Titles Recently Added to Our Collection
Heartbreak by Florence Williams
"Heartbreak by Florence Williams is a graceful account of losing a marriage and finding another way of being. With vulnerability and veracity, Williams seeks various modes of understanding the physicality of loss. Whoever has felt the blistering heat of a broken heart will thank Florence Williams for a clear moving river of discoveries" ― Terry Tempest Williams, author of Erosion
"This surprisingly frank and funny book is what happens when a formidable science journalist turns her powers of observation and inquiry on her own broken heart."
― Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim
Fen, Bog & Swamp: A short history of peatland destruction and its role in the climate crisis by Annie Proulx
“Poetic, wide-ranging, and a display of erudition seldom offered. Whatever opinion or attitude the reader brings to this presentation, it is worth reading for its word art alone!” — San Francisco Book Review
“The Pulitzer Prize-winning Proulx (The Shipping News, Barkskins) turns to nonfiction, writing about climate change, the history of wetlands, and what their destruction means for the planet.”
— Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Entangled Life: How fungi make our worlds, change our minds & shape our futures by Merlin Sheldrake
“Nearly every page of this book contained either an observation so interesting or a turn of phrase so lovely that I was moved to slow down, stop, and reread. . . . This book rocked me into remembering that nature, especially fungal nature, is big and encompassing and creative and destructive. It reminded me that fungi are, like the Universe, sublime.” — Rob Dunn, Science magazine
The Art of Impossible: A peak performance primer by Steven Kotler
“Thoroughly grounded in science, writing of the biological systems that drive fear, anger, grief, lust, and other emotions, all of which can be turned to advantage. . . . [Kotler] offers . . . an entertaining, inspiring approach to life-hacking that begs to be implemented by the willing reader.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Best of Me by David Sedaris
“Sedaris’s brilliant knack for observational humor is on full display in this terrific retrospective essay collection . . . Sedaris can take even the most serious subject and evoke both empathy and laughter. He can also be just plain hilarious . . . [T]he perfect introduction for the uninitiated, while Sedaris’s fans will enjoy rediscovering old favorites.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)
River of the Gods: Sir Richard Burton, John Speke, Sidi Mubarak Bombay and the epic search for the source of the Nile by Candice Millard
“River of the Gods is a lean, fast-paced account of the almost absurdly dangerous quest by [Richard Burton and John Speke] to solve the geographic riddle of their era. . . Candice Millard has earned her legions of admirers. She is a graceful writer and a careful researcher, and she knows how to navigate a tangled tale.” — The New York Times Book Review
Peak Mind: Find your focus, own your attention, invest 12 minutes a day by Amishi Jha
"Thriving starts with our attention and what we do with it. In Peak Mind, Amishi Jha combines the science of attention with compelling stories from those in high stakes professions to show us all how to be more present in our lives so that we can unlock our full potential." — Arianna Huffington, author of Thrive
Hell’s Half-Acre: The untold story of the Benders, a serial killer family on the American Frontier by Susan Jonusas
"An impressive and deeply unsettling account of the Benders . . . Radiant prose (“Creeks, dancing and clear, divide vast expanses of prairieland rolling toward the sky”) enhances the page-turning narrative. The combination of true crime and a vivid depiction of frontier life earn this a spot on the shelf next to David Grann’s Killers of the Flower Moon." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
First Ladies: Presidential historians on the lives of 45 iconic American women by Susan Swain
“This chronological account engages pairs of historians—including the exceptional Carl Sferrazza Anthony—in discussing the personality, marriage, passions, and legacy of each first lady, resulting in a fluid, conversational style . . . This accessible account replaces stodgy depictions of stuffy, untouchable first ladies with the relatable, often tragic stories of the determined women who made it up as they went along, to the benefit of their husbands and country.” — Publishers Weekly
Earning the Rockies: How geography shapes America’s role in the world by Robert D. Williams
“A text both evocative and provocative for readers who like to think . . . In his final sections, Kaplan discusses in scholarly but accessible detail the significant role that America has played and must play in this shuddering world.” — Kirkus Reviews
In Love: A memoir of love and loss by Amy Bloom
“As with all great books about dying, In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss does not terrorize with grim statistics and forewarnings but rather destigmatizes euthanasia and enriches the reader’s life with urgency and gratitude. It renews those joys of being ‘In Love’ with the people around us—despite the numbing effects of routine and familiarity which so often cause happiness to lapse in middle age.” — The Washington Post
Scoundrel: How a convicted murderer persuaded the women who loved him, the conservative establishment, and the courts to set him free by Sarah Weinman
“Enthralling. . . . The book is a must-read for true crime fans, but it will appeal to nonfiction readers across genres for its thrilling blend of crime, media, and politics in mid-century America. . . . An immediately absorbing story.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“Superb. . . . Weinman paints a complete portrait of Smith in all his complexity, with an unsettling ending that left me breathless. A chilling and deeply satisfying read, Scoundrel injects life into a story nearly forgotten by time.” — Bookpage (starred review)
Rough Draft by Katy Tur
"More provocative than Tur's first book . . . a vivid account of how one woman’s inheritance propelled her from a tumultuous childhood to a high-profile perch in television journalism." — The Washington Post
"If journalism is the 'first rough draft of history' then Tur's memoir is a stunning reminder that journalists are not only providing us with the draft, they are living its revision alongside us." — Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
"Jeannette Walls has carved a story with precision and grace out of one of the most chaotic, heartbreaking childhoods ever to be set down on the page. This deeply affecting memoir is a triumph in every possible way, and it does what all good books should: it affirms our faith in the human spirit." — Dani Shapiro, author of Family History
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska―a place of incomparable beauty and danger. . . . a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.
The Last White Man by Moshin Hamid
“At its heart, this is a novel about seeing, being seen, loss and letting go. . . . In the hands of such a deft and humane writer as Hamid, a bizarre construct is moved far beyond any mere ‘what if’ . . . . Making strange what we find familiar, he reminds us of our capacity to break beyond our limited visions of each other.” — Guardian
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
“Fans of family dramas by Ann Patchett, Brit Bennett, and Karen Joy Fowler should take note. Black Cake marks the launch of a writer to watch, one who masterfully plumbs the unexpected depths of the human heart.” — BookPage (starred review)
“Wilkerson uses one Caribbean American family’s extraordinary tale to probe universal issues of identity and how the lives we live and the choices we make leave ‘a trail of potential consequences’ that pass down through generations.” — Booklist (starred review)
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
“A quick and tender story of a group of swimmers who cope with the disruption of their routines in various ways . . . It’s a brilliant and disarming dive into the characters’ inner worlds.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Award-winning, best-selling Otsuka is averaging one book per decade, making each exquisite title exponentially more precious. Here she creates a stupendous collage of small moments that results in an extraordinary examination of the fragility of quotidian human relationships . . . . [A]n elegiac, devastating masterpiece.” — Booklist (starred review)
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
“The Cartographers is one of those brilliant books you have to read twice.” — Washington Post
“There are echoes of Borges and Bradbury, Pynchon and Finian’s Rainbow, but Ms. Shepherd’s exhilarating and enjoyable work casts a magical glow all its own.” — Wall Street Journal
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
Full of the beauty and emotion with which she illuminated the Shakespearean canvas of Hamnet, Maggie O’Farrell turns her talents to Renaissance Italy in an extraordinary portrait of a resilient young woman’s battle for her very survival.
