Ready to Go Book Display: Body Diverse Reads

Welcome to our series, "Ready to Go! Book Display." Once a month we'll highlight the latest or greatest for every age group that you can promote within your library or order for your collection. This month we are showcasing books on a variety of bodies.

Recommendations for Adults 

Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides (Sep 2002)

Calliope's friendship with a classmate and her sense of identity are compromised by the adolescent discovery that she is a hermaphrodite, a situation with roots in her grandparents' desperate struggle for survival in the 1920s.

 

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon (May 2011)

A novel about a woman who can't speak, a man who is deaf, and a widow who finds herself suddenly caring for a newborn baby.

 

Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern (Jun 2006)

In the aftermath of a child's shocking murder, the mother of the only witness, an autistic boy, struggles to work through her son's trauma and his communication disabilities in order to help.

The Girls by Lori Lansens (Jan 2005)

One of the world's oldest living craniopagus conjoined twins at the approach of her thirtieth birthday, bookish Rose Darlen attempts to pen her autobiography while remembering the joys and challenges of life with sister Ruby.

 

One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London (Jul 2020)

Frustrated by a lack of body diversity on her favorite reality show, a plus-sized fashion blogger uses an unexpected invitation to star in the show to bolster her career, before unexpected romance complicates her prospects.

Recommendations for Teens

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee (Jun 2020)

A celebration of body positivity follows the experiences of a plus-sized teen girl who shatters expectations on a televised competition to become the next big K-pop star.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (Sep 2015)

Sixteen-year-old Willowdean wants to prove to everyone in her small Texas town that she is more than just a fat girl, so, while grappling with her feelings for a co-worker who is clearly attracted to her, Will and some other misfits prepare to compete in the beauty pageant her mother runs. 

Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw (Oct 2014)

With acerbic wit, Shane Burcaw describes the challenges he faces as a twenty-one-year-old with spinal muscular atrophy. 

Run by Kody Keplinger (Jun 2016)

Bo Dickinson, an over-protected, legally blind girl, and her best friend, Agnes Atwood, steal the Atwood's car in a desperate attempt to get out of town after a brush with the law.

The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais (Aug 2019)

After moving to Colorado, deaf seventeen-year-old Maya is forced to attend a hearing school, where she must navigate a new life and prove that her lack of hearing will not stop her from pursuing her dreams.

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman (May 2014)

In India, a girl who excels at Bharatanatyam dance refuses to give up after losing a leg in an accident.

Recommendations for Kids

Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin and Ebony Glenn (Jul 2019)

Tameika is excited to audition for the school's Snow White musical, but when she overhears her classmates say she is too tall, chubby, and brown to play Snow White, she questions whether she is right for the part. 

Brontorina by James Howe and Randy Cecil (Aug 2010)

Despite her size and not having the proper footwear, a determined dinosaur pursues her dream of becoming a ballerina.

It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr (Sep 2001)

Illustrations and brief text describe all kinds of differences that are "okay", such as "it's okay to be a different color," "it's okay to need some help," "it's okay to be adopted," and "it's okay to have a different nose." 

What I Like About Me by Allia Zobel Nolan and Miki Sakamoto (Oct 2005)

This fun-loving book, proves to kids that, in a world where fitting in is the norm, being different is what makes us special.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio (Feb 2012)

Born with a facial deformity that initially prevented his attendance at public school, Auggie Pullman enters the fifth grade at Beecher Prep and struggles with the dynamics of being both new and different, in a sparsely written tale about acceptance and self-esteem.

Lulu The One and Only by Lynnette Mawhinney and Jennie Poh (Jun 2020)

Lulu gets help from her brother Zane, to respond to other people's confusion about her racial identity by using a "power phrase" to declare who she is, rather than what.

 

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayer and Rafael Lopez (Sep 2019)

In this creative non-fiction story, Sonia and her friends plant a garden, and each one contributes in his or her own special way, in a book that celebrates the many differences among humans. 

