Readers' Advisory

Author: Michaiah Johnson Title: The Space Between Worlds Genre: Science Fiction Publication Date: August 4, 2020 Number of Pages: 336 pages Geographical Settings: The fictional cities of Wiley City and Ashtown in the United States Time Period: The fairly near future Series (if applicable): Stated to be the first in "The Space Between Worlds" series Plot Summary: In the setting of this book, multiverse travel is possible, at least between the 400-or-so worlds that are similar enough to so-called Earth Zero. However, the problem of running into your parallel self in another world is seemingly avoided by one key fact: you can only travel to worlds where your other self is dead. This detail makes people who live lives in which they're likely to die uniquely valuable because they can travel to more potential worlds. Cara is one such person, having grown up in the harsh land of Ashtown that surrounds the high-tech, walled-off, and wealthy Wiley City. For various reasons, the C...

While I was vaguely aware of the problem of fake authors and hoax memoirs, I have to admit I somehow hadn’t ever heard of A Million Little Pieces and the controversy surrounding it. The article by Louis Menand about these hoax memoirs intrigued me and led me to look into more examples of the phenomenon than just the ones referenced by Menand.  This list presents 10 fake memoirs and the controversies surrounding them, some of which overlap with Menand’s article. Others listed include Papillon by convicted felon Henri Charriere who claimed innocence in his memoir and embellished his tale of imprisonment and escape and Forbidden Love by Norma Khouri who spun a completely fantastical story of her life in Jordan despite immigrating to the United States when she was three years old. Another on the list was Love and Consequences by Margaret Jones (actually Seltzer) where the author claimed to be half-native and to have grown up in Los Angeles, getting involved with gangs. This one st...

  Author: Chencia C. Higgins     Title: D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding   Genre: Lesbian Romance Publication Date: January 25, 2022 Number of Pages: 336 pages Geographical Setting: Houston, TX Time Period: Contemporary Series (If applicable): None   Plot Summary: Instant I Do is a reality TV program where the contestants are paired up with fake fiancés to plan a wedding in six weeks. To win the prize, they have to convince their friends and families that the relationship and wedding are legitimate. The story follows two women paired as fiancés on this reality TV show, D’Vaughn Miller and Kris Zavala. Kris has made it pretty big as an influencer so participating in a reality television competition seems like a logical next step. D’Vaughn, meanwhile, has her own ulterior motives as she plans on using the experience as a way to come out as lesbian to her mom finally. The two have instant chemistry once they’re paired together and working together to fool their fr...

I was inspired by this display that I found via Pinterest. This would tie in wonderfully with integrated advisory by starting with a popular TV show, Stranger Things, and displaying horror books and movies with similar themes and monsters. Stranger Things focuses on the creepy, gross eldritch horrors which can be found in many horror fiction titles as well. Those readers who love the show might also love to read these books! I would also time this display not around October and Halloween, but around the release of Stranger Things Season 5 when everyone is hyped up on the new season.

SISTERS OF THE VAST BLACK BY LINA RATHER    In this debut science fiction novella, Lina Rather explores heady, thought-provoking themes of war, faith, and morality through the Order of Saint Rita nuns. Forty years after a brutal Great War, the Earth Central Governance (ECG) cares little for the colonists living at the far reaches of space. While these colonists lack in support from the ECG, they are not alone in the galaxy. The women of the Order of Saint Rita, aboard their living spaceship, visit these colonies and offer aid, medicine, and religious blessings. They take this moral imperative to serve quite seriously, even when that means working against corruption within the Church itself. The nuns have secrets and desires of their own, which come to a head as they help struggling colonists on a forgotten moon. For a novella, the world-building stands out as superb, if understated. This isn’t a universe populated by scores of alien species, just a lot of humans ...