Staff Picks
January 2021
The Girl in the Mirror
by Rose Carlyle
A book full of greed, jealousy, and lust as the twist and turns involving twins, Iris and Summer Rose reach an explosive conclusion. Iris has always been jealous of twin, Summer, who seems to live a charmed life. When asked to help sail the family yacht with Summer’s hunky husband, Iris jumps at the chance. Unfortunately for Iris plans change and she finds herself in the middle of the ocean with Summer. When the yacht arrives, there is only one twin on board.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Just Like That
by Gary D. Schmidt
Set in the 1960s just as earlier books such as The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now, Schmidt has written another gem of a book with compassion and humor. Meryl Lee Kowalski and Matt Coffin meet at a Maine boarding school run by Mrs. Nora MacKnockater. Both are working through life events that have caused them unhappiness. As they work their way to growth and change, they find that they need help from each other and others to overcome the past.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
To Night Owl From Dogfish
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Avery and Bet are being sent to camp together by their fathers who want to take a motorcycle trip to China. They agree NOT to become friends or see each other at all in person. As the plot moves forward they, of course, become friends and that dynamic creates quite a bit of drama. Written entirely through email and letter exchanges, this book is highly entertaining. This book is available in the library and on Overdrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Ahimsa
by Supriya Kelkar
Based on the author’s great grandmother’s experiences in India, this historical fiction book deals with prejudice and the fight for independence. The main character, Anjali, is unhappy when her mother tells her she is joining Gandhi’s peaceful rebellion. As her mother makes adjustments to help improve her country, Anjali slowly comes around to her mother’s way of thinking.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction
None Shall Sleep
by Ellie Marney
After narrowly escaping a vicious serial killer, Emma is desperately trying to find normalcy in her life. That normalcy is pushed aside when Agent Cooper from the FBI approaches her to join a new task force of teens assigned to interview teen serial killers in hopes of getting insight adults are not privy to. Emma teams up with Travis Bell, the son of a US Marshall killed by a suspect who hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the FBI. Their assignments begin as busy work, but soon the duo is right in the middle of an ongoing investigation regarding a spree of murders. There is a surprise asset to this case. The serial killer that killed Travis’s dad has inside information and it’s up to Emma to get him to share what he knows before someone else dies. This book may seem a bit unbelievable at times, but it is a thrilling and exciting story. This book is available in the library and on Overdrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.
Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The Canyon’s Edge
by Dusty Bowling
A novel in verse by the author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. Nora and her father go hiking in a slot canyon on the anniversary of Nora’ mother’s death in a restaurant shooting. A flash flood separates them and leaves Nora with no supplies. As she struggles to survive the desert, Nora must also survive the Beast who has haunted her dreams for the past year. This is a page turning book full of action and emotion as Nora struggles to survive her inner and outer demons. 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 I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
by Stuart Turton
Posted in: Adult Fiction
They Threw Us Away (The Teddies Saga #1)
by Daniel Kraus
First in a trilogy for middle grades, this is the story of Buddy, a teddy bear, who finds himself in a garbage dump and releases other bears that he finds still in their boxes. How did they get there? Why were they dumped? The teddies only want to be hugged by a child so they can have their Forever Sleep.
To do so, the teddies must band together to try and survive the many perils awaiting them as they try to find a home. This book reads like a cross between a fairy tale and Toy Story. It is a great read and leaves the reader anxious for the sequel.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction
December 2020
What it’s Like to Be a Bird
by David Sibley
This guide to birds is well laid out and easy to understand. The author is able to break down complicated parts of bird life into layman’s terms. The guide is full of wonderful and life-like illustrations. I highly recommend it to anyone with any level of curiosity about birds.
Recommended by: Peter Tew, Adult Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Adult Nonfiction
Words on Fire
by Jennifer Nielsen
Audra, a young Lithuanian girl, escapes her farm house when both of her parents are arrested. Her mother gives her a package, tells her the recipient’s name and town and tells her to give it only to that person. Although Audra is frightened and confused, she does her best amidst many difficulties to fulfill her mother’s wish. This title is also available on Hoopla.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Youth Fiction