Staff Picks
See what books the library staff particularly recommend. Our tastes are all a little different, and we’re always falling in love with new titles.
“Lafayette in the Somewhat United States” by Sarah Vowell
I'd never read any Sarah Vowell before this book. What a wasted life. Here is a summary of the book from Goodreads: On August 16, 1824, an elderly French gentlemen sailed into New York Harbor and giddy Americans were there to welcome him. Or,...
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“Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders
SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS: February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie,...
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“Wolf Hollow” by Lauren Wolk
Annabelle is a quiet young girl growing up in Pennsylvania during WWII. While she is aware of the war and her family does their part to contribute to the effort, she is mostly unaffected by it. She and her two younger brothers go to school...
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“Braced” by Alyson Gerber
Rachel wants nothing more than to be a great soccer player, and she works hard to improve her skills, practicing almost every day with her two best friends. But she has one little secret she's been hiding, and now she can't keep it to herself any longer....
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Artemis by Andy Weir – Suspense in Space
It's really impossible not to make comparisons between Andy Weir's new novel, Artemis, and his prior blockbuster, The Martian. The protagonist here lacks the hero quality of The Martian's Watney but possesses his brilliance and humor. Jazz is the genius...
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“Amid Stars and Darkness” by Chani Lynn Feener
Delaney Grace is just a normal girl, living in a world where aliens have recently revealed their presence. They are very similar to humans in nature, but far more advanced in technology. Delaney's best friend Mariana is obsessed with these alien races and spends a lot...
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“Adventure Cats” by Laura J. Moss
Finally a book for folks who love the outdoors and would love to enjoy it with their furry partners. My neighborhood isn't a safe place for unsupervised exploring much to door dashing Gracie's disgust. I now have a system for getting her leash trained and outdoor...
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“The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness” by Paula Poundstone
Can one find happiness behind the wheel of a Lamborghini? How about in an nursing home? A dojo? Paula Poundstone's not entirely scientific inquiries of these and many other pressing questions are answered in this latest book. From getting connected to getting...
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“The Beast is an Animal” by Peternelle van Arsdale
Atmospheric and eerie, The Beast is an Animal is a tale of power and suspense, prejudice and fear. When the village is faced with hardship, the blame is placed upon twin daughters, born to the farmer who lives at the edge of the forest. In order to save them from...
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“A Darker Shade of Magic” by V.E. Schwab
In this fantasy series, instead of one London, there are four: Black, Red, White, and Grey. Each London had it's own magic source, and travelers could move freely between the different cities. Now that has changed. Many years ago, the magic of Black London overcame...
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“New Boy” by Tracy Chevalier
Wow! I've had reservations about Othello in the past. How could such a brave, wise, worldly man be so completely gullible? Emilia seems like a decent human being. How could she have possibly married Iago and why would she ever help him? In Tracy Chevalier's retelling,...
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“Illuminae” by Aimee Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Written through IM, email, and classified reports, this book tells the story of Kady and her fight to save her ship (and maybe her very recently ex-boyfriend, if she can swing it). When her mining outpost is attacked by a competitor, only a few thousand people make it...
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