Staff Picks

Deep future : the next 100,000 years of life on Earth

Curt Stager

363.73874 /Stager
Science

A paleoclimatologist makes predictions about how environmental choices in the twenty-first century will affect life on the planet throughout the distant future, drawing on geological history to argue that global cooling poses a more significant threat.

This book is really interesting. It puts climate change into geologic perspective, talking about how these changes we are seeing compare to the global cyclic warming and cooling that the earth has seen in the past and what is coming. -Brent

The bookshop

Penelope Fitzgerald

FICTION Fitzgerald, Penelope
Fiction, Literary Fiction

Need a book to put you in the mood for Fall? The Bookshop is a biting, moody little book that takes on the attitudes of the provincial residents of a British coastal town. It is a sad book, but it is also a funny book. And it is a book about books. -Anne M

This poison will remain

Fred Vargas

MYSTERY Vargas Fred
Mystery

"A murder in Paris brings Commissaire Adamsberg out of the Icelandic mists of his previous investigation and unexpectedly into the region of Nîmes, where three old men have died of spider bites. The recluse has a sneaky attack, but is that enough to explain the deaths of these men, all killed by the same venom?At the National Museum of Natural History, Adamsberg meets a pensioner who tells him that two of the three octogenarians have known each other since childhood, when they lived in a local orphanage called The Mercy. There, they had belonged to a small group of violent young boys known as the "band of recluses." Adamsberg faces two obstacles: the third man killed by the same venom was not part of the "band of recluses," and the amount of spider venom necessary to kill doesn't add up.Yet after the Nîmes deaths, more members of the old band succumb to recluse bites, leading the commissaire to uncover the tragedy hidden behind the walls of the orphanage."--Publisher description.

The latest in her French mystery series starring the enigmatic Commissaire Adamsberg and his odd cast of coworkers. This series is fairly slow paced, it's more about the charming characters and setting. "This Poison Will Remain" has some smaller cases being solved around a larger story of older people dying as a result of venom from recluse spider bites. There are some call backs to previous books in the series though I think you could start here without too much worry. -Jason

The book woman of Troublesome Creek

Kim Michele Richardson

FICTION Richards Kim
Historical Fiction

1936. Tucked deep into the woods of Troublesome Creek, KY, lives blue-skinned Cussy Carter, the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry. She joins Roosevelt's Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a traveling librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and up treacherous mountains on her mule to deliver books and other reading material to the impoverished hill people of Eastern Kentucky. Along her route, Cussy faces doubters at every turn, but is determined to bring the joy of books to the hardscrabble Kentuckians. -- adapted from back cover

I was surprised no one on staff had recommended this already! Set during the Great Depression, Cussy Mary is last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry, and is treated as an outcast. She joins the Roosevelt's Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a traveling librarian, riding her Mule in the mountains to deliver books and other reading material to the impoverished hill people of Troublesome Creek. I loved the historical components of the story, it gives you a real insight of the devastating poverty of the people living in Appalachia. -Mari

Burnout : the secret to unlocking the stress cycle

Emily Nagoski

155.9042 /Nagoski
Self Help

"This groundbreaking book explains why women experience burnout differently than men--and provides a simple, science-based plan to help women minimize stress, manage emotions, and live a more joyful life. The gap between what it's really like to be a woman and what people expect women to be is a primary cause of burnout, because we exhaust ourselves trying to close the space between the two. How can you "love your body" when everything around you tells you you're inadequate? How do you "lean in" at work when you're already giving 110% and aren't recognized for it? How can you live happily and healthily in a world that is constantly telling you you're too fat, too needy, too noisy, and too selfish?"--

If you've ever been stressed, this book is for you! It's targeted toward women, but has valuable information for people of all genders. I loved it so much! It's fun and easy to read, but has fantastic advice on how to reduce stress and live better. -Amanda

Hello stranger

Lisa Kleypas

eAUDIO
Romance, Fiction

Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England, is as daring and independent as any man--why not take her pleasures like one? Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now. Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery. For one exhilarating night, they give in to their potent attraction before becoming strangers again. As a Ravenel by-blow spurned by his father, Ethan has little interest in polite society, yet he is captivated by the bold and beautiful Garrett. Despite their vow to resist each other after that sublime night, she is soon drawn into his most dangerous assignment yet. When the mission goes wrong, it will take all of Garrett's skill and courage to save him. As they face the menace of a treacherous government plot, Ethan is willing to take any risk for the love of the most extraordinary woman he's ever known.

