Staff Picks

Recent Picks

Bird bath book cover
Bird bath book cover

Bird bath

Antony, Steve, author, illustrator.

jE Antony
Humor, Kids, Picture Books

These four mucky birds are in need of a bath! They've got soap, shampoo and a big bottle of bubble bath, but can they be trusted not to use it all? And will they keep the water inside the tub? Well, at least they'll be squeaky clean! The real trouble is, when bath time is this much fun, absolutely EVERYONE wants to get in!

Casey's picture

Antony's new adorable series is bound to be a hit. Be on the lookout for Cat Nap as well! -Casey

The River Has Roots book cover
The River Has Roots book cover

The River Has Roots

Amal El-Mohtar

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+

"In the small town of Thistleford, on the edge of Faerie, the mysterious Hawthorn family tends the willow trees there. For as long as anyone can remember, the Hawthorns have paid tribute to the willow trees, honouring an ancient compact to sing to them in thanks for their magic. None, though, have taken up this calling more devotedly than the family's latest daughters, Esther and Ysabel, who cherish each other as much as they cherish the trees. But when Esther rejects a forceful suitor in favour of a lover from the land of Faerie, not only the sisters' bond but also their lives will be at risk"--

Chelsea's picture

El-Mohtar's writing is every bit as lyrical as it was in "This is How You Lose the Time War." I think my only criticism of this story is that I wish there was more of it! I want to continue to explore the grammar of this world. I want to specifically recommend the audio book because this novella is full of songs and music, and the audio book performances are wonderful. -Chelsea

A year in Japan book cover
A year in Japan book cover

A year in Japan

Kate T. (Kate Tower) Williamson

759.13 /Williamson
Nonfiction, Art / Art History, Travel

The author spent a year living in Kyoto and focuses on the lesser-known aspects of the country and culture.

Violette's picture

This was such a wonderful read! Filled with beautiful illustrations, Kate Williamson takes us on a journey through her experiences living in Japan. The book reads much like a journal, with handwritten anecdotes detailing the intricacies of everyday life from moon-viewing parties, to self-expression through phone charms. A truly lovely book! -Violette

Fireworks book cover
Fireworks book cover

Fireworks

Matthew Burgess

jE Burgess
Kids, Picture Books

Part poem, part portable fireworks display with a vertical gatefold, this POB picture book from the award-winning team of Matthew Burgess and Catia Chien highlights the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly await a spectacular fireworks display.

Casey's picture

A perfect read for any summertime fireworks displays! Watch for this one to be featured in storytimes near you soon. -Casey

God Emperor of Dune book cover
God Emperor of Dune book cover

God Emperor of Dune

Frank Herbert

SCIENCE FICTION Herbert, Frank
Science Fiction

Leto II, God Emperor of Dune, trades his humanity for immortality and, as the magnificent sandworm of Dune, desperately attempts to save mankind.

Brian's picture

Continuing my long re-read of Herbert's Dune saga, I'm finally at my favorite: God Emperor of Dune. I've learned recently that this is the love or hate it entry in the series. I love it! I love the characters and the philosophical musings. It's slow, but it always keeps my attention. -Brian

Prince of Persia. The lost crown book cover
Prince of Persia. The lost crown book cover

Prince of Persia. The lost crown

VIDEO GAME Switch Prince

Play as Sargon and battle across time, defeating mythological creatures and saving Persia.

Brian's picture

I've enjoyed previous Prince of Persia games, but this one stood out to me. It's a metroidvania--one of my favorite genres--that focuses on exploration, puzzles, and upgrading your character. The character designs and aesthetic are fantastic! The difficulty is in that sweet spot of being challenging, but not too frustrating--both the combat and the platforming. I highly recommend it! -Brian

Grant Wood's Memorial Masterpiece book cover
Grant Wood's Memorial Masterpiece book cover

Grant Wood's Memorial Masterpiece

Barbara Feller

759.13 /Wood
Nonfiction, Art / Art History

Two years before Grant Wood painted American Gothic, he began working on what the author believes to be his most important work of art: a stained-glass window honoring Iowa's veterans for the newly built Veteran's Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A fitting tribute to the memory of veterans of the six wars Americans had fought to its date, the window is one of our nation's finest war memorials. With its fifty-eight sections stretching twenty feet wide and twenty-four feet high, it is also one of the largest in the world. Grant Wood's Memorial Masterpiece traces the compelling story of his struggle to produce this breathtaking work and how it led him to develop the unique Regionalist style for which he is recognized around the world.

Melody's picture

I learned about this book from the State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City office, which is hosting an event for the author on Saturday, June 7, 2025. I did not grow up in Cedar Rapids or Iowa City, so I didn't know much about Grant Wood until moving here. Of course I knew about American Gothic, but did I know about the "Plaid Sweater" painting at the Stanley, where a young boy poses with his pigskin? I showed that painting to my football-loving son who rolled his eyes at me. This book is all about his stained glass masterpiece, Memorial, at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids. Feller does extensive research on the composition of this work and argues this was the piece that set him on his way to becoming a Regionalist master artist. Local art history fans, check this book out! -Melody

It's a Love Story book cover
It's a Love Story book cover

It's a Love Story

Annabel Monaghan

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction, Humor, Romance

“Poignant, funny, and bingeable, Annabel Monaghan writes five star reads.” —Abby Jimenez From the USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV actress-turned-Hollywood producer whose “fake it till you make it” mantra sets her on a crash course with her past, forcing her to spend a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love. Love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth. Jane Jackson spent her adolescence as "Poor Janey Jakes," the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punch line on America's fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s trying to be taken seriously as a Hollywood studio executive by embracing a new mantra: Fake it till you make it. Except she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she claimed that she could get mega popstar Jack Quinlan to write a song for the movie. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years. Now Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan as she faces down her past is Jane's idea of hell, but he just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?

Melody's picture

I got to be the lucky "First Hold" on this audiobook. Two days in, and I feel like it's a whirlwind love affair between me and this story! It took a few chapters for me to get into the narration, but the slow burn love story is so engrossing that I'd love it no matter what. As usual with the books I recommend, the main characters are quite likeable. I do want propose shame plays a key role in this book as well, as so much of the main female character's life is shaped by the emotion's influence on her. There is some fun meta-romance in this book as well, like a fun enemies-to-friends argument about The Notebook and discourse about what makes a love story truly wonderful. The relationship building is paced nicely. There's no first-date-lap dance like you get in Hannah Grace's Wildfire. I'm only about halfway through the book, and there's only been thoughts of kissing rather than any action-packed lip-smacking. But the anticipation is what makes it so good! Gotta remember that for future book choices: give me yearning over instant gratification. -Melody

Birds of prey of the Midwest book cover
Birds of prey of the Midwest book cover

Birds of prey of the Midwest

Stan, Tekiela

598.90977 /Tekiela
Nonfiction, Animals, Nature

Learn to identify raptors, and make bird-watching even more enjoyable. With Stan Tekiela’s famous field guide, bird identification is simple and informative. This book features 34 species―including every species of raptor found in the Midwest. For ease of use, the guide is organized by group: hawks, eagles, falcons, kites, vultures, and owls. So when you see a bird of prey, you can determine its group by common visual characteristics. Then turn to the corresponding section to find out what it is! Book Features: Only Midwestern birds of prey: every raptor species found in the Midwest Organized for efficient use: species organized by group, then size from smallest to largest Fact-filled information: accessible for beginners but informative for more experienced birders Stunning photos: professional-quality sharpness and detail Stan’s Notes: naturalist information and interesting facts not found in other guides Quick-Compare section: sketches, silhouettes, and photos for side-by-side comparisons

Melody's picture

It is almost June and we are entering prime hiking and nature walk season. Whether it's a stroll along the paths at Terry Trueblood or a secluded trek through local preserves or parks, keep an ear out for the birdsongs that carry you along. And keep an eye out for birds of prey. This pocket-sized field guide will be your best friend when your smartphone signal is weak. I even wish I had something like this while at the dog park sometimes. Is that a Cooper's Hawk or a Merlin? With this book, I can find out. -Melody

All kinds of things = Todo tipo de cosas book cover
All kinds of things = Todo tipo de cosas book cover

All kinds of things = Todo tipo de cosas

Bernadette Gervais

j463 Gervais
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction

"A colorful, eye-catching word book--written in both English and Spanish--showing us how everyday things are connected in unique ways. What do a watering can, a shoe, and a saltshaker have in common? What about a kangaroo, popcorn, and a spring? From the mind of award-winning author/illustrator Bernadette Gervais, discover the answers to these questions, and learn about other similarly interesting connections, in Stuff/Cosas. Arranging animals, objects, and other items in a fashion at times humorous and poetic, this picture book--written in both English and Spanish--organizes our world in a unique way, bringing together more than 200 large, magnificent images created with stencils and brushes. Marvel at how much more things have in common than you might've thought!"--

Anne W's picture

This book is fully bilingual, so can be enjoyed by Spanish speakers, English speakers, or people trying to learn either of those languages. The groupings of objects are interesting and clever, but the bold illustrations are what make this book stand out - I want to frame every page for my wall. Just gorgeous, blocky, colorful, and beautiful! -Anne W

She is a Haunting book cover
She is a Haunting book cover

She is a Haunting

Trang Thanh Tran

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Tran Trang
Fiction, Horror, LGBTQ+

When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She’s always lied to fit in, so if she’s straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised. But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound, while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don’t belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can’t ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves her cryptic warnings: Don’t eat. Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house—the home her family has always wanted—will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house’s rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.

