Books, Movies, CDs

The guest list : a novel

Lucy (Novelist) Foley

FICTION Foley Lucy

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It's a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride's oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn't wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

Told from multiple perspectives, this mystery thriller has you not only working out who the murderer is, but who the victim is as well. Lucy Foley is adept at character and relationship development to drive an engaging plot line, a writing style reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Ruth Ware. -Becky

The Sandman

Neil Gaiman

COMIC Sandman
Fiction, Graphic Novels

An attempt to summon and imprison Death, instead results in the capture of her brother, Morpheus, the Sandman, who after making his escape must regain the tools of his powers. Follow the King of Dreams, brother of the Endless, as he travels through a myriad of landscapes to meet with the gods, demons, and others who inhabit both Earth and the other realms.

I read Volume 1 after watching the Netflix series, it seems like the video series is fairly straightforward adaptation as far as the story structure goes. It was interesting to see where the art overlaps and diverges in the comic series. -Jason

Anxious people : a novel

Fredrik Backman

FICTION Backman Fredrik
Fiction

Taken hostage by a failed bank robber while attending an open house, eight anxiety-prone strangers--including a redemption-seeking bank director, two couples who would fix their marriages, and a plucky octogenarian--discover their unexpected common traits.

Never having read any of Backman's other books besides A Man Called Ove, I wasn't really sure what to expect with this one. As someone who enjoys looking through other people's windows at night on a dog walk (not in a creepy way, but rather just to watch from afar how their silhouettes eat dinner and mill around,) I like to speculate what their lives are like, so I was really drawn to this story. Backman meanders at times but creates strong, life-like characters with flaws and strengths we might find resonate in all of us. it is brutally honest at times and funny in other parts. I really enjoyed this read and it was a good reminder to always offer grace as we never know what life challenges other people have been through or are currently facing. -Victoria

Kuma-Kuma Chan's home

Kazue Takahashi

jREADER Takahash Kazue
Early Readers

Upon receiving an invitation, a boy goes to visit Kuma-Kuma Chan, a bear who lives far away, and although they have little to talk about they enjoy spending the day together.

It seems like an Early Reader book would be EASY to write, doesn't it? They're so short! In fact, the opposite is true. It is extremely challenging to craft a compelling story using a sharply limited vocabulary. For my money, Kuma-Kuma Chan's Home (and its companion, Kuma-Kuma Chan's Travels) are masterworks of the genre. A deceptively simple story, told in straightforward, no-frills prose, manages to make the heart swell at the truths about friendship, the loving bond between the characters, and the gently humorous obstacles, overcome with affable good cheer. The story bumps along agreeably, with the bear and the boy going with the flow on a day together that could have been awkward and stilted but is instead magical and sweet. -Anne W

The good left undone : a novel

Adriana Trigiani

FICTION Trigiani Adriana
Historical Fiction, Fiction

"From present day Viareggio to Glasgow during World War II, a multigenerational sweeping tale of love lost, family secrets, and reconciliation over decades from New York Times bestselling author Adriana Trigiani"--

"The Good Left Undone" is sweeping--a story crossing three generations covering a century. Trigiani is at her best in this novel. She really cares for her characters and this love shines through. That doesn't mean there isn't heartbreak or cruelty or tragedy in this novel. There is plenty of it--it covers mid-20th Century Europe. But Trigiani allows growth and healing to take place. To spin a quote from Edna Ferber's "So Big" mentioned in this very novel, Trigiani shows her characters living. -Anne M

A spoonful of frogs

Casey Lyall

jE Lyall
Picture Books, Fantasy, Humor, Cookbooks

Young readers will have a hopping good time in this hilarious story about a witch who is having a hard time wrangling a bunch of frogs into her frog soup until she comes up with a surprising solution.

Deliciously funny, cute, and perfect for the upcoming Halloween season! A Spoonful of Frogs is excellent for sharing aloud and repeated reads. -Casey

When you trap a tiger

Keller, Tae, author.

jFICTION Keller Tae

When Lily, her sister Sam, and their mother move in with her sick grandmother, Lily traps a tiger and makes a deal with him to heal Halmoni.

A little bit of magic, a little bit of family heritage, a little bit of coming-of-age - this is one of those novels that a kid can fall in love with. -Bond

I can make this promise

Day, Christine, 1993- author.

jFICTION Day Christin

"When twelve-year-old Edie finds letters and photographs in her attic that change everything she thought she knew about her Native American mother's adoption, she realizes she has a lot to learn about her family's history and her own identity"--

This is a mystery/coming-of-age story about a young Native American girl learning about her family's past and navigating young friendships. I adored this story. -Bond

Beetle & the Hollowbones

Layne, Aliza, author.

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Layne

Twelve-year-old goblin and witch-in-training Beetle enlists her former best friend, Kat Hollowbones, to help stop Kat's sorceress aunt from demolishing the mall where Beetle's friend Blob Ghost is trapped.

This graphic novel is just FUN. It's about magic, friendship, and early crushes (again, very age-appropriate). -Bond

Efrén divided : a novel

Cisneros, Ernesto, author.

jFICTION Cisneros Ernesto

While his father works two jobs, seventh-grader Efrén Nava must take care of his twin siblings, kindergartners Max and Mia, after their mother is deported to Mexico. Includes glossary of Spanish words.

This story introduces the challenges of the current immigration system and its impact on families. It centers a young boy, Efrén, and how he must deal with the challenge of his mother's deportation at school and at home. -Bond

Before the ever after

Woodson, Jacqueline, author.

jFICTION Woodson, Jacqueline

ZJ's friends Ollie, Darry and Daniel help him cope when his father, a beloved professional football player, suffers severe headaches and memory loss that spell the end of his career.--

This book would be great for a reluctant reader because it's told in easy-to-read verse. -Bond

Other words for home

Warga, Jasmine, author.

jFICTION Warga Jasmine

Sent with her mother to the safety of a relative's home in Cincinnati when her Syrian hometown is overshadowed by violence, Jude worries for the family members who were left behind as she adjusts to a new life with unexpected surprises.

What is life like for a refugee? What if that refugee is a kid who has moved to a country completely different from the home they've always known? This book does a great job of rejecting stereotypes and telling an authentic story. -Bond

Siracusa

Delia Ephron

FICTION Ephron Delia
Fiction

"An electrifying novel about marriage and deceit from bestselling author Delia Ephron that follows two couples on vacation in Siracusa, a town on the coast of Sicily, where the secrets they have hidden from each other are exposed and relationships are unraveled. New Yorkers Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, a journalist, travel to Italy with their friends from Maine--Finn, his wife Taylor, and their daughter Snow."From the beginning," says Taylor, "it was a conspiracy for Lizzie and Finn to be together." Told Rashomon-style in alternating points of view, the characters expose and stumble upon lies and infidelities past and present. Snow, ten years old and precociously drawn into a far more adult drama, becomes the catalyst for catastrophe as the novel explores collusion and betrayal in marriage. With her inimitable psychological astuteness, and uncanny understanding of the human heart, Ephron delivers a powerful meditation on marriage, friendship, and the meaning of travel. Set on the sun-drenched coast of the Ionian Sea, Siracusa unfolds with the pacing of a psychological thriller and delivers an unexpected final act that none can see coming"--

I initially picked this book because it takes place in Italy, and partially, in a town on the island of Sicily--I love reading books that take place in areas that I want to travel to. The story itself captivated me pretty quickly, and I enjoyed it in its entirety. It's told in turn by each of the main characters, which makes for interesting character development--seeing the people and the events as described by everyone, who's interpretation differs and how--makes the telling pretty rich! -Candice

Did ye hear Mammy died? : a memoir

Séamas O'Reilly

BIOGRAPHY O'Reilly, Seamas

Séamas O'Reilly's mother died when he was five, leaving him, his ten (!) brothers and sisters, and their beloved father in their sprawling bungalow in rural Derry. It was the 1990s; the Troubles were a background rumble, but Séamas was more preoccupied with dinosaurs, Star Wars, and the actual location of heaven than the political climate. ƯAn instant bestseller in Ireland, Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? is a book about a family of loud, argumentative, musical, sarcastic, grief-stricken siblings, shepherded into adulthood by a man whose foibles and reticence were matched only by his love for his children and his determination that they would flourish.

