Staff Picks
August 2024
Sunshine: how one camp taught me about life, death, and hope
by Jarrett Krosoczka
This is a wonderfully illustrated non-fiction graphic novel that tells the story of a group of teenagers that volunteer for the week at camp during their senior year of high school. With mixed emotions going into the week, helping children and families with cancer and illnesses is nothing but life-changing. Jarrett and his five other classmates embark on a week of camp activities and learn about the determination and perseverance of the children around them. I recommend this book for anyone that wants a feel-good story of hope and making a difference in the world. This book is included in the Read for a Lifetime 2025 program put on by the state of Illinois to target high school students. By reading this book, you can be part of the way to getting recognition from the state and receiving a certificate that looks great on college applications!
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Abigail Hooks, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction
The Golden Hour
by Niki Smith
This is a wonderfully illustrated, realistic fiction graphic novel about a group of friends working together in times of hardship. It shares the life of Manuel Soto, who just experienced an instance of gun violence in school. He finds comfort in photography and helping his friends prepare for the local county fair. This book shares the power of friendship and finding yourself even in the hardest of situations. This is an enjoyable novel if you want a realistic book about friendship and self-discovery.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.
Recommended by: Abigail Hooks, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Impossible Escape: a true story of survival and heroism in Nazi Germany
by Steve Sheinkin
This non-fiction novel tells the true story of the lives of Rudi and Gerta, both Slovakian-Jewish-born teenagers trying to escape their situations during World War II. Rudi in the Auschwitz concentration camp and Gerta hiding away in Hungary. This novel reads like a narrative and tells of the hardships they both endure while trying to survive the war. This is an incredibly well-written and descriptive story that comes full circle with true historical facts that impacted the rest of the war. If you want a historical and realistic novel, this is one you won’t want to put down. This book is included in the Read for a Lifetime 2025 program put on by the state of Illinois to target high school students. By reading this book, you can be part of the way to getting recognition from the state and receiving a certificate that looks great on college applications!
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Abigail Hooks, Youth Services Assistant
Posted in: Young Adult Nonfiction
Ghost Roast
by Shawnee Gibbs
Chelsea does everything she can to hide the fact that her dad is a professional ghost hunter. Her social life would be ruined if that got out at her school. Of course this is a lot harder than it sounds when her punishment for getting caught at a graveyard party by the police is helping her dad out at his job over the summer. While at work Chelsea finds out that she can not only see ghosts but can also talk to them too. And one of the ghosts at the old mysterious mansion is not only nice, but also hot. Maybe her dad’s job isn’t so crazy as it seems… if only Chelsea can find a way to save the ghosts, instead of hunt them.
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
Dear Medusa
by Olivia A. Cole
Alicia has a reputation, but there’s more to her story than the whispers that follow her at school. A million different insults that really mean “a girl who has had sex” can hurt. What her classmates don’t know is that she was sexually abused by a popular teacher. Does that make her a victim, or a slut who asked for it? Alicia is having a hard time figuring that out. She went from outgoing, to invisible. Until one day when mysterious letters are left in her locker that hint at another victim. Alicia has built walls to protect herself, but between the letters showing up and a new girl at school, Alicia is starting to see cracks forming. Cracks that may open up to something better.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches
by Kate Scelsa
Eleanor is the least likely person in Salem to believe in witchcraft. She is a town outcast among her peers, for something that happened with her ex girlfriend. Not even witch craft could fix the mistakes that she made. Then a handwritten guide to tarot arrives at the witch souvenir store where Eleanor works with a promise that magic is coming her way. Eleanor is quick to dismiss this, until Pix shows up with an unusual invitation. Inspired by the magic and mystery of the tarot, Eleanor decides to open herself up to making friends with Pix and her coven of witches, and even to the possibility of a new romance. If Pix and her friends find out about Eleanor’s ex and their fallout though, Eleanor thinks she will lose everything again. Secrets can hurt loved ones, and Eleanor has plenty to hide. Are her secrets bad enough not be forgiven?
