A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter

A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter If you want to learn more about modern American history, might as well get it from a former president. Learn about Jimmy Carter's life as a young lad to a man in his 90s. It's a good read/listen to. Enjoy.

An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter

An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter A beautiful book of Jimmy Carter's family history. The background and foundtion of how he came to be. His family, friends and the love of his life. A good book to enjoy about a great man who was very humble.

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay I grew up close to Watsonville and learned a few things about the history of Watsonville. It's a good story, very touching. Add this one to your high school library.

How to Find What You're Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani

How to Find What You're Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani Set in the 60's the Beatles are the popular band for young teens and laws against mixed marriages. A Jewish older sister falls in love with a young man from India. They elope and both sets of parents are not happy about it. The younger sister misses her sister very much. School is also challenging for her, writing and shaping letters is really difficult for her. A good read.

Run by John Lewis and company

 Based on the life of Senator John Lewis.  John Lewis has passed on.  His life's work still stands.  

This graphic novel started with a trio of graphic novels called March.  Run continues the story.  Add this one to your high school library.

Just Like That by Gary D. Schmidt

 This story will stay with you for a while.  Two stories collide once the two main characters end up meeting.  A good read.  What's nice is that some of the adults are super good people.  

Shirley Chisholm Is A Verb! By Chambers & Baker

 This is a good book to add to any library shelf.  It's important to have positive role leaders in libraries and this one fits the bill.  Though it is a picture book, readers can quickly learn facts and information about Shirley Chisholm.  A good read.

Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

 I loved watching how each of the main characters grow.  Innocent Starla faces the harsh world of unkindness and unfair and learns about the darker side of life.  Meanwhile, Eula grows to learn that there is good in the world and that she has her own life that she can live.  She has seen the dark side of life but now, she has the opportunity to see the light.  A good read.

Turning 15 On The Road to Freedom by Lowery, Leecock and Buckley

 Add this one to your children's library.  A good book that teens will see what other teens can do under difficult times.  Our hero of the story is a brave teen who takes a stand.  This is her story that she share what she has experienced.  A good read and an important read.  See the march for Civil Rights in the eyes of a young teen girl.

Malcolm X By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers

 

Add this one to your high school library.  It's a good read about a man who was a major part of history from the 60s.  Audio book also very good.  

A Ride To Remember by Langley, Nathan & Cooper

 A beautiful book that reflects what happened in history as people marched for their civil rights.  I am adding this to my high school library because I want my students to understand a time of history that is so important.  

Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges

 This is a must listen to book, read by Ruby Bridges herself.  A brave little girl who didn't fully understand at the beginning her purpose and role until much later.  Her parents view of if she should go to a all white school or not.  So many layers to this book.  She talks about her adult life to and how the events of the day influenced her much later.  A good and important listen to.

The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

 As a chess club advisor, I thought this would be interesting to read.  It is and it's for mature audiences.  I haven't seen the show.  A lot of mature content.  First, it's good.  Sometimes I wonder if Beth is a bit autistic.  She's amazing how she takes to the game.  But she doesn't fit in.  When she first has sex, it's more of an experiment.  She doesn't truly form relationships.  It's a good read.  Not for high school libraries.

The Last of the President’s Men with Bob Woodward

 

A good book on history of how a president can make an impact on his country.  You must decide what kind of impact did Nixon made.  The audio book also very good.  

In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

 The world has been filled with dictators over the years and, currently we have two dangerous ones.  Maybe three.  This is a time from 1960s.  This is a time when sisters dared to stop a dictator.  This is a time when they gave their people hope.  This is a time when they paid the deadly price of choosing to do what they did.  This is the time to read their story.

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

A good read.  Add this one to your elementary and middle school library.  It's a good read.  Grandma relives the 60's and she isn't doing so well.  Her young grandson feels responsible and is place in a very difficult situation.  A delicate balance of being both a young grandson and also trying to be responsible.  Enjoy.

Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X Kendi

This is a book we need now.  To help us as a whole understand how black people have been treated

over the years and why.  How different perspectives played out.  From presidents to everyday people 

responded to racism with actions that go beyond abuse.  This book was written a few months before what is going on right now in the United States.  It is timed perfectly to help us all understand the roots of  anger, hurt and frustration that are being expressed in today's world.  It is an important read.

I'm getting for my high school library!

Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez

A young girl, takes us through a time of dictatorship and also revolution.  Hiding for her life after her father is taken away.  It's a good read and the audio book also is very good.  I am going to get for my high school library.  It's a good and important read.

The Sixties Trilogy Anthem by Deborah Wiles

This is a brilliant story.  Each section of the book has newspapers, magazines, quotes and photos to set up each part of the story.  Actually primary resources.  Then the chapters are set up by a music title from the 1968 with information about the music and then the story picks up.  I had Alexa from Amazon play the music.  The story is brilliant and perfect.  I'm getting this for my high school library.  This is when the Vietnam War is going on.  In this story, we meet various soldiers, civil rights, hippies, communes and more.  Such a fantastic story.

The Golden Thread by Meloy and McClure

Loved this book.  So many of our young teens and young people have no idea who Pete Seeger was and what he did.  It's a good book to add to any middle school and high school library.