The Overmountain people began settlements along the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals and the nearby Nolichucky and Holston Rivers during the eighteenth century. The settlers overcame what seemed impossible. They created their own government, bought land from the Cherokee people, and then ultimately had to defend their families from Cherokees hoping to recover their ancestral lands. When the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution began, the Overmountain Men joined the fight for independence, defeating the British in 1780 at Kings Mountain. This nationally significant event changed the direction of the war in favor of the Patriot cause.

Bonnie Parker has been romanticized in print and on screen since the early 1930s, when she and gangster boyfriend Clyde Barrow robbed banks and left bodies in their wake. She’s undoubtedly the most infamous murderous woman in Missouri history—although it’s uncertain whether she killed anyone with her own hand—but she’s in a crowded field of Show Me State female killers. The other women may not be etched in the public consciousness, but that makes them no less intriguing. They killed not in public with automatic rifles but in private, intimate situations with knives, pistols, and poison. Theirs are the stories of women scorned, of jealousy and love triangles, of abuse and self-defense.

Drexel Park, founded in 1924, is a result of the city of Philadelphia bursting at its seams as it experienced an industrial boom fueled by advances in manufacturing, transportation, and technology. Having maintained dominance as the largest port in North America for nearly 150 years, rapid industrial growth led to mass overcrowding, which forced the expansion of urban neighborhoods and the creation of new suburban neighborhoods. The founder of Drexel Park, Thomas Conway Jr., was educated at the University of Pennsylvania and was a professor of finance at the Wharton School. He originally established himself as an interurban railroad innovator by transforming failing railroad lines into profitable businesses. Conway revolutionized suburban planning by leveraging existing railroad connections to develop a rural community near Philadelphia. He donated land for a local public hospital and used cutting-edge marketing techniques to attract clients, shaping his vision of an “ideal community.”

Reston, Virginia, was named utilizing the initials of its founder, Robert E. Simon Jr. In 1961, Simon purchased over 6,000 acres of wooded farmland between Washington, DC, and the soon-to-be opened Dulles International Airport to build a planned community where all could live, work, and play. Since its founding, Reston challenged the norms of the day by establishing an open community, fighting for affordable housing, and building a sense of belonging through its Restonian-led community organizations like Reston Black Focus, Common Ground Foundation, and more. This collection of vintage images portrays the people, places, and events that have built Reston into the thriving community it is today. Its unique architecture and design both inspire and evoke nostalgia. 

In the mid-1700s, the James River intersection of the Great Western Road and the Great Wagon Road embodied the crossroads of America. Abolitionist and Quaker John Lynch began a ferry service, and in 1754, the area became Bedford County. The county seat in New London welcomed Patrick Henry for his famous “Beef! Beef!” speech. Thomas Jefferson built a home nearby in 1808 and enrolled his grandson in New London Academy, chartered in 1795 and still in operation. The county has since seen tales of farm life, American music, industry, and heroism. The National D-Day Memorial, dedicated in 2001 by George W. Bush, was placed in the town of Bedford to honor the unequaled sacrifice made on June 6, 1944. Author James Siddons chronicles notable moments and lesser-known sagas in the annals of Bedford County.

From the adorable ant to the zany zebra swallow-tail butterfly, the lucky lobster to the talkative turkey, the jaunty jellyfish to the majestic moose—there are so many curious, courageous, captivating creatures to see!

New England's animals—big and small, from land and sea—are celebrated with fanciful, alliterative text and exquisite cut-paper illustrations. This is a perfect read-along with any little animal lover, who will love learning about the animals and the alphabet.

 

If you love learning more about the place you call home, these new local history books are well worth your time. Pick one up, share it with a friend, or add it to your next reading list and support the authors preserving our community’s stories. Browse the new releases today and let us know which book you are most excited to read. And of course, if none of these pique your interest, check out our new book finder tool!