05.02.2023

Staff book suggestions for Spring 2023

Emily Cohen

Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries by Greg Melville
(Library of Congress Classification GT3203 .M44 2022)

When I think of spring, I think of all the beautiful walks I have taken in the cemetery, Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge to be exact. As someone who grew up in New York City, I avoided cemeteries, held my breath as I passed them and knew I didn’t want to end up in one.

The author does a lovely job explaining what makes Mount Auburn Cemetery a great place to visit and includes the history of several cemeteries around the country (and their European and Egyptian influences.) The histories are as different as each cemetery, but they all start from a place of necessity. Melville doesn’t shy away from the discrimination, segregation, or the influence of the “multibillion-dollar Death Industrial Complex,” but he also writes about these sacred places with respect and appreciation. This made for an enjoyable read… though I still plan on being cremated.

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, Narrated by Simon Vance
(Available on cloudLibrary)

I am not recommending this book to learn about Taoism. I just know that I listen to it whenever I want to stop overthinking, like a nostalgic meditation app. It is narrated by Simon Vance and when I say narrated, I mean he does all of the voices! Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, and of course Pooh. It’s as sweet as honey. I’ve been enjoying this one with special pleasure!

Will Evans

Confessions of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell
(Library of Congress Classification Z330.6.W54 B98 2019)

Bythell, a used book dealer in a village on the west coast of Scotland, chronicles the peculiarities and frustrations of his trade. Less confessional than wry, the entries reveal his singular nature, equal parts grumpy resignation and hail-fellow-well-met affability. Among the more vexing issues he contends with are the mercenary practices of Amazon; the notoriously thrifty Scots (and American tourists!) that willfully remain ignorant of the concept of profit margins; an eccentric staff and faulty technology, both of whom determinedly act contrary to their boss’s wishes; and obliquely referenced but moving details of a disintegrating romantic relationship. The additional details of village life and descriptions of the countryside (Bythell is a fisherman, of course) further fueled my passion for all things Caledonian.

Table Two by Marjorie Wilenski
(Library of Congress Classification PZ3.W6482 Ta 2019)

It’s the summer of 1940. England is licking its wounds over Dunkirk, and the Battle for Britain rages in the sky. Into this theater of war steps Anne Shelley-Rice, a carefully brought up young woman in newly reduced circumstances, who moves to London to enter the workforce for the first time like thousands of other women. She finds translation work at a large ministry concerned with foreign intelligence, where she is stationed at table two (of the title) along with a dozen other women translators from all levels of society. One tablemate, Elsie Pearne, a clever and efficient woman of a certain age that’s universally despised for her acid tongue and imperious manner, unaccountably takes Anne under wing. As a romance with a recuperating member of the RAF begins to blossom for Anne, Elsie’s increasing demands upon their friendship start to chafe. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe shifts its focus to the London Blitz, and the realities of war begin to literally hit home.

Published in 1942, Wilenski’s only novel convincingly captures the uncertainty of the times and the impact of the war on societal norms, an endlessly fascinating topic for me. Additionally, the subtext of Elsie’s obsession with Anne could easily have been heavy handed, given the intolerance of the times, but Wilenski purposefully renders Elsie a sympathetic character by including her backstory. This is one of the more remarkable works among the canon of mid-twentieth century British women writers.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
(Library of Congress Classification PZ4.K2537 Sm 2021)

Set in an Irish village in the not-too-distant past during the weeks leading up to Christmas, this work would seemingly be more suitable as a winter recommendation. But great writing transcends seasons, and this novella lives up to all the praise heaped on it by the critics. It’s been some time since I felt this emotionally engaged with a character, but Keegan’s Bill Furlong demands your empathy. A solid, loving family man and fair business owner by all outward appearances, who inwardly lives a haunted, questioning existence. When faced with a situation that demands moral action, Furlong evokes a discomforting mixture of admiration and fear due to the certainty he’ll do the right thing despite the damning consequences. Keegan needs to write more!

Shay Glass

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons by Il Sung Na
(Library of Congress Classification Children Picture Book + NA)

This is a sweet, simple picture book with minimal text that’s wonderful to read with very young children. When winter comes, Rabbit and all her friends react in different ways: some fly away from the cold, some grow thick woolly coats! But the seasons keep changing, and soon the snow melts and flowers bloom. The illustrations use different patterns and textures on top of line drawings to evoke snowflakes and flowers, and the rabbit is adorable, with rosy cheeks and teeny tiny whiskers.

Anna Kelly

A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh
(Available on cloudLibrary)

The remote coastal town of Golden Cove is characterized by a rugged landscape and a tight knit community, both of which may be much more dangerous and unforgiving than anyone could have imagined. When a local young woman goes missing, the town police officer and an estranged local must sift through the secrets and lies that come to light to figure out what happened to her, along with the three women who disappeared years ago without a trace. Are these disappearances a mere coincidence, or is there something, or someone, much more sinister at play? A Madness of Sunshine is a slow-building and suspenseful tale of light and darkness, of loyalty and betrayal, of twists and turns. The alternating character viewpoints and flashbacks create a multi-layered story that pulls the reader in and is supplemented by an intricate description of the stunning yet unforgiving environment. If readers are patient enough to endure the slow initial chapters, they will be rewarded with answers to their questions and unimaginable reveals. I listened to the audiobook, available on cloudLibrary, and thought the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, did a wonderful job with pacing and accent.

Carolle Morini

Portrait of an Unknown Lady by María Gainza; translated from the Spanish by Thomas Bunstead
(Library of Congress PZ4.G143 Po 2022)

Empty Wardrobes by Maria Judite de Carvalho; translated from Portuguese by Margaret Jull Costa; introduction by Kate Zambreno
(Library of Congress PZ4.C331 Em 2021)

Memories of the Future by Siri Hustvedt
(Library of Congress PZ4.H9759 Me 2019)

All three of these books will have you thinking about art, collecting, creating, and memory in different ways. Each book is clever, thoughtful, and insightful.

Elizabeth O’Meara

The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan
(Library of Congress PZ4.R9876 Sp 2013)

Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan
(Library of Congress PZ4.R9876 Qu 2023)

One of our members introduced me to the Irish writer Donal Ryan and I immediately tore through his books. I just love his prose and his characters. The writing is spare and elegant and I particularly love how he plays with structure in his books. Queen of Dirt Island is a story of four generations of women living together in Ireland and it’s impressive how each chapter is no longer than two pages but incredibly satisfying. I would recommend any of his six novels.

Zoe Palmer

Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty
(Library of Congress TX724 .T85 2022)

This is an exploration of African-American and Jewish culture through the common essential touchstone of food. Twitty, a culinary historian, recounts different aspects of Jewish and African-American culture and identity and how they intersect with or differ from each other, providing opportunities for exchange and understanding. His anecdotes both resonated with me and illuminated some of my blind spots, and I’m eager to research more (perhaps through his first book, The Cooking Gene, also in the Athenæum’s collection). The book also includes delicious recipes like West African-inspired brisket, stuffed kashered crab, and peach kugel.

Leah Rosovsky

The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra
(Library of Congress PZ4.N146 Ba 2022)

The heroine of this mystery is a young, brilliant Indian woman who moves to Bangalore in the 1920s to marry. She solves two murders while building a real partnership with her new husband.

Books as History: The Importance of Books Beyond Their Texts by David Pearson
(Library of Congress Z4 .P43 2008)

John Buchtel recommended this wonderful exploration of books as historical objects. The lavish illustrations helped me understand Pearson’s (and John’s) fascination with every aspect of the creation and life of a book.

Jessica Schweber

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa (translation by Alison Watts)
(Available on cloudLibrary )

Who can resist the combination of cherry blossom season, Japanese sweets, and intergenerational friendships? A cook with a blemished past and unfulfilled dreams of becoming a writer befriends an elderly woman with her own troubled history. This charming novel explores the redemptive power of friendship and personal growth.

Oh William!: A Novel by Elizabeth Strout
(Library of Congress PZ4.S9186 Oh 2021)

I picked up this book because I’d noticed many of our members had done the same—it is one of our most checked out books of the past year, and I can understand why. The novel is delightfully narrated by the protagonist Lucy, who ostensibly wants to tell us about her inscrutable ex-husband’s recent spate of bad luck. The story simultaneously delves into her own past, and her family’s past and present relationships, examining the ways these relationships have grown or remained unchanged over time, for better or worse.

Mary Warnement

The White Lady by Jacqueline Winspear
(Library of Congress Classification PZ4.W7855 Wh 2023)

Perhaps like me you expected a new installment in the Maisie Dobbs series in March and was disappointed to see that for the first time in many years, Winspear did not add a title as usual. Nevertheless, I admire the author enough to trust her. At first, some similarities between some characters in The White Lady and Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series gave me pause, but this story came into its own. Her thoughtful lead character—coping and calm and competent—is a relief to spend time with. This heroine’s origin story differs from Maisie’s in the structure of its telling. Here, Winspear goes back and forth in time; whereas in Maisie, she stuck to strictly chronological. I shouldn’t have been surprised to read her lead is based on a true woman. The White Lady probably influenced Maisie more than the other way ’round.

03.09.2023

Staff Book Suggestions Winter 2023

John Buchtel

Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts by Christopher De Hamel
(Library of Congress Classification Z106.5.E85 D44 2016)

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to go to Trinity College, Dublin, and ask to turn the pages of the Book of Kells in person? Christopher De Hamel, one of the world’s leading experts on medieval manuscripts, is one of a handful of people who has ever had that opportunity. With wit and insight he tells the story of that remarkable book, and of 11 more of the most famous illuminated manuscripts in the world. His personable, engaging prose sparkles like the burnished gold leaf that illuminates these books’ painted pages. Along the way, he makes new discoveries that could only be made by an actual physical examination of such manuscripts as the Codex Amiatinus—the earliest surviving complete one-volume Latin Bible, and the Hours of Jeanne de Navarre—one of the most spectacular illuminated manuscripts ever produced. Every book I’ve ever read by De Hamel has been wonderful; I’ve been enjoying this one with special pleasure!

