Adult Picks

Open City

by Teju Cole

Along the streets of Manhattan, a young Nigerian doctor named Julius doing his residency wanders aimlessly. The walks are a release from the tightly regulated mental environment of work, and they give him the opportunity to process his relationships, his recent breakup, his present, his past. Though he’s navigating the busy parts of town, the impression of countless faces does nothing to assuage his feelings of isolation. Julius crisscrosses social territory as well, encountering people from different cultures and classes who provide insight on his journey—which takes him to Brussels, to the Nigeria of his youth, and into the most unrecognizable facets of his own soul.

Time Is a Mother

by Ocean Vuong

In this deeply intimate second poetry collection, Ocean Vuong searches for life among the aftershocks of personal and social loss, embodying the paradox of sitting in grief while being determined to survive beyond it. Shifting through memory, and in concert with the themes of his novel On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, Vuong contends with the meaning of family and the cost of being the product of an American war in America. At once vivid, brave, and propulsive, these poems circle fragmented lives to find both restoration as well as the epicenter of the break.

The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America

edited by Nikesh Shukla & Chimene Suleyman

From the proposed border wall and travel ban to the marching of white supremacists in Charlottesville, America is consumed by tensions over immigration and the question of which bodies are welcome. In this much-anticipated follow-up to the bestselling UK edition, hailed by Zadie Smith as "lively and vital," editors Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman hand the microphone to an incredible range of writers whose humanity and right to be here is under attack.

The Most Costly Journey

edited by by Marek Bennett, Andy Kolovos, & Teresa Mares

This non-fiction comics anthology presents stories of survival and healing told by Latin American migrant farmworkers in Vermont, and drawn by New England cartoonists as part of the El Viaje Más Caro Project-a health care outreach effort of the Open Door Clinic and UVM Extension Bridges to Health aimed at addressing the overlooked mental health needs of these vulnerable immigrants. Originally distributed to farm workers as individual Spanish language comic books, this collected edition brings the lives and voices-as well as the challenges and hardships-of these workers to an English-language audience, granting insight into the experiences and lives of the people vital to producing the food we eat.

American Ending

by Mary Kay Zuravleff

Yelena is the first American born to her Old Believer Russian Orthodox parents, who are building a life in a Pennsylvania Appalachian town. This town, in the first decades of the 20th century, is filled with Russian transplants and a new church with a dome. Here, boys quit grade school for the coal mines and girls are married off at fourteen. The young pair up, give birth to more babies than they can feed, and make shaky starts in their new world. However, Yelena craves a different path. Will she find her happy American ending or will a dreaded Russian ending be her fate?

A Cup of Water Under My Bed: A Memoir

by Daisy Hernández

In this lyrical, coming-of-age memoir, Daisy Hernández chronicles what the women in her Cuban-Colombian family taught her about love, money, and race. Her mother warns her about envidia and men who seduce you with pastries, while one tía bemoans that her niece is turning out to be “una india” instead of an American. Another auntie instructs that when two people are close, they are bound to become like uña y mugre, fingernails and dirt, and that no, Daisy’s father is not godless. He’s simply praying to a candy dish that can be traced back to Africa.

Kid and Teen Picks

We Celebrate the Light

by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple

Ages: 3-6

Dive into the holidays where light is a central theme in this beautiful book from beloved children’s author Jane Yolen. Whether it’s Diwali, Chanukah, Christmas, or Lunar New Year, children will love learning about the light-filled holidays featured on the pages.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

by Traci Sorell

Ages: 4-7

The word otsaliheliga is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences.  Written by best-selling and award-winning Cherokee author Traci Sorell, this look into the Cherokee community is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.

The Legend of the Poinsettia

by Tomie dePaola

Ages: 5-9

Ever wonder how poinsettias came to be so integrally tied to Christmas? Tomie dePaola brings to life the Mexican legend of the poinsettia, also known as the flor de la Nochebuena, or flower of the Holy Night. It all began with one thoughtful young girl, before blooming into a colorful tradition.

The Seven Days of Kwanzaa

by Angela Shelf Medearis

Ages: 8-12

This guidebook introduces readers to the history of Kwanzaa and includes recipes for African-inspired dishes, instructions for craft projects, and summaries of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The content and activities make it an excellent resource for middle grade readers looking to deepen their understanding of cultural heritage and traditions.

Let It Glow

by Marissa Meyer & Joanne Levy

Ages: 8-12

When Aviva Davis and Holly Martin meet at the holiday pageant tryouts for their local senior’s center, they think they must be seeing double. While they both knew they were adopted, they had no idea they had a biological sibling, let alone an identical twin! Two virtual strangers swapping homes, holidays, and age-old traditions–what could possibly go wrong?

For the Rest of Us: 13 Festive Holiday Stories to Celebrate All Seasons

edited by Dahlia Adler

Ages: 15-18

Fourteen acclaimed authors showcase the beautiful and diverse ways holidays are observed in this festive anthology. Keep the celebrations going all year long with this captivating and joyful read! From Lunar New Year to Solstice, Día de Los Muertos to Juneteenth, and all the incredible days in between, it's clear that Americans don't just have one holiday. This joyful collection of stories shows that there isn't one way to experience a holiday.