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AADL 2025 STAFF PICKS: WORDS
Books, audiobooks, graphic novels, comics, websites, and more:

JENNIFER C. — DESK CLERK

The Dark Dark
by Samantha Hunt
(2017)
Delightfully haunting short stories about the intrinsic and surreal creepiness hiding in everyday life. Everything has its own consciousness: the ocean, the night, an oil tanker, and they loom over small human dramas indifferently. The icing on top is her hilarious, unrestrained detail. So good, made me devour the book twice this year. {AADL}

PHOEBE H. — DESK CLERK

I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying
by Youngmi Mayer
(2024)
Is it even my staff picks if I don’t list an Asian American woman’s memoir? {AADL}

Grief Is for People
by Sloane Crosley
(2024)
My favorite book I read this year. I love the closeness of friendship. The depth of grief. The tiny world that is formed between you and a loved one once they die. {AADL}

Homie: Poems
by Danez Smith
(2020)
This is why I love poetry. I was enjoying the print book, and then I found the audiobook on Libby, and it was phenomenal. Cannot recommend it enough. {AADL}

Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe
by Laura Lynn Jackson
(2019)
{AADL}

ERIN H. — LIBRARIAN

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
by Michiko Aoyama
(2023)
{AADL}

The Postcard
by Anne Berest
(2023)
{AADL}

Heart and Seoul
by Jen Frederick
(2021)
{AADL}

Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows
by Balli Jaswal
(2017)
{AADL}

All Fours
by Miranda July
(2024)
{AADL}

Catherine House
by Elisabeth Thomas
(2020)
{AADL}

The Playground
by Richard Powers
(2024)
{AADL}

AMANDA S. — GRAPHIC ARTIST

Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks
by Marcia Bjornerud
(2024)
{AADL}

Everything Is Tuberculosis
by John Green
(2025)
{AADL}

The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource
by Chris Hayes
(2025)
{AADL}

Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes
by Leah Litman
(2025)
{AADL}

Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America
by Elie Mystal
(2025)
{AADL}

Owl at Home
by Arnold Lobel
(1975)
{AADL}

What Goes With What
by Julia Turshen
(2024)
{AADL}

MARISA H. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over
by Anne De Marcken
(2024)
This slim book isn’t for everyone, but if it’s for you, then you’ll feel it in your soul. It’s grief and love and yearning. {AADL}

Chlorine
by Jade Song
(2023)
Ren is a competitive swimmer, the only Chinese student in her class, with an absent father, an abusive coach, and a head injury. This book is suffocating and weird and horrifying. {AADL}

ALLIE H. — DESK CLERK

Translation State
by Ann Leckie
(2023)
Set after the events of Leckie's popular sci-fi trilogy, Imperial Radch, when the galaxy needs to figure out how to define what makes a "human" a human? I was unsure if Leckie could capture what made her first series so interesting to me, but she manages to suck me into the story with the characters she uses to explore her vast universe. Translation State manages to answer some questions one may have about the mysterious alien species Presgr, while grounding the story in questions of identity that are applicable to the "human" reader. {AADL}

Diary of a Void
by Emi Yagi
(2022)
Yagi's debut novel is about a young woman in a mundane Japanese office space who puts her foot down on harassment from her male colleagues in a very unique way. I was almost certain I would hate this book, but the narrator Shibata is simultaneously humorous and caring in a way that kept me from putting the book down once I started. One lie leads her down a major lifestyle change, with connections in communities she never thought were for her. A story of rage, losing yourself, finding others, and coming out the other side not totally the same. {AADL}

KATRINA A. — LIBRARIAN

The Dud Avocado
by Elaine Dundy
(1958)
Ex-Wife
by Ursula Parrott
(1929)
Two books loosely based on the real lives of their female authors who repeatedly chose to forgo gendered expectations. Neither quite landed their ending for me, but the slice of life view of midcentury Paris (The Dud Avocado) and Jazz Age New York (Ex-Wife) were worth the ride. {AADL} {AADL}

LAT B. — DESK CLERK

Sorcery and Small Magics
by Maiga Doocy
(2024)
{AADL}

Mamo
by Sas Milledge
(2022)
It's a gorgeously illustrated graphic novel about a witch coming back to her hometown in a plot that feels very Ghibli-esque.
{AADL}

Martyr!
by Kaveh Akbar
(2024)
{AADL}

The Bright Sword
by Lev Grossman
(2024)
{AADL}

The Book of Delights
by Ross Gay
(2019)
{AADL}

ROOSEVELT F.-R. — DESK CLERK

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (#1 & #2)
by Emil Ferris
(2016, 2024)
{AADL, #1} {AADL, #2}

