We caught up with Long Beach booksellers (and social activists!) Christopher Giaco of Page Against the Machine and Jhoanna Belfer of Bel Canto Books to help you fill in the inevitable gaps on your holiday shopping lists. If you're local, be sure to visit their amazing shelves yourself.
Jhoanna’s Picks
Check out her full 2021 gift guide here!
For moms:
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr — for those who loved All The Light We Cannot See; an epic novel about the power of literature and friendship
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett — a heartfelt new book of essays
For teens:
The Jasmine Project by Meredith Ireland — a funny and sweet rom-com about a young, mixed-race Asian-American woman and her family's attempts to help with her love life
Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood by Brittney Cooper, Susana Morris and Chanel Craft Tanner — a smart, funny and touching guide to help teens stand up for themselves and fight the patriarchy
For little ones:
Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History by Schele Williams and Tonya Engel — a beautifully illustrated and empowering book about Black history and the gifts of our ancestors
When Lola Visits by Michelle Avery — a gorgeous reflection on the love between a little girl and her grandmother, full of evocative sights, smells and sounds
Chris’ Picks
More gifts here for PATM supporters!
For artful activists:
Celebrate People's History: The Poster Book of Resistance and Revolution edited by Josh MacPhee — offers a graphic representation of often-overlooked events and figures in worldwide social justice movements
For socially conscious sports fans:
The Kaepernick Effect: Taking a Knee, Changing the World by Dave Zirin — about the politics of sport and the impacts of sports on politics
For budding activists:
A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara — introduces the concepts of justice, respect, diversity, and all the various rights for which activists fight
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade — inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America to safeguard Earth's water supply
How To Be a Feminist (For Little Girls & Boys) by Maxine Russell — written for kids ages four to ten, its message resonates well beyond
For California history buffs
Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties by Mike Davis and Jon Wiener — a history of Los Angeles’s civil rights, Black Power, Chicano, anti-war, and women's and gay rights movements in the 1960s