All the books listed here are available at the library. Stop in, give us a call, or use the online catalog to place a hold and check one out. All book descriptions are summarized from the publisher’s description on the back of the book, Goodreads, or the library catalog.

July is Disability Pride Month, which marks the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Honor the history, achievements, and experiences of the disabled community by reading one of these books.

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert: Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek with a goal, and plan, and a list. After a near death experience she decides to “get a life” by following her step-by-step directions to complete her rebellious list. She needs a teacher to help her on her mission to rebel, and she enlists Redford Morgan, a handyman with tattoos, a motorcycle, and major sex appeal. Available on Libby (audio), Hoopla (audio, e-book), and Palace Project (audio, e-book).

True Biz by Sara Novic: Follow the people of the River Valley School for the Deaf: Charlie, a transfer student who has never met another deaf person before; Austin, the school’s golden boy whose baby sister was born hearing; and February, the headmistress fighting to keep the school from closing. A series of political and personal crises will change their lives forever. Available on Palace Project (audio, e-book).

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum: Each week, best friends Benny and Joy host a beloved survival podcast finding the humor in near-death experiences, which Joy is familiar with due to her severe narcolepsy. Thanks to Joy’s husband Xander’s management, they’ve built quite the empire. But when Benny shows up to record the next episode and Joy and Xander are nowhere to be found, it seems like the next survival story might be their own. Available on Libby (audio, e-book) and Palace Project (audio, e-book).

Mean Baby by Selma Blair: The first story Selma Blair Beitner ever heard about herself is that she was a mean, mean baby. Over the course of this beautiful and shocking memoir, Selma lays bare her addiction to alcohol, her devotion to her brilliant and complicated mother, and the moments she flirted with death. There is violence, love, true friendship, the gift of motherhood and, finally, the devastation and surprising salvation of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. 

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma: Born with deaf-blindness, Girma grew up with just enough vision to know someone was in front of her and enough hearing to know someone close to her was talking. Girma overcame roadblocks while obtaining her undergraduate and then law degree. She developed methods of communication and found her calling in advocating for the deaf and blind communities in more accessible communication, education, and employment opportunities. She writes with a witty sense of humor while describing the challenges of antiquated societal beliefs surrounding people with disabilities. 

Overthinking about You by Allison Raskin: Dating is hard. Pursuing love and relationships when you live with mental illness can be even more overwhelming. Allison Raskin knows this challenge firsthand and shares what he’s learned from her experiences, discovering new ways to form healthy dating and relationship habits. Woven throughout are interviews with clinical psychologists, a psychiatrist, a sexologist, relationship experts, and real-life couples sharing insight about topics ranging from meeting online to handling a breakup, from recognizing unhealthy relationships to the big one—sex. Available on Hoopla (audio, e-book).

Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with these American Revolution books!

Founding Brothers by Joseph J Ellis: Ellis provides us with a study of the intertwined lives of America’s founding fathers, focusing on John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington. 

1776 by David McCullough: Based on research from American and British archives, 1776 follows the lives of those who marched with George Washington in the year the Declaration of Independence was written. It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color; farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats. Available on Libby (audio) and Hoopla (audio).

The American Revolution by Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns: In defeating the British and giving birth to a new nation, the American Revolution turned the world upside-down. Historian Geoffrey C. Ward steers us through the international forces at play through the eyes of not only our “Founding Fathers” but also those of ordinary soldiers, as well as underrepresented populations such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, and American Loyalists, asking who exactly was entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Available on Palace Project (audio, e-book).

Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution by Molly Beer: An enthralling and revealing telling of the birth of the United States, this portrait of Angelica is woven from her letters and other primary sources. In telling her story, Molly Beer illuminates how American women have always plied influence and networks for political ends, including the making of the nation. Available on Hoopla (audio).

We the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America by Norah O’Donnell: Through extensive research and interviews, as well as historical documents and old photos, O’Donnell curates a portrait of fierce fighters for freedom. From Mary Katherine Goddard, who printed the first signed Declaration of Independence, to the Forten family women, active in the abolition and suffrage movements and considered the “Black Founders” of Philadelphia, to the first women who served in the armed forces even before they had the right to vote, O’Donnell brings these extraordinary women together for the first time, and in doing so writes the American story anew. Available on Libby (audio, e-book) and Palace Project (audio, e-book).

Check out one of these books perfect for reading on the beach!