The next Reader’s Advisory Roundtable is scheduled for
Wednesday, October 11th at 9:30am. If construction at O'Neal Library
is complete, it will be a hybrid meeting at O’Neal & on Zoom. If
construction is not complete, the meeting will be Zoom-only. The
topic up for discussion is emerging & debut authors. Mark your
calendar! The October meeting is also voting month so please email me if you have any nominations for topics or moderator for the 2023-2024 season: hwesley@oneallibrary.org
Today, RART met to discuss disability representation. A huge thank you to the Irondale Library for hosting! 💓
In attendance in-person:
Allison, Pinson
Tamara, Irondale
Del, Irondale
Holley, O’Neal
In attendance on Zoom:
Bridget, Homewood
Erika, Powderly
Lora, Vestavia
Samuel, Springville Road
Lynn, West End
Brooke, Springville Road
David, Avondale
A reminder from Fontaine Alison about the JCLC's
Books-By-Mail (BBM) service:
BBM is a free service for patrons in Jefferson
County who need mail large print or audiobooks/music instead of
traditional regular print books. Patrons can contact BBM to request an
application, or they can download an application:
http://www.cobpl.org/services/BooksByMail/Books-By-Mail%202022.pdf
BBM does not charge any fees and all materials are
automatically renewed. Books are returned postage-free in the mail pouch. Because the postage is paid for by Free Matter for the Blind
and Handicapped, a patron must be certified to qualify for the service.
However, certification options are very broad—it is not a medical
certification. From the application: "Books-By-Mail is for library users who are unable to get to
the library in person due to a permanent or temporary disability. To
qualify for Free Matter for the Blind and Physically Handicapped,
certification from a physician, nurse, social worker, clergy member,
caregiver or librarian is required."
Contact BBM at 205-226-3758 or books-by-mail@cobpl.org
Here are the titles we discussed in the RART meeting today:
FICTION
The Maid by Nita Prose
Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and
misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for
her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by. Her orderly
life as a hotel maid is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous
and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black
himself dead in his bed. A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a
heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means
to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all
mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.
A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert
Between her autism, her comic book nerdery, and the whiff of scandal her small
town can’t forget, Ruth will always be Ravenswood’s black sheep. Since she
prefers silence and solitude to gossip and pub crawls, that suits her just
fine—until Evan Miller comes to town. Ex-military man Evan is gorgeous,
confident… and he’s Ruth’s new neighbour. Unlike everyone else, he doesn’t seem
to mind her crotchety ways or her cooking disasters. In fact, if Ruth didn’t
know any better, she might think Evan likes her.
The Brown Sisters series by Talia Hibbert
In this critically acclaimed series of sparkling romcoms, three quirky sisters
secure their very own happily-ever-afters.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown - Chloe Brown is a chronically ill
computer geek with a goal, a plan, and a list. After almost—but not
quite—dying, she’s come up with six directives to help her “Get a Life”, and
she’s already completed the first: finally moving out of her glamourous family's
mansion.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown - Danika Brown knows what she
wants: professional success, academic renown, and an occasional roll in the hay
to relieve all that career-driven tension. But romance? Been there, done that,
burned the T-shirt. Romantic partners, whatever their gender, are a distraction
at best and a drain at worst. So Dani asks the universe for the perfect
friend-with-benefits—someone who knows the score and knows their way
around the bedroom.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown - Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how
hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong—so she’s
given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive
wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the
line. It’s time for Eve to grow up and prove herself—even though she’s not
entirely sure how…
Not a Sound by Heather Gudenkauf
When a tragic accident leaves nurse Amelia Winn deaf, she loses everything that
matters—her job, her husband, David, and her stepdaughter, Nora. Now, two years
later and with the help of her hearing dog, Stitch, she is finally getting back
on her feet. But when she discovers the body of a fellow nurse in the dense
bush by the river, deep in the woods near her cabin, she is plunged into a disturbing
mystery that could shatter the carefully reconstructed pieces of her life all
over again.
The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
Slipping between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life,
Kelly Rimmer creates an emotional and finely wrought narrative. The Things
We Cannot Say is an unshakable reminder of the devastation when truth is
silenced…and how it can take a lifetime to find our voice before we learn to
trust it.
True Biz by Sara Novic
This is a story of sign language and lip-reading, disability and civil rights,
isolation and injustice, first love and loss, and, above all, great
persistence, daring, and joy. Absorbing and assured, idiosyncratic and
relatable, this is an unforgettable journey into the Deaf community and a
universal celebration of human connection.
NONFICTION
A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex & Disability by A.
Andrews
All different kinds of bods want to connect with other bods, but lots of them
get left out of the conversation when it comes to S-E-X. As explained by
disabled cartoonist A. Andrews, this easy-to-read guide covers the basics of
disability sexuality, common myths about disabled bodies, communication tips,
and practical suggestions for having the best sexual experience possible.
Whether you yourself are disabled, you love someone who is, or you just want to
know more, consider this your handy starter kit to understanding disability
sexuality, and your path to achieving accessible (and fulfilling)
sex. Part of the bestselling and critically acclaimed A Quick &
Easy Guide series from Limerence Press, an imprint of Oni Press.
Bite Me: How Lyme Disease Stole My Childhood, Made Me Crazy,and Almost Killed Me by Ally Hilfiger (also available in eaudio on Hoopla)
Set against the backdrop of the fast-paced fashion and entertainment
industries, Bite Me shares the heartbreaking and hilarious stories
that moved Ally forward on her journey from sickness to health. Its themes will
be familiar to more than 300,000 Americans diagnosed with Lyme disease each
year, many of whom, like Ally, wondered for years what was wrong with
them. Bite Me offers readers hope and ideas for how one can
transition from victim to survivor, and shares the spiritual principles and
actions that have contributed to her wholeness as a human, mother, and
international spokesperson against Lyme disease.
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden RealmsAround Us by Ed Yong
A “thrilling” (The New York Times), “dazzling” (The Wall Street Journal) tour
of the radically different ways that animals perceive the world that will fill
you with wonder and forever alter your perspective, by a Pulitzer Prize–winning
science journalist.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death
by Jean-Dominique Bauby
In 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby was the editor-in-chief of French Elle, the
father of two young children, a 44-year-old man known and loved for his wit,
his style, and his impassioned approach to life. By the end of the year he was
also the victim of a rare kind of stroke to the brainstem. After 20 days
in a coma, Bauby awoke into a body which had all but stopped working: only his
left eye functioned, allowing him to see and, by blinking it, to make clear
that his mind was unimpaired. Almost miraculously, he was soon able to express
himself in the richest detail: dictating a word at a time, blinking to select
each letter as the alphabet was recited to him slowly, over and over again. In
the same way, he was able eventually to compose this extraordinary book.
The film adaptation, also called The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, is
spectacular and just as deeply moving.
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elizabeth Tova Bailey
While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches a wild snail that has
taken up residence on her nightstand. As a result, she discovers the solace and
sense of wonder that this mysterious creature brings and comes to a greater
understanding of her own place in the world. The Sound of a Wild Snail
Eating is a remarkable journey of survival and resilience, showing us how a
small part of the natural world can illuminate our own human existence, while
providing an appreciation of what it means to be fully alive.
YOUNG ADULT
Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (Book 1 in the Truly Devious series)
Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest
thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early
20th century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles,
twisting pathways, and gardens. "A place", he said, "where
learning is a game." Shortly after the school opened, his wife and
daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing
methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym "Truly,
Devious". It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American
history. True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year
at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold
case.
Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker,
talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued
by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts,
neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to
help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either
ever realized. When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior
year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's
lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a
blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.
Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant
Sixteen-year-old Tessa Johnson has never felt like the protagonist in her own
life. The only place she’s a true leading lady is in her own writing—in
the swoony love stories she shares only with Caroline, her best friend and #1
devoted reader. When Tessa is accepted into the creative writing program
of a prestigious art school, she’s excited to finally let her stories shine.
But when she goes to her first workshop, the words are just...gone.
Fortunately, Caroline has a solution: Tessa just needs to find some inspiration
in a real-life love story of her own. And she’s ready with a list of romance
novel-inspired steps to a happily ever after. But as Tessa checks each
item off Caroline’s list, she gets further and further away from herself. She
risks losing everything she cares about.
CHILDREN’S
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Starting at a new school is scary, especially with a giant hearing aid strapped
to your chest! At her old school, everyone in Cece’s class was deaf. Here,
she’s different. Then Cece makes a startling discovery. With the Phonic
Ear she can hear her teacher not just in the classroom but anywhere her teacher
is in the school—in the hallway . . . in the teacher’s lounge . . . in the
bathroom! This is power. Maybe even superpower! Cece is on her way to becoming
El Deafo, Listener for All.
Alyson Gerber novels
Braced - Rachel Brooks' doctor delivers some terrible news: The sideways
curve in Rachel's spine has gotten worse, and she needs to wear a back brace 23
hours a day. The brace wraps her in hard plastic from shoulder blades to hips.
It changes how her clothes fit, how she kicks a ball, and how everyone sees her
-- even her friends and cute classmate Tate. But as Rachel confronts all the
challenges the brace presents, the biggest change of all may lie in how she
sees herself.
Focused - Clea can't control her thoughts. She knows
she has to do her homework . . . but she gets distracted. She knows she can't
just say whatever thought comes into her head . . . but sometimes she can't
help herself. She know she needs to focus . . . but how can she do that when
the people around her are always chewing gum loudly or making other annoying
noises? It's starting to be a problem-not just in school, but when Clea's
playing chess or just hanging out with her best friend. Other kids are starting
to notice. When Clea fails one too many tests, her parents take her to be tested,
and she finds out that she has ADHD, which means her attention is all over the
place instead of where it needs to be.
Taking Up Space - Sarah loves basketball more than
anything. Crushing it on the court makes her feel like she matters. And it's the
only thing that helps her ignore how much it hurts when her mom forgets to feed
her. But lately Sarah can't even play basketball right. She's slower now
and missing shots she should be able to make. Her body doesn't feel like it's
her own anymore. She's worried that changing herself back to how she used to be
is the only way she can take control over what's happening. When Sarah's
crush asks her to be partners in a cooking competition, she feels pulled in a
million directions. She'll have to dig deep to stand up for what she needs at
home, be honest with her best friends, and accept that she doesn't need to
change to feel good about herself.
STREAMING
Special (Netflix)
A young gay man with cerebral palsy branches out in hope of finally going after
the life he wants.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
APLS book club kits
The Alabama Public Library Service offers member libraries access to their
library of book club kits! See their website for full
information: https://apls.libguides.com/bookclub
FURTHER READING
https://www.thebarbellionprize.com/ The
Barbellion Prize is a book prize dedicated to the furtherance of ill and
disabled voices in writing. The prize is awarded annually to an author whose
work has best represented the experience of chronic illness and/or disability.
(2023) https://bookriot.com/books-about-disability-for-kids-and-teens/
(2023) https://bookriot.com/comics-with-great-disability-representation/
(2022) https://bcbooksandauthors.com/disability-representation-16-childrens-and-ya-books-by-black-authors/
(2018) https://bookriot.com/disability-representation-in-literature/
(2017) https://lithub.com/8-books-that-move-disability-from-the-margins-to-the-center/
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