Sixteen Scandals

Sixteen Scandals
By Sophie Jordan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021. 235 pages. Young Adult Romance

The youngest of four daughters, Primrose Ainsworth is used to getting lost in the shuffle. But when her parents decide to delay her debut into English society, Prim hatches a plan to go rogue on the night of her sixteenth birthday. Donning a mask, Prim escapes to the infamous Vauxhall Gardens for one wild night. When her cover is nearly blown, a mysterious stranger intercedes, and Prim finds an unexpected partner in mischief…and romance. But when it's revealed her new ally isn't who he says he is, her one night of fun may last past dawn.

If you like Sixteen Scandals, you may also like:

Of Curses and Kisses
By Sandhya Menon
Simon Pulse, 2020. 361 pages. Young Adult Romance

East Indian Princess Jaya Roa and Grey Emerson, an English lord, are part of a centuries-old feud between their two families. When they meet at an elite boarding school, Jaya plans to exact her revenge by making Grey fall in love with her and breaking his heart. But, not everything goes to plan. Can Jaya and Grey find their fairy-tale ending or will they be torn apart by family loyalty?

Verona Comics
By Jennifer Dugan
Putman's Sons, 2020. 327 pages. Young Adult Romance

Jubilee has it all together. She's an elite cellist, and when she's not working in her stepmom's indie comic shop, she's prepping for the biggest audition of her life. Ridley is barely holding it together. He's the black sheep of his family who can never do anything right. His parents own the biggest comic store chain in the country, and Ridley can't stop disappointing them. They meet one fateful night at a comic con prom, and they can't help falling for each other. Too bad their parents are at each other's throats every chance they get. As Ridley's anxiety worsens, Jubilee tries to help him cope on his own. But what if love can't conquer all?

TT

Sapiens: A Graphic History

Sapiens: A Graphic History. The Birth of Humankind. Volume One

By Yuval N. Harari

Harper Perennial, 2020. 245 pages. Graphic Novel. 

One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited the Earth. Yet today there is only one: homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us? In this first volume of the full-color illustrated adaptation of his groundbreaking book, renowned historian Yuval Harari tells the story of humankind's creation and evolution, exploring the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be "human." 

If you liked Sapiens: A Graphic History, you may also like: 

Lone Survivors

By Chris Stringer

Henry Hold and Company, 2012. 320 pages. Nonfiction. 

Outlines a reassessment of human evolution that draws on recent fossil findings. Challenges current theories to say that humans coexisted and competed across the African continent while exchanging genes, tools, and behaviors. 

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation

By Michael Keller

Rodale, 2009. 192 pages. Graphic Novel. 

A stunning graphic adaptation of one of the most famous, contested, and important books of all time: "On the Origin of Species." Includes sections about Darwin's pioneering research, the book's initial public reception, his correspondence with other leading scientists, as well as the most recent breakthroughs in evolutionary theory. 

Heretics!: The Wonderous (and Dangerous) Beginnings of Modern Philosophy

By Steven M. Nadler

Princeton University Press, 2017. 180 pages. Graphic Novel. 

A graphic narrative that charts the birth of modern thought during the 17th century, a time where thinkers challenged authority to lay the foundations of modern philosophy and science and help usher in a new world. Tells the story of these early philosophers' ideas, lives, and times. 

sr

Love Your Life

Love Your Life
By Sophie Kinsella
The Dial Press, 2020. 432 pages. Romance

While visiting an anonymous writers' retreat in Italy where names and personal information can't be shared, Ava shares an idyllic love affair with a fellow romantic before they return to London.  Back on their home turf, they share their true identities and learn how different their lives are.  They must decide if opposites not only attract but if they can make a life together.

