Powerful Days: Civil Rights Photography of Charles Moore, by Charles Moore

Powerful Days: Civil Rights Photography of Charles Moore, by Charles Moore, 208 pages

Charles Moore can be remembered for some of the most stirring photographs of the civil rights movement (I'll leave the google image-searching to you).  Each section in this book explains what was going on in the time period that each group of photos represents.  From police dogs attacking protestors, to the funeral procession at Medgar Evers' funeral, the photographs largely speak for themselves.  I thought this was a good reminder of how close such a massive injustice sits in our country's past.

Agent Gates and the Secret Adventures of Devonton Abbey: a Parady of Downton Abbey, by Camaren Subhiyah, Kyle Hilton

Agent Gates and the Secret Adventures of Devonton Abbey: a Parady of Downton Abbey, by  Camaren Subhiyah and Kyle Hilton, 128 pages

Okay, this is not the greatest book on its own, but if you love Downton Abbey (check) and are a fan of graphic novels (check check), then you have to read this.  It is spot on as a parody of the PBS hit- right down to the characters sporting likenesses to the actors.  In this take, Agent Gates is a secret operative with a bionic leg, working for British SIS, deep undercover as a valet for the lord of Devonton Abbey.  He is out to prevent war, while another secret operative named Thompson (aka Thomas) is working in conjunction with the Black Hand to start a world war.  If you love the show too much, you may be offended by some of the characterizations, but if you have a sense of humor and like the show, there are some nice frames to tide us over until the next season of the "real thing."

The Zabime Sisters, by Aristophane

The Zabime Sisters, by Aristophane, 96 pages

This was a pretty simple read- the Zabime sisters are three young girls growing up in Guadaloupe, an island in the Caribbean.  They spend their summer days like many sisters- trying to stay out of the house so they don't get assigned chores, having adventures with friends that appear tame in retrospect but seemed epic at the time, and enjoying childhood.  It was sweet in its innocence, without being cheesy.

a+e 4ever, by ilike merey

a+e 4ever, by ilike merey, 214 pages

This book was on a whole lot of lists- Stonewall Book Awards, must-read LGBT graphic novels, etc.  The story is about Ash, a boy with an androgynous appearance, and Eulalie, the masculine girl who befriends him in high school.  This might resonate with teens, while it might feel a little angst-y for older adults.  The book revolves around the themes of sexuality, heteronormativity, being a teenager, and rock and roll.

"Private Eye Protector" by Shirlee McCoy

"Private Eye Protector" by Shirlee McCoy - 360 pages

After and accident, Rayne Sampson loses her recent memory.  She remembers everything up to moving Spokane from Phoenix to work, but nothing after and certainly nothing about the accident that cost her her memory.  Thankfully, her baby girl is front and center in her mind, but so is the terrifying image of a dangerous man.  Someone is after her.  Private investigator Chance Richardson assures her that she is safe, But when Rayne and her daughter are threated, Chance vows to catch the stalker.  Even thought they each vow to guard their hearts and avoid a relationship, God's plan has a way of setting it's own course.

The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks - 207 pages

At thirty-one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier. At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, 338 pages
(Book one of series)
The book is as disjointed as the writing, yet still appealing to the reader. Juliette grew up never knowing the loving touch of another human. No one can touch her skin and live. Her parents have abandoned her to the __ABUSIVE__ insane asylum where she has been for years without human contact. Too keep herself sane, she keeps a journal. Written in first person, the writing includes a lot of crossed out sentences, repetitive words and nonsense - pretty much what you would expect from someone who has been locked up for years and is trying to remain sane. When the government takes an unnatural interest in her, it's all she can do to keep it together and get out alive. Throw in a bit of romance, suspense, drama and special powers, and you have this book in a nutshell.