Chelsea's picture

Added by Chelsea

Impossible monsters : dinosaurs, Darwin, and the battle between science and religion book cover
Impossible monsters : dinosaurs, Darwin, and the battle between science and religion book cover

Impossible monsters : dinosaurs, Darwin, and the battle between science and religion

Michael (Michael Hugh) Taylor

567.90941 /Taylor
History, Religion, Science

"When the twelve-year-old daughter of a British carpenter pulled some strange-looking bones from the country's southern shoreline in 1811, few people dared to question that the Bible told the accurate history of the world. But Mary Anning had in fact discovered the 'first' ichthyosaur, and over the next seventy-five years--as the science of paleontology developed, as Charles Darwin posited radical new theories of evolutionary biology, and as scholars began to identify the internal inconsistencies of the Scriptures--everything changed. Beginning with the archbishop who dated the creation of the world to 6 p.m. on October 22, 4004 BC, and told through the lives of the nineteenth-century men and women who found and argued about these seemingly impossible, history-rewriting fossils, Impossible Monsters reveals the central role of dinosaurs and their discovery in toppling traditional religious authority, and in changing perceptions about the Bible, history, and mankind's place in the world"--

Madison C's picture

Dinosaurs not only rocked the Earth but also rocked the very foundation of religious belief. Blending science history and societal upheaval, Michael Taylor's novel explores how giant fossilized "monsters" upended centuries of theology and sparked a scientific revolution. This book is perfect for readers interested in history-making discoveries, especially those that helped give rise to the secular age. -Madison C

Moon bear book cover
Moon bear book cover

Moon bear

Clare Helen Welsh

jE Welsh
Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Animals, Art / Art History

"In this enchantingly illustrated, almost wordless picture book, a story of courage and creativity unfolds when a girl who is afraid of the dark meets a magical moon bear who is afraid of the light."

Casey's picture

This ursa is majorly gorgeous! Carolina T. Godina's picture book illustrator debut is a stunner. -Casey

You were born for this : astrology for radical self-acceptance book cover
You were born for this : astrology for radical self-acceptance book cover

You were born for this : astrology for radical self-acceptance

Chani Nicholas

133.5 /Nicholas
Nonfiction, Self Help

"A revolutionary empowerment book that uses astrology as a tool for self-discovery, success, and self-care from the beloved astrologer Chani Nicholas, a media darling with a loyal following of 1 million monthly readers"--

Violette's picture

This is an enjoyable and fast-paced introduction to astrology that I found both empowering and insightful! Chani Nicholas helps us to create and navigate our birth charts, outlining our Sun, Moon, and Ascending signs and their corresponding interpretations. A fun way to discover how the universe impacts our daily lives from the moment we were born! -Violette

Siren Queen book cover
Siren Queen book cover

Siren Queen

Nghi Vo

SCIENCE FICTION Vo Nghi
Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+

"It was magic. In every world, it was a kind of magic. "No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers." Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill-but she doesn't care. She'd rather play a monster than a maid. But in Luli's world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes-even if that means becoming the monster herself. Siren Queen offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page"--

Chelsea's picture

Nighi Vo writes with a surreal, dreamlike detail that is perfect for a story set in the back lots of old Hollywood. -Chelsea

Prodigal summer book cover
Prodigal summer book cover

Prodigal summer

Kingsolver, Barbara.

FICTION Kingsolver, Barbara
Fiction

"From her outpost in an isolated mountain cabin, Deanna Wolfe, a reclusive wildlife biologist, watches a den of coyotes that have recently migrated into the region. She is caught off-guard by a young hunter who invades her most private spaces and confounds her self-assured, solitary life. On a farm several miles down the mountain, Lusa Maluf Landowski, a bookish city girl turned farmer's wife, finds herself unexpectedly marooned in a strange place where she must declare or lose her attachment to the land that has become her own. And a few more miles down the road, a pair of elderly feuding neighbors tend their respective farms and wrangle about God, pesticides, and the possibilities of a future neither of them expected. Over the course of one humid summer, these characters find their connections to one another and to the flora and fauna with whom they share a place." Source: Goodreads

Jessica's picture

Added by Jessica

Big enough book cover
Big enough book cover

Big enough

Regina Linke

jE Linke
Picture Books

Tasked with bringing home his grandfather's ox, a young boy overcomes his fear and trusts his intuition to bring home the gigantic animal.

