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Fantastic children's authors

Websites of some wonderful authors:

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Love reading

Coventry Library Service regularly posts on Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/covlibraries] and X (formerly Twitter) [http://www.twitter.com/covlibraries] updates on new titles available, book reviews and recommendations. We have also set up an online readers' group [http://www.facebook.com/groups/CoventryLibrariesOnlineReadersGroup].

The Library Services offers free ebooks and eaudiobooks [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/ebooks] You will also find here how to access our range of free e-newspapers, e-magazines and e-comics.

To continue to explore your love of reading and see what others are recommending you can check out the following websites:

One Million Reads

One million reads colour logo

One Million Reads aimed to count 1,000,000 reads across the city in a single year. A ‘read’ was any published story, poem, or article, either read or heard.

One Million Reads also brought a programme of exciting literary and cultural projects to library users and communities across the city. Read more about each of these projects below.

On 25 May 2021, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall launched One Million Reads during a visit to Coventry's Central Library.

Throughout the year, lots of events and activities took place in libraries across Coventry - you can read all about these below.

Then, on 31 May 2022, the grand total of 1,262,798 reads was announced – Coventry had achieved above and beyond the goal!

The One Million Reads project has been supported by a grant from Arts Council England.

Seeds for Shakespeare

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust: magical early-years fun

Early-years activity days were brought to Tile Hill, Foleshill, Caludon, Stoke and Central Libraries by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust [https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/]. Through storytelling, dance workshops, interactive performances and craft activities, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest came alive for the youngest of audiences.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust worked with Collar and Cuffs Company [http://www.collarandcuffs.org/], Ascension Dance Company [https://www.ascensiondance.co.uk/], dance and drama practitioner Sohan Kailey [https://www.sohankailey.com/], and storyteller Pyn Stockman [https://pynstockman.com/].

Photographer-in-Residence: libraries through the lens

Coventry Libraries commissioned a professional photographer to capture the joy of reading across the city. Local photographer, Russell Whitehead [https://www.russellwhitehead.com/], visited libraries in Coundon, Bell Green, Willenhall and Stoke Aldermoor, taking portraits of members of the public to reveal the positive impact reading can have.

Cllr Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “We are certain to see the enjoyment that reading can bring to many of us, young and old, through Russell’s photography and how the power of storytelling can have such a strong impact on our wellbeing.”

You can now see the portraits by visiting any of the four libraries listed above, and asking to see their One Million Reads Photography Album.

One million reads story bench

Story Bench: tales from Coventry’s past

Coventry Libraries commissioned the creation of a bespoke Story Bench, carved with stories from Coventry’s real and mythic past. Stories were gathered from residents, community groups, and library users, and range from the fantastical to the familiar, arising from both ancient times and more recent history.

The Bench was carved by artist and craftsman Simon O’Rourke [https://www.treecarving.co.uk/], and is now based in the garden at Tile Hill Library. The Bench features a hidden speaker: take a seat and hear the stories read aloud.

QR Code Trails: discover new reads

Five unique QR Code Trails can be found at Allesley Park, Caludon, Canley, Coundon, and Holbrooks Libraries. Each Trail of eight codes will offer you reading recommendations, e-audiobook snippets, and poems by Coventry’s Poet Laureate and Young Poet Laureate [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/city-culture-2021-poet-laureates/1]. By scanning each code you will also find questions to help you think about your own reading journey, and eight letters which when unscrambled, will spell a word and earn you a prize!

Perfect for families. Visit any of the five libraries listed above, and ask for your activity sheet to get started.

Small Bells Ring: the floating library

Small Bells Ring [https://smallbellsring.co.uk/] brought a floating library to Coventry Canal. During its time in the city, the narrowboat RV Furor Scribendi created a unique venue for people to browse, read, and chat. Readers were invited to step aboard to explore the huge collection of short stories, and Coventry Library staff held Storytimes on the boat and in canal-side spaces.

Small Bells Ring was a project delivered by several partners: Studio Morison [https://peakmorison.org/], Super Slow Way [https://superslowway.org.uk/], the Canal and River Trust [https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/], and Lancashire Libraries [https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives/libraries/].

Reading Rooms: open up with a book

One Million Reads also brought Verbal’s Reading Rooms scheme to Coventry Libraries. Through twelve guided sessions held at Tile Hill, Bell Green, and Aldermoor Libraries, children were introduced to bibliotherapy: a way to encourage wellbeing through reading stories. Reading Rooms created safe, inclusive, and open spaces in libraries, where thoughts and feelings could be shared and discussed.

Reading, play reading, poetry and writing groups

For a list of Poetry Groups, Readers Groups or Writers Groups, please visit the What's on in Libraries [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/whatsonlibraries] page

Readers' groups (16+)

Do you love reading and long to discuss the books you have read? Whether you loved or loathed a book, why not join one of Coventry Libraries Readers' Groups to share your opinions.

  • Free to attend
  • Suitable for adults (16+)
  • Open to everyone

Readers' groups are great places to meet other people who love to read, talk about books and discover new authors and genres that you may not have thought of trying. Our groups across libraries in Coventry are friendly and informal. New members are always welcome. You do not need any literary knowledge to join a readers' group, you just need to enjoy reading! There is no need to worry if you haven't finished the book or didn't like it, you can still come along and join in. Please contact your local library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/findalibrary] for more details of their Readers' Group.

Some Groups read the same title as each other to discuss at their meeting each month; others read something different each time. You don't have to be an expert, just willing to chat about what you've read. We are sometimes able to arrange for authors to visit readers' groups to talk about their books. We also keep group members up to date about book news and author events with our regular email.

We have a readers' pack [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/1117/readers_pack] for you to take a look at if you would like to set up your own readers' group. Library based readers' groups are not always run by staff but you can use the library as your meeting place. We will promote your group in the list below and on our monthly events [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/whatsonlibraries] leaflets.

If you would like to share your thoughts about a particular book from one of your meetings, you can submit a review by emailing libraries247@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:libraries247@coventry.gov.uk]

Library based readers' groups
Library Frequency Time
Allesley Park Library [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/allesleyparklibrary] Second Saturday of the month 2pm - 3pm
Bell Green Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/bellgreenlibrary] Second Monday of the month 5.15pm - 6.15pm
Canley Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/canleylibrary] Fourth Monday of the month 2pm - 3pm
Central Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/centrallibrary] Third Wednesday of the month 12.30pm - 1.30pm
Coundon Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/coundonlibrary] Second Tuesday of the month 2pm - 3pm
Coundon Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/coundonlibrary] Second Thursday of the month 5.30pm - 6.30pm
Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library [https://earlsdonlibrary.org.uk/] Second Thursday of the month 7.30pm
Foleshill Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/foleshilllibrary] First Thursday of the month 5pm - 6pm
Holbrooks Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/holbrookslibrary] Third Thursday of the month 11am - 12 noon
Jubilee Crescent Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/jubileecrescentlibrary] Last Friday of the month 2pm - 3pm
Stoke Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/stokelibrary] Second Wednesday of the month 1pm - 2pm
Tile Hill Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/tilehilllibrary] Second Thursday of the month 11am - 12.30pm
Tile Hill Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/tilehilllibrary]

Third Monday of the month

Readers' group for people wanting to improve reading in English. Download and print the poster [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/7441/tile-hill-library-esol-readers-group]. Discuss books in English with others wanting to improve in reading. Find the right fiction book for you. Lots of titles are available to support people improving in reading in English. A great way to get extra informal practice outside formal ESOL classes.

 11am - 12noon
Willenhall Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/willenhalllibrary] First Thursday of the month 2pm - 3pm
Non-Library based readers' groups
Group Name Frequency Time Location Contact
St. Barbara's Book Club Monthly on a Thursday 7.45pm Virtually on Zoom Alison: 07960042537 or e-mail [mailto:alisonsatuma@gmail.com]
Gallery Readers Group Third Wednesday of the month (except December) 7.30pm Virtually on Zoom Jane: e-mail [mailto:jane.beck99@yahoo.co.uk]

Register your readers' group

If you would like to receive titles from our readers' group collection, you will need to register your readers' group with us. Titles you request will be delivered to the library of your choice for collection.

Titles available for loan to readers' groups

There are over 150 titles available for the exclusive use of readers' groups registered with the library service. Books are usually supplied as mixed sets of hardback and paperback copies. Other formats are available on request but please note that these formats will be loaned from normal circulating stock and may already be out on loan.

View the book list [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/events-in-Coventry-libraries/4]

Request a title for your next readers' group

If you are registered with us you can request any title from the readers' group collection. You should ensure you have submitted your request at least two weeks before your next meeting to ensure we can supply your title on time. You should also provide us with at least two titles so we can ensure we can supply one of them and will be in contact if we cannot supply either title.

If your group reads a mixture of titles at each meeting you can borrow titles from the general library stock, check the catalogue and reserve your title [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/onlinelibrarycatalogue]. Struggling to find an author? Check out "Who Else Writes Like" [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/126/libraries/3215/e-resources/18] or browse through our booklists at Discover More Reads [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/discover-reads]

You will need to provide the author, title and number of copies for two books along with the date of your next meeting.

Earlsdon Literary Magazine

Earlsdon Literary Magazine is the monthly newsletter of the Avid Readers at Earlsdon Library.

Readers' groups online

Can't make it to any of these readers' groups? You can chat about your favourite books and review them online by joining the following free book group forum Goodreads groups [https://www.goodreads.com/group]. You can also suggest new titles to other readers groups and apply for offers for your group through Readers Groups for Everyone [http://readinggroups.org/groups], you will need a special code to do so, once you have signed up for a free account.

If you are a Facebook user, join the Coventry Libraries Online Readers Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoventryLibrariesOnlineReadersGroup]

For specialist reader development advice, contact our Reading and Literacy Coordinator, Lesley Martin: lesley.martin@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:lesley.martin@coventry.gov.uk] or call 024 7697 2677

For general Readers Group enquiries please email libraries247@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:libraries247@coventry.gov.uk]

Play readers' groups (16+)

The play readers’ groups based in libraries are open to everyone, free to attend, with new members always welcome.

Register your play readers’ group

If you would like to register your play readers’ group, you can do so online or in person. You will have access to the playset collection held at Central Library for the exclusive use of play readers’ groups. The library service can also help promote community-based groups, who do not meet at their local library.

Request a title for your next play readers’ group

If you would like to request titles from us for your next play readers’ group, you can do so online, over the phone or in person. You will need to provide the playwright, title, number of copies required and the date of your next meeting

Titles available for play readers’ groups to loan

View the play readers' list [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/events-in-Coventry-libraries/5]

Poetry groups

Poetry Workshops at Central Library on the last Sunday of the month 1pm - 3.10pm. Coventry's own Poet Laureate, Emilie Lauren Jones, leads this poetry session consisting of fun writing activities inspired by example poems, with time for sharing your written poems. Whether you have been writing for a long time or are new to writing, why not join this friendly and inclusive group? For more details contact Emilie by telephone on 07805 104743 or e-mail [mailto:emilielaurenwriter@gmail.com]. These sessions are supported by the Positive Images Festival.

Creative writing groups

If you enjoy writing, join one of our creative writing groups where you can share your passion for telling stories, in a supportive environment, with like-minded people.

Creative writing group sessions
Library Frequency Time
Central Writers Hub Fortnightly on a Saturday 10am - 12noon
Stoke Writers Group Second Wednesday of the month 2pm - 3pm

