So many amazing books are finalists for the Minnesota Book Awards. We were thrilled to see both books we launched in 2025 among the honored titles!
We love this opportunity to celebrate how Minnesota storytellers bring belonging to life. In this article, we share three discussion guides to help you make the most of your reading. Spark deep discussions and lead engaging activities on the following Minnesota Book Award finalists:
This book is written as a series of poems about the lives of two activists, a married couple named James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs. What they created together was more than a marriage; it was a partnership. They fought alongside many others for fair housing, jobs, food, labor unions, urban gardens, and more.
Theo’s best friend has died of cancer, and his grief is deep and raw. When the adults around him don’t seem to understand, his grief turns to depression, and Theo is forced to confront his sadness alone in an alternate reality where his city is literally flipped upside down. The Flip Side personifies grief and depression, illustrating the power of relationships to navigate our scariest feelings.
It’s Saturday morning, and the narrator is geeked to go spend the day at the ‘shop. The barbershop is a sound booth, an art gallery, a playground, a classroom, and most importantly, a place for community. This book captures the many roles a barber shop plays, especially for young boys.
Thank you for celebrating powerful Minnesota authors with us! Click here to find the other Minnesota Book Award finalists.