Red at the Bone has become one of the most banned books in the country with teachers, librarians, and community leaders fighting to keep this seminal book on shelves.

“When I was a child, my happiest memories are of my family’s frequent trips to the library. My mom adored the library with a cheerful, vehement passion that was contagious; going to the library triggered that same Pavlovian response as “Hey kids, we’re going for ice cream”—it was a treat!”

“The library was where I learned to love mysteries. Nancy Drew, to be more specific. I have a core memory of the line of yellow books in the kids’ section of my local public library. I read every single one that the library had. I read so many that I started to guess the endings. It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the protagonist of my novel becomes a kind of detective herself, though her boyfriend is significantly less upstanding than Nancy’s Ned Nickerson.”

I’m a little teary-eyed as I write this, because libraries have played a huge role in my life. I wouldn’t be the person—or the writer—I am today without them. My debut novel, CROSS THE LINE, wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t been exposed to books of all genres, had a safe space to explore my creativity in, and experienced the kindness of librarians.

Come nighttime these current and former library staff are writing the next big novel you’ll sink your teeth into. Browse below for forthcoming and recently published recs in mysteries, romance, fantasy, and more.

James McBride, Lisa Wingate, Chris Whitaker, and John Schu celebrate National Library Week with heartfelt video messages for librarians and library lovers everywhere!

“My fondest memory of the library is going to New Jersey’s Woodbridge Public Library—the main library. I loved everything about it. I loved the look of the building—a massive 70s-era modernist building. I loved that bridge that arcs over the entrance. If you went under it, you went to the children’s section. If you crossed over it, you were on the adult floors—which is where my two older sisters went, so of course I wanted to tag along. It all felt so epic.”

“I could talk for hours about libraries—why I need them, what they provide, what threats they face—but what I’ve learned is that a librarian is the perfect main character for a novel because librarians know absolutely everything about their patrons and their town.”

“In truth, I can’t recall receiving any one specific book recommendation in particular, but I can recall countless times being humbled and inspired by the generosity, patience and kindness demonstrated by librarians serving patrons from every demographic of the population.”

To me, libraries have always been the best sort of magic. They’re everything we should strive to be as a community; welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and filled with stories. I’m hopeful you’ll find that same magic in the final installment of the Lovelight series.

Parents and caregivers are eager for research-based support on raising kids and teens in the digital age. There are a lot of gloom and doom books out there that basically tell us that “smartphones have destroyed a generation.” My book, Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World, offers a different perspective.

“Crow Talk wouldn’t have come be without the encouragement I received from librarians and library patrons over the last two years. I’m so grateful to the libraries and all they do to support writers like me.”