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The Undefeated

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The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Everyone

This Newbery Award-winning author has written a gripping and moving poem to honor Black American life, both their triumphs and their troubles. The stunning illustrations, drawn by Kadir Nelson, pull the reader into the further by creating haunting and captivating atmospheres. There are portraits of famous, history makers, as well as depictions of the horrors committed against African Americans.

This is a beautiful, thought provoking book that also brings hope and joy. Find it in the catalog.

 

Love You Hard: A Memoir of Marriage, Brain Injury, and Reinventing Love

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Love You Hard: A Memoir of Marriage, Brain Injury and Reinventing Love by Abby Maslin
Format: Book
Who it’s for:  Adults

In August 2012, Abby and TC Maslin lived in the Capitol Hill area of Washington D.C. with their young son, Jack. TC worked as an energy analyst and Abby was a school teacher. TC was attacked while walking home from a Nationals game late at night.  TC was beaten nearly to death by three young men who took his cell phone and debit card.  They left him bleeding and hurt on a sidewalk a few blocks from his home.  When Abby woke up in the night to find out that her husband wasn’t home, panic set in.  Hours later Abby found out that her husband had been taken to the hospital but she didn’t know if he was alive or dead.

After many days and months of physical rehabilitation, TC did survive, but was unable to walk and talk.  Abby had to take over his complete care, teaching him to read and talk again.  There were no guarantees of his future life after the tragedy.  The two of them had to learn to trust and love each other again.  During their agonizing months both of them had changed.

This is a true story and has connections to St. Mary’s County, Maryland. Abby is a good writer and I was especially touched by her prologue that describes when she and TC met for the first time. This account is a raw and inspiring story with an amazing outcome. TC Maslin has an inner strength that helped him to beat the odds of not only surviving but conquering his disabilities. While still re-learning to walk and communicate, TC realized how much Abby did to take care of him, he said, “But you’ve done everything for me. Do you know that? I love you, honey. I love you so hard.”

Find it in our catalog

Rosa Loves Cars

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Rosa Loves Cars is one of the lovely board books, written and illustrated by Jessica Spanyol. In this delightful and simple story, we see Rosa playing pretend with a firetruck, racing toy cars down a ramp, and even pretending her toys are stuck in a traffic jam. It is rare that we get to see a young girl playing with traditionally “boy” toys. Spanyol’s books are a refreshing look on how all toys and games are for all children, regardless of gender. The other children that Rosa plays with are also a happy surprise. Her friends are a mix of boys and girls, and different races. Several of her playmates have differing abilities, such as the character Samira who races cars in her wheelchair. Overall, this is a wonderful series to share with children. They will love the simple illustrations and want to play games just like Rosa, no matter who they are.  Find the title in our catalog.

The Lion in the Living Room

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The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over The World by Abigail Tucker
Who it’s for: Adults
Format: Book

What have cats ever done for humans? They don’t provide food, they aren’t pack animals, they don’t protect our homes. So why are there nearly 100 million house cats in the US alone (and almost a billion worldwide)? In this well-researched and fascinating book, Abigail Tucker explores the history of the house cat, an animal that adapted to humans and essentially domesticated itself.

Unlike dogs and other domesticated animals, house cats haven’t physically evolved over the centuries. They are built to survive outdoors on their own, but they can also survive in a small apartment if necessary. They have, however, evolved their behaviors to influence us. Cats share some facial characteristics with human babies (round heads, front-facing eyes, small nose), and they’ve learned to use familiar sounds to get our attention. Many house cats have purrs and meows that sound suspiciously like a baby’s cry.

Tucker also addresses the impact cats have on environments around the world. Cats are hypercarnivorous and they do quite a bit of damage to ecosystems. Over the centuries, cats have been transported to new environments regularly, and they often destroy them by preying on native species. Yet we continue to live side by side with them, watch videos of them online, and follow them on Instagram.

Find The Lion in the Living Room in our catalog.

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

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The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom   
Format: Book
Who’s it for: Adults and Young Adults

 

On the morning after Annie is married, she and her husband Paolo are involved in a shocking balloon ride accident leaving them in critical condition. Paolo needs a lung transplant and Annie donates one of hers.

At eight years old, Annie was the survivor of a terrible accident. A falling amusement car severed her arm.  Eddie, a maintenance man pushed her to safety but was killed by the falling car. Annie’s arm is reattached in a miraculous surgery.

Annie endures a lot of bullying until she meets a boy named Paolo. They become friends until he moves away with his family.  Annie, estranged from her Mom after high school, wonders about the mistakes she’s made and why she survived the accident.

Years later Annie meets Paolo again. Soon they get married.

Annie awakens after the lung surgery but where is she?

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven follows Annie as she meets five people in heaven. One of them is Eddie the maintenance man who saved her. “‘Mistakes,'” Eddie declares. “‘That’s what I’m here to teach you about.”

Annie learns from her five people in heaven that, lives are intertwined in many ways.

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Math Doesn’t Suck

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Math Doesn’t Suck by Danica McKellar
Format: Book
Who it’s for:  Teens, Middle School

It may be hard to believe, but math really doesn’t suck.  In fact, it can be fun, or at least you can be successful at it if it’s presented the right way.  Author Danica McKellar started out as a TV actress, who you may recognize as Winnie from the Wonder Years or Elsie from The West Wing, then went on to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics and has created a series of math books for middle and high school girls that presents math in a fun and relatable way.

Math Doesn’t Suck features early middle school math concepts, along with Danica’s personal stories, real life applications, and personality quizzes – because what middle schooler doesn’t love those? The second book in the series is titled: Kiss My Math, followed by Hot X: Algebra Exposed.  The last in the series is Girls Get Curves, and yes of course, it’s about geometry!

I was a girl who loved math in school so I hope these books will inspire today’s young women to try on their smarty pants and wear them with pride!

Find it in the catalog