audiobooks

In attendance at today’s Zoom meeting (15 total):

Holley W. (mod)  – Emmet O’Neal
Kristen G.  – Hoover
Nicole – Tarrant/Hoover
Samantha B. – Hoover
Erika W. – Smithfield
Samuel R. – Springville Road
Lutheria J. – Springville Road
Judith W. – Homewood
Mary Anne E. – Central Southern History
Maura D. – Trussville
Polly E. – Hoover
Heather M. – Smithfield
Katie Jane M. – Hoover
Reba – Smithfield
Michelle H. – Irondale

The next meeting of the JCPLA Reader’s Advisory Roundtable will be Wednesday, June 10th.  Right now, it is scheduled for 9am at the Avondale Library.  In this evolving situation, we may or may not have an in-person meeting. It may be a Zoom meeting or a combination of the two.  Thank you for your flexibility and patience with scheduling. 

The only information of a permanent nature that I can share is that we will be reading and discussing steampunk fiction! A very broad definition from Merriam-Webster: “science fiction dealing with 19th century societies dominated by historical or imagined steam-powered technology.”  Feel free to Google around and see what broader definitions you can find.

For your convenience, I did an Encore search limited to ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, and streaming movies.  You may peruse the results by clicking here.

This morning we discussed audiobooks and I will link all titles discussed to digital resources, where available.  Any titles/series that are not digitally available will be at the bottom of the list. All annotations were pulled from Amazon unless otherwise noted.

Happy reading and listening!  Feel free to share your favorites in the comments.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, narrated by Katie Schorr

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman's belief that books can carry us anywhere - even back home.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry, narrated by Lauren Woodward

"Patti Callahan seems to have found the story she was born to tell in this tale of unlikely friendship turned true love between Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis, that tests the bounds of faith and radically alters both of their lives." (Paula McLain, New York Times best-selling author of The Paris Wife)

Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan, narrated by Roxana Ortega

(Grades 3-7) This timeless tale of struggle, hope, and the search for tomorrow has much to offer today about compassion and our shared humanity.

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan, narrated by Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, Andrews MacLeod, and Rebecca Soler

(Grades 5-8) Music, magic, and a real-life miracle meld in this virtuosic, genre-defying tour de force from storytelling maestro Pam Muñoz Ryan.

The Street by Ann Petry, narrated by Shayna Small

As much a historical document as it is a novel, this 1946 winner of the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award is the poignant and unblinkingly honest story of Lutie Johnson, a young black woman, and her spirited struggle to live and raise her son by herself amid the violence, poverty, and racial dissonance of Harlem in the late 1940s.

Lady Pirate by Lynsay Sands, narrated by Lorna Bennett

Valoree no longer has to masquerade as her murdered brother and scour the oceans as Captain Red. She has been named heir to Ainsley Castle. But no executor would ever hand over the estate to an unmarried pirate wench and her infamous crew and the will distinctly states that in order to inherit, Valoree must be married to a nobleman...and pregnant.

The Bloody Jack Adventures by L.A. Meyer, narrated by Katherine Kellgren
There are 12 in this series, click here for a link
(Grades 7-12) 

1) Bloody Jack - Life as a ship's boy aboard HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. Gone are the days of scavenging for food and fighting for survival on the streets of 18th-century London. Instead, Jacky is becoming a skilled and respected sailor as the crew pursues pirates on the high seas. There's only one problem: Jacky is a girl. 

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah, narrated by the author

Noah's virtuoso embodiment of all the characters from his childhood, and his ability to perform accents and dialects effortlessly in English, Xhosa, and Zulu, garnered the Audie Award for Best Male Narrator in 2018. Nevertheless, Noah's devoted and uncompromising mother-as voiced by her son-steals the show. 

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma, narrated by the author

Haben takes listeners through a thrilling game of blind hide-and-seek in Louisiana, a treacherous climb up an iceberg in Alaska, and a magical moment with President Obama at the White House. Warm, funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, this captivating memoir is a testament to one woman's determination to find the keys to connection. 

Crucible of Command: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, the War They Fought, the Peace They Forged by William C. Davis, narrated by Traber Burns

Exploring their personalities, their character, and their ethical, moral, political, and military worlds, William C. Davis finds surprising similarities between the two men as well as new perspectives on how their lives prepared them for the war they fought and influenced how they fought it.

