USA TODAY • 24th November 2024

Feeling dystopian? Read these 10 books similar to '1984' by George Orwell.

Remember high school English class reading assignments? Sometimes those dense classics were even enough to make the booklovers in the classroom groan. But every now and then, an assigned reading would come along and truly stick with us. For many, “1984” by George Orwell is one of those books. Its impact on science-fiction and pop culture is far-reaching. “Big Brother,” “Thought Police” and even “Orwellian” are household terms because of “1984.” And in 2017, sales of the book skyrocketed after Do...

USA TODAY • 21st November 2024

Percival Everett, Barbara Kingsolver wow at National Book Awards: ‘Truth is like gravity’

Hundreds attended the 2024 National Book Awards, but despite the tuxedos, gowns and lofty gilded ceilings, the 75th annual ceremony felt more intimate than stuffy. Booklovers and publishers sang in unison to performer Jon Batiste, clinking their glasses as the Grammy-winning musician tickled the ivories.

Literature’s biggest night was celebrated appropriately – the Empire State Building lit up in National Book Foundation blue while attendees dressed in their finest to carry drinks and hardcover...

USA TODAY • 27th September 2024

People are supporting 'book sanctuaries' despite politics: 'No one wants to be censored'

More than 10,000 books were banned in public schools during the 2023-2024 academic year, according to a new PEN America report. American Library Association data shows that while the country saw a decrease in the first eight months of 2024, the number of bans and challenges still exceeds that of 2020, when the increase started.Book banning, which the ALA defines as restricting access to material by removing temporarily or indefinitely, has been the subject of fiery debate in courts and classroom...

USA TODAY • 24th September 2024

Most banned books in America and how publishers are pushing back

Freedom is among the central tenets of American life or, at the very least, of our marketing strategy. Patriotic phrases, songs and imagery revolve around freedom, free people and freedoms that can't be taken away.

But how far does that freedom extend? Banned Books Week poses that question as parents' rights groups, politicians, librarians and publishers are increasingly at odds over which books are suitable for young people to read.

Across several polls, most Americans don’t agree with book b...

USA TODAY • 29th June 2024

'Youth are our future'? Think again. LGBTQ+ youth activism is already making an impact.

'Youth are our future'? Think again. LGBTQ+ youth activism is already making an impact.

At Pride parades and protests, adults often voice a sentiment of hope for young generations: “The youth are the future.”

Forget about the future, Alyssa Wainaina would tell you – young people are doing the work right now. The 24-year-old community organizer with the nonprofit Advocates for Youth has been in activism for 10 years, securing gender-neutral bathrooms in Idaho public schools, attending protests

USA TODAY • 22nd June 2024

Bisexuals: You’re valid members of the LGBTQ+ community no matter who you’re dating

You don’t have to scroll too far before you find the comments.

“Bisexual girls just want attention.” “Why I would never date a bisexual man.” “You're not really bi.”

Biphobia is common and casual online, especially during Pride Month. Bisexuals make up the largest part of the LGBTQ+ community – just over 57%, according to a recent Gallup poll – but are far less likely to come out than gay and lesbian peers. Many point to biphobia to explain this. When you’re faced with discrimination and stere

USA TODAY • 14th June 2024

Amazon reveals the best books of 2024 (so far): The No. 1 pick 'transcends its own genre'

Amazon reveals the best books of 2024 (so far): The No. 1 pick 'transcends its own genre'

When it comes to reading taste, sometimes we have to agree to disagree. Your favorite book may be a measly one-star review to someone else.

But now and then, a story becomes so universally beloved it breaks the mold.

Amazon's “Best Books of the Year So Far” list is here, and the No. 1 choice, "James" by Percival Everett, is a unanimous winner. What lands a book on the coveted list is one that “transcends

USA TODAY • 11th June 2024

Queer and compelling: 11 LGBTQ+ books for Pride you should be reading right now

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to celebrate Pride Month. While many don rainbow gear and wave pride flags at parades or events, there are plenty of ways to educate yourself and celebrate Pride on a more individual level.

