What The Hell America!

The Feminist Know-It-All: You know her. You can’t stand her. Good thing she’s not here! Instead, this column by gender and women’s studies librarian Karla Strand will amplify stories of the creation, access, use and preservation of knowledge by women and girls around the world; share innovative projects and initiatives that focus on information, literacies, libraries and more; and, of course, talk about all of the books.

Hello, feminist reader friends! Each month, I provide Ms. readers with a list of new books being published by writers from historically excluded groups. The aims of these lists are threefold:

1. I want to do my part in the disruption of what has been the acceptable “norm” in the book world for far too long—white, cis, heterosexual, male;
2. I want to amplify indie publishers and amazing works by writers who are women, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, APIA/AAPI, international, queer, trans, nonbinary, disabled, fat, immigrant, Muslim, neurodivergent, sex-positive or of other historically marginalized identities—you know, the rest of us; and
3. I want to challenge and encourage you all to buy, borrow and read them! 

It’s finally springtime in the Midwest, the grass is turning green and flowers are beginning to bloom. The robins are back, the fawns are appearing and the coyotes are howling. For me, it couldn’t come too soon.

These signs of life are a welcome distraction from our political, social and environmental realities right now. More importantly, they provide hope and a reason for joy. The fresh air and blue skies remind me to pause, to breathe and to acknowledge gratitude, even in times of pain and want.

The 26 books on this month’s list provide some of that much-needed hope and joy as well. They tell stories of strength and resilience, of relationships and love, of imagination and dreams. 

These and other authors bravely tell their stories in a time when their understanding, good faith appreciation or even their safety are not guaranteed. Writers, reporters and journalists are putting themselves on the line every day to recount their truths and share important narratives with the rest of us. I, for one, am so grateful.

I hope you’ll join me in showing your appreciation to these writers for sharing their stories. Read and share their work, pre-order their books if you can and request that your libraries purchase them. These actions will help demonstrate to the world that we value intellectual freedom and the rights of people to use their voices to speak out for empathy, justice, and liberation.

By Joanna Choi Kalbus. Betty. Out May 6.

In this harrowing and humorous memoir, Joanna Choi Kalbus shares her and her widowed mother’s heroic journey from North Korea to make a better life in the U.S. Filled with stories and history, this volume is heartfelt, courageous and captivating.  

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By Alden Jones. Blair. Out May 6.

This dynamic collection of queer travel writing will have you longing for the inspiration, energy and connection brought on by exploring new peoples and places. From Cambodia to the Netherlands and Russia to Senegal, these stories are contributed by some of my favorite writers, including Genevieve Hudson, Alexander Chee, Putsata Reang and Daisy Hernández. 

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By Tamura Lomax. Duke University Press. Out May 6.

In this ode to Black feminist girl/women/motherhood, Tamura Lomax explores the power of Black feminism to resist the white supremacist cisheteropatriarchal structures keeping Black motherhood among the most dangerous work in the US today. Intimate and accessible, this book aims to engage, inspire and free us. 

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By Štěpánka Jislová. Graphic Mundi. Out May 6. 

This sharp and candid graphic memoir reflects upon love, romance, relationships and sex as they interact with childhood trauma, online dating, addiction, attachment, and more. Unique and evocative, the illustrations and text confront questions of health, well-being, self-worth and second chances.

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By Ruby Smith Diaz. Arsenal Pulp Press. Out May 6. 

Afro Latino man Serafim Fortes was a local legend as Vancouver’s first lifeguard, having saved over 100 lives during his career. Despite his success and renown, Fortes is unknown to most of us. In her outstanding debut, Diaz sheds light on his complex life and the roles that racism, colonialism and displacement played in his life and legacy.

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By Agustín Fuentes. Princeton University Press. Out May 6.

Sex and gender can be confusing topics, and with some folks, it’s become more challenging (read: dangerous) to talk about the issues and distill the facts. In clear, accessible language, Agustín Fuentes has written The Book explaining the expansiveness of human biology based on scientific evidence and biocultural reality.

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By Jennifer Mason-Black. Carolrhoda Lab. Out May 6.

Young adult Holi is facing a lot of challenges right now, and to earn some money, she begins organizing the attic of an elderly, acclaimed writer named Elsie. Little does Holi know how much her life will change with Elsie in this powerful, lyrical story that honors creativity, queerness, healing and intergenerational relationships.  

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By Demree McGhee. Feminist Press. Out May 6.

