GoodReads Choice Awards 2023 Winners

December 28, 2023December 21, 2023 - Stephanie Leave a comment

Goodreads has announced their 15th Annual Choice Awards winners for 2023. Even though there is controversy regarding category removals, we still want to highlight the winners as they are decided by readers! Below you will find the results of these annual awards from 15 different categories with 300 nominated books. The chosen categories are fiction, historical fiction, mystery & thriller, romance, romantasy, fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult fantasy, young adult fiction, debut novel, nonfiction, memoir & autobiography, history & autobiography, and humor.

At the time of this writing, all of these titles are owned by the Davenport Public Library. The descriptions are provided by the publishers.

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Fiction: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves. – HarperCollins

This title is also available as a Libby eBook, Libby eAudiobook, and large print.

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Historical Fiction: Weyward by Emilia Hart

I am a Weyward, and wild inside.

2019: Under cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great-aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented Kate. But she suspects that her great-aunt had a secret. One that lurks in the bones of the cottage, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

1619: Altha is awaiting trial for the murder of a local farmer who was stampeded to death by his herd. When Altha was a girl, her mother taught her their magic, a kind not rooted in spell casting but in a deep knowledge of the natural world. But unusual women have always been deemed dangerous, and as the evidence of witchcraft is laid out against Altha, she knows it will take all her powers to maintain her freedom.

1942: As World War II rages, Violet is trapped in her family’s grand, crumbling estate. Straitjacketed by societal convention, she longs for the robust education her brother receives––and for her mother, long deceased, who was rumored to have gone mad before her death. The only traces Violet has of her are a locket bearing the initial W and the word weyward scratched into the baseboard of her bedroom.

Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart’s Weyward is an astonishing debut, and an enthralling novel of female resilience. – Macmillan Publishers

This title is also available as a Libby ebook, Libby eAudiobook, and large print.

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Mystery & Thriller: The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden

“Don’t go in the guest bedroom.” A shadow falls on Douglas Garrick’s face as he touches the door with his fingertips. “My wife… she’s very ill.” As he continues showing me their incredible penthouse apartment, I have a terrible feeling about the woman behind closed doors. But I can’t risk losing this job—not if I want to keep my darkest secret safe…

It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want.

It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything…

That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe.

Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go… – Bookouture

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Romance: Happy Place by Emily Henry

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.

They broke up five months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.

Which is how they find themselves sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blissful week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.

Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week…in front of those who know you best? – Penguin Random House

This title is also available as a Libby eBook, large print, CD audiobook, Libby eAudiobook, and Playaway audiobook.

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Romantasy: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die. – Entangled Publishing

This title is also available as a Libby eBook, Libby eAudiobook, and Playaway audiobook.

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Fantasy: Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory—even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies’ most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters. – Macmillan Publishers

This title is also available as a Libby eBook, Libby eAudiobook, and in large print.

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Science Fiction: In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

Inspired by Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, and like Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-E, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful stand-alone fantasy adventure from the beloved author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. – Macmillan Publishers

This title is also available as Libby eBook and Libby eAudiobook.

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Horror: Holly by Stephen King

Stephen King’s Holly marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney. Readers have witnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy (but also brave and ethical) recluse in Mr. Mercedes to Bill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detective in The Outsider. In King’s new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved and brilliantly disguised adversaries.

When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid. Her (very complicated) mother has just died. And Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossible for Holly to turn her down.

Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney and Emily Harris. They are the picture of bourgeois respectability: married octogenarians, devoted to each other, and semi-retired lifelong academics. But they are harboring an unholy secret in the basement of their well-kept, book-lined home, one that may be related to Bonnie’s disappearance. And it will prove nearly impossible to discover what they are up to: they are savvy, they are patient, and they are ruthless.

Holly must summon all her formidable talents to outthink and outmaneuver the shockingly twisted professors in this chilling new masterwork from Stephen King. – Simon & Schuster

This title is also available as a Libby eBook, Libby eAudiobook, large print, CD audiobook, and Playaway audiobook.

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Young Adult Fantasy: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Shadow and Bone meets Lore in Rebecca Ross’s Divine Rivals, an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love. – Macmillan Publishers

This title is also available as Libby eBook and Libby eAudiobook.

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Young Adult Fiction: Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “Kingkiller” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess.

Nolan’s loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist….

As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent…and infuriating…) – Penguin Random House

This title is also available as Libby eBook and Libby eAudiobook.

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Debut Novel: Weyward by Emilia Hart

See above!

This title also won the Historical Fiction category for 2023.

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Nonfiction: Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond

The United States, the richest country on earth, has more poverty than any other advanced democracy. Why? Why does this land of plenty allow one in every eight of its children to go without basic necessities, permit scores of its citizens to live and die on the streets, and authorize its corporations to pay poverty wages?