Fang's picture

Browsing through this beautifully illustrated picture book feels like wandering through a stunning gallery of Chinese gongbi (工笔画) artworks! What makes it even more delightful is discovering that all the lifelike figures and scenery are magically brought to life with digital techniques. The story itself is warm and heartening, gently showing readers of all ages the power of self-confidence and mutual trust. Big Enough—check it out today! -Fang

Everybelly book cover
Everybelly book cover

Everybelly

Thao Lam

jE Lam
Picture Books

"From acclaimed picture-book artist Thao Lam comes a joyful celebration of an oft-maligned body part -- the belly! Maddie and her mom spend a sunny day at the local public pool where she meets and greets friends and neighbors. Maddie is waist-high on most of them, and she knows there's an interesting person behind every belly she passes -- like Jackie, the artist with a splatter of ice cream across their belly. Maddie's splatter painting often leaves Mama speechless, too! The poolside belly parade keeps Maddie musing: How bellies can make excellent tables, how hard some people work to keep their bellies flat when Maddie prefers her belly full, and how you should never, ever stick your hands in other people's bellies, no matter how soft and doughy they might look. (Maddie's cat taught her that the hard way.) As Maddie dances, swims and makes the long climb up to the diving board, Thao Lam's celebrated cut-paper collage portrays bellies and bodies of all shapes and sizes -- bellies with scars, tattooed bellies, growing bellies, growling bellies, bellies with six-packs, stretch marks, insulin monitors, freckles and more -- proving that every belly deserves its place in the sun."--

Victoria's picture

As bikini season descends upon us, Thao Lam has created a stunning ode to the belly. Vibrant patterns, sumptuous paper cut-out collages narrated with the innocent wonder of a child brings so much joy to the pages! Whether you're rocking a muffin top, a jelly belly, a six-pack, or anything in-between, this read will have you embracing your majestic midriff however it's showing up! A super-sweet read! -Victoria

The Book Eaters book cover
The Book Eaters book cover

The Book Eaters

Sunyi Dean

SCIENCE FICTION Dean Sunyi
Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+

"Sunyi Dean's The Book Eaters is a contemporary fantasy debut. It's a story of motherhood, sacrifice, and hope; of queer identity and learning to accept who you are; of gilded lies and the danger of believing the narratives others create for you. Out on the Yorkshire Moors lives a secret line of people for whom books are food, and who retain all of a book's content after eating it. To them, spy novels are a peppery snack; romance novels are sweet and delicious. Eating a map can help them remember destinations, and children, when they misbehave, are forced to eat dry, musty pages from dictionaries. Devon is part of The Family, an old and reclusive clan of book eaters. Her brothers grow up feasting on stories of valor and adventure, and Devon--like all other book eater women--is raised on a carefully curated diet of fairytales and cautionary stories. But real life doesn't always come with happy endings, as Devon learns when her son is born with a rare and darker kind of hunger-not for books, but for human minds"--

Chelsea's picture

An excellent fantasy novel about agency, legacy, and what mothers owe to their children. I'm looking forward to what this author writes next, and I would love to read more from this universe! -Chelsea

Provenance book cover
Provenance book cover

Provenance

Ann Leckie

SCIENCE FICTION Leckie Ann
Science Fiction

"Following her record-breaking debut trilogy, Ann Leckie, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke and Locus Awards, returns with an enthralling new novel of power, theft, privilege and birthright. A power-driven young woman has just one chance to secure the status she craves and regain priceless lost artifacts prized by her people. She must free their thief from a prison planet from which no one has ever returned. Ingray and her charge will return to her home world to find their planet in political turmoil, at the heart of an escalating intergalactic conflict. Together, they must make a new plan to salvage Ingray's future, her family, and her world, before they are lost to her for good"--

Brian's picture

Leckie returns to the world of the Imperial Radch, and does something interesting by having "Provenance" take place in a different corner of the galaxy. The events of the Imperial Radch trilogy are mentioned, but are not important to the events of this book. This is almost a coming of age book--or maybe a finding your place story--with a main character who is quite distinct from the A.I. character of the previous books. I recommend it to fans of Leckie's other books, or just someone who's looking for a solid, non-traditional sci-fi story. -Brian

Andor. The complete first season book cover
Andor. The complete first season book cover

Andor. The complete first season

BLU-RAY Andor s. 1
Science Fiction

Explore a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor's journey to discover the diference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It's an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero.

Brian's picture

I re-watched Season 1 of Andor to get ready for Season 2. I was struck again by the phenomenal writing, acting, and production design. This is my favorite Star Wars show, and some of my favorite Star Wars period! -Brian

We leap together book cover
We leap together book cover

We leap together

Christopher Silas Neal

jE Neal
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Nature

"An awe-inspiring nonfiction picture book, perfect for animal lovers, that reveals how a mama whale and a mama person care for their young in remarkably similar ways, from the illustrator of Over and Under the Snow. A little boy and his mother set off on a day trip, meanwhile, a mama whale and her calf swim towards the bay. On the way, both sing, blow bubbles, get lost--and found! Through it all, mama always stays close. The human pair board a sightseeing boat, and as the whales reach the harbor, they all converge in one spectacular scene! With lyrical text and absolutely magnificent art, here's a book that celebrates our connection to animals, and to each other"--

Casey's picture

Beautiful illustrations and minimal text make for perfect storytime sharing! Curious readers will find backmatter that sheds more light on the comparison Neal draws between humans and whales. -Casey

