Wheels of Chance: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (with a few flat tires along the way) by Sue Macy

Maybe this book explains the real start of the modern women that think they can do anything they want the way they want. How could an invention that started out called bone shakers or penny fathings (very weird beginnings that you just have to see) could bring the wind of social change? Well, lets start with how you had to dress. Have you seen what type of clothing women had to wear? All the layers and how long it was. How about the freedom to ride away from male eyes that controlled their lives. Men worried that if women were allow to ride bicycles that maybe they would want to right to VOTE!!!! Oh, the horrors that our time period would bring to those guys. Did you know there were famous riders who people paid to see? For the guys, you will enjoy the history of our first attempt to find a way to not have to walk every where or clean up after the horses that hauled us around. It is just worth the look to see the period pictures. I bet you can't find those on Google images.

Courage Has No Color; The True Story of the Triple Nickles, American's First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone

Have you ever felt the system is stack against you? Life is not fair? Sometimes, you just want to give up? Everyone has those thoughts at your age, but in modern America, most of the time, if you put in the work, you will get to your dreams. But what about those who lived earlier in our history, could those thoughts be true? How can you continue and not just give up? Character, inter-strength, determination to prove them wrong and, at times, guts are great answers. But a group of men proved that sometimes you just have to prove to those who think you are inferior that they are plain wrong can be the driving force. In their own words and photos, the brave men who dared to dream and put the hard work in, tell about how they broke the color barrier while the author will fill you in on the history. Be prepared to be angry at times, but you will also learn that how to rise above those who judge you.

When The Earth Shakes; Earthquakes, Volcaneoes and Tsunamis by Simon Winchester

Who knew that a scientist could writing  an interesting, readable, and at time scary story of 3 of the ways that the very earth that we live on can kill you? If you love watching shows that show destruction and death that Mother Nature seems to enjoy doing more lately, this book is for you. The author tells about how he actually experience some of these and lived to tell about it. He even broke the law to get the last interview of one of the most famous victims of Mt. St. Helens explosion that proved that yes, even in the United States there are volcanoes. Lots of great pictures and resources to find more death and destruction. Who knew science could be this fun? Just right up Evil Mutant Librarian's alley. 

Angel Island; Gateway to Gold Mountain by Russell Freedman

Why would anyone want to come to a place that requires a long and at times dangerous voyage only to end up not even being welcomed? Limited job opportunities and prejudice, that at times comes with violence, is a given. Hated enough for laws to be passed to limit their numbers and even stating their children could never become citizens. The answer was the American dream of a better life and the promise that being treated equally because of the Constitution will happen some day.

Angel Island is the Ellis Island of the West Coast, where most immigrants came into this country.  The stories of those who came and how they were treated will stick with you The author was not really planning to even tell this story, but a question to one of "those librarians" who pestered him with more information and pushing until he wrote the book.

Learn about how the fight for equal rights finally worked. Learn about what finally got the Island saved for us to visit. Learn about the famous Russian composer whose music you have heard could not even escape being detained there out of fear of what he might bring to our shore. Yes, our history does repeat itself when you don't read and understand the past. Are you brave enough to learn or will you join those who don't want to remember?

Tsunami; The True Story of an April Fool's Day Disaster by Gail Langer Karwoski

How could a dream job in Paradise turn into a life or death moment?  How could we as a country forget this type of event? How could a normal school day suddenly turn out so wrong? Can it happen again? Learn the answers to these questions and why living on any large body of water could not be as safe as you thought. If you like reading about what those cable shows seem to like scaring people with, this book is for you. If you are a science geek who likes to learn how the world works, you will enjoy this who, why, and how book on not just this tsunami but others that have hit and killed too many people.

Stella has dreams, but it seems that Jim Crow laws will get in the way. It is 1932 and segregation is enforced by law and terror. It takes a community to overcome and stand strong, and this will prove to Stella that her dreams may come true. She just has to get through the year, but what a year it is. When some of the men stand up and want to vote, it seems everyone will pay a price. How can someone be so cruel as to burn a house or turn away when someone could die if they don't help? Can good come out of all this bad? What is stronger, hate or love?  If you want a story that will stay with you and could haunt you, read this book.