I’m a pretty big J.R.R. Tolkien fan, but most of the books published under his name are pretty complex and inaccessible. After readers finish The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which tell the story of the end of the Third Age of Middle Earth, the natural place to go seems to be The [...]
A great contemporary graphic novel for fans of Smile. Jordan Banks loves art and would give anything to go to the art school of his dreams, but his parents think the key to his success will be attending an elite private school on scholarship. Not only is Jordan the new kid, but he's the new [...]
How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs (2018), 239 pages On the shelf - On Libby/Overdrive Have you ever read a book more for convenience than because of actual interest? Do you ever judge books by their cover? This may seem like a terrible way to select your next read, but sometimes this [...]
I so often hear from people when they find out I work at the Library, “I used to read, but I just can’t find the time.” As strange as this may sound coming from the Library Director, I had stopped reading as well. Not because I didn’t love reading, but after a full day of [...]
As winter winds down, I find myself craving a bit of fun and sparkle, and I doubt I'm alone in that. Jessica Khoury delivers in Last Of Her Name, her sixth book for young adults, a 400-page space opera that poses the age-old question: what if Anastasia, but in space? Stacia Androvna, 17, has grown [...]
Have you checked out one of our Lucky Duck books yet? This is a special collection of bestsellers and popular books with long hold lists to help you get your hands on the books you want faster. Lucky Duck books check out for 7 days and don't take holds or renewals so they can be [...]
I just finished reading Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder (2017, 269 pages) for a class discussion. I chose this book because it was praised by Kelly Regan Barnhill, the author of another book I read and loved. At first, I thought it was a delightful fantasy novel about an island and the mysteries of what [...]
February is Black History Month and your library has you covered. Here are five new books from African American authors that you can find on our shelves or place a hold on today! Hands Up! by Breanna McDaniel, illustrated by Shane Evans (2019). This picture book takes the charged phrase "hands up" and recasts it [...]
Ornithology, in spite of having such a long name, is bound to remain a traditional, oral and emphirical craft. You can't have a correspondence course in birds. You have to go out to them in person, with a companion to start you by experience and word of mouth, and then you have got to find [...]
A fun escape from the winter doldrums. The temperature's about to plunge again (goodbye, Fake Spring!), so if you need a fun read set in sunny LA to bring you out of the winter doldrums, may I recommend The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory (2018; 325 pages)? Nik is at a baseball game with her boyfriend [...]
