Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

 

Pages: 321

"The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives."

This 'Not History Book' did an amazing job at providing an accessible overview of the history of racism and antiracism and how it has influenced its current state. I would definitely recommend this to anyone as a starting point. It is aimed at middle to highschool age, but I think adults will benefit from reading this too, and may want to read the original Stamped for more details.

The Hate U Give

 The Hate U Give

By Angie Thomas

Pages: 454

"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr."

Such an emotional roller coaster story of someone who has her foot in two different worlds. I highly recommend that it be read as words cannot express how much this book made me feel and think about the world we are living in.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

Does the racism and Islamophobia bring out all my rage...yes.
I just wanna protect my babies who are just trying their best. 
Sabaa Tahir makes me feel so many things and I was....like...so stressed out.
I cried at least twice.
384 Pages

Tell It to the World: an Indigenous Memoir

Tell It to the World: an Indigenous Memoir by Stan Grant

Pages: 255 pages

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A CNN correspondent shares the story of how he grew up in Australia and how even though he is now successful, growing up an Aboriginal Australian effected him. Grant shares his personal experiences with racism as a child through his adulthood. He found a route to self-worth through reading the writings of James Baldwin. He compares Australia's treatment of the Aborigines to America's treatment of Native Americans and blacks. 

I was unaware of this part of Australia's history. I knew that there were several Aboriginal tribes already living in Australia when Great Britain first sent settlers and then prisoners to live there. However, I did not know how the Aboriginals had been treated from the very beginning and how they are viewed as other, still today. 

He shares how the ongoing racism in Australia and the world continues to cause hardship, anger, and shame for him as an indigenous man. He argues that the effects of early colonialism and oppression are now everyday realties that have shaped countries and governments and we all have to realize this to change it. 

Graphic Novels Galore!

Fangs by Sarah Andersen

I love Sarah's Scribbles comics, so when i saw this e-galley available, I said, sure, why not? I thought the premise of vampire + werewolf romance was a bit cliche, but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. I liked how it poked fun at the cliches, but also presented a unique plot of its own. A fun little read for fans of funny comics. Definitely a better love story than Twilight.

112 pages



New Kid by Jerry Craft

I've seen this title pop up on so many book lists lately, I thought I'd check it out. Although this graphic novel is written for the middle grades, there are so many themes and issues relevant to adult readers. When his parents enroll him in a private school, Jordan has to adapt to a school where he is one of the few students of color. He has to learn how to make new friends while faced with racist microaggressions from his classmates and teachers. I would highly recommend this title for anyone and everyone.

249 pages




The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill

Greta, an apprentice blacksmith, discovers a new passion when she rescues a small dragon from a chaotic marketplace. She then discovers the world of the tea dragons, whose horns sprout tiny leaves harvested for tea by their caretakers. This story is so sweet, and the artwork is beautiful. A lovely fantasy tale of traditions, love, and friendship.

60 pages




Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

I read this novel when it came out, but it's been a few years. When this popped up on a recommended list I thought, sure, why not? I remembered enjoying the novel, but didn't remember enough of the plot to make a reread too boring. Yet, this was so boring. The story was still exciting and upbeat, but the art was just... bleh. I'm not a fan of the blue-grey color scheme. It was nice to get a visual for some of the characters, but honestly? Just read the novel.

206 pages




Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Andersen, and Leila Del Duca (ill.)

Now this is Wonder Woman done right. Andersen is a powerful writer, and Del Duca makes the story pop with color. Diana's origin story is updated to reflect our current world, as she encounters refugees, activists, homelessness, corporate greed, human trafficking and other social issues. I love how many diverse wonder woman comics we've been getting lately, and I'd say this is one of the best ones I've read.

207 pages




Zatanna and the House of Secrets by Matthew Cody, and Yoshi Yoshitani (ill.)

We don't get a lot of Zatanna-featured comics, so seeing this one written for the younger crowd was a pleasant surprise. This book was a lot of fun! Zatanna is a normal girl living in a slightly abnormal house dealing with tricky middle school friendship troubles. Then, the son of a witch queen steals her pet rabbit's key collar and the magic house comes alive. Zatanna has to navigate the twists, turns, and terrors to rescue her father and discover her true inheritance. This book is a lot of fun!

146 pages

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

This book was awesome. Lovecraftian horror infects two families in Chicago during 1950s Jim Crow era.  Tentacled rock monsters, a secret cult society of alchemists, mechanical clockwork space machinery, ghost mansions, demon dolls, and those aren't even the really scary parts. Set up as a collection of interrelated short stories, it makes for a really fun yet thought-provoking read. Also, I hear it is being turned into an HBO series soon!

Fun, social-commentary filled horror.

372 pages

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I loved the characters in this book; I loved the familial relationships. I loved that everything was personal; it was about being a part of a community. I loved that it showed people in their humanity, because often times people are in bad situations to protect the people around them. I love that it talked about the importance of having and using your voice.
I like to think that I'm close to the situation, because I'm from Missouri, and I went to Mizzou during the 2015 protests, but I won't ever truly understand what it's like; so, I loved having the perspective of someone who was in those situations.
(I'm also just a giant shipper, so Starr and Chris were killing me)
464 Pages

Tell it to the World by Stan Grant

A shocking memoir of an Aboriginal Australian growing up and living with the legacy of racism and oppression in his country. Although I have read similar memoirs of African Americans or Native Americans in the states, it was enlightening to read the voice of someone dealing with very similar issues in another country. His writing is very honest and conversational. It would be a good read for those who enjoyed Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me, or for those looking to challenge their own implicit biases.


An important look at the legacy of colonialism and discrimination in today's world.

256 pages

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nothing I say in a review could do this story justice.

