Monday, July 03, 2023 Librarian Julia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awakening of Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Tiffany D. Jackson (1940s)
Written by Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s daughter, this fictionalized account shows readers how Malcolm Little became the civil rights icon Malcolm X. After being framed for a series of crimes in 1946, Malcolm is incarcerated. This novel highlights the relationships made with, as well as the perspectives and lessons shared by other Black men who were imprisoned alongside Malcolm. This book sheds light on the many injustices faced by the Black community, but also focuses on the ability to transform and thrive through community care and shared visions for the present and future. 

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (1950s)
It’s 1954, and 17-year old Lily Hu is living in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Lily’s role as the ‘perfect Chinese girl’ is challenged when she comes across an ad for a male impersonator at a lesbian bar called Telegraph Club. Throughout the story, Lily begins to develop a connection with her classmate, Kath, who accompanies her on these outings to the Telegraph Club. This novel places readers in a location with historic Chinese American significance while touching on topics such as queer love and identity that transcend time.

 

Kids Read

 

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina (1970s)
Set in New York during the summer of 1977, this coming of age story follows Cuban-American Nora Lopez as she faces life after graduation. As Lopez’s family struggles to make ends meet, fear caused by an at-large serial killer named Son of Sam as well as major bouts of looting and arson in the city enhance the intensity of this story. A powerful story about family connections and coming of age set during a significant period in New York’s history. 

Throwback by Maurene Goo (1990s)
After a heated argument takes place between Sam and her mom, a mysterious rideshare app sends Sam back to the 1990s where she meets her mom as a teenager. Sam learns what it was like for her mother, Priscilla, to be a first generation Korean-American, and experiences the not so subtle sexist and racist microaggressions of the 90s. Will Sam be able to repair her relationship with her mom by changing the past?