Over the last 250 years, the United States of America has experienced a massive transformation, going from 13 colonies to a global superpower. In honor of our nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary, Naperville Public Library has selected a series of books that celebrate the spirit, history and heart of America.
“The Undiscovered Country” by Paul Andrew Hutton
Discover the true story of the wild, wild west! In a tale of progress and redemption, Hutton uses legends like Davy Crockett and Buffalo Bill to reveal how westward expansion shaped America.
“The Flag Was Still There” by David McKean and M. Todd Bennett
McKean and Bennett explore how our nation developed its leading principles through key conflicts, from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement.
“Victory for the Vote” by Doris Weatherford
Follow the seven-decade fight for women’s right to vote and the battles for equality that women fight today.
“Rethinking American Art” by Theodore E. Stebbins
The way America values art has shifted throughout history. Examine the evolution of our most valued artists and the aesthetics that define them.
“A History of America in Ten Strikes” by Erik Loomis
From the Lowell Mill Girls to the Air Traffic Controllers strike, explore how ten decisive labor strikes revealed the nation’s struggle over class, race and economic justice.
“Red Scare” by Clay Risen
Follow the anti-communism hysteria that plagued the United States after World War I and continued through the 1950s.
“Americana” by Bhu Srinivasan
America has always been a place for people to dream, but at its heart lies a fixation with capitalism. Take a 400-year journey through American enterprise and the unexpected link between them.
“One Mighty and Irresistible Tide” by Jia Lynn Yang
From the 1924 Immigration Act to the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, dive into the epic history of immigration in America.
“Black History Is for Everyone” by Brian Jones
Explore how studying Black history aids our understanding of shared history and encourages readers to connect with the past.
“We Are Everywhere” by Matthew Riemer
Riemer takes readers on a journey through the history of the Queer Liberation Movement in the United States, from the late-nineteenth century to today.
Ashlee Conour is the marketing specialist at Naperville Public Library.
