Best Books by Black and POC Authors - A Roundup

Please save this page - I will be continuously updating over the years as more books and suggestions come to me. 

Image courtesy of Religion & Politics 

Hello dear readers –

As you may have noticed, I’ve taken an extended break from blogging. Between the COVID-19 crisis, the indefinite closure of #tctheater, the shutdown of travel and now the sacking of Minneapolis, it’s just not been a great time for the more lighthearted content I usually share. It’s also given me time to focus on some family and personal projects that need long-term tending.

That said, if you visit Compendium even modestly you will notice that I do a lot of reading. In light of the current movement to provide justice for George Floyd and other victims of racist violence, several people have reached out asking for recommendations of books for themselves and others.

Lucky for you, I’ve been rounding up just such information on my Goodreads page for years now. I don’t like the lack of sophistication in their listing capabilities, so instead I’m compiling a master list here broken by category. All of these books are ones I have read and found informative about the experience of people of color, especially black Americans, and all are authored by people of color (with a few rare exceptions at the end). I have also included a list of books that I have seen recommended by several sources I trust – I have noted where I haven’t read them, but I wanted to provide them as additional great resources, understanding that different people connect to different writing styles.

I plan to maintain this list for the future, so please save the link and let me know if you have additional books to share! I also highly recommend visiting this Google file(and bookmarking it) for an enormous treasure trove of online articles about the history of racism in the United States and ways to un-learn racist bias and become an anti-racist. I’ve had it bookmarked for years and regularly revisit and share this database. Do not discount this – although these are shorter articles or long-form journalism, they by no means are less valuable than an actual book.

Please stay safe, stay active, and stay strong my friends. While it’s hard to see the city burn, it’s harder to know of the centuries of injustice that have been visited on our friends and family of color. As Lizzo said, we ain’t free ‘til we ALL free – so keep fighting the good fight, educating yourself, and keeping the pressure on. We can win this!

With love and power,

Becki

My Top Books to Read First (and make sure to purchase from a Black-owned bookstore!)

• Any books by James Baldwin – Suggest The Last Interview and Other Conversations: Any step towards understanding the black experience in America begins and ends with James Baldwin, period. All of his books should be required reading, but if you need a place to start, this collection of his last ever interview is a great survey of his expertise from the end of his life. Baldwin is a genius, a fabulous writer, and tragically underappreciated. If you read one author on this list, make it him. 
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander: This was the first book that really radicalized me on race issues. Alexander is impeccably sourced and clear, with iron-clad legal proofs of the systemic racism built throughout our “justice” system and the insidious ways it hides in our systems to this day. She proves without doubt that Jim Crow never went away – it just evolved into more nefarious forms of discrimination. I have recommended and even bought this book for more people than I can count. It is essential reading. 
• Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by  Isabel Wilkerson: A lot of fuss has been made about Caste and it lives up to the hype. Caste fills the gap in our language by accurately describing the holistic devastation of America's racial inequities and the intention with which that system was constructed. Make sure to give yourself time to deeply read and consider the material. This is a must-read book this year and every year. Don't be afraid of the heavy subject matter and Wilkerson's scholarship - this is very approachably written, even more so than The Warmth of Other Suns, with accessibly short chapters and vivid, illustrative stories. 
• A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn: This iconic text is a cornerstone of educating yourself about the "invisible" parties of American history - think Native Americans, women, BIPOC people, labor movements and more. I was astonished at the prophetic nature of much of Zinn's prose, particularly the conclusions drawn in his original edition, which seem more relevant than ever today. Excellent writing that more than holds its own decades after it was first published, and a must-read for all Americans (but particularly those working towards anti-racism causes). 15/10 recommend for any and all readers.
• So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo: This is singlehandledly the best book I have read about having conversations about racism with other white people. It includes tons of helpful analogies to help people of privilege understand things they’ve never experienced. Ijeoma also has a wonderful Twitter feed – give her a follow if you’re on that platform. And don't miss her new book Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America.
• Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: The heartbreaking memoir heard ‘round the world. Back in the last round of Black Lives Matter protests came this letter Coates wrote to his son about growing up as a black man in a police state. This really humanizes the impact of our racist policies; I’d recommend reading this after The New Jim Crow for a zoom-out / zoom-in understanding of the experience of black men in our country. 
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X: A lot of people identify as a Malcolm vs. a Martin, but few understand just how close the two became before their tragic assassinations. This remains a magnificent read decades after Malcolm’s death and is really vital context to understanding what the Civil Rights movement did and did not accomplish, and why sometimes a less peaceful approach is the best one for black people acting in defense. 
• A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches by Martin Luther King Jr.: People love to cherry pick pithy quotes from MLKJ, but few know the full depth and breadth of the systemic changes he argued for. I read this collection of his entire written works like a devotional throughout an entire year – it’s long, but worth soaking up one page at a time. 

