Saturday's 13th annual Independent Bookstore Day, organized by the American Booksellers Association, was the largest ever, with more than 2,000 indie bookstores in the U.S. participating (see the Indie Bookstore Day map here), along with more than 200 Canadian indies joining in Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (see story below), and hundreds around the world participating in the second Global Book Crawl, which took place last week and ended yesterday, overlapping the festivities in North America. Last week marked another enthusiastic runup to Indie Bookstore Day, Spirit Week, including "Silly" Monday, Plaid Tuesday, Bookstore Shirt Wednesday, Book Character Dress-Up Thursday, followed by bookstores' individual celebrations on Friday. 

At Books on the Square in Providence, R.I.: author/illustrator R.W. Alley (left) and author Zoë B. Alley (right) with children's buyer Cristina Iannarino.

The day's events included many of the usual features of Indie Bookstore Day, with exclusive book and merchandise offerings, parties, street fairs, author readings and signings, storytimes, raffles, games, live music and so much more. Many cities and regions had passport programs offering prizes and discounts for those visiting participating stores, with some programs beginning in advance of the day and running for a while afterward to extend the celebration.

At Black Garnet Books, St. Paul, Minn.

Even more so than last year, Independent Bookstore Day in the U.S. came at a time marked across the country by assaults on free speech, free expression, democracy, the rule of law, books of all kinds but particularly ones with GLBTQ+ and BIPOC themes and characters, the rights and lives of citizens and immigrants, respect for and interest in other countries and cultures, political ideas and movements that don't align with the current administration, and more. As shown again and again--especially in Minnesota early this year--independent bookstores play a critical role in the country as centers of sanity where ideas and opinions can be discussed freely; where information about how to resist illegal government actions is available; where curiosity, knowledge, facts, and the written word are valued; where there are homes for people and organizations that are attacked and assaulted elsewhere; where all are welcomed.

Susan Novotny at Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza

Some stores mixed major events and anniversaries with Indie Bookstore Day. For example, Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, N.Y., combined three celebrations on Saturday: Independent Bookstore Day, the 50th Anniversary of the store's founding, and the remodeling of the new space in Stuyvesant Plaza and the relocation of Book House.

Several new bookstores had grand openings on Saturday. 

Among them, Dust & Blush Romance Bookshop, Boyne City, Mich., hosted a grand opening with ribbon cutting on Saturday. A Facebook reel shows the enthusiastic crowds that lined up to celebrate the new store.

Cozy Calico Books, Occoquan, Va., also celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, an appearance by the town's mayor, and many author signings. Take a look on Facebook.

Some stores offered tattoos, both permanent and temporary. pages: a bookstore, Manhattan Beach, Calif., had four choices of flash temporary tattoos, including our favorite: a skull with the line "death by TBR."

In New Orleans, La., where, because of Jazz Fest, indie bookstores sometimes have celebrated Indie Bookstore Day on a different date, this year NOLA stores celebrated on Saturday with the rest of the country and sponsored the New Orleans Independent Bookstore Day Crawl. The Crawl takes place over nine days and includes a prize of a $25 gift card at each of the 11 participating stores ($275 in total). 

The lucky Golden Ticket winner at Green Bean Books in Portland, Ore.

Libro.fm offered special promotions throughout the week, including a new member offer, a week-long audiobook sale, and the Golden Ticket in-store giveaway for 12 audiobooks. Golden Tickets were hidden in more than 1,500 bookstores in the U.S. and Canada.

Libro.fm CEO and co-founder Mark Pearson said, "Independent Bookstore Day is more than just a celebration; it's a movement. Seeing the record numbers of Golden Tickets in bookstores (and long lines to find them) shows that indies can compete with big tech. As audiobook listenership hits new heights, we are proud to show that technology can be used to strengthen, rather than replace, the independent shops that are the heart of our culture."

Bookshop.org celebrated Independent Bookstore Day with free standard shipping on all orders on April 25 and 26.

Actor, director, producer, and podcaster LeVar Burton was Independent Bookstore Day ambassador, and earlier said, "From my earliest memories, books carried me beyond the world I knew. They let me explore distant planets, ancient kingdoms, and lives very different from my own. Independent bookstores are where those explorations began. They are sanctuaries of possibility where a single story can change a life."

