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MCL Books

The Best Books of 2019

Multnomah County Library's guide to this year's great reads

“From El Lobo the wrestler to Elvis and Priscilla Rey, boar-like masters of velvet painting, the pages bustle in ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
¡Vamos! Let's go to the market
“Por varias razones este es uno de mis libros favoritos. Es un libro que habla de la inclusividad de género y de ...”
Read Lilia M.'s full recommendation »
¡Vivan las uñas de colores!
“Una guía divertida con unas ilustraciones muy pintorescas que narra las transiciones de muchas mujeres jóvenes ...”
Read Lilia M's full recommendation »
¿Y ahora qué?
“Generations after a 'baby bust' few people are left in the world. Griz' family remains, on a remote island in ...”
Read Rachael S.'s full recommendation »
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World
“City-states in a fictionalized Renaissance Italy provide the backdrop for Danio's story, a common man caught up ...”
Read Ann K's full recommendation »
A Brightness Long Ago
“Remote Island? House party? Possibly a ghost? An extremely rare butterfly? Yes to all! This is the fourth outing ...”
Read Jennifer W.'s full recommendation »
A Dangerous Collaboration
“There aren't many books out there that talk about mental health from the perspective of the average person ...”
Read Lilia, M's full recommendation »
A dos pasos de la locura
“The second in the series brings two wonderfully complex characters together, learning what identity, love, and ...”
Read Melissa G.'s full recommendation »
A Duke in Disguise: The Regency Impostors
“A perfect gift for the gardener in your life, with little anecdotes about odd garden features, and charming ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
A Garden Miscellany
You just know something has to go wrong with their nice safe world in this character driven space opera.
Read Heidi S.'s full recommendation »
A Memory Called Empire
“Virginia Hall, Baltimore debutante, WWII spymaster: her bad-assery is legend and I kinda felt like a big whiner ...”
Read Tama F.'s full recommendation »
A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win WWII
“Finalmente tenemos un libro de paso a paso con una artista Latina creando hermosas acuarelas. Este libro está ...”
Read Mara T's full recommendation »
Acuarela creativa : guía paso a paso para principiantes
“Fans of the classic anime Afro Samurai will love this riveting story of this Black martial artist, diplomat ...”
Read Joy M.'s full recommendation »
African Samurai: The True Story of Yasuke, a Legendary Black Warrior in Feudal Japan
“An adaptation of the eerie classic, full of swirling leaves, trunks full of faces, roaring water, and oddly ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Algernon Blackwood's The Willows
“Ever notice a gap between your values around gender equity and your experience of family life? You're not alone ...”
Read Gesse S.'s full recommendation »
All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership
“Yay, the Family Ships are back! The best part of the Alliance-Union universe is the merchant ships crewed by ...”
Read Edna K.'s full recommendation »
Alliance Rising
“Un libro que toca temas de gustos y preferencias. Particularmente de cosas con las que personas de entre 27 y 47 ...”
Read Lilia M's full recommendation »
Almanaque chavorruco, 1985-2000 un compendio de todo lo que formo a la generacion mexicana
“This book written in poetic verse is beautiful in language, illustration and feeling. A ...”
Read Jen M.'s full recommendation »
An Owl at Sea
“This beautifully illustrated wordless picture book tells the story of a young girl who awakes in the night to ...”
Read Gesse S.'s full recommendation »
Another
“Astrid is determined to become an astronaut, even though some of the challenges (like sleeping on her own among ...”
Read Brianne W.'s full recommendation »
Astro Girl
“Fans of Firefly take special note! The first interstellar mission of a misfit team of Aurora Academy graduates ...”
Read Natasha FC's full recommendation »
Aurora Rising
“Pride and Prejudice retellings are myriad, but this one, set in the Muslim community in Toronto, is worth your ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Ayesha at Last
We need more books like this, that mirror our communities. Great illustrations and a great message.
Read Lilia M's full recommendation »
Be Bold! Be Brave: 11 Latinas Who Made U.S. History
“Elin has a magical power to communicate with the Royal Beasts that protect her queen, a skill puts both her and ...”
Read Danielle J's full recommendation »
Beast Player
“Whether you're a veteran of Usenet or got your first social media account last year, this linguistic exploration ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language
“Inspiring and hard to put down, Obama gives us an engaging and intimate look at her life, her romance with ...”
Read Sue A.'s full recommendation »
Becoming
“Este libro es interesante, divertido y puede ayudar a darnos cuenta que todo es posible si nos preparamos, nos ...”
Read Ana R.M.'s full recommendation »
Becoming: Mi historia
“Learn how to confront bias head-on with this readable and compelling book combining research studies and ...”
Read Martha J's full recommendation »
Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do
An artist's primer and a guide to birds, all in one appealing package.
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
Birds of the West: An Artist's Guide
“An empowering book for teens showing that, whatever your interests, whatever your skills, whatever your shade ...”
Read Danielle J's full recommendation »
Black Enough; Stories of Being Young & Black in America
12 connected essays explore the personal, public and political landscape of race in America.
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
Black is the Body: Stories From My Grandmother's Time, My Mother's Time, and Mine
A perfect combination of fantasy and literary fiction by an award-winning author.
Read Heidi's full recommendation »
Black Leopard, Red wolf
“A great story for anxious people of all ages! Molly is afraid, and it keeps her from making friends, but not for ...”
Read Susanne L.'s full recommendation »
Brave Molly
Por que cada mujer tiene algo de bruja que normalmente llamamos sexto sentido o intuición femenina.
Read Mara T's full recommendation »
Bruja
“A couch, a cup of something warm and this beautifully photographed book of cozy spaces — a perfect way to spend ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
Cabin Porn: Inside
“Can two best friends remain best friends after going to summer camp together? Olive and Willow's friendship is ...”
Read Bob R.'s full recommendation »
Camp
“You'd expect to see a lot of things on a camping trip, but not usually a tiger! A book about imagination and ...”
Read Susanne L's full recommendation »
Camp Tiger
Darkly funny with an unexpected ending that doesn't tie everything up in a bow.
Read Kate S.'s full recommendation »
Cannonball
“I needed a horror tale for my book club and this is was it. No vengeful ghosts, but plenty of the past catching ...”
Read Rachel T.'s full recommendation »
Catch and Kill Lies, Spies, and A Conspiracy to Protect Predators
“Wonderful. A young girl hits New York City in 1939, hangs out at a crumbling theater with her showgirl friends ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
City of Girls
“This is your classic innocent-victim chase novel (North by Northwest, anyone?), full of near escapes, late night ...”
Read Lee C.'s full recommendation »
Conviction
“The assassin nuns are back, serving their dead God of Death and the new Queen of France. I was so happy to ...”
Read Haley I.'s full recommendation »
Courting Darkness
“History, construction, a spectacular fold out and the author's own story of immigrating to the U.S. as a child ...”
Read Kate C.'s full recommendation »
Crossing on Time: Steam Engines, Fast Ships, and a Journey to the New World
“Drugs, drama and forbidden romance — the rise and fall of a fictional band in the 70s. Delicious, with rich ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
Daisy Jones & the Six
“One of the best books I've read all year. Family, Black history, fashion, street life, resiliency, and growing ...”
Read Lanel J's full recommendation »
Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem
The power of his words will leave you shook.
Read Stephen P's full recommendation »
Deaf Republic
I love it when a cherished author writes a memoir that's not disappointing.
Read Heather E.'s full recommendation »
Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country
“A.S. King is as mad about 2019 as you are. Racism and sexism keep showing up in the stories of five teens whose ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
Dig
“I followed the author on social media while he traveled the country deliberately visiting the places he was told ...”
Read Rick J.'s full recommendation »
Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row America
Gripping, with poetic language, an interesting structure and a fascinating setting.
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
Disappearing Earth
“Getting to space is hard, being in space is harder. This great read presents compelling characters whose ...”
Read Rachael S.'s full recommendation »
Do you dream of Terra Two?
“Filled with literal laugh-out-loud moments, this delightful read turns tropes like dead-end jobs, cheating ...”
Read Natasha FC's full recommendation »
Don't You Forget About Me
“Combining Korean myths and science fiction adventure, the story features thirteen year old Min who faces ...”
Read Karen M.'s full recommendation »
Dragon Pearl
“This literary mystery, which surprised me several times, offers the unique viewpoint of Janina, an aging ...”
Read Katie O'Dell's full recommendation »
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
“Nobody writes about the interior lives of families quite like Patchett. And this family is so interesting, with ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
Dutch House
“Tita de la Garza nos comparte su diario personal describiendo sus secretos más íntimos iniciados tiempo atrás en ...”
Read Laura B's full recommendation »
El diario de Tita
“Told with humor, heart, and great dialogue, this is one of those books you want to step into and hang out with ...”
Read Cathy G's full recommendation »
Evvie Drake Starts Over
“I don't want anyone to miss this fantastic novel of Montana, wolves, and the indelible connections between all ...”
Read Jason H's full recommendation »
Fall Back Down When I Die
“A playful, mythic, satirical, and yes, LONG story about the first brain to be scanned and simulated in a virtual ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Fall; or, Dodge in Hell
“Thousands of people escape an alternate timeline where catastrophe has occurred and enter ours. Big ideas, but ...”
Read Rachael S's full recommendation »
Famous Men Who Never Lived
“In 1950's America, photographer Lillian struggles to be taken seriously while raising a headstrong daughter ...”
Read Joanna M.'s full recommendation »
Feast Your Eyes
“You'll love this scifi romp that's both funny and suspenseful. Pirates, asteroids, space bees, a disassembled ...”
Read Joanna M.'s full recommendation »
Field Trip
“This sleek volume by a world-renowned illustrator questions the myth of the starving artist, turning the ...”
Read Jeanie D.'s full recommendation »
Find Your Artistic Voice
“A frank and illuminating memoir of the experiences of menopause, this short and easy-to-read book includes ...”
Read Brandon B.'s full recommendation »
Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life
“"Another book about privileged New Yorkers? Really?" Yes, really, when the book is this incisive and witty and ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Fleishman is in Trouble
“Mowdy's stories have stuck with me long after I first read them. This collection of linked stories pulled me in ...”
Read Jason H's full recommendation »
Floyd Harbor
“Makeda, a transracial adoptee, is new in town, and she's facing microagressions and overt racism from her ...”
Read Joanna M.'s full recommendation »
For Black Girls Like Me
A probing examination of race and class identity, but also the smartest, funniest narrator I've met in ages.
Read Brianne W.'s full recommendation »
Frankly In Love
“Emotional, violent, straight-faced hyperbole that punches in the gut. The stories will upset you, provoke ...”
Read Robert M.'s full recommendation »
Friday Black
Explore more than 5000 species of frogs with this beautifully illustrated book.
Read Kate C.'s full recommendation »
Frog Book
“A warm story of food and family written by a member of the Seminole Nation. Shows the diversity of Native ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Fry Bread
“A southern preacher/suspected serial killer. The charismatic lawyer who defended him--and subsequently *his ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee
“A completely heartfelt, honest memoir of the author's journey growing up non-gender-conforming, plus a guide for ...”
Read Karen E.'s full recommendation »
Gender Queer: A Memoir
“This book really spoke to me and is one of the first children's books that deals with colorism, internalized ...”
Read Lanel J.'s full recommendation »
Genesis Begins Again
The romance is both charming and scorching hot. After a near-death experience, Chloe makes a "Get a Life" list.
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
“Like the newly risen dead, this book will reach out and grab you with its desiccated skeletal fist. And then it ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Gideon the Ninth
“Enchanting and well-written. I enjoyed the vintage setting, with all its flapper glamour, train travel, and ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Gods of Jade and Shadow
“By turns funny and heartbreaking, this graphic memoir frames the author's experience growing up Indian in ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Good Talk
“A delightful combination of memoir, travelogue and a history of the Greek language, the author uses humor to ...”
Read Sean D's full recommendation »
Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen
“This little monster is hungry, he's angry, he's HANGRY! So you can just imagine what happens when a pigeon ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Hangry
“I like knitting better than crocheting, but I loved this book anyway! Jonah shares the story of his adoption ...”
Read Shannon L.'s full recommendation »
Hello, Crochet Friends!
The zombie apocalypse as narrated by a wise-ass pet crow and other animals? Yes please!
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
Hollow Kingdom
“When Marvel's father dies, her family must take refuge in a tarpaper shack they find deep in the ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Home in the woods
“A series of coming-of-age, intersecting vignettes present black female protagonists exploring their relationship ...”
Read Sherita T.'s full recommendation »
Hot Comb
“Do the Toodle! And the Poot! A celebration that will have you getting up and trying out new ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
How Do You Dance?
“Combining powerful theory, personal stories, and beautiful language, Kendi lays out what it means to be an ...”
Read Ross B.'s full recommendation »
How to be an Antiracist
“Less of a how-to and more of a why-you-might, Odell brings together art, activism, technology, and self-care ...”
Read Allison R.'s full recommendation »
How to Do Nothing
“This lovely counting book starts with a young boy playing on his own. With the turn of each page another child ...”
Read Gesse S's full recommendation »
How to Two
“I wish my science teachers had used this book! It's chock full of fascinating information that will help you ...”
Read Karen E.'s full recommendation »
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-world Problems
“Edie finds a box in the attic, filled with old letters and photos of a woman who looks just like her. Determined ...”
Read Sara P.'s full recommendation »
I Can Make This Promise
“What becomes of the American Road Novel when all the roads are dreams and all the maps are on fire? If you keep ...”
Read Ted S.'s full recommendation »
I Heart Oklahoma
“An intensely relatable family narrative with expressive art and a first-person glimpse into the first-generation ...”
Read Brianna L's full recommendation »
I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir
“A short book that reads like a fable and poses the question - what would you sacrifice for one more day of life ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
If Cats Disappeared from the World
“A short but intense read, a fable almost, about an illiterate teen subsisting on an isolated farm in the French ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
If You Cross the River
Word games and role playing to help spark new creativity for authors and screenplay writers.
Read Susanne L.'s full recommendation »
Improv For Writers
“Climate change is a complicated issue but here's an insightful, fact-driven, and quite witty book that explains ...”
Read Karen E.'s full recommendation »
Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don't Know You Have
“When the US government terminates their tribe, Regina and her family are forced to move from their Umpqua ...”
Read Rebecca S.'s full recommendation »
Indian No More
“Worth it just for the pages on how the author's father became the family yogurt maker. Inspired stories and ...”
Read Mandy T.'s full recommendation »
Indian-ish: Recipes and Antics From A Modern American Family
Ever do a DNA test through Ancestry or 23 and Me? Get any surprises?
Read Tama F's full recommendation »
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love
“A terrifyingly very-near-future story of a Muslim teen, Layla, whose family is forced to pack up their life in ...”
Read Alicia T.'s full recommendation »
Internment
Sola is cursed, or so everyone tells her...
Read Elleona B.'s full recommendation »
Island Book
“An homage to the vast and diverse culinary contributions of black chefs and cooks to the American food ...”
Read Mandy T.'s full recommendation »
Jubliee: Recipes From two centuries of African American cooking
“Using her own experience with childhood diabetes, Sonia Sotomayor encourages kids to ask questions and think ...”
Read Susanne L's full recommendation »
Just Ask
“Whimsical, subtly humorous, imaginative answers to big questions. By the way, in case you've been wondering what ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Just Because
“As lovely and unassuming as the garden itself. Beautiful yet understated look at the original garden as well as ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Kengo Kuma Portland Japanese Garden
A moving, informative, hilarious trip through miscarriages, morning sickness, and near-death delivery.
Read Karen E.'s full recommendation »
Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos
“You'll find hippos, pit bulls, pornographers, and so much more on this dreamlike story of Corvus, a young woman ...”
Read Allison R.'s full recommendation »
King of Joy
“A great cast of characters, witty banter, and a unique plot made this a very enjoyable read. I can't wait for ...”
Read Melissa G.'s full recommendation »
Lady Derring Takes A Lover
“This vibrant survey of 21st century landscape art explores everything from photorealistic nature ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Landscape Painting Now
“Laura Dean is a terrible girlfriend. Fantastic, atmospheric story about the pain of ditching toxic ...”
Read Keli Y.'s full recommendation »
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me
An evocative elegy on love, death and what it means to be an artist.
Read Lee C.'s full recommendation »
Leading Men
Historical fiction with a twist, and a fast, smart read.
