At Angel Island, rough barracks were built to house the prospective Chinese newcomers and it was in these barracks that we find the writings of Chinese Americans. During their long stays of confinement — unsure whether they would be admitted into the U.S. or sent back to China — these immigrants wrote poetry on the barracks walls detailing their journey from China, their treatment at Angel Island, their fears and anxieties, joys and hope, all written on the barracks walls of Angel Island....

The students who participate in this event spend months choosing three poems that fit their fancy; reading the poems; analyzing the poems; reciting the poems out loud to whomever will listen; reciting the poems to themselves in free moments. Their efforts in this poetic endeavor basically take over a large portion of their lives. As a slight panacea, cash awards have still been awarded. State champs received $1000. For states that had to cancel their statewide events, the $1000 goes to a state arts organization....

Alabama, a familiar battleground area for social justice, once again faces a divide. Many of the workers and families in the Bessemer facility are Black, bringing up the importance of equal rights for all American workers. However, President Biden has promised to be the most “pro-union president.” He promotes a positive outlook towards labor unions, a refreshing perspective that is vitally needed in tense discourse. A Request to Support Alabama Workers Recently, several pro-union groups requested Biden support Bessemer, Alabama’s unionization effort....

Origins Anatoli Knyazev was a mystery even to the Soviet government he allegedly worked for. I say “allegedly” because he was under the control of a rogue agent who sent him out on many unsanctioned missions. When the government caught up to that agent, he died by suicide and sent Knyazev — named the Beast in Russia, the KGBeast in America — on a final mission to Gotham City. This was chronicled in the “Ten Nights of the Beast” storyline from 1988....

Rather than a rundown of the (tiny number of) news stories, here are a few things to think about and prepare for this week. Moms For Liberty’s Agenda: Target Educator Social Media You are likely already aware of the Twitter account that seeks out the public social media accounts of educators and librarians. We’ve covered the story of a state librarian who went missing–she is back at her post now–and the teacher who was pulled from her classroom pending a board meeting....

There are a few prominent translators who have managed to get more recognition, but they’re largely exceptions. Many of the exceptions are classic literature, largely because there are several different translations of these. For example, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky are listed on the covers of their relatively new translations of Anna Karenina and War and Peace. But modern novels are left behind. Ann Goldstein, translator of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels, has some name recognition due to her role translating the international bestselling quartet, but she isn’t listed on the cover of the books....

Obviously, “classics” can be critiqued just like any other book, but most of these 1-star reviews are not thoughtful examinations of the ideas brought up in the text. They usually don’t break down how the characterization lacked depth or where the plot could be tightened up. Instead, almost every book assigned in school will simply get labelled “boring,” whether it’s a war narrative or meditation on grief or a story about children battling each other to the death....

Now in paperback, The Remaking follows the ever-evolving story of accused witch Ella Louise and her daughter, Jessica. Beginning as a campfire tale based on real-life encounters with Jessica, the urban legend of the “Witch Girl of Pilot’s Creek” becomes a horror movie in the ‘70s and a meta-remake in the ’90s, rippling through pop culture and ruining lives associated with the projects. Decades later, a true-crime podcaster sets out to interview a reclusive cast member from the films, an act that might break the cycle of horror, or bring the story full circle, ready to be told once again....

(Note: This is a question book lovers dread.) First of all, I never give only one book but will offer favourite books by genre. Secondly, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter will always get a mention followed by a disclaimer about not reading a lot of fantasy. However, in my latest reread of the LOTR trilogy I found it hard to brush past the clearly racially inclined descriptions Tolkien has for his characters....

TBR is Book Riot’s subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes. Been dreaming of a “Stitch Fix for books?” Now it’s here! Tell TBR about your reading preferences and what you’re looking for, and sit back while your Bibliologist handpicks recommendations just for you. TBR offers plans to receive hardcover books in the mail or recommendations by email, so there’s an option for every budget. Visit mytbr....