The Lauras
by Sara Taylor
(2017)
{AADL}

Erasure
by Percival Everett
(2001)
{AADL}

Friday Black
by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
(2018)
{AADL}

The Dispossessed
by Ursula K. Le Guin
(1974)
{AADL}

Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
(2021)
{AADL}

Vanishing World
by Sayaka Murata
(2025)
{AADL}

The Animorphs series
by K.A. Applegate
(1996-2001)
{AADL}

CHEYENNE F. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Rejection
by Tony Tulathimutte
(2024)
In an effort to take a break from the bleak Dennis Cooper novels I've been reading, I picked up Tulathimutte's short story collection centered around different forms of Rejection. Experimental, poignant, sometimes relatable but often cringe-inducing, Rejection is my favorite novel I read this year. I also found out it was inspired by Dennis Cooper's novels, so that's fun. {AADL}

Paradise Logic
by Sophie Kemp
(2025)
I originally picked this up because the cover was just so fun, but I ended up really enjoying this dark comedy about a girl's quest to become the perfect girlfriend. {AADL}

A Touch of Jen
by Beth Morgan
(2021)
While it wasn't particularly scary, I got a lot of fun out of this surreal story about an insecure couple whose relationship hinges on a shared obsession with a former coworker. {AADL}

You'll Never Believe Me: A Life of Lies, Second Tries, and Things I Should Only Tell my Therapist
by Kari Ferrell
(2025)
In the late 2000s, Kari Ferrell became an internet sensation dubbed the "Hipster Grifter" after committing several financial scams across Brooklyn and lying her way into a position at Vice. This year, Ferrell wrote a very funny and personal tell-all about her brief popularity and what happened after. {AADL}

Assata: An Autobiography
by Assata Shakur
(1988)
Assata Shakur's passing this year inspired me to revisit her deeply affecting autobiography. {AADL}

Lonely Crowds
by Stephanie Wambugu
(2025)
A novel that follows two women attempting to make it in the 90's New York arts scene, while also documenting their decades-long, intense, and toxic friendship from beginning to end. This was so gorgeously written, I almost didn't want to finish it. {Hachette Book Group}

I Was Raised on the Internet
by Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
(2018)
I've been exploring "Post-Internet" art, and this collection of essays, a companion to the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago's I Was Raised on the Internet exhibition in 2018, has been critical in my research. {MCAChicago}

Megahex
by Simon Hanselmann
Megahex is the first edition in the often funny, often bleak, and mostly crude Megg, Mogg, and Owl series. This is one of those series everyone told me I'd like, and because of that, I put it off. "You don't know me." I thought. But everyone who recommended this did, in fact, know me. {Vault of Midnight}

Whitney Museum of American Art Artport
(2001 - Ongoing)
Speaking of post-internet art, the Whitney Museum has one of the most comprehensive and accessible collections of commissioned art designed to be hosted online. I really recommend getting lost in their archives. {Whitney}

NATE P-M — GRAPHIC DESIGNER

A Book Designer's Notebook newsletter
by Nathaniel Roy
Is it gauche to recommend your own newsletter? Probably, but I don't care. I write a newsletter about book design and creative practice, and I think it's pretty good. {Substack}

The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper
by Roland Allen
(2023)
If you, like me, love notebooks, read this book. Thoroughly researched and enjoyable at every step. {AADL}

Abbott Awaits
by Chris Bacheldor
(2011)
A quiet book, told in vignettes, about the vagaries of being a father to a toddler whilst expecting a second child. {MeL}

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
by Jean Lee Latham
(1955)
Historical fiction about Nathaniel Bowditch, a self-taught mathematician and astronomer in 18th-century Salem, Massachusetts. My sister was reading this when I was born, and my mom liked the name. {AADL}

The Librarianist
by Patrick deWitt
(2023)
The premise on the flap is a little deceiving—probably two-thirds of the book is spent on our protagonist Bob Comet's history—but I was along for the ride thanks to deWitt's prose and my interest in the main character. {AADL}

Cathedral
by Raymond Carver
(1983)
My first Carver. Not a lot necessarily happens in Carver's stories, but they were great character studies from a classic of the format. I love short stories. {MeL}

The Look of the Book
by Peter Mendelsund and David J. Alworth
(2020)
I bought this when it was published, but never finished it until this year. A gorgeous, thorough book about why books look the way that they do by one of my favorite book jacket designers of all time (yes, I have one of those). {AADL}

LUCY S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Elena Knows
by Claudia Pineiro, translated by France Riddle
(2021)
This novel takes place over a single day in Buenos Aires. Elena’s daughter is found dead, and when the investigation is quickly closed, Elena takes it upon herself to navigate the city to get to the truth. Elena’s search is made more difficult by her Parkinson’s disease and the limitations on and perceptions of women. These challenges add to Elena’s discoveries about herself and her daughter. {AADL}

Say Hello to My Little Friend
by Jennine Capó Crucet
(2024)
Izzy, a 20-year-old Cuban American in Miami, is forced to change careers when he gets a cease and desist letter from the real Pitbull for his impersonation act. He pivots to becoming the living embodiment of Tony Montana from Scarface, or trying to.

Instead of Montana's pet tiger, Izzy has a deep connection with an orca named Lolita, who, with a unique perspective, narrates some of the chapters.

The novel‘s unusual cast of characters and scenarios provides much humor, but the book has a serious side as Izzy searches for the truth of his childhood arrival in the U.S.

Funny, poignant, and highly memorable. I have not stopped thinking about this book since reading it. {AADL}

The Trouble With Heroes
by Kate Messner
(2025)
This middle-grade novel-in-verse tells the story of Finn, a young teen who lives with his mother in a small town in New York. His late father was a firefighter who died on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. When Finn, perpetually angry, gets in trouble for vandalizing a headstone, his punishment takes an unusual form. He must climb all 46 peaks of the Adirondack Mountains by Labor Day, accompanied by Seymour, the energetic and enthusiastic dog who belonged to the woman whose headstone he damaged.  What follows is a story that doesn’t shy away from challenging themes yet remains beautiful, heart-wrenching, and heartwarming. {AADL}

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)
by Rabih Alameddine
(2025)
Raja, a well-liked philosophy teacher and “the neighborhood homosexual,” is in his 60s and living with his mother in a small apartment in Beirut, where most of this book takes place. Raja’s story starts in 2023 and progresses backward to the 1960s and ’70s before returning to the present day.

His narration is lively and unsparingly funny even when he is recalling some of the most disturbing events from his past, and his mother is an amazing, foul-mouthed individual who is unique and intense in the way she loves Raja. I’m looking forward to diving into Alameddine’s backlist. {AADL} 

ELLE B. – LIBRARIAN

Out on a Limb
by Hannah Bonam-Young
(2023)
I typically hate a surprise pregnancy trope in romance, so the fact that this book made my favorite books this year says a LOT. The thoughtful manner in which this entire book is written sets it above all the rest! {AADL}

Beautyland
by Marie-Helene Bertino
(2024)
This book is an ode to anyone who feels on the outside. It's touching, relatable, and out of this world. {AADL}

Everything Is Tuberculosis
by John Green
(2025)
I think everyone and their aunt has heard about this book for good reason! {AADL}

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi
by S. A. Chakraborty
(2023)
I loved this pirate fantasy for its legendary protagonist: a middle-aged woman who gets the crew back together again for one last adventure... maybe. Throw in some drama with her old flame? I'm sold. {AADL}

Funny Story
by Emily Henry
(2024)
In my biased opinion, we need more Michigan children's librarian romances. Please and thank you. {AADL}

Breath of the Dragon
by Shannon Lee
(2025)
This debut fantasy novel is written by Bruce Lee's daughter and Fonda Lee (Jade City). The fight scenes are phenomenal, and I'm a sucker for a long-lost twin plot. I am eagerly awaiting book two! {AADL}

Rules for Ghosting
by Shelly Jay Shore
(2024)
This book has queer romance, spookiness, grief, and dysfunctional families all swirled into one. {AADL}

Sandwich
by Catherine Newman
(2024)
This book gives snapshots of meaning to everyday events in a beautiful glimpse of growing older. {AADL}

ELIZABETH W. — LIBRARIAN

Train Dreams
by Denis Johnson
(2002)
I read this beautiful historical fiction novella in one sitting after it was recommended to me. Its perfect pacing makes for an immersive experience as you read about the simple, tragic, and beautiful life of a lumberman working on the railroads in the American West in the early 20th century. This is one to savor. {AADL}

The Gales of November
by John U. Bacon
(2025)
As a lifelong Michigander and Great Lakes shipping enthusiast, I already knew a lot about the Edmund Fitzgerald before the 50th anniversary of her sinking this year. I was still excited to pick up Bacon’s new book about the event and was thrilled by how much I learned. His years of research really paid off for readers: we get to learn not only about the ship, but lots of details about the men on it and about the broader shipping industry and its history and culture. This one really isn’t just for people interested in ships or the Great Lakes: it’s well worth the read for anyone who enjoys immersing themselves in a fascinating story and learning a lot on the way. {AADL}