Read Rachael S.'s full recommendation »
Lent
“I dare you to put this book down! A well paced murder mystery wrapped up in a bittersweet coming of age story ...”
Read Darcee M's full recommendation »
Lights All Night Long
“This is a stunning book on what it means to love without fear and embrace who you are. The lives of three ...”
Read Brianna L's full recommendation »
Like A Love Story
“What happened to the 300 residents of a secret town who all disappeared without a trace? Intriguing reading for ...”
Read Susanne L.'s full recommendation »
Limetown: The Prequel to the Podcast
“When a dancing, painting, scientific llama eats "more cake than any llama should ever eat," will it lead to the ...”
Read Joanna M.'s full recommendation »
Llama Destroys the World
“Es el cumpleaños de Carmela y ya puede acompañar a su hermano mayor en su recorrido por la ciudad. Mientras ...”
Read Rebecca S.'s full recommendation »
Los deseos de Carmela
“Marisa es toda una celebridad en Facebook, youTube e Instagram. El tono de su libro te recordará mucho a esa ...”
Read Lilia M's full recommendation »
Lost en el gabacho el chiste, es joder
“Zayneb, suspended for speaking out against an Islamaphobic teacher, is sent to her aunt's house in Qatar for ...”
Read Danielle J's full recommendation »
Love from A to Z
“A tapestry of distinct voices rivaling any Greek myth. The goddess Aphrodite, on trial by her husband for ...”
Read Natasha FC's full recommendation »
Lovely War
“"No todas las decisiones son fáciles, menos si son resultado de la culpa y el dolor. Para Sara nada volvió a ser ...”
Read Raul V.'s full recommendation »
Luna
Great neo-noir with great characters and real heart.
Read Megan M.'s full recommendation »
Maggy Garrisson
“It's a hard-boiled detective novel meets Harry Potter. A grisly murder, a romance doomed by a single lie -- this ...”
Read Keli Y.'s full recommendation »
Magic for Liars
Two girls, two cultures, two families becoming one.
Read Lilia M.'s full recommendation »
Maya and Annie on Saturdays and Sundays
Well-written book about loss. Delicate and touching.
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Maybe Tomorrow?
Ever wonder what therapy might be like? Written with insight, humor, vulnerability, and compassion.
Read Cathy G's full recommendation »
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A therapist, her therapist, and our lives revealed
“Current and former English majors rejoice! This pithy and insightful book explores nonlinear plot and narrative ...”
Read Christopher C.'s full recommendation »
Meander, Spiral, Explode Design and Pattern in Narrative
“I remember when the news broke of the disaster — the real story is so complex, so twisted, so very disturbing ...”
Read Tama F.'s full recommendation »
Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster
“Elegant writing and lush illustrations illuminate the concept of natural selection. Story of the peppered moth ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Moth: An Evolution Story
After pounding a nail with a hammer, Mr. Nogginbody wonders what else can be fixed that way.
Read Susanne L.'s full recommendation »
Mr. Nogginbody Gets a Hammer
“This exquisitely illustrated book tells the beautiful story. After getting upset and knocking the moon from the ...”
Read Jen M.'s full recommendation »
Music for Mister Moon
“Stunning photography. The author's voice shines through both the recipes and the stories. A book to luxuriate ...”
Read Mandy T.'s full recommendation »
My Mexico City Kitchen
“A little girl joins her dad on a motorcycle tour of her city, viewing the market place, the ...”
Read Cathy C's full recommendation »
My Papi Has a Motorcycle
“Noah's wife is not named in the Bible, but she is Naamah in this intimate and sensual novel. Beautifully written ...”
Read Lori M's full recommendation »
Naamah
“Cherríe Moraga's writing opened up a whole new world for me in college. This is a deeply moving return to her ...”
Read Rebecca S.'s full recommendation »
Native Country of the Heart: A Memoir
“A fascinating (and timely) look at the impact of the so-called "LIttle Ice Age," when climate change led to ...”
Read Megan M.'s full recommendation »
Nature's Mutiny: How the Little Ice Age of the Long Seventeenth Century Transformed the West and Shaped the Present
“Sparks of humor sprinkled throughout this honest view of a middle schooler dealing with microaggressions ...”
Read Sugene Y.'s full recommendation »
New Kid
“Short story collections are normally a mixed bag for me, but this one really lives up to the quote in the blurb ...”
Read Rebecca R.'s full recommendation »
New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color
“An enchanting novel from a Portland literary powerhouse that plays with the fiction/nonfiction divide in fun and ...”
Read Jason H's full recommendation »
Night Swimmers
Alex Stern can see ghosts. Mostly this has made her life worse...
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Ninth House
“Loved how the author weaves political & ecological perspectives. Fascinating story of a tiger that killed an ...”
Read Rick J's full recommendation »
No Beast So Fierce: The Terrifying True Story of the Champawat Tiger, the Deadliest Animal in History
“Powerfully empathetic look at intimate partner terrorism and its far-reaching consequences. It's a very dark ...”
Read Rick J's full recommendation »
No Visible Bruises: What We Don't Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us
“Two of the most frustrating point of view characters you'll read, but the explorations of class and psychology ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Normal People
“From Top Chef to opening one of the most elite restaurants in Washington D.C., Onwuachi's candid memoir of food ...”
Read Danielle J's full recommendation »
Notes from a Young Black Chef
“Weeks after reading, I'm still enamoured. Part LGBTQ+ romance, part Firefly, part feminist manifesto, this ...”
Read Violeta G's full recommendation »
On A Sunbeam
“Laugh-out-loud funny and illuminating, I was surprised how much I loved this book. I have a few new choice words ...”
