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Thursday, April 12, 2018
The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind by Barbara K. Lipska

The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind: My Tale of Madness and Recovery

Barbara K. Lipska with Elaine McArdle

In January 2015, Barbara Lipska—a leading expert on the neuroscience of mental illness—was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to her brain. Within months, her frontal lobe, the seat of cognition, began shutting down. She descended into madness, exhibiting dementia- and schizophrenia-like symptoms that terrified her family and coworkers. But miraculously, just as her doctors figured out what was happening, the immunotherapy they had prescribed began to work. Just eight weeks after her nightmare began, Lipska returned to normal. With one difference: she remembered her brush with madness with exquisite clarity. In The Neuroscientist Who Lost Her Mind, Lipska describes her extraordinary ordeal and its lessons about the mind and brain. She explains how mental illness, brain injury, and age can change our behavior, personality, cognition, and memory. She tells what it is like to experience these changes firsthand. And she reveals what parts of us remain, even when so much else is gone.

Biography. Call number: BIOG Lipska. View in our catalog

The Innocent Wife by Amy Lloyd

The Innocent Wife

Amy Lloyd

Twenty years ago, Dennis Danson was arrested and imprisoned for the brutal murder of a young girl. Now he's the subject of a true-crime documentary that's whipping up a frenzy online to uncover the truth and free a man who has been wrongly convicted. A thousand miles away in England, Samantha is obsessed with Dennis's case. She exchanges letters with him, and is quickly won over by his apparent charm and kindness to her. Soon she has left her old life behind to marry him and campaign for his release. When the campaign is successful and Dennis is freed, however, Sam begins to discover new details that suggest he may not be quite so innocent after all. But how do you confront your husband when you don't want to know the truth?

Fiction. Call number: FIC Llo. View in our catalog

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena

A Girl Like That

Tanaz Bhathena

In this young adult debut set in Saudi Arabia, where the law forbids romantic relationships outside of marriage, two teens fall in love with tragic consequences. Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: an Indian girl, a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a troublemaker whose romantic entanglements are the subject of endless gossip among the girls in her school. "You don't want to get involved with a girl like that," they say. So how is it that Porus, a Parsi boy, has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of the highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is called into question.

Teen fiction. Call number: YA FIC Bha. View in our catalog

Rebound by Kwame Alexander

Rebound

Kwame Alexander, illustrations by Dawud Anyabwile

In the summer of 1988, twelve-year-old Chuck Bell is sent to stay with his grandparents, where he discovers jazz and basketball and learns more about his family's past.

Youth fiction, ages 10-14. Call number: J FIC Ale. View in our catalog

Smiley by Joanne George

Smiley: A Journey of Love

Joanne George

While working as a veterinary technician, Joanne George heard about a puppy mill not far from the clinic and embarked on a rescue mission with her co-workers. On that special day, Joanne met Smiley for the first time. He had been born without eyes and with dwarfism and because of his time in the puppy mill, Smiley was suffering from serious anxiety. While the other dogs rescued that day were found loving homes, Smiley was going to need some extra special care. Nothing happens without practice and patience and Joanne and Smiley learned both those traits together. Gradually Smiley was able to walk off-leash and started greeting Joanne at the back door. She gave Smiley a loving home and he taught her patience, understanding and acceptance. It soon became evident that Smiley would become a wonderful therapy dog.

Youth nonfiction. Call number: J 636.708 Geo. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Apr 12, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Run For It by Marcelo D'Salete

Run for It: Stories of Slaves who Fought for their Freedom

Marcelo D'Salete

Run For It — a stunning graphic novel by internationally acclaimed illustrator Marcelo d’Salete — is one of the first literary and artistic efforts to face up to Brazil’s hidden history of slavery. Originally published in Brazil — where it was nominated for three of the country’s most prestigious comics awards — Run For It has received rave reviews worldwide, including, in the U.S., The Huffington Post. These intense tales offer a tragic and gripping portrait of one of history’s darkest corners. It’s hard to look away.

