About Book Marks
Recent Reviews
Iain Reid
Positive Booklist Seasoned novelist Reid combines magnetic character development with clipped, eerie prose in this masterfully crafted psychological thriller that will keep the reader guessing until the very last word on the final page.
Jennette McCurdy
Rave Booklist [McCurdy\'s] stunning debut offers fierce honesty, empathy for those that contributed to her grief, and insights into the hard-fought attachments and detachments of growing older.
Andrew Liptak
Positive Booklist Seasoned writer, journalist, and historian Liptak dives deep into the research and history surrounding cosplay with this debut book. Delving into cosplay’s past and present, he also writes in detail about how this genre-bending art form will continue manifesting itself into the future. Cosplay’s complex history spans from the beginning of sf as a genre, and Liptak connects these beginnings to today’s conventions, which bring in thousands of cosplayers to show off the pieces they have created. Adding to his book’s interest and potential use, Liptak even includes chapters detailing how to create your own costume. Above all else, Liptak proves that cosplay is (and long has been) more than a hobby; it is a way to share stories and create community, one piece of art at a time.
Sutanya Dacres
Positive Booklist Dacres writes honestly about identity and the pressures we put on ourselves. Sharing the ways she creates a home in Paris that fits who she truly is, one meal at a time, her work speaks directly to readers.
Edafe Okporo
Positive Booklist Okporo tells his story, giving insight into what it means to be a thought leader ... Okporo writes passionately about the universal benefit of acceptance, the power of community, and all of our shared humanity.
Keri Blakinger
Positive Booklist Transferring powerful internal dialogue onto the page, Blakinger offers vulnerable, honest recollections, and a story that won’t be forgotten and could even inspire much-needed change.
Frye Gaillard
Positive Booklist In this short but impactful text the coauthors theorize that the common thread in our shared history will always tie back to the American South and its history of racism. This book is a must-read for those finding themselves wondering how we got where we are in today’s age of politics and racial reckoning. Filled with primary source references, the book will give readers a clearer understanding of our political system and the influence that the South has had on us all.
Ashleigh Bell Pedersen
Positive Booklist Pedersen’s expert character development and winding plot are aided by short, clipped chapters that bounce back and forth in time, showing the differing perspectives of women in Sunshine’s family. Pedersen skillfully crafts a slow burn of a novel that eventually opens up to expose generations of family secrets, and more importantly, the value of unearthing truth.
Joan Dejean
Positive Booklist With rich writing, author and University of Pennsylvania professor DeJean gives the women who settled Louisiana, and their lost stories, a long-overdue historical reckoning.
Rebecca Scherm
Rave Booklist Scherm gives this speculative-fiction saga a dark and addictive plot ... Fast-paced narrative ... Scherm’s character-driven sf story centers on individuals working against the clock to find a solution to climate change ... Scherm beautifully captures emotion in her writing as she shows how important connection is to our shared humanity.
Séamas O'Reilly
Rave Booklist Although the first few chapters are enough to leave readers teary-eyed as O’Reilly’s family grieves his mother, one can’t help but feel happiness as O’Reilly describes his affection for his ten siblings and father. He confronts his family history with sharp, witty, and honest humor. His personal experiences highlight the realities, fear, and hardship the Troubles imposed upon his family and the community he grew up in while also providing a unique lens on the explosions, murder, and abduction that occurred during generations past and present. O’Reilly’s recollection is a splendid paradox, both cheery and heartbreaking.
Gayle Jessup White
Positive Booklist This timely, relevant, and important book should find a home with readers interested in American ancestry as well as those seeking information about Jefferson and Sally Hemmings and the history of slavery in the U.S.
John Boessenecker
Positive Booklist A readable narrative ... Compelling storytelling paired with extensive research bring together the myths and the truths that have surrounded Pearl Hart for generations.
Debby Applegate
Rave Booklist Applegate writes masterfully in linear prose, accompanied by visually engaging photography ... For a character in history that seemed to hold an incredible amount of power, Adler is shown here as someone who sincerely attempts to make the American dream a reality. The summation of this era is so often centered around the male experience; Applegate takes this stereotype and flips the narrative to reveal the dark underbelly of New York and the women who ran it.
Kris Maher
Positive Booklist Maher’s sharp, detailed prose reads like fiction, but unfortunately this gripping account is the horrific true story of those who have sacrificed their own lives and livelihood for clean, drinkable water. In the end, the enemy is nothing less than corporate greed.