Read Melissa G.'s full recommendation »
On Cussing: Bad Words and Creative Cursing
“A stunning autobiographical novel about family, language, sexuality, and fitting in, poet Voung uses his lyrical ...”
Read Allison R.'s full recommendation »
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
“Bri dreams of becoming a great rapper, but when her first song goes viral for the wrong reasons and she draws ...”
Read Alicia Tate's full recommendation »
On The Come Up
“Oregon's old growth forests are lovely, dark, and deep, and this gorgeous guide will take you to the heart of ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Oregon's Ancient Forests
“A blistering collection of poems that unflinchingly says no to capital and its daily and broad-screen ...”
Read Eric G's full recommendation »
Our Death
“Dreamy, colorful account of the surrealist painter who fled Europe for Mexico due to World War II ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington
Sobering and emotionally grounding, this book shows us the multitudes contained in a single story.
Read Brianna L's full recommendation »
Patron Saints of Nothing
“As much about the immigrant experience as it is about motherhood and sexual identity, Patsy is among the most ...”
Read Darcee M's full recommendation »
Patsy
“In 1993, Iowa City, Paul is a queer-theory-studying, zine-making, enthusiastically cruising...shapeshifter? Paul ...”
Read Sara R's full recommendation »
Paul Takes The Form Of A Mortal Girl
“This book provides all the building blocks to create your perfect pizza. I'm particularly drawn to the Bacon and ...”
Read Mandy T.'s full recommendation »
Perfect Pan Pizza
“The man reveals details of his early life and his career in computer systems administration, which led him to ...”
Read Jan C.'s full recommendation »
Permanent Record
“How do you hunt a monster when no one believes they exist? When Jam accidentally summons the monster-hunter Pet ...”
Read Brianne W.'s full recommendation »
Pet
“A wonderful, funny and heartfelt book for anyone who's ever felt like a fish-out-of-water. Fun illustrations ...”
Read Ruth A.'s full recommendation »
Pie in the Sky
“Have you ever had your own little monsters that make you feel so upset that you can't do anything else but run ...”
Read Elleona B.'s full recommendation »
Pilu of the Woods
“Brian the piranha loves his fruit and veggies! His fellow piranhas just think he's weird. And yet he tries to ...”
Read Jen M.'s full recommendation »
Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas
The biggest mistake Pokko's parents ever made was giving her a drum.
Read Brianne W.'s full recommendation »
Pokko and the Drum
“More "epiphany fic" for fans of A Man Called Ove. A highly regarded economics professor faces some hard truths ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
Professor Chandra Follows his Bliss
“You can almost smell the pumpkin spice and wet leaves as you page through this utterly delightful romp about two ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Pumpkinheads
“As a person who is concerned about eating and living sustainably, this book took me to the next step ...”
Read Suzanne J's full recommendation »
Putting on the Dog
“Stunning illustrations and an immensely readable plot. A young girl lives on a remote island near an ...”
Read Brianna L's full recommendation »
Queen of the Sea
“Queenie is flailing — but she's hilarious and real. This book deals with race, sexuality, identity, mental ...”
Read KT's full recommendation »
Queenie
“A gorgeous collection of short bios of LGTBQ+ people. From Michelangelo to Emma Gonzalez, from Sappho to James ...”
Read Cathy C.'s full recommendation »
Queer Heroes
“Valinda arrives in post Civil War New Orleans to offer schooling for newly emancipated African Americans ...”
Read Laural W's full recommendation »
Rebel
“Family history of complexity in vivid, compelling prose. A warm smile of a paragraph, then a sly grin of a ...”
Read Seana L's full recommendation »
Red at the Bone
The West Wing meets palace intrigue with this delightful, queer romantic comedy.
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Red, White & Royal Blue
“Compelling and moving. A young man raised to be a leader of white supremacists gradually starts to understand ...”
Read Martha J.'s full recommendation »
Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist
“Upbeat, with playful illustrations. An enthusiastic young astronomer plans a meteor viewing party and nothing is ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Rocket Says Look Up!
“May Attaway, who lives with her father in the house she grew up in, sets out on a quest of self discovery. Her ...”
Read Jane C.'s full recommendation »
Rules for Visiting
“More than running and training, more than the history of long-distance running in America. Gorgeously people ...”
Read Tama F.'s full recommendation »
Running to the Edge: A Band of Misfits and the Guru Who Unlocked the Secrets of Speed
“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. And if you make it yourself, you don't have to wait in line ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
Salt & Straw Ice Cream Cookbook
“A detail-heavy, deeply reported account that considers how our storytelling alters memory and how trauma shapes ...”
Read Kady F.'s full recommendation »
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
“Background history, personal testimony and excellent writing tell the story of the 2016 armed occupation of the ...”
Read Susanne L.'s full recommendation »
Shadowlands: Fear and Freedom at the Oregon Standoff
“This isn't just about Weinstein and Christine Blasey Ford— it's also a fascinating journalism procedural. It's ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
She Said
“Make salad exciting again! This excellent mix-and-match cookbook is chock-full of instructions for tasty ...”
Read Megan M.'s full recommendation »
Show Up For Salad: 100 More Recipes for Salads, Dressings, and All the Fixins You Don't Have to Be Vegan to Love
“Could also be titled Perfect Cake. Make the Lovely Lemon Yogurt Cake with Lemon Syrup on p. 46 and thank me ...”
Read Mandy T.'s full recommendation »
Simple Cake
“It's hard to find the right adjective for these short stories. Distinctive? Poetic? Quirky? How about ...”
