ADULT FICTION
“A Calling for Charlie Barnes” by Joshua Ferris — “”Ferris writes with an exuberant style that propels the reader… as A Calling for Charlie Barnes shows, fiction is an art form deliberately used to get to a deeper truth than fact. It’s not a denial of reality, but a more serious journey into it.”―The Boston Globe
“Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth” by Wole Soyinka — “A biting satire that looks at corruption in an imaginary contemporary Nigeria, Chronicles is also an intriguing and droll whodunit. . . . A brilliant story that takes on politics, class, corruption, and religion from the very first chapters. It highlights Soyinka’s lush, elegant language.” —Publishers Weekly
“Detransition, Baby” by Torrey Peters” — “With heart and savvy, [Detransition, Baby upends] our traditional, gendered notions of what parenthood can look like.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone” by Dina Gabaldon — “It is 1779 and Claire and Jamie are at last reunited with their daughter, Brianna, her husband, Roger, and their children on Fraser’s Ridge. Having the family together is a dream the Frasers had thought impossible. Yet even in the North Carolina backcountry, the effects of war are being felt. Tensions in the Colonies are great and local feelings run hot enough to boil Hell’s teaketttle. Jamie knows loyalties among his tenants are split and it won’t be long until the war is on his doorstep”– Baker & Taylor
“Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell — “Miraculous… brilliant… A novel told with the urgency of a whispered prayer — or curse… through the alchemy of her own vision, she has created a moving story about the way loss viciously recalibrates a marriage… A richly drawn and intimate portrait of 16th-century English life set against the arrival of one devastating death.”
–Ron Charles, The Washington Post
“Harlem Shuffle” by Colson Whitehead — “Fast-paced, keen-eyed and very funny, “Harlem Shuffle” is a novel about race, power and the history of Harlem all disguised as a thrill-ride crime novel.” –San Francisco Chronicle
“My Monticello” by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson — “The narrative is bold, harrowing and unfolds with urgency. Johnson’s collection is . . . concerned with issues surrounding racial identity and the legacies of slavery and racism. Together they create an unnerving portrait of a country wrestling with its ugly past and present.” ―Time
“Never” by Ken Follett — “Absolutely compelling . . . A smart, scary, and all-too-plausible thriller.”—Booklist
“North” by Brian Kessler — “In Brad Kessler’s fine new novel, North…the seemingly disparate lives that converge on a snowy Vermont night—Sahro, a Somali refugee seeking asylum, and Father Christopher, the abbot of a mountain monastery—are woven together with intricate threads of home, flight, sanctuary, danger, hope, faith, storytelling and much more.”―Shelf Awareness
“Our Country Friends” by Gary Shteyngart — “At turns bitingly funny and unbearably sad, it’s among the first major works of literary fiction to wrestle with the psychological, sociological and cultural impact of the pandemic, and marks a new, more reflective register for Shteyngart.”—The New York Times
“Silverview” by John Le Carre — “One of [le Carré’s] most touching and satisfying [novels] – for putting into high relief this beloved author’s vision for his country and his disappointments, and perhaps most of all, the elegance and coloristic palette of his unique and incomparable prose.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Such a Quiet Place” by Megan Miranda — “Miranda, who makes the setting, where everyone knows one another and ends up fearing one another, all the more chilling for its seeming normality, is a master of misdirection and sudden plot twists, leading up to a wallop of an ending. A powerful, paranoid thriller.” – Booklist (Starred Review)
“Termination Shock” by Neal Stephenson — “Stephenson is one of speculative fiction’s most meticulous architects. . . .Termination Shock manages to pull off a rare trick, at once wildly imaginative and grounded.” — New York Times Book Review
“The Holiday Swap” by Maggie Knox — “The Holiday Swap dishes up a double dose of fun-loving, feel-good, Christmas cheer, with a recipe for love that’s deliciously irresistible.” —Karen Schaler, author of Finding Christmas
“The Morning Star” by Karl Ove Knausgaard — “Knausgaard retains the ability to lock you, as if in a tractor beam, into his storytelling. He takes the mundane stuff of life—the need to take a leak, the joy of killing pesky flies—and essentializes them . . . Knausgaard is among the finest writers alive.” —Dwight Garner, New York Times