This is a very heartfelt memoir documenting ten orphaned Irish siblings and the seemingly impossible feat of their widowed father navigating raising said posse. It's hilarious at times and littered with the Irish politics that defined that era; including a story of the family's windows getting blown out by the IRA. There were definitely elements of my childhood in this memoir that resonated. It's a little Father Ted mixed with Derry Girls with a hint of Angela's Ashes. -Victoria

Corrections in ink : a memoir

Keri Blakinger

BIOGRAPHY Blakinger, Keri
Memoir

"Corrections in Ink is an electric and unforgettable memoir about a young woman's journey-from the ice rink, to addiction and a prison sentence, to the newsroom-emerging with a fierce determination to expose the broken system she experienced. An elite, competitive figure skater growing up, Keri Blakinger poured herself into the sport, even competing at nationals. But when her skating partnership ended abruptly, her world shattered. With all the intensity she saved for the ice, she dove into self-destruction. From her first taste of heroin, the next nine years would be a blur-living on the streets, digging for a vein, selling drugs and sex, eventually plunging off a bridge when it all became too much, all while trying to hold herself together enough to finish her degree at Cornell. Then, on a cold day during Keri's senior year, the police stopped her. Caught with a Tupperware container full of heroin, she was arrested and ushered into a holding cell, a county jail, and finally into state prison. There, in the cruel "upside down," Keri witnessed callous conditions and encountered women from all walks of life-women who would change Keri forever. Two years later, Keri walked out of prison sober and determined to make the most of the second chance she was given-an opportunity impacted by her privilege as a white woman. She scored a local reporting job and eventually moved to Texas, where she started covering nothing other than: prisons. Now, over her career as an award-winning journalist, she has dedicated herself to exposing the broken system as only an insider could. Not just a story about getting out and getting off drugs, this rich memoir is about finding redemption within yourself, as well as from the outside world, and the power of second chances. Written in a searing voice, Corrections in Ink is told with unflinching honesty and jolts of irreverent humor, and uncovers a dark and brutal system that affects us all"--

I was riveted reading this book start to finish. Her details about prison life resonated with me, and her post-prison life is inspirational. -Amanda

Shmutz : a novel

Felicia Berliner

FICTION Berliner Felicia
Fiction

"An arranged marriage is expected for Raizl, but she's not like the other young women in her Hasidic sect in Brooklyn. Raizl has a college scholarship to study accounting, a part-time job that supports her family, and a hidden computer making it all possible. That's where she finds the porn, through the slippery slope of an innocent Google search. As Raizl dives deeper into the world of porn at night, her daytime life begins to unravel. The porn is thrilling, cracking open a world of desire and experience that is becoming irresistible to Raizl-but it also threatens to tear her away from the family she loves. As the novel moves between Raizl's combative visits to the shrink she requested, arranged dates, and loving but complicated exchanges with her family, readers will be drawn to confront their own paradoxical sexuality and the trade-offs we all make for the sake of stability and familial love. A singular, compulsively readable debut, Shmutz explores what it means to be a fully-realized sexual and spiritual being amidst the contradictory messages of both the traditional and modern world"--

Raizl is a fascinating character with very complex feelings, and this is a different angle to view a religious community. It reminded me some of Deborah Feldman's memoir Unorthodox. -Amanda

The world's worst assistant

Sona Movsesian

791.45028092/Movsesian

"From Conan O'Brien's longtime assistant and cohost of his podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, a completely hilarious and irreverent how-to guide for becoming a terrible, yet unfireable employee, and getting away with doing the bare minimum at work"--

I had no idea who Conan O'Brien's assistant was before I read this book and I must admit I was drawn to the title and the cover picture. I have loved Conan's writing from The Simpsons, to SNL, to his late-night show, so I was intrigued to see who he would hire in an assistant. Turns out she's a sassy-mouthed, VW-lovin, Armenian-American who revels in mediocrity at the best of times and getting the job done only when it's absolutely necessary. The World's Worst Assistant turns the notion of a work ethic on its head and repriotizes a balance of social and professional life-balance. The book, while documenting a somewhat unorthodox boss and assistant relationship, is hilarious and offers insight into O'brien's career which was a solid bonus. -Victoria

Pandora's jar : women in Greek myths

Natalie Haynes

292.211 /Haynes
Nonfiction

The Greek myths are among the world's most important cultural building blocks and they have been retold many times, but rarely do they focus on the remarkable women at the heart of these ancient stories. Stories of gods and monsters are the mainstay of epic poetry and Greek tragedy, from Homer to Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, from the Trojan War to Jason and the Argonauts. And still, today, a wealth of novels, plays and films draw their inspiration from stories first told almost three thousand years ago. But modern tellers of Greek myth have usually been men, and have routinely shown little interest in telling women's stories. And when they do, those women are often painted as monstrous, vengeful or just plain evil. But Pandora--the first woman, who according to legend unloosed chaos upon the world-- was not a villain, and even Medea and Phaedra have more nuanced stories than generations of retellings might indicate. Now, in Pandora's Jar, Natalie Haynes--broadcaster, writer and passionate classicist-- redresses this imbalance. Taking Pandora and her jar (the box came later) as the starting point, she puts the women of the Greek myths on equal footing with the menfolk. After millennia of stories telling of gods and men, be they Zeus or Agamemnon, Paris or Odysseus, Oedipus or Jason, the voices that sing from these pages are those of Hera, Athena and Artemis, and of Clytemnestra, Jocasta, Eurydice and Penelope.

I love Haynes' novel "A Thousand Ships" as well as her podcast, "Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics." This book is also a delight. Haynes provides an incredibly engaging and enjoyable relook at the women of Greek myths, from Medea to Pandora to Clytemnestra to the Amazons. She goes back to the original texts, shows the differences in how their stories are told, how later authors and artists intepreted these women, and how their stories echo into the 21st century. -Anne M

Minor feelings : an Asian American reckoning

Hong, Cathy Park, author.