 

 

If you like Love Your Life, you might also like:

The Garden of Small Beginnings
By Abbi Waxman
Berkley, 2017. 368 pages. Fiction

Lilian Girvan has been reeling ever since her husband died in a car accident three years ago.  Now raising her two daughters herself, aided and cheered on by her sister Rachel, Lilian makes ends meet working as an illustrator of textbooks.  When her company takes on a commission to do all of the illustrations for a new gardening book, Lilian's boss signs her up for a vegetable gardening class to become more familiar with flora and fauna.  Spending her Saturdays tilling and planting isn't exactly Lilian's idea of fun, but when she meets the patient instructor and quirky fellow students in her class, she can't help it when they start to worm their way into her heart.

Attachments 
By Rainbow Rowell
Dutton, 2011. 323 pgs. Fiction

Lincoln O'Neill took a job at as an "internet security officer" at a newspaper, but he didn't realize that he would basically be reading other people's email.  He imagined building firewalls and installing security software, not checking for gamblers and inappropriate workplace language.  When Lincoln comes across Beth and Jennifer's emails, he knows their conversation is just a harmless (but hilarious) discussion of their personal lives.  But he can't help being drawn in by their stories.  By the time he realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.

 

BHG

Come, Sweet Day

Come, Sweet Day: Holding On To Hope in Dark Times

by Julianne Donaldson

Ensign Peak, 2021. 89 pgs. Poetry

Julianne Donaldson is best know for writing the romance novel Edenbrooke. In this short collection of poems and essays, she shares her thoughts and feelings from an unsettled time of despair and suffering in her own life, so that women can know they are not alone and that there is hope even in the hard times.

If you like Come, Sweet Day, you might also like: 

Making it Through the Middle: Hope and Help When the Journey Seems Long
by Emily Freeman

Deseret Book, 2014. 56 pgs. Nonfiction

Emily Freeman starts her book by talking about how people usually only talk about after they have made it through a trial. We tend to focus on the end, when an answer has been given, or the illness goes away. Very rarely does anyone offer help or advice while we are still stuck in the middle. When we are still struggling and it doesn't seem like there is ever going to be an end. She uses her personal experiences and scriptures to share six lessons that can help us make it through the middle moments in our lives.

Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

By Brené Brown

Spiegel & Grau, 2015. 301 pgs. Nonfiction

The author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection tells us what it takes to get back up, and how owning our stories of disappointment, failure, and heartbreak gives us the power to write a daring new ending. Struggle, Brene Brown writes, can be our greatest call to courage, and rising strong our clearest path to a wholehearted life.

AL

The Bear

The Bear

by Andrew Krivak 2020, Bellvue Literary Press. 221 pages. Science Fiction 

In an Edenic future, a girl and her father live close to the land in the shadow of a lone mountain. They possess a few remnants of civilization: some books, a pane of glass, a set of flint and steel, a comb. The father teaches the girl how to fish and hunt, the secrets of the seasons and the stars. He is preparing her for an adulthood in harmony with nature, for they are the last two left. But when the girl suddenly finds herself alone in an unknown landscape, it is a bear that will lead her back home through a vast wilderness, which offers the greatest lessons of all, if she can only learn to listen. A cautionary tale of human fragility, of love and loss, The Bear is a stunning tribute to the beauty of nature's dominion. 

If you like The Bear, you might also like: 

The Innocents

by Michael Crummey. Doubleday, 2019. 290 pages. General Fiction

 

A brother and sister are orphaned in an isolated cove on Newfoundland's northern coastline. Their home is a stretch of rocky shore governed by the feral ocean, by a relentless pendulum of abundance and murderous scarcity. Still children with only the barest notion of the outside world, they have nothing but the family's boat and the little knowledge passed on haphazardly by their mother and father to keep them. 

Greenwood 

by Michael Christie, Hogarth, 2019. 504 pages. General Fiction

It's 2038 and Jake Greenwood is a storyteller and a liar, an overqualified tour guide babysitting ultra-rich vacationers in one of the world's last remaining forests. It's 2008 and Liam Greenwood is a carpenter, fallen from a ladder and sprawled on his broken back, calling out from the concrete floor of an empty mansion. It's 1974 and Willow Greenwood is out of jail, free after being locked up for one of her endless series of environmental protests: attempts at atonement for the sins of her father's once vast and violent timber empire. It's 1934 and Everett Greenwood is alone, as usual, in his maple syrup camp squat when he hears the cries of an abandoned infant and gets tangled up in the web of a crime that will cling to his family for decades. And throughout, there are trees: thrumming a steady, silent pulse beneath Christie's effortless sentences and working as a guiding metaphor for withering, weathering, and survival. A shining, intricate clockwork of a novel, Greenwood is a rain-soaked and sun-dappled story of the bonds and breaking points of money and love, wood and blood--and the hopeful, impossible task of growing toward the light.

