Patrisse Cullors - The New York Times "Without the Right to Protest, America Is Doomed to Fail"

The New York Times | October 2, 2020

“‘To sin by silence, when we should protest, / Makes cowards of men’ sounds like a slogan from any of the innumerable Black Lives Matter marches that have erupted around the world this year. A contemporary reading might be distilled to: #ProtestMatters. The quote’s source? The poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox, whose poem ‘Protest’ was published in 1914.

Protest is the foundational variable of the American experiment. Every pivot point in the history of our country is rooted in it. From the Boston Tea Party of 1773 to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s immortal ‘I Have a Dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, a nation ‘of the people, by the people’ is only as robust and defensible as its protections of the right to protest.

Protests led by Black Americans, though often unrecognized, have been particularly crucial to every great political movement in this country. From Crispus Attucks (the first martyr of the Revolutionary War) to Ida B. Wells and the Black suffragists fighting for women’s right to vote, Black and brown people have always protested for comprehensive systemic change and freedom for all Americans, even when they’ve been denied freedom themselves.”

Follow the link above to read the full op-ed from Patrisse Cullors.

Victoria Sanders
IF DOMINICAN WERE A COLOR by Sili Recio, illus. by Brianna McCarthy - Shelf Awareness Review

Shelf Awareness | October 2, 2020

“Author-illustrator duo Sili Recio and Brianna McCarthy bring to life If Dominican Were a Color, a vibrant celebration of the Dominican Republic that makes for a splashy debut.

Recio breaks down the diverse Caribbean island's palettes, starting with the sky: ‘If Dominican were a color.../ it would be the sunset in the sky,/ blazing red and burning bright.’ The narrator's family history is explained through a set of grandmothers: one has ‘mahogany skin’ and the other shares the narrator's ‘yellow tint.’ Recio incorporates the Dominican Republic's complicated history with Haiti by including a color that is ‘the Haitian black on my Dominican back.’ Everything from the color of natural lips to the texture of hair is not just present on the page, but celebrated as beautiful. The rhymes have a quiet pace, like the soft tapping of drums. Spanish is woven into the text and elevates the big picture of what Dominican looks like, as in, ‘It'd be the maíz coming up amarillo with green.’ Though some native English speakers might reach for a translation, the illustrations paired with the text give enough context. The sparse text makes the double-page spreads rendered in McCarthy's jewel-toned mixed-media illustrations feel larger than life. Blues and greens of the Caribbean Sea and trees, reds and browns of dancing and coffee invite readers to linger in each frame. The varying shades of white, brown and Black skin hues emphasize the title, breaking down the idea that there is a single way to ‘look’ Dominican.

The author's note gives personal insight to the racism and colorism Recio faced and offers a balm to children who may be experiencing the same.”

Follow the link above to read the full glowing review of If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio!

Victoria Sanders
Patrisse Cullors - The Washington Post "Black women are leading the movement to end police violence"

The Washington Post | October 1, 2020

“For decades, these Black women and others have pioneered innovative strategies to organize and bring national attention to the systemic problem of police violence. And today, Black female activists continue to lead the fight. The activism of the Black Lives Matter founders — Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi — has electrified the nation. Since 2013, they have inspired thousands to join the movement to end state-sanctioned violence and anti-Black racism. Relatives of victims of police violence, including Samaria Rice, the mother of Tamir Rice, and Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, have amplified this work.”

Follow the link above the read the full article.

Victoria Sanders
WHEN THEY CALL YOU A TERRORIST (Young Adult Edition) by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele - School Library Journal Starred Review

School Library Journal | September 29, 2020

“In this title that is part memoir, part call to action, Black Lives Matter (BLM) cofounder Khan-Cullors describes growing up as a young Black girl in a multiracial community in Van Nuys, CA; her personal experiences with police; untreated mental illness in her own family; and the impact of white supremacy. The text is broken into two parts. The first seven chapters chronicle Khan-Cullors’s family story and her childhood. The last seven chapters focus on the civil rights movement; she chronicles her brother Monte’s experiences with police and prison brutality and the lack of access to mental health treatment resources. Each chapter features quotes from well-known authors, activists, and politicians as well as photos and reader questions. This book is more than the origin story of BLM and more than Khan-Cullors’s revolutionary journey. She creates space for difficult thoughts and conversations to begin. The reader questions and recommended reading and viewing could serve as guideposts for teachers, students, caregivers, and parents.

VERDICT An essential purchase for all high school libraries. Students will learn about BLM’s beginnings and empathize with the pilgrimage of one individual discovering her true self.”

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Story of Black Lives Matter and the Power To Change the World by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele received a lovely starred review from School Library Journal!

Victoria Sanders
THE WRITER'S LIBRARY by Nancy Pearl and Jeff Schwager - Manhattan Book Review

Manhattan Book Review September 21, 2020

“Seeking the ingredients that make a successful writer, librarian Nancy Pearl and playwright Jeff Schwager scripted interview questions for about twenty prize-winning novelists. Familiar names such as Amor Towles, Michael Chabon, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and many more speak about the influences that have directed them in their chosen field. Several recount parents who read to them as children, others found deliverance in their local libraries, while some had both inspiring and encouraging teachers.

These successful writers come from diverse backgrounds; Asian and African immigrants, indigenous Americans, from the affluent to the impoverished. All of them had a love of words, a hunger for literature, and subsequently, found stories they wanted to tell. From being youngsters teething on the Nancy Drew series, science fiction, and fantasy to feed their imagination, all had a love of reading that emerged and matured at various ages and in different stages.

The writers share the motives and objectives for their novels, and they very generously reveal the readings that have sustained and enriched them over the years. Their lists and comments about influential books that have impacted their thoughts will likely elicit reflective and provocative comments from readers. If you love books, then this is an appealing confection that you’ll devour with relish.”

Follow the link above to read the five starred review!

Victoria Sanders
MY MOTHER'S HOUSE by Francesca Momplaisir - PopSugar "22 Spooky New Books That Will Put You in a Halloween State of Mind"

PopSugar | September 21, 2020

“Haunted houses, inescapable curses, serial killers, and vampires are just a few of the horrors that populate the best new scary books of 2020. In this unprecedented year, horror may not be the first genre you feel like turning to, but there's plenty of catharsis to be found in tales of book club members turned vampire slayers and teen girls facing off hordes of the undead. The best scary stories are transportive, leading the reader into a nightmarish world full of good scares — you know, the kind that leave you up at night marveling at the writer's cleverness, but still feeling secure in your own bed. These 22 titles do just that, and they'll add plenty of spookiness to your TBR just in time for Halloween, too.”

My Mother’s House by Francesca Momplaisir was included in this round-up! Follow the link above to read more.

Victoria Sanders
FOR THE BEST by Vanessa Lillie - The Parkersburg News & Sentinel "Suspense novels to keep you guessing"

The Parkersburg News & Sentinel | September 19, 2020

“A drunken evening ends in murder and accustations in For the Best by Vanessa Lillie.

Juliet Worthington-Smith seems to live an enchanted life with a great career and family. On the night her foundation kicks off a new program, the star recipient ends up dead with her wallet next to him and Jules remembers nothing about that night – because she was blindingly drunk. Now the prime suspect, she decides to find the truth on her own through a true-crime vlog, much like her also dealing with alcoholism father. With the help of an ex, she is determined to track down the truth – but she may not like what it says.

A hard look at justice and alcoholism, this is a story that will stay with readers.”

For the Best by Vanessa Lillie was included in this suspense round-up! Follow the link above to read more.

Victoria Sanders
THE WRITER'S LIBRARY by Nancy Pearl and Jeff Schwager - Bookreporter Review

Bookreporter | September 18, 2020

“Do other cities have famous librarians? Seattle’s Nancy Pearl has even inspired an action figure by Archie McPhee! The author of BOOK LUST, Pearl has been promoting great reads for her entire career, via television and radio. She teamed up with Jeff Schwager, a Seattle-based playwright, editor and producer, to compile a list of favorite authors and ask them a simple question: Why do you read, and how does reading help you write?

To focus the list, they decided to approach U.S. writers only. But due to our increasingly diverse population, they were able to include many immigrants and authors of color. Hence the list includes Jonathan Lethem, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Jennifer Egan and Siri Hustvedt. In all, they conducted 22 author interviews in person (except for Donna Tartt, whose interview happened via email) and gave the authors a chance to edit and tighten their transcripts. Each writer also provides a list of authors and books in their own library.”

Follow the link above to read the entire review.

