The Studio Books All Georgians Should Read

Decatur-based Georgia Center for the Book selects new list

2016 Books

All Georgians Should Read

• Jim Auchmutey – The Class Of ‘65: A Student, A Divided Town, And The Long Road To Forgiveness (Public Affairs Books)

• Taylor Brown – Fallen Land: A Novel (St. Martin’s Press)

• Ashley Callahan – Southern Tufts: The Regional Origins And National Craze For Chenille Fashion (University of Georgia Press)

• Lynn Cullen – Twain’s End: A Novel (Gallery Books)

• Sandra D. Deal, Jennifer W. Dickey and Catherine M. Lewis – Memories Of The Mansion: The Story Of Georgia’s Governor’s Mansion (University of Georgia Press)

• Ryan Gravel – Where We Want To Live: Reclaiming Infrastructure For A New Generation of Cities (St. Martin’s Press)

• Jim Grimsley – How I Shed My Skin: Unlearning The Racist Lessons Of A Southern Childhood (Algonquin Books)

• Charles Leerhsen – Ty Cobb: A Terrible Beauty (Simon & Schuster)

• Brian Panowich – Bull Mountain: A Novel (G.P. Putnam & Sons)

• Kevin Young – Blue Laws: Selected And Uncollected Poems, 1995–2015 (Knopf)

By Collin Kelley

The Georgia Center for the Book (GCB) has selected the works of 24 prize–winning authors and illustrators with Georgia connections for the 2016 lists of the “Books All Georgians Should Read” and “Books All Young Georgians Should Read.” The authors and illustrators will be honored on Thursday, Aug. 18, at a free, public event scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore Street.

The lists are compiled annually from nominations received throughout the year by the writers, educators, librarians, media representatives and individuals who comprise the Georgia Center for the Book Advisory Council. In 2013, the Advisory Council voted to make the compilation of these lists an annual event. The ceremony this year will mark the seventh edition of the “Books All Georgians Should Read” and the fourth “Books All Young Georgians Should Read.”

“For the Georgia Center for the Book, the ‘Books All Georgians Should Read’ and the ‘Books All Young Georgians Should Read’ lists are a wonderful way to honor the extraordinary talent we have right here in Georgia,” said Joe Davich, executive director of GCB. “The lists give us the opportunity to inform readers across our state about the diverse body of work produced by Georgians, and a platform to celebrate Georgia’s literary heritage.”

The new list of “Books All Georgians Should Read” includes three works of fiction, six of non–fiction and a collection of poetry. The list of “Books All Young Georgians Should Read” includes three picture books, three books for middle school readers, three books for young adults and one graphic novel. Both 2016 lists are the result of months of discussions by the Advisory Council, which considered over 125 books before narrowing down the list.

2016 Books All Young Georgians Should Read

• Becky Albertalli – Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda (Blazer + Bray)

• Roshani Chokshi – The Star-Touched Queen (St. Martin’s Griffin)

• Dori Kleber – More-igami (Candlewick Press)

• Aisha Saeed – Written In The Stars (Speak!)

• Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal – The Wheels On The Tuk Tuk (Beach Lane Books)

• Vicky Alvear Shecter – Thor Speaks!: A Guide To The Realms By The Norse God Of Thunder (Boyds Mills Press)

• Laurel Snyder – Swan: The Life And Death Of Anna Pavlova (Chronicle Books)

• Megan Jean Sovern – The Meaning Of Maggie: A Novel (Chronicle Books)

• Lisa Lewis Tyre – Last In A Long Line Of Rebels (Nancy Paulsen Books)

• Joey Weiser – Mermin Vol 3: Deep Dive (Oni Press)