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Fresh Air's book critic says her picks tilt a bit to nonfiction, but the novels that made the cut redress the imbalance by their sweep and intensity. Karen Russell's The Antidote was her favorite.

Premieres Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025 at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream with KPBS+ / Encores Friday, Dec. 26 at 7 p.m. on KPBS 2 + Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. on KPBS TV + Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. on KPBS 2. Senior members of the convent embark on a mercy mission, swapping the snowy East End of London for the sun-drenched terrain of Hong Kong. The rise in hospital births, and wider changes in the NHS, have clipped their wings. But their mission to the Far East is a chance to take flight and work out what really matters. For her part, Sister Julienne suddenly finds herself excited about the Order’s future. After years of battling change, she decides to embrace it and see what love can do.

Every year, we ask NPR staff and book critics to share their favorite titles in our annual Books We Love guide. Here are 8 fiction picks that were standout stars.

La temporada de declaraciones fiscales en Estados Unidos ya está en marcha, y el Servicio Interno de Impuestos prevé que 164 millones de personas presentarán la suya antes del 15 de abril.

Multi-instrumentalist and artist Sam Greenfield has made a name for himself in the music industry playing alongside some of the biggest names in the biz. He has toured extensively with Vulfpeck’s Cory Wong, Joss Stone, Dave Koz, and Thank You Scientist. But he's not just a hired gun - Sam made waves with his latest release “Sam Greenfield Rules,” blending the sophistication of jazz with the lively spirit of pop and funk to create a sound that is uniquely his own. He has built a loyal following, drawing in listeners with his irresistible melodies, grooves, vibrant energy and infectious personality. And he's no stranger to the recording studio either, having worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Mariah Carey, Queen Latifah, and more. With his fourth album on the horizon for early 2025, Sam Greenfield is sure to cement his place as one of the most exciting musicians on the scene today. BUTTON MASHER: Jake Silverman, also known as Button Masher, is a GRAMMY-winning arranger, electronic musician, composer and educator. In 2018, Silverman began to experiment with combining Jazz Fusion with chiptune. Since that time, Silverman’s genre bending music has garnered popularity with jazz lovers and video games fans from all over the world. He received the 2021 GRAMMY Award for Best Arrangement: Instrumental or A Cappella for his and Charlie Rosen’s arrangement of “Meta Knight’s Revenge” as recorded by the 8-Bit Big Band. In 2024 he was nominated for a second GRAMMY for his work with Charlie Rosen on their arrangement of “The Last Surprise” in the category of Best Arrangement: Instruments and Vocals. Button Masher can be heard with notable artists such as Phoenix, The 8-Bit Big Band, Evan Marien, Adam Neely, Sungazer, Andrew Huang, Dj Cutman, and many more. Sam Greenfield on Facebook / Instagram

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time to honor and remember those we have lost, and welcome them back to visit the land of the living. San Diego will hold several events and festivities to commemorate the tradition, and KPBS found a list of places you can attend and enjoy.

Author Rabih Alameddine won for his novel The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother). Other winners include a book for young people about orphans on the run in Iran during World War II.

If the city of Los Angeles had a soundtrack, it would be Ozomatli. Since their formation in 1995, the six-piece, multi-genre band has been a cultural force, blending Latin, hip-hop, funk, reggae, and global influences into an unmistakable sound that embodies the energy and diversity of LA. In 2025, Ozomatli celebrates an incredible milestone: 30 years of bringing their dynamic, genre-defying music to audiences around the world. To mark the occasion, Summer 2025 kicks off their 30 Revolutions Nationwide Tour, a celebration of three decades of music, community, and culture. Visit: https://musicboxsd.com/event/13974274/ozomatli-seapoodle/ Ozomatli on Instagram and Facebook

The campaign to prevent and treat these diseases has seen great success thanks to a USAID program. Now that program is gone.

Scientists say we’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to understanding and mapping the plants around us. In this episode, we meet the everyday people using an app called iNaturalist to help discover, document and protect biodiversity — sometimes even ending up in scientific papers.