This year, The Stacks Pack and I are doing the first ever Mega-Reading Challenge. The challenge consists of 52 prompts and the reader gets to pick any book they want that fits the prompt. They have the whole year to complete it, and as of this writing, one person is already done. Prompts include things like “read an award winning book from the year you were born” or “read a book over 500 pages”. It is an actually hard reading challenge and has been total joy.
, I have decided to let you all pick a book for me to read that YOU love.
All you need to do is fill out the form below. Pick ONE book you loved, that comes/came out in 2024, that you think I should read and submit it. I will then sift through the results. Narrow it down to five that I would actually like to read. Then I will have The Stacks Pack vote to name the final winner for me to read.
Whenever I ask for submissions like this, people always want to know what other folks suggest, so please drop your pick in this thread for other Unstackers to see. Who knows, maybe someone will recommend you your new favorite book.
I just worked a bookshop event with author Clothilde Ewing, and this is the book she picked as her fave of this summer! I hadn’t heard of it, but good to know!
Ok I picked Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton . It was published at the top of the year so it fits your criteria. It’s very much in your comfort zone: nonfiction, investigative journalism. I think you’ll really find it fascinating!
I started it and DNF'd after about 45%. I really struggled with the organization and story flow. I feel like a lot of people loved it but I just could not.
I said PRAISESONG FOR THE KITCHEN GHOSTS by Crystal Wilkinson. It is part memoir, part cookbook and it is beautiful, in both the visuals and the writing.
Ended up going with NF, Hammer and Hope. More people need to read about Black southern communists and it would be soo good to discuss. It's a little too long but many riveting stories
I recommended something completely off base but delightful - Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham. The artwork is beautiful and I love the story (and I will read anything Gene Luen Yang is involved with).
What a great idea! I'm always looking for recommendations! I recommended Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller. I read the ebook but I've heard from other folks who listened to the audiobook that it was a good/fun listen.
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein… it opens with a deep dive into mind control and psychedelic drugs. It’s haunting cuz she talks to a woman who underwent these experiments. Ironically the doctors in stranger things reminded me of this so bad when I watched that show.
mmmmkay so i was curious what i’d submit so i went and looked at my list…of the 80 or so books i’ve read this year, only 6 came out in 2024 🙈 what does that mean?? 😶🌫️ maybe i should read whatever you pick too!
Medgar and Myrlie. Great civil rights history focusing on Mississippi. Interesting to read about what happened to the family after his death.
Oh good one!
I really liked this one too! 🙏🏼💕
Skin and Bones by Renee Watson,
I just worked a bookshop event with author Clothilde Ewing, and this is the book she picked as her fave of this summer! I hadn’t heard of it, but good to know!
Oooohhhhh!!!!
Lovvvvvved this book! Highly recommend!
I second this!
But I am actually not sure Traci will like it 😕 but would love to see an interview with Renee Watson!
Yes! She would be a fantastic guest!
Ok I picked Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton . It was published at the top of the year so it fits your criteria. It’s very much in your comfort zone: nonfiction, investigative journalism. I think you’ll really find it fascinating!
I started it and DNF'd after about 45%. I really struggled with the organization and story flow. I feel like a lot of people loved it but I just could not.
Yea that’s very valid critique!
Memory Piece by Lisa Ko
Ok!
I said PRAISESONG FOR THE KITCHEN GHOSTS by Crystal Wilkinson. It is part memoir, part cookbook and it is beautiful, in both the visuals and the writing.
This is for sure on my TBR! Great pick.
Okay, ✅💕🙏🏼 I’m going to recommend essays by Sasha LaPointe- published March 2024- Thunder Song- I added to the doc!
Ooh ok! Sounds good.
Just found out about this one and it sounds interesting: The Life and Death of Ryan White: AIDS Inequality in America by Paul Renfro.
HOLY SHIT! This is screaming my name. I need to read this!
Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Oh nice, this is on my TBR already! Great pick.
I really enjoyed these essays too!
The audio is free on Spotify and her narration is top tier
Ended up going with NF, Hammer and Hope. More people need to read about Black southern communists and it would be soo good to discuss. It's a little too long but many riveting stories
This book isn’t from 2024 though. It’s gotta be a 2024 book, that’s the whole point.
*hoe (hammer and hope is the magazine lol)
I recommended something completely off base but delightful - Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and Leuyen Pham. The artwork is beautiful and I love the story (and I will read anything Gene Luen Yang is involved with).
Love this. Mr. Yang was a teacher at my high school while I was there.
Was it the Dragon Hoops school??? We read that for my YA class in library school.
Yes! I am a Dragon!
🐉 amazing.
Also, now I would love to know more. Have you read the book? If so, what did you think of it?
What a great idea! I'm always looking for recommendations! I recommended Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller. I read the ebook but I've heard from other folks who listened to the audiobook that it was a good/fun listen.
I’ve heard good things about this one.
I tried to pick a NF that is intense ha ha. I like this idea, I’m excited to see what you pick.
Which one?!?
The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein… it opens with a deep dive into mind control and psychedelic drugs. It’s haunting cuz she talks to a woman who underwent these experiments. Ironically the doctors in stranger things reminded me of this so bad when I watched that show.
But that book didn’t come out this year. It’s gotta be a 2024 release. I think TSD came out in 2007.
Oh jeez how embarrassing for me haha I didn’t read close enough! I’ll redo it.
But What Will People Say? Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures by Sahaj Kaur Kohli - another BOML!
Oooh ok I love that high praise!
mmmmkay so i was curious what i’d submit so i went and looked at my list…of the 80 or so books i’ve read this year, only 6 came out in 2024 🙈 what does that mean?? 😶🌫️ maybe i should read whatever you pick too!
Well you can pick something you want to read from this year!
Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur. The fascinating memoir of a woman that works as a death doula.