Will Evans

Shy by Mary Rodgers
(Library of Congress CT275 .R6283 Sh 2022)

Shy tells the story of Mary Rodgers, the oldest daughter of composer Richard Rodgers (of Broadway titans Rodgers and Hammerstein fame) and his wife Dorothy. Spoiler alert: Richard and Dorothy were not good parents, or even nice people. They had little confidence in their daughter’s abilities, and they freely dispensed their low opinion of her. But Shy is more than an autobiographical vendetta in the Mommie Dearest mold. In a brutally candid, conversational tone (much of the book was dictated), Rodgers keeps the focus on her journey. In doing so she offers an absorbing description of the East Coast creative class of the period, among whom she doggedly pursues a career as a Broadway composer, notwithstanding the long shadow cast by “Daddy”. She achieves modest success in that field (notable her Once Upon a Mattress, a star-making vehicle for a young Carol Burnett) and would go on to have encore careers in children’s literature and philanthropy. Rodgers dishes plenty of dirt along the way (Was Arthur Laurent the most hated man on Broadway? Also, after having suffered an abusive marriage to a closeted gay man, Rodgers seriously contemplated a romantic relationship with BFF and Hammerstein protégé Stephen Sondheim, an idea endorsed by Sondheim’s therapist!). I enjoy a good dish as much as anybody, but the social history documented here is equally intriguing. Rodgers’s life seemly jumps from one social injustice or cultural hot-button issue to another: antisemitism, alcoholism, women in the workplace, women working in a male dominated field, working mothers, soft parenting, domestic abuse, homosexuality, prescription drug abuse, mental illness, the mainstreaming of therapy. Rodgers suffered, experienced, or bumped up against it all, yet she endured, and her triumph makes for an engaging read.

The Old Boys by William Trevor
(Library of Congress PZ4 .T8163 Ol)

In English public-school parlance (which is in fact private school) an “old boy” is any alumni of the school, be they 17 or 70. The old boys referenced in William Trevor’s title fall into to the latter age bracket, a group of septuagenarians that form some sort of governing board for their alma mater. An election for a new leader approaches, an occasion for some to seek vengeance for wrongs suffered decades ago. Trevor offers a fun cast of characters that include the entitled blowhard and his long-suffering wife, the quiet, embittered outsider, a pair of eccentrics that answer want ads out of boredom, all of whom seek refuge in their old boy identity with a tenacity that suggests they just walked off the cricket field and are heading to maths. They also all share a fear of death, some in a more self-aware fashion than others. Another remarkable (and enjoyable) feature of this book is the language Trevor put in the mouths of the old boys. The characters speak the Queen’s English with laser-like precision, expressing themselves in complete sentences that leave little room for ambiguity. It’s as though they inhabit a Trollope novel of the 1860s instead of 1960s London. While these absurdly exacting exchanges might signify the class and age of the old boys, their comic fastidiousness suggests that Trevor mocks those that cling to the past out of distaste for the present and fear of the future.

Your Table is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maitre D’ by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina
(Available as an audiobook on cloudLibrary)

Equal parts Goodfellas, Kitchen Confidential, and a social history, Cecchi-Azzolina’s autobiography chronicles his journey from a young punk on-the-make in his crime infested Brooklyn neighborhood to his career as a maitre d’hotel at some of the finest restaurants in Manhattan (or the world), namely the River Cafe and James Beard recipient, Le Coucou. Cecchi-Azzolina has a good story to tell. With dreams of stardom he crosses the East River in his early twenties, but like many a would-be actor, he resignedly waits tables until his big break materializes. Nevertheless, he quickly realizes his street-smarts will serve him well in the restaurant industry, and he begins to bluff his way up the food chain. In the course of his narrative, he outlines the fascinating dynamics of front-of-the-house operations. He also name-drops a lot, reciting a catalog of A-listers from the entertainment, sports, finance, and society pages. New York City also has a starring role in this story. The years of urban decay that plagued the city in the 1970s serve as a fitting backdrop or nurturing environment for Cecchi-Azzolina’s debauched lifestyle of that period. The sudden advent of the ‘80s financial boom ushered in the era of the pinstriped Wall Street heavyweights, financial kingpins who handed out c-notes like they were business cards. Accordingly, Cecchi-Azzolina’s own fortunes and morals rise, achieving the exalted post of maitre d’hotel at the aforementioned world-class restaurants. Cecchi-Azzolina’s also relates with genuine feeling the onslaught and subsequent devastation of the AIDS epidemic that decimated the New York restaurant and theater worlds he inhabited.


I would not have likely picked up this book myself. It was forced upon me by my book group, chosen mainly on the merit that it was under 300 pages (One of their steadfast rules!). After initial resistance largely born out of confusion (I’m not sure why, but I imagined we were to be regaled with anecdotes of a cosmopolitan, Upper East Side eatery), I gradually became disarmed and abandoned my snobbery to enjoy the earthy narrative. Also, uncharacteristically for a book group selection, I listened to the audiobook, and in doing so I unwittingly became captivated to a degree that I’m sure I would not have achieved by reading the book. Cecchi-Azzolina reads with the measured cadence of a trained actor, but his Brooklynese adds a note of endearing humility to his tale that would have come across as bravado on the printed page.

Carolle Morini

The Hero of This Book: A Novel by Elizabeth McCracken
(Library of Congress PZ4.M13186 He 2022)

Wonderfully written—witty and introspective.

When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut; translated from the Spanish by Adrian Nathan West
(Library of Congress PZ4.L137 Wh 2020)

Excellent work. It will haunt you well after you finish.

Leah Rosovsky

Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata
(Library of Congress Classification PZ3 .K1775 Sn)

This short book, by a Nobel Prize winning Japanese author, takes place at a hot spring in a rural town popular for hiking and skiing. It tells the story of a doomed love affair between a wealthy Tokyo intellectual and a geisha. The book combines mesmerizing descriptions, particularly of the natural world, with characters sketched in quick brushstrokes.

Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood
(Library of Congress Classification PZ4 .S765 Fo 2020)

I loved this mystery, the first of a new series. The main characters are female versions of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin written with much flair and wit. There is a great plot and lots of stylish dialogue. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next two novels!

Jessica Schweber

Kindred by Octavia Butler
(Library of Congress Classification PZ4 .B98666 Ki 2003)

Watching a commercial for a new television show based on this book inspired me to read Octavia Butler’s novel Kindred. The time-traveling narrative highlights slavery as a nexus event, the effects of which ripple through American history and continue to impact the present. An exciting, thought-provoking, and emotional read as relevant now as it was in 1979 when it was first published.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
(Library of Congress Classification PZ4 .G1414 No 2017)

I bought this book as a holiday gift for my sibling and couldn’t resist reading before gifting it. The winter weather is a good match for Norse mythology and Gaiman’s prose revives these ancient tales while keeping the original feel of the stories.

After reading this, I now feel an urge to compare to Gaiman’s source materials which, happily, are also available at BA!

The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson, translated from the Icelandic
(Cutter Classification VCYL .Ed21 .E .b)

The Elder or Poetic Edda by Edda Sæmundar
(Cutter VCY .8V69)

Mary Warnement

The Posthumous Papers of the Manuscripts Club by Christopher De Hamel
(Library of Congress Classification ND2900 .D44 2022)

I enjoyed his first thick book Meeting Remarkable Manuscripts, about his studying iconic medieval illuminated books, and I’m looking forward to settling in on the love seat with his follow-up about the collectors of those books over the centuries. This seems like it would pair well with a reread of Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose, or maybe Josephine Tey’s Daughter of Time.

08.25.2022

Staff Book Suggestions Autumn 2022

Dan Axmacher

(Library of Congress Classification PZ3.C13956 Co)

I recently finished Italo Calvino’s Cosmicomics, a delightful little collection of short stories that play out across millennia. The immortal narrator Qfwfq recounts a series of situations and stories from his various lives and incarnations, exploring human relationships and foibles on a cosmic scale. This one was a real treat. Available as an audiobook on cloudLibrary.

(Library of Congress SH383.2 .D65 2007)

Next, I’m plummeting back down to Earth and into the sea: I’ve just started Leviathan, Eric Jay Dolin’s historical account of the American whaling industry. I’m only a few chapters in, but so far it’s been interesting to see how the growth of the whaling industry was so closely intertwined with the growth of the United States from its earliest days. It doesn’t hurt that the subject matter pairs perfectly with some of these gloomy New England autumn days. Available on cloudLibrary as both an audiobook and ebook.

Emilie Barrett

(Library of Congress PZ4.H134 Ot 2020)

For those of us who love Jane Austen, The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow is a deeply interesting delve into the characterization of the forgotten Bennet sister, Mary. Through a journey of self-discovery and romance, Mary must throw off the false expectations and wrong ideas that have combined to obscure her true nature and have prevented her from what makes her happy, and undergo an evolution in order to finally find fulfillment in her life. Hadlow’s prose is a beautifully written accompaniment to Austen’s original work and keeps in the spirit of the characters we originally loved in Pride and Prejudice, while adding additional layers of intrigue, lovability, and disdain to many of the characters we did not get to know as well.