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House book cover
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House book cover

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House

Laurie Gilmore

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction, Romance

Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone. As a world-renowned chef, single dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive. Iris has never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when it's suggested that Archer is looking for a live-in nanny, she almost runs in the opposite direction. Now, Iris finds herself in a whole new world. One where her gorgeous new boss lives right across the hall and likes to cook topless... Keeping everything strictly professional should be easy, right? The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a cozy romantic mystery with a single dad and found family dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed! Tropes: Single Dad, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Found Family

Melody's picture

This romance novel makes for a nice and easy listening audiobook. The drama isn't too hot to handle, the scars are only emotional, and no one gets murdered. So I guess that's my way of saying I'll happily live in a strawberry pancake house for a week. Both main characters have their own way of being a hot mess. One: a scatterbrain yoga and swim instructor; the other: a perfectionist, exacting chef who can't make Bisquick pancakes right. I sometimes get so emotionally wrapped up in the mental lives of a novel's protagonists that it's hard to remember I live in the real world. This book didn't make me work so hard. It was gentle and tame with mild but interesting love scenes. -Melody

Don't trust fish book cover
Don't trust fish book cover

Don't trust fish

Neil Sharpson

jE Sharpson
Picture Books, Animals

Why, dear reader, must you NEVER EVER trust fish? 1) They spend all their time in the water where we can't see them. 2) Some are as big as a bus--that is not okay. 3) We don't know what they're teaching in their "schools." 4) They are likely plotting our doom. This nature-guide-gone-wrong is a hilarious, off-the-rails exploration of the seemingly innocent animals that live in the water.

Victoria's picture

This book is a riot- the perfect balance of fun fish facts, dead-pan comedy and a subtle crab protagonist. I read this at impromptu storytimes for everyone in my house, including visitors, and it received rave reviews from adults, kids and teens alike. Maybe don't trust fish, but definitely don't miss this picture book! -Victoria

Abundance book cover
Abundance book cover

Abundance

Ezra Klein

330.973 /Klein
Political

This book discusses the history of the twenty-first century as a story of unaffordability and shortage in America. It highlights the national housing crisis, labor shortages due to limited immigration, insufficient clean-energy infrastructure, and delayed, over-budget public projects. The author argues that the root cause of these problems is a lack of sufficient building and proactive planning over the decades. Many of today's issues stem from past policies and regulations that, while intended to address issues of the 1970s, now hinder progress in areas like urban density and green energy. The book stresses that while we have become more aware of these problems, our ability to solve them has diminished. The book proposes that both liberals and conservatives need to recognize when government is failing or needed, and advocates for a politics of abundance--building solutions for the future, rather than adhering to past approaches focused on scarcity. This approach aims to address current challenges and the growing dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Victoria's picture

Our ability to learn, unlearn and relearn is absolutely essential if we are to share common ground and build well-ran communities in an ever-increasingly polarized world. That pertains especially to the political ideas we hold to be true. In Abundance, Klein and Thomspon, instead of pointing fingers at a party that mostly opposes their stance on issues, they look at the follies and shortcomings of American liberalism, and how liberal policies have impeded progress. They argue that it is often the stringent red tape and policies of democratic cities that stifle issues like affordable housing and developing infrastructure. This was a very-well argued and thoughtful take sure to spark a dialogue. -Victoria

Thank you, everything book cover
Thank you, everything book cover

Thank you, everything

author Icinori (Publishing studio)

jE Icinori
Picture Books, Nature

"What starts as a series of "thank yous" addressed to common objects that inhabit our daily lives gradually builds into a fantastic journey across landscapes, seasons, and inner discoveries."--

Victoria's picture

If art washes away the dust of everyday life, consider your life squeaky clean after reading this one. This is one of the best wordless picture books I've read in a long time. The premise is simple: gratitude for the simplest of things. But the gratitude evolves into being thankful for so much more. There is no text, and the illustrations are divine. You'll have to covet and pore over the pages at least two or three times before returning. Stunning! -Victoria

When the Wolf Comes Home. book cover
When the Wolf Comes Home. book cover

When the Wolf Comes Home.

Cassidy, Nat.

ON ORDER BOOK
Horror, Thriller

"One night, Jess, a struggling actress, finds a five-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. After a violent, bloody encounter with the boy's father, she and the boy find themselves running for their lives. As they attempt to evade the boy's increasingly desperate father, horrifying incidents of butchery follow them. At first, Jess thinks she understands what they're up against, but she's about to learn there's more to these surreal and grisly events than she could've ever imagined. And that when the wolf finally comes home, none will be spared."

Madison C's picture

If you're in the mood for classic monster horrors, this is the book for you. Not only does Nat Cassidy deliver on a novelized creature feature, but also offers readers a deep exploration of family bonds and grief navigation. -Madison C

Hope : the autobiography book cover
Hope : the autobiography book cover

Hope : the autobiography

Pope Francis

282.092 /Francis
Nonfiction, Memoir

"Hope is the first autobiography in history ever to be published by a Pope. Written over six years, this complete autobiography starts in the early years of the twentieth century, with Pope Francis's Italian roots and his ancestors' courageous migration to Latin America, continuing through his childhood, the enthusiasms and preoccupations of his youth, his vocation, adult life, and the whole of his papacy up to the present day"--

Victoria's picture

Pope Francis was a passionate advocate for the climate and was a papal pioneer in many other ways; LGBTQ+ rights, migration, and the atrocities of war to name a few. While this book did meander at times and is not as not as concise as it could have been, there were so many glimmers of hope and humility that would resonate with your humanity; regardless of your faith. Pair this with Conclave, in our DVD collection for a gripping thriller on the selection process for the next Pope. -Victoria

The Paris express : a novel book cover
The Paris express : a novel book cover

The Paris express : a novel

Emma Donoghue

FICTION Donoghue Emma
Fiction, Historical Fiction

Based on an 1895 disaster that went down in history when it was captured in a series of surreal, extraordinary photographs, The Paris Express is a propulsive novel set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia. Members of parliament hurry back to Paris to vote; a medical student suspects a girl may be dying; a secretary tries to convince her boss of the potential of moving pictures; two of the train's crew build a life away from their wives; a young anarchist makes a terrifying plan, and much more.

Anne M's picture

Emma Donoghue brings imaginative storytelling to a famous photograph: the Montparnasse derailment, the one with the steam engine hanging out of the station. Donoghue wonders who was on that train, what were their lives like, what did their interactions look like. What she creates is riveting. -Anne M

Godkiller book cover
Godkiller book cover

Godkiller

Hannah Kaner

SCIENCE FICTION Kaner Hannah
Diverse Characters, Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+

"Gods are forbidden in the kingdom of Middren. Formed by human desires and fed by their worship, there are countless gods in the world--but after a great war, the new king outlawed them and now pays "godkillers" to destroy any who try to rise from the shadows. As a child, Kissen saw her family murdered by a fire god. Now, she makes a living killing them and enjoys it. But all this changes when Kissen is tasked with helping a young noble girl with a god problem. The child's soul is bonded to a tiny god of white lies, and Kissen can't kill it without ending the girl's life too. Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, the unlikely group must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, where the last of the wild gods reside, to each beg a favor. Pursued by assassins and demons, and in the midst of burgeoning civil war, they will all face a reckoning. Something is rotting at the heart of their world, and they are the only ones who can stop it." -- Back cover.

Chelsea's picture

"Godkiller" has wonderful, immersive world building (I want to eat, like, all of the food described in this series), and memorable characters. The cast is incredibly diverse, featuring multiple characters with disabilities, casual queerness, and thoughtfully executed fantasy racial diversity. The first novel has strong DnD vibes, but the characters quickly evolve past those initial archetypes as the series continues. This is one of my new favorite fantasy series, and I would recommend the sequels, "Sunbringer" and "Faithbreaker" as well. -Chelsea

Dream state : a novel book cover
Dream state : a novel book cover

Dream state : a novel

Eric Puchner

FICTION Puchner Eric
Fiction, Literary Fiction

"PEN/Faulkner Award finalist, Pushcart Prize winner, and Best American Stories contributor, Eric Puchner returns with an ambitious and deeply moving novel set against the backdrop of the American West that follows three lifelong friends and the betrayal at the center of their entwined fates. Cece and Charlie are in love and a few weeks away from their summer wedding. But when Cece meets Charlie's best friend from college, Garrett, her long-held expectations for her future begin to crumble. As Garrett's gruff mask slips, Cece begins to anticipate the big day with dread as her feelings for Garrett become impossible to bury. And as she decides to follow her instincts, ditching her groom for his best man, she will alter the three of their lives forever, the events of that July reverberating through marriage, parenthood, and, in the end, across generations. Years later, Cece's daughter, Lana, and Charlie's son, Jasper, meet and become fast friends, finding themselves reunited again and again throughout their adolescence. Soon enough, they find themselves enacting their parents' mistakes, falling victim to duplicity and heartbreak, with age and mortality looming. With Montana's once-warm summers growing untenably hot, and the nearby lake all but drying up, obscured only by the ceaseless smoke of wildfires, Garrett's career as a wildlife researcher feels increasingly futile. As he watches Cece begin to lose herself, Charlie wonders whether he will ever find stability, especially with a son failing to adjust to the demands of adulthood. With delicacy, precision, and enormous heart, Dream State is at once a study of the unholy catastrophe of marriage, and a tender ode to the beauty of impermanence"--

Anne M's picture

I’ve been a little stuck on “Dream State” since I’ve finished it. I have a range of feelings and lots of unanswered questions—about the book, the characters, the sequence of events, and about myself. It is one of those books that makes you self-examine your past and think more about the future. What is in our control and what is out of it? What do our relationships mean to us and what do we mean to others? “Dream State” is a heavy-lift of a novel, but if you want a book to stay with you, this one sure will for me. -Anne M

