Staff Picks
May 2020
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel)
by Suzanne Collins
A prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow will be a mentor in the 10th Hunger Games competition. He wants to outwit everyone to help the family fortune, which has suffered since the war. Being the mentor for District 12 candidate does not bode well for that she is from the lowest District. As his desire to win as well as his feelings for Lucy Gray grow, Coriolanus begins to change in attitude and ambition. Many questions are answered in this book as well as foreshadowing of what will occur in the trilogy. Also available on Hoopla.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
All the Greys on Greene Street
by Laura Tucker
When Olympia’s (Ollie) father leaves in the middle of the night, supposedly with another woman and leaves her Mom depressed and unable to get out of bed, Ollie and her friends, Alex and Richard, try to keep everything together. With the mystery about a piece of art and mysterious people hanging around the neighborhood, friendship and family become the cornerstone of solving the unending crisis her life has become.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Small Spaces
by Katherine Arden
From the book cover to the last page this is a spooky book. Ollie prevents a woman from throwing a book into the creek as she mutters about being safe by staying in small spaces. Captivated by the story about a sister and her two brothers, one who is blamed for the other brother’s death, Ollie becomes enthralled with the ghost story. The next day her school takes a field trip to Smoke Hollow, a local farm, which ties in with the story she has been reading. When she comes across the graves of the people she’s been reading about, she begins to understand the story is not just in the book but is happening around her. After the bus breaks down and darkness is falling, she and two friends, heed the warning to RUN and stay small. After reading this book, readers will want to read the follow up with the same characters at a ski lodge, Dead Voices. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Front Desk
by Kelly Yang
Mia Tang is a 10-year-old who has a lot of responsibility. While her parents clean the rooms of the hotel, she runs the front desk. With kindness and ingenuity, she tries to overcome many obstacles not only for herself, but for her parents, and the hidden immigrants. Can she overcome the mean hotel owner, Mr. Yao, and achieve everyone’s dreams? Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children’s Literature. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Drum Roll, Please
by Lisa Jenn Bigelow
Melly, a drummer, is off to band camp for two weeks with her best friend, Olivia. The changes in her life in that short amount of time will have monumental impact on her, her parents, and friends, old and new. Fans of Raina Telgemeier and Tim Federle will enjoy this book. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The Van Gogh Deception
by Deron Hicks
A thrilling page-turner of a story as the main character, a young boy found standing in the National Gallery with no memory tries to unravel who he is and why people are so interested in him. Named Art by his foster family, he realizes he knows a lot about artists even though nothing about himself. So along with his foster sister they return to the area of the National Gallery where he was found, and the mission impossible cat and mouse game is on. QR codes allow readers with proper devices to view the artwork being talked about in the story. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Wedgie and Gizmo
by Suzanne Selfors
First in a series of the hilarious adventures of Gizmo, a guinea pig, who wants to be an evil genius and Wedgie, a fun loving corgi. Told from their alternating points of view, life in this blended household is one laugh after another. From Gizmo’s fear that the grandmother is going to cook him to Wedgie’s belief that his magical powers of turning in circles can open doors, this delightful read will have you reaching for the rest of the series. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Otis and Will discover the deep: the record setting dive of the Bathysphere
by Barb Rosenstock
A little known true story about an engineer and an explorer who built a hollow metal ball, a bathysphere, to dive deep into the ocean. Not only does the text make this story suspenseful, but the watercolor drawings make this a mesmerizing book. As the two men went deeper and deeper into the ocean, not only the risks of something going wrong grew, but also the rewards in the sights they were the first to see. Read this book to follow them down into the deep. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Nonfiction
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen
by Candace Flemming
Based on a real life dog (be sure to read the author’s note at end of book), this is an enthralling story that literally reads like a Hollywood movie. This dog’s life has it all—action, suspense, mystery and romance. As a puppy he was taken to be trained to be a ferocious guard dog. Rescued after WWI by a Hollywood producer looking for a canine star, through love and patience this puppy lived up to his stage name of Strongheart. Look on Youtube for a video of scenes from his movies. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Inkling
by Kenneth Oppel
When the family dog sees an inkblot come to life the stage is set for a riotous good time in Inkling. Ethan, the main character, is struggling on the art portion of a class project because his dad is a somewhat famous illustrator but Ethan is not that great at drawing. When Inkling the inkblot is ‘born’ it turns out he can not only talk and read but he can DRAW! Ethan thinks this is the end of all his troubles, but is it? Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction