Librarian Confessions: We Sometimes Judge Books By Their Covers

From the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach:

July 13, 2020

By Emily

We all know that “the cover is not the book,” but we’ve all still done it: looked at a gorgeous cover and assumed the book must be good. Or looked a not-so-attractive cover and assumed the opposite. We know that what’s on the outside may not be indicative of what’s on the inside, but cover artists do a great job trying to entice us no matter what. They use their design skills to indicate what kind of book it is, which helps readers determine if it’s a genre, setting, mood, etc. that interests them. This summer, we’ve challenged you to pick up a book just based on its cover, and we’re here to give you some recommendations of books with covers that caught our eyes.

Emily’s pick: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

I’ll start. When I was in elementary school, the first book of the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer had the COOLEST cover: gold, meant to look like a magical old book, and – you can’t tell this by looking at it online, but – it was SPARKLY. I knew nothing about the actual story, but Artemis Fowl became one of my favorite series with its twelve-year-old criminal mastermind main character and colorful cast of supporting characters, who are mostly magical creatures.

Sarah’s pick: The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon

Sarah recommends The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon with it’s bright, bold, geometric cover design. Beautifully-written literary fiction, this book is about a “young Korean-American woman at an elite American university [who] is drawn into acts of domestic terrorism by a cult tied to North Korea and then disappears, leading a fellow student into an obsessive search for her” (from the publisher). Not that you can tell any of that from its cover.

Tara’s pick: Officer Clemmons: A Memoir by Francois S. Clemmons

On the other hand, Tara recommends Officer Clemmons by Francois Clemmons, which has a cover that tells you a lot. Clemmons was the first African American actor to have a recurring role on a children’s TV show, and that show was Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. The cover shows Clemmons and Fred Rogers soaking their feet in a kiddy pool together, as they did in the show, an image that would have been striking for its time. In the memoir, Clemmons not only describes his relationship with Fred Rodgers, but also his struggles against racism, homophobia, and personal trauma.

Antoinette’s pick: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Antoinette’s pick, Poison Princess by Kresley Cole, is the first in a series of post-apocalyptic fantasy romance novels featuring a group of teens with particular powers needed to save the world. Antoinette says, “the artwork of the cover drew me in, and I stayed for the interesting perspective of how people are tarot card personas.”

Danielle’s pick: King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

Danielle’s recommendation has a beautiful cover and beautiful writing, too! The cover evokes the Louisiana bayou setting of the book, where “twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family” (from the publisher).

Sophie’s pick: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

According to Sophie, Naomi Novik’s Uprooted is “an immersive fantasy novel that introduced me to one of my favorite fantasy writers ever. Thankfully, the writing is just as lovely as the cover.” Uprooted is a twisted fairy tale, if you didn’t already get that from the beautifully twisted, medieval-looking embellishments on the cover. The main character, Agnieszka, is chosen to serve a wizard who protects the village from the nearby enchanted (and deadly) forest.

Lisa’s pick: The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery

The cover of Lisa’s pick grabs you in… with all eight tentacles. The floating octopus on the cover of this book evokes the author’s sense of wonder at these amazing creatures. The Soul of the Octopus is Sy Montgomery's personal exploration into what makes these creatures tick, and what she finds is that their consciousness may not be all that different from our own.

Erika’s pick: Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware

If the cover looks mind-bending, just wait till you read this book. Erika calls it “a work of art. All of his novels are amazing (and sad).” Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth is the multi-generational story of family struggle told in beautiful and groundbreaking graphic novel form.

Jeremy’s pick: Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane

Underland’s cover is colorful, striking, and maybe a little bit dizzying, and the book’s description is, too. Jeremy's recommendation is “an epic exploration of the Earth’s underworlds as they exist in myth, literature, memory, and the land itself. In this highly anticipated sequel to his international bestseller The Old Ways, Macfarlane takes us on an extraordinary journey into our relationship with darkness, burial, and what lies beneath the surface of both place and mind” (from the publisher).

Janice’s pick: A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley

Janice recommends A Desperate Fortune, a historical fiction book by Susanna Kearsley about two women: one who kept a cryptic journal 300 years ago, and the other who travels to Paris to crack its cipher. The mood of the book is reflected in its lovely cover: atmospheric, romantic, and suspenseful.

Theresa’s pick: A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron

Theresa says, “When you see the beautiful and soulful eyes of the golden retriever on the cover of this book, you cannot help but pick it up from the shelf to read. Plus, it’s a great book!” You really can’t argue with an adorable dog, especially one searching for his purpose in life, or in this dog’s case, over several lives.

This press release was produced by the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. The views expressed are the author's own.