by Emily & the Mandel Public Library Staff
It's that time of the month when we get to do what we do best – share our undying enthusiasm for books (and recommend them)! Here are some titles our library staff has recently enjoyed... maybe you'll find a new favorite!
Books
Huda has to figure out high school as a freshman in the new town that her family just moved to. This book has such a vivid representation of a Muslim community. Absolutely fun and enjoyable!
In the first book in a brilliant new fantasy series, books that aren't finished by their authors reside in the Library of the Unwritten in Hell. The author has quite an imagination and has created a fascinating world including heaven and hell and everywhere in-between. Finishing the book left me wanting more, and luckily the second book was waiting on the shelf.
Free Lunch is Rex Ogle’s memoir of growing up at and below the poverty line in small-town Texas. It’s a tough but rewarding read that highlights the enormous emotional toll of poverty and the way it exacerbates issues of systemic racism, domestic violence, and mental illness. Though Free Lunch is marketed as middle grade, younger readers might want to check with a grown-up before diving in. That said, this book was heartwarming and hilarious, and I can’t recommend it enough. People who’ve lived through tough stuff will appreciate Ogle’s candor and humor, and those who haven’t will get an important look into a different sort of childhood.
I didn't know James Rollins wrote fantasy, but I'm pleasantly surprised! The Starless Crown is the first book in the Moonfall series, set in a fantastical world that is on the brink of destruction (is it our Earth, but far in the future?). There is magic, amazing creatures and characters, adventure, and intrigue galore. I can't wait for the second book!
Six-year-old Grant and nine-year-old Maisie go to live with their gay uncle Patrick ("GUP") in Palm Springs while their father goes to rehab after the death of their mother. Patrick has very little experience caring for children, so hilarity ensues. But this is also a story of grief and family relationships, so don't be fooled by the book's colorful cover. The story is alive with ups and downs - it will tickle your funny bone and also require a few tissues. I would recommend this book to any general fiction reader!
Did you love A Series of Unfortunate Events or Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library? If so, this might be your next read. Join four orphaned children as they work to uncover and thwart the plan of a villain who wants to take over the world. This series is smart, funny, and suspenseful. Plus when you have read the books, check out the series on Disney+.
Usually I tend not to read the first book of a series when it first comes out – I like being able to see who/what the other books will be about – but I picked this book by accident, and I was so happy I did. This book is a funny, sexy, magical, and just overall a "bewitching" paranormal rom-com that focuses on how to deal with the past, how to believe in yourself, and breaking tradition.
Last year, I fell in love with Bina in All Summer Long as she was growing up as a middle school girl, finding her own way after her best friend Austin goes away for summer camp. This journey of self-discovery continues in All Together Now as she starts a band and watches it fall apart. Despite me not being a young adult, I found a lot of solace in watching her be unsure about her feelings, uncomfortable in expressing them, and ultimately being courageous for choosing herself in the face of the unknown. Great book! Check it out!
Zines are neat. I’ve recently considered trying to make a zine and thought I’d see what the library has on this topic. I stumbled upon a book that includes great info on what constitutes a zine, how to get started, and zine scene etiquette. Take note that this book is from 2008 (14 years ago, geez. Time sure flies!), so things may have changed a little since then, but I think it holds for the most part and even succeeds in conjuring up some nostalgia. It’s a short and easy read. I highly recommend it.
Audiobooks &TV Shows
This re-release of the first (audio)book in Jordan’s Wheel of Time series is narrated by Rosamund Pike, who starred as Moiraine in Amazon’s recent television adaption. A little bit A Wrinkle in Time, more than a little bit Lord of the Rings, this is a fun read for anyone who enjoyed the Amazon series or just high fantasy fiction in general. Pike does a great job bringing the characters and narrative to life.
I've been told countless times to check out this series, and I finally had some free time to check it out. Wow! Everyone who told me about this show was right, and I can't believe I was missing out on this show. The premise is Sandra Oh, who plays the titular Eve, an agent working for MI6, starts noticing patterns of high-profile deaths being linked to one highly-skilled assassin code-named Villanelle. The show brings so many different elements that just work: themes of your classic spy thrillers, family/relationships tropes, and the classic "tete a tete" between rivals. The series is funny, sad, and it always leaves you wanting more.
