Categories
Full List of New Arrivals

NEW ARRIVALS – SEPTEMBER 2019

ADULT FICTION

“The Beekeeper of Aleppo” by Christy Lefteri — “In fluid, forthright language, Lefteri brings us humbly closer to the refugee experience as beekeeper Nuri and his wife, an artist named Afra who has gone blind form the horrors she’s witnessed, escape Aleppo and travel dangerously to Great Britain.…There’s no overloading the deck with drama; this story tells itself, absorbingly and heartrendingly.” —Library Journal

“Big Sky” by Kate Atkinson — “The great Atkinson has returned to crime fiction and her well-beloved detective, Jackson Brodie…Atkinson masterfully juggles Brodie’s consciousness with that of numerous other characters…You flit in and out of their various viewpoints, but Brodie’s – warmhearted, weary, haunted by loss – always feels like coming home… I read this book in a delicious late-night rush; I suspect many of you will too.”―Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times

“Black Card” by Chris L. Terry — “Black Card is a bold and affecting novel―funny, infuriating and at times profound. Terry is a new talent who’s managed to examine race in America like few writers before him. This fresh and innovative novel explores both whiteness and blackness in contemporary America.” ―Scott Neuffer, Shelf Awareness (starred review)

“The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett — “A deeply pleasurable book about a big house and the family that lives in it….Like the many-windowed mansion at its center, this richly furnished novel gives brilliantly clear views in the the lives it contains.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Tyger Burning” by T.C. McCarthy — “Tyger Burning begins what promises to be a sweeping new military-sf series. The Sommen, a war-obsessed alien race, arrived in Earth’s solar system but then mysteriously disappeared, though they promised to return in 100 years. Maung is the last Dream Warrior, a cybernetically enhanced soldier in the Myanmarese army who fought for the Chinese against America and its allies in the last war. He has been in hiding, hunted by those who killed all of his compatriots. When he stumbles upon a secret, it sends him on a journey across the solar system, far from his family, to discover that nothing is as it seems. McCarthy is building a reputation as an author of compelling and believable military sf, and this latest outing proves his reputation is deserved. …” John Keogh. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

“Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman — “For those who have not read Neverwhere, the new edition is the one to read … readers can experience this spellbinding, magical world the way that Neil Gaiman wanted us to all along.” — Huffington Post

“The Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead — “Whitehead’s magnetic characters exemplify stoicism and courage, and each supremely crafted scene smolders and flares with injustice and resistance, building to a staggering revelation. Inspired by an actual school, Whitehead’s potently concentrated drama pinpoints the brutality and insidiousness of Jim Crow racism with compassion and protest. . . . A scorching work.” —Booklist, starred review

“The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood — “More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results”…..Amazon.com

“An Settled Grave” by Bernard Schaffer — “The past that alternating chapters present reveals a far different story than official records. Schaffer, a former police officer, imbues the character-driven story with realism and heart-pounding suspense.” —Kirkus Reviews 

BIOGRAPHY

“Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law” by Haben Girma — “With wit and passion, Haben, a disability rights lawyer, public speaker, and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law, takes readers through her often unaccommodating world…This is a heartwarming memoir of a woman who champions access and dignity for all.”―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“The Volunteer: One Man, an Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz” by Jack Fairweather — “Drawing Pilecki’s witnessing of appalling crimes into a forceful narrative with unstoppable reading momentum, Fairweather has created an insightful biography of a covert war hero and an extraordinary contribution to the history of the Holocaust.” — Booklist, starred review

ADULT MYSTERY

” A Better Man” by Louise Penny –“With an uncompromising eye, Penny explores the depths of human emotion, both horrifying and sublime. Her love for her characters and for the mystical village of Three Pines is apparent on every page.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A Conspiracy of Wolves” by Candace Robb — “Owen Archer returns in an all new medieval mystery set in York, firmly grounded in history, and shaped by intricately woven intrigue. … Initially at loose ends after the death of his employer and benefactor, John Thoresby, Archbishop of York, it is not long before Owen is hot on the scent of solving the perplexing death of a local man seemingly ravaged by wolves. With his throat viciously torn out, it appears Hoban Swann, son of a prominent merchant, was the innocent victim of an animal attack, and panic begins to spread through the city. But Owen has other ideas, and it is not long before he concludes that Swann was indeed murdered. A multitude of new and old supporting characters, including poet Geoffrey Chaucer, Owen’s wife, Dame Lucie, and apprentice healer Alisoun round out the delightful cast and contribute to the twists and turns of the compelling plot.” — Margaret Flanagan.” — AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

