SUMMER READS
Booksellers and librarians know what you want to be reading
Need customer service at a department store, hardware store, big-box store? That can be tough to find these days. Need recommendations for a good book to read? Simply ask any Bay Area bookseller or librarian. These people know books, adore books ... devour books. We always look to them for great reads in our genres of choice. And for gift selections (What’s new in sci-fi? What should the nieces and nephews be reading?). And for those times when we need to shed old reading habits and expand our horizons. We checked in with a dozen book experts to find out what’s fresh, what’s inspiring, what’s brilliantly written. Melvil Dewey, famous for a certain decimal system, would be proud of this array.
Alibi Books VALLEJO
Karen Finlay had been looking forward to celebrating the first anniversary of her new Alibi Books in Vallejo next month, but with the uncertainty in the world, she has pivoted to online sales with curbside pick up, a book club — last month’s pick was the hilarious “Lamb” by Christopher Moore — and online story time for children.
“A lot of people are reading books like ‘The Stand’ by Stephen King, ‘The Plague’ by Albert Camus or contemporary dystopian fiction like ‘Station Eleven’ by Emily St. John Mandel — all great books,” Finlay says, “but I’ve been recommending books that are more hopeful, that can uplift spirits during these difficult times. I also think it’s a great time to get around to reading the classics or the award winners you’ve been meaning to read forever.”
“I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith (1948):
An absolutely charming book, perfect for cozying up under a blanket to escape the modern world for a bit. Set in 1934, it’s the diary of Cassandra Mortmain, who lives in a ruined old castle in England with her eccentric and poor family. Even while she is facing hardships, Cassandra’s diary is both funny and poignant. A nice reminder that humans have faced hard times before and persevered.
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith (1943):
Considered one of the most beloved books of all time, the classic story of the Nolans in an early 20th century Williamsburg tenement will inspire you and give you hope, much like the scrappy tree in the title. It also has one of my favorite quotes: ‘The world was hers for the reading.’ Another great reminder of endurance and community, the things that see us through.
“The Overstory” by Richard Powers (2019):
Continuing with the tree theme, this was our March Book Club pick — chosen before isolation — and it was a great choice. The intertwined stories, much like the roots of the trees at the heart of this novel, are beautifully written with a powerful message about ecology. There is solace knowing that the trees have been speaking for billions of years and will hopefully continue to do so.
“All the Light We Cannot See,” Anthony Doerr (2014):
Winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, this extraordinary novel set in World War II France is one of my favorites. Beautiful and heart wrenching, this book will stay with you. You will find yourself thinking about Marie-laure and Werner long after you finish the last page. Cue up ‘Clair de Lune’ by Debussy while reading it and give yourself a transcendent reading experience.
Hicklebee’s SAN JOSE
Most books these days have subtitles. Hicklebee’s was way ahead of that trend. The business was founded 41 years ago, primarily as a children’s bookstore, in San Jose’s Willow Glen district as “Hicklebee’s: The Metamorphosis of the Bookworm.” One move and thousands of bookworms later, Hicklebee’s has expanded its adult offerings, too.
These suggestions — for all ages — come from co-owner Valerie Lewis and staffer Carol Doup Muller, a former Mercury News books editor.
“One Little Bag” by Henry Cole:
A wordless picture book shows the amazing journey of a little brown paper bag — from forest, to lunch bag, to lamp shade. In a loving, multi-generation tribute to conservation, Cole’s intricate art encourages the reader
to pause and delight in every turn of the page. (Grades K-2)
“The One and Only Bob” by Katherine Applegate:
Bob, the dog with attitude who was introduced in the Newbery-winning best-seller “The One and Only Ivan,” gets a story of his own. With zoo friends Ivan and Ruby, Bob sets out to look for his longlost sister. As a hurricane looms, he’ll find courage he never knew he had — and the true meaning of family. (Grades 3-6)
“City Spies” by James Ponti:
Five international kids, under the tutelage of a mysterious man named Mother, come together for a spy mission in Paris. A bit of an
Ocean’s 11 caper for kids — full of humor, hackers and surprisingly relevant high stakes. Grades 5-8)
“Sin Eater” by Megan Campisi:
In a dystopian and warped Elizabethan era, 14-year-old May must hear deathbed confessions and then publicly eat foods that represent the departed’s sins. Scorned, isolated and forbidden to speak, she nevertheless persists — solving a murder at the Tudor-ish court and finding a community for herself. (High school)
“The Story of More” by Hope Jahren:
A world-class geobiologist (and author of the exquisite memoir “Lab Girl”) explains the climate crisis in crystal-clear, entertaining prose. The best professor you’ve never had, she convinces readers that our world can do with less — and still feel full. (Adults nonfiction)
Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary and Garden Arts BERKELEY
Mrs. Dalloway’s was founded in 2004, when longtime friends Marion Abbott and Ann Leyhe decided to pool their passions, talents and resources. The store is named after the protagonist of Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel, which began, “Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
Staffer Hut Landon says they’ve seen a huge surge in online orders, helped, no doubt, by the store’s website’s attempts to replicate that feeling of browsing in a cozy shop and finding new books to love. These are Landon’s picks for new books coming out in May and June:
“Book of Longings” by Sue Monk Kidd:
Kidd, author of
“Secret Life of Bees,” offers a fascinating feminist reimagining of the New Testament in which Jesus of Nazareth is married, and his wife Ana — the book’s protagonist — is a writer. This should be one of the year’s big books.
