Earth Day is a worldwide event that’s celebrated on April 22nd and is meant to bring awareness to and garner support for environmental issues. This year will be the 55th anniversary for Earth Day and the theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”. This is a call to action aimed at rallying support for renewable energy.
Aaron's Pick: Can I Recycle This?
Do you need help deciding which materials can be recycled? Then read, “Can I Recycle This?” by Jennie Romer. It can help you to use fewer single-use plastics, which can help the planet and know whether you should throw away or recycle that pizza box.
For Earth Day, I recommend Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. It is a dystopian science-fiction novel based in post-apocalyptic California, ironically, in 2025. It follows the story of a young woman as she navigates and attempts to restore her community destroyed by climate change. This is a great read for Sci-Fi fans and supernatural fans.
In honor of Earth Day, I’d like to suggest the book The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi. The setting takes place in Southwest US where there is a severe drought. Angel Velasquez is employed as a water knife, someone who is responsible for procuring water for others by any means necessary. Angel is sent to Phoenix to investigate talks of water source that may be available. In his search he crosses paths with a journalist named Lucy Monroe and Maria Villarosa, who’s a refugee. Together they navigate a brutal world of corruption, violence, and survival. The story aligns well with the spirit of Earth Day because it explores themes of environmental collapse, resource wars, and what happens when climate change goes unchecked.
Armfield's atmospheric second novel, a retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear, is set in the near future after it begins to rain and doesn't stop. The flooded world is the backdrop for three sisters who reconnect after the death of their father, a renowned architect. As the water rises, they must rely on each other to uncover family secrets that will shape the precarious future of their world.
National Poetry Month was started by the Academy of American Poets in order to celebrate the unique contributions of poetry to culture and society at large. These books highlight amazing contemporary poets and show the range of expression contained within poetry.
A collection of nature poems by African American poets across four centuries. Black Nature seems to be a celebration of nature, the natural resources that help to sustain life, and the black experience. From Alice Dunbar Nelson to Ross Gay, all 93 of the featured poets have observed and recorded the wonderful and/or devastating qualities of our natural world. This book is a great reminder of how the place we all call home is too precious to be taken for granted.
Mother's Day is day that to celebrating all mother's, regardless of how they came to that position. While there are several days that mothers are celebrated international, the United States observes Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May. This day is May 11, 2025, this year.
Dana's Pick : The School for Good Mothers
In honor of Mother’s Day, I would like to suggest the book “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan. This book centers around Frida Liu who is a struggling mother of a young daughter named Harriet. One day, Frida makes a grave mistake that leads to a serious consequence; she must now attend a government-sanctioned rehabilitation program designed to teach women how to be "good" mothers. Frida must redeem herself and prove that she can indeed be a good mother so that she does not lose custody of Harriet. While this isn’t the typical “feel-good” story, it is worth reading as it challenges the idea of what a “good” mother is. The book looks at how society can place impossible expectations on mothers, particularly women of color, single mothers, and those who don’t conform to traditional parenting ideals.
For Mother's Day, I recommend Dear Sonali, Letters to the Daughter I Never Had by the Divorce Court Judge Lynn Toler. It is a nonfiction novel filled with motherly wisdom and advice about life, relationships, finances, careers, and more. It is a great read for young women who are interested in healing and growth in various aspects of life and do not want to read a typical self-help book.
Laura's Pick: Plays Well With Others
Annie Lewin is a columnist in New York City whose life has recently taken a turn for the stressful. Her oldest is navigating the cutthroat world of NYC kindergarten admissions, her husband is never around, and her rival is effortlessly successful. As her life is consumed by the rigors and indignities of parenthood, Annie's columns gets increasingly unhinged and she commits a faux pas that threatens to unravel life as she knows it.
Aaron's Pick: Everyone but Myself
Mothers do a lot for their families. They can often get worn out and need time to find balance for themselves. Author Julie Chavez describes her own experience in her book, “Everyone but Myself”.
Anissa's Pick: The Two Lives of Sara
This is an interesting book that walks through the many stages all across a contentious time in American history. This is a full-bodied novel that seeks to fully explore what it means to be a mother and what the meaning of family really is. While you may not always agree with all the actions of the characters, you will understand how their actions are a reflection of their experiences and perspectives.
For Hot Picks, I recommend The Power by Naomi Alderman. It is a science-fiction novel about women and teenaged girls coming into a new power that only they have and how men, world leaders, and everyone else react to it. It is told in the perspective of four people who are in different places around the word with different backgrounds but are simultaneously either navigating their new abilities or recounting their experiences of those with new abilities. It is a great read for feminists and sci-fi fans.
Monstress is a graphic novel set in a alternate 20th century Asia full of steam punk and fantastical powers. This is a darker tale set follow a long standing war, with our protagonist Maika Halfwolf searching for the truth behind her mother's death. Along the way she must learn to use her burgeoning powers while dealing with the ongoing aftermaths and prejudices against her people, the Arcanics. This is a darker tale, but does a great job of showcasing a wide range of emotion and action will creating a compelling story. This is the first book in a larger series.
April is full of celebrations of life and self-expression. From Earth Day to Mother's Day, we celebrate Mother Earth and those who have mothered us! National Poetry Month celebrates poetry in all forms from classic poems to modern and groundbreaking styles being created in the present day! Check out these books with a special shout out to the hot picks section full of interesting reads the staff recommends.
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