The Other Talk: Reckoning with Our White Privilege by Brendan Kiely

The Other Talk: Reckoning with Our White Privilege by Brendan Kiely
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a very relatable honest read from an awesome YA author who is very close friends with Jason Reynolds, another awesome YA author. I think this book should be read by students, teachers, and everyone else. Brendan uses personal stories about him as well as history and present day to reach out to readers about understanding racism while being white. He writes with humor and honesty, many many facts & figures and challenges white readers to listen and believe when they listen to those of color. This is a complicated, necessary book and will make readers uncomfortable but also give them to tools and voice to understand racism. Highly recommended.

View all my reviews

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Katie Schorr, this historical fiction book details the life of Cussy Mary Carter (also known as Bluet) who is a librarian under the Roosevelt Pack Horse Librarian Project. Cussy Mary lost her mother, lives with her coal miner father who has the lung disease all miners succumb to, and loves her job of bringing books to the Kentucky hill folk on an ornery mule, Junior. Cussy Mary is also part of a very small clan of REAL people whose skin is blue and she endures just as much racism and discrimination as other people of color. Richardson's book is depressing so much of the time--the people are starving, lead a hard scrabble life, and many do not look upon the books as wonderful but a plot of the government against people. Cussy Mary is able to convert so many of her patrons to readers by reading to them, teaching them the alphabet and bringing perfect books to/for her readers. The research in this book is meticulous, true to the time of the 1930s and the life of the many people in Troublesome Creek. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique W. Morris

Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique W. Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to this hard-hitting nonfiction book detailing how black girls are judged, misunderstood, reacted to, and rejected through research, interviews, and stories and in person interviews, Author Monique Morris has written a must read book. Awesomely narrated by Kristyl Dawn Tift, I could not stop listening to these girls, their lives at home and in school and in jail. We have so much work to do to change the mind set of schools, detention centers, and jails marginalizing black girls. Highlu recommend!

View all my reviews

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Deb Tarrant for this awesome book title; Narrated by: Diane Dabczynski I could not stop listening to her beautiful voice as she (Sang Ly, a mother and wife) tells the story of life in the garbage dump, Stung Meanchey, in Cambodia. Sang Ly and her husband have a harsh daily existence as they scavenge the dump daily for items of interest that will bring them money to live and pay the rent collector, a dour, mean woman. Also Sang Ly and her husband desperately worry for their son's health; an infant Nisay is always sick, could it be because of life in the dump. I loved Sang Ly's personality; she was honest and wanted out of the dump. When they can't make the rent; the rent collector (Sopeap)threatens to kick them out; but a chance look at a book Sang Ly is going to read to their son, changes everything. There is so much that was beautiful, awful and unexpected in this book, I highly recommend this book that will reveal the beauty of literature, poetry, and the power it gives the individual.

View all my reviews

Hillbilly Elegy: a Memoir of a family and culture in Crisis) by J.D. Vance

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book; JD Vance's writing style about the hillbilly predicament (poor white Americans) was funny, sad, filled with honesty, facts, and the horror that was JD Vance's life (and other middle class Americans). Thank god for his grandparents, especially his Mamaw---yet she was one scary lady too. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated by Tara Westover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Julia Whelan's narration of this audiobook had me spellbound! Tara Westover's book was harrowing; this was definitely a story of a life harmed by parents. I ached for Tara throughout her life but I was also angry at her, too. As she ages, matures, Tara sees firsthand her family's dysfunction but she is unable/unwilling to take help when it is offered. Even after she leaves the mountain (time and time again) she is still its/their prisoner- she alienates roomates at BYU (and does not care), loses boyfriends because she can bear to share (and with boyfriends who see this behavior- rather than ask for help, she laughs maniacally, then shuns them for seeing what they should not). It was all pretty sick SH_T, I rooted for Tara as she left the mountain, and gained an education---but at what a cost! I am so proud of her but so sad (frustrated) it took her SO LONG to receive the mental health counseling she so obviously needed. She is a gifted reader, I will read anything she writes! Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman

The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this as part of the twitter chat for #YearofYA for January's topic, STEM and women in history taking place Thursday 1/26 at 8PM EST, join us! The story of African American youngster, Sarah Roberts in history begins with the day she was told she could not attend her school anymore; it was now only for white children. The story of Sara, her life, the court case arguing for equal education, begins a long struggle in history for children like Sarah. Author Susan Goodman's research and EB Lewis's paintings create a compelling picture of segregation and it's effects in history. This is a picture book all children, teens, and adults would enjoy because of its many messages-integration was a must, segregation was wrong and even losing can be a victory if people stand together for equality.

View all my reviews

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education & Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Malala- her voice- her convictions- her love of family - her goal to educate girls (well everyone) worldwide. Her story was brave, heartbreaking and one that must be read and heard by all. Malala's life in Swat was forever altered just because she stood up for educating girls. Now she cannot return to her homeland but she continues to advocate and speak out. I read this book as part of the social justice theme for the February twitter chat for #yearof ya on Tuesday 2/29 at 8PM EST - join me for this great chat!

View all my reviews