Readers' Group book collection

Crime
Author Book title Number of copies
Archer, Jeffrey Nothing Ventured 12 copies
Barclay, Linwood No Time for Goodbye 11 copies
Bolton, S. J.  Now You See Me 13 copies
Brittney, Lynn A Death in Chelsea 3 copies
Camilleri, Andrea The Terracotta Dog 9 copies
Clark, Mary Higgins The Lost Years 6 copies
Cleeves, Ann The Long Call 8 copies
Cleeves, Ann Too Good to be True (Quick Read) 12 copies
Connelly, Michael The Burning Room 10 copies
Cornwell, Patricia The Bone Bed 11 copies
Durrant, Sabine Under Your Skin 32 copies
Ferraris, Zoe City of Veils 14 copies
French, Tana Broken Harbour 22 copies
Hannah, Sophie Kind of Cruel 23 copies
James, Peter Dead Man's Time 13 copies
James, Peter Not Dead Yet 15 copies
Kelly, Erin The Burning Air 18 copies
Knight, Ali Until Death 17 copies
La Plante, Lynda Backlash 6 copies
La Plante, Lynda Blood Line 5 copies
La Plante, Lynda Wrongful Death 7 copies
MacBride, Stuart Close to the Bone 7 copies
Nesbo, Jo Phantom 9 copies
Rankin, Ian The Falls 9 copies
Reichs, Kathy Bones are Forever 10 copies
Reichs, Kathy Death du Jour 15 copies
Rhodes, Kate Crossbones Yard 17 copies
Robb, J. D.  Thankless in Death 8 copies
Robinson, Peter Children of the Revolution 12 copies
Sansom, C. J. Dissolution 12 copies
Smith, Alexander McCall The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 12 copies
Walters, Minette A Dreadful Murder (Quick Read) 10 copies
Watson, S. J.  Before I go to Sleep 13 copies
Welsh, Louise The Girl on the Stairs 25 copies
Fantasy
Author Book title  Number of copies
Gaiman, Neil The Ocean at the End of the Lane 15 copies
Haynes, Natalie Stone Blind 12 copies
Hobb, Robin Assassin's Apprentice 18 copies
Pratchett, Terry Good Omens 14 copies
Wilson, G. Willow Alif the Unseen 15 copies
Fiction
Author Book title Number of copies
Adams, Sara Nisha The Reading List 11 copies
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi Americanah  16 copies
Adiga, Aravind Last Man in Tower  9 copies
Adiga, Aravind White Tiger 7 copies
Ahern, Cecelia How to Fall in Love 10 copies
Ahern, Cecelia One Hundred Names 10 copies
Albom, Mitch The Five People You Meet in Heaven 9 copies
Alison, Rosie The Very Thought of You 6 copies
Allende, Isabel The House of Spirits 13 copies
Archer, Jeffrey Only Time Will Tell 10 copies
Archer, Jeffrey The Sins of the Father 10 copies
Arnold, Gaynor Girl in a Blue Dress 13 copies
Atkinson, Kate Life After Life 17 copies
Backman, Fredrik A Man Called Ove 13 copies
Backman, Fredrik Anxious People 12 copies
Banks, Iain The Quarry 21 copies
Banks, Lynne Reid The L-Shaped Room 14 copies
Barry, Sebastian A Long Long Way 14 copies
Barry, Sebastian The Secret Scripture 13 copies
Bennett, Ronan The Catastrophist 15 copies
Binchy, Maeve Full House (Quick Read) 14 copies
Binchy, Maeve A Week in Winter 10 copies
Blake, Sarah The Postmistress 12 copies
Boyd, William Restless 14 copies
Boyne, John The Heart’s Invisible Furies 11 copies
Bradford, Barbara Taylor Cavendon Hall 6 copies
Brays, Carys The Museum of You 10 copies
Bronte, Anne Agnes Grey 15 copies
Brooks, Geraldine March 15 copies
Brooks, Geraldine Year of Wonders 15 copies
Broome, Iain A is for Angelica 16 copies
Bulawayo, NoViolet We Need New Names 15 copies
Burnett, Frances Hodgson The Secret Garden 14 copies
Byatt, A. S. The Children’s Book 16 copies
Carey, Peter The Chemistry of Tears 13 copies
Cary, Dennis An Untilled Field 10 copies
Catozzella, Giuseppe Don’t Tell me You’re Afraid 16 copies
Chambers, Clare Small Pleasures 12 copies
Clarke, Susanna Piranesi 12 copies
Cochrane, Kira Escape Route for Beginners 18 copies
Coe, Jonathan The Rotters’ Club 14 copies
Coetzee, J. M. Disgrace  13 copies
Cohen, Julie Together 7 copies
Collins, Jackie The Power Trip 7 copies
Cox, Josephine The Broken Man 10 copies
Desai, Anita Fasting, Feasting 15 copies
De Waal, Kit My Name is Leon 11 copies
Dickens, Charles The Old Curiosity Shop 15 copies
Dickens, Charles A Tale of Two Cities 11 copies
Donoghue, Emma The Wonder 15 copies
Doyle, Roddy Smile 15 copies
Du Maurier, Daphne The House on the Strand 13 copies
Du Maurier, Daphne My Cousin Rachel 13 copies
Dunant, Sarah Sacred Hearts 14 copies
Eliot, George Felix Holt, the Radical 10 copies
Eliot, George Middlemarch 9 copies
Eliot, George Silas Marner 8 copies
Erskine, Barbara River of Destiny 14 copies
Evans, Harriett A Place for Us 11 copies
Farrell, J. G. The Siege of Krishnapur 13 copies
Fforde, Katie A French Affair 7 copies
Fforde, Katie Recipe for love 10 copies
Fielding, Helen Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy 6 copies
Fitzgerald, F. Scott The Great Gatsby 14 copies
Flynn, Katie A Christmas to Remember 8 copies
Flynn, Katie A Sixpenny Christmas 7 copies
Forna, Aminatta The Memory of Love 14 copies
Forster, Margaret Diary of an Ordinary Woman 14 copies
Franzen, Jonathan The Corrections 15 copies
French, Dawn Oh Dear Silvia 21 copies
Fugard, Athol Tsotsi 14 copies
Gaskell, Elizabeth Wives and Daughters 14 copies
Gee, Sue The Mysteries of Glass 10 copies
Ghosh, Amitav Sea of Poppies 14 copies
Glencross, Tim Barbarians 12 copies
Graham, Laurie The Future Homemakers of America 14 copies
Green, Jane The Patchwork Marriage 11 copies
Greene, Graham Brighton Rock 14 copies
Gruen, Sara Water For Elephants 12 copies
Haddad, Saleem Guapa 12 copies
Halls, Stacey Mrs England 11 copies
Hamilton, Patrick Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky 13 copies
Harris, Joanne Peaches for Monsieur le Cure 13 copies
Heller, Zoe Notes on a Scandal 14 copies
Hemingway, Ernest Fiesta 15 copies
Hemingway, Ernest The Old Man and the Sea 14 copies
Highsmith, Patricia The Talented Mr. Ripley 12 copies
Hislop, Victoria The Island 12 copies
Honeyman, Gail Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine 14 copies
Hosseini, Khaled And the Mountains Echoed 10 copies
Ilich, Patricia Maybe I’ll Write More Later… Maybe 12 copies
Irving, John The Cider House Rules 15 copies
Irving, John A Prayer for Owen Meany 14 copies
Ishiguro, Kazuo Never Let Me Go 12 copies
Jewell, Lisa Before I Met You 10 copies
Jonasson, Jonas The 100-year-old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared 11 copies
Jonasson, Jonas The Girl who Saved the King of Sweden 10 copies
Jones, Ruth Never Greener 8 copies
Jones, Terry Trouble on the Heath 15 copies
Joyce, Graham Some Kind of Fairy Tale 13 copies
Joyce, Rachel The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy 15 copies
Joyce, Rachel Perfect 11 copies
Joyce, Rachel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry 25 copies
Kelly, Cathy The Honey Queen 11 copies
Kennedy, Louise Trespasses 12 copies
Keyes, Marian The Mystery of Mercy Close 7 copies
Kidd, Sue Monk The Secret Life of Bees 14 copies
Koomson, Dorothy The Rose Petal Beach 9 copies
Laclos, Choderlos de Dangerous Liaisons 12 copies
Lee, Maureen After the War is Over 8 copies
Lessing, Doris The Grass is Singing 14 copies
Lette, Kathy Love is Blind (Quick Read) 11 copies
Lewis, Susan Don’t Let Me Go 12 copies
Lewis, Susan No Child of Mine 10 copies
London, Jack The Call of the Wild 13 copies
Lupton, Rosamund Sister 15 copies
McEwan, Ian On Chesil Beach 11 copies
McEwan, Ian Sweet Tooth 13 copies
McGregor, Jon If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things 12 copies
McQuiston, Casey One Last Stop 9 copies
Mansell, Jill Don’t Want to Miss a Thing 10 copies
Mansell, Jill The Unpredictable Consequences of Love 8 copies
Marshall, Heather Looking For Jane 10 copies
Mason, Meg Sorrow and Bliss 12 copies
Maupin, Armistead The Days of Anna Madrigal 8 copies
Miller, Andrew Snowdrops 14 copies
Mitchell, Margaret Gone with the Wind 4 copies
Moggach, Deborah Heartbreak Hotel 7 copies
Montefiore, Santa The House by the Sea 8 copies
Montefiore, Santa Secrets of the Lighthouse 15 copies
Morton, Kate The Secret Keeper 9 copies
Moyes, Jojo Me Before You 14 copies
Mukherjee, Alison An Untimely Frost 15 copies
Mukherjee, Alison What’s Going on at the Whitler? 9 copies
Murugan, Perumal Pyre 12 copies
Nemirovsky, Irene Suite Francaise 11 copies
Newman, Sandra The Country of Ice Cream Star 10 copies
North, Anna Outlawed 9 copies
North, Freya The Way Back Home 8 copies
Norton, Graham Holding 12 copies
O’Connor, Joseph Shadowplay 12 copies
O’Farrell, Maggie After You’d Gone 11 copies
O’Farrell, Maggie Instructions for a Heatwave 7 copies
Orwell, George Nineteen Eighty-Four 14 copies
Oyeyemi, Helen Peaces 9 copies
Ozeki, Ruth The Book of Form and Emptiness 12 copies
Palacio, R. J. Wonder 14 copies
Parks, Adele Whatever It Takes 8 copies
Parsons, Tony Man and Boy 13 copies
Pearse, Lesley Forgive Me 10 copies
Petterson, Per It’s Fine by Me 14 copies
Picoult, Jodi Lone Wolf 11 copies
Picoult, Jodi Nineteen Minutes 15 copies
Powers, Richard Bewilderment 12 copies
Pym, Barbara Excellent Women 11 copies
Rankin, Robert The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse 11 copies
Reid, Taylor Jenkins Daisy Jones & the Six 9 copies
Rice, James Alice and the Fly 11 copies
Robinson, Marilynne Gilead 8 copies
Rooney, Sally Normal People 12 copies
Roy, Arundhati The God of Small Things 20 copies
Sahota, Sunjeev China Room 12 copies
Savage, Thomas The Power of the Dog 12 copies
Schlink, Bernhard The Reader 15 copies
Seth, Vikram An Equal Music 13 copies
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft Frankenstein 15 copies
Simsion, Graeme The Rosie Project 12 copies
Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 14 copies
St. Aubyn, Edward Mother’s Milk 16 copies
Steel, Danielle Until the End of Time 6 copies
Steinbeck, John Of Mice and Men 14 copies
Stockett, Kathryn The Help 12 copies
Swarup, Vikas Slumdog Millionaire 13 copies
Swift, Graham The Light of Day 9 copies
Tartt, Donna The Little Friend 15 copies
Towles, Amor A Gentleman in Moscow 11 copies
Townsend, Sue The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year 20 copies
Trollope, Joanna The Soldier’s Wife 9 copies
Troth, Catriona Ghost Town 13 copies
Tutton, Chris Failing of Angels 8 copies
Vickers, Salley Cousins 14 copies
Ward, Rhiannon The Quickening 12 copies
Waters, Sarah Fingersmith 16 copies
Waters, Sarah The Little Stranger 9 copies
Winman, Sarah When God was a Rabbit 16 copies
Wood, Charlotte The Weekend 12 copies
Wood, Monica The One in a Million Boy 12 copies
Woolf, Virginia To the Lighthouse 15 copies
Ybarra, Gabriela The Dinner Guest 15 copies
Zusak, Markus The Book Thief 12 copies
Historical
Author Book title Number of copies
Catton, Eleanor The Luminaries 10 copies
Chevalier, Tracy The Last Runaway 15 copies
Clarke, Lindsay The War at Troy 14 copies
Cornwell, Bernard 1356 15 copies
Davies, Peter Ho The Welsh Girl 14 copies
Elton, Ben Two brothers 9 copies
Gregory, Philippa The White Princess 11 copies
Grenville, Kate The Secret River 15 copies
Hargrave, Kiran Millwood The Mercies 12 copies
Mantel, Hilary Bring Up the Bodies 20 copies
Mantel, Hilary Wolf Hall 14 copies
Miller, Andrew Pure 15 copies
Parsons, Tony Beyond the Bounty (Quick Read) 14 copies
Sepetys, Ruta Between Shades of Gray 14 copies
Horror
Author Book title Number of copies
Dunmore, Helen The Greatcoat 11 copies
Levin, Ira The Stepford Wives 15 copies
Non-Fiction
Author Book title Number of copies
Astley, Neil (ed.) Staying Alive: real poems for unreal times 15 copies
Bainbridge, David Middle Age: a natural history 15 copies
Bathurst, Bella The Lighthouse Stevensons 13 copies
Bell, Jo Kith 11 copies
Braun, Adam The Promise of a Pencil 8 copies
Chang, Jung Wild Swans 12 copies
Dalyrymple, William From the Holy Mountain 15 copies
Gilbert, Elizabeth Eat, Pray, Love 11 copies
Kay, Jackie Red Dust Road 10 copies
MacIntyre, Ben Agent Sonya 11 copies
MacOnie, Stuart Long Road from Jarrow 15 copies
McNab, Andy Today Everything Changes (Quick Read) 16 copies
Moore, Wendy Wedlock: how Georgian Britain’s worst husband met his match 14 copies
Sanghera, Sathnam Empireland: how imperialism has shaped modern Britain 12 copies
Seierstad, Asne The Bookseller of Kabul 13 copies
Sissay, Lemn My Name is Why 12 copies
Summerscale, Kate The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, or the Murder at Road Hill House 9 copies
Walmsley, Ann The Prison Book Club 11 copies
Winn, Raynor The Salt Path 11 copies
Wood, Adam The Watchmaker's Revenge 11 copies
Sci-Fi
Author Book title  Number of copies
Tchaikovsky, Adrian Children of Time 12 copies
Tucker, Mike Doctor Who: The Silurian Gift (Quick Read) 12 copies
Thriller
Author Book title Number of copies
Baldacci, David The Innocent 8 copies
Baldacci, David Last Man Standing 15 copies
Beukes, Lauren The Shining Girls 10 copies
Billingham, Mark Rush of Blood 9 copies
Clark, Mary Higgins Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting 8 copies
Coben, Harlan Six Years 13 copies
Cumming, Charles Box 88 6 copies
Deaver, Jeffery The Kill Room 7 copies
Dicker, Joel The Enigma of Room 622 12 copies
Feeney, Alice I Know Who You Are 7 copies
Goddard, Robert Fault Line 8 copies
Grisham, John The Racketeer 7 copies
Hallett, Janice The Appeal 12 copies
Hayes, Terry I Am Pilgrim 7 copies
Kernick, Simon Ultimatum 11 copies
Kernick, Simon Wrong Time, Wrong Place (Quick Read) 12 copies
Kirino, Natsuo Out 12 copies
Le Carre, John A Most Wanted Man 14 copies
Mackintosh, Clare I Let You Go 12 copies
Miller, Derek B. Norwegian by Night 15 copies
Parris, S. J. Sacrilege 14 copies
Patterson, James Gone 8 copies
Patterson, James Guilty Wives 7 copies
Patterson, James I, Michael Bennett 8 copies
Patterson, James Merry Christmas, Alex Cross 6 copies
Patterson, James Private Berlin 8 copies
Patterson, James Private L.A. 9 copies
Patterson, James Zoo 14 copies
Pinborough, Sarah Behind Her Eyes 10 copies
Rose, Karen Watch Your Back 7 copies
Sansom, C. J. Dominion 11 copies
Slaughter, Karin Unseen 9 copies
Torday, Paul Light Shining in the Forest 17 copies
Toyne, Simon The Tower 11 copies
YA
Author Book title Number of copies
Blackman, Malorie Noughts and Crosses 20 copies
Bowler, Tim Sea of Whispers 8 copies
Boyne, John The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas 14 copies
Crossan, Sarah The Weight of Water 9 copies
James, Lauren The Quiet at the End of the World 8 copies
Reichs, Kathy Code 16 copies
Saenz, Benjamin Alire Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe 8 copies
Wooding, Chris Silver 10 copies

