar, this high-stakes, winner-takes-all heist story is perfect for you! Travel back to the gilded world of 1500s Florence, where the sinister Medici family has an inescapable grasp on the city. Follow four talented grifters, each with their own complicated pasts, as they plot the most difficult, most thrilling heist of the century. Schneiderhan’s cinematic prose is full of family drama, quirky rivals-to-lovers romance, conversations on wealth and authority, and, to one’s surprise, cameo appearances by Michaelangelo. Medici Heist is full of charm and calculated wit, perfect for young adult and adult readers who love a bit of Robin Hood-esque thievery. Reviewed by Catherine Pabalate, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews in Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
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The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner Children, Family, Juvenile Fiction In The Trouble with Heroes, we meet Finn, a seventh grader whose world revolves around baking. Finn’s passion for the kitchen is his escape, his joy, and his identity. Yet, he feels overshadowed by the towering legacy of his father, a firefighter who became a local hero after saving lives on 9/11. His father’s bravery and selflessness are celebrated by the community, leaving Finn feeling inadequate and wondering why his own talents go unnoticed. Struggling with these emotions, Finn makes a regrettable choice in a moment of misguided anger and confusion. He vandalizes an old lady’s headstone, only to discover it belongs to one of the pioneering women who conquered all the Adirondack High Peaks. Instead of pressing charges, the woman’s daughter offers Finn a chance at redemption. She proposes a deal: Finn must climb all 46 peaks over the summer, accompanied by her loyal dog. Completing this challenging journey will absolve him of his mistake. This quest becomes more than just a physical challenge for Finn. As he scales each peak, he learns about the remarkable woman whose grave he defaced, deepening his understanding of courage and perseverance. The journey also becomes a path of self-discovery, where Finn grapples with his faith, confronts his feelings of inadequacy, and ultimately finds his own identity outside of his father’s shadow. The Trouble with Heroes is a powerful and uplifting tale, perfect for today’s teenagers who are navigating a world filled with drama and the pressures of social media. The book encourages readers to find their own "peak" to climb, to learn more about themselves, their families, and their friends. It is a heartfelt recommendation for all teens seeking inspiration and a deeper understanding of their place in the world. Reviewed by VaLinda Payne-Miller, Turning Page Bookshop in Goose Creek, South Carolina |
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Medalist 1 by TSURUMAIKADA Comics & Graphic Novels, East Asian Style, Manga Definitely one of my new favorites so far this year, the void in my heart left by the cancellation of Ice Adolescence has been filled!! <3 Iori is such a lovable protagonist, seeing her do something she loves fills me with so much joy and inspiration. Reviewed by Sam Conners, E. Shaver Bookseller in Savannah, Georgia |
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Decide for Yourself Books that appear on PEN America’s list of challenged books. |
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Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli Banned Books, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult Fiction A modern high school rom-com in signature Albertalli fashion. As the fall musical approaches, Kate and her best friend, Anderson, want nothing more than to finally have their time in the spotlight. However, complications arise when their communal summer crush transfers to Roswell High and auditions for the musical. A dramatic and humorous coming-of-age tale centered around first crushes and the relationships that matter most. Kate in Waiting is sure to deliver all the warm and fuzzy feelings. Reviewed by Asia Harden, Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi |
Southern Bestsellers What’s popular this week with Southern Readers. |
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Parting Thought “Isn’t it odd how much fatter a book gets when you’ve read it several times? As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells… and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find yourself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like pressed flower… both strange and familiar.” |
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Publisher:
The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance /
siba@sibaweb.com |
SIBA | 51 Pleasant Ridge Drive | Asheville, NC 28805
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