“An intense investigation into the shameful truths that often lie buried within the generations of a family . . . a masterfully prepared conclusion.”—Dr. James F. Walter, author of Reading Marriage in the American Romance For years, Mims buries the horrid memory of a rape and her father’s ultimate betrayal. When she becomes a wife and mother, her shame and guilt ignite with a latent anger to inspire gruesome thoughts of inflicting violence on her loved ones. One night, she stands beside her baby’s crib, her rosary in one hand, and in the other, a ribbon with which she would strangle her baby. Will she succumb to the power of her anger, or will the God of her father and her church save her? “Lyrical writing and an engaging plot make this elegant debut a must-read for everyone’s list.”—Amy Bourett, author of Mothers & Other Liars “Compelling characters, a powerful story, and lyrical prose—Rita Chapman’s stunning debut novel will linger in your heart and soul long after you reluctantly finish the last page. I Know Why MamaCried is a phenomenal book. Do not miss this reading experience.”—Harry Hunsicker, author and former executive vice-president of Mystery Writers of America

Goya and Marshall's mother left them with a powerful legacy they would always remember, even though it came with a combination of celebratory moments and traumatic family memories that they often wished to forget. There were certainly periods of immense joy in their family, but there were also periods that caused pain and anguish. Their mother taught them that if they had faith in better days to come, they could excel despite adversity. That lesson helped Marshall overcome years of darkness, abuse, and instability. It gave them the tools to master their own emotions and the strength to make their own decisions. Although Goya did not experience traumatic events nor abuse, there were incidents that left her evaluating who could be trusted, and she questioned many family decisions.Goya and Marshall's memoir, I Know Why Mama Cried, is a testament to the power of a mother who would stop at nothing to give her children everything. That power strengthened the children who brought it forth into their own lives and then into the lives their children. Goya and Marshall's story shows how the ties that bind us to our families will always change us, but never in the ways we expect.

New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake relates the hilarious horrors of pregnancy, birth, and early parenting in this funny, poignant, and beautifully illustrated book. For most people, having a child doesn't go exactly as planned. Not many are willing to admit that not only did they dislike the early days of parenting, they sometimes hated it. Mama Tried is a relatable collection of cartoons and essays pertaining to the good, bad, and (very) ugly parenting experiences we all face. Subjects range from "are you ready for children?" to "baby gear class-warfare." With incredible honesty, Flake tackles everything from morning sickness to sleep training, shedding much needed light on the gnarly realities of breastfeeding, child proofing, mommy groups, and every unrealistic expectation in between. Mama Tried will be an indispensable companion for sleepless parents and a fond reminder for those already out of the woods.

“A masterful debut” that follows four generations of Cherokee women across four decades—from the Plimpton Prize–winning author (Sarah Jessica Parker). It’s 1974 in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and fifteen-year-old Justine grows up in a family of tough, complicated, and loyal women, presided over by her mother, Lula, and Granny. After Justine’s father abandoned the family, Lula became a devout member of the Holiness Church—a community that Justine at times finds stifling and terrifying. But Justine does her best as a devoted daughter, until an act of violence sends her on a different path forever. Crooked Hallelujah tells the stories of Justine—a mixed-blood Cherokee woman—and her daughter, Reney, as they move from Eastern Oklahoma’s Indian Country in the hopes of starting a new, more stable life in Texas amid the oil bust of the 1980s. However, life in Texas isn’t easy, and Reney feels unmoored from her family in Indian Country. Against the vivid backdrop of the Red River, we see their struggle to survive in a world—of unreliable men and near-Biblical natural forces, like wildfires and tornados—intent on stripping away their connections to one another and their very ideas of home. In lush and empathic prose, Kelli Jo Ford depicts what this family of proud, stubborn, Cherokee women sacrifices for those they love, amid larger forces of history, religion, class, and culture. This is a big-hearted and ambitious novel of the powerful bonds between mothers and daughters by an exquisite and rare new talent. “A compelling journey through the evolving terrain of multiple generations of women.” —The Washington Post

As a mother tucks her young daughter in for the night, the girl looks up and asks, ¿Mama, why do babies cry?¿ What follows is the colorful, adorable journey of the many answers why. This easy-to-read story is the perfect book for many occasions, from reading to your baby before tucking them in for the night to teaching young ones to read.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the indie rock sensation known as Japanese Breakfast, an unforgettable memoir about family, food, grief, love, and growing up Korean American—“in losing her mother and cooking to bring her back to life, Zauner became herself” (NPR). • CELEBRATING OVER ONE YEAR ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST In this exquisite story of family, food, grief, and endurance, Michelle Zauner proves herself far more than a dazzling singer, songwriter, and guitarist. With humor and heart, she tells of growing up one of the few Asian American kids at her school in Eugene, Oregon; of struggling with her mother's particular, high expectations of her; of a painful adolescence; of treasured months spent in her grandmother's tiny apartment in Seoul, where she and her mother would bond, late at night, over heaping plates of food. As she grew up, moving to the East Coast for college, finding work in the restaurant industry, and performing gigs with her fledgling band--and meeting the man who would become her husband--her Koreanness began to feel ever more distant, even as she found the life she wanted to live. It was her mother's diagnosis of terminal cancer, when Michelle was twenty-five, that forced a reckoning with her identity and brought her to reclaim the gifts of taste, language, and history her mother had given her. Vivacious and plainspoken, lyrical and honest, Zauner's voice is as radiantly alive on the page as it is onstage. Rich with intimate anecdotes that will resonate widely, and complete with family photos, Crying in H Mart is a book to cherish, share, and reread.

This heartwarming picture book reassures children that a parent’s love never lets go—based on the poignant lyrics of JJ Heller’s beloved lullaby “Hand to Hold.” “May the living light inside you be the compass as you go / May you always know you have my hand to hold.” With delightful illustrations and an engaging rhyme scheme, this book offers the promise of security and love every child’s heart longs to know. From skipping stones and counting stars to climbing trees and telling stories, every moment is wrapped snugly in the certain warmth of a parent’s presence and God’s blessing. With poignancy and joy, this bedtime read captures the unconditional love parents want their children to know but so often fail to express amid the chaos of daily life.