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Author to explore hip hop’s future
An expert in hip hop music and culture will give a glimpse of the artform’s future cultural impact during a public presentation at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at Oklahoma City University, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave.
OCU’s next Martha Jean Lemon Distinguished Speaker Series presenter is Adam Bradley, a bestselling author, professor and leading authority on hip hop culture. Bradley’s presentation, “Hip Hop’s Futures,” promises an engaging exploration of the genre’s evolution and its trajectory as a global cultural and economic force. Bradley will delve into the profound question: What happens when a music centered on youth culture reaches middle age?
Bradley is a professor of English and African American Studies at UCLA, and the founding director of the Laboratory for Race & Popular Culture (the RAP Lab). A prolific author, he is a writer-at-large for the New York Times’s T Magazine and wrote six books, including “Book of Rhymes,” “The Anthology of Rap” and “One Day It’ll All Make Sense.”
For more information about the lecture series, visit okcu.edu/lemonlecture.
Thunder reading challenge starts Oct. 1
In celebration of National Literacy Day, the Oklahoma City Thunder has opened registration for the Thunder Reading Challenge, presented by American Fidelity Assurance Company. Starting Oct. 1, second-grade classrooms across Oklahoma can join the challenge and compete for top honors. The three highest-performing schools will receive cash prizes and individual awards, while the school with the highest overall reading average will earn a special assembly featuring Thunder entertainers. The challenge runs through March 31 with monthly prizes given to the top 10 schools for average reading minutes. To register for the Thunder Reading Challenge, visit okcthunder.com/readingchallenge.
Pioneer Library System donates books for reaching summer learning challenge goal
The Pioneer Library System announced the record-breaking success of its 2025 Summer Learning Challenge. This achievement reflected the combined efforts of over 9,000 participants who enrolled in the challenge. Along the way, participants logged 8,145,331 minutes of reading, completed 156,374 activities, and earned 34,889 digital badges.
Because the community surpassed the goal, the library system donated more than 10,600 books provided by the Pioneer Library System Foundation to children enrolled in WIC programs across Cleveland, McClain, and Pottawatomie counties. For more information about the library system locations, services or resources, go online to pioneerlibrarysystem.org.
Bestselling author to speak at Commonplace Books
Bestselling author Anna Mitchael will be reading at Commonplace books, 1325 N. Walker Avenue, No. 138, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 9, from her new book “They Will Tell You the World Is Yours.” The book is a non-traditional work of fiction as it is 85 short vignettes that come together to tell the story of a woman who realizes the world has slowly but surely been pushing her toward a certain kind of life. And what she does when she realizes that’s not the life she wants to live. Ultimately it’s a story about faith, and deciding to live for something larger. For more information, call 405-534-4540 or go online to https://commonplacebooksokc.com/events/3530620251009.
Best of Books invites people to join book launch, signings
Best of Books, 1313 E Danforth Rd. in Edmond, is hosting several events in September. For more information, go online to https://www.bestofbooksok.com/ or call 405-340-9202.
‘BOOK’ BRICK CRAFTING: BoB’s Bookish Craft x Brew events return at 6 p.m. Sept. 16 at Anthem Brewing in OKC, turning garden bricks into “books” for Book Brick Painting Night. A $25 ticket includes all supplies for the Book Brick craft and a beer token from Anthem. Tickets are limited for space and on sale now at bestofbooksok.com.’BONES AND BERSERKERS’ SIGNING: Bestselling author-illustrator Nathan Hale will discuss the latest tale in his American History graphic novel series, “Bones and Berserkers,” at 6 p.m. Sept. 17. The presentation is free but the book must be purchased to enter the signing line.’ALCHEMISED’ RELEASE: A reader release party at 6 p.m. Sept. 23 will celebrate the dark fantasy debut of “Alchemised” at 6 p.m. Sept. 23. Preorder a signed copy now and select “Event Pick up” at checkout to claim a spot. Event attendees will also receive themed temporary tattoos and bookmarks, play interactive puzzle games, and be entered in a giveaway. Bring headphones for a “silent disco” style special audio excerpt. The author will not be present.BOOK RELEASE: Celebrate the release of “The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold” by Ally Carter at 6 p.m. Sept. 24. Carter will be joined in conversation by Allison Ashley, author of “Falling Into Place.”OKLAHOMA AUTHORS: The September Afternoon with Oklahoma Authors features Sci-Fi and Fantasy Young Adult authors. Join the store from noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 27 to meet authors Candace Kade, Jes McCutchen, Jerrica Godwin and Brian Holshouser.’TWILIGHT’ TRIVIA: September is the 20th anniversary of “Twilight,” and BoB is hosting a Twilight Trivia Night at 6 p.m. Sept. 30. Teams of two to four people will compete to see which team will survive the Volturi’s scrutiny and be the deemed winners. Bring your own team or get paired with new bookish buddies. Register at bestofbooksok.com.BARBIE NIGHT EVENT: Best of Books and Dillard’s have teamed up for a girls night with author Reneé Rosen and her latest book “Let’s Call Her Barbie,” a historical fiction following the real life creator of Barbie. The event will include glam mini makeovers, nostalgia and storytelling. This will be a ticketed event in collaboration with the Dillards Artistry team at Estee Lauder inside Quail Springs Mall. Tickets are on sale at bestofbooksok.com for $25 and include: “Let’s Call Her Barbie” paperback, $10 gift card to Dillard’s, swag bag from Dillard’s, entry into raffle and light refreshments.Former astronaut to speak at Spark a Change series
The Pioneer Library System will host author and former astronaut Leland Melvin as the 2025 keynote speaker for the annual Spark a Change series. Spark a Change is the library system’s initiative inviting community members to spark curiosity, drive action, and inspire positive transformation. Community members will have the opportunity to engage with Melvin during his tour of the library system’s service areas on Sept. 14 during a family-friendly program designed for 1st-3rd graders. As part of this series, free copies of Melvin’s “Chasing Space and Chasing Space: Young Reader’s Edition” will be available while supplies last.