I never would have picked this book based on it's cover. The heroine is wearing a ball gown--how can she kick butt in that?!? BUT, I found the story and plot so very engaging. Perfect combo of intelligent and capable female lead and mysterious secret agent with a swarthy past. And there are even Hamlet references. I listened to the audiobook version and highly recommend it if you are looking to try something new. -Melody

5 ingredients : quick & easy food

Jamie Oliver

641.555 /Oliver
Cookbooks

Features 130 recipes focusing on creating incredible combinations of just five ingredients for maximum flavor with minimum fuss.

Not much time to cook, but still enjoy putting together pretty delicious meals? Look no further than "5 ingredients." Most recipes take 30 minutes or less. And they are far from complicated. Five ingredients means less chopping and less chopping means more time for whatever else you need to do. -Anne M

Furious hours : murder, fraud, and the last trial of Harper Lee

Casey N. Cep

364.15232 /Cep
True Crime, Biographies

"'A triumph on every level. One of the losses to literature is that Harper Lee never found a way to tell a gothic true-crime story she'd spent years researching. Casey Cep has excavated this mesmerizing story and tells it with grace and insight and a fierce fidelity to the truth.'--David Grann, best-selling author of Killers of the Flower Moon The stunning story of an Alabama serial killer and the true-crime book that Harper Lee worked on obsessively in the years after To Kill a Mockingbird. Reverend Willie Maxwell was a rural preacher accused of murdering five of his family members for insurance money in the 1970s. With the help of a savvy lawyer, he escaped justice for years until a relative shot him dead at the funeral of his last victim. Despite hundreds of witnesses, Maxwell's murderer was acquitted--thanks to the same attorney who had previously defended the Reverend. Sitting in the audience during the vigilante's trial was Harper Lee, who had traveled from New York City to her native Alabama with the idea of writing her own In Cold Blood, the true-crime classic she had helped her friend Truman Capote research seventeen years earlier. Lee spent a year in town reporting, and many more working on her own version of the case. Now Casey Cep brings this nearly inconceivable story to life, from the shocking murders to the courtroom drama to the racial politics of the Deep South. At the same time, she offers a deeply moving portrait of one of the country's most beloved writers and her struggle with fame, success, and the mystery of artistic creativity"--

"Furious Hours" is the story of a true crime in 1970s Alabama as well as the story of famous writer Harper Lee. Written in three parts, this book details the strange story of a "Voodoo Preacher" who claimed the insurance policies after several sketchy deaths of family members, the larger than life lawyer that defended him, and ironically his killer after he is publicly killed at a funeral, and Harper Lee, who followed the case, but never wrote about it. I most thoroughly enjoyed the section about Harper Lee, but found all of it to be both intriguing and well-documented! -Mari

The seven or eight deaths of Stella Fortuna : a novel

Juliet Grames

FICTION Grames Juliet
Literary Fiction

Death has always been a part of Stella Fortuna life. Ordinary situations like cooking eggplant or feeding the pigs inexplicably take lethal turns. In her Italian village, Stella is considered an oddity-- beautiful and smart, insolent and cold. She uses her peculiar toughness to protect her slower, plainer baby sister Tina from life's harshest realities. Her father Antonio is a man who demands subservience from women and whose greatest gift to his family is his absence. When the Fortunas emigrate to America on the cusp of World War II, Stella learns that her survival is worthless without the one thing her family will deny her at any cost: her independence. -- adapted from jacket

Mariastella Fortuna's story is told as memoir written by a descendant in the family, from her early life of poverty in an Italian village to her family's immigrant experience adjusting to American life in the 1940's. The title refers to a family curse that leads to several brushes with death over her lifespan, but the story is much more about Stella's complicated relationships with family members and how she is forced into roles of wife and mother. -Mari

To Night Owl from Dogfish

Holly Goldberg Sloan

jFICTION Sloan Holly
Early Chapter Books

Unhappy about being sent to the same summer camp after their fathers start dating, Bett and Avery, two girls, age eleven, eventually begin scheming to get the couple back together after a break-up. Told entirely through letters, emails and text messages.

This was a great summer read. An epistolary "Parent Trap" story told through the email communication of two 12 year-old girls, adventurous Bett Devlin from California, and neurotic Avery Bloom from New York. After their dads fall in love at a work conference, sisterly friendship is forced upon the girls at a STEM camp in Michigan for the summer while their fathers travel together. I was pleasantly surprised by the twists thrown in and loved the characters! -Mari

Dragons in a bag

Zetta Elliott

jFICTION Elliott Zetta
Fantasy, Adventure

In Brooklyn, nine-year-old Jax joins Ma, a curmudgeonly witch who lives in his building, on a quest to deliver three baby dragons to a magical world, and along the way discovers his true calling.--

Count down to the sequel! Super excited to see what happens in Jax's story next. -Casey

An embroidery book of stitch craft : simple stitches & peculiar patterns

Gayla Partridge

746.44 /Partridge
Crafts

Step inside a world of arcane imagery and rich esoteric symbolism in Stitchcraft: An Embroidery Book of Simple Stitches and Peculiar Patterns. Author Gayla Partridge draws upon her knowledge of phrenology, anatomy, floral design, and Ouija to create deeply imaginative embroidery art. Through extraordinary, stylized photography and detailed close-ups of her designs, readers learn about Partridge's sources of inspiration, technique, and modern twists on an age-old craft. From the anatomy of snakes to bountiful bouquets, from Dia de Los Muertos to a threaded Virgin Mary, readers will be inspired to follow Partridge's exclusive designs, and to create their own. The intricate pieces in Stitchcraft are entirely achievable with basic embroidery stitches and easy-to-follow instructions, enchanting embroidery beginners and experts alike. --from Amazon.

Creepy and macabre portraits of extremely beautiful and detailed embroidery with phrenology, anatomy, floral design, and Ouija themes. The patterns included are simple but Patridge leaves a lot of room for creativity with suggestions about stitches and techniques to try to recreate her designs with your own twist. -Mari

The girl and the wolf

Katherena Vermette

jE Vermette
Picture Books, Nature, Animals

"A young girl becomes lost in the woods after wandering too far away from her mother. Scared because she is lost, she encounters a large wolf who reminds her of her own ability to survive and find her mother again."--

A stunning take on the classic "girl meets wolf" tale, just right for sharing! -Casey

The hidden witch

Molly Ostertag

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Ostertag
Graphic Novels, Kids

When Aster's non-magical friend Charlie finds herself the target of a curse, Aster and his unconventional talent for witchery must find the source of the curse before more people get hurt.

As the sequel to The Witch Boy continue so does Aster’s difficulty in breaking out of his gender role so he can train to be a witch, previously a girl’s only role. His willingness to work hard pays off in his ability to help others, making him likable and ambitious. It is a perfect time to read the sequel as the third book in this series comes out in Nov. 2019. -Angela

The poisonwood Bible

Barbara Kingsolver

FICTION Kingsolver, Barbara
Historical Fiction

"The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them all they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it―from garden seeds to Scripture―is calamitously transformed on African soil. This tale of one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction, over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa, is set against history's most dramatic political parables." (Amazon Summary)

This is a difficult, but important story that evaluates multiple post-colonial attitudes through the lenses of a missionary wife and her four daughters. It provides such an interesting portrait of a family and of a village in the Belgian Congo (beginning in 1959), and delves deeply into issues of culture, politics and human experience. -Becky

Where the crawdads sing

Delia Owens

FICTION Owens Delia
Fiction, Mystery

"Fans of Barbara Kingsolver will love this stunning debut novel from a New York Times bestselling nature writer, about an unforgettable young woman determined to make her way in the wilds of North Carolina, and the two men that will break her isolation open. For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. She's barefoot and wild; unfit for polite society. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark. But Kya is not what they say. Abandoned at age ten, she has survived on her own in the marsh that she calls home. A born naturalist with just one day of school, she takes life lessons from the land, learning from the false signals of fireflies the real way of this world. But while she could have lived in solitude forever, the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. Drawn to two young men from town, who are each intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new and startling world--until the unthinkable happens. In Where the Crawdads Sing, Owens juxtaposes an exquisite ode to the natural world against a heartbreaking coming of age story and a surprising murder investigation. Thought-provoking, wise, and deeply moving, Owens's debut novel reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps"--

I love how Delia Owens flawlessly weaves in two timelines for Where the Crawdads Sing. I was constantly trying to figure out how these timelines would merge and would look for clues to help me judge the mindset and capabilities of Kya, the "Marsh Girl." It is a beautiful story about human nature, human experience, and a celebration of nature. One of my favorite reads this year! -Becky

The omnivore's dilemma : a natural history of four meals

Michael Pollan

641.3 /Pollan
Nonfiction

What should we have for dinner? When you can eat just about anything nature (or the supermarket) has to offer, deciding what you should eat will inevitably stir anxiety, especially when some of the foods might shorten your life. Pollan follows each of the food chains--industrial food, organic or alternative food, and food we forage ourselves--from the source to the final meal, always emphasizing our coevolutionary relationship with the handful of plant and animal species we depend on.

Such an interesting and well-researched book about America's food culture. It really makes you think about where your meals are coming from and the influences surrounding food creation. -Becky

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Susanna Clarke

SCIENCE FICTION Clarke, Susanna
Fantasy, Historical Fiction

"English magicians were once the wonder of the known world, with fairy servants at their beck and call; they could command winds, mountains, and woods. But by the early 1800s they have long since lost the ability to perform magic. They can only write long, dull papers about it, while fairy servants are nothing but a fading memory. But at Hurtfew Abbey in Yorkshire, the rich, reclusive Mr Norrell has assembled a wonderful library of lost and forgotten books from England's magical past and regained some of the powers of England's magicians. He goes to London and raises a beautiful young woman from the dead. Soon he is lending his help to the government in the war against Napoleon Bonaparte, creating ghostly fleets of rain-ships to confuse and alarm the French. All goes well until a rival magician appears. Jonathan Strange is handsome, charming, and talkative-the very opposite of Mr Norrell. Strange thinks nothing of enduring the rigors of campaigning with Wellington's army and doing magic on battlefields. Astonished to find another practicing magician, Mr Norrell accepts Strange as a pupil. But it soon becomes clear that their ideas of what English magic ought to be are very different. For Mr Norrell, their power is something to be cautiously controlled, while Jonathan Strange will always be attracted to the wildest, most perilous forms of magic. He becomes fascinated by the ancient, shadowy figure of the Raven King, a child taken by fairies who became king of both England and Faerie, and the most legendary magician of all. Eventually Strange's heedless pursuit of long-forgotten magic threatens to destroy not only his partnership with Norrell, but everything that he holds dear." (Goodreads)

At around 800 pages in length, I was a bit daunted by my choice in reading this novel. But, after watching the BBC series based on Clarke's book and having it recommended to me by my brother, I was determined to give it a try. This story was a great fit for me because it combines my love of fantasy, England and historical fiction. I especially liked the striking differences between Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and enjoyed watching their relationship to one another and magic evolve. -Becky

Spinning silver

Naomi Novik

SCIENCE FICTION Novik Naomi
Fantasy

"A fresh and imaginative retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale from the bestselling author of Uprooted, called "a very enjoyable fantasy with the air of a modern classic" by The New York Times Book Review. Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father is not a very good one. Free to lend and reluctant to collect, he has left his family on the edge of poverty--until Miryem intercedes. Hardening her heart, she sets out to retrieve what is owed, and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold. But when an ill-advised boast brings her to the attention of the cold creatures who haunt the wood, nothing will be the same again. For words have power, and the fate of a kingdom will be forever altered by the challenge she is issued. Channeling the heart of the classic fairy tale, Novik deftly interweaves six distinct narrative voices--each learning valuable lessons about sacrifice, power and love--into a rich, multilayered fantasy that readers will want to return to again and again"--

Another great work by Naomi Novik that allowed me to escape into a mystical world rooted in Russian folklore. A powerful story that highlights self-sacrifice, endurance and love. I would probably rate Uprooted (also by Novik) a bit higher, but I still loved this story and would highly recommend it. -Becky

Uprooted

Naomi Novik

SCIENCE FICTION Novik Naomi
Fantasy

"Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life. Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood. The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows--everyone knows--that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn't, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her. But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose"--

I was immediately drawn in to the story of the Dragon, Agnieszka and the mystery surrounding her village. Novik is an excellent storyteller and Uprooted was full of great character development and interesting twists in the plot. Love this book! -Becky

The bear and the nightingale : a novel

Katherine Arden

SCIENCE FICTION Arden, Katherine
Fantasy

"In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, a stranger with piercing blue eyes presents a new father with a gift - a precious jewel on a delicate chain, intended for his young daughter. Uncertain of its meaning, Pytor hides the gift away and Vasya grows up a wild, willful girl, to the chagrin of her family. But when mysterious forces threaten the happiness of their village, Vasya discovers that, armed only with the necklace, she may be the only one who can keep the darkness at bay"--

I particularly enjoy fantasy stories and I ended up reading Katherine Arden's entire trilogy within a week. The Bear and the Nightingale (first in the series) is a beautiful construction of a Russian fairy tale following young Vasya and the development of her magical abilities. She quickly finds resistance with her power and must navigate a world full of change, evil and influence in order to protect her family, her village, and those unseen. -Becky

The Giver

Lois Lowry

GRAPHIC NOVEL Lowry
Graphic Novels, Young Adult

Jonas' life assignment is as the Receiver of Memory, where he will apprentice the Giver and become a storehouse of all the things humanity left behind when it entered utopia: color, emotion, and even more complicated secrets.

Lois Lowry's classic novel smoothly makes its transition to comics, and fans of and newcomers to the book will be captivated by the visual storytelling. -Angela

The nightingale

Kristin Hannah

FICTION Hannah Kristin
Historical Fiction

"Viann and Isabelle have always been close despite their differences. Younger, bolder sister Isabelle lives in Paris while Viann lives a quiet and content life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their daughter. When World War II strikes and Antoine is sent off to fight, Viann and Isabelle's father sends Isabelle to help her older sister cope. As the war progresses, it's not only the sisters' relationship that is tested, but also their strength and their individual senses of right and wrong. With life as they know it changing in unbelievably horrific ways, Viann and Isabelle will find themselves facing frightening situations and responding in ways they never thought possible as bravery and resistance take different forms in each of their actions. Vivid and exquiste in its illumination of a time and place that was filled with great monstrosities, but also great humanity and strength, Kristin Hannah's novel will provoke thought and discussion that will have readers talking long after they turn the last page"--

This is a story that highlights the endurance, courage and strength of women. I worked through the book rather quickly, absorbed in the plot and determined to find out how it would all end. An opening quote in the novel suggests that "In love we find out who we want to be; In war we find out who we are..." this statement was revealed in an interesting development in each of the two sisters. -Becky

A gentleman in Moscow

Amor Towles

FICTION Towles Amor
Historical Fiction

"A Gentleman in Moscow immerses us in another elegantly drawn era with the story of Count Alexander Rostov. When, in 1922, he is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, the count is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel's doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him a doorway into a much larger world of emotional discovery. Brimming with humor, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count's endeavor to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose."