Read Gesse S.'s full recommendation »
Sing to It
“This fast-paced suspenseful read will have you wishing that the video game world of Slay was real. High school ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
Slay
“On a birthday trip to New York City from Beaverton, eleven-year-old sneakerhead Amara learns about her roots ...”
Read Kirby M.'s full recommendation »
Some Places More than Others
“I love Nick Hornby's characters--complicated, snarky, funny, witty. This is an interesting look into Tom ...”
Read Cathy G's full recommendation »
State of the Union: A Marriage in Ten Conversations
“Think you know the story of Cinderella and her wicked step sisters? Think again! Many twists and turns, and the ...”
Read Angie F.'s full recommendation »
Stepsister
“A rad story about friendship, solidarity, and embracing our individuality while building strength through unity ...”
Read Pati M.'s full recommendation »
Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers
“Honest, heartbreaking and hopeful, this memoir and family history grapples with part of Portland's history ...”
Read Christopher C.'s full recommendation »
Survival Math Notes on An All-American Family
“Sweety is an awkward little naked mole rat. She loves purple, interpretive dance ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
Sweety
“Case studies of how we talk to strangers and what happens when our expectations of communication fall outside of ...”
Read Susan T's full recommendation »
Talking to Strangers
“A moving, absorbing story. This bio-fiction draws a riveting portrait of Lee Miller and her tumultuous ...”
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
The Age of Light
“An eye-opening look at where we are — surveilled by inescapable companies like Google and Facebook — and how we ...”
Read Allison R.'s full recommendation »
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
“The author spent years searching for a sense of belonging as a Yemini Jew. Her stint in the Israeli Army was ...”
Read Karen E.'s full recommendation »
The Art of Leaving: A Memoir
“Stage actress Freddy Carlton has a lot riding on a live-TV performance based on the novels of Jane Austen ...”
Read Jen W.'s full recommendation »
The Austen Playbook
“A sweeping epic of faith, magic, friendship, bravery and resistance during the Spanish Inquisition. Mesmerizing ...”
Read Joanna M.'s full recommendation »
The Bird King
This book has heart, a protagonist to root for, and laugh-out-loud dialogue.
Read Cathy G's full recommendation »
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
“Go on a journey from the cringe-worthy to the awesome in this "fantastic voyage" through the human body ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
The Body: A guide for occupants
“Faith is worried about fitting in in middle school, so when a popular girl suggests she join the soccer team ...”
Read Jen M.'s full recommendation »
The Breakaways
I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. An aching, beautiful thriller--I couldn't put it down.
Read Haley I.'s full recommendation »
The Butterfly Girl
“The Mighty Muskrats use the mysteries they come across to explore their community, their culture, the land and ...”
Read Natalie S.'s full recommendation »
The Case of Windy Lake
“Touching, entertaining, and a little bit weird. While the setting (on a tidally locked planet) is fascinating ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
The City in the Middle of the Night
“Part personal reflection, part scientific and sociological investigation, these beautifully-written, clear-eyed ...”
Read Gesse S.'s full recommendation »
The Collected Schizophrenias
“A flyover look at history. Even before the founding of the United States the church was finding rationalizations ...”
Read Rod R's full recommendation »
The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church's Complicity in Racism
“The current trend of "sustainable" fashion has spawned many borderline useless how-to books. This isn't one of ...”
Read Sandy M.'s full recommendation »
The Conscious Closet The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good
“Translated from the French, this sweet little novel captures both the allure and pain of a young man who becomes ...”
Read Jim C.'s full recommendation »
The Cook
A heady mix of romance, feminism, and intense peril with a vivid dollop of authentically seedy atmosphere.
Read Lee C.'s full recommendation »
The Doll Factory
“Nobody writes about the interior lives of families like Patchett. The inside jokes, the resentments that go on ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
The Dutch House
“Jamail writes so that readers feel as if they travelling with him to sites around the world. Sadly, our planet ...”
Read Sue A.'s full recommendation »
The End of Ice
“In a not-too-distant future, immigrant women of color are housed (incarcerated?) at the Farm, in order to ...”
Read Lee C.'s full recommendation »
The Farm
“Perfect for cozy lap reading, this is a fun exploration about how and why we choose our ...”
Read Jeanie D.'s full recommendation »
The Favorite Book
“Norris Kaplan, a Haitian French Canadian teen, is immigrating for the second time in his life, this time to ...”
Read Danielle J's full recommendation »
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager
“The author changes the narrative surrounding the women killed by Jack the Ripper. A stunning and heartbreaking ...”
Read Brianna L's full recommendation »
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
“Intelligent and gripping page-turner! Traveling mostly between the early 1990s SoCal RiotGrrl scene and the ...”
Read Stephen P.'s full recommendation »
The Future of Another Timeline
“Silvie is a teenage girl experiencing a summer living as ancient Britons would have, but it's anything but fun ...”
Read Lori M's full recommendation »
The Ghost Wall
“Graceful writing and evocative description mark this Oregon story of a family broken by the past. Ooligan Press ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
The Gifts We Keep
“Young chemist Flavia and her friend Arthur set out to discover why there was a human finger in her sister ...”
Read Sue A.'s full recommendation »
The Golden Tresses of the Dead
“A charming delight of a book set in two timelines. In 2016, a Canadian woman searches for her grandmother's ...”
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding
“Fun, funny and fast. In far-future Kathmandu, all are content. Until the djinn Melek Ahmar, the Lord of Tuesday ...”
Read Rachael S.'s full recommendation »
The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday
“A silly yet wise exploration of emotions and their interconnectivity. This book is just as much fun for the ...”
