ADULT FICTION
“Beneficence” by Meredith Hill — “Powerful…[Hall’s] meticulous prose convincingly captures the daily realities―sometimes beautiful, sometimes cruel―of agricultural life, and offers insight into the ways calamity fractures family bonds…readers will be rewarded.”―Publishers Weekly
“Foregone” by Russell Banks” — “Banks, a conduit for the confounded and the unlucky, a writer acutely attuned to place and ambiance, is at his most magnetic and provocative in this portrait of a celebrated documentary filmmaker on the brink of death. . . . In this masterful depiction of a psyche under siege by disease, age, and guilt, Banks considers with profound intent the verity of memory, the mercurial nature of the self, and how little we actually know about ourselves and others. . . . [For] all lovers of richly psychological and ethical fiction.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro — “A haunting fable of a lonely, moribund world that is entirely too plausible.” —Kirkus Reviews [starred review]
“On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vunog — “The novel’s overarching structure is an ingenious representation of our failure — as members of families and communities, as fellow citizens — to understand one another…[This is] a distinctive, intimate novel that is also a reckoning with the Vietnam War’s long shadow…Vuong is a skillful, daring writer, and his first novel is a powerful one.” —Kevin Canfield, San Francisco Chronicle
“Shuggie Bain” by Douglas Stuart — “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)
“The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslien Charles — “A book about families torn apart, friends lost and found, fear, hope, inspiration, and books and a love of reading. Bravo to Janet Skeslien Charles.” ― The Free Lance-Star
“The Rose Code” by Kate Quinn — “Quinn (The Huntress) returns to WWII in this immersive saga. [Her] page-turning narrative is enhanced by her richly drawn characters and by the fascinating code-breaking techniques, which come alive via Quinn’s extensive historical detail. This does not disappoint.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Witch’s Heart” by Genevieve Gornichec — “Gornichec’s spellbinding story breathes life into a minor character from Norse myth, delving into the complexities of Angrboda’s familial relationships and the lengths to which she’ll go for both love and vengeance. This powerful fantasy is sure to win Gornichec many fans.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
ADULT MYSTERY
“Blink of a Eye” by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen — “A thrilling blend of physical and psychological tension that showcases the fierce intelligence, grit, and determination of their female protagonists.” ―Booklist
“Blindside” by James Patterson and James O. Born — “The daughter of New York’s mayor is missing, and Det. Michael Bennett’s son is in jail. So they agree to trade help, with Michael investigating a homicide victim tied to both the computer-smart daughter and an ambitious hacking operation. The string of nasty murders that follows eventually affects national security, complicating matters by bringing in the NYPD, the FBI, and global crime…” — Barbara Hoffert. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2019.
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“This Land of Snow: A Journey Across the North in Winter” by Anders Morley — “With determination, courage, and a fine poetic awareness of the landscape that surrounds him, Anders Morley delivers a story that makes you want to pack your bags . . . and journey into the great unknown.” -Torbjørn Ekelund, author of In Praise of Paths: A Journey Through Time and Nature
ADULT NON-FICTION
“American Kompromat: How the KGB Cultivated Donald Trump , and Related Tales of Sex, Greed, Power and Treachery” by Craig Unger — “By compiling decades of Trump’s seedy ties, disturbing and consistent patterns of behavior, and unexplained contacts with Russian officials and criminals, Unger makes a strong case that Trump is probably a compromised trusted contact of Kremlin interests.”—John Sipher, Washington Post
“Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver” by Mary Oliver — “The poems in this exhilarating collection span five decades and were arranged by Oliver, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who often uses poetry to celebrate nature and to explore humankind’s place within it. Featuring more than 200 poems in a variety of forms and moods, this radiant survey showcases Oliver’s versatility as an artist. …This wide-ranging collection is a wonderful introduction for those who aren’t familiar with Oliver and a great gift for readers who already love her.” — Julie Hale. BOOKPAGE, c2017.
“Fathoms: The World in the Whale” by Rebecca Giggs — “There is much to marvel at here…Deeply researched and deeply felt, Giggs’ intricate investigation, beautifully revelatory and haunting, urges us to save the whales once again, and the oceans, and ourselves.” —Booklist, starred review
“Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age” by Sanjay Gupta, MD — “In a steady, measured voice, [Gupta] presents a comprehensive view of the best that brain science has to offer to preserve and improve memory… A genuine source of practical knowledge and sympathy to those struggling with dementia and the family members who are primary caregivers.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Made in the Shade: A Zentangle® Workbook” by Cris Letourneau –“This book will open up a wonderful, dynamic, and 3-dimensional world of shading possibilities. Learn to shade your Zentangle art with confidence and creativity. This workbook is for the intermediate to advanced tangler who wants to learn more about shading. It includes step-by-step instruction with exercises on shading techniques, dozens of ideas for shading 20 official tangles, plus 4 step-by-step shading projects to teach the reader to analyze a tile and use shading to create a focal point, improve contrast, add dimension, and enhance the overall design. Plus, there are instructions for drawing 12 new tangles. Finally, there are 36 tiles, 6 artist trading cards, 3 Zendalas, and 4 pieces of Zentangle-Inspired Art from artists around the world for inspiration and practice.” — Amazon.com
“Tangle Journey: Exploring the Far Reaches of Tangle Drawing, from Simple Strokes to Color and Mixed Media” by Beckah Krahula — “A major bonus is the inclusion of simple instructions for making one’s own sketchbook or journal. This guide is an excellent next step for anyone who has already tried and enjoyed this type of illustration. VERDICT A welcome addition to all art instruction collections, especially those that already hold a basic tangle title or two.” – Library Journal
“The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make”by Ron Lieber — “Contains an implicit analysis and critique of higher education as a system, by acknowledging the inequities that exist at every level from recruitment to admissions to financial aid. It’s a how-to book that will also make you think, ‘But why?'” — New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice
“Until We Reckon: Violence, Mass Incarceration, and a Road to Repair” by Danielle Sered — “Sered issue[s] a clarion call to take [violent crime] seriously and handle it with nuance. Sered reminds us that, if we’re serious about reducing mass incarceration, we need to grapple seriously, and safely, with people who have committed violent offenses and the survivors of their crimes.” —HuffPost
PICTURE BOOK
“Only the Cat Saw” by Ashley Wolff
JUVENILE DVD
“Soul”
JUVENILE FICTION
“Duel at Araluen” by John Flanagan — “King Duncan and Princess Cassandra are trapped in the south tower of Castle Araluen and under near-constant attack from the Red Fox Clan. Sir Horace and Ranger Commandant Gilan are holed up in an old hill fort, surrounded by the enemy. And Ranger’s apprentice Maddie is the only one who can save them all. With the help of Hal, Thorn, and the rest of the Heron brotherband, Maddie will have to break her father and his men out of the hill fort, but will they reach Castle Araluen in time?” — Publisher Annotation:
“Key Hunters: The Titanic Treasure” by Eric Luper — “Cleo and Evan have a secret. A collection of books so dangerous they are locked up tight. And only they can find the keys to release the magic inside!A FORTUNE LOST AT SEA!When Cleo and Evan set sail on the Titanic, time is not on their side! The famous ocean liner is destined to hit an iceberg. If they can stop a thief from stealing a priceless jeweled book — and find their next key — they might avoid sinking with the ship in this historic disaster!” — Amazon.com
“Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever” by Ann M. Martin with Annie Parnell — “Betty MacDonald’s beloved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle always had one-of-a-kind ways to remedy children of their annoying or impolite habits. Now, nearly 70 years later, her singular magic can enchant a new generation, thanks to this delightful contemporary follow-up from Martin (Rain Reign), writing with MacDonald’s great-granddaughter, Parnell.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Stella Diaz has Something to Say” by Angela Dominguez — “Stella Díaz Has Something to Say is delightfully rich, both humorous and sensitive at the same time. This is the story of a curious girl who longs to fit in, but also feels the need to be herself, learning how to speak up in two languages.” ―Margarita Engle, Young People’s Poet Laureate
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
“Maker Camp: Heritage Crafts and Skill-Building Projects for Kids” by Delanie Holton-Fessier — “Classic and innovative hands-on projects for kids ages 3 and up designed to teach both heritage skills and how to think creatively.” — Amazon.com
“Old Enough to Save the Planet” by Loll Kirby — ” The world is facing a climate crisis like we’ve never seen before. And kids around the world are stepping up to raise awareness and try to save the planet. As people saw in the youth climate strike in September 2019, kids will not stay silent about this subject—they’re going to make a change. Meet 12 young activists from around the world who are speaking out and taking action against climate change. Learn about the work they do and the challenges they face, and discover how the future of our planet starts with each and every one of us. ” — Publisher Annotation
YOUNG ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee” adapted and illustrated by Fred Fordham — “The economic and racial disparities, the blinders that “civilized” society stubbornly clings to, the realization that justice for all can never exist without equality for all—these are vividly portrayed not only via Lee’s words but also by Fordham’s art, making this graphic adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird a worthy partner to the original, providing a clarion call for civility, equality, and justice for all.” — New York Journal of Books