John Buchtel
Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny

(Library of Congress PZ4 .P4275)

John Buchtel has gotten hooked on Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Gamache series, with its rich cast of characters, delightful sense of humor, and insight into the art world, the world of libraries and books, and especially into human nature. Not to mention a protagonist who is both truly noble and deeply human, and a setting that will make you want to pack your bags for the Québec countryside as soon as you can: the idyllic, Brigadoon-like village of Three Pines. The first four books are each set in one of the four seasons, starting with the autumnal Still Life. Some titles are available on cloudLibrary.

Jacqueline Chambers

(Library of Congress PZ4 .B1275 An 2020)

This extremely funny and heartwarming novel is sure to make you laugh and cry! Quirky characters abound, and seeing how these strangers grow and come together through a bizarre situation is delightful. 

Will Evans

(Library of Congress PZ3 .T1626 Mak)

Unfolding during the years just prior to WWII, the Makioka sisters are the last in a line of a once powerful and wealthy family in the Osaka area of Japan. The story primarily centers on the family’s attempts to find a suitable husband for the third oldest sister, Yukiko, an emotional reticent woman on the verge of spinsterhood, and the rebellious (read: often Western) behavior of the youngest sister, Taeko, who is forbidden to marry until her older sister has done so. While the plot concerns the two younger sisters, it’s through the eyes of the second oldest sister Sachiko—a happily married woman with genuine love and concern for her younger siblings—that we experience the story. 

Tanizaki serialized the story during the war, and he presents in microcosm what must have been cataclysmic societal shifts happening in Japan at the time. Many of the characters, especially Sachiko and her husband Teinosuke, exhibit wistful longing for the past, while we witness the transgression of tradition, patriarchy, and obedience to elders in the form of Taeko’s actions. The tone, period, and setting made this a compelling read for me, and I was fascinated by customs it outlined, especially around marriage. 

(Cutter Classification VEF .Sh165 .fo)

Does time erode one’s culpability for a wrong committed long ago? Isobel Bracken, the foolish gentlewoman, becomes convinced it does not. A sentimental, kind-hearted widow, Isobel is determined to right a wrong she enacted in her youth by means of an extraordinary, grand gesture. Her prickly brother-in-law and solicitor Simon steadfastly tries to thwart Isobel’s efforts to provide restitution for what he considers a very venial sin.

Like her contemporary Stella Gibbons, Margery Sharp is a shrewd observer of the comic and unremitting Englishness of the British. Available as an ebook on cloudLibrary.

(Library of Congress PZ4 .L6775 Sh 2005)

Octogenarian Nikoli, an eccentric Ukrainian emigre living in the English countryside, has married buxom, blond Valentina, who recently arrived from the Ukraine with an expired green card, a “gifted” school-aged son, and a volatile personality. Seeing through Valentina’s obvious charms and even more obvious motives, Nikoli’s daughters Vera and Nadezhda set aside their troubled history with father and each other to free the smitten old man from the clutches of his new wife.

This book careens from humor, pathos, and human cruelty, and it may be off-putting to some (it depicts elder abuse among other travesties). Nevertheless, the sometimes frustrating, comic, awkward, and joyful experience of caring for an aging parent depicted here rang true for me. Additionally, the enlightening snippets of Ukrainian history told through the family’s history and Nikoli’s treatise on tractors (which gives the book its title) provide some insight to current events. Available as an ebook on cloudLibrary.

Leah Rosovsky

(Library of Congress PZ4.O8336 Th 2020)

Four friends, living in a retirement village in England, solve murder mysteries in their spare time. The series is delightful, witty, and surprising. Available as both an ebook and audiobook on cloudLibrary.

(Library of Congress CT275.Z386 A3 2021)

Michelle Zauner comes to terms with her mother’s death by writing about their shared obsession with food. It’s a lively memoir that alternates between humor and pain. And, the descriptions of Korean food are mouth watering! Available as both an ebook and audiobook on cloudLibrary.

Emily Schuman

(Library of Congress TX357 .S23 2022)

A fascinating look at the history of foods and the impact of mass farming. It’s made me think about how to buy and support the local farms and ecosystem both from an environmental and a health perspective. 

Jessica T. Pinkham Schweber

(Library of Congress PZ4 .W74728 Se 2021)

The author of this book weaves several generations of Dakota women’s stories together within her main character’s life experiences of trauma, love, and loss. It was both personally and historically compelling. Available as an audiobook on cloudLibrary.

(Available as an ebook on cloudLibrary)

This reader is not always a fan of murder mysteries, but I was delighted by Tursten’s somewhat ethically challenged protagonist Maude, an octogenarian who will not be pushed around.

Graham Skinner
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik (volume 1 of the Temeraire series)

(Available through cloudLibrary on both audiobook and ebook)

Dragons and the Napoleonic Wars! What else is there to say? Aside from dragons, I became enamored with the historic fantasy fiction novel and the friendship between the dragon Temeraire and the at first reluctant Captain Will Laurence, who makes a decision between seafaring and becoming part of the Aerial Corps. There is an amazing cast of characters, humor, and friendship that Novik’s writing style captures and is so deeply engaging that I am now three novels into the series.

Mary Warnement

(Library of Congress PS3556.A314 Z46 2017)

Suggesting a book to fall in love with for everyone is a tall order! I have an author to recommend: Anne Fadiman has written on a variety of topics, and her book of essays Ex-Libris is my favorite book to give, but more recently she wrote a biography of her father. Also available as an audiobook on cloudLibrary.

(Library of Congress PZ4.S52645 Gu 2008b)

If you haven’t discovered it or you’re a fan of rereading, I recommend returning to the charming world in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Available both as an ebook and as an audiobook on cloudLibrary.

Murder on the Vine by Camilla Trinchieri

(Library of Congress On order for the Athenæum)

And finally, something new, a book set in October during the wine harvest season in Tuscany, currently available as an ebook on cloudLibrary. Maybe you want to read the series in order, in which case get Murder in Chianti, also available as an ebook and as an audiobook on cloudLibrary.

06.22.2022

Summer 2022 Reading Challenge

Crank up the heat this June with this Summer 2022 Reading Challenge.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels

Trojan Women by Anne Carson
(Children Picture Book Lg BRUNO)
This is a new comic version of Euripides’s The Trojan Women, which follows the fates of Hekabe, Andromache, and Kassandra after Troy has been sacked and all its men killed.

Otto: A Palindrama by Jon Agee
(PZ7.A2678 Ot 2021)
This graphic novel is told entirely in palindromes! Otto’s dog Pip goes missing, and his search leads him into a strange world of talking owls, stacks of cats, storms and mazes, boats and trains and automobiles. Everything seems to be the same forward and backward, and Otto is unsure if he’ll be able to make it home to Mom and Pop.

Marshmallow and Jordan by Alina Chau
(PZ7.C405 Ma 2021)
Jordan’s days as a star on her basketball team were over when an accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. She is still the team captain but her competition days are behind her. When she meets a mysterious elephant named Marshmallow, she discovers a new sport- water polo. Will water polo be the way for her to continue her athletic dreams, or will it come between Jordan and her friends on the basketball team?

Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
(PZ7.B7999 Be 2018)
All Vera wants to do is fit in, but that’s not easy for a Russian girl in the suburbs. Her friends live in fancy houses and attend the best summer camps, but Vera’s single mother can only afford to send her to Russian summer camp. Vera thinks this may be the one place she can fit in, but camp is very different than she imagined. Nothing had prepared her for the “cool girl” drama, endless Russian history lessons, or outhouses straight out of nightmares!

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova
(PZ7.C5444 Aw 2015)
On her first day at her new school, Penelope, or Peppi, reminds herself of her two rules for surviving school: don’t get noticed by the mean kids, and seek out groups with similar interests and join them. But when she trips into a quiet kid named Jaime in the hallway, she’s already broken the first rule, and the mean kids start calling her “nerder girlfriend.” How does she handle this? By shoving Jaime and running away. Falling back on rule number two and surrounding herself with new friends in the art club, Peppi can’t help but feel bad about the way she treated Jaime. To make matters worse, he is a member of her clubs archrivals, the science club. When the clubs go to war, Peppi realizes sometimes you have to break the rules to survive middle school.

Books with a blue cover

The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad
(Children Picture Book + MUHAM)
With her new backpack and light up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It’s the start of a brand new year and her older sister Asiya’s first day of hijab. Her hijab is made of a beautiful blue fabric, but not everyone sees it that way. In the face of hurtful and confusing words, Faizah will find new ways to be strong.

Daniel’s Good Day by Micha Archer
(Children Picture Book ARCHE)
The people in Daniel’s neighborhood always say, “Have a good day!” But what exactly is a good day? Daniel is determined to find out, and as he strolls through his neighborhood, he finds a wonderful world of answers as varied as his neighbors.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier
(PZ7.T245 Sm 2010)
Raina wants to be a normal sixth grader, but one night after Girl Scouts Raina trips and falls, which leaves her with two severely injured front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and a retainer with fake teeth. On top of all that, she is dealing with a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friend issues.

The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell
(PZ7.S45696 Ca 2018)
Welcome to a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary boxes into colorful costumes, and their ordinary block into a cardboard kingdom! This summer, the sixteen kids will encounter knights and rogues, robots and monsters, as well as their own inner demons, on one final quest before school begins.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
(PZ7.R9553 Es 2000)
Esperanza thought she would always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico, with her fancy dresses, nice home, and servants. But a tragedy forces Esperanza and her mother to flee to California during the Great Depression and to settle into a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza isn’t ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she is now facing. When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances.