“Utopia Avenue” by David Mitchell:
A novel about the life and times of a rock band that emerges from London’s psychedelic scene in 1967 and embarks on a meteoric journey from the seedy clubs of Soho, a TV debut on “Top of the Pops,” glory in Amsterdam, prison in Rome and a fateful American sojourn that includes San Francisco during the autumn of ’68. (Mitchell is the author of “Cloud Atlas.”)
“Big Summer” by Jennifer Weiner:
A plus-size Instagram influencer is surprisingly asked to be maid of honor at the Cape Cod wedding of an old college frenemy. This is a great summer beach read that mixes romance and mystery with Weiner’s humor.
“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes:
A Hunger Games Novel” by Suzanne Collins: This prequel revisits the world of Panem 64 years before the events of “The Hunger Games” and features Coriolanus Snow, who is now a teenager himself and participating in the 10th Hunger Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to out charm, outwit and outmaneuver his fellow students.”
Kepler’s Books MENLO PARK
Kepler’s holds a unique place in the hearts of literature-loving Peninsula residents and a pioneering position in the bookstore industry. The shop, which was founded in 1955 by
peace activist Roy Kepler and run for years by his son, Clark, was rescued by distraught customers when closure loomed in 2005.
At the helm these days is CEO Praveen Madan, who saw a “mind-boggling” number of website orders starting March 17, when they had to close the doors to onsite customers. He redeployed employees to work from home, processing orders seven days a week. “Overnight, we’ve become an internet operation.”
Here are Kepler’s reading recs:
“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy:
This whimsical little book, reminiscent of treasured classics such as “Winnie-the-pooh” and “The Little Prince,” is full of wonderful things. The conversations between four creatures about friendship, kindness and courage are depicted with humor and grace; the ink and watercolor drawings are miraculous and magical. (For all ages)
“Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano:
Before his family trip to Los Angeles from New York, 12-year-old Eddie Adler was just an ordinary boy, with a mother, father and a brother. After the plane crashes, the only survivor, Eddie, becomes Edward, the miracle boy who lived. When the other passengers’ family members write to Edward because he was the last one to see or remember their loved ones alive, Edward’s deeply personal story of recovery comes alive with universal parallels. “Dear Edward” is like a lantern leading us out of darkness; a beautiful, poignant story of community and the power of kindness.
“Running with Sherman: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero” by Christopher Mcdougall:
A heartwarming story about a lonely and traumatized donkey who is nursed back to life and given purpose by Mcdougall and a large, varied group that includes an Amish community, female ultramarathoners and farm animals. I loved it!
“The Starless Sea” by Erin Morgenstern:
From the best-selling author of the “Night Circus”
comes an imaginative and fantastical tale about a boy who finds a mysterious book and is subsequently thrust into a hidden underground world full of magic and pirates, liars and lovers. This book is a pure escapist fantasy and absolutely enchanting to read.
“My Bison” by Gaya Wisniewski:
Artist and storyteller Wisniewski’s tender story of friendship between a little girl and a bison invites readers to curl up somewhere cozy. Soft charcoal and ink illustrations show their friendship blooming as they enjoy each other’s company with a cup of tea or wander whimsically through the forest. This quiet picture book is a comforting tale that captures the magical and timeless bond that can grow between humans and animals. (Kindergarten through third grade)
Bookshop Santa Cruz
Reading has always been a passion for Casey Coonerty Protti, the second-generation owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz. Over the last weeks, the store has turned to web orders and curbside pickup, as well as fundraising for its Keep Kids Reading program, which gives books to kids who lack access during the school and library shutdowns. Coonerty Protti says she has been polishing the vintage wooden rocking horse, which has lived in the bookstore for its entire 53 years, and misses seeing kids reading.
“Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter:
If you need to escape, transport yourself to the Italian coastline for a love story centered across decades with cinematic and emotional twists and turns that will keep you reading to the very end.
“Nothing to See Here” by Kevin Wilson:
No one is quite as imaginative and funny as Kevin Wilson — and “Nothing to See Here” is both, in spades. A long-lost friend is hired as a nanny to a wealthy
and powerful couple who need to keep their children hidden from the limelight. What progresses is a tale about belonging and acceptance in a wholly original narrative.
“Less” by Andrew Sean Greer:
My favorite thing about travel is seeing the world through different eyes, but also realizing the shared human experience. Arthur Less is a brokenhearted man who accepts every half-baked invitation to literary conferences and meetings around the globe to escape the wedding of a former boyfriend. We become armchair travelers to his journey and learn that we must run to, not away, from who we truly are.
Books Inc. CAMPBELL, MOUNTAIN VIEW, PALO ALTO, ALAMEDA, BERKELEY, SAN FRANCISCO
Talk about the original brick-and-mortar bookstore. Books Inc. has a lineage that dates back to 1851, making it the oldest independent bookseller in the West. Over the last two decades, owner Michael Tucker shepherded the chain through stormy waters — a bankruptcy, the industry changes, store closures — and helped it not just survive, but thrive. During the COVID-19 crisis, Books Inc. has been accepting online orders with free shipping.
“Just One Damned Thing After Another” by Jodi Taylor:
This is the first book in the “Chronicles of St. Mary’s” fantasy series about scholars who time-travel to notable events in the past to clear up history questions. Told through the eyes of the newest recruit to this ultra-secret group, Madeleine (Max) Maxwell, the stories are filled with adventure, drama, comedy and historical trivia and also include an evil time traveler determined to destroy the group. (Bernie, operations team Books Inc. HQ)
“Three Hours in Paris” by Cara Black:
Local treasure Cara Black introduces us to a plucky new heroine, Kate Rees. As with Black’s Aimee Leduc series, Paris is a main character. But this is the Paris of 1940, and Rees’ mission could change the course of the war. (Ingrid, manager, Laurel Village store in San Francisco)
“The Black Flamingo” by Dean Atta:
Michael is a mixed-race gay teen trying to figure out where he belongs. “The Black Flamingo” gave me so many good feels, I literally hugged it after I finished. (Melanie, children’s frontlist buyer)
“The Happy Ever After Playlist” by Abby Jimenez:
Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan finds herself caring for a dog that unexpectedly crosses her path and starts to feel like herself again. However, Jason, the dog’s owner, reaches out after a week of unanswered texts. He wants his dog back. This book made me smile and made my heart feel incredibly full. (Connie, children’s book specialist, Opera Plaza store in San Francisco)
Flashlight Books WALNUT CREEK
When longtime friends Shoshana Smith and Marian Adducci opened their independent children’s book store in Walnut Creek last year, they gave locals something they had long missed: a downtown bookstore that could serve as a gathering place for people who love to read.
“I’m super into the idea that book stores can be a ‘third place’ for a community,” Smith said.
The name? Imagine a child reading by flashlight long past bedtime.
“The Princess and the Pony” by Kate Beaton:
Princess Pinecone’s birthday is coming up, and like any sensible young warrior princess, she asks for a mighty
steed to ride into battle. Unfortunately, the steed she gets is more roly-poly pony. Will (they) find a way to win the day after all? We love this silly, girl-power picture book about defying stereotypes and fat ponies! (Kindergarten to second grade)
“Pie in the Sky” by Remy Lai:
This book follows Jingwen, who moves to a new country and doesn’t speak English. The only thing that makes him feel better is baking with his little brother, but his mom has made it clear: No using the oven when she’s at work — and it seems like she’s always at work. (Middle grade)
“The Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo:
Xiomara knows how to cut people down to size, but when it comes to what she’s feeling or thinking — about family, about boys, about religion, about poetry — it’s safer to turn to her journal than to speak up. An invitation to her school’s slam poetry club might force a change. (For teens)
“Seafire” by Natalie C. Parker:
Sisterhood and female pirates, ahoy! Caledonia is the captain of her all-female crew, determined to foil the nautical warlord Aric Athair, who slaughtered her friends and family when she was young. But when one of Aric’s own defects and asks to join her crew, can she trust him and take down Aric once and for all, or is it all a trap? Fierce, funny, fantastic. (For teens)
Rakestraw Books DANVILLE
During his 25 years running his popular shop, Michael Barnard has weathered all the challenges besetting independent book stores. Rakestraw has thrived, thanks to its atmosphere, which offers an intimate space where book lovers can browse and meet favorite authors passing through on book tours. In recent weeks, Barnard has kept busy, filling online orders and trying to keep staff on payroll.
