Yolo County Library
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History and Current Events July 2016
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"That they had fought for freedom abroad only to be denied it anew at home awakened African Americans to the fact that only a collective, nationwide effort would secure their basic constitutional rights." ~ from Rawn James, Jr.'s The Double V
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| The Underdogs: Children, Dogs, and the Power of Unconditional Love [on order] by Melissa Fay GreeneService dogs provide life-giving support to people with disabling conditions, but some agencies won't place dogs with people who have especially severe limitations. In The Underdogs, acclaimed author Melissa Fay Greene relates what happened when Karen Shirk decided to raise her own service dog after being turned down by numerous organizations. She eventually launched 4 Paws for Ability, which specializes in matching dogs with people who have unusual needs. Greene, "a master at telling the most human of stories" (Booklist), recounts the circumstances of many of these beneficiaries, offering an inspiring and informative picture of the people, the dogs, and their remarkable partnerships. |
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| Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years by John GuyIn Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years, historian John Guy draws on extensive research into obscure archival records to create a complex portrait of one of the most powerful monarchs in history. Focusing on Queen Elizabeth I's later years, Guy explores the vulnerabilities she concealed behind a façade of competent authority. Critiquing the best-known historical accounts and producing evidence from other sources, he also delves into her personal relationships, events that undermined her equanimity (such as the death of Mary, Queen of Scots), and her struggle to prevail as a woman in a male-dominated society. For new insights into the Virgin Queen, take a look at this scholarly, accessible, and compelling book. |
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| All the Presidents' Gardens: Madison's Cabbages to Kennedy's Roses... [on order] by Marta McDowellJust in time for gardening season and vacation trips to the District of Columbia, All the Presidents' Gardens offers a fascinating historical tour of the White House grounds. Garden historian Marta McDowell chronicles the events the gardens have witnessed while detailing individual presidents' interest in seed-collecting (George Washington, who never lived in the city named for him), goats (Abraham Lincoln), golf (Dwight D. Eisenhower), tree houses (Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy), and vegetables (First Lady Michele Obama). Placing each president in the context of his times, McDowell focuses on the grounds and gardeners while supplying abundant illustrations and witty anecdotes about gardening challenges. For additional engaging accounts about American leaders and horticulture, try Andrea Wulf's Founding Gardeners. |
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| Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor by Clinton RomeshaIn 2009, the U.S. military decided to close a vulnerable string of outposts in Afghanistan that were meant to deter Taliban insurgents from free movement across the Pakistan border. Just as the closures were beginning, the Taliban launched a deadly, all-out assault at one location, Command Outpost Keating. In Red Platoon, Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha recounts the firefight, starting with his own training, the capabilities of his troops, and the conditions that exacerbated Keating's vulnerability. His riveting description of the battle itself provides vivid and sobering detail. Military history buffs and readers concerned about the war in Afghanistan will find much to appreciate in this book. |
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The girl who escaped ISIS : this is my story
by Farida Khalaf
Presents a rare and riveting first-hand account of the terror and torture inflicted by ISIS on young Iraqi Yazidi women, and an inspiring personal story of bravery and resilience in the face of unspeakable horrors.
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| Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb by Jonathan Fetter-VormThe Manhattan Project scientists detonated the first nuclear bomb in the desert of New Mexico on July 16, 1945. In Trinity, writer and illustrator Jonathan Fetter-Vorm presents a concise, straightforward history of nuclear weapons development, going back to Marie Curie's discovery of radioactivity and culminating with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Fetter-Vorm's clear illustrations and informative and thought-provoking text work well as "both a graphic primer and a philosophical meditation" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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Colossus : Hoover Dam and the making of the American century
by Michael A. Hiltzik
"Drawing on extensive research, a Pulitzer Prize winner details the construction and lasting impact of the Hoover Dam., highlighting such historical figures as Teddy and Franklin D. Roosevelt and the dam's colorful architect, Frank Crowe."
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| Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah VowellReaders looking for smart history plus wry wit will cheer author Sarah Vowell's sally-forth history of U.S. imperialism and the Aloha State. Her informed, irreverent tale sparkles with little-discussed details of Hawaii's annexation in July 1898: con men, lepers, promiscuous whalers, missionaries convinced prostitution would kill them all, and Hawaiian natives convinced that prayer would kill them first. If you're still hungry for Hawaiian history after devouring Unfamiliar Fishes, try James Haley's Captive Paradise. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Yolo County Library
226 Buckeye St. Woodland, California 95695 530-666-8005
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