BETH A. M. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

The Names
by Florence Knapp
(2025)
This is a story of a family told in three different ways. At the beginning, Cora goes to register her newborn baby’s name. Her abusive husband demands she name the baby after him, Gordon. On the way to the registrar’s office, the older sister of the baby suggests they name him Bear. In another scenario, Cora names the baby Julian, her choice of a name. We see what happens to the family in three threads, with chapters named Bear, Gordon, and Julian as they age from childhood to adulthood. It’s fascinating to see how the name change impacts the life of this boy. The structure of this novel is unusual and compelling. {AADL}

The Nightingale
by Kristin Hannah
(2015)
I bawled my eyes out while I read this book. The tension builds throughout, but the descriptions of Nazis invading France and the disappearances of people off the streets were triggering and all too familiar with what is happening in the USA right now. {AADL}

There’s No Such Thing as Vegetables
by Kyle Lukoff
(2024)
What do you mean, there’s no such thing as vegetables? This picture book shows Chester going to pick vegetables for a salad from the community garden, a request from his Mom. The vegetables let him know that the eggplant is a fruit, potatoes and carrots are roots, lettuce is a leaf ... it’s all a social construct. So, yeah, there’s no such thing as vegetables. {AADL}

VANESSA T. — DESK CLERK

Four new picture books that draw you in:

Every Monday Mabel
by Jashar Awan
(2025)
Even though her family might not understand, Mabel's Monday ritual is pure delight. {AADL}

Anything
by Rebecca Stead
(2025)
If you could wish for anything, what would that secretly be? I loved the way Gracey Zhang's illustrations create so much depth on the pages. {AADL}

Fireworks
by Matthew Burgess
(2025)
The experience of fireworks goes beyond sight - this story will remind you of the ways that fireworks tickle all of your other senses. {AADL}

Broken
by X Fang
(2025)
Broken feels like watching a movie on the page - its illustrations glide, shift, and sweep you along. But nothing is more powerful than the moment Mimi locks eyes with Mei Mei. That stare goes straight to the heart - and pulls the truth up with it. Who knew one look could do that? {AADL}

The four baking books I've used the most this past year:

Gluten-Free Flavor Flours
by Alice Medrich
(2017)
If you’re curious about baking without wheat, this book is a gem. Medrich devotes each chapter to a single grain flour, clearly explaining its flavor, texture, and best uses. It makes gluten-free baking both approachable and exciting. {AADL}

Snacking Cakes
by Yossi Arefi
(2020)
None of the recipes in Snacking Cakes are difficult, and the ingredients are easily accessible, yet the flavor range is wide. I especially appreciate the alternate flavor variations, pan options, and creative ways to dress up each cake. {AADL}

Mother Grains
by Roxana Julipat
(2021)
This book will make you think about grains in a whole new light. Roxana Jullapat’s recipes are bursting with flavor, and her passion for whole-grain baking is infectious. {Michigan eLibrary}

Gâteau: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes
by Aleksandra Crapanzano
(2022)
Gâteau is not only packed with approachable, unfussy recipes - it’s also a pleasure to read. Crapanzano’s French cakes emphasize depth of flavor rather than sweetness, making them both elegant and inviting. {AADL}

LOREN B. — DESK CLERK

Pond
by Jim LaMarche
(2016)
{AADL}

The Willows
by Algernon Blackwood
(1907)
{AADL}

Where Is This Fool Going
by Low Pressure Magazine
(2025)
{Big Cartel}

ANNA C. — DESK CLERK

Nothing but the Rain
by Naomi Salman
(2023)
Nothing but the Rain was recommended to me by a colleague, and I loved it. It was incredible. I feel like it perfectly encapsulates the subgenre of "weird apocalyptic disaster that the author never explains" that I have recently been enjoying. It's a quick read, so save it for a rainy afternoon and finish it in one go! {AADL}

The Southern Reach series:
Annihilation (2014)
Authority (2014)
Acceptance (2014)
Absolution (2024)
by Jeff Vandermeer
Speaking of weird apocalyptic disasters that are never explained... The Southern Reach series is a set of books I don't know that I could ever fully recommend. If you're the type of reader who has to understand what's going on in a book, this is probably not the series for you. I was lost and confused the entire time, and I never fully figured out what was happening. Despite my confusion, I LOVED the series. Vandermeer created an incredible world, one I can definitely see myself revisiting in the future. I highly recommend the audiobooks. {AADL, Book 1}

Kindled series
by Claire Kent
(2021 - 2024)
OK, so clearly the apocalypse has been a theme of my reading in the last year. Apocalyptic romance was a subgenre I didn't know I needed until I found it. The books are a little silly and very cookie-cutter, but I loved them anyway. {Claire Kent}

The Third Gilmore Girl
by Kelly Bishop
(2024)
I'm a firm believer that books come to you when you need them. As a big Girlmore Girls fan, I tried to pick this book up several times, but it never stuck. Then in December, after a big life event, I picked it up again. Suddenly, I found myself crying in the car! All that to say it's an excellent book, and I really enjoyed hearing more about Bishop's life. I highly recommend the audiobook, which is read by the author. {AADL}

