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September Bookshelf

By Kimberly Daniels Taws

FICTION

Ply, by Hernan Diaz

Centuries from now, at the dawn of a historical epoch filled with both uncertainty and promise, an orphan is adrift in a city on the brink of a great transformation. The state has been dismantled, and humans are reinventing social bonds and learning new ways to coexist with nature. Following a childhood defined by loss, survival and found family, the orphan grows up to become a “pincher,” someone who steals electricity from the grid to sell on the black market. It’s a high risk life, one that brings her into a rich art and music scene, using her stolen electricity to power underground concerts. It also leads her to a colossal scientific invention that could change the very fabric of reality. Ply questions the place of technology in the American experiment with a plot that grabs both heart and mind, combining Dickensian odyssey and family drama.

Dodge City, by Patrick deWitt

It’s 1967 in Los Angeles, and Lee Clarke has received his draft notice, calling him up to fight in the Vietnam War. A straitlaced, apolitical 23-year-old from Concrete, Washington, Lee is studying at UCLA until a fistfight leads to his expulsion — and his removal from the deferment list. The draft notice forces him to make the first political decision of his life, and though he’s happy in California and loves his girlfriend, he will leave the country and head for Canada. He signs up at a car-delivery service, chancing into a showroom-new Jaguar bound for the East Coast. Bringing only a single suitcase and a bag of amphetamines, he makes his stimulated progress against the width of the country, pining for the life he’s left behind and wondering what his decision will mean for his future. In four different towns strung out along the northern United States, Lee visits each member of his immediate family: his father, a World War II veteran in a state of degradation; his mother, engaged in a buoyantly manic and never-ending performance with her shut-in sibling; his heartbroken, misanthropic brother, Harry; and finally his twin sister, Grace, a brash young nurse-in-training mired in romantic drama at a Manhattan psychiatric hospital.

NONFICTION

 

An Unexpected Life: A Memoir, by Gloria Steinem

Before she became a feminist leader, Gloria Steinem was a curious child: going on road trips with her itinerant father, caring for her mother, and devouring every book she could find. In An Unexpected Life, Steinem reflects on the unlikely experiences and pivotal moments — from a childhood rat bite that opened her eyes to the dangers of poverty to the 1970 Women’s March honoring the right to vote — that shaped the visionary woman she would become. She shares her years living in India, learning from the nonviolent movement there, and her travels around the world advocating for women’s rights. Along the way, she honors the people who influenced her most, including trailblazers, writers and thinkers who expanded her understanding of power, community, justice and solidarity. Moving between past and present, Steinem examines the progress and setbacks of six decades of activism. As she reflects on the movements she helped build and the victories won for women’s and human rights, she also looks ahead, urging new generations to imagine bolder, more inclusive paths forward.

An Inconvenient Woman: The Extraordinary Life of Lillian Smith, the Southerner Who Defied Jim Crow America, by Keri Leigh Merritt

After teaching school in China in the early 1920s, Lillian Smith (1897-1966) moved to a small rural town in northeast Georgia. Along with her lover, Paula Snelling, Smith began running a socially progressive summer camp for girls in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Together the couple created and published a magazine devoted to creating a new vision of the former Confederacy that passionately championed equality and integration. They were the first white Southerners to publish Black writers, and Smith wrote articles instructing white Southerners to stop supporting the dictates of Jim Crow. In 1944 she published a bestselling novel, Strange Fruit, which became a national sensation and was banned in Boston and Detroit. She went on to publish six more books, both fiction and nonfiction, exploring topics ranging from racism and human suffering to sexual repression and Freudian psychoanalysis. Because of Smith’s provocative work, the FBI spied on her for decades, she received countless death threats, and her home was burned three times by angry racists, resulting in the loss of multiple works-in-progress. Undaunted, she continued her ardent fight against segregation, maintaining friendships with some of the great leaders of her day, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr, W.E.B Dubois, Paul Robeson and Pauli Murray.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Be the Acorn, by Jason Douglas Griffin

There’s a hole in the ground where the squirrel family tree used to be, and so they set out on a hunt to find a new home. Choko Choko, the smallest squirrel, is determined to help . . . but he’s told he’s too little to join. Luckily his grandma, Great Haha, always knows just what to say. “Like an acorn, you may be small, but you have big possibilities . . . Be the acorn.” When Choko Choko discovers the largest acorn he has ever seen, he remembers Great Haha’s wise words, and he realizes that although he’s small, he can dare to dream big. In this bright-eyed and bushy-tailed story about a valiant squirrel, young readers learn that, with patience and time, they too can grow into something beautiful. (Ages 4-8.)

Horizontal Crocodile, by Scott Rothman

In a nice, loooooooong swamp, lives a nice, loooooooong Horizontal Crocodile whose loooooooong lost best friend is coming over . . . but Horizontal Crocodile’s nice, loooooooong house is one HUGE mess! Can he get it cleaned up in time for his best buddy’s visit? See the lengths Horizontal Crocodile goes to in the name of being a caring and considerate friend in this hilarious and heartwarming read-aloud. (Ages 4-8.)

Socks & Secret Quests, by Triona Murphy

Peri has been waiting for her magic to show up, but there’s been no sign of it since she was chosen as an Apprentice Shopkeeper a year ago. Now she travels with a magical shop that equips adventurers for their quests, unsure if she’ll ever do more than stock shelves, mend mittens, and knit non-magical hats that don’t do anything but keep heads warm. Then a dark wizard kidnaps the Master Shopkeeper, intent on using her power to create an unstoppable army. To save her master, Peri must leave the cozy shop and seek help from the closest adventuring party, who is really good at arguing and really bad at working together. As Peri’s magic unexpectedly begins to show itself in the items she’s knitting, it’s up to her and her team to stop the dark wizard before war breaks out — or it won’t be just her shop at stake but the entire kingdom. (Ages 10-13.)

