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Casa Susanna: The Story of the First Trans Network in the United States, 1959-1968
In the 1950s and '60s, an underground network of transgender women, gender nonconforming people, and men who dressed as women found refuge at a modest house in the Catskills, New York. Known as Casa Susanna, the house provided a safe place to express their true selves and live for a few days as they had always dreamed--dressed as and living as women without fear of being incarcerated or institutionalized for their self-expression.
Casa Susanna opens up that now-lost world. The photographs--mostly discovered by chance in a New York flea market in 2004--chronicle the experiences of these women in states of relaxation, experimentation, connection, and joy. All of this was made possible by Susanna Valenti who--on her own journey toward womanhood--created Casa Susanna, a protected space where others could do the same. Supplementing the images, excerpts from the magazine Transvestia record a different kind of space where those who had been outcast by a rigidly binary society could connect.
The people who came to Casa Susanna found a space where they could explore and celebrate their own and each other's femininity, as they could not elsewhere. Their creations are also a reminder that there were, and still are, many ways to explore the boundaries of gender.
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Survival Is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde
A bold, innovative biography that offers a new understanding of the life, work, and enduring impact of Audre Lorde.
Lorde's understanding of survival was not simply about getting through to the other side of oppression or being resilient in the face of cancer. It was about the total stakes of what it means to be in relationship with a planet in transformation. Possibly the focus on Lorde's quotable essays, to the neglect of her complex poems, has led us to ignore her deep engagement with the natural world, the planetary dynamics of geology, meteorology, and biology. For her, ecological images are not simply metaphors but rather literal guides to how to be of earth on earth, and how to survive--to live the ethics that a Black feminist lesbian warrior poetics demands. In Survival Is a Promise, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, the first researcher to explore the full depths of Lorde's manuscript archives, illuminates the eternal life of Lorde. Her life and work become more than a sound bite; they become a cosmic force, teaching us the grand contingency of life together on earth.
We remember Audre Lorde as an iconic writer, a quotable teacher whose words and face grace T-shirts, nonprofit annual reports, and campus diversity-center walls. But even those who are inspired by Lorde's teachings on "the creative power of difference" may be missing something fundamental about her life and work, and what they can mean for us today. -
The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Quest for Healing and Home
In the great tradition of authors who leave church but remain spiritual--such as Barbara Brown Taylor, Rob Bell--the author of Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul forges a new path toward a true spiritual home, embracing a deep connection to the natural world.
The story of Adam and Eve's fall from innocence in the Garden of Eden is a mythical account of humanity's broken relationship with the divine, with Earth, and with themselves.
In contrast, Celtic wisdom is built on a strong bond with Earth. In the prophetic figures that Newell draws from, the Garden of Eden represents the inner garden of our souls and the outer garden of Earth, which are seen as essentially one. To live in relation to what is deepest in us is to live in relation to the ground from which we and all things have come. Where are we today, in relation to our true selves and the sacredness of Earth? And how are we to find our way home again?
This life-affirming, nourishing book contemplates these questions at a moment of great spiritual awakening, an era characterized by religious exile on a vast scale. We need a new sense of home spiritually, deeply rooted within ourselves and in our shared journey with each other and Earth.
