Library of Michigan Announces 2025 Michigan Notable Books

Detroit Lions, Gov. Whitmer, Black Power, Sailing, and
Fishing Are Among Subject Matters

LANSING – Twenty titles that reflect the rich stories and culture of the state are part of the 2025 Notable Book list, the Library of Michigan announced.

The celebrated books encompass the entire Great Lakes basin, from the stormy seas of Lake Superior to the rural communities of small-town Michigan, the vibrant communities of Metro Detroit, and Detroit and its Lions.

Each year, the Michigan Notable Books list features 20 books published during the previous calendar year that are about the Great Lakes, set in Michigan or the Great Lakes, or written by a Michigan author. Selections include a variety of genres, both fiction and nonfiction, that appeal to many audiences and explore topics and issues close to the hearts of Michigan residents. This latest list continues that tradition by celebrating the creativity of Michigan artists across diverse mediums, examining the struggle for self-identity and acceptance, exploring our renewed hope in our gridiron heroes; and more.

“Our state continues to be an inspiration for generations of writers,” said State Librarian Mr. Randy Riley. “Michigan’s beautiful landscape and diverse population offer endless opportunities for creative expression. Each Michigan Notable Books selection is a gateway to the voices and experiences of what it means to be a Michigander. Everyone will find something that broadens their understanding of our great state.”

Michigan Notable Books began as part of the 1991 Michigan Week celebration, designed to pay tribute and draw attention to the many people, places, and things that identify Michigan life as unique and vibrant.

“Michigan is a wonderfully diverse state,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “Our libraries—including the Library of Michigan and Michigan Notable books—give residents of all ages the opportunity to see themselves in what they read and learn more about others.”

The books and authors will be honored at the annual Night for Notables reception on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Library of Michigan, with past Michigan Notable Books honoree Curtis Chin giving the keynote speech.

Participating authors will travel to libraries across the state on the Michigan Notable Books authors tour to share their experiences and engage with local communities. Many also engage in the Authors Conversations video series, in which viewers can explore the backgrounds of the authors, uncover their creative processes, and hear readings from book selections.

This year’s selection committee includes representatives from the Library of Michigan, Michigan Department of Education, Lansing City Pulse, Michigan Humanities, Clinton-Macomb Public Library, Charlotte Community Library, Monroe County Community College, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, Detroit Public Library, and East Lansing Public Library.

Michigan Notable Books is sponsored in part by the Library of Michigan Foundation and Michigan Humanities.

For more information or questions about the Michigan Notable Books program, contact the Library of Michigan at 517-335-1477, visit www.Michigan.gov/NotableBooks, or email Michigan-Notable-Books@michigan.gov.

 

2025 Michigan Notable Books

“Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.: Citizen Printer,” by Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. – Letterform Archive Books

Detroit-based letterpress printer Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. is celebrated for his type-driven messages of social justice and Black power, emblazoned in rhythmically layered and boldly inked posters made for the masses. “Citizen Printer” features 800 reproductions representing the breadth of Kennedy’s posters and prints. It highlights Kennedy’s inspiring story and contextualizes his important work―and offers readers tools for lifting their voices, too.

“The Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America” by Aaron Robertson – Farrar, Straus and Giroux

How do the disillusioned, the forgotten, and the persecuted not merely hold on to life but expand its possibilities and preserve its beauty? What, in other words, does utopia look like in black? These questions animate Aaron Robertson’s exploration of Black Americans' efforts to remake the conditions of their lives. Robertson reflects on a diverse array of Black utopian visions, from the Reconstruction era through the countercultural fervor of the 1960s and 1970s and into the present day. By doing so, Robertson showcases the enduring quest of collectives and individuals for a world beyond the constraints of systemic racism.

“A Cast Away in Montana” by Tim Schulz – Lyons Press

Upper Peninsula native and passionate angler Tim Schulz uses his first fishing trip to Montana to embark on a profoundly personal exploration of life, loss, and self-discovery. Through humorous, insightful, and reflective storytelling, this compelling narrative resonates with fly-fishing enthusiasts and those seeking a meaningful connection to nature as it weaves together engaging tales of adventure, friendship, regional history, and reflection.

“Funny Story: A Novel” by Emily Henry – Berkley

Daphne's life takes an unexpected turn after her fiancé, Peter, falls in love with his childhood friend Petra, leaving her heartbroken. Stranded in Waning Bay, Mich., with a new job as a children’s librarian and no close friends, she agrees to share an apartment with Petra’s ex, Miles, until she figures things out. As they bond over their mutual heartache, they concoct a plan to fake a perfect summer together, but the lines between pretend and real emotions start to blur, leaving Daphne questioning if she’s falling for the last person she ever expected.

“Good Dress” by Brittany Rogers – Tin House Books

“Good Dress” documents the extravagant beauty and audacity of Black Detroit, Black womanhood, community, class, luxury, materialism, and matrilineage. A nontraditional coming of age, this collection witnesses a speaker coming into her own autonomy and selfhood as a young adult, reflecting on formative experiences. With care and incandescent energy, the poems engage with memory, time, interiority, and community. They also nudge tenderly toward curiosity: What does it mean to belong to a person, to a city? Can intimacy and romance be found outside the heteronormative confines of partnership? In what ways can the pursuit of pleasure be an anchor that returns us to ourselves?

“I Cheerfully Refuse: A Novel” by Leif Enger – Grove Press

Set in a not-too-distant America, “I Cheerfully Refuse” is the tale of a bereaved and pursued musician embarking under sail on a sentient Lake Superior in search of his departed, deeply beloved, bookselling wife. Rainy, an endearing bear of an Orphean narrator, seeks refuge in the harbors, fogs, and remote islands of the inland sea.

“The Lady with the Dark Hair” by Erin Bartels – Revell

Esther's family has always believed they were descended from a great, though scandalously underappreciated, Impressionist-era artist. But when questions arise about her ancestor's greatest work—"The Lady with the Dark Hair,”—her once-solid family history rests on shaky ground as a search for the truth begins.

“The Lions Finally Roar: The Ford Family, the Detroit Lions, and the Road to Redemption in the NFL” by Bill Morris – Pegasus Books

In 1963, William Clay Ford purchased the Detroit Lions for $6 million, marking the start of a tumultuous era of mediocrity for the team. Despite a legacy of legendary players like Bobby Layne, Joe Schmidt, Calvin Johnson, and the iconic Barry Sanders, the Lions struggled with poor management and missed opportunities for decades. However, under the leadership of Bill Ford’s daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp, and key hires like GM Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell, the team has finally found success, a signal of a new chapter in both their history and Detroit’s transformation.

“Listening to Workers: Oral Histories of Metro Detroit Autoworkers in the 1950s” by Daniel J. Clark – University of Illinois Press

Using interviews and archival research, “Listening to Workers” uncovers the personal and often overlooked lives of Detroit-area autoworkers in the 1950s. The book explores the complexities of their experiences, addressing issues like poverty, divorce, workplace dangers, and personal struggles, challenging the notion of the 1950s as a time of widespread prosperity. Offering a humanizing perspective, it presents workers as multidimensional individuals, with rich, personal stories that go beyond traditional labor history.

“The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry” by Anna Rose Johnson – Holiday House

After losing her father at sea, spirited French-Ojibwe orphan Lucy is sent to live with the Martins, a large Anishinaabe family living on a lighthouse in the middle of stormy Lake Superior, where she hopes to find the legendary necklace her father spent his life seeking.

“MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock’s Most Revolutionary Band” by Brad Tolinski, Jaan Uhelszki, and Ben Edmonds – Da Capo

MC5, managed by radical figure John Sinclair, fused activism with art to become a revolutionary force in rock music, promoting causes like racial equality and cannabis legalization. Despite their fame, the band faced severe backlash, including violent threats, arrests, and betrayal by their record company, all while their music climbed the charts. “MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock’s Most Revolutionary Band,” offers a candid and powerful portrait of the band, featuring interviews with band members and influential figures of the era, showcasing their legacy as both uncompromising musicians and cultural pioneers.

“My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music's Black Past, Present, and Future” by Alice Randall – Atria/Black Privilege Publishing

Country music had brought Alice Randall and her activist mother together and even gave Randall a singular distinction in American music history: she is the first Black woman to cowrite a number one country hit, Trisha Yearwood's "XXX's and OOO's.” Randall found inspiration and comfort in the sounds and history of the first family of Black country music: DeFord Bailey, Lil Hardin, Ray Charles, Charley Pride, and Herb Jeffries who, together, made up a community of Black Americans rising through hard times to create simple beauty, true joy, and sometimes profound eccentricity.

“Old Time Hawkey's Recipes from the Cedar Swamp: A Cookbook” by Old Time Hawkey – DK

“Old Time Hawkey's Recipes from the Cedar Swamp” invites readers into the cozy world of comfort, with over 100 recipes inspired by Northern Michigan. The book features a mix of indoor, campfire, and companion recipes, including dishes like Pumpkin Pancakes and Dutch Oven Nachos, all evoking warmth and nostalgia. Through these recipes and stories, Old Time Hawkey, aka Fritz, and his dogs Donnybrook and Kris Draper, brings you on an adventure inspired by three generations of campfires, deer camps, and family gatherings spent in Northern Michigan.

“Sail, Steam, and Diesel: Moving Cargo on the Great Lakes” by Eric Hirsimaki – Michigan State University Press

“Sail, Steam, and Diesel: Moving Cargo on the Great Lakes,” explores the evolution of ships in the Great Lakes region, from early birch-bark canoes to today's massive freighters. The book examines the economic impact of these vessels and their role in America's industrial rise, highlighting both the technological advancements and the human cost involved in the shipping trade. Through stories of industry leaders and sailors, it underscores the significant but often overlooked contribution of Great Lakes shipping to the economy and livelihoods of millions.

“Searching for Van Gogh: A Novel” by Donald Lystra – Omena Hills Press

“Searching for Van Gogh” follows Nate, a young man who abandons his future in science to pursue painting, driven by the grief of his brother’s death. He meets Audrey Brubaker, a fiercely independent woman ostracized by her community, who becomes an unexpected mentor, guiding him through a journey of self-discovery and helping him confront the complexities of life. Together, they embark on a road trip to reclaim his brother’s body from a military cemetery in Northern Michigan, uncovering deep emotional truths, only for Audrey to ultimately seek Nate’s emotional insight in a heartbreaking turn, forcing him to confront his deepest fears and learn the power of empathy and courage.

“True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between” by Gretchen Whitmer – Simon & Schuster

From Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer comes a personal and humorous account of her life and career, full of insights that guided her through a global pandemic, showdowns with high-profile opponents, and even a kidnapping and assassination plot.

“The Waters: A Novel” by Bonnie Jo Campbell – W.W. Norton & Company

In the Great Massasauga Swamp near Whiteheart, Mich., the eccentric herbalist Hermine “Herself” Zook has long been a healer, inspiring both awe and fear in the local community and her three estranged daughters. Her youngest daughter, Rose Thorn, abandons her 11-year-old daughter, Dorothy "Donkey" Zook, who grows up isolated and searching for answers in nature and her math books. As tensions rise in the divided community, family secrets and violent men disrupt Donkey's childhood, with Rose Thorn acting as the only bridge between the two sides.

“We Live Here: Detroit Eviction Defense and the Battle for Housing” by Jeffrey Wilson and Bambi Kramer – Seven Stories Press

“We Live Here” is a graphic novel biography of the members of the local activist group Detroit Eviction Defense combatting—and beating—calls for their eviction. By illustrating the stories of families struggling against evictions, the book gives a voice to those who have remained in Detroit, showing the larger complexities at work in a beleaguered city. These are everyday people fighting back, organizing with others, going into the streets, and winning their homes back. What will Detroit look like in the future?

“What Can the Matter Be?” by Keith Taylor – Wayne State University Press

Keith Taylor's “What Can the Matter Be?” is a collection that explores themes of aging, death, and place, offering reflections on both personal and global scales. Through poems and prose, Taylor showcases his keen observational skills and deep appreciation for nature, while balancing serious themes with moments of humor and joy. The work invites empathy and contemplation, urging readers to reflect on life's fleeting nature and the interconnectedness of all things.

“When Detroit Played the Numbers: Gambling's History and Cultural Impact on the Motor City” by Felicia B. George – Wayne State University Press

Felicia B. George's account examines how numbers gambling, once an illegal activity, became a vital community resource and symbol of solidarity in Detroit's Black neighborhoods during times of racial and economic struggle. The book explores the lives of Detroit’s numbers operators, who, despite facing poverty, racism, and exploitation, provided employment and financial support for their communities. Through vivid storytelling, George links this underground gambling scene to key moments in local history, shedding light on the complex relationship between race, politics, and community resilience in Detroit.

 

                                                                                                                       # # #

The Library of Michigan is an agency within the Michigan Department of Education and is dedicated to providing the people of this state and their government one perpetual institution to collect, preserve, and provide access to the story of the state, and to support libraries in their role as essential community anchors. To learn more, visit www.Michigan.gov/LibraryofMichigan.