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August Books

By Kimberly Daniels Taws

FICTION

Flickerstate, by F.A. Davidson

In this debut YA fantasy written by a young North Carolinian, Norah Sullivan has just discovered she’s a navigator: a person who can manipulate probability. The same day Norah’s navigation manifests, she and her father are swarmed by flickerbeasts. When a flickerbeast bites you, your risk of death skyrockets. And pretty soon, her father gets sick. Desperate to find a cure, Norah applies to the Academy of Navigation, where there are rumors of restricted information on beast bites hidden in research archives. Once on campus, Norah learns that only senior research assistants are allowed in the archives — and you can only become one by winning a team trial designed to push your navigation abilities to the brink. She’ll need to rely on her roommates, as well as her peer mentor, the handsome Vik Souza, to win the competition. But trouble arises at every turn. There are tensions in the group, romantic complications, and unexplained student disappearances. As Norah gets deeper into the competition, she realizes not everything is as it seems, and the stakes are much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Fallen for France, by Elizabeth Letts

Beddou is 6 years old when he is sent off to apprentice far from his High Atlas village in Morocco. His mother gives him six amber beads to help him find his way home. That same month, a magnificent filly is born in Fes, in the splendor of the sultan’s palace. For a brief, golden time, the mare belongs to the boy. But Beddou’s heart is broken when a soldier steals his horse and disappears into France just as the Great War roars to a start. Finding her seems impossible, but he vows to try. Estelle, a young woman in France, finds a distressed Arabian mare wandering alone in the meadow behind her house. She is determined to look after this radiant creature just as tenderly as she cares for her vulnerable younger brother. But soon her world is torn apart, and she loses both the horse and her brother. She will spend the rest of the war searching for both. Thomas is an Englishman hardened by his experience as a wartime veterinarian in France. He finds the mare and promises to protect her — and the woman who once loved her — but he doubts his own ability to keep anyone safe. As the pathways of the unforgettable mare and the boy’s desperate search intertwine, the separate strands of these strangers’ journeys converge, propelling them to make momentous choices that will change the course of their lives.

Etna, by Paul Yoon

After surviving years of a devastating war, ex-military dog Etna decides one night to leave the men he has fought alongside for years and return home — to the place where he was taken from when he was young. Thus begins an exhilarating odyssey told through the eyes of a dog as he traverses ruined landscapes and fights to survive in a world that, even in peacetime, proves to be just as precarious. Along the way, he encounters other animals and humans who are attempting to figure out how to start again. What makes a life when there is no home to go back to? How do we begin to trust each other again after such profound loss? This is a story about the power of an idea, about never giving up, and ultimately about finding hope in the most dire of times.

 

NONFICTION

 

Great and Unfortunate Things, by Jason Arday

Jason Arday was born the second youngest of three boys and grew up in a colorful and lively section of South London. At 3 years old, he was diagnosed with autism and development delays. Experts told his parents that he would never be able to speak, write or live independently. An institution would best serve his needs, it was suggested. His parents would have none of it. Instead, thinking outside the box and drawing on her faith, his extraordinary mother, Giff, embraced his neurodivergence and fiercely dedicated herself to helping her son realize a potential few others believed was possible. Giff drew on proverbs from her West African culture, popular music by the likes of Enya, and comedic television shows and movies to help Jason make sense of the world. In Great and Unfortunate Things, we see how Arday went from being nonverbal until he was 11 and illiterate until 18 to becoming a professor at Cambridge. Without romanticizing the struggle, it’s a story of a son’s determination against insurmountable odds and how his family and a band of ordinary people with extraordinary compassion joined forces to encourage Jason to believe in himself and maximize his capabilities.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

If The Moon, by Matthew Burgess, Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

The perfect lyrical bedtime book, If the Moon is a visual poem that soothes and smooths the transition from waking to sleeping. If the Earth and if the moon, if the whistling of a tune. If you drift, if you dream, into space, into streams . . . Softly step on tender feet, come and lift the latch of sleep. (Ages 3-7.)

The Hungry Forest, by Kaela Rivera

Ryan’s dad had a lot of rules: Never let others see you cry; never let other people hear you speaking Spanish; work extra hard; make sure you always succeed. But the most important of all: Never go into the forest. Too many kids have disappeared there. Since Dad’s death, Ryan’s been following those rules to be the kind of man his father would be proud of. But his anger has been getting stronger lately, and he finds himself fighting with his little brother, Teddy, who constantly embarrasses Ryan. When Teddy hears their father calling them from the forest, he ventures inside. Ryan follows to save his brother and finds that the place is as cursed as the legends say. And if he can’t find his brother and escape the forest before sunrise, they’ll be trapped there forever. (Ages 9-14.)

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way,
by Julie Abe

The Alterran Empire hasn’t had an Unremarkable born in centuries . . . until Lyra Hunt. All Lyra wants is a guild to call home — preferably one with a library full of storybooks — but because of her cursed fate, nearly everyone has rejected her. Then Lyra stumbles upon the secretive Guild of Scholars in the cozy little village of Waterfall Way. With their tight-knit community and magical Library, this might finally be the perfect place for her. To be accepted, though, she must recover the Scholars’ crystal, the source of their magic that was lost in a terrifying fire. With the help of a mischievous new furry friend, Lyra must brave the Library’s cursed halls. Lyra may have an Extremely Unremarkable past, but she’ll do whatever it takes to find a guild — and a home — where she belongs. (Ages 8-11.)

Billy and the Hole, by Jessica Goecke

One day, Billy found a hole. It wasn’t there yesterday. But there it was, right in his favorite spot, under his favorite tree. This hole in the ground is no ordinary hole in the ground. It speaks to Billy with a voice that’s cold and hard, like ancient stone. At first, the hole in the ground is polite and kind, and tells Billy how clever he is. And, well, Billy just can’t resist his new odd friend and its nice words. But when the hole’s requests grow more extreme, and Billy can’t always meet them — Billy will have to take matters into his own hands before his new friend takes matters into its. (Ages 4-8.)

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July Books

By Kimberly Daniels Taws

FICTION

 

Man Overboard! by Kathleen Rooney

Patrick “Kick” Kilpatrick, a former college swimmer, hates the ocean. Has always been terrified of it. And now he’s in a real pickle. Drifting alone in the sea after falling (or jumping?), Kick must survive. Breath by breath, hour by hour in the lonely sea. As the waves crash over him, so do the thoughts and memories of just how he got there. A Thanksgiving cruise with an obnoxious brother-in-law; a father who gives the Great Santini a run for his money; and a mother who already left the family boat, so to speak, a long time ago. His family may be complicated, and the pains of life may seem unbearable — infuriating enough to leap from the deck — but maybe the will to survive is stronger. Inventive and slyly hilarious Man Overboard! is about what keeps us going no matter how choppy the waves of our journey become.

 

Habits of the Sea, by Shea Ernshaw

The night Clay Lockhart’s wife dies, a violent storm tears their home — and the eight hectares of land beneath it — away from the Scottish coast, sending it adrift into the Atlantic. Thirty years later, 12-year-old Ellie Mills discovers the fabled floating island off the coast of Nova Scotia and finds Clay still living in the weatherworn farmhouse perched on its highest hill. When the island vanishes overnight, Ellie is left questioning whether it ever existed at all. Decades later, the island resurfaces, and Ellie, now in her 30s, returns, determined to uncover the truth. What she finds is even stranger: Clay hasn’t aged a single day. Faced with the impossible, Ellie learns that some mysteries aren’t meant to be solved, and that a life shaped by wonder may hold more promise than one bound by certainty.

NONFICTION

 

All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir, by Emilee Hackney

Born and raised deep in the hollers of the Appalachian Mountains, Emilee Hackney knew little beyond the ridgelines and coalfields of southwest Virginia. As an eighth-generation Appalachian, her childhood was steeped in the stories of her grandparents — tales of the coal mines’ brutal grip and the way the land, both beautiful and unforgiving, never quite let anyone go. At 14, Emilee meets Sam, a senior at her high school, who offers her a glimpse at a promising future together. But as they begin attending services at Deliverance Christian Church as a couple, Emilee is thrust into the radical realm of Pentecostalism. In a culture where marriage at 19 isn’t uncommon, Emilee is engaged to Sam. Eager to make her relationship work, she embraces the extremist doctrines of the religion, submitting herself fully to God, to Sam, and to a life of repentance. But what she doesn’t yet know is the man she plans to marry is not who he claims to be. Years later, Emilee finds herself isolated from friends, family and her own sense of truth. Wracked with shame and self-doubt, she reaches a breaking point. On the verge of spiraling out of control, in a stunning act of defiance and hope, she applies to Harvard; against all odds, she is accepted. From the magisterial mountains of Tazewell to the halls of Cambridge, Emilee begins the arduous process of reinventing herself and her relationships with her home, faith and values.

 

Utopia for Our Century: A Manifesto of Hope, by David Albertson and Jason Blakely

In Thomas More’s Utopia, a traveler from the New World delivers a shocking message: On a lost island beyond the horizon, people live far better lives than in Europe. More, a leading intellectual of his day, was murdered by Henry VIII in 1535 for refusing to sign a loyalty oath, but his utopian vision inspired some of the most consequential movements in the modern world. In their provocative manifesto, Albertson and Blakely retrieve More’s insights and apply them to our moment.

 

Lost in Curiosity: Field Notes from Scientists’ Adventures into the Unknown,
by Roberta Kwok

The real story of science isn’t a triumphant breakthrough. It’s messy, mysterious and deeply human. Chronicling researchers’ struggles and hopes in the field and lab, Kwok documents it all: fending off relentless snowfall on a remote Greenland glacier; desperately searching for an elusive frog in the rainforests of Borneo; and scrambling to capture fleeting signals of a faraway moon outside our solar system. These are the untold stories of devoted young scientists and restless minds chasing nature’s riddles. From enigmatic fossils and mind-bending physics to the puzzling behavior of wild animals, Lost in Curiosity is a journey through the questions that keep scientists up at night.

 

The Secret World of Twilight: A Natural History of Dusk and Dawn, by Sally Coulthard

Every day, in the brief stretch of time just before sunrise and soon after sunset, magic happens. Twice a day the atmosphere is partially illuminated by a sun that’s hiding below the horizon, creating a sky that glows with soft, diffused light — opening the secret world of twilight. Circadian rhythms affect almost all living things, including animals, plants and even microbes. They, of course, profoundly affect us too. In a world when so many of us live according to rhythms defined by artificial light, or in spaces that remove any connection with the outside, the need to understand and celebrate twilight has never been greater. Coulthard celebrates 30 iconic and often surprising animals and plants that thrive in this liminal, otherworldly space.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Weaver and the Web, by Chris Baker

A long night ahead means plenty of time for web-making and bug-catching for this meticulous orb-weaver spider in this non-fiction picture book that captures the spider’s point of view. With gentle text and arresting art, this read-aloud leads you through the ups and downs of one orb-weaver spider’s night. From making her web, re-making her web, and eventually ensnaring some succulent moths, this moonlit adventure encourages you to see the world from a spider’s perspective. (Ages 4-8.)

Yeti Is Not Ready for Game Over, by Leigh Anne Carter

It is time to take a break from screens, but Yeti is NOT ready. She is so close to winning this fun game on her tablet! She doesn’t have time for chores, lunch or even friends! Can Yeti put the tablet down? Or will she find a way to stay glued to her screen? With a little compassionate help from Dad, Yeti Is Not Ready shows just how hard it can be to get off the screen — and how good for our bodies, brains and ideas taking a break can be. (Ages 3-7.)

