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Number one is walking : my life in the movies and other diversions book cover
Number one is walking : my life in the movies and other diversions book cover

Number one is walking : my life in the movies and other diversions

Steve Martin

791.43028092 /Martin
Biographies, Humor

"Number One Is Walking is Steve Martin's cinematic legacy-an illustrated memoir of his legendary acting career, with stories from his most popular films and artwork by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss. Steve Martin has never written about his career in the movies before. In Number One Is Walking, he shares anecdotes from the sets of his beloved films-Father of the Bride, Roxanne, The Jerk, Three Amigos, and many more-bringing readers directly into his world. He shares charming tales of antics, moments of inspiration, and exploits with the likes of Paul McCartney, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, and Chevy Chase. Martin details his forty years in the movie biz, as well as his stand-up comedy, banjo playing, writing, and cartooning, all with his unparalleled wit. With gorgeously illustrated cartoons and single-panel "diversions" in Steve and Harry's signature style, Number One Is Walking is full of the everyday moments that make up a movie star's life, capturing Steve Martin's singular humor and acclaimed career in film. The perfect gift from the team who brought you the #1 New York Times bestseller A Wealth of Pigeons"--

Melody's picture

I am a sucker for graphic novel style memoirs. As a Gen-Y'er, I grew up with the Steve Martin movies from the '80s--Little Shop of Horrors, Roxanne, L.A. Story. L.A. Story remains one of my all-time favorites, and Roxanne got me started on my Cyrano de Bergerac kick in high school. (I made it a point to read every translation and watch every adaptation that I could get my hands on.) This illustrated memoir of his time in Hollywood offers his delightful and comedic behind-the-scenes take on working in the biz. This book is sure to be one of the best celebrity memoirs of 2022. -Melody

The queen in the cave book cover
The queen in the cave book cover

The queen in the cave

Júlia Sardà

jE Sarda
Picture Books, Fantasy, Adventure

Once upon a time there were three sisters: Franca, Carmela, and Tomasina. This is their story of adventure and discovery. A tale of hidden mysteries and new wonders, of finding a strange world beyond home and unlocking the secrets inside themselves.

Casey's picture

I cannot wait to share this ethereal long-form picture book at home. Look for this title on an upcoming list of great gift books! -Casey

The wolves and moose of Isle Royale: restoring an island ecosystem book cover
The wolves and moose of Isle Royale: restoring an island ecosystem book cover

The wolves and moose of Isle Royale: restoring an island ecosystem

Castaldo, Nancy F. (Nancy Fusco), 1962- author.

j599.77 Castaldo
Nonfiction, Animals, Nature

"On Isle Royale, a remote island national park surrounded by frigid Lake Superior, a thrilling drama is unfolding between wolves and moose, the island's ultimate predator and prey. For over sixty years, in what has been known as the longest study of a predator-prey relationship in the world, scientists have observed the importance of wolves to Isle Royale's unique ecology. But due to illness and underlying factors, the population of wolves on the island has dropped while the number of moose has increased, putting the Isle Royale ecosystem in jeopardy."--

Casey's picture

This is a fascinating read for young environmentalists! -Casey

A brave cat book cover
A brave cat book cover

A brave cat

Marianna Coppo

jE Coppo
Picture Books

"Olivia, an indoor cat, is a fearless explorer until she accidentally finds herself outside, which tests her adventurous sense of self and results in a brave new outlook."

Mari's picture

I love picture books about cats and dogs, they always have such a relatable point of view, depending on whether you're a cat person or a dog person. I'm a dog person, but I still appreciate Olivia the cat's perspective and appreciation of her home. It has short simple sentences and beautiful and colorful illustrations that I was really taken with. And I learned that the author has another book with a heart-melting look into the lives of pets starring a dog protagonist called " Such a Good Boy," that will be a great find for me next! -Mari

Braiding Sweetgrass book cover
Braiding Sweetgrass book cover

Braiding Sweetgrass

Robin Wall Kimmerer


As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these lenses of knowledge together to show that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings are we capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learning to give our own gifts in return.

Zach's picture

This is easily one of the best books I have read this year. Robin Wall is Potawatomi, combining her knowledge about botany and her skill with writing and knowledge of her ancestral traditions into a book that exceeds expectations. It can change your outlook on all aspects of life and is a brilliant read. I would recommend it to everyone. -Zach

I'm a unicorn book cover
I'm a unicorn book cover

I'm a unicorn

Helen Yoon

jE Yoon
Picture Books, Humor, Fantasy, Kids

"See?" cries the calf. "Uni means one, and corn means horn!" Even their baby picture proves it: they were born with one horn! But as the eager little calf continues their research, a budding identity crisis arises...

Casey's picture

Potty humor AND unicorns?! Get ready to repeat this read. -Casey

The Time Traveller's Wife book cover
The Time Traveller's Wife book cover

The Time Traveller's Wife

Audrey Niffenegger


This is the extraordinary love story of Clare and Henry, who met when Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-two and Henry was thirty. Impossible but true, because Henry suffers from a rare condition where his genetic clock periodically resets and he finds himself pulled suddenly into his past or future. In the face of this force they can neither prevent nor control, Henry and Clare's struggle to lead normal lives is both intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

Zach's picture

This is one of the only books I have read and reread more than four times. Almost every winter I read it around Christmas time because I think it perfectly fits that time of year. This is a must read for any romance fans, especially those who enjoy science fiction and libraries! -Zach

The more you give book cover
The more you give book cover

The more you give

Marcy Campbell

jE Campbell

"A modern-day response to The Giving Tree, this lyrical picture book shows how family love is passed down from generation to generation"--

Victoria's picture

The intergenerational joy and relationships cultivated with community and nature are just beautiful in this story. Illustrator of one of my favorite picture books, "The Journey," Sanna's use of color and comic style vignettes on some pages add to the richness of the story. Love, loss, warmth, family, community connectedness and using your past to create a better future are bursting out of the pages of this book. -Victoria

Dial A for Aunties book cover
Dial A for Aunties book cover

Dial A for Aunties

Sutanto, Jesse Q., author.

FICTION Sutanto Jesse

"What happens when you mix 1 (accidental) murder with 2 thousand wedding guests, and then, toss in a possible curse on 3 generations of an immigrant Chinese-Indonesian family? You get 4 meddling Asian aunties coming to the rescue! When Meddelin Chan ends up accidentally killing her blind date, her meddlesome mother calls for her even more meddlesome aunties to help get rid of the body. Unfortunately, a dead body proves to be a lot more challenging to dispose of than one might anticipate--especially when it is accidentally shipped in a cake cooler to the over-the-top billionaire wedding that Meddy, her Ma, and her aunties are working, at an island resort on the California coastline. It is the biggest job yet for their family wedding business--'Don't leave your big day to chance, leave it to the Chans!'--and nothing, not even an unsavory corpse, will get in the way of her aunties' perfect buttercream-cake flowers. But things go from inconvenient to downright torturous when Meddy's great college love--and biggest heartbreak--makes a surprise appearance amid the wedding chaos. Is it possible to escape murder charges, charm her ex back into her life, and pull off a stunning wedding, all in one weekend?"--

Annie's picture

Added by Annie

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World book cover
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World book cover

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

Vicki Myron

OverDrive eBook
Animals, Memoir

Experience the uplifting, "unforgettable" New York Times bestseller about an abandoned kitten named Dewey, whose life in a library won over a farming town and the world — with over 2 million copies sold! (Booklist) Dewey's story starts in the worst possible way. On the coldest night of the year in Spencer, Iowa, at only a few weeks old—a critical age for kittens—he was stuffed into the return book slot of the Spencer Public Library. He was found the next morning by library director Vicki Myron, a single mother who had survived the loss of her family farm, a breast cancer scare, and an alcoholic husband. Dewey won her heart, and the hearts of the staff, by pulling himself up and hobbling on frostbitten feet to nudge each of them in a gesture of thanks and love. For the next nineteen years, he never stopped charming the people of Spencer with his enthusiasm, warmth, humility (for a cat), and, above all, his sixth sense about who needed him most. As his fame grew from town to town, then state to state and finally, amazingly, worldwide, Dewey became more than just a friend; he became a source of pride for an extraordinary Heartland farming community slowly working its way back from the greatest crisis in its long history.

