Highlight of last month: I headed up to Penguin Random House’s headquarters in New York City.
Once a year, Penguin Random House’s Publisher Services (PRHPS) division holds a Client Summit for our 50+ independent publishers. Publishers and PRHPS employees spend 2 days in panels, presentations, sales meetings, and networking events to learn and discuss the state of the publishing industry, industry trends, retailer updates, and more.
Though I’ve been to Client Summit and headquarters before when I worked for one of our client publishers, this was my first time visiting headquarters as an employee. Getting my employee badge was such an incredible milestone.
This was—by far—the best work trip I’ve ever had, thanks to my incredibly considerate and kind colleagues. They helped me take the subway, walked me to my hotel at night, gifted me the most thoughtful books, and made all the small talk not only bearable but enjoyable.
Best perk of going to headquarters as an employee? Getting free books. On almost every floor, there are red bookshelves full of free books for employees. Here are some of the books I hauled!
1. Make Good Trouble
By Jamia Wilson
Read real stories about moments that changed history, and find out what you can do to make a difference!
“Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
– John Lewis, Twitter 2018
Inspired by civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis’s call to challenge injustice, explore famous moments of global activism throughout history with more than 70 narrative stories.
Featured stories include the Newsboys’ strike of 1899, the Freedom Summer Project of 1964, Greta Thunberg’s first School Strike for Climate, and students against book banning.
A must-have, illustrated narrative non-fiction guide through stories of exemplary activism:
- Topics for every interest: Stories cover protests about climate change, racism, feminism, LGBTQIA+ pride, disability, and more from around the world.
- Beautifully told stories and useful resources: Alongside the moving narrative retellings of historical moments, kids can find information about how they can be activists in a safe way, alongside a glossary and key dates for annual activism moments from across the globe.
- Written by Jamia Wilson: The acclaimed author of Shining Bright, Shining Black, Big Ideas for Young Thinkers, and Young, Gifted and Black.
Each true story in Make Good Trouble shares how activists across a variety of beliefs, ages, and backgrounds called for change, empowering young readers of all ages, abilities, and circumstances to make a difference. Brimming with illustrations and additional resources, including a timeline and information about how kids can get involved, this is essential reading for budding activists.
2. A Curse Carved in Bone (Book Two of the Saga of the Unfated)
By Danielle L. Jensen
A shield maiden fights to break the shackles of prophecy—and to overcome the betrayal of the man who broke her heart—in this searing conclusion to the Norse-inspired fantasy romance duology that began with the bestselling A Fate Inked in Blood.
The secret of her divine heritage revealed, Freya finds herself on a path that will see thousands of lives lost to the magic in her blood. Desperate to avoid this dark fate, she risks an alliance with Skaland’s greatest enemy to seek answers from the seer who foretold her future—the same seer who sent Bjorn to kill her.
While Freya still seethes with rage over Bjorn’s betrayal, the blood oaths that bind her demand that she keep him close as she hunts for a way to avert the looming war. Her magic draws her to the front lines of an old enmity, embroiling her with Nordeland’s Unfated—children of the gods who serve the king she was raised to fear. The same king who, unlike Bjorn, is now willing to fight at her back. For despite the desire that burns hot between Bjorn and Freya, his growing distrust of her chosen path threatens to drag them further apart.
As war approaches, gods and mortals must choose their weapons. Yet the fiercest battle will be the one Freya wages within herself. With the magic of two goddesses burning in her veins, she must weave the threads of destiny to decide her own fate: Will she be the shield that protects her people or the curse that destroys them?
3. Greedy
By Callie Kazumi
What would you do for a seat at the table?
They will kill me soon, Edward Cook thinks. And when the Yakuza are unable to collect what he owes, Ed realizes, theyʼll go after his wife and child next. Broke, desperate, and unemployed, he stumbles upon an unusual ad: Chef wanted! Private chef for a high-profile businesswoman. One million yen per day.
Ed accepts the job. He hasnʼt earned any Michelin stars, but he knows his way around a kitchen. Leaving his life in Tokyo behind, he departs for an opulent estate in the mountains owned by the enigmatic and reclusive Hazeline Yamamoto, a disgraced socialite with a predatorʼs smile and an exacting palate. Hazelineʼs world is one of taste, connoisseurship, and experimentation—she is a certified gourmand. But when you can afford filet mignon for every meal, you begin to seek out the strange and forbidden.
The closer Ed gets to Hazeline and the brighter future that she promises—if he remains loyal—the nearer he is to realizing the chilling truth about her altruism. In this shadow world of unimaginable wealth, there are worse monsters than two-bit gangsters. The wind blowing through Hazeline’s home carries the sound of screaming, and Ed finds himself feeding all kinds of beasts.
Perfect for fans of Parasite and The Menu—enticing as a starter, meaty as a main dish, and full of satisfying just-desserts—Greedy is a suspenseful poison-pen note to classism and an ode to Japanese cuisine, a horror-tinged thriller unsuitable for vegetarians but full of shocking delights for every reader.
4. The Official Lore Olympus Cookbook
By Rachel Smythe, Genn McMenemy, and Diana Moutsopoulos
Feast like the gods with sixty food and drink recipes inspired by the world of Lore Olympus—with a foreword by Rachel Smythe, plus sumptuous illustrations and photographs throughout!
Uncover the culinary secrets of the Lore Olympus pantheon with this official cookbook that breathes fresh life into traditional Greek cuisine. Organized by season, each chapter offers a recipe for any time of day—whether you are hankering for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a bright pink mocktail! And if you want to party like an Olympian, there are four feasts at the end of each section to serve as inspiration for a themed party.
In these delectable recipes:
- Discover the divinity of Persephone’s baklava
- Work your own magic with a color-changing cocktail favored by Hecate
- Savor mouthwatering souvlaki (with easy instructions for cooking in the oven if, like a certain King of the Underworld, you don’t have an outdoor grill)
- And more!
The Official Lore Olympus Cookbook is a must-have for all fans of the Eisner Award–winning series.
What books have you hauled (or unhauled) recently!
Morgan Vega 