Our May 2025 Picks   Recent Releases: History The Mesopotamian Riddle: An Archaeologist, a Soldier, a Clergyman, and the Race to Decipher the World's Oldest Writing by Joshua Hammer Journalist Joshua Hammer's fast-paced latest chronicles the mid-19th century race among archaeologists and scholars to decode cuneiform script. This evocative adventure tale will appeal to fans of Margalit Fox's The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code.  Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age by Eleanor Barraclough "By studying artifacts such as wooden gaming boards, beautifully crafted antler combs, doodles, and runes that express personal emotions, [Eleanor Barraclough] sheds light on a world far beyond the [Viking] stereotype of violent invaders. She reveals a society of connected people, whose everyday concerns and relationships—such as love, conflict, and home life—transcended the image of warrior. This is a history of a diverse people who lived in the medieval Nordic world—not just the Vikings, but also children, enslaved individuals, artisans, travelers, and many others." America, América: A New History of the New World by Greg Grandin This sweeping history of the Western Hemisphere from a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian re-examines the intertwined destinies of North and South America, challenging traditional narratives and revealing a complex and dynamic relationship shaped by conflict, cooperation and mutual influence. The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America by Kostya Kennedy Released in time for the 250th anniversary of the event and featuring fresh insights, journalist Kostya Kennedy's accessible history chronicles Paul Revere's fateful midnight ride to warn American minutemen of the British army's impending arrival. Further reading: The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777 by Rick Atkinson. Four Red Sweaters: Powerful True Stories of Women and the Holocaust by Lucy Adlington Bestselling author and clothes historian Lucy Adlington's well-researched follow-up to The Dressmakers of Auschwitz focuses on four Jewish girls whose experiences during the Holocaust unexpectedly intertwined thanks to their treasured red sweaters. Try this next: All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family's Keepsake by Tiya Miles. Recent Releases: Current Events Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children by Noliwe Rooks Scholar Noliwe Rooks' thought-provoking history examines how school desegregation efforts in the wake of Brown v. Board of Education have adversely impacted Black students. Further reading: Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism by Eve L. Ewing. There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America by Brian Goldstone In a sobering and richly detailed expansion of his viral 2019 article "The New American Homeless," journalist Brian Goldstone follows five Atlanta families experiencing homelessness despite having full-time jobs. Further reading: Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America by Jeff Hobbs. Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning by Peter Beinart Peter Beinart imagines a path after the war in Gaza that would draw on other nations' efforts at moral reconstruction. He puts forth a reading of Jewish history beyond persecution and victimhood, in which Jews have the right to equality, not supremacy, and in which Jewish and Palestinian safety are not mutually exclusive but intertwined—a story in which we inhabit a world that recognizes the infinite value of all human life, beginning in the Gaza Strip."   Focus on: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month   Asian American Histories of the United States by Catherine Ceniza Choy Exploring themes of violence and resistance, Catherine Ceniza Choy's insightful and well-researched work offers illuminating perspectives on the erasure of Asian Americans from United States histories. Further reading: My Life: Growing Up Asian in America edited by the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE). The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee Winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Adult Nonfiction in 2016, Erika Lee's sweeping survey of Asian immigration in the United States eschews monolithic conceptions of Asian identity by detailing the specific experiences of people from various ethnic groups. Try this next: The Souls of Yellow Folk by Wesley Yang.  Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now by Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, and Philip Wang This engaging collection of essays, interviews, playlists, illustrations, and memes explores how Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have impacted politics and popular culture in the last 30 years. Further reading: Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian American Pop Culture edited by Eric Nakamura. Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong by Louisa Lim An award-winning journalist and Hong Kong resident examines the unique city, from the British takeover in 1842, to its “return” to China in 1997, and the current protests amongst crackdowns from Beijing. Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden: Two Sisters Separated by China's Civil War by Zhuqing Li Daughters of the Flower Fragrant Garden shares the story of two Chinese sisters separated by the Chinese Civil War during the 1930s by a quirk of timing, as one sister settled in Taiwan and the other remained on the mainland. Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers, and Masterworks, 1680-1900 by Andreas Marks In this comprehensive survey of ukio-e, 500 color prints share examples of the beauty of the art form. The volume details the histories of both artists and publishers, highlighting their roles in the art's popularity, serving as a valuable resource for enthusiasts and newcomers alike. A Short History of Cambodia : From Empire to Survival by John A. Tully Cambodia is a land of contrasts. Once a powerful empire known for its Angkor temple complexes, the country now struggles with democracy and economic challenges after a history marked by conflict and a genocidal civil war. John Tully's history traces Cambodia from its glorious past through dark periods, including French colonialism and the Pol Pot regime, to its current flawed democracy. Despite a troubling record of war and famine, Cambodia's survival showcases the resilience of the human spirit. Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings and America's First Imperial Adventure by Julia Flynn Siler Looks at the 19th-century clash between the Polynesian people and the expanding capitalist powers of America, Britain and France, centering on Lili'uokalani, the last queen of Hawaii. Documentary: Hawaii's Last Queen by WGBH Born in 1838, Queen Lili'uokalani was a talented composer who took the Hawaiian throne after her brother's death in 1891. She resisted American efforts to take over the islands—when the U.S sought more control of the sugar market—though the United States ultimately annexed the territory in 1898.  She is remembered today as the last sovereign ruler of Hawaii.  The loneliest Americans by Jay Caspian Kang Sharing his own family's story as it unfolds against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding Asian America, writer-at-large for The New York Times Magazine, in this riveting blend of history and original reportage, explores—and reimagines—Asian American identity in a black and white world.   Want to explore more ideas? Check out our library's History & Current Events book lists to browse recommendations!