diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
index c78b4f1954..615db440a3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, fields, MISSING
 from json import JSONEncoder
 import logging
+from typing import Optional, Union, TypeVar, overload, Any
+
 import requests
 
 from django.apps import apps
@@ -10,12 +12,15 @@
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.connectors import ConnectorException, get_data
+from bookwyrm.models import base_model
 from bookwyrm.signatures import make_signature
 from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN, INSTANCE_ACTOR_USERNAME
 from bookwyrm.tasks import app, MISC
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+TBookWyrmModel = TypeVar("TBookWyrmModel", bound=base_model.BookWyrmModel)
+
 
 class ActivitySerializerError(ValueError):
     """routine problems serializing activitypub json"""
@@ -65,7 +70,11 @@ class ActivityObject:
     id: str
     type: str
 
-    def __init__(self, activity_objects=None, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        activity_objects: Optional[list[str, base_model.BookWyrmModel]] = None,
+        **kwargs: dict[str, Any],
+    ):
         """this lets you pass in an object with fields that aren't in the
         dataclass, which it ignores. Any field in the dataclass is required or
         has a default value"""
@@ -101,13 +110,13 @@ def __init__(self, activity_objects=None, **kwargs):
     # pylint: disable=too-many-locals,too-many-branches,too-many-arguments
     def to_model(
         self,
-        model=None,
-        instance=None,
-        allow_create=True,
-        save=True,
-        overwrite=True,
-        allow_external_connections=True,
-    ):
+        model: Optional[type[TBookWyrmModel]] = None,
+        instance: Optional[TBookWyrmModel] = None,
+        allow_create: bool = True,
+        save: bool = True,
+        overwrite: bool = True,
+        allow_external_connections: bool = True,
+    ) -> Optional[TBookWyrmModel]:
         """convert from an activity to a model instance. Args:
         model: the django model that this object is being converted to
             (will guess if not known)
@@ -296,14 +305,40 @@ def get_model_from_type(activity_type):
 
 
 # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
+@overload
 def resolve_remote_id(
-    remote_id,
-    model=None,
-    refresh=False,
-    save=True,
-    get_activity=False,
-    allow_external_connections=True,
-):
+    remote_id: str,
+    model: type[TBookWyrmModel],
+    refresh: bool = False,
+    save: bool = True,
+    get_activity: bool = False,
+    allow_external_connections: bool = True,
+) -> TBookWyrmModel:
+    ...
+
+
+# pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
+@overload
+def resolve_remote_id(
+    remote_id: str,
+    model: Optional[str] = None,
+    refresh: bool = False,
+    save: bool = True,
+    get_activity: bool = False,
+    allow_external_connections: bool = True,
+) -> base_model.BookWyrmModel:
+    ...
+
+
+# pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
+def resolve_remote_id(
+    remote_id: str,
+    model: Optional[Union[str, type[base_model.BookWyrmModel]]] = None,
+    refresh: bool = False,
+    save: bool = True,
+    get_activity: bool = False,
+    allow_external_connections: bool = True,
+) -> base_model.BookWyrmModel:
     """take a remote_id and return an instance, creating if necessary. Args:
     remote_id: the unique url for looking up the object in the db or by http
     model: a string or object representing the model that corresponds to the object
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/book.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/book.py
index d3aca4471d..5db0dc3ac1 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/book.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """ book and author data """
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
-from typing import List
+from typing import Optional
 
 from .base_activity import ActivityObject
 from .image import Document
@@ -11,19 +11,19 @@
 class BookData(ActivityObject):
     """shared fields for all book data and authors"""
 
-    openlibraryKey: str = None
-    inventaireId: str = None
-    librarythingKey: str = None
-    goodreadsKey: str = None
-    bnfId: str = None
-    viaf: str = None
-    wikidata: str = None
-    asin: str = None
-    aasin: str = None
-    isfdb: str = None
-    lastEditedBy: str = None
-    links: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
-    fileLinks: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
+    openlibraryKey: Optional[str] = None
+    inventaireId: Optional[str] = None
+    librarythingKey: Optional[str] = None
+    goodreadsKey: Optional[str] = None
+    bnfId: Optional[str] = None
+    viaf: Optional[str] = None
+    wikidata: Optional[str] = None
+    asin: Optional[str] = None
+    aasin: Optional[str] = None
+    isfdb: Optional[str] = None
+    lastEditedBy: Optional[str] = None
+    links: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    fileLinks: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
 
 
 # pylint: disable=invalid-name
@@ -35,17 +35,17 @@ class Book(BookData):
     sortTitle: str = None
     subtitle: str = None
     description: str = ""
-    languages: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
+    languages: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     series: str = ""
     seriesNumber: str = ""
-    subjects: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
-    subjectPlaces: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
+    subjects: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    subjectPlaces: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
 
-    authors: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
+    authors: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     firstPublishedDate: str = ""
     publishedDate: str = ""
 
-    cover: Document = None
+    cover: Optional[Document] = None
     type: str = "Book"
 
 
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ class Edition(Book):
     isbn10: str = ""
     isbn13: str = ""
     oclcNumber: str = ""
-    pages: int = None
+    pages: Optional[int] = None
     physicalFormat: str = ""
     physicalFormatDetail: str = ""
-    publishers: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
+    publishers: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     editionRank: int = 0
 
     type: str = "Edition"
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class Work(Book):
     """work instance of a book object"""
 
     lccn: str = ""
-    editions: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
+    editions: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     type: str = "Work"
 
