Greensboro Free Library
“Compulsively readable . . . In exquisite detail, the book describes the devastating dysfunction in Shuggie’s family, centering on his mother’s alcoholism and his father’s infidelities, which are skillfully related from a child’s viewpoint . . . As it beautifully and shockingly illustrates how Shuggie ends up alone, this novel offers a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Very highly recommended.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Hannah brings Dust Bowl migration to life in this riveting story of love, courage, and sacrifice…combines gritty realism with emotionally rich characters and lyrical prose that rings brightly and true from the first line”― Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[An] absorbing and lengthy saga of life in a chaotic and unstable England on the cusp of the Middle Ages . . . Fans of Follett’s ever-popular Kingsbridge series . . . will flock to this . . . while intrigued newcomers can start here.” —Booklist
“The Things We Cannot Say” by Kelly Rimmer — “Rimmer’s timely novel captures the unbreakable bond of two sisters and humanizes the difficult intersection of the opioid epidemic and the justice system.”– Publishers Weekly
“Honoring the Enemy is the story of how American sailors, Marines, and soldiers landed in eastern Cuba in 1898 and, against daunting odds, fought their way to victory. Capt. Peter Wake, USN, is a veteran of Office of Naval Intelligence operations inside Spanish-occupied Cuba, who describes with vivid detail his experiences as a naval liaison ashore with the Cuban and U.S. armies in the jungles, hospitals, headquarters, and battlefields in the 1898 campaign to capture Santiago de Cuba from the Spanish. His younger friend, and former superior, Theodore Roosevelt, is included in Wake’s story, as the two of them endure the hell of war in the tropics. Wake’s account of the military campaign ashore is a window into the woeful incompetence, impressive innovations, energy-sapping frustration, and breathtaking bravery that is always at the heart of combat. His description of the great naval battle, from the unique viewpoint of a prisoner onboard the most famous Spanish warship, is an emotional rendering of how the concept of honor can transform a hopeless cause into a noble gesture of humanity. … “
“A stunning, lyrical novel set in the rolling foothills of the Appalachians in which a young girl discovers stark truths that will haunt her for the rest of her life.” — Goodreads
“The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it’s not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it’s everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters’ storylines intersect?” — Goodreads
ADULT FICTION
“All the Lost Places” by Amanda Dykes — “Discovered floating in a basket along the canals of Venice, Sebastien Trovato wrestles with questions of his origins. Decades later, on an assignment to translate a rare book, Daniel Goodman finds himself embroiled in a web of secrets carefully kept within the ancient city and in the mystery of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastien”– Amazon.com
“Bird Cottage” by Era Meijer — “A novel based on the true story of a remarkable woman, her lifelong relationship with birds and the joy she drew from it” — Random House, Inc.
“Georgie, All Along” by Kate Clayborn — “Clayborn’s stories always feel equally specific and universal, written with vulnerability, humor, and empathy, and this latest is no exception. Georgie and Levi each have an incredibly charged presence on the page as the story explores their individual narratives, but their differences allow them to forge an entirely perfect whole. A modern yet timeless love story.”—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Go As A River” by Shelley Read — “Read delicately unfurls the growing attraction between Torie and Wil, set against vicious bigotry toward Native Americans. Their love is the “small fateful twist” that forever changes the trajectory of Torie’s life. With delicate precision, Read evokes both Colorado’s rugged wilderness and the landscapes of her characters’ troubled hearts. An auspicious debut.”―Kirkus Reviews(starred review)
“The Enemy of My Enemy” by W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth” — “Special agent James Cronley Jr. finds that fighting both ex-Nazis and the Soviet NKGB can lead to strange bedfellows, in the dramatic new Clandestine Operations novel about the birth of the CIA and the Cold War.” — Amazon.com
“The War Librarian” by Addison Armstrong — “Armstrong’s dark and disturbing tale of prejudice, discrimination, determination, and bravery will resonate with readers caught up in the same issues today.” —Library Journal
ADULT MYSTERY
“Murder at the Serpentine Bridge” by Andrea Penrose — “Fascinating and well-researched historic events… a colorful depiction of Regency England.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The Perfect Daughter” by D. J. Palmer — “When the abandoned girl she adopted years earlier is locked in a decaying psychiatric hospital amid murder allegations, Grace embarks on a desperate search for the origins of her daughter’s multiple-personality disorder.” — Atlas Publishing