BIOGRAPHY Hong, Cathy Park

"Asian Americans inhabit a purgatorial status: neither white enough nor black enough, unmentioned in most conversations about racial identity. In the popular imagination, Asian Americans are all high-achieving professionals. But in reality, this is the most economically divided group in the country, a tenuous alliance of people with roots from South Asia to East Asia to the Pacific Islands, from tech millionaires to service industry laborers. How do we speak honestly about the Asian American condition--if such a thing exists? Poet and essayist Cathy Park Hong fearlessly and provocatively confronts this thorny subject, blending memoir, cultural criticism, and history to expose the truth of racialized consciousness in America. Binding these essays together is Hong's theory of "minor feelings." As the daughter of Korean immigrants, Cathy Park Hong grew up steeped in shame, suspicion, and melancholy. She would later understand that these "minor feelings" occur when American optimism contradicts your own reality--when you believe the lies you're told about your own racial identity. With sly humor and a poet's searching mind, Hong uses her own story as a portal into a deeper examination of racial consciousness in America today. This intimate and devastating book traces her relationship to the English language, to shame and depression, to poetry and artmaking, and to family and female friendship. A radically honest work of art, Minor Feelings forms a portrait of one Asian American psyche--and of a writer's search to both uncover and speak the truth"--

Added by Annie

Meet me by the fountain : an inside history of the mall

Alexandra Lange

381.11 /Lange
Nonfiction, Business, History

Since their birth in the 1950s, malls have been temples of commerce. Amid the aftershocks of financial crises, a global pandemic, and the rise of online retail, abandoned shopping centers have become one of our era's defining images. Lange chronicles the postwar invention of the mall, and shows how the design of these marketplaces played an integral role in the cultural ascent. She shows that they are environments of both freedom and exclusion, of consumerism but also of community. --

Oh wow, when I first saw this title, every remnant of my teenaged self reached for the Aqua Net and whatever dayglo clothing I could find! The mall was such a feature of my adolescent years, the word was synonymous with both fashion and social life. Now that I'm older and the wants and ways of people and buying have changed, the mall takes on a bittersweet/wasted space element. Lange's book, however, not only looks back at what the mall was, but also forward, finding ways to repurpose and make equitable the space and resources they provide. Is there hope for the mall yet?? Find out! -Candice

Stepping stones

Lucy Knisley

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Knisley
Kids, Graphic Novels

"Jen moves out to the country and has to put up with her mom and her mom's new boyfriend, as well as his kids. Suddenly part of a larger family in a new place, Jen isn't sure there is a place for her in this different world."--

Beautifully illustrated sweet graphic novel that almost anyone can relate to. The realness of the subject matter made this a quick and enjoyable read. I can't wait for my hold on the second book in the series comes in! -Angie

Sandor Katz and the tiny wild

Jacqueline Briggs Martin

j641.61 Martin
Biographies, Health, LGBTQ+

Welcome to Sandor Katz's no-desk, new-ways school! There are no tests, no rules - just happy, hungry people learning how to make fermented food. All they need are their favorite vegetables, salt, and the TINY WILD. These invisible microbes change cucumbers into crunchy pickles, and cabbages into zingy-zangy sauerkraut and kimchi.

A cookbook, a history book, a science book, and a biography rolled into one! Sandor Katz is an American food writer, DIY food activist, Jewish LGBT+ man, and haver of cool facial hair who started a school that teaches people how to ferment foods. If you're not sure what fermentation is, then you definitely need to read this book! Learn about Sandor Katz's life and inspiration, how fermentation works, why fermented foods are so healthy for you, get the instructions to try it for yourself, then grow up and start a radical commune in the woods just like Sandor! -Anne W

Berry song

Michaela Goade

RECEIVED
Picture Books, Read Woke, Nature, Poetry

As a young Tlingit girl collects wild berries over the seasons, she sings with her Grandmother as she learns to speak to the land and listen when the land speaks back.

Lyrical and visually stunning, Berry Song is a picture book for all seasons. -Casey

Miss Quinces

Kat Fajardo

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Fajardo
Diverse Characters, Graphic Novels

"Sue just wants to spend the summer reading and making comics at sleepaway camp with her friends, but instead she gets stuck going to Honduras to visit relatives with her parents and two sisters. They live way out in the country, which means no texting, no cable, and no Internet! The trip takes a turn for the worse when Sue's mother announces that they'll be having a surprise quinceera for Sue, which is the last thing she wants. She can't imagine wearing a big, floofy, colorful dress! What is Sue going to do? And how will she survive all this "quality" time with her rambunctious family?"--

Fans of Raina Telgemeier and Victoria Jamieson will love this funny coming-of-age story about family, friendship and expressing your true self! -Mari

Took : a ghost story graphic novel

Mary Downing Hahn

jGRAPHIC NOVEL Hahn
Horror, Graphic Novels

"They say that a ghost witch lives in the woods, up on Brewster's Hill. They say her companion, Bloody Bones, has a pig skull for a face and stands taller than a man, his skeleton gleaming white in the moonlight. They say that the witch takes young girls, and no one ever sees them again. Daniel doesn't believe the stories about the witch or her beast. He figures the kids on the bus are just trying to scare him, since he's new. But when his sister, Erica, disappears into the woods one day and doesn't come home, Daniel knows something is terribly wrong. Has Erica been 'took'?"--Back cover.

The two most common requests I hear on the bookmobile are "where are your comics," and "do you have any scary books?" Mary Downing Hahn has always been a favorite of mine for ghost stories, so I was so excited to see one of her novels turned into a graphic novel. This creepy story is even creepier with illustrations! And now it can reach a whole new audience of kids who enjoy graphic novels! -Mari

Star wars. Thrawn

Timothy Zahn

SCIENCE FICTION Star Wars

Rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, Thrawn proved to be indispensable to Emperor Palpatine and the Empire. Ambitious and a warrior never to be underestimated, one promotion followed another. Follow the events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of power and infamy as Thrawn rises to Admiral.

Way back when I first got into Star Wars, I fell in love with the books just as much as the movies. My favorite was "Heir to the Empire," which introduced Grand Admiral Thrawn. When Disney bought Lucasfilm, all of those books were no longer considered canon. They decided to reintroduce Thrawn into the Star Wars universe in the TV show Rebels and in these books. It sounds like Thrawn will be a major part of the Ahsoka show as well. Anyway! I really enjoyed this book, and its two sequels are even better! -Brian

Wastelands : the true story of farm country on trial

Corban Addison

346.73038 /Addison

"A once idyllic American landscape is home to a closely knit, rural community that, for more than a generation, has battled the polluting practices of large-scale farming that had been making them sick and damaging their homes. After years of frustration and futile attempts to bring about change, an impassioned cadre of local residents, led by a team of intrepid and dedicated lawyers, brought suit against one of the world's most powerful corporations-and, miraculously, they won. As vivid and fast-paced as a novel, Wastelands takes us into the heart of a legal battle over the future of America's farmland, and into the lives of the people who found the courage to fight. With unparalleled entrée in the courtroom, Corban Addison captures the stirring and unforgettable struggle to bring a modern-day monopoly to its knees, to force a once invincible power to change, to vindicate the rights of a long-suffering community, and finally to restore their heritage"--

A gripping story about the strategies used to take on one of the world's corporate behemoths. The risk small landowners, activists and lawyers took to fight is evident throughout and this is an incredibly well-written page-turner. -Victoria

Upgrade : a novel

Blake Crouch

FICTION Crouch Blake

"An ordinary man undergoes a startling transformation--and fears that all of humanity may be next--in the mindblowing new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter and Recursion Logan Ramsay can feel his brain... changing. And his body too. He's becoming something other than himself. Maybe even something other than human. As he sets out to discover who did this to him, and why, his transformation threatens everything--his family, his job, even his freedom. Because the truth of what's happened to him is more disturbing than he could possibly imagine. His DNA has been rewritten with a genetic-engineering breakthrough beyond anything the world has seen--one that could change our very definitions of humanity. And the battle to control this unfathomable power has already begun. But what if humankind's only hope for survival lies in embracing this change--whatever the cost? Which side will Logan take? And by the time it's over, will he--and the people he loves--even recognize him? Upgrade is a stunningly inventive, ferociously plotted science-fiction thriller that explores the limits of our humanity--and asks what's at risk when technology lets us reengineer not just the world around us, but ourselves"--

