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Navajo Weapon: The Navajo Code Talkers tells the oft-overlooked story of some of the greatest unsung American heroes in World War II: the titular Navajo Code Talkers. They worked with the U.S military during the war to create a code that was nearly impossible for the Japanese military to crack, using the Navajo language as its base.

In this book, author Sally McClain explores the roles and importance of these code talkers and how their efforts were integral in the U.S winning the war. She doesn’t just focus on their war efforts, however, as she spends a good portion of the book exploring the war’s toll on these individuals and where they ended up after the war.

In the past few years, artificial intelligence has become more advanced and has begun to integrate into our daily lives. It is now more important than ever that we learn the costs and risks of this new technology, recognize its effects on society, and come to terms with what we have created. That is Kate Crawford’s goal with her recent book Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence. In it, she examines the human cost of AI development, like its use of low-wage information workers and the mass collection of our data, art, and writing. She also takes a look at its potential damage if we don’t use it ethically, like the spread of misinformation and the centralization of power.

The Magic Kingdom, written by acclaimed author Russell Banks, is an expertly-crafted tale of finding one’s place in time and grappling with both the past and future. It takes a fictionalized look at one man’s search for utopia, and his journey to and life on a Shaker farm in Central Florida in the early 20th century.

Although the characters and experiences are fictional, Banks perfectly captures the essence of living in Florida at that time perfectly. His book offers a look into what Central Florida was like before the construction of its amusement parks and the rise of tourism to the area.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, first published in 2007, is the second book written by Junot Díaz, one of the most celebrated contemporary fiction writers in recent memory. The book tells the story of Oscar Wao, a son of Dominican immigrants and a huge nerd. Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien and finding love, and throughout the book he fights against a mysterious family curse that seems to have followed them from his family’s country. 

Upon its release, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao received high praise from critics and readers alike, and ended up earning a Pulitzer Prize among other prestigious awards. Readers fell in love with Díaz’s vision of the contemporary American experience, and you will too.

In this sci-fi epic, author R.W.W. Greene expertly weaves together the genre’s tropes with an alternate 1970’s America; one where humankind walked on the moon and discovered they were not alone. This alternate reality is totally believable, despite the aliens, with pop culture references and jokes aplenty.

The story follows Brooklyn, just an ordinary guy who ends up joining the Earth Orbital Forces after being falsely convicted of murder. Now he must save not only himself and his family, but all of humanity from adversaries beyond the stars. But are they the real monsters? Don’t let the bombastic nature of the plot fool you. The story can be heart-warming and moody when it wants to be, offering a varied and engaging narrative all the way through.

On its surface, Diasporican: A Puerto Rican Cookbook seems like an ordinary cookbook, but lifting the cover reveals a reflective, deeply personal, and educational experience. In between the 90+ recipes, author Illyanna Maisonet explores her family’s history on the island, drawing from their experiences, expertise, and personalities to enhance those recipes.

Along the way, Maisonet weaves together food and history, offering lessons about the history of Puerto Rico, the island’s “stateside diaspora,” and insights into its people’s relationship with food. Everything comes together perfectly to offer a unique and beloved cooking experience that will stick with you long after you’ve shut the stove off.

A Day of Fallen Night is a fantasy novel written by Samantha Shannon and acts as a standalone prequel to her previous work: Priory of the Orange Tree. It tells the story of a group of women from various backgrounds, from warriors to royalty, and how they must come together to protect humanity from monstrous threats like dragons, wyrms, and gods.

Upon its release in February 2023, the book quickly joined The New York Times bestseller list. It has been praised by critics for its rich world-building, diverse characters, complex emotions, and gripping, ambitious narrative. According to Wayne, it is also “pure feminist escapism.”

With this summer boasting some of the hottest weeks in recorded history, anxiety about the climate crisis has hit an all-time high, especially among younger generations. For those concerned about this issue, I Want a Better Catastrophe might be the perfect book!

As the title implies, author Andrew Boyd tackles the climate crisis in a distinctive way, aiming to juxtapose the doomer’s mindset with the optimist’s. He accomplishes this with a series of eight different interviews with eight varied perspectives, balancing fear and hope throughout.

“One thing Boyd makes clear,” said Harpold, “is that the end of *this* world is not the end of *the* world. Our unsustainable economic systems and ways of living may fall, but we can persevere.”