Photo of a Tree down to their roots. Two strips of masking tape with "Book Review" written on it. Screenshot of From These Roots by Tamara Lanier audiobook in the PRH Audio app.

Photo of tree with roots. "From these Roots- Tamara Lanier at the top. Tan box: "Tamara Lanier took on Harvard in a reparations case that is pivotal for the ancestors of slaves in America. Her ancestor, Papa Renty was an enslaved Black African man from the Congo and her mother who was sick wanted Tamara to take down the oral history of what she remembered being passed down through the family about him. She wanted her daughter to find Papa Renty and Tamara followed through on that promise. Tamara came across the mention of a Papa Renty in research and with it were photos, the first daguerreotypes (which were early photographic process employing an iodine-sensitized silvered plate & mercury vapor) and it was a photo of Papa Renty. The Papa Renty who was defiant, strong and who learned how to read and taught others how to read. The study that Papa Renty was used in was by a Harvard professor, Louis Agassiz who tried to argue that Black people were inferior to white people through physical science. He argued that they were not able to read or were even capable of thought. He was a horribly racist man, and his study has left lasting stereotypes of Black people to this day. But where were these photos? Harvard had them and Tamara tried to connect with Harvard to get them to acknowledge all the information passed down through her family about Papa Renty as a person. Appealing to their humanity to counter Agassiz’s narrative and provide the evidence she had of him teaching people to read, his defiance even at 13 demanding a checked shirt that is documented in paperwork by the white people that enslaved him. She worked with world renowned genealogists, hobby ones and historians alike and was able to unearth a mountain of records showing the connection she had to him and his history but still Harvard would not bend. She was not even supposed to use the image of Papa Renty in any way, but she defied that because he was her ancestor.

Tree with roots. Top reads "From These Roots- Tamara Lanier. Tan Box with the following written: "She fought the court and I do not want to give away too much of the case and what happened because I want you to read it first hand and experience the ups and downs that came with Tamara’s fight for justice. This book was so powerful and showcases why we CANNOT erase the history of what slavery was and its impact even today. Tamara sat down with the descendants of those that enslaved her family and ate lunch with them. She sat at the table that her ancestors made with their hands. She was able to connect with the ancestors of Agassiz and see the remorse and willingness they had to make right the wrongs of their relatives. Even if your family didn’t own slaves. Even if your family didn’t participate in racist studies, they were complicit in the abuse and enslavement of Black people. Healing cannot be done until reparations are made, and reparations is taking accountability, giving back and allowing the ancestors of the enslaved to have power of the artifacts and history of their loved ones. They deserve to have their histories recognized, acknowledges and made accessible to all. I cannot stress the importance of books like this one, especially given today’s fight to hide and erase Black history even more.

Green flowers translucent with brown masking tape at top with "Black Creator Spotlight" Black hearts going up to right corner. Photo of Casey, Black woman with smile on her face. @Iamcaseyrkelly under photo. Tan Box with : "Casey will add melanin to your bookshelf every day of the week. I appreciate her so much. She has added many books to my TBR and shared authors that have quickly become favorites. She fights for her community. She not only shares Black books but highlights Black creators out here all the time that are doing the work. She wants them recognized. I I will never get over her “Black Book of the Day” tune she came up with for her 60 second videos she makes, the backpacks she has in her incredible book room and just her passion and compassion for others. Thank you for everything you do Casey! Covers for Come Home Safe and The House of Eve (arrow to books saying a couple of books Casey has brought to my life. Brown circle and heart in bottom right corner.

📗: From These Roots- Tamara Lanier
Thank you
@prhaudio.bsky.social and @crownpublishing.bsky.social for a free ebook & audio copy to read.

Black Creator Spotlighted: @iamcaseyrkelley.bsky.social

#BookReview #BookSky #BlackCreatorSpotlight #BlackHistory

Green Jungle Background w/ book cover for "I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming is in the middle. Graphics of a Tamagotchi, chocolate, research paper, alien ship, T-Rex, bird & coffee is around the cover. Slide 2 Green Background with tan rectangle with I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming written inside. A Tamagotchi graphic is to the left. Under it reads " Thank you @PRHAudio for a free audio copy". Tan Square w/ the following inside: I love Kimberly Lemming so much. I would love to be inside of her mind for just 24 hours because it has to be such a fun and fascinating place. This is book 1 in the Cosmit Chaos series which is honestly such a fitting name! It is chaos in the best way. It will have u kicking ur feet, laughing until you snort, hooting at the antics & just flabbergasted at what is coming next. Her books bring u joy, love, happiness, silliness & comfort. I just love them SO MUCH!

