Check out this cool reading challenge hosted by the Dearborn Public Library! We have a lot of these books in our collection. Place a hold on one today for curbside pickup!
Dearborn Library Read Woke Challenge
Category: Books
Graphic Novels
Has anyone ever told you that reading graphic novels isn’t “reading?” I love Graphic Novels, and this article goes into detail about how reading graphic novels is different from reading novels, and how it benefits our brains.
New Books
Another batch of books has arrived! Here are my “must read” picks from this batch of books.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Zombies + Civil War + Racial injustice= A must read for Me!
Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
All sentient species gather to compete in the Metagalactic Grand Prix, a grand tournament that determines which intelligent life forms get to survive. This year is Earth’s first competition, and they are sending the band Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeros to determine the fate of human beings.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
The main character discovers a giant transformer type statue, she makes a viral video about it naming the giant statue Carl. Things get weird when “Carls” show up in dozens of cities around the world. I love Hank Green’s videos, so I am hoping this book lives up to the hype!
And the Ocean was Our Sky by Patrick Ness
An illustrated retelling of Moby Dick…from the whales point of view.
The Port Chicago Fifty by Steve Sheinkin
Image Source: Goodreads.com
I asked my Navy veteran husband if he had ever hear of the Port Chicago 50, and he admitted he had never heard of them. During World War II only black sailors were charged with the duty of loading ammunition on ships. When there was a huge explosion that killed over 300 sailors it was not highly publicized because most of the victims were black. When working conditions remained the same, 50 sailors refused to return to work and were charged with mutiny.
This was a fascinating, but frustrating read. A great book about civil rights heroes that are infrequently remembered.
New Arrivals!
I love new books! Here are some of the titles on my reading list.
Image Source: Goodreads.com
Waste of Space by Gina Damico. Ten teens think they are trapped on a spaceship for a reality TV show….but they are really just in a warehouse.
Image Source Goodreads.com
Dry by Neal & Jarrod Shusterman. What happens when we run out of water?
UPDATE: This book is a winner! It made me thirsty just reading it. Terrifying because I could imagine it happening!
Image Source: Goodreads.com
Bull by David Elliot. A verse novel retelling of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.
Image Source: Goodreads.com
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu. Punk rock girl starts girl revolution.
American Street by Ibi Zoboi
Fabiola Toussant, the main character in American Street by Ibi Zoboi, is a 16 year old Haitian immigrant who is separated from her mother and is struggling to adjust to life in the United States with her aunt and cousins. This book is set in West Detroit, and many of the places mentioned in the book are real places. The Aunt’s house is located on the corner of American St. and Joy road. I used Google Maps to get a picture of that corner, and it fits the description in the book. Fabiola is faced with difficult choices and circumstances, and the tone of the book is quite dark. However, it was interesting to read a description of life in Detroit from the perspective of someone that moved here from a poverty stricken island. You might be surprised by which she preferred.
Book Review Websites
Need help finding your next read? These websites can help you find your next favorite book!
A combination of book reading tracker and social media platform. A great way to track your reading!
A book database hosted by the Young Adult Library Services Association
A website dedicated to all things bookish – Book reviews, book giveaways, and book trailers. I love the Book Nerd problems videos….I can relate.
Head On by John Scalzi
I am a huge fan of science fiction books, and one of my favorite authors is John Scalzi. When I saw he was doing a book signing in Ann Arbor at Literati Bookstore, I knew I had to go! The book he was promoting was Head On, a book about a violent sport played by robots called “threeps.” Threeps are controlled by people that have been stricken with a disease called Hayden’s syndrome which paralyzes their body, but leaves their minds intact. The threeps allow individuals that are “locked in” to interact with others. The book is the second in a series (The first is called Lock In), but the books do not need to be read in order. Mr. Scalzi describes this book’s setting as in the “near future,” so the world seems very believable.
Check it out! Mrs. Alward
A bit fuzzy, but proof that I was there!
