Shark Feed
If You Loved ‘The Pagemaster’ and ‘The NeverEnding Story,’ Read ‘Edwin and the Quest for Drow’ by Gordon C. Allan Next!
One of my favorite tropes in middle-grade and young adult stories is the concept of the main character loving one of their parents but not being particularly close to them... so when that parent dies or disappears, the main character toils with missing and grieving...
Yay! The First Issue of Lit Pup Magazine Is Here!
Happy weekend, readers, writers, and shark fans! And welcome to the kids, teens, parents, teachers, and librarians we may not have seen here before! Welcome to all of you! I am so pleased to announce that, after several years of planning and accepting submissions, the...
The ‘Charlie’s Story’ Series: Let’s Give Octopi Another Look
When I first discovered Cyanea by Ann R. McNicol and then realized it was the fourth book in a series, I quickly immersed myself in the world of these books—and I am so grateful I did!...
Latest Book Reviews
Learn How the Mind Works to Slow Down Time, Enjoy Life, and Make the Most Out of the Hours in Your Day with Jean Paul Zogby
Slow Down Time: The Power of Time Perception by Jean Paul Zogby looks at how we see and process time. As Einstein said “When you sit with a nice girl for two hours you think it’s only a minute, but when you sit on a hot stove for a minute you think it’s two hours....
What Makes a Villain? A Review of ‘Verity’ by Colleen Hoover
This review contains spoilers of Verity by Colleen Hoover. Content Warning: Abuse, Death, Mental Health, Violence, and Sexual Assault Exploring Character Intent and Actions Many books craft a story with a clear villain and a hero, providing the reader with a...
Make a Joyful Life in 30 Days with ‘The Joy Plan’ by Kaia Roman
The Joy Plan by Kaia Roman outlines a 30-day experiment where the author concentrates solely on joy, quitting complaining, and stopping worrying! She puts the results of the experiment into this book. It’s easy to read, fun, joyful—and super inspiring. The book starts...
Congratulations to Han Kang for Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature!
Happy Friday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We're very excited to share that the results are in for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, and the winner is none other than the incredible Human Acts author, Han Kang. The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2024 is awarded...
If You Loved ‘The Pagemaster’ and ‘The NeverEnding Story,’ Read ‘Edwin and the Quest for Drow’ by Gordon C. Allan Next!
One of my favorite tropes in middle-grade and young adult stories is the concept of the main character loving one of their parents but not being particularly close to them... so when that parent dies or disappears, the main character toils with missing and grieving...
The ‘Charlie’s Story’ Series: Let’s Give Octopi Another Look
When I first discovered Cyanea by Ann R. McNicol and then realized it was the fourth book in a series, I quickly immersed myself in the world of these books—and I am so grateful I did!...
A group of sharks is called a shiver.
Latest Lit Shark Issue
Our Creative Highlights
Creative Highlight: “Listing”
Happy Wednesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! In response to our "We're Making a List" writing prompt, Julie A. Dickson wrote this wonderful poem, "Listing," which also went on to appear in Issue 1 of Lit Shark Magazine. Here is Julie's poem, recreated as a...
Lit Pup Submissions Open!
“Follow your artistic obsessions mercilessly.” – Franz Kafka
Latest Author Interviews
Dickinson & One-Thousand Rages: An Interview with ‘Armed to the Teeth’ Poet, Ellen Hirning Schmidt
Happy Thursday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We love celebrating our Lit Shark community here, so we are excited today to share Ellen Hirning Schmidt's latest poetry collection, Armed to the Teeth. Ellen graced us with her presence in Issue 2 of Lit Shark...
This Charming Equestrian Thriller Has Surprises at Every Turn, Even for the Author
How many lives can one woman save in one romantic equestrian thriller? Well, Betty Briggs pushes the envelope in her novel, Pressure Point, in which Stephanie receives a letter from her ultimate nemesis, who mocks her with the kidnapping of her future adoptive...
Anne Hathaway Fulfills the Boy Band Fantasy of Our Dreams in ‘The Idea of You’
Happy World Book Day, readers, writers, and shark fans! To celebrate, we're sharing a fun book that will be available to watch early this May. Our Editor-in-Chief was invited to attend an early viewing event of the film adaptation of Robinne Lee's 2017 romantic...
The Game of 2,000 Words & Other Tips from R.L. Stine
Happy Tuesday, readers, writers, and shark fans! We love Motivation Mondays and Tuesday Tips around here, so today, we thought we'd share an interesting series of tips from Goosebumps YA horror author R.L. Stine. We recently sat in on an interview between some of the...