 
@@ -83,12 +83,12 @@ class Author(BookData):
     """author of a book"""
 
     name: str
-    isni: str = None
-    viafId: str = None
-    gutenbergId: str = None
-    born: str = None
-    died: str = None
-    aliases: List[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: [])
+    isni: Optional[str] = None
+    viafId: Optional[str] = None
+    gutenbergId: Optional[str] = None
+    born: Optional[str] = None
+    died: Optional[str] = None
+    aliases: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
     bio: str = ""
     wikipediaLink: str = ""
     type: str = "Author"
diff --git a/bookwyrm/book_search.py b/bookwyrm/book_search.py
index 822c87f016..ceb228f40c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/book_search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/book_search.py
@@ -1,22 +1,53 @@
 """ using a bookwyrm instance as a source of book data """
+from __future__ import annotations
 from dataclasses import asdict, dataclass
 from functools import reduce
 import operator
+from typing import Optional, Union, Any, Literal, overload
 
 from django.contrib.postgres.search import SearchRank, SearchQuery
 from django.db.models import F, Q
+from django.db.models.query import QuerySet
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm import connectors
 from bookwyrm.settings import MEDIA_FULL_URL
 
 
+@overload
+def search(
+    query: str,
+    *,
+    min_confidence: float = 0,
+    filters: Optional[list[Any]] = None,
+    return_first: Literal[False],
+) -> QuerySet[models.Edition]:
+    ...
+
+
+@overload
+def search(
+    query: str,
+    *,
+    min_confidence: float = 0,
+    filters: Optional[list[Any]] = None,
+    return_first: Literal[True],
+) -> Optional[models.Edition]:
+    ...
+
+
 # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
-def search(query, min_confidence=0, filters=None, return_first=False):
+def search(
+    query: str,
+    *,
+    min_confidence: float = 0,
+    filters: Optional[list[Any]] = None,
+    return_first: bool = False,
+) -> Union[Optional[models.Edition], QuerySet[models.Edition]]:
     """search your local database"""
     filters = filters or []
     if not query:
-        return []
+        return None if return_first else []
     query = query.strip()
 
     results = None
@@ -66,7 +97,9 @@ def format_search_result(search_result):
     ).json()
 
 
-def search_identifiers(query, *filters, return_first=False):
+def search_identifiers(
+    query, *filters, return_first=False
+) -> Union[Optional[models.Edition], QuerySet[models.Edition]]:
     """tries remote_id, isbn; defined as dedupe fields on the model"""
     if connectors.maybe_isbn(query):
         # Oh did you think the 'S' in ISBN stood for 'standard'?
@@ -87,7 +120,9 @@ def search_identifiers(query, *filters, return_first=False):
     return results
 
 
-def search_title_author(query, min_confidence, *filters, return_first=False):
+def search_title_author(
+    query, min_confidence, *filters, return_first=False
+) -> QuerySet[models.Edition]:
     """searches for title and author"""
     query = SearchQuery(query, config="simple") | SearchQuery(query, config="english")
     results = (
@@ -122,11 +157,11 @@ class SearchResult:
     title: str
     key: str
     connector: object
-    view_link: str = None
-    author: str = None
-    year: str = None
-    cover: str = None
-    confidence: int = 1
+    view_link: Optional[str] = None
+    author: Optional[str] = None
+    year: Optional[str] = None
+    cover: Optional[str] = None
+    confidence: float = 1.0
 
     def __repr__(self):
         # pylint: disable=consider-using-f-string
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
index 950bb11f98..8b6dcb8858 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/abstract_connector.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 """ functionality outline for a book data connector """
+from __future__ import annotations
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from typing import Optional, TypedDict, Any, Callable, Union, Iterator
 from urllib.parse import quote_plus
 import imghdr
 import logging
@@ -16,33 +18,38 @@
 from bookwyrm.settings import USER_AGENT
 from .connector_manager import load_more_data, ConnectorException, raise_not_valid_url
 from .format_mappings import format_mappings
-
+from ..book_search import SearchResult
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+JsonDict = dict[str, Any]
+
+
+class ConnectorResults(TypedDict):
+    """TypedDict for results returned by connector"""
+
+    connector: AbstractMinimalConnector
+    results: list[SearchResult]
+
 
 class AbstractMinimalConnector(ABC):
     """just the bare bones, for other bookwyrm instances"""
 
-    def __init__(self, identifier):
+    def __init__(self, identifier: str):
         # load connector settings
         info = models.Connector.objects.get(identifier=identifier)
         self.connector = info
 
         # the things in the connector model to copy over
-        self_fields = [
-            "base_url",
-            "books_url",
-            "covers_url",
-            "search_url",
-            "isbn_search_url",
-            "name",
-            "identifier",
-        ]
-        for field in self_fields:
-            setattr(self, field, getattr(info, field))
-
-    def get_search_url(self, query):
+        self.base_url = info.base_url
+        self.books_url = info.books_url
+        self.covers_url = info.covers_url
+        self.search_url = info.search_url
+        self.isbn_search_url = info.isbn_search_url
+        self.name = info.name
+        self.identifier = info.identifier
+
+    def get_search_url(self, query: str) -> str:
         """format the query url"""
         # Check if the query resembles an ISBN
         if maybe_isbn(query) and self.isbn_search_url and self.isbn_search_url != "":
@@ -54,13 +61,21 @@ def get_search_url(self, query):
         # searched as free text. This, instead, only searches isbn if it's isbn-y
         return f"{self.search_url}{quote_plus(query)}"
 
-    def process_search_response(self, query, data, min_confidence):
+    def process_search_response(
+        self, query: str, data: Any, min_confidence: float
+    ) -> list[SearchResult]:
         """Format the search results based on the format of the query"""
         if maybe_isbn(query):
             return list(self.parse_isbn_search_data(data))[:10]
         return list(self.parse_search_data(data, min_confidence))[:10]
 
-    async def get_results(self, session, url, min_confidence, query):
+    async def get_results(
+        self,
+        session: aiohttp.ClientSession,
+        url: str,
+        min_confidence: float,
+        query: str,
+    ) -> Optional[ConnectorResults]:
         """try this specific connector"""
         # pylint: disable=line-too-long
         headers = {
@@ -74,55 +89,63 @@ async def get_results(self, session, url, min_confidence, query):
             async with session.get(url, headers=headers, params=params) as response:
                 if not response.ok:
                     logger.info("Unable to connect to %s: %s", url, response.reason)
-                    return
+                    return None
 
                 try:
                     raw_data = await response.json()
                 except aiohttp.client_exceptions.ContentTypeError as err:
                     logger.exception(err)
-                    return
+                    return None
 
