2024 was a great year for books! Our staff has been reading, listening, and watching to books and more all year and are ready to give our recommendations. Whether you're looking for one of the hottest hold list titles of the year, like Kristin Hannah's The Women, or something a little more off the beaten path like Wenyan Lu's The Funeral Cryer, our list of staff favorites should have something for everyone. If you're looking for titles for kids and teens, be sure to scroll down toward the end of the list for those.
Happy reading! We can't wait to see what new beloved books 2025 will bring!
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There's always this year
by Abdurraqib, Hanif ADULT NONFICTION: While Hanif Abdurraqib is an acclaimed author, a gifted poet, and one of our culture's most insightful music critics, he is most of all, at heart, an Ohioan. Growing up in Columbus in the '90s, Abdurraqib witnessed a golden era of basketball, one in which legends like LeBron were forged, and countless others weren't. His lifelong love of the game leads Abdurraqib into a lyrical, historical, and emotionally rich exploration of what it means to make it, who we think deserves success, the tensions between excellence and expectation, and the very notion of role-models, all of which he expertly weaves together with memoir: "Here is where I would like to tell you about the form on my father's jumpshot," Abdurraqib writes. "The truth, though, is that I saw my father shoot a basketball only one time."" Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "I'm not much of a sports fan but I'll read ANYTHING Hanif Abdurraqib writes, and I enjoyed his thoughtful reflections on basketball (as well as childhood nostalgia, community, culture, and everything else that goes along with sports fandom) much more than I've ever enjoyed watching a game." |
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The warm hands of ghosts
by Arden, Katherine ADULT FICTION: In 1918, field nurse Laura Iven returns to Belgium to uncover the truth about her brother Freddie's supposed death in combat, while Freddie, unable to return to the killing fields, takes refuge with a mysterious man who has the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Lisa says, "Historical fiction meets the paranormal during the daily struggles of living in and through WWI. Laura, Freddie, and Hans' intertwining story stays with you long after you've turned the last page. Kudos to Arden for another beautiful and affecting tale!" |
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Blood test
by Charles Baxter ADULT FICTIONL Brock Hobson, an insurance salesman and Sunday-school teacher, confronts life-altering revelations from a cutting-edge, predictive blood test that affect everyone in his life, from his girlfriend to his ex-wife and their two teenagers who are beginning to explore their sexuality. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Tricia says, "The subtitle calls this a comedy and if you have a dry, wicked sense of humor, this book is for you." |
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Still life
by Burke, Katherine Packert ADULT FICTION: Everything in Edith's life is approaching disaster. Her writing career is stagnant. Her love life is a mess. Her ex, Tessa, is marrying a man. Her teeth are rotting in her skull. And her best friend, Val, is dead. In the present, Edith visits Boston feeling like a failure of a writer, a failure of a girl, and wracked with guilt over Val's death. Val, the intrepid wanderer, had drifted in and out of Edith's life, arriving in Texas with estrogen pills and wisdom from a life on the road. A sometimes lover,sometimes trans mentor, Val was everything Tessa wasn't and everything Edith needed. Home alone in Texas, she is left loveless and exhausted as the state slowly chips away at trans rights. Was Val's fatal car crash Edith's fault? Would she have stayed put if Edith had loved her better? Reference Librarian Lee says, "Burke's writing is literary yet approachable, full of pop culture references and humor as well as profound moments of sadness and loss. She writes of contemporary queer experience in a way that not many writers can." |
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Nestlings
by Cassidy, Nat ADULT FICTION: Ana and Reid needed a lucky break. The horrifically complicated birth of their first child has left Ana paralyzed, bitter, and struggling: with mobility, with her relationship with Reid, with resentment for her baby. That's about to change with the words any New Yorker would love to hear--affordable housing lottery. They've won an apartment in the Deptford, one of Manhattan's most revered buildings with beautiful vistas of Central Park and stunning architecture. Reid dismisses disturbing events and Ana's deep unease and paranoia as the price of living in New York--people are odd--but he can't explain the needle-like bite marks on the baby. Library assistant Jen says, "I actually didn't like it. I felt kind of disgusted by it, but it has always stayed in my head and I think about it a lot. It's about a woman who moves into a too good to be true apartment in New York City with her husband and baby daughter. What she doesn't know is the apartment is infested with vampires and they want her baby. I guess the moral of the story is everything comes with a cost." |
