Gratitude for Remarkable Reads Published in 2025 -- Read by Shirley B.Like this list

15 items

• Saltcrop

  Kitasei, Yume,

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  An atmospheric heroine's quest within climate dystopia. Bold and defiant, the Shimizu sisters challenge a dangerous corporate monopoly, including genetically modified seeds.

• The River Has Roots

  El-Mohtar, Amal,

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  A deeply moving and magical tale to honor rivers and willow trees and sisterhood and song and language and love with nonbinary characters for which I am beyond grateful to experience.

• Lessons in Magic and Disaster

  Anders, Charlie Jane,

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  Attention Dark Academia fans! Our heroine is a nonbinary scholar of 18th century literature and a witch with wise reflections on magic in liminal outdoor spaces! An uplifting and realistic magical queer-centered meta-fictional fantasy which inspires…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Dwelling

  a Novel

  Kivel, Emily Hunt, 1992-

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  A surrealist quest for home and community. Emily Hunt Kivel’s debut is reckoning with millennial angst. And she’s a big fan of fairytales, proclaiming this as a modern fable of late-stage capitalism. This tale transforms into a resilient heroine’s…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Happy Land

  Perkins-Valdez, Dolen

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  An inspired novel which honors an actual historic community of Black American homesteaders in North Carolina during the reconstruction era (post-civil war). The contemporary generation finds inspirations in learning of their heroic ancestors despite…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Before I Forget

  a Novel

  Henwood Hoen, Tory,

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  A poignant family tale set in the Adirondack region. I laughed and cried a lot! And that's kinda rare for me with a book. Focused on an aging father and adult daughter. They had become estranged and the story is about their reuniting. There's a…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Bog Queen

  a Novel

  North, Anna,

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  An intricate and enchanting mystery-thriller based in northwest England with dual timelines -- revealing the strong female perspectives of a present day newly trained forensic anthropologist, a young druid healer from centuries past, and a voice…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Wild Dark Shore

  McConaghy, Charlotte,

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  A suspenseful eco-thriller emphasizing strong family bonds and climate anxiety. Dominic Salt and his three children are the caretakers on a remote island in the Antarctic that is host to a seed vault In this deeply moving story. Rowan, a mysterious…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mrs Spy

  Robotham, Mandy,

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  This witty spy-themed mystery features a thought-provoking heroine, emphasizing the power of allies in friendship and generational mother-daughter bonds.

• O! Enkidu!

  the Other Story of the Epic of Gilgamesh

  Farnsworth, Eric

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  This fresh perspective of the ancient classic tale shines a charismatic view on the "Wild Man", Enkidu -- with much contemporary relevance. Congrats to this Lawrence-based debut author!

• Kuleana

  a Story of Family, Land, and Legacy in Old Hawai'i

  Goo, Sara Kehaulani,

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  A memoir to honor the author's Hawaiian culture as well as a clear-eyed reckoning of the injustices endured by Native Hawaiians via colonialism, land loss, and the economic challenges of rising property taxes. Kuleana is Hawaiian, meaning both…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Forest Euphoria

  the Abounding Queerness of Nature

  Kaishian, Patricia Ononiwu

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  All nature nerds, introverts, and lgbtq+ allies will be rewarded in this profound and personal memoir. I'm also sad yet grateful to know more about Armenia's tragic history, and this author's Armenian and Irish heritage.

• Riverine Dreams

  Away to the Glorious and Forgotten Grassland Rivers of America

  Frazier, George, 1966-

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  In this lyrical volume of essays the Lawrence-based environmental journalist wisely honors the eco-tone where prairie meets river and many inspiring human stewards in our region.

• Is a River Alive?

  Macfarlane, Robert, 1976-

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  MacFarlane is a deeply compassionate and inspiring advocate for the rights of nature. He shares river adventures, introduces friends, and fellow advocates with delightful charm.

• Raising Hare

  a Memoir

  Dalton, Chloe,

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  This nature writing focused on jackrabbits (wild hares in England) includes a bit of memoir in a reflective and thought-provoking tone with wise emphasis on ecological balance.