Sponsored by The Burning (Young Readers Edition) by Tim Madigan and adapted by Hilary Beard with Fierce Reads.
A long-forgotten story of Black prosperity and resilience decimated by racist violence. This recreation of Greenwood at the height of its prosperity explores the currents of hatred, racism, and mistrust between its Black residents and Tulsa’s White population; narrates events leading up to and including Greenwood’s devastation; and documents the subsequent silence that surrounded this tragedy. This is the true story of Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre, with updates that connect the historical significance of the massacre to the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America.
I like doing the new release newsletter because the mix of books is frequently very ODD with no real through-line. I mean, you could probably find one if you really looked. Also, I tend to trust that the really huge releases are going to have big enough advertising budgets that they don’t need a lot of help. So we get to look at some fun or weird or not as known books. Which is exciting.
Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes by Barnaby Phillips
Okay. I wouldn’t normally START by quoting the book description, but look at this: “In 1897, Britain responded to the killing of a group of officials by razing an empire to the ground.” Like, what?? That’s an amazing intro. Horrifying, but amazing. The kingdom of Benin (now Nigeria) was destroyed by the British and they carried off the Benin Bronzes, which still sit in the British Museum. Author Phillips is also working to shut down the ivory trade and save Africa’s elephants. Great job, sir.
Out of the Shadows: Six Visionary Victorian Women in Search of a Public Voice by Emily Midorikawa
This title refers to the Spiritualist movement and the women who made their names off it. This includes the Fox sisters, who started the movement with the knocking sounds they claimed to hear in their Hydesville, NY home, to Victoria Woodhull, Georgina Weldon, and others. More books about women in the 19th century! All the books.
Tastes Like War: A Memoir by Grace M. Cho
It’s a food book, it’s a memoir, it’s a “sociological investigation.” There’s a lot going on here. Cho grew up with a white American father and a Korean mother. In Cho’s teens, her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia. In “her mother’s final years, Grace learned to cook dishes from her parent’s childhood in order to invite the past into the present, and to hold space for her mother’s multiple voices at the table.”
Don’t forget to enter Book Riot’s iPad Mini giveaway, because hey — free iPad Mini. For more nonfiction new releases, check out the For Real podcast which I co-host with the excellent Kim here at Book Riot. If you have any questions/comments/book suggestions, you can find me on social media @itsalicetime. Until next time, enjoy those facts, fellow nerds.