Aisha Saeed joins us to discuss Omar Rising (Nancy Paulsen Books, Feb. 1). Kirkus calls this companion to her New York Times-bestselling middle-grade debut Amal Unbound “a powerful tale about a preteen pushing back against systemic injustice” (starred review). Then our editors join with their reading recommendations for the week, with books by Sara Zarr, Ian ... Show More
Aug 19
Charlie Jane Anders
Charlie Jane Anders joins us to discuss her eagerly anticipated new novel, Lessons in Magic and Disaster (Tor, Aug. 19), about a young witch who teaches her mother how to do magic. In a starred review, Kirkus says it offers “much to ponder, much to cry over and rage against, much ... Show More
51m 8s
Aug 5
Best Books of August 2025 with River Selby
On our Best August books episode, Kirkus’ editors share their top titles for the month. River Selby joins us to discuss Hotshot: A Life on Fire (Atlantic Monthly, Aug. 5), a debut memoir chronicling their time as an elite firefighter. Kirkus: “With fortitude and admirable vulnera ... Show More
51m 37s
Jul 2023
Coming of Age in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn | Aisha Abdel Gawad
Writing Between Two Moons: An Arab-American coming of age story set in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn during the “War on Terror”. Author Aisha Abdel Gawad sheds light on her experience writing the novel while balancing her work as a high-school teacher, capturing Bay Ridge’s unique communit ... Show More
53m 19s
Dec 2018
Ayana Mathis: “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie”
New York Times best-selling author Ayana Mathis discusses her sweeping debut novel, “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie.” The book tells the story of the children of the Great Migration through the trials of one indomitable heroine, Hattie Shepherd, and her unforgettable family. Ayana s ... Show More
29m 49s
Mar 2022
ZEYN JOUKHADAR | The Thirty Names of Night | Book Club
Zeyn Joukhadar talked about his book ‘The Thirty Names of Night: A Novel’.Zeyn Joukhadar is the author of the novels The Map of Salt and Stars, 2018, and The Thirty Names of Night, 2020 and a member of the Radius of Arab American Writers (RAWI). His work has appeared in KINK: Sto ... Show More
27m 27s
Apr 2024
Ihsan Abdel Kouddous, "A Nose and Three Eyes" (Hoopoe, 2024)
Written by iconic Egyptian novelist Ihsan Abdel Kouddous, this classic of love, desire, and family breakdown smashed through taboos when first published in Arabic and continues to captivate audiences todayIt is 1950s Cairo and 16-year-old Amina is engaged to a much older man. Des ... Show More
39m 3s
May 2022
NAOMI SHIHAB NYE | The Turtle of Oman & Michigan | Book Club
Naomi Shihab Nye talked about her books ‘The Turtle of Oman’ and ‘The Turtle of Michigan. The books are about Aref as he travels from Muscat, Oman, to Ann Arbor, Michigan.Naomi Shihab Nye was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father was a Palestinian refugee and her mother an Amer ... Show More
57m 42s