Enjoy these April recommendations from our friends at Bookish, Fort Smith, Arkansas’ only independently owned bookstore.
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
Green’s newest work of nonfiction offers a powerful look at the ongoing fight against tuberculosis, a disease that continues to impact millions worldwide, including those in our own community. Living just an hour away from one of the nation’s key locations for TB treatment, the history Green explores is especially relevant to our local experience. Through his deep connection with a young TB patient in Sierra Leone, Green brings the human side of the disease into sharp focus, weaving together scientific and social histories, and demonstrating how tuberculosis has shaped societies. As the book explores the vast disparities in healthcare access, it highlights the tragic truth that this curable, treatable disease still claims 1.5 million lives each year. Green’s advocacy for change, fueled by his firsthand experiences, makes this book not only informative but also a call to action.
The Cherokees in War and at Peace 1670-1840 by David Narrett
Discover how the Cherokees forged a unified nation amid relentless colonial expansion, intertribal conflicts, and shifting alliances. Through skillful diplomacy, peacemaking, and resilience, they navigated European diseases, warfare, and the pressures of trade. Rich with personal stories and deep historical insight, this book reveals the Cherokee people’s remarkable ability to adapt and endure.
The Antidote by Karen Russell
Set in the Dust Bowl, we follow a cast of characters—a witch who holds memories like currency, a cursed farmer, a grieving basketball star, a talking scarecrow, and a photographer whose camera reveals the past and future. The story unearths buried histories and forgotten truths, offering both eerie warnings and glimpses of hope.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
In this gripping prequel, a young Haymitch Abernathy is forced into the brutal Quarter Quell, where twice the usual number of tributes must fight to survive. Facing impossible odds, betrayal, and the Capitol’s deadly designs, he discovers a spark of defiance that will shape his future—and the rebellion to come. Let the games begin!
