Books, Movies, CDs

The art of catching feelings

Alicia Thompson

FICTION Thompson Alicia
Fiction, Romance, Sports

"Daphne Brink doesn't follow baseball, but watching "America's Snoozefest" certainly beats sitting at home in the days after she signs her divorce papers. After one too many ballpark beers, she heckles Carolina Battery player Chris Kepler, who quickly proves there might actually be a little crying in baseball. Horrified, Daphne reaches out to Chris on social media to apologize . . . but forgets to identify herself as his heckler in her message. Chris doesn't usually respond to random fans on social media, but he's grieving and fragile after an emotionally turbulent few months. When a DM from "Duckie" catches his eye, he impulsively messages back. Duckie is sweet, funny, and seems to understand him in a way no one else does. Daphne isn't sure how much longer she can keep lying to Chris, especially as she starts working with the team in real life and their feelings for each other deepen. When he finds out the truth, will it be three strikes, she's out?"--

I really enjoyed Alicia Thompson's Love in a Cold World, finding it clever, funny, and tender. I listened to the audiobook for that one, and for her new novel, I picked up the paperback. This is a similar enemies-to-lovers workplace romance, and I found it had just the right amount of tension to keep me reading. There are some heavy topics involved, like the emotional and mental health needs following the suicide of a loved one. I guess emotional heaviness in romance is my thing? But it's kinda the best when those big, hurt feelings find their light and space to breathe--there's freedom in figuring out one's feelings! And I love it when the characters find that joy and lightness for themselves. For a sports romance book, I enjoyed getting a sense of what traveling baseball players might experience. There's some sex in it but it doesn't overwhelm the plot. I'd give it a 1 out of a 5 Hot Chili Pepper rating. Not very spicy. -Melody

The apple lover's cookbook

Amy Traverso

641.6411 /Traverso
Cookbooks

"The Apple Lover's Cookbook is more than a recipe book. It's a celebration of apples in all their incredible diversity, as well as an illustrated guide to 70 popular (and rare-but-worth-the-search) apple varieties. Each has its own complete biography with entries for best use, origin, availability, season, appearance, taste, and texture. Amy Traverso organizes these 70 varieties into four categories--firm-tart, tender-tart, firm-sweet, and tender-sweet--and includes a one-page cheat sheet that you can refer to when making any of her recipes. More than 100 scrumptious, easy-to-make recipes follow, offering the full range from breakfast dishes, appetizers, salads, soups, and entrees all the way to desserts. On the savory side, there's a cider-braised brisket and a recipe for Sweet Potato-Apple Latkes. On the sweet side, Amy serves up crisps, cobblers, pies, and cakes, including Apple-Pear Cobbler, Cider Donut Muffins, and an Apple-Cranberry Slab Pie cut into squares to eat by hand. As bonuses, The Apple Lover's Cookbook contains detailed notes on how to tell if an apple is fresh and guides to apple festivals, ciders, and products, as well as updated information about the best times and places to buy apples across the United States, making it easy to seek out and visit local orchards, whether you live in Vermont or California. First published a decade ago, now newly revised and updated, The Apple Lover's Cookbook is your lifetime go-to book for apples"--

My mouth waters at simply reading the names of some of these recipes: cider-glazed root vegetables, sausage with braised cabbage and apples, squash and apple gratin---mmm mmm. You'd suspect a book about cooking apples would be all pies and cobblers, but nope! This book covers apples in all ways. It's perfect for this apple season we're currently in. And it's so pretty; the cover's color palette pops. Local produce lovers, check this one out. -Melody

One small spark : a Tikkun Olam story

Ruth Spiro

jE Spiro
Picture Books

A young girl explores the Jewish philosophy of tikkun olam and is inspired to make a positive change in the world as she fixes her local park and inspires other community members to help.

Simply explained, Tikkun Olam is a concept in Judaism that translates to various actionable steps we can take as individuals to repair our world. This book richly explores the concept through a clever contrast of muted colors; where the reader might feel despair, to bold, colorful page spreads that burst out of the book. Early pages set the scene: "we're all on one team, each a string. Like a rope made of strands, holding hands. Woven, connected, stronger". This is such an important message for children, giving them the power and autonomy to know that they have individual power to change something they feel is broken. Another great picture book for children and adults alike! -Victoria

Sandwich : a novel

Catherine Newman

FICTION Newman Catherin
Fiction

While on her family's yearly escape to Cape Cod, Rocky, sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, relives the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers, coming face-to-face with her family's history and future and accepting she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves.

Both affecting and funny, Catherine Newman deftly portrays how nostalgia may bring up those lovely, wistful feelings--but these can also lead to thinking about old wounds. Vacations sometimes brings up all these thoughts. -Anne M

The rom-commers

Katherine Center

FICTION Center Katherin
Fiction, Humor, Romance

"She's rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own? Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She's spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies-good ones! That win contests! But she's also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates-The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!-it's a break too big to pass up. Emma's younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don't meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn't want to write with anyone-much less "a failed, nobody screenwriter." Worse, the romantic comedy he's written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn't even care about the script-it's just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme. But Emma's not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter-even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they're writing breaks all Emma's rules-and comes true?"--

This is the second Katherine Center book I've read, and I think I like this one even more. While her first book was all about learning new wilderness skills and unpacking her emotional "backpack," The Rom-Commers took another forced situation trope and wrote a script with it. Emma is a fish-out-of-water kind of protagonist, having been plucked from her town and flown to L.A. to write with someone way more famous than her. Sound familiar? If you've read Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy, which pairs a writer and musician and is also hysterically funny at times, you'll hear echoes of the plot setup and Hollywood setting. I feel like I laughed a bit more at Rom-Commers. Katherine Center is one of those romance writers that has mass appeal. Give me a good story, great characters, and a happy ending, and I'll fall in book-love. -Melody

Welcome to Samantha's world, 1904 : growing up in America's new century

Catherine Gourley

j973.91 Gourley
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Kids, Nonfiction, History

An in-depth look at life for girls and women in America in 1904, discussing city and town life, social reform, new inventions, amusements, and more.

If you're like me and grew up with American Girl, you know that this book was a highly sought after item! I, myself, am a Samantha, and was absolutely thrilled to find that ICPL had a copy of Welcome to Samantha's World in the collection! I'd never had the privilege of looking through this book before, but always dreamed about it when I was younger. Catherine Gourley provides a wider historical context for the Samantha books that illustrate what life what like for young girls at the turn of the century. I would definitely recommend for any fans of American Girl! -Violette

The wedding people : a novel

Alison Espach

FICTION Espach Alison
Fiction

"It's a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she's actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn't here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she's dreamed of coming for years--she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she's here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan--which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can't stop confiding in each other. In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach's The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined--and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us."--

I loved this book. It is so sweet, and endearing, and funny, and relatable. I have talked about this book to anyone who will listen to me. The premise is sad and serious. But it is what comes next that’s the gift—to Phoebe Stone, our heroine, to the other characters she builds relationships with, and to us the reader. Espach has a fantastic way of showing absurdity and awkwardness, but the laughter at these situations is meant to grow connections to the characters. [In this book, Phoebe experiences suicidal thoughts and she learns that she isn't alone in grief. If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is available by calling or texting 988.] -Anne M

Louder than hunger

John Schu

jFICTION Schu John

"Jake volunteers at a nursing home because he likes helping people. He likes skating and singing, playing Bingo and Name That Tune, and reading mysteries and comics aloud to his teachers. He also likes avoiding people his own age . . . and the cruelty of mirrors . . . and food. Jake has read about kids like him in books--the weird one, the outsider--and would do anything not to be that kid, including shrink himself down to nothing. But the less he eats, the bigger he feels. How long can Jake punish himself before he truly disappears? A fictionalized account of the author's experiences and emotions living in residential treatment facilities as a young teen with an eating disorder"--