“I still love books,” he said. “Every day, there are always new ones, and I love sharing that with people.”
“A Star Is Bored” by Byron Lane:
Drawing inspiration from his time as Carrie Fisher’s personal assistant, Lane tells the story of Charlie, who becomes an eccentric Hollywood star’s assistant. (It’s) as witty and clever and heartfelt a novel as any I’ve read in a long time. Come for the dish, stay for the feels.
“The Jane Austen Society” by Natalie Jenner:
Set in the tiny English village of Chawton, Jenner’s first novel introduces a beautifully drawn cast of characters who — inspired by their love of Jane Austen’s novels — come together to rescue her last home.
Fans of both Jane Austen and old favorites such as “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” will love “The Jane Austen Society.” Pour yourself a cuppa and make your escape.
“Rules for Visiting” by Jessica Francis Kane:
May is 40, and she’s feeling just a bit, maybe more than a bit, detached from her life. When she receives an unexpected gift of time off, she uses it to reconnect with four old friends and, in the process, herself.
East Bay Booksellers OAKLAND
Growing up in Kentucky, Brad Johnson always was a reader. After receiving a PH.D. in philosophy and literature from the University of Glasgow, he made his way back to the U.S. and landed a job as manager at Diesel Books, the beloved Rockridge bookstore. When owners Alison Reid and John Evans decided to sell, loans from more than 50 community members helped Johnson buy out the book inventory, so he could keep the store open under a new name.
“Death of Vivek Oji” by Akwaeke Emezi:
One of the most anticipated novels of the year by one of Nigeria’s brightest literary stars, this is a beautiful story of a family coming to terms with a child they neither really know nor understand.
“Grove” by Esther Kinsky:
Published by our dear Oakland friends at Transit Books, “Grove” is a follow-up to one of our favorite books of the past few years, Kinsky’s “River.” The narrator travels to a small village southeast of Rome in winter and embarks on walks and outings, exploring the banal and the sublime.
“Vesper Flights” by Helen Macdonald:
A follow-up to Macdonald’s massively best-selling “H Is for Hawk.” Meditating on notions of captivity and freedom, immigration and flight, she invites us into her most intimate experiences: observing the massive migration of songbirds from the top of the Empire State Building, watching tens of thousands of cranes in Hungary, seeking the last golden orioles in Suffolk’s poplar forests.
“Desert Notebooks: A Road Map for the End of Time” by Ben Ehrenreich:
National Magazine Award winner Ehrenreich layers climate science, mythologies, nature writing and personal experiences into a stunning reckoning with our current moment and with the literal and figurative end of time. Ehrenreich draws on the stark grandeur of the desert to ask how we might reckon with the uncertainty that surrounds us.
Orinda Books
Pat Rudebusch was a longtime customer before she began working at her hometown book store five years ago. She finally bought the store in October, fulfilling a lifelong love of books, especially ones that “cause me to question what I believe or the person I think I am.” As a reader, she dives into fiction and nonfiction phases, depending on her mood and on the state of the world.
“Fiction forces you to slow down,” she said, “and disconnect from everyday life and pressures.”
“The Second” by Christina Clancy:
A summer home on Cape Cod that has been in the Cullen family for generations holds the power to bring three siblings together and tear them apart. Both happy memories and kept secrets influence the actions of the nowadult siblings in ways that they never imagined.
“A Good Neighborhood” by Terese Anne Fowler:
The threads start to fray in the closeknit community of Oak Knoll, when a new family tears down the 1950s era home that is typical of this neighborhood to build a Mcmansion. A result of the cavalier approach to constructing their new home is the demise of a neighbor’s historic oak tree.
“The Authenticity Project” by Clare Pooley:
“How many of us show our authentic selves?” This is the question asked by Julian Jessop, an eccentric artist who launches The Authenticity Project. Julian starts by writing his story in a green notebook, which he then anonymously leaves in his local coffee shop. The notebook is, in turn, picked up by the young woman who owns the shop. As the notebook finds its way into various hands, each writing his or her own story, we get a sense of the inner struggles of each of the main characters.
