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This book is a slow burn and then is all consuming. The words "raw emotion" come up in the book - and that's what it is, the raw emotion of loss, love, betrayal.... My heart broken several times as I read, and the ending had me sobbing wishing for something I didn't know I wanted for the characters. Wow. Thank goodness for book clubs that expose me to books I may not have chosen for myself!

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Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

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Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

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This is an incredible and engaging novel for our YAL readers, as well as adults. The story is engaging and powerful, while giving a true reflection of the Jim Crow era. This coming of age novel reflects a moment in all of our lives… a moment that defines where childhood begins to fade and the reality and understanding of the world sets in.

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Katie Katkich, 8th Grade ELA, Central Valley Middle School

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A novel in the near future. Technology is even more ever present. A personal nightmare.

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Brian Wagner, High School English, Milliones 6-12, Pittsburgh public 

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Attached is my 2025 WPCTE Reading Challenge. I am currently on my 70th book this year, but I wanted to share my completed challenge and hopefully inspire others to continue with their reading challenges!

1. Graphic Novel

March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

2. Professional Development Book

Banned Together: Our Fight for Reader's Rights by: Ashley Hope Perez

3. Written in Verse

Enemies in the Orchard by Dana Vanderlugt

4. Set in a fantasy world or filled with mythology

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

5. Recommended by someone else

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

6. A challenged or Banned Book

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

7. Something you wouldn't normally choose

You'll Do: A History of Marrying For Reasons Other Than Love by Marcia A. Zuag

8. Representative of a cultural context different than your own

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin

9. By or about a person with a disability

Interabled: True Stories About Love and Disability by Shane and Hannah Burcaw

10. Creative Nonfiction or memoir

Betty White: If You Ask Me and of Course You Won't

11. Purely for your own enjoyment

Fearless by Lauren Roberts (love the whole series)

12. Published in 2025

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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I recently finished the last book of the Powerless trilogy (Fearless). If you enjoy reading fantasy and particularly enjoy books that are like The Hunger Games you will swoon over this Young Adult friendly new release. Paedyn, the main character, is loyal to a fault and has a score to settle. She must overcome the 6th annual Purging Trials while being completely "powerless" in a world full of supernatural elites.

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Has anyone been keeping up with the WPCTE reading challenge? Here's my progress. I'd love to hear yours!

I have books that fit more than one category, and I also have some planned that will fit other categories, but which I haven't started yet--hoping for a strong second half of the year! :)

In 2025, read a book that is . . .

1.   a graphic novel:

Heartstopper Vol. 1 by Alice Oseman

2.   a professional development book

Banned Together by Ashley Hope Pérez

3.   written in verse

Selected Works, Elías Nandino (in progress)

4.   set in a fantasy world or filled with mythology

Children of Ragnarok by Cinda Williams Chima

5.   recommended by someone else (bonus if it is a student)

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (audiobook) (in progress--no spoilers, please!); recommended by one of my English Fest students

[Categories 6-8, not yet started]

9.   by or about a person with a disability

The Sea is Salt and So Am I by Cassandra Hartt

10. creative nonfiction or memoir

Better Living through Birding by Christian Cooper

11. purely for your own enjoyment

Confessions of a 40-something...[title contains profanity; this is a comedy book written for adults and for entertainment value.]

12. published in 2025

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe by Mahagony Browne

This is your friendly reminder to patronize your local library! 🙂📖📚💛

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This novel by Susanna Clark has so many unexpected twists as the mysteries of the story unfold. I found the message to be refreshingly optimistic in spite of a unique batch of hardships for the protagonist. I love the way that the story's world unfolds too! A close friend of mine started it around the time I did and didn't finish it because it didn't draw them in. If you have the same experience, I say stick with it! I wasn't pulled in at first, but when I reread the novel (almost as soon as I'd finished it), I caught even more seemingly-insignificant details that made it strike even more powerfully than my first read. The ambiguity of the exposition sets up the narrative well once you know the story, so trust the process. If you're looking for an unusual narrative with unconventional interpersonal dynamics, exploration of a strange and vast place, and a little fantasy-magic, then Piranesi might just be for you! It is my favorite book I've read in years (from a lifelong lover of fantasy). I read it for fun, but it would be great for pulling examples of flashback, character voice, themes, etc. at the high school or advanced junior high level. I would rate it appropriate for a jr/sr high classroom library as well!

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I listened to this book as part of a Buddhist book group and was impressed by all the other ways it fit into life! The chapters are long and stand alone as short stories until they all come together in the final chapter. The book is about time travel in a cafe--and one must return to the present before the coffee gets cold. Visiting the past cannot change the present, but can it change the future?

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AJ Ross, Substitute Teacher, PPS, all subjects and grades....

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I recently got an advance reader copy of this new thriller by Alex North (due out May 13, 2025), and it was fantastic! The story centers on a criminal profiler whose life was shaped by narrowly escaping a notorious serial killer when he was a child. Years later, he returns to his small island community after his father dies under suspicious circumstances. As he seeks the truth about his father's death, he uncovers unsettling connections to the killer from his past, making him wonder if the monster from his nightmares has returned. The book was full of surprises and kept me reading!

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Janellen Lombardi, 9-12 Gifted teacher/English teacher, North Allegheny High School

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The latest book by Gretchen Rubin shares her "secrets of adulthood." The book is filled with many memorable, one-line truths (or aphorisms) that help readers consider the complexities of adult life. She shares her concise observations about self-knowledge, relationships, work, decision-making, and daily habits. The book could be read in one sitting, but it's also helpful to take your time and ponder the truths as you read!

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Janellen Lombardi, 9-12/Gifted teacher/English teacher, North Allegheny High School

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If you get a chance to listen to a "graphic audio", which is described as a movie for your mind, do it! I listened to this book and could not stop! I'm even twenty plus hours into the second book, Iron Flame. The characters immediately grab you and there's so much action thst keeps you on the edge of your seat! Fantasy always takes awhile to get into as you learn the world, but the dragons and the academy that the main character enters brings a listener right into rooting for her success. Her mantra - "I will not die today" keeps listeners wondering if that will ring true. Although this is listed as young adult, it does have some intense sexual scenes, so I would not recommend it for high school students. Oh, and I already have the third book ready on my Libby app. This series is addictive!

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Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison

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Another Place at the Table by Kathy Harrison

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This memoir is so heartfelt. I was captivated hearing the many children Kathy Harrison and her husband fostered over the years. After having three sons, they entered into a commitment to foster children who needed to feel safe and have a family. Then later adopted two of the girls they fostered, and chose to foster some of the most severe cases of child - the abused, the mentally ill, the disabled. Hearing Kathy talk about the system and feeling how she and her husband cared so deeply for each and every child whether there for a day or years, tugged at my heart. If you need an affirmation of wonderful people in this world, this memoir has it!

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Carol Frow, WPCTE Executive Director; Carol Frow Coaching

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This text had a lot of great points and insights tied to the teachings of Fred Rogers. However, as an educator, a lot of what is explored in the text are concepts and philosophies acquired in undergrad and teacher training programs, such as play is learning, relationships matter, the power of reflection, and that arts are essential. I also wish the text was more Rogers and instructional strategies than the promotion of Pittsburgh rooted stories that simply illustrate Roger's teachings. I found it a bit misleading because of this. Many times during my read, the text deviated from the core of what I was expecting as a reader and instead served as a promotional tool for Remake Learning and all of it's relationships, connections, and collaborations between groups. Again, loved the Roger's components and insights, but not so much the other half of most of the text.

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Katie Katkich, 11th/12th ELA, Western Beaver

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I recently finished this four book installment following the adventures of Finlay Donovan, struggling single mom and romance writer, who gets caught up in a murderous plot line. This series is a breathe of fresh air and the characters are authentically human. If you are searching for a series to read in your spare time with a little bit of every genre, this may be your niche. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to be released.

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This graphic novel is a great and a relevant read in regards to current events and the political climate. Although Persepolis takes place in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, many of the themes and devasting effects of war hit close to home. As a graphic novel memoir, the text reflects a child's point of view and understandings of the complex and misunderstood happenings around her. Not only does this text personalize history and challenge stereotypes, but it is also a coming of age story as one figures out family, religion, and rebellion in a deeply reflective way. I found this text bring history to life in a palatable and humanizing way! The artwork and graphics also aided to doing so... sometimes a picture can say things that no words can!