Amor Towles does a fantastic job with character development; I especially enjoyed watching Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov masterly navigate his circumstances with class, wisdom, and a great deal of charm. Such a beautifully written book and satisfying from start to finish. -Becky

Alias Grace

Margaret Atwood

FICTION Atwood, Margaret
Historical Fiction

"It's 1843, and Grace Marks has been convicted for her involvement in the vicious murders of her employer and his housekeeper and mistress. Some believe Grace is innocent; others think her evil or insane. Now serving a life sentence, Grace claims to have no memory of the murders. An up-and-coming expert in the burgeoning field of mental illness is engaged by a group of reformers and spiritualists who seek a pardon for Grace. He listens to her story while bringing her closer and closer to the day she cannot remember. What will he find in attempting to unlock her memories? Captivating and disturbing, Alias Grace showcases bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood at the peak of her powers." (Amazon Summary)

In Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood delivers a fascinating account of the life of Grace Marks, an Irish immigrant who settled in Canada as a young child. My initial perception of Grace's character is immediately put into question as the story builds around her possible involvement in the horrific murders of her employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his mistress. Based on a true story from the 1840's, Atwood excels in historical storytelling. By weaving in period appropriate views of religion, science and mental illness along with the memories shared by Grace Marks and actual accounts written about the trial, you are constantly left wondering: victim or villain? -Becky

Someone we know

Shari Lapeña

FICTION Lapena Shari
Suspense

Neighbors begin to turn on each other after a series of break-ins is followed by a murder --

Do you ever truly know your neighbors? What about your friends? Your spouse? Your own child? Shari Lapena has done it again! -Meredith

Stargazing.

Jen Wang

ON ORDER BOOK
Graphic Novels

I'm so happy it's September! Can hardly wait to get my hands on Jen Wang's latest graphic novel. -Casey

Harold & Hog pretend for real!

Mo Willems

jREADER Willems Mo
Kids, Early Readers

Can the friendship of best friends Harold and Hog, a carefree elephant and a careful hog, survive a game of pretending to be Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie?

This meta–early reader begins (between the end pages and the title page) with the famous duo Elephant and Piggie expressing excitement about reading a book about a pig and an elephant who happen to be best friends, just like them. Piggie holds a copy of Harold & Hog Pretend for Real!—which is identical to the book readers are holding, leading them to believe that the characters are reading the same book. Piggie and elephant Gerald then open the cover of the book just as elephant Harold and Hog push it open from the inside, and the story seamlessly shifts to the latter pair’s perspective. Harold and Hog—illustrated with depth and fairly realistically, compared to the cartoonlike Piggie and Gerald—are excited to see the famous duo, and Harold suggests they pretend to be them. Harold then produces round, wire-rimmed glasses for himself and a cartoon pig’s snout for Hog so that they can pretend “for real.” Unfortunately, Hog is “too CAREFUL to be Piggie,” and Harold is “too CAREFREE to be Gerald!” The question then arises: Can Harold and Hog’s friendship survive this game? Building on the popular Elephant and Piggie books and with the frame story contributed by Mo Willems, Santat creates yet another early reader that is at once playful, self-aware, and perceptive in its exploration of the differences of personalities and the complications (or simplicities) of friendship. A hoot for readers who already know Elephant and Piggie. -Kirkus Reviews -Angela

I love my Glam-ma!

Samantha Berger

je Berger
Kids, Picture Books

Grandmothers go by many different names, but they are all glamorous and special in their own way, so they are all Glam-mas--especially to the children that they love, and who love them.

