41 new books for holiday gifts in 2023, from crime fiction to children's books

Give someone a book this holiday season.

Someone else, or yourself. Preferably both.

Here is a varied selection of 41 new books to choose from, including choices for children and teens. With some exceptions, I picked books published since June, including some new books by Wisconsin authors. In each case, I've either read the book already or browsed it, or been impressed by a previous work from the same author, or had the new book recommended by a trusted source of information.

Thanks to colleague Chris Foran for contributing pop-culture book selections.

These suggestions are listed alphabetically by title, with the children's set arranged in ascending order of recommended reader age.

“Black TV: Five Decades of Groundbreaking Television from ‘Soul Train’ to ‘black-ish’ and Beyond” (Black Dog & Leventhal), by Bethonie Butler. Butler, who writes about TV and pop culture for The Washington Post, charts the last half-century-plus of television shows with predominantly Black casts, putting each show in context and showing how things have changed — and how they haven’t — from Diahann Carroll’s days on “Julia” to Quinta Brunson’s next-level hit sitcom “Abbott Elementary.”

"Blood in the Tracks: The Minnesota Musicians Behind Dylan's Masterpiece" (University of Minnesota Press), by Paul Metsa and Rick Shefchik. Prior to the album's release, Bob Dylan re-recorded five of the songs on his landmark "Blood on the Tracks" album with Minnesota musicians, who went publicly uncredited for a long time. Metsa and Shefchik dig into the musical history here, including snobbish condescension at the time of the album's release from coastal critics.

“But Will You Love Me Tomorrow? An Oral History of the ‘60s Girl Groups” (Hachette), by Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz. The singers tell it for themselves in this brisk accounting of the girl-group movement in pop music, from the Chordettes (Sheboygan’s own) to the Ronettes and back again — not just their music, but their lives and their battles with an industry constantly taking advantage of them.

"The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight" (Penguin Press), by Andrew Leland. As he slowly loses his sight from retinitis pigmentosa, Leland explores many aspects of blindness and its culture, often with irreverence.

"Crusade to Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker" (Mayo Clinic Press), by Judith L. Pearson. A biography of Watertown native Lasker, a philanthropist and public health advocate who used her wealth and political clout to aggressively promote research into fighting cancer.

"Curepedia: An A-Z of The Cure" (Dey Street), by Simon Price. Everything you'd want to know about the band behind "Friday, I'm in Love," "Lovesong," "Just Like Heaven" and many other memorable songs.

“Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous With American History” (Liveright), by Yunte Huang. The third book in Huang’s trilogy exploring the Asian American experience in the making of America (the others are about Charlie Chan and conjoined twins Chang and Eng) retraces the life of actor Anna May Wong, who benefited and was hamstrung by the culture’s complicated fixation on Asian exotica.

"Dayswork" (Norton), by Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel. In this unusual novel by married writers, an academic couple is stranded at home with their children during the pandemic. One of them fully indulges her scholarly obsession with Herman Melville, sometimes adding to the stress of her partner.

"The Dictionary People: The Unsung Heroes Who Created the Oxford English Dictionary" (Knopf), by Sarah Ogilvie. Lexicographer Ogilvie profiles many of the lonelyhearts and eccentrics, even a few murderers, who contributed their volunteer labor to the making of the magnificent OED.

"The Effects of Urban Renewal on Mid-Century America and Other Crime Stories" (Cornerstone Press), by Jeff Esterholm. No-nonsense crime stories in chiseled prose set in the Duluth-Superior area from the 1940s onward. If you like the darker side of Lawrence Block's fiction, you will enjoy this collection from Esterholm, who lives in Superior.

"Einstein in Time and Space: A Life in 99 Particles" (Scribner), by Samuel Graydon. A non-chronological, vignette-driven approach to the life and thought of the great physicist.

"Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient World" (Liveright), by Mary Beard. No matter how often you think about the Roman empire, you may enjoy English historian Beard's look at how the emperors took office, lived, ruled and died.

