Hi! My name is Jonathan. Welcome back to Abington Public Library for APL Book Bites, a new program here at the APL where we review some of our favorite books and more.

During this cold winter and holiday season, it's important to remember compassion and kindness. So this time my recommendation is a tad serious. Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission To Bring Healing To Homeless People by Tracy Kidder is a nonfiction book detailing the creation of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and Dr. O’Connell’s efforts to provide the homeless people of Boston with much needed healthcare. Literary journalist Tracy Kidder follows Dr. Jim and his Street Team as they bring aid to Boston’s “rough sleepers”. Kidder does his due diligence and chronicles Dr. Jim and the Street Team's work and efforts over five years. The story of Dr. Jim and the Street Team is nothing short of inspiring. Kidder includes the stories of Dr. Jim’s patients, using pseudonyms for their privacy, and expresses some deeply needed empathy for the city’s most at-risk residents. This is definitely a necessary inclusion to anyone’s to-be-read pile.

This has been APL Book Bites, brought to you by the Abington Public Library. Thanks for spending a moment with us and we’ll see you next time! Bye!