This is one of the most honest and authentic stories I've read in a long time. Jake is a character that immediately resonates with you and can't help but root for. The relationship with his Grandma is so endearing it feels like you're right there in-between the pages, singing along to their special musicals. Perhaps what I loved most was how the author showcases the intense power that destructive voice in our heads can yield if we let it; forcing us to abandon relationships, distort what we eat and even change our very life trajectories. The isolation he feels at times is palpable. Written as a novel in verse, this book will be enjoyed by reluctant readers, while the storyline will hook many others. This is such an important read for our youth, I'll be recommending it to all of my high school and middle schoolers who care to listen, as well as their caregivers! -Victoria

Gods of jade and shadow : a novel

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

SCIENCE FICTION Moreno-Garcia, Silvia
Diverse Characters, Fiction, Fantasy

"The Mayan God of Death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore"--

Came for the fantasy adventure, tripped and broke my heart on the romance. -Chelsea

Lucy! : how Lucille Ball did it all

Amy Guglielmo

jBIOGRAPHY Ball, Lucille
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Biographies

"Lucy was not a proper little girl. She was sassy. She was bold. She was funny. She was a rule-breaking, chance-taking, comedy pioneer. Can't act? Can't sing? Can't dance? Lucy proves them all wrong - and then has the last laugh when she finally lets her inner funny girl shine. In 1951, the hit show I Love Lucy took television by storm, and has made millions laugh ever since. Lucy! is the true story of how Lucille Ball overcame the odds to become the world's Queen of Comedy"--

I appreciate this book's focus on the value and power of comedy as part of culture and history! I love to laugh and I think funny people don't get the cultural recognition they deserve beyond just entertainment - comedy is an art and a powerful agent of healing, community-building, and joy. This book highlights Lucille Ball's trailblazing career as an early female comedian, and also just shows how driven she was by the powerful feeling of making people laugh. Fun, loud, retro-style illustrations perfectly complement the text. -Anne W

The Sicilian inheritance : a novel

Jo Piazza

FICTION Piazza Jo
Adventure, Fiction

"Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie's death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara's great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn't die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered. Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and prove her birthright. Flashing back to the past, we meet Serafina, a feisty and headstrong young woman in the early 1900s thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life not just for herself but for all the women of her small village. Unsurprisingly it isn't long before a woman challenging the status quo finds herself in danger. As Sara discovers more about Serafina she also realizes she is coming head-to-head with the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother. At once an immersive multigenerational mystery and an ode to the undaunted heroism of everyday women, The Sicilian Inheritance is an atmospheric, page-turning delight"--

After inheriting some land in Sicily from her great aunt, Sara Marsala travels to the island to get the land sold—money she really needs after the closure of her business and a devastating divorce. This is just a real estate transaction, but of course, it isn’t. For one, it’s Sicily, not Pennsylvania—the laws are different. And there are dangerous people in the village that don’t recognize her ownership. And there is the rich history of the land, how her Aunt Ruthie—and her great-grandmother came into the parcel in the first place. Sara Marsala is now on an adventure. The Sicilian Inheritance is one of those books that keeps you hooked to find out what happens next. -Anne M

The lost boy of Santa Chionia

Juliet Grames

FICTION Grames Juliet
Fiction, Mystery

"Calabria, 1960. Francesca Loftfield, a twenty-seven-year-old, starry-eyed American, arrives in the isolated mountain village of Santa Chionia tasked with opening a nursery school. There is no road, no doctor, no running water or electricity. And thanks to a recent flood that swept away the post office, there's no mail, either. Most troubling, though, is the human skeleton that surfaced after the flood waters receded. Who is it? And why don't the police come and investigate? When an old woman begs Francesca to help determine if the remains are those of her long-missing son, Francesca begins to ask a lot of inconvenient questions. As an outsider, she might be the only person who can uncover the truth. Or she might be getting in over her head. As she attempts to juggle a nosy landlady, a suspiciously dashing shepherd, and a network of local families bound together by a code of silence, Francesca finds herself forced to choose between the charitable mission that brought her to Santa Chionia, and her future happiness, between truth and survival. Set in the wild heart of Calabria, a land of sheer cliff faces, ancient tradition, dazzling sunlight--and one of the world's most ruthless criminal syndicates--The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia is a suspenseful puzzle mystery, a captivating romance, and an affecting portrait of a young woman in search of a meaningful life"--

There are many things I really loved about this book--the early-60s time period, the remote location in the mountains of southern Italy, the insular community the protagonist finds herself in, and of course, the missing people that she tries to track down. Author Juliet Grames takes her time telling the story, giving the reader succinct and vivid descriptions of the place and the people, and her writing feels fresh--nothing gets glossed over, nothing feels improbable, and it's all interesting. -Candice

Brown bears

Nick Crumpton

j599.784 Crumpton
Kids, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals

"Spring has arrived in Alaska, and a brown bear is waking up. She was alone when she fell asleep at the start of winter; now she is climbing out of her den with two cubs. Follow them as they discover how to survive in the wilderness, from climbing trees to catching salmon, as their mother teaches the cubs how to be bears"--Provided by publisher.

Enjoy learning about the lives of brown bears in this beautiful picture book, suitable for reading aloud to preschoolers and up. Gorgeous watercolor illustrations evoking the natural environment accompany interesting, straightforward information about bears' mother-cub bonds, behavior, hibernation, diet, and more. -Anne W

Station eleven : a novel

Emily St. John Mandel

FICTION Mandel Emily
Fiction

"An audacious, darkly glittering novel about art, fame, and ambition set in the eerie days of civilization's collapse, from the author of three highly acclaimed previous novels. One snowy night a famous Hollywood actor slumps over and dies onstage during a production of King Lear. Hours later, the world as we know it begins to dissolve. Moving back and forth in time-from the actor's early days as a film star to fifteen years in the future, when a theater troupe known as the Traveling Symphony roams the wasteland of what remains-this suspenseful, elegiac, spellbinding novel charts the strange twists of fate that connect five people: the actor, the man who tried to save him, the actor's first wife, his oldest friend, and a young actress with the Traveling Symphony, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet. Sometimes terrifying, sometimes tender, Station Eleven tells a story about the relationships that sustain us, the ephemeral nature of fame, and the beauty of the world as we know it"--

I love how much hope there is in Station Eleven. I found it really refreshing to see such optimism in a post-apocalyptic novel. This is a book about finding meaning in life despite the inevitability of death. -Chelsea

The Familiar

Leigh Bardugo

SCIENCE FICTION Bardugo Leigh
Fiction, Fantasy

"In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position. What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen--and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor. Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the lines between magic, science, and fraud are never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive--even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both"--

A beautiful and bittersweet historical fantasy set during the Spanish inquisition that explores the consequences of desire. Bardugo uses diasporic languages, such as Ladino, to form the basis of her magic system, adding both tension and lyriscism to the narrative. The Familiar is good in print, but it really shines as an audiobook, where the magic words can come to life. -Chelsea

The Super Mario Bros. movie

jDVD Super
Comedy

"A Brooklyn plumber named Mario travels through the Mushroom Kingdom with a princess named Peach and an anthropomorphic mushroom named Toad to find Mario's brother, Luigi, and to save the world from a ruthless fire-breathing Koopa named Bowser." --

Fun, lighthearted comedy for everyone. Jack Black as Bowser is pure genius. -Mykle

A happier life : a novel

Kristy Woodson Harvey

FICTION Harvey Kristy
Fiction

"A young woman discovers the love and family she has always longed for when she spends a life-changing summer at her grandparents' old house in North Carolina"--