The body alone : a lyrical articulation of chronic pain book cover
The body alone : a lyrical articulation of chronic pain book cover

The body alone : a lyrical articulation of chronic pain

Nina Lohman

616.0472 /Lohman
Nonfiction, Health, Memoir

"The Body Alone is a lyrical nonfiction inquiry into the experience, meaning, and articulation of pain. It is a hybrid account incorporating research, scholarship, and memoir to examine pain through the lenses of medicine, theology, and philosophy. Broken bodies tell broken stories. This is why the pain experience is portrayed through an engaging but tangled, cyclical narrative of primers, vocabulary lessons, prescription records, and hypothesized internal monologues. The Body Alone is fractured not for the sake of experimentation but because the story itself demands it. A personal account of a societal problem, The Body Alone will appeal to readers who experience or are impacted by chronic illness. Like the author, the majority of the 51 million Americans who suffer chronic pain identify as women and are young or middle-aged. Research reveals the uncomfortable truth that medicine continues to be a gendered institution where 70% of chronic pain patients are women but 80% of pain studies are conducted on men or male mice. This is one of the many disparities that leave women systemically underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and even gaslighted on account of inequitable access to research funding, clinical trials, and effective medications. Pain is more than personal; it is a political issue prime for reformation. In both form and content, The Body Alone represents boundary-pressing work that subverts the traditional narrative by putting pressure on the medical, cultural, and political systems that impact women's access to fair and equal healthcare. The Body Alone is more than an illness narrative. It is a battle cry demanding change"--

Chelsea's picture

Poetic, cutting, and accurate. This book is part memoir, part poetry, and part explanatory nonfiction. Lohman details the ways that chronic pain derailed her life and reshaped her identity. If you have chronic pain, this could be a very therapeutic read. I was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and I appreciated untangling the snarled threads of pain alongside the author as she explored different techniques for thinking about and living with her pain. If you don't have chronic pain, this book is an excellent window into the experience of people that do. It especially elucidates the difference between acute and chronic pain, and asks the question: How much pain can you handle? -Chelsea

Why fish don't exist : a story of loss, love, and the hidden order of life book cover
Why fish don't exist : a story of loss, love, and the hidden order of life book cover

Why fish don't exist : a story of loss, love, and the hidden order of life

Lulu Miller

590.92 /Miller
Biographies, History, Memoir, Philosophy, Science

Nineteenth-century scientist David Starr Jordan built one of the most important fish specimen collections ever seen, until the 1906 San Francisco earthquake shattered his life's work.

Annie's picture

One of those books that fundamentally changed how I view the world. Highly relevant today with a liberating perspective on binary thinking and the human tendency to categorize and control chaos. -Annie

The mortal and immortal life of the girl from Milan book cover
The mortal and immortal life of the girl from Milan book cover

The mortal and immortal life of the girl from Milan

Domenico Starnone

FICTION Starnone Domenico
Fiction, Literary Fiction

Imagine a child, a daydreamer, one of those boys who is always gazing out windows. His adoring grandmother, busy in the kitchen, keeps an eye on him. The child stares at the building opposite, watching a black-haired girl as she dances recklessly on her balcony. He is in love. And a love like this can push a child to extremes. He can become an explorer or a cabin boy, a cowboy or castaway; he can fight duels to the death, or even master unfamiliar languages. His grandmother has told him about the entrance to the underworld, and he knows the story of Orpheus's failed rescue mission. He could do better, he thinks; he wouldn't fail to bring that dark-haired up from the underground if she were dead, and it only he had the chance. A short, sharp, perfectly styled and unforgettable novel about love, desire, memory, and death by the Strega Prize winning Italian author of Ties and International Booker Prize, longlisted author of The House on Via Gemito.--

Anne M's picture

This is a book about death and coming to terms with it. How does one wrestle with loss as a child? What type of scars do they leave when we are older? How long do you carry loss with you? These are questions Starnone wrestles with in "The Mortal and Immortal Life of the Girl from Milan." Mimi's experiences and feelings strike true. -Anne M

The anxious generation : how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness book cover
The anxious generation : how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness book cover

The anxious generation : how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness

Jonathan Haidt

305.23 /Haidt
Nonfiction, Health, Science

"From New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Coddling of the American Mind, an essential investigation into the collapse of youth mental health--and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood. After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the "play-based childhood" began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the "phone-based childhood" in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this "great rewiring of childhood" has interfered with children's social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the "collective action problems" that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood. Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes--communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children--and ourselves--from the psychological damage of a phone-based life"--

