Neil McKay

All Around Us by Xelena Gonzalez A grandfather and granddaughter explore the circles they encounter, seeing them as metaphors for the world they’re building together. Check it out!

Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh Years before Brown v. Board of Education eight-year-old Sylvia Mendez fought bigotry in the courts, winning the right to attend the school of her choice. Check it out!

IQ by Joe Ide This Sherlock Holmes-inspired tale with a gritty, modern vibe introduces readers to Isaiah, a genius who channels personal trauma into solving crime and seeking justice. Check it out!

Alan Cole Is Not a Coward by Eric Bell Alan’s brother threatens to out him, blackmailing him into a torturous competition, but Alan finds strength in the care of his stalwart, albeit goofy friends. Check it out!

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson “If I had my life to live again …” Ursula Todd is born over and over into different versions of herself. But can she change the course of history? Check it out!

The Stranger in the Woods The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel Finkel’s mesmerizing account of Christopher Knight, who disappeared into the Maine woods to live alone for 27 years, dissects the impact of solitude on the search for greater meaning. Check it out!

Bull by David Elliott The myth of the Minotaur gets a contemporary verse reworking told from varied perspectives in a bunch of poetic forms. Searing, woeful, and debauched. Check it out!

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Grief is the logical ending of love. This bold work of supernatural historical fiction imagines the aftermath of the death of Lincoln’s son and the all-encompassing grief enveloping the President. Check it out!