RaveLibrary JournalThis is a method of accountability that might not change a person’s beliefs but could open the door to deeper understanding. Throughout the book, she presents examples of conversation pieces, open-ended questions, and possible outcomes ... Headlee has created an informative, enjoyable book that functions as part-memoir, part-guidebook to having conversations about racism. A must-read for everyone.
Katherine Johnson with Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore
RaveLibrary Journal... lovely ... The memoir chronicles Johnson’s childhood in the mountains of West Virginia, her love of learning, her prodigious talent for math and music, and her career as a mathematician. Especially touching are Johnson’s recollections of historical events, such as World War II and the civil rights movement, and her relationships with her family, coworkers, and educators. Readers will enjoy Johnson’s personal accounts of the space race and the roles of Black women in STEM. This wonderful, insightful memoir is the perfect companion piece to Margot Lee Shetterly’s best-selling Hidden Figures, which recounted the lives of Johnson and her colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson.
Melissa Maerz
PositiveLibrary JournalThrough interviews with Linklater and the cast (including Ben Affleck and Matthew McConaughey) and crew, Maerz delivers an at times humorous chronicle of how a small film became a touchstone of 1990s cinema, with introspective analysis of directing techniques, casting, and performance. While readers may become overwhelmed by the different perspectives, the author maintains a sense of cohesion among different insights, resulting in a well-rounded account ... Linklater devotees, those who love Dazed and Confused, and anyone interested in 1990s indie film will appreciate Maerz’s detailed tribute.
Desmond Meade
PositiveLibrary JournalAn uplifting and hopeful chronicle of the power of faith, the rights of the disenfranchised, as well as a call for systemic change within the United States.
Natasha Trethewey
RaveLibrary JournalExploring personal trauma, memory, and closure, Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize–winner Trethewey returns to the site of her mother’s murder ... Through spare prose and vivid imagery, the author presents a narrative of a trauma survivor’s need to remember a past that, for 30 years, lapsed into the mind’s shadows ... A moving, heartbreaking memoir about a traumatic event and the path to healing.
Sara Paretsky
PositiveLibrary JournalParetsky packs a lot into each new adventure and though this installment is a multilayered story, it moves at a swift and poppy pace. There are times when Warshawski’s escapades are a bit unbelievable—the trap she sets for the antagonists is highly implausible—but new readers should not look for logic; they should enjoy the fun of solving the mystery and rooting for Warshawski to bring down the bad guys ... This enjoyable romp through political corruption and social injustice in Chicago will please fans of the V.I. Warshawski detective series and readers who enjoy tough women PIs.
Candacy Taylor
PositiveLibrary JournalAn enriching look at African American history through the lens of the black motorist, and as one of the few books on the subject, this is essential for most collections.
Maura Spiegel
PositiveLibrary JournalSpiegel uses passages from an unfinished memoir and interviews with friends, family, and actors to create a portrait of a strong, complicated, but compassionate man who created classics with a strong New York City atmosphere ... does not dwell too much on the technical. Instead, Spiegel focuses on the humanity involved in each film, Lumet’s relationships, and the presence of Lumet’s home, New York City ... Though some readers may find the book at times too congratulatory (there are no juicy tidbits), it does provide a strong perspective of a talented but uncompromising director. An insightful biography, perfect for film buffs.
Ben Crump
PositiveLibrary JournalThroughout, Crump uses court cases of police misconduct to prove his overall argument. While this is effective in supporting the author’s thesis, it is easy to become fatigued by the repeated inability of the courts to recognize injustice perpetrated by police. Also, Crump’s argument of legal genocide is occasionally repetitious and might distract general readers ... Despite a few dense sections, this is overall a critical book in the age of Black Lives Matter, suited for both YA and adult readers.
Sara Quin and Tegan Quin
PositiveLibrary JournalThough the interchange of memory is a fascinating concept, the book is strongest when it focuses on its two central themes: sexual identity and the discovery of music ... This inspiring memoir will appeal to readers, especially fans of the duo.
Tanisha C Ford
PositiveLibrary JournalFord’s recollections of living in a segregated Midwestern neighborhood comprise the strongest passages, employing her family, friends, and community as examples of transitions in black style ... A winning look at black girl fashion and a solid addition for all collections.