Play Readers' Group collection

Play Readers' Group collection
Author Play
Aeschylus The Oresteian Trilogy
Albee, Edward The Zoo Story
Anouilh, Jean Becket or The Honour of God
Anouilh, Jean The Lark
Anouilh, Jean Ring Round the Moon
Anouilh, Jean The Waltz of the Toreadors
Arden, John Serjeant Musgrave's Dance
Aristophanes Lysistrata
Ayckbourn, Alan How the Other Half Loves
Ayckbourn, Alan Three Plays
Ayckbourn, Alan Mixed Doubles
Ayckbourn, Alan The Norman Conquests
Ayckbourn, Alan Ten Times Table
Ayckbourn, Alan Time and Time Again
Bagnold, Enid The Chalk Garden
Barrie, James Matthew The Admirable Crichton
Batson, George The House on the Cliff
Benfield, Derek Wild Goose Chase
Besier, Rudolf The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Bloomfield, Robert Portrait of Murder
Bolt, Robert A Man for All Seasons
Bolt, Robert Vivat Vivat Regina
Bond, Edward Narrow Road to the Deep North
Bond, Edward Saved
Box, Muriel A Marriage Has Been Disarranged
Brecht, Bertold The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Brighouse, Harold Hobson's Choice
Browne, Wynard The Holly and the Ivy
Camoletti, Marc Boeing Boeing
Carroll, Paul Vincent Beauty is Fled
Carroll, Paul Vincent The King Who Could Not Laugh
Cary, Falkland Litton An Air for Murder
Cary, Falkland Litton Crystal Clear
Cary, Falkland Litton The Proof of the Poison
Cary, Falkland Litton The Recco
Chappell, Eric The Banana Box
Charles, Moie Murder at the Vicarage
Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich The Seagull
Christie, Agatha An Afternoon at the Seaside
Christie, Agatha The Mousetrap
Christie, Agatha The Patient
Christie, Agatha The Rats
Christie, Agatha Spider's Web
Christie, Agatha The Unexpected Guest
Christie, Agatha Witness for the Prosecution
Coke, Peter Breath of Spring
Coke, Peter Fool's Paradise
Coke, Peter Midsummer Milk
Collins, Freda Folk Tale Plays
Congreve, William The Way of the World
Cooney, Ray My Giddy Aunt
Cooney, Ray Not Now Darling
Coward, Noel Blithe Spirit
Coward, Noel Nude With Violin
Coward, Noel Present Laughter
Coward, Noel Relative Values
Coward, Noel Still Life
Cox, Constance Everyman
Cox, Constance Lord Arthur Savile's Crime
Cox, Constance Maria Marten or Murder in the Red Barn
Coxe, Louis. O. Billy Budd
Cruden, Thomas Life of Hercules: Page One
Delaney, Shelagh The Lion in Love
Delderfield, Ronald Frederick Home is the Hunted
Delderfield, Ronald Frederick Worm's Eye View
Dickens, Charles A Christmas Carol (ad. Sutton, Shaun)
Dickens, Charles A Christmas Carol (dramatised Foss, Kenelm)
Dighton, John The Happiest Days of Your Life
Dinner, William The Late Edwina Black
Douglas, Felicity According to the Evidence
Du Maurier, Daphne Rebecca
Durbridge, Francis Suddenly at Home
Durrenmatt, Friedrich The Physicists
Dyer, Charles. R. Rattle of a Simple Man
East, Donald The Lucky One
Eliot, Thomas Stearns The Cocktail Party
England, Barry Conduct Unbecoming
Feely, Terence Who Killed Santa Claus?
Feydeau, Georges A Flea in Her Ear
Frayn, Michael Alarms and Excursions
Frayn, Michael Benefactors
Friel, Brian The Freedom of the City
Friel, Brian Lovers
Frisby, Terence There's a Girl in my Soup
Fry, Christopher Plays
Galsworthy, John Famous Plays
Gogol, Nikolai Vasilevich The Government Inspector
Goldman, James The Lion in Winter
Goldsby, Angela and Robert Let's Get a Divorce
Goldsmith, Oliver She Stoops to Conquer or The Mistakes of a Night
Goodman, Jules Eckert Treasure Island
Gow, Ronald Scuttleboom's Treasure
Halliwell, David Little Malcolm and His Struggle against the Eunuchs
Hamilton, Patrick Gaslight
Harris, Elmer Johnny Belinda
Harris, Richard Who Goes Bare?
Harvey, Wilfred All the Tea in China
Hastings, Charlotte Bonaventure
Holland, Norman The Militants
Home, William Douglas The Bishop and the Actress
Home, William Douglas The Chiltern Hundreds
Home, William Douglas The Secretary Bird
Horne, Kenneth And This Was Odd
Horne, Kenneth Fools Rush In
Horne, Kenneth Jane Steps Out
Horne, Kenneth Wolf's Clothing
Houghton, Stanley Dear Departed
Houghton, Stanley Hindle Wakes: A Play in Three Acts
Hsiung, Shih I. Lady Precious Stream
Ibsen, Henrik A Doll's House
Ibsen, Henrik An Enemy of the People
Ionesco, Eugene Rhinoceros
Jacobs, W. W. The Monkey's Paw
Johnson, Philip April Dawn
Johnson, Philip Charade
Johnson, Philip The Late Miss Cordell
Johnson, Philip Master Dudley
Johnson, Philip Where Every Prospect Pleases
Jonson, Ben The Alchemist
Kelly, John Donald Queer Street
Kesselring, Joseph Arsenic and Old Lace
King, Philip Big.. Bad.. Mouse!
King, Philip Dark Lucy
King, Philip Elementary, My Dear
King, Philip Go Bang Your Tambourine
King, Philip Here We Come Gathering
King, Philip I'll Get My Man
King, Philip Milk and Honey
King, Philip Murder in Company
King, Philip Rock-a-Bye, Sailor
King, Philip So Far - No Further
Knott, Frederick Dial M for Murder
Knott, Frederick Wait Until Dark
Laurie, Rona Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and Friends
Lawler, Ray Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
Levy, Benn The Rape of the Belt
Lodge, David The Writing Game
Lovegrove, Arthur Just Another Day
Luke, Peter Hadrian the Seventh
McCracken, Esther Quiet Wedding
McLoughlin, Maurice Brush With a Body
Mackie, Philip The Whole Truth
Marriott, Anthony No Sex, Please - We're British
Maugham, William Somerset The Constant Wife
Melville, Alan Dear Charles
Mercer, David Ducksong
Mercer, David Flint
Millar, Ronald Abelard and Heloise
Millar, Ronald The Bride and the Bachelor
Millar, Ronald Waiting for Gillian
Miller, Arthur Death of a Salesman
Miller, Arthur A View from the Bridge
Mills, Hugh The House by the Lake
Milne, Alan Alexander The Man in the Bowler Hat
Milne, Alan Alexander The Ugly Duckling
Moliere, Jean Baptiste Poquelin The Miser
Moliere, Jean Baptiste Poquelin The School for Wives (ad. Malleson, Miles)
Moliere, Jean Baptiste Poquelin Tartuffe or The Imposter
Morris, Thomas Baden Cloud over the Morning
Morris, Thomas Baden Little Nut-Tree
Morris, Thomas Baden The Sleeping Fires
Mortimer, John The Collaborators
Mortimer, John Collect Your Hand Baggage
Mortimer, John Knightsbridge
Mortimer, John Lunch Hour
Mortimer, John Two Stars for Comfort
Mortimer, John A Voyage Round my Father
Murdoch, Iris A Severed Head
Naughton, Bill Alfie
Naughton, Bill All in Good Time
Naughton, Bill Spring and Port Wine
Nichols, Peter The National Nurse or Nurse Norton's Affair
Obey, Andre Noah
O'Casey, Sean Juno and the Paycock
Orton, Joe Entertaining Mr Sloane
Orton, Joe Loot
Osborne, John The Entertainer
Parker, David The Collector
Peach, Lawrence du Garde The White Sheep of the Family
Pearn, V. A. Through the Looking Glass
Pinero, Arthur Wing The Second Mrs Tanqueray
Pinero, Arthur Wing Trelawny of the Wells
Pinter, Harold The Birthday Cake
Pinter, Harold The Caretaker
Pinter, Harold The Dumb Waiter
Popplewell, Jack Busybody
Popplewell, Jack Dead on Nine
Priestley, John Boynton Dangerous Corner
Priestley, John Boynton An Inspector Calls and Other Plays
Priestley, John Boynton Time and the Conways
Priestley, John Boynton When We are Married
Rattigan, Terence The Deep Blue Sea
Rattigan, Terence French Without Tears
Rattigan, Terence Harlequinade
Rattigan, Terence Ross
Rattigan, Terence Separate Tables
Rayburn, Joyce Cat in the Bag
Rayburn, Joyce Don't Start Without Me
Rayburn, Joyce The Man Most Likely To
Ridley, Arnold The Ghost Train
Roffrey, Jack Hostile Witness
Rosser, Austin Sweeney Todd
Ruskin, Sheila The Owl and the Pussycat Went to See
Saunders, James Scent of Flowers
Sayers, Dorothy Leigh The Man Born to be King
Schnitzler, Arthur Laronde
Shaffer, Peter Amadeus
Shaffer, Peter Black Comedy
Shaffer, Peter Five Finger Exercise
Shaffer, Peter The Private Ear
Shaffer, Peter The Public Eye
Shaffer, Peter The Royal Hunt of the Sun
Shakespeare, William King Henry V
Shakespeare, William The Merchant of Venice
Shakespeare, William A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare, William Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare, William Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare, William The Tempest
Shakespeare, William The Tragedy of Macbeth
Shakespeare, William Twelfth Night
Shaw, George Bernard Pygmalion
Shaw, George Bernard Saint Joan
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley The Rivals
Sherriff, Robert Cedric Journey's End
Simpson, Norman Frederick One Way Pendulum
Simpson, Norman Frederick A Resounding Tinkle
Smith, Dodie Dear Octopus
Spewack, Samuel My Three Angels
Stoppard, Tom Albert's Bridge
Stoppard, Tom Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Storey, David The Changing Room
Storm, Lesley Roar Like a Dove
Taylor, Samuel Sabrina Fair
Terson, Peter Zigger Zagger / Mooney and his Caravans
Thomas, Basil Book of the Month
Travers, Ben Rookery Nook
Turner, Margaret Come Home, My Children
Voight, Cherry Let's Be Friends
Weathers, Philip Tell-Tale Murder
Wesker, Arnold Chicken Soup with Barley
Wesker, Arnold Roots
Westall, Robert The Machine-Gunners
Whiting, John The Devils
Wilde, Oscar The Importance of Being Earnest
Wilde, Oscar Lady Windermere's Fan
Williams, Emlyn A Murder Has Been Arranged
Willis, Ted Doctor at Sea
Willis, Ted Woman in a Dressing Gown

Black History Month

Black History Month (Books for Adults)

Fiction

  • Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Roots by Alex Haley
  • Beloved by Toni Morrison
  • Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
  • Swing Time by Zadie Smith
  • The Help by Kathryn Stockett
  • Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin
  • The Lonely Londoners by Samuel Selvon
  • Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
  • Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
  • Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi
  • The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
  • The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
  • Their Eyes are Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
  • Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
  • Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
  • Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi
  • Ayiti by Roxane Gay
  • Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
  • Tell Me Your Secret by Dorothy Koomson
  • Ruby by Cynthia Bond
  • The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  • Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosley
  • A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
  • Bluebird, Bluebird: A Novel by Attica Locke
  • Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo
  • The Sellout by Paul Beatty
  • Here Comes The Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn
  • An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
  • The Freedom Artist by Ben Okri

Non-fiction

  • Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation by Jeff Chang
  • Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
  • The World's War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire by David Olusoga
  • Bob Marley: The Untold Story by Chris Salewicz
  • Black Poppies: Britain's Black Community and the Great War by Stephen Bourne
  • I Can't Breathe: The Killing that Started a Movement by Matt Taibbi
  • Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
  • Windrush: The Irresistable Rise of Multi-Racial Britain by Mike Phillips
  • Abolitionism: A Very Short Introduction by Richard S. Newman
  • Africa's Long Road to Independence: The Many Histories of a Continent by Keith Somerville
  • Forgotten: The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda Hervieux
  • I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin
  • Grime Kids: The Inside Story of the Global Grime Takeover by DJ Target
  • Black and Britain: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
  • Back to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for the 21st Century by Kehunde Andrews
  • The Making of Black Lives Matter: A Brief History of an Idea by Christophe Lebron
  • The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla
  • They Can't Kill Us All: The Story of Black Lives Matter byWesley Lowery
  • Born a Crime and Other Stories by Trevor Noah
  • This is Grime by Hattie Collins
  • Chuck D presents This Day in Rap and Hip-Hop History by Chuck D
  • Rise Up: The Merky Story So Far by Stormzy
  • The Penguin Atlas of African History by Colin McEvedy
  • Eskiboy by Wiley
  • The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: The Autobiography by Benjamin Zephaniah
  • A Short History of Slavery by James Walvin
  • Inner City Pressure: The Story of Grime by Dan Hancox
  • Island People: The Caribbean and the World by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro
  • Black British History: New Perspectives by Hakim Adi
  • Sounds Like London: 100 Years of Black Music in the Capital by Lloyd Bradley
  • Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson by Geoffrey C. Ward
  • Notes from Africa: A Musical Journey with Youssou N'Dour by Jenny Cathcart
  • Black, Listed: Black Culture Explored by Jeffrey Boakye
  • Bloody Foreigners: The Story of Immigration to Britain by Robert Winder
  • Arthur Ashe: A Life by Raymond Arsenault
  • Voices of the Windrush Generation: The Real Story Told By The People Themselves by David Matthews
  • Kumukanda by Kayombo Chingonyi
  • Afropean: Notes from Black Europe by Johny Pitts
  • Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution by Simon Schama
  • The Oxford Companion to Black British History by David Dabydeen
  • Ali: The Fight America Didn't Want by Russell Routledge
  • Memphis 68: The Tragedy of Southern Soul by Stuart Cosgrove
  • Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
  • Homecoming: Voices of the Windrush Generation by Colin Grant
  • They Don't Teach This by Eniola Aluka
  • Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday
  • Negro with a Hat: The Rise and Fall of Marcus Garvey by Colin Grant
  • Black Artists in British Art: A History from 1950 to the Present by Eddie Chambers
  • The Making of Black Working Class Britain by Ron Ramedin
  • The Heart of the Race: Black Women's Lives in Britain by Beverley Bryan
  • Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles by Richard Dowden
  • I & I: Marley, Tosh and Wailer by Colin Grant
  • Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama by David J. Garrow
  • Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years by Nelson Mandela
  • Harlem 69: The Future of Soul by Stuart Cosgrove
  • The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr by Martin Luther King Jr
  • There Ain't No Black in the Union Jack: The Cultural Politics of Race and Nation by Paul Gilroy
  • The Three Degrees by Paul Rees
  • Black Britain: A Photographic History by Paul Gilroy
  • Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King by Lloyd Bradley
  • Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of Lifetime by Ron Stallworth
  • The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race by Jesmyn Ward
  • Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
  • Maya Angelou: The Complete Poetry by Maya Angelou
  • England's Other Countrymen: Black Tudor Society by Onyeka Nubia
  • Hip Hop Raised Me by DJ Semtex
  • Motown: The Sound of Young America by Adam White
  • Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain by Peter Fryer
  • Becoming by Michelle Obama

Black History Month (Books for Young People)

Fiction

  • Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America by Ibi Aanu Zoboi
  • Noughts + Crosses by Malorie Blackman
  • Crossfire by Malorie Blackman
  • Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
  • The Sun is also a Star by Nicola Yoon
  • The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
  • On The Come Up by Angie Thomas
  • Nothing But the Truth by Dick Lehr
  • Oh My Gods by Alexandra Sheppard
  • Indigo Donut by Patrice Lawrence
  • The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
  • The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
  • Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
  • Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
  • Becoming Dinah by Kit De Waal
  • Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Black History Month (Books for Children)

Fiction

  • Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
  • Look Up! by Nathan Bryon
  • How High The Moon by Karyn Parsons
  • Hair Love by Matthew Cherry
  • Billy and the Dragon by Nadia Shireen
  • No Longer Alone by Joseph Coelho
  • Baby Goes to Market by Atinuke
  • Julian the Mermaid by Jessica Love
  • The Tunnels Below by Nadine Wild-Palmer
  • Astro Girl by Ken Wilson-Max
  • Mira's Curly Hair by Maryam Al Serkal
  • Patina by Jason Reynolds

Holocaust Memorial Day

The Holocaust and Nazi persecution

Fiction

Non-fiction

  • A House Next Door to Trauma: Learning from Holocaust Survivors How to Respond to Atrocity by Judith Hassan
  • A Social History of the Third Reich by Richard Grunberger
  • After Daybreak: The Liberation of Belsen 1945 by Ben Shephard
  • After Such Knowledge: A Meditation on the Aftermath of the Holocaust by Eva Hoffman. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • After the Holocaust: Jewish Survivors in Germany after 1945 by Eva Kolinsky
  • Aimee & Jaguar: A Love Story, Berlin 1943 by Erica Fischer
  • Auschwitz: A History by Sybille Steinbacher
  • British Jewry and the Holocaust by Richard Bolchover. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • By Trust Betrayed: Patients, Physicians and the Licence to Kill in the Third Reich by Hug Gallagher. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Children with a Star: Jewish Youth in Nazi Europe by Deborah Dwork. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Confronting the 'Good Death': Nazi Euthanasia on Trial, 1945-1953 by Michael S. Bryan. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Deaf People in Hitler's Europe by Donna F. Ryan. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Disturbance of the Inner Ear by Joyce Hackett. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Forgotten Crimes: The Holocaust and People with Disabilities by Suzanne Evans. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • From Prejudice to Genocide: Learning about the Holocaust by Carrie Supple. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Hitler's Black Victims: The Historical Experience of Afro-Germans, European Blacks, Africans and African Americans in the Nazi Era by Clarence Lusane. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Holocaust Poetry edited by Hilda Schiff. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • In the Shadow of the Holocaust: The Second Generation by Aaron Hass. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Jehovah's Witnesses: Stand Firm against Nazi Assault
  • Maus by Art Spiegelman
  • Neighbours: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland by Jan T. Gross. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Nicholas Winton and the Rescued Generation by Muriel Emmanuel and Vera Gissing
  • Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland by Christopher R. Browning. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Perpetrators, Victims, Bystanders: The Jewish Catastrophe 1933-1945 by Raul Hilberg. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Righteous Gentiles of the Holocaust: Genocide and Moral Obligation by David P. Gushee. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
  • Shared Sorrow: A Gypsy Family Remembers the Holocaust by Toby Sonnemann. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • The Boys: Triumph over Adversity by Martin Gilbert
  • The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
  • The Gypsies during the Second World War: From 'Race Science' to the Camps, Vol. 1 by Henriette Asseo, Karola Fings, Frank Sparing and Herbet Heuss. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • The Hitler Emigres: The Cultural Impact on Britain of Refugees from Nazism by Daniel Snowman. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • The Holocaust: The Jewish Tragedy by Martin Gilbert
  • The Internment of Aliens by Francois Lafitte. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • The Jehovah's Witnesses and the Nazis: Persecution, Deportation and Murder, 1933-1945 by Michel Reynaud. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • The Nazi Persecution of Gypsies by Guenter Lewy
  • The Nazis: A Warning from History by Laurence Rees
  • The Origins of Nazi Genocide: From Euthanasia to the Final Solution by Henry Friedlander. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • The Other Schindlers: Why Some People Chose to Save Jews in the Holocaust by Agnes Grunwald-Spier
  • The Pianist: The Extraordinary Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939-45 by Wladyslaw Szpilman
  • The Righteous: The Unsung Heroes of the Holocaust by Martin Gilbert
  • The Unwritten Order: Hitler's Role in the Final Solution by Peter Longerich
  • Whitehall and the Jews, 1933-1948: British Immigration Policy, Jewish Refugees and the Holocaust by Louise London. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Winter Time: Memoirs of a German Sinto Who Survived Auschwitz by Walter Winter

Survivors and personal testimony

Armenia

  • Black Dog of Fate: An American Son Uncovers His Armenian Past by Peter Balakian

The Holocaust & Nazi Persecution

Genocide

Armenia

  • A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility by Taner Ackam

Bosnia

Cambodia

  • The Disappeared by Kim Echlin. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • The Pol Pot Regime: Race, Power and Genocide in Cambodia Under the Khmer Rouge, 1975-79 by Ben Kiernan. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Survival in the Killing Fields by Haing Ngor and Roger Warner
  • To The End of Hell: One Woman's Struggle to Survive Cambodia's Khmer Rouge by Denise Affonco

Darfur

  • Darfur: A New History of a Long War by Julie Flint
  • Darfur: The Ambigious Genocide by Gerard Prunier. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Something is Going to Fall Like Rain by Ros Wynne-Jones
  • Tears of the Desert: One Woman's True Story of Surviving the Horrors of Darfur by Halima Bashir

Rwanda

  • A People Betrayed: The Role of the West in Rwanda's Genocide by Linda Melvern
  • A Time for Machetes: The Rwandan Genocide The Killer's Speak by Jean Hatzfield and Linda Coverdale. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Conspiracy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide and the International Community by Linda Melvern. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Into the Quick of Life: The Rwanda Genocide by Jean Hatzfeld. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • The Media and the Rwanda Genocide by Kofi Annan and Allan Thompson. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • Season of Blood: A Rwandan Journey by Fergal Keane
  • Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda by Romeo Dallaire
  • Survival Against the Odds: A Book of Testimonies from Survivors of the Rwandan Genocide produced by Survivors Fund
  • We Survived: Genocide in Rwanda by Wendy Whitworth. You will need to request (or inter-library loan) [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/requestlibraryitem] this title.
  • We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch

Books for young people

Bosnia

Cambodia

The Holocaust and Nazi Persecution

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

LGBTQ+

All the books are available to read for free online [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ebooks] and in libraries [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/librarycatalogue]. Here is a selection of titles, you can find more in your local library.

LGBTQ+ (books for adults)

Fiction

  • Pages For You by Sylvia Brownrigg
  • Mur-mur by Will Eaves
  • The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
  • On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (also available in e-audiobook)
  • We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra
  • Birthday by Meredith Russo
  • A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
  • She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
  • The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
  • The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
  • Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
  • Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
  • One Last Stop by Casey McQuinston
  • Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (also available in e-audiobook)

Non-fiction

  • Queer Intentions: a (personal) journey through LGBTQ+ culture by Amelia Abraham
  • The Gender Games: the problem with men and women... from someone who has been both by Juno Dawson
  • Diary of a Drag Queen by Crystal Rasmussen
  • We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib
  • Eat, Gay, Love by Calum McSwiggan
  • This Much is True by Miriam Margoyles
  • Coming Out stories edited by Emma Goswell and Sam Walker (also available in e-book)
  • The Pink Line by Mark Gevisser
  • We Can Do Better Than This by Amelia Abraham
  • Unicorn by Amrou Al-Kadhi (also available in e-book)
  • Outrageous by Paul Baker

Magazines (available from Libby [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/emagazines])

  • Outre Magazine
  • Gay Times
  • Gay Pages
  • The Advocate

LGBTQ+ (books for young people)

Please note the following books are on our shelves in Older Teenage and Younger Teenage sections and, as such, some titles may contain more adult themes.

  • Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide
  • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
  • Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
  • Gay Club by Simon James Green
  • Gender Explorers by Juno Roche
  • Have Pride: an inspirational history of the LGBTQ+ movement by Stella Caldwell
  • Heartstopper by Alice Oseman Volumes 1-4 (Graphic Novels)
  • If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales
  • I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston (also available in e-book and e-audiobook)
  • Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
  • Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson
  • Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales
  • Queer Up by Alexis Caught
  • The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
  • The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe
  • Welcome to St Hell by Lewis Hancox
  • What’s the T by Juno Dawson
  • Wranglestone by Darren Charlton (also available on e-audiobook)

LGBTQ+ (books for children)

  • The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams
  • My Brother's Name is Jessica by John Boyne
  • The Girl with Two Dads by Mel Elliott
  • Fabulous Frankie by Simon James Green
  • The Pirate Mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant
  • Uncle Bobby’s Wedding by Sarah Brannen
  • The Hips on the Drag Queen go Swish, Swish, Swish by Lil Miss Hot Mess
  • Marmalade the Orange Panda by David Walliams
  • Me, my Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean
  • Nen and the Lonely Fisherman by Ian Eagleton
  • Nothing Ever Happens Here by Sarah Hagger-Holt
  • Grandad's Camper by Harry Woodgate
  • Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
  • Remixed by Arree Chung
  • ABC Pride by Louie Stowell
  • She’s my Dad by Sarah Savage
  • Fearless Fairy Tales by Konnie Huq
  • Rick by Alex Gino (also available in e-audiobook)

Non-fiction

  • Break the Mould by Sinead Burke
  • The Pronoun Book by Chris Ayala-Kronos
  • The Every Body Book: the LGBTQ+ inclusive guide for kids about sex, gender, bodies, and families by Rachel E. Simon
  • All About Diversity by Felicity Brooks and Mar Ferrero
  • Stories for Boys who Dare to be Different (Volumes 1 and 2) by Ben Brooks

Tell us what you think of the books on this list and suggest great books you would like to share: contact us libraries247@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:libraries247@coventry.gov.uk]

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Reading Well

Reading Well Books on Prescription for Children

Healthy minds

  • What's Going on Inside my Head? by Molly Potter (2019)
  • Healthy for Life: Self-esteem and Mental Health by Anna Claybourne (2017)
  • How Not to Lose It: Mental Health Sorted by Anna Williamson (2019)

Feelings

  • How Are You Feeling Today? by Molly Potter (2014)
  • Mindful Me: Exploring Emotions by Paul Christelis (2018)
  • Feeling Angry by Katie Douglass (2019)
  • Sometimes I Feel Sad by Tom Alexander (2018)

Worries

  • Ruby's Worry by Tom Percival (2018)
  • Questions and Feelings About: Worries by Paul Christelis (2018)
  • Grobblechops by Elizabeth Laird (2019)
  • Me and My Fear by Franchesca Sanna (2018)
  • All Birds Have Anxiety by Kathy Hoopmann (2017)
  • Worry Angels by Sita Brachmachari (2017)
  • Outsmarting Worry by Dawn Huebner (2018)

The world around you

At school

  • Dealing with Bullying by Jane Lacey (2019)
  • Planet Omar: Accidental Truth Magnet by Zanib Mian (2019)
  • The Illustrated Guide to Dyslexia and It's Amazing People by Kate Power (2017)
  • Ella on the Outside by Cath Howe (2018)

Being online

  • #Goldilocks by Jeanne Willis (2019)

In the news

  • Something Bad Happened: A Kid's Guide to Coping with Events in the News by Dawn Huebner (2019)

Dealing with tough times

When someone dies

  • Mum's Jumper by Jayde Perkin (2019)
  • Michael Rosen's Sad Book by Michael Rosen (2011)
  • If All the World Were by Joseph Coelho (2019)
  • Clownfish by Alan Durant (2018)

Getting through a tough time

  • The Boy Who Built a Wall Around Himself by Ali Redford (2015)

Tough times at home

  • Up and Down Mum by Sue Barker (2019)
  • The Colour Thief: A Families' Story of Depression by Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters (2015)

Living well with a diagnosed condition

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Can I Tell You About ADHD? by Susan Yarney (2013)
  • Check Mates by Stewart Foster (2019)

