,

PageTurners: It's Getting Hot in Here

Hot off the press literary releases to help you keep cool in this heatwave.

Blackout, Hell of a Book, The Beauty in Breaking Image: Quill Tree Books, Dutton Books, Riverhead Books

It’s so hot outside that the covers of my paperback books have curled back onto themselves in response the ever-present humidity that is blanketing much of the country.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

Luckily for us, this week’s releases happen to be hardcovers.

It’s a true joy when a Tuesday (the official/unofficial release day for books) is riddled with fiction masterpieces because it gives me even more reason to get lost in a world that isn’t over 90 degrees.

Not to say that the nonfiction releases this week aren’t spectacular. British-Nigerian chef Zoe Alakija debuts her first cookbook, Afro Vegan: Family Recipes from a British-Nigerian Kitchen that combines the cuisines from Alakija’s kitchen growing up and puts a plant-based and environmentally conscious twist on the recipes. The Beauty in Breaking, a memoir by ER physician Michele Harper explores her time in the field and the patients who taught her how to love herself again.

The long-awaited and absolutely perfectly timed release of Blackout from some of our favorite authors—Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon—is a young adult novel that chronicles varying forms of Black teen love in the midst of a citywide blackout caused by the heat in New York. And after 10 years of writing it in his head, Jason Mott gives us one hell of a book. No really. His novel, Hell of a Book, follows an author, a young Black boy living in rural America, and The Kid, the author’s supposed imaginary friend who doesn’t have much of an identity.

Needless to say, we’re all overheating, but not to worry, these books are hot too... hot off the press, that is.

Afro Vegan: Family Recipes from a British-Nigerian Kitchen – Zoe Alakija (Cookbook)

Image: Hoxton Mini Press

Zoe Alakija’s debut cookbook features almost 50 plant-based recipes that fuse African—specifically Nigerian—and European flavors and techniques from a young chef. Alakija is known for infusing her vibrant and modern techniques into British cooking, blending in the tastes and experience of the Nigerian food of her upbringing. With the rise of plant-based cooking and African cuisine in Britain, Alakija was able to find connections, like the one between the nutty plantain brownies from Nigeria and vegan European flavors. Her easy-to-follow yet complexly flavored recipes not only balance two very different cuisines but ensure that each recipe educates people on how to expand their palates to “broader, more environmentally responsible horizons.”

June 21, 2021, Hoxton Mini Press 

Blackout – Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon (Young Adult)

Image: Quill Tree Books

There’s a paradoxical certainty that comes from being in the dark—you never know what to expect, but you know something is out there. An aggressive heatwave barrels its way across New York City, blanketing the city in total darkness, and though all of the lights are out, there’s still a type of electricity flowing through New York. People are much braver in the dark—to reunite with an old friend, continue to fight with a bitter ex, even meet someone new…

Blackout follows interlinked stories of Black teen love in New York in the summer through “charming, hilarious and heartwarming” tales that can light up the world, even in the dark.

June 22, 2021, Quill Tree Books

Hell of a Book – Jason Mott (Fiction)

Image: Dutton Books

Jason Mott takes readers on a road trip across the country, timelines and character perspectives in Hell of a Book. As Mott’s main protagonist who sets out to promote his newest novel, the tale also tells the story of Soot, a young Black boy who, up until recently, lived in a rural American town. And then there’s The Kid, who appears to be some form of an imaginary friend (maybe?) who follows the author across his tour—as the author seemingly remains nameless.

As the character’s stories inevitably collide, the magic of the book continues to emerge from a humorous tale about race, love and family into the definition of what it means to be Black in America and the incessant murder that accompanies it.

Mott asks the readers questions such as “Who has been killed? Who is The Kid? Will the author finish his book tour, and what kind of world will he leave behind?” As readers ponder the answers and dive further into the lives of these characters, Mott builds a world that readers are sucked into, leaving them to think, “Wow, that was one Hell of a Book.”