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
(PZ7 .L182 Pi 2019)
When eleven year old Jingwen and his family move to a new country, he feels like he’s landed on Mars. School is tough, making friends is impossible since he doesn’t speak English, and he’s often stuck looking after his little brother, Yanghao. To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen daydreams about making all the cakes on the menu of Pie in the Sky, the bakery his father had planned on opening before he passed away. The only problem is he and his brother are not allowed to use the oven while their mom is at work. As Jingwen and Yanghao bake elaborate cakes, they’ll also have to cook up elaborate excuses to keep the cake making a secret from their mom.

Books about friendship

Words to Make a Friend by Donna Jo Napoli
(Children picture Book + NAPOL)
When a young Japanese girl moves into her new house, she is happy to see a girl her age playing in the snow next door. The only problem is the Japanese girl doesn’t speak English and the American girl doesn’t speak Japanese. Each girl’s love of play, snow, and making a new friend transcends the need to speak the same language, and by using simple words in both languages and charades, the girls find they have all they need to build a snow creature.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
(PZ7.J156 Ro 2015)
Twelve year old Astrid has always done everything with her best friend Nicole. When Astrid signs up for roller derby camp, she assumes Nicole will too, but instead she chooses to do dance camp with a new friend instead. Astrid faces a tough summer of bumps and bruises as she learns who she is without Nicole and what it takes to be a strong, tough roller girl.

Real Friends by Shannon Hale
(PZ7.H1385 Re 2017)
Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends since they were little, but one day Adrienne starts hanging out with the most popular girl, Jen, and her circle of friends called The Group. Everyone wants to be Jen’s best friend, and many will do anything to stay on top, including bullying others. Now everyday Shannon finds herself asking if she and Adrienne will stay friends, if she will stand up for herself, and if she is in The Group or is out.

Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
(PZ7.L7795 Fr)
In winter, spring, summer, and fall, Frog and Toad are always together. We get a wonderful story about their friendship throughout the seasons of the year.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
(PZ7.P273 Br)
Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer to be the fastest kid in fifth grade. He almost is, until a new girl named Leslie Burke beats him. The two become friends and spend their time in the woods behind Leslie’s house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength from his friendship with Leslie to be able to deal with his grief.

Books about animals

Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band by Kwame Alexander
(Children Picture Book + ALEXE)
Acoustic Rooster forms a jazz band with Duck Ellington, Bee Holliday, and Pepe Ernesto Cruz to compete in the annual Barnyard talent show.

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
(Children Picture Book Lg ANDRE)
Gerald the Giraffe is too clumsy to dance with all the other animals at the Jungle Dance until he finds the right music.

Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake
(PZ7.T479 Sk 2020)
The last thing Badger wants is a roommate, and certainly not a skunk for a roommate, but since the house does not belong to him he doesn’t have a choice. Soon everything in Badger’s quiet and ordered life is turned upside down. But after he drives Skunk away, he misses him and sets out to find him and make amends.

Skunk and Badger: Egg Marks the Spot by Amy Timberlake
(PZ7.T479 Eg 2021)
Buried in the heart of every animal is a secret treasure. For rock scientist Badger, it’s an agate he found as a cub that was stolen by his cousin, Fisher. For Skunk, the treasure is Sundays with the New Yak Times Book Review. When an old acquaintance, Mr. G. Hedgehog, announces his plan to come for the book review as soon as it lands on his doorstep, Skunk decides an adventure will solve both of their problems. Together they set off on an adventure.

Animal Rescue Agency #1: Case file: Little claws by Eliot Schrefer
(PZ7.S37845 An 2021)
When a polar bear cub ends up trapped on a piece of ice heading out to sea, his mother knows there is only one place to turn, the Animal Rescue Agency. Esquire Fox used to organize elaborate chicken raids, but after she met Mr. Pepper, she turned from a life of crime to form the Animal Rescue Agency. Esquire and Mr. Pepper coordinate with their agents to get them to the Arctic, where they learn that what happened to the polar bear cub was no accident. Saving him will pit them against the scariest predator in the world- a human.

Animal Rescue Agency. #2: Case file: Pangolin pop star by Eliot Schrefer
(PZ7.S37845 Cfp 2022)
After their frigid Arctic rescue, Esquire and Mr. Pepper get an invitation to Beatle the Pangolin’s private island concert. But when they arrive, the island is in chaos. Their field agent tells them that after an incident during dress rehearsal, Beatle is trapped underground. Foul play is suspected, and there are multiple suspects. This might be the Animal Agency’s most challenging case yet!

Nonfiction

The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa by Julia Finley Mosca
(Children Picture Book + MOSCA)
Growing up in a family of immigrants, Ellen dreamed of becoming a professional flutist, but that changed when she discovered engineering in college. Though she was told that field of study wasn’t for girls, she refused to give up, and became a NASA astronaut!

Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell
(Children Picture Book + SOREL)
Mary Golda Ross designed classified airplanes and spacecrafts as Lockheed Aircraft Corporation’s first female engineer. This book shares how her passion for math and the Cherokee values she was raised with shaped her life and work.

Rad Women Worldwide by Kate Schatz
(CT3202 .S26 2016)
This is a collection of forty biographical profiles, each with a striking illustrated portrait, highlighting extraordinary women from around the world. They are fresh, engaging, and inspiring stories of perseverance and success, and feature an array of diverse figures.

I Survived True Stories: Five Epic Disasters by Lauren Tarshis
(GB5019 .T37 2014)
From the author of the “I Survived” series comes five true stories of survival, featuring real kids in the midst of disasters.

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin
(+ F788 .C485 2017)
Home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals that have lived and evolved there for millenia, the Grand Canyon is more than just a hole in the ground. Follow a father and daughter as they make their way through the cavernous wonder, discovering life both past and present.

Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Boy King by Zahi Hawass
(+ DT87.5 .H39 2005)
Learn about the life of King Tut, his burial, and the discovery of his tomb.

Books with “summer” in the title

Summer by Cao Wenxuan
(Children Picture Book CAO)
During a hot summer day in the grasslands, a group of animals race to claim the single spot of shade under one tiny leaf clinging to a branch. The animals fight until they are inspired by an act of love to offer shade to one another.

Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
(PZ7.P3856 Su 2012)
Stella loves living with her Great-aunt Louise in her house near the water on Cape Cod. This summer, Louise has taken in a foster child named Angel. Angel couldn’t be less like her name, and the two hardly speak to each other. But when tragedy unexpectedly strikes, Stella and Angel are forced to rely on each other to survive and they learn they are stronger together than they could have imagined.

Summer Party by Cynthia Rylant
(PZ7.R982 Su 2002)
Nine year old cousins Lily, Rosie, and Tess are sad when it is time to leave Aunt Lucy. The cousins arrange a party and get a special surprise to look forward to in the near future.

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
(PZ7.T14 Th 2014)
Every summer, Rose goes to a lake house in Awago Beach with her mom and dad. Rosie’s friend Windy is always there too. But this summer is different from the ones before. Rose’s mom and dad won’t stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction, they find themselves in a whole new set of problems.

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
(PZ7.B51197 Pe 2005)
While vacationing with their widowed father, four sisters discover the summertime magic of the Arundel estate’s sprawling garden, treasure-filled attic, tame rabbits, and a cook who makes the best gingerbread. Best of all is Jeffrey Tifton, son of Arundel’s owner. Mrs. Tifton is less pleased with the Penderwicks than Jeffrey, and warns the new friends to stay out of trouble.

Books that take place near the water

We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
(Children Picture Book + LINDS)
Inspired by the Indigenous led movements across North America, this book issues an urgent rallying cry to protect the Earth’s water from harm. When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth and poison her people’s water, a young water protector takes a stand.

Captain Jack and the Pirates by Peter Bently
(Children Picture Book + BENTL)
When brave mariners Jack, Zach, and Caspar build a ship and set off on an imaginary adventure at sea, they face pirates, a storm, and a shipwreck.

Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman
(PZ7.H6533 Aq 2001)
Hailey and Clare are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of the murky pool at Capri Beach Club. There in the depths is a mysterious and beautiful creature, a mermaid named Aquamarine, who has left her sisters to search for love on land. Now, as this mythological yet very real being starts to fade in the burning August sun, a rescue is begun.

Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright
(PZ7.E724 Go 2000)
When Portia sets out to visit her cousin Julian, she expects their adventures will include exploring the woods, collecting stones and bugs, and playing games. But after their first day of exploring, they discover a boulder with a mysterious message, a swamp full of reeds and quicksand, and a ghost town on the far side of the swamp. At one time the swamp was a lake, and the fallen houses along its shore an elegant resort community. Though both are long gone, the houses still hold a secret- two people who never left and can tell the story of what happened there.

Lily’s Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff
(PZ7.G3626 Li 1997)
Every summer Lily and her dad go to the family’s house in Rockaway, near the Atlantic Ocean. But this summer, World War 2 has called Lily’s dad overseas and Lily is forced to live with her grandmother. But then a boy named Albert, a refugee from Hungary, comes to live in Rockaway. He lost most of his family to the war. Soon he and Lily develop a special friendship and share secrets. But they have both told lies, and Lily’s lie may cost Albert his life.

Lulu and the Dog From the Sea by Hilary McKay
(PZ7.M191 Lud 2013)
Lulu loves animals. When she goes on vacation, she finds a stray dog living on the beach. Everyone in town thinks the dog is trouble, but Lulu is sure he just needs a friend.

Main character is a person of color

Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
(Children Picture Book + HO)
A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers, who have big round eyes and long lashes. She realizes hers are like her mother’s, her grandmother’s, and her little sister’s. They have eyes that kiss in the corners ang glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future.

