The Bridgertons Happily Ever After Audiobook
Gundenia Ransbottom
We love fiction because it holds a mirror to humanity, but each mirror reflects something different. The titles spotlighted here are as varied in what they reflect and how they do it as are the authors who wrote the books.
Juneteenth, also known as Black Independence Day, Jubilee Day, or Emancipation Day for Black Americans, is a holiday that commemorates the day the last enslaved people were emancipated in the United States on June 19, 1865 with the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. This was two and a half years after slavery was abolished more broadly in the United States through the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and six months before the 13th Amendment in December 1865 made slavery unconstitutional. It is a day to celebrate freedom and also to remember the genocide of enslaved African Americans.
Too often, we hear about trans experiences rooted in trauma, shame, and fear. It's important that those stories exist, but we argue it's equally (if not more) important that trans stories rooted in joy also exist. Trans people, as well as people of other genders, need to see that the trans community is a beautiful community "that has resistance, liberation, joy and magic at its core" *(Cosmopolitan UK).*
Summer is a time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. This means picnics, cookouts, camping, and hitting the beach. It's also a time to exercise that green thumb of yours. So get out into the garden and grow some stuff.
Ly, Neil, Penny, and Perry recommend games--in this list, you'll find titles from a variety of genres, from puzzles to story-rich, character-driven games. If you are new to video games, here are some definitions of gaming terms used on this list:- Platformer: These games heavily feature platforms. To progress, players have to jump between them and avoid obstacles. Super Mario is a popular example of a platform-type game.- Rhythm: These games use music to enhance the game. Players have to time button presses to the beat of the music playing (sometimes to simulate playing musical instruments). Popular examples include Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero.- Sandbox: This type of game lets players build their own world to interact with. A popular example is Minecraft.
These books, each with 220 pages or fewer, are perfect for these strange times where our focus is so divided. Some classics, some contemporary, these novels might be low on pages but they are high on entertainment.
If you aren't sure how you feel about poetry, novels in verse are a great place to start. The poems come together to tell one overarching story. They are generally short enough to read quickly, and every word and pause is carefully chosen to make the greatest impact.
Many people still think of manga as a Japanese graphic novel when talking about graphic novels with Asian protagonists. Here we have curated several graphic novels written or illustrated by Asian American creators.
Whether the author uses a pan-ethnic term such as Latino or Hispanic to describe their identity, or by their family's Hispanic origin group, the rich history of literary tradition (often, but not always, with hints of the fantastic) shines brightly in all of these stories.
The feminist movement has been around for many decades and has had strong voices in each generation. These books focus on the issues that have gained momentum in recent years, with an emphasis on including the perspectives of all people.
That noise you hear in the middle of the night--is it the house settling? Or is it something more sinister? In these books, it is the later and the house is haunted. Our staff chose favorite stories about things that go bump in the night.
If you tried and could not get into the classics you were assigned to read in school, try these modern adaptations, inspirations, reimaginings, and retellings that address problematic aspects and rework the original stories to put marginal groups in the spotlight, all while staying faithful to the classic's themes.
If you can't stand conversation hearts because you prefer your hearts black and cold, this is the list for you. This is love gone bad. Romance gone wrong. And the perfect antidote to those with hearts in their eyes.
Grief at losing a loved one is an emotion that we all experience at some point or another. Grief is never easy and can be overwhelming. Here are some books that explore how people have navigated death, as well as titles to help people find their own path and make sense of the extreme emotions that accompany loss.
Islam is the second-largest world religion. It is also the most misunderstood. These books provide a window for those who would like to learn more about the religion, its influence on culture, and the tireless work of Muslims who stand up against Islamophobia.
USC researchers published a study titled "Missing and Maligned: The Reality of Muslims in Popular Global Movies" ( -muslim-rep-global-film-2021-06-09.pdf) that found a severe lack of Muslim representation in film. These films feature Muslim stories that move beyond stereotypes and show the complexity and diversity of the Muslim community.
Romance provides readers with entertainment, sexual empowerment, emotional fulfillment, lots of fun, and an emotionally satisfying happily ever after (or at least a happily for now). And in this day and age, who doesn't want that?
Here at Skokie Public Library, we are committed to [intellectual freedom]( -values-intellectual-freedom). More information about Banned Books Week and the titles on this list can be found on the [American Library Association's website]( ).
Whether the nature you know is outside your back door or in a remote wilderness destination, there is endless beauty and wonder to be celebrated in the natural world. Skokie library staff share some favorite books about nature and the benefits of getting outdoors.
In 2013, the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a globally peer reviewed report that concluded, "climate change is real and human activities, largely the release of polluting gases from burning fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas), is the main cause." Here are some books to help make sense of the impact of climate change.
Whether you are diving into a fiction book featuring time traveling, magic, and distant places, or traveling vicariously through nonfiction, we have selected a variety of titles to satisfy your wanderlust this summer and beyond.
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