Non-fiction Books for Adults about Race / Racism

• March Graphic Novel Series by John Lewis: Vital graphic novel series straight from the mouth of one of the last people alive who led the Civil Rights movement. This series pairs really well with The Silence of Our Friends. 
• The Silence of Our Friends by Mark Long, Jim Demonakos, Nate Powell: Powerful graphic novel of a Civil Rights era case where five black college students receive freedom after being charged with the murder of a policeman. Riveting. 
• The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks: True story of the experiences of the Harlem Hellfighters, an all-black WWI unit who faced horrific racism after returning home to America as war heroes. Another graphic novel you won’t be able to put down. 
• Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston: One of the most exciting developments in publishing is the movement to unearth out of print texts by black authors. Barracoon, the true narrative of the last man stolen from Africa who lived in America as a slave, is one of them. It’s the only modern first-hand account of the full experience of slavery from shore to shore that we have and a vital primary text in understanding the legacy of slavery in the U.S. (and a reminder how recently that system still existed). 
• Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar: Why should we reframe the way we teach about our founding fathers? This exposé of George Washington’s determined pursuit of a runaway slave is a window into why. If America includes people of all races equally, then we have to be much more honest about who we deify and what their true legacy is. 
• The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson: This is a spectacular American history that is well-worth revisiting. I hadn't really thought about the fact that I never formally *learned* about the Great Migration and what a dearth of materials exist around such an important subject until I read this book. I'd never thought in terms of full scope or impact on American politics and economy, nor in terms of a massive refugee crisis, which the Great Migration really was. Not only does this book really re-frame the history well, but it deeply personalizes it through following three distinct people's trajectories through the migration. It's thoughtful, clear prose that is a masterclass in writing. I will definitely re-read this book at some point and have already lent it out to family. Truly a modern classic.
• Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde: Audre Lorde is essential reading on intersectionality and black feminism. This is a fabulous essay collection – worth purchasing for permanent home use. 
• When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Asha Bandele, Angela Y. Davis: First-hand insight into life as a black woman in America from the founders of Black Lives Matter. This is the 101 primer on how BLM was founded, why, and what they are fighting for. BLM remains very misunderstood, so this is an important way to understand why the movement is structured without a single figurehead, how it functions with its many arms in states and cities across the world, and more. 
• Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine: Rankine wrote this before Black Lives Matter exploded onto the scene but it was published almost when the movement started. The timing was eerie, the subject matter prescient, and it remains a modern classic. 
• We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates: A collection of nearly a decade of Coates’ long form essays, this is essential reading for considering where we go from here. “The Case for Reparations,” in particular, is a vital piece for all white Americans to chew on. 
• Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward: Jesmyn Ward is on this list several times because yes, she IS that good. This book, describing the many ways black men die before their time (hint: it’s all due to racism but not all of it relates to policing), will haunt you long after you are done reading. 
• The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race: Essay collection by many of my favorite black writers (most of whom have other books on this list) specific to the experience of race in the tradition of James Baldwin. 
• Bad Feminist or Hunger by Roxane Gay: One of the seminal cultural critics of our times on life as a black, queer, fat woman in America. Both books are beautifully written and have powerful, life changing insights to share. They’re also great primers on understanding intersectionality for race, sex / gender, size, and other forms of privilege. 
• Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War by Leymah Gbowee: If you are feeling swallowed by darkness at the state of things, pick up this book about how good and determination can overcome what are truly the worst of times. Also a fantastic example of the unfathomable things that happen when black women take full charge of a movement. 
• Becoming by Michelle Obama: The inside scoop on the other Obama and really just an excellent expose in how black life in America has evolved from the 1960s to now. It wasn’t just a best seller because she was famous. 
• More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth: One of the best career advice books bar none that I’ve read, but another window into intersectionality and life as a black woman in America. Welteroth is an elegant, wise writer and I liked this a lot more than I expected to. 
• You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson: If you want to learn and laugh at the same time (who doesn’t?), Robinson’s books are for you. This is her first essay collection and while funny, will clearly illuminate many of the struggles black women face growing up in primarily white environments. 
• We're Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union: It can be easy to forget just how long Union has worked in Hollywood, but her essay collection will remind you. There’s a lot of insight here into life as a black woman and the importance of representation in the entertainment industry both on and off the screen. 
• The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae: Before there was Insecure there was The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Learn about Rae’s artistic origins in this laugh out loud memoir. 
• Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah: Insight into growing up as a biracial child and life in South Africa under apartheid. I like Noah’s writing even better than his comedy, and this book was one of my favorites the year I read it. 
• The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks by Toni Tipton-Martin: Extensively researched, this book proves how black cooks created what we think of as American food and how little credit they got for it. Another example of how black culture is really American culture, not two separate things. 
• The Red Rooster Cookbook: The Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem by Marcus Samuelsson: While food is a great bridge between cultures, it also tells a history of place, time and memory. This is a fascinating look at the history of many black-authored dishes from across the diaspora, the American melting pot, and the borough of Harlem itself. 
• The Grey Album: Music, Shadows, Lies by Kevin Young: Although this is ostensibly a wonderful history of black music in America, you will find that art is inherently political. Learn the reasons that black culture IS American culture and doesn’t need a separate section in the book or record store. 
• Decoded by Jay-Z: This book will surprise you with its nuance and depth. Jay-Z enriches the stereotypes of the hip-hop “gangster” artist with truth, history and context. The wealth of nuance straight from his lyrics will really re-frame your assumptions about this world. 
• Jacob Lawrence: The Migration Series by Leah Dickerman: If you’re more of a visual learner, view these historic paintings depicting the massive migration of black Americans from Southern states to northern cities like Chicago in the mid-20th century. 
• Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work by Edwidge Danticat: A slightly different perspective on black life from the diaspora. Danticat covers a swath of subjects from life in Haiti to life as an immigrant in New York. She is one of my favorite writers on art and its purpose. 

