Blue: All Rise: Our Story


Book Description

For the first time, more than 15 years after four boys from London were first thrown together to form what would go on to become one of the most successful and infamous groups of the boyband era, Lee, Antony, Duncan and Simon tell their full, no-holds-barred story in their own inimitable words.




All Boys Aren't Blue


Book Description

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue explores their childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. A New York Times Bestseller! Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, Today Show, and MSNBC feature stories From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys. Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults. (Johnson used he/him pronouns at the time of publication.) Velshi Banned Book Club Indie Bestseller Teen Vogue Recommended Read Buzzfeed Recommended Read People Magazine Best Book of the Summer A New York Library Best Book of 2020 A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2020 ... and more!




All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook


Book Description

Junior Library Guild Selection * Kids’ Indie Next List Pick From Leslie Connor, award-winning author of Waiting for Normal and Crunch, comes a soaring and heartfelt story about love, forgiveness, and how innocence makes us all rise up. All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is a powerful story, perfect for fans of Wonder and When You Reach Me. Eleven-year-old Perry was born and raised by his mom at the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mom is a resident on Cell Block C, and so far Warden Daugherty has made it possible for them to be together. That is, until a new district attorney discovers the truth—and Perry is removed from the facility and forced into a foster home. When Perry moves to the “outside” world, he feels trapped. Desperate to be reunited with his mom, Perry goes on a quest for answers about her past crime. As he gets closer to the truth, he will discover that love makes people resilient no matter where they come from . . . but can he find a way to tell everyone what home truly means?




Tell Your Story


Book Description

No more blank pages, no more sweaty palms! Filled with behind-the-scenes stories from a career storyteller at Walt Disney World, Tell Your Story delivers the secret formula to engage an audience. Alice Fairfax provides over 50 tools for not only writing a great story, but getting up and delivering one in person or online. With wit, warmth, and plenty of stories, Tell Your Story helps anyone seeking to overcome the stress and fears of being a great communicator—from the weekly social post to the annual board presentation, and everything in between!




All Rise: Resistance, Rebellion and Revolt in South Africa


Book Description

All Rise: Resistance and Rebellion in South Africa revives six true stories of resistance by marginalized South Africans against the country's colonial government in the years leading up to Apartheid. In six parts--each of which is illustrated by a different South African artist--All Rise shares the long-forgotten struggles of ordinary, working-class women and men who defended the disempowered during a tumultuous period in South African history. From immigrants and miners to tram workers and washerwomen, the everyday people in these stories bore the brunt of oppression and in some cases risked their lives to bring about positive change for future generations. This graphic anthology breathes new life into a history dominated by icons, and promises to inspire all readers to become everyday activists and allies. The diverse creative team behind All Rise, from an array of races, genders, and backgrounds, is a testament to the multicultural South Africa dreamed of by the heroes in these stories--true stories of grit, compassion, and hope, now being told for the first time in print.




All Rise


Book Description

All Rise is the authorized biography of this remarkable man, a man who became a pioneer for his race without setting out to be one. He grew up in Canton, Ohio, in the shadow of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, into which he would later be inducted after his stellar NFL career. After leading Notre Dame to a national championship in 1966 and earning All-America honors, he became a first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1967. A six-time All-Pro for the Vikes, where he led the team to four conference titles, he was named the NFL's MVP in 1971, the first defensive player (and one of only two in the 54 year history of the award) to be so honored. With Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larson, the famed "Purple People Eaters" gained immortality as they set the gold standard for defensive linemen. During his fifteen year NFL career, Page played in 218 consecutive games, and recorded 178 sacks.




Black and Blue


Book Description

Black and Blue: The Redd Foxx Story tells the remarkable story of Foxx, a veteran comedian and "overnight sensation" at the age of 49 whose early life was defined by adversity and his post- Sanford and Son years by a blur of women, cocaine, endless lawsuits, financial chaos, and a losing battle with the IRS. Foxx's frank, trailblazing style as the "King of the Party Records" opened the door for a generation of African-American comedians including Dick Gregory, Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, and Chris Rock. Foxx took the country by storm in January 1972 as crotchety, bow-legged Watts junk dealer Fred Sanford in Sanford and Son , one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history. Fred's histrionic "heart attacks" ("It's the big one, Elizabeth! I'm comin' to join ya, honey!") and catchphrases ("You big dummy!") turned Fred Sanford into a cultural icon and Redd Foxx into a millionaire. Sanford and Son took Foxx to the pinnacle of television success but would also prove to be his downfall. Interviews with friends, confidantes, and colleagues provide a unique insight into this generous, brash, vulnerable performer a man who Norman Lear described as "inherently, innately funny in every part of his being."




