Greensboro Free LibraryLibrarian at the Greensboro Free Library, a small, rural public library in northern Vermont.
“Settle in a cozy chair and pass the cheese crumble! Mona’s adventures continue in this critter-crammed sequel that will pull at your heartstrings as well as your funny bone.” ―Cyndi Marko, author and illustrator of the Kung Pow Chicken series
ADULT FICTION
“Back After This: A Novel” by Linda Holmes — “Holmes once again crafts an engaging, appealing tale of a woman coming into her own and learning to leave her people-pleasing ways behind. But it is not just Cecily who readers will connect with; all of the cast members are fully realized, with their own motivations and insecurities. Blending witty humor, a tender romance, and true character growth, this is a winner.” — Booklist, starred review
“Daikon: A Novel” by Samuel Hawley — “What if not two but three atomic bombs wound up in the Pacific theater?…Hawley’s impeccably detailed narrative offers an unnerving fictional answer…The novel’s tension mounts in highly cinematic fashion, despite our awareness of what the history books tell us.” —The New York Times
“Food Person: A Novel” by Adam Roberts — “In cookbook author and food blogger Roberts’ delightful debut novel, Isabella, a lost, twentysomething foodie agrees to ghostwrite a has-been actress’ cookbook….Roberts’ love for food shines….Filled with ‘salty surprise,’ Food Person is perfectly cooked.” —Booklist, starred
“Ordinary Love: A Novel” by Marie Rutkoski — “A raw and moving second-chance love story that tenderly tracks a woman’s determined efforts to regain self-worth as she heals from an abusive marriage and reunites with a past love…. Rutkoski tracks their slow rekindling in stunning prose that skillfully weaves past and present. The result is a brutal yet beautiful story that captures what it means to genuinely support, cherish, and love another person.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“People of Means: A Novel” by Nancy Johnson — “Johnson’s rich examinations of ambiguities in this moral dilemma take center stage, but institutional racism and its constant, draining impact are the boards these players stand on. And can’t escape…The Kindest Lie is an easy, accessible novel filled with hard, important truths.” — New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice
“Port Anna: A Novel” by Libby Buck — “Readers looking for an escape to coastal Maine, with both its bucolic and forbidding moods, will find that here, along with the depiction of a community where everybody minds everybody else’s business, and a touch of romance. A reassuring look at making peace with a rocky past and place.”—Kirkus
“So Far Gone: A Novel” by Jess Walter — “Propulsive…Walter serves up a rollicking and heartrending adventure about a broken man determined to set things right in an increasingly divided America….Walter offers an honest and even touching look at the [characters’] need for purpose while finding deadpan humor in their failings….This captivates.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Bright Years” by Sarah Damoff — “Social worker Damoff’s heartfelt debut focuses on the impact of alcohol addiction on a family over four generations…This family drama rings true.”—Publishers Weekly
“The Dirty Version: A Novel” by Turner Gable Kahn — “Set during heated nights on Florida’s coast, with characters who are flawed, fabulous, and forced to write sexy scenes together, this is a sizzling romance debut from Kahn.” — Library Journal, starred review
“The Girls Who Grew Big: A Novel” by Leila Mottley — “This striking novel tracks the friendships among a group of teen moms as they struggle and strive in a small, gossipy beach town in Florida’s sticky-hot panhandle.” —The New Yorker
“The Monkey Wrench Gang(50th Anniversary Edition)” by Edward Abbey — “A thing of beauty. . . . A wildly funny, infinitely wise, near to tragic tale of man against the bog god machine.” —Houston Chronicle
“Wild Dark Shore: A Novel” by Charlotte McConaghy — “Spellbinding…Captivating…McConaghy keeps the novel moving at a blustery pace, thanks to her deft plotting and shared point of view…To read this exceptionally imagined, thoroughly humane novel feels like following the last people on Earth as they prepare to leave some part of their souls to the most beautiful place they’ll ever know.” ―Washington Post
ADULT MYSTERY
“Edge of Honor:A Thriller (Scott Harvath, #24)” by Brad Thor — “After six months abroad, elite spy Scot Harvath returns to a shifting political landscape in America, where a powerful secret cabal threatens to destabilize the nation in the latest addition to the long-time series following Shadow of Doubt.” — Atlas Publishing
