California, Here I Come
I’m about to take a trip to California and that put me in mind of books set in California. The state has so many rich stories to tell — of fortune seekers, of immigrants, of starlets, and more. Here are some picks from picture books to YA for your bookshelf.
Picture Books
Redwoods by Jason Chin (2009)
A boy on the subway finds a book about redwood trees. He and the reader are transported to the California redwood forest to learn about and experience the wonder of the trees. Did you know that when a redwood is cut down, new trees can sprout from its trunk? Did you know that the tallest known redwood is taller than the Statue of Liberty? Chin’s informative text and immersive illustrations are a delight.
My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero and Zeke Peña (2019)
Quintero and Peña’s book is set in Quintero’s hometown of Corona, California. Through a joyful motorcycle ride with her father, a girl shows us all she loves about her town — the sights, sounds, and tastes. The narrator recognizes what has changed about the town (stores closing and lemon groves replaced by new buildings) but also what won’t change: her family’s love.
Middle Grade
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (2004)
Moose’s family moves to Alcatraz when his parent gets a job there. He has to look after his sister, who is on the autism spectrum, after she gets sent home from special school. Moose is bored and lonely and soon, along with new friend Piper, begins to be curious about the prisoners.
Book Scavenger series by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (started in 2015)
Emily’s family are wanderers. They arrive in San Francisco just in time for her to participate in a Book Scavenger game. When she and her neighbor uncover a startling discovery about the creator of the game, she digs for the truth. Can they solve the puzzles before their competitors get to the prize?
Front Desk series by Kelly Yang (started in 2018)
Mia and her parents live in the motel near Disneyland. Her parents are the caretakers of the hotel, working for the miserly Mr. Yao. She creates a community with the other regulars at the hotel and learns to stand up for herself and other immigrants.
Stand Up Yumi Chung by Jessica Kim (2020)
Yumi dreams of becoming a comedienne. She lies to attend a comedy camp while her parents think she’s studying for a private school entrance exam. A funny and moving story.
Young Adult
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (2017)
Dimple is thrilled to be attending a summer program for aspiring web developers. Rishi is going to attend the same program. He knows something Dimple doesn’t: Their parents have arranged a marriage between the two of them. Can Rishi woo Dimple before she finds out it’s more than a meet-cute?
The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding (2018)
Abby gets a summer internship at a chic boutique that could turn into a perfect job. But her fellow intern Jordi is competing for the same job. Things get even more complicated when Abby starts to fall for Jordi. In an enjoyable counterpoint to the romance plot, Abby and her friend Jax set a goal to find the perfect L.A. burger.