December 2023
Book: “Holly Jolly Diwali” by Sonya Lalli
Niki Randhawa has always followed the rules. She went for the stable job instead of going after her dreams. She dates good-on-paper guys while the ones who actually create butterflies inside her are left in the dust. When she is laid off, Niki says enough is enough, and decides to travel to India for her friend Diya’s wedding. It’s there that she meets free-spirited Sam, someone who makes her forget who she is for a moment. This book is a beautiful tale of getting to know yourself once again, but also finding that person that accepts all of you, with no hesitation.
PS. Diwali was celebrated on November 12th this year but as it is a major religious holiday we felt it was appropriate to include in this month’s diversity letter!
Movie: “Happiest Season” Hulu
A young woman with a plan to purpose to her girlfriend while at her family’s annual holiday party discovers her partner hasn’t come out to her conservative parents.
November 2023
Book: “Probably Ruby” by Lisa Bird-Wilson
Given up for adoption, Ruby is raised by a white couple who know next to nothing about her Indigenous heritage. This is a mystery that has haunted Ruby’s life. Throughout the novel multiple viewpoints share information about Ruby, her family and her heritage.
Movie: “Elemental” Disney +
Disney’s Elemental (an animated movie) set in Element City, where fire-, water-, land- and air residents work to live together. This story centered around immigrants making their lives in different places, and working to take some of their old life, culture, and values into their new world.
October 2023
Book: “We are Satellites” by Sarah Pinsker
A sci-fi thriller in which parents try to appease their child by letting them participate in a brain implantation program aimed at helping students at school. As they learn more about the program they questions and concerns being to grow.
Movie: “Disclosure” Netflix
This documentary examines Hollywood’s portrayal of trans people, and how those images impact the greater transgender community and America.
September 2023
Book: “Afterlife” by Julia Alvarez
“Afterlife is a compact, nimble, and sharply droll novel. Set in this political moment of tribalism and distrust, it asks: What do we owe those in crisis in our families, including—maybe especially—members of our human family? How do we live in a broken world without losing faith in one another or ourselves? And how do we stay true to those glorious souls we have lost?” https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52898645
TV Shows: “True Colors” Peacock
TV show documenting the lives of famous Hispanics living in the United States. Highlighting their beginnings, successes and families.
July 2023
Book: “Founding Mothers”
This book focuses on the women involved in the founding of the United States who were not highlighted in history. Find it at the columbus public library: https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C875838
Movie: “Dawnland”
In response to the Supreme Court upholding the ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act), Dawnland sheds light into the history of the US government taking indigenous children away from their homes and placing them with white people.
June 2023
Book: “Lessons in chemistry”
A fun functional story about the live paths of a women in chemistry. Find it CPL: https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3597729
Movie: “Moonlight”
A coming of age story of a young black man struggling to understand his identity and sexuality. Watch it on HBOmax or hulu
May 2023
Book: “Chemistry”
Novel about a chemistry graduate student who has to juggle failing research, relationships, and family…sound familar?
Find here at columbus public library: https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C2255544
Movie: “Everything everywhere all at once”
Academy award winning movie about a middle-aged Chinese women who is swept up in an insane adventure in which she is the only one who can save the world by exploring other universes and connecting with what her life could have been
April 2023
Book: “Blind spot: hidden biases of good people”
Everyone has implicit biases from a lifetime of exposure to cultural attitudes. This book dives into how we can overcome our inherent behavior to become fairer people to everyone.
Movie: “Temple Grandin”
Biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic women who has become a top scientist in the humane and ethical treatment of livestock handling. Watch on prime video.
March 2023
Book: “10 Women who changed science and the world”
This book is compiled of mini-biographies focused on women who have altered the course of history through science. Find here at the columbus public library: https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3219822
Movie: “Jane”
Jane is a documentary of Jane Goodall, a scientists whose chimpanzee research changed our understanding of the natural world and challenged the views of a male-dominated research field. Watch on Disney plus