2018 February Reading Challenge

[Elizabeth]

February is African American History Month. For your February Challenge, you must read a book by an African American Author. It can be fiction or non-fiction and aimed at any age, children, youth or adults.

There are lots of options. You can read a classic like The Color Purple by Alice Walker, or a fantasy like The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, a graphic novel about real events like March: Book One by John Lewis or a children's book like Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson.

Have fun!

[Becky]

Great challenge! I plan on reading, The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis.

[Debbie]

HOORAY! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Now, what to read, what to read.

[Debbie]

I will be reading Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl How to Dance Like the Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers.

Firebird won the 2015 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. Misty Copeland, the author, is the first African American Female Principal Dancer in any major international ballet company and dances with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre in New York.

Firebird, the ballet, is considered a modern classic and the music was written by Igor Stravinsky.

[Alyson]

Becky wrote: "Great challenge! I plan on reading, The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis."

Ooooo, so good--and so heart wrenching.

[Lidja]

I just finished Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy a few days ago. Still thinking about it... :)

[Donna]

I already read it, but if you’d like to read a love story (not romance) for this challenge I recommend The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

[Jackie]

Becky wrote: "Great challenge! I plan on reading, The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis."

I am listening to this now, so I won't count it as the challenge book, but I love it!

[Jackie]

I am going to read Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes, since my book club is also reading a book about 9/11.

[Audrey]

Are there any Reader's Choice nominees that match?

[Teresa]

I'm going to read Passion, Betrayal And Killer Highlights by Kyra Davis. The title just tickles me.

[Debbie]

Teresa wrote: "I'm going to read Passion, Betrayal And Killer Highlights by Kyra Davis. The title just tickles me."

Ooooh! Sounds fun. I'm adding it to my RRSN list (Read Real Soon Now) Thanks!

[Greg]

I'll be reading The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.

[Teresa]

Debbie, it was good. The author and the main character are Black and Jewish so it was outside of my knowledge area. I checked it out from OpenLibrary.org.

[Kelsey]

I just read Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

It is a wonderful, little book. Everyone should read it cuz you can do so in one day.

I am currently reading When They Call You a Terrorist; a Black Lives Matter Memoir. Patrice Khan-Cullors

[Linda]

I read a very short book that is from the Arts and Poetry series.

It is a poem by Maya Angelou with paintings illustrating it.

[Debbie]

Kelsey wrote: "I just read Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...."

Thanks for the recommendation, Kelsey. I put this on hold as well as a hold on the second title of the trilogy Home . And, if that weren't enough, I noticed the third title of the trilogy has just been published and I put in a purchase request online at the library for The Night Masquerade .

[Debbie]

I have just finished Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland Shows a Young Girl How to Dance Like the Firebird by Misty Copeland. It is a beautifully illustrated children's book.

[Stephanie]

I just finished up March: Book Two and am planning on reading book 3 soon! I also just bought a brand new comic called Black AF: America's Sweetheart that I am very much looking forward to reading! I'm also hoping to finish reading Angela Davis's autobiography since she'll be in Park City on the 15!!! I'M SO EXCITED EEEEEK!! (also, I'm drowning in excellent books and it's the best feeling! ♥ )

[Jackie]

Jackie wrote: "I am going to read Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes, since my book club is also reading a book about 9/11."

I finished this book in one sitting. A very easy read, and a great story to introduce upper grade elementary students to recent history. I gave it 5 stars.
I also listened to "Hush" by Jacqueline Woodson. 4 stars.

[Donna]

I read Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley

[Donna]

Sarah wrote: "I just put on hold March: Book One and Princess Hair and I'm excited to read those! I'm trying to read more picture books this year (so I can better assist patrons) ..."

Sarah, I've read March: Book One & March: Book Two in the past and I was completely impressed with both of them. I don't spend a lot of time with sequential art & graphic novels, but these were well done.

[Britt, Book Habitue]

Just finished Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan which works for this challenge AND is a Reader's Choice book.

[Donna]

I am reading The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory for this challenge, so far it's a light, unrealistic romance, heavy on the sex, light on what makes the "relationship" work. Not bad to pass the time while I recover from surgery.

[Debbie]

Donna wrote: "I am reading The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory for this challenge, so far it's a light, unrealistic romance, heavy on the sex, light on what makes the "relationship" work. Not bad to pass the ti..."

Happy healing! I hope it heals rapidly!

[Becky]

I read, The Mighty Miss Malone, which was excellent historical fiction.

[Carolyn]

I read the picture book adaptation of "Hidden Figures" by Margot Shetterly. As I read it, I was remembering how much I liked the movie.

[Greg]

I'm reading The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler.

[Debbie]

I have read a second book, coming on it as I was cleaning my bookshelves, a picture book I really love. The Creation by James Weldon Johnson. Johnson is a preacher and the poem came from his collection of sermon poems. I fell in love with it when I was a child.

This Great God
Like a mammy bending over her baby,
Kneeled down in the dust
Toiling over a lump of clay

[Debbie]

Following Kelsey's recommendation in Message 15, I have also read Binti by Nnedi Okorafor. Also, for any who have read the first two books of this trilogy, the third book, The Night Masquerade, is now on order at the County so you can place a hold for it. Thanks, Kelsey for the recommendation. It was an excellent book and so imaginative!

[Elizabeth]

Good job everyone! Remember, February is a short month, so there's only about one week left in this challenge!

[Stephanie]

I finished Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates a few days ago for my book group and it was BRILLIANT. The book is deceptively short, but it's not an easy read. It is however well written, poignant, honest, and so important. This is one of those books that does have the power to really affect one's perception of the world around them, in ways that matter.

[Elizabeth]

One more days guys! Post what you read by tomorrow. I'll do the drawing by Friday!

[Debbie]

I have read one last book. I read the second title in the Binti trilogy, Home by Nnedi Okorafor. Now I can't wait for the third copy to arrive at the library and be processed for circulation!

[Audrey]

I read Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed.

[Alyson]

I read Long Way Down, one of this year's Newbery Honor books--and just squeaked in under the wire!

[Elizabeth]

Stephanie is our prize drawing winner for February 2018’s reading challenge. She read March: Book Two and Between the World and Me.

Congratulations!

[Jackie]

CONGRATS, Stephanie!

[Stephanie]

thank you!!! these challenges are a lot of fun and give me reasons to read things ❤❤

[Debbie]

Hooray, Stephanie!