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  • Who Gets to Tell the Story?

    Who Gets to Tell the Story?
    2026/03/18

    Can authors write outside their own identity?

    In this episode of The Brave Bookshelf, we explore a powerful and timely question through the lens of Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee — a historical gothic mystery set on Orcas Island in 1918.

    We dive into:

    Why representation in books matters

    The mission behind We Need Diverse Books

    Whether authors can (and should) write across race, disability, and LGBTQ+ identities

    Common pitfalls in representation — and how to avoid them

    Real examples of books that handle these themes thoughtfully

    This is a conversation for readers, parents, educators, and writers — one that invites reflection, not reaction.

    ✨ Full review of Heiress of Nowhere is available on the blog.

    📚 Books Mentioned in This Episode

    Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee

    El Deafo by Cece Bell

    The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

    Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

    Wonder by R. J. Palacio

    Learn More:

    We Need Diverse Bookshttps://www.diversebooks.org/

    💬 Closing Line

    Keep raising brave readers — and keep turning pages.



    Get full access to The Brave Bookshelf with Kim Bartosch at www.kimbartosch.com/subscribe
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    12 分
  • Self-Love Isn’t Soft — It’s Honest

    Self-Love Isn’t Soft — It’s Honest
    2026/02/13

    February is often framed around romance and sweetness — but what if self-love is actually about discernment, boundaries, and honesty?

    In this episode of The Brave Bookshelf, Kim Bartosch reflects on five recent reads and what they revealed about trusting your lived experience:

    The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

    Pursuing Success God’s Way: A Practical Guide to Hustle with Heart by Erin Harrigan

    Sweet Tea and Thee: 90 Devotions to Perk Up Your Day by Linda Kozar

    Lovin’ with Grit and Grace: Straight Talk About Romance, Sex, Fun, and the Tough Stuff Too by Jessica Ronne

    Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement by Jessica Ronne

    Some resonated deeply. Some didn’t. And that contrast became the lesson.

    From navigating difficult family dynamics to caregiving for a child with ASD, this episode explores what self-love really looks like: trusting your internal compass, honoring the season you’re in, and giving yourself permission to take what nourishes you — and leave the rest.

    Because self-love isn’t always soft.Sometimes it’s simply honest.



    Get full access to The Brave Bookshelf with Kim Bartosch at www.kimbartosch.com/subscribe
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    17 分
  • Most Anticipated Middle Grade Books from Simon & Schuster (2025–2026)

    Most Anticipated Middle Grade Books from Simon & Schuster (2025–2026)
    2026/02/05

    Middle grade is having a moment—and this episode is all about the books worth getting excited for.

    In this installment of The Brave Bookshelf, host Kim Bartosch highlights the most anticipated middle grade releases from Simon & Schuster and its imprints, including Aladdin and Salaam Reads. These upcoming titles blend mythology, mystery, spy thrills, and real-life inspiration—while respecting young readers’ intelligence and emotional depth.

    Featured books include:

    📘 The Aftermyth by Tracy WolffA mysterious academy setting with Greek mythology vibes, distinct halls, and rich challenges—perfect for fans of Percy Jackson. Includes a Simon & Schuster reading group guide ideal for classrooms and book clubs.

    🕵️ Hurricane Heist by James PontiThe next installment in The Sherlock Society series, promising clever mysteries, intrigue, and fast-paced thrills that mystery-loving readers crave.

    🌍 Europa by James PontiA new City Spies adventure packed with edge-of-your-seat suspense, unforgettable characters, and high-stakes missions that keep readers turning pages late into the night.

    💃 Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can by Seema YasminAn empowering, must-have biography about resilience, humor, and being more than your disability—perfect for school libraries and readers who love true underdog stories.

    Kim shares why these books stand out, who they’re best for, and why middle grade continues to be one of the most exciting spaces in publishing right now.

    📚 Thoughtful. Fun. Anticipated for a reason.🎧 Listen now and add these titles to your TBR.



