October Reads for the Rest of Us

The Feminist Know-It-All: You know her. You can’t stand her. Good thing she’s not here! Instead, this column by gender and women’s studies librarian Karla Strand will amplify stories of the creation, access, use and preservation of knowledge by women and girls around the world; share innovative projects and initiatives that focus on information, literacies, libraries and more; and, of course, talk about all of the books.

I’ll give only a short introduction this month because, let’s face it, there are so many endlessly readable books releasing in October. You don’t want to spend time on a preamble! 

And this list is already late! SORRY. *Chrissy Teigen 2016 Oscars cringe face*

But seriously, these are 21 books I recommend you read now—or Chrissy will come for you.


Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win

By Jessica Valenti (@jessicavalenti). Crown. 256 pages. Out now. 

Leave it to Jessica Valenti to provide us with the abortion manifesta we need at this moment. Sharp and accessible, this volume will provide readers with well-reasoned arguments and practical inspiration.

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The City in Glass

By Nghi Vo (@nghivowriting). Tordotcom. 224 pages, Out now. 

Nghi Vo has written another superb standalone novel that will thrill the literary fantasy reader in you. Complete with a demon and an angel, good and evil, love and pain and an incandescent city at the center of it all, this is an epic story. 

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Doll Seed: Stories

By Michele Tracy Berger (@MicheleTBerger). Aunt Lute Books. 296 pages. Out now.

In Doll Seed, Michele Tracy Berger crosses genre and style to create scary sci-fi horror stories largely based on the lives and experiences of Black girls and women. Robust characters and magical storytelling make this collection stand out.  

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Elevator in Saigon

Written by Thuân (@thuan_ecrivaine). Translated by Nguyen An Lý. New Directions. 192 pages. Out now.

Still banned in Vietnam, this satirical thriller makes a mother’s death both tragic and fortuitous. Thuân’s mysterious and masterful writing covers themes of colonialism, family secrets, identity and perspective.

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Exposure

By Ramona Emerson (Diné) (@reelindian). Soho Crime. 288 pages. Out now.

Exposure is the hauntingly mysterious follow-up to Emerson’s National Book Award-longlisted Shutter. It centers on a forensic photographer tracking a serial killer with the assistance of his victim’s ghosts. 

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How Schools Make Race: Teaching Latinx Racialization in America

By Laura C. Chávez-Moreno (@LauraCCM). Harvard Education Press. 224 pages. Out now.

In this well-researched and reflective volume, UCLA assistant professor Laura C. Chávez-Moreno offers a nuanced examination of the role of schools in the racialization of Latinx communities. While focused on education, this book will benefit everyone interested in social justice. 

Liberating Abortion: Claiming Our History, Sharing Our Stories, and Building the Reproductive Future We Deserve

By Renee Bracey Sherman (@reneebraceysherman) and Regina Mahone (@byreginamahone). Amistad. 416 pages. Out now. 

By laying plain the relationship between abortion and racism, activist Renee Bracey Sherman and journalist Regina Mahone offer an invaluable perspective, rigorous research and invigorating interviews of Black women who have fought for abortion rights throughout history.

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Salvage: Readings from the Wreck

By Dionne Brand. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 224 pages. Out now.

In her latest nonfiction work, poet and essayist Dionne Brand explores the imperialism of some of the most heralded literature in British and American history. Brand gently combines autobiography with cultural criticism in her beautifully rendered reflective style to examine the necessity of reading these works through an anti-colonial framework.  

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The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World

By Tiffany Yu (@imtiffanyyu). Hachette Go. 320 pages. Out now.

The first book by the founder of Diversability, The Anti-Ableist Manifesto is an urgent call to action for us all. By providing practical ideas and accessible explanations, Tiffany Yu provides the playbook we need now to move beyond the talk and into true disability justice.

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Sad Grownups

By Amy Stuber (@any_stuber_). Stillhouse Press. 232 pages. Out now.

Publishing her first book at 55, Amy Stuber has written a distinct yet relatable collection of stories about aging, relationships, decisions and (dis)connections. This is a smart, sensitive and satisfying debut. 

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Blue Light Hours

By Bruna Dantas Lobato (@bdantaslobato). Grove Press, Black Cat. 192 pages. Out Oct. 15.