Poet X by Elizabeth Acevado, narrated by the author

(Grades 7 and up) Fans of Jacqueline Woodson, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing #ownvoices novel-in-verse by an award-winning slam poet, about an Afro-Latina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth.

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, narrated by Carrington MacDuffie

A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife, Hadley.

Love & Ruin by Paula McLain, narrated by January LaVoy

The best-selling author of The Paris Wife returns to the subject of Ernest Hemingway in a novel about his passionate, stormy marriage to Martha Gellhorn - a fiercely independent, ambitious woman ahead of her time who would become one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century.

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan, narrated by Joyce Bean

In 1903, Mamah Borthwick Cheney and her husband, Edwin, commission the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design a new home for them. During the construction of the house, a powerful attraction developed between Mamah and Frank, and in time the lovers, each married with children, embarked on a course that would shock Chicago society and forever change their lives.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman, narrated by the author

(Grades 3-7 and anyone else young-at-heart) In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close. The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own. Only it's different...

The All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness

A Discovery of Witches

Shadow of Night
The Book of Life

Deborah Harkness' sparkling debut, narrated by Jennifer Ikeda, has brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.

The Abhorsen series by Garth Nix, narrated by Tim Curry

Sabriel
Lirael
Abhorsen
Clariel
Goldenhand

(Ages 12 and older) Ever since she was a tiny child, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the random power of Free Magic, and away from the Dead who won't stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to find him Sabriel must cross back into that world. A tale of dark secrets, deep love and dangerous magic, Sabriel introduces Garth Nix as an exceptional new talent.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, narrated by Cathleen McCarron

"Beautifully written and incredibly funny, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is about the importance of friendship and human connection. I fell in love with Eleanor, an eccentric and regimented loner whose life beautifully unfolds after a chance encounter with a stranger; I think you will fall in love, too!" (Reese Witherspoon)

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara, narrated by Gabra Zackman with introduction by Gillian Flynn and an afterword by Patton Oswalt

I'll Be Gone in the Dark - the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death - offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman's obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Utterly original and compelling, it is destined to become a true crime classic.

Carrie by Stephen King, narrated by Sissy Spacek

An unpopular teenage girl, whose mother is a religious fanatic, is tormented and teased to the breaking point by her more popular schoolmates.

The Shining by Stephen King, narrated by Campbell Scott

Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote...and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, narrated by Bernadette Dunne

Past the rusted gates and untrimmed hedges, Hill House broods and waits. Four seekers have come to the ugly, abandoned old mansion. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable noises and self-closing doors, but Hill House is gathering its powers and will soon choose one of them to make its own.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, narrated by Bernadette Dunne

Six years after four family members died of arsenic poisoning, the three remaining Blackwoods live together in pleasant isolation. But one day a stranger arrives and manages to penetrate their carefully shielded lives. Unable to drive him away by either polite or occult means, Merricat adopts more desperate methods, resulting in crisis, tragedy, and the revelation of a terrible secret.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, narrated by Ruby Dee

An American classic, this luminous and haunting novel is about Janie Crawford, a Southern Black woman in the 1930s, whose journey from a free-spirited girl to a woman of independence and substance has inspired writers and readers for close to 70 years.

The Harper Hall trilogy by Anne McCaffrey, narrated by Sally Darling
Dragonsong
Dragonsinger
Dragondrums (not available digitally)

(often considered YA) All her life, Menolly has longed to learn the ancient secrets of the Harpers, the master musicians of Harper Hall. When her stern father denies her the chance to make her dream come true, Menolly runs away from home. Hiding in a cave by the sea, she finds nine magical fire lizards who join her on a breathtaking journey to Harper Hall.

The Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, narrated by Alan Cumming
Leviathan
Behemoth
Goliath

(Grades 7-9) It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. The Leviathan is a living airship, the most formidable airbeast in the skies of Europe.

The Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland, narrated by Shannon McManus
There are 13 in the series, click here for a list
(Grades 3-7)

1)The Dragonet Prophecy - The seven dragon tribes have been at war for generations, locked in an endless battle over an ancient, lost treasure. A secret movement called the Talons of Peace is determined to bring an end to the fighting, with the help of a prophecy - a foretelling that calls for great sacrifice.

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott, narrated by Denis O’Hare

There are 6 in this series, click here for a list
(Grades 6-9)

1) The Alchemyst - Nicholas Flamel is the greatest Alchemyst to ever live. The records show that he died in 1418, but what if he's actually been making the elixir of life for centuries and is currently running a bookstore in San Francisco?

