"Sure, women’s rights have come a long way over the last century, but for every step forward, it feels like we take a few back, and when that feeling is so consistent, so insidious? Man, it makes me want to support women’s wrongs."
🍄 Fatal Fungi 🍄 OR: Watch out. The Body Keeps the Spore.
Serve the Spores Bumper Sticker "For that friend who has already succumbed to the siren song of the mushroom, this sticker will show their allegiance"
Finch by Jeff VanderMeer "Noir meets sentient fungus — what's not to like"
Ghost Music by An Yu "Replete with dreamlike sequences, enclosed walls, and talking mushrooms..."
Mushroom Travel Flask "Protect your drink from the spores!"
Mushroom Cats Game "Compete to forage the best mushroom collection, but beware of the cats trying to sabotage your efforts"
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia "The best elements of Gothic literature — crumbling ancestral home, disturbing nightmares, threatening atmosphere, distressed heroine — with a decidedly fungal flavor"
The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing "Will mushrooms outlive us all? Probably..."
Fantastic Fungi Coloring Book "Get comfy, break out the colored pencils and relax with this non-threatening coloring book"
The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey "Downright chilling."
The Truffle Underground by Ryan Jacobs "It will make you want to steer clear of truffles forever."
We're positively BUZZING! 📚🐝 (Because it's time for our Spring Sale.)
“Time heals all wounds, right?” “It wasn’t time that did it.”
Customer Picks at Powell's!
Putting your ✨excellent taste✨ on display.
We've got "customer," "teen," and "kid" pick shelftalkers free for the taking at all three of our stores. Fill them out right there or bring home a couple to decorate and drop off on your next visit. 🎨📚
Handing out trophies for 💕ROMANCE✨ on the Powell's Blog Today
Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle "I can't say enough good things about this one. I loved the character development and layers to this story. One of my favorites of 2022"
Aquarian dawn by Ebele Chizea "Ada is a college student swept up in the countercultural movement of of the 1960s. In the process, she learns more about herself and her passion for activism."
A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow "A story of two best friends coming to terms with their magical abilities and their sense of identity. -> Takes place in PORTLAND, OREGON" One True Loves by Elise Bryant "A charming enemies to lovers rom com." Give it a shot if you like Jenny Han, Nicola Yoon or Jasmine Guillory!
Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney "One of my favorite books of 2022! This book is about a young woman unpacking her religious upbringing and finding herself" Blackout (Multiple Contributing Authors) Try this one if you like "any NYC rom coms where there is a massive power outage or rom coms with multiple couples and multiple interconnecting story lines"
attn: CAT! MANGA! 🐈⬛
"Are these cats? Or are these creatures? Why do they have strange abilities???"
"Fuuta's little sister adopts a cat, and Fuuta is fascinated by this little guy. This is just a super cute exploration of weird cat behaviours"
"When you need him the most — cat barista appears. He provides the perfect coffee and a space to relax. A very cozy read."
"Flora's new house comes with a very odd creature... they become begrudging roommates"
"These cats are determined to strike fear into the hearts of humankind! With their little paws and evil plans they might just succeed?!"
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir "Who is the meanest girl in this beautiful, harsh, hilarious, badass, confusing-as-hell book? It's obviously Ianthe Tridentarius"
When Women Kill by Alia Trabucco Zeran "What makes women lash out against the restraints of gendered domesticity and how do we treat them when they do?"
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett "You'll find a plethora of mean girls in this dystopian novel about a group of 16-year-old girls who are sent into the woods to release their 'magic' so they may return ready for marriage. This book examines the ways outside influence (see: the patriarchy) can cause women to behave very poorly to each other"
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix "After a night out, Gretchen starts to act like a typical high school mean girl. Well, as typical as a mean girl possessed by a demon."
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers "I love apologetically devious women, I love challenging sexist assumptions of gender, and I love a good memoir. Dorothy Daniels truly made for my ideal protagonist..."
Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle "A group of teens who turn into werewolves and eat misbehaving boys? I'd be part of this squad of mean girls any day."
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson "This retelling of Carrie packs a punch! Featuring the brutal mean girls of the original, but with the added complexities of a biracial main character in a small southern town, this book holds its own against the iconic work of horror."
Sensitive and Strong: Positive Role Models for Boys
“Winner of the Pulitzer Prize!”
Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith
“Hoodoo comes from a magical family, but can't seem to cast a single spell. He has a great heart and is determined to save everyone from black magic, despite his struggles. Both gothic and sweet, this book will win readers over with its compelling, relatable voice.”
“A beautifully rendered version of a lovely classic, a time-travel mystery, and a portrait of two loveable characters. This is a must-read!!!”
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
“Follow bookworm Bastian into Fantastica and help him decide 'Who is the hero?'”
Boying Up: How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant by Mayim Bialik
"An awesome, accessible guide that helps young boys to understand their changing bodies, feelings, and experiences. Full of useful tips and illustrations!"
Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart
"A moving story about hope, determination, and love. Joseph Johnson is a strong, sensitive protagonist I couldn't help but love."
Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too) by Keith Negley
"This book is everything! Such an important message for boys: all men cry. Tough guys, heroes, knights, dads. And it's okay!!! Finally, a book about emotions for boys!"
Black Panther: The Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith
"This book based on the Marvel comic is full of adventure, strength, action, and loveable characters. Read this if you're a comic fan or just love an exciting read!"
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
"I could not stop reading this survival story about a boy lost by himself in the wilderness. Brian is strong and resourceful as he wrestles with intense emotions and physical challenges."
The Best Man by Richard Peck
"This book is entertaining, easy-to-read and full of heart. Filled with positive male role models that love themselves!"
Gentle Ben by Walt Morey
"A timeless story about the friendship between a boy and an Alaskan brown bear, this book is full of adventure, family, and relatable characters. Great for animal lovers and adventurers!"
Who Is Barack Obama? by Roberta Edwards
"This inspiring biography for middle grade readers illustrates the life of America's first African American president. Learn lots of interesting facts about his life before he became president in an entertaining and straightforward way."
Martin Rising: Requiem For a King by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney
"A mind-blowingly beautiful tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this book documents King and his extraordinary influence through poetry and gorgeous illustrations."
The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag
"This is an amazing book! In Aster's family girls are witch's and and boy are able to change form but Aster is secretly learning witchcraft." - Nika N., 10 years old
Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White by Melissa Sweet
"A cute collection of writing, history, biography, and art by/about the beloved author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little."
Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor
"Mason is the most loveable character ever! He is sweet, loyal, and honest. This is a moving novel that tackles issues of bullying, disability, and grief, and also: friendship, family, hope, and love."
My Side Of The Mountain by Jean Craighead George
"A classic story about courage, independence, and love of the wild. A must-read for anyone who loves the outdoors, or just loves inspiring books!"
Crossover by Kwame Alexander
2015 Newbery Medal winner
Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner
NYT Bestseller
"An engaging book about brotherhood and family."
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
"Charlie Bucket is a hero. He is kind and brave, and ultimately he is rewarded for being a good person. This is a classic with a great message!"
Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson
"A wonderful introduction to the inspiring astronomer, Caral Sagan. Scientific and dreamy!"
"Full of examples of good role models for boys: people who are brave, creative, smart, noble, and kind. A great variety of inspiring figures!"
John Ronald's Dragons: The Story of J. R. R. Tolkein by Caroline McAlister and Eliza Wheeler
"Great for any young Hobbit fan or aspiring writer (or any fan of DRAGONS!), this tale shouldn't be missed!"
Wing and Claw #1: Forest of Wonders by Linda Sue Park
"A fabulous fantasy adventure! I couldn't put it down!"
Me and Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig King
"This is a coming-of-age novel with a smart, relatable protagonist who cares about protecting the environment."
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
"Auggie is such a loveable and inspiring character. He's smart, funny, kind, and despite his severe facial difference, he navigates school, friendships, and bullies with a positive, often heartbreakingly sympathetic attitude."
Emoji Reads
Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Angelfall by Susan Ee
Love Life and the List by Kasie West
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
The Leaving by Tara Altebrando
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Booked by Kwame Alexander
The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
Mariam Sharma Hits the Road by Sheba Karim
My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Boy Robot by Simon Curtis
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
Hoops by Walter Dean Myers
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
Lifelike by Jay Kristoff
The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Save some money on AC this summer and let the King of Horror supply all your chills. For a limited time, buy two select Stephen King titles and get the third free.
Bummertime
The Sarah Book by Scott McClanahan
“Fair warning: This is gonna hurt. This is a toxic relationship...in a barrel... on fire... rolling into traffic. Have fun!”
Nine Island by Jane Alison
“Let’s face it: Getting older sucks. And it happens to everyone! your parents, you rpets, and now you. Even worse, you’re single...”
Grief Is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
“So, a giant talking crow has invaded your home, terrorizing your children, and wreaking havoc? Congratulations! You’re in mourning.”
Exes by Max Winter
“Welcome to Rhode Island! And holy moly, is this place a drag or what? A densely knit, moon-drunk yowl that will leave your ears ringing.”
Jillian by Halle Butler
“You know that petty, spiteful, unbearable person in your office? Well, guess what? For someone else, that person is you!”
Garbage Times White Ibis by Sam Pink
“Mopping up dive bar toilets sure isn’t glamorous and neither is much of anything else in this gnarly bummer of a book.”
Tomb Song A Novel by Julian Herbert
“Death - the ultimate bad mood, and a perfect excuse to take a gut-wrenching trip down memory lane (which is paved with bad sex, and opium binges, apparently).”
Sorry to Disrupt the Peace by Patty Yumi Cottrell
“Helen heads home to sift through the hows and whys of a family tragedy. On the bright side, she’s also socially awkward and possibly maybe hallucinating.”
August by Romina Paula, Jennifer Croft
“It’s so hard to say goodby eto yesterday, especially when you’re being thrust back into a life you’d left behind to put old ghosts to rest (including your ex-boyfriend).”
McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh
“You wake up drunk, imprisioned, and nursing a nasty headwound - at least it can’t get much worse. Oh wait: you’re also suspected of murder...”
"The social, marital, and health-related struggles of women in the 19th century, narrated in a way that will make you laugh until you pee your pants, and then remind you how lucky you are to have clean underwear to change into." — Alyssa, Chicago, IL
See what else customers recommend: http://bit.ly/2HnnN8x
City & the City by China Mieville
"We mourn the incomparable Ursula Le Guin, and it hurts. A writer of intense ethical seriousness and intelligence, of wit and fury, of radical politics, of subtlety, of freedom and yearning, Le Guin was a literary colossus." - C.M.
Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
"Those who see science fiction simply as a way of writing novels welcome the more Tolstoyan approach, in which a war is described not only from the generals' point of view but also through the eyes of housewives, prisoners, boys of sixteen, or an alien visitation is described not only by knowledgeable scientists but also by its effects on commonplace people." - Ursula K. Le Guin
Strange Bird A Borne Story by Jeff Vandermeer
"I think the biggest thing I took away from her fiction, and her nonfiction, was the sharp thoughtfulness and humanity behind it all." — J.V.
At the Mouth of the River of Bees Stories by Kij Johnson
"It’s just as good as I thought it was going to be, if not better ... the variety is tremendous, exhilarating. The book definitely won’t do that short-story-collection thing to you where all the stories run together into a sort of depressing porridge in your mind." - Ursula K. Le Guin
Oryx & Crake by Margaret Atwood
"We can't call Ursula K. Le Guin back from the land of the unchanging stars, but happily she left us her multifaceted work, her hard-earned wisdom and her fundamental optimism. Her sane, smart, crafty and lyrical voice is more necessary now than ever. For it, and for her, we should be thankful." - M.A.
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
"Ursula’s work holds a prominent place on the most cherished part of my bookcase." - N.O.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss
"There is one thing I wish I could have told her, although she probably knew: that she has hundreds of daughters. All those teenage girls who also found her books in local bookstores or libraries and grew up to become writers. She taught them that women could write about other planets and political philosophy, with clarity, profundity, and grace. She gave each of us a little bit of her voice, and we are all better writers and human beings because of it." - T.G.
The Ambiguity Machines & Other Stories by Vandana Singh
"A most promising and original young writer." - Ursula K. Le Guin
Autonomous by Annalee Newitz
"Ursula LeGuin was my first science fiction inspiration as a kid and she continued to inspire me throughout my adult life. Her stories are permanently installed in my mind." - A.N.
The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi
"This was a subtle gift that Le Guin gave to a young person wanting to be a writer—the idea that there was more to writing fiction than ticking off plot points, that a rewarding story can be told without overt conflict, and that a world wide and deep can be its own reward, for those building the world and those who then walk through it." - J.S.
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
"Whereas all my beloved P G Wodehouses and Philip Pullmans are neatly arranged on the bookshelves, my Pratchetts are strewn under the beds, in the bathrooms, the glove compartments. They have shopping lists, takeaway orders and Scrabble scores scribbled on the fly leaves. They were part of life." - Ursula K. Le Guin
Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link
Kelly Link has been hailed by Michael Chabon as "the most darkly playful voice in American fiction" and by Neil Gaiman as a "National Treasure". If you don't already know Kelly's work, start here with her debut collection.
Blindness by Jose Saramago
"Blindness scared me to death when I started it, but it rises wonderfully out of darkness into the light." - Ursula K. Le Guin
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
"… a tremendous human being and storyteller who helped make fantasy a more imaginative and humane genre." - D.J.O.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
"She is willing to change the landscape of your head with her ideas and there's such power in that. It is the power of … that things could be different." - N.G.
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
"She’s a cornerstone of speculative fiction, and so much of our best storytelling traces its roots back to her. The more I write, and the more I think about fictional politics and societies, the more I find myself in awe of her singular powers. Nobody else can ever equal Le Guin, but many of us will spend our whole careers striving to build on her incredible legacy." - C.J.A.
Little Big by John Crowley
"… a book that all by itself calls for a redefinition of fantasy …" - Ursula K. Le Guin
Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar
"And what a surprise it was to find as I grew up that the author of some of my favorite childhood fantasy novels was also a brilliant essayist, enlightened political commentator, a champion of feminism, and an activist for a more inclusive publishing industry. A true example of an artist who, both through her books and activism, changed the world for the better." - J.K.
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
"It inspires me with pity, with terror, with awe at the mystery of human destiny, and the mystery of the art that can, for a moment, illuminate it." - Ursula K. Le Guin
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
"Of course if you haven't read Kavalier and Clay yet, go read it at once, what on earth have you been waiting for? Then read this. It is even a little crazier, maybe. Crazy like a genius." - Ursula K. Le Guin
Shades of Milk & Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
"I think she did a lot for science fiction and fantasy—not just for women and women's roles because of her feminism but also legitimizing us as an art form. There are a lot of people who will read an Ursula Le Guin book and go, 'Well, this isn't science fiction, it's literature.' But of course, it is science fiction. A lot of times, she can be a gateway drug for people." - M.R.K.
The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
"More than anyone else, Le Guin showed me how to write SFF with an anthropological approach while interrogating the colonialist agenda and assumptions of the field itself. More than any writer of her stature, she constructed worlds in which I thought I could find and lose myself. I will miss her dearly." - K.L.
The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth #1) by N.K. Jemisin
“I’d definitely still be a writer if not for her, but I don’t think I’d be as good a writer. Le Guin is one of the writers who taught me that beauty and fearlessness go hand in hand." - N.K.J.