My Top Five Books of 2022

This year’s top five are about the experiences of different communities, the value of understanding American history, and an amazing submarine rescue. Most were written in the last five years, and all of them have stayed with me.

True Biz, by Sara Novi? (2022), revolves around a fictional school for deaf children. The challenges of marriage, of elderly parents, and of teens stepping out on their own are typical, mis-steps and all. But the book also brings to life the debate about sign language versus lip-reading, and the intra-family struggles of deaf and hearing family members. When a new baby comes into the world, these issues are crystallized in the different hopes and expectations of different family members.

American Dirt (2020), by Jeanine Cummins, is a novel about a Mexican mother and son who flee cartel violence and make their way to the United States. We see them riding on top of trains, and crossing through the Southwestern desert led by coyotes. We feel the urgency, the confusion, and the dangers, and marvel at the family's resilience. The book has drawn strong criticism (described in this vulture.com article) and I initially avoided it. But for me, the core of the story, especially the fear at every turn, humanized a story that continues to play out on the nightly news.

In How the Word is Passed (2021), Clint Smith takes us with him as he encounters important sites in the history of American slavery – from New York City to Monticello to Galveston Island, where Juneteenth was first celebrated. He shares the stories that the guides share with him; some are quite direct, while others paper over the truth. We experience the widely varied reactions of his fellow visitors, ranging from appreciation to incredulity. And we come to see the importance of being honest about America’s past, even when it is at odds with our declared aspirations. It’s an amazing read by a skilled storyteller.

In Trans Like Me (2017), musician, academic and activist C.N. Lester takes us on a different journey. They offer perspective and clarity on a range of topics including pronouns, LGBTQ+ activism, Caitlyn Jenner, caricatures of trans people in the media, and parenting children exploring their gender identity. We see how the ideas and language of gender pervade our lives, and realize that we’ve got a long way to go to ensure that trans and gender-fluid people feel fully included. It opened my eyes.

Finally, The Terrible Hours, by Peter Maas (1999), describes the disappearance of an American submarine off the New England coast in 1939 and how its thirty-three sailors were ultimately saved. We understand the key players on the sub, feel their wives’ fearful three-day wait on shore, witness the determination and ingenuity of the rescuers, and marvel at the courage and luck that brings about the happy ending – the first successful submarine rescue in naval history. It’s an amazing story.

I’m definitely on a diverse-experiences jag, and I enjoyed a number of other books last year, too. But these had the greatest impact on me. If you want to read just one, I’d encourage you to choose How the Word Is Passed; here’s the review in The New York Times, which named it a Top Ten Book of 2021.

Have you read any of these? What other good books have you read recently? Please add your comments.