[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-129788-en":3,"doc-seo-129788-105":31,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":91},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":20,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":21,"is_downloadable":21,"audit_status":21,"page_count":22,"language":23,"language_code":24,"site_id":25,"html_lang":24,"table_of_contents":26,"faqs":27,"seo_title":28,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":29,"read_time":30},129788,2336475104957,"Seraphina","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/22000c4c6bd8a5076e1?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1787554080175789136",2,"Literature","Kirkus Reviews - Vol. XCIV, No. 13 - July 1, 2026","Kirkus Reviews July 1, 2026 special issue centers on “America at 250,” highlighted by major coverage on U.S. history’s complexity and the continuing relevance of studying it. The editor’s overview presents featured reviews and news across fiction, nonfiction, children’s, young adult, indie, and audiobooks, with recurring interview and Q&A segments. Contributors include historian Jon Meacham and authors such as Eddie S. Glaude Jr., Christy Mihaly, and Taylor Cassidy, alongside booklist selections and podcast highlights.","JULY 1, 2026 | VOL. XCIV, NO. 13  \nFEATURING 350 Industry-First Reviews of Fiction, Non ction, Children’s, Young Adult, and Audiobooks  \nAMERICA’S HISTORIAN CHANNELS THE VOICES OF A NATION  \nJon Meacham headlines a special issue dedicated to America at 250  \n\"Heckenlively hssks the readers with rsmance and keeps them riveted with csuntless thrills in between.\"􀀞􀀝􀀜􀀛􀀚􀀛􀀝􀀜􀀛􀀝􀀙 􀀗􀀖􀀖􀀕 􀀔􀀛􀀓􀀒􀀛􀀑  \n􀀞􀀞􀀞􀀝􀀜􀀛􀀚􀀜􀀝􀀙 􀀗􀀖􀀕􀀕 􀀕􀀔􀀓􀀜 􀀒􀀑􀀜 􀀐􀀛􀀖􀀏􀀎􀀑􀀛􀀝􀀛􀀎􀀒􀀜􀀝􀀙􀀍 􀀒􀀑􀀜 􀀜􀀓􀀜􀀝􀀌􀀋􀀝􀀜􀀙􀀜􀀏􀀒􀀙􀀊􀀙􀀋􀀜􀀏􀀙􀀜􀀍 􀀛􀀏􀀚 􀀒􀀑􀀜 􀀊􀀏􀀛􀀏􀀙􀀗􀀜􀀝􀀜􀀚􀀉􀀊􀀜􀀙􀀒􀀖􀀔􀀏􀀙 􀀒􀀑􀀛􀀒 􀀖􀀏􀀓􀀖􀀒􀀜􀀎􀀔􀀏􀀓􀀜􀀝􀀙􀀛􀀒􀀖􀀔􀀏 􀀛􀀈􀀔􀀊􀀒 􀀗􀀑􀀛􀀒􀀖􀀙 􀀝􀀜􀀛􀀕 􀀛􀀏􀀚 􀀗􀀑􀀛􀀒 􀀖􀀙 􀀏􀀔􀀒􀀞􀀇􀀆􀀅􀀕􀀊􀀜 􀀄􀀏􀀃 􀀂􀀜􀀓􀀖􀀜􀀗􀀍 􀀁􀀒􀀛􀀝􀀝􀀜􀀚 􀀂􀀜􀀓􀀖􀀜􀀗  \n􀀞􀀞􀀞􀀝 􀀛􀀚􀀙􀀘􀀗􀀖􀀕􀀔􀀓􀀓􀀒􀀕􀀘􀀓􀀔􀀑􀀒 􀀚􀀓􀀝􀀐 􀀏􀀎􀀕􀀗􀀖􀀙 􀀎􀀍 􀀝􀀐 􀀌􀀝􀀐 􀀋􀀓􀀒􀀊􀀔􀀐􀀉 􀀐􀀎􀀈􀀒􀀓􀀞􀀞􀀞􀀇􀀆􀀒􀀅􀀑􀀒􀀐􀀓􀀔􀀈􀀒􀀓􀀙 􀀑􀀒􀀒􀀚􀀛 􀀗􀀖􀀒 􀀚􀀝􀀉􀀒􀀛 􀀗􀀄􀀕􀀐􀀔􀀐􀀉 􀀏􀀔􀀗􀀖 􀀃􀀕􀀔􀀛􀀑 􀀚􀀝􀀅􀀔􀀐􀀉􀀝􀀐􀀂 􀀅􀀓􀀒􀀈􀀒􀀕 􀀛􀀚􀀔􀀐􀀛 􀀎􀀐 􀀖􀀝􀀕􀀂􀀘􀀃􀀎􀀔􀀓􀀒􀀂 􀀂􀀔􀀝􀀓􀀎􀀉􀀄􀀒􀀞􀀞􀀞􀀇  \n􀀁􀀐􀀗􀀒􀀕􀀗􀀝􀀔􀀐􀀔􀀐􀀉􀀓􀀙 􀀓􀀄􀀕􀀔􀀂􀀞􀀞􀀞􀀇􀀞􀀝􀀜􀀛􀀚􀀙 􀀗􀀖􀀕􀀝􀀖􀀔􀀙  \nFsr Agent Representatisn and Infsrmatisn sn Film Rights, Email kheckenlively@hstmail.csm • [www.kentheckenlivelybssks.csm](www.kentheckenlivelybssks.csm)  \nContents  \nAmerica at 250  \n2 From the Editor’s Desk FICTION  \n4 Editor’s Note  \n5 Reviews & News  \n15 On the Podcast:  \nLisa Lee  \n35 Booklist: The Varied American Landscape  \nNONFICTION  \n40 Editor’s Note  \n41 Reviews & News  \n50 On the Cover:  \nJon Meacham  \n53 Booklist:  \nWinged Wonders  \n63 Q&A: Eddie S.  \nGlaude Jr.  \n73 On the Podcast:  \nTom Selleck  \nCHILDREN ’S  \n74 Editor’s Note  \nOne of the most coveted designations in the book industry, the Kirkus Star marks books of exceptional merit.  \nOUR FRESH PICK  \nA veteran classical music writer assesses “the life, work, and significance” of the pioneering contralto.  \nRead the  \nreview on p. 68.  \nP U R C HAS E BO O KS O N L I N EAT K I R K US . CO M  \n75 Reviews & News  \n84 Booklist: Board Book Bonanza  \n85 Q&A: Christy Mihaly 95 Q&A: G. Neri  \nYOUNG ADULT  \n114 Editor’s Note  \n115 Reviews  \n122 Booklist: Escape to Summer Camp  \n123 Q&A: Taylor Cassidy 131 Q&A: Rebecca Stefoff  \nINDIE  \n132 Editor’s Note  \n133 Reviews AUDIOBOOKS  \n150 Editor’s Note  \n151 Reviews  \nON THE COVER: Portrait of Jon Meacham by Patrick Rosche, based on a photograph by Heidi Ross.  \nBackground illustration by Oleksii via Adobe Stock.  \nInterested in reprints, permissions, licensing, or a framed review? Please contact The YGS Group at 800.290.5460 or email [Kirkus@theygsgroup.com](Kirkus@theygsgroup.com).  \nKIRKUS REVIEWS (ISSN 1948-7428) is published semimonthly by Kirkus Media LLC, 1140 Broadway, Suite 802, New York, NY 10001.  \nSubscription prices are: Print and digital subscription (U. S.) 3-month ($49), 12-month ($179) | International subscriptions are $79 quarterly and $229 annually.  \nAll other rates on request. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710 and at additional mailing offices.  \nPOSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kirkus Reviews, 6411 Burleson Road, Austin, TX 78744  \nKIRKUS REVIEWS JULY 1, 2026 1  \nA MILESTONE AND A CROSSROADS  \n“HISTORY IS A guide to navigation in perilous times,” said the late historian David McCullough in his commencement address to the Wesleyan University Class of 1984.“History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” As we prepare to observe the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4, we are living in“perilous times” indeed, and this call to study our history—not just for its own sake—feels highly pertinent.  \nShould you want a syllabus for the course, you could do worse than to thumb through the pages of this special issue, dedicated to the theme of“America at 250.” Here we highlight some of the many new and recent books that seek to honestly address U.S. history in all its complexity. A great starting place is American Struggle:  \nDemocracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (Random House, Feb. 17), in which Jon Meacham weaves a tapestry of American writings, from Abigail Adams and Frederick Douglass to Ida B. Wells and Fannie Lou Hamer, emphasizing the crucial role that protest has always played in our national life. Our review called the collection“evocative and impeccably curated,” and you can read our cover story o","cbCaiusmYEg3D5cJ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiusmYEg3D5cJ","pdf",15582228,4,1,164,"English","en",105,"# America at 250\n## From the Editor’s Desk FICTION\n## Editor’s Note\n## Reviews & News\n## On the Podcast: Lisa Lee\n## Booklist: The Varied American Landscape\n## NONFICTION\n## Editor’s Note\n## Reviews & News\n## On the Cover: Jon Meacham\n## Booklist: Winged Wonders\n## Q&A: Eddie S. Glaude Jr.\n## On the Podcast: Tom Selleck\n## CHILDREN ’S\n## Editor’s Note\n## OUR FRESH PICK\n## Reviews & News\n## Booklist: Board Book Bonanza\n## Q&A: Christy Mihaly\n## Q&A: G. Neri\n## YOUNG ADULT\n## Editor’s Note\n## Reviews\n## Booklist: Escape to Summer Camp\n## Q&A: Taylor Cassidy\n## Q&A: Rebecca Stefoff\n## INDIE\n## Editor’s Note\n## Reviews\n## AUDIOBOOKS\n## Editor’s Note\n## Reviews","[{\"question\":\"What theme does this Kirkus Reviews issue focus on?\",\"answer\":\"The issue is dedicated to “America at 250,” exploring U.S. history and its complexity through featured reviews and coverage.\"},{\"question\":\"Which historian is highlighted for the cover story?\",\"answer\":\"Jon Meacham is featured prominently, with coverage tied to his historian and biographer work.\"},{\"question\":\"What sections does the issue include across different audiences?\",\"answer\":\"It covers fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, young adult, indie, and audiobooks, supported by editor notes, reviews, booklists, and podcast or Q\\u0026A segments.