by Emily & the Mandel Public Library Staff

I don't know about you, but March has been an especially tough month "celebrating" a year's worth of pandemic living. But if you're like me, books are a favorite place to find some solace and escape, and I think this list of Staff Picks will serve you well in that regard. Here are the books that the library staff has been enjoying this month!

Leah's Pick: Time's Convert by Deborah Harkness

This book is a continuation of the All Souls trilogy, which is one of my all-time favorites. Powerful, seductive vampires, witches, and daemons share this world with us. Their lavish lifestyles and globe (and time)-trotting is a feast for the senses. This has everything - romance, magic, historical events, and great characters and storylines! If you haven't started the series yet, start with A Discovery of Witches.

Antoinette's Pick: Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs

These paranormal fantasy book series by Patricia Briggs are amazing. The Mercy Thompson series is about a mechanic who can shapeshift into a coyote. Both series have strong females who are true to themselves and comfortable in their own skin. The books have a diverse cast and hit on difficult issues and how to handle them in healthy ways. I appreciate that the books do not give the characters a solution to all of their problems, but rather show that it takes time to jump over mental hurdles in life. Wild Sign, the new book in the spin-off series, Alpha & Omega, is out this March!

Kimi's Pick: Tales from the Hinterland by Melissa Albert

If you like your fairytales to be bitter instead of sweet, try what Melissa Albert has brewed up this time. This is the fairytale collection referenced in her other books, The Hazel Wood and The Night Country. Since fairytales lend themselves to being told aloud, check out the audiobook performance. The narrator, Rebecca Soler, is a wonderful storyteller.

Erika's Pick: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

A stand-alone novel that is at its core a fairy tale (I love) taking inspiration from Polish folklore. The heroine is strong and unique. The bulk of the book is about Agnieszka as she faces the threat of the Wood. All the characters are fully fleshed-out, and the worldbuilding is excellent. Fans of Angela Carter and Juliet Marillier would love this story.

Kathy's Pick: Mr. Lemoncello's Library series by Chris Grabenstein

My son and I just read this five-book series that takes place in an extraordinary library designed and run by a famous game creator. The stories are filled with action, games, puzzles, mysteries, and laughs. They are an excellent family read-aloud or independent reader series for those who love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Faith's Pick: Fangs by Sarah Andersen

This is a collection of comics originally published on the author's Instagram account, following the relationship between a vampire and a werewolf. It's hysterical, full of visual puns, and just a fun, light read. Plus, the book is pretty!

Sarah's Pick: Confident Women: Swindlers, Grifters, and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion by Tori Telfer

Tori Telfer explores the lives of female grifters, swindlers, and con artists in this compulsively readable book. Telfer delves into the lives of some truly interesting characters and details the ways they completed their scams. This book was at turns fascinating and horrifying, but it was always fun to read.

Sandra's Pick: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

I love Kristin Hannah's books. This one is a powerful story about a bond between a mother and daughter during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. It is also a story of a woman's strength and resilience during this time period. If you like historical fiction, this book is for you.

Kristine's Pick: Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong

Reading Minor Feelings was both a comforting experience and, in the best way, an uncomfortable one. Hong's essays surrounding her experiences as an Asian American resonated deeply with me, compelling me to revisit her words again and again.

Emily's Pick: In Love and Pajamas by Catana Chetwynd

If you need a spark of joy during a stressful time, I recommend Catana Comics. Her latest collection is called In Love and Pajamas, and like her other books, it brings life to the relatable, loving moments in relationships that are sure to make you laugh and warm your heart at the same time. This collection contains many comics related to staying indoors with your significant other, which is even more #relatable nowadays, and a much-needed pick-me-up if you're feeling down.