The best books on how those who differ from the norm are treated by society

Until I read the heart-breaking Just Mercy, I felt knowledgeable about corruption in some parts of our justice system. The treatment of people of color in the South can be especially egregious. But in many locales, juveniles, the mentally challenged, and poor citizens are often brutalized and inhumanely treated by corrupt officials. 

Author Bryan Stevenson, a Harvard Law School graduate, founded the Equal Justice Initiative, his non-profit that seeks “just mercy” for defendants like Charlie. At thirteen, Charlie was sent to an adult prison for killing his mother’s abusive boyfriend. He was repeatedly raped. There was Walter; a black man on death row, falsely accused of raping a white woman. Read it and weep for these cases and many others, but also thank God for angels on earth like Bryan Stevenson.

This was a fascinating detailed history on the mistreatment of Osage Indians and confiscation of their lands. By the 1920s, the tribe was squeezed into a parcel of rocky Oklahoma territory where oil was later discovered. Seeing wealthy Indians enjoy their privileges didn’t sit well with federal officials who appointed guardians to help the Osage. Many were corrupt local residents. 

Monitoring the Osage’s spending and running their lives wasn’t enough for some Oklahomans, who began killing off tribal members. J Edgar Hoover and the newly established FBI struggled with the case. When Hoover then passed the case to agent Tom White, White created a team that eventually solved the murders. He also exposed residents who were complicit in the killings and in efforts to strip the Osage of their wealth.

I’ve always been fascinated by American Indian culture. Girls wore intricately beaded dresses and headbands with feathers. Moms carried elaborately decorated baby backpacks. Also, I didn’t understand why the cowboys couldn’t get along with the Indians. In this novel, based on a historical event, the government strikes a deal with the Cheyenne, trading 1000 white women for 1000 horses. 

The women are culled from poorhouses, prisons, and asylums, like May whose father committed her for living in sin. May jumps at the opportunity to escape the asylum. Once on the reservation, the newcomers bond and slowly adapt to their new lives and families. Readers too get an intimate portrait of Indian life, and compared to actions of the US Army, it begs the question, who should be labeled savages?

With so much bad news in the world, Guncle, an upbeat, fun novel, was my favorite read of 2022. Gunkle is Gay Uncle Patrick, who is designated by his recently deceased sister-in-law to take in her kids, Maisie and Grant, while her husband checks into rehab. Patrick dutifully brings the children to live with him in Palm Springs. 

Previously, Patrick never dealt with children’s meltdowns, homesickness, or grief. But rocky days and nights are offset by moments of joy. Patrick sparks their happiness and as they mourn together, it allows Patrick to overcome grief for his deceased lover. Set in progressive Palm Springs, it was refreshing that this community displayed no censorship or suspicion about a single gay man caring for young children and doing it very well. 

I love photography books but, my hands-down favorite is Humans of New York. New York City is truly America’s melting pot, a gourmet stew of nationalities, personalities, fragile seniors, young billionaires, paupers, and everything in between. The city has much of what’s right with the world and its burst of humanity can all be seen in this book.

Unlike many photo books, this one has no excess verbiage. Stanton lets the pictures or their subjects tell the stories. There are hairstylists, hipsters, mommies, cute kids, teens with tattoos and purple hair, and a guy busking in the park with his viola while wearing a pink gorilla suit. The caption reads: “Damn liberal arts degree.” The author created this as a summer project and ended with 300 pages of delight.