In the past month, I've had two library users request some special books to be purchased for our library. (Okay, more than two people have requested books for purchase in the last month, but for the sake of this story, let's stick with two.) I'm happy to announce that these books have arrived. Both have links to Marshall in ways that reflect our history -- for better and for worse.

The first title is "Independent Immigrants: A Settlement of Hanoverian Germans in Western Missouri" by Robert W. Frizzell.

Some of you may remember Lulu Frizzell, a Marshall resident and loyal library patron. Her son is now the Director of Libraries at Northwest Missouri State University. His book takes a look at the time between 1838 and 1890, when Lafayette County was the new home for many German immigrant farmers and what happened when the Civil War struck.

The second book is titled "The Lyncher In Me: A Search for Redemption in the Face of History" by Warren Read.

This non-fiction book tells the dramatic experiences of Mr. Read as he discovers the responsibility his beloved great-grandfather had in a 1920 lynching.

One of the victims was born in Pennytown and the author contacted Virginia Huston when writing the book. She is included in the book's pictures.

Both of these wonderful books include taking a hard look at our history and work hard to remember who we are.

I encourage everyone to read and remember.

Circle of Days

Tuesday, April 8, at 3:15 p.m. -- TTT (Teen Think Tank) meeting at Bueker Middle School Library.

Thursday, April 10, at 7 p.m. -- Marshall Public Library Board of Trustees Meeting at the library.

New materials

Fiction

--"Cliff House Strangler" by Shirley Tallman (historical mystery

--"Murder Melts in Your Mouth" by Nancy Martin (mystery)

--"Everything But a Groom" by Holly Jacobs (romance)

--"The Price" by Alexandra Sokoloff (suspense)

--"The Outcast" by Sadie Jones (fiction)

--"Death Walked In" by Carolyn Hart (mystery)

Non-fiction

--"Bake Until Bubbly" by Clifford A. Wright

--"Make Any Divorce Better" by Ed Sherman