NS

Always Human

Always Human 

by Ari North Yellow Jacket, 2020. 150 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel 

In the near-future, people use technology to give the illusion of all kinds of body modifications-but some people have "Egan's Syndrome," a highly sensitive immune system that rejects these "mods" and are unable to use them. Those who are affected maintain a "natural" appearance, reliant on cosmetics and hair dye at most to help them play with their looks. Sunati is attracted to Austen the first time she sees her and is drawn to what she assumes is Austen's bravery and confidence to live life unmodded. When Sunati learns the truth, she's still attracted to Austen and asks her on a date. Gradually, their relationship unfolds as they deal with friends, family, and the emotional conflicts that come with every romance. Together, they will learn and grow in a story that reminds us no matter how technology evolves, we will remain . . . always human. 

If you like Always Human, you might also like: 

My Riot 

by Rick Spears Oni Press, 2020. 179 pages. Young Adult Graphic Novel

 

Set in the early '90s, My Riot is about a trio of teen girls who team up to form a rock band and shake off society's expectations of what it means to be a young woman coming of age in the modern world. Both 

Austen and Val learn to live their lives by their own values and ideas. Val discovers that there is a world outside of ballet and her oppressively conservative family. Austen lives without mods and learns that there is value for and in her in a mod-ern world. 

Carry On 

by Rainbow Rowell St. Martin’s Griffin, 2015. 522 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. He just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him -- not his girlfriend, not his best friend, not his mentor, and not his roommate. Plus, there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. 

 Always Human is a story about two people finding one another, almost by accident, and really learning to care for one another. There is a similar storyline in Carry On. Simon and Baz are drawn to one another because they are so different, and that difference end up being the basis for their friendship and their relationship. Both are very sweet LGBTQIA+ stories.

Cosmic Queries

Cosmic Queries: StarTalk's Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We're Going
By Neil deGrasse Tyson
National Geographic, 2021. 309 pages. Science

Tyson and coauthor James Trefil, a renowned physicist and science popularizer, take on the big questions that humanity has been posing for millennia—How did life begin? What is our place in the universe? Are we alone?—and provide answers based on the most current data, observations, and theories. Populated with paradigm-shifting discoveries that help explain the building blocks of astrophysics, this relatable and entertaining book will engage and inspire listeners of all ages.

If you like Cosmic Queries, you might also like:

Fundamentals: Ten Keys to Reality

by Frank Wilczek

Penguin Press, 2021. 254 pages. Science

Nobel Prize winner Frank Wilczek's Fundamentals is built around a simple but profound idea: the models of the world we construct as children are practical and adequate for everyday life, but they do not bring in the surprising and mind-expanding revelations of modern science. To do that, we must look at the world anew, combining clear thinking with an openness to wonder. This "born again" world is in many ways larger, fuller, and much stranger than it appears.

The Last Stargazers

by Emily Levesque

Sourcebooks, 2020. 313 pages. Science

Award-winning astronomer Emily Levesque shares the stories of modern-day stargazers, the people willing to adventure across high mountaintops and to some of the most remote corners of the planet, all in the name of science. From the lonely quiet of midnight stargazing to tall tales of wild bears loose in the observatory, The Last Stargazers is a love letter to astronomy and an affirmation of the crucial role that humans can and must play in the future of scientific discovery.