“A Dangerous Man” by Robert Crais — “Crais unspools this tense and involving saga…with dashes of wit, lots of local color, many bursts of sudden action and some 300 pages of relentless suspense.”—The Wall Street Journal

“A Golden Grave” by Erin Lindsey –“A rousing paranormal adventure that explores the vast class differences shaping the heroine’s romance, with real historical personages adding a fillip.” – Kirkus

“Heaven, My Home” by Attica Locke — “Both a fascinating, smartly plotted mystery and a pertinent picture of the contemporary United States, Heaven, My Home is refreshing, dour and thrilling all at once. Readers will be anxious for more of Ranger Darren Mathews. This scintillating murder mystery, set in Trump-era East Texas, with a black main cast and racial concerns, is gripping, gorgeously written and relevant.”–Shelf Awareness

“Jealousy Filled Donuts” by Ginger Bolton — “At the Fallingbrook Fabulous Fourth Festivities, Emily Westhill, co-owner of donut shop Deputy Donut, is slated to drive the festival king, Ian, and queen, Taylor, in the parade in her vintage donut-themed car until the queen loudly and angrily refuses. Meanwhile, a creepy photographer is taking photos of Emily and her employee, teenager Jocelyn. When Taylor is murdered with a firework hidden in some of the shop’s donuts at the Fourth of July fireworks, the photographer states he saw Emily leave the bag of donuts. Then Jocelyn disappears. To clear herself, Emily interviews possible suspects, including Taylor’s best friend, her employer, and her most recent and former boyfriends. Widowed after the murder of her police-detective husband, Emily remains good friends with other first responders, even working behind the scenes as a matchmaker for four of them, little realizing there may be a match in the offing for her, too….” — Sue O’Brien. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

“The Last Widow” by Karin Slaughter — “Vivid characters and rapidly escalating stakes complement the riveting, adrenaline-fueled plot. Along the way, Slaughter examines such topics as misogyny, white nationalism, and the politicization of law enforcement. Thriller fans will devour this visceral, gratifying entry.” — Publishers Weekly on The Last Widow

“Smooth Operator” by Stuart Woods — “Fast-moving, full of action, sexy and now with a very bright, devious new hero in Teddy Fay…It is like eating forbidden fruit, sugary cotton candy or forbidden chocolate brownies with nuts. You know it isn’t good for you, but you can’t put it down! Just go ahead and read it.”—Lincoln Journal-Star

ADULT NON-FICTION

“The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777” by Rick Atkinson — “Pulitzer Prize-winner Atkinson (The Liberation Trilogy) replicates his previous books’ success in this captivatingly granular look at the American Revolution from the increasing tension in the colonies in 1773 to the battles of Trenton and Princeton in 1777. Extensive research…allows Atkinson to recreate the past like few other popular historians . . . A superlative treatment of the period.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries” by Neil DeGrasse Tyson — “…explores a myriad of cosmic topics, from astral life at the frontiers of astrobiology to the movie industry’s feeble efforts to get its night skies right.” — inside front cover

‘The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century” by Kirk Wallace Johnson — “Fascinating . . . a complex tale of greed, deception, and ornithological sabotage.” —The New York Times Book Review

“The Forbidden Harbor” by Teresa Radice — “Abel washes up on a deserted island with no memories, though Captain William Roberts, who rescued him, can tell he’s an experienced sailor: Abel nimbly climbs the ropes and is handy in firefight with a rival ship. It seems there’s nothing Abel can do to restore his memories, so he tries to cobble together a new life. Roberts is eager to help, even putting Abel in the caring hands of the daughters of his disgraced former captain, Stevenson, who disappeared after betraying his crew. Bringing Abel and the daughters together under one roof, however, lets loose powerful secrets and launches a plot filled with murder, betrayal, and revenge. Turconi has worked as a Disney animator, and it shows in his cartoonish, exaggerated figures. The sketchy pencil work, however, softens the artwork and gives it a pleasantly vintage feel. Radice and Turconi expertly spool out a complicated, genuinely surprising series of plot turns punctuated with poetic imagery. More sophisticated than the usual swashbuckler, this is a great pick for fans of literary adventure stories.” — Sarah Hunter. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2019.

