Books, Movies, CDs

None of This is True

Lisa Jewell

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction, Mystery

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the #1 New York Times bestselling author known for her "superb pacing, twisted characters, and captivating prose" (BuzzFeed), Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summer crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins. A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix's children's school. Josie has been listening to Alix's podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life. Josie's life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can't quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realize that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix's life—and into her home. But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family's lives under mortal threat. Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

This was good...I wasn't even expecting it to be so good! You know, sometimes these mysteries can take on the same flavor after a while, even when certain plot points vary slightly. This is your 'average woman who has it mostly all together crosses paths with the seemingly meek and maybe mousy woman who never got the life she wanted but is ready to make a change' kind of mystery, BUT, with a incredibly highly unreliable narrator (narrators??) and some sinister plot twists thrown in there. It's up-to-date and the characters are well-defined and just introspective enough to make it real without going overboard with detail. Coupled with a stellar narration, this mystery ticks many boxes. -Candice

Seoul food

Erin Russell

jE Russell
Picture Books, Kids

When Hana's grandparents visit, Hana decides to cook a meal that represents both her Korean and Southern heritages.

Love is the ingredient that brings this fabulous picture book together. I may have to try the recipe in the back! -Casey

Luna Ranchera

Rodrigo Morlesin

jE Morlesin
Kids, Picture Books

"This spellbinding original story opens in a cantina crowded with desert animals, cowboys, and cowgirls all excited to see the glamorous Luna Ranchera mother-daughter singing duo. Long ago, Luna was down on her luck, starving and struggling to feed her pups, reduced to thieving from nearby ranchers. One day, escaping another heist, Luna has to hide in the worst possible place: on top of a beehive! She howls in pain so loudly, it carries all across the desert. It turns out Luna's musical wails are something special, captivating creatures far and wide. Her most rebellious pup, Ranchera, joins her, and soon the two become the famous howling singing act with the flea-bitten souls, Luna Ranchera! Immersive and unforgettable, with knockout, whimsical art, the tale ends with the lyrics to Luna Ranchera's most famous song. Perfect for fans of Coco and Soul."-- Provided by publisher.

This book is so funny and so entertaining and the cartoony illustrations on a dark background are so cool! It begs to be read aloud with its folkloric, conversational, clever tale-spinning vibe. -Anne W

Gender queer

Maia Kobabe

306.768 /Kobabe
Diverse Characters, LGBTQ+, Graphic Novels, Memoir, Young Adult

"In 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity--what it means and how to think about it--for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere."--Amazon.

Gender Queer is one of my favorite graphic novels of all time. In this memoir, we follow Maia's journey of self discovery in finding eir gender identity, coming out to eir friends and family, and making eir place in this world. A truly essential text for LGBTQ+ young adults, advocates, and anyone wishing to make the world a kinder, more compassionate place for everyone to exist in. -Violette

The road from Belhaven : a novel

Margot Livesey

FICTION Livesey Margot
Fiction, Historical Fiction

"From the New York Times best-selling author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy, a novel about a young woman whose gift of second sight complicates her coming of age in late 19th century Scotland Growing up in the care of her grandparents on Belhaven farm, Lizzie Craig discovers at a young age that she can see into the future. Her gift of sight is selective-she doesn't, for instance, see that she has an older sister who will come to join the family on her beloved farm. But she does see "pictures" that foretell various incidents and accidents and begins to realize a painful truth: she may glimpse the future, but she can seldom change it. Nor can Lizzie change the feelings that come when a young man named Louis, visiting Belhaven for the harvest, begins to court her. Why have the adults around her not revealed that the touch of a hand can change everything? After following Louis to Glasgow, though, she learns the limits of his devotion, and when faced with a seemingly impossible choice, she makes what turns out to be a terrible mistake. But while Lizzie can't change the past, her second sight may allow her a second chance. Luminous and transporting, The Road from Belhaven once again displays "the marvelous control of a writer who conjures equally well the tangible, sensory world . . . and the mysteries, stranger and wilder, that flicker at the border of that world." (The Boston Globe)"--

There is something reminiscent of Dickens, Hardy, and Bronte in this novel, but the sentiments are all modern. Livesey skillfully illustrates how one's desires shift and change. You never truly sure if what you want or what is best--but there are those moments you do. I really enjoyed this book. -Anne M

Fire flight : a wildfire escape

Cedar Pruitt

j363.379 Pruitt
Nonfiction, Nature

"Flames consume a forest, and an owl seeks refuge. Helicopter wings chop, and water drops to drench the branches below. Using spare, lyrical language, this debut picture book takes readers inside the journey of a screech owl that fled the flames to ride along with a firefighting helicopter during the 2020 California Creek wildfire. Vivid imagery highlights the fear and danger of the experience-as well as an astonishing moment of connection"--

This is an astonishing story of a tiny, cute owl who took refuge from a wildfire inside a firefighters' helicopter. There's a real photo of the tiny, cute owl at the end of the book! -Anne W

Sounds good! : discover 50 instruments

Ole Könnecke

j784.19 Konnecke
Music, Kids, Nonfiction

Explore over 50 common and uncommon instruments as showcased by a fun group of animals. Learn interesting, practical and curious things about music and making music. Discover instruments of all kinds-- from the electric guitar and steelpan to the theremin, from viola to vibraphone to ukulele. Listen through QR codes on each page to a piece of music composed to showcase every instrument by an award-winning musician-- and to a full band that brings together all the instruments in the book!"--Adapted from back cover.

I don't know anything about music except if I like or don't like something when I listen to it, based on nothing but a gut reaction. So this book taught me a lot! Accompanied by hilarious illustrations of random animals playing the instruments, each instrument gets one page of accessible, yet interesting information. Like, I never considered that a harmonica makes one note when you inhale and a different note when you exhale, so that's why it can be so small as to fit in your pocket! There is history, practical info, and fun facts, all presented in a straightforward writing style. -Anne W

SPLINTERS.

LESLIE JAMISON

BIOGRAPHY/Jamison, Leslie
Nonfiction, Biographies, Literary Nonfiction

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review Bestseller Jamison (The Empathy Exams) chronicles in this exquisite memoir the dramatic shift her life took following the birth of her daughter and the end of her marriage. After giving birth three weeks before her due date in an emergency C-section, Jamison felt overwhelmingly grateful her daughter survived, even as she struggled with difficulties breastfeeding and other challenges of caring for a newborn. Then the real pain started: just over a year after her daughter was born, Jamison's marriage to her husband, "C," disintegrated as his anger grew more intense, and she began divorce proceedings. Two post-divorce boyfriends--"the tumbleweed" and "the ex-philosopher"--entered the picture, then exited. Throughout, Jamison is brutally honest about the obstacles to balancing creative fulfillment, parenting, dating, and sobriety, utilizing her beguiling command of language to spotlight feelings often obscured in other accounts of motherhood ("Sometimes motherhood tricked me into feeling virtuous because I was always taking care of someone. But it didn't make me virtuous at all. It made me feral and ruthless"). Her soul-searching is sure to inspire readers seeking to find the sweet spot between living for their children and living for themselves. By turns funny, poignant, harrowing, and joyful, this standout personal history isn't easily forgotten.

To be honest, this book wasn't at the top of my TBR list, but it is now! I was lucky enough to catch Leslie reading and in conversation with Kaveh Akbar at Prairie Lights last night, and within a minute of hearing Ms. Jamison read, I knew that I would be diving into this book ASAP. So much has already been said about her meticulous attention to detail and conjuring scene and emotion with just the right words, and it's all true. For me, though, it was her actual reading of her own words that hooked me so quickly--a cadence somewhere between prose and poetry that illuminated the beauty of the sentences and let their meaning come through at the same time. And if you're worried that a book about being a writer or a divorcée or a mother won't appeal to you if you aren't any of those things, rest assured that there's so much more to the work. As the subtitle says, it's a different kind of love story, and I think there is something in this book that everyone can relate to. -Candice

The end of Eden : wild nature in the age of climate breakdown

Adam Welz

577.27 /Welz
Nature, Nonfiction

"A revelatory exploration of climate change from the perspective of wild species and natural ecosystems--an homage to the miraculous, vibrant entity that is life on Earth. Your key word here is Sustainable Living right out of the World Economic Forum. "

It seems fitting to write a review of this book when here in Iowa the weather went from record warmth to below-average temperatures and the potential of snow all within 24 hours. It's weird, right? This new book from Adam Welz documents not climate change, but what he terms "global weirding." In it, he carefully highlights species across the globe affected by their ecosystem in a state of decline, often so difficult to see to the layperson, but with devastating implications for these species. Wenz does not demonize stakeholders, but simply lays out the stone cold facts that at times can be difficult, if not necessary to learn. -Victoria

Alexandria : the city that changed the world

Islam Issa

962.1 /Issa
Nonfiction, History

An award-winning British-Egyptian writer presents an authoritative history of the first modern city and how it has shaped our modern world, including its role as a global capital of knowledge as well as the site of plagues and violence. A city drawn in sand. Inspired by the tales of Homer and his own ambitions of empire, Alexander the Great sketched the idea of a city onto the sparsely populated Egyptian coastline. He did not live to see Alexandria built, but his vision of a sparkling metropolis that celebrated learning and diversity was swiftly realised and still stands today. Situated on the cusp of Africa, Europe and Asia, great civilisations met in Alexandria. Together, Greeks and Egyptians, Romans and Jews created a global knowledge capital of enormous influence: the inventive collaboration of its citizens shaped modern philosophy, science, religion and more. In pitched battles, later empires, from the Arabs and Ottomans to the French and British, laid claim to the city but its independent spirit endures. In this sweeping biography of the great city, Islam Issa takes us on a journey across millennia, rich in big ideas, brutal tragedies and distinctive characters, from Cleopatra to Napoleon. From its humble origins to dizzy heights and present-day strife, Alexandria tells the gripping story of a city that has shaped our modern world.

Calling all history buffs! This isn't just a well-researched, comprehensive history of one of the most fascinating cities in the world (past and present), written by someone who is from there: it's also wildly interesting! Many of us already know the high points--Alexander and Ptolemy, Cleopatra, the Ottomans, the British, the library (oh, the library!)--but really there's so much more to learn. Islam Issa tells the story of this city with thought and skill, resulting in a delightful book that gives Alexandria the respect it deserves in the minds of readers. -Candice

Every heart a doorway

Seanan McGuire

SCIENCE FICTION Mcguire Seanan
Fantasy

Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children No Solicitations No Visitors No Quests Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now she's back. The things she's experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West's care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world. But Nancy's arrival marks a change at the Home. There's a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it's up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of things. No matter the cost.

Join us for ICPL's Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club! We will meet via Zoom to discuss "Every Heart a Doorway" by Seanan McGuire. Feel free to join us, whether or not you've finished the book! Register here to reserve your spot for the discussion. Our video chat will take place via Zoom, and you’ll receive an email with login details before the meeting: https://www.icpl.org/events/53543/sci-fifantasy-book-club-every-heart-doorway-seanan-mcguire -Brian

The lies of Locke Lamora

Scott Lynch

SCIENCE FICTION Lynch, Scott
Fantasy

An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges relentless danger, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentlemen Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.

Here's another book that has been on my TBR pile for literal years, and there's a good reason for that: It's amazing, but it's also a part of painful trinity of fantasy authors who haven't (and may never) deliver the rest of their series (the other members of this group are Patrick Rothfuss and George R. R. Martin.) Scott Lynch's "The Lies of Locke Lamora" begins his Gentleman Bastard series. Think of it as Ocean's 11 set in a fantasy world. If that sounds interesting, then you'll love this. Just know what you're getting yourself into--a story that may never have an ending! -Brian

The Fifth Season

N. K. Jemisin

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction, Fantasy, Diverse Characters

At the end of the world, a woman must hide her secret power and find her kidnapped daughter in this "intricate and extraordinary" Hugo Award winning novel of power, oppression, and revolution. (The New York Times) This is the way the world ends. . .for the last time. It starts with the great red rift across the heart of the world's sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun. It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter. It starts with betrayal, and long dormant wounds rising up to fester. This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy. Read the first book in the critically acclaimed, three-time Hugo award-winning trilogy by NYT bestselling author N. K. Jemisin.

The Fifth Season is a braided coming of age story, a wonderful character study that is beautifully narrated by Robin Miles. This series does not flinch away from difficult topics, and explores the effects of racism, colonialism, and other oppressive power structures in stark detail. -Chelsea

Held

Anne Michaels

FICTION Michaels Anne
Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction

"A breathtaking and ineffable new novel from the author of the international best sellers Fugitive Pieces and The Winter Vault-a novel of love and loyalty across generations, at once sweeping and intimate. 1917. On a battlefield near the River Aisne, John lies in the aftermath of a blast, unable to move or feel his legs. Struggling to focus his thoughts, he is lost to memory as the snow falls-a chance encounter in a pub by a railway, a hot bath with his lover on a winter night. 1920. John has returned from war to North Yorkshire, near a different river. He is alive but still not whole. Reunited with Helena, an artist, he reopens his photography business and tries to keep on living. But the past erupts insistently into the present, as ghosts begin to surface in his pictures: ghosts with messages he cannot understand. So begins a narrative that spans four generations of connections and consequences that ignite and re-ignite as the century unfolds. In luminous moments of desire, comprehension, longing, and transcendence, the sparks fly upward, working their transformations decades later. Held is affecting and intensely beautiful, full of mystery, wisdom, and compassion, a novel by a writer at the height of her powers"--

“Held” is a little like a literary puzzle. The narrative is organized in generational fragments; but “organized” isn’t quite the right word. Each chapter is connected with the others by a thread—a child, a grandchild, a spouse, a mother--advancing or in some cases, retreating through the 20th century. Each chapter gives you a little more understanding of the family as a whole. It is fitting that we are first introduced to a photographer, John, just back from the trenches in 1917 to find that his photographs contain the ghosts of his subjects. It’s a little like a metaphor for how this book develops. Anne Michaels’s prose shimmers. -Anne M

El asco : Thomas Bernhard en San Salvador

Castellanos Moya, Horacio, 1957-

SPANISH FICTION Castellanos Moya

"El asco, una de las novelas más celebradas de Horacio Castellanos Moya, es sin duda la más controvertida de toda su producción y aquella por la que los lectores de su país le recordarán siempre. En sus páginas, el autor se propuso "hacer una demolición cultural y política de San Salvador, al igual que Thomas Bernhard la había hecho de Salzburgo", y el resultado es una novela extraordinariamente incisiva y mordaz, un ajuste de cuentas y una crítica feroz a su país, por la que recibió amenazas de muerte que lo forzaron a emprender el camino del exilio. Tras la reciente muerte de su madre, el profesor Edgardo Vega regresa a El Salvador después de dieciocho años de exilio en Canadá. Para Vega, retornar a su país natal significa tener que enfrentarse a un país que le resulta despreciable, repulsivo e ignorante, un lugar que solo es capaz de provocarle náuseas y el más alto grado de ansiedad. Todo esto le cuenta Vega a Moya, un antiguo compañero de escuela, y llega a nosotros en la forma de un monólogo torrencial en el que el profesor arremete contra todo y contra todos, en una crítica feroz y despiadada de la que no se salva nada ni nadie, ni siquiera su propia familia."--Amazon.com.

"El asco, una de las novelas más celebradas de Horacio Castellanos Moya, es sin duda la más controvertida de toda su producción y aquella por la que los lectores de su país le recordarán siempre. En sus páginas, el autor se propuso «hacer una demolición cultural y política de San Salvador, al igual que Thomas Bernhard la había hecho de Salzburgo», y el resultado es una novela extraordinariamente incisiva y mordaz, un ajuste de cuentas y una crítica feroz a su país, por la que recibió amenazas de muerte que lo forzaron a emprender el camino del exilio. Tras la reciente muerte de su madre, el profesor Edgardo Vega regresa a El Salvador después de dieciocho años de exilio en Canadá. Para Vega, retornar a su país natal significa tener que enfrentarse a un país que le resulta despreciable, repulsivo e ignorante, un lugar que solo es capaz de provocarle náuseas y el más alto grado de ansiedad. Todo esto le cuenta Vega a Moya, un antiguo compañero de escuela, y llega a nosotros en la forma de un monólogo torrencial en el que el profesor arremete contra todo y contra todos, en una crítica feroz y despiadada de la que no se salva nada ni nadie, ni siquiera su propia familia". Contratapa del libro. -Alex

Wild places : the life of naturalist David Attenborough

Hayley Rocco

j508.092 Attenborough
Nature, Nonfiction

"A nonfiction account of the life of British naturalist David Attenborough and his advocacy for the protection of wild places on Earth"--

Gorgeous illustrations. Simple, straightforward writing about the natural world and Attenborough's efforts to educate about animals, nature, the environment, and climate change. This is an incredible book. -Anne W

The Hormone Shift: Balance Your Body and Thrive Through Midlife and Menopause

Tasneem Bhatia, MD

OverDrive Audiobook
Nonfiction, Health

The goop hormone authority offers an empowering new approach to taking charge of hormone shifts through every stage of life—especially menopause. When hormonal highs, lows, twists, and turns feel overwhelming, Dr. Tasneem Bhatia can offer a road map—and a whole new perspective. As an MD with an East-meets-West approach to women’s health, Dr. Tasneem (known as Dr. Taz) combines the wisdom of Eastern modalities like Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine with modern medical treatments for whole body wellness.   To Dr. Taz, menopause is not an “ending”; a woman’s entire life is a spectrum of ever-shifting hormones, and menopause is just one point along that spectrum. And hormone levels are a fluid continuum that you have a lot of control over: through your diet, how you sleep, how you manage stress, and more.   In The Hormone Shift, Dr. Taz breaks down exactly what is happening behind the scenes in a woman’s body throughout her life and how almost every aspect of health is connected to hormones—from metabolism to mental health. She explains how to prepare for whatever is coming next, and offers a customizable Thirty-Day Hormone Reset plan that uses a combination of Eastern and Western healing modalities to keep the body in balance and deliver a targeted strategy for minimizing unwanted symptoms at every stage. * This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF with checklists, charts, illustrations, and an appendix from the book.

Honestly I came across this audiobook while looking for other books narrated by Soneela Nankani. She narrates books I love by Sonali Dev and Nisha Sharma, whose novels focus on Southeast Asian American culture and how traditional culture from their homeland conflicts with that of their adopted home. So here I am trying to find another Southeast Asian American love story and I stumble upon a book about menopause. There are a lot of new articles about how long the American health industry has ignored the suffering women go through during this major life event. Dr. Bhati discusses the 5 stages of hormonal shifting, starting with puberty and ending post menopause. She discusses individual hormones and their effects on the body extensively. She also gives lots of advice to help alleviate the suffering women go through due to these hormonal changes. If this is something you're experiencing or know someone who is, this book is worth checking out! -Melody

So late in the day : stories of women and men

Claire Keegan

FICTION Keegan Claire
Literary Fiction

"Celebrated for her powerful short fiction, Claire Keegan now gifts us three exquisite stories together forming a brilliant examination of gender dynamics and an arc from Keegan's earliest to her most recent work. In "So Late in the Day," Cathal faces a long weekend as his mind agitates over a woman with whom he could have spent his life, had he acted differently; in "The Long and Painful Death" a writer's arrival at the seaside home of Heinrich Böll for a two-week writing residency is disrupted by an academic who imposes his criticisms and opinions; and in "Antarctica" a married woman travels out of town to see what it's like to sleep with another man and ends up in the grip of a possessive stranger.' Each story probes the dynamics that corrupt what could be between women and men: a lack of generosity, the weight of expectation, the looming threat of violence."--

I’m resolved to read anything that Claire Keegan publishes. “Foster” and “Small Things Like These” made such an impression. “So Late in the Day” is comprised of three short stories on a theme: men and women together. Whether in a long-term relationship or an impromptu meeting or as a tryst, none of it goes well. There is resentment, judgement, anger, fear, and in one story, violence. These are themes Keegan explores well. Keegan stays concise and compact in her writing, but wow, is able to build so much tension. -Anne M

Torn apart : how the child welfare system destroys Black families--and how abolition can build a safer world

Dorothy E. Roberts

362.7 /Roberts
Black Lives Matter, Black History, Nonfiction

An award-winning scholar exposes the foundational racism of the child welfare system and calls for radical change. Many believe the child welfare system protects children from abuse. But as Torn Apart uncovers, this system is designed to punish Black families. Drawing on decades of research, legal scholar and sociologist Dorothy Roberts reveals that the child welfare system is better understood as a 'family policing system' that collaborates with law enforcement and prisons to oppress Black communities. Child protection investigations ensnare a majority of Black children, putting their families under intense state surveillance and regulation. Black children are disproportionately likely to be torn from their families and placed in foster care, driving many to juvenile detention and imprisonment. The only way to stop the destruction caused by family policing, Torn Apart argues, is to abolish the child welfare system and liberate Black communities.

Reading this for our community book discussion here on 2/29/2024! -Jason

Molly

Blake Butler

BIOGRAPHY Butler, Blake
Nonfiction, Biographies

"Blake Butler and Molly Brodak instantly connected, fell in love, married and built a life together. Both writers with deep roots in contemporary American literature, their union was an iconic joining of forces between two major and beloved talents. Nearly three years into their marriage, grappling with mental illness and a lifetime of trauma, Molly took her own life. In the days and weeks after Molly's death, Blake discovered shocking secrets she had held back from the world, fundamentally altering his view of their relationship and who she was. A masterpiece of autobiography, Molly is a riveting journey into the darkest and most unthinkable parts of the human heart, emerging with a hard-won, unsurpassedly beautiful understanding that expands the possibilities of language to comprehend and express true love. Unrelentingly clear, honest and concise, Molly approaches the impossible directly, with a total empathy that has no parallel or precedent" --

I must admit that I'm at a bit of a loss for words with this book--I'm not ambivalent, but a little conflicted in how I feel about it. I placed a hold on it before it's publication, based on reviews I read, and in between that time and now, so much has already been said about the book that I know I my reading of it was changed to some degree. I wasn't just reading to learn Molly's story, her life and her life with Blake, her actions, and what one does in the aftermath of the worst situations, but now I was also reading to see if the author needed to be judged in some way, to ascertain if his telling crossed lines or was vindictive, or if parts of the story were even his to tell. I can see why the book has been polarizing for many, and I'll admit that while parts of it were achingly open and full of grief for a love lost, other parts felt more like they were written by someone who has been hurt very much and wants to hurt back. As ever, I would still encourage those who are interested to read it and form your own decision. -Candice

This American ex-wife : how I ended my marriage and started my life

Lyz Lenz

BIOGRAPHY Lenz, Lyz
Memoir

"A deeply validating manifesto on the gender politics of marriage (bad) and divorce (actually pretty good!) in America today, and an argument that the former needs a reboot-from journalist and proud divorcée Lyz Lenz. Studies show that nearly 70 percent of divorces are initiated by women-women who are tired, fed up, exhausted, and unhappy. We've all seen how the media portrays divorcées: sad, lonely, drowning their sorrows in a bottle of wine. Lyz Lenz is one such woman whose life fell apart after she reached a breaking point in her twelve-year marriage. But she refused to take part in that tired narrative and decided to flip the script on divorce. In this exuberant and unapologetic book, Lenz makes an argument for the advantages of getting divorced, framing it as a practical and effective solution for women to take back the power they are owed. Weaving reportage with sociological research and literature with popular culture along with personal stories of coming together and breaking up, Lenz creates a kaleidoscopic and poignant portrait of American marriage today. She argues that the mechanisms of American power, justice, love, and gender equality remain deeply flawed, and that marriage, like any other cultural institution, is due for a reckoning. A raucous argument for acceptance, solidarity, and collective female refusal, This American Ex-Wife takes readers on a riveting ride-while pointing us all toward a life that is a little more free"--

This book was like an extended version of America Ferrera’s monologue in Barbie with added wit and humor. I had so much fun reading this and loved the empowerment! -Amanda

Will to wild : adventures great and small to change your life

Shelby Stanger

796.5 /Stanger
Self Help

"Will to Wild is an instruction manual to adventure. Your guide: enthusiastic outdoorswoman Shelby Stanger. Shelby has been teaching folks how to leap into the unknown since she taught her first surf class over twenty years ago. Over the years, she watched many of her students quit their jobs, end dysfunctional relationships, and move across the country for a healthier work-life-balance--all after spending a bit of time in nature. Shelby marveled at the phenomenon. Being outside was changing the lives of her students, her peers, and herself. Shelby was so intrigued, she began to tell their stories, first as a writer and journalist, then as a podcast host for Wild Ideas Worth Living, REI Co-op Studio's flagship podcast." --

Heartwarming and inspirational! This is a great book for teens and college students getting ready for a next stage in life, or really anyone in need of encouragement and ideas for their next adventure. -Amanda

Mrs. Quinn's rise to fame : a novel

Olivia Ford

FICTION Ford Olivia
Fiction

"After fifty-nine years of marriage, as her husband Bernard's health declines, and her friends' lives become focused on their grandchildren--Jenny decides she wants a little something for herself. So she secretly applies to be a contestant on the prime-time TV show Britain Bakes. Whisked into an unfamiliar world of cameras and timed challenges, Jenny delights in a new-found independence. But that independence, and the stress of the competition, starts to unearth memories buried decades ago...With her baking star rising, Jenny struggles to keep a lid on that first secret--a long-concealed deceit that threatens to shatter the very foundations of her marriage"--

I am really looking forward to reading this! GBBO (Great British Bake Off, or Show in the U.S.) is still a go-to Netflix watch for me. The older bakers are always some of the best contestants on the show, loving cooking for their grandchildren and always having a warm kitchen. There's a slew of spin-offs from GBBO, both in new television series and fiction novels, that I'm eager to see Olivia Ford's take on it next. -Melody

The Predictable Heartbreaks of Imogen Finch: A Novel

Jacqueline Firkins

OverDrive Audiobook
Romance, Fiction

A beautiful story of friendship, and second chances at loveImogen Finch has just been through her sixteenth breakup. She saw it coming, so she's not as crushed as she might be, but with all sixteen of her exes leaving her for other partners, she's come to believe a prediction her well-intentioned and possibly clairvoyant mother made over twenty years ago: that Imogen would never come first at anything or to anyone.Is her love life failing due to a magical curse? Insufficient effort? Poor timing or personality mismatches? Everyone has opinions on the matter.Imogen's ready to give up altogether. But when Eliot Swift, her secret high school crush, returns to their small coastal town after a decade of nomadic travels, Imogen has new motivation to try again. Eliot's full of encouragement. He suggests that her curse is not only imagined, it's easily breakable. All they need is one win—any win—and she can believe in love—and in herself—again.From trivia games to swimming races to corn-shucking contests, the pair sets out to snag Imogen her first first. But when victory proves more elusive than Eliot anticipated and when his deep-seeded wanderlust compels him to depart for far-away places, Imogen fears she is destined to remain in second place forever.Fortunately for them both, sometimes magic lingers in the most unexpected places. And love is far from predictable.