AS

Elatsoe

Elatsoe

by Darcie Little Badger

Levine Querido, 2020. 360 pages. YA Fantasy/Mystery

In this award-winning contemporary fantasy/mystery, 17-year-old Elatsoe (Ellie) comes from a long line of Lipan Apache women who have a special affinity with the dead. Mostly, Ellie has used this power to train her ghost dog, Kirby, to play fetch and to warn her when he senses danger. When Ellie’s cousin, Trevor, dies suddenly in highly suspicious circumstances, he comes to Ellie in a dream and demands that she find his murderer and help protect his family. With the help of her best friend Jay, Ellie slowly uncovers a dark magical secret that could put the lives of the people she loves at risk.

If you like Elatsoe, you might also like:

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

by Holly Jackson

Delacorte Press, 2020, 390 pages, YA Mystery

Five years after a horrible murder happened in her hometown, Pip decides to reexamine the case as part of her senior project. The more Pip looks into the case, the more obvious it becomes that the supposed murderer is innocent, and many others in town appear to be more likely suspects. The audiobook for this book is especially worth listening to.

Although Elatsoe weaves supernatural elements into its mystery, both books follow clever teenagers as they solve a mystery with ever-increasing stakes.

The Way Back

by Gavriel Savit

Alfred A. Knopf, 2020, 360 pages, YA Fantasy

When the Angel of Death passes through the Eastern European town of Tupik, teens Yehuda Leib and Bluma accidentally follow him into the Far Country, the Jewish Land of the Dead. Yehuda Leib and Bluma must cross the Far Country, make pacts with ancient demons, and declare war on Death himself in hopes of getting out of the Far Country alive. The audiobook for this book is also a great listen.

Yehuda Leib, Bluma, and Ellie all share a sort of affinity with the dead that lies at the center of both of their stories. Both stories also incorporate elements of folklore and magical traditions of diverse cultures.

MB

Georgana's Secret

Georgana’s Secret

by Arlem Hawks

Shadow Mountain, 2021. 316 pages. Romance 

As a young girl, Georgana Woodall dreamed of beautiful dresses, fancy balls, and falling in love, but when her mother dies, she cannot face a future under the guardianship of her abusive grandmother and instead chooses to join her father on his ship disguised as his cabin boy, "George.” Lieutenant Dominic Peyton is new to the crew and strives to be an exemplary officer and leader. He decides to take the shy captain’s cabin boy under his wing only to start discovering that George is really a woman. Not wanting to put her in danger from the rest of the crew he keeps her secret as well as his growing affection for her. But life in the Navy is not easy. As both of them struggle with their feelings for one another they also have to survive battles with the enemy and rising tension among the crew. 

If you like Georgana’s Secret, you might also like: 

Becoming Lady Lockwood

by Jennifer Moore

(2015) 

With the arrival of Captain Sir William Drake, widow and heiress Amelia Beckett's plans quickly go awry for Drake is out to prove that Amelia's marriage to his brother was a fraud. Left with no choice, Amelia joins the captain on his return voyage from Jamaica to England, and the two quickly find that ship life does not allow for evasion. Amelia and William are ceaselessly thrown together, and amidst fierce storms and ocean battles, what began as antipathy seems to be evolving quite unexpectedly. 

The Guise of a Gentleman

by Donna Hatch 

(2010) 

Although she longs for adventure Elise strives to be a perfect English Lady for the sake of her son. She doesn’t plan on falling in love with the impulsive and scandalous Jared Amesbury. A gentleman by day, a pirate by night, Jared must complete one last assignment for the Secret Service before he can be truly free. Elise gives him hope that he, too, can find love and belonging. His hopes are crushed when his best laid plans go awry and Elise is dragged into his world of violence and deceit. She may not survive the revelation of Jared's past...or still love him when the truth is revealed. 

A Captain for Caroline Gray

by Julie Wright

(2021) 

Taking a one-way trip aboard the Fishing Fleet to India after a third failed London season, outcast Caroline bonds with unconventional ship Captain Thomas Scott during the voyage. Captain Scott is captivated by her fiery spirit and becomes an unlikely ally. An undeniable attraction blossoms but a relationship between them is impossible unless Caroline decides to be brave enough to love the sea captain rather than marry a man she has never met before.

ME

Kingdom of Souls

Kingdom of Souls 
By Rena Barron
HarperTeen, 2019. 485 pages. Young Adult 

Arrah has always wanted magic of her own. Her family is powerful and revered, but somehow the gift seems to have missed her. After years of longing, she’s determined to take matters into her own hands. Arrah is willing to sacrifice years of her life for limited access to magic. When the Kingdom’s children start to go missing, Arrah will use her new power to investigate and uncover what’s happening to them—but what’s happening is far worse than she could have ever imagined. 

Arrah wants to assume the best in everyone, and thinks if she is able to do just a bit more, everything will turn out fine—even when all signs point to the contrary. It is #relatable on so many levels. While the pacing can feel a little slow at times, this is an intricately plotted fantasy novel that I would especially recommend to fans of Tomi Adeyemi’s CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE. 

ACS

The Answer Is...: Reflections on My Life

The Answer Is...: Reflections on My Life
By Alex Trebek
Simon & Scuster, 2020. 304 pages. Biography

Best known as the host of Jeopardy! for 37 seasons, Trebek made headlines in 2019 when he announced that he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer.  After an outpouring of well-wishes and support from fans of the show and people across the world, Trebek decided to write a book of personal anecdotes, answers to frequently asked questions, and thoughts on a range of topics. 

Trebek has been a staple in American households for decades and is known as a beloved and respected figure in the entertainment world.  He also dedicated much of his life to philanthropy and activism.  Despite the tragic circumstances that ended his life, this is a heartwarming and inspiring book, recommended for any fans of Jeopardy! or anyone looking to learn more about this extraordinary figure.  The audiobook is narrated partly by Ken Jennings and partly by Trebek himself. 

 BHG

The Children's Blizzard

The Children's Blizzard

By  Melanie Benjamin

Delacorte Press, 2021. 351 pgs. Fiction

Many immigrants were tricked into coming to America with hopes of a better life and dreams of owning their own land in Nebraska. Life was hard and unforgiving but most homesteaders found a way to survive. The morning of January 12, 1888 started warmer than normal on the Great Plains so many settlers and children left their heavy winter clothes at home and left the house to work the land and attend school for the first time in days. The Children's Blizzard is the story of the unexpected blizzard that hit just as school was about to let out for the day. Many of the school teachers were young themselves and were faced with impossible choices. No one was prepared for the brutal nature of this storm. Many people died, and the heartbreaking part was that the majority were children trying to get back home. 

The Children's Blizzard is a historical fiction novel based on facts about the time period and the storm itself. It is heartbreaking and bleak. The four main characters all make different decisions during the storm that alter the trajectory of their lives. I found the details and description of the storm fascinating, but I had a hard time finishing the book because I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Recommended for people who are looking for a historical fiction novel that explores a unique event in our Country's history.

AL

My Calamity Jane

My Calamity Jane 

By Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows, and Brodi Ashton 

HarperTeen, 2020. 520 pgs. Young Adult Historical Fiction 

The United States is a wild place in 1876, full of gunslingers, outlaws, horses, and garou -- aka werewolves. Wild Bill’s Traveling Show is full of garou hunters, including Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley and Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler. After a hunt goes wrong, Jane finds a suspicious bite on her arm, and she heads to Deadwood, where there’s talk of a cure. But, there is a deeper scheme happening and not everyone will survive Deadwood. 

On the surface, this is a funny, adventurous, supernatural romance, but there is so much more depth to this book. The authors explore themes of acceptance, family, prejudice, colonialism, and racism in a nonconfrontational manner that encourages the reader to look inward. The relationship between Annie and Frank is funny and light-hearted and they both grow during the book. This is a fun read with diverse characters and a fun spin on the American West, and is great for anyone who enjoys alternative histories, western stories, or supernatural romance. 

TT

The Blue Road: A Fable of Migration

The Blue Road: A Fable of Migration 

By Wayde Compton 

Arsenal Pulp Press, 2019. 116 pages. Young Adult Comics. 

