Celebrate Nebraska Books

In celebration of Nebraska’s Sesquicentennial the Nebraska 150 Commission, the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association, with support from Humanities Nebraska has compiled a list of 150 books written by Nebraska authors that they feel should be read to gain insight and interest into Nebraska history and culture. These books range from the true crime book, “In Cold Storage: Sex and Murder on the Plains” to classics such as “O, Pioneers” by Willa Cather to our very own Kathy Nelson’s book, “More Than Football: George Flippin’s Stromsburg Years.” The books cover the lives of people such as women in journalism (Chattie Coleman is mentioned) , Malcolm X, Chief Standing Bear, and former governor Bob Kerry to name just a few. The list also includes fiction titles from Bess Streeter Aldrich, Stephanie Grace Whitson, and Andrew Clements.

If you like a little incentive to your reading (besides the sheer joy of it) the Nebraska 150 Commission has highlighted 42 of some of the best literature on the 150 list in a reading challenge. The challenge covers fiction, non-fiction, young adult and picture books and poetry. To qualify for prizes you must read, at minimum, six books from the list for the silver level. If you read 12 books, you qualify at the gold lever and for those that read all 42 books on the list they will qualify for gold and silver prizes as well as being entered into the grand prize drawing. All entries must be received by February 28, 2017. Challenge forms may be picked up at the library or printed from the website www.nebraska150books.org.

Just a caution, the Stromsburg Public Library only owns 24 out of the 42 books so you may have to go on a scavenger hunt for the other titles, some of the books will not be eligible for interlibrary loan due to scarcity of the books or restricted access due to the contest. We will help you locate the books as we are able. We will also be setting up a display with all the books on the 150 list that we have for your reading enjoyment.

New items this week include, “Messenger by Moonlight” by Stephanie Grace Whitson, “LaRose” by Louise Erdich, “Finding Dory: The Junior Novelization” by Disney Pixar, “Baby Gorillas” by Mary Elizabeth Salzman, “Traces of Guilt” by Dee Henderson, “The Scandel” a Theodore Boone novel by John Grisham, and “Lilac Girls” by Martha Hall Kelly. Happy reading!

 

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