Alyson Waters

For readers of Thomas Pynchon, a conspiratorial adventure through a bleak future where the dead (and their political factions) never really die, from one of France’s most visionary writersBreton has seen brighter days. Now his body sags as he pulls a pair of binoculars to his withered face. He peers from the grimy window of a near-empty psychiatric compound—one of the last buildings standing after an unspecified disaster—spying rue Dellwo below, dreary in perpetual rain. Into this world of devastation drop the Monroe girls—paramilitaries trained in the “dark place” by Monroe, a dissident executed long ago. Their mission to revamp the Party is futile in this bleak, decaying world. Breton, our schizophrenic narrator, is tasked (and tortured) by what remains of the Party to locate and identify the Monroe girls using special optical equipment and his powers of extrasensory perception. Breton’s journey through a bardo-like, hostile labyrinth invites us into a sensual swirl of bodily decay, political acquiescence, and civilizational collapse. In this derelict setting, Volodine ruminates on identity, surveillance, life after death, and love (which, alas, does not conquer all). An urgent and blistering tale, beautifully rendered with Volodine’s distinct pathos and humor.

A young girl bravely faces dragons to save her mother in this magnificently illustrated folk tale inspired by Chinese mythology, from the author of The Tiger Prince.A stunning story book for kids ages 4-8 who love adventure stories and Disney movies like Moana and Encanto!For months, Mae and her parents have been traveling across the country in search of a magic flower. Mae?s mother is ill, and this rare flower is the only thing that can save her, but it grows in a secret place, guarded by dragons. Mae vows to herself that she will find the flower and save her mother. One night she wakes to a vision of light that beckons her to follow, but does she have the courage to face the dragons?A new book by the talented author and illustrator Chen Jiang Hong, The Dragon Flower is a strikingly illustrated story of bravery, compassion, and kindness that young readers will want to turn to again and again. A wonderful companion piece to Chen Jiang Hong?s The Tiger Prince, also published by NYRB.