“Killer on the Road: The Babysitter Lives” by Stephen Graham Jones — Sixteen-year-old Harper’s friends, sister, and ex join her on the road to keep her from hitchhiking, but a serial killer has been trolling the highway and is after them all; when Charlotte babysits the Wilbanks twins, the house is filled with noises only the twins understand, echoes of horrors from years before.” — Atlas Publishing
“The Red Queen (Richard Jury Mysteries, #26)” by Martha Grimes — “A sudden murder in an English village pub sets off the twenty-sixth novel in the bestselling series starring superintendent Richard Jury, from bestselling author Martha Grimes, still “one of the most fascinating mystery writers today”” — Houston Chronicle
“The Woman in Suite 11 (Lo Blacklock, #2)” by Ruth Ware — “Journalist Lo Blacklock travels to a luxury Swiss hotel hoping to revive her career, but when a mysterious woman draws her into a dangerous chase across Europe, she must weigh ambition against survival in a world of wealth and shifting alliances.” — B & T Entertainment
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed and Lost Idealism” by Sarah Wynn-Williams — “Careless People is darkly funny and genuinely shocking…Not only does [Sarah Wynn-Williams] have the storytelling chops to unspool a gripping narrative; she also delivers the goods.” –Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times
“Deep House: The Gayest Story Ever Told” by Jeremy Atherton Lin — “A strong cocktail of memoir, legal history and sociology…Atherton Lin beautifully captures the Bay Area at the turn of the millennium: the creeping gentrification, the tech bros, the video shops, the aging hippies. He’s also not shy in his descriptions of sex of many kinds and configurations, with all the attendant sensations. (At times you can almost smell it.)”―The Washington Post
“Passing for Human: A Graphic Memoir” by Liana Finck –“This story is as tender as it is wry. . . . Becoming human is a lifelong task—but Finck illustrates it with humor and panache.”—Publishers Weekly
ADULT NON-FICTION
“Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free” — Elizabeth Dickinson — “In the hands of Dickinson, this is more than just the biography of a fashion revolutionary: It is a story of the fight for women’s identity and, incidentally, the birth of an American industry.”—The New York Times
“Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life” by Jaxon Roberts — “[An] engaging and thought-provoking book, one focused on the theatrical politics and often deeply troubling science that shape our definitions of life on Earth.”—The New York Times
“Face with Tears of Joy: A Natural History of Emoji” by Keith Houston — “Houston knows that any language whose mascot is a smiling poop pile can be treated only so seriously, so the text is charmingly filled with emoji as illustrations and within sentences, making it both a product of a new way of communicating as well as a study of it. A pleasurable and well-researched journey into pop iconography.” ― Kirkus Reviews
“Garlic, Olive Oil + Everything Mediterranean: Simple Recipes for the Home Cook” by Daen Lia — “…Lia’s enthusiasm is infectious and the rustic photography appeals… Anyone looking to expand their Mediterranean repertoire will find this a handy resource.” —Publishers Weekly
“Strata: Stories From Deep Time” by Laura Poppick — “Making a convincing argument that understanding strata can help scientists better respond to climate change, Poppick movingly describes these layers of rock and sediment. … [Strata] provides an impressive look at how scientific ideas take shape and evolve as new data enters the picture. … Poetic and passionate, this is science writing with flair.”― Publishers Weekly
“The Furies: Women, Vengeance and Justice” by Elizabeth Flock — “Incisive. . . . In the hands of a less adept journalist, The Furies might read as a predictable, even formulaic feminist exposé. But Flock acknowledges the women’s fallibilities as readily as she does their strengths. . . . Flock clears space for opposing truths, demonstrating how many women embody myriad, simultaneous contradictions to survive. . . . Though Brittany, Angoori, and Cicek ultimately fall prey to systemic patriarchal forces, Flock’s work feels hopeful, even rebellious. Because, just as women confront similar challenges, so too can they stage analogous forms of resistance.” — Los Angeles Review of Books
PICTURE BOOK
“Sydney and Taylor Explore the Wide World” by Stuart Gibbs
“Through the Fairy Door” by Lars De Goor
JUVENILE FICTION
“Greatest Gift, (Heartwood Hotel #2)” by Kallie George — “Settle in a cozy chair and pass the cheese crumble! Mona’s adventures continue in this critter-crammed sequel that will pull at your heartstrings as well as your funny bone.” ―Cyndi Marko, author and illustrator of the Kung Pow Chicken series
