Staff Picks
April 2020
The Only Black Girls in Town
by Brandy Colbert
It’s a few days before the start of 7th grade when a new family moves across the street from Alberta and her dads. Alberta is particularly excited because not only does the new family have a daughter her age, but they are also black like Alberta and her dads- a rare thing in her small beach town. While she loves her life in Ewing Beach, especially surfing and spending time with her best friend, Laramie, Alberta finds and understanding and connection with her new friend, Edie, that’s been missing in her life. When 7th grade finally begins, so does a whole new set of issues for Alberta. Suddenly Laramie is hanging out with a new, older, more popular crowd that’s only ever been jerks to Alberta. Meanwhile, the friendship between Alberta and Edie grows as they begin to investigate mysterious journals from the 1950s & 60s Edie found in her attic. Who wrote the journals? What secret are they hiding and why did they feel they had to hide it? As Edie and Alberta start to unravel the mystery of the journals, the mystery of how to deal with big life changes gets more complex for Alberta. A thoughtful and compelling read. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Stephanie Thomas, Youth Services Preschool Services Coordinator
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Giant Days, Volume 1
by John Allison
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Redwood and Ponytail
by K. A. Holt
Kate knows what her future holds. She has a checklist of everything she is going to accomplish this year. She is going to be a cheer captain just like her mother was in 7th grade and she is going to take the entire school by storm. All Tam wants to do is make it through 7th grade without incident. She wants to play volleyball and wants to avoid everything else in between. When Kate and Tam meet its like two worlds colliding. Suddenly, all Kate wants to do is spend time with Tam, and maybe being cheer captain is not all that important. Her friends don’t understand why she wants to spend all her time with Tam and why she is pulling away from them so much. How long can she keep the secret that she doesn’t just like Tam but she may be experiencing her first ever crush? Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Vanessa Fernandez, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Watermelon Madness
by Taghreed Najjar
This funny book is about a little girl Noura, who only eats watermelon and nothing else until she has a dream after hiding the watermelon under her bed before she went to sleep. What happens to Noura and the watermelon that night? Read this story to find out. I really recommend this book especially if you have kids that have a favorite food.
Recommended by: Ghada Rafati, Patron Service Clerk
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Suitors and Sabotage
by Cindy Anstey
Imogene Chively has just had a successful season in London, complete with a suitor of her father’s approval. When Ernest and his brother Ben come to visit her at the Chively Estate, things start to change for Imogene. She finds herself attracted to the wrong brother.
Recommend By: Holly Balasa Youth Services Shelver
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
This is Our Story
by Ashley Elston
At River Point five boys went hunting but only four came back. Evidence shows it could have been any one of them that shot their friend but none of the boys are talking. Now it’s up to Kate to uncover the true killer. However if she doesn’t more than one life could be on the line….including her own.
Recommended by: April Balasa, Patron Services Clerk
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Death Overdue: A Haunted Library Mystery
by Allison Brook
Carrie has recently taken on the position of programs and events director at a library in Connecticut. When one of her first programs abruptly ends with the guest speaker’s death, Carrie wonders if she should have even taken the job. Who could have wanted the speaker, a former police detective, dead? As a murder investigation begins, Carrie must deal with library politics, learn to manage her support staff, handle date nights with a cute guy, and his complicated family as well as look into the suspicious death of a former library aide. And if that isn’t enough on Carrie’s plate, there is also a library ghost! Thank goodness it’s a friendly one! Fans of Victoria Gilbert or Jenn McKinlay might like this ghostly cozy mystery. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Michelle Przekwas, Adult Services Shelver
Posted in: Adult Fiction
The Okay Witch
by Emma Steinkellner
The main character, Moth, surprisingly finds out at age 13 that she’s a witch. And not only is she a witch but so is her mother! How did she not know this? It turns out there’s an alternate world where witches don’t age. The plot evolves in this graphic novel with some conflict between Moth and her mother, some romance, and some magic (of course!).
Recommend by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Scavenger Hunt
The Ride of a Lifetime
by Robert Iger
Bob Iger’s shares the story of his professional path from a production assistant at ABC to the CEO of one of the best-known companies in the world, Disney. Mr. Iger speaks of the challenges he has faced in his positions and the chances he has dared to take. Mr. Iger is a man of integrity and honesty, while also being an extremely effective leader. His business concepts easily translate into life lessons. A great read!
Recommended by: Karen Lyvers, Youth Services Shelver
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction