Author: Mary Metcalf

ADULT FICTION

“Creation Lake” by Rachel Kusner — “A profound and irresistible page-turner about a spy-for-hire who infiltrates a commune of eco-activists in rural France. The prose is thrilling, the ideas electrifying.” —The Booker Prize 2024 judges on Creation Lake

“Somewhere Beyond the Sea” by TJ Klune — “[A] heart-wrenching tale of being perceived as different, finding acceptance, and having a place in the world.” ―Library Journal, starred review

“Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan — “Irish story writer Keegan’s gorgeously textured second novella (after Foster) centers on a family man who wants to do the right thing…Keegan beautifully conveys Bill’s interior life as he returns to the house where he was raised…It all leads to a bittersweet culmination, a sort of anti–Christmas Carol, but to Bill it’s simply sweet. Readers will be touched.”—Publishers Weekly

“Playground” by Richard Powers — “Prepare to be awed… A mind-blowing reflection on what it means to live on a dying planet… I wasn’t prepared for the astonishing resolution that Powers delivers. In the now-vast library of fiction and nonfiction books reminding us of the planet’s imperiled condition, I can’t think of another novel that treats the Earth’s plight with such an expansive and disorienting vision… Powers manages to entwine our longing for friendship, paradise and immortality with the algorithms of artificial intelligence that surpass all understanding.”
― Ron Charles, Washington Post

ADULT BIOGRAPHY

“Soil” by Camille Dungy — “Gardening, poetry, motherhood, history—dirty and beautiful, difficult and sublime, the agony of failure, the exhalation of a spring bloom. . . Dungy’s poetic ear illuminates her language, whether listing botanical names or reflecting on the tumult of the 2020s. A significant, beautiful, meditative, and wholly down-to-earth memoir with high appeal for book groups and nature lovers.”–BOOKLIST (Starred Review)

ADULT NON-FICTION

“Big Vegan Flavor: Techniques and 150 Recipes to Master Vegan Cooking” by Nishqa Vora — “Big Vegan Flavor is Nisha’s best work yet! She shares tons of insanely delicious vegan recipes along with techniques and tips to make you a confident, creative plant-based cook. This book is an incredible resource for anyone who wants to make vibrant, nourishing meals that are PACKED with flavor.”
—Jeanine Donofrio, New York Times bestselling author of Love & Lemons Simple Feel Good Food

“Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space” by Adam Higginbottom — “With its emotional scope and exacting resonance, writer Adam Higginbotham has truly crafted the ultimate tribute to the Challenger and its place in space exploration history. . . . Told with a remarkable storytelling flair, Higginbotham’s exhaustive volume is a brilliant effort of investigative journalism that stands as a riveting examination of the complex costs of innovation, imagination, political positioning, clashing personalities, mismanagement and a series of fateful internal NASA decisions that partly led to the spacecraft’s sudden destruction upon liftoff.” —Space.com

“Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Connections” by Emily Nagoski — “Empowering and pragmatic . . . Nagoski’s prose is spry and inviting as she marshals research and anecdotes (many featuring nonbinary couples) to dispel notions of ‘normal’ sex, ban sexual expectations and judgments, and advocate ‘liv[ing] with confidence and joy’ in one’s body. It’s a valuable resource for anyone looking to spruce up a subpar sex life or make a good one better.” — Publishers Weekly

“Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives” by Sami Sage — “This upbeat, extremely accessible guide to managing political anxiety offers reassurance and hope.” —Booklist

“I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine” by Daniel Levitin — “Exuberant…. Enriching lucidly explained neuroscience with ebullient musical appreciation (a Billy Pierce saxophone solo is “in turns thrilling, heartbreaking, bustling, radiant, and always, always moving forward”), Levitin makes a persuasive case for music’s therapeutic potential that gives due to its medical promise without undercutting its mysteries. The result is a fascinating take on the tuneful raptures of the mind.” ― Publishers Weekly

“Private Revolutions: Four Women Face China’s New Social Order” by Yuan Yang — “A portrait of the country through four women who grew up there in the eighties and nineties and refused to accept the life laid out for them. Activists, factory workers, pig farmers turned students: they provide incredible insight into the lives of ordinary Chinese people.” —The Sunday Times Best Books of 2024

“Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood” by Jessica Grose — “Melding personal narrative with clear-eyes reportage from the front lines, [Grose] works to redefine what exactly a ‘mother’ is, or should be, in a society that demands so much more from its childbearing women than it has to offer.” — Los Angeles Times