For many LGBTQ+ folks, reading provides comfort and representation that may be missing otherwise. It may even serve as an important catalyst for coming out to loved ones. Still, these titles continue to end up on banned books lists – seven of the top 10 most challenged books

USA TODAY • 6th June 2024

All the pride flags and their meanings: Your visual guide for June

Pride Month is here. It's a time to celebrate the diversity and joy within the LGBTQ+ community, a time for parades, parties, activism and learning.

Pride flags are as numerous as the identities encompassed in the LGBTQ+ acronym. Some represent different sexualities, others are for gender identity and some are updates to the original rainbow design meant to add more inclusive elements or honor marginalized communities.

Whether you’re an ally or a member of the community, here’s your guide to p

USA TODAY • 24th May 2024

What is the 'best' children's book? Kids, parents and authors on why some rise to the top

What is the 'best' children's book? Kids, parents and authors on why some rise to the top

What was your favorite book as a kid?

That question makes for a surprisingly effective icebreaker. You can tell a lot about someone from the books they read as a child. Case in point: I’m a journalist, a talker, a storyteller. Many of my childhood favorites had equally yappy and imaginative characters – “Junie B. Jones” by Barbara Park, “Olivia” by Ian Falconer, “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” by Kevin Hen

USA TODAY • 23rd May 2024

Rod Serling, veteran: 'Twilight Zone' creator's unearthed story examines human cost of war

Entering the Twilight Zone was always an eerie and unpredictable journey, but TV viewers could count on one constant: the familiar voice and face of creator Rod Serling.

Serling died in 1975, but fans now have a new story from him to sink their teeth into. “First Squad, First Platoon,” a short story written in his early 20s, was published for the first time in May's issue of The Strand Magazine, a quarterly that runs previously unpublished works by literary masters and new fiction by modern aut

USA TODAY • 22nd May 2024

Murders solved by senior citizens? How 'cozy mystery' books combine crime with comfort

A murder at a retirement village solved by the residents? Sounds like a great plot for a mystery book. Several murders at a retirement village solved by the residents? Even better.

These plots are examples of “cozy mysteries,” a genre that's seen a boom in recent years. Nicole Lintemuth, the owner of bookstore Bettie’s Pages in Lowell, Michigan, first noticed an uptick during the pandemic when readers gravitated toward more lighthearted books. She's hosted readers every month at her virtual "Co

USA TODAY • 22nd April 2024

Columbia cancels in-person classes; protesters arrested at Yale and NYU: Updates

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on student protests engulfing campuses over the Israel-Hamas war on Monday, April 22. For the latest news, see our live updates file for Tuesday, April 23.

NEW YORK – As tensions over the Israel-Hamas war continue to boil on campuses across the country, Columbia University on Monday moved classes online while dozens of students were arrested in protests at Yale and New York University, and school officials closed Harvard Yard to the public.

Demonst

USA TODAY • 27th March 2024

New spicy Casey McQuiston book 'The Pairing' comes out this summer: What fans can expect

Move over “hot girl summer” – “hot bisexual summer” is ready for its moment and Casey McQuiston’s new novel “The Pairing” is here to usher it in.

If there’s one thing McQuiston knows, it’s queer romance – their past three novels prove as much. But “The Pairing" (on sale Aug. 6 from St. Martin's Griffin) is a much more indulgent read than its predecessors. Sexuality and gender are a constant conversation in McQuiston's work, but this forthcoming novel dives further into how they interact and sha

USA TODAY • 11th March 2024

'A matter of physical safety': What it means to deadname someone and the impact it makes

'A matter of physical safety': What it means to deadname someone and the impact it makes

Merriam-Webster named “authentic” its 2023 Word of the Year, but other top contenders included “indict,” “rizz” and “deadname.” These words reflect increased search and cultural impact.

“Deadnaming” is one word that’s coming up on the campaign trail – the local one, that is. In Ohio, three out of four transgender candidates have been challenged or disqualified based on an elections law that penalizes candi

USA TODAY • 22nd February 2024

Hurts so good: In Dolly Alderton's 'Good Material,' readers feel heartbreak unfold in real-time

Hurts so good: In Dolly Alderton's 'Good Material,' readers feel heartbreak unfold in real-time

It's certainly what Dolly Alderton is getting at in her new romance novel "Good Material" (Knopf, 368 pp., ★★★½ out of four). In it, the author of popular memoirs “Everything I Know About Love” (now a series on Peacock) and “Dear Dolly” returns with a bittersweet comedy romance.

