44 Amazing Book Recommendations From Our Favorite Indie Bookstores

[King_of_lion]

It's spring break season — and if you're the kind of person who sees a week off as a week to read, then we've got you covered. BuzzFeed Books talked to some of our favorite independent bookstores and asked for their staff recommendations. 1. Palabras Bilingual Bookstore (Phoenix) recommends The Grief Keeper by Alexandra Villasante G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers "The Grief Keeper is a gorgeously written and thought-provoking story about two sisters, Marisol and Gabi, who flee their country to escape death threats. Waiting for asylum that will most likely be denied, Marisol jumps at an opportunity in the form of an experiment in which she carries the grief of another — the sci-fi element of the story, though I wouldn't call the book sci-fi. This book touches on so many important topics and does it so seamlessly — the anti-immigration sentiment so prevalent today, the thoughtless exploitation of brown bodies, the ways in which society negatively effects the psyches of those who do not fit the heterosexual 'norm'. It's not an easy read. It breaks your heart (and could be triggering for some) but the heart of these characters puts you back together again and leaves you with hope. This book is a hidden gem — and it's actually our current Mujerx Book Club book." —owner Rosaura "Chawa" Magaña