Staff Picks
December 2019
Nowhere Boy
by Katherine Marsh
Two male main characters meet when one, a Syrian refugee in France, sneaks in the basement of the other, an American boy brought against his wishes to school in France. Containing adventure, history and poignant friendship scenes, this book is a compelling read.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The Darkdeep
by Allyson Braithwaite Condie
Four main characters, 2 male and 2 female, discover an abandoned houseboat and within it a mysterious well that they name the Darkdeep. By diving into the well, they are able to bring figments of their imagination to life. These figments last only seconds at first but then longer and longer creating problems. This book contains lots of adventure and constant excitement.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World
by Ashley Herring Blake
This book begins with the destruction of the Aberdeen house by a tornado. It proceeds as a coming of age story with Ivy dealing with her family’s displacement, friend issues and her sexual awakening as a lesbian.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances
by John Green, Maureen Johnson, & Lauren Myracle
The three stories, all written by popular young adult authors, intertwine with one another throughout the different settings of Gracetown including a broken-down train, a Waffle House, and snow globe store. As you read the stories, the connections between the characters will surprise you. Not to mention, Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances is laugh out loud funny (seriously, I did quite often) and is sure to put you in the holiday spirit. Let It Snow is now also a movie on Netflix. Read this one before to watch the movie to compare the two.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Monday’s Not Coming
by Tiffany D. Jackson
When Claudia comes back from visiting family over the summer, she can’t wait to catch up with her best friend, Monday Charles. When Monday’s phone goes to voice mail, she senses something weird is going on. When Monday doesn’t show up for school, Claudia is really worried. Monday’s mom says she’s being homeschooled, but conflicting stories about her whereabouts throw up some more red flags. None of the adults seem worried about Monday’s bizarre disappearance, but Claudia will not stop trying to figure out where her best friend is. Told in a nonlinear fashion with trips to the past and the present, this mystery will keep you hooked with a satisfyingly thrilling ending.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
November 2019
Meet Me in St. Louis
Not strictly a Christmas movie, this film opens in the sweltering summer of 1903 and follows the Smith family’s last few months in their beloved St. Louis before they move to New York City. Funny and heartwarming, this musical marks the screen debut of the classic song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” sung by the incomparable Judy Garland.
Recommended by: Katie Allen, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Movies/TV
The Good Liar
by Nicholas Searle
Now a motion picture playing in the theaters, and a book you can’t put down. An older gentleman whose appearance deceives the wealthy women he seeks to con, finds his next target online, a widow who appears to be vulnerable, but who actually has a secret of her own. You will find The Good Liar full of surprises!
Recommended by: Deborah Keuper, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Christmas shopaholic : a novel
by Sophie Kinsella
A lighthearted book that will make you laugh based upon the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella, where Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood), a lovable character, finds herself in a variety of hilarious but difficult situations. Becky adores shopping, and what better time for it than Christmas. When her parents decide to move, her vegetarian sister and husband come to town, and Becky finds herself hosting Christmas, what could possibly go wrong? Becky’s husband Luke started Brandon Communications, the largest financial PR firm in London, and Becky has recently started working with her lifelong friend Suze, in a gift shop in Suze’s stately home.
You will find Christmas Shopaholic full of holiday cheer and unexpected gifts.
Recommended by: Deborah Keuper, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Adult Fiction
They Shall Not Grow Old
They Shall Not Grow Old is a fascinating look at World War One through the eyes of ordinary British soldiers. Composed almost entirely of footage made at the time, and with narration supplied by the veterans themselves, it provides an on-the-ground look at what it was like to fight in, and live through, the First World War. From the outbreak of war to training, shipping out, and daily life at the front, through battles and finally peace, They Shall Not Grow Old takes you through the Western Front, with the ordinary British soldiers as your guide.
Recommended by: Peter Tew, Reference Librarian
Posted in: Movies/TV
October 2019
A Dash of Trouble
by Anna Meriano
Leonora loves her big family and their family bakery. Every year, her family takes pride in crafting beautiful pastries for the town’s annual Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration and certainly this year Leonora will be invited to help out in the kitchen. After a frustrating day at school and being told by her mother that she’s still too little to help, Leonora decides to borrow the old family cookbook from the bakery. She’s determined to show everyone how great she is in the kitchen, but it turns out the cookbook is not just a cookbook. It’s a book of magic spells! This story of families, holidays, and magic is a real treat. If you want a story with magic, but find the world of Harry Potter a bit too much, this book is a great choice.
Recommended by: Kara DeCarlo, School Liaison
Posted in: Youth Fiction