Staff Picks Books, Rachel M

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How Much of These Hills Is Gold

C Pam Zhang

C Pam Zhang breathes life into an often untold story of the American West with this fiercely stunning debut novel. I didn't realize how much I needed How Much of These Hills Is Gold until it was in my hands and I was unable to put it down. As Chinese as it is American, Zhang's reimagining of 19th-century history still feels relevant today as it chews through the complexities of being an immigrant in this country.
Recommended by Rachel M.

Chlorine Sky

Mahogany L. Browne

Chlorine Sky is the coming-of-age story of a young girl going through the joys and heartaches of growing up. From first romances to falling out with her best friend, this novel-in-verse means Mahogany L. Browne will break your heart in two lines or less every couple of pages, only to put it back together as our hero learns to shine on her own.
Recommended by Rachel M.

Solutions and Other Problems

Allie Brosh

Allie Brosh returns with the highly anticipated Solutions and Other Problems. With her signature illustration style, stories of very bad animals, and humorous, yet deeply moving observations, Brosh is bound to warm your heart and have you laughing out loud.
Recommended by Rachel M.

Cemetery Boys

Aiden Thomas

Aiden Thomas’s magical YA debut is an ode to honoring your truth as it follows Yadriel, a trans Latinx teenage boy, as he tries to prove that he is a brujo to his conservative family and to himself. Cemetery Boys is the queer story I’ve been trying to summon this whole year and will return to for years to come.
Recommended by Rachel M.

Don't Ask Me Where I'm From

Jennifer De Leon and Elena Garnu

While the release of this book couldn't be more well timed, I also wish I had read it growing up. Jennifer De Leon perfectly captures the experience of attending a predominantly white institution as a student of color through a fantastic balance of wit, humor, and perception.
Recommended by Rachel M.

My Best Friend

Julie Fogliano and Jillian Tamaki

As a sucker for stories about (best) friends, My Best Friend wrecked me in the happiest way. Fogliano captures the ease and warmth of adolescent friendship in this tender tale. Perfect for a read with your best friend!
Recommended by Rachel M.

Snapdragon

Kat Leyh

Snapdragon reads like a rambunctious, fearless hug. Leyh seamlessly weaves the complexities of gender and sexuality into the magic of this story, and has me desperate for volume two (I hope there will be one!). If you like witches, witches on motorcycles, three-legged dogs, and supportive moms, this is for you!
Recommended by Rachel M.

Cosmoknights (Book One)

Hannah Templer

Cosmoknights is one of those books I wish I had read in high school when a million questions about sexuality were floating around in my head. The normalcy of queerness is a breath of fresh air and the story is even more so, aside from being fantastic. Templer does a wonderful job bringing her characters to life via her illustrations and the colors she uses are out of this world (pun intended). While I wait with bated breath for the... (read more)
Recommended by Rachel M.

Cabin Porn: Inside

Zach Klein and Freda Moon

This book is truly a feast for the eyes and fuel for wanderlust as it takes the reader around the world and inside various cabins, treehouses, and one truck hut. Warning: reading this will send you into an Airbnb rabbit hole in search of your next getaway.
Recommended by Rachel M.

Goodnight, Good Dog Carl

Alexandra Day

Your baby’s best friend returns for bedtime! Though mom says it’s time to settle down, Madeline and Carl have a checklist of activities to take care of before they get tucked in. You’ll close the book inspired to ride on the back of your own dog.
Recommended by Rachel M.

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