2025 Arizona Great Read Youth and Adult Selections Announced
PHOENIX – The Arizona Center for the Book, part of the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, has selected Arizona Friend Trips: Stories from the Road by Lisa Schnebly Heidinger and Julie Morrison, and The Beat I Drum (Life of a Cactus, 3) by Dusti Bowling, to represent Arizona in the Library of Congress Center for the Book’s 2025 Great Reads from Great Places program.
The national Great Reads from Great Places program highlights the literary heritage of all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and Northern Marianas by publicizing a list of titles written by authors from, taking place in or celebrating the culture and heritage of each location. Each state and territorial Center for the Book typically selects one youth and one adult title, which are then promoted at the Library of Congress’s National Book Festival.
2025 Arizona Great Read Adult Selection
Arizona Friend Trips, published by University of Arizona Press in 2025, is a celebration of friendship, discovery, and the enduring spirit of exploration. As Lisa and Julie share their favorite trips and formative experiences, readers are treated to an intimate glimpse into their lives, making this book a joyous and uplifting read for travelers and armchair explorers alike.
2025 Arizona Great Read Youth Selection
The Beat I Drum by Dusti Bowling, published in 2025 by Union Square Kids, is a heartfelt novel for readers ages 10–14. The story follows Connor Bradley, a boy who’s anxious about starting high school because of his Tourette Syndrome and the fear of how others will perceive him. As he navigates this new chapter, Connor finds support in unexpected places - new friends, a compassionate teacher, and a growing passion for drumming, which helps him manage his stress. But when challenges at home and school begin to mount, Connor uncovers a surprising source of strength that changes everything.
Many libraries across Arizona carry copies of The Beat I Drum and Arizona Friend Trips: Stories from the Road. We encourage you to check them out!
Founded in 2004, the Arizona Center for the Book is a state affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. Its mission is to highlight the state's literary heritage and call attention to the importance of books, reading, literacy and libraries. The Arizona Center for the book is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.