A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely Narrated byDavid Baldacci, MacLeod Andrews, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Kiiri Sandy, Cary Hite, I loved the lawyer team of Desiree DuBos & Jack Lee as the band together to represent a black man in 1968 in Virginia. Each of these characters were compelling and their odds in a southern town of getting an innocent man free had me listening all the time. I would love to see this continue as a series, highly recommended!

View all my reviews

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this with my Albright College Zoom Book Club. Narrated by Dominic Hoffman, this historical fiction has everything; racism, social class distinctions, family, friendship, sorrow, humor, and hope. But it is the way McBride tells this story of Jews & Blacks living in the Chicken Hill area of Pottstown, PA in the 1920s. I went to Albright College in Reading so I loved reading landmarks, cities, & hospitals in this compulsively readable book. I could not stop listening! The characters Chona, Dodo, Nate & his wife, Bernice, and Monkey Pants were my favorites but all characters were authentic. I rooted for the many subplots & McBride did not disappoint! This is a stellar must read; I highly recommend it!

View all my reviews

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby

All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not put this book down!!! Seeing it on all the book lists, a black sheriff in the town he grew up in- Titus is a formidable law man, having a background of years with the FBI, when a beloved teacher is killed in a school shooting. But as the suspect (Titus is very familiar with him as a law man but grew up with & played football with his father) gives himself up; he says strange things that give Titus pause; and then his deputies shoot him. This opens up a lot of trouble for Titus in a Southern town that tight holds on past prejudices; when the truth comes out after finding evidence in phones, too many do not want to believe the teacher is a murderer and pedophile. I could not stop reading this book; I will definitely be reading S.A. Cosby's other books!!!

View all my reviews

First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this stellar historical fiction about the lifelong friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt & Mary McCloud Bethune, both powerhouses striving together to change the world, people's racism, and the wrongs of history. Awesomely Narrated by Robin Miles and Tavia Gilbert, this is the Albright College Ladies January selection. This is a must read, I learned so much from these 2 strong women who bonded, collaborated, and tirelessly worked for civil rights. This is a must read!

View all my reviews

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Horse by Geraldine Brooks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read this for my Albright College zoom book club and the back and forth history of the characters & horses was intense and so enlightening! My heart broke a lot reading this book---especially for the character Jarret, a slave who lives with Lexington his whole life and Theo and Jess who live in the present and discover a shared passion in their jobs---horse bones & art history & a dog. This book encompassed the racism that was present in the past & still in the present---I did not like the horse racing either because of the toll it took on the horses from obsessed owners. I loved learning Lexington's history as a race horse & stud and the bond with Jarret was beautiful. Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D Jackson

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely Narrated by: JD Jackson , Sarah Mollo-Christensen , Joy Nash , Christopher Salazar , Karen Malina White, this is a Carrie retelling that includes a biracial girl, Maddie with a mean religious zealot white father in Georgia, with mean white high school students (do not forget the parents & police as well) who terrorize Maddie her whole life. When Maddie finds a book from her mother to her, she finally sees who she is and looks forward to going to the prom with Kenny (who has been put up to inviting her by his white girlfriend mean girl). But life is not that simple & oh do the racist people clash with the teens, their prom, and their lives. A must read!

View all my reviews

All My Rage by Sabaa

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a haunting must read! I could not stop listening to narrators Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan, and Kausar Mohammed as the tale of 2 teens who have grown up together and life comes crashing down when Misbah, Sal's mother dies, his father is drinking, and secrets Sal is keeping from Noor break them apart. The racism, the abuse, and secrecy were so profound and sinister, that the regret the characters suffer is just so sad. A must read for all!

View all my reviews

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my librarian friend, MaryAlice Briggs for lending me her copy of this awesome historical fiction book! I loved the story of Belle de costa Greene and her life and her job as J.P. Morgan's personal librarian. Fraught with mystery and suspense and the time in history, Belle becomes as famous as her employer, with her love of books and artwork, and her study of humanity as she flirts, uses her mouth as both honest and hiding her real identity and famous for her style. This reader rooted for Belle as she maneuvered her way around those who admired and/or hated her. A part of history I was totally unaware of and prepared for, I could not stop turning the pages in this thoroughly researched book! A must read!!!

View all my reviews

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to @teachingfactor for recommending this audiobook!!! The awesome narration by Miah Ellis renders this historical fiction romance as can't put down. As the Tulsa Massacre is due to unfold, Randi Pink's novel of 2 teens falling in love during this horrific time in the days leading up to the 1921 race riot was compelling, honest, and sheds a light on the families during that time. Isaiah Wilson was such an interesting character and the changes in him as he falls for Angel, breaks free from a toxic friendship, and redeems himself was so uplifting. Angel was the perfect heroine; honest, helping others, and caring for her dying father. This is a MUST listen to audiobook and MUST read!

View all my reviews

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

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved Nic Stone's narration of her middle grade book about softballer Shenice Lockwood and her impetus to make take her all black team all the way to the Fast Pitch World Series. It is also about Shenice meeting her ill Great Uncle Jack who slides in and out of dementia, but on a day when he is clear minded tells Shenice about her great grandfather JonJon and how he was set up as a thief and lost the ability to prove himself as one of the Baseball greats. As Shenice tries to solve this mystery, she also loses focus on herself and bringing the team to greatness. I could not stop listening to this awesome sports story blending past (discrimination in baseball) and present, humor, suspense, friendship and family. A must read!

