All of these books are available from the Nashville Public Library (use your Limitless Libraries account to check out!), either as a physical copy via curbside pickup OR as an instant download using Overdrive on your phone or laptop. Click on the title for a direct link to check-out!
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If you like...
ACTION/ADVENTURE GRAPHIC NOVELS, try:
THE NAMELESS CITY by Faith Erin Hicks
It's a city that has been conquered so frequently, they don't even both naming it anymore. (Historically, whoever conquers it, renames it... and it's been renamed so many times, why bother?) Our two main characters come from very different backgrounds. Kaidu is a son of the city's current rulers and has moved there to meet his father and train for combat. Rat is one of the city's natives, a group that's always been looked down upon by the city's conquerors. They form an unlikely friendship and begin to recognize that the very fate of the city is going to depend upon standing together once and for all.
I've heard this one's style and tone compared to Avatar: The Last Airbender, so if you're a fan of that - or a fan of manga or action/adventure stories - this is worth checking out. Also, it's a series, so there's more to the story after this one!
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If you like...
SPORTS, you need to check out:
42 IS NOT JUST A NUMBER by Doreen Rappaport
This is the story of Jackie Robinson, one of baseball's most famous and legendary players. He was made to excel in any sport he played, but he lived during the era that sports, like everything else, were segregated. He began his career in the Negro Leagues but was eventually recruited to the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers. As you can imagine, it was an uphill climb for this African-American to break into a white-dominated league, and he often faced cruel and violent discrimination.
The author does a good job of sharing the context and social history of Robinson's story, so it's much more than just a biography - it's also a crusade of social justice.
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If you like...
HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA & FIGHTS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, you should read:
WATCH US RISE by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan
Two girls start a Women's Rights Club because they aren't happy with how women are treated, even at their progressive NYC high school. They post everything online - poetry, stories, what they observe and the microaggressions they deal with day-to-day. They gain a pretty big following, including some online trolls who make it a lot more unpleasant. Because of the drama it's causing online, their school decides to shut down the Women's Rights Club, leaving these girls to fight to have their voices heard.
Renée Watson wrote Piecing Me Together, one of last year's Battle of the Books titles. (Just FYI.) Check out this book to check out if you want to learn more about intersectionality or just want to read about a good fight for what's right.
