I was going to recommend books I’ve read in the last year or so (many of which I blurbed) but my son wanted to do something with me so we joined forces and will now be handing out book awards! Get ready for the NEUVELLA AWARDS, with Lego trophies by Theo. A thread. 1/9

2/9 The AAH YOU’RE SO TOUGH PLEASE DON’T HURT ME AWARD for high achievement in badassery goes to ANYONE by @CharlesSoule ( @HarperPerennial ).
An intense, superbly crafted, edge of your seat thrill ride and the most dedicated, hardcore main character I’ve read in a long time.

3/9 The SPIDER McSPIDER WITH TONS OF EYES AWARD for best multiple POV goes to THE NOBODY PEOPLE ( @DelReyBooks ) @bobproehl brings striking realism to this extraordinary story, delving into the notion of otherness with nuance and complexity. Oh and the sequel comes out this fall.

4/9 The I COME IN PEACE DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE CLAW AWARD for best first contact story goes to THE LESSON (Blackstone) by @CadwellTurnbull A stunningly intricate portrait of humanity, capturing hopes and dreams, flaws and failings with remarkable depth and texture. READ THIS BOOK

5/9 The LOOK I CAN LIFT A GIANT ROCK WITH MY MIND! AWARD for best kid’s book with science goes to POWER UP by @sethasfishman and @isabelgreenberg . I’ve read it (and A HUNDRED BILLION TRILLION STARS) with my son about a hundred billion trillion times. It’s that good.

6/9 Now for some books that aren’t out yet that you can preorder right this minute from your favorite local bookstore. (I don’t want to explain the awesomeness of preorders right now but pre-orders are magical life-altering kitten-saving things.)

7/9 The OMG YOU’RE NOT ME I’M ME NO I’M ME AWARD for amazingly written clone story goes to THE MIRROR MAN, by @JANEGILMARTIN3 . A clone story that is both profound and artfully contained. Claustrophobic, disturbingly intimate. Simply brilliant.
(out in June from MIRA)

8/9 The I NEED SPACE KITTENS IN MY LIFE AWARD for most trippy story (with space kittens) goes to OFF MY FEET by Montreal author @swell_rachelle . A mind-altering story about an apathetic barista with peculiar sleeping pills. (Check her website for links http://rachel-tremblay.com )

9/9 The OMG ROCKET SCIENCE WITH SCIENTISTS DOING SCIENCY THINGS AWARD for book I’m most looking forward to goes to THE OPPENHEIMER ALTERNATIVE. I haven’t read it yet but all the characters are real people and no one does research like @RobertJSawyer . Also out in June. Voilà.