Books to Add to Your Reading List on World Book Day

Rumors about the demise of books have been greatly exaggerated. A 2018 Pew survey found that nearly three-quarters of Americans had read at least one book in the previous 12 months in some format — print (leading the pack), e-book, or audiobook. What’s more, most readers preferred to cozy up to a physical book more than any other kind, a trend echoed outside of the United States. Today’s the perfect day to join in.

World Book Day, a symbolic holiday that falls on April 23, was created by UNESCO to celebrate global literature. “It was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those, who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity,” the organizations says.

Books can change the way we see the world, enhance our existing knowledge, reveal worlds and cultures we didn’t know existed, or transport us away from our everyday circumstances. This year, UNESCO is focusing “on the importance of enhancing and protecting Indigenous languages.” With those unique voices in mind, Jopwell staffers are sharing their favorite reads from writers of color in a variety of genres, whose words have stuck with them over time.

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Iris Malfetano: “Funny and easy to read, Roxane Gay’s book of essays has opinions on the latest cultural trends and how we need to do better than the media we consume.”

Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quiñonez

Chris Ortega: “This book follows a group of people from 116th Street in NYC (in El Barrio) and their dealings with an ex-drug dealer: Willie Bodega. As a kid who spent a decent amount of time near 116th, I think it has very relatable themes.”

There There by Tommy Orange

Clara Lucio: “A great multigenerational novel! It tells the story of 12 characters who are all traveling to a large Powwow in Oakland. You learn a lot about the modern urban Native American narrative as well as the painful history this community has had to endure.”

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Alex Collins: “This book follows the lives of two sisters from Ghana separated at birth and raised under very different circumstances. It follows their lineages in Africa and America throughout history from the slave trade to modern-day. Not only is it beautifully written and narrated, but it forces you to reflect more deeply on history and its consequences.”

The Miseducation of the Student Athlete: How to Fix College Sports by Kenneth L. Shropshire and Collin D. Williams, Jr.

Rohan Jones: “Shropshire and Williams examine a controversial issue that many people choose to ignore because it is uncomfortable or not financially beneficial for them to do so. I applaud the writers for providing an in-depth analysis of the present reality for student-athletes. The public needs to analyze who benefits the most, in the long-term, from student participation in intercollegiate athletics. This is a must-read for anyone interested in participating in the conversation.”

Butterfly Burning by Yvonne Vera

Christina Licata: “This is a heartbreaking story about not only the struggles of colonialism, but about being a black woman during that time period. This book is set in the late 1940s and tells the story of two young lovers under colonialism in Zimbabwe. Yvonne Vera's storytelling is like poetry. I found myself rereading sentences because they were that captivating.”

The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

Nadia Abouzaid: "This is a truly great fantasy novel series that has excellent world building and character development. The books touch on a variety of societal issues, examining class and societal conflict, and whose characters operate outside traditional norms of gender and sexuality."

Love in the Times of Cholera by Gabriel García Marquez

Clara Lucio: *“Nothing quite captures that yearning feeling better than this book. It’s also able to describe that very specific lovesick feeling without being sappy.” *

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Alex Collins: “This book is a page-turner. It's the story of two unlikely friends from very different upbringings who join together to bring magic back to their land in the hopes of restoring peace to a divided community. Not only is it compelling, it examines themes of race, oppression, and hope.”

From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

Steven Haverlock: “This book examines the history of structural inequality and institutional racism in the United States, with a specific focus on the events that built up to the #BlackLivesMatter movement and where we can go from here.”

Tar Beach by Faith Ringold

Annie Hopkins: “This book was one of my favorites to share with students when I taught second grade. Kids love the intricate illustrations, which have won awards, and are laid out in the style of a quilt.”

Passing by Nella Larson

Iris Malfetano: “As a biracial woman, I found this novel to be an extremely thought provoking and challenging read. It's a great story about what fitting in means and class distinctions in the 1920s. Larson is one of the Harlem Renaissance greats!”

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Samantha Turner: “Aside from it being Michelle Obama's autobiography, this book is also a relatable story of her life's journey thus far. It's insanely inspiring!”

A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

Dev Jones: “A Brief History is historical fiction set in 1970s Jamaica. Through personal stories, it describes how the country was transformed through political forces, power, and music.”

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Samantha Turner: “I couldn't put this book down. It provided an interesting perspective on life in America from the perspectives of an African immigrant family juxtaposed with the lives of a wealthy white American family.”