Staff Picks
Author Spotlight: Lamar Giles
- Richland Library
- Friday, August 14, 2020
Collection
Lamar Giles is an author, speaker and founding member of We Need Diverse Books. He sold his first short story at age 21. He independently published his novels and short stories under the pen name L.R. Giles before his debut young adult novel, Fake ID, was published by Harper Collins in 2014. Giles has gone on to publish two middle grade and five young adult novels while simultaneously editing and contributing to multiple young adult and middle grade anthologies.
Black Enough
Stories of Being Young & Black in America
Published in 2019
A collection of short stories explore what it is like to be young and black, centering on the experiences of black teenagers and emphasizing that one person's experiences, reality, and personal identity are different than someone else.
Black Enough Stories of Being Young & Black in America
Published in 2019
Black is: sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renee Watson. Black is: three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is: Nic Stone's high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is: two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more, because there are countless ways to be Black enough.
Fresh Ink
Published in 2018
"An anthology featuring award-winning diverse authors about diverse characters. Short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play explore such topics as gentrification, acceptance, untimely death, coming out, and poverty, and range in genre from contemporary realistic fiction to adventure and romance"-- Provided by publisher.
Fresh Ink an Anthology
Published in 2018
"An anthology featuring award-winning diverse authors about diverse characters. Short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play explore such topics as gentrification, acceptance, untimely death, coming out, and poverty, and range in genre from contemporary realistic fiction to adventure and romance"-- Provided by publisher.
The Hero Next Door
Published in 2019
A collection of short stories by diverse authors that explores acts of bravery by heroes trying to make the world a better place.
His Hideous Heart
Published in 2019
"Poe's ghost happily haunts this fresh, delightfully dark collection." — Kirkus, starred review "Adler's anthology brims over with fierce delight and uncanny invention...if you haven't read Poe before, 'His Hideous Heart' works equally well as an introduction, a tribute and a loving critique." — The New York Times Book Review Thirteen of YA's most celebrated names reimagine Edgar Allan Poe's most surprising, unsettling, and popular tales for a new generation. Edgar Allan Poe may be a hundred and fifty years beyond this world, but the themes of his beloved works have much in common with modern young adult fiction. Whether the stories are familiar or discovered for the first time, listeners will revel in both Edgar Allan Poe's classic tales, and in the 13 unique and unforgettable ways that they've been brought to life. Contributors include Dahlia Adler (reimagining "Ligeia"), Kendare Blake ("Metzengerstein"), Rin Chupeco ("The Murders in the Rue Morgue"), Lamar Giles ("The Oval Portrait"), Tessa Gratton ("Annabel Lee"), Tiffany D. Jackson ("The Cask of Amontillado"), Stephanie Kuehn ("The Tell-Tale Heart"), Emily Lloyd-Jones ("The Purloined Letter"), amanda lovelace ("The Raven"), Hillary Monahan ("The Masque of the Red Death"), Marieke Nijkamp ("Hop-Frog"), Caleb Roehrig ("The Pit and the Pendulum"), and Fran Wilde ("The Fall of the House of Usher"). This program is read by Dahlia Adler, Kendare Blake, JorJa Brown, Caitlin Davies, James Fouhey, Tessa Gratton, Jeanette Illidge, Emily Lloyd-Jones, Robin Miles, Natalie Naudus, amanda lovelace, Hillary Monahan, Caleb Roehrig, and Fran Wilde.
Endangered
Published in 2015
"When Lauren (Panda), a teen photoblogger, gets involved in a deadly game, she has to protect the classmates she despises"-- Provided by publisher.
Fake ID
Published in 2014
"An African-American teen in the Witness Protection Program moves to a new town and finds himself trying to solve a murder mystery when his first friend is found dead"-- Provided by publisher.
Fake ID
Published in 2014
My name isn't really Nick Pearson.I shouldn't tell you where I'm from.I shouldn't tell you why my family moved to Stepton, Virginia.I shouldn't tell you who I really am, or my hair, eye, and skin color.And I definitely shouldn't tell you about my friend Eli Cruz and the major conspiracy Eli was about to uncover when he died--right after I moved to town...
Last Last-day-of-summer
Published in 2019
When adventurous cousins Otto and Sheed Alston accidentally extend the last day of summer by freezing time, they find the secrets between the unmoving seconds are not as much fun as they expected.
Not So Pure and Simple
Published in 2020
High school junior Del Rainey unwittingly joins a Purity Pledge class at church, hoping to get closer to his long-term crush, Kiera.
