These thirteen stories are atmospheric, focusing on complicated relationships with skill. More than a little dark, but still grounded, Orlando Ortega-Medina’s Jerusalem Ablaze: Stories of Love and Other Obsessions is a strong debut... Read More

"If Clara" is moving and wiry, and full of poetic coincidences. A story of artistic accomplishment and mental struggles, "If Clara" comes through four narrators who are connected to the enigmatic title character. Creative, troubled, and... Read More

This memoir about learning to value yourself despite social expectations is doused in wit and self-reflection. Rhonda Eason’s book is the honest story of how one black woman conquered an insurmountable challenge: her hair. After... Read More

A moving insider’s account of Kurdish conflicts, Nuri’s work captures a truth more devastating than fiction. Journalist Ayub Nuri’s war memoir "Being Kurdish in a Hostile World" chronicles a life lived in conflict. Spanning from... Read More

Along with being an outstanding example of taking on the American dream, "My Rice Bowl" presents a menu of delicious contrasts. Chef Rachel Yang’s culinary journey began—appropriately—at a kitchen table. In the mid-1990s, she was a... Read More

Cleverly framed, these stories capture a rich island community that is steeped in oral traditions. In Alaska’s southeastern archipelago, the small Wrangell Island is home to a mix of peoples and stories. Local author Vivian Faith... Read More

Though draped in the mythic, the novel’s blood and bones are thoroughly and relatably human. The otherworldly and the mundane collide in Shawn Smucker’s "The Day the Angels Fell", a humanizing tale of cosmic proportions. When death... Read More

A novel in stories, "Paradise Field" is a strong whole made of fascinating parts. Pamela Ryder’s "Paradise Field" is a novel in stories that stands out for the variety of structures, voices, and styles employed throughout. They convey... Read More