Here’s an absolutely harrowing story from writer Sophie Brickman, whose debut novel Plays Well With Others is out today: “We were halfway through our first flight as a family of five when my youngest — then about 18 months — got so angry at his father for coaxing him into something vaguely resembling a nap position that he started to kick his feet and cry, then held his breath, lost color, went limp as a noodle, and passed out on the floor at 35,000 feet.”

But the wildest part is what her pediatrician told her afterward. Apparently sometimes kids just… do this? You should absolutely read the whole piece.

— Kelly Faircloth, Executive Editor

I know it’s still August, but the vibes have shifted, and it’s time for your reading to do the same! Allow Katie McPherson to introduce you to your new fave type of book: “Dark academia is a subgenre of books usually set in a private school, boarding school, university, or specialized academy of some sort, where there's a big secret to uncover or a centuries-old mystery to solve,” she writes. “And if you want to feel like you're walking darkened halls in search of a relic to save your fellow students, well, you should start by picking up one of the dark academia books most often recommended online.”