James McBride's Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is a sprawling novel set in a small Pennsylvania town, following the interconnected lives of Jewish and Black communities in the 1920s-1970s. Through the story of Moshe and Chona, who run the titular grocery store, and Nate, a deaf Black boy they protect, McBride explores race, religion, and what it means to be a community. The novel becomes both historical epic and celebration of unlikely alliances, proving that McBride writes about American diversity with humor and heart and that some communities are built on radical kindness.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because McBride writes about Jewish and Black communities finding common ground with warmth, humor, and historical honesty. This powerful novel reminds us that Moshe and Chona's grocery store is the heart of their town, that protecting Nate requires everyone's courage, and that McBride is a master storyteller who makes history feel alive.

DETAILS: • Author: James McBride • Publisher: Riverhead Books • Format: Paperback & Hardcover • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days