Run for the Hills
by Kevin Wilson
(2025)
Every book I've read by Kevin Wilson has been a hit. I got a lot of laughs out of Run for the Hills. I really enjoyed the audiobook, which is available through Libby. {AADL}

HALEY Y. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Ours
by Phillip B. Williams
(2024)
Ours is poet Phillip B. Williams' first novel, and it was the book that I recommended most often this year. It's a work of historical speculative fiction and tells the story of Saint, a conjurer who destroys plantations and then builds an invisible town for people who were previously enslaved. It's a long read at 580 pages, but no page is wasted. There were so many stunning moments and sentences. I could not put it down. {AADL}

Seven Empty Houses
by Samanta Schweblin; translated by Megan McDowell
(2022)
The seven stories in Seven Empty Houses were my first dive into Schweblin's work, and they did not disappoint. There were many times when I found myself both laughing in disbelief and feeling thoroughly horrified while reading. Very much looking forward to picking up the rest of her work. Favorite story: "My Parents and My Children." {AADL}

AMANDA S. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Remarkably Bright Creatures
by Shelby Van Pelt
(2022)
I was late to the party on this one, and I loved this book so much, and I want everyone to read it. It’s a perfect beach read. {AADL}

Actress of a Certain Age
by Jeff Hiller
(2025)
I really enjoyed this actor in Somebody, Somewhere, and was excited for this one. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Hiller, and it is the most delightful thing. I laughed, I cried. And then he won that Emmy. {AADL}

Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing
by Lily Taylor
(2025)
Yes, the actress. But in this slim book, she digs deep into her fascination with birding and encourages readers to slow down and notice things. Taylor narrates the audiobook. {AADL}

Don’t Trust Fish
by Neil Sharpson
(2025)
One of the best and funniest picture books of 2025. It’s a must-read, in this non-fish’s humble opinion. Illustrated by THE Dan Santat. {AADL}

ANTHONY D. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Making Movies
by Sidney Lumet
(1995)
{AADL}

Sabrina
by Nick Drnaso
(2018)
{AADL}

Poverty, by America
by Matthew Desmond
(2023)
{AADL}

MATT S. — DEVELOPER

We Solve Murders
by Richard Osman
(2025)
This fast-paced murder mystery, from the author of The Thursday Murder Club, spans the globe with a delightfully weird set of murderous characters. Mystery fans will get some good laughs. {AADL}

REENA P. — DESK CLERK

Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis
by Britt Wray
(2022)
If you've been following the COP 30 proceedings and are despondent about climate change and institutional inaction, try giving this book a read. An imperfect but useful contextualizing read about how to emotionally and mentally process the scope of the crisis on our hands, and move forward. {AADL}

OCTAVIA S. — DESK CLERK

Koko Be Good
by Jen Wang
(2010)
Reading this book in high school set me on the path to becoming an illustrator, and I was lucky enough to meet the author in our very own library last year. {AADL}

An Unkindness of Ghosts
by Rivers Solomon
(2017)
Something's deeply wrong on this racial caste-centered generation starship, but that's the norm. Now it's even worse, and our protagonist has no choice but to solve the mystery causing it. I promise it's better (and worse) than any tagline I could write! {AADL}

The Salt Grows Heavy
by Cassandra Khaw
(2023)
Monsters are people too, ya know. {AADL}

Separated: Family and Community in the Aftermath of an Immigration Raid
by William Lopez
(2019)
I consider this one required reading, especially if you're living in Washtenaw County. {AADL}

Barbarous
by Yuko Ota & Ananth Hirsch
(2016-)
Magic + Student Debt = Barbarous. {Webcomic}

ELI N. — DIRECTOR

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.
by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland
(2017)
What if magic were real, but like actually real, and it died for some reason, but science could bring it back? In this very unique documentary novel, the story is told through documents, journals, and memos, as a government entity is set up to bring back magic and use it for strategic governmental purposes. With an engaging cast and compelling presentation that pulls you into the concept, this rollicking time travel adventure was a delight from start to finish. I tried the sequel that Galland wrote solo, but it was mostly about how cool it would be to meet Shakespeare. {AADL}

Rose/House
by Arkady Martine
(2025)
I adored Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Called Peace, and saw this novella on the shelf while we await a third full-length novel. When I recall the first two books, I can remember the plot and characters hazily, but mostly remember the architecture of the settings that the author described so well. This novella, set on Earth and about a very unique house and its even more unique AI, takes the form of a murder mystery, but isn't really about the murder at all. It's a smart twist on the "evil house" trope, more about the house than the evil, and is just beautifully written and staged. {AADL}