"First to the Front: The Untold Story of Dickey Chapelle, Trailblazing Female War Correspondent" (St. Martin's), by Lorissa Rinehart. With her camera and her words, Shorewood native Dickey Chapelle reported on World War II, the Cold War, the Algerian and Cuban conflicts and the Vietnam War. Rinehart's biography recounts the life of a pioneer who specialized in documenting guerrilla warfare.

"From Dust to Stardust" (Lake Union), by Kathleen Rooney. The author of “Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk” and “Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey” turns to early Hollywood in a new novel inspired partly by the life of silent film star Colleen Moore.

"The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" (Riverhead), by James McBride. In McBride's flowing novel, a kind but tough Jewish woman with a disability bonds with the local Black community in the '20s and '30s to protect a boy from being institutitionalized. McBride's storytelling has a wit and humor that may remind some readers of the best of Bernard Malamud.

"Hockney: A Graphic Life" (Frances Lincoln), by Simon Elliott. A graphic-novel-style illustrated biography of the contemporary artist, with the artwork created on an iPad in homage to Hockney's own iPad paintings.

"Holy Food: How Cults, Communes, and Religious Movements Influenced What We Eat" (Process Media), by Christina Ward. Milwaukee food writer Ward explores many points of intersection between religion and American eating behavior, digging deep into the cultural and intellectual histories of the groups she profiles, from the Shakers to Jim Jones and Peoples Temple. Her book includes more than 75 recipes.

"Lou Reed: The King of New York" (FSG), by Will Hermes. A strong biography of the prickly rock star and influential songwriter ("Walk on the Wild Side," "Sweet Jane," "Heroin") that emphasizes Reed in the context of his hometown.

"Mammoths at the Gates" (Tordotcom), by Nghi Vo. An exceptional fantasy novella with folkloric Asian elements by a Milwaukee writer, about a traveling cleric who returns home to their abbey to face the loss of a mentor and confrontation with invaders.

"Number Go Up: Inside Crypto's Wild Rise and Staggering Fall" (Crown Currency), by Zeke Faux. An investigative reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg News, Faux writes about the cryptocurrency bubble and crash with humor and skepticism and without worshipping odious crypto bros.

"Octavia E. Butler: The Last Interview and Other Conversations" (Melville House). Ten interviews, several previously unpublished, with the visionary science-fiction writer and MacArthur Fellowship "genius" award winner.

“Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars” (Abrams), by Kliph Nesteroff. Nesteroff, who proved he’s a premier historian of American comedy in “The Comedians” and “We Had a Little Real Estate Problem,” hunts bigger game in this book — cataloguing the battle over entertainment content, from backlashes against racial and ethnic stereotyping from the 1830s to today’s weaponized, heavily bankrolled fights against “political correctness.”

"The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History" (Yale University Press), by Ned Blackhawk. A reconsideration of the continental American story of the past 400-plus years that puts Indigenous people at the center.

"The Reformatory" (Saga Press), by Tananarive Due. A thrilling historical ghost story by the queen of contemporary Black horror: A 12-year-old boy remanded to a notoriously sadistic institution in segregated Florida can communicate with the spirits of children murdered there.

"Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere" (Gallery Books), by Maria Bamford. In this funny and frequently harrowing memoir, the adventurous comedian Bamford riffs on her search for mental health, which is complicated by her instinct to question and resist nearly any group she joins.

“Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of ‘Airplane!’” (St. Martin's), by David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker. The Shorewood trio who wrote and directed the 1980 comedy classic tell the story of how it was made in a way that's nearly as fun as the movie. The oral-history-style narrative also spends significant time on the trio’s Wisconsin origin story, including their work with fellow groundbreaking Milwaukee comedy maven Dick Chudnow.

"Tandem" (Tortoise), by Andy Mozina. In this dark yet humorous novel from a writer who grew up in Brookfield, a struggling professor kills two cyclists in a drunken hit-and-run, then forms a surprising relationship with the mother of one of the victims. Mozina will speak at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Boswell Books, 2559 N. Downer Ave. Register at andymozinamke.eventbrite.com.