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

  • Questions and Feelings About: Autism by Louise Spilsbury (2018)
  • M is for Autism by The Students of Limpsfield Grange School and Vicky Martin (2015)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

  • Double Felix by Sally Harris (2018)

Having a disability

  • Questions and Feelings About: Having a Disability by Louise Spilsbury (2017)

Reading Well Books on Prescription for Dementia

Information and advice

Normal ageing and memory problems

  • Introduction to the Psychology of Ageing for Non-Specialists by Ian Stuart-Hamilton (2014)
  • Coping with Memory Problems by Sallue Baxendale (2014)

About dementia

  • Alzheimer's and Other Dementias: Answers at Your Fingertips by Alex Bailey (2014)
  • Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias by Nori Graham and James Warner (2009)
  • ABC of Dementia by Bernard Coope and Felicity Richards (2014)
  • About Dementia: For People with Learning Disabilities by Karen Dodd, Vicky Turk and Michelle Christmas (2005)

For children

  • Grandma by Jessica Shepherd (2014)

Living well with dementia

  • First Steps to Living with Dementia by Simon Atkins (2013)
  • Dementia Positive by John Killick (2014)
  • Hearing the Person with Dementia: Person-Centred Approaches to Communication for Families and Caregivers by Bernie McCarthy (2011)

Activities to share

  • Chocolate Rain: 100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care by Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris (2011)
  • Beside the Seaside in Pictures
  • Childhood Days in Pictures
  • The Countryside in Pictures
  • Family Life in Pictures
  • A Funny Old World in Pictures
  • In the Garden in Pictures
  • Pets in Pictures
  • Proverbs & Sayings
  • Shopping in Pictures
  • A Sporting Life in Pictures
  • Travelling in Pictures
  • A World of Work in Pictures

Support for relatives and carers

  • When Someone You Love Has Dementia by Susan Elliot-Wright (2010)
  • And Still the Music Plays: Stories of People with Dementia by Graham Stokes (2010)
  • Can I Tell You About Dementia? A Guide for Family, Friends and Carers by Jude Welton (2013)
  • Dementia: Support for Family and Friends by Dave Pulsford and Rachel Thompson (2012)
  • 10 Helpful Hints for Carers: Practical Solutions for Carers Living with People with Dementia by June Andrews (2009)
  • Seeing Beyond Dementia: A Handbook for Carers with English as a Second Language by Rita Salomon (2013)

Personal stories

  • Dancing with Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia by Christine Bryden (2005)
  • Dear Dementia: The Laughter and the Tears by Ian Donaghy (2014)
  • Still Alice by Lisa Genova (2014)
  • Losing Clive to Younger Onset Dementia: One Family's Story by Helen Beaumont (2008)
  • Telling Tales About Dementia: Experiences of Caring by Lucy Whitman (2009)
  • The Little Girl in the Radiator: Mum, Alzheimer's and Me by Martin Slevin (2012)
  • But Then Something Happened: A Story of Everyday Dementia by Chris Carling (2012)

Reading Well Books on Prescription for long term conditions

General

  • How to Feel Better: Practical Ways to Recover Well from Illness and Injury by Frances Goodhart and Lucy Atkins (2015)
  • Self-Management of Long-Term Health Conditions edited by Kate Lorig (2014)

Common symptoms

Fatigue

  • Fighting Fatigue: A Practical Guide to Managing the Symptoms of CFS/ME by Sue Pemberton and Catherine Berry (2013)
  • Overcoming Chronic Fatigue by Mary Burgess and Trudie Chalder (2009)

Pain

  • Manage Your Pain by Michael Nicholas, Allan Molloy, Lois Tonkin and Lee Beeston (2011)
  • Overcoming Chronic Pain by Catherine Caros, Frances Cole, Hazel Howden-Leach and Helen Macdonald (2010)
  • Pain is Really Strange by Steve Haines and Sophie Standing (2017)

Sleep problems

  • An Introduction to Coping with Insomnia & Sleep Problems (2nd ed.) by Colin Espie (2017)

Mental health and wellbeing

  • Coping with the Psychological Effects of Illness: Strategies to Manage Anxiety and Depression by Fran Smith, Robert Bor and Karina Eriksen (2015)
  • Mindfulness for Health: A Practical Guide to Relieving Pain, Reducing Stress and Restoring Wellbeing by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Pennman (2013)

Selected long term conditions

Arthritis

  • Arthritis: A Practical Guide to Getting On With Your Life by Chris Jenner (2011)
  • Arthritis: Exercise Your Way to Health by Paula Coates (2010)

Bowel conditions

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Answers at Your Fingertips by Udi Shmueli (2017)
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Navigating Your Way to Recovery by Megan Arroll and Christine Dancey (2016)
  • Go Your Crohn Way by Kathleen Nicholls (2016)

Breathing difficulties

  • Asthma: Answers at Your Fingertips by Mark Levy, Monica Fletcher and Soren Pederson (2013)
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): The Facts by Graeme P. Currie (2009)

Diabetes

  • Diabetes for Dummies by Alan L. Rubin (2011)
  • Diabetes: The Facts by David Matthews, Niki Meston, Pam Dyson, Jenny Shaw, Laurie King and Aparna Pal (2008)
  • Type 2 Diabetes in Adults of All Ages (2nd ed.) by Charles Fox and Anne Kilvert (2013)

Heart disease

  • Heart Attack Survival Guide by Mark Greener (2012)
  • Living with Angina by Tom Smith (2017)
  • Understanding and Dealing with Heart Disease by Keith Souter (2014)

Stroke

  • Stroke: The Facts by Richard I. Lindley (2017)
  • Rebuilding Your Life After Stroke by Reg Morris, Malin Falck, Tamsin Miles, Julie Wilcox and Sam Fisher-Hicks (2017)
  • How I Rescued My Brain: A Psychologist's Remarkable Recovery from Stroke and Trauma by David Roland (2015)

Support for relatives and carers

  • The Carer's Handbook (3rd ed.) by Jane Matthews (2019)
  • The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring: How to Cope with the Emotional and Practical Aspects of Caring for Someone by Hugh Marriott (2009)

Reading Well Books on Prescription for Mental Health

Introductions to Therapies and Approaches

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Your Toolkit to Modify Mood, Overcome Obstructions and Improve Your Life by Elain Iljon Foreman and Clair Pollard (2016)

Mindfulness

  • Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World by Mark Williams and Danny Penman (2011)

Common feelings and experiences

Anger

  • Overcoming Anger and Irritability: A Self-Help Guide using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (2nd ed.) by William Davies (2016)

Bereavement and Loss

  • An Introduction to Coping with Grief (2nd ed.) by Sue Morris (2017)
  • Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Surviving by Julia Samuel (2018)
  • The Essential Guide to Life After Bereavement: Beyond Tomorrow by Judy Carole Kauffmann and Mary Jordan (2013)

Low Self-Esteem

  • Overcoming Low Self-Esteem: A Self-Help Guide using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (2nd ed.) by Melanie Fennell (2016)

Social Anxiety and Shyness

  • Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness: A Self-Help Guide using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (2nd ed.) by Gillian Butler (2016)

Sleep Problems

  • The Sleep Book: How to Sleep Well Every Night by Guy Meadows (2014)

Stress

  • Stress Control: A Mind, Body, Life Approach to Boosting Your Well-being by Jim White (2017)

Self-Help Books to Support Mental Health

Wellbeing

  • Living Life to the Full: Key Skills to Change Your Life by Chris Williams (2018)
  • The CBT Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Using CBT to Overcome Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Low Self-Esteem and Anger by Pamela Myles and Roz Shafran (2015)
  • Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think (2nd ed.) by Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Padesky (2015)

Depression

  • An Introduction to Coping with Depression (2nd ed.) by Lee Brosan and Brenda Hogan (2018)
  • Manage Your Mood: How to Use Behavioural Activation Techniques to Overcome Depression by David Veale and Rob Willson (2007)
  • Overcoming Depression: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (3rd ed.) by Paul Gilbert (2009)

Anxiety and Panic

  • An Introduction to Coping with Anxiety (2nd ed.) by Brenda Hogan and Lee Brosan (2018)
  • Overcoming Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (2nd ed.) by Helen Kennerley (2014)
  • Overcoming Health Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques by Rob Willson and David Veale (2009)
  • Overcoming Worry and Generalised Anxiety Disorder: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (2nd ed.) by Kevin Meares and Mark Freeston (2015)
  • Overcoming Panic: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (2nd ed.) by Vijaya Manicavasagar and Derrick Silove (2017)
  • The Sheldon Short Guide to Phobias and Panic by Kevin Gournay (2015)

Obsessions and Compulsions

  • Break Free from OCD: Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder with CBT by Fiona Challacombe, Victoria Bream Oldfield and Paul M. Salkovskis (2011)

Other common conditions

Binge Eating and Bulimia Nervosa

  • Getting Better Bite by Bite: A Survival Kit for Sufferers of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders (2nd ed.) by Ulrike Schmidt, Janet Treasure and June Alexander (2015)
  • Overcoming Binge Eating: The Proven Program to Learn Why You Binge and How You Can Stop (2nd ed.) by Christopher G. Fairburn (2013)

Body Image and Body Dysmorphic Disorder

  • Body Image Problems and Body Dysmorphic Disorder: The Definitive Treatment and Recovery Approach by Chloe Catchpole, Lauren Callaghan and Annemarie O'Connor (2017)

Mood Swings

  • Overcoming Mood Swings: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques (2nd ed.) by Jan Scott (2010)

Depression and Relationships

  • Defeating Depression: How to Use the People in Your Life to Open the Door to Recovery by Roslyn Law (2013)

Postnatal Depression

  • The Compassionate Mind Approach to Postnatal Depression: Using Compassion Focused Therapy to Enhance Mood, Confidence and Bonding by Michelle Cree (2015)

Personal stories

Wellbeing

  • A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled by Ruby Wax (2016)
  • Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig (2015)

Bereavement and Loss

  • A Manual for Heartache by Cathy Rentzenbrink (2017)

Depression

  • I Had a Black Dog by Matthew Johnstone (2009)
  • The Recovery Letters edited by James Withey and Olivia Sagan (2017)

Social Anxiety

  • We're All Mad Here: The No-Nonsense Guide to Living with Social Anxiety by Claire Eastham (2016)

Support for Carers

  • Living with a Black Dog by Matthew Johnstone and Ainsley Johnstone (2007)
  • The Boy with a Topknot: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton by Sathnam Sanghera (2009)

Reading Well Books on Prescription for Young People

General

  • Blame My Brain by Nicola Morgan (2013)
  • The Self-Esteem Team's Guide to Sex, Drugs and WTFs?!! by Grace Barrett, Natasha Devon and Nadia Mendoza (2015)
  • I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson (2015)
  • Mind Your Head by Juno Dawson (2015)
  • Every Day by David Levithan (2013)
  • Kite Spirit by Sita Brahmachari (2013)
  • Stuff That Sucks: Accepting What You Can't Change and Committing to What You Can by Ben Sedley (2015)
  • House of Windows by Alexia Casale (2015)
  • Quiet the Mind by Matthew Johnstone (2012)

ADHD

  • Putting on the Brakes: Understanding and Taking Control of Your ADD or ADHD by Patricia Quinn and Judith Stern (2012)

Anxiety, worry and panic

  • My Anxious Mind: A Teen's Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic by Michael Tompkins and Katherine Martinez (2009)
  • The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens by Jennifer Shannon (2015)
  • The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens by Jennifer Shannon (2012)
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (2012)

Autism and Asperger Syndrome

  • Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome by Luke Jackson (2002)
  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2012)
  • The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida (2014)

Body image and eating disorders

  • Can I Tell You About Eating Disorders? by Bryan Lask and Lucy Watson (2014)
  • Banish Your Body Image Thief by Kate Collins-Donnelly (2014)
  • Tyranny by Leslie Fairfield (2011)

Bullying

  • Bullies, Cyberbullies and Frenemies by Michele Elliot (2013)
  • Vicious: True Stories by Teens About Bullying by Hope Vanderberg (2012)

Confidence and self-esteem

  • Banish Your Self-Esteem Thief by Kate Collins-Donnelly (2014)
  • Self-Esteem and Being You by Anita Naik (2013)
  • Face by Benjamin Zephaniah (1999)

Depression

  • Am I Depressed and What Can I Do About It? by Shirley Reynolds and Monika Parkinson (2015)
  • Can I Tell You About Depression? by Christopher Dowrick and Susan Martin (2015)
  • I Had a Black Dog by Matthew Johnstone (2007)

Mood swings

  • Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens by Sheri Van Dijk (2011)

Self-Harm

  • The Truth About Self-Harm by Celia Richardson (2012)

OCD

  • Breaking Free from OCD by Jo Derisley, Isobel Heyman, Sarah Robinson and Cynthia Turner (2008)
  • The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten (2015)
  • Touch and Go Joe by Joe Wells (2006)

Stress

  • Fighting Invisible Tigers by Earl Hipp (2008)
  • The Teenage Guide to Stress by Nicola Morgan (2014)

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Refugee collection

Refugee collection (Books for Adults)

Fiction

  • Spring by Ali Smith
  • Travellers: A Novel by Helen Habila
  • The End of Time by Gavin Extence
  • From a Low and Quiet Sea by Donal Ryan
  • The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

Non-fiction

  • We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World by Malala Yousafzai
  • The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After by Clementine Wamirya
  • The Lightness Sky: My Journey to Safety as a Refugee Child by Gulwali Passarlay
  • The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri

Refugee collection (Books for Children)

Fiction

  • Refugee by Anne Booth
  • The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
  • Wisp: A Story of Hope by Zana Frallion
  • Red Leaves by Sita Brahmachari
  • The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf
  • Home Ground by Alan Gibbons
  • The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
  • No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton
  • Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

To Read Aloud

To Read Aloud is a collection of extracts, short stories and myths brought together for the purpose of reading aloud, sharing and connecting.