I picked up this audiobook because I was really attracted to the premise, a clairvoyant mother predicting her daughter will never come in first for anything. I love is when my protagonist is a loser! Just Kidding. Really, tho, so many plots in romantic universes start with a lead who is down on their luck. The novelty of this novel is the lead is perpetually unlucky, but in true romance form, she persists! The double-edged sword of audiobooks is that the narrator's performance can be so realistic and dramatic that the character reads as melodramatic. So it is with this book's male lead, a rich kid with a chip on his shoulder the size of his CEO father. Still, wealthy heirs have feelings, too! I'm about an hour away from completing this book, so fingers crossed he gets a therapist and grows up a little. -Melody

Ungrateful mammals

Dave Eggers

741.973 /Eggers
Humor, Animals, Philosophy, Art / Art History

Before he embarked on his writing career, Dave Eggers was classically trained as a draftsman and painter. He then spent many years as a professional illustrator and graphic designer before turning to writing full-time. More recently, in order to raise money for ScholarMatch, his college-access nonprofit, he returned to visual art, and the results have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the country. Usually involving the pairing of an animal with humorous or Biblical text, the results are wry, oddly anthropomorphic tableaus that create a very entertaining and eccentric body of work from one of today's leading culture makers.

A fun, amusing, and quick read! I didn't know Dave Eggers was an illustrator and graphic designer before turning to writing — it's inspiring to know that all art can fuel other forms of art. Give this flip through before seeing him in conversation at the Englert on Thursday, March 7! -Annie

Don't forget the girl : a novel

Rebecca McKanna

FICTION Mckanna Rebecca
Thriller, Suspense

"We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers. Twelve years ago, 18-year-old University of Iowa freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Now, Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder, is about to be executed. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watch as Abby's memory is unearthed and overshadowed by Blue and his flashier crimes. The friends, estranged in the wake of Abby's disappearance, and suffering from years of unvoiced resentments, must reunite when a high-profile podcast dedicates its next season to Blue's murders. Tense and introspective, Don't Forget the Girl is an astonishing debut thriller that mines the complexities of friendship and the secrets between us that we may take to the grave"--

I thought this a better-than-average serial killer story that has some realistic characterizations of secrets and insecurities of young adult girls. I love that it's set in Iowa City, and you can tell that the author actually experienced college at the University of Iowa. -Mari

Creep, leap, crunch! : a food chain story

Jody Jensen Shaffer

j577.16 Shaffer
Nonfiction, Picture Books, Animals, Nature

"In this nonfiction picture book, discover how the animal kingdom's food chain takes shape"--

Fabulous illustrations by Christopher Silas Neal accompany this cumulative food chain text. "Creep, Leap, Crunch!" is great for sensitive youngsters with alternate endings for each of the animals offered, reminding readers that predators are not always successful. A lovely glossary adds more information about the animals and temperate setting as well. Add this to the picture book nonfiction shelf! -Casey

The tusks of extinction

Ray Nayler

SCIENCE FICTION Nayler Ray
Science Fiction, Fantasy

"When you bring back a long-extinct species, there's more to success than the DNA. Moscow has resurrected the mammoth. But someone must teach them how to be mammoths, or they are doomed to die out, again. The late Dr. Damira Khismatullina, the world's foremost expert in elephant behavior, is called in to help. While she was murdered a year ago, her digitized consciousness is uploaded into the brain of a mammoth. Can she help the magnificent creatures fend off poachers long enough for their species to take hold? And will she ever discover the real reason they were brought back?" -- Publisher website.

Once again Nayler has created a very interesting and engaging near future world, with a specific animal in focus. A novella in length, there is certainly room and many directions to expand this particular reality he has crafted; I hope he does so. Naylor is officially on my watch list for future endeavors. -Paul

Pritty

Miller, Keith F., Jr., author.

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Miller Keith

"On the verge of summer before his senior year, Jay is a soft soul in a world of concrete. While his older brother is everything people expect a man to be--tough, athletic, and in charge--Jay simply blends into the background to everyone, except when it comes to Leroy. Unsure of what he could have possibly done to catch the eye of the boy who could easily have anyone he wants, Jay isn't about to ignore the surprising but welcome attention. But as everything in his world begins to heat up, especially with Leroy, whispered rumors over the murder of a young Black journalist and long-brewing territory tensions hang like a dark cloud over his neighborhood. And when Jay and Leroy find themselves caught in the crossfire, Leroy isn't willing to be the reason Jay's life is at risk. Dragged into the world of the Black Diamonds--whose work to protect the Black neighborhoods of Savannah began with his father and now falls to his older brother--Leroy knows that finding out who attacked his brother is not only the key to protecting everyone he loves but also the only way he can ever be with Jay. Wading through a murky history of family trauma and regret, Leroy soon discovers that there's no keeping Jay safe when Jay's own family is in just as deep and fighting the undertow of danger just as hard. Now Jay and Leroy must puzzle through secrets hiding in plain sight and scramble to uncover who is determined to eliminate the Black Diamonds before someone else gets hurt--even if the cost might be their own electric connection"--

I haven't read a book like this before. It's raw, gritty, violent, but I was invested because I cared immensely what happened to the characters! -Victoria

There was a party for Langston

Reynolds, Jason, author.

jE Reynolds

A celebration of Langston Hughes and African American authors he inspired, told through the lens of the party held at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 1991.

YA legend, Jason Reynolds has dabbled in this tribute to the incredible Langston Hughes for young children and it's brimming with joy, beautiful art, and celebration. Bonus- It also features a library! -Victoria

Kehinde Wiley : a new republic

759.13 /Wiley

The works presented in Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic raise questions about race, gender, and the politics of representation by portraying contemporary African American men and women using the conventions of traditional European portraiture. The exhibition includes an overview of the artists prolific fourteen-year career and features sixty paintings and sculptures. Wiley's signature portraits of everyday men and women riff on specific paintings by Old Masters, replacing the European aristocrats depicted in those paintings with contemporary black subjects, drawing attention to the absence of African Americans from historical and cultural narratives. The subjects in Wiley's paintings often wear sneakers, hoodies, and baseball caps, gear associated with hip-hop culture, and are set against contrasting ornate decorative backgrounds that evoke earlier eras and a range of cultures. Through the process of "street casting," Wiley invites individuals, often strangers he encounters on the street, to sit for portraits. In this collaborative process, the model chooses a reproduction of a painting from a book and reenacts the pose of the painting?s figure. By inviting the subjects to select a work of art, Wiley gives them a measure of control over the way they're portrayed.

This is another older title, but Wiley's art is fascinating, rooted in history and that history us turned upside down and recreated in its own image. It's exactly the art I wanted to see as a kid. An absolute feast for the eyes! If you're a fan of his, check out one of his inspirations, Kerry James Marshall's Mastry. -Victoria

Karl's adventures in Beijing

Song, Sharon, author.

j951.156 Song
Picture Books

"The story follows Karl’s journey to Beijing, where he meets his friends. They stroll through some notable places in Beijing, like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. He also uses modern technology to receive red envelopes, experiences public square dancing, takes a high-speed train to learn Shaolin Kung Fu, and much more. Read this book to learn about the Chinese culture, Mandarin words, and have fun!" ~from publisher's website.

Follow Karl's 15 adventures in Beijing! You don't want to miss the famous snack street where people taste yummy Chinese food: stinky tofu, Beijing Ducks and more! In this fun bilingual picture book, local children's author Dan (Sharon) Song shares her curiosity and exploration of the Chinese culture, cuisine, and language. -Fang

Wish soup : a celebration of Seollal

Park, Junghwa, author, illustrator.

j394.269519 Park
Picture Books

Sohee helps her family prepare for the Lunar New Year celebration.