Not So Pure and Simple
Published in 2020
An Indie Next List Pick! In his first contemporary teen novel, critically acclaimed author and two-time Edgar Award finalist Lamar Giles spotlights the consequences of societal pressure, confronts toxic masculinity, and explores the complexity of what it means to be a "real man." Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she's finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del's right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he's inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge. His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn't believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del's not about to lose his dream girl, and that's where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers' questions…about sex ed. With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can't think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it'll all sort itself out. Right?
Overturned
Published in 2017
Nikki Tate's father has been on death row for killing his best friend in a gambling dispute, but he has always maintained his innocence, and now his conviction has been overturned and he is back at the casino, where high school junior Nikki has been operating illegal poker games in the hopes of saving enough money to get out of Vegas after graduation--and now he is determined to find the real killer, and Nikki is inevitably drawn into his dangerous search for the truth.
Spin
Published in 2019
When DJ ParSec (Paris Secord), rising star of the local music scene, is found dead over her turntables, the two girls who found her, Kya (her pre-fame best friend) and Fuse (her current chief groupie) are torn between grief for Paris and hatred for each other--but when the lack of obvious suspects stalls the investigation, and the police seem to lose interest, despite pressure from social media and ParSec's loyal fans, the two girls unite, determined to find out who murdered their friend.
Spin
Published in 2019
Lamar Giles is back with another nonstop, addictive, edge-of-your-seat thriller about best friends, murder, and music. When rising star Paris Secord (aka DJ ParSec) is found dead on her turntables, it sends the local music scene reeling. No one is feeling that grief more than her shunned pre-fame best friend, Kya, and ParSec's chief groupie, Fuse -- two sworn enemies who happened to be the ones who discovered her body. The police have few leads, and when the trail quickly turns cold, the authorities don't seem to be pushing too hard to investigate further. Only no one counted on Paris's deeply loyal fans, ParSec Nation, or the outrage that would drive Fuse and Kya to work together. As ParSec Nation takes to social media and the streets in their crusade for justice, Fuse and Kya start digging into Paris's past, stumbling across a deadly secret. With new info comes new motives. New suspects. And a fandom that will stop at nothing in their obsessive quest for answers, not even murder . . .
Black Enough
Published in 2019
Black is: sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renee Watson. Black is: three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is: Nic Stone's high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is: two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more, because there are countless ways to be Black enough.
Super Puzzletastic Mysteries
Short Stories for Young Sleuths From Mystery Writers of America
Published in 2020
Black Enough
Published in 2019
Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi and featuring some of the most acclaimed, bestselling black authors writing for teens today—Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it's like to be young and black in America. Black is...sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson. Black is... three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is...Nic Stone's bougie debutante dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is...two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be black enough. Contributors: Justina Ireland Varian Johnson Rita Williams-Garcia Dhonielle Clayton Kekla Magoon Leah Henderson Tochi Onyebuchi Jason Reynolds Nic Stone Liara Tamani Renée Watson Tracey Baptiste Coe Booth Brandy Colbert Jay Coles Ibi Zoboi Lamar Giles
Black Enough
Published in 2019
Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi and featuring some of the most acclaimed, bestselling black authors writing for teens today—Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it's like to be young and black in America. Black is...sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson. Black is... three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is...Nic Stone's bougie debutante dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is...two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be black enough. Contributors: Justina Ireland Varian Johnson Rita Williams-Garcia Dhonielle Clayton Kekla Magoon Leah Henderson Tochi Onyebuchi Jason Reynolds Nic Stone Liara Tamani Renée Watson Tracey Baptiste Coe Booth Brandy Colbert Jay Coles Ibi Zoboi Lamar Giles
His Hideous Heart
Thirteen of Edgar Allan Poe's Most Unsettling Tales Reimagined
Published in 2019
Thirteen of Poe's terrifying works are reimagined in new and unexpected ways for modern readers. Poe's own stories are included, so readers can compare.
Black Enough
Published in 2019
Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi and featuring some of the most acclaimed, bestselling black authors writing for teens today-Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it's like to be young and black in America. Black is...sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Reně Watson. Black is| three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is|Nic Stone's bougie debutante dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is|two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more-because there are countless ways to be black enough. Contributors: Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Rita Williams-Garcia, Dhonielle Clayton, Kekla Magoon, Leah Henderson, Tochi Onyebuchi, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Liara Tamani, Reně Watson, Tracey Baptiste, Coe Booth, Brandy Colbert, Jay ColesIbi Zoboi, and Lamar Giles.
Black Enough Stories of Being Young & Black in America
Published in 2019
-- Black EnoughJustina Ireland Varian Johnson Rita Williams-Garcia Dhonielle Clayton Kekla Magoon Leah Henderson Tochi Onyebuchi Jason Reynolds Nic Stone Liara Tamani Renée Watson Tracey Baptiste Coe Booth Brandy Colbert Jay Coles Ibi Zoboi Lamar Giles