EAST LANSING — Four Michigan State University Press titles have been selected for the 2026 Michigan Notable Books list, an annual program of the Library of Michigan recognizing outstanding works that capture the spirit, history and complexity of the Great Lakes State.
MSU Press Director Elizabeth Demers expressed profound pride in the recognition, noting the exceptional breadth of the Press’s contributions this year. “I am over the moon that MSU Press has received this honor in 2026 — not for one book, which would be amazing enough, but for four,” Demers said. “Receiving a Notable award means so much to us at MSU Press, because it means that we are publishing work that makes a difference to the people of Michigan. We help authors tell essential stories.”
The Michigan Notable Books program annually highlights up to 20 titles published in the previous year that are set in Michigan, explore Great Lakes themes or are written by Michigan authors. This year’s selections continue that tradition by illuminating the state’s natural landscapes, historical legacies and evolving communities.
The four MSU Press titles selected for the Michigan Notable Books award were “Forever in the Path: The Black Experience at Michigan State University” by Pero G. Dagbovie, “Dead Moose on Isle Royale: Off Trail with the Citizen Scientists of the Wolf–Moose Project” by Jeffrey M. Holden, “Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights” by Alan Reuther, and “This Magnetic North: Candid Conversations on a Changing Northern Michigan” by Tim Mulherin.
Demers emphasized the significance of the four MSU Press titles honored this year, each of which reflects the Press’s commitment to scholarship, storytelling and public engagement. “Pero Dagbovie’s meticulous research and insightful writing reveal the history of African American students and faculty at Michigan State — people who were instrumental in creating the university we have today,” she said. “Jeffrey Holden takes readers to the wilds of Isle Royale, highlighting not just the work of the Wolf–Moose Project, but the gritty realities of surviving in the smallest and most remote national park. Tim Mulherin asks tough questions about place, environment and people, and how a population boom is irrevocably changing one of Michigan’s most beautiful regions. Alan Reuther’s personal biography of his father, activist Roy Reuther, is a thoroughly researched account of how one man, working with other people of vision, changed the fate of workers in Michigan, then carried over these values into civil rights and labor work at the national level.”
She added, “I couldn’t be more proud of our authors for writing these outstanding books, and for our staff, whose expertise helped bring the authors’ vision to life. Thank you, Library of Michigan, for recognizing that great writing about Michigan comes from Michigan, too.”
Dean of MSU Libraries Neil Romanosky shared his excitement about the MSU Press’s strong showing on the Notable awards list. “It is a testimony to not only the good work coming out of the MSU Press, but the work coming out of Michigan itself,” he noted. “I am immensely grateful for Elizabeth’s leadership in acquiring books from and working with talented authors such as those included on this year’s list, and for the Press’s continued commitment to publishing high-quality, noteworthy books.”
The authors will be honored at the annual Night for Notables reception on Saturday, April 18, 2025, at the Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo St. in Lansing, with past Michigan Notable Books honoree Angeline Boulley delivering the keynote speech.
MSU Press Titles Selected for the 2026 Michigan Notable Books List
Dead Moose on Isle Royale: Off Trail with the Citizen Scientists of the Wolf–Moose Project
Jeffrey M. Holden
Dead Moose on Isle Royale follows Holden and teams of citizen scientists as they traverse the rugged backcountry of Isle Royale National Park to locate and study moose remains for the world’s longest-running predator–prey research project. Through vivid accounts of off-trail travel, harsh weather, and demanding fieldwork, Holden reveals the scientific and human dimensions of the Wolf–Moose Project and the volunteers who sustain it.
Forever in the Path: The Black Experience at Michigan State University
Pero G. Dagbovie
In Forever in the Path, Dagbovie traces the Black experience at Michigan State University from the 1890s through the late twentieth century. Drawing on multiple historical traditions, he illuminates the individuals, movements, and turning points that shaped both the university and the lives of its Black students and faculty. The book offers a vital account of struggle, resilience, and institutional transformation at a pioneering land-grant institution.
Roy Reuther and the UAW: Fighting for Workers and Civil Rights
Alan Reuther
Alan Reuther’s biography of his father, Roy Reuther, chronicles the life of a key figure in the Flint sit-down strike, a major force in the UAW, and a national advocate for civil rights, voting rights, and farmworker justice. The book situates Reuther’s activism within broader movements for labor and racial equity, highlighting both the achievements and the risks faced by those who challenge entrenched power.
This Magnetic North: Candid Conversations on a Changing Northern Michigan
Tim Mulherin
This Magnetic North explores how the natural beauty of Michigan’s Grand Traverse region has drawn new residents—particularly during the pandemic and amid climate shifts—reshaping the area’s environment, culture, and identity. Through interviews and fieldwork, Mulherin examines the tensions between growth and preservation, offering a nuanced portrait of a beloved region in transition.
About the Michigan Notable Books Program:
Established in 1991 as part of Michigan Week, the Michigan Notable Books program celebrates works that reflect the state’s diverse people, places, and histories. The 2026 selection committee included representatives from the Library of Michigan, the Library of Michigan Foundation, the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan State University Libraries, and other cultural and literary institutions.
Honorees will be celebrated at the annual Night for Notables reception on April 18, 2025, at the Library of Michigan in Lansing. Participating authors will also take part in statewide library tours and the Authors Conversations video series.