 Colored Television by Danzy Senna
Riverhead Books, released September 3, 2024 By Robin Munson In Colored Television by Danzy Senna, Jane, a Professor at a small Los Angeles College, wrote her first critically reviewed, but not a top seller, novel ten years ago and is hoping to finish her second novel, get tenure, and secure a life changing book deal. Jane, with her husband Lenny and their two children have bounced from apartment to apartment and house sitting for a wealthy friend in order to navigate the expensive Los Angeles housing market. Unfortunately the stress of the families dire financial situation causes Jane to go to plan B (writing for television) as plan A (selling her novel for millions of dollars) has crashed and burned. Jane lies to Lenny (he believes television is not a pure artistic form) about working with television producer Hampton Ford to make a biracial comedy sitcom. Of course, one lie leads to another and then another until the monster is no longer sustainable. I really loved this novel. Although it was difficult to watch Jane go down her destructive path in search of her ideal bourgeois life for her family, her journey, no doubt, made her stronger and more grounded in the end. The humor that Senna brings to the pages was a bonus (she meets her husband at a party based on a psychic’s vague description of her future love) and the character development throughout the novel is spot on. This book is a perfect book club read with themes such as balancing artistic integrity and financial security, the erasure of biracial people, and what makes a person truly happy. I give it five out of five stars. Thank you Riverhead Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Colored Television is available for ebook and audiobook download.
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 This book goes hard. Really hard. S.A. Cosby takes us to a small Southern town with big secrets, and the result is a gritty, emotional rollercoaster that’s part murder mystery, part social commentary, and completely impossible to put down.
The story follows Titus Crown, the first Black sheriff in a deeply divided Virginia county, as he investigates a horrifically disturbing crime. What starts as one murder quickly unravels into something much darker, and Titus ends up confronting not just a killer, but the deep-rooted racism and hypocrisy baked into the town's history. Cosby's writing is sharp, raw, and real. He’s got a way with words that hits you right in the gut. One minute you’re caught in a tense shootout, the next you’re reflecting on trauma, justice, and what it means to do the right thing in a messed-up world. Titus is a total standout, flawed, principled, tired, but relentless. He’s the kind of character you root for because he’s trying so hard in a place that’s actively working against him. If you’re into crime thrillers with depth, soul, and a little blood on the page, All the Sinners Bleed is your book. S.A. Cosby is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Get it at the library or download the audiobook or eBook. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is raw, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting, a story about pain, resilience, and finding your voice. Told through letters from Celie, a young Black woman in the early 1900s South, the novel takes you through her journey of surviving abuse, forced marriage, and oppression while slowly discovering her own strength.
Celie’s life starts out brutal, she’s abused by the man she thinks is her father, married off to an even crueler man, and separated from her sister and children. But as the novel unfolds, she finds hope and power through relationships with incredible women like Shug Avery, a glamorous and free-spirited blues singer, and Sofia, who refuses to let anyone push her around. Their presence helps Celie realize she doesn’t have to be silent, and watching her transformation is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Walker doesn’t sugarcoat anything. The novel tackles heavy issues, racism, sexism, sexual violence, and LGBTQ+ identity with honesty. And that’s exactly why it has been banned and challenged so many times. Some people claim the content is too explicit or controversial for schools, but the reality is that The Color Purple tells stories that often get ignored or erased. It’s not just a novel; it’s a voice for people who’ve had to fight to be heard. Even with all the backlash, the book has remained a classic, inspiring a movie, a musical, and generations of readers. If you’re looking for a novel that’s emotional, thought-provoking, and empowering, The Color Purple is absolutely worth your time. And if a book keeps getting banned, that’s usually a sign it has something important to say. Get the book at the library or download the audiobook or eBook. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  I Am Alfonso Jones is a graphic novel that hits hard. Alfonso is a Black 15-year-old boy with big dreams, but his life is cut short when he’s wrongfully shot by an off-duty cop after a hanger is mistaken for a gun. In the afterlife, he meets other victims of police violence, while his family and friends fight for justice back home.
The story is raw, emotional, and eye-opening, with powerful artwork that brings it to life. It’s been challenged in some schools for tackling police brutality and racial injustice, but that just makes it an even more important topic to discuss. If you’re looking for a book that makes you think and feel, with great art to boot, this one’s a must-read. Check it out at the library. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You isn’t a dry history book, it’s fast, engaging, and written in a way that feels like a conversation. Jason Reynolds takes Ibram X. Kendi’s work and makes it super readable, breaking down how racist ideas started, how they’ve changed over time, and how they still show up today. This book has been praised for making tough topics easy to understand, especially for younger readers. But it’s also been banned in some schools for talking about systemic racism and U.S. history. Some critics say it’s too divisive, while others believe it’s an important tool for understanding the world we live in. No matter where you stand, Stamped gets people talking. If you want a fresh, honest take on history and race, this is a book worth reading. Get a copy at the library or download the audiobook. There is also Stamped (for Kids) that was adapted for younger audiences by Sonja Cherry-Paul. Reserve it at the library! Aimee Clark, IT Librarian   Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye is a heartbreaking and powerful novel that dives deep into themes of race, beauty, and self-worth. Set in 1940s Ohio, it follows Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl who believes that having blue eyes will make her beautiful and, more importantly, loved.
Morrison’s writing is stunning, poetic, raw, and completely immersive. She doesn’t hold back in exploring tough topics like racism, trauma, child abuse, and societal neglect, making this a book that’s as thought-provoking as it is emotionally heavy. It’s not always an easy read, but it’s an important one that forces you to see the world through a different lens. Though The Bluest Eye has been banned in many places for its difficult themes, it remains a must-read. It’s the kind of book that sticks with you long after you’ve finished, reminding you of the power of storytelling and the importance of representation in literature. Get the eBook or audiobook download with your SPL library card. If you prefer a physical copy, contact us and we can order one through interlibrary loan. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of those books everyone gets force-fed in school, right? And depending on your teacher, you were either told it’s the “Great American Novel” or you sat there wondering why Jim, the most interesting and important character, barely gets a real voice. Enter Percival Everett. With James, he basically says, “Okay, let’s fix this.” And wow, does he ever.
This book is Jim’s story, straight up. It’s not a retelling so much as a reclamation. Jim is smart, funny, furious, and painfully aware of the absurd world he’s trapped in. Everett doesn’t shy away from the horror of slavery, but he also loads the book with dark, biting humor that makes you laugh and wince at the same time. Think gallows humor meets razor-sharp social critique. Huck is still around, of course, but through Jim’s eyes you see him less as this lovable misfit and more as a kid who’s still marinating in the ugliness of the world around him. Meanwhile, Jim gets to shine in a way Twain never gave him room to. He’s clever, thoughtful, deeply human, he’s the heart of the story, not the sidekick. What I loved most is how Everett plays with language. He digs into how words are used to control, to demean, and also how they can be twisted back as power. It makes you think not just about history, but about how much of that same nonsense still echoes today. Bottom line: James is bold, angry, hilarious, and devastating all at once. I loved it. Aimee, IT Librarian Interested in this book? Click here to reserve it in the catalog! We even have it in Large Print! You can also reserve the eBook or audiobook for download with your SPL card! |
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