Greensboro Free Library
“How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World” by Ethan Tapper — “Tapper’s writing is eloquent and thoughtful while also being informative and briming with lush descriptions of his work to restore Bear Island…Readers will see forests through new eyes after reading Tapper’s compelling and compassionate call to action.” —Booklist
“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
“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
“This meticulously researched book reveals how Kennard was wrongly imprisoned in Mississippi’s infamous Parchman prison farm, where he was denied proper medical care despite a cancer diagnosis. It reveals the chilling tactics the state of Mississippi employed to preserve white supremacy.” — Debbie Elliott ― NPR’s “Books We Love of 2023”
“New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West” by David E. Sanger — “[A] cogent, revealing account of how a generation of American officials have grappled with dangerous developments in the post-Cold War era—the rise of an enduringly authoritarian China, the return of state-on-state conflict in Europe—that have produced a geopolitical mash-up of old and new . . . compelling . . . vividly captures Washington.”—The New York Times
ADULT FICTION
“After Annie” by Anna Quindlen — “A master of exploring human frailty and resilience in the face of domestic tragedy, best-selling Anna Quindlen plumbs the depths of Annie’s survivors’ individual and collective grief in scenes that are both subtle and sharp. Exquisite in its sensitivity, breathtaking in its compassion, Quindlen’s exploration of loss and renewal will provoke both weeping and wonder.”—Booklist (starred review)
“All We Were Promised” by Ashton Lattimore — “Against the backdrop of untold history, Ashton Lattimore spins a beguiling story of friendship, deception, and women crossing boundaries in the name of freedom. Disparate and deeply real, Charlotte, Nell, and Evie struggle to fully trust one another, but ultimately discover that together they may be stronger than everything their turbulent world casts against them.”—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends
“Crook Manifesto” by Colson Whitehead — “Whitehead’s flair for texture is as sharp as ever…Ray, May, Elizabeth and Pepper in particular are by turns exasperating and aspirational. Life gets thrown at them, and they throw themselves back in return. These are people you crave to catch up with, and in Whitehead’s hands, the vast and intangible forces of society, injustice, morality, survival and love are distilled in them.” —NPR
“Hidden Pictures” by Jason Rekulak — “I read Hidden Pictures and loved it. The language is straightforward, the surprises really surprise, and it has that hard-to-achieve propulsiveness that won’t let you put it down. And the pictures are terrific!” ―Stephen King
“How to End a Love Story” by Yulin Kuang — “Screenwriter Kuang’s debut beautifully probes the lingering effects of grief and guilt while offering readers a glimpse behind the curtain of Hollywood glamour. … Kuang handles her characters’ complex emotions with sensitivity and skill, and makes the chemistry between Helen and Grant leap off the page. Readers will have no trouble rooting for these two.” — Publishers Weekly
“Lucky” by Jane Smiley — “Spellbinding . . . Smiley neatly reverses the usual story of a 1970s singer [and then] orchestrates a seismic twist of staggering magnitude . . . Every novel by Smiley is a surprise. ” —Donna Seaman, Booklist (starred)
“Mal Goes to War” by Edward Ashton — “Ashton’s vision of the future feels all too plausible and his blend of action and humor keeps the pages flying. This is sure to please the author’s fans.” ―Publishers Weekly
“The Berlin Letters” by Katherine Reay — “From the time she was a young girl, Luisa Voekler has loved solving puzzles and cracking codes. Brilliant and logical, she’s expected to quickly climb the career ladder at the CIA. But while her coworkers have moved on to thrilling Cold War assignments ― especially in the exhilarating era of the late 1980s ― Luisa’s work remains stuck in the past decoding messages from World War II.…” — Amazon.com
“The Little Liar” by Match Albom — “Beloved bestselling author Mitch Albom returns with a powerful novel of hope and forgiveness that moves from a coastal Greek city during WWII to America in the golden age of Hollywood, as the intertwined lives of three young survivors are forever changed by the perils of deception and the grace of redemption.” — Harper Collins
“The Limits” by Nell Freudenberger — “Freudenberger ably captures the sense of uncertainty and displacement during the height of the pandemic, matching the inner confusion of major life changes with the outer turmoil of a world in crisis.” –The Washington Post
“The Morningside” by Tea Obreht — “Obreht is offering a cautionary vision of what our future might look like, but she’s also asking questions that are as old as storytelling. What do we want to tell ourselves about ourselves? What do we try to hide from ourselves? And what’s the cost of our lives?”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Utopia Avenue” by David Mitchell — “Mitchell, whose novels range through different modes and genres with extraordinary facility, has a lucid, kinetic style at all times, but he is never more impressive than when writing in close third person about characters in altered mental states—captivity, physical pain, madness. . . . A conventional story of a band’s rise turns into a book on another plane entirely.”—The New Yorker