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
July 2024
The Key to Rebecca
by Ken Follett
Ken Follett’s The Key to Rebecca is a thrilling historical fiction novel about espionage and adventure that takes place during WWII. The story revolves around a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between Alex Wolff, a German spy, and Major William Vandam, a British intelligence officer. Wolff, inspired by the real-life spy Johannes Eppler, uses the novel “Rebecca” as a code to transmit crucial military secrets to the Axis powers. Vandam, tasked with stopping Wolff, must decipher the spy’s code and prevent the fall of Cairo. I enjoyed Follett’s engaging and fast passed writing and his ability to describe vivid atmospheric settings. I felt fully immersed in the sweltering heat of the Egyptian dessert… although it probably helped that I was reading this outside during the summer! The historical accuracy and attention to detail enhance the authenticity of the story, making it as educational as it is entertaining. It’s a novel with exciting and unexpected twists and turns. For fans of historical fiction and spy-thrillers, this book is a must read.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
The Manningtree Witches
by A.K. Blakemore
A.K. Blakemore’s The Manningtree Witches is a haunting historical re-imagining that transports readers to the harrowing days of the English witch hunts of the 17th century. The story follows Rebecca West, a poor young woman and her mother who are desperately trying to get by. Their lives, along with those of several other women in the town, are upended when the infamous self-proclaimed witchfinder Matthew Hopkins arrives, bringing with him paranoia and suspicion. The book vividly captures the oppressive atmosphere of the time, where accusations of witchcraft were fueled by personal vendettas and societal anxieties. The poetic language used in the book is not especially easy to follow but I think that it adds to the authenticity of the period. This story was impressive to me because Matthew Hopkins died young and very little is known of him other than his witchfinding and the women are only known through the records of the trials, so Blakemore has created her story from very little information. In the afterword, Blakemore suggests that her goal in writing this story was to give a voice to the persecuted and voiceless women of the time. I would say that she succeeded!
This book is available at the library and on Hoopla as an e audiobook.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Gilded
by Marissa Meyer
Marissa Meyer’s Gilded is an enchanting reimagining of the classic Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, infused with German mythology, dark magic, and a touch of romance. The story follows Serilda, a gifted storyteller who inadvertently captures the attention of the sinister Erlking and his ghastly Wild Hunt. Serilda’s talent for spinning tales becomes her only weapon when she deceives the Erlking and is ensnared in a deadly deal. Trapped in the Erlking’s haunted castle, she encounters a peculiar yet endearing poltergeist named Gild, who helps her spin straw into gold to fulfill the ErlKing’s demands. However, Gild harbors his own secrets that Serilda must discover while she slowly grows feelings for him. One of my favorite aspects of the book is Meyer’s ability to blend the classic and contemporary. While the foundation of the story is rooted in the Rumpelstiltskin legend, Meyer expands on the fairy tale with her own imaginative flair, incorporating elements of Germanic folklore and her signature creative touch.
This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla as an e audiobook.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The House Across the Lake
by Riley Sager
Riley Sager’s The House Across the Lake is a thrilling, suspenseful, and spooky story that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down! The novel intertwines elements of mystery, phycological tension, and unexpected twists, making this a must-read for fans of gripping thrillers. The story centers around Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress seeking solace at her family’s lake house. Her retreat takes a sinister turn when she becomes entangled in the lives of her mysterious neighbors, Tom and Katherine Royce. Casey’s fascination quickly escalates into obsession, leading her to uncover secrets that are as shocking as they are dangerous. What made this thriller different for me was Sager’s use of misdirection. I was kept guessing at every turn! The final reveal however, was both satisfying and chilling. While the story was highly entertaining, I would suggest looking up trigger warnings for the book before reading. There are instances of drowning, alcoholism, abuse, and more. If these topics bother you I would suggest choosing a different book.
This book is available at the library and on OverDrive/Libby as a ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Kristen Holding, Graphic Artist
Posted in: Adult Fiction