Helen Plum Library

London had the best freaks, always had. The Egyptian Hall, the Promenade of Wonders, the Siamese twins, pinheads, midgets, cannibals, giants, living skeletons, the fat, the hairy, the legless, the armless, the noseless, London had seen it all. In the Hall of Ugliness the competition was stiff. But no one had ever seen anything quite like Julia ... Pronounced by the most eminent physician of the day to be "a true hybrid wherein the nature of woman...

"From the day she was born in 1928, Maya Angelou (born Marguerite Annie Johnson) lived a life full of trials and triumph, struggle and success, and the magic and the power of words. This book tells the inspiring and powerful story of the girl from rural Arkansas who rose to become one of the most beloved writers in the United States and the world. Through photographs and stories, young readers will learn more about the life and words of this amazing...

"From the acclaimed actor and Stonewall Honor-winning author of The Best at It, Maulik Pancholy, comes a new middle grade novel about a gay Indian American boy who learns the power of using his voice. Thirteen-year-old Nikhil Shah is the beloved voice actor for Raj Reddy on the hit animated series Raj Reddy in Outer Space. But being a star on TV doesn't mean you have everything figured out behind the scenes. . . . When his mom temporarily moves them...

Mary Reichert is one of the best sharpshooters in the country, and in the Brookstone Wild West Extravaganza her skills are on display in every performance. But unless the man responsible for her brother's death is brought to justice, Mary's fame and accomplishments seem hollow. She feels helpless in the face of the murderer's money, power, and connections. The only bright spot in her days is the handsome journalist who keeps attending their shows....

In this beautiful and poignant tribute to her late daughter, award-winning actress and "New York Times" bestselling author Carol Burnett presents a funny and moving memoir about mothering an extraordinary young woman through the struggles and triumphs of her life

The extraordinary story of one of the most famous women of the 19th century, a woman marked by the scandal that had the world at their feet. Lola Montes was not her real name, nor was she Spanish, but she dazzled a whole era with her breathtaking beauty and passionate temperament. Dancer, adventurous and courtesan, her life was a succession of travel, scandals, and eccentricities. Posing as a Andalusian dancer, she debuted at the most important theaters...

Josephine Baker (1906--1975) was nineteen years old when she found herself in Paris for the first time in 1925. Overnight, the young American dancer became the idol of the Roaring Twenties, captivating Picasso, Cocteau, Le Corbusier, and Simenon. In the liberating atmosphere of the 1930s, Baker rose to fame as the first black star on the world stage, from London to Vienna, Alexandria to Buenos Aires. After World War II, and her time in the French...

"Donald Glover is an actor, writer, director, producer, and comedian-as well as other things! Perhaps best known for his roles in Solo: A Star Wars Story, the Lion King remake, and the TV series Atlanta, he also raps under the name Childish Gambino. Grammy-winning, Emmy-winning Glover is a prolific creator, and young readers will love discovering how he's become one of the most respected people in the entertainment industry today. This comprehensible...

A luminous and inspiring portrait of a Black pioneer and artistic force-Eartha Kitt-and one of the most moving mother/daughter stories in Hollywood history. In this unique combination of African-American, music, and cultural history, we come to know one of the greatest stars the world has ever seen-Eartha Kitt-as revealed by the person who knew her best, her daughter. Eartha, who was a mix of Black, Cherokee, and white, identified as Black, but...

An account of the life and exploits of the sharpshooting entertainer