TLA’s 2023 Texas Topaz Reading List

We’re beaming with pride over the whopping six Macmillan titles on the Texas Topaz list, which highlights nonfiction that should be on your shelves! Read on to discover a memoir calling for criminal justice reform, a deep-dive into WWI-era plastic surgery, an account of the dinosaur’s final hours, an optimistic look at the world’s future, a hilarious and moving memoir for animal lovers, and a fascinating look at the company behind Dungeons & Dragons.

CORRECTIONS IN INK BY KERI BLAKINGER

“A resonant call for criminal justice reform rings out from investigative journalist Blakinger’s extraordinary debut…Her self-awareness is bracing and her indictment of the prison industrial system raises searing questions around its punitive culture. This is absolutely sensational.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Blakinger’s voice is frank but compassionate, as she lovingly but truthfully owns up to her mistakes. Her deeply researched analysis of the dehumanizing nature of incarceration is trenchant and infused with the passion of her personal experiences. The story moves quickly, populated with characters who are deeply flawed yet often sympathetic. A gorgeously written, page-turning memoir about addiction, prison, and privilege.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

THE FACEMAKER: A VISIONARY SURGEON’S BATTLE TO MEND THE DISFIGURED SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR I BY LINDSEY FITZHARRIS

“Medical historian Fitzharris (THE BUTCHERING ART) paints a fascinating portrait of pioneering plastic surgeon Harold Gillies and the soldiers whose faces he rebuilt during WWI…Meticulously researched and compulsively readable, this exceptional history showcases how compassion and innovation can help mitigate the terrible wounds of war.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“The author of THE BUTCHERING ART returns with ‘a new perspective on the terrible consequences of trench warfare, and the private battles that many men fought long after they put down their rifles’…An excellent biography of a genuine miracle worker.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

THE LAST DAYS OF THE DINOSAURS: AN ASTEROID, EXTINCTION, AND THE BEGINNING OF OUR WORLD BY RILEY BLACK

“[Black] effectively demonstrates the complexity and interdependence of various ecosystems, and the appendix is an extra treat—in it, Black explains how scientists know as much as they do about the behavior and physiology of species alive millions of years ago, and identifies where she used literary license to set a scene. This is top-drawer science writing.”–Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

“Black (WRITTEN IN STONE) combines science information with beautiful prose, providing snapshots of various dinosaurs just before, during, and after the asteroid impact…A real-life, natural history page-turning drama that is necessary reading for almost anyone interested in the history of life.”–Library Journal, starred review

THE BOOK OF HOPE: A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR TRYING TIMES BY JANE GOODALL AND DOUGLAS ABRAMS WITH GAIL HUDSON

“[Goodall’s] infectious optimism and stirring call to action make this necessary reading for those concerned about the planet’s future: ‘we must not let this [pandemic] distract us from the far greater threat to our future—the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity,’ she writes. ‘Find your reasons for hope and let them guide you onward.’ Goodall’s rousing testament will resonate widely.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Bright with photographs, supported by an excellent ‘Further Reading’ section, and, vibrant with wry humor, scientific fact, grassroots advances, compassion, and spiritual depth, this compelling and enlightening dialogue of hope amplifies Goodall’s mantra: ‘Together we can. Together we will.'”–Booklist, starred review

FUNNY FARM: MY UNEXPECTED LIFE WITH 600 RESCUE ANIMALS BY LAURIE ZALESKI

“An adult survivor of domestic violence recounts her experience starting an animal rescue farm in honor of her courageous mother… An affirming memoir about surviving domestic violence with the help of furred and feathered friends.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

SLAYING THE DRAGON: A SECRET HISTORY OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS BY BEN RIGGS

“A chronicle of the rise and fall of TSR, the company behind Dungeons & Dragons… A compelling corporate saga.”–Kirkus Reviews

CORRECTIONS IN INK by Keri Blakinger; 9781250272850; available now
THE FACEMAKER: A VISIONARY SURGEON’S BATTLE TO MEND THE DISFIGURED SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR I by Lindsey Fitzharris; 9780374282301; available now
THE LAST DAYS OF THE DINOSAURS: AN ASTEROID, EXTINCTION, AND THE BEGINNING OF OUR WORLD by Riley Black; 9781250271044; available now
THE BOOK OF HOPE: A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR TRYING TIMES; by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams with Gail Hudson; 9781250784094; available now
FUNNY FARM: MY UNEXPECTED LIFE WITH 600 RESCUE ANIMALS by Laurie Zaleski; 9781250272836; available now
SLAYING THE DRAGON: A SECRET HISTORY OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS by Ben Riggs; 9781250278043; available now