About the AUTHORS Marie Benedict As a young woman, Marie Benedict was gifted a book by a treasured aunt that opened her eyes to the hidden world of women’s stories and voices. The epiphany she experienced while immersed in The Mists of Avalon, is one she hopes to share with the readers of her own books, as she unearths important, but unknown, historical women from the detritus of the past and brings them into the light of modern day where their very contemporary contributions and issues can be explored. www.authormariebenedict.com
Victoria Christopher Murray Victoria Christopher Murray is the author of more than 30 novels including: Greed; Envy; Lust; The Ex Files; Lady Jasmine; The Deal, the Dance, and the Devil; and Stand Your Ground, which was named a Library Journal Best Book of the Year. She is the winner of nine African American Literary Awards for Fiction and Author of the Year (Female), and a four-time NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Fiction for her social commentary novel, Stand Your Ground. www.victoriachristophermurray.com
Brit Bennett Nacida y criada en el sur de California, Brit Bennett se graduó de la Universidad de Stanford y luego obtuvo su Maestría en Bellas Artes en ficción en la Universidad de Michigan, donde ganó un Premio Hopwood en Ficción Corta para Graduados, así como el Premio Hurston/Wright 2014 para Escritores Universitarios. Su trabajo aparece en The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review y Jezabel. Es una de las homenajeadas en la lista de 5 menores de 35 de 2016 de la Fundación Nacional del Libro. www.britbennett.com
Brittney Morris Brittney Morris is the author of Slay. She is the founder and former president of the Boston University Creative Writing Club. She holds a BA in economics. Brittney spends her time playing video games, slaying at Dance Dance Revolution and enjoying the Seattle rain from her apartment. You can find her online at www.authorbrittneymorris.com, on Twitter and Instagram @BrittneyMMorris. www.slaythebook.com
Annika Aldamuy Denise Annika Aldamuy Denise is the celebrated author of many picture books, including The Love Letter; Pura Belpré honor-winning Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré; Starring Carmen!; Lights, Camera, Carmen!; and Monster Trucks. She lives in Rhode Island with her family. Visit Anika online at www.anikadenise.com.
Further Reading SUGGESTIONS Looking for more great reads?
NONFICTION
Email librarian@carlsbadca.gov to learn about our Personalized Reading Recommendation Service.
An Illuminated Life: Belle da Costa Greene’s Journey from Prejudice to Privilege by Heidi Ardizzone and Robin Miles
FICTION Passing by Nella Larsen (also Netflix movie adaptation)
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance by Ron Chernow
Carlsbad Reads Together 2022
A COMMUNITY READING PROGRAM
Carlsbad Reads Together brings community members together and engages them in discussion about the same selection of books. Throughout April 2022, we'll host book discussions, a visit from authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, relevant Exploration HUB classes, youth and teen events and more.
About the 2022 Selections The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to— for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
SPANISH LANGUAGE SELECTION La mitad evanescente por Brit Bennet Desiree y Stella son gemelas nacidas en Mallard, LA, un pequeño pueblo poblado por afroamericanos de piel clara. Las gemelas se escapan a Nueva Orleans cuando eran adolescentes y eventualmente toman caminos radicalmente diferentes. Desiree se casa con un abogado negro de piel oscura, pero lo deja y regresa a Mallard con su hija, Jude, que es mucho más oscura de lo que aprueba el pueblo. Stella se hace pasar por blanca y se casa con un exitoso hombre de negocios que no sabe nada de su pasado, y finalmente se muda a Los Ángeles. Años más tarde, Jude y la hija de Stella, Kennedy, se conocen por casualidad.
Carlsbad Reads Together
is sponsored by Friends of the Carlsbad Library.
ADMISSION IS FREE FOR ALL EVENTS
YOUNG ADULT SELECTION Slay by Brittney Morris Seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student and one of the only Black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she is the secret game developer of the very popular online role-playing card game, Slay. When a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the Slay world, the game is labeled as racist, exclusionist and violent. Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically Black in a world intimidated by Blackness. Can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?
CHILDREN’S SELECTION Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise Sembrando historias : Pura Belpré : bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos (Spanish translation) Pura Belpré truly found her calling when she took a position as a bilingual assistant at a neighborhood library, and went on to transform library services through culturally diverse storytelling, published books and targeted outreach. In this picture book biography of a significant and inspiring figure, Denise sprinkles her lyrical verse with Spanish and emphasizes Belpré's love of stories, plucking the title of the book from her desire ‘to be like Johnny Appleseed...plant my story seeds across the land.’ Event subject to change. More information and to register: www.carlsbadca.gov/carlsbadreadstogether