Willy Vlautin
[isbn]
Willy Vlautin tells remarkable stories with plain language and real characters. His is the kind of writing that puts the reader in the body and heart of the protagonist, in this case, a working-class woman trying to survive and do right in a gentrified, moneyed world. We need to read these fraught stories, and Vlautin makes it compelling to do so.
Recommended by Doug C.
|
Peter Straub
[isbn]
Unrelenting — by then end I was begging it to stop and praying that it wouldn't. Like a bad dream in all the best ways.
Recommended by Warren B.
|
Alexandra Sacks, Catherine Birndorf
[isbn]
This book gives a most welcome dose of healthy psychological support during pregnancy and postpartum! Even though it was published shortly before COVID-19 lockdowns, it addresses many emotional complexities that often aren't acknowledged in popular pregnancy guides.
Recommended by Ruth J.
|
Stephen Van Dyck
[isbn]
I'm blown away by how Van Dyck's unassuming diary-like vignettes can cover so much emotional and sexual terrain. It's like a memoir in list form and it beautifully/hilariously/awkwardly documents his early adulthood through the people he's met on the Internet. There's a lot of sweetness throughout, as if the author is still in love (or still boyfriends) with many of the men and women described. His descriptions of the early AOL chatrooms and... (read more)
Recommended by Kevin S.
|
Claribel Ortega, Claribel A Ortega
[isbn]
A spooky and fun middle-grade thriller about two best friends who cast a spell that accidentally invokes evil spirits, this one is packed with ’80s pop culture references, lots of humor, and a lovely storyline about family and remembering those we've lost. I couldn't put it down!
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Courtney Cook
[isbn]
I’m having trouble not using some blurb cliché here: Is this book brutally honest? Searing? An important look at the realities of a widely misunderstood mental illness? Yes, all of the above. The heaviness of her topic is leavened by Cook’s vibrant illustrations, making even the most harrowing passages impossible to turn away from. Even if this book is occasionally brutal and searing, it is always important.
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Sophie Escabasse
[isbn]
A charming graphic novel about a family of urban witches, Witches of Brooklyn beautifully balances enchantment and everyday reality, humor and seriousness, and sweetness and spookiness. The art is super cute and the writing is sharp! I loved how gracefully this story handled some difficult topics like separating art from the artist, how to handle major loss, and accepting one's emotions without shame. Overall, it was a fantastic series... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Paulina Bren
[isbn]
This is a fun, informative feminist history of the NYC residential hotel that connected Grace Kelly to Sylvia Plath, Joan Didion to Cybill Shepherd. Aspiring artists, writers, models, and career women of all stripes came to stay here for the safety, the glamorous sisterhood — and a room of one's own. I just know Betty Draper stayed here as a model before she married Don!
Recommended by Jennifer K.
|
Miranda Paul, Ebony Glenn
[isbn]
Even though my kids are very young, it's important to me that they know they have a voice and when to use it. This book does a wonderful job of taking a difficult topic and breaking it down into simple examples of when to speak up. I love the simple illustrations showing a diverse group of characters. I also loved the conversations this book started in my family.
Recommended by Rose H.
|
Michelle Ruiz Keil
[isbn]
Summer In The City Of Roses is a fairy tale-inspired adventure that offers a refreshing, punk rock take on ’90s Portland. The story hums with subtle magic while also sensitively addressing themes of race, drug use, trauma, and sex work. The writing is effervescent, the misfit characters are complex and relatable, and the city’s eccentricities are portrayed with necessary nuance. Grab this book and your tarot deck, head to Forest Park,... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Charlie Jane Anders
[isbn]
Tina's been waiting for years for the aliens (who left her on Earth as a baby) to deliver her to her destiny. But there's more to "destiny" than getting to leave the miseries of high school behind: entire species are counting on her to end an intergalactic war. Don't miss this beloved sci-fi author's YA debut!
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Merlin Sheldrake
[isbn]
Reading Merlin Sheldrake feels like getting a personal tour of the most overlooked kingdom of life from an enthusiastic expert. Helpfully illustrated and full of fascinating stories, Entangled Life is the perfect introduction to mycology for a lay reader. You will never look at fungi the same way again.
Recommended by Emily B.
|
Paula McLain
[isbn]
Suspenseful and edgy, Paula McLain's When the Stars Go Dark is a gripping mystery that centers around a missing child case and a detective struggling with her past. Beautifully written, filled with heartbreak and redemption, When the Stars Go Dark will haunt you long after the last page.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
|
Helen Oyeyemi
[isbn]
Peaces is an engrossing book with stunning twists and turns, not unlike the sparsely populated, luxurious train where the many mysteries unfold. It's also, somehow, about how your past shapes you and your relationships, and what it means to be seen and known. We're so lucky Helen Oyeyemi gifted us with this dazzling, surrealist gem of a novel.
Recommended by Michelle C.
|
Chelsea Bieker
[isbn]
A fantastic, assured, and beautifully written debut novel. Godshot will make you feel the stickiness of the baptismal soda, feel the oppressive dry heat of its setting, and fear the creepiness of the cultish cast of characters. The prose recalls Flannery O'Connor (as noted in the book's jacket description) but also the gothic freakishness of Harry Crews's best work. Bieker uses those authors' paint brushes to illustrate her story, but... (read more)
Recommended by Kevin S.
|
Corey Ann Haydu
[isbn]
A sweet chapter book series about everyday enchantment and the magic of friendship, these books are emotionally complex and thought-provoking, but accessible and easy to read. They feature a multiracial and multigenerational Latinx family, with Spanish words interspersed throughout. With chapters that alternate between two relatable and engaging protagonists, they are sure to be a winner with young readers who like realistic stories with a touch... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Megan Lynn Kott, Justin DeVine
[isbn]
This book is pure fun. A perfectly light and humorous read for animal lovers, young and old, this book will help you to figure out which animal is best suited to be your familiar spirit.
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Kim Ventrella
[isbn]
A thoughtful and delightfully odd allegory about friendship, bravery, and not fearing death, Bone Hollow is nice spin on a typical zombie story. Gabe and Wynne subvert the typically ghoulish take on the undead because they are loving, kind, and just people. I loved the graceful personification of death, and the mix of unexpected ghostly sci-fi elements, Wynne’s lyrical mysticism, and light small-town details about chickens and stinky... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Gary Lutz
[isbn]
Garielle Lutz (formerly Gary Lutz) is my favorite short story writer of all time. My favorite sentence writer too. A couple hundred pages of this book are home to stories that I was lucky to publish in two of Lutz's previous books. And their first book, Stories in the Worst Way, will always be considered a pivotal moment in my reading life. This collection includes an excellent introduction by Brian Evenson as well as 60 pages of new... (read more)
Recommended by Kevin S.
|
Santi Elijah Holley
[isbn]
Santi Holley takes each song from Nick Cave's infamous Murder Ballads album and delivers fantastic rabbit-hole histories of their lineage, characters, and mysteries. I don't think I've seen another book in the 33 1/3 series get so dang detailed and curious. Though sometimes the book feels less about Nick and his band and more about the history of murder ballads, it gave me a deeper understanding of an album I only recently listened to.... (read more)
Recommended by Kevin S.
|
Laura Tempest Zakroff
[isbn]
This is one of the most grounded and eloquent introductory witchcraft books I've read. Full of practical witchery for practitioners of all levels, this is truly an empowering and inspiring guide to creating an eclectic personal practice that works just for you. Zakroff's unique style of magic, which she calls "Modern Traditional Witchcraft," provides guidance for witches who want to draw inspiration from both the past and present while ultimately... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Chris Whitaker
[isbn]
Best Book 2021! Compelling mystery. Devastating!
Recommended by Adrienne C.
|
Jared Cohen
[isbn]
This is a great insight into some of our lesser-known presidents as well as a new look at the more famous ones. Cohen has done his research and writes great tales of transitions of power. It's very interesting to read about men who were hoping to ride out four to eight years in the lazy chair of the vice president, only to be unexpectedly be given vast amounts of responsibility they (mostly) did not want.
Recommended by Jeffrey J.
|
Casey Cep
[isbn]
This book reads like a detailed Law and Order episode. The story is actually told in 3 parts. 1) A murderer who killed for life insurance money. 2) The lawyer who defended both the murderer AND, eventually, the murderer's killer. 3) The journalist who spent years trying to tell this fascinating tale. This book is full of interesting details and courtroom drama. And I love that it shed some light on one of the most mysterious modern American... (read more)
Recommended by Rose H.
|
Adam Mansbach
[isbn]
After reading the first few lines of Adam Mansbach’s memoir in free verse, I found that I was unwilling to stop until I had reached the end. I expect that you will have the same experience.
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Jon Klassen
[isbn]
There's a full 96 pages of dry, sly Klassen goodness in this book of five connected stories about Turtle, Armadillo, and Snake hilariously contemplating the uncertainties of the universe. For those who can't get enough of Jon Klassen (raises hand), this book is a deadpan dream.