The Iron Druids Chronicles series by Kevin Hearne, narrated by Luke Daniels
There are 9 in this series, click here for a list

1) Hounded - Atticus O'Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old - when in actuality, he's twenty-one centuries old.

Notable titles, but not available digitally from JCLC:


The Diary of Samuel Pepys, narrated by Kenneth Branagh
Ebook available via National Emergency Library

Enter the life and remarkable times of Samuel Pepys (pronounced "peeps"). Born in London in 1633, the son of a tailor, he began keeping a diary on January 1, 1660, and continued for nine years, faithfully recording the rich and varied details of seventeenth-century London life.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped From the Beginning by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi, narrated by the authors

(YA) Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente, narrated by Heath Miller

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Eurovision in an over-the-top galactic science fiction spectacle from best-selling author Catherynne Valente where sentient races compete for glory in a universe-wide musical contest - where the stakes are as high as the fate of planet Earth.


The MurderBot Diaries by Martha Wells, narrated by Kevin R. Free
There are 5 in this series, click here for a list

1) All Systems Red - The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self-discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans.

graphic novels for adults

Mark your calendars! Our next meeting is Wednesday February 13, 2019 at the Homewood Library and the topic up for discussion will be essay collections. 

Today, we met to discuss graphic novels for adults, fiction and nonfiction.

Carthago by Christophe Bec, Alcante, Giles Daoust, Jaouen, Fafner, Brice Cossu, Alexis Sentenac, Drazen Kovacevic, and Aleksa Gajic

These five individual, but interlinked, stories see Donovan and billionaire Feiersinger combating all manner of malicious myths and monsters from the Californian Bigfoot and deadly African dinosaurs, to Arctic sea creatures and giant Canadian wolves. Whether driven by a taste for adventure, a passion for scientific curiosity, or simply by pure obsession, join our unrelenting heroes as they chase and encounter creatures that are as mythical as they are deadly.

Holley, Emmet O’Neal Library

everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too by Jomny Sun

everyone’s a aliebn when ur a aliebn too is the illustrated story of a lonely alien sent to observe Earth, only to meet all sorts of creatures with all sorts of perspectives on life, love, and happiness, all while learning to feel a little better about being an alien—based on the enormously popular Twitter account, @jonnysun.

Here is the unforgettable story of Jomny, a lonely alien who, for the first time ever, finds a home on our planet after learning that earthlings can feel lonely too. Jomny finds friendship in a bear tired of other creatures running away in fear, an egg struggling to decide what to hatch into, an owl working its way to being wise, a tree feeling stuck in one place, a tadpole coming to terms with turning into a frog, a dying ghost, a puppy unable to express itself, and many more.

Through this story of a lost, lonely and confused alien finding friendship, acceptance, and love among the creatures of Earth, we will all learn how to be a little more human. And for all of us earth-bound creatures here on this planet, we can all be reminded that sometimes, it takes an outsider to help us see ourselves for who we truly are.

Holley, Emmet O’Neal Library

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, illustrated by Fred Fordham

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird."

A haunting portrait of race and class, innocence and injustice, hypocrisy and heroism, tradition and transformation in the Deep South of the 1930s, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird remains as important today as it was upon its initial publication in 1960, during the turbulent years of the Civil Rights movement.

Now, this most beloved and acclaimed novel is reborn for a new age as a gorgeous graphic novel. Scout, Jem, Boo Radley, Atticus Finch, and the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, are all captured in vivid and moving illustrations by artist Fred Fordham.

Enduring in vision, Harper Lee’s timeless novel illuminates the complexities of human nature and the depths of the human heart with humor, unwavering honesty, and a tender, nostalgic beauty. Lifetime admirers and new readers alike will be touched by this special visual edition that joins the ranks of the graphic novel adaptations of A Wrinkle in Time and The Alchemist.

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

Poe: Stories and Poems by Edgar Allen Poe, illustrated by Gareth Hinds

In a thrilling adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s best-known works, acclaimed artist-adapter Gareth Hinds translates Poe's dark genius into graphic-novel format.

It is true that I am nervous. But why will you say that I am mad?

In “The Cask of Amontillado,” a man exacts revenge on a disloyal friend at carnival, luring him into catacombs below the city. In “The Masque of the Red Death,” a prince shielding himself from plague hosts a doomed party inside his abbey stronghold. A prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition, faced with a swinging blade and swarming rats, can’t see his tormentors in “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” a milky eye and a deafening heartbeat reveal the effects of conscience and creeping madness. Alongside these tales are visual interpretations of three poems — “The Raven,” “The Bells,” and Poe’s poignant elegy to lost love, “Annabel Lee.” The seven concise graphic narratives, keyed to thematic icons, amplify and honor the timeless legacy of a master of gothic horror.

Mary Anne, BPL Southern History

Retreat by Jaakko Pallasvuo (NOT AVAILABLE IN JCLC, CLICK HERE FOR WORLDCAT)

A gay couple flees the city from the impending apocalypse. They meet another artist on the way and their hopes and plans transform unpredictably.

Finnish multi-disciplinary artist Jaakko Pallasvuo's Retreat brings a postmodern knowingness to his take on the dystopian genre as he explores the clashing ideologies and emotions of a queer love triangle set at the twilight of the human race. An expressive, sardonic rendering of love, fear, and ennui in the face of oblivion, Retreat takes well-worn narrative tropes in refreshing new directions.

Samuel, BPL Springville Road

 

Little Stranger by Edie Fake (NOT AVAILABLE IN JCLC, CLICK HERE FOR WORLDCAT)

What’s silly, scary and sexy? Edie Fake’s comics forged an entire aesthetic of art and queer culture. Since his Ignatz Award winning Gaylord Phoenix, Fake’s comics have only appeared in underground anthologies and zines. At last, these rare comics can all be found under the covers of Little Stranger. You’ll never look at a turkey the same way again.
Samuel, BPL Springville Road

My Brother’s Husband: Vol 2 by Gengoroh Tagame and Anne Ishii (NOT AVAILABLE IN JCLC, CLICK HERE FOR WORLDCAT)

The concluding volume in the story of Yaichi, his daughter Kana, and how their meeting Mike Flanagan—Yaichi's brother-in-law—changes their lives and their perceptions of acceptance of homosexuality in their contemporary Japanese culture.

As Mike continues his journey of discovery concerning Ryoji's past, Yaichi gradually comes to understand that being gay is just another way of being human. And that, in many ways, remains a radical concept in Japan even today. In the meantime, the bond between Mike and young Kana grows ever stronger, and yet he is going to have to return to Canada soon—a fact that fills them both with impending heartbreak. But not before more than a few revelations come to light.

Samuel, BPL Springville Road

The Lie and How We Told It by Tommi Parrish

Parrish’s emotionally loaded, painted graphic novel is is a visual tour de force, always in the service of the author’s themes: navigating queer desire, masculinity, fear, and the ever-in-flux state of friendships.
Samuel, BPL Springville Road

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman, illustrated by Marvano

The legendary novel of extraterrestrial war in an uncaring universe comes to comics, in a stunningly realized vision of Joe Haldeman’s Vietnam War parable!

The visionary Hugo and Nebula Award-winning SF tale by Joe Haldeman is beautifully realized in full color by the legendary artist Marvano. An epic SF war story spanning relativistic space and time, The Forever War explores one soldier’s experience as he is caught up in the brutal machinery of a war against an unknown and unknowable alien foe that reaches across the stars.
Jon, Avondale

The Massive: Vol 4 by Brian Wood, illustrated by Garry Brown and Daniel Zezelj

Callum Israel and the crew of the Kapital face their greatest threat yet: Arkady, Israel's former colleague bent on revenge. When the Kapital is bombed in port, Callum and Mag head into the dangerous streets of post-Crash Europe to confront Arkady. But what they ultimately discover may lead them to their long lost ship The Massive!

Meanwhile, Mary reappears in the Sahara desert, guarding a convoy of fresh water, holding a secret that might unravel Callum for good.

The Massive begins its most powerful chapter yet as Brian Wood, Garry Brown, and Daniel Zezelj unravel the ongoing mystery of Mary and set the stage for the final act, when the cause of the Crash is revealed.
Jon, Avondale

The Ballad of Halo Jones by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson

Comic legend Alan Moore’s highly-influential classic of British comics, presented to a new generation coloured and remastered for the very first time.

“Where did she go? Out. What did she do? Everything…”

Bored and frustrated with her life in 50th-century leisure-ghetto housing estate ‘The Hoop’, 18-year-old everywoman Halo Jones yearns for the infinite sights and sounds of the universe. Pledging to escape on a fantastic voyage, she sets in motion events unimaginable; a spell on a luxury space-liner, a brush with an interstellar war – Halo Jones faces hardship and adventure in the name of freedom in the limitless cosmos.