In this landmark book, acclaimed sociologist Matthew Desmond draws on history, research, and original reporting to show how affluent Americans knowingly and unknowingly keep poor people poor. Those of us who are financially secure exploit the poor, driving down their wages while forcing them to overpay for housing and access to cash and credit. We prioritize the subsidization of our wealth over the alleviation of poverty, designing a welfare state that gives the most to those who need the least. And we stockpile opportunity in exclusive communities, creating zones of concentrated riches alongside those of concentrated despair. Some lives are made small so that others may grow.

Elegantly written and fiercely argued, this compassionate book gives us new ways of thinking about a morally urgent problem. It also helps us imagine solutions. Desmond builds a startlingly original and ambitious case for ending poverty. He calls on us all to become poverty abolitionists, engaged in a politics of collective belonging to usher in a new age of shared prosperity and, at last, true freedom. – Penguin Random House

This title is also available as a Libby eBook.

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Memoir & Autobiography: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

The Woman in Me is a brave and astonishingly moving story about freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith, and hope.

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.

Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last. – Simon & Schuster

This title is also available as a Libby eBook, Libby eAudiobook, and CD audiobook.

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History & Biography: The Wager by David Grann

On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While the Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon known as “the prize of all the oceans,” it had wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The men, after being marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes.

But then … six months later, another, even more decrepit craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways, and they told a very different story. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with countercharges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous senior officer and his henchmen. It became clear that while stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang.

The Wager is a grand tale of human behavior at the extremes told by one of our greatest nonfiction writers. Grann’s recreation of the hidden world on a British warship rivals the work of Patrick O’Brian, his portrayal of the castaways’ desperate straits stands up to the classics of survival writing such as The Endurance, and his account of the court martial has the savvy of a Scott Turow thriller. As always with Grann’s work, the incredible twists of the narrative hold the reader spellbound. – Penguin Random House

This title is also available in large print, Libby eBook, Libby eAudiobook, CD audiobook, and in Playaway audiobook.

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Humor: Being Henry by Henry Winkler

From Emmy-award winning actor, author, comedian, producer, and director Henry Winkler, a deeply thoughtful memoir of the lifelong effects of stardom and the struggle to become whole.

Henry Winkler, launched into prominence as “The Fonz” in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.

Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he’s been revealed as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as The Fonz, he could hardly find work.

Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself. – Macmillan Publishers

This title is also available in large print, Libby eAudiobook, and CD audiobook.

Library Closed in Observance of Christmas

December 25, 2023December 6, 2023 - Stephanie Leave a comment

All three Davenport Public Library locations will be closed Monday, December 25th and Tuesday, December 26th in observance of Christmas. All three buildings will reopen with their regular hours on Wednesday, December 27th: Main (321 Main Street) 9am to 5:30pm, Eastern (6000 Eastern Avenue) noon to 8:00pm, and Fairmount (3000 N Fairmount St) 9am to 8:00pm.

Even though our physical locations will be closed, you can still access free digital content for all ages. Your Davenport Public Library card gives you access to free eBooks, digital audiobooks, magazines, movies, and music through Libby, Freegal, TumbleBooks, QC Beats, and Kanopy!

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Religion: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Topic of the Month

December 20, 2023December 4, 2023 - Stephanie Leave a comment

Every month, our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility team puts together a list of resources on a certain topic. The topic for December is religion. Descriptions provided by the publisher or website.

Web Resources:

Navigating Religious Diversity in the Workplace – This is a blog written by the Intuit Blog team, last updated in 2023, about the social responsibility of making sure everyone feels included and respected in the workplace.

6 Tips for Navigating Your Religious Needs at Work – This article is from The Muse.

Religious Landscape Study – The Pew Research Center conducted these studies: ‘The RLS, conducted in 2007 and 2014, surveys more than 35,000 Americans from all 50 states about their religious affiliations, beliefs and practices, and social and political views.’

Animated Map Shows How Religion Spread Around the World (2:35) – This is a video on YouTube put together by Business Insider: ‘Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are five of the biggest religions in the world. Over the last few thousand years, these religious groups have shaped the course of history and had a profound influence on the trajectory of the human race. Through countless conflicts, conquests, missions abroad, and simple word of mouth, these religions spread around the globe and forever molded the huge geographic regions in their paths.’

All Major Religions Explained in 6 Minute: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism (6:14)

Juvenile Book Recommendations:

Who Believes What? Exploring the World’s Major Religions by Anna Wills

In today’s multicultural cities and interconnected world, understanding different belief systems can help kids appreciate the differences of people they see every day, or people who live on the other side of the globe. This book introduces readers to the five major world religions by population: Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.

Each mini-section opens with a fully illustrated spread representing one religion. Designed in a search-and-find style, the illustrated spreads are busy, bright, and jam-packed with details that show people worshipping among symbolic places, rituals, and objects. A text spread follows, pulling out details from the illustrated page and providing further information about the history, festivals, places of worship, celebrations, religious leaders, and gods of each religion.

Front matter gives broader overall context about religion and each featured belief system, making this a comprehensive go-to resource for introducing religion and global cultures. – Owlkids

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Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means by Christy Mihaly

It’s a free country! But what does that mean? Find out the five liberties protected by the First Amendment. Vivid examples from history and everyday life demonstrate the meaning of freedom of religion, speech, and the press, and the rights to assemble peacefully and to petition the government. – Albert Whitman & Co.

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Celebrating all Religions by Abby Colich

Our communities are stronger when we come together and take time to understand, support, and celebrate one another. In Celebrating All Religions, readers will learn the importance of acceptance and empathy as they relate to different religions and how to practice these in their daily lives. Social and emotional learning (SEL) concepts support growth mindset throughout, while “Grow with Goals” activities and “Mindfulness Exercises” at the end of the book further reinforce the content. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about empathy and inclusion. Also includes sidebars, a table of contents, glossary, index, and tips for educators and caregivers.

Celebrating All Religions is part of Jump!’s Celebrating Our Communities series. – Jump!

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The Kids Book of World Religions by Jennifer Glossop

By gaining a greater understanding of the cultures and beliefs of people around the world, children build respect and tolerance for the differences that make each of us unique. With objectivity and accessibility, this title in the Kids Book of series looks at the histories, scriptures, places of worship, religious leaders, gods and major festivals that are the foundations of many of the world’s religions. Features a glossary and an index. – GoodReads

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A Faith Like Mine: a Celebration of the World’s Religions . . . Seen Through the Eyes of Children by Laura Buller

A perfect book for children and parents to read together, A Faith Like Mine uses revealing photography and detailed personal accounts to give unique insight into the diversity of religious faith as experienced through the lives of children across the world.

– Information on widely practiced faiths, as well as less common spiritual beliefs
– Compares festivals, sacred books, places of worship and holy days
– Includes maps, religious calendars, profiles of spiritual leaders and more
– A celebration of the world’s religions through the eyes of children – GoodReads

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Understanding the Nonreligious by Cynthia Kennedy Henzel

Understanding the Nonreligious examines the diverse set of people who hold no religious beliefs. In addition to atheist or agnostic, they have a variety of ways to label themselves, as well as opinions on how to find fulfillment in life and what values to hold. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. – ABDO

YA Book Recommendations

What if I’m an Atheist? A Teen’s Guide to Exploring a Life Without Religion by David Seidman

Can you have guidance without God? This thoughtful, one-of-a-kind guide offers answers to all of your questions about atheism and nonbelief.

Have you ever wondered what religion and belief means for your life? Maybe you believe in nothing at all. Does that mean you’re an atheist? What does atheism even mean? Regardless of the religious background you grew up with, it’s natural to question what you believe…or what you don’t. Establishing your views about religion and spirituality is part of becoming an individual, but outside pressures can make it tough to know what is right for you.

What If I’m an Athiest? offers a thoughtful exploration of how atheism or the absence of religion can impact your life. From discussing the practical significance of holidays to offering conversation starters and tips, this guide is an invaluable resource about religion, spirituality, and the lack thereof.

This compassionate, nonjudgmental guide includes peer interviews featuring both religious and atheist teens and provides a safe space to find answers to the questions you may not want ask out loud, so you can decide what you believe—or don’t—for yourself. – Simon & Schuster

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Religion in Contemporary Society

Religion is on the decline in the United States, as the religiously unaffiliated segment climbs to more than 25 percent of the overall population. This is likely due to demographic shifts, but it may also be influenced by factors such as mass migration from rural to urban areas and the advancement of isolating technology. Additionally, many are discouraged by what they consider outdated stances and exclusiveness of many religions. Given these changes, what place does religion have in contemporary society? Can it adjust with the times? Diverse experts in the field tackle this timely topic for interested readers. – GoodReads

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Living with Religion and Faith by Robert Rodi

Looks at how the LGBTQ community is viewed by religions around the world and how some faiths have accepted them. – GoodReads

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Your Freedom, Your Power: a Kid’s Guide to the First Amendment by Allison Matulli

A nonpartisan, unbiased look at the First Amendment and how it informs our daily lives, this book clearly explains the fundamentals of American politics to middle grade readers.

The First Amendment grants kids and every other citizen five monster privileges: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press,
freedom of assembly, and the right to petition the government. If the First Amendment is everywhere in their lives, shouldn’t kids know more about it? Yes!

In Your Freedom, Your Power, middle grade readers get a focused look at their freedoms and rights through the lens of this all-powerful First Amendment. The book engages children in learning more about their country and their rights and responsibilities. Each section will answer key questions readers may have thought about like: Do I have the right to protest at school? Can I be punished at school for something I say on social media? Why can’t I wear whatever I want? Can I text whatever I want? While answering these questions and explaining fundamental legal concepts every kid should know, Your Freedom, Your Power shares the fascinating stories behind some of the most important legal cases and social movements that have affected kids’ lives and rights. – Hachette Book Group

Adult Book Recommendations

Waking Up: a Guide to Spirituality without Religion by Sam Harris

For the millions of Americans who want spirituality without religion, Sam Harris’s latest New York Times bestseller is a guide to meditation as a rational practice informed by neuroscience and psychology.