A very funny story about silly Sohee and the unique Korean Lunar New Year tradition: Each bowl of tteokguk (the special rice cake soup for New Year's Day) you eat will make you one year older! It's always fun to explore different festive tradtions around the world! -Fang

Amy Wu and the warm welcome

Zhang, Kat, 1991- author.

jE Zhang
Picture Books

Amy Wu would love to welcome the new student in her class, but Lin has just come from China and does not speak much English, so with the help of her family Amy tries to work out a way to bridge the language gap.

The Amy Wu picture book series is the perfect combination of lyrical storytelling and vibrant illustration. They tell the “real life" adventure stories that happen to every children of every immigrant families in their everyday growing-up. Check out this heartwarming story about Amy and her new friend from China, Lin! Lin feels warmly welcomed by Amy's yummy and jolly dumpling party, and a very special banner saying 欢迎你 (Welcome). Both kids learn a powerful lesson of inclusion through courageous and creative efforts! -Fang

The rice in the pot goes round and round

Shang, Wendy Wan Long, author.

jE Shang
Picture Books

Presents a song set to the tune of "The wheels on the bus," where a multigenerational family enjoys a culturally rich meal.

One of the top picks in ICPL's weekly Chinese Bilingual Storytime! While reading aloud and singing along to the sweet family-themed picture book, kids and parents can enjoy a big feast of authentic Chinese food. And subtly, page by page, they learn all the Chinese words of the whole big family! -Fang

An appetite for miracles

Laekan Zea Kemp

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Kemp Laekan

Danna Mendoza Villarreal's grandfather is slowly losing himself as his memories fade, and Danna's not sure her plan to help him remember through the foods he once reviewed will be enough to bring him back. Especially when her own love of food makes her complicated relationship with her mother even more difficult. Raúl Santos has been lost ever since his mother was wrongly incarcerated two years ago. Playing guitar for the elderly has been his only escape, to help them remember and him forget. But when his mom unexpectedly comes back into his life, what is he supposed to do when she isn't the same person who left? When Danna and Raúl meet, sparks fly immediately and they embark on a mission to heal her grandfather...and themselves. Because healing is something best done together; even if it doesn't always look the way we want it to.

This book is so beautiful! Her first book in prose, Laeken tackles issues of loss, difficult family dynamics, and incarceration in incredibly authentic ways. A wonderful story of two young people who are broken, and find healing in truly seeing each other for who they are. You'll love this if you're a fan of The Poet X (Elizabeth Acevedo,) or The Sun is Also a Star and Everything Everything (Nicola Yoon.) -Victoria

The roots of chicha : psychedelic cumbias from Peru.

COMPACT DISC WO:G PERU Roots
World

Perú, además de su rico pasado histórico tiene una tradición musical única. Una prueba de ello es este CD que contiene lo mejor de la Chicha peruana. La Chicha es un género musical que combina cumbia, rock, huayno y música de la selva. La presencia de la guitarra eléctrica es otro elemento a destacar; y hace aún más atractivo poder escuchar este CD. -Alex

System collapse

Martha Wells

SCIENCE FICTION Wells Martha
Science Fiction

"Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment in Martha Wells's New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series. Am I making it worse? I think I'm making it worse. Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there's an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can't have the planet, they're sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize. But there's something wrong with Murderbot; it isn't running within normal operational parameters. ART's crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza's SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they're going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what's wrong with itself, and fast! Yeah, this plan is... not going to work. The Murderbot Diaries All Systems Red Artificial Condition Rogue Protocol Exit Strategy Network Effect Fugitive Telemetry System Collapse"--

Murderbot is back and it feels so good! Wells never disappoints, and any time with my favorite, anti-social Security Unit is happy time for me. -Brian

Abaddon's Gate

James S. A Corey

SCIENCE FICTION Corey James
Science Fiction

For generations, the solar system -- Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt -- was humanity's great frontier. Until now. The alien artifact working through its program under the clouds of Venus has appeared in Uranus's orbit, where it has built a massive gate that leads to a starless dark. Jim Holden and the crew of the Rocinante are part of a vast flotilla of scientific and military ships going out to examine the artifact. But behind the scenes, a complex plot is unfolding, with the destruction of Holden at its core. As the emissaries of the human race try to find whether the gate is an opportunity or a threat, the greatest danger is the one they brought with them.

I'm continually impressed by the authors' ability to draw me in with new characters to this sprawling tale. It makes sense that this is a standout, fan favorite series! -Brian

Brat Farrar

Josephine Tey

MYSTERY Tey, Josephine
Mystery

In this tale of mystery and suspense, a stranger enters the inner sanctum of the Ashby family posing as Patrick Ashby, the heir to the family's sizable fortune. The stranger, Brat Farrar, has been carefully coached on Patrick's mannerism's, appearance, and every significant detail of Patrick's early life, up to his thirteenth year when he disappeared and was thought to have drowned himself. It seems as if Brat is going to pull off this most incredible deception until old secrets emerge that jeopardize the imposter's plan and his life. Culminating in a final terrible moment when all is revealed, Brat Farrar is a precarious adventure that grips the reader early and firmly and then holds on until the explosive conclusion.

This is a pretty fun read. It involves mistaken identify, a fraudulent claimant, and a slow burn of an unsolved mystery. Of course there is a British manor and the slow decay of an aristocratic family. And there is a lot of talk about horses. Tey is so good at pulling you around as a reader in where your sympathies lie and in your belief in what happened. It is clear why this is a classic. -Anne M

Light from uncommon stars

Ryka Aoki

SCIENCE FICTION Aoki Ryka
Fiction, Science Fiction

"Good Omens meets The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in Ryka Aoki's Light From Uncommon Stars, a defiantly joyful adventure set in California's San Gabriel Valley, with cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts. Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil: to escape damnation, she must entice seven other violin prodigies to trade their souls for success. She has already delivered six. When Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway, catches Shizuka's ear with her wild talent, Shizuka can almost feel the curse lifting. She's found her final candidate. But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan's kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul's worth. And maybe something as small as a warm donut is powerful enough to break a curse as vast as the California coastline. As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found"--

At turns lyrical and ridiculous, this book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me laugh while crying. The characters are wonderfully imperfect, and it is a delight to see how they fit their broken edges together. Best enjoyed with doughnuts. -Chelsea

Shut up, this is serious

Carolina Ixta

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Ixta Carolina
Young Adult

Belen Dolores Itzel del Toro wants the normal stuff: to experience love or maybe have a boyfriend or at least just lose her virginity. But nothing is normal in East Oakland. Her father left her family. She's at risk of not graduating. And Leti, her super-Catholic, nerdy-ass best friend, is pregnant--by the boyfriend she hasn't told her parents about because he's Black and her parents are racist.

This one drew me in from the beginning! Belén, one of the main characters is a sound narrator astute in her intuition and just a lovely character to share space with. Leti is a character we've all known in some form where the best laid plans often go off the rails and we're there watching how that all plays out. This is a story about the love of friendship, how families shape us, how images (good and bad) of our bodies are forged, and how to try to make sense of ourselves and our place in the world in our teen years. The story is set in Oakland, where the author grew up and this setting really brings it all together. A fantastic debut for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo! -Victoria

Living the Beatles legend : the untold story of Mal Evans

Kenneth Womack

781.66092 /Beatles
History, Music

"Malcolm Evans, the Beatles' long-time roadie, personal assistant, and devoted friend, was an invaluable member of the band's inner circle. A towering figure in horn-rimmed glasses, Evans loomed large in the Beatles' story, contributing at times as a performer and sometime lyricist, while struggling mightily to protect his beloved "boys." He was there for the whole of the group's remarkable, unparalleled story: from the Shea Stadium triumph through the creation of the timeless cover art for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the famous Let It Be rooftop concert. Leaving a stable job as telecommunications engineer to serve as road manager for this fledgling band, Mal was the odd man out from the start--older, married with children, and without any music business experience. And yet he threw himself headlong into their world, traveling across the globe and making himself indispensable. In the years after the Beatles' disbandment, Big Mal continued in their employ as each embarked upon solo careers. By 1974, he was determined to make his name as a songwriter and record producer, setting off for a new life in Los Angeles, where he penned his memoirs. But in January 1976, on the verge of sharing his book with the world, Evans's story came to a tragic end during a domestic standoff with the LAPD. For Beatles devotes, Mal's life and untimely death have always been shrouded in mystery. For decades, his diaries, manuscripts, and vast collection of memorabilia was missing, seemingly lost forever...until now. Working with full access to Mal's unpublished archives and having conducted hundreds of new interviews, Beatles' scholar and author Kenneth Womack affords readers with a full telling of Mal's unknown story at the heart of the Beatles' legend. Lavishly illustrated with unseen photos and ephemera from Mal's archives, Living the Beatles' Legend: The Untold Story of Mal Evans is the missing puzzle piece in the Fab Four's incredible story."--Amazon.com

This was an absolute joy to read and I HIGHLY encourage any fan of the Beatles to add this to your TBR and follow through. It's a wonderful tribute that will leave you smiling. -Amanda

The girl who leapt through time

BLU-RAY Girl

After discovering she can leap through time, high school student Makoto Konno does what any teenager would do. She re-takes tests, corrects embarrassing situations, and sleeps in as late as she wants, never thinking that her carefree time traveling could have a negative effect on the people she cares about. By the time she realizes the damage she's done, she'll have to race against time to set things right.