Read Brianne W.'s full recommendation »
The Happy Book
“An Ojibwe anthropologist confronts perceptions of Native people in America with a clear-eyed examination of ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee
“Take a joyous hike with three young friends and discover the plants and animals in the ...”
Read Brianne W.'s full recommendation »
The Hike
“Do you enjoy psychological suspense with an unreliable narrator? This debut novel fits the bill nicely, but with ...”
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
The Hunting Party
“Two orphans must find a way to survive in early 19th Century northern Newfoundland. The book describes their ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
The Innocents
“Explores friendship, family, and gender norms shifting over 70 years, two wars, and colonial rule through the ...”
Read Joanna M.'s full recommendation »
The Island of Sea Women
“A beautifully presented, massive (400+ pages!) collection of traditional recipes and modern twists on Jewish ...”
Read Megan M.'s full recommendation »
The Jewish Cookbook
“Brings together characters from the author's series to combat a child pornography rings that reaches into the ...”
Read Rod R.'s full recommendation »
The Killer Collective
“Filmmaker and book devourer Mallory O'Meara writes lovingly about the life of forgotten pioneer of special ...”
Read Brianna L's full recommendation »
The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick
The author's new series opens with Detective Matthew Venn investigating the murder of a man in North Devon.
Read Susanne L's full recommendation »
The Long Call
“The harsh, unforgiving desert of Queensland looms large in this compelling mystery. Atmospheric, tense ...”
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
The Lost Man
“How long would you last deep-deep-deep down a cave, alone, your only link to the surface a mentally unstable ...”
Read Christopher C.'s full recommendation »
The Luminous Dead
“On an island in Japan whole classes of things disappear regularly. Birds will leave. The people will have an ...”
Read Rachael S.'s full recommendation »
The Memory Police
“Compelling and creepy! In this Gothic novel, Ailsa has inherited a house called the Manse in the Scottish ...”
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
The Missing Years
“The funniest book I've ever read. A deft satire of our culture of "self-help/care" and a classic document of the ...”
Read Hunter T's full recommendation »
The New Me
“In this beautiful tribute to parental love, a young girl plays a nighttime game of hide and seek with friends in ...”
Read Natasha FC's full recommendation »
The Night is Yours
“Named for the Confucian virtues, five characters intersect around mysterious deaths and a preserved finger ...”
Read Ann K's full recommendation »
The Night Tiger
“A young woman flees the poverty and violence of a Mafia-controlled 1920s New York only to find herself ...”
Read Alison K.'s full recommendation »
The Paragon Hotel
“Betrayal, mystery and gods: this well-paced story is excellent for folks looking for a journey as well as a ...”
Read Natasha FC's full recommendation »
The Raven Tower
“It's so satisfying to have the first of a new series be such an enjoyable read! After World War II, Iris, a free ...”
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
The Right Sort of Man
“This novel about two young men's canoe trip in remote Quebec reminded me of John Krakauer, Hemingway, Cormac ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
The River
A prisoner is guarded by a demon who demands a story of him. This is that story.
Read Heidi S.'s full recommendation »
The Ruin of Kings
“A joyous (and painful) hike on England's rugged long distance Southwest Coast Path, under the worst ...”
Read Edith M.'s full recommendation »
The Salt Path
“Fact: The CIA thought that publishing Doctor Zhivago in Russian and smuggling copies into the Soviet Union would ...”
Read Lee C.'s full recommendation »
The Secrets We Kept
“Captures the feeling of midwinter, especially how the sun glows low over the horizon, the only ...”
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
The Shortest Day
If you love a book with a delicately teased out moral quandary and a nuanced look at class, read this novel.
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
The Snakes
A prettily written love story to stories.
Read Heidi S.'s full recommendation »
The Starless Sea
“The story of a little-known battle waged on the island of Attu in Alaska's Aleutian Islands, told by an American ...”
Read Bob R.'s full recommendation »
The Storm on our Shores
“Eerie and unusual. In this modern British Gothic, teacher Clare Cassidy finds frightening messages written in ...”
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
The Stranger Diaries
I found this one impossible to put down!
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
The Stranger Inside
Once I began to read, it was hard to put down till I was finished. I highly recommend this.
Read Heather R's full recommendation »
The Summer Wives: A Novel
“Alexander and artist Kadir Nelson bring the best of both their arts in this beautiful and ...”
Read Natasha FC's full recommendation »
The Undefeated
“Labeled a problem child, Thelonius is accused of hiding a gun in a park. Through cunning wit and charm, watch ...”
Read Elleona B's full recommendation »
The Usual Suspects
“Both children and adults will understand and love the moral of this simple tale. Charming illustrations complete ...”
Read Hue L.'s full recommendation »
The Wall in the Middle of the Book
“Can we talk about slavery in America without judgement or enmity? Yes! Read this book, from "one of this ...”
Read Edna K's full recommendation »
The Water Dancer
“Melati must deal with racism, violence and her own OCD in a race to find her mother during the May1969 race ...”
Read Alicia T.'s full recommendation »
The Weight of Our Sky
“"Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years they are ...”
Read Jennifer W.'s full recommendation »
The Wicked + the Divine, Volume 9 "Okay"
“A beautiful cross-genre work - a resilient, maligned widow purchases a crumbling Gothic mansion in Gilded Age ...”
Read Brianna L's full recommendation »
The Widow of Rose House
“A moving and entertaining tribute to the author's mother, who managed to raise five children while running a ...”
Read Allison R.'s full recommendation »
The World According to Fannie Davis
“An inspiring installation artist shares her journey of learning how to tie one knot a day and how it informed ...”