From Sam Harris, neuroscientist and author of numerous New York Times bestselling books, Waking Up is for the twenty percent of Americans who follow no religion but who suspect that important truths can be found in the experiences of such figures as Jesus, the Buddha, Lao Tzu, Rumi, and the other saints and sages of history. Throughout this book, Harris argues that there is more to understanding reality than science and secular culture generally allow, and that how we pay attention to the present moment largely determines the quality of our lives.

Waking Up is part memoir and part exploration of the scientific underpinnings of spirituality. No other book marries contemplative wisdom and modern science in this way, and no author other than Sam Harris—a scientist, philosopher, and famous skeptic—could write it. – Simon & Schuster

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World Religions: the Great Faiths Explored and Explained by John Bowker

Baffled by Buddhism? Confused by Catholicism? Mystified by Mysticism? Discover everything you need to know about the world’s major religious faiths.

A compelling and insightful guide for uncovering and understanding a variety of the world’s major religions, this book is the perfect gift for thinkers, borrowers, religious studies and philosophy students.

Learn new and profound information about a variety of faiths. In this educational guide, you’ll find:

– A chapter devoted to each of the major world religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
– Lesser-known religions and belief systems are covered, offering a comprehensive overview of faith.
– Detailed illustrations and annotated works of art, and a timeline of religious history.

Discover the world’s major religions and other faiths from both the ancient and the modern world through this insightful guide. Explore over 450 classic works of religious and devotional art. With sacred texts, epic imagery, key beliefs and religious artifacts, this educational guide is perfect for libraries, classrooms and the bookshelves of those who simply love learning. – Dorling Kindersley

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The Religions Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained

This definitive guide explores all the faiths from around the world.

Together with the five main religions of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, there is a diverse range of newer faiths to ensure a compelling and comprehensive read.

From the key concepts of ancient beliefs to the ground-breaking ideas at the heart of modern faiths, religious history is chronicled in a universal timeline. This provides a global perspective on the origins and events contributing to the growth and spread of spirituality, and the position of religion in society today. Influential religious leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Saint Paul, and Al-Ghazali, are introduced in depth and detail, alongside important quotations. Modern alternative beliefs are investigated in the wider context of their political, social, and cultural climates.

Part of DK’s award-winning Big Ideas series that has sold in excess of seven million copies, The Religions Book explains the trickiest of subjects in the most easily accessible format, using inspiring infographics and illuminating images alongside simple and straightforward text.

Compelling and accessible, this is the perfect guide for students of religious study, or anyone interested in the ideas of ancient and present-day faiths and religious philosophies. – Dorling Kindersley

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Concise History of World Religions: an Illustrated Time Line

The Concise History of World Religions continues the Concise History series with an authoritative and comprehensive take on major religions and lesser-known faiths of all times and nations. No other text combines the illustrations expertise of National Geographic with the historical focus on faiths—large and small—across the world. Up-to-date scholarship offers a unique global perspective on the history of faith in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, and Africa and the Middle East. This is religion presented as history, in the objective manner in which the National Geographic Society excels. Lavish illustrations illuminate the faithful, their houses of worship, and the articles and artifacts of faith. From the great cathedrals to the colorful robes of Buddhist monks to horrors of the Spanish inquisition to the astonishingly intricate paintings of the Hindu gods, the illustrations tell as much of the story as the text.

There is nothing else quite like National Geographic’s special Concise History series: the time line format combines geography, chronology, and subject area in one complete, but easy-to-understand grid. The 80 timelines with their more than 3,500 entries, plus short articles and feature spreads make it the perfect quick-dip reference; 110 sidebars amplify the illustrated time lines and highlight monuments of faith, words of religious transcendence, and lives of piety and sacrifice; 50 feature essays explore in detail the origins, development and influence of faith; 325 images document all aspects of the religious experience, from architecture and icons to exemplary individuals and acts of devotion; and quotes throughout chapters are drawn from prayers and sermons that embody the religious attitudes of each era. – GoodReads

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The Meaning of Belief: Religion from an Atheist’s Point of View by Tim Crane

Contemporary debate about religion seems to be going nowhere. Atheists persist with their arguments, many plausible and some unanswerable, but these make no impact on religious believers. Defenders of religion find atheists equally unwilling to cede ground. The Meaning of Belief offers a way out of this stalemate.

An atheist himself, Tim Crane writes that there is a fundamental flaw with most atheists’ basic approach: religion is not what they think it is. Atheists tend to treat religion as a kind of primitive cosmology, as the sort of explanation of the universe that science offers. They conclude that religious believers are irrational, superstitious, and bigoted. But this view of religion is almost entirely inaccurate. Crane offers an alternative account based on two ideas. The first is the idea of a religious impulse: the sense people have of something transcending the world of ordinary experience, even if it cannot be explicitly articulated. The second is the idea of identification: the fact that religion involves belonging to a specific social group and participating in practices that reinforce the bonds of belonging. Once these ideas are properly understood, the inadequacy of atheists’ conventional conception of religion emerges.