Victoria Sanders
THE WRITER'S LIBRARY by Nancy Pearl and Jeff Schwager - Shelf Awareness Review

Shelf Awareness | September 18, 2020

“Most readers will agree that a pleasure second only to reading great books is talking about them with simpatico people. Librarian and literary critic Nancy Pearl and award-winning playwright Jeff Schwager create a formidable and friendly partnership to interview 23 literary luminaries about their reading habits, favorite books, how they read while writing, and books that shaped their tastes and psyches. Hundreds of books and authors are discussed, praised and dissed, and Pearl and Schwager always offer informed opinions and enthusiastic encouragement.

The fascinating and energetic interviews in The Writer's Library become far-ranging discussions. These eloquent and passionate evangelists for books will have readers creating voluminous ‘Must Read’ lists.”

Follow the link above to read the full review!

Victoria Sanders
OTHER PEOPLE'S PETS by R.L. Maizes - The National Book Review "A (Very) Anxious Public Speaker Goes On Book Tour"

The National Book Review | September 17, 2020

“As the salutatorian of my eighth grade class, I was invited to give a speech at graduation. Even as a child, I didn’t like coming in second, but I understood the invitation was an honor. With my mother’s help, I prepared a talk and practiced it for hours. My family was going through one of its poorer phases, so the night of the graduation I wore an ugly hand-me-down from my sister, a pink dress with a high collar that made my neck itch. In a moment of vanity, I left my glasses at home, though I was horribly nearsighted. Standing before a crowd of hushed parents in a dimly lit auditorium, I looked down at my speech and discovered I couldn’t read a word.

Flash forward forty plus years. At a literary festival, I was about to read for the first time  from my debut book, a collection of short stories. I trembled violently, as panicked as my younger self. I was used to people reading my work, if they read it at all, somewhere, anywhere, miles away from me. I’m not a coffee-shop writer, or a library writer, when those venues are available. I work alone in my house, content for days to go by without leaving. But to get the word out about my new book, I had to appear before the public. Even now, as I try to promote my debut novel during a pandemic, I must find ways to reach the public, if only virtually.”

Follow the link above to read R.L. Maizes’ full essay.

Victoria Sanders
FOR THE BEST by Vanessa Lillie - CrimeReads "There Is No Crime Fiction Without Politics"

CrimeReads | September 16, 2020

“My second thriller started to form because of a photograph that chilled my blood. The now-famous image was of activist Angela Peoples at the Women’s March on Washington. With three white women in their pink knit hats taking selfies behind her, Peoples held a sign that continues to haunt me: ‘Don’t Forget White Women Voted for Trump.’

Even being from a small town in a red state, I struggled with why. The answer I kept coming back to was we (white women) wanted a white man to protect our privilege. For anyone who’s been on the receiving end of a white woman defending a white man behaving badly, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

But the image stayed with me when I sat down to write my second thriller, For the Best. I couldn’t explore another white woman striding into the police station demanding answers or snooping in her neighbor’s bushes for clues. That’s not an insult to thriller writers, in fact, those things actually happened in my debut, Little Voices.

But even in early 2019, it felt like such privilege. There was no way I could ignore how white women were acting in the wake of our election. Or, the privilege in my own life or mistakes I’d made.”

Follow the link above to read Vanessa Lillie’s entire essay!

Victoria Sanders
Patrisse Cullors - One Green Planet "Meghan Markle Pitching Documentary About Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors"

One Green Planet | September 15, 2020

“Meghan Markle is reportedly pitching a documentary about Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors as part of her and Prince Harry’s $100 million Netflix deal.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have founded a unnamed production company and signed a multiyear deal with Netflix to make documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows, and children’s programming, reaching Netflix’s 193 million subscribers worldwide.

‘Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope,’ the couple said in a statement. ‘As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us.’ They added that Netflix’s ‘unprecedented reach will help us share impactful content that unlocks action.’

Patrisse Cullors, alongside Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi, founded Black Lives Matter in 2013 following the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. As Black Lives Matter movement has gained an international following, Cullors was named in TIME Magazine’s 2020 100 Women of the Year project and became a New York Times bestselling author of When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir (2018).

Sources say Markle was ‘hugely inspired’ by Cullors’ incredible work and believes her story must be told.”

Follow the link above to read more!

Victoria Sanders