Master List of Books Read in 2021

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  1. Give Great Presentations by Lucinda Becker.
  2. Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay.
  3. Avoid Plagiarism by Thomas Lancaster.
  4. The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji.
  5. Choose Your Own Adventure: Mountain Survival by Edward Packard.
  6. Manage Your Stress by Clare Wilson.
  7. Forged by Benedict Jacka.
  8. Think Critically by Tom Chatfield.
  9. Slough House by Mick Herron.
  10. Good Girls Die First by Kathryn Foxfield.
  11. Small Dreams Of A Scorpion by Spike Milligan.
  12. A Book Of Milliganimals by Spike Milligan.
  13. The Case For A Four Day Week by Anna Coote, Aidan Harper and Alfie Stirling.
  14. Agatha Oddly – Murder At The Museum by Lena Jones.
  15. Teachers vs Tech? The Case For An Ed Tech Revolution by Daisy Christodoulou.
  16. Silly Verse For Kids by Spike Milligan.
  17. Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley.
  18. What Is At Stake Now: My Appeal For Peace And Freedom by Mikhail Gorbachev.
  19. Game Changer by Neal Shusterman.
  20. Silence Is Not An Option: You Can Impact The World For Change by Stuart Lawrence.
  21. This Careless Life by Rachel McIntyre.
  22. The Enduring Kiss: Seven Short Lessons On Love by Massimo Recalcati.
  23. The Daughter Of Time by Josephine Tey.
  24. Genesis: On The Deep Origin Of Societies by Edward O Wilson.
  25. The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne by Jonathan Stroud.
  26. Trampled By Unicorns: Big Tech’s Empathy Problem And How To Fix It by Maëlle Gavet.
  27. The Maker Of Monsters by Lorraine Gregory.
  28. The Black Friend: On Being A Better White Person by Frederick Joseph.
  29. Look Out, Leonard! by Jessie James and Tamara Anegon.
  30. My Daddies by Gareth Peter and Garry Parsons.
  31. Nothing Ever Happens Here by Sarah Hagger-Holt.
  32. High-Impact Tools For Team by Stefano Mastrogiacomo, Alex Osterwalder, Alan Smith and Trish Papadakos.
  33. The Barbizon: The New York Hotel That Set Women Free by Paulina Bren.
  34. Poison In Jest by John Dickson Carr.
  35. Murder On The Home Front by Molly Lefebure.
  36. Carter by Ted Lewis.
  37. Essaying The Past: How To Read, Write And Think About History by Jim Cullen.
  38. The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson.
  39. Up In The Air: Butterflies, Birds And Everything Up Above by Zoë Armstrong and Sara Ugolotti.
  40. The Renegades: Defenders Of The Planet Flames Of Amazonia (Vol 2) by Jeremy Brown, Katy Jakeway, Ellenor Mererid, Libby Reed and David Selby.
  41. Diary Of A Brilliant Kid: Top Secret Guide To Awesomness by Andy Cope, Gavin Oattes and Will Hussey.
  42. Making Wolf by Tade Thompson.
  43. Serving Face: Lessons On Poise And (Dis)grace From The World Of Drag by Felix Le Freak.
  44. Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbo.
  45. Above The Law by Adrian Bleese.
  46. Jaz Santos Vs. The World by Priscilla Mante.
  47. The Little Book Of Results: A Quick Guide To Achieving Big Goals by Jamie Smart.
  48. Small Spaces by Sarah Epstein.
  49. Modern Languages: Why It Matters by Katrin Kohl.
  50. The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons.
  51. Augmented Reality by Mark Pesce.
  52. The Crossing by Manjeet Mann.
  53. When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke.
  54. Nature Needs You! by Liz Gogerly and Sr. Sanchez.
  55. Kitty And The Kidnap Trap by Paula Harrison and Jenny Løvlie.
  56. A Girl Called Justice: The Ghost In The Garden by Elly Griffiths.
  57. The Place For Me: Stories About The Windrush Generation by Black Cultural Archives.
  58. No More Babies! by Madeleine Cook and Erika Meza.
  59. Humans Are Underrated: What High Achievers Know That Brilliant Machines Never Will by Geoff Colvin.
  60. The Liar Of Red Valley by Walter Goodwater.
  61. Slow Rise: A Bread-Making Adventure by Robert Penn.
  62. Kitticorn by Matilda Rose and Tim Budgen.
  63. News 2.0: Journalists, Audiences, And News On Social Media by Ahmed Al-Rawi.
  64. Tiger Warrior: Attack Of The Dragon King by M. Chan.
  65. Back On Track by Matthew Burton.
  66. An Emotion Of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi.
  67. The Worries: Jaz And The New Baby by Jion Sheibani.
  68. The Class Ceiling: Why It Pays To Be Privileged by Sam Friedman and Daniel Laurison.
  69. Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes.
  70. Seven Lives From Mass Observation by James Hinton.
  71. Now You See by Max Manning.
  72. Novacene: The Coming Age Of Hyperintelligence by James Lovelock and Bryan Appleyard.
  73. Kitty And The Starlight Song by Paula Harrison and Jenny Løvlie.
  74. You Will Be Okay by Julie Stokes and Laurène Boglio.
  75. Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon.
  76. Twice As Hard by Opeyemi Sofoluke and Raphael Sofoluke.
  77. The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman.
  78. What Is African American Literature? by Margo N. Crawford.
  79. Splinters Of Sunshine by Patrice Lawrence.
  80. Kill The Black One First by Michael Fuller.
  81. The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin.
  82. A Little Devil In America: In Praise Of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib.
  83. Straight Outta Crongton by Alex Wheatle.
  84. The Hunt For Mount Everest by Craig Storti.
  85. Sequins And Secrets by Lucy Ivison.
  86. Climate Change And The Nation State by Anatol Lieven.

