Books We Loved in 2020

A lot of us had lofty reading goals when 2020 began, but the truth is that sometimes we didn't feel much like reading. (And that's okay!) Binge-watching mindless television or baking away our troubles took precedence at times. Eventually though, we found our way back to the balm of books: books to take our minds off things, books to soothe the soul, books that showed us worlds 10,000 times better (or worse!) that our current situation. We offer the following selection of MLC staff's favorite books read in the last year. Many were published in 2020, but you'll find classics here as well. Scroll through to find well-loved books in a variety of genres for all ages. Once you're done, let us know what you loved reading in 2020 in the comments.

Comics/Graphic Novels

• The Daughters of Ys
  M.T. Anderson and Jo Rioux (2020)
  

• When Stars Are Scattered
  Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (2020)
  "Even though this graphic novel memoir is aimed at middle grade readers, people of all ages will be drawn to its themes of hope, resilience, and familial love."
   
• Harleen
  Stjepan Šejić (2020)
  
  
• They Called Us Enemy
  George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker (2019)
   
• Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me
  Rosemary Valero-O'Connell and Mariko Tamaki (2019)
  "Learning how to respect yourself and not lose yourself when you're in a romantic relationship with someone else--this book nails it."
   
• Are You Listening?
  Tillie Walden (2019)
  "Genuine human connections and a mysterious cat. I was completely entranced."
   
• The Prince and the Dressmaker
  Jen Wang (2018)
  

Adult Fiction

• Anxious People
  Fredrik Backman (2020)
  "It’s the world’s worst hostage situation with the world’s most neurotic hostages. Backman does a wonderful job exploring what make people PEOPLE. The book clips along at a wonderful pace and just about every other chapter has a reveal that makes you re-evaluate everything you’ve read so far."
   
• Wish You Well
  David Baldacci (2000)
  "I read a lot of David Baldacci this year, but this one had a particular message for me."
   
• Battleground 
• Peace Talks
  Jim Butcher (2020)
  "I have been reading a lot of escapism--no-thought, sci-fi pulp--but the back to back release of the two Dresden File books was high on my list of best moments."
  "I have been reading this series since the early 2000s and Jim Butcher is one of my favorite authors."
  

• The Girl in the Mirror
  Rose Carlyle (2020)
  "One of the best twisty mystery/thriller novels I read this year."
   
• And Then There Were None
  Agatha Christie (1939)
   
• Ring Shout
  P. Djèlí Clark
  "Alternate history considering the idea that hate turns people into actual monsters that are only perceptible to the few who fight them. Unsettling."
   
• Piranesi
  Susanna Clarke (2020)
  "Piranesi’s always lived in the House…until one day, somebody else shows up. This is a weird little atmospheric fantasy book about being alone but not being alone, being trapped but not being trapped, and making the most of your surroundings. So you know, the perfect 2020 quarantine read."
   
• The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In
  Charles Dickens (1844)
  "My husband and I started 2020 by reading this as an audiobook while sitting in front of our fire pit on New Year's Eve. I count it, because we didn't finish until around 1:30 AM. I had always meant to read it and that just seemed like the perfect time."
  
  
• Leopard's Wrath
  Christine Feehan (2019)
   
• The Guest List
  Lisa Foley (2020)
  "A modern-day take on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None set on an Irish island. I binge-read this."
   
• Into the Drowning Deep
  Mira Grant (2017) 
   
• Snow Falling on Cedars
  David Guterson (1994)
   
• An Anonymous Girl
  Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (2019)
   
• Beach Read
  Emily Henry (2020)
  "When I was stuck in a reading slump, this book pulled me back out by the hair. Its story, at times heartbreakingly sweet and poignant, led me from cover to cover until I was at the end and wishing it would never be over."

