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

• All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

• Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

• Big by Vishti Harrison

• The Big Box by Toni Morrison & Slade Morrison

• The Brightest Star by James Morehead & Andrea Morehead Allen

• Brothers of the Knight by Debbie Allen

• The Cajun Night Before Christmas by Unknown

• City Green by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan

• Dear Curly Hair by Melodee Barnes

• Earth Yay! by Jonathan Sundy

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

• Full, Full, Full of Love by Trish Cooke

• The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

• Hello There, Sunshine by Tabitha Brown

• How to Deal with & Care for Your Annoying Little Brother by Nia Mya Reese

• I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes

• In the Nick of Time by Deedee Cummings

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

• Juneteenth Is by Natasha Tripplett

• Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess by Deedee Cummings

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

• The Last Black King of Kentucky by Crystal Hubbard

• Little Curlies, Big Day by Melodee Barnes

• 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

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

• 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

• Wonderfully Whole: Embracing Autism with Infinite Love by Aadila DeSouza

• World Beyond the Waves by Kara Gonzalez-Howard

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

• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

• Frindle by Andrew Clements

• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe by Douglas Adams

• 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

• Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum

• Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

• Snitchers by Stephane Dunn

• A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

• Tristan Strong series by Kwame Mbalia

• Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner

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

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

• You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Nonfiction

• How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan

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

• Ice Cream Man: How Augustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman

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

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

• Major Taylor: Champion Cyclist by Lesa Cline-Ransome

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

• Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee by Marissa Moss

• Who Wants Pizza? The Kids’ Guide to the History, Science & Culture of Food by Jan Thornhill

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

• For Everyone by Ryan Reynolds

• 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

• We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

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

• Normal People by Sally Rooney

• Skyland series by Kennedy Ryan

• 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

• The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

• Feeding the Soul: Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom by Tabitha Brown

• I Did a New Thing: 30 Days to Living Free by Tabitha Brown

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