Blog
26 Rep Picks to Read this Fall
by Melissa
October 12, 2017
It's the perfect time of year to curl up with a good book, and we have the best fall reading recommendations for you from our sales reps!
Judy Parker
The Resurrection of Joan Ashby
by Cherise Wolas
"Debut novelist Cherise Wolas has an interesting background as a film producer and lawyer and has used that to create her first novel. Joan Ashby deals with the conflict between the sacrifices demanded by a motherhood she didn’t want and her overriding passion as a writer. The novel has already been praised for its emotional insight, depth and storytelling. Canadian readers are lucky to have a paperback version to buy!"
Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
by Ben Hatke
"Ben Hatke’s first graphic novel, Zita the Space Girl, helped to convert me to a reader of graphic novels. It is really exciting to be able to follow the further adventures of Jack and his little sister Maddy as they battle monsters in other realms in Mighty Jack and the Goblin King. Hatke has a great ability to create compelling characters."
Saffron Beckwith
The Cities Book
by Lonely Planet
"An amazing book that makes you want to pack your bags and take off!"
Imagine
by John Lennon, illustrated by Jean Jullien
"One of my favourite songs of all time beautifully illustrated…’nuff said."
Dani Farmer
One Line a Day
by Yao Chang
"I keep meaning to start journaling but there never seems to be time! I’m pretty sure even I could manage to write one line a day though. This new version has the same great content of the original with a gorgeous new cover that will look fantastic on my bedside table."
Book or Bell?
by Chris Barton, illustrated by Ashley Spires
"Who amongst us hasn’t gotten caught up in a good book and forgotten about our other responsibilities and the world around us? This book perfectly captures the “Aww Phooey” moment when the real world interrupts our quality reading time. It’ll take more than a noisy bell to pull my nose out of this one!"
Karen Stacey
Three Daughters of Eve
by Elif Shafak
"Time — Now. Scene — One evening’s dinner party at a wealthy Turkish mansion. Content — One woman’s recollections of her past. Concerns the role of religion in secular life and what it means to be a woman in contemporary Turkey. This gripping novel from international bestselling novelist Elif Shafak is Bloomsbury’s lead fiction for Fall. A must read."
This Is Where It Ends
by Marieke Nijkamp
"#1 New York Times bestseller, Buzzfeed Best YA of 2016, #1 Young Adult Debut of 2016, Winter ‘15 Kids Indie Next List, Goodreads YA Best Books of the Month. Marieke Nijkamp is an executive member of “We Need Diverse Books” and the founder of DiversifYA. She knows her subject and she understands misfit kids. This is a hard hitting novel that describes 54 minutes of terror in a typical high school and how things can go very wrong with very little warning."
Jessica Price
The Solo Travel Handbook
by Lonely Planet
"As an avid traveler, who has never traveled alone, this essential guide gave me the confidence to plan a solo travel adventure. Packed with tips and tricks as well as sound travel advice from experienced travelers, this book is a great resource for novice and experienced travelers alike."
Accident!
by Andrea Tsurumi
"This laugh-out-loud and charming story is a great reminder for children (and adults!) that accidents happen, and provides an excellent teaching opportunity about remorse, empathy and forgiveness."
Vanessa Di Gregorio
The Tiger's Daughter
by K Arsenault Rivera
"A lush fantasy set in an Eastern feudal world, where two women from across borders will come together to fight against demons encroaching upon their world? Yes please! Perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and N.K. Jemisin."
Retribution Rails
by Erin Bowman
"I’ve been anxiously awaiting this companion to Vengeance Road, where a train-robber in possession of a mysterious coin and an aspiring journalist cross paths and try to manipulate each other to their advantage, in this violent and gritty YA Western."
Laurie Martella
Spiroglyphics
by Thomas Pavitte
"I was agog when, like magic through the tip of a sharpie, images come to life by shading within the lines of this graphic puzzle. THIS. IS. GENIUS!"