ADULT MYSTERY
“An Irish Hostage” by Charles Todd — “[Readers] are bound to be caught up in the adventures of Bess Crawford . . . While her sensibility is as crisp as her narrative voice, Bess is a compassionate nurse who responds with feeling.” — The New York Times Book Review
“Death in the Details” by Katie Tietjen — “Aesthetically and morally complex . . . A compelling account of how the toll of war extends far beyond the battlefield.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Pay Dirt” by Sara Paretsky — “History buffs will appreciate Paretsky’s exploration of Kansas’s violent past, while V.I. fans will be eager to read the latest in the award-winning series (after Overboard).” — Library Journal
“The Mystery Guest” by Nita Prose — “Heartwarming . . . Like Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, who’s rendered invisible because she’s an old woman, Molly and her grandmother are not seen because of the kind of work they do. In this affecting and socially-pointed mystery series, however, invisibility becomes the superpower of the pink-collar proletariat.”—NPR
“Three-Inch Teeth” by C. J. Box — “Box’s pulse-pounding latest adventure for Wyoming game warden Pickett showcases the series’ strengths: high-octane action, intricate plotting, and well-drawn characters… [and] maintains expert suspense throughout, shrewdly exploiting the story’s animal and human killers to set a series of diabolical traps for his hero. It’s another high point in a series full of them.” — Publishers Weekly
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“Somehow: Thoughts on Love” by Anne Lamott — “Beloved and best-selling author Lamott offers a joyful, feel-good read that explores the power of love—romantic, platonic, and familial—in people’s lives, with her usual grace, humor, and insight.”—Library Journal
ADULT NON-FICTION
“A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save our Vanishing Birds” by Anders & Beverly Gyllenhall — “Written partially as a travelogue as the authors journeyed thousands of miles by road around the continent, the combination of personal story and scientific reportage is compelling… show[s] how new technologies of radar and radio tracking allow intimate looks at birds’ lives, and otherwise delve into the commitment and love that is demonstrated by all the disparate groups working to save the continent’s birds.” – Booklist (starred review)
“Alien Earths: The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos” by Lisa Kaltenegger — “Exquisite book is for all who have peered into the night sky pondering the mysteries of the universe … a mind-bending journey.”
―Booklist (starred)”
“Glucose Goddess Method: A 4-Week Guide to Cutting Cravings, Getting Your Energy Back, and Feeling Amazing” by Jessie Inchauspe — “Blood sugar takes center stage in biochemist Inchauspé’s clever guide to eating for ‘more energy, curbed cravings, [and] better mood’…This intelligent survey offers plenty to savor.” —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“How We Live is How We Die” by Pema Chodron — “Chödrön’s clarity and warmth make this book accessible to a wide array of audiences. . . . Oft-quoted, much beloved, and radiating kindness, Chödrön remains a guiding light for those seeking spiritual growth.”—Library Journal
“Normal Broke: The Grief Companion for When It’s Time to Heal but You’re not Sure You Want to” by Kelly Cervantes — “Normal Broken was born out of a desire to meet people where they are in their grief journeys, to lend a hand, or maybe to just sit in the dark with them. To acknowledge your brokenness and to feel broken together–never pressured to “move on” or “think positive” — Baker & Taylor
“Snacking Bakes: Simple Recipes for Cookies, Bars, Brownies, Cakes & More” by Yossi Arefi — “Yossy knows something fundamental about all of us. When we want something sweet, we want it now. Her treats deliver. No fuss, just easy, accessible, truly inspired deliciousness. Snacking Cakes is well-worn, batter-spattered, and beloved. Our copy of Snacking Bakes is sure to be a mess in no time.”—Samantha Seneviratne, author of Bake Smart
“Work, Retire, Repeat: The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy” by Teresa Ghilarducci — “Ghilarducci argues convincingly that how long people need to work is more about who has power in society than anything else.” — Peter Coy ― The New York Times
JUVENILE FICTION
“Hotel Flamingo” by Alex Milway
“James D. Paruk has written a wonderful, personal account of loon biology. He recounts thirty years of adventures with loons, summarizing what we know about them in the context of loons’ basic biology and behavior. Highly readable and informal, this book is for anyone who wants to learn more about loons.”—Charles Walcott, former director, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
ADULT FICTION
“Forever Home” by Graham Norton — “Wonderful. . . . Dark, funny, full of emotional intelligence and gripping from the start . . . beautifully written.” — Daily Mail
“Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros — “Dragons and war, passion and power…Fourth Wing is dazzling. Rebecca Yarros has created a world as compelling as it is deadly, and I can’t wait to see where she takes it next.” ―Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author
“The Fox Wife” by Yangze Choo — “Equal parts detective story, folktale, and family saga, the highly anticipated latest novel by Choo (The Night Tiger, 2019) will appeal to fans of diverse, imaginative literary fiction, historical mysteries like Nilima Rao’s A Disappearance in Fiji (2023), and fantasy like Marlon James’ Dark Star trilogy.” ―Booklist (starred review)
“The Phoenix Crown” by Kate Quinn — “From bestselling authors Janie Chang and Kate Quinn, a thrilling and unforgettable narrative about the intertwined lives of two wronged women, spanning from the chaos of the San Francisco earthquake to the glittering palaces of Versailles”– Baker & Taylor
“The Women” by Kristin Hannah — “a moving, gripping tale that pays tribute to the under-appreciated skill and courage of combat nurses.” –Booklist, starred review
“The Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange — “An eloquent indictment of the devastating long-term effects of the massacre, dislocation and forced assimilation of Native Americans, [Wandering Stars] is also a heartfelt paean to the importance of family and of ancestors’ stories in recovering a sense of belonging and identity . . . Wandering Stars more than fulfills the promise of There There.” —NPR
ADULT MYSTERY
“Missing Persons” by James Patterson — “When a desperate businessman asks him to find his daughter and grandchildren who have disappeared without a trace, Jack Morgan, the head of Private, finds this simple missing persons case turning into something much more deadly, forcing him to face the trauma of his past to save a family’s future.” — Baker & Taylor
“The Edge” by David Baldacci — “A complex, high-powered thriller that will keep the reader guessing . . . This is a winner from a pro.”―Kirkus
“The Ink Black Heart” by Robert Galbraith — “The sixth and most complex novel yet in a unique series. . . The author does a masterly job of keeping all plot elements in play and in balance, and the complications only add to the satisfaction of the mystery’s eventual solution.”―Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal
ADULT NON-FICTION
“Great Scoops: Recipes from a Neighborhood Ice Cream Shop” by Marlene Haley & Amelia Ryan — “Great Scoops is a captivating cookbook about artisanal ice cream, the people who craft it and the community that loves them for it. The delightful selection of classic and whimsical flavors reminds us that delicious homemade ice creams can be made year-round and, more importantly, that you’re never too old (and it’s never too cold) to enjoy a heartfelt scoop.” — Amazon.com
“Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver” by James D. Paruk — “James D. Paruk has written a wonderful, personal account of loon biology. He recounts thirty years of adventures with loons, summarizing what we know about them in the context of loons’ basic biology and behavior. Highly readable and informal, this book is for anyone who wants to learn more about loons.”—Charles Walcott, former director, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
BLUE/DVD MOVIES
“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
“What Happens Later”
PICTURE BOOK
“Big” by Vashti Harrison
“Bubbie & Rivka’s Best-Ever Challah (So Far)” by Sarah Lynne Reul
“Hornbeam All In” by Cynthia Rylant
“Palace of Books” by Patricia Polacco
“Stargazer and the Solar Eclipse” by Tom Campbell
“The North Wind and the Sun” by Philip Stead
“Vamos! Let’s Go Read” by Raul the Third
CHILDREN’S KIT
“Emotions”
“Volcanoes”
JUVENILE GRAPHIC NOVELS
“Big Nate Nailed It!” by Lincoln Pierce — “Big Nate is a legend at P.S. 38, where he and friends Francis, Teddy, Dee Dee, Chad, and others manage to make sixth grade interesting with all kinds of pranks, drama, sports, and good times. The all-time leader in detentions, Nate is never far from the spotlight, whether it’s for a freak injury on the soccer field, Halloween costume fail, or stirring up a new episode in his long-running rivalry with grade-grubbing Gina or his teacher nemesis, Mrs. Godfrey.” — Publisher’s Annotation
“Things in the Basement” by Ben Hatke — “Tasked by his preoccupied mother with finding one of his infant twin sisters’ socks in the family’s basement laundry room, a young boy descends into entire worlds in Hatke’s haunted, wondrous museum of a graphic novel.” ―The New York Times, from “The Best Children’s Books of 2023”
“Waverider” by Kazu Kibuishi — “This electrifying conclusion to the #1 New York Times best-selling series follows Emily as she travels to Typhon to confront the fraud who has seized power in the absence of a king and must rely on new friends and old enemies to survive the threat of darkness.” — Atlas Publishing
“As the daughter of an American who served in World War II, I was eager to read The War of Words: How America’s GI Journalists Battled Censorship and Propaganda to Help Win World War II. I was not disappointed. The War of Words is a salute to the American spirit and a tribute to the importance of freedom of the press. It is a fascinating and significant contribution to our collective knowledge and understanding of World War II.” —Amy Hill Hearth, New York Times bestselling author of Having Our Say