To Read Aloud consists of 75 extracts that take between three and fifteen minutes to read, from writers ranging from Cicero to Lewis Carroll to Robert Macfarlane. It is arranged under ten thematic chapters: Love, Loss, Lightness, Pleasure, Work, Taboo, Nature, Change, Chaos and Wonder. A literary toolkit for well-being, To Read Aloud invites you to take just ten minutes off, sit down with somebody you care about and share a passage of writing.

Francesco Dimitri is an Italian author living in London. He has written fiction and non-fiction and worked for top business clients. Francesco is on the faculty of the School of Life.

Hear part of the extracts as read by Library staff:

Further tales from the Library. Also read by Library staff:

Enjoyed what you heard, want to read more? You can search and reserve items via our online catalogue [/onlinelibrarycatalogue].

Library card and pin number required [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/126/libraries/3213/join_find_use/1].

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Abolition of the slave trade

We have a range of information on the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

Anti-Slavery books

Children's fiction and non-fiction

  • Tonya Bolden - Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl
  • Stephanie Fitzgerald - Struggling for Civil Rights
  • Brindell Fradin - 5,000 Miles to Freedom
  • Christine Hatt - The African-American Slave Trade
  • Christine Hatt - Slavery from Africa to the Americas
  • Ann Kramer - Black Peoples of America
  • Julius Lester - To be a Slave
  • Mary Lyons - Letters from a Slave Girl
  • Fredrick McKissack - Days of Jubilee
  • Janet Riehecky - The Abolition of Slavery
  • Stewart Ross - Greed, Seeds and Slavery
  • Kaye Stearman - Slavery Today
  • Joyce Thomas - I Have Heard of a Land
  • Harriet Tubman - The Life of Harriet Tubman
  • Moses Weatherford - When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
  • Jacqueline Woodson - Show Way

Adult non-fiction

  • Adele Alexander - Homelands and Waterways
  • Gail Cameron - Liverpool - Capital of the Slave Trade
  • Basil Davidson - The Black Man's Burden
  • Basil Davidson - The African Slave Trade
  • Laurent Dubois - Slave Revolution in the Caribbean 1789-1804
  • Anne Farrow - Complicity: How the North Promoted, Prolonged and Profited from Slavery
  • John Gilmore - Empires and Conquests
  • John Gilmore - Freedom and Change
  • Heuman and Walvin - The Slavery Reader
  • Joseph Inikori - Africans and Industrial Revolution in England
  • Paul Lovejoy - Identity in the Shadow of Slavery
  • Edmund Morgan - American Slavery, American Freedom
  • Richard Newman - Pamphlets of Protest
  • Eric Sundquist - Empire and Slavery in American Literature 1820-1865
  • Hugh Thomas - The Slave Trade 1440-1870
  • Anthony Tibbles - Transatlantic Slavery
  • Gomer Williams - History of the Liverpool Privateers and letters of Marque

Useful websites

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Children with educational or physical needs

This is a collection of books for use with children aged eight and under, who have educational or physical needs. It includes books with lift-the-flaps, pop-ups, 'touchy feely', large typeface and also books recommended by special schools in Coventry.

The collection is next to the parents' collection at Central Library [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/centrallibrary] and books are marked with the logo "SP" on the spine.

Please only take two books from this collection if your child does not have a recognised special need, to allow a wider choice of books for those children who do.

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Support for dyslexia

Dyslexia affects the ability to read and spell and sometimes maths is affected too, but it is not related to general intelligence. The more you read, the easier it becomes and all reading is good reading.

We have provided a booklist and a publication from Dyslexia Action called ‘Dive in’ to help children and their families with dyslexia. All libraries will stock these in their Books to help with Life’s Ups and Down’s section in the children’s library.

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Armed forces covenant collection

The list of books below are a part of the armed forces covenant collection, which provides support for young people, whose friends or family members are serving in the armed forces.

Veterans' Gateway

Veterans’ Gateway [https://www.veteransgateway.org.uk/] is made up of a consortium of organisations and Armed Forces charities, including The Royal British Legion, SSAFA – the Armed Forces charity, Poppyscotland, Combat Stress and Connect Assist. Funded by The Armed Forces Covenant, this is the first time a group of this kind has come together formally to deliver a service to help the Armed Forces community.

Soldiers: How to Draw by Mark Bergin 

From an Imperial Guard to a British World War I soldier, a wide variety of soldiers are covered in this simple step-by-step drawing book. Learn how to master action poses and different uniforms, whilst learning about perspective and fundamental drawing techniques and materials.

Billie Templar's War by Ellie Irving

Billie Templar desperately wants her dad to come home. He's a soldier and has been away for seven weeks, fighting for Queen and country but how can the two of them possibly defend their four-year record of winning the three-legged race at the school carnival if he's thousands of miles away? Billie decides that there's only one person who can help - Her Majesty. She's in charge of the army, so maybe she can send Dad home? With a little help from her friends, Billie hatches a plan to get the Queen to visit her village. Surely a home-made military tattoo should be enough to get her attention? But trying to control two marching bands, an unruly mob of old age pensioners and even an elephant proves to be more difficult than she thought. Will the tattoo be happy and glorious? Or is Billie heading for a right royal disaster?

My Daddy is going away by Christopher MacGregor

When Daddy goes away, everyone feels sad and wishes he were back home with his family. But love is a very powerful thing, and there are all kinds of ways to try to feel better. As they count down the days on a calendar, the special day when Daddy is coming home gets nearer and nearer. Helps families better understand the anxieties associated with temporary paternal separation. The story can be read on many levels young children can read it as a comforting tale of a loving Dad who has to go away to work, while parents or carers can additionally use each verse to explore the emotional cycle of departure, absence and return. Written by Lieutenant Colonel Christopher MacGregor and based on his own experiences of going away from home, this comforting, wise book helps to explain why parents sometimes have to go away and shows ways to help children cope.

A Million Angels by Kate Maryon

Jemima's dad's in the Army and he's off to Afghanistan again for six whole months. Her mum's about to have another baby and has not got the energy to worry about anything else. Gran is staying to help out, but her head is filled with her own wartime memories. So while Mima is sending Dad millions of guardian angels every night to keep him safe, who is looking out for her?

Combat Zone (Rugby Academy) by Tom Palmer

Woody's mad on football. He dreams of playing for his country one day. But Woody's dad is a fighter pilot, and his squadron are going to war. All of a sudden, Woody finds himself in a boarding school for armed forces kids. Where everyone is rugby mad. As Woody's dad does his duty thousands of miles away, Woody finds himself in a new world. Will rugby be his saviour? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Surface to Air (Rugby Academy) by Tom Palmer

Rory will stop at nothing to perfect his kicking. He'll keep on training long after other players have called it a day. But now Rory is in France with the Borderlands team, and his routine is shot. As the European Championship gets underway, Rory struggles to keep his head while everything seems set against him. Can Rory kick to win? Second instalment of Tom Palmer's action-packed rugby trilogy set against the backdrop of war. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Wings: Flyboy (Take to the Skies) by Tom Palmer

Jatinder seems to be living his dream - he's training for his team's youth squad, and his host parents Steve and Esther are really great. But the other kids are always on the alert for anything that makes a player different, and Jatinder is definitely that. Steve reckons it's good to be different - look at his own hero, Hardit Singh Malik. That night Jatinder wakes up in a seriously surprising situation - flying Hardit's WWI fighter plane into enemy airspace.

Come Home Soon: a first look at a parent in the armed forces by Pat Thomas

This reassuring picture book explores the issue of a parent working away from home in the armed forces. Young children can learn how to deal feelings of worry, change at home, keeping in touch and looking forward to their return. Children's feelings and questions are looked at in a simple but realistic way.

Please visit the online catalogue [/onlinelibrarycatalogue] to search and reserve for any of the above books. You will also need a Coventry Library card, don't have one? Join Coventry libraries today [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/aboutcovlibraries].

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Books on Autism and Asperger's syndrome

You can search and reserve any of the below books through the online catalogue [/onlinelibrarycatalogue].

The below books are suitable for Adults with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

Adult fiction

  • Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer - Life is strange for Patrick Fort - being a medical student with Asperger's Syndrome doesn't come without its challenges. And that's before he is faced with solving a possible murder.
  • 600 hours of Edward by Craig Lancaster - Edward's Aspergers has kept in a small house in a small city, where he keeps his distance from the outside world and his parents. But over the course of 600 hours, several events puncture the walls Edward has built around himself. In the end, he faces a choice: open his life to experience and deal with the joys and heartaches that come with it, or remain a solitary soul.
  • Girl in the dark by Marion Pauw - Single mother and lawyer, Iris has a colourful caseload, a young son with behaviour issues, and a judgmental mother. She also has a brother - shocking news she uncovers by accident. Curious about this sibling she has never known, Iris begins to search for long-buried truths. What she discovers surprises and horrifies her.
  • The Rosie project by Graeme Simsion - Meet Don Tillman. Don is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet. But he has designed a very detailed questionnaire to help him find the perfect woman. One thing he already knows, though, is that it's not Rosie. Absolutely, completely, definitely not.
  • A boy made of blocks by Keith Stuart - Alex loves his wife Jody, but has forgotten how to show it. He loves his son Sam, but doesn't understand him. Something has to change. And he needs to start with himself. Meet eight-year-old Sam Beautiful, surprising, autistic. To him the world is a puzzle he can't solve on his own. But when Sam starts to play Minecraft, it opens up a place where Alex and Sam begin to rediscover both themselves and each other. Can one fragmented family put themselves back together, one piece at a time?

Adult non-fiction

  • Successful social stories by Siobhan Timmins (155.4192) - This collection of 32 'social stories', developed by the author for use with her son, offers a unique demonstration of the wider value of this strategy. Introductions give context and show how the stories intertwine to teach broader lessons, while positive stories for parents and siblings acknowledge how this approach can aid the entire family.
  • The Autism spectrum guide to sexuality and relationships by Emma Goodall (306.70874) - This candid guide to sexuality, relationships and gender identity will help you to understand your own preferences and identity in the pursuit of platonic, romantic or sexual relationships. Emma Goodall provides advice on what to do in situations where you feel under pressure and offers guidance on how to enjoy relationships safely.
  • From like to love for young people with Asperger's syndrome or mild Autism by Tony Attwood (362.196858) - Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often find it difficult to express like or love for someone. This book, by the leading experts, addresses this issue in practical terms, providing carefully created activities in which parents can help a child with ASD to develop their ability to understand affection and to express it appropriately.
  • Asperger syndrome: A love story by Sarah Hendrickx (362.196858) - Open, honest and upbeat, this book gives personal insight into both the ups and downs of an Asperger relationship. Seeking to challenge the bad press that people with Asperger Syndrome get as partners, Sarah and Keith tell their story of how they are making it work - and also how they got it wrong.
  • My son's not Rainman by John Williams (362.196858) - John Williams is a stand-up comedian and father of a twelve-year-old boy with autism and writes a blog about their life. Told with his upbeat good humour, this is not only the story of the daily difficulties of being a single-parent to a boy with autism, but also an insight into the joy that comes from being a dad and seeing the world differently.
  • Toby and Sox by Vikki Turner (362.198928) - When Toby Turner was excluded from school for the third time for hitting and kicking his teachers, his family hit rock bottom. Toby, who has autism, felt so upset by his own aggression, he told his parents they would be better off without him. After a difficult few years, the family was thrown a lifeline by the charity Dogs for Good, which introduced Toby to Sox. The three-year-old Labrador Golden Retriever was trained by the charity to help children with autism. Within two weeks, he had turned Toby's life around. Together, as a family unit, and with Sox by their side, the Turners have learned to enjoy life again.
  • Uniquely human by Barry Prizant (616.85882) - Dr Prizant's revolutionary approach is to understand autism not as a disability but as a unique way of being human. Here, with a wealth of inspiring stories and practical advice, he shows how by understanding autistic behaviours as responses based on an individual's experiences, we can enhance that individual's abilities, teach skills and build coping strategies to help them enjoy a better quality of life.
  • A beginner's guide to autism spectrum disorders by Paul G Taylor (616.85882) - This short introduction covers all of the essential information needed to ground an understanding of the condition and offers effective practical strategies for assisting children who are living with ASD.
  • Been there, done that - try this! By Tony Attwood (616.858832) - Try This! gathers a team of top Aspie mentors to pass along insights for successful living to the next generation. Temple Grandin, Liane Holliday Willey, and many others, offer advice on coping with key stressors including anxiety, self-esteem, careers, and friendship. Each chapter ends with commentary from Dr. Tony Attwood.
  • Asperger's syndrome for dummies by Georgina Gomez de La Cuesta (616.858832) - From explaining symptoms and getting a diagnosis, through to overcoming bullying in schools and choosing between the therapy and medical treatments available, this is a complete guide to surviving and thriving with the condition.
  • Love, sex and long-term relationships by Sarah Henrickx (616.858832) - What are the motivations and desires behind relationship choices and sexual behaviour? Are they very different for those with Asperger Syndrome than for anyone else? This accessible book is an invaluable source of information and support for those with Asperger Syndrome and couples in which one or both partners has Asperger Syndrome, as well as counsellors and health and social care professionals
  • Look me in the eye by John Elder Robison (616.858832) - From the time he was three or four years old, John Elder Robison realised that he was different from other people. He was unable to make eye contact or connect with other children, and by the time he was a teenager his odd habits had earned him the label 'social deviant'. This book is a rare fusion of inspiration, dark comedy and insight into the workings of the human mind. For someone who has struggled all his life to connect with other people, Robison proves to be an extraordinary storyteller
  • Aspergirls by Rudy Simone (616.858832) - Girls with Asperger's Syndrome are less frequently diagnosed than boys, and even once symptoms have been recognised, help is often not readily available. This book will be essential reading for females of any age diagnosed with AS, and those who think they might be on the spectrum. It will also be of interest to partners and loved ones of Aspergirls.
  • 101 games and activities for children with Autism, Asperger's and sensory processing disorders by Tara Delaney (618.928588) - One of the best ways for children with autism, Asperger's, and sensory processing disorders to learn is through play. Children improve their motor skills, language skills, and social skills by moving their bodies and interacting with their environment. In this book, Tara Delaney shows you how to teach your children by moving their bodies through play. These interactive games are quick to learn but will provide hours of fun and learning for your child and many of the games can be played indoors or outdoors
  • A parent's guide to coping with Autism by Sarah Ziegel (618.928588) - This is an essential guide for parents and carers coping with children with autism. When Sarah Ziegel's four children were diagnosed with autism, she realised there was very little practical information about what to do. While covering personal aspects such as coping emotionally with a diagnosis this book also tackles practical matters, such as education and the EHCP process, how to get help and support, and also considers the medical side of autism.
  • Make your own picture stories for kids with ASD by Brian Attwood (618.928916) - Picture stories can play a vital role in helping parents negotiate challenging scenarios with kids with ASD. In this book, Brian describes step-by-step how to create simple yet effective picture stories using basic drawings and short lines of text, and provides examples based on real-life situations for you to adapt for your child. This book will give parents and carers the tools and confidence they need to create individualised picture stories to help their child with ASD cope with social situations, difficult emotions, transitions and other challenging situations.
  • Parenting a child with Asperger syndrome by Brenda Boyd (649.152) - Brenda is mother to thirteen-year-old Kenneth and since his diagnosis at the age of eight, she has gathered together the parenting ideas and tips that have had a positive effect on Kenneth's life. Brenda discusses parents' reaction to their child's AS and gives advice on how better to understand 'Planet Asperger' This book helps parents to respond positively to the challenge of AS and find the 'treasure' in their child's way of being.
  • Parenting a teen or young adult with Asperger syndrome by Brenda Boyd (649.154325) - Astute and practical ideas, insights, tips and strategies address the complex issues parents face during this crucial period of transition for their child with Asperger Syndrome. This will be an invaluable companion for parents, carers and family members of an adolescent or young adult with AS.