The stories in this debut collection are rough in all the best ways. They are intimate, haunting, heartbreaking and feral. Tackling loss, grief, violence and more, Demree McGhee’s sensitivity and strength is palpable. 

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By Karida L. Brown. Legacy Lit. Out May 13.

This is a powerful new exploration into the segregation of schools and the dramatic legacy left behind by the people, organizations and institutions that laid its foundation. Karida Brown provides an invaluable perspective and an inspirational call to action.

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By Kameelah Phillips. Balance. Out May 13.

If you are looking for solid, trustworthy information about gynecological issues and treatments, look no further than OB-GYN Kameelah Phillips. Thanks to Dr. Phillips, we now have a book that makes understanding, deciding upon and having a hysterectomy clearer and less scary. 

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By Denali Sai Nalamalapu. Timber Press. Out May 13. 

This debut graphic memoir tells the stories of six activists fighting against the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Appalachia, providing a vivid illustration of what a rural resistance movement looks like. Through her interviews with the individuals and accompanying artwork, Denali Sai Nalamalapu offers both information and inspiration.

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By Rebecca Solnit. Haymarket Books. Out May 13.

This collection comprises previously published essays, brought together in a single memorable volume. From antique violins and fairytales to COVID and climate, Solnit’s reflections remind us that uncertainty is the only thing you can count on and that welcoming the meandering is the only way to go.

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Edited by Laura Pegram. Authors Equity. Out May 13.

Kweli Journal’s short story collection is a grand celebration of 15 years. Inspiring, emotional, empowering and bold, this volume really will make your heart sing. Contributors include Susan Muaddi Darraj, Edwidge Danticat, Ivelisse Rodriquez and many more. 

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By Caro De Robertis. Algonquin. Out May 13.

Author Caro De Robertis has collected these candid oral histories from people of color across the spectrum of gender in this groundbreaking volume. Spirited and expansive, it’s just the right book at just the right time.

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By Hilary Plum. Bloomsbury. Out May 13.

This inventive and compelling story centers on Angela, a state running champ who has dropped out (of running, college, the BS of life more generally) and decides to protest the criminalization of abortion with a hunger strike. Strikingly composed and delivered, Plum’s latest punches high above its weight.

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By L.E. Fox. Arsenal Pulp Press. Out May 13. 

This potent and persuasive collection is sure to reignite your fight against climate change and its conspiracy theorist naysayers. Former science journalist L.E. Fox hits the problem where it hurts (hint: it’s capitalism) and offers over 15 unapologetic essays to equip you with the tools you need be the change. 

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By Katie Fricas. Drawn & Quarterly. Out May 20.

A debut graphic novel focused on a queer library worker in NYC looking for the perfect book in a quest to complete her own graphic novel? Yes, please! It’s engaging in text and style, with charm and humor to boot. What a beautiful ode to books, libraries, history, NYC, and love itself.

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By Martha Bátiz. House of Anansi. Out May 20.

Set in 16th-century Spain, this extraordinary debut novel is inspired by the life of Isabel, the daughter of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. When her mother dies suddenly, Isabel learns that everything she’s ever known has been a lie and is sent to live with a new family, posing as a maid. Lyrical and evocative, this is a captivatingly written story. 

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By Anna Malaika Tubbs. Flatiron Books. Out May 20.

On the heels of The Three Mothers, Anna Malaika Tubbs’ latest book expertly reckons with patriarchy and its impacts on all Americans, not just women. Through personal narratives and visibilized histories, Tubbs defines patriarchy, traces its genealogies,  maps its courses, and provides hopeful alternatives. 

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By Tourmaline. Tiny Reparations Books. 320 pages. Out May 20.

Written by Tourmaline, this is the first definitive biography of Marsha P. Johnson. This long-overdue biography is one of highs and lows, the activist and the artist, the lover and the fighter. Throughout it all, Tourmaline allows Marsha’s light to shine as bright and colorful as the flowers Queen Marsha wore like crowns. 

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By Alison Bechdel. Mariner Books. Out May 20. 

While you don’t have to be familiar with Alison Bechdel’s previous works like Dykes to Watch Out For to enjoy her new autofiction, why not read them first anyway? Here, Bechdel employs her charming wit and signature comics style to reflect on consumerism and success through familiar characters and updated storylines.

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By Deborah Jiang-Stein. University of Minnesota Press. Out May 25.

As she searches for the daughter who was taken from her during her incarceration, Felma deals with relationships, mental health, hope and belonging. This eye-opening, layered and unforgettable debut collection of over thirty connected stories is drawn from the author’s own extraordinary life.  