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Consent
by Ciment, Jill ADULT NONFICTION: The author of the novel The Body in Question reevaluates her decades-long marriage to the 47-year-old man she met when she was seventeen in the context of today's focus on the balance of power between older men and young girls. Reference Librarian Lee says, "I've never read a memoir that views memory in quite this way before. Ciment's re-analysis of her marriage, viewed through the lens of modern feminism, is painful at times, but ultimately it calls into question the ways that we can reflect on memory with nuance and maturity." |
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If you can't take the heat
by DeRuiter, Geraldine ADULT NONFICTIONL From the James Beard Award-winning blogger behind The Everywhereist come hilarious, searing essays on how food and cooking stoke the flames of her feminism. When celebrity chef Mario Batali sent out an apology letter for the sexual harassment allegations made against him, he had the gall to include a recipe-for cinnamon rolls, of all things. When Geraldine DeRuiter decided to make the recipe, she happened to make food journalism history along with it. Her subsequent essay, with its scathing commentary about the pervasiveness of misogyny in the food world, would be read millions of times, lauded by industry luminaries from Martha Stewart to New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells, and would land DeRuiter in the middle of a media firestorm. She found herself on the receiving end of dozens of threats, when all she wanted to do was make something to eat...and maybe take down the patriarchy. In If You Can't Take the Heat, DeRuiter shares stories about her shockingly true, painfully funny (and sometimes just painful) adventures through gastronomy. We'll learn how she finally got a grip on her debilitating anxiety by emergency meal-planning for the apocalypse ("You are probably deeply worried that in desperate times, I would eat your pets. And yes, I absolutely would."). Or how her hanger distorts her reality-and not in a fun, trippy way ("On any given day, I am faced with a philosophical conundrum: Am I the worst person who ever existed...or do I just need to maybe have a snack?"). And how she inadvertently caused another international incident with a negative restaurant review (she made the cover of The New York Times! And she also got more threats!). Deliciously insightful and bitingly clever, If You Can't Take the Heat is a fresh look at food and feminism from one of the culinary world's sharpest voices. Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "I didn't think I was familiar with this author when I picked up her essay collection, but it turned out that I actually had read her hilarious viral review of an iconically bad restaurant before. These essays alternated between making me feel infuriated at the sexism in the food world and amused at DeRuiter's takes. (It also made me feel hungry for cinnamon rolls.)" |
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First lie wins
by Elston, Ashley ADULT FICTION: A woman with many faces and identities, Evie Porter, covertly moves from job to job for her unknown employer until her latest mark, Ryan Summer gets under her skin and makes her envision a different sort of life. Coordinator of Children's Services Beth says, "A psychological thriller that kept me engaged right until the last page!" |
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One way back
by Ford, Christine Blasey ADULT NONFICTION On September 27, 2018, Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee which was considering the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court; this is the true behind-the-scenes story of that testimony. Loved by Library Director Barbara! |
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TV SERIES: "From" unravels the mystery of a nightmarish town that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down. Library Assistant Jen says, "Its a series on MGM about people who find themselves trapped in a town filled with monsters that come out at night. It is terrifying and I think about it constantly! They just wrapped Season 3 and its been renewed for at least 2 more seasons." |
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The women
by Hannah, Kristin ADULT FICTION. In 1965, nursing student Frankie McGrath, after hearing the words“Women can be heroes, too,” impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows her brother to Vietnam where she is overwhelmed by the destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America. Assistant Head of Circulation Gerry says, "I listened to the audio book and the reader was great! It is an eye-opening look at how women were treated in the military." |
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The wonderful world of James Herriot
