A few years ago, I took a rather unusual writing assignment. I won’t say who it was from because I want to protect his identity. But he was in trouble. Big trouble, and was afraid of going to state prison. I had interviewed, and... Read More

We recently reviewed a book called Liberating Minds: The Case for College in Prison, published by The New Press. What first struck me about the book was the subtitle, The Case for College in Prison, as if a case needs to be made. To me,... Read More

For prisoners, whether in your local jail or in state or federal prison, a book may be the only thing that keeps them sane. The ability to learn a new language, about history, or just to travel to other worlds, can help engage a mind and... Read More

Alison Flowers first caught my attention a year ago, when I reviewed her book, Exoneree Diaries: The Fight for Innocence, Independence, and Identity, published by Haymarket Books. What struck me about the book was its matter-of-fact... Read More

Editor’s Note: This commentary is part of a special focus on LGBTQ books, publishers, and authors for the month of June. I was trying to think about how I, as a straight cisgender male, could introduce our month devoted to LGBTQ books,... Read More

Editor’s Note: This commentary is part of a special focus on LGBTQ books, publishers, and authors for the month of June. His Vision of Her was first published almost thirty years ago, in the mid-1980s. Ronald Reagan was president. The... Read More

Editor’s Note: This commentary by librarian Anna Call is part of our special focus on LGBTQ issues for the month of June. Thirty years ago, which is within my lifetime, we would not even have had this conversation. People knew that... Read More

Editor’s Note: This commentary is part of our special focus on Summer Reading for the month of May. When the summer wind comes blowin’ in, try your best NOT to let life go on as normal. For a few months, allow the warm air to suffuse... Read More