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency” by Kate MacDougall — “With gentle humor, this charming coming-of-age story captures the ups and downs of a young woman defining life on her own terms…warmly uplifting and wise.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph” by Oksana Masters — “Oksana Masters’ riveting journey of survival, perseverance, and triumph is much more than an uplifting sports story. From the darkness and despair of life in a Ukrainian orphanage to the top of the Paralympic medal podium, Masters has written a story for our times. She is a remarkable athlete. She is a heroic and trailblazing woman. She is an American treasure.” —Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist, author of Best Seat in the House, and commentator for CNN, ABC News, and PBS NewsHour
ADULT NON-FICTION
“High: A Journey Across the Himalaya Through Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and China” by Erika Fatland — “Excellent. Fatland’s a superb reporter, with an engaging personality and boundless curiosity. The English versions of her books convey her immense vitality and charm. Ideal for armchair travelers, packed with information and entertaining anecdotes.” — Michael Dirda ― The Washington Post
“It’s OK to be Angry About Capitalism” by Bernie Sanders with John Marshall — “The U.S. senator and former presidential candidate offers a progressive takedown of the uber-capitalist status quo that has enriched millionaires and billionaires at the expense of the working class, and presents a blueprint for what transformational change would actually look like.” — Baker & Taylor
“Lennon, Dylan, Alice & Jesus: The Spiritual Biography of Rock and Roll” by Greg Laurie and Marshall Terrill — “A nationally best-selling author and pastor draws lessons of hope and transformation in the perils of excess, the agonies of repentance, and the wonder of redemption found in the life stories of several icons of pop music and rock and roll.” — Simon and Schuster
“Made in China: A Prisoner, an SOS Letter and the Hidden Cost of America’s Cheap Goods” by Amelia Pang — “Journalist Pang debuts with a vivid and powerful report on Chinese forced labor camps and their connections to the American marketplace. Cinematic . . . Engrossing and deeply reported, this impressive exposé will make readers think twice about their next purchase.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“No Ordinary Dog: My Partner from the Seal Teams to the Bin Laden Raid” by Will Chesney with Joe Layden — “Former U.S. Navy SEAL Chesney offers an inside look at life in the Special Forces and pays tribute to his canine partner Cairo in this heartfelt debut….Dog lovers and fans of military history will be enthralled.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Papa Goose: One Year, Seven Goslings, and the Flight of My Life” by Michael Quetting –“I so enjoyed this charming and sensitive story about a man who sets out to study the behavior and flight patterns of seven young geese and then realizes, to his great surprise, that his goose family is teaching him important lessons about why nature matters and what it means to be human.” —John Aitchison, author of The Shark and the Albatross
“Running with Sherman: The Donkey with the Heart of a Hero” by Christopher McDougall — “Sherman’s transformation from dying donkey to confident runner involved a circle of family, friends, neighbors, and a few feisty donkeys, each of whom McDougall portrays in affectionate, vivid detail . . . A charming tale of a resilient donkey and a community’s love.” —Kirkus Reviews
“The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect” by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel — “Of the many books that have been written about reporting the news, this one best captures the shortcomings, subtleties, and possibilities of modern journalism. It deserves to become as indispensable to journalists and journalism students as The Elements of Style.”— Tom Goldstein, Dean, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University
“The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty” by Sy Montgomery — “An] impassioned introduction to falconry… Heartfelt and informative… just right for adventure- and animal-loving readers.” —Publishers Weekly
“The Ship Beneath the Ice: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance” by Mensun Bound — “A renowned marine biologist presents this extraordinary firsthand account of the discovery of Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance–a century to the day after Shackleton’s death–that captures the intrepid spirit that joins two mariners across the centuries, both of whom accomplished the impossible.” — Baker & Taylor
VERMONT NON-FICTION
PARENTING
ADULT AUDIO BOOK
BLUE/DVD MOVIES
“The Fabelmans”
KIT
ADULT MUSIC
ITEMS
BOARD BOOK
PICTURE BOOK
“A Song of Frutas” by Margarita Engle
“I Eat Poop: A Dung Beetle Story” by Mark Pett
“Kapaemahu” by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hammer and Joe Wilson
“Mel Fell” by Corey R. Tabor
“Someone Builds the Dream” by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long
“The Capybaras” by Alfredo Soderguit
“The Midnight Fair” by Gideon Sterer
“The More You Give” by Marcy Campbell
CHILDREN’S KIT
JUVENILE AUDIO FICTION
JUVENILE AUDIO NON-FICTION
JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY
“The Golden Thread: A Song for Pete Seeger” by Colin Meloy — “Meloy’s ode to Pete Seeger celebrates his life as a performer, songwriter, union organizer, civil rights advocate, ship builder, sailor, carpenter, and environmentalist. This makes a good introduction to Seeger and his many contributions to American music.” — Booklist
JUVENILE FICTION
” A Long Road on a Short Day” by Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney — “A tender story of a father-son adventure with themes of community and kindness, in short chapters with vivid full-color illustrations, by bestseller and Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt and acclaimed artist Eugene Yelchin.” — Houghton
“Amber & Clay” by Laura Amy Schlitz — “Two children from vastly different backgrounds—one common as clay, artistic and bright; the other precious as amber, wild, and forceful—share stories of hardship and hope, life and death in this historical fantasy told as a Greek tragedy. . . . Told from multiple perspectives, mostly in verse with some prose sections, Schlitz’s latest novel is a beautifully crafted, complex masterpiece. . . a thoroughly researched, epic tale.”—School Library Journal
“Definitely Dominguita: Knight of the Cape” by Terry Catasus Jennings– “Longing to make a difference like the heroes in the classics she reads with her Abuela, Dominguita follows the examples of Don Quixote to do good deeds for her neighbors while proving to a class bully that girls can be knights, too.” — Atlas Publishing
“Egg Marks the Spot” by Amy Timberlake — “Skunk and Badger are lovely books, beautifully written, often laugh-out-loud funny, a winning combination of science and whimsy, with wondrous, droll, sepia-shaded ink illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.” —The Buffalo News
“Flight of the Puffin” by Ann Braden — “The narrative develops each individual’s story, gradually providing clues about their homes, families, and schools. . . . Braden sensitively demonstrates how isolating it can be to live with people who, despite good intentions, force their children to fulfill expectations that run counter to their own senses of self. . . . All the characters find ways to encourage each other, be less alone, and connect.”—Booklist, starred review
“Flipping Forward Twist Backward” by Alma Fullerton — “An authentic portrayal of children with learning disabilities. Readers will empathize with Claire as she struggles with feeling ‘stupid’ and will support her journey. The quick-moving plot comes with a satisfying ending, and the free-verse narrative provides plenty of helpful white space for reluctant readers.”—School Library Journal
“Jennifer Chan is not Alone” by Tae Keller — “The emotionally absorbing story is full of thought-provoking explorations on self-confidence, forgiveness, and friendship while illuminating parallels between alien and human struggles.” —Booklist, starred review
“Pony” by R. J. Palacio — “Readers in search of fast-paced historical fiction with speculative elements should look no further than Pony. The twists and turns of Silas’ odyssey are both stunning and satisfying.” —BookPage, starred review
“Roll With It” by Jamie Sumner — “Drawing on her own experiences with her son, who has cerebral palsy, debut author Sumner doesn’t sugarcoat Ellie’s daily challenges—social, emotional, and physical—including navigating showers and crowded classrooms. . . . Ellie is easy to champion, and her story reminds readers that life’s burdens are always lighter with friends and family—and a good piece of pie—at the ready.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Temple Alley Summer” by Sachiko Kashiwaba — “Imbued with a delightfully old-fashioned atmosphere, Temple Alley Summer gives its readers a wonderful glimpse of Japanese culture and traditions. And while the inner story has its scary moments, the outer one does not. The two tales form a satisfying and surprisingly deep whole that addresses questions of life, death, meaning, and friendship, all wrapped up in a supernatural summertime mystery.”―Nanette McGuinness, Global Literature in Libraries Initiative
“The Barren Grounds” by David A. Robertson — “Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia stories, this fantasy is very much its own tale of ruptured Indigenous culture, of environmental reciprocity and care.” —Toronto Star
“The Great Bear” by David A. Robertson — ““A cliffhanger ending compels a return to this absorbing Indigenous fantasy.” —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
“The Lost Language” by Claudia Mills — “Told through Betsy’s delicate voice in verse, this title addresses issues such as parental depression, the aftermath of attempted suicide, cultural ramifications of indigenous languages, controlling friendships, and alcoholism. . . . [Betsy] discovers a healthier friendship with another classmate and . . . her surge of maturity brings her belief in her own inner strength and ability.”—School Library Connection
“The Stone Child” by David A. Robertson — “For a combination of adventure, time travel and Indigenous culture, few series will challenge the Misewa Saga . . . Robertson weaves a tale that is part myth, part fantasy and wholly intriguing.” —Winnipeg Free Press
