To paraphrase a century-old saying, those who don’t know their history are destined - or doomed - to repeat it. During Black History Month, the HHS library highlights books about the contributions of and challenges faced by people of color. From stories of historical figures and events to issues we struggle with today, books can help us understand and learn from the mistakes of our past so we may pave a brighter path forward.
Below are quick reviews of a few titles I recommend not just in February, but throughout the year. To find more, check out the Historical Fiction, Notable Nonfiction and Biography & Memoir genre lists on this library website. Nonfiction The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel WIlkerson - Three families flee the South during the Great Migration of African Americans in the decades between the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement. The book highlights the oppression they faced in the South as well as the opportunities - and obstacles - they found in the North. Stamped from the Beginning: the definitive history of racist ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds - This book breaks down the mythology around the people and historical events that history textbooks have simplified, from Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr. to the War on Drugs. The Rebellious Life of Ms. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis - Offten portrayed as a tired old woman arrested for not moving to the back of the bus, Rosa Parks really was a tireless activist for Civil Rights - especially against sexual violence toward women. Just Mercy: Young Readers Edition by Bryan Stevenson - A young lawyer fighting to overturn the wrongful convictions of African Americans shines a light on our flawed justice system. When They Call You a Terrorist: a Black Lives Matters memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors - One of the founders of the movement shares the experiences of her brother, whose mental illness seemed to be criminalized instead of treated in his encounters with police. Fiction Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead - Part historical fiction, part fantasy, this story imagines that the famed network to freedom is a literal train running beneath the earth. It follows Cora as she risks everything to flee the brutality of slavery. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely - An incident of police violence involving a white officer and a Black teen is explored from multiple perspectives. Dear Martin and Dear Justyce by Nic Stone – These books explore how two youths from similar circumstances can end up on very different paths, and how the color of their skin can impact their trajectory. Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen Lee - When the statue of her college’s first Black president is vandalized, Savannah is torn between speaking up or protecting her full scholarship. Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson - Claudia runs up against apathy and uncertainty when trying to solve the disappearance of her best friend. The story highlights racism, poverty and other social issues that cause people to fall through the cracks. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson - Jade struggles with feeling like an outsider, or someone who needs to be fixed, when she leaves her poor neighborhood to attend a wealthy private school. She turns to art to release her frustrations, and ends up finding her voice.
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Daisy Darker's family is the epitome of dysfunctional - secrets, lies and grudges galore. So when they come together at Nana's island home for a rare gathering to celebrate her 80th birthday, tension is to be expected. What isn't expected, however, is murder. But at midnight, Nana is found dead, and father Frank follows an hour later. Unable to leave the island until the tide goes out in the morning, the remaining family members are left in terror, wondering who is to blame for the killings and who will be next. A series of clues left by the killer also forces them to rehash family drama and trauma, including the often isolating treatment of narrator Daisy due to a rare illness. This homage to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None is hard to put down. The family dynamics are gripping and relatable; as secrets are revealed, you alternate between sympathy and contempt for each of the characters. And then as morning approaches, and the number of remaining family members dwindles, the killer comes to light. The stunning disclosure, coupled with a twist that made me re-read earlier parts of the book, left me reeling. The ending was unpredictable and upended my feelings about certain characters to the point where I wondered "did the villain have a good reason?" I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery or is enthralled by stories of difficult families and situations. Dystopian fiction deals with the end of the world - the collapse of civilization as we know it due to war, plague, alien invasion or some other calamity. Well-known examples are The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, a war-torn society where children must battle to the death for an audience's amusement, or The Road by Cormac McCarthy, a dismal journey of a father and son through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Teen readers are drawn to these stories for the action and excitement, but also for the echoes of the real-world problems they have to navigate. A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher is a gentler kind of dystopian story. Instead of focusing on how society falls apart, it explores what the world is like for the survivors decades after. The story is told by Griz, a teen whose family is immune to the condition that caused the human race to lose the ability to reproduce and die out. The family survives on a series of remote islands where they farm, fish, and occasionally go "a-Viking," exploring abandoned places for anything useful they can find. It's not an easy life, but despite some hardship, the family is somewhat content. When a trader comes by and steals one of the family dogs, valued as much for its companionship as for its hunting, Griz jumps in his boat and gives chase. The pursuit takes him and his remaining dog to the mainland, where he tries to reconcile what he’s read in old books with the ruins he sees. It's a contemplative adventure as the reader sees the remains of our society through Griz's eyes. Recounting the story in a journal at the lowest point in his life, Griz draws us in with his tales of danger and wonder; we want to know how he got into trouble, if he'll find a way out, and whether he will ever find his dog. When Griz finally catches up with the trader, the story enters more familiar dystopian territory, exploring issues of morality and individual freedoms with a few reveals I never expected. Griz is a compelling narrator, full of curiosity and honest about his shortcomings. His relationship with his dogs will resonate with anyone who's ever loved a pet. While this may not have the edge-of-your-seat thrills of some dystopian novels, there is plenty to move the story along. In fact, when it ended, I was left wanting to know more about the characters, and longing to accompany them on further adventures. In the mood for a good supernatural thriller? Check out The Honeys by Ryan La Sala. The fast-paced, action-packed story pulled me in from the first page and kept me guessing til the last. Mars, a gender fluid teen, always felt less than his twin sister Caroline, who seemed to have everything going for her. The past few years, Caroline spent all her free time at a ritzy nature camp, one Mars stopped attending after a traumatic event. When his sister dies attacking him - an event his parents try to cover up and blame on a brain tumor - Mars wants to return to the camp to figure out what really happened. What changed for his sister there? Who were her beautiful and strangely influential friends, a group called the "Honeys" because they tended the camp's bees? While searching for answers, Mars finds something even more sinister than the elitism and sexism that pervade the camp. Is there anyone he can trust? Is the "hive mind" of the Honeys more than just a metaphor? Can he escape the fate that doomed his sister? In addition to an engaging story, the book offers an interesting look at class and gender. Mars is a dynamic main character who is easy to root for, and a unique hero in young adult literature. As for the villains, they're not always who you think they are, and the final reveals may take you by surprise. Realistic fiction stories provide readers with "windows and mirrors," a look into others' lives and a reflection of their own. In addition to providing engaging stories, these books validate readers who see themselves and help us build empathy for others. Some of the library's newest realistic titles tackle illness, family secrets, going viral, healing and finding your place in the world.
Fear of Missing Out by Kate McGovern - When a teen learns her cancer has returned, she sets out on a road trip with her boyfriend and best friend to investigate a possible new technology that could freeze her body until a cure is found. If you liked The Fault in Our Stars by John Green or Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon, check this one out. The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho - May’s brother seems to have everything going for him. So when he commits suicide, her family is turned upside down. Their pain is made worse when a local businessman blames the Asian-American family for the death and several other suicides, saying the culture puts too much pressure on teens to achieve. May strikes back with her writing, but speaking up has consequences she doesn't expect. It also makes her realize that the racism she’s struggling with is nothing new to her Black best friends. This is a sad story with a hopeful, empowering ending as May and her friends work to ensure everyone has a voice, no matter their background or struggle. The Kids are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony - When Thomas and Savannah’s mom dies, they are desperate to learn who their biological father is. They decide a podcast could help them track down mom's friends and help tell their story. Their efforts go viral, and as they draw more listeners, they also draw controversy. Everyone from feminists to men's rights advocates to First Amendment activists begin to weigh in. Is finding their dad worth all the mayhem that comes with it? And will the guy be worth finding? A story of siblings, family secrets, finding yourself and growing up in a world when everything is shared on social media. The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia - This is one of several books we have that see Deafness as something to celebrate, not to pity or fix. The author uses a combination of text, paint, collage and drawings to tell the story of Piper, who is so busy trying to survive that she doesn’t know what it’s like to live. When she meets Marley, Piper begins to see her Deafness isn't something to hide, and she's determined to use her voice to help others. The story veers into the dystopian genre because it’s based in a world with environmental collapse and political corruption. If you're interested in this topic, you can also try True Biz by Sara Novic, The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais and The Sign for Home by Blair Fell. An Appetite for Miracles by Laeken Zea Kemp - Danna struggles to reconnect with her ailing grandfather, hoping his favorite foods will ease his dementia and restore some of his memories. Raul has been lost since his mother went to jail for a wrongful conviction several years ago. When they meet at a nursing home, they feel an instant connection and team up on a journey to heal themselves and those they love. Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Reyes - Yamilet is one of the few Mexican-American students in her affluent religious school, but, she tells herself, at least no one knows she’s gay. She’s determined to keep it that way -- and protect her brother, make her mom proud and not fall in love. But it’s not so easy when the school’s only openly queer student catches her eye. A funny, honest story about growing up and finding yourself. Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen Lee - When Savannah gets a full scholarship to an ivy league school, she expects to meet other students who have worked just as hard as she has. She's dismayed to discover the racism, hypocrisy and entitlement on campus. When the statue of the school's first Black president is vandalized, she's outraged. But speaking up could put her scholarship and future at risk. Recommended for readers interested in social justice or anyone who's been torn about speaking out.