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Sold outSociety of Lies
When a young woman is found dead on her college campus, her sister doesn't believe it was an accident--and her search for answers leads her closer to home than she ever would have imagined in this thrilling debut novel from an exciting new talent. Maya can't wait to return to Princeton for Reunions--it's been a decade since she graduated, and she is looking forward to seeing old faces and reminiscing about her college days. This year is even more special because her little sister, Naomi, is graduating. But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya's worst nightmare when she gets a call no one ever wants--Naomi is dead. The police are saying it's an accident, but Maya suspects there is more to the story than they are letting on. As Maya pieces together the months leading up to her sister's death, she starts to realize how much Naomi hid from her. Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus--the same one Maya belonged to--despite Maya's warnings. And if she had to guess, she'd say Naomi was also tapped for the secret society within it. The more Maya uncovers, the more terrified she becomes that Naomi's decision to follow in her footsteps might have been what got her killed. Because Maya's time at Princeton wasn't as wonderful as she always pretended it was--after all, her sister wasn't the first young woman to turn up dead. Now every clue is leading Maya back to the past...and to the secrets she's kept all these years.Sold out -
Boymom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity
Blending cultural criticism, memoir, and reporting from the frontlines of contemporary American boyhood, this is a humorous and heartbreaking deep dive into the complexities of raising boys in our fraught political moment. Evidence of male entitlement and aggression is all around us--from school shooters to incels, campus rapists to the online "manosphere." In an absolutist climate of culture wars, Ruth Whippman, feminist writer and mother of three boys, can sometimes find herself conflicted and defensive, as though stranded on one side of a symbolic divide with her own children on the other. But as she comes to realize, gender politics aren't simple. Male privilege and male vulnerability coexist in a complex relationship, and raising boys who can challenge the confines of masculine expectations is more important now than ever. With young men in the grip of a loneliness epidemic and dying by suicide at a rate of nearly four times their female peers, Whippman asks: What are the cultural messages we send boys that leave them anxious, emotionally repressed, and socially isolated? How do we raise our sons to have a healthy sense of self without turning them into entitled assholes? How can we find a feminism that holds boys to a higher standard but still treats them with empathy? And what do we do when our boys won't cooperate with our plans? In BoyMom, Whippman moves beyond simplistic, polarized thinking to uncover the myriad complex and invisible ways that systems of masculinity both harm boys and teach them to harm others. Determined to widen the possibilities for her own sons and subvert the social forces already affecting them, Whippman talks to boys of all types, as well as parents, educators, and other experts, and uncovers surprising and controversial truths about boy socialization. With humor and deep vulnerability, Whippman takes a stark look at her own parenting choices as well as wider narratives about mental health, school, sex, cancel culture, screens, popular culture, friendship, neurodiversity, and loneliness to make sense of how masculinity is constructed and experienced in our culture. In doing so, she charts a new path to help us give boys a healthier, more expansive, and fulfilling story about their lives. -
Long Live Evil
This adult epic fantasy debut from Sarah Rees Brennan puts the reader in the villain's shoes, for an adventure that is both "brilliant" (Holly Black) and "supremely satisfying" (Leigh Bardugo). Expect a rogue's gallery of villains including an axe wielding maid, a shining knight with dark moods, a homicidal bodyguard, and a playboy spymaster with a golden heart and a filthy reputation.
When her whole life collapsed, Rae still had books. Dying, she seizes a second chance at living: a magical bargain that lets her enter the world of her favorite fantasy series. She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He's impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she's not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor's tale. So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they're doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor's fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page. THIS IS A TALE FOR EVERYONE WHO'S EVER FALLEN FOR THE VILLAIN... -
Sold outSpitting Gold
A deliciously haunting debut for fans of Sarah Waters and Sarah Penner set in 19th-century Paris, blending gothic mystery with a captivating sapphic romance as two estranged sisters--celebrated (and fraudulent) spirit mediums--come back together for one last con. Paris, 1866. When Baroness Sylvie Devereux receives a house call from Charlotte Mothe, the sister she disowned, she fears her shady past as a spirit medium has caught up with her. But with their father ill and Charlotte unable to pay his bills, Sylvie is persuaded into one last con. Their marks are the de Jacquinots: dysfunctional aristocrats who believe they are haunted by their great aunt, brutally murdered during the French Revolution. The scheme underway, the sisters deploy every trick to terrify the family out of their gold. But when inexplicable horrors start to happen to them too, the duo question whether they really are at the mercy of a vengeful spirit. And what other deep, dark secrets may come to light?Sold out -
Queer Cheer: Activities, Advice, and Affirmations for LGBTQ+ Teens (LGBTQ+ Issues Facing Gay Teens and More)
Self-Acceptance and Identity Affirmations for LGBT+ Teens (Ages 12-18)#1 New Release in LGBTQ+ Issues, Maturing, and Civil and Human Rights
A positive affirmations book with invaluable information for all queer teens
Inspirational and motivational quotes and information. Queer Cheer provides advice and words of wisdom encouraging teens to find--and keep--their inner rainbow. Covering topics relevant to lgbt+ teens today, this instructional book includes everything ranging from bullies and discrimination to acceptance and advocating change.