A galaxy-spanning story, comics’ first bona fide feminist space opera, and the first true epic to grace the bibliography of arguably the greatest comic book writer the world has ever known.
Jon, Avondale

47 Ronin by Mike Richardson, illustrated by Stan Sakai

Japan's enduring national legend comes to comics! The tale of the 47 Ronin and their epic mission to avenge their wronged master epitomizes the samurai code of honor, and creators Mike Richardson and Stan Sakai have done justice to their story! Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, this collection of the acclaimed miniseries recounts this sweeping saga of honor and violence in all its grandeur. Opening with the tragic incident that sealed the fate of Lord Asano, 47 Ronin follows a dedicated group of Asano's vassals on their years-long path of vengeance!
Jon, Avondale

Indeh: A Story of the Apache Wars by Ethan Hawke, illustrated by Greg Ruth

The year is 1872. The place, the Apache nations, a region torn apart by decades of war. The people, like Goyahkla, lose his family and everything he loves. After having a vision, the young Goyahkla approaches the Apache leader Cochise, and the entire Apache nation, to lead an attack against the Mexican village of Azripe. It is this wild display of courage that transforms the young brave Goyakhla into the Native American hero Geronimo. But the war wages on. As they battle their enemies, lose loved ones, and desperately cling on to their land and culture, they would utter, "Indeh," or "the dead." When it looks like lasting peace has been reached, it seems like the war is over. Or is it?

INDEH captures the deeply rich narrative of two nations at war-as told through the eyes of Naiches and Geronimo-who then try to find peace and forgiveness. INDEH not only paints a picture of some of the most magnificent characters in the history of our country, but it also reveals the spiritual and emotional cost of the Apache Wars. Based on exhaustive research, INDEH offers a remarkable glimpse into the raw themes of cultural differences, the horrors of war, the search for peace, and, ultimately, retribution. The Apache left an indelible mark on our perceptions about the American West, and INDEH shows us why.

Jon, Avondale

MFK by Nilah Magruder

A fantastic adventure following the story of Abbie, a deaf girl with a mysterious power, who is traveling across a vast desert to scatter her mother’s ashes.

In a world of sleeping gods, a broken government, and a fragile peace held in the hands of the corrupt, one youth must find the strength to stand up against evil and save humanity.

This story is not about that youth.

It’s about Abbie, who just wants to get to the mountain range called the Potter’s Spine, scatter her mother’s ashes, and then live out her life in sweet, blissful solitude. Unfortunately, everyone she meets wants to whine at her about their woes, tag along on her quest, arrest her for no reason, or blow her to bits. Journeys are hard on the social recluses of the world.
Michelle, Irondale

Disney Masters Vol 1: Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse: The Delta Dimensions by Romano Scarpa

When Mickey’s town is hit by a blizzard of strange glowing snow, everyone thinks it’s a publicity stunt. But genius Dr. Einmug knows better: Pegleg Pete is on the loose with Einmug’s weather-control secrets! Only Mickey and Einmug’s mysterious companion ― the odd little Atomo Bleep-Bleep ― can save the day before a poison rainstorm wipes Mouseton off the map! Romano Scarpa (1927–2005) took over for Floyd Gottfreson and spun out decades’ worth of new Mickey action epics ― most of which have never been available in English! This volume also reunites Mickey, Atomo, and Pete for Scarpa’s “The Bleep-Bleep 15" and “The Fabulous Kingdom of Shan-Grilla," two internationally famous tales making their North American debut!
Michelle, Irondale

About Betty’s Boob by Vero Cazot, illustrated by Julie Rocheleau

She lost her left breast, her job, and her guy. She does not know it yet, but this is the best day of her life.

An inspiring and surprisingly comedic tale of loss and acceptance told largely through silent sequential narrative, About Betty’s Boob is seminal work from master storytellers Véro Cazot and Julie Rocheleau.
Liz, Pinson

On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

“Tillie Walden is the future of comics, and On a Sunbeam is her best work yet. It’s a ‘space’ story unlike any you’ve ever read, with a rich, lived-in universe of complex characters.” ―Brian K. Vaughan, Saga and Paper Girls

Two timelines. Second chances. One love.

A ragtag crew travels to the deepest reaches of space, rebuilding beautiful, broken structures to piece the past together. Two girls meet in boarding school and fall deeply in love―only to learn the pain of loss. With interwoven timelines and stunning art, award-winning graphic novelist Tillie Walden creates an inventive world, breathtaking romance, and an epic quest for love.

A Publisher's Weekly Best Book of 2018
One of The Washington Post's "10 Best Graphic Novels of 2018"
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2018
Liz, Pinson

Assassination Classroom by Yusei Matsui

The students in Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Junior High have a new teacher: an alien octopus with bizarre powers and unlimited strength, who’s just destroyed the moon and is threatening to destroy the earth—unless they can kill him first!

Meet the would-be assassins of class 3-E: Sugino, who let his grades slip and got kicked off the baseball team. Karma, who's doing well in his classes but keeps getting suspended for fighting. And Okuda, who lacks both academic and social skills, yet excels at one subject: chemistry. Who has the best chance of winning that reward? Will the deed be accomplished through pity, brute force or poison...? And what chance does their teacher have of repairing his students' tattered self-esteem?
Maura, Trussville

Why Art? By Eleanor Davis

What is “Art”? It’s widely accepted that art serves an important function in society. But the concept falls under such an absurdly large umbrella and can manifest in so many different ways. Art can be self-indulgent, goofy, serious, altruistic, evil, or expressive, or any number of other things. But how can it truly make lasting, positive change? In Why Art?, acclaimed graphic novelist Eleanor Davis (How To Be Happy) unpacks some of these concepts in ways both critical and positive, in an attempt to illuminate the highest possible potential an artwork might hope to achieve. A work of art unto itself, Davis leavens her exploration with a sense of humor and a thirst for challenging preconceptions of art worth of Magritte, instantly drawing the reader in as a willing accomplice in her quest.
Maura, Trussville

GENERAL DISCUSSION

Ursula Vernon

“Vernon is the right thing to read in times of woe, in times of joy, and when you are considering planting an invasive nonnative and know you probably need a stern talking to.” ~Elizabeth Bear

Ursula Vernon is an award-winning author, illustrator, and creator of oddities, also blogging, podcasting, gardening, and bug photos.

xkcd

A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

Who are you?

I'm just this guy, you know? I'm a CNU graduate with a degree in physics. Before starting xkcd, I worked on robots at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia. As of June 2007 I live in Massachusetts. In my spare time I climb things, open strange doors, and go to goth clubs dressed as a frat guy so I can stand around and look terribly uncomfortable. At frat parties I do the same thing, but the other way around.

Krazy: George Herriman, a Life in Black and White by Michael Tisserand

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2017

WINNER OF THE EISNER AWARD FOR BEST COMICS-RELATED BOOK

FINALIST FOR THE NBCC AWARD IN BIOGRAPHY

FINALIST FOR THE PEN/JACQUELINE BOGRAD WELD AWARD FOR BIOGRAPHY

In the tradition of Schulz and Peanuts, an epic and revelatory biography of Krazy Kat creator George Herriman that explores the turbulent time and place from which he emerged—and the deep secret he explored through his art.

The creator of the greatest comic strip in history finally gets his due—in an eye-opening biography that lays bare the truth about his art, his heritage, and his life on America’s color line. A native of nineteenth-century New Orleans, George Herriman came of age as an illustrator, journalist, and cartoonist in the boomtown of Los Angeles and the wild metropolis of New York. Appearing in the biggest newspapers of the early twentieth century—including those owned by William Randolph Hearst—Herriman’s Krazy Kat cartoons quickly propelled him to fame. Although fitfully popular with readers of the period, his work has been widely credited with elevating cartoons from daily amusements to anarchic art.

Herriman used his work to explore the human condition, creating a modernist fantasia that was inspired by the landscapes he discovered in his travels—from chaotic urban life to the Beckett-like desert vistas of the Southwest. Yet underlying his own life—and often emerging from the contours of his very public art—was a very private secret: known as "the Greek" for his swarthy complexion and curly hair, Herriman was actually African American, born to a prominent Creole family that hid its racial identity in the dangerous days of Reconstruction.

Drawing on exhaustive original research into Herriman’s family history, interviews with surviving friends and family, and deep analysis of the artist’s work and surviving written records, Michael Tisserand brings this little-understood figure to vivid life, paying homage to a visionary artist who helped shape modern culture.