The Blue Road is a graphic novel that tells the story of Lacuna, a girl living alone in a swamp made of ink who does not remember where she came from or how she got there. One day she meets Polaris, the will-o'-the-wisp guardian of the swamp who tells her she must leave his realm or die. She decides to try her luck in the world and sets off on her journey to the North Kingdom. Following the blue road, Lacuna overcomes many trials before reaching her journey’s end. However, once she gets to the North Kingdom Lacuna finds out that her quest to belong somewhere is only beginning. She realizes that “Leaving, arriving, and returning all mean starting all over again”. 

This modern-day take on a fable is touching, with gorgeous artwork and poetry. It depicts made-up characters in a fantastical world but tells a story that has significance in our world. I like that it uses fantastical elements (world-building, surrealism, epic voyages, imaginary creatures, etc.) to convey the message that our laws, practices, and regulations can seem outlandish or whimsical to new people. Any aspect of the immigration experience can be applied to what Lacuna goes through, whether that is experiencing xenophobia, transportation issues, language barriers, lack of employment opportunities, racism, housing issues, or cultural differences. This book shares in an easily digestible format just a little bit of what an immigrant goes through and is thought-provoking. 

sr

Later

Later 

by Stephen King 

Hard Case Crime, 2021. 264 pages. 

Jamie Conklin is no ordinary child. He can see dead people. But not like that kid in that movie. The dead only stick around for a few days before they move on. And the dead always have to tell the truth. Always. Jamie’s secret puts him in jeopardy when an NYC detective discovers his unique ability and uses him to help hunt down a dangerous serial killer. 

Stephen King delivers once again on style. This man has proven time and again that he can write, and the prose holds its own with the great King classics of old. The story takes one turn after another and keeps the reader on their toes. This work is a definitely more bite-sized compared to King’s more lengthy novels, making this a quick and fun read for fans of both hard-boiled fiction and paranormal horror. 

ALL

The Searcher

The Searcher

by Tana French

Viking, 2020, 451 pages, Mystery

After 25 years working for the Chicago P.D., Cal Hooper thinks renovating a house settled deep in the Irish countryside and socializing at the small local pub is the ideal way to spend his retirement. But when 12-year-old Trey Reddy shows up at Cal’s door, demanding that Cal investigate his brother’s disappearance, Cal faces an interesting choice: take his new hometown at face value and turn a blind eye when problems arise, or do what he was trained to do and dig into things that are likely best left alone. 

This book takes a bit to really get going, but French is great a building the atmosphere until Cal’s investigation comes to a head. Her descriptions of Ireland’s bleak, wind-swept, craggy hills and the detailed backstories she gives to each of the locals really help you feel like you’re there. I also appreciated a sub-plot that mirrored the main plot perfectly, as Cal teaches Trey how to determine where your moral compass lies, while making the same decisions himself with each stage of his investigation.

Readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries like this one might also enjoy the work of Jane Harper, who writes atmospheric mysteries set in Australia.

MB

Mommy Burnout: How to Reclaim Your Life and Raise Healthier Children in the Process

 

Mommy Burnout: How to Reclaim Your Life and Raise Healthier Children in the Process 

by Sheryl Ziegler 

Dey St. 2018. 311 pages. Nonfiction 

A practical handbook for the modern mother who feels constantly overwhelmed, tired, and plain burned out. This is filled with funny and relatable real-life stories, explains what burnout looks like and how mothers get there, and of course has lots of advice for avoiding the pitfalls that lead to burnout such as isolation, social media, perfection, and a constant state of busy. For working moms and stay at home moms alike, and includes a chapter on how mom’s burnout can lead to her kids burning out too. 

The writing style is conversational, and I liked how the anecdotes provided both relatability, humor, and real-life examples of the chapter’s principle. At the end of each chapter there’s a “Mommy Prescription Plan” that sums up the suggested actions to address that chapter’s aspect of burnout. I listened to the audiobook version on Libby and have no complaints with the narration. Great read for moms that feel constantly tired, overwhelmed, or “over” being a mother; this book is for you. 

ER

Braiding Sweetgrass

Braiding Sweetgrass

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Tantor Media Inc. 2016.

As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to this land, consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as "the younger brothers of creation." As she explores these themes, she circles toward a central argument: The awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the world. Once we begin to listen for the languages of other beings, we can begin to understand the innumerable life-giving gifts the world provides us and learn to offer our thanks, our care, and our own gifts in return.

Robin Wall Kimmerer provides us with a refreshing and in-depth perspective on our relationship with the earth. I love that she asks us as humans to become interwoven in our relationship with the earth (hence, braiding sweetgrass) rather than having a give and take relationship. Kimmerer has quite the talent for turning hard science into beautiful art. Her words are like poetry and are a pleasure to read. The knowledge she shares about indigenous culture and practices is so beneficial to the wellbeing of the earth and the human race. That having been said, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in ecology, botany, nature, science, anthropology, and in exploring the relationship between humans and the earth. I would also highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which is available through the Libby app.

NS 

Fangs

Fangs 

by Sarah Andersen 

Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2020. 100 pages. Graphic Novel 

Elsie the vampire is three hundred years old, but in all that time she has never met her match. That is until she meets Jimmy one night in a bar. Jimmy is a charming werewolf with a wry sense of humor and a fondness for running wild during the full moon. Together, Elsie and Jimmy enjoy a genuine fondness for each other’s unusual habits, macabre lifestyles, and monstrous appetites. 

 This was my first time really diving into one of Sarah Andersen’s works and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick read but told a fun and cute story about a couple as they navigate their relationship and become accustomed to one another’s differences. It shows the awkwardness, humor, and love that all relationships go through with a paranormal twist. If you have enjoyed Sarah Andersen's Adulthood is a Myth or if you are just looking for a good Saturday morning graphic, then be sure to check out this book. 

 ME

Amelia Unabridged

 

Amelia Unabridged

by Ashley Schumacher

Wednesday Books, 2021. 293 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Amelia and Jenna are brought together by a book store and a book. They were meant to be best friends forever. They were going to go to college together and take all the same generals. They were going to be roommates. Jenna had it all planned out, and Amelia needed to be tethered to someone, so she gladly followed the plan.

The summer after graduation, Jenna and Amelia, super fans of N.E. Endsley's amazing Orman Chronicles, find themselves waiting for the panel that will announce the last book in the series, made by N.E. Endsley himself. Amelia heads for the restroom and while she is gone, Jenna meets the terrified Endsley, right outside of the authors' green room. He is having a panic attack. When Amelia returns, she hears the announcement that the Orman panel is canceled. Jenna is strangely quiet about it all. Later she tells Amelia that she tried to help Endsley by telling him to do what was best for him, which led to the panel cancelation. Amelia is devastated and angry. She hold’s Jenna accountable for all her dashed hopes and dreams about meeting Endsley. She is slow to forgive Jenna, so when Jenna is killed in a car accident a week later, Amelia is devastated again.

Amelia becomes obsessed with searching for signs from Jenna. When the 101^st out of 100 copies of the leather bound Orman Chronicles shows up for her at her book store with no information about the sender, Amelia knows she needs to find out who sent it. She thinks it’s from Jenna, but she has to be sure. So, she heads to Michigan, to another bookstore that might know where the book came from. Little does she know that this bookstore will bring her together with none other than N.E. Endsley!

This book starts out devastatingly sad and ends impossibly. It's beautiful. With writerly prose that evokes vivid images like sky whales that surface whenever Amelia is feeling something deeply, this book uses the language of anxiety and trauma. It resonates deeply with those who have been through similar tragedies. But the book is also just so fun and lovely. If you can get to Michigan with Amelia, you have a big chance of loving this book. For fans of Sara Zarr and Jandy Nelson.

The Hilarious World of Depression

The Hilarious World of Depression
By John Moe
St. Martin's Press, 2020. 285 pages. Nonfiction

John Moe does vital work in combatting the discrimination and difficulty that people with mental illnesses have to struggle against just to function. With a realistic and stark honesty about his personal experiences, Moe builds a compelling narrative for readers (or listeners) to get an insider's look at the world of living with depression inside your own head.