Kristy Harvey's books are always sugary--like a Southern ice tea. If you want a book to end all wrapped up with a nice bow where everyone finds love, happiness, and their problems resolved, you can't go wrong with this book or with any Harvey's others. This one takes on family histories revolving around a centuries-old family beach house on the coast of North Carolina. The house has been shut up for decades after the tragic deaths of Keaton's grandparents--a tragedy that stung so hard, no one can bare to face the house and its contents. Keaton arrives to get the house ready to sell on behalf of her mother and uncle--it's time to let go. Of course it isn't time to let go, not when Keaton finds journals from her grandparents and meets with her grandmother's friends, uncovering their lives and what they meant to the community. And it becomes harder to let the house go up for sale when she's sort of following for the neighbor... I really loved the description of the rooms stuck in the mid-1970's. -Anne M

All systems red

Martha Wells

SCIENCE FICTION Wells Martha
Science Fiction

A murderous android discovers itself in "All Systems Red", a tense science fiction adventure by Martha Wells that interrogates the roots of consciousness through Artificial intelligence. In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn't a primary concern. On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied 'droid -- a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as "Murderbot." Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is. But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

The entire Murderbot Diaries series is one of my all-time favorite reads, starting off strong with the first book, "All Systems Red." The self-named android, "Murderbot" is a surprisingly relatable protagonist who, despite being a deadly security unit, only wants to watch TV shows and avoid dealing with its emotions (who doesn't?!). Full of dry humor and clever observations, the cynical Murderbot is one of the most human characters readers will come across. -Madison C

Iron widow

Xiran Jay Zhao

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Zhao Xiran
Fantasy, Science Fiction

"Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers. The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China. It doesn't matter that the girls die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But when she gets her vengeance, it becomes clear that she is an Iron Widow, a rare kind of female pilot who can sacrifice males to power up Chrysalises instead. To tame her frightening yet valuable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia, yet feared and ostracized for killing his father and brothers. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will take over instead, then leverage their combined strength to force her society to stop failing its women and girls. Or die trying."--

A really good debut novel mixing fantasy and sci-fi. It comes with murder, liberation, mystery, and some surprises. Well written and easy to read. It is also available as an e-audio book through Libby. -Mykle

Sometimes we fall

Randall De Sève

jE Deseve
Kids, Picture Books, Self Help, Nature

Baby Bear wants to climb a tree and eat delicious plums with Mama Bear but is overcome with a progression of worrisome possibilities, until Mama Bear gently reassures Baby Bear about the importance of taking risks.

In her follow up to "This Story is Not About a Kitten", Randall de Sève weaves a tender tale about resiliency. The pacing and repetitive cadence of the text make this a wonderful candidate for storytimes, especially at the start of the new school year. Delicate gouache and colored pencil illustrations by Kate Gardiner round out a fabulous picture book right for sharing when the littles in your life need comforting. Sometimes we have problems, and it's okay! -Casey

Into the goblin market

Vikki VanSickle

jE Vansickl
Picture Books, Classics, Fantasy, Adventure

"An ode to Christina Rossetti's classic poem and a clever homage to familiar fairy-tale villains, this story of two sisters will enthrall readers with its beautifully detailed art and enchanting writing."--

Brave the goblin market if you dare! Vansickle's perfectly paced rhyming text pairs wonderfully with exquisite ink and digital illustrations by Jensine Eckwall. Fans of Wanda Gag and fairy tale lovers will delight in this retelling of Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market", complete with extra villainy and a beautiful twist. -Casey

Temple of no god

H. M. (Hannah M.) Long

SCIENCE FICTION Long H. M.
Fantasy

"After a brutal war between the gods, Hessa - High Priestess of the Eangen - has brokered a fragile alliance between warring tribes and bought peace to her home. But a new threat is growing in the remnants of the once-great Arpa Empire. Three factions are vying to take the throne, the vast well of raw magical power only accessible to the Emperor. Hessa knows she cannot let this chance pass by - she must intervene, to protect her peoples' hard-won future. With the peace she has sacrificed so much for at stake, Hessa must lead an army of Algatt and Eangen warriors into the heart of enemy territory. But warring Arpa factions are not the only danger - a sinister new cult is on the rise, one that sucks the life from everything it touches. With enemies on every side and the fragile peace beginning to waver, Hessa must decide who to place on the throne - no matter what it may cost her." -- Publisher.

Another great read by Long. Full of magic and mystery, our protagonist is tasked with stopping a new threat. -Mykle

Echo of worlds

M. R. Carey

SCIENCE FICTION Carey, M. R.
Science Fiction

Two mighty empires are at war - and both will lose, with thousands of planets falling to the extinction event called the Scour. At least that's what the artificial intelligence known as Rupshe believes. But somewhere in the multiverse there exists a force - the Mother Mass - that could end the war in an instant, and Rupshe has assembled a team to find it. Essien Nkanika, a soldier trying desperately to atone for past sins; the cat-woman Moon, a conscienceless killer; the digitally recorded mind of physicist Hadiz Tambuwal; Paz, an idealistic child and the renegade robot spy Dulcimer Coronal. Their mission will take them from the hellish prison world of Tsakom to the poisoned remains of a post-apocalyptic Earth, and finally bring them face to face with the Mother Mass itself. But can they persuade it to end eons of neutrality and help them? And is it too late to make a difference? Because the Pandominion's doomsday machines are about to be unleashed - and not even their builders know how to control them.

The action picks up where Infinity Gate left off, with nary a word wasted in the telling. More desperate challenges are faced and more insane solutions are acted upon. Hard to put down and the fastest 480 plus pages I've ever read! -Paul

Excavations: A Novel

Kate Myers

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction

**A NATIONAL BESTSELLER**BEST SUMMER READS OF 2023: The New York Post Oprah Book Club Oprah Daily USA Today Good Housekeeping Brit + Co The Good Trade Parade Zibby Mag O Quaterly"Funny, smart and deeply delicious." —Amy Poehler "Witty and acerbic, Myers' debut is humorous and sharply written, as if Aubrey Plaza's April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation decided to write a sun-drenched novel about feminism, friendship, and archeology." —BooklistOn a remote archeological site in Greece, the mythic home of the first Olympics, four women discover an unusual artifact. It's a piece of history that definitely shouldn't exist. And for the head archaeologist in charge, a relic himself, it means something's gone horribly wrong.Elise, Kara, Z and Patty all find themselves digging here together, but they couldn't be farther apart. Kara's a polished conservator calling off her wedding. Patty and her bowl cut are desperate for love. Millennial Z just got dumped and fired yet again. And Elise, their star excavator, is a lone wolf about to go rogue. To figure out what they're really digging for, and to topple the man who wants to hide their history, these dirt-crusted colleagues have to become what they've avoided for years—friends. If they put their own messes aside for one summer, they might just make the discovery of a lifetime.

I loved this book! Smart, engaging, and very funny, and more than a little thought-provoking without being overly sentimental. I kept thinking to myself "I wish I could be there, with these people, doing what they're doing!" and I think that's a good sign of a heartfelt work. Joy Nash is a great reader, as well--her inflection is spot-on. -Candice

Dolls of our lives : why we can't quit American Girl

Mary Mahoney

745.59221 /Mahoney
Historical Fiction, Nonfiction

"Are you a Molly (a patriotic overachiever with a flair for drama)? Felicity (the original horse girl)? Kirsten (a cottagecore fan who seems immune to cholera), Samantha (a savior complex in a sailor suit), or Josefina (who dealt with grief by befriending a baby goat)? Have you ever wondered how Britney Spears or Michelle Kwan would answer that question? And why do we care so much which girl we are? Combining history, travelogue, and memoir, Dolls of Our Lives follows Allison Horrocks and Mary Mahoney on an unforgettable journey to the past as they delve into the origins of this iconic brand. Continuing the conversations that began on their podcast, they set out to answer the lingering questions that keep them up at night. What did American Girl inventor Pleasant Rowland hope to say to children with these dolls? Was girl power something that could be ordered from a catalogue, described by a magazine, or modeled in the plot lines of books? And how - and why - did this brand shape an entire generation? Through interviews with a legion of devoted doll lovers, a field trip to Colonial Williamsburg, a place that inspired Pleasant to create American Girl, and an exploration of their own (complicated) fandom, this is a deep dive into one of the 90s most coveted products - the American Girl doll" --

Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl is EXACTLY what my AG-obsessed self needed! Mary Mahoney & Allison Horrocks are hosts of the American Girl themed podcast, Dolls of Our Lives, and their book details what it was growing up with American Girl and how the brand has shaped us into the American Girl Adults we are today. A must read for all of the nostalgic American Girl references, including an essential quiz to find out which character you are (if you don't already know). -Violette

Just like Caitlin

Ally Obermeier

j796.323 Clark
Nonfiction, Sports

A picture book biography of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark.