“Goats for Christmas” by Jacqueline Kelly — “Callie and Travis need sheep for the town Christmas pageant. Travis is playing the shepherd in the Nativity scene, and what’s a shepherd without his flock? Unfortunately, Fentress is low on sheep–but not on goats. When Callie and Travis decide to borrow two goats from their neighbor, they don’t know what they’re in for. As it turns out, the main trouble with goats is that they’ll eat just about anything. This will be one Christmas pageant Fentress won’t forget!”– Baker & Taylor
JUVENILE GRAPHIC NOVELS
“Evil Spy School The Graphic Novel” by Stuart Gibbs — “After being expelled from spy school, 12-year-old Ben Ripley accepts an offer to join evil crime organization SPYDER, crossing over to the dark side until he discovers their sinister plan and must get word to the good guys without getting caught.”– Atlas Publishing
“Spy Ski School The Graphic Novel” by Stuart Gibbs — “A 13-year-old Ben Ripley has been kidnapped, shot at and survived a bomb and missiles, so the CIA sends him on a mission to become friends with the daughter of a suspected Chinese crime boss and learn her father’s secrets.” — Atlas Publishing
“Making a convincing argument that understanding strata can help scientists better respond to climate change, Poppick movingly describes these layers of rock and sediment. … [Strata] provides an impressive look at how scientific ideas take shape and evolve as new data enters the picture. … Poetic and passionate, this is science writing with flair.”― Publishers Weekly
“Spellbinding…Captivating…McConaghy keeps the novel moving at a blustery pace, thanks to her deft plotting and shared point of view…To read this exceptionally imagined, thoroughly humane novel feels like following the last people on Earth as they prepare to leave some part of their souls to the most beautiful place they’ll ever know.” ―Washington Post
“This is a brilliant exploration of mothers’ labor, which Zeavin illuminates as both subterranean and ubiquitous, both ignored and fundamental to a society’s conception of itself. Profound work for a profound topic.” —Lydia Kiesling, author of Mobility
“Thrilling . . . heartbreaking . . . uplifting. . . Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel, Atmosphere, is the fast-paced, emotionally charged story of one ambitious young woman finding both her voice and her passion as she fights to become one of the first female NASA astronauts in the 1980s. You’ll barrel through this electric novel, rooting for the women to not only succeed in the space program but to soar. A pitch-perfect ending . . . I loved it.”—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women
“In Night Magic, darkness is revered, and its secrets are revealed . . . Henion’s vivid style of nature writing and complementary self-reflection are reminders that witnessing the extraordinary can be as easy as shifting your bedtime back an hour and going outside.”―Scientific American+
“This witty, emotion-filled novel from Jimenez isn’t one to just read, it’s one to sink into.” — Library Journal, starred review
ADULT FICTION
” Anima Rising: A Novel” by Christopher Moore — “Hilarious . . . [Moore’s] imagination swings into overdrive. He contemplates the sex lives of Klimt and Egon Schiele, writes pastiches derived from Frankenstein and the Freud-Jung correspondence, and even finds room to include a grating failed artist named Hitler. . . Plenty of fun to be had.” — Publishers Weekly
“Atmosphere: A Love Story” by Taylor Jenkins Reid — “Thrilling . . . heartbreaking . . . uplifting. . . Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novel, Atmosphere, is the fast-paced, emotionally charged story of one ambitious young woman finding both her voice and her passion as she fights to become one of the first female NASA astronauts in the 1980s. You’ll barrel through this electric novel, rooting for the women to not only succeed in the space program but to soar. A pitch-perfect ending . . . I loved it.”—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women
“Beach House Rules” by Kristy Woods Harvey — “Charming and beachy in the best way, Beach House Rules will appeal to those looking for an escape with emotional depth.” — Booklist, starred review
“Big Bad Wool” by Leonie Swann — “Witty . . . As in the previous book, Swann gives each of her animal protagonists a distinctive voice and personality, and she stirs up hilarious misunderstandings between the flock and their human counterparts. The mystery itself is brisk and surprising. Cozy mystery fans will be delighted.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Consider Yourself Kissed” by Jessica Stanley — “Follows Coralie’s journey through a decade of love affair with single dad Adam, marriage and motherhood, exploring the complexities of balancing personal aspirations with the demands of family life against the backdrop of a tumultuous era in British history. ” — Atlas Publishing