Illustrated words of encouragement from a friend. Authors Eric Rosswood and Jodie Anders know what it's like to be a teen struggling with identity and societal norms. That's why they're fighting to counter the negativity facing queer teens now and in the future. Queer Cheer includes many teen voices offering tips, advice, related firsthand experiences, and other valuable knowledge.
Inside Queer Cheer, find:
- Affirmations and words of wisdom focusing on areas specific to LGBT+ teens
- Thought-provoking questions that lead to self-acceptance and encourage positive change
- Illustrations and doodles that inspire, empower, and strengthen the hearts and minds of queer teens
Readers of LGBTQIA+ books for young adults such as This Book Is Gay, All Boys Aren't Blue, or The ABC's of LGBT+ will love Queer Cheer. Also don't miss this multi-award-winning author's other books including Journey to Parenthood, We Make It Better, and The Ultimate Guide for Gay Dads.
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Hum
From the National Book Award-longlisted author of The Need comes an extraordinary novel about a wife and mother who--after losing her job to AI--undergoes a procedure that renders her undetectable to surveillance...but at what cost? In a city addled by climate change and populated by intelligent robots called "hums," May loses her job to artificial intelligence. In a desperate bid to resolve her family's debt and secure their future for another few months, she becomes a guinea pig in an experiment that alters her face so it cannot be recognized by surveillance. Seeking some reprieve from her recent hardships and from her family's addiction to their devices, she splurges on passes that allow them three nights' respite inside the Botanical Garden: a rare green refuge where forests, streams, and animals flourish. But her insistence that her son, daughter, and husband leave their devices at home proves far more fraught than she anticipated, and the lush beauty of the Botanical Garden is not the balm she hoped it would be. When her children come under threat, May is forced to put her trust in a hum of uncertain motives as she works to restore the life of her family. Written in taut, urgent prose, Hum is a work of speculative fiction that unflinchingly explores marriage, motherhood, and selfhood in a world compromised by global warming and dizzying technological advancement, a world of both dystopian and utopian possibilities. As New York Times bestselling author Jeff VanderMeer says, "Helen Phillips, in typical bravura fashion, has found a way to make visible uncomfortable truths about our present by interrogating the near-future." -
Sold outWistoria: Wand and Sword 7
The new, magical dungeon-adventure fantasy series from the author of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Seeking to fulfill a promise to a childhood friend, Will Serfort enters Regarden Magical Academy with the goal of making it to the top of the magical world. There's just one problem: he can't use magic! Will his sword skills be the key to unlocking his true potential? THE MAGEBLADE
Regarden is left reeling after a host of monsters crashes the Terminalia festival. With the Magia Vander having exhausted all their magic repairing the Great Barrier, Will and the remaining mages are the Tower's last line of defense. Yet this enemy may be too much even for Will...unless the Icemaiden can give him the edge he needs.Sold out -
Sold outKittentits
"Molly is one of the greatest young female characters I've had the luck of reading since I picked up Joy Williams's The Quick and the Dead back in 2000 . . . I TRULY LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!" --Gillian Flynn, Gillian Flynn Books
"Part Cruddy, part otherworldly hellion parable, Holly Wilson's Kittentits is a comet ripping through a Walmart, a carnival ride launching into the sun. Molly's voice is raw and true, and this book is fun as shit. Kittentits is unforgettable." --Lindsay Hunter, author of Hot Springs Drive A feral, heart-busting, absurdist debut about Molly, a rambunctious and bawdy ten-year-old searching for friendship and ghosts. It's 1992, and ten-year-old Molly is tired of living in the fire-rotted, nun-haunted House of Friends: a Semi-Cooperative Living Community of Peace Faith(s) in Action with her formerly blind dad and their grieving housemate Evelyn. But when twenty-three-year-old Jeanie, a dirt bike-riding ex-con with a questionable past, moves in, she quickly becomes the object of Molly's adoration. She might treat Molly terribly, but they both have dead moms and potty mouths, so naturally Molly can't seem to leave Jeanie alone. When Jeanie fakes her own death in a hot-air balloon accident, Molly runs away to Chicago with just a stolen credit card and a sweet pair of LA Gear Heatwaves to meet her pen pal Demarcus and hunt down Jeanie. What follows is a race to New Year's Eve, as Molly and Demarcus plan a séance to reunite with their lost moms in front of a live audience at the World's Fair. A surrealist and bold take on the American coming-of-age novel, Holly Wilson's debut is about the interstices of loss, grief, and friendship.Sold out -