“Gods of the Upper Air: How a Circle of Renegade Anthropologists Reinvented Race, Sex, and Gender in the Twentieth Century” by Charles King — “King’s comprehensive archival research illuminates intellectual giants . . . With a light yet unmistakable touch, King connects the dots from Boas’s time to ours. He mentions President Donald Trump’s describing of Mexicans as ‘rapists’ during the kickoff of his presidential campaign, and we get the point: The reduction of human beings to types—people stereotyped as inferior and menacing, deserving of being keep out or cast out—is a clear and present danger. Reading Gods of the Upper Air, though, provides inspiration. The anthropology of equality tells us that every population is as fully human as any other, and deserving of understanding and compassion.” — —Barbara J. King, NPR.org

How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi — “What do you do after you have written Stamped From the Beginning, an award-winning history of racist ideas? . . . If you’re Ibram X. Kendi, you craft another stunner of a book. . . . What emerges from these insights is the most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind, a confessional of self-examination that may, in fact, be our best chance to free ourselves from our national nightmare.”—The New York Times

“Naturally Curious Day By Day: A Photographic Field Guide and Daily Visit to the Forests, Fields, and Wetlands of Eastern North America” by Mary Holland — “a day-by-day account of nature observations throughout the year. Daily entries include entertaining and enlightening observations about specific animal or plant activity happening in eastern North America on that date.” — back cover

“One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission That Flew Up to the Moon” by Charles Fishman — “Astronauts take a back seat to politicians, project managers, engineers, and the marvelous machines they created in this engrossing history of the moon landings. . . . Fishman’s knack for explaining science and engineering and his infectious enthusiasm for Apollo’s can-do wizardry make for a fascinating portrait of a technological heroic age.” —Publishers Weekly

“The Secret Founding of America: The Real Story of Freemasons, Puritans & the Battle for the New World” by Nicholas Hagger — ” … The Secret Founding of America introduces these two groups of founders – the Planting Fathers, who established the earliest settlements along essentially Christian lines, and the Founding Fathers, who unified the colonies with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution – and it argues that the new nation, conceived in liberty, was the Freemasons’ first step towards a new world order. Drawing on original findings and an in-depth understanding of the political and philosophical realities of the time, historian Nicholas Hagger charts the connections between Gosnold and Smith, Templars and Jacobites, and secret societies and libertarian ideals. He also explains how the influence of German Illuminati worked on the constructors of the new republic, and shows the hand of Freemasonry at work at every turning point in America’s history, from Civil War to today’s global struggles for democracy. ” — ONIX annotations

“These Truths: A History of the United States” by Jill Lepore — “This sweeping, sobering account of the American past is a story not of relentless progress but of conflict and contradiction, with crosscurrents of reason and faith, black and white, immigrant and native, industry and agriculture rippling through a narrative that is far from completion.” — New York Times Book Review, editors’ choice

ADULT AUDIO BOOK

“Ask Again, Yes: A Novel” by Mary Beth Keane — “an artful description of the messy and emotional connections that families can never escape. The story is told through the eyes of two neighboring families, the Stanhopes and the Gleesons, who experience a shared complex tragedy and then must learn to forgive and to embrace their connection. Pope narrates the story with an ingenious use of tone and an ability to remove emotion from a character’s voice. … With many related characters, many voices resemble one another, but each character is always distinguishable. ” — Lesley Cyrier. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

LARGE PRINT

“The Dark Side: A Novel” by Danielle Steele — “… Steel tells a riveting story of the dark side of motherhood. Zoe Morgan’s childhood was marked by her younger sister’s tragic illness, watching as her parents dedicated themselves completely to her final days and then divorced. As a young woman driven by these painful memories, Zoe sets the bar high for herself, studying hard and pursuing a career in the nonprofit world, where her deep compassion for disadvantaged children finds a focus. When Zoe falls in love and has her own child, she is determined to be a perfect mother as well. But before long, old scars long dormant begin to pull Zoe to the edge of an abyss too terrifying to contemplate. As Zoe is haunted by the ghosts of the past, her story will become a race against time and a tale of psychological suspense that no reader will soon forget.” — ONIX annotations

“Unsolved” by James Patterson and David Ellis — “….durable FBI researcher Emmy Dockery is thrown by a case involving a string of victims, seemingly unconnected, who all look to have died by accident. Unfortunately, FBI Internal Affairs special agent Harrison “Books” Bookman considers everyone in the FBI a possible suspect-including ex-wife Emmy. Invisible very visibly debuted as No. 1 on the New York Times hardcover fiction list; with a 500,000-copy first printing.” — Barbara Hoffert. LIBRARY JOURNAL