-                return {
-                    "connector": self,
-                    "results": self.process_search_response(
+                return ConnectorResults(
+                    connector=self,
+                    results=self.process_search_response(
                         query, raw_data, min_confidence
                     ),
-                }
+                )
         except asyncio.TimeoutError:
             logger.info("Connection timed out for url: %s", url)
         except aiohttp.ClientError as err:
             logger.info(err)
+        return None
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
+    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id: str) -> Optional[models.Book]:
         """pull up a book record by whatever means possible"""
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def parse_search_data(self, data, min_confidence):
+    def parse_search_data(
+        self, data: Any, min_confidence: float
+    ) -> Iterator[SearchResult]:
         """turn the result json from a search into a list"""
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data):
+    def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data: Any) -> Iterator[SearchResult]:
         """turn the result json from a search into a list"""
 
 
 class AbstractConnector(AbstractMinimalConnector):
     """generic book data connector"""
 
-    def __init__(self, identifier):
+    generated_remote_link_field = ""
+
+    def __init__(self, identifier: str):
         super().__init__(identifier)
         # fields we want to look for in book data to copy over
         # title we handle separately.
-        self.book_mappings = []
+        self.book_mappings: list[Mapping] = []
+        self.author_mappings: list[Mapping] = []
 
-    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
+    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id: str) -> Optional[models.Book]:
         """translate arbitrary json into an Activitypub dataclass"""
         # first, check if we have the origin_id saved
         existing = models.Edition.find_existing_by_remote_id(
             remote_id
         ) or models.Work.find_existing_by_remote_id(remote_id)
         if existing:
-            if hasattr(existing, "default_edition"):
+            if hasattr(existing, "default_edition") and isinstance(
+                existing.default_edition, models.Edition
+            ):
                 return existing.default_edition
             return existing
 
@@ -154,6 +177,9 @@ def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
             )
             # this will dedupe automatically
             work = work_activity.to_model(model=models.Work, overwrite=False)
+            if not work:
+                return None
+
             for author in self.get_authors_from_data(work_data):
                 work.authors.add(author)
 
@@ -161,12 +187,21 @@ def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
         load_more_data.delay(self.connector.id, work.id)
         return edition
 
-    def get_book_data(self, remote_id):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use
+    def get_book_data(self, remote_id: str) -> JsonDict:  # pylint: disable=no-self-use
         """this allows connectors to override the default behavior"""
         return get_data(remote_id)
 
-    def create_edition_from_data(self, work, edition_data, instance=None):
+    def create_edition_from_data(
+        self,
+        work: models.Work,
+        edition_data: Union[str, JsonDict],
+        instance: Optional[models.Edition] = None,
+    ) -> Optional[models.Edition]:
         """if we already have the work, we're ready"""
+        if isinstance(edition_data, str):
+            # We don't expect a string here
+            return None
+
         mapped_data = dict_from_mappings(edition_data, self.book_mappings)
         mapped_data["work"] = work.remote_id
         edition_activity = activitypub.Edition(**mapped_data)
@@ -174,6 +209,9 @@ def create_edition_from_data(self, work, edition_data, instance=None):
             model=models.Edition, overwrite=False, instance=instance
         )
 
+        if not edition:
+            return None
+
         # if we're updating an existing instance, we don't need to load authors
         if instance:
             return edition
@@ -190,7 +228,9 @@ def create_edition_from_data(self, work, edition_data, instance=None):
 
         return edition
 
-    def get_or_create_author(self, remote_id, instance=None):
+    def get_or_create_author(
+        self, remote_id: str, instance: Optional[models.Author] = None
+    ) -> Optional[models.Author]:
         """load that author"""
         if not instance:
             existing = models.Author.find_existing_by_remote_id(remote_id)
@@ -210,46 +250,51 @@ def get_or_create_author(self, remote_id, instance=None):
             model=models.Author, overwrite=False, instance=instance
         )
 
-    def get_remote_id_from_model(self, obj):
+    def get_remote_id_from_model(self, obj: models.BookDataModel) -> Optional[str]:
         """given the data stored, how can we look this up"""
-        return getattr(obj, getattr(self, "generated_remote_link_field"))
+        remote_id: Optional[str] = getattr(obj, self.generated_remote_link_field)
+        return remote_id
 
-    def update_author_from_remote(self, obj):
+    def update_author_from_remote(self, obj: models.Author) -> Optional[models.Author]:
         """load the remote data from this connector and add it to an existing author"""
         remote_id = self.get_remote_id_from_model(obj)
+        if not remote_id:
+            return None
         return self.get_or_create_author(remote_id, instance=obj)
 
-    def update_book_from_remote(self, obj):
+    def update_book_from_remote(self, obj: models.Edition) -> Optional[models.Edition]:
         """load the remote data from this connector and add it to an existing book"""
         remote_id = self.get_remote_id_from_model(obj)
+        if not remote_id:
+            return None
         data = self.get_book_data(remote_id)
         return self.create_edition_from_data(obj.parent_work, data, instance=obj)
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def is_work_data(self, data):
+    def is_work_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> bool:
         """differentiate works and editions"""
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def get_edition_from_work_data(self, data):
+    def get_edition_from_work_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> JsonDict:
         """every work needs at least one edition"""
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def get_work_from_edition_data(self, data):
+    def get_work_from_edition_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> JsonDict:
         """every edition needs a work"""
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def get_authors_from_data(self, data):
+    def get_authors_from_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> Iterator[models.Author]:
         """load author data"""
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def expand_book_data(self, book):
+    def expand_book_data(self, book: models.Book) -> None:
         """get more info on a book"""
 
