Library Staff Picks
May 25, 2021
Looking for something new? Your library staff has some advice.
Whether you like fiction or nonfiction, no matter what format appeals to you (print, ebook or audio), your library has something for you.
Fiction
An American Marriage: A Novel by Tayari Jones
"She is an artist and he is an executive and their life together seems full of possibilities until his arrest pulls their lives apart. The main plot is about a marriage unraveling. The parallel story is about the unjust arrest of a black man and how many lives are forever changed by mistakes made by the U.S. justice system." Downloadable audiobook recommended by Hope.
Additional formats: Print | Ebook | Audio CD
The Burning Girls: A Novel by C. J. Tudor
"A vicar and her teen daughter move from London to a remote country parish with an unsolved disappearance of two local girls. The case is decades old, but still very much on the minds of the townspeople - and in the actions of the apparitions that appear in the chapel. Everyone has a secret. No one is as they seem." Ebook recommended by Macee.
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
"A murder mystery set in rural Poland whose main character with a reputation as an eccentric crank seems to know the killer's identity ... but why will no one listen to her?" Print recommended by Macee.
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
"A YA thriller that seamlessly combines Native traditions and themes of cultural identity into a compelling mystery. Think Nancy Drew crossed with Veronica Mars." Downloadable audiobook recommended by Anne.
Additional formats: Print | Ebook
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
"What a great read! The author artfully has us walk a mile in someone else's shoes. I collected names of characters & family trees... story moves along well... A keeper." Print recommended by Dominique.
Additional formats: Ebook | Downloadable audiobook
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
"It explores the meaning of love observed through a narrator who is an ‘artificial friend’". Ebook recommended by Donna.
Additional formats: Print | Downloadable audiobook
Northern Spy by Flynn Berry
"Just finished this book .. it's about Northern Ireland and life after the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 that instituted a ceasefire to the Troubles. Tough subject matter, but I enjoyed it and thought it depicted Belfast and the conflict well." Ebook recommended by Macee.
Additional format: Downloadable audiobook
We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida
"I really enjoyed this coming-of-age novel about 13 year-old Eulabee and her San Francisco neighborhood. When her best friend disappears shortly after a disagreement, Eulabee is left to navigate school and life by herself." Print recommended by Donna.
Additional format: Downloadable audiobook
Nonfiction
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
"This is a moving book about relationships - the relationship between humans and the natural world; the relationship between white and indigenous peoples; the relationship between spiritualism and Western culture. 'We have to put our hands in the earth to make ourselves whole again.'" Print recommended by Hope.
Epidemics and Society: From the Black Death to the Present by Frank Snowden
"This is a history of medicine, but better than a textbook. Good read! Even though we have [collectively] reached a saturation point with virus-talk, Snowden can still be appreciated for his writing and skillful research." Print recommended by Dominique.
Additional format: Ebook
Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller
"This is a heart-wrenching memoir of a young woman who was sexually assaulted on campus. Ms. Miller courageously tells her harrowing story and by so doing, reveals as much about her bravery as she does about a broken legal system." Print recommended by Hope.
Additional format: Downloadable audiobook
Let Love Rule by Lenny Kravitz
"Read by the author, it is a candid account of his experiences growing up." Downloadable audiobook recommended by Kim.
Additional format: Print
Robin by Dave Itzkoff
"A fascinating look at the comedic genius’s life including his struggle with addiction and depression." Downloadable audiobook recommended by Kim.
Additional format: Audio CD
Say Nothing : A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
"A terrific narrative about the Troubles". Print recommended by Macee.
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin
"Read by the authors, this is a candid conversation between sisters about their everyday experiences being Black in America. Those familiar with comedian Amber Ruffin will recognize her joy in finding humor in the absurd and often frustrating things her sister deals with daily. What might seem like a serious topic is made approachable and, strangely, laugh out loud funny." Audio CD recommended by Anne.
Additional formats: Ebook1 | Ebook2 | Print
If something is out, just place a hold to be the next in the queue or explore more of our collections through our catalog or our ebook databases.
Have a recommendation or suggestion? We would love to hear from you. Feel free to send us an e-mail or connect with us on social media.
Happy reading.