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June Books

By Kimberly Daniels Taws

FICTION

Villa Coco, by Andrew Sean Greer

An aspiring archivist determined to begin a “serious” life after an undistinguished undergraduate career takes up residence in the Italian countryside. He becomes the all-purpose assistant to the baronessa, known to her friends as Coco, a defiantly youthful and naturally flamboyant woman of 92. Amid a chaotic and colorful milieu of gin-swilling princesses, incomprehensible handymen, roaming boar hunters, nuns and other local wildlife, our young man does his best to catalog the villa’s extensive collection of art and antiques — although he notices that things seem to go missing from right under his nose. Despite himself, he tumbles into an affair with a married man, complicating his future plans considerably. And when the baronessa loses someone close to her, he becomes an unwitting accomplice in the acceleration of Coco’s great and final plan: to locate the love of her life and be reunited before it’s too late.

A Year of Marvellous Ways, by Sarah Winman

Marvellous Ways has lived alone alongside a winding creek near the rugged Cornwall coast for nearly all her life and has recently taken to spending her days sitting on the steps of her caravan with a telescope. She is waiting for something, but she’s not sure what. She will know it when she sees it, and that is good enough for her. Francis Drake, a young soldier adrift after the death of a fellow comrade, is grateful for the mission that guides his days. He has agreed to fulfil his friend’s last wish: to hand-deliver a letter to his father in Cornwall. But Francis’ journey doesn’t go as planned. After a brief, sweet and serendipitous reunion with a woman from his past, Francis washes up in Marvellous’ creek, broken both in body and spirit. Marvellous will come to his aid, and an unlikely friendship will grow between these two solitary souls. Marvellous has lived a long life, with many loves and countless stories to tell, and Francis needs a reason to keep going — even just the hope that life still has more to offer.

Tata, by Valérie Perrin, translated by Hildegarde Serle

When Agnes hears from the local police that her Aunt Colette has died, she can’t believe her ears.  Her father’s sister Colette, her Tata, died three years ago and has been resting in peace in the cemetery of Gueugnon. Agnes is called to identify the body and there’s no doubt, it’s Aunt Colette. Who, then, rests under the stone engraved with Colette’s name? And why did she fake her own death? So begins an investigation back in time, as Agnes pieces together the multitude of stories that lie behind her aunt’s second death. Tata will keep readers glued to every page.

NONFICTION

Every Moment Was You: Notes on Loving and Parting, by Ha Tae-wan, translated by Shanna Tan

Every Moment Was You is a tender collection of short essays and poems on the universal experiences of love, loss and self-discovery. At once intimate and universal, it’s a companion for anyone learning to love, grieve and begin again. Ha Tae-wan writes with quiet insight and gentle honesty, reminding us that even pain can be proof of connection, and that every experience — joyful or sorrowful — helps shape who we become. These poetic reflections offer warmth and wisdom for anyone looking to heal, forgive and navigate the complexities of the heart.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

The League of Dangerous Young Ladies, by J.A. Morgenstein

It’s 1909 and Rose Moriarty, the teenage daughter of Sherlock Holmes’ greatest enemy, has made a name for herself fighting monsters and solving crimes. But that was before Rose met the one mystery she couldn’t solve: the disappearance of her headmistress. Unexpected friendships, supernatural mystery, high-stakes heists, and budding romance billow together in this thrilling fantasy adventure that introduces a motley crew of daredevil heroines. (Ages 12-18.)

Searching for Wocks,
by Lucy Knisley

There are always precious objects to be found if you look. On a walk to the playground and back, a child is on the lookout for special “wocks” for a very special collection. A bottlecap, a twig and many stones make it into a pocket of treasures. It’s a charming and relatable day in the life of a preschooler, illustrated in bright, happy artwork and jaunty dialogue — a book that all young collectors will adore. (Ages 3-5.)

11 Experiments That Failed, by Jenny Offill

Is it possible to eat snowballs doused in ketchup — and nothing else — all winter? Can a washing machine wash dishes? By reading the step-by-step instructions, kids can discover the answers to these all-important questions. Here are 12 “hypotheses,” as well as lists of “what you need,” “what to do,” and “what happened” that are sure to make young readers laugh out loud as they learn how to conduct science experiments. Really! (Ages 4-8.)

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May Books

FICTION

Summer State of Mind, by Kristy Woodson Harvey

After the worst day of her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens flees to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life. On her first day at her new job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina. Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer, and the child they’ve saved together, might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for her own fresh start and relief from long-buried family secrets. But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town apart, placing Daisy, Mason and Tilley in the center of the storm.

Our Perfect Storm, by Carley Fortune

Frankie and George have been best friends since they were 8 years old. Passionate, impulsive and headstrong, they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together again. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man. Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. It all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation. Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home, but George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon — with him — for one week to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino. Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship, even if it means unearthing secrets and long-buried feelings neither knows how to handle.

NONFICTION

American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed,
by Isaac Fitzgerald

In American Rambler, Fitzgerald sets out on a year-long journey to follow Appleseed’s path, walking (OK, sometimes driving, and at one point, even floating downstream) from Massachusetts to Indiana. On this journey, he turns a childhood fascination into a profound reckoning of loss and grief, ritual and faith, grimy gas station bathrooms and scenic apple picking. He is followed by a mysterious creature, camps in hostile environments, trespasses more than once, and is warmed by the generosity of strangers at every turn. American Rambler is at once an ode to the American heartland, a meditation on escaping the breakneck pace of modern life, and a clear-eyed look at the myths at the very core of American identity and history.

Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children, by Mac Barnett

Barnett champions the profound joys of literature and the importance of reading for pleasure. Make Believe is a rallying cry for art and imagination, and a celebration of the power of storytelling in all our lives. Incisive, intimate and timely, it’s an invitation to approach children’s literature not only as an art form worthy of deep study, but as a portal into the lives of the children.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

The Outermost Mouse, by Lauren Wolk

The Outermost Mouse loves her life at the tip of the beach. Best of all is the house, a huge nest she has made her own. But a storm is coming. When the sky goes dark and a cold wind rises, the little mouse must do everything she can to protect her home. Even though she’s small enough to fit into a teacup, she is smart, strong, and brave. (Ages 4 – 8.)

Seahorse Is Furious: And There Is Nothing You Can Do About It,
by Morag Hood

Seahorse is furious. It is a bad day. In a terrible week. In an awful ocean. And nothing in that whole entire, awful ocean is going to make him feel better. That’s right: nothing. Not even his favorite things or his closest friend or the cuddliest bunny will help. Unless . . . no, no he’s furious. And there’s nothing you can do about it. (Ages 4 – 8.)

Find the Sun, by Andy Harkness

Eddie doesn’t like Mondays. He’d rather burrow under the covers than face the day. Then an unexpected friend arrives to take him on a journey. Eddie is afraid, but that’s OK, journeys can sometimes be frightening. Step by step Eddie grows braver. Before long, he understands — through any storm, you can always find the sun. (Ages 3 – 6.)

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April Books

FICTION

Go Gentle, by Maria Semple

Adora Hazzard has it all figured out. A Stoic philosopher and divorcée, she lives a contented life on New York City’s Upper West Side. Having discovered that the secret to happiness is to desire only what you have, she’s applied this insight to blissful effect: relishing her teenage daughter, the freedom of being solo, and her job as a moral tutor for the twin boys of an old-money family. She’s even assembled a “coven” — like-minded women who live on the same floor in the legendary Ansonia — and is making active efforts to grow its membership. Adora’s carefully curated life is humming along brilliantly until a chance meeting with a handsome stranger. Soon, her ordered world is upended by black market art deals, a secret rendezvous and international intrigue. Her past — which she has worked so hard to bury — lands like a bomb in her present. Inflamed by unquenchable desire, Adora finds herself a woman wanting more, and she’ll risk everything to get it.

The Last Movement, by Robert Seethaler

In the spring of 1910, Gustav Mahler — wrapped in a wool blanket — sits on the deck of the Amerika, sailing back to Europe. The ocean around him is gray and endless, the air sharp with wind and steel. Not yet 50, Mahler is already a legend. In Vienna and New York, audiences fight for tickets to see the restless, small man who commands the most stubborn orchestra in the world. Yet his fame is shadowed by illness. His body is failing and his wife, Alma, has fallen in love with another man, the young architect Walter Gropius. Mahler has begged, humiliated himself, tried everything to keep her. Nothing worked, except the certainty of his approaching death. Alma has stayed, tending to him with care, perhaps to ease his final passage. On board, Mahler reflects on life, art and above all, love. Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins, Seethaler’s The Last Movement is a haunting, tender portrait of a great artist confronting his farewell to life.

NONFICTION

Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces that Shape Your Life, by Alex Mayyasi

The hosts of NPR’s Planet Money join longtime contributor Mayyasi to present brand-new stories and insights gathered from more than a decade of reporting, revealing ways AI might help you or replace you, demystify dating markets, and showing how pro sports’ “dumbest” contract holds the secret to building wealth. They take readers on adventures to a smartphone factory in Patagonia, a raisin cartel in California, and an Indigenous reserve in Canada that might just have a solution for the housing crisis. Planet Money shows how economics shapes our world, and how we can harness key principles to make our own lives a little richer.

Joyful, Anyway, by Kate Bowler

We live in a culture convinced that chasing happiness will optimize our bodies, our minds, our relationships, our lives. But in the meantime, bad news usually stays bad: Illness, chronic pain, grief and disappointment don’t obey our timelines or vision boards. We are left wondering why, if we’re doing everything right, life still feels so hard. Joyful, Anyway proves that experiencing joy does not depend on resolving everything that makes life difficult. Drawing on a decade of living with serious illness and a lifetime studying America’s obsession with progress, Joyful gives language for the ache we all carry and practices for loosening control, introducing novelty, choosing charity, and staying open to the surprising, technicolor moments that pull us back into life. Joy reminds us that no matter what, life is still worth loving.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

The Sun Thief, by Alice Hemming

Squirrel and Bird are back, and this time it’s summer! But squirrel is perplexed: A few weeks ago, the sun was still out at bedtime. Now he’s brushing his teeth in the dark! There must be . . . A SUN THIEF! With vibrant art and captivating characters, the magic of summer’s changes is captured beautifully on each page as readers tag along on Squirrel’s forest adventure. Is there truly a sun thief on the loose, or is something else going on? A perfect exploration of change — both seasonal, and the anxiety that change sometimes causes. (Ages 4 and up.)

Now I See Spring, by Mac Barnett

Sparse and rhythmic text invites readers to explore a rural setting through different seasons, gently introducing everyday words. Envisioned as a set that also can be read as standalone books, each of the four volumes in this eye-catching series has identical text but different images that reflect the time of year. In spring, the tree’s leaves are budding, rain falls from the sky, a sweet treat is a cookie, and the perfect hat is a yellow one that keeps you dry. Now I See Spring celebrates all the wonderful things about the season through a child’s eyes — and shows why it’s their favorite time of year. (Ages 2-5.)

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March Books

FICTION

Now I Surrender, by Álvaro Enrigue 

In the contested borderlands between Mexico and the United States, a woman flees into the desert after a devastating raid on her dead husband’s ranch. A lieutenant colonel in service to the fledgling Republica, sent in pursuit of cattle rustlers, discovers he’s on the trail of a more dramatic abduction. Decades later, with political ambitions on the line, the American and Mexican militaries try to maneuver Geronimo, the most legendary of Apache warriors, into surrender. In our own day, a family travels through the region in search of a truer version of the past. Part epic, part alt-Western, Now I Surrender weaves past and present, myth and history, into a searing elegy for a way of life that was an incarnation of true liberty.

