Nonfiction
They can't kill us until they kill us : essays
Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib
781.66 /Willis-Abdurraqib
Nonfiction, Poetry
"In an age of confusion, fear, and loss, Hanif Abdurraqib's is a voice that matters. Whether he's attending a Bruce Springsteen concert the day after visiting Michael Brown's grave, or discussing public displays of affection at a Carly Rae Jepsen show, he writes with a poignancy and magnetism that resonates profoundly. In essays that have been published by the New York Times, MTV, and Pitchfork, among others--along with original, previously unreleased essays-- Abdurraquib uses music and culture as a lens through which to view our world, so that we might better understand ouselves, and in doing so proves himself a bellwether for out times." --
Added by Melody
Go ahead in the rain : notes to A Tribe Called Quest
Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib
781.66092 /Tribe
Nonfiction
How does one pay homage to A Tribe Called Quest? The seminal rap group brought jazz into the genre, resurrecting timeless rhythms to create masterpieces such as The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders. Seventeen years after their last album, they resurrected themselves with an intense, socially conscious record, We Got It from Here . . . Thank You 4 Your Service, which arrived when fans needed it most, in the aftermath of the 2016 election. Poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib digs into the group's history and draws from his own experience to reflect on how its distinctive sound resonated among fans like himself. The result is as ambitious and genre bending as the rap group itself. Abdurraqib traces the Tribe's creative career, from their early days as part of the Afrocentric rap collective known as the Native Tongues, through their first three classic albums, to their eventual breakup and long hiatus. Their work is placed in the context of the broader rap landscape of the 1990s, one upended by sampling laws that forced a reinvention in production methods, the East Coast/West Coast rivalry that threatened to destroy the genre, and some record labels' shift from focusing on groups to individual MCs. Throughout the narrative Abdurraqib connects the music and cultural history to their street-level impact. Whether he's remembering The Source magazine cover announcing the Tribe's 1998 breakup or writing personal letters to the group after bandmate Phife Dawg's death, Abdurraqib seeks the deeper truths of A Tribe Called Quest; truths that, like the low end, the bass, are not simply heard in the head, but felt in the chest.
Added by Melody
How we fight for our lives : a memoir
Saeed Jones
BIOGRAPHY Jones, Saeed
Memoir, Biographies, LGBTQ+, Nonfiction
Haunted and haunting, Jones's memoir tells the story of a young, black, gay man from the South as he fights to carve out a place for himself, within his family, within his country, within his own hopes, desires, and fears. Through a series of vignettes that chart a course across the American landscape, Jones draws readers into his boyhood and adolescence--into tumultuous relationships with his mother and grandmother, into passing flings with lovers, friends and strangers. Each piece builds into a larger examination of race and queerness, power and vulnerability, love and grief: a portrait of what we all do for one another--and to one another--as we fight to become ourselves.
Added by Melody
Endurance : my year in space and how I got there
Scott Kelly
j629.45092 Kelly
Kids, Nonfiction, Science
Adapted from the memoir of NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a record-breaking year in space.
Added by Anne W
Astrophysics for young people in a hurry
Neil deGrasse Tyson
j523.01 Tyson
Kids, Nonfiction, Science
"From the basics of physics to big questions about the nature of space and time, celebrated astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson breaks down the mysteries of the cosmos into bite-sized pieces. Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry describes the fundamental rules and unknowns of our universe clearly--and with Tyson's characteristic wit, there's a lot of fun thrown in, too.This adaptation by Gregory Mone includes full-color photos, infographics, and extra explanations to make even the trickiest concepts accessible. Building on the wonder inspired by outer space, Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry introduces an exciting field and the principles of scientific inquiry to young readers"--
Added by Anne W
What the dog knows : [scent, science, and the amazing ways dogs perceive the world]
Cat Warren
j636.70886 Warren
Kids, Nonfiction, Animals
"In this young readers edition of the New York Times bestseller, Cat Warren and her canine companion, Solo, teach readers that the nose knows no bounds when it comes to working together, being persistent, and helping others. But he's only one of many thousands of scent-detection dogs all over the United States. That's a group that includes cadaver dogs, tracking, trailing, and apprehension dogs, and dogs that can locate unmarked graves of Civil War soldiers. What the Dog Knows shows the science, the rigorous training, and the skilled handling that underlie these amazing abilities."--Back cover.
Added by Anne W
I am Malala : how one girl stood up for education and changed the world
Malala Yousafzai
jBIOGRAPHY Yousafzai, Malala
Kids, Memoir, Nonfiction
Describes the life of the young Pakistani student who advocated for women's rights and education in the Taliban-controlled Swat Balley, survived an assassination attempt, and became the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Added by Anne W
Brown girl dreaming
Jacqueline Woodson
jBIOGRAPHY Woodson, Jacqueline
Kids, Memoir, Nonfiction
Raised in South Carolina and New York, Jacqueline Woodson always felt half way home. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s.
Added by Anne W
Hidden figures : the untold true story of four African-American women who helped launch our nation into space
Margot Lee Shetterly
j510.922 Lee Shetterly
Kids, Nonfiction
Explores the previously uncelebrated but pivotal contributions of NASA's African-American women mathematicians to America's space program, describing how Jim Crow laws segregated them from their white counterparts despite their groundbreaking successes.
Added by Anne W
Added by Melody