This March, Mayor Mary Sheffield Challenges Detroiters to Read in Recognition of Reading Month

In recognition of March as Reading Month, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is encouraging residents across the city to pick up a book and make reading part of their daily routine.

In a recent video shared on social media, the mayor issued a simple challenge to Detroiters: read a book this month. She encouraged avid readers to add another title to their list and invited those who may not read often to start with just one book. The message is part of a broader effort to promote literacy, curiosity, and lifelong learning across Detroit.

“No matter where you are in your journey of reading, March is the month to get back to it,” Mayor Sheffield says in the video, encouraging Detroiters of all ages to make time for reading and to share what they’re reading with friends, family, and neighbors.

March is Reading Month, and Mayor Mary Sheffield has a challenge for Detroit. 📚

Pick up a book this month. If you’re already a reader, add one more to the list. If it’s been a while, this is the perfect time to start.

Detroit, what are you reading this March? pic.twitter.com/4Zpdwp3dxg

— City of Detroit (@CityofDetroit) March 6, 2026

The challenge comes as Reading Month is highlighted nationwide with programs, activities and initiatives that highlight the importance of literacy for young people and adults alike. For Detroiters looking for inspiration, the city itself has long been the setting and subject of countless books.

Here are ten titles connected to Detroit that readers may want to add to their list while taking on Mayor Sheffield’s challenge:

1. To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown by Berry Gordy

Berry Gordy recounts the creation of one of the most influential music labels in history and the artists who defined its sound. This memoir offers an inside look at how Detroit became the birthplace of a musical movement that reshaped American culture.

2. Detroit: An American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff

Blending investigative reporting with personal reflection in this gripping account of Detroit during its financial crisis, LeDuff examines corruption, systemic challenges, and the resilience of Detroiters navigating a city in transition.

3. The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow

This novel tells the story of a Kentucky family that moves to Detroit during World War II for factory work. Through the experiences of protagonist Gertie Nevels, the book explores themes of migration, labor, family, and the emotional cost of pursuing opportunity.

4. Black Detroit: A People’s History of Self-Determination by Herb Boyd

Historian Herb Boyd chronicles the long history of Detroit’s Black community and its fight for political, economic, and cultural self-determination. The book highlights key figures, movements, and institutions that shaped the city’s Black history.

5. August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones

Set in Detroit, this crime novel follows a former police officer turned private investigator as he navigates corruption and hidden secrets in the city; blending suspense with vivid descriptions of Detroit neighborhoods and culture.

6. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel traces generations of a Greek American family whose journey unfolds partly in Detroit. Through its narrative, Eugenides touches on immigration, identity, and Detroit’s changing social landscape.

7. Broke: Hardship and Resilience in a City of Broken Promises by Jodie Adams Kirshner

Law professor Jodie Adams Kirshner examines Detroit’s bankruptcy through the stories of residents struggling to stay afloat. The book provides an intimate portrait of economic hardship while also highlighting the strength and resilience found within the city’s communities.

8. Hidden History of Detroit by Amy Elliott Bragg

This collection explores lesser-known stories and historical moments that helped shape Detroit. From forgotten landmarks to overlooked figures, the book uncovers pieces of the city’s past that many residents may not know.

9. Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall

Set in Detroit’s historic Black Bottom neighborhood, this novel blends fiction, poetry, and historical reflection, celebrating the cultural richness and complexity of a community that played a central role in Detroit’s Black history.

10. How to Live in Detroit Without Being a Jackass by Aaron Foley

Written by former Model D managing editor Aaron Foley, this witty and insightful guide introduces readers to Detroit’s neighborhoods, culture, and social dynamics, offering practical advice and cultural context for newcomers and longtime residents alike.

As Detroiters take up Mayor Sheffield’s challenge this month, the city’s rich literary landscape offers plenty of places to start. From memoirs and historical accounts to novels rooted in Detroit neighborhoods, these books capture the complexity, creativity, and resilience that define the city.

Reading Month may last only a few weeks, but the stories of Detroit — and the people who shape it — continue year-round.