If you’re reading this, you probably already know that few things are quite as relaxing (or thrilling) as hunkering down with a good story. Sometimes, though, life gets in the way, and we can’t always take the time to tune everything out and read.
Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe
This reprint of Chinua Achebe’s 1966 children’s story is perfect for both kids and adults. Chike is an 11-year-old who meets a magician, tastes suya, and encounters conmen on his journey to cross the Niger River into the city of Asaba for the first time. Gorgeous illustrations by Edel Rodriguez make this version of the story a must-read.
Come Closer by Sara Gran
This hypnotic horror clocks in at 168 pages but still packs a punch. With a blooming architectural career and happy relationship with her husband, Amanda seems to have it all — until a malevolent force takes over her psyche. Is she possessed by a demon, or is her repressed true self bubbling to the surface? Or maybe, it’s a little bit of both. You won’t be able to put it down.
Elevation by Stephen King
This touching Stephen King novella tells the story of Scott Carey, a man in Castle Rock, Maine trying to find the cause of his rapid and incessant weight loss. It’s a great introduction to modern King for readers who tend to shy away from scary.
God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney
The lives of sisters Caroline and Abigail are upended when their father, the lead pastor of an evangelical megachurch in Texas, has an affair with another woman. The striking prose paints an intimate portrait of sisterhood, womanhood and what it feels like to struggle with faith. You’ll practically be able to feel the dry Texas heat.
The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado
Arresting and emotional illustrations help tell the story of El and Vee, two teenagers who attempt to get to the bottom of the mysterious illness afflicting residents in their hometown of Shudder-to-Think, Pennsylvania. Part horror, part queer coming-of-age, this is a stunning graphic novel about power and those who abuse it.
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
This young adult verse novel exploded onto the scene in 2018. Dominican teenager Xiomara Batista reconciles with family conflicts and high school through poetry. Acevedo’s poetry flows so smoothly, it reads like a real 15-year-old’s diary.
Why Patti Smith Matters by Caryn Rose
Part of the University of Texas Press’ Music Matters series, this is the first book about (New Jersey’s own) Patti Smith written by a woman. Caryn Rose’s expertise about punk’s poet laureate and all things rock and roll make this a satisfying (and quick) read for both casual fans and Smith obsessives.
