Dr. Marianela Rivera
Takeover: Race, Education, and American Democracy
“After being elected to the Lawrence School Committee, I began researching state takeovers of chronically underperforming schools. I wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of other state takeovers in order to help turnaround our schools by recommending evidenced-based policies. Dr. Domingo Morel does an excellent job at providing a historical analysis and systematic study of state takeovers. The knowledge I gained from this book is a part of my intellectual arsenal that fuels my battle against state takeovers.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Domingo Morel is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University.
Cutting School: The Segrenomics of American Education Paperback
“Cutting School was the first book to open up my eyes to the evolution of education for Black and Brown people in this country. It also provided an analysis of the issues of racism and classism in education and how our nation’s failure to provide a high-quality education to all children has become a very big business. Reading this book inspired me to speak at the 2018 NASPA Latinx Conference at Fairfield University on how state takeovers are disenfranchising Black and Brown communities.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Noliwe Rooks is the director of American Studies at Cornell University and was for ten years the associate director of African American studies at Princeton University. She is the author of White Money/Black Power, Hair Raising, and Cutting School (The New Press). She lives in Ithaca, New York.
The House on Mango Street
“House on Mango Street was the first book I read in school in which I connected with and related to the main character on a deep level. I grew up speaking “Spanglish” and when I saw my language reflected in the text I experienced a huge sense of pride in my culture being incorporated into the books we were reading about at school. I had never been more enthusiastic and excited about reading a book for school.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sandra Cisneros is internationally acclaimed for her poetry and fiction and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lannan Literary Award and the American Book Award, and of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the MacArthur Foundation.
Cisneros is the author of two novels The House on Mango Street and Caramelo; a collection of short stories, Woman Hollering Creek; two books of poetry, My Wicked Ways and Loose Woman; and a children's book, Hairs/Pelitos.
Small Doses
“Small Doses is like your best friend that you call when you need advice, but in book form. I became a huge fan of Amanda Seales after watching her HBO comedy Special, “I Be Knowin” with my best friend. Seales is an intellectual comedian who is dedicated to elevating collective consciousness and building community in a, “kinetic way, not a cosmetic way” through her work as an entertainer. This is the kind of book you want to keep on your nightstand and grab whenever you need nuggets of wisdom.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda Ingrid Seales, formerly known by the stage name Amanda Diva, is an American comedian, actress, disc jockey (DJ), recording artist, television personality, VJ, author and poet.
Along with performing stand up comedy across the globe, and touring colleges doing comedic lectures, this former MTV VJ with a master’s in African American studies from Columbia University plays Tiffany on, HBO’s “Insecure”, is co-host of syndicated daytime talk show, The Real, the host of NBC’s, Bring the Funny, and shines in her debut stand up special, I Be Knowin on HBO. She speaks truth to change via her wildly popular Instagram, weekly podcast, “Small Doses”, and its accompanying book/audiobook Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use is a best seller.
1984
“1984 is my favorite dystopian novel of all time. I gravitate toward dystopian literature because it provides an escape from the everyday struggle. This book depicts a dystopian future in which the citizens of Oceania live under constant surveillance. Some say this book was meant to be a warning and not just a work of fiction because of the heightened surveillance we’ve seen in our society. Give it a read and decide for yourself.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eric Arthur Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. His work is marked by keen intelligence and wit, a profound awareness of social injustice, an intense opposition to totalitarianism, a passion for clarity in language, and a belief in democratic socialism.
The Hobbit
“The Hobbit is a classic children’s fantasy and one of my favorite books as a kid. If you’ve never read the Hobbit and you’re in the mood for an adventure, grab this book.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, WWI veteran (a First Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers, British Army), philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the high fantasy classic works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings .
The Outsiders
“The Outsiders was my favorite book in middle school. I had gone through a period of time where I hated reading, but this book made me interested in reading again. The quote, “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.” has always stuck with me. It’s in reference to Ponyboy reading Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay”, which beautifully expresses that nothing, especially that which is perfect and beautiful, can last forever. The book grabbed my attention because of the conflict between two rival gangs. I grew up in a neighborhood where gang violence was prevalent so that part of the story piqued my curiosity, but the story ended up being so much more than that.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
S.E. Hinton, was and still is, one of the most popular and best known writers of young adult fiction. Her books have been taught in some schools, and banned from others. Her novels changed the way people look at young adult literature.
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has always enjoyed reading but wasn't satisfied with the literature that was being written for young adults, which influenced her to write novels like The Outsiders. That book, her first novel, was published in 1967 by Viking.
The Tipping Point
“The Tipping Point is that moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior starts to spread like wildfire. This book gives you a fascinating perspective as to how social epidemics work. Whether you’ve got a unique business idea or you’re a social activist working toward building a movement, this book is definitely required reading to help you on your way.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Malcolm Gladwell is the author of five New York Times bestsellers—The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, What the Dog Saw, and David and Goliath. He is also the co-founder of Pushkin Industries, an audio content company that produces the podcasts Revisionist History, which reconsiders things both overlooked and misunderstood, and Broken Record, where he, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam interview musicians across a wide range of genres. Gladwell has been included in the TIME 100 Most Influential People list and touted as one of Foreign Policy's Top Global Thinkers.
Just Mercy
“An eye-opening and heart breaking memoir of Attorney Bryan Stevenson’s attempts to help those on death row. Bryan Stevenson shows you just how broken our criminal justice system is and leaves you feeling inspired to fight for justice in this world.” - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bryan Stevenson is the executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama, and a professor of law at New York University Law School. He has won relief for dozens of condemned prisoners, argued five times before the Supreme Court, and won national acclaim for his work challenging bias against the poor and people of color. He has received numerous awards, including the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant.
The New Jim Crow
“This book is banned from prisons, but they can’t ban it from getting into your hands. This book is an important tool for anyone eager to understand and dismantle the oppressive system that is the US prison industrial complex.“ - Dr. Marianela Rivera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle Alexander is an associate professor of law at The Ohio State University, a civil rights advocate and a writer.