“A compelling portrait of a young woman out of step with her times . . . a vivid portrait of a turbulent age and a vibrant heroine.” — Kirkus Reviews
"Historical-fiction readers will love the cultural details, while Lucrezia’s plight speaks to modern themes of gaslighting and women’s agency . . . The author proves equally skilled at evoking suspense." — Booklist (starred review)
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
“Strout animates the ordinary with an astonishing force. . . . [She] makes us experience not only the terrors of change but also the terrifying hope that change can bring: she plunges us into these churning waters and we come up gasping for air.” — The New Yorker
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
“In Garmus’s debut novel, a frustrated chemist finds herself at the helm of a cooking show that sparks a revolution. Welcome to the 1960s, where a woman’s arsenal of tools was often limited to the kitchen—and where Elizabeth Zott is hellbent on overturning the status quo one meal at a time.” — New York Times
"Strikingly relevant...Darkly funny and poignant...Lessons in Chemistry’s excellent experiment [is] quirky and heartwarming." — The Atlantic
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
“A high-concept mash-up of different genres that transcends its wackadoodle premise with an affecting portrayal of a family careening toward crisi . . . But the science isn’t the point of this twisty book by a writer with a fine grasp of the subtleties of familial dysfunction. The story becomes unexpectedly tender as Jen moves further back in time, in awe of the youth she let slip by so easily, and shocked by how much she did not know.” — New York Times
Oh William! (Amgash book 3 of 3) by Elizabeth Strout
“So much intimate, fragile, desperate humanness infuses these pages, it’s breathtaking. Almost every declaration carries the force of revelation.” — The Washington Post
“For all the depths of anger and despair they uncover, and the bitterness they attest to, Strout’s works insist on the superabundance of life, the unrealized bliss always immanent in it.” — The New York Review of Books
Anything Is Possible (Amgash book 2 of 3) by Elizabeth Strout
“Anything Is Possible keenly draws a portrait of a small town where options are few, where everyone’s business is everyone’s business, and where verdicts rendered while young follow you your whole life. . . . It joins a vast genre, and elevates it.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
Where the Sky begins by Rhys Bowen
A woman’s future is determined by fate and choice in a gripping WWII novel about danger, triumph, and second chances by the New York Times bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Tuscan Child.
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
"If Dickens had lived to write about The Jazz Age, he would have produced a novel much like Kate Atkinson’s Shrines of Gaiety. A sprawling and sparkling tale set in London in 1926 . . . A smartly entertaining read that captures the excitement of Roaring 20s London." — Washington Post
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
“A transcontinental whodunnit with chic panache, this page-turner will keep you up into the wee hours of the night.” — Good Morning America
“With characters suspicious and unlikable in their own way and a fun twist, you’re in for a dark and moody escape.” — NPR
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
[Book Lovers] is multilayered and the characters' familial challenges are complex. By both playing to and overtly subverting romance tropes and archetypes like the high-powered big city woman who neglects her family and the life-affirming power of small-town life, this novel delivers an insightful comedic meditation on love, family and going your own way." — NPR
Mecca by Susan Straight
"A wide and deep view of a dynamic, multiethnic Southern California . . . Susan Straight is an essential voice in American writing and in writing of the West." ― The New York Times Book Review
You Were Here by Gian Sardar
"Sardar's characters are well-developed and her prose is dreamlike, at times reading very much like poetry. . . . [T]his deftly executed study of the dark that lies in the human heart is artfully drawn. An impressive . . . debut with a touch of the otherworldly." — Kirkus Reviews
How Lucky by Will Leitch
“A lovely book. Set in Athens, Georgia, the novel is a model of verisimilitude. It is also beautifully written and suspenseful, at the same time being all about goodness and caring without once being sappy, or, well, sentimental. And that is a rare feat in fiction.” — Booklist (starred review)
Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah
“Hokeah's novel not only tells a story that is ultimately uplifting, but also immerses readers in Oklahoma's Kiowa, Cherokee and Mexican communities. . . . Ever and his family aren't looking for a way to define themselves within a larger national identity, but they are trying to pry their lives from the forces of generational trauma that shape their community.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune
Flying Solo by Linda Holmes
“Charming, often hilarious . . . a delight from start to finish. Holmes has clearly done her research into how public librarians spend their time, and she also asks serious questions about how to make hard choices and live one’s life.” — Library Journal (starred review)
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