Hanna's picture

I've heard of Dewey the library cat. I think I read an article about him once. This, however, is an entire book dedicated to the antics of a wonderful and very loved library cat. I want to read it today! (Do you think Elsworth Carmen would go for an ICPL cat? Maybe Dewey II? I'm kidding.) -Hanna

Piranesi book cover
Piranesi book cover

Piranesi

Susanna Clarke


Piranesi’s house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls are lined with thousands upon thousands of statues, each one different from all the others. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; waves thunder up staircases, rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house. There is one other person in the house—a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.

Zach's picture

This is one of the best books I read in 2020. Susanna Clarke is one of my favorite authors with this, as well as with "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell"--both huge hits and deserving of all the acclaim they have received. -Zach

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell book cover
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell book cover

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell

Susanna Clarke


The year is 1806. England is beleaguered by the long war with Napoleon, and centuries have passed since practical magicians faded into the nation's past. But scholars of this glorious history discover that one remains: the reclusive Mr Norrell, whose displays of magic send a thrill through the country. Proceeding to London, he raises a beautiful woman from the dead and summons an army of ghostly ships to terrify the French. Yet the cautious, fussy Norrell is challenged by the emergence of another magician: the brilliant novice Jonathan Strange. Young, handsome and daring, Strange is the very antithesis of Norrel. So begins a dangerous battle between these two great men which overwhelms that between England and France. And their own obsessions and secret dabblings with the dark arts are going to cause more trouble than they can imagine.

Zach's picture

Again, Susanna Clarke is one of my favorites and I would be remis to exclude it from my list! -Zach

The Night Circus book cover
The Night Circus book cover

The Night Circus

Erin Morgensern


The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.

Zach's picture

This is a beautiful read, with wonderful prose and plot. It's magical in all respects and makes me reminisce on the first time I had the pleasure to read it. If you love magic and romance, this is a must read. -Zach

A Darker Shade of Magic book cover
A Darker Shade of Magic book cover

A Darker Shade of Magic

V. E. Schwab


Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black. Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand. After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive.

Zach's picture

I haven't finished this book, but as I've been listening on Hoopla, I've been finding myself entranced. I'm very excited to see how it goes! -Zach

Octopus Shocktopus! book cover
Octopus Shocktopus! book cover

Octopus Shocktopus!

Peter Bently

jE Bently
Picture Books

An octopus falls from the sky one day. It lands on a roof and there it stays. The village's children quickly make friends with it, even though the adults are wary. But the octopus proves very handy indeed, making a perfect slide, helping out with some painting, and even rescuing a cat stuck in a tree. But just when all the neighbors decide they want an octopus of their very own, it disappears. Where has it gone and will it come back?

Mari's picture

An imaginative and colorful story set in a idyllic little neighborhood by the sea. I loved the bright color of the Octopus and the rhyming is well-done and easy to read aloud. It gives cozy vibes as Octopus celebrates holidays and enjoys the seasons changing on top of the house The small community mutually benefit from the Octopus, who helps beautify the neighborhood by painting fences and raking leaves, and it in turn loves to play with the children. This book will spark imagination for young readers and wish they also had a giant octopus on the roof of their house! -Mari

Books aren't for eating book cover
Books aren't for eating book cover

Books aren't for eating

Carlie Sorosiak

jE Sorosiak
Picture Books

Leopold the goat owns a delightful bookstore, and he has a talent for matching his customers with the ideal book--an adventure story for the girl in the rain boots, a novel about gnomes for the man who loves to laugh, and a book of birds for the woman in the feathered hat. But one day, another goat arrives and proceeds to eat every book Leopold offers. Can Leopold find just the right one to tempt this reluctant reader?

Mari's picture

I am always drawn to books with goat characters because they are my favorite animal. This is a cozy quick read set in a bookstore with delightful illustrations and calming pastel colors. A love letter to the books, libraries and bookstores set in a world where goats can learn to turn pages instead of eating them, and dress like and live among humans. A world I wanna be in! -Mari

The night she disappeared : a novel book cover
The night she disappeared : a novel book cover

The night she disappeared : a novel

Lisa Jewell

FICTION Jewell Lisa
Fiction, Mystery

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone and The Family Upstairs comes another riveting work of "gloriously twisted" (Marie Claire) psychological suspense. On a beautiful summer night in a charming English suburb, a young woman and her boyfriend disappear after partying at the massive country estate of a new college friend. One year later, a writer moves into a cottage on the edge of the woods that border the same estate. Known locally as the Dark Place, the dense forest is the writer's favorite area for long walks and it's on one such walk that she stumbles upon a mysterious note that simply reads, "DIG HERE." Could this be a clue towards what has happened to the missing young couple? And what exactly is buried in this haunted ground? With her signature "rich, dark, and intricately twisted" (Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author) prose, Lisa Jewell has crafted a dazzling work of suspense that will keep on the edge of your seat until the final page"--

Candice's picture

If you're looking for one more book to get in before Halloween is over, I suggest this one! I have to admit, this was so much better than I thought it would be...a seriously intriguing storyline with good twists but nothing too outrageous that it becomes unbelievable. Also, the character development is top-notch, and the writing downright lovely. There's a lot of real emotion in this story, with some eerie goings-on to boot. A proper chilling read, for both adults and young adults looking to branch out a bit. -Candice

Imaginable : how to see the future coming and feel ready for anything--even things that seem impossible today book cover
Imaginable : how to see the future coming and feel ready for anything--even things that seem impossible today book cover

Imaginable : how to see the future coming and feel ready for anything--even things that seem impossible today

Jane McGonigal

303.49 /McGonigal
Nonfiction, Technology, Science, Self Help

"War in Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly frequent climate disasters--events we might have called "unimaginable" or "unthinkable" in the past are now reality. Today it feels more challenging than ever to feel unafraid, hopeful, and equipped to face the future with optimism. How do we map out our lives when it seems impossible to predict what the world will be like next week, let alone next year or next decade? What we need now are strategies to help us recover our confidence and creativity in facing uncertain futures. In Imaginable, Jane McGonigal draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show us how to train our minds to think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable. She invites us to play with the provocative thought experiments and future simulations she's designed exclusively for this book..." -- Inside front book jacket.

Melody's picture

I started listening to the audiobook version of this on hoopla (https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/15013684) and wound up buying my own copy to switch back and forth. Some parts are better read so you can stop and ponder McGonigal's probing questions and go through her "creativity training." I mean, who doesn't love creativity training?! Now some of us ICPL staff are in an Imaginable book club where we imagine the future of libraries and the Iowa City community. It's been a fun discussion so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing which of our predictions comes true. -Melody

 The Raven Boys Raven Cycle Series, Book 1 book cover
 The Raven Boys Raven Cycle Series, Book 1 book cover

The Raven Boys Raven Cycle Series, Book 1

Maggie Stiefvater


Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her. His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can't entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

Hanna's picture

Added by Hanna

The magicians book cover
The magicians book cover

The magicians

Grossman, Lev.

SCIENCE FICTION Grossman, Lev

Hanna's picture

It starts off like a cross between Harry Potter and Narnia, but the characters are older, and the books include depression, failing relationships, murder, the ghost of a wronged ex-girlfriend, a semester isolated at the South Pole, a mysterious group of magicians hunting the protagonists, a crack house in NYC, and other darker themes. It was a very satisfying read when I was a college student. -Hanna

Rock paper scissors book cover
Rock paper scissors book cover

Rock paper scissors

Alice Feeney

FICTION Feeney Alice
Fiction, Horror, Thriller

"Rock Paper Scissors is the latest exciting domestic thriller from the queen of the killer twist, New York Times bestselling author Alice Feeney. Think you know the person you married? Think again ... Things have been wrong with Mr and Mrs Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can't recognize friends or family, or even his own wife. Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts--paper, cotton, pottery, tin--and each year Adam's wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn't randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn't want them to live happily ever after. Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget"--

Mari's picture

This was my spooky read for the season. While the eeriness stems mostly from a couple that struggles to be honest with each other, the twists and turns in the plot will leave any reader unsettled. The characters are haunted by bad memories, the expectations they set upon themselves, and the constant feeling of disconnection from each other, but is someone or something haunting the church they are spending the weekend in? -Mari

The sewing girl's tale : a story of crime and consequences in Revolutionary America book cover
The sewing girl's tale : a story of crime and consequences in Revolutionary America book cover

The sewing girl's tale : a story of crime and consequences in Revolutionary America

John Wood Sweet

364.1532 /Sweet
History

Summer, 1793. A crime was committed in the back room of a New York brothel-- the kind of crime that even victims usually kept secret. Instead, seventeen-year-old seamstress Lanah Sawyer charged a gentleman with rape. Her accusation sparked a raw courtroom drama and a relentless struggle for vindication that threatened both Lanah's and her assailant's lives. The trial exposed a predatory sexual underworld, sparked riots in the streets, and ignited a vigorous debate about class privilege and sexual double standards. Sweet takes us from a chance encounter in the street, and shows that if our laws and our culture were changed by a persistent young woman and the power of words two hundred years ago, they can be changed again. - adapted from jacket

Anne M's picture

John Wood Sweet brings the story of Lanah Sawyer to light in this historical courtroom account. What I found surprising is even though these cases were tried very differently because of the political and economic status of women in the 18th Century, there is a lot that 21st Century readers would find familiar. -Anne M

The occult, witchcraft & magic : an illustrated history book cover
The occult, witchcraft & magic : an illustrated history book cover

The occult, witchcraft & magic : an illustrated history

Christopher Dell

133.4 /Dell
Nonfiction, History, Art / Art History, Nature

From the earliest Paleolithic cave rituals, magic has gripped the imagination. Magic and magicians appear in early Babylonian texts, the Bible, Judaism and Islam. Secret words, spells and incantations lie at the heart of every mythological tradition. Today, magic means many things: contemporary Wicca is practised widely as a modern pagan religion in Europe and the US; 'magic' also evokes the cathartic rituals of Chaos magic, but stretches to include the non-spiritual, rapid-fire sleight of hand performed by slick stage magicians who fill vast arenas. The book is packed with authoritative text and a huge and inspired selection of images, chosen from unusual and hidden sources. The material is presented in 100 entries, and includes some of the best-known representations of magic and the occult from around the world.

Melody's picture

This book was so popular when it came out that we had to stock multiple copies. This is a book for you if you love history, art, and illustrations. It doesn't have to be Halloween for me to love leafing through this book! -Melody

Rabbits for food book cover
Rabbits for food book cover

Rabbits for food

Binnie Kirshenbaum

FICTION Kirshenbaum, Binnie
Literary Fiction

"Master of razor-edged literary humor Binnie Kirshenbaum returns with her first novel in a decade, a devastating, laugh-out-loud funny story of a writer's slide into depression and institutionalization. It's New Year's Eve, the holiday of forced fellowship, mandatory fun, and paper hats. While dining out with her husband and their friends, Kirshenbaum's protagonist--an acerbic, mordantly witty, and clinically depressed writer--fully unravels. Her breakdown lands her in the psych ward of a prestigious New York hospital where she refuses all modes of recommended treatment. Instead, she passes the time chronicling the lives of her fellow "lunatics" and writing a novel about how she got to this place. Her story is a hilarious and harrowing deep dive into the disordered mind of a woman who sees the world all too clearly. Propelled by stand-up comic timing and rife with pinpoint insights, Kirshenbaum examines what it means to be unloved and loved, to succeed and fail, to be at once impervious and raw. Rabbits for Food shows how art can lead us out of--or into--the depths of disconsolate loneliness and piercing grief. A bravura literary performance from one of our most witty and indispensable writers"--

Anne M's picture

Fiction has a way of showing us something rather than telling us. This book is a great example. Bunny, the main character of "Rabbits for Food" experiences debilitating depression during the holidays and is institutionalized. As we follow Bunny through her day at the hospital and learn of her past through the therapeutic writing prompts, much is revealed about the character. The backstory unravels slowly and carefully. There is also humor, albeit dark, in this book. Bunny has such wit and such intelligence, you feel her sense of being trapped by her illness. This is such a well-written, creative narrative structure. -Anne M

Both/and thinking : embracing creative tensions to solve your toughest problems book cover
Both/and thinking : embracing creative tensions to solve your toughest problems book cover

Both/and thinking : embracing creative tensions to solve your toughest problems

Wendy K. Smith

658.4092/Smith
Nonfiction, Business

"Life is full of paradoxes. How can we each express our individuality and be a team player? How do we balance work and life? How can we take care of ourselves while supporting others? How can we manage the core business while innovating for the future? For many of us, these competing and interwoven demands are a source of conflict. Since our brains love to make either-or choices, we choose one option over the other. We deal with the uncertainty by asserting certainty. There's a better way. In Both/And Thinking, Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis help readers cope and thrive with multiple, knotted tensions at the same time. Drawing from more than twenty years of pioneering research, they provide an actionable framework for transforming these tensions into opportunities for innovation and personal growth. Filled with practical advice, groundbreaking research, and fascinating stories, Both/And Thinking will completely change the way you approach your most vexing problems."--

Melody's picture

I love this book! It might be focused on large institutions solving highly complex problems, but it does so in a way that it pulls apart the different values held by stakeholders and finds win-win situations for the best solution possible. Those who have to negotiate or mediate problems among multiple interests should give this a read. -Melody

Hunger makes me a modern girl : a memoir book cover
Hunger makes me a modern girl : a memoir book cover

Hunger makes me a modern girl : a memoir

Brownstein, Carrie, 1974-

781.66092 /Brownstein

A "narrative of [rock guitarist and actor Brownstein's] escape from a turbulent family life into a world where music was the means toward self-invention, community, and rescue. Along the way, Brownstein chronicles the excitement and contradictions within the era's flourishing and fiercely independent music subculture, including experiences that sowed the seeds for the observational satire of the popular television series Portlandia years later"--Dust jacket flap.

Bond's picture

I knew almost nothing about Brownstein or her band before picking up this gem. She's a fantastic writer. -Bond

Cold cold bones book cover
Cold cold bones book cover

Cold cold bones

Kathy Reichs

MYSTERY Reichs Kathy
Mystery, Nonfiction

"Winter has come to North Carolina and, with it, a drop in crime. Freed from a heavy work schedule, Tempe Brennan is content to dote on her daughter Katy, finally returned to civilian life from the army. But when mother and daughter meet at Tempe's place one night, they find a box on the back porch. Inside: a very fresh human eyeball. GPS coordinates etched into the eyeball lead to a Benedictine monastery where an equally macabre discovery awaits. Soon after, Tempe examines a mummified corpse in a state park, and her anxiety deepens. There seems to be no pattern to the subsequent killings uncovered, except that each mimics in some way a homicide that a younger Tempe had been called in to analyze. Who or what is targeting her, and why? Helping Tempe search for answers is detective Erskine "Skinny" Slidell, retired but still volunteering with the CMPD cold case unit--and still displaying his gallows humor. Also pulled into the mystery: Andrew Ryan, Tempe's Montreal-based beau, now working as a private detective. Could this elaborately staged skein of mayhem be the prelude to a twist that is even more shocking? Tempe is at a loss to establish the motive for what is going on... and then her daughter disappears. At its core, Cold, Cold Bones is a novel of revenge--one in which revisiting the past may prove the only way to unravel the present" --

Candice's picture

I'm a big fan of the Dr. Temperance Brennan series, and this new entry did not disappoint. Tempe is a smart character with real-life woes and a good sense of humor, and her banter with friends and colleagues is always realistic and entertaining (especially with regards to former detective turned PI Skinny Slidell, who has become one of my favorite characters). After so many books in a series, one can expect to know the ins-and-outs of how the story will go, but this series stays fresh and interesting and eerie, and author Kathy Reichs does a good job of evolving the characters and situations to keep with the times. -Candice

Three dark crowns book cover
Three dark crowns book cover

Three dark crowns

Blake, Kendare, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Blake Kendare

On the island of Fennbirn, triplet sisters who each wield a coveted magic skill and claim an equal right to the throne must fight to the death when they turn sixteen for the title of Queen Crowned.

Mykle's picture

This is the first book in a series of magical and dark high fantasy novels. Triplet sisters with unique powers are forced into a fight for the throne and their lives. Complicated characters and prose make this a wonderful read. -Mykle

Yolk book cover
Yolk book cover

Yolk

Choi, Mary H. K., author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Choi Mary

Jayne and June are nothing alike. Their family moved from Seoul to San Antonio and finally New York. The sisters don't want anything to do with each other... until June gets cancer. And Jayne becomes the only one who can help her. Now, flung together by sickness, bound by family secrets, they learn more about themselves and each other than they may be willing to confront. -- adapted from jacket

Mykle's picture

A modern and moving tale of two estranged sisters. Their tendencies for self-destruction were so relatable. The characters are complex and interesting. The portrayal of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders is really accurate and isn't stigmatizing. -Mykle

The bone witch book cover
The bone witch book cover

The bone witch

Chupeco, Rin, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Chupeco Rin
Young Adult, Fantasy

Tea's gift for death magic means that she is a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community, but when an older bone witch trains her to become an asha--one who can wield elemental magic--Tea will have to overcome her obstacles and make a powerful choice in the face of danger as dark forces approach.