Recommended by Gigi L.
|
Karen DeWitz
[isbn]
Look at That Bird! is a super fun guide that's easy to use for new birders, and specific to the Pacific Northwest, so PNW kids can find, identify, and learn about birds in their own environment. Full of great pictures, fascinating facts, and projects they can perform themselves!
Recommended by Gigi L.
|
Eric Carle
[isbn]
As the daughter of two retired teachers, I can’t think of a more appropriate gift than this lovely picture book, crafted by the incomparable Eric Carle, to present to those in the educational profession as a token of appreciation for their work and dedication to teaching our children.
Recommended by Aubrey W.
|
Blake Bailey
[isbn]
This should prove to be the biography of the year. Magisterial in scope, it encompasses both the work and the life in all its “love it-hate it” glory.
Recommended by Kathi K.
|
Corey Ann Haydu, Luisa Uribe
[isbn]
A sweet chapter book series about everyday enchantment and the magic of friendship, these books are emotionally complex and thought-provoking, but accessible and easy to read. They feature a multiracial and multigenerational Latinx family, with Spanish words interspersed throughout. With chapters that alternate between two relatable and engaging protagonists, they are sure to be a winner with young readers who like realistic stories with a touch... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Edgar Cantero
[isbn]
If you have fond memories of Scooby Doo, and wonder what it might look like updated to today, laced with some Lovecraftian rocket fuel, and stripped of the cheesy rubber masks at the end, this book is a nonstop thrill ride!
Recommended by Warren B.
|
Lee Lai
[isbn]
Lee Lai’s Stone Fruit is a full-length graphic novel, but gave me the same sense of satisfaction as a truly exquisite short story, with its small cast and contained physical universe. The emotional universe, however, is vast in the most subtle and satisfying ways.
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Jill McCorkle
[isbn]
For anyone who has ever wondered about the mystery of their parents — has been stunned to discover they are people with lives of their own, not much different than us, and worthy of as much empathy as we can muster.
Recommended by Warren B.
|
Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone
[isbn]
One of the most achingly beautiful and intensely romantic books I've ever read — totally unexpected and deeply, lyrically human, right in the middle of a science fiction story about two far-future agents on opposing sides — one a technotopia, the other an organic hive. If these two opposites can fall in love, then there is hope for all of us.
Recommended by Warren B.
|
Tj Klune
[isbn]
I loved this book! While the adult characters, Linus and Arthur, are wonderful, it's the magical youth that really stand out. By the end, you'll be rooting for every one of them to reach their dreams. This book was an absolute delight.
Recommended by Bethany O.
|
Riku Onda, Alison Watts
[isbn]
The Aosawa Murders was listed by the NYT as one of the Notable Books of 2020. But even more notable is that my sister, who mostly reads political and economic tomes and who rarely reads any fiction, practically devoured this book — I felt quite heroic that I agreed to let her read the book even though I was halfway through it! The murders are recounted decades later through multiple points of view, and the author does a... (read more)
Recommended by Sheila N.
|
Louis Levy
[isbn]
Kzradock the Onion Man and the Spring-Fresh Methuselah is a classic psychological horror with a turn at every moment. This story explores the depraved and illogical side of the human psyche. I highly recommend this title to those who enjoyed The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin.
Recommended by Rin S.
|
Lynette Noni
[isbn]
If you’re looking to lose yourself in a fantasy page-turner, this is your stop. Kiva Meridan is the healer for the infamous Zalindov prison; she’s also a prisoner herself, brought in when her father was accused of consorting with rebels. She’s kept herself alive for a decade by keeping her head down, avoiding attachments, and clinging to the few coded communications she’s been able to have with her family on the outside, who promise they’ll find... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Jhumpa Lahiri
[isbn]
Through a series of short glimpses, Jhumpa Lahiri expertly demonstrates the push-pull of the desire to belong in conflict with the need for solitude. Each scene is grounded in a precise place, but a sense of dislocation pervades in this exquisitely crafted — and long-awaited — novel from a master storyteller.
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Patrick Radden Keefe
[isbn]
Patrick Radden Keefe reports the story of the family that has profited enormously from the nation’s opiate epidemic. Most coverage of the epidemic focuses on the desperation and misery of the country’s worst off; Empire of Pain instead turns its lens on the culpability of extreme wealth and power.