“The Northern Reach” by W. S. Winslow — “Is there anything better than getting to walk through a small and unfamiliar town and peer through the windows into the lives lived in the houses there? The Northern Reach gives you that rich and satisfying treat. Here is a Maine as various and stark as the pull of tides in every human heart.” – Sarah Blake, author of The Guest Book
“The Only Woman in the Room” by Marie Benedict — “A powerful book based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist, The Only Woman in the Room is a masterpiece that celebrates the many women in science that history has overlooked.” — Amazon.com
“The Other Black Girl” by Zaklya Dalila Harris — “A satire of the clueless racial politics at a prestigious literary house with, in its second half, a horror-movie twist.” ― Wall Street Journal
“The Parted Earth” by Anjali Enjeti — “Like her characters, Enjeti ultimately reaches for hope. The Parted Earth is a testament to the tremendous strength of the people of India and Pakistan who found the courage to begin again.” —Shelf Awareness
“The Room on Rue Amilie” by Kristin Harmel — “Harmel writes a poignant novel based loosely on the true story of an American woman who helped on the Comet Line, which rescued hundreds of airmen and soldiers. This compelling story celebrates hope and bravery in the face of evil.”– (Booklist)
“The Sentence” by Louise Erdrich — “Scintillating…More than a gripping ghost story, THE SENTENCE offers profound insights into the effects of the global pandemic and the collateral damage of systemic racism. It adds up to one of Erdrich’s most…illuminating works to date.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Stars We Share” by Rafe Posey — “This compelling debut novel offers rich descriptions [and] . . . plenty to discuss about how world events impact individuals and the sometimes heart-wrenching compromises we must make to find happiness.” —Booklist
“The Wish” by Nicholas Sparks — “As with all of Sparks’ novels, emotions play a huge part. Though a bittersweet story, The Wish is a thought-provoking chronicle of a few decades in the protagonist’s life. In the course of that life, she unearths her self-worth, self-acceptance, and the magnitude of first love.” – New York Journal of Books
“What Strange Paradise” by Omar El Akkad — “El Akkad’s compelling, poetic prose captures the precarity and desperation of people pushed to the brink . . . A compassionate snapshot of one Syrian refugee’s struggle to plot a course for home.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Wish You Were Here” by Jodi Picoult — “Wish You Were Here is a transporting and transcendent novel about seeking out glimmers of light in the darkness, and following them wherever they lead. Jodi Picoult is that rare, one-in-a-million writer whose books both squeeze your heart and expand your mind. Her latest is wise, surprising, and utterly extraordinary.”—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of People We Meet on Vacation and Beach Read
ADULT MYSTERY
“Faithless in Death” by J. D. Robb — “In Faithless in Death, the new Eve Dallas police thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, what looked like a lover’s quarrel turned fatal has bigger―and more terrifying―motives behind it…” — Amazon.com
“Miss Moriarty, I Presume” by Sherry Thomas — “When her enemy Moriarty asks her to find his daughter, Charlotte Holmes is led to a remote community of occult practitioners where Ms. Moriarty was last seen, a place of lies and liars, making her wonder why he has entrusted this delicate matter to her of all people. Original.” — Atlas Publishing
“Remembering the Dead” by Elizabeth J. Duncan — “This cozy contains numerous plot twists and is steeped in Welsh history, populated with full-bodied characters, and surrounded by lovingly described Welsh and Irish locales.” —Booklist
“The Coldest Case: A Bruno, Chief of Police Novel” by Martin Walker — “Packed with descriptions of the food Courrèges and his friends cook, of the gorgeous French countryside and of the local community, this book is pure escapism. . . . It is a delight to dip into [Bruno’s] sun-baked world.”—The Observer (London)
“The Jealousy Man and Other Stories” by Jo Nesbo — “Nesbø delivers stories ranging from dystopian visions to time-honored tales of duplicity and revenge. . . . Wonderfully atmospheric. . . . He never runs out of ideas.”
