HER MOST LOVED BOOKS

• Owls and Other Fantasies by Mary Oliver

“Mary Oliver is beautiful and accurate in this book of poetry and prose about birds . . . all rendered with the precision of a line-drawing of a single feather that puts the entire wing into perspective.” - Orion

• Good Girl and Other Yearnings by Isabelle Correa

"No one likes a mirror when they expected a window. Isabelle Correa's Good Girl and Other Yearnings offers both--each poem creates a kaleidoscope of girlhood, sisterhood, longing, and above all, a truth that a single reflection can't contain." - Caroline Earleywine

• We Inherit What the Fires Left by William Evans

"Evans may tackle ambitious subjects, but his dexterous use of language and emotion makes his book stand out. He somehow manages to make anew the timeless topics of race and familial love in a way that deserves to be heard." - The Michigan Daily

• A Window that Neither Opens or Closes by Lauren Russell

"Russell's hybrid collection is powerhouse poetry, a lighthouse calling us out of the personal and systemic haze that surrounds a life with disabilities, without denying the resilience required every moment just to paddle back to shore. Window is lonely, wise, and necessary reading. We needed this collection decades ago, not only as a clear lens into neurodivergence, but as a study in human empathy for others and ourselves." - Erin Vachon

• You are Here: Poetry on the Natural World by Ada Limón

"Lush with lyricism and striking imagery, these poems by Jericho Brown, Diane Seuss, and others contemplate seascapes, backyards, national borders, and built environments where life sings beneath the surface."- Poets & Writers

• Real Toads, Imaginary Gardens by Paisley Rekdal

A methodical line-by-line breakdown of various poetic elements, along with practice exercises and close readings. Textbook quality - gets you writing and reading poetry with more skill.

• On Poetry by Glyn Maxwell

A glorious collection of musings about what poetry even is, and why it matters. Short and philosophical - gets you pondering the nature of the craft.

• A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver

A concise guide to writing poetry from the esteemed Mary Oliver. Short and informative - feels like a love letter to your future poetry.

• The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

"Kostova's vampire is no campy Lugosi knockoff....Blending history and myth, Kostova has fashioned a version so fresh that when a stake is finally driven through a heart, it inspires the tragic shock of something happening for the very first time." - Newsweek

• Self-Care for Autistic People by Dr. Megan Anna Neff

A thorough and practical guide for self-care, when you are autistic and struggling.

• Unmasking Autism by Devon Price

“Price’s accessible and compassionate writing shines, and readers will feel encouraged to embrace a new understanding of themselves. Its potential to help masked autistic adults, especially those from systemically marginalized backgrounds, makes this book essential for most collections.”—Library Journal

• The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

"Krommes’s breathtaking scratchboard illustrations, in black and white with accents of yellow and gold, embody and enhance the text’s message that light and dark, like comfort and mystery, are not mutually exclusive, but integral parts of each other."-Kirkus Reviews