Staff Picks

The Rise of Kyoshi

by F. C. Yee

A humble Earth Kingdom-born girl is left to fend for herself in a world where nations have succumbed to tyranny and greed. Every day the nations become more corrupt and violent, but the Avatar is nowhere to be found. Jianzhu and Kelsang grow more desperate in their attempts to find this era’s Avatar and having lost one of the avatar toy relics to an orphan girl they’re at their wits end. Will they be able to recover the relic and find the Avatar in time? Or will the world be destroyed by countless mass murders?  This first volume in the Chronicles of the Avatar series is great for fans of Avatar: The Last Air Bender looking to learn more about previous legendary Avatars.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an e audiobook and Hoopla as an ebook.

Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

The Derby Daredevils: Kenzie Kickstarts a Team

by Kit Rosewater

Kenzie is passionate about roller skating and, especially, roller derby. When she, along with her best friend, Shelly, find out about the new junior derby league tryouts, they are super excited. But when they learn they need to try out as a team if they want to be on the same team, they are stuck. They don’t know anyone else who roller skates. Will they be able to form a five person team in time for tryouts? 

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Youth Fiction

The Last Bear

by Hannah Gold

April knows there are no polar bears left on Bear Island. Her father, an environmental scientist, has told her so. But when she looks out her bedroom window on their first night living in the Arctic Circle, April swears she sees a polar bear. There’s a polar bear–one who is hungry, injured, and maybe, if April is lucky, lonely enough to become a friend. As April works her way into Bear’s heart, can she figure out how he became the last polar on Bear Island? More importantly, does she have what it takes to rescue him and reunite him with the other polar bears in the Arctic Circle?

Recommended by: Stephanie Visser-Rodriquez, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Big Tree

by Brian Selznick

Selznick has once again created a book that soars in both text and illustrations. The text is sparse but the ideas conveyed are profound. The illustrations flow like watching a movie. Follow two sycamore seeds as they struggle to survive and understand their world.  At the end of the story be sure to read the scientific explanations of topics raised in the book. Be prepared to be awed by the book and to keep thinking about it long after you have closed the book.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Mama Shamsi at the Bazaar

by Mojdeh Hassan

Samira the little girl goes out to the Grand Bazaar in Tahran/ Iran for the first time with her grandmother, Mama Shamsi.  She is scared and nervous because it’s her first visit to the market and wants to hide under Mama Shamsi’s “chador”. This picture book contains rhymes words and wonderful illustration, it will teach young children other countries cultures in a very beautiful way. After reading this book, will you be able to know what “Chador” in Farsi is?

Recommended by: Ghada Rafati, Patron Services Clerk

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Swim Team

by Johnnie Christmas

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas is a power packed graphic novel! It really has it all. Girl power, sports, history, bright, expressive illustrations, the list goes on and on! Bree is the new girl in school and she can’t swim, which wouldn’t be a big deal, except her new school is in Florida, and the only available elective is Swim 101. Luckily, she makes a few fast friends and her upstairs neighbor turns out to be a former professional swimmer. With the right training and intense determination, Bree is on her way to becoming a champion swimmer, but being a part of a team comes with its own challenges. Can Bree and the rest of the swim team at Enith Brigitha Middle School come together to make history? What other problems can be solved along the way? This inspiring, charming story is sure to capture the attention of a variety of readers.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook.

Recommended by: Erin Cady, Youth Services Reference Librarian

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Chaos and Flame

by Tessa Gratton

The House of Dragon has captured the House of Kraken’s leader during battle and his adoptive daughter, Darling Seabreak, will not stop until he is saved like he once saved her long ago. Darling isn’t his direct descendant but rather was taken in as a child from the sewers after the entire House of Spinx was wiped out one night. Talon is just trying to protect what remains of his family after losing his mother and is currently losing his brother to madness. Being from the House of Dragon he will stop at nothing to keep his family from crumbling and captures Darling after an attempt to attack them. But something odd happens, his brother, Caspian the High Prince Regent, recognizes Darling from his madness and things take a different turn. Are they all a part of something bigger than this war? Will they be able able to change fate?

Recommended by: Ayla Franco, Youth Services Assistant

Posted in: Young Adult Fiction

Odder

by Katherine Applegate

Once again Applegate has written a wonderful book that with its free verse flows like the waves Odder likes to play in. Set in three parts and loosely based on real events and otters, the reader learns facts about otters, care of otters, and learns the life story of Odder. Odder has an encounter with a shark, loses her mother and a friend, and loses part of herself as the story unfolds from her point of view. Throughout the book many emotions are felt, but especially love for Odder. The story and illustrations (see cover) are amazing.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian 

Posted in: Youth Fiction

Fasting for Ramadan: Notes from a Spiritual Practice

by Kazim Ali

Posted in: Adult Nonfiction

Let’s Do Nothing!

by Tony Fucile

Posted in: Youth Fiction