Category Archives: LitBits

LitBits are little bits of literary news. They highlight books and authors that support programming around timely themes; feature outstanding author speakers; showcase new and emerging authors; and provide ideas for favorite titles that knock a Common Reads program out of the park...

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February 23, 2017

Nathalia Holt, NPR Chat About the Role of Women in Rocket Science

By bicadmin | Published: February 23, 2017
Nathalia-Holt-Rise-of-the-Rocket-Girls

Nathalia Holt spoke with NPR’s Ari Shapiro and one of the original “rocket girls,” Barbara Paulson, about women’s role in shaping the American space project. Nathalia’s book The Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, From Missiles to the Moon to Mars, is a collective biography of a group of women who “did the math” at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1940s.

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Related Books and Authors


Denise Kiernan


The Girls of Atomic City
Meg Waite Clayton


The Race for Paris
Margot Lee Shetterly


Hidden Figures
Also posted in Denise Kiernan, Hidden Figures, Karen Abbott, Liar Temptress Soldier Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War, Margot Lee Shetterly, Meg Waite Clayton, Nathalia Holt, The Girls of Atomic City, The Race For Paris | Tagged , , | Comments closed
February 14, 2017

YA Version of Maraniss’ Strong Inside Opens Civil Rights Story to Middle Schoolers

By bicadmin | Published: February 14, 2017
Andrew-Maraniss-Strong-Inside

Andrew Maraniss’ Strong Inside, which chronicles the career of Perry Wallace, the first African-American college basketball player in the south, and serves an important role in facilitating campus and community discussions around racial tensions in the US, is now available in YA format.

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Related Books and Authors


Andrew Maraniss


Strong Inside
James Edward Mills


The Adventure Gap
Leonard Pitts


Grant Park
Kathleen Grissom


Glory Over Everything

Khalil Gibran Muhammad


The Condemnation of Blackness
Dana Johnson


Elsewhere, California
Andrew Maraniss


Strong Inside
Also posted in Andrew Maraniss, Dana Johnson, Elsewhere California, Glory Over Everything, Grant Park, James Edward Mills, kathleen grissom, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Leonard Pitts, Mourner's Bench, Sanderia Faye, Strong Inside, The Adventure Gap, The Condemnation of Blackness | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments closed
February 2, 2017

Leonard Pitts: Gentle Demeanor with a Tough Message

By bicadmin | Published: February 2, 2017
Leonard Pitts, Jr., Grant Park

As divisive messages filter down from our new administration, colleges and communities are hurriedly working to balance it with discourse about embracing the current situation of race relations in America and nurturing a community of diversity and kindness. With “a gentle demeanor,” Leonard Pitts, Jr. delivers a “tough message that we all need to hear.”

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Related Books and Authors


Andrew Maraniss


Strong Inside
James Edward Mills


The Adventure Gap
Leonard Pitts


Grant Park
Dana Johnson


Elsewhere, California

Andrew Maraniss


Strong Inside
Also posted in Andrew Maraniss, Dana Johnson, Elsewhere California, Grant Park, James Edward Mills, John Lewis, John Lewis, Leonard Pitts, March 3, Mourner's Bench, Sanderia Faye, Strong Inside, The Adventure Gap | Tagged , , , , | Comments closed
January 31, 2017

James E. Mills Highlights Another Racial Disparity — Minority Outdoor Adventurers

By bicadmin | Published: January 31, 2017
James Edward Mills, The Adventure Gap

Adventurer and journalist James Edward Mills highlights another racial disparity: the low number of minority wilderness adventurers. This concern carries the opportunity to stimulate healthy conversation about race and gender disparity in our schools and communities.

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Related Books and Authors


Andrew Maraniss


Strong Inside
James Edward Mills


The Adventure Gap
Meg Waite Clayton


The Race for Paris
Andrew Maraniss


Strong Inside
Also posted in Andrew Maraniss, Daniel Bergner, James Edward Mills, Meg Waite Clayton, Sing for Your Life: A Story of Race, Strong Inside, The Adventure Gap, The Race For Paris | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments closed
January 23, 2017

Sheff Brings New Insights to Campuses & Communities re: Addiction

By bicadmin | Published: January 23, 2017
Photo from New York Times, "Addict's Father, Now Advocate"

As drug and alcohol addiction continue to plague our campuses and communities, parents and campus leadership struggle to find a working approach for awareness, prevention, and healing. New York Times #1 Bestselling author, David Sheff, has new ideas about the topic having experienced the impact of his son’s meth addiction first-hand. Dave Sheff is an […]

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Also posted in All Campus Reads Programs, all-campus reads, Beautiful Boy; A Father's Journey Through His Son's Meth Addiction, Clean; Overcoming Addition and Ending America's Greatest Tragedy, David Sheff | Comments closed
December 13, 2016

Thor Hanson’s The Triumph of Seeds Takes Science Award

By bicadmin | Published: December 13, 2016
Thor Hanson, The Triumph of Seeds

Biologist Thor Hanson’s THE TRIUMPH OF SEEDS has just won the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science.

