Alex Haley’s ROOTS Banned by Tennessee School District
Knox County Schools in Tennessee removed Alex Haley’s 1976 bestseller *Roots* from its public libraries, invoking the state’s Age‑Appropriate Materials Act. The law bars titles containing nudity, sexual content, or excessive violence, though the novel may still be taught in classroom settings. *Roots* historically sparked a nationwide genealogy movement and remains a cultural touchstone. The decision follows a prior committee vote against banning the book, highlighting the district’s shift amid heightened political scrutiny of school curricula.
FOURTH WING Series Ordered And Michael B. Jordan Is Producing It
Amazon Prime has green‑lit a television adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’s bestselling fantasy, “Fourth Wing,” with Oscar‑winner Michael B. Jordan joining Lisa Joy and Meredith Averill as producers. Development began just five months after the novel’s 2023 release and production is...
Read These Books Before You See Them on the Screen and Stage
The Book Riot article spotlights Task #10 of the 2026 Read Harder Challenge, which urges readers to pick a book that’s been adapted for film, TV, or stage. It highlights eight recent adaptations, including PBS’s *The Count of Monte Cristo*...
The Book News We Covered This Week
Today in Books delivered a weekly roundup covering bestseller lists, the 2026 Pulitzer winners, and industry news. Highlights include the death of legendary comics writer Gerry Conway, a warning to libraries preparing for Pride month amid rising book bans, and...
250 Influential Books for 250 Years of America
Brooklyn Public Library unveiled a curated list of 250 influential books to mark America’s 250th anniversary, offering genre filters and commentary on each title. A new study shows middle and high school teachers still assign full books, averaging four per...
The 10 Buzziest New Books of May 2026
May marks the official start of summer reading, and Book Riot curates the season’s hottest titles using a four‑bell framework—art, acclaim, sales, and zeitgeist. The roundup spotlights a new novel from the author of The Help, a fable‑horror hybrid by a...
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Has a New Official Trailer
Christopher Nolan unveiled the official trailer for his upcoming film *The Odyssey*, a modern adaptation of Homer's epic. The teaser showcases a star‑studded lineup including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson, prompting lively commentary online. The release...
A Must-Read 2026 Literary Thriller Novel
T Kira Madden’s new novel Whidbey redefines the literary thriller by centering a child‑sex‑assault narrative within a contemplative whodunnit. Drawing on her memoir experience, Madden weaves the story of Birdie, a queer biracial survivor, and the ripple effects on a community...
The Four Faces of a True Story
Davin Malasarn’s debut novel, The Outer Country, arrived in May 2026 under One World, Penguin Random House’s literary imprint. The story draws on Malasarn’s own experience with a Thai‑style conversion‑therapy ritual his aunt arranged during his teens. Framed as a...
What Are You Reading in May?
In April the author completed a queer romantasy heist set in Dungeons & Dragons, a sci‑fi mystery novella, and a YA novel featuring asexual and aromantic protagonists. They also watched the graphic novel series Heartstopper for the first time and...
A New BookTok Bestseller List
Media Control and TikTok have introduced the United Kingdom’s first official BookTok bestseller list, merging NielsenIQ BookData sales figures with TikTok engagement metrics. The inaugural March 2026 ranking is topped by Rachel Reid’s *Heated Rivalry*, while Irish romance writer Chloe...
Utah Adds Two More Books to Banned List; 34 Now Outlawed in State Public Schools
Utah added two more titles—Jaycee Dugard’s *A Stolen Life* and George R.R. Martin’s *A Clash of Kings*—to its state‑wide banned‑books list, bringing the total to 34. The additions follow a lawsuit filed in February challenging the 2024 HB 29 “sensitive material”...
A Must-Read Book By One of Our Sharpest Contemporary Voices
Jia Tolentino’s debut essay collection, Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self‑Delusion, is highlighted as a prime gateway into nonfiction for readers accustomed to fiction. The 2019 bestseller, which made Barack Obama’s list of favorite books that year, blends sharp cultural analysis...
The Best Books of the Year So Far, According to THE NEW YORK TIMES
The New York Times Book Review unveiled its mid‑year “best books so far” list, with Tayari Jones’s historical novel “Kin” taking the top spot. Condé Nast Traveler released a guide to 20 standout independent bookstores across the United States, encouraging literary tourism. Oprah’s flagship...
Fae-Bulous BIPOC And/Or Queer Romantasies
Romantasy, the hybrid of romance and fantasy, has exploded in popularity, yet the subgenre still struggles with diversity. Recent releases such as Kritika H. Rao’s *The Legend of Meneka*, which weaves Hindu mythology into a BIPOC‑centered love story, and C.L....