I've been waiting for a Caitlin Clark picture book! In this one, a grandpa basically retells his granddaughter the highlights of Caitlin Clark's incredible collegiate career with a lesson about losing the big game with grace. Okay, I'd prefer a true picture book biography, but I'll take it! The illustrations are cute, and this book would make a great read-aloud or gift for a little women's basketball fan! -Anne W

Stalking Shakespeare : a memoir of madness, murder, and my search for the poet beneath the paint

Lee Durkee

704.942 /Durkee
Nonfiction, History, Art / Art History, Biographies

"Following his divorce, down-and-out writer and Mississippi exile Lee Durkee holed himself up in a Vermont fishing shack and fell prey to a decades-long obsession with Shakespearian portraiture. It began with a simple premise: despite the prevalence of popular portraits, no one really knows what Shakespeare looked like. That the Bard of Avon has gotten progressively handsomer in modern depictions seems only to reinforce this point. Stalking Shakespeare is Durkee's fascinating memoir about an obsession gone awry, the 400-year-old myriad portraits attached to the famous playwright, and Durkee's own unrelenting search-via X-ray and infrared technologies-for a lost picture of the Bard painted from real life. As Durkee becomes better at beguiling curators into testing their paintings with spectral technologies, we get a front-row seat to the captivating mysteries plaguing the various portraits rumored to depict Shakespeare. Whisking us backward in time through layers of paint and into the pages of obscure books on the Elizabethans, Durkee takes us from Vermont to Tokyo to Mississippi to DC and ultimately to London to confront the stuffy curators forever protecting the image of the Bard. For his part, Durkee is the adversary they didn't know they had-a writer from Mississippi with nothing to lose-the "Dan Brown of English portraiture." A lively, bizarre, and surprisingly moving blend of biography, art history, and madness, Stalking Shakespeare is as entertaining as it is rigorous and sheds new light on one of history's greatest cultural and literary icons"--

A fun little escapade through the major theories of who wrote Shakespeare's plays and sonnets, via the various portraits that are purportedly of him. There's a lot of very interesting stuff here, not just literary but also in the art history sense of who created the portraits, how they've been altered, and why they look the way they do. Lee Durkee is also a strong presence in this book, and tbh I veered between thinking of him as someone I felt sympathetic and appreciative towards, for his candor about his own mental health and personal issues, and then thinking that he'd be an absolute tour guide from hell. All in all, a very (VERY) well-researched and entertaining read. -Candice

Sour apple

Linda (Illustrator) Liu

jE Liu
Humor, Kids, Picture Books, Nature

"A . . . picture book about an apple who learns the importance of self-acceptance and patience after being left behind during picking season"--

Following the wonderful debut "Hidden Gem" Linda Liu's latest title does not disappoint! Perfect pacing, adorable illustrations, and a great message make for a quick and enjoyable read-aloud. Endsheets and secret covers provide extra fun for curious readers. -Casey

Chain-gang all-stars

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

FICTION Adjei-Brenyah, Nana
Black Lives Matter, Dystopian

"The explosive, hotly-anticipated debut novel from the New York Times-bestselling author of Friday Black, about two top women gladiators fighting for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far-removed from America's own. Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly-popular, highly-controversial, profit-raising program in America's increasingly dominant private prison industry. It's the return of the gladiators and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom. In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in death-matches for packed arenas with righteous protestors at the gates. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites. And if all goes well, Thurwar will be free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares to leave her fellow Links, she considers how she might help preserve their humanity, in defiance of these so-called games, but CAPE's corporate owners will stop at nothing to protect their status quo and the obstacles they lay in Thurwar's path have devastating consequences. Moving from the Links in the field to the protestors to the CAPE employees and beyond, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a kaleidoscopic, excoriating look at the American prison system's unholy alliance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration, and a clear-eyed reckoning with what freedom in this country really means from a "new and necessary American voice" (Tommy Orange, New York Times Book Review)"--

This is the best book I've read all year. It's often brutal and hard to read, but it's an important piece of fiction that's backed-up by a lot of research. -Brian

Assassin's creed. Mirage

VIDEO GAME PlayStation 5 Assassin's

"Become the ultimate assassin. Stealthily take down targets with visceral assassinations; uncover the secrets of ninth-century Baghdad; discover a tightly crafted coming-of-age story"--Container.

This throwback to AC games of old had me hooked again--part history lesson, part sneaking simulator, and 100% good time--I loved Mirage. -Brian

Pig in jeans

Brenda (Author of children's books) Li

jE Li
Picture Books

Brian the pig wears jeans everywhere (even in the bath sometimes) and none of his friends or neighbors understand why.

Find out why pig looooooooooves to wear jeans in this absolutely adorable and hilarious book! -Anne W

Forgotten on Sunday

Valérie Perrin

FICTION Perrin Valerie
Fiction

Justine is 21 years old and has lived with her grandparents and cousin Jules since the death of her parents. She works as a carer at a retirement home and spends her days listening to her residents' stories. After bonding with Helene, an almost 100-year-old resident, the two women slowly reveal their stories to one another. Whilst Justine helps Helene to relive her memories of love and war, Helene encourages Justine to confront the secrets of her own past, and the loss she has buried deep within. One day, trouble arrives in the form of a mysterious phone call that shakes the retirement home to its core and uncovers a shocking revelation.

In Valérie Perrin’s “Forgotten on Sunday,” Justine Neige, a 21-year old aide at a nursing home hardly knows anything about her family’s history. Raised by her grandparents (her mother and father died in a car crash), they never liked to talk about the past. If Justine doesn’t have a history, the residents of the nursing home help fill the gap. She loves to listen to their stories, reveling in their adventures, their past loves, and their careers. She is especially taken by Hélène Hel, who reveals that her lover disappeared sometime during World War II. Justine begins to record Hélène’s story, but in learning about regret and loss, she finds inspiration to confront what really happened to her parents. As always, Perrin surprises in her explorations of buried family secrets. -Anne M

Little Shrew

Akiko Miyakoshi

jREADER Miyakoshi Akiko
Picture Books

"This collection of three interconnected stories follows the life of Little Shrew as he goes about his everyday activities of commuting to work to reflecting on his hopes and dreams to welcoming his friends for a visit."--

What an absolutely beautiful read! It's Lagom (the Swedish concept of living a balanced life,) meets Frog and Toad. Illustrations are steeped in nostalgia and the story captures what it means to live a simple but very good life; to enjoy and savor moments. Adults will enjoy this book perhaps even more than children. -Victoria

Hidden yellow stars

Rebecca Connolly

FICTION Connolly Rebecca
Historical Fiction

"Based on the true story of two World War II heroines who risked everything to save Jewish children from the Gestapo by hiding them throughout Belgium. ... Young schoolteacher Andrée Geulen secretly defies the Nazis in Belgium who are forcing Jews to wear a yellow Star of David. Andrée is not Jewish, but she feels a maternal connection to her students, who are living in constant fear, and decides to take action. No child should have to suffer under such persecution. But what can one woman do against an entire army? Ida Sterno is a Jewish woman who works with the Committee for the Defense of Jews in Belgium, a clandestine resistance group tasked with hiding children from the Gestapo. She wants to recruit Andrée because her Aryan appearance can provide crucial security measures for their efforts. Andrée agrees to join and begins work immediately by adopting a code name: Claude Fournier. Together, Andrée and Ida, and their undercover operatives, work around the clock to move Jewish children from their families and smuggle them to safety through the secret channels established by the resistance. As each child is hidden, Andrée commits to memory their true name and history. Someday, she vows, she will help reunite as many of these families as she can. But with the Gestapo closing in, and the traitorous Fat Jacques who has turned from ally to enemy, threatening to identify and expose any Jew he meets, Andrée and Ida must work even harder against increasingly impossible odds to save as many children as possible and keep them safely hidden-even if might cost them their own lives"--

