Michele Norris

Dr. Gregory McGriff, a black doctor in a largely white community, says gaining his patients' trust requires him to spend more time and "communicate a little bit more" than his white colleagues. He says that disparity, while seeming unfair, has helped to make him a better doctor.

In 1877, Anna Sewell wrote a novel about human kindness and cruelty — all from the point of view of a horse. In the decades since, Black Beauty has been embraced by generations of children, and has helped change the way we treat and think about horses.

Introducing a new NPR book club ... for kids! Our first book will be The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Young readers are invited to read the book and share their thoughts and questions with us. Just before Halloween, Gaiman will be on the program to answer questions from young listeners.

Last year, the popular, albeit unauthorized online version of Scrabble disappeared in a puff of lawsuits — leaving hundreds of thousands of word enthusiasts in the lurch. Now, the creators of Scrabulous have quietly relaunched a new version of the game — but Scrabble guru Stefan Fatsis says it won't cut it for the purists.

The 2008 presidential race was many things to many people, but almost everyone agrees that it was long — epic even. So what better way to tell the story of the past political year than in an epic poem? That's where Calvin Trillin's Deciding the Next Decider comes in.

Nobel laureate Toni Morrison says she wanted to "remove race from slavery" in her new novel. Set in 17th century America, A Mercy features black, white and Native American characters in different degrees of servitude.

Brad Meltzer's new novel threads together the biblical story of Cain and Abel with the actual details of Superman creator Jerry Siegel's life.

A former White House press secretary for President Bill Clinton makes the case for the talents and skills of women in her new book. Dee Dee Myers looks at women in leadership roles — and how their choices differ from men.

Growing up, Chinese-American writer Jennifer 8. Lee noticed the food at Chinese restaurants differed greatly from what her mother served at home, and an obsession was born. The result is a book called The Fortune Cookie Chronicles.

Writer Jeffrey Eugenides, who edited the new anthology, My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead, takes an unorthodox look at love. He explains how the stories in this collection revolve around voyeuristic longing or disenchanted entanglement.

Mythology, the latest in the popular "Ology" series for children, explores the stories of ancient Greece. The large books are filled with illustrations and interactive elements, providing a tactile alternative to the Internet.

On the second anniversary of the playwright's death, Michele Norris talks to two actors from the Broadway production of his final play, Radio Golf.