Graphic novel. Call number: GN Run. View in our catalog

Far Cry 5

Far Cry 5

Take back your town. Fight to free Hope City, Montana, from a fanatic doomsday cult. As you build your resistance, the ever-evolving world will shape your story in ways you'll never see coming. Fight alongside allies with the For Hire system. Choose your team from Guns, Fangs, or a Friend For Hire. Take down the cult with iconic weapons and vehicles throughout the open world. From the forests full of wildlife to the soaring skies, see all this land has to offer.

Video game: PS4 and Xbox One. Rated M. View in our catalog

Every Note Played by Lisa Genova

Every Note Played

Lisa Genova

A once accomplished concert pianist, Richard now has ALS. As he becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard's muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it's too late. This is a masterful exploration of redemption and what it means to find peace inside of forgiveness.

Fiction. Call number: FIC Gen. View in our catalog

The Traitor's Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Traitor's Game

Jennifer A. Nielsen

Nothing is as it seems in the kingdom of Antora. Kestra Dallisor has spent three years in exile in the Lava Fields, but that won't stop her from being drawn back into her father's palace politics. He's the right hand man of the cruel king, Lord Endrick, which makes Kestra a valuable bargaining chip. A group of rebels knows this all too well—and they snatch Kestra from her carriage as she reluctantly travels home. The kidnappers want her to retrieve the lost Olden Blade, the only object that can destroy the immortal king, but Kestra is not the obedient captive they expected. Simon, one of her kidnappers, will have his hands full as Kestra tries to foil their plot, by force, cunning, or any means necessary. As motives shift and secrets emerge, both will have to decide what—and who—it is they're fighting for.

Teen fiction. Call number: YA FIC Nie. View in our catalog

They Say Blue by Jillian Tamaki

They Say Blue

Jillian Tamaki

In captivating paintings full of movement and transformation, Tamaki follows a young girl through a year or a day as she examines the colors in the world around her. Egg yolks are sunny orange as expected, yet water cupped in her hands isn’t blue like they say. But maybe a blue whale is blue. She doesn’t know, she hasn’t seen one. Playful and philosophical, They Say Blue is a book about color as well as perspective, about the things we can see and the things we can only wonder at.

Youth easy book. Call number: J EASY Tam. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Apr 5, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Educated by Tara Westover

Educated: A Memoir

Tara Westover

Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills bag.” In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father’s junkyard. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. As a way out, Tara began to educate herself, learning enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University. Her quest for knowledge would transform her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education offers: the perspective to see one’s life through new eyes, and the will to change it.

Biography. Call number: BIOG Westover. View in our catalog

Black Fortunes by Shomari Wills

Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires

Shomari Wills

While Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Michael Jordan, and Will Smith are among the estimated 35,000 black millionaires in the nation today, these famous celebrities were not the first blacks to reach the storied one percent. Between the years of 1830 and 1927, as the last generation of blacks born into slavery was reaching maturity, a small group of smart, tenacious, and daring men and women broke new ground to attain the highest levels of financial success. Black Fortunes is an intriguing look at these remarkable individuals, including Napoleon Bonaparte Drew—author Shomari Wills’ great-great-great-grandfather—the first black man in Powhatan County (contemporary Richmond) to own property in post-Civil War Virginia. His achievements were matched by five other unknown black entrepreneurs. A fresh, little-known chapter in the nation’s story—A blend of Hidden Figures, Titan, and The Tycoons—Black Fortunes illuminates the birth of the black business titan and the emergence of the black marketplace in America as never before.

Nonfiction. Call number: 973.049 Wil. View in our catalog

More Art Upstairs

More Art Upstairs

Jody Hassett Sanchez, director

A revolution is taking place in the art world and it isn't happening in Paris, Berlin or Hong Kong, but in Grand Rapids, Michigan. ArtPrize is the most highly attended art show in the world, and it awards cash prizes larger than all other competitions combined. International critics and enormous crowds pack bars, galleries and abandoned buildings all over town, taking in over 1,500 works from cerebral conceptualists and weekend hobbyists.