“Crush” by Ada Calhoun — “[In Crush,] Calhoun’s cleverest feat is blowing us along in this whirlwind of desire and possibility. As ever, Calhoun suggests, women must carve some new path through a thicket of emotional briars. That may sound grim, but rest assured this is not another tale about women’s sexuality that’s so depressing.” —The Washington Post
“Death at the White Hart: A Novel” by Chris Chibnall — “Despite the contemporary setting, there’s a classic feel to this police procedural. The mystery is rooted in human emotions, like classic whodunits of a century ago. The cast of suspects is varied and interesting, much more than stereotype or even archetype, but the true delight is the introduction of Nicola and her team, a group of misfits who complement each other with dry humor and absolute commitment to their jobs. Hopefully, this is the start of a beautiful series.” —Kirkus
“Fever Beach: A Novel” by Carl Hiassen — “Carl Hiaasen’s Fever Beach turns, like many of his novels, on the actions of a collection of enthusiastic, comically unfocused malcontents….Mr. Hiaasen’s eye for the absurd, like his ear for dialogue, is as sharp as ever.” — Anna Mundow, Wall Street Journal
“Float Test” by Lynn Steger Strong — “Lynn Steger Strong’s exquisitely written fourth novel, The Float Test, is a piercing portrait of the Kenner clan … Steger Strong here experiments with point-of-view and memory, at times seeming to interrogate the validity of the novel form itself.” — Washington Post
“Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry — “Henry (Funny Story, 2024) continues to burnish her reputation for fashioning sublimely satisfying love stories with another perfectly calibrated, delectably witty tale featuring endearingly quirky, thoughtfully nuanced characters.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Just for the Summer” by Abby Jimenez — “This witty, emotion-filled novel from Jimenez isn’t one to just read, it’s one to sink into.” — Library Journal, starred review
“Mansion Beach” A Novel” by Meg Mitchell Moore — “Just as F. Scott Fitzgerald did, Moore looks critically at the spectacle of class and wealth. And though it’s fun for a Gatsby fan to note the ways the story follows and diverges from the original’s characters and plot, Mansion Beach stands on its own. It’s a summer read with a bite, like a cocktail with an extra shake of bitters.” — BookPage
“Open Season” by C. J. Box — “…an exciting nonstop ride…CJ Box has the uncanny ability to hold your full attention throughout this intriguing murder mystery….” — Dave Bragonier
“Run for the Hills” by Kevin Wilson — “In Kevin Wilson’s poignant, comic stories, the theatricality of family life often takes center stage. . . . This is Wilson’s special terrain, that sweet hurt where love and disappointment intersect. . . a slim, winsome story.” — Washington Post Book Review
“The Bombshell” by Darrow Farr — “Farr’s accomplished debut deftly balances heady ruminations on colonialism and revolution with relatable human moments…vibrant prose lends texture and urgency, while the fully fleshed characters’ increasingly thorny interpersonal relationships raise the story’s stakes and give it soul. A passionate powder keg of a novel.” —Kirkus Reviews
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“Notes to John” by Joan Didion — “An intimate chronicle of [Didion’s] struggle to help her daughter. . . . Written with her signature precision though without her usual stylistic, incantatory repetitions, it is the least guarded of Didion’s writing.” —NPR
“Sad Tiger” by Neige Sinno — “Sinno’s prose is equal parts raw and lucid, and it’s enriched by fascinating readings of the sexual abuse depicted in Lolita and other works of literature. This is brilliant.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
ADULT NON-FICTION
“Abundance” by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson — “A guide for liberals shaken by an age of factional polarization . . . [Klein and Thompson] are the best in the business at digesting and synthesizing expertise from a host of fields. . . . Abundance might inspire a demoralized Democratic Party to think big again.” —Samuel Moyn, New York Times Book Review