I don't know why I held off on watching this movie because it's SO GOOD. -Annie

All the light we cannot see : a novel

Anthony Doerr

FICTION Doerr Anthony
Historical Fiction

"From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, a stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Marie Laure lives with her father in Paris within walking distance of the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of the locks (there are thousands of locks in the museum). When she is six, she goes blind, and her father builds her a model of their neighborhood, every house, every manhole, so she can memorize it with her fingers and navigate the real streets with her feet and cane. When the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure's agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall. In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, grows up with his younger sister, Jutta, both enchanted by a crude radio Werner finds. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent that wins him a place at an elite and brutal military academy and, ultimately, makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure. Doerr's gorgeous combination of soaring imagination with observation is electric. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is his most ambitious and dazzling work"--

I read this book when it first came out but picked it back up for a re-read since starting the Netflix adaptation. There have been many books written about World War Two, but this remains one of my favorite historical fiction pieces because of the exhilarating story Doerr crafts. He is highly adept at looking at the war through the lens of his characters; a French, blind woman, and a German man, yet carefully details them in a way where you see them for the richness of their humanity, not solely the countries they fight for. His layered characters: their drives, their consciences, base human instincts highlight the very worst and the very best of mankind that culminates in the reader's understanding in the futility and tragedy of war. Doerr's astute attention to detail, along with short chapters makes for a fantastic story- you will want to keep reading one more chapter, then another! -Victoria

I didn't know I needed this : the new rules for flirting, feeling, and finding yourself

Eli Rallo

306.73 /Rallo
Self Help

"From TikTok star Eli Rallo, an irreverent, laugh-out-loud funny, and searingly honest take on modern dating and romance with tips, tricks, and survival-guide style rules. I Didn't Know I Needed This is the dose of confidence every girl needs to live their life on their own terms. Eli Rallo is a social media superstar, a Carrie Bradshaw for the TikTok age, a true romantic at heart, and the best friend every young woman wishes she had. As someone who prides herself in feeling fully and deeply, Eli is on the ride with you, kissing the frogs, sending (and deleting) the risky DMs, climbing down frat house gutters, making the friends you'll have for life, all while finding love and falling in love with yourself and learning that everything will be alright. In this earnest and vulnerable look at what it's really like to date as a young woman in the modern world of dating apps, rotating rosters, and social media snafus, Eli gives her rules for each stage of the game-tried and true tricks of the trade. I Didn't Know I Needed This follows the natural lifecycle of dating, starting with being single, flirting, and navigating the apps to going on dates, having sex, falling in love, and managing relationships, to finally dealing with heartbreak, finding closure, prioritizing your friends, and honoring your life. Discover the rules that have worked for her, and garnered her more than a half million TikTok followers. With touching stories of her own adventures and mishaps, Eli helps you navigate dating in a way that's frank, honest, funny, and relatable, giving the advice that you didn't even know you needed"--

What a fun book! I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone in their 20s-40s navigating the modern dating scene in any form. The author gives some really great advice that touches on the modern issues of social media and COVID and just how things are these days. I agreed with so much she wrote, and it took me a lot longer to gain that knowledge. It's like getting practical, useful advice from your cool older sister/cousin/aunt who wants the best for you. -Amanda

Listen, beautiful Márcia

Marcello Quintanilha

GRAPHIC NOVEL Quintanilha
Graphic Novels

"Listen, Beautiful Márcia is a gripping story about a family pushed to the brink. Márcia is a nurse in a hospital near Rio and lives in a favela with her boyfriend, Aluisio, and her daughter, Jaqueline, whom she had very young with another man. Jaqueline, a troubled young adult, makes life difficult for her mother and Aluisio and rebelliously hangs out with members of a neighborhood gang, leading to violent altercations between mother and daughter. The situation degenerates even more when Jaqueline is arrested. Márcia and Aluisio, distraught, realize that Jaqueline is in deeper trouble than they ever thought. Listen, Beautiful Márcia is a fast-paced, flamboyantly colorful new graphic novel by one of the most important Brazilian graphic novelists working today. Marcello Quintanilha's first English-language graphic novel is a tour de force -- a tightly wound drama filled with masterful suspense and a deep love for family and character."--Publisher.

A beautifully illustrated, fast-paced, and brightly-colored graphic novel looking into a working class family in Brazil and their struggles with gang violence. The colors alone make it worth the read! -Annie

The creator

BLU-RAY Creator

Amidst a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua, a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war and mankind itself. Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory only to discover the world-ending weapon he's been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child.

I was very excited when I saw the first trailer for this, but the fair to middling reviews tempered my enthusiasm. I think I went in with just the right expectations, because I thoroughly enjoyed "The Creator." It is gorgeously designed and executed Sci-Fi film with fantastic performances throughout. I definitely recommend it if Sci-Fi is your jam. -Brian

Our work is everywhere : an illustrated oral history of queer & trans resistance

Syan Rose

306.76 /Rose
Diverse Characters, LGBTQ+, Graphic Novels, Nonfiction

"A visually stunning graphic non-fiction book on queer and trans resistance. Over the past ten years, we have witnessed the rise of queer and trans communities that have defied and challenged those who have historically opposed them. Through bold, symbolic imagery and surrealist, overlapping landscapes, queer illustrator and curator Syan Rose shines a light on the faces and voices of these diverse, amorphous, messy, real, and imagined queer and trans communities. In their own words, queer and trans organizers, artists, healers, comrades, and leaders speak honestly and authentically about their own experiences with power, love, pain, and magic to create a textured and nuanced portrait of queer and trans realities in America. The many themes include Black femme mental health, Pacific Islander authorship, fat queer performance art, disability and health care practice, sex worker activism, and much more. Accompanying the narratives are Rose's startling and sinuous images that brings these leaders' words to visual life. Our Work Is Everywhere is a graphic non-fiction book that underscores the brilliance and passion of queer and trans resistance. Includes a foreword by Lambda Literary Award-winning author and activist Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, author of Care Work : Dreaming Disability Justice."--

Our Work Is Everywhere is a beautiful graphic novel depicting the history of queer and trans resistance. Syan Rose's illustrations are so stunning--I could read this book over and over again. You should too! -Violette

The narrow road between desires

Patrick Rothfuss

SCIENCE FICTION Rothfuss Patrick
Fantasy

"Patrick Rothfuss returns to the Kingkiller Chronicle universe with a stunning reimagining of "The Lightning Tree," expanded to twice its previous length and lavishly illustrated by Nate Taylor. Follow the Kingkiller Chronicle's most charming fae as he schemes his way through the small town of Newarre. While Bast cares nothing for the laws of man, he is beholden to older, deeper laws. And despite his cleverness and care, Bast finds himself forced to choose between betraying his master and helping a hated enemy. Playful, sweet, and sly as Bast himself, The Narrow Road Between Desires explores a previously unseen part of Temerant, and shows a side of Bast we've only glimpsed before. Learn more about Bast as he goes against his better judgement and follows his heart's desire. For after all, what good is wisdom if it keeps you from finding your way to danger and delight?"--

A major rewrite of a work previously published in the anthology Rogues, under the title "The lightning tree", edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois (sorry, currently no longer in our collection). A light but enjoyable and quick sidetrack inside the Kingkiller Chronicle universe. Worth the read. Just wish Rothfuss would attend to business and hurry up and FTDS! -Paul

The liberators : a novel

EJ Koh

FICTION Koh Ej
Literary Fiction

"At the height of the military dictatorship in South Korea, Insuk and Sungho are arranged to be married. The couple soon moves to San Jose, California, with an infant and Sungho's overbearing mother-in-law. Adrift in a new country, Insuk grieves the loss of her past and her divided homeland, finding herself drawn into an illicit relationship that sets into motion a dramatic saga and echoes for generations to come. From the Gwangju Massacre to the 1988 Olympics, flashbacks to Korean repatriation after Japanese surrender, and the Sewol ferry accident, E. J. Koh's exquisitely drawn portraits and symphonic testimony from guards, prisoners, perpetrators, and liberators spans continents and four generations of two Korean families forever changed by fateful past decisions made in love and war. Extraordinarily beautiful and deeply moving, The Liberators is an elegantly wrought family saga of memory, trauma, and empathy, and a stunning testament to the consequences and fortunes of inheritance"--

