Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada

Illustrated by Ko Hyung-Ju 3 stars A semi-autobiographical tale set in 1983 during South Korea’s Fifth Republic. When book-loving Kim Hyun Sook starts college, she has big dreams of classes, learning, and campus life. But when she’s invited to join an unconventional book club, her whole world changes. She soon finds herself within a world…

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Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson

Illustrated by David Shannon 4 stars From death, destruction, and war to unity and peace, this book tells the story of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker, whose work to unite the Six Nations of the Iroquois people with the Great Law of Peace set a blueprint for democracy in America. Hiawatha is angry and devastated after…

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The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq

by Jeanette Winter 4 stars The powerful story of Alia Muhammad Baker, the brave librarian who save 70% of her library collection during the Iraq War. The book focuses on Baker’s efforts to move the books to safe locations as the war nears Basra. It ends with a message of hope amid the chaos. The…

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The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World, 3rd Edition

by Susan Veness 3 stars Uncover hidden magic in this interesting guidebook that dives in to all things Disney World. I really enjoyed reading about some of the hidden magic to look for around Disney World. Veness provides a variety of different details, some of which are obvious while others are a bit more cryptic…

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What Do We Know About Zombies? by Meg Belviso

4 stars An interesting introduction into the history of zombies and how they went from the obedient undead to the ravenous creatures we know today. The book covers various information related to zombies including the origin of zombies in Vodou, their evolution through mass media, real-world parasites and diseases, children’s pop culture, and survival tips….

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Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

3 stars A nice collection of poetry. Includes topics of COVID-19, connection, history, racism, war, loneliness, politics, and grief. I enjoyed the different styles used and the various forms the poems take, from erasure poems to a screenplay, found poetry to concrete poems. The formatting is visually interesting, utilizing different page colors, shapes, and orientations…

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The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African American Midwives

by Eloise Greenfiled Illustrated by Daniel Minter 5 stars A truly stunning collection of poetry showcasing African American midwives throughout time. The poems travel from Africa to America, sharing experiences through enslavement, emancipation, and into the modern era. Wonderfully written and expertly crafted. The dreamlike illustrations are beautiful and demonstrate the power, strength, care, and…

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The Juneteenth Alphabet by Andrea Underwood Petifer

Illustrated by Ana Latese 5 stars An engaging and fun resource for learning about various aspects of Juneteenth including its history and cultural significance. The book opens with a great introduction to Juneteenth. From there, different concepts are explored for each letter of the alphabet. The text highlights ways Juneteenth is celebrated, important figures in…

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