Now Read This!
MAY 2025
 
Our Now Read This! newsletters offer suggestions for your next favorite read, from hidden gems to the latest hot pick. In this issue, you will find a featured book of the month, a special event worth checking out, a curated selection of newly acquired and upcoming biographies and memoirs, and booklists for further reading. Whether you prefer reading about the lives of historical figures or the rich and famous, your friendly BPL Reader Services Librarians have recommendations for every reader.
 
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Book of the Month
Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary: From Her Roots in Ghana to Her Legacy on the Eastern Shore
by Jean Marie Wiesen

Wiesen's biography of Tubman, with the involvement of a family member, corrects misconceptions about her life, exploring her achievements as a military scout, suffragette, and Underground Railroad conductor, while also shedding light on the impact of her childhood head injury.
Event Spotlight
Virtual Author Talk: Michael Luo - Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America
Thursday, May 29, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
 
Michael Luo, executive editor at The New Yorker, discusses his 2025 nonfiction book, which follows the Chinese from their early gold-rush years to modern times, with Jill Lepore, Harvard Professor of Law and American History.
 
New and Upcoming Titles
Gaza Medic: A War Surgeon's Story 2024
Richard Villar
 
 
“Villar shares his intense experience as a war surgeon in Gaza’s 2024 invasion, revealing the challenges of medical aid under fire.”
 
Legends and Soles: The Memoir of an American Original
Sonny Vaccaro
 
“Vaccaro, a sports marketing executive, shares his stories of engaging with the most famous NBA players while working for Adidas and Nike.”  
 
Son of Birmingham: A Memoir
 Randall Woodfin
 
 
“Mayor Randall Woodfin walks readers through the streets of his Birmingham, a city rising out of the ashes of systemic racism and white flight.” 
 
The Paris Girl: The Young Woman Who Outwitted the Nazis and Became a WWII Hero
Francelle Bradford White
 
 
“White writes an intimate biography of her mother, who joined the French Resistance in Nazi-occupied Paris at the age of nineteen.”
 
I Will Scream to the World: My Story. My Fight. My Hope for Girls Everywhere.
Jaha Marie Dukureh
 
 
“Dukureh details her journey from survivor of Female Genital Mutilation and forced child marriage, to global activist and political leader.”
 
How Good It Is I Have No Fear of Dying: Lieutenant Yulia Mykytenko's Fight for Ukraine
Lara Marlowe
 
 
“Mykytenko, a commander in the Ukrainian army serving on the front line of battle shares her story and discusses modern warfare.”
 
A Father's Fight: Taking on Alex Jones and Reclaiming the Truth About Sandy Hook
Robbie Parker
 
 
“Parker, determined to reclaim his daughter's memory, fought to bring down Alex Jones, who claimed the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax.”
 
It Gets Better... Except When It Gets Worse: And Other Unsolicited Truths I Wish Someone Had Told Me
Nicole Maines
  
“Maines, trans actress and activist, tells her story, from her childhood in Maine to the spotlights of Hollywood, sharing lessons learned along the way.”
 
Beyond the Throne: Epic Journeys, Enduring Friendships, and Surprising Tales
Kristian Nairn
 
 
“Nairn, who played Hodor on Game of Thrones shares behind‑the‑scenes stories of the perils and triumphs of the television show.”
 
Find Your Next Great Read
You Are Not Alone: 18 Mental Health Memoirs in Audio
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which seeks to raise awareness, educate the public, and erase the stigma surrounding mental illness. Check out one of these audiobooks today to understand more about what it means to suffer a mostly invisible affliction, and know that you are not alone.

For More Suggestions...
Gone to the Dogs: 16 Memoirs About Our Furry Companions
Epic Walks in Nature: 18 Memoirs
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month 2025: 77 Books for Children, Teens & Adults
 
 
 
   

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