Past Programs
Read Brave Saint Paul is a citywide, intergenerational reading program set around a common theme relevant to the city.
2025
Title: Akata Witch by by Nnedi Okorafor
Explore what it means to claim your power and imagine the future we want for our communities through the lens of Africanfuturism, a genre that centers African culture, history, and mythology.
2024
Theme: Celebrating Identities
Title: Man O' War by Cory McCarthy
A Stonewall Honor Book, Man o' War is a candid and emotional coming-of-age story that follows the journey of an Irish Lebanese American trans teen navigating the challenges and joys of self-discovery and love amid the confines of a small, midwestern town. Educators and parents should know that this book is best for older teens through adults.
2023
Theme: Mental Health
Main Title: Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Additional Titles: My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem (adults); Living with Viola by Rosena Fung (kids); My Footprints by Bao Phi (young kids); The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (picture book)
2022
Theme: Community Care
Main Title: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Mguyen
Additional Titles: What We Hunger For: Refugee and Immigrant Stories About Food and Family (adult nonfiction); Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing (kids); Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian (young kids); Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora (picture book)
2021
Theme: Owning Our Stories
Main Title: The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
Additional Titles: Children of the Land: A Memoir by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo (adult nonfiction); Front Desk by Kelly Yang (kids); Astrid and Apollo and the Starry Campout by V.T. Bidania (young kids); We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom (picture book)
2020
Theme: Our Climate Crisis
Main Title: The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Nonfiction Title: Climate Justice by Mary Robinson
Theme: HousingRead Brave 2013 - 2018
Before expanding to Read Brave Saint Paul in 2018, Read Brave was Saint Paul Public Library’s annual program encouraging youth and adults to read and come together around a young adult novel.
Browse Read Brave titles from 2013 - 2018.
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018