If you fancy buying any of these books based on my reviews, then you can do so through Amazon UK, Amazon USA,  Bookshop.org UK or Waterstone’s.  Please note that I earn commission on any purchases made via these links.

Climate Change And The Nation State by Anatol Lieven

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The Blurb On The Back:

A major new book on why the most urgent issue confronting us all needs national solutions.

In the past two centuries we have experienced wave after wave of overwhelming change.  Entire continents have been resettled; there are billions more of us; the jobs done by countless people would be unrecognisable to their predecessors; scientific change has transformed us all in confusing, terrible and miraculous ways.

Anatol Lieven’s major new book provides the frame that has long been needed to understand how we should react to climate change.  This is a vast challenge, but we have often in the past had to deal with such challenges; the industrial revolution, major wars and mass migration have seen mobilisations of human energy on the greatest scale. Just as previous generations had to face the unwanted and unpalatable, so do we.

In a series of incisive, compelling interventions, Lieven shows how in this emergency our crucial building block is the nation state.  The drastic action required both to change our habits and protect ourselves can be carried out not through some vague globalism but through maintaining social cohesion and through our current governmental, fiscal and military structures.

This is a book which will provoke innumerable discussions.  

You can order CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE NATION STATE: THE REALIST CASE by Anatol Lieven from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Sequins And Secrets by Lucy Ivison

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The Blurb On The Back:

Welcome to The House of Serendipity, where friendships are fashioned and destinies designed!

Meet Sylvia Cartwright, the 1920s’ Eloise Bridgerton, determined to break societal conventions.  And Myrtle Mathers, a maid with more ambition than Downton’s Daisy.  They know that the perfect outfit can make dreams come true, and their dazzling designs are the talk of 1920s London …

So when Agapantha Portland-Prince wants to escape her glamorous debutante ball for a life of adventure, it’s their magical talents she needs.  But can the girls make their secret dreams a reality, or will this be the most stylish scandal of the century?  

SEQUINS AND SECRETS was released in the United Kingdom on 10th June 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order SEQUINS AND SECRETS by Lucy Ivison from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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The Hunt For Mount Everest by Craig Storti

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The Blurb On The Back:

The height of Mount Everest was first measured in 1850, but the closest any westerner got to Everest during the next 71 years, until 1921, was 40 miles.  The Hunt For Mount Everest tells the story of the 71-year quest to find the world’s highest mountain.  It’s a tale of high drama, of larger-than-life-characters – George Everest, Francis Younghusband, George Mallory, Lord Curzon, Edward Whymper – and a first quiet heroes – Alexander Kelly’s, the 13th Dalia Lama, and Charles Bell.

A story that traverses the Alps, the Himalayas, Nepal and Tibet, the British Empire (especially British India and the Raj), the Anglo-Russian rivalry known as The Great Game, the disastrous First Afghan War, and the phenomenal Survey of India – it is far bigger than simply the tallest mountain in the world.  Encountering spies, war, political intrigues, and hundreds of mules, camels, bullocks, yaks, and two zebrules, Craig Storti uncovers the fascinating and still largely overlooked saga of all that led up to that moment in late June of 1921 when two English climbers, George Mallory and Guy Bullock, became the first westerners – and almost certainly the first human beings – to set foot on Mount Everest and thereby claimed the last remaining major prize in the history of exploration.

With 2021 bringing the 100th anniversary of that year, most Everest chronicles have dealt with the climbing history of the mountain, with all that happened after 1921.  The Hunt For Mount Everest is the seldom-told story of all that happened before. 

You can order THE HUNT FOR MOUNT EVEREST by Craig Storti from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Straight Outta Crongton by Alex Wheatle

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The Blurb On The Back:

Round these ends, it’s hard to hold on to your dreams.

Life’s a constant hustle for Mo.  Her mum’s boyfriend Lloyd is just another man who likes to beat down women; the South Crong streets are fraught with hazards and nasty G’s; and when it comes to matters of the heart … she’s still hung up on Sam.  No wonder she’s vexed so much of the time.

Thank God her sisters, Elaine and Naomi, are on her side.

But when badness goes down and a life is let handing in the balance, Mo has to face her hot urge for revenge … and she might end up losing more than she wins.

You can order STRAIGHT OUTTA CRONGTON by Alex Wheatle from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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A Little Devil In America: In Praise Of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib

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The Blurb On The Back:

A kaleidoscopic history of Black performance, from Josephine Baker to the Midwest punk scene, through sport, sit-coms, stand-up and more.

In A Little Devil In America, music critic and poet Hanif Abdurraqib weaves a unique and intimate history of Black performance, in which culture, politics and lived experience collide.  Taking readers from mid-century Paris to the moon, via dive bars, Broadway, and a cramped living room in Columbus, Ohio, Abdurraqib illuminates the poignancy and power of Black performance, whether the stage is vast – as in Beyoncé’s Super Bowl show – or small, as for a schoolyard fistfight.  Each of these moments, Abdurraqib reveals, has layers of resonance in Black and white culture, the politics of American empire, and his own personal history of grief and love.

Filled with sharp insight, humour and heart, and infused with the lyricism and rhythm of the musicians the author loves, A Little Devil In America is a celebration of Black performance as it has unfolded and endured to shape individual lives and entire cultures. 

You can order A LITTLE DEVIL IN AMERICA: IN PRAISE OF BLACK PERFORMANCE by Hanif Abdurraqib from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin

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The Blurb On The Back:

Dazzling with imagination, brimming with passion and crackling with wit, The City We Became is a modern masterpiece of culture, identity, magic and myth in contemporary New York City.

Every great city has a soul.  Some are ancient as myths; others are as new and destructive as children.  New York?  She’s got six – and all six will be called to arms in the greatest battle the city has ever fought.

You can order THE CITY WE BECAME by N. K. Jemisin from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Kill The Black One First by Michael Fuller

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The Blurb On The Back:

Suddenly, a single cry rose from inside the crowd.

“Kill the black one first.”

There was a roar.  Guttural, like laughter, like fury, the fury of the mob.

A story about race, identity, belonging and displacement, Kill The Black One First is the memoir from Michael Fuller – Britain’s first ever black Chief Constable, whose life and career is not only a stark representation of race relations in the UK, but also a unique morality tale of how humanity deals with life’s injustices.

Michael Fuller was born to Windrush-generation Jamaican immigrants in 1959, and experienced a meteoric career in policing, from the beat to the Brixton inferno, through cutting-edge detective work, to the frontline of drug-related crime and violence on London’s most volatile estates.  He took a pivotal role in the formation of Operation Trident, which tackled gun crime and gang warfare in the Afro-Caribbean community, and was later appointed as Chief Constable of Kent Police.

Kill The Black One First is an unflinching account of a life in policing during a tumultuous period of race relations throughout the UK, and a tale of how the human spirit can endure cultural barriers, prejudice and race hate.

You can order KILL THE BLACK ONE FIRST by Michael Fuller from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Splinters Of Sunshine by Patrice Lawrence

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The Blurb On The Back:

Help.

I pick up the envelope … As I rip down the sides, there’s loads of paper bursting out; stuck on flowers, dandelions, roses …

Spey recently received two surprises.  The first: his ex-prisoner dad turning up unannounced, and the second: a mysterious package containing torn-up paper flowers.

Spey instantly recognises it as a collage he made with his old friend Dee, and decides she must be in danger, but there are no clues to her whereabouts.

There’s only one person he knows who can help to track her down …

On a road trip like no other, will Spey and his dad find Dee, before it’s too late?

SPLINTERS OF SUNSHINE was released in the United Kingdom on 19th August 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order SPLINTERS OF SUNSHINE by Patrice Lawrence from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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What Is African American Literature? by Margo N. Crawford

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The Blurb On The Back:

After Kenneth W. Warren’s What Was African American Literature?, Margo N. Crawford delivers What Is African American Literature?

The idea of African American literature may be much more than literature written by authors who identify as “Black”.  What Is African American Literature? focuses on feeling as form in order to show that African American literature is an archive of feelings, a tradition of the tension between uncontainable black affect and rigid historical structure.  Margo N. Crawford argues that textual production of affect (such as blush, vibration, shiver, twitch, and wink) reveals that African American literature keeps reimagining a black collective nervous system.

Crawford foregrounds the “idea” of African American literature and uncovers the “black feeling world” co-created by writers and readers.  Rejecting the notion that there are no formal lines separating African American literature and a broader American literary tradition, Crawford contends that the distinguishing feature of African American literature is a “moodscape” that is as stable as electricity.  Presenting a fresh perspective on the affective atmosphere of African American literature, this compelling text frames central questions around the “idea” of African American literature, shows the limits of historicism in explaining the mood of African American literature and addresses textual production in the creation of the African American literary tradition.

Part of the acclaimed Wiley Blackwell Manifestos series, What is African American Literature? is a significant addition to scholarship in the field.  Professors and students of American literature, African American literature, and Black Studies will find this book an invaluable source of fresh perspectives and new insights on America’s black literature tradition. 

You can order WHAT IS AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE? by Margo N. Crawford from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

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The Blurb On The Back:

Four unlikely friends.

A shocking new murder.

It’s the following Thursday.

Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague, a man with who she has a long history.  He needs her help.  His story involves stolen diamonds, a violent mobster and a very real threat to his life.

As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for a ruthless murderer.  And if they find the diamonds too?  Well, wouldn’t that be a bonus?

But this time they are up against an enemy who wouldn’t bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians.  Can the Thursday Murder Club find the killer, before the killer finds them? 

You can order THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE by Richard Osman from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Twice As Hard by Opeyemi Sofoluke and Raphael Sofoluke

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The Blurb On The Back:

Twice As Hard is an exploration of Black Identity in the working world and a blueprint for success.  You will learn what obstacles limit opportunity for Black professional progress, how to understand and overcome racial stereotypes, be productive, find purpose, and ultimately thrive in business.

Authors Opeyemi and Raphael Sofoluke explore their own personal brand of ethics, the challenges they have faced in their careers, and the learnings they took from them, before inviting other successful business people in a broad range of industries to share their experiences and the practical measures they take to realise their goals, too.

Featuring tips on entrepreneurship, as well as insights on the corporate world, this book highlights the positive advancements made in recent years, and equips individuals and businesses with the tools they need to continue to progress.

Twice As Hard aims to empower and inspire Black professionals, get everyone thinking and talking about their actions, and continue the fight for a truly inclusive, understanding society.

TWICE AS HARD was released in the United Kingdom on 3rd June 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order TWICE AS HARD by Opeyemi Sofoluke and Raphael Sofoluke from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, Angie Thomas and Nicola Yoon

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The Blurb On The Back:

Six of the biggest stars of YA bring all the electricity of love to a collection of charming, hilarious and heartbreaking tales that shine the brightest light through the dark

When a heatwave plunges New York City into darkness, sparks fly for thirteen teenagers caught up in the blackout.

A first meeting.

Long-time friends.

Bitter exes.

And maybe the beginning of something new.

When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths.  Love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities take flight. 

BLACKOUT was released in the United Kingdom on 24th June 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order BLACKOUT by Dhonielle Clayton, Nic Stone, Tiffany D. Jackson, Ashley Woodfolk, Angie Thomas and Nichola Yoon from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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You Will Be Okay by Julie Stokes and Laurène Boglio

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The Blurb On The Back:

”Someone in your life has died, and they are not coming back.”  What a HUGE thing to say.

Grief can feel like a boat ride on a stormy ocean, but what if you had a lighthouse to guide you safely to shore?  You Will Be Okay will help you navigate through the hard emotions you feel when someone you know has died, with practical activities, stories from others who have been through it and tips on how to talk about your grief.  There is no right or wrong way to grieve, you just need to find your way.

You will be okay.

YOU WILL BE OKAY was released in the United Kingdom on 19th August 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order YOU WILL BE OKAY by Julie Stokes and Laurène Boglio from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Kitty And The Starlight Song by Paula Harrison and Jenny Løvlie

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The Blurb On The Back:

A magical adventure by the light of the moon.

Kitty is preparing for her school’s concern.  As a superhero-in-training with cat-like superpowers, Kitty can do all sorts of marvellous things.  But as a regular girl, Kitty is terrified to sing in front of everyone at school.  On top of that, Figaro hurts himself during a dangerous rooftop chase and his birthday plans are ruined.

Kitty will surely need the help of her fur-midable cat crew to rescue Figaro’s birthday and overcome her stage-fright.  

KITTY AND THE STARLIGHT SONG was released in the United Kingdom on 2nd September 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order KITTY AND THE STARLIGHT SONG by Paula Harrison and Jenny Løvlie from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Novacene: The Coming Age Of Hyperintelligence by James Lovelock and Bryan Appleyard

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The Blurb On The Back:

A new look at the future of life on Earth by the great scientific visionary of our age.

James Lovelock, creator of the Gaia hypothesis and the greatest environmental thinker of our time, has produced an astounding new theory about the future of life on Earth.  He argues that the anthropocene – the age in which humans acquired planetary-scale technologies – is, after 300 years, coming to an end.  A new age – the novacene- has already begun.

New beings will emerge from existing artificial intelligence systems.  They will think 10,000 times faster than we do and they will regard us as we now regard plants – as desperately slow acting and thinking creatures.  But this will not be the cruel, violent machine takeover of the planet imagined by sci-if writers and film-makers.  These hyper-intelligent beings will be as dependent on the health of the planet as we are.  They will need the planetary cooling system of Gaia to defend them from the increasing heat of the sun as much as we do.  And Gaia depends on organic life.  We will be partners in this project.

It is crucial, Lovelock argues, that the intelligence of Earth survives and prospers.  He does not think there are intelligent aliens, so we are the only beings capable of understanding the cosmos.  Maybe, he speculates, the novacene could even be the beginning of a process that will finally lead to intelligence suffusing the entire cosmos.  At the age 100, James Lovelock has produced an important and compelling new work. 

You can order NOVACENE: THE COMING AGE OF HYPERINTELLIGENCE by James Lovelock and Bryan Appleyard from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Now You See by Max Manning

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The Blurb On The Back:

Will you look her in the eyes, just before she dies?

I, Killer has posted two photos of his first victim online – Before Death and After Death.  They’ve gone viral before DCI Fenton’s team even discovers the body.

Soon, another victim’s photo is similarly posted … and so begins the killer’s following.

DCI Fenton is determined to discover the identity of I, Killer.  Then the murderer makes the hunt personal, and Fenton’s search becomes a matter of life of death for him and his daughter.