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Katie Katkich, 11th/12th ELA, Western Beaver

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I just finished this moving historical fiction. Martha Ballard lived and worked as a midwife during the birth and early years of our nation. It is a powerful, but comforting read. Perfect for a cold winter day.

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Read 4,079 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renown...

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I picked this up at my neighborhood Little Free Library and remembered how much I enjoy the field of linguistics. It is an easy read for a textbook so far, and the examples relate to current events, even though my copy is older. I know that there are some groups calling for the addition of AP linguistics in high schools, and I am supportive of that! I loved the linguistic courses I took to get certified for ESL as well, and I have fond memories of analyzing my then toddler (now close to 30 years old) niece for language learning.

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AJ Ross, social studies, English, ESL and sometimes math and science

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Just finished this book and discovered just how much the algorithmic feeds of social media, Spotify, Netflix, Google etc. have shaped (not in a good way) the creation of art, music, film, and literature. The book elaborates on how are given fewer options confined to what grabs attention and can be monitized vs what is quality. Chayka defends the need for human curators to save our culture from a homogeneous wasteland.

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Abby Weller-Hall, 11th grade English, PALCS

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The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon

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The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon

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When I heard Kate McKinnon's keynote at NCTE24, I knew I had to read her new book! First, she had SO many great insights about kids and writing. Second, she was hilarious. And third, she said the book was for all the weird kids. She was spot-on--this book is super weird, but in the best way. It's filled with unique characters, tons of wit, and vocab to stretch your brain. This is great read for elementary, middle, AND adults! Plus, it's a series!

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The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science

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The #1 New York Times bestseller!From beloved Saturday Night Live legend Kate McKinnon comes a madcap adventure about three sisters, a ravenous worm, and a m…

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I've been really interested lately in animal intelligence. This book is a deep dive into the author's exploration of octopus intelligence. It really stretches your imagination to consider what the subjective experience of such an inhuman creature might be like.

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Hannah, 11th grade English, cyber charter

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I just read this book to prep my students for the WIRC Reading Competition. It brings the reader into Maudie's life as she keeps the secrets she's supposed to even though this causes her great stress and pain. Maudie has autism and is navigating the hateful words from her stepfather, the loss of her father's hand-crafted cabin to forest fire, and a relocation to the beach community where her parents met. Maudie discovers surfing and the freedom she feels as she sails through the water. It brings her courage and before she can believe it, she has a friend or two, has discovered an amazing school, and is keeping some secrets of her own!

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Carol Frow, ELA 7-8/ Belle Vernon Area Middle School

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I am currently reading this collection of short stories by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton. This collection was out of print for many years; scholars say it was her final literary act to compile the stories before she passed away. Wharton's complex, cerebral sentence structure evokes suspense and tension. Her attention to setting, specifically the detail to architecture and the weather, shows the ephemeral nature of reality. These short stories would be a great pick for a gothic literature unit in a high school or college classroom. A great pairing and comparative study would be to read "A Duchess at Prayer" with Poe's "Cask of Amontillado."

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Aspen Mock, 10th Grade ELA, Forest Hills

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Those of us who were able to go to NCTE this year were so impressed by Bryan Stevenson's keynote. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pick up a copy of his book. Incredible read about problems in the judicial system in the U.S., specifically focusing on death row inmates and adjudicated youth.

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A Story of Justice and Redemption

A powerful true story about the Equal Justice Initiative, the people we represent, and the importance of confronting injustice, Just Mercy is a bestselling book by Bryan Stevenson that has been adapted into a feature film.

About EJI &
Bryan Stevenson

Equal Justice Initiative

EJI is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Montgomery, Alabama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EJI

Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. A widely acclaimed public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned, he has won numerous awards, including the prestigious MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Prize and the ACLU's National Medal of Liberty.

JUST MERCY - #1 New York Times Bestseller

The Book

An unforgettable true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to end mass incarceration in America - from one of the most inspiring lawyers of our time.

Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit law office in Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated to defending the poor, the incarcerated, and the wrongly condemned.

Just Mercy tells the story of EJI, from the early days with a small staff facing the nation's highest death sentencing and execution rates, through a successful campaign to challenge the cruel practice of sentencing children to die in prison, to revolutionary projects designed to confront Americans with our history of racial injustice.