Mykle's picture

In a high fantasy world where you can literally give your heart to someone, a young necromancer accidentally raises her dead brother. Taken to a faraway island, she must learn to control her power amidst the threat of mysterious villains. This book really introduces a series that gets better with each book. -Mykle

The star-touched queen book cover
The star-touched queen book cover

The star-touched queen

Chokshi, Roshani, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Chokshi Roshani

Scorned and feared because of a formidable horoscope, Maya commits herself to her education only to land in an arranged marriage that culminates in her sudden elevation to the throne, a situation threatened by dark secrets and magic.

Mykle's picture

This book is a whirlwind of a tale. Escaping a forced suicide designed by her scheming father, our doomed princess, Maya, is whisked away by her arranged husband. He's not quite what he seems but neither is Maya. She must confront her past to ensure her future. -Mykle

A thousand steps into night book cover
A thousand steps into night book cover

A thousand steps into night

Chee, Traci, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Chee Traci

In the realm of Awara, where gods, monsters, and humans exist side by side, Miuko is an ordinary girl resigned to a safe, if uneventful, existence as an innkeeper's daughter. But when Miuko is cursed and begins to transform into a demon with a deadly touch, she embarks on a quest to reverse the curse and return to her normal life. Aided by a thieving magpie spirit and continuously thwarted by a demon prince, Miuko must outfox tricksters, escape demon hunters, and negotiate with feral gods if she wants to make it home again. But with her transformation comes power and freedom she never even dreamed of, and she'll have to decide if saving her soul is worth trying to cram herself back into an ordinary life that no longer fits her... and perhaps never did.

Mykle's picture

In an amazing world where demons, gods, and humans live together, a young woman fights against both societal expectations and a demon bent on controlling the world. Will she choose hew own humanity or the power to save everyone she loves? This book is my favorite on this list. Love, love, love it. -Mykle

Shine book cover
Shine book cover

Shine

Jung, Jessica, 1989- author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Jung Jessica

Six years ago Korean American Rachel Kim was recruited by DB Entertainment, one of Seoul's largest K-pop labels. The rules are simple: Train 24/7. Be perfect. Don't date. Now, as the dark scandals of an industry bent on controlling and commodifying beautiful girls begin to bubble up, Rachel wonders if she is strong enough to be a winner, or if she will end up crushed. When she begins to develop feelings for K-pop star and DB golden boy Jason Lee, it's not just that he is charming, sexy, and ridiculously talented. He's also the first person who really understands how badly she wants her star to rise. -- adapted from jacket

Mykle's picture

This book was written by a real-life K-Pop star. It's a whirlwind tale of expectations, love, sabotage, and betrayal. We also have the 2022 sequel, Bright! -Mykle

Angelfall book cover
Angelfall book cover

Angelfall

Ee, Susan.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Ee Susan

While trying to escape their apartment after the angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world, Penryn meets Raffe, an angel whose wings have been cut off by the angels who kidnapped Penryn's sister, Paige.

Mykle's picture

In a post-apocalyptic San Fransisco, angels and humans are at war. Penryn must team up with the enemy if she hopes to save her sister. This book was self-published but was good enough to get picked up and made into a series. -Mykle

Six crimson cranes book cover
Six crimson cranes book cover

Six crimson cranes

Lim, Elizabeth, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Lim Elizabet

Shiori, princess of Kiata, has a secret: Forbidden magic runs through her veins. On the morning of her betrothal ceremony she loses control, and it forestalls the wedding she never wanted-- but it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother. Using a dark magic of her own, Raikama banishes the princess, turns her brothers into cranes, and warns Shiori that for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die. Peniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers-- and uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne. Now she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to contain. -- adapted from jacket

Mykle's picture

This is a pretty fun retelling of an old fairy tale. Wicked stepmother banishes our hero and turns her six brothers into cranes that will die if she speaks. Bonus points bc there's a dragon in it. The sequels have more dragons! -Mykle

Legend book cover
Legend book cover

Legend

Lu, Marie, 1984-

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Lu Marie

In a dark future, when North America has split into two warring nations, fifteen-year-olds Day, a famous criminal, and prodigy June, the brilliant soldier hired to capture him, discover that they have a common enemy.

Mykle's picture

This one is pretty interesting. The government pits our hero against a peer but they accidentally meet and realize they have a lot in common, mainly the government. It kinda reminds me of the Divergent series but this book is better. -Mykle

God storm book cover
God storm book cover

God storm

Ma, Coco, author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Ma, Coco

"Everything has a price. In the kingdom of Axaria, a darkness has fallen. After defeating the evil mother who summoned an immortal demon to kill her, newly coronated Queen Asterin Faelenhart should have every reason to celebrate. Her kingdom is safe, forbidden magic eradicated, and her friends are alive. Except Asterin's triumph has come at a devastating cost -- forced to choose between a lifelong friend and true love, she's lost both. But the shadows in Axaria have begun to stir once again, and no one is more starved for vengeance than Asterin... Yet it soon becomes clear that the shadows plaguing her kingdom are just the beginning. Another realm coexists with the mortal world -- the beautiful, nightmarish Immortal Realm ruled by the wicked God of Shadow, King Eoin. When their paths entwine, Asterin realizes that Eoin possesses exactly what -- and who -- she seeks most. And the fates of all those that she holds dear -- Orion, her missing Guardian; Luna, the friend she could not save; Harry, the demon who saved them all; and Quinlan, her beloved broken prince -- ultimately rest in the god's hands. But in a world of magic, not everyone is always as they seem. When shocking discoveries threaten everything and everyone that Asterin has sworn her life to protect, she won't be the only person forced to make a choice... a choice that will change the mortal world forever. And maybe even destroy it" --Amazon.

Mykle's picture

This is the second book in the series, but it's so good I had to include it. The first book, Shadow Frost was written by Ma at the age of 15. Still she did such a great job of writing complex characters (Way better than Christoper Paolini). -Mykle

Echoes of Grace book cover
Echoes of Grace book cover

Echoes of Grace

Guadalupe Garcia McCall

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Mccall Guadalup

Eagle Pass, Texas. Grace struggles to understand the "echoes" she inherited from her mother: visions which often distort her reality. One morning as her sister, Mercy, rushes off for work, a disturbing echo takes hold of Grace. Within moments tragedy strikes. Grace sets goals and begins to recover, but is estranged from Mercy. As Grace's echoes brings ghosts and premonitions, they also bring memories of when Grace fled to Mexico to the house of her maternal grandmother-- who Grace had been told died long ago. -- adapted from jacket

Victoria's picture

This was an intricately-woven page turner brimming with rich details and beautifully realistic and broken characters. Themes of generational trauma, familial histories and mystical intrigue envelop the plot which is extremely well developed. -Victoria

The Dispossessed book cover
The Dispossessed book cover

The Dispossessed

Ursula K. Le Guin

OverDrive eBook
Science Fiction

"One of the greats....Not just a science fiction writer; a literary icon." – Stephen KingFrom the brilliant and award-winning author Ursula K. Le Guin comes a classic tale of two planets torn apart by conflict and mistrust — and the man who risks everything to reunite them.A bleak moon settled by utopian anarchists, Anarres has long been isolated from other worlds, including its mother planet, Urras—a civilization of warring nations, great poverty, and immense wealth. Now Shevek, a brilliant physicist, is determined to reunite the two planets, which have been divided by centuries of distrust. He will seek answers, question the unquestionable, and attempt to tear down the walls of hatred that have kept them apart.To visit Urras—to learn, to teach, to share—will require great sacrifice and risks, which Shevek willingly accepts. But the ambitious scientist's gift is soon seen as a threat, and in the profound conflict that ensues, he must reexamine his beliefs even as he ignites the fires of change.

