Awesome Books

Elephant Company
The Amazing Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II
by Vicki Croke

Except for loving birds, I don't think of myself as an animal person. But this story is totally gripping. It takes you through Burma (Myanmar) from the end of World War I into World War II. The hero bonds with, understands, and cherishes the elephants used to drag and push teak logs into the water. The bond he forges provides a means of saving many lives.

A Hope More Powerful than the Sea
One Refugee's Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival
by Melissa Fleming

I couldn't put this book down once I began reading. It was so helpful to read about her youth in Syria and how the ongoing war began.  My heart was in my mouth when this young woman who does not swim finds herself stranded in the Mediterranean Sea clutching two infants. Her strength and courage is mind boggling.

The Girl with Seven Names
Escape from North Korea
by Hyeonseo Lee and David John

A young woman wanting to experience life outside of North Korea leaves on what she thinks is a lark only to discover that she has left her previous life, endangering the family she left behind. After a decade hiding in plain sight in China, she seeks asylum in South Korea. Finally experiencing the freedom she sought, she risks everything to get her family out of North Korea

The Truths We Hold
An American Journey
by Kamala Harris

Not widely known outside of California where she was Attorney General before becoming one of her state's senators in 2016, Kamala Harris is a very strong woman. With parents from Jamaica and India who were active in the Civil rights movement, she and her sister were raised by her mother to be successful Black girls. Her successful campaigns for public office and the innovative efforts she spearheaded as a public defender will open your eyes to the amazing things that can be done through commitment and hard work.