"Both epic and deeply intimate, Nagamatsu's debut novel is science fiction at its finest, rendered in gorgeous, evocative prose and offering hope in the face of tragedy through human connection." — Booklist (starred review)
The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings
"Giddings pulls off a dynamite story of a Black woman’s resistance in an oppressive dystopia. Giddings ingeniously blends her harrowing parable of an all-powerful patriarchy with insights into racial imbalances. . . . This is brilliant." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The Revivalists by Christopher Hood
“The Revivalists is a thrilling, terrifying, surprising, and tender debut, written in such exquisitely precise prose that I felt singed by its imaginary fires and warmed by its beating heart. Chris Hood's nightmarish cross-country family odyssey is also one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever read.” — Karen Russell, bestselling author of Swamplandia! and Orange World
The Big Dark Sky by Dean R. Koontz
“A nonstop actioner with cosmic overtones painted in consistently broad strokes.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Another A-plus thriller from a writer on a serious winning streak.” — Booklist (starred review)
Fairy Tale by Stephen King
“Stephen King has all the daring, enchantment and even romance of a classic bedtime story, but King's signature unsettling style will keep you sitting up straight and wide-eyed rather than drifting off to dreamland.” — Vanity Fair
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
“Aoki's novel is an exciting, wild web of an adventure, an unputdownable book about music, found family, and identity. Diving into the tough subjects, Aoki's book emerges with a joyful, queer, radical ballad of a story . . .” ―Booklist, starred review
Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
"Ludwig's excellent debut is both a unique coming-of-age tale and a powerful affirmation of the fragility and strength of families. . . . Ludwig brilliantly depicts the literal-minded and inventive Ginny." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
The North Water by Ian McGuire
“McGuire delivers . . . moments of fine prose that recall Seamus Heaney's harsh music, as when an iceberg is described as 'an albinistic butte unmoored from the desert floor.’” ―Kirkus Reviews
The Spanish Daughter by Lorena Hughes
“With an equal mix of historical fiction, dramatic family conflict, and mystery, this tale should please fans of Christina Baker Kline, Lisa Wingate, and Kate Quinn.” ―Booklist
Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
"Hilderbrand’s latest, most philosophical and (I’m declaring it) best novel. . . . The story is a family saga, a mystery and a moving retrospective that manages to be clever without being coy." ―Elisabeth Egan, New York Times
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
“ . . . among the most important and difficult American novels written in the 21st century . . . It is a bruising novel that readers will likely never forget.” ―Kiese Laymon, Los Angeles Times
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
“Among Erdrich’s most magical novels . . . The Sentence is a ghost story that hovers between the realms of historical horror and cultural comedy . . . [and] captures a traumatic year in the history of a nation struggling to appreciate its own diversity.” ― Ron Charles, Washington Post
Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
"Marie Benedict brings human warmth and in-depth science to a novel on the life of Rosalind Franklin . . . A humanly as well as scientifically engaging read." ― Financial Times
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris
“Deeply moving . . . Harris’s ambitious debut explores the aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation in rural Georgia . . . in intelligent, down-to-earth prose.” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review
The Women’s March: a novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession by Jennifer Chiaverini
“Chiaverini's latest work of historical fiction weaves together the actions of three real women, advocating for social and legal change while also speaking to the tensions regarding race, class, and rhetorical arguments that prevent these groups from working together smoothly (if at all)." ― Kirkus Reviews
Dream Girl by Laura Lipmann
"With this tip of the hat to Stephen King's Misery, Dream Girl is funny and suspenseful, with a dread-worthy final twist." ― People
Billy Summers by Stephen King
"The ever prolific King moves from his trademark horror into the realm of the hard-boiled noir thriller . . . Murder most foul and mayhem most entertaining. Another worthy page-turner from a protean master." ― Kirkus, starred
Mercy: An Atlee Pine Thriller by David Baldacci
"With an interesting storyline, amazing characters, and packed with action, fans are sure to love Mercy."― Seattle Book Review
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
“Joy Delaney has gone missing ― and her husband, Stan, seems like the most likely suspect. Two of their grown children think he’s probably guilty, two think he’s innocent, and everyone seems to be squaring off against each other in this delicious family drama.” ― New York Post
Red Mist (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries) by Patricia Cornwell
As she investigates the murder of her former deputy chief, Kay Scarpetta finds links to a series of otherwise unrelated killings, and soon finds herself unraveling a global terror conspiracy.
The Woods by Harlan Coben
Grieving over the murder of his sister twenty years earlier and raising his six-year-old daughter alone after losing his wife to cancer, county prosecutor Paul Copeland is inadvertently tied to a murder investigation that he believes may be related to his sister's case, a discovery that threatens to reveal long-buried family secrets.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
“Dave pulls off something that feels both new and familiar: a novel of domestic suspense that unnerves, then reassures. This is the antithesis of the way novels like Gone Girl or My Lovely Wife are constructed; in The Last Thing He Told Me, the surface is ugly, the situation disturbing, but almost everyone involved is basically good underneath it all. Dave has given readers what many people crave right now—a thoroughly engrossing yet comforting distraction.” ― BookPage
Be Careful What You Wish For (book 4 of the Clifton Chronicles) by Jeffrey Archer
“No family saga would be complete without a villain, and this book has a good one, a well-drawn and believable character whose motivations are understandable. This thoroughly engaging old-school, multigenerational saga harks back to the work of Malcolm Macdonald, Belva Plain, and Irwin Shaw.” ―Booklist
The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
“A torturous book. Horrifying in small, cutting, personal ways, and in the more classic scare-in-a-dark-room way. But there’s an iron rod of panicked strength that runs through the middle of it.” ― NPR, Jason Sheehan, on The Luminous Dead
One Step Too Far (A Frankie Elkin novel) by Lisa Gardner
“It’s not often that a thriller so deeply casts us into the darkness of both nature and the human heart . . . Terrifying, primal, and very, very tense. Read it with your heart in your throat—but read it.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The Gargoyle by David Anderson
“A story that sweeps us in with no protest. You want to be lost in its pages. . . . The real tragedy of this book is that it ends.” —Daily News
Tender Is the Bite (a Chet & Bernie mystery, 11) by Spencer Quinn
“Cleverly plotted . . . Chet is a source of wisdom and innate doggie joie de vivre, making this a real pleasure for anyone who has ever looked into a dog’s eyes and asked: who’s a good boy?” ―Publishers Weekly
Quicksilver by Dean Koontz
“Positively twitching with suspense. Another sure-fire hit from a thriller master.” ―Booklist (starred review)
The Red Book (a Billy Harney thriller, 2) by James Patterson and David Ellis
"Crisply written . . . a fine thriller." ―Booklist
Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Diana Gabaldon returns with the newest novel in the epic Outlander series.
Unfinished Business (Ali Reynolds series, 16) by Judith A. Jance
“Jance has been writing mysteries for more than 35 years, and she’s accumulated a large and enthusiastic fan base, all of whom should be delighted with this new one. Reynolds continues to be an engaging and resolute series lead, and it’s certainly nice to see Beaumont lend a hand.” ―Booklist
By Blood We Live by Glen Duncan
“Duncan’s werewolf trilogy is vigorous, funny, sexy and necessary at a time when so much genre fiction is drowning in melancholy vampires and self-serious teen dystopias. The books share a great deal more DNA with James Bond and the John Landis classic An American Werewolf in London.” ― Kirkus Reviews
Deeds of Darkness (Tenth chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon)
“Mel Starr has done it again with another brilliant Sir Hugh de Singleton medieval mystery to keep readers guessing until the very end. . . . Mel always draws you into the experience.” ―Toni Mount, author of the Sebastian Foxley murder mystery series
Moon, Witch, Spider King by Marion James
“A rare sequel that is better than its predecessor. . . . a breathtaking book, one that functions as well as a standalone as it does a sequel. . . . Make no mistake, this series is absolutely a must-read.” ―NPR
Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years, Moon! Earth's Best Friend, and Mars! Earthlings Welcome by Stacy McAnulty (ages 2 to 7)
"Perfect for children―and grown-ups―who have questions about the greater universe." ―Booklist
Odd Beasts: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Animals by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Gareth Lucas (ages 2 to 4)
Barnyard animals—move over! Odd Beasts introduces babies and toddlers to more unusual species, including the glass frog with transparent skin and the pangolin—the only mammal with scales!