Zach's picture

This book changed my life. My views on economics as well as social movements and matters has been radically changed for the better from this book. It also is an award winner of the Nebula and Hugo awards! And Ursula K. Le Guin is probably the coolest person in the world--at least to me! -Zach

Vagabonds book cover
Vagabonds book cover

Vagabonds

Hao Jingfang

OverDrive eBook
Science Fiction

A century after the Martian war of independence, a group of kids are sent to Earth as delegates from Mars, but when they return home, they are caught between the two worlds, unable to reconcile the beauty and culture of Mars with their experiences on Earth in this "thoughtful debut" (Kirkus Reviews) from Hugo Award–winning author Hao Jingfang.This "masterful narrative" (Booklist, starred review) is set on Earth in the wake of a second civil war...not between two factions in one nation, but two factions in one solar system: Mars and Earth. In an attempt to repair increasing tensions, the colonies of Mars send a group of young people to live on Earth to help reconcile humanity. But the group finds itself with no real home, no friends, and fractured allegiances as they struggle to find a sense of community and identity trapped between two worlds.

Zach's picture

This book was an incredible read and one of the best of 2022 for me. It includes a lot of thoughtful takes on economics and other interesting motifs. The author has also won a Hugo award for her work before. -Zach

What we owe the future book cover
What we owe the future book cover

What we owe the future

William MacAskill

171.8 /MacAskill

"One of the most stunning achievements of moral philosophy is something we take for granted: moral universalism, or the idea that every human has equal moral worth. In What We Owe the Future, Oxford philosopher William MacAskill demands that we go a step further, arguing that people not only have equal moral worth no matter where or how they live, but also no matter when they live. This idea has implications beyond the obvious (climate change) - including literally making sure that there are people in the future: It's not unusual to hear someone way, "Oh, I could never bring a child into this world." MacAskill argues that the sentiment itself may well be immoral: we have a responsibility not just to consider whether the world of the future will be suitable for supporting humans, but to act to make sure there are humans in it. And while it may seem that the destructive capacity of modern industrial technology means that we ought to eschew it as much as possible, MacAskill argues for optimism in our ability to (eventually) get technology right, for the future's benefit, and ours. Where Hans Rosling's Factfulness and Rutger Bregman's Utopia for Realists gave us reasons for hope and action in the present, What We Owe the Future is a compelling and accessible argument for why solving our problems demands that we worry about the future. And ultimately it provides an answer to the most important question we humans face: can we not just endure, but thrive?"--

Victoria's picture

This books brings home the Greek quote, "A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” MacAskill argues for us to think about others, all over the world and imagine what a world looks like where we invest in the future of humanity. While some of the work he covers is not new material, this is a great ethically focused overall argument to add to the canon. -Victoria

My name is Jason. Mine too : our story, our way book cover
My name is Jason. Mine too : our story, our way book cover

My name is Jason. Mine too : our story, our way

Jason Reynolds

811.6 /Reynolds

"Jason Reynold. Jason Griffin. One a poet. One an artist. One Black. One white. Two voices. One journey. To move to New York, and make it in New York. Best friends willing to have a hard life if it meant a happy life. All they needed was a chance. A reissue of a memoir of a moment in time within a lifetime of friendship"--

Victoria's picture

This is a great short memoir about two incredibly talented humans who took a risk, poured their hearts into their art and never stopped grinding. The sparse language, authentic storytelling and illustrations will resonate with young people adamant on carving out their own individual paths in life; and those navigating the larger world while always striving to stay true to themselves. -Victoria

The lamplighters book cover
The lamplighters book cover

The lamplighters

Emma Stonex

FICTION Stonex Emma
Fiction, Mystery

The Cornish coast, New Year's Eve, 1972. A boat pulls up to the Maiden Rock lighthouse with relief for the keepers. But no one greets them. When the entrance door, locked from the inside, is battered down, rescuers find an empty tower. A table is laid for a meal not eaten. The Principal Keeper's weather log describes a storm raging round the tower, but the skies have been clear all week. And the clocks have all stopped at 8:45. Two decades later, the wives who were left behind are visited by a writer who is determined to find the truth about the men's disappearance. As long-held secrets surface and truths twist into lies, what does it take to keep the light burning when all else is swallowed by dark? -- adapted from jacket

Candice's picture

This book is just eerie enough that I stopped reading it before bed...but other than that, I highly recommend it! Part of what makes this 'where'd they disappear to?' story so compelling is the viewpoint of those who are left behind, and the number of years between the incident and the re-telling that really lets you see how it all plays out for everyone. The setting is perfect--an isolated lighthouse surrounded by frothy seas, disconnected from the land yet always visible to those who live there, a silent reminder of the unknown. -Candice

Brown is warm, black is bright book cover
Brown is warm, black is bright book cover

Brown is warm, black is bright

Sarah L. Thomson

jE Thomson
Picture Books, Nature, Read Woke

Illustrations and text celebrate the colors brown and black, demonstrating the many positive assocations with these two colors.

Casey's picture

This lovely picture book is everything you want in a fall read-aloud, beautiful, touching, and repeatable. I cannot wait to share it at preschools and in-house storytimes! -Casey

Amboy : recipes from the Filipino-American dream book cover
Amboy : recipes from the Filipino-American dream book cover

Amboy : recipes from the Filipino-American dream

Cailan, Alvin, author.

641.59599 /Cailan

Cailan, arguably the most high-profile chef in America's Filipino food movement, spent his youth feeling like he wasn't Filipino enough to be Filipino and not American enough to be an American. As an amboy, the term for a Filipino raised in America, he had to overcome cultural traditions and family expectations to find his own path to success. In this memoir/cookbook, Cailan tells that story through his recipes. -- adapted from inside front cover.

Annie's picture

Added by Annie

Peaky blinders. [Series 1] book cover
Peaky blinders. [Series 1] book cover

Peaky blinders. [Series 1]

DVD TV Peaky 1st series
Drama

A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham that follows the notorious gang, who got their name from sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby, a man dead set on moving up in the world, no matter the cost.

Brian's picture

A friend of mine said that this is his favorite show ever, but I was skeptical. Next thing you know, I'm so invested that I'm talking to the characters while I'm watching it. It's violent, intense, and I absolutely love it. -Brian

The matrix resurrections book cover
The matrix resurrections book cover

The matrix resurrections

BLU-RAY Matrix

"To truly know himself, Neo must follow the white rabbit once again into the Matrix ... What he doesn't know is that the Matrix is more dangerous than ever"--Container.

Brian's picture

Trust me, I've got a lot of "bad" movie opinions. Like, the Star Wars prequels are good, actually. Another opinion is that the sequels to the Matrix are fantastic--no notes, just inspired cinema (and don't get me started about the soundtrack for "The Matrix Reloaded.") So, it was a waking dream for me when they announced that they were making another one. "The Matrix Resurrections" is a sequel, remake, and a reboot all wrapped in one. It is self-aware and endlessly entertaining. Honestly, I don't know why we all aren't doing backflips in the street after watching this movie. -Brian

The empress of salt and fortune book cover
The empress of salt and fortune book cover

The empress of salt and fortune

Nghi Vo

SCIENCE FICTION Vo Nghi
Fantasy

"A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for."--Provided by publisher.

Brian's picture

This is a subtle, quiet, beautiful--and short--fantasy book. I highly recommend it. -Brian

Firekeeper's daughter book cover
Firekeeper's daughter book cover

Firekeeper's daughter

Angeline Boulley

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Boulley, Angeline

Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, either in her hometown or on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of college, but when her family is struck by tragedy she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, a new recruit on her brother Levi's hockey team. When Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, she reluctantly agrees to go undercover to track down the source of a new drug. How far will she go to protect her community, if it threatens to tear apart the only world she's ever known?