"Temple Folk" (Simon & Schuster), by Aaliyah Bilal. This acclaimed debut story collection reflects and examines the lives of people who are connected with the Nation of Islam in the 1970s.

“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" (Auwa Books), by Sly Stone with Ben Greenman. Stone, one of the least likely survivors of the music scene of the 1960s and early ’70s, tells the story of his music, career and up-and-down life in an engaging memoir that includes his side of the amazing experiences of his life, including the mayhem behind the shambles of his band’s appearance at Summerfest in 1970.

"Tom Lake" (Harper), by Ann Patchett. A farm mom shares stories from her brief, amazing acting career with her grown daughters during the pandemic in this subtle, gentle novel. Tip: The audiobook of this novel is narrated by Meryl Streep! Patchett will speak at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Oriental Theatre, 2230 N. Farwell Ave. Tickets are $40; they include an autographed copy of the novel. Visit mkefilm.org.

"Twilight Falls" (Vintage Anchor), by Juneau Black. A new novel in a cozy mystery series by a pair of former Milwaukee booksellers that I've previously described as "'Murder She Wrote,' with animals." Foxy reporter Vera Vixen won't settle for the seemingly obvious solution to a mysterious death, putting her in conflict with her bearish boyfriend and much of the community.

"While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence" (Celadon), by Meg Kissinger. Former Journal Sentinel reporter Kissinger writes with empathy and humor about her boisterous, quick-witted suburban Chicago family: two of her seven siblings died by suicide, and a third has lived with persistent mental illness.

“Why We Love Baseball: A History in 50 Moments” (Dutton), by Joe Posnanski. OK, so it’s more like 108 moments, but Posnanski (“The Baseball 100”) shares in barstool-banter style the little things (real and fictional) and the big moments that show why baseball still matters to the people it matters to. So it’s got not only Hank Aaron’s 715th home run and Jackie Robinson’s first game, but also Jake Taylor’s bottom-of-the-9th trick bunt play from “Major League,” filmed in Milwaukee County Stadium.

Books for children and teens

"Can We Please Give the Police Department to the Grandmothers?" (Dutton), by Junauda Petrus, illustrated by Kristen Uroda. This picture book imagines a world where grandmas solve community problems in suitably grandmotherly ways. For ages 4 to 8 years old.

"Eclipse" (Scholastic), written and illustrated by Andy Rash. A child narrator and parent prepare safely for and watch an eclipse. Milwaukee artist Rash's cartoon style adds to the book's fun and sense of excitement. For ages 4 to 8 years old.

"When You Can Swim" (Orchard), written and illustrated by Jack Wong. Each helped by an adult, children of varying ages, sizes and colors experience the joy of swimming and hear about the future water adventures they can enjoy. For ages 4 to 8 years old.

"Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods" (Little, Brown), by Grace Lin. Everything you and your tween might want to know about the wide world of Chinese and Chinese-American cuisine. For ages 8 to 12 years old.

"Death's Door: True Tales of Tragedy, Mystery, and Bravery from the Great Lakes' Most Dangerous Waters" (Wisconsin Historical Society Press), by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Renée Graef. Joosse and Graef retell stories of the treacherous waters between the tip of Door County and the Potawatomi Islands. For ages 8 to 11 years old.

"Houses with a Story: A Dragon’s Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore" (Amulet), by Seiji Yoshida, translated by Jan Mitsuko Cash. Yoshida creates both street views and cross-sections of these unusual residences, some of them connected to Japanese and Western lore. For ages 12 and older.

"Run and Hide: How Jewish Youth Escaped the Holocaust" (Clarion Books), written and illustrated by Don Brown. A graphic-novel-style nonfiction account of multiple different escapes from the Nazi death machine during World War II. For ages 13 to 17 years old.

"The King Is Dead" (Little, Brown), by Benjamin Dean. In this debut novel, a gay but closeted teen becomes the first Black king of England after his white father dies. He must quickly navigate both political and romantic crises. For ages 14 years and older.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 41 new books for holiday gifts in 2023