The below books are suitable for Children and families with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

Picture books

  • Looking after Louis by Lesley Ely - Louis is a new boy in class and his classmate feels that he is 'a bit different'. Louis's classmates find a way to join him in his world. Then they can include Louis in theirs. (Available in early 2017)

Picture books with CDs

  • The Spectacular Tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson - With Benjamin by his side, Peter Rabbit sneaks into the fun-fair and a roller-coaster ride of an adventure begins.
  • The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman and Nick Schon - When a cheeky monkey finds a paintbox he has a lovely idea, but things don't go quite to plan.
  • Smelly Peter: The Great Pea Eater by Steve Smallman and Joelle Dreidemy - Peter Pod eats nothing but peas and one day he turns completely green. His friends laugh at him but then something even more amazing happens.

Children's Fiction

  • Anything but Typical by Nora Ralei Baskin - Jason, a twelve-year-old autistic boy who wants to become a writer, relates what his life is like as he tries to make sense of his world.
  • Al Capone shines my shoes by Gennifer Choldenko - There are lots of twists and turns in this book about Moose and his sister Natalie and how they get Natalie a place in a school to help her with her autism.
  • How to look for a lost dog by Ann M Martin - Eleven year old Rose is autistic and when her beloved dog, Rain goes missing, she won't give up until she finds him again.
  • The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd - Ted and Kat's cousin Salim gets on the London Eye but then disappears! It's up to Kat and Ted, whose brain runs on its own unique operating system, to solve the mystery while the clock is ticking.
  • Trueman Bradley, aspie detective by Alexei Max Russell - Trueman is a genius detective with a difference. He has Asperger's syndrome and uses his mathematical skills to take on the criminal world of New York.

Teenage fiction

  • The Curious Incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon - This great murder mystery story features fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone who has Asperger's syndrome.
  • Smart by Kim Slater - A homeless man has been murdered, but the police don't care. Kieran cares and we follow his journey to find out what really happened.
  • Too Close to home by Aoife Walsh - Minnie's life is hectic and full of dilemmas including managing her autistic sister Aisling's school bullies. An emotional, funny, and sensitive book.

Children's non-fiction

These books can be found in the "Life's ups and downs" Section or in a teenage section

  • I know someone with autism by Sue Barraclough - This is an ideal basic book to use when explaining what autism means to children and young people.
  • What's up with Ben? Medikidz explains autism by Dr Kim Chilman-Blair - Brooke and Ben go on an amazing fantasy tour inside the human brain, to help them understand what autism is and how it affects people.
  • Something different about dad: how to live with your amazing Asperger's parent by Kirsti Evans - This is an informative, light-hearted and reassuring look at growing up with a parent on the autistic spectrum.
  • My Friend Sam: A Story about introducing a child with Autism to nursery school by Liz Hannah - This accessible book uses simple wording and delightful colour pictures to describe some of the difficulties that young children with autism may have, and also some of the things they are very good at.
  • Autism: Understanding Behaviour by Caroline Hattersley - This book discusses a number of practical strategies that you can use in day-to-day situations, or at times of heightened stress and anxiety, to help your child manage their behaviour.
  • The reason I jump:one boy's voice from the silence of autism by Naoki Higashida - Written by Naoki Higishida when he was only 13, this book explains the sometimes baffling behaviour of autistic children and shows the way they think and feel.
  • Freaks, geeks and Asperger syndrome: a user guide to adolescence by Luke Jackson - Luke Jackson has Asperger's syndrome. Over the years, he has learned to laugh at the names he has been called, but there are other aspects of life which are more difficult. Luke offers a guide to coping with Asperger's syndrome during the adolescent years.
  • Autism Talking about a Diagnosis by Rachel Pike - This book for parents and carers explains the key things to think about when preparing to talk to your child about their autism diagnosis.
  • Autism Understanding and Managing Anger by Andrew Powell - This book talks about why children with autism become angry and offers some practical ways in which parents and carers can help.
  • Can I tell you about Autism by Jude Welton and Jane Telford - In this book, we meet a boy called Tom who invites us to learn about autism from his perspective. The book describes the challenges that Tom faces with issues including social communication, sensory overload and changes in routine.

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Books to help with life's ups and downs

Are you struggling with a stroppy toddler with constant tantrums? Is your seven year old frightened of going to the dentist? Do you need some advice on breastfeeding and weaning your young baby?

The answer for you is our "books to help with life's ups and downs" parents' collection which is available in all Coventry libraries. We have a variety of picture books on different situations and topics that you can read with your child. We also provide books with guidance on how to look after your child. Many other books on childcare can be found in the non-fiction area of any Coventry library.

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

'Summer is here' collection

Come rain or shine, whatever your plans, why not try our GREAT reads to keep you entertained.

All of the below books are available to reserve through our online catalogue [/onlinelibrarycatalogue]. Haven't got a library card? Find out how to join [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/aboutcovlibraries].

Small Great Things by Jodie Picoult

When a newborn baby dies after a routine hospital procedure, there is no doubt about who will be held responsible: the nurse who had been banned from looking after him by his father. What the nurse, her lawyer and the father of the child cannot know is how this death will irrevocably change all of their lives, in ways both expected and not.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Your neighbour told you that she didn't want your six-month-old daughter at the dinner party. Nothing personal, she just couldn't stand her crying. Your husband said it would be fine. After all, you only live next door. You'll have the baby monitor and you'll take it in turns to go back every half hour. Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. But now, as you race up the stairs in your deathly quiet house, your worst fears are realised. She's gone. You've never had to call the police before. But now they're in your home, and who knows what they'll find there. What would you be capable of, when pushed past your limit? How well do we ever know those around us?

This must be the Place by Maggie O'Farrell

A reclusive former film star living in the wilds of Ireland, Claudette Wells thinks nothing of firing a gun if strangers get too close to her house. Why is she so fiercely protective of her privacy and what made her disappear at the height of her cinematic fame? Her husband Daniel, reeling from a discovery about a woman he last saw 20 years ago, is about to make an exit of his own. It is a journey that will send him off course, far from home. Will his love for Claudette be enough to bring him back?

I See You by Clare Macintosh

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation, no website: just a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it's just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that. Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make?

Conclave by Robert Harris

The Pope is dead. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, 118 Cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. They are holy men. But they have ambition. And they have rivals. Over the next 72 hours one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on Earth.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

You are a young neurosurgeon. You have completed 11 years of training. You are devoted to your work and on the brink of a wonderful career. Then you are diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. 'When Breath Becomes Air' is an unforgettable reflection on the practice of medicine and the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.

The Gustav Sonata by Rose Tremain

It is the tutor who tells the young Gustav that he must try to be more like a coconut - that he needs a hard shell to protect the softness inside. This is what his native Switzerland has perfected - a shell to protect its neutrality, to keep its people safe. But his beloved friend, Anton, doesn't want to be safe - a gifted pianist, he longs to make his mark on the world outside. On holiday one summer in Davos, the boys stumble across a remote building. Long ago, it was a TB sanatorium; now it is wrecked and derelict. Here, they play a game of life and death, deciding which of their imaginary patients must burn. It becomes their secret.

Dadland by Keggie Carew

Keggie Carew grew up under the spell of an unorthodox, enigmatic father. An undercover guerrilla agent during the Second World War, in peacetime he lived on his wits and dazzling charm. But these were not always enough to sustain a family. As his memory began to fail, Keggie embarked on a quest to unravel his story once and for all. Dadland is that journey. It takes us into shadowy corners of history, a madcap English childhood, the poignant breakdown of a family, the corridors of dementia and beyond.

Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

Kate Battista is feeling stuck. How did she end up running house and home for her eccentric scientist father and uppity, pretty younger sister Bunny? Plus, she's always in trouble at work - her pre-school charges adore her, but the adults don't always appreciate her unusual opinions and forthright manner. Dr Battista has other problems. After years out in the academic wilderness, he is on the verge of a breakthrough. His research could help millions. There's only one problem: his brilliant young lab assistant, Pyotr, is about to be deported. When Dr Battista cooks up an outrageous plan that will enable Pyotr to stay in the country, he's relying - as usual - on Kate to help him.

Lost for Words by Stephanie Butland

Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look carefully, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are some things Loveday will never show you. Into her refuge - the York book emporium where she works - come a poet, a lover, a friend, and three mysterious deliveries, each of which stirs unsettling memories. Everything is about to change for Loveday. Someone knows about her past and she can't hide any longer. She must decide who around her she can trust. Can she find the courage to right a heartbreaking wrong? And will she ever find the words to tell her own story? It's time to turn the pages of her past.

Sweetgirl by Travis Mulhauser

A cat-and-mouse survival story featuring a baby, a young girl and a criminal. The last thing Percy expected to find in the local drug den was a baby girl. Now she needs to get the baby to a hospital, and fast. But there's a blizzard outside and soon two-bit criminal Shelton Potter has woken up and is on the hunt for whoever has taken the baby.

The One by John Marrs

How far would you go to find THE ONE? One simple mouth swab is all it takes. A quick DNA test to find your perfect partner - the one you're genetically made for. A decade after scientists discover everyone has a gene they share with just one other person, millions have taken the test, desperate to find true love. Now, five more people meet their Match. But even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking and deadlier than others.

Strange the Dreamer by Liani Taylor

This is the story of the aftermath of a war between gods and men, a mysterious city stripped of its name, a mythic hero with blood on his hands, a young librarian with a singular dream, a girl every bit as perilous as she is imperilled, alchemy and blood candy, nightmares and gods spawn, moths and monsters, friendship and treachery, love and carnage.

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

High-low books in Coventry Libraries

‘High-low’ books are available in all Coventry libraries. These are books that are suitable for children and young people with a lower reading age in comparison to their actual age or ‘interest’ age. Barrington Stoke is the main publisher for high-low books.

The books are shelved together with other reading books but can easily be identified on the shelves because they are very thin, and they have the Barrington Stoke name at the bottom of the book spine. Barrington Stoke have a fantastic website [http://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/] to support families and practitioners with information about their books. There are samples of text from their books so that a child could work out their ’reading age’ by reading different samples to find out which suits them best.

On the back of each Barrington Stoke book is a guide to explain the reading/interest age level of the book.

For example below RA8IA9+ would be Reading age 8 Interest age 9+. Another example below RA6.5IA 10-14 means Reading age 6.5 Interest age 10-14

Other publishers offering books suited to older children with a lower reading age include:

A&C Black Colour Graffix and Wired Up, Collins Read On, Wayland Funnies

These are all available in Coventry Libraries.

Roadies, Rock and Record Reads

Coventry has a rich history of music from the Ska movement, with The Specials and Selector, through to Hazel O'Connor and the Primitives and more recently The Enemy, with their number one album 'We live and die in these towns'

We have put together some great titles at Central library to celebrate the history of music, including Ruth Cherrington's 'The dirty stop out's guide to 1970's Coventry' and Daniel Rachel's 'Walls come tumbling down - The music and politics of rock against racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge' Alongside fiction titles including Iain Banks, 'Espedair Street and Kevin Sampson, 'Powder'

All of the below books are available to reserve through our online catalogue [/onlinelibrarycatalogue]. Haven't got a library card? Find out how to join [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/aboutcovlibraries].

6 Featured titles with blurbs:

Iain Banks, Espedair Street

Danny used to be a famous - not to say infamous - rock star. Maybe still is. At 31, he realises he only has two problems: the past and the future. He knows how bad the past has been. But the future - well, the future is something else.

Kelvin Sampson, Powder

Keva McCluskey craves success. Other bands are making it big and now his worst enemy is on MTV. Without being recognised among the great songwriters of our time, Keva feels he cannot confront his horrific past. That's why he formed the Grams.

Louise Wener, different for Girls

This is a story of an ordinary girl's transformation from awkward 80s suburban pop geek to 90s jet-set pop goddess. It's about the embarrassments of growing up and experimenting with who you are and how pop music is both the comic and life-affirming soundtrack that runs through it all.

Gareth Murphy, COWBOYS AND INDIES

COWBOYS AND INDIES is the story of the 'record men' - the mavericks and moguls who have shaped the music industry from the first sound machines of the 1850s through to today's digital streams.

Ruth Cherrington,The Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1970s Coventry

The Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1970s Coventry celebrates the city's vibrant, varied and full-on nightlife of the era. The decade may have an image problem because of industrial strife, strikes and racial tensions but this new book explains how Coventry's music and entertainment scene provided something for everyone, from start to finish, and helped bring people together.