The event was supported by lead sponsors Ingram and Penguin Random House, publishing partner sponsors Simon & Schuster, Second Story Press, Edelweiss, and the eight regional booksellers associations.

Exclusive Indie Bookstore Day items were offered by Abrams, Blackwing, Bonfire, Drawn & Quarterly, Enviro-Tote, HarperCollins, HarperCollins Children's Books, Macmillan, Out of Print, Tachyon, The Quarto Group, and Usborne, among others. Cartoonist Tom Gauld designed the limited-edition tote bag.

One of the best Independent Bookstore Day traditions is the end-of-the-day expressions of gratitude by booksellers across the country. "Thank you" was definitely the watchword again during and after Saturday's festivities, as bookstores shared their #IndieBookstoreDay good vibes. Here's a sampling:

At Quimby's

Quimby's Bookstore, Chicago, Ill.: "SORRY WE'RE DEAD! Thanks to the million billion trillion gazillion people who came through on Independent Bookstore Day. We cached two brand new self-inking stamps, celebrated with 110 people who finished their 10 or 15 stop book crawl with us, and did 981 register transactions, for double the money of the Saturday before Christmas! THANK YOU!"

Poppy Books & Gifts, Spanish Fork, Utah: "Another Independent Bookstore Day in the books, and it was our busiest one yet! We are always in awe of our community, and the way you all show up for us again and again. Please support your local indie bookstore!... We love you guys, keep on reading and chatting with us about the books you love!"

Winnie and Mo's Bookshop, Idaho Falls, Idaho: "Thank you all for a busy and fun-filled Independent Bookstore Day! What a party. What makes indie bookstores survive and thrive is YOU! You make them places of community and connection, and we're grateful for you. We've said it before and we'll say it again: book people are the best people."

Bookstore on the Square, Fort Collins, Colo.: "It's a wrap on Independent Bookstore Store Day! Y'all showed up in droves and we are so deeply & sincerely appreciative. Special thanks to @mnb_photographer for bringing some @focomx magic to our little shop, and to every single person who came in today, yesterday, and beyond: We love you. We see you. Our hearts are so full."

Class Bookstore, Houston, Tex.: "LET'S RALLY Y'AL!! 5 MORE DAYS TO GET YOUR STAMP!! PULL UP AND LET'S FINISH STRONG!! BTW, thanks to everyone who came through for @indiebookstoreday today!! Much appreciated."

Alibi Bookshop, Vallejo, Calif.: That’s a wrap.... THANK YOU to everyone who showed up and celebrated with us--it was crazy busy and fun! (Seeing a line in a bookstore is truly the greatest sight ever.)."

Rooted Books & Gifts, Grand Island, Neb.: "Yall wore Nate and Bella out today! Thank you all SOOOO SOOO much for showing up and supporting us today and all year round. We love being able to support our community through our little ole bookshop."

The Bookshop, East Nashville, Tenn.: "Today--our TENTH Indie Bookstore Day celebration--was truly epic.... Thank you for supporting this lil' shop. Y'all are the best community an indie bookstore could ask for."

The Cranford Bookstore, Cranford, N.J.: "Book people are the best people. Being able to participate in #independentbookstoreday was the dream last year and, wow, you all made that dream come true today! Seeing the fully stamped passports, watching folks pick out their pin, making recommendations, visits from our favorite authors... and chatting TBRs... there is nothing better!"

Madison Street Books, Chicago, Ill.: "We knew it would be amazing but we are overwhelmed by how much. THANK YOU."

Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, Ore.: "Thanks to everyone who showed up for us in the store today (or online) for Independent Bookstore Day--we had a blast, and hope you did too!"

The Gilded Page, Kansas City, Mo.: "Thank you everyone who came out today to support us on Independent Bookstore Day! The shoppers, the crawlers, and scavenger hunters, and the cat lovers, we appreciate you all!"

Pages & Perks, St. Petersburg, Fla.: "For our very first independent bookstore day, we were overwhelmed with gratitude love and support. For the amount of you lovely people that came out to support each and every celebration. We met so many people making the rounds to their favorites in the area and some who were discovering new Indie Bookstores!"

Plaid Elephant Books, Danville, Ky.: "HUGE thanks to everyone who joined us for Independent Bookstore Day yesterday! This is always the best, most bookishly delightful day of the year. Lovely to meet all the folks who were exploring the Bluegrass Bookstore Crawl as well as all of our local readers. Thanks for shopping local!!"

