Poor Richard’s Books offers two engaging nonfiction titles
The staff from Poor Richard's Books in Colorado Springs recommends a hare-raising (but sweet) true story and a memoir on finding identity.
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Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from book stores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Poor Richard’s Books in Colorado Springs recommends a hare-raising (but sweet) true story and a memoir on finding identity.
Raising Hare
By Chloe Dalton
Pantheon
$27
March 2025
Purchase
From the publisher: Imagine you could hold a baby hare and bottle-feed it. Imagine that it lived under your roof and bounded around your bedroom at night, drumming on the duvet cover when it wanted your attention. Imagine that, more than two years later, it still ran in from the fields when you called it and slept in your house for hours on end. For political advisor and speechwriter Chloe Dalton, who spent lockdown deep in the English countryside, far away from her usual busy London life, this became her unexpected reality.
In February 2021, Dalton stumbles upon a newborn hare—a leveret—that had been chased by a dog. Fearing for its life, she brings it home, only to discover how difficult it is to rear a wild hare, most of whom perish in captivity from either shock or starvation. Through trial and error, she learns to feed and care for the leveret with every intention of returning it to the wilderness. Instead, it becomes her constant companion, wandering the fields and woods at night and returning to Dalton’s house by day. Though Dalton feared that the hare would be preyed upon by foxes, weasels, feral cats, raptors, or even people, she never tried to restrict it to the house. Each time the hare leaves, Chloe knows she may never see it again. Yet she also understands that to confine it would be its own kind of death.
“Raising Hare” chronicles their journey together while also taking a deep dive into the lives and nature of hares, and the way they have been viewed historically in art, literature, and folklore. We witness firsthand the joy at this extraordinary relationship between human and animal, which serves as a reminder that the best things, and most beautiful experiences, arise when we least expect them.
From Jeffery Payne, assistant retail manager: Most readers of my recommendations will likely recognize by now that I have a soft spot for authors who express eloquence in their connections with the animal kingdom, whether it be snails, turtles, or in this case, hares.
Chloe Dalton’s “Raising Hare” recounts the finding of a small, invariably cute and adorable young hare and the author’s attempt to shelter and raise the rambunctious ball of fur and out-of-proportion limbs into a resilient, self-sufficient and surviving part of the wild.
By not naming the young thing with mellowing amber eyes (lest it become a “pet”), Dalton gleefully lets us watch in wonder as the young leveret (yet another new word!) grows unto itself. The author’s charm for words, and her exceptional reflections on the small but mighty creature are a treasure to read.
All Boys Aren’t Blue
By George M. Johnson
Square Fish
$12.99
January 2024
Purchase
From the publisher: From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age 5, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.
Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson’s emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.
From Jeffery Payne, assistant retail manager: I play Wordle, everyday…the word I begin with? ”chaos”…from there, order is eventually, hopefully found. Letters fall into place, creating a five-letter word that sometimes could possibly present a theme-of-the-day, (we shall overlook the ‘potty’ day…).
That being shared, “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” is a testament to rising above the chaos from our inner demons and to the world at large. It is a homage to grit, integrity and perseverance of someone who is just trying to live their young life and find what it means to be themselves.
It shouldn’t be that challenging. But as we all know, it is.
Written for the young adult audience, this book is an emotional and forceful chronicle of the author’s upbringing and coming-into-their-own journey. The reader will cringe, tear up a bit, laugh loudly and understand how brilliant this book is in just a few pages. Currently on the top of several most banned book lists, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” shows us that we shouldn’t, no, can’t brush aside how important it is to have open and honest (difficult) conversations when it comes to gender identity and affirming self-recognition.
THIS WEEK’S BOOK RECS COME FROM:
Poor Richard’s Books
320 N. Tejon St., Colorado Springs
As part of The Colorado Sun’s literature section — SunLit — we’re featuring staff picks from book stores across the state. Read more.
