Unwind (and gain knowledge) this summer with these Michigan-connected books. By Alexander Harring and Amanda Sinishtaj

Abbott Detroit native and University of Michigan alum Saladin Ahmed’s latest comic book, Abbott, follows journalist Elena Abbott as she finds supernatural forces being controlled by a secret society of the city’s elite while investigating police brutality and corruption in 1970s Detroit. In addition to comics, Ahmed has made a name for himself as a novel and short story writer. This book comes after a Hugo Award nomination and Locus Award for Best First Novel for Ahmed’s 2012 book Throne of the Crescent Moon.
Across the Great Lake One woman’s past comes to the surface in this fiction novel set on Lake Michigan. Across the Great Lake, an Independent Publisher Book Award for Literary Fiction winner and 2019 Michigan Notable Book, is Fern Halvorson’s retelling of a childhood journey across the lake and the secret about life and death she has kept since.
Beautiful Music Garnering a litany of regional awards from the likes of Voice, McLean & Eakin, and the 2018 Great Lakes Great Reads program, Michael Zadoorian’s senior novel Beautiful Music tells of one young Detroiter’s transformation through music during a time of political turmoil. Laden with details of the city, the novel is uniquely Detroit. (Some of the bands the protagonist, Danny, listens to are local legends MC5 and Iggy Pop.) Readers may also know Zadoorian from his novel The Leisure Seeker, which was turned into Sony Pictures Classics film starring Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland.
Betty Ford: First Lady, Women’s Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer From Lisa McCubbin, the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Five Presidents and The Kennedy Detail, comes the story of Betty Ford, the former first lady to Michigan native Gerald Ford. Journalist McCubbin details Betty’s groundbreaking work to publicly champion causes related to equal rights, breast cancer, depression, abortion, and sexuality. The book is an intimate and revealing biography that charts one Midwestern girl’s rise to the national stage — and how she refused to be told how to act and what to do by men once there.
Building the Modern World: Albert Kahn in Detroit Detroit News fine arts reporter Michael H. Hodges recounts the story of Albert Kahn, a German-Jewish immigrant who rose from poverty to become one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. From Wayne State University Press, the book highlights Kahn’s contributions to the cityscape and his growth from an apprenticeship at age 13 to death, with special emphasis on his relationship with Henry Ford, his work to save the Diego Rivera murals at the Detroit Institute of Arts (previously unknown until now), and his work as a consultant for the Soviet Union. Drawing on artifacts from the University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library and the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution, Hodges tells the story of Kahn’s ascent from poverty and lasting city influence in a way never seen before.
Elemental: A Collection of Michigan Creative Nonfiction From Wayne State University Press comes this collection of creative nonfiction from Michigan authors. Edited by professor Anne-Marie Oomen, the essays examine the state on an atomic level, looking at the effects of weather patterns in a state known for its diverse landscapes and stunning natural fixtures. With more than a dozen contributors who each share their unique perspectives on Michigan, the collection is presented in hopes of using the past to build a better future — something we can all get behind.
The Faygo Book As the name suggests, The Faygo Book tells the story of Detroit’s beloved pop — yes, “pop,” not “soda” — brand. The author, Michigan State University journalism professor Joe Grimm, has become an expert in Detroit food over the years, also authoring the 2012 book Coney Detroit. Published by Wayne State University Press, The Faygo Book tells the story of Ben and Perry Feigenson, Russian immigrants who created what would become a more-than-100-year-old brand. Through innovation, adaption, and a fiercely loyal fan base (we see you, Juggalos!), Faygo has become the last man standing in what used to be called “pop alley.” Grimm explains why and how the brand has become such a beloved symbol of the city. Whoop-whoop!
Notes From a Public Typewriter In 2013, Michael Gustafson, owner of Ann Arbor’s Literati Bookstore, left a typewriter on a table for anyone to use. This experiment yielded a litany of musings, which Gustafson and award-winning visual journalist Oliver Uberti edited into a printed collection. An ode to its community that offers a peek into the lives of everyday Ann Arborites, Notes From a Public Typewriter tells stories that are hilarious, insightful, and sometimes even heartbreaking — but always worth reading.
Detroit: An Illustrated Timeline Walk through three centuries of Detroit history with author Paul Vachon in this aesthetically pleasing illustrated timeline. From the First French missionaries to the Battle of Bloody Run to the Riot of 1943 to the Super Bowl XL at Ford Field, the book has the breadth and depth to leave Detroiters more aware of their city’s history than before.
I Got To Keep Moving Celebrated Detroit author Bill Harris cleverly intertwined 25 short stories into his new collection. The book follows a group of African-Americans in the southern United States before and after the Civil War, plotting their trek from a plantation in Alabama to the Midwest. Although fiction, Harris expertly drives the work in historical events, making it appealing to fiction and nonfiction lovers alike. Harris creates a double-edged sword, painting a true image of slavery in the South, while simultaneously creating a cast of strong characters.