by Herriot, James ADULT NONFICTION: James Herriot's timeless, heartwarming, and perceptive stories about animals and people have charmed millions of readers around the world, and millions more have watched the popular PBS series All Creatures Great and Small, which is based on his four books. The Wonderful World of James Herriot excerpts the best of his stories to shape the larger tale of his life, his family, and his world, illustrated with evocative drawings and family photographs, including a special introduction written by his two children Rosie Page and Jim Wight. With astute observations and boundless humor, Herriot captures the spirit of the Yorkshire Dales and of rural communities on the cusp of change, before tractors and machines had taken over and modern medicines and antibiotics transformed veterinary work. Herriot's unforgettable portraits of farm animals and the people he served as a country veterinarian are moving, dramatic, warm, touching, and profound. This beautiful book is the perfect gift for Herriot readers of all ages. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Lisa says, "Delightfully read [on audiobook] by Nicholas Ralph & Anna Madeley, stars of the PBS Masterpiece TV series All Creatures Great and Small." |
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Challenger
by Higginbotham, Adam ADULT NONFICTION: Based on fascinating new archival research and deep reporting, this gripping and riveting narrative provides the definitive story of the 1986 Challenger disaster and how it led to America changing its view of itself. Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "This is a fascinating and devastating explanation of what went wrong in the Challenge space shuttle and how whistleblowers and government malfeasance allowed it to happen." |
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All fours
by July, Miranda ADULT FICTION: Ditching her California life for the open road, a restless, semi-famous artist leaves her husband, child and career and reinvents herself in a motel room, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and what it means to be alive and free. Reference Librarian Lee says, "A funny, raunchy, creatively weird midlife crisis/awakening novel that dwells on interior design, performance art, and polyamory. I had so much fun residing inside of this narrator's head and truly didn't want to leave when the book ended." |
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The birds that Audubon missed
by Kaufman, Kenn ADULT NONFICTION From a new angle, a renowned bird expert and artist explores the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his fierce competition as they stumbled toward an understanding of the natural world by considering the birds these people discovered and, especially, the ones they missed. Coordinator of Reference Services Dean says, "This book filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge about early (18th and 19th century) ornithology and how a lot of species that I come across when birding came to be "discovered," named, and classified." |
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The unhoneymooners
by Lauren, Christina ADULT FICTION: Partnered with a nemesis best man on a paradise honeymoon when her bride twin gets food poisoning, a chronically unlucky maid of honor assumes the role of a newlywed before unexpectedly falling for her companion. Loved by Library Assistant Meaghan! |
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The frozen river
by Lawhon, Ariel ADULT FICTION: In 1789 Maine, midwife and healer Martha Ballard, who is good at keeping secrets, investigates a shocking murder linked to an alleged rape that has shaken her small town, especially when her diary lands at the center of the scandal, threatening to tear both her family and her community apart. Loved by Assistant Director Clare! |
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When we had wings
by Lawhon, Ariel ADULT FICTION: Based on real history and alternating between three perspectives, When We Had Wings tells an amazingly moving story of heroic service, perseverance in the darkest of days, and the hope of the human spirit. Loved by Library Assistant Meaghan! |
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Jade city
by Lee, Fonda A debut entry in an adult series by the award-winning author of the young-adult novel, Zeroboxer, depicts a bustling island controlled by its jade markets, where a new generation of a magical family casts aside centuries of tradition to protect its people and interests in the face of a powerful new drug. Loved by Library Assistant Meaghan! |
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Cindy Lee ALBUM Reference Librarian Lee says, "This is like a strange portal into a different reality where a drag queen girl group singer is the lead vocalist on every song on the radio, regardless of the genre and/or station. I feel like I listened to this on an endless loop for the whole year!" |
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Negative space
