Winter is the perfect season to curl up with a stack of good books. These picks from UW alumni and faculty explore belonging, identity, and transformation. From lyrical poetry and magical realism to political thrillers and Gothic tales set in the Wisconsin Northwoods, these stories will linger long after you’ve read the last page.
If you’d like to see more books by Badgers, check out WAA’s Goodreads Bookshelf. And if you’d like to add your own published piece, let us know!
Photo courtesy of Washington Square Press.
Scorched Earth by Tiana Clark
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Make a GiftThis poetry collection by Tiana Clark, a former poetry fellow at the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing, offers reflections on love, race, heartbreak, and joy.
Comedian Grace Jung, a visiting assistant professor of Korean studies, dives into the global rise of K-dramas such as Squid Game and Something in the Rain, unpacking why they captivate audiences worldwide.
Photo courtesy of Simon & Schuster.
Big Chief by Jon Hickey ’04
Jon Hickey ’04’s debut novel follows a young law graduate who is pulled into the volatile political landscape of his Anishinaabe homeland.
Photo courtesy of Gallery Books.
The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore by Anika Fajardo ’97
Guided by the voices of her ancestors, Dolores Moore travels to Colombia to uncover her roots in Anika Fajardo ’97’s magical novel.
Photo courtesy of Little, Brown and Company.
Hemlockby Melissa Faliveno ’06 (coming January 2026)
Set in the Wisconsin Northwoods, Melissa Faliveno ’06’s queer Gothic novel follows a woman who returns to her family’s cabin to confront a dark inheritance.
Photo courtesy of Strong Nations Publishing.
Grandmother Moonby Barbara Elgutaa MS’89
This children’s book by Barbara Elgutaa MS’89 follows a lonely Grandmother Moon, whose search for connection throws the balance of day and night into question and forces the Creator to intervene.
