Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

This is, without a doubt, one of the scariest books I’ve ever read, and one I haven’t stopped thinking about since I finished reading it. Told in astonishing detail (the majority of the book takes place over the course of an hour), Nuclear War posits a play-by-play of what would happen in the immediate aftermath of a nuclear strike on the United States. In Jacobsen’s hypothetical, the ensuing fallout is swift and apocalyptic; something made all the more vivid by her astonishing reporting. Early in the book, I gained a newfound understanding of doomsday preppers, and became convinced that I, too, should start stockpiling drinking water and saving up money for an underground bunker. By the end, I’d given on the idea entirely, because of how fruitless my preparations would be against the reality of nuclear war. Both are a testament to Jacobsen’s incredible work, which so deftly shows the precariousness of nuclear deterrence and the unimaginable horror (and stupidity) of mutually assured destruction.

—Gina Mei

Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido

First published in 1982, it’s a delightful, irreverent coming of age novel about falling in love—with a boy, but more so with his family. Importantly, it’s a refreshing change of speed from some of the heavier news of late. 

—Anna Lind-Guzik

New York, My Village by Uwen Akpan

After being on my bookshelf for the last two years, I finally decided to read New York, My Village by Uwen Akpan three years after it was published; I wish I’d read it sooner. In a fictional narrative, a Nigerian editor, Ekong, of the Anaang people—a minority group from the Niger Delta—visits New York City as a publishing house fellow while also working on a Biafra War anthology. For a subject as sensitive as the Biafra War, the author manages to be be both bold and funny in his rendition of how Nigerian ethnic minorities have viewed the war—often overlooked entirely—while demonstrating how his home country’s divisions and differences on race, immigration, and history are not too dissimilar from what he experiences in New York. At times, especially in the middle chapters, the dialogue and plot can take rather far-fetched turns, but perhaps part of the amusement of Ekong’s story is that they do. I originally picked it up because I think the subject of the Biafra War is difficult to discuss, whether as fiction or nonfiction, and so many perspectives are often lacking the dimension of minority viewpoints that Ekong and his cast of characters engage in, unashamedly. For that reason alone, it was a refreshing read for me personally, even considering the hyperbole that the read accompanied.

—Kovie Biakolo

Traveling: On The Path of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers

The new book about Joni Mitchell from NPR Music critic Ann Powers goes far beyond mere biography; it’s also a reflection on how our culture defines “genius” (and how gendered that term can be!), and how our own individual perspectives influence our devotion to the artists we love. Powers’ depth of research makes the book thrilling for longtime Joni aficionados, and her approach—a genuine but circumspect curiosity about this much-vaunted and perhaps misunderstood artist—welcomes newer fans to the fold, too.

—Marissa Lorusso

In Limbo by Deb J.J. Lee

This graphic novels follows the ups and downs of being a Korean-American teenager, with moving commentary on mental health and strained parental relationships. Although my upbringing differed from Lee’s, I saw so much of myself in their story. Beyond the touching narrative, the illustrations are insane. The level of detail is so intricate and intimate. It’s easy to get lost in every page.

—Kiera Wright-Ruiz