Sponsored by Crimson Lake Road by Victor Methos.
Sometimes death imitates art. When a killer inspired by a series of grisly paintings terrorizes a rural community outside of Las Vegas, retiring prosecutor Jessica Yardley is the only one who can catch him. But in order to track him down, she’ll need to turn to her ex-husband… a serial killer, who’s now on death row. By the time Jessica realizes that pursuing this case is a deadly mistake, it’s too late to turn back. Can she catch the killer, or will she become his next masterpiece?
Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!
It’s the last week of Black History Month and the perfect time to share another must-read children’s book that will delight readers of all ages. Well, I have found a book that is both beautiful and informative.
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Featuring 40 trailblazing Black women in American history, Little Leaders shares their stories of breaking boundaries and achieving despite adversity. Along with adorable illustrations, both iconic and lesser-known figures in Black History from abolitionist Sojourner Truth to filmmaker Julie Dash, are immortalized for their bold actions and contributions. Although the leaders in this book are little, their big actions are sure to inspire future generations.
Even though Harrison highlighted 40 amazing Black women, she ended the book with a few honorable mentions of several trailblazing Black American women including Madam C.J. Walker, the first woman in America to become a self-made millionaire, Dorothy Height who played a pivotal (yet often overlooked) role in the Civil Rights Movement, and the Willams sisters who transformed modern day tennis.
Little Leaders has plenty of familiar faces like Harriet Tubman, Ella Fitzgerald, Oprah, and Octavia Butler. What I enjoyed most (besides the heart-warming illustrations) was being able to learn more about some familiar faces as well as discovering trailblazers from all facets of American culture, like Rebecca Crumpler who was the first Black American woman to become a physician or Alice Ball who developed the most effective treatment of leprosy in the 20th century. You may know Misty Copeland, but do you know Raven Wilkinson? She was the first Black woman to be a full-time dancer in a major classical ballet company. Wilkinson even danced until the age of 50, which is almost unheard of in the world of dance!
Reading this book delighted the little Black girl in me. It’s a book I wished was available when I was a kid. I can’t imagine the bigger dreams I could have dreamed after reading about these women who looked like me. Little Leaders is essential reading for young Black girls. It will show them anything is possible for them. It is also essential reading for everyone else. It is time for all of these women to become household names.
Until next time bookish friends,
Katisha
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