Nonfiction DVD. Call number: DVD 700.74 Mor. View in our catalog

Hope Nation

Hope Nation: YA Authors Share Personal Moments of Inspiration

Rose Brock, editor

Hope is a decision, but it is a hard one to recognize in the face of oppression, belittlement, alienation, and defeat. To help embolden hope, here is a powerhouse collection of essays and personal stories that speak directly to teens and all YA readers. Featuring Angie Thomas, Marie Lu, James Dashner, Nicola Yoon, David Levithan, Libba Bray, Jason Reynolds, Renée Ahdieh, and many more!

Teen nonfiction. Call number: YA 808.02 Hop. View in our catalog

If I Had a Dinosaur by Gabby Dawnay

If I Had a Dinosaur

Gabby Dawnay, illustrated by Alex Barrow

Although she has considered other pets, a young girl is sure a dinosaur would be the perfect pet and imagines all the things she would do with her dinosaur.

Youth easy book. Call number: J EASY Daw. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Mar 29, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, March 22, 2018
The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus

The Shape of Water

Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus

The Shape of Water is set in Cold War-era Baltimore at the Occam Aerospace Research Center, which has recently received its most sensitive asset ever: an amphibious man captured in the Amazon. What unfolds is a stirring romance between the asset and one of the janitors on staff, a mute woman who uses sign language to communicate with the creature. Developed from the ground up as a bold two-tiered release—one story interpreted by two artists in the independent mediums of literature and film—The Shape of Water weaves together fantasy, horror, and romance to create a tale that is equally gripping on the page and on the big screen.

Fiction. Call number: FIC Tor. View in our catalog

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole

A Princess in Theory

Alyssa Cole

Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant emails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly email won’t convince her otherwise. Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

Romance fiction. Call number: ROMFIC Col. View in our catalog

Markswoman by Rati Mehrotra

Markswoman

Rati Mehrotra

Kyra is the youngest Markswoman in the Order of Kali, a highly trained sisterhood of elite warriors armed with telepathic blades. Guided by a strict code of conduct, Kyra and the other Orders are sworn to protect the people of Asiana. But to be a Markswoman, an acolyte must repudiate her former life completely. Kyra has pledged to do so, yet she secretly harbors a fierce desire to avenge her dead family. When Kyra’s beloved mentor dies in mysterious circumstances, and Tamsyn, the powerful, dangerous Mistress of Mental Arts, assumes control of the Order, Kyra is forced on the run. Using one of the strange Transport Hubs that are remnants of Asiana’s long-lost past, she finds herself in the unforgiving wilderness of desert that is home to the Order of Khur, the only Order composed of men. Among them is Rustan, a young, disillusioned Marksman whom she soon befriends. Kyra is certain that Tamsyn committed murder in a twisted bid for power, but she has no proof. And if she fails to find it, fails in her quest to keep her beloved Order from following Tamsyn down a dark path, it could spell the beginning of the end for Kyra—and for Asiana. But what she doesn’t realize is that the line between justice and vengeance is razor thin... thin as the blade of a knife.

Fantasy fiction. Call number: SCIFIC Meh. View in our catalog

Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners by Naomi Shihab Nye

Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners

Naomi Shihab Nye

Voices in the Air is a collection of almost one hundred original poems written by the award-winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye in honor of the artists, writers, poets, historical figures, ordinary people, and diverse luminaries from past and present who inspire her and us. Full of words of encouragement, solace, and hope, this collection offers a message of peace and empathy. Voices in the Air focuses on the inspirational people who strengthen and motivate us to create, to open our hearts, and to live rewarding and graceful lives. With short informational bios about the influential figures behind each poem, and a transcendent introduction by the poet, this is a collection to cherish, read again and again, and share with others.

Teen nonfiction. Call number: YA 811.54 Nye. View in our catalog

ABC Mindful Me by Christiane Engel

ABC Mindful Me

Christiane Engel

Pairing simplified mindfulness principles with each letter of the alphabet, ABC Mindful Me features colorful illustrations of children and animals, as well as playful rhymes to explain each concept to toddlers (and their parents!). A fun read for the entire family, ABC Mindful Me is not only perfect for teaching toddlers their ABCs, but also for introducing them to key mindfulness tenants which promote physical and mental wellness, proper breathing, compassion, gratitude, and kindness.

Youth board book. Call number: J BOARD BOOK Eng. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Mar 22, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Chocolatology by Angel York and Darin Wick

Chocolatology: Chocolate's Fantastical Lore, Bittersweet History, & Delicious (Vegan) Recipes

Angel York and Darin Wick, illustrated by Cat Callaway

Where does chocolate come from? What is its history and science? And how do you incorporate it into every meal of the day and then some? Angel York and Darin Wick invite you into the world of chocolate, walking you through its lore, history, and uses.

Nonfiction. Call number: 641.637 Yor. View in our catalog

The Merry Spinster by Mallory Ortberg

The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror

Mallory Ortberg

From Mallory Ortberg comes a collection of darkly mischievous stories based on classic fairy tales. Adapted from her beloved "Children's Stories Made Horrific" series, "The Merry Spinster" takes up the trademark wit that endeared Ortberg to readers of both The Toast and her best-selling debut Texts From Jane Eyre. The feature has become among the most popular on the site, with each entry bringing in tens of thousands of views, as the stories proved a perfect vehicle for Ortberg's eye for deconstruction and destabilization. Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster updates traditional children's stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief. Readers of The Toast will instantly recognize Ortberg's boisterous good humor and uber-nerd swagger: those new to Ortberg's oeuvre will delight in her unique spin on fiction, where something a bit mischievous and unsettling is always at work just beneath the surface. Unfalteringly faithful to its beloved source material, The Merry Spinster also illuminates the unsuspected, and frequently, alarming emotional complexities at play in the stories we tell ourselves, and each other, as we tuck ourselves in for the night. Bed time will never be the same.

Fantasy fiction. Call number: SCIFIC Ort. View in our catalog

Under the Shadows by Gwen Florio

Under the Shadows

Gwen Florio

Lola Wicks is in bad shape—a family tragedy has nearly broken her in a way that her years reporting from war zones never did. Her friends, alarmed by signs that Lola is in the grip of a destructive addiction, hope that a freelance assignment will get her back on her feet. Only the threat of having her child removed persuades Lola to head to Salt Lake City to work on a puff piece about overseas adoptions. But the assignment takes a dark turn when the teenager at the center of her story lands in jail facing a murder charge. Setting out to prove the youth's innocence takes Lola to her own dark place, and she's not sure if she'll ever be able to find her way back.

Mystery fiction. Call number: MFIC Flo. View in our catalog

All We Can Do is Wait by Richard Lawson

All We Can Do is Wait

Richard Lawson

In the hours after a bridge collapse rocks their city, four teens are forced to face their pasts and the prospect of very different futures as they wait at Boston General Hospital for news of their loved ones.

Teen fiction. Call number: YA FIC Law. View in our catalog

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

Be Kind

Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Jen Hill

When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate contemplates how to make her feel better and what it means to be kind. From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving and thoughtful story explores what a child can do to be kind, and how each act, big or small, can make a difference—or at least help a friend.

Youth easy book. Call number: J EASY Mil. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Mar 15, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Encyclopedia of Black Comics by Sheena C. Howard

Encyclopedia of Black Comics

Sheena C. Howard

The Encyclopedia of Black Comics focuses on people of African descent who have published significant works in the United States or have worked across various aspects of the comics industry. The book focuses on creators in the field of comics: inkers, illustrators, artists, writers, editors, Black comic historians, Black comic convention creators, website creators, archivists and academics–as well as individuals who may not fit into any category but have made notable achievements within and/or across Black comic culture.

Nonfiction. Call number: 741.503 How. View in our catalog

Back Talk by Danielle Lazarin

Back Talk: Stories

Danielle Lazarin

From an award-winning writer, a stunning collection of stories about women's unexpressed desires and needs, and the unexpected ways they resurface. In "Floor Plans," a woman at the end of her marriage tests her power when she inadvertently befriends the neighbor trying to buy her apartment. In "Appetite," a sixteen-year old grieving her mother's death experiences first love and questions how much more heartbreak she and her family can endure. In "Dinosaurs," a recent widower and a young babysitter help each other navigate how much they have to give-and how much they can take-from the people around them. Through stories that are at once empathetic and unexpected, these women and girls defiantly push the boundaries between selfishness and self-possession. With a fresh voice and bold honesty, Back Talk examines how narrowly our culture allows women to express their desires.