Becky's picture

An engaging mystery surrounding the damaging effects of meth on an Ojibwe community. The narrative follows Daunis, who uses her understanding of chemistry and traditional medicine to investigate as an undercover teen. Can’t wait for Angeline Boulley’s next book, coming out in May 2023! -Becky

Death at Greenway : a novel book cover
Death at Greenway : a novel book cover

Death at Greenway : a novel

Lori Rader-Day

MYSTERY Rader-Day, Lori
Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction

"Bridey Kelly has come to Greenway House-the beloved holiday home of Agatha Christie-in disgrace. A terrible mistake at St. Prisca's Hospital in London has led to her dismissal as a nurse trainee, and her only chance for redemption is a position in the countryside caring for children evacuated to safety from the Blitz. Greenway is a beautiful home full of riddles: wondrous curios not to be touched, restrictions on rooms not to be entered, and a generous library, filled with books about murder. The biggest mystery might be the other nurse, Gigi, who is like no one Bridey has ever met. Chasing ten young children through the winding paths of the estate grounds might have soothed Bridey's anxieties and grief-if Greenway were not situated so near the English Channel and the rising aggressions of the war. When a body washes ashore near the estate, Bridey is horrified to realize this is not a victim of war, but of a brutal killing. As the local villagers look among themselves, Bridey and Gigi discover they each harbor dangerous secrets about what has led them to Greenway. With a mystery writer's home as their unsettling backdrop, the young women must unravel the truth before their safe haven becomes a place of death ... "--

Candice's picture

This is a great book to get cozy with, taking place in none other than Agatha Christie's vacation home! That link sets the tone, a nice, clipped-accented British mystery set during the WWII bombings of London. Strong, winning heroines abound, with the well-meaning but troubled Bridey, the mysterious and sophisticated Gigi, and a host of others who serve as reminders of just how much women picked up the slack during the war, and various ways they also suffered. The relocation of children to the countryside--to protect them from the falling bombs--allows the book's characters to shelter in what should be a more idyllic location, but the sadness, death, and mystery follow them there, in more ways than one. Particularly poignant is the mother who keeps her child in London with her, with unforeseen consequences. -Candice

Haven : a novel book cover
Haven : a novel book cover

Haven : a novel

Emma Donoghue

FICTION Donoghue Emma
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

In this beautiful story of adventure and survival from the New York Times bestselling author of Room, three men vow to leave the world behind them as they set out in a small boat for an island their leader has seen in a dream, with only faith to guide them. In seventh-century Ireland, a scholar and priest called Artt has a dream telling him to leave the sinful world behind. Taking two monks--young Trian and old Cormac--he rows down the river Shannon in search of an isolated spot on which to found a monastery. Drifting out into the Atlantic, the three men find an impossibly steep, bare island inhabited by tens of thousands of birds, and claim it for God. In such a place, what will survival mean?

Anne M's picture

Emma Donoghue returns to her isolation theme as in "Room." Set in the Middle Ages in Ireland, three monks leave their monastery to find a renewed settlement in service to God. They settle on a desolate island filled only with birds, little else to eat, and no shelter. How to proceed is up to debate amongst the three. Are bodily needs like food and shelter necessary if they devote themselves fully to God? The situtation is tense and often dire as they get to know each other more fully through adversity. -Anne M

The Middle Ages : a graphic guide book cover
The Middle Ages : a graphic guide book cover

The Middle Ages : a graphic guide

Eleanor Janega

940.1 /Janega
Nonfiction, History

"The Middle Ages: A Graphic Guide busts the myth of the 'Dark Ages', shedding light on the period's present-day relevance in a unique illustrated style. This history takes us through the rise and fall of empires, papacies, caliphates and kingdoms; through the violence and death of the Crusades, Viking raids, the Hundred Years War and the Plague; to the curious practices of monks, martyrs and iconoclasts. We'll see how the foundations of the modern West were established, influencing our art, cultures, religious practices and ways of thinking. And we'll explore the lives of those seen as 'Other' - women, Jews, homosexuals, lepers, sex workers and heretics. Join historian Eleanor Janega and illustrator Neil Max Emmanuel on a romp across continents and kingdoms as we discover the Middle Ages to be a time of huge change, inquiry and development - not unlike our own."--

Melody's picture

Illustrations are my jam. Any creatively rendered true story is going to grab my attention. I've been reading a lot of business and conflict management books lately, so this one is a nice reprieve where I can sit and enjoy an artist interpreting history. -Melody

The swerve : how the world became modern book cover
The swerve : how the world became modern book cover

The swerve : how the world became modern

Stephen Greenblatt

940.21 /Greenblatt
Nonfiction, History, Philosophy, Biographies

In this work, the author has crafted both a work of history and a story of discovery, in which one manuscript, plucked from a thousand years of neglect, changed the course of human thought and made possible the world as we know it. Nearly six hundred years ago, a short, genial, cannily alert man in his late thirties took a very old manuscript off a library shelf, saw with excitement what he had discovered, and ordered that it be copied. That book was the last surviving manuscript of an ancient Roman philosophical epic, On the Nature of Things, by Lucretius, a beautiful poem of the most dangerous ideas: that the universe functioned without the aid of gods, that religious fear was damaging to human life, and that matter was made up of very small particles in eternal motion, colliding and swerving in new directions. The copying and translation of this ancient book, the greatest discovery of the greatest book-hunter of his age, fueled the Renaissance, inspiring artists such as Botticelli and thinkers such as Giordano Bruno; shaped the thought of Galileo and Freud, Darwin and Einstein; and had a revolutionary influence on writers such as Montaigne and Shakespeare and even Thomas Jefferson.

Candice's picture

I'm a little late to this book, but I am so glad that I am reading it (on the recommendation of Natalie Haynes, for you podcast lovers!). This book so eloquently relays an important aspect of the humanism movement--that of finding and preserving and making known again--works from the Romans and Greeks. In this case, our questing hero goes by the name of Poggio, and he re-discovers a text by the Roman thinker Lucretius, who had been heavily influenced by Greek philosopher Epicurus. It's a layer cake of scrumptious meditation on how to live, combined with juicy details of the lives of Romans and Florentines--a real treat! -Candice

The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I book cover
The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I book cover

The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon's Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers of World War I

Lindsey Fitzharris

OverDrive Audiobook
Literary Nonfiction, History, Biographies

From the moment the first machine gun rang out over the Western Front, one thing was clear: mankind's military technology had wildly surpassed its medical capabilities. Bodies were battered, gouged, hacked, and gassed. The First World War claimed millions of lives and left millions more wounded and disfigured. In the midst of this brutality, however, there were also those who strove to alleviate suffering. The Facemaker tells the extraordinary story of such an individual: the pioneering plastic surgeon Harold Gillies, who dedicated himself to reconstructing the burned and broken faces of the injured soldiers under his care. Gillies, a Cambridge-educated New Zealander, became interested in the nascent field of plastic surgery after encountering the human wreckage on the front. Returning to Britain, he established one of the world's first hospitals dedicated entirely to facial reconstruction. There, Gillies assembled a unique group of practitioners whose task was to rebuild what had been torn apart, to re-create what had been destroyed. At a time when losing a limb made a soldier a hero, but losing a face made him a monster to a society largely intolerant of disfigurement, Gillies restored not just the faces of the wounded but also their spirits. .

Anne M's picture

This book is devastating and hopeful at the same time. It is a story that starts out harrowing, but after hard work and ingenuity by a few individuals, things change for the better. The Facemaker, a history of World War I facial reconstruction, sets the scene: how World War I was fought in new and horrific ways. It was industrial. There were a lot of advancements in weapons of war. (And of course, for what?) Lindsey Fitzharris describes this moment in time very well. Then there are the people put in the trenches and at sea and in the air, not to mention the civilians, facing this new weaponry. Fitzharris makes these stories personal and individual, the pain experienced both inside and out. She picks a number of individuals that came home with significant facial injuries and how they viewed their lives as over. Enter Harold Gillies, an ears, nose, and throat doctor, who is about to become the leading expert in facial reconstruction. If you love compelling histories of war or medicine, I recommend this book. As an aside, the audio version was excellently narrated. -Anne M

Everything I need I get from you : how fangirls created the Internet as we know it book cover
Everything I need I get from you : how fangirls created the Internet as we know it book cover

Everything I need I get from you : how fangirls created the Internet as we know it

Kaitlyn Tiffany

302.23 /Tiffany
Music

"A thrilling and riotous dive into the world of superfandom, One Direction, and the fangirls who shaped the social internet"--

Amanda's picture

Even if you aren't a One Direction fan, you're probably a fan of something else, musical group or TV show or movie franchise, and you will recognize a lot of yourself and fellow fans in this book about the effect fandom has on the internet. A fun read! -Amanda

Alone book cover
Alone book cover

Alone

Megan E. Freeman

jFICTION Freeman Megan
Kids, Dystopian

Perfect for fans of Hatchet and the I Survived series, this harrowing middle grade debut novel-in-verse from a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet tells the story of a young girl who wakes up one day to find herself utterly alone in her small Colorado town. When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She's alone--left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned. With no one to rely on, no power, and no working phone lines or internet access, Maddie slowly learns to survive on her own. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. After a rough start, Maddie learns to trust her own ingenuity and invents clever ways to survive in a place that has been deserted and forgotten. As months pass, she escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But Maddie's most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day. Can Maddie's stubborn will to survive carry her through the most frightening experience of her life?

