Staff Picks
Celebrate October 2nd, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, with this beautifully illustrated biogaphy about the man whose name is synonymous with teaching peace. We get to know Gandhi through the eyes of his grandson Arun, who learns Gandhi is not only his grandfather, but also one to the world. A book that can teach and be treasured by all!
Kai
A gorgeously detailed and fast-paced historical mystery-plus-romance brings 18th-century Scotland to life, with a narrative twist that sent me back to the first page to solve the puzzle a second time.
Sarah
Fans of Plain Bad Heroines and Wilder Girls will love this book. Moon Basin is the type of haunted town that draws in Ghost Hunters from all over the country, and one summer four friends realize the chilling truth of what it means that no one ever leaves. This book is the type of bone-chilling you won’t be able to look away from.
Katherine
High school journalism, misogyny, double standards, bubble tea, family drama, and what it means to belong -- this book's got you covered.
Sarah
Freshly reprinted in time for Halloween. Jump into this creepy journey alongside Keisha and her wife Alice as they embark on a road trip where they are forced to hunt or be hunted- or so they thought it was that simple.
Hannah
Applause, applause for this beautiful picture book from a local author that reminds us to dance (and live our lives) like no one is watching - and proudly take a bow when they are!
Leila
These Violent Delights is my new favorite Shakespeare retelling. A take on Romeo and Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai with the lovers cast as the heirs to two rival gangs in the city, and a dash of the supernatural thrown in as a mysterious madness sweeps through the city. It's fast-paced, vividly drawn, and pulled me all the way into the story. And the sequel comes out next month!
April
When an anxious, would-be Bachelor-style reality star meets a hopeless romantic producer, well... the charm offensive works a charm!
Leila
Perfect for fans of Hey Kiddo, Damian's beautifully illustrated story is a great read for anyone who has ever felt left out and in need of a little hope. I'm not saying it will make you cry, but it made me cry.
Caleb
This is a delightful story about how a Korean American middle-grader, Chloe, feels about growing up in a town where no one else looks like her except for her family. It's hard to give a true and wonderful review w/out spoilage but what feels like a contemporary story at the beginning does take a turn into another genre that is quite exciting.
Sinny
In the introduction of The Breathless Zoo, author Rachel Poliquin remarks on an exhibit of taxidermied polar bears retrieved from across Great Britain: "If the bears provide a critique of past collecting practices, they also make material the intrinsic worth of preserving animals." This can be taken as a summary for the entirety of The Breathless Zoo, a beautiful, melancholy exploration of the practice of taxidermy and its complicated history. If you, like me, have ever wandered through a natural history museum and felt both awed and discomforted by the animals on display, this book is for you.
Piera
This thoughtful short story collection is a study of human connections and the landscapes they play out on. Unafraid truths about family, tradition, and women, separated by generations but tied by experience, rise from the soil of the now-American West that is Kali Farjado-Anstine’s ancestral home in this lauded debut. You can’t miss “Remedies,” “Ghost Sickness,” or “All Her Names,” or any of them, really. A necessary read before her first novel comes out in 2022.
Kate M
This rhyming introduction to colors and counting is a pleasure to read aloud, and Blanca Gómez's illustrations are charming. Find the little brown mouse hiding on each page!
Katie
Rae is used to fending for herself, so when her mother dies, she keeps it a secret. The bond Rae forms with her equally quirky neighbor Lettie gives them both a way to deal with being an orphan and and old woman.
Sarah
If you've ever struggled with chronic illness, made some of your closest friends online, or turned into a rampaging beast once a month, you're sure to find something to relate to here. If none of the above apply, you'll still probably enjoy this surprisingly realistic take on werewolves and friendship.
Shana