“The Splendid and the Vile” by Erik Larson:
No one writes history that reads like a novel better than Larson. His latest book takes us to the start of World War II, when newly elected Prime Minister Winston Churchill is tasked with pulling his country together and convincing President Roosevelt to join in the war effort to defeat Hitler’s forces. It’s a perfect portrait of true leadership and why we need it.
“Author in Chief ” by Craig Fehrman:
While this is not your typical beach read, students of American history will appreciate this well-researched book on American presidents from Jefferson to Trump. Drawing on the books our presidents read and wrote, Fehrman paints a unique view of American history and how influential the printed word has been throughout our nation’s history.
Contra Costa County librarians
“R eading can comfort, challenge and inspire,” deputy county librarian Nancy Kreiser said. “It draws us together, creating shared experiences and allowing us to see the world from perspectives beyond our own limited view of the
“Fiction forces you to slow down,” she said, “and disconnect from everyday life and pressures.”
Pat Rudebusch
world. Studies have shown that readers develop a greater sense of empathy, and that’s something we can really use right now.”
Colleague Amy Mockoski agrees. A librarian specialist for the library’s youth services, she pursued this career path because she remembered how much she loved summer reading at the Santa Cruz Public Library as a child. “My favorite part of every day is reading with my two sons,” she said. “During these difficult days, we have more time to read, and that is a positive I’m holding onto.”
Here are five adult book recommendations from Kreiser, and five children’s book recs from Mockoski.
“Beach Read” by Emily Henry:
There is nothing subtle about the title of Henry’s May release. It just screams “Take me on vacation!” Augustus and January are both writers struggling with writer’s block and have headed to the beach for inspiration and solitude. As they are surrounded by summer sun and sand, will their unexpected and informal writer’s group for two inspire a great work of fiction or spark a much more personal connection?
“The Lies That Bind” by Emily Giffin:
Cecily had completely changed her life, breaking up with a longtime love and moving to New York. These big changes didn’t immediately deliver the answers she was seeking, but then she meets Grant in a bar, and things just seem to click. The summer of 2001 is proving to be a great adventure with the promise of something that could be very special, but we all know that 9/11 is looming — and with that crisis, Grant disappears.
“Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre” by Max Brooks:
Greenloop is a perfectly planned eco community melding the best of technology and nature. It is a utopia in the forest — or so it seems, up until the point where Mount Rainier erupts. Greenloop is cut off from everyone. There are no weapons. Food is running low. And now there is an enemy emerging from the forest. Brooks promises to bring Bigfoot to life with a combination of science and terror, just as he did with zombies in the best-selling book, “World War Z.”
“Tiny Imperfections” by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans:
(This novel) delves into the world of competitive private school admissions in San Francisco and the life of a high-powered woman who controls the gate at one of the city’s most sought-after schools. Pressure mounts from all sides as the admissions season unfolds. The authors have both worked in the field and know their stuff, including the complications of mother-daughter relationships and the dreams and expectations that often come into conflict.
“Uncanny Valley” by Anna Weiner:
This nonfiction account of a young woman’s experience in San Francisco’s high tech work world was released in January. Weiner describes, with insight and humor, what will seem like an alternate universe to those that have not worked in tech. For others in the Bay Area, “Uncanny Valley” provides a unique perspective into a world they may already have experienced. Either way, if you’re tired of Zoom meetings and miss the office, (this) could be just the book you need right now.
“When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox” by Jamie L.B. Deenihan:
I very much enjoyed another book by this author and illustrator, ‘When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree,’ so I’m excited to read another sweet family story about the connections between child and grandparent.” (Picture book)
“Little Engine That Could (90th Anniversary Edition)” by Watty Piper:
A rerelease wouldn’t typically be as exciting to me, except that the illustrations have been done by the extremely talented and popular Dan Santat. This amazing story of courage against all odds, told with Santat illustrations — who could ask for more? (Picture book)
“Jasper & Ollie Build a Fort” by Alex Willan:
Jasper and Ollie return with a funny and sweet friendship story with tons of visual appeal for the early reader. (Preschool to second grade)
“What is LEGO?” by Jim O’connor:
A new release in the extremely popular ‘Who Is/what Was’ series of nonfiction that is about LEGO? Every kid will want to read this! (Third through seventh grade)
“Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes” by Roshani Chokshi:
The anticipated third novel in the fast-paced fantasy series based on Hindu mythology. (Third through seventh grade)