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Be transported to scenes of trees and flowers

Because the only "summer slide" around here should be on a playground

When you love a true story, well told

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ICPL Recommends

Five stories book cover
Five stories book cover

Five stories

Ellen Weinstein

j813.54 Weinstein
Picture Books, History, Kids, Nonfiction

"Five children, from five different cultures and in five different decades, grow up in the same building on the Lower East Side of New York City"--

Fascinating look at the generations who arrive and make New York their own - the neighborhood businesses changes, cultures ebb and flow and blend, but the vibrancy and character remain and build year after year! -Anne W

The book proposal book cover
The book proposal book cover

The book proposal

K. J. Micciche

FICTION Micciche K
Fiction, Romance, Humor

Broke up with, broke, and with a vicious case of writer's block, romance writer Gracie Landing is a hot mess. She can hardly be blamed for drinking one (or a few) too many cocktails when out with her besties in an attempt to cheer herself up. Sometime in the foggy wee hours, she recklessly...

I picked up this book from our "Books about Book People" display that was up in May. That theme is right up my alley. I just know it's going to be a creative read when the hero is a struggling author. BUT THIS BOOK! I binged the last half of the book in one afternoon. The characters are (of course) likeable and relatable, for me anyway. I've read my fair share of books where the protagonist is a hot mess and I personally enjoy the comedic opportunity that kind of character provides. But my favorite comedic bits were in the interactions between Gracie and her friend's Eastern European immigrant mother. She treats Gracie as if she were her own, offering borscht to her anytime she is down on her luck. I just love the tenderness felt among the characters. I read some negative reviews on Goodreads so the book might not be for everyone. But for me, I didn't want the story to be over at "The End." I want more of these characters and hope the author considers featuring them in a future book. -Melody

The bullet swallower : a novel book cover
The bullet swallower : a novel book cover

The bullet swallower : a novel

Elizabeth Gonzalez James

FICTION Gonzalez Elizabet
Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

In 1895, Antonio Sonoro is the latest in a long line of ruthless men. He’s good with his gun and is drawn to trouble but he’s also out of money and out of options. A drought has ravaged the town of Dorado, Mexico, where he lives with his wife and children, and so when he hears about a train laden...

Looking for an action-packed read that will keep you turning the pages? Look no further. -Anne M

Swimming in Paris : a life in three stories book cover
Swimming in Paris : a life in three stories book cover

Swimming in Paris : a life in three stories

Colombe Schneck

FICTION Schneck Colombe
Literary Fiction, Short Story

In Seventeen, Friendship, and Swimming, Colombe Schneck orchestrates a coming-of-age in three movements. Beautiful, masterfully controlled, yet filled with pathos, they invite the reader into a decades-long evolution of sexuality, bodily autonomy, friendship, and loss. Schneck’s prose maintains...

Colombe Schneck is dabbling with biographical fiction here—each novella (there are three) from a different stage in her life (?) or her alter-ego's life (?). I’m not going to speculate on how closely these events follow Schneck’s life—because the focus should be on how good these stories are. In the first story, she discusses the shock of an unplanned pregnancy. The second story explores a lifelong friendship, grappling with the loss of a friend and how formative a friend’s influence can be. Schneck really shows how a single friendship can ebb and flow, change, and move throughout a lifetime. The last story is about having an affair after ending a marriage--the adjustment, excitement, and anxiety of starting a new romance. The overarching theme is growth and self-awareness and Schneck works with this theme through subtlety in language and narrative. But she is also direct in how she discusses complex issues, which is refreshing. This is the first time Schneck’s work has been translated into English—and I guess there is more to come. -Anne M

Mermaids' song to the sea book cover
Mermaids' song to the sea book cover

Mermaids' song to the sea

Dianna Hutts Aston

jE Aston
Picture Books

"Three mermaid troubadours, draped with leis and strumming harps, sing their blessings to sea creatures everywhere, traveling the ocean to deliver a benediction to their beloved community of fish, whales, sharks, sea snails and many others"--

This picture book is adorable, fun, and great to read (or sing) aloud! Seek and find minded littles will delight in the endsheets and repeated reads. -Casey

Roy is not a dog book cover
Roy is not a dog book cover

Roy is not a dog

Esmé Shapiro

jE Shapiro
Picture Books, Mystery, Animals

"On Lilypod Lane, everyone knows everything about everybody . . . or so they believe! When curious paperboy Weasel encounters his mysterious neighbor Roy on his route, he becomes convinced that Roy is actually a dog!"--

Dogs are people too! Wonderful storytelling and adorable illustrations abound in this latest from Esme Shapiro and Daniel Newell Kaufman. -Casey

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World Wednesday. Brazilian Mask Fest. Wednesday, June 12, 1 p.m. Meeting Room A. Iowa City Public Library.
Adventure Begins at Iowa City Public Library. May 28 - Aug 10.
ABC Saturday! Pedestrian Mall. Iowa City Summer of the Arts. Iowa City Public Library. June 8. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Iowa Arts Fetsival. Iowa City.
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