I've said in the past that Crouch writes Sci-Fi thrillers like Michael Crichton but way better. David Koepp, the screenwriter of "Jurassic Park," has a blurb on "Upgrade" that says it even better: "Blake Crouch has the mind of Crichton and the heart of King." I don't think there's a way to top that. -Brian

Last call at the Hotel Imperial : the reporters who took on a world at war

Deborah Cohen

070.922 /Cohen
Nonfiction, Biographies, History

"Married foreign correspondents John and Frances Gunther intimately understood that it isn't only impersonal, economic forces that propel history, bringing readers so close to the front lines of history that they could feel how personal pathologies became the stuff of geopolitical crises. Together with other reporters of the Lost Generation--American journalists H.R. Knickerbocker, Vincent Sheean, and Dorothy Thompson--the Gunthers slipped through knots of surveillance and ignored orders of expulsion in order to expose the mass executions in Badajoz during the Spanish Civil War, the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, the millions of dollars that Joseph Goebbels salted away abroad, and the sexual peccadillos of Hitler's brownshirts. They conjured what it was like to ride with Hitler in an airplane ("not a word did he say to any soul"); broke the inside story about Mussolini's claustrophobia and superstitions (he "took fright" at an Egyptian mummy that had been given to him); and verified the hypnotic impression Stalin made when he walked into a room ("You felt his antennae"). But just as they were transforming journalism, it was also transforming them: who they loved and betrayed, how they raised their children and coped with death. Over the course of their careers they would popularize bringing the private life into public view, not only in their reporting on the outsized figures of their day, but in what they revealed about their own (and each other's) intimate experiences as well. What were intimate relationships, after all, but geopolitics writ small?"--

I thought this book had a slow start, but as soon as we got to Europe and in the thick of war reporting, I was hooked. Learning about Dorothy Thompson, Frances Gunther, John Gunther, H.R. Knickerbocker, and Vincent Sheean and how they reported on Europe in the 1930s and 1940s showed how important journalists are. -Anne M

Unbelievably vegan : 100+ life-changing, plant-based recipes: a cookbook

Charity Morgan

641.56362 /Morgan

When Morgan's husband decided to go vegan, she was skeptical. But after he noticed results: more energy, increased stamina, better sleep. And his teammates noticed how good his home-cooked meals looked, many of them asked her to cook for them too. Soon Morgan was delivering meals for nearly two dozen NFL players. Then Morgan and her two ever-so-active elementary school-aged children went vegan too. Here she explains how she tapped her Creole and Puerto Rican heritage and love of bold flavor and spice to create a collection of flavor-bomb plant-based alternatives. Her recipes prove that vegan food can be healthy, fun, filling, and highly flavorful. -- adapted from publisher info

This book packs a punch of vegan knowlege, realistic recipes and bold flavors that will appeal to vegans and meat-eaters. I've tried several recipes in the book so far and have been really impressed with the final meals! -Victoria

Interior Chinatown

Charles Yu

FICTION Yu Charles

"From the infinitely inventive author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe comes a deeply personal novel about race, pop culture, assimilation, and escaping the roles we are forced to play."--

A perceptive and humorous exploration of immigration and assimilation. The audio version (available on Libby) is really well done! -Becky

Endlessly ever after : pick your path to countless fairy tale endings! : a story of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Hansel, Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, a wolf, a witch, a goose, a grandmother, some pigs, and endless variations

Laurel Snyder

jFICTION Snyder Laurel
Picture Books, Classics, Adventure, Humor

In this rhyming mash-up of many fairy tales, the reader is invited to follow Rosie down the many possible paths which may lead to a sleeping maiden, a hungry wolf, a girl locked in a tower, or a goose that lays golden eggs--but with some luck, and some smart choices, Rosie may save herself and her fellow fairy tale characters.

What next, Rosie? Choose this title for endless fairy tale fun! -Casey

Carry on : reflections for a new generation

John Lewis

BIOGRAPHY Lewis, John
Biographies

"A brilliant and empowering collection of final reflections and words of wisdom from venerable civil rights champion, the late Congressman John Lewis at the end of his remarkable life. Congressman John Lewis was a paragon of the Civil Rights Movement and political leadership for decades. A hero we won't soon forget, Lewis was a beacon of hope and a model of humility whose invocation to "good trouble" continues to inspire millions across our nation. In his last months on earth, even while battling cancer, he dedicated time to share his memories, beliefs, and advice-exclusively immortalized in these pages-as a message to the generations to come. Organized by topic ranging from justice, courage, faith, mentorship, and forgiveness to the protests and the pandemic, and many more besides, Carry On collects the late Congressman's thoughts for readers to draw on whenever they are in need of guidance. John Lewis had great confidence in our future, even as he died in the midst of one of our country's most challenging years to date. With this book, he performs that crucial passing of the baton, empowering us to live up to the legacy he has left us with his perseverance, dedication, profound insight, and unwavering ability to see the good in life." -- Publisher's description.

It's only been two years since we lost this incredible testament to the American spirit of resilience, hope and equity. It is hard to fathom that even toward the end of his life, in some of the country's darkest days, John Lewis was still full of tempered grace, light and hope for the future. This book is brimming with his vast wisdom; acquired over many decades and is a wonderful read for young adult and older readers alike. May we always be looking for "good trouble!" -Victoria

Last call at the Nightingale

Katharine Schellman

MYSTERY Schellma Katharin
Historical Fiction, Mystery

"New York, 1924. Vivian Kelly's days are filled with drudgery, from the tenement lodging she shares with her sister to the dress shop where she sews for hours every day. But at night, she escapes to The Nightingale, an underground dance hall where illegal liquor flows and the band plays the Charleston with reckless excitement. With a bartender willing to slip her a free glass of champagne and friends who know the owner, Vivian can lose herself in the music. No one asks where she came from or how much money she has. No one bats an eye if she flirts with men or women as long as she can keep up on the dance floor. At The Nightingale, Vivian forgets the dangers of Prohibition-era New York and finds a place that feels like home. But then she discovers a body behind the club, and those dangers come knocking. Caught in a police raid at the Nightingale, Vivian discovers that the dead man wasn't the nameless bootlegger he first appeared. With too many people assuming she knows more about the crime than she does, Vivian finds herself caught between the dangers of the New York's underground and the world of the city's wealthy and careless, where money can hide any sin and the lives of the poor are considered disposable... including Vivian's own"--

Set during the height of Prohibition, Vivian Kelly, an Irish orphan seamstress loves going to the Nightingale bar to dance and have a few drinks. It is her place and her friends place; she belongs. But all of this is threatened when a body is found in the alley. Vivian finds herself on a quest to save the Nightingale by solving the mystery even if it is best not to get involved. If you are looking for a breezy read this summer, this book is for you. Fans of Amy Stewart's Kopp Sisters mystery series will enjoy this one too. -Anne M

Geo-graphics

Regina Giménez

j523.1 Gimenez
Science

""Our universe is brimming with secrets, and surprising curiosities. Here readers will learn the answers to all the questions they've asked themselves: What does the Sun look like from different planets in our galaxy? Why doesn't the Moon always appear the same? What is the largest river on Earth? And the highest mountain? In Geo-Graphics, our world becomes transformed by acclaimed artist Regina Gǐmnez, into 87 pages of gorgeous shapes and colors. Planets and stars, continents and islands, rivers and lakes, volcanos and hurricanes ... here they are presented as circles, polygons, lines, spirals, and accompanying facts that explain the world around us. This special and unusual atlas is a marriage of science and art like no other.""