June 29, 2021, Dutton Books

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen: The Emotional Lives of Black Women – Inger Burnett-Zeigler (Nonfiction)

Image: Amistad

The “strong Black woman” image/trope is both inspiring and detrimental to Black women everywhere. Clinical psychologist Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler praises the strength Black women hold while acknowledging that said strength comes from some form of trauma. Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen explores how the image of a strong Black woman doesn’t “take into account the urgency of Black women’s needs,” and constantly disrupts one’s life. The book shows how trauma can impact mental health and expedite the ability to compartmentalize and push through the pain—often leading to destructive behaviors.

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen is a guide, roadmap and exploration of self-love and healing for Black women, teaching them “how to prioritize the self and find everyday joys in self-worth.”

June 29, 2021, Amistad

Runner: A Chicago Mystery – Tracy Clark (Mystery)

Image: Kensington Publishing Corp.

If there’s one thing “former homicide cop turned private investigator” Cass Raines can’t run from, it’s the bitter chill of Chicago’s winter. In Tracy Clark’s fourth Chicago Mystery installment, Cass is tasked with finding a missing teenage girl—Ramona Titus. She’s run from her foster home and after Cass speaks with her biological mother—a recovering addict—and her foster mother—desperate to find Ramona—Cass begins to empathize with the girl, getting a glimpse into her twisted life. While the police are on the hunt, Cass uses his connections closer to the streets and his “network of savvy allies” to hunt for Ramona.

Holding onto secrets that could put her and everyone else around her in danger, Cass uncovers more and more about Ramona and her past and soon realizes she might not want to be found.

June 29, 2021, Kensington Publishing Corp.

The Beauty in Breaking: A Memoir – Michele Harper (Memoir)

Image: Riverhead Books

She excelled in a field that was predominately white and male. She married a man she met in Harvard and stayed with him all through medical school. She left medical school, newly single, and in a new city. And now she tells the story of how easy it is—and was—to break. Michele Harper is an emergency room physician, raised in Washington, D.C., and born into a tumultuous family life. Her memoir, The Beauty in Breaking shows her journey towards self-love and healing and chronicles her experiences with different patients and the lessons they taught her.

June 29, 2021, Riverhead Books

This Poison Heart – Kalynn Bayron (Young Adult)

Image: Bloomsbury YA

There’s a saying that someone has a “green thumb.” Well, safe to say Briseis has that gift; she can grow plants to their most blooming, beautiful state with just a single touch. Now, Bri has the opportunity to leave Brooklyn for the summer and head to the house her late aunt left Bri in her will where Bri hopes to master her gift. The house, though very enchanting, comes with a specific set of “instructions” and rules pertaining to the old-school apothecary and a garden housing the deadliest plants Bri has ever seen.

But she finds she also has a talent for creating elixirs, and when neighbors come to her with ailments, she’s able to treat them. That is, until she meets Marie, a young woman who Bri befriends who happens to be keeping a very dark secret about the estate and the community, forcing Bri to find a way to harness the ways of the deadliest plant in the world and protect not just her family, but herself.

June 29, 2021, Bloomsbury YA

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

From Brian Tyree Henry getting down and dirty to David Oyelowo searching for a fresh start: we've got what you need to watch! ...
Have You Heard of The Tragic Story of Phyllis Hyman, a Beautiful, Soulful Singer Derailed By Her Own Demons?

Have You Heard of The Tragic Story of Phyllis Hyman, a Beautiful, Soulful Singer Derailed By Her Own Demons?

The soulful singer, known for hits like "Living All Alone and "You Know How to Love Me" died just days before her 46th birthday ...

'Sinners' Releases in Black American Sign Language. Here's What That Means

‘Sinners’ Releases in Black American Sign Language. Here’s What That Means

The deaf community was plagued by racial segregation, so Black Americans decided to create their own rendition of the language to serve their communities ...
A Burger King Employee Throws a Drink on a Child in Viral Video, and Black TikTok Goes Nuts

A Burger King Employee Throws a Drink on a Child in Viral Video, and Black TikTok Goes Nuts

The video of the volatile incident is making rounds on the internet and has everyone talking ...
Why NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Tried To Play The Black Card...Literally

Why NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Tried To Play The Black Card…Literally

Mamdani appears to have an interesting past when it comes to how he identifies racially, but what's it really all about? ...
If Poor Black, White People Unite, They'd Be An Unstoppable Force, But Here's Why The Powers That Be Won't Let Them