Our narrator is Andy, a down-on-his-luck, floundering comedian in London who comes home from a vacation with his girlfrien

USA TODAY • 20th January 2024

Presidential elections aren't as simple as a vote tally: How the Electoral College works

What does it take to be president? You’ve got to be at least 35 years old and a natural-born citizen, for starters. But after the campaigning is done and the ballots are filled out, how does a candidate become president?

The 2024 presidential election is quickly approaching, with Republican candidates taking the debate stage and polls staking early predictions. Before we get to Election Day, here’s everything you need to know about how Americans' votes are tallied.

What is the Electoral Colleg

USA TODAY • 18th December 2023

Want to get on BookTok? Tips from creators on how to find the best book recommendations

Want to get on BookTok? Tips from creators on how to find the best book recommendations

Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Are you a fan of those ASMR slime videos on TikTok? How about cooking videos? Mini stand-up comedy specials? There’s a niche for everyone on the app, including people who spend most of their time reading books.

We’re talking about BookTok of course, a place where book lovers come to connect and share recommendations

USA TODAY • 2nd December 2023

Dinner ideas for picky eaters: Healthy meals for kids who don't love all foods.

Dinner ideas for picky eaters: Healthy meals for kids who don't love all foods.

Having a picky eater in the family can make mealtime physically and emotionally exhausting – both for parents and kids.

So what’s the best way to ensure your child is getting important nutrients while making eating a comfortable experience? According to Rose Britt, a registered dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching, the answer is not “waiting it out” and assuming your kid will eat when they’re hungry.

“I’ve seen a

USA TODAY • 20th November 2023

Holiday healthy eating tips: 8 expert tips to enjoy your favorites and still feel good

It’s the holiday season, a time full of Christmas lights, holiday parties and plenty of delicious food.

The end of the year creeps up quickly, and it may feel like there’s no time to manage your health on top of the events to organize, presents to buy and family to see. Maybe you're one of the 64% of surveyed Americans who plan to delay their health aspirations until the start of the new year.

But eating healthy is not just possible, it's preferred, experts told USA TODAY. Here's what else to

USA TODAY • 19th September 2023

'Holding grief and joy at the same time': The great meaning of a Rainbow baby.

'Holding grief and joy at the same time': The great meaning of a Rainbow baby.

Starting a family is an exciting time for many adults, but it can also be challenging for others. Some families may struggle with infertility, or complications may arise along the way. It’s estimated that as many as 26% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, and stillbirth affects about 1 in 175 births.

In reality, there is no “normal” way of becoming a parent, says Lindsey Henke, the founder and executive director of P

USA TODAY • 8th September 2023

How to make yourself cry: An acting coach's secrets for on command emotion

How to make yourself cry: An acting coach's secrets for on command emotion

Tears are unique to humans, but human infants share distress calls with most other mammal and bird young, often when separated from their mothers.

Crying extends far beyond infancy. A University of Pittsburgh research paper on the neurobiology of human emotional crying puts it this way: “Tearful crying facilitates social connections.”

We cry when we’re happy, we cry when we’re sad, we shed tears when we see our favorit

USA TODAY • 14th August 2023

‘Old Enough’ is the ‘Big Bisexual Book’ of the summer. Here’s why bi representation matters.

‘Old Enough’ is the ‘Big Bisexual Book’ of the summer. Here’s why bi representation matters.

Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Writer Haley Jakobson didn’t just publish her debut novel in June. She published a “Big Bisexual Book.” It’s a slogan her team created for “Old Enough,” but it’s more than just marketing.

Bisexual individuals make up more than half of the LGBTQ+ community but are often less visible than other LGBTQ+ identities b

USA TODAY • 8th August 2023

'That's so camp': What the slang and aesthetic term means, plus its place in queer history

'That's so camp': What the slang and aesthetic term means, plus its place in queer history

"Camp" is a term many know but few can define. You may have heard it as slang adopted by Gen Z or in context with the 2019 Met Gala theme, but it has a much deeper history, particularly in queer communities.

Though “camp” preexisted American writer Susan Sontag, she produced one of the most seminal texts to define it in 1964:

“Camp asserts that good taste is not simply good taste; that there exists, ind