• The Bone Tree
• Mississippi Blood
• Natchez Burning
  Greg Iles (2015, 2017, 2014)
  "In my ongoing effort to read and become familiar with the works of Mississippi authors, I enjoyed several books in the Penn Cage series by Greg Iles set in the Natchez area (Port Gibson to the southwest corner of Wilkinson County). Iles's characters in these books are both intricate and audacious, spanning the concepts of both good and evil. These larger than life stories are surely "must reads" for anyone who wants to be familiar with one of the state's "to be treasured" authors. Who would think that an attempt to do the right thing would foster so very many evil actions by demoniac individuals acting singularly and in groups? During this time of isolation due to the pandemic, these three titles helped this reader to temporarily forget the stress of the virus."
  
  
• The City We Became
  N.K. Jemisin (2020)
  "Jemisin really showed in this book that she can not only do high fantasy but is also adept at contemporary fantasy. The modern characters and setting crackle with life and wit, and the story itself pulled me taut with excitement and anticipation the entire time I was reading."
  
  
• The Only Good Indians
  Stephen Graham Jones (2020)
  "This was a good year for horror, exemplified by none other than this book, which expertly tackles both the genre and the societal issues surrounding Native American culture. This tale is gripping, terrifying, and one I wish I could erase from my brain so I could have the pleasure of reading it for the first time again."
  "Great exploration on how our past haunts us."
  
  
• Chasing Cassandra
• It Happened One Autumn
  Lisa Kleypas (2020, 2005)
  
  
• The Historian
  Elizabeth Kostova (2005)
  "I go back and listen to this audiobook every couple of years. It is such a good story and well put together."
  
  
• Thalmaturge
  Terry Mancour (2019)
   
• Pale Fire
  Vladimir Nabokov (1962)
  "Worth the hype."
  
  
• Witch World
• Web of the Witch World
• Three Against the Witch World
  Andre Norton (1963, 1964, 1965)
  "I read a lot of new biographies and memoirs this year, but I got the most enjoyment from rereading an old series of books that I read as a child. Andre Norton's Witch World series first caught my attention when I was in the fifth grade, and I rejoiced every time I found a new book in it."
  
  
• What Are You Going Through
  Sigrid Nunez (2020)
  "The Friend was better, but this was also good."
  
  
• Moon of the Crusted Snow
  Waubgeshig Rice (2018)
  "A small town/tribal community is cut off from society for an unknown reason and must rely on their ancestors' knowledge to survive. Timely."
  
  
• The Black Swan of Paris
  Karen Robards (2020)
  "A historical fiction WWII spy novel that delivered and made me sad when it was over."
  
  
• Normal People
  Sally Rooney (2018)
  
  
• The Wise Man's Fear
  Patrick Rothfuss (2011)
  
  
• The Perfect Guests
  Emma Rous (2021)
  "I loved the flashing back and forth between the present and the past while the book got closer and closer to revealing the truth about a wealthy family."
  
  
• Home Before Dark
  Riley Sager (2020)
  
  
• Elephant Man
  Christine Sparks (1980)
  
  
• The Sun Down Motel
  Simone St. James (2020)
  "A ghost story in an old and creepy roadside motel. Yes, please."
  
  
• No Rest for the Restless
  R.W. Stone (2020)
  "First western I've read. Really enjoyed it and will read more."
  
  
• The Past is Never
  Tiffany Quay Tyson (2018)
  
  
• The Bourbon Kings 
• Consumed
  J.R. Ward (2015, 2018)
  
  
• Mobius
  Garon Whited (2019)
  

Adult Nonfiction

• The Worst Journey in the World
  Apsley Cherry-Garrard (1922)
  "Being in the Antarctic SUCKS and Cherry-Garrard does a wonderful job explaining how. This wonderful exploration of Robert Scott’s ill-fated polar expedition is a combination of the author’s memories and diary entries from other members of the expedition. It’s a little heavy at times, but so worth it."

• Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed
  Lori Gottlieb (2019)
   
• As the Last Lead Falls: A Pagan's Perspective on Death, Dying, and Bereavement
  Kristoffer Hughes (published as The Journey into Spirit in 2014)
  "I listened to a presentation the author did about his work in May and I immediately ordered his book. It was really one of the most beautiful views of death and his pagan rituals surrounding it."
   
• My Trip Down the Pink Carpet
  Leslie Jordan (2008)
   
• Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family
  Robert Kolker (2020)
  "After listening to a podcast by Shellie and Tracy, I read Tracy's recommendation of Hidden Valley Road. I enjoy nonfiction, and I have to agree with Tracy that it was one of my favorite books for the year."
   
• Greenlights
  Matthew McConaughey (2020)
  "The audiobook is amazing since Matthew is doing his own reading for you. You can hear him smile as he reads his life stories out loud. It's simply an awesome memoir with a positive way to look at life and how best to catch those "greenlights in life" and not let the yellow and red lights slow you down. I rate it five "warm and fuzzy" stars."
   
• I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
  Michelle McNamara (2018)
  "When I heard that HBO was making a six-part documentary series based on the book of the same name, I decided to read the book. Knowing that the author died before finishing the book gives the reader an added layer of context. You feel the desperation of the author to come so close to discovering the killer only to have passed away before knowing her work would result in the capture of a decades long predator. Maybe not the best for reading before bed, but a strong read for those that like true crime."
   
• Race Against Time: A Reporter Reopens the Unsolved Murder Cases of the Civil Rights Era
  Jerry Mitchell (2020)
   
• Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
  Trevor Noah (2016)
   
• Erebus: The Story of a Ship
  Michael Palin (2018)
  "This is a fun, easy-to-read history book about HMS Erebus, the British naval vessel who had a tour of the Antarctic and later mysteriously vanished in the Arctic! Palin’s narrative voice is super fun and you get such a wonderful view of this ship’s history and all the places she went."
   
• The Order of Time
  Carlo Rovelli (2017)
   
• Open Book
  Jessica Simpson (2020)
   
• Arcadia
  Tom Stoppard (1993)
   
• The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love
  Sonya Renee Taylor (2018)
   
• Memorial Drive
  Natasha Trethewey (2020)
  "Devastatingly gorgeous, this just made me want to hug my momma close." 
  

Picture Books

• Stick and Stone
  Beth Ferry and Tom Lictenheld (2015)
  "Simple, yet detailed artwork tells a story of friendship."
   
• Looking Out for Sarah
  Glenna Lang (2001)
  "Beautifully illustrated story about a seeing-guide dog and his day-to-day tasks. Based on a real pup and person. Plus there is a dog. :)"
   
• We Are Water Protectors
  Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goada (2020)
  "The art is stunning . The story is equally good and pairs well with the illustrations."
   
• Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story
  Juana Martinez-Neal and Kevin Noble Maillard (2019)
  "I love fry bread. This book is a celebration of that delectable treat and of the indigenous people across North America who make it."
   
• Unicorn Day
  Diana Murray and Luke Flowers (2019)
  "Chaotic artwork, but in a good way. A delightful tale of acceptance."
   
• In Our Mothers' House
  Patricia Polacco (2009)
  "I love Patricia Polacco and this book, showcasing a lesbian couple and their adopted children, gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels."
   
• My Papi Has a Motorcycle
  Isabel Quintero and Zeke Peña (2019)
  "A celebration of father-daughter love and of the importance of community."
   
• The Most Magnificent Thing
  Ashley Spires (2014)
  "A great picture book about emotions and creating things. Plus, there is a dog. :)"
   
• Coming on Home Soon
  Jacqueline Woodson and James E. Ransome (2001) 
• Visiting Day
  Jacqueline Woodson and E.B. Lewis (2004)
  "Both of these super sweet books focus on children who live with their grandmothers while their parent is away. I ached for them when they missed their parent--one in prison, the other far away working--but I basked in the glow of that grandmotherly love."
   
• William's Doll
  Charlotte Zolotow and William Pène du Bois (1972)
  "William knows what he wants and what he wants is a doll. Smashing gender stereotypes back in the 70s!"
  

Middle Grade

 

• The Girl and the Ghost
  Hanna Alkaf (2020)
  "I adored this Malaysian ghost tale: a girl inherits a ghost from her grandmother, setting her off on a fascinating quest."
   
• Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe
  Jo Watson Hackl (2018)
  "A girl in a Mississippi ghost town named Cricket searches for a secret room her mother told her about. Well-researched."
   
• Indian No More
  Charlene Willing McManis and Traci Sorell (2019)
  "Set in the mid-1950s, Indian No More tells the true story of a young girl from the Umpqua tribe. When the US government terminates her tribe, her immediate family moves to California and starts a new, very different, life."
   
• The Bad Beginning
  Lemony Snicket (1999)
  "I used to love these books and it turns out I still do. I reread all of them this year, but I'm just going to list the first one."
  

YA

• The Night Country
  Melissa Albert (2020)
  
  
• The Darkest Part of the Forest
  Holly Black (2015)
   
• Clown in a Cornfield
  Adam Cesare (2020)
  "Like reading an 80s slasher film."
   
• These Shallow Graves
  Jennifer Donnelly (2015)
   
• Copper Sun
  Sharon Draper (2006)
   
• Pet
  Akwaeke Emezi (2019)
  "Just because you pretend something is gone doesn't mean it's so."
   
• Come Tumbling Down
  Seanan McGuire (2020)
  "Every year, I eagerly await the next book in the Wayward Children series. This year's installment was one of the best yet. I just want to hug these books, I love them so much."
   
• Prophecy 
• Warrior
• King
  Ellen Oh (2013, 2013, 2015)
   
• Witch Child
  Celia Rees (2000)
   
• Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All
  Laura Ruby (2019)
  "I love a good, non-scary ghost story and this historical mystery was amazing."

We hope you discovered a few books to read in 2021, whether they're old favorites are brand new. Until next time, happy reading!

Recreating What You Read and Watch

Kristina Kelly

Administrative Services Administrative Assistant

For everyone who is feeling down because the Con circuit has been shut down this summer, this post is for you to plan for next year.

You may not realize it, but all of us have probably dressed as a someone from pop culture at some point in our lives, specifically on Halloween. We dressed up as our favorite cartoon character or our favorite horror movie monster or even our favorite rock star. I remember dressing as the Pink Panther, Boy George from Culture Club, and Lestat, from Interview with a Vampire. I guess a lot of us outgrow "playing dress up." Alas, I have not.

Cosplay, which is short for costume roleplaying, is a brilliant way to show how much you love a topic and an outlet for creative talent. Cosplay has become so popular that people are now making a living at it.

Cosplaying has many levels to it. You can take it as far you want or keep it simple. One of my favorite types of Cosplay was created so adults could "dress up" without breaking Disney’s rule of no costumes for guests over the age of 14. Adults dressed as characters could cause confusion for children. These rules are relaxed only during select special events, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but even these select events have specific costume guidelines. So, one creative person created DisneyBounding. “Bounding” is creating a set of regular, everyday clothes inspired by your favorite character. It is not wearing a costume and can be done on a very limited budget.

I participated in a Quarantine-Oween celebrating Halloween, and we had to post different costumes. This was my subtle Bounding outfit for Wonder Woman.

I thoroughly enjoy taking a book I love and creating a costume to wear based on it. There are times when a young person (or young at heart) sees you and instantly makes a connection with you because they too love the same thing.

Cosplay is also something that can be done at your local library. There are several topics on integrating it into your programming! Here are some links:

• http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2017/03/new-workshop-programming-cosplay-embracing-costume-play-your-library
• https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=plan-cosplay-workshop-teens
• https://www.slideshare.net/ellyssa/cosplay-in-libraries
• https://clermontlibrary.org/cosplay-101/

Many of our own Mississippi libraries host events where people can cosplay. The one in my area is the Central Con, hosted by the Central Mississippi Regional Library System.

My Top Cosplays from Books and Movies

Dr. Jones and Jr. – The first time I was able to get my husband into a cosplay event, he and my son were mobbed in the parking lot. My son wore his scout uniform and, if you look closely, carried the Cross of Coronado. My husband carried his briefcase, the journal of the grail, and an umbrella.

Sanderson Sisters – cult classic/fan favorite. I had the best time putting this look together. With Disney+ hiring a director for a sequel, this costume set may make a comeback.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novels – Some of the best parts of these is looking at the paintings in the background for easter eggs of previous LXG members. My family did this as a cosplay at a Con not too long ago.

Aquaman and Mera – For my daughter and her friend, I made feudal Japanese clothing based on these characters.

My Top Book Cosplay Ideas

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – Elf or hobbit? Ranger or Rider of Rohan? The costume possibilities are wide and there is much to love. If I were to make something from this book, it would be Aragorn & Arwen (or Beren & Luthien).

The Old Guard – Recently made into a movie pilot by Netflix, I foresee many a female cosplayer with a Scythian Axe. The clothing would also be very easy to upcycle from finds at thrift stores and flea markets.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman – I am dying to make a Medusa headdress out of data cords.

The Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan (and finished by Brandon Sanderson) – These are currently being turned into a series by Amazon. I admit to having a bit of excitement to see how this plays out on screen. I am also looking forward to seeing the Aiel on screen. Who is your favorite character?

Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind – Wizards galore, and who doesn’t want a Mord-Sith costume?

Any book on Greek mythology – by 5th grade I had read all the books in my school's library on mythology, with my favorite being the Greek/Roman myths. This borders on another hobby of mine – historical reenactment. Thinking about all the mythos of the world, I went downstairs to look at MLCs collection and this is one of the shelves I discovered.

Dune by Frank Herbert – “Soon to be made into another motion picture”. I love Dune, I love the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood (the litany against fear is a go to for hand washing chant for me), and I love the possibility of making a still suit.

Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman – yeah, yeah. Gaiman is on here twice, but this is awesome! I attended a medieval superhero ball a couple years ago. Participants combined their love of medieval history and their love for superheroes. It was an inspiring night of creativity!

Now you know that your love for a book can be expressed through cosplay, we want to hear from you about what fandom you are recreating, whether movie, book, or comic!

The Best of the Best: Reading Your Way Through Women's History Month

Continuing with Women's History Month here is a list of books by or about women for older readers.

Non-Fiction:

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik

All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation by Rebecca Traister

Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and What We Can Do about It by Kate Harding

Sex Object by Jessica Valenti

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West

The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace

The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley

Florynce "Flo" Kennedy: The Life of a Black Feminist Radical by Sherie M. Randolph

Mrs. Sherlock Holmes: The True Story of New York City's Greatest Female Detective and the 1917 Missing Girl Case That Captivated a Nation by Brad Ricca

Living a Feminist Life by Sara Ahmed

You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson, Jessica Williams

Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout by Laura Jane Grace

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan

Fiction:

Difficult Women by Roxane Gay

All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg

Always Happy Hour: Stories by Mary Miller

13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad

The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church

The Stars Are Legion by Kameron Hurley

Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin

The Power by Naomi Alderman

A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood

Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement

Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi

Almost Famous Women: Stories by Megan Mayhew Bergman

Graphic Novels:

Bitch Planet, Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Valentine De Landro, Robert Wilson IV

ODY-C, Vol. 1: Off to Far Ithicaa by Matt Fraction, Christian Ward

The One Hundred Nights of Hero by Isabel Greenberg

DC Comics: Bombshells, Vol. 1: Enlisted by Marguerite Bennett, Marguerite Sauvage

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel

French Milk by Lucy Knisley

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, Mattias Ripa

The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua

The Story of My Tits by Jennifer Hayden

Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Octavia E. Butler, John Jennings, Damian Duffy

Happy reading.

Young Adult Books for Women's History Month

To celebrate Women’s History Month we have put together this list of young adult books by and/or about strong women. We hope that you can find a few new favorites from this list!

