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Staff Picks

This spooky YA novel set at an elite summer camp was a total page-turner. Our main character, Mars, is a clever, fierce, genderfluid teen on a mission to better understand their twin sister and the circumstances that led to her death. Equal parts psychological & body horror, sharp wit, and an earnest story about grief and sibling love. [Adrienne]

Clever, arrangement of book spines-some made me laugh out loud. What's more, each poem is accompanied by relevant facts and quotes. It's a great book to pick up on a whim and find inspiration on any given day. [Blanca]

This book is a revolutionary look at history and what genderqueer and nonbinary identities (might have) looked like through time. Using varied sources, Dr Heyam creates a portrait of what history beyond the binary looked like. Since we didn't (and still don't) have the language to describe a multitude of identities, we need to revisit and reclaim the past in order to make a path for the future. [sweet pea]

Nothing like reading poetry from an individual who perceives the world in an entirely different way, especially in a very tactile way, considering I do not like to touch much of anything. I found his ASL and protactile translations fascinating, but my favorite pieces were "Trees" and "Goldilocks in Denial". Reading his poetry, I realized: however different we navigate this world, when we translate our experience into language, we can reveal our similarities and connect with each other. [Blanca]

I *needed* this book right now. It's so many things: a pandemic text chronicling grief, disabled mutual aid, and survival; a celebration of crip skills, community, and love; a set of ideas and critical questions to help us work toward a radically disabled future. It's both practical and visionary, and certain to become Disability Justice canon. [Adrienne]

Unlike his Book of Delights, these essays are much lengthier and more elaborate in a rich conversational style. Gay writes about almost everything, from childhood to culture to academia to masculinity, and can get candid about it all, which I loved. [Blanca]

From the very first line, Saeed Jones' newest book of poetry is simply stunning. Jones writes about grief - personal and collective - with fury and vulnerability and incredible precision. I was particularly moved by the pieces that are revisited or continued throughout. Truly a remarkable collection as a whole. [Adrienne]

Grant sets a totalitarian system within an Irish boarding school and shows how philosophy can fight back against oppressive ideologies. It's 1984, Clockwork Orange, and Brave New World for kids but with a more optimistic perspective! It's a great introduction to the Socratic method. [Blanca]

Liz Montague's graphic novel memoir is all about growing up and finally accepting and following your passions. Montague recounts her childhood and college years as she learned to accept herself as an artist. She is the first Black female artist for the New Yorker. The back includes some of her work for the news outlet! [Karen]

As a history geek, i squinch my eyes at any new collection of biographies. But this book of AAPI leaders, has a great selection of both the very famous, to the inspiring (Grace Lee Boggs), to the pathbreaking. Several of the people i had never heard of (which gets bonus points from me)! [sweet pea]