 

Rules by Cynthia Lord (Apr 2006)

Frustrated at life with an autistic brother, twelve-year-old Catherine longs for a normal existence but her world is further complicated by a friendship with a young paraplegic.

A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass (Apr 2003)

Afraid that she is crazy, thirteen-year-old Mia, who sees a special color with every letter, number and sound, keeps this a secret until she becomes overwhelmed by school, changing relationships, and the death of her beloved cat, Mango.

Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky, Patrick Downes and Scott Magoon (Apr 2018)

When he is paired with a girl who has lost her legs, Rescue worries that he isn't up to the task of being her service dog.

Ready to Go Book Display: Voting

Welcome to our series, "Ready to Go! Book Display." Once a month we'll highlight the latest or greatest for every age group that you can promote within your library or order for your collection. This month we are showcasing voting related books.

Recommendations for Adults

 

Thank You for Voting: The Maddening, Enlightening, Inspiring Truth about Voting in America by Erin Geiger Smith (Jun 2020)

A journalistic examination of the ongoing fight for voting equality shares insights into why so few Americans vote, citing the role of corporations in encouraging vote turnout while outlining innovative approaches to voter education and motivation.

 

 

The Voter File by David Pepper (Jun 2020)

Investigating a grad student's claims about an impossible election result, disgraced reporter Jack Sharpe uncovers the activities of vote database hackers before finding himself questioning the country he loves and the president he admires.

 

 

The Hidden History of the War on Voting: Who Stole Your Vote, and How to Get it Back by Thom Hartmann (Feb 2020)

America's number one progressive radio host Thom Hartmann looks at our country's long and troubled voting history, analyzing the disenfranchisement of its citizens, particularly people of color, women, and the poor, and showing what we can do to ensure everyone has a voice in this democracy. 

 

 

Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College by Jesse Wegman (Mar 2020)

Citing the major elections that have been won by candidates who lost the popular vote, a New York Times editorial board member outlines arguments for eliminating the Electoral College and making individual citizen votes count.

Recommendations for Teens

 

Drawing the Vote: The Illustrated Guide to the Importance of Voting in America by Tommy Jenkins (Apr 2020)

Coinciding with the 2020 US presidential election, Drawing the Vote looks at the history of voting rights in the United States, and how it has affected the way we vote today.

 

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert (Jul 2020)

The first year they are eligible to vote, Marva and Duke meet at their polling place and, over the course of one crazy day, fall in love.

 

 

One Person, No Vote: How Not All Voters are Treated Equally by Carol Anderson (Sep 2019)

Carol Anderson chronicles the rollbacks to African American participation in the vote since the 2013 Supreme Court decision that eviscerated the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

 

Votes of Confidence: A Young Person's Guide to American Elections by Jeff Fleischer (May 2016)

A reference for teen students provides information about the past, present, and future of American elections.

 

 

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli (Feb 2020)

Jamie Goldberg, who chokes when speaking to strangers, and Maya Rehrman, who is having the worst Ramadan ever, are paired to knock on doors and ask for votes for the local state senate candidate.

 

 

You Say It First by Katie Cotugno (Jun 2020)

Volunteering at a voter registration call center, a teen who has planned out her entire Ivy League life clashes with an underprivileged caller with opposing political views over a series of conversations that gradually lead to a friendship and something more.

Recommendations for Kids

 

Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America by Deborah Diesen (Feb 2020)

A powerful look at the evolution of voting rights in the United States, from our nation's founding to the present day.

 

 

Bad Kitty for President by Nick Bruel (Jan 2012)

Bad Kitty decides to run for President of the Neighborhood Cat Association.

 

 

Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio (Jan 2008)

Grace campaigns for president of her grade, but when her competition seems to have the support of all the male voters, she must use all her campaigning skills to win them over by showing that she is the best person for the job.

 

 

Vote for Me! by Ben Clanton (Apr 2012)

An elephant and a donkey argue over who should be voted as the Big Cheese.

