Of all the dreams in the world, becoming a librarian or bookseller is one of the most common. But what is it about these professions that maintains a hold over communities and the imaginations of individual readers? In The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians, coauthors James Patterson and Matt Eversmann take booklovers into the minds of the people across the United States who give their lives to books--not by writing or producing them, but by putting books into readers' hands (though Judy Blume gives a fascinating look at her transition from beloved author to bookseller).
These librarians and booksellers recount what made them choose their careers, as well as the myriad challenges they face, including book bans, store closings, and the preservation of community lifelines in the face of natural disasters and global pandemics. They provide readers with glimpses into their communities and their schools, and even into places readers might not realize these professionals can be found, such as the jails on Rikers Island in New York City.
They detail why doing the work to connect communities with books that reflect their lives matters beyond the individual reader. Everywhere they are, these librarians and booksellers connect with readers who find themselves in books, for whom the right book might make all the difference. The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians proves that it is not only the spaces of libraries and bookstores that are important but also the people who fill them with the intention of building bigger, wider, and more connected communities. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer