"Kids who have screens around the all of the time, when they find out how good reading feels, the kind of euphoria that you can express through your own imagination, they can't get enough of it," said Pallas Erdrich, manager and daughter of the owner of Birchbark Books, a local, family-run book store in Minneapolis.
Finding a good book can be difficult, especially in the age of social media. Areyanna Elmore, a customer at Magers & Quinn said, "TikTok is where I find good books." However, Magers & Quinn customer Emma O'Connell finds books by "talking to people and also reading articles … or reading books from authors who I have previously [read]." An approach shared by Erdrich. "It really for me is work of mouth," said Erdrich. "Sometimes you'll just touch the top of a book and think 'yes, that one [is] for me.'"
However, how one person finds good books to read may not work for another. "Be kind of self aware of what would help you now to read and not trying to force yourself to read something you're not going to enjoy," Erdrich said. "I think people, if they're trying to find a new book, look inward and think, 'what would feel good for me right now?' and start there."
The co-owner and social media lead of Wild Rumpus, Jess Fuentes, said, "one of my favorite things to do when I go to a bookstore is I like to ask the bookseller what they recommend. Typically, I'll start by saying, 'this is the last book I read that I really liked, do you have any other suggestions' … I also like looking at the staff picks in bookstores … it's a great way to try different genres."
While book taste, like any preference, is subjective, a few qualities in books stand out to readers. "I'm kind of basic. If there's drama, I'll read anything with drama in it," said Elmore, who also noted good characters as an aspect she looks for. Similarly, Fuentes "likes books that really touch your heart." Erdrich, however, notices the artist try of the book more. "A very, very good book has to have a good cover," Erdrich said. "I think the art of it is really important."
Erdrich recommends three books. The first being, "Where Wolves Don't Die," a young adult novel written by local writer, Anton Treuer. "It's really funny and well-written and there's a lot of sparkle in it," Erdrich said.
The second book is a picture book by Jackie Brown and Illustrated by Jackie Brown called, "Dahlia's Make a Difference Day." "She Brown, is huts wonderful. It's about her daughter… I just sold two. People want this book about saving a rabbit, " said Erdrich, who also likes the book for how it highlights the natural world. "I think it's important to get kids involved in caring about nature in any way they can and then… they need to know what's here and now and how to care for it," Erdrich said.
Finally, ERdrich recommends, "The Little Frogs Guide to Self-care," by Maybell Equay. "This one I feel like is for kids and adults… it's just little bits of advice I feel like a kid who is just learning to read this is the kind of thing where…these are good messages to learn. And, these illustrations are fantastic. I love this one as a gift gor any adult or kid," said Erdrich. All three titles can be found in Birchbark Books.
Fuentes recommends the graphic novel, "Mexikid,: by Pedro Martin, the middle-grade verse novel, "Dear Mothman,: by Robin Gow and the series "pages & Co: The Book wanderers," by Anna James.
"It is so fulfilling…emotionally and spiritually to let yourself go into another world fully," said Erdrich.
