3 stars An interesting combination of memoir, self-help, call to action, and handbook for creating change in the world. Lee shares memories from her life and inspires readers to create change in their daily lives through kindness, understanding, and leading by example. Lee explores her experiences with racism, her work to make Juneteenth a federal…
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3 stars A beautiful collection of poems that incorporate storytelling, song, and reflection into stunning free verse. The poems explore themes of death, grief, birth, nature, creation, culture, dreams, lore, memory, and family. Each poem is followed by a blurb from Harjo that provides information on the context, inspiration, and/or reflection on the poem, which…
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by Joy Harjo Foreword by Sandra Cisneros 3 stars Spanning the first 50 years of her poetry publications, Joy Harjo shares some of her most well-known and influential poems in one collection. The selections cover many events in Harjo’s life, from romantic relationships to the death of her mother, 9/11 to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each…
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by Kyle Prue 5 stars This was hilarious and so much fun to read. Through humor the book challenges and undermines masculinity and calls into question why the biggest insult to men is being compared to women. Some of my favorites were the ones that use reverse psychology to get a man to do something…
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by Lydia Corry 3 stars Through simple narration and stunning artwork, Corry explores the life and adventures of Emily Dickinson. Along with her trusty canine companion, Dickinson explores the outdoor world, traveling through meadows and pastures, a grove of woods, a leafy forest, and a stream. Readers take a peek into Dickinson’s family life, friendships,…
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by Shelia P. Moses Illustrated by Gillian Flint 5 stars Follow the journey of Opal Lee from a young girl living in segregated Texas to a passionate volunteer and activist. The book provides information about Lee’s childhood, education, career, volunteerism, and her activism to make Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday. Nicely told. I really…
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by Alan Singer, PhD 3 stars Well written. The information is fairly basic but it provides a good starting place when thinking about having (more) children. I did really like the perspective of not rigidly sticking to a specific number, but continually assessing your situation and making an informed choice on whether to grow your…
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by Joy Harjo Art by Dana Tiger 5 stars A stunning edition of a powerful poem of grief and healing. It was nice having read this poem previously in An American Sunrise: Poems. Because I was already familiar with the poem, I could focus on its interplay with the artwork in this edition. The poem itself…
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by Angélique Roché Illustrated by Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe 3 stars I was really excited to see a graphic novel about Opal Lee geared toward adults, but the execution of this just did not work for me. The story jumps around to different time periods without much context given. I had a…
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by Sean Qualls 5 stars A fantastic read. Explores the history of Black hair in America, from pivotal Black figures in the haircare industry to views of Black hair through time and different styles and trends. Well written. This was such an interesting read. Includes sections on different styles such as afros, Jheri curl, locs,…
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