 
-def dict_from_mappings(data, mappings):
+def dict_from_mappings(data: JsonDict, mappings: list[Mapping]) -> JsonDict:
     """create a dict in Activitypub format, using mappings supplies by
     the subclass"""
-    result = {}
+    result: JsonDict = {}
     for mapping in mappings:
         # sometimes there are multiple mappings for one field, don't
         # overwrite earlier writes in that case
@@ -259,7 +304,11 @@ def dict_from_mappings(data, mappings):
     return result
 
 
-def get_data(url, params=None, timeout=settings.QUERY_TIMEOUT):
+def get_data(
+    url: str,
+    params: Optional[dict[str, str]] = None,
+    timeout: int = settings.QUERY_TIMEOUT,
+) -> JsonDict:
     """wrapper for request.get"""
     # check if the url is blocked
     raise_not_valid_url(url)
@@ -292,10 +341,15 @@ def get_data(url, params=None, timeout=settings.QUERY_TIMEOUT):
         logger.info(err)
         raise ConnectorException(err)
 
+    if not isinstance(data, dict):
+        raise ConnectorException("Unexpected data format")
+
     return data
 
 
-def get_image(url, timeout=10):
+def get_image(
+    url: str, timeout: int = 10
+) -> Union[tuple[ContentFile[bytes], str], tuple[None, None]]:
     """wrapper for requesting an image"""
     raise_not_valid_url(url)
     try:
@@ -325,14 +379,19 @@ def get_image(url, timeout=10):
 class Mapping:
     """associate a local database field with a field in an external dataset"""
 
-    def __init__(self, local_field, remote_field=None, formatter=None):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        local_field: str,
+        remote_field: Optional[str] = None,
+        formatter: Optional[Callable[[Any], Any]] = None,
+    ):
         noop = lambda x: x
 
         self.local_field = local_field
         self.remote_field = remote_field or local_field
         self.formatter = formatter or noop
 
-    def get_value(self, data):
+    def get_value(self, data: JsonDict) -> Optional[Any]:
         """pull a field from incoming json and return the formatted version"""
         value = data.get(self.remote_field)
         if not value:
@@ -343,7 +402,7 @@ def get_value(self, data):
             return None
 
 
-def infer_physical_format(format_text):
+def infer_physical_format(format_text: str) -> Optional[str]:
     """try to figure out what the standardized format is from the free value"""
     format_text = format_text.lower()
     if format_text in format_mappings:
@@ -356,7 +415,7 @@ def infer_physical_format(format_text):
     return matches[0]
 
 
-def unique_physical_format(format_text):
+def unique_physical_format(format_text: str) -> Optional[str]:
     """only store the format if it isn't directly in the format mappings"""
     format_text = format_text.lower()
     if format_text in format_mappings:
@@ -365,7 +424,7 @@ def unique_physical_format(format_text):
     return format_text
 
 
-def maybe_isbn(query):
+def maybe_isbn(query: str) -> bool:
     """check if a query looks like an isbn"""
     isbn = re.sub(r"[\W_]", "", query)  # removes filler characters
     # ISBNs must be numeric except an ISBN10 checkdigit can be 'X'
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
index e07a0b281a..4064f4b4c5 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/bookwyrm_connector.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 """ using another bookwyrm instance as a source of book data """
+from __future__ import annotations
+from typing import Any, Iterator
+
 from bookwyrm import activitypub, models
 from bookwyrm.book_search import SearchResult
 from .abstract_connector import AbstractMinimalConnector
@@ -7,15 +10,19 @@
 class Connector(AbstractMinimalConnector):
     """this is basically just for search"""
 
-    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id):
+    def get_or_create_book(self, remote_id: str) -> models.Edition:
         return activitypub.resolve_remote_id(remote_id, model=models.Edition)
 
-    def parse_search_data(self, data, min_confidence):
+    def parse_search_data(
+        self, data: list[dict[str, Any]], min_confidence: float
+    ) -> Iterator[SearchResult]:
         for search_result in data:
             search_result["connector"] = self
             yield SearchResult(**search_result)
 
-    def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data):
+    def parse_isbn_search_data(
+        self, data: list[dict[str, Any]]
+    ) -> Iterator[SearchResult]:
         for search_result in data:
             search_result["connector"] = self
             yield SearchResult(**search_result)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
index e32da7c00f..444a626ba6 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/connector_manager.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 """ interface with whatever connectors the app has """
+from __future__ import annotations
 import asyncio
 import importlib
 import ipaddress
 import logging
+from asyncio import Future
+from typing import Iterator, Any, Optional, Union, overload, Literal
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 import aiohttp
@@ -12,6 +15,8 @@
 from requests import HTTPError
 
 from bookwyrm import book_search, models
+from bookwyrm.book_search import SearchResult
+from bookwyrm.connectors import abstract_connector
 from bookwyrm.settings import SEARCH_TIMEOUT
 from bookwyrm.tasks import app, CONNECTORS
 
@@ -22,11 +27,15 @@ class ConnectorException(HTTPError):
     """when the connector can't do what was asked"""
 
 
-async def async_connector_search(query, items, min_confidence):
+async def async_connector_search(
+    query: str,
+    items: list[tuple[str, abstract_connector.AbstractConnector]],
+    min_confidence: float,
+) -> list[Optional[abstract_connector.ConnectorResults]]:
     """Try a number of requests simultaneously"""
     timeout = aiohttp.ClientTimeout(total=SEARCH_TIMEOUT)
     async with aiohttp.ClientSession(timeout=timeout) as session:
-        tasks = []
+        tasks: list[Future[Optional[abstract_connector.ConnectorResults]]] = []
         for url, connector in items:
             tasks.append(
                 asyncio.ensure_future(
@@ -35,14 +44,29 @@ async def async_connector_search(query, items, min_confidence):
             )
 
         results = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
-        return results
+        return list(results)
 
