We know — you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But, here at The Book Marks the Spot, we believe a cover is the gateway to reading a book. So yes, we judge books by their covers, and now Lamia and guest contributor Alex are sharing with you our favorite book covers of 2021. Drum roll, please!
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
I love this book cover for many reasons. The bright coral, eucalyptus green and yellow are a great combination that stands out on its own, yet still offers a background that lets the young woman also stand out. She exudes confidence, courage, and kindness, which you don’t see often in illustrations of women of color. The strikingly beautiful portrait additionally makes an appearance on the spine of the book, which immediately catches the viewer’s eye when browsing in the bookstore or library. I am also excited that Ericka Lugo has already made the cover art for Crystal Maldonado’s next book!
Cover art by: Ericka Lugo
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
Choi has worked with gg for the covers for her previous two books as well, and the results are always deeply compelling. At its core, Yolk is a story of two sisters and their journeys both together and apart from one another. On the cover of Yolk, you see the illustration of one sister on the cover with her arm extended and, on the back cover, the other sister with her arm outstretched as they hold hands. One of my favorite parts about the artwork is that the outline of the missing parts of both arms can be seen on the edge of the pages. Some other things that strike me about the cover are the bright yellow and the “o” in “yolk” being an egg yolk. To learn more about gg’s design and illustration process and hear about Choi’s thoughts on the cover, check out the EW interview here.
Cover art by: ohgigue
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
This bold bright blue book cover immediately intrigued me. First of all, that blue color is simply mesmerizing. Second, the profile portrait of the woman looks different than most book cover art I’ve seen. Is it a hand-drawn illustration? Digital art? Nope! It’s paper. Artist John Ed De Vera’s medium of choice is just paper. He makes this amazing bold imagery by cutting and creating each shape out of paper and then photographs it. It gives it that realistic yet minimalistic look that feels like you could reach out and feel the book cover. John Ed De Vera has also already made the cover art for Emiko Jean’s next book in the series and I am equally obsessed with that cover. It’s safe to say this is my new favorite form of art.
Cover art by: john ed de vera
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
The second I saw the cover of Firekeeper’s Daughter, I was drawn in. The art is in the style of the Woodlands school, a genre of painting among particularly the Anishinabek people. Lunham, an Ojibway artist, did a wonderful job illustrating the cover and Angeline Boulley certainly agrees, saying, “I can think of no higher compliment than to say this cover feels purely Nish (Anishinaabek)!” Lunham’s process involved first reading the book, and he shared that the style of art is meant to be a storytelling device. After reading Firekeeper’s Daughter, the cover certainly does become even more beautifully poignant. I look forward to more partnerships between Boulley and Lunham.
Cover art by: Moses Lunham
How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Just like most book covers that get me to pick up a book, the color palette drew me to picking up this one. It’s such a calming yet strong set of colors. When paired with a curvy, young woman of color with long hair blowing in the wind, how can I not be intrigued? A running theme in most of these book covers is the representation. It gets us every time!
P.S. Artist Veronika Grenzebach also has illustrated tarot cards in a similar style. They are gorgeous!
Cover art by: Laura Eckes and Veronika Grenzebach
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood
I don’t know where to even begin with this cover. The Golden Gate Bridge in the background, the American flag niqab, and the beautiful sunset hues are all immediately striking when you look at this cover. What I really enjoy about this cover is similar to what I enjoyed about the cover of Firekeeper’s Daughter — it’s a work of art that details the story inside. After seeing the cover, I immediately looked the Samya Arif, the artist, up and stared at her other artwork. A couple of my favorites are her Google doodle of Iqbal Bano and the cover art for Hijabistan.
Cover art by: Emily Mahon and Samya Arif
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
When photography and illustration mix, it makes for great art. This book cover feels like a photo, but also like an illustration at the same time. It makes me want to stare at it longer, and try to figure it out. To add to the mystery, we have dark, golden, sultry colors paired with large sunglasses and a cigarette. Who is this woman? It’s the perfect image for a mysterious thriller.
Cover design by: Faceout Studio/Tim Green
The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed
Based on the fact that three covers on this list provide a nod to California, I think it’s pretty obvious that Alex and I are California girls. The Black Kids immediately caught my eye when I was at Target one day. I love seeing Black women on covers, especially when illustrated so beautifully. The hoop earrings are a gorgeous touch as well. But my favorite part of the cover art is the image of the palm trees on fire in the reflection of the sunglasses. It is a little vignette of Los Angeles and it is definitely a poignant metaphor for the content inside. Christina Hammonds Reed has her own wise take on what the cover represents to her, so be sure to give that a read too.
Cover art by: Adriana Bellet
Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield
This cover dons a beautiful painting that makes me feel like I am peeking into the rainy window of this woman’s emotions. This cover evokes emotions from struggle to strength and pain to calm. Painter Gank Pansuay often depicts the natural beauty of Black women, which is perfectly showcased on this book cover.
Cover design by: Kerri Resnick, Felice Trinidad, and Gank Pansuay
Ghost Forest by Pik-Shuen Fung
The collage on the cover of Ghost Forest juxtaposed against the lime green background is hauntingly beautiful. Somehow, it evokes the image of what a ghost forest would look like perfectly. In an interview, Fung mentioned that she was deciding between an abstract cover or a surreal cover and leaning toward an abstract cover. When Donna Cheng created this beautiful surrealist cover, Fung instantly knew it was perfect. I have to agree!
Cover design by: Donna Cheng
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
I love the detailed illustration on the cover of this book. The cable car on the famous San Francisco hills in the background, the tall city buildings with lights on, and the mix between American and Chinese styles in the architecture. I wish I could see all of San Francisco illustrated like this! But there is something about that streetlamp illuminating that one corner of the book that always grabs my eye. It feels like the world around the lamp is ignoring what is lit up and vice versa. Feifei Ruan uses this technique a couple of times in other pieces, and it’s a beautiful way to separate individuals from the busy world around them.
Cover art by: Feifei Ruan
The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe
This is probably one of the few minimalistic book covers that I’ve been drawn to. I love the bold red background and the faceless head of hair. The simplicity is what drew me to this young adult mystery novel and forced my hand into putting it on hold at the library. I also love the hand holding the set of keys below the hair. Although the cover doesn’t paint a story like some of the other ones we’ve picked do, it does evoke the feeling you get when you’re reading a thriller.
Cover art by: Djohan Hanapi, Russell Ong, and Kult Studio and Gallery
Bad Muslim Discount wins for me!