Barnes & Noble released its most anticipated books for 2026 across various categories, highlighting titles like George Saunders' 'Vigil' and Tayari Jones' 'Kin', along with debut novels and collections. The article also discusses American reading habits in 2025, revealing that the median number of books read was two, and shares cultural moments like Zohran Mamdani's swearing-in with a Qur'an from the Schomburg Center. Additionally, it reviews popular literary activism stories from 2025, organized by themes.
Bestselling authors Isaac Fitzgerald and Qian Julie Wang recommend eight books to read this June, including fiction, nonfiction, and YA picks. The list includes books for AAPI Heritage Month and a fable-like tale for dog lovers. Fitzgerald recommends "Gone to the Wolves" by John Wray and "The Possibility of Life" by Jaime Green, while Wang suggests "Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea" by Rita Chang-Eppig and "Biting the Hand" by Julia Lee. The list also includes a comprehensive exploration of Asian American history for children, "An Asian American A to Z" by Cathy Linh Che and Kyle Lucia Wu.
In Disney's latest sci-fi adventure film, Crater, a group of five friends travel to a moon crater to find treasure in the 23rd century. The film subverts typical YA tropes with hard-hitting themes on capitalism and classism. The production design and VFX work are impressive, and the acting from the five leads is authentic. Crater has something to say about the labor force and an environmental message about cherishing and preserving the Earth.
Paramount+ has officially ordered a new Star Trek series called Starfleet Academy, which will follow the lives of a diverse group of young cadets pursuing their dreams of becoming Starfleet officers. The show will focus on their friendships, rivalries, and first loves, as well as a new enemy that threatens the Academy and the Federation. The series is set to start production in 2024 and will be a more soapy YA Trek with increased diversity.