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Related Books and Authors


Thor Hanson


Feathers
Thor Hanson


The Triumph of Seeds
Anna-Marie McLemore


The Weight of Feathers
Also posted in Feathers, Kelsey Timmerman, State of the World: Innovations that Nourish the Planet, The Triumph of Seeds, Thor Hanson, Where Am I Eating: An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy, Where Am I Eating?, Where Am I Eating? An Adventure Through The Global Food Economy | Tagged , , , | Comments closed
August 30, 2016

Celebrate Black History Month
with these Amazing Authors

By bicadmin | Published: August 30, 2016

In preparation for what will certainly be an emotionally charged African-American History Month (February 2017), consider these important author/speaker contributors to the black history conversation.

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Related Books and Authors


Hillary Jordan


Mudbound
Marja Mills


The Mockingbird Next Door
Ellen Urbani


Landfall
Kathleen Grissom


Glory Over Everything

Khalil Gibran Muhammad


The Condemnation of Blackness
Also posted in Ellen Urbani, Glory Over Everything, Hillary Jordan, kathleen grissom, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Landfall, Marja Mills, Mudbound, The Condemnation of Blackness, The Mockingbird Next Door | Comments closed
August 4, 2016

Top 5 Authors/Speakers on Politics & Society

By bicadmin | Published: August 4, 2016
Politics and Society

Public speaker events are a perfect tool to help guide political conversations and encourage thoughtful and informed voting decisions. Here are our Top 5 Authors on Politics & Society for your upcoming Fall events.

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Related Books and Authors


Michael Hingson


Thunder Dog
Jonathan Eig


The Birth of the Pill
Naveed Jamali


How to Catch a Russian Spy
Also posted in How to Catch a Russian Spy, Jonathan Eig, Kelsey Timmerman, Michael Hingson, Naveed Jamali, The Birth of the Pill, Thunder Dog, Where Am I Eating: An Adventure Through the Global Food Economy | Tagged , , , , , | Comments closed
February 18, 2016

National Parks Centennial: Protect, Connect, Inspire

By bicadmin | Published: February 18, 2016

It’s been said that our national parks are “America’s best idea.” As the National Park Service turns 100 on August 25, 2016, this is the year to celebrate the centennial of a very American effort.

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Related Books and Authors


Thor Hanson


Feathers
Garth Stein


A Sudden Light
James Edward Mills


The Adventure Gap
Gary Ferguson


The Carry Home

Nevada Barr


Boar Island (19th in Anna Pigeon series)
Heather Hansen


Prophets and Moguls, Rangers and Rogues, Bison and Bears
Andrea Lankford


Ranger Confidential
Anna-Marie McLemore


The Weight of Feathers
Also posted in A Sudden Light, Andrea Lankford, Bison and Bears, Boar Island, Feathers, Gary Ferguson, Heather Hansen, James Edward Mills, Nevada Barr, Prophets and Moguls, Ranger Confidential, Rangers and Rogues, The Adventure Gap, The Carry Home, Thor Hanson | Comments closed
February 5, 2016

In the Aftermath: Triumph over Tragedy

By bicadmin | Published: February 5, 2016
Michael Hingson

In times of crisis, an author who can speak to personal triumph over tragedy provides communities with a vehicle for discussion about difficult topics. Through this lens, readers inevitably discover they have much more in common than they realize. These authors inspire by tapping into our shared experiences of overcoming life’s challenges.

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Related Books and Authors


Michael Hingson


Thunder Dog
Regina Calcaterra


Etched in Sand
Michael Pitre


Fives and Twenty-Fives
Charlotte Rogan


Now and Again
Also posted in Charlotte Rogan, Etched in Sand, Fives and Twenty Fives, Michael Hingson, Michael Pitre, Now and Again, Regina Calcaterra, Thunder Dog | Comments closed

  • Garth Stein: A SUDDEN LIGHT