Who doesn't love fun facts? This book is filled with unique, visually arresting, deceptively simple shapes and lines paired with bite-size facts that help a reader visualize the phases of the moon, the sizes of the Earth's rivers, the placement of islands, and more stunning scientific truths about our amazing Earth. -Anne W

Hell's half-acre : the untold story of the Benders, a serial killer family on the American frontier

Susan Jonusas

364.1523 /Jonusas
Nonfiction, True Crime, History, Literary Nonfiction

"In 1873 the people of Labette County in Kansas made a grisly discovery. Buried on a homestead seven miles south of the town of Cherryvale, in a bloodied cellar and under frost-covered soil, were countless bodies in varying states of decay. The discovery sent the local community and national newspapers into a frenzy that continued for over two decades, and the land on which the crimes took place became known as 'Hells Half-Acre.' When it emerged that a family of four known as the Benders had been accused of the slayings, the case was catapulted to infamy."

Sometimes, when summer comes, you just want a good, historical true crime book to get lost in. This book does the trick. The author does a good job of telling the eerie story of the Benders and their crimes, while giving context through the descriptions of burgeoning frontier towns, the hardworking people who populated them, the political schemes of the day, and the lawlessness that pervaded an environment that was created by taking the land from one people and giving it to another. A great mix of crime and solid history. -Candice

The colony : faith and blood in a promised land

Sally Denton

364.1523/Denton
True Crime, History

"A shocking massacre in 2019 sparks a probing investigation into the strange, violent history of a polygamist Mormon outpost in Mexico. A harmless, unassuming caravan of women and children was ambushed by masked gunmen in northern Mexico on November 4, 2019. In a massacre that produced international headlines, nine people were killed and five others gravely injured. The victims were members of the La Mora and LeBaron communities-fundamentalist Mormons whose forebears broke from the LDS Church and settled in Mexico when polygamy was outlawed. In The Colony, the best-selling investigative journalist Sally Denton picks up where initial reporting on the killings left off, and in the process tells the violent history of the LeBaron clan and their homestead, from the first polygamist emigration to Mexico in the 1880s to the LeBarons' internal blood feud in the 1970s to the family's recent alliance with the NXIVM sex cult. Drawing on sources within Colonia LeBaron itself, Denton creates a mesmerizing work of investigative journalism in the tradition of Under the Banner of Heaven and Going Clear"--

This was fast read, engaging and shocking in its subject matter. It will enlighten the reader on a community they may not be aware of but will still seem relatable. -Amanda

Meet the moonlight

Jack Johnson

eMUSIC HOOPLA

Jack Johnson returns with his eighth studio album.

Jack Johnson's eighth studio album makes for soothing, family-friendly listening. -Casey

100 great American parks

Stephanie Pearson

917.352 /Pearson/2022

Each two-to-four page spread highlights one of America's national parks, or a state, recreational, or city park and green spaces. The thumb-nail descriptions highlight the historic and cultural highlights of each location. No tourist information (contact information, prices, trails, restaurants or hotels) is included.

Looking for your next outdoor adventure? Flip through stunning photographs of 100 U.S. parks and read about the scenic and historic highlights of the area. This is a great starting place for travel inspiration! -Becky

Horse

Geraldine Brooks

FICTION Brooks Geraldin
Historical Fiction

"A discarded painting in a junk pile, a skeleton in an attic, and the greatest racehorse in American history: from these strands, a Pulitzer Prize winner braids a sweeping story of spirit, obsession, and injustice across American history Kentucky, 1850. Jarrett, an enslaved groom, and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. As the nation erupts in civil war, an itinerant young artist who has made his name painting the racehorse takes up arms for the Union. On a perilous night, he reunites with the stallion and his groom, very far from the glamor of any racetrack. New York City, 1954. Martha Jackson, a gallery owner celebrated for taking risks on edgy contemporary painters, becomes obsessed with a 19th equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance. Washington, DC, 2019. Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves unexpectedly drawn to one another through their shared interest in the horse - one studying the stallion's bones for clues to his power and endurance, the other uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success. Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred, Lexington, who became America's greatest stud sire, Horse is a gripping, multi-layered reckoning with the legacy of enslavement and racism in America"--

I enjoyed Geraldine Brooks’ “Horse.” It read fast, I suppose like it’s main subject, one of the greatest racehorses in US history, Lexington. I loved the central idea: what parts of our history seem so important at the time they occur, then forgotten and discarded, only to be found with new meaning. This story centers on a discarded painting of a horse and some equine bones in a Smithsonian storage facility. From that idea, people, places, events are vividly captured on the page: this horse is important in so many different ways. The novel recreates the relationship between Jarrett, an enslaved horse trainer and Lexington, as well as those who come into contact with the painting of Jarret. There was something disjointed and uneven about the narrative, especially the interplay between the past and present. While Jarrett’s story in the 1850’s and 1860’s was deeply rich, the other characters seemed like afterthoughts, there only to make the connection from the past to the present. Perhaps that is the point. Brooks is trying to draw attention to and bring to life through fiction an individual that was unnoted and forgotten but central to racing history. I’ll be thinking more about this at length, which is all I ask of a book. -Anne M

Everything everywhere all at once

DVD MOVIE SF/HORROR Everything
Action

Evelyn Wang, a flustered immigrant mother, is contacted from a parallel universe and told that only she can save the world. The unlikely hero must learn to channel her newfound powers and fight through the splintering timelines of the multiverse to save her home, her family, and herself in this big-hearted and irreverent adventure.

How often do you get to say that a movie is hilarious, heartfelt, action-packed, and utterly bizarre? Probably just once--go watch it and see if you agree. -Brian

Miss Rita, mystery reader

Sam (Fashion designer) Donovan

jE Donovan
Picture Books, LGBTQ+, Diverse Characters

"Daddy is the Mystery Reader at Tori's school today, and he's coming dressed as Miss Rita! Tori helps Daddy gloss, glitter, glamour, and glimmer to get ready. It takes time-because sparkle is serious business! Tori loves helping Daddy become Miss Rita. But will the other kids at school love Miss Rita like Tori does? Luckily, a last-minute idea helps Daddy and Tori find a way to make story time sparkle for everyone. This heartwarming and relatable family story celebrates drag queens, reading, and self-acceptance, teaching every kid to let their sparkle shine! And it includes back matter providing an overview of drag performance"--

A great read together story that is reassuring to kids whose families may not fit gender norms or who might be navigating their own feelings about gender identity and affirmation. There is plenty of sparkle and fun to engage all ages throughout the story. The author note at the end is in inclusive language, talkable and presented in an approachable way to learn more about gender and drag queens. -Angie

The sixth man

David Baldacci

FICTION ON DISC Baldacci, David

Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are shocked to discover attorney Ted Bergin dead. He was working on a case involving a serial killer, but as King and Maxwell dig deeper, they discover the case to be infinitely more complicated.

I checked the audiobook out for a long car ride from the Bookmobile. My teenage son and I really enjoyed the actors reading of the book and the storyline had plenty of twists and mystery to keep us entertained the whole trip. In fact we were at the last chapter when we pulled back into our driveway that we sat in the car to finish the story! We just had to know how it ended and even though we were tried from the 7 hour drive, we sat a bit longer. It was easy enough to follow along even if you haven't read the other books in the King and Maxwell series, so we appreciated that as well. Read (or listen!) this book if you are a fan of fast paced mystery series full of action and suspense! -Angie

In the country : stories

Alvar, Mia, 1978-

FICTION Alvar Mia

"A powerful, globe-trotting debut short-story collection from an exciting new writer--vivid, character-driven stories about Filipinos from every walk of life. Mia Alvar's stunning debut gives us a vivid, insightful picture of the Filipino diaspora: exiles and emigrants and wanderers uprooting their families to begin new lives in the Middle East and America--and, sometimes, turning back. One man smuggles drugs from his pharmacy in New York to Manila for his ailing father, only to discover an alarming truth about his mother. A woman living in Bahrain faces a challenge that compels her to question her marriage. A college student in Manila struggling to write fiction knows that her brother, who has gone abroad to make money, is the one living a life that stories are made of. The novella-length title story follows the unexpected fates of a journalist and a nurse during the 1970s labor strikes in Manila. Exploring the universal experience of loss, displacement, and the longing to connect across borders both real and imagined, In the Country speaks to the heart of everyone who has ever searched for a place to call home"--

Added by Annie

Paper bullets : two artists who risked their lives to defy the Nazis

Jeffrey H. Jackson

940.53082 /Jackson
History

"The true story of an audacious resistance campaign undertaken by an unlikely pair: two French women -- Lucy Schwob and Suzanne Malherbe -- who drew on their skills as Parisian avant-garde artists to write and distribute wicked insults against Hitler and calls to desert, a PSYOPs tactic known as "paper bullets," designed to demoralize Nazi troops occupying their adopted home of Jersey in the British Channel Islands"--

This was a part of WWII I was unaware of. This is such a riveting story of two artists who resisted the Nazis in occupied Britain. If you liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society you'll find some familiar territory here! -Amanda

The chosen and the beautiful

Nghi Vo

SCIENCE FICTION Vo Nghi
Fantasy, LGBTQ+

Immigrant. Socialite. Magician. Jordan Baker grows up in the most rarefied circles of 1920s American society-she has money, education, a killer golf handicap, and invitations to some of the most exclusive parties of the Jazz Age. She's also queer and Asian, a Vietnamese adoptee treated as an exotic attraction by her peers, while the most important doors remain closed to her. But the world is full of wonders: infernal pacts and dazzling illusions, lost ghosts and elemental mysteries. Nghi Vo's debut novel The Chosen and the Beautiful reinvents this classic of the American canon as a coming-of-age story full of magic, mystery, and glittering excess.

A fantastical reimagining of "The Great Gatsby"— told from the perspective of Jordan Baker, a queer Vietnamese American. Read while you wait for Nghi Vo’s new novel, “Siren Queen.” -Becky

Mushroom rain

Laura K. Zimmermann

j579.6 Zimmermann
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature

"Through lyrical text and colorful detailed artwork, the mysterious and sometimes bizarre world of mushrooms is explored. Back matter includes a glossary and science facts"--

Budding mycologists and those less passionate about fungi will equally enjoy this beautifully illustrated nonfiction title. -Casey

The left hand of darkness

Ursula K. Le Guin

SCIENCE FICTION LeGuin, Ursula K.
Science Fiction

The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary to Winter, an alien world whose inhabitants can change their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encounters. Embracing the aspects of psychology, society, and human emotion on an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of intellectual science fiction.

I can see why this novel was considered groundbreaking at its inception in 1969! Even now, more than fifty years later, “The Left Hand of Darkness” deftly explores social, political and religious issues in a world-building, adventure-telling sort of way (which I love!). -Becky

Invincible. Volume 1, issue 1-4, Family matters.

Robert Kirkman

eBOOK HOOPLA

Mark Grayson is just like most everyone else his age. He's a senior at a normal American high School. He has a crappy part time job after school and on weekends. He likes girls quite a bit... but doesn't quite understand them. He enjoys hanging out with his friends, and sleeping late on Saturdays... at least until the good cartoons come on. The only difference between Mark and everyone else is that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet, and as of late, he seems to be inheriting his father's powers. Which sounds okay at first, but how do you follow in your father's footsteps when you know you will never live up to his standards? THIS ISSUE: Get in on the ground floor, because it all starts here! Strange things begin to happen to Mark Grayson as he begins to develop superpowers. Luckily, his dad is around to show him the ropes, at least he WOULD be if he weren't so busy saving the world all the time. Mark is forced to go out on his own, and try and figure out how all this superheroing business works. The results are a monumental disaster, at least until he gets the hang of it. Watch Mark thwart thieving super-villains, alien invasions and all sorts of craziness.

This is an amazing series. It's somewhere between Young Justice and The Boys. A more realistic take on a young hero learning to manage life and saving the world as it collapses around him. -Mykle

One life

Megan Rapinoe

796.334092 /Rapinoe

Rapinoe was four years old when she kicked her first soccer ball. Her parents encouraged her love for the game, but taught her that winning was much less important than how she lived her life. Here she reflects on the choices she has made, her victories and her failures, and embarks on a thoughtful and candid discussion of her personal journey into social justice. After the 2011 World Cup, discouraged by how few athletes were willing to discuss their sexuality, Rapinoe decided to come out publicly as gay and use her platform to advocate for marriage equality. In 2016 she took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality. Rapinoe discusses the obligation we all have to speak up, and the impact each of us can have on our communities. -- adapted from jacket

This book is about Megan's rise to soccer stardom but more importantly about her commitment to equity and standing up (or kneeling) for what she believes in. I'm a huge fan of Rapinoe and while there were more details I would have liked to learn about her life, I enjoyed this quick read. This book has also been adapted for young adult readers. -Victoria

Ganbatte! : the Japanese art of always moving forward

Albert Liebermann

158.1 /Liebermann

"Ganbatte (gan-ba-tay) is a Japanese philosophy focused on doing the best you can with what you have. Though there is no direct translation, "keep going," and "give it your all," embody the sentiments behind the word. Just as wabi sabi shows the beauty of imperfection in life, ganbatte teaches you how to get past obstacles and be motivated to keep moving forward. In Ganbatte! author Albert Liebermann provides an inspirational, yet practical guide to becoming more resilient the Japanese way. In 50 short chapters, some deeper and some more playful, Liebermann guides you through ways you can adopt the ganbatte approach to achieve a happier, more fulfilling life -- and a happier, more fulfilled self." --

This is a great short, insightful little read about thriving despite struggle, falling down seven times and standing up eight. Knowing that life is rarely smooth sailing, this is a great primer on perseverance. -Victoria

The drowned woods

Emily Lloyd-Jones

ON ORDER BOOK
Fantasy, Young Adult

"Mer, the last living water diviner in the isles of Wales, seeks revenge against the prince who used her powers for his own evil ends"--

I'm halfway through listening to The Drowned Woods, and Moira Quirk's reading of this dark, ethereal fantasy is wonderful. Just right for Leigh Bardugo and Naomi Novik fans. -Casey

The wedding date

Guillory, Jasmine, author.

FICTION Guillory Jasmine

"A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in a fun and flirty debut novel. Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn't normally do. But there's something about Drew Nichols that's too hard to resist. On the eve of his ex's wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend. From the best man's toast to the bouquet toss, Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible. But before they know it, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she's the mayor's chief of staff. Too bad they can't stop thinking about the other. They're just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century--or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want."--

Added by Bond

Red, white & royal blue : a novel

McQuiston, Casey, author.

FICTION McQuiston, Casey

After an international incident affects U.S. and British relations, the president's son Alex and Prince Henry must pretend to be best friends, but as they spend time together, the two begin a secret romance that could derail a presidential campaign.

Added by Bond

All my rage

Sabaa Tahir

YOUNG ADULT FICTION Tahir Sabaa

Lahore, Pakistan. Then. Misbah is a dreamer and storyteller, newly married to Toufiq in an arranged match. After their young life is shaken by tragedy, they come to the United States and open the Clouds' Rest Inn Motel, hoping for a new start. Juniper, California. Now. Salahudin and Noor are more than best friends; they are family. Growing up as outcasts in the small desert town of Juniper, California, they understand each other the way no one else does. Until The Fight, which destroys their bond with the swift fury of a star exploding. Now, Sal scrambles to run the family motel as his mother Misbah's health fails and his grieving father loses himself to alcoholism. Noor, meanwhile, walks a harrowing tightrope: working at her wrathful uncle's liquor store while hiding the fact that she's applying to college so she can escape him--and Juniper--forever. When Sal's attempts to save the motel spiral out of control, he and Noor must ask themselves what friendship is worth--and what it takes to defeat the monsters in their pasts and the ones in their midst. From one of today's most cherished and bestselling young adult authors comes a breathtaking novel of young love, old regrets, and forgiveness--one that's both tragic and poignant in its tender ferocity.

This was a richly detailed, emotionally-charged book about family, regrets, obligations, being an outsider, taking your best shot at the American dream and living with the fallout. The character development was so realistic and the book really took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I would highly recommend it! -Victoria

Ramona Quimby, age 8

Beverly Cleary

jFICTION Cleary, Beverly
Fiction

The further adventures of the Quimby family as Ramona enters the third grade.

Summer Reading is here! This time of year always reminds me of Ramona, because I read this book for summer reading the summer before 3rd grade. My best friend was a higher reading level and zoomed through the book. I really struggled to get through it. But, it was a good book! It's still one of my favorites today. -Hanna

Complete Beatles : piano, vocals, guitar. Volume I

Beatles

782.42166 /Beatles
Music

I recently joined a band, and we're starting to learn some Beatles covers. Not all the members like using this music format, but I find it helpful to have the melody line written out with the words. I'd recommend it if you want to sing along to the songs, or learn to play and sing them at the same time. -Hanna

How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you

Matthew Inman

636.8 /Inman
Animals

A hilarious, brilliant offering of cat comics, facts, and instructional guides from the creative wonderland at TheOatmeal.com.

Very funny and partly true. A quick book to lighten your spirits. -Mykle

Trust

Hernán Díaz

FICTION Diaz Hernan
Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction

"An award-winning writer of absorbing, sophisticated fiction delivers a stylish and propulsive novel rooted in early 20th century New York, about wealth and talent, trust and intimacy, truth and perception. In glamorous 1920s New York City, two characters of sophisticated taste come together. One is a legendary Wall Street tycoon; the other, the brilliant daughter of penniless aristocrats. Steeped in affluence and grandeur, their marriage excites gossip and allows a continued ascent -- all at a moment when the country is undergoing a great transformation. This is the story at the center of Harold Vanner's novel Bonds, which everyone in 1938 New York seems to have read. But it isn't the only version. Provocative, propulsive, and repeatedly surprising, Hernan Diaz's TRUST puts the story of these characters into conversation with the "the truth"-and in tension with the life and perspective of an outsider immersed in the mystery of a competing account. The result is an overarching novel that becomes more exhilarating and profound with each new layer and revelation, engaging the reader in a treasure hunt for the truth that confronts the reality-warping gravitational pull of money, and how power often manipulates facts"--

What a book! There are many books that use the differing perspectives of a storyline, but I’ve never read anything quite like this. “Trust” is divided into essentially four different books about a marriage between a wealthy financier and an heiress philanthropist. Set in New York during the 1920’s and 1930’s, the first book is a fictional account of the marriage culminating in the aftermath of the 1929 crash and the wife’s treatment for mental illness. The context of this fiction is that it is widely read throughout New York and everyone knows who the book is about. The second part of “Trust” is the autobiography of Andrew Bevel, a response to the novel to clear his name and explain his own financial genius as well as his contributions to the country. Then there is the third part of the novel, a memoir by Ida Partenza, Andrew Bevel’s ghostwriter, who provides a completely different insight into the Wall Street tycoon. Lastly, we have the diaries of Mildred Bevel. Nothing aligns. Nothing adds up. Small details are threaded throughout but are so distorted, they only bear little resemblance from narrative to narrative. It is so compelling, so well written, and such an important narrative about the concept of truth. -Anne M

Hammer

Joe Mungo Reed

FICTION Reed Joe
Fiction

"An art auction house employee helps a Russian oligarch sell his prized collection, ensnaring himself in a dangerous romance and an even more treacherous political plot"--

If there can be a quiet, yet disquieting thriller, this is the book. Joe Mungo Reed's Hammer is a little like a slow burn. At first it is about the rich and powerful and about art, art appreciation, and its commodification. It's about Russian oligarchs and the precariousness of their positions in the world of Russian politics. This was a solid book that I enjoyed. And I found it surprising in a number of ways. -Anne M

The complete Chi's sweet home

Kanata Konami

jMANGA Konami Chi's Complete
Kids, Graphic Novels, Animals, Humor

"Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Separated from the warmth and protection of her mother, feels distraught. Overcome with loneliness she breaks into tears in a large urban park meadow, when she is suddenly rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The kitty is then quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada family apartment where pets are strictly not permitted."

I'm so happy this series was released again. If you're in the mood for some funny kitten antics, Chi's waiting! -Casey

Catch and kill : lies, spies, and a conspiracy to protect predators

Farrow, Ronan, 1987- author.

364.153 /Farrow

In 2017, a routine network television investigation led Ronan Farrow to a story only whispered about: one of Hollywood's most powerful producers was a predator, protected by fear, wealth, and a conspiracy of silence. As Farrow drew closer to the truth, shadowy operatives, from high-priced lawyers to elite war-hardened spies, mounted a secret campaign of intimidation, threatening his career, following his every move, and weaponizing an account of abuse in his own family. All the while, Farrow and his producer faced a degree of resistance they could not explain -- until now. And a trail of clues revealed corruption and cover-ups from Hollywood to Washington and beyond. This is the untold story of the exotic tactics of surveillance and intimidation deployed by wealthy and connected men to threaten journalists, evade accountability, and silence victims of abuse. And it's the story of the women who risked everything to expose the truth and spark a global movement.

Added by Bond

Hood feminism : notes from the women that a movement forgot

Kendall, Mikki, author.

305.42 /Kendall

"A collection of essays taking aim at the legitimacy of the modern feminist movement, arguing that it has chronically failed to address the needs of all but a few women"--

Added by Bond

The Anthropocene reviewed : essays on a human-centered planet

Green, John, 1977- author.