    Get full access to The Brave Bookshelf with Kim Bartosch at www.kimbartosch.com/subscribe
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    8 分
  • When Christian Fiction Gets It (Mostly) Right

    When Christian Fiction Gets It (Mostly) Right
    2026/01/27
    Some books quietly surprise you. Others make you think deeply about who they’re written for—and why. Titus and the Christian Coin lands squarely in that second camp for me.Let’s start with what this book does well, because there are things worth applauding here.One of the biggest hurdles with Christian fiction—especially for me—is tone. Too often, faith-based novels feel like sermons dressed up as stories. Characters exist to deliver lessons. Plot bends around theology. And readers can feel like they’re sitting in a pew instead of turning pages.This book avoids that trap more than most.The author weaves scripture and Christian themes into the narrative in a way that feels intentional but not overwhelming. Faith is present, central even, but it doesn’t stop the story every five pages to explain itself. As someone who doesn’t typically gravitate toward Christian fiction because it can feel preachy, I appreciated that restraint.Another standout? The maps.Having a map at the start of each chapter was genuinely helpful. I always knew where I was in the Roman world, which is especially important in historical fiction set across multiple regions of an empire as massive as Rome. That visual grounding made the journey easier to follow and gave the story a sense of movement—even when the narrative itself sometimes felt emotionally still.And Titus as a character? I liked him. A lot.His arc—from persecution, to enslavement, to survival—is compelling on paper, and Titus himself is kind, steady, and earnest. He represents resilience in the face of cruelty, and his endurance through suffering is clearly meant to inspire young readers navigating their own struggles. His journey from broken slave to Roman citizen carries symbolic weight, especially for a Christian audience.That said…this is where things started to wobble for me.I wanted more immersion.For a story set during Constantine’s reign—a time loaded with political, religious, and cultural tension—I found myself craving sensory detail. What did people wear? What did the mines smell like? What did Titus look like? What color was his skin, his hair, his eyes? Other than the cover there weren’t many descriptions of Titus. What did Rome feel like at street level? What does Rome smell like?Historical fiction shines when it shows us the past. Here, the book often tells instead.At times, reading this felt less like being inside a story and more like reading a historical account. You’re told what happened, not necessarily made to feel it.That distance kept me from fully connecting.I also wanted Titus to question God more.Faith journeys—especially powerful ones—usually include doubt, anger, and moments of spiritual low points. Titus remains remarkably steady throughout the book in my opinion. Admirable? Yes. Realistic? Less so. Without a true emotional low point, the resolution didn’t land with the weight it should have. Triumph feels most earned when it rises from despair, and here, that felt missed.Another small but notable wish: I would have loved to see Titus’s movements tracked on the maps—showing where he was going, not just where he was. That extra layer would’ve elevated the reading experience, especially for visually oriented or historically curious readers (hi, it’s me).That said, the back matter was excellent. The dictionary and additional resources were thoughtful and useful, particularly for young readers or classrooms. It reinforces that this book isn’t just telling a story—it’s trying to educate, too.Final ThoughtsTitus and the Christian Coin is not a book for everyone—and that’s okay.This is a solid choice for:* Church libraries* Christian schools* Christian parents seeking age-appropriate fiction (or any parent wanting clean, cozy fiction)* Teens interested in faith, resilience, and early Christian historyIf you’re a reader who loves deep sensory immersion, emotional complexity, and characters who wrestle hard with belief, this may feel a bit distant. But if you’re looking for a historically grounded, faith-forward story that emphasizes hope, forgiveness, and perseverance during times of persecution, this book delivers exactly what it promises.For me, it’s a respectful, well-intentioned read with strong ideas—one that I liked, but didn’t fully feel.And sometimes, that’s the difference between a good book and a great one.Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨(3.5 out of 5 stars)Thank you to the author for my honest review. Book tour sponsor is iRead Book Tours.About the book:Genre: Christian Teen and Young Adult Ancient Historical FictionPublisher: Write4Christ PublishingRelease date: November 3, 2025Synopsis:When Titus refuses to deny his Christian faith, Roman persecution destroys his family and condemns him to a brutal life in the copper mines of northern Italy.​Underground, surrounded by despair and danger, he must choose between hatred and hope, revenge and redemption.From a mine collapse to an ...
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    8 分
  • The Deal with Devils & Gentlemen Witches

    The Deal with Devils & Gentlemen Witches
    2026/01/20

    Today on The Brave Bookshelf, Kim cracks open Soul of a Gentleman Witch by David Ferraro— a queer gothic fantasy about devil’s bargains, found connections, and one devastating moral choice. Expect witches, demons, angels, saints, alchemists, and the devil himself—plus a romance that prefers tenderness over spice. Kim breaks down the themes (innocence vs survival), shares reader reactions from Goodreads & NetGalley, and asks the big questions: What makes a soul worth saving? If you love morally complex characters, cozy gothic vibes, and stories that nudge you to think, this one belongs on your shelf.