“Empty Vessel: The Story of the Global Economy in One Barge” by Ian Kumekawa — “A stellar account of a complex offshore world, as seen through the tangled history of a humble barge. . . . Throughout his epic telling, Kumekawa weaves in lucid and eye-opening explanations of the murky worlds of tax havens and loose regulations. The barge is at the heart of it all. The vessel has ‘no motor, no keel, no rudder,’ he writes, but his book has undeniable drive.” —Kirkus (starred review)
“Fatherhood: A History of Love and Power” by Augustine Sedgewick — “Sedgewick describes how thinking about dads has changed over time. What is striking is the sheer variety of nonsense that people have believed . . . [but he] concludes on a personal note. When he asks his young son what a father should be, the boy replies that a dad should be ‘funny and good at hugging.’ As parenting advice goes, that is hard to beat.” —The Economist
“Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves” by Sophie Gilbert — “Gilbert has earned a National Magazine Award and a spot on the Pulitzer Prize shortlist for her work as a critic with The Atlantic. In Girl on Girl, her first book-length work, Gilbert trains her gimlet eye on popular culture in the past 30 years and the ways that its pervasive images “calibrated to male desire” have reduced, distorted and ultimately undermined the promises of feminism.” —NPR.org
“Let’s Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives and Makers” by Shannon Downey — “This stimulating, thoughtfully-organized guide to craftivism will appeal both to activist-minded creatives and noncrafters looking for practical steps to help turn their intentions into action.” ―Library Journal, starred review
“Mother Media: Hot and Cool Parenting in the Twentieth Century” by Hannah Zeavin — “This is a brilliant exploration of mothers’ labor, which Zeavin illuminates as both subterranean and ubiquitous, both ignored and fundamental to a society’s conception of itself. Profound work for a profound topic.” —Lydia Kiesling, author of Mobility
“Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers” by Caroline Fraser — “Murderland is, by design, an extremely disturbing book . . . The killers’ individual stories are skillfully intertwined with suspenseful accounts of the eventually successful efforts to catch (most of) them . . . This propulsive narrative is buttressed by extensive research documented in voluminous footnotes. This is a cautionary tale, not a triumphal one, and Fraser closes with a passionate, angry passage whose biblical cadences ring with righteous fury. Carefully documented though it is, Murderland is at heart a cry of outrage.” —Washington Post
“Native Nations: A Millenium in North America” by Kathleen DuVal — “An essential American history . . . Examining both past and present from an indigenous rather than a European perspective, [Kathleen] DuVal fuses a millennium of Native American history into a thought-provoking, persuasive whole.”””—The Wall Street Journal
“Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark” by Leigh Ann Henion — “In Night Magic, darkness is revered, and its secrets are revealed . . . Henion’s vivid style of nature writing and complementary self-reflection are reminders that witnessing the extraordinary can be as easy as shifting your bedtime back an hour and going outside.”―Scientific American+
“Tequila Wars: Jose Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico” by Ted Genoways — “I am amazed by the research that Ted Genoways has done on the Cuervo family. I treasure these stories of more than two hundred years of my ancestors, particularly the stories of the life of my great-uncle Jose Cuervo―and every word of it is true. . . . May Tequila Wars be read widely, now and for generations to come.” ― Luís Cuervo Hernández, author of La Familia Cuervo
“Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future” by Daniel Lewis –“Lyrical and lovely . . . A mix of personal encounter and plea for conservation. The dozen species that fall under his gaze include the giant redwood, sequoia, bristlecone pine, and ebony. . . . Seriously, who doesn’t love a tree, especially at Christmas?” —The Guardian, “Best Science and Nature Books of 2024”
ADULT FICTION
“A Sunny Place for Shady People: Stories” by Mariana Enriquez — “Entertaining, political and exquisitely gruesome, these stories summon terror against the backdrop of everyday horrors. . . . A queen of horror delivers more delightfully twisted stories.”—Los Angeles Times
“Beta Vulgaris” by Margie Sarsfield — “[An] ambitious and delightfully bizarre debut…This is a knockout.” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Ephemera Collector: A Novel” by Stacy Natha Jackson — “An ambitious homage to Octavia Butler, this stunning near-future mosaic novel from debut author Jackson melds prose, poetry, memos, advertisements, and dream journal doodles… Jackson is an exciting new voice in Afrofuturism.”
― Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Flesh” by David Szalay — “The uncommonly gifted Hungarian-English novelist David Szalay… offers unvarnished scenes from a lonely, rags-to-riches life…Szalay’s simplicity is, like Hemingway’s, the fatty sort that resonates.” —The New York Times Book Review
“Insignificant Others: A Novel” by Sarah Jio — “An extraordinary and heartfelt tale that will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on With Love from London
“Small Ceremonies: A Novel” by Kyle Edwards — “[A] spirited debut. . . . Propulsive. . . . Edwards excels at describing how the Native characters face challenges both personal and structural as the novel barrels toward [its conclusion]. This will stay with readers.” —Publishers Weekly
“Sour Cherry: A Novel” by Natalia Theodoridou — “Haunting and strangely beautiful….Theodoridou’s lyrical prose takes otherwise disposable lines and turns them into poetry…. this hallucinatory novel is a sad, violent, horrible delight.” ― New York Times Book Review
“The History of Sound: Stories” by Ben Shattuck — “In each arresting, surprising, gorgeously realized tale, Shattuck considers how art and stories are passed down, misconstrued, and lost; how love can be tragic and insufficient; how chance meetings and buried secrets resonate. Shattuck’s numinous stories shimmer with longing and loss, fate and beauty.”
—Booklist (STARRED review)
“Usual Desire to Kill” by Camilia Barnes — “Empathetic… intimate… Barnes explores long marriage, sibling rivalry, truths behind shifting memories, and family secrets as well as examining the decisions people make in life, the long-term effects of those decisions, and how well one truly knows the people they love.” —Booklist, STARRED review
“World’s Fair Quilt: A Novel” by Jennifer Chiaverini — “This is an outstanding series of novels about a fascinating craft. Quilting, in the hands of Chiaverini, allows us to explore human relationships in all their complexity.” — Booklist on the Elm Creek Quilts series
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“Children of Radium: A Buried Inheritance” by Joe Dunthorne — “[Dunthorne’s] animated narrative voice is often funny without ever seeming facile or irreverent, and without trivializing—or losing sight of—the gravity of his subject. . . . Beneath the book’s lively surface are a number of complex and serious themes: courage, self-delusion, conscience, the unreliability of memory, and the folly of believing romantic family stories about the past.” —New York Review of Books
“Guts for Glory The Story of Civil War Rosetta Wakeman” by Joanna Lapati — “A fascinating, well-told, close-up glimpse into women’s, military, and Civil War history; Rosetta’s story will inspire. The exceptional scratchboard illustrations, with some color digitally added, resemble wood engravings and beautifully capture period details and settings. An excellent work that brings history home for readers and will make them ponder: What might I have done?” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“My Good Bright Wolf: A Memoir” by Sarah Moss — “[My Good Bright Wolf] presents a compelling portrait of a sensitive, deeply intelligent woman struggling to reconcile a difficult emotional past with the misogyny that tainted the social and intellectual environments she inhabited. Rich, complex reading.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Woods and Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver” by Sara Holly Ackerman — [A] rare and graceful profile of the much-loved nature poet. — Booklist ― 3/1/2025
ADULT NON-FICTION
“40 Projects for Building your Backyard Homestead: A Hands-on, Step-by-Step Sustainable-living Guide” by Davie Toht — “A great book for homesteading beginners as well as those looking for a new, practical gardening project that can save them money in the long run.” — “Library Journal”
“Big Enough” by Regina Linke — “Tasked with bringing home his grandfather’s ox, a young boy overcomes his fear and trusts his intuition to bring home the gigantic animal.” — Baker & Taylor
“Creatures Need: Writers Respond to the Science of Animal Conservation” by Christopher Kondrich — “A thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read that stands out for its lyrical prowess and formal innovation, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literature as well as a key volume bridging the gap between the worlds of science and art.”–Library Journal
“Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for Creative Life” by Maggie Smith — “Like some seminal texts for writers by writers (Eudora Welty’s One Writer’s Beginnings, Virginia Woolf’s A Letter to a Young Poet), this is at once pure craftmanship and a glimpse of the gut-wrenching, visceral ways great writers feel the world around them. A lovely invitation into Smith’s processes that is luminous and shimmering, designed to make writing feel accessible yet magical!” —Library Journal (starred review)
