We need diverse books more than ever
Stories that reflect the world we live in remind us of our shared humanity
Yesterday was the inaugural We Need Diverse Books Day, a campaign to encourage readers of all ages to pick up a book that features the stories of people from marginalized communities and all walks of life.
“We Need Diverse Books Day was created to celebrate a decade of WNDB’s efforts to diversify the publishing industry,” said the founders of the non-profit behind the effort. “This holiday is intended to highlight the importance of reading books that reflect our beautifully diverse world.”
In a climate where students are being arrested for writing op-eds, libraries and cultural institutions are being gutted, and government officials are torching the rule of law and gaslighting the public, communities need to come together to fight for the progress and rights that generations before us worked so hard for. Deepening our empathy and respect for our shared humanity is how we stand up to oppressors who profit off of division, fear, and chaos.
Tomorrow, Saturday April 5, more than 1,000 Hands Off! protests are being organized across the United States. We hope you’ll join one in your local community! Check out the ACLU training to know your protest rights.
Here at Silent Book Club, we’re proud to support authors who write stories that reflect the world we live in. Our Bookshop.org reading lists are full of diverse book recommendations, and we’re sharing a handful of our favorites below. Add yours in the comments!
The Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley - A teen in the Ojibwe tribe uncovers a dangerous conspiracy threatening her community.
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty, Akwaeke Emezi - A grieving artist finds unexpected love and passion in a vibrant, complex relationship.
A Sitting in St. James, by Rita Williams-Garcia - The secrets and sins of a wealthy Black Creole family unfold across generations in Louisiana.
Time is a Mother, by Ocean Vuong - A poetic exploration of grief, loss, and the enduring bond between a son and his mother.
Call Me By Your Name, by André Aciman - A passionate summer romance blossoms between an adolescent boy and a guest at his parents’ mansion in Italy. (Watch our 2020 interview with André Aciman)
milk and honey, by Rupi Kaur - A collection of poetry and prose exploring themes of love, loss, femininity, and healing.
Southern California readers, this one’s for you! Designing Your Life for Women is a half-day workshop in Los Angeles on April 26, and virtual sessions that combine design thinking with community support to help you navigate career shifts, life changes, or just getting unstuck. What’s your next chapter?
Bookmarks
Book-related links and other info to know
Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave NPR
A Conversation on Free for All: The Public Library PBS Books
Make your voice heard 5Calls
Next Tuesday is National Library Workers Day ALA
21 books bringing transgender visibility to book lovers The 19th
Secure a seat at the table and preorder The Boardroom Journey Bookshop.org
Find a Bookstore for Independent Bookstore Day 2025 Indiebound
No Walls Around The Book Worm Change.org
Trump Escalates University Crackdown on Harvard and Brown WSJ
Texas lawmakers advance bill that makes it a crime for teachers to assign "Catcher in the Rye" Popular Information
Little Free Library Teams Up with Penguin Books to Grant 90 Little Book Stops Little Free Library
AI in audiobooks: another slippery slope The Boar
SBC in the news
Seattle's new Queer Silent Book Club is more than just a safe space. It's a battle cry. Seattle Refined
Metro Detroit Silent Book Clubs gain popularity Axios
Introverts unite (silently): A Fredericton book club finds community in the quiet CBC
Meet Laura Gluhanich | Cofounder, Silent Book Club Shoutout Colorado
Silent Book Club provides community for introverted readers Lancaster Online
Quiet companionship: Silent Book Club starts up in McCordsville Greenfield Reporter
Escape to Costa Rica this fall with the Silent Book Club team TrovaTrip
Find the SBC chapter for you
Find a local chapter near you, or join a virtual meetup.
Two new books to add to your diverse reading tbr by Canadian authors - We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr and Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards.
Two recent, outstanding books of poetry by Palestinian-American authors: Something About Living, by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha (winner of the 2024 National Book Award for Poetry, for that book), and Textu, by Fady Joudah (poetry written in short text form, reflecting his compacted sense of time as an ER physician).