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Edited by Lee Mandelo. Erewhon Books. Out May 27.

This fantastic(al) volume contains 22 speculative sci-fi stories by and about queer and trans folks. From orgasms to the apocalypse, mediums to social media, these stories will have you imagining your own queer future. Contributors include Bendi Barrett, Margaret Killjoy, Neon Yang, Sarah Gailey and more.

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By Eli Erlick. Beacon Press. Out May 27.

The debut book by Eli Erlick, founder of Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER), chronicles trans lives and experiences between 1850 and 1950. By sharing 30 stories about kids, activists, workers and athletes, Erlick fills a giant gap in the remarkable histories of trans individuals. 

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By Cristina Jiménez. St. Martin’s Press. Out May 27.

Cristina Jiménez is co-founder and former Executive Director of United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the country. In her remarkable debut memoir, Jiménez reflects on coming to the US from Ecuador, growing up undocumented and eventually finding community and purpose.

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By Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian. Spiegel & Grau. Out May 27.

As a new forest-dweller myself, I had no idea that there is so much queerness in nature! Focused on the variety and ambiguity at work in our world, mycologist Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian enlightens and delights with stories of fungi, slugs, snails and more.   

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By Chyana Marie Sage (Cree, Métis, and Salish). House of Anansi. 296 pages. Out May 27. 

After growing up with an addicted and abusive father, Chyana Marie Sage must grapple with pain, loss and broken trust. In her debut memoir, she tenderly and candidly explores the legacies of Native boarding schools, colonialism, and violence to disrupt intergenerational trauma in search of hope and healing.

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Also out this month:

The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman
By Niko Stratis. University of Texas Press. Out May 6.

Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange
By Katie Goh. Tin House. Out May 6.

My Name Is Emilia del Valle: A Novel
Written by Isabel Allende. Translated by Frances Riddle. Ballantine Books. Out May 6.

Outrage: Why the Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality Is Not Yet Won and What We Can Do About It
By Ellen Jones. Bluebird. Out May 6.

Promises
By Goretti Kyomuhendo. Catalyst Press. Out May 6.

Wake the Wild Creatures
By Nova Ren Suma. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Out May 6.

The Wanderer’s Curse: A Memoir
By Jennifer Hope Choi. W. W. Norton & Company. Out May 6.

Betrayal U: The Politics of Belonging in Higher Education
Edited by Rebecca G. Martínez and Monica J. Casper. University of Arizona Press. Out May 13.

Biography of a Revolution: The Feminist Roots of Human Rights in Egypt
By Dr. Lucia Sorbera. University of California Press. Out May 13.

A Gardin Wedding: A Gardins of Edin Novel
By Rosey Lee. WaterBrook. Out May 13.

Immaculate Conception: A Novel
By Ling Ling Huang. Dutton. Out May 13.

Love in Exile
By Shon Faye. FSG Originals. Out May 13.

The Rainbow Ain’t Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity
By Kaila Adia Story. Beacon. Out May 13.

Ungendering Menstruation
By Ela Przybyło. University of Minnesota Press. Out May 13.

Abolitionist Intimacies: Queer and Trans Migrants against the Deportation State
By Eithne Luibhéid. Duke University Press. Out May 20.

Crocodiles at Night
Written by Gisela Heffes. Translated by Grady Wray. Deep Vellum. Out May 20.

The Girls of Good Fortune: A Novel
By Kristina McMorris. Sourcebooks Landmark. Out May 20.

Mapping Neshnabé Futurity: Celestial Currents of Sovereignty in Potawatomi Skies, Lands, and Waters
By Blaire Morseau (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians). University of Arizona Press. Out May 20.

The Politics of Care Work: Puerto Rican Women Organizing for Social Justice
By Emma Amador. Duke University Press. Our May 20.

That’s All I Know: A Novel
Written by Elisa Levi. Translated by Christina MacSweeney. Graywolf. Out May 20.

Witch: Anthology
Edited by Michelle Tea. DOPAMINE/Semiotext(e). Out May 20.

Art on My Mind: Visual Politics (30th Anniversary Edition)
By bell hooks. The New Press. Out May 27.

Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes
By Harrison Browne and Rachel Browne. Beacon. Out May 27.

Lush
By Rochelle Dowden-Lord. Bloomsbury. Out May 27.

When Devils Sing
By Xan Kaur. Henry Holt & Co BYR. Out May 27.