The Creek, the Crone, and the Crow, by Leah Weiss

Summer, 1980. Kate Shaw has lived in Baines Creek for 10 years, teaching in a one-room schoolhouse on the brink of closure. A skeptic by heart, she rejects superstition and the belief in Appalachian folklore, much to the chagrin of Birdie Rocas, a lively and reclusive witch with a trove of secrets. Yet when Birdie dies and leaves Kate her Book of Truths and a trunk of illuminated manuscripts and journals, Kate is thrown into a mystery, overwhelmed by a collection that spans centuries back to Scotland. Enter Lydia Brown, a psychic with a curious birthmark whose visions stopped the day her parents died. Grief-stricken, without her gift, and in need of spiritual guidance, she travels to Appalachia in search of Birdie. From there, the two women’s stories intertwine, as they investigate the questions surrounding Birdie’s death and legacy, through secret rooms, underground tunnels and back-country graveyards.

NONFICTION

Judy Blume: A Life, by Mark Oppenheimer 

To know the name Judy Blume is to know and love literature. Her influential novels turned classics — including Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; Deenie; and Summer Sisters — touched the lives of tens of millions of readers. For more than 55 years her work has done something revolutionary: It rewired the world’s expectations of what literature for young people can be — frank, candid, earthy, and unafraid to show the messier sides of humanity. Oppenheimer pens a beautiful, multidimensional portrait of the acclaimed author through extensive interviews with Blume herself, invaluable access to her papers and correspondence, and thoughtful analysis of Blume’s beloved novels. Oppenheimer peels back the curtain to reveal the woman behind the literary empire in all her complex, multifaceted glory.

The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love,
edited by Alice Hoffman

Fourteen beloved authors celebrate the life-changing bond with their canine companions in this heartwarming essay collection. Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to share their life with a dog knows the experience is both profound and transformative. Here, in this charming collection of essays, celebrated authors share unforgettable tales of the dogs who left their pawprints on their hearts. With contributions from Isabel Allende, Chris Bohjalian, Bonnie Garmus, Roxane Gay, Emily Henry, Ann Leary, Tova Mirvis, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, Amy Tan, Adriana Trigiani, Nick Trout, Paul Yoon and Laura Zigman, The Best Dog in the World captures the full range of the canine-human connection, from the joy of welcoming a new puppy to the heartache of saying goodbye to a beloved friend.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Goldfinches, by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver, winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, is one of America’s most beloved poets. Introducing her unforgettable words to children for the very first time, her poem “Goldfinches” joyfully observes the power of the natural world as only Oliver can. Illuminated by the exquisite mixed-media artwork of Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet, Goldfinches fills the reader with wonder for the beauty around them and gratitude for the ability to bear witness to it. (Ages 4-8.)

The Future Book, by Mac Barnett

Every other book was written in the past. But this book? This book was written in the future. Do you want to know what the future is like? Turn the pages to get a glimpse at the world of tomorrow and its unexpected words, strange social customs, and mind-blowing colors! From the award-winning duo Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris comes a funny, visionary picture book that kids will want to read again and again. (Ages 4-8.)

Wings of Fire, The Hybrid Prince, by Tui Sutherland

Umber was never supposed to be a hero. As the youngest sibling of his MudWing hatching, Umber doesn’t have the responsibilities of his bigwings, Reed, nor the heroic destiny prophesied for his brother, Clay. He’s always been content with his role as the cheerful, goofy little brother. But when his sister, Sora, causes a tragedy at Jade Mountain Academy, Umber finds himself on the run and thrown into a whole new role — protector. Umber and Sora fly south in search of a place where they can live far away from other dragons . . . until a kind, hybrid dragon named Mulberry saves him from a kraken attack, and Umber realizes they don’t have to survive alone after all. There’s an entire community living on a forgotten island, full of dragons hiding from their own dark pasts. As the two MudWings settle into the Court of Refuge, they start to realize that nothing in this place is quite what it seems, and the protection it offers comes with a price. In Wings of Fire, Book 16 Umber learns he must find a way to unlock the past of this mysterious island to ensure he and Sora have a future. (Ages 8-adult.)

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February Books

FICTION

This Is Not About Us, by Allegra Goodman

Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a 30-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way. When their beloved older sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into decades of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives — divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs and ballet recitals — their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible. Sharply observed and laced with humor, This Is Not About Us is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters.

Family Drama, by Rebecca Fallon

It’s 1997, and snow is blanketing a New England beach. Two befuddled 7-year-olds watch as their mother’s body is tipped overboard from a crumbling boat. A Viking funeral, followed by a raucous wake. A sendoff fit for a soap opera star: Susan Bliss. Fifteen years earlier, Susan is a blazing, beautiful young woman, passionate about her art. It’s impossible not to fall in love with her, and so Alcott, a practical professor, does— hopelessly. And so begins the love story of Susan’s two-paneled life: an unconventional, jetlag-filled arrangement that takes her back and forth between her life in New England as a wife and mother to young twins, to the bright lights of Los Angeles, where she becomes the beloved star of a daytime soap. In the present, Susan’s twins grow up in the shadow of her all-consuming absence. Sebastian, a sensitive artist, cleaves to her memory, fascinated with the artifacts of her starry past. Viola, resentful of her mother’s torn allegiances, distances herself from the memories of her. But when Viola runs into her mother’s old co-star Orson Grey — now a renowned Hollywood star — she finds herself falling deeply in love with him and begins to put together the pieces of a mother she never really knew.