At Wheatberry Books

Wheatberry Books, Chillicothe, Ohio: "Another Independent Bookstore Day is in the books, and we could not be more grateful for the support this community of readers shows us. Thank you for showing up, for believing in our mission, and for caring so passionately about stories. It's because of you that we're able to open our doors every day and provide a safe place to retreat."

Shared Stories Books, Caldwell, Idaho: "Our hearts are FULL!! The community showed up for our birthday and for Independent Bookstore Day!! Thank you all for joining us today to celebrate. We had a record day of sales, but more importantly, we had a record day of friendship, of bookish excitement, and of community."

At the Plot Twist

The Plot Twist, Denton, Tex.: "From our AC going out early in the day (on the hottest day this year so far) to the tornado warnings later… y'all still showed up to support our little indie bookstore. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing up, for browsing our shelves, for sharing your love of indie bookstores, and for reminding us why this community means everything.... Days like this don’t go as planned, but they turn into something even more meaningful because of y'all!! We're so grateful to be your bookstore."

Cindelle's Bookstore, Plainfield, N.J.: "Independent Bookstore Day was absolutely everything we hoped it would be and MORE. Seeing so many of you walk through our doors, passport in hand, ready to explore every corner of Union County's indie bookstore scene was so cool. To our incredible community: THANK YOU. Your support means the world to us. You showed up, you bought books, and you reminded us why being a bookseller is the greatest privilege."

Twice Told Tales, McPherson, Kan.: "That's a wrap for Independent Bookstore Day 2026! Thank you to everyone who came out to support. My bookseller heart is going to explode from all the love I felt today. You all keep the dream alive."

Books Revisited, Saint Cloud, Minn.: "What a wild, wild Independent Bookstore Day! I can hardly find the words, and I am absolutely awestruck at the tremendous support and your willingness to show up!... Thank you to the oceans of people who helped make today so memorable, and in a world where you could buy your books anywhere, thank you for showing up on the rest of the days too.... Today is a day I will never forget."

At Blue Couch Bookshop

Blue Couch Bookshop, Columbus, Ohio: "WOW we had an amazing Indie Bookstore Day with you all!! Can't wait to do it again tomorrow!!"

WordsWorth Books, Little Rock, Ark.: "Before & after Independent Bookstore Day. What a day! A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to support us and the @rockcitiesbookcrawl today. The energy in the store during IBD... there's nothing quite like it. We can't wait to do it again next year!"

Bookshop owners and frontline staff were in a pic-taking and pic-sharing mood on Saturday as they celebrated #IndieBookstoreDay, including:

Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, Colo.: "Happy Independent Bookstore Day!!!! Thank you for supporting us today and every day!"

Parnassus Books, Nashville, Tenn.: "Happy Indie Bookstore Day! We can't wait to celebrate with all of you today.... Plus, the crew is unveiling our new T-shirt and tote bag!"

Hyperbole Bookstore, College Station, Tex.: "Happy Independent Bookstore Day from your friendly neighborhood booksellers!"

Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, Calif.: "!!TODAY IS INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY!! Our favorite day of the year because we get to celebrate with you and say thanks for supporting us!"

Next Chapter Bookstore, Hermiston, Ore.: "We are ready to PARTY! Happy Independent Bookstore Day!"

Under the Cover, Kansas City, Mo.: "Don't stay home. Come to my shop. We'll have so much fun."

Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, Kan.: "Wichita... you rocked it today! We had the best Independent Bookstore Day, and getting to celebrate indies with our customers was so special."

Offbeat Books, Atlanta, Ga.: "Before we get too busy with the day's festivities, here's a couple pics of us, the staff at Offbeat Books."

The Vintage Storyteller, Maple Plain, Minn.: "Happy #IndieBookstoreDay to all the booksellers who keep indie bookstores running. I am so, so proud to be among you."

Black Walnut Books, Glens Falls, N.Y.: "Happy Indie Bookstore Day! This year the outpouring of love and support means the world."

The Snail on the Wall, Huntsville, Ala.: "Snapshots from a fabulous Independent Bookstore Day at The Snail. You lined up early and kept coming all day long." 

The Novel Neighbor, St. Louis, Mo.: "Indie Bookstore Day is off to an incredible start at The Novel Neighbor.... Will we see you today?!"

Big Hill Books, Minneapolis, Minn.: "Happy #IndieBookstoreDay from the BHB staff! Come swing by and say hi."

Pocket Books Shop, Lancaster, Pa.: "Indie Bookstore Day is 2026 is FINALLY HERE, and we can't wait to see all of you."

Byrd's Books, Bethel, Conn.: "Love these folks--they cranked it out on Independent Bookstore Day!!"

Spoke & Word Books, Milwaukie, Ore.: "Indie bookstore day isn't even done and look how happy we are."

Downtown Books, Manteo, N.C.: "We are OPEN! Happy Independent Bookstore Day!"

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, "when readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, and others come together" to celebrate indie bookstores across the country, was also held on Saturday. "By joining the celebration, you are advocating for independent businesses, supporting a flourishing bookselling community, and investing in Canadian culture," CIBA noted.

CIBA commissioned artwork from Canadian artist and illustrator Sid Sharp to help celebrate CIBD 2026. Sharp said he wanted to show that indie bookshops "are mysterious, warm places full of casual everyday intrigue and magic. They are simultaneously familiar and exciting--like scratching a big itch or having a really good yawn....  I've been an illustrator who is also an indie bookseller for several years now, so I liked combining the two things and putting in a ton of little visual details from my bookseller life."

CIBA also invited writers to share Author Love Notes, expressing their appreciation for Canadian indies. Louise Bernice Halfe, author of wîhtamawik / Tell Them: On a Life of Inspiration, said: "There's nothing richer for me than to go to a bookstore and come away with something wonderful that catches my eye. I hit as many bookstores as I can at every destination I am in--even in little towns and villages. My favorite indie bookstore is, of course, McNally Robinson. I live there. I buy half their books!"

Many Canadian indies shared their #CIBD2026 experiences and reactions on social media, including:

Flying Books, Toronto, Ont.: "It's Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! Come down to say hello and take in the festivities!"

Analog Books, Lethbridge, Alb.: "The golden ticket has been found! So has the golden statue. Hope you can make it downtown and join the fun!... Special shoutout to Anastasia Siceac-Olson [who] wowed the guests yesterday as our bronze (or was it copper?) beauty for Independent Bookstore Day. Thank you Anastasia for an incredible performance!"

Bookmark, Charlottetown, P.E.I.: "We started Canadian Independent Bookstore Day with a line! Drop by and help us celebrate. We have so much going on... book swag, contests, double points, live music and a few exclusives!"

Shelf Life Books, Calgary, Alb.: "WOW! Year after year we are so amazed by the support we receive on Canadian Independent Bookstore Day!"

At St. Henri Books

Saint Henri Books, Montreal, Que.: "Our biggest Independent Bookstore Day yet. Thank you for showing up, supporting us, and for loving books the way you do. So grateful for this community."

Cedar Canoe Books, Huntsville, Ont.: "Today is Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! A day to celebrate everything that's wonderful about local bookshops. We've got lots going on all day today. Come celebrate with us!"

TYPE Books, Toronto: "Yesterday @typebooks celebrated Canadian Independent Bookstore Day and it was a huge success! The shop was packed with customers showing up to support this local gem as they also celebrate 20 years in business. Shoppers even left with a specialty stamp in their new books to commemorate the day."

At the Spaniel's Tale

The Spaniel's Tale, Ottawa, Ont.: "It's here! Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is today! We're thrilled to see so many smiling faces on such a beautiful day! There's been a long lineup outside since early this morning with indie bookstore fans to help us celebrate the big day."

Dartmouth Book Exchange, Dartmouth, N.S.: "We're kicking off CIBD with these happy bookstore crawlers."

Yellow Canary Books & Stationery, Gull Lake, Sask.: "Canadian Independent Bookstore Day is here and we are all set up and ready to celebrate. The shop is full of fun today.... Whether you're popping in for a quick visit or staying awhile, we'd love to see you. Come spend some time with us, browse the shelves, and celebrate indie bookstores."

Perfect Books, Ottawa: "TODAY IS THE DAY!!! Come by for the Ottawa Indie Bookstore Crawl, our tote bag raffle (today only and in person!), and TONS of free giveaways, including @mavericksdonuts hole! We can't wait to hang out with you."

McNally Robinson, Winnipeg, Man.: "Don't forget, this Saturday April 25th is Canadian Independent Bookstore Day and we want to celebrate with YOU!!"

At the Book Keeper

The Book Keeper, Sarnia, Ont.: "It's Canadian Independent Bookstore Day!!! Here are all your booksellers for this great day! Can't wait to see you all here!"

Bolen Books, Victoria, B.C.: "It's Independent Bookstore Day! So grateful for our wonderful community of readers who support our small business. Enjoy 15% off on select Canadian authors today only, plus other giveaways like activity books, stickers and tattoos before we run out!!"

Books on Beechwood, Ottawa: "Happy Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, everyone!!... it's Day 2 of the Ottawa Indie Bookstore Crawl! Visit seven of the nine participating bookstores before closing time tomorrow, fill in a ballot, and enter for your chance to win a bookstore shopping spree!!"

Oprah Winfrey  (via)

Under "a multiyear licensing deal" with Amazon, Oprah Winfrey will produce "twice-a-week video podcasts beginning this summer, create specials focused on her Favorite Things and Book Club labels, and repurpose the 25-season library from the Oprah Winfrey Show," the New York Times reported.

Amazon believes it can expand the reach of Oprah's book club via Audible, Kindle, Amazon.com, and Goodreads. A landing page for Oprah on Amazon.com will include her annual holiday list of favorite products.

Launched in 2024, Oprah's podcast channel has "a subscriber base of 913,000," the Times wrote, and includes interviews with authors as well as celebrities and influencers. The podcasts usually run an hour and often attract a million viewers. The shows have been and will continue to be available on YouTube, but now will also be available on a range of Amazon services, including Prime Video and Audible.

Oprah emphasized the possibility of growing her audience, saying, "Expanding our reach globally is an opportunity I embrace, as we continue to connect through stories that invite new ways of seeing, and hopefully deepen, understanding."

Amazon noted the growing popularity of video podcasts. Amazon v-p Steve Boom called the move "the ultimate validation of where the world is going. You have the most influential talk show host in history, by orders of magnitude, leaning heavily into this new world. Now we see where the world is going and we at Amazon are just happy to be along for the ride."

Between the Covers romance bookstore in Rigby, Idaho, finished its Indie Bookstore Day with a cosplay contest, which "was the perfect way to wrap up our celebration. You all showed UP and made it impossible to choose--but a huge congratulations to Ashley Amy for absolutely stealing the spotlight as Vicki/Lucinda. We're still not over it... honestly iconic behavior. Thank you to everyone who dressed up, showed out, and made the night unforgettable."

Jordan Moslowski has been promoted to assistant manager, special markets at Simon & Schuster.

Ready, Cassette, Go! by Jarett Sitter (Annick Press), the first book in a new graphic novel series for young readers.

Today:
CBS Mornings: Eve Plumb, author of Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond (Citadel/Kensington, $30, 9780806545035).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Sherrie Rollins Westin, co-author of What I Learned from Mom: 27 Celebrated Individuals on How Mother's Wisdom Shaped Their Lives (Regalo Press, $30, 9798888451861).

Kelly Clarkson Show: Melissa Ben-Ishay, author of Come Eat: 100 Nourishing Recipes to Eat Every Day (Harper Influence, $35, 9780063451636). 

Drew Barrymore Show: Belle Burden, author of Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage (The Dial Press, $30, 9780593733318).

Sherri Shepherd Show: Tina Knowles, author of Matriarch: A Memoir (One World, $22, 9780593597422).

Late Night with Seth Meyers: Sabrina Rudin, author of Healthy with a Side of Happy: 100 Plant-Based Recipes to Feed Your Family (Union Square & Co., $35, 9781454956587).

Hulu has taken is developing Everflame, a TV series adaptation of Penn Cole's bestselling romantasy novel Spark of the Everflame, the first book in the romance fantasy series the Kindred's Curse Saga. The project is from Death and Other Details co-creator Heidi Cole McAdams, Cole, and 20th Television, Deadline reported.

"I'm thrilled to be working with Heidi Cole McAdams to adapt the Kindred's Curse Saga," said Cole. "She truly understands the core messages of the series and what makes Diem's story compelling. Heidi has an incredible eye for re-imagining the story for a visual medium while preserving the aspects of the books that readers love most, and her enthusiasm for collaboration makes her an author's dream to work with. I have no doubt this adaptation will be as beloved to new audiences as it will be to the series' passionate fan base."