Mari's picture

I love reading survival stories, and this children's fiction book was particularly intriguing with an eerie science fiction element. An "imminent" but unknown threat forces the entire western United States to evacuate, leaving behind a 13-year-old girl in the confusion of sharing homes with divorced parents. I also love novels written in verse, and this story keeps you hooked with this unique storytelling style and the constants threats she encounters as she learns how to live in a completely abandoned town with little survival experience and no way to contact the outside world. -Mari

On the other side of the forest book cover
On the other side of the forest book cover

On the other side of the forest

Nadine Robert

jE Robert
Picture Books

What's on the other side of the forest? A young rabbit and his father are determined to find out in this modern picture book that feels like a classic, calling to mind the tender work of Beatrix Potter. Some say that wolves, ogres, and giant badgers live in the forest beside Arthur's house. That's why no one ever goes in there, to see what's on the other side. But one day, Arthur's dad has an idea--a magnificent idea! Build a tower to look over the treetops! But a magnificent idea takes a lot of work. Will the villagers join and help them? And when the tower takes shape, what will they see on the other side? This wonderful, heartwarming story by Nadine Robert--with illustrations by Gérard DuBois reminiscent of classic children's books--shares the importance of community and cooperation to achieve a big dream.

Melody's picture

I am breaking out of my nonfiction and fiction groove to recommend the literally loveliest thing I've read all year. Kids who have the patience to sit down and listen to a good story, well told, will cuddle up with you to enjoy this picture book. But not my kid! As a 6yo, he thinks books like this are for preschoolers. Joke's on him, tho, these beautiful books are also for art-appreciating adults. Gerard Dubois's illustrations feature clean and elegant lines with expert level coloring. If you love fantastic illustrations and an uplifting story about the strength of a community and the wonder of our world, you will love this picture book. -Melody

Measuring up book cover
Measuring up book cover

Measuring up

Lily LaMotte

jGRAPHIC NOVEL LaMotte
Graphic Novels

"Having just moved to Seattle from Taiwan, twelve-year-old Cici enters a cooking competition to win the chance to see her grandmother again, but she only knows how to cook Taiwanese food."--Provided by publisher.

Mari's picture

A patron told me this is his favorite book so I had to see if it measured up to my expectations...and it did! I loved how the protagonist learned to blend her Taiwanese culture with her new American identity, and the illustration style and pacing were just perfect. I love to see a story about kids taking interests and finding passion in their hobbies, in this story, cooking and art. Fans of Master Chef Junior will love this high intensity cooking contest comic! -Mari

Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan book cover
Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan book cover

Wonder Cat Kyuu-chan

Sasami Nitori

MANGA Nitori Wonder
Graphic Novels, Animals

An adorable, full-color manga series about a young man who rescues a very special cat. There's more to this kitty than meets the eye! Kyuu-chan loves snacks, cuddles, and bow ties, but most of all Kyuu loves Hinata, the young professional who adopted this mischievous wonder cat into his home. As the two adjust to life together, they discover that they have a lot to learn from each other.

Hanna's picture

I started reading these comics online, and I found out recently that they're excerpts from a manga series. They usually brighten my day! So kawaii :). -Hanna

Expedition backyard : exploring nature from country to city book cover
Expedition backyard : exploring nature from country to city book cover

Expedition backyard : exploring nature from country to city

Rosemary Mosco

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Mosco
Graphic Novels, Nature, Adventure, Fantasy

Mole and Vole always venture out into the world to see what nature they can find, but after an accidental move from the country to the city, the best friends have to learn to discover new plants and animals in their new environment.

Casey's picture

Onward adventurers! This adorable graphic novel is perfect for the season, newly independent readers, and family sharing. Simply lovely! -Casey

Happy-go-lucky book cover
Happy-go-lucky book cover

Happy-go-lucky

David Sedaris

817.54 /Sedaris

The best-selling author offers a new collection of satirical and humorous essays that chronicle his own life and ordinary moments that turn beautifully absurd, including how he coped with the pandemic, his thoughts on becoming an orphan in his seventh decade, and the battle-scared America he discovered when he resumed touring.

Victoria's picture

I love the way Sedaris can bring so much humor and levity to the commonplace. His essay on gun control was heartfelt, but not preachy. He unpacked the pandemic with tact, keen observation and truth. While his essays ebbed and flowed and I didn't enjoy every one as much as another, I gleaned something from each one and it was a great read. -Victoria

A self-help guide for copywriters : a resource for writing headlines and building creative confidence book cover
A self-help guide for copywriters : a resource for writing headlines and building creative confidence book cover

A self-help guide for copywriters : a resource for writing headlines and building creative confidence

Dan Nelken

659.132 /Nelken
Nonfiction, Self Help

"From aspiring to expiring copywriters, this book will help you become a more efficient, more confident creative. In other words, you'll make more money. And friends. It's a little about the creative process and a lot about the craft of writing headlines, with over two hundred example ads. If you’re looking for “killer headline formulas that can’t fail,” “data-driven headline conversion hacks,” “SEO secrets (Google doesn’t want you to know),” or “can’t-miss clickbait headlines,” you can find everything you need in a search bar. If you want to learn how to come up with a crap ton of ideas and turn them into headlines that bring personality to your writing, click add to cart. Oh, and as much as the title of this book, A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters, was meant to be a little tongue-in-cheek, it takes the subject of creative self-doubt as seriously as takes creativity. It will help you whack-a-mole self-doubting thoughts before they can even get a word in. Note: This is also a great resource for people who dislike copywriters. Read this book and soon you’ll be able to casually point out flaws in their work, making the fragile copywriter in your life feel even more insecure.--

Melody's picture

I stumbled upon this book while browsing the New Nonfiction shelves. And while I haven't done much copywriting in some time now, I still appreciate writers who treat it like an art or a fun game. Cracking the book open in the aisles, I found myself chortling along as Nelken constructively critiqued the sample ads in his book. These are ad writing gems. Anyone in or out of the marketing field will get a kick out of this book. -Melody

As it turns out : thinking about Edie and Andy book cover
As it turns out : thinking about Edie and Andy book cover

As it turns out : thinking about Edie and Andy

Alice Sedgwick Wohl

BIOGRAPHY Sedgwick, Edie
Biographies

"The story of model, actress, and American icon Edie Sedgwick, told by her sister with unfailing empathy, sharp insight, and firsthand observations of her whirlwind life"--

Amanda's picture

A good bit of this book focuses on the dysfunctional family dynasty that produced Edie Sedgwick, and then hyper-focuses on Edie's time with Andy Warhol. Pretty fascinating for those interested in the New York art world of the 20th century. -Amanda

Resident alien. Season one. book cover
Resident alien. Season one. book cover

Resident alien. Season one.

DVD TV Resident 1st season

A comedic sci-fi drama based on the Dark Horse comic book series of the same name, this show follows a crash-landed alien who must take on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor and somehow find a way to fit in with the local human population. While attempting to complete his secret mission on Earth, he is forced to consider the possibility that humans might be worth saving after all.

Mykle's picture

This show is amazingly funny. Alan Tudyk's portrayal of an alien that doesn't understand human social norms is inspired. -Mykle

Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the  Decline of Civic Life book cover
Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the  Decline of Civic Life book cover

Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life

Eric Klinenberg

OverDrive eBook
Political, History

“A comprehensive, entertaining, and compelling argument for how rebuilding social infrastructure can help heal divisions in our society and move us forward.”—Jon Stewart NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • “Engaging.”—Mayor Pete Buttigieg, The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice) We are living in a time of deep divisions. Americans are sorting themselves along racial, religious, and cultural lines, leading to a level of polarization that the country hasn’t seen since the Civil War. Pundits and politicians are calling for us to come together and find common purpose. But how, exactly, can this be done? In Palaces for the People, Eric Klinenberg suggests a way forward. He believes that the future of democratic societies rests not simply on shared values but on shared spaces: the libraries, childcare centers, churches, and parks where crucial connections are formed. Interweaving his own research with examples from around the globe, Klinenberg shows how “social infrastructure” is helping to solve some of our most pressing societal challenges. Richly reported and ultimately uplifting, Palaces for the People offers a blueprint for bridging our seemingly unbridgeable divides. LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTION “Just brilliant!”—Roman Mars, 99% Invisible “The aim of this sweeping work is to popularize the notion of ‘social infrastructure'—the ‘physical places and organizations that shape the way people interact'. . . . Here, drawing on research in urban planning, behavioral economics, and environmental psychology, as well as on his own fieldwork from around the world, [Eric Klinenberg] posits that a community’s resilience correlates strongly with the robustness of its social infrastructure. The numerous case studies add up to a plea for more investment in the spaces and institutions (parks, libraries, childcare centers) that foster mutual support in civic life.”—The New Yorker “Palaces for the People—the title is taken from the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s description of the hundreds of libraries he funded—is essentially a calm, lucid exposition of a centuries-old idea, which is really a furious call to action.”—New Statesman “Clear-eyed . . . fascinating.”—Psychology Today