Great Fiction Books by Black Authors

• Beloved by Toni Morrison: There is a reason Toni Morrison was the first (and, to-date, and tragically, only) black woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature, and this book is it. Haunting, vital, unforgettable… it’s a pillar of the canon and a must-read. 
• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe: Another book that needs to become a pillar of the literary canon. This is the first in a series by this Nigerian author, which details life in pre-colonial Africa. This is a helpful way to visualize what black men lost when they began to see their homes colonized and were stolen from their birthplace. 
• Kindred by Octavia E. Butler: You know all those movies where people time travel between modern and slavery times? Octavia Butler did it first, and she probably did it best. There’s a whole series of her work from the 1970s begging to be revisited. This is one of her best. 
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi: One of the most impactful novels I’ve ever read that follows generations of black women from Africa to America. It’s among my most gifted and recommended books and gives you a nuanced view of the impacts of slavery and racism from both sides of the Atlantic. 
• Any Books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Adichie is a wonderful writer about the American African (yes, this is different from African American) experience. I’ve read all of her books and they are all fantastic. The link will take you to her author page so you can peruse the ones new-to-you and snap them up. If you need help choosing one to start, Americanah is the gold standard. 
• I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett: Percival Everett is IMHO *criminally* underrated. This novel, describing the plight of an orphaned black boy brought into fabulous wealth after being adopted by Ted Turner, is one of his best. Darkly funny and a book that will make you question all your assumptions about wealth equaling privilege.
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones: Novel depicting the impact of the prison pipeline from inside a marriage ripped apart by it. This will break your heart and illuminate how deep the dark consequences of sending someone to jail really go. 
• The Sellout by Paul Beatty: Even years later I still don’t know how to describe this darkly comedic book, although it did bear shades of Percival Everett to me. Just think of it as “one of the most unique books about race in modern memory” and give it a go. 
• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward: I’m hard pressed to think of another author writing more beautifully or heartwrenchingly about modern life in the American South as a black person. ALL of Jesmyn Ward’s books are stunners, but my favorite remains this slender novel about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on a group of motherless children. 
• Cane by Jean Toomer: Classic book about life in America as a black person during the Harlem Renaissance. This book deserves to be far more widely known and read than it is – if we can read William Faulkner we sure as hell can read Jean Toomer. 
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: Vivid re-imagination of the process of taking the Underground Railroad to freedom, complete with several magical twists and turns. This will make the experience of being a slave much less abstract and sterile than history books do. 
• The Collected Poems by Langston Hughes: Going through Hughes' lyrical verse is a balm. It's astonishing how vast the breadth of his literary brush is able to capture in such an economy of language. It's a very jazzy kind of poetry and you feel the Harlem Renaissance palpably throughout. This is an easy book to flip back and forth to savor various sections, and it's worth adding to your list if you're trying to familiarize better with historic Black authors.
• Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire: Remember that little album Beyoncé released called Lemonade? This is the book of poetry she heavily sampled throughout it. Shire’s words are lyrical, evocative, and ancient. Loved this collection. 
• Don't Call Us Dead by Danez Smith: Gripping collection that is like the Black Twitter of poetry. This is thoroughly modern, deals tangibly with police brutality and queer identity, and I’ve since read all Smith’s collections – they are powerful. 
• Life on Mars by Tracy K. Smith: Poetry somehow has a way of saying the unsaid, and this remains one of my favorite poetry collections of all time, bar none, regardless of subject matter. Truly revelatory language usage that deservedly won the Pulitzer Prize the year it was published. 
• Skin, Inc.: Identity Repair Poems by Thomas Sayers Ellis: An incisively articulated indictment of America’s racial system long before Trayvon Martin's murder, this poetry collection was way ahead of its time. 
• Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo by Ntozake Shange: Slim novel that I described as “Zora Neale Hurston meets Lauryn Hill style;” “dipping into a pensieve of black female ancestral history.” Even better is Shange’s play for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf - if you haven’t read or seen it, check it out ASAP. 
• White Teeth by Zadie Smith: Smith is a modern literary legend in the making. It’s very hard to believe this is her first novel, but it gives you a good idea of the high quality of all her work (I’ve read the rest – any of her other books are also worth picking up). 
• She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore: Pseudo-superhero novel set at the founding of Liberia. This was a unique blend of African magical realism, Luke Cage and generational fiction like Homegoing. 
• Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique: A modern Carribbean, voodoo, fairy tale-style novel. Need I say more? 
• Stay with Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀: Insight into life in polygamous African societies, sickle cell disease, familial meddling and more, you won’t be able to put down this powerful book. This one will give you a gut punch. 
• The Hairdresser of Harare by Tendai Huchu: Another African author who packs a lot of content into a very short book. Lots of twists and turns in this entertaining novel that illuminates serious issues without being condescending. 
• The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin: Jemisin is the first and only author of any race or gender to win three straight Hugo awards (aka the Oscars of the fantasy world) for a series. This is a ripping good read but also a way to open your mind up to new fictional worlds beyond the stale Middle Earth-ian tropes white authors seem to rinse and repeat. 
• Children of Blood and Bone / (Legacy of Orïsha Series) by Tomi Adeyemi: This series is very fresh, creative YA fiction that Disney picked up for development. This richly realized fantasy world creates heavy parallels to the African American experience in the U.S. As the Orïsha series develops it's proving to be taut, exciting and rich, and will leave you immediately hungering for the final part in the trilogy. 
• Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James: Very dense, complex first entry in a soon-to-be trilogy. This weaves a lot of ancient African mythology with pure fantasy; it’s dark, it’s violent, and it’s totally unique. If you made it through Game of Thrones, you need to make it through this. 
• Boondock Kollage: Stories from the Hip Hop South by Regina N. Bradley: I don’t usually like short story collections, but this one introduced me to a host of new black authors and was a really interesting twist on the genre. I visualize it something like the black literary version of Black Mirror. 
• The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin: The brand spanking new installment from one of my favorite authors (see above), this seems particularly relevant due to the subject matter: watching a city become a sentient being, as visualized through characters representing its major boroughs. I couldn’t stop thinking of this imagery watching the protests arise around the world last week – this book will be one of its time for sure. 

Children’s Books Starring Black and POC Characters

• Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison: Little Leaders is an entire series worth looking into, but this one focusing specifically on black women is my favorite. This is a great primer into many #hiddenfigures that will lead you to researching books about each woman (some of which are also listed below). 
• Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o, Vashti Harrison: Stunning illustrations and a story that centers and celebrates the main character’s dark black skin. This is a good one for explaining colorism and skin color differences to kids at a young age. 
• Layla's Happiness by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, Ashleigh Corrin: Book about a black girl that is just about her being happy – that’s it. No political message. And that’s why I loved it so much. 
• Firebird by Misty Copeland: Vibrant illustrations telling the story of the first black prima ballerina of the New York Ballet. 
• Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell: Fun story for little kids about one of history’s criminally underrated provocateurs that isn’t overly dumbed down. 
• Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald by Roxane Orgill: Super fun book that incorporates Fitzgerald’s trademark scat singing style. Also a good one for teaching kids about building confidence, encouraging independence, etc. 
• The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend by Ann Ingalls, Maryann Macdonald: Mary Lou Williams was described as the Mozart of her time. Never heard of her? I hadn’t either. Great book about a forgotten hero. 
• When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Muñoz Ryan, Brian Selznick: Another #hiddenfigure in American musical history. The book itself is great, but it also has an insightful afterword from the author that really enriches the text. 
• Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Méndez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh: It can be overlooked that segregation did not just affect black vs. white people, but all people of color in America. Few know that nearly a decade prior to Brown vs. Board of Education a family of Mexican / Puerto Rican heritage sued the government to integrate schools – and WON. Loved this read. 
• Islandborn by Junot Díaz, Leo Espinosa: Insightful children’s book about life as an Afro-Latina, a cultural intersection that is far too often erased or misunderstood. The illustrations are bright and compelling, and this tells an honest story while staying age-appropriate. 
• Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown: Elegantly poetic book about an artist and activist that has English and Spanish text. 
• Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson: If I told you a young boy biked across Ghana with only one leg, would you believe me? It’s true. This book tells his story. 
• Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson: Important biography of course, and the illustrations just glow out at you. 
• Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli: The true story of the woman who brought back an entire environment with beautiful, beautiful illustrations. 
• Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees by Franck Prévot, Aurélia Fronty: Same subject from another perspective. This is more in-depth than Mama Miti but is just as beautiful. Also includes helpful supplemental materials in the back with detail about the impacts of deforestation and climate change in Africa. 
• One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul: True story of how a woman took it upon herself to rid Gambia of plastic bags. Great book teaching about activism and environmental causes. 
• The Amazing Discoveries of Ibn Sina by Fatima Sharafeddine: Think of Ibn Sina as the DaVinci of the Muslim world… except he did it centuries before the Enlightenment. Among Sina’s contributions to the world are the foundation of modern medicine. Almost guaranteed to be a new-to-you story. 
• The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq by Jeanette Winter: Sharing the love of reading from the Middle East, this is a great illustration of the difference a single person can make (it’s a true story). 
• Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan / Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan: Two Stories of Bravery by Jeanette Winter: Companion books about two children, a boy and a girl, who defended their right to education in Pakistan.  
• Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan by Jeanette Winter: Great advocacy for girls’ education, but also a good book for children who have some trauma / PTSD to work through to connect with. This story has so much heart and helps kids understand negative events and emotions like loss, death and fear. 
• Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges, Sophie Blackall: A true story set in pre-Mao China, also about the importance of educating girls. I seem to struggle to find good children’s books set in Asia so this is a nice addition to diversify your children’s library. 
• Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki, Dom Lee: Another true story about how Japanese citizens fought against their government during WWII. Great book to show kids the importance of standing up for what is right and standing up against bullies.
• Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed, Doug Chayka: Poignant book about sharing and life as a child in refugee camps, another subject often missing from children’s literature. 
• Abuela by Arthur Dorros, Elisa Kleven: Sweet bilingual book (Spanish and English) about family relationships that is great from toddler to early school age. I know elementary Spanish teachers who use this in their classroom, so a great one to start with if you want your kids to learn a new language. 
• Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales: The life of Frida Kahlo told with one of the most unique illustration styles I’ve ever seen. The pictures take a collage / mixed media approach, which really packs a punch when paired with the bilingual narrative. 
• Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries who Shaped Our History . . . and Our Future! by Kate Schatz: Modern encyclopedia of #hiddenfigures and women we all should know more about, but for kids! It has women represented of every race, sexuality and creed. Great place to survey women you want to research more about. 
• Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love: Heartwarming children’s book centering multiracial characters and helping them understand trans and queer identities. Good for kids of all ages but especially 3 – 10 or so, I’d say. 
• Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi: About as straightforward as its name, this short book is the perfect lineup for the radical baby in your life. 
• Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color by Monique Fields, Yesenia Moises: This was recommended by several local mom friends as a good book for mixed race kids, which is a hard niche to find books for. I like the message of crafting who you are on your own terms and the illustrations are brilliantly colored, which drew my son in even at his very young age.
• Aya Graphic Novel Series by Marguerite Abouet, Clément Oubrerie: Vibrant, full color graphic novel series about a teenage girl and her friends in the Ivory Coast in the heydays after independence in the 1970s. These have all the elements of the best of teen / tween favorites like a Daria, but told completely from an African perspective. So much fun. 
• Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor: All of Okorafor’s books (and there are a LOT of them) are fun, fast fiction reads that will please kids and grownups alike. This series, however, is my favorite. Think of it as the African Harry Potter. You won’t be able to stop reading these once you start. 
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: I really struggled with categories to put this in – technically it’s YA Fiction but I read it as an adult and found it very powerful. This is a great middle to high school level novel about seeing police brutality through a teenager’s eyes. It embraces complexity and proves how kids are affected by – and can be a part of the solution to – racial injustice. It was also recently made into a movie if you want a visual version. 
• I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb: Autobiography of THE Malala Yousafzai, perfect for tweens / teens age kids. 
• The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang: Fun homage to the first Asian American comic book hero by one of my favorite graphic novelists. This is probably a book for middle school / older kids but adults will love it too. Great read for Marvel / superhero fans. 
• Ms. Marvel Series by G. Willow Wilson: I’m super excited about the new crop of Marvel heroes and Ms. Marvel is my favorite. It’s so fun to see a Muslim girl kicking ass in comic book form. Great read for middle / high school ages. 

Great Books by Wider POC Authors (Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, etc.) – All Genres 

• They Called Us Enemy by George Takei: Takei is famous for his time on Star Trek, but his story starts in the concentration camps built to house Japanese Americans during WWII. Seeing the experience of being trapped and imprisoned in your own country through a child’s eyes will bring you to your knees and expose a sin of American history most us know far too little about. 
• The Leavers by Lisa Ko: This is a rich, complex novel that provides a really nuanced dive into immigration policy in China and the U.S., as well as an expose on foreign adoption from the perspective of the adoptees themselves. This fits a niche that is really needed right now in terms of humanizing the immigration debate, especially the practice of separating BIPOC children from their parents (who are then deported home with no way to contact their kids) and what happens to them in "better homes" with white parents. 
• In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero: Lost in the COVID pandemic and police protests is the fact that we are still arresting and detaining thousands of migrants at the border and in our cities. This is essential insight from a woman whose parents were taken while she was still a child. Learn why ICE needs to be dismantled and what separating families really means. 
• Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas: Another first hand account of growing up in America undocumented and the long-term effects undocumented status has. Vital read to understanding the immigration and citizenship crisis. 
• The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui: A perspective on the Vietnam War (and its aftermath) on people who had to flee their homeland. Also a striking graphic memoir and demonstration of the value of resilience, strength, education, hard work and dignity. 
• The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang: Minnesota has been home to more Hmong people than anywhere else in the world for years, but how much do you actually know about the Hmong experience? This opened my eyes to what many of my neighbors went through to come to the U.S. I regretted not reading it sooner. 
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer: Beautiful book of essays by an indigenous author that helped me re-frame how deep colonial perspective goes, particularly in relation to environment and language (for example, Kimmerer describes how in indigenous languages the words for plants are active – like verbs – rather than nouns, demonstrating how they are constantly living things in relationship to us. A tree is not a tree, it is "treeing." A flower is "flowering." etc.). Fabulous, meditative read. 
• There There by Tommy Orange: A short novel about the deep struggles indigenous people still face today, There There is a window into the shattered indigenous diaspora and the resilience still within it. This one is famous for a reason. 
• The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman: Insight into traditional indigenous food systems from a local Minnesota chef. While most of the book focuses on foods Minnesota-based tribes would have made, Sherman takes care to include insight from chefs of other tribes around the country.
• Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection: This series of comics from indigenous artists of many tribes offers a wide range of artistic styles and voices. Again, an important way to continue to de-colonize your perspective of art and narrative.
• A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza: Insight into modern Muslim life in America through a family struggling with many contemporary problems like addiction, being the black sheep, heartache and more. Hard to believe this was a first novel. 
• Arab in America by Toufic El Rassi: This graphic novel does a show vs. tell version of life in the U.S. as a Muslim. Very impactful, fast read. 
• The Return: Fathers, Sons, and the Land in Between by Hisham Matar: Lyrical, gorgeous memoir about a man’s relationship to his father after their family flees Libya and his father is later murdered by Qaddafi. Rich intersection of insight from life in Europe and in North Africa. 
• The Complete Persepolis or Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi: Iran, and especially the women of Iran, is / are criminally misunderstood in America. Persepolis and Embroideries are an essential read for enriching our understanding of this ancient place, both good and bad. 
• The Last Days of Café Leila by Donia Bijan: Beautiful novel about life in Iran vs. in America as an Iranian immigrant. Perfect summer beach read. 
• Distant View of a Minaret and Other Stories by Alifa Rifaat: Short story collection by a legendary Egyptian author about life as a woman in Egypt. It’s progressive, diverse and pointed, covering arranged marriage, queer sex, sex in general and more. 
• In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez: Beautiful novel about life under Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. It’s historical fiction based on real people, wonderfully written, and the strong female protagonists will fully inspire you to be more activist in your own life. 
• Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia: Mayan fantasy fiction that you won’t be able to put down. I found this a romantic and illuminating journey into a culture I know shamefully little about. 
• Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang: When people think of colonialism they tend to forget about China. Gene Luen Yang is one of my favorite graphic novel authors anyway, but this series showing the fight against Christian missionaries was riveting and a history I knew far too little about. 
• Palestine by Joe Sacco, Edward W. Said: Dazzling graphic novel-style introduction to Palestine that is also journalistic. Notable both for artistic style and subject matter – very impactful read. 
• Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal: Asia is the world’s largest continent, but the thousands of cultural groups who live there tend to be conflated into one stereotype here in the U.S. This gives a slice of insight into the specific experience of Punjabi women in the form of a sexy, funny murder mystery. 
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee: A Dickensian level magnum opus about life for a Korean family across generations. This helps illuminate ways racism can play out in cultures outside of the United States. 
• Being Peace by Thich Nhat Hanh: Thich Nhat Hanh is a name that belongs with other great pacifists – the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, etc. Beautiful primer on Mahayana Buddhism and how to uplift without judgement. Wonderful, soul-enriching book. 
• Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy Letters by Mahatma Gandhi: Primer on nonviolent resistance from across the pond, and a chance to see two great minds in action. 

Helpful Books by White Authors (Just A Few)

• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot: Although written by a white author, this is a vital book to putting the history of medical violence perpetrated against black Americans in perspective. It’s also a ripping good nonfiction read that you will tear through with abandon. If you aren’t sure why reparations are necessary, this case against the abuse a single family faced at the hands of medical and pharmaceutical corporations should lay it pretty bare. Oprah also produced a film version if you can find it. 
• Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond: Evicted is an especially relevant read right now as millions face homelessness due to the COVID-initiated economic crisis. The data is thorough and pointed, clearly demonstrating where inequities lie, and really humanizes the issue of eviction and the crisis in affordable housing nationwide. Sometimes nonfiction, even when accurate and well researched, can be so dry or focused on the numbers that it becomes hard to read or identify with. Evicted avoids that trap and ties crucial detail to each story. This is an important read to help all Americans understand how vulnerable so much of our society is to homelessness - even pre-COVID - and learn some creative solutions to this problem.
• White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg: This is the history of poor white people in America and how the American system was built from the ground up to exploit racial tensions so the rich could hold on to their power and property. It’s “the other side” of racism, if you will, and a helpful reminder that America was made this way on purpose. 
• A Fistful of Shells: West Africa from the Rise of the Slave Trade to the Age of Revolution by Toby Green: It can be easy to forget that Africa was full of diverse, rich, deeply sophisticated civilizations before the arrival of Europeans. This is a deep dive that illuminates many of them and traces the origins of slavery through an economic lens. This greatly enriched my understanding of black heritage and my very poor knowledge of African history. 
• Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann: Gripping true story of how the FBI was founded to investigate the systematic murder of Osage tribe members after the discovery of oil on their reservation in Oklahoma. Another piece to understanding the puzzle of American military, police and intelligence organizations, and the systematic ways white supremacy has abused people of many races. 
• Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford: Decolonize your knowledge of world history. Genghis Khan is not famous for the things he deserves to be, like diversifying leadership and power structures, inventing paper currency, utilizing mobile engineering, and more. This will really flip your assumptions about world history and what constitutes "barbarianism" vs. “civilization” on its head. 
• When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön: Wise words from an essential Buddhist author on ways to heal and survive in difficult moments. This is one of those books you buy because although short, you return to it again and again. 
• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: There is a reason this book remains legendary decades after it was first published. If you want a window into the darkest moments humanity can experience as well as the resilience and triumph of the human spirit, look no further. This is also an excellent way to re-frame your privilege and reality – after reading the horrors Frankl experienced in the Holocaust it’s pretty damn hard to feel sorry for yourself. 
• Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed: I’ve recommended and purchased few authors more than Cheryl Strayed. There is a lot of wisdom and healing to be found in these advice columns. This is more of a human and heart healing book, but it’s a guide for understanding how to write empathetically and just a great read in general. 

Books I Haven’t Read Myself But Come Highly Recommended

• How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi 
• They Can’t Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery 
• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge 
• Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lorde 
• A More Beautiful and Terrible History by Jeanne Theoharis 

Best Books and Reads of 2019

It's that time of year again... 

It's been a while since I did a reading roundup and it's the last day of 2019, so I figured - why not?

Long-time followers know that I am an avid reader. I try to hit at least 100 books read every year, which is normally not a problem for me. Last year I wanted to step it up to 110 books or more, but (un?)fortunately got derailed with a lot of special trips (more to come on those! keep checking here) that sucked up reading time so my total remains at 100.

So without further ado, here are the best of the 100 books I finished in 2019. It's important to note that these are not all books published in 2019 - it's the best of the books I read in 2019, several of which have been on my list for years. Hopefully you will find something great to add to your list here for 2020, whether or not it's new. And if you like this content, make sure to follow my Books page on Compendium and Goodreads to stay updated on my latest great reads.

Best History Book - Tie 

2019 seemed to be the year of non-fiction for me. For some reason I was drawn more than usual to richly researched books, and it was very hard to choose between the best of them. Both of these books enriched my understanding of world history and filled in massive gaps left by my sub-par American education on global history. Both are slower reads but highly worth reading.

A Fistful of Shells: West Africa from the Rise of the Slave Trade to the Age of Revolution by Toby Green

This is the best single history of any part of Africa I've ever read and should honestly be taught in all schools. I picked it up after my month-long trip in West Africa because my overall knowledge of African history and cultures is so severely lacking - the only region we ever learned about in school was Egypt and even that was almost remedial - and I needed to have a more well rounded understanding of the world. This was the perfect book to fill in my gaps. It's impeccably sourced and researched but remains quite readable and includes lots of maps, charts and photos to help visualize the information. The author provides highly nuanced approaches towards gender history and politics, the true impact of colonialism and religious influence, and embraces a complexity that dazzled me.

I wish more history books were this thorough and honest; there is no cover up or one-sided perspective here. The insistence on depth enriches every chapter and leave you with a full 360 degree view of life in West Africa in the period of transition between the 15th and 18th centuries. Toby Green's approach to history by using currency to explain how slavery started and true impact it had in this region and globally is a brilliant idea, and I think this information should be taught in all American classrooms as a mandatory part of understanding why chattel slavery was different and how deeply it robbed an entire continent of its potential. If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. Highly, highly recommend.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford

I've heard this book so frequently mentioned by several highly successful folks on various podcasts and interviews as one of their favorites that I finally had to see what all the hype was about. What I got was a totally fascinating history that has completely changed much of my understanding of medieval Eurasian history. We hear so little (and certainly never positive) news of Mongols or Mongolia today, but the legacy left by Genghis Khan and his progeny, particularly Khubilai, is truly remarkable and deserves a much closer, fairer examination than it has often gotten. For example: did you know Genghis' empire was larger than all of North America combined and far, far larger than any other in history? He's the most successful empire builder to live past the age of 35 (dying at age 70). He introduced modern concepts like diverse leadership teams (always promoting on ability and intelligence, not by family relationship) and the first ever paper currency to strengthen his empire. His armies always included mobile engineering teams who would construct the infrastructure and weaponry needed for each specific voyage on-site as it was required, essentially a battalion of human 3D printers. They were also the first fighting force to successfully capture cities by traveling across frozen waterways. He was the first person to unify what is now India and China, and it's not impossible to think those nations would never have existed without his organizational influence.

If you're a history buff this is a must-read to enrich your understanding of world history and understand what short shrift the Khans have gotten over the years. It's not an apologia or a white wash - there were some highly violent, destructive acts taken by these armies and they are honestly depicted here - but that is only a tiny part of their story and the other side really deserves to be told. I found this completely fascinating and am recommending this book to people constantly.

Best Science Book - The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science by Julie Des Jardins

This was an amazing read that will launch 1,000 more - there are so many incredible women scientists I learned about through this book who I otherwise would never have heard of. The long history of women's difficulty in entering scientific fields is well researched here; my only quibble is that I wish it was a little more diverse including a wider range of women of color. The book groups subjects roughly by era but also by scientific discipline, a theming which helps show the lineage between female scientists and how they were able to build upon each other (much like you might see "genealogies" of chefs, academics or other professional careers). Portions about women who were deliberately cut out of promotions, Nobel prizes, etc. were completely infuriating and I can't begin to imagine the scientific discoveries we lost as a result. It was really interesting to note the differences Jardins drew between the style of male and female scientists. Sometimes this could get a bit exaggerated, but I do think there's something to be said for a difference in approaches yielding different results. This is a great read for all lovers of narratives like Hidden Figures and discovering those whose vital contributions have been historically overlooked. 

Best True Crime / Mystery - Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann

I came across this book in an article about the Oklahoma! musical revival, threw it on my list for shits and giggles, and it completely blew me away. Killers of the Flower Moon has the same power of a Truman Capote, Jon Krakauer or Erik Larson kind of nonfiction; it's impossible to put down and almost as difficult to believe that its dark narrative is 100% true. I was shocked at how little of this history I knew and how violent it was. The contemporary American attitude towards Native Americans tends to be negative ("why aren't they over it yet?"), without recognizing how far the trauma committed against native peoples extends even into the present day. The events of this book take place well under 100 years ago and are shockingly evil, including deceptive marriages, poisoning and violent assault of people's spouses and own children, theft and worse. This book unwinds like a good mystery novel with plenty of suspects, moving targets, and unsolved mysteries that span decades. It's also a light history of the founding of the FBI, which is an event that I didn't know I needed to learn about and information I feel will be useful in the future. I highly recommend this, especially to fans of mystery or true crime books. It's another missing piece of American history that I've already called upon in the months since I read it.

