Staff Picks
January 2024
Wonka
by Sibeal Pounder
Posted in: Youth Fiction
December 2023
1913: Seeds of Conflict
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction, Documentary
Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic
Embark on a magical journey featuring 14 tales of Trans and Non-Binary characters written by Trans and Non-Binary authors! Each protagonist beautifully embraces what it is to be one’s true self and to love everyone despite the differences. The Anthology is written wonderfully with characters who are relatable and inclusive. Great for fans of Cemetery Boys and The Witch King!
Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Tiger Daughter
by Rebecca Lim
Tiger Daughter is a middle grade novel about immigration, mental health, family, and feeling like the cultural other. Students Wen Zhou and Henry Xiao dream of going to a special academy to study but there are language barriers, patriarchy, and a death in the family in their way. Read it to find out what happens.
This book is available at the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e-audiobook.
Recommended by: Jackie Boyd, Communications Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Frontera
by Julio Anta
Mateo, an undocumented immigrant teenager, embarks on a dangerous journey across the Sonoran desert to cross the border to the United States and seek the opportunities he once thought he had within reach. Strong willed and often defiant, he risks his safety multiple times along the way. With determination and the crucial guidance of an unexpected new ghostly friend, he overcomes survival perils and some emotional struggles that many face on such a voyage. In this first graphic novel, Anta and Salcedo visually provide readers a captivating glimpse of the migratory trek many undertake through the hostile and deadly borderland territories. The artwork captures the natural beauty, as well as the desolation of the journey. Guillermo’s supernatural presence adds some historical context to the story in regards to the adversity and predicaments of the immigrant experience.
Recommended by: Fanny Camargo, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
November 2023
Treaty Words: For As Long As the Rivers Flow
by Aimee Craft
Treaty Words: For As Long As the Rivers Flow by Aimee Craft, illustrated by Luke Swinson, is a beautiful look at the Indigenous culture. A grandfather and his granddaughter spend time together in nature appreciating their relationship with each other, their culture, and the earth. It is a short story with colorful art on every page so it will appeal to children of all ages, either reading independently or aloud. It would be a wonderful way to start a conversation about Native American heritage and caring for the environment. The author’s note at the end adds context and could provoke further research.
Recommended by: Erin Cady, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Dear Me عزيزي أنا Because the way you talk to yourself matters
by Ola Dayoub
Dear Me, is a very sweet bilingual book. Each page is just a cute advice. While I was reading this book, I felt like I’m eating my favorite chocolate cake, it’s a book filled with inspirations you need to live happy. A guide to self-improvement, filled with valuable insights and practical advice that will resonate with readers seeking to make positive changes in their lives.
Recommended by: Ghada Rafati, Patron Services Clerk
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction
Ghost Book
by Remy Lai
July Chen’s mother died when she was born. July can see ghosts, but it seems that no one at school can remember her. During Hungry Ghost Month she tries to summon the Hungry Ghost so the kids might finally remember her. Instead she attracts the attention of a wandering soul still connected by a red thread to his body—that of 12-year-old William Xiao, who has many near-death accidents. The two become friends and discover how their fates are connected. An adventure with colorful graphics and thoughts on love, death, memories and friendship.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Fort
by Gordon Korman
When five friends find a hidden fort in the woods near their homes, the adventure is just beginning. There are two older boys bullying them any chance they get. One of the boys has an abusive stepfather. Another boy suffers with OCD and another is struggling with the fact that his parents abandoned him. The fort becomes their ‘home away from home’ until everything finally climaxes in a very explosive manner.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook and on Hoopla as an e audiobook
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Daughter of the Pirate King
by Tricia Levenseller
In order to find a map to a legendary treasure, pirate captain Alosa allows herself to be captured by the enemy. It’s supposed to be an easy mission. Search the ship, find the map, and get out. Alosa didn’t anticipate the clever and hansom first mate though. Part pirate adventure, part romance this read will keep you excited until the end. Then you’ll need to pick up book 2 of the series, and the upcoming book 3!
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction