Books newly acquired by the NHFPL in January.
One of the latest additions to the Stetson Branch Library collection is African American author Tracy K. Smith’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning book, To Free The Captives: A Plea For The American Soul. This story is a personal account of memory, family, and history. Smith takes us on a journey through her patrilineal family to gain an understanding of the lives they lived, the challenges they faced and how they managed to have hope despite the trauma they endured at the hands of racism.
Contributed Photo
Stetson Branch Manager Diane Brown.
Although the author takes comfort in the love and guidance that she feels within her soul from her parents beyond the grave, she too endures the ills of racism, struggling to maintain hope for a better day. She writes, “One way of describing what I’m after is to say that I am searching for the soul-family from where I descend. Because I have been living a long time now with the dead, who refuses to abandon me. Often, it is my deceased parents who arrive, to counsel and console.”
This book has reinspired me to continue to research the history of my family lineage for my own comfort and to pass down to my children and future generations. We all can gain hope and inspiration from the lives of our ancestors.
New To The NHFPL Shelves, January 2023
Additional new titles to the Stetson Branch collection:
ADULT
Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux
Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
Worthy by Jada Pinkett Smith
The Black Joy Project: A Literary and Visual Love Letter to How We Thrive by Kleaver Cruz
The Risk it Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation by Raquel Willis
Touched by Walter Mosley
To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul by Tracy K. Smith
I Am Ayah: The Way Home by Donna Hill
How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair
CHILDREN
Black Girls: A Celebration of You! By Dominique Furukawa
I’m From by Gary R. Gray Jr.
Patchwork Prince by Baptiste Paul
Boy Dad by Sean Williams and Jay Davis
The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music by Roberta Flack with Tonya Bolden
Ellis Johnson Might Be Famous by Shawn Amos
Control Freaks by J.E. Thomas
Where the Black Flowers Bloom by Roland L. Smith
TEEN
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
Monstrous by Jessica Lewis
When the Vibe is Right by Sarah Dass
Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes
Picks from the rest of the system:
ADULT
The Future Normal: How We Will Live, Work and Thrive in the Next Decade by Rohit Bhargava
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro
The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump
The Loneliness Files: A Memoir in Essays by Athena Dixon
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power by Morgan Schafler
Safe and Sound: A Renter-friendly Guide to Home Repair by Mercury Stardust
A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Porter
Thank You (falettinme be mice elf agin): A Memoir by Sly Stone
The Book of James: The Power, Politics and Passion of LeBron by Valerie Melissa Babb
America Fantastica by Tim O’Brien
North Woods by Daniel Mason
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow
This Other Eden by Paul Harding
CHILDREN
Understanding Empathy by Elizabeth Andrews
Not He or She, I’m me by A.M. Wild, Illustrated by Kah Yangni
Ancestory by Hannah Salyer
A Playground for Everybody: Our friend Ava Uses a Wheelchair by Kirsten McDonald, illustrated by Michael Emmerson
Sound Switch Wonder by Christine J. Ko and Owen Whang
Frizzy Haired Zuzu by Medeia Sharif
Hasta Siempre Cuba, Mi Isla by Alexandra Diaz
Come and Join Us: 18 Holidays Celebrated All Year Long by Liz Kleinrock
Cardboard Kingdom: Snow and Sorcery by Chad Sell
Bear’s Big Dreaming by Michael Rosen
My Incredible India by Jasbinder Bilan
Tethered to Other Stars by Elisa Leahy
Mexikid by Pedro Martin
The Walk by Winsome Bingham
Say My Name by Joanna Ho
We Are Starlings: Inside the Mesmerizing Magic of a Murmuration by Robert Furro
Godly Heathens : A Novel by H.E. Edgmon
Pritty by Keith F. Miller, Jr.
The Emotionally Intelligent Teen: Skills to Help you Deal with What You Feel, Build Stronger Relationships & Boost Self-Confidence by Melanie McNally, PsyD
Voyage de Gourmet by Paul Tobin
The Boy From Clearwater by Yu Pei-Yun and Zhou Jian-Xin
Murtagh: World of Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Songs of Irie by Asha Ashanti Bromfield
The Teen Witches’ Guide to Spells and Charms by Claire Philip
The Blood Years by Elana K. Arnold
All the Things We Never Said by Yasmin Rahman
Plan A by Deb Caletti
Salt the Water by Candice Iloh
This articleis part of a monthly series by the Independent and the New Haven Free Public Library to spotlight books newly acquired by the city’s library.
Was hoping to see Teddy & BookerT. (Kilmeade).
Color me disapointed.