This takes a different angle of World War II, focusing on the people who hid Jewish children in Belgium and how their networks operated. It's well-written and hopeful. -Amanda

Table for Two: Fictions

Amor Towles

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction

Millions of Amor Towles fans are in for a treat as he shares some of his shorter fiction: six stories based in New York City and a novella set in Golden Age Hollywood. The New York stories, most of which take place around the year 2000, consider the fateful consequences that can spring from brief encounters and the delicate mechanics of compromise that operate at the heart of modern marriages. In Towles’s novel Rules of Civility, the indomitable Evelyn Ross leaves New York City in September 1938 with the intention of returning home to Indiana. But as her train pulls into Chicago, where her parents are waiting, she instead extends her ticket to Los Angeles. Told from seven points of view, “Eve in Hollywood” describes how Eve crafts a new future for herself—and others—in a noirish tale that takes us through the movie sets, bungalows, and dive bars of Los Angeles. Written with his signature wit, humor, and sophistication, Table for Two is another glittering addition to Towles’s canon of stylish and transporting fiction.

The audio collaboration of author Amor Towles and narrators Edoardo Ballerini and J. Smith-Cameron is perfect. -Anne M

Invisible : how young women with serious health issues navigate work, relationships, and the pressure to seem just fine

Michele Lent Hirsch

305.4 /Hirsch
Nonfiction, Health, Self Help

Lent Hirsch weaves her own harrowing experiences together with stories from other women, perspectives from sociologists on structural inequality, and insights from neuroscientists on misogyny in health research. She shows how health issues and disabilities amplify what women in general already confront: warped beauty standards, workplace sexism, worries about romantic partners, and mistrust of their own bodies. By shining a light on this hidden demographic, Lent Hirsch explores the challenges that all women face.

"Invisible" examines chronic illness through the lens of multiple women, building a full picture through their varied and intersectional experiences. This book does an excellent job of capturing the seismic feeling of becoming chronically ill, the way the people and places around you change to become stranger and more hostile. -Chelsea

There is no Ethan : how three women caught America's biggest catfish

Anna Akbari

306.730285 /Akbari
Nonfiction, True Crime

"There is no Ethan" catalogues Akbari's experiences as both victim and investigator of a catfishing scheme to emotionally con women. She joins with two other women to track down the perpetrator and explores what it means to live in a world where technology mediates relationships and truth, reality, and identity have become slippery terms.

I had the honor of cataloging this book and didn't want to put it down! We don't have a Dewey Decimal number for True Emotional Crime so I had to put it in the number for online dating. Definitely going on my TBR list. -Melody

Homebody

Theo Parish

GRAPHIC NOVEL Parish
Diverse Characters, LGBTQ+, Graphic Novels, Memoir

"In this intimate and defiantly hopeful graphic novel memoir, the author shares their journey to find a home within themself, taking readers through the experiences and everyday moments that all led up to them finding the term "nonbinary," which finally struck a chord.

"We are all just trying to find a place to call our own." A beautiful, poetic and visually stunning memoir by artist Theo Parish as they discover their true identity as trans and nonbinary. The analogy of feeling at home in your body is an eloquent explanation for all ages to better understand the way it might feel to not feel like the gender assigned at birth... ‘They say that ‘your body is a temple,’’ Theo writes, ‘but mine has felt more like a rental.’ The flow of the story of Theo's life is seamless, and I devoured this uplifting memoir in one short sitting...but don't forget to admire the lovely drawings in all their calming hues of purple! -Mari

The taste of things

DVD MOVIE WORLD FRENCH Taste
Romance, Historical, Drama

"Set in France in 1889, the film follows the life of Dodin Bouffant as a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy and love, but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her."--Container.

A must-watch for "Ratatouille" fans or anyone who loves food—eating it, cooking it, expressing it, sharing it with others. I love movies that explore food as an expression of language and love. If you're going through a cooking lull, maybe this movie will renew your passion for the kitchen. -Annie

Viewfinder

Christine D. U. Chung

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Chung
Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Science Fiction, Adventure

"Arriving on an Earth devoid of people, a young space traveler discovers a viewfinder that reveals how the planet used to be, in this wordless, adventure-filled graphic novel about resilience and the extraordinary place we call home"--

This debut wordless graphic novel from Christine D.U. Chung and Salwa Majoka is a stunner! It has just the right amount of suspense and world-building to keep younger readers turning pages quickly. Keen-eyed and repeat readers will notice ample opportunities for a sequel as well. Fans of The Wild Robot and adult viewers of Scavengers Reign will feel right at home. -Casey

Chilean poet : a novel

Alejandro Zambra

FICTION Zambra Alejandro
Fiction

"The internationally acclaimed author, heralded as one of the most important writers of his generation, returns with the most substantial work of his career: an emotionally captivating, very funny novel about fathers and sons, ambition and failure, and the many forms of family"--

Alejandro Zambra is a Chilean author who currently lives in Mexico City. This novel talks about the story of a stepfather and his relationship with his son. The author explores this topic with simplicity and humor, and offers us an interesting perspective about what family really is. -Alex

The boys

Garth Ennis

COMIC Boys
Graphic Novels

This is going to hurt! In a world where costumed heroes soar through the sky and masked vigilantes prowl the night, someone's got to make sure the "supes" don't get out of line. And someone will! Billy Butcher, Wee Hughie, Mother's Milk, The Frenchman, and The Female are The Boys: A CIA-backed team of very dangerous people, each one dedicated to the struggle against the most dangerous force on Earth - superpower! Some superheroes have to be watched. Some have to be controlled. And some of them - sometimes - need to be taken out of the picture. That's when you call in The Boys! (synopsis from Amazon)

This is in my top 5 comics of all time. Gritty/dark and entertaining. -Mykle

How high we go in the dark : a novel

Sequoia Nagamatsu

SCIENCE FICTION Nagamatsu, Sequoia
Fiction, Dystopian, Science Fiction, Short Story

"For fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven, a spellbinding and profoundly prescient debut that follows a cast of intricately linked characters over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague-a daring and deeply heartfelt work of mind-bending imagination from a singular new voice. Beginning in 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work of his recently deceased daughter at the Batagaika crater, where researchers are studying long-buried secrets now revealed in melting permafrost, including the perfectly preserved remains of a girl who appears to have died of an ancient virus. Once unleashed, the Arctic Plague will reshape life on earth for generations to come, quickly traversing the globe, forcing humanity to devise a myriad of moving and inventive ways to embrace possibility in the face of tragedy. In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. A heartbroken scientist searching for a cure finds a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects-a pig-develops the capacity for human speech. A widowed painter and her teenaged granddaughter embark on a cosmic quest to locate a new home planet. From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead to interstellar starships, Sequoia Nagamatsu takes readers on a wildly original and compassionate journey, spanning continents, centuries, and even celestial bodies to tell a story about the resiliency of the human spirit, our infinite capacity to dream, and the connective threads that tie us all together in the universe"--

Sequoia Nagamatsu's How High We Go in the Dark consists of several fascinating short stories that feature characters whose lives are inextricably linked, even if not directly. If you're like me, this book will remain in the back of your mind for a long time. -Violette

A botanist's guide to parties and poisons

Kate Khavari

MYSTERY Khavari Kate
Mystery, Suspense, Adventure, Science

London, 1923. Newly minted research assistant Saffron Everleigh attends a dinner party for the University College of London. While she expects to engage in conversations about the university's large expedition to the Amazon, she doesn't expect Mrs. Henry, one of the professors' wives to drop to the floor, poisoned by an unknown toxin. Dr. Maxwell, Saffron's mentor, is the main suspect, having had an explosive argument with Dr. Henry a few days prior. As evidence mounts against Dr. Maxwell and the expedition's departure draws nearer, Saffron realizes if she wants her mentor's name cleared, she'll have to do it herself.