MUSIC

“KidzBop World Tour”
“O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

BLUE/DVD

“Avengers: EndGame”
“Bad Times at the El Royale”

“Chernobyl”
“The Deuce: The Complete First Season”
“The Doctor Blake Mysteries: Season Two”
“Jamestown: The Complete Seasons 1 & 2”
“Far From the Tree”
“First Man”
“Kidding: Season One”
“Love, Gilda”
“Parks and Recreation: Season One”
“Parks and Recreation: Season Two”
“Parks and Recreation: Season Three”
“Parks and Recreation: Season Four”
“Parks and Recreation: Season Five”
“Parks and Recreation: Season Six”
“Parks and Recreation: Season Seven”
“Pick of the Litter”

“Spider-Man Far From Home”
“The Wife”

BOARD BOOK

“Peek-a-Bruce” by Ryan T. Higgins
“Little Big Nate Draws a Blank” by Lincoln Pierce

PICTURE BOOK

“Apple Cake: A Gratitude” by Dawn Casey
“A Stone Sat Still” by Brendan Wenzel
“A Tiger Like Me” by Michael Engler
“Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border” by Mitali Perkins
“The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral” by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
“Fly!” by Mark Teague”
“Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend!” by Cori Doerrfeld
“Grace Goes to Washington” by Kelly DiPucchio
“If I Built a School” by Chris Van Dusen
“Maybe: A Story About the Potential in All of Us” by Kobi Yamada
“My Name is Wakawakaloch!” by Chana Stiefel
“My Shape is Sam” by Amanda Jackson
“Not a Stick” by Antoinette Portis”
“Nya’s Long Walk to Water: A Step at a Time” by Linda Sue Park
“One Dark Bird” by Liz Garton Scanlon
“The Pigeon HAS to Go to School” by Mo Willems
“Saturday” by Oge Mora
“Stuck” by Oliver Jeffers
“Truman” by Jean Reidy
When Aidan Became a Brother” by Kyle Lukoff
“Who Wet My Pants” by Bob Shea

JUVENILE AUDIO

“Bad Dad” by David Walliams
“The Best of Fancy Nancy” by Jane O’Connor

JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY

“Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson” — “[Johnson’s] loose narrative style feels conversational, which will draw in readers, and an interesting afterword compares the movie Hidden Figures to her actual experience. . . . Kids will be excited to learn more about her journey.” — Booklist

“What Miss Mitchell Saw” by Hayley Barrett — “On an October evening in 1847, Maria Mitchell identified a comet in the heavens. … The art often utilizes visual metaphor; dialogue flows across the page in swirling ribbons of text as Maria’s father teaches her how to “sweep the sky.” The language is simple and lyrical, preferring to evoke the wonder of the subject rather than get bogged down in scientific detail, and yet it manages to infuse a healthy dose of education, describing instruments and methods, as well as celestial objects. Back matter further details Mitchell’s distinguished career, and an author’s note gives an inspiring call to action. A beautiful biography about one watchful woman being seen by the world.” — Booklist

JUVENILE FICTION

“The Battle of the Labyrinth” by Rick Riordan — “In the fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos’s army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth — a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.” — inside front cover

“Front Desk” by Kelly Yang — “Front Desk is a story about the hardships of immigrant life, the perpetuation of injustice, and a sweet, kind, indomitable young girl who chooses to rise up and fight no matter how hard it gets. Kelly Yang’s debut is a stunner.” — Mike Jung, author of Unidentified Suburban Object

“Just Like Jackie” by Lindsey Stoddard — “Stoddard debuts with a quiet but powerful narrative that gently unpacks Alzheimer’s, centers mental health, and moves through the intimate and intense emotional landscape of family—what seems to break one and what can remake it. Validating, heart-rending, and a deft blend of suffering and inspiration.” — Kirkus Reviews starred review

