One Book, One San Diego 20th Chapter

2026 Selections for Adults

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

Selected as One of The New York Times’s 100 Notable Books of the Year
A Barack Obama Summer Read
Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel
Nebula Award Winner for Best Novel
Locus Award for Horror
Libby Award for Best Horror
Nebula, Bram Stoker, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Award Finalist

A Time, The Washington Post, NPR, Shelf Awareness, The Toronto Star, and Publishers Weekly Best of the Year

Kirkus Reviews Best Historical Fiction

The New York Times bestseller and “horror masterpiece” (NPR) from Stephen Graham Jones—the master of modern horror—is a chilling historical horror novel tracing the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice.

A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. Told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits. This is an American Indian revenge story written by one of the new masters of horror, Stephen Graham Jones.

More about Stephen Graham Jones

Reading Group Guide

2026 Selections for Teens

The Cartoonists Club: A Graphic Novel

Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures! 

More about Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud

2026 Selections for Kids

Books on Bikes

Inspired by real-life book bike programs, this magnificent picture book from the authors of Maybe Something Beautiful celebrates how one child’s small act can transform communities. 

Lía loves books, and she reads all the time—even while walking her trusty bike through town. But sometimes books can be hard to come by. When Lía discovers her neighbors are as eager for books as she is, she takes a page from the heroes she has read about and pedals into action! Taking inspiration from the many books-and-bikes projects across the world, Books on Bikes salutes the kind hearts and innovative acts of everyday people who spread community through the magic of reading.

More about F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell, and Brizida Magro

2026 One Book, Sin Fronteras

Libros libres, sobre ruedas

A Lía le encantan los libros, y lee todo el tiempo—incluso cuando va con su leal bicicleta por la ciudad. Pero algunas veces es difícil conseguir libros. Cuando Lía descubre que sus vecinos tienen tantas ganas como ella de conseguir libros, ¡arranca de la página la inspiración de los héroes que ha leído y pedalea decidida!

Inspirado en los muchos programas “bici-libros” existentes en el mundo, Libros libres, sobre ruedas, celebra los corazones generosos y la genialidad de la gente sencilla que se vuelca a la comunidad a través de la magia de la lectura.

Mas sobre F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell, y Brizida Magro 

Celebrate Our 20th Chapter!

Share our milestone year with us! Discover how to get involved with One Book, One San Diego below.

Subscribe to the One Book, One San Diego email list to receive updates. (You will receive invitations and other communications from KPBS. You will be able to manage email preferences at any time.)

"It has been my great pleasure over the last decade and a half to watch graphic novels and the comic art form be embraced by schools and libraries alike, allowing reluctant and emerging tween and teen readers to grow comfortably and confidently into lifelong fans of literature! With the amazing support of KPBS and One Book One San Diego, I've seen young students finish a book for the first time and watched as student readers who would be described as hesitant at best engage with graphic novels and comics and actively continue reading and inquiring long after they've finished the One Book selection!" 

-Alonso Nunez, One Book advisory committee member and founder, Little Fish Comic Book Studio, San Diego

"I am thankful for the conversation with various community voices, having the opportunity to learn together and from one another."

-Student, Point Loma University

"The program allows students who would not naturally choose this community topic to read about issues that are relevant to a larger community.  Students were able to recognize systematic racism on a different level...One student, DG, said she usually reads audible books, but she was able to go back and reference the text more accurately and retain more of the information because she was able to discuss it with others." 

-Brenda Bell Young, Educator, Crawford High School

"One Book, One San Diego brings the Oceanside community together. The One Book  selections this year were important topics of fighting racism in The Sum of Us, mental health challenges in Iveliz Explains it All, and following your dreams in Nigel and the Moon.  These topics produced meaningful conversations among all ages, allowing for friendly discussion and consideration of various viewpoints." 

-Amy Kleman, Librarian, Oceanside Public Library

“As a college student, I really appreciate the One Book program for providing access to free books. I think there is a lot of power in engaging in community reading – I love that our community cares about diversity and social justice as evident in the titles of this year’s picks. These books have inspired me to read more and to read books that I normally wouldn’t read. Now, I can recommend these books to others!”

-Student, San Diego State University

“Victory Stand highlights the resilience and voices of youth facing systemic challenges, fostering empathy and understanding. The narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling in creating awareness and inspiring social change.”

-Student, San Diego Unified School District

“I am reaching out to express appreciation on behalf of my school's teachers and students for the generous book donations that you have helped connect us with once again! The copies of The Magic Fish and The Vanishing Half donated from SDCL and KPBS have not only provided my school community with access to read these titles along with the rest of San Diego County, but they will continue to be read and enjoyed moving forward as part of both our school library and classroom literature circle collections. Teachers at my school have been demonstrating interest in teaching with graphic novels, so expanding their ability to provide more of these titles for students is greatly appreciated, particularly given the limited budgets that we have at our school to purchase new instructional materials. The donated books will be used and appreciated on a recurring basis with students for years to come!” 

-Educator, West Hills High School

“Many of the women at Las Colinas who read Being Heumann appreciated the chance to learn more about the disability rights movement. One woman wrote a review saying, “I feel more knowledgeable about the disabled movement, and how constant pressure and activism sparked change that improved millions of disabled lives.” She also shared her surprise that the history of the disability rights movement is not taught in schools, reflecting, “If we want to know the full history, we have to dig for ourselves. If we don’t. we will be given meager slivers of the past - mere fragments.”

-Librarian, Santee Library, San Diego County Library

“Receiving a free book was such an amazing opportunity! I’ve always loved reading, but sometimes it’s hard to get books I’m really excited about. Having access to a new book made me feel motivated and inspired. I’m so grateful for this chance and can’t wait to dive into more stories.”

-Student, Somali Family Service of San Diego

“The “We are Water Protectors” book opened the door for conversations about environmental issues and activism. Marissa, age 10, was inspired by the book and created the “green club” at the Roberts Family Branch in Linda Vista. The “green club” is a specialty club that focuses on recycling and recycling activities. Youth completed a beautification project in their garden, used recycled items to create art and made bird feeders out of paper towel rolls. The “green club” was a great addition to our program.”

-Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego

"Imperial Valley has one of the lowest literacy levels in the state of California and the distribution of books is essential to build up literacy and inspire new readers... I have extended my outreach to include district librarian technicians in the past two months. KPBS donated extra copies of previous One Book, One San Diego titles and I attended a county librarian meeting where 1,048 books were distributed to 12 school district libraries. Librarians were overjoyed with the bounty and variety of books. This was a secondary activity on top of the earlier distribution. This activity expanded the network of literacy in Imperial County...We were able to provide free books to multiple grade levels of readers in the Calexico Unified School District and the extended community." 

-Norma Aguilar, San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus

“This was a wonderful, accessible way to introduce small children to Chicano history and a difficult topic. This was our first year holding bilingual storytimes at our branch, and I think the OBOSD selection (coupled with holding the program during Hispanic Heritage Month) made a particular impact on the local Latino population.” 

-Librarian, Julian Library, San Diego County Library

“El beneficio es acercarnos a historias que nos permiten abrir nuestra perspectiva sobre aspectos culturales y sociales, a través de la lectura.  Asimismo, nos permite abordar textos dirigidos a jóvenes en el idioma que estamos estudiando como segundo idioma.”

-Educator, CBTIS 41, Ensenada

“Este proyecto me ha permitido realizar la labor de fomento lector, con la posibilidad de llegar a públicos distintos, así como tener la posibilidad de la donación del acervo, que es lo que a veces dificulta por no tener los recursos, seguir promoviendo lo aprendido, como escuchar a niñas, niños y ser acompañamiento.”

-Manuela Cantú Mendívil, Jugamos a Leer

Sponsors

One Book is funded by the Linden Root Dickinson Foundation. Additional support comes from the Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation, the Frieda Berlinski Foundation, the Payne Family Foundation, and the LaFleur Family.

One Book is a partnership between KPBS, the San Diego Public Library and the San Diego County Library, and the following organizations:

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Find answers to the most common questions about the One Book, One San Diego program below.

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