Hachette

Acclaimed environmental activist Leah Thomas has put together an expert and necessary introduction into the ways climate change has most aggressively impacted marginalized communities while simultaneously pinpointing the ways those same voices have historically been ignored within environmentalism movements. The Intersectional Environmentalist is the ultimate guide to addressing some of the planet’s most pressing issues by dismantling privilege and uplifting the voices at the center of these issues which often go unheard. —Magnolia
 

Everyone wants a secret…and needs a friend. Ivy Noelle Weir and Amber Padilla deliver a lovely graphic novel of renewal, hope, and connection. Any kid who has ever been lonely will relate to Mary, Colin, and Dickon as they find each other. Inspiration can be found in their care for themselves and for the people, plants, and world around them. A welcome update to a traditional classic, this beautiful fable for our current modern world stands on its own.—Jocelyn

What a delight! Waffles and Pancake are two kittens looking to have a fun day with their Dad-cat, and boy does the planetarium deliver. From cool skeletons and exhibits to delicious tots at the cafeteria, this gem is sure to get any kid excited about a day at the museum. I really appreciated how they dealt with what to do if you get lost, and a small nod to the fact that the kitten’s parents live in separate households, normalizing it in a lovely way.—Jax

For the love of skateboarding! In The Most Fun Thing—a memoir by way of essays—Beachy attempts to find what skateboarding REALLY means, and begins a journey of self-discovery along the way. Sometimes we have to dig deep to uncover the gems inside ourselves, to know what’s important to us. A lovely memoir, perfect whether you’re “regular” or “goofy.”—MJ

How do the 2015 Warriors stack up against the Magic Johnson Lakers? Sports journalist and biographer Marcus Thompson II showcases the best teams in NBA history and explores how these dynasties changed the game by adopting revolutionary strategies and skills. Dynasties shows us how superstars, villains, and players of character emerge on the teams. Reading Dynasties is a perfect way to ramp up for the next NBA season. —Casey

Growing your own food isn’t very easy when you live in a tiny apartment or, like me, in a converted garage. Author Anna Greenland (a UCSC grad!) has given us a guide with easy tips and tricks for small-space techniques, like windowsill planting and growing potatoes in bags, along with her top 10 crops for small spaces. Transform your balcony, front step, or windowsill into the teeny garden of your dreams.—Jae 

If you know everything about hip-hop, Shea Serrano will give you a brand-new way to look at it. If you know nothing about hip-hop, you will learn so much and be entertained the whole time. Serrano absolutely loves what he is writing about and would like nothing more than to keep talking to you about it forever. Read just one essay, full of sly humor and sincere passion, and you just may let him.  —Jocelyn

Hamilton fans rejoice! Revolutions podcaster Mike Duncan is back with one of the biggest history biographies of the season. This page-turning, honest, and humorous narrative lets us follow the Marquis de Lafayette as he champions liberty on both sides of the Atlantic. “An outstanding account of an almost impossibly eventful life,” says Kirkus’s starred review. 

Starting where Theft by Finding left off, the sultan of subtle humor, David Sedaris, presents the last 15 years of his personal diaries. Walking the line between silly and serious, Sedaris’s series of short, memorable pieces focus on the important things in life, like secret planets, thieving monkeys, and voyeuristic spiders. Reading the punchy entries not only gives insight into Sedaris’s mind; it also shows aspiring writers of creative nonfiction the discipline it takes to become an icon. —Aric

When Kat Chow was thirteen, her mother died of cancer, and she has been living with her ghost ever since. In this powerful memoir, Kat turns to her family’s stories and ephemera to find answers for what she had lost, what haunts her still. In doing so, she unearths and honors the complexity of her entire family, from her father who immigrated from China and dreamed in America, to his parents, to her own childhood and that of her older sisters, all affected by grief and loss and always undying love. —Melinda