Literary resources abound at Hillsborough County Libraries
The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative (HCPLC) will host four book discussions during February in recognition of Black History Month.
Here are the details:
Thursday, Feb. 22, at 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
North Tampa Branch Library, 8916 North Blvd., Tampa, FL 33604
"Master Slave Husband Wife" by Ilyon Woo
This book presents the remarkable true story of Ellen and William Craft, who escaped slavery through daring, determination, and disguise, with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled white man and William posing as "his" slave. Bring your favorite passages to share with fellow readers. Copies are available at the North Tampa Branch Library, or find physical copies, e-books, and e-audiobooks through the library catalog.
Thursday, Feb. 22, 3 to 4 p.m.
Brandon Regional Library, 619 Vonderburg Dr., Brandon, FL 33511
"Black Cake" by Charmaine Wilkerson
This debut novel tells the story of two estranged siblings who must set aside their differences to deal with their mother's death and her hidden past, a journey of discovery that takes them from the Caribbean to London to California and ends with her famous black cake. In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett's death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake made from a family recipe with a long history and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking journey Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their family and themselves. Copies of the book are available at the Brandon Regional Library.
Monday, Feb. 26, 2 to 3 p.m.
SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, Ruskin, FL 33573
"What's Mine and Yours" by Naima Coster
Gee and Noelle are two students in North Carolina who find themselves in the middle of a county integration initiative that draws students from the primarily Black east side of town into predominantly white high schools on the west. Amidst the community outrage, Gee and Noelle's seemingly disconnected families begin to collide and overlap as the years pass. "What's Mine and Yours" is a multi-generational story that covers racism, class, familial bonds, and consequences. Naima Coster explores the unique organism in every family: what breaks them apart and how they come back together.
Copies of the book will be available at the library.
Note: Registration is required for all book discussions. Visit the calendar feature at HCPLC.org.
In addition to the book discussions, HCPLC has a featured Black History Month webpage that holds access to a myriad of resources, with topics such as Black history in the Tampa Bay area, a Black history playlist, a video collection, and a curated list of books and films for different ages. Many resources are easily available online.