Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by Heather Cox Richardson

From historian and author of the popular daily newsletter LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN, a vital narrative that explains how America, once a beacon of democracy, now teeters on the brink of autocracy -- and how we can turn back. Many books tell us what has happened over the last five years. Democracy Awakening explains how we got to this perilous point, what our history really tells us about ourselves, and what the future of democracy can be.

“Engaging and highly accessible.”—Boston Globe

(Viking, $30.00)

Killing the Witches: The Horror of Salem, Massachusetts

by Bill O'Reilly

Killing the Witches revisits one of the most frightening and inexplicable episodes in American history: the events of 1692 and 1693 in Salem Village, Massachusetts. This tells the dramatic history of how the Puritan tradition and the power of early American ministers shaped the origins of the United States, influencing the founding fathers, the American Revolution, and even the Constitutional Convention. The result is a compulsively readable book about good, evil, community panic, and how fear can overwhelm fact and reason.

(St. Martin's Press, $32.00)

The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar

An immersive story about family secrets and the power of forgiveness from the bestselling author of Reese’s Book Club pick Honor. Surprising, devastating, and ultimately a story of redemption and healing still possible between a mother and son, The Museum of Failures is a tour de force from one of our most elegant storytellers about the mixed bag of love and regret. It is also, above all, a much-needed reminder that forgiveness comes from empathy for others. "Layered and captivating.”—Ms.

(Algonquin Books, $28.00)

Land of Milk and Honey

by C Pam Zhang

The award-winning author of How Much of These Hills Is Gold returns with a rapturous and revelatory novel about a young chef whose discovery of pleasure alters her life and, indirectly, the world.  It is a daringly imaginative exploration of desire and deception, privilege and faith, and the roles we play to survive. Most of all, it is a love letter to food, to wild delight, and to the transformative power of a woman embracing her own appetite. “It’s rare to read anything that feels this unique.” –GABRIELLE ZEVIN

(Riverhead Books, $28.00)

The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab

V. E. Schwab, #1 New York Times bestselling author opens another door to a new fantasy series set in the dazzling world of Shades of Magic. Prepare for tangled schemes and perilous adventures with friends old and new. Amidst this tapestry of old friends and new enemies, a girl with an unusual magical ability comes into possession of a device that could change the fate of all four worlds.

(Tor Books, $29.99)

The Caretaker

by Ron Rash

Recommended by Robin!

Told against the backdrop of the Korean War as a small Appalachian town sends its sons to battle, The Caretaker by award-winning author Ron Rash ("One of the great American authors at work today" —The New York Times) is a breathtaking love story and a searing examination of the acts we seek to justify in the name of duty, family, honor, and love.

(Doubleday, $28.00)

The Invisible World

by Nora Fussner

Recommended by Stephen!

"An eerie and virtuosic debut" (Helen Phillips, author of The Need) about a paranormal investigations TV show that loses control of its subject as they investigate a haunted house. When the show descends upon Eve's home, they’re intent on creating just another staged spectacle. But, unexpectedly, the crew encounters some very real activity...As the terror mounts, it's up to the show’s harried, skeptical producer, Sandra, to create order from the madness—or will the madness take her, too? (Vintage, $17.00)

The Armor of Light

by Ken Follett

The long-awaited sequel to A Column of Fire, The Armor of Light, heralds a new dawn for Kingsbridge, England, where progress clashes with tradition, class struggles push into every part of society, and war in Europe engulfs the entire continent and beyond. With this electrifying addition to the Kingsbridge series we are plunged into the battlefield between compassion and greed, love and hate, progress and tradition. "An impressive and immersive epic."

—Publisher’s Weekly

(Viking, $38.00)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods

by Rick Riordan

The original heroes from The Lightning Thief are reunited for their biggest challenge yet: getting Percy to college when the gods are standing in his way.

Readers new to Percy Jackson (this book can be enjoyed as a standalone) and fans who have been awaiting this reunion for more than a decade will delight equally in this latest hilarious take on Greek mythology.

Ages 8-12.

(Disney Hyperion, $19.99)

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

The New York Times bestselling The Wild Robot series returns, taking Roz on an action-packed under-the-ocean journey to save her beloved island!

This thrilling third installment of the Wild Robot series takes readers on a new adventure through the ocean and to the frigid northern waters where Roz may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. —Kirkus, starred

Ages 8-12.

(Little Brown Books for Young Readers, $17.99)

Wrecker

by Carl Hiaasen

Wrecker needs to deal with smugglers, grave robbers, and pooping iguanas—just as soon as he finishes Zoom school. Welcome to another wild adventure in Carl Hiaasen's Florida!

Valdez Jones VIII calls himself Wrecker because his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather salvaged shipwrecks for a living. He'll have to dive deep into their shady dealings to figure out a way to escape this tangled net.

Ages 10-14.

(Knopf Books for Young Readers, $18.99)

Sometimes I Cry

by Jess Townes

From Jess Townes with illustrations by Daniel Miyares, this poignant picture book deftly tackles the wide array of emotions experienced in childhood, and especially reminding readers that there’s nothing wrong with crying.

Powerful, poignant, and universally relevant, it is a triumph for readers of any age.

Ages 3-7.

(Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, $18.99)