To celebrate America’s semiquincentennial, Miranda and Brianna recommended media that dives into American history from the perspectives of those that have been traditionally underrepresented in the narrative. Here is what they recommended. Everything is available to check out in our catalog, on Libby, or on Kanopy! 

Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History written by Sam Maggs; illustrated by Sophia Foster-Dimino 

Miranda discovered this book initially by wandering the stacks and the art style jumped out at her. Wonder Women tells the story of real women in various disciplines like science, espionage, and adventure. Not all of the women in this book are American but there are many notable American women featured. Some that really stood out to Miranda were Mary Bowser (spy), Noor Inayat Khan (author and spy), and Bessie Coleman (aviatrix.) Mary Bowser and Noor Inayat Khan were both American spies that predated the CIA and the OSS! This book is a really good starter text if you want to learn more about lesser-known historical figures, providing an overview and resources to learn more.  

Shift Happens: The History of Labor in the United States by J. Albert Mann 

Examining American history through the lens of labor, this YA book dives deep into a facet of our nation’s history that’s often overlooked. Quite literally starting with Marco Polo in the thirteenth century, this book travels all the way to the current day. With several sections that move chronologically, Mann does an excellent job of condensing dense history while providing ample detail. Chapters are only a few pages long, inviting the reader to engage with the text with a relaxed approach. 

Brianna thoroughly enjoyed this book for the way it invites young readers– or readers of all ages– to learn about a crucial division of our nation’s history. 

The Perfect Place to Die by Bryce Moore 

This is the only fiction book on this list chosen because there is a big focus on True Crime in America, but the focus is mainly on the perpetrators with little focus on the victims. This is a fictionalization of the takedown of H.H. Holmes- America’s first known serial killer.  

Zuretta is living her life in Utah when her sister goes missing from Chicago during the World’s Fair. Zuretta travels to Chicago to seek help from the Pinkertons and when they are less than helpful, she decided to find out what happened to her sister on her own. This leads her to a hotel known as The Castle (aka the famous Murder Castle) where she must face down Holmes. 

Messy Roots: A Graphic Memoir of a Wuhanese American by Laura Gao 

This YA graphic novel details the story of Laura Gao from the time she arrives in a small Texas town and all the way past high school graduation. Through Laura’s eyes, the reader is given a personal– and often relatable– glimpse at what it is like growing up an immigrant in America. From bringing unfamiliar foods to the elementary school cafeteria to moving away for college, Laura’s journey is filled with heart and a large dose of humor. 

While Brianna doesn’t usually read graphic novels, she couldn’t resist picking this one up! The art style perfectly fits the tone and Laura’s voice shines on every page. 

Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance by A’Lelia Bundles 

Many people know Madam CJ Walker, America’s first Black millionaire; less known is her daughter, A’Lelia Walker, American’s first Black heiress. This book is written by A’Lelia Bundles, A’Lelia Walker’s great granddaughter! Langston Hughes called A’Lelia Walker the “joy goddess of Harlem’s 1920’s” as she was such a prominent and important figure in the Harlem Renaissance. As an heiress with lots of money, A’Lelia was a patron of the arts and threw lavish parties and salons at her Dark Tower. She did inherit her mother’s business, and, in this book, we do see her learning to manage the business and make a name for herself outside of her mother’s shadow. Names we know and associate with the Harlem Renaissance had the platform they did- in part- thanks to A’Lelia Walker. The Harlem Renaissance, as we remember it had Walker’s influence at the helm. 

Because this book was written by a descendent of A’Lelia Walker’s, it felt like a lot of care was taken, and grace was given in telling the story of this almost mythical figure. 

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas 

This memoir picks up when Vargas is twelve years old and on the way to an airport in the Philippines, setting off for the United States. As the reader– and Vargas– will find out, he is now an undocumented immigrant in a very different world than the world he left behind in Manila. Vargas tells his story with a wry sort of determination, fully pulling the reader into his complicated yet aspirational world. 

While Vargas makes clear that he is but one story in 258 million, his narrative is shared by countless others in this country. Brianna finds Vargas’s voice compelling and his insights into immigration in America and what path the American Dream might take invaluable. 

I Is For Immigrants by Selina Alko 

This children’s picture book takes us through the alphabet, with each letter providing different words that pertain to immigrants, their cultures, or American civics. 

The art style is beautiful and colorful, sure to draw a child’s attention. Brianna appreciates the variety included– everything from dishes that have their origins in other cultures to big concepts like “liberty” and “belonging”. This book is a great opportunity to introduce kids to ideas or words they haven’t heard before while others might find excitement and their own belonging if they do recognize a word! 

The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women in the CIA by Liza Mundy 

This book is pretty much all in the title. Women have been spies for as long as there has been espionage, usually flying under the radar because of their gender. Fun fact: Harriet Tubman was a spy in the Civil War! The Sisterhood traces the history of women throughout the CIA’s history, even touching a bit on women in the OSS. This book is pretty long but don’t let its size intimidate you. Not only was it very accessible, but it was also written in a fascinating and engaging way. 

Miranda initially picked this up because her favorite author used it as research for a series she wrote. 

Not Just a Game: Power, Politics, & American Sports 

In this impactful, concise documentary based on Zirin’s bestselling book A People’s History of Sports in the United States, Zirin argues that far from providing merely escapist entertainment, American sports have long been at the center of some of the major political debates and struggles of our time. In a fascinating tour of the good, the bad, and the ugly of American sports culture, Zirin first traces how American sports have glamorized militarism, racism, sexism, and homophobia, then excavates a largely forgotten history of rebel athletes who stood up to power and fought for social justice beyond the field of play. 

Brianna loved this documentary! She is not familiar with sports as a rule and yet she was completely engaged for the duration of Zirin’s narrative. Looking to learn about facets of American History that tend to go overlooked, Brianna hit the jackpot with this find on Kanopy! Part history, part sociopolitical commentary, this documentary is only an hour in length but will leave a lasting impression. 

Unstoppable: How Bayard Rustin Organized the 1963 March on Washington 

Bayard Rustin was an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement, however he is frequently left out of history conversations because he was gay. This book talks about how he was inspired to organize the 1963 March on Washington and how he organized it and fought for Civil Rights in his lifetime. This picture book has a beautiful art style, and its writing is engaging for its audience.  

America Redux: Visual Stories from Our Dynamic History by Ariel Aberg-Riger 

Author and artist Ariel Aberg-Riger upends the way history is often viewed. Chronology is thrown out the window and stunning visuals are used to show readers how our past is our present is our future. With each chapter named after a well-known American phrase or idiom, Aberg-Riger approaches history in a new and engaging way that’s sure to appeal to readers of all styles. Brianna enjoyed diving into this colorful book and viewing the history of the United States in a new way. By shifting the lens from chronological to conceptual, the reader is encouraged to consider relationships between different areas, people, and themes that otherwise remain disparate. Brianna also appreciated that the author sought to highlight eras and people that might not be as well known to readers but have impacted our history in significant ways.  

Bonus: Aberg-Riger’s selected bibliography doesn’t just list the sources she used but explains why and how she studied them. There are even resources for readers who might not gravitate towards books! For more information, here is the book’s website for further reading and engagement: https://www.americareduxbook.com/