North Continent Ribbon
by Ursula Whitcher
(2024)
A debut collection of short stories in a single world by local author Ursula Whitcher (profiled in Pulp last summer), North Continent Ribbon features sharp writing, a fully-formed world, and a diverse set of stories that build upon each other to describe a very real and compelling set of cultural traditions and tensions. If you enjoy Arkady Martine or Ann Leckie, you'll certainly like this too! For some reason, I particularly liked the one about the dedicated public servant who still rides the bus. {AADL}

LAINE K. — DESK CLERK

Yr Dead
by Sam Sax
(2024)
Content Warning: Self-Immolation.
Ezra is a nonbinary Jewish activist who lights themself on fire as an act of protest, and this book is a narration of their life flashing before their eyes. Sax showcases generational memory and queer traumas through this novel in fragments. This is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read and my top recommendation for anyone interested in experimental diaspora fiction. {AADL}

The Buddha in the Attic
by Julie Otsuka
(2011)
In the early 1900s, a ship of Japanese women sails to the West Coast, the immigrants never having met the husbands to whom they’re betrothed. Based on true stories, Otsuka’s novel intertwines individual characters by using “we/us” pronouns throughout the entire narrative. {AADL}

Holes
by Louis Sachar
(1998)
Holes is a classic for a reason; it remains relevant and exciting even after all these years. Sachar balances the intrigue of legends and myth with deeper social issues; it’s a great way to introduce criticism of America’s prison system to anyone unaware of its institutional flaws. Despite its designation as children’s literature, I recommend Holes for readers of all ages. {AADL}

This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You
by Susan Rogers
(2022)
No matter how deep your love for music goes, everyone can get something out of this book; it radically accepts the concept that there is no such thing as “bad music,” and functions as a guidebook to a deeper understanding of your individual tastes. {AADL}

EMMA M. — DESK CLERK

The Argonauts
by Maggie Nelson
(2015)
This book was my introduction to the autotheory genre. It smoothly mixes philosophical theory and memoir, reflecting on Nelson’s relationships with motherhood, love, family-making, queerness, and academia. {AADL}

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands
by Kate Beaton
(2022)
{AADL}

Giovanni’s Room
by James Baldwin
(1956)
{AADL}

AIDEN O. — DESK CLERK

The Collected Stories of Mavis Gallant
by Mavis Gallant
(1996)
Mavis Gallant is my favorite author of short stories. I’ve spent the past few years reading her work, and can’t get over how she manages to be so funny, psychologically complex, and atmospheric all at once. {MeLCat}

Doctor Faustus
by Thomas Mann
(1947)
A German composer makes a deal with the devil. Mann’s story tangles with the nature of German culture and intellectual thought in the years leading up to the rise of the Nazi regime. {AADL}

The Letter Killers Club
by Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky
(1926)
A short, episodic novel consisting of the stories told by members of the titular club, a group composed of authors who have all grown suspicious of the written word. {MeLCat}

Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, Interesting
by Sianne Ngai
(2012)
A fascinating analysis of modern popular aesthetics. Ngai specifically argues that under late capitalism, the dominant aesthetic categories are the zany, the cute, and the interesting. {MeLCat}

Sabbath’s Theater
by Phillip Roth
(1995)
A brutal, startling portrait of hedonism and grief. This is also some of the most musical prose I’ve ever read, and Roth’s ability to fluidly toggle between third- and first-person perspectives is something I don’t think I’ve encountered in any other book. {MeLCat}

MARA A. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Tahini Baby
by Eden Greenshpan
(2025)
I enjoy cooking, especially international dishes. The Mediterranean cuisine is probably my favorite, as it is delicious, nutritious, and healthy. I found this book full of exciting recipes, so much so that I ended up buying it. The leeks with sumac, parmesan, and pine nuts recipe is to die for! You can request it through our wonderful MEL service! {AADL}

DANI K. — BOOKSHELVER/PROCESSOR

Out on a Limb
by Hannah Bonam-Young
(2023)
My new favorite romance author and the book that solidified it for me. They actually talk to each other like adults to solve their problems! So so cute and sweet. Hannah Bonam-Young has become a must-read author for me. {AADL}

The Spellshop
by Sarah Beth Durst
(2024)
This book and its sequel are two lovely, cozy romantasies set in a magical world with delightful characters. {AADL}

Three Kinds of Lucky
by Kim Harrison
(2024)
Cool fantasy with an even cooler magic system! The main character is essentially a janitor (though she would hate that I called her that) for all the magical waste that gets produced by the Mages in her world. Of course, chaos ensues, sending her on a much more interesting adventure, with a touch of romance. It's fun! Enjoy! {AADL}

