Ranger College Library Home Page

The World Between Two Covers: Reading the Globe by Ann Morgan

A beguiling exploration of the joys of reading across boundaries, inspired by the author's yearlong journey through a book from every country.  Prompted to read a book translated into English from each of the world's 195 UN-recognized countries (plus Taiwan and one extra), Ann sought out classics, folktales, current favorites, and commercial triumphs, novels, short stories, memoirs, and countless mixtures of all these things.  The world between two covers, the world to which Ann introduces us with affection and no small measure of wit, is a world rich in the kind of narratives that engage us passionately.

The New Odyssey: The Story of the Twenty-First Century Refugee Crisis by Patrick Kingsley

On the day of his son’s fourteenth birthday, Hashem al-Souki lay somewhere in the Mediterranean, crammed in a wooden dinghy.  His family was relatively safe―at least for the time being―in Egypt, where they had only just settled after fleeing their war-torn Damascus home three years prior.  Traversing these unforgiving waters and the treacherous terrain that would follow was worth the slim chance of securing a safe home for his children in Sweden.  If he failed, at least he would fail alone.  Hashem’s story is tragically common, as desperate victims continue to embark on deadly journeys in search of freedom.

Human Migration and the Refugee Crisis: Origins and Global Impact (Flashpoints: Global Crisis and Conflict) by Eliot Dickinson

This book examines the complex forces behind international migration and the enormous impact it is having on our globalized world.  Chapters cover both the challenges and opportunities associated with migration in a broad selection of countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania.  Readers will find in-depth analysis of such recent events as the Ukrainian refugee crisis, violence against immigrants in South Africa, support for right-wing political parties in Germany, Australia's use of offshore detention centers, and the Trump administration's efforts to curb immigration.  Readers will also uncover the historical antecedents to the modern landscape of human migration, including the push for colonization and the exploitation and horrors of the slave trade.  The book also investigates the profound impact that climate change will have on patterns of human migration in the coming years.

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

The Founding Fathers tried to protect us from the threat they knew, the tyranny that overcame ancient democracy.  Today, our political order faces new threats, not unlike the totalitarianism of the twentieth century. We are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism.  Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience.  On Tyranny is a call to arms and a guide to resistance, with invaluable ideas for how we can preserve our freedoms in the uncertain years to come.

I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom: A Novel by Jason Pargin

Outside Los Angeles, a driver pulls up to find a young woman sitting on a large black box.  She offers him $200,000 cash to transport her and that box across the country, to Washington, DC.  But there are rules:  He cannot look inside the box.  He cannot ask questions.  He cannot tell anyone.  They must leave immediately.  He must leave all trackable devices behind. As these eccentric misfits hit the road, rumors spread on social media that the box is part of a carefully orchestrated terror attack intended to plunge the USA into civil war.  The truth promises to be even stranger, and may change how you see the world.

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books: A Novel by Kirsten Miller

Lula Dean lives in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia and has become a local celebrity by embarking on a mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read.  To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home:  a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.  What Lula doesn’t know is that a local troublemaker has stolen her wholesome books, removed their dust jackets, and restocked Lula’s library with banned books: literary classics, gay romances, Black history, witchy spell books, Judy Blume novels, and more.  One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world.

In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater—an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.

Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Both a celebration of the craft and a sourcebook for practical information, Knitting Rules! is a collection of useful advice and emotional support for the avid knitter. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee unravels the mysteries of tangled yarn, confusing patterns, and stubbornly unfinished projects. Daring to question long-standing rules and encouraging crafters to knit in the way that works best for them, this illuminating, liberating, and hilarious look at the world of knitting is full of surprises and delightfully inspiring ideas. 

A Stash of One's Own: Knitters on Loving, Living with, and Letting Go of Yarn by Clara Parkes

Anyone who thinks knitting is for little old ladies hasn’t met the Harlot.  In her latest book, successor to her previous bestsellers At Knits End, Knitting Rules!, and Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee journeys deep into the land of those who are obsessed with yarn, needles, and what’s on their needles now.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Knitting!

The World Between Two Covers: Reading the Globe by Ann Morgan

A beguiling exploration of the joys of reading across boundaries, inspired by the author's yearlong journey through a book from every country.  Prompted to read a book translated into English from each of the world's 195 UN-recognized countries (plus Taiwan and one extra), Ann sought out classics, folktales, current favorites, and commercial triumphs, novels, short stories, memoirs, and countless mixtures of all these things.  The world between two covers, the world to which Ann introduces us with affection and no small measure of wit, is a world rich in the kind of narratives that engage us passionately.

The New Odyssey: The Story of the Twenty-First Century Refugee Crisis by Patrick Kingsley

On the day of his son’s fourteenth birthday, Hashem al-Souki lay somewhere in the Mediterranean, crammed in a wooden dinghy.  His family was relatively safe―at least for the time being―in Egypt, where they had only just settled after fleeing their war-torn Damascus home three years prior.  Traversing these unforgiving waters and the treacherous terrain that would follow was worth the slim chance of securing a safe home for his children in Sweden.  If he failed, at least he would fail alone.  Hashem’s story is tragically common, as desperate victims continue to embark on deadly journeys in search of freedom.

Human Migration and the Refugee Crisis: Origins and Global Impact (Flashpoints: Global Crisis and Conflict) by Eliot Dickinson

This book examines the complex forces behind international migration and the enormous impact it is having on our globalized world.  Chapters cover both the challenges and opportunities associated with migration in a broad selection of countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania.  Readers will find in-depth analysis of such recent events as the Ukrainian refugee crisis, violence against immigrants in South Africa, support for right-wing political parties in Germany, Australia's use of offshore detention centers, and the Trump administration's efforts to curb immigration.  Readers will also uncover the historical antecedents to the modern landscape of human migration, including the push for colonization and the exploitation and horrors of the slave trade.  The book also investigates the profound impact that climate change will have on patterns of human migration in the coming years.