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Helen Macdonald
[isbn]
Helen Macdonald returns with an essay collection centered on our relationship to the world around us. Whether she’s discussing migration patterns, mushroom hunting, or returning to her childhood stomping grounds, MacDonald paints an eloquent and illuminating portrayal of the natural world.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
|
Natsuo Kirino
[isbn]
I ventured into Out having gone on a detective murder mystery kick: the great Raymond Chandler, the invincible Dorothy L. Sayers... So it was no surprise that I next turned to Japan's queen of crime writing. Out is a can't-stop-reading, classy, well done, get-into-their-heads-type psychological you-know-whodunnit. Excellent translation, her first into English. I can't wait to read more by Kirino!
Recommended by Adrienne C.
|
Angeline Boulley
[isbn]
Wow, this debut novel is so well crafted, I cannot recommend it enough! After Daunis loses her uncle, she is approached by an undercover agent to investigate a drug ring in her community. On top of the mystery, there is romance, exploration of family, community, and the Ojibwe culture.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
|
Kristin Hersh
[isbn]
American singer-songwriter Kristin Hersh from Throwing Muses and 50FootWave writes this highly anticipated companion to her bestselling 2010 memoir, Rat Girl. Seeing Sideways picks up in the 1990s while on tour and raising her first son, Doony, and continues with struggles with the music industry and raising three additional children. Seeing Sideways is both beautiful and heartbreaking, much like Hersh’s lyrics.
Recommended by Kim T.
|
Michael Duncan and Scott Shields and Ilene Fort and MaLin Wilson-Powell and Catherine Whitney
[isbn]
The Transcendental Painting Group was founded in New Mexico in 1938, a time in American art that is mostly known for social realism in painting. This little-known group focused on abstract work with the goal of spiritual enlightenment. The work is luminous, airy, and feels reminiscent of Hilma af Klint.
Recommended by Leah B.
|
Stephen Graham Jones
[isbn]
Not for the squeamish — this story starts with a rush and rarely lets up. Along with the horror, though, comes a heartbreaking, eye-opening look at the consequences of the tectonic stresses building and releasing at the borders between the Indigenous and white cultures.
Recommended by Warren B.
|
Michelle Zauner
[isbn]
At one point in her memoir, Michelle Zauner describes the quick ascent of her band Japanese Breakfast as “suspiciously charmed.” Any reader who has made it that far knows there’s nothing suspicious about it. Crying in H Mart is a skillfully written and deeply moving portrait of Zauner’s mother and their close, and at times strained, relationship. It is also a rumination on cultural distance and the power of food to bridge the gap — it is... (read more)
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Katherine Addison
[isbn]
Katherine Addison returns to the world of The Goblin Emperor and to the pivotal character of Thara Celehar. Celehar is a Witness for the Dead, able to contact the recently deceased. Celehar lives far from the court and its politics, but intrigue and politics continue to follow him. When a missing woman is found in the river, Celehar is called in. Tightly plotted and packed full of unforgettable characters, Witness for the Dead... (read more)
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
|
Yamile Saied Mendez and Kate Alizadeh
[isbn]
Yamile Saied Méndez wrote one of my favorite picture books last year, Where You Are From?, chronicling what it’s like to be a BIPOC child in America. In this companion, What Will You Be?, she pairs with illustrator Kate Alizadeh to create an uplifting story in which a young girl explores with her abuela the many opportunities open to her in life, such as being an explorer, dreamer, student, leader, and best of all, just being... (read more)
Recommended by Kim T.
|
Robin Robinson
[isbn]
Portland author Robin Robinson wrote and illustrated this fantasy graphic novel perfect for ages eight and up. Adventure awaits goblin sisters Pella, the thrill seeker, and Bix, the reluctant adventurer. Stunning, fantastical illustrations take the reader on a trip though the enchanted forest: a wondrous land filled with demigods and monsters along with these compelling characters.
Recommended by Kim T.
|
Sonali Dev
[isbn]
When Sonali Dev’s upcoming book was teased as “Jane Austen meets West Wing,” I perked right up! If any author can write a politician who is honest, vulnerable, compassionate, and SEXY then it’s Sonali Dev. Her contemporary series follows the Raje family, but you can jump in and read any book in the series. Each novel is a highly entertaining twist on a favorite Jane Austen story.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
|
Casey McQuiston
[isbn]
If you haven’t read Casey McQuiston’s debut, Red, White, and Royal Blue, then stop what you’re doing and go read that book. It’s a beautiful, hilarious, sexy, coming-of-age romance and it’s easily one of my favorite reads of all time. But now Casey McQuiston has a new book coming out in June that is arguably EVEN BETTER than RW&RB. The love story of August — a 23-year-old cynic — and Jane — a ’70s punk who is stuck in modern day... (read more)
Recommended by McKenzie W.
|
Talia Hibbert
[isbn]
Eve Brown is too old for her antics and Jacob Wayne is too uptight to have any fun. Romance Rules say they’re perfect for each other! Talia Hibbert is my definition of a one-click, must-read author. Her books are always witty, flirty, sexy, and optimistic. Earlier books in this series are terrific and can be read as standalone novels, though reading them all is highly recommended.