Fiction. Call number: FIC Laz. View in our catalog

The Year of the Knife by G.D. Penman

The Year of the Knife

G.D. Penman

Agent "Sully" Sullivan is one of the top cops in the Imperial Bureau of Investigation. A veteran witch of the British Empire who isn't afraid to use her magical skills to crack a case. But Sully might need more than a good education and raw power to stop the string of grisly murders that have been springing up across the American Colonies. Every one of them marked by the same chilling calling card, a warning in the form of a legion of voices screaming out through the killers' mouths: "It IS tHe YEAr oF the KNife." Sully's investigation will drag her away from the comforts of home in New Amsterdam, the beautiful but useless hyacinth macaw that used to be her boss, and the loving arms of her undead girlfriend, in a thrilling race against time, demonic forces and a shadowy conspiracy that will do anything to keep its hold on power and ensure that Sully takes their secrets to her grave, as soon as possible.

Fantasy fiction. Call number: SCIFIC Pen. View in our catalog

Hamilton and Peggy! by L.M. Elliott

Hamilton and Peggy! A Revolutionary Friendship

L.M. Elliott

Drawing from historical journals and letters, New York Times bestselling author Laura Elliot weaves a richly detailed tale about the extraordinary Peggy Schuyler and her revolutionary friendship with Alexander Hamilton. Perfect for fans of the smash Broadway musical sensation Hamilton!

Teen fiction. Call number: YA FIC Ell. View in our catalog

No Kimchi for Me! by Aram Kim

No Kimchi for Me!

Aram Kim

Yoomi hates stinky, spicy kimchi—the pickled cabbage condiment served at Korean meals. So her brothers call her a baby and refuse to play with her. Yoomi is determined to eat kimchi. She tries to disguise it by eating it on a cookie, on pizza, and in ice cream. But that doesn't work. Then Grandma shows Yoomi how to make kimchi pancakes. This story about family, food, and a six-year-old "coming of age" has universal themes, and at the same time celebrates Korean culture.

Youth easy book. Call number: J EASY Kim. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Mar 8, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Armed in America by Patrick J. Charles

Armed in America: A History of Gun Rights from Colonial Militias to Concealed Carry

Patrick J. Charles

This accessible legal history describes how the Second Amendment has been interpreted throughout most of American history and shows that today's gun-rights advocates have drastically departed from the long-held interpretation of the constitutional right to bear arms. This illuminating study traces the transformation of the right to arms from its inception in English and colonial American law to today's impassioned gun-control debate. As historian and legal scholar Patrick J. Charles shows, what the right to arms means to Americans, as well as what it legally protects, has changed drastically since its first appearance in the 1689 Declaration of Rights. Armed in America explores how and why the right to arms transformed at different points in history. The right was initially meant to serve as a parliamentary right of resistance, yet by the ratification of the Second Amendment in 1791 the right had become indispensably intertwined with civic republicanism. As the United States progressed into the 19th century the right continued to change—this time away from civic republicanism and towards the individual-right understanding that is known today, albeit with the important caveat that the right could be severely restricted by the government's police power. Throughout the 20th century this understanding of the right remained the predominant view. But working behind the scenes was the beginnings of the gun-rights movement—a movement that was started in the early 20th century through the collective efforts of sporting magazine editors and was eventually commandeered by the National Rifle Association to become the gun-rights movement known today.Readers looking to sort through the shrill rhetoric surrounding the current gun debate and arrive at an informed understanding of the legal and historical development of the right to arms will find this book to be an invaluable resource.

Nonfiction. Call number: 344.73 Cha. View in our catalog

This Idea is Brilliant by John Brockman

This Idea is Brilliant: Lost, Overlooked, and Underappreciated Scientific Concepts Everyone Should Know

John Brockman, editor

Presents essays responding to a question about what scientific term or concept ought to be more widely known, written by such authors as Jared Diamond, Richard Thaler, Richard Dawkins, Lisa Randall, Steven Pinker, and Carlo Roveri.

Nonfiction. Call number: 500 Thi. View in our catalog

The Château by Paul Goldberg

The Château

Paul Goldberg

Facing daunting prospects after losing a prestigious job, a once-successful science reporter investigates the suspicious death of his college roommate, a Miami Beach plastic surgeon, in an all-or-nothing case that is shaped by the schemes of the reporter's political dissident father.

Fiction. Call number: FIC Gol. View in our catalog

Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Love, Hate & Other Filters

Samira Ahmed

American-born seventeen-year-old Maya Aziz is torn between worlds. There’s the proper one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter: attending a college close to their suburban Chicago home, and being paired off with an older Muslim boy her mom deems “suitable.” And then there is the world of her dreams: going to film school and living in New York City—and maybe (just maybe) pursuing a boy she’s known from afar since grade school, a boy who’s finally falling into her orbit at school. There’s also the real world, beyond Maya’s control. In the aftermath of a horrific crime perpetrated hundreds of miles away, her life is turned upside down. The community she’s known since birth becomes unrecognizable; neighbors and classmates alike are consumed with fear, bigotry, and hatred. Ultimately, Maya must find the strength within to determine where she truly belongs.

Teen fiction. Call number: YA FIC Ahm. View in our catalog

Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz

Betty Before X

Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson

In Detroit, 1945, eleven-year-old Betty’s house doesn’t quite feel like home. She believes her mother loves her, but she can’t shake the feeling that her mother doesn’t want her. Church helps those worries fade, if only for a little while. The singing, the preaching, the speeches from guest activists like Paul Robeson and Thurgood Marshall stir African Americans in her community to stand up for their rights. Betty quickly finds confidence and purpose in volunteering for the Housewives League, an organization that supports black-owned businesses. Soon, the American civil rights icon we now know as Dr. Betty Shabazz is born. Inspired by Betty's real life—but expanded upon and fictionalized through collaboration with novelist Renée Watson—Ilyasah Shabazz illuminates four poignant years in her mother’s childhood with this book, painting an inspiring portrait of a girl overcoming the challenges of self-acceptance and belonging that will resonate with readers today.

Youth fiction. Call number: J FIC Sha. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Mar 1, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Fire on the Track by Roseanne Montillo

Fire on the Track: Betty Robinson and the Triumph of the Early Olympic Women

Roseanne Montillo

When Betty Robinson assumed the starting position at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, she was participating in what was only her fourth-ever organized track meet. She crossed the finish line as a gold medalist and the fastest woman in the world. This improbable athletic phenom was an ordinary high school student, discovered running for a train in rural Illinois mere months before her Olympic debut. Amsterdam made her a star.But at the top of her game, her career (and life) almost came to a tragic end when a plane she and her cousin were piloting crashed. So dire was Betty's condition that she was taken to the local morgue; only upon the undertaker's inspection was it determined she was still breathing. Betty, once a natural runner who always coasted to victory, soon found herself fighting to walk. While Betty was recovering, the other women of Track and Field were given the chance to shine in the Los Angeles Games, building on Betty's pioneering role as the first female Olympic champion in the sport. These athletes became more visible and more accepted, as stars like Babe Didrikson and Stella Walsh showed the world what women could do. And-miraculously-through grit and countless hours of training, Betty earned her way onto the 1936 Olympic team, again locking her sights on gold as she and her American teammates went up against the German favorites in Hitler's Berlin. Told in vivid detail with novelistic flair, Fire on the Track is an unforgettable portrait of these trailblazers in action.

Adult nonfiction. Call number: 796.42 Mon. View in our catalog

Song of a Captive Bird by Jasmin Darznik

Song of a Captive Bird

Jasmin Darznik

A spellbinding debut novel about the trailblazing Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad, who defied society's expectations to find her voice and her destiny. All through her childhood in Tehran, Forugh Farrokhzad is told that Persian daughters should be quiet and modest. She is taught only to obey, but she always finds ways to rebel-gossiping with her sister among the fragrant roses of her mother's walled garden, venturing to the forbidden rooftop to roughhouse with her three brothers, writing poems to impress her strict, disapproving father, and sneaking out to flirt with a teenage paramour over café glacé. During the summer of 1950, Forugh's passion for poetry takes flight-and tradition seeks to clip her wings. Forced into a suffocating marriage, Forugh runs away and falls into an affair that fuels her desire to write and to achieve freedom and independence. Forugh's poems are considered both scandalous and brilliant; she is heralded by some as a national treasure, vilified by others as a demon influenced by the West. She perseveres, finding love with a notorious filmmaker and living by her own rules-at enormous cost. But the power of her writing only grows stronger amid the upheaval of the Iranian revolution.