The Meaning of Belief does not assess the truth or falsehood of religion. Rather, it looks at the meaning of religious belief and offers a way of understanding it that both makes sense of current debate and also suggests what more intellectually responsible and practically effective attitudes atheists might take to the phenomenon of religion. – Harvard University Press

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Seven Types of Atheism by John Gray

When you explore older atheisms, you will find that some of your firmest convictions—secular or religious—are highly questionable. If this prospect disturbs you, what you are looking for may be freedom from thought.

For a generation now, public debate has been corroded by a shrill, narrow derision of religion in the name of an often vaguely understood “science.” John Gray’s stimulating and enjoyable new book, Seven Types of Atheism, describes the complex, dynamic world of older atheisms, a tradition that is, he writes, in many ways intertwined with and as rich as religion itself.

Along a spectrum that ranges from the convictions of “God-haters” like the Marquis de Sade to the mysticism of Arthur Schopenhauer, from Bertrand Russell’s search for truth in mathematics to secular political religions like Jacobinism and Nazism, Gray explores the various ways great minds have attempted to understand the questions of salvation, purpose, progress, and evil. The result is a book that sheds an extraordinary light on what it is to be human. – MacMillan Publishers

WORLD WAR II AND THE HOLOCAUST

November 24, 2023November 20, 2023 - Jill Leave a comment

As a follow-up to the October 16, 2023 blog: PALESTINE 1936: the great revolt and the roots of the Middle East conflict by Oren Kessler it seems appropriate to share more titles that will help the reader to more deeply connect with the humanity and INhumanity of the second World War – a direct precursor to the establishment of Israel as a nation. With the current state of affairs in the Middle East and the division it has caused in our own country and around the world, reminding ourselves of the past is vital to preventing another holocaust (of any people) and potentially another World War.

These books are organized into several categories and deliver the facts of World War II that directly impacted the persecuted people and focus on their personal stories. These are true re-tellings of the horrific acts perpetrated on ordinary people and their fight for survival. There are stories of individuals who risked their lives through selfless acts to help save others. There are stories of resistance and brave defiance, as well as the work of spies and operatives. Included, too, are books that tell of the ideology of the enemy and the atrocities at the concentration camps. More comprehensive histories of the war are offered as well as books discussing what we can learn from this war, how it has shaped us, and how we can reclaim our humanity and seek peace.

What’s not covered:

There are so many facets of World War II, that this list of books is largely limited to the civilian impact of the war on the European continent, particularly of Jewish people or anyone who dared to help them – including the death camps. This list does not include books that are focused more on specific military campaigns, the battle stories and valor of those who served (excluding spies & operatives), the important acts of the medical corps, the lives of those on the home front, or any of the undertakings in any of the many theatres of war. You may search these topics yourself and will find plenty of books to help you understand those aspects of the war.

STORIES OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED, HOW THEY SURVIVED, AND OF THOSE WHO DIDN’T:

A Bookshop in Berlin : The rediscovered memoir of one woman’s harrowing escape from the Nazis by Francoise Frenkel

The choice : embrace the possible by Edith Eva Eger

Death march escape : the remarkable story of a man who twice escaped the Nazi Holocaust by Jack J. Hersch

The diary of a young girl the definitive edition by Anne Frank

The dressmakers of Auschwitz : the true story of the women who sewed to survive by Lucy Adlington

Into the forest : a Holocaust story of survival, triumph, and love by Rebecca Frankel

The light of days : the untold story of (Jewish) women resistance fighters in Hitler’s ghettos by Judy Batalion

My friend Anne Frank : the inspiring and heartbreaking true story of best friends torn apart and reunited against all odds by Hannah Pick-Goslar

Remember us : my journey from the shtetl through the Holocaust by Martin Small

Saved by Schindler : the life of Celina Karp Biniaz by William B. Friedricks

Tehran children : a (Jewish) Holocaust refugee odyssey by Mikhal Dekel

STORIES OF THOSE WHO RISKED THEMSELVES TO HIDE OTHERS:

The Bielski brothers : the true story of three men who defied the Nazis, saved 1,200 Jews, and built a village in the forest by Peter Duffy

A good place to hide : how one French community saved thousands of lives in World War II by Peter Grose

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

Irena’s children : the extraordinary story of the woman who saved 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto by Tilar J. Mazzeo

The sisters of Auschwitz : the true story of two Jewish sisters’ resistance in the heart of Nazi territory by Roxane van Iperen

The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman

STORIES OF RESISTANCE:

A cool and lonely courage : the untold story of sister spies in Occupied France by Susan Ottaway

D-Day girls : the spies who armed the resistance, sabotaged the Nazis, and helped win World War II by Sarah Rose

The forgers : the forgotten story of the Holocaust’s most audacious rescue operation by Roger Moorhouse

The girls who stepped out of line : untold stories of the women who changed the course of World War II by Mari K. Eder

Invisible heroes of World War II : extraordinary wartime stories of ordinary people by Jerry Borrowman

Madame Fourcade’s secret war : the daring young woman who led France’s largest spy network against Hitler by Lynne Olson