by Linden, Gillian ADULT FICTION: This witty and resonant novel about our off-kilter days follows a week in the life of a young English teacher at a New York private school as she grapples with the pressures parenting, teaching, marriage and what's normal and what isn't in the wake of the pandemic. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Tricia says, "An honest exploration of the realities of working motherhood. This is a refreshing take on the banal "supermom" trend." |
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The funeral cryer
by Wenyan Lu ADULT FICTION: Accepting the mundane realities of her life, the Funeral Cryer, avoided by fellow villagers because of the stigma attached to her job, when things could not be bleaker, takes a leap of faith that changes everything for the better. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Tricia says, "Lyrical, thought-provoking, and surprisingly funny for a book with the word funeral in the title. This is an author to watch." |
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Someone in the attic
by Mara, Andrea ADULT FICTION: After seeing an online video of a masked figure climbing out of her attic, filmed inside her own house in a luxury gated community designed to keep intruders out, Julia finds her worst fears coming true and wonders why a stranger would target her, unless it's not a stranger at all. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Tricia says, "Even the most seasoned thriller reader won't predict the twist ending! Fully realized characters you don't always see in this genre." |
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Moonflower murders
DVD: Susan Ryeland and her partner Andreas are living in idyllic Crete. But her life is upended when Pauline and Lawrence Treherne bring an explosive mystery to her doorstep. Their daughter, Cecily, has gone missing, and her disappearance is linked to a novel written by Alan Conway. Once again, Susan is plunged into the glamorous world of Atticus Pèund as she decodes a tangled web of lies, rage and jealousy. Will Susan solve the puzzle of Cecily's disappearance before time runs out? Coordinator of Reference Services Dean says, "I both read the books and listened to the audiobooks of this and of Magpie Murders (the narration is excellent). My wife has not read or listened to the books, but we both really enjoyed the TV series of Magpie Murders, so when the TV adaption of Moonflower Murders came out on DVD this year, I requested it right away. The series is only six episodes of about 45 minutes each. My wife and I never binge watch anything, but we ended up watching episodes 3 through 6 of Moonflower Murders in one sitting." |
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People's Joker
An aspiring comedian moves to Gotham City and grapples with her gender while forming an anti-comedy troupe and combating a fascistic caped crusader. Reference Librarian Lee says, "I love the utter weirdness and grimy early Millennium aesthetics of this film! Vera Drew is able to take familiar Batman characters, put them through a queer blender, and turn them into the archetypes that they should be, all while dodging the DC Comics legal department along the way." |
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Alpha
by Philipps, David ADULT NONFICTION Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Philipps uncovers the shocking rise and fall of Eddie Gallagher, the decorated Navy SEAL accused of war crimes during his deployment to Mosul, the fellow SEALs who turned him in, and the court martial that captivated the nation. Coordinator of Reference Services Dean says, "Really well-researched, superbly written, and extremely hard to put down. It was one of those that I got as both an ebook and digital audiobook and I constantly switched back and forth between them, depending on whether I was driving, walking, or sitting at home." |
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Pay the piper
by Romero, George A. and Daniel Kraus ADULT FICTION: In 2019, while sifting through University of Pittsburgh Library's System's George A. Romero Archival Collection, novelist Daniel Kraus turned up a surprise: a half-finished novel called Pay the Piper, a project few had ever heard of. In the years since, Kraus has worked with Romero's estate to bring this unfinished masterwork to light. Alligator Point, Louisiana, population 141: Young Rene Pontiac has heard stories of "the Piper" -- a murderous swamp entity haunting the bayou -- her entire life. But now the legend feels horrifically real: children are being taken and gruesomely slain. To resist, Pontiac and the town's desperate denizens will need to acknowledge the sins of their ancestors -- the infamous slave traders, the Pirates Lafitte. If they don't... it's time to pay the piper. Coordinator of Reference Services Dean says, "This gave me chills more than any other book I read this year or last." |
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I heard her call my name
by Sante, Lucy ADULT NONFICTION: The Belgian-born American writer shares the both the arc of her artistic journey as well as a step-by-step account of her 2021 transition to becoming a woman at the age of nearly 70. Reference Librarian Lee says, "A beautifully written memoir in which Sante examines her own gender transition at a later stage in life. She writes with a warmth and closeness that makes the reader feel like they know her personally." |
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After Anna
by Scottoline, Lisa Dr. Noah Alderman, a widower and single father, has remarried a wonderful woman, Maggie Ippolitti, and for the first time in a long time, he and his young son are happy. Despite her longing for the daughter she hasn't seen since she was a baby, Maggie is happy, too, and she's even more overjoyed when she unexpectedly gets another chance to be a mother to the child she thought she'd lost forever, her only daughter Anna. Maggie and Noah know that having Anna around will change their lives, but they wouldnever have guessed that everything would go wrong, and so quickly. Anna turns out to be a gorgeous seventeen-year-old who balks at living under their rules, though Maggie, ecstatic to have her daughter back, ignores the red flags that hint at the trouble brewing in a once-perfect marriage and home. Events take a heartbreaking turn when Anna is murdered and Noah is accused and tried for the heinous crime. Maggie must face not only the devastation of losing her daughter, but the realization that Anna's murder may have been at the hands of a husband she loves. In the wake of this tragedy, new information drives Maggie to search for the truth, leading her to discover something darker than she could have ever imagined. Loved by Library Assistant Paula! |
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The wishing game
by Shaffer, Meg ADULT FICTION: A retired bestselling author hosts a one-of-a-kind competition, with high risks and high rewards-giving the winner a chance to change lives. Lucy Hart has come a long way since feeling the cold neglect of her parents, whose attention always centered around her chronically ill sister's needs. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher's aide, Lucy is able to share her love of books with bright, young students, and one in particular, a seven-year-old orphan named Christopher, has her yearning for a family of her own. The Clock Island books were Lucy's passion and refuge as a child, and now she shares them with Christopher, who's become as big of a fan as she ever was. No matter how badly Lucy wants him in her life, even the idea of adopting him seems out of reach without proper funds and stability. Then a blue envelope arrives at her school, inviting Lucy to compete for the one and only copy of Jack Masterson's final novel in the iconic Clock Island series. No one has seen or heard from Jack Masterson in years, but now four diehard Clock Island fans have received the invitation of a lifetime to stay on his private island and compete for the final installment, and un-published manuscript, of the well-loved series. For Lucy, a chance to read the last-ever Clock Island book is a prize worth playing for, but the possibility of winning and securing a better future for her and Christopher means everything. But first, she must contend with opportunists, cheaters, and, perhaps most distressingly, Jack's illustrator and companion on the island, Hugo Reese, whom Lucy has admired since first reading the books as a girl. All the while, the master of ceremonies, the prolific author himself, has his own secrets to keep--and a larger plan in the works that will change everything for all of them. Coordinator of Children's Services Beth says, "Part mystery, part adventure, part feel good moving forward from trauma story, this is an intriguing read with a happy ending of course!" |
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Model home
by Solomon, Rivers ADULT FICTION: Turns the haunted-house story on its head, unearthing the dark legacies of segregation and racism in the suburban American South. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Tricia says, "This new spin on the haunted house genre is fresh and original. The monsters aren't hiding under the bed, they're out and about amongst us." |
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Using his personal experiences to reclaim and reimagine spiritual virtues like rage, resilience and remembrance, the author presents this moving meditation that discusses being Black and learning to love in a loveless, anti-Black world. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Lisa says, "If you like James Baldwin's writing you will love Danté Stewart too!" |
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A talent for murder
by Swanson, Peter ADULT FICTION: A newlywed becomes suspicious of her husband after finding a blood streak on the back of a shirt he wore to a conference and discovers a disturbing pattern of unsolved murders in all the cities he's visited. Coordinator of Library Technology Theo says, "This was my favorite Peter Swanson thriller in years. Returning characters from previous novels are a perfect fit for this story and the mystery kept me guessing until the final pages." |