    This book review is made possible through Toppling Stacks Tours.

    📚 Continue the conversation at KimBartosch.com and read bravely.



    Get full access to The Brave Bookshelf with Kim Bartosch at www.kimbartosch.com/subscribe
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    8 分
  • Reimagining "Little Women": When Retellings Take Risks—and When They Keep the Heart

    Reimagining "Little Women": When Retellings Take Risks—and When They Keep the Heart
    2026/01/15
    Retellings walk a tricky line. When a story is as beloved as Little Women, readers don’t just remember the plot—we remember how it felt. The warmth. The sisterhood. The moral center. So when authors revisit that world, every creative choice carries extra weight.Two upcoming releases—one from Sarah Baily Books and the other from Aladdin, both imprints of Simon & Schuster—take bold but very different approaches to reimagining the March family. One leans into contemporary thriller territory, while the other embraces middle-grade fantasy with a supernatural twist.I read both—and had wildly different reactions.Beth Is Dead (Published January 6, 2026)Beth Is Dead is a modern YA thriller that asks a provocative question: what if Beth March didn’t die quietly of illness—but was murdered?In this reimagining, the March father is a famous novelist who writes Little Women as a thinly veiled account of his daughters’ lives. The book becomes wildly successful—and deeply controversial. Critics argue he has no right to tell this story. Threats follow. He goes into hiding, leaving Marmee (now a nurse) and the girls behind in Massachusetts.Then Beth is found dead.What follows is a tense, fast-paced investigation where every sister—and several people close to the family—has motive. From a thriller perspective, the book is effective. The pacing is tight. The twists are sharp. The story keeps the tension high and the stakes personal.But here’s where it didn’t fully work for me.As a Little Women retelling or reimagining, I struggled with some of the foundational choices—especially the decision to make the father the author instead of Marmee. That shift fundamentally alters the emotional balance of the March family. I also had difficulty connecting with this version of Jo, who felt far removed from the character readers have long loved.And that’s the frustrating part: if I hadn’t known Little Women—or if this book had been presented without that framework—I genuinely believe it would have earned more stars from me. The writing is strong. The suspense works. The story is compelling.But because this is a retelling, those character choices matter.I ultimately landed at three stars ⭐⭐⭐—not because the book lacks skill, but because I couldn’t move past how the March sisters and parents were portrayed. That said, it’s worth noting that Hello Sunshine selected Beth Is Dead as the inaugural pick for their Sunnie Reads Book Club for Gen Z readers, which tells me this book is going to spark a lot of conversation.And maybe that, too, is part of its purpose.About the book:Synopsis:Little Women meets One of Us Is Lying in this incredibly fun and original take on the Louisa May Alcott classic.When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer. Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.Beth’s perspective, told in flashback, unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | IndieBoundMeet the author:KATIE BERNET is the author of Beth Is Dead, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. She’s an award-winning creative director, a long-standing member of the DFW Writer’s Workshop, and the director of the 2025 DFW Writer’s Conference. As the oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of Little Women.Learn more about Katie by visiting her website.Little Monsters (On Sale August 18, 2026)If Beth Is Dead challenged my attachment to Little Women, Little Monsters embraced it.This middle-grade, modern supernatural retelling reimagines the March sisters as foster kids harboring a big secret: they’re monsters.Meg has teeth a little too sharp.Jo grows fur under the full moon.Beth goes night-flying on hidden wings.Amy sprouts a mermaid’s tail near water.And somehow—beautifully—it works.What makes Little Monsters so special isn’t just the creative concept. ...
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    8 分