Federalism and Social Policy From the University of Michigan Press comes an examination of strong and egalitarian welfare states’ compatibility with federalism. U-M political scientist Scott L. Greer and graduate student Heather Elliott, with the help of well-versed contributors, present a strong base of knowledge on the topic through examining other countries with welfare states and the effects of decentralization. Through the lens of finance and policy, the pair argues how federalism shapes regional politics and policy, with or without decentralization.
The Life of the Lakes, 4th Ed.: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery In addition to providing revenue through the commercial fishing industry, the Great Lakes fishery is also a backbone for tourism in eight different states and two countries, attracting millions to the five lakes each year. The newest edition of The Life of the Lakes emphasizes the complexity of the fisheries in the Great Lakes, which are one of the region’s most precious natural resources though often taken for granted. Published in collaboration with Michigan Sea Grant, a cooperative program of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, the book details the history of the lakes, current issues, and what the murky future of Michigan’s beloved waters. Printed in full color and chock-full of graphics and illustrations, the new edition offers an engaging view into the five Great Lakes.
The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother’s Life in the Detroit Numbers This memoir tells the story of one mother-daughter pair and their life in the Detroit numbers rackets. The mother, a numbers runner named Fannie, is the center of the work, written by her actual daughter, the novelist and professor Bridgett M. Davis, making the piece a beautiful homage to a mother who gave all she could to others. The novel follows Fannie, the granddaughter of slaves, as she guides her two husbands, five children, and a grandson through the city’s decline with her love, courage, and unwavering spirit.
A History Lover’s Guide to Detroit Sure, Detroit is known to the world as the Motor City. However, often times people forget the other important parts of Detroit’s identity. A History Lover’s Guide to Detroit walks readers through many diverse moments in the city’s history. From the tiny recording studio where Berry Gordy created a groundbreaking empire to a tour of Art Deco masterpieces to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s walk to Cobo Hall (where he first delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech) and more, author Karin Risko reminds readers both near and far of Detroit’s storied history.
The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities Wayne Kramer, the legendary guitarist and cofounder of quintessential Detroit proto-punk legends the MC5, tells his story like it’s never been heard before in his first memoir, The Hard Stuff. Though he and his band skyrocketed to success, along the way Kramer struggled with fame, prison, and addiction. A stunningly honest story, Kramer shows peace and love can be born out of times of turbulence and unrest.
Detroit’s Streetcar Heritage Before there was the QLine, Detroit had a network of streetcars, and there is perhaps no one better to detail this history than Kenneth Springirth, who comes from a lineage of streetcar operators. Springirth imparts knowledge of an interesting and often overlooked part of Detroit’s transit history through photos and captions. Concise write-ups also give readers additional context, helping to form a complete picture of the history of streetcars in Detroit.
The Perp Walk “The Perp Walk” is a practice in law enforcement that pertains to taking an arrested suspect through a public place. For Jim Ray Daniels, “The Perp Walk” refers to the guilt and shame for the mistakes we have made and take into adult life. “While I use Detroit as a touchstone in many of these stories, as I have in other books, I’m also trying to experiment with the whole concept of fiction — what is true, what isn’t, how we all construct our own versions of events,” Daniels says.
Out John Smolens’ most recent novel has been selected as a Library of Michigan Notable Book. In 2010, Smolens was the recipient of the Michigan Author of the Year Award from the Michigan Library Association. His U.P.-based book, Out, set deep in the woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is the sequel to his internationally acclaimed novel Cold, where once again nature and human nature collide.
Undocumented: Great Lakes Poets Laureate on Social Justice Edited by Ronald Riekki, and Andrea Scarpino, this collection showcases regional poets laureate writing on social justice topics as it relates to the Great Lakes region. Rita Dove, Marvin Bell, Crystal Valentine, Kimberly Blaeser, Mary Weems, Karen Kovacik, Wendy Vardaman, and Zora Howard are just a few of the writers featured.
The Heart of the Lakes: Freshwater in the Past, Present and Future of Southeast Michigan Dave Dempsey, 2009 Michigan Author of the Year, writes about the forty-three trillion gallons of water that flow through the Great Lakes annually. Dempsey discusses how the freshwater at the heart of the lakes has been neglected and abused, and so today, southeast Michigan has an opportunity to learn from that history and put freshwater at the center of a sustainable future.
Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good This best-seller by American author, women’s rights activist, feminist, and Detroiter Adrienne Maree Brown answers the question of how to make social justice feel good, what she calls “pleasure activism” — a politics of healing and happiness that dismantles the myth that changing the world is just another form of work. Sounds like music to our ears.

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