The narrator, Hazel Addison and if you have read Kimberly’s other books in audio she is also the narrator for those and Hazel is perfect for Kimberly’s books. The way she embodies each character and brings the necessary emotions to it is just perfection. Dory is almost to the finish line of obtaining her PHD in wildlife biology when she is attacked by a lion but they are both saved because the lion, Toto and her are abducted by aliens and brought to a planet that has DINOSAURS! There she is being studied for her breeding capacity to her two new mates, Sol and Lok. They are navigating this new planet, trying to survive dinosaurs and researchers who are all up in their business. So if you want fun, silly, absolute chaos, spice, unique worlds I think you need to pick this book up. And prepare yourself because once you pick up 1 Kimberly Lemming you will devour them all. Just ask my friend, Cassie 😆 Graphic of alien spaceship in bottom left corner.

“Black Creator Spotlight. Photo of Bee, BLK person w/ hand behind an earring “Bee,is incredibly talented, their designs always blow me away, just go take a look at their page. They value friendships are compassionate & help run the Queer Books in Philly book club. Bee has introduced me to Viano & I' m so grateful for that! I love Viano’s work & need more of it in my life. Book Cover of Just for the Cameras Photo of Reni, BLK woman smiling. “Reni is also really talented, they are passionate about singing & community. She loves monster & historical romances. She is not afraid to share her thoughts on book discourse and makes me think about things from a different perspective. Reni introduced me to Akwaeke and I'm so grateful for this because I just love their writing. Cover for You Make a Fool of Death with Your Beauty. Left corner is a pink sparkly paper w/ a graphic of a mouth with rainbow tongue & paper that says, “Buzzing w/ life”. Rt hand corner is an Open book w/pink flowers.

📗 : I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com- Kimberly Lemming
Out: 2/18
Thank you @prhaudio.bsky.social for free audio copy.

🖤 Creators Spotlighted:
@selfbybee.bsky.social
@reniesanreads on TT & IG

#Booksky #BookReview #BlackCreatorSpotlight #KimberlyLemming #MonsterROmance

Photo of a wood staircase in the background with plants and a table. Front is a white hand holding House of Frank by Kay Sinclaire. Quote: "I would walk this world barefoot, glass at my heels. I would drag the heaviest ship across a dry, barren land if it meant you were here again. Alive. With Me". Bottom right corner reads "Book Review and Black Creator Spotlight" with an arrow pointing right.

Brown Background with tan rectangle at top with “House of Frank Kay Sinclair” with graphics of a yellow shooting star and a purple and pink wand”. Under in white letters and black highlight is a quote “I don’t think I have anything to love anymore.”. Tan Box is under and has the following written inside: “Saika, is a music witch however she is losing her power. She arrives at Ash Gardens to lay her sister, Fi to rest 2 years after her death. Saika is disconnected from her parents, they have rejected her. She has removed herself from the life of her brother-in-law and the kids because of her fear of rejection after the loss of her sister. Saika, did something that they did not agree with in order to keep Fi alive longer. As Saika arrives at Ash Gardens she meets cheeky cherubs, the owner of the home-Frank, an ornery Olivie, A dragon, an Architectural enchantments witch- Hilde, a ghost, a kitchen witch and Ignatius, an Elf. They make an unlikely group of people brought together under one roof, but they all have gone through something similar, loss. Grief has brought them together. They have to combat the house losing its magic and collapsing around them. They need to find something powerful to bring it back. Saika is tasked with working with Ignatius to help bring the house back to its former state. Kay is able to evoke the emotions of grief throughout multiple characters and shows the complexity of it. Kay is detailed in her writing and I appreciated that a lot. I was a little nervous picking this one up given all of the reaction videos I saw of people while reading but I am glad I didn’t let that deter me. I loved the found family and joy within the book. I found myself moved beyond measure to see someone capture grief in all its pain, joy, love, and longing. I am eager to read more from Kay because I have a feeling they are just going to keep growing in their craft!” Graphic of pant and green and yellow dragon is in the corner.

Black and White Checkered Background with Brown paper in right hand corner with black outline of flowers. Black Box with red letters that read “Black Creator Spotlight, every book review this month by Black authors will include a Black creator to follow!”. Photo of Natasha, black woman with flowers around her head and nose piercings. Next to her photo is the following written “Natasha is funny, honest in her mental health journey and she loves to support and read a wide range of books but she loves Why Choose, Black Love and Omegaverse!” Book Cover of Restore Me by J.L. Seegars is next to the words. Circle photo of Karissa, bald Black woman with books stacked on her head is under the photo of Natasha. Next to photo it reads “Karissa is sweet, funny and she has Alopecia and she is artistic! She reads a wide variety of genres from nonfiction to YA and beyond, but she loves to highlight and uplift marginalized authors.” Book cover for “We are All so good at smiling by Amber McBride is next to the words. Left hand corner is a pink sparkly paper with a art board and pain, and autumn colored flowers. Right hand corner is an Open worn book with pink pressed flowers.

Book Review: House of Frank- Kay Sinclair

Black Creators Spotlighted: @natashareadsnrambles on IG/TT
@cryling.bsky.social

#BookSky #BlackCreatorSpotlight #BookReview