 

I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman (Jan 2020)

Explains the concept of voting and why people participate in elections.

 

 

Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara (Feb 2020)

The students of Stanton Elementary School, which is a polling place, find out all they can about voting and then encourage everyone in their neighborhoods to cast their ballots.

 

 

Baby Loves Political Science: Democracy! by Ruth Spiro (Apr 2020)

A simple, fact-filled introduction for the smallest activists on how to participate in a democracy by making your voice heard and voting.

Ready to Book Display: Humor

Welcome to our series, "Ready to Go! Book Display." Once a month we'll highlight the latest or greatest for every age group that you can promote within your library or order for your collection. This month we are showcasing some humorous novels.

Recommendations for Adults:

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero (Jul 2017)

The surviving members of a forgotten teen detective club and their dog reunite as broken adults to embark on an effort to solve a terrifying cold cast that ruined them all and sent the wrong man to prison.

The Department of Sensitive Crimes by Alexander McCall Smith (Apr 2019)

Tasked with their Swedish Police Department's most unusual cases, lead detective Ulf Varg and his colorful associates investigate a bizarre stabbing, a lost imaginary boyfriend and a haunted spa.

Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson (Oct 2019)

 Agreeing to help her former college roommate care for two stepchildren who possess the ability to spontaneously combust when agitated, Lillian endeavors to keep her young charges cool in the face of an astonishing revelation.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion (Jan 2013)

A socially awkward genetics professor who has never been on a second date sets out to find the perfect wife, but instead finds Rosie Jarman, a fiercely independent barmaid who is on a quest to find her biological father.

Recommendations for Teens:

The Haters by Jesse Andrews (Apr 2016)

A road trip adventure about a trio of jazz-camp escapees, who against every unrealistic expectation, become a band.

Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles (Jan 2020)

High school junior Del Rainey unwittingly joins a Purity Pledge class at church, hoping to get closer to his long-term crush, Kiera.

Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke (Jan 2018)

Jane Sinner sets out to redefine herself through a series of schemes and stunts, including participating in a low-budget reality TV show at her local community college.

Recommendations for Children:

We Don't Eat Our Classmates! by Ryan T. Higgins (Jun 2018)

When the class pet bites the finger of Penelope, a tyrannosaurus rex, she finally understands why she should not eat her classmates, no matter how tasty they are.

The Serious Goose by Jimmy Kimmel (Dec 2019) 

Complemented by a mylar mirror for making faces, a picture-book by the late night host depicts a whimsically cheek goose who rediscovers its sense of humor while reminding young readers to take "serious" approaches to silliness. 

Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever. (May 2017)

Presents a collection of humorous stories from over two dozen contemporary female authors, as well as autobiographical essays, comics, poems, and comic strips.

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett (Jan 2015)

When master prankster Miles Murphy moves to sleepy Yawnee Valley, he challenges the local, mystery prankster in an epic battle of tricks but soon the two join forces to pull off the biggest prank ever seen.

 

Ready to Go Book Display: Newer Nonfiction

Welcome to our series, "Ready to Go! Book Display." Once a month we'll highlight the latest or greatest for every age group that you can promote within your library or order for your collection. This month we are showcasing recent nonfiction titles.

Recommendations for Adults:

Untamed by Glennon Doyle (Mar 2020)

An activist, speaker and philanthropist offers a memoir wrapped in a wake-up call that reveals how women can reclaim their true, untamed selves by breaking free of the restrictive expectations and cultural conditioning that leaves them feeling dissatisfied and lost.

Hell and Other Destinations: A 21st-Century Memoir by Madeleine Albright (Apr 2020)

Revealing, funny and inspiring, the author and former Secretary of State - one of the world's most admired and tireless public servants - reflects on the final stages of her career and how she has blazed her own trail in her later years.

The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History by Andy Greene (Mar 2020)

The untold stories behind The Office, one of the most iconic television shows of the twenty-first century, told by its creators, writers, and actors.

Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker (Jan 2020)

This tour of real-world mathematical disasters reveals the importance of math in everyday life. All sorts of seemingly innocuous mathematical mistakes can have significant consequences. Exploring and explaining a litany of glitches, near misses, and mathematical mishaps involving the internet, big data, elections, street signs, lotteries, the Roman Empire and an Olympic team, Matt Parker uncovers the ways math trips us up.

Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon through North America's Stolen Land by Noe Alvarez (Mar 2020)

A debut memoir by the son of working-class Mexican immigrants describes his upbringing in Washington State, membership in the Peace and Dignity Journeys movement and competition in the Native American cultural marathon from Canada to Guatemala.

Go to Sleep (I Miss You): Cartoons from the Fog of New Parenthood by Lucy Knisley (Feb 2020) 

Following the completion of her pregnancy memoir Kid Gloves (and the birth of her baby), Lucy embarked on a new project: documenting new motherhood in short, spontaneous little cartoons, which she posted on her Instagram, and which quickly gained her a huge cult following among other moms.

Recommendations for Teens:

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds (Mar 2020)

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. Racist ideas are woven into the fabric of this country, and the first step to building an antiracist American is acknowledging America's racist past and present. This book takes you on that journey, showing how racist ideas started and were spread, and how they can be discredited.

Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha (Jan 2020)

Moving abruptly from Seoul to Alabama, a Korean teen struggles in a hostile blended home and a new school where she does not speak English before forging unexpected connections in a local comic drawing class.

This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell (Jan 2020)

This book is written for the young person who doesn't know how to speak up to the racist adults in their life. It is written so children and young adults will feel empowered to stand up to the adults who continue to close doors in their faces. This book will give them the language and ability to understand racism and a drive to undo it.

Flowers in the Gutter: The True Story of the Edelweiss Pirates, Teenagers Who Resisted the Nazis by K. R. Gaddy (Jan 2020)

The Edelweiss Pirates were a loosely organized group of working-class young people in the Rhine Valley of Germany. They faced off with Nazis during the Third Reich and suffered consequences for their resistance during and after World War II.

Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott (Jan 2020)

Inspired by the African American Policy Forum's #SayHerName campaign and the work of such notables as Lucille Clifton and Nikki Giovanni, a collection of poems stands as a tribute to Black Lives Matter activists and victims of police brutality.

Thank You for Coming to My TED Talk: A Teen Guide to Great Public Speaking by Chris Anderson (Mar 2020)

A teen adaptation of the best-selling TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking shares tips and techniques for becoming a confident and capable speaker at school presentations, in interviews, and during special occasions.

Recommendations for Kids:

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita L. Hubbard (Jan 2020)

A picture book biography sharing the inspiring and incredible true story of the nation's oldest student, Mary Walker, who learned to read at the age of 116.

Normal: One Kid's Extraordinary Journey by Magdelena & Nathaniel Newman (Jan 2020)

This moving memoir follows a teenage boy with TC syndrome and his exceptional family from diagnosis at birth to now. Also check out the memoir written for adults: Normal: A Mother and Her Beautiful Son (Jan 2020).

Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of You by Rachel Brian (Jan 2020)

Engaging comic artwork and comprehensive expert information combine in an empowering introduction to understanding everyday consent, body autonomy and personal boundaries.

Cast Away: Poems for Our Time by Naomi Shihab Nye (Feb 2020)

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye shines a spotlight on the things we cast away, from plastic water bottles to refugees.

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel (Mar 2020)

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, Jennifer Keelan grew up battling-and overcoming - the limitations others set for her. This illustrated biography of Jennifer's life and celebration of youth activism will teach all children that they have the power to make a difference.

Selena: Queen of Tejano Music by Silvia Lopez (Feb 2020)

Nearly 25 years after her death, the musical origin and cultural impact of Mexican American performer Selena Quintanilla are celebrated.