I hope you’re having a lovely Thanksgiving Day, no matter what form your holiday is taking this year. Here at the library, we’re very thankful for our wonderful patrons and for books, of course. I asked our blog team to share one book they’re thankful for this year and here’s what they said:
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (2020; 320 pages). Also available on downloadable e-book.
Melinda says:
It made me feel transported to another world with troubles very different from my own– which in 2020, I really needed! I’m giving copies to all my friends this holiday season and hope to keep talking about it all next year (or at least until the sequel comes out).
Every Tool’s a Hammer: Life is What You Make It by Adam Savage (2019; 309 pages).
Stephen says:
Making things has started to become a bigger hobby of mine and it’s nice to get an inside look at how it’s done from a professional maker.
Get Well Soon: History’s Worst Plagues and the Heroes Who Fought Them by Jennifer Ashley Wright (2017; 320 pages). Also available as a downloadable e-book and a downloadable audiobook.
Abby says:
This book had been on my to-read list for years, but once the pandemic hit and we were shut down, it seemed like the perfect time to finally read it. Although it may seem like the last thing you want to read during a global pandemic, I found reading about other plagues that humanity has survived to be reassuring. Written with a humorous, irreverent tone, this was a book that allowed me to laugh a little bit during a very scary time. And it gave me hope that if we could control diseases like typhoid, bubonic plague, and polio, we’ll eventually be able to control COVID-19, too.
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez (2020; 388 pages). Also available on downloadable e-book and Playaway audiobook.
Melissa says:
As anyone who knows me well can tell you, I don’t generally like romances. However, I really enjoy Abby Jimenez’s writing style and I can relate to her characters. This book is the second in a series. The first is The Friend Zone, which I also highly recommend. I think we’d be hard pressed to find anyone who has had a good year in 2020. What I like about these books is that they show us that everyone has feelings of inadequacy and their own neuroses, but we can work with that and still have a happy life. If you’re looking for a clean romance, this is not your book. There is some language, as well as some mildly steamy scenes, but they are both very enjoyable reads nonetheless!
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson (2015). Also available as a downloadable e-book and a downloadable audiobook.
Teresa says:
As a librarian, I’m always trying to get my two-year-old son to listen to high quality, award-winning books, but sometimes that’s not at all what he’s interested in. This Newbery Award winner and Caldecott Honor book, however, has enchanted him, and I’m happy to read it over and over again as its poetic text and charming illustrations never get old. Even my husband, who’s not necessarily a children’s lit fan, enjoys it! This year, I’m thankful for this beautiful book that our whole family can enjoy!
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (2019; 204 pages). Also available as a downloadable e-book.
Jamie says:
I read this book in the early days of shelter in place, and it has stuck with me throughout the year. This book has a lot to say about representation and the importance of listening. The story is one of monsters among us, hiding in plain sight, and I believe it’s a very important story for all ages. (Check out Jamie’s full review of Pet here!)
