Our Favorite Books of 2022Like this list

34 items

• You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty

  a Novel

  Emezi, Akwaeke

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  This one reads like a reality show with a messy love triangle. You may consider if and how does one find love after grief. Recommended for: Adults Recommended by: Librarian Pat, Children's Services, Main Library

• The Weight of Blood

  Jackson, Tiffany D.,

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  Carrie meets Passing in this mystery thriller. Tiffany D. Jackson's amazing tales always leave you wondering. Recommended for: Teens Recommended by: Kidbrarian PT, Children's Services, Main Library

• Tumble

  Pérez, Celia C., 1972-

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  Adela Ramirez, age twelve, sleuths out the identity of her estranged father -- and finds out that she is part of an extended family of lucha libre wrestlers! Complicated family drama coexists with quirky New Mexico small town life in this middle…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• True Biz

  a Novel

  Nović, Sara, 1987-

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  I don't usually give books a numerical rating, but True Biz, a powerfully emotional novel focused on the Deaf community, gets 1,000 stars out of 10. The author, who is deaf herself, takes us on a journey with a compelling cast of characters and…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Troublemaker

  Cho, John, 1972-

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  Written by Berkeley grad and actor John Cho, this middle grade historical fiction title is set during the L.A. uprisings of 1992 . Recommended for the social justice reader the story offers a perspective relevant to anti Asian hate and the Black…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

  a Novel

  Zevin, Gabrielle

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  This is a sweet and frustrating story about a lifelong friendship of two broken people. I care about and love these characters more than any book I've read in years. Recommended for: Adults Recommended by: Dice, Children's Librarian, 81st Avenue…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Time Is a Mother

  Vuong, Ocean, 1988-

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  Get ready to feel the feels! Eloquent in writing, Ocean Vuong's work no matter poetry or fiction is a masterpiece that speaks straight to the heart. FYI, Ocean recently revealed that there is new manuscript from him via IG! Recommended for: Teens,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Swim Team

  Christmas, Johnnie

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  In the field of realistic graphic novels for and about tweens, Swim Team rises above for a few reasons: (1) the contrast between the slowly-developing relationship with the elderly neighbor, and the fast & close friendship with a peer, (2) the real…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Surrender

  40 Songs, One Story

  Bono, 1960-

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  You don’t need to be a U2 fan to enjoy this memoir by its frontman, but it doesn’t hurt. Surrender traces the rise of the man and the band, interweaving personal stories with their social and political context, along with plenty of glimpses behind…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Stay True

  a Memoir

  Hsu, Hua, 1977-

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  This book is a memoir. It is about growing up and finding meaning in daily life. It is beautiful and nostalgic. Hua Hsu, a New York Times journalist, recalls his friendship with his friend, Ken, when he was an undergraduate student at UC…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Rise

  a Pop History of Asian America From the Nineties to Now

  Yang, Jeff,

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  I didn't read every single word, but it is FULL of information. A must if you want to learn about Asian American history in a fun way. Recommended for: Adults Recommended by: SL, Library Assistant

• Our Missing Hearts

  a Novel

  Ng, Celeste,

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  This book is dystopian fiction. Life is bleak under a Totalitarian government. I cheer for the 12 years old Birds who encourages his mother, a Chinese American poet, to fight for her beliefs. I also cheer for a network of librarians helping people…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Learning to Fall

  Engelfried, Sally

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  I was excited about the skateboarding theme in an Oakland setting, but what really stuck with me was the true-to-life character development of Daphne, the 12-year-old protagonist. Reconciling with her formerly estranged father and coming to terms…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Last White Man

  Hamid, Mohsin, 1971-

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  In true Kafka-esque fashion, Mohsin Hamid gives the reader a glimpse of a world becoming less white. The Last White Man forces us to question what happens when the comfort and safety of whiteness is stripped from a person? This wonderful work of…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Just Like Home

  Gailey, Sarah

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  I'm a sucker for a good "is this house haunted?" book, and this one delivered. It's dark and creepy and unpredictable, and I loved it. Sarah Gailey is good at creating protagonists who are salty and "unlovable" as part of their character…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Invisible

  Gonzalez, Christina Diaz, 1969-

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  If you are a fan of John Hughes' The Breakfast Club, then Invisible will be a great read, granted most teens and children will not know the John Hughes reference. Invisible is a Latine centered graphic novel that highlights the lives of 5 middle…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Won't Give Up My Rubber Band

  Yoshitake, Shinsuke, 1973-

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  Hilarity and fun! Anything by Shinsuke Yoshitake is tons of funnies and moments that makes me think of what it was like when I was a kid! The illustration is just spot on with the expressions of each character. A recommended reading for all is The I…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Never Thought of It That Way

  How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times

  Guzmán, Mónica

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  I Never Thought if it That Way is an inspiring call to action for civility when it seems so much easier to dismiss or demonize those who think differently than us. Using an engaging, conversational tone, Guzmán goes deep into how to open your mind,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• I Can Explain

  Yoshitake, Shinsuke, 1973-

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  Yoshitake's picture books are comic gold, and this is one of the funniest. As a kid explains to his mom, all his bad habits have perfectly reasonable explanations. He's not fidgeting, he's trying to tame a rebellious chair. It looks like he's…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• How to Build a Human

  in Seven Evolutionary Steps

  Turner, Pamela S.

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  This thorough, complex, and detailed presentation of human evolution is also humorous, especially for teen and tween readers - roughly ages 10 to 16. Turner contextualizes physiological changes by describing the evolution of specific skills, grouped…Read moreRead more of this annotation