Attending her first party, Piggie follows "party expert" Gerald the elephant's advice on what to wear, with surprising results.

I Am Invited to a Party!

“Harrowing and insightful. . . . A profound work about the Black experience and white oppression.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “This work is vitally important and essential to understanding the magnitude of the impact of racism and violence.”—Library Journal (starred review) “Gripping, thought-provoking, and personal, I Am Nobody's Slave will inspire discussion and action in response to its powerful message of inner healing and social justice.”—Booklist A 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist and former Wall Street Journal writer exhaustively examines his family’s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience, in this riveting memoir—a soulful, shocking, and spellbinding read that blends the raw power of Natasha Tretheway’s Memorial Drive and the insights of Clint Smith’s How the Word is Passed. I Am Nobody’s Slave tells the story of one Black family's pursuit of the American Dream through the impacts of systemic racism and racial violence. This book examines how trauma from enslavement and Jim Crow shaped their outlook on thriving in America, influenced each generation, and how they succeeded despite these challenges. To their suburban Minnesotan neighbors, the Hawkinses were an ideal American family, embodying strength and success. However, behind closed doors, they faced the legacy of enslavement and apartheid. Lee Hawkins, Sr. often exhibited rage, leaving his children anxious and curious about his protective view of the world. Thirty years later, his son uncovered the reasons for his father’s anxiety and occasional violence. Through research, he discovered violent deaths in his family for every generation since slavery, mostly due to white-on-Black murders, and how white enslavers impacted the family’s customs. Hawkins explores the role of racism-triggered childhood trauma and chronic stress in shortening his ancestors' lives, using genetic testing, reporting, and historical data to craft a moving family portrait. This book shows how genealogical research can educate and heal Americans of all races, revealing through their story the story of America—a journey of struggle, resilience, and the heavy cost of ultimate success.

I Am Nobody's Slave

Not all daughters are their daddy's little girl. Too many times, their fathers are absent from their lives or nonexistent. Some may have been abusive. The book is about how much the Heavenly Father loves them. Earthly fathers may not be able to love their daughters in the way they need. Through scriptures, the author goes into detail on how much the Father loves his children. He can bring peace and comfort and an incredible love that can't be matched to any other love. We are all imperfect daughters with imperfect earthly fathers. Forgiveness is hard to give when a father has broken his daughter's heart or when he has caused physical and mental pain. Father sent his Son, Jesus, to die for the world's sins and mistakes. When a person asks for forgiveness, he will give strength. This strength will lead a brokenhearted daughter to forgive. By forgiving, peace and joy will fill her body, soul, and mind.

There Is a GOD, And I Am NOT HIM

I Am a VCR