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#OwnVoices

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I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “own voices.” I’m going to talk about what it means, why it’s important, and offer a few title suggestions.

Corrine Duyvis created the #OwnVoices hashtag in 2015 to promote children’s and young adult books written by someone from a marginalized or under-represented group who writes characters based on their own experiences, and from their own perspective. The number of #OwnVoices authors and their stories is growing, but their stories are still often told by authors with an outside perspective.

#OwnVoices is about bringing awareness to under-represented authors and what they bring to the world of writing through their lived experiences. It’s about bringing awareness to readers that there are so many more experiences in the world than our own; and that we become better people, citizens, and friends when we read beyond their own experiences. It’s about reaching the children and teens that pick up book after book, never seeing themselves or their experiences represented by the main characters in a book.

Use #OwnVoices on social media or in your search engine to find a selection of titles. Take a look at #WeNeedDiverseBooks on Overdrive or Libby to find a selection of #OwnVoices ebooks and audiobooks. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Published May 5, 2020
ebook and audiobook
Who It’s For: Teens

Alternating between the Dominican Republic and New York, the reader experiences what loss does to two teens, and how forgiveness brings them together and helps them to heal. I have started reading this and the poetic verse of Elizabeth Acevedo does not disappoint.

Find the ebook or audiobook.

 

 

Saving Savannah by Tonya Bolden
Published January 14, 2020
Book
Who It’s For: Teens

Set in the early 1900s in Washington, D.C., Savannah is a member of the upper class. She soon gets a view into how the other half lives, and is inspired to fight for changes. Step back in time to 100 years ago when people were fighting for change, just as they are today.

Find it in the catalog.

 

 

I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee
Published June 16, 2020
ebook
Who It’s For: Teen

Skye wants to be a K-pop star, and she’s going to audition no matter what people say about her weight. She has something to prove, and she’s going to do it in front of the world. Confident Skye brings on the fun and body positivity in this light-hearted rom-com.

Find the ebook.

 

 

The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
Published April 23, 2019
Book
Who It’s For: Teens

The stories of Esha and Kunal are based on ancient Indian history and Hindu mythology. Secretly, Esha is the Viper, an assassin bent on taking down General Hotha. Inevitably, Kunal, a soldier and the nephew of General Hotha, crosses paths with the Viper.

This first book in the series is full of romance, action, and magic.

Find it in the catalog.

Spellbound

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Spellbound by Allie Therin
Format: Hoopla
Who it is for: Adults

Arthur (Ace) Kenzie leads a double life. By day he is the son of a prominent politician and a member of the upper class. By night, he works with his paranormal friends to save the world from the supernatural relics that could cause the destruction of mankind. A new relic has appeared and Ace needs someone who can see into the past to keep the relic from causing havoc. Rory, the grumpy, young, and extremely powerful paranormal fits the bill. However, the last thing Ace needs is to fall for this grouchy but very handsome young man. 

If you are looking for an incredibly sweet paranormal romance set during prohibition in the heart of New York, Allie Therin’s delightful book absolutely fits the bill. Filled with mystery and longing looks, Spellbound is a wonderful escape. Find the audiobook on Hoopla. 

A Dangerous Act of Kindness

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A Dangerous Act of Kindness by LP Fergusson
Recommended for: Adults
Format: eBook

The dog bounded across the snowy field during a cold night in Britain.  Trailing behind on horseback, Millie called, “Gyp!  Come back!”   Gyp sniffed the ground and wound his way over to the barn.  Millie entered the shadowy structure.  She stopped short.  A man slumped against a bale, his arm at an odd angle.  With his other hand, he was pointing a gun directly at her.  Was this a German soldier?  Had he escaped the recent plane crash?  Locals had assumed he had died in the fire.  “Let me help you,” implored Millie.  “Help me?” responded her enemy.

Millie’s husband was dead.  She’d found him hanging at the end of a rope six months ago.  She wished she’d helped him before it was too late.

A snow storm was coming.  Could she aid this man without the knowledge of her neighbor, Hugh and her Land Girl, Brigsie?  Snow or not, the cows would need milking in the morning.  Brigsie would be by early to help.  And Hugh often came by too.  He would gladly become more than Millie’s friend if she gave him any encouragement.  Was she over her grief?

A Dangerous Act of Kindness is narrated by Millie, Hugh, and Lukas, the injured German.    The story reveals various perspectives of war, of love, and of forgiveness.  I was moved by the universal themes that cross culture and time.

Find it on OverDrive/Libby!

 

The Happy Ever After Playlist

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The Happy Every After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
Who it’s for: Adults
Format: eBook

After two years of grieving for her fiancé, Sloan finds a lost dog that steals her heart.  Sloan tries to contact Tucker’s owner with no luck, so she is hopeful that she will get to keep him.  Unfortunately, just when she thinks Tucker is hers to keep, his owner, Jason, contacts her and he definitely wants his dog back.  Jason is on a music tour in Australia and so the two decide that Sloan will keep Tucker until his return.  A long distance romance starts to develop between them.

When Jason returns, they quickly develop a relationship.  However, is Sloan ready to give her heart to another after losing her fiancé?  With Jason’s music career taking off, will they be able to stick together while he is on tour?

This was a fun, flirty romance with lots of heart.  A great escape during quarantine.  This is a standalone romance, but you may want to read about Sloan’s friend, Kristen, first in, The Friend Zone. 

Find the eBook of The Happy Ever After Playlist on Overdrive/Libby and The Friend Zone on Overdrive/Libby.

The Hating Game

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The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Who it’s for: Adults
Format: eBook, Digital Audiobook

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman work as assistants to the C0-CEOs at the recently merged Bexley and Gammon Publishing House. Lucy and Joshua keep the office running. The only problem is that Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate one another. The two assistants may be the most competent employees at B and G Publishing, but they are also the two most likely to be sent to HR. With all the games they play to bring one another down, neither is expecting to be brought down by love. The Hating Game is a smart and steamy enemies-to-lovers romance that will have readers laughing and swooning until the very end.

You can find the Hating Game by Sally Thorne on Hoopla and on Overdrive/Libby.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

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Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Format: Book
Who it’s for:  Adults

Chloe Brown lives with chronic pain, an invisible disease that people don’t understand.  After almost getting hit by a car, she decides she needs to cross some things off her bucket list and live her best life.  She starts by moving out of her parents’ house and into an apartment.  She soon finds that she can cross a few other things off her list by getting to know her new neighbor and handyman, Red.

Red is tattooed, drives a motorcycle and is too handsome for his own good.  Chloe enjoys spying on him while he paints in his apartment.  This crosses off “do something bad” from her bucket list.  Soon Chloe and Red become friends and he begins helping her rebel a little.  She learns that there is a lot more to this bad boy than she imagined.  And, he learns to understand what it is like to be in pain constantly.

This was a cute romance that was surprisingly meaningful.  Chloe and Red are both living with their own issues and find a way to overcome them and in the process find romance.  If you enjoy reading authors Helen Hoang, Katherine Center and Christina Lauren, you will like this author too!

Find it in the catalog