—Kirkus Reviews
ADULT NON-FICTION
“A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Live and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey” by Jonathan Meiburg — “A first book by an award-winning natural-science writer introduces readers to the remarkable world of the caracaras social bird of prey, discussing how the species baffled Darwin and why it has remained confined to a small South American region. …” — Atlas Publishing
“A People’s Guide to Greater Boston” by Joseph Nevins — “It’s a timely, intelligent, and necessary guide, one that deepens our understanding of where we live now and reminds us of the power that regular citizens have to work against powers and systems that are, now as then, in urgent need of change.” ― Boston Globe
“America on Fire: The Untold Story of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s” by Elizabeth Hinton — “A must-read for all concerned with civil rights and social justice in modern America.”― Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Carving Out a Living on the Land: Lessons in Resourcefulmess and Craft from an Unusual Christmas Tree Farm” by Emmet Van Driesche — “The lessons here, cleanly told, serve the aspiring farmer, small business owner, and demonstrate not just how to run a farm, but how to build a sustainable and deeply satisfying life with the skills you have, and the ones you can learn.”―Boston Globe
“Collective Wisdom: Lessons, Inspiration and Advice from Women over 50” by Grace Bonney — “Grace Bonney is a force, she did it again. Her latest book, Collective Wisdom, celebrates . . . a richly diverse group of trailblazing women over 50. Ordered!” —Tina Roth Eisenberg, the Swiss Miss Newsletter for Everyone
“Crochet Colorwork Made Easy: Simple Techniques to Create Mulitcolor Sweater, Acessories and Home Décor” by Claire Goodale — “If you want to master colorwork crochet this book is a must. With clear instructions and beautiful, inspiring patterns you’ll be hooking in color in no time.”
–Sarah Huntington, editor at Simply Crochet magazine
“Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence” by Anna Lembke — “[An] eye-opening survey on pleasure-seeking and addiction… Readers looking for balance will return to Lembke’s informative and fascinating guidance.” —Publishers Weekly starred review
“Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest” by Suzanne Simard — “Vivid and inspiring . . . For Simard, personal experience leads to revelation, and scientific revelation leads to personal insight . . . Finding the Mother Tree helps make sense of a forest of mysteries. It might even persuade you that organisms other than ourselves—even fungi—have agency.”—Eugenia Bone, The Wall Street Journal
“Fiske Guide to Colleges 2022” by Edward B. Fiske — “The best college guide you can buy.”―USA Today
“How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler” by Ryan North — “Packed with cool, fun, and useful stuff… a friendly and thought-provoking reference, just the thing for the bright kid in the family, to say nothing of the neighborhood time traveler.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Life’s Edge” The Search for What It Means to be Alive” by Carl Zimmer — “From the struggle to define when life begins and ends to the hunt for how life got started, [Life’s Edge] offers an engaging, in-depth look at some of biology’s toughest questions.” —Science News
“North American Maps for Curious Minds: 100 New Ways to See the Continent” by Matthew Bucklan — “Fascinating. . . . A captivating browse that will unobtrusively enlighten readers and upend things they thought they knew. . . . A great choice.” —Library Journal
“Outlandish: Walking Europe’s Unlikely Landscapes” by Nick Hunt — “In Outlandish, acclaimed travel writer Nick Hunt takes us across landscapes that should not be there, wildernesses found in Europe yet seemingly belonging to far-off continents: a patch of Arctic tundra in Scotland; the continent’s largest surviving remnant of primeval forest in Poland and Belarus; Europe’s only true desert in Spain; and the fathomless grassland steppes of Hungary.” — Amazon.com
“Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking” by Samin Nosrat — “Just reading Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat will make you a better cook, adept at seasoning, balancing, understanding what it really is you’re doing and why… Make room on the bedside table—and the countertop.” ― Bon Appetit
“Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations and the Kidnap that Shaped America” by Matthew Peal — “A deliciously intricate and utterly absorbing retelling of the Daniel Boone family saga–—and particularly the complex roles played by the Cherokee and Shawnee across Boone’s southern Appalachian stamping grounds. The Taking of Jemima Boone adds an intriguing dimension to an issue of keen importance to modern society.” — New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester
“The Age of AI: And Our Human Future” by Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt and Daniel Huttenlocher with Schuyler Schouten — “Three leading thinkers put their heads together to explore artificial intelligence and how it will change our relationships with knowledge, politics, and the societies in which we live.” — Baker & Taylor
“The Cause: The American Revolution and Its Discontents, 1773-1783″ by Joseph J. Ellis — “[A] speedy retelling of the nation’s stumbling, fractured founding, through evocative profiles of British loyalists, slaves, Native Americans and soldiers uncertain of what was being founded.”
― Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune
“The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race” by Walter Isaacson — “Deftly written, conveying the history of CRISPR and also probing larger themes: the nature of discovery, the development of biotech, and the fine balance between competition and collaboration that drives many scientists.”— New York Review of Books
“The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity” by David Graeber —
“[The Dawn of Everything] took as its immodest goal nothing less than upending everything we think we know about the origins and evolution of human societies . . . [the book] aims to synthesize new archaeological discoveries of recent decades that haven’t made it out of specialist journals and into public consciousness.”―Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times
“The Extended Mind the Power of Thinking Outside the Brain” by Annie Murphy Paul — “The Extended Mind argues that our creativity, our intelligence, and even our memories are embodied not just in the wet matter of our brains, but in the world all around us. This is a profoundly interesting book that invites us to radically change how we think about thinking.”—Joshua Foer, author of Moonwalking with Einstein
“The Family Roe: An American Story” by Joshua Prager — “Mr. Prager’s book is stupendous, a masterwork of reporting…. If you want to understand Roe more deeply before the coming decision, read it.” ― Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal
“The Handcarved Bowl: Design & Create Custom Bowls From Scratch” by Danielle Rose Byrd — “The Handcarved Bowl provides step-by-step photos and directions for every stage of the bowlcarving process that will appeal to everyone from beginning woodworkers to seasoned carvers.” — Amazon.com
“The Quiet Zone: Unraveling the Mystery of a Town Suspended by Silence” by Stephen Kurczy — “Captivating. … A multilayered illustration of a unique community where things aren’t always what they seem.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Wilderness Axe Skills and Campcraft” by Paul Kirtley — “An easily understandable guide to key skills for bushcrafters, campers, outdoors lovers, and anyone interested in wilderness living. …Through detailed explanations and step-by-step photo sequences, you too will be able to develop effective and timesaving campcraft skills using materials freely available in the woods, including pot hangers, tripods, cranes, and a variety of group camp set-ups. An indispensable addition to any bushcraft, woodcraft camping, and outdoor library.” — Amazon.com
BIOGRAPHY
“Crying in H Mart: A Memoir” by Michele Zauner — “Lyrical… Earnest… Zauner does a good job capturing the grief of losing a parent with pathos. Fans looking to get a glimpse into the inner life of this megawatt pop star will not be disappointed.”—Publishers Weekly
“Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in An American City” by Andrea Elliot — “Stunning . . . a remarkable achievement that speaks to the heart and conscience of a nation.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
BLUE/DVD MOVIES
“Dear Evan Hansen”
“No Time to Die”
“Respect”
“Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
ITEMS
Old Stone House Museum Slate Kit
Small Skis
BOARD BOOK
“We Are Grateful” Otsaliheliga” by Traci Sorell
PICTURE BOOK
“A Friend Like You” by Frank Murphy and Charnaie Gordon
“Big Feelings” by Alexandra Penfold
“It Fell From the Sky” by Fan Brothers
“Mistletoe: A Christmas Story” by Tad Hills
“Moose’s Book Bus” by Inga Moore
“Mr. Watson’s Chickens” by Jarrett Dapier
“My 2 Border Towns” by David Bowles
“Our Table” by Peter J. Reynolds
“Ten Ways to Hear Snow” by Cathy Camper
“The 1619 Project: Born on the Water” by Nikloe Hannah-Jones & Renee Watson
“The Barnabus Project” by Terry Fan
“The Nutcracker” by Jan Brett
“Where is the Buddha?” by Thich Nhat Hanh
“Winter Dance” by Dane Bauer
JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY
“I Am An American: The Wong Kim Ark Story” by Martha Brockenbrough — “Kuo’s fine-lined digital art, gracefully employing reds, blues, and browns, presents an immersive backdrop to this solid historical primer, which also resonates in the present day.”―Publishers Weekly
