Publishers Weekly Barnes & Noble picks 15 essential works of American literature, announces this year’s Discover Award winners, a library quiz, and more. Welcome to Today in Books, our daily round-up of literary headlines at the intersection of politics, culture, media, and more.
Essential American literature, according to PW
Publishers Weekly came up with a list of 15 essential works of American literature By polling your employees and identifying the top picks. These are books published in America since 1776 (the year the Declaration of Independence was issued, and the reason for this year’s American sesquicentennial celebration). You’ll find an interesting mix of books on the list, including personal favorites and widely beloved classics their eyes were looking at god by Zora Neale Hurston; The book that my sister and fellow nut read in high school and still talk about, silent spring By Rachel Carson; The book that won Colson Whitehead a Pulitzer and made me a fan forever, underground Railroad; and a best-selling work of queer, trans fiction that became an instant classic, Detransition, baby By Torey Peters. I am included in this list.
Kwame Alexander gets an impression
It makes sense when a bestselling, award-winning author gets an imprint, so it may come as no surprise. Publishers Weekly announced Kwame Alexander Books Launch. Sourcebooks is an imprint of the prolific author crossover It won’t just be for kid lit but will publish everything from picture books to adult books. Discovery and mentorship of new voices will be a key feature of KAB; It will also serve as the home of Alexander’s future projects, including publishing a commemorative edition of his book for adults. Say yes. Alexander said, “I have always believed that it is my calling to create literature that constructs and restores.” “I want this imprint to breathe new life, helping readers young and old bring back to life the place we call home.”
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Barnes & Noble Discover Award Winner
A quick shout out to Winners of Barnes & Noble’s 2026 Discover Awards Celebrating outstanding budding writers. This year’s award winner is seek immediate shelter By Vincent Yu. Yu’s novel is based on the consequences of decisions made by various characters in a town who wrongly thought they only had a few minutes to live. browse all 2026 Discover Awards Finalists.
A fun quiz for your Friday
If your Friday mood is looking for entertainment, the new York Times is bookish Quiz about legendary libraries. Even if your score is bad, you win because the answers come with references to libraries and their artifacts along with links to full articles related to the sacred institutions. Travel around the world and learn something new while relaxing in these last hours of the work week.
The final installment in this series of posts about youth privacy and youth library cards in the public library brings together the interconnected topics in a quiz aimed at helping libraries rethink their policies. Its purpose is to help the average library user understand what is happening in their own library and to advocate for stronger policies that protect young people and the libraries that serve them. I developed questions, while Amy Mikell, senior director of customer experience at the Brooklyn Public Library — who wrote an incredible article last week about the new landscape of public library censorship on library card policies — provided answers and insights from her research. These questions are based on many topics.
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