I’ve been out of the office, so in lieu of a typical newsletter today––and in light of a tumultuous few weeks in the publishing industry––I’ve decided to share some book recommendations for your holiday shopping.
Support authors who had to launch their books in a pandemic! Help indie bookstores! Read fantastic writing! Rinse. Repeat. :)
Here are a few excellent 2020 titles, all of which would make great gifts for friends and family.
Or just gifts to oneself, because we all need a little of that this year, too.
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HERE FOR IT; OR, HOW TO SAVE YOUR SOUL IN AMERICA by R. Eric Thomas
This is one of those books where I had to set aside my coffee while reading to avoid any snorting-through-the-nose issues. Thomas is the creator of Elle’s “Eric Reads the News,” and these essays explore everything from accidentally getting famous on the Internet for thirsting over Barack Obama, to the creepiness of babysitting in a white suburban neighborhood, to struggling with being gay and Christian until––plot twist––marrying a Presbyterian pastor (cue “Preacher’s Wife” soundtrack).
TEN WAYS TO HEAR SNOW by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Kenard Pak
Mindfulness for the little ones (or not-so-little ones). A cozy, snowy picture book featuring a trip to Grandma’s, all about pausing to take in the quiet wonders of the world around you. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the text is too.
WHY FISH DON’T EXIST: A STORY OF LOSS, LOVE, AND THE HIDDEN ORDER OF LIFE by Lulu Miller
Is it memoir? Is it true crime? Is it a biography of a deeply misguided taxonomist named David Starr Jordan? The answer is all of this and more, and definitely one of the best books I read in 2020. Anytime I try to adequately describe it to someone, I end up fumbling a bit for words. In summation: just read this book. You definitely won’t regret it.
LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn
This young adult fantasy is set at my alma mater, the University of North Carolina, and I was excited to dive in and revisit Chapel Hill through the eyes of Bree Matthews, a high-schooler in an on-campus program for gifted students. The fast-paced narrative exceeded all my expectations, with secret societies, mysterious demons, and a fascinating look at magic, history, legend, and the south. It’s Deonn’s debut work, and I can’t wait to read more from her and to hear what’s next for Bree.
THE COMEBACK: A FIGURE SKATING NOVEL by E.L. Shen
This is a little bit of a cheat, because this title actually comes out in January 2021. But I wanted to add it to the list because it’s a totally heartwarming story for any middle grade reader, especially sporty kids looking for an exploration of competition and friendship. Twelve-year-old Maxine Chen is a competitive skater, but her parents worry the pressure might be too much. As she navigates bullying at school and a new rival at the rink, Maxine has to decide what skating means to her and discover whether she has what it takes to succeed.
SAVE YOURSELF by Cameron Esposito
Anything standup comic Cameron Esposito does is an auto-buy for me, so I was thrilled to hear she’d written a memoir. In SAVE YOURSELF, she explores her Midwestern upbringing, coming out as lesbian at a Catholic college, her evolution as a comic, and even a brief foray into joining the circus. It’s hilarious––as you’d expect––but also full of empathy for the insecure, oddball kid inside us all.
GIRL, SERPENT, THORN by Melissa Bashardoust
A gorgeous and lush fantasy set in a world inspired by ancient Persia. Protagonist Soraya, the shah’s sister, is embroiled in a political battle that sees her family’s rule upended. As she fights for her life, she finds the unlikeliest of allies––and learns to see the things that make her different not as a curse, but a gift. (For more about this one, read the review I wrote for Lambda Literary here.)
BRAG BETTER: MASTER THE ART OF FEARLESS SELF-PROMOTION by Meredith Fineman
A lesson in self-promotion for the “qualified quiet” who cringe every time they have to post about themselves on social media or speak about their own successes and goals. Fineman gives practical, no-nonsense advice that’s useful for anyone who’s doing the work, but doesn’t quite know how to talk about it.
PUNCHING THE AIR by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
This novel-in-verse by award-winning author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam explores the fictional story of Amal Shahid, an artist, poet, and high school kid who’s wrongfully convicted of a crime and sent to prison. It’s a moving book about art, humanity, and who has the power to tell––or change––their own story.
CAN’T EVEN: HOW MILLENNIALS BECAME THE BURNOUT GENERATION by Anne Helen Petersen
A relatable book this year for millennials and non-millennials alike. Petersen savvily explores the systemic and cultural issues that led to the current reality where many of us feel so, so tired. This book was written before Covid-19, but a foreword contextualizes it within the pandemic, and explains why so many of the problems are only growing more complex.
THE MIGHTY HEART OF SUNNY ST. JAMES by Ashley Herring Blake
Also a bit of a cheat, because it came out in 2019, but I read this in 2020, and it’s so adorable and lovely I’m putting it here anyway. After twelve-year-old Sunny survives a heart transplant, she embarks on a “New Life Plan” to do “awesome amazing things” she’s never done before. But navigating the choppy waters of emerging friendships and first crushes proves a little tricker than expected. Great for fans of Rebecca Stead and Alex Gino.
RECOLLECTIONS OF MY NONEXISTENCE by Rebecca Solnit
Solnit takes us on a tour through her influences and early career, describing how she found her voice in a world that doesn’t want women to have one. A fascinating memoir, featuring some of the best descriptions of the vocation of writing I’ve ever read.
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I’m always on the lookout for great new books, so feel free to reach out and let me know some of the best titles you read this year, too.
Happy storytelling, and happy reading!
Erin
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Erin Becker (she/her)
Writer | Communications Consultant | Storytelling Expert
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