“Lifeboat 12” by Susan Hood — “Gripping. . . . Tougias and Sherman ably narrate the desperate struggles of crew members on both the wrecks and the rescue boats . . . will make readers appreciate the bravery of the men who put their lives on the line . . . action-packed.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster” by Jonathan Axier — “The novel doesn’t inch from the difficulties of life for poor and orphaned children in nineteenth-century London, but its dominant tone is one of warmth . . . This bittersweet coming-of-age tale will leave readers with the notion that even young people can make a difference when they raise their voices about issues they care about.” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters” by Shannon Hale — “This is not a fluffy, predictable fairy tale. . . . Instead Hale weaves an intricate, multilayered story about families, relationships, education, and the place we call home.” ―starred review, School Library Journal on PRINCESS ACADEMY

“Tree House Mystery” by Gertrude Chandler Warner — “From a high perch Benny discovers a clue to a hidden room with contents that surprise everyone.” — inside front cover

JUVENILE NON FICTION

“Amber’s Atom: The First Ten Elements of the Periodic Table” by E. M. Robinson — “The best picture book to introduce science to children of all ages who love puppies. With rhyming riddles and artful illustrations, it inspires little tykes through teenagers to learn about the elements and the world of atoms. Even parents enjoy learning something new.” — Goodreads

“Are You What You Eat?” by DK Publishing — “The book describes how humans are the only species to cook their food, and it includes a fascinating time line relating when various items common today entered the human diet, artfully arousing curiosity about what we eat every day …. Illustrated discussions of how food supports the body’s building blocks and fuels them are fascinating, while comparisons of nutrition guidelines in the United Kingdom and the United States indicate there is no one answer to how much is enough.” —Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX

“The Beavers’ Busy Year” by Mary Holland — “The story follows a group of beavers over the course of a year as they break the last of winter’s ice, eat spring shoots, birth and rear their young, improve their dams, and winter in sturdy lodges. Much focus is placed on their unmatched ability to engineer their own habitats, but other topics are also explored, such as their social behaviors, diet, and life cycle. The text is rich in facts and is perfectly complemented with full-page color photographs of beavers on the move. A reproducible creative minds section in the back matter poses higher-order critical inquiries based on extra factual text and photographic clues. …” Anderson, Erin. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2014.

“Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot!” by Cece Bell — “The title says it all: this early reader comic by Newbery Honor author Bell features plenty of bonkers humor…Simple vocabulary packed with tension and humor keeps readers’ interest high.” —Publishers Weekly

“Manhattan: Mapping the Story of an Island” by Jennifer Thermes — “Thermes, also a map illustrator, shows off her skills with detailed maps that reveal the origins of Broadway, Wall Street, and other landmarks . . . This slice of American history is a gem.” — Booklist

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation” by Barry Wittenstein — “Wittenstein’s straightforward, informative text conveys both the urgency of King’s words and the weight of his responsibility as a social justice icon, but does not compromise the sobering reality of the country’s racial unrest in 1963. Pinkney’s warm illustrations are reminiscent of courtroom sketches, transporting readers into the historic moment. . . . Wittenstein and Pinkney’s collaboration is an evocative study in King’s speechwriting process. A work that takes a familiar topic and shapes it into a moving portrait of ­undeterred determination and conviction.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

“Stargazing” by Jen Wang — “Wang tells a story that will ring true to just about any middle-schooler who’s dealt with shifting friendships, but her additional insights into navigating differences within the Chinese American community will be a balm to readers in similar situations.” ―Booklist, starred review

YOUNG ADULT

“After the Shot Drops” by Randy Ribay — “As the boys take tentative steps to salvage their friendship, they navigate high-stakes choices and consider the value of loyalty, integrity, and sacrifice in a story driven by fast-paced drama on and off the court.”– Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

“Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree” by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani — “This powerful novel … seeks to personalize the 2014 kidnapping of 276 girls from a secondary school in Chibok… Nwaubani, a Nigerian novelist, teamed up with the Italian journalist Viviana Mazza to interview the families of kidnapped girls as the basis for this heartbreaking, necessary account.” — New York Times Book Review

“Five Midnights” by Ann Davila Cardinal — “Dávila Cardinal brings both the colorful culture as well as the struggles of Puerto Rico to life…. Five Midnights is a thrilling spin on legendary source material as well as a study in identity, community, and connection. A story that lingers in sinister shadows.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel — “Fun Home must be the most ingeniously compact, hyper-verbose example of autobiography to have been produced … a pioneering work.” –Sean Wilsey The New York Times Book Review

“They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei — “A compelling blend of nostalgia and outrage… this approachable, well-wrought graphic memoir is important reading, particularly in today’s political climate.” — Booklist (starred review)