WCLS staff create booklists and events, write book reviews, and share resources that center diverse voices and experiences because we believe the library belongs to everyone and everyone belongs at the library. We affirm our organizational commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion as described in our Diversity Statement and reiterate the library’s role as a space for conversation, growth and understanding. We believe that centering the voices of communities that have traditionally been marginalized furthers our commitment. We invite you to use these resources to learn more and to celebrate our neighbors living in Whatcom County, the nation and the world.
FEATURED BOOKLIST
MORE BOOKLISTS
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These memoirs, essays, and poetry collections draw from similar themes as Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe’s candid, lyrical memoir: family history, healing from trauma, and the power of language. |
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Coast Salish Culture and Stories Coast Salish peoples have called this area home since time immemorial. These books recognize the Puget Sound’s indigenous history and celebrate the work that modern artists, poets, and thought leaders do to honor Coast Salish culture. |
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Historical Fiction from Black Authors Full of interesting settings and characters, these works of historical fiction from Black authors transport readers to the past for an immersive reading experience. |
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There’s a lot of material available about Native American/Indigenous People, but not all of it is by Native People. In this list you’ll find material made by people from across Native America. |
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Keep on the sunny side with fiction from equatorial countries. These novels are written by authors from South America, Africa, and island nations in between. |
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Native American Heritage Month: Titles for Young People These books and DVDs for young people provide many perspectives on the Native American experience. Read on to explore fiction, memoir, history and more. |
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Native American Heritage Month: Titles for Adults These books and DVDs provide many perspectives on the Native American experience. Read on to explore memoir, history, poetry and more. |
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Whether you’re looking to better understand your own experiences or that of a friend or loved one, these memoirs and guides can help. |
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The Lambda Literary Awards (also known as the “Lammys”) are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary and celebrate outstanding LGBTQ+ storytelling from a given year. Read on for a selection of 2023 winners! |
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2023 Washington State Book Awards – Adult Winners & Finalists Selected by the Washington Center for the Book and The Seattle Public Library, the WSBAs honor books published by Washington authors in 2022. A winner in each category was announced on Sept. 26. |
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Hispanic Heritage Month: Films Celebrate the achievements of Hispanic/Latinx actors and directors with this wide-ranging selection of films. |
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Whether you’re looking to become a stronger ally to family and friends or to better understand the varied experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community, these resources offer perspective, insight and support. |
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Juneteenth: Resources for Adults Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is an American holiday celebrated annually on June 19th. Learn more about slavery, emancipation, and Juneteenth with these Black History resources. |
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Must-Read Fiction by Native Authors From thrillers to fantasy to literary fiction and more, these novels by Native American and First Nations authors explore a range of topics and provide plenty of page-turning reading. |
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Read the Rainbow! The LGBTQIA+ experience is far from monolithic, and these books explore the depth, instersectionality, and glory of being queer, including gay, bi, lesbian, trans, and nonbinary stories. |
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Racism and Antiracism: Learn More Now Reading is a place to start. To help build a deeper understanding of racism and its effects across the country and in our communities, we are increasing the number of anti-racism books in our collection. |
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Disability Pride Month is celebrated each year in July. Disability Pride has been observed since 1990, the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This month provides an opportunity for disabled people to share their stories and come together as a community, and for others to learn more about the experience of living with a disability. Check out these fiction and nonfiction works to learn more. |
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Black Authors of the Pacific Northwest Explore the fiction and nonfiction work of Black authors from our region. |
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These writers explore the experience of the Asian American diaspora, generational trauma, and`the complexities of living between two (or more!) cultures. |
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Asian American Families in Fiction Feeling homesick? Try one of these family-centric novels by Asian American authors about family businesses, family dynamics, and intergenerational tensions. |
LIBRARY EVENTS
A Conversation on Language with George Adams and Joshua Olsen
Saturday, March 9, 2024, 3:00 p.m. Everson Library 104 Kirsch Drive Everson, WA 98247 Join us for a discussion between a Nooksack tribal elder and his apprentice as they talk about their individual journeys to becoming preservers of the Nooksack Language, Lhéchalosem.
Janet Yoder presents Where the Language Lives: Vi Hilbert and the Gift of Lushootseed at the Nooksack Community Building
Saturday, March 2, 2024, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Nooksack Community Building Mí sq’ eq’ ó 2515 Sulwhanon Dr, Everson (map) Join us at Mí sq’ eq’ ó, the Nooksack Tribal Community Building for a special appearance by Janet Yoder where she will present her book, Where the Language Lives: Vi Hilbert and the Gift of Lushootseed. Nominated for … Read more
Hora de Cuentos Bilingüe
See Dates below. Register at https://wcls.libcal.com/event/11456196 This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email. Las familias o adultos al cuidado de niños pequeños disfrutarán una gran variedad de historias, canciones, rimas, y actividades corporales mientras desarrollan habilidades que preparan a los niños para la lectura en inglés y español. Families … Read more
BOOK REVIEWS
Book Buzz: This Is the Honey
This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets; edited by Kwame Alexander In 2020, poet Kevin Young, current director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and poetry editor for the New Yorker, published “African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song.” Young’s 1,110-page anthology is a comprehensive array of Black poets from … Read more
Book Buzz: The Night Parade
The Night Parade: A Speculative Memoir by Jami Nakamura Lin “Maybe this isn’t a story about ghosts, but a story about telling a story about ghosts.” This genre-defying memoir uses multiple storytelling traditions to make sense of mental illness, motherhood, and grief. Jami Nakamura Lin, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at seventeen, has always … Read more
Book Buzz: Thunder Song
Thunder Song: Essays by Sasha taqʷšǝblu LaPointe Sasha taqʷšǝblu LaPointe has been on many local reading lists as her debut book, “Red Paint: the Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk,” is the 2024 Whatcom READS selection. LaPointe is visiting Whatcom County March 14–16 and participating in a variety of events that are free to … Read more
Book Buzz: The Lost Journals of Sacajewea
The Lost Journals of Sacajewea by Debra Magpie Earling Schoolchildren across the country have heard the story of Sacajawea, and can readily recall her association with the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 – 1806. She is commonly referred to as the expedition’s interpreter. One has the impression of a beautiful, competent, wise young woman … Read more