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Margo's got money troubles
by Thorpe, Rufi ADULT FICTION: When an affair leads to an unexpected pregnancy, Margo, the child of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler, finds herself on her own with an infant, and in desperate need of cash, starts an OnlyFans account that turns her into a runaway success, which soon comes with a high price. Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "A hilarious and heartwarming tale of a small found family united by the unlikely combination of professional wrestling and Only Fans. This book made me laugh out loud during a time when I really needed a laugh!" |
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Remarkably bright creatures
by Van Pelt, Shelby ADULT FICTION: A luminous debut novel about a widow's unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium-and the truths she finally uncovers about her son's disappearance 30 years ago. Loved by Assistant Director Clare! |
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Fourth wing
by Yarros, Rebecca Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general--also known as her tough-as-talons mother--has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders. But when you're smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don't bond to "fragile" humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother's daughter--like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She'll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Loved by Library Assistant Meaghan! |
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The exceptions
by Zernike, Kate ADULT NONFICTION A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist tells the powerful—and inspiring—story of Nancy Hopkins, a reluctant feminist who, in 1999, became the leader of 16 female scientists who forced MIT to publicly admit it had been discriminating against its female faculty for years. Loved by Library Director Barbara! |
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Icarus
by Ancrum, K. TEEN FICTION: A thief who steals priceless art and replaces it with his father's impeccable forgeries while targeting Mr. Black, the man responsible for his mother's death, Icarus Gallagher is torn between family loyalty, revenge, escape and Mr. Black's son—the boy he's come to love. Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "This dreamy combination of romance and art heist was a poetic page turner." |
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Stella & Marigold
by Barrows, Annie EARLY CHAPTER BOOK: Two sisters, Stella and Marigold, do all the regular things, like go to school, but they also share adventures (both real and imagined) and secret sister things Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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Plain Jane and the mermaid
by Brosgol, Vera TWEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL: When her last shot at happiness is kidnapped by a mermaid, Jane, who is incredibly plain according to everyone around her, ventures underwater to rescue her maybe-fiancé, summoning her courage, confidence and inner beauty to crusade for the only thing that matters—her independence. Loved by Children's Librarian Olly! |
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There is a door in this darkness
by Cashore, Kristin TEEN FICTION: Dealing with depression as the world is on the cusp of the most consequential election in living memory, Wilhelmina finds a door in her darkness and the courage to pass through it as she attempts to decipher the bizarre messages that keep appearing in her life. Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "I loved reading this offbeat, Boston-based tale about the light moments that could be found during the darkest moments of the COVID lockdown. |
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Red
by Cardi, Annie TEEN FICTION: When Tess's decision to get an abortion goes public, she is rejected and harassed by people in her community, but she soon finds solace in her music and uses her voice to end the cycle of abuse in her small town. Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "This contemporary take on the Scarlet Letter is warm and generous, a perfect take on the story for the current moment." |
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Dragons and marshmallows
by Citro, Asia EARLY CHAPTER BOOK: Learning an amazing secret while discovering a glowing photo, young Zoey assists injured magical animals that begin showing up in her family's backyard barn, an effort that includes caring for a particularly challenging baby dragon. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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Jonty Gentoo
by Donaldson, Julia PICTURE BOOK: Jonty Gentoo is excited by his aunts' stories of the South Pole, so he slips out of the zoo, and sets out to find his ancestral home--which would be easier if he was not swimming in the wrong direction. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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Meet Yasmin!
by Faruqi, Saadia EARLY CHAPTER BOOK: In this compilation of four separately published books, Pakistani American second grader Yasmin learns to cope with the small problems of school and home, while gaining confidence in her own skills and creative abilities. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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Roaring for reading
by Ferry, Beth PICTURE BOOK: In this ferocious tale about protecting the stories that connect us and defending the books that could change the world, young lion Julius lets out a ROAR that can be heard throughout his community when he finds out books are being banned at his local library. Loved by Children's Library Olly! |
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Max in the house of spies
by Gidwitz, Adam CHILDREN'S FICTION: o find his way back home to his family in Germany during WWII, Max Bretzfeld, with a kobold named Berg on one shoulder and a dybbuk named Stein on the other, sets out to do the impossible: become a British spy. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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Star and the maestro
by Hanson, Thor PICTURE BOOK: This narrative nonfiction STEAM picture book tells the true story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his pet starling, Star—two talented musicians who formed a special bond—and explores the unique ways in which humans and animals interact. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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Pine Island home
by Horvath, Polly CHILDREN'S FICTION: Orphaned and alone, the four McCready sisters, aged eight to fourteen, move to a house off the coast of British Columbia left them by their great aunt, and get by with the help of neighbors. Coordinator of Children's Services Beth says, "A sweet story about the resiliency of four orphaned sisters and their ability to stay together when an aunt leaves them her island home in British Columbia." |
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Library girl
by Horvath, Polly CHILDREN'S FICTION: Raised by four librarians who found her abandoned as a baby, 11-year-old Essie, longing for more freedom and a friend her own age, gets her wish when she meets a mysterious boy but soon realizes life isn't as perfect as the stories she's grown up with. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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A crane among wolves
by Hur, June TEEN FICTION: In 1506 Joseon (Korea), Iseul sets out to steal her sister back after she's been kidnapped by tyrant King Yeonsan and collides with Prince Daehyun, the king's half-brother, to discover that their contempt for each other is transcended only by their mutual hatred for the king. Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "Jane Hur writes some of the best historical fiction and this one is no exception! I loved this swoony, historical mystery that made the Joseon period of Korea approachable and fascinating!" |
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Where to hide a star
by Jeffers, Oliver PICTURE BOOK: The long-awaited sequel to the much-loved Boy stories by the internationally best-selling picture book creator of Lost and Found finds the Boy embarking on an exciting spaceship rescue mission to the North Pole when his friend the star goes missing, discovering that he's not the only one who has always dreamed of having a star as a friend. Loved by Children's Room Staff |
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As long as the lemon trees grow
by Katouh, Zoulfa TEEN FICTION: Volunteering at a hospital Syria, where she witnessed the wounded flooding through the doors, Salama manifests a physical embodiment of her fear in the form of her imagined companion and is torn between her loyalty to her country and her conviction to survive. Loved by Assistant Director Clare! |
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Old wounds
by Kisner, Logan-Ashley TEEN FICTION: Two transgender teens embark on a cross-country road trip, only to find their journey interrupted when their car breaks down in a small Kentucky town that sacrifices girls to a forest-dwelling monster. Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "Like all great horror, this shines a light on real life issues. This time two trans teens confront monsters both human and . . . something else." |
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Luigi, the spider who wanted to be a kitten
by Knudsen, Michelle PICTURE BOOK: When a lady mistakes him for kitten, big hairy spider Luigi resists her kind advances until tasty breakfasts and getting tucked into bed convince him otherwise, but he soon learns what might be at stake when you pretend to be someone you're not. Loved by Children's Library Olly! |
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Buckle up
by Lindell, Lawrence CHILDREN'S GRAPHIC NOVEL: Follows Lonnie as he deals with his parents' divorce and has tough conversations with his father, who drives him to and from school. Loved by Children's Library Olly! |
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Sheine Lende
by Little Badger, Darcie When her mother and a local boy go missing after a strange interaction with a fairy ring, Shane and her ghost dogs, along with friends and family, search for them even though they may not be anywhere in this world—or this place in time. Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "I loved Little Badger's earlier book Elatsoe, so I was thrilled to get a prequel novel. The magical worldbuilding in this is so cool, and I would love to read even more books about this family and their ghost animals!" |
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The Sunflowers