One of EJI's first clients was Walter McMillian, a young Black man who was sentenced to die for the murder of a young white woman that he didn't commit. The case exemplifies how the death penalty in America is a direct descendant of lynching - a system that treats the rich and guilty better than the poor and innocent.

Download discussion guide

The message of this book . . . is that evil can be overcome, a difference can be made. Just Mercy will make you upset and it will make you hopeful.

Ted Conover / The New York Times Book Review

Selected as a

New York Times Best Seller

Winner of the

Dayton Literary Peace Prize

Winner of a

NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction

Finalist for the

Kirkus Reviews Prize

Winner of a

Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction

Selected as a

An American Library Association Notable Book

The Movie

Just Mercy takes us inside America's broken criminal justice system and compels us to confront inequality and injustice.

Based on the bestselling book, the Just Mercy movie presents the unforgettable story of Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) and the case of Walter McMillian (Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx), who was convicted and sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit.

Download discussion guide

I spent most of Just Mercy devastated by its most rueful death-row inmate, only to belatedly realize that it was [Rob] Morgan who was breaking my heart.

Wesley Morris / The New York Times

Just Mercy is a handsome, impeccably mounted tribute to [Stevenson's] activism and also his fellow advocates.

Justin Chang / Los Angeles Times

Winner of

ABA Silver Gavel Award

Winner of the National Board of Review's

Freedom of Expression Award

Earned audience score of

99% on Rotten Tomatoes

Michael B. Jordan Winner of

BET Award for Best Actor

Winner of

Christopher Award

Winner of

Four NAACP Image Awards

Winner of American Black Film Festival

Movie of the Year

Jamie Foxx Winner of American Black Film Festival

Excellence in the Arts Award

Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Brie Larson, Rob Morgan, Tim Blake Nelson, Andrene Ward-Hammond, O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Karan Kendrick

Bryan Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative. He had barely opened the nonprofit law office in Montgomery, Alabama, when he agreed to represent Walter McMillian, a Black man wrongly convicted of killing a white woman in the town that inspired To Kill a Mockingbird.

Clients

Just Mercy tells the story of EJI's clients, from Walter McMillian and Anthony Ray Hinton - who were exonerated from Alabama's death row - to Joe Sullivan and Ian Manuel - who won release after being sentenced to die in prison for nonhomicide crimes in Florida when they were just 13 years old. We invite you to learn more about the clients featured in the book below.

Sign up to stay connected and receive updates about EJI's work.

By submitting this form, you are granting: Equal Justice Initiative, 122 Commerce Street, Montgomery, Alabama, 36104, United States, http://www.eji.org permission to email you. You may unsubscribe via the link found at the bottom of every email. (See our Email Privacy Policy for details.) Emails are serviced by Mailchimp.

FAQ

If you have additional questions about Just Mercy or the work of EJI, please visit eji.org.

Is Just Mercy a true story?

Yes. The movie is based on an actual case that is detailed in Bryan Stevenson's book, Just Mercy, published in 2014. Bryan took on Walter McMillian's case in 1988 to challenge his wrongful conviction and death sentence. Over the next six years, Bryan filed multiple legal challenges and conducted several hearings, but the trial court refused to grant Mr. McMillian a new trial despite overwhelming evidence of innocence, including the recantation of the State's main witness, Ralph Myers. Bryan appealed the ruling and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals ordered a new trial because the State withheld evidence of Mr. McMillian's innocence. Bryan filed a motion to dismiss all charges; the trial court granted it after the district attorney acknowledged Mr. McMillian's innocence. While the movie condenses the six years of litigation, it mostly tracks the actual account presented in the book. Mr. McMillian's claim of innocence attracted national attention as broadcast a story about the case. The movie accurately introduces other people represented by Bryan Stevenson, including Herbert Richardson, a Vietnam War veteran who was executed in 1989, and Anthony Ray Hinton, who spent nearly 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit.

What made the Walter McMillian case unique?

