Booklist Reader

Published by Booklist, an imprint of the American Library Association. Booklist Reader features diverse book and audiobook recommendations, for readers and listeners of all ages. Filled with high-interest, themed lists that showcase books for your family or book discussion group.

From the Editor & Publisher

Booklist Reader

History Books • These recent resounding history books take us to ancient Rome, the U.S. during the Civil War, Ukraine, and into the lives of WWII servicewomen.

Annals of Fascism • Fascism, or authoritarianism, is a political system that allows heads of state to wield outsized power by undermining the legislative and judicial branches of government and repressing civil liberties, especially those of women, LGBTQ+ populations, and immigrants, to weaken or destroy democracy for personal gain via lies, corruption, censorship, propaganda, and violence. The inquiries below track the evolution of fascism over the last century, take measure of its consequences, and offer urgent warnings about current threats to our rights and freedom.

Feel-Good Translations from Japan • A recent spate of imports from Japan with many appeals for readers are hitting bookshelves: deceptively simple, heartwarming stories that feature books, cats, comfort food, and coffee. Settle into a cozy chair with these translations and be swept away by the feel-good fun.

Family Memoirs • While memoirs are rarely only about a single person, some, like Griffin Dunne’s The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir, expressly focus on the authors’ ancestral histories and family remembrances. As they chronicle rippling generational traumas and the authors’ selves past and present, these standout family memoirs also bring to life mothers, fathers, grandparents, and siblings.

Family Life • Many aspects of family life are explored in these outstanding titles, which all emphasize practical advice for addressing distinct parenting challenges and attaining overall familial wellbeing.

Adult • Get your hands on these hotly anticipated books, all out this month.

The Top Ten Adult Fiction and Nonfiction Chosen Monthly by America’s Library Staff

HALL OF FAME TITLES • The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly list since 2013.

PBS BOOKS

Voices of America • Sometimes a full cast is more than just a full cast. This is the case with Michelle Norris’ Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity. In print, the book is enhanced with photography and the handwriting on the six-word-memoir postcards; on audio, we hear a world of voices. If this broad audio survey of American perspectives and big topics appeals, consider other large-cast nonfiction recordings like these.

Kids’ Authors on Audio • The strong connection kids feel to their favorite authors is heartwarming. Offering an authorread audiobook to young fans, like this year’s Odyssey-honoree Sisters of the Lost Marsh, is an excellent way to help kids feel even closer to their literary idols and gain a deeper understanding of their favorite books.

History Books for Youth • The following works bring new perspectives to the table, uncovering important and fascinating aspects of history from ancient to modern times.

Animal Heroes • Connie Goldsmith is committed to commemorating history’s animal heroes; see Dogs at War (2017), Animals Go to War (2018), and her latest, Pigeons at War. We’re all for it and know that kids of all ages tend to be, too. Whether braving battlefields or outer space, the animals featured in these books are well worth remembering.

Nate Powell • Nate Powell is an accomplished comics artist with an impressive backlist, most notably creating the artwork for John Lewis’ beloved graphic memoir...