 
-def search(query, min_confidence=0.1, return_first=False):
+@overload
+def search(
+    query: str, *, min_confidence: float = 0.1, return_first: Literal[False]
+) -> list[abstract_connector.ConnectorResults]:
+    ...
+
+
+@overload
+def search(
+    query: str, *, min_confidence: float = 0.1, return_first: Literal[True]
+) -> Optional[SearchResult]:
+    ...
+
+
+def search(
+    query: str, *, min_confidence: float = 0.1, return_first: bool = False
+) -> Union[list[abstract_connector.ConnectorResults], Optional[SearchResult]]:
     """find books based on arbitrary keywords"""
     if not query:
-        return []
-    results = []
+        return None if return_first else []
 
     items = []
     for connector in get_connectors():
@@ -57,8 +81,12 @@ def search(query, min_confidence=0.1, return_first=False):
         items.append((url, connector))
 
     # load as many results as we can
-    results = asyncio.run(async_connector_search(query, items, min_confidence))
-    results = [r for r in results if r]
+    # failed requests will return None, so filter those out
+    results = [
+        r
+        for r in asyncio.run(async_connector_search(query, items, min_confidence))
+        if r
+    ]
 
     if return_first:
         # find the best result from all the responses and return that
@@ -66,11 +94,12 @@ def search(query, min_confidence=0.1, return_first=False):
         all_results = sorted(all_results, key=lambda r: r.confidence, reverse=True)
         return all_results[0] if all_results else None
 
-    # failed requests will return None, so filter those out
     return results
 
 
-def first_search_result(query, min_confidence=0.1):
+def first_search_result(
+    query: str, min_confidence: float = 0.1
+) -> Union[models.Edition, SearchResult, None]:
     """search until you find a result that fits"""
     # try local search first
     result = book_search.search(query, min_confidence=min_confidence, return_first=True)
@@ -80,13 +109,13 @@ def first_search_result(query, min_confidence=0.1):
     return search(query, min_confidence=min_confidence, return_first=True) or None
 
 
-def get_connectors():
+def get_connectors() -> Iterator[abstract_connector.AbstractConnector]:
     """load all connectors"""
     for info in models.Connector.objects.filter(active=True).order_by("priority").all():
         yield load_connector(info)
 
 
-def get_or_create_connector(remote_id):
+def get_or_create_connector(remote_id: str) -> abstract_connector.AbstractConnector:
     """get the connector related to the object's server"""
     url = urlparse(remote_id)
     identifier = url.netloc
@@ -110,7 +139,7 @@ def get_or_create_connector(remote_id):
 
 
 @app.task(queue=CONNECTORS)
-def load_more_data(connector_id, book_id):
+def load_more_data(connector_id: str, book_id: str) -> None:
     """background the work of getting all 10,000 editions of LoTR"""
     connector_info = models.Connector.objects.get(id=connector_id)
     connector = load_connector(connector_info)
@@ -119,7 +148,9 @@ def load_more_data(connector_id, book_id):
 
 
 @app.task(queue=CONNECTORS)
-def create_edition_task(connector_id, work_id, data):
+def create_edition_task(
+    connector_id: int, work_id: int, data: Union[str, abstract_connector.JsonDict]
+) -> None:
     """separate task for each of the 10,000 editions of LoTR"""
     connector_info = models.Connector.objects.get(id=connector_id)
     connector = load_connector(connector_info)
@@ -127,23 +158,31 @@ def create_edition_task(connector_id, work_id, data):
     connector.create_edition_from_data(work, data)
 
 
-def load_connector(connector_info):
+def load_connector(
+    connector_info: models.Connector,
+) -> abstract_connector.AbstractConnector:
     """instantiate the connector class"""
     connector = importlib.import_module(
         f"bookwyrm.connectors.{connector_info.connector_file}"
     )
-    return connector.Connector(connector_info.identifier)
+    return connector.Connector(connector_info.identifier)  # type: ignore[no-any-return]
 
 
 @receiver(signals.post_save, sender="bookwyrm.FederatedServer")
 # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-def create_connector(sender, instance, created, *args, **kwargs):
+def create_connector(
+    sender: Any,
+    instance: models.FederatedServer,
+    created: Any,
+    *args: Any,
+    **kwargs: Any,
+) -> None:
     """create a connector to an external bookwyrm server"""
     if instance.application_type == "bookwyrm":
         get_or_create_connector(f"https://{instance.server_name}")
 
 
-def raise_not_valid_url(url):
+def raise_not_valid_url(url: str) -> None:
     """do some basic reality checks on the url"""
     parsed = urlparse(url)
     if not parsed.scheme in ["http", "https"]:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/inventaire.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/inventaire.py
index f3e24c0ec5..c08bcdee14 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/inventaire.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/inventaire.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 """ inventaire data connector """
 import re
+from typing import Any, Union, Optional, Iterator, Iterable
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.book_search import SearchResult
-from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, Mapping
+from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, Mapping, JsonDict
 from .abstract_connector import get_data
 from .connector_manager import ConnectorException, create_edition_task
 
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
 
     generated_remote_link_field = "inventaire_id"
 
-    def __init__(self, identifier):
+    def __init__(self, identifier: str):
         super().__init__(identifier)
 
         get_first = lambda a: a[0]
@@ -60,13 +61,13 @@ def __init__(self, identifier):
             Mapping("died", remote_field="wdt:P570", formatter=get_first),
         ] + shared_mappings
 
-    def get_remote_id(self, value):
+    def get_remote_id(self, value: str) -> str:
         """convert an id/uri into a url"""
         return f"{self.books_url}?action=by-uris&uris={value}"
 
-    def get_book_data(self, remote_id):
+    def get_book_data(self, remote_id: str) -> JsonDict:
         data = get_data(remote_id)
-        extracted = list(data.get("entities").values())
+        extracted = list(data.get("entities", {}).values())
         try:
             data = extracted[0]
         except (KeyError, IndexError):
@@ -74,10 +75,16 @@ def get_book_data(self, remote_id):
         # flatten the data so that images, uri, and claims are on the same level
         return {
             **data.get("claims", {}),
-            **{k: data.get(k) for k in ["uri", "image", "labels", "sitelinks", "type"]},
+            **{
+                k: data.get(k)
+                for k in ["uri", "image", "labels", "sitelinks", "type"]
+                if k in data
+            },
         }
 
