Bryan Stevenson weaves numerous tales of injustice around the thread of his own coming of age as a lawyer and the case of Walter McMillian. Stevenson was a young lawyer when he first founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice that assists those, like McMillian, who find themselves accused of a crime, lacking funds and proper legal counsel.

The audacity in the actions of the officials trusted to ensure safety is both mesmerizing and horrifying. That these occurrences have happened within this reader’s lifetime, and not in some remote time stolen from a history book is even more alarming. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the topics of equality, justice, or the death penalty.

As one of the lieutenants that rode with Hinton to the county jail explained, “I can give you five reasons why they are going to convict you. Do you want to know what they are… Number one, you’re black. Number two, a white man gonna say you shot him. Number three, you’re gonna have a white district attorney. Number four, you’re gonna have a white judge. And number five, you’re gonna have an all-white jury.”

Making friends with a former KKK member. Watching a woman walk to the death chamber. Smelling the burning flesh of those friends you’ve made by chance on death row. Hinton also shines a light on what a “right to an attorney” actually gets you if you are poor. As his defense attorney so eloquently told him, “‘They’re only paying me $1,000 for this, and hell, I eat $1,000 for breakfast.’ He laughed.” This was Hinton’s life for 30 years. And somehow he survives.

Anthony Ray Hinton tells his story in a thought-provoking and heart-wrenching way. The reader will experience the emotions of Hinton throughout – from despair to exaltation to anxiety. Definitely worth a read.

Anna has agoraphobia. She hasn’t left her house in ten months. Anything she needs, she has delivered: medications, wine, food, a therapist. She helps others with agoraphobia via an online forum and plays chess via a different forum. Stuck in her house, she spends ample time watching her neighbors. When a few new neighbors start coming by, she finds herself surprised, but also enjoying their company. Then one night, she witnesses something happen to one of those new neighbors – swears she saw it – but what did she really see?

This title is also available in ebook and eaudiobook formats.

With her children preparing to leave the nest, and her beloved running pal, Lucy, passed away, Cara Achterberg decides to take on a new challenge: foster dog mom. Fluctuating between humor and heartbreak, the reader may find herself cheering for a “foster fail.” (Meaning that the dog is kept by the author.) There is also quite a bit to learn about fostering animals, and the author occasionally references what makes a good rescue group.

Dog lovers are sure to enjoy this story about puppy antics! A center section includes a variety of color pictures from the many foster dogs that have stayed at the Achterberg home.

"He had come so far, but what struck me then and for many years afterward was how little I had done for him. I don’t mean this in the way of false modesty. I mean that it frightens me that so little was required for him to develop intellectually – a quiet room, a pile of books, and some adult guidance. And yet these things were rarely supplied."

Reading with Patrick is one teacher’s journey into the Delta, a poor, rural community, and the impact she hopes to make, the guilt she feels when leaving, and the pull she feels back to her previous students. Focusing on what becomes a friendship between herself and a former student, this non-fiction selection is a commentary on the social injustices and inequality found among US schools.

This title is available as both a print book and an audiobook on Overdrive: https://idm.overdrive.com/media/2830214

Every new mom wants to be perfect. It’s even harder when you surround yourself with other seemingly perfect moms every week. The May Mothers is a group of women whose babies were born in the same month. The new moms think they know each other- but do they really? What is supposed to be a much-needed girls’ night out turns into a media circus that exposes secrets and challenges these new friendships.

The Perfect Mother is a fast-paced thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

This book is also available in ebook and eaudiobook.

Beautifully written, with an easy rhythm, this non-fiction picture book is great for reading aloud. The story takes the reader through the life of Dr. Patricia Bath, the inventor of the Laserphaco Probe, which is used in cataract treatment. As a woman of color, Dr. Bath broke through many barriers to become a doctor and was the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology. All of this information is written in fun, kid-friendly, and easy-to-understand language.

Wyatt has no idea what’s in store for him when he travels to Washington DC with his class. Typical kid hijinks as well as more unrealistic shenanigans ensue when Wyatt’s best friend immediately makes enemies with some suspicious characters on the airplane. A contemporary fiction selection that may have your younger ones asking, “Did that really happen?”

Dave Barry’s humorous style is one that the whole family will enjoy. This title is a perfect audiobook for a road trip.