Books Sandwiched In

One of FFRPL’s most popular programs, Books Sandwiched In (BSI) has been running continuously since 1956.

Watch livestream reviews on the RPL YouTube Channel: ‘Rochester Public Library NY’

Spring 2025

**View/download the Spring 2025 BSI brochure.**

March 18 – James by Percival Everett REGISTER

James is a brilliant reimagining of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the enslaved Jim’s perspective. “A masterpiece that will help redefine one of the classics of American literature …” — Chicago Tribune

James was 2024 National Book Award Winner, and a Best Book of the Year: NYT Book Review, LA Times, The New Yorker.

Presenter: Dr. Cassandra Scherr is an Assistant Professor of English at St. John Fisher University and specializes in African and African American literature.

March 25 – Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham REGISTER

Based on extensive new archival research and original reporting, Challenger provides a definitive account of the 1986 space shuttle disaster. It’s a tale of ambition, ingenuity, hubris, and heroism; and of the investigation that ultimately revealed how politics and power drove the failed mission.

Challenger won the 2024 Kirkus Nonfiction Prize and was a NYT Notable Book of 2024.

Presenter: Jim Bader is Director of the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium, an astronomy and space enthusiast, a planetarian, and a life-long learner.

April 1 – Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey REGISTER

Bestselling novelist John Grisham’s real-life passion for justice led to his work with Jim McCloskey of Centurion Ministries, the first organization dedicated to exonerating innocent people who have been wrongly convicted. These true stories expose prevalent injustices in our criminal justice system, as well as the racism and corruption that make wrongful convictions so difficult to reverse.

Presenter: Jon Getz is an attorney and certified federal court mediator in the Rochester region. He is the past director of the Innocence and Justice Project at University of Buffalo School of Law.

April 8 – There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib REGISTER

Abdurraqib’s personal storytelling and historical exploration of excellence is “… not only the most original sports book I’ve ever read but one of the most moving books I’ve ever read, period.”—Steve James, director of Hoop Dreams

A Best Book of the Year: The NYT Book Review, The Washington Post, NPR, The New York Public Library, and Publishers Weekly.

Presenter: Jacob Scott served as a Teacher, School Counselor, Assistant Principal, and Principal before becoming the Chief Operating Officer for the Rochester City School District. He is passionate about mentoring student-athletes, giving back to his community, and making a meaningful impact.

April 15 – Hip Hop is History by Questlove REGISTER

In this landmark book, Questlove – six-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, drummer, DJ, producer, director, and NYT bestselling author – offers a perceptive, personal reflection on the first 50 years of the “miraculous, mercurial genre” of hip-hop. He traces the creative and cultural forces that made and shaped hip hop; highlights chart-topping hits; and includes insider stories from top names in the industry.

Presenter: Jose DaCosta is a retired corporate executive with a deep appreciation for history, culture, and the arts. As the Founder of Exodus To Jazz Productions, he produced 75 jazz concerts in Greater Rochester, featuring world-renowned musicians.

April 22 – Briefly Perfectly Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End by Alua Arthur REGISTER

This transformative memoir from America’s most visible death doula outlines how embracing our mortality can help us lead more fulfilling, authentic lives. Alua has been present for thousands of end-of-life moments, and she helps manage all aspects of patient care, from practical business matters to medical directives, memorial planning, and quiet moments, when emotional stories are often expressed.

Presenter: Emily Hessney Lynch is a social media consultant, writer, professor, library trustee, book club organizer, and mother who believes that we should all talk about death more often.

April 29 – I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition by Lucy Sante REGISTER

Sante’s memoir of late-in-life gender transition “is moving for many reasons, but primarily for its observations about aging and vanity … Her sharpness and sanity, moodiness and skepticism are the appeal.” —The New York Times

Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Presenter: Comedic autobiographical transgender storyteller Penny Sterling has more than 6 hours of stories about her life, so she’s not sure what you think you’ll get with a single line.

May 6 –The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan REGISTER

A gorgeous, witty account of birding and nature, written and illustrated by the bestselling author. “The sketches and words are a record of my life. They contain what puzzled me, thrilled me, what made me laugh and also grieve. … what changed me when I was naïve and curious and wondered about a bird I saw for the first time.” – Amy Tan

Presenter: As President and CEO of the Seneca Park Zoo Society, Pamela Reed Sanchez’s job is to have people from all walks of life fall in love with the living world; in her off time, she watches birds, photographs birds, and paints birds.