“Making the Best of What’s Left: When We’re too Old to Get the Chairs Reupholstered” by Judith Viorst — “Writer and poet Viorst may be in what she calls the ‘Final Fifth of Life,’ but she’s every bit as witty and observant as she always was. . . . Readers of a similar age will be nodding along and be reminded to be grateful for the time they have left.” ― Booklist (starred review)
“Pastoral Song: A Farmer’s Journey” by James Rebanks — ““”Thank the gods of agriculture for James Rebanks. … A lyrical narrative of experience, tracing 40 years and three generations of farming on his family’s land as it is buffeted by the incredible shifts in scale, market, methods and trade rules that have changed farming all over the world. … We experience that esoteric life through Rebanks’s evocative storytelling, learning with him to appreciate not only the sheep and crops he’s learning to tend, but the wild plants and animals that live among and around them.” — New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice
“Rare Flavours” by Ram V. — “The creative team behind The Many Deaths of Laila Starr serves up a tempting blend of supernatural horror and foodie fantasy that doubles as a love letter to India. Mohan, a down-on-his-luck filmmaker, is hired by Rubin Baksh, an elegant gourmand of Nero Wolfe proportions, to collaborate on a documentary about South Asian food. Together they set off across India, filming busy outdoor markets, sun-drenched deserts, and palm-shaded beaches as they sample the tastes of each locale. What Mohan doesn’t know is that Rubin is an ancient demon who enjoys human flesh along with daal, roasted goat, and masala chai. Rubin sees himself as an appreciator of “people and flavours” and asks, “Of what value is a world that cannot allow its artists some misbehavior?” Meanwhile, two ruthless demon hunters tail the duo across the country. Andrade’s vibrant, Moebius-influenced art, drenched in rich, daring colors, lends equal vitality to the mouthwatering food, the stunning locations, and the moments of blood-soaked horror. Rubin, presiding over the adventure in voluminous white suits and tiny sunglasses to conceal his demonic eyes, cuts an unforgettable figure. Peppered with myths, culinary history, and recipes, this is a terrifying trip to savor.” — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, c2024.
“Sun Bird: The Amazing Journey of the Arctic Tern” by Lindsay Moore — “Text and pictures soar in this view of the longest annual migration in the natural world. . . . With contagious wonder and a memorable observation that the Arctic tern sees more sunlight than any other creature, Moore retraces the long yearly journey of small birds. . . from Arctic summer waters to Antarctic ones. . . . Sure to leave budding naturalists enthralled and impressed. Natural science at its most visually and verbally lyrical.””” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Valley of Forgetting: Alzheimer’s Families and the Search for a Cure:” by Jennie Erin — “Valley of Forgetting reminds us that scientific progress is measured not only in breakthroughs but also through the sacrifices people make, the trust that is built. It is a tender story of the unshakable will to make meaning in the face of inexorable loss—one that begins long before death itself. In her willingness to sit with contradictions—hope and despair, progress and stagnation, science and faith—Smith elegantly captures what it means to love, to belong, to hold on to one another when so much is uncertain.” —Washington Post
PICTURE BOOK
“A Chest Full of Words” by Rebecca Gugger
“A Walk in the Woods” by Hudson Talbott
“Bird Watch” by Christie Matheson
“Cat Way” by Sara Lundberg
“Idea Jar” by Adam Lehrhaupt
“In the Land of Mermaids” by Daniela Descher
“Mice Skating” by Annie Silvestro
“Sea of Constellations” by Melissa Martinez Marquez
“Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave” by Drew Beckmeyer
“Time for School, A Little Blue Truck” by Alice Schertle
“Tractor Mac Arrives at the Farm” by Billy Steers
“Walkies: A Dog’s Tale” by Estrela Lourenco
JUVENILE FICTION
“Bird Nerd” by Jennifer Richter — “With clear, descriptive writing, a tight storyline, and plenty of bird-related information, readers may feel inspired to explore birding, too.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Perilous Performance at Milkweed Meadow” by Elaine Demopoulos — “A group of turkeys arrives in Milkweed Meadow planning to put on a dazzling stage performance, but Butternut the rabbit has learned that the play is not what the meadow animals are expecting–and she calls on her human friend, Thalia, to help her exposethe turkeys’ plan and try to save the meadow”–Provided by publisher.
