Book Talks and Reviews

As a former English teacher and librarian, book talks were a staple in our founder’s classroom and library. She posted those book talks and reviews on her personal page,  educatorbarnes.com. Those reviews are now on this website, and our founder will continue adding new book reviews.

Books for Adults & Kids

Children’s Books – Fiction

• The Cajun Night Before Christmas by Unknown

• Earth Yay! by Jonathan Sundy

• The Escape of Robert Smalls: A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery by Jehan Jones-Radgowski

• Hello There, Sunshine by Tabitha Brown

• In the Nick of Time by Deedee Cummings

• Juneteenth: A Day to Celebrate Freedom from Slavery by Angela Leeper

• Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess by Deedee Cummings

• Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess – A Little Magic by Deedee Cummings

• The New LiBEARian by Alison Donald

• More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby

• Old to Joy by Anita Crawford Clark

• Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw

• Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

• There’s Something I Have to Tell You All…Mommy Has Cancer by Towanna Hogue

• This is the Earth by Deedee Cummings

• This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

• This Little Light of Mine by Darcy Pattison

• The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

Fiction – Chapter Books

• Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files – All About Plants! by Andrea Beaty and Dr. Theanne Griffith

• Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson

• Bluford HIgh Series by various authors

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

• Frindle by Andrew Clements

• Lena & the Burning of Greenwood: A Tulsa Race Massacre Survival Story by Nikki Shannon Smith

• The Library of Doom: Attack of the Paper Bats by Michael Dahl

• The Library of Doom: The Beast Beneath the Stairs by Michael Dahl

• The Library of Doom: Poison Pages by Michael Dahl

• The Library of Doom: The Smashing Scroll by Michael Dahl

• The Marvelous Land of Oz (Book 2) by L. Frank Baum

• Monster by Walter Dean Myers

• The One & Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

• Snitchers by Stephane Dunn

• A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

• Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Nonfiction

• How to Write Haiku and Other Short Poems by Paul Janeczko

• Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty by Dorothy Roberts (content includes rape, abuse, addiction, and abortion)

• The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet by Leah Thomas

• Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital by Maurice Benard with Susan Black

Graphic Novels

• New Kid by Jerry Craft

• Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Dr. Rebecca Hall

Drama/Plays

• The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

Historical

Nonfiction

• African Americans in Indianapolis: The Story of a People Determined to Be Freeby David Leander Williams

• Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston

• Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Dr. Rebecca Hall

Fiction

• Juneteenth: A Day to Celebrate Freedom from Slavery by Angela Leeper

• Lena & the Burning of Greenwood: A Tulsa Race Massacre Survival Story by Nikki Shannon Smith

Mystery & Horror

Chapter Books

• The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Poetry

• Haiku for Justice: 365+ Day Commentary of (In)Justice In American & Abroad – Poetry in the Age of Social Media by Discopoet Khari B.

• Harlem by Walter Dean Myers

• i am the rageby Dr. Martina McGowan

• The Raven & Other Poemsby Edgar Allan Poe

• The Venus Hottentot by Elizabeth Alexander

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Chapter Books

• Delirium by Lauren Oliver

• Feedby M.T. Anderson

• Singularity by William Sleator

Professional Books

Professional Books for Educators

• Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind: Practical Strategies for Raising Acheivement by Eric Jensen

• Identity Affirming Classrooms: Spaces that Center Humanity by Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera

• The Principal As Instructional Leader in Literacy by Ontario Principals’ Council

• Real Talk? How to Discuss Race, Racism, & Politics in 21st Century American Schools by Dr. Marcus Croom

• Teaching with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids’ Brains & What Schools Can Do About It by Eric Jensen

Books for Any Profession

• Dusk of Dawn: An Essay Toward an Autobiography of a Race Concept by W.E.B. DuBois

• I Own My Magic: Self-Talk for Black Women – Affirmations for Self-Care & Empowerment by G. Michelle Goodloe, LCSW

• The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet by Leah Thomas

• Leadership & Self Deception by the Arbinger Institute

Books for Parents

• Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD

• Social Justice Parenting: How to Raise Compassionate, Anti-Racist, Justice-Minded Kids in an Unjust World by Dr. Traci Baxley

Books for Adults

Fiction

• Beloved by Toni Morrison

• We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (sexual content)

Nonfiction

• Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty by Dorothy Roberts (content note: rape, abuse, addiction, and abortion)

• Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on Our Sex-Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J. Brown (content note: sex, sexual abuse, queerphobic violence, lynching, racial fetishism

Mystery & Horror

Graphic Novel

• Bodies by Si Spencer (adult content)

Self Help

• Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD