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Why it matters
This selection preserves a named editorial recommendation alongside jury-selected books, making agreements and differences between institutions visible.

2021 selection · Young readers
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith appears in NPR’s 2021 Books We Love guide. NPR’s editors categorized the recommendation around the states we’re in, kids’ books, short stories, essays & poetry, placing it within the year’s broader reading conversation.
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This selection preserves a named editorial recommendation alongside jury-selected books, making agreements and differences between institutions visible.
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You want an NPR-recommended the states we’re in, kids’ books, short stories, essays & poetry title from 2021.
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Primary record
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NPR Books We Love — official recommendation recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)NPR Books We Love — official recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)