I devoured the first two Botanist's Guide books last summer and was pleasantly surprised to find that the latest installment is here! It did not disappoint. If you have yet to try any of the Saffron Everleigh series and enjoy dark academia or murder mysteries, now might be the time to start at the beginning! -Casey

Enlightenment : a novel

Sarah Perry

FICTION Perry Sarah
Fiction

"Thomas Hart and Grace Macaulay have lived all their lives in the small Essex town of Aldleigh. Though separated in age by three decades, the pair are kindred spirits--torn between their commitment to religion and their desire to explore the world beyond their small Baptist community. It is two romantic relationships that will rend their friendship, and in the wake of this rupture, Thomas develops an obsession with a vanished nineteenth-century astronomer said to haunt a nearby manor, and Grace flees Aldleigh entirely for London. Over the course of twenty years, by coincidence and design, Thomas and Grace will find their lives brought back into orbit as the mystery of the vanished astronomer unfolds into a devastating tale of love and scientific pursuit. Thomas and Grace will ask themselves what it means to love and be loved, what is fixed and what is mutable, how much of our fate is predestined and written in the stars, and whether they can find their way back to each other"--

In Sarah Perry’s “Enlightenment,” the past is a circle. In her latest novel, we meet Thomas Hart and Grace Macaulay. Steeped in a shared unshakeable faith, they both don’t belong to their small English village or their small Baptist church—or at least they don’t feel that way. While the decades that span between their ages makes their friendship unlikely, they bond through turning their eyes to the past, and more importantly the cosmos. It’s 1997 and Hart, a newspaper columnist for the “Essex Chronicle,” is told by his editor to write about Hale-Bopp, the great comet visible to the eye that year. This assignment leads Hart down a rabbit hole. He develops a new love of physics, and more importantly, an obsession with a local astronomer who vanished a century before. This need to solve the mystery of Maria Vaduva alters the course of thirty years (or was this always the course?), stretching and straining the relationship of Thomas and Grace—two people in orbit. You can argue with yourself about what is the gravitational pull. It is a splendid book. -Anne M

Desert song

Laekan Zea Kemp

jE Kemp

"A family sings and plays music on a desert evening, in harmony with the nearby wildlife and the ancestors above."--

This is an incredible symphony of intergenerational family members at one with the desert summoning their ancestors in a ceremonial feast for the ears. The illustrations are gorgeous and I could not help poring over each page. The language is sumptuous, "I see the moon, giant and watchful. A memory of the sun," "and the rain on our tin roof sounds like applause". A treat for the young and the young at heart! -Victoria

Ancillary mercy

Ann Leckie

SCIENCE FICTION Leckie Ann
Science Fiction

For a moment, things seemed to be under control for Breq, the soldier who used to be a warship. Then a search of Athoek Station's slums turns up someone who shouldn't exist and a messenger from the mysterious Presger empire arrives, as does Breq's old enemy, the divided, heavily armed, and possibly insane Anaander Mianaai—ruler of an empire at war with itself...

This is an amazing end to the science fiction trilogy that is a new classic. I highly recommend it to all sci-fi readers! -Brian

The future : a novel

Naomi Alderman

FICTION Alderman Naomi
Science Fiction

"The bestselling, award-winning author of The Power delivers a dazzling tour de force where a handful of friends plot a daring heist to save the world from the tech giants whose greed threatens life as we know it. When Martha Einkorn fled her father's isolated compound in Oregon, she never expected to find herself working for a powerful social media mogul hell-bent on controlling everything. Now, she's surrounded by mega-rich companies designing private weather, predictive analytics, and covert weaponry, while spouting technological prophecy. Martha may have left the cult, but if the apocalyptic warnings in her father's fox and rabbit sermon--once a parable to her--are starting to come true, how much future is actually left? Across the world, in a mall in Singapore, Lai Zhen, an internet-famous survivalist, flees from an assassin. She's cornered, desperate and--worst of all--might die without ever knowing what's going on. Suddenly, a remarkable piece of software appears on her phone telling her exactly how to escape. Who made it? What is it really for? And if those behind it can save her from danger, what do they want from her, and what else do they know about the future? Martha and Zhen's worlds are about to collide. An explosive chain of events is set in motion. While a few billionaires assured of their own safety lead the world to destruction, Martha's relentless drive and Zhen's insatiable curiosity could lead to something beautiful or the cataclysmic end of civilization. By turns thrilling, hilarious, tender, and always piercingly brilliant, The Future unfolds at a breakneck speed, highlighting how power corrupts the few who have it and what it means to stand up to them. The future is coming. The Future is here."--provided by publisher.

What would you do if you knew the world was ending? That question is answered from multiple viewpoints in Alderman's fantastic near-future novel. It's a surprisingly hopeful novel, and one that I recommend to just about everyone. -Brian

Red seas under red skies

Scott Lynch

SCIENCE FICTION Lynch, Scott
Fantasy

After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke Lamora and his trusted sidekick, Jean, fled the island city of their birth and landed on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar to nurse their wounds. But even at this westernmost edge of civilization, they can't rest for long---and they are soon back doing what they do best: stealing from the undeserving rich and pocketing the proceeds for themselves.

So, I've seen numerous people online say that this book is superior to "The Lies of Locke Lamora" in every way. I don't think I agree, but this is an extremely satisfying sequel. The midway switch up was fantastic as well--another con-caper? How about full-blown pirate adventure! A very fun and clever book. -Brian

Knife : meditations after an attempted murder

Salman Rushdie

BIOGRAPHY Rushdie, Salman

From internationally renowned writer and Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie, a searing, deeply personal account of enduring--and surviving--an attempt on his life thirty years after the fatwa that was ordered against him. Speaking out for the first time, and in unforgettable detail, about the traumatic events of August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie answers violence with art, and reminds us of the power of words to make sense of the unthinkable. Knife is a gripping, intimate, and ultimately life-affirming meditation on life, loss, love, art--and finding the strength to stand up again.

Rushdie has been one of my favorite authors from an early age and, though I understand the severity of the death threats he received after the fatwa was ordered, did not much think of it as he had survived unscathed for decades. After hearing of the attack, like many around the world, I was completely shocked. I knew this would not be an easy read, but as a librarian, I have always been so impressed by Rushdie's steadfast advocacy for freedom of speech and upholding the values of intellectual freedom is an integral part of what we stand for. There are constant battles throughout the book: the malign attacker and those who rushed to save the 75-year-old author, the loss of functionality of sight and movement, and the new appreciation of life. Perhaps most important is what becomes paramount when death is at your door; being surrounded by light and love and focusing on the hope of what is still possible. -Victoria

Oodles and oodles of vegan noodles : soba, ramen, udon & more

Cheynese Khachame

641.56362 /Khachame
Cookbooks

"The first plant-based, pan-Asian noodle cookbook, featuring classics made vegan and exciting innovations"--

This book features a splendid array of some of my favorite Asian dishes made vegan. Soba, creamy coconut ramen and pho stand front and center, not to mention cold noodle salads (perfect for these hot summer days,) make for a comprehensive and practical cookbook which call for many of the same ingredients in multiple recipes, thus stretching your dollar a little further! -Victoria

The Wee Free Men

Terry Pratchett

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Pratchett, Terry
Kids, Early Chapter Books, Fantasy

A young witch-to-be named Tiffany teams up with the Wee Free Men, a clan of six-inch-high blue men, to rescue her baby brother and ward off a sinister invasion from Fairyland.

