LibraryAware September 2021

Recent Releases

Philip : the final portrait : Elizabeth, their marriage and their dynasty
by Gyles Daubeney Brandreth

What it is: This book tells the story of two contrasting lives, assesses the Duke of Edinburgh's character and achievement, and explores the nature of his relationships with his wife, his children, and their families, along with the press and public.

Why you might like it: This is a powerful, revealing, and, ultimately, moving account of a long life and a remarkable royal partnership.

New update on earlier version: First published as Philip & Elizabeth: portrait of a marriage, this updated rendition includes illustrations, genealogical tables and portraits.

Children of the Land
by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo

What it's about: the author's traumatic coming of age as an undocumented immigrant, which was compounded by frequent ICE raids, his father's deportation back to Mexico, and the rigidity of the U.S. immigration system.

Want a taste? "We were still trying to cross, still moving in maddening helplessness, a revolving door without an exit."

Awards buzz: Children of the Land is a 2020 International Latino Book Award finalist.

All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days: The True Story of the American Woman at the Heart of...
by Rebecca Donner

Starring: American expat and academic Mildred Harnack, a leader in the German resistance whose 1943 execution was personally overseen by Adolf Hitler.

Why you should read it: This dramatic and well-researched account shines a spotlight on a lesser-known World War II hero widely considered to have been the only American leader in the German resistance.

Author alert: Novelist Rebecca Donner is Harnack's great-great niece.

Run: Book One
by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin; illustrated by L. Fury and Nate Powell

What it is: a graphic novel memoir from longtime civil rights activist and U.S. Congressman John Lewis, completed before his death in 2020.

What's inside: Richly detailed illustrations and thoughtful writing capture the turbulence that came after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, from the Vietnam War to the Watts Uprising to the splintering of Black activist groups.

Series alert: Run kicks off the follow-up series to the popular, National Book Award-winning March trilogy.

The great peace : a memoir
by Mena Suvari

What's inside: An award-winning actor, in this harrowing, heartbreaking coming-of-age story set in Hollywood, not only reveals her own mistakes, but also the lessons she learned and her efforts to understand and grow rather than casting blame, proving that there is always a light at the end.

What reviewers say: Suvari’s bracing tale of abusive patterns and building new beginnings is wrenching, potent, and ultimately inspirational. --Kirkus

Focus on: Animal Companions

The little book of Bob
by James Bowen

What it is: Bowen shares feline-inspired advice and wisdom about friendship, steadfastness, balance and joy that can result from being kinder to oneself and others.

You may have met Bob before: The author of A Streetcat Named Bob, Bowen has written a few books about his cat and how he played a role in changing Bowen's life for the better.

What reviewers say: Cats are amazing creatures, as all animal lovers know. Tender and wise, this is a little book with a big heart.--Library Journal

Good Boy: My Life in Seven Dogs
by Jennifer Finney Boylan

What it is: a funny and moving ode to the dogs that have helped author Jennifer Finney Boylan navigate pivotal moments in her life, including the death of her father and her gender transition.

Want a taste? "Everything I know about love I learned from dogs."

Is it for you? Readers unfamiliar with Boylan's life and work may want to start with her bestselling memoir She's Not There, which chronicles her transition in greater depth.

Running With Sherman: How a Rescue Donkey Inspired a Rag-Tag Gang of Runners to Enter...
by Christopher McDougall

What it's about: Encouraged to give his newly adopted rescue donkey, Sherman, a purpose, author Christopher McDougall decided to enter his four-legged pal in the World Championship Pack Burro Race.

It takes a village: McDougall's Pennsylvania Amish community rallied around Sherman to offer support during his rehabilitation and training.

Read it if: you enjoy heartwarming sports stories.

Tuesday's promise : one veteran, one dog, and their bold quest to change lives
by Luis Carlos Montalván

About the author: Captain Luis Montalvan returned home from his second tour of duty in Iraq, having survived stab wounds, a traumatic brain injury, and three broken vertebrae. But the pressures of civilian life and his injuries proved too much to bear. Physical disabilities, agoraphobia, and crippling PTSD drove him to the edge of suicide.

What's inside: Montalvan describes his ongoing battles and the importance of his beloved Golden Retriever service dog, Tuesday, and his help in bringing healing to himself and other veterans in his follow-up to Until Tuesday.

What reviewers say: Speaking to both animal welfare and the well-being of wounded warriors, Montalvn's memoir is a testimonial to the "quest for wholeness" and the healing power of companionship.--Kirkus

How to Be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals
by Sy Montgomery; illustrated by Rebecca Green

Starring: feisty Scottish terrier Molly; Christopher Hogwood, a pig with personality; tarantula Clarabelle, friend to children in French Guiana; and more!

Is it for you? Author Sy Montgomery opens up about her difficult childhood and lifelong struggle with depression, which is exacerbated by the passing of some of the animals featured in the book.

Crossover alert: Fans of Montgomery's National Book Award finalist The Soul of an Octopus will remember charismatic cephalopod Octavia, who makes an appearance here.

Contact your librarian for more great books!