Staff Picks

The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby

"Sometimes you have to get really lost in order to find who you really are and what you really want in life. "The Other Side of Lost" by Jessi Kirby is a powerful story about grief and self-discovery. It is a tale of seeking where Mari, the main character, hits the trail and faces difficult terrain and in doing so finds the strength to face up to her own inner wilderness. Definitely recommended to those who may have a love/hate relationship with social media, who's interested in hiking, the wilderness, and the idea of getting lost to find themselves."

City Spies by James Ponti

"This juvenile fiction book is a great story about a team of spies that are working to save the head of a global climate summit from a nefarious agency named "The Purple Thumb". Brooklyn is recruited from juvenile court after she is caught hacking into the courts and the bank to prove the horrid conditions of her current foster home. When "Mother" appears, Brooklyn is given a choice, either go to juvie or help him save the world as a member of one of the world's most secret spy teams training in Scotland as part of the British Secret Service. I would recommend letting yourself get swept away in the first book of the City Spies series by James Ponti."

The Unwritten Book by Samantha Hunt

"After her father's death, Samantha Hunt finds his unfinished manuscript. The Unwritten Book includes this manuscript along with Samantha's sometimes biographical, sometimes philosophical footnotes. Interspersed throughout the manuscript are essays about the nature of life, death, memory, and a general exploration of how we exist in this world. Somehow, all these disparate parts come together beautifully to create a book that affirms life and love, even in the face of loss."

Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals For Delicious Living by Nick Offerman

"An entertaining memoir about a Nick Offerman's life, who, prior to reading about him was most notable for his gruff, stubborn character Ron Swanson from Parks & Rec. Getting to know the details of his early career in acting, woodworking, his lovely relationship with his wife Megan Mullaly, and all of his hilariously-narrated experiences along the way were a delight. Bonus---if you listen to this as an audiobook, Nick narrates it himself, and infectiously laughs at himself and his antics as he reads, making for a more relatable and captivating experience."

An Eternal Lei by Naomi Hirahara

"This cozy mystery takes place in Kauai, Hawaii. I feel I am visiting Kauai with the author's loving descriptions of the island and interesting dialogue using both Hawaiian words and slang intermixed with Japanese. The author includes a dictionary at the back of the book for readers to use as a reference. I call reading this book a bookcation and I enjoyed it. This is Naomi Hirahara's second Leilani Santiago Hawai'i Mystery. The first book in the series is Iced in Paradise. I am eagerly awaiting Ms. Hirahara's next Leilani Santiago Hawai'i Mystery."

God Country by Donny Cates

"Donny Cates is one of the single most amazing writers I have ever seen in my many years at both libraries and in the comic book industry - His graphic novel God Country tackles the tragic truth of dementia and loss while mixing in epic fantasy scenes that leave readers in awe (and in my case tears!). Readers who enjoy beautifully written world-building, and a raw look at the effects of loss on a family will adore this book, and might find they love more of Cates's work!"

Confession by Saint Agustine

A fantastic novel that speaks of a famous philosopher during the early Medieval Ages, Augustine of Hippo. Throughout this autobiography, Augustine begins understanding the world around him and his own action, and how it has been affecting his life. He also dives into the idea of theology and philosophy, and St. Augustine, which is his title in present-day, explains how he detaches himself from his idols. This novel and autobiography is a classic and enjoyable read for those who prefer philosophy and theology genres.

Who Is the Beast by Keith Baker

"Librarian Barbie turned me on to this Picture Book. Without giving too much away the book asks the reader, "who really IS the beast"? The obvious answer may be the Tiger in the story. However, with further reading we find ourselves asking, "is he really the beast"? Perhaps we are more alike than we are different. There is a lot to think about and much to learn from this book. An added plus, the artwork in itself is something to relish over."

Staff Picks

The Sleeper and the Spindle

Not Now, Cow by Tammi Sauer

Illustrated by Troy Cummings

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