Best Sports Book - Levels of the Game by John McPhee

I don't normally read sports books, but I'd seen this recommended by Tim Ferriss and others for years and finally got tired of hearing about it. Levels of the Game is surprisingly hard to find but it was so worth the wait. Everything said about this slender book is true: it is so much more than simply a sports story, and it really is one of the best pieces of short writing I've ever read, a true masterpiece of short form. I flew through the 150 pages or so in a single sitting and have been mentally chewing on it ever since.

At surface level this is just a gripping play-by-play of a legendary tennis match between Arthur Ashe and Charles Graebner; however, I quickly learned there is so much more packed in here. Deep character studies and biographies of both contestants are seamlessly interwoven throughout the match, and through them a window in to the wider issues of mid-20th century (and, I would argue, contemporary) America. The intense focus and detail here manages to make a brilliant case study of polar opposites of American privilege, racism, regional discrimination, classicism, religion, culture and so much more. It's truly a study in contrasts and had Graebner and Ashe not been teammates playing for Team U.S. in an international competition at the same time this match occurred, I think this match would have become as famous as Billie Jean King's "Battle of the Sexes" but in a racial context.

This book is truly fascinating, even for those who don't like sports very much, and if for no other reason it's worth a read for the truly excellent prose. I am still astonished at the mountains of detail John McPhee packs into clean, simple but elegant language in well under 200 pages - it's a masterpiece of construction and I am definitely striving to achieve his economic, elegaic style in my own writing.

Best Memoir: Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas

Immigration seems to be the issue of our times and there is no better book to read to understand this issue than Dear America. Something that gets lost in all the numbers and statistics on either side of the immigration debate is the vital understanding that these are not things we are talking about - they are people who have thoughts, feelings, needs and rights. There is so much nuance lost in the soundbite-driven conversations by talking heads on cable news, and people's lives are hanging in the balance.

This book has the perfect levity between personal memoir experience and hard data. As a former reporter for the Washington Post, Vargas is no slouch with his research, and all the data here can be backed up. Whichever side of the immigration debate you're on, I'd highly encourage you to pick up Dear America and gain some core understanding of this issue from someone who knows it most intimately. I suspect it's going to continue to be vital knowledge to have, especially as our economy continues to evolve. This is a must-read for every American citizen and I'd recommend it to any demographic.

Best Book About Women: Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard

Say what you want about GOOP: I was turned on to Mary Beard through GOOP's podcast and if I get nothing else out of it, it was fully worth it. This stunning, perfectly concise text analyzes the place and perception of women in Western society stemming back to the classical age (aka Greeks and Romans) and it is a fascinating look at texts like The Odyssey that so many of us have read (but this time with totally fresh eyes). I think most of us are aware by now how deeply rooted sexism is, but I also think we do not always see how explicitly and intentionally grounded that sexism is all the way back to our earliest cultural myths. Beard utilizes several delightful contemporary examples to apply her theories, and I blew through this in barely over an hour. Highly recommend this for all readers - it's got deep things to say in an easily accessible package and will really blow your mind with some of her examples.

Best African Lit / Locally Published Work: She Would Be King by Wayétu Moore

I have been reading a huge amount of work by African writers over the last few years, so when I saw that Minneapolis publisher Graywolf Press was releasing this I had to snap it up right away. This book was so good. It is truly diasporic and managed to weave three totally different character's plot lines seamlessly together, making it a story that people of many different identities could engage with. Structurally it is reminiscent of Yaa Gyaasi's transcendent novel Homegoing, although this has more complexity and narrative threads to weave together and a spicy dose of Marvel's Luke Cage to keep it modern. It felt to me like modern African superhero magical realism, with a little Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Wakanda and Marlon James all mixed together. It makes for a really fresh combo and I was deeply pulled into this narrative; it was hard to believe that this was Moore's debut novel and this book packs a lot of plot into 300 short pages. If you're into mystical fantasy / historical fiction, this is definitely one you should pick up.

Best Novel: The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal  

I fell in love with Balli Kaur Jaswal after reading Erotic Stories of Punjabi Widows, which I saw on a Reese's Book Club pick. This book (her second) solidifies her as one of my favorite new authors. This has all the touristic charm of stories like The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel but without the colonial gaze. Jaswal is so expert at having honest conversations about issues directly affecting women but packaging it into a treacly beach read text, which is stunningly difficult and achieved here with ease. Topics covered here include sexual assault, abortion, arranged marriage, immigration, sexism, Punjabi culture, and more - which sounds heavy but I promise that Shergill Sisters was one of the most fun reads I had all year. I flew through this book and could easily have devoured a whole series.

Best Fantasy: Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia  

I'm always looking for new fantasy fiction and I couldn't have been more thrilled with this one. I know almost nothing about Mayan civilization and mythology, something I am actively working to rectify. I found dipping into this new world really fascinating, especially with the complexity it treats death. It's a thrilling fantasy tale but also romantic and uniquely empathetic in a way I haven't seen in similar books; the author makes a point of prioritizing compassion and grace even in the characters with the darkest and most twisted motivations. This is a complete world on its own (lots packed into just over 300 pages!), but I could easily see it becoming a detailed series. It's like American Gods meets Akata Witch, but Mexican / Mayan style. Highly recommend to fantasy / mythology lovers who want something unique and new to read.

Best Children's Book - Tie 

I read a lot of children's literature this year. I know some people consider children's books not to be "real" literature or cheating for book counts, but hear me out: anyone who has attempted writing projects knows that writing more concisely is actually harder than providing length. Being able to communicate a full story in 50 pages or less with short, easy to pronounce words that can entertain grownups and kids alike is no easy task. Thankfully there are some fantastic new arrivals to the children's lit scene that you and the kiddos in your life can equally enjoy.

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o 

I threw this on my to-read list the second I heard Lupita Nyong'o was writing a book and so was one of the very first to get this from the library. Let me tell you - it lives up to all of the hype and more. The illustrations are luminous, seemingly glowing off the page, and are totally captivating with rich, full hues. The story is extremely affecting and you can tell how personal it was for Nyong'o to write. I had teary eyes only a few pages in, and the beautiful resolution will put a real warmth in your heart.

This is intended to speak to kids who are feeling downtrodden about their dark skin, but I actually think it's a good book for all kids to help soften assumptions / answer questions about skin color differences. Reading something like this at a young age would have helped introduce ideas of racial awareness to me at a foundational level that would have really served me later in my adult life, and I'm so glad it exists for kids now. I want this book to get ultimate support for the simple message (and to support Nyong'o, of course), but it's also just a very high quality, beautifully illustrated children's book that is among the year's best. Highly recommend for grownups and kiddos alike.

Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

This made the rounds on a bunch of best-of lists for children's books last year, and I found it really delightful. It's a simple book but one that beautifully shows how to accept and even celebrate people who present differently. I've always loved the term mermaid for trans / queer people and this book makes it even prettier. The centering of black and brown bodies in this story is also special and a beautiful celebration of diverse life.

In the debate around trans and LGBTQIA rights, one of the first questions raised is always "well what do I tell my children?" A book like this gives an easy answer: just tell them the truth. Kids are far more open minded and accepting than they get credit for, and I'm so glad that books like this exist to make the conversation easy for all parties. This is appropriate for kids of any age but especially ages 3 - 8 or so and definitely is a good tool for helping to explain the existence of queer / trans people if a child is asking about it. The colorful illustrations are also a top selling point.

Best Fairy Tale Re-mix: Cinderella Liberator by Rebecca Solnit

Rebecca Solnit is a perennial fave and the second I heard she had re-imagined a fairy tale I had to check it out. There's a lot to recommend this book, Solnit's feminist re-imagining of Cinderella among them, but the real standout to me were the stunningly gorgeous die-cut illustrations. Every image is portrayed through intricately cut silhouettes and it's a lovely way to tell the story. I almost wish this were a picture-only book, just to have more delicate illustrations to enjoy. This is probably best enjoyed by grownups or older kids (I'd say age 8 and up?) to get the full effect.

The Wolves Remains a Hit

Is anyone in #tctheater having a better year than Sarah Rasmussen? 

Photo by Dan Norman

Named the Star Tribune's 2018 Artist of the Year, Rasmussen must be flying on a cloud. The Jungle Theater has produced hit after sold out hit since she took the helm in 2015, and her fresh, female-forward perspective is boldly changing the kind of stories and the way those stories are told on #tctheater stages beyond her queendom in Uptown.

Thanks to this success, the Jungle now has two stages running concurrently for the first time ever! On their marquis space on Lyndale is The Children (which I reviewed a few weeks ago - click here for the link). Last night The Wolves, an immediate sell-out and the Twin Cities Theater Blogger's pick for best ensemble performance in 2018, re-opened at the Southern Theater on Seven Corners. I was one of the few unlucky souls who didn't manage to snag a ticket to last year's performance, so I was thrilled to get the chance to check it out this year. Spoiler alert: it was completely worth the wait.

Photo by Dan Norman

The Wolves is a true ensemble drama, depicting the pre-game chatter of a team of high school-aged soccer players as they stretch and warm up before their games. We hear them talk about tampons vs. pads; sneaking out to drink at parties; deeply debate the subject matter in their history homework assignments (Pol Pot vs. Hitler makes an appearance); struggle to feel seen and included; absorb a "new girl" who moves late into their tight knit circle; gossip about shared acquaintances; strategize how to beat their next opponent; support each other after their friends and family members die; and so much more. In short, it's the entirety of teenage girl's experiences told exclusively by teenaged girl characters, distilled into a zippy 95 minute drama that instantly captivated the audience.

Photo by Dan Norman

I think The Wolves is the perfect harbinger of the Jungle's success under Sarah Rasmussen, and let me tell you why: this show felt so organic, so natural in the flow of the season, and is so perfectly cast and produced, that you don't even realize how revolutionary it is. The Wolves moved me deeply despite the seemingly banal nature of its subject matter because I've never seen such an honest depiction of a teen girl's experience on stage. Obviously what The Wolves portrays is not an exact avatar for all teen girls' lives - there are always shades in everyone's experience of the world and the experiences collected here don't cross every race / sexuality / economic line - but overall it allows a frankness that isn't often allowed to women at all, let alone girls in their teenage years. Teens experience things like death or serious illness or injury all the time, but due to their young age it's often assumed that they are unaffected or don't understand the severity of such events. The experience boys have in puberty are infamously portrayed in all sorts of shows, from wet dreams to having sex with pies, to sneaking dirty magazines - but how often do you hear a tampon thrown around in casual conversation? Or using Plan B? It's revolutionary content because it is so commonly ignored, and bravo to Sarah Delappe for a fabulous script that unveils the layers of this experience in a way that all audience members (including the men, of which there were many), can relate to.

Photo by Dan Norman

Part of the success of The Wolves is also due to its tightly knit ensemble actors. All of this dynamic, spicy young cast has gone on to great things in other shows; just look at this lineup!

• Chloe Armao, who was part of the Guthrie's thoughtful Trouble in Mind
• Megan Burns, part of the stunning production of Little Women at the Jungle as well as shows with Mixed Blood, Theater Latte Da and other of my local favorite companies
• Michelle de Joya, who has delighted in several Mu Performing Arts productions including Flower Drum Song and Tot: the untold (yet spectacular) Story of a Filipino Hulk Hogan
• Becca Hart, who jumped into leading roles in Mary Poppins and Into the Woods after this performance
• McKenna Kelly-Eiding, who starred as Sherlock Holmes in Baskerville at Park Square Theatre, one of my favorite shows of last year
• Isabella Star Lablanc, also a standout in Little Women and who is breaking new ground as a Native American artist on stages and on film across the country
• And a host of up and coming young actresses who are certain to become well known, including Rosey Lowe, Shelby Rose Richardson, Meredith Casey, all of whom are backed up by local legend Jennifer Blagen

It was such a pleasure to watch them all engage in a public form of sisterhood, and I hope their impressive collaboration here allows for more shows with multiple women (hello Bechdel test!) on stages across the Twin Cities. This is a show that is clearly made by women, starring women, for women, and I can't express enough how meaningful that experience was for me. I am so glad the Jungle decided to re-mount this excellent production, and if you didn't get a chance to see it the first time around it absolutely deserves a look. The run goes through February 17 and if last night's packed stage (despite the polar vortex) is any indication, you'll want to snap up your tickets immediately because this one is sure to sell out again. For more information about the dynamic, the powerful, the incredible play The Wolves, click here to see more and to buy those tickets.