Sadly, while the McMillian case had some unique features, there are actually lots of people who are innocent who have been sentenced to death in the United States. Because Mr. McMillian was accused of a crime that took place in Monroeville, Alabama, the community where Harper Lee grew up and wrote the beloved novel To Kill a Mockingbird, there were interesting dynamics at play in the case. While the Monroeville community loves the Mockingbird story and took great pride in its association with the fictional characters of the book, there was tremendous resistance to recognizing Mr. McMillian's innocence despite overwhelming evidence. Walter McMillian and Ralph Myers were both placed on death row before going to trial, which is illegal and a rare form of coercion. After Mr. Myers agreed to give false testimony against Mr. McMillian, he was removed from death row. Mr. McMillian spent 15 months on death row awaiting his trial in an effort to pressure him into pleading guilty. The case was unique as well because the trial judge, Robert E. Lee Key Jr., moved the trial from Monroe County, which is over 40% Black, to Baldwin County, which had a much smaller Black population, making a nearly all-white jury more likely. Despite that change of venue, the jury that convicted Mr. McMillian of capital murder sentenced him to life imprisonment without parole. In Alabama, the trial judge has the authority to override a jury's verdict of life and impose the death penalty, which is what happened. Judge override of life verdicts has been a unique characteristic of the death penalty in Alabama. The Walter McMillian case is also significant because it was one of the very early cases where a death row prisoner was proved innocent after being sentenced to death despite death penalty reforms in the 1970s and early 1980s.

What happened to Walter McMillian after his release?

Walter McMillian stayed in Alabama after his release. Bryan and the staff at EJI filed civil rights lawsuits against state and local officials for putting him on death row before his trial and for violating his rights. The case settled out of court after several years of litigation. Because police, prosecutors, and judges are immune from judgments that require them to make payments to people victimized by abuse of authority and wrongdoing, the settlement compensation was much less than had been hoped. An effort to make the sheriff accountable went all the way to the United States Supreme Court, but the Court ruled that the sheriff could be protected from liability based on immunity laws. With the money that was obtained for Mr. McMillian, he was able to work in Monroe County selling scrap metal. About 10 years after his release, he began showing symptoms of early onset dementia, which some doctors believed was caused by the trauma of his ordeal on death row. Mr. McMillian died in 2013. He and Bryan remained close friends, occasionally traveling together to talk to audiences about the death penalty. They appeared at a United States Senate hearing shortly after Mr. McMillian's release to testify about the need for ending the death penalty and for reform of the criminal justice system. Read Mr. McMillian's statement.

How often are innocent people sentenced to death?

Since 1973, more than 165 people have been released from death row after evidence of their innocence was uncovered. A shocking rate of error has emerged: for every nine people executed in this country, one innocent person has been exonerated. Wrongful convictions have been found to result from erroneous eyewitness identifications, false and coerced confessions, misconduct by police and prosecutors, inadequate legal defense, false or misleading forensic evidence, and perjury by witnesses who are promised lenient treatment or other incentives in exchange for their testimony. Nine people have been exonerated in Alabama. Walter McMillian, Randall Padgett, Gary Drinkard, Louis Griffin, Wesley Quick, James Cochran, Charles Bufford, Anthony Ray Hinton, and Daniel Moore were found not guilty of the crimes that originally put them on Alabama's death row.

How does the Just Mercy book differ from the movie?

The book provides much more historical context for the issues raised in the movie and provides detail about our nation's evolving embrace of mass incarceration and excessive punishment. The book discusses many more clients and cases than the McMillian case depicted in the movie. The book focuses a lot on Bryan and EJI's work challenging the adult prosecution of children, some of whom were condemned to die in prison when they were 13 or 14 years of age. Bryan explores the evolution of mass incarceration and the impact on the poor, people of color, and people who are disfavored. The impact of over-incarceration on the mentally disabled and the growing numbers of people sentenced harshly because of mental illness is detailed. There are chapters that explore the increasing incarceration rates for women and how many women are criminalized for being poor. Bryan's own journey dealing with racial bias, police violence, and the enormous obstacles that must be overcome to do justice are more fully developed in the book, which recently was adapted for young adults.

How can I learn more about the issues raised in the movie?

In addition to reading the book, Just Mercy, you should visit EJI in Montgomery, Alabama. EJI has recently opened a major cultural complex to educate the public about our nation's history of racial injustice and the implications of that history for issues like mass incarceration and the death penalty. The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration opened in April 2018 along with the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which is dedicated to thousands of African American victims of lynching. EJI's Peace and Justice Memorial Center provides daily presentations about EJI's work and the sites. Over 600,000 people have visited these sites. Visit eji.org to take a closer look at the work of EJI.

Do you have resources for discussing Just Mercy with students or community groups?

Yes, we have a Discussion Guide that provides background information and selected topics for discussing the Just Mercy movie with students, community groups, friends, and family. You can also download this discussion guide for students and groups who are reading the Just Mercy book.

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Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson | Bestselling Book and Adapted Film

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'Just Mercy' is a bestselling book telling the story of EJI and who we represent, that has been adapted into a feature film.

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I read this book in October, and I absolutely loved it! It was a cute love story, and I learned a lot about Deaf culture and experiences. I'd suggest this book for HS and up.

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Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino: 9780593533802 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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Jenny Han meets CODA in this big-hearted YA debut about first love and Deaf pride at a summer camp. Now in paperback! Lilah is stuck in the middle. At least, that’s what having a hearing loss seems…

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Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi 

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Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi 

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Nafisi mixes personal memoir and historical timeline with literary theory to explore how reading fiction fosters empathy and allows us to establish our own moral compass through perspective taking. It's a compelling argument against censorship, though a bit inaccessible to those who have not also read the various texts she uses as examples.

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Sarah, 9th & 10th Grade English, Private Cyber-Charter School

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Reading Lolita in Tehran | Random House Publishing Group

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Follow Nella, Eliza, and Caroline three women, who couldn't be any more different, as they unravel a centuries-old mystery involving an apothecary with a knack for assisting her clients with terrible deaths. I really enjoyed reading this title and wish I had picked it up sooner!

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Forget healing salves or soothing tinctures. This apothecary specializes in one thing: helping women fight back.

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One of my favorite books I have encountered over this year, West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge is captivating! I listened to this adventure unfold over an audiobook reading and there were some twists and turns that I never expected. Set as a frame story during the Great Depression, follow Woodrow on his retelling of taking the first two American giraffes cross-country from New Jersey to San Diego. I promise you will love this book; however, you may shed a few tears, and laughs, along the way!

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An emotional, rousing novel inspired by the incredible true story of two giraffes who made headlines and won the hearts of Depression-era America.

"Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes..."

Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.

It's 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California's first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world's first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.

Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it's too late.

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West with Giraffes: A Novel [Rutledge, Lynda] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. West with Giraffes: A Novel

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Blind Spot: The Hidden Biases of Good People

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Blind Spot: The Hidden Biases of Good People

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I'm reading this book with a professional learning group at my school. It explores the ways we all engage in biased thinking and how we can acknowledge and try to resist these implicit biases we absorb from society.

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Hannah, 11th grade English, cyber school

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Blindspot by Mahzarin R. Banaji, Anthony G. Greenwald: 9780345528438 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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“Accessible and authoritative . . . While we may not have much power to eradicate our own prejudices, we can counteract them. The first step is to turn a hidden bias into a visible one. . . . What…

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School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics, and the Battle for Public Education

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School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics, and the Battle for Public Education

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Join us as we read this book for our book club!

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Hannah, 11th grade English, cyber charter school

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Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years, Elizabeth Wayland Barber

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Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years, Elizabeth Wayland Barber

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I'm really enjoying this! Reading a chapter a night before bread. It's the story of women's creative role in prehistoric societies as they advanced the textile arts.

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Hannah, 11th grade English, cyber charter school

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“A fascinating history of…[a craft] that preceded and made possible civilization itself.” —New York Times Book Review New discoveries about the textile arts reveal women’s unexpectedly influential role in ancient societies. Twenty thousand years ago, women were making and wearing the first clothing created from spun fibers. In fact, right up to the Industrial Revolution the fiber arts were an enormous economic force, belonging primarily to women. Despite the great toil required in making cloth and clothing, most books on ancient history and economics have no information on them. Much of this gap results from the extreme perishability of what women produced, but it seems clear that until now descriptions of prehistoric and early historic cultures have omitted virtually half the picture. Elizabeth Wayland Barber has drawn from data gathered by the most sophisticated new archaeological methods—methods she herself helped to fashion. In a “brilliantly original book” (Katha Pollitt, Washington Post Book World), she argues that women were a powerful economic force in the ancient world, with their own industry: fabric.