My First Book of Planets: All About the Solar System by Bruce Betts (ages 3 to 6)
“Here’s the perfect book for introducing preschoolers and slightly older kids to the wonders of our solar system. The language is perfect for curious young scientists like my four-year-old grandson. The text is seasoned with many of the author’s trademark Random Space Facts, while the mix of beautiful astrophotography and artists’ drawings make My First Book of Planets a visual delight.” ―Mat Kaplan, Host and Producer of Planetary Radio
Moose’s Book Bus by Inga Moore (ages 3 to 7)
“A story about the joy of sharing stories. . . . Librarians, caregivers, and children will delight in the message: family reading time is family fun.”
—Kirkus Reviews
What Should Danny Do? On Vacation by Ganit Levy (ages 3 and up)
Filled with pertinent lessons dealing with personal responsibility, empathy, kindness, and sharing
Milo Imagines the World, by Matt de la Peña (ages 4 to 8)
“Pictures brimming with activity, an endearing main character, and threads for thinking about art, families, and what we see in others make this a book that will hold up to many readings.” —School Library Journal
The Rock from the Sky, Klassen, Jon (ages 4 to 8)
Fedoras, berets and unblinking eyes reveal more emotion, action and character than you might think possible. In these 96 pages Klassen writes about hubris, despair, existential angst, envy, inflexibility and friendship. But it's funny! Children will adore these stories. And adults, I suspect, will adore them, too.
—The Star Tribune
Clovis Keeps His Cool by Katelyn Aronson, illustrated by Eve Farb (ages 4 to 8)
“Clovis is a bull who shows that far older hero, Ferdinand, what provocation and pacifism look like, in a charmingly teachable story of stress.” —Kimberly Olson Fakih, School Library Journal
“At once timely and timeless. . . . This book will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.” —
"Feels emotionally true to the process of going through any profound crisis. . . . Resonant and reassuring.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred
I Don’t Want to Read This Book by Max Greenfield (ages 6 to 8)
“Silly, funny, and visually appealing, this work will appeal to reluctant and avid readers . . . A great classroom read-aloud bound to make listeners join in the fun.” —School Library Journal
The Fascinating Ocean Book by Bethanie and Josh Hestermann
From anemones to zooplankton―500 awesome ocean facts for kids 8 to 12
Jellyfish! by Ginjer L Clarke (8 to 9)
With simple language and vivid photographs, Jellyfish! is perfect for emerging readers curious about the natural world.
Gilded by Marissa Meyer (12 to 18)
"Meyer explores the power of fiction in this inventive Rumpelstiltskin reimagining. Intricate worldbuilding and star-crossed romance help temper the Erlking’s brutality, and . . . well-drawn characters will leave readers craving a sequel." ―Publishers Weekly
The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games, 2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (12 and up)
"Part The Westing Game, part We Were Liars, completely entertaining."―Kirkus, starred review
"This strong, Knives Out-esque series opener...provides ample enjoyment."―Publishers Weekly, starred review
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (12 to 17)
"A harrowing page-turner." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A gripping story." ―School Library Journal, starred review
"Sepetys' flowing prose gently carries readers." ―Kirkus, starred review
"Beautifully written and deeply felt." ―Booklist, starred review
The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor (10 to 14)
Part historical fiction, part fable, and 100 percent adventure. Thirteen-year-old Mei reimagines the myths of Paul Bunyan as starring a Chinese heroine while she works in a Sierra Nevada logging camp in 1885. (A National Book Award finalist)
Kaleidoscope by Brian Seznick (10 and up)
". . . a collection of magical, weird and mysterious stories . . . accompanied by art, which, as we've come to expect from Selznick, is stunning . . . While each tale seems like a sliver of a larger story we'll never learn, we get the impression that we're hearing the best part.”―Adam Gidwitz, The New York Times Book Review
