Books that tell important stories about our city—and few of our favorite places to buy them.
Meet ShopQueer.co
Read & Run Chicago is a proud partner of ShopQueer.co, an independent online bookstores that splits its profits with queer authors. Founded by Eric Cervini and Adam Powell, ShopQueer.co is also working to launch the Rainbow Book Bus, a traveling bookmobile bringing queer stories to locations across the country facing anti-LGBTQ book bans.
Upcoming Books
Books that have inspired past events…
…Or that we’ve used for tour research!
Refugee High by Elly Fishman
The Battle of Lincoln Park by Daniel Kay Hertz
Three Girls from Bronzeville by Dawn Turner
Queer Legacies by John D'Emilio
The Chicago Neighborhood Guidebook by Martha Bayne
Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Temper by Layne Fargo
South Side Girls by Marcia Chaletain
The South Side by Natalie Y. Moore
Historic Chicago Bakeries by Jennifer Billock
Ghosts in the Schoolyard by Eve Ewing
Painted Cities by Alexai Galaviz-Budziszewski
Once I Was Cool by Megan Stielstra
Chicago Transit Hikes by Lindsay Welbers
Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West by William Cronon
Clark and Division by Naomi Hirahara
I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Ericka Sanchez
From Boom to Bubble by Rachel Weber
Conspiracy to Riot by Lee Weiner
Brown in the Windy City by Lilia Fernandez
The Chicago River by Libby Hill
Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor
Graceland Cemetery by Adam Selzer
The Girls in 3B by Valorie Taylor
Hunting for Frogs on Elston by Jerry Sullivan
Chicago Scavenger by Jessica Mlinaric
Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolf
The Billboard by Natalie Moore
Bad Fat Black Girl by Sesali Bower
On Rotation by Shirlene Obuobi
The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah
Who is the City For? by Blair Kamin
A Few Red Drops by Clare Hartfield
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Gaybash by David Jay Collins
The Most Fun We Ever Had
Bronzeville Nights by Steven C. Dubin
Chicago's Fabulous Fountains by Greg Borzo
The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata
Boystown by Jason Orne
Made in Chicago by Monica Eng and David Hammond
Do You Remember House? By Micah Salkind
Last Call Chicago by Rick Karlin and St Sukie de la Croix
Summerdale II by David Jay Collins
Summerdale by David Jay Collins
The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide
Office Girl by Joe Meno