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Disability Visibility

Invisible Illness

Non-Fiction and Fiction focused on disability and mental illness

The books below cover the subject of disability and mental illness. There is a mixture of non-fiction and fiction in the list, and it attempts to give a wide range of perspectives on topics that are often misunderstood and underrepresented in mainstream media and politics. Here, those readers looking for materials that reflect a mental disorder can find representation via these recommended titles.

Men of Change

Men of Change: Power, Triumph, Truth

A Book, Film and Music Playlist

Hosted by the Smithsonian Institution's Anacostia Community Museum, "Men of Change" is a traveling exhibition that features portraits of African American men who have altered the history and culture of this country.

The Pinks cover image

Crime and Punishment

Do you enjoy true crime books, police procedurals, or forensic mystery novels? Then these riveting histories that explore criminal investigation, sensational trials, and the use of forensics might be for you.

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Boston in Books

Boston. Beantown. Home of America's oldest university, park and subway system. But what is it like to live in such a fabled and esteemed city? The titles on this bibliography explore that question. Six novels and one memoir tell tales of racial and economic inequality that are as American as apple pie. (Please note all titles are linked to their physical copies; nearly all are also available as library ebooks via OverDrive and its app Libby.)

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Berlin Stories

The German capital's dramatic history and role as a center for artists and intellectuals have long captivated the imagination. This list includes novels and works of non-fiction, all of which examine the city through important periods in its history. Spy stories, tales from the Weimar Republic, and portraits of survival during WWII are found below. Visit DC Public Library's catalog for more. 

A Peoples History

Banned Books

Banned Books Week is observed at the end of September each year, celebrating our ability to freely and openly access information! Here's a list of books that have either been challenged and/or banned due to content. Though challenged, these titles offer diverse ideas and perspectives.

Neverwhere

In their Own Voice

Audiobooks narrated by their authors

When books are recorded as audiobooks, a voice actor is usually hired to bring it to life. Sometimes, though, the best person to narrate an audiobook is the author themselves. Most often this happens with memoirs but it can also happen in other genres as well. Here are some audiobooks across multiple genres narrated with particular skill by their authors.

Around American to Win the Vote

Celebrating Female Suffrage

Books for Kids and Tweens

August 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the Constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote nationally. To celebrate, the entire year will be full of chances to learn about the 19th Amendment and to teach about and celebrate the women known as suffragettes, who fought for the 19th Amendment and for their ability to engage in the political process. 

Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube

Strong Appeal

Books I Put on Recent Recommendation Lists for Both my Mom and Sister

I like to think there are many perks to having a librarian in the family. My arts and crafts skills are impeccable, I can organize like nobody’s business, and, provided I know you well, I can produce book recommendations at the drop of a hat. That is why, for the last few years, I have gotten into the habit of creating recommended reading lists for my immediate family members for birthdays and other holidays. With Mother’s Day having recently passed, and my sister’s birthday coming up soon, I thought I’d share some of the books I recently recommended to both of them.

Bad-Ass Librarians Timbuktu

Books About Books in Troubled Times

While finding time to read can feel like a luxury, books have often been vital and necessary for surviving and sustaining through difficult times. Many people have also found many books and collections important enough to risk their own lives in order to protect them. The following books dive into the role books, manuscripts and libraries have played in times of war, crisis and change.  

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