Northern soul

Northern Soul is the story of a youth culture in the 1970's, which changed a generation.

No longer satisfied with the prospect of a small town life and a factory production line two young boys dream of going to America to discover rare records which will help them become the best DJ's on the scene. This journey forces them to confront rivalry, violence and drug abuse and their friendship is tested to the limit. This is Northern Soul.

Read the official roadies, rock and record reads bookmark. [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/28233/record_reads_bookmark]The bookmark also contains the full list of books within this collection.

Libraries and Information Service

Address: Central Library
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1FY

Telephone: 024 7683 2314 [tel:02476832314]

Stephen Lawrence Day

Stephen Lawrence Research Centre Reading List [https://stephenlawrencedayresources.dmu.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/SLRC-Libraries-Reading-List-SLD-2022.pdf]

Stephen Lawrence

The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre aims to drive forward conversations that will shape and influence how we think about race and social justice. It intends to honour the enduring legacy of Stephen Lawrence’s life and his family’s ongoing pursuit of justice by asking new questions, debating critical issues, raising awareness, and advocating to bring about positive change.

To borrow a book please search the library catalogue [/onlinelibrarycatalogue], reserve [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/search-library-catalogue/5] or request [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/search-library-catalogue/4] a copy online, or contact your local library [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/libraries-1/join-find-use/3] to reserve or request books by phone, email or in person.

Key - Fiction (F), Non-fiction (NF), Poetry (P)

Juniors - Early years (0 – 5 years old)

  • An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing (F)
  • Standing up to Racism by Dr Pragya Agarwal (F)
  • All are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold (F)
  • First Questions and Answers: What is Racism? by Katie Daynes and Jordan Akpojaro (NF)
  • Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi (F)
  • The Proudest Blue by S. K. Ali and Ibtihaj Muhammad (F)
  • M is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose (F)
  • Sulwe by Vashti Harrison (F)
  • A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara (NF)
  • We All Belong by Nathalie Goss (F)
  • Look Up! by Nathan Bryon (F)

Key stage 1 (5 -7 years old)

  • First Questions and Answers: What is Racism? by Katie Daynes and Jordan Akpojaro (NF)
  • All About Diversity by Felicity Brooks (NF)
  • When We Say Black Lives Matter by Maxine Beneba Clarke (NF)
  • My Skin, Your Skin: Let’s Talk About Race, Racism and Empowerment by Laura Henry-Allain (NF)
  • Dealing with Racism by Jane Lacey (NF)
  • Where Are You From? by Jaime Kim and Yamile Saied Mendez (NF)
  • Hair Love by Matthew Cherry (F)
  • My Name is not Refugee by Kate Milner (F)
  • My Hair by Hannah Lee (F)
  • My Brown Skin by Dr. Thomishia Booker (F)
  • Hey You! by Dapo Adeola (F)
  • Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon (F)
  • Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman and Caroline Binch (F)
  • Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renee Watson (NF)
  • Rosa by Nikki Giovanni (NF)
  • All Aboard the Empire Windrush by Jillian Powell (NF)
  • Hoorah for Mary Seacole by Tish Cooke (NF)
  • The Journey by Francesa Sanna (F)
  • The Empire Windrush by Clive Gifford (NF)
  •  

Key stage 2 (7 – 11 years old)

  • The Life of Stephen Lawrence by Verna Allete Wilkins (NF)
  • Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah (F)
  • Coming to England by Baroness Floella Benjamin (NF)
  • Black and British: an Illustrated History by David Olusoga (NF)
  • Who are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave Their Homes? And Other Big Questions by Michael Rosen (NF)
  • The Place for Me: Stories about the Windrush Generation by Dame Floella Benjamin, K.N.Chimbiri, E. L. Norry and Judy Hepburn (NF)
  • The Island by Armin Greder (F)
  • Migrants by Issa Watanabe (F)
  • Journey to Jo’Burg by Beverley Naidoo (F)
  • Sunflower Sisters by Monika Singh Gangotra and Michael Dias-Hayes (F)
  • The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Rauf (F)
  • Funky Chickens by Benjamin Zephaniah (P)
  • Fly Me Home by Polly Ho Yen (F)
  • The Arrival by Shaun Tan (F)
  • The Wheel of Surya by Jamila Gavin (F)
  • Walter Tull’s Scrapbook by Michaela Morgan (NF)
  • Freedom by Catherine Johnson (F)
  • Empire’s End - A Roman Story by Lelia Rasheed (F)

Teens - Key stage 3 (11 – 14 years old)

  • A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird (F)
  • Hope in a Ballet Shoe by Michaele and Elaine DePrince (F)
  • The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon (F)
  • Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho (NF)
  • Maybe I Don’t Belong Here: A Memoir of Race, Identity, Breakdown and Recovery by David Harewood (NF)
  • The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman (P)
  • Run Rebel by Manjeet Mann (P)
  • The Boy with the Topknot by Sathnam Sanghera (NF)
  • Britons Through Negro Spectacles by ABC Merriman-Labor (NF)
  • A Black Boy at Eton by Dillibe Onyeama (NF)
  • Diver’s Daughter by Patrice Lawrence (F)
  • The New Cross Massacre Story by John La Rose (NF)

Key stage 4 (14 – 16 years old)

  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (F)
  • I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan (F)
  • Go Tell it on a Mountain by James Baldwin (F)
  • Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri (NF)
  • Silence is Not An Option: You Can Impact the World for Change by Stuart Lawrence (NF)
  • Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans (P)
  • Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo (F)
  • The Louder I Will Sing by Lee Lawrence (NF)
  • The Colour Purple by Alice Walker (F)
  • Voice of the Windrush Generation: The Real Story Told by the People Themselves by David Matthews (NF)
  • Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi (F)
  • Minty Alley by C.L.R. James (F)
  • Growing Out by Barbara Blake Hannah (NF)
  • My Fathers’ Daughter by Hannah Azieb Pool (NF)
  • Sequins for a Ragged Hem by Estate of Amryl Johnson (F)
  • Black and British by David Bygott (NF)
  • War to Windrush: Black Women in Britain 1939 to 1948 by Stephen Bourne (NF)
  • Black Poppies: Britain’s Black Community and the Great War by Stephen Bourne (NF)

Key stage 5 (16 – 18 years old)

  • Small Island by Andrea Levy (F)
  • The Lonely Londoners by Samuel Selvon (F)
  • Dear Justyce by Nic Stone (F)
  • In Our Mad and Furious City by Guy Gunaratne (F)
  • And Still, I Rise by Baroness Doreen Lawrence (NF)
  • The Case of Stephen Lawrence by Brain Cathcart (NF)
  • When They Call You a Terrorist: A Story of Black Lives Matter and the Power to Change the World by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele (NF)
  • Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy (NF)
  • The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph (NF)
  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho (NF)
  • “I Will Not be Erased”: Our Stories about Growing up as People of Colour by Gal-dem Magazine (NF)
  • What is Race? Who are Racists? Why Does Skin Colour Matter? And Other Big Questions by Nikesh Shukla and Claire Heuchan (NF)
  • Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga (NF)
  • Black Joy by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and Timi Sotire (NF)
  • Living While Black by Guilaine Kinouani (NF)
  • The Dancing Face by Mike Phillips (F)
  • Without Prejudice by Nicola Williams (F)
  • Empire Windrush: Fifty Years of Writing about Black Britain by Onyekachi Wambu (NF)

Adults (18 years old+)

  • And Still, I Rise by Baroness Doreen Lawrence (NF)
  • The Case of Stephen Lawrence by Brain Cathcart (NF)
  • Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad (NF)
  • Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga (NF)
  • The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla (NF)
  • It’s Not About The Burqa by Mariam Khan (NF)
  • Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann (NF)
  • What White People Can Do Next: From Allyship to Coalition by Emma Dabiri (NF)
  • Biracial Britain: What It Means To Be Mixed Race by Remi Adekoya (NF)
  • Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala (NF)
  • Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge (NF)
  • Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain by Sathnam Sanghera (NF)
  • Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging by Aufa Hirsch (NF)
  • Afropean: Notes from Black Europe by Johny Pitts (NF)
  • We’re Here Because You Were There: Immigration and the End of Empire by Ian Sanjay Patel (NF)
  • Black London: The Imperial Metropolis and Decolonisation in Twentieth Century by Marc Matera (NF)
  • Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain by Peter Fryer (NF)
  • Murder in Notting Hill by Mark Oloen (NF)
  • Narratives From Beyond the UK Reggae Bassline by Henry and Morley (NF)
  • Policing The Crisis by Stuart Hall (NF)
  • Political Blackness in Multiracial Britain by Mohan Ambikaipaker (NF)
  • The Black Atlantic by Paul Gilroy (NF)
  • There Aint’ no Black in the Union Jack by Paul Gilroy (NF)
  • Un/Settled Multiculturalisms by Barnor Hesse (NF)
  • UK Hip-Hop, Grime and the City: The Aesthetics and Ethics of London’s Rap Scenes by Richard Bramwell (NF)
  • Asians In Britain by Rozina Visram (NF)
  • Bangladeshi Family Life in Bethnal Green (NF)
  • Black British History by Hakim Adi (NF)
  • Insurgent Empire: Anticolonialism and the Making of British Dissent by Priyamvada Gopal (NF)
  • (B)ordering Britain by Nadine El-Enany (NF)
  • A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid (NF)
  • Back to Black by Kehinde Andrews (NF)
  • Beyond A Boundary by C. L. R. James (NF)
  • Black British Cultural Studies: A Reader by Houston A. Baker, Manthia Diawara, and Ruth H. Lindeborg (NF)
  • Black Edwardians by Jeffrey Green (NF)
  • Black Experience And The British Empire by Philip D. Morgan and Sean Hawkins (NF)
  • Black Handsworth: Race in 1980s Britain by Kieran Connell (NF)
  • Black Resistance to British Policing by Adam Elliott-Cooper (NF)
  • Blackening Europe by Heike Raphael-Hernandez (NF)
  • Capitalism And Slavery by Eric Williams (NF)
  • Civiling Subjects by Catherine Hall (NF)
  • Claudia Jones A Life In Exile by Marika Sherwood (NF)
  • Claudia Jones: Beyond Containment by Carole Boyce Davies and Claudia Jones (NF)
  • Decolonising The University by Gurminder K. Bhambra, Dalia Gebrial and Kerem Nişancıoğlu (NF)
  • Deporting Black Britons by Luke de Noronha (NF)
  • Dropping Anchor And Setting Sail by Jacqueline Nassy Brown (NF)
  • Empire Strikes Back by Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (NF)
  • Familiar Stranger: A Life Between Two Islands by Stuart Hall (NF)
  • Feminism, Interrupted: Disrupting Power by Lola Olufemi (NF)
  • Fruit of the Lemon by Andrea Levy (F)
  • Heart of the Race: Black Women’s Lives In Britan by Beverly Bryan, Stella Dadzie And Suzanne Scafe (NF)
  • How the West Indian Child is Made Educationally Subnormal by Bernard Coard (NF)
  • In The Castle Of My Skin by George Lamming (NF)
  • In The Shadow Of Enoch Powell by Shirin Hirsch (NF)
  • Inside Babylon by Winston James (NF)
  • I Refuse to Condemn: Resisting Racism in Times of National Security by Asim Qureshi (Editor) / contributor Fatima Rajina (NF)
  • Islam in Victorian Britain by Ron Geaves (NF)
  • Keeping Britain White by Maya Goodfellow (NF)
  • London Crossings by Mike Phillips (NF)
  • London Is The Place For Me by Kennetta Hammond Perry (NF)
  • Making Mixed Race: A Study of Time, Place and Identity by Karis Campion (NF)
  • African Europeans by Olivette Otele (NF)
  • Imperial Intimacies by Hazel Carby (NF)
  • Blackness in Britain by Lisa Palmer and Kehinde Andrews (NF)
  • Girl, Woman Other by Bernadine Evaristo (F)
  • Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams (F)
  • Hostile Environment by Maya Goodfellow (NF)
  • Decolonising Feminisms by Denise Noble (NF)
  • Terraformed by Joy White (NF)
  • White Teeth by Zadie Smith (F)
  • West Indian Intellectuals In Britan by Bill Shwarz (NF)
  • Thinking Black by Rob Waters (NF)
  • The Making Of The Black Working Class In Britan by Ron Ramdin (NF)
  • The Long Song by Andrea Levy (F)
  • The Digital Lives of Black Women in Britain by Francesca Sobande (NF)
  • The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James (NF)
  • The Black Atlantic by Paul Gilroy (NF)
  • The Birth Of Cool by Carol Tulloch (NF)
  • Somali, Muslim, British by Giulia Liberatore (NF)
  • Racial Capitalism by Gargi Battachyria (NF)
  • Race, Sexuality and Identity and Britain and Jamaica by Gemma Romain (NF)
  • Race Women Internationalists by Imaobong Umoren (NF)
  • Race and the Undeserving Poor by Robbie Shilliam (NF)
  • On Being Included by Sara Ahmed (NF)
  • On Beauty by Zadie Smith (F)
  • New Geographies of Race and Racism by Caroline Bressey (NF)

Further reading:

Discover More Reads

Our ‘Discover More Reads’ [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/discovermorereads] book lists offer a gateway to explore literature that encompasses a variety of cultures and global viewpoints, including: 

  • Cultural Heritage: Books related to the African Continent, Black History Month, and Windrush Day.
  • Social Movements: Literature on Black Lives Matter and further readings on the subject.
  • Diverse Literature: Celebrations of diverse Indian, Chinese, Welsh, Irish, and English writings.
  • Special Observances: Selections for Refugee Week, Men’s Health, LGBTQ+ Pride, Holocaust Memorial Day, and British Science Week.
  • Genre Highlights: Fantastic fiction in translation, Great British Crime picks, and sharp-edged fiction.
  • Well-being and Resilience: Books promoting safety, calmness, connection, hope, and resilience, especially for children and young adults.
  • Environmental Awareness: A green book list for children and young adults to foster environmental consciousness.
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