November 2018 Book of the Month
Dare to be Kind: How Extraordinary Compassion Can Transform Our World
by Lizzie Velasquez with Catherine Avril Morris
Published by: Hachette Books
ISBN-10: 0316272434
ISBN-13: 978-0316272438
SYNOPSIS:
“Sometimes we are met with overwhelming challenges that knock us off our feet-but [Lizzie has] been able to embody the power of hope and compassion in everything [she does].”
–Michelle Obama
Born with a rare genetic condition, Lizzie Velasquez always knew she was different, but it wasn’t until she was older that she understood what that meant to herself and others.
In this daring, inspirational book, Lizzie reveals the hidden forces that give rise to self-doubt and empowers us to unlock empathy and kindness for ourselves and others. Through her own battles with anxiety and depression she demonstrates how we can overcome obstacles and move forward with greater positivity and hope.
Dare to Be Kind offers the path to self-acceptance, love, and tolerance, and provides a framework for living with confidence and resilience, and ultimately, forging a radically compassionate world.
Author webpage: https://www.lizzievelasquezofficial.com/
Twitter: @littlelizziev
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizzieVelasquez/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlelizziev/
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/lizzitachickita
BIO:
Lizzie Velasquez is a motivational speaker and had over a half a million subscribers on her YouTube channel and the executive producer of a documentary based on her life, A Brave Heart.
When Lizzie Velasquez was 17 years old she came across a video online titled The Worlds Ugliest Woman-only to discover that the 8-second viral video featured her Born with a genetic condition that makes it impossible for her to gain weight Lizzie had always known she was different but after her online bullying went public she decided to stand up on behalf of victims everywhere She also made it her mission to help create a kinder world Today her popular YouTube channel has half a million followers and her massively popular TED talk has been seen more than 10 million times In this daring and revelatory book she draws on her experiences overcoming bullying-from the schoolyard to the Internet-to reveal the hidden forces that give rise to cruelty and how we can redirect them to unlock empathy and kindness Lizzie shows how each one of us can use everyday acts of empathy to create a kinder culture and a better world Her insights include How-and why-to integrate acts of kindness into your routine How to truly embrace people’s differences as well as your own How to try on some confidence and manage the perils of insecurity How to overcome challenges with the right mental attitude Through her own story Lizzie shows the radical ripple-effect that kindness can have on the world around us Lizzie did not let a single harsh act define who she was – she redefined herself and started a movement in the process Our nation today feels absorbed she writes in a culture of meanness and we must focus-both collectively and as individuals-on instilling our interactions and relationships with understanding Dare to Be Kind is not about where you come from or what you’ve been through It’s about finding the path to radical acceptance love and tolerance-of yourself and all of those around you-and how that path can help you lead a confident resilient and harmonious life and ultimately become a helper in forging a better future for our children and a more comp
November 2018 Conversations Book
Shadowhouse Fall (The Shadowshaper Cypher, Book 2)
by Daniel Jose Older
Published by: Arthur A. Levine Books
ISBN-10: 0545952824
ISBN-13: 978-0545952828
SYNOPSIS:
The stunning sequel to the New York Times bestseller Shadowshaper is daring, dazzling, defiant.
“A magical revolution on the page.” — Leigh Bardugo
“[Older] leaves us openmouthed and speechless, asking “What just happened to me?!” — Jacqueline Woodson
Sierra and her friends love their new lives as shadowshapers, making art and creating change with the spirits of Brooklyn. Then Sierra receives a strange card depicting a beast called the Hound of Light — an image from the enigmatic, influential Deck of Worlds. The shadowshapers know their next battle has arrived.
Thrust into an ancient struggle with enemies old and new, Sierra and Shadowhouse are determined to win. Revolution is brewing in the real world as well, as the shadowshapers lead the fight against systems that oppress their community. To protect her family and friends in every sphere, Sierra must take down the Hound and master the Deck of Worlds . . . or risk losing them all.
Author webpage: http://ghoststar.net/
Twitter: @djolder https://twitter.com/djolder
BIO:
Daniel José Older is the New York Times bestselling author of the Middle Grade historical fantasy series Dactyl Hill Squad, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, Star Wars: Last Shot, and the award winning Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher, which won the International Latino Book Award and was shortlisted for the Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature, the Andre Norton Award, the Locus, the Mythopoeic Award, and named one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read. You can find his thoughts on writing, read dispatches from his decade-long career as an NYC paramedic and hear his music at http://danieljoseolder.net/, on youtube and @djolder on twitter.