“When the World was Ours” by Liz Kessler — “Three young friends—Leo, Elsa, and Max—spend a perfect day together, unaware that around them Europe is descending into a growing darkness and that they will soon be cruelly ripped apart from one another. With their lives taking them across Europe—to Germany, England, Prague, and Poland—will they ever find their way back to one another? Will they want to?” — Publisher Annotation:
“Yusuf Azeem is not a Hero” by Saadia Faruqi –“Faruqi effectively probes complexities of radical activism vs. peaceful accommodation as Muslim response to prejudice, as well as the non-Muslim community’s deep discomfort in stepping beyond a bystander role in defense of their neighbors.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
JUVENILE GRAPHIC NOVELS
“Katie the Catsitter” by Colleen A. F. Venable and Stephanie Yue — “Sight gags, sly humor, pop-culture references, and a dollop of animal-rights activism combine to make Katie’s story a fun one.” —Booklist
“The Legend of Auntie Po” by Shig Yin Khor — “On the surface, this story is the birth of a folktale, but the author explores much deeper topics: grief, family, loyalty, racism, and self-discovery. … Watercolors are beautiful and illustrations are clean and simple, conveying a childlike air while tackling serious subject matter.” —Booklist
JUVENILE MOVIES
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
YOUNG ADULT AUDIO BOOK
YOUNG ADULT BIOGRAPHY
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
“A Snake Falls to Earth” by Little Badger — “Themes of magic, family, asexuality, and traditional storytelling dominate in Lipan Apache author Darcie Little Badger’s delightful and uplifting second YA novel. A Lipan girl named Nina collides with Oli who is from the land of spirits and monsters. But some people will do anything to keep them apart. This is a wholesome, elegantly written read guaranteed to warm your heart!” ― Autostraddle
“All My Rage” by Sabaa Tahir — “Tahir brilliantly shows how interconnected societal forces shape communities and people’s lives through the accumulated impact of circumstances beyond their control. A deeply moving, intergenerational story. An unforgettable emotional journey.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Blackout” by various authors — “In Blackout, young Black love with all its insecurities, mistakes, emotion, honesty, and humanity makes for a lush read. Even amidst their fears, these characters are wonderfully respectful of each other’s choices. You will root for them all to find their own right love at their own right time. And though it was written for young adults, Blackout is a must-read for all generations.” — NPR
“In the Wild Light” by Jeff Zenter — “A moving and rich novel about friendship, loss, kind strangers, the blindness so often present in the pursuit of love, and love itself. His protagonists have their eyes raised to the sky.”—Daniel Woodrell for The New York Times Book Review
“Iron Widow” by Xiran Jay Zhao — “The action-packed plot, involving battles both physical and mental, is original and incorporates queer themes and Zetian’s unwavering, cathartic feminism.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Last Night at the Telegraph Club” by Malinda La — “This queer coming-out and coming-of-age story reverberates with dangers, dilemma and a dream deferred.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Love in English” by Maria E. Andrew — “The novel, focusing on Ana’s experience as a documented immigrant, effectively explores the character’s struggle to navigate unlike cultures and languages while she learns to communicate in English, discovers different facets of herself, falls a bit in love, and ultimately finds her footing—and her voice—in the U.S. A wholesome immigration story with a healthy dose of romance on the side.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Obie is Man Enough” by Schuyler Bailar — “A heartfelt coming-of-age tale about a young trans athlete; readers will be rooting for every one of Obie’s wins, in and out of the pool.” –School Library Journal
“Six Crimson Cranes” by Elizabeth Lim — “After unleashing forbidden magic, being banished by her stepmother and unable to speak or her brothers will die, Shiori’anma must find a way to save them with the help of a paper bird, a mercurial dragon and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry.” — Atlas Publishing
“Starfish” by Lisa Fipps — “Affirming representation of fatness. . . . Fipps’s use of verse is as effective as it is fitting; Ellie dreams of becoming a storyteller and poet ‘to help people feel what it’s like/ to live in/ someone else’s skin.’ A triumphant and poignantly drawn journey toward self-acceptance and self-advocacy.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The Ones We Burn” by Rebecca Mix — “Ranka and Aramis’ slow-burn romance is rewarding. Some worldbuilding questions are left unanswered, as the story’s more concerned with narratives about betrayal of trust and untangling abuse and manipulation from love…[a] relationship-driven fantasy with much to offer.” — Kirkus Reviews
YOUNG ADULT NON-FICTION
YOUNG ADULT GRAPHIC NOVEL
“In Limbo” by Deb JJ Lee — “A raw, relatable memoir exploring mental health and immigrant experiences.” ―Kirkus
YOUNG LOCAL AUTHORS