Adult fiction. Call number: FIC Dar. View in our catalog

Marshall

Marshall

Reginald Hudlin, director; starring Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Sterling K. Brown, Kate Hudson

A biopic of a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.

Adult DVD. Call number: DVD FIC Mar. View in our catalog

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

Tempests and Slaughter

Tamora Pierce

Arram Draper is on the path to becoming one of the realm's most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness—and for attracting trouble. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the "leftover prince" with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram's heart, Arram realizes that one day—soon—he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie. In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalín came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom's future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.

Teen fiction. Call number: YA FIC Pie. View in our catalog

Dancy Pants by Quvenzhané Wallis

Shai & Emmie Star in Dancy Pants!

Quvenzhané Wallis with Nancy Ohlin, illustrated by Sharee Miller

From Academy Award-nominated actress Quvenzhané Wallis comes the second story in a brand-new series about best friends Shai and Emmie, two third-graders destined for superstardom. Shai Williams-third-grader and superstar in the making-loves to act, sing, and dance. So when her teacher, Ms. Englert, signs their class up for a major dance competition, Shai's fancy moves are put to the test. Paired up with her best friend Emmie and classmate Rio, Shai plans to settle her competition jitters by just having fun. That is until her rival, Gabby Supreme, challenges her to a bet: whoever loses the dance competition has to bring the winner one cupcake every day for a month. Now Shai has to win.

Youth fiction. Call number: J FIC Wal. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Feb 22, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, February 15, 2018
This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins

This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America

Morgan Jerkins

From one of the fiercest critics writing today, Morgan Jerkins’ highly-anticipated collection of linked essays interweaves her incisive commentary on pop culture, feminism, black history, misogyny, and racism with her own experiences to confront the very real challenges of being a black woman today—perfect for fans of Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist, Rebecca Solnit’s Men Explain Things to Me, and Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists.

Adult nonfiction. Call number: 305.488 Jer. View in our catalog

Beneath the Darkest Sky by Jason Overstreet

Beneath the Darkest Sky

Jason Overstreet

In this riveting and emotionally powerful historical drama, an ex-FBI agent plunges into the darkest shadows of 1930s Europe, where everything he loves is on the line . . . International consultant Prescott Sweet's mission is to bring justice to countries suffering from America's imperialistic interventions. With his outspoken artist wife, Loretta, and their two children, he lives a life of equality and continental elegance amid Europe's glittering capitals-beyond anything he ever dared hope for. But he is still a man in hiding, from his past with the Bureau, from British Intelligence-and from his own tempting, dangerous skill at high-level espionage. So when he has the opportunity to live in Moscow and work at the American Embassy, Prescott and his family seize the chance to take refuge and at last put down roots in what they believe is a fair society. Life in Russia, however, proves to be a beautiful lie. Reduced to bare survival, with his son gravely ill, Prescott calls on all his skills in a last-ditch effort to free his family from the grips of Stalin. But between honor and expediency, salvation and atrocity, he'll be forced to play an ever more merciless hand and commit unimaginable acts for a future that promises nowhere to run.

Adult fiction. Call number: FIC Ove. View in our catalog

Big Mushy Happy Lump by Sarah Andersen

Big Mushy Happy Lump: A "Sarah's Scribbles" Collection

Sarah Andersen

Containing illustrated personal essays on the author's real-life experiences with anxiety, career, relationships and other adulthood challenges, this collection of the hugely popular, world-famous Sarah's Scribbles comics are perfect for those of us who boast bookstore-ready bodies and Netflix-ready hair.

