The goal of the Gulf Coast Reads program encourages readers throughout the Gulf Coast to discuss a particular book with their neighbors, co-workers, friends and families during October each year.
2020 Gulf Coast Reads -- Gods of Jade and Shadow by sylvia Moreno-garcia
"The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.
The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.
Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.
In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld."
NEBULA AWARD FINALIST • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • Tordotcom • The New York Public Library • BookRiot
http://www.gulfcoastreads.org
The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.
Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.
In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld."
NEBULA AWARD FINALIST • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • Tordotcom • The New York Public Library • BookRiot
http://www.gulfcoastreads.org
Past years' Gulf Coast Reads selections include:
2012 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
2013 The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
2014 Remember Ben Clayton by Stephen Harrigan
2015 The Promise by Ann Weisgarber
2016 The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell
2017 News of the World by Paulette Jiles
2018 Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
2019 The Library Book by Susan Orlean
2012 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
2013 The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
2014 Remember Ben Clayton by Stephen Harrigan
2015 The Promise by Ann Weisgarber
2016 The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell
2017 News of the World by Paulette Jiles
2018 Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
2019 The Library Book by Susan Orlean