Recommended by McKenzie W.
|
Katrina Rodabaugh
[isbn]
A slow fashion book for the thoughtful fashionista. Rodabaugh states: Start where you are. Start by looking at the clothes you already own before shopping for new. Can they be mended or remodeled rather than replaced? This isn’t just another closet advice book. Rodabaugh gives us inspiring ideas for rejuvenating our old togs into treasures to be proud of. I was a fan of her first book Mending Matters and I’m just as excited about... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
|
Lucy Hutchings
[isbn]
Lucy Hutchings, innovative, trend-setting gardener shows us that gardening can be fun. Beginner and master gardener alike can find some exciting creative ideas in Get up and Grow. I’m most enticed by her container and wall growing ideas. I think a hanging garden filled with herbs is just what my kitchen garden needs this summer.
Recommended by Tracey T.
|
Hugh Amano and Sarah Becan
[isbn]
Mmmm. Shumai, xiaolongbau, mandu, and all those other dumplings whose names I don’t know that I usually just point to on a dim sum cart at my favorite Asian restaurant. This handy comic book cookbook introduces all you need to turn your kitchen into a dumpling cart. Includes pantry and equipment suggestions and best of all, simple drawings of how to fold your own dumplings. Dumplings from many Asian cultures are... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
|
Matthew Raiford, Amy Paige Condon
[isbn]
Bress ’n’ Nyam is Gullah Geechee for “bless and eat.” CheFarmer (chef and farmer) Matthew Raiford raises food on the land that has been farmed by his family for six generations. This is as much a history of community as it is a cookbook about the lineage of African foodways. One of the first recipes in the book is for Reezy-Peezy, which I made for dinner. After having just one bite my husband said, “This is exactly what I was hoping to eat for... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
|
Heidi Helyard
[isbn]
Polymer clay (aka Sculpey) jewelry is having a moment right now, and it's easy to see why. It's colorful, low-key, playful, and accessible. There are so many great projects in this book, and you can make them even as a complete beginner. I wish I'd had this book during my polymer clay phase of quarantine.
Recommended by Leah B.
|
Thorsten Sadowsky
[isbn]
One of my favorite things about my job is encountering new artists, and recently the most captivating has been British Nigerian artist Yinka Shobinaire CBE. He has worked in a wide range of mediums, but this monograph focuses on his textile and fabric works. These sculptural pieces are vivid and arresting, and explore issues of colonialism, postcolonialism, and the construction of identity.
Recommended by Leah B.
|
Jasmine Warga
[isbn]
Great fiction helps kids process things even adults struggle to work through. This book shrunk me into smaller shoes and walked me through two middle schoolers’ unspeakable loss, in a story that will remain all too real until this country does something about our shamefully unaddressed epidemic of gun violence. Cora’s sister Mabel was killed in a school shooting by Quinn’s brother, Parker, who also took his own life. Before, Cora and Quinn were... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Mandy Len Catron
[isbn]
What begins as an experiment for the author, who takes a psychology test to try and fall in love with another test participant, becomes the premise for a book that is as much fun to read as it sounds. Catron supplies a candid account of her doubts and misgivings about love, drawing from her family's and her own romantic history, tackling the topic with analytical curiosity. And when she finally does arrive at success in love, as the title... (read more)
Recommended by Aubrey W.
|
Stacy McCullough
[isbn]
In the heart of winter, trapped in snow and ice, dreams of spring and summer vacations bounce around in my head. In this era of restrictions, recommendations, and social protocols, it's hard to imagine anything safer than a personalized road trip with your quarantine bubble. Oregon Day Trips by Theme offers adventurers the opportunity to explore on their own terms, enjoying everything from caves and mountains to museums and local... (read more)
Recommended by Corie K-B.
|
Erika Engelhaupt
[isbn]
I take a great deal of enjoyment out of the weird, and the dark, and the gory. I guess it's the adult version of children's ghost stories told around the campfire. Let's be honest, who exactly can resist a creepy science tale at family dinner? As they say, truth is often stranger than fiction, and I'm thinking Gory Details: Adventures From the Dark Side of Science will prove this old adage in spades.
Recommended by Corie K-B.
|
Sarah Stirling
[isbn]
Taking cues from everything going on in the world, many have found a need to reconnect with the spaces around us and of course, nature is such a large part of that. Nature walks in our neighborhoods have become commonplace, foraging has become a cherished family activity, and mushrooms have become sought-out treasures. I think many of us took nature for granted before 2020. It took a pandemic to open our eyes to the wonders around us. Rewild... (read more)
Recommended by Corie K-B.
|
Brittney Morris
[isbn]
Author Brittney Morris (Slay) describes this as “a Black-boy-joydespite” book, and that’s exactly how it reads. Alex can see the future of any person or object he touches, and he’s learned the hard way that doesn’t mean he can change things. When he sees that his little brother Isaiah is doomed to die soon, he decides to do everything he can to give Isaiah the best last days possible. Morris deftly bares the particular expectations,... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Ben Golliver
[isbn]
I was obsessed with the NBA Bubble when the league restarted in Florida last summer. While I was thrilled to be able to watch basketball again, I was worried for the health and safely of my favorite (and least favorite) NBA players. The experiment was a success, and I cannot wait to read Ben Golliver’s insider account of what life was like living and working in a Disney World hotel for three months covering the most unusual NBA playoffs ever.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
|
Nicola Yoon
[isbn]
A new book from Nicola Yoon is a reason to celebrate! Her third novel brings the romance we expect with a touch of the supernatural. Evie is not interested in love after she starts having visions of how other people’s relationships end. But when she meets X at the dance studio she must decide if she is willing to take a chance. This one is at the top of my to-read pile.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
|
Pankaj Mishra
[isbn]
In this collection of previously published, thought-provoking essays, Mishra looks at, amongst other things, the flawed relationship between the West and the Global South — and especially at the unsound and faulty assumptions that have led to harmful policies. Pankaj Mishra is a Marxist critic. His essays are acerbic and illuminating and a joy to read. A definite must-read for anyone interested in the impact and effects of colonialism,... (read more)
Recommended by Sheila N.
|
Maggie Stiefvater
[isbn]
I devoured Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle, and it ended so well that I was honestly quite nervous when she announced she’d be crafting a follow-up trilogy. It took less than a page of Call Down the Hawk for me to know my worries had been misplaced. Central character Ronan Lynch’s story is far from finished, and I’m on tenterhooks to see what will befall him and his fellow dreamers and forgers in this second installment of the Dreamer... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Justina Ireland
[isbn]
YA powerhouse Justina Ireland (Dread Nation) gives voice to the voiceless dead in this middle grade novel. When a posse of white men come to set their house alight in the night, Ophie’s father tells her to take her mother and flee. The next morning brings impossible news: Ophie’s father had already been killed, and the warning came from her first ghost. When she and her mother move to Pittsburgh, theoretically more welcoming to Black... (read more)
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Chang-rae Lee
[isbn]
Don’t let the title fool you: My Year Abroad might summon up visions of a college student finding themselves while backpacking across Europe. Let that be Chang-rae Lee’s first gentle jab at the reader — this is not a conventional coming-of-age novel, and while its unassuming narrator may say otherwise, Tiller Bardmon is not your average 20-year-old. Quick-witted and perceptive but lacking in drive or direction, Tiller has been stumbling... (read more)
Recommended by Renee P.
|
Sanjena Sathian
[isbn]
In Sanjena Sathian’s magical coming-of-age novel, Gold Diggers, a teenage boy burdened by his Indian immigrant parents’ and community’s obsession with academic achievement uses alchemy to siphon and imbibe other people’s success. An incisive and very funny take on the familial and cultural expectations of immigration, the symbiosis between immigrant striving and the American dream, and the weird ways getting a PhD in history from UC... (read more)
Recommended by Rhianna W.
|
Alice Oseman
[isbn]
Ridiculously cute. This comic perfectly captures that sweet pain of having a crush. You know what I mean? You cringe because it's relatable but also smile because it's adorable. The story takes it's time so you can bask in the emotions the main characters go through. Fair warning: Like a lot of good stories, there's a cliffhanger at the end. But, I think it's worth it.