Created by Book Riot, this smartly designed reading log consists of entry pages to record stats, impressions, and reviews of each book you read. Evenly interspersed among these entry pages are 12 challenges inspired by Book Riot’s annual Read Harder initiative, which began in 2015 to encourage readers to pick up passed-over books, try out new genres, and choose titles from a wider range of voices and perspectives. Indulge your inner book nerd and read a book about books, get a new perspective on current events by reading a book written by an immigrant, find a hidden gem by reading a book published by an independent press, and so much more....

Her backlist (thus far) is short, but oh so spooky sweet. Only not sweet. Murder-y? Possession-y? Definitely scary though. Reading Dawn Kurtagich Books Teeth in the Mist I can honestly say that never before Teeth in the Mist have I ever I rushed off to the bookstore to buy a book based just on nothing more than goat tweets. But A24’s 2015 film The Witch sort of set a new trend (or perhaps, rather, revived a trend) for creepy black may-not-be-but-probably-is-actually-the-devil goats....

It’s almost here! Toni Morrison’s tenth novel, Home, is coming out tomorrow, and we’re making a holiday of it. To celebrate, we’re giving away one signed first edition of the book to a lucky Riot reader (thank you, Random House!). Pop over to our Facebook page to post a photo of your Toni Morrison collection by midnight Eastern tonight to enter, then start wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’....

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell I recently acquired a fascination with the Civil War and the events surrounding it. I have already read twenty books about the subject this year, including several books on Lincoln and his death. And while the killing of others is in no way funny, Sarah Vowell and her morbid obsession with assassinations IS funny. Assassination Vacation is three essays about Vowell’s field trips to learn more about the shootings of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley....

Prior to the meeting, protests continued, organized by a mother with 2 children in the district, Kelley Gibson. Around 100 people attended, and the protest included the president of York NAACP and the commissioner for the City of York Human Relations Commission as speakers. You can read about the student protests her reporting spurred here: https://t.co/NOlmUaMuoL — Wallace McKelvey (@wjmckelvey) September 10, 2021 The school board justified their decision in a September 10th statement from Jane Johnson, president of the board, who claimed that the list was banned because of the content, brought up by concerned parents, and not because the authors were Black and Latinx....

If you, like me, are missing the crew of the USS Enterprise-D, may you find some solace in these read-alikes curated for your particular character preferences. If you like Picard, then read The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley Let’s start with the man himself. Through each re-watch of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Picard’s qualities as a leader and the gulf between him and seemingly most of Starfleet command become more striking....

While book lovers may consider any library hallowed ground, monastic libraries hold another level of mystery. Many of these cloistered, ornate spaces have safeguarded texts for centuries. Steeped in history and often guarded by those who have taken vows, the monastic library has captured many an author’s imagination. The monastic library of novels is often a repository of secrets and great power. It’s no surprise that these cloistered spaces have been the setting of many a novel’s intrigue and hidden secrets....

Well, woe to those who think as much. Short story collections have multiple purposes, arguably more than novels. Not only do collections show the breadth of an author’s talent with the short form, they are also doorways to the literary magazines and anthologies that originally published the stories. Additionally, if that story is still archived in the literary magazine that published the story, you can then compare how that story has evolved editorially from its first appearance to its inclusion in the final, published collection....

Launched in 2019, Nightfire, the new horror imprint from Tor, encompasses the breadth of horror, from short story collections to novellas and novels, from standalone works to series, from dark fantasy to the supernatural, from originals to reprints of lost modern classics. Nightfire’s novels are now appearing on shelves in bookstores and libraries near you. Do you dare stretch the spines on these terrifying titles this autumn? If you’re a fan of horror, you probably consume these movies and novels by placing yourself in the position of the protagonist....

Should academics still analyze and interpret and research Shakespeare? That is a little less easy to answer. Certainly there are not likely to be new discoveries made at this stage, but why limit new people from asking “Who was Shakespeare?” as if he didn’t write his own dang plays, as if we haven’t been down this road a million times. But why not, right? Academia does not inherently object to repetitiveness in subject....