\"}]","Kirkus Reviews - Vol. XCIV, No. 13 - July 1, 2026 | PDF",1786108241,253,{"code":4,"msg":32,"data":33},"ok",{"site_id":25,"language":24,"slug":34,"title":13,"keywords":35,"description":14,"schema_data":36,"social_meta":86,"head_meta":88,"extra_data":90,"updated_unix":29},"kirkus-reviews-vol-xciv-no-13-july-1-2026","",{"@graph":37,"@context":85},[38,53,68],{"@type":39,"itemListElement":40},"BreadcrumbList",[41,45,48,51],{"item":42,"name":43,"@type":44,"position":21},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":46,"name":47,"@type":44,"position":11},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":44,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/literature/",3,{"item":52,"name":13,"@type":44,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/kirkus-reviews-vol-xciv-no-13-july-1-2026/129788/",{"url":52,"name":13,"@type":54,"author":55,"headline":13,"publisher":57,"fileFormat":60,"inLanguage":24,"description":14,"dateModified":61,"datePublished":62,"encodingFormat":60,"isAccessibleForFree":63,"interactionStatistic":64},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":56},"Person",{"url":42,"name":58,"@type":59},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-08-28","2026-08-07",true,{"@type":65,"interactionType":66,"userInteractionCount":20},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":67},"ViewAction",{"@type":69,"mainEntity":70},"FAQPage",[71,77,81],{"name":72,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":74},"What theme does this Kirkus Reviews issue focus on?","Question",{"text":75,"@type":76},"The issue is dedicated to “America at 250,” exploring U.S. history and its complexity through featured reviews and coverage.","Answer",{"name":78,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":79},"Which historian is highlighted for the cover story?",{"text":80,"@type":76},"Jon Meacham is featured prominently, with coverage tied to his historian and biographer work.",{"name":82,"@type":73,"acceptedAnswer":83},"What sections does the issue include across different audiences?",{"text":84,"@type":76},"It covers fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, young adult, indie, and audiobooks, supported by editor notes, reviews, booklists, and podcast or Q&A segments.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":52,"og:type":87,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":58,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":89,"canonical":52},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":25},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":92},[93,97,100,104,109,114,119,124,129,132,136],{"id":21,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":94,"show_sort_weight":95,"slug":96},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},80,"literature",{"id":20,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":105,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":120,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":122,"slug":123},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":125,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":126,"show_sort_weight":127,"slug":128},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":130,"show_sort_weight":127,"slug":131},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":133,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":134,"show_sort_weight":133,"slug":135},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":137,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":47,"category_name":138,"show_sort_weight":105,"slug":139},19,"General","general"]