Recommended by Rose H.
|
Erin Morgenstern
[isbn]
In an underground labyrinth of books reminiscent of the Neitherlands library in Lev Grossman's The Magicians trilogy, Zachary Ezra Rawlins sifts through story after story, searching for his own. After stumbling across an odd anecdote from his childhood in an authorless book, Zachary seeks answers in the subterranean library, through painted doors and overlapping realities. There, he finds stories barely contained by their pages, riddles of Fate... (read more)
Recommended by Alice G.
|
Jeff VanderMeer
[isbn]
Wow. Utterly weird, utterly captivating, dizzily creative, frothily exciting, spit-take funny. There's no way to describe this pastiche of hero's journey, magic, alternate history, and Napoleon's disembodied head — you simply must read it for yourself!
Recommended by Warren B.
|
Megan Campisi
[isbn]
Megan Campisi weaves a story around a strong female character condemned to live by literally eating the sins of others, symbolized by various foods. This was an actual thing back in the 16th century but makes for a startlingly apt read today.
Recommended by Warren B.
|
Kat Leyh
[isbn]
An endearing story full of lovable outsider characters, this graphic novel contains a perfect balance of realism and magic. In this book, appearances are not what they seem: the evil witch may or not be a sweet and eccentric old lady, and Snap herself may be more magical than she ever thought. I love the diversity and inclusivity in this book: the characters are so fully dimensional, and the themes of acceptance and friendship left me with all of... (read more)
Recommended by Ariel K.
|
Gail Tsukiyama
[isbn]
The lush, tropical atmosphere of Hawaii is bound headily into The Color of Air, a novel of extraordinary grace that portrays a sugar plantation community in the 1930s facing the potential destruction of their town as a volcanic eruption draws near. The book explores the present and delves decades into the past, to the immigrant origins of the central characters — Koji, Nori, Mariko, and Mariko’s son, Daniel — revealing the buried sorrows... (read more)
Recommended by Aubrey W.
|
Neil DeGrasse Tyson and James Trefil
[isbn]
A philosopher’s science guide, for every curious mind who likes to pore over beautiful photos and graphs about the universe and revel over its (and our own) origins. You really can’t go wrong with physicists Neil deGrasse Tyson and James Trefil at the helm.
Recommended by Aubrey W.
|
Dav Pilkey
[isbn]
In a year where everything has seemed chaos, silly, endearing Dog Man and his crew come to the rescue with a giggle-packed graphic novel about the power of love to set the world right.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
|
Alexis Hall
[isbn]
Luc and Oliver are absolutely charming as we follow their fake dating antics, and the side characters all truly stand out with hilarious banter that make every part of this romance feel real. I still think about jokes and moments from this book months later, and I can't wait for others to fall for it as much as I did. If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue, you will love Boyfriend Material!
Recommended by Bethany O.
|
Talia Hibbert
[isbn]
This was my first-ever romance read and it did not disappoint. In fact, it converted me into a romance reader for life. Talia Hibbert writes characters who are real and flawed, and you just can't help rooting for them to succeed not just in the romance, but in every facet of their lives. Get a Life, Chloe Brown is funny and charming, with hilarious banter and very steamy! I loved seeing Chloe and Red's relationship grow and can't wait to... (read more)
Recommended by Bethany O.
|
Carol Anderson
[isbn]
Highly recommend for folks looking to expand their antiracist knowledge. Anderson goes through historical moments in order. This makes for a read packed with information that has been glossed over in a lot of public education settings. A must-read.
Recommended by Rin S.
|
Octavia E Butler
[isbn]
This is a wonderfully strange collection of stories by Butler, the content of which pushed the boundaries of the time. The standout story of this collection is of course "Bloodchild," which follows a Terran child named Gan. He is living on a planet inhabited by arachnid-like humanoids who depend on Terrans for survival.
Recommended by Rin S.
|
Viet Thanh Nguyen
[isbn]
In the long-anticipated sequel to The Sympathizer, we find our antihero embroiled in the Paris underworld. Beneath the rip-roaring action resides dark humor, deep character study, and meditations on identity, capitalism, and colonization. The Committed is a powerful follow-up to Nguyen's award-winning, way-more-than-just-a-spy-novel.
Recommended by Gigi L.
|
Jory John and Erin Kraan
[isbn]
What's a bear to do when he (finally, after passing lots of friends) realizes he's left the house in his underwear? Written entirely in charmingly funny dialogue, full of whimsically drawn forest creatures (who, by the way, don't laugh at him), Something's Wrong! is utterly delightful.
