The September book flood begins, with all of the new books I’ve wanted to add to the library collection since June finally making it to the New Books shelves!
Here’s a look at some of the new nonfiction titles we’ve added to the collection in The Arts and History. Follow the links for more information, including reviews, availability and previews:
The Arts
The Artist’s Compass: The Complete Guide To Building A Life And A Living In The Performing Arts by Rachel S. Moore — An inspiring, real world guide for artists that shows how to build a successful, stable career in the performing arts, from the President and CEO of the Los Angeles Music Center who has carved her own success through her creative talent and business skill. “Moore is qualified to become a mentor to a whole new generation of artists, and they will benefit greatly from her advice” (Publishers Weekly).
The Caped Crusade: Batman And The Rise Of Nerd Culture by Glen Weldon — A witty, intelligent cultural history from NPR book critic Glen Weldon explains Batman’s rises and falls throughout the ages — and what his story tells us about ourselves. “Weldon has crafted that rare jewel: a book of comics analysis that nerds and ‘normals’ alike can enjoy” (Publishers Weekly).
History
The American Revolution: A Visual History by James C. Bradford et al — Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, this complete overview of the war brings all the action to life, from the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party to the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris. “A good source for reference collections in need of more treatments of the subject” (School Library Journal).
Cleopatra by Don Nardo — Cleopatra VII, a Greek woman who became Egypt’s last pharaoh, was arguably the most famous woman of ancient times. “This useful resource has a wealth of information and will be fascinating reading for students interested in this ‘most queenly queen’” (School Library Journal).
Escape To Virginia: From Nazi Germany To Thalhimer’s Farm by Robert H. Gillette – Discover the remarkable true story of two young German Jews who endured the emotional torture of their adolescence in 1930s Nazi Germany, journeyed to freedom and ultimately confronted the evil that could not destroy their spirit. “An engrossing and informative study of a less familiar corner of a much-covered period. Ample source notes make this a solid choice for student research” (Booklist).
The Lightless Sky: A Twelve-Year-Old Refugee’s Harrowing Escape From Afghanistan And His Extraordinary Journey Across Half The World by Gulwali Passarlay with Nadene Ghouri — A gripping, inspiring, and eye-opening memoir of fortitude and survival–of a twelve-year-old boy’s traumatic flight from Afghanistan to the West–that puts a face to one of the most shocking and devastating humanitarian crises of our time. “The heartbreaking personal drama stays with you, and so do the statistics: today more than half the world’s refugees are children” (Booklist).
March, Book Three, written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, with art by Nate Powell – In the stunning conclusion of the award-winning and best-selling March trilogy, Congressman John Lewis , an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, joins co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell to bring the lessons of history to vivid life for a new generation, urgently relevant for today’s world. “This is superb visual storytelling that establishes a convincing, definitive record of a key eyewitness to significant social change” (School Library Journal).
The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal, And The Hunt For America’s First Serial Killer by Skip Hollandsworth — A sweeping narrative history of a terrifying serial killer — America’s first — who stalked Austin, Texas in 1885. With vivid historical detail and novelistic flair, Texas Monthly journalist Skip Hollandsworth brings this terrifying saga to life. “This work introduces students to a grisly piece of American history and models footnote and bibliographic research. A must-have” (School Library Journal).
A Million Years In A Day: A Curious History Of Everyday Life From The Stone Age To The Phone Age by Greg Jenner — Structured around one ordinary day, A Million Years in a Day reveals the astonishing origins and development of the daily practices we take for granted. In this gloriously entertaining romp through human history, Greg Jenner explores the gradual–and often unexpected–evolution of our daily routines. “An amusing examination of what we humans do with ourselves all day” (Publishers Weekly).
Paper: Paging Through History by Mark Kurlansky — By tracing paper’s evolution from antiquity to the present, with an emphasis on the contributions made in Asia and the Middle East, Mark Kurlansky challenges common assumptions about technology’s influence, affirming that paper is here to stay. “A fluidly narrative…Kurlansky’s work makes brilliant use of paper as a key to civilization” (Booklist starred review).
Rise Of The Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles To The Moon To Mars by Nathalia Holt — In the 1940s and 50s, when the newly minted Jet Propulsion Laboratory needed quick-thinking mathematicians to calculate velocities and plot trajectories, they didn’t turn to male graduates. Rather, they recruited an elite group of young women who, with only pencil, paper, and mathematical prowess, transformed rocket design, helped bring about the first American satellites, and made the exploration of the solar system possible. “An engaging, inspiring offering that will appeal to fans of history, science, and feminism” (School Library Journal).
United States Encyclopedia: America’s People, Places, and Events, by the editors of National Geographic – A comprehensive, authoritative, and lively United States Encyclopedia. With a team of experts and talented writers, this book is a great reference resource for young readers, and an indespensible tool for home and school. “Every inch of this book is expertly executed. A first purchase” (School Library Journal).
The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission To Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb — Based on a trove of top secret documents and never-before-seen diaries and letters of the saboteurs, this is the chronicle of a brilliant scientist, a band of spies on skies, perilous survival in the wild, sacrifice for one’s country, Gestapo manhunts, soul-crushing setbacks, and a last-minute operation that would end any chance Hitler could obtain the atomic bomb–and alter the course of the war. “Parts of the book read like an adventure novel, others like straightforward history, but the combination will appeal to readers of both WWII fiction and nonfiction” (Booklist starred review).
Sabotage: The Mission To Destroy Hitler’s Atomic Bomb by Neal Bascomb – “The author of Nazi Hunters tackles another part of WWII in this crackerjack young reader’s adaptation of his latest nonfiction work for adults, The Winter Fortress. Bascomb’s clear-eyed account of the thrilling mission [to stop Nazi Germany’s atomic research] and its many challenges, cast against the backdrop of WWII and helped along by photos, maps, and diagrams will handily engage teens” (Booklist).