For Readers: Jessica

In this moving memoir, Trethewey unpacks her relationship with her mother, her mother's life, and her tragic death at the hands of her ex-husband. Trethewey's reflections on loss and grief are visceral and haunting. If you enjoyed The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom, you won't want to miss this book.

A powerful collection of short stories that explore the lives of Lao people living in an unnamed country. Thammavongsa shows the struggles, beauty, and realities for Lao refugees and their children as they adapt to their new life. In "How to Pronounce Knife," a young girl realizes that her father does not know everything when he teaches her the wrong way to pronounce the word 'knife.' Fans of Ocean Vuong and Viet Thanh Nguyen will love this book.

Anna Sun is a violinist who is struggling to complete a piece that was created for her. She challenges herself to join a dating app, and meets Quan Diep. Anna feels comfortable and can finally be herself around Quan, but her family does not approve of him. Anna has to learn to advocate for herself and stand up to her sister and mother. Fans of Evvie Drake Starts Over will enjoy this book.

Part family saga and part science nonfiction, Hidden Valley Road follows the lives of the Galvin family of Colorado Springs. Don and Mimi Galvin got married in 1944 and had twelve children: ten boys and two girls. Their lives were turned upside down when--one after another--six of their sons were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Kolker weaves the history of schizophrenia alongside the story of the Galvin family and their invaluable contribution to schizophrenia research. If you enjoyed The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, check out this book.

After having vivid dreams, Yeong-hye decides to become a vegetarian. Her rebellious decision leads to conflicting emotions between her husband, brother-in-law, and sister. Kang's writing is vivid, visceral, and mesmerizing. Winner of the Man Booker International Prize (2016). Fans of horror will enjoy this book.