“Resist: A Story of D Day” by Alan Gratz — “Gratz makes the danger of being a civilian caught between occupiers and invaders on that fateful night (or any other time) breathlessly palpable… Tense, nonstop adventure in a historic setting.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Return of the Dragon Slayers” by Brandon Mull — “This conclusion to the epic Dragonwatch series finds Seth on his most dangerous quest yet, while halfway across the world, Kendra is torn between her duty to Dragonwatch and her desire to rescue Bracken.” — Atlas Publishing
“Rise of the Earth Dragon” by Tracey West — “In this first of the Dragon Masters series, vocabularly is accessible; sentences, paragraphs, and chapters are short; and dialogue moves the story along rapidly. Black-and-white sketch-type drawings add depth to the story and feelings to the characters (both children and dragons). Emergent readers will find happy success here.” — Booklist
“Stella and Marigold” by Annie Barrows — “As always, Barrows offers a spot-on childlike perspective that is both funny and keenly observant. Blackall’s whimsical illustrations capture the sisters’ individual personalities and their shared adoration. [A] very witty, very tender ode to sisterhood.” ―School Library Journal
“Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall” by Jasmine Warga — “Warga’s spare prose, sweet characters, and gentle narration offer early middle-graders an accessible, even poetic read. This is a story with a sense of wonder. The budding relationship between reserved Rami and upbeat Veda illustrates the power of affirming friendship in an uncertain period of life. A treat for bighearted, bookish sleuths.” — Booklist
“When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea” by Karen Cushman — “An engrossing historical journey, filled with shenanigans that support trust and growth.” —Kirkus Reviews
JUVENILE GRAPHIC NOVELS
“Cartoonists Club” by Raina Telgemeier — “Capture(s) the intensity of friendships forged through shared creative passions and pursuits…Telgemeier has earned legions of fans with her heartfelt, relatable portrayals of adolescence, and that talent is on full display here as well… McCloud has helped generations understand the power and potential of comics — and the inventive ways in which he and Telgemeier unpack the genre’s formal elements are impressive.” — The New York Times
“Haru Book 2: Summer” by Joe Latham — “Continuing their quest to reach The Beacon, Haru and Yama discover more challenges (and find more answers) along their way. Meet new figures such as Blight’s new relentless hunter and the bothersome Void Fly, while we discover what happened to Goose and Herb. With more beautiful illustrations by author and artist Joe Latham, Haru Book 2: Summer is full of adventure, friendship, and magic for readers to enjoy.” — Amazon.com
“I Survived the American Revolution, 1776” by Lauren Tarshis — “Tarshis successfully blends historical fact with an involving narrative.” — School Library Journal
“Looking for Peppermint, or, Life in the Forest” by Maxwell Eaton — “The best kind of nature walk, with an entertaining guide out front, and yet one more blurred line between fiction and nonfiction that offers children more than the sum of its parts.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review
“Song for You and I” by K. O’Neill — “Readers who love emotionally grounded comics will be enchanted by this contemplative, gorgeously rendered story of the slow but steady path to self acceptance.” —Booklist
“The Night Librarian” by Christopher Lincoln — “[A] love letter to libraries and to literature, Lincoln’s absolutely delightful graphic tale incorporates influences from many recognizable literary work . . . The fluid artwork features scribbly lines, interestingly laid-outpanels, and creative use of a strikingly unusual color palette . . . Charming, highly original, and sure to secure its own place in the graphic canon.” —Kirkus, starred review
JUVENILE NON FICTION
“Life after Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall” by Lynn Brunelle — “”…the work meticulously and sensitively portrays the countless sea creatures sustained by a single carcass over more than a century. It’s a thoughtful breakdown of death supporting life and a brilliant exposition of the way that populations grow and are sustained.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
YOUNG ADULT GRAPHIC NOVEL
“Four for the Road” by K. J. Reilly — “Reilly explores the avenues of grief most people don’t encounter until they are older, and she does it with bright, funny characters who hold onto one another and the truths that unfold on their trip.” — Booklist, Starred Review
“Sunrise in the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins — “Raw, shocking, and deeply bittersweet, Haymitch’s backstory pulls the pieces of the Hunger Games universe together with ease….Collins has mentioned in past interviews that she would not return to this series unless she had something to say―and she has a lot to say.” — Booklist, Starred Review