One Book, One San Diego is our region's premier literary program, presented in partnership between KPBS and over 80 public libraries, service organizations and educational institutions. Now in its 18th year, the purpose is to bring our community closer together through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book.

Each year, One Book, One San Diego features one book for adults, one for teens, one for kids and one for Spanish language readers (One Book Sin Fronteras).

Year round, the community is asked to nominate titles the entire region should read together. The Advisory Committees review these nominations and ultimately select titles they believe fit the selection criteria best. In the fall, KPBS and our community partners host events inspired by the books selected.

Announcing the One Book, One San Diego 2024 Finalists!

One Book, One San Diego

One Book for Adults Top 10 Finalists (in no particular order)

1. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (available in Spanish)
2. Drunk on All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson
3. I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt
4. Know My Name by Chanel Miller (available in Spanish)
5. Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See (available in Spanish)
6. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
7. One Two Three: A Novel by Laurie Frankel
8. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (available in Spanish)
9. Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane (available in Spanish)
10. True Biz by Sara Novic

One Book for Teens Top 10 Finalists (in alpha order)

1. Flamer by Mike Curato
2. The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day
3. Banned Book Club by Hyun Sook Kim and Ryan Estrada (available in Spanish)
4. The Hills of Estrella Roja by Ashley Robin Franklin
5. Borders by Thomas King
6. Mexikid by Pedro Martín (available in Spanish)
7. Family Style by Thien Pham
8. The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
9. Just Another Story by Ernesto Saade (available in Spanish)
10. Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith & Derrick Barnes

One Book, One San Diego

One Book for Kids Top 10 Finalists ( in no particular order)

1. A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond, illustrated by Kate Cosgrove
2. Barrio Rising by María Dolores Águila, illustrated by Magdalena Mora (available in Spanish)
3. Growing an Artist by John Parra (available in Spanish)
4. Home Is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly by Katherine Pryor, illustrated by Ellie Peterson
5. Not Yet: The Story of an Unstoppable Skater by Zahra Lari and Hadley Davis, illustrated by Sara Alfageeh
6. Papa's Magical Water Jug Clock by Jesús Trejo, illustrated by Eliza Kinkz (available in Spanish)
7. The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
8. To The Other Side by Erika Meza
9. Tokyo Night Parade by J.P. Takahashi, illustrated by Minako Tomigahara 
10. Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius by Lynne Cox, illustrated by Richard Jones
    

If you don't already have these books, check them out for free at the San Diego County Library or San Diego Public Library online or at a branch nearest you. Also, don’t forget to support local independent bookstores, where most of these titles can be found.

Which of these books will be the 2024 selection? Find out at our upcoming One Book, One San Diego announcement event...Booked for the Weekend!
Saturday, August 17
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Stay tuned, registration coming soon!

Dog-ear your calendar because you are Booked for the Weekend! Join us for the 2024 One Book, One San Diego Selection Announcement and a Revelry of Reading for All Ages. It's a novel idea, bound to be a great time!

Following the One Book, One San Diego announcement at 11 a.m., celebrate your love of reading with KPBS, the San Diego Public Library, the San Diego County Library and many of our One Book community partners. Learn how to get involved in the One Book program, pick-up your very own copy of the 2024 adult, teen, or children's selection, participate in a fun book swap, and enjoy book-related activities for the whole family. Don't miss our featured special guest, San Diego Poet Laureate 2023-24, Dr. Jason Magabo Perez!

Share your email with us in the box to the right to stay updated on all things One Book!

You can now nominate books for One Book, One San Diego year round! Please submit nominations prior to March 15 for titles to be considered for the 2025 season. Share your favorite title or two today!

View the full list of past One Book selections here

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