National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Huron County Library Staff have compiled a list of 100 books to read in honor of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 30. These stories highlight and explore the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and stories of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The full list can be found here and the following are some of the most recent titles added to the Library’s collection.

 

Book cover for Our Voice of Fire

Memoir – Our Voice of Fire: A Memoir of a Warrior Rising by Brandi Morin

A wildfire of a debut memoir by internationally recognized French/Cree/Iroquois journalist Brandi Morin. Known for her clear-eyed and empathetic reporting on Indigenous oppression in North America. She is also a survivor of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis and uses her experience to tell the stories of those who did not survive the rampant violence. This book chronicles Morin’s journey to overcome enormous adversity and find her purpose, and her power, through journalism.

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Book cover for Valley of the Birdtail

Non-fiction – Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian reserve, a white town, and the road to reconciliation by Douglas Sanderson and Andrew Stobo Sniderman

A heart-rending true story about racism and reconciliation that explores the history of two families, one white and one Indigenous, across multiple generations and weaves their lives into the larger story of Canada, ultimately offering hope for the future.

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Book cover for Scars & Stars

Poetry – Scars and Stars by Jesse Thistle

A beautiful and moving new collection of poems and stories from the author of the #1 bestselling memoir, From the Ashes.

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Book cover for The Theory of Crows

Fiction – The Theory of Crows by David A. Robertson

A beautifully moving and heartfelt story about an estranged father-daughter relationship, the importance of being there for those you love and the healing power of the land.

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Book cover of The Summer of Bitter and Sweet

Young Adult Fiction – The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson 

A wonderful debut YA novel featuring Lou, a demi/asexual Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies. Ferguson masterfully balances the light with the dark as Lou struggles with generational trauma, family secrets and her sexuality over a summer working with her friends at the family creamery. CW: violence against Indigenous women, rape, racism

Content warning: Violence against Indigenous women, rape, racism

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Book cover for Finding My Dance

Picture Fiction – Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud; illustrated by Kalila J. Fuller

In her debut picture book, professional Indigenous dancer Ria Thundercloud tells the true story of her path to dance and how it helped her take pride in her Native American heritage.

Place a hold online…

 

Disability Pride Month

Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month, originating in the United States after the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. It has since expanded into a global movement that recognizes those who face barriers every day due to a variety of conditions.

The Disability Pride flag was first designed by Ann Magill and has recently been refined by the Disabled Community to be more visually accommodating. Each element of the flag represents something different:

The Black Field represents mourning and rage; for those who are victims of Ableist violence, and also rebellion and protest.

The Five Colours represent the variety of needs and experiences (Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, physical disabilities, neurodivergence, psychiatric disabilities, sensory disabilities).

The Parallel Stripes represent solidarity within the Disability Community and all its differences.

The Diagonal Band represents “Cutting across” barriers that separate disabled people; creativity and light cutting through the darkness.

The books listed below reflect just some of the many disabled experiences and/or call for greater disability justice and are amazing resources to help better understand those facing everyday challenges. Visit our online catalogue for a full list of recommended reads related to Disability Pride Month.

Book cover of Disability Visibility

Essays – Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong

A groundbreaking collection of first-person writing on the joys and challenges of the modern disability experience highlighting the passions, talents, and everyday lives of this very diverse community.

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Book cover of What Doesn't Kill You

Non-fiction/Memoir – What Doesn’t Kill You by Tessa Miller

A riveting and candid account of a young journalist’s awakening to a life of chronic illness, weaving together her personal story with reporting to shed light on how Americans live with long-term diagnoses today.

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Book cover of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

General Fiction – Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

The new book by the bestselling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, is a moving tale of friendship, success and the costs of fame. Sadie and Sam bond over a shared love of videogame design only to find success isn’t always what it seems. There is great disability and chronic pain representation through Sam, whose foot is mangled in a car accident and eventually needs to be amputated.

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Book cover of You, Me, and Our Heartstrings

Young Adult Fiction – You, Me, and Our Heartstrings by Melissa See

A beautiful YA story about Daisy, a violinist with cerebral palsy and Noah a cello prodigy with anxiety. The two fall in love while auditioning for Julliard only to have their relationship scrutinized by the press that sees Daisy as an inspiration because of her disability and Noah as a “saint” for seeing past it.

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Book cover of Fight & Flight

Middle Grade – Fight + Flight by Jules Machias

A powerful middle grade book about two friends who undergo a traumatizing experience at school. The book has great disability and mental health representation for anxiety and panic attacks and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Content warning: Active shooter drill  in school

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Book cover of Sam's Super Seats

Children – Sam’s Super Seats by Keah Brown; illustrated by Sharee Miller

A joyful picture book about a disabled girl with cerebral palsy who goes back-to-school shopping with her best friends, from #DisabledandCute creator and The Pretty One author, Keah Brown.

Place a hold online…