Following the event, Leland will be available for autographs. Visit pioneerlibrarysystem.org/services/spark-a-change to learn more about Spark Change programming and register for events.
Books with Oklahoma ties in stores and coming soon
Whether you’re a book lover looking for something with Oklahoma ties or you want to support Oklahoma authors, there are plenty of options available. Here are some of the newest releases with Oklahoma authors and/or other Oklahoma ties.
“Braided Roots: The interweaving of history, family, and a father’s love” by author Pasha Westbrook and illustrator Madelyn Goodnight (Orchard Books, 40 pages, in stores Nov. 4)
As a young girl’s father braids her hair, he weaves a story about the strength of their ancestors, Freedmen who walked the Trail of Tears from Mississippi to Oklahoma. In this picture book, past and present come together in a tale about endurance, history and love.
“Disruptive Grace: Hope When Parenting Hurts” by Tracy Zserdin (Printopya, 176 pages, in stores)
A story of resilience, hope, and faith in the midst of the mess, Zserdin offers an unflinching glimpse into the challenges of raising her son, Isaac, while shining a light on God’s grace. She shares her journey, dealing with the aftermath of Isaac’s actions, and coping when those actions led Isaac to prison. With contributions from family and friends, including honest reflections from Isaac himself, “Disruptive Grace” offers understanding and solidarity for those navigating their own tough roads.
“To the Moon and Back” by Eliana Ramage (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster, 448 pages, in stores)
When Steph Harper was 5, her mother fled an abusive husband — with Steph and her younger sister in tow — to the Cherokee Nation. In response, Steph sets her sights as far away from Oklahoma as she can get, vowing that she will let nothing get in the way of pursuing the training she knows she will need to be accepted by NASA, and ultimately, to go to the moon. Spanning three decades and several continents, the book encompasses Steph’s turbulent journey, along with the intertwined lives of the three women closest to her.
“Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State” by Caleb Gayle (Riverhead Books, 304 pages, in stores)
Gayle recounts the tale of Edward McCabe, a Black businessman and a rising political star who set in motion his plans to found a state within the Union for Black people to live in and govern. His chosen site: Oklahoma, a place that the U.S. government had deeded to Indigenous people in the 1830s. McCabe lobbied politicians in Washington, D.C., Kansas, and elsewhere as he exhorted Black people to move to Oklahoma. His rising profile led him to become known as Black Moses. And like his biblical counterpart, McCabe nearly made it to the promised land but was ultimately foiled by politics, business interests, and the growing ambitions of white settlers who also wanted the land.
“Out Oklahoma Way” by Julian Knight Codding (Independently published, 152 pages, in stores)
A collection of fiction stories about what makes Oklahoma a rich part of the Western Cowboy experience in America. The collection contains stories by August Loman, Native American quotes, famous Oklahoman’s quotes and cowboy poetry.
“Heirlooms” by Pamela Manners and Richard M Bernard (Independently published, 188 pages, in stores)
From Jamestown to the Dust Bowl, the women of the Oliver family saved the things that shaped their lives. Beginning with Fannie Strickland, eight generations of wives, daughters, sisters and mothers add their treasures to the cedar chest that is passed down through the centuries. When a historian interviews Hazel Oliver, their story is told through the mementos left by this long line of women.
“Mother and Fathers, Sons and Daughters” by James Hochtritt (Finishing Line Press, 66 pages, in stores)
This collection of narrative poems grounded in the 20th and 21st centuries examines “female, male, and family identity and dynamics pertaining to both the past and the present within the broader historical context of American cultural, environmental, political, and social landscapes.”
To submit book news or events, email Features editor Moran Elwell at melwell@oklahoman.com.