NONFICTION

The Powerful Primate: How Controlling Energy Enabled
Us to Build Civilization, by Roland Ennos

From our bipedal ancestors wielding simple tools to modern humans mastering complex machinery, Ennos takes us on a gripping journey through the evolution of human dominance. Learn the fascinating history of how humans have progressively harnessed energy from sources such as wood, animals, water, wind, sun, fossil fuels and even atomic nuclei to fuel our rise as the most powerful species on Earth. Our ancestors’ ability to hit harder, throw farther and cut deeper than any other animal laid the groundwork for the development of agriculture, industry, and ultimately, modern civilization. Yet, this power has come at a cost: Environmental degradation and societal challenges have arisen from our relentless pursuit of energy and technological advancement. There is hope, however: The same engineering skills that have brought us here can pave the way for a more sustainable future.

A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness,
by Michael Pollan

The fact that we have subjective experience of the world remains one of nature’s greatest mysteries. How is it that our mental operations are accompanied by feelings, thoughts and a sense of self? In A World Appears, Pollan traces the unmapped continent that is consciousness, bringing radically different perspectives — scientific, philosophical, literary, spiritual and psychedelic — to see what each can teach us about this central fact of life. When neuroscientists began studying consciousness in the early 1990s, they sought to explain how and why three pounds of spongy gray matter could generate a subjective point of view — assuming that the brain is the source of our perceived reality. Pollan takes us to the cutting edge of the field, where scientists are entertaining more radical (and less materialist) theories of consciousness. In a dazzling exploration of consciousness, he discovers a world far deeper and stranger than our everyday reality.

CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Is It Spring?,
by Kevin Henkes

A masterful and classic picture book that combines an evocative call-and-response text with delicate and lovely illustrations, readers will be left assured that the sun — and spring — will always come again. (Ages 4-8.)

The Lions’ Run, by Sara Pennypacker

Petit éclair. That’s what the other boys at the orphanage call Lucas DuBois. As tired of his cowardly reputation as he’s tired of the war and the Nazi occupation of his French village, Lucas longs to show how brave he can be. He gets the chance when he saves a litter of kittens and brings them to an abandoned stable. Lucas begins to realize they are not the only ones in the village with secrets. Emboldened by the unlikely heroes all around him, Lucas is forced to decide how much he is willing to risk making the most courageous rescue of all. (Ages 8-12.)

The Rare Bird, by Elisha Cooper

The imagination of one housecat takes him to unexpected adventures as he dreams of spreading his wings as a “Rare Bird.” A Rare Bird can do anything! Fly fast through the forest, or splash in the bird baths, or meet animals from faraway lands . . . Readers will fall head over heels for this extraordinary tale of dreaming, the power of imagination, and the freedom of creativity. (Ages 4-8.)

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January Books

FICTION

The Infamous Gilberts, by Angela Tomaski

Thornwalk, a once-stately English manor, is on the brink of transformation. Its keys are being handed over to a luxury hotelier who will undertake a complete renovation but, in doing so, what will they erase? Through the keen eyes of an enigmatic neighbor, the reader is taken on a guided tour into rooms filled with secrets and memories, each revealing the story of the five Gilbert siblings. Spanning the eve of World War II to the early 2000s, this contemporary gothic novel weaves a rich tapestry of English country life. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn into a world where the echoes of an Edwardian idyll clash with the harsh realities of war, neglect and changing times. The Gilberts’ tale is one of great loves, lofty ambitions and profound loss.

Meet the Newmans, by Jennifer Niven

For two decades, Del and Dinah Newman and their sons, Guy and Shep, have ruled television as America’s “Favorite Family.” Millions of viewers tune in every week to watch them play flawless, black-and-white versions of themselves. But now it’s 1964, and the Newmans’ idealized apple-pie perfection suddenly feels woefully out of touch. Ratings are in free fall, as are the Newmans themselves. Del is keeping an explosive secret from his wife, and Dinah is slowly going numb, literally. Steady, stable Guy is hiding the truth about his love life, and the charmed luck of rock ’n’ roll idol Shep may have finally run out. When Del is in a mysterious car accident, Dinah decides to take matters into her own hands. She hires Juliet Dunne, an outspoken, impassioned young reporter, to help her write the final episode. But Dinah and Juliet have wildly different perspectives about what it means to be a woman, and a family, in 1964. Can the Newmans hold it together to change television history or will they be canceled before they ever have the chance? 

NONFICTION

The Typewriter and the Guillotine: An American Journalist, a German Serial Killer, and Paris on the Eve of WWII,
by Mark Braude

In 1925, Indianapolis-born Janet Flanner took an assignment to write a regular “Letter from Paris” for a lighthearted humor magazine called The New Yorker. She’d come to Paris with dreams of writing about “Beauty with a Capital B.” Her employer, self-consciously apolitical, sought only breezy reports on French art and culture. But as she woke to the frightening signs of rising extremism, economic turmoil and widespread discontent in Europe, Flanner ignored her editor’s directives and reinvented herself, her assignment and The New Yorker in the process. While working tirelessly to alert American readers to the dangers of the Third Reich, Flanner became gripped by the disturbing crimes of a man who embodied all of the darkness she was being forced to confront: Eugen Weidmann, a German conman and murderer, and the last man to be publicly executed in France mere weeks before the outbreak of WWII. Flanner covered his crimes, capture and highly politicized trial, seeing the case as a metaphor for understanding the dangers to come.

Opera Wars: Inside the World of Opera and the Battles for Its Future, by Caitlin Vincent

Drawing on interviews with dozens of opera insiders — as well as her own experience as an award-winning librettist, trained vocalist, opera company director, and arts commentator — Vincent exposes opera’s internal debates, never shrinking from depicting the industry’s top-to-bottom messiness and its stubborn resistance to change. Yet, like a lover who can’t quite break away, she always comes back to her veneration for the art form and stirringly evokes those moments on stage that can be counted on to make ardent fans of the most skeptical.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World, by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price

This engaging guide is packed with surprising facts, a graphic novel, interactive challenges, secrets that tech leaders don’t want kids to know, and real-life anecdotes from young adults who regret getting smartphones at a young age and want to help the next generation avoid making the same mistakes. It’s a bold, optimistic, and practical guide to growing into your most authentic, confident, and adventurous self. (Ages 9 – 12.)