“The Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness “ by Kenn Kaufman — “Splendid . . . A high-flying study of Audubon’s scientific contributions and major missteps . . . The discerning attention Kaufman pays to overlooked corners of his subject’s biography reveals Audubon’s fabulist streak (he ginned up funds for his first book by inventing an eagle with a rumored 10-foot wingspan) and ethical lapses (he once passed off a hawk specimen from a fellow Academy of Natural Sciences member as his own). Kaufman includes his own illustrations of the birds discussed, gamely mimicking Audubon’s style while bringing a sensibility distinctly his own.” —Publishers Weekly

ADULT FICTION

“I Cheerfully Refuse” by Leif Enger — “The transcendent latest from Enger (Peace Like a River) is at once a dystopian love story, a nautical adventure, and a meditation on loss, kindness, and natural beauty . . . This captivating narrative brims with hope.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Lies and Weddings” by Kevin Kwan — “Kwan mines the trials and tribulations of the uberwealthy to great effect in this winning, modern-day comedy of manners…Kwan weaves together the drama of a nineteenth-century novel with timeless themes about identity, love, racism, and family loyalty, all while dropping snarky asides via footnote and details of the decadent lifestyles of the rich and famous. A fizzy, delightful confection perfect for devouring by the pool.” —Booklist

“Table for Two” by Amor Towles — “A knockout collection. … Sharp-edged satire deceptively wrapped like a box of Neuhaus chocolates, Table for Two is a winner.” —The New York Times

“The Boy and the Dog” by Seishy Hase — “Heartrending . . . Powerfully demonstrates how love and loyalty can overcome obstacles . . . and how a dog’s love can save a person in every possible way.” ―Booklist

“The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur” by Lev Grossman — “A thrilling new take on Arthurian legend. . . . Marvelous. . . As Grossman’s splendid, offbeat quest reaches its conclusion, we see Arthur’s waves of Saxon invaders and their many predecessors refracted in a different light, one that helps illuminate our own tumultuous, battle-torn age in the way that only the best epics can.” —Elizabeth Hand, The Washington Post

“The Glass Maker” by Tracy Chevalier — “Travel across seven centuries with novelist Tracy Chevalier and a remarkable Glassmaker … The Glassmaker conveys a vivid history lesson about a fascinating place and industry, animated through the lives and emotions of compelling characters.” – Star Tribune

ADULT MYSTERY

“The Housemaid’s Secret” by Freida McFadden — “An unbelievably twisty read that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train will be completely hooked!” — Grand Central Publishing

ADULT BIOGRAPHY

“An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s” by Doris Kearns Goodwin — “An intimate political history….about the love of historical research, in this case demonstrated by a joint examination of 300 boxes of documents, drafts, and the personal flotsam accumulated over the course of a marriage played out in the arena of American politics. And about the love of America, its past and future, its struggles and promise”—The Boston Globe

“To Walk It Is To See It: 1 Couple, 98 Days, 1400 Miles on Europe’s GR5” by Kathy Elkind — “Movingly inspiring, To Walk It Is To See It tells the story of a journey of 1,400 miles—a journey of a marriage, a journey toward self-awareness. This book is lyrically personal and highly engaging. It says something significant about facing the unexpected, persevering, and cherishing the world around us and the worlds within.” —Judy Goldman, author of Child: A Memoir

“The Truths We Hold: An American Journey” by Kamala Harris — “An engaging read that provides insights into the influences of Harris’s life.”— San Francisco Chronicle

ADULT NON-FICTION

“Bird Friendly Gardening: Guidance and Projects for Supporting Birds in Your Landscape” by Jen McGuinness — “What a welcome and timely guide for those of us shifting to ecological gardening! Bird-Friendly Gardening shows how, by supporting wild birds, your garden—no matter the size or location—can become part of the greater ecosystem. Packed with beautiful photos and practical information, by showing us what native birds need, we learn to grow sustainable gardens. I can’t think of anything more important for gardeners today.”―Melissa Will, a.k.a. The Empress of Dirt (empressofdirt.net)

“From the Island of Newfoundland: Saltwater Mittens, More Than 20 Heritage Designs to Knit” by Christine LeGrow — “Saltwater Mittens is a collection of rare Newfoundland mitten patterns for knitters, collected, and in some cases recreated, by Christine LeGrow of Spindrift Handknits and Shirley “Shirl the Purl” Scott. These two women have teamed up to preserve and promote traditional Newfoundland knitting.” — Amazon.com

“Hot Sheet: How Sweet and Savory Sheet Pan Recipes for Every Day and Celebrations” by Olga Massov — “Transform everyday meals into extraordinary ones, with more than 100 recipes harnessing the power of your sheet pan, including breakfasts, starters, dinners, and desserts. Say goodbye to boring food and hello to flavor-packed dishes for weeknight dining as well as special occasions”– Amazon.com

“Mexico” by Julie Schwietert Collazo — “Modern murals in the city and ancient Maya temples in the jungle. Tranquil deserts, pristine beaches, vast canyons and active volcanoes. Spicy salsas followed up with fiery tequila. Whatever your dream trip to Mexico includes, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion.” — Publisher

