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Posts by Molly W

Introducing Odessa Jones

Cover of A Glimmer of Death
A review of A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley

Odessa Jones is an amateur crime investigator from Grovesville, New Jersey whose psychic abilities allow her to read the emotions or "glimmer" of those around her and foretell the future through the scents of spices. This first in a new series introduces "Dessa," a recently widowed caterer and reluctant real estate agent with an extraordinary talent for baking.

Aug 17, 2021

Personal Mvskoke history in poems

Cover of An American Sunrise: Poems
A review of An American Sunrise: Poems by Joy Harjo

The Mvskoke people were forcibly removed from their lands in the early 1800s. American Sunrise is a spiritual collection of poems from the first Native American Poet Laureate of the United States as she returns to the original Mvskoke lands east of the Mississippi. Harjo connects with her ancestors and the land, calling out the violence and displacement of tearing Native Americans from their homes, families, and culture. The collection also celebrates Mother Earth and the beauty of the present day. "Redbird Love" is a sweet tribute to the natural world and connection to the land.

Aug 11, 2021

Between heaven and earth

Cover of The Secret Lives of Church
A review of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is a collection of nine stories featuring black girls and women struggling with what it means to be good, bad, loved, feared, and everything in between. The stories span four generations of black women from the daughter of a woman having an affair with the married pastor of their church to a woman whose mother struggles with her daughter's sexual identity, and instructions for Christian husbands.

Aug 4, 2021

Pause for a little chanting

Cover of Happiness Becomes You: A G
A review of Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good by Tina Turner

Rock icon and sensation Tina Turner shows anyone how they can overcome whatever life obstacles are thrown their way. Combination spiritual primer and autobiography, this little guide shares Tina's journey through the practical principles of Buddhism as she struggled with her marriage, career, and numerous health crises. She provides spiritual tools and advice to help those looking for more guidance on their inner journey. 

Jul 27, 2021

Embracing your super self

Cover of Measuring Up
A review of Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte and Ann Xu

Cici's family moves from Taiwan to Seattle when she's twelve and it's a shocking adjustment. They leave her A-má (grandmother) and many traditions behind. Cici is determined to bridge the gap by exploring more American customs and cuisine and by vowing to bring her A-má to Seattle in time for her 70th birthday. 

Jul 21, 2021

Loving art so much that you want to see it change for the better

Cover of This Is What I Know About
A review of This Is What I Know About Art by Kimberly Drew

This little guide starts out as the career story of a young black art history major from private liberal arts women's college Smith. Kimberly Drew navigates academic coursework with part-time jobs, internships and gallery opportunities while also creating, curating and providing content for a contemporary black art blog on Tumblr. She was at work at a new job as an assistant at a privately owned art gallery for ten days when Eric Garner was killed in the New York City borough of Staten Island and when about three weeks later Michael Brown was fatally shot in Ferguson, Missouri. 

Jun 23, 2021

Heart full of everything

Cover of My Heart Fills with Happin
A review of My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith and Julie Flett

This sunny, inviting board book is dedicated to the former Canadian Indian Residential School students and their families as encouragement to find happiness, love, joy, and celebration in big and small ways.  Contemporary children participate in cultural activities like baking bannock in an oven and universal moments like singing, dancing and walking barefoot in the grass.  Author Monique Gray Smith is of Cree, Lakota and Scottish descent and writes award-winning children's and young adult books.  She's also an international inspirational speaker and consultant working with Indigenous commu

Jun 16, 2021

All is fair in love and food wars

Cover of A Phở Love Story
A review of A Phở Love Story by Loan Le

Bảo Nguyen and Linh Mai work across the street from each other at their parents' competing Vietnamese restaurants. Like Romeo and Juliet, Bảo and Linh are forbidden from talking to each other because their families are at war. War means gossip and rumors, sometimes harmless, sometimes not, and avoidance at all costs. The "phở* wars" and "bánh xèo** battles" between the two restaurants are delicious and painful to witness. Each new special or menu item takes the competition to another level.

Jun 2, 2021

Words that soar

Cover of At the Mountain's Base
A review of At the Mountain's Base by Traci Sorell and Weshoyot Alvitre

A loving Cherokee family waits at the mountain's base for a young pilot to return from war. Told in song, this picture book provides a larger to smaller view where the action and words are incorporated into the grandmother's weaving, building to a surprise finale. Author Traci Sorell's website describes her as an author of inclusive works for inquisitive young minds and this picture book showcases that beautifully, blending history, culture, and art in an uplifting way. 

May 24, 2021

Messages of kindness, love and appreciation

Cover of A Beautiful Day in the Nei
A review of A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers

This is an absolutely charming book filled with 75 songs and poems from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and The Children's Corner. Sweetly illustrated by Luke Flowers on full-page spreads and as inclusive and timeless as ever, the collection explores universal topics such as feelings, acceptance, friendship, bravery, and growing up. 

May 17, 2021

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