“A mystery, a frontier adventure, a ghost story: Pony tells the tale of a child ‘with fire in his mind,’ and it will light a fire in yours. R. J. Palacio’s most ambitious book yet, it is as compelling as it is satisfying.” —Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor–winning author of The Inquisitor’s Tale
Daughter of the Deep, Riordan, Rick (10 to 14)
"If you have ever craved a story that will leave your heart racing, your lungs gasping from the numerous twists and turns, your soul heaving from the effort of now carrying an ensemble cast, you will find all that and more in these pages."―New York Times best-selling author Roshani Chokshi
The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo (10 and up)
“It deals with the tough issues of death, grieving, and the great accompanying sadness, and has enough layers to embrace any reader. —School Library Journal, starred review
The Long Road to the Circus by Betsy Bird, illus. by David Small (10 to 12)
“This unconventional tale is a hoot and an encouraging call to live an adventurous life on one’s own terms.” —Booklist
The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo (9 to 12)
“The story is told in language as clear and beautiful as an illuminated manuscript, with characters who spring instantly to life. The fairy-tale conventions give it a sense of timelessness and omnipresence . . . A book with an angelic soul: large, sharp, and uncompromising.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred
"Spiegelman’s retelling is a fresh take on the classic story, with contemporary and effortless language that will resonate with modern audiences. Sánchez’s energetic illustrations are a visual delight." The Horn Book Magazine, starred review
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty (8 to 12)
"Unique and utterly satisfying."—Kirkus Reviews, starred
"Prepare to fall in love."—School Library Journal, starred review
"Lucy’s journey is beautifully authentic in this debut brimming with warmth, wisdom, and math."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Well-rounded and believable characters and a convincing and appealing story. . . . Adds a useful STEM component as well.” —Booklist
Children of the Fox (Thieves of Shadow book 1 of 2) by Kevin Sands (9 to 12)
"This stunning tale of betrayal, trickery, and friendship takes the reader on a wild ride." —School Library Journal
Archibald Finch and the Lost Witches, volume 1, by Michel Guyon (9 to 12)
“For kids on the literary prowl for the fantastic, there’s a new book and a new kid-hero you should meet. His name is Archibald Finch.” —New York Lifestyles Magazine
Amari and the Night Brothers by B B Alston (8 to 12)
“In this thrilling debut, Alston thrusts his intrepid heroine into a setting packed with magic, mythical creatures, and danger. Amari, a Black girl with limited means, confronts privilege and prejudice even while delving into a world of wonder, humor, and adventure, making this a sure-to-please winner.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller (8 to 12)
"Roars to life with just a touch of magic.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred
“A heartfelt reminder of the wonder and beauty in our everyday lives.” —Booklist, starred review
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Steed (8 to 12)
"Like A Wrinkle in Time (Miranda's favorite book), When You Reach Me far surpasses the usual whodunit or sci-fi adventure to become an incandescent exploration of 'life, death, and the beauty of it all.'" —The Washington Post
Pax Journey Home by Sara Pennypacker (8 to 12)
“Pennypacker brilliantly walks this tightrope of evoking the power and pain of love. The end result is a story about healing and forgiveness: healing from war, from poisons in the environment, from pain and loss, from the ways people disappoint those they love.” —New York Journal of Books
Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly (8 to 12)
“From the author of the Newbery Award–winning Hello, Universe, this perceptive story focuses on Marisol, an imaginative Filipina American girl . . . The first volume in the Maybe Marisol series is an immediately engaging and ultimately rewarding choice for readers moving up to chapter books.” – Booklist, starred review
The Hidden Kingdom (book 3)
The Dark Secret (book 4)
About the Wings of Fire series by Tui Sutherland (8 to 12):
*"Dazzling; a must-read for any dragon fan." ―Kirkus Reviews, starred
The Brightest Night (book 5)