Magic Like That by Samara Cole Doyon
(Children Picture Book + DOYON)
While her mother works magic styling her hair, a young Black girl recalls how her hairstyles can reflect the natural world and how her hair can be elegant, mischievous, or whimsical.

Dragons In A Bag by Zetta Elliott
(PZ7 .E46959 Dr 2018)
When Jax is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she is not his grandmother, but that she is a witch! She needs his help delivering baby dragons to a magical world where they’ll be safe. There are two rules when it comes to the dragons: don’t let them out of the bag, and don’t feed them anything sweet. Before he knows it, Jax and his friends break both rules. Will Jax get the dragons delivered safe and sound, or will they be lost forever?

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone
(PZ7.S8825 Fas 2021)
Shenice Lockwood has her eyes set on the Fastpitch World Series. As team captain, she’d like nothing more than to help her team win the trophy and take the prize money home. And as one of the few brown faces on the field, it’d be a personal triumph to show up her rich, white opponents. But Shenice’s focus is shaken when her uncle reveals that a family crime may have been a set-up. Shenice will stop at nothing to uncover the past. But the closer she gets to the truth, the further she gets from her goals.

Stef Soto Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres
(PZ7.T626 St 2017)
Estefania “Stef” Soto is itching to shake off the embrace of her family’s taco truck, Tia Perla. It’s no fun being known as the “taco queen” at school. But when it looks like Stef is going to get exactly what she wants and her family’s livelihood is threatened, she will have to become the truck’s unlikely champion.

The Many Meanings of Meilan by Andrea Wang
(PZ7.W1785 Man 2021)
Meilan Hua’s world is made up of a few key things: her family’s beloved matriarch, Nai Nai, the bakery her family owns and runs in Boston’s Chinatown, and her favorite chinese fairy tales. When Nai Nai passes, her family has a falling out that sends Meilan, her parents, and her grandfather on the road in search of a new home. They land in Redbud, Ohio, which is the opposite of Chinatown. Meilan’s not quite sure who she is, and being renamed at school only makes it worse. She decides she is many Meilan’s, each inspired by a different Chinese character with the same pronunciation as her name. Meilan keeps her facets separate until an injustice at school shows her the power of bringing her many selves together.

BOOKLISTS

06.03.2022

Staff Book Suggestions Spring & Summer 2022

Will Evans

A House in the Country by Ruth Adam
(Library of Congress Classification PZ3.A196 Ho)

Adam, along with her husband, small children, and a band of friends, decide to pool their resources to escape the deprivations and squalor of London at the close of WWII. Renting a manor house in the seemingly idyllic English countryside, they immediately become the envy of their city friends and foes, who all too frequently assume the form of unwanted guests. Moreover, Adam and company, former flat dwellers, quickly realize the necessity of servants needed to run such a behemoth of a residence, a proposition at odds with their democratic ideals newly born out of the irrevocably altered, postwar social order. Additionally, these erstwhile urbanites often serve as a form of amusement for the local rustics by their general cluelessness of country life. Lack of fortitude among the principles soon gives way to shirking and recrimination, and the band of utopians slowly dwindles. Part social experiment, part fish-out-of-water story, this semi autobiographical work offers wit, gentle humor, and a fleeting glimpse at a way of life that has all but disappeared. This work is unique among Adam’s writings, the majority of which explore feminist issues.

(Library of Congress PZ3.C3133 Be)

Possessed by self-assurance but unencumbered by any formal education, 17 year-old Sarah longs to restore the family country estate to its former glory. Reduced to genteel poverty by a deceased father that exercised poor business judgement while among the living, Sarah and family dwell amid the crumbling manor with little purpose in a neighborhood inhabited by eccentrics common to English villages. Her terminally vague mother does little to help the cause, when she marries a maestro, who brings to the union a fragile constitution and his objectionable children, a stepfamily rich in artistic pretensions, but poor in liquid assets. A new acquaintance in the form of a handsome diplomat, all kindness and flash, might rescue Sarah, but he proves to be frustratingly enigmatic largely due to Sarah’s naiveté. Determined to impress him, she impulsively escapes to London to earn a living, but her lack of any qualifications lands her a menial job and lodgings unsuitable for a carefully brought-up young lady. Sarah’s combination of cluelessness and candor is endearing and the cast of supporting characters do much to enhance this comedy of manners. But it’s England, the summer of 1939, and throughout the book an atmosphere of wistfulness coupled with a hint of impending doom hangs in the air. 

Anna Kelly

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
(Library of Congress Classification PZ7.B6637 Fi 2021)
Available through cloudLibrary in eBook format.

This book follows 18-year-old Daunis Fontaine, who is half white and half Ojibwe, as she navigates family tragedy, a budding romance, and a drug issue on her reservation. When she witnesses a shocking murder, she steps in to help the FBI with their drug investigation. She is reluctant, but her love for her family and community is strong, and she believes she can help the community find peace and healing by helping to find a solution. As she uncovers secrets, she realizes going undercover and searching for the truth was more complicated than she imagined. Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Ojibwe woman (Anishinaabe kwe) and how far she’ll go for her community and loved ones.

Boulley does a tremendous job of bringing to light the drug trafficking and resulting tragedies that are occurring on this reservation and providing context for the prevalence of an issue like this, while simultaneously showcasing the strength, beauty, and resilience of Native communities and cultures. She reminds us to consider the human aspect of these types of tragedies, the effects they have on real people, and how to continue to honor those whose lives are taken at the hands of such tragedies. I also felt attached to Daunis immediately; as someone with a white mother and a Native father, I understood Daunis’s feelings of not quite belonging in either world. She is so easy to root for because of how smart and strong she is and how deeply she cares about her community and family, even with its faults. 

Christina Michelon

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
(Library of Congress Classification PZ4 .P46465 Es 2018)
Available through cloudLibrary in eBook format.

I highly recommend this as a late summer beach read, especially if you find yourself in marshy North Shore areas such as Massachusetts’s own Essex. Over the span of a year and set in late Victorian England, Perry beautifully illustrates a range of relationships, exploring the nuances of friendship, love, and intimacy. All the while, an invisible threat forever alters the lives of this broad group of complex characters. Gothic tropes abound!

This had been on my “to read” list for years but its recent adaptation as an Apple TV series motivated me to finally give it a go. My advice: read the book, skip the show! (Not even Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston could save it.)

Leah Rosovsky

Just Kids by Patti Smith
(Library of Congress CT275.S6444 A3 2010)
Available through cloudLibrary in eBook and eAudio format.

I have particularly enjoyed Patti Smith’s Just Kids, which covers her first experiences living in New York City and her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe.

 

Meatless Days by Sara Suleri
(Library of Congress CT1518.S85 A3)

 

Meatless Days is a memoir about postcolonial Pakistan. Sara Suleri was the daughter of a prominent Pakistani journalist and a Welsh mother. She tells powerful stories of her family and her losses in a hypnotic style.

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
(Library of Congress PZ3.J27 Su 2008)
Available through cloudLibrary in eBook and eAudio format.

The Summer Book is a novel with a strong feeling of memoir. A young girl and her grandmother spend the summer on an island in the Gulf of Finland. Told in a series of vignettes, we watch the impact of time on an older person, on a child, and on the island itself. 

Graham Skinner

Role Models by John Waters
(Library of Congress PN1998.3.W38 A3 2010)
Available through cloudLibrary in eAudio format.

While not as beautifully sickening as Waters’s Carsick, the “King of Filth” and director of Pink Flamingos and Serial Mom muses on role models and influences on his early and later life. The book is a delightful walk through a gallery of his friendships, personal and filmic influences, his love of Rei Kawakubo’s fashion, and even a muse on the arts that he’s brought into his home. A good read for a John Waters fan, but Role Models is also a fabulous book that may not look at individuals we typically see as role models, but definitely the influences and “loves” of his life.

Carly Stevens

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
(Library of Congress PZ4 .H1447 Mi 2020)
Available through cloudLibrary in eBook and eAudio format.

I listened to The Midnight Library on cloudLibrary . It was narrated by actress Carey Mulligan who did an excellent job. Overall, the plot is a fun concept and I found the characters heartwarming. 

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
(Library of Congress PZ4.B98666 Pa 2016)
Available through cloudLibrary in eAudio format.

Parable of the Sower is a beautifully written book with great characters. It is an interesting and important story crafted by a talented writer. 

Mary Warnement

August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones
(Library of Congress PZ4.J7938 Au 2017)

This title may confuse, but no, it is not a depressing weather forecast for New England but rather a rollicking thriller set in Detroit whose ex-military, ex-cop, incurable Romantic hero is named August Octavio Snow. Jones is a poet and playwright and while those sensibilities may inform his prose, this story is a page-turner for the beach, the plane, or the backyard hammock. You’ll get to know Mexicantown and other areas in Detroit, which are most likely unfamiliar. Yes, it’s a macho romp, but you’ll rethink the word “macho” after finishing.

Godine at Fifty: A Retrospective of Five Decades in the Life of an Independent Publisher by David R. Godine
(Library of Congress Lg Z1217.D38 G63 2021)

If you are a book collector living in the Boston area, you probably know about David Godine’s books, and the subtitle of this tells you pretty much all you need to know about his latest. Not simply a checklist or annotated bibliography, it’s a beautifully illustrated brief history of both his work in general and individual titles in particular. Anyone looking to satisfy a bookish craving will find nourishment with every flip of the page.

Bruno’s Challenge: And Other Stories of the French Countryside by Martin Walker
(Library of Congress PZ4.W183 Br 2022)
Available through cloudLibrary in eBook format.

In recent years, summer has meant a chance to bask in the sun of southern France while reading of the amorous and culinary adventures of Bruno Courrèges, chief of police of a village in the Dordogne who mediates everything from neighborly disputes over geese to espionage with major international implications. The latest in the series won’t be out until the end of August, but these short stories act as an amuse-bouche until the main entry is ready.

04.02.2022

Dragons and Unicorns

Add a little magic to your April with these dragon and unicorn books.

Picture Books

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
(Picture Book Basket RUBIN)
This zany book tells you all you need to know to throw a taco party for dragons. Just don’t give them hot sauce, or else… well you’ll see.

The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee illustrated by Pascal Campion.
(Picture Book Basket RHEE)
Daniel needs to go to work with his parents as they work overnight as office cleaners. To keep Daniel entertained, his mom and dad begin to tell him of the magnificent kingdom of paper they work in. Soon the office turns into a kingdom full of dragons and kings. Magical illustrations bring the tale to life.

Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea
(Picture Book Basket SHEA)
Goat thought he was pretty cool until Unicorn came to town. Unicorn can fly and make it rain cupcakes! How could Goat ever compare to that? Turns out he doesn’t have to because they are both pretty cool in their own ways. Envy turns to admiration and finally to friendship for Goat and Unicorn.

Graphic Novels

The Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful by Nancy Tupper Ling ; illustrated by Andrea Offerman.
(+ PZ7.L66135 Yin 2018)
This empowering story of two sisters demonstrates that we should value our differences. When a fearsome dragon takes over their village bridge, twin sisters Mei and Wei have opposing views of how to fix the problem. Wei wants nothing more than to confront that stinky old dragon head on, but Mei favors a more thoughtful approach. With Wei’s confidence and gumption plus Mei’s creativity and diligence, it’s only a matter of time before everyone can be happy again.

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill.
(Lg PZ7 .O5527 Te 2017)
Adorable illustrations bring this graphic novel of magical dragons to life. Meet a delightfully diverse cast of characters while you pour over O’Neill’s illustrations and learn about the mystical tea dragons.

Youth Fiction

Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott ; illustrations by Geneva B.
(PZ7 .E46959 Dr 2018)
In Brooklyn, nine-year-old Jax joins Ma, a curmudgeonly witch who lives in his building, on a quest to deliver three baby dragons to a magical world. Along the way Jax learns more about dragons and himself.

How to Train your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.
(PZ7 .C8356 Ho 2010)
You may know Hiccup from the movies based upon this series. This series follows the adventures and misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third as he tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon.

The Basque Dragon by Adam Gidwitz & Jesse Casey ; illustrated by Hatem Aly
(PZ7 .G345 Ba 2018)
Part of the series Unicorn Rescue Society, this book follows the group on a trip to the Basque country where they have to save a dragon from the billionaire Schmoke Brothers. Will they be able to rescue the magical creature from greed?

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
(PZ7.L65775 Wh 2009)
Minli’s father always tells her tales of mythical creatures and magic. Minli decides to chase after one of these tales to bring her family better fortune then their poor village has to offer. She buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.

The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland.
(PZ7.S9669 Dr 2012)
Looking for your next favorite series? Look no further than the Wings of Fire books! Packed with action and adventure, you’ll find yourself lost in the rich fantasy world Sutherland has created. Look for the graphic novelization as well!

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill.
(PZ7.B26 Gi 2016)
This epic tale will be hard for any middle grade fantasy reader to put down. Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon. Xan rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule–but Xan is far away. Will Luna be able to harness her newfound powers on her own? And what will happen when danger comes to the forest?

Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro with pictures by Marion Lindsay.
(PZ7.C5452 Dr 2017)
This early chapter book series is sure to delight! A girl, Zoey, and her cat, Sassafras, use science experiments to help a dragon with a problem. Keep reading the series to see how Zoey helps other magical creatures.

Young Adult Books

A Creature of Moonlight by Rebecca Hahn.
(PZ7.H12563 Cre 2014)
Marni, a young flower seller who has been living in exile, must choose between claiming her birthright as princess of a realm whose king wants her dead, and a life with the father she has never known–a wild dragon. This coming of age story about defining your own identity is sure to be a page turner.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman.
(PZ7.H2645 Se 2012)
Seraphina is a talented musician for the court of Goredd, a kingdom where dragons and humans coexist. On the surface, the kingdom is peaceful, but secrets and scandals lurk under the surface. When Crown Prince Rufus is found dead, everyone suspects dragons. Seraphina is caught up in the investigation with a very important secret of her own to protect.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
PZ7.R79613 Car 2015
If you are a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, you should give this fantasy a try. Born out of a fictional story in Rowell’s Fangirl, this book follows Simon Snow, the worst “Chosen One” ever to be chosen. He is constantly miss-casting spells and wreaking havoc on the Watford School of Magicks. His roommate Baz, an evil, sardonic vampire, would love to see the disaster that Simon’s last year at school is turning out to be, but he hasn’t shown up yet.

02.23.2022

March Madness

Check out these sporty books, perfect for spring.

Picture Books

The Field by Baptiste Paul and illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara
(New Picture Book Basket)
A community comes together for a game of futbol (soccer). They clear a local field of cows and work together to get all they need for a fun game.

Ready for the Spotlight! by Jaime Kim
(New Picture Book Basket)
Tessie loves ballet and feels like she is very good at it. That is, until her big sister Maya lands the solo and outshines the rest of class. Even Tessie’s freestyle dancing can’t raise her spirits. Perhaps the spotlight will be big enough for two and the sisters can each help each other dance even better.

Zuri Ray Tries Ballet by Tami Charles and illustrated by Sharon Sordo
(New Picture Book Basket)
Zuri loves trying new things with her best friend Jessie. The two do everything together and always like the same things, until ballet camp. Jessie is happy as can be doing pirouettes in a pink tutu, but Zuri can’t find her balance and feels uncomfortable in the ballet clothes. Will Zuri be able to find a way where she and her best friend can have fun at ballet camp? Perhaps her family will help inspire her.

Beginning Reader

Don’t Throw it to Mo ! by David A. Adler
(Beginning Reader Children Picture Book ADLER)
This wonderful beginning reader series follows Mo as he explores different sports. Mo is the smallest on the football team. His teammates avoid throwing the ball to him because he is clumsy. Coach soon comes up with a plan to make Mo the team’s secret weapon.

Youth Fiction

Lola Levine is Not Mean! by Monica Brown and illustrated by Angela Dominguez
(PZ7.B81633 Is 2015)
Lola loves writing in her diary and playing soccer. When a soccer game gets too competitive at recess, Lola accidentally hurts a classmate. Suddenly everyone is calling her “Mean Lola Levine.” With the help of her family and her best friend, Lola will need to learn how to navigate school and show others she isn’t mean.

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone
(PZ7.S8825 Fas 2021)
Shenice Lockwood is determined to lead her team, the Fulton Firebirds, to win the regional softball championship. As the only all Black team in the league, the Firebirds work twice as hard to prove that Black girls belong at bat. When her great-uncle Jack reveals that a career-ending—and family-name-ruining—crime may have been a setup, Shenice’s focus is tested. Will she be able to lead her team to victory and uncover the truth about her family’s past?

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
(PZ7.A3771 Cr 2014)
This engaging, fast-paced novel in verse follows Josh Bell and his family. Josh and his brother, Jordan, are kings on the basketball court. As the brothers work to come to terms with growing up, a life changing event happens that will change their family’s lives forever.

Ghost by Jason Reynolds
(PZ7.R333 Gh 2016)
Ghost loves running. But not on a track team, he has always run on the basketball court. When he challenges a sprinter to a race, the track coach notices him and his talent. But Ghost isn’t just running for fun, he is also trying to outrun his past. Will he be able to embrace his talent on the track team or will his past finally catch up?

Out of Left Field by Liza Ketchum
(PZ7.K488 Ou 2014)
A perfect book for any Sox fan excited for the season to start at the end of the month. Brandon McGinnis is excited for the summer of 2004. He’s on the varsity swim team, has a job, will get to spend time with his friends, and see games with his dad. He is most excited to see if this will be the year the Sox end their 86 year curse. When tragedy strikes, Brandon’s plans for the summer fall apart. Instead, he begins to unravel his father’s past, discovering a 30 year old secret tied to the Vietnam War.

Nonfiction

Women in Sports : 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky
(GV697 .A1 I33 2017)
A beautifully illustrated look at women athletes from the 1800s to now. Learn more about famous athletes and discover new lesser-known trailblazers from the past.

Undefeated : Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkin
(GV958.U33 S54 2017)
This book is much more than an astounding underdog sports story. While Sheinkin tells the tale of the Carlisle Indian School’s incredible football team, he also tells the story of the atrocities the American government committed against Native Americans. Diving into the history of the boarding schools meant to eradicate Native cultures.

Growing Up Pedro by Matt Tavares
(Lg GV865.M355 T39 2015)
This picture book biography is perfect for young baseball fans. Follow Pedro Martinez as he grows up in Manoguayabo, Dominican Republic. He and his brother, Ramon, would play baseball together dreaming of one day playing in the major leagues together. Tavares tells the tale of how that dream came true.

