Utah Public Radio released a community book list for summer 2026 on Aug. 5, highlighting various literary recommendations amidst ongoing discussions regarding reading access in the state. The release comes years after Utah authors issued a collective condemnation of efforts to suppress books in schools and libraries, specifically targeting literature featuring LGBTQ and people of color.
Summer 2026 Reading Recommendations
The summer 2026 community book list, featured on the program Access Utah, included diverse titles ranging from classics to contemporary works. The list was compiled through community recommendations and discussions with avid readers and local booksellers.
Among the recommendations shared by bookseller Anne Holman from The King's English Bookshop were "Whistler" by Anne Patchett, "Man Overboard" by Kathleen Rooney, and "Miss Wolcott's Ghost" by Louise Penny. Other titles suggested by Holman included "The Brothers McKay" by Craig Johnson, "The Girls Trip" by Ally Condie, and "250 Great American Things" edited by County Highway.
Other contributors provided a variety of reading suggestions. Spencer Wilkinson recommended "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck, "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler, and "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley. Reader Elaine Thatcher suggested "Lord Byron's Novel: The Evening Land" by John Crowley and "Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr" by John Crowley, alongside "The Most Reluctant Convert: C.S. Lewis's Journey to Faith" by David Downing and "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. Tom Williams contributed "Persuasion" by Jane Austen and "The Impending Crisis: America Before the Civil War: 1848-1861" by David Potter.
Authors Condemn Book Suppression
The promotion of diverse reading lists follows a significant period of advocacy by the Utah literary community. On Oct. 24, 2024, author Shannon Hale published an open letter condemning efforts to suppress, demonize, and ban books from Utah schools and libraries.
In that 2024 letter, Hale and a group of Utah authors and illustrators argued that attempts to ban books overwhelmingly target stories about LGBTQ people, as well as Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The group noted that while the children's book community has made strides in publishing books that reflect the actual population over the last decade, these efforts are being met with resistance.
Hale stated that while parents have the right to decide what their own children read, no parent or community member should have that right over all children. The letter emphasized that access to books and information is foundational to a healthy democracy and a compassionate society.
The Impact of Representation
The push to protect diverse stories was framed as a matter of child welfare and community empathy. In the 2024 open letter, Hale argued that reading books about people different from themselves helps children learn to see others as fully human, which prevents hatred, cruelty, bullying, and bigotry.
Hale specifically addressed the psychological impact of book bans on minority children, stating that attempts to remove books about underrepresented kids send a message that their stories do not matter. The letter noted that in Utah, suicide remains the leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 24, and authors expressed a need to show vulnerable youth that they are valued and loved.
The group of authors, which included names such as Ally Condie, Brandon Sanderson, and several others, called on Utah school districts, library boards, and local governments to reject divisive attempts to limit the stories available to children. They urged leaders to uphold values of freedom and equality.
Celebrating Literacy in Utah
The current community book list serves as a celebration of reading in an era where some studies suggest literacy habits are changing. As noted in a recent article from The Atlantic titled "The End of Reading," Americans are reading significantly less than in previous generations.
By compiling the UPR Community Booklist, the station seeks to engage the public in active reading. The station encourages listeners to participate by emailing their own book recommendations to upraccess@gmail.com.
