Staff Picks
April 2020
Willow Moss and the Lost Day (Starfell Series, book 1)
by Dominique Valente
In the kingdom of Starfell, magic is real–but not everybody has magical powers. Willow Moss is the youngest in the Moss family, and by comparison, her magical talent is small. Her mother can speak to the dead, her sisters can make things explode, and her grandmother was a world-famous potion maker. Willow’s talent is finding lost things; usually keys or toothbrushes. Nobody thinks much of Willow’s magical skill… Until the day that the world’s most feared witch comes asking for Willow’s help. Last Tuesday has gone missing, and that lost day threatens to unravel the universe. This delightful story draws from many classic fantasy elements, yet still feels fresh. I loved the cast of characters: monsters, dragons, trolls, and of course, witches. This book is a delightful escape from the mundane, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Also available on Hoopla.
Recommended by: Kara DeCarlo, Youth Services School Liasion
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Terns of Endearment
by Donna Andrews
Meg and family join Meg’s grandfather Dr. Blake, on a cruise in which he will be giving lectures. All seems to be going well until a famous writer falls overboard. Was it a suicide, the curse of the Bermuda Triangle, or foul play? Also available on Hoopla.
Recommended by: Holly Balasa, Youth Services Shelver
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Someone to Remember
by Mary Balogh
Lady Matilda has spent her life dutifully caring for her mother. Due to recent family marriages and expanding acquaintances, Matilda’s circle now includes Charles Sawyer who she hasn’t seen since they were 20 years old and courting. Their courtship ended but her heart never stopped loving him. Charles, who is an especially charming and thoughtful character in this story, reaches out to Matilda. He sets the stage for romance with their shared memories and a renewed hope for their future….together. This novella, with a historical setting, is an especially sweet romance. Fans of Julia Quinn will not be disappointed in trying Mary Balogh. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Michelle Przekwas, Adult Services Shelver
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Chasing Cassandra
by Lisa Kleypas
What happens when a man who has everything money can buy starts to fall in love? For Tom, a businessman who rose from nothing, a decision to marry is not an easy one. He is not a hard man but he doesn’t think he knows how to love a wife. And when he chooses a woman who would make a good wife, that woman would prefer to love him or just not have him at all. While its title mentions ‘Cassandra’, this story is more about Tom, his childhood, and an orphan he begins to mentor. It takes ‘Cassandra’ to show our hero Tom that he does know how to love. Lisa Kleypas’ stories can always stand on their own even if part of a series. This is a great read for those who enjoy historical romance along the lines of Tessa Dare and Sarah MacLean. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Michelle Przekwas, Adult Services Shelver
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Dry
by Neal Shusterman
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 2
Pleasurable soundtrack from the delightful comedic drama produced for Amazon Prime featuring Chicago area actors Rachel Brosnahm as Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel, and Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson. Standards from the American songbook by legends Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald and more, treat listeners to timeless jazz and popular tunes to lift the spirits. Available on Hoopla.
Recommended by: Diane Drebro, Adult Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Music
My Hero Academia (Volume One: Vigilantes)
by Hideyuki Furuhashi
Izuku Midoriya is a powerless boy in a superhuman society. His friends (if he can even call them that) have all left him in the dust with their quirks. Until one fateful day he meets his personal hero the pillar of justice himself, All Might and his world is changed forever. A brilliant story with volumes upon volumes to spare it’s a great story of triumph over adversity. The first volume is available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Kevin Carroll, Adult Services Shelver
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Breakout
by Kate Messner
When the public library decides to create a time capsule for the future residents of Wolf Creek, Nora Tucker, aspiring journalist, jumps at the opportunity to participate. Elidee Jones recently moved to Wolf Creek, and if it wasn’t for the extra credit, she wouldn’t really care about participating in the time capsule. She’s much too busy worrying about her brother, Troy, serving a 15-year sentence at the prison in Wolf Creek, and missing her family back in New York City. When two inmates at the prison escape, Nora and Elidee pour out their thoughts and experiences to the future residents of Wolf Creek in their time capsule letters. A suspenseful and thoughtful read. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Stephanie Thomas, Youth Services Preschool Services Coordinator
Posted in: Youth Fiction
London Kills: Series 1
A murder squad, consisting of two detectives and two constables, is the focus of this London based series. Actress Sharon Small (a familiar face from the Inspector Lynley mystery series) as DI Cole takes the forefront of various investigations while her boss, DI Bradford, is conspicuously missing in action. This five-episode season relies on quick solve cases while also including snippets of other investigations. It is a slow build-up to the final episode which seemed so much better than all the previous episodes in pace as well as the content. You must watch them in order which isn’t hard to do since they are each less than an hour in length. This is a good police procedural series that seems realistic and not Hollywood dramatized. Fans of Midsomer Murders or the VERA television series might like to try this one. Also available on Hoopla.
Recommended by: Michelle Przekwas, Adult Services Shelver
Posted in: Movies/TV
The Gift of Ramadan
by Rabiah York Lumbard
Sofia is a little Muslim girl who loves sparkles and after hearing her grandma describing the heart of a person who fasts is “Pretty and Sparkly” she did her best to fast and follow the traditions of Ramadan. Could Sofia fast the long days of Ramadan so she can have a pretty and sparkly heart? It’s a great book for anyone who wants to know what is Ramadan and how Muslim families spend each day of it.
Recommended by: Ghada Rafati, Patron Service Clerk
Posted in: Youth Fiction