Young Adult Books

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
(PZ7.K4955 Da 2018)
Darius feels lost in between his identities. As an Iranian American, he doesn’t feel as American as his classmates or as Iranian as his extended family. He is thus very anxious for his first trip to Iran. The trip is further complicated by Darius’s clinical depression which is less accepted there. While getting to know his mother’s family, Darius also meets Sohrab, his grandparent’s neighbor. The two become fast friends bonding over soccer. Sohrab becomes Darius’s first true friend.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
(PZ7.O39 Awi 2017)
This urban fantasy follows Sunny who was born in New York but now lives in Aba, Nigeria. Contrary to her name, sunny is albino and therefore sensitive to the sun. All she wants is to be able to play football and fit in at school. When she befriends Orlu an Chichi, those dreams of being a normal girl are abandoned. The escape to the world of the Leopard People, a place where your worst flaw becomes your greatest asset. There, they form a Oha Coven and work to track down a man responsible for kidnapping and harming children. Will Sunny and her friends be able to find him and defeat him?

Spinning by Tillie Walden
(CT275.W1788 A3 2017)
In this graphic memoir, Walden explores what it was like to come of age and come out in the world of figure skating. Having been a figure skater for ten years, skating was a large part of her identity as a teen. When she changed schools, discovered a passion for art, and started seeing her first girlfriend, Walden began to question if she still wanted to skate. A beautifully illustrated look at changing identity and continually finding oneself, this graphic novel is a must read for anyone sorting out who they are and who they want to be.

01.28.2022

Black Joy

Celebrate Black History Month with these books all about Black Joy.

Picture Books

I Did Not Ask to be Born Black I Just Got Lucky written and illustrated by Shirley Jackson Whitaker MD MPH
(New Picture Book Basket)
The first children’s book from a local artist and medical doctor, this poetic and beautifully illustrated book is a celebration of African girls’ beauty and spirit. The perfect book for all families to read and start a discussion about what true beauty is.

Zuri Ray Tries Ballet by Tami Charles illustrated by Sharon Sordo
(New Picture Book Basket)
Zuri loves trying new things with her best friend Jessie. The two do everything together and always like the same things, until ballet camp. Jessie is happy as can be doing pirouettes in a pink tutu, but Zuri can’t find her balance and feels uncomfortable in the ballet clothes. Will Zuri be able to find a way where she and her best friend can have fun at ballet camp? Perhaps her family will help inspire her.

Magic Like That by Samara Cole Doyon illustrated by Geneva Bowers
(New Picture Book Basket)
While her mother gives her a new hairstyle, a young girl reflects on what her hair means to her. Each hairstyle her mother has given her has reflected different things in nature and made her feel empowered in a different way. Her mother works magic with her hair!

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
(New Picture Book Basket)
A young Black girl meets her mother after the first day of school and is distraught after so many teachers and students mispronounced her name. On their walk home, the mother explains the musicality of the child’s name and other names from various cultures. The next day the girl feels empowered to share this knowledge with her class and teach them all to sing her name. This vividly illustrated book is great for starting a conversation about respecting different names and cultures. It is also a great book for learning to read as it teaches children to break a word down into syllables.

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong’o illustrated by Vashti Harrison
(New Picture Book Basket)
Lupita Nyong’o crafts a beautiful story about the harm of colorism and the the power of seeing your own beauty. Sulwe’s skin doesn’t match that of her family members, or the kids at school. She feel alienated and like she isn’t as beautiful as her lighter skinned sister. Through her mother’s wisdom and a magical journey through the night sky, Sulwe learns to see the beauty in herself and how to show it to others. With illustrations as beautiful as the night sky, this story is equal parts heart wrenching and heartwarming.

Beginning Reader

Ty’s Travels by Kelly Starling Lyons
(Beginning Reader Children Picture Book LYONS
This new early reader series follows Ty on joyful adventures with his family. With bold illustrations and rhythmic, rhyming text, this book is perfect for those beginning to read.

King and Kayla by by Dori Hillestad Butler illustrated by Nancy Meyers
(Beginning Reader Children Picture Book BUTLE)
Solve mysteries with Kayla and her trusty dog, King in this engaging easy to read series.

Youth Fiction

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street Series by by Karina Yan Glaser
(PZ7 .G48 Van 2017)
The Vanderbeekers have lived in their home on 141st street for so long it’s practically a member of the family. When their grouchy landlord decided to not renew their lease, the five siblings must find a way to convince him to let them stay. But they only have 11 days!

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone
(PZ7.S8825 Fas 2021)
Shenice Lockwood is determined to lead her team, the Fulton Firebirds, to win the regional softball championship. As the only all Black team in the league, the Firebirds work twice as hard to prove that Black girls belong at bat. When her great-uncle Jack reveals that a career-ending—and family-name-ruining—crime may have been a setup, Shenice’s focus is tested. Will she be able to lead her team to victory and uncover the truth about her family’s past?

The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon
(PZ7.M2722 Se 2018)
Caleb Franklin and his brother Bobby Gene are looking forward to a summer of adventures in the woods near their house. But Caleb wishes this summer could bring something different and they could venture away from their small town. Their dad won’t allow it. Then Styx Malone moves to town. Styx is older and cooler than the brothers. He’s been to lots of different places and claims to know a way that Caleb can get what he wants: The Great Escalator Trade. The boys begin to trade a small thing for something better, hoping to exchange their way to their wildest dreams. As the trades get larger, the brothers find themselves over their heads and lost in Styx’s secrets. This friendship adventure is a perfect glimpse into summer for a winter read.

EllRay Jakes is a Rock Star! by Sally Warner illustrated by Jamie Harper
(PZ7.W2444 Elr 2012)
All the boys at school in EllRay’s class have something to brag about. But Ellray feels plain. His family doesn’t provide anything good to show off either. His dad is a geologist. And rocks are so boring. Then EllRay sees some crystals in his dad’s office. Excited about how cool looking they are and how much his classmates will like them, EllRay “borrows” the crystals. His dad will never know and he’ll have the crystals back in no time. That is, until things go awry. Will EllRay be able to get the crystals back before his dad knows they are gone? Join EllRay on this adventure and many others in the series.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks.
(PZ7.M333 Fr 2020)
On Zoe’s twelfth birthday, she receives a letter from her father whom she has never met. He has been in prison her whole life for a crime he says he never committed. Zoe is now determined to uncover the truth and hopefully prove his innocence. She has a good cover for her stress about the investigation: her family thinks she is worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship to prove she can audition for a television cooking competition. Will the stress from the internship and her father’s conviction be too much for Zoe to balance? Or will she find the right recipe for success?

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia illustrations by Frank Morrison
(PZ7.W6714 Cl 2017)
Clayton loves being with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen. He is excited to one day join them in playing the blues. But then his grandfather dies. In her grief, Clayton’s mother forbids him from playing the blues. But the blues are what tie Clayton to his grandfather and make him feel whole. With his grandfather’s hate and harmonica, he runs away from home to find the Bluesmen. As he travels through New York City, Clayton discovers some things that surprise him.

Young Adult Books

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
(PZ7 .A1822 Wi 2019)
From the acclaimed author of The Poet X, comes a tale of a young chef who chases her dreams despite the things in life that set her back. High school senior Emoni has a lot on her plate with her daughter and abuela to care for. The one place she can let go of her responsibilities is the kitchen. When her school starts a culinary arts class, she knows she doesn’t have time for the course’s trip to Spain. She feels it would be best to give up on her dreams of being a chef, but once Emmoni starts cooking, she must let her talent break free.

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson.
(PZ7.W3235 Pi 2017)
Jade dreams of success despite the obstacles society has placed around her. Jade has been a scholarship student at a predominantly white private school for two years. Despite her mother struggling to make ends meet at home, the school has afforded her many opportunities that may help her achieve her dreams outside of her neighborhood. As her time at the school goes on, these opportunities start to like judgement and pity. Especially when her white guidance counselor suggests she join the Woman to Woman mentorship program. She is paired with a black mentor who tries too hard to relate to Jade despite their great financial (and therefore life) differences. She can’t help but feel her mentor sees her as a charity case in need of saving. Through her passion for collage and photography, Jade finds her voice and begins to advocate not only for herself, but for her community. This Coretta Scott King Book Award Winner and Newbery Honor Book is an uplifting tale of the power of art, community, and friendship.

Pride by Ibi Zoboi.
(PZ7.Z76 Pr 2018)
In this modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Zoboi balances the original love story with a discussion of cultural identity, class, and gentrification. Zuri Benitez is proud of her neighborhood, family, and community. But her pride may not be enough to save her neighborhood from gentrification. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in, Zuri does her best to avoid their two teenage sons. As her sister falls for Ainsley Darcy, that avoidance becomes impossible. Zuri cannot stand Darius and his judgmental and arrogant demeanor. However, as Zuri and Darius are forced to spend more time together, their initial disdain turns into understanding, and perhaps something more.

12.15.2021

Cozy Reads

Make some hot cocoa, grab a blanket and curl up with family, friends, and a good book this winter

Board Books

Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton
(Board Book Baskets)
With a mix of bold illustration, rhyme, and song this is a great early literacy book. A mother dog sings to her puppy about how much she loves them. This book is an adorable choice for your next read aloud.

Mommy, Mama, and Me by Lesléa Newman and illustrated by Carol Thompson
(Board Book Baskets)
In this board book, a baby enjoys a day of adventures with her two moms. Perfect for the little one who cannot get enough of illustrations of other babies.

My Heart Fills with Happiness by Monique Gray Smith and illustrations by Julie Flett
(Board Book Baskets)
Perfect for family read alouds, this board book encourages all of us, babies and adults, to take a moment and appreciate the little things in life that make us happy.

I love you as much.. . by Laura Krauss Melmed
(Board Book Baskets)
Many different mothers tell their babies how much they love them. Another great pick for the baby who likes to see other babies. Be sure to tell your little one how much you love them after reading.

Picture Books

A Tree is a Home by Pamela Hickman and Zafouko Yamamoto
(New Picture Book Basket)
Take a look inside the world of all the animals that live in a tree. Follow six different animals as they go through the seasons of a year and build their families in the tree.

Saturdays at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neill and illustrated by Brizida Magro.
(New Picture Book Basket)
Everyone needs a little help from time to time. Molly and her mother sometimes need to go to the food pantry rather than the store to get groceries. There Molly sees a school friend, Caitlin, who is embarrassed to need help. Through art, Molly and Citlin and others in line learn that it is okay to need help and that a simple act of kindness can make all the difference.

Mi Casa Is my Home by Laurenne Sala with pictures by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
(New Picture Book Basket)
Join Lucia on a bilingual tour of her lively home and loving family.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
(Classic Picture Book Basket)
This cozy classic follows a young boy exploring his neighborhood after the season’s first snow.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
(Classic Picture Book Basket)
If you are looking for a cozy Christmas tale, the Polar Express is a great choice. Curl up under the tree and follow the story of a boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole to receive a special gift from Santa.

Youth Fiction

Tale of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo
(PZ7.D5455 Ta 2003)
A perfect family read aloud to make predictions together along the way. Follow Despereaux the mouse who loves music, stories, and the princess of the castle he lives in. As his adventure goes on, stories of other characters begin to interconnect.

Anna Hibiscus Series by Atinuke
(PZ7.A858 Ann 2010)
Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa, amazing Africa! Join her and her family on many adventures. In the first book, join her as she splashes in the sea, prepares for a party, sells oranges, and hopes to one day see snow.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street Series by by Karina Yan Glaser
(PZ7 .G48 Van 2017)
The Vanderbeekers have lived in their home on 141st street for so long it’s practically a member of the family. When their grouchy landlord decided to not renew their lease, the five siblings must find a way to convince him to let them stay. But they only have 11 days!

Telephone Tales by Gianni Rodari, illustrated by Valerio Vidali, translated from the Italian by Antony Shugaar
(New Cart: PZ7.R5987 Te 2020)
Though he travels for work, Mr. Bianchi never misses a bedtime story for his daughter. He calls her every night from payphones around the world to tell her a story. Each story must fit in the time a coin can buy. Mr. Bianchi’s travels frame this wonderful collection of short stories.

The Animal Rescue Agency : Case file: Little claws by Eliot Schrefer and illustrated by Daniel Duncan
(New Cart: PZ7.S37845 An 2021)
Former notorious chicken snatcher, Esquire Fox has given up her life of crime to run the Animal Rescue Agency. In this first instalment of the upcoming series, Esquire and company head to the Arctic to rescue a polar bear cub from one of the biggest threats to nature: humans.

Greenglass House by Kate Milford with illustrations by Jaime Zollars.
(PZ7.M59948 Gr 2014)
The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet in the winter. Mio, the innkeepers’ son, is excited to have a nice relaxing winter break. But the first night of vacation brings a guest ringing the bell. Then another, and another. Soon the inn is full of odd, suspicious guests with twisting stories that all relate back to the building. As things go missing and tensions rise, Milo and his friend Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must follow clues and investigate to find out exactly what is going on.

Young Adult Books

Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
(PZ7.S855625 Sc 2011)
Every November, riders try to cling to their water horses to make it to the finish line in the Scorpio Races. Sean Kendrick is the stoic returning champion. Puck Connolly never planned on being in the Scorpio Races. But this year, she must compete (as the first girl ever to do so). She is in no way prepared for what is to come.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
(PZ7 .H185 To 2018)
Laura Jean has never admitted her crushes. Instead she writes them each a letter about how she felt, seals it, and puts it in a box under her bed along with her feelings. One day she discovers the box is gone, and her letters have been mailed! All of her past crushes come to confront her about the letters. To cover up the embarrassment of Peter knowing about her crush and help him make an ex jealous, Laura Jean and Peter begin fake dating. Maybe Laura Jean will get to see the good side of making your feelings known. With lots of troupe filled goodness, this romcom is sure to make your heart warm as a fireplace.

Spinning by Tillie Walden
(CT275.W1788 A3 2017)
In this graphic memoir, Walden explores what it was like to come of age and come out in the world of figure skating. Having been a figure skater for ten years, skating was a large part of her identity as a teen. When she changed schools, discovered a passion for art, and started seeing her first girlfriend, Walden began to question if she still wanted to skate. A beautifully illustrated look at changing identity and continually finding oneself, this graphic novel is a must read for anyone sorting out who they are and who they want to be.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
(PZ7.R79613 Fan 2013)
Cath is hoping college won’t change a thing between her and her twin sister, Wren. They are enrolled at the same school after all. Wren has other plans. Hoping to flourish on her own, she has requested that they not be roommates. Cath is left overwhelmed on her own. Her surly roommate with an ever present, overly friendly boyfriend doesn’t help her feel any more at home. She finds solace in writing fanfiction about her favorite fantasy world. But will she be able to find that same confidence in real life?

12.09.2021

Staff Book Suggestions Winter 2022

John Mathy

Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War by Samuel Moyn

(Library of Congress KZ6385 .M835 2021)

A fascinating exploration of the Peace movement that asks the question: what if attempts to make war more ethical have actually just made it easier to accept, leading to the creation of wars that never end?

The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

(Library of Congress PZ4.I78 Bu 2015)

An exciting and heartwarming stroll through the world of Arthurian legend that explores the importance of human memory and purpose.

Carolle Morini

Painting Time by Maylis de Kerangal; translated from French by Jessica Moore

(Library of Congress PZ4.K41 Pa 2021)

A lovely book about growing up, creating art, and looking closely at one’s surroundings—the natural and manmade environments.

Elizabeth O’Meara

Following are a few books I’ve read recently that I’ve rated five stars on Goodreads.

Second Place by Rachel Cusk

(Library of Congress PZ4 .C987 Se 2021)

I enjoyed the conceit of the book: the protagonist is writing a letter to a close friend of her experience inviting an artist to live in a cottage on their property that she and her husband refer to as ‘the second place’. Through this letter she recounts the events of how this additional presence impacts her family and herself.

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

(Library of Congress CT275.S135 K44 2021)

I listened to this book on cloudLibrary, which was read by the author. As can be imagined, it’s a fairly aggravating topic since this family has been able to use its wealth and connections to evade the consequences of what they did with their product Oxycontin. What I found most interesting is the reporting done on the first generation Sacklers and where it all started.

Bright Center of Heaven by William Maxwell

(Library of Congress PZ3.M4518 Ear 2008)

This was the first piece I’ve read of Maxwell’s and I was enthralled with his writing. This short novel written in 1934 encompasses mostly one day in the lives of a boarding house and its occupants.

Leah Rosovsky

Many of my best reads are a result of recommendations from the Athenæum staff and members. All three of my books fall into this category.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

(Library of Congress PZ7 .G48 Van 2017)

Mary Warnament recommended The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street in her holiday list. It is so good I had to mention it again. It’s a charming story of five siblings living in New York City. The book reminds me of some of my favorite childhood authors (Elizabeth Enright, E. Nesbit) yet it is completely contemporary in feel.

Excellent Women by Barbara Pym

(Library of Congress PZ3.P9936 Ex)

I know I’m late to the party when it comes to Barbara Pym. Will Evans suggested Excellent Women to me this fall. I couldn’t believe that I had missed it. It’s a savagely funny read filled with hilarious characters.

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

(Library of Congress PZ4 .O313 Ha 2020)

Tim Diggins, the President of the Athenæum, urged me to read Hamnet. The writing is just beautiful even as the story is heartbreaking. I gulped the book down in two afternoons over the holidays.

Carly Stevens

Chickenology: The Ultimate Encyclopedia by Barbara Sandri and Francesco Giubbilini; illustrated by Camilla Pintonato

(Library of Congress + SF487.5 .S36 2021)

I am nearing the end of the semester which means my time for fun reading is extremely limited. Chickenology is a quick and informative read with beautiful illustrations. Caution: There is a strong possibility you’ll want to adopt a therapy hen after reading! Consider yourself warned.

Mary Warnement

A Street in Suffolk by Adrian Bell; with drawings by Richard Shirley Smith

(Cutter Classification N9Y .B414 .st)

In 1964 Faber and Faber published this collection of essays by Adrian Bell, who was a farmer, author, and also first compiler of the crossword in the London Times (eventually contributing almost 5,000). I’m currently savoring a new edition of selections from his weekly column in The Eastern Daily Press, which he wrote from 1950 to 1980 and recently published by Slightly Foxed with a focus on his winter writings. The BA’s 1964 selection is charmingly illustrated as is the 2021 selection, though by different artists. Bell’s well-written reflections on his simple surroundings make for a contemplative treat. Not all of these focus on winter but this season is an excellent time to stop, look closely, and notice the beauty of a season when so much seems dormant. I add an interesting fact I learned while preparing this recommendation: his daughter was Anthea Bell, an award-winning translator whose work I also admire and recommend.

Death of an Englishman by Magdalena Nabb

(Library of Congress PZ4.N114 De)

This book is by no means new, published in 1981, but if you like mysteries set in Italy and don’t know about this author, you will want to add her to your list. This is the first in her series set in Florence featuring Marshal Guarnaccia. We meet him first suffering from a cold, not at his best, and struggling to solve the murder of a foreigner in his city, which as presented here is not the tourist mecca of steamy sunshine but ratyher as the city of locals during the rainy off-season. I found that even more interesting. Our detective prescribes the cocktail Negroni to treat his ailment, and as we enter flu season during a pandemic I find myself wishing that were truly a panacea. If you enjoy this, your reading list is enriched; she wrote 13 more in this series.