FDL Reads: Why Humans Build Up
Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples, and Skyscrapers by Gregor Craigie
Reviewed by: Chelsea Bunton, Youth Services Assistant
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
Suggested Age: Children (ages 8-12)
What is the book about? Author Gregor Craigie has been fascinated with tall buildings since childhood. He has decided to explore the world and history of building “up” in this eye-catching nonfiction book while also analyzing the apparently inherent need of humans to build in this way. Each chapter focuses on a reason for constructing vertically colossal structures – from security and utility to spirituality and beautification. Real world photographs are paired with bright, pop-art like illustrations and graphs by Kathleen Fu, adding to the quick glance appeal of a nonfiction children’s work. Like many works of informational children’s text, organizational aspects are utilized for readability. As each chapter is broken down into motivations for this type of construction, we see further break down of the information as focus is centered on particular structures: their basic facts, followed by anecdotal text and pictures. Craigie looks to answer his own questions about this deep-rooted need to build higher in humans, meanwhile addressing other possible questions like environmental impact and long term effects of towering construction in our world.
My Review: I don’t typically gravitate towards nonfiction. This is especially true of informational-based text like this (If I DO read nonfiction, I usually stick to biographies). So why did I pick this book up? Just look at the cover! I was immediately drawn to the bright colors and almost comic book-like illustrations. Reading this book was a fun journey. I enjoy information that leads me to look into things for myself. As I read, I found myself Googling more facts on mentioned buildings, as well as questions that came up. I don’t think that is indicative of bad writing, in fact I believe that is exactly what nonfiction SHOULD do: cause the reader to hunger for learning and go on their own research journey. Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the simple readability factor. This could almost be considered a “coffee table” book. It’s one of those that you can grab, flip to a random page, read for a bit, and then put it back down for later. I enjoy snippets of details rather than long, drawn-out prose and analyzation. That is exactly how this book is organized, which kept my interest and didn’t bog me down with “too much” all at once.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Appealing, Construction, Visual
Give This a Try if You Like…How it’s Made, What is…/Where is… series, books about construction/buildings
Rating: 3.5/5
National Pancake Day!
National Pancake Day!
Did you know that September 26th is National Pancake Day? Celebrate the day with some books about pancakes (and other breakfast favorites!).
Books for Beginning Readers
Curious George Makes Maple Syrup
Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast
Books for Advanced Readers
Books for Advanced Readers
The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs
Marvelous Muffins, Breads, and Pancakes
Paula Deen’s My First Cookbook
The Star Wars Cookbook: Awaken to the Force of Breakfast and Brunch
-Post by Alyssa Young, Youth Services Specialist
FDL Reads: Black Birds in the Sky
Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Specialist
Genre: American History (early 20th Century)
Suggested Age: Teen, Adult
What is the book about? It has only been in recent years that knowledge of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre has become more well-known. For decades, even the people of Tulsa didn’t acknowledge or often speak about it. What started as an attempt to lynch a young man accused of sexual assault, turned into a race riot that left churches, homes, and businesses burned to the ground, as well as hundreds dead. This book not only details the timeline of events that took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 1st, 1921, it first lays the foundation with an explanation of culturally significant events and practices that contributed to the mob violence and destruction that devastated a thriving African American community.
My Review: I listened to the audiobook version of this book and found it to be incredibly enlightening. This is a cautionary tale about mob mentality and the darker side of human nature, especially when it comes to race relations. I found it extremely beneficial to have the background information laid out before the author went into the description of the exact events of this tragedy. Learning about events that may be disturbing or hard to accept give us a clearer picture of our predecessors and the society they lived in. This is critically important to understanding how our society today has developed into what we see around us and can help keep up from repeating past mistakes.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Illuminating, Educational, Revelatory
Give This a Try if You Like…Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” by Zora Neale Hurston, The 1619 Project: A New origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Four Hundred Souls edited by Ibram X. Kendi
Rating: 5/5
Find Your Voice Adult Writing Contest Winners!
We’re excited to announce the winners for the Find Your Voice Adult Writing Contest!
1st Place – Inaudible by Megan McCoy
2nd Place – Cracks by Rachael Stanford
Teen Winner – Finding Your Voice by Ella Headly
Congratulations to each of them, and thanks to everyone who submitted an entry! Follow the links below to read the winning stories. Our judges panel had a hard time selecting from the submissions we received, so keep writing and stay tuned for another writing contest this winter!
FDL Reads: Everything’s Fine
Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess
Reviewed By: Jeremy Zentner, Adult Services Assistant
Genre: Contemporary
Suggested Age: Adults
What is This Book About? Jess studied math in college and eventually joined Goldman Sachs as a data-analyst, determined to survive the oppressive, cut-throat working conditions of financial investment. She runs into Josh, a fellow alumnus and a headache of arrogance from what she recalls. The two have different backgrounds and completely different political outlooks. As they continue to work together in their fast-paced rat race, Jess and Josh slowly come together in a passionate love affair, proving that opposites sometimes attract. The question is, can they overcome their differences? Should they even try? This book is a love story, but it is also a coming-of-age story, a story about racism in America, and a story about divisiveness in politics.
My Review: Once I started reading this book, I devoured it up. It is extremely raw and real and it doesn’t hold back any punches. Originally marketed as a romance novel, this book is so much more. I find the prose reminiscent of Chuck Palahniuk or Aimee Bender. It is direct, unforgiving, and provocative. Cecilia Rabess truly captivated my attention, offering insight into life as an African-American woman working in a business traditionally dominated by Caucasian men. We also get an interesting perspective on interracial relationships and relationships that involve people with opposing political viewpoints. There are some generational points of interest as well, as the protagonist describes her relationship with her father. This book is a complex story, to say the least, but definitely one worth reading.
Three Words that Describe this Book: romance, race, politics
Give This A Try if You Like… Yellowface, Black Buck, The Girl in the Flammable Skirt
Rating: 5/5
#FDL: Dark Academia Books
Dark academia is a TikTok subculture and book subgenre that can feature stories set in classic academic settings like Oxford University. It’s characterized by a high interest in the classics, calligraphy, Gothic architecture, and autumn imagery. Many times there is a central mystery or noir element to this type of fiction. Check out the list below for some dark academia titles in our collection!
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella
Vicious by Victoria Schwab
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
– Post by Susie Rivera, Adult Services Specialist
#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