-    def parse_search_data(self, data, min_confidence):
+    def parse_search_data(
+        self, data: JsonDict, min_confidence: float
+    ) -> Iterator[SearchResult]:
         for search_result in data.get("results", []):
             images = search_result.get("image")
             cover = f"{self.covers_url}/img/entities/{images[0]}" if images else None
@@ -96,7 +103,7 @@ def parse_search_data(self, data, min_confidence):
                 connector=self,
             )
 
-    def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data):
+    def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> Iterator[SearchResult]:
         """got some data"""
         results = data.get("entities")
         if not results:
@@ -114,35 +121,44 @@ def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data):
                 connector=self,
             )
 
-    def is_work_data(self, data):
+    def is_work_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> bool:
         return data.get("type") == "work"
 
-    def load_edition_data(self, work_uri):
+    def load_edition_data(self, work_uri: str) -> JsonDict:
         """get a list of editions for a work"""
         # pylint: disable=line-too-long
         url = f"{self.books_url}?action=reverse-claims&property=wdt:P629&value={work_uri}&sort=true"
         return get_data(url)
 
-    def get_edition_from_work_data(self, data):
-        data = self.load_edition_data(data.get("uri"))
+    def get_edition_from_work_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> JsonDict:
+        work_uri = data.get("uri")
+        if not work_uri:
+            raise ConnectorException("Invalid URI")
+        data = self.load_edition_data(work_uri)
         try:
             uri = data.get("uris", [])[0]
         except IndexError:
             raise ConnectorException("Invalid book data")
         return self.get_book_data(self.get_remote_id(uri))
 
-    def get_work_from_edition_data(self, data):
-        uri = data.get("wdt:P629", [None])[0]
+    def get_work_from_edition_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> JsonDict:
+        try:
+            uri = data.get("wdt:P629", [])[0]
+        except IndexError:
+            raise ConnectorException("Invalid book data")
+
         if not uri:
             raise ConnectorException("Invalid book data")
         return self.get_book_data(self.get_remote_id(uri))
 
-    def get_authors_from_data(self, data):
+    def get_authors_from_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> Iterator[models.Author]:
         authors = data.get("wdt:P50", [])
         for author in authors:
-            yield self.get_or_create_author(self.get_remote_id(author))
+            model = self.get_or_create_author(self.get_remote_id(author))
+            if model:
+                yield model
 
-    def expand_book_data(self, book):
+    def expand_book_data(self, book: models.Book) -> None:
         work = book
         # go from the edition to the work, if necessary
         if isinstance(book, models.Edition):
@@ -154,11 +170,16 @@ def expand_book_data(self, book):
             # who knows, man
             return
 
-        for edition_uri in edition_options.get("uris"):
+        for edition_uri in edition_options.get("uris", []):
             remote_id = self.get_remote_id(edition_uri)
             create_edition_task.delay(self.connector.id, work.id, remote_id)
 
-    def create_edition_from_data(self, work, edition_data, instance=None):
+    def create_edition_from_data(
+        self,
+        work: models.Work,
+        edition_data: Union[str, JsonDict],
+        instance: Optional[models.Edition] = None,
+    ) -> Optional[models.Edition]:
         """pass in the url as data and then call the version in abstract connector"""
         if isinstance(edition_data, str):
             try:
@@ -168,22 +189,26 @@ def create_edition_from_data(self, work, edition_data, instance=None):
                 return None
         return super().create_edition_from_data(work, edition_data, instance=instance)
 
-    def get_cover_url(self, cover_blob, *_):
+    def get_cover_url(
+        self, cover_blob: Union[list[JsonDict], JsonDict], *_: Any
+    ) -> Optional[str]:
         """format the relative cover url into an absolute one:
         {"url": "/img/entities/e794783f01b9d4f897a1ea9820b96e00d346994f"}
         """
         # covers may or may not be a list
-        if isinstance(cover_blob, list) and len(cover_blob) > 0:
+        if isinstance(cover_blob, list):
+            if len(cover_blob) == 0:
+                return None
             cover_blob = cover_blob[0]
         cover_id = cover_blob.get("url")
-        if not cover_id:
+        if not isinstance(cover_id, str):
             return None
         # cover may or may not be an absolute url already
         if re.match(r"^http", cover_id):
             return cover_id
         return f"{self.covers_url}{cover_id}"
 
-    def resolve_keys(self, keys):
+    def resolve_keys(self, keys: Iterable[str]) -> list[str]:
         """cool, it's "wd:Q3156592" now what the heck does that mean"""
         results = []
         for uri in keys:
@@ -191,10 +216,10 @@ def resolve_keys(self, keys):
                 data = self.get_book_data(self.get_remote_id(uri))
             except ConnectorException:
                 continue
-            results.append(get_language_code(data.get("labels")))
+            results.append(get_language_code(data.get("labels", {})))
         return results
 
-    def get_description(self, links):
+    def get_description(self, links: JsonDict) -> str:
         """grab an extracted excerpt from wikipedia"""
         link = links.get("enwiki")
         if not link:
@@ -204,15 +229,15 @@ def get_description(self, links):
             data = get_data(url)
         except ConnectorException:
             return ""
-        return data.get("extract")
+        return data.get("extract", "")
 
-    def get_remote_id_from_model(self, obj):
+    def get_remote_id_from_model(self, obj: models.BookDataModel) -> str:
         """use get_remote_id to figure out the link from a model obj"""
         remote_id_value = obj.inventaire_id
         return self.get_remote_id(remote_id_value)
 
