Ex Libris

4 E X L I B R I S • Y E L L O W S P R I N G S L I B R A R Y A S S O C I A T I O N • S P R I N G , 2 0 2 4 TRACY PHILLIPS Head Librarian Every month the Yellow Springs Community Library offers several different book clubs. Check out the descriptions for each book discussion group and consider joining a group of people once a month who share your same reading interests. • Tweens Read, second Wednes- day of the month, 3–4 p.m. Pick up your copy of the book of the month at the front desk. Check it out, read it, and come to tweens read to share your thoughts. For ages 9 to 12. • Classics Read Aloud, fourth Tuesday of the month, 3–4 p.m. Gather to hear a chapter or two of the book selected for the month. Enjoy the captivating story and discover the treasures bound within the pages of the book. For ages 7–12. • Teen Book Club, Third Thursday of the month, 4–5 p.m. Join teens in discussing the book of the month. For ages 12+. • Let’s Talk Books, first Wednes- day of the month, 1–2 p.m. Bring whatever you are cur- rently reading or listening to Library News: Book Clubs at the YS Library and discuss it with fellow book enthusiasts. There is no pressure and all are welcome — even if you happen to be between books. Who knows? You might find your next favorite book! Adults 18+ • Historically Speaking Book Club, second Tuesday of the month, 6–7:30 p.m. Join us as we read a historical fiction book each month. Come for a light snack and roundtable discussion. • Taste of Mystery Book Club, third Thursday, 6–8 p.m. A different book is read every month. Join in the fun by bring- ing a snack to share based upon something they ate in the book. VICK MICKUNAS Host,‘Book Nook,’ WYSO As this novel opens a young Black man has been killed in yet another senseless act of racist vio- lence. Four people who are there at the hospital where he just died are sick with grief. One of them, Nate Evers, a young black political activist, has had enough. Nate plots revenge through a most unusual form of retribution. Fast forward two years, the same four people are hiding out in a southern swamp and they have taken a prisoner. Nate’s scheme is underway. He interrogates their captive, Review: Smoke Kings | Jahmal Mayfield demanding to know if he is aware that years ago their prisoner’s grandfather forced another young Black man to plummet off a bridge to his death? Nate de- mands that regularly scheduled reparations will now be paid to some descendants of that mur- dered man. This quartet proceeds to capture and shake down more de- scendants of racist killers. Pivot to another storyline; a retired cop is tracking down whoever has been extorting these unusual repara- tions. When Nate eventually goes too far, killing a hostage, all hell breaks loose. The dead hostage’s brother, a crazed white supremacist, plots his own retribution. Mayfield ratchets up the tension and the suspense in a story that smokes and sizzles.