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First recognized by presidential proclamation in 2006, Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates the accomplishments, community, and culture of Jewish American people. The following booklist features history, biography, novellas, historical fiction, and more, all commemorating the breadth of experience and wide-ranging accomplishments of Jewish American individuals

Mental Health Awareness Month highlights the importance of mental wellness and promotes advocacy, sharing, compassion, and the dismantling of stereotypes surrounding a wide range of mental health conditions. The following books include contemporary romance, literary fiction, poetry, memoirs, and more, all speaking to the importance of continued dialogue surrounding mental health.

25 Alive by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.

A ghostwriter gets a second chance at love, an aspiring novelist finds a handsome writing muse, and a bestselling author finds love and adventure with her best friend in these tale of writers and romance.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, observed in May, recognizes the achievements, contributions, and complex histories of Americans descended from 75 countries across the Asian continent. The following books, both fiction and nonfiction, provide a window into the resilience, creativity, and breadth of experience within this varied group.

The Oregon Book Award winners are announced. Cyrus Cassells wins the Jackson Poetry Prize. Finalists for the Crime Writers of Canada Awards and German Nonfiction Prize are announced, along with longlists for the CWA Dagger Awards and the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour. Mystery Writers of America’s 79th Edgar Awards will be celebrated tomorrow, May 1; CrimeReads hosts a roundtable with the nominees to discuss the state of crime writing. LibraryReads and LJ offer read-alikes for this week’s top holds title, 25 Alive by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro. British novelist Jane Gardam has died at the age of 96.

The Los Angeles Times Book Prize winners are announced, including Jiaming Tang, Laura Beers, Jesse Katz, Jennine Capó Crucet, Andrea Freeman, Danielle Trussoni, and Kelly Link. The Plutarch Award shortlist, is announced along with the finalists for the RBC Bronwen Wallace Awards for Emerging Writers and the Theakston Awards longlist. Globe Pequot is purchasing Square One Publishers, while Alliance has canceled an agreement to purchase the bankrupt Diamond Comics. Plus, Philip Pullman will publish The Rose Field, the third and final volume in “The Book of Dust” series, in October.

25 Alive by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro leads holds this week. Also in demand are titles by Danielle Steel, Kristen Perrin, Sarah Penner, and Liann Zhang. Five LibraryReads and eight Indie Next picks publish this week. People’s book of the week is Notes to John by Joan Didion. Plus, interviews arrive with Isabel Allende, Jason Bailey, Sarah Penner, Liann Zhang, Drew Harvell, and Bill Belichick.

Tommy Orange’s Wandering Stars wins the Aspen Words Literary Prize. Denene Millner’s One Blood wins Georgia’s top literary award, the Townsend Prize. A coalition of literary advocates are opposing Florida House Bill 1539, which would require schools to remove any book deemed harmful to minors within five days of a challenge. People explores how a Department of Education shutdown could impact book bans. Plus, Page to Screen and where to start with the works of Terry Pratchett.

Public libraries that are experiencing long wait times to get new books delivered from their book suppliers are often hesitant to look for other fulfillment options, because the technical services onboarding process for new vendors can be complex and unwieldy. But that isn’t always the case.

Shortlists for the Griffin Poetry Prize, the Jhalak Prize, and the Donner Prize are announced. The U.S. Supreme Court seems likely to rule that parents can opt out of LGBTQIA+ stories in their children’s classrooms. The state of Iowa has appealed a U.S. District Court judge’s injunction against the 2023 law that has removed hundreds of books from school libraries. Attorneys for IMLS acting director Keith Sonderling have responded to the lawsuit filed earlier this month by the ALA. Plus, new title bestsellers and an interview with sisters and coauthors Anne and Claire Berest.

The second Independent Publisher and Librarian Forum—IndieLib for short—was held on April 16 in downtown Manhattan, at New York University’s Engelberg Center on Innovation Law and Policy. The event brought together public and academic librarians, representatives from indie publishers and their distributors, and others across the field to learn more about one another’s work and concerns and imagine new ways to move forward.

While those in favor of book bans believe children should be protected from content perceived as inappropriate or abusive, those opposed worry about the societal consequences of censoring information and ideas, the infringement of First Amendment rights, and the negative impacts on authors and publishers. Researchers Uttara M. Ananthakrishnan, Naveen Basavaraj, Sabari Rajan Karmegam, Ananya Sen, and Michael D. Smith set out to examine how bans at the district level affect consumption at the national level.

This AM resource provides a variety of information originating from an assortment of formats that will surely satisfy anyone interested in 1980s culture and society. Universities and colleges alike will want to consider adding this helpful targeted resource, as most people look back on the decade with both fondness and disappointment.

BVA’s Art, Race and Gender Collection provides access to a niche selection of monographs with an intersectional approach to art studies. A valuable resource for institutions supporting research and scholarship in the areas of art, art history, women’s and gender studies, and visual culture.

Upcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases feature a Basquiat biopic, Lion King prequel, and a tribute to truly terrific Liza Minnelli.

This month’s can’t-miss documentaries include a deep dive into Transylvania, a portrait of beloved natural historian Sir David Attenborough, and an audacious interview with “Alfred Hitchcock.”