Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2022) Nominations Round-Up, Fall

Each quarter, the Selected Lists teams compile the titles that have been officially nominated to date. These books have been suggested by the team or through the title suggestion form, read by multiple members of the team, and received approval to be designated an official nomination. At the end of the year, the final list of nominations and each Selected List’s Top Ten will be chosen from these titles.


Amari and the Night Brothers. By B.B. Alston. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $17.99 (9781725418295). 

Amari knows her brother isn’t dead. A briefcase in his closet leads her to a magical world—and the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, the place Quinton was working when he disappeared. Amari must use all her smarts and her heart to find out what really happened.

Artie and the Wolf Moon. By Olivia Stephens. Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe, $16.99 (9781728420202). 

After Artie finds out her mother is a werewolf and that she lost her father to vampires, she must then battle vampires to save her friends and new wolf family while trying to practice her own potential wolf abilities.

Before the Ever After. By Jacqueline Woodson. 2020. Penguin Random House/Nancy Paulsen Books, $17.99 (9780399545436). 

Being the son of Zachariah 44, football star, has always felt like a dream to ZJ. But recently it’s been more like a nightmare, with his dad’s headaches, memory problems, and dramatic mood changes defining life in their house.

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Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2022) Featured Review of The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures by Christian Allaire

The Power of Style Cover Art

The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty Are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures by Christian Allaire
Annick Press
Publication Date: April 27, 2021
ISBN: 9781773214900 

Authored by a fashion and style writer for Vogue, this look at current elements of style focuses on social justice, culture, and politics, and their connection to how under-represented communities use fashion to proudly claim their identities. Included are ribbon shirts, hijabs, high heels, hair, and cosplay.

This quick overview of specific fashion elements uses a variety of eye-catching photos and brief, interesting commentary to keep readers flipping pages. The striking cover, 100-page length, and diverse collection of topics make this an easy book to pick up and browse. Fashion provides an inroad to larger ideas in history and pop culture without being didactic or overwhelming.

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