It’s well-written, full of voice, current, relevant, timely, insightful, and heartbreaking. I think everyone should read it. Right now. And then we should all sit down and discuss it. Everywhere. In every library, school, and home across the nation.

Goodreads Blurb: (Contains spoilers!!)
"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life."

Pages: 464

Floating City: A Rogue Sociologist Lost and Found in New York's Underground Economy by Sudhir Venkatesh

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

While attending Columbia University, the author does research on the New York City social groups and those trying to rise from their poor racial beginnings.  304 pages.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Posted for Andrea Dennis

#2 on the 100 books to read before you die. This was a fantastic book. I can’t believe I had never read this one before either. I love that the story is told from Scout’s point of view. Great read!  324 pages.

Hellhound on His Trail

Author: Hampton Sides
Audio Hours: 15.2 hours
Pages: 480


Cover blurb:
On April 4, 1968, James Earl Ray shot Martin Luther King at the Lorraine Motel. The nation was shocked, enraged, and saddened. As chaos erupted across the country and mourners gathered at King's funeral, investigators launched a sixty-five day search for King’s assassin that would lead them across two continents. With a blistering, cross-cutting narrative that draws on a wealth of dramatic unpublished documents, Hampton Sides, bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers, delivers a non-fiction thriller in the tradition of William Manchester's The Death of a President and Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. With Hellhound On His Trail, Sides shines a light on the largest manhunt in American history and brings it to life for all to see.


My take:
This is a great book. Vibrant and detailed without being too boring. I listened to the book and wasn't bored at any point. The author is thorough, he does a great job intertwining all the accounts and information without it being too cumbersome for the reader. Anyone will like this book, especially those with an affinity for history.

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

When this book was published in 1948, South Africa was under the grip of apartheid, which was nothing less than brutal, institutionalized racism known as segregation. Against this backdrop, Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo sets out for Johannesburg from his small rural village. A fellow minister has written to him asking him to come help his sister, who is ill.  He finds that his sister has turned to prostitution, and persuades her to return to the village. 

His son Absalom also went to Johannesburg and never returned; Kumalo now sets out to find him. As he searches, he begins to see the gaping racial and economic divisions that are threatening to split his country. Eventually, he discovers that his son has spent time in a reformatory and that he has gotten a girl pregnant.  Then Absalom is arrested for the murder of Arthur Jarvis, a prominent white crusader for racial justice He has confessed to the crime, but he claims that he did not intend to murder Jarvis. With the help of friends, Kumalo obtains a lawyer for Absalom and attempts to understand what his son has become.

Arthur Jarvis’s father, James, is a wealthy land owner.  In an attempt to come to terms with his son's murder, Jarvis reads his son’s articles and speeches on social inequality and begins a radical reconsideration of his own prejudices. He and Kumalo meet for the first time by accident, and after Kumalo has recovered from his shock, he expresses sadness and regret for Jarvis’s loss. Absalom is tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death.

Kumalo is now deeply aware of how his people have lost the tribal structure that once held them together, and he returns to his village troubled by the situation. It turns out that James Jarvis has been having similar thoughts.  He becomes a benefactor of the village.

On the evening before his son’s execution, Kumalo goes into the mountains to await the appointed time in solitude. On the way, he encounters Jarvis, and the two men speak of the village and of lost sons. 


316 pages

Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Ward

Jesmyn Ward grew up in rural Mississippi during the 70's, 80's and 90's.  Her father was incapable of being faithful, although he loved his wife and wanted to support and care for his children. Her mother eventually kicked him out, and raised her, her brother, and two younger sisters alone, working as a housekeeper for wealthy white families. It was a life of unrelenting poverty, racism and hopelessness.

One of her mother's employers asked to send Jesmyn to a private school when he found out she was being bullied in her public school. Her mother agreed, wanting at least one of her children to have a chance to work her way out of their dismal circumstances. Jesmyn went on to get a master's degree in fine arts, and became a writer, winning a National Book Award for Fiction, and an Alex Award.

After writing two novels, she began writing this memoir, trying to  make sense of the deaths of five young men in her life over a five year span of time. Suicide, accidents, a shooting; all five, including her  brother, died in different ways, but the fact of their deaths seemed to be a symptom of the desolate lives they were living in this small southern state.

As I read, I kept thinking about the events in Ferguson, and that the life the author was describing explained much about the explosion of emotions that erupted after the killing of Michael Brown. Mississippi is dead last in the nation in so many measures of poverty, and Missouri is close on its heels. If we  want to  understand why  these things happen, this book can help.

Not an easy book to read, but highly recommended.

270 pages

Mudbound by Hilary Jordan

The day after her 30^th birthday, Laura Chappell awoke with a sense of relief; she was no longer just unmarried, she was officially unmarriageable. Now everyone could find something other than finding her a husband to occupy their time. But, in that funny way life has of turning us upside down, a year later she met Henry McAllan, a 41-year-old bachelor.  After a suitable courtship, they married and settled down in Memphis, where she had lived her entire life, and where all her family lived.  They had two little girls, and built a nice, happy life.

One day, Henry came home and casually announced he  bought a farm in Mississippi, where he grew up, and they will be moving there in two weeks. When they got there, Laura discovered that the farm has no indoor plumbing, no running water, no electricity and no telephone. Moreover, when there are heavy rains, which there frequently are, the low land floods, and they are cut off from town, and the rest of the world. It is a bleak existence; one exacerbated by the racism and misogyny of post-World War II Mississippi, and her father-in-law, who moves in with them.

On one bleak night, the rains, the racism, and happenstance combine to create a tragedy that changes the lives of everyone involved.

This isn’t a ‘feel good’ book, but it is very well written, the characters are thoroughly developed, and the story is compelling.

 

354 pages