Non-Fiction:

• We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to CoverGirl®, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement by Andi Zeisler
• Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World by Kelly Jensen (Editor), Kody Keplinger, Courtney Summers Erika T. Wurth Brenna Clarke Gray, Mikki Kendall, Angie Manfredi, Lily Myers , Becca Sexton, Allison Peyton Steger, Anne Thériault, Shveta Thakrar, Kayla Whaley, Sarah McCarry, Malinda Lo, Ashley Hope Pérez, Nova Ren Suma, Daniel José Older, Wendy Davis, Matt Nathanson, Mia DePrince, Alida Nugent, Constance Zaber, Brandy Colbert, Siobhan Vivian, Rafe Posey, Jessica Luther, Michaela DePrince, Amandla Stenberg, Suzannah Weiss, Zariya Allen, Risa Rodil
• The V-Word: True Stories About First-Time Sex by Amber J. Keyser, Molly Bloom, Sidney Joaquin-Vetromile, Alex Meeks, Carrie Mesrobian, Sarah Mirk, Sara Ryan, Erica Lorraine Scheidt, Jamia Wilson, Kiersi Burkhart, Chelsey Clammer, Christa Desir, Kate Gray, Justina Ireland, Laurel Isaac, Karen Jensen, Kelly Jensen

• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
• Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America by Karen Blumenthal
• Women's Rights (Great Speeches in History) by Jennifer A. Hurley

• A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
• Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future by Jennifer Baumgardner, Amy Richards

• Feminism by Nancy Dziedzic              
• Feminism : Reinventing the F Word by Nadia Abushanab Higgins.
• Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History by Sam Maggs, Sophia Foster-Dimino

Fiction:

• Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
• Rani Patel in Full Effect by Sonia Patel
• Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz

• Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan
• Asking For It by Louise O'Neill
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

• The Valiant by Lesley Livingston
• Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson

• After the Fall by Kate Hart
• Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston
• Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

• Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
• If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
• Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Graphic Novels:

• Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters, Brooke A. Allen
• Princeless, Vol. 1: Save Yourself  by Jeremy Whitley, Mia Goodwin, Jung-Ha Kim, Dave Dwonch
• Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal  by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona

• Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass & Sorcery by Kurtis J. Wiebe, Roc Upchurch
• The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Volume 1: Squirrel Power by Ryan North, Erica Henderson
• Kim & Kim Vol. 1 by Magdalene Visaggio, Eva Cabrera, Imogen Binnie

• Princess Princess Ever After by Katie O'Neill
• Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
• Blue Is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh

• The Adventures of Superhero Girl by Faith Erin Hicks
• Adventure Time: Marceline and the Scream Queens by Meredith Gran
• Dare to Disappoint: Growing Up in Turkey by Ozge Samanci

 Happy reading.

20 Books That Capture African American Lives

Black History Month is in full swing and we have another book list for you! This list centers on recent books for the adult reader, both fiction and nonfiction, that speak of the African American experience. With widespread settings and time periods, you're sure to find one (or two or three) that you'll stay up late reading. Don't miss our earlier installments, with recommendations for picture book readers and middle school/YA readers.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot
2010

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Michelle Tucker
2010

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
Isabel Wilkerson
2010

If Sons, Then Heirs
Lorene Cary
2011

Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America
Gilbert King
2012

A Mission from God: A Memoir and Challenge for America
James Meredith and William Doyle
2012














March trilogy
John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
2013, 2015, 2016

 The Good Lord Bird
James McBride
2013

Strange Fruit, Volume 1: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History
Joel Christian Gill
2014

Jam on the Vine
LaShonda Katrice Barnett
2015

Driving the King
Ravi Howard
2015

The Mothers
Brit Bennett
2016

Grace
Natashia Deón
2016

The Book of Harlan
Bernice L. McFadden
2016

The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race
Jesmyn Ward
2016

The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead
2016

Another Brooklyn
Jacqueline Woodson
2016














Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Oney JudgeErica Armstrong Dunbar
2017

Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel
Jesmyn Ward
2017 (forthcoming)
















Until next time, happy reading!