Latest Staff Reviews
True Biz
By Sara NovićTrue Biz by Sara Nović is a book that taught me so much about Deaf culture and the breadth of deaf experiences. The narrative follows several characters at the fictional River Valley School for the Deaf. In between chapters, Nović includes excerpts of nonfiction about Deaf history and American Sign Language (ASL), complete with drawn diagrams of signing. This spotlight on Deaf culture is what makes True Biz a gem of a book, even if I thought some of the storytelling was less than perfect.
The Unknown Writing Contest Winner
By Jack VandeleuvJohnson County Library is pleased to announce that Jack Vandeleuv has won our writing contest on the theme of The Unknown with his piece "Exhibit."
Jack Vandeleuv is a longtime Kansas City resident and former employee of Johnson County Library. He has not yet published any works of fiction.
Exhibit
Latest Local Music
Photo by Clara Ketchell
Midwest Telegram emerged from the depths of the Kansas City suburbs--and two years of lockdown and general pandemic living--in 2021 with an eponymous EP of dreamy DIY bedroom pop that wouldn't sound at all out of place on your favorite 90s college radio station.
It's hard to know where to begin with someone like Robert Castillo. In addition to being a recognized composer, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist, Castillo is also a dedicated community organizer. He has led the Kansas City-based jazz ensemble The Sextet and has released music as a solo artist under the Blob Castle moniker. Enjoy our interview with the fascinatingly diverse artist.
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Please introduce yourself and describe your music for new listeners.
Still looking for a great read? Follow our Librarians in the catalog! We recommend JCLGreggW for all the hottest new fiction trends and JCLHeatherMi for teen books and more!