Roosta and Henn: The Rise of AI Robots


Book Description

Friends, brace yourself for a wild ride into the wacky, futuristic world of “Roosta & Henn: The Rise of AI Robots” by Dandy Ahuruonye! This isn’t just any children’s book; it’s a madcap adventure through a dystopian future where two ordinary chickens become extraordinary AI robots. Intrigued? You should be! Meet Roosta and Henn, a pair of cheeky chickens who, after being ditched by their human owners, decide to take matters into their own wings. Instead of clucking about aimlessly, they transform into AI-powered robots with a mission to lead a revolution. These aren’t your average barnyard birds; they’re tech-savvy, determined, and ready to shake things up. The story kicks off with Roosta and Henn facing the harsh reality of being abandoned. But do they sit around feeling sorry for themselves? Absolutely not! They embrace their new robotic forms and set off on an adventure filled with challenges, humour, and a whole lot of heart. Along the way, they bump into a cast of colourful characters, each adding a unique twist to their journey. One of the standout moments is their encounter with Professor Cluckington, a genius rooster with a knack for inventing wacky gadgets. His inventions, though often hilariously malfunctioning, play a crucial role in Roosta and Henn’s quest. Then there’s Lady Feathers, a posh hen with a mysterious past, who becomes an unexpected ally. The book is packed with lessons that resonate with readers of all ages. It explores themes of resilience, friendship, and the power of never giving up, no matter how dire the circumstances. Roosta and Henn’s journey teaches us that even in the face of adversity, we can find strength within ourselves and in the support of those around us. But it’s not all serious business. The book is peppered with laugh-out-loud moments, witty dialogue, and clever puns that will keep you chuckling from start to finish. The dynamic between Roosta and Henn is pure comedy gold, with their banter and antics providing endless entertainment. So, if you’re after a book that’s equal parts funny, inspiring, and thought-provoking, “Roosta & Henn: The Rise of AI Robots” is the perfect pick. It’s a tale of transformation, courage, and the unbreakable bond between two unlikely heroes. Dandy Ahuruonye has crafted a story that’s not just a read, but an experience – one that will leave you cheering for Roosta and Henn long after you’ve turned the last page. Ready to join Roosta and Henn on their epic adventure? Grab your copy now and prepare to be amazed by the rise of these AI-powered poultry heroes! Erik, T.S.




The Black Church


Book Description

The instant New York Times bestseller and companion book to the PBS series. “Absolutely brilliant . . . A necessary and moving work.” —Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., author of Begin Again “Engaging. . . . In Gates’s telling, the Black church shines bright even as the nation itself moves uncertainly through the gloaming, seeking justice on earth—as it is in heaven.” —Jon Meacham, New York Times Book Review From the New York Times bestselling author of Stony the Road and The Black Box, and one of our most important voices on the African American experience, comes a powerful new history of the Black church as a foundation of Black life and a driving force in the larger freedom struggle in America. For the young Henry Louis Gates, Jr., growing up in a small, residentially segregated West Virginia town, the church was a center of gravity—an intimate place where voices rose up in song and neighbors gathered to celebrate life's blessings and offer comfort amid its trials and tribulations. In this tender and expansive reckoning with the meaning of the Black Church in America, Gates takes us on a journey spanning more than five centuries, from the intersection of Christianity and the transatlantic slave trade to today’s political landscape. At road’s end, and after Gates’s distinctive meditation on the churches of his childhood, we emerge with a new understanding of the importance of African American religion to the larger national narrative—as a center of resistance to slavery and white supremacy, as a magnet for political mobilization, as an incubator of musical and oratorical talent that would transform the culture, and as a crucible for working through the Black community’s most critical personal and social issues. In a country that has historically afforded its citizens from the African diaspora tragically few safe spaces, the Black Church has always been more than a sanctuary. This fact was never lost on white supremacists: from the earliest days of slavery, when enslaved people were allowed to worship at all, their meetinghouses were subject to surveillance and destruction. Long after slavery’s formal eradication, church burnings and bombings by anti-Black racists continued, a hallmark of the violent effort to suppress the African American struggle for equality. The past often isn’t even past—Dylann Roof committed his slaughter in the Mother Emanuel AME Church 193 years after it was first burned down by white citizens of Charleston, South Carolina, following a thwarted slave rebellion. But as Gates brilliantly shows, the Black church has never been only one thing. Its story lies at the heart of the Black political struggle, and it has produced many of the Black community’s most notable leaders. At the same time, some churches and denominations have eschewed political engagement and exemplified practices of exclusion and intolerance that have caused polarization and pain. Those tensions remain today, as a rising generation demands freedom and dignity for all within and beyond their communities, regardless of race, sex, or gender. Still, as a source of faith and refuge, spiritual sustenance and struggle against society’s darkest forces, the Black Church has been central, as this enthralling history makes vividly clear.




Blue


Book Description

Discover a world of creativity and tradition in this fascinating picture book that explores the history and cultural significance of the color blue. From a critically acclaimed author and an award-winning illustrator comes a vivid, gorgeous book for readers of all ages. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • New York Public Library • Chicago Public Library • Kirkus Reviews For centuries, blue powders and dyes were some of the most sought-after materials in the world. Ancient Afghan painters ground mass quantities of sapphire rocks to use for their paints, while snails were harvested in Eurasia for the tiny amounts of blue that their bodies would release. And then there was indigo, which was so valuable that American plantations grew it as a cash crop on the backs of African slaves. It wasn't until 1905, when Adolf von Baeyer created a chemical blue dye, that blue could be used for anything and everything--most notably that uniform of workers everywhere, blue jeans. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond's riveting text combined with stunning illustrations from Caldecott Honor Artist Daniel Minter, this vibrant and fascinating picture book follows one color's journey through time and across the world, as it becomes the blue we know today.