One criticism of the movie is that it didn't go into detail about the impact of the bombs when they were dropped on two Japanese cities in August 1945. Hiroshima by John Hersey was a groundbreaking work that revealed to the world in 1946 the devastation and suffering the bombs inflicted. Fallout by Lesley M.M. Blume goes behind the scenes of Hersey's efforts to tell that story despite intense pressure and censorship from the US government. The Bomb: Presidents, Generals and the Secret History of Nuclear War by Fred Kaplan takes us through the use of the first bombs and the nuclear arms race that's followed.
For Fans of Barbie There are a lot of great novels exploring relationships and identity with the same fun vibe as Barbie, but today's post focuses on nonfiction. Despite the comedy of the movie, there were some serious messages about finding your purpose, believing in yourself ("I am Kenough") and empowering girls and women. When Everything Changed: the Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to Today by Gail Collins explores the growth of women's rights and opportunities through 2008, when Hillary Clinton became the first woman to run for president. Amazons, Abolitionists and Activists by Mikki Kendall highlights key figures and events in the fight for women's rights. In Spinster: Making a Life of Own's One, author Kate Bolick considers how she and other women are choosing to remain single, defying the convention that once defied most women. Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time by Tanya Lee Stone focuses on the stories of girls from around the world who found an escape from poverty through education. If you'd like to learn about the toy itself, try Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Made Her by Robin Gerber. It explores how Ruth Handler transformed the toy business and impacted American culture for generations. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is dystopian novel. But like Internment by Samira Ahmed, the premise is not such a big leap from our current reality. The story imagines our country has gone through a terrible recession and violent unrest, only settled by a law prohibiting anything foreign or unpatriotic. Asian-Americans unfairly bear the blame for the country's problems, and any criticism of the new rules is quickly squashed: protests are stifled, books are removed from libraries and children are taken from “unfit” parents. Still, a resistance rises, one that uses story and art to amplify voices that are being silenced. It’s not an action-packed book, focusing heavily on the families and friendships torn apart, so it’s not exactly a thriller. But it’s not science fiction or straight realistic either. It’s a bit of a slow build as you follow 12-year-old Bird, his enigmatic mother and those who support the resistance. I was particularly happy to see libraries and librarians play a crucial role. The author, who is known for family dramas like Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You, says she was inspired by our current divisive politics and the anti-Asian sentiment stirred up by COVID.
Internment was similarly inspired by politics and American history. In the near future, the U.S. government has imprisoned all Muslim-Americans in internment camps, including 17-year-old Layla and her family. Even though they are citizens, they are stripped of their rights and possessions and considered enemies of the state. This echoes what happened to Japanese-Americans during World War II. It also draws on the hate and fear directed at Muslims after the September 11th attacks committed by radicals in the name of their religion. This is a fast-paced, thrilling story of tolerance and reason triumphing over fear and hate. It also highlights the danger we face when we stay silent in the face of injustice. There are countless examples of dystopian novels, including The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and 1984 by George Orwell. But in each of those books, something catastrophic has happened and our world is barely recognizable. In Our Missing Hearts and Internment, the world is very familiar. The good – and the bad – feel very real. Perhaps that is why these books have such a strong impact. This is one of the best books I have read in a really long time. When I finished, I was genuinely sad because I didn't want it to end. It was a good story that also made me feel really good, a dose of needed serotonin in paper form, more comforting than the best bowl of mashed potatoes. It's the story of Linus Baker, a dull and dreary government worker whose only friend is a cantankerous cat. Linus is a social worker, but the children he works with are magical beings who are sent to orphanages to protect them - and the world - from powers they can't always control. When Linus is sent on a monthlong mission to examine the leader and residents of one mysterious - and possibly dangerous - school, his life is turned upside down. He meets Lucy, the 6-year-old son of Satan who struggles to be accepted as an average kid despite his dark heritage; Talia, a gnome who fiercely protects her garden and her friends; and Chauncey, an alien-like creature who dreams of becoming a hotel bellboy. These and other quirky characters teach Linus about accepting each others' differences, taking risks and finding love. This is a sweet, funny and exciting story that might remind readers of their favorite things about Harry Potter, the Umbrella Academy and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Its message about looking past our differences and accepting everyone for who they are is an important one.
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AuthorMrs. McHugh is a librarian and instructional technology specialist. She loves talking books and pop culture with her students at Hanover High School. Archives
February 2024
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