The finalists for the 2019 Kirkus Prize have been announced.

You want something high class and snazzy? You know who to turn to. Today I sit down (virtually) with Marilyn Singer and I pull no punches, people! Good thing I really like today's book.

Here's a new idea. Let's see what you think of it. We're all familiar with "blog tours" at the moment. Heck, I'm hosting one today. The "blogger blitz" is a little different. Essentially, a publisher takes a high quality author (say, one Remy Lai of the magnificent 2019 release Pie in the Sky) then, instead of releasing their new cover on a single site, does so across the internet on a plethora of them. Today, I am one of a hoard.

Author Shaun David Hutchinson considers taking a step back from darker narratives that reflect the trauma and struggles of the world as it is now, focusing instead on "telling stories about the world we could live in."

While decorative banned books displays draw attention to censorship, there's a deeper opportunity for meaningful conversation about the issues.