Mykle's picture

A great look at how social spaces, ie Libraries ;) are the cure to our division. This is also available on e-audio, or as a book club kit! -Mykle

Star Hunter book cover
Star Hunter book cover

Star Hunter

Andre Norton

OverDrive eBook
Science Fiction

In the future, advanced technology has made it possible to perform "mind-swapping" procedures that implant one person's memories, skills, beliefs, and feelings into another's brain. Predictably, scam artists have begun to employ this technique for nefarious purposes. In Star Hunter, that's exactly what happens to down-on-his-luck janitor Vye Lansor, who finds himself on an unfamiliar planet with a new set of memories. Will the ploy work, or will Lansor fight back? Read Star Hunter to find out.

Mykle's picture

I love everything Andre Norton wrote, she's amazing. In this book, she adds mind-swapping into her sci-fi/fantasy repertoire. A very interesting, fun read from one of the best sci-fi authors of all time. -Mykle

The Redemption of Althalus book cover
The Redemption of Althalus book cover

The Redemption of Althalus

David Eddings

OverDrive eBook
Fantasy

David and Leigh Eddings were mythmakers and world builders of the first order. With The Redemption of Althalus, the authors of the Belgariad and Malloreon sagas created a thrilling stand-alone epic—boldly written and brilliantly imagined. It would be sheer folly to try to conceal the true nature of Althalus, for his flaws are the stuff of legend. He is, as all men know, a thief, a liar, an occasional murderer, an outrageous braggart, and a man devoid of even the slightest hint of honor. Yet of all the men in the world, it is Althalus, unrepentant rogue and scoundrel, who will become the champion of humanity in its desperate struggle against the forces of an ancient god determined to return the universe to nothingness. On his way to steal The Book from the House at the End of the World, Althalus is confronted by a cat—a cat with eyes like emeralds, the voice of a woman, and the powers of a goddess. She is Dweia, sister to The Gods and a greater thief even than Althalus. She must be: for in no time at all, she has stolen his heart. And more. She has stolen time itself. For when Althalus leaves the House at the End of the World, much wiser but not a day older than when he'd first entered it, thousands of years have gone by. But Dweia is not the only one able to manipulate time. Her evil brother shares the power, and while Dweia has been teaching Althalus the secrets of The Book, the ancient God has been using the dark magic of his own Book to rewrite history. Yet all is not lost. But only if Althalus, still a thief at heart, can bring together a ragtag group of men, women, and children with no reason to trust him or each other. Praise for The Redemption of Althalus “Highly recommended . . . Featuring a cast of engaging characters, some fanciful plot twists, and a light-hearted atmosphere that should appeal strongly to fans and first-time readers alike.”—Library Journal “The story takes off. The interactions between characters, straightforward plotting, and doses of wry humor keep the tale humming.”—Booklist “An engaging young reprobate hero . . . [A] magical realm of good-natured fun.”—Publishers Weekly “A compelling, involving story.”—Science Fiction Chronicle

Mykle's picture

This is one of my favorite fantasy novels. A very easy and fun read of thief turned hero. -Mykle

The book eaters book cover
The book eaters book cover

The book eaters

Sunyi Dean

SCIENCE FICTION Dean Sunyi
Science Fiction, Fantasy

"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"--

Paul's picture

Ultimately, this is a tale exploring the limits and burdens of motherly love, delving into the joy, sacrifice, and unspeakable horror that such can entail. Set in modern day England we learn about all the major characters through current events balanced with past moments that come closer to the same point in time as this decently paced story progresses. -Paul

Autism in heels : the untold story of a female life on the spectrum book cover
Autism in heels : the untold story of a female life on the spectrum book cover

Autism in heels : the untold story of a female life on the spectrum

Jennifer Cook O'Toole

618.9285882 /O'Toole
Diverse Characters, Memoir, Nonfiction

"Autism in Heels, an intimate memoir, reveals the woman inside one of autism's most prominent figures, Jennifer O'Toole. At the age of thirty-five, Jennifer was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, and for the first time in her life, things made sense. Now, Jennifer exposes the constant struggle between carefully crafted persona and authentic existence, editing the autism script with wit, candor, passion, and power. Her journey is one of reverse-self-discovery not only as an Aspie but--more importantly--as a thoroughly modern woman. Beyond being a memoir, Autism in Heels is a love letter to all women. It's a conversation starter. A game changer. And a firsthand account of what it is to walk in Jennifer's shoes (especially those iconic red stilettos). Whether it's bad perms or body image, sexuality or self-esteem, Jennifer's is as much a human journey as one on the spectrum. Because autism "looks a bit different in pink," most girls and women who fit the profile are not identified, facing years of avoidable anxiety, eating disorders, volatile relationships, self-harm, and stunted independence. Jennifer has been there, too. Autism in Heels takes that message to the mainstream."--Page [2] of cover.

Hanna's picture

This book let me see a different side of Autism. The author is an adult woman with a psychology degree who can quote scientific studies as well as she can reflect on her own autistic childhood. It was eye-opening, to say the least. -Hanna

An immense world : how animal senses reveal the hidden realms around us book cover
An immense world : how animal senses reveal the hidden realms around us book cover

An immense world : how animal senses reveal the hidden realms around us

Ed Yong

591.5 /Yong

"The Earth teems with sights and textures, sounds and vibrations, smells and tastes, electric and magnetic fields. But every animal is enclosed within its own unique sensory bubble, perceiving but a tiny sliver of an immense world. This book welcomes us into a previously unfathomable dimension--the world as it is truly perceived by other animals. We encounter beetles that are drawn to fires (and fireworks), songbirds that can see the Earth's magnetic fields, and brainless jellyfish that nonetheless have complex eyes. We discover that a crocodile's scaly face is as sensitive as a lover's fingertips, that the eyes of a giant squid evolved to see sparkling whales, and that even fingernail-sized spiders can make out the craters of the moon. We meet people with unusual senses, from women who can make out extra colors to blind individuals who can navigate using reflected echoes like bats. Yong tells the stories of pivotal discoveries in the field, and also looks ahead at the many mysteries which lie unsolved"--

Victoria's picture

I'm a big fan of Ed Yong's work and this one is no exception. It's vast in animal knowledge (there is so much information, you may have to re-read pages). It's also so accessible and he always does the leg work for us so everything is distilled into pure gold. What I loved most about this book is how he measures all of the creatures he describes by their own incredible feats and not simply how they measure up to the way humans define them. Many are sentient in ways we can barely begin to understand and Yong points out many times that the ways some of these animals function is unclear- a true scientist! -Victoria

Under the skin : the hidden toll of racism on American lives and on the health of our nation book cover
Under the skin : the hidden toll of racism on American lives and on the health of our nation book cover

Under the skin : the hidden toll of racism on American lives and on the health of our nation

Linda Villarosa

362.108996 /Villarosa

"The first book to tell the full story of race and health in America today, showing the toll racism takes on individuals and the health of our nation, by a groundbreaking journalist at the New York Times Magazine"--

Victoria's picture

Former Executive Editor of Essence magazine and a 1619 Project contributor, Villarosa pens a compelling argument against what she had believed for decades: that the problem of adverse Black health outcomes in healthcare were because of a lack of education and poverty. After reading a study by Dr. Harold Freeman, she changed her mind concluding that education, wealth and access to good healthcare still did not equate to equitable treatment within the healthcare system. This is an illuminating and meticulously well-researched book that explores racism and bias in the healthcare system like no other I know of. -Victoria

The more you give book cover
The more you give book cover

The more you give

Campbell, Marcy, author.

jE Campbell

"A modern-day response to The Giving Tree, this lyrical picture book shows how family love is passed down from generation to generation"--

Casey's picture

This story about intergenerational love and the passage of time is gorgeous! -Casey