Are You Mad at Me?
by Meg Josephson
(2025)
For all my fellow fawn response friends ("people pleasers"). I was two chapters into my library copy when I decided I needed a copy I could highlight, and went out and bought it the next day. Such a good resource. {AADL} 

RICH R. — COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER

Warhammer 40,000: The Horus Heresy Series
by assorted authors
(2006-2012)
Sometimes I read for fun. Sometimes I read to learn. Sometimes I read to test things inside of me. Previous forays: reading the three-volume set of H.L. Mencken's The American Language (slay!). Reading Cocaine & Rhinestones with accompanying podcast and music playlists (flex!). Doing my best with Caro's The Power Broker with accompanying 99% Invisible podcast breakdowns (6-7!). Get to the Warhammer already, you're saying! Heard!

Warhammer has circled my life for a while, in book, video game, RPG, and miniature form. I resisted the call of the void until I didn't. I looked up the best book-related entry points into the lore and was introduced to the Horus Heresy, a series of 64 books published between 2006 and 2024 by various authors telling the story of a galactic chaos rebellion to overthrow the Emperor and the Imperium of Man. I had to watch a 45-minute YouTube video just to have some sense of what this world even was, then read a three-part appetizer series about an inquisitor named Eisenhorn to understand the politics, lore, and science of the year 40,0000.

Then it was right into those Horus books! Did I like them? Sometimes? Did I keep reading them? Heck yes! Did this directly contribute to me needing to wear readers after 3 PM, because if I don't, I'm the old person in the restaurant taking a photo of the bill so I can actually see it? Probssibly?

The books weren't released in a way that the story unfolded chronologically, so the internet (and many notebook pages) helped me keep track of what was what, so I could stick with time periods and factions. I finished about 25 of these books in 2025, and on the 26th, after the 723rd use of some Space Marine's chainsword, I woke from my fugue state, threw the book across the room, and read something else instead. This entry is a call to anyone reading this to let me know if you got further than 25 books into this journey, and if it's worth my pressing on. {The Horus Heresy}

DALTON B. — SAFETY ASSISTANT

The Last Wish
by Andrzej Sapkowski
(1993)
The first collection of short stories in The Witcher series. A quick and easy introduction to a world of magic, war, and most terrifying of all: philosophy. Geralt of Rivia, while flawed, quickly grows to be the adoptive father we all wish we had. {AADL}

Devilman
by Go Nagai
(1972)
A Japanese take on Christian mythology in which humanity must face its inner demons. The manga is fantastic, ahead of its time, and a comparatively quick read for the medium. The anime, Devilman Crybaby, is also fabulous. {AADL}

CRYSTA C. — DESK CLERK

The King of Confidence: A Tale of Utopian Dreamers, Frontier Schemers, True Believers, False Prophets, and the Murder of an American Monarch
by Miles Harvey
(2020)
All about James Strang, the Mormon prophet pirate king of Beaver Island, Michigan, who also found time to serve nearly two terms in Michigan's House of Representatives. {AADL}

Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words
by Anne Curzan
(2024)
If you are thinking to yourself, "Funner isn't a word!" this is the book for you. Because yes, "funner" is a word, and so are so many others that we've been taught are "incorrect." Many of our long-held beliefs about language and grammar are, in fact, new inventions, overcorrections, or just some fusty writer's personal preference that somehow caught on. Cannot recommend this book enough. {AADL}

Good News, Planet Earth!: What's Being Done to Save Our World, and What You Can Do Too!
by Sam Bentley
(2023)
If you need some good news and how you can get involved in making good things happen, check this book out. {https://aadl.org/catalog/record/10634425}

My Brain Is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders
by Monzusu
(2022)
A nonfiction graphic novel about nine adults who live with different developmental disorders and how they navigate life. The people portrayed are Japanese and living in Japan, so some of their resources are different, but the daily struggles are the same and relatable. {AADL}

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits
by Waco Ioka
(2019)
A terrific manga series for fans of surprise engagements, Japanese culture and folklore, and food! Volume 11 is scheduled for release in January 2026. {AADL}

A Night in the Lonesome October
by Roger Zelazny
(1993)
One of Zelazny's final works, A Night in the Lonesome October, was a fantastic October read! Of course, you don't need to read it in October, but there are 31 chapters (plus an introductory chapter), each a day in a very important October for dog narrator Snuff. The "players" in the "game" are all archetypes from gothic horror as well as classic films and literature. I was able to track down the audiobook on Hoopla, and I enjoyed it very much! {Hoopla}  