Adult graphic novel. Call number: GN Sarah's Scribbles. View in our catalog

One-Punch Man: Season 1

One-Punch Man: Season 1

Shingo Natsume, director; based on the manga by ONE and Yusuke Murata

Saitama is a hero who only became a hero for fun. After three years of 'special' training, though, he's become so strong that he's practically invincible. In fact, he's too strong, even his mightiest opponents are taken out with a single punch, and it turns out that being devastatingly powerful is actually kind of a bore. With his passion for being a hero lost along with his hair, yet still faced with new enemies every day, how much longer can he keep it going?

Teen anime DVD. Call number: YA DVD ANIME One. View in our catalog

Bad Princess by Kris Waldherr

Bad Princess: True Tales from Behind the Tiara

Kris Waldherr

Forget everything you thought you knew about princesses... Welcome to Bad Princess by Kris Waldherr, where you'll discover what really happens after "Happily Ever After." From the war-torn Dark Ages of Medieval Europe to America's Gilded Age, and all the way up to Kate Middleton, Bad Princess explores more than 30 true princess stories, going beyond the glitz and glamour to find out what life was really like for young royals throughout history. A mix of royal biography, pop culture, art, style, and pure fun, Bad Princess is a whip-smart, tongue-in-cheek spin on the traditional princess narrative, proving that it takes more than a pretty crown to be a great leader.

Youth nonfiction, ages 8-12. Call number: J 940.099 Wal. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Feb 15, 2018
Alexis
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Getting It Right by Karen E. Osborne

Getting It Right

Karen E. Osborne

Kara and Alex are half-sisters who have never met, one the product of an abusive foster-care setting, the other of dysfunctional privilege. From his hospital bed, Alex's father tasks her with finding Kara, the mixed-race child he abandoned. Alex is stunned to learn of Kara's existence but reluctantly agrees.

Adult fiction. Call number: FIC Osb. View in our catalog

The Afterlives by Thomas Pierce

The Afterlives

Thomas Pierce

Jim Byrd died. Technically. For a few minutes. The diagnosis: heart attack at age thirty. Revived with no memory of any tunnels, lights, or angels, Jim wonders what—if anything—awaits us on the other side. Then a ghost shows up. Maybe. Jim and his new wife, Annie, find themselves tangling with holograms, psychics, messages from the beyond, and a machine that connects the living and the dead. As Jim and Annie journey through history and fumble through faith, they confront the specter of loss that looms for anyone who dares to fall in love. Funny, fiercely original, and gracefully moving, The Afterlives will haunt you. In a good way.

Adult fiction. Call number: FIC Pie. View in our catalog

Be Bully Free by Michael Panckridge and Catherine Thornton

Be Bully Free

Michael Panckridge and Catherine Thornton

With bullying affecting approximately one in five children, and an increase in bullying on social media, it remains a frighteningly common issue for children growing up today. Written in a young adult fiction style, Be Bully Free gives the recipient of bullying direct and practical advice to help empower them and take back control of their situation. The advice is grounded in real world, everyday bullying scenarios and additional information is provided to help children in a range of well-being areas such as nutrition, exercise, sleep, anxiety and more, making the book a highly valuable resource for any child 11+ who is experiencing or has experienced bullying. Sections for families and schools are also included.

Teen nonfiction. Call number: YA 302.343 Pan. View in our catalog

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part One by Michael Dante DiMartino

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars, Part One

Michael Dante DiMartino, art by Irene Koh

A pompous developer plans to turn the new spirit portal into an amusement park, potentially severing an already tumultuous connection with the spirits. What's more, the triads have realigned and are in a brutal all-out brawl at the city's borders—where hundreds of evacuees have relocated! In order to get through it all, Korra and Asami vow to look out for each other—but first, they've got to get better at being a team and a couple!

Youth graphic novel. Call number: J GN Korra. View in our catalog

Rafi and Rosi: Pirates! by Lulu Delacre

Rafi and Rosi: Pirates!

Lulu Delacre

Come visit El Morro Fort with Rafi and Rosi! Laugh at their antics and join in the fun as the two coquíes discover the pirate history of Puerto Rico.

Youth reader, ages 5-8. Call number: J READER Del. View in our catalog

Descriptions and images provided by the publishers.

Feb 8, 2018
Alexis

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