When a young Brazilian woman moves to the US to study, she and her mother must learn to navigate a new chapter of life. Quietly poignant, this debut speaks to the power of mother-daughter relationships across time and borders. 

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Clean: A Novel

Written by Alia Trabucco Zerán. Translated by Sophie Hughes. Riverhead Books. 272 pages. Out Oct. 15.

We know the girl died. But how? By whose hand? The narrator of Alia Trabucco Zerán’s latest novel is Estela, the maid of the girl’s family, and she is singing like a canary. Filled with tension, betrayal and secrets, Clean is wonderfully suspenseful and endlessly entertaining. 

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Humans in Shackles: An Atlantic History of Slavery

By Ana Lucia Araujo (@araujohistorian). University of Chicago Press. 640 pages. Out Oct. 15.

This extensively researched volume is not for the faint of heart. At 640 pages, it is an essential history of the Atlantic slave trade written by Howard University history professor Ana Lucia Araujo. Araujo’s expert analysis is only outshined by her attentive and empathetic presentation.

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Private Violence: Latin American Women and the Struggle for Asylum

By Carol Cleaveland and Michele Waslin. NYU Press. 288 pages. Out Oct. 15.

In this essential volume, Cleveland and Waslin examine US asylum and immigration laws and policies through a framework of gender and violence. They masterfully argue that the thousands of women who journey to the US from Latin American countries to escape “private violence,” such as rape, deserve asylum here. 

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The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience

By Nikole Hannah-Jones (@nikolehannahjones) and The New York Times Magazine. Clarkson Potter. 288 pages. Out Oct. 22. 

This is a stunningly beautiful illustrated edition of The 1619 Project supplemented by exquisite new art and archival images. Artists who contributed works include Carrie Mae Weems, Xaviera Simmons, and more.  

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Dog Days

Written by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim (@keumsukgendrykim). Translated by Janet Hong (@JanetHong333). Drawn and Quarterly. 212 pages. Out Oct. 22.

When a couple adopts a dog and moves to the country, they are confronted with unexpected fervor and hostility. With themes of family, trust and tradition, this translated graphic novel will especially appeal to pet lovers. 

Metamorphosis: Climate Fiction for a Better Future

Edited by Grist. Milkweed Editions. 232 pages. Out Oct. 22. 

Compiled by independent environmental media outlet Grist, this anthology features winners of their Imagine 2200 climate fiction contest. These imaginative speculative stories center on climate futures ranging from scary to sanguine.

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Sound Museum

By poupeh missaghi (@poupehmissaghi). Coffee House Press. 136 pages. Out Oct. 22.

This darkly unique story centers on the proud curator of a new groundbreaking museum that uses sound and audio recordings as the basis for its exhibits. The kicker? This is a museum of torture. Unflinching and unsettling, this book speaks to bystander culture, witnessing, violence and power.  

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Blood Over Bright Haven: A Novel

By M. L. Wang. Del Rey. 448 pages. Out Oct. 29. 

The latest standalone novel by M.L. Wang is a dark academia powerhouse. Ambitious and mysterious, imaginative and haunting, Blood Over Bright Haven is a compelling story of a woman determined to break the magical glass ceiling and the consequences it may bring. 

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Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop

By Serene Khader (@serenekhader). Beacon Press. 248 pages. Out Oct. 29.

CUNY philosophy professor Serene J. Khader has written this captivating and necessary volume examining feminism throughout history and its tendency to serve and support white women at the expense of the majority. Khader confronts myths and challenges readers to redefine feminism in more collective and inclusive ways.

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Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me

By Glory Edim (@wellreadblackgirl). Ballantine Books. 288 pages. Out Oct. 29.

You may know Glory Edim from her wildly popular literary platform Well-Read Black Girl. Her latest book is a profoundly moving testament to the power of books and reading for growth, support, healing and peace.

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About

Karla J. Strand is the gender and women’s studies librarian for the University of Wisconsin. She completed her doctorate in information science via University of Pretoria in South Africa with a background in history and library science, and her research centers on the role of libraries and knowledge in empowering women and girls worldwide. Tweet her @karlajstrand.