KIM G. — DESK CLERK

Soulgazer
by Maggie Rapier
(2025)
Occasionally, some books come along that utterly destroy us in the most beautiful ways. Soulgazer is one of those books. Not only is the prose stunning and vivid, but the emotion woven throughout the main character's narrative is deep, sorrowful, and it gave me a glimpse into aspects of myself that I didn't know I needed to examine. I cried most of the way through it, and at the end, I felt like I really learned something about myself, my thoughts, and my actions. I highly recommend it! Who knew a book about pirates and treasure could be so cathartic? {AADL}

The Sun Blessed Prince
by Lindsey Byrd
(2025)
Oh, look, another book that gave me way too many feels! The first book in a kinda heavy fantasy series, this follows three different characters all suffering PTSD from war, from oppression, from family, from perceived blessings and curses. It's an exploration into how each of these things affects us in different and similar ways, and how finding others with similar experiences can make a world of difference. I am so excited to see what comes next. This book did not get the love it deserved this year. {AADL}

Celtic Art: Symbols & Imagery
by Miranda J. Green
(1997)
I am so sad we no longer have this in our collection! I have an obsession with finding out as much as I can about the actual, original Druids of Celtic myth and history, and this book has become invaluable. I was very unfamiliar with Celtic life and art, and this opened up an entirely new world to me. Such an awesome book to keep in a collection, I'll have to go hunt it down to buy. {Better World Books}

The Entanglement of Rival Wizards
by Sara Raasch
(2025)
Who doesn't love a gay wizard romance? Especially one by the snark and sarcasm queen Sara Raasch? {AADL}

The Paranormal Ranger: A Navajo Investigator's Search for the Unexplained
by Stanley Milford Jr.
(2024)
It's not often that the paranormal world listens to Indigenous voices. But it should, and they should put this at the top of the list. Especially the audiobook, it's read by Milford! This was such a great exploration of the paranormal through the eyes of a man who is not only Navajo but also trained in logic and investigation, and who has deep ties and relationships with the people and the land he patrolled. This was such an amazing journey. {AADL}

CHRISTOPHER B. — LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins
by Caitlin McGurk
(2024)
This retrospective art book traces Barbara Shermund’s groundbreaking career in cartoons, from the earliest days of The New Yorker (1925!) on to Esquire and many other magazines. Her art often featured independent young women of the flapper era, figuring out what avenues of power were available in a man’s world. By the punchline of each cartoon, Shermund delivers a knowing eye roll to the reader, sending up the pompous and simple nature of men. This was easily the most fun I had reading all year, and it has one of the best book titles of all time. {MeLCat}

Driftwood City: Early and New Comics
by Jason Martin
(2013)
Don’t let the simple and crude artwork fool you—these stories from Martin’s life in high school and college are utterly compelling. He expertly conveys the feelings of what it’s like to be alive: nights filled with magic and wonder, huge crushes that end awkwardly, and the death of people he has known. {Website}

America Redux: Visual Stories From Our Dynamic History
by Ariel Aberg-Riger
(2023)
This is my favorite way to read history—not in chronological order, but by jumping around from topic to topic to explore the underlying movements that have molded modern life. Collage artist and author Aberg-Riger looks at the ramifications of highway construction, the racist undertones of the suffragist movement, the overthrow of Hawaii, and 18 more cultural touchpoints, many with lessons of resistance and struggle. If transportation policy sounds like a yawner, think again. Aberg-Riger’s art will certainly draw you in, and her writing will keep you to the end. {AADL}

Hardly Creatures: Poems
by Rob Macaisa Colgate
(2025)
The conceit of this book is that each poem is like a museum piece that comes labeled for accessibility. As you wander the museum (the book), icons at the top of each poem tell you what to expect. They express trigger warnings, access to low-vision guides, gender inclusivity, an information kiosk, foreign translations, etc.—whatever themes are explored in each piece. I thought this would be cheesy, but it was an integral part of the book, especially when seeing variant, mutated forms of the icons to puzzle over. I have never read a book of poems that feels so much like a whole story. Characters recur, and a full picture of a deeply caring group of friends emerges. If you get tired during your visit, take a break with one of the poems titled “Bench.” At turns playful, funny, sad, and inspiring. {MeLCat}

The Bonnet
by Katarína Kucbelová
(2024)
This dreamlike story of a woman from Bratislava traveling to a Slovak village to learn traditional bonnet-making was beautiful and heartfelt. Is it a personal narrative? Fiction? It didn’t matter to me. During the author’s visits to the bonnet maker Iľka, she ruminates on families, death, the role of women in society, and, of course, sewing. {Website}

More AADL Staff Picks:
➥ 2024
➥ 2023
➥ 2022
➥ 2021
➥ 2020
➥ 2019
➥ 2018
➥ 2017
➥ 2016