Everflame "is set in a world where mortals live in poverty, subjugated by an elite race known as the Descended. When her mother goes missing, Diem Bellator suspects that the most powerful and most feared Descended in the kingdom--Prince Luther Corbois--may be responsible. As she embarks on a search for answers, she becomes an unexpected force in the mortal rebellion against the Descended, and the center of an even more unexpected love triangle," Deadline noted.

The shortlist has been selected for the 2026 Plutarch Award, sponsored by Biographers International Organization and the only international literary award for biography judged exclusively by biographers. The winner will be announced during the BIO Conference, May 28 and 29, in New York City.

The finalists:
Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
The Second Emancipation: Nkrumah, Pan-Africanism, and Global Blackness at High Tide by Howard W. French (Liveright)
Wakara's America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West by Max Perry Mueller (Basic Books)
Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife by Francesca Wade (Scribner)
The Invention of Charlotte Brontë: A New Life by Graham Watson (Pegasus Books)

---

The shortlist has been selection for the 2026 Griffin Poetry Prize. The winner will be named June 3 and receive C$130,000 (about US$94,930), while the other shortlisted authors each get C$10,000 (about US$7,300). 

The shortlist:
Gbenga Adesina for Death Does Not End at the Sea (University of Nebraska Press)
Daniel Borzutzky and Alec Schumacher for their translation from the Spanish of Bodies Found in Various Places by Elvira Hernández (Cardboard House Press)
Aracelis Girmay for Green of All Heads (BOA Editions)
Ange Mlinko for Foxglovewise (Faber & Faber)
Kevin Young for Night Watch (Knopf)

"Brooklyn is a mythic place. Gowanus is its Nile," begins Vincent Coppola (Uneasy Warriors) in this humorous yet often wrenching recollection of his youth. Gowanus Crossing is not just a memoir of Coppola's childhood but also a history of the Gowanus Canal and Brooklyn, and by extrapolation, of New York City.

With a gimlet-eyed view, the former Newsweek reporter, now in his 70s, traces the changes wrought by various immigrant communities--especially his own Italian American community--as well as by the Vietnam War and the AIDS crisis. Most notably, he captures the seemingly elastic days of childhood: "Waiting defined life in those days.... Vast deserts of time, never to be reclaimed." This was both a luxury and a curse, as when he awaited the grade on a story he'd polished so many times: "I choke up when I read it." Sister Mary Malachy accused him of plagiarism and knocked him against the blackboard. Coppola was 13; he would not write another story until he was 28.

Catholicism figures prominently in Coppola's youth--its corruption (personified by the priest who raped boys in the elementary school bathroom) as well as the Catholic high schools that provided a ticket out of poverty (for Coppola and many others, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Antonin Scalia). Lesser-known heroes in Coppola's story include the mailman who conveniently failed to deliver overdue rent bills (marking them "return to sender") and his paternal grandfather, who terrified young Vinnie, but who sent enough money to family and friends back in Italy to keep food on the tables and pay for an operation.

Not only does Coppola describe the mythic quality of the Gowanus Canal of his boyhood, but he paints a mythos for all readers. The Canal, once a salt marsh, nurtured "succulent oysters," exported by the Dutch to Amsterdam; Frank Sinatra bought his sfogliatella at Cioffi's on Union Street; George Washington sheltered in the Old Stone House on Third Street with the retreating Continental Army. Coppola describes his first kiss ("I stand there, experiencing and trying to remember at the same time"), getting arrested for murder (innocent Coppola was eventually released); and watching his brother Thomas die of AIDS ("Seeing my mother cradle her dying son is the Pietà come alive"). Gallows humor permeates these stories: the "riot" of the undertakers, all vying for eight-year-old Anthony Stuto's funeral; Ray Sharkey's short-lived stardom in Hollywood.

Sister Mary may have underestimated Coppola's gifts, but readers will not. He has captured a bygone era in Brooklyn for posterity. --Jennifer M. Brown

Shelf Talker: This memoir's 32 chapters, each crafted like an elegant essay, add up to a mythic Brooklyn boyhood in Gowanus Crossing.