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
Discussion Questions The Personal Librarian 1. How might you explain Belle’s rise to such breathtaking heights in society and her profession at a time when women—especially African American women—faced such blatant discrimination and exclusion? 2. How did you view Belle’s relationship with her mother? Did their relationship change over the course of the book such that they came to understand each other? 3. What reaction did you have to Belle’s relationship with her father? Do you think Belle felt deserted by him in the same way her siblings did? Why or why not? 4. What pressure do you think Belle might have experienced from the rumors about her true ethnicity? 5. How do the racial issues and events in the book relate to events happening today? Bonus: What sacrifices did Belle make by choosing to follow her mother’s path? What advantages did she gain?
Carlsbad Reads Together
EVENTS
An Evening with Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray Zoom Virtual Event Thursday, April 28, 7 p.m. The authors will discuss their collaboration and their book The Personal Librarian followed by an audience Q&A. Registration is required. To register, visit www.carlsbadca. gov/carlsbadreadstogether under Adult Events tab.
Book Club Discussions
For virtual book clubs, sign up at: www.carlsbadca.gov/ carlsbadreadstogether under Adult Events tab Monday Night Classics: April 25, 7 p.m., virtual Tuesday Night Book Club: April 5, 7 p.m., virtual Wednesday Afternoon Book Club: April 6, 2 p.m., in-person at Dove Library Thursday Afternoon Book Club: April 14, 2 p.m., in-person at Cole Library Club de lectura en Español: Tuesday, April 19, 10 a.m., virtual
Preguntas de discusión La mitad evanescente por Brit Bennet
Cannon Art Gallery Exhibition: Reimagined: The Artist’s Book
1. Stella y Desiree Vignes crecen idénticas y, de niñas, inseparables. Más tarde, no solo se separan, sino que se pierden el uno al otro, completamente fuera de contacto. ¿Qué serie de eventos y experiencias lleva a esta división y por qué? ¿Es inevitable, después de haber crecido tan indistintos el uno del otro? 2. ¿Cuándo notaste que comenzaron a formarse grietas entre las gemelas? ¿Entiendes por qué Stella tomó la decisión que tomó? ¿A qué tuvo que renunciar Stella para vivir una vida diferente? ¿Era necesario dejar atrás a Desiree? ¿Crees que Stella finalmente se arrepiente de sus elecciones? ¿Qué pasa con Desiree? 3. Considere las diversas fuerzas que dan forma a las gemelas en las personas en las que se convierten, y las fuerzas que luego dan forma a sus respectivas hijas. En la creación de una identidad individual o sentido de sí mismo, ¿cuánta influencia proviene de la crianza, la geografía, la raza, el género, la clase, la educación? ¿Cuáles de estos son mutables y por qué? ¿Alguna vez ha asumido o descartado aspectos de su propia identidad?
What happens when the worlds of art and books intersect? The resulting spectrum ranges from innovative designed books to unique and beautifully sculpted artist books. The objects in this exhibition interpret the concept of the book, exploring altering book structures into sculpture or sculptural objects whose only reference to book-ness might be the inclusion of words.
Para preguntas de discusión adicionales, visite britbennett.com
ADMISSION IS FREE FOR ALL EVENTS Events are subject to change. More information and to register:
www.carlsbadca.gov/carlsbadreadstogether
EVENTS Youth and Family Virtual All Star Readers Wednesdays in April (except for April 17) 3:30 p.m., Grades 1 – 3 We will discuss various books throughout the month including Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise. Register at: www.carlsbadca.gov/carlsbadreadstogether under Youth Events tab.
Virtual Book Explorers Thursday, April 14, 3:30 p.m., Grades 4 – 6 Explore all kinds of books including graphic novels and non-fiction. The April selection is Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise. Register at: carlsbadca.gov/carlsbadreadstogether under Youth Events tab.
Puppet Kit Grades K – 5 Craft puppets just like Pura Belpré with a free make-andtake kit (while supplies last). Pick-up instructions: Visit the Children's Desk at Dove and Cole Libraries or the Information Desk at the Library Learning Center. Questions to Consider about Planting Stories
More information: www.carlsbadca.gov/arts under Gallery & Exhibitions tab.
1. What do you think is the reason the book is called Planting Stories? 2. Why was it important for the author to use both English and Spanish words and phrases in the book? 3. Why do you think Pura Belpré chose to use puppets to help tell her stories?
Flag Book Workshop with Sage Serrano
Manualidad de títeres
April 16, 9 – 11 a.m., Gowland Meeting Room at Dove Library The Flag Book is best known for its expandable display of “flags” held up by the assistance of the accordion fold which expands and retracts to capture the concept of “bookness”. This workshop will teach you how to create your own Flag Book from start to finish. If you have photos, prints, or old drawings you can bring those to the workshop. About the Artist Sage Serrano is a San Diego native who received her MFA in Painting & Printmaking from San Diego State University and her BA in Visual Arts Studio with honors from UC San Diego. She currently runs bookmaking & papermaking workshops throughout San Diego and teaches drawing at San Diego State University. To reserve a spot, email Karen.Mcguire@carlsbadca.gov
Exploration HUB Classes Ages 13 and older
Join us in the Exploration HUB, the library's technology lab, for a class inspired by The Personal Librarian or Slay. Class schedule at: www.carlsbadca.gov/services/exploration-hub • Adobe Illustrator: Design a Simple Embroidery Pattern • Intro to Video Game Development: GameMaker Studio 2 • iMovie: Film Editing Techniques • Silhouette Cameo: Personalized Book Bag • Silhouette Cameo: Design a Bookmark • Teen Intro to Video Game Development: GameMaker Studio 2 (Grades 7 – 12) • Tinkercad: Design a 3D Brooch
EVENTS Just for Teens Grades 6-12 Request a complimentary copy of Slay by emailing libraryteens@carlsbadca.gov with your name and library pick-up location (while supplies last). Book Warriors Book Club to discuss Slay Tuesday, April 19, 4 p.m., virtual Email libraryteens@carlsbadca.gov for a Zoom link. Teen Intro to Video Game Development: GameMaker Studio 2 Tuesday, April 26, 4 – 5:30 p.m. Grades 7 – 12 Join us in the Exploration HUB for an introductory class on 2D video game programming fundamentals. GameMaker Studio 2 is a video game development software program No experience necessary, but must bring a valid library card. Register at: www.carlsbadca.gov/services/exploration-hub
Los títeres fueron una parte importante de cómo Pura Belpré contaba sus historias. Los niños están invitados a recoger un kit de títeres en cualquiera de nuestras tres ubicaciones y crear un títere para ayudar a contar sus propias historias. Los kits estarán disponibles a partir del lunes 11 de abril.
Create-your-own Card Game kit (while supplies last) Available from April 4
Si no puede asistir al club de lectura o está dirigiendo su propio club de lectura, aquí hay algunas preguntas para considerar sobre el libro.
If you cannot attend the book club or you are leading your own book club, here are some questions to consider about Slay:
1. ¿Cuál crees que es la razón por la que el libro se llama Sembrando Historias? 2. ¿Por qué fue importante para el autor usar palabras y frases tanto en inglés como en español en el libro? 3. ¿Por qué crees que Pura Belpré eligió usar títeres para ayudar a contar sus historias?
1. Why do you think Kiera, the main character of Slay, needed to create a safe space through video games? 2. What kind of safe space would you like to see at your home, school, library or work? 3. What would you do if you created something so popular as the video game Slay and something tragic happened? How would you handle it? For more teen events and book recommendations, visit www.carlsbadca.gov/libraryteens
Be inspired by the book, Slay, and design your own card game with this free kit that includes everything you need. Email libraryteens@carlsbadca.gov with your name and library pick-up location.