Read Michele G.'s full recommendation »
The Year of Knots
“In this unexpectedly magical book Sweetie realizes that she's capable and worthy of love by being exactly and ...”
Read Stephanie O.'s full recommendation »
There's Something About Sweetie
Timely and provocative essays on beauty, race, and more. Cottom breaks things down for you with wit and grace.
Read Allison R.'s full recommendation »
Thick: And Other Essays
“A story told in letters: rival agents of two opposite futures travel through time, attempting to ensure victory ...”
Read Rod M.'s full recommendation »
This is How You Lose the Time War
“A tale of friendship that spans 60 years, infused with the mysterious working of a woman's mind as she struggles ...”
Read Susanne L.'s full recommendation »
Three Things About Elsie
“Told through emails, text messages and letters, this story follows two young women whose fathers meet and fall ...”
Read Jen M.'s full recommendation »
To Night Owl From Dogfish
“Come along for the ride with this highly-regarded African-American journalist as she remembers important figures ...”
Read Nancy P.'s full recommendation »
Trailblazer
Well-written, funny, and kinda frightening. Gaze into the trick mirror of our contemporary culture.
Read Sandy M's full recommendation »
Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-delusion
“In a story that will resonate with little ones fretful about having loved ones out of sight, turtle Truman ...”
Read Natasha FC's full recommendation »
Truman
“A journalist for 60 Minutes and former anchor of CBS News writes as a witness to world-changing events. His ...”
Read Sue A.'s full recommendation »
Truth Worth Telling: A reporter's search for meaning in the stories of our time
“There's a citywide treasure hunt based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, sponsored by a deceased billionaire ...”
Read Jennifer W.'s full recommendation »
Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts
“In the kingdom of Kaloon, magic is banned, including things like black cats and twins. Flissa and Sara, hide the ...”
Read Jen M.'s full recommendation »
Twinchantment
“Of course twins Ellery and Ezra knew all about the murdered girl. But that was five years ago. It couldn't be ...”
Read Susanne L.'s full recommendation »
Two Can Keep A Secret
“A well-designed and engaging handbook for supercharged savory and sweet dishes utilizing one or more of eight ...”
Read Mandy T.'s full recommendation »
Umami Bomb: 75 Vegetarian Recipes That Explode With Flavor
“Fans of Barry Lopez will enjoy this conversational and poetic investigation of the ways that humans have shaped ...”
Read Ross B.'s full recommendation »
Underland: A deep time journey
“Great read, with original world building. Follows the stories of Onna, a talented young wizard who is ...”
Read Rachael S.'s full recommendation »
Unnatural Magic
“I fell in love with this book. A sensual walk through Paris, ephemeral glimpses at the secrets of Istanbul ...”
Read Heather E's full recommendation »
Walking on the Ceiling
“Nigerian post apocalyptic fiction, with strong women, and intense drama, loads of action, and dark humor ...”
Read Seana L.'s full recommendation »
War Girls
“In this psychological thriller set in an upscale English neighborhood, several families' lives are devastated ...”
Read Jan D.'s full recommendation »
Watching You
“The hero is victorious and the story ends. He's fulfilled his life's purpose before he's even graduated high ...”
Read Keli Y.'s full recommendation »
Wayward Son
“Making you feel less alone, these funny and desperate parenting stories include clever hacks every parent should ...”
Read Melissa G.'s full recommendation »
Weird Parenting Wins: Bathtub Dining, Family Screams, and Other Hacks From the Parenting Trenches
“This book reveals in basic but powerful terms what it means to be a refugee. And you meet some real life ...”
Read Jen M.'s full recommendation »
What is a Refugee?
Colorful, loving story about a trans boy who is excited to welcome a new sibling.
Read Erika B.'s full recommendation »
When Aidan Became a Brother
“Tired of being asked where she is from, a brown-skinned young girl asks her abuelo who ...”
Read Natasha FC's full recommendation »
Where Are You From?/?De dónde eres?
“After a solar eclipse passes through their town, two teenagers--who can't stand each other--start swapping ...”
Read Sara P.'s full recommendation »
Where I End & You Begin
“El Chavo (also known as el Chavo del Ocho) is a dearly loved character, well known in most Latin American ...”
Read Lilia M.'s full recommendation »
Where Is? El Chavo ¿Dónde Está? El Chavo : A Bilingual Hide-and-seek Book
“The second book in a great urban fantasy series brings a Western flavor to the story of humans and Others trying ...”
Read Melissa G.'s full recommendation »
Wild Country
“"Just think, a pumpkin spice mummy!" Is just one of the many great and funny lines that are even better in ...”
Read Rachel T.'s full recommendation »
Will my cat eat my eyeballs?
“Some of the most stunning manga art I've ever seen with a wholly touching plot. A young girl finds herself ...”
Read Brianna L's full recommendation »
Witch Hat Atelier
“The author narrates the audio and it's a great listen. Emoni got pregnant freshman year, and has had to work ...”
Read Kirby M.'s full recommendation »
With the Fire on High
“A dialogue about the patriarchy leavened with rich characters and dark humor. Based on the true and horrific ...”
Read Diana A.'s full recommendation »
Women Talking
“Matthew becomes the leader of one of Albuquerque's Native American gangs, sort of by accident. He's difficult to ...”
Read Sara P.'s full recommendation »
You Who Enter Here
“You really shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I have to admit that I did. It took a long time before I ...”
Read Lanel J.'s full recommendation »
Young, Dumb & Full of hmm...: How One Woman's Dating Journey Erased Her Good Sense, a Memoir

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