December Staff Picks
Whew! We made it to December. These are our last pick s for 2020, so take a look at some of the titles that have been on our minds this month! You can find all our past staff picks here.
This is one of my absolute favorite middle grade fantasy novels to have come out in the last few years–it's sharp and bright and funny, while still handling intense emotions and difficult times with deftness and grace. Perfect for mythology/folklore buffs and any kid who loves a good adventure story. If you like this one, then check out the sequel, TRISTAN STRONG DESTROYS THE WORLD! —Abby
An amazing primer of the history of magic, mindfully and meticulously written by Oxford professor of archaeology Chris Gosden. This book is expansive not only in the span of time it covers, but to the cultures across the globe including which many texts always seem to exclude, non-European cultures, all having histories of magic and the subjects he covers from conjuring, animism, divination, astrology, shamanism, alchemy (my favorite), and more. Gosden focuses the book on “the triple helix” the interconnection of magic, religion and science that has existed throughout time. The book is written from an objective viewpoint making it an interesting and academic text perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about magic or early belief systems, but not knowing where to start, you’ll find at least one thing you’ll want to dive deeper into. —Anthony
This is exactly the book I needed to read right now. Maybe its what you need too? Conversational and inspirational, Marlee's wisdom comes from such a deep spiritual well that you can't help but be moved to get in touch with your own. I'm stirred by her conception of practice, how life is a practice, a thousand tiny rituals. And in these small but important ways, we can practice coming home to ourselves over and over and over again. —Colleen
The book I read before this one DESTROYED me. When I picked this one up, my plants were watered, my hair grew, and my skin was luminous.
After a hellish year, we all could use a book that makes us feel love is possible and worth fighting for. —Danni
A return to semi-normalcy (via vaccination) is no longer a distant blip on the horizon but we still have a long winter ahead of us. This is the perfect time to tackle a big project, something that may help put our present situation into context, to help us understand how we got here and show us a way forward. These Truths, by Jill Lepore is an unflinching examination of American History in all its contradictions. The lofty ideals and the dark and bloody reality. It's what we all need to know, now more than ever. —Eddie
James Marshall is my favorite children's author/illustrator of all time. His books–this one in particular–are full of humor and love and mistakes and art. George and Martha are best friends, and they do things I'd love to do with my friends right now--they go to the movies, they have picnics, they play tricks on each other, and they are always, always devoted. George and Martha will fill a hole in your heart, no matter how old you are. —Emma
Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami is one of those reads that immediately absorbed me; in the end I self-declared it a feminist masterpiece. Originally it was published as a novella, then adapted to a novel because of the immense recognition it received in Japan. It takes three related women who are each transfixed or even obsessed with a different part of their own womanhood: fertility, body image, and puberty. What I love about it, and from what I gather from other readers too, is that it so painstakingly emcompasses womanhood. —Jacque
Bro, this new translation of Beowulf is one you really can't pass on. Maria Dahvana Headley reimagined Beowulf in her novel The Mere Wife, but here she makes a fresh translation of the original epic with a style and voice I have never encountered before in a classic translation. This is a perfect gift for any literature lover who enjoys authors—specifically female authors—who give well-known (some may say boring) classics a fresh perspective. —Lindsay
I remember hearing somewhere that the perfect gift is something that someone will love, but that they wouldn’t necessarily buy for themselves. If that’s true, and you know someone who loves playing Dungeons & Dragons, Art & Arcana is the perfect gift for them. (I know, because I actually received it as a gift!) This book represents a visual and written history of the game, from its inception in 1974 to its explosion in popularity in recent years. I love this book — flipping through it reminds me what a storied upbringing D&D has had over the past 46 years, and how its art and its stories work in tandem to make fantasy feel real. If you know any D&D nerds like me who are too broke from buying hoards of dice to afford another D&D book, this is a winner! —Michael Chin
This fast-moving romp gives you an inside look at the people that brought you the worlds most dangerous amusement park. I loved every page. One thing that sticks with me about this book is how Mulvihill and Rossen describe the carefree nature of it all. No rules. Just running with an idea. Of course, this didn't always work out, but it did pave the way for many amusement parks across the country. Having been to Action Park once when I was 7, it brought me back to the fear and excitement I felt that day. –Mike FS
Guojing dedicated this beautifully illustrated book to her lost dog Dou Dou. The story follows a stray whose life is changed when a woman attempts to befriend him. Stormy is wordless, but the stunning illustrations capture all the compassion and empathy embedded in the story. A heartwarming tale about trust, love, and the unbreakable bond that forms between a dog and their owner. A story for dog lovers! –Natalie
A weird, strange tale the hardcover edition of Roberto Bolaño's Antwerp is back in stock and the perfect gift for any literature lover.
As Bolaño said himself, "The only novel that doesn't embarrass me is Antwerp." —Nick
Picking up this poetry collection over the summer, it was one of those books you recognize immediately as something you’ll return to again and again. Inventive and intimate, The Year of Blue Water contemplates belonging in its many iterations with incredible care and wisdom. Yanyi moves deftly between subjects, friends, and artists, crafting a reading experience that is equally breathtaking, enlightening, and unpredictable. —Nika
In this gorgeously-crafted novel, an unnamed Nigerian narrator accompanies his American wife to Berlin. Once there, the narrator’s life intersects with those of various other diasporic Africans in Europe and we are absorbed into the rich, deeply-observed stories of: Mark, Manu, Portia, Karim and Juma. If you loved Moisin Hamad’s Exit West and have been looking for something similar then you MUST read this! What the two have in common is that they both offer a nuanced and edifying inquiry into the crisis of dispossessed migrant people, the prose is stylish and smart, and they both center around the characters’ desire for intimacy and security. This is triumphant storytelling. —Serena
The Emissary only needs a few pages to absolutely gut-punch you with feelings. The world where the story takes place is post-disaster - the children are born frail and silver-headed and rely on their supernaturally healthy grandparents to take care of them. Mumei is a joyful kid who is wise beyond his years, and lives with his grandfather who, while always fearing for his grandson, brings him up with love and indulges in his vivid imagination. Tawada's prose is gripping in its simplicity and she turns the typical dystopian novel on its head with her humor and abundant portrayals of love, joy, and compassion. —Shulokhana
We choose new staff picks every month, so stay tuned for regular updates.
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