Books to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

by Jenna Chapman
November is a month usually filled with friends and family, especially around Thanksgiving. The time can be joyful for some or bring up some complicated feelings for others. Either way, escaping into a good book this fall is a great way to mark the season. Here is a list of books with family or relationship themes to celebrate Thanksgiving.

We are Grateful

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci SorrellStarting off the list with one for the kids! This picture book is written by a member of the Cherokee Nation and teaches otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah), which is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. It’s a great reminder for the whole family this season.

American Royals by Katharine McGee

American Royals

This is a two-book series that imagines what America would look like if George Washington became a king instead of a president. It’s a Young Adult novel set in the present day as the main character, Princess Beatrice, is set to become the first queen of America. The series examines family relationships, national loyalty, and the battle between following your heart and following your duty. It is one of my favorite books this year.

There There

There There by Tommy Orange
There There is a novel that follows 12 Urban Indians in California as they travel to the Big Oakland Powwow, all connected to one another in ways they may not yet realize. If you like stories that follow many different characters, this one’s for you. There is tradition, loss and gallantry. Tommy Orange won many awards for the book when it was released in 2018.

Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime

This book is written by comedian Trevor Noah, who was quite literally born a crime, as a mixed-race person in South Africa during apartied. This book analyzes family and relationships, all while in a funny voice. If you’re looking for a memoir that is part funny, part serious, this is a book for you. It made me think deeply and also laugh out loud.

Educated

Educated by Tara Westover
Tara Westover has written one of the most captivating memoirs I’ve ever read. This book features very complicated family relationships as the author describes growing up extremely isolated in Utah with her Mormon family who lives very “off the grid.” The children do not go to school or even have birth certificates. As Westover gets older, she eventually transitions out that lifestyle and follows education all the way to Harvard and Cambridge University.

Strangers at the Feast by Jennifer Vanderbes

Strangers at the Feast

This book portrays dysfunction in a suburban setting. Taking place during the Thanksgiving holiday, this tale focuses on The Olson family, of which Elanor and Gavin worry about their two adult children who are each facing personal troubles. Meanwhile, a duo from a nearby housing project are trying to complete their own secretive task. The characters must face secrets and privilege, and the story wraps up with an eventual climax that will change all their lives.

Jenna Chapman

Jenna Chapman is a Stockbridge High School graduate who loves curling up with a book or listening to an audiobook on evening walks around her neighborhood in Chicago. You can find more reading suggestions on the book blog she and her partner have on instagram.com/neverdogear.