View all my reviews

This Is My America by Kim Johnson

This Is My America by Kim Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Jennifer LaGarde (@jennlagarde) for this recommendation from her Purposeful Prose Summer Reading Exploring Inequity in the US Criminal Justice System!!! OMG, everyone needs to read this debut author book, Kim Johnson has spent her life being involved in social justice and organizations, her Author's Note is especially relevant stressing this book is a work of fiction but also calling out racism, police brutality, wrongful incarceration, white supremacy and hate groups and the death penalty. She gives facts and figures too. But her story about Tracy Beaumont and her family's troubles was haunting; I could not put it down. Tracy is an awesome protagonist, her friends are supportive, and her family is tight---Tracy's letters to Innocence X (she writes them monthly for the 7 years her father is in prison) and with the troubles visited on them and how they are viewed in their community and society; this is a must read for all----highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Liar's Bench by Kim Michele Richardson

Liar's Bench by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved this historical fiction debut and Muddy's fight for answers when her mother is found hanged and is then ruled suicide. Muddy can't believe it and searches for answers with her love interest friend, Bobby (who passes for white but is black and Indian) as they fight racism, bigotry, and secrets in small town and small minded Kentucky. What will happen to Muddy? A great mystery and thriller taking place in 1972 with flashes back to the history of Bobby's people.

View all my reviews

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nurah's story of her family moving from Pakistan to Georgia contains some autobiographical elements of author Reem Faruqi's life when she moved to America. In the Author Notes, her experiences are explained. This novel in verse was about finding your place in a new place, making friends, dealing with racism and bullies, and finding your voice and using it for good. My heart broke for Nurah as she struggled to adapt to her new life, it broke further when her brother was attacked and Nurah feels responsible, but my heart began to feel joy as Nurah learned and grew from her new experiences in America---school bus problems, bullies, parental abuse into friends helping each other, Nurah's mom helping Stahr's mom, learning to swim competitively, Owais learning tennis, her father having Breakfast Club friends, learning and expressing in art class, and found her own special voice.

View all my reviews

Nubia Real One by L.L. McKinney ill by Robyn Smith

Nubia: Real One by L.L. McKinney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nubia's life has certainly been different and most certainly challenging when her mothers keep telling her to keep her head down so she doesn't call attention to herself and stay safe. Nubia has been different since she was a child and what the author and illustrator do is give the reader a kick ass story about family, friendship, helping others, racism, and finding out who you are. I loved Nubia, her friends, and family!

View all my reviews

GodPretty in the Tobacco Fields by Kim Michele Richardson

GodPretty in the Tobacco Field by Kim Michele Richardson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could not stop listening to this amazing historical fiction audiobook, excellently narrated by Katie Schorr, this story of Nameless, Kentucky involves RubyLyn, adopted by her uncle Gunnar, who is a mean, nasty father figure to her. He was fired as an executioner and raised RubyLyn without affection, always having her mouth washed with acidic liquids because she speaks her mind to her uncle's strict requirements. She is lifelong friends (and more) with black neighbor Rainey who works for Gunnar and lives with his Mom. But for all Gunnar's negativism, RubyLyn is a positive, honest girl in a racist town. I did not like the way this book unfolded but it was reality in 1969 Kentucky. I have read and loved all of Kim Michele Richardson's book despite their horror, they were a real picture into the hard scrabble life of uneducated, biased, poor Kentucky backwoods people.

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

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and Gurihiru

Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this graphic novel that takes place in Metropolis in 1946, a Chinese American family moves in and their 2 children become friends with Clark Kent, Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane and fight racism and evil. This graphic novel will appeal to all who read it, teens and adults with it's new take on kids helping thwart crime and terroristic threats!

View all my reviews

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just wow! I have read and loved everything Nic Stone writes, and this book is a must read by all, very ripped from the headlines, and even though fiction, so true in depicting LaQuan's life, his friendship with Justyce, his "bond" with his "brothers" in the Martel Organization, and his dysfunctional family and school life problems.
Just as I loved Dear Martin, so did Quan tear up my heart as I read his letters to Justyce, and followed his time in jail. The depth of all the characters is powerful, honest and kept me rooting for Quan --- I could not stop turning those pages! Adults and teens must read this book! Highly recommended!

View all my reviews

Black Brother Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this must read book by Jewell Parker Rhodes! Brothers pictured on the cover, one light and one dark. Trey is the older brother, athletic, light skinned, and in a new prep school not having any difficulties being accepted. Donte is the younger brother, nonathletic (loves video games instead), and dark skinned and in the new school, targeted by a racist Alan who bullies Donte unmercifully (like he does others) and provokes an incident in school that lands Donte in jail. Luckily Donte has a fierce mom who is also a lawyer for Legal Aid and black while Dad is a geeky white guy and both see the injustice Donte is suffering, what to do about it? I could not put this ripped from the headlines book down; it hits on what is happening in our world today and in the past; this social justice book is a must read; students will love it and be sharing with other readers!!!

View all my reviews