The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown is this week’s staff pick. Our staff member said she was totally absorbed by the book and learned about rowing, or crew, while immersing herself in Joe Rantz’s (one […]
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This week’s staff pick is Lexicon by Max Barry. And it’s a doozy. Our staff member read this a year ago and still can’t’ stop talking about it. “At an exclusive school somewhere outside of Arlington, Virginia, students aren’t taught history, geography, or mathematics–at least not in the usual ways. Instead, they […]
This week’s staff pick is “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” by Kate DiCamillo. Our staffer loved this book so much she told us all about it for days. Written by the author of “The Tale of Despereaux” and “Because of Winn-Dixie” this book has the same kind of characters […]
A Discovery of Witches is the first in a trilogy by Deborah Harkness. The trilogy is now complete with July’s publishing of The Book of Life, and the series is so consistently great that really, we think you should read all three. These books are a fantastic combination of fantasy, historical fiction, […]
This week’s staff pick of the week is The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. A mildly futuristic fantasy that our staff member wasn’t sure they’d like, but they were “ensnared” after the first few pages. An excellent novel about a strong young woman trying to figure out who she is […]
2013 was a phenomenal year for books, and there are a lot of “best of 2013” lists. If you don’t know what to read this summer, why don’t you check out one of last year’s best? Andrew Carnegie Medal Shortlist & Similar Works Best of the Best Books List: 2013 […]
This week’s staff pick is “Furniture Makeovers” by Barb Blair. It’s the perfect time of year to re-varnish, finish, paint, or otherwise alter your furniture since you can probably do it outdoors where it won’t smell up your house. “Furniture Makeovers shows how to transform tired furniture into stunning showpieces. You’ll […]
We Never Talk About My Brother by Peter S. Beagle (best known for The Last Unicorn which was also made an animated film) is a collection of short stories about a myriad of topics. Beagle is a master of short stories, and if you haven’t read him, you should (according to the […]
You’ve never seen a story about growing up quite like this. Man Made Boy is about Boy, the son of Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride. It has monsters, the epitamy of misunderstood, questions about good and evil, mistakes, crazy families, love, and growing up. Our staff member said it’s well worth staying up late […]
This week’s staff pick is the award winning “The Universe Versus Alex Woods” by Gavin Extence. It’s a literally laugh out loud and cry book, and appropriate for teenagers to 100+. It’s got a little bit of science (perfect for this summer’s reading program themes), Vonnegut, and a whole […]