The Tiffany Aching books are a delightful introduction to Pratchett's Discworld, and I wholeheartedly recommend the entire series. -Chelsea

The bear and the nightingale : a novel

Katherine Arden

SCIENCE FICTION Arden, Katherine
Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

"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"--

The Winternight Trilogy is fantasy with a heavy historical influence. The detail Arden uses to describe medival Russia really grounds the more fantastic elements of the story, and the world is alive with characters from Russian folklore. Vasya is a very empowering protagonist because she only ever becomes more herself. She refuses to let the world change her, and the series follows her as she carves out a place for herself in spite of the conventions that would cage her. -Chelsea

Gideon the ninth

Tamsyn Muir

SCIENCE FICTION Muir Tamsyn
Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Muir's Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cutthroat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

This book is dense, and it can be difficult to get into, but it is very much worth the effort, and is particularly rewarding to reread. The characters are wonderfully flawed, and the world they inhabit is broken and horrifyingly familiar. Muir's humor will sneak up on you when you're least expecting it. -Chelsea

Haru

Joe Latham

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Latham Haru

"In The Valley, best friends Haru and Yama both dream of leaving as they're bullied at school, frustrated at home, and struggling to figure out who they are. One day, a powerful artifact connects itself to Yama, and they discover that they'll have to journey to The Beacon in search of answers. Created by artist Joe Latham, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel series is a coming-of-age tale that spans the changing of seasons. Beginning in spring and ending in spring--the cycle complete. A story of heart, growing up, and the sacrifices we make for those we love, Haru is perfect for middle-grade readers."--Amazon.

This was a beautiful read for reluctant readers, as well of those of us who just love a little adventure. A Goodreads review describes this graphic novel as reading "like Sam and Frodo on a Studio Ghibli adventure," and after just re-watching the Fellowship of the Ring, I can't help but agree. I absolutely love the illustrations in this book, as well as the message. It's funny, tender and themes are sure to resonate with both middle and high school readers. -Victoria

The backyard bird chronicles

Amy Tan

598.07234 /Tan
Nonfiction

"In 2016, author Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, the birds flocking to the feeders in her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater--an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired. Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage of time--from before the pandemic to the days of quarantine--through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the world"--

As an avid now daily fan of watching the world of chipmunks, squirrels and birds at my feeders outside, I was fascinated by Tan's book. She describes the solace nature can provide when everything else in the world seems to be barreling out of control, yet she does not shy away from highlighting how environmental factors negatively impact our avian friends. Her sketches are delicate and prolific at times and her curiosity and wit is quite wonderful. I would recommend this for young adults and adults as well as anyone who wants a more intimate foray into the world of West Coast bound and transiting-through birds. -Victoria

The wild robot escapes

Peter Brown

jFICTION Brown Peter
Fiction, Adventure, Nature, Classics

After being captured by the Recons and returned to civilization for reprogramming, Roz is sent to Hilltop Farm where she befriends her owner's family and animals, but pines for her son, Brightbill.

This is a family summer book club read and I am having a hard time following the pacing rules. Seriously, I do not want to put it down! I'm excited to get all caught up with this series now that the Wild Robot Protects is out and the movie is forthcoming in September! -Casey

All you need is love : the Beatles in their own words

Peter Brown

781.66092 /Beatles
Music

"An oral history of The Beatles from never-before-seen interviews. All You Need Is Love is a groundbreaking oral history of the one of the most enduring musical acts of all time. The material is comprised of intimate interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, their families, friends and business associates that were conducted by Beatles intimate Peter Brown and author Steven Gaines in 1980-1981 during the preparation of their international bestseller, The Love You Make, which spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list in 1983 and remains the biggest selling biography worldwide about the Beatles Only a small portion of the contents of these transcribed interviews have ever been revealed. The interviews are unique and candid. The information, stories, and experiences, and the authority of the people who relate to them, have historic value. No collection like this can ever be assembled again. In addition to interviews with Paul, Yoko, Ringo and George, Brown and Gaines also include interviews from ex-wives Cynthia Lennon, Pattie Harrison Clapton, and Maureen Starkey, as well as the major social and business figures of the Beatles' inner circle. Among other sought-after information the interviews contribute definitively as to why the Beatles broke up"--

While not for the average Beatles fan, it's for sure fun for the hardcore fan. I find transcripts are generally a little more difficult to read, and since these are from 1980-81, from interviews used to create another book a few decades ago, it does seem a little disjointed at times. However, if you're interested in the business aspects of the Beatles, more theories about why the band broke up, and loads of random little trivia, you'll get something out of this. -Amanda

Why we read : on bookworms, libraries and just one more page before lights out

Shannon Reed

028.9 /Reed
Literary Nonfiction

In this uproarious exploration of the joys of reading, a long-time teacher, lifelong reader and The New Yorker contributor shares surprising stories from her life and the poignant ways in which books have impacted her students and shows us how literature can transform us for the better.

This was a joyful tribute to the reader and reader life, with funny academic life anecdotes from the author and an extensive reading list in the back of all the works mentioned. It's light reading, easy to pick up and put down, and a warm and fuzzy read on reading. -Amanda

Hall of smoke.

H. M. (Hannah M.) Long

SCIENCE FICTION Long, H. M.
Fantasy, Adventure

Epic fantasy featuring warrior priestesses and fickle gods at war, for readers of Brian Staveley's Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne. Hessa is an Eangi: a warrior priestess of the Goddess of War, with the power to turn an enemy's bones to dust with a scream. Banished for disobeying her goddess's command to murder a traveller, she prays for forgiveness alone on a mountainside. While she is gone, raiders raze her village and obliterate the Eangi priesthood. Grieving and alone, Hessa - the last Eangi - must find the traveller and atone for her weakness and secure her place with her loved ones in the High Halls. As clans from the north and legionaries from the south tear through her homeland, slaughtering everyone in their path Hessa strives to win back her goddess' favour. Beset by zealot soldiers, deceitful gods, and newly-awakened demons at every turn, Hessa burns her path towards redemption and revenge. But her journey reveals a harrowing truth: the gods are dying and the High Halls of the afterlife are fading. Soon Hessa's trust in her goddess weakens with every unheeded prayer. Thrust into a battle between the gods of the Old World and the New, Hessa realizes there is far more on the line than securing a life beyond her own death. Bigger, older powers slumber beneath the surface of her world. And they're about to wake up.

This is my favorite book of the last several years. Very descriptive and compelling writing style. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. -Mykle

In the garden

Emma Giuliani

j635 Giuliani
Gardening, Kids

"From season to season, children follow the life of a garden as each page reveals new treasures hiding under lift-up flaps. Peek inside the curious tulip bulb and discover the peas inside a peapod. Watch a ladybug help with pesky aphids and search for ripe strawberries under the leaves"--Publisher marketing.

I happened upon this giant book on a cart to be shelved, and was drawn in by its bold colors and the word "garden," which has quickly become an obsessive hobby of mine. I leisurely read through the gardening tips and fruit, vegetable and flower vocabulary, particularly tickled by the cute lift-the-flap moments revealing the secret, inside petals or what a seed will look like as it grows into fruition. Every once in a while I have an older kid at the children's desk asking for a lift-the-flap book, and this nonfiction, yet whimsical, read is the perfect answer. -Mari

Lunar New Year love story

Gene Luen Yang

GRAPHIC NOVEL Yang
Romance, Diverse Characters, Graphic Novels

Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, and falling in love. Val is ready to give up on love. It's led to nothing but secrets and heartbreak, and she's pretty sure she's cursed--no one in her family, for generations, has ever had any luck with love. But then a chance encounter with a pair of cute lion dancers sparks something in Val. Is it real love? Could this be her chance to break the family curse? Or is she destined to live with a broken heart forever?

Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham are some of best in the business when it comes to graphic novels and illustrations in the children's lit world, so I was excited to see a graphic romance novel for (young) adults! I thought the love story was interesting and was blown away by the illustrations. I love a thick graphic novel, and this story has a lot of cool elements--memorable characters, deep family secrets, celebration of Chinese and Korean culture, and of course a long-game romance with a romantic comedy of the 90's-type ending! Would be a great winter read around Valentine's Day and Lunar New Year of course, but a fun summer romance too! -Mari

The eye of darkness

George Mann

SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars
Adventure, Science Fiction

"One year after the tragic events of The Fallen Star, the Jedi fight to break the Nihil's control over the galaxy"--

Another fun read set in the High Republic. I love the way these books can really get you to care for characters over time yet don't shy away from tragic endings. -Mykle

Moomin : the complete Tove Jansson comic strip

Tove Jansson

COMIC Moomin
Graphic Novels, Adventure, Kids

A cute and quaint comic series that's not just for kids! I loved accompanying the Moomin family on their hilarious adventures through Moominvalley. Also a good Pride Month read from the artist and writer Tove Jansson, a queer icon! -Annie

Ruined

Sarah Vaughn

GRAPHIC NOVEL Vaughn
Fiction, Romance

For fans of Bridgerton comes a Regency-era romance graphic novel about the unexpected passion that blooms from a marriage of convenience. The whole town is whispering about how Catherine Benson lost her virtue, though they can never agree on the details. Was it in the public garden? Or a moving carriage? Only a truly desperate man would want her now -- and that's exactly what Andrew Davener is. His family's estate is in disrepair, but Catherine's sizeable dowry could set it to rights. After the two wed, Catherine finds herself inexplicably drawn to Andrew. But could falling in love with her husband tear her marriage apart? In this richly detailed Regency romance, duty and passion collide in a slow-burn tale of intertwined fates.

tl;dr: Great book for Bridgerton lovers. I picked up this book because I haven't read a graphic novel romance and was very intrigued when I saw it on the shelf. I didn't like the illustration at first but it grew on me as the story went deeper into the characters' lives and motivations. I tend not to read historical fiction but I thought this might be a nice entry into the Bridgerton-influenced historical romance. There's no narration text, just illustrations and dialogue. The clean-line and uncluttered drawings communicated so much on their own. Novels require descriptive writing to detail the setting, but this graphic novel used sparseness to get me into the headspace of Regency England. FYI--some scenes are mature in nature. -Melody

The pelican can

Toni Yuly

jE Yuly
Picture Books, Nature

"An exuberant celebration of the remarkable things that a pelican can do"--

This is my new favorite storytime read! Toni Yuly's latest combines beautiful illustrations, perfect pacing, and a predictable call-and-response structure. Adaptations for storyJAM are forthcoming already! -Casey

Always Matt : a tribute to Matthew Shepard

Lesléa Newman

BIOGRAPHY Shepard, Matthew
LGBTQ+, Nonfiction, Memoir

On the night of October 6, 1998, in Laramie, Wyoming, Matthew Wayne Shepard (1976-1998) was brutally killed solely because he was gay. It was a shocking murder that was nationally covered in the media, and it became a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ rights movement. In 2009, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act was signed by President Barack Obama, expanding the federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. With a foreword by Jason Collins--the first openly gay active player in the NBA--and written by Lesléa Newman--author of the Stonewall Honor-winning novel-in-verse October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard and a friend of the Shepard family--Always Matt is an emotional yet ultimately hopeful look at the progress that's been made, as well as the work that still continues, in advocating for the dignity and equality of all people.

Always Matt is a beautiful tribute to the life and memory of Matthew Shepard. As someone who grew up in Wyoming and went to school in Laramie, Matt's story is always on my mind. I appreciate that author Lesléa Newman tells this incredibly important narrative in verse style, leaving "a great deal of empty space on the page, which mirrors the empty space Matt left behind when he was taken from this world." A must read! -Violette

Halo : evolutions : essential tales of the Halo universe

various

SCIENCE FICTION Halo
Science Fiction

A great assortment of background stories set in the Halo universe. Fast, easy to read, and it's in bite size pieces. -Mykle

Five stories

Ellen Weinstein

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

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

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

The book proposal

K. J. Micciche

FICTION Micciche K
Fiction, Romance, Humor

Broke up with, broke, and with a vicious case of writer's block, romance writer Gracie Landing is a hot mess. She can hardly be blamed for drinking one (or a few) too many cocktails when out with her besties in an attempt to cheer herself up. Sometime in the foggy wee hours, she recklessly emails her unrequited high-school crush, Colin Yarmouth, who is now a successful attorney harboring regrets of his own. When she receives an intriguingly friendly (not to say flirty) response, her acute embarrassment is overcome only by her fervent curiosity―what would a hottie like Colin be like as a grown up? The two forge an unlikely friendship that's unmistakably headed for more. Colin's tales of his own woeful break-up become fodder for Gracie's fertile imagination and her current work-in-progress takes off. With the deadline looming and her checking account dwindling, Gracie has no idea that borrowing Colin's story could wreak havoc on her life, her career, and her own chance at happily-ever-after...

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

The bullet swallower : a novel

Elizabeth Gonzalez James

FICTION Gonzalez Elizabet
Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure

In 1895, Antonio Sonoro is the latest in a long line of ruthless men. He’s good with his gun and is drawn to trouble but he’s also out of money and out of options. A drought has ravaged the town of Dorado, Mexico, where he lives with his wife and children, and so when he hears about a train laden with gold and other treasures, he sets off for Houston to rob it—with his younger brother Hugo in tow. But when the heist goes awry and Hugo is killed by the Texas Rangers, Antonio finds himself launched into a quest for revenge that endangers not only his life and his family, but his eternal soul. In 1964, Jaime Sonoro is Mexico’s most renowned actor and singer. But his comfortable life is disrupted when he discovers a book that purports to tell the entire history of his family beginning with Cain and Abel. In its ancient pages, Jaime learns about the multitude of horrific crimes committed by his ancestors. And when the same mysterious figure from Antonio’s timeline shows up in Mexico City, Jaime realizes that he may be the one who has to pay for his ancestors’ crimes, unless he can discover the true story of his grandfather Antonio, the legendary bandido El Tragabalas, The Bullet Swallower.

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

Lessons in chemistry : a novel

Bonnie Garmus

FICTION Garmus, Bonnie
Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science

"Set in 1960s California, this blockbuster debut is the hilarious, idiosyncratic and uplifting story of a female scientist whose career is constantly derailed by the idea that a woman's place is in the home, only to find herself starring as the host of America's most beloved TV cooking show. Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it's the 1960s and despite the fact that she is a scientist, her peers are very unscientific when it comes to equality. The only good thing to happen to her on the road to professional fulfillment is a run-in with her super-star colleague Calvin Evans (well, she stole his beakers.) The only man who ever treated her-and her ideas-as equal, Calvin is already a legend and Nobel nominee. He's also awkward, kind and tenacious. Theirs is true chemistry. But as events are never as predictable as chemical reactions, three years later Elizabeth Zott is an unwed, single mother (did we mention it's the early 60s??) and the star of America's most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth's singular approach to cooking ('take one pint of H2O and add a pinch of sodium chloride') and independent example are proving revolutionary. Because Elizabeth isn't just teaching women how to cook, she's teaching them how to change the status quo. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant, and studded with a dazzling cast of supporting characters, Lessons in Chemistry is as original and vibrant as its protagonist"--

Bonnie Garmus' Lessons in Chemistry is my favorite read of this year! Readers will love Elizabeth Zott's incredible strength and sharp wit in this novel, as she perseveres against a 1960s male-dominated world that doesn't believe in her abilities. She'll prove them wrong. -Violette