The audio book is narrated by the author, who has years of public radio shows and a podcast (of the same name) behind him to make the audio engaging and fun to listen to. By including actual interview segments from the individuals he quotes throughout the book, Moe's experiences are further supported and joined by a chorus of celebrity and professionals that struggle with depression and illness every day. Topics discussed throughout the book include living with symptoms while undiagnosed, the weight of thinking there's something fundamentally wrong, thoughts of suicidal ideation, and living in the wake of a family member's suicide.

The Hilarious World of Depression provides a necessary window into how it is impossible to just "bounce back" when struggling with depression and pulls apart societal stigmas surrounding medication and therapy. Supported by a tapestry of voices the author encountered in his own interviews for his podcast, listeners will walk away with an understanding, validation, or renewed hope that help is possible.

AS

A Sky Painted Gold

A Sky Painted Gold
By Laura Wood
Random House Children’s Books, 2020. 376 pages. Young Adult 

Lou has dreamed of a fancy, high society life, but her family farm in a quiet Cornish village doesn’t exactly exude glamour. She often sneaks into and reads in the Cardew house, a grand house that has stood empty for years. Then, one day, Caitlin and Robert Cardew, the owners, return for the summer. When Lou hides in a tree one evening, watching one of the Cardew’s fancy parties, Robert Cardew surreptitiously walks over and starts chatting with her. Soon, Lou is swept into the hustle and bustle of high society, all the while feeling both excited, and like an outsider. 

This is a lovely coming-of-age story. Although the story is relatively predictable and the characters fit nicely into their roles, it was fun to get swept away with Lou into the high-life. The setting is immersive and expertly crafted, and the budding romance adds a nice touch. The bitter-sweet nature of growing up, discovering oneself, and becoming independent of our families really tugs at the heartstrings. For those who have enjoyed PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, or THE GREAT GATSBY, or perhaps aren’t quite ready to venture into those classics, A SKY PAINTED GOLD is a great option. 

ACS

Light for the World to See

Light for the World to See 

by Kwame Alexander 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. 96 pages. 

Kwame Alexander is well-known for his slam-dunk poetry in his Newbery Award winning book The Crossover. Light For the World comprises three of his latest poems, “American Bullet Points,” “Take a Knee,” and “The Undefeated.” This book may take you less than an hour to read from start to finish, but these bite-size poems pack a powerful punch. Alexander speaks out on racial injustice and the current struggles of Black lives in society, and he calls this book a “roll of thunder, a call to action. A rally in verse.” 

These poems beg to be read aloud, and I highly suggest listening to recordings of Kwame Alexander himself reading them. These recordings are available free of charge online. If you enjoy this book, you may also enjoy Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb.

ALL

Juliet Takes a Breath

Juliet Takes a Breath

By Gabby Rivera

Dial Books, 2019. 304 pages. Fiction. 

The night before she leaves for her dream internship, Juliet Palante comes out to her Puerto Rican family as a lesbian. Leaving behind her shocked and disappointed parents, she travels from the Bronx to Portland, Oregon to intern for her favorite feminist author, Harlowe Brisbane. Juliet spends the summer making friends with other women authors of color, exploring her sexuality, learning to communicate with her mom, and getting over her first break-up. She finds that Harlowe’s brand of feminism isn’t as inclusive as she thought and that sometimes your heroes will fail you. Juliet discovers more about who she is as a “closeted Puerto Rican baby dyke from the Bronx” and learns to love herself, “even the shameful bits”. 

This book is a delightful coming of age and coming out of the closet story. Juliet’s narration is honest and unfiltered which makes it feel really refreshing. She’s got a lot to say and a lot to learn about the world, and I like that the reader gets to discover this along with Juliet. The reader and Juliet learn about intersectionality, white feminism, and how to navigate the queer community. I like the complex, multi-dimensional characters and feel that they, and their experiences, mirror real life.

sr