 
-def get_language_code(options, code="en"):
+def get_language_code(options: JsonDict, code: str = "en") -> Any:
     """when there are a bunch of translation but we need a single field"""
     result = options.get(code)
     if result:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
index 0fd786660c..98c1b2b7ce 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/connectors/openlibrary.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 """ openlibrary data connector """
 import re
+from typing import Any, Optional, Union, Iterator, Iterable
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.book_search import SearchResult
-from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, Mapping
+from .abstract_connector import AbstractConnector, Mapping, JsonDict
 from .abstract_connector import get_data, infer_physical_format, unique_physical_format
 from .connector_manager import ConnectorException, create_edition_task
 from .openlibrary_languages import languages
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ class Connector(AbstractConnector):
 
     generated_remote_link_field = "openlibrary_link"
 
-    def __init__(self, identifier):
+    def __init__(self, identifier: str):
         super().__init__(identifier)
 
         get_first = lambda a, *args: a[0]
@@ -94,14 +95,14 @@ def __init__(self, identifier):
             Mapping("inventaire_id", remote_field="links", formatter=get_inventaire_id),
         ]
 
-    def get_book_data(self, remote_id):
+    def get_book_data(self, remote_id: str) -> JsonDict:
         data = get_data(remote_id)
         if data.get("type", {}).get("key") == "/type/redirect":
-            remote_id = self.base_url + data.get("location")
+            remote_id = self.base_url + data.get("location", "")
             return get_data(remote_id)
         return data
 
-    def get_remote_id_from_data(self, data):
+    def get_remote_id_from_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> str:
         """format a url from an openlibrary id field"""
         try:
             key = data["key"]
@@ -109,10 +110,10 @@ def get_remote_id_from_data(self, data):
             raise ConnectorException("Invalid book data")
         return f"{self.books_url}{key}"
 
-    def is_work_data(self, data):
+    def is_work_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> bool:
         return bool(re.match(r"^[\/\w]+OL\d+W$", data["key"]))
 
-    def get_edition_from_work_data(self, data):
+    def get_edition_from_work_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> JsonDict:
         try:
             key = data["key"]
         except KeyError:
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ def get_edition_from_work_data(self, data):
             raise ConnectorException("No editions for work")
         return edition
 
-    def get_work_from_edition_data(self, data):
+    def get_work_from_edition_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> JsonDict:
         try:
             key = data["works"][0]["key"]
         except (IndexError, KeyError):
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ def get_work_from_edition_data(self, data):
         url = f"{self.books_url}{key}"
         return self.get_book_data(url)
 
-    def get_authors_from_data(self, data):
+    def get_authors_from_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> Iterator[models.Author]:
         """parse author json and load or create authors"""
         for author_blob in data.get("authors", []):
             author_blob = author_blob.get("author", author_blob)
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ def get_authors_from_data(self, data):
                 continue
             yield author
 
-    def get_cover_url(self, cover_blob, size="L"):
+    def get_cover_url(self, cover_blob: list[str], size: str = "L") -> Optional[str]:
         """ask openlibrary for the cover"""
         if not cover_blob:
             return None
@@ -152,8 +153,10 @@ def get_cover_url(self, cover_blob, size="L"):
         image_name = f"{cover_id}-{size}.jpg"
         return f"{self.covers_url}/b/id/{image_name}"
 
-    def parse_search_data(self, data, min_confidence):
-        for idx, search_result in enumerate(data.get("docs")):
+    def parse_search_data(
+        self, data: JsonDict, min_confidence: float
+    ) -> Iterator[SearchResult]:
+        for idx, search_result in enumerate(data.get("docs", [])):
             # build the remote id from the openlibrary key
             key = self.books_url + search_result["key"]
             author = search_result.get("author_name") or ["Unknown"]
@@ -174,7 +177,7 @@ def parse_search_data(self, data, min_confidence):
                 confidence=confidence,
             )
 
-    def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data):
+    def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data: JsonDict) -> Iterator[SearchResult]:
         for search_result in list(data.values()):
             # build the remote id from the openlibrary key
             key = self.books_url + search_result["key"]
@@ -188,12 +191,12 @@ def parse_isbn_search_data(self, data):
                 year=search_result.get("publish_date"),
             )
 
-    def load_edition_data(self, olkey):
+    def load_edition_data(self, olkey: str) -> JsonDict:
         """query openlibrary for editions of a work"""
         url = f"{self.books_url}/works/{olkey}/editions"
         return self.get_book_data(url)
 
-    def expand_book_data(self, book):
+    def expand_book_data(self, book: models.Book) -> None:
         work = book
         # go from the edition to the work, if necessary
         if isinstance(book, models.Edition):
@@ -206,14 +209,14 @@ def expand_book_data(self, book):
             # who knows, man
             return
 
-        for edition_data in edition_options.get("entries"):
+        for edition_data in edition_options.get("entries", []):
             # does this edition have ANY interesting data?
             if ignore_edition(edition_data):
                 continue
             create_edition_task.delay(self.connector.id, work.id, edition_data)
 
 
-def ignore_edition(edition_data):
+def ignore_edition(edition_data: JsonDict) -> bool:
     """don't load a million editions that have no metadata"""
     # an isbn, we love to see it
     if edition_data.get("isbn_13") or edition_data.get("isbn_10"):
@@ -232,19 +235,19 @@ def ignore_edition(edition_data):
     return True
 
 
-def get_description(description_blob):
+def get_description(description_blob: Union[JsonDict, str]) -> Optional[str]:
     """descriptions can be a string or a dict"""
     if isinstance(description_blob, dict):
         return description_blob.get("value")
     return description_blob
 
 
-def get_openlibrary_key(key):
+def get_openlibrary_key(key: str) -> str:
     """convert /books/OL27320736M into OL27320736M"""
     return key.split("/")[-1]
 
 
-def get_languages(language_blob):
+def get_languages(language_blob: Iterable[JsonDict]) -> list[Optional[str]]:
     """/language/eng -> English"""
     langs = []
     for lang in language_blob:
@@ -252,14 +255,14 @@ def get_languages(language_blob):
     return langs
 
 
-def get_dict_field(blob, field_name):
+def get_dict_field(blob: Optional[JsonDict], field_name: str) -> Optional[Any]:
     """extract the isni from the remote id data for the author"""
     if not blob or not isinstance(blob, dict):
         return None
     return blob.get(field_name)
 
