Staff Picks
April 2020
Five Feet Apart
by Rachael Lippincott
The title of this book refers to the distance at which Stella and Will, both of whom have cystic fibrosis, must stay from each other. Stella initially dislikes Will when they meet in the hospital due to his wanton disregard for his health. Will, an artist, agrees to use the app Stella created to take his medications if she’ll let him draw her portrait. And the rest, they say, is history. But how it all comes together is the real fun in this romantic tale. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The Parker Inheritance
by Varian Johnson
Candice loves mysteries and brain teasers. After she finds a letter addressed to her grandmother, she teams up with Brandon, the boy across the street to try to solve a mystery from the 1950s and to collect a fortune. Flipping between the present and past, the children uncover a case of racism that is still impacting the town. Fans of The Westing Game, which plays a role in this mystery, will enjoy this complex, yet fast-paced story. This book is a 2019 Coretta Scott King Honor Book. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Stef Soto, Taco Queen
by Jennifer Torres
A debut novel about a young girl finding her voice. Stef is tired of being teased about her family’s taco truck. But when the city steps in with regulations, which side will Stef be on? This is a heartwarming multicultural novel based on current events. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Nowhere Boy
by Katherine Marsh
A story about being in a lockdown situation during a real lockdown! In this book it is not a virus, but a threat of terrorism that has caused the lockdown in Brussels. Ahmed has fled Syria with his father but ends up hiding alone in the wine cellar of Max’s house. Max, newly arrived from Washington, D.C. and feeling uncomfortable in his new surroundings, discovers him and wants to help. But after a terrorist attack occurs, the police are looking for any foreigners. What to do when you don’t know who to trust, including your family? A timely novel about the importance of understanding to replace the fear of different cultures. Based on a true, similar incident that occurred during WWII. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Lifeboat 12: Based on a True Story
by Susan Hood
What difference could it make if Ken got on lifeboat 12 instead of lifeboat 8? Ken finds out when the ship he is on is torpedoed before it can reach Canada from England. Many parents were evacuating their children to escape the Blitz to the safety of Canada. To do so though, they had to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Ken finds himself on lifeboat 12 with other survivors but with limited food and water. Can they survive the stress, the storms, and keep their sanity? Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
A Cry in the Dark (Carly Moore: Book 1)
by Denise Grover Swank
Carly, a young woman with a brand new identity, is on the run from a family mired down in shady business dealings. But while on the road to a new town, her car breaks down. Carly then meets a handsome tow-truck driver, takes on a part-time job, witnesses a murder and then becomes the target of those murderers. A few bad people, in this small, forgotten town in the Smoky Mountains, think she’s someone she’s not. So she’ll have to solve a murder to prove them wrong. And while all this goes on around her, she worries that someone may recognize her. Will she find the chance to get back on the road before her father finds her? If you enjoy suspense with some light romance, this might be the series for you. Available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Michelle Przekwas, Adult Services Shelver
Posted in: Adult Fiction
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