The nine : the true story of a band of women who survived the worst of Nazi Germany by Gwen Strauss

Operatives, spies, and saboteurs : the unknown story of the men and women of World War II’s OSS by Patrick K. O’Donnell

A train in winter an extraordinary story of women, friendship, and resistance in occupied France by Caroline Moorehead

A woman of no importance : the untold story of the American spy who helped win World War II by Sonia Purnell

Red Orchestra : the story of the Berlin underground and the circle of friends who resisted Hitler by Anne Nelson

FAMILIES SEARCHING FOR LOST RELATIVES AND THE TRUTH:

Jews in the garden : a Holocaust survivor, the fate of his family, and the secret history of Poland in World War II by Judy Rakowsky

A world erased : a grandson’s search for his family’s Holocaust secrets by Noah Lederman

OTHER EXPERIENCES OR FIRST-HAND WITNESS:

The diary keepers : World War II in the Netherlands, as written by the people who lived through it by Nina Siegal

Facing the lion : memoirs of a young girl in Nazi Europe by Simone Arnold Liebster

Last witnesses : an oral history of the children of World War II by Svetlana Aleksievich

The ravine : a family, a photograph, a Holocaust massacre revealed by Wendy Lower

RECOVERING FROM HORRIFIC EVENTS OF WAR:

Man’s search for meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Wounds into wisdom : healing intergenerational Jewish trauma by Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Ph.D.

HOLOCAUST HISTORY AND GENERAL WORLD WAR II FACTS:

Historical atlas of the Holocaust by the U S Holocaust Memorial Museum

The holocaust chronicle by Marilyn Harran, Dieter Kuntz, and John K. Roth

Holocaust : the Nazi persecution and murder of the Jews by Peter Longerich

The secret war : spies, ciphers, and guerrillas 1939-1945 by Max Hastings

The storm of war : a new history of the Second World War by Andrew Roberts

World War II in photographs by Richard Holmes

THE ALLIES

1944 : FDR and the year that changed history by Jay Winik

Britain at Bay : the epic story of the Second World War, 1938-1941 by Alan Allport

Last Hope Island : Britain, occupied Europe, and the brotherhood that helped turn the tide of war by Lynne Olson

Why the allies won by R. J. Overy

HOW THE WAR CHANGED US, CAN CHANGE US, (OR COULD HAVE):

The fear and the freedom : how the Second World War changed us by Keith Lowe

If the Allies had fallen : sixty alternate scenarios of World War II by Dennis E. Showalter and Harold C. Deutsch

Learning from the Germans : race and the memory of evil by Susan Neiman

Why we fight : the roots of war and the paths to peace by Christopher Blattman

THE AXIS – IDEOLOGY OF THE ENEMY:

Army of evil : a history of the SS by Adrian Weale

Becoming Hitler : the Making of a Nazi by Thomas Weber

The book thieves : the Nazi looting of Europe’s libraries and the race to return a literary inheritance by Anders Rydell

Göring’s man in Paris : the story of a Nazi art plunderer and his world by Jonathan Petropoulos

Hitler’s furies : German women in the Nazi killing fields by Wendy Lower

The rape of Europa : the fate of Europe’s treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War by Lynn H. Nicholas

Then they came for me : Martin Niemöller, the pastor who defied the Nazis by Matthew D. Hockenos

The women who flew for Hitler: a true story of soaring ambition and searing rivalry by Clare Mulley

PRISON CAMPS:

Auschwitz : not long ago. not far away by Luis Ferreiro, Miriam Greenbaum, and Robert Jan van Pelt

Dachau 29 April 1945 : the Rainbow liberation memoirs by Sam Dann

Ravensbrück : life and death in Hitler’s concentration camp for women by Sarah Helm

Library Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

November 23, 2023November 20, 2023 - Stephanie Leave a comment

All three Davenport Public Library locations will be closed Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. All three buildings will reopen with the regular hours on Saturday, November 25th: Main (321 Main Street) 9am to 5:30pm, Eastern (6000 Eastern Avenue) 9am to 5:30pm, and Fairmount (3000 N Fairmount St) 9am to 5:30pm.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Library Closed for Veterans Day

November 11, 2023October 27, 2023 - Stephanie Leave a comment

All three Davenport Public Library locations will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Saturday, November 11th, 2023. All three buildings will reopen with their regular hours on Monday, November 13th: Main (321 Main Street) 9am to 8pm, Eastern (6000 Eastern Avenue) 9am to 8pm, and Fairmount (3000 N Fairmount St) noon to 8pm.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Social Work Spotlight: Kinna’s House of Love

November 10, 2023October 26, 2023 - Stephanie Leave a comment

KINNA’S HOUSE OF LOVE

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on an extraordinary organization dedicated to spreading love and support in the Quad Cities. Kinna’s House of Love is on a mission to assist those facing various challenges, including homelessness, domestic violence, sex trafficking, rape, and trauma. This organization’s driving force is its founder’s passion and her own experiences with sex trafficking, homelessness, and abuse. Her ultimate vision is to create a compassionate and inclusive society where everyone is valued and treated equally, free from judgment. More importantly, she aims to establish a safe and secure environment for those dealing with abuse.

To achieve these goals, Kinna’s House of Love offers a range of programs and services:

Kinna’s Corner: A safe place for children and teenagers at risk of physical or sexual abuse. Kinna’s Corner provides therapeutic activities such as art therapy and play therapy. High school students can also benefit from programs focused on financial planning, budgeting, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
Coats and Hygiene Drive: Kinna’s House of Love conducts coat and hygiene drives to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. The Davenport Public Library is partnering with Kinna’s House of Love for a Coat Drive through November 20^th, 2023. The donated items will be distributed at the Winter Wellness Event at the Davenport Public Library | Main on December 4th, 2023, from 10 AM to 12 PM. Please consider donating winter items such as coats, gloves, and socks at 318 E 7th Street. For drop-off arrangements, please call 563-200-8064.
Home-Cooked Meals: Kinna collaborates with various organizations and restaurants to provide home-cooked meals for those at the shelter. These meals are available every Sunday at the Corner of Vine and 5th Street. This is important because most organizations serving meals to those at shelters are closed on Sundays. Kinna’s House of Love also ensures shelter members receive meals during holidays.
Job Fairs: Kinna partners with other organizations to organize job fairs for adults, offering job-seeking assistance and programs to eliminate employment barriers.
Expungement Clinics: Through a partnership with Iowa Legal Aid, Kinna’s House of Love hosts expungement clinics to help individuals with criminal records overcome barriers to employment.

Kinna’s House of Love is at 318 E 7th Street, Ste 205, Davenport, IA 52802. To learn more about their programs and services, please visit their website at www.kinnashouseoflove.com or call at 563-200-8064.

Holiday Assistance Programs

November 7, 2023November 6, 2023 - Stephanie Leave a comment

HOLIDAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES IN THE QUAD CITIES

The November Resource Spotlight highlights programs offering holiday assistance to families in the Quad Cities. Registration is currently open for most of these programs, providing Quad City families the opportunity to manage their budgets during this period and address urgent needs. Below is a list of current programs providing holiday assistance.

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TOYS FOR TOTS QUAD CITIES – October 1- November 24, 2023

The 2023 online request for toys started on October 1 and will end November 24.

Eligibility Criteria:

Children must be 6 months -12 years old to register.
You must be a resident of one of the following counties: Scott, Muscatine, Clinton, Rock Island, Mercer and Henry Counties.
After submitting an online application, you must verify in-person with your ID and children’s birth certificates
Verification is open Fridays and Saturdays from 9 am – 6 pm starting on October 20^th until December 2^nd. (Closed on November 10 & 11)
Verification office address: 1 Montgomery Drive, Moline, IL 61265

Toy Application Link: Request a Toy

Toy Application Information:

Sunday October 1: Online Toy Application Opens
Friday, October 20: In-person verification begins
Friday November 24: Online toy application closes
Saturday, December 2^nd: In-person verification ends.

Toy Distribution Days:

Friday December 8 – 9 am – 7 pm

Saturday December 9 – 8 am – 4 pm

Saturday, December 16 – 8 am – 4 pm

Sunday, December 17 – 9 am – 7 pm

For more information, email rock.island.il@toysfortots.org or call 563-296-3842

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FRIENDLY HOUSE FOOD AND GIFT BASKETS – November 6-10, 2023

Eligibility Criteria:

Available to residents whose address is within the following area: Lincoln Ave to Brady Street and South of Central Park Ave. (West of Brady street, South of Central Park Avenue, East of Lincoln and Elmwood Avenues)
You must bring a photo ID, proof of address and Social Security card for everyone in your household.
Applications are taken the first week of November for December distribution.
Gifts are available for children 16 and under.

Sign Up:

November 6-10 from 9:30 am – 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 3 pm.

Distribution Date:

Wednesday, December 15 from 9 am – 10:30 am.

For more information, please visit Friendly House website or call 563-323-1821 x17.

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MLK CENTER ANNUAL CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY GIFT

Eligibility:

Children must be within ages 3 years to 12 years old residing in the Quad Cities
Must have picture ID to pick up gifts.
Identification must match the parent/Guardian name on the registration form.

Gift Distribution Dates:

Thursday, December 14, 2023 – 1 pm – 5 pm
Friday, December 15, 2023 – 1 pm – 5 pm
Saturday, December 16, 2023 – 1 pm – 5 pm

Sign Up:

Registration is now open, click here to register!

For more information, contact MLK Center at 309-732-2999.

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SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE – November 1-24, 2023

Eligibility:

Applications are now being accepted at the Davenport and Moline Salvation Army locations through November 24.
Families can get toys for children up to age 15 and holiday food boxes

Sign up:

Make an appointment by calling 563-324-4808 for Scott County Residents and 309-764-2811 for Rock Island County residents.

For more information please visit Salvation Army or call 563-324-4808.

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ST ANTHONY’S CHURCH – HYVEE VOUCHERS FOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS

Distribution

Thanksgiving vouchers distributed on November 14, 2023 – 9 am to 12 pm.
Christmas vouchers will be distributed on December 12, 2023 9 am to 12 pm.

Eligibility:

Be a Davenport Resident
Bring an ID or a piece of mail showing your address.

Native American Heritage Month 2023

November 2, 2023October 31, 2023 - Stephanie Leave a comment

November is National Native American Heritage Month. Celebrate the rich cultural traditions, histories, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in North America. Complete activities and read books written by Indigenous authors. Log your reading and activities throughout the month to earn badges. This reading challenge is live on Beanstack from November 1st to December 3, 2023. Curious what you need to do? Sign up on Beanstack today either online or on the app!

This reading challenge has four different prize bundles for different age groups: a children’s picture book bundle, a middle grade chapter book bundle, a teen book bundle, and a gift card to Birchbark Books for adults.

Looking for some ideas of what to read? Check out the following websites and book recommendations put together by our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team.

Native American Heritage

Native American Rights Fund: ‘Our Mission: The Native American Rights Fund holds governments accountable. We fight to protect Native American rights, resources, and lifeways through litigation, legal advocacy, and legal expertise.’ – from Native American Rights Fund website

Native Tribes Have Lost 99% of Their Land in the United States (video 4:26) – ‘New data set quantifies Indigenous land dispossession and forced migration’ – from video description

American Indian Library Association: ‘AILA was founded in 1979 in conjunction with the White House Pre-Conference on Indian Library and Information Services on or near Reservations. At the time, there was increasing awareness that library services for Native Americans were inadequate. Individuals as well as the government began to organize to remedy the situation.’ – from American Indian Library Association website

Teaching and Learning about Native Americans : ‘Check out the answers to some of the questions that educators frequently ask about Native Americans.’ – from the National Museum of the American Indian

The Nation’s First Concentration Camp: A piece written by Primary Selections from Special Collections which is put together by the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center housed in the Main Street location of the Davenport Public Library.

Native American Tribes & the Indian History in Davenport, IA

Juvenile Books

Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series by Traci Sorell

Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud

Indigenous People’s Day by Katrina Phillips

Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters: Chilling American Indian Stories by Dan Jones

Native Americans in History: a History Book for Kids by Jimmy Beason

Fact and Fiction of American Colonization by Tammy Gagne

We are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell

Young Adult

The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas by Maria Garcia Esperon

Notable Native People: 50 Indigenous Leaders, Dreamers, and Changemakers from Past and Present by Adrienne Keene

Apple: Skin to the Core: a Memoir in Words and Pictures by Eric L. Gansworth

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People by Jean Mendoza

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin

Trickster: Native American Tales: a Graphic Collection

Adult

A Brutal Reckoning: Andrew Jackson, the Creek Indians, and the Epic War for the American South by Peter Cozzens

The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teachings for Living Well by Chelsey Luger

We are the Middle of Forever: Indigenous Voices from Turtle Island on the Changing Earth

We Refuse to Forget: a True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power by Caleb Gale

An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle Mays

Unworthy Republic: the Dispossession of Native Americans and the Road to India Territory by Claudio Saunt

PALESTINE 1936: the great revolt and the roots of the Middle East conflict by Oren Kessler

October 16, 2023October 13, 2023 - Jill 2 Comments

“Exceptional…opens new vistas on troubles past and present.” – The Wall Street Journal

“Key to understanding the current situation between Israelis and Palestinians.” – Booklist (starred review)

When Oren Kessler’s first book, Palestine 1936: the great revolt and the roots of the Middle East conflict,was published earlier this year, while lauded, its true significance would not be felt until now. With the recent surprise attacks on Israel by Hamas on October 7, and the following response including a declaration of war on Hamas by Israel, this book is more important than ever in understanding the complex history which has shaped the present state of affairs. Kessler addresses this complicated topic by utilizing only recently declassified documents as well as memoirs and other sources to draw a thorough examination of this formative and often overlooked period.

In his book, Kessler relates key events from the period of 1936 to 1939 that laid the foundation for the establishment of Israel as a state in 1948 and for the current Arab-Israeli conflict. That period itself is a complicated time in world history, as political tensions were already heightened and ultimately ignited World War II. Kessler believes that events almost 90 years ago, and just prior to the second World War, have so shaped the attitudes and posture of the conflict that it will ultimately lead to tragedy for both Jews and Arabs. Primarily, Kessler suggests that many Arabs in the region are unwilling to accept Jewish equality, political or social, let along their right to an ancestral homeland. He believes that this is the true core of the conflict and not one easily resolved.

“Oren Kessler is a journalist and political analyst based in Tel Aviv. He has served as deputy director for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, Middle East research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society in London, Arab affairs correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, and an editor and translator at Haaretz English edition.” – orenkessler.com

If you want to more fully understand the current state of affairs in Palestine and the war that is now commencing, Palestine 1936 is a must read. In addition, the Davenport Library has a number of other books that you might find informative and enlightening on this topic and as well as closely related topics.