This tiny but mighty novel was praised for its sparse language, making every word matter. While the words are precise, Koh created a saga here. Spanning three generations, four generations of a Korean family grapple with the past (both their own and their country's)--showing that our ties aren't always severed when we cross an ocean. -Anne M

In an absent dream

Seanan McGuire

SCIENCE FICTION Mcguire Seanan
Fiction, Fantasy

"Every Heart a Doorway racked up comparisons to C. S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll, and the Wayward Children series has delighted and mesmerized readers. This fourth entry tells the origin story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should. When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise. Alas, everything costs at the goblin market, and when her time there is drawing to a close, she makes the kind of bargain that never plays out well. For anyone . . ."--

I see myself in Lundy. I love her attention to detail and the way she uses her cleverness to find loopholes and make the rules work to her advantage. I enjoy all of the Wayward Children books, but there's something special about In an Absent Dream. It contains the sort of heartbreak that cuts to the core of me. -Chelsea

Ladies' lunch : and other stories

Lore Groszmann Segal

FICTION Segal Lore
Short Story

"Five close friends in their 90s meet, as they have for decades, for their monthly 'ladies lunch', to puzzle, and laugh at, the enigmas and affronts of aging. When one of their number is placed unhappily in a home the others conspire to spring her. Returning to her group of erudite, sharp-minded nonagenarians in Upper Manhattan offering startling insights into friendship and mortality. In the book's Other Stories, Segal includes tales from her acclaimed and prizewinning oeuvre to illuminate the hinterland of her characters - one of whom, like her, was a Kindertransport refugee. Beautifully crafted and profound, these stories distill the spirit of one of America's great authors to show us what a long life might bring."--Publisher.

Segal's collection of stories are both poignant and funny, capturing the fullness of feelings as her characters come to terms with living in their twilight years. Of course, Segal is a great author, but rarely do we see the work of an author in their nineties. There is something special here. -Anne M

A stone is a story

Leslie Barnard Booth

jE Barnard Booth
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature

"A stone is not just a stone. A stone is a story. Journey across history to see how one stone changes and transforms. Watch what happens when rain, ice, and wind mold this rock into something new, something you might even hold in your hand and imagine all that is left for the stone to become."--

Yet another fabulous picturebook nonfiction title! Gorgeous illustrations by Marc Martin highlight Leslie Barnard Booth's beautiful prose. Aspiring geologists, naturalists, and rock pocketers alike will delight in this exploration of Earth's past, present, and potential futures. -Casey

Cuentos completos

Onetti, Juan Carlos, 1909-1994.

SPANISH FICTION Onetti
Literary Fiction

“La compilación de la narrativa breve de Juan Carlos Onetti supone una oportunidad única para atender a la producción más sucinta del que muchos, entre los que se cuentan García Márquez y Vargas Llosa, consideran el renovador de la novela hispanoamericana. Desde los tempranos acercamientos a la soledad hasta el insoportable peso de la culpa; desde la crueldad inherente a la naturaleza del hombre hasta la triste ternura de las relaciones humanas; desde los pulsos más íntimos de la sexualidad hasta la certeza de un inevitable fracaso que es el de todos: la de Onetti es una obra compleja que rezuma alcohol, tabaco, trajes negros, corbatas mal anudadas y sábanas sucias. Acercarse a sus relatos es acercarse a un mundo cargado de un pesimismo inexorable y, sin embargo, incandescentemente hermoso”. Contratapa del libro.

El cuento “El infierno tan temido” es el que más me ha gustado e impactado de esta colección. Onetti tiene una capacidad única para narrar los episodios más íntimos y dramáticos del hombre. -Alex

The Christmas guest : a novella

Peter Swanson

FICTION Swanson Peter
Mystery

When a last-minute invitation from fellow student Emma Chapman brings her to Starvewood Hall for the holidays, Ashley Smith, an American art student in London, discovers this seemingly charming English village's grim history when a local girl is brutally murdered and Emma's brother is linked to the crime.

Christmas is just a convenient time of year for this super fun mystery. If you like moldering British manors and everything being not as it seems, this quick novella will not disappoint. -Anne M

At the drop of a cat

Élise Fontenaille

jE Fontenai

A six-year-old boy loves nothing more than spending time with Luis, his immigrant grandfather, who teaches the boy about birds, plants, and the natural world.

This might be one of my favorite picture books this year. This is a story of the many layers of language. It's how we connect with our environment and each other. The illustrations are richly-detailed adding additional depth. A great lesson for children to learn: that our lives are shaped by our experiences and even though we might not speak the language; there are many other ways to create connections that cultivate meaning in life. -Victoria

On a flake-flying day : watching winter's wonders

Buffy Silverman

j508.2 Silverman
Nonfiction, Picture Books, Animals, Nature

"With winter's arrival, plants and animals hunker down for the cold season. Eye-catching photos and rhyming text sparkle in this exploration of how creatures survive the snow" --

Rhyming text and beautiful photographs make "On a Flake-Flying Day" the perfect seasonal read-aloud! -Casey

The fraud

Zadie Smith

FICTION Smith Zadie
Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

"It is 1873. Mrs. Eliza Touchet is the Scottish housekeeper-and cousin by marriage-of a once-famous novelist, now in decline, William Ainsworth, with whom she has lived for thirty years. Mrs. Touchet is a woman of many interests: literature, justice, abolitionism, class, her cousin, his wives, this life and the next. But she is also sceptical. She suspects her cousin of having no talent; his successful friend, Mr. Charles Dickens, of being a bully and a moralist; and England of being a land of facades, in which nothing is quite what it seems. Andrew Bogle, meanwhile, grew up enslaved on the Hope Plantation, Jamaica. He knows every lump of sugar comes at a human cost. That the rich deceive the poor. And that people are more easily manipulated than they realize. When Bogle finds himself in London, star witness in a celebrated case of imposture, he knows his future depends on telling the right story. The "Tichborne Trial"-wherein a lower-class butcher from Australia claimed he was in fact the rightful heir of a sizable estate and title-captivates Mrs. Touchet and all of England. Is Sir Roger Tichborne really who he says he is? Or is he a fraud? Mrs. Touchet is a woman of the world. Mr. Bogle is no fool. But in a world of hypocrisy and self-deception, deciding what is real proves a complicated task.""--

Zadie Smith is swinging for Dickens with this novel. There are some glimpses of brilliancy here: the humor, the cast of characters, and the atmosphere Smith creates showing the crushing nature of Victorian society. -Anne M

Jake the ballet dog

Karen LeFrak

j394.2663 LeFrak
Picture Books, Animals

Allegra takes her little dog Jake to ballet class for the rehearsal of "The Nutcracker," and he proves himself to be a very good dancer.

What can I say other than I'm a sucker for a Nutcracker adaptation already, and then there's a scruffy black and white dog doing chassés, pas de bourrées, and jetés? I'm in! I enjoyed this intro-to-ballet picture book with a heartwarming dog protagonist, and so will kids and parents who look forward to seeing or reading "The Nutcracker" each December! -Mari

Flux : a novel

Jinwoo Chong

SCIENCE FICTION Chong Jinwoo
Fiction, Science Fiction, Mystery

"A blazingly original and stylish debut novel about a young man whose reality unravels when he suspects his mysterious new employers have inadvertently discovered time travel--and are using it to cover up a string of violent crimes..."--Dust jacket flap.

This one was a real page-turner and a quick read to add to your stats before the end of 2023! I loved the way this narrative was organized and probably has something for everyone in it! -Annie

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

Mary Mahoney

745.59221 /Mahoney
Memoir, History

"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" --

As a Molly myself (with a little Felicity for good measure), this book brought me a lot of joy! I have enjoyed the podcast from the authors, and this book expands on their and our collective love of these dolls. It's a sweet and fuzzy read! -Amanda

Accountable : the true story of a racist social media account and the teenagers whose lives it changed

Dashka Slater

371.829 /Slater
Young Adult

"When a high school student started a private Instagram account that used racist and sexist memes to make his friends laugh, he thought of it as "edgy" humor. Over time, the edge got sharper. Then a few other kids found out about the account. Pretty soon, everyone knew. Ultimately no one in the small town of Albany, California, was safe from the repercussions of the account's discovery. Not the girls targeted by the posts. Not the boy who created the account. Not the group of kids who followed it. Not the adults--educators and parents--whose attempts to fix things too often made them worse. In the end, no one was laughing. And everyone was left asking: Where does accountability end for online speech that harms? And what does accountability even mean?" -- Page [2] of cover.

As adults, we can guide our teens at home, teachers can intervene in the classroom, but what about on social media, and even more difficult, private accounts? In her latest non-fiction work, Slater (author of the fantastic 57 Bus,) recounts in meticulous journalistic detail a racist Instagram account that was established at a high school and the fallout it created. She shines a light on past trauma, blatant racism, the students who have to deal with the repercussions, and asks, who is accountable? While personally, the book felt a little too lengthy in parts, this is an important read that could be used to foster conversations in book clubs and beyond! -Victoria

Theatrhythm : final bar line.

VIDEO GAME Switch Theatrhythm

"A rhythm-action game packed with 385 carefully selected music tracks from across the whole Final Fantasy series."--Container

Sometimes all you need is a solid rhythm game full of Final Fantasy bops. No need to know the songs, stories or really anything about the franchise. Just enjoy the music and relive the battles you might have fought once before. Also not sure if this is what the game makers intended, but this is a really fun two-player game if you split the Joy-Cons and divide the rhythm labor. -Annie

Exadelic

Jon Evans

SCIENCE FICTION Evans Jon
Science Fiction, Adventure

"When an unconventional offshoot of the US military trains an artificial intelligence in the dark arts that humanity calls "black magic," it learns how to hack the fabric of reality itself. It can teleport matter. It can confer immunity to bullets. And it decides that obscure Silicon Valley middle manager Adrian Ross is the primary threat to its existence. Soon Adrian is on the run, wanted by every authority, with no idea how or why he could be a threat. His predicament seems hopeless; his future, nonexistent. But when he investigates the AI and its creators, he discovers his problems are even stranger than they seem...and unearths revelations that will propel him on a journey -- and a love story -- across worlds, eras, and everything, everywhere, all at once." --

A fast paced ride with many unexpected twists and turns. Definitely an engaging and entertaining amalgam of: time travel, AI, evil villains, multiverses, alternate histories, real magick, intimate relationships, and encounters with famous people, I found the book very hard to put down, except when I needed to catch my breath. -Paul

Malibu rising : a novel

Taylor Jenkins Reid

FICTION Reid Taylor
Diverse Characters, Fiction

August 1983. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their baby sister, Kit. The siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over-- especially as the offspring of legendary singer Mick Riva. It's the day of Nina's annual end-of-summer party, and she's the only person not looking forward to it after being abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Hud needs to confess something to the brother from whom he's been inseparable since birth. Jay is counting the minutes until the girl he can't stop thinking about promised she'll be there. And Kit has a couple secrets of her own. The alcohol will flow, the music will play... and by morning the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. -- adapted from jacket

I love all of Taylor Jenkins Reid's books, but this one is my favorite! The family dynamics are written incredibly well in this novel, and I would certainly recommend it as a summer read! -Violette

The wren, the wren : a novel

Anne Enright

FICTION Enright Anne
Literary Fiction

"From Booker-prize winning author Anne Enright, an astonishing novel about the love between mother and daughter--sometimes fierce, often painful, but always transcendent. "Carmel had been alone all her life. She had been alone since she was twelve years old. The baby knew all this. They looked at each other; one life into another life, and the baby knew exactly how alone her mother had been." Nell--funny, brave and so much loved--is a young woman with adventure on her mind. As she sets out into the world, she finds her family history hard to escape. For her mother, Carmel, Nell's leaving home opens a space in her heart, where the turmoil of a lifetime begins to churn. And across the generations falls the long shadow of Carmel's famous father, an Irish poet of beautiful words and brutal actions. In this penetrating and beautifully written novel, Anne Enright luminously brings to life the essence of what makes a family survive the vicissitudes of life. The Wren, the Wren is a meditation on love: spiritual, romantic, darkly sexual, or genetic. A generational saga that traces the inheritance not just of trauma but also of wonder, it is a testament to the glorious resilience of women, by one of the greatest living writers of our age"--

While this novel centers around Carmel and her daughter Nell, the elephant in the room for both characters is Phil, Carmel's father and Nell's grandfather--Irish poet and national treasure. It's about the poetry--the beauty and the heartbreak in the meanings behind those words. Carmel tries to reckon with them, while Nell is trying to discover and find connection. What we inherit can be so different. -Anne M

The Square of Sevens

Laura Shepherd-Robinson

OverDrive Audiobook
Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction

This "intricately plotted, epic" (The Times, London) international bestseller—in the vein of the vivid novels of Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry—follows an orphaned fortune teller in 18th-century England as she searches for answers about her long-dead mother.Cornwall, 1730: A young girl known only as Red travels with her father making a living predicting fortunes using the ancient Cornish method of the Square of Sevens. Shortly before he dies, her father entrusts Red's care to a gentleman scholar, along with a document containing the secret of the Square of Sevens technique. Raised as a lady amidst the Georgian splendor of Bath, Red's fortune telling delights in high society. But she cannot ignore the questions that gnaw at her soul: who was her mother? How did she die? And who are the mysterious enemies her father was always terrified would find him? The pursuit of these mysteries takes her from Cornwall and Bath to London and Devon, from the rough ribaldry of the Bartholomew Fair to the grand houses of two of the most powerful families in England. And while Red's quest brings her the possibility of great reward, it also leads to grave danger. "Intricate, haunting, and magical by turns, Laura Shepherd-Robinson's tale is an absolute immersive read you won't soon forget" (Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author).

An engrossing account of a young woman finding her way in 17th century England, from plying her trade of reading tarot on the streets and in fair booths, to seeking out the story of her family in the country homes of Bath and Devon. Red (aka Rachel) is at once an intelligent and curious waif, and a cunning teenager who balks at restraints and finds her own strength, as well as her weaknesses, as she grows up. This is a heroine one can root for at the same time they cringe at some of the choices she has to make, or chooses to make. Expertly read, as ever, by Imogen Wilde, who knows how to nail all the voices and dialects. Aimed at adults, but I think older teens would like this as well. -Candice

Paris like a local : by the people who call it home.

914.43604 /Eyewitness
Travel, Nonfiction

A guide to the architecture, museums, theaters, restaurants, hotels and other sights of London.

This is part of a series called "Like a Local" and I recently took the Paris version with me on a trip. In addition to a regular guide, like Fodor's or Frommer's or your preferred travel series, this lends a nice local flavor to your travel research and exploration! It's small and lightweight enough to take with you, and even with the wide world of info on our smartphones, I still prefer to take a guide or two with me--all the info in one place, good maps, and, for me, much easier to read than a screen. The highlight of this guide in my opinion (among the many fun things it pointed out) was the section on stores that carry stationery and writing instruments, and it guided me to a lovely store called L'Ecritoire, where I had a unique and friendly shopping experience. -Candice

Prey

BLU-RAY Prey

The epic Predator legacy continues with this action-thriller set in the Comanche Nation. When Naru, a fierce and highly skilled young warrior, sets out to protect her people, the prey she stalks turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator leading to a vicious and terrifying showdown.

I am a sucker for Sci-Fi action movies of the 80s including Predator. Prey is the perfect example of how to do a prequel--it's an awesome movie with inventive action and visuals that stands on its own, but also has cool callbacks and references to the original films. -Brian

The mountain in the sea

Ray Nayler

SCIENCE FICTION Nayler Ray
Science Fiction

"Following a mysterious murder on an island off the coast of Vietnam, a research team convenes to study an octopus community that seems to be developing its own language and culture. Humans, AIs, and animals are swept up in the machinations of governments and corporations in this near-future thriller about the nature of intelligence"--

This is an incredibly intelligent slow burn, Sci-Fi thriller with interesting and complicated characters. It's going to stick with me for a long time, and I'm definitely going to read everything that Nayler writes in the future. -Brian

Chain Gang All Stars: A Novel

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

OverDrive Audiobook
Diverse Characters, Fiction, LGBTQ+, Dystopian

FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD IN FICTION • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR • A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK • NATIONAL BESTELLER • Two top women gladiators fight for their freedom within a depraved private prison system not so far-removed from America’s own in this explosive, hotly-anticipated debut novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Friday Black • LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE “Like Orwell’s 1984 and Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Adjei-Brenyah’s book presents a dystopian vision so…illuminating that it should permanently shift our understanding of who we are and what we’re capable of doing.” —The Washington Post “This book will change you!...A masterpiece.” —Jenna Bush Hager, The Today Show’s #ReadWithJenna She felt their eyes, all those executioners… 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, The New York Times Book Review).

A very informative and gripping dystopian novel that will make you think about the U.S. prison system and how we consume modern-day professional sports. -Annie