My Guncle and Me
This celebration of individuality and inclusivity reminds young readers that what makes them different is what makes them special. In this inclusive and heartwarming picture book by award-winning writer Jonathan Merritt, Henry Higgleston struggles with being deemed an oddball by the other kids at school. But when his fabulous gay uncle arrives for a weekend with his pup Jimmy Chew in tow, Guncle is on a mission to teach Henry that what makes him different makes him special. This joyful story that celebrates family and self-acceptance will make every kid feel seen and loved. -
Immortal Dark (Deluxe Limited Edition)
Preorder now and receive the gorgeous DELUXE LIMITED EDITION while supplies last―featuring stenciled sprayed edges, as well as exclusive special design features. This must-have special edition is only available on a limited first print run while supplies last in the US and Canada only. The Cruel Prince meets Ninth House in this dangerously romantic dark academia fantasy, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister. It began long before my time, but something has always hunted our family. Orphaned heiress Kidan Adane grew up far from the arcane society she was born into, where human bloodlines gain power through vampire companionship. When her sister, June, disappears, Kidan is convinced a vampire stole her--the very vampire bound to their family, the cruel yet captivating Susenyos Sagad. To find June, Kidan must infiltrate the elite Uxlay University--where students study to ensure peaceful coexistence between humans and vampires and inherit their family legacies. Kidan must survive living with Susenyos--even as he does everything he can to drive her away. It doesn't matter that Susenyos's wickedness speaks to Kidan's own violent nature and tempts her to surrender to a life of darkness. She must find her sister and kill Susenyos at all costs. When a murder mirroring June's disappearance shakes Uxlay, Kidan sinks further into the ruthless underworld of vampires, risking her very soul. There she discovers a centuries-old threat--and June could be at the center of it. To save her sister, Kidan must bring Uxlay to its knees and either break free from the horrors of her own actions or embrace the dark entanglements of love--and the blood it requires.Sold out -
An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children
A unique collaboration from two of America's leading artists that explores the fascinating and hidden history of the plant world.
In this witty, deeply original book, the renowned novelist Jamaica Kincaid offers an ABC of the plants that define our world and reveals the often brutal history behind them. Kara Walker, one of America's greatest visual artists, illustrates each entry with provocative, brilliant, enthralling, many-layered watercolors. There has never been a book like An Encyclopedia of Gardening for Colored Children--so inventive, surprising, and telling about what our gardens reveal. -
A Shield of Fate and Ruin
When the world is at war.
No one is safe.
Not even the gods.Apollo would hide with Hyacinth and hold him until the sun burned out.
But that is not their destiny.
When Ares arrives announcing a turn of the tides and war thundering towards Niria, Apollo and Hyacinth take on a journey to save everyone from Zeus' wrath.
But when things don't go as planned, they might destroy themselves instead.
In this third installment of the Apollo Ascending series, romance, fate, adventure, and tragedy intermingle into an exhilarating story of loyalty and sacrifice.
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April May June July
A triumphant family story and sharply observed exploration of privilege, identity, and love in all its forms, following four estranged siblings whose lives collide in the lead-up to a family wedding, when new clues surface about their long-missing father
"Truly a great American novel that does the very best of what fiction can do: sink us into other people's lives, show us new worlds, make our hearts pound and our breath catch. Superb." --Julia Phillips
April, May, June, and July Barber don't have much in common anymore. An upcoming family wedding will place the four siblings in the same room for the first time in years. But shortly before, when April spots their father, who went missing while serving overseas a decade ago, their reunion becomes entirely more complicated.
While the siblings' search for the truth about their father forces them back into each other's lives, it also intensifies their private dramas. April loves her husband, but seeks excitement outside their marriage. May had big dreams for the future, but she's still stuck living at home. June is eager to marry her girlfriend, so why does she need a drink at every wedding-related event? And then there's baby brother July, whose unrequited love for his straight roommate has him more confused than ever.
Confronting the past together, April, May, June, and July will find not only answers about their father, but new romance, hope, and understanding as they learn to embrace the beauty of their shared history.