The Wildest Thing, by Emily Winfield Martin

What would you do if you let the wild in? With gorgeous illustrations, this book is the ideal addition to any bedtime reading routine or read aloud. The Wildest Thing beautifully expresses a timeless message about little ones unleashing their inner “wild” and encouraging their budding imagination and unique individuality. (Ages 3 – 7.)

Rock and Roll, by Ruby Amy Thompson

A laugh-out-loud story of friendship that reminds readers that first impressions can be deceptive. Rock is strong, and Roll is soft. Rock hates attention. Roll loves it. But they are both team players; they are able to handle pressure; and they LOVE to get dressed up. Maybe they’re not so different after all! This sweet story reminds readers that first impressions can be deceptive. (Ages 3 – 7.)

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December Books

FICTION

Burner: And Other Stories, by Katrina Denza

Denza writes about women in conflict: attempting to woo a man via a burner phone; discovering the best friendships are those grounded in reality; subscribing to a hologram service to speak to a deceased husband; reclaiming power only to realize power is an illusion; discovering there is no safe haven; confronting the frustrations of being an artist; and reckoning with mistakes made as a mother. Wrestling with connections and disconnections, highs and lows, and the vagaries of modernity, Burner and Other Stories touches how we live.

NONFICTION

Van Gogh: The Pop Up Book

See the vibrant artistry of Vincent van Gogh burst into life through dazzling three-dimensional interpretations of five of his most celebrated works. This imaginative book transforms renowned masterpieces into interactive pop-up creations, offering a new and tactile appreciation of one of history’s most visionary artists. Each scene draws readers into Van Gogh’s universe, revealing the swirling night sky of The Starry Night in dramatic relief; the serene intimacy of The Bedroom; and the vibrant colors of Wheatfield with Cypresses. The street scene of Café Terrace at Night and the delicate beauty of Almond Blossom emerge in meticulous detail, emphasizing the dynamic movement and profound emotion of his technique. These exquisite pop-ups amplify the expressive contours and vibrant hues that define his genius, bringing Van Gogh’s unparalleled vision to life in an unforgettable way.

Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, by Paul McCartney

Drawn from over 500,000 words of interviews with McCartney, family, band members and other key participants, Wings recounts — now with a half-century’s perspective — the musical odyssey taken by a man searching for his identity in the aftermath of The Beatles’ breakup. Soon joined by his wife — American photographer Linda McCartney — on keyboard and vocals, drummer Denny Seiwell, and guitarist Denny Laine, McCartney sowed the seeds for a new band that would later provide the soundtrack of the decade. The narrative begins when a 27-year-old superstar fled with his new wife to a remote sheep farm in Scotland amid a sea of legal and personal rows. The setting gave McCartney time to create, and it was there where this new band emerged. Wings follows the group as they play unannounced shows at university halls, tour in a sheared-off double-decker bus with their children, survive a robbery on the streets of Nigeria, and eventually perform blockbuster stadium shows on their world tour, all while producing some of the most enduring music of the time. Introduced with a personal, heartfelt foreword by McCartney, the volume contains 150 black and white and color photographs, many previously unseen, as well as timelines, a gigography and a full discography.

Black, White, Colored: The Hidden Story of an Insurrection, a Family, a Southern Town, and Identity in America, by Lauretta Malloy Noble, LeeAnét Noble

In the late 19th century, Laurinburg, North Carolina, was a beacon of racial calm — a place where Blacks and whites could live and work together. Black families like the Malloys became landlords, business owners and doctors, thriving together and changing the economic landscape. But that progress was shattered on the eve of Election Day, 1898, when supremacist groups launched a bloody attack, forcing Laurinburg’s Black citizens to flee. With meticulous research drawn from sources including The New York Age and census records, the mother and daughter authors — descendants of the town’s early Black leaders — uncover the trailblazing achievements of their ancestors, piecing together proof of Black resilience in a region shaped by profound adversity whose contributions extended beyond Laurinburg to institutions including Howard University and Meharry Medical College.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science: Secrets of the Purple Pearl, by Kate McKinnon

From the Saturday Night Live legend comes this highly anticipated second about mad science, three peculiar sisters, and the mysterious Millicent Quibb! The Porch Sisters are in trouble. It’s summertime in Antiquarium, and everyone has flocked to the majestic lakeside Purple Pearl Hotel, including the Krenetics Research Association, a nefarious group of mad scientists. They haven’t given up on resurrecting their fearsome leader, Talon Sharktūth, and now they’re hot on the trail of the legendary Purple Pearl, a source of power that is rumored to be lost at the bottom of Lake Kagloopy. But Gertrude, Eugenia and Dee-Dee are on to them and their mentor, Millicent Quibb, has a plan! Is it a good plan? Hard to say! But it does involve finding a mysterious creature called a Shrimpmaid and retrieving the pearl before the KRA gets its evil hands on it! (Ages 8 – 12.)

The Apprenticeship of Andrew Weyth: Painting a Family Legacy, by Gene Barretta

Before Andrew Wyeth found his creative voice, he was a boy growing up in an artistic family, spending his time in rural Pennsylvania and Maine. Andy, as he was called by his family, was trained by his father, renowned artist N.C. Wyeth, but they didn’t always see eye to eye. Pa wanted his son to fill his compositions with exciting characters and places. But to Andy, the most exciting stories to paint were the ones he lived every day, that featured the familiar people and places he loved most. (Ages 5 – 9.)