Recommended by Gigi L.
|
Hanif Abdurraqib
[isbn]
Hanif Abdurraqib is a poet and a culture critic — a writer I will follow anywhere. A Little Devil in America is his most expansive book to date and showcases his usual clarity about the pressures that creative pursuits, personal decisions, historical dictates, dreams deferred, and cultural trends all exert. In his new book, he focuses on the intersection of performance and the Black experience in America.
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Michael Moss
[isbn]
Moss exposes how the food industry uses our own psychology and biology to manipulate us, habituating consumers to processed food and destroying our health in the process. An infuriating look at the severely underregulated food industry and required reading for understanding why American life expectancy is declining.
Recommended by Emily B.
|
Michelle Nijhuis
[isbn]
Read Nijhuis if you want to understand the conservation movement and its key figures. A dense but deeply important read, Beloved Beasts depicts the triumphs without papering over the racism and colonialism that have always been deeply intertwined with the movement.
Recommended by Emily B.
|
P. Djèlí Clark
[isbn]
The world-building in this novella is incredible. Set in an alternate New Orleans where the Civil War is still being fought and airships aid both sides with smuggling, this little book packs a huge punch. Follow a thief and a pilot as they battle dark forces to keep a deadly weapon out of enemy hands. I only wish this book was longer!
Recommended by Bethany O.
|
Kazuo Ishiguro
[isbn]
To state the obvious, Kazuo Ishiguro is an absolute master. His highly anticipated new novel, the tale of an Artificial Friend and the child she hopes will choose her as a companion, is equal parts compelling and subtle. As with any fairy tale, the deep questions about humanity are just out of direct view, resting below the horizon.
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Suzy Vitello
[isbn]
After the earthquake that levels their city, the Sparrow siblings have to find their way back to each other, physically and figuratively, and survive together. Suzy Vitello writes with elegance and beautiful particularity in this riveting page-turner that plumbs the tensions surrounding the ideological divisions of both family and country.
Recommended by Gigi L.
|
Kathleen Lane
[isbn]
I loved this book. Granted, I'm 50 years older than the target audience, but it still made me feel so much better. Insightful, funny, playful, and very helpful!
Recommended by Doug C.
|
Aiden Thomas
[isbn]
A skilled deep dive into trauma and responses to trauma, Lost in the Never Woods is a Peter Pan retelling set in Astoria. Wendy's brothers have been missing for years and suddenly other children in town start to disappear. The suspense never lets up in this tightly paced and riveting tale.
Recommended by Mary Jo S.
|
Cleo Wade and Lucie de Moyencourt
[isbn]
This beautiful picture book debut from poet Cleo Wade tells us it’s okay to go the wrong way, or be scared, or stumble and fall. If we're brave and ask for help and keep going, we will make all sorts of discoveries and lead others to them, too.
Recommended by Madeline S.
|
Dwayne Reed
[isbn]
Fifth grader Simon loves rhyming, just not in front of other people. His new teacher is young and raps (cool) but the first assignment is a presentation (not cool). This fun and original novel is about a young man finding the courage to show the world who he is.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
|
Jeff Kinney
[isbn]
Scary stories are an endless source of fun for kids (and who are we kidding, for all of us!), but when they’re coming from the mind of Rowley Jefferson? Prepare yourself for more shrieks and ghoulish giggles than you can shake a broomstick at.
Recommended by Matt K.
|
Kaitlyn Greenidge
[isbn]
Based on a true story, the lives of Libertie and her mother are both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I was especially captured by the narrative voice (Libertie’s) as she interprets both the rich natural world, the cruel residue of slavery, and navigates her life, coming of age both unsure and yet with keen insight. This is a powerful book and beautifully written.
Recommended by Kathi K.
|
Quiara Alegria Hudes
[isbn]
Quiara Alegría Hudes is one of my favorite playwrights. She’s won the Pulitzer Prize and she wrote the book for the musical In the Heights. In her dramatic works, home — no matter how imperfect — is a guiding force for all of her characters. Now, she's turning her generous and poetic voice to her own story, recounting her South Philly barrio and its cacophonous beauty that has always transfixed her.
Recommended by Keith M.
|
Sarah Schulman
[isbn]
The story of the AIDS activist group ACT UP is more important than ever in our age of deep inequality, political gridlock, and rampant disease. How social movements arise and make change fast is vital information, and I’m so glad that Sarah Schulman has put years into explaining not just how but why ACT UP succeeded as much as they did. Many of the earlier accounts of the organization have been marred by some of ACT UP’s big personalities, who... (read more)
Recommended by Keith M.
|