Mari's picture

This book was illuminating to say the least. As someone who is just beginning my journey into parenthood, as well as someone who part of the generation who had a mostly low-tech childhood, this book was an interesting and alarming deep dive into the the long-term effects of a "phone-based childhood." I work with children every day, and I easily see the differences as the years go by and we rely more and more on social connections and experiences via online versus in person, and the way it affects children is astounding. I think all parents should consider the concerns and calls to action suggested in this book, and rethink how they want to help frame the childhoods their children experience. I particularly hope that even as we lean more and more heavily on smart phones as a society, that we don't totally lose the emphasis on a play-based childhood to support healthy child development. Obviously I use my phone and connect online all day, but I really want to be conscious of the factors that come into play when parenting a child. -Mari

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow : a novel book cover
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow : a novel book cover

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow : a novel

Gabrielle Zevin

FICTION Zevin, Gabrielle
Diverse Characters, Fiction

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn't heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won't protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts. Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

Violette's picture

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is my favorite book of the year, and possibly one of my favorite reads to date! If you're like me and are a gamer, you'll want to read this beautiful story about the platonic love between two lifelong friends as they collaborate on designing video games. This is a story about love, platonic love, disability, and growth -- one that will be on my mind for a long time. -Violette

Lists

Staff Profiles

Amanda's picture

Amanda

Interests: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance, Biographies, Dystopian, History, Memoir, Music, Religion, Self Help
Angie's picture

Angie

Interests: Kids, Fiction, Early Readers, Picture Books, Board Books, Early Chapter Books, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, True Crime, Cookbooks
Anne M's picture

Anne M

Interests: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, Mystery, Nonfiction, History
Anne W's picture

Anne W

Interests: Fiction, Kids, Adventure, Dystopian, Historical Fiction, Early Chapter Books, Picture Books, Memoir, Self Help
Annie's picture

Annie

Interests: Poetry, Diverse Characters, Graphic Novels, Crafts, Science Fiction, Mystery, Self Help, Cookbooks
Becky's picture

Becky

Interests: Fiction, Fantasy, Nature, Historical Fiction
Beth's picture

Beth

Interests: Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Crafts, Gardening, Young Adult
Bond's picture

Bond

Interests: Suspense, Thriller, Humor, True Crime, Picture Books
Brian's picture

Brian

Interests: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery, LGBTQ+, Graphic Novels, Humor, Young Adult, Science, Short Story
Candice's picture

Candice

Interests: History, Travel, Science, Nature, Cookbooks, Thriller, Suspense
Casey's picture

Casey

Interests: Picture Books, Board Books, Early Readers, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Classics, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Nature, LGBTQ+, Music, Gardening, Crafts, Memoir, Humor, Poetry, Horror, Cookbooks
Chelsea's picture

Chelsea

Interests: Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Diverse Characters, Science Fiction, Horror, History, Political
Fang's picture

Fang

Interests: Diverse Characters, Travel, Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Memoir
Hanna's picture

Hanna

Interests: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopian, Classics, Self Help, LGBTQ+, Literary Fiction, Crafts, Music, Memoir, Poetry, Short Story
Heidi K's picture

Heidi K

Interests: Fiction, Memoir, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Short Story, History, Biographies, Philosophy, Poetry, Gardening, Graphic Novels
Jason's picture

Jason

Interests: Fiction, Classics, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, Nonfiction, Science, Short Story
Jessica's picture

Jessica

Interests: Young Adult, Romance, Classics, Cookbooks, Biographies, Dystopian, Kids, Fiction, History, Memoir
Katie's picture

Katie

Interests: Science Fiction, LGBTQ+, Diverse Characters, Art / Art History, Music, Philosophy, Poetry
Madison C's picture

Madison C

Interests: Science, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Diverse Characters
Mari's picture

Mari

Interests: Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Crafts, Health, True Crime, Dystopian, Memoir, Historical Fiction, Suspense, Science, Literary Fiction
Melody's picture

Melody

Interests: Fiction, Fantasy, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Health, Poetry, Romance, Diverse Characters, Humor, Literary Nonfiction
Mykle's picture

Mykle

Interests: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Religion, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Adventure, Cookbooks, History
Paul's picture

Paul

Interests: Science Fiction, Classics, Picture Books, History, Technology, Gardening, Graphic Novels, Short Story
Sam H's picture

Sam H

Interests: Nonfiction, Political, Self Help, Classics, Graphic Novels, LGBTQ+, Poetry, Christian
Shawna's picture

Shawna

Interests: Horror, Suspense, Thriller, True Crime, Crafts, Cookbooks, Gardening, History, Biographies
Tom's picture

Tom

Interests: Health, History, Humor
Victoria's picture

Victoria

Interests: Political, Black History, Humor, LGBTQ+, Picture Books, Cookbooks, Crafts, Gardening, Science, Travel, Young Adult
Violette's picture

Violette

Interests: Diverse Characters, Dystopian, Graphic Novels, Horror, LGBTQ+, Science Fiction, True Crime, Young Adult