Staff Picks
April 2020
Dry
by Neal Shusterman
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 2
Pleasurable soundtrack from the delightful comedic drama produced for Amazon Prime featuring Chicago area actors Rachel Brosnahm as Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel, and Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson. Standards from the American songbook by legends Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald and more, treat listeners to timeless jazz and popular tunes to lift the spirits. Available on Hoopla.
Recommended by: Diane Drebro, Adult Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Music
My Hero Academia (Volume One: Vigilantes)
by Hideyuki Furuhashi
Izuku Midoriya is a powerless boy in a superhuman society. His friends (if he can even call them that) have all left him in the dust with their quirks. Until one fateful day he meets his personal hero the pillar of justice himself, All Might and his world is changed forever. A brilliant story with volumes upon volumes to spare it’s a great story of triumph over adversity. The first volume is available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Kevin Carroll, Adult Services Shelver
Posted in: Adult Fiction
Breakout
by Kate Messner
When the public library decides to create a time capsule for the future residents of Wolf Creek, Nora Tucker, aspiring journalist, jumps at the opportunity to participate. Elidee Jones recently moved to Wolf Creek, and if it wasn’t for the extra credit, she wouldn’t really care about participating in the time capsule. She’s much too busy worrying about her brother, Troy, serving a 15-year sentence at the prison in Wolf Creek, and missing her family back in New York City. When two inmates at the prison escape, Nora and Elidee pour out their thoughts and experiences to the future residents of Wolf Creek in their time capsule letters. A suspenseful and thoughtful read. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Stephanie Thomas, Youth Services Preschool Services Coordinator
Posted in: Youth Fiction
London Kills: Series 1
A murder squad, consisting of two detectives and two constables, is the focus of this London based series. Actress Sharon Small (a familiar face from the Inspector Lynley mystery series) as DI Cole takes the forefront of various investigations while her boss, DI Bradford, is conspicuously missing in action. This five-episode season relies on quick solve cases while also including snippets of other investigations. It is a slow build-up to the final episode which seemed so much better than all the previous episodes in pace as well as the content. You must watch them in order which isn’t hard to do since they are each less than an hour in length. This is a good police procedural series that seems realistic and not Hollywood dramatized. Fans of Midsomer Murders or the VERA television series might like to try this one. Also available on Hoopla.
Recommended by: Michelle Przekwas, Adult Services Shelver
Posted in: Movies/TV
The Gift of Ramadan
by Rabiah York Lumbard
Sofia is a little Muslim girl who loves sparkles and after hearing her grandma describing the heart of a person who fasts is “Pretty and Sparkly” she did her best to fast and follow the traditions of Ramadan. Could Sofia fast the long days of Ramadan so she can have a pretty and sparkly heart? It’s a great book for anyone who wants to know what is Ramadan and how Muslim families spend each day of it.
Recommended by: Ghada Rafati, Patron Service Clerk
Posted in: Youth Fiction
Good Girl’s Guide To Murder
by Holly Jackson
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
Falling Kingdoms
by Morgan Rhodes
This fantasy offers 3 kingdoms and 3 different kings. Throw in some male and female heirs (or are they true heirs?), a vicious murder and a war and you have a book filled with adventure and intrigue. Oh, and don’t forget the magic, because is it real or isn’t it? If you like deep characterization, family relationships and wide sweeping landscapes, then this is the book for you. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
A Curse So Dark and Lonely
by Brigid Kemmerer
This vivid retelling of Beauty and the Beast is gripping. When Harper tries to thwart a kidnapping and gets taken herself, she finds herself in an alternate world. She becomes a key player in the future of Emberfall. Will she stay to help out the Prince or will she return home to see her dying mother and help her troubled brother? Read this engaging fantasy to find out. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager
Posted in: Young Adult Fiction
A Good Kind of Trouble
by Lisa Moore Ramee
Shayla’s palms always start to itch when she senses trouble. She does not like trouble and likes to follow the rules. During her 7th grade school year, she begins to learn that some rules may need to be broken. Change can only be brought about by rethinking rules, and the trouble caused by that could be good. Will she be brave enough to be the change? A social justice book incorporating today’s headlines about Black Life Matters. Also available on OverDrive.
Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I
Posted in: Youth Fiction