The Book Stories We Covered This Week

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Welcome to Today in Books, where we bring you daily highlights of literary news touching on politics, culture, media, and more. Here are the stories we’ve delved into this week.

Most Popular Books on Goodreads This Week
After a period without Empyrean books in the top five most read on Goodreads, Onyx Storm has made a comeback. While the series isn’t among the top bestsellers, it’s now one of the most read books on the platform again.

Getting Ready for Pride Month in Libraries in 2025
As Pride month approaches, libraries are gearing up for programs, book showcases, and discussions about LGBTQ+ themes and history. In light of recent challenges like book bans and rising extremism, it’s crucial to prepare for the upcoming events.

Creating a Voter’s Guide for School Board Elections
Today, we’re handing the floor to Frank Strong, known for his invaluable candidate guides in Texas. Frank, a key figure in the Texas Freedom to Read Project and an educator, often delves into censorship laws and their impact on young people in his Substack, Anger & Clarity.

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Compilation of Summer Reading Lists
Instead of sharing multiple summer reading lists individually, we’ve gathered them all in today’s edition of Today in Books. Check out these lists, likely curated by human authors.

Top-Selling Books of the Week, As per Various Rankings
Backman and McFadden continue their streak on bestseller lists, with Devney Perry making a notable entry with Shield of Sparrows, drawing comparisons to popular authors like Sarah J. Maas. This romantasy novel is already in development with Amazon MGM.

International Booker Prize Winner Revealed
The International Booker Prize, a significant award for translated fiction, has announced its latest winner. Established in 2005, this prestigious prize honors the best translated novels and short story collections published in the UK or Ireland.

Trump Requests Delay in IMLS Injunction; Criticism of IMLS Staff by Sonderling
In the ongoing legal battle of Rhode Island vs. Trump, the administration seeks a delay that would maintain the halt on bringing back IMLS workers and services. Meanwhile, the ALA vs. Sonderling case has a temporary restraining order in place, preventing further agency dismantling.

Trump Dismisses Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, Plus Other Library Developments
Recent events in Library Land include the removal of Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, updates on the IMLS lawsuit, and states like South Carolina and Utah expanding their book bans.

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