If Poor Black, White People Unite, They’d Be An Unstoppable Force, But Here’s Why The Powers That Be Won’t Let Them

We need to understand that America's current racial political divisions did not happen naturally. People in power did not want Black and white people to work together ...
What Diddy Will Eating and Doing In Prison This Fourth Of July

What Diddy Will Eating and Doing In Prison This Fourth Of July

Wondering what Diddy will be eating and Doing this holiday? Here's all the tea ...
A White Male TikToker Decided To Use Black Hair Relaxer... The Results Will Surprise You

A White Male TikToker Decided To Use Black Hair Relaxer… The Results Will Surprise You

A white TikTok Creator decided to use relaxer on his hair and... it worked? ...
Diddy's Best Friend Charlie Liucci is Being <i>Loud</i> About His Next Moves Will Be Following Acquittal

Diddy’s Best Friend Charlie Liucci is Being Loud About His Next Moves Will Be Following Acquittal

He's been spotted wearing "FREE PUFF" merch, now, Charlie Liucci has an inside scoop on what Diddy will do once released ...
How Baltimore Beat 'The Wire' Homicide Curse Under This Black Mayor

How Baltimore Beat ‘The Wire’ Homicide Curse Under This Black Mayor

Violent crime has plagued Baltimore for generations, and "The Wire's" depiction of drug and gang life surely hasn't helped... but there's hope ...
Best Self-Help Reads for Black Resilience in Uncertain Times

Best Self-Help Reads for Black Resilience in Uncertain Times

In these challenging times, these books can give you the hope you need ...
'Hey Google' and Other Voice Assistants Are Terrifying Children and Confusing Bemused Parents

‘Hey Google’ and Other Voice Assistants Are Terrifying Children and Confusing Bemused Parents

Social media is buzzing about the strange reaction kids are having to smart speakers in their homes ...
Internet Believes Eerie Photo Predicted Black Fort Worth Family's Tragedy

Internet Believes Eerie Photo Predicted Black Fort Worth Family’s Tragedy

A big rig driver admitted he fell asleep at the wheel in Kaufman County before he collided with stopped traffic ...
Why Philadelphia is Going Viral For Streets That Look Like a Landfill

Why Philadelphia is Going Viral For Streets That Look Like a Landfill

Libraries are closed, the medical examiner's office has a backlog of bodies, and trash is piling up everywhere ...
How Bakari Sellers Just Got the Ultimate Revenge on His MAGA CNN Colleague

How Bakari Sellers Just Got the Ultimate Revenge on His MAGA CNN Colleague

Sellers and Jennings often go back and forth on the CNN show, and this was only amplified when Jennings asked Sellers not to touch him during one viral interaction from December ...
The Scary Reason 'American Idol' Winner Jamal Roberts Declined a Key to This Southern Town

The Scary Reason ‘American Idol’ Winner Jamal Roberts Declined a Key to This Southern Town

While Roberts' reasoning is understandable, it's a shame he had to make the decision in the first place ...
A Black Mom Posted Video of a Terrifying Exchange She had with Police in Delaware

A Black Mom Posted Video of a Terrifying Exchange She had with Police in Delaware

Black Mom Says Cops Approached Her and Her Children With Guns Drawn ...
Why Are There Still Black People Listening To R. Kelly At The Summer Cookouts -- And What Does That Say About Us?

Why Are There Still Black People Listening To R. Kelly At The Summer Cookouts — And What Does That Say About Us?

Despite convictions and backlash, his music continues to collect streams. Why is the "Pied Piper" still on the cookout playlist? ...
How Diddy Could Still End Up With a Long Sentence, Despite The Acquittals

How Diddy Could Still End Up With a Long Sentence, Despite The Acquittals

Even with credit for time served, Diddy, 55, wouldn’t be free to break out the baby oil until 2031 ...
Why the Internet is Convinced Stephen A. Smith's And His Daughter Samantha Are Twins

Why the Internet is Convinced Stephen A. Smith’s And His Daughter Samantha Are Twins

Samantha Smith is the spitting image of her controversial sports commentator dad ...