 
-def get_wikipedia_link(links):
+def get_wikipedia_link(links: list[Any]) -> Optional[str]:
     """extract wikipedia links"""
     if not isinstance(links, list):
         return None
@@ -272,7 +275,7 @@ def get_wikipedia_link(links):
     return None
 
 
-def get_inventaire_id(links):
+def get_inventaire_id(links: list[Any]) -> Optional[str]:
     """extract and format inventaire ids"""
     if not isinstance(links, list):
         return None
@@ -282,11 +285,13 @@ def get_inventaire_id(links):
             continue
         if link.get("title") == "inventaire.io":
             iv_link = link.get("url")
+            if not isinstance(iv_link, str):
+                return None
             return iv_link.split("/")[-1]
     return None
 
 
-def pick_default_edition(options):
+def pick_default_edition(options: list[JsonDict]) -> Optional[JsonDict]:
     """favor physical copies with covers in english"""
     if not options:
         return None
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
index 4b53c6e872..36317ad4ed 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/activitypub_mixin.py
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
 import json
 import operator
 import logging
-from typing import List
+from typing import Any, Optional
 from uuid import uuid4
+from typing_extensions import Self
 
 import aiohttp
 from Crypto.PublicKey import RSA
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
     @classmethod
-    def find_existing_by_remote_id(cls, remote_id):
+    def find_existing_by_remote_id(cls, remote_id: str) -> Self:
         """look up a remote id in the db"""
         return cls.find_existing({"id": remote_id})
 
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ def broadcast(self, activity, sender, software=None, queue=BROADCAST):
             queue=queue,
         )
 
-    def get_recipients(self, software=None) -> List[str]:
+    def get_recipients(self, software=None) -> list[str]:
         """figure out which inbox urls to post to"""
         # first we have to figure out who should receive this activity
         privacy = self.privacy if hasattr(self, "privacy") else "public"
@@ -198,7 +199,14 @@ def to_activity(self, **kwargs):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
 class ObjectMixin(ActivitypubMixin):
     """add this mixin for object models that are AP serializable"""
 
-    def save(self, *args, created=None, software=None, priority=BROADCAST, **kwargs):
+    def save(
+        self,
+        *args: Any,
+        created: Optional[bool] = None,
+        software: Any = None,
+        priority: str = BROADCAST,
+        **kwargs: Any,
+    ) -> None:
         """broadcast created/updated/deleted objects as appropriate"""
         broadcast = kwargs.get("broadcast", True)
         # this bonus kwarg would cause an error in the base save method
@@ -507,14 +515,14 @@ def unfurl_related_field(related_field, sort_field=None):
 
 
 @app.task(queue=BROADCAST)
-def broadcast_task(sender_id: int, activity: str, recipients: List[str]):
+def broadcast_task(sender_id: int, activity: str, recipients: list[str]):
     """the celery task for broadcast"""
     user_model = apps.get_model("bookwyrm.User", require_ready=True)
     sender = user_model.objects.select_related("key_pair").get(id=sender_id)
     asyncio.run(async_broadcast(recipients, sender, activity))
 
 
-async def async_broadcast(recipients: List[str], sender, data: str):
+async def async_broadcast(recipients: list[str], sender, data: str):
     """Send all the broadcasts simultaneously"""
     timeout = aiohttp.ClientTimeout(total=10)
     async with aiohttp.ClientSession(timeout=timeout) as session:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/book.py b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
index c25f8fee2b..f4a9849032 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """ database schema for books and shelves """
 from itertools import chain
 import re
+from typing import Any
 
 from django.contrib.postgres.search import SearchVectorField
 from django.contrib.postgres.indexes import GinIndex
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ class Meta:
 
         abstract = True
 
-    def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
+    def save(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         """ensure that the remote_id is within this instance"""
         if self.id:
             self.remote_id = self.get_remote_id()
@@ -204,7 +205,7 @@ def alt_text(self):
             text += f" ({self.edition_info})"
         return text
 
-    def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
+    def save(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         """can't be abstract for query reasons, but you shouldn't USE it"""
         if not isinstance(self, Edition) and not isinstance(self, Work):
             raise ValueError("Books should be added as Editions or Works")
@@ -343,7 +344,7 @@ def get_rank(self):
         # max rank is 9
         return rank
 
-    def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
+    def save(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         """set some fields on the edition object"""
         # calculate isbn 10/13
         if self.isbn_13 and self.isbn_13[:3] == "978" and not self.isbn_10:
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/federated_server.py b/bookwyrm/models/federated_server.py
index eb03d457e0..e1081ed45c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/federated_server.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/federated_server.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def unblock(self):
             ).update(active=True, deactivation_reason=None)
 
     @classmethod
-    def is_blocked(cls, url):
+    def is_blocked(cls, url: str) -> bool:
         """look up if a domain is blocked"""
         url = urlparse(url)
         domain = url.netloc
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
index 01b9b9f6a6..88ab09856e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_openlibrary_connector.py
@@ -233,3 +233,13 @@ def test_ignore_edition(self):
         self.assertFalse(ignore_edition({"languages": "languages/fr"}))
         self.assertTrue(ignore_edition({"languages": "languages/eng"}))
         self.assertTrue(ignore_edition({"format": "paperback"}))
+
+    def test_remote_id_from_model(self):
+        """figure out a url from an id"""
+        obj = models.Author.objects.create(
+            name="George Elliott", openlibrary_key="OL453734A"
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(
+            self.connector.get_remote_id_from_model(obj),
+            "https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL453734A",
+        )
diff --git a/mypy.ini b/mypy.ini
index 39f6863fe6..2a29e314f0 100644
--- a/mypy.ini
+++ b/mypy.ini
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ django_settings_module = "bookwyrm.settings"
 ignore_errors = True
 implicit_reexport = True
 
+[mypy-bookwyrm.connectors.*]
+ignore_errors = False
+
 [mypy-celerywyrm.*]
 ignore_errors = False