Staff Picks
July 2023
Everyone in my Family has killed Someone
by Benjamin Stevenson
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Pieces of Me
by Kate McLaughlin
Dylan has woken up yet again in a haze with no memory of what happened last night. She’s just trying to figure who she really is, and these moments of sudden memory loss and confusion aren’t helping. Usually, they’re not so bad but when she calls back home, she realizes she’s been gone for 3 days. It’s never been this bad before. She’s never blacked out for this long, especially while being sober. Luckily, she woke up to a semi familiar face, but the questions still lingered. How did she end up in this place? Where is she? And most importantly why does she keep on blacking out?
Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Oh Sal
by Kevin Henkes
Posted in: Youth Fiction
A Psalm for the Wild-built
by Becky Chambers
One day a traveling tea monk named Dex runs into a robot. No one has seen a robot in centuries after they left to live in the wilds after gaining self-awareness. Humans promised to leave the robots be until they were ready to interact with humans again. That time is now, and the story unfolds as our robot wishes to learn the answer to a simple but complex question. “What do people need?” Dex doing their best to answer that question, as they struggle with finding the answer for themself. It’s an insightful, funny, and peaceful little novel about purpose and what drives us to do the things we do, even when we seemingly already have everything we need.
This book is available in the library and on Hoopla as an e audiobook.
Recommended by: Abigail Kearns, Adult Services Assistant
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Under the Whispering Door
by T. J. Klune
The book follows Wallace as he is picked up by a grim reaper at his own funeral and taken to a strange teashop/house in the middle of the woods where some of the newly and not so newly dead reside as they learn to be at peace with their own passings. Here Wallace learns to accept his death by learning to accept his choices in life. It is a charming ride with a cast of likeable characters, even the ones that take time to warm up to. Both very funny and uplifting while being a somber take on moving on once it’s our time. It, like a good cup of tea, will warm you up inside by the time you’re done with it.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive as an ebook.
Recommended by: Abigail Kearns, Adult Services Assistant
Posted in: Adult Fiction
We Dream of Space
by ERIN ENTRADA Kelly
The three Nelson Thomas siblings could not be further apart. Each of them moves through their own, never intersecting, orbits. Cash, who loves basketball but isn’t good at it, is struggling to pass seventh grade for the second time. Fitch excels at the local arcade game, Major Havoc, but can never seem to get a grip on his temper. And Bird, Fitch’s twelve-year-old twin, has dreams of being an astronaut, but feels her hopes and dreams dwindle as she begins to question her own importance in the world. Each of the Nelson Thomas kids wants to live a different life, be a different person, and escape from the tense unpleasantness that is their family. They are pummeling away from each other, alone and lost. It seems as though the Nelson Thomas siblings will never collide with each other, until one fateful day, they do.
This book is available in the library, on OverDrive/Libby, and Hoopla as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Stephanie Visser-Rodriguez, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
One Last Shot
by John David Anderson
Malcolm is trying to like baseball for his dad’s sake, but it just really isn’t his thing. When he tries miniature golf, though, he finds he excels. The problem is still his dad. Malcolm isn’t driven in sports like his father and it’s causing problems between them. When Malcolm detects similar issues between his dad and his mom, he feels like he needs to fix it. Things start looking up when Malcolm meets a new friend while playing miniature golf. With a friend and a coach, Malcolm is able to start seeing his life in a different way.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Imogen, Obviously
by Becky Albertalli
Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli is her latest book release and like all her others, it does not disappoint. Imogen is going for an overdue visit to her best friend Lili’s college, where Imogen will also attend soon. Imogen feels a little replaced by Lili’s new life, but when she arrives, she learns it’s actually the opposite. Lili definitely never left Imogen behind, in fact, she made her a bigger deal than Imogen could have ever imagined. Lili told her new friends that she and Imogen used to date! And while Imogen is the world’s most devoted ally, she is undoubtedly straight herself, or so she thought…until she spends more time with Lili’s new friend Tessa, and then things become blurry for her. Throughout the story you’ll want to hug Imogen, defend her, laugh with her, be her friend, and hug her again. Obviously you need to read this one right now!
Recommended by: Erin Cady, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
June 2023
Transmetropolitan
by Ellis Warren
Transmetropolitan is a comic that mixes dark futurology with gallows humor and biting satire. Set in a cyberpunk transhumanist dystopia known simply as The City. The comic follows gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem, a chain-smoking infomaniac compelled to reveal the corruption of The City at all costs. Spider along with his body guard Channon Yarrow and assistant Yelena Rossini, delve into some of the future world’s eeriest conspiracies. Through their independent and controversial news column “I hate it here” Spider lambasts the City with the Truth. This comic is not for the faint of heart. It can be crude and insensitive and is ripe with explicit language. But beyond the grime lay a fantastic story about truth, courage, and doing the right thing but maybe not the way society would prefer the right thing be done. 11/10 would read over and over again. A favorite of actor Patrick Stewart, who at one point requested playing the part of Spider Jerusalem.
This book is available on Hoopla as an ebook
Recommended by: Patrick Deitche, Senior Patron Services Clerk
Posted in: Adult Fiction
The Bear and the Nightingale
by Kathleen Arden
Set in medieval Russia, this semi-historical fiction centers on Vasilisa, a young girl with the uncanny ability to see spirits. Vasilisa encounters many spirits from Russian folklore, but none more prominent than Morozko the winter demon, better known as Father Frost. To Vasilisa, these spirits are part of their heritage and livelihood; however, these spirits and their stories soon become anathema when Orthodox Christianity deems these spirits to be demons. An adventurous tale full of magic, witches, and Russian folklore. Strongly recommended to those who enjoyed Circe by Madeline Miller or to those looking for a frosty fantasy for the hot summer days.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Patrick Deitche, Senior Patron Services Clerk
Posted in: Adult Fiction