Grandmothers go by many different names, but they are all glamorous and special in their own way, so they are all Glam-mas--especially to the children that they love, and who love them. I love to see all the different and unique names grandma's choose! -Angela

Grandma's purse

Vanessa Brantley-Newton

jE Brantley-Newton
Kids, Picture Books

"When Grandma Mimi comes to visit, her granddaughter cannot wait to see what treasures she has hidden in her purse."--

This is a favorite memory of mine! My grandma always had interesting items in her purse and Grandma Mimi in this story is no different! -Angela

Olive, again

Elizabeth Strout

ON ORDER BOOK
Literary Fiction

"Funny, wicked and remorseful, Mrs. Kitteridge is a compelling life force, a red blooded original. When she's not onstage, we look forward to her return..."* And now, indeed, Olive Kitteridge has returned, as indomitable as ever. "It turns out--I just wasn't done with Olive," said Strout. "It was like she kept poking me in the ribs, so I finally said 'Okay, okay...'" Now Olive returns, this time as a person getting older, navigating her next decade as she comes to terms with the changes--sometimes welcome, sometimes not--in her own life. Here is Olive, strangely content in her second marriage, still in an evolving relationship with her son and his family, encountering a cast of memorable characters in the seaside town of Crosby, Maine. Whether it's a young girl coming to terms with the loss of her father, a young woman about to give birth at a baby shower, or a nurse who confesses a secret high school crush, the irascible Olive improbably touches the lives of others. Elizabeth Strout has achieved greatness by brilliantly laying bare the inner lives of ordinary people, by focusing on the small moments of connection which can dislodge lifelong grief and longing, and unite her characters through moments of transcendent grace. Olive, Again is another lasting work of fiction by this remarkable writer, and a cause for celebration among readers everywhere.

Olive is back and I was fortunate enough to have an advance reader copy. Elizabeth Strout is a master storyteller and I enjoyed spending more time with Olive Kitteridge. -Kara

The Chelsea girls : a novel

Fiona Davis

FICTION Davis Fiona
Historical Fiction

From the dramatic redbrick facade to the sweeping staircase dripping with art, the Chelsea Hotel has long been New York City's creative oasis for the many artists, writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and poets who have called it home-a scene playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead are determined to use to their advantage. Yet they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to putting up a show on Broadway has nothing to do with their art, and everything to do with politics. A Red scare is sweeping across America, and Senator Joseph McCarthy has started a witch hunt for Communists, with those in the entertainment industry in the crosshairs. As the pressure builds to name names, it is more than Hazel and Maxine's Broadway dreams that may suffer as they grapple with the terrible consequences, but also their livelihood, their friendship, and even their freedom.

1950's New York comes alive at the Chelsea Hotel when two friends, playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead, try to put on a show on Broadway. They learn their skills and determination are challenged by Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare witch hunt for communists. A great book! -Kara

Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Julia Quinn

FICTION Quinn, Julia
Romance

I really enjoy Julia Quinn books. They are well-written, feature good character development and are just what I need when I have insomnia. The characters all run together for me but I don't care. Quinn's books are entertaining and fun. -Kara

Becoming Mrs. Lewis : a novel : the improbable love story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis

Patti Callahan Henry

FICTION Henry Patti
Historical Fiction

"The love story of C.S. Lewis and his wife, Helen Joy Davidman Gresham, was improbable--and seemingly impossible. Their Eros-story led to some of Lewis's greatest works, yet Joy is most commonly known for how she died. Becoming Mrs. Lewis allows us to see how this brilliant and passionate woman lived--and why she stole Jack's heart"--

I love books by C.S. Lewis. This book brought back some nostalgia from my childhood and helped me learn more about someone I admire. -Kara

