Voices of slavery

Freedom’s Journal, the first black-owned and operated newspaper in the nation, held poetry in high esteem, publishing some in every four-page issue. The paper closed in 1829, after only two years, but it set an example for the black papers that followed. “Voices Beyond Bondage: An Anthology of Verse by African Americans of the 19th Century’’ (NewSouth) features poems from 36 black-owned newspapers. The subject matter spans slavery, freedom, love, death, and nature, among others. Co-editors Erika DeSimone and Fidel Louis will talk about this little-known literary movement and sign books at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Royall House & Slave Quarters, 15 George St., Medford. Admission is $5.

Berklee professor presents new book

Bertie Bigelow, the music professor in a local music professor’s new murder mystery, dresses impeccably and fancies herself a Lena Horne lookalike. In the book’s opening pages, Bigelow, who leads the choir at a community college on Chicago’s South Side, is trying to recover from the school’s Christmas concert. One of her young singers hijacked the evening and unleashed an expletive-laced rap song that took aim at the city councilor sitting right up front.

Berklee College of Music professor Carolyn Marie Wilkins, born and raised in Chicago, is the author of “Melody for Murder’’ (Pen-L), and there’s no question that she knows how to put on a show. She’ll be presenting her new book with a concert by the Bon Voyage Jazz Quartet and spoken-word artist John Voigt, reciting passages from the book. Wilkins will sing and play jazz piano. The celebration begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Charlestown Public Library.

Newton author’s young-adult novel

In Francisco X. Stork’s new young-adult novel, “The Memory of Light’’ (Scholastic), 16-year-old Vicky Cruz takes a handful of her stepmother’s sleeping pills. After she wakes up in a hospital psychiatric ward, she realizes she must come to terms with her depression.

The novel received starred reviews in Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus Reviews, the latter noting that Stork “further marks himself as a major voice in teen literature by delivering one of his richest and most emotionally charged novels yet.’’

A resident of Newton, Stork, in an author’s note, discloses his own suicide attempt as a young man. He writes, “It is my hope that Vicky’s story will make it easier for young people to recognize depression in themselves and others and to feel more comfortable talking about it.’’

Poetry at Uforge Gallery

Uforge Gallery in Jamaica Plain is hosting two evenings of poetry this week. On Thursday, Papercuts bookstore is sponsoring a reading from 7 to 9 p.m. with contributors to “The Breakbeat Poets: New American Poetry in the Age of Hip-Hop’’ (Haymarket). On Saturday from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Mr. Hip Presents takes over the gallery. This month’s poets are Anna Ross, Jabari Asim, Daniel Bouchard, Jim Henle, and Jordan Carter. The Good Vibes Trio will perform. Mr. Hip, also known as Donald Vincent, started the literary series to bring together different kinds of artists and people of all ages. The $8 admission fee is waived for attendees under 16. The gallery is at 767 Centre St.

Coming out

¦ “13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl’’ by Mona Awad (Penguin)

¦ “Under the Influence’’ by Joyce Maynard (Morrow)

¦ “I’m Glad About You’’ by Theresa Rebeck (Putnam)

Pick of the Week

Kate Layte of Papercuts in Jamaica Plain recommends “Double Jinx’’ (Milkweed) by Nancy Reddy: “In this enchanting and provocative poetry collection, Reddy’s technical skill shines brightly in ‘Our Wilderness Period’ (a crown of sonnets!); it’s a gut-wrenching story of pilgrims arriving in New England and surviving their first winter — ‘Mama burns books/ to warm the tips of frost-bit fingers and then/we have no stories left to tell the children.’ ’’

Jan Gardner can be reached at JanLGardner@yahoo.com.