The Feed
If You Loved ‘The Pagemaster’ and ‘The NeverEnding Story,’ Read ‘Edwin and the Quest for Drow’ by Gordon C. Allan Next!
One of my favorite tropes in middle-grade and young adult stories is the concept of the main character loving one of their parents but not being particularly close to them... so when that parent dies or disappears, the main character toils with missing and grieving...
Yay! The First Issue of Lit Pup Magazine Is Here!
Happy weekend, readers, writers, and shark fans! And welcome to the kids, teens, parents, teachers, and librarians we may not have seen here before! Welcome to all of you! I am so pleased to announce that, after several years of planning and accepting submissions, the...
The ‘Charlie’s Story’ Series: Let’s Give Octopi Another Look
When I first discovered Cyanea by Ann R. McNicol and then realized it was the fourth book in a series, I quickly immersed myself in the world of these books—and I am so grateful I did!...
A Boater is Born: An Unexpected Turn with the Long Island City Community Boathouse
On a warm June evening in 2018, I showed up for my first canoe trip as a member of the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse (NBCB). I greeted the other members and the trip leader, selected my paddle and life jacket, listened to the instruction details for the outing,...
Celebrating Mark Z. Danielewski: A New Novel and 25 Years of ‘House of Leaves’
Readers, writers, and shark fans, rejoice! In a remarkable dual celebration of literary innovation, cult author Mark Z. Danielewski marks the 25th anniversary of his groundbreaking novel, House of Leaves, while simultaneously announcing the forthcoming release of his...
10 Top Titles
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson Sourcebooks Landmark: November 1, 2022, 336 pages ISBN-13: 978-1728246444 "A sparkling bookish story about rules just begging to be broken." — Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author of Part of Your...
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins Griffin Books: November 2, 2021, 336 pages ISBN-13: 978-1250245502 "COMPULSIVELY READABLE... A GOTHIC THRILLER LACED WITH ARSENIC." - Entertainment Weekly Reviews "A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs pairs...
Last Psalm at Sea Level by Meg Day
Last Psalm at Sea Level by Meg Day Barrow Street Press: October 1, 2014, 72 pages ISBN-13: 978-0989329644 "Poetry. LGBT Studies. Deaf Poetics. "Lovely does not suffice, nor does lyric. Eloquence is only a grasping in the space of ineffable air. There are few words or...
Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
Answers in the Pages by David Levithan Yearling Books: September 5, 2023, 192 pages ISBN-13: 978-0593484715 "A bold, timely novel about speaking up and coming out as parents lobby to ban a beloved book from the school curriculum by New York Times-bestselling author...
The Titanic Sisters by Patricia Falvey
The Titanic Sisters: A Riveting Story of Strength and Family by Patricia Falvey Kensington Books: January 26, 2011, 320 pages ISBN-13: 978-1496732569 “The enchanting saga of two Irish sisters…This new chapter of Titanic lore is worth plunging into.” —Publishers Weekly...
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King
Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King Scholastic Press: September 6, 2022, 272 pages ISBN-13: 978-1338680522 "Award-winning author Amy Sarig King takes on censorship and intolerance in a novel she was born to write. "When Mac first opens his classroom copy...
Discovering the Secret World: Coral Reefs by Radka Piro and Martin Sojdr
Discovering the Secret World: Coral Reef by Radka Piro and Martin Sojdr Board Book Teaches Kids Ages 3-6 about a Reef, Diving Deeper into the Sea with Each Turn of the Page, with Educational Fun Facts Happy Fox Books: September 14, 2021, 14 pages (board book) ISBN-13:...
Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh
Unsinkable by Jenni L. Walsh Harper Muse: January 9, 2024, 352 pages ISBN-13: 978-1400233946 "The Titanic was only the beginning. What she survived has become legend. "Violet Jessop is Miss Unsinkable. "After her mother becomes too ill to work, the responsibility to...
The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe
The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic by Shana Abe Kensington Books: August 31, 2021, 336 pages ISBN-13: 978-1496732040 "Abé is an exquisite storyteller. Rich in detail and deeply moving." –Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling...
A Kids Book About Banned Books by the National Coalition Against Censorship
A Kids Book About Banned Books by the National Coalition Against Censorship, Edited by Ashley Simpo A Kids Book About, Inc.; September 12, 2022, 64 pages ISBN-13: 978-1953955708 “We believe questions are important because questions lead to conversations. And...