814.6 /Green

"The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet-from the QWERTY keyboard and Staphylococcus aureus to the Taco Bell breakfast menu-on a five-star scale. John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this artfully curated collection that includes both beloved essays and all-new pieces exclusive to the book"--

A little earnest? Yes. But the author addresses that eventually, and beautifully. I recommend the audiobook. -Bond

Bad feminist : essays

Gay, Roxane, author.

305.42 /Gay

A collection of essays spanning politics, criticism, and feminism from one of the most-watched young cultural observers of her generation, Roxane Gay. "Pink is my favorite color. I used to say my favorite color was black to be cool, but it is pink, all shades of pink. If I have an accessory, it is probably pink. I read Vogue, and I'm not doing it ironically, though it might seem that way. I once live-tweeted the September issue." In these funny and insightful essays, Roxane Gay takes us through the journey of her evolution as a woman (Sweet Valley High) of color (The Help) while also taking readers on a ride through culture of the last few years (Girls, Django in Chains) and commenting on the state of feminism today (abortion, Chris Brown). The portrait that emerges is not only one of an incredibly insightful woman continually growing to understand herself and our society, but also one of our culture. Bad Feminist is a sharp, funny, and spot-on look at the ways in which the culture we consume becomes who we are, and an inspiring call-to-arms of all the ways we still need to do better.

Added by Bond

Trick mirror : reflections on self-delusion

Tolentino, Jia, author.

814.6 /Tolentino

A breakout writer at The New Yorker examines the fractures at the center of contemporary culture with verve, deftness, and intellectual ferocity--for readers who've wondered what Susan Sontag would have been like if she had brain damage from the internet.rnet.

Added by Bond

Sour heart : stories

Zhang, Jenny, author.

FICTION Zhang Jenny

"Centered on a community of immigrants who have traded their endangered lives as artists in China and Taiwan for the constant struggle of life at the poverty line in 1990s New York City, Zhang's exhilarating collection examines the many ways that family and history can weigh us down and also lift us up. From the young woman coming to terms with her grandmother's role in the Cultural Revolution to the daughter struggling to understand where her family ends and she begins, to the girl discovering the power of her body to inspire and destroy, these seven vibrant stories illuminate the complex and messy inner lives of girls struggling to define themselves. Fueled by Zhang's singular voice and sly humor, this collection introduces Zhang as a bright and devastating force in literary fiction"--

Added by Annie

Why Buddhism is true : the science and philosophy of meditation and enlightenment

Robert Wright

294.342 /Wright
Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Science, Philosophy

Author Robert Wright shows how Buddhist meditative practice can loosen the grip of anxiety, regret, and hatred, and deepen your appreciation of beauty and other people. -- Adapted from book jacket.

A fantastic look at the scientific aspects of Buddhism, specifically mindfulness meditation. -Mykle

Kitty

Rebecca Jordan-Glum

jE Jordan-Glum
Picture Books, Humor, Nature

"Granny thinks catsitting will be easy. She'll make her signature cupcakes, give the cat a good brushing, and together they'll share a sweet night's rest. But Kitty has other plans. After Granny loses her glasses and accidentally lets a raccoon inside, all bets are off--much to the cat's displeasure"--Inside jacket flap

Funny and adorable! Sure to be a read-aloud hit! -Casey

The Batman

BLU-RAY Batman

Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman, striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies, Alfred Pennyworth, Lt. James Gordon, amongst the city's corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens. When a killer targets Gotham's elite with a series of sadistic machinations, a trail of cryptic clues sends the World's Greatest Detective on an investigation into the underworld, where he encounters such characters as Selina Kyle/aka Catwoman, Oswald Cobblepot/aka the Penguin, Carmine Falcone, and Edward Nashton/aka the Riddler. As the evidence begins to lead closer to home and the scale of the perpetrator's plans becomes clear, Batman must forge new relationships, unmask the culprit, and bring justice to the abuse of power and corruption that has long plagued Gotham City.

This is my favorite live-action Batman movie of all-time. The cinematography is beautiful and the score and sound design are out of this world. It just feels like they adapted a long-lost comic book arc. -Brian

Black cloud rising : a novel

David Wright Faladé

FICTION Wright Falade David
Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction

By fall of 1863, Union forces had taken control of Tidewater Virginia and established a toehold in eastern North Carolina, including along the Outer Banks. Thousands of freed slaves and runaways flooded the Union lines, but Confederate irregulars still roamed the region. In December, the newly formed African Brigade, a unit of these former slaves led by General Edward Augustus Wild-a one-armed, impassioned abolitionist-set out from Portsmouth to hunt down the rebel guerillas and extinguish the threat. From this little-known historical episode comes Black Cloud Rising, a dramatic, moving account of these soldiers-men who only weeks earlier had been enslaved, but were now Union infantrymen setting out to fight their former owners. At the heart of the narrative is Sergeant Richard Etheridge, the son of a slave and her master, raised with some privileges but constantly reminded of his place. Deeply conflicted about his past, Richard is eager to show himself to be a credit to his race. As the African Brigade conducts raids through the areas occupied by the Confederate Partisan Rangers, he and his comrades recognize that they are fighting for more than territory. Wild's mission is to prove that his troops can be trusted as soldiers in combat. And because many of the men have fled from the very plantations in their path, each raid is also an opportunity to free loved ones left behind. For Richard, this means the possibility of reuniting with Fanny, the woman he hopes to marry one day. With powerful depictions of the bonds formed between fighting men and heartrending scenes of sacrifice and courage, Black Cloud Rising offers a compelling and nuanced portrait of enslaved men and women crossing the threshold to freedom.

David Wright Faladé's deeply intimate portrait of Sergeant Richard Etheridge's experience in the Union Army as part of the African brigade. Newly freed, Sergeant Etheridge's mission, as well as his company's, is to face familiar territory and people as the Union tries to ensure its stronghold in North Carolina by removing rebel guerrilla fighters and their sympathizers. Etheridge's position there is complex--he is out to prove himself. He desires to be seen as a son by his paternal father, his former owner, as worthy as his other half-siblings. He desires to be seen as a brave soldier to his commanding officers in the Army as they speak about abolition but don't fully see their soldiers as equals. He also wants to be seen as his cousin Patrick's contemporary, a family member, a friend. Etheridge's desires of self-worth radically change through his experience fighting in North Carolina. It is a coming-of-age tale as Etheridge finds meaning in his life and this experience as well as learning to let go. It is a fantastic novel. If you are a fan of Geraldine Brooks or Nathan Harris, this novel will appeal to you. -Anne M

The Kaiju Preservation Society

John Scalzi

SCIENCE FICTION Scalzi John
Science Fiction

"The Kaiju Preservation Society is John Scalzi's first standalone adventure since the conclusion of his New York Times bestselling Interdependency trilogy. When COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food delivery apps. That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls "an animal rights organization." Tom's team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit. Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on. What Tom doesn't tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth. Not our Earth, at at least. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm and human-free world. They're the universe's largest and most dangerous panda and they're in trouble. It's not just the Kaiju Preservation Society whose found their way to the alternate world. Others have, too. And their carelessness could cause millions back on our Earth to die"--

Yet another engaging and fast paced Scalzi effort, filled with frequently snarky yet interesting and enjoyable characters, and, of course, a number of unusual and quite perilous situations that just get better and better. -Paul