by Zahra Marwan PICTURE BOOK: Filled with dreamy watercolor artwork, this stunning nonfiction picture book follows Vincent van Gogh's struggles to find inspiration and confidence in his work until he opens up his world to new friends and new ideas. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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The Wilderness
by McCarthy, Steve PICTURE BOOK: The Vasylenko family are all adventurers who love wild places and wild things. All, that is, except young Oktober. He also dreams of adventure, but it's the kind that takes place between the pages of a book, indoors, where it's safe and warm. Unlike the rest of his family, he dreads venturing out where it's cold, wet, and home to a creature he calls the Wilderness. His father assures him the wilderness isn't a monster, but out there, Oktober can only see slimy tails and sharp teeth and so many places for the terrible Wilderness to hide. One day on a hike, Oktober gets separated from his family, and because he doesn't believe he's brave enough to be an adventurer, he's certain his fate is sealed. But maybe getting lost is just what Oktober needs to find courage and a new perspective . . . and an unexpected friend. With wry humor and marvelously rich and clever illustrations that readers will be happy to get lost in, Steve McCarthy's debut as author-illustrator will speak to even the most timid and bookish of adventurers. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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Monstrous
by Myer, Sarah TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL MEMOIR: Bullied by her classmates, Sarah, a Korean American teen growing up in a rural community with few Asian neighbors, channels their rage into their art and cosplay until it threatens to explode. Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "This is a beautifully written and illustrated memoir that will pull on your heartstrings and will resonate with anyone who has ever felt out of place. Plus, there's some great surprises for the Neon Genesis Evangelion (anime/manga) fans out there!" |
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Homebody
by Parish, Theo TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL MEMOIR: In this intimate and defiantly hopeful graphic novel memoir, the author shares their journey to find a home within themself, taking readers through the experiences and everyday moments that all led up to them finding the term“nonbinary,” which finally struck a chord. Reference and Cataloging Librarian Lisa says, "'“We are all just trying to find a place to call our own. We are all deserving of comfort and safety, a place to call home.' - Exactly, Theo, thank you for sharing your charming and gentle journey of yourself! |
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The man who didn't like animals
by Underwood, Deborah PICTURE BOOK: There once was a man who loved his tidy home and who didn't like animals. Then one day, a cat appeared. The man and the cat both liked napping and watching the rain and eating dinner precisely at six. Well, maybe this one animal could stay. Next came a dog... Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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Lunar boy
by Wibowo, Jessica TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL: Indu, a boy from the moon, feels like he doesn't belong. He hasn't since he and his adoptive mom disembarked from their spaceship--their home--to live on Earth with their new blended family. The kids at school think he's weird, he has a crush on his penpal who might not like him back, and his step-family doesn't seem to know what to do with him. Worst of all, Indu can't even talk to his mom about how he's feeling because she's so busy. In a moment of loneliness, Indu calls out to the moon, begging them to take him back. And against all odds, the moon hears him and agrees to bring him home on the first day of the New Year. But as the promised day draws nearer, Indu finds friendship in unlikely places and discovers that home is more than where you come from. And when the moon calls again, Indu must decide: Is he willing to give up what he's just found? Loved by Children's Librarian Olly! |
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Wishbone
by Winans, Justine Pucella CHILDREN'S FICTION: A rescued cat named Wishbone grants siblings Ollie and Mia's every wish, but their desires, which have a steep price, are threatened by a shadow man called The Mage who covets Wishbone's power. Loved by Children's Librarian Olly! |
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It happened in Salem
by Jonah Winter CHILDREN'S NONFICTION: The chilling story of the infamous Salem witch trials is here brought into modern context in picture book form, showing how bias and blame have teamed throughout human history to disastrous effect. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |
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The misfits: A royal conundrum
by Yee, Lisa CHILDREN'S FICTION: Dropped off at the strangest boarding school ever, Olive discovers the“reforming arts” academy isn't what it seems—and neither is she—as she joins an elite group of misfits who fight crime and need her help to stop the heist of the century. Loved by Children's Librarian Olly! |
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We celebrate the light
by Yolen, Jane CHILDREN'S NONFICTION: Presents a celebration of Diwali, Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day and Lunar New Year and the traditions that link the winter holidays together, in an inclusive, empowering and informative book with read-aloud text. Loved by Children's Room Staff! |