But as I, Killer’s body-count rises, his number of online followers is growing – and he loves to give his fans what they want … 

You can order NOW YOU SEE by Max Manning from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Seven Lives From Mass Observation by James Hinton

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The Blurb On The Back:

What was it like to live in Britain during the second half of the twentieth century? In a successor to his acclaimed Nine Wartime Lives: Mass Observation and the Making of the Modern Self, James Hinton uses autobiographical writing contributed to Mass Observation since 1981 to explore the social and cultural history of late-twentieth-century Britain. Prompted by thrice-yearly open-ended questionnaires, Mass Observation’s volunteers wrote about their political attitudes, religious beliefs, work, childhoods, education, friendships, marriages, sex lives, mid-life crises, ageing – the whole range of human emotion, feeling, attitudes, and experience. At the core of the book are seven ‘biographical essays’: intimate portraits of individual lives set in the context of the shift towards a more tolerant and permissive society from the 1960s, and the rise of Thatcherite neo-liberalism as the structures of Britain’s post-war settlement crumbles from the later 1970s.

The mass observers featured in the book, four women and three men, are drawn from across the social spectrum – wife of a small businessman, teacher, social worker, RAF wife, mechanic, lorry driver, banker: all active and forceful characters with strong opinions and lives crowded with struggle and drama. The honesty and frankness with which they wrote about themselves takes us below the surface of public life to the efforts of ‘ordinary’, but exceptionally articulate and self-reflective, people to make sense of their lives in rapidly changing times.

You can order SEVEN LIVES FROM MASS OBSERVATION by James Hinton from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK. I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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The Blurb On The Back:

Disliked. Bullied. Framed. But I’m not going to let that stop me …

Most of the students at Middlesfield Prep don’t look like Donte. And they don’t like him either. When Donte is suspended from school and arrested, framed for something he didn’t do, he knows it would have never happened to high lighter-skinned brother, Trey.

Terrified, and searching for a place where he belongs, Donte discovered the sport of fencing. And he’s good at it. Very good.

But when he must fence the very boy who framed him, there is far more at stake than just a trophy. Donte must fight not only his bullies, but an entire system that has never treated him fairly because of the colour of his skin.

Powerful and emotionally gripping, this is a story about one boy’s path to finding his own voice in the fight against racism.

BLACK BROTHER, BLACK BROTHER was released in the United Kingdom on 13th May 2021. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order BLACK BROTHER, BLACK BROTHER by Jewell Parker Rhodes from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK. I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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The Class Ceiling: Why It Pays To Be Privileged by Sam Friedman and Daniel Laurison

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The Blurb On The Back:

Politicians continually tell us that anyone can get ahead.  But is that really true?  This important book takes readers behind the closed doors of elite employers to reveal how class affects who gets to the top.

Friedman and Laurison show that a powerful ‘class pay gap’ exists in Britain’s elite occupations.  Even when those from working-class backgrounds make it into prestigious jobs, they earn, on average, 16% less than colleagues from privileged backgrounds.  But why is this the case?  Drawing on 200 interviews across four case studies – television, accountancy, architecture, and acting – they explore the complex barriers facing the upwardly mobile.

This is a rich, ambitious book that demands we take seriously not just the glass but also the class ceiling. 

You can order THE CLASS CEILING: WHY IT PAYS TO BE PRIVILEGED by Sam Friedman and Daniel Laurison from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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The Worries: Jaz And The New Baby by Jion Sheibani

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The Blurb On The Back:

New baby, new worries …

Jazmin’s mum is about to have a baby and Jaz is so excited!  Ok, it might mean some changes to their family but Jaz is sure everything will be just fine.

So imagine her surprise when a host of furry, fretful friends arrive to cause serious mischief.  That’s right, it’s the Worries – gloomy Loner, nervous Change, pushy Jealousy and DJ Disaster, always waiting for something to go wrong.

Jaz tries to keep her worries to herself, but with her birthday party coming up fast, they see, set on turning her into the Worst Sister EVER!

THE WORRIES: JAZ AND THE NEW BABY was released in the United Kingdom on 19th August 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order THE WORRIES: JAZ AND THE NEW BABY by Jion Sheibani from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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An Emotion Of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi

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The Blurb On The Back:

I’d always carried with me a burden of conviction I could not set down.  I could not deny the beliefs that shaped me any more than I could deny the colour of my eyes.

It made for a lonely life.

It’s been several months since the US officially declared war on Iraq, and the world has evolved.  Tensions are high, hate crimes are on the rise, and the Muslim community is harassed and targeted more than ever.  Shadi, who wears hijab, keeps her head down.  SHe’s too busy drowning in her own troubles to find the time to deal with bigots.

Shadi is named for joy, but she’s haunted by the loss of family and friendship.  And then, of course, there’s the small matter of her heart – it’s broken.  Trying to navigate her crumbling work by soldiering through, Shadi says nothing, each day retreating farther and farther inside herself until finally, one day, everything changes.

She explodes.

An Emotion Of Great Delight is a searing look into the world of a single Muslim family in the wake of 9/11.  It’s about a child of immigrants forging a blurry identity, falling in love, and finding hope in an ever-changing world … 

AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT was released in the United Kingdom on 10th June 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order AN EMOTION OF GREAT DELIGHT by Tahereh Mafi from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Back On Track by Matthew Burton

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The Blurb On The Back:

Find your mojo.

Stay hopeful.

Get back on track.

Whether facing assessments, a big change or making up for lost time, head teacher Matthew Burton is here to help students get motivated again.

From ways of managing the tough times and looking after your mental health, to skills for beating school stress and tapping into your potential, this is the one-stop guide for kids who are in need of a bit of hope, some soothing words of advice and a good old pep talk to get them going in school again.

Discover how to plan, prepare and preserve … and get back on track!

BACK ON TRACK was released in the United Kingdom on 22nd July 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order BACK ON TRACK by Matthew Burton from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Tiger Warrior: Attack Of The Dragon King by M. Chan

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The Blurb On The Back:

Tiger Warrior.

Jack loves his grandad’s stories about the Jade Kingdom, a world of heroes, beasts and adventures.

But when Grandad gives him a magic coin, Jack discovers the kingdom is real … and he has to save it from terrible danger.

Can Jack and his new friend Princess Li stop the deadly Dragon King?

TIGER WARRIOR: ATTACK OF THE DRAGON KING was released in the United Kingdom on 8th July 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order TIGER WARRIOR: ATTACK OF THE DRAGON KING by M. Chan from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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News 2.0: Journalists, Audiences, And News On Social Media by Ahmed Al-Rawi

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The Blurb On The Back:

Offers fresh insights and empirical evidence on the producers, consumers, and content of News 2.0

News 2.0 has forever changed the news business.  This second generation of news is made, distributed, and consumed on the internet, particularly social media.  News 2.0: Journalists, Audiences, And News On Social Media examines the ways in which news production is sometimes biased and how social networking sites (SNS) have become highly personalised news platforms that reflect users’ preferences and world views.  Drawing from empirical evidence, this book provides a critical and analytical assessment of recent developments, major debates, and contemporary research on news, social media, and news organisations worldwide.

Author Ahmed Al-Ravi highlights how, despite the proliferation of news on social media, consumers are often confined within filter “bubbles”.  Emphasising non-Western media outlets, the text explores the content, audiences, and producers of News 2.0, and addresses direct impacts on democracy, politics, and institutions.  Topics include viral news on SNS, celebrity journalists and branding, “fake news” discourse, and the emergence of mobile news apps as ethnic mediascapes.  Integrating computational journalism methods and cross-national comparative research, this unique volume:

– Examines different aspects of news bias such as news content and production, emphasising news values theory.

– Assesses how international media organisations including CNN, BBC, and RT address non-Western news audiences.

– Discusses concepts such as audience fragmentation on social media, viral news, networked flak, click bait, and internet bots.

– Employs novel techniques in text mining such as topic modelling to provide a holistic overview of news selection.

News 2.0: Journalists, Audiences, And News On Social Media is an innovative and illuminating resource for undergraduate and graduate students of media, communication, and journalism studies as well as media and communication scholars, media practitioners, journalists, and general readers with interest in the subject.

You can order NEWS 2.0: JOURNALISTS, AUDIENCES, AND NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA by Ahmed Al-Rawi from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Kitticorn by Matilda Rose and Tim Budgen

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The Blurb On The Back:

Meet Kitticorn.

She’s cute, she’s fluffy and she LOVES to explore!  But Prince Miles doesn’t have time for adventures when he has the perfect picnic to organise and a strict schedule to follow.  Can Kitticorn show him that sometimes the best kind of fun is unplanned?

KITTICORN was released in the United Kingdom on 22nd July 2021.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order KITTICORN by Matilda Rose and Tim Budgen from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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