The Bad Decisions Playlist
by Michael Rubins
"You will be charmed and humoured by Austin, the slacker with half-written songs, in what is cleverly titled The Bad Decisions Playlist. This heartbreakingly funny story is what you would expect from author Michael Rubens, field producer and correspondent on ‘Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,’ and he’s worked with the likes of John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, and John Stewart - enough said!"
Lorna McDonald
The Un-Discovered Islands
by Malachy Tallack, illustrated by Katie Scott
"Be prepared to be captivated by the astounding tales of two dozen islands once believed to be real but no longer on the map. From the well-known myth of Atlantis to more obscure tales from around the globe, this fully-illustrated work is an atlas of legend and wonder."
Nobody's Duck
by Mary Sullivan
"A lost duck and grumpy alligator embark on a quest to find out where the duck belongs. From the library to skydiving, from exasperation to laughter, the two make an unexpected discovery about friendship. Told with minimal text and comic strip style illustration, this is a story for parents and kids to enjoy over and over."
Jenny Enriquez
Baking with Kafka
by Tom Gauld
"Baking With Kafka collects some of Tom Gauld’s funniest and most engaging strips about literature and pop culture from his weekly series in The Guardian. A book about books?! Sign me up!"
Nothing Rhymes with Orange
by Adam Rex
"A hilarious, charming story about feeling left out and having your best pals swoop in and make you feel included and special in the end. I finished reading it and re-read it immediately. Then I read it to everyone in my office (or whoever would listen)."
Morgen Young
Class Mom
by Laurie Gelman
"A less-than-conventional Mom finds herself in a very conventional Mom’s position — married and on the PTA! After raising 2 kids on her own, Jen now has a son entering kindergarten and a husband by her side… but is she ready to deal with the bunk that is rampant in the land of school Moms and PTA politics? A hilarious (and irreverent) read."
Florette
by Anna Walker
"Totally adorable with lovely watercolour illustrations. Friends and flowers, what’s better than that?"
Evette Sintichakis
The End of the World Running Club
by Adrian Walker
"This is a very real post-apocalyptic novel set in England. It has all the parts that make a good dystopian thriller – asteroids hit, the earth becomes mostly wasteland, and it’s quickly becoming every man for himself. Amidst these end of the world events, one man has to do the impossible if he wants a chance at reuniting with his family. He must run to them – literally – because he won’t make it in time if he walks. Together with other amateur runners, they begin to run every day, all day. Not all of them will make it. This is for readers who like stories of hope, love, and pushing yourself to your limit. I am very excited for this one!"
The Quiet Crocodile
by Natacha Andriamirado and Delphine Renon
"Sometimes friends can be a bother, especially when you’re Fossil the Crocodile and all you want is some quiet. The Quiet Crocodile will appeal to everyone. The beautiful illustrations will have readers seeing new details each time they read the book. It’s a great book for introverted kids. It’s clever, it’s silly, and kids will love it!"
Ali Hewitt
The Fortunes
by Peter Ho Davies
"A beautifully written novel that tells the story of Chinese immigration to America, told through the tales of four characters, living through four different eras. I can’t say enough about how absorbing and impressive I found this book."
Fowl Play
by Travis Nichols
"This book is full of non-stop laughs, as the team at Gumshoe Zoo Detective Agency solve a mystery and speak almost entirely in idioms. The panel illustrations make this perfect for beginning readers, and the jokes are ideal for kids aged 5-8."
Laureen Cusack
The Ninth Hour
by Alice McDermott
"The Ninth Hour is a portrait of the Irish-Catholic immigrant community living in Brooklyn, New York in the 1940s. At the heart of the story is a young man who suffers great emotional pain and sadly, ends his life. His tragic death casts a dark shadow over his family and the generations that follow."
Herbert's First Halloween
by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Steven Henry
"Halloween night can be a scary time for young trick-or-treaters. But in this charming story a father demonstrates how he helps his son prepare for his first Halloween night."