“My Beloved Monster: Masha, the half-wild rescue cat who rescued me” by Caleb Carr — “Excellent…Worth the emotional investment, and the tissues you will need by the end, to spend time with a writer and cat duo as extraordinary as Masha and Carr.”―Washington Post Book World

“Practical Cycling: Equip, Maintain and Repair Your Bicycle” by Laurent Belando — “Here is a book that will answer (almost) all of a beginning and experienced bicyclist’s questions about how to get the most out of the activity, while protecting yourself and saving money doing repairs where possible”– Baker & Taylor

“The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet” by John Green —  “Each of the entries in The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet is a small gem, polished to near perfection…. What unites them is [Green’s] uncanny ability to structure each piece as both a critique of human foibles and an embracing of them.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

“The New York Game: Baseball and the Rise of a New City” by Kevin Baker — “In The New York Game…Kevin Baker makes the case that America’s financial, media and cultural capital and its national pastime grew not in parallel, but were inextricably intertwined…the book ultimately succeeds… [weaving] together class, race, fame and rivalry to create a survey of the city and the sport’s overlapping interests.”—Jason Kelly, Bloomberg

“The Singularity is Nearer: When We Merge with AI” by Ray Kurzeil — “Drawing on scientific reports, research studies, and interviews with experts, Kurzweil observes the long term trends in order to ponder the promises and perils of AI when it comes to nuclear weapons and genetic engineering. To readers interested in AI and biotechnology, Kurzweil offers insight as he breaks down the complex topic and addresses the ethical issues surrounding its use and place in society.” —Booklist

“The World Beneath Their Feet: The British, the Americans, the Nazis and the Mountaineering Race to Conquer the Himalayas “ by Scott Ellsworth — “While tension steadily rose between European powers in the 1930s, a different kind of battle was raging across the Himalayas. Contingents from Great Britain, Nazi Germany, and the United States had set up rival camps at the base of the mountains, all hoping to become recognized as the fastest, strongest, and bravest climbers in the world. Carried on across nearly the entire sweep of the Himalayas, this contest involved not only the greatest mountain climbers of the era, but statesmen and millionaires, world-class athletes and bona fide eccentrics.”– Publisher’s description.

PICTURE BOOK

“Are You Ready to Play Outside?” by Mo Willems
“Merry and Hark: A Christmas Story” by April Genevieve Tucholke
“My First Day” by Phung Quang
“Swarm of Bees” by Lemony Snicket
“The Hundred-Year Barn” by Patricia MacLachlan
“The Train Home” by Dan-ah Kim
“Treehouse Town” by Gideon Sterer
“Very Good Hats” by Emma Straub

JUVENILE FICTION

“Heartwood Hotel: A True Home” by Kallie George — “Charming and imaginative, and full of endearing characters who excel at kindness as only animals can. With stories that highlights the power of friendship, the Heartwood Hotel is sure to leave readers eager to visit again.” ―Ashley Spires, author and illustrator of The Most Magnificent Thing

“The Last Kids on Earth” by Max Brallier — “Before the monster apocalypse, Jack Sullivan was an ordinary thirteen-year-old orphan. Now he’s a butt-kicking hero with a tricked-out tree fort. But Jack learns that he’ll need more than razor Frisbees to beat the big baddie Blarg–he’ll need friendship. Fast-paced plotting and humor work in tandem with the comic book-style illustrations on almost every page.” — THE HORN BOOK, c2016.

“The Last Kids on Earth and the Forbidden Fortress” by Max Brallier — “Picking up after Quint and Dirk’s Hero Quest, the Last Kids are happily reunited—but quickly faced with a monstrous new mission. Inside an other-dimensional fortress, the evil Thrull, alongside a vile new villain, is carrying out a sinister plan. Jack, Quint, June and Dirk must make their own plans to infiltrate the stronghold before Thrull gets any closer to completing the mysterious Tower, a structure that could ultimately spell doom for this dimension.” — Amazon.com

“The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade” by Max Brallier — ‘After the monster apocalypse, Jack Sullivan has been having an awesome time living in a tree house with his three best friends. But when zombies start mysteriously disappearing, Jack and his friends suspect that an extremely evil force is at work.” — Baker & Taylor

“The Last Kids on Earth: Quint and Dirk’s Hero Quest” by Max Brallier — “June Del Toro went on a wild flight in a super-rad solo episode; now get ready for the dynamic duo: it’s Quint and Dirk! Picking up after the events of The Last Kids on Earth and the Doomsday Race, adventure abounds as the best buddies encounter new monsters and embark on a postapocalyptic quest for the ages. You won’t want to miss this essential Last Kids story that includes crucial detail.” — Penquin Putnam