JUVENILE DVD
“Paw Patrol: The Movie”
JUVENILE FICTION
“Charlies Thorne and the Last Equation” by Stuart Gibbs — “Charlie is a terrific hero—outrageously smart, courageous, and still believable as a kid. After this explosive start, young readers will eagerly await her next adventure.” ― Publishers Weekly
“Cursed Carnival and Other Calamaties” by Rick Riordan and others — “I hope you enjoy your trip through the multiverse mansion as much as I did. The real danger is that once you start exploring all the wonders herein, you may want to stay forever.”–Rick Riordan
“How to Train Your Dad” by Gary Paulsen — “The tall-tale, anecdotal quality of Carl’s story is entertaining with its recitation of disastrous, smelly, embarrassing, dangerous, and misguided moments . . . Funny, sure-handed, wise.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Paul Santiago and the River of Tears” by Tehlor Kay Mejia — “This fast-paced journey into Latinx folklore, with its clever protagonist, is sure to keep readers turning pages into the night.” – Booklist (starred review)
“Wings of Fire: The Dangerous Gift” by Tui T. Sutherland — “Using rare magic to secure the boundaries around her kingdom, Queen Snowfall gives asylum to refugee dragons of uncertain trustworthiness before considering a high-risk alternate plan to escort hostile tribes out of IceWing territory” — Atlas Publishing
JUVENILE GRAPHIC NOVELS
“Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” by Trang Nguyen — “Uplifting . . . the epitome of wild and free. . . . Breathtaking visuals and a compelling story.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
JUVENILE NON-FICTION
“A Peacemaker for Warring Nations: The Founding of the Iroquois League” by Joseph Bruchac — “In A Peacemaker for Warring Nations, renowned Native author Joseph Bruchac draws from the teachings of both contemporary and past Iroquois tradition bearersin telling the story of how “the Peacemaker,” a divine messenger sent by the Creator, helped to bring an end to the bitter warring of the Five Iroquois Nations and how he founded the famed League of the Iroquois, which was later to influence the US Constitution.” — Annotation
“Celebrate Your Body (And Its Changes, Too!)” by Sonya Renee Taylor — “Taylor’s book unapologetically leads with the positive, focusing much more on what bodies can do rather than what they look like. Even with that focus, Taylor manages to hammer home that all bodies are beautiful, that it’s possible to be healthy at every size, and that each body progresses at its own rate…”―Rachelle Hampton, slate.com
“Nature Play at Home: Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children with the Natural World” by Nancy Striniste — “With Striniste’s guidance, natural playscapes can awaken the senses, challenge bodies, inspire imagination, build confidence, and create comfort for all ages. Nature Play at Home is sure to Inspire readers to take action in their backyards and encourage creative play in nature for years to come.” —Booklist
“Water: A Deep Dive of Discovery” by Christy Mihaly — “…This comprehensive yet accessible exploration of water will help young readers understand many aspects of one of our planet’s most precious resources – and how they can protect it. A friendly water droplet character guides children through topics ranging from melting and freezing to the ways in which water literally shapes the Earth. Tales by storytellers from around the world are sprinkled through the book, highlighting the variety of ways in which global cultures value water. The engaging format includes gatefolds and booklets with hands-on activity ideas for learning about and protecting water. ” — Annotation
“Women’s Right to Vote” by Kate Messner — “An engaging introduction to the real stories behind the fight for women’s voting rights combines fun facts with graphic panels, sidebars and more to challenge popular misconceptions and reveal what suffragists actually endured for the sake of voting equality.” — Atlas Publishing
