International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2022

Today (and every day) we mourn, commemorate, and decry antisemitism. “The day of remembrance is held each year to honor the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust at the hands of the Nazis, as well as remembering those who died in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. This year, the UN’s…

Code Name Badass: The True Story of Virginia Hall

English YA Historical Figures WWII Spy French Resistance Disability Feminism Heather Demetrios summary Okay so uhh Virginia Hall is the most badass person I’ve ever read about. Not only is being a spy pretty much the coolest (& most dangerous) job I could think of having, but Virginia accidentally shot her own ding dang foot…

some women in stem you need to know!

This March, I decided to do a few roundups of biographies (arguably my favorite genre) of people not all of us learned about in school (I sure didn’t).

Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021

  Antisemitism is alive and well here, a fact that became clear to many when the insurrection and Capitol takeover occurred in early January. On this Holocaust Remembrance Day 2021, I don’t have many words of my own. Only a need to say loudly to everyone I can that this is malicious and pointedly white…

The Power of Her Pen

Written By: Lesa Cline-Ransome Illustrated by: John Parra For Ages: 4 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Black Journalists, Trailblazing Women, Historical Figure, Black Protagonists, Politics, Social Justice. Summary: Ethel was born in 1911 and always had an ear for stories. She endured constant racism while trying to get an education, and was able…

A Portrait in Poems: The Storied Life of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas

Written by: Evie Robillard Illustrated by: Rachel Katstaller For ages:  8-12 years Language: English Topics Covered: LGBTQ Relationships, Artists, Writers, History, Historical Figure. Summary:  This book is gorgeous in text and illustrations, telling a life overview of art collecting writers Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. The two women were popular in artistic social circles, and had a beloved dog…

They Called Us Enemy

Created by: George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, Harmony Becker For ages: YA-Middle and High School Language: English, some Japanese.  Topics Covered: Japanese Internment, Historical Figures, Historical Events, WWII, Growing Up, LGBTQ, Japanese-American Experience, Own Voices, Graphic Novel.  Summary: This is an incredible graphic novel, telling of historical events that are rarely taught in schools. Deciding to post it today,…

Little People Big Dreams: Josephine Baker

Written by: Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara Illustrated by: Agathe Sorlet  For ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: POC-Centric Narratives, Biography, Historical Figure, Musician, Women in Music, Trailblazer, Segregation, Racism, Activism, Modern Black Freedom Struggle, WWII.  Summary: Josephine was a born performer, and found her fame dancing on a chorus line in New York City.  Due to ongoing segregation and general…

The Brave Cyclist: The True Story of a Holocaust Hero

Written by: Amalia Hoffman Illustrated by: Chiara Fedele For ages: 8-12 years old Language: English and some Italian Topics Covered: Judaism, WWII, Holocaust, Activism, Global Community, Historical Events, Historic Figure, Sports, Cycling.  Summary: Gino Bartali was a small and sickly child, but he loved riding a bicycle more than anything else.  He got a part-time job at a bike shop to learn…