{"product_id":"is-this-a-cry-for-help-hardcover","title":"Is This a Cry for Help? - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eEmily Austin\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmily Austin, the bestselling \"queen of darkly quirky, endearingly flawed heroines\" (Sarah Haywood, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Cactus\u003c\/i\u003e), returns with a luminous new novel following a librarian who comes back to work after a mental breakdown only to confront book-banning crusaders in an empowering story of grief, love, and the power of libraries.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDarcy's life turned out better than she could have ever imagined. She is a librarian at the local branch, while her wife Joy runs a book binding service. Between the two of them, there is no more room on their shelves with their ample book collections, various knickknacks and bobbles, and dried bouquets. Rounding out their ideal life is two cats and a sun-soaked house by the lake. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut when Darcy receives the news that her ex-boyfriend, Ben, has passed away, she spirals into a pit of guilt and regret, resulting in a mental breakdown and medical leave from the library. When she returns to work, she is met by unrest in her community and protests surrounding intellectual freedom, resulting in a call for book bans and a second look at the branch's upcoming DEI programs. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough the support of her community, colleagues, and the personal growth that results from examining her previous relationships, Darcy comes into her own agency and the truest version of herself. \u003ci\u003eIs\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eThis a Cry for Help?\u003c\/i\u003e not only offers a moving portrait of queer life after coming of age but also powerfully explores questions about sexuality, community, and the importance of libraries.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEmily Austin is the author of \u003ci\u003eWe Could Be Rats\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eEveryone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eInteresting Facts About Space\u003c\/i\u003e, and the poetry collection \u003ci\u003eGay Girl Prayers\u003c\/i\u003e. She was born in Ontario, Canada, and received two writing grants from the Canadian Council for the Arts. She studied English literature and library science at Western University. She currently lives in Ottawa, in the territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 304\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.2 x 8.5 x 5.6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 13, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51987426836781,"sku":"9781668200230","price":27.39,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/u-b2W_7PNi9781668200230.webp?v=1776178638","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/is-this-a-cry-for-help-hardcover","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}