The truths we hold : an American journey

Kamala D. Harris

BIOGRAPHY Harris, Kamala D.
Biographies

"From one of America's most inspiring political leaders, a book about the core truths that unite us, and the long struggle to discern what those truths are and how best to act upon them, in her own life and across the life of our country. Senator Kamala Harris's commitment to speaking truth is informed by her upbringing. The daughter of immigrants, she was raised in an Oakland, California community that cared deeply about social justice; her parents--an esteemed economist from Jamaica and an admired cancer researcher from India--met as activists in the civil rights movement when they were graduate students at Berkeley. Growing up, Harris herself never hid her passion for justice, and when she became a prosecutor out of law school, a deputy district attorney, she quickly established herself as one of the most innovative change agents in American law enforcement. She progressed rapidly to become the elected District Attorney for San Francisco, and then the chief law enforcement officer of the state of California as a whole. Known for bringing a voice to the voiceless, she took on the big banks during the foreclosure crisis, winning a historic settlement for California's working families. Her hallmarks were applying a holistic, data-driven approach to many of California's thorniest issues, always eschewing stale "tough on crime" rhetoric as presenting a series of false choices. Neither "tough" nor "soft" but smart on crime became her mantra. Being smart means learning the truths that can make us better as a community, and supporting those truths with all our might. That has been the pole star that guided Harris to a transformational career as the top law enforcement official in California, and it is guiding her now as a transformational United States Senator, grappling with an array of complex issues that affect her state, our country, and the world, from health care and the new economy to immigration, national security, the opioid crisis, and accelerating inequality. By reckoning with the big challenges we face together, drawing on the hard-won wisdom and insight from her own career and the work of those who have most inspired her, Kamala Harris offers in [this book] a master class in problem solving, in crisis management, and leadership in challenging times. Through the arc of her own life, on into the great work of our day, she communicates a vision of shared struggle, shared purpose, and shared values. In a book rich in many home truths, not least is that a relatively small number of people work very hard to convince a great many of us that we have less in common than we actually do, but it falls to us to look past them and get on with the good work of living our common truth. When we do, our shared effort will continue to sustain us and this great nation, now and in the years to come."--Dust jacket.

I don't know what I think about the next presidential election. What I do know is this was a great book and I enjoyed learning more about someone who has been a leader in problem solving and advocacy for people who need help. -Kara

The trial of Lizzie Borden : a true story

Cara Robertson

364.1523 /Robertson
History

"The remarkable new account of an essential piece of American mythology--the trial of Lizzie Borden--based on twenty years of research and recently unearthed evidence. The Trial of Lizzie Borden tells the true story of one of the most sensational murder trials in American history. When Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally hacked to death in Fall River, Massachusetts, in August 1892, the arrest of the couple's younger daughter Lizzie turned the case into international news and her trial into a spectacle unparalleled in American history. Reporters flocked to the scene. Well-known columnists took up conspicuous seats in the courtroom. The defendant was relentlessly scrutinized for signs of guilt or innocence. Everyone--rich and poor, suffragists and social conservatives, legal scholars and laypeople--had an opinion about Lizzie Borden's guilt or innocence. Was she a cold-blooded murderess or an unjustly persecuted lady? Did she or didn't she? The popular fascination with the Borden murders and its central enigmatic character has endured for more than one hundred years. Immortalized in rhyme, told and retold in every conceivable genre, the murders have secured a place in the American pantheon of mythic horror, but one typically wrenched from its historical moment. In contrast, Cara Robertson explores the stories Lizzie Borden's culture wanted and expected to hear and how those stories influenced the debate inside and outside of the courtroom. Based on transcripts of the Borden legal proceedings, contemporary newspaper accounts, unpublished local accounts, and recently unearthed letters from Lizzie herself, The Trial of Lizzie Borden offers a window onto America in the Gilded Age, showcasing its